Garden of Secrets (8 page)

“You’ve fallen under our spell,” Kara said with a wise nod.

“Or the spell of one hot guitar-playing architect,” Lauren added with a grin. “How are things with you and Nick?”

“Excellent,” Isabella said. “I’m going to go back and forth between my projects in L.A. and here until June, and then we’ll spend the summer in Los Angeles. Somehow we’ll find a way to have the best of both worlds. Of course, Megan is the priority. She has been shuffled around a lot, and Nick and I want to make sure that she’s happy with whatever arrangement we come up with.”

“Sounds like you’re talking long-term,” Charlotte said.

Isabella met her gaze. “The first time I saw Nick’s face, I knew he was the man I’d been dreaming about.”

“Really. It was that clear?” Charlotte asked.

“It was. But then, I’m a little psychic,” she said with a grin.

“I knew the first time I saw Colin, too,” Kara interjected. “He was eating chocolate pudding in kindergarten, and it was smeared across his face.”

“It was first sight for me and Shane, too,” Lauren added. “He was racing his motorcycle down the street, and I thought he was the baddest boy in town. I got all hot and bothered but wondered what he’d want with a good girl like me.”

“I think we all know what he wanted,” Charlotte said with a laugh.

“He was my first,” Lauren admitted. “And the best, too. Speaking of first loves, are you and Andrew getting back together?”

“I don’t know,” Charlotte said.

“Well, it’s not always about first love,” Kara said. “It wasn’t for you, was it, Isabella?”

“No, Nick wasn’t the first,” she said, her thoughtful gaze coming to rest on Charlotte.

“We should get out of these dresses,” Charlotte said quickly, wanting to get everyone off the subject of her love life—especially Joe’s sister.

“Before you take yours off, Kara,” Isabella said, “I think we need to alter the bust. Can I take a look?”

“Of course. It is a little tight. I love breastfeeding—I actually have a chest! Colin will be so disappointed when these go away,” she added with a laugh.

While Isabella worked some pins through Kara’s
dress, Charlotte changed into her clothes and then went into the bathroom to help Lauren out of her dress. As she worked her way through the buttons, she said, “How’s your father doing? Will he be able to walk you down the aisle?”

“I hope so, but his Alzheimer’s has been getting worse. I wish I could have had the wedding earlier, but my mother went on a holiday cruise, and she doesn’t get back until this weekend. I want both my parents there, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that somehow it will all work out. I want to have one day where we’ll be a family again.”

Charlotte met her yearning gaze in the mirror, knowing how much Lauren needed to have everyone together. While Lauren and her father had been able to work through their differences, her parents were still divorced, and her brother lived on the other side of the country.

“I just wish Abby could be at my wedding,” Lauren continued, a sad note in her voice. “She was going to be my maid of honor. When we were kids, we planned out our weddings. She wanted to have hers on a boat. She imagined saying her vows at sunset, surrounded by the sea, a trail of rose petals in the water.”

“Sounds pretty. What was your dream?”

“What I’m having,” Lauren said with a smile. “At sunset on a bluff, the solid ground beneath my feet, the man I love at my side, and all my friends there to support me. Shane probably would have liked Abby’s idea better. He was always more comfortable on the
water than on land, but he wants me to be happy. Since this is Angel’s Bay, I’m hoping my angel of a sister will be watching from afar. I want it all to be perfect. But whatever happens, I’m marrying Shane.”

“And that will make it perfect,” Charlotte said quietly.

“Yes, it will,” Lauren agreed.

“So did you have your wedding night in mind when you asked Isabella to design a dress with a hundred buttons down the back?” Charlotte teased.

Lauren flung her a mischievous smile. “I’m going to make Shane work for it.”

“I hope he doesn’t get impatient and rip the dress. Not that that wouldn’t be fun.”

“Nobody is ripping my dress. I want to keep it in case I have a daughter one day.”

Charlotte could picture Lauren with a little girl, same dark hair and blue eyes, and she smiled at the thought of Shane having to deal with another female in his life. He’d always been a moody, reckless loner, except where Lauren was concerned. Then his rough exterior melted to mush. A daughter would probably wrap him around her little finger just as easily.

“I think I’ve got them all,” she said, helping Lauren out of the dress. She took it into the other room while Lauren put on her clothes. Isabella had finished taking measurements and was putting the bridesmaids’ dresses away. Charlotte helped Isabella zip up the wedding dress, so that no harm could come to it in the next few days.

When they were all ready, they headed down the
hall. Kara stopped at the first door. “She’s awake,” she said with delight. “My little princess is up.”

Charlotte and Isabella watched from the doorway as Lauren and Kara approached the crib. Kara scooped up the baby and smothered her in kisses before taking her over to the changing table.

“Sweet,” Isabella said, exchanging a smile with Charlotte.

“Very,” Charlotte agreed. “Shall we keep going?”

“Sure.”

As they moved toward the stairs, Charlotte said, “Joe told me that your father is doing better after his stroke.”

“He is. Having Joe home really helped his spirits. He could relax, knowing his son was there to watch out for the family. He’s very traditional in that regard. My father loves his daughters, but his son has a very special place in his heart. Joe, however, was chomping at the bit once we got past Christmas.”

“I’m sure your parents didn’t want to see him go.”

“No. They were hoping that Joe’s return might mean a reconciliation with Rachel.”

Charlotte’s pulse sped up at the mention of Joe’s ex-wife. “Did Joe see her while he was at home?”

Isabella nodded. “Rachel came to visit. She was part of our family for a long time, and she still keeps in touch with my parents. But Joe came back here, and she’s still in L.A., so I think it’s truly over.” Isabella paused, shooting her a quick look. “I got the idea that my brother’s desire to get back here by New Year’s had a little something to do with you.”

“We’re just friends,” Charlotte said quickly.

“Maybe that will change. Joe is a good guy. I’m biased, but I don’t think you could do better.”

“I know that. But he has a lot of baggage.”

“Don’t we all? Some relationships just have their time, and that’s it. It took me a while to accept that Joe and Rachel were over. It seemed so sad at first. She was like a sister to me. But I want them both to be happy, and they clearly weren’t. You can’t hang on to something just because it used to be good.”

“I suppose not. But there’s something powerful about first love.”

“True. But sometimes I wonder if trying to recapture that first love is more about recapturing the person you used to be. And that’s what people
really
want to get back.” Isabella gave a little laugh. “I’m the last person who should be spouting wisdom on this topic. It took me a long time and a lot of bad boyfriends to find Nick.”

Charlotte smiled back at her. “I know just what you mean.” But as they made their way into the kitchen, she thought about what Isabella had said. Was it Andrew she wanted back—or herself?

Andrew went into the church office and stripped off his minister’s collar, which sometimes felt suffocating. He’d been working hard to gain respect from the town he’d grown up in. It had taken time for the congregation, especially the older members, to stop seeing him as the wild teenager who’d never missed an opportunity to party and start seeing him as the conservative spiritual leader of their church.

He’d had some big shoes to step into. Reverend Adams, Charlotte’s father, had been a popular and charismatic leader for more than twenty-five years. His death had been a huge loss for the congregation, even worse for Charlotte.

He wondered if one of the reasons she held back from truly allowing him back into her life was that he’d taken over for her father. When she saw him, she saw her dad. When she thought of being with him, she saw her mother in her role as the minister’s wife.

But Charlotte needed to realize that they wouldn’t be carbon copies of her parents. They would be themselves. They would be who they were always supposed to be.

With a sigh, he rolled his neck around on his shoulders to ease its tightness. It had been a busy weekend, with his normal Sunday sermon yesterday and today’s special New Year’s Day service. He was a ready for a break.

Hearing the door open behind him, he turned in surprise. He’d thought everyone had gone home.

Surprise turned to shock and wariness as Pamela entered the room.

The last woman he’d ever wanted to see again.

“Hello, Andrew.” She gave him a saucy smile as she sauntered toward him. “You don’t look happy to see me.”

“It’s been a long time.”

“Seven years.”

“Why are you here?”

“My sister was robbed and assaulted last night. Surely you’ve heard.”

“I’m still surprised to see you. When we last spoke, you weren’t interested in a relationship with Theresa.”

“She’s still my sister.”

As Pamela came closer, he moved around behind his desk, wanting a buffer zone. Pamela was a born predator. She went after what she wanted with ruthless intensity, willing to do whatever it took to accomplish her goal. Years ago, her goal had been him.
He hadn’t put up much of a fight nor had he realized what kind of power she would eventually have over him—how easy it would be to buy into whatever story she was selling. But he knew better now.

She perched on the edge of his desk, the gleam in her eye telling him that she knew she was making him uncomfortable, and she was enjoying it.

“How is Theresa?” he asked.

“She has a severe concussion. They’ll know more within the next twenty-four hours. She opened her eyes while I was there, but she seemed very confused and fell back to sleep almost immediately.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Robert must be very concerned.”

“He does actually look like he cares,” she conceded. “Or maybe he’s just worried about losing his trophy wife.”

“So cynical.”

“Oh, please. Theresa married Robert for his money, and he married her for her looks.”

“Maybe they fell in love after they got married.”

She shrugged. “Sure, why not?” She stared at him for an uncomfortable length of time. “When you told me you’d found God, I thought it was just the hangover talking. But you actually did what you said you were going to do—you’re a minister. Does the church board have any idea of the life you used to lead?”

“How long are you planning to stay in town?” he asked, ignoring her question.

“That depends on how quickly my sister recovers.”

“You always hated Angel’s Bay. Why would you want to extend your visit? You used to say this town had too many do-gooders in it.”

“Yeah, and now you’re one of them. Traitor.”

“I grew up. What about you? What have you been doing the last seven years?”

“Living it up.”

He could see that in the weary lines around her eyes, the limpness of her hair, the paleness of her skin. “You look tired.”

For a moment, her hard shell seemed to crack, then she straightened her shoulders and threw up her chin. “I’m great.”

“Are you?” She was one of the best liars he’d ever met.

“Why did you come back here, Andrew? You could have gone to any church in the country.”

“Angel’s Bay has always been home. My family is here.”

“Your family? Who cared so little about you when you couldn’t play baseball anymore and live out your father’s dreams? Where were they then?”

“My father is dead, Pamela.”

Surprise flashed through her eyes. “I didn’t know that.”

“There are a lot of things you don’t know.”

“And a lot that I do,” she countered. “For a while, I was your family.”

He shook his head. She was way off the mark.
“Family doesn’t describe our relationship. And whatever we were to each other was part of another life.” He paused. “I hope Theresa gets better. I’m sure she appreciates your visit, but you and I have nothing left to say to each other.”

“You’re wrong, Andrew. I have a lot to say. And I have no intention of leaving Angel’s Bay until I’m ready. By the way, I saw Charlotte at the hospital.”

His heart sank at her sly smile. The last thing he needed was Pamela messing up what little ground he’d made with Charlotte. “You need to leave her alone.”

“That may be difficult, considering Robert thinks Charlotte stole Theresa’s jewelry and knocked her out.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Always to Charlotte’s defense. Some things never change. But I know things about you that Charlotte doesn’t.”

He met her gaze head on. “I know things about you, too. So if that’s some kind of threat . . .”

“I was just stating the facts. You’re awfully defensive, Andrew.”

“Because I know you, Pamela. When you’re bored, you like to screw up other people’s lives just for fun.”

“That’s true.” She stood up and looked around the office. “What does Charlotte think of you being in her daddy’s office, in her daddy’s house?”

“Charlotte thinks I’m doing a good job.”

“Are you trying to get her back?”

He sighed. “What I’m trying to do right now is
live my life the best way I know how, and I would hope you’re doing the same. Can we let the past stay in the past?”

She thought for a moment. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll see.”

And with that, she was gone, leaving him with a very bad feeling in his gut. He’d worked too hard to get his life together. He couldn’t let Pamela destroy it.

Joe made it to Kara’s house halfway through the fourth quarter. As chief of police, he had to walk a fine line between being friends with his officers and being their boss. In the beginning, he’d kept a distance, but over time, he’d realized that wasn’t possible.