Secrets in willow height.., p.1
Secrets in Willow Heights, page 1
SECRETS IN WILLOW HEIGHTS
WILLOW HEIGHTS SERIES BOOK SIX
ABIGAIL BECK
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
CHAPTER 1
“So, this concludes our tour of Willow Acres. What do you think?” Thomas asked as they walked into the main office through the back door.
Bailey and Lisa were standing nearby, pretending like they were listening in on the conversation, making Mary Elle quietly giggle.
“I like it. It looks like you all have a great team, and I’m very grateful that you are allowing me to work here,” Omar said.
After interviewing a few people, David and Thomas decided to give the job of running the Inn at Willow Acres to Omar. Omar had many years of experience running an Inn, and he seemed like the perfect fit.
“I knew you would be perfect for our little team as soon as my sister DeeAnn showed me your resume,” Mary Elle said, smiling proudly.
She and DeeAnn helped go through all the applicants and followed up with references. They had taken the task very seriously because they understood how important this was for Thomas.
“Please give your sister my thanks. I needed a new place to start over, and this small town looks like just the place,” Omar said, and by the look on his face, Mary Elle could tell he needed a fresh start.
Mary Elle wanted to know what might be troubling him but decided now wasn’t the right time. Once he was working here, she would get to know him and help him in any way she could. Everyone at Willow Acres was very close-knit. They spent a lot of time together at work and outside of work.
“My family and I can attest that this is just the place if you’re looking for a new beginning,” Mary Elle said with a giggle as they walked Omar out.
No matter how much time had passed, Mary Elle was still in awe that this was her life now. She had found a love like the one she shared with Thomas, and her daughters had also found happiness here. She wanted everyone else to experience the same love and joy that her family had found. They said their goodbyes and watched as Omar drove away. Thomas put an arm around Mary Elle and kissed the top of her head.
“I don’t know how I kept this place running all these years without you,” he said.
Mary Elle wrapped an arm around his waist and squeezed him. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. This place is nothing without you.”
“Do you have plans for tonight, Mrs. Clarke?”
“I do not. What were you thinking?” Mary Elle asked as she glanced up to see him smiling.
“I thought it would be nice to take you out to dinner. It’s been a while since we went on a date,” he said as he wiggled his brows.
“I would love that!” Mary Elle said and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
Between work and raising a teenager, they weren’t getting to spend as much time as they used to. She missed how things used to be, but at the same time, she wouldn’t change anything at all. They were building a great life together, and there was no one else she’d rather do life with than with Thomas.
Thomas went on his way to meet with David at the sanctuary, and Mary Elle went off to her office with a smile on her face. She checked her phone to see if she had a message from her son, Michael, but there was no sign of him. What should have been a joyous moment for them had taken a wrong turn when her ex-husband Bill had a mini-stroke during their daughter's wedding reception.
To make matters worse, they found out Michael’s fiancée, Samantha, had been one of Bill’s mistresses and used Michael to get to Bill. No one had heard from Michael since this all happened, and they were all extremely worried about him. Mary Elle reached out to a few of Michael’s friends, and they confirmed he was back in California and back at work. That eased her concerns a little, but still, a mother never stops worrying.
“Good morning!” Tiffany, her youngest, said as she walked into her mother's office.
“Good morning, honey. What brings you here?” Mary Elle asked as Tiffany took a seat across from her and placed a coffee in front of her.
Tiffany had moved to Willow Heights not long ago and worked at the town’s Inn.
“I wanted to surprise David, but I can’t find him anywhere,” Tiffany said.
David was Thomas’ nephew and Tiffany’s boyfriend. It had taken some convincing to get Tiffany to open up her heart and let David in. Her daughters had a hard time trusting men after seeing everything Mary Elle had been through. Her biggest regret was not speaking up during her marriage to Bill or standing up for herself. She wished she could’ve been a better role model for her girls.
“Mm, this is good. What flavor is it?” Mary Elle asked as she set the coffee down after taking a couple of sips.
“It’s French vanilla toffee. I thought it would be too sweet, but it’s good.”
“Marcy comes up with the best mixtures. David must be at the sanctuary. Thomas went over to help him with some things,” Mary Elle said as she took another sip of coffee.
She and her girls all suffered from a severe coffee addiction. Marcy, the Busy Bee Coffee Shop owner, only made their addiction stronger by making the best coffee in the world. She was constantly trying different flavors, and each was better than the last.
“Really? I’m sure he told me he would have an early morning here to help Thomas.”
“Did you try calling him?”
“Yes, but it just goes to voicemail,” Tiffany said with a shrug.
“They’re probably busy,” Mary Elle said. She knew how those two were when they were working on a project.
Some days, they would even forget to eat or take breaks. Mary Elle had to remind them constantly to eat or rest.
“Yeah, maybe I misheard him. At least I'm getting to spend some time with you,” Tiffany said, blessing her mother with her beautiful smile.
“Yes, and I love having you here, but I need to run. Where’s Ryder?” Mary Elle asked as she looked around the room and did not spot him anywhere.
She knew Tiffany wasn’t used to caring for a child alone and hoped she hadn’t forgotten him anywhere.
“He’s at the Inn with Mrs. Adelman. Don’t worry, mom. I didn’t forget about him,” Tiffany said before giving her mom a quick hug. It was as if she had read her mind.
“Thanks for stopping by and for the coffee. Kiss Ryder from me.”
“Any time!” Tiffany called out as she walked out the door.
“You look nervous,” Paul commented as he glanced over at DeeAnn.
DeeAnn was sitting on the passenger seat of his car and hadn’t stopped fidgeting the entire car ride. She thought she had been doing an excellent job of hiding how nervous she was, but there was no fooling, Paul.
She forgot how attentive to detail he was, which was the thing that she loved most about him. He always remembered random comments she would make when she thought he was listening. For instance, she told him she had always wanted to ride a hot-air balloon, and he surprised her with tickets for the Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Winding Creek in a couple of weeks.
“Just a bit,” she says and tries to give him a reassuring smile.
Paul takes hold of her hand and brings it to his lips.
“Everything will be okay,” he says as he places her hand back on her lap.
They were going to meet DeeAnn’s biological father for the first time. DeeAnn couldn’t believe the day had finally arrived. She’s wondered what her father might be like since she was young. Did he know about her? Why did he never try to visit her if he had known? Of course, she loved her father, that raised her, but her biological father was always in the back of her mind. Did she have any other siblings? Did they look like her at all?
Her stomach did flips at just the thought of meeting him. She looked over at Paul and began to tear up. All those years when she was lonely and without family were far behind. She now had a relationship with her sister. She would meet her father and have a man that loved her and supported her. What more could she possibly want? A small voice in her head whispered, “kids,” but she shook her head. She and Paul hadn’t discussed having kids yet, but she was sure he would be a fantastic father one day.
The radio plays her favorite song, and she turns up the volume. DeeAnn starts singing, and Paul joins in. Paul loves singing just as much as she does, even though he is often out of tone. She’s often thought he might need to get a hearing test done, but she never says anything, not wanting to hurt his feelings. So, what if he sings out of tune or doesn’t hear her sometimes? No one is perfect. At least he’s gentle and kind. He loves her, and he helped her find her father. He’s perfect just the way he is.
“Can you believe we are finally meeting my dad?” She asks as she looks out at the road signs signaling that they are about thirty minutes away.
“I am very happy for you. I only want the best for you, Dee. In every aspect of your life,” Paul says as he quickly takes his eyes off the road and smiles at her.
“Thanks. Is everything okay?” DeeAnn asks as she takes her feet off the dashboard and sits up. She doesn’t like the way he said that or how it made her feel.
“Yes, everything is fine. Why do you ask?” Paul asks without taking his eyes off the road.
“You
DeeAnn had been hoping that she was wrong. She loved Paul, and she didn’t want to imagine a life without him. But he had been distant lately. He kept canceling their morning meet-ups at the coffee shop. He didn’t come around as often as he used to, and he always seemed too busy for date nights.
“You have a lot going on, and I didn’t want to say anything...” Paul begins to say but trails off.
“Say what? Is there someone else?” DeeAnn isn’t one for jealous outbursts, but she can’t help asking. What else could explain why he’s been acting so distant lately?
“No, of course not. How can you even ask that?” Paul asks and quickly glances at her before looking back at the road.
“Then what is it?” DeeAnn asks as she turns in her seat to face him.
She wants to get to the bottom of this even if it hurts. She needs to know what’s going on between them.
“Do you want to talk about this now? We’re about to meet your dad. This is supposed to be one of the best days of your life.”
“Yes, I want to discuss this now. If not, this is all I'm going to think about all day.”
Paul pulls into a parking lot and turns to face DeeAnn once the car is parked. He tries to take her hands in his, but she pulls them away.
“I am moving back to Colorado at the end of the month. The tree farm is up and running, and so is the produce farm. There is not much else for me to do in Willow Heights.”
DeeAnn felt her heartbreak into a million little pieces. How could he say there was not much else for him to do in Willow Heights? What about her? What about their future together? Had he only been looking for someone to pass the time with?
“Dee, say something,” Paul says with a pleading look. He had tears in his eyes, but DeeAnn wasn’t sure if that meant anything.
She wasn’t sure what was real anymore. Did he ever truly love her? Was this just a fling for him?
“How could you do this? Why would you come into my life if you were just planning on leaving? You gave me hope for a future, but all of it meant nothing!” she’s shouting now, but she can’t help it. She’s never felt so betrayed in her life.
“That’s not true, Dee. I love you, and I would love a future with you, but I never intended for Willow Heights to be my home. I want you to come with me. I'm sure you would love it there.”
“I feel like such a fool,” DeeAnn says as she angrily wipes the tears off her face and storms out of his car. She can’t stand looking at him anymore. She didn’t want to be near him anymore. What was the point of letting her guard down? What was the point of giving someone her heart if he would only break it? How could he do this to her?
“DeeAnn, where are you going?” Paul asks as he follows her and tries to grab hold of her arm.
“Get away from me!” DeeAnn says as she yanks her arm away from his reach and wipes at the tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Dee, please. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Please come back to the car. Let’s talk about this,” Paul says as his voice cracks. DeeAnn doesn’t need to look at him to know he’s crying.
“Paul, if you ever cared for me, leave me alone!” she says with her back to him. She has to remain strong.
“I can’t leave you here in the middle of nowhere, Dee. Let me at least drive you to your dad's house. Then I'll leave, and you’ll never hear from me again. I promise.”
“I'll call a taxi. Just leave me alone, please.”
Paul says nothing at first. He quietly stands before softly saying, “I’m sorry,” and slowly walks away.
DeeAnn wasn’t sure what she expected him to do. Maybe she thought he would try harder to convince her to go to Colorado. Instead, he gave up so quickly. She lets the tears roll down her face and grabs her phone to call a taxi, but the tears are in the way, and she can barely make out her phone screen. How did this happen? Why couldn’t she ever get a happy ending?
“Today’s the big day, Ryder,” Tiffany said as she dressed Ryder after bathing him, “Mommy and daddy are coming home today.”
“I’m so excited to see them,” Mary Elle said as she handed Tiffany a clean diaper and socks. She was still picking out an outfit for him to wear for the homecoming.
“They’ve been gone for two weeks, but it feels like much longer,” Tiffany said as she gently brushed Ryder’s hair.
“He’s such a cutie pie,” David said as he helped Mary Elle find a polo shirt and some khaki shorts for Ryder to wear.
“You’re a natural,” Mary Elle said teasingly.
Tiffany nodded in agreement and gave him a wide smile.
“This little man is ready to greet his parents,” David said, but Mary Elle couldn’t help but notice that he was blushing.
Mary Elle loved seeing David and Tiffany together. They were such a great match and brought out the best in each other. This is what she had always wanted for all her kids. She felt her chest tighten as she thought of Michael. Maybe if she had spoken up about her disregard for Samantha, none of this would’ve happened. It was too late, and she had no idea where her son was.
They heard the garage door open, and excitement filled the air. Melanie and Cade were finally home!
“Welcome home!” Thomas said as he opened the door for them.
Thomas and Wyatt helped put up a ‘Welcome Home’ sign and balloons. There were some light snacks on a table. It wasn’t a full-on party, but they wanted another chance to celebrate the newlyweds. Britney had gone back to New York City the day before but left Melanie and Cade with a fruit basket and some champagne for them to enjoy when they got back. Brittney and Jasper were still taking things slow and getting to know each other. There was no doubt that they would end up together someday; they just needed more time.
“Thanks, everyone,” Melanie said as Cade carried her over the threshold with a giggle.
“How was the honeymoon?” David asked as he winked at Cade while he set Melanie down.
“It was amazing, more than I could have ever hoped for,” Cade said as he walked over to get Ryder from Tiffany’s arms. Ryder was so happy to see them. He was reaching out for Cade with his arms stretched out and was all smiles and giggles.
“My sweet boy, how I’ve missed you!” Melanie said as she gave him kisses and hugs. Ryder was all for it. He couldn’t get enough of her.
“This is my world,” Cade said as he kissed the top of Melanie’s head and then Ryders.
Mary Elle felt her eyes tear up as she watched the little family be reunited. She couldn’t resist and took a quick photo with her cellphone. It was such a blessing to have them back and see this scene play out in front of her eyes. Melanie and Cade’s love were an example that true love still exists and that family is the biggest blessing God could ever give us.
“We can’t thank you enough for taking such great care of our little boy,” Melanie said as she handed Cade a small bag with gifts to give out to them.
“We got these in our travels,” Cade said as she looked through and handed them to each person.
“We can mail Brittney's gift to New York,” Melanie said as she set hers aside.
“It was our pleasure to spend time with Ryder and give you the gift of having a carefree honeymoon,” Mary Elle said.
“Was he a good boy?” Melanie asked, giving Ryder more kisses.
“He was the best boy,” Mary Elle told her.
“Where’s Aunt Dee and Rita?” Melanie asked.
“Your aunt Dee is driving with Paul to meet her biological father. She should be back tomorrow,” Mary Elle said as she served some iced tea for them all.
“I forgot that was today. I hope the visit goes well with them,” Melanie said as she handed Ryder back to Cade to help Mary Elle with the pie and mini pizza rolls.
“Rita is visiting Alexander and Caroline. They were concerned about Caroline’s pregnancy,” Mary Elle continued as her tone got somber.
“I hope everything is ok with Caroline and the baby. When is she due?”
