Nom de plume, p.1
Nom de Plume, page 1
Nom de Plume
Bluegrass Homecoming - Book 3
Jan Scarbrough
Saddle Horse Press
Contents
Nom de Plume
Copyright
Nom de Plume
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
To my readers…
About Jan Scarbrough
Want more of the Bluegrass Homecoming series?
Want another Bluegrass Romance?
Thank you!
Nom de Plume
The Bluegrass Homecoming Series
Book 3
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Jan Scarbrough
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Saddle Horse Press
Copyright © 2017 Jan Scarbrough
Scarbrough, Jan
Nom de Plume: Bluegrass Homecoming
Media > Books > Fiction > Romance Novels
Category/Tags: second chances, wedding
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Digital ISBN: 978-0-9971920-1-8
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Edited by Karen Block
Cover Design by Kim Jacobs
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All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work, in whole or part, by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, is illegal and forbidden.
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This is a work of fiction. Characters, settings, names, and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination and bear no resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, places or settings, and/or occurrences. Any incidences of resemblance are purely coincidental.
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This edition is published by agreement with Saddle Horse Press, PO Box 221543, Louisville, KY 40252.
Dedication
To Brenna
Nom de Plume
When the dream of happily-ever-after is shattered, sometimes another door opens.
Devoted homemaker and mother C.B Lyons hadn’t known she was living a lie, right up until the moment when she caught her husband cheating. Betrayed and then divorced, with her dreams of a big, happy family smashed to pieces, C.B. takes her toddler son to Heritage Springs, Kentucky, to be near family. Typing manuscripts for a famous romance author seems like the perfect job until she discovers the hidden truth about the reserved, reclusive writer.
Madison Mallory is a best-selling romance author with a secret. “She” is a “he.” The original Madison is actually in a nursing home. Her son, Jamie Madison, is determined she’ll have the best care possible. Even if that means quitting his job and taking up his mother’s pen name to keep the romance—and the money needed for her care—flowing.
Writing about romance is one thing. Making it work in real life is harder for Jamie. C.B. has good reasons to distrust men, especially sexy ones with piercing blue eyes. When C.B.’s ex wants his family back, can the author and his assistant find a way to write their own happily-ever-after ending?
Chapter One
Friday Morning
Louisville, Kentucky
“Eat your oatmeal, Scotty,” Colleen Lyons said with a mother’s practiced voice.
The blond-haired boy stabbed at his gooey porridge with a spoon, preferring to pound the table with the end of his utensil rather than use it for eating. Tomorrow her son turned three. It hardly seemed possible. Time had flown so fast. Colleen cast a loving glance at Scotty before she turned to the kitchen counter where the one-cup coffee maker hissed as the hazelnut brew finished flowing into a ceramic mug.
After pouring a generous amount of cream into the steaming cup of liquid, Colleen carried it to the table and placed it near her husband Daniel. He gazed at the morning paper without looking up, without acknowledging her helpfulness. That was all right. She didn’t work outside the home, after all, and being a housewife and mother meant she did additional duties relieving Daniel of responsibility. He attended med school and needed time to study.
Life would be better once his schooling was complete, but that would be several years away. She could wait. Just as she waited on him daily, Colleen had patience enough for both of them. Nevertheless, she often imagined the future. It was like a shiny object just beyond her reach—Daniel in the pediatric practice with his father, Scotty going off to middle school, and maybe another child to care for, a daughter this time. She’d always wanted a big family.
Yet, there were times when Colleen bit her tongue. Like now. Daniel looked a mess. His hair was tousled and his rheumy eyes rimmed with dark circles. He remained in his pajamas—a loose-fitting Louisville Cardinals T-shirt and gray sweat pants.
She turned back to the stove where bacon sizzled. “I wish you’d drive to Heritage Springs tomorrow for Scotty’s birthday party.”
Using a fork to remove the bacon, Colleen drained it on a paper towel. Then she scrambled free-range eggs in a frying pan that didn’t have bacon grease in it. Daniel loved an old-fashioned breakfast. Cooking for him had been part of their routine since they met in college.
Putting the plate of food beside his paper, Colleen waited for a response. When none came, she drew her mouth into a rigid line. She never challenged Daniel, never complained. But when it came to Scotty, Colleen sometimes gathered her courage to speak.
“Did you hear me?”
Daniel looked up. “What?”
“I said I wished you’d take a break and come to Scotty’s birthday party tomorrow.”
“You know I can’t,” Daniel said. “I have a big exam in two weeks.”
“I know.” Colleen’s shoulders slumped. “I was hoping you’d find the time. Scotty only turns three once. You’re always studying and away from home.”
“We’ve discussed this, Colleen. My education comes first. It’s important to this family.”
Colleen surveyed him with disappointment. He had already turned his attention back to the newspaper. Her husband was doing his best. Becoming a doctor like his father was important to Daniel—to all of them. She fought back a stab of guilt. She shouldn’t complain. It wasn’t good to nag. She needed to be supportive.
“Aren’t you going to eat your breakfast?” Colleen asked with a sigh.
“What?” Daniel glanced up again. “Oh, yes. Sure.”
He laid down the paper and slowly moved the breakfast plate in front of him. Colleen noticed his hands shake as he picked up a slice of bacon.
“I don’t think you’re getting enough sleep.” The observation simply slipped out because it was natural for her to worry.
“I’m okay,” he mumbled, stabbing at his eggs like Scotty played with his oatmeal. “I have to study, you know?”
“Yes, I know.”
Still Colleen felt a niggling disquiet. She didn’t like the way her husband looked. She hated to see him pushing himself so hard, sacrificing so much for them.
Letting out a big breath that was too much like another sigh, Colleen turned back to the kitchen sink and dunked the skillet into the hot, soapy water. She would double down on her efforts. She’d try harder to make life go easier for Daniel—his home life, which was the only thing she could control.
And she silently vowed again not to hassle her husband.
After finishing with cleanup, Colleen lifted Scotty from his booster seat. “Let’s go get ready, pumpkin. Grandpa and Nana are waiting for us.”
Before she left the kitchen, Colleen looked once more at the man she’d married with such joy only four years earlier. Daniel stared at his plate of food. He’d hardly eaten a thing.
Saturday Afternoon
Heritage Springs, Kentucky
Scotty scooted off his mother’s lap and ran after the soccer ball Rob kicked across the grass. Kelly Scott’s grandson had changed from a toddler into a little boy almost over night.
She smiled as she lifted a frosty glass of lemonade and sipped the cold liquid from a straw. She loved her two guys so much. Her husband Rob was turning into a wonderful grandfather. He would have been a wonderful father too. She set the glass down on the picnic table, refusing to let out a sigh of remorse.
The past was the past. She’d learned to let it lie. Or at least she tried not to allow guilt consume her. Kelly refused to think about “if only.” Sure, she’d had choices. But at eighteen, she’d thought her options limited. If only she’d had more courage, more self-esteem, she would have spoken up—should have spoken up. If she had, maybe she wouldn’t have raised her daughter Colleen as a single mom. Maybe Colleen would have known her father before she was a woman grown and married.
Kelly slid her gaze over to her daughter. They sat together on the stone patio under the shade of a canvas awning, the canopy keeping the worst of the July sun from their faces. Scotty’s birthday gifts had been opened and the chocolate cake and ice cream eaten. It was good to relax a minute. Good to sit.
Her daughter was so beautiful. C.B.—Colleen as she liked to be called now—was tall like her father with Rob’s blond good looks. She had a pert little nose and two cute dimples that appeared when she smiled. Pregnancy and childbirth had made a genuine woman out of her, rounding her figure from the slender shape
“I’m sorry Daniel couldn’t make it today,” Kelly said.
Colleen glanced at her mother and then quickly looked away. “He’s studying.”
“Yes, I know. Still, Scotty only has one three-year-old birthday party.”
“Mom, don’t start.”
Kelly didn’t want to start, but a mother’s sixth sense told her something was wrong. Daniel’s schoolwork had reached a crisis point six months earlier with medical school becoming a huge ordeal. At that time, he’d asked Colleen if she and Scotty could leave the house on weekends so he could study in quiet. Trying to save money and do as Daniel asked, Colleen had driven to Heritage Springs every weekend since then and stayed with Rob and Kelly in their upstairs loft.
Kelly was glad to see Scotty and her daughter so often, but her hospitality was wearing a little thin. Darn it! Sometimes she wanted the weekends to herself. She and Rob were almost newlyweds too. And with her husband busy during the week with his law practice, Kelly selfishly thought she didn’t spend enough time with him.
But she had deprived Rob of watching Colleen grow up. For the life of her, she wasn’t about to say “no” to her daughter’s request. Besides, Rob got such a kick out of pretending to be Scotty’s father on weekends.
Rob was with their little grandson so much he was taking the place of the child’s father.
The thought jarred Kelly. Her mouth suddenly felt dry. She reached for the glass of lemonade. The bitter liquid went down her throat, cooling it, but not her annoyance. In the yard, Rob kicked the ball, and Scotty chased it, trying to mimic his grandfather and boot it back.
“It’s almost five o’clock,” Kelly said in what she hoped was a conversational tone as she turned her gaze back to Colleen. “If you left soon, you might surprise Daniel at home, and he’d have an hour or two with Scotty before bedtime.”
Her daughter looked irritated. Kelly was interfering. But it was her prerogative, wasn’t it? It came with being a mother and wanting her daughter to grow a backbone. For whatever reason, Colleen always deferred to Daniel. Kelly had tried to accept the submissiveness that had come with Colleen’s relationship with Daniel. But she didn’t like it one bit.
Colleen lifted her chin. “Daniel is studying.”
“All day?”
“Yes. He needs the quiet time to prepare for a big exam.”
Kelly returned her gaze to the backyard playing field. Rob scooped Scotty up in his arms and gave him a big hug and kiss.
“I’m glad Rob gets time to enjoy Scotty,” Kelly said with a soft sigh. She swirled the lemonade in her glass. “He didn’t have time with you to watch you grow up. I’m sorry Daniel is missing all this quality time with his son.”
“He’ll have plenty of time when he finishes med school,” Colleen was quick to respond.
“Well, I hope so,” Kelly said. “For Scotty’s sake.”
Kelly glanced at her daughter. Colleen’s mouth was drawn into a thin line. Kelly recognized that look of displeasure. Whether it was with Daniel or with her suggestion, Kelly couldn’t guess.
She looked toward the yard where Rob had put Scotty on his shoulders and trotted around, the child giggling and squealing with glee. No need to press Colleen. The scene in front of them told the story Kelly had tried to convey. Scotty was growing up without his real father.
The setting sun made a splash of orange on the horizon and a sharp glare on her windshield. Colleen felt breathless with excitement and a nagging fear. She was going home. Would her early return please Daniel?
As much as she hated to admit it, her mother was right. Daniel should be with his son on his birthday, even for a small amount of time.
Yet, by deciding to go home, she’d surprised even herself.
Thirty minutes after her mother’s comment, Colleen had made up her mind after watching Rob play ball with Scotty. Oh, she knew what her mother was doing. Kelly didn’t often interfere, and she meant well this time. If Colleen hadn’t been convinced in the rightness of her mother’s suggestion, she would never have chosen to go against Daniel’s wishes.
Would he be angry? The old Daniel wouldn’t. But she didn’t know this new husband of hers. Sometimes she wished he’d quit med school, but that wouldn’t happen. Often she wondered if she had what it took to be the wife of a doctor. Was she too needy? Her mother-in-law, also a doctor’s wife, was a lonely, depressed woman. Colleen didn’t want to be like that.
It was hard to admit something was wrong with her marriage. As sad as that thought seemed, Colleen realized it was true. These days, her relationship with Daniel was on the backburner. Four years ago, if she’d known how distant Daniel would become, she’d have said “no way.”
But in reality, she had changed too. She was a mother first. Now she understood Kelly’s fierce protectiveness. When she was a child, Colleen had never known her father. It had hurt terribly. But her mother had been there. Always. Colleen had wondered if it was because of guilt. Maybe her mother was making up for the lack of a dad in her life.
Lately, she’d come to understand her mother’s reaction was a maternal thing—the mama bear protecting her cub. That’s the way she felt about Scotty. She’d do anything for him.
Colleen had been an adult when she’d met her father. After learning the reason her mother and Rob never married, she understood, but with an adult’s reasoning. The child in her never got over the lack of a father. Having Rob in her life today didn’t make up for the lost years. The same thing wouldn’t happen to her son, she vowed.
Glancing to the backseat, Colleen smiled to herself. Scotty had fallen asleep quickly with his little head slumped over against the high back of the booster seat. The day had been jam-packed with activities leaving the boy exhausted. Regrettably, Daniel wouldn’t have much time to see him, because she’d need to put Scotty to bed soon after they arrived home.
Colleen stopped at a four-way stop sign, waited a beat to check for oncoming traffic, and then turned left into her subdivision. It was an old development with modest brick homes and mature trees. A few boats were parked in driveways and an occasional RV. The subdivision was perfect for couples starting out with plenty of neighborhood kids and home prices low enough to be affordable for first time homebuyers. Having no house payment had made it possible for her to be a stay-at-home mom. She had used her inheritance from her great-aunt to pay off their home loan.
Traveling at the mandatory twenty-five mile per hour speed limit, Colleen drove her SUV around the first turn of an S-curve. She couldn’t see well. The growing twilight, coupled by shade trees and the sun now hitting her back window, challenged her vision. She shoved her sunglasses onto her head and squinted as a motorcycle rounded the top of the S-curve and sped toward her.
What the heck? She was in her own driving lane, wasn’t she? The motorcycle, with two people riding, veered into her path and drove straight toward her Honda.
“Oh, my God!” Colleen stamped on her brakes as the motorcycle smashed into the side panel of her vehicle. Her car screeched to a halt.
Heart in her throat, her hands shaking, Colleen hastily looked back at her son. Asleep. Not hurt.
“Oh, my God,” she said once more in a breathless moan. Then she opened the driver’s side door.
