Calling Kupid (Kupid's Cove Book 1) (9 page)

I chuckled shaking my head. “She believed she had screwed up their three-year plan. That’s Freddie for you, always worried about a plan, when life doesn’t happen that way.”

He shook his head. “It sure doesn’t. I know Rose Armstrong didn’t plan to die of cancer at barely seventy, nor did Gideon plan to die of a blood clot on his third month into retirement.”

I clutched the folder in my hands. “No, but because that was the plan of a greater power, now we will have to deal with what is left here.”

He raised one brow as I opened the folder pulling my pen from my bag. “I need to make it clear that I represent Rose Armstrong’s estate. That means I’m not your lawyer nor am I Gideon’s lawyer. It is my job to ensure that the pharmacy is taken care of in the way Rose asked it to be done in the will.”

“I’m fully aware that you represent Rose. I have my own lawyer.”

I looked up. “Okay, what’s his name?” I asked, my pen posed to write the name.

“Gideon Armstrong, Junior.”

I tried hard not to roll my eyes. “Hank, you can’t have Gideon represent you.”

“Why not?” he asked, a smart aleck smile on his face.

“Because he is the sole benefactor to Rose’s estate. He will not have your best interests at heart.”

He ran his finger around my face. “Go ahead and try to say that again with a straight face, young lady. I’ll wait.”

I put the pen down and frowned at him. “I’m aware he wants to sell you the business for a dollar.”

He steepled his fingers, “Actually two dollars, one for the business and one for the building, but yes, he’s not going to profit from the sale. That’s why I see no problem in having him represent me. He’s a corporate lawyer and I’m buying a business. That means he’s the right guy for me.”

“Be that as it may, he’s also in charge of managing this business for the next six months until you can purchase it.”

“Excuse me?” he asked, leaning forward. “I was under the impression the sale was imminent.”

“Gideon believed the same until he arrived at my office yesterday. However, Rose changed the will shortly before she passed. She wants Gideon to manage the pharmacy for six months before selling it.”

“Are you sure she was in her right mind when she made that change? Gideon is not a pharmacist.”

“Yes, she was in her right mind. The stipulations are rather vague other than Gideon must wait six months to sell it. It doesn’t say that he must be the one to do the managing.”

“So he can manage me managing the pharmacy until the sale can go through?”

“Essentially,” I agreed.

“Then why even bother putting that stipulation in the will.”

I leaned back in the chair and smiled. “I can’t speak for a dead woman, but I believe she was trying to get Gideon to take some time out of his busy life to visit Snowberry. From what his assistant tells him, she was giving him time to find love.”

My mind raced back to last night when he held me in his arms. The kisses were hot and passionate, but more than that, they were sweet and protective. He bared his soul to me and I had to make a choice about whether I was going to do the same. My brain knew it was smarter to keep my guard up, but my heart wanted someone else to carry the burden for a little while.

“Well, if that’s the case, Gideon is going to be back in his helicopter on his way to Chicago by tomorrow.”

I snapped from my daydream. “He has a helicopter? How do you know all this?”

Hank chuckled and leaned over the desk. “I’ve known Gideon for five years. He was the one who hired me to run this place after his dad passed. His mother trusted the business aspect to him as soon as Senior passed away. What Rose didn’t know was that Gideon stops into Snowberry a few times a year to check the books and make sure I’m not running a meth lab out of the back of his pharmacy.”

“He does?”

“You seem surprised.”

“I guess I just didn’t follow through with the idea that he still had to be a little bit hands-on because a pharmacy is just not his type of business.”

“No, but it was his father’s legacy in this town. While he recognizes that keeping it in the family is unrealistic, he wants to make sure that the people of Snowberry continue to have access to their medications.”

“I know plenty of people are worried the pharmacy will close its doors,” I agreed.

“No need to be. We planned to make an announcement about the pharmacy changing hands, but remaining open. I guess now we will have to postpone that for a few months.”

“If we can agree to the terms of the management and subsequent sale, I would be okay with you letting customers know you’ll be staying open, as long as no details are divulged until after the sale is final.”

“That’s a given, Kate. When do you want to meet? I’ll bring my lawyer.” He chuckled and I shook my head at his joke. “You should give Gideon a chance, Kate. I think the two of you are perfect for each other.”

Dangerous waters ahead.

“Why? Because we’re both lawyers? I hardly think that makes us perfect for each other.”

“I was thinking more along the lines of the idea that you’re both searching for something the other one has.”

I squinted one eye closed and took a deep breath. “About that meeting.”

He laughed outright with his calendar in hand. “I’m available just about any morning before nine. The question is, how long do you want Gideon to stay in town. I can drag out the meeting if that helps.”

“You really are into the comedy routine today, aren’t you, Hank?”

“No, I’m actually being dead serious.”

The longer we talked the more uncomfortable I was feeling. I resisted the urge to run out of here like an immature child.

“If he has a helicopter he can go home to Chicago and return whenever we want to plan the meeting, if he has other obligations. That said, I think it’s wise to do it as soon as possible. I know tomorrow is Saturday, but I’m willing to meet at seven-thirty if you are.”

“Nope, sorry, I’m heading out for a weekend of fishing. Monday is the soonest I can do,” he apologized, looking at his calendar. “I would cancel, but my son is fourteen now, so getting him to do anything with his boring old dad can be a real challenge. I would hate to lose the chance to spend some time with him.”

I held up my hand. “It’s not a problem, Hank. Monday morning is soon enough. Gideon can choose to stay or go back to Chicago. Is seven-thirty okay with you?”

“That should give us enough time to hammer out the details and drink coffee, which I’ll bring.” He stood and came around the desk.

I tucked the folder back in my messenger bag as he put his arm around my shoulder and walked me to the office door.

“I don’t usually stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong, but in this case I can see it needs to be said.”

“What needs to be said?” I asked confused.

“I know that your life fell apart at fourteen, at least, personally. You picked yourself up by your bootstraps and you made a life for yourself. That’s a real accomplishment. Most people who haven’t suffered half the life traumas you have can’t do that. Be proud of yourself, but remember there is more to life than work.”

“I know that, Hank. I do.”

“If you know it then why do your eyes dilate every time I say Gideon’s name? Why do your cheeks flush and you swallow hard when I talk about you spending time with him?”

“I don’t know, Hank. I didn’t know I did that. I’m just protecting what’s left of my already mashed up heart. Gideon Armstrong isn’t going to do it any good.”

He turned me to him, holding my shoulders. “Or he just might be the one to put it back into some semblance of order again. The first thing you need is faith and the second is trust. Think about it, please?”

I nodded my tentative agreement.

He grinned, his long lanky arms pulling me into a hug. “Good, now I have bottles to fill and I’m sure you have paperwork to do. I’ll see you Monday morning.”

He left me at the door to his office as he went about the rest of his day. The problem was, I was afraid of what the rest of my day might hold.

I took a deep breath before I knocked on the door of my best friend’s house. It was a big, brick monstrosity of a home that sat on the edge of Snowberry Lake. It was a bit intimidating to approach for most people, but for me, it was a little like coming home. I lived here for the last few years of high school, just Freddie, my mother and I. It was Freddie’s home, but it always felt a little like living in a museum. There were priceless antiques and artwork in every room. I always said she left everything the same when her parents died because, somewhere in her heart, she wanted them to walk back in the door from Greece.

Now that she was married to Flynn, the house seemed alive again. Before it felt as if there was always a black cloud hanging over it, a shroud of sadness that smiles nor laughter could permeate. Deep in my heart, I was happy that soon there would be a lot of laughter behind this door.

I heard yipping coming towards me and I chuckled. There was the first sound that permeated the sadness. Christine, Freddie’s miniature schnauzer, was always happy to see everyone, but first she had to alert her owners that someone was there.

The door swung open and Freddie stood before me looking a bit rumpled. Christine was barking by her feet until she saw me, then she let out a whine that said, ‘Come in and pick me up!’

I stepped in the door and did just that, rubbing Christine’s chin before giving her a kiss on the top of her head.

“I see you haven’t been able to break her from all that yapping,” I teased Freddie.

She pushed the door shut and shook her head. “We’ve tried, but there’s nothing doing. I refuse to use one of those shock collars on her; that’s just cruel.”

I hugged the small dog to me, protecting her little body. “Don’t you dare or I’ll take her home with me.”

Winifred laughed and motioned me down the hallway towards the kitchen. “Come on in. I was just thinking about eating something.”

I set Christine down and she ran off for her toy, which I was sure I would be throwing soon. I took stock of my best friend then motioned her to me, giving her a long hug.

“It’s okay. You won’t feel like this forever.”

She nodded her head over my shoulder. It was the first time in our lives that she felt slight in my arms.

“I’m worn out. Thank goodness, Jerri was able to take the bookmobile around to the schools today. I didn’t have it in me.”

I led her to a new recliner in the living room while taking note of the changes Flynn had made since he moved in. The room was now for living, not idolizing people long in the grave. It was inviting and comforting, something it hadn’t been in a very long time.

I put the foot up on the recliner and headed for the kitchen, glad it was open concept. I could talk to her from where I stood making her tea.

“I’m sure Jerri understood once you told her,” I agreed, dropping a piece of toast into the toaster and placing a cup of water in the microwave.

“I didn’t tell her,” she said so softly I almost didn’t hear her. I walked back over to lean against the couch.

“Why not? Did something happen at the doctor yesterday?” I heard the toaster pop up, but I ignored it while I waited for her to answer the question.

“Telling Ashley and Jerri I’m pregnant seemed like something I should do in person, you know? It didn’t seem right to blurt it out over the phone, so I told her I was sick. She was happy to do it.”

“Okay, fair enough,” I said going back to butter the toast, adding cinnamon and sugar. I put a teabag in the cup and carried both over to her, setting it on the new table next to the recliner. “I like what you’ve done with this room.”

She patted the joint recliner next to her. I sat while she sipped the tea. “Thanks. Flynn said we should live in it, since it’s a living room. It took me a little time to see he was right, but I’m glad I did.”

I held my hands in my lap and waited for her to say more, but she didn’t. She nibbled on the toast and sipped her tea, all while staring at the wall.

“You’re worrying me, Freddie. I asked if something was wrong when you went to the doctor, but you haven’t answered me. Now you won’t even make eye contact.”

She sighed and her chin trembled. “Nothing is wrong; everything is perfect. I’m just not comfortable carrying on about it with you.”

“Why?” I asked, taking the cup of tea from her hand and forcing her to look at me.

She might be facing me, but her eyes were downcast when she spoke. “Because I don’t want to hurt my best friend, but I know this will. You’ll smile and say you’re excited, but I know deep down you’re sad. I don’t want to be the one to do that.”

I held her hand and tipped her chin up, so she had to look at me. “Freddie, just because my life is different than yours doesn’t mean I’m not over the moon thrilled that you’re going to have a family with Flynn. I’m so excited! I hardly slept last night thinking about how our lives are going to change because of this baby. I know, if you’ll give me a chance, that I can be the most favorite aunt. I just want a chance to heap on him or her all the love I have to share.”

“Her,” she whispered.

My heart started pounding. “Her?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“Flynn took me to the clinic yesterday and Dr. Alexander wanted an ultrasound right away because of the surgery and the medications I was taking. You know, to be on the safe side.”

I nodded and felt the tears pricking at my eyelids, but I didn’t care.

“He did an ultrasound that showed I’m already thirteen weeks pregnant.”

“Wow, Freddie, that’s even further than you had figured.” I was smiling and she was too, finally.

“Everything was so messed up from the surgery and well, I’ve been in denial for a long time, obviously.”

“They could tell the gender at thirteen weeks?”

She gave me the so-so hand. “She said it’s a good chance it’s a girl, but another ultrasound in a few weeks will be more definitive. She showed us the picture and it looked like a girl to us, too.” Her voice cracked and I pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back.

“Was everything else okay?” I asked.

“Yes, the technician said she’s perfect, Kate. All ten fingers and ten toes. We heard her heartbeat and I saw my husband fall in love with his child. It was incredible.” She had been relaxed in my arms, but then she stiffened.

I kept rubbing her back. “Stop worrying and relax. Please. I want you to talk about these things with me. I want to experience this with you and Flynn. Please let me be part of this pregnancy.”

I pulled back and held her face. She was crying, the tears leaving tracks down her face.

“Hey, I know it’s a lot to take in with less than twenty-four hours under your belt of knowing you’re going to be a mommy, but I also know you’re causing yourself more stress because you’re worried about hurting me, right?”

She nodded as I brought a hand up to swipe away a tear.

“So, let’s make a pact right now that no matter what we go through in life, we go through it together. The same way we have the last twelve years. You get to be happy about this baby and I get to be happy for you. I get to hold your babies and love them the way an aunt does. That doesn’t make me sad, that makes me feel so special. I can’t stress that enough.”

“Flynn said that’s how you would feel.” She half-laughed, half-sighed.

I smiled, brushing away another tear. “Again, he was right. Did they send any pictures home with you from the ultrasound?” I asked, trying to move on, so she would stop crying.

She pulled out her phone, handing it to me. “Even better. They can put it on your smartphone now, so you can watch it in real time and see them moving and kicking. You can even hear the heartbeat.”

“Really?” I asked excitedly and she hit the video tab.

The video started in grainy black and white, but there in the middle of it was a baby. I watched the little one sucking her thumb, stretching, and flipping around. It switched to 3D and I gasped at the lifelike view of her. “Oh, Freddie, she’s so precious.” The video finished and the final few seconds were a shot of the baby upside down, an arrow pointing at three prominent white lines between the legs.

I handed her the phone back and hugged her again. “I’m so proud of you. Look how much your life has changed in less than eighteen months. You’re going to be such a wonderful mommy to that little girl.”

“I hope so. It wasn’t that long ago I hated everything to do with kids. Then the bookmobile came along and taught me that kids are awesome little moldable people that we get to shape. I get to hand a child a book, and when they see me the next week, they tell me what they learned or how it made them feel. They’ve helped heal me and so will this little one.”

She rested her hand on her belly and I grinned. “I brought you something. I hope you don’t have it already.” I jumped up and went to the table where my purse was.

“What would that be?” she asked as I rummaged in my purse.

I brought a brown bag over to her. “Sorry I didn’t get a chance to wrap it. I was at the pharmacy talking to Hank and it caught my eye.”

She opened the bag and pulled out the book. “Goodnight Moon”, she read, holding it to her chest. “I don’t have this one, but it was first on the list to buy for pre-birth reading. Flynn wants to read to her every night, so she will know our voices. Thank you.” She looked up at me, her eyes filled with love for me, and understanding. I was grateful for both.

“He’s gonna be a great daddy, too,” I started to say when my phone rang. I held up my finger while I checked the read out. “Hang on, it’s work.”

“This is Kate,” I answered, already knowing who it was.

“Hi Katie, this is Gideon. I’m hungry. Should we get dinner?”

I smiled against my will. “What are you hungry for this time? Olives?”

“Olives?” he asked confuzzled.

“Yesterday you wanted bacon. Maybe today you want olives?”

He laughed, sounding relaxed and happy. It was a sound that made my insides quiver a little. I rolled my eyes at myself, but still wished he would do it again.

“Now that you mention it, I wouldn’t mind bacon and olives, on a pizza.”

“You really should try Gallo’s then. I’m at a friend’s house. I’ll be home in an hour. Pick me up at the firm?”

“Looking forward to it.”

The line went dead and I tucked my phone back in my purse.

“Well, well, well. Who is picking you up for Gallo’s pizza tonight?” Freddie asked, standing next to me. I didn’t remember seeing her stand up, which told me I was way too engrossed in that phone call.

My shoulders slumped while I tried to hide my grimace. I didn’t want to talk to her about this. She wasn’t going to be happy with me, but there was no sense lying about it now.

“Gideon Armstrong. He’s in town to get the turnover of the pharmacy taken care of after his mother passed.”

“So why did you sound all dreamy when you talked to him?” she asked suspiciously.

“I didn’t ‘sound all dreamy’,” I scoffed. “I’m just trying to be nice.”

“Really? Did you take him for bacon last night?”

Okay, she wants to play this way we will play this way.

“As a matter of fact, I did. I was a little stressed out after you left, so I went down to talk to Rosie. He knocked on the office door and I let him in. He was looking for somebody to have dinner with him. He’s alone in a new town. Cut him some slack.”

She giggle-snorted. “This isn’t a new town for Gideon. He’s been coming here since his parents bought the pharmacy when he was in college.”

“While that’s true, the poor man just lost his mother. Cut him some slack.”

She raised one brow. “Did you comfort him through his grief and listen to him share fond memories of his mother?”

“I did, actually. We also shared hugs and passionate kisses, with tongue.”

She grabbed my arm. “Katie Penelope Kupid, don’t even joke with me about this!”

I stared at her, my face in a relaxed position. I waited knowing she would have plenty to say about it.

“You’re not kidding?” she asked slowly and I shook my head no. “But you just met him. You’re already kissing him?”

“That’s not entirely true. We’ve met before.”