5. TWO
TWO
C aitlin swallowed, shaking out her hands while sitting in the back seat next to Isabelle and hoping she was doing the right thing. Did she have any other choice?
“I can make them leave, Miss Brant.” Miller glanced at her from the rear-view mirror.
“And put a family with young children out on the street?” She shook her head. “What kind of person do you think I am?”
“I didn’t think you were the type to follow some guy home,” he grumbled.
“He’s not some guy.”
“So, when he said you were his wife…” The eyes met hers again.
“Yeah…we were married.” She looked down at her daughter, her brown eyes flashing, taking in all the mountain beauty surrounding them. Had Jordan noticed? Is that why he was so easy with her little girl?
Jordan had always been wary around kids. Sure, he teased them, chased them, always the favorite uncle kind of guy…but he had changed. The way he picked up Isabelle, the way he handled her…the old Jordan wouldn’t have done that.
He must know…but he wouldn’t have forgiven her that easily if he had, would he?
“Mommy?”
Caitlin shook her head out of the merry-go-round of craziness that the wondering left her in. “Yes, sweetie.”
“Jordan nice. I like him.”
“I’m glad you like him.”
“We going his house?” She peered out the window. “Look at all the trees!”
Caitlin looked past her daughter to the trees flowing by in the forest beyond the road, feeling herself relax and wondering why she had never thought to miss the forest.
She had been too busy missing Jordan.
“Yes, sweetie. Lots of trees here. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Bootiful. Are we there yet?”
Caitlin kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Almost. You’ve done so well on this long drive.”
Miller grunted, clenching the steering wheel. “I still think we should look for a different option. We can’t offer you the same protection in someone else’s domain…and he seems like a domain kind of guy.”
Caitlin laughed, surprised she could with the amount of stress racing through her body. “Yeah, I guess he is.” She sighed. “There are no other choices right now, so we’ll have to do our best to make it work.”
Was that the truth? Was she letting this happen rather than searching for other rentals because a part of her wanted the life she had always dreamed of…for Isabelle to have her daddy, for them to be the family they were always meant to be? She could look, but what Jordan said was right: Everything would be booked through October. That’s how it’s always been in Hope Lake.
Even after four years, she knew the road by heart. They had never lived on this property together, but they had bought it together, planned the house together, and she couldn’t deny that her curiosity thrummed with excitement at seeing their dream in reality.
Jordan turned his massive truck…the truck he had always wanted, into the now-paved driveway. The wrought iron automatic gate swung open, revealing a long, curvy asphalt driveway lined with lampposts and shrubs. They drove slowly up the drive into the circular driveway with a small mountain-shaped fountain in the middle.
“Look, a kitty!” Isabelle shouted, pointing to the mountain lion statue on top of the fountain.
“Not the kind of kitty you want to pet, though,” Caitlin said, the awe in her voice making her realize what she saw was a reality.
He had done everything, down to the porch swing, exactly how they had planned…and he knew it. As Jordan hopped out of his truck, he strutted with that wide I-did-good smile that used to make Caitlin shiver with delight.
She shivered, blaming it on the cold, but she knew the truth.
Jordan opened the car door where Isabelle sat bouncing in her car seat. “So, what do you think?” He met Caitlin’s eyes.
“I like your house. Can I play in the water? Is it cold? That kitty not real, right? Do you have horsies?”
Woof. A dog stood on the porch, wagging his tail, before trotting down toward them.
“Nope, but I have Buster. Come here, boy,” Jordan called the dog who bounded to him.
“Doggy!” Isabelle strained against her seatbelts.
Caitlin reached over and undid the clasps. “Hold on. We don’t approach new dogs like that. We don’t know how he’ll react.”
Jordan smiled. “Oh, Buster is harmless. He loves playing with Krista and Kami, and he’s very gentle with Marshal.”
Caitlin furrowed her brow.
“Oh, that’s Derrick’s baby, and Kami is his adopted daughter, but don’t use that term when you talk to them, only say daughter. They are very sensitive about it.” He winked before picking up the dancing Isabelle from the car. “Want to meet Buster?”
“Yes!”
Caitlin squeezed out from between the car seat and the front seat, trying to get there to protect her daughter in case the dog went crazy, but Jordan was too fast. He held Isabelle to him and squatted.
“Sit, Buster,” Jordan said, and the dog sat, panting and smacking his lips, but he didn’t move. “Now hold your hand out like this so he can smell you. That’s how he knows you're a friend.”
Isabelle held out her hand, and Buster nosed it.
“His nose is wet,” Isabelle squealed in delight before reaching over and petting him. “Nice doggy.”
“See,” Jordan said as he set Isabelle on the ground. “Nothing to worry about.”
Caitlin swallowed but nodded, keeping her eyes glued to her daughter, who now rubbed her face in the dog’s fur coat. “He’s big.”
“Yeah, he's part German Shepherd. He’s a good dog. Very loyal. You watch, he’ll protect her with his life if needed.”
Caitlin stepped back, remembering why they were here in the first place. “Jordan, we need to talk.”
He waved her off. “We’ll have time for that. First, I want to show you the house. It’s exactly the way we planned it.” He reached for her hand, and as she slid hers into his thick-fingered grasp, she fought back the tears that wanted to spill from the feeling of safety with his touch.
“The gate, the driveway, even the fountain…” Caitlin shook her head, too overcome with emotion to go on.
“You think I gave up that easily?” Jordan said with a slight edge to his voice, but his fingers only held onto her tighter as if he wouldn’t let her go again.
“Eww, doggy kisses,” Isabelle said, wiping her mouth and looking up from the dog. “Big house…even bigger than Gammy and Gampa’s.”
“There’s more space out of the city,” Caitlin said, letting go of Jordan’s hand to scoop up her daughter.
As much as she longed to take his hand again, it all felt like too much too fast, and it made her head spin. She clung to her daughter as the safety net, her purpose, her entire reason for living…just as she had for the last four years.
“I hope you don’t find it boring. I don’t have toys…at least not for little girls.” Jordan smirked, but his brows drew together.
“We brought some…and if you’re having second thoughts…” Caitlin paused her step.
“No. I’m not having second thoughts.” He reached back and took her arm. “I’ve waited years for this moment. I’m not letting you go again.” His lowered words held that edge again, enough that Miller cleared his throat as he stood there with their bags.
“That’s not your decision, sir.” Miller rolled his shoulders back, making his jacket shift enough that his gun revealed his threat…or was it more of holding a boundary?
“I didn’t mean it like that, man. Geez. If you’re going to be a guest in my house, you’re gonna have to loosen up. This isn’t a prison. She can leave anytime she wants, and so can you.” Jordan glared at the man before turning his gaze back to her. “I only meant…”
She met his gaze. “I know what you meant. It’s only that…you don’t know…”
Isabelle wiggled in her arms. “Mommy, look, a swing. Big swing!”
They had made it up the porch steps to the front door, and Isabelle wormed her way out of her arms and down to run to the swing. She bent over, grasping it, doing her best to get on.
Jordan swooped her up and plopped her on the swing. “What do you think?”
“I like it.” Isabelle giggled as Jordan pushed the swing gently.
“It was your mama’s idea. She likes swings.” Jordan winked at Caitlin.
“Me too.” She swung twice more before squirming down. “We having a sleepover. Where I sleep?”
“Oh, you want to see your room?” Jordan reached out his hand to her. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
“Yay!”
Caitlin followed them, glancing back at Miller, whose scowl told her exactly how he felt about the entire situation, and needless to say, he didn’t hold the same excitement as Isabelle.
For the next several minutes, Caitlin became too lost in the house to really hear or respond to anyone else. He had made the entryway large to greet family, like she had wanted. A large crystal chandelier hung over the dining room table, and it looked like the exact one she had picked out. The kitchen was identical to her sketches.
In fact, the only difference she could find from their original plans was he had put in a wood stove rather than the fireplace she had wanted. It had been one thing they couldn’t agree on. A small smirk tugged on her lips, and a part of her was glad that he had done something for himself after she left him.
She came back to the present when she felt his larger-than-life presence beside her. “I had to. I know you wanted a fireplace, but it just isn’t the economical choice. A wood stove gives off way better heat.”
She shook her head. “It’s fine. I’m glad…I’m glad you did it your way. Your house is beautiful…exactly the way…” She clamped her lips shut before the sob that wanted to push through her swollen throat could escape.
“It’s our house…”
“Jordan…”
“Don’t Jordan me…it will always be ours, even if you leave again and never come back.” His lips thinned with the words.
Four years didn’t erase how well you knew someone, and she had known Jordan since kindergarten. He was in as much turmoil as she was, with a variety of mixed emotions running through them.
“Where’s Isabelle?” Her heart raced as she realized she had zoned out so much that she hadn’t been watching her daughter.
“Your bodyguard is with her telling her not to jump on the bed, but I told her she could.” Jordan smiled impishly. “You always liked to jump on beds.”
“You’re spoiling her. I won’t be able to rein her in when we get home…” Her words trailed off as she realized she didn’t know if she could ever go home. “I need to call my parents…let them know where we are…”
Miller followed Isabelle out as she said that. “I have my instructions. We can’t contact him except to text through a burner phone.”
“A burner phone?” Jordan’s eyes widened. “What did the old man get himself into? This sounds like a crime show.”
Caitlin blew out. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“Miss Brandt,” Miller warned.
“Brandt?” Jordan turned on her. “You went back to your maiden name?” The anger that flashed in his eyes only barely covered the hurt.
She pulled her eyes away from him, scooped up Isabelle, and glared at Miller. “I told you to call me Caitlin.”
“Of course, Caitlin. If you need nothing else, I’m going to scout the perimeter.”
“It’s not needed. Buster will let us know if so much as a squirrel steps out of line.” Jordan folded his arms.
Miller narrowed his eyes, but with one warning glance from her, he huffed and went out the front door.
“Don’t be too hard on him. He is only following orders.” Caitlin shifted Isabelle in her arms.
“Whose orders?” Jordan asked.
“My father’s…and no, I can’t talk about it.”
“Mommy, I hungry.”
“Food,” Caitlin choked at the word, realizing she had completely forgotten about getting groceries while she was in town. Everything had happened so fast. “Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry. You haven’t even had breakfast. Come on. I know I have some snacks in our backpack.”
“Food? Did someone say food?” Jordan asked. “What do you like? Eggs? Steak? Cookies? Maybe an apple?”
Isabelle laughed at his antics. “No! Cereal, silly.”
“Oh, cereal…what kind of cereal?” Jordan led them to the kitchen and started rummaging in his pretty bare cupboards. “I’m afraid I’m all out of cereal.”
“Maybe toast and peanut butter?” Caitlin asked hopefully.
“I’ve got that,” Jordan said, pulling out the items and the toaster before his phone rang. “Excuse me.” He pulled it out of his pocket and swiped to answer it. “Hey, Frank, what’s up?”
Caitlin watched him out of the corner of her eye as she plopped two pieces of bread into the toaster and sat Isabelle at the small kitchen table.
“Oh, shoot!” Jordan glanced at the oven’s clock. “I’m sorry, man, I, uh, well, I ran into someone I haven’t seen in a long time, and…yeah…of course…I get it. I’ll be right there.”
Caitlin raised an eyebrow as he slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Jordan smiled sheepishly. “I forgot it was still Friday…I’m supposed to be out on the job site. Frank needs a call on the cabinetry. Seems they shipped the wrong pieces again.”
“Frank’s still foreman?”
“Yeah, he’s good at what he does. Couldn’t let him go.” Jordan glanced around the room. “I’m a lot busier since Pops retired, but I’ll try to shift some things around so I can be here…help you settle in.”
“Jordan, this isn’t…”
He waved her off again. “For however long you stay…” He pushed a smile to his lips, but it was a reserved, sad sort of smile. “I’m glad…thank you for trusting me enough to be here.”
“I didn’t have any other place to go…I’m not sure what I would have done if you hadn’t been there…hadn’t offered.”
“My pleasure. You’ll be okay until I get back?”
“Of course. Miller won’t let anything happen.”
“I’ll leave Buster, too. And I’ll call you when I’m going back through town so I know what to pick up from the grocery store.”
“I can do that, Jordan,” Caitlin protested.
“I know…but from what I’m hearing, maybe you shouldn’t be out and about.” His phone beeped with a text. He pulled it out and read it. “I’ve got to go. Call me…same number…if you need anything. I’ll call the house phone on my way home.”
“Thank you, Jordan.” Caitlin lifted a hand in farewell as he gave Isabelle a high-five and see you soon.
She stood rooted to the spot, watching out the window as Jordan tore down the driveway and out of sight. What in the world was she doing?
By the time Jordan whipped into the job site, he still hadn’t decided if he was really awake or not. The moment Frank came storming out of the house, though, reality slammed into him.
“That…that…” Frank yelled, ripping off his hat and throwing it to the ground. “I told you to stop going with that company. They can’t ever get anything right, and the son is worse than the father ever was.”
“Chill, Frank. Not much we can do about that. They’re the only ones around here who deal with cabinetry, unless you want the cheap knock-offs from the big franchise stores?”
Frank snarled.
“I didn’t think so. I’ll call Junior and get this straightened out, even if I have to drive into New Hope to pick them up myself.” Jordan slapped the older man on his back. “Come on. Show me which section they messed up.”
“You know your dad wouldn’t have taken this,” Frank muttered.
“I also know Pop’s heart is giving him trouble, and I would like mine in better shape. I’m trying to learn from him…from the good and from his mistakes.”
Frank grunted.
By lunch he had the issue resolved and the right cabinet on a truck and on its way to the house. Jordan stood back to look at the size of the cabin, as the owners called it, had grown to. It was one of the latest vacation cabins his company had taken on. A million dollar, five thousand square foot cabin .
The owners were like most rich Hope Lake vacationers. They would be particular about every detail, stingy with every dime, and probably spend a week in it once a summer and rent it out the rest of the year. He sighed. Sometimes he wondered if he was making Hope Lake better or worse with all this new construction.
Jordan kept himself busy until the cabinet arrived, staying to make sure it fit.
“Like a glove,” he said to Frank as they slid it into place.
Frank grunted. “Used to be you could count on a man to be true to his word the first time…not the third.”
“Agreed,” Jordan said, “but we got it settled for now, and next time we use them, we will be a bit more forward about our expectations.”
“How’s your old man?” Frank asked as he stood back to look at the cabinet every which way.
“Getting stronger every day, driving my mom nuts.”
“Maybe he’ll golf more,” Frank said.
“Maybe. I’ve heard that once you retire, you have to find ways to keep busy or you expire.” Jordan adjusted one corner of the cabinet. “I’m encouraging him to find some hobbies…that don’t include hovering over me or my mom.”
Frank laughed. “Good luck with that one. My missus wants to travel when we retire.”
“Wait…” Jordan reeled, catching the man’s eyes. “That’s not a hint, is it?”
“You kidding?” Frank guffawed. “I’ve got two kids in college. Know what that costs these days? I’ve told the missus I won’t be retiring for at least another decade.”
Jordan blew out a breath. “Sorry, man. I feel for ya, but I do not know where I’d be without you.”
“You think I don’t know that, son?” Frank eyed him, but then a sparkle shone through. “You treat us well, and you’re generous with raises and bonuses. Without that, it’d be another twenty years.”
Jordan laughed and slapped his back. “Maybe I better stop being so generous then.”
“Ha,” Frank said. “Thanks for taking care of this. Do you need to go back to..uh…your guest?”
“My guest?” Jordan asked, but as he said it, the blood drained from his face. Caitlin.
“You alright, man?” Frank peered at him from under bushy eyebrows. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“In a way, I feel like I have…” Jordan ran a hand down his face. “Yeah, if you, uh, got everything under control here, I should go back.”
“I’ve got it covered. Guess that means you aren’t gonna satisfy an old man’s curiosity?”
“Not yet…there are some things to figure out first.”
“Well, have a good weekend with your mysterious guest.” Frank waggled his eyebrows. “It’s about time you moved on.”
“Moved on…?” Jordan blinked, trying to focus on the conversation, then realization hit him. “No…I don’t think there is ever any moving on from her.”
Frank stared at him as he walked to his truck, each step feeling heavier than the last as the truth of his statement sunk in. Seeing her only solidified what he had realized during his conversation with Chasity at Tyler’s wedding.
If things were different, he would have professed his love for her the moment she became conscious on the sidewalk in town, begging her to stay and never leave again…but things were different.
Caitlin had a child.
The girl was adorable, vivacious, curious, and full of energy, so much like Caitlin was when she was younger, but the girl had a devilish glint to her eye that Caitlin never had, a touch of danger and rebelliousness. Had that come from her father?
Jordan shook his head. He couldn’t think about that. Thinking about Caitlin being unfaithful burned a hole deep in his heart.
Sure, they weren’t together…she had left, had made it clear she was done…but in his mind, they were still married. Without that closure, he couldn’t think otherwise. Besides, he never signed the paperwork. He couldn’t put his signature on something he didn’t agree with.
His hand tingled with the memory of holding her hand earlier when he brought them home. Seeing the wonder and emotion in her eyes was just what he had hoped for. His father had called him a fool for building the house with the unspoken determination that Caitlin would return, but he saw the heartache in his father as well.
His mother had soothed him, blessed him for his hopeful heart, and cried with him when she still didn’t return. If she had known what Jordan had said to Caitlin…she probably would have been lecturing him rather than weeping with him.
He sighed as he pulled up into town and sat in his truck, hands on the wheel as if glued there. He needed to call Caitlin and ask her what she needed from town, but the domestic act played havoc on his mind and emotions.
A knock on the passenger window startled him, but a slow smile came to his face when he saw his buddy tip up his sheriff’s hat and give him a curious look.
Jordan reached over and opened the door. “Hey, Derrick. What’s going on?”
“Well, that’s what I want to know.” Derrick glanced around the truck before leaning in. “You okay?”
“Yeah, of course. Why are you asking?”
“Oh, you normally pull up and sit in your truck, hands still on the wheel, staring out the windshield for five minutes?” Derrick raised a brow. “There’s a rumor going ‘round.”
“A rumor, huh?” Jordan swallowed.
“Yeah, a rumor you caught a fainting gal that looked a lot like Caitlin, then went to the park to watch a little girl play…oh and I can’t forget the large grumpy hunk, too.”
“Grumpy hunk?” Jordan sighed. “Mrs. Manning saw us, huh?”
“Yeah, count your blessings she only told a half-dozen people before I overheard and asked her to keep it on the down low. That’ll slow it down for a few hours at least.” Derrick didn’t take his eyes off him. “Is it really her?”
“Yep,” Jordan said. “I think she’s in trouble.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “Can’t say that she’ll be thrilled the entire town will know she’s back by sundown.”
“She couldn’t have expected anything different.” Derrick pushed his hat up further. “You holding up okay? I can’t imagine having her return with a child…and another man…”
“It’s her bodyguard,” Jordan stated numbly.
“Her bodyguard? Hence why you think she’s in trouble…the father?”
Jordan shrugged. “Not that she’s copping to at least.”
“Well, if she’s in trouble, I should talk with her so we can be on the lookout.” Derrick cleared his throat.
“I know you missed her too, man.”
“More like I want to interrogate her about why she left my best friend alone and miserable…” Derrick smirked.
“Ha,” Jordan said, but it brought a smile to his face. “I’ll see if she’s up to an interrogation from you.”
“You mean she’s still here?” Derrick straightened. “I mean, I had to go by her parent’s old place to be sure…but Tinkerton is still there, so I…”
“She had no place to go,” Jordan started.
Derrick opened his mouth but closed it when Jordan narrowed his eyes.
“What was I supposed to do? Leave her and her daughter on the street?”
“I don’t want to see you hurt again…” Derrick stood back, tugging on his hat.
“That wife of yours has made you soft,” Jordan laughed. “Besides, that pain never went away. It never will, as long as she’s gone.”
Derrick leaned back into the truck. “So, she’s staying? You’ll take on another man’s child?”
Jordan shrugged. “There’s a lot to figure out, man. Just keep it to yourself, okay?”
“I will…I mean, I can’t hide anything from my wife, but…”
“You can tell Chasity, but no one else…not yet, at least.”
“Of course, brother. You’ve got my word. Is there any way I can help?”
Jordan sighed, then turned to his friend. “Yeah, help me pick out a few toys that would make a little girl happy. She looks about two, but she talks much older.”
“Two, huh?” Derrick smiled…but it held a tension that unnerved Jordan.
“I don’t want to talk about that…”
“Of course,” Derrick said, holding up his hands. “I have little experience with toddlers. As you know, Kami was older than that when she came to live with us, but Marshal is getting closer. I have a few ideas.”
“Thanks,” Jordan said as he slid out of the truck and followed Derrick into the general store. “I’ll take them down to New Hope this weekend. I’m sure they have a better selection.”
“Yeah, they got the bigger stores, but I’m sure Mom & Pop’s has a few things to hold you over.”
Jordan tried to hide the fact that it warmed him to buy something for the little girl, and he realized he longed for something that he never thought he would…something he had vehemently promised Caitlin he never would.
He inwardly cringed at the thought of those menacing words that had haunted him over the last four years. He had been a kid…too young to understand that life and priorities changed with time. Excuses or not, he wasn’t sure Caitlin could forgive him.
After buying a big ball, a deck of Go Fish, a frilly doll, and a bag of candy, he said goodbye to Derrick and called Caitlin.
“Myers residence,” she said breathlessly.
“It’s me,” Jordan said, hiding the fact that hearing her answer his phone sent his heart rate into overdrive.
“Hey,” she said with a relieved sigh. “I hadn’t thought about it before, but I was half afraid it would be your mom or someone else calling, and I didn’t know how to explain…well, my presence here…not to mention…anyway,” she rushed the words out.
“I get it. Seems Mrs. Manning saw us in town earlier…”
“Oh no.”
“Yeah, got the 411 from Derrick, who has his own list of interrogation questions.”
“So much for keeping hidden. I knew coming back here was a bad idea,” Caitlin said, her voice wavering.
“Hey, don’t say that. I’m glad you’re here, and the way I see it, the more people that know you’re here, the more people that can watch your back. I don’t know what’s going on, but I know that no one in this town would let you come to harm.”
“Even after I disappeared the way I did?” Her voice dropped to barely a whisper.
“You’re still family, broken hearts or not.” That was the truth, and he knew it. The locals in Hope Lake stuck together like one large extended family. It had its cons…like everyone knowing about your broken heart, but the positives far outweighed them.
Caitlin sniffled.
“Hey, it’s okay. We’re going to keep you and your daughter safe.”
“Jordan. We really need to talk.”
“I know, but now’s not the time. Tell me some staples to get us through tonight and tomorrow morning. We can go into New Hope and shop in a bit more incognito style tomorrow.”
She relayed a small list for him, and Isabelle called from the background that she wanted Leaping Lemurs for breakfast tomorrow. “I’ll pay you back when you get here.”
“What do you think I am?” Jordan chuckled. “I didn’t need your daddy’s money back then, and I sure don’t need it now.”
“It’s not my daddy’s money,” she said, her tone even and full of hurt pride.
“I see.” He swallowed, not wanting to start a fight. “Let me do this for you, please.”
“We can talk about it later.” Caitlin sighed, a sound filled with exhaustion. “Thank you, Jordan.”
“Absolutely. I’ll be home soon.” When he hung up, warmth filled him with the words. They felt good and right, and a long time coming.