Chapter One #2
Eve’s phone chimed with a message from her mother. She’d just picked up Katie from preschool. Eve texted her back, letting her know she was at the Coffee Corner, along with some of Mom’s retired friends occupying a table by the front.
As soon as she put her phone on the table, Hayden sat down across from her, large coffee cup in hand.
Eve took a moment to register Hayden’s black cowboy hat covering his shaggy black hair and shading his dark-as-midnight eyes.
He hadn’t changed much in ten years. He still wore cowboy boots, blue jeans, and a checkered shirt, this one navy blue.
Some might find Hayden’s nose a bit crooked, a result of it being broken in a scrap as a teen.
And some might say his chin was too strong, a feature of all Bennett men.
And some might find his silences and concise sentences intimidating.
Not Eve. She still considered Hayden nearly perfect.
If only he’d agree to marry me.
Although once she told him the truth, it was more likely Hayden would never speak to her again.
Hayden sipped his coffee, elbows resting casually on the table, no longer the fuming cowboy dealing with his fiancée’s annoying ex. “Spill, Evie. Start at the beginning.”
No one calls me Evie anymore.
Eve clutched the small clay pendant Katie had given her last Mother’s Day. If she was going to unravel the tangle she’d made, she needed to start now.
Slowly…
Carefully…
Leaving out the most painful bits…
Eve cleared her throat. “When I married Steven, our careers were just kicking off—him as a trial attorney with dreams of owning his own practice, me as a licensed practical nurse with dreams of becoming a registered nurse someday. But Steven was on the fast track and my ‘someday’ was pushed out of reach.” Steven had told her they couldn’t afford nursing school and the loss of her income.
And since he took care of the finances, she’d believed him.
I was so na?ve.
Just the reminder of how he’d taken advantage of her gullibility was enough to make her blood pressure spike.
Hayden studied her with those dark eyes, waiting.
Eve drew a few calming breaths before getting back to her story.
“With every success, every promotion, Steven’s work suits became more expensive.
Conversely, his heart seemed to shrink in proportion to those wardrobe prices.
” There were no more date nights, no cuddles in front of the fireplace, or whispered endearments before bed.
It was work that consumed her husband. “Suddenly, his career was more important than mine. His priorities more important than me and our four-year-old daughter. If he was home, we had to be quiet so he could concentrate. He couldn’t be bothered with our problems. Not my flat tire.
Not Katie’s skinned knees.” And especially not any special shifts Eve took at the rehabilitation hospital where she worked.
Hayden’s expression remained unchanged—cool, distant, unaffected.
He’ll never marry me.
Eve pressed on anyway. “I tried talking to Steven, telling him I was his partner and that marriage was give-and-take. But he didn’t hear me.
He didn’t want to.” Eve’s words were hurt-roughened, as scarred as her heart had been from falling out of love with Steven.
“And Katie and I… We’d tread carefully when he was around.
We…” Eve didn’t want to admit this part—the months where she’d been compliant and miserable, having given up fighting for their marriage.
But she had to say something. Eve owed Hayden the truth for pretending to be her one and only earlier.
“It wasn’t a happy time for any of us, especially Katie.
” Her little one had been crushed by Steven’s indifference.
Hayden’s black gaze fell by the wayside. He ran a hand around the back of his neck beneath that shaggy black hair.
“One day, I realized Katie and I couldn’t live like that anymore.
” Eve might not have been able to save her marriage, but she could protect her daughter’s joy and light, as well as her own.
“I served Steven with divorce papers and moved out. Surprisingly, he didn’t contest the divorce.
But the process was drawn out and painful.
” During which time she’d received copies of their financial accounts and realized they’d had plenty of money for her to go back to school.
Steven just hadn’t wanted her to. It had been maddening.
She’d since put most of the money the court granted her into a college fund for Katie.
“After our divorce was final… Maybe over the last six months or so, Steven began stopping by our apartment unannounced and then hanging out, acting like the man I married.” As if Eve could forget the in-between parts.
“He had regrets.” Hayden sipped his coffee.
“Who knows? But it was too late. My heart was immune.” Inoculated by his petty selfishness.
Eve sucked in a ragged breath, knowing if she went into too much detail about the breakup, she’d cry.
And if she knew one thing about Hayden, it was that he hated histrionics.
“Katie enjoyed his visits, unaware of the tension between us. But every time Steven walked through the door, it felt like all the air got sucked out of the room. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak freely—like I was back in a box I’d worked so hard to escape.
I’d spent so long making myself smaller to keep the peace, I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until he left. ”
“You were boxed into a corner.” Hayden’s expression was unreadable. “Sometimes, the only way out of a box is to smash it open and leave the pieces behind so you can breathe.”
“Yes.” It struck Eve that her mental state was similar to that of her sister when she couldn’t go through with her wedding to Hayden all those years ago. Violet had smashed free in the only way she’d known how.
Needing to stay in the present, Eve clutched Katie’s heart pendant.
“I heard there was a skilled nursing job opening at the retirement home here in town.” From her mother, who’d also told her Hayden had returned the week prior, a fact that caught Eve’s attention.
“When I was hired several weeks ago, I packed up and moved in with my mother. I made a budget that allowed me to finally pursue my registered nursing degree.” She’d signed up for two online courses right away.
“We settled in quickly. But that’s when the trouble started.
” Eve swallowed thickly. “When Steven called asking where we were, and I told him we’d moved to Bentwood Creek. ”
“He used his lawyer skills against you.” Hayden nodded slowly, a bit of empathy in that dark gaze.
“Did he ever. I was served a court summons yesterday at work.” Eve hadn’t been able to sleep last night; afraid Steven was going to retaliate for the move and sue her for primary custody of Katie.
“I don’t have a lawyer. I’d filled out the divorce paperwork at the county clerk’s office.
It was news to me that I needed Steven’s and the family court’s approval before changing my job or home address.
” Eve was back to choosing her words carefully, trying to keep her composure.
“This morning in court, my request to stay in Bentwood Creek was denied. But while explaining why, the judge let slip that I could gain approval if I’d moved here to marry someone living in Bentwood Creek. So…”
“You created an imaginary fiancé.” Hayden shook his head in apparent disbelief. “Unwise.”
“It just sort of…came out.” And then she couldn’t find the courage to retract that statement. Eve blinked back a stronger threat of tears and stared at the ceiling. “Steven knew I was bluffing. That’s why he followed me back here.”
He’d caught up to her at the feed store, a place where cowboys could often be found.
Having spent years worshipping Hayden, Eve figured that’s what she needed—a hardworking, honest cowboy.
She’d been scoping out matrimonial prospects when she noticed Steven enter.
She’d bolted out the back, not stopping until she’d darted inside the Coffee Corner.
Her gaze caught on a flyer announcing the Spring Festival, a local event coming up soon. The last time she’d attended had been with Violet and Hayden.
“You were trying to fix things,” Hayden said in a quiet voice, bringing her back to the task at hand. “In your own unique way.”
Does that mean…
Eve glanced at Hayden, smiling and hoping.
“I can’t marry you,” Hayden announced without emotion. “I’m not the marrying type. Sentiment isn’t in my DNA.”
That’s not the way Eve remembered Hayden. Her last memory of him was from his wedding day…
“Violet’s not with me,” Eve had told Hayden, having drawn him from the altar to the church vestibule after Violet left town. At the time, Eve hadn’t been able to look Hayden in the eye.
“Where is Vi? Was there an accident? Is she sick?” Hayden had tugged his tie knot loose, a hero ready to change into his Superman tights and fly to Vi’s rescue.
“Do we need to delay the start of the wedding? We can do that. What do you think? An hour? Two?” As usual, Hayden was caught up in the logistics.
Organization and schedules were his thing.
“Hayden, listen to me.” Eve had touched his arm, heart aching for him. For all of them. “This isn’t a short delay.”
“Four hours, then. Should I go to Violet?” Hayden began patting his pockets as if searching for his truck keys.
And then, he stopped. “No. I shouldn’t go.
Vi didn’t want to see me before we recited our vows.
She’s not alone, is she? Your mother is with her, right?
We can let everyone know we’ll be serving dinner later and—”
“Hayden, stop. Just stop.” Eve placed her palms on his clean-shaven cheeks and squeezed. “You’re not listening. Vi isn’t coming. She’s not marrying you.”
All the color had drained from his face.
“Did you hear me?” Hayden asked in the present, bumping the brim of his black cowboy hat upward. “Find a different stand-in husband, Evie.”
“But…” Eve bit her lip, wishing she didn’t feel so desperate.
Wishing she was brave enough to come clean and face the consequences of her actions.
But she couldn’t. Not yet. The fact that Hayden had played along with the deception earlier gave her hope.
Hope she clung to. “I can’t find someone else.
Steven met you. I introduced you as my fiancé. ” No other man would do.
“Evie, there’s a simple solution.” Hayden fixed her with a cool stare. “I’m breaking up with you. Engagement…” He snapped his fingers. “…over.”
What am I going to do?
The weight of her impulsive choices pressed on Eve’s shoulders. She clutched Katie’s homemade pendant so hard, the red clay dug into her palm.
I just need a plan.
Which required time.
Time is a luxury I don’t have.
The judge had been clear: marriage was the only way to justify and uphold her relocation.
Eve tried to make light of her situation. “I suppose forging a marriage certificate is a crime.”
Hayden’s black eyes were cool with disapproval. “Don’t even joke.”
“Too soon?” Eve regrouped, forming a last-ditch plea.
“Do you have to make such a hasty decision about this? I’m not looking for love, Hayden.
I’m looking for a platonic marriage. A short-term marriage.
A marriage with someone I trust.” Someone like you.
That had been her dream after Vi chose Charlie.
Since he hadn’t bolted out the door, perhaps he was still an option.
Smiling, she leaned forward to whisper, “Will you marry me?”
Hayden remained silent. Apparently unwilling to entertain the idea of saving her.
Honorable, given what I’m asking isn’t.
She had to admire him for that.
“There must be another way,” Eve murmured, stealing Hayden’s coffee cup and taking a sip. It was strong and black and offered nothing in the way of answers.
Hayden frowned. “You should move back to Missoula.”
Eve shook her head. “I’m not putting us back under Steven’s thumb.”
An ancient red-and-white truck Eve associated with Hayden’s grandparents passed by on Main Street, too quickly for Eve to identify the driver. But it brought back news she hadn’t recalled before.
“I’m sorry,” Eve said, sitting up taller.
“I’ve been burdening you with my problems. I forgot my mother told me you came back to town because your grandfather died.
” From an undiagnosed brain tumor. “And your grandmother… I saw her at the retirement home.” Where Irene was recovering from her stroke. “She didn’t remember me, but…”
Hayden stared out the window as if she’d struck a nerve.
“I’m sorry,” Eve said again, reaching across the table to take Hayden’s hand in hers. It was warm and calloused, a working man’s hand.
And it provided a jolt to the past, to her daydreams of marrying Hayden. Eighteen-year-old Eve would never have the nerve to touch him. Twenty-eight-year-old Eve did but knew better than to put any significance in him not jerking away.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Hayden, and for any trouble I’ve caused you today.”
“Evie…” Hayden stared down at her hand holding his. “I can’t fix this for you.”
And then, he swiped his coffee back.