CHAPTER FORTY-NINE Ginger
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Ginger
I pace around the house at five minutes to one, making sure everything is ready. I’ve baked her favorite cookies, straightened up her room and bought her a new stuffy to be Cowey’s friend. The little golden retriever sits patiently in the center of her bed.
I’m doing anything to keep moving. Anything to shut my mind off.
Cole branded my initial into his skin. I think back to the end of that summer. CeCe left for Seattle the day after Cole came home from Grosvenor. I brought Brock to the ranch for her going-away party. I think back to the way Cole was with me then, curt and fleeting. I thought it was because he was upset with me for kissing him. I’d been so mortified after that night. We’d had no contact. Then he went back to school and, by Christmas, Gemma was pregnant with Mabel. I think about how long he’s held all of this in as I straighten up Mabel’s bed for the third time.
I hear the car door shut and I’m in the foyer before the front door is even open, holding the stuffed dog. Then Mabel is in my arms and a sense of peace washes over me. I squeeze her tight, her new toy wedged between us. I’m so excited to see her I don’t even realize it’s Gemma delivering her back until I hear her clear her throat.
I stand up.
“Mommy came to have lunch at the cottage and rode back with us,” Mabel tells me.
Convenient. Doesn’t visit her for more than a few hours all through the week but comes to bring her home . If I had to guess why, I’d say it’s so that Gemma can see what’s going on here.
My suspicions are confirmed when Mabel finishes chatting animatedly about the week, Sara Ann, and how much she loves her new dog.
“It’s until Daddy breaks down and gets you a real one,” I tell her as I rustle her hair.
She grins up at me and my heart swells. It’s amazing how much I missed this child over the last eight days. A pang of fear hits my heart when I remind myself I have no idea what the future holds. Cole’s words this morning were strong, but once I don’t have to be here, will everything change between us?
“Making yourself right at home, Ginger?” Gemma asks as Mabel heads to her room to start putting away her things.
I turn to face her, and it’s taking everything I have to not verbally pummel her, but Mabel is in the next room and I won’t do that with her here.
“For the summer, yes,” I say.
Gemma nods. “That’s good. Don’t get too attached now. You’ll be back to your own side of the tracks soon enough, and Cole will do what Cole seems to do best lately.”
I narrow my eyes. I may not be ready to get into it with her but I certainly won’t tolerate her insulting Mabel’s father while she’s in the house. I move closer. Close enough to smell her flowery perfume and the faint hint of weed.
“And that would be?” I ask, low enough that there’s no way Mabel can hear from the next room.
She smirks at me.
“You know,” she says. “I heard he hasn’t made any trips to Lexington in a while. I wonder why?”
She winks and I flex my palms, digging my nails into them to control my anger. I shrug.
“If you knew him, you might know why. But you don’t.” I lean in a little closer and whisper, “Lucky for him.”
“Oh, sweet naive Ginger,” she says with a laugh, tightening her half-up bob in its hairclip. “This one’s gonna sting, babe,” she continues before calling, “Bye Mabey-babey! See you one night next week.”
“Bye Mommy,” Mabel singsongs from her room.
It says everything to me, but nothing to Gemma, that Mabel doesn’t even bother to come out and give her mother a hug goodbye. She’s become indifferent to not seeing her.
Gemma turns and heads for the door.
“Oh, and Gingey. I’ll see you tonight. Brent is such a strong supporter of your dad,” she says, and then she’s gone, leaving me stunned. I push her from my mind and focus on Mabel. I will not let Gemma get to me.
“Mabel!” I call.
Mabel tiptoes out of the living room.
“Is she gone?” she asks.
“Yep,” I say back, trying to figure out how she’s feeling from the look in her eyes.
“Can we go see Daddy?” she asks. “I really missed him.”
I smile. Cole was supposed to sneak out of work to be here when Mabel got home but there was a massive accident on Highway 6 and he had to go to the scene an hour ago to help out. I assume he’ll be back at the office by now.
I smile down at her. “Sure,” I say. “That’s a great idea. Let’s bring him some lunch and then we’ll come back for some swimming.”
I reach for her hand, trying to forget the fact that Cole’s ex-wife is a heinous bitch and I’m going to have to spend the evening with her. Right now, Mabes is my priority.
The sheriff’s office is bustling when we arrive ten minutes later. I warned Cole we were coming before we left the house. He said he was run off his feet, but wanted us to come anyway.
Cole’s office administrator, Bev, is running multiple phone lines, so Mabel and I sit and wait in the reception area of the station. She gives us a friendly smile and waves through the glass wall. I teach her niece tenth-grade English.
We’re here.
HUSBAND
Just on the phone, be right out.
I look down at Mabel with a grin. “He’s coming.”
I tap my fingers on my thigh with one hand while we wait, and hold Mabel’s hand with the other. The street outside is full of visitors shopping in Laurel Creek’s quaint stores, and I watch as a little girl skips down the street carrying a stuffed toy version of the town’s mascot, Archibald the Tiger, while holding her dad’s hand. I smile at the scene; it reminds me of Cole and Mabel.
I turn my attention back to watch for Cole when something catches my eye on the other side of the glass, behind Bev. I realize that what’s grabbed my attention is Brent, who seems to be milling about in the mail area. Maybe it’s just my mistrust of him but he always seems suspicious to me. He looks around and down the hall toward Cole’s office before he starts rifling through the open mail slots on the wall. He pulls out a pile from one slot and takes it out of sight, below the half wall. Only, just a moment later, he puts it back where it came from. He looks around again and my spidey senses tingle as I count the mail slots. Second one from the left. Top row.
“Girls!” I hear Cole’s voice call out as he comes out from the door that leads to the offices.
“Daddy!” Mabel springs up and runs to him, launching herself into his arms and squeezing tight. He showers her with kisses as she giggles, and it gives me the tiniest glimpse into a future where there are children of our own running around. You know, the ones we aren’t planning but that I can’t stop thinking about. This fatherly side to him, totally separate to who he is as a man, is intoxicating.
Cole asks Mabel all about her week, and I struggle to tear my eyes away from his strong arms, their shape emphasized by his short-sleeved uniform that clings to him in literally all the right places.
“Come with me,” he says as I approach. “Let’s have some lunch.”
He rests his hand on the small of my back as he looks down at Mabes in his arms.
“Lunch with my favorite girls. There can’t be anything better than that.”
Mabel smiles. “The whole team!” she says happily.
As she snuggles into his neck, Cole’s eyes meet mine.
“Damn good team,” he says as he squeezes my hand.
Mabel grins. “My first dollar.”
“Right. Guess now’s a good time to tell you Ginger’s been cussing the whole time you’ve been gone,” Cole says.
“I’m going to be rich!” Mabel giggles.
I laugh with her. And, as I follow the two of them down the hall to Cole’s office, I’m definitely feeling as rich as can be, almost like everything is perfect.