CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Reason one for why Mitch couldn’t stay: He had a high-paying job that would set his mom up for life.

Reason two: The town may have forgiven him but Brian Everson hadn’t.

Reason three: If Frank Everson’s threat had any credibility, Mitch had to leave. He’d never forgive himself if he was the reason Kaitlyn lost the Sweetwater B&B. Wasn’t that the reason he’d agreed to the will’s stipulations to begin with? To save this place for a woman he didn’t even know at the time? Now that he knew her, he was willing to do whatever it took to preserve her family’s business.

Like a fool, he’d gotten too close. He’d allowed himself to have feelings for Kaitlyn. To hope that maybe what she was proposing could be true. But it couldn’t. He knew that, and she needed to know it, and believe it too.

“This was never meant to be a real thing,” he said, already seeing the shine of her eyes. If she started to cry, that would be his undoing. Please don’t cry, he mentally pleaded. Ending things would be hard enough as it was. But necessary. “We had a good time but we always knew it would end. Time’s up.”

There is that damn ticking time clock.

She didn’t respond at first. Her tears stayed at bay as she blinked back at him, a flurry of emotion storming in her irises. “I see,” she finally whispered. “This was a business partnership, and you and I were having a good time on the side.”

Mitch nodded, feeling like the world’s biggest jerk. “That’s right.”

“I know that. I was just saying that if you wanted to stay for your mom’s sake, you could. But like I said, she’s a grown woman. She doesn’t need you.” Kaitlyn lifted her chin, and he suspected she was speaking for herself as well. And judging by the coolness of her eyes now, she also didn’t want him anymore.

“I see. It might be best if I go ahead and pack up my things. I can stay at Alex’s place until the conditions in the will are met.”

“That’s probably best,” she agreed, refusing to meet his eyes now.

“Just let me know when Mr. Garrison plans to stop back by, and I’ll be here.”

She gave another curt nod. “Okay.”

He started to turn and walk away but then hesitated and looked at her. “Kaitlyn, for what it’s worth…”

She held up a hand. “Don’t. It’s fine. Obviously, it wasn’t worth very much.”

*  *  *

Mitch was walking away from the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he knew it. Kaitlyn was the first person to make him feel whole since the accident. She’d filled this huge crater in his soul. How the hell was he supposed to turn away from that and never look back?

He got into his truck and drove to Alex’s house. Tuck’s Jeep was parked beside Alex’s police SUV in the driveway. Between the two of them, Mitch was sure he could find a place to stay tonight. His mom didn’t have room and he didn’t feel like fielding questions from her or Aunt Nettie about what had happened between him and Kaitlyn anyway.

Mitch walked right inside, not bothering to knock on the front door. “I would think a police chief would know to lock his front door,” he called as he cut through the living room.

Alex turned to look at him with surprise from the kitchen. “I would think anyone stupid enough to break and enter would know not to do so at a police chief’s house.”

“Hey, Mitch,” Tuck said before biting into a sandwich at the table.

“Hey, man,” Mitch replied.

“Want a PB&J?”

“No, thanks.” Mitch pulled out a chair and sat down, feeling fifteen years older suddenly. Like he’d been served his own jail sentence. “Do you think one of you could put me up for the next couple of nights?”

“Uh-oh. Did you and Kaitlyn get in another fight?” Alex asked.

“I wouldn’t say fight. I just broke up with her.”

Both Alex and Tuck looked at him as if he were crazy.

“I thought you were smarter than that, buddy,” Alex said. “I never would’ve offered you the job at the police station had I thought you were that dense.”

Mitch lifted his gaze. “And I’m not taking the position with the SSPD.”

Alex cast a grim expression. “Why is that?”

“I have my reasons.”

“I doubt any of them are good ones,” Alex said.

Mitch was so tired of defending himself. He wasn’t even sure if he believed his own reasons anymore. “All I know is I can’t stay. So, back to my question. Which one of you is going to let me stay with them tonight?”

“We’re going out,” Tuck told him, wiping a smear of purple jelly from the corner of his mouth. “Why don’t you come with us? And whoever doesn’t get lucky is the one that gets to bring your sorry butt home.”

Mitch looked between his friends. Alex didn’t mind dating but like he’d told Mitch when he’d offered him the job at SSPD, he wasn’t ever going to get serious with anyone. His career was too important to him. Tuck talked a good game, but whenever they went to the bar, he typically just drank his beer and watched everyone else. He didn’t hit on the ladies, even though Mitch was sure Tuck could have anyone he wanted. Perhaps, once you’ve experienced a love like Tuck and Renee’s, your heart stalled. Is that how it would be for Mitch? Now that he’d been with Kaitlyn, no one else would ever compare?

“Fine,” Mitch said. “I’ll go out.” A night of drinking sounded like a good idea right about now anyway. And between his two friends, it was a good bet he would have his pick of where he wanted to stay tonight.

*  *  *

Kaitlyn listened for the front door to close. The guests were all gone. Some had gone to dinner, others to the Hope for the Holidays Auction, where Kaitlyn had planned to be herself. Claiming she was sick, she’d asked Gina and Nettie to go in her place. Gina had sounded undone with excitement.

Tears slipped out of the corners of Kaitlyn’s eyes as she lay back on the couch. For the last two months, she’d wanted nothing more than a full inn but tonight she was glad she was all alone here. It would be unbecoming of a host to bawl her eyes out in front of the guests. Grandma Mable would surely agree with that.

Kaitlyn felt like she’d been discarded along with the table scraps. Her own fault. Mitch had always been up-front about his intentions. At least with his words. His actions had offered her a glimmer of hope that she’d recklessly grabbed on to though. She’d allowed herself to fantasize about something more between them, and in her wildest fantasies, she and Mitch had created the ultimate partnership.

She grabbed a box of Kleenex along with a large bag of chocolates because if you were going to have a pity party, you needed to do it right.

Twenty minutes later, once all her tears were dry and the box of Kleenex and bag of chocolates were empty, Kaitlyn showered and headed into the kitchen to pour herself a healthy glass of red wine—just what the doctor ordered for a broken heart. Climbing onto the couch in the living area, she turned on the TV. She was hoping to find a Hallmark movie and live vicariously through the actors and actresses on-screen. Their problems could be fixed in a two-hour time slot on television. Hers couldn’t.

Halfway into a lighthearted tale of two fated lovers, the doorbell rang. Kaitlyn froze. The guests weren’t expected back anytime soon and they were free to walk in.

A new guest?

She did have one vacancy in the Pride and Prejudice room.

Thank God, she’d showered after her crying episode. The mascara streaks were washed away and hopefully some of the puffiness of her eyes had gone down too. She didn’t want to scare off any potential guests.

The doorbell rang again, and she realized she was taking too long to answer. Jumping up from the couch, she ran over to the door, opened it, and froze. “Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?”

Her parents stood on the porch with luggage in hand.

“We needed to see if you were okay,” her mom said. She was dressed in a bright-red parka, black leggings, and boots all the way to her knees. Even so, her slight frame trembled in the cold.

“You could’ve just called,” Kaitlyn said.

“I did. You didn’t answer.” Her mom gave a sheepish smile.

“You didn’t have to come all the way down from New York. What about your Bahamas cruise?”

“It’s Christmas, darling. This is where we should be this year.” Her mom stepped over the threshold and wrapped Kaitlyn in a tight hug. Then her father let go of his luggage and wrapped them both in his wide, encompassing arms. It was surprising, and it felt really good. So good that Kaitlyn almost dissolved into tears for a second time tonight.

“Come in, you two,” she finally said, sniffling. A second box of tissues was in order.

Her parents retrieved their luggage off the porch and brought it inside.

“Wow, sweetheart. This place is amazing.” Her mom stared in awe at the front room, her gaze falling on the large Christmas tree, sparkling magically in the sitting area. “Did you do all this by yourself?” she asked, turning back to Kaitlyn.

“Um, no. I had help.” Kaitlyn didn’t want to get into the details of her last two months. Not tonight.

“Your decorating skills really shine in this place,” her father agreed.

A compliment from him was akin to gold. From her mother, platinum. “Thanks.”

Both of her parents looked at her with serious faces.

“I’m sorry I questioned you,” her mom said quietly. “You would never invite such negative attention—I know that. Are you all right? Did that man hurt you?”

Kaitlyn swallowed. “Yes. No. I’m fine.”

“We can threaten your former employer with a lawsuit,” her father said, looking for a solution as usual. “You were sexually harassed by a client, and Beautiful Designs wrongfully terminated you. That’s unjust.”

Her mother nodded in agreement, her entire expression pulled down by the gravity of her sadness. “We’ll pay for a lawyer, dear. We’ll fight this. Bradley Foster can’t do this to you or your career. You’ve worked too hard to be knocked down like this.”

Kaitlyn had only worried about defending a lawsuit against herself. She’d never considered filing one against Bradley or her former employer. She didn’t want to get wrapped up in legal battles though. And she certainly didn’t want her old job back. “I don’t want a career in New York. This is where I want to be now.”

She waited for her parents to argue and rattle off what was best for her the way they always had. When she’d chosen electives in high school, they’d always vetoed the ones she wanted most and strongly advised the ones they said “would take her further in life.” When she’d chosen a small college off the grid, they’d told her in no uncertain terms that she’d be attending the top college in New York state for interior design. One of the best in the country.

Instead of challenging her now though, her mom wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tightly once more. “I think this is the perfect place for you.” She pulled back and looked at Kaitlyn with shiny eyes that caught the twinkle of all the Christmas lights in the room. “And I can’t wait to see the rest of the inn.”

“Your grandma would’ve been so proud, honey,” her father added. “Your mom and I are proud too.”

Kaitlyn hadn’t thought she had any tears left to cry but several streamed down her face suddenly. “Thank you.”

He cleared his throat. “Now the big question is, Do you have a room available for us tonight?”

Kaitlyn laughed as she wiped her cheek. “You’re in luck.”

*  *  *

Going to the Tipsy Tavern with the guys last night had been a welcome distraction, so Mitch was back again tonight, drinking soda this time.

A waitress came up to his table and laid a beer down in front of him. Lucky for him, Nadine was off tonight. That was one thing Mitch could be thankful for. Another was two friends willing to put up with his scrooge-erific demeanor.

“What’s this?” he asked. “I didn’t order alcohol.”

“Courtesy of the woman at the corner table,” the waitress told him.

Mitch’s gaze followed the direction that she was pointing and saw three women staring back at him. They all appeared to be in their midfifties and waved as he looked over.

“What do you want me to tell them?” the waitress asked.

Mitch didn’t want to hurt the women’s feelings by sending the drink back, and something told him they weren’t flirting. “Nothing. I’ll walk over and talk to them myself.”

“Suit yourself,” the waitress said with a half shrug and then turned and continued to the next table.

Tuck raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? You dump Kaitlyn, and now you’re going to go seduce a bunch of fifty-year-olds? No offense—they’re beautiful fifty-year-olds but they’re pretty much your mom’s age. That’s a little weird.”

“I’m not seducing anyone.” Mitch pushed back from the table. “I’m just going to thank them for the drink.” Working at the bed and breakfast and at the police station these last several weeks had softened his antisocial tendencies. He had to admit he kind of liked meeting new people now, even if he wasn’t in the best mood tonight.

Without another word to Tuck or Alex, he grabbed the beer and walked over to the women’s table. “Hi, ladies. Just wanted to say thanks for the gift.”

The woman on the left nodded. She had overstyled white-blond hair that made a helmet around her round face. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

Mitch zeroed in on her in the darkened tavern. Something about her eyes was familiar but he couldn’t put his finger on where or how he knew her. “I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head.

“It’s okay. I was your language arts teacher in high school.”

“Mrs. Lambert. Right,” Mitch said, remembering her immediately with the hint.

“You were more interested in the girls than my lessons back then.” She shared a glance at the other two women.

Mitch gave them a closer look too. Both had also worked at Sweetwater High, although he didn’t think he’d ever been in either of their classes. “I paid more attention than you know,” he said. “I rather enjoyed reading Moby Dick.” And it was weird saying the word dick in front of his old high school teacher.

All three women laughed.

“So, you’re back in town?” Mrs. Lambert asked.

“No, actually, I’m leaving in a couple of days.”

A frown settled on her lips. “Oh, what a shame. You know, I always worried about you after what happened. I worried about Brian for a while too, but I stopped being concerned for his well-being a long time ago.”

That statement struck Mitch as odd. The tavern was crowded so maybe he misunderstood. If there was anyone to worry about, it was Brian. He was the one whose entire life had veered off course. He was the one who was supposed to be an Olympic gold medalist by now. The one in a wheelchair for life. “What do you mean?”

“Well, Brian took something terrible that happened to him and found his purpose in life. If he had become an Olympian like he had planned, he might not be where he is today.”

Mitch’s brows knit more closely together. Fifty years wasn’t old but he was beginning to wonder about Mrs. Lambert’s mental status. “You mean the printing store?”

Mrs. Lambert nodded. “Yes, among the other businesses he owns.”

“You mean his family owns,” Mitch corrected.

“No, Brian. He’s quite the businessman,” Mrs. Lambert told him. “Of course, owning your own business is nice but it’s his work with the Special Olympics that I’m most impressed with. The way he coaches those children is so inspiring. The newspaper has done several write-ups on him over the years.”

The other two women nodded in unison.

“Brian coaches for the Special Olympics?” Mitch asked. “I didn’t know that.” How would he though? He’d closed himself off from knowing anything when it came to the Everson family.

“Yes,” the third woman at the table said. She had a librarian look about her, with thick glasses and shoulder-length, pin-straight hair. Mitch thought maybe she actually was his school librarian once upon a time. “His wife too. She has a physical disability as well, you know.”

“No.” Mitch hadn’t known that either.

“She doesn’t use a wheelchair too often but sometimes when her multiple sclerosis flares up, she does.”

“Oh, Brian seems to adore Jessica,” Mrs. Lambert said, beaming under the dim lights of the bar. “I’ve never been a fan of Brian’s father, Frank, but those two couldn’t be more different. I mean, even though Brian doesn’t get along with his father, he still lets him run the printing store.”

Mitch pulled out a chair and sat down at the table with the women now. His body was suddenly too heavy to hold up. “Brian and his father don’t get along?” he asked.

“Well, no,” Mrs. Lambert said. “Not for some time now. His father was always so sports oriented. Even after the accident, he pushed Brian to enter the Olympics. It was never Brian’s dream to be an Olympian though. He wrote a narrative paper in my class once telling me so. He asked me not to share it so I didn’t.” Mrs. Lambert shook her head. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag now so it’s okay.”

Mitch was trying to wrap his head around this new information. Even though he hadn’t planned on drinking tonight, the beer in his hand looked appealing right about now. He pulled it to his mouth and took a long pull. When he set it back down, he asked, “So Brian doesn’t work at the printing store with his father?” Because that little tidbit stood out.

“Well, I’m sure he drops by there from time to time but he has so many businesses. He practically owns all the downtown shops,” Mrs. Lambert continued.

Mitch leaned forward. He’d been policing the stores on Main Street for weeks. He’d seen Brian at Dawanda’s Fudge Shop once but that was as a customer. He’d seen Brian’s sister Penny too.

“All those store owners would have lost their life’s work if Brian hadn’t swooped in and bought it all. Some bigwig commercial businessman wanted to snap up all that realty, and he would’ve too.”

“That would’ve ruined some of Sweetwater’s charm,” the woman on the right said, shaking her head with a cluck of her tongue.

Mrs. Lambert nodded in agreement. “Brian was a real hero to save it all. And you,” she said, pointing her finger. “We hear you’re a hero these days as well. You caught the thief who was wreaking havoc down here.”

Mitch shook his head. “He wasn’t much of a thief, if you ask me.” Just a scared kid who reminded Mitch a whole lot of his younger self.

Mitch wrapped his fingers around his beer as his mind raced. It was Frank Everson who’d turned him away both times Mitch had tried to see Brian. Did Brian even know Mitch wanted to talk to him?

Mitch stayed and chatted with the ladies just a few minutes more, and then he got up and returned to the table with Alex and Tuck.

“Thought you weren’t drinking tonight,” Tuck said, lowering his gaze to the beer in Mitch’s hand.

Mitch set it down in front of him. “Brian Everson owns the downtown shops we’ve been patrolling,” he said, looking at Alex.

Alex stared at him for a moment and then gave a slow nod. “On paper, but the shop owners still have complete control. They all had substantial flooding after the last year’s winter storm. The costs to repair were steep and a commercial realtor wanted to buy it at a steal. The store owners couldn’t possibly have afforded to turn him down, if not for Brian.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“A lot of people around here don’t know. Besides, you’ve always insisted you didn’t want to hear about the Everson family,” Alex told him. “I respected that.”

Mitch nodded. He’d shut down every conversation pertaining to Brian over the years. It was too painful. His philosophy had been that what he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him. “I want to know now. Where can I find him?”

Alex pulled out his cell phone and tapped the screen. “The man is everywhere. Sometimes I go long stretches without seeing him, and sometimes I run into him several times a day.”

Tuck agreed. “The wheelchair doesn’t slow Brian down one bit. He’s even been climbing with me a time or two.”

Mitch raised a brow. The image he’d carried in his mind along with all the guilt wasn’t accurate. Mitch was more paralyzed than Brian, it seemed.

“I have his contact information in my phone,” Alex said. “You want his number?”

Mitch hesitated and then nodded. He’d already been shot down twice in his efforts to talk to Brian. Maybe the third time would be the charm.