Finding Love in Forgotten Cove (Island County Series Book 1) (26 page)

When A Mother Calls

A shiver ran up my spine as I thought about Forgotten Cove and hearing my mother’s voice calling to me. Had my dad heard her too? My fingers ran across my mom’s cheek as I took a shaky breath in. I had kids waiting. I had a real life waiting if I was willing to live it.

I’d found the perfect place to rent. It had a view of the water—if you stood on your tiptoes in the kitchen and craned your neck about six inches to the left, right between the far kitchen cabinets—and it came mostly furnished. The best part was that it came with a storage shed, which was good since the actual home wasn’t huge by any means. But it had some cute updates and the timing worked out perfectly. I’d put the home on the market and received three offers—the most important one from Mason. His was, of course, the best one and I quickly accepted it, giving me thirty days closing and twenty-eight had already flown by.

Two more days and Forgotten Cove would be behind me. It wouldn’t be forgotten, but it would be firmly planted in my past. Over the last month, I’d learned a lot. I learned I didn’t need anything much from my Skaneateles apartment. I’d flown back last weekend to end my lease and pack whatever I thought I needed and donated the rest. I hadn’t realized what I mostly wanted was already at the Forgotten Cove home so I’d been hauling boxes to my new place over the last several weeks.

It was a weird sensation to be living on Fireweed Island and not live back at the house. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it was somewhat unsettling, but I’d rather not try to continue the upkeep by myself and I knew Mason really loved it.

So did I, which was why I wanted the home to go to someone who loved it as much as I did. Besides, it was mine for two more days.

I hadn’t talked to Mason since the day we called things off. All communication had been through our real estate agents. I knew there were some items he’d hoped to finish before he took possession and even though my agent advised against it, I let him keep working on the house. I think there was a part of me that hoped I’d run into him when I was collecting my things.

I never did.

So I did what any nosey person would do. I came up with a reason to call his mom. It was like she’d expected it and was perfectly willing to tell me what they’d all been up to since the barbeque, which was a trip to Paris. She sidestepped Mason and focused on the big news about Aaron and Brandy, and the revelation was quite surprising. It made me happy to know solid relationships did exist out there, when the time was right.

I hadn’t heard from my aunt since I sent the letter and a copy of a will and made that the reason for the call, which I passed on to Mason’s mother. We both ignored the fact that I had told her the same thing at the lake. By the time the phone call ended, I knew we all knew the relationship was over.

I poured myself a glass of lemonade and stood on my tiptoes to try to get a glimpse of the water, but it looked like the clouds were in the way. I eyed the time and got a little excited. Bethany was coming over in a few minutes. She’d be my first official guest since I’d decided to stay on the island. I pulled out the veggie tray and hummus and set it on the counter.

The doorbell rang and I quickly made my way to the door. Bethany hadn’t even waited for me to open it and swung it wide as she gave me a big hug.

“I’m so happy you finally came to your senses,” she squealed.

“Me too,” I agreed.

She shut the door behind us and followed me in.

“Did you take plenty of pictures of the old place?” she asked.

I nodded. “I took video too. Not that I think I’ll be sitting around watching it.”

“Nope. Don’t do that. It’ll make you sad. It’s just good to have.”

I nodded and pushed the veggie tray toward her. I was sure she was starving. She grabbed a piece of celery and crunched loudly on it.

“I think I found someone,” she gushed.

“Well, if you gnaw on celery around him like that, you might as well kiss him goodbye.”

She threw the piece of celery at me and I ducked so it hit the wall.

“My word. How old are you?” I asked, picking up the piece of celery.

“Twenty-one,” she laughed.

“Yeah, like how many years ago?”

She rolled her eyes and began describing her latest infatuation as I dreamed about my mine, Mason Rhodes.

“Are you even listening?”

“Absolutely. You think he’s the one,” I said, nodding.

“So you were listening.”

I nodded obediently and took a bite off a carrot, wondering if I should swing by the other house tonight to grab my mom’s punch bowl. That was among the last of the kitchen items I’d packed.

Yep. Definitely need the punch bowl. It was decided. I’d be stopping by the house. I glanced at the clock and maybe going later would improve my odds.

“And the next thing I know I decided I needed a puppy,” Bethany said, laughing. “Can you believe it? I think I want a puppy.”

“No. I don’t believe it. You don’t even like caring for houseplants. What in the world makes you think you should get a puppy? That’s like adopting a child. They become part of your family, Bethany. I’m not saying you can’t handle it. In fact, I know you’d make a great fur baby mom, but are you sure?”

“See, I knew you weren’t listening. I only threw that in there to see if you’d bite.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Sorry. I’m a horrible friend.”

“Actually, you’re a really good friend so the fact that you’re over there daydreaming has me completely intrigued.”

“I was just thinking about this punch bowl I have to get from the house. It’s driving me nuts. I need it for tomorrow.”

“What’s going on tomorrow?”

“I want punch tomorrow.” I grinned.

Bethany laughed. “Yeah. There’s nothing like quenching your desire for punch. Makes the whole world stand still. So have you heard from him?”

I shook my head. “Not once. Every single thing has been through our agents. I really blew it.”

“In my humble opinion, you both blew it. You can’t take total blame.”

“I’m sure you’re right, but I can attest, I was pretty much at my wit’s end. It got to the point where I’d even confuse myself and that was just over picking up groceries.”

“So what changed?” Bethany asked, dabbing her carrot in the hummus.

“Letting go and listening.”

“Listening to what?” she questioned.

“Silence.”

She nodded. “I actually completely understand that.”

I smiled, giving her a hug and taking a step back as I mulled over how best to shorten up my date with her.

“Say the word and we’ll reconvene tomorrow or Sunday. A punch bowl is very important in life, especially when it holds the exact punch you want.”

I laughed. “Okay, now you lost me.”

Bethany swatted my arm and laughed. “Okay, give me a call tonight and tell me how it goes or I’ll just plan on showing up tomorrow around five. It’s so good to have you back, Tori.”

She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, and I walked out the door with her, grabbing my keys and purse on the way. Having friends that understood every eccentricity and complexity was nothing more than a miracle and suddenly my life had become full of miracles.

I turned onto the road and cranked up my radio as I sang my way to Forgotten Cove. It wasn’t until I pulled into the driveway that my heart stopped, and I saw Tanner sitting on my front porch, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

I sat in the car stunned and disgusted. What in the world was Tanner doing in Washington state? I hadn’t spoken with him since the boat incident. There was nothing left to say and there was nothing pulling at us, keeping us together, in some random way that often happened with ended relationships. We were truly finished and if there had been a way to anchor him to the ring, I very well might have.

I looked around the property not seeing Mason’s truck and muttered a silent thank you for that little gift from above as I climbed out of my car. I hauled my purse with me and slammed the car door unexpectedly as I trudged up to speak with the unwelcome guest. He was dressed in a pink polo and chinos, and his bronzed skin told me where he’d been most of the summer—his parents’ boat. What in the world had I seen in him?

I climbed up the steps and stayed on the one below the porch, my brow arching as I waited for him to say something.

“I’m so so sorry, Tori, about your dad. I had no idea.”

“Why would you? We broke up the week before. Well, I mean you were having sex with my best friend the week before.” I didn’t know what came over me. It was like venom oozed at the tip of my tongue waiting for the next sentence to come from his lips.

“I just had no idea. I would’ve been here for you.”

“Who said I’d want you? But, really, why are you here?” I set my purse down and crossed my arms. Tanner had always looked out for Tanner so I knew for him to fly across the country, there had to be something else.

“I miss you. What I did was wrong and juvenile. I never meant to hurt you. I hadn’t planned on sleeping with her.”

“Oh, thank God. It wasn’t in your plans for our vacation. That makes me feel so much better. What a relief.” I rolled my eyes and heard footsteps inside the house and my pulse quickened. “Well, that admission really changes things then.” My mouth dropped open in surprise as Mason swung open the front door, balancing two beers in his hand.

Everything about this moment felt surreal and I did my best to keep my focus, but as Mason’s eyes steadied on mine, the familiar electricity shot through me. It was never-ending with this man, no matter the situation, the chemistry was relentless and this was quite the situation.

“I didn’t know you were swinging by,” Mason said, handing Tanner a beer.

I tilted my head, completely bewildered at what universe I’d entered.

“I thought I’d get another few boxes from my parents’ room. I didn’t see your truck,” I said, narrowing my eyes at Mason.

“I had a friend, Sammie, drop me off. My truck’s in the shop.”

Sammie? I disliked her already.

“Would you mind explaining to me what my ex-fiancé is doing here with you?”

“You know, I was as surprised as you are to have him appear on the doorstep.”

“It was the only address I had for her out here,” Tanner explained to Mason.

Mason nodded and flashed a smile in my direction. “Well, there you have it.”

“Well, in less than two days it won’t be mine any longer,” I informed Tanner, “So I guess your timing was impeccable.”

“Seems you’ve left a string of broken hearts across the country,” Mason continued as if I hadn’t said anything. He took a swig of beer.

“I doubt that. I can count possibly one and that’s debatable if there’s a Sammie floating around.”

A satisfied glint flashed through Mason’s expression. “That’s Sammy, with a “y” not an “ie””. He’s about seventy, but you’re wrong. According to Tanner, he says you broke it off with him and he never heard from you again. You wouldn’t even respond to his texts. The poor guy had to travel all the way across the country to see you.”

“Excuse me?” A cross between a chortle and shriek erupted from my throat.

“Don’t shoot the messenger,” Mason said, standing next to Tanner.

There was no comparison between the two. Tanner looked like a pipsqueak compared to Mason’s magnificent physique. But now wasn’t the time to get distracted. Not with Tanner’s corrupt stories sinking into Mason’s psyche.

My blood was pumping as my anger level rose and I glared at Tanner.

“Did you bother to tell this gentleman why I broke it off with you and never returned your calls or texts?”

“It’s irrelevant. We were engaged. What we shared—”

My hand flew into the air and my eyes blazed with fury.

“It’s irrelevant?” My teeth almost shattered as hard as I smacked them together. “We were vacationing on your parents’ boat and I walked in on you banging my best friend. And that is irrelevant?”

I somehow skipped the top step and landed inches from Tanner. I had no idea what came over me, but instantly Mason set his beer down and wrapped his arms around my chest, trying to pull me away.