Starting Over (16 page)

“I’m not
looking for a long-term arrangement,” Alex said quickly. He
couldn’t imagine putting down roots in a town with one traffic
light. “Just a week. I can pay cash. Name your price.” The place
could be a dive, but he needed a break to figure out where the next
leg of his tour would take him. A remote cabin in the woods sounded
ideal.

Jim looked
concerned. “You’re not running from the law, are you? I don’t want
any trouble.”

“No, he’s
running from his ex-wife,” Glo said, winking at Alex.

“Oh man,” Jim
said, taking his baseball cap off to run a hand over his thick,
sandy-blond curls. “You behind on child support? Alimony? I don’t
wanna get involved with nothin’ like that.”

“No, there is
no dispute with my ex,” Alex said, glaring at Glo for giving her
father the wrong impression. “We just finalized the divorce, and I…
uh… lost my job the same week. Just needed to get away and clear my
head while I figure out what to do next.”

“I hear ya,”
Jim said. He looked him over, obviously trying to decide whether
manual labor was Alex’s thing. “I might have something for you, if
you’re interested.”

“That’s real
nice of you to offer,” Alex said, trying to keep a straight face.
“But I’m just passing through. About the cabin…?”

“I don’t see
why not,” Jim said, reaching for a napkin from the metal dispenser.
He took the pen out of his shirt pocket and scribbled directions on
the napkin. “Since it’s only for a week, I guess it can’t do no
harm.”

“I appreciate
it,” Alex said, grateful he would have a place to kick up his
feet.

“The place is
pretty rustic,” Jim warned. “No TV or Internet. We don’t even have
a phone, and cell reception is sketchy at best.”

“Sounds
perfect.” Alex reached into the inside pocket of his leather jacket
for the envelope stuffed with cash. He wasn’t going to take it out
in the middle of a restaurant, so he discreetly reached inside and
pulled five hundred-dollar bills off the top. “Will that do?” He
slid the money across the table.

“Sure enough,”
Jim said, folding the bills and stuffing them into his shirt
pocket. “The only grocery store in town is closed now, but there
are some staples in the cupboard. Help yourself to whatever’s
there. There are clean sheets and towels in the linen closet.” He
reached into his shirt pocket and retrieved a business card. “My
cell phone number is on there. Just call if you need anything.
You’re welcome to use the boat and canoe. The keys for the boat are
in the top drawer in the kitchen.”

“Thanks, Jim. I
really appreciate this.”

“No problem.”
Jim set a key ring with a single silver key down on the table, slid
out of the booth, and said to his daughter, “We better get you home
now. Your little guy was waking up and asking for his mama before I
left.”

“Good luck,
Alex,” Glo said, offering her hand. “I hope you like it here.”

“I’m sure I
will,” Alex said, thinking about how friendly the locals had been
so far. “It was nice to meet you, Glo, and thanks for helping me
find a place to stay.”

“My pleasure.”
Winking at him, she whispered, “And don’t waste any more time
crying over your ex. A guy like you could find another bed warmer
in no time, hon.”

“You just have to let
your thoughts drift,” Jane said in a soothing voice. “Meditation is
all about quieting your mind.”

That was easy
for her mother to say. She didn’t have an ex who had been MIA for
two weeks, a construction project making her crazy, a baby making
her sick every morning, and a full bladder to boot. “I’m trying,
Mom.”

“Just focus on
your breathing,” she said calmly. “Deep breath in, and don’t
release it until I tell you to… one, two, three, four, and
release.”

“If you keep
that up, I’m going to pass out.”

“Open your
eyes,” Jane said. “What’s really going on with you? Don’t tell me
nothing again. I know something’s wrong.”

Eve had been
trying to keep the pregnancy a secret, but she knew her employees
suspected something. Every time she walked into the restaurant and
smelled bacon, she made a beeline for the ladies room. “I guess
this project is a little more stressful than I thought it would
be.”

So many of her
aunt’s ideas were excellent, but Eve was having trouble with the
idea of replacing the children’s playground with a serenity garden.
She imagined her son or daughter pumping their little legs on the
swings or squealing as they slid down the slide, and she wanted to
keep the inn a family-friendly place that welcomed everyone who
needed a little R&R.

“I know you
want to honor your aunt’s wishes, but maybe it doesn’t have to be
all or nothing,” Jane suggested.

Jane’s
intuitiveness still caught Eve off guard sometimes. Her mother
often knew what she was thinking before she found the courage to
say it. Eve unfolded her legs from the crossed position her mother
insisted upon. Jane liked to finish off their morning yoga routine
with fifteen minutes of guided meditation, insisting it would help
Eve be more calm and productive during the day.

“Aunt Sharon
was pretty specific about her plans for the inn.” Eve reached for
the hooded sweatshirt she’d tossed aside earlier. She went from hot
to cold in the blink of an eye anymore.

“True, but she
left the inn to you because she trusted you. You’re the one who has
to live here, honey. This place has to be a reflection of you as
much as it keeps Sharon’s memory alive.”

Eve knew that’s
why she was so afraid of straying from the plans—she didn’t want to
lose the essence of her aunt that remained. “I know. I’m just not
sure I know how to do that.”

“Maybe you
could have the best of both worlds. I’ve been observing a lot of
the families who come here. The parents are wrung out from chasing
their little ones all day. We could offer licensed day care along
with the full-service spa so the moms could sneak away for a little
pampering.”

“That’s a good
idea,” Eve said, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her
arms around them. A day care would benefit her as well. She could
have her baby nearby and still have time to run the inn and the
charitable foundation. “I’m still not sure what to do about the
playground. I want to keep it, but Aunt Sharon’s plans seem pretty
set on the serenity garden.”

“I don’t see
why you couldn’t keep the playground as a wonderful spot for
parents to watch their children play. You might have to change a
few things, but you could still have the benches, pathways, and
flower gardens Sharon wanted.”

“You’re pretty
good at this, you know. I may have to keep you around.”

They shared a
smile before Jane said, “I have a confession to make. I’m hoping
you’ll decide I’m indispensable. This place feels like home more
and more every day.”

“For me too.”
Eve looked around at the little room that housed their temporary
studio while the full-service gym was being built. “I really do
love this place.”

“But
something’s still missing. You don’t have to talk about it if
you’re not ready,” Jane said.

“I’m worried
about Alex.”

“I thought that
might be it.” Jane leaned forward and touched her daughter’s knee.
“Alex’s decision to get away isn’t so surprising. His life is in
upheaval right now. I’m sure he just needs to figure out where to
go from here.”

“I’m sure
you’re right.” Eve wanted to believe he would be back soon, but the
fact that he was ignoring her calls and messages worried her. What
if he’d decided to relocate permanently, cutting all ties with her
and his family? How would she let him know about their child?

“But that
doesn’t put your mind at ease, does it?”

“There’s a
little more to it…” Eve thought it was time for her to share the
news with her mother. “Alex and I are going to have a baby.”

Jane smiled
broadly, reaching out to hold Eve’s hand. “That’s wonderful news.
I’m so happy for you.”

“You don’t seem
too surprised.”

“Your bathroom
is right next to mine. I know you haven’t been feeling well for a
while. Does Alex know about the baby?”

“No, I’d just
found out the last time he visited.” Just thinking about their
exchange that day made Eve cringe. He couldn’t have been more
emphatic about the fact he wasn’t ready for a baby, so she hadn’t
shared the news with him. “He’d come to tell me the divorce was a
done deal. It just didn’t seem like the right time to tell
him.”

“Are you
worried he won’t be happy about it?”

“He made it
pretty clear how he felt about becoming a daddy. I don’t think he’s
ready.”

Jane’s green
eyes hardened in a rare show of displeasure. “That’s too bad. This
baby is already on its way, so he’s going to have to get used to
the idea. Fast.”

Eve squeezed
her mother’s hand, grateful for her support. Aunt Sharon would have
responded the same way, and Eve was reminded that even though God
had taken her beloved aunt away, he’d given her mother back. “Not
being able to tell him about the baby is killing me. Now that I
know for sure that I’m pregnant, I need for him to know too.”

“Don’t worry,”
Jane said. “I have a feeling you’ll be able to tell him soon
enough.”

***

Alex was
getting a low battery warning on his cell phone. He’d come into
town to pick up a few supplies, and he knew he should call home and
let them know he was still alive. Though he’d only planned on
spending a week at the cabin, two weeks had passed since Jim gave
him the key, and he wasn’t ready to leave anytime soon. He was
enjoying the solitude and the friendly people in the local
restaurants and stores. He imagined the day would come when he
would make Jim an offer on the cabin that he couldn’t refuse. That
would involve a bank transfer though, and he wasn’t ready to let
the world know where to find him. Maybe just one person…

He put the two
bags of groceries into the storage compartment on his motorcycle
and straddled the seat before punching in the second number on his
directory. Eve would always be first. “Hey, man, what’s up?”

“Jesus, where
the hell are you?” James shouted. “We’ve been going crazy trying to
find you!”

“I’m fine.
Don’t worry about me. I needed to get away for a while, sort some
things out.”

“Yeah, your
mother told me she sold the company. I’m sorry.”

It didn’t hurt
as much as it had the day he’d found out about the sale. Every day
helped to paint the picture of what his life without Bolton
Industries might look like. “It’s okay. I just wanted to let you
know I was okay. Pass the message on for me, will you?”

“When are you
coming home?”

“Honestly, I
don’t know
if
I’m coming home.” He wasn’t trying to punish
anyone, but he liked the way his new life felt. He didn’t want to
go back to endless travel and stuffy board rooms. He felt free, and
he liked it.

“What are you
talking about? Don’t say shit like that. You have to come
home.”

“Why? What’s
there for me now that Eve’s gone?” Just saying her name reminded
him of everything he’d lost, but a place they hadn’t shared, a town
she’d never visited, almost made him believe time would eventually
heal his broken heart. Maybe one day she would be a wonderful
memory of the greatest love of his life instead of a bitter
reminder of all the mistakes he’d made.

“I’m here,
Ani’s here, our kids are here, your family’s here. Come on, buddy,
this is your home. You know that.”

“No, I don’t.
It honestly doesn’t feel that way anymore. Listen, my cell’s about
to die. I gotta go. Give Ani and the kids a kiss for me, okay? I
don’t want you to worry. I’m good. In fact, I’m better than I have
been in a long time.”

“Wait, before
you go… Eve’s been trying to reach you.”

“Yeah, I know.”
His mother had probably put her up to calling him, so he’d ignored
her calls, just like all the rest. “Tell her I’m okay, will
ya?”

“You need to
tell her yourself. She really wants to talk to you.”

“I don’t want
to go there, man. I’m starting to feel good again. Talking to Eve
would just bring me down.” As much as he loved her, he had to get
used to life without her, and he couldn’t do that if they
maintained contact.

“How can you
say that? This is Eve we’re talking about. A few weeks ago, you
were making yourself crazy trying to figure out how to hold on to
her. Now you’re telling me that you’re over her? I don’t buy
it.”

“Look, I let go
of her the day I signed the divorce papers. It’s over. We both need
to make our peace with that.”

***

Eve practically
lunged for the phone when James’s name appeared on her call
display. “James. Have you heard from him?”

“Yeah, just a
few minute ago.”

Eve sank down
in the swivel chair in her office, sighing with relief. “Thank God.
How did he sound? Is he okay? Did he mention me?” She was rambling,
but she couldn’t help it. She felt as though she’d been waiting
forever to hear that Alex had made contact with someone. She
couldn’t deny she wished it had been her, but she was too grateful
he’d reached out to split hairs.

“He sounded
good. Really good.”

She didn’t know
how to take that. She was miserable without him, and he was
happy
? “He told you that?”

“Yeah, he
did.”

“And you
believed him?”

James
hesitated. “Yeah, I did. He sounded better than he has in a long
time. More at peace.”

“What the hell
does that even mean?” she asked, dropping her forehead onto her
palm.

“He said he’s
ready to move on. I think maybe you should think about doing the
same.”