Garden of Secrets (34 page)

“I can show them,” Charlotte offered.

“You’re going to the hospital. We’ll find her.
And then we’ll take her to jail.” He kissed her hard on the lips.

“That should give the town something to talk about,” she said breathlessly, aware of a dozen pairs of eyes on them.

“I don’t care,” he said with a smile. “I’ll see you later.”

Charlotte spent the next hour in the ER. She was stripped of her clothes, wrapped in warm blankets, and examined by every doctor on duty, most of whom were her friends. They insisted on checking her into a room for the night, just in case her head injury was serious.

When they wheeled her up to her room, she found her mother ordering the nurses to bring her more pillows and blankets. As her mother shouted out commands, telling the nurses that they’d better get their act together, Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears.

And then her mother was helping her into her bed. She couldn’t remember the last time her mother’s hands were on her. They never hugged. They never even touched. But her mom was supporting her weight, then pulling up the blankets around her and tucking them in at her sides, the way she’d done so many years ago.

A tear slipped down the side of her cheek. As she wiped it away, her mother sat down on the bed next
to her with a frown. “Are you in pain? Do you need more medication? I’ll get the nurse back in here.”

“No, it’s okay,” she said, putting her hand on her mother’s arm. “I’m all right.”

Her mother’s lips tightened, and there was fear behind the anger in her eyes. “What were you thinking, jumping into the middle of a domestic fight? You should have had more sense.”

Charlotte let go of her mother’s arm, wondering why she’d tried to stop her from leaving. She wasn’t really in any state to hear a lecture. “I just wanted to help,” she said wearily.

Her mother shook her head, biting down on her lip, and Charlotte was shocked to realize that her mother was about to cry. But she fought it back, and then she said, “Your father would have been so proud of you.”

Charlotte’s heart stopped. “Really?”

“You’re so like him. You just do what needs to be done, no matter what the consequences.”

Tears filled her eyes again.

Her mother drew in a big breath. “I’m proud of you, too, Charlotte.”

Now the tears streamed down her face. She’d always felt like such a disappointment to her parents. It shouldn’t matter anymore what they thought, but it did.

Her mother tucked her hair behind her ear in a loving gesture. “You need a haircut.”

Charlotte smiled through her tears. “I know. Mom, would you stay with me for a while—until I fall asleep?”

“Of course,” her mother said, blinking back a tear herself. “If I don’t stay, Lord knows what kind of care these idiots will give you.”

Charlotte closed her eyes, exhaustion finally overtaking her.

When she woke up, sunlight was streaming through the windows, and it wasn’t her mother holding her hand anymore, it was Joe. He gave her a tired smile. “You’re awake. My early riser. I knew you wouldn’t sleep past dawn.”

She smiled back at him as he raised her hand and kissed it. “I don’t think I’ll be running for a few days. I feel sore all over.”

“You should stay in bed,” he agreed. “Preferably mine.”

“It is pretty comfortable.” She drew in a breath. “So what’s been happening? Did you find Pamela?”

“Yes. She’s in a room down the hall with a broken ankle. She’ll be going to jail later today.”

“Theresa must be devastated.”

“She actually didn’t seem as shocked as I expected. Maybe down deep, she always suspected Pamela. Anyway, she has her jewelry back and is on the way to a full recovery.”

“What’s going to happen to Pamela?”

“That will be up to the DA and eventually a jury.”

“She did save my life. And I don’t know if it was Mitch or Pamela who masterminded the plan.”

“She’ll have a chance to tell her story. You don’t need to worry about her.”

“I guess Mrs. Garcia is off the hook now. We were on the wrong track there.”

“Not completely. After she realized that both she and Michaela were in the clear, she told me that she’d been afraid that Michaela had done it. That’s why she’d tried to protect her. She’d learned that Michaela didn’t have the great life she’d imagined when she gave her up for adoption. And when she told Michaela that Edward Worthington was her father, Michaela was bitter that she’d never gotten anything from such a rich man.”

“So maybe Pamela just beat Michaela to the goods.”

“Maybe,” he said with a nod.

“How did you figure out I was with Pamela?” she asked, curious about that piece of the puzzle.

“Andrew came to the station and told me what he knew about her and Mitch and that he suspected they’d had something to do with the robbery. He should have come forward right away. If he had, your life wouldn’t have been in danger.”

“I’m sure he never anticipated that it would be.”

“He was worried that the car that almost ran you down belonged to Mitch. He didn’t know if it was deliberate or just drunk driving, which Mitch has been known to do, but he finally stepped up. We went to the inn, saw your car, and the clerk told us she saw you with Pamela. It was Andrew who figured
out that you might be at the summer cabins,” he added grudgingly.

“I can’t believe you worked together without killing each other,” she teased.

“We had a more important goal: saving you. He does care about you.”

“I know,” she said, meeting his gaze. “And I care about him. But I’m in love with you, Joe.”

His fingers tightened around her hand.

“I was hanging on to Andrew because he reminded me of the girl I used to be, before I lost the baby and locked away my heart. I thought maybe I could get myself back if I was with him again, but he’s different now, and so am I. Actually, we’re probably better versions of ourselves now. But Andrew doesn’t push me the way you do. He doesn’t make me ask more of myself. And I need that. I need you.” She drew in a deep breath. “I love you, Joe. You taught me how to take a risk, how to have faith in myself and in others.”

“I love you, too, Charlotte. You brought the light back into my life. You reminded me of who I used to be.”

“Fearless guy on the skateboard?”

“Yeah, that one,” he said tenderly. “I was afraid I’d lost you when Rachel called.”

“I didn’t want to be the reason you didn’t give her another chance.”

“I thought you left because she mentioned children,” he said somberly.

She nodded. “That did shake me a little. It made me question if I could give you what you really wanted.”

He gazed into her eyes. “Charlotte, I want
you.
If it’s just you and me, I’m happy with that. If you want children one day, then I’m happy with that, too.”

She smiled hesitantly. “I keep imagining having a little boy who looks like you.”

“Funny, I keep seeing a little girl with blond hair and a stubborn streak who looks just like you.”

“Who are you calling stubborn?” she demanded.

“You. And impulsive, beautiful, amazing, courageous—”

She put her hand over his mouth. “Just kiss me, already. And don’t stop for a long, long time.”

He smiled and pressed his lips against hers.

It was a beautiful day for a wedding, Charlotte thought as she hurried toward the church to make sure everything was in place for the ceremony. Gone was the horrific storm from a week ago. There were no clouds today, only sparkling sunshine. She was glad Lauren had chosen to have a morning wedding; everything was fresh and new and full of promise.

Andrew met her on the steps, wearing his officiating robe and a big smile. They’d had a heart-to-heart talk after she’d come home from the hospital. He had apologized over and over again for not telling her about his past and not going to the cops right away. He’d also come clean with the church board and given a sermon about accepting responsibility for past mistakes.

Charlotte had never been more proud of him. And as for forgiveness, she assured him that it had happened a long time ago. They were both ready
now for the rest of their lives, as friends. And judging by how much time Andrew had been spending with Tory lately, she suspected he was already moving on.

“How’s the bride?” Andrew asked.

“Nervous but ready. What about the groom?”

“I just told the guys to line up at the front. It’s a packed house. Want to see?”

He opened the back door a crack, and she peeked in. She saw her mother, Jamie, and Annie and the baby toward the back. Jason’s girlfriend, Brianna, was sitting with her in-laws and her son, Lucas. Isabella, Nick, and Megan were there, with the rest of the theatrical Hartleys. And her heart swelled as she saw Jenna and Riley and their daughter, Lexie. They’d come back to town just for the wedding, another couple who had found love in Angel’s Bay.

Andrew shut the door. “I have to admit, I’m a little nervous myself. I’ve never married two people I’ve known my entire life.”

She kissed him on the cheek. “Break a leg.”

“Hey, are you kissing my girl again?” Joe demanded with a confident smile as he walked toward them.

“She kissed me,” Andrew retorted, but there was no anger or bitterness in his voice. “I’ll see you both inside.”

“You weren’t jealous, were you?” she asked Joe with a mischievous smile.

“No way. I know you love me.”

“I do,” she said, kissing him on the lips. “I have to go get the bride.”

“I’ll miss you.”

“You’d better,” she said with a laugh, then crossed the courtyard to the bridal dressing room.

The crowd had cleared out. Lauren’s mother was seated in the church, leaving only Kara, Lauren, and her dad. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, and his eyes looked alert for the first time in a long time. His Alzheimer’s had been stealing his mind away, but for today, he seemed to have won that battle.

“I know you girls want to have a toast,” he said. “But my turn first.”

Kara handed Charlotte a glass of champagne.

“To my beautiful daughter, Lauren,” he said, saying her name with deliberate purpose. “Even when I forget you, I will always remember you here—in my heart.” He pressed his palm against his chest. “That’s where the memories are.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” Lauren said, taking a deep, shaky breath. “I wish Abby were here, too.”

“Your sister is here, with the other angels. I see them all the time now.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Be happy, Lauren.”

Kara pulled out a tissue and handed it to Lauren as her father left.

“Okay?” Charlotte asked as Lauren dabbed at her tears.

“He’s really with me today. I almost can’t believe it.”

“Believe it. This is your day,” Kara said.

Charlotte lifted her glass. “To friendship and to love.”

Lauren and Kara echoed her words, and they clinked their glasses together.

Then, in a swirl of dresses, they walked to the church. Lauren met her dad at the back, he took her arm, and they started down the aisle as the music began to play.

Charlotte gave Kara a hug as they watched. “We’re really lucky to have each other.”

“And our wonderful men,” Kara said. “Colin looks so handsome up there.”

“He does,” Charlotte agreed, her gaze on Joe. He was sitting on the aisle a few rows up, looking only at her. One day soon, she would walk down the aisle to him.

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by Barbara Freethy

THE WAY BACK HOME

Available July 2012 from Pocket Books

“We need to buy rafts, hire guides, and update the reservation software, and I have no idea where we’re getting the money to do any of that,” Alicia Hayden told her father, frustration overwhelming her as she walked across the back deck of Hayden River Adventures. The one-story building, set on the banks of Northern California’s Smoky River, was the launchpad for their world-class river-rafting adventures company. Next to the one-room office was the boatyard where they kept their rafting equipment. On the other side of the building, tucked behind the trees, was a dirt parking lot that was empty now. About a hundred yards away and up a grassy incline stood the family home.

In the spring and summer months, they rented rafts and launched day trips off the pier. For more adventurous white-water experiences, they bused their guests ten miles north for the higher-class guided rapids tours. They’d been in business for more than sixty years, and three generations of Haydens had run the company. But now their business was sinking fast, and Alicia wasn’t sure they could save it.

Her father, George Hayden, didn’t reply. Leaning heavily on his cane, he’d fixed his gaze on the wide, winding river that ran through the Sierra Nevada mountains. The late-afternoon foggy mist that had given the river its name was a little thicker than usual. While the winter rains had finally tapered off, the late-March air was cold, and luminous clouds shadowed the sun.

As a brisk wind lifted the hair off the back of her neck, Alicia shivered and wrapped her arms around her waist, wishing she’d thrown a jacket over her knit shirt and worn jeans. She’d been hunkered down in the office all afternoon, trying to find a way out of the mess they’d gotten themselves into, but there was no clear path. Rafting season would officially open in two weeks, and they weren’t even close to being ready. She needed her father to understand that, but he was living in a world of denial, believing that nothing had changed since the rafting accident six months before, since her brother’s death three weeks before. But
everything
had changed. Their world had turned completely upside down in less than a year.

Sadness, anger, and fear ran through her, but she couldn’t let her emotions take hold. This was the time for thinking, not feeling. She’d been trying to talk to her dad about the business since her brother’s funeral three weeks earlier, and he’d always managed to evade her. But not now, not today.

“Dad,” she prodded, stepping up to the railing next to him. “We need to talk about whether or not we can keep on going.”