Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters Collection (204 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“I��M STILL HERE,” Summer said by way of greeting.

Gabriel hung up his truck keys and continued to the bedroom, but not before dropping a kiss on her cheek along the way. “Wasn’t worried.”

Relief flowed through her. He wasn’t back to argue or fight with her. “Did you have fun with your friends?”

“I did, even though I suck at darts.” He paused at the entrance of their bedroom and gave her a self-depreciating grin. “Maybe I’ll win next time. I’m getting in the shower, to wash off the stench of Poor Boy’s, if you’d like to join me.”

Images of him in the shower, water running down his hard body, made her squirm. She crossed her arms. “I already had one.”

“Suit yourself,” he said, and she watched as he disappeared.

She picked up the remote and clicked on the television, channel surfing until he appeared in the doorway again, with only a towel wrapped around his lean hips.

Her mouth went dry.

“I’m going to bed now.”

There was no way she would join him in there either. She had to start distancing herself. The honeymoon was over. After everything was sorted out with Ivy, their marriage would be over.

“I’m not tired,” she said, tearing her gaze away from him.

“Me neither,” he said.

Oh God. Please don’t ask me to come to bed with you.
She stared harder at the television.

Gabriel appeared before her. Unfortunately, he had on a pair of pajama bottoms. Though the view of his muscular chest was nice—and bad. Very bad to her determination. “Let’s go outside.”

“Why?”

“To play with my telescope.”

Mulling over his words, Summer clicked off the television. Surely, taking part in an activity that didn’t involving kissing or touching would be okay. After all, she didn’t want to leave him with completely horrible memories of her.

“Okay.”

Smiling, he pulled her up from the couch and led her up the stairs to a room in a corner of the house. Since she hadn’t allowed herself to explore his house, she was seeing it for the first time. It was empty.

She frowned. “Where’s your telescope?”

“Right through those doors.”

Opening the French doors, Gabriel waited for her to step outside first. The night sky greeted her, saturated with stars, so many stars that the sight took her breath away.

She reached out to touch one, and then drew her hand back at her foolishness.

“I feel the same way,” he said, running his fingers though her hair. “Did you know that you can buy a star for someone, and have it named for them?”

No touching
, she wanted to shout, but she was weak and needy for his touch. And greedy. She wanted to savor all his touches and kisses, before she had to leave him.

“No,” she said shakily. “I didn’t know that.”

“Look through here and you can see a pretty crown,” he said, tapping on the end. “I would have named it for you, but someone beat me to it.”

“Oh.” Unsure of what to think of his statement, Summer leaned down, closing one eye and peering through the lens with the other. “I can’t tell which one is which.”

“Seven stars forming a u-shape. It’s called Corona Borealis.”

She looked up from the telescope and made a face to keep from smiling. “It’s named for a beer?”

He grinned. “You know it’s not.”

Shrugging, she bent to the telescope once more and found the seven stars that formed the u-shape.

“Legend has it that Theseus gave the crown to Ariadne for helping him defeat the Minotaur. She wore it at their wedding.” She heard him move closer to her, running his hands down her back. “They worked together, you see, to defeat something that no one else had before. Alone, neither of them would have survived.”

“So they lived happily ever after?”

He exhaled. “I’d like to think so.”

“But they probably didn’t.” She stood and turned around.

“I still like to think so,” he repeated.

“I’m not trying to change your mind.”

He made a noise. “No, you’re trying to make sure
yours
doesn’t ever change.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I really am going to bed now.”

“I’m not tired.”

“Okay,” was all he said as he walked inside.

She wanted to go after him, but she made herself remain still and calm. Once she was sure enough time had passed, she headed inside, shutting the doors behind her and hurrying to their bedroom.

The lights were off, but moonlight outlined his form in a soft, blue-white glow. She got into bed with him, curling up in a little ball, careful not to touch him. She didn’t deserve to touch him.

But he had other ideas. Gabriel rolled over, snaked one arm around her middle, and hauled her against him. He sighed. “Much better.”

Against her better judgment, she allowed herself to stay there and be lulled into sleep by the warmth of his body. He relaxed against her.

Her eyes flew open, and she made herself scoot away, but his arm shot out again and pulled her back.

With a little sigh, she gave in again, with the knowledge that come tomorrow, she’d be stronger.

* * * * *

SUMMER WASN’T STRONGER the next day, especially after a bright, green convertible VW Bug was delivered to his house. He’d even had it wrapped in a bright pink bow.

It wasn’t the present itself that had made her weak; it was the meaning behind it. Still, she steeled herself, thanked him sweetly, and swore to be stronger the next day. Unfortunately, she failed miserably, and continued to do so, day after day.

She was weak, completely and utterly weak.

Why just yesterday afternoon, Gabriel had stopped by, locked the door to Carolina Dreams, and carried her upstairs, where they spent the rest of the day in bed. He’d been more than a little enthusiastic when she climbed on top of him and rode him backwards. His hands had cupped her breasts and his hot breath had scalded the skin behind her ear.

Jemma Leigh snapped her fingers at Summer, and she blinked, face heating.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?” she asked.

“Newlyweds.” Smiling a little, Jemma Leigh patted her hand. “Have you two even finished opening all the wedding presents? I’ll be happy to help you with all the thank you cards.”

“Oh, I’ll let you know.” Summer hadn’t opened a single present, because she planned to return every single one of them. “Speaking of presents.” Summer reached into her purse and drew out a scroll, with a bright pink bow tied around the middle. “This is for you.”

Jemma Leigh clapped. “You remembered my birthday!”

No. “Yes.”

“But I don’t remember telling you, and we’re not Facebook friends.” She frowned.

Summer had been wanting to buy Jemma Leigh something to thank her for all of her help, but it wasn’t until a day after Gabriel had shown her Corona Borealis that it hit her what she could get Jemma Leigh.

“Actually, I didn’t know it was your birthday.” Summer handed the scroll to Jemma Leigh. “I bought this just because.”

The squee that came from Jemma Leigh’s mouth made the birds that had been pecking near their feet fly away. “You named a star after me!” She placed a hand over her heart, giving Summer a beatific smile. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Nothing to say,” Summer began nervously, “because don’t best friends do stuff like this all the time?”

Fat tears rolled down Jemma Leigh’s face. “Yes, they do.”

Summer shifted in her seat. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I love it.” Jemma Leigh carefully rolled the scroll back up and secured the bow. “Now I have a favor to ask.”

“Anything.”

“Help Jeremy plan my surprise party? Maybe even go shopping with him?” Jemma Leigh bit her lip. “He’s very sweet, but he’s not a party planner.”

Summer’s heart fell to her toes. “You trust me to spend time with your husband?”

Jemma Leigh rolled her eyes and threw back her shoulders. “No offense to the Hollands, but I’m pretty sure you’re not his type.”

“Oh, well, in that case—”

“And the sacred bond of our friendship prevents you from even thinking about him that way, or acting on it.”

“Which you wouldn’t, because you’re not like that anyway,” Jemma Leigh hastily added.

Summer blew out a breath and grabbed her coffee mug. “I’d be happy to help him.”

“I’ll text him your number,” Jemma Leigh said. “So, what are yours and Gabriel’s plans this afternoon?”

“He’s volunteering at The Center, so I’m doing a movie marathon of all the
Back to the Future
movies until he gets home. He’s cooking salmon tonight.”

“You’re not going to see your sister?”

Summer almost dropped her coffee.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

IT WASN’T THE FIRST TIME Summer had ever sneaked around a house, but it was the first time since she’d been married that she had lied to Gabriel about what she was doing.

But it couldn’t be helped
, she rationalized. She had to do this on her own, without him. No matter how much it hurt. No matter how bad of an idea this was.

She crept up the back porch, and then peered inside a window with lacey curtains. Inside, she saw her sister, Rose, and her sister’s husband, Alexander, sitting at the kitchen table. Ivy sat between the two of them in a hot pink booster seat, her hand over her mouth as Alexander tried to feed her.

“But you like sweet potatoes,” he said, a frown marring the perfection of his lips. He turned to Rose. “Honestly, woman, I blame you.”

Rose’s black brows shot up, but her voice was as calm as the still waters of the Pamlico Sound. “I’m not the one who fed her dessert before supper.”

“Careful, or you might be the one not getting any
dessert
tonight.”

What was it with men and desserts?
Summer thought with a roll of her eyes.

“Maybe I’m not in the mood for dessert tonight,” her sister said, and then laughed at the expression of horror on her husband’s face. “Poor thing, I’ll feed you dessert instead.”

Summer couldn’t help but stare at her sister in rapt amazement. Growing up, Rose had been the serious one. The responsible one. The one who never flirted or laughed. Yet, there she sat, giving a gorgeous man, who made every other woman in Holland Springs tongue-tied, heavy-lidded looks while calling his bluff.

His gaze turned so hot, Summer thought
her
clothes were going to catch fire.

Turning away, she flattened herself against the wall. For long minutes, she listened to Rose and Alexander talk, planning their week and Ivy’s schedule. One that included dance, art lessons, and Daddy’s morning out. Trips for the three of them. In every outing, Ivy was not just included or accommodated, but wanted. They wanted to take her new places and to teach her new things. Ivy wasn’t a burden to them.

Not that she imagined her baby girl was being neglected or even ignored. But she guessed she’d hoped to see that Ivy looked as though she was missing something in her life. She’d hoped to see her daughter missing her.

Hope was a double-edge sword that skewered her heart.

A cat meowed and twined around her legs.

Dropping to her knees, she scooped up Blackbeard and rubbed her nose in his fur. She had missed him, despite his former reluctance to let her pet him. “Have you been keeping an eye on my baby?”

Blackbeard meowed again.

“I’ll get him,” Alexander said through a sigh.

The sound of his chair scraping against the hardwood floor had her gently dropping the family cat to the ground.

“Damned beast still hogs my side of the bed. Yet I’m the one forced to endure his whims.”

Summer took off, managing to get around the corner of the house before the back door opened. She began walking away, thinking she’d come back tomorrow night to spy on them and make doubly sure Ivy was being taken care of by her “parents.”

“Kitty.” Ivy giggled, and Summer’s heart pinched.

“Careful, sweet girl, the mangy cur hasn’t had a bath for weeks.”

Rose gasped. “My sweet kitty is neither a dog nor filthy.”

Ivy giggled again. “Mommy, I want the kitty.”

Summer’s knees gave out, sending her to the ground. She couldn’t catch her breath. Blood pounded in her ears. Tears ran down her cheeks. She buried her face in her hands, and then clamped them over her ears.

Mommy.
Ivy had called Rose Mommy, not her. Rocking back and forth, she bit her bottom lip so hard she tasted blood.

The wind picked up. Lightning flashed in the sky, jagged as it struck. The ground vibrated in response.

Mommy.

She was stronger than this, stronger than a word. Rising on unsteady legs, she ran from the house. A house that had been rebuilt to its former glory. A house now filled with love, more love than had been there before.

Summer knew what had to be done. Deep in her heart, where hope had blossomed but the roots had never taken hold. Her daughter was happy, healthy, and loved. She refused to take that from Ivy.

Mommy.

She ran faster, tree branches smacking her in the face and arms. Scraping and bruising her skin. Still she ran, until she came to the infernal spring that had started it all. That had cursed them all, with its supposed abilities.

Falling to her knees, she ripped at the plants and flowers, at anything her hands could grasp. It didn’t matter she was ripping her nails to the quick. It didn’t matter that rain poured down from the sky, soaking her to the bone.

All along, she’d known that taking Ivy back was the absolute wrong thing to do, but had used it as an excuse to come back here.

Which didn’t say much about her. Actually, it said a lot. It said she was selfish and unappreciative of the people who’d helped her in her life. It said that she was forever unfit to be anyone’s mother.

Gabriel had known it all along, yet he’d tried to help her see the truth.