Under a Georgia Moon: Georgia Moon Romance Book 1 (35 page)

“Never,” Chase said, giving Addie another kiss.

The camera flashed and she and Chase separated just in time to see Ashlee sidle up next to Beau. “You can kiss your own bride in about a year,” she said, winding her arm through his.

Beau raised an eyebrow. “A year?”

Ashlee gave him a coy smile, her eyes smoldering. “I’ll be eighteen, and we can get married.”

A red flush colored Beau’s face and he choked out an answer. “I’m too old for you.” He backed away, and tugged at the collar of his white dress shirt. “And you’re forgetting I’m a military man now. I’ll probably be stationed somewhere overseas next year.”

Ashlee pouted, crossing her arms in front of her. “Why’d you have to go and do that, anyway?”

Beau was saved from answering when Steve called him over. “Groomsmen from Georgia, I need you right now.”

Surrounded by Beau and Jackson, Addie smiled as they leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. They were good friends—supporting Chase and his decision to move to Idaho, even though it meant the end of Chasing Dreams.

Drew couldn’t make it to the wedding. He had his hands full with his three girls and a new baby boy born two weeks ago. Incidentally, he’d also given the guys notice to start looking for another base player. He wanted to focus on his growing family, and the band took up too much of his time.

Soon after, Jackson announced he was done with the band. Sydney’s father was letting him take over running the multi-million dollar horse farm Sydney’s parent’s owned. It would require a lot of his time coming up to speed with his new responsibilities, and there wouldn’t be time for playing in clubs every other weekend.

The biggest surprise had been Beau. He had a college degree and a great career as an architect, but he wanted to serve his country. After praying about it, he joined the army. His basic training would start next week.

“That should do it for now,” Steve said with a wink.

Aunt Janie flitted over, smiling as bright as the chandeliers lighting the room, and announced people were lining up for the reception. The rest of the evening was a blur as a steady trickle of people Addie had known all her life, congratulated her and her new husband. Chase charmed the women with his sexy southern accent, and Taylin and Ashlee had every unmarried male asking for their numbers.

After the cake was cut and Addie had tossed her bouquet, she and Chase were finally ready to leave. Outside, a limo sat waiting to take them to a bed and breakfast in Boise. They held hands as their friends and family stood in a line, blowing bubbles at them as they passed by.

While Chase said goodbye to his family, Addie hugged each of her family members, saving her dad for last. “Thanks, Daddy. For everything.” She leaned in and kissed him on his wrinkled cheek.

“You’re welcome, baby girl.” His voice cracked with emotion as he gave her a tight squeeze. “You two have fun. Call if you need anything.”

“Okay,” Addie said as she slid into the seat.

Chase climbed in and shut the door just as everyone yelled out their good-byes one more time. He held a small package, wrapped in silvery paper with a big bow on top. Before she could ask who the gift was from, he leaned over and gave her a soft, but very passionate kiss, turning her insides to jelly. She was vaguely aware of the limousine pulling away.

When he drew back, she was too dazed to question him about the gift. Chase raised a hand, skimming his fingers down her cheek. “I think I’m gonna like having you for my wife.”

“You only think?”

“I
know
I’m gonna like having you for my wife.”

“That’s better.”

He chuckled and leaned in, kissing her again until she could hardly breathe. The car suddenly jerked to a stop and without the restraint of a seatbelt, they separated and held on to the seat to keep upright. “Sorry, folks,” the limo driver said through an intercom. “A truck didn’t see the red light.”

The voice invaded their privacy and Addie wondered if the driver could see them. When Chase pulled her close again, she pointed to the package, trying to divert her husband in another direction until they were truly alone. “Who is that from?”

He gave her a crooked grin. “Are you trying to distract me?”

Addie’s eyes flickered to the dark window that separated them from the driver. “Just temporarily.” She gave him a playful smile. “Plus, I like opening presents.”

* * *

Curious about the gift himself, Chase chuckled and handed the present to his wife. “Your aunt gave this to me just before I got into the limo. She said we should open it now.”

“Maybe it’s a piece of cake,” Addie said, ripping the paper. “I can’t believe I only got that tiny little bite you fed me.”

“I could’ve given you a bigger piece,” Chase said with a laugh. “In fact, Beau encouraged it.”

She peeled back the paper and looked at him sidelong. “I know what Beau and Jackson wanted you to do. And if you had, I seriously would’ve started a food fight. If I got cake shoved in my face. They would too.”

Chase grinned as she lifted the lid off of the white shoe-box sized box. A strong musty odor filled the air, making Addie wrinkle her nose. “Ooh. Definitely not cake.” She handed him the box. “What’s in there?”

He peered inside to see a small weathered wooden chest. “It looks like a treasure chest.”

Leaning over to take a peek, Addie gasped, “It does. Can we open it?”

Chase reached in and fingered the old wood, warped by the elements and time. He lifted the lid, and set it to the side. Inside the box lay a white envelope with their names written on it.

Addie snuggled into his side as he lifted the envelope out. He slid his finger under the flap to open it. Inside were several tattered pieces of old paper currency, an antique sapphire ring and an old picture of the Caldwell house.

“Do you know what these are?” Chase asked, taking a closer look at the money. “It’s old Confederate notes from the Civil War.”

“You’re kidding,” Addie said, slanting forward. “Where do you think it came from?”

“I don’t know.” He pulled a note card out of the envelope and said, “Maybe this explains it.”

With their heads close together, they read the note from Janie, explaining about the contents of the gift. Addie squealed in delight to find out her aunt had finally solved the Caldwell mystery. Having come across another photograph of the house, she’d placed it next to the others and made an exciting discovery.

… Addie, you were right. The clue had been the scripture verses Marianne gave to her sister. This photograph I found shows that where the gazebo now stands there had once been a well. A man I hired found the capped well and opened it. Buried deep inside, he found this small wooden box. Miraculously it survived the elements. The Confederate money isn’t worth much as it is stuck together and badly decomposed. The sapphire ring, however, is still valuable and my gift to you. Sapphires symbolize long-lasting love and the ring itself reminds us of eternity. No beginning and no end…

Chase circled his arm around his wife and pulled her close. “
Mmm
,” he said, brushing his lips across her ear. “I like the sound of that. Eternity. Infinity. No end.”

She tipped her face up, her gaze filled with absolute love. “Forever,” she whispered. Then she wound her arms around his neck and, regardless of the driver, gave him a long, sweet kiss.

Oh, yeah
. Eternity was going to be
so
good.

Fair Catch

a novel

by

Cindy Roland Anderson

Chapter One

Ellie
Garrett’s feet pounded rhythmically against the pavement, her anger growing with each step as her mind replayed the frustrating phone call she had received thirty minutes ago. Sweat trickled down her back as she made another loop around the jogging trail. She wiped her hand across her forehead and slowed her tempo. She needed to cool down—in more ways than one.

Thomas Garrett, her ex-husband, had done it again. He’d managed to make her angry, disappoint their son Cade, and place the blame on Ellie’s shoulders. She already had too much weight on her shoulders. Raising her four-year-old son by herself was more than enough.

Decreasing her pace down to a brisk walk, Ellie slowly blew out her breath and looked around the affluent area where she now resided. She was definitely the little fish in the big pond. Six months ago her dad, a professor of ancient history at the University of Colorado, fulfilled a life-long dream by taking a position in England for the next two years, teaching at Cambridge.

When her parents left, Ellie and Cade moved from their tiny condo in Boulder, Colorado to her parents’ house in Pleasant Wood, a suburb of Denver, allowing her to quit her part-time job.

So now, according to Thomas, she was rolling in the money and could take Cade to Disneyland herself. She added delusional to his list of defective qualities.

Glancing at her watch, she noted it was almost time to pick up Cade from preschool. Inevitably, he would ask about going to Disneyland with his dad. How was she supposed to explain to her little boy that his father had another pressing obligation and wouldn’t be coming?

“Father. Right,” Ellie muttered. She wished for once in his life Thomas would try to be a father. Currently, he lived in Australia, enjoying the life he’d always dreamed about. Translation: Single with zero responsibilities.

A derisive puff of air escaped between her lips when she thought about his lame excuses. Ellie couldn’t relate. Cade—their son—was her only obligation. More than likely, Thomas’s urgent business involved a woman.

Pulling the band from her ponytail, she finger combed a few blonde strands of her long curly hair away from her face. The mild breeze sifted through her curls and cooled her off. A young couple, pushing a toddler in a stroller, walked in front of her. When Cade had been that size, Ellie had been all alone.

Twisting the band back around her hair, she set off at a slow jog toward home. She needed a shower. And chocolate.

Coming up behind her neighbor’s house, tiny branches and pebbles crunched beneath her shoes as she veered off the paved trail. As she entered the secluded cul-de-sac, Ellie saw a large moving truck parked at the enormous two-story house across the street from her parents’ home. She stopped running and stared at the gorgeous French Country manor. Made of gray stone, it resembled a small castle, complete with a stone turret bordering the left side. On the market for nearly two years, everyone was anxious to meet the new owner, especially since the sale was confidential.

Ellie squinted against the bright May sun, looking for any kind of evidence the new owners had children. She couldn’t tell, but maybe her friend would know something.

Betsy Stewart stood on the sidewalk, no doubt trying to be the first one to welcome the mystery home-owners before anyone else. Her husband, Owen, was the pastor of Pleasant Wood Community Church, and knew the identity of the anonymous buyer. He wasn’t allowed to say anything to anyone—including his wife. The suspense was killing Betsy.

Cutting across the road, Ellie headed toward her neighbor. Betsy’s short, auburn hair swayed as she whirled around, a wide smile stretched across her tanned face. “Ellie, can you believe we’ll finally get to meet the new owners?”

Ellie wasn’t as intrigued as Betsy. She just hoped the new neighbor wouldn’t mind a precocious four-year-old who, on occasion, wandered into houses without his mother’s knowledge.

“It’ll be nice to meet them. If I’m lucky, Cade will get a playmate.”

While she watched the movers carry in an entertainment center, Ellie pulled at the front of her sweat-dampened T-shirt, allowing cool air to pass through. Sure, having the empty house occupied would be a good thing, but as far as Ellie was concerned, the cul-de-sac she lived in was perfect just the way it was. The Stewarts lived on one side. The Colemans, a nice jet-setting retired couple, lived on the other.

The gorgeous house across the street was flanked by a huge yard. The entire property actually consisted of the other three lots that had been available when her parents had built their home. The asking price was astronomical, and she felt a little intimidated by the kind of people who could afford such a home.

Images of Thomas flitted through her mind. He loved money and expensive things. He also hated parting with that money to pay alimony and child support. At twenty-seven, the last thing Ellie had ever dreamed about was being a divorced, single mother. She’d married Thomas right after her twenty-first birthday. Eighteen months later, she gave birth to Cade. When Cade was only three weeks old, Thomas told her he had a girlfriend and wanted a divorce.

Betsy nudged her with her arm, cutting into the dark memories. “I’m baking bread right now, and then I’m planning on taking over a welcome basket. Do you want to come with me?”

Ellie’s mouth watered just thinking about the fresh-baked bread. “I can’t. After I pick Cade up from preschool, I’m taking him into Denver to the children’s museum.” She gave a deep sigh when she remembered what she had to do. The forty-five minute drive to the city would probably be a good time to tell Cade about the canceled trip to Disneyland. “We won’t be home until this evening.”

“Hey, you sound like you’re a little upset. Is everything okay?” Betsy asked. Although Betsy was twice her age, she was Ellie’s best friend.

Shaking her head, Ellie heaved another defeated sigh. “No. Thomas called this morning—he’s not coming to take Cade to California.”

“What?” Betsy’s naturally happy face clouded with anger. “You know, if I ever meet that man face to face …well, maybe the next time he’s here, I’ll sic all four of my boys on him.”

Ellie grinned. The Stewart boys were as mild mannered as the pastor. “Don’t worry, my brothers told me to call them the next time he pulled something like this. They’d like a little time alone with him, and I don’t think it’s just to talk.” Really, her big brothers wanted a chance to knock some sense into him. Too bad both boys lived out of state and were never around when Thomas did make a visit.