Chapter 26
Leah watched kids playing tag, a couple holding hands, and people lying on their blankets and reading their books. Flies buzzed while the wind sighed causing the trees to creak.
Then Cole’s mink eyes flashed in her mind. He hadn’t called her back. Was he okay? How much time did he need? She stared at her hands while settled on the park bench. The thought of losing him made her chin tremble.
She shut her eyes, since the idea was nonsense. Cole would never abandon her. She trusted him, with everything. If only Brian didn’t text her at the most inappropriate time. Her time with Cole was like music on the water. Everything was perfect. They even felt like a family with Chip running around.
All her dreams of love compared little to the passion, which took hold of her when Cole came around. She wanted a future with him. The hardships they would face, like all couples, she would endure them without question. With him beside her, the world was theirs for the taking.
Is this what her mother meant by “knowing your heart?” Leah licked her lips. If this was a taste, hers was clear as crystal. Feeling his hand to her face, his lips meshing with hers, murmuring I love you in her ear. Her lashes fluttered at the thought.
She pulled out her cell again to call. Voicemail again? Leah pursed her lips. “Hey, it’s me. Call me when you get a chance. Please?” She hung up.
“Waiting for me?” A baritone voice asked.
Leah twirled her head around as Seth sat on the bench beside her. “Thank you for coming.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Seth, I am so sorry. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want to cause friction with you and Cole. I guess I did that, anyway.”
He bobbed his head. “I guess I came on a little strong.”
“You were being honest, and I appreciate it.”
He angled his body toward her. “Leah, leaving you back in high school was one of my biggest regrets, but I want you to be happy.”
“I want that for you too.”
His expression softened. “I know.” Then his shoulders slumped, and his mouth released a deep sigh. “If my brother makes you happy, that’s all that matters. I’ll… have to get used to that.”
“Thank you.” Her heart melted at his kind words.
Seth clutched her hand in response. Would he be okay? Leah’s heart filled with warmth knowing he would be. Seth proved himself a fighter after his injury. While he came on very strong to get what he wanted, he would be okay with a different outcome. She would never forget the boy she once loved. Never.
****
Cole surveyed the images on his laptop. Picking the best photos of Jeremy and April’s engagement photos, he saved them all to one file. The clearing of a throat made him raise his chin. His father lowered his gaze, but then he glared at his son.
Crossing his arms, he cleared his throat. “I talked with Mayor Kimble. He said he called you.”
Cole reached in his pocket for his phone. He had missed a call. Taking a minute, he listened to the voicemail. “Cole, this is Mayor Kimble, April’s father. She told me of your generous donation. I wanted to call and thank you personally. We’re proud to have you a part of our town.” The phone slipped through his fingers but he regained his grip before it toppled to the floor.
“You donated money to the community center?” his father asked.
“It’s not a big deal. The storm left the roof damaged. I stopped by last night during my drive.” Cole rubbed the back of his head. He should have known April wouldn’t have kept his secret for long.
“I didn’t know.” His father dragged his feet and came over to sit next to his son on the couch. “I was talking with your mother last night. Do you remember when you asked me to help you with your book report as a little boy?”
“I was ten, right?”
“I told you to ask your mother.”
Cole said, “And then when Seth asked you to play catch with him outside, you went to hang out with him.”
“I never meant to make you feel like I passed you over,” his father said.
Cole sat still as a statue. Was his father being vulnerable? Growing up, he came across tough as nails. He wasn’t much for soft words and barely said, “I love you.” His mother always defended him saying, “That’s his way,” and “Your father’s a good man.” Cole never understood that concept only wanting the love and support from his father.
Too many years he spent angry with him, unwilling to forgive. “This whole time… I thought you weren’t proud of me.”
His father released a deep breath. “I’ve always been proud of you. I just wanted you to choose the best career possible. I had already set in my mind your future. I didn’t realize I took away your choice. Now that you’re successful, I didn’t want to admit I was wrong.
“You were so smart growing up, and I wanted you to use that the way I thought best. I never went after my dreams. I lacked courage, but I should have trusted that I raised you well and respected your decision. You were right, and I’m so proud.”
Cole rubbed his chin. “I’ve always admired you. Even though our relationship has been rocky, I thought the world of you. Even when I was angry, I wanted your approval.”
“That means a lot coming from you.” His father gave him a side hug. “I’m sorry, son. I never wanted you to feel like I didn’t care. I know I’m not much with words, but I love you.”
Cole’s voice choked. Too focused on his own feelings, he did not see his father’s. “I… love you too, Dad.”
His father patted his arm before releasing him. “I also called your brother over here.”
Cole’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”
“Your mother asked me to intervene, so whatever it is you two are fighting about, it ends today.”
“It’s not my fault.”
“I didn’t say it was, but what’s the one thing your mother hates?” His father raised an eyebrow.
Cold didn’t have to think twice about the answer. He lost count of the times his mother made him and Seth sit across from each other until they compromised. Even something small as fighting over a toy, she didn’t condone fighting. They could disagree or have differences of opinion, but nothing could break their bond as brothers.
“Son?”
“I hear you.”
The front door opened and closed.
“Okay, Dad, I don’t have much time, so what happened in the kitchen you need my help with?” Seth paused as soon as he and Cole made eye contact. His eyes then shifted back to his father. “What’s he doing here?”
Their father pointed to the couch. “Have a seat, Seth.”
Seth sat in the chair in front of the fireplace. “What’s going on?”
“You both tell me. Now, you’re grown men, so I can’t tell you what to do, but when your arguing affects your mother, I have to speak on it.”
Seth leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs.
Cole leaned back on the couch. He didn’t want to fight anymore. What would it take for them to compromise? “I’m… sorry.”
His brother rubbed the back of his head. “No… I’m sorry.”
“You are?”
“I’ll let you boys talk it out.” Their father stepped out of the room. “No wrestling.”
Seth’s mouth twisted, but not quite into a full smile. “I am sorry, Cole. I’ve been thinking, and I shouldn’t have kicked you out.”
“I meant to tell you before about Leah and me.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Cole raised his eyebrows. “Based on your reaction, can you blame me for waiting?”
“I guess I can’t.” He leaned back in his chair. “I guess I thought ‘what does she see in him she doesn’t see in me?’”
“I thought the same thing about you in high school.”
“I know, and I thought we could get it back, but…” Seth looked over at his brother. “She loves you, Cole.” Then he extended his hand. “Make her happy. She deserves it.”
Cole shook his brother’s hand, then released it. “Thanks.”
“I’m also sorry about everything else. I was so busy wanting my success I didn’t take time to include you. I’ve always been proud, but I should have said it more.”
This couldn’t be his brother. “I appreciate that, but I was wrong. You always supported me. Truth is, you going after your dreams inspired me to do the same.”
“I uh… love you.”
“Love you too.” Cole swallowed the lump in his throat. “So, uh… how about them Yankees?”
Seth laughed. “Not a fan, you know that.”
“Who doesn’t like the Yankees?”
“Me, but there’s something else I need to tell you.” He stood upright and sauntered over to the couch to sit next to him.
“What’s that?”
“I reached out to my former agent last year. I wrote a book.”
“You did?”
Seth bobbed his head. “An autobiography. My life in the NFL, how being injured changed me, but how I still persevered. I got a publishing deal.”
“You got a publishing deal? That’s why you couldn’t make it to the wedding?”
His brother smiled. “Yeah, I met them in person. They loved it, and they want to put together a book tour.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I felt embarrassed. Has-been NFL player trying to get back on his feet. I wanted to make the town proud again.”
“We’ll always be proud.”
****
Cole clinked his glass with his brother at PV’s Bar & Grill. After taking a gulp, his bottle thumped on the bar once he placed it down.
“So, Brian called her?” Seth asked. Then he took a seasoned fry in his mouth.
“You sure you don’t mind—”
Seth raised his hand to ward off his comment. “It’ll take time, but I’ll be fine. You weren’t the only one who grew up. Life’s too short to wallow.”
Cole cracked a smile.
“So, Brian called?”
“Yeah, and I panicked and left. She called, and I missed them. I haven’t called her back.”
His brother scrunched his eyebrows. “Why not?”
“I guess… I don’t want to hear what she has to say.”
“What if its good news? What if she’s through with Brian?” Seth nudged his shoulder. “Take it from someone who’s already lost her. Don’t let her go.”
Cole opened his mouth to respond but stopped. Celeste looked over their way, and her eyes focused on Seth.
“What do you think of Celeste?”
Seth’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”
Cole gestured in her direction, and Seth jerked his head toward her. Celeste settled in a near booth with three other females.
His brother sipped his glass. “Why do you ask?”
“She likes you.”
“Since when?”
He eyed his brother. “You haven’t noticed? I can feel the tension from across the room.”
“We talk now and then in passing but it’s nothing serious.”
“I understand.”
Seth leaned forward and rested his elbows on the bar top. “You want the truth?”
“Yeah.”
“Celeste… she’s the one that got me thinking about publishing my book.”
“How’s that?”
“I wrote a few chapters, and it slipped in our conversation one day when I stopped by the diner for lunch. I told her I wasn’t sure, but she said she would be the first to read it when I finished it.” His brother hung his head.
“That’s nice of her.”
“It was. She’s sweet.”
“So, you have noticed her?”
Seth’s eyebrows furrowed. “Sure I did, but that means nothing.”
“True.” Cole ate a French fry.
“I don’t know about anything happening—”
“Seth?” a female voice interrupted.
Both brothers angled their bodies to face Celeste, who stood only a few inches away from Seth. Despite her biting her lower lip and scraping a hand through her hair, she rolled her shoulders back.
“Yes?” Seth replied.
“This is way out of my comfort zone, and I know this is not the right time, but I’m taking a risk.” She took a calming breath. “I like you. I always have. Whether you like me, I wanted to be honest and tell you the truth.”
If only he was as bold.
Seth cleared his throat. “I… don’t know what to say. You kind of… caught me off guard.”
Celeste’s eyes shimmered with affection for him. “I know this was as random as it gets, but I wanted you to know.”
Seth rubbed his chin. “You think we… can talk?”
Celeste beamed. “I’d like that.”
Cole checked his watch. “Well, I need to get going.” He stood upright and left a tip for the bartender. He didn’t say another word, but tiptoed around them and sauntered out the door.
He pulled out his phone again, calling Leah. Nothing. He tried once more as soon as he settled in the driver’s seat of his truck. Should he give up? He cranked the engine and headed to her house. How angry was she? Sure, he could have picked up the phone, but her ex-boyfriend calling unexpectedly rattled him. He wouldn’t repeat his mistakes. Whoever loved him for him, he would cling tight to those people no matter what.
Thankfully, there was little traffic to Leah’s house. Traffic jams in Piedmont Valley, rare. Cole pulled into her driveway only to have his heart sink. Her car wasn’t there. He blew out his cheeks.
Did he wait too late? Why did he run when all he wanted was to hold her? The first sign of adversity and he bolted like lightning.
The next time they talked, he would lay his cards on the table. He would never again rob her of her own choice. If she chose him, he would respect her decision either way. Was that real love, letting a person go? What if her happiness meant giving up his own?
Cole gripped the steering wheel. The only thing that would calm his nerves was his deserted barn. Cranking the engine once more, he pulled out of Leah’s driveway. The hum of the engine kept him company as he drove in silence.