Unafraid (Amber Ridge #1)

Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

T he Tea House was actually busy. People-everywhere, almost-every-booth-taken kind of busy…and it was just a normal Tuesday. She couldn’t take her eyes off the windows as they pulled into the parking lot.

They’d done it. They’d actually kept Mrs. Gerald in business.

It was official—the smile could not be wiped off her face.

Jesse parked and turned to her. “I love it when you do that.”

“Do what?”

“Smile.”

Somehow, her smile widened. “Do you see how many people are in there? Heck, do you see how many cars are in this parking lot?”

“I do.”

“ We helped Mrs. Gerald do that.”

“ You helped Mrs. Gerald do that.”

Her grin softened. “She kind of feels like family, and this town really feels like home.”

“Because it is your home.”

“It is, isn’t it?”

He squeezed her thigh before they both climbed out and walked toward the shop. Just as they were about to step in, her phone rang, her mother’s name flashing on the screen.

She stopped. She hadn’t spoken to her mother since their conversation the day after the Dylan mess. Her mother hadn’t tried to call her at all.

A couple weeks had passed since Bea was arrested. She assumed her mother had returned to Misty Peak, but she had no confirmation.

“You don’t need to answer that if you don’t want to,” Jesse said from over her shoulder.

She nibbled her lip. She knew she didn’t…so why was she considering it? “I think I want to hear what she has to say.”

Jesse inched closer. “Want me to stay with you?”

“Is it okay if I meet you inside?”

Concern flashed in his eyes, but he nodded. Then he bent and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead before heading inside The Tea House.

She sucked in a breath before putting the phone to her ear. “Hi, Mom.”

“Aspen. You answered.”

“You thought I wouldn’t?”

“I thought you wouldn’t.” There was a short pause before her mother added, “I’m home in Misty Peak.”

“Good.”

Another pause. “How have you been?”

“Okay. We found Dylan’s accomplice. It was someone from the station. She’s been arrested.”

“Oh, I’m so glad. I’m happy you’re safe.”

“Are you? Or are you just glad that you weren’t implicated in anything that happened?” It was a low blow, but Aspen was past niceties.

“Aspen, I know a lot has happened between us, and I’m sorry that I trusted Dylan over you. But I do love you, and I want you to be okay.”

Aspen bit her tongue. There was so much she could say in response to that, but nothing that she hadn’t said before.

“I’m seeing a therapist and taking medication,” her mother added.

Aspen’s brows shot up. “You are?”

“Yes. You’ve been telling me for years that I need help, and for a long time, I’ve been in denial. But this was my wake-up call. I do need help. My therapist has already helped me recognize that I suffer from dissociative identity disorder…or what used to be called split personality disorder. It makes it hard for me to maintain healthy relationships.”

Aspen couldn’t believe what her mother was saying. For so long, she’d dreamed about hearing similar words come out of her mouth, and now they were. “I’m glad you’re seeking help.”

“I know a lot has gone on between us, but would you ever consider…forgiving me? Maybe even having a relationship with me? A new one. Like a fresh start?”

Aspen swallowed and looked down at her black boots. A part of her, the part that had never had a mother she could rely on, wanted to say yes. But the other part, the part that had been burned so many times, was scared to feel hope in case she got hurt again.

“I promise you,” her mother hurried to add, “that nothing like what happened with Dylan will ever happen again.”

“It’s not just about that, Mom. It’s about everything that’s ever happened between us. Our past is…heavy and complicated.”

“I know. I’m sorry. It was selfish of me to ask. Um…I should go. I just needed you to know how sorry I am and that I’m trying to do better.”

“Mom…”

“Yes?”

Aspen swallowed. “Give me time. Then, maybe, we can see about a relationship.” How much time, exactly, she wasn’t sure. But it was the most she could offer.

“Okay. Yeah, that…that sounds good. Thank you.”

“I hope you stay well, Mom.” In more ways than one.

“Thank you. And I hope you enjoy the life you’ve created in Amber Ridge. Despite all the adversity I threw your way, you’ve built a great life.”

On that, they could agree. “Thanks, Mom.”

When the call ended, Aspen’s chest rose and fell on a deep breath. She felt lighter. A kind of lightness she’d never really felt before. Her mother had finally acknowledged she needed help, which meant for the first time ever…sometime in the future…they might actually have a shot at a healthy relationship.

She stepped into The Tea House and caught Jesse’s gaze across the room. He was watching her so intensely.

She had built a great life here, and one man had a lot to do with that.

She crossed the space between them, reminded with every step how lucky she was that Jesse had come into her life, and that she finally had the love she’d always written about and dreamed of.

Jesse leaned back in his seat and watched as Aspen stood behind the counter and spoke to Mrs. Gerald. While she’d been speaking to her mother, every protective part of him had wanted to march outside, take that phone from her fingers and hang up on Karen so she couldn’t hurt her daughter anymore. He hadn’t, and surprisingly, the conversation had gone well.

Something he was slowly learning was that Aspen didn’t need him to shield her from hard things. She was strong and fierce, and those were just two of the reasons why he loved her.

He was about to get up and drag her back to him when his phone rang, Lock’s number appearing on the screen. He’d been updating his former Ghost Ops team member about everything going on. Just as Aspen had been updating Lock’s partner, Callie.

He pressed the phone to his ear. “Hey.”

“Jess, hey, I just wanted to check in and see how everything’s going. I hate that I haven’t been there.”

“Callie’s pregnant and she needs you there, so that’s where you should be. I had my brother and Holden, and we’re doing good now.”

“So, since Bea was arrested…”

“Everything’s been quiet.”

“I’m glad. You had not only me worried but Callie as well. And I’m doing everything I can to try to keep her calm during this pregnancy.”

Jesse nodded. He was in full agreement. Callie needed a calm pregnancy, considering her medical history. “I’m sorry. This definitely couldn’t have helped her.”

“Don’t be sorry, just keep telling us you’re all right.”

“I’m better than all right. I’m drinking great coffee, watching the woman I love smile, and waiting for Becket, Clara and Holden. Life’s great.”

Lock blew out a breath. “I’m happy for you, brother. You deserve every bit of good that comes your way.”

“Thank you. I’m just trying not to pinch myself in case I wake up and realize this isn’t my life.”

“Pinch yourself. Give yourself that confirmation that it’s real. Trust me, I’ve felt the disbelief myself, and then the overwhelming relief that it’s all true.”

When Aspen hugged Mrs. Gerald, Jesse straightened. “I’ve got to go. But we’ll talk soon.”

“Check in often, okay?”

“Definitely.”

He hung up, unbelievably grateful that his friend could live across the country and they could still have the relationship they had. When you served with a person, that person became family, and distance didn’t change that.

He rose from the booth before Aspen reached him and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You took too long.”

She laughed, and the sound was fucking beautiful. “I was gone for five minutes.”

“It felt longer.”

She leaned into him. “I missed you too.”

He studied the navy in her eyes. “This is it, you know.”

“What?”

“The magic you were chasing.”

Her smile softened. “It kind of feels like magic, doesn’t it?”

“No ‘kind of’ about it.”

Her fingers skimmed his chest. “I pushed you away for a long time.”

“I wasn’t going anywhere.”

“Thank God.”

He cocked his head. “Have you sent your manuscript to your editor yet?”

Her face lit up. “I did. And I put it up for preorder and announced a release date to my readers. It’s like this weight has been lifted from my chest.”

“Good.”

“Thank you for helping me believe in love again.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You did everything .” She rose to her toes and hovered her lips an inch from his. “I love you, Jesse Hayes.”

“And I love you, Aspen Davies.” Then he kissed her and thanked every fucking star that he got to call this woman his.