OUTOFTHEWRECKAGE

CEECEEJAMES

CONTENTS

Dedication

Jason, Sixteen Years Old

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Dedicated to my family- my beauty from ashes

ChapterOne

JASON,SIXTEENYEARSOLD

he water drummed off Jason’s scalp and down his naked back. He stood, hands

against the shower wall, head bowed under the hot spray as it dripped off his lower

lashes. Yeah, sure it’s just water, he thought. It was pointless looking for shampoo.

There wasn’t any. Like everything else, money was running out. Instead, he

reached for the bar of soap and ran it through his dark hair.

After a minute, he reluctantly turned the faucet off. The water stopped, taking

the comfort of heat with it. Get moving. They could be coming soon.

Stepping out, he quickly toweled dry, and used the towel to wipe down the

shower stall. He wrapped the wet soap in a plastic bag and hid it under the sink.

Hurrying downstairs, he stashed the wet towel in the dryer.

Jason moved quietly, not wanting to break the ominous stillness permeating the

house. In the kitchen, he poured himself a bowl of cereal and sat at the table. The

ticking of the clock broke the suffocating silence. It was his grandma’s favorite

clock, the one she’d brought over with her from Ireland.

The clock chimed the top of the hour, and he jerked. Crap, I’m late. The

teacher’s going to yell at me again. Mrs. Garret had stared down her nose when

he’d been late last week. “Using your last excused tardy? Still have a long way to go

this sophomore year, young man.”

He tipped the bowl and drank the remaining milk. After rinsing it at the sink, he

put it away. Quickly, he checked the kitchen to make sure every surface was wiped

clean of his presence.

Jogging upstairs, he poked his head into the bathroom, just like he had every day

for the last seven weeks. All clear.

He opened the door to his bedroom and grabbed his backpack. After shutting the

door again, he pulled a piece of fuzz off of his sock and balanced the tiny piece of

lint on the knob.

Invisible, unless someone were to look for it.

On his return trip, Jason took the stairs two at a time. He grabbed a second

backpack—his emergency pack—from the hall closet and hoisted it onto his

shoulder. The weight of it dug the strap into his flesh.

He couldn’t leave by the front door. A steel lock box hung from the knob.

Instead, he headed out the slider. He slid it closed and then carefully rocked the

door a fraction in its track. The latch caught, locking the door.

Jason raked his hand through his hair and glanced up at the brightening sky. The

sun lit the horizon with a pale peach line. Birds were waking up and chirping from

the trees. The day was going to be beautiful.

Rounding the corner of the house, he stowed the emergency pack under the

hedge by the driveway. He kept his head ducked as he hurried down the street,

blending in with the many teenagers walking towards the high school.

“Jason.” The principal stopped him in the hall. She hesitated a moment then

continued. “I’m sorry about your grandma. Things going well at your uncle’s?” She

reached out to touch his shoulder and he shifted uncomfortably. “Anything I can

do?” she asked, her eyes filled with concern.

He shook his head and shuffled the books he was holding. The students in the

crowded halls split around the two of them like oil and water. A few kids glanced

back, curious, then pressed forward in a rush to make it to class before the bell

rang.

“I’m hoping to meet him. Did he get the letter I sent?” she asked.

Jason’s heart pounded in his throat and he swallowed. “Yeah, uh, I got to get

going.” He jerked his head towards the classroom.

The principal pressed her lips together and dismissed him with a nod.

Why can’t they just leave me alone? His hands were sweating as he opened the

door, almost dropping his books. Just one more period to go. Keep your head down

and nose clean.

After his final class, Jason jogged home, tossing furtive glances over his

shoulder, careful not to be noticed. He sidled into his grandma’s yard and snagged

his emergency pack on the way to the back of the house. He dropped the pack,

flinching at the sound of it thudding onto the patio floor. Like he had that morning,

Jason rocked the door back and forth; eventually the lock unlatched. Slipping

inside, he wiped at the sweat beaded along the top of his lip. When he returned the

pack to the hall closet, he noticed his hands shaking. Calm down dude.

Everything’s fine.

Jason pivoted slowly to survey the living room. Dust motes floated in the light

from the uncovered window. He wandered through the rooms, examining closely

for anything out of place, anything that had been moved. Upstairs, the lint still sat

balanced on the doorknob.

He fell face-down on the bed. The house was like his heart. Empty, cold.

Alone.

A groan escaped from the back of his throat. He needed to get his homework

done, but depression had him in its grip. How much longer can I keep doing this?

“No.” he whispered. His fists clenched. “No!” Jason dropped to the floor and began

doing push-ups. Not satisfied, he added a clap at the apex, eventually switching to

one arm. His arms threatened to collapse, his body heat and sweat burning and

washing the sadness away.

That night, he sat in the dark living room eating spaghetti out of a can. His math

book lay in front of him, visible only under the rectangle of orange light that fell

across the floor from the streetlight outside. He squinted at the page and wrote the

problem in his notebook. Finally, bone weary, he gave up and went upstairs to bed.

The sound of a key in the lock jerked Jason awake. Every muscle in his body froze

for a second as he struggled to remember where he was. His muscles spasmed

again. Someone’s coming.

He heard voices in the living room.

“As you can see, the carpet will need to be replaced. But the seller is very

motivated. I’m sure we can work that into the purchase contract.”

Jason jumped out of bed as though shocked by a cattle prod. He snatched the

blankets up and smoothed them flat, moving faster at the sound of their voices on

the stairwell. Breathe. You’ve got time. Be cool.

“New paint will be needed, too.” The agent’s confident voice continued. “The

woman who owned this house lived here for forty years.”

“How long has the house been empty?” a male voice asked.

“About two months.”

“Did she die here?” A young female this time, with a high giggle. “That would be

sort of creepy.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. I’d have to look into that for you.”

Jason felt a burst of fury bubbling its way through his veins. No time for that. His

gaze darted around the room for a place to hide. The bed’s too low. He spun in a

circle. They’re definitely going to check the closet.

In his search, he paused at the window. Time’s up. Quietly, he eased it open and

looked down. Beneath the window lay a narrow trim board, running the length of

the house. He could see the porch roof further below.

The voices stopped outside his door. He levered his body over the windowsill, his

pulse pounding. His fingers turned white as he clenched the window trim. His bare

toes scraped on the wood as they sought space on the board. He shimmied along

the trim before reaching the end of the house. From there, he dropped to the porch

roof, landing with a loud crash, before rolling off to the ground.

Jason lay in the grass trying to catch his breath. From upstairs, he heard the real

estate lady say, “Well, that’s weird, the window’s open.” His heart thudded at the

rasping sound of the window being closed and latched.

He jumped to his feet, steadied himself, then hurried behind the rhododendron

bush bordering the driveway. The branches scratched his face as he crouched.

Through the leaves he saw a black Escalade in the driveway.

A chill ran down his back. I left my schoolbooks in my room. Will they notice?

Adrenaline pumping, Jason zipped out of the yard, opening the chain link gate

with a clang. He glanced up the street and didn’t see anyone. Even though the

street was empty, he ducked his head. Just be cool. He breathed slowly, trying to

calm down.

The street ended at a T, guarded by a large maple tree. He pulled himself up into

the branches. From his perch, he had a clear view of the road and his driveway.

Shivering in just a t-shirt, he rubbed his bare arms, and settled back against the

trunk to wait for the Escalade to leave.

Fifteen minutes later a police car turned up the street, lights flashing but no

siren. Jason leaned forward, eyes wide as it pulled into his driveway. His emergency

pack was still locked tight in the hall closet. He slammed his palm against his

forehead. You’re such an idiot. What are you going to do now? He heaved a deep

breath. Don’t freak out. They’ll see nothing was stolen.

In less than ten minutes, the police car headed back onto the road, followed by

the black SUV.

That was too close. What if they’d caught me? No freaking way I’m going into

foster care. I can take care of myself.

Jason watched the vehicles turn on to the next street. As unobtrusively as

possible, he hurried back to the house.

At the back door, he rocked the slider. When it unlatched, he ran inside for his

emergency backpack, refilling the water bottle with fresh water. Heaving his pack

onto his shoulder, he grabbed his jacket and took one last look around the room.

His gaze stopped at his grandma’s picture on the wall. Jason kissed his hand and

held it to the picture. His lip trembled and he bit it to make it stop.

“Goodbye, Grandma.”

He jiggled the slider locked one last time, then headed down the street.

ChapterTwo

SUMMER-PRESENTDAY

iranda rinsed her cereal bowl and glanced up as her eighteen-year-old sister

groaned from the couch. “Hey, did you know Dakota Fanning chopped off all her

hair?” Cassie asked, looking up from her cell phone.

“Are you on your gossip sites again? I’ll bet that hair cut is cool for summer.”

Miranda ran a hand through her own thick, dark hair and lifted it off her neck,

continuing to study her sister. Cassie’s cheekbones were highlighted by the

sunlight reflecting off the cell phone’s screen. Miranda flashed back to the night of

the horrific phone call six months ago: Get down here now, There’s been a car

accident. Your sister might not make it. The memory of the car twisted like

tinfoil–-it’s roof peeled back by the jaws of life–-was burned into her mind. For

weeks her sister had lain in a coma, Miranda clutching her hand and willing her to

wake.

Miranda made a soft noise in memory of the pain.

Cassie’s cornflower blue eyes turned towards her. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. Hey, what do you think about going to the mall today?”

Waggling her sneakers up and down, Cassie arched an eyebrow. “What are you

saying, Mrs. Subtlety?” She pulled at the front of her t-shirt, faded and stretched

out. “Are you insinuating that I can’t rock this Care Bear shirt? I’ll have you know

Amanda Seyfried has this same shirt. ”

“If anyone can make it work, you can,” Miranda said. “I was just thinking it’d be

nice to get some new clothes.” She finished the breakfast dishes and wiped her

hands on a towel. “You’ve been through a lot. I’d like to spoil you a little. Now come

on, get dressed.”

“Miranda,” Cassie rolled her eyes. “I am dressed.”

“Oh, I knew that.” Miranda quickly spun away to hide her smile. “Well, get in

the car already, lady.”

Entering the department store, Cassie broke off and headed towards the junior’s

section. At only five foot two, just her blonde head of curls could be seen bobbing

above the racks.

“Hey, what do you think about these?” Miranda pulled a pair of jeans off and

held them up.

Cassie stared at her and snapped her gum. “Sis, I love you. But let me do the

picking.”

Shrugging, Miranda put them back. She’d have loved to be able to fit into those.

At twenty-two, Miranda was still slender, but her junior figure had long since been

replaced by adult curves.

Cassie seized another pair and grabbed the tag to read the size. “All right, these

might work. I’ll be right back.” She headed for the changing room with Miranda

following close behind.

A few minutes later Cassie came strutting out like she was on a catwalk. At the

mirror she flicked her hair and struck a pose. Spinning around she asked, “Well? Do

they make my butt look big?”

Miranda shook her head. “No way. Not even close.”

“What?” Cassie exclaimed, her eyes widening frantically. “I hate them then!”

She stormed off into the dressing room.

Miranda raised her eyebrows at her sister’s retreating back. What the heck?

A mother waiting across from her smiled, a look of sympathy etched across her

face. “Wrong answer,” she said to Miranda.

“I guess so.” Miranda shook her head.

Cassie stalked out of the dressing room with the offending jeans draped over her

arm. She handed them over to the attendant and resumed her search. Miranda

settled back on one of the black-and-white checked vinyl couches outside the

dressing room. She pulled a wisp of her shoulder-length brown hair and examined

the tips for split ends, frowning as she found some. Need a haircut.

After a minute, Cassie reappeared with two more pairs of jeans. “I’ll be right

back,” she muttered, a little grouchily,

“I’ll be here,” Miranda gestured at the bench with an eye roll. She pushed up the

sleeves of her Henley and crossed her legs.

Cassie came out a minute later with a big smile nailed to her face. “How about

these?”

“Oh man!” Miranda exclaimed. “Those make your butt look so big.”

“Really?” Cassie squealed.

“Yeah.” Miranda nodded. “Huge even.”

The mother on the other bench turned her head to hide her smile.

“Awesome! I’ll take them!” Cassie twirled around in front of the mirror again,

admiring her slender frame from every angle. She shot a grin at her sister, before

dancing back to the dressing room.

After finding the pants, the two sisters rifled through racks of shirts. Every one

Miranda pulled out, Cassie wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

“I give up!” Miranda threw her hands in the air.

“Don’t feel bad. You’re just not into my style.” Cassie said, holding a pink off-

the-shoulder shirt up to her chest. “I like this one.”

Miranda’s hand touched her mouth. “Kind of low cut? Huh?”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, Mom.”

“Whatever, Cassie. I’ll always worry about you.”

“It’s okay, I get it. You can’t help your nagging ways.”

Miranda groaned. “Get your shirt and let’s get out of here. I’m hungry.”

Miranda paid for the clothing, and Cassie scooped up the bags.

“Thanks, Sis.” She flashed a grin at Miranda. “That was fun.”

“What will be more fun is if we can get a table at the Cheesecake Factory. I’m

starving.”

“I like the way you think.”

They meandered out of the store. Cassie froze for a second, and Miranda glanced

to see what was wrong. Across from them was a display of baby clothes. Cassie

swallowed, and looked up at her sister with pain-stricken eyes. Miranda wrapped

her arm around her sister’s shoulders, giving her a soft squeeze, and led her out.

They wandered down to the other end of the mall. In an attempt to cheer her up,

Miranda pointed out a cellphone cover that said, “I love my nose job,” at a kiosk. “I

should get one just so people would say how natural my nose looks.”

“Or they might say the doctor really botched your job, and have you considered

suing?” Cassie countered, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

“What are you talking about? You have the same nose.”

By the time they arrived at the Cheesecake Factory, Cassie was smiling again.

The restaurant was crowded but the hostess was able find them a booth.

“So,” Miranda asked, after the waiter took their order. “How are you doing?”

“What do you mean? You see me every day.”

“I know, but back there…I mean, how are you really doing?”

Cassie pursed her lips and rested her chin in her hand. She blinked dark

eyelashes, thick and full without the need for makeup. “I still can’t believe Leif is in

the army. I miss him.”

Miranda nodded. “Yeah, I get it. I bet you do. Have you heard from him

recently?”

Cassie shook her head. “Nothing since he’s been sent to Afghanistan. I know it’s

good for us though,” she murmured as if to convince herself. “He finally has his

career he’s always dreamed of. And I can go to school. ”

They both glanced up as the waiter returned with their bread and salad.

“I know, but it can’t be easy.” Miranda picked at her lettuce.

Cassie bit her bottom lip, her pain and tension visible in the lines of her face.

“Oh man, I messed up,” she confessed, looking at Miranda. Her eyes magnified

with unshed tears. “He asked me if I thought he should do it. Life was so crazy. We

were constantly fighting. I figured maybe we needed some space, so I said yes. I feel

like I made the biggest mistake of my life! What was I even thinking?”

“Shh,” Miranda said. She scooted around to her sister’s side of the booth and

pulled Cassie into a hug. “If it’s meant to be, a little space isn’t going to stop it. You

two have been through so much in the last year. I can understand why you thought

maybe some time apart would be good. It was probably hard to sort out how much

of your relationship was built around the baby and the accident, and how much was

love.”

Cassie sobbed on her shoulder. “I’m an idiot, I need him.”

“It’s okay to miss him, Cassie. He was and is a big part of your life. But he’s not

gone for good. This will give him some time to figure things out.”

Miranda smoothed her sister’s hair back from her face. “It’s going to be good for

you, too. You’ll see. You both need a little time.”

Cassie swiped her fingers beneath her eyelid. “What if it doesn’t work out? What

if I just lost the best thing that’s ever happened to me?”

“I promise you haven’t. If the love is there, it will stay there. People have long

distance relationships all the time.”

Cassie nodded. “All of this seemed so clear at the time. It felt like the right

decision for him to make, but now that it’s happened I hate it.”

“Maybe you just feel trapped because it feels irreversible. But you guys are going

to be okay and even stronger on the other side of this.”

“I hope so, Miranda.”

“You will be, you’ll see. You’re only eighteen still, and so is he. You both still

have some growing, and healing to do. And I’ll be here to help. I’ve got your back.”

“Yeah, I know you do. I’m just so lonely.” Cassie’s bottom lip trembled.

“You aren’t alone, Chickee.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You have Jason.”

Miranda studied her sister for a moment and continued. “I know it feels like I

don’t understand, but think about what Jason and I went through to finally be

together. It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was a nightmare. But we needed time too. Take it

from me. I know what I’m talking about. After all, I’ll be twenty-three in a week.

I’m an old lady compared to you.”

Cassie laughed. “Well, don’t be getting all senile on me. I’m going to need you

for a long time.”

ChapterThree

SUMMER

fter a long afternoon of shopping, Miranda breathed a sigh of relief as she

parked the Jeep in their driveway. The two sisters, along with Jason, had inherited

the place from their adopted Uncle Stew after he died several years earlier. The

house had been their refuge and security after being homeless as kids. Miranda

took in a deep breath of contentment as she stared out into the lake. It cemented

them as a family, and still made Miranda feel secure today.

She glanced over by the barn. The beat-up Chevy truck was gone, but Jason had

mentioned earlier that he was going fishing.

Miranda cast an anxious eye over at Cassie, her head resting against the seat.

She looked pale. It was no wonder she wasn’t feeling well. It hadn’t been that long

since her car accident.

“I didn’t tire you out at the mall today, did I?” Miranda asked.

“No.” Cassie raised her arms and stretched. “I’m fine.” She slowly climbed out,

whistling for the dog. Miranda rounded the Jeep to the hatch and grabbed the bags.

Archer didn’t show up with his tail wagging in greeting as they walked up the

porch steps. “Jason must have taken him along,” Miranda said as she juggled the

bags to get her house key out. She tripped over her muddy hiking boots as she

opened the door, and fell inside. “Lovely, just as graceful as ever,” she muttered.

Cassie gave a weak grin and started up the stairs. “On second thought, I think

I’m going to lie down for a bit.”

“Okay, sure.” Miranda’s hand hovered by Cassie’s elbow as she followed her

into her room. “Go slow.”

“Good grief. I’m fine!” Cassie laughed. “I’m just a bit tired. Think I’m starting

my period.”

“Oh. Want a heating pad?” Miranda said and dropped the clothing bags by the

doorway.

Cassie shook her head.

Miranda started to pull the door closed, and then hesitated. Glancing back she

asked, “Is this hard? I mean.…” she paused, not knowing how to continue.

“Is what hard?”

“Not being…. pregnant?”

Cassie lowered herself onto the edge of the bed and stared out the window. She

touched her stomach briefly before resting her hands in her lap. “Yes. I’ve felt

empty inside since the miscarriage.” She looked at Miranda, her eyes brimming

with tears. “That’s going to take some time to get over, I think.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I mean, it’s not. But this isn’t your fault. It would have been hard. I

mean, I can’t even imagine being a single mom with Leif in the army. But, then

again, if the baby had lived, maybe Leif wouldn’t have gone. Our lives would have

been very different.”

Miranda bit her lip, her heart aching at her sister’s pain. And it crushed her that

there was nothing she could do to fix it.

“Well, that’s water under the bridge. No way to know now.” Cassie straightened

her back. “It’s a confusing soup of emotions.”

“I’m always here for you if you want to talk. Any time. And if I say the wrong

thing, let me know.”

“Thanks, Sis. I do think about the baby every day.” A sad smile flitted across

Cassie’s face. “Maybe Mom and Dad are taking care of him right now.”

“And Poppy.”

Cassie smiled at the name of her childhood dog. “Yes, Poppy.”

“I love you, Chickee.”

“I love you, too.” Cassie peeled back the quilt and climbed into her bed. As she

pulled the covers over the top of her, Miranda shut the door.

An afternoon storm was rolling in, and the light downstairs in the living room

had gone grey. The pattering sound of rain was quashed by a distant boom of

thunder.

Miranda snapped on the kitchen overhead light. “Feels like cookie-making

weather,” she said to herself. She pulled out flour, oil and chocolate chips and then

headed to the fridge for eggs. After gathering a few more things, she dumped

everything into the mixer and flipped it on.

The rain splashed off the driveway in a cozy way and drummed on the porch

roof. She spooned the dough on the cookie sheets and slid them into the oven. “I’m

not forgetting the timer this time,” she reminded herself. Poor Jason had hated

those hard-as-rock cookies. But these were going to be different.

She gave the mixing bowls a quick wash and placed them on a towel to dry.

The front door slammed open. Miranda jumped at the sound as Jason and their

black German Shepherd, Archer, entered.

“Hi, boys,” Miranda’s face broke into a huge smile. Archer bounded over and

jumped on her. She grabbed him playfully by the scruff of his neck and reared back

as he tried to slurp the side of her face. “Ew! No licking!” Pushing him down, she

examined her pants, now covered in muddy footprints. “Archer!”

“What the heck?” Jason leaned his fishing pole against the doorframe and

walked over, wiping the rain off of his face. “The dog gets a better welcome from

my girlfriend than I do.” His eyes squinted. “Maybe I should try licking your

cheek.” He peeled off his jacket, slinging it across the back of a chair with a wet

thud.

“Come here, you big hunk of a fisherman.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed

him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and stared into her blue eyes.

“Hi love,” he whispered, his wet hair plastered to his forehead.

She brushed it back. “Got caught in the storm, huh? You catch anything?”

“Yeah. No pork and beans tonight.” Jason led her by the hand out to the porch

and gestured to a styrofoam ice chest. “Come see what I got.”

Miranda paused, a little uncertain. “Okay.…” She allowed him guide her to the

cooler. He pried off the lid and then flashed her a big grin. The proud expression on

his face tugged at her heart. So cute! She looked down at the row of five silver fish

lying on the bed of pink-tinged ice, and unconsciously wrinkled her nose. “Nice,”

she said, swallowing.

“Nice?” he mimicked and snapped the lid back down. “Sweetie, that’s dinner

right there.” He darted a glance at her. “And don’t even be thinking about eating

cereal.”

She shook her head in the negative but failed to convince him.

“Oh, brother,” he said. “You just wait until I pull those off the barbecue. You’ll

be throwing that sawdust-in-a-box into the garbage.” He bent to scratch Archer’s

neck. “Huh, ol’boy? I bet even you wouldn’t eat that cereal.”

“Of course not. He only eats dog food,” Miranda teased.

“That’s right.” Jason pointed at her. “I’m glad I finally got you trained.”

Miranda’s mouth dropped open as she popped him on the arm with her open

palm. “I’ll train you, buddy.”

He winked and straightened. “Sounds fun. Can we start now?”

She laughed then, her deep husky one that he loved so much. He wrapped his

arms around her and rocked her back and forth. Leaning down, he whispered in her

ear, “I love it when you laugh like an old man. So sexy.”

“Jason! An old man? You’re making it difficult to remember why I fought so hard

for you.”

He tipped her head back. “I’ll help you remember.” Softly, he brought his lips to

hers. His fingers ran through her hair, cupping the back of her head as his thumb

stroked her jawline. He opened his mouth and his whiskers lightly rubbed against

her chin. She melted against him as he deepened the kiss.

His other arm snaked around her to support her. After a minute they broke

apart, leaving Miranda breathless and craving more.

He arched an eyebrow at her, his green eyes lively. “You remember now or do

you need another reminder?”

She smiled. “I’ll take all the reminders I can get.”

Miranda leaned back in his arms. Looking up at him, the hint of a smile at the

side of his mouth transported Miranda back to the day she’d first met Jason. He’d

been homeless at the time, sleeping in the woods outside of town. The sisters had

been on the run to escape from their crazy uncle when they’d found Jason. Miranda

smiled as she remembered how Jason had won Cassie over with a Twinkie.

He glanced up now, his arms stiffening around her. “What’s that beeping sound

I keep hearing?”

Miranda jumped away. “Oh no! That’s the timer!”

“Timer?” Jason looked afraid.

“Cookies, hun. I made you some cookies.” The last comment was thrown over

her shoulder as she ran into the house.

Smoke greeted her, along with the black smell of charred food. She grabbed a

towel and pulled out the trays, tossing them on top of the stove.

Miranda stared at them a second. The disappointment was crushing.

“Aww. It’s not that bad.” Jason stepped behind her and rubbed her shoulders.

“Honest. Just a little scraping off the bottom and they’ll be fine.”

She shook her head. “I really tried.”

He gave her shoulders a final squeeze before walking over to the sheet. Grabbing

a spatula, he pried off a cookie and bit into it. “Mmmm,” he said in exaggerated

enjoyment.

“You don’t have to do that.” Miranda said. A chuckle reluctantly escaped her as

he crunched through the rest of the cookie.

“It made you smile,” he answered. “I’ll eat the rest for that smile.”

She leaned against him and he hugged her, his hand rubbing her back. “There’s

always next time, I guess,” she muttered.

Jason’s arm’s tensed. “Sure. Next time.” He pushed her away slightly to study

her face. “Or maybe we could find you another hobby. Like concrete repair.”

“Jason! You were doing so well!”

He laughed and kissed the top of her head. “Come on. The rain’s stopped. Let’s

open those windows and go barbecue some fish.”

Miranda followed him, blissfully unaware that an old friend would soon be

tearing her world apart, as her phone buzzed unheard with a text.

ChapterFour

SUMMER

tupid son-of-a—” Jason lay on his back under the truck and wrenched on the

oil filter.

It wouldn’t budge.

Archer crouched down to looked under the truck, his nose anxiously nuzzling

Jason’s leg.

“Oh, you’re coming off. You better believe it.” Jason cranked the wrench down

tighter and yanked again. His face contorted and turned red from the effort, and his

worn boots scrabbled in the dirt for purchase as his temper rose.

With a crack, it finally broke free.

“Yes!” he shouted, and lay there a second to catch his breath. He reached up

with grease-stained fingers and finished unscrewing the filter. Setting it to one

side, he opened the box and extracted the new one. He seated it in place and then

hauled himself out from under the truck.

Dirt and leaves covered the back of his torn t-shirt. He searched for a towel and

wiped his oil streaked arms. Frowning, he studied the greasy black filth forming

crescents under his nails.

He stuck a funnel into the fill-hole of the engine and upturned a fresh bottle of

oil into it. At the sound of a car rumbling down the driveway, his brow furrowed.

Miranda wasn’t due home for another hour.

A sleek black Audi ambled passed the barn, its wheels flashing silver in the

sunlight. Jason watched it navigate around the potholes he’d forgotten to fill. He

snorted when it bottomed out on one of the holes.

“Who the heck is this?” he mumbled to Archer. The dog whined at him before

staring back at the car.

The car rolled to a stop in front of the lake cabin. It was as out of place in Jason’s

yard as a tiara on a pig. With a luxurious click, the car door opened, and a blond

man in a grey tailored suit stepped out. He casually surveyed the yard as he

fastened his coat, a wry smile on his face. His perfectly shaped hair remained

impervious to the breeze coming off the lake.

“Probably uses man mousse.” Jason’s lip curled as he sneered down at Archer.

The dog watched the stranger with interest, his head bobbing between the man and

“

Jason.

“It’s okay, buddy. He’s not worth the effort of barking.” Jason scratched the

dog’s head. “Look at that lily-white skin. I doubt he’s been in the sun much. Seems

a bit puny to me.” Jason found a towel and wiped his hands again. Tossing it on the

bench, he walked out of the barn. “Can I help you?” he called.

Archer stood with his ears forward and alert.

The man glanced over at the sound of Jason’s voice and raised his hand. “Hey

there!” A grimace crossed the stranger’s face as he walked through the disturbed

driveway dust, and he tried not to cough. Jason smirked as the man glanced down at

his Ecco shoes.

“How’re you doing?” the man called as he came closer

“What can I help you with?” Jason bluntly cut to the chase.

“Is Miranda here?”

Jason’s mouth fell open. What does he want with Miranda? “Maybe. Who are

you?”

“I’m sorry. So rude.” The man’s grin widened, revealing perfectly straight white

teeth.

Jason’s eyes narrowed.

“My name’s Dylan.” He strode forward, his hand outstretched.

Jason stared at it suspiciously, then slowly reached out to take it. They shook,

Jason still withholding his name.

“How do you know Miranda?” Jason asked.

“Oh,” Dylan scratched his chin as he smiled. He glanced at his Rolex. “I guess

you could say we’re old acquaintances.”

Jason squinted his eyes. “That’s strange.” He crossed his arms in front of his

chest. “I’ve known Miranda most of her life and she’s never mentioned you.”

Dylan paused, his eyes flickering at the challenge. His smile reappeared, lips

tighter this time. “Well then, you obviously don’t know her as well as you think.”

That’s it. Jason wanted to wipe that smug expression right off his face. “Maybe

you were just unimportant enough to slip her mind.”

Dylan laughed. “That was definitely not the case. If anything, I blew her mind.”

He stepped back towards his car with a little wink at Jason. “You let her know I was

here. But if not, don’t worry. I’ll track her down.”

“Yeah, you better get going.” Jason nodded and clenched his jaw. Images of his

fist making good acquaintance with Dylan’s salesman smile flashed through his

head.

“Hey. You got a little something on you.” Dylan indicated his cheek with his

finger. “Right about here.”

Jason turned away and stalked back into the barn. Archer let out a deep warning

bark before following him.

The car door slammed shut. The Audi’s engine revved and it spun around,

leaving a circle of dust. After steering around the potholes, the car raced out of the

driveway and onto the road.

Jason grabbed the empty oil container from the funnel, and replayed Dylan’s

superior attitude in his mind. Fury burned through him as he slowly crushed the

plastic container in his fist. He looked at it for a second and curled his lip into a

snarl before throwing the container against the wall.

“Little snot-nosed creep.” He wiped at his cheek with the back of his hand. At

the tone of Jason’s voice Archer scurried from underfoot. Jason slammed the hood

down and stormed into the house.

He opened the front door with a crash. Cassie’s head shot up, her eyes wide from

where she sat curled on the couch reading a book. “Good grief, what’s got into

you?”

Jason stomped across the hardwood floor on the way to the sink. Not answering,

he scrubbed at his hands.

Cassie folded the corner over on the page and set the book down next to her,

before joining him in the kitchen. “Who pulled into the driveway? Wrong house?”

Jason gritted his teeth. His knuckles shone white as he shut the hot water off.

“Hello?” Cassie tilted her head, eyebrows lifted in confusion.

“Just some punk named Dylan.” Wiping his hands on a dishtowel, he glanced

over at her. “You ever heard of him?”

“No. Should I have?” She took another look at him. “What’s the matter with

you?”

Jason threw the towel in the dirty laundry basket, his muscles bunching under

his shirt. “He said he was looking for Miranda.”

Cassie mouth formed an O. “Weird. No, I’ve never heard her mention him.”

“According to him, they know each other real well.” Jason glared at her.

With a flounce, she headed back to the couch. “Sheesh. It isn’t my fault. Quit

making that face at me.”

He tore his gaze away and rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry. I just can’t stand

how that punk kid tried to stare me down. He drives a fancy car and thinks his crap

don’t stink. I’d like to take him down a peg.”

“Well,” Cassie said, “if he’s that type of guy then I don’t expect he meant much

to Miranda. She detests that kind of attitude.”

Jason didn’t answer. The muscles in his jaw flexed.

“Trust me.” Cassie injected a tone of confidence. “She can’t stand blow-hard

snobs.”

“Yeah. Well, this guy seems to think differently.” He glanced at the clock. Still

half an hour before Miranda was due home. He chewed the inside of his lip and

drummed his fingers on the counter. Finally he spun around and opened the

refrigerator. Might as well cook dinner. He pulled out a pack of chicken thighs, and

rummaged in the back until he found the barbecue sauce. After setting them on the

counter, he spun back and grabbed a beer. Beer and barbecue always worked to

clear his mind, and right then, he was in the mood to burn something.

ChapterFive

SUMMER

ou remember when you took me up the side of the cliff? How it was a sign of

trust?” Miranda asked.

Immediately suspicious, Jason paused mid-bite, his toast hovering inches from

his mouth. He still hadn’t mentioned Dylan’s visit to her, and wondered if she’d

discovered it somehow. “Yeah?”

“Well,” Miranda’s eyes glowed with anticipation. She picked up her cereal box

and returned it to the pantry. “There’s a place I’ve been wanting to take you ever

since.”

Jason relaxed and slowly crunched his toast. “Why do I get the feeling I’m not

going to like this?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh. You’ll love it. I promise. And since we don’t have any plans today, it’s the

perfect time to go.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.” She sang the last word like an excited child.

“Miranda, I’d never call you annoying, but—”

She shot a look at him. “Quit your complaining and let’s go.”

“Should I change?” He glanced down at his faded t-shirt and holey jeans.

“You’re fine, but that shirt reminds me it’s time to take you clothes shopping.”

“Good. I guess that rules out ballroom dancing.” He pulled at his shirt. “And

what’s wrong with my clothes?” The thought of Dylan’s suit flashed through his

mind.

She laughed. “Nothing hun. Now let’s go.”

The cave was dank and cool when they entered it. Scrub bushes grew around piles of

fallen rocks outside the entrance. “This is from my list of one hundred places to

visit in Washington. I’m on number seventeen now,” Miranda said in a low voice.

“Errr,” Jason started as he ducked his head to avoid the low ceiling. “You sure

this is safe?”

“

“Relax, my love. I’ve been here a thousand times.”

“A thousand times and I’ve never heard about it once?” It made him wonder

what other secrets she was keeping.

“Okay, maybe just a couple of times.” Miranda grinned. “But I promise, it’s

safe.” She started forward, splashing in a shallow trickle of water running along the

floor of the cave. When she didn’t hear him following, she looked back.

He still stood at the entrance, his hands pressed against the ceiling. “I’m not

sure about this,” he muttered.

Miranda smiled. “I promise it’ll be okay.” She splashed back to his side and

rubbed his arm. “I know it’s scary, but just trust me.”

He rolled his eyes, and when she laughed the sound of it seemed to disappear, as

if swallowed by the damp cavernous walls.

“Using that line on me, are you?” he growled.

“I’ve never used a line on you.” She gave him her most innocent look and batted

her eyes.

“Right about now I wish I could just click my heels and poof! I’m sitting on a

beach instead of here.”

“You never know, maybe next year.”

Jason scoffed. “From the looks of my bank account, that would be a miracle.

Kind of like what I need to get through this right now.” He squinted to see up ahead

as the cave walls receded into thick darkness. “I just don’t want my blood sucked by

a bat.”

“You’ve been reading too many vampire books.”

“I’d never read a vampire book.” He scowled, offended.

She bit back a smile. “It’s daytime, anyway. Even if there are any bats, they’re

asleep now. Just keep your hands off the ceiling. You don’t want to tickle those

little buggers awake.”

Jason jerked his hands from the roof of the cave like it was on fire, and

shuddered. “I can’t believe you’ve dragged me here.”

She slipped the head lamp from her head and situated it on his. There,” she

said, giving the lamp a small adjustment. “You’ll be fine. Now, hold my hand. It’s

only narrow here at the entrance.”

Jason’s mouth tightened into a thin line as he gripped her hand. “I don’t like

cramped places,” he muttered. They edged up the slick watery track, following

Miranda’s flashlight on the ground like wolves chasing after a full moon.

The cave opened up after about twenty feet of slow creeping. A gust of cold air

greeted them, alluding to a large empty expanse around them. Jason straightened

and took a few steps forward.

Miranda grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him back. “Careful!”

“What?”

“Sorry, hun. I haven’t fully explored this part of the cave floor. You need to

watch your step. Now check this out.”

Jason gasped as she shone her flashlight along the ceiling. A canopy of

thousands of stalactites dripped down from above, sparkling like a crystal

chandelier. “Whoa,” he muttered.

”I know, right? Crazy to think this was here all along.” She glanced up with an

excited grin, made visible by his headlamp.

She ran the beam of her flashlight along the walls.

Jason rested his arm around her shoulders. He slowly let his breath out and said,

“This is pretty incredible.” He squinted, confused, as his headlight caught a dark

patch of shimmering blackness.

The darkness shivered.

“Uh, Jason, look down,” Miranda whispered. “I think you may have found the

bats.”

“Oh, c’mon,” he muttered, jerking the light away.

“It’s okay. Everything’s good.” Miranda reached for his hand on her shoulder

and squeezed.

A squeak rose from the dark corner. Jason’s eyes widened, but he straightened

his shoulders. “Come at me! I’m not afraid of some scrawny rodent.”

A flutter zoomed passed his head.

“Whoa!” he yelled, ducking.

“All right, you’ve been a good sport. Time to go.” Miranda pushed him ahead of

her towards the entrance. The loose stones along the cave bottom rolled under their

feet. Building behind them came the muffled squeaks of the bats. “Run!”

Miranda’s scream was drowned out by what sounded like a hurricane of flapping

wings.

They popped out of the entrance and dove to one side, barely escaping the black

torrent of bats behind them.

Falling to the ground, they both lay there gasping.

“I’m shocked at how fast you move with proper motivation,” Miranda finally got

out.

“A thousand winged teeth will do that to a person.” Jason heaved to catch his

breath, his arm flung across his red face.

“I’ve never even seen a single bat in there before.”

“I’m telling you they wanted to suck my blood. I’m that sweet.”

Miranda ran her hand against the dark hairs on his arm. “Right! I forgot you’re

so very irresistible.”

He snorted and rolled over on his side. “How could you possibly forget that?”

His green eyes captured hers. “I think you owe me.” He bent over her and kissed

her hard on the lips.

“Well, was that worth being chased by bats?” she asked.

Jason flashed his crooked smile. “Don’t make me drag your butt back up the

candlestick cliff again.”

Miranda’s laugh froze on her face, and she flushed. “That was a one time deal,

buddy.”

“You liked it.”

“I only climbed it to prove I trusted you!”

Jason licked at the corner of his lip. “Trust is important.” Her past relationship

with Dylan shot through his mind. He hesitated, wondering if he should bring it up.

“Whatever. Race you back to the car. Last one there cooks dinner.” She brushed

off her yoga pants and sprinted ahead.

“Oh great,” Jason sighed. “This is a lose-lose for me.” He grumbled and took off

at a slow jog.

Miranda made it to the car first. She danced in a circle, gyrating her hips, as

Jason finally loped towards her. “Ha! I beat you!”

“No, I’m just sick of letting the fire alarm be our dinner bell every time you

cook.”

“Jason, that only happened—” Miranda paused. It had happened more times

than she cared to number out loud.

“Uh huh, yeah. That’s what I thought you’d say.” Jason laughed.

Miranda rolled her eyes and climbed into the Jeep.

Back at the house, Jason pulled a bottled water from the fridge and downed it in a

few gulps, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

Miranda followed behind and took out her own water.

“Where’d you guys go?” Cassie called from the living room.

“We went out to Beckler Ridge and explored the cave,” Miranda answered.

“That place is creepy. You guys are crazy.” Cassie walked into the kitchen,

scooping her blonde hair back into a ponytail.

Miranda shrugged. “It’s cool to explore. In the back there its like a jewelry box.”

“I went to keep an eye on her.” Jason gestured to Miranda with a tip of his head.

“You guys are cute.”

“Speaking of cute, what’s new with What’s-his-name?” Jason asked.

Cassie put her hands on her hips. “You’re still not saying his name?”

Jason pulled out a package of hamburger and scowled. “Maybe never.”

“Stubborn as hell.” Cassie shook her head. “Leif is fine. He sent me a letter

today.”

“Things are going good then?” Miranda asked.

“Yes.” Cassie blushed and twirled around.

Jason made a gagging noise. Turning away, he yanked down one of the hanging

frying pans and slammed it on the stove.

“Dinner time.” Miranda smiled. “He lost the race so he’s cooking,” she

whispered to Cassie.

“Thank goodness,” Cassie muttered, then ducked the towel Miranda threw at

her. “What? I’m just saying you hate to cook.”

“Oh, I know what you were saying.”

Jason smiled at their rapport, and tried to ignore the internal nagging voice that

maybe, with a guy like Dylan, Miranda would be on vacation right now, exploring

something exotic. With someone else to permanently cook for her.

ChapterSix

JASON16YEARSOLD

he house crackled with nervous energy. Even Jason felt edgy, and he wasn’t the

one starting his first day of school. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat across

from Uncle Stew, glancing at the old man to see if he felt it too.

Uncle Stew looked up from his newspaper and caught Jason’s gaze,

acknowledging it with a nod. His grey head bobbed as he blew on his coffee and

took a leisurely sip. Nothing seemed to bother him.

Jason flashed back to the day Uncle Stew had invited the three homeless kids to

stay with him, after finding them lost in the city. “I don’t have a family. You three

need a family. Seems like a perfect match.” From that day forward, the old man

had opened his house to them, treating them like his own flesh and blood.

“Well, young man,” Uncle Stew began, his words carrying an echo of a wheeze.

“What do you have planned for today?”

Jason twirled the mug in front of him, leaving wet circles on the counter top. “I

figure I’ll be studying for my GED. Need to get that done so I can get a job.”

The old man nodded, his blue eyes bright and youthful looking, in contrast to his

white eyebrows. “You’ll get it done. I have faith in you.”

Jason snorted. “Well, we’ll see about that. Don’t be putting too much faith in me

just yet.”

“In the end it doesn’t matter the amount of faith someone has in you. All that

matters is the faith you have in yourself.” The old man nodded.

Jason lowered his head and studied his coffee—anything to avoid responding.

You don’t know who I really am and where I came from. Two druggie parents don’t

make anything but garbage.

The sound of footsteps clattering down wooden stairs saved him. Relieved, he

watched Miranda run into the kitchen.

“Has anyone seen my boots?” she asked. Her eyes were wild and stressed as she

searched the room.

“Right over there.” Jason pointed to where her ankle boots leaned against the

pantry.

“Oh my gosh! Who put them here?” she shrieked, clutching them to her chest.

“That mysterious person would be you,” Jason answered.

Uncle Stew didn’t say anything, but stroked his beard, his hand hiding his smile.

Miranda made a face at Jason and sat on the floor to put them on. Her glossy

brown hair slipped over one shoulder as she bent to unzip the side.

“You look nice,” Jason said.

“Thanks.” She slid a finger into the heel of her boot and zipped it. “Cassie!” she

yelled as she stood.

“What?” Cassie called from upstairs.

“Get down here!” Miranda demanded.

Her ten-year-old sister clunked down the stairs, blonde hair in a fuzzy cloud

around her head. She wore a plaid skirt and white button shirt. One hand held a

brush, while the other was attempting to tuck in the front of her shirt. “I don’t get

why I have to wear this.” Her freckled nose wrinkled.

“It’s a uniform. All the girls at your school have to wear it.” Miranda took the

brush from her sister’s hand. “Turn around.”

Cassie eyed her suspiciously. “You aren’t arguing with Jason, are you?”

“No. Why?” Miranda frowned.

“I don’t like you brushing my hair when you’re arguing,” Cassie muttered and

spun around. Miranda sighed and gently ran the brush through her sister’s hair.

Jason carried his coffee cup to the sink and started rinsing the dishes.

“Ready for breakfast?” Uncle Stew wheezed. His old man’s voice didn’t carry far.

“I don’t have time, sorry,” Miranda mumbled around the rubber band she

gripped between her teeth. She scooped Cassie’s hair tight against her scalp and

twisted the rubber band around the ponytail. Her blond curls popped over the top

like a ball of cotton candy. “You go eat,” she instructed her sister.

“Oh!” Uncle Stew glanced at the clock on the wall. “Right! I see it’s time to get

you to school.”

Miranda kissed Cassie’s forehead. “Have fun! I’ll see you this afternoon, okay?”

Her sister nodded. Miranda reached for her backpack sitting beside the front

door and slipped it over one shoulder.

“Bye Jason!” she called and followed Uncle Stew out to the car.

Jason watched the two of them leave. The house immediately became quieter.

He swiped the sponge inside the coffee cup and caught Cassie studying him.

“Why aren’t you going to school?” she asked.

He rinsed the mug and set it to dry on the towel, then retrieved a frying pan out

of the cupboard. “I’ve missed too much.” Jason half-smiled. “Can’t catch up.”

“What are you going to do then?”

Jason shrugged and opened the fridge. He juggled a couple eggs out of a carton

and carried them over to the frying pan. “I don’t care. Guys like me don’t amount

to much anyway.” His hair fell into his eyes as he cracked two eggs into the pan and

tossed the shells.

Cassie climbed on the stool and thumped her feet on the rungs.

The eggs sizzled. Spinning the spatula, Jason continued. “But you, young lady,

you’re smart. I have high expectations.” He scooped the eggs onto a plate and set it

before Cassie.

She wrinkled her nose at the breakfast. “Uh Jason…”

“What?”

“I don’t like runny eggs.”

Jason glanced at her plate and sighed. Reaching into the pantry, he pulled out a

bag of bread and cracked a couple more eggs. “How about a piece of French toast

instead?”

Her eyes lit up. “Yes, please!”

He beat the eggs with a fork then dipped bread into them and laid it in the frying

pan. While it cooked, he grabbed her rejected eggs. “Can’t let these go to waste,”

he said, scooping a mouthful.

She watched him with one blue eye squinted. “Yuck!”

“Cassie, you know better than to turn your nose up at food. You’ve felt what it’s

like to go hungry.”

“I’d rather eat another dandelion leaf than a runny egg.”

Jason laughed and flipped the bread. “Well, I went hungry a lot longer than you.

I think I can eat just about anything now.”

“What’s the weirdest thing you’ve eaten?” she asked, her chin resting on her

hand.

A mischievous gleam twinkled in his eye. “Probably the time I boiled a slug.”

“You. Did. Not.” Her eyes rolled around and she stuck out her tongue.

Nodding, he responded, “Yeah. Don’t recommend it.”

He passed the plate of French toast over to her then searched for the Maple

syrup.

“Your story just made French toast gross,” she said, staring down at the plate.

Her eyebrows knotted together.

“Trust me,” he said, setting down the bottle. “Syrup will help. Now hurry up.

The bus will be here soon.”

“What are you going to do here all alone?”

He wiped down the beige counter top, then tossed the sponge into the sink. “I

guess I’ll just wait until you guys come home.”

“That doesn’t sound like fun.”

“Yeah, just until I get my GED. Then I’ll get a job. For now, I guess I’m just a

professional bum.”

Cassie paused while chewing. “What do you want to be a professional of?”

“Not a lot of options, I’m afraid.”

“You can be whatever you want to be, Jason. Don’t let fear hold you back.”

Jason grinned. “Listen to you, Mrs. Psychologist.”

“It’s true!”

“Where the heck did you hear that?”

She picked up another piece of the toast with her fork and swirled it through a

puddle of syrup. “On a talk show.”

Jason frowned. He’d seen those Who’s-your-daddy talk shows. “Don’t be

watching that garbage.”

“Well, you can learn a lot of good things from them.”

“You’re a smart girl. You don’t need those shows to learn from. Now hurry up.”

He carried the frying pan to the sink and slowly washed it. What the heck am I

going to do with the day? He thought about Miranda at school, how pretty she

looked, all the new people she would meet. Normal people with families and

money. His heart dropped. All the guys she was going to hang out with.

Guys better than him.

What am I even doing here? She didn’t need him any more. At most she’d give

him a pity friendship. He cringed at the thought. I did fine on my own. He dried the

pan and put it away. His heart felt heavy. How is it I finally have everything I

wanted, and somehow feel worse than before? I felt better living outside under a

tarp watching the stars every night.

“Jason!” Cassie’s high voice cut through his thoughts.

He pulled his face together and put on a stiff grin as he turned back toward her.

“What?’

“Walk with me to the bus stop. Miranda’s the only one that ever did before.”

“What about your dad?”

“No, he was too busy.” She jumped off the stool and ran over to hug his arm.

“I’m so glad you’re here. You’re like the brother I never had.”

Jason tousled her hair. Cute kid. “I’m probably the brother you never wanted. Go

get your shoes on and grab your books.”

She filled her pink backpack with her school supplies and slung it on her back.

“Here,” Jason said. “Let me take that.” He brushed his hair out of his face.

“Hurry! I think I hear the bus, and you don’t want to get busted for being tardy the

first day of school.”

“We’ll be fine, you old worry-wart.” Cassie smiled and tied her shoes.

Together, they jogged the length of the driveway and headed down the road.

ChapterSeven

JASON16YEARSOLD

inter rain pounded against the windowpane. The old house felt damp and cold

despite the furnace running nonstop. “Wow, quite a storm outside.” Uncle Stew

wheezed and coughed. “Jason, you off work early today?”

“Yeah,” Jason nodded. “I’m off at three.”

“Good. Good. I need you to pick up Miranda after class.”

Jason’s gaze cut away. “Why can’t she take the bus home?”

“Buses will be gone. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment, or I’d do it.”

Jason sighed, dread already building in the pit of his stomach. The last few

months his friendship with Miranda had waned as she made friends at school.

Awesome. Maybe I can get an intro to all her new besties and learn the secret

handshake.

“I’d appreciate it. I know it’s your early day.” Covering his mouth with a

handkerchief, Uncle Stew coughed wetly into the folded cloth.

“It’s no problem,” Jason lied.

That afternoon, when his shift at the garage was over, Jason climbed into his

white Mazda and headed for the high school. He’d been there once before, to take

the GED test. His face burned with shame at the memory of how the kids out in the

hallway had stared at him when he entered the testing room, one of them calling

out, “Moron!”

He turned into the high school parking lot, hitting the speed bump hard, and

immediately grimaced. The place was a zoo. “Get out of the way,” he muttered as a

group of students crossed in front of his car without looking. “Yeah, that’s great.

Just walk down the middle of the road. Take your sweet time.” His sweaty hands

gripped the steering wheel.

Finally he found an empty spot and parked the car.

Am I supposed to wait here? How’s she going to find me? He drummed his

fingers on the windowsill and chewed the inside of his cheek. Impatiently, he

craned his neck to watch the crowd of kids milling around at the school’s entrance.

She ain’t there. Rolling his eyes, he shoved open the rusty car door and climbed

out.

A line of kids threaded their way in between the cars and temporarily swarmed

him. He lifted his arms to keep from touching anyone. Someone slammed into him.

He spun towards the kid, fists clenched. Oh, hell no, you didn’t. But the guy gave

him a half wave, “Sorry!”

Jason swallowed hard in an attempt to deflate his anger. How does Miranda cope

with these idiots?

For a split-second he felt sorry for her, imagining her lost and intimidated by a

sea of loud-mouthed kids.

Then he heard her. Miranda’s old man laugh pealed across the schoolyard.

Lifting his chin, he spotted her in the center of four girls, her backpack hanging

from her shoulder. Relief shot through him and he waved to get her attention.

Two football players stood to the right of the girls. Miranda’s eyes flashed at

some joke she was sharing. One of the guys tugged on her hair and gave her a cocky

look as he replied, and all the surrounding girls giggled. Miranda blasted that old-

man laugh again, and the football player poked her arm.

Jason’s stomach fell. She was fine. She fit right in.

Yeah, you dope. And guess who doesn’t.

Jason slumped against the side of the car, head down. He unconsciously rubbed

his face to keep from showing any emotion, then glanced in her direction again.

The guy was hugging Miranda, his meaty arms squeezing her tight. Jason’s lip

curled, and he spit through his teeth before climbing back into the Mazda. I ain’t

sitting here watching some guy paw all over her. She can come find me. He sank

into the driver’s seat and cranked the radio. Finding a station he liked, he closed his

eyes and drummed to the beat on the steering wheel. He took a deep breath in and

let the rock song take over his thoughts. After a minute, he pulled out a scrap of

wood from the ashtray and slid his knife from his pocket.

Slowly, he scraped the knife against the wood, examining it every now and then.

The miniature profile of a swan was starting to emerge.

There was a tap on the window. Jason squinted to see who it was. Some girl in a

crop-top smiled and gave him a little wave, her fingernails painted bright green.

He rolled down the window. “Yeah?”

“I’ve never seen you here before.” She winked at him.

“I’m waiting for someone.”

“Oh.” Her bright pink lip-glossed mouth formed a pout. “Who?”

He jerked his head in Miranda’s direction, alarm shooting through him when he

realized she wasn’t there. “Great, where’d she go?”

“Who is it? Maybe I can help.” Her dark overly-plucked eyebrows formed

apostrophes of fake worry.

Jason opened the car door slowly, in an attempt not to smash into her. She

scooted away on high wedges.

He slammed the door and strode in the direction he’d last seen Miranda.

Shrugging off the stares and whispers, he stood tall and walked right through

the middle of the pack. He wasn’t going to make eye contact with any of these

scumbags. Miranda, where the heck did you go? She knew I was picking her up.

Why didn’t she come find me?

Several cheerleaders watched him approach. One of them, a girl with long

blonde hair, broke away from the group and sashayed over. She ran her gaze along

the length of his body, pausing at his greasy work shirt. “We were wondering where

your sign was?”

His eyebrows rose. “Excuse me?”

“You know. Your homeless sign saying you’ll work for food. You need someone

to write it for you?” The girls behind her laughed.

Heat spread in his chest and face, but he forced himself to keep eye contact.

Stupid cheerleaders. “Wow, I’m impressed. You learn that in school? Get an ‘A’ in

Snot class?”

“What are you talking about?” A pinch of color filled her cheeks as she nudged

her friend for support. “Looks like this homeless guy wants to talk to us.”

“Hey, you got something in your teeth.” He squinted with a smirk.

Her hand flew to her mouth.

Just then, Miranda appeared at the entrance of the building. She threw a parting

remark over her shoulder, and then lightly skipped down the stairs, dark curls

flying. She smiled when she caught sight of him standing there. “Jason!”

The cheerleader stared at her. “You know him?”

Miranda gripped her backpack, shifting uneasily. “Yes.”

“He’s so rude. You need to teach him some manners.”

Jason tapped his tooth. “Still didn’t get it.”

“Okay. We’ll be going now.” Miranda looped her arm through his and dragged

him away. She didn’t let go as she hurried him towards the car.

“What happened?” Miranda whispered, her face red.

“Where were you?”

“I had to get my math book from my locker. Sorry I made you wait.”

He licked the corner of his lip. “It’s fine. But your friends are real creeps.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, them. They’re not my friends.”

“Yeah? Why are you nice to them then?

“You just have to be. It’s like a rule.”

“What are you talking about, Miranda? You’re worth more than that. Why are

you kissing up to them?”

“I wasn’t kissing up to them!”

“Yeah. Sure you weren’t.” He made kissing noises at her.

She frowned and pushed him away. “Shut up. You don’t understand.” Climbing

into the car, she fastened her seatbelt and sat with her arms crossed.

He started the Mazda and maneuvered the car out of the parking lot.

“Look. I don’t want to fight,” he finally said.

“Me either.”

Jason stopped at a red light, his forearm hanging lazily over the top of the

steering wheel. “Man, I’m hot.” He glanced at her. “You hot? Let’s go down to the

river.”

“It’s been a while.” A small smile softened her face. “But I don’t have my suit.”

“You don’t need a suit to go swimming.” His mouth curled suggestively.

“You wish!” Miranda nudged his shoulder. “Like I ever would.”

“What? Everyone should go skinny dipping at least once.”

Laughing, she rolled her eyes and looked out the window.

The car bumped along the gravel road leading to the boat launch. Leafy trees

hung over the water, and a few fishermen sat on the banks. Jason pulled the Mazda

up to a sign stating the park hours and tilted his head. “Come on.”

The two of them headed down to the river’s edge. The trail was well worn from

the countless fishermen who’d traveled its banks searching for the best spot.

“Check out that water. Isn’t it tempting?” He leaned close, teasing her, tickling

her ear with his breath.

She stared out at the dark green river, cool and flowing at a lazy pace. Sweat

trickled down her forehead. “Fine, I’ll wear my bra and underwear. But don’t look!”

His heart beat in his throat at the flash of smooth skin as she pulled her shirt

off. Quickly he turned, shucking his shirt, and waded into the water. After a

minute, sounds of splashing let him know she was in.

They waded out to the center where the water was chest-deep on him, and

shoulder-deep on her. She dipped her head back and smiled as the water cooled her

head.

“Someday Jason, We’re going to see the Caribbean Sea.”

“Palm trees are overrated.”

“How would you know?” Her eyes were soft and dreamy. “I think it would be

amazing. And from there sail through the Bahama Islands, then over to the Giza

Pyramids.”

‘Pretty sure you can’t sail through the desert.”

“I know that. Maybe a camel.…”

“You’re a goof. Want me to launch you?” he asked, lightly splashing water at

her.

“You think you could lift me?”

He gave her a look.

“Okay. Just checking.” She waded over to him.

Jason reached down to cup her foot and she laughed as it tickled. She dug her

fingers into his shoulder, struggling to gain purchase.

“Relax.” He grinned. “Jump at the count of three and I’ll fling you.”

Miranda jumped at his count and he rocketed her, squealing, into the air. The

water sprayed upwards as she hit it. She broke the surface, spluttering, and blindly

searched for him through long wet lashes. “Come here you!” Her hands beat the

water to splash him.

He laughed at her efforts and lunged forward, ready to launch her again. She

leaped sideways, breaking into a sidestroke. After a few strokes, she spun back

towards him.

“Where’d you go?” Miranda hopped in a circle, her toe dotting against the river

bottom to keep her head above water.

Suddenly strong arms grasped her waist, lifting her out of the water and causing

her to screech at the top of her lungs.

“Think you can get away from me, huh?” He laced his fingers with hers and

pulled her close. “Don’t you remember the rules? I always win.”

She clung to his shoulders in an attempt to keep her head above the water.

“Always so bossy,” she whispered, looking up at him with a grin.

Their eyes locked together.

Despite the coolness of the water, heat rose between them. Her eyes widened at

the feel of his heart beating against the palm of her hand, now held flat against his

broad chest. And when she held her own breath, she could feel the warmth of his

gently caressing her cheek.

“Woohoo love birds!” A voice called from the bank. Startled, Miranda’s head

jerked in that direction. Two young boys stood on the bank making kissing noises.

Miranda bit her lip and blushed. Jason continued to stare at her, but immediately

dropped his gaze as she turned back.

She rolled her eyes. “What a couple of punks.”

Jason loosened his hold, and she slid away. “That’s one way to say it,” he

mumbled. His face broke into a half grin. “The nice way, since you’re way nicer

than me.”

“We have to balance each other. Like peanut butter and jelly.”

He wrinkled his brow. “Who’s the peanut butter?”

Miranda rolled her eyes. “Fine, cheese and crackers.”

“Where are you coming up with these dorky sayings?”

“What? Everyone knows them.”

“Give me another.”

Miranda thought for a minute. “How about Bonnie and Clyde?”

“Yeah, I like Bonnie and Clyde.”

The shadow of a frown crossed her face. “But they both died at the end.” Her

blue eyes caught his. “I don’t ever want to leave you. Promise me we’ll be best

friends forever? Okay? Pinky swear.”

A lump appeared in his throat. He swallowed as his heart shattered into a

thousand pieces. His eyes held hers as he looped his pinky around hers. “Pinky

swear.”

ChapterEight

SUMMERPRESENTDAY

he dental office was in an uproar when Miranda returned from a coffee run,

balancing the cardboard cup holder between her purse and her arm. “Hey lady,

here’s your mocha. What in the world is going on?” she asked Claudia, sliding into

an office chair.

“Girl, you have got to see the new Sales Representative. He is hottt.” Claudia

dragged out the “t” sound and winked.

Miranda pursed her lips and nodded, suitably impressed. The last guy Claudia

had said that about had a six pack to die for.

Sadly, he also had the personality of a stuffed animal.

“Oh. Lovely,” Miranda murmured.

“It’s just too bad you’re taken.” Claudia fluffed her dark hair. “But I, on the

other hand, am not.”

Miranda narrowed her eyes. The last she’d heard, Claudia was interested in the

dance instructor at her salsa class, calling him “Mr. Hot and Spicy” with a

lascivious wink.

“So what happened to the Spice guy?” Miranda asked.

“That guy was spicy in more ways than one. And Claudia don’t share.”

“Yuck.” Miranda grimaced. “What a creep.”

“Although technically we were only dating.” Claudia pulled out a nail file and

drew it across her nails. “Not actually seeing each other.” She blew on her

fingertips and held them up to admire their shape.

“So many rules.”

“Not everyone finds a great guy who wants to commit like yours.”

A high-pitched flirty female giggle rose from one of the back rooms. Whoa! Who

is that? Doesn’t she know she sounds like a freakin’ horse? After a second, Miranda

realized it was the other receptionist, Cindy, who had been hired the week prior.

Arching her eyebrow at Claudia, she mouthed, What’s going on in there?”

Claudia nodded. “That’s the Sales Representative effect. MmmmHmmm. He’s a

fine man, I’m telling you.”

Still giggling, Cindy walked around the corner leading a well-dressed man.

Miranda scooted her chair back to her desk and booted up the computer. A clank on

the counter made her glance up. An expensive leather briefcase, gilded with silver

hardware, blocked her view of the reception area. She lifted her gaze to its owner.

The businessman had his back to her, finishing his conversation with Cindy.

Broad shoulders, tapered waist. Miranda hurriedly dragged her gaze away. The new

receptionist giggled yet again, causing Miranda’s eyes to roll. For crying out loud,

girl, be a little subtle. She glanced up. Did she just lick her lip? She looks like she’s

ready to ask him to be her baby daddy.

The man turned toward her.

Miranda’s mouth dropped open.

A broad smile broke across his clean shaven face, highlighting two cute dimples.

She’d know those dimples anywhere, the only pair she’d ever seen on a grown

male.

“Dylan?” Her voice came out higher than usual.

“Miranda. I knew I’d see you sooner or later.”

Claudia’s eyes widened, showing the whites around her irises. Her ruby-

lipsticked mouth curved into a grin; her head swiveling between the two of them

like she was at Wimbledon. “Well. Isn’t this delicious?” she said under her breath.

“What the heck are you doing here?” Miranda forced her voice to stay neutral.

She smiled like he was a patient ready to check in.

He leaned his forearm on the counter, his suit stretching tight over muscular

arms. “Look at you. As gorgeous as ever.”

Miranda felt her cheeks heat. No! Don’t blush! Claudia will never let me live it

down. “Oh, well, you look great yourself.”

“MmmHmmmm,” Claudia added like a back up singer.

“So, you’re obviously not here for an appointment,” Miranda began again,

fishing for an explanation.

His dimples flashed again. “No. Actually, I’m here for work.”

“Wow.” Miranda’s forehead creased. “Really? What’s going on?” Dylan came

from old money. She’d never known him to work.

“Yeah, my dad suggested it was time for something new. Uncle was hiring, so

here I am.”

“Your Dad, huh?” She couldn’t help the grin.

“Yep. And when the old man says jump, you know I’m going to say how high.”

They both shared a small chuckle. Miranda walked around and gave him a hug

before explaining their acquaintance to her co-workers. “This is an old friend.”

Cindy shot her a bitter look while Claudia’s smile grew even wider.

“Old friend, huh?” Claudia hummed another “MmmHmmmm.”

Flustered, Miranda glanced back at Dylan. He still had not removed his hand

from the small of her back. “Geez, a working man, huh? Last I heard you were

taking your boat along the west coast.”

“I did that for awhile. It was fun.” He laughed and ran his hand through his

blonde hair. “Awesome actually but it was time for a change of scenery.”

“So, why did your dad want you to do this?” Then, in a lower tone: “It’s not like

you need the money.”

He shrugged. “It’s not a bad job. After all, it brought me back to you.”

Claudia stared at her like a cat watching a mouse. Not knowing what else to do,

Miranda half-laughed and played with her earlobe.

“So, I hear us Reps get to take you guys out to lunch. You know, schmooze you a

bit. Anyone up for it?”

“Me!” Cindy squealed.

“Free food, and a show? Oh, I’m all about that.” Claudia answered.

Miranda gave a long blink at the word show. That was just great. She could

already picture the interrogation Claudia was planning to execute as soon as Dylan

left.

Suddenly, she realized everyone was waiting for her answer. She cleared her

throat. “Sure. Sounds like fun.”

“Maybe we can catch up a bit.” Dylan’s hazel eyes watched her steadily.

“You’ll have to share all your pirate adventures.” Miranda smiled as she said it,

and grabbed her sweater off the back of her chair.

“Arrrrr.” He hobbled towards her with his finger curved into a hook.

“Nice. Two minutes with her and already you’re a cheese ball,” Claudia said.

Dylan laughed. “All right, let's go.”

It was cloudy and cool as they walked toward the Olive Garden, the smell of

breadsticks like an invisible lasso pulling them along.

A flash of movement behind the building caught Miranda’s attention. With a

clatter of noise, a teenage boy rifled through a dumpster outside a Chinese

restaurant, eventually pulling out a stained paper to-go carton. His face glowed

with a simple grin as he tucked the container into his olive-colored jacket and

jogged up the street.

“You see that?” Claudia asked.

“Where?” Dylan turned around and looked, eyebrows raised.

“Over there.” Miranda frowned as she pointed. “That poor kid.”

“I’ve seen him before,” Claudia continued, watching after the running boy.

“Homeless, I think. Someone’s got to do something about him.”

Miranda nodded somberly, and they continued to the Olive Garden. The host

greeted them and led them to a round table sitting smack in the center of the

crowded room. Miranda eyed the booths by the windows longingly, feeling exposed.

Dylan pulled out a chair for Miranda.

“Oh, thank you.” Carefully she sat, allowing him to push the chair in. His hand

brushed her arm with the barest touch. The masculine scent of his cologne—Dior

Sauvage—filled the air as he chose the chair next to her.

Warning flags.

Suddenly, she wanted Cindy to bat her eyes, lick her lips or do whatever she had

to do to catch Dylan’s attention.

“So, how do you like repping out this way?” Claudia asked.

“It’s good. I’ve been doing well. The dental industry is booming in the Pacific

Northwest.”

“Job security. I like it.” Claudia nodded.

“More people are becoming dentists than doctors due to the cost of malpractice

insurance,” he added, opening his menu.

They quietly perused the items. The waiter returned with their drinks and took

their order. Dylan smiled when Miranda asked for angel hair pasta. “You’ve always

loved that.”

Miranda caught Claudia staring at her from across the table. Her foot itched to

kick Dylan under the table, but she resisted out of fear of his reaction.

“Isn’t that interesting? How well did you two know each other before?” Claudia

asked, her head tilted to one side.

“Mmm, not well,” Miranda began.

Dylan snorted and attempted to cover with a drink from his soda.

“Hello, handsome,” Cindy whispered as she looked toward the entrance.

“And, here comes trouble.” Claudia shot a glance at Miranda.

Jason strode across the restaurant lobby, glaring, his brows drawn together in a

scowl.

“That’s my boyfriend,” Miranda said, fidgeting in her seat, uncertain if she

should stand to meet him.

Dylan adjusted the cuffs on his jacket. “He should join us. I’d love to meet the

guy who finally won your heart.” He threw Miranda a wink. “Should be fun.”

Miranda’s heart pounded. She wasn’t sure she was ready for that kind of fun.

“Someone forgot to invite me to the party.” Jason’s grin was sardonic as he

walked up. He wore his work coveralls unbuttoned to his waist, revealing a torn

Metallica t-shirt. Grease smeared along the front of one of his forearms. His face

was stony as he threw a cursory look at Miranda. “I came by your work to surprise

you. Your boss told me you were here.”

Jason reached out to hug Miranda, and she hesitated at the sight of the grease.

His unshaven face showed confusion, then quickly went blank. He gave her a pat on

the back.

“I’m sorry, hun,” she whispered. “This stupid sweater is so hard to clean.” She

plucked at the sleeve of her cashmere baby-pink sweater.

Jason acknowledged it with a flick of his eyebrow before nodding, his eyes loaded

with hurt.

“Please.” Dylan stood. “Take a seat.”

The dark threat in Jason’s eyes was deadly. “Naw, I don’t want to interrupt. Just

wanted to see my girl.”

“Yeah, I found her. Like I told you I would.” Dylan tilted his chin at Jason and

Jason glared back at him, his jaw clenched.

The group shifted in their seats as the air electrified around them.

“Can somebody say testosterone?” Claudia’s voice rose with a lilt on the last

syllable.

“C’mon Jason. You’re here now. Sit with us,” Miranda said. “We can pull up

another chair.”

Jason scrutinized the seating arrangement, before glancing back with a ghost of

a smile, the corner of his mouth lifting almost imperceptibly. “Nah. I’ll see you

tonight when you get home.” Raising his hand, he barely waved and turned to leave

before she could respond. Miranda watched him stalk off, momentarily stunned.

Dylan flipped a napkin across his lap, his face plastered with a sarcastic smirk.

“He still doesn’t seem to like me much.”

Miranda scrambled for her glass and took a couple gulps of water. Why did Jason

look at me that way? This is a nightmare. Dylan’s comment finally sunk in and she

cast him a worried glance. “What do you mean, he doesn’t like you?”

“Your boyfriend’s been a bit unfriendly both times I’ve seen him.”

Miranda felt a jab of shock. “You’ve met him before?”

“I drove to your place last week, when I heard you lived in the area. You know, to

catch up on old times.”

“Why didn’t you mention this sooner?”

Dylan shrugged. “Must have slipped my mind. Kind of like it slipped his. Then I

saw you today at the office, and it was all water under the bridge.”

Their food arrived in a big fanfare of waiters brandishing Parmesan cheese

graters and pepper mills over their plates.

Miranda’s stomach rolled at the scent of the marina sauce, no longer hungry.

She leaned in close after Dylan was served and whispered, “Who did you tell him

you were?”

Both Claudia and Cindy changed their positions so they could hear.

Catching their movement, Miranda cracked out, “Guys?”

“Well, what do you expect? This is the most exciting thing that’s happened all

week,” Claudia answered, taking a bite of her salmon.

“It’s not exciting. It’s no big deal,” Miranda murmured. She shook out her

napkin and laid it over her lap. Her thoughts tumbled in a whirlwind as she stared

morosely at her plate.

“Don’t worry.” Dylan winked at her. “I just told him we used to date.”

“Dylan!” Miranda shrieked, and then blushed as the other patrons attention at

her outburst. Lowering her voice, she protested. “That’s not true,” And swatted

him with her napkin.

“No?” His eyes twinkled as he stabbed a scallop and brought it to his mouth.

“No! We never dated.” She closed her eyes at the memory of Jason’s piercing

glare. How am I ever going to explain this to him?

Claudia leaned back in her chair with a big smile, her fingers interlaced behind

her head. “Don’t stop now. This suddenly just got a whole lot more interesting.”

“It’s nothing. I have no idea what he’s talking about.” Miranda grabbed a bread

stick and pulled it in pieces, jamming one of them in her mouth. Her mouth felt as

dry as chalk dust. Just keep chewing.

“Wow, really?” Dylan said and laid a hand over his heart. “I’m kind of hurt.”

“I’m about to throw this bread stick at you.”

He laughed. “I thought it was quite meaningful. Our time together, I mean.”

“Ohhoooo.” Claudia smirked and leaned forward on the table with her chin

cupped in her hand. “Tell me more.”

Miranda drew her mouth into a thin line. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just giving

me a hard time.”

“All those walks in the park.…” Dylan continued.

“You were walking me home from work!”

“Those late nights in your apartment.”

Miranda blushed furiously. “It was storming outside. I felt guilty sending you

out into it.”

Dylan winked at her. “Like I said, good times.”

“Seems like you two have a lot more catching up to do.” Claudia waved at the

passing server. “Can I get a to-go box?” Then leveling her gaze at Miranda, “Cindy

and I will be moseying our way back to the office so you can figure this out.” She

wagged her finger at Miranda, “But, be careful, girl. Jason didn’t seem too pleased.”

“Claudia, Cindy, you don’t have to go.” Miranda protested as they both gathered

their food. Dylan held out his card to the server. “Just put their meals on my tab,”

he said.

“Wait! No!” Miranda frantically dug through her purse for her wallet. The waiter

had already left. “Dylan, what the heck are you doing?” She gave a deep exhale,

feeling completely exasperated.

“Just for old times’ sake. Besides, I’m schmoozing you, remember?”

“The only old times we had were as friends.”

He arched an eyebrow at her and lifted the corner of his lip suggestively.

She blushed and stared down at her hands.

…there was that one time.

ChapterNine

SUMMER

ason’s truck was parked by the barn when she pulled into the driveway. The sun

was setting, splashing the house’s shadow across the side of the barn. Miranda

turned off the ignition and rubbed her temples for a second as she eyed the house

through the windshield. How did we get here?

She replayed the look Jason had given her just before he’d stalked out of the

restaurant. As soon as she’d returned to the office, she’d texted him. He hadn’t

answered or even read her texts as far as she could tell.

The fact he’d already met Dylan and kept it a secret bothered her. It bothered

her equally as much that he’d assumed she was keeping a secret from him.

Miranda rubbed the back of her neck as she approached the front door. She took

a deep breath to fortify herself and walked inside, laying her purse on the counter.

Jason sat at the far end of the kitchen table. He was hunched over his laptop,

refusing to look up at her.

“Hi,” she said softly. He typed studiously and continued to ignore her. She

hesitated a moment, stepped closer, and reached for his arm. Jason pulled away

before her touch could connect, and her hand dropped to her side like a wilted

flower. “Want to talk?” she asked.

“About what?” His voice was low and monotone.

“You seemed upset today. At the restaurant.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why would I be upset?” He shut the

laptop lid more firmly than necessary. “You having lunch? No big deal. Right?”

“Okay—”

“I mean, after all, what guy wouldn’t want to walk in and see his girlfriend

laughing with an old boyfriend?”

She shook her head in protest. “It wasn’t like that.”

Jason’s eyes narrowed. “Oh yeah? His hand was resting on the back of your

chair.”

His hand had been on my chair? Miranda hadn’t noticed. Her face filled with

heat—half embarrassed, half irritated. “I heard you two had already met.” She

straightened her shoulders, watching him. “He said he’d shown up here a few days

ago.”

Jason stared at her, his jaw clenching.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He tilted his head back with a look of incredulousness. “Wow. So, I’m the bad

guy? Whatever. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize he was so important to you. “ He scoffed.

“Especially since you’ve never mentioned his name before.”

Miranda briefly closed her eyes. “There was nothing to mention. He’s someone I

met when I lived in Seattle. It was no big deal.”

“No big deal, huh? That’s not how he described it.”

“Why do I feel like I’m caught between two dogs having a peeing contest?”

Hurt flashed across his face. “Peeing contest, huh? Then why do you care that I

didn’t let you know he came by?”

“I care because you’re acting so weird about it right now.”

He shoved his chair back and stood.

“Where are you going?”

“Out to the porch. I need some fresh air.”

“But we’re talking.”

He exhaled deeply. “So follow me.”

Jason walked out the back door and dropped heavily into the swing causing the

springs to protest. Miranda followed, her thoughts racing to make sense of his

reaction. She settled on the cushion next to him and pulled her feet up under her.

“Jason, I’m not your enemy.”

“I know that.”

“Okay. I wanted to remind you because it feels like you’re getting defensive.”

“So, tell me about Dylan. Did you date him?” Slowly, he rocked the swing.

“I guess I should have told you. I never expected to see him again, and you know

how I wanted to forget everything about Seattle. Yeah, he’s an old friend. I guess

you could say we dated.” Her blue eyes caught Jason’s. “Briefly. He wasn’t my

type.”

“I find it hard to believe that someone you describe as a friend, who’s also rich

and good looking, wasn’t your type. What is he? A secret axe murder? Does

inappropriate things with.…?”

Miranda groaned. “He’s just wasn’t, okay? I don’t like guys who think money is

the answer to everything. There’s more to life than that.”

“That’s good, since I don’t have a trust fund.”

“You don’t have the snobby attitude either.”

“Yeah, he did seem like a pretentious jerkwad.”

Miranda laughed. “He can be.”

Jason slid a bit closer to her. “Guys like me don’t get to have girls like you.”

She climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, his soft hair

tickling her skin. “I could say the same thing about a girl like me. You’re awesome,

and I love you.”

He rested his forehead in the warm crook of her neck. “I love you too. I don’t

want to lose you.”

“Jason!” She pushed his head back. “Why are you talking crazy like this? You

aren’t ever going to lose me. I’m sticking to you like a burr on a dog’s butt.”

He rolled his eyes and snorted. “Really? That’s your best romantic analogy?”

Miranda shrugged. “Hey, I can’t have it all. Too much perfection and, boom, the

earth tilts off its axis.”

“This is the romantic language I speak.” He tipped her head against his arm and

settled his lips firmly on hers. His kisses became more insistent as his hand ran

down the length of her back and cupped her hip. His lips trailed along her neck and

back up to her ear.

“I think I need more language lessons,” she whispered and directed him back to

her mouth.

The front door slammed. “Honey! I’m home!” Cassie yelled as she clomped

though the living room. The sliding glass door opened and she peeked out.

Jason pulled away from the embrace with a groan. “Hi, Cassie.”

“Hi yourself.” She wriggled into the spot that Miranda had vacated and cuddled

against her sister’s shoulder. “Aww, isn’t this cozy?”

Jason leaned forward to see for himself that Cassie was there to stay, before

flopping his head back.

“Don’t you want to go inside and relax, maybe watch some TV?” Miranda

suggested.

“Geez. Sounds like you’re trying to get rid of me.” Cassie poked out her bottom

lip.

Miranda nudged her with her toe. “You could go order pizza delivery. Use my

credit card.”

“Fair enough.” Cassie jumped up.

“My purse is on the counter.”

Cassie smirked. “Puh-lease, I have that number memorized.” She strolled

inside, shutting the door behind her.

Five seconds later they heard her give a squeal. She flung open the door. “Lady

GaGa and Taylor Kinney just got engaged!”

Jason made a fake shocked face.

“Cassie and her celebrity gossip sites.” Miranda smiled.

“Shut up! I’m so excited! Can you imagine the pretty babies they’re going to

make?” She grinned again before slamming the door.

“Remember when she was little and we could give her a dose of Benadryl to get

her to go to sleep?”

“Jason! Shut up. We did not.” Miranda laughed and snuggled into his t-shirt,

breathing in a mixture of fabric softener and grease.

“No? Maybe it was just me.” His green eyes twinkled at her as he broke into a

grin.

“You’re so weird.”

“Ahh, but I’m comfortable with my weirdness. And at least I don’t have an old

man laugh.” He moved his hand until it rested lightly on her waist.

Miranda tensed, suddenly feeling trapped in a precarious position. “Jason, don’t

do it.”

“What?” His voice rose innocently, tapping his finger against her rib.

“Jason! Don’t you do that! I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” He took the bait and ran his fingers up and down her side.

Laughter burst out of her and she snorted.

“Yeah, whatcha going to do, huh?” He found a particularly ticklish spot. “Who’s

the boss?”

“I swear I’ll bake you cookies again!”

Jason released her and propped her back up into a sitting position.

“Oh, it’s on.” Miranda said, springing away from him. “I know where you sleep

at night.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered sexily. “Forgive me?”

Her heart thumped as the sound of his voice zinged through her. “Dang, you’re

cute. It’s not even fair.” Her fingers trailed down the side of his face. “Show me

how sorry you are.”

“Gladly.” With a grin, he pulled her back onto his lap.

Cassie slid the door open. “Sorry for bugging you guys again.” She glanced at

Miranda wrapped in Jason’s arms. “Yuck. You have no idea how sorry I am. Anyway,

your phone is going off like crazy, and I’m pretty sure you’ve gotten like a thousand

texts.”

“What?” Miranda’s forehead creased. “Bring it here.”

“Umm.” Cassie darted a look at Jason. “Maybe you should come here.”

Why? she mouthed. Dylan?

Her sister’s eyes grew wide and she nodded.

“Just bring it here. It’s fine.”

Cassie handed her the cell phone, before returning inside. Miranda opened the

first text.

Jason tensed next to her.

“Don’t worry.” She flashed a smile at him and patted his knee.

“He adopted a cat from the shelter.” Her mouth dropped open. “I guess he

talked Dr. Denton into keeping him at the dental office!” She showed him the

picture of the long-haired calico cat.

Jason gave a small nod and raised his eyebrows. “Neat,” he deadpanned.

“So freaking cute,” she squealed, scrolling through more pictures. “Cassie,

come see! We have an office cat!” Miranda sprung up from his lap and whipped

through the door.

Jason scratched his chin and sighed. Just that fast and she was gone. Out in the

dark lake water, the two swans paddled together. There’d been a pair of swans in

that lake for as long as he could remember. The first time Miranda had seen them

her face flushed with excitement. Her sixteen-year-old voice rang in his head, “Did

you know swans partner for life? You’re my swan, Jason.” Leaning back, he stared

at the stars and rubbed his chest, trying to rid himself of the uneasy feeling his life

was about to fly apart.

ChapterTen

SUMMER

ome on, ol’boy,” Jason called. Archer jumped out of the truck and led the way

to the river, his tail wagging happily. Jason followed, his tackle box bumping

against his leg as he meandered down the worn path.

Dark thunderheads brooded across the horizon, and the temperature quickly

dropped. He was glad he’d worn his flannel shirt.

Archer took off through the bushes, excited and sniffing at the scent trail of

some random animal. Jason cast the fishing line into the river and settled back

against a driftwood log. The nylon silk floated lazily on top of the water before

disappearing into its green depths. He cracked his neck, releasing tension, then

slowly wound the line until it was taut. With a deep sigh, he pulled the brim of his

hat down over his eyes.

He was alone in his getaway place to try and figure things out. His emotions

trembled inside of him. He heaved another breath and licked his lip.

Sometimes a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.

Miranda had come home late from work one night last week. When she had

walked through the door, he’d seen the guilt written all over her face. After

patiently working it out from her, it turned out there’d been another Olive Garden

meal.

She’d couched it as a ‘company meeting’. “Everyone was there,” she hedged.

“You mean Dylan?” Jason accused.

“Yes, him too. Don’t be mad at me, Jason.” Her eyes filled with worry as she

looked at him.

“I’m not mad.” His insides twisted and rolled. “Just can’t help but wonder how

long it takes to sell an X-ray machine. Kind of suspicious.”

She sniffed, and rummaged in her purse for a tissue. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying he’s here for you.”

She shook her head in denial. “He’s always in Dr. Denton’s office. They’re

updating all of our equipment.”

Jason unlaced his work boots and yanked them off, taking a moment to gather

his thoughts together. “Why are you so afraid to tell me then?” he asked finally.

“You’ve been scaring me lately. I feel like you’re pulling away from me.”

“

Miranda bit her thumb nail as she studied him. “Is this over the cat, somehow?”

His eyes softened as he looked at her. “No, hun. This isn’t over the office cat.”

“So there is something going on then.”

Jason didn’t answer, instead he shoved a tortilla chip into his mouth. “I made

dinner.” He jabbed his thumb at the platters of taco fixings on the counter.

“Thanks. Maybe later.”

“You’re losing weight,” he mentioned.

“It’s nothing. I think it’s all the hikes I’ve been doing lately.” She glanced up

hesitantly. “How’s your work going?”

“Great. Jumping through hoops so I don’t get laid off. The garage owner’s going

through a divorce, so we’ve all been affected,” he said with a wry grin.

She wandered over to the couch and sat, propping her feet on the arm.

“I guess it would help if I knew you weren’t going to see that jerkwad again,” he

mumbled.

“I keep telling you I can’t help seeing him.”

“Yeah, but you’re acting so guilty about it. That’s why I’m worried.”

“Exactly what are you worried about?”

“He’s rich. He’s got a nice car. I can see the attraction.”

“He’s got nothing I want.” Miranda rolled her eyes. “And we’ve already been

over this. A few times. It’s getting Real. Old.”

“Yeah, it is.” Jason’s eyes hardened. “It is getting old, Miranda. I need a

commitment. I don’t want you to see him anymore.”

“What are you talking about? We are committed. You’re the one freaking out

over a work friend.”

““Yeah, right. Friends!” He air quoted the word friends and darted his eyes away

from her.

Miranda’s mouth dropped open. “What’s that supposed to mean, Jason?”

His nostrils flared. “I just find it highly suspect that this guy you used to date is

suddenly your best friend at work.”

Miranda walked over and pointed at his chest. “You. Are. My best friend. Act like

it.”

They hadn’t talked any more that night, each of them stalking off to their separate

corners to lick their wounds. The last week had been rocky. Jason could feel a

distance growing between them day by day. And a big part of it was that he’d

convinced himself that Dylan was a better match for Miranda.

It had been haunting him all week.

He thought about Dylan. That scumbag. But the kid had it together. Unlike

Jason, who only had a GED, Dylan had a college education. And a trust fund.

Jason couldn’t shake the fact that the moment Miranda had the tiniest bit of

freedom, she’d hightailed it to Seattle. There, she’d forged a life with Dylan, a life

she’d only abandoned because of her sister’s car accident. If Jason hadn’t stepped

in then and practically forced her to be with him, chances were that she’d have

returned to Seattle and her old relationship.

Just like the football player before him, Dylan was the type Miranda was

impressed by. Someone flashy and exciting. A man who could sweep her off her

feet with expensive cars and trips to foreign countries.

What could he offer Miranda? Free brake jobs for life? Always struggling to make

ends meet? Cheap restaurants instead of exotic vacations?

Maybe I could super-size her fries. His mouth turned up in a sarcastic grin.

Archer wandered back and lay down next to him. “You’re a good dog, ol'boy.”

Sighing, he tugged on the fishing pole, moving the hook through the water. Still no

bites.

He’d taken care of Miranda from the moment they’d met. Hadn’t he always

done what he thought was best for her? Even when she kicked and screamed, he

stood his ground if he believed he was putting her first. Jason’s gaze followed the

shadows of the trees rippling on the water.

What was best for her now?

ChapterEleven

SUMMER

ason parked his rattling old truck in front of the bar and climbed out. He beat his

hands over his front pockets searching for his wallet, before diving back into the

cab and retrieving it from the cup holder.

The Old Third Tavern flashed its red neon light. The “h” fluorescent tube

flickered off, and he gave a wry grin at the half-lit word.

The tavern was almost empty at this time of night, but rapidly filling as the

workday ended. When Jason entered, his friend, Doug, was already seated at the

bar. He meandered over, ignoring the hot stares from a couple of women in a back

corner booth.

“Hey,” Jason said, sliding onto the worn bar stool. He hung his head and ran his

fingers through his hair, dirty from a long day at the garage.

Doug nudged over one of the two bottles sitting in front of him. “You look beat.”

“Thanks.” Jason acknowledged the beer. “Oh man. My life’s gone to hell.”

“So, what’s going on?”

Jason rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Miranda.”

Doug took a swig of his beer and nodded to the bartender bringing over a bowl of

peanuts. “I hear ya. My old lady and I got into it last night. What’s going on with

you guys?”

Jason shook his head. “It’s worse than that. I’m taking a break.”

“You’re kidding?” The silence grew between them as Doug tried to digest his

words. “Man, are you sure? I mean, give it some time. Things’ll settle down.”

“It’s not that. It’s this new guy she works with. She has a history with him.”

“Well, she sure has a history with you,” Doug pointed out.

Jason nodded as he glanced down, his forehead creasing.

Doug glanced at him sideways. “You think she’s into him?”

“I don’t think she will be, as long as I’m around. That’s why I’m taking off.”

“What?” Doug banged the bottle on the bar and blasted him with an incredulous

stare. “You’re just giving her up? That doesn’t sound like the Jason I know.”

“You don’t get it. It’s like I’m hanging on to her like she’s my security blanket.

Dragging her down. It’s selfish.”

Doug frowned and fiddled with a peanut. He cracked the shell before throwing it

back in the bowl. “How is leaving a good thing?”

Jason spun his beer around on the coaster. “It probably won’t be at first.

Miranda’s going to be hurt. And pissed. But in the end, Dylan’s the better man for

her. She deserves to be taken care of. He’s got the money to do that.”

Doug took a sip from the bottle and replied, “She seems like she’s doing all right

to me.”

“Yeah, well she deserves better than all right. The thing is, ever since we were

kids she always talked about how she wanted to travel the world. Even now, she

carries this crazy list of top places she has to visit in the state. This is her dream.

I’m never going to be able to give her what she wants. And I know her. She won’t

leave me as long as I’m around. I’ve got to do this for her.”

Shaking his head, Doug answered, “You might be making a big mistake.”

“Hey, I don’t need to hear that right now. I’m making the best decision I can. I

think this is the right choice for her.”

“And what about you?”

Jason thought about it. “I’m done with women. Maybe I was made to be a

bachelor. I’m gonna take my truck out, my dog, go hiking. The whole ‘be one with

nature’ crap.”

“I don’t know.” Doug shook his head. “If I were you—”

“I don’t want to hear it.” Jason frowned and raised his hand. “My mind’s made

up.”

His friend studied him and slowly nodded. “Well, like they say, there’s more fish

in the sea. You’ll figure it out.”

“Yeah. I’m gonna get going. I’ve got a few loose ends to tie up,” Jason said,

standing.

Doug offered him his hand. “See you around, buddy. You need anything, give me

a call.”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. But thanks.” He shook Doug’s hand and threaded his way

back through the crowd to the door. Opening it, he surprised a young couple on

their way in. “Oh sorry,” the girl giggled and grabbed the guy’s hand. Their aura of

happiness hit him like a gut punch. Jason tipped his head in their direction as he

sidestepped around them and hurried to his truck. His heart felt heavy with dread.

There was still the conversation with Miranda ahead.

Jason arrived home an hour before Miranda. For the next thirty minutes he packed

his things and loaded the truck, Archer following back and forth at his heels. When

he finished, Jason took a good long look at his dog. Archer gave a small whimper as

Jason sat on the floor and scooted closer. “You’re going to stay here, ol’ buddy,” he

said, stroking Archer’s neck. “You know why, don’t you? I need you to keep an eye

on her. On Cassie, too.” Archer rested his chin on Jason’s shoulder.

A lump grew in his throat. Jason stood and moved into the kitchen feeling like

he’d been beaten with a 2x4. There was an advertisement on the counter and he

lifted it to read. “Leavenworth, Come Explore!” He shook his head sadly,

wondering where this fell on the list of one hundred things Miranda was working

through.

He put the kettle on and set out Miranda’s favorite blue mug and box of tea.

When the water finished boiling, he filled the cup to brew. It wasn’t much, but

maybe it would help.

At the sound of her car rumbling down the driveway, Jason grabbed the side of

the counter to steady himself. His stomach tightened. “She’s never going to believe

me,” he whispered.

The door flew open and Miranda came bustling in, her arms loaded with grocery

bags. “Hi hun! I’m sorry I’m late. I figured you’d want to eat tonight so I stopped at

the store.…” Her words trailed off as she caught sight of his face. “What’s wrong?”

Jason rubbed the back of his neck and took a deep breath. “Babe—”

Miranda dropped the bags on the counter and sank down onto a stool, her eyes

staring wide…frightened.

“This isn’t easy. I lo—I care about you so much. But I’ve been doing some

thinking.” He sat across from her and reached for her hand before second-guessing

the action. Instead, he nudged the cup of tea towards her. “Here, I made you this.”

Jason took a deep breath and continued. “We’ve known each other a long time. And

you are, and always have been, my best friend. But somewhere along the way the

lines of our friendship blurred.” His voice cracked. “Honestly, I didn’t give you

much of a choice when you came home last year after your sister’s accident.”

She slumped over like a deflated balloon as she rested her forehead on her hand.

“But the truth is, I think I let my needs get ahead of yours. This isn’t the life you

were meant to have. I’m leaving.”

Glancing up, her face paled at his words. “Leaving? You’re just going to leave

me?” She paused for a beat then said, “Again?”

“I’m doing what I think is best.”

“Best? We’ve been together since I was fifteen…fifteen, Jason! Why are you

doing this to us? You’ve always been more than good enough for me.”

“Miranda, we were just kids. Back then, I thought I had it together, and faked it

good enough so that you thought that way, too. But look at me now. I can’t take

care of you. I’ve got nothing to give you.” He clenched his fist to control his

emotions. “You’ve grown past me.”

“That’s not true.…” She rubbed her temple. “Jason, I don’t need anyone to take

care of me. It’s supposed to be a partnership. Where we both take care of each

other.”

“I don’t have anything to offer you, and I can’t handle that.” He refused to make

eye contact with her. “I need to get out of here and take some time for myself.

Figure stuff out. I can’t stay here when I feel like you would be better off without

me. You need this time too. You know, date whoever you want.”

She covered her face as grief twisted through. “Please don’t do this. I need you

with me.”

He called Archer over and sat back on his heels rubbing the dog’s neck, not

knowing how he would ever find the strength to walk out the door.

Tears rolled down her face. She fell to her knees and grabbed his hand in one last

desperate plea. “Please don’t leave me. We can make this work.”

He looked at her, this woman he loved more than life, and he knew exactly what

he had to do.

ChapterTwelve

SUMMER

ason slowly trudged through the woods. The weather was changing, not quite

fall, but the trees were beginning to drop their leaves. The solitude of the forest

was doing a number on his mind, as the memory of him leaving the day before

replayed like a loop of misery.

Miranda had hidden her misery behind her hands. “Please don’t do this, Jason. I

love you.” The quick glimpse he’d seen before she’d covered her face had broken

his heart.

Every fiber in him had wanted to wrap her in his arms and comfort her. Instead,

Jason had tucked his hands in his pockets and walked to the door. “I’m sorry,

Miranda. It’s for the best. Don’t worry. You’re going to be okay.”

Jason had driven through the night. Just as the sun broke over the horizon, he

steered his truck onto the side of a logging road. He’d left it parked there, hidden by

bushes, figuring it would be safe for a few days. He needed to get out and hike for a

bit. Hopefully it would clear his head.

From the logging road, Jason followed the same railroad tracks that had led the

three of them out of the wilderness as teenagers all those years before. They’d been

malnourished, dressed in scraps of clothes, and heading to the hope of civilization.

This time he wanted to go back, submerge himself, even get lost. It felt safe in the

woods. Welcoming. It was a place where he knew what he was doing.

Jason’s hand unconsciously reached down for the dog who would normally be by

his side. His fingers twitched and he shook his head at the thought of another loss.

But Archer was better off in his home with Cassie and Miranda.

It was four hours before Jason finally reached the clearing. The sun was brilliant

in the clear blue sky, reminding him of a similar day eight years earlier. The wind

rustled through the field in much the same way as it had the first time he’d seen

Miranda. She’d popped out of the tall grass from where she’d been lying, her face

streaked with tears. Boy, she’d sure had some gumption, though, coming after him

like a wildcat when she thought her sister was in danger.

The two girls had been starving when he’d discovered them. He’d hardly been in

better shape himself. Today, however, with a heavy backpack loaded with food and

essentials, things would be different.

Sitting at the far end of the field was an abandoned shack, half of its shingles

missing from the wind. The building’s rough exterior had aged to a grey-white

since the last time Jason had seen it. The front stoop was collapsed on one side, and

the cabin’s single door hung ajar. Nearby was an old chopping block marred with

bite marks from an axe.

Jason cautiously tried his weight on the stoop. The wood creaked under his foot

but held firm. He pushed the door, opening it further, dragging it hard against a

loose floorboard.

He blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to the dark room. Sunlight streamed

through the unchinked cracks in the walls. Memories of the young family he’d met

there flooded his mind. I wonder where Sky and Echo are now? And their baby?

In the corner stood an old bedstead and a crib. The crib had been handmade from

the trees out back with a peace symbol carved into its headboard. He walked over to

the mattress and touched it; a simple fabric sack filled with straw.

The room was empty with the exception of a small table and a couple of stools.

The far wall was lined with shelves. He examined them. Nothing but spider webs

and a few dusty cans lay there.

Clouds covered the sun, and the interior became shrouded in deep shadows.

Jason suppressed a shudder and hurried back outside.

To the left of the shack the land was ruled by an overgrown garden. From where

he stood, a handful of pumpkins could be seen rotting on their vines. He wandered

behind the house. Saplings he’d remembered had grown to full size.

A stab of pain throbbed behind his eye. Jason crouched to rub his temple as

weariness engulfed him. What? You thought the hippies would still be living here

raising a couple more rugrats? Maybe a horse and some goats? A regular petting

zoo? This place was nothing but dead dreams.

I’ve got to get out of here.

After a moment, his headache subsided. Without looking back, Jason headed in

the direction of the river. He needed to be somewhere with the sounds and signs of

life.

Jason strode into the trees, remembering the path like it was yesterday. He

closed his eyes and pictured Miranda’s slender form weaving through the grass,

encouraging her sister to track down the blackberries up ahead. Jason laughed at

how she’d wrinkled her nose at a leaf she found in her hair. Even then, starving and

dirty, she’d been beautiful. She’d been his angel.

Jason studied his hands, calloused, grease permanently inked in the creases.

Laborer’s hands. Hands that made little money and needed to be thoroughly

washed before they would be clean enough to touch another person.

Miranda had always been way out of his league.

I was an idiot to go after her. This would have never happened if I’d stayed in my

lane.

The path began to descend, leading him down to the bank of the river. The water

burbled as it flowed over the rocks. He dropped his backpack. He’d pitch the tent

there for the night.

His phone buzzed.

Miranda.

He glanced at it before powering it off. Didn’t she know he was trying to give her

a clean break? She was young; she didn’t even know what she wanted or deserved

yet. She didn’t know her worth. She had settled for him. Her whole life had been

about taking care of her sister or trying to survive.

Or taking care of him.

The memory of her laughing face as she lay back in his arms made his heart

shatter. He shook it off.

Sometimes he thought he’d never be free of his demons. He’d been dealing with

the same stuff his entire life, and it wasn’t getting any easier. He was sick of feeling

broken.

It’s weird though. I never felt broken with Miranda, only accepted by her. Like I

could be myself.

Running his fingers through his hair, Jason sighed. Probably just a way to

convince himself that everything was going to be okay.

He needed to find someone broken like him. Someone on his level, that he

couldn’t wreck any more then they already were.

Jason pulled a silver flask from his backpack. He’d planned to wait for a drink

until after the tent was set up. But to the hell with it. He needed a shot now.

A bird darted overhead, startled by his presence as he settled on the grassy bank

under a maple. He remembered swimming in this very bend of the river as a

teenager with Miranda and Cassie. It had felt like a hundred degrees that day, and

the girls had been horrified when he’d stripped off his clothes and dove into the

water. His whiskered cheek flexed into a small grin, and he uncorked the flask.

Tipping it up, he took a long gulp. Grimacing a bit at the burn, he wiped his mouth

with the back of his hand.

Then he wiped his eyes.

ChapterThirteen

AUTUMN

hush fell over the dental office as the last patient walked out the door. Miranda

reached into her drawer for Tylenol and swallowed one with a swig of cold coffee.

“How you doing, lady?” Claudia asked, her voice laced with concern.

“Mmmm,” Miranda answered in a monotone. It had been nearly six weeks since

Jason left. She couldn’t decide if it was harder this time, or the first time he’d gone.

“Life pretty much sucks,” she mumbled.

“I hear you. My Lawrence left too.”

Miranda wondered how the end of Claudia’s two-week fling could possibly

compare with what she was going through. But then again, a couple of weeks for

Claudia was practically engaged. “What happened?”

“He had commitment issues,” Claudia continued. She ruffled the pile of the

papers in front of her.

“Yeah?”

“He was more committed to the bar than to me.” Claudia gave a long blink of

her thickly-mascaraed eyes.

“Yikes. I can understand why you cut him loose then.”

“That’s right. Plenty more men where he came from.” Claudia pulled her keys

from her purse and patted Miranda’s arm. “More for you too, hun. You going to be

okay locking up?”

Miranda nodded and frowned at the computer. She still had a patient’s

insurance information to process before she could leave.

“Okay, then. Have a good night.” Claudia tottered out the door on her six-inch

heels and locked it behind her.

Miranda blearily stared at the screen. Taped to the side of the monitor was a

picture of the Olympic Peninsula. She touched it with her finger. Someday, I’m

going there. She sighed. Maybe when she found a new hiking partner. Rubbing her

eyes, she squinted at the site again. Why does this freaking form keep bouncing

back saying it was incomplete. What am I missing?

Her cell phone rang. Absent-mindedly, she retrieved it from the black hole of

her purse, buried among the gum wrappers, cough drops, snacks, and who knew

what else. “Hello?”

“Hey, Miranda.” Cassie’s voice sounded cheerful.

“What’s up?”

“Just letting you know I’ve decided to stay at Jenny’s tonight. We might whoop it

up a bit.”

Miranda frowned and twisted a piece of hair around her finger. “Don’t be

whooping it too much.”

“Seriously? I’m just teasing. I can always depend on you being a stick in the

mud. We’ll probably just watch Bridget Jones’s Diary and eat tubs of Ben and

Jerry’s. Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay, have fun.” Miranda clicked off the phone with a hint of a smile. It was

good to hear her sister happy and hanging out with friends again.

She turned back to the computer screen and reread the form, line by line.

Ahh, there it is. A mistyped social security number. Rolling her eyes, she

corrected the digit and pressed send. The little wheel whirled to show the website

was thinking about it, then it changed to the next screen.

Success!

With a relieved exhale, Miranda shut down the computer. She shoved her phone

into her pocket and took one last glance around the office, before relocking the

front door.

Her feet hurt like the dickens as she limped towards her car. On top of a long day

of running around, she’d stupidly worn brand new boots that hadn’t been broken in

yet. Wow, what a day. Feeling like an old lady, she collapsed into the driver’s seat.

She popped off her boots, one after the other, and flexed her toes.

“I’m outta here,” she said, then stared vacantly at the ceiling at the sound of her

voice. “You really have to quit talking to yourself.”

She stuck the key in the ignition and turned it.

Nothing.

What the? She turned it again. Still nothing.

“No! Not today!” She glanced at the steering wheel and studied the gauges, then

reached over to try out her headlights.

They’d been left on.

“Oh. my. freaking—” she gaped. “No way I did that.” She flipped the lights off,

as if that would help, and tried the ignition again.

Nope.

She yanked out her phone to call Jason.

… Then she remembered. Her lips trembled. The grief of losing him fell like a

leaden blanket, and she covered her face with her hands as hot tears spilled down

her cheeks. Why does this always happen? How did everything fall apart like this

She took a couple deep shuddering breaths to try and calm down. “Be a good time

to still have Triple A,” she muttered. She’d let that expire when she came back

home from Seattle last year.

Don’t panic. I’ll figure this out.

She could call Cassie. But it was already dark and, even if she didn’t want to

admit it, Miranda was scared to death at the thought of her sister driving at night.

Besides, Jenny’s house was over an hour away.

Desperately, she scrolled through the phone’s contacts. Maybe Claudia? Yes! She

could call her co-worker.

A sharp tap on the window caused her to jump nearly out of her skin. She spun

around, her face stiff with fear.

It was Dylan.

Miranda wiped at her running mascara and rolled down the window.

“Everything okay?” He crouched down, his hazel eyes crinkled with concern.

“You scared the crap out of me! What are you doing here?” She half-laughed,

her face warming with embarrassment at being caught so upset. “I’m a dork. Left

my lights on this morning.”

“I was hoping to catch you before you left.” He frowned. “What’s going on?

Dead battery?”

“Yeah, I think so. Can you give my car a jump?” Her voice rose with hope.

Dylan wiped his hands on his pants as though they were dirty. “Believe it or not,

I don’t have any cables. I usually just call for service.”

She nodded, disappointed. “It’s okay. The battery’s probably too far gone

anyway. My lights won’t even turn on.”

“Well, I’m not going to leave you stranded here. Let me give you a ride?”

Miranda bit her lip then glanced at him. “Are you sure? I don’t want to be any

trouble.”

“No trouble at all. Your house isn’t that far out of the way.”

Miranda pulled the keys out of the ignition and opened the door. As she stood

next to him, the scent of his aftershave wafted over her. She swallowed hard, and

instantly thought of Jason and his clean smell. Everything makes me miss him. She

rubbed her chest as if to rub the heartache away.

“I can even pick you up in the morning if you like.”

“Huh? Oh, no thank you.” She shook her head. “My sister can bring me to

work.” Her face fell as she remembered Cassie was staying at Julie’s and groaned.

“On second thought, I might have to take you up on that.”

“No worries. I have to come by the office early anyway.” Dylan’s smile filled

with reassurance. “And I’ll have one of my guys bring a new battery.”

“Your guys?”

“Yeah, I might not do those things but I do have people who do them for me.”

His gaze fell to her bare feet.

Glancing down, she whispered, “Oh.” Miranda bent down, reappearing from the

Jeep with boots in hand. Her cheeks reddened as she wedged them onto her swollen

feet. “I uh…”

He held his hand up. “Stop. No need to explain.”

“Thank you so much.”

“You bet.” Dylan’s hand rested on her elbow as he guided her to his Audi. “Can’t

leave my best Seattleite girl stranded.”

“Oh, brother.”

He grinned. “Besides, I kind of like this knight in shining armor shtick.”

Miranda quietly laughed as he opened the car door for her then jogged around to

the other side. She smoothed her hair back and took a deep breath to relax as he

climbed in the driver’s seat.

“So,” Dylan winked at her and threw the car into gear. “You like to drive fast?”

Thirty seconds later they sped down the highway. “I’m starving. You want to

stop for something to eat?” He glanced over at her. “I was on my way to dinner.”

Weariness settled over her like dust in an old house. She almost said no, the

temptation of climbing into bed and pulling the covers over her head was so strong

but her stomach rumbled. “Yeah, okay. I could use a hot meal. I’ve been living on

cereal lately.”

“Cereal? Why’s that?”

Miranda shrugged. “Just not that interested in eating lately.”

He steered down the exit heading for the city. She assumed he’d go to a drive-

thru, so it took her by surprise when he turned into the Revinol Steakhouse.

“Here? Really?”

“Of course. My treat.”

“No, you’ve done enough. I pay my own way.”

“Listen,” he laid his hand on her arm. “This was my idea. I forgot how stubborn

you are.” He winked at her. “Now c’mon. I’m hungry.”

Dylan didn’t remove his hand from her arm as they walked toward the steak

house. The heat of it filled her with strange butterflies. The feeling instantly set her

on alert.

The hostess greeted them and soon had them seated in a back booth bathed in

warm ambient lighting. Dylan ordered wine and turned his gaze back to Miranda.

“Long day?”

“It was a super long day. I’m afraid I’m not going to be the greatest company.”

His dimple flashed as he studied her face. “You look beautiful tonight.”

“Aw, Ja—I mean, Dylan.” Her face heated and she groaned. “I’m sorry, I’m such

an idiot. I told you I was tired.”

He looked down at his glass. “It’s fine. I understand.” Taking a drink, he

continued. “Break-ups are always hard.”

Miranda nodded, humiliated over her slip of the tongue. She took a sip of her

wine. “It’s been brutal.”

“I know how lonely it feels.” Dylan looked into his glass. “It’s been nice

rekindling our friendship over these last six weeks.” Stretching back, he studied

her reaction.

“You definitely shocked me when you showed up. You still never told me what

happened on your boat trip?”

“Oh I had a great time. I sailed down to San Diego and docked there for a few

months. It was amazing.” From his smile, Miranda could tell he was remembering

the salty ocean air and freedom.

“Why on earth did you come back? I don’t think I ever would.”

“Well,” his dark, mischievous eyes caught hers. “That can be arranged.”

She looked down at her napkin and twisted one end. “Life is very different for

you than it is for other people. Not everyone has the freedom to just pack up and

go.”

“I have a good life. I’m not going to apologize about having money.” Dylan

shrugged and ran his hand down the side of his blond hair. “And I’d like to share it

with someone.” He studied her again. His gaze seemed to penetrate into her own

secret thoughts, causing Miranda to squirm.

“Well, we’re probably all looking for that special person.”

He took another drink, his gaze shooting across the room. When he looked back,

he lifted the glass in a cheers motion. “Here’s to good food and reuniting with old

friends. Maybe someday I’ll get a chance to see those cute bare feet of yours again.”

Miranda rolled her eyes but touched her glass to his. Whatever the toast, she

could sure use the wine right about now.

Night had fallen and the temperature had dropped by the time they finally finished

dinner. Dylan held the exit door for Miranda and placed his jacket around her

shoulders. “Nice to have friends who are gentlemen,” she said, hoping to remind

him of their status. Slowly, they walked across the parking lot.

“Full moon tonight,” he remarked, staring at it.

The moon was large and amber as it sat on the skyline. Miranda softly sighed.

“It’s gorgeous. I wonder what makes it that color?”

“When the moon is near the horizon, the moonlight passes through more

atmosphere, and changes the color. You know what sailors say about the moon?”

“No, what?” The breeze swept her hair across her lips. He reached over and

slowly tucked it behind her ear.

“Full red moon in the morning, sailors take warning.”

“Oh?” Her heart beat a little faster. Why was his touch affecting her so? She

shouldn’t have had that glass of wine at dinner.

“It warns of a brewing storm.”

“Are you afraid of a little stormy weather?” She grinned, before catching herself

and looking away.

“I can handle anything that comes my way.” His voice was deep and serious. His

hand slid down from her ear and rested on the crook of her neck, gently teasing a

strand of her hair.

Her skin tingled under his touch and her mouth felt dry. Avoiding his eyes, she

removed his jacket and handed it back to him. “Thanks for letting me borrow this.

It’s amazing how the weather changes so quickly.”

He gave a disappointed exhale and unlocked the car door. Once inside Miranda

pressed her cold hands against her cheeks. What was wrong with her? Was she

missing male companionship that much? She needed to get away from him and

home before she made any bad decisions.

“Would you mind if we just check to see if the Auto Parts store is open?”

Miranda asked after he climbed into the car. “You don’t have to handle the battery.

I can do it.”

Dylan’s face was expressionless as he drove. Miranda wondered if she should

make her case again. He shifted the car into third and nodded. “Yeah, of course. We

have to pass it anyway. Can’t hurt to check.”

They pulled into the Auto Parts store parking lot and Miranda ran in. Her feet

still throbbed but she was on a mission: get home where it was safe. Dylan trailed

slowly behind her. The technician helped her locate the battery she needed and

carried it to the register.

“You have to bring your old one back to be refunded the core charge,” the

technician advised her. “You know how to put this in?”

“I can figure it out,” Miranda said. After all, what were smart phones for?

“Just remember, the red is positive. Hook it up first.”

“Got it.” Miranda lifted it, when she felt a large hand push her arm away.

“I’ve got this,” Dylan said, picking it up. “Don’t want a girl carrying more than

me.”

Miranda waited until they were outside to respond. “Hey there, buddy. I

appreciate you carrying it for me, but I’m not a girl. I’m an adult. And I really can

carry my own battery.”

Dylan popped his trunk and set it in the back with a thud. “Well, humor me

then.” He smiled at her, and his dimple crinkled.

“Thanks. But no more ‘girl’ stuff.”

He put his hands in the air. “Whoa! Message received loud and clear.”

Back at the dental office, Dylan carried the battery over to her car and quickly

installed it for her.

Five minutes later Miranda was in the driver’s seat. “Finger’s crossed!” she said.

She turned the key and chuckled with relief when the Jeep started.

“Oh baby, how I’ve missed you!” she said, petting the dash.

“Wow, what am I? Chopped liver?”

“Sheesh. You men are so sensitive.” Climbing out of the car, she hugged him

with one arm. “You’re a life saver.”

“What’s this?” Dylan’s brow wrinkled unhappily. “One-armed hugs are what

you give someone when you’re at church or for people you don’t really like.”

Miranda rolled her eyes and squeezed him tightly with both arms. He hugged her

back, whispering in her hair, “Mmmm, that’s better.” She closed her eyes for a

second, unwilling to leave the strength and warmth of his embrace.

Sighing, she finally pulled away. “You truly made my night. I had a good time.”

His dark eyes mirrored the same sentiment back as he smiled at her. “Hate to

say that I’m glad I found you stranded, but I am. Now I just need to find myself a

white steed.”

She laughed. “Aw. How could I forget? My knight in shining armor. Seriously

though, you were a big help. Although I did miss out on seeing Claudia in her

stilettos trying to jumpstart my car.”

“Wow, I barely come in a close second to that visual.” He smiled again. “You

have an awesome laugh. I think I’d change a hundred batteries just to hear it.”

“Coming from you, that’s saying a lot.”

“What can I say? I am who I am.”

His words hit at her core. Dylan knew who he was, and he wasn’t apologetic

about it.

“So, what do you think about the new Mission: Impossible?” Dylan jammed his

hands in his overcoat pocket and rocked back on his heels.

“Another one? That series just keeps going.”

“Yeah but they keep getting better.” His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Like

someone else I know.”

“You always were such a jokester.”

He shut the car’s trunk before responding. “It’s the truth. Anyway, it’s

premiering next week. Want to go?”

Miranda’s heart froze in her chest. Her life seemed littered with bad decisions.

How could she know which one was the right choice? But then again, why not? She

felt lonely to her core, and she enjoyed his friendship. “I’d love to. But this time I

pay my own way.”

Dylan chuckled. “Okay, if it’s that important to you. And you can spring for the

popcorn too.”

“Whatever! That popcorn always makes me sick, I have no idea why.”

“No popcorn then. So, Friday at seven?”

Miranda grinned. “Okay, sounds good.”

He slapped the roof of her car with a rat-a-tat-tat beat. “Awesome. I’ll see you

then. Or tomorrow. I’ll actually see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll bring you coffee. Still like it black?”

“Just dip your finger in it. That’ll make it sweet enough.”

She groaned, and he laughed again. Then he climbed inside his car and slammed

the door. Dylan waited for her to leave the parking lot before speeding in the

opposite direction with a deep rumble and quickly disappearing around the corner.

“Show off,” she whispered to herself, shaking her head. Just like he’d been in

Seattle.

ChapterFourteen

AUTUMN

fter weeks of camping in the middle of nowhere, Jason desperately needed a hot

shower and some clean clothes. He’d booked into a hotel the night before and, by

morning, he already started to feel human again.

Jason slathered on shaving cream and studied his face in the mirror. He looked

tired…older. Suddenly it seemed vitally important to get back to his roots, back to

his past reality. He dragged the razor up the length of his cheek and made his

decision. He was going to track down the house he’d grown up in, the same house

he had been forced to leave all those years ago.

It had been his grandparents’ house. Jason had moved in with them at seven

years old, driven there late one night by a police officer after his mom died. He still

remembered the policeman, bald and heaving for breath as his too-tight belt cut

into his middle. He’d given Jason a stuffed bear and told him he was a man, and

men didn’t cry.

His grandma had been waiting in her yellow bathrobe for them on the front

lawn. She’d come running towards the police car before Jason had the chance to

undo his seatbelt. She’d grabbed him in her arms and held him so close he could

hear her old heart fluttering against the shell of his ear. Grandma had rocked him,

repeating over and over, “This home is yours, for as long as you have breath.”

Just nine years later he’d lost both of his grandparents. And somehow, along the

way, he’d lost himself too.

Jason turned his beater truck down the familiar road, eased off the gas and idled

along the street. Above him, the big maple trees spread their branches like a long

green tunnel. He noticed the one he’d hidden in as a kid all those years ago. A lump

formed in his throat. That kid had been lonely and afraid about the future. It was a

bitter pill that he still felt the same way.

He passed the neighbor’s house on the corner where his grandma used to play

pinochle every Wednesday night. Next was Mr. Lawrence’s place, a cranky old man

who’d accused Jason of running through his yard and ruining his gladiolas. After

getting blamed for the damaged flower stalks more than a few times, Jason decided

to give the old man something to gripe about. He’d snuck over there one night after

sunset, running home with a bouquet for his grandma. She’d scolded him right

proper and sent him to his room without dinner. Still, later that night he’d caught

her with a small smile on her face as she arranged the flowers in her favorite crystal

vase.

With a squeak of the truck’s brakes, he stopped outside his grandparents’ house.

He blinked hard at the sudden sting of tears. The house was no longer white, but

painted a dark grey with a cherry red door. There was still a chain link fence around

the front of the property, and the same large rhododendron stood guarding the

front corner. A half-filled kiddie pool sat in the sun next to a kick ball. On the other

side of the driveway, a sprinkler waved back and forth, watering a flowerbed.

He leaned back, peering up at the second story. The upstairs window was open,

Grandma’s old room. Blue-striped curtains fluttered into view with the flow of air.

Jason smiled to himself. The house seemed happy, as if life and love lived there.

Next door, he saw the familiar face of his grandma’s best friend, Aunt Delores,

partly hidden behind the rose bushes she was busy pruning. He grinned to see she

was still wearing the same type of green seersucker pants and loose pastel shirts

that he remembered from childhood. Her hands were gloved and a wide-brimmed

straw hat shielded her face from the sun.

On impulse, he edged the truck along and stopped across from her. Shifting into

park, he leaned across the seat to unroll the passenger window.

“Hey, Aunt Delores.” he called.

She froze and looked around, her movements scared and unsteady.

“Over here, Aunt Delores.” He waved his arm.

She did a clumsy pirouette and finally spied him in the truck. Her face contorted

from fear into confusion as she peered into the dark cab.

“It’s me, Jason. Long time, no see.”

Her mouth dropped open, and she took a few tottering steps backward. “Jason?

Oh my word.…” She dropped the shears and scuttled over to the passenger door.

Her hand rested on the door’s frame and she bent forward for a closer look. “Oh my

goodness, it really is you!” Her washed-out brown eyes blinked and stared, her

mouth puckering as though she might cry.

“Hi, Aunt Delores.” Jason smiled. “Yep, it’s really me.”

“Oh, young man! You just pull in right here. Park in the driveway. Let me make

you some hot cocoa.” Her thin arm directed him towards the driveway like a

trembling windsock.

Jason shifted the Chevy into first and drove up to her garage. She followed him

as fast as she could, her slip-on sneakers gripping the lawn with thick rubber tread.

“I just can’t believe it!” she gasped, bobbing outside the truck door as he

climbed out. “Look how tall you are.”

He reached down to wrap his arm around her bony shoulders and gave her a

gentle hug. She’d lost weight since he’d last seen her. Aunt Delores had always

been a sturdy woman, with a mean swat if she thought she’d been disrespected. “I

guess that happens with age, huh?”

“Well, I don’t know about that.” Her wrinkled cheeks pinkened. “Seems to me

like age has made me shorter.”

“But still gorgeous as ever.” Jason smiled.

“Oh, you’re a charmer. Come in, come in. Tell me everything that’s happened.”

She hurried ahead of him up the concrete stoop to her front door. The screen door

squeaked as she pulled it open. He followed, his head swiveling to take in the view

of his grandparents’ house from her yard.

The interior of her house was just as he remembered. Jason stopped for moment,

almost confused, as the musty scent of her home overwhelmed him with

memories. He couldn’t put his finger on the smell, somewhere between an old

garage and the Goodwill store. Still, it yanked him immediately back to his

childhood when Grandma would send him to mow Delores’s yard, and she would

always have a plate of cookies waiting.

“My goodness,” Delores chattered to herself in the kitchen. There was noise of

cupboards opening and dishes rattling. “After all these years, Jason is finally

home.” She came out with a steaming mug and a plate of vanilla sandwich cookies.

“I couldn’t find any cocoa, but here’s some Earl Grey tea.”

Jason took the offered cup with a nod and glanced down at the water. Bits of tea

leaves floated as the string snaked out of the cup and down the side. “Thank you,

Aunt Delores. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh, no trouble.” Despite the vigorous nod of her head, her short steely grey

hair remained frozen in place like a bike helmet. “Let's go sit. My goodness! We’ll

use the good living room.” She whispered this conspiratorially as she led the way

through the cluttered hallway to her formal living room.

Jason glanced around as he entered through the doorway. He’d never been in the

room before.

“Sit. Sit.” She indicated the far couch.

Jason stepped carefully along the plastic carpet protector running the length of

the carpet, before sitting on the velour couch.

“So.” Delores sat across from him, primly holding her teacup with a tiny hand

outlined with a roadmap of raised veins. “Tell me everything that’s happened. The

last time I saw you was right after the real estate agent put the For Sale sign in the

front yard. Oh, she was a nasty lady.” She blew on her tea, and continued. “You said

you were leaving for your uncle’s home. I’d expected to meet him. Then ‘Poof!’ you

just disappeared. Whatever happened to you?”

He took a sip of his tea, then set the cup down with a grimace, picking a leaf off

of his tongue. “Nothing much. Went and stayed with Uncle John for a few years,

and now I’m back.” The lie fell out of his mouth easily, almost like the truth.

There’d never been an uncle, but there was no way he was going to rehash what

actually happened.

“Oh, well, my dear boy. You’ve missed a lot. The neighborhood has really

changed.” She sighed and looked away morosely. “The Stasinski’s family moved

nearly two years ago. You should see the new family that took over that house.

Completely ruined the yard!”

Jason made an appropriate sympathetic noise.

“I know. It’s just terrible,” she continued. “And then Sandy got married.”

His eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. “Sandy?”

“You remember her. The big girl that used to manage the pet store.”

“Big girl?”

“Yes. Well, she’s right skinny now from running up and down that there

mountain.” She jabbed a finger out the window to indicate the sole mountain in the

area, the pride and joy of the town.

Jason nodded, hoping he seemed suitably impressed. “Wow, well that’s great.

Maybe I’ll bump into her now that I’m back.”

“I hope you do. She has six kids—two sets of twins, if you can believe. Her

husband’s a nice young man, but if you’d stayed they could have all been yours.”

Jason choked on his tea and immediately coughed.

“Are you okay?” Concerned, she shifted forward to the edge of her seat.

He waved her off with a thumbs-up sign.

“Well,” she said, settling back in the wing chair. “I’m sure I can find you some

nice young lady. I think Violet’s granddaughter.… No? Oh, that’s too bad. I’m just

so glad you’re here now. Although it would have been nice if you had come back

sooner.”

He frowned. “Why’s that, Aunt Delores?”

“People were looking for you! Trying to track you down for years. They’ve all but

given up now.” She shrugged her bony shoulders and readjusted the striped afghan

over her knees.

Jason felt a chill run down his back. “Who was looking for me?”

“One of them was a nice-looking man. He always wore the smartest suit. He

used to come by once a month for a while.” She smiled and took another sip.

“Who was he?”

“He always complimented my flowers too. Said I had such a green thumb!” Her

eyes brightened at the memory.

“Aunt Delores,” Jason chewed on his cheek in an attempt to control his

impatience. “What was his name?”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, you expect me to remember that?” She looked at him

again, her eyes rheumy. His heart dropped, and he felt a stab of sadness. She had

gotten so old. The skin on her face and arms was crinkled like tissue paper. It was

no wonder she couldn’t remember.

“Don’t be staring at me like I’ve gone dotty.” She set her cup down on the end

table next to her. “I’ve got his card around here somewhere.”

With a creak, she stood and wandered back into the kitchen. Jason heard the

drawers sliding in and out, along with her mumbling, “Now where did I put that

blasted thing?”

After a few minutes she let out a triumphant “Aha!” and came weaving back

into the room, holding the card in the air between two trembling fingers like an

Olympic torch. “I’ve found it. Here it is, young man.”

Jason gingerly took the worn card from her, dog-eared on the corners. He

squinted to read the faded typing, indecipherable now.

But underneath it was a handwritten phone number.

ChapterFifteen

AUTUMN

he address on the card directed him to a lawyer’s office located in downtown

Portland. Jason drove up and down the street searching for a spot to park his beat-

up truck. Cars lined the street, bumper to bumper. He fumed when a yellow Beetle

cut him off, making him run a red light.

Finally, he spotted a sign advertising a parking garage, and spun the wheel hard

to make the narrow turn. Unconsciously, he ducked his head at the low ceiling.

Every spot was marked compact and filled with cars parked so tight that they

appeared to have been shoehorned in.

He glanced at the time on his phone and hit the steering wheel, forced to

continue up the ramp. Finally, a vacant space appeared and he backed the truck in.

Cursing at the tight fit, he eased the door open and squeezed his way out.

Jason didn’t bother to lock the truck. The cab was filled with candy wrappers and

stray French fries. Anyone wanting to loot it was welcome to whatever they found.

He hurried down the stairs to the street level, rechecking the time. His mouth

tightened into a thin line of annoyance. Just three minutes until the appointment.

Jason sprinted down the sidewalk, heading for the Centennial building ahead. As

he dashed up the stairs, his eye caught a brass sign bolted to the front of the brick

building that announced it was built in the 1880s. He grabbed the brass handle and

yanked the glass door open.

Inside, soft music greeted him, along with the scent from an enormous white

floral arrangement spilling over a marble pedestal. He walked through the lobby to

the elevator and punched the button repeatedly for the sixth floor.

Taking a deep breath, he focused on calming his rapid heartbeat. Relax, this is it.

He smoothed his dark hair and tucked in the back of his oxford shirt.

The elevator dinged. He stepped on, checking the time once again. Then he

wiped his sweaty hands along his jeans. Breathe, just breathe.

Upstairs, the quiet law office was decorated with walnut paneling and plush

carpeting. A middle-aged receptionist wore a telephone headset, her blonde hair in

a chignon. She greeted him with a friendly smile. “Good afternoon. What can I help

you with?”

“Hi. Eleven o’clock appointment?” Jason walked over to her desk and began

drumming his fingers on the counter. Her eye flickered with disapproval. “I’m here

to see James Ashbach.”

She glanced at the computer monitor and gestured to one of the black leather

couches along the wall. “Please have a seat. I’ll let him know you’re here.”

The receptionist whispered into the phone, a low murmur he was unable to

make out. Jason strode over to the far wall and studied a large painting that hung

there. What is this? Some type of blue squiggles and red squares encased in a thick

black walnut frame. He snorted. I could paint this. He ran his finger along the

beveled edge of the frame. But this frame is a true piece of art.

The expansive twin doors swung open behind him. Jason turned to see a man in

his late sixties, wearing a dark tailored business suit, step out of the office. He

stood tall, despite his age. His sparse grey hair was combed neatly to cover the top

of his domed head.

“Jason Landon?” The lawyer’s voice held a resonance of rich timber. “Welcome.

We have a lot to talk about.”

Jason hesitated then stepped forward. He yanked his hand out of his pocket and

stuck it out. The lawyer firmly shook it.

“Come in,” James Ashbach said, ushering Jason into the office. He followed

behind, his steps muffled by the thick woolen carpet.

“Well,” the lawyer began as he shut the heavy door. “It’s nice to finally meet

you. I’ve been searching for you for quite some time.”

Jason raised an eyebrow in question.

“Where are my manners? Sit! Would you like something to drink?” The lawyer

motioned towards a crystal decanter on the walnut sideboard.

Jason shook his head and sat in a red leather recliner.

“So, like I said, we’ve been searching for you for some time now. You’ve been

quite elusive. Not running from the law, are you?” He winked.

Jason, feeling nonplussed, shook his head.

“Ahh, well. It finally came to a point where we had to hire a private investigator

to track you down.” The lawyer sat in his leather chair and peaked his fingertips

together on his desk. “Doing nicely for yourself, I see. A house on the lake in

Washington?”

Jason’s eyes darted around the room suspiciously. “I didn’t know you were

looking for me.”

The lawyer paused. “No? Aren’t you here because of the letter? We sent a letter

to your house.”

Jason shrugged his shoulders. “This is the first I’ve heard of it. Actually, I

haven’t been home for a while. I guess you could say I’m on sort of a walk-about.

Ended up stopping by an old family friend who happened to have your business

card on hand. I guess you left it with her a few years back.”

“Ahh, the rose lady. She did have quite the green thumb.” A smile broke out

across the lawyer’s face. “Well now, isn’t this interesting. Some may even call it

serendipity.”

“So what’s this about?”

“Well son, it’s about your grandparents’ estate. Your grandmother was the sole

inheritor of your grandfather’s investments. Over the years they’ve been sold, and

we’ve kept the money waiting for you in an account.”

“Investments?”

“Yes, your grandfather owned shares in three different companies. Oh, he

bought them when they were at ground level. Obviously a gambler. And, well, the

gamble paid off. When the businesses were sold, your grandfather’s portion was

placed into special accounts.”

“I’ve never heard anything about this.”

“Well, your grandmother didn’t touch the money, choosing instead to live on

her husband’s pension and life insurance. The money has just been sitting in the

account gathering interest.”

“How much money are we talking about?”

The lawyer smiled. He reached into his drawer, pulled out an expensive leather

bound ledger, and slid it across the desk.

Jason looked down. His heart almost thumped right out of his chest…

$6,214,235.26

ChapterSixteen

AUTUMN

he Regal Cinema’s huge billboard, in all it’s blinking splendor, could be seen

from the highway. Miranda flicked her blinker on and headed for it like a dreaded

bulls eye. She turned into the mall-sized lot, the sign above the entrance glowing

with white lights highlighting the show times.

Craning her neck, she finally found a space in the back. “Holy Cow, this place is

hopping.” She parked the car.

Her phone dinged with a text. —Movie is about to start.

She rested her head against the seat. I can’t believe I said yes. Why’d I do that? I

still feel like half a person. Dr. Phil’s voice rang in her head, “Are you trying to fill

an empty void?” Maybe. She went back to her phone and scrolled through old texts.

Next to Jason’s name were thirty unanswered messages from her to him. They

varied from begging to swearing; all voicing the same thing: I love you, why are you

doing this?

Miranda sniffed and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. How am I

supposed to get past this?

Her phoned buzzed again. “Sheesh, Dylan. Hold your horses,” she muttered,

instead typing.—Parking.

I can’t live like this any more, like I’m filled with an aching maw that’s eating

me alive. Dylan’s a friend. If there’s one thing I need right now, it’s a friend.

It was weird she’d asked to meet Dylan here, rather than letting him pick her up.

He’d been insistent but she’d stayed strong. She wasn’t sure why. Was it because

she didn’t want the awkwardness of introducing Cassie to him?

Miranda pulled the visor down and studied her reflection in the mirror. She

swiped away at the tear stains and puckered her mouth to apply some pink lip

gloss. Out of nowhere, a question boomeranged from her head to her heart: Why do

you care if you look nice? Cringing, she quickly blotted it from her thoughts. I have

to check, because I always look like a zombie after work. She sucked in a deep

breath of air and shoved the visor up. Fine, I don’t care. Miranda opened the door

but couldn’t resist, rapidly flipping the mirror back down to check on her hair.

Her phone dinged again.—Waiting for you at the entrance.

Miranda texted back.— On my way.

An uneasy feeling fluttered in her stomach as she stepped out of the Jeep and

smoothed down her champagne-colored skirt. She rubbed at the goosebumps on

her arms and grabbed a cardigan from the back seat. The cold night air swirled

against her exposed legs, making her instantly regretted her choice of clothing.

Miranda closed her eyes as she shut the door, heart thumping in raw sorrow.

Leaving the Jeep felt like being pulled out of a protective cocoon. She hadn’t been

with another guy besides Jason for a long time.

“Hanging with a friend is different than a date,” she muttered, then promptly

rolled her eyes for talking to herself again. I’m a freak. She locked the Jeep’s door

and tucked the key into her purse before hurrying to the entrance.

Dylan bounced on his toes under the blinking marquee lights, his eyes darting

about slightly anxious. His dark jeans showed off lean, muscled legs. At the sight of

her, he smiled slowly and allowed his gaze to sweep the length of her body. “Wow!

You look gorgeous.” His dimples showed and he bent to whisper in her ear, “Hot.”

Miranda felt her face heat up. No! Stop blushing! There was nothing she could

do. I bet my cheeks are blazing like two stop signs right about now. “Don’t say it. I

feel like a dork already.” She shrugged into her sweater and held her arms crossed

in front of her.

“Why?”

“Wearing a skirt when it’s this cold out. I probably look like a walking goose

bump.”

He’d been opening the cinema door when she said this, and stopped to laugh.

“You always crack me up. Come on, it’s warmer inside.” He guided her with his

hand resting at the small of her back.

At the ticket window Miranda pulled out her debit card. “One for Mission

Impossible,” she spoke into the round speaker.

“Make that two.” Dylan slid his black Am Ex card through the slot before she

had a chance.

“Dylan! We had a deal.”

He winked at her mischievously. “You don’t always get your way, you know.”

She bit her lip and resisted rolling her eyes.

Grabbing the proffered tickets he guided her into the lobby. The smell of buttery

popcorn filled the air, as the moviegoers crowded into the concession lines.

“You want some?” she asked, pointing to the five-foot display of a smiling

popcorn container sitting on the navy carpet.

“I thought it made you sick.”

“I can still get it for you.”

“It makes me sick too.”

“Seriously, you are being so difficult.”

He smiled, revealing his dimples again. “Let’s just go enjoy the movie, okay?”

Miranda shook her head, hands in the air. “I give up.” He held the theater door

open for her and they made their way to the seats towards the middle.

The movie was as awesome as she’d known it would be. When the closing credits

rolled across the screen, Dylan moved to whisper in her ear, “Hang tight.

Sometimes they show a sneak peek at the end.” Miranda settled back and tried not

to feel awkward sitting there silently as the theater emptied. The screen finally

went to black and the aisle guide lights glowed orange. “Not this time I guess.”

Dylan stretched out his neck. “Still, what a great movie. Reminds me of the time we

saw Furious Four.”

“Oh yeah.” Miranda had forgotten about that. She ran her finger down the

armrest. That night had ended in a kiss. Her cheeks filled with heat. Dylan had

been an excellent kisser, slow and sensual.

He grinned at her like he knew what she was thinking and leaned closer, giving

her another strong whiff of his cologne. “You want to go get some ice cream?”

Ice cream? Miranda considered it for a second. What message was that sending?

Frustration rose in her, tight like a spring. I’m sick and tired of having to analyze

every little thing, worried I’m going to make the wrong decision. Jason had left her.

It was time to move on.

Besides, it was only ice cream. It wasn’t like she was going to marry the dude.

“Yes, I’d love to.”

Once outside, he took her hand and caressed the side of her palm with his

thumb. “Let me drive, okay?”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

He closed the passenger door after her and jogged to the driver’s side. “Ready?”

he asked her, starting the Audi.

“Ah, ready for what?” Dairy Queen was less than a minute down the street.

He revved the engine and stepped on the gas. Out on the highway, Dylan quickly

shifted through the gears until Miranda felt sucked back into her seat.

“Dylan!” She squealed and laughed at the same time, wild and happy.

“What? You like to go fast? Let’s see what this baby can do.” He floored it.

“What about ice cream?” Miranda shouted over the roar of the engine.

“Oh we’re getting it.” His dimple crinkled. “In the next town.”

She wanted to smack him for tricking her. But the adrenalin rush made her

laugh. Car after car flashed by as he shot past like a bullet.

Miranda felt almost sad when he slowed for the exit. They swooped up the

curved ramp, and the engine grumbled as he shifted it down. She could understand

why. This car was meant to go fast.

They pulled into the Dairy Queen and ordered sundaes. Dylan parked the car.

Miranda handed him one of the red spoons before taking a bite of her icecream.

“So, how long do you think you’ll be a sales rep?” Miranda asked.

Dylan spooned in a mouthful of ice cream. He let it melt a second before he

answered. “I’ll stop when I get bored.”

“What do you think you’ll do next?”

“Mmm, I don’t know. Maybe travel overseas. My cousin has a business over

there. Biggest Lexus dealership in Europe. I could work there, or maybe Dad will let

me live off my trust fund. Depends, I guess.”

“You like working?”

“It’s kind of part of the requirements of my trust fund. The old man wants to see

me put some hours in. He doesn’t want me to have it too cushy.”

“I like working,” Miranda said, swirling her spoon in her cup.

“What? No one likes to work.”

“I mean,” she said, thinking about it. “If I could work less and take more

vacations, sure I’d love that. But there is something about working that makes me

feel like I’m giving back. I think I’d miss it if I stayed at home every day.”

“What about when you have kids?”

She shrugged. “I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. That might be

different because the kids would be my job. Technically, I’d still be working.”

“Hmm.”

“What do you want to do when you have kids?”

“I don’t know. I guess I’ll let my wife decide that. There’s an old rule I intend to

live by: Happy wife, happy life.”

Miranda laughed. “There’s probably some real truth to that.” She leaned her

head back against the seat and yawned. “Speaking of work, I’ve got to get back. I’m

super tired.”

“You are?”

“Yeah, remember? I worked today.”

He pouted. “Does that mean I need to take you home?”

“Yeah. Sorry for being a party pooper.”

Dylan touched the back of her hand, tracing the veins. “You’re the life of the

party. I always enjoy myself when I’m with you. Always have.”

“Aww.”

“Remember our walks?”

Miranda laughed. “Yes! They were so cold! People told me it only rained in

Seattle. I wasn’t prepared to freeze. Remember the night the shops were closing

but you ran inside anyway, even as the owner yelled to get out? I remember how you

grabbed a wool coat off the rack and told the owner he couldn’t close the shop

without you buying it. You didn’t even check the price.”

Dylan smiled.

“I’m not sure I ever thanked you for that coat.” She looked over then, her heart

jumping at the heat in his returning gaze.

Slowly he moved closer, tipping her face up, and gave her a gentle kiss. His

tongue pushed her mouth open and his hand threaded its way through her hair.

Miranda’s heart thudded in her chest as the rising intensity of the kiss swept

through her. Guilt shot through her, and she began to pull away. “I’m sorry.”

“Shh.” He kissed her again.

She drew away once more to catch her breath and closed her eyes. “This is so

confusing.”

“But, you’re single now, right?”

Eyes still closed, Miranda nodded. Her heart felt like she was lying. But it was

the truth. Jason didn’t want her any more.

Dylan squeezed her hand. “I’ll slow down. We’ll take it one step at a time. It’s

just—” Taking a deep breath, he ran his hand through his perfect blonde wave. His

gaze fastened on her again, waggling his eyebrows like a naughty boy. “I mean, that

was awesome.”

Miranda softly laughed. “Yeah it was. Now quit talking about it. I’m not sure I’m

ready yet.”

He tried to wipe the smile off his face to match her serious expression. The light

caught his rugged cheekbones at just the right angle. “Yes Ma’am.” He saluted her

and she immediately wished he didn’t look so darn handsome. She had to turn her

face away, not sure she’d have the will power to resist him much longer.

Once back at home, Miranda slipped her shoes off and padded, barefoot, over to the

couch.

“You finding any good celebrity gossip?” she called to Cassie, who sat at the

kitchen counter with her laptop.

“Chris Pratt’s making a new movie. Did you have fun?”

Miranda thought about it. “Oddly yes. I had a great time.”

Cassie snorted. “You sound surprised.”

“Yeah, I kind of am.”

“I don’t know how I feel about that.” Cassie heaved a deep breath. She glanced

at Miranda sprawled out on the couch, her feet propped up on the arm. “I mean,

Jason is family.”

Miranda groaned. “He left me. And not just once. Twice.”

“Yeah, but you know he doesn’t mean it. He’s messed up.”

“Cassie, try to understand my point of view. I tried. I can’t love someone enough

to make them love me back.”

“Yeah, I know.” Her sister sadly faced the computer. She typed for a minute,

then let out a long sigh. “I wonder where he is tonight.”

“Ugh, well, I was feeling good about tonight.”

“Sorry. I just worry about him. I know he still loves you.”

“I’m learning to let people make their own choices. He doesn’t get to be a Jack-

in-the-box, popping in and out of my life, depending on if he believes if he’s good

enough or not.” The conversation was making her want to scream. “This breakup

has wrecked me. I mean, I could barely get out of bed in the morning for a while

there.” Her heart twisted inside and that familiar lump in her throat appeared.

Miranda grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. She was over this

conversation. Suddenly she regretted the movie with Dylan. I need to find another

way to move forward with my life. Maybe get back into hiking. She hadn’t gone on a

hike since the crystal cave, almost as if she couldn’t bear to make new memories

without Jason. Rubbing her hands across her face, she sighed. It was time to face

the facts. Her love hadn’t been enough. How am I supposed to go on? Was it wrong

to just want to feel happy again?

“You still love him, too,” Cassie muttered.

Pressing her lips together, Miranda stabbed the Volume Up button. The screen

flickered to a Saved by the Bell rerun, one of Jason’s favorites. Trying not to care,

she flipped past it.

Archer jumped up and she scooted to the side so he could lie next to her. “You’re

lucky you don’t fall in love,” she whispered to the dog. “Because it hurts so bad.”

Archer whined and laid his head on his front paws.

“Hey Sis, come look at this.” Cassie called. Miranda thought about ignoring her.

“I’m serious! This is important.”

The tone of concern was unmistakable in her sister’s voice. Miranda tossed the

remote onto the end table and walked over. “What is it?”

“I just got a message about our uncle.” Cassie’s face was white.

Our uncle? The same one we escaped from all those years before?

ChapterSeventeen

AUTUMN

eart pounding, Jason stared at the ledger, then up at the lawyer. “You’re kidding

me—”

“Oh no. It’s quite a shock, I’m sure.”

Jason leaned back in the leather chair. “I guess I will take that drink after all.”

The lawyer laughed, his own chair creaking as he stood. He walked over to the

sideboard and carefully poured two fingers of brandy into crystal glasses, handing

one to Jason. “Cheers,” he said and held his glass up.

Jason took a solid sip from the glass, relishing the burn. He turned his attention

back to the ledger and rubbed his temple in disbelief. After reading it one more

time, he stood and walked over to the window.

The city stretched below him, wild and chaotic with busy life. Cars trudged along

bumper to bumper. Tempers flared. Miniature people bustled about on the

sidewalk, late for something or other. Just minutes earlier, Jason had been one of

them.

And now his entire life had changed forever.

He slammed down the rest of the alcohol and winced at the burn. Turning, he

studied the lawyer. “Is this for real?

“Yes. It’s for real. Congratulations son, you’ve got some money.”

Jason heaved a deep breath out. That ledger was his. The money was his. He

could fix his truck, buy a new house, start over. Heck, he could get a new truck!

He wasn’t some poor kid with two deadbeat parents anymore.

Jason’s face lit in a big smile. “Thank you, Mr. Ashbach. I appreciate you letting

me know.”

“You’re very welcome. There’s still some paperwork to fill out and you’ll need to

ID yourself at the bank before the money can be released. Let’s set up a meeting

tomorrow to sort it all out with the bank.” The lawyer folded his hands on top of

the lacquered desk and smiled at Jason. “Be wise with the money. But have a little

fun. I know your grandparents would have wanted that.”

Jason rubbed the stubble on his jaw line, trying to process. A new account, filled

with cash. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, and burst out of him in laughter. I

can’t wait to tell Miranda. His joy was cut off and his forehead creased as he

remembered Dylan. It’s not too late. I’ll change myself completely, be the person

she needs. I can win her back.

The lawyer cleared his throat. Jason shook his head to clear his thoughts and

glanced back at him.

“It’ll take some time to process, I’m sure. But trust me, you’ll adjust just fine.”

Jason stuck out his hand. “Thank you again. Sorry it’s been such a trial tracking

me down.”

“Well worth it.” The lawyer gripped his hand firmly and shook it again. “Finally

nice to see the face of the person we’ve been chasing for so long. If there’s anything

else I can do, you know where to find me.”

Jason nodded and opened the door. He wandered back through the office,

consumed with his thoughts. Everything felt surreal. Pushing the elevator button

on autopilot, he pulled out the ledger and twirled it.

“Have a good day!” The cheery voice of the receptionist made him start.

“Oh yeah. Thanks.” A big grin broke across his face, and he had to resist holding

up the ledger like a trophy. “It already is.”

Jason jogged down the steps as he walked out of the office and into the bright

sunshine. He jiggled the keys and went to find his truck. Sliding into the battered

seat, he whispered, “Maybe time for an upgrade, ol' girl.”

ChapterEighteen

AUTUMN

assie bit at her thumbnail. “Look at what my friend just sent me on Facebook.”

Miranda bent down to read the screen. A tiny post said, “Hey, how come I didn’t

see you at your uncle’s wedding?”

She frowned as she straightened. “Your friend means Uncle Vince?”

Cassie nodded. “Yeah. I guess he got married last month.”

“Wow—” Miranda actually felt speechless. She rubbed her face with her hands.

“Wow—” she repeated.

“I know exactly how you feel,” Cassie said.

Stumbling a little, Miranda made her way back to the couch. Her heart was numb

with shock. “Can you find out any of the wedding information?”

“Yeah probably.” Cassie nodded. “You sure you want to know?”

“I don’t know how I feel.” Miranda slumped against the cushions and flung her

arm over her eyes.

She listened to the sounds of Cassie furiously typing. Her heart began to pound

in that all-too-familiar way. Taking a slow breath in, she practiced her technique to

battle the panic trying to attack her. Breathe for six, hold for four, let out for eight.

I’m an adult now. He can’t hurt me again.

“I found him,” Cassie muttered, her voice low. “He’s moved to South Bend. He

got married on August 27th of this year.” She squinted at the screen. “The lady

looks young.”

Miranda groaned. “What’s his address?”

“What?”

“Does the post give his address?”

Cassie typed some more. “Yeah. I got the street address.” She swiveled around

on the bar stool to face her sister. “What are you thinking?”

Miranda bit her bottom lip. What she was considering was crazy. But maybe

crazy would finally banish the ghost from her past.

Life just gets more and more insane. Heart pounding, Miranda reached for the

handwritten note on the seat next to her. She held it steady against the steering

wheel, reading the address, before glancing back at the street sign.

This was it.

She’d driven nearly six hundred miles to get here, staying overnight at the first

decent hotel she’d found after traveling through the mountain pass. And now she

was within a stone’s throw from her uncle’s house. Thinking about actually

throwing a stone made her smile. Right through the front window of his precious

Mercedes.

Cassie had done her investigation thoroughly. She hadn’t come with Miranda.

“I’m still researching,” she said. “So don’t confront him yet. Just find his house

and call me. I’ve got a lead I’m following, and I’ll be there in a couple days.”

Cassie wouldn’t share the lead with her, no matter how much Miranda had

pulled the big sister card. She shook her head and told Miranda that she needed to

be patient for once and let someone else be in charge.

Miranda hadn’t much liked the idea of Cassie driving by herself to meet her, but

she was too impatient to wait. She had some vacation time, and suddenly it felt

vitally important to track this man down now. In a small way, she felt like she was

finally standing up for the little girl she’d been when her uncle molested her.

He’s not going to get away with it. That thought would have to sustain her until

her sister arrived tomorrow night.

Blinker on, Miranda spun the wheel and turned down the street.

The homes in this neighborhood were cookie-cutter versions of each other,

repeated every fourth house. All were two-story, with three car garages and stone

work wrapping around the front doors in an arch. Every manicured yard was

bordered by two long rows of flowers.

Miranda’s stomach churned. These neighbors probably had block parties and

barbecues. Maybe they even organized neighborhood watches. They didn’t know

they had a predator in their midst. A man with a trusting face who was capable of

chugging the hell out of a beer like the good ol’ boy he was. She remembered how

charismatic he was. Heck, they probably told each other, “Be sure to invite Vince!

He’s the life of the party!”

34480, 34485. The knot in her stomach tightened. Her hands squeezed the

steering wheel until her knuckles shone white through the skin. What am I going to

do when I find him?

Miranda shook herself alert. The last house she’d passed was 35430. The next

one would be his.

Slowly, she edged up the street.

There it was.

A two story split level, with its wide three car garage and aggregate driveway.

She reached into her purse for her sunglasses and shoved them onto her face. Her

heart pounded. She hoped the windows in the Jeep were tinted enough to avoid

detection.

The lawn was well-maintained, and a large flower garden sat out front, close to

the footpath. Miranda noticed a child’s striped pinwheel stabbed into the soft dirt,

its vanes twirling innocently in the slight breeze. Seeing it made her blink back

tears.

The driveway was empty of cars and all the blinds were shut. It was obvious no

one was home. Now what smarty pants? Drive up and down the street until he

comes home from work?

She sped up, cringing as she saw the next yard filled with bikes and a tricycle. A

lone doll sat perched on the porch steps. I’m going to get that son-of-a—She’d

nearly reached the end of the street when one final glance in the rear view mirror

made her slow down.

There was a blue van coming down the street. It stopped in front of her uncle’s

house, and a little girl, about seven or eight, wearing a dance leotard, climbed out.

Miranda glanced forward. Adrenaline shot through her as she saw a parked car

straight in front of her. “No!” she screamed, slamming on the brakes. The Jeep

rocked to a stop, inches from the car’s fender. Heart pounding, she pushed her

sunglasses up and craned her neck to watch the little girl in the side mirror.

The girl opened the gate in the white picket fence and skipped up the walkway to

the front door.

“No way…. What the—?” Miranda’s mouth dropped open. The van backed out of

the driveway. It carefully passed her, the back windows showing her glimpses of

more laughing ballerina girls, before it turned the corner and sped off.

Air rushed out of her as though she’d been punched in the gut.

“What do I do?” An irrational thought of running to the door to rescue the girl

flashed through her mind. “What is she doing there?” Miranda’s body zinged with

the sense of danger. She grabbed her phone. “Who do I even call?” Miranda glanced

back at the house, but the little girl had disappeared inside.

She…lives there? With him? With a monster? How can they not know?

You can’t do anything. Leave now, before someone calls the police on you. She

put the Jeep in gear and slowly moved forward.

I need to find someplace to park, someplace I can think.

At the stop sign she dialed her sister. She set it on speaker then turned the

corner.

The phone rang a few times. “Pick up. Pick up. Pick up,” Miranda muttered.

“Hello?” Cassie’s cheerful voice answered.

“Cassie! Oh, thank goodness you’re home.”

“Did you find him?” Cassie’s voice went ice-cold with fear.

“Yes!”

“Are you okay?”

“Cassie, some little girl is staying with Uncle Vince!”

“What?”

“Yes, I’m serious!”

The line went silent. Miranda shivered inside. “Talk to me.”

“Okay, calm down. We’re going to deal with this.”

“How?”

“Go check in at the Best Western, I’m coming down tomorrow.”

“Cassie, I feel like throwing-up.”

“Yeah, I bet you do. I’m sure just seeing that girl triggered some memories or

feelings. Hang in there, Sis.”

“How can we fix this?”

“I don’t know, but we’ll figure out a way. Maybe its not too late to press

charges.”

Miranda felt her stomach roll over at the thought of what her sister was

suggesting. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

“I’ll be with you. You’re strong.”

“I’m about as strong as a wet paper bag right about now.” Miranda started

shaking at the thought. “I’m chickening out. I just want to leave this place and go

on a long hike. I hear Bridal Falls is beautiful this time of year.” She gave a nervous

laugh.

“Okay, breathe. Relax. You’re not going anywhere except for the hotel. Call me

when you check in. We’re going to fix this, and get him before he hurts anyone

else.”

Ten minutes after Miranda checked into the Best Western, a stab of loneliness hit

in her core. All she wanted was Jason’s arms around her, telling her it was going to

be okay. “I don’t even recognize my life any more.” She sighed and walked over to

the window, yanking open the curtains. The light hardly made the room cheerier.

Dark bedspreads covered the two double beds. A nondescript painting hung

between them; something with a lot of blue—maybe the ocean. The scent of the

previous occupant’s old perfume hung in the air.

Her phone buzzed. The text was from Dylan —Hey baby, how’s it going? Miranda

rolled her eyes and powered the screen off. What am I even doing with him?

She flopped back on the bed with her arms behind her head and stared at the

ceiling. Nothing to do but wait. And remember.

Miranda bit her lip and tried not to feel cheated. What would life have been like

if Mom had lived? I’m so sick of it, sick that he even gets to affect my life any more.

He doesn’t get to win!

Unconsciously, her gaze traced along a stain in the ceiling in the shape of the

state of Florida. She counted the curtain rod hooks, then the flying birds in the

painting; anything to distract herself from the memories now falling like boulders

from the past. I will not be crushed by this. I’m stronger. I’m not a victim. I’m not a

victim.

“Why, God? Why did you let that happen?” Tears gathered at the corners of her

eyes. When does it get better? She buried her face in a pillow, letting out a scream

of helplessness. Sitting up, she pounded it with her fist. “I wish this was his face,”

she muttered. After hitting it a few more times Miranda threw it off the bed and

walked to the bathroom. The mirror reflected streaks of mascara and red blotches.

Seeing herself cry stirred her anger again. “Don’t you do it. Don’t you cry over him.

Ever. Again. You are strong. You are going to get through this.”

She splashed cold water over her cheeks and used a tissue to wipe under her

eyes. “You’re doing this for her. For that little girl. Strength is standing even when

you are afraid.”

Taking a deep breath, she held it for a few seconds before releasing it slowly. She

repeated this a few times, and reached for the TV remote. “Time to just chill.”

Miranda found a movie, then grabbed the hotel folder by the phone. Flipping

through it, she located the number to a pizza place.

“I want a large chicken artichoke. Loaded.” A commercial came on for some guy

in a three-piece suit. He stared into the camera and said, “Beauty for ashes.”

Miranda sucked in a deep breath at those words. She’d heard them before,

somewhere.

Twenty minutes later, the pizza arrived. Miranda quickly paid and took the box

to the bed. Rifling through the drawers, she found a notepad emblazoned with the

hotel’s name. She sat on the bed with a pen and the pad and bit into a slice of pizza.

The first line she wrote was; It wasn’t my fault. I don’t care if I believe it’s true

or not. Truth is true whether it feels like it or not. She underlined the first four

words twice.

Then under that she wrote. Beauty for ashes.

Miranda reached for the phone, wishing she could call Jason, but rang Cassie

instead.

Her sister answered on the first ring. “He ain’t getting away with it this time.

I’m dropping the hammer on him.”

“Cassie, you’re five-foot-two. What kind of hammer can you drop?”

“Oh, you just wait and see.” Her sister gave a dark laugh.

ChapterNineteen

AUTUMN

iranda stood on the steps of the police station. No doors had ever seemed more

intimidating than those in front of her now. I wish Jason were here. I need him so

much. Instead, Cassie stood next to her. Her hand hovered near Miranda’s elbow,

as if she were not quite sure whether she should touch her or not.

“You okay?” Cassie tipped her head sympathetically.

Miranda said, “I’m so not okay. This sucks so bad.” She shook her head in

disbelief. “I feel like a little girl, waiting to find some adult to take care of this for

me.”

“When this is all said and done, I’ll hike to Bridal Falls with you.”

Miranda’s vision got a bit blurry at her words. “You’d do that for me?”

“I’d do anything for you.”

“You are a gift from God, I swear.” Miranda hugged her, then yanked open the

door. “Let’s get it done.”

The doors of the police station opened to a large foyer. Their shoes clattered

against the white speckled linoleum, stained from years of traffic. A domed metal

detector arched ahead of them. An old police officer, looking just days from

retirement, sat up straighter as they approached. Miranda and Cassie set their

purses on the table and walked through the detector. After scanning their purses

with a wand, the police officer handed them back.

“Thank you.” Cassie said. Miranda’s heart beat in her throat. Suddenly this

seemed like a horrible idea. “Where do we go if we want to report something?”

Cassie continued.

“Report what?”

“This is a bad idea.” Miranda was sweating but she felt ice-cold. “Let’s go.”

“Hang on, Sis.” Cassie rested her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “An assault.”

“Detective Ramsey over there. He can help you.” The old police officer pointed

to a desk at the far end of the room.

Miranda swallowed. He can help me? She was going to have to share this with a

man? “Excuse me,” she asked. “Do you have any female detectives?”

He shook his head. “Not on duty today. But Ramsey’s a good guy. He’ll help

you.”

They walked into the busy room, immediately hit with the smell of burnt coffee.

The desks were cordoned off with flimsy half wall partitions covered in a

patchworks of family photos and faded cartoon strips. Eventually they made their

way to Detective Ramsey’s desk.

He was in his forties, balding on the top of his head. “So,” he barely glanced at

them as he shuffled stacks of papers around. His desk was a cluttered mess of steno

pads, a laptop, dirty coffee cups, and a computer monitor. The phone blinked

steadily with two red lights. “How can I help you?”

Miranda swallowed. “I think we’ve come at a bad time,” she said and began to

back away.

Her tone made him look up at her. “Sit.” He indicated the chair with his pencil.

Swiveling his chair, he reached for another behind him and dragged it over for

Cassie. “Now, what can I do for you ladies?”

Miranda’s heart beat in her ears. “I—” I can’t do this!

“We’re here to report a crime,” Cassie started, then nudged her sister to

continue. Miranda’s mouth was as dry as the pine shavings under a skill saw.

Nothing was coming out. Frozen with fear, she couldn’t even nod her head. Every

area of her body screamed, THIS is a mistake!

“Okay.” He grabbed his steno pad. “What do you have to report?”

Miranda shook her head no.

“Think of the little girl.” Cassie gripped Miranda’s arm tight. Miranda felt her

sister’s fingernails through her sweater.

Sweat sprung out on Miranda’s forehead and upper lip. “I want to report

something that happened to me. It was a long time ago.”

A look passed over the officer’s face. He took a deep breath and nodded. “This

isn’t the first time I’ve taken these reports. You’d be surprised. Just take it slow and

tell me what happened.”

Miranda’s mind blanked at his words. He stared at her expectantly. Time

seemed to slow. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

And remember how her uncle reeked of Listerine. He’d touched her cheek, told

her how pretty she was.

The words flowed from her in a way that had seemed impossible just the night

before.

An hour had passed when she finally finished speaking. She blinked her eyes,

startled at the passage of time.

The police officer continued to write, his pencil scratching across the pad. His

use of a pencil suddenly struck her as funny, and she stifled a hysterical laugh. She

really was losing it.

“You did good. I have this recorded.” He tapped the pencil lightly against the

pad, hesitated for a moment, then continued. “I wish we could go after this

scumbag, but unfortunately this state has one of the worst statutes of limitations

on prosecuting criminal molestation.” He studied her from under furrowed

eyebrows. “It’s something I’d like to see changed in my career.”

“So, you’re saying there’s nothing we can do?” Miranda whispered, fearing her

voice would crack.

Detective Ramsey’s chest expanded as he took in a deep breath. Slowly, he let it

out. “I want to see you get justice. You deserve it. This guy should be locked up

behind bars. But, unfortunately, the law hasn’t been developed that way.”

“What else can we do?”

“You can try a civil lawsuit. This was definitely a crime. He should pay.”

“What if he’s done it again? There’s a little girl that lives with him.”

The detective ran a ham-sized hand over his fleshy face. He shook his head.

“Unfortunately, we have to wait for him to strike again. And hope the victim is

brave enough and has enough support to tell.”

Miranda’s eyes flickered with pain. Her stomach ached. All of this, for nothing.

“We have to wait for him to commit another crime?” Cassie asked.

“Yes, unfortunately. But if statistics prove one thing, it’s that these sick

bastards do strike again.”

“Well,” Cassie began. “There is one more thing.”

ChapterTwenty

AUTUMN

assie rolled the Subaru to a stop in front of Uncle Vince’s house. A car drove past

them, with a flurry of leaves spinning up in the car’s wake. Miranda sat next to her,

staring numbly ahead.

“You’re going to be okay,” Cassie said, glancing at her sister. “We’ll get through

this. This scumbag is going down.” She jerked up the emergency break and grabbed

her sister’s knee to squeeze it. “You’re braver than you than you think.’”

Miranda’s palms were sweaty as she opened the door. She wiped her hands on

her pants, her stomach flip-flopping. Straightening her shoulders, she tossed her

hair back and met her sister on the front walk.

Cassie winked at her and grabbed her hand. “Let's go kick some butt.” They

marched up the stairs to the front door.

Stabbing the doorbell, Cassie’s face fell into a serious expression. Miranda

shifted and Cassie gripped her hand more firmly. The wait seemed to last forever,

but finally light steps approached the door. It swung open to reveal a slight woman

in a striped shirt and cream poplin shorts, her dark hair pulled back in a soccer-

mom style,.

“Yes?” She asked, her forehead creased.

“Mrs. Temple?” Cassie began.

The woman shifted her gaze between the two sisters. Her grip on the door

tightened. “Yes, I’m her.”

“We’d like to talk to you for a minute.”

“What’s this about?” She pulled back from the opening, her eyes dark and wary.

Miranda held her breath. Cassie continued calmly. “This is about your husband,

our uncle.”

“Your uncle?” Mrs. Temple shook her head, confused. “Are you sure you have

the right house? My husband doesn’t have any living family.”

“Yes, he actually does. We are them.” Cassie tightened her mouth.

“Maybe come back later when he’s home,” Mrs. Temple said, and started to

close the door.

Cassie blocked it with her foot. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Temple. This is about the safety

of your daughter.”

The door froze for a second. Her face peeked out. “Charlotte?”

“We’ve just come from the police station,” Cassie continued. “We’d like to

share what we told them.”

Mrs. Temple’s eyes fluttered. She took a deep breath. “Go around through the

gate to the back yard. I’ll meet you there.”

Miranda shot a questioning look at Cassie and nodded. They followed the fence

to the gate and entered the back yard.

It was cool and green back there, smelling like freshly mowed grass. The stone

patio held a fire pit and several lawn chairs. Mrs. Temple exited the rear door,

nervously wringing her hands.

“Sit,” she said, gesturing to the lawn chairs.

Miranda perched on the edge of her chair while Cassie sat next to her.

Mrs. Temple hesitated a moment before sitting across from them. “Well, what’s

this about?”

Miranda’s heart pounded. She clenched her hands, her fingernails digging

crescents into her palms. “Nearly ten years ago, my father died. He was Uncle

Vince’s brother.”

Mrs. Temple nodded. “Phillip. Yes, I’ve heard about him.”

Miranda’s eyes watered at the sound of her father’s name. She swallowed. “Yes,

Phillip. He died in a car accident. He was on his way to confront Uncle Vince.”

Across the neighborhood a dog barked, breaking the silence that followed.

Finally, Mrs. Temple responded, “Confront him about what?”

“He molested my sister.” Cassie blurted out.

Mrs. Temple lurched back as if trying to physically reject Cassie’s words. She

stared out into the yard, her face draining of color.

After a moment, she whispered, “Are you going to press charges?”

“I wish I could,” Miranda said.

Narrowing her eyes, Mrs. Temple crossed her arms. “I don’t believe you. Tell me

the real reason you’re here. Money?”

A laugh nearly bubbled out of Miranda’s throat at the absurdity of the question.

Was she crazy? “Yeah right! Like I’d drive my butt all the way down here and pour

out my heart for money. I’m trying to save you heartache! Save your daughter’s

innocence.” Fury started to rise in her and she scooted to the edge of her seat. “I

can’t even believe you’d say that! If you think we’d come all this way for no reason,

you’re crazy.”

Cassie glanced at her sister. “Calm down, Miranda.”

“Well, you just can’t think I’m going to believe such a horrible story about my

husband?” Mrs. Temple continued.

“There’s more, so much more,” Cassie began.

Mrs. Temple stood and paced around the fire pit. She rubbed her temple then

stared with red-rimmed eyes at Miranda. “What am I supposed to do now? Just take

your word for it?”

“We know this is shocking. But we aren’t making it up. We’re telling you so that

you can keep your daughter safe. That’s my only motive,” Miranda said.

Mrs. Temple paused in her pacing and sat back in her chair. Her pale hand

gripped her thin leg. “Charlotte just returned from her Dad’s. Vince and I have only

been married a month. What am I going to do?” she said, half to herself.

A car pulled into the driveway. Mrs. Temple jerked her head up at the sound.

“He’s home,” she said.

Miranda felt fear like ice water flood through her veins. Suddenly she was dizzy.

Cassie reached over and grabbed the corner of her shirt, giving it a tug. “Do your

weird relax-breathing thing,” she advised. “You’re okay. I’m right here with you.”

Drawing air slowly through her nose, Miranda held it for the count of four, then

exhaled slowly through her mouth. Just got to get through this. Do it for Charlotte.

Stand up for both of us now.

The front door opened and they could hear him calling through the house.

“Honey? Where are you?”

Mrs. Temple cleared her throat. Her first word came out with a croak. “I—I’m

out here.”

After a few moments the back door opened.

Uncle Vince.

His dark hair flecked with grey, he smiled at the sight of his wife. He glanced at

the sisters, not recognizing them. His gaze sharpened. “What’s this about?”

“These are your nieces.” Mrs. Temple indicated the sisters with her hand.

The silence between the four adults intensified. Vince looked at his wife again,

before loosening his tie. “Why don’t we go inside for a moment?”

Mrs. Temple’s thin shoulders slumped in indecision. Her hand fluttered at her

neck and tugged at the front of her blouse. “Maybe you should join us out here?”

Vince paused before continuing out onto the patio. His blue eyes stabbed at each

girl. “Long time, no see,” he finally said.

Miranda could see him fighting to be casual. His eyes held a multitude of

questions.

“Not sure why you’re back, since you girls decided to run away.”

“You know why we ran,” Miranda countered.

His steely gaze held hers, and he clenched his jaw. “Go inside now, Judith.”

“No, I’m actually quite comfortable,” his wife said.

“Well,” Cassie said brightly. “What a lovely reunion. You look great, Uncle

Vince. Just like an unconvicted molester. Any new victims we should know about?”

Several seconds passed while his face flushed purple with anger. “Get out of

here. Get out now,” he ordered, his finger jabbing towards the front yard. “I’ll call

the cops.”

“You do that. You might get more than you bargained for,” Miranda added.

His mouth gaped open and closed like a goldfish, before spinning to his wife. “I

don’t know what they’re talking about,” he said.

“Well, I think I’ve heard enough,” Judith murmured.

“You never heard my side?” he countered.

“There’s a side? A side to what? To not telling me you had two nieces who ran

away?” She crossed her arms and stood to face him. “You’re the one who needs to

leave. Now.”

Miranda’s eyes widened. No don’t do that! He has to stay here. She flung her

sister a worried look. Cassie mouthed back, Don’t worry.

“Let me talk to you,” Vince wheedled.

“There’s nothing to talk about.” Judith reached into her front pocket and pulled

out her cell phone. “I want you gone now. I need to talk with Charlotte. If I find out

that you touched her.…”

“Come on, it was a one time deal,” he tried to explain. “I was drunk. I don’t even

remember it.”

“You are a liar.” Miranda pointed at him. “You were sober. Like that even

matters.”

He reached over and grabbed her arm to bodily escort her off his property, his

fingers digging into her flesh. “What have you done?” he hissed. She stomped on

the top of his instep with her high heel. He flew back in pain.

“Don’t you ever touch me again.” Miranda’s eyes sparked with anger.

Cassie jerked her head up in the direction of the street, and a smile stretched

across her face. “They’re here.”

The front yard flashed with blue and red lights. Car doors slammed, followed by

fists pounding on the front door.

“We’re in the back yard!” Cassie yelled.

The garden gate opened and three police officers streamed in. Leading them was

Detective Ramsey. His eyes zeroed in on Vince, and he pulled out his badge. “Vince

Temple? We have a warrant for your arrest.” Then, glancing at Miranda, “You

okay?”

She nodded.

Vince stared goggle-eyed at the badge. “You can’t arrest me with what they’re

saying. I know my rights.”

“What were they saying?” Detective Ramsey’s brows knit together in pretend

confusion. “I’m here based on your online activity. We received an anonymous tip

resulting in a search warrant. We’ll be confiscating your computer, among other

things.”

Vince’s face drained of color. An officer with cropped red hair rotated him and

cuffed his hands.

“Judith! Don’t listen to them!” Vince called, talking over the officer reading him

his rights. “This is all a conspiracy. Call my lawyer right now.”

“Come on. Let’s go.” The redheaded officer led Vince to his patrol car. Placing

his hand on Vince’s head, he steered him into the back seat.

Judith watched with her hand clutched over her mouth. She looked wild-eyed at

Miranda. “What am I going to do?”

Cassie walked over. “You’re going to be okay. Thank God you know about this

now.”

Judith nodded and closed her eyes. “I’ve got to go pick up Charlotte from

dance.”

“Maybe have someone else get her so you have time to figure out the next step,”

Miranda suggested. “I know you’re worried, but this is going to work out.”

“I never even suspected.…” Judith sank to a chair. She reached for her phone

and arranged for her daughter to go home with a friend.

Two officers came out of the house, one carrying a hard drive and the other a

laptop labeled as evidence.

“I have a feeling what we’re going to find on that computer is going to keep him

locked away for a long time.” Detective Ramsey stood next to them like a barrel, the

bullet proof vest adding a stiff layer to his already rotund frame. He glanced at the

sisters. “You two did good. I’m impressed. And as for you,” he pointed a finger at

Cassie. “You might consider becoming an investigator. That was amazing sleuth

work.”

“Anything for my sister,” Cassie said, giving Miranda a big hug. “She’s the real

hero here.”

Miranda felt the sting of tears as she closed her eyes. As the police car carried

Vince away, she took a deep breath and smiled.

ChapterTwenty-One

AUTUMN

he next day Miranda followed Cassie home in a two car caravan. They’d tossed

around the idea of getting another hotel, but in the end decided to drive the six

hundred miles straight through. “I just want to get my dog back from Doug and

sleep in my own bed,” Miranda had explained.

Cassie agreed. “Okay, but we have to stop at Madras on our way back.”

“Why…?”

“River Phoenix was born there! I have to check it out.”

Miranda laughed. “You got it. By the way, how the heck did you find that out

about Vince?”

“The internet footprint.”

“Huh?”

Cassie sighed. “Everyone leaves a trail on the internet. Vince didn’t take care of

his. I tracked him through dating sites, porn sites and eventually caught up with

people who knew him. I was waiting to hear back when you left for his house. They

confirmed what I already suspected.” She arched her eyebrow.

“I don’t want to know.”

“All you need to know is that he’s going to pay for his crimes for a long, long

time.”

Once home, Miranda lay on the floor in relief. Archer nuzzled her cheek with his

wet nose, so she pulled him down and wrapped her arms around him. “Did you

miss me? You’re such a good dog. I’ve missed you, ol'boy.” She snuggled into his

fur before leaning up on one elbow. “We kicked butt, Archer. The good won. The

bad are done.” Miranda hugged him again as satisfaction radiated through her. She

felt free.

Standing, she stretched her back and smiled. “We freaking did it,” she

whispered under her breath.

“You talking to yourself again?” Cassie hollered from the kitchen. Miranda

groaned. When was she ever going to break that habit? Probably never, she decided

and yelled back. “Yes, I am! And I may for the rest of my life, so get used to it.”

“Okay, weirdo,” Cassie called.

Miranda grinned. She trundled upstairs to the shower, relishing the scent of her

mango soap, shampoos and Downy-soft towels. Swooping her hair in a towel, she

got dressed in her work out gear and quickly applied a mud mask. What she

wouldn’t give for her sister’s creamy complexion. She gave a little side dance,

swept along by an undercurrent of glee thrumming inside of her. A huge weight had

lifted off her shoulders, and she felt lighter than she’d felt in years. She’d finally

found her voice.

Miranda skipped back down the stairs, the wood treads cool beneath her bare

feet. In the kitchen, Cassie sat in front of the laptop holding a cup of tea. She

looked up, before grabbing at her heart in exaggeration. “Sheesh! You gotta warn a

person before you come wandering in like a swamp monster.”

Miranda stuck out her tongue.

“Ahh, there’s the mature sister I’ve come to know and love. You want some tea?

The water’s still hot in the kettle.”

Miranda grabbed her blue mug and dropped in a teabag. After filling the cup, she

wandered over to the stack of mail gathered at the end of the counter and rifled

through the letters. Mmmm. She breathed in the cinnamon scent and took a sip.

“Bill. Bill. Bill,” she said in a monotone. Wait. Miranda paused at a creamy

envelope. What’s this?

She pulled a letter from the stack with a return address from James Ashbach

Esq. What the heck? It was addressed to Jason. The familiar stab of pain pierced her

heart at the sight of his name, quickly followed by a wave of anger at his

abandonment. She hesitated for a moment, tapping the envelope against her hand.

Cassie looked up at the noise. “What is it?”

“Jason’s got a weird letter.” Miranda read the return address. “It’s from some

law firm.”

“What?” Cassie asked in disbelief. “Let me see that.”

Miranda passed over the envelope and grabbed her phone. She quickly texted. —

Hey, you got an important letter, just letting you know.

Pressing send, she sighed. Jason hadn’t responded to any of her texts. It would

be surprising if he did now.

She turned around to see Cassie holding the envelope up to the light. Next to her

the burner under the teakettle glowed red, and the water began to steam again.

Miranda snatched the letter from her sister’s hand. “Forget about it.”

“What? Why?”

“Two reasons: None of our business and Federal offense.”

“Party pooper.”

Rolling her eyes, Miranda headed back upstairs, first stopping to grab a

washcloth from the linen closet. She wandered into the bathroom to clean off the

mask. Her phone dinged. Leaning up from the sink, she stared at it like it was a

snake. On the phone's screen, Jason's text read:—How are you?

Her mouth fell open. What? So casual? Furiously, she pressed the keys.—I’ve

texted you a thousand times. You’ve never answered back before now.

Three dots wavered across the bottom, showing he was responding. Finally: —A

lot’s been happening.

She frowned and typed. —Like what? What could be so important that you

couldn’t answer my texts.

And cause me so much pain, she added silently.

—Are you with Dylan?

—What’s that got to do with anything?

—Never mind. So you have something for me?

—Yeah a letter.

—I’ll be by tomorrow.

Miranda’s heart sped up at his words. He’s coming over. She let out a deep

breath as the crazy emotions continued to twist inside. Play it cool. She texted back.

—Okay, someone will be home

More dots showed. Then: —Can I take you to lunch so we can talk?

She bit her bottom lip. Yes! No! Jason, you’re a crazy mind-trip. Miranda stood

and paced the room. This was what she wanted, right? This was why she’d texted

him to begin with. She thought about how he’d mentioned Dylan again. Frustration

rose up inside of her. He was so freaking jealous. Would he ever listen to her?

Leaving the phone on the bed, she ran downstairs to find her sister.

“Cassie!”

“For crying out loud, what?” her sister yelled in an aggravated voice. Whipping

around the corner, Miranda found that Cassie had moved to the other end of the

counter. The envelopes were strewn in front of her. Her sister was holding one, her

face pink. “You said bills, and you weren’t lying,” she said as Miranda closed the

space between them. “This is a nightmare. I need a calculator.”

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to figure out how to pay these blood suckers. I swear they are

multiplying and having babies in the dark, because there’s more hospital bills here

now than there were last night.”

Miranda’s gaze swept across the counter. “Need help?”

Cassie frowned. “How much money do you have?”

“Not a lot. How much do you owe?”

“Let’s just say there’s lots of zeros in the number, matching the zero in my

checkbook.” Cassie grabbed her checkbook and squinted at her register, before

picking up the next bill. “I mean really? Three thousand dollars for an x-ray?”

Cassie threw the bill down and stood. “I feel like I’m being punked.”

“Sorry, Chickee. I’ll help you somehow.”

“It’s okay, I’ll figure it out. Anyway, what were you freaking out about?”

“Oh,” Miranda paused. “Jason texted me.”

“He did!” Cassie smiled. “Finally! What a little creep.”

“Yeah. He asked if he could come over so we could talk.”

“What did you say?”

Miranda pulled at a loose thread on the seam of her shirt. “I haven’t answered

yet.” She wound the thread around her finger and pulled. The seam came undone at

her tug. “Lovely,” she muttered.

“Why’d you do that?” Cassie asked with a smirk.

“Like I meant to!”

“So what are you going to say?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I came down to talk to you.”

“Go say yes!”

“Why? He’s been gone for three months.”

“You were gone for almost two years.”

That hurt, and Miranda cringed. She took a deep breath. “That’s true, but this is

the second time he’s left. Is he just going to keep leaving every time things get

hard?”

“Maybe he’s going through a mid-life crisis.”

Miranda snorted. “He’s twenty-four.”

“I don’t know. I just know he’s always been there for me. He didn’t start acting

like a fruit loop until you came back last year.”

Miranda crossed her arms. “Excuse me? Are you blaming this on me?”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “No! But he obviously has unresolved stuff he needs to

deal with. Somehow you’re involved.” She waggled her finger at Miranda. “But just

because you might have triggered it does not make this your fault.” Walking over to

the fridge, she grabbed an apple out of the bin and inspected it. After a quick polish

on her t-shirt, she took a bite. “Anyway, I’d say yes if I were you.”

Miranda stared at her for a second, then sprinted back to her room. She grabbed

the phone and checked for new messages. Just his, with the question mark. She

texted back. —Okay.

—Great. See you at 7

She frowned when she read it. —At seven? What happened to lunch?

—Plans changed

Huh? She texted back. —Plans change in ten minutes?

His text was immediate. —Yeah. And wear those shoes I like.

Her mouth dropped open. Wear the shoes he likes? He doesn’t contact me for

three months and then tells me what shoes to wear? I’ll show him where he can put

those shoes.

Her lip turned up in a smirk. —Don’t think I have them any more.

—I think you do.

—Nope, gave them to the Goodwill

—You always were a bad liar.

“Oh really?” Her eyebrows arched as her fingers flew: —I wouldn’t wear those

shoes again if I had to cross a bed of coals and they were the last pair I owned.

Smiling, she sent the text and tossed the phone on the bed.

“Put that in your pipe and smoke it.” Miranda strode over to the dresser to grab

the brush. What was she doing? Getting into an argument over shoes? What was

wrong with her? “You’re acting like a twelve year old,” she told her reflection,

yanking the brush through her wet hair and pulling it into a ponytail. “I’m going

for a jog.”

On the bed, the phone dinged again. She glanced at it a moment, found her

sneakers and slammed the door.

ChapterTwenty-Two

AUTUMN

he drama about the shoes faded by the next day as butterflies took over her

stomach. Miranda flew around her room searching for her scarf. Why am I so

nervous? It’s just Jason. “Maybe not seeing him in three months is why you’re

nervous,” she muttered. “Now, where is my lipstick?” She leaned close to the

mirror, dabbed at her lips with the glossy pink tube and rubbed them together. At

the last second her eye caught a jewelry box. Inside was a tiny pearl hanging from a

silver chain, a birthday present from Jason. She bit her lip in indecision, then

clasped the chain around her neck. The pendant glowed against the black neckline

of her dress, and she touched it with a smile.

“Okay, got to get moving.” Miranda whirled around. “Shoes, shoes, shoes.” She

cast a look around for her ankle strap heels. Her heart beat like a pair of castanets.

Should I wear the shoes he wants? Miranda smoothed down her black thigh-high

dress and frowned with indecision. Am I overdressed? He’s probably planning on

taking me to Fry Guys. She groaned. “I swear, I get it wrong every time.” In a

frantic scrabble, she began yanking out all her shoes from the closet in search for

his favorites. “Stupid shoes, where the flip are you?”

“Stop being so negative,” Cassie called from the doorway.

Miranda stared up at her, hair in her eyes. She blew it back. “I’m not being

negative. For crying out loud, run down stairs. He might be here already!”

“He’s not. I didn’t hear his truck.” Cassie eyed her sister’s room, destroyed with

scattered clothing and shoes. “Wow. You really are stressed. Take a deep breath.

It’s going to be okay.”

“I’m not stressed. I’m just trying to be prepared.”

“Prepared for what? It’s not like you’re going out to dinner with a Sasquatch or

something. It’s Jason. Hello, you’ve seen him a few times.” Cassie winked at her. “I

mean he’s still coming around after seeing you dressed in your Where’s Waldo

outfit.”

“I liked that shirt!” Miranda grabbed the nearest thing at hand and threw it in

her direction.

Cassie laughed as the slipper bounced harmlessly off the doorframe. “You

should wear it tonight!” she teased. “Red stripes make you look hot.”

“Whatever, even your famous movie stars like stripes.”

“Puh-lease.”

“Yeah? Well, what about that one actress with the little mocking bird who wore

them for her magazine cover?”

“Jennifer Lawrence? Only the most awesomest actress on the planet. You don’t

remember her name?” Cassie rolled her eyes. “You are such a dork. And she did

not.”

Miranda started to say more, when she noticed Archer stand from under a slew

of dresses, his ears alert. She ran to the window to look outside.

Headlights wove down the driveway. What the heck? Who’s this? It definitely

wasn’t Jason’s truck. Frowning, she lifted the curtain higher to get a better

glimpse.

The car’s engine had a beautiful deep rumble. At each of the potholes it slowed

and cautiously eased over them. Miranda stared, lips parting slightly. It approached

a particularly deep one but seemed to anticipate its location, deftly swerving around

it. The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the house. The headlights flipped off.

A second later the driver’s side door opened and a tall man stepped out. The

darkness made his features indistinguishable, but he was dressed to the nines.

Slowly, he looked out to the lake and buttoned his jacket. His face was hidden in

shadows as he turned to glance at the house. Unexpectedly, his gaze snapped up

towards the upstairs window.

Jason.

Miranda sucked in her breath and let the curtain drop. What in the—? Warmth

filled her cheeks at being caught peeping.

A minute later the front door opened, and Cassie squealed, “Jason!” Archer

raced down the stairs, his loud barks shutting down any conversation.

Miranda stood frozen by her bed before grabbing the first pair of shoes she could

find and hurrying to greet him.

Jason was down on one knee with his arm wrapped around Archer. “Hey ol'boy.

How you doing, huh?” He scratched the dog’s neck, his eyes wet with tears.

Miranda paused at the bottom of the stairs, absorbing the scene. Slowly, Jason

stood as he caught sight of her. He pulled at his cuffs again and then nodded in her

direction.

“Hi, Miranda. You look nice tonight.”

She didn’t feel like she looked nice, especially since she’d rushed out of the

room before a final “All clear” in front of the mirror. Anxiously, Miranda patted at

her hair and a zing of anxiety zipped through her. Ah! It’s doing its crazy thing! She

tucked a stray curl behind her ear.

“Thank you.” Forcing her tone to sound confident, she slipped on her heels and

walked over to him, taking in his dark suit and flashy tie. “I wasn’t sure if I’d be

overdressed but I guess I’m not.”

He glanced down at his clothing, the corner of his mouth curving in a self-

deprecating grin, then raised his green eyes to study her again.

His face was clean-shaven. When had she ever seen him like that? He almost

always wore a thick five o’clock stubble. Her eyes widened as she realized his hair

was short too, and he’d tamed the usually thick unruly wave in front.

What in the world? Even his eyebrows had been groomed. Unconsciously, she

lifted a hand and touched her own brows. Good grief, I forgot to check mine. He’s in

better shape than me tonight. She bit her lip and said. “Jason, you look so…

different.”

He held out his hand to her, the nails clean and filed short. She suppressed a

shiver at the touch. His hand was soft, his scent foreign. Miranda’s breath caught.

What on earth is going on? She pulled her hand away. “Let me get your letter.”

“It can wait.”

“No, I’ll be right back,” she said and went to retrieve it.

She ran from the room, her thoughts reeling. What’s he playing here? It’s like

he's morphed into some weird version of Dylan. She chewed on her thumbnail,

thinking quickly. Fake it. Pretend everything is normal. Maybe he’s trying to

impress me.

She scooped the letter off the counter and hurried back.

Jason stuck the envelope inside the front of his jacket without a look. Miranda’s

forehead crinkled in puzzlement.

“I already know what it says.” He answered her unasked question.

“Oh? Why did you come then?”

“I wanted to see you.”

Miranda felt her cheeks color.

Walking to the coat rack, Jason casually pulled down her grey wool jacket and

held it out.

“Thank you,” she said as she slid her arms into it. “So where are we off to

tonight?”

“I have a few surprises.” He grinned. His lip caught on his crooked tooth and

she exhaled in relief. There he was, his beautiful smile.

“You kids be good,” Cassie admonished.

“Shake that finger at me again—” Miranda warned with a scowl.

Cassie laughed as she shut the door behind them.

Jason offered his arm. As Miranda took it, a shiver ran through her at the

unfamiliar feel of the expensive fabric. Her stomach swirled. Who is this person?

ChapterTwenty-Three

AUTUMN

he red Porsche glistened like a drop of blood in the moonlight. Miranda stopped

in her tracks, remembering his car. “Jason, what’s going on?”

He cupped her elbow and guided her to the sports car.

“Are you serious? Where’s your big rig?” she asked.

“It was time to retire the truck.” Jason opened the passenger door for her.

Miranda’s eyes widened as she slid into the car; the rich leather smell was

overpowering. She ran her fingers along the dashboard as Jason quickly climbed

into the driver’s seat.

“How can you afford this?” Her eyes were loaded with questions.

“Well.” He gave his half-smile. “It has to do with this letter.” He pulled it from

his jacket and set it on the dash.

She eyed it suspiciously. “That’s not an answer.”

“It’s informing me of a very big estate.” He glanced in her direction, his eyes

glinting by the lights on the dash. “That I inherited. I found out a couple months

ago.”

Miranda made a soft noise of shock. “You’re kidding me? That’s incredible.” She

looked down at her pinky and curled it, remembering when he’d linked his through

hers. A lump rose in her throat that he hadn’t shared that moment with her.

Jason watched her from the corner of his eye.

“You’ve been anticipating telling me that for a while, haven’t you.”

“How can you tell?”

“You look like Archer did the night he broke into his new box of dog biscuits.”

Jason licked the corner of his lip and nodded. “Yeah, you could say that.”

After turning the ignition he rumbled up to the end of the driveway. “You

ready?” he asked. Before she could respond, he sped out into the road, the tires

squealing against the driveway. She immediately thought of Dylan and couldn’t

shake away the new similarities between the two men. This is weird. “So where are

we going?”

“Like I said, it’s a surprise.”

“I don’t know if I can handle any more.” She studied him closely, worried,

before trying to cover with a smile. “I don’t understand what’s going on with you.”

“What do you mean?” He eyed the rear view mirror before merging into traffic.

Shifting again, he began to zigzag around cars.

Sighing, she tried again. “It’s been three months. I’m going to be honest. I want

to hug you and smack you at the same time. You totally crushed me by not

answering my texts. I don’t understand why you’re back. Why now, Jason?”

“I’ve missed you.”

“Why haven’t you contacted me sooner? Especially in light of all this.” she

waved her hand around referring to the car.

He shifted again, his lips pressed together. “I didn’t feel like it was right to

barge back in. Especially since….”

“Since what, Jason? I haven’t developed any sweet mind reader skills since

you’ve been gone.”

“I wasn’t sure if you were seeing that guy.”

“That guy?”

“You know who I mean.” His voice lowered into a growl.

“You mean Dylan. Yes, I see him. I work with him, remember?” She crossed her

arms over her chest. He better not be going down that road again.

“Again, you know what I mean.”

“I don’t know how that matters. It’s not as though we’re together.” Frustration

bubbled through her. Jason took an exit and they drove through the city in silence.

Miranda stared out the window as the city’s lights flashed by.

He stopped at a red light, the glow playing over his smooth face. “Miranda, I

didn’t leave you because I wanted to. I left because I knew he could take care of

you.”

“Not this again.”

The light turned green. “But, I can take care of you now.”

Miranda rolled her eyes. “I’m not some homeless dog at the pound. I don’t need

anyone—not you, not Dylan—to take care of me.”

Jason swerved into the nearest parking lot and stopped the car. He reached for

her hand. “Look at me. You were the first person I thought of when I got the news.

That I could finally be the person you deserved and have a real chance with you.”

His eyes shone with sincerity.

She studied him, her gaze running over the smooth planes of his square jaw and

cheekbones. Her stomach fluttered. Jason’s shaved face was both unnerving and

exciting; familiarity mixed with the unknown. “You already were that person, you

dork.”

Reaching out, he stroked the back of her neck. “I forgot how much I’ve missed

your sexy talk.”

“I don’t know how you could. I include that on my girlfriend resume.” She

shifted back in her seat and felt her defenses thaw. I can at least hear what he has

to say. She eyed him again. I can’t believe how much I missed him. “So where are

we going anyway, Mr. Moneybags?”

He threw the car back into gear and sped out onto the road. “You still aren’t a

good listener, though. I told you it was a surprise.”

“Keep it to yourself then. I’ve got some news, too.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Cassie got contacted by Jessica, our old neighbor from when we were kids. She

asked why we weren’t at our uncle’s wedding.”

Jason shifted again. “Wow. The infamous uncle?”

“Yeah. Long story short, Cassie ended up doing some research on him. He’s

facing some major Federal charges right now.”

“Wow. How do you feel about that?”

“I feel like justice has been served. There was a part of me that always felt like a

little girl. I don’t know, like it was still caught in that time of my life. It’s not there

any more. I feel whole for the first time in a long time.”

“Good for you,” Jason nodded. “You deserve that. I guess we’ve both grown up. I

feel different, too.”

“Yeah, it shows!”

“It’s been pretty nice. Going to try being a rich man for a while.”

Miranda nodded, but thought, “Why not just be you?” She wondered what else

he had rejected about who he was.

Fifteen minutes later he pulled into the Red Dragon. Miranda’s stomach fell.

She’d had an awkward dinner there with Dylan last week. The restaurant’s

atmosphere had been stiff and uncomfortable. Dylan had yelled at the waiter for

serving cold food and sent it all back, despite her protests. It was the first time

she’d seen him be rude. No please, not here. They might remember me! She

glanced over at Jason. How can he like this snooty place? “Have you ever been here

before?”

“Yeah, I come here all the time,” he said and quickly climbed out of the car.

Unhooking her seatbelt, she felt a pang of uncertainty. Was this part of the

change he’d warned about?

Buttoning his coat, he came around to her side and opened the door. Miranda

hesitated before getting out. “Let’s not eat here.” She reached for his hand with a

gentle smile.

“Why not?” His hand stayed on the car door as he glanced towards the entrance.

“Let’s go to the steak house instead. Red Dragon is not really our kind of place.”

He took a step away and lifted his chin. “It’s my kind of place now. Come on.”

Something shifted inside of her at his insistence, and her guard went way up. I

don’t think he knows himself anymore. She sighed, and followed him inside.

Miranda ducked her head, hoping the host wouldn’t recognize her as they were

seated. On the way to the table, several women ran their eyes over her, obviously

disapproving her outfit. Her face heated at the sight of their designer clothes and

the blatant judgment. Jason moved ahead briskly, shoulders squared. He pulled out

her chair and leaned over to whisper. “We need to get you some better things.”

Miranda pulled away, stung. She felt raw and exposed, and hid her tears with a

quick sip from her water. This is his new improved version? Yet, it serves me right

for always picking on his holey t-shirts. Taking a deep breath, she tried to smile

around the lump in her throat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were bringing me

here or I would have worn something different. That’s the bad part of surprises.”

He winked. “You’re still beautiful.”

Miranda lifted her menu, her mind reeling. Still? Anger was quickly supplanting

the hurt feelings.

“At least let me upgrade that necklace.” His gaze darted around the room at the

other women’s diamonds. “Kind of makes me look cheap.”

Unconsciously her hand went to the pearl. “What are you really saying? It makes

you look cheap? Or me?”

“Don’t be so sensitive. I just want you to have the best.”

She stared at him for a second. “Maybe this is too much for our first time

together. A lot’s happened that we need to sort out. We really need to go someplace

quiet and talk.”

“Miranda,” he sighed. “I’m really not in the same place as I was when I left, and

I don’t want to rehash it all. For the first time ever, I get that new beginning. Now

take the leap with me. Let’s just move forward.”

“What? We’re not going to talk about it?”

“Listen, I’ll say I’m sorry if it will get you to feel better. Now can we leave it

alone and just have a nice time?” He smiled. “I’ve been dreaming about this night

for a while now.”

Why does he have such a big wall up? All of her unanswered questions swirled

around inside. She quickly returned to her menu to hide her frustration, and

scanned the list. “What’s this?” Wrinkling her forehead she sounded it out.

“Edamomee.”

“It’s pronounced Edamame.” His lip curled on one side and he laughed.

Miranda shut her menu. “You know, I’m actually not feeling well. Can you take

me home? Actually, never mind, I’ll call Cassie.”

“What? Aww, no, I’m sorry.”

She gathered her purse and stood up. “It’s fine. I just need to get home. I’ve got

work tomorrow and all.”

His face flooded with a hurt expression as he set the napkin down on the table.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to treat you.”

Miranda’s heart wrung at the expression on his face. Why does he have to look

at me like that? She felt herself soften. “Hun, Outback Steak house is a treat. This

here,” she indicated with a small wave of her finger. “This to me is work. Work at

acting like someone I’m not.”

“I’m tired of the Outback. This is where I want to be. This place. I told you I’ve

changed. The old Jason is dead and he’s never coming back. Do you understand?”

His voice lowered at the last few words, sounding defensive.

“Fine. Enjoy your time.” Miranda pulled out her phone and dialed Cassie as she

walked towards the entrance.

Jason muttered a curse and quickly followed. The maître d’ opened the door and

she stormed through. Jason picked up their jackets and hurried after her.

He caught up to her at the corner. She was shivering, her breath coming out in

white clouds. “Here,” he said, handing her the jacket.

She shrugged into it without making eye contact.

Jason stood by her side and chewed his cheek. “I don’t know what you want me

to do,” he finally said. “Why are you being so resistant? I want you to step into this

new life with me.”

Miranda spun around, frustrated. A car drove by, and she scooted back as its

tires splashed through a puddle.

“Why is it okay for Dylan to have money but not me?”

“This isn’t about money. If I was all about the money then I’d be with Dylan.

This is about you being you. Dude, we jumped trains together. Where is that person

now?”

“Change is good. I was a loser before, going nowhere.” He pulled his cuffs down

and straightened the front of his black jacket. “I’m moving up now.”

“You weren’t a loser to me,” Miranda said, her eyes downcast.

“It feels like you’re trying to keep me in my place.” Jason crossed his arms over

his chest. “I’m finally getting ahead, making a life for myself.…” He trailed off at

Miranda’s open mouth stare.

“What the heck is wrong with you? I’d never hold you back. You were always

good enough.”

“Oh, yeah? I knew as soon as Dylan came around I was going to lose you.”

“You weren’t going to lose me.” She cut him off. “That was all in your head.”

“I saw how you looked at him.”

“We were just friends.” She clenched her hands and took a deep breath to calm

herself.

“Yeah,” he cocked his eyebrow and studied her. “What are you now?”

“What—I—we.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“You walked out, Jason. Again!” she yelled. The valet glanced up from the

entrance and stared in their direction, but she didn’t care. Tears of frustration

sprang to her eyes. How dare he turn this around on me? None of this would have

happened if Jason hadn’t abandoned me. He’d practically pushed me into Dylan’s

arms.

“It just goes to show what you really want.”

“Oh my friggin’ word, Jason. You’re tripping, dude. All I wanted was a best

friend who would hold me when I was hurting and encourage me when I was feeling

insecure. Someone who would allow me to do the same for them. I wanted a partner

in crime. Bonnie and Clyde.”

Jason faced ahead, blank-faced. Miranda rolled her eyes and stared back up the

road. Finally, familiar headlights appeared. She waved her arm so that Cassie would

see her. “I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.” Then she ran to meet her sister’s car.

ChapterTwenty-Four

AUTUMN

iranda stood by the window and stared out into the parking lot. Leaves gathered

in wet piles from the early morning rain. Autumn had officially hit, bringing with it

grey skies and pumpkin everything exploding from the coffee stands. She tucked

her sweater around her a little tighter and sighed. What happened last night?

Miranda rubbed her temple where a throbbing pain warned of an impending

headache, and slowly meandered back to her desk.

“Hard night?” Claudia asked. Her hand reached to adjust her signature necklace

—a jade medallion—to make sure it was hanging straight.

“You have no idea.” She swallowed a couple aspirin and squinted at Claudia. “I’ll

never understand men. I’m about this close to becoming a nun,” she said, holding

her thumb and index finger a fraction a part.

Claudia snorted. “You and me both, honey. Of course, I have about as much

chance of becoming a nun as a pig can fly. And as for you, well, I’ll believe it when it

happens.” She pointed her pen at the parking lot. “Especially since one of your

Prince Charmings just showed up.”

Miranda rose in her seat to peek out the window. Oh no, no, no. Wearing a

determined frown, Jason marched up to the front door and yanked it open.

Miranda quickly sat in front of her computer in an attempt to appear busy,

knocking over a jar of pens in the process. She bit back a groan. I’ll pick them as

soon as he leaves. Nervousness tickled the back of her throat, making her want to

cough.

“Hey,” Jason said, his gaze crossing over Claudia briefly before zeroing in on

Miranda. He walked to the counter. She felt his presence like heat and tried to

ignore him.

“So.” He tapped the top of the counter like a drum with both of his hands. “You

never answered my texts.”

Miranda stiffened at the loud sound he was making. Lifting her gaze, she smiled

briefly, before settling back to the computer screen. “Shhhh, Jason. I can’t talk

right now. I’m working.”

“I see that,” he answered. He winced at the sound of the dentist’s drill squealing

from the back room. “And I still feel sorry for you.”

“Jason, maybe we can talk later.” Her lips pressed tight in a smile. “Unless

you’d like to make an appointment.” She took in his dark hair plastered back on his

head. Ay yi yi yi. Miranda shook her head.

He studied her thoughtfully. “When are you off for lunch?”

“Why?”

“Listen, I know last night was a disaster. Let me make it up to you. Come on, one

more chance.”

Miranda squinted at the clock at the bottom of her computer. “Not for another

forty minutes.”

“Okay.” He nodded and slapped the counter one last time. “I’ll wait.”

“You’re going to wait here?” She stared at him nonplussed.

“Yeah, I’ll wait. We’ve got some talking to do.”

A zing of hope flew through her. Finally, he wants to talk.

Claudia hung up the phone and watched the two of them. “Well, hello there,

stranger. Look at you, blowing into town like a no-good wind.”

He looked askance at her comment and answered, “Had to tie up some legal

issues.”

“How weird.” Miranda raised an eyebrow. “That’s not how I remember it.”

Jason let out a heavy sigh. “We’ll talk about it over lunch,” he said. “Not here.”

His voice deepened, almost like a warning.

“Ooh, somebody has a brand new attitude to match his spiffy duds.” Claudia

crossed her arms to watch.

Jason ignored her and unbuttoned his jacket to sit. He pulled out his phone and

settled in for a long wait.

Miranda watched him for a moment. It was like his doppelgänger stepped out of

an episode of the Twilight Zone. Was he kidding with this new professional

appearance? Any second she expected Jason to look over at her with his adorable

half-grin, muss up his hair, and rip open his expensive sports coat to reveal a torn

t-shirt. Jason crossed his legs, resting an expensive leather dress shoe across his

pleated trousers. She frowned unhappily before going back to work.

Claudia leaned over. “You okay?”

Miranda nodded weakly.

“That boy sure came back with a new attitude. And is that his car out front?”

Claudia jabbed a pointed nail in the direction of the parking lot.

“Yep,” Miranda answered dryly, digging her hand through her thick mane of

hair.

“My, my, my. You do have your hands full.” She lowered her voice. “Does he

have a new girl to match or is he back to chasing after you?”

“He’s like a yo-yo. I don’t know what he’s doing.”

“And do you want a yo-yo like him?” Claudia rose up to peer over the counter

and studied him again. “He seems pretty confused to me.”

Miranda rubbed a knot of tension out of her brow. “I don’t know what I want.” I

want my Jason back. His words from last night rang in her head, his face disgusted

as he said, That man is dead and he’s never coming back.

“Hmmmm. Sounds like you need to get that figured out, Missy. Why don’t you

just finish writing the code for that insurance, then get out of here. Mr. Fancy Pants

looks like he has something to say to you.”

“Thanks Claudia.” Her gaze flickered back to Jason. Is this going to be a repeat of

last night? Frowning, she turned her attention back to her computer screen, her

fingers typing furiously. Ugh, huge typo. She deleted her last numbers and redid

them. You gotta concentrate here. A few minutes later, she hit save and reached for

her purse under the desk.

“I’ll be back in an hour,” she said to Claudia, and stood up. “Come on.” She

gestured to Jason.

Out in the parking lot she paused again. “Jason, I’m serious. This is my job. You

can’t act like that here.”

He looped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. “I had to see

you. I couldn’t take no for an answer.”

Miranda’s heart beat quicker at the feel of his arm around her. “Hun, one

minute you want me, one minute you don’t.”

“I want you. And, I want you to want me.” He grabbed her hand and placed it

over his chest. His green eyes stared at her intently.

She groaned. “Then why do I feel like there’s a huge wall between us?”

“There’s no wall. You’re just going to have to get used to the new me.”

“Jason, this is me you’re talking to. I know when you’re shutting me out.”

“Quit worrying about all that. Do-over, remember? Now, let me do it.”

“Do what?”

“Spoil you. Let me take care of you.”

“Why do you keep saying that? Jason, you’re freaking me out. It’s like you’re

trying to prove something.” She pulled her hand away and began button her

sweater, shivering in the cold air.

He opened his mouth as if to say something then closed it again. Finally he

blurted, “I don’t get you, Miranda.”

“Get what?”

“Nothing. Never mind.” He opened the car door. “Come on, hop in.”

“Oh great. Where are we going?”

“A surprise.”

She sighed. “Really? That didn’t go over so well last night.”

Jason smiled and slid behind the steering wheel. “Trust me, you’ll like this one.”

What am I getting myself into? She got into the car and braced for his take off.

He squealed out of the parking lot, leaving black tire marks. Miranda groaned.

“Now what’s the matter?” he asked. Shaking her head, she took a deep breath of

air.

They drove ten blocks, crossing through the heart of the city. He pulled onto a

street known as Auto Row. The corner of his lip raised in a smirk as they pulled

onto a luxury car lot.

“I’m scared to ask. Why are we here?” Miranda asked.

“I thought I’d get you a new car.” Jason side eyed her.

“What? Are you crazy?”

Jason laughed. “Come on, baby. Let me do this for you. I want to spoil you.” He

looked over and Miranda saw a spark of the old Jason hidden inside his bashful

smile.

She leaned back against the seat with a fake whimper. “What am I going to do

with you? What are you thinking? I don’t need a new car.”

He jumped out and ran to her side. Opening the passenger door, he held out his

hand. “Just come on, already. This will be fun.”

“I have to get back to work in an hour!” Miranda ignored his hand and tried to

keep her skirt from riding up as she climbed out.

Immediately a well-dressed salesman strolled over to them. A gust of wind blew

his tie up over his shoulder. He tucked it back into place and offered his hand to

Jason to shake. “Hi there. How can I help you two today?”

“I’m here to get my girl a car.” Jason wrapped his arm around Miranda’s

shoulders.

His girl. We haven’t even had a real conversation yet. Reaching up, she squeezed

his hand extra hard and smiled at the salesman. “Well, actually, he’s the one

looking.”

The salesman quickly dismissed her, focusing on Jason. “Beautiful, blustery day

here in the Pacific North West. You watch the Seahawks play?”

“Skittles, baby!” The two of them laughed. Clapping Jason on the back, the

salesman steered him toward the showroom. Miranda smiled harder and trotted at

their heels to keep up. Just keep grinning. Just keep grinning. She stifled a snort at

the play on the Finding Nemo song. I’m losing it. For real this time.

“So what model are you considering?”

“I was thinking of the Mercedes S Class.”

“Oh yeah, they’re a beaut.”

He took them down to the front of the storeroom where a white Mercedes sat.

“Nice, huh?” he asked Jason. “This car is pretty amazing.”

Jason’s eyes sparkled with excitement and he rubbed his hands together. “Wow,

she sure is.” Then, turning to Miranda: “What do you think? Gorgeous or what?”

“Wow, you noticed I’m still here.” She smiled. “Yes, the car’s extremely nice.”

The salesman continued, “Well, as with all luxury models, she has a V8, smooth

tranny shift, and a deluxe package.”

Miranda nodded, having no idea what he was saying. She glanced at her cell

phone. “Jason, can we come back another time? My lunch break is almost up.”

“In just a minute, Miranda.” Jason hopped into the driver’s seat, a big grin

splitting his face as he looked over the dash, playing with all the dials.

The salesman handed him the keys. “Want to take it for a spin?”

Jason slid the keys in and turned the ignition. The engine hummed to life. He

stepped on the gas, laughing at the sheer power. “Wow! What a beautiful car.”

“Zero to sixty in six point three seconds.” The salesman leaned against the roof

and peered in at the interior. “I’ll guarantee this car is faster than any cop car out

there.”

“Wow, Miranda, can you imagine?” Jason exclaimed, his face flushed.

Miranda smiled and tried to be excited.

“Hop in, babe!” Jason gestured. “You’re going to be a prize sitting in a car like

this.”

Frustration started to build inside like a rubber band being wound tighter and

tighter. “Jason, I love that you want to do this for me. I mean, it’s amazing. But I

really can’t do this right now. I have to go back to work.”

“In a minute, I said. Now get in here and sit down.” His forehead wrinkled as he

glanced up at her. “I mean, check out the leather!”

Miranda looked at him instead. “Why are you doing this? I hate to say it, but it’s

like you’re trying to buy my affection for abandoning me the last three months.”

“You’ve got to get over that.” His eyes were bright as he stroked the driver’s

seat, and she felt a pang of sadness. Gone were his ratty shirts and torn jeans. She’d

give anything to see them again. To have things back the way they were.

“It’s great, Jason, it really is. But I’m not ready to take a gift like this from you

yet. Besides, I like my Jeep.”

His eyes turned scornful at the mention of her car. “Please, that crappy thing?

Let’s get rid of it. It’s time for something new. I’m trying to make you a lady of

class, Miranda.”

She gasped at the cruelty of his words and spun around, unable to hold the tears

back.

“I’ll just be over here, if you need me.” The salesman took a few steps away to

give them privacy.

Jason climbed out of the car and whispered. “What’s the matter with you?

You’re making a scene.”

Taking a deep breath, she responded in a low voice. “I’m already a lady of class,

no matter what I drive.”

Jason loosened his silk tie and groaned. “Are you serious? You’re being too

sensitive.”

She laid her hand on his arm. “Why are you saying this? You never used to care

before. Can’t you see that?”

He stared at her like she was crazy. “Come on, get in the car! Let's take it for a

test drive.”

Miranda caught her reflection in the car’s window. Her hair curled in it’s unruly

way in the humidity, her face lined with sorrow. She wrapped her arms tightly

around herself. “Jason, we need to talk.”

He rolled his eyes. “What?”

“I don’t get why you’re being so insistent about this. We haven’t talked in three

months, and I don’t understand why you are pretending nothing has happened,

especially after last night. I desperately need to connect with you, really connect

and hear what you’ve gone through. This car feels like another way to shut me out.

It’s not real. What we used to have was real. Why aren’t you trying to get back to

that?”

“Why are you making this into such a big deal? I just want to treat you now that I

can finally afford to do nice things.” He cupped her elbow. “Sweetie, listen to me.”

Her eyebrows flickered at the use of the word “sweetie.” He’d never called her

that before.

“Why aren’t you talking to me like normal?” She turned towards him, her voice

beseeching.

His eyes narrowed even as he ran his hands down her arms. Stepping closer, he

pushed her back against the driver’s door. “Why aren’t you listening to me? I want

to make you happier than you ever dreamed.”

“I don’t think you realize how happy I was,” she whispered.

“Happy?” He snorted. “How could you be happy? Every day you’re at someone’s

beck and call. You don’t have to work at that measly job any more.”

She felt anger simmer inside. “Measly job? Jason, you better be careful.”

“I mean it’s menial work. Anybody could do it.”

Miranda stiffened. Her forehead slowly rose. “Let’s go outside.” Marching ahead

of him, she blasted through the showroom doors and out into the parking lot,

before spinning around with her finger pointed. “Excuse me?”

“No, I don’t mean it that way. What I mean is….” He paused and rubbed the

back of his neck with his hand.

“My job might not be rocket science. It might not deserve your respect, but I do

take pride in it. I actually do help people.” Her voice was shaking and she struggled

to control it. “Working with insurance companies is not easy, and I take stress off

of people who are already worried about visiting the dentist.”

He stared at her, his face grim.

“And furthermore,” Miranda continued, “don’t you remember the pride you

used to have? Pulling an engine apart and putting it all back together and having it

work better than it did?” Her face was red with anger. “I remember more than once

you gleefully telling me you had it purring like a kitten.”

“Yeah, well maybe anyone could do that too. I didn’t do anything special.”

“What? You think this money makes you special?” Miranda’s forehead creased.

Jason rolled his eyes. “Geez, Miranda. People change.”

“Are you kidding me?” Miranda’s mouth dropped open. “You went from the

most incredible person I ever knew, to someone I don’t even recognize. I’m all

about change. But I thought the goal was to change for the better.”

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he stared out at the rows of parked cars then

snapped his attention back to her, his gaze sharp, angry. “You don’t get it. This was

my dream ever since I saw you with those kids at your high school. To be someone

other than the drug baby of two loser parents. To count in this world and be a real

success.” He shook his head. “No way am I ever going back to the way I was. I’ve

been stuck here, in this podunk town, doing the same thing day in and day out,

struggling to survive.”

“Well, that’s pretty funny since your struggle to survive sure looked an awful lot

like happiness,” Miranda retorted. “You remember those late nights down at the

beach? We,” her finger jabbed between the two of them, “were sickening, sappily

happy. We probably disgusted other people with our happiness.” She brought her

mouth closer, not stopping until her lips were a hair from his. “And you had all of

my love and respect.” The last word was a hot breath whispered against his mouth.

She drew away before the kiss was completed.

He reached out and grabbed her, forcing his mouth against hers. His smooth

face was unsettling, his scent different. His hands became more insistent, pulling

her to him. She pushed away.

“What?” He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t fake it. You were the most authentic person I ever knew.” She looked at

him with despair. “You aren’t you any more.”

“Again, Miranda?”

“No, you’re—” she waved her hands to indicate his clothing. “You’re different.”

“What, my clothing? Now you’re just making excuses.”

Her blue eyes caught his and she shook her head. “You need some time to figure

things out.”

“Run, run as fast as you can,” he taunted.

Fury flamed up inside of her. She could barely see as she hurried off the car lot,

hair whipping in the wind.

Jason watched her walk away. Finally, he yelled, “Miranda, do you want a ride?”

She shouted to him as she walked backwards. “You just enjoy being the new

improved you. I’ve got to get to work. Call me when you’re ready to really talk.”

ChapterTwenty-Five

WINTER

ason parked the Porsche in the garage of his house and climbed out. He was

renting while a real estate agent worked to find him his own place. She’d

insisted someone of his means should be living the good life in the right

neighborhood.

A quick tap of the button and the garage door whirred on its tracks as it closed.

He glanced around. Everything was sterile. Bare white walls, an empty workbench,

tiled floor.

During the showing, the realtor had brought him in the garage with a dramatic

sweep of her arm and gushed about the benefits of the heated floors,

ergonomically-positioned shelves and earthquake-proof green construction walls

with designed flexibility, blah blah blah. He’d been impressed at the time.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the memory of the smell of the old barn hit him, and

he took a deep breath as if he were standing in the middle of it: clean hay and

sunbaked wood. He recalled the way the sun fell on the floor, half-blinding him as

he lay on his back under the beater truck. And how whenever he’d stick his head

out to grab a wrench, old Archer would be there to greet him with a wet nose. Jason

grinned. That freaking dog. I really miss him.

That wasn’t all he missed.

It had been weeks since the disaster at the car dealership. There’d been a few

texts, terse and fake. He’d thrown his phone over the last one she’d sent, feeling

cut off from her in a way he’d never felt before. And she said he was the problem.

Sighing, he opened the side door into the house, and ran over to key in the alarm

code. He glanced around the house, sterile like the garage. How the hell did I let

myself get talked into this? The house had come furnished. A white sectional sofa

sprawled across the living room floor. The couch was an oddity to him. Never in a

million years would he have sat on something so pristine before, as a mechanic—

and he could now.

The thought was detestable to him.

Tall ceilings magnified the echoes of his footsteps on the tile floor as he moved

down the hall. He caught the scent of lemon and took a deep breath in, trying to

discern the cause. He slumped as he realized it was the cleaning product the

housekeeper used on the floors.

Jason didn’t know who the housekeeper was. He’d never seen her. The agency

paid her. She appeared when he was gone, leaving the house as sterile and clean as

he left it.

A hollowness echoed inside of him. He hadn’t felt this lonely since after his

grandma died.

Lying on the entry table was a small chunk of wood. Jason had found it the day

before in the yard, somehow missed by the landscaper. He reached for it now and

rolled it in his hands. Absentmindedly he patted his pocket for his knife, before

remembering he hadn’t been carrying it anymore. His pants didn’t have those

types of pockets. He sighed and dropped the wood back on the table with a clatter.

Jason wandered into the kitchen, newly remodeled, the ceiling ornamented with

an empty brass pot rack. The drawers and cupboards were empty too, with the

exception of a shelf in the pantry jammed with plastic utensils and paper plates.

There were two ovens and a walk-in refrigerator. He set the keys on the granite

counter and glanced at the stainless steel appliance. Miranda would be lost here. He

smiled to himself. He imagined teaching her how to cook on the convection stove,

wrapping his arms around her to help stir a pot. His mouth curved as he pictured

smelling her neck, kissing the soft skin there. What kind of home could he have

without her?

A shard of pain drove through him. I cant do this. I’m out of here. He grabbed

the keys again and headed back out to his car.

Revving the engine, he spun out of the driveway, grinning at the car’s speed.

Ten minutes later and he was on the highway. Quickly he worked through the

gears. The car was a smooth and hot ride, there was no doubt.

Jason exited back towards the city, mulling over the incident at the car

dealership. His frown deepened as he thought of the expression she’d given him, a

mixture of betrayal and disgust. “What’s wrong with you?” she’d said, flinging

those words like rocks at his heart.

What is wrong with me? He drove passed the Centennial building and glanced at

the statues of lions guarding the steps. His life had changed that day.

He’d changed.

For nearly his entire life he’d felt like he’d been caught in quick sand, constantly

fighting to get his feet on solid ground. Trying to make up for drug-addicted

parents. For the last few months he’d thought he’d done that. He thought he

finally had it together.

He gave up the girl because he didn’t have money. Now he had money and still

didn’t have the girl. Slowly, the car rolled to a stop at a red light. “I’ll never

understand women,” he mumbled, shaking his head.

A teenage girl on the opposite corner caught his eyes. Wearing an oversized

sweatshirt and dirty shorts, she waved a cardboard sign. Next to her, a teenage boy

sprawled on the ground with his head resting on a backpack.

Memories of himself and Miranda at that age gripped him hard. He spun the

steering wheel and swung into the parking lot. The kids watched as he drove slowly

past.

After parking the car, he strolled over to the two kids. The girl tugged her long

shirt down and eyed him nervously. The boy turned his head, his eyes hidden

behind sunglasses.

“Hey.” Jason waved as he approached.

She waggled the sign at him. In crooked print, it read, “Will work for food.”

Jason grinned sardonically. “Really? You’ll work for food? Or is this just a pity

sign?”

“No one’s making you stop, old man,” the boy’s sharp, narrow face scowled and

he slowly stood up. “Maybe you should keep going.”

“Hey, I’m not here to judge,” Jason said, shrugging. “I was just reading your

sign.”

The kid lowered his glasses and squinted at Jason over the top of them. “And?”

“I’ve been in your spot before, or similar. I know what it’s like.”

The kid snorted, and even the girl smiled. “You think you know us, huh?” The

teen boy eyed Jason from top to bottom. “You probably never worked a hard day in

your life. Your biggest struggle is probably trying to decide between a shirt with an

alligator on it, or a little pony.” He spat and loosened up his shoulders.

Jason shoved his hands into his pockets. “Look at you, Mr. Keen Judgment. You

have me all wound up in shock and awe with your detective skills.” He bounced

back and forth on his toes and studied them. “Thought you guys could use a meal.

Guess I was mistaken.”

“Yeah. Get out of here. We don’t need your kind of help,” the boy said, settling

back and rearranging the pack under his head.

“You feel the same way?” Jason asked the girl. “Want a meal?”

“I’m.…” She licked her lips and shot a quick glance back at the boy. “I’m feeling

pretty hungry.”

Jason nodded and indicated the fast food restaurant they were begging in front

of. “Let’s go get something to eat then.”

Her movements were hesitant, eyes darting between Jason and her friend. She

set the sign down, her dirty blonde hair falling like a curtain over her shoulder. “I’ll

be right back, Brian.”

“Don’t leave with him,” the kid warned. “He touches you and I’ll kill him.”

“Why don’t you tag along and make sure she stays safe,” Jason suggested,

moving toward the restaurant.

The kid sighed and stood, grabbing both packs. “Fine, let's go.”

Ten minutes later they were seated on the cold plastic benches at a booth, a tray

of burgers between them. The restaurant swam with the scent of grease and coffee.

“How long have you guys been out here?” Jason asked, chewing on a mouthful of

fries.

“What’s it to you?” The kid asked. “You think you can feed us some dollar menu

burgers and now we owe you our life story?”

Jason arched his eyebrow but said nothing. The girl bit her lip and looked down

at her food.

“Let me rephrase that. How can I help?”

“You’re helping already, thank you,” the girl said.

“My name’s Jason.” He stuck out his hand.

The girl glanced at it for a second before slowly reaching out to take it with a

slight squeeze. “Julia.”

“Nice.” Brian rolled his eyes and slid his sunglasses back down, covering his

eyes. “Now you’ve done your good deed for the day. Go back to your Porsche and

pat yourself on the back.”

“You’ve got a sharp mouth,” Jason said.

“Sorry I don’t have manners like you. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon and all

that.” The kid crossed his arms and refused to eat.

Julia clutched her burger close to her and ate it in nervous bites. The air-

conditioning kicked on. She shivered and held herself smaller. Her bony wrists

poked out from the sweatshirt, pale and vulnerable.

Jason winced as he glanced at her. After two seconds of thought, he checked into

the front pocket of his sports coat. Empty. He patted the side pockets to be sure

they were empty too, then shrugged the jacket off. “Here,” he said, handing it to

the girl.

“Aw man, she don’t want that,” the kid said, even as Julia reached for the jacket.

She stopped and watched Brian, waiting for his answer.

“Take it,” Jason said, nodding to her. “Like you said, my good deed for the day.”

“Whatever, man,” the kid said.

Julia took that as permission and grabbed the coat. She wriggled into it, a smile

blossoming over her face at the warmth it held from Jason’s body. “Thanks,” she

murmured.

Jason stood up. “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.” He nodded at the two of them

and headed out the door.

An idea was brewing in his mind.

ChapterTwenty-Six

WINTER

apping his fingers against his leg, Jason sat in the passenger seat as the real

estate agent turned her sleek Mercedes down the dark street. The sky was moonless

and the buildings shrouded in inky black shadows. Nearly all the properties along

this stretch of the road had been abandoned or appeared that way. Half of the

streetlights had burned out, and the one at the far end flickered ominously.

“Enchanting neighborhood,” she muttered under her breath.

“What, Valerie?” Jason asked.

“I just—You sure about this?” she asked him again for the twentieth time.

“Yeah.” He unhooked the seatbelt and leaned forward with anticipation as the

building approached.

“Okay.” Valerie nodded grimly. Carefully, she pulled the car over to the curb, its

shiny fender reflecting the abandoned building before them.

Jason stared up at the brick structure. His hair fell in his eyes and he pushed it

away impatiently. It had been a while since his last hair cut. He was appreciating

the way he recognized himself in the mirror again. The waxed style never quite sat

right with him, despite all the reassurances of the barber.

Valerie hesitated a moment and said, “So…quaint.” Her lips pursed in a sour

expression.

Jason flashed a grin at her. “Quaint, huh?” he snorted. “Bet that’s the first time

this place has ever been called that.”

“You know, I’m reaching here for the right words. I’m trying to support you,”

she deadpanned. “This place makes finding positive adjectives a bit of a struggle.”

“Your support means everything to me.” Jason nodded. “I know this is

unconventional.”

“Well, you’ve got guts and definitely the gumption. If anyone can do this, it will

be you,” she replied. Sighing, she gathered her purse close to her body and grabbed

her keys. “Shall we go in and check it out?”

“Sounds great.”

They climbed out of the car and she hit the alarm twice as the car beeped and the

headlights flashed. The air carried the scent of rotting trash. She wrinkled her nose

and cast a nervous glance around the neighborhood then back at her car. Her

thumb turned white as she hit the alarm again. “What?” she questioned, catching

Jason’s eye. “You can’t be too careful.”

The street was still wet from the earlier rain. Valerie stepped carefully around

the puddle, mindful of her Prada shoes. Directly above them the streetlight sparked

and went out. “Fabulous,” the real estate agent muttered.

The two of them walked to the door. It was covered with a roll cage, secured in

place with a padlock and thick chain running through the handle. The padlock was

rusty and the agent struggled to get the key to move. After a bit of twisting and her

muttering “Come on, come on,” the chain finally fell free.

Jason grabbed the cage and yanked it up, causing a sharp grinding noise that

echoed in the street. Valerie glanced over her shoulder, her eyes darting around

anxiously. Jason shoved the door all the way open with his shoulder and walked in,

with Valerie clinging to his elbow.

After feeling around the wall, Jason found the light switch.

The fluorescent lights above them flickered as they warmed up. Slowly, the

empty warehouse brightened. Two rats, probably startled by the bloom of light,

squeaked in the distance.

Valerie squealed at the sound. Jason put his hand out to steady her. “Don’t

worry. They’re more scared of you.”

“They better be,” she said nervously. “I’ll spike my heel right through their

skeevy hearts!”

Jason’s gaze swept over the room. Newspapers littered the concrete floor. The

air smelled musty and undisturbed. On the far wall, a row of shelves hung on

vertical white spacers, a couple of them fallen at a diagonal. A door to the back

indicated where the bathrooms were.

He walked over to the front window and tipped the blinds to look outside. The

window was large, covering nearly a third of the wall. Valerie read from her notes.

“This window has been recently replaced.” Her lips pressed together as she read

further. “A stray bullet took it out.” Then she smiled brightly. “The good news is…

it’s now reinforced.”

Jason laughed at her words. “See—there’s always a bright side.”

He looked up the street. A paper cup blew along the grimy curb. The building

across from him was tagged in graffiti, its windows boarded shut.

Stepping back, he faced the agent. “It’s perfect.” He grinned. “I want it.”

“Okay,” she faltered, flashing a glance around in an effort to figure out what he

saw in the place. “You sure?”

“Yep. The sooner the better.”

“I’ll go write something up.”

At the sound of rodents scurrying in the wall she flinched and added. “I know

it’s just hit the market, but I’m sure we can get them to bargain.”

“Do what you need to do, but I don’t want to lose it.” He jammed his hands in

his pockets. “It’s exactly what I envisioned.”

“Full price, then?” She looked sad at the thought.

“Yeah, whatever it takes. Don’t low-ball them.”

“Okay. I’ll wait for you in the car.” Valerie reached for her cell phone and

whirled back out the door, racing to leave the building. Jason heard her car beep as

she rushed towards it.

Then, silence. The room was cold and his footsteps echoed. “Just you and me,

baby,” Jason whispered to the empty interior. Rats squeaked again. “Sorry, and you

guys too.” He walked the length of the building and examined the corners. He ran

his hand down one of the walls. A soft laugh came out of him, and his eyes sparkled

with excitement. Already the promise of what he wanted to build played in his

mind, belying what was actually there. He could imagine a fridge and food prep

station here, a call center there. A support center in the corner. What here? Maybe

some emergency cots? Clothing over there, tables, maybe a few computers. How big

could this go? He needed to get ahold of his lawyer to answer some questions. And

churches, and maybe the police station, the firehouse, and Children’s Protective

Services. The ideas began to overwhelm him. Jason grabbed his phone out of his

pocket and did a quick search. He needed to find someone with some experience to

show him the ropes.

He knew exactly where he had to go.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

WINTER

o what are you doing for Christmas?” Dylan asked as they stood on her front

porch. Miranda paused with one hand on the railing, trying to wiggle her foot into

her high heel. “Confounded things,” she muttered.

“You’re supposed to be dressed before I get here,” Dylan said dryly.

Her eyes snapped at his. “What are you talking about? I am dressed. My strap

slipped off my heel. Besides, where are you taking me? I told you my budget was

tight this week.”

“Why do you keep insisting on paying for stuff?”

“Dylan, I’ve told you. That’s what friends do.”

He rolled his eyes, waiting on the bottom step until she had her shoe situated.

“So, your plans?”

“Oh I don't know.” Miranda skipped down the step. “Probably the usual, Ham,

eggnog, pecan pie.”

“Mmm,” he nodded.

“You?”

“Mom makes a huge fuss if we don’t all go to her place at Martha’s Vineyard.

She decorates it to the nines. It’s kind of intense.” His dimples flashed. “I thought

you’d like to come?”

Miranda climbed into the car, surprised. “Oh.” She pulled on her seatbelt and

the car took off. Meet his family? “Wow, that’s nice of you to ask, but I couldn’t

leave Cassie. I think we’re going to go hike around Rattlesnake Lake that weekend

anyway.”

“It’s almost a month away. Maybe you could wiggle it in? I bet Cassie could find

somewhere else to go. After all it’s not every day you get asked to the Vineyard. I’d

invite her too, but then what message would I be sending to the family? Everyone

just invite your plus ones, twos, and threes?”

The air between them went stagnant. Miranda opened her mouth, but at the

surge of anger she didn’t trust herself to speak. He’d never understand that Cassie

wasn’t a plus one or two, like some kind of burden. She rubbed her temple.

Suddenly, this felt like it was going to be a long night.

Traffic was busy for a Friday night, and they crept along. Sparkling lights hung

“

from ornate poles along the main street.

“The restaurant I’m taking you to is five star. The chef used to work at the Wolf

Den. He’s just amazing.” Dylan shifted the car and reached over to rest his hand on

Miranda’s knee. “You look gorgeous tonight, by the way.”

“Thank you,” she said. He rubbed her leg. Miranda bit her lip and stared out the

window.

“So, what he can do with watercress and caviar is out of this world.” He stopped

to let a few pedestrians cross at the crosswalk, all teenagers, ignoring the cars,

dawdling. They laughed and joked with each other and met up with another group

milling outside a storefront.

Miranda was about to respond when her gaze caught the sign of the building.

Runaway and homeless youth shelter. TECH Teenage Crisis Hope.

She craned her head as Dylan drove past. Whoa…

“What are you looking at?”

“That crisis center.” She jerked her thumb in its direction. “Have you ever seen

it there before?”

He glanced in his rearview mirror. “Nope, can’t say I have. Just what we need,

more homeless teens in the city.”

Eyebrows arching, Miranda turned to him. “You’re kidding me, right?”

At her tone, he realized his mistake. “No, it’s not that. It’s not like I don’t want

to help them. But most homeless teens—you know.”

“No, I don’t. Why don’t you enlighten me?”

He sucked in a breath. “Listen, Miranda. Sorry if I sounded harsh. It’s just that

my business has been vandalized a few times and always by teenagers. They’ve

broken into the back room and partied, leaving their garbage everywhere. They’ve

caused some real destruction.”

Miranda deflated slightly at his words and faced forward. Calm down, no need to

be defensive. “Okay, I see what you mean. It’s just that not every teen on the

streets is there on purpose. It’s not exactly a glamorous lifestyle. Most of them

don’t have a choice.”

“Yeah, I feel bad for those with difficult lives.” He glanced at her again. “And I

love that you care.”

They passed another group of teens heading down the street, probably going to

the same place. She looked down at her black beaded dress, her fingers gently

drawing at one of the beads. How did I get here?

“If it helps,” Dylan said, “I’ll be happy to have my company donate to that

center. A charity starting up like that could probably use it.”

“You’d do that?” Miranda asked.

“Yeah. In fact I’ll text Denise right now to send a check for ten grand.” He

flashed her a grin as he grabbed his phone. “What do you think?”

Miranda smiled. “I think that would be amazing. Thanks, Dylan. That actually

means a lot to me.”

“Good.” At the stoplight he quickly sent the text. “We should all try and help

however we can.”

“And I’m sorry for the vandalism at your warehouse.”

“That cost me a pretty penny too.” He frowned. “I had to hire security to watch

over the place.”

“I’m sorry. Kids are selfish sometimes, but I still have a huge soft spot for

them.” She picked at her nail. “I had a few weeks where I didn’t have any place to

go. I didn’t like the taste of homelessness I got.”

“Whoa, are you serious? Dylan shifted the car then glanced at her. “Wow, I’m

sorry. You never told me before.”

“Hey, it’s okay. I mostly just tried to forget it. I mean, it worked out. But those

kids back there just as easily could have been me. People don’t see you when you’re

homeless. It’s like you live in the Twilight Zone. They just pass you by.”

“Yeah, but you got out of it. If they try hard enough, they can too.”

Miranda frowned. “I didn’t get out of it. I struggled and starved and barely made

it, and that was in the summer. I can’t imagine what it would have been like in the

colder months. I just happened to meet a man who gave the three of us a helping

hand.”

“Three of you?”

“Yeah. That’s how we met Jason.” A heaviness rolled over her. She hadn’t heard

from him since his last dumb text asking if she was over her temper tantrum.

Where is this emotion coming from? Let it go.

Dylan’s lips narrowed at the sound of Jason’s name. “Too bad that guy never got

it together like you did.”

Miranda’s pulse sped up as heat rose in her face. “I’m sorry I brought him up,

but I don’t want to hear anything bad spoken about him. He was there for me when

no one else was.”

“That’s what I like about you, Miranda. Your heart is pure. You see the best in

people.”

“I’m not seeing the best in him when I say that. I don’t think you understand.

He saved our lives, more than once. Seriously, let’s not bring him up again.”

Dylan nodded. “You got it. He’s definitely not worth the strife.”

Miranda sighed. “No matter what’s happened, I want him to be happy.” I want

to be happy, too. She looked out the window to control her emotions.

A few blocks farther they entered a nicer neighborhood. He pulled into the

restaurant parking lot. “Miranda, I won’t flake on you like he did. I don’t need to

figure things out. I already know what I want.” He leaned over and his lips landed

near her ear. “And what I want is you.”

She pulled away from him and his eyes narrowed.

“Dylan, you could have any girl you want. Why would you want a confused mess

like me? Besides, I keep telling you that I can’t be more than friends right now.”

“How long are you going to keep playing this friend game? I don’t get it.”

“What?”

“You have your guard up and don’t trust me yet, and you should. Because I’m

not going to hurt you.” He drew her into his arms. Even under the tailored suit she

could feel his firm muscles. She should feel comforted right now, but instead felt

like a cat being forced into a bath.

She gently pushed away and let out a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I’m just tired and

maybe hungry. Can we talk about this later?”

He let out a groan. “Whatever.”

Miranda straightened in her seat, her attention caught by something out the

window. “Hey, look! There’s that kid again.”

On the sidewalk across from them sat the homeless boy, eating something

unidentifiable. His face hovered inches above a patch of dandelions, his eyes wide

and innocent as he touched one.

“Dylan? Remember him? The one we saw digging in the dumpster.”

“Where?” Dylan’s head swiveled.

“Hang on. I’ll be right back.” Miranda climbed out of the car and slowly walked

over to the boy. “Hi, there. What’s your name?”

The teen’s face became instantly wary as he clambered to his feet. His green

jacket fell open, the metal zipper broken, revealing a dirty shirt.

Miranda stopped, afraid to move any farther and scare him. She held her hands

palm down. “It’s okay. I just wondered if you needed any kind of help.”

A shy, simple smile spread across the boy’s face, now slightly pink from her

attention.

Dylan slammed the car door. “Miranda?” he called.

The boy jerked his gaze toward Dylan. He ducked his head and scurried around

the corner at a clumsy jog.

Miranda watched the teen leave with a sinking heart. The boy was thinner now

than the last time she’d seen him. His jacket had a frayed hole in one of the elbows.

“Aw,” she said as Dylan walked up. “That poor kid.”

Dylan stared with squinted eyes in the direction the teen had disappeared. “Try

not to be too worried. That crisis center is just down the street. He knows where to

get help if he wants it.”

Miranda frowned, and allowed Dylan to grab her hand and draw her away.

They walked into the restaurant and soon were seated. Before the hostess left

them Dylan held up two fingers. “Bring a couple of glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon,

and hurry.”

Miranda raised her menu to hide the blush at his tone.

Dylan pulled down her menu.“Get the steak salad. You won’t regret it.”

The waitress appeared with their wine, and they ordered.

“So,” he said, lifting his wine glass. “A toast.”

Miranda lifted her own. “To what?”

“To hopefully not a repeat of what happened in Seattle.” His eyes glittered as he

raised an eyebrow.

Miranda’s mouth dropped open. “Really? Is that necessary?”

“What?”

“That’s kind of a nasty toast.”

He took a sip without clinking her glass. “I’m just making my intentions known

so you don’t feel like you have to play hard to get. You’ve made me work harder

than I have for any other girl.” He grinned, his dimples flashing boyishly. “I have a

confession. I was the one that drained your battery a few months ago.”

“What?” A cold shiver ran through her. Her mouth dropped open and she set

the glass down.

“Yeah. Kind of crazy, but I thought it would be a good way to get some time

alone with you. You’d been so stand-offish up until then.”

“What am I supposed to think about that, Dylan?” Shock resonated through her

in tiny electrical jolts.

“That I liked you so much I was willing to try anything for that first date.”

“Hello? That’s weird.”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

“I am completely freaked out.” I need to remember to always trust my gut.

Dylan sighed. “Honestly, Miranda, I thought you’d be flattered. I feel like you’re

out to pick a fight tonight.”

Miranda pressed her lips together then took a drink from her wine, trying to

calm the anger burning inside. Am I overreacting, or is this guy crazy?

“Wow! Listen to that rain!” Dylan exclaimed, his round face turning towards the

windows.

She couldn’t hear it through the thick velvet curtains and muted conversation. I

hope that poor kid found some shelter. The food came, tasting flavorless to

Miranda. Dylan droned on and on about a commercial that had been filmed in his

warehouse. She tried to remember to nod when appropriate, her thoughts running

rampant in her mind.

Dylan paid and led Miranda out to the sidewalk. The rain had puddled on the

pavement, transforming it into a giant smeary mirror that reflected the streetlights

in long wavy ribbons.

As they walked up to the Audi something yellow caught Miranda’s attention.

Stuck in the passenger door handle was a bouquet of dandelions. She scooped up

the flowers, still damp from the rain, and glanced around quickly for the teen, but

didn’t see any sign of him.

“You keeping those?” Dylan arched his eyebrow. Miranda nodded and brought

them to her nose to smell.

On the car ride home, Miranda sat quietly, her thumb gently ruffling the flower

petals. Just get home. I’ll talk to Dylan then. Maybe I really am destined to be a nun.

At her house, they both climbed out of the car. Miranda waited on the porch

instead of opening the door and inviting him in like she normally did.

“You’ve sure been quiet tonight.” Dylan wrapped her into his arms and tucked

her head under his chin. He squeezed her tightly before patting her on the back.

Each pat annoyed Miranda deep in the pit of her stomach.

“So, what are we doing this weekend?” he asked, touching her cheek. She closed

her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

Miranda cringed inside and stepped away from his embrace.“Dylan—”

He frowned at her tone and reached for her hand, still clutching the flowers.

“Don’t do it.”

She sighed. “We have to talk.” Be careful, be cool. You still have to see him at

work.

“Don’t do it. You don’t want to do this.”

Miranda bit the inside of her bottom lip. The wind blew a leaf past them up into

the trees. “I can’t give you more than friendship.”

“You seemed to do pretty well when we kissed. Or are you just leading me on?”

“Wow, Dylan. You kissed me!”

“Is this still about the car battery? I told you, I thought you’d be flattered. The

whole ‘extreme lengths a guy will go,’ kind of thing.”

“I just think I need some time alone to figure things out.”

His brow raised in hurt skepticism. “What? You want your old bum boyfriend?

The one who left you? That’s some prize.”

Anger cracked inside of her at his words. “Leave Jason out of it.”

“It would have been nice if Jason really could have been left out of it. Maybe then

I would have had a real chance.”

“I tried.”

“He’s not here, in case you didn’t notice.” Dylan took as step closer and his face

flushed darkly. “He left you. He didn’t want you.”

Miranda flinched at his words. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. But he

did want me. I just didn’t want him because he was acting like such a jerk.”

Dylan took a step back in surprise. “This is the first I’ve heard of that. You told

me he left.”

“Well, he came back. He has a new life now. You should look him up. He seems

to run in your circle.”

He snorted. “That kid could never run in my circle.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Keep pining away for him. You’re never going to be happy.”

She didn’t answer.

Dylan smiled at her sardonically. “You’re going to regret this, girl.” He twirled

his keys around his finger and looked up the driveway. Glancing back, he gave a

mock salute. “I’m out of here.”

Miranda nodded. As he walked away, she let out a deep sigh. Her hand rested on

the newel post of the porch, hewed into the silhouette of a swan. Jason had carved

it last summer to surprise her. Her heart clutched with grief and emptiness. Had

she made the right decision? Was she going to regret this? Jason was never coming

back, and at this rate she was never going to move forward.

Then she shook her head. Are you crazy, Miranda? That guy killed your battery.

For. A. Date. I don’t need a man to make me happy. I’ve got this.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

WINTER

he grocery store was busy when Jason entered. An escaping toddler with bright

red cheeks careened into his legs as he reached to get a cart. The harried mother

chased after her, shooting him a quick, “Oh, sorry.”

“No worries.” Jason answered as he finagled his list out of his jeans pocket. His

partner at the Crisis Center, Chloe, had written it in her usual chicken scratch.

Jason squinted to read it. Peanut Butter, bread and gobbleygook…

He sounded out the last item, trying to make sense of it. Giving up, he reached

for his phone.

“Hello?” Chloe answered, out of breath.

“Everything okay?” he asked, as he wandered down the bread aisle. He’d never

understand why there were fifty thousand different kinds of white bread, and only

one kind of good kielbasa.

“Yes, fine. I just dropped you. But I caught you again. Now what’s up?”

Jason grinned. She’s a cute girl. “What’s this last item on the list?”

“Baggies! Don’t forget the baggies!” Her voice held a tinge of panic. They’d

discovered they were out yesterday when it was time to hand out the meals. The

team had to make do by wrapping the sandwiches in plastic wrap from an old box

someone had dug up. It had been a nightmare.

“Ahh, got it.” Jason nodded. “That all?”

“That’s it, boss. See you in a few.” She clicked off.

He jammed the phone in his pocket and picked up speed. Today he expected the

center would be hit hard with kids looking for help. Thursdays were always

especially busy. He had no idea why.

TECH was running great. He couldn’t help feeling pride when he saw the kids

leave with resources. So far, he’d built an apartment in the upper section of the

warehouse. Right now, it worked for him. Someday he’d build his dream house and

garage. He had splurged on all new fishing equipment—Ugly Stick, yeah baby! And

of course, he had his Porsche. Never giving that up!

Jason wheeled around the corner and stopped short. Miranda was standing there

in the produce aisle. She must have just gotten off work; her pink cardigan was

buttoned clear to her neck. He ducked behind the paper towel display and slowly

peeked out, his heart pounding. This is ridiculous. I’m acting like a seven-year-old

boy who likes a girl. Still, he kept hidden.

Miranda picked an apple out of the bin and held it to her nose. Her cart was filled

with frozen pizzas and a box of Toasty O’s.

Jason’s lip curled into a half smile.

Brushing her dark hair back from where it had fallen to the side of her face, she

reached for a produce bag. Her blue eyes widened, and she glanced up as if sensing

she was being watched.

He quickly dove back behind the aisle. What the heck, dude? Time to turn in your

man card. He took a deep breath in an attempt to calm the emotions tumbling

inside like clothes in a washing machine. Just walk away.

He couldn’t resist one more look.

Miranda was now in the bakery section, inspecting a box of doughnuts.

Jason smiled. She’s doing good. Slowly, he circled the cart back in the other

direction. He grabbed a box of sandwich bags and some peanut butter on his way to

the check out.

Five minutes later, Jason left the store and searched for his vehicle. There it was,

big ol' Rusty. Tossing the bags in the back, he jumped in the front seat. He pumped

the gas a few times as he started it. “Come on, you’ve got this.” It roared to life,

and a smile broke out across his face.

He’d reclaimed the truck from his friend’s storage, leaving the Porsche there for

the time being. “She’s fast and sleek, but otherwise she’s got nothing on you.” He

thumped the dash with the palm of his hand and threw the truck in reverse.

Jason stepped on the gas, and the truck rumbled around the corner. He couldn’t

believe he’d bumped into Miranda. Man, she’s beautiful. I don’t think I could’ve

screwed that up more if I tried. Did I really call her job menial? He cringed. I owe

her an apology for that.

Should he text her?

Maybe he could, just to find out how Archer was doing.

That’d be okay, maybe.

Jason glanced in his rearview mirror—nobody behind him—and pulled to the

curb. His thumb automatically scrolled through his list of contacts and hovered

over Miranda’s name.

He sighed and stared out the window. Blake, one of the kids registered at the

resource center, rolled on his skateboard down the sidewalk. The teen skidded to a

stop and leaned in the open passenger window. “What are you doing?”

“Getting some food for the hungry savages. You hungry?”

Blake grinned and said, “Yeah, always hungry.”

“Get in here if you want a ride.” Jason slid his cell phone into his front pocket as

Blake cranked open the door and slammed it shut behind him.

When Miranda exited the store a happy sound rose out of her throat as the

sunshine warmed her skin. “What a freaking beautiful day,” she whispered. Lovely,

talking to myself in public now.

She stopped the grocery cart outside her Jeep and popped the hatch. Wrapping

the plastic handle around her fingers, she hauled a bag out of the cart. Her stomach

flipped over at the familiar rumbling sound of an engine. “That totally sounds like

Jason’s truck.” Grimacing, she tossed in another bag and slammed the hatch. “I

freaking can’t believe it. Somebody bought his truck.”

She returned the cart and jumped into her Jeep. At the “T” she headed the

opposite way. Don’t want to see it.

The memory of the way he’d treated her at the car dealership still filled her with

shame. Tears pricked her eyes. Probably has a new girl. Someone glamorous. She

looked down at her clothes—boring office attire she quickly threw on after her jog

with Archer on the beach that morning—and shriveled inside. Then she

straightened her shoulders. You have to knock this off and pull yourself out of this

pity party. Cassie’s waiting to get the Christmas tree decorated.

Ten minutes later she bumped down the driveway. Archer ran over to the Jeep as

she parked. “Hi, ol’boy. Did Cassie get the ornaments down yet? Huh? Huh?” Each

huh was punctuated by the dog’s enthusiastic butt wiggle. He let out a sharp bark.

“Cassie!” she yelled as she walked in. “Tell me you’ve been up to the loft.”

“Been there, done that. Boring.” Cassie slid around the corner looking sweaty

and frazzled.

“Er, you have a little bit of—” Miranda pointed to her hair.

Cassie plucked out a pink piece of insulation and stared at her sister,

nonplussed. “You’re putting away the decorations after Christmas, just so you

know.”

Waggling a box of candy canes, Miranda asked, “Who want’s a Scooby snack?”

“What do you think I am? Six?” Cassie snatched the box and immediately

unwrapped one. Sucking on it, she continued. “You can’t bribe me.”

Miranda turned to put the rest of the groceries away before her sister could see

her smile.

“So, you going to help me decorate, or what?” Cassie asked. They’d gotten the

tree last week, and were too exhausted after setting it up to decorate it.

“Mmmhm.” Miranda hummed and walked into the living room. She stopped

short at the doorway. “What the heck happened in here?”

The room was strewn with overflowing boxes and tangled balls of lights.

“The North Pole threw up in our living room, what do you think happened?”

Cassie rolled her eyes.

Miranda pursed her lips before marching over to snag a strand of lights. “Okay,

smarty pants, let’s get going.”

Together they untangled the string and slowly circled the tree.

“Do you remember when we used to hang tinsel?” Cassie asked balancing on her

tiptoes.

Miranda frowned. The last time they’d used tinsel, Cassie had been four or five.

“Yes, and it was a nightmare to clean. How in the world do you remember tinsel?”

“Easy, I’d always sneak a handful and take it to my room and barrette it in my

hair. I wanted to look just like Pink.”

“You goofy girl.” Miranda cracked a smile. She removed an ornament from the

box and hung it on the tree. “I actually remember you doing that. We had a picture

somewhere.”

The sisters grinned at each other.

“You excited to see Leif?” He had phoned Cassie to let her know he would be on

leave soon. Miranda swore Cassie’s feet hadn’t touched the ground since.

“Yes.” Her sister’s cheeks filled with color. “It’s just sad he won’t be here for

Christmas. It’s going to be weird not having Jason here,” Cassie added.

Miranda sighed. “Not helping.”

After a minute Cassie pounced on a box. “Aha! You do remember these, don’t

you?” She lifted a gingerbread head laced with red ribbon.

Miranda snorted. “Tell me you didn’t save those.” She took it from Cassie, and

ran her finger over it before handing it back. “Aww, poor thing. Missing a body.”

“You made a whole set from that weird applesauce cinnamon dough.”

“It was suppose to smell good,” Miranda said glumly.

“Oh, it did. So good that Archer ate the bodies off of every one.”

Miranda threw an annoyed look at her sister as Cassie laughed over the visual of

macabre heads hanging all over the tree. “Give me that back.”

“No,” Cassie yanked it away and ran to the front. “It goes right here. High

enough to be safe from Archer and displayed with pride.”

Her phone dinged and a surge of excitement flew through her. Jason? She

scrambled to get it, her heart immediately sinking as she read it. It was from Dylan

—Just wanted to tell you Merry Christmas. Maybe we can talk soon?

Miranda powered it off, and slouched back on the couch.

Christmas music played in the background. Miranda watched her sister hang the

remaining ornaments. Cassie pulled a sparkling pinecone from the box.

“Remember when the three of us made these last—” She trailed off at her sister’s

stare. “Sorry.” She hurried around to the other side of the tree and hung the

ornament.

Miranda felt a tear tremble on her eyelid and wiped it away with her finger. A

desperate voice rose inside of her. Text. Him. The longing she felt was

overwhelming.

Maybe, just maybe I could get through to him this time.

ChapterTwenty-Nine

WINTER

iranda’s palms were sweaty when she arrived at the restaurant. The waitress

guided her to a table that overlooked the street. She slid out her phone to check the

time, then, on spur of the moment, sent a text. —I’m here.

Scrolling up, she reread the text she’d received from Jason on Christmas Day.

—It’s early, and I’m laying here under the tree thinking about you. I owe you a

big apology. Let me make a fresh start for the new year?

Her lips trembled as she read it, and she quickly pressed them together. Closing

her eyes, she tried to curb the hope that had been building over the last few days.

Don’t go there. He’s changed, remember? Let him apologize and get on with his

new life.

Sighing, she dropped the phone back into her purse. The waitress came over and

Miranda ordered two coffees.

“Cream and sugar?”

“Yes, please.” Miranda watched her walk away, then stared out the window. An

elderly couple exited the hair salon across the street, the woman tying a scarf

around her hair to protect it from the winter wind. Passing in front of the window, a

mom jogged by, pushing a three-wheeled stroller. She zigzagged around a young

man in a ratty white t-shirt. His hair was long and scruffy and falling over his

forehead.

Her heart stopped.

It was Jason.

He glanced down at his phone as he walked around the corner. Then the door

dinged and he came in, slowly scanning the room for her. Jason’s eyes lit up when

he finally spotted her, and her heart about flew into her throat.

Jason lifted his hand as he walked over. “Hey there, beautiful,” he said, giving

an adorable crooked smile.

Miranda’s mouth went dry. “Long time no see. How are you doing?”

He pushed the hair off his forehead with grease-stained fingers and sat down.

“I’m good. Busy.”

“Yeah? Well,” she cleared her throat. “You look good. Different.”

He smiled and flipped a sugar packet around in his fingers. “Thanks for meeting

with me. I owe you an apology. I could have said it in a text, but I really wanted to do

it in person. I—”

The waitress appeared with mugs and a steaming pot of coffee. After pouring the

cups, she pulled out her pad. “So what can I get you two?”

“Oh, this is fine,” Miranda said and looked over at Jason. “You want anything?”

“No, I’m good.”

“What? No pecan pie? I’ve got some of the best back there.” The waitress jerked

her pen towards the counter. “Okay, if you’re sure,” she said in response to their

shaking heads.

“Just when I was on a roll,” Jason moaned and Miranda laughed. He smiled at

her. “You know, Miranda, you were right when you said I’d changed. I wanted to

make you proud of me. Wanted to be someone who deserved you.” He held up his

hand to stop her from protesting. “I know I went about it wrong. I’m just not made

to be a rich person I guess. But the thing is, I never felt good enough. So for a few

weeks there, I felt on top of the world.”

“Yeah but you acted like a jerkwad.”

His eyes squinted. “Ouch, that hurts.”

“You were worse than Dylan.”

“Wow, Miranda, you’re out for blood today.” He smiled again, showing his

crooked tooth. “But I deserved that. I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?” His green eyes

stared at her intently.

Miranda looked down at her coffee, unable to hold his gaze. So many feelings

rushed in. “When you said you wanted to apologize, I was relieved. But hearing you

say it.… all I can think about is how you left me when I begged you not to go.”

He sucked in a deep breath. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I thought I was doing the

unselfish thing by leaving. You know what they say, the road to hell is paved with

good intentions.”

“It’s felt like hell all right.”

His eyebrows drew together at her words and he rubbed his forehead. “Man, I

really screwed up. I don’t even know where to begin.”

“You can apologize for not believing me,” Miranda suggested. “When I told you

that I only wanted you…the real you.”

“Yeah, I heard you say that, but it felt different from my point of view. I mean,

who’d want a grease monkey when they can have some rich successful guy?

“A smart person who knows it’s what’s inside a person that counts.”

Jason snorted. “There you go again, always Pollyanna-ing everything up.”

“I’m serious! I’d love to have the freedom to travel and pursue the things I’m

passionate about. Have a cool car.” She smiled at him. “But life comes in stages,

you know? Sometimes you have a lot, and sometimes a little. The trick is to be

happy in either spot.”

He stared at her. “You might have something there.”

This time she held his gaze. But she wasn’t quite ready to make up with him yet.

“You look so good. I can’t believe how long it’s been.”

“I have a thick head and always take the long way around to learn things.” He

reached over and touched the back of her hand. “I’ve missed you.”

The warm touch was like a knock out punch. “Are you telling me you’ve changed

again?” Her comment was a last ditch effort in order not to cave and jump in his

arms. She amended it—his tan muscular arms. For crying out loud, will-power,

woman!

Jason took a sip of his coffee. “I don’t know how to say it, because I’ve said it

before. But yeah, I have changed. Maybe I’ve grown up, I don’t know. But the time

has been good for me. I had to let go of the bad stuff that had happened to me as a

kid, and realize it didn’t define who I was today. And, I finally realized what I’m

passionate about. Things that make me who I am.”

Miranda tipped her head, intrigued. She brushed her hair back and blew on her

coffee.

“I, uh.” He blushed and grinned as he looked down. “I started a crisis center for

teens. It’s called TECH, for Teen Crisis Hope. It’s not much, but I feel like I’m

finally doing what I was meant to do.” He studied his hand and held it out to show

her the grease stains. “Oh, and I’m back under cars again, obviously.”

Miranda’s mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding me? That’s your place out on

Seventh Street?”

He nodded. “Yeah, me and a few other folks run it. So far we’ve helped eighty

kids. You should come check it out sometime.”

Miranda gripped the edge of the table, still in shock. “That’s freaking

unbelievable. And so cool.” She took a sip of coffee, trying to buy time to slow her

thoughts down.

He seemed to understand and didn’t press her.

“This is so weird to say, but if you ever need any help, I’d like to volunteer,” she

said, suddenly feeling bashful.

“You would?”

“Yes, I totally would. I’m not sure how helpful I’d be, but I’d love to do it.”

He tipped his head. “It would be awesome to have you. There’s a training

program you have to go through first, if you’re serious. The next one we offer is in a

week. Interested?”

“Definitely.”

His smile broadened and he studied her frankly. “You’ll like it, I’m sure. But if

not, don’t worry. No obligation. It’s not for everyone.”

“So how does being a Crisis Coordinator mesh with wearing fancy duds?”

The corner of Jason’s mouth quirked up. “I sold most of them. All except for that

leather jacket. I needed that. And the bathrobe. That thing is awesome.”

“You have a bathrobe?” Miranda squinched her nose and laughed.

Jason flicked a sugar packet at her. “Shut up! Yes, Egyptian cotton and

everything.” He smiled wolfishly at her. “Like my sheets.”

“Oh brother.”

“Don’t knock it until you try it. Softest thing you ever slept in.”

Miranda shook her head. “Well, at least you changed them.”

“What? I always changed my sheets.”

“Changing them with every solstice does not constitute sheet cleanliness.”

Miranda shook her head.

“Wow, you’re on a roll today. This coffee date’s been great for my self-esteem.”

“Oh! It’s a date now, is it?”

Jason studied the cup in front of him. He slowly spun it, and glanced back at her.

“I kind of hope so.”

Man, he was cute. Miranda closed her eyes and tried not to picture his scruffy

face bending over hers.

“Let’s start as friends again,” she said. Take that, willpower!

Jason studied her with a small grin before finishing the last of his coffee. “I wish

it could be longer, but I have to be getting back. I’ve got two kids in crisis coming

today, and I need to make sure the team is ready to receive them.” He pulled out his

wallet and slid a ten under the cup. “There, that will pay for us.” He stood up and

hesitated. “Maybe lunch soon?”

“I’d like that, Jason. A lot.”

He nodded with his half-grin. “Great. Maybe I’ll take you to the Space Needle.

You know, to impress you.”

Her face froze in wariness.

“Nah, I’m just kidding. I did find an awesome taco stand though. Maybe we can

go there.”

“Sounds great.”

Jason’s phone buzzed and he pulled it from his pocket, quickly reading the text.

“Oh, I guess they’re already there. I need to go.” He stretched out his arms towards

her. “Hug?”

Miranda stood and walked over. He wrapped his arms around her. Resting

against his chest felt like coming home, and she couldn’t help the small noise that

came out of her mouth. “Mmmmm.”

She felt his cheek against the top of her head. “Bye, Miranda.”

With a final wave, he strode quickly out of the restaurant.

Miranda settled back into the booth and picked up her coffee mug. Wow, he sure

looked good. More confident and sure of himself than she’d ever seen before. All

from starting the center? Or just figuring out what was important to him? He

looked hot! She giggled and sipped her coffee. Her stomach jumped with

butterflies. I can’t wait to see him again. Suddenly, her eyes grew big. She grabbed

her phone and quickly texted. —I forgive you!

ChapterThirty

WINTER

iranda completed her three-week training program. It was grueling but worth

it. Today she sat next to her team captain, a cute redhead named Chloe.

“Hey lady, you think you can handle the next phone call?” Chloe pushed her

glasses up on the bridge of her nose.

“What? You’re throwing me to the wolves so soon?”

Chloe laughed. “You can do it. It’s just a social worker. You know what the kid

needs. Be the best advocate you can for them.”

The last month had been a whirlwind of change for Miranda. But she’d loved

every minute of it.

Three new kids came through the front door, wearing the same countenance as

every new teen that entered. Suspicion wrapped in bravado, like they didn’t have a

care in the world.

Miranda knew better. She saw how many were hurting and scared. She also

knew the center might not be able to help everyone who came through those doors.

It was a partnership between the teen and the program. The sign at the front door

explained the boundaries to be in the program. The first one was: Respect each

other. We all have problems.

And most of these kids came with problems. But everyone working there had a

taste of what they’d been through. Neglect, child abuse, drug, and alcohol use came

in every package—wealthy families, poor families, educated families, split families.

The most important thing was to give them hope, make them believe there was

a way out.

Jason walked over to the kids. Miranda’s heart skipped a beat. He was just so

good-looking. He smiled his easy grin, flannel shirt layered over a t-shirt, holey

blue jeans on. His eyes flashed as he nodded at something one of the kids said.

The kids liked him. He listened.

After a few minutes, he led them to another counselor who handed out a couple

brown bags of sandwiches. The kids took them and left, the oldest boy giving a nod

to Jason on his way out.

Jason wrote something down in the notebook he always carried. As if sensing

her watching, he glanced towards her. A warm shiver ran down her spine. Tucking

the well-worn notebook into his back pocket, he strode over. “How’s my favorite

helper doing today?”

“Good.” Miranda stood and put her arms around his neck.

He wrapped his hands around her waist and gave her his crooked grin. “You’re

looking way better than good, Sunshine.”

Miranda laughed. “Glad you like my cutting edge ponytail, no make-up style. I

have a feeling you’re going to be seeing a lot of it.”

“How soon until you can take lunch?” he asked. They had a weekly date at the

taco stand.

“Chloe?” Miranda looked around for her lead. Chloe rolled her eyes and said,

“Go on, get out of here.”

Jason grabbed her hand and they headed outside.

“How are you handling the split shift with the dental office?”

“It’s been good.” Three days there, two days here, working pretty good actually.

“We could make this a full time position, you know.”

“Aww, maybe someday. But I can’t leave Claudia in the lurch like that.”

“You mind if we take a walk first, before lunch?”

She shook her head and he squeezed her hand. “All right, come on. Let’s head to

the park.”

They passed his truck, sitting by the curb. Jason reached into the bed and pulled

out a plastic Frisbee.

“We’re going to toss a Frisbee?” Miranda raised her eyebrows incredulously.

“Well, I want you to stay active and all, especially now you have a desk job.” He

winked at her. “I know you’ve been too busy to go hiking lately.”

”I’ll have you know I had a desk job before.”

He looked at her legs with concern. “They’re kind of getting a bit puny. Maybe

we should run some laps too.”

“Ohhh, buddy.” Miranda whacked him on the arm. “You just wait and see. You

were the one living the high-life, eating that caviar and éclairs stuff.”

“That insult doesn’t even make sense. Who eats caviar with éclairs?”

“You know what I mean,”

He grinned and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m just teasing you

sweetie. You’re beautiful just the way you are.”

Miranda rested her head on his chest for a second, feeling sparks of heat fly

down her spine from his touch. Her smile stretched across her face.

The day was gorgeous and, even though it was still winter, the air held the

faintest scent of fresh life. The tree’s branches were nubbed with future leaf buds.

Some early crocuses had already pushed up through the dirt. The park had just been

mowed for the first time that year, the grass brilliant green in the sunshine. They

walked over the hill and into an open area.

“Okay, stay here. I’ll pass the Frisbee to you first.” Jason jogged ahead, before

spinning around. “Ready?” he called.

“Yup!”

Jason sent the disc spinning in a smooth arc towards her. Leaping, she caught it

midair and quickly sent it back. She frowned as the disc arced to the far left of him.

He ran after it and caught it just in time.

He threw it again, directly to her. Again, she returned it to his left making him

chase after it. He wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Have you ever done this

before?”

Miranda laughed. “I’m sorry! The wind is catching it.”

“Throw it like this,” he mimed, then tossed it again.

She threw it, this time over correcting in the opposite direction. He flopped on

the grass after he caught it, his chest heaving.

“Come on, throw it back!” Miranda yelled.

He shook his head.

Miranda loped over and stood above him. “What’s the problem? You said you

wanted exercise.”

He opened one eye and glared at her. “You did that on purpose.”

She laughed and sat next to him. Grabbing the Frisbee from his hand, she laid it

under her head.

Clouds, shaped like popcorn, floated overhead. “Hey,” Miranda pointed. “See

that one? A little sheep.”

Jason squinted up at the sky. “A sheep?”

“It’s cute.”

He stared harder. “I see a motorcycle.”

“What? You’re kidding.”

“It’s about to mow down your sheep. Tell it to run!” he mocked. Jason rolled on

his side and tickled Miranda’s ear with a grass blade.

“You are a pest,” she said, swatting it away.

“Yeah, takes one to know one, Miss Frisbee Champion.” He rolled closer, his

green eyes studying her intensely. Suddenly the space between them felt

electrified.

“Are you ever coming home again?” she asked.

“You want me home?” His question was slow. He tickled the grass blade down

her arm.

“It’s your place as much as mine. Uncle Stew left it to the both of us when he

died.”

He stared at the track the grass blade was taking. After a moment he continued,

“You know, I kind of like where I’m at, staying above TECH. It gives me an

opportunity to do something I’ve never done before.”

“What’s that?”

He smiled at her and lightly dragged the grass stem down her nose, before

tracing her eyebrows. “I can take you out on a date.”

She closed her eyes as her heart did a double beat.

His voice dropped an octave. “If you’ll let me.”

“I’d like that.” She bit her lip as the grass blade lightly went over. His thumb

traced after it and rubbed the tickle away. “I have missed you so much.”

“Me too. Now, where should we go? Not the Red Dragon.”

Miranda smiled. “I’ll make you dinner.”

His green eyes flickered with uncertainty. “You don’t want to go out?”

“You know what they say, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

He flopped on his back. “I can’t tell what you’re saying there.”

“What do you mean?” she moved toward him with her own grass blade.

“Well, either you want to win me over, or you’re hoping to convince me to leave

you alone forever.”

“Jason!”

He sat up, laughing. “I guess I’ll find out if we’re eating Toasty O’s or not.”

“I don’t know what you have against cereal.” She followed him, picking grass

out of her hair.

“Meat. It’s what’s for dinner.”

“Don’t you worry, I’ll cook meat. It’ll be a great dinner.” She looped her pinky

around his as they walked back to the office. “Pinky promise.”

ChapterThirty-One

WINTER

iranda hummed as she moved around the kitchen, placing a cup of water in a

pot and spun the burner to high. She carefully measured out the instant rice and

dumped it in. At the sound of the cupboard opening, Archer appeared out of

nowhere and hovered underfoot. She returned the box of rice, almost stepping on

his paw.

“Shoo!” she told the dog. Instead of leaving, he sat, blocking her way to the

pantry, his mouth opened wide and begging. Miranda rolled her eyes, and

maneuvered around him.

She rummaged through the refrigerator for a package of pork chops before

glancing at the recipe. “Rinse, dip in egg, dip in flour and bake.” Easy peasy! She

pulled open the cellophane covering the meat and picked up the first raw chop,

grimacing at the touch.

When she’d finished all four pork chops her hands were covered white in doughy

gloves. Don’t get this on my red dress! Miranda tentatively attempted to juggle the

water knob on with her elbow, just as Cassie came barreling around the corner.

Her sister’s blonde head jerked back and she gave a double blink. “What in the

world are you up to?”

“Dinner. Now give me a hand and turn on the hot water.”

Cassie leaned over and flipped the water on. “You scare me when you’re in the

kitchen.”

“Shut up. This is going to be awesome.”

Cassie eyed her sister’s hands as Miranda ferociously scrubbed at them. “Am I

supposed to eat that?”

“No, actually you’re not. It’s for Jason.”

“I think the goal is to actually win him over, not make him run screaming for

the hills.”

Miranda frowned, scraping at the dough. “It’s going to be delicious.”

Cassie continued to look skeptical. “If you say so, Sis.”

Miranda scowled.

“Nervous?”

“No. Why would I be nervous?”

“No reason. You just seem extra jittery.”

“I’m not jittery. I’m expressing my domesticness in the kitchen.”

“Erm, your pot—” Cassie pointed. The water frothed over the top and bubbled

down the side.

“Seriously?” Miranda yelled and raced to turn the burner down. Grabbing a

wooden spoon, she stirred frantically at the ingredients.

“What was it?”

“Rice. It’s fine.” Miranda grumbled. She scraped at the bottom and lifted it to

her nose to see if it smelled burned. Maybe not so fine.

“Change of plans,” she announced, dumping the ruined rice in the trash bin.

“We’re having potatoes instead.” The bottom of the pot was black so she hid the it

in the dishwasher. Snatching out the bag of potatoes, she dumped a couple in the

sink and scrubbed them.

Cassie watched in silence.

“Will you quit staring at me?” Miranda asked crossly.

“It’s like a train wreck. I want to look away, but I can’t.”

Miranda glanced at her through slitted eyes.

“I’m leaving, I’m leaving.” Cassie backed away with her hands up. “I have to get

my college application papers together anyway.”

“Good idea. Keep occupied for the rest of the night. Go check out your celebrity

gossip sites.”

“Aww, and miss you two being all lovey-dovey again? Poor me.”

“When were we lovey-dovey? Ever?”

“You guys used to be like those skunks on Bambi. All twitter-pated.”

Miranda sprinkled water at her. “Get out of here. And take Archer with you.”

“Come on Archer. I can see we aren’t appreciated.” The black dog panted his

smile, his dark eyes darting between the girls. He stayed seated, clearly not wanting

to leave the kitchen and its promises of treats.

“Fine, you can stay.” Miranda rubbed his tummy with the top of her foot.

“You’re better-looking anyway.”

“Miranda! Stress makes you cranky.”

Grinning, Miranda finished slicing the potatoes before adding them to a fresh

pot of water.

Jason’s Porsche rumbled down the driveway at six on the dot. Miranda ran to light

the candles and did a quick double-check. Tablecloth was out and the table set. The

wine glasses sparkled in the candle light. Her red dress fit her like a glove, and she

wore the shoes he liked, even though she felt like a tottering fool. And more

importantly, the oven was off. Nothing more had burned. She wanted to hug

herself with satisfaction.

Her heart pounded as he came up the porch steps. There was a moment of

silence and then a knock at the door. Miranda tipped her head and giggled,

excitement thrumming through her.

Hurrying to open the door, she nearly twisted an ankle.

Jason’s back was to her and he slowly turned. Still wearing his trademark torn

blue jeans, he had on a button-up green oxford. Its color heightened the shade of

his green eyes. He flashed her a crooked smile, filled with a newfound confidence.

The sight of him took her breath away.

“These are for you,” he said.

She glanced down at his hands. Hard working hands, calloused from years of

machine work, held a bouquet of flowers. Pink roses, her favorite.

“Thank you,” she said softly. Opening the door wider, she grinned. “Come on

in.”

“Lovely house,” he joked, his gaze sweeping the living room. Then he stopped,

his attention locked in the direction of the kitchen. “Wow. Dinner smells good.”

A small frown creased her brow. “Don’t act so surprised, Mister.”

He set the flowers on the table before reaching out to her. “Come here,” he

whispered. The intensity of his desire made her stomach flip.

Miranda stepped toward him. He wrapped her in his arms, buried his nose

against her neck and inhaled a deep, satisfied breath. “Mm, you smell so good.”

Slowly, Jason traced the skin on her neck with soft kisses. Miranda melted into

him. He trailed up to her ear and spoke in a husky whisper, “There’s never been a

man alive who’s loved a woman the way that I love you.” Her knees felt weak as she

clung to him, her pulse speeding up. His hand swept up her bare arm, and she

shivered. He made his way up to her mouth and kissed her with the assurance that

she was his.

All Miranda could think was, “Finally.”

They kissed for a long while, before Archer joined the party. He nudged Jason and

Miranda several times begging for attention, before finally jumping up and resting

his paws against Jason’s hip. After being jostled around, they broke apart and Jason

crouched to the floor. “Hey old buddy. That’s not how it’s supposed to work,” he

scolded while scratching the dog’s belly. “You’re supposed to help me get the girl,

not break us apart.” He gently pushed at Archer in a playful way. The dog pranced

and barked, his butt waggling, about to pounce. “Oh! You’re going to get me, huh?

Going to be that way?” Jason pushed the dog again, and the two of them wrestled in

a playful tussle.

Miranda nearly giggled as joy bubbled up inside her. I don’t know how we finally

got here but thank God we’re here.

After a minute, Jason stood. “Did I hear something about food?” He rubbed his

stomach and sniffed at the delicious odors filling the kitchen

Reaching for his hand, Miranda led him over to the table, where the food sat on

gleaming dishes.

“Wow sweetheart. You outdid yourself.” He pulled her close and kissed her

again.

“It’s not my fault if the food’s cold.”

“I like cold food,” he murmured back, not releasing her.

She laughed. “Your wish is my command.”

“Hmmm, I like the sound of that.” His half-grin cheekily appeared.

They sat at the table and Jason poured the wine. “How about a toast,” he said,

holding his glass out.

“Go ahead.” She held up hers.

He thought for a moment, staring into her eyes. “To truth, faith and life with

the one you love.”

Her lip lifted up at the corner. “Cheers.” They softly clinked glasses and took a

sip. The candlelight glimmered off the dishes, bathing everything in warm light.

Miranda sighed with contentment.

“So, where’s Cassie?” Jason asked, and scooped up a forkful of potatoes.

“I banished her to the dungeon.”

“I’m right here!” Cassie called from upstairs. Miranda rolled her eyes and Jason

laughed.

“Hi, Cassie!” he called.

She leaned over the stair rail and waved. “Hi, Jason!” Then she caught sight of

her sister’s irritated face. “I’m going. I’m going.” She disappeared back into her

room, slamming the door behind her.

Miranda smiled and stabbed at her green beans.

“So what do you think of TECH?” Jason asked.

“I love it. I can’t even tell you how much.”

“Me too. I feel like I was born to do this.”

“I agree. I think you were.”

“And cars,” he added. “Something about tearing an engine apart is soothing.”

Miranda paused. “Hmm, soothing for me is a cup of hot cocoa and my favorite

book. But different strokes, I guess.”

“I don’t know. You looked pretty good helping me bleed my brakes.”

“That wasn’t fun,” she reminded him. “That was love.”

He took the last bite of his food, adding, “It was love. As in, I loved seeing the

grease on your hands.”

She frowned, her gaze dropping to her hands at the memory. “That was actually

disgusting.”

Jason chuckled and balled up his napkin, leaving it on his plate. “Sorry, it’s what

you signed up for with that whole Bonnie and Clyde thing.”

“You’re saying you want me to help change the brakes out on your Porsche?”

“Maybe not.”

“That’s what I thought.” She poked a green bean at him with her fork. “You

should build your dream garage to work on your cars in.”

“Someday I plan to. Or maybe take one of those yacht trips around the world.

But right now, the money’s doing okay where it is, and TECH needs my attention.”

He smiled, his lip catching on his crooked tooth. “Want to go walk by the lake?”

“Yeah, let me change out of my heels.”

“I knew you didn’t throw them out.”

“Well, they have a short wear time. After an hour, I never want to wear them

again.” She walked to the door barefoot and slipped on her flip-flops. He followed,

grabbing her jacket off the hook and settling it around her shoulders.

The lake was beautiful and quiet. Two swans paddled across a puddle of

moonlight. Dark ripples followed them.

“They’re still here,” Jason said, his voice hitching in surprise.

“Yeah, I thought they’d be gone too. I actually had to go to the Farm-and-Feed

to get duck pellets to feed them, poor little confused things.” She grabbed his hand.

“Maybe they stayed just to welcome you home, Jason.”

He drew her close, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Together, they

walked down to the lake’s edge. Miranda leaned her head against his shoulder as

the water quietly lapped near their feet.

“Did you ever think we’d be here?” Miranda asked.

“You mean back together?”

She nodded and reached up to hold his hand.

“Yeah, deep down, I always felt it. To be honest,” he paused and pressed his lips

on the crown of her head, “I couldn’t imagine my life without you.”

ChapterThirty-Two

SPRING

ou guys are going out again?” Cassie asked as Jason pulled into the driveway.

Miranda nodded and shrugged into her sweater.

“I swear you haven’t quit smiling in three weeks.” Cassie squinted an eye at her

sister, sighing. “Twitter-pated.”

“Your turn is coming. Leif will be back before you know it.” Miranda said, before

running upstairs for her shoes.

Jason came up on the porch. Cassie gave him a cheeky smile as she greeted him

at the door. “Dude, I feel like I need to be playing the dad role here. Where’s my

shotgun?” She glanced playfully behind her.

Miranda skipped past her and pulled Jason down the stairs.

“Don’t bring her home too late, and don’t have too much fun!” Cassie yelled at

her sister’s retreating back.

“So, where are we going tonight?” Miranda asked as she hauled herself into the

truck.

“Where do you want to eat?”

“I could eat anywhere, honestly.”

“Okay, how about hamburgers?”

Miranda wrinkled her nose. “Mmmm, except hamburgers. I had one for lunch.”

“Oh, great—not this again,” Jason mumbled. Then, looked at her hopefully,

“Tacos?”

“Not really in the mood for tacos.”

“That’s it. Your voting privileges are revoked. We’re going for pizza and

bowling.” Jason winked at her. “I feel like living on the wild side. Now, come here.”

He dragged her across the bench seat and kissed her. “You miss me?”

“Just a little bit.”

Jason smiled at her comment. “It’s those romantic words. They kill me every

time.”

She laughed and reached out to touch his lip with her thumb. “Man, I love your

smile.”

His eyebrows shot up, looking askance. “Really? I hate my teeth.” His tongue

ran across them.

“

“Why? They’re so cute!”

“This one right here.” He tapped his crooked tooth. “It’s like a fang. I feel like

I’m half vampire.”

Miranda laughed. “I like it.

“Oh, yeah? Vell, come here. I vant to bite your neck.” He locked her in his arms

and began nibbling her neck. She gave one girly squeal before breaking out into her

trademark guffaw.

He released her and shifted the truck into gear. “All right, let’s get out of here.”

Jason ate the last bite of his pizza and handed Miranda the crust. “Your favorite

part.”

“Mmm thank you!” she said, taking a big bite.

“So you never mentioned. Is Dylan still at the dental office?”

She shook her head. “No, he went back home to his family in Massachusetts

after I broke it off. I guess you were right, he was just there for me. Don’t rub it in!”

Miranda shook her head as Jason’s eyes lit up. “Besides, you don’t have to worry

any more. I deleted him from my phone.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“To be honest, I didn’t do it for you. I needed a clean break from the both of

you.”

“What? You deleted my number too?”

Miranda blushed. “I’m sorry! What can I say, I was done with men at that

point.”

Jason shook his head. He grabbed his phone and began scrolling. Finding what

he was searching for, he passed it to Miranda.

It was a text message from last November. Miranda gasped when she saw

Dylan’s name. She glanced at Jason before reading again.

Jason had written:— Thanks for the check, I’ll put it to good use at the Center.

Dylan responded:—Thought I owed you something for the girl

(Miranda sucked in her breath, feeling like she had firecrackers for blood.)

—Miranda’s smarter than I was. She’ll figure it out and decide what’s best for

her.

—Took you long enough to tuck your tail and run

—Just keep telling yourself that. At the end of the day, I’m happy with my life.

She groaned at Dylan’s words and read them again. “Jason, you did so good. I

don’t think I’d have had the self control.” She handed the phone back with a half-

laugh. “To think, he was offering you money. Little did he know.”

He tapped it thoughtfully before sliding it into his pocket. “Thanks. I think that

was the moment I realized my self-worth couldn’t be wrapped up in what anyone

thought. Or their judgments.” His eyes held hers.

“You’re pretty hot when you’re confident.” She cuddled up to him. In the far left

corner of the restaurant, sirens blared and red lights flashed as some kid won a

video game. “Now, you ready to have me kick your butt at bowling?”

“Romantic words of poetry.” He grabbed the box of left-over pizza and took her

by the hand. “It’s on, buttercup. I ain’t going to go easy on you this time.”

They headed outside and rounded the corner to where his truck was parked by a

large dumpster. Miranda jerked when she heard thumping from inside the

container. Jason stared curiously at it.

A second later a teenage boy popped out, holding a grease-stained pizza box. He

gripped the metal sides of the dumpster with his free hand and hauled himself out.

It wasn’t until he slid down the wall that he realized he was being watched. He

offered them a shy smile, then bowed his head. The teen opened the box, revealing

half eaten slices and quickly shoved one into his mouth.

Miranda’s stomach dropped. “I’ve seen this kid out here before.”

“Yeah me too.” Jason let go of her hand and walked over to the teen. “Hey, you

doing okay?”

The boy looked up and grinned again, displaying gapped and crooked teeth.

“How are you doing, sir? I’m doing very good.” His voice was simple and slow. He

hesitantly held the pizza box out to them. “It’s pepperoni. My favorite. You can

have one.”

Miranda closed her eyes as tears welled up.

“Wow, that’s really nice of you.” Jason crouched next to him. “You’re kind of

young to be out here. You have a home?”

“Oh, I do, sir. It’s a good home. I live with Betsy and Bill. They like to sleep with

me.”

Jason’s eyes widened at the declaration, and he jammed his hands inside his

flannel coat pockets. “Betsy and Bill, huh? Are they your friends? Family?”

“Oh, they are very good friends sir.” The boy stood up. His sweat pants rose

three inches above his ankles, a pale knee poking through a hole. His drab olive-

colored coat showed dark charred marks up one arm. Miranda saw the bare skin of

his bony wrists and her heart hurt. It was a cold night.

“Good friends, huh? Do they know you’re out here?”

The boy’s gaze seemed to swim in and out of focus. “Yes, sir, they do. I’m

bringing pizza home for them.”

It was then Miranda noticed a pile of old pizza boxes stacked on the ground next

to him.

“They like pizza, huh?” Jason continued.

The boy nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, sir, they do. If I’m not careful they’ll eat

it all.”

“What’s your name?”

“They call me Danny, sir. My name is Danny.” Each statement the teen made

was underscored with the same open grin.

“I’m Jason.” He held out his hand. Danny studied it for a second, then grabbed it

awkwardly and began to shake.

“My name’s Danny. How do you do?”

Jason grinned. “I’m good. Want to go get something to eat?”

“And leave these? Oh, no, sir. I’d like a cheeseburger, but I must bring these

back to my family.”

Jason nodded. He bent and picked up the pile of boxes one by one. Danny

watched him anxiously. “Good?” Jason asked when he stood.

“Yes that’s a good haul for today. It’s a good day!” Danny pumped his fist in the

air and danced in a circle, his feet nearly tripping over what appeared to be size

thirteen sneakers. “Betsy and Bill will be happy tonight!”

Jason handed them to Miranda. Danny’s forehead instantly creased in concern.

Jason raised his hand. “Don’t worry, she isn’t taking them. She’s going to keep

them safe while I get you a burger.”

Danny’s anxiety visibly ratcheted up. He rocked from heel to toe and pulled on

his coat sleeve.

“She’s coming with us,” Jason said. Danny immediately calmed when he saw

Miranda follow them with the pizza.

The three of them walked down the street to the fast food joint. Jason ordered

Danny several cheeseburgers and a couple of pints of milk.

“Can we drive you home?” Jason asked.

Danny stared at him suspiciously. “Momma always said don’t go with strangers

in a car. I better not.”

Jason nodded. “How about I walk you home? Help you carry this?” He gestured

to the food.

Danny’s simple face visibly brightened. “That sounds a-okay with me. And then

you can meet Betsy and Bill.” His mouth turned down briefly in a frown. “But they

might be shy. Yes, if they hear you, they might hide.”

“Okay, I’ll be quiet.” Jason held a finger over his lips. “And if you want me to

stop, I’ll stop.”

Danny nodded again, happy with that resolution. “Four boxes of pizza! It’s going

to be a great day today. Today is a great day!”

Jason leaned over to Miranda and spoke quietly in her ear. “I’m not sure how

safe it is. So stay with the truck and wait for my phone call.”

“Lovely,” Miranda murmured. “What happens if you need help and can’t make a

call?”

Jason looked at her like she was silly. “Trust me. I’ve been in worst situations. I

can take care of myself.” He winked and then headed up the sidewalk with Danny.

The boy led Jason down an alley and they disappeared.

The wind blew down the front of Miranda’s coat, the ground squelching under

her feet from an earlier cold rain. She shivered and pulled the coat around her

tighter as she unlocked the truck door. Once inside, she swiveled the knob for the

heat and held her cold fingers close to the vent. An oldies song came on, making

her smile. Jason suddenly had a new affinity for the 60s channel. It cracked her up

to watch him lip sync (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.

She fished out her cell phone and began surfing Facebook. After a while, she

checked on the time; just ten minutes had passed. It might be a long night. She

flipped to her Kindle app and began investigating her top one hundred places to

visit list.

Thirty minutes later there was a tap on the window and Miranda stifled a

scream. Jason motioned her to unlock the door. She clicked the button and he

climbed in.

“Wow,” he said, staring straight ahead. He shook his head and then glanced

over at her.

“I thought you were going to text me to pick you up?”

“You couldn’t have gotten to me. We left the road just about there,” He

indicated two buildings ahead. “He took me through a maze of buildings that

eventually led to an overpass.” Jason blinked, still seemingly in disbelief.

“Miranda, he lives under a bridge. He doesn’t even have half the stuff we had when

we were homeless.”

“What?”

“Yeah, no tarp, no pots, no blankets. Just some cardboard boxes. Yet, he was

really proud.” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. “His friends are

animals. A stray cat and some black bird that appears for the pizza crusts.”

“Oh, no.” Miranda was horrified. “How did this happen? Can you bring him back

to TECH?”

Jason shook his head. “He said he didn’t want to go.”

They both sat there in silence. Miranda digested the news of the suffering of this

homeless teen.

“What do we do? Should we call the police?”

“I’m not sure that would be the best thing. Tonight I want to get him some

blankets.”

“How about a tent?”

“I’d love to do it,” Jason said. “But somehow, seeing how proud he was of the

home he’d made…well, I think it would hurt his pride.”

Jason started the truck and drove to Target.

Once inside, Jason cautioned. “I don’t want to overwhelm him. I’m just going to

get some basic camping gear and a warm sleeping bag.”

“And a hat.” Miranda added.

“Okay, a hat.” Jason agreed.

“And maybe some new clothes? A new jacket?”

“I don’t think he’d understand why we were giving it to him. He thinks what he

owns is good enough.”

Miranda nodded. “How about some fire starting stuff?”

Jason’s eyes flickered with worry. “I don’t know. His coat was pretty scorched.

I’m not sure how that happened, but giving him access to fire might not be a good

thing. But we’ll figure out the next step soon. This is just for tonight.”

They quickly located what they needed in the camping aisle. On the way to the

cash registers, Miranda snagged a Seahawks beanie from a display. Jason arched his

eyebrow at it. “You better hope he’s a fan.”

“He doesn’t have to keep it if he doesn’t like it,” she said matter-of-factly.

They loaded the truck and Miranda drove them back to the alley. Jason pulled out

the bags and tucked the sleeping bag under his arm. “Hopefully this is going to go

well, and he doesn’t freak out when I show up uninvited.”

With that, he headed behind the building.

Miranda bit her thumbnail. The area was dark although she’d parked under the

one remaining street light. She didn’t want to look to closely at the buildings, afraid

to get spooked. She reached for the radio, but hesitated, feeling like she need

things to be quiet, to listen, although she didn’t know what she was listening for.

This is silly. Miranda opened Facebook. But she was so distracted, the posts blurred

into a meaningless jumble.

Jason finally walked out of the alley, a big smile lighting up his face. He drew

closer and gave her a thumbs-up.

“Everything went well?” she asked, a little breathless as he climbed in.

“Yeah, well, Danny was shocked to see me again. Told me not to come any closer

or he would sic his friend Bill on me. But he calmed down when he remembered

who I was.

“How could he even see you?”

“He had a flashlight. Which reminds me, I need to get him some batteries.

Anyway, he liked all the stuff. But guess what his favorite thing was?”

“What?”

“The beanie! Man, Miranda, you hit it out of the park with that one! He was so

excited. Yanked it on his head right away and told me all about how they played last

season.”

“How does he know?”

“I guess he watches the game where ever he can. Probably outside pub

windows.”

Miranda’s eyes glistened. Jason pulled the collar of her coat warmly around her

neck, then brushed a tear off her cheek. “We’re a good team. I know this is hard.

He’s going to be okay tonight. Tomorrow we’ll see what else we can do for him.”

ChapterThirty-Three

SPRING

few days later, Jason brought Danny to the TECH. The moment he saw the

teenagers bustling inside, Danny backed around the corner, too afraid to enter.

Miranda stayed outside for a while and tried to coax him in. He’d grinned shyly and

ducked his head. When Miranda brought him a peanut butter sandwich and some

water, he pocketed them and walked away.

They always knew where to find him. Every night he was outside the pizza place

after it closed. Over time, they’d learned more about him. A former foster kid, he’d

aged out of the system at the end of the school year on his eighteenth birthday. The

crew at TECH exhausted all the resources they could find trying to find help for

him. All the adult homes were full, or didn’t have openings for someone in his

situation.

Danny showed no interest in moving and when Jason brought out a catalogue of

tents, he simply shook his head, confused. “Why do I want that, Jason? It might

scare Bill. Bill doesn’t like new things. No sir, he does not.”

“He might like this. Hey, here’s a spot Bill could rest on the top.”

Danny studied the picture with a worried frown. He stood up. “Nope. Bill would

not like that. No sir.”

Jason gave up. He pulled out some new socks emblazoned with the Seahawks

logo. “Okay, no worries. Hey, look what I found the other day.”

Danny took them with a big grin, dropped to the floor right there and began

untying his shoes. Even though his socks were in tatters, he carefully peeled them

off. After laying them aside, he pulled the new ones on, yanking the blue and green

socks right over the cuffs of his pants. Jason opened his mouth to mention

something to him but Danny was so proud. “Look at my socks. WOW! I’m a real

Twelve!”

“Yes, you are, Danny. The Seahawks are lucky to have a fan like you.” He

clapped Danny softly on the back.

Jason hoofed it around the local businesses to see if anyone might be willing to

give Danny a chance. He finally found a place, Hanger’s Bar and Grill, that offered

Danny a part-time job.

The Grill had been there for twenty-six years, with gouged tables and a dark

planked floor. The walls were stained a sticky yellow from years of cigarette smoke,

although new laws made it illegal to light a cigarette within twenty feet of the door.

The owner, Mike, was a crusty old man who always dressed in worn Carhartts. His

back pocket had a permanent white circle from carrying a can of chew. “It’s just

cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen. Nothing glamorous.” He spit.

“Yeah, that’s fine.” Jason said. Later in the afternoon he rounded Danny up and

walked him over to the Grill.

“Nice socks,” was the first thing out of Mike’s mouth.

Danny’s face reddened as his mouth stretched into an enormous grin. “I’m a

real Twelve, sir.”

“That’s great. You’ll fit in fine here. Think you can push a broom and wipe stuff

down?”

Danny nodded, his dark eyes following Mike’s every move.

“Welcome aboard.” Mike held open the back door for Danny, following after him

with a cursory wave to Jason.

“I’ll come by tonight and check how it’s going,” Jason said and jumped down the

cement steps.

That night, when Jason arrived he found Danny sitting in a wooden booth with a

cheeseburger in front of him. The teen had on a new pair of jeans and a thick

flannel jacket. Jason shot him a thumb’s-up and walked over to Mike standing

behind the counter.

“New clothes?” Jason tipped his head in Danny’s direction.

“Kid earned it,” Mike said, wiping out a beer stein. “He’s a hard worker. He did a

better job than my wife scrubbing the house on Easter morning when my mother is

coming.”

“That’s awesome news.”

“Don’t go thinking I’m getting soft about the clothes.” He blinked, appearing

exactly like a man with a soft spot. “I had some old stuff lying around.”

Jason bit back a laugh. Danny was about six inches taller than Mike, although

Mike probably outweighed him by fifty pounds.

“I think this is going to work out. Not sure how to pay him though.” Mike set

the stein on the counter and reached for another from the soapy water.

“We’ll figure that out,” Jason said. “It’s kind of new for me too.”

“The thing is, I do have a back room. Maybe he’d like to stay there. It’s still

pretty cold outside at night. “

Jason sighed. “I’d love for that to work out. But we’ve got an issue to deal with

because he doesn’t want to leave his pets.”

“Pets?”

“Yeah, he’s got a crow he calls Bill and a stray cat he feeds.”

Mike nodded his head and continued to wipe. “That would be a problem. Can’t

imagine the health department being too excited about me having animals here.”

“Yeah. It’s been something we’ve been trying to figure out.”

Danny chortled along with the laugh track on the TV and took another bite of his

hamburger. Jason squinted to see what he was watching. Saved by the Bell. He

smiled, a kid after his own heart.

“Listen, you find a home for his pets, and he’s got a place to stay. Easy as that,”

Mike declared firmly. He loaded the glasses on the shelf behind him. Jason nodded.

Not quite as easy as Mike was thinking.

Jason thumped a double beat on the counter and stood to go talk with the teen.

“Hey, Danny,” he said as he slid into the bench across from him. Danny pulled

his gaze down from the TV long enough to say a quick, “Hello,” before his attention

was drawn again by the laugh track.

“You like working here with Mike?”

“Yes, I surely do sir. It’s a good job. He’s a Seahawks fan.”

Jason smiled. “I’m glad about that. I’m proud of you. You keep making me

proud, okay?”

Danny nodded as he chewed on a French fry.

“And you know how to find me. You know where TECH is, right?”

Danny shifted nervously on the bench and nodded.

“You need me, come there. You don’t have to go inside. One of us will see you

and come out. Okay? Deal?” He held out his hand to the teen.

Danny looked at it a second, and grinned. “High Five!” He raised his hand to

slap Jason’s. Quickly, Jason raised his hand to catch the slap.

“All right, buddy. I’ll see you soon.” Jason lifted his hand and waved goodbye to

Mike on his way back to his truck.

Outside, his breath clouded in white. Jason pulled up his coat collar and hurried

to his car. How am I going to get this kid indoors?

In the truck he called Miranda. “Hey, babe. Good news, Mike and Danny seem to

be getting along.” He went on to explain the housing idea Mike had and his

concerns about Danny’s animals.

Miranda said, “I have an idea.”

Jason paused, all ears.

“Is there any way we can convince Danny to reconstruct the cardboard home for

the animals? We could make a cat bed, and a special bird stand just for them. And

he can bring food and check on them every day?”

Jason thought about it. “I don’t know how well he’d receive that suggestion

from me. I’ll call Mike later and run it by him. Hopefully, as one Seahawks fan to

another, he can do some convincing.”

“All right. You’re doing a good job by the way.”

Jason smiled in the darkness.

“I don’t know if I’ve said it, but I’m so proud of you.”

“Yeah, well, don’t get too proud yet. I don't know if this will work.” Jason

started the truck, quickly jumping to turn down the radio that blasted.

“You’re doing the best you can. I think you’re awesome And you can’t stop me.”

“I think you bring out the best in me.”

“That’s not true, Jason. You did this on your own. You brought out the best in

you.” Her voice was soft on the other end.

He squeezed his eyes with his thumb and fore-finger. Wow, he was becoming a

sap. “What are you doing right now?” Jason ran his hand over his chest, and

smiled. He couldn’t wait to see Miranda. He hoped she’d like the surprised he had

planned.

“Me? Getting ready to eat dinner.”

Jason groaned. “Tell me it’s not Toasty O’s.”

In answer, Miranda crunched in his ear.

He could imagine her smile. “I’ll be over in ten minutes. And I’ll bring Chinese.

If,” he paused with a wicked grin, “you’re still hungry.”

“Way to give a girl in a face mask and her pajama’s some warning. Make it

fifteen, for crying out loud. I’m not a miracle worker here. And I like General

Tsao’s,” she threw in before hanging up.

Twenty minutes later, he arrived at the house.

“I come bearing gifts,” he announced, carrying the bags to the counter. She

came around the corner fresh faced and in yoga pants.

Jason reached for Miranda and tilted her head back for a kiss. She breathed in

the woody scent of his cologne and wrapped her arms around his neck. Jason picked

her up and set her on the counter, running his hands up her back. His hands traced

the lines of her body until they rested at the curve of her neck. Stroking his thumb

at the side of her cheek, he pressed against her, his mouth pushing her lips open,

gentle, then firm. She shivered, so overwhelmed by his love, so taken away by the

force of him, she felt she would surely come apart. “Where’s Cassie?” he

murmured against her lips.

“Studying upstairs,” she whispered back.

“Good.” He pulled away still holding onto her waist. She gently brushed his hair

off his forehead. His face grew serious, and he grabbed her hand and laid it over his

chest. His heart beat wildly under her palm. Jason closed his eyes and swallowed

hard.

Miranda held her breath as she looked at him, her face losing color. “Is

everything okay?” she gasped.

His green eyes darkened as he stared intently at her. “I’ve got something to

show you. I don’t want you to freak out.”

Miranda swallowed and her spine stiffened. “Usually whatever follows, ‘don’t

freak out,’ is never a good thing.”

Jason licked the corner of his lip. “I’m not saying it’s good or bad. It’s special.

That makes it good. At least to me. But you don’t have to think it’s special. You

don’t have to think anything about it at all.”

“Wow, what a build-up, Jason.” Miranda slid off the counter and wrapped her

arms around herself. “At this point I don’t know if I should run screaming, jump

for joy, or be nonchalant. Way to give me a clue.”

Jason gave a ghost of his half-smile. “Sorry. I’ve been thinking about this

moment for a long, long time.” His hand caught hers and brought it to the hem of

his shirt. Releasing it, he slowly drew his t-shirt up.

Her eyes traveled up his toned abdomen, stopping on his chest. Over his heart

was a tattoo of a curving “S” scroll, entwined with its mirrored twin. She traced it

gingerly with her finger. He stared down at her, watching for her reaction.

“It’s beautiful. What does it represent?” she asked.

“They represent swans.” His eyes softened. “Maybe if you squint.”

Her palm flattened over the tattoo and she squeezed her eyes tight. Don’t cry,

don’t cry, she told herself, but there was no stopping her tears from spilling down

her cheeks. “Jason.…”

“Hey,” he tipped her chin up. “You know why I chose swans, right? From when

we were kids.”

She nodded her head, unable to answer over the lump in her throat.

“Open your eyes. You’re worrying me.”

Miranda opened them and stared up at him. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

“The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

A loud sigh escaped him and he crushed her to him. “Oh, thank God. I’ve been

stressing you wouldn’t like it.”

“Why wouldn’t I like it?”

“Because they represent us.”

His words caused her to suck in her breath and she surrendered to the tears.

“You’re breaking me here, Jason.”

“In a good way?”

“Always. Always. Always.”

ChapterThirty-Four

MAY

he day couldn’t have been more beautiful. Birds chirped outside. Fat, pink

blossoms on the trees swayed in the gentle spring breeze.

The dog barked nonstop.

Miranda held her hands over her ears for a second. “Archer! Cool it! What is your

problem?” He barked again and scratched at the window. Waddling up the lawn

were the two summer swans. They’d left briefly only to return two months later.

Archer was excited to see them, probably craving a feathery snack.

She rolled her eyes. “Dude, not now. I have enough troubles.”

Jason’s surprise birthday party was supposed to be in one hour. Cassie was with

Jason, taking him on a rabbit trail of errands. Miranda smirked at the memory of

the horror on his face when Cassie told him her plans. “Why do I have to go?” he’d

complained.

“How am I supposed to know what kind of spark plugs my car needs? This is

your department, big brother. And while we’re out.…” her voice rambled on going

over the list in her hand. He’d shot Miranda a look of pure misery as he trailed after

Cassie to the car.

From the rear of the house came a large, mechanical growl. Miranda jerked, her

eyes wide, and immediately cringed. The noise erupted from the washing machine,

sounding as though it was walking across the house towards her. A violent metal-

on-metal squeal cut off the growl. Heart in her throat, she sprinted to the laundry

room.

Her feet sloshed in water as she neared the laundry room. “Oh no, no, no. Not

today!” she cried and threw open the door. Water gushed through the opening, a

dustbin escaping on a sudsy tidal wake. “Mother of—” A sorrowful laugh escaped

her. She clung to the doorframe, staring at the disaster. “I don’t think I have

enough towels to soak this up…” she whispered. “I don’t think there are enough

towels.”

The washing machine gurgled again, and another gush of bubbly water exploded

from beneath it. Her eye caught the electric vacuum still plugged in, it’s front end

fully submerged, and traced the ripples back to her own feet. “Oh… this isn’t

good.”

Miranda ran downstairs for the fuse box in the back entry way. She stepped over

rows of Jason’s old boots and sidled next to the water heater where the box was

located in the wall. Flipping open the silver door, she studied the breakers. The

identifying words had long worn off of the labels, leaving greasy smears. She

gritted her teeth in frustration and finally hit the full house breaker.

The house fell into silence as the hum of the refrigerator ceased. Miranda jetted

back through the living room and glanced at the clock. Her eyes widened. “I’m

supposed to be there in twenty minutes!” she yelled, taking the stairs two at a

time. Halfway up she slipped on the wooden step and crashed on her shin.

Collapsing into a ball, she cursed silently, holding her leg. When the pain finally

subsided she moved her hand to look. A long strip of skin rolled up like a

parchment along the shinbone. Miranda closed her eyes. “Wow. Just freaking

wow.”

Archer padded up the stairs and sniffed at her injury. “Yeah, now you want to

help,” she muttered. Pulling herself up with the banister, she limped back to the

laundry room.

It was dark in the room with the power off. She sloshed toward the machine.

Running her hand along the wall behind it, she located the shut off valve and

quickly turned it off.

Splashing back, she raced to the linen closet and emerged with armfuls of

towels. Not even close to being enough. On the second trip to the linen closet she

raked out the sheets, pillowcases, hand towels and even wash cloths. “Swimming

in the river; sun on my head.” The lyrics to the song popped in her head and she

instantly sang them. Girl, you are cracking up. Miranda threw the linens down on

the water. How lovely that everything we own is now gross and dirty. She narrowed

her eyes at the broken washing machine. And no way to clean them.

As she soaked up the last of the water, she glanced at the clock and saw it was

already fifteen minutes past the hour.

Her leg throbbing, she hurried down the hall to her bedroom. Miranda yanked

open a drawer to reveal a pair of jeans—paint-splotched from a house project—and

two t-shirts. “Might have been a pinch behind in the laundry this week,” she

muttered, pulling out the sock drawer. “Maybe this month,” she amended,

throwing a thin-lipped smile to Archer. “Well. It won’t be hard to find something

to wear.”

Miranda tugged the clean shirt on and eased the pants over her injured leg. She

brushed her hair back and secured it with a ponytail holder, a few short pieces

falling around her face. “No time for make-up today, Archer. I’m going out looking

like the walking dead. Happy. Birthday. Boyfriend.” Pinching her cheeks, she

grimaced at the mirror. “Hopefully all eyes are on him.”

She shoved her feet into a pair of sandals and scampered down the stairs. “Now

where’s my purse?” The living room was gloomy and dark with the power off. The

clock chimed the half-hour, and another colorful word flew out of her mouth. Calm

down. Cassie isn’t going to bring him until she hears from you.

Racing out to the Jeep, she heard her phone buzz. She juggled it out, nearly

dropping it as she unlocked the Jeep door.

Jason’s friend, Doug, wrote—Where are you?

“For crying out loud!” she yelled, knuckles turning white as she gripped the

phone in a shaking hand. She jumped into the car. Flipping down the sun visor

yielded a shower of hiking maps. “Not now one-hundred top list!” she shouted,

and shoved them to the floor. As she backed up the Jeep, she attempted the voice to

text application. “I’m so sorry I’m late! Disaster here, but I’m on my way.” She read

the screen. “Sorry I’m late, Dinosaur here in my way.”

“Thanks Siri.” Miranda rolled her eyes and hit Send. Doug was just going to have

to figure it out. She didn’t have time to fix it.

Miranda whipped the Jeep onto the highway. Fifteen minutes later, her exit

came up. Finally, with a gasp of relief, she pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot.

Lovely! The lot was already filled with cars she recognized. Don’t freak out, just

suck it up. She tucked the stray hairs back around her ears and opened the door.

Her purse fell face down on the parking lot tarmac. Miranda stared at it for a

second. Kill-me-now. Biting off a scream, she chased after Chapstick, pens, and

wallet, shoving them back into the purse. She snapped it shut and slammed the

jeep door.

The maître d’ held the door for her as she sprinted for the entrance.

“Hi!” she smiled. “I’m here for a party. I know I’m so late.”

“Don’t worry.” He nodded. “You didn’t miss the guest of honor.”

Oh thank you, Cassie! Miranda grinned, pulling out her phone as she followed

the maître d’ into the banquet room. She quickly texted—Bring Jason, I’m here!

The maître d’ opened the doors and, with a flourish of his arm, ushered her in.

The room was quieter than it should have been, so filled with people. “Hi guys!”

she squealed, spying her friends. “You freaking can’t believe the day I’ve had. I’m

sorry I’m late, but we did it! He’s going to be so surprised.” Her eyes caught the

displays on the tables, and icy fear rushed through her veins. What are all these red

roses here for? She whirled around to the maître d’, her hand on her forehead.

“Something’s the matter. Do you have us in the wrong room? We’re supposed to

have a bunch of Over-the-Hill balloons!”

He nodded at her words but made no reply. Confused she spun back to the

group. “You guys! This is all wrong!” She waved her hands at the flowers. I

shouldn’t have trusted Jason’s friends to decorate. I freaking knew this would

happen if I wasn’t here. “Quick! Hide them before he gets here!”

Jason’s work buddies, Doug, even Claudia stared at her with blank faces.

Slowly, the crowd parted, and Jason came forward, his mouth curled into a half-

grin.

Miranda stopped, open mouth and speechless. “What the—?”

“Hi, my love,” he said, his voice low and husky.

Miranda’s gaze flashed around at the crowd. “What’s going on?”

Cassie waved, her face split by a huge smile. Got you! she mouthed. Several

people clapped. Some chuckled softly. Her blue eyes fastened back on Jason.

Suddenly she felt silly.

He walked up to her, and she raised her hand to his cheek. “What are you doing

here, Jason?”

“You’re so beautiful.”

Miranda raised her hand self-consciously to her frowsy hair. “Oh, crap! I forgot!

I look like a werewolf!”

He laughed and cupped the back of her head, resting his forehead against hers.

Slowly, he drew her closer in for a long kiss. A few whistles rose around them.

Jason pulled away and whispered again. “You’re gorgeous.”

Miranda smiled. “You make me feel beautiful.”

He took a twist of her hair and wound it lightly around one of his fingers. Gently

he tickled the wisp across her nose. “What we have is real. More real than anything

else in my life. I want it to last forever. You are my best friend, my rock, and the

love of my life. My Bonnie. I’m never letting you go again.” He bent down to one

knee and pulled a velvet box from his pocket. “Miranda—”

She gasped and covered her mouth. Jason reached out his hand to her and

Miranda grasped it and fell to her knees next to him.

He gave his half smile, showing his crooked tooth. “You’re suppose to remain

standing, hun.”

“Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be,” she whispered, squeezing his

hand tightly.

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You are my heart. I don’t know what

life has in store for us, but I do know we will always climb those mountains

together. Sometimes you’ll be pulling me, and sometimes I’ll be pushing you.”

A few quiet laughs filled the air around them.

“One thing I know for sure is, I can’t live my life without you. Will you marry

me?”

She nodded without speaking, her eyes locked on his. He snapped open the box

to reveal a simple white gold ring with a diamond solitaire. On each side of the

setting, the slender necks of two swans, in the shape of an S, reached up to support

the diamond. Miranda drew in her breath, her eyes glistening. He slipped it on her

finger and pulled her to him. Slowly they kissed, his arms wrapping tightly around

her. “I love you, Miranda.”

“I love you so much, Jason. Partners in crime forever.”

“And ever, and ever,” he murmured back.

The End

Thank you for reading! For Book One, free through kindle unlimited, click here-

Wrecked and Yours

For my list of other books, including true stories of my own homelessness, click

here-

CeeCee James Author Page

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Document Outline

Title Page
Dedication
1. Jason, Sixteen Years Old
2. Summer-Present day
3. Summer
4. Summer
5. Summer
6. Jason 16 years old
7. Jason 16 years old
8. Summer Present Day
9. Summer
10. Summer
11. Summer
12. Summer
13. Autumn
14. Autumn
15. Autumn
16. Autumn
17. Autumn
18. Autumn
19. Autumn
20. Autumn
21. Autumn
22. Autumn
23. Autumn
24. Autumn
25. Winter
26. Winter
27. Winter
28. Winter
29. Winter
30. Winter
31. Winter
32. Spring
33. Spring
34. May
Copyright

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