Meant to Be (RightMatch.com Trilogy) (5 page)

“I was at loose ends and came to see if you needed help.”

“We always need help. But you’re a godsend today because one of the counselors called in sick and we’re short on the hotline. Your forté.” Carolyn stood and offered Beth the seat where she’d been answering calls. “I got an intake in fifteen minutes, so you’re very needed.”

Beth smiled. “Go ahead and get ready.”

Carolyn watched her a moment. “You okay?”

Shaking her head, Beth said, “No, but I will be after this dose of reality.”

“I got ya. I’m off at five if you want to get coffee.”

Beth had forced herself to come here today because all she wanted to do was wallow in her misery and she knew she’d do just that until her kids came tomorrow. Still, she wasn’t up for talking about what had happened to her this morning.

When Carolyn left, Beth signed the volunteer book and called up the computer program ALICE, clicked into her account and was ready when the next call came in. She’d been working at the shelter on the outskirts of town ever since she and Peter had sold their house in Rockland and moved to Honey Lake to the house next to the Inn. Not only did she help people, but talking to women in trouble—real trouble—made her own problems seem miniscule. And when they weren’t, when she had a
real
problem, like when Peter died, helping others got her out of herself.

Cole Matheson was a
real
problem.

The phone rang. She picked it up. “Second Chances. This is Beth speaking.”

“Hi, Beth. This is Elaine from Rockland Battered Women’s Shelter. We’re full, again!” Exasperation laced her tone. These calls came often from the only domestic shelter in that large city. “And I have a woman and two kids who need housing. Got any room?”

Beth clicked into the census, saw that there was space. “I think I do. How old are the kids?”

“Four and two. The little one can sleep in a crib.”

“Great. Have the woman call me here and I’ll screen her and she can come today.”

Elaine sighed. “There’s no bus out to Honey Lake today and since it’s Sunday, we’re short staffed. We can’t get her there until tomorrow.”

“Hold on a second, Elaine.” Beth buzzed Carolyn, who would be in her office. When the director answered, Beth explained the situation and ended with, “I can go get her.”

“Really?”

“You know I’m insured.” The shelter provided transportation of victims by staff members with special coverage to drive clients.

“Then, yes, do it.”

“After I screen her. I just wanted to make sure we had transportation.”

“We’ll be full after that, so note it on the census.”

“I know. There just isn’t enough space anywhere to accommodate all these women and kids.”

When Beth clicked off from Carolyn, she told Elaine everything was a go, and as she waited for the woman to call her, Beth was seized again by a thought—one that had been plaguing her since she’d started volunteering here. Though Beth loved The Montgomery Inn and enjoyed owning the place, especially since she’d hired adequate staff to run it, sometimes she wondered why she did. Basically, she spent her time catering to people who had a lot of money. Making their lives easier than they already were. Oh, sure, the patrons came for a respite, but in the dark of night, she wondered if what she did for a living was shallow…and unnecessary.

Soon, the phone rang. Beth went through the introductions. A very timid voice came on the line. God, the woman sounded young. “I, um, this is Mary Anderson. The lady at RBW said to call. Maybe you got a spot for me.”

“Yes, Mary we do. And transportation. But first I have to screen you. That means you’ll answer some questions on a form I have to fill out. First, tell me what happened to make you need shelter.”

“It’s Bobby. He beat me up. And he made me…um, um…”

“It’s okay, Mary. You can tell me anything.”

“He made me have sex. I know husbands can’t rape their wives, but that’s what it felt like.”

“You’re wrong. Husbands can absolutely rape their wives.”

“Really?” Here she started to cry. “I thought I was wrong. He always says everything’s my fault.”

“Many abusers say that. But he’s wrong and the staff here will help you come to see that and a lot of other things.”

After screening Mary, Beth completed all the paperwork and waited for Carolyn to finish the intake and take over the hotline. Then Beth got her car outfitted with children’s car seats—man she didn’t miss that chore—but as soon as she was on the expressway, her mind catapulted back to Cole.

And how they’d made love. Maybe it was the long discussion she’d had with Mary about sex…

Men are supposed to be gentle
.

God, could Cole have touched her more tenderly? And even when he’d been in the throes of passion and gripped her leg or arm, he’d apologized.

Men don’t have a right to sex
.

He’d kissed her then looked chagrined. “I’m sorry. I know we said no sex
…”

Men are supposed to protect you, not hurt you
…

"Did I hurt you? I lost my head that last time.… Jesus you got bruises on your hips. I’m so sorry.”

The images plagued Beth until she reached Rockland. Where Cole lived. She didn’t know his address and it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. He wasn’t going to be part of her life anymore and that was for the best.

But thinking about Mary and her abuser, Beth felt like she’d lost something very rare and very precious.

o0o

The clouds above matched his mood as Cole stood in the batter’s box and lifted the bat. Blanking his mind, he watched a friend of Joe’s wind up and pitch him a fast one. The bat cracked, the ball soared and Cole ran—rounding first, then second and halting at third. A pretty little baseman—base
woman
—caught the throw from the outfielder too late to tag him.

“Aw,” she said with a wink. “I was looking forward to sliding in the mud with you.” It had rained and the ground was still wet.

“Now there’s a thought.” Though not a pleasant one. Shit! It had been over a week since his blowup with Beth and he still couldn’t think of another woman without the term
chore
coming to mind. This particular one was cute, perky and—ta da!—young.

She smiled at him. “You’re Joey’s baby brother.”

“Yeah, you got me there.”

“He’s a nice guy.” She stared at the bleachers. “All the Sundowners love Dana. Admire her. She’s our biggest cheerleader.”

Cole remembered when Joe had been reluctant to bring Dana to his competitions with the group of athletes he’d played sports with for years. He’d been afraid Dana would be uncomfortable and, he’d admitted once to Cole, maybe embarrassed somewhat. Would Beth be embarrassed by him around her friends? Though Joe’s fears had been unfounded, Beth’s might not be.

Cole, we’re at totally different stages in our lives. Can you imagine going out with my friends? They talk about retirement, vacation homes, college for their kids. You’re nowhere near any of that.

“Speak of the devil.” The cutie nodded toward the plate. Joey had come to bat.

On the first pitch, he whacked the ball out of the park. Cole scored. Joe scored and the game ended.

They came off the field like warriors returning from war. For the first time, Cole noticed his whole family had showed up. He’d seen Kara and Kae with Dana but missed Annie and Spence and their two, Hope and Alex, with his mom and dad. He kissed Dana, because he came to her first, and pressed a hand on her belly. “He doing okay?”

“Hmm.” Dana grinned. “Just fine.” She studied him. “I wish I could say the same for his uncle.”

He repeated the process with Annie—she was having a girl—then scanned the crowd of them. “What’s this, a family reunion?”

“Just out for a Sunday afternoon,” his father said, clapping him on the back.

Since there were few secrets among them, Cole suspected they’d all come to cheer him up. And after their talk last week, his Dad had been checking in every other day. Cole knew why…

If I’d had a baby I hadn’t told her about, I would have, son. I really would have.

After weakly protesting, Cole had come to the conclusion his father was right. How could he even consider pushing Beth, courting her again, when he’d only told her about half his lies? The answer was simple: he couldn’t. The knowledge that he still had
some
integrity didn’t make him any less depressed. And his dad knew that.

His mom, Ellison, approached him and slid her arm around his waist. “You looked good out there, buddy.”

“Yeah, probably, considering this is the only sport I’m halfway decent at.”

“You have many other talents, sweetheart.”

Which was true. Even though he wasn’t a jock, he’d been popular in high school. Liking computers hadn’t put a dent in the myriad of friends he’d made from all the cliques at East High. Before he’d gotten Ellie, he’d seen a lot of them when he’d come back to Rockland to live after college.

His dad interrupted his thinking. “I’m buying pizza for dinner at Napoli’s.”

Napoli’s was a small restaurant on the south side of Rockland, where Cole did not want to go because it would remind him of Beth…

Favorite food?
she’d asked online
.

Pizza, from Napoli’s.

Are you kidding? I love that place. I always took my kids there when they were younger.

Yeah, it’s a favorite of my family’s too.

Cole glanced at his watch. It was four p.m. “I hadn’t planned on dinner out. I probably should just go home.”

“I’ll go get Ellie, if that’s the issue.” This from Spence, who wore a sappy grin a lot these days. “It’ll give me practice with car seats.”

“And I can help,” little Hope said. “Please come, Uncle Cole.”

What the hell? He didn’t want to be alone, not really, because his thoughts would turn dark as soon as he left his family. “No, that’s okay. Mrs. Olsen took her to her granddaughter’s birthday party today. They’re probably still there.” He smiled at the group. “Besides, I could use some alone time with my nieces and nephews. You four can ride out with me.”

The kids cheered, his mom grinned and his dad gave him an approving look. Thank God for these people in his life. He’d concentrate on that.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the pizza shop where Rick used to take Joe, Spence and Cole years ago. On the drive down, he’d enjoyed hearing about his nephew’s baseball accolades, two of his nieces’ dance careers and little Kaelyn’s new art classes. When they entered the restaurant, Cole felt the special memories of this place encompass him. It almost helped him forget Beth liked it here, too.

Until they took their seats at a table for eleven. Situated between Kara and Hope, Cole was going to question Kara about her ankle when his gaze strayed to a corner booth.

In it was Beth Montgomery.

o0o

Ava lifted her almost empty wine glass to salute her mother. “I’m glad we do this every year, Mom. I wish Rob could have been with us.”

Beth nodded. Her son was a pilot of a privately owned plane and didn’t have control over his schedule. But he was usually able to get away for the anniversary of their father’s death. Not this year, though he’d come to the lake earlier in the week. “I know. Has he ever missed spending the day with us?”

“Not that I remember.” Ava glanced around. “We used to run around this place until the pizza came. Dad would get embarrassed, but you always took it in stride.” She patted her stomach. “And the pizza’s still as good.”

Are you kidding? I love that place. I always took my kids there when they were younger.

Yeah, it’s a favorite of my family’s too. See, Beth baby, this was meant to be.

Chiding herself for letting thoughts of Cole intrude on her alone time with Ava—Beth’s granddaughter Mariel was with her father—she couldn’t seem to help recalling things about him. She’d drawn the line at copping out on Ava, though, just because this place would remind him of her. Beth
wasn’t
going to let him control her actions.

“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you Mom?” Ava’s voice turned brittle as she set down her glass. Her daughter resembled her in many ways: she had the same auburn hair which she wore short, the same hazel eyes. But unlike Beth, who was often able to hide her mood, Ava’s emotions were as vivid as a neon sign.

“Yes, I am, honey.” She glanced around at the darkened interior, the red-clothed tables and the wine-bottle centerpieces. “Cole likes this place, too.”

“Mom, you’ve got to get over him.”

“I know. This whole thing has thrown me to the wind. I’m a mess.”

Usually Beth wasn’t so honest with Ava, though they were close in many ways. But her daughter had become very protective of her since Peter died, and Beth didn’t want to give her cause for worry. Today, however, Beth was beyond camouflaging her state of mind. For seven days running, she had indeed been a wreck.

Ava leaned over and clasped her hands. “Mom, we talked this out. You were right to stop the relationship dead in its tracks. He’s too young for you.”

The stark statement made her lean back. “Well, I’m not ancient.”

“Of course you’re not. But you were right about all the things you told him: competing with women my age, spending time with your friends and his. What about babies? You figured it all out, not me.”

“But you agree.”

“Wholeheartedly. I’d feel the same way if I was in your position.”

Why was it acceptable for Peter to be fifteen years older than you, but it’s not all right to have an eleven-year age difference with me?

“You know, it’s funny. I never felt that way about your dad. I wonder why?”

“Because, back then especially, it was acceptable for a May/December relationship if the guy was older.” When Beth frowned at the sexist attitude, Ava asked, “Weren’t you happy with him?”

“Of course I was. My parents and older brother objected at the time, but I couldn’t be dissuaded.”

Her daughter grinned. “Thank the good Lord for that.”

Raking her hand through her hair, Beth shook her head. “I don’t know why I’m arguing with you. I
do
agree that a relationship with Cole would bring problems I don’t want to deal with. I’m just so sad about it.”