24

 

A jackhammer thundered outside Jason’s bedroom window. The pounding in his brain matched the intensity of sound coming from beyond the wall. Jason grimaced as he turned over in bed and pulled the pillow onto his face, making matters worse. The familiar scent of Maxi’s perfume lingered on the pillowcase. He probably should’ve gone down to the cot in the basement. Like the bottom-dwelling creature that he was.

After a few minutes, it registered that the noise emanated from the kitchen. His mother was wreaking havoc with the pots and pans, which meant something—or someone—had royally ticked her off. It had been a long time since Jason had gotten so drunk. Now he remembered why he stopped drinking altogether. Nothing was worth the after effects. Not even the momentary dulling of the pain.

Because the torment always returned in the morning. Along with one heck of a hangover.

The door to his room flew open and crashed against his wall. Pain shot through his temple into his left eye.

“Are you planning on getting up anytime soon?” Ma stood in the open doorway, hands on her hips. “It’s after nine in case you’re interested. Nick’s already phoned to see what’s wrong.”

Jason groaned and tried to sit up. The throbbing in his head spiked exponentially. “Do you have to yell?”

Her mouth settled into a thin line. She crossed her arms. “It’s been some time since I’ve seen you in this condition. I thought you’d sworn off liquor.”

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and dropped his head into his hands, elbows resting on his knees. “I had…have. Got any aspirin?”

Instead of going down the hall to the bathroom, his mother sat beside him on the mattress. He opened one eye. Ma sat on the end of the bed, a worried expression on her face.

“Did you and Maxi have a fight before she left?”

A fight? He squelched the sick urge to laugh hysterically. “You could say that.”

“Must’ve been pretty serious to make you hit the bottle.”

He was in no shape for this type of conversation, but he knew his mother. She’d never let up until she had the truth. He sighed. “I ended our relationship.”

“What do you mean, ended? You’d hardly begun.”

He scrubbed a hand over his stubbly jaw. “There’s a lot you don’t know, Ma. If you get me some aspirin, I’ll tell you the rest.”

And break your heart in the process. Just like I broke Maxi’s. Seemed he was destined to take after his father after all.

Ma rose slowly from the bed. “All right. But you’re going to tell me everything. And we’ll find a way to fix this.”

After she left the room, Jason reached for his discarded jeans and pulled them on over his boxers. When he was little, he’d always believed his mother could fix anything. If only that were the case.

For the first time since the whole Gloria mess started, Jason bowed his head and prayed. Prayed for forgiveness. Prayed he was doing the right thing.

 

****

 

Later that afternoon, after coming up with a plan for one measure of atonement, Jason signed his name with a flourish on the bank documents before him. He’d taken steps to secure a loan to buy the North property. Sold his beloved Harley to use the proceeds, as well as the balance of his savings account, for a good down payment. He pushed aside the pang of loss. Responsible fathers didn’t ride motorcycles anyway.

Jason laid down the pen on the bank manager’s desk and took a deep breath. Maxi would probably hate him even more when she discovered he was buying her family home. But selling the farm was one of the major hurdles she needed to overcome in order to get back to her life in New York. And Jason could use the property for his own purposes. One day he would offer a parcel of land to the city in exchange for a promise to build the Rainbow Falls Fire Station. It was the perfect location. In the meantime, he’d keep the homestead as his own. Remodel it to suit his tastes and live there.

With Gloria and his child.

Here his plan hit a snag. He doubted Gloria would be thrilled about living out in the country in a refurbished farmhouse. But if she wanted him that bad, she’d have to take his choice of housing as part of the bargain.

It would kill Maxi, however, to know that he and Gloria would share her old home.

No matter. The decision had been made. Bernice would get the proceeds of the property and be able to repay Maxi for the repairs she’d paid for out of her own pocket. Then Maxi would have the money she needed to buy her share of the partnership at the salon. She could move on with her life. And he could face his sentence with a semi-clear conscience.

Jason stood and shook hands with Owen Johnson. “Thank you for taking care of this, sir.”

The portly man with a florid face beamed at him. “It’s the least I could do for my future son-in-law.” He gave Jason a quick wink.

Jason tried to muster a smile because it was expected, but his lips refused to move. “Thanks, again. I’ll be in touch.”

A cool breeze blew Jason’s suit jacket out behind him as he stepped out of the bank and made his way down Main Street, his hands pushed deep into his pant pockets. With some time to kill before meeting with the real estate agent, he paused in front of the window of Norton Jewelers to look at the winking diamonds on display. He should probably seal his engagement to Gloria with some type of ring. The thought caused his stomach to clench in rebellion. Blood pounded a loud tempo in his brain. Pounding out the truth.

He wanted to buy a ring for Maxi.

Jason’s shoulders slumped. He had to let go of that fantasy and focus on his child. For the baby’s sake, he needed to find some way to make a life with its mother. No matter how impossible the challenge seemed.

He continued walking toward his truck parked in front of the hardware store. His footsteps slowed as he made out the familiar figure of Nick Logan leaning against the hood of Jason’s truck, arms folded over his chest. A spasm of guilt and shame rushed through Jason’s system. What would his friend think of him now?

“Afternoon, Jason.” Nick pushed away from the truck, his blond hair ruffled by the breeze.

Jason nodded, lowering his gaze to the sidewalk. “Hey, Nick.” He headed right around to the driver’s door and unlocked it. “How are Lily and the baby?”

He almost choked on the word baby.

“Doing great. You should drop in and see them. I know Lily’d like that.”

“I’m at your house all the time working. I see them then.”

“True. But not much time for friendly conversation. We’ll have you over for dinner one night.” Nick shifted position, eyeing him over the cab of the truck. “Actually, I’d like to speak to you about something.”

Jason glanced down the street at the people moving along the sidewalk. “Sure. Give me a call when you’ve got some free time.” He pulled the door open, anxious for escape.

“How about right now?” Nick’s clear gaze held a challenge.

Jason tried not to squirm. “Can’t. Got things to take care of.”

“Fine. I’ll ride along with you then.” Nick pulled open the passenger door and climbed in before Jason could get a word out.

Seeing no other option, Jason got in his side, plugged the key in the ignition, but didn’t bother to turn on the engine. He stared straight ahead out the window. “Guess you’ve heard.”

“Yup.”

Jason gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles ached. He couldn’t find the words to begin, so he stayed silent.

“Seems you’ve got yourself quite a dilemma.” Nick’s quiet voice held no anger, no recrimination. He simply stated a fact.

“I’m handling it.”

“Word is you’re going to marry Gloria.”

“That’s right.” Jason couldn’t help the defiance in his tone—not after having to defend his decision to his mother and Maxi and…everyone. “It’s the right thing to do, Nick.”

When Nick released a long breath, Jason dared to glance over at him. Sympathy swamped Nick’s blue eyes as he shook his head.

“I’m not sure what’s right in this situation. I do know you’re not in love with her. You love Maxi, and I’m pretty sure she loves you, too. Has for a long time.”

Jason jerked in his seat. “How do you know that?”

Nick blew out a breath that lifted a lock of hair off his forehead. “May Maxi forgive me for this, but I’ve been listening to her moan about you for years. How she wished you’d see her as more than a friend.”

Jason’s mind swirled. “Why didn’t she ever say anything?”

“It’s complicated. But I’m sure you have some idea about that, or you would have said something, too.”

A prickle of irritation itched his neck. “I didn’t know I loved her until recently.”

Nick quirked a brow. “Really?”

Jason scowled. “OK. Fine. Maybe I didn’t want to know. Wasn’t ready to know. But that doesn’t change anything. I’m going to be a father now, and I have to take responsibility.”

“I expect you’re dealing with a lot of guilt at the moment. Maybe this is your way of punishing yourself for your mistake.”

Jason clenched his fingers tighter on the wheel, mainly so he wouldn’t lash out at his friend with misplaced anger. Anger at himself for being so stupid. “I never wanted to be a father. But since it’s now a reality, I will do right by my child.”

“Unlike your father.”

Jason turned to glare at Nick, who didn’t blink.

“You want to punch me right now. I get that. It won’t help though. Trust me.”

Jason sagged as the anger seeped away. His hands fell away from the wheel. “I’m sorry I let you down, Nick. Sorry I let Maxi down, my mother down, God down.” He swallowed to push the ball of emotion back.

Nick laid a hand on his arm. “You know none of us, including God, loves you any less. Well, maybe Maxi, but she’ll get over it eventually. Everyone makes mistakes in life. It’s how we handle our mistakes that defines who we are.”

Jason swiped at the moisture rimming his lashes. “Which is why I’m marrying Gloria and raising my child, like a responsible adult.”

Nick sighed. “Have you even talked to God about it, Jason? Laid it at His feet and asked what He would have you do?”

Jason stiffened. “No.” In fact, he’d barreled through with his decision, sure he was doing the right thing. Didn’t want to hear otherwise.

Nick smiled, his expression sad. “Isn’t this the time you should be doing that? Like I said before, I don’t have the answer to your dilemma. Only God can give you that. Just know I’m here for you, as your pastor and as your friend, anytime you need me.”

Jason clenched his teeth together until his jaw ached, and then turned and nodded. Nick had a valid point. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

****

 

At 7:00 AM the next morning, Maxi rose and showered and then repacked her small bag. Sometime during the sleepless night in her apartment, cold calculation had replaced the anger in the pit of her stomach. She was tired of waiting for outcomes, tired of taking what fate threw at her, tired of waiting for prayers to be answered. Today, she would create her own destiny.

By nine o’clock, she had phoned her lawyer, a colleague of Lance’s, whom she trusted as much as she could trust anyone. He agreed to meet her at Baronne’s. She then booked a seat on the afternoon flight back to North Dakota. Once she’d taken care of business at Baronne’s, she needed to go home and deal with a few outstanding issues there.

Keys in hand, she opened the door to leave her apartment when her cell phone rang. She drew in a sharp breath. Could it be Jason calling to say he’d changed his mind? That he couldn’t live without her?

Disappointment crashed through her system when she read the display. It was Myra Goodwin, her real estate agent.

“Well, hello there. Have I got good news for you.” The woman was inordinately cheerful for such an early hour.

Maxi gave a harsh laugh. “I could use some good news. What is it?”

“We have a buyer for your property. A firm offer, slightly above the asking price.” Her voice could not contain her enthusiasm. “I took the paperwork to your mother, and of course, she accepted it. Thought you’d like to hear the news right away.”

An offer? Maxi pinched the bridge of her nose. “What about the possible arson charge? And rebuilding the barn?”

“That’s the best part. Because of the offer, I spoke with Chief Hamilton and the report has come back. Insufficient evidence for arson. The most likely cause is combustible rags your father left in the barn. They’ve ruled the fire accidental. And the client doesn’t want the barn rebuilt anyway.”

Maxi’s brain whirled, trying to take in all the information at once. One glaring fact jumped out at her. She found it very hard to believe this ”magical offer” had happened the moment she’d left for New York. Suspicion dampened her response. “Who is this mysterious buyer?”

Ms. Goodwin’s perkiness waned for a moment. “Since you’re not a party to the contract, I’m not at liberty to relay that information. You’ll have to speak to your mother about that. But I can tell you that most of the monies will be paid in cash. Mr. Johnson at the bank has assured me he is personally handling the approval for the small loan necessary to purchase and to renovate the home.”

Maxi stiffened. Gloria Johnson’s father? What did he have to do with this? The president of the bank didn’t usually get involved in real estate deals, did he?

Unless it had something to do with his daughter.

“You don’t seem too excited.” Myra sounded hurt. “I thought you’d be thrilled we’d sold without needing the repairs.”

“I have an idea who put the offer in, and you’re right, I’m not thrilled at the prospect. I’ll call you when I get back to discuss this further.”

She disconnected before Myra could reply. What was Jason up to now? Whatever it was, she’d get to the bottom of it. But first she had someone else to put in her place.

With a sharp click, she closed the apartment door behind her and headed to Baronne’s, mentally preparing for more than one battle that day.