Kaitlyn was in a daze as she set out the breakfast she’d prepared for the guests in the dining room. When she’d awoken this morning, Mitch was gone. There’d been a note on the kitchen counter telling her he’d gone to the station early to work on a case. He hadn’t mentioned any new case lately though. She couldn’t help wondering if he was already distancing himself in preparation to leave next week. She hoped not. They had so little time left together, and she wanted to savor it, moment by moment.
Her phone rang in her pocket, jolting her from her stupor. She pulled it out and glanced at the caller ID, still not ready to speak to her mom. Instead of her mom’s picture, it was Josie’s that filled her screen.
Kaitlyn stepped out of the dining room for privacy and put the phone to her ear with a smile. “Hi!”
“I hope I didn’t wake you,” Josie said.
Kaitlyn laughed. “I was already up. I’m surprised you’re awake at this hour though.”
“Are you kidding? I haven’t gone to sleep yet,” Josie admitted.
That statement didn’t surprise Kaitlyn one bit. Even with Josie’s night owl ways, she always seemed to be so put together. She never had dark circles under her eyes or a single hair out of place. Josie was a machine, and Kaitlyn admired the heck out of her friend.
“I’ve been meaning to call and catch up,” Josie said. “How are things going down there?”
“Busy.”
“Glad to hear it. And what’s going on between you and Mitch?”
“His job here is done on Christmas Eve, and he’s still planning to leave.”
“Oh.” Josie sounded surprised. “It sounded like you really liked this one. After all you’ve been through these last few months, I was wishing you a little happiness in the love arena.”
“Me too.” Kaitlyn pulled in a breath. “But life keeps going. I don’t need a man to make me happy.”
Josie snorted. “Now you sound like me.”
Kaitlyn couldn’t remember the last time Josie had been in a serious relationship. Maybe never. Josie sometimes went out “for drinks” with a guy but it never amounted to more than a casual date. Josie had never been one to give her heart to anyone, which Kaitlyn had always found strange. Josie was one of the most caring, generous people she knew. She had a lot to offer in a relationship if she were interested in having one.
“Mitch is starting a new job in January,” Kaitlyn added. “I don’t really have any choice but to accept that he’s leaving and to move on.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe you should give online dating a try,” Josie suggested, the keys of her laptop still clicking in the background. “We just ran an article in Loving Life on couples who’ve found love that way. Did you know that one-third of marriages start with online dating?”
“As I said, I don’t need a man right now.” Or she did, but only a certain man would do. “I do, however, need more contact with my best friend.”
“Agreed. I’ll put a reminder in my phone so we can chat at least weekly.”
This made Kaitlyn roll her eyes, although she was still smiling. “Sounds good.”
She and Josie talked a little while longer, and then Kaitlyn disconnected and went into the dining area to make sure everyone was okay. There was a lively discussion going on about the movie they’d watched last night.
Ms. Manchester was against happily ever afters even though she’d been married to her husband for forty-six years. “No one said we were happy,” she said gruffly to the group.
Mr. Manchester just wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders and squeezed gently. “We’re more than happy,” he declared, soliciting an aw from the other guests. “I’m over the moon that this woman has stayed with me for so long.”
Ms. Manchester melted into his side, and when she turned to face him, her expression softened. “I still prefer the movies without happily ever afters. It’s more realistic.”
Kaitlyn could agree. Her feelings for Mitch were the closest she’d ever had to being in love, and the thought of him leaving physically hurt. It would be hard to watch him go and say nothing. But what could she say? She understood his reasons. She’d been a fool to let herself feel as much as she did, and it would take a while to recover. Love wasn’t something she wanted to participate in again for a very long time.
So, no, she wouldn’t be dipping her toe into online dating, as Josie had suggested.
Kaitlyn glanced around at her guests. Instead, she’d live vicariously through the couples who booked rooms here at the inn, and maybe that would be enough.
* * *
Mitch was having a bad case of déjà vu. Once again, he was sitting in the Everson Printing Store and waiting to see Brian. In the middle of the night, he’d awoken to a recurring nightmare about the accident. Only this time, Brian was dead and so was Mitch’s mom. Life was ruined, and as usual it was all his fault.
Mitch hadn’t been able to go back to sleep after that. Instead, he’d gone for an early morning jog, showered, and had driven back here. He wouldn’t give up so easily this time. After all these years, Brian deserved his apology. And Mitch deserved closure.
The young clerk with pimpled skin kept casting awkward glances toward Mitch in the waiting area. Then the backroom door opened, and the female clerk came out just like last time. Instead of turning to the younger male, however, she walked directly to Mitch and smiled warmly.
“Good morning, sir. Mr. Everson is ready to see you in his office now,” she said.
Relief poured through Mitch. He was going to at least have a chance to tell Brian how sorry he was about the events that had taken place that fateful night when one lie had cost so many so much. This was something he should’ve done a long, long time ago. “Thanks.”
Mitch stood and followed her through the storeroom door and down a well-lit hallway to the last office on the left. A nameplate on the door read EVERSON in big block letters.
The clerk offered a courtesy knock before turning the knob and opening the door for Mitch to enter. As he stepped into the office, he expected to see Brian in his wheelchair. Instead, a graying man behind a large oak desk stood and shoved his hands on his narrow hips.
“Hello, Mitch,” Frank Everson said. Just like when Frank had come to see him at his mom’s house when he was seventeen years old, there was no smile or offer to shake hands.
“I came to see Brian.” Mitch stepped farther inside the room but didn’t sit. And he didn’t plan on sitting. Frank was not the man he came to talk to.
“I thought you and I had an agreement, son,” Frank said.
“I’m not your son,” Mitch bit out.
“Right. My son is in a wheelchair, thanks to you.”
Guilt and anger warred within Mitch. One emotion begged him to back down, walk away. The other prompted him to stand rooted in that office. “With all due respect, sir, it was an accident. I never meant to hurt Brian, and you know that. All I want is to talk to him, man to man.”
Frank frowned, his eyes hard. “You were careless, irresponsible, and foolish back then. And you made a promise to my family, which it looks like you’re not man enough to keep.”
Mitch folded his arms in front of him. Frank was right. He had been foolish and irresponsible. But what Alex had said for Kyle Martin was true for him too. One mistake didn’t define a person. Mitch was tired of letting his past hold all the power. The accident was the reason his mom had taken on so much work. The reason he’d left town and joined the military instead of staying and going to the police academy with Alex. The accident had dictated every choice Mitch had made since he was seventeen years old. It had to stop now. “I want to tell Brian that I’m sorry.”
“Why? To ease your guilty conscience? No, you don’t get to do that.” Frank walked to the office door and held it open—Mitch’s cue to get the hell out. “The Everson family still has a lot of power in this town, Mitch. Your mom lost her job but there’s more to be lost unless you honor your promise and leave Sweetwater Springs.”
Mitch clenched his teeth so hard that pain shot up his jaw. “Is that a threat, sir?”
“Take it any way you like. I’d take it as a promise.”
Mitch didn’t offer a goodbye as he stormed down the hall and out of the building.
* * *
Ten cakes to donate to the Hope for the Holidays Auction. Piece of cake.
By Wednesday at noon, the entire kitchen looked like it’d exploded. There was cake batter, flour, and every color of frosting smeared across Kaitlyn’s apron. It was likely also on her face and in her hair.
“We are a sight,” Gina said on a laugh as she slipped the last Bundt pan into the oven. “I’ll help you clean up this mess while it bakes,” she offered, pulling back and straightening as she shut the oven door.
“No. You’ve already helped more than enough. I can get all this.” Kaitlyn spanned her arms out to encompass the full kitchen because not one spot had been neglected in their mess. “Really. Go home and relax.”
Gina narrowed her eyes. “Now you’re starting to sound like my son.” She pointed a finger in Kaitlyn’s direction. “Speaking of which, you keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t tear into one of these cakes.”
Kaitlyn grinned. “Maybe I’ll make one more cake just for him. He deserves it after all he’s done here.”
Gina chuckled, flour dusting the air as she did. “Mitch will always do what he thinks is right. Following Mable’s wishes and helping you fix up this B and B was the right thing to do, no doubt about that. Mitch wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he’d left.”
“He’s gone above and beyond what Mable asked of him though.”
“Yep. That’s Mitch’s way too.” Gina lifted her apron from around her head.
“I suspect he gets all those wonderful traits from you,” Kaitlyn said, smiling warmly at the woman. “Thanks again for coming by today.”
“I was glad to do it, dear. Call me anytime. But right now, since you insist on sending me away, I’m heading home to shower.”
Kaitlyn followed her down the hall and through the front room.
When Gina opened the door to leave, Mitch was standing on the other side.
He looked between Kaitlyn and his mom. “What’s going on here?”
His mom went in for a hug. “Now that’s no way to greet the woman who suffered fourteen hours in labor with you.”
Kaitlyn’s grin fell short at Mitch’s grim expression.
“You’ve been cooking?” he asked his mom in an accusatory voice.
Gina pulled back. “Kaitlyn was nice enough to allow me to help with the Hope for the Holidays cakes. I offered, and she did me a huge favor by accepting. I hope you’re not prepared to lecture me on cake baking, because I’m not yours to order around.”
His eyes narrowed on Gina. “Not my orders. Doctor’s orders. It’s supposed to be your day off.”
“Doctor, schmoctor. I told you that Dr. Jacobs cleared me to return to my normal activities. A low iron level isn’t going to kill me, Mitch, and I’ve been taking my supplements dutifully. Now stop your fussing. I’m going home to make sure Nettie is behaving herself.”
“You’re the one who needs to behave,” he said in a less-than-teasing tone.
Gina hugged Mitch one more time, leaving a thick film of flour on his shirt. Then she waved and headed down the steps.
Kaitlyn felt an uh-oh tremor through her because Mitch still didn’t look happy for some reason, and she didn’t think it was due to his mom cooking with her for the last few hours. “Your mom really loves being here. She offered to come over and help me bake,” Kaitlyn explained. “I couldn’t tell her no.”
“Yes, you could have. She’s supposed to be slowing down, not taking on more work.”
Kaitlyn stepped past him and closed the front door in case Gina was still within earshot. “I made sure she didn’t do too much. Cooking is not exactly strenuous activity, Mitch.” Even though cooking ten cakes had turned the kitchen into a sauna, and Kaitlyn’s arms were already sore from all the batter stirring. “We had a nice time. I love your mom’s company. The guests seem to enjoy her too.”
He shook his head. “Did you also have her scrub the floors and toilets while she was here?”
Kaitlyn pulled back. “What?”
“She’s not going to be your hired help after I’m gone,” he bit out. “Do you understand?”
Kaitlyn didn’t understand. Not at all. The Mitch she’d gone to bed with last night had been sweet and gentle. The one she was looking at right now reminded her of the burly guy she’d sat down and argued with in this very room a couple of months ago. “I think your mom is old enough to take care of herself. She’s survived just fine without you all these years.”
Kaitlyn didn’t mean that to come out so harshly but Mitch tensed like she’d tossed a bucket of ice water on his head. “I’m sorry. I know you had your reasons for leaving town before. All I meant was—”
He held up his hand. “I know what you meant. And I’ll be gone this time next week. I just need to know that Mom will be okay. Not accepting every job offer that comes along. She doesn’t need the money. I’m making sure of that.”
“I didn’t pay her,” Kaitlyn said. Although she wasn’t sure having Mitch’s mom work for free was any better in his mind. “She did it for charity.” Kaitlyn swallowed back her hurt feelings. “Maybe it’s not about the money. Have you ever considered that? Maybe she likes to work. I know it’s hard to understand for someone like you but maybe your mom enjoys being with people.”
“Someone like me? You mean heartless? Cold?” he asked.
Who is this man? She didn’t recognize him. Had something happened this morning? “That’s who you pretend to be, at least. But I’ve seen a different side of you,” she said, softening her voice. She didn’t want to fight, even if it was obvious that was exactly what he was looking for. He was picking a fight with a sledgehammer right now. “Your mom doesn’t want your money, Mitch. She wants you to stay.” As much as Kaitlyn wanted the same. “You can, you know.”
His dark eyes narrowed. “Can what?”
“Stay. I know we haven’t discussed it,” she began, suddenly spurting out what she’d been hoping to bring up tonight over dinner. Definitely not in a moment where Mitch was upset and worried. But her words came anyway, almost without her permission. “I can still buy you out of your half of this place. You can pay off your mom’s house. But you can also stay. You don’t have to leave Sweetwater Springs.” She fidgeted nervously with her hands. “I mean, I know the security job is offering a lot more money, but…”
“Staying was never part of the plan, Kaitlyn.”
This was not how she was supposed to be bringing up this conversation. They were supposed to be flirting over a delicious dinner and maybe on their second glass of wine. Then she would broach the subject that, in her fantasies, he’d only been waiting for her to bring up. Because staying was what he wanted too. He’d vow to make amends with the ghosts of his past, for his sake and hers. Then, knowing they wanted the same thing, he’d walk around the table, kiss her, and tug her down the hall to the bedroom. That was what was supposed to happen.
“But plans were meant to be broken,” she said weakly. It sounded like a plea even to her own ears.
Mitch kept his gaze steady. The warmth she’d seen so many times was gone. He really did look cold and heartless right now. “Not these plans.”