After It's Over (15 page)

“We’re soul mates.”

Soul mates? This chick should lay off the romance novels.

“Beth, when was the last time you got some sleep?”
Or took a shower?

“I can’t sleep since you stopped talking to me. I just sit and stare at my phone. I kept thinking you’d call or show up.” Her lips quivered.

Ben looked away and shook his head. “I don’t understand. You know I’m married.”

“Married?” Beth scoffed. “That never stopped you before.”

“Well, things are different now. Paige is different. I don’t want to lose her.” Ben watched as her eyes filled with tears
.
“You should try to work things out with Brad.”

“My husband’s name was Brett, and I can’t. He found out about you and left me.” Beth wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and sniffled. 

The hot blondes, which Ben had noticed earlier, walked by their table. They snickered and rolled their eyes at him. He clenched his teeth together.

“Stop making such a scene.”

“No!” She pounded her fist on the table.

People around them glanced their way. Ben slid further down into his chair and covered half his face with his hand.

“Please just go. It’s over.”

“I have waited five long years for you because I love you and because you belong with me. How do you reward my love and patience? You dump me in a text message. Couldn’t you have at least been man enough to do it in person?”

“I…uh…” Ben shrugged.

“There’s ending a relationship and then there’s dumping someone like a piece of trash on the side of the road!” Beth stomped her foot.

He stared at his hands. “I’m sorry. I thought you understood. What we had was just a fling.”

Beth pulled at her hair and bit her lip. “I don’t believe that. I know you love me.”

“I love my wife.”

“If you really loved your wife, then why have you been cheating on her?”

Ben looked away from Beth’s tear-stained face and raised eyebrows. He shrugged.

“I don’t know.”

Beth gripped the back of the chair that Evelyn had just sat in and leaned forward. Her eyes were dark as she stared at him.

“Yes, you do! You’ve been with me this whole time because I’m what you want. I’m the woman who loves and accepts you for who you are. Does your wife love and accept you?”

Ben shook his head again. He opened his mouth to speak but words escaped him.

“I didn’t think so.” Beth sighed. “I’m tired of waiting, Ben. If you don’t want me then…”

“Then what?”

The hair on the back of his neck stood up; he wiped his palms on his thighs.

Maybe I should just get up and walk out. No, she’d probably just chase me out to the parking lot and then we’d have an even bigger audience. I hate drama.

“Then maybe I’m better off dead.”

Ben’s mouth dropped open. Beth recoiled, spun around on her heel and ran out of the Starbucks. He felt the curious stares of onlookers, but he didn’t care.

What does that mean? Do I go after her? No, because there’s nothing left to say. Besides, she has friends and family to turn to, right?

From his seat near the window, Ben could see Beth leave. She tore out of the parking lot, burning rubber as she turned the corner. When her car was out of sight, Ben made his way to his car. Based on their encounter, he expected to find his tires slashed or maybe his windshield broken, but everything appeared normal until he walked around to the passenger’s side. The window was smashed. He peered inside; everything was there—his iPod, his watch and a wad of cash he kept in the console.

But something isn’t right. What is it?

His stomach churning, Ben’s eyes focused on the glove box that hung open. The only thing inside was his owner’s manual for the car.

Did Beth steal my gun?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Kade sat in his truck, waiting for early morning Mass to end. He’d tried to catch up with Father John yesterday, but the priest had been sick.

If there was anyone who knew what was going on with Mrs. Birch back then, it was Father John.

Kade could have gone to Mass, sat in the back and waited, but he didn’t belong inside a church. He’d never understood the concept of faith and his work involved seeing things that made it difficult to believe in God. He preferred to sit in his old truck with a heater that no longer worked; he rubbed his hands together to stave off the cold. The clock slowly ticked the minutes off. He tried not to think about anything, but one thought just wouldn’t leave him alone.

I should have made more of an effort to find her. Now she’s married. She could have a baby by now! Why didn’t I try harder to find her? If she’s married, is it really over between us? If she’s not coming back, then what difference does it make if there was more to what happened to her parents? I should just forget this and get to work.

Kade started the truck, grunted, and pounded his fists on the steering wheel. He glanced out the window at the church. He wanted to drive away and forget about Paige. He wanted to rid himself of the pain in his chest.

She’s married now, and I have no business prying into her past.
But Mrs. Birch was like a second mother to me and if there’s more to this story, don’t I owe it to everyone involved to find out? If there’s a chance the pregnancy wasn’t the cause of that fight, Paige deserves to know. I owe that to her as cop, don’t I? Even if she never comes home.

Kade turned the truck off and rubbed his hands together.
Don’t think about not seeing her again. Think about something else.
He switched his focus to Marie and pulled out his phone to check his email. He figured there had to be some news about the corporation that owned that car. But the only email in his inbox was reminder from Facebook to fill out his profile.
Darn Facebook. Like I want to live my life on that thing.
He rubbed his eyes. Sleep had eluded him for several nights, so he rested his head on the steering wheel. The second his eyes closed, Paige popped into his head again.

It’s been a year since I’ve seen her. And how long before that?
Years and years.

For thirteen years Kade waited and watched for some sign of Paige in Tacoma. He knew she’d finished high school in Europe and figured she could still be there. Her brother Drew moved back after college, and Kade ran into him from time to time. He’d wanted to ask about Paige, but their brief encounters were usually in the hallway of the courthouse where Drew was defending someone Kade had locked up. They couldn’t exactly stop and chat.

Kade had lived his life believing she would come back to him. He had to believe that—that idea was key to surviving the long days and nights without her. There were women that passed through his life, but no one ever stayed for more than a night. His mother tried to set him up, his grandmother offered girls money to date him, but he always found a way to avoid meeting any of them. There was one girl for him, and no one else mattered.

The day Kade ran into Paige at the grocery store, the sky had been overcast and threatening rain. He wanted to catch the Mariners game on television, and was about to miss the first pitch. He had hurried into the store, colliding with a woman in his haste. Choking out a hello, Kade couldn’t believe it was Paige.

“Hi,” she said.

“When did you get back?” he asked. His mind searched for something more interesting to say, but he drew a blank.

Every single thing I thought I would say in this moment has completely flown out of my head.

“Back?” Paige held two large bags of groceries in her arms. She shifted them in what seemed like an attempt not to drop them. A stray hair fell into her eyes. She tried to blow it out of her face.

“From Europe. I heard you moved there,” Kade reached for the bags. “Here, let me help.”

“No, that’s okay—”

“I insist.” He took the groceries from her and motioned for her to lead the way. She seemed reluctant, but then she smiled.

“Follow me,” Paige said.

Kade nodded. “So, you went to Europe, right?”

I can’t believe she’s here. I want to know every single thing I’ve missed since…

“Yes, I finished high school there.”

Kade walked slightly behind her so he could absorb every change that had come with the passage of time. Paige had evolved from a high school tomboy to a mature, working professional. She was dressed in a well-fitted dress.

She seems slightly taller now, or maybe it’s those heels. I never thought I’d see my tomboy in a pair of high heels.

He admired Paige’s toned legs and had to admit she looked more fit now than she did back then.
Look away before she thinks you’re a pervert.
Kade became acutely aware of the fact that he was sweating; his palms felt slick as he tried to hold onto the bags.

“What’d you do after high school?” he asked.

“I went to college back east. Spent a couple of years in Ireland tending bar. Decided to go to law school. Went Ivy League like Drew. After all that, I ended up back here.”

“You were a bartender?”

“Yeah, a barmaid or whatever. It was fun except for the fighting, and there was always fighting.” Paige stopped as they reached the first row of cars and looked around. She frowned.

Kade tried to look away from her, but he couldn’t. He restrained himself from tossing the groceries aside, pulling her into his arms and demanding to know every single detail of the last thirteen years of her life. He had missed her like oxygen, and he was hungry to breathe her in.

She still makes the same cute expression when she’s confused or lost.

“You forgot where you parked the car.”

“Yes.” Paige fumbled around in her purse until she produced a set of keys. She pressed the button and looked around. Her car beeped on the very last row.

“Your mom could never remember where she parked.”

“No, she couldn’t. Not even when we were just running into the bank for two minutes.” Paige brushed her hair back behind her ear; it was a gesture she always made when she thought of something happy.

Some things never change.

“Remember the time she took us to the fair and we spent two hours searching for the car afterward?” Kade asked as they weaved between the rows of cars.

“You remember that?” she replied.

“Yeah. We had so much fun until—”

“Until Mom couldn’t find the car. We spent as long looking for the car as we did going on rides.”

Their eyes locked. Kade ached to touch her skin, to pull her into a warm embrace and share more happy memories. They had made so many, but Paige looked away.

“My car is just over there.”

“Right.”

They walked the rest of the way in silence. There were a million questions he wanted to ask, but his instincts told him that if he overwhelmed her, she would run again. They reached her sedan. Paige opened the trunk and stepped back. Kade placed the bags inside. Their hands brushed as they both went to close the lid of the trunk.

“Sorry.” She blushed and looked away.

“Are you married?” Kade couldn’t believe the words came out of his mouth.

She shook her head and bit her lip. “I was engaged, but…” she shrugged.

“Are you seeing anyone?”

Paige was finally flesh and bone in front of him, rather than just a smiling face in a photograph. The years had done nothing to dampen his love for her. His body twitched at the nearness of her.

If there’s a second chance for us, I have to take it.

“No.”

Paige stared at him as if she wasn’t sure what to do or say. Kade took her hand, a surge of adrenaline coursed through his body as his skin touched hers. She looked away, but didn’t pull back so he took her other hand. His heart raced as he closed the distance between them.

He whispered in her ear. “My place isn’t far from here. Can we go there and talk?”

“I should get home. I’ve got ice cream,” she said.

Kade took a step back and dropped her hands. He nodded and coughed; something was stuck in his throat. “Well, it was nice to see you.” His chest hurt and his eyes watered. He gave Paige a quick smile and walked away.

“Wait!”

Kade glanced back at her over his shoulder.

“What?”

“Do you have a freezer?” She gave him a tentative smile.

“Yeah, want to follow me?” Kade didn’t smile. He held the corners of his mouth down.

Be cool. Don’t let her see that you’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.

“Yes.” Paige nodded.

Their eyes met and the pain in his chest receded. He forced himself to walk rather than run to his car a couple of rows over. When they got on the road, he checked his rear view mirror every few seconds to make sure she hadn’t lost her way. A gust of relief escaped as they pulled into his driveway in front of his tiny house on Ruston Way.

She’s here. I’ve thought about showing her this house for so long.

They stood staring at each other in his driveway. The world fell away; Paige was all he could see.

“My ice cream is probably melting,” she said finally.

“Right!” He motioned for her to pop the trunk; he carried her groceries into the house. As soon as he opened the door, he regretted bringing her home.

“The house is old. I’ve been tearing out walls and remodeling, so watch your step,” Kade said.

This place is a disaster. What the hell was I thinking?

Paige stopped in the foyer and looked around. Kade cringed inwardly. Plastic covered the rails leading up the stairs. Drop cloths were laid down to protect the hardwood floors in the empty living and dining rooms. The only furniture on the entire floor was a beat up table in the kitchen and its one matching chair. Kade wouldn’t have that furniture if it weren’t for his grandmother, the hoarder. He was grateful for the table, but didn’t understand how she could only find one chair to go with it.

This place looks more like a construction site than a home.

Kade watched Paige’s reaction. She gave him a thumbs up.

“I think it has a lot of potential.”

“Yeah, I think so too.” He motioned in the direction of the kitchen and she followed him.

He set the bags down on the kitchen table and looked at the only chair.
Where are we going to sit and talk?

Paige pulled out the ice cream and handed it to him. “This is nice. I mean it’s a bachelor pad, but it’s nice.”

“It’s not a bachelor pad. I just haven’t lived here long enough to make it homey or whatever.”

Paige raised her eyebrows and walked over to the fridge. She opened the door and reached inside. “The only things in your fridge are a bottle of Ranch dip and an expired carton of milk.”

“That reminds me! I went to the store to actually buy food,” he laughed.

Paige’s eyes looked happy as she looked at him.

“I’ll share.”

A feeling passed between them, blood coursed through Kade’s body and for the first time in a very long time, he actually felt alive.

I’ve been sleepwalking for the last thirteen years.

“I think there are a couple of beers in the very back of the fridge, or I’ve got some bottled water somewhere,” he offered.

“I’m not really thirsty,” she replied.

Paige set her purse down on the counter and ran her fingers through her hair. She’d cut her long hair back to her shoulders. Kade felt a pang of sadness as he remembered the feeling of working his hands through her hair as they made love.

She’s so beautiful. Why is it I can still remember what it feels like to touch her?

“So, is there more to see?” Paige asked.

Kade swallowed hard and nodded. “Yeah, let me show you the back yard first.”

They walked out into the backyard. The lawn was too long; he hadn’t had time to mow it in a month. There were empty paint buckets and scattered yard tools. The previous owners had left a bunch of broken yard toys that were piled high in one corner.

This looks like a dump. Why did I bring her back here? Because I’m hoping she will share my vision.

“I’m going to build a deck and have a massive barbecue in the corner. I was thinking it would be cool to have a fire pit, too.”

“Yeah, this could be a really great place to entertain friends or just hang out and relax on the weekend.” Paige nodded. He watched her eyes; his heart jumped a little as he realized she was picturing it.

“Right. This could be a great place to host family events.”

Their eyes locked again, this time Paige didn’t look away. She inched closer to him and he took her hand.

“Let’s get inside before it starts to rain,” he said.