A Timeless Romance Anthology: Spring Vacation Collection (17 page)

When the papers had first come, she’d still been smarting from the terrible phone call with Carter. She seriously considered declining and applying to another school, but her better judgment had taken over. The program was only a year, and surely it wouldn’t be hard to stay out of Carter’s way if he didn’t want her in his life. It was time she took her future by the horns and charged forward.

Within a week of her acceptance, she had phone interviews for a couple of jobs in the Fort Worth area and was making arrangements for the move.

Sorting through her stuff was a bigger task than she’d expected. Her winter parka wouldn’t see much use, but there was no point leaving it behind; she’d need it eventually.

The fate of other things were harder to decide. The little rosette her mother had tucked in her hair at her junior prom brought back memories. She found her photo album, planning to tuck the silk flower inside. Then she got caught up in the pictures of herself as a child, her parents laughing together at a family reunion, her mom helping her decorate cookies for a fundraiser.

Tears slid onto Mara’s cheeks as she saw her mother’s smiling face. What she wouldn’t give to talk to her about what was going on now, to get the kind of advice her mother had been best at. Mara had tried to talk to Jo, but her sister said to walk away and find someone who didn’t have a ton of hang-ups like a dead wife.

Mara wiped her face and spoke to the decade-old image. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with Carter. Maybe nothing, but I’m not ready to walk away yet.” She touched the photo. The plastic curled a little at the corners of the album, but it was still protected for now. She needed to get it into an acid-free binder. Maybe this summer. She packed the album with the things she would take to Texas.

She tucked away her favorite girlhood treasures to be stored in her father’s basement until she had somewhere of her own to keep them, then stopped when her hand came to the duck ornament.

She vividly remembered that first kiss, on the paddleboat, and all of the others they’d shared—there had been so few—but more than that, she remembered the sense of belonging, the rightness of being in his arms. Carter had been so easy to talk to, and they’d seen eye-to-eye on so many issues. She choked up again as she fought to stay in control of her emotions. The past couple of weeks had seemed lonely without their regular conversations.

He had sent a few half-hearted texts, called in the early days, and she’d replied with brief responses. She couldn’t hold onto this uncertainty forever. Either they decided to be a couple, or they had to end things.

When she reached Texas, maybe she could find him and see if he felt any different standing in front of him than she did now. Hope rose inside her every time the thought of being near him crossed her mind. She wanted things to work out for them.

Chapter Eight

There was the sound of wheels on gravel, and since Mara wanted to talk to her sister about Dad’s upcoming doctor appointment—preferably not within his hearing—she stepped outside.

A red four-door sedan had stopped in front her house. Not Jo.

Mara’s heart skipped a few beats when she saw the driver; her eyes couldn’t be working right. The door opened, and Carter got out, his gaze riveted on her.

She took a few steps across the green spring grass, still unable to believe what she was seeing. “Carter? How?”

He closed the door and stuck his hands in his pockets, sauntering in her direction. “I decided I could use another spring vacation, and Texas is well into summer, so I thought I’d go somewhere where it’s still spring. Couldn’t imagine spending my vacation without you.”

She stared at him for a long moment. “But you haven’t called me in almost a week.” It was an inane thing to say, but her brain wasn’t processing right.

“I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to see you in person—see if you were as pretty as my memories said you were.” He reached out and flicked a lock of her hair back over her shoulder. “Apparently my memory is faulty. You’re far prettier.”

She felt her face heat in the cool spring air. The sun would be going down soon, and she could already feel the chill starting. It didn’t seem to bother him, even though he wasn’t wearing a jacket.

“Maybe you should come in.” She didn’t know what else to say or how to respond. Did he think he could show up out of the blue and pick back up where they left off? Yet she had to hold herself back from leaping into his arms. He had come to see her. That meant something, didn’t it?

She followed his gaze, glancing over her shoulder. Her father stood in the doorway to the house. She bit back a groan. She wasn’t ready to make introductions. Not until she and Carter said what he’d come for.

Another car pulled into the drive—this time it was her sister’s banana-yellow Toyota with its green hood.

Jo got out and walked over, taking her time as she studied the two of them. A smile crept onto her face as she offered her hand for a shake. “You must be Carter. I recognize you from your pictures. You’re better looking in person.” She gave his hand a squeeze and winked.

She turned to Mara with a disapproving, “You didn’t mention how tall he is.” She turned to Carter again. “We’re having dinner soon—Mara’s famous spaghetti and some cookies for dessert. She’s a great cook. You should stay and join us.” She took off for the house, calling over her shoulder. “Five minutes—that’s all I can promise you before Dad charges out and demands an introduction.”

“Nice to meet you,” Carter said as it if were an afterthought.

“Don’t worry,” Mara said once her sister had closed the door behind her. “She runs roughshod over everyone. She’s a school teacher, so she’s been honing that skill.”

He focused on Mara again. “I do feel a bit like I’ve been bulldozed.”

“You should be able to bounce back. The effect is rarely permanent.” Mara forced herself to stick her hands in her back pockets so she wouldn’t reach out to touch Carter. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“I thought you might not see me. You’ve kind of been brushing me off lately.”

“
I
wasn’t the one who did the brush-off.” She knew that wasn’t entirely true, but it felt good to say. “When I called... well, you know how that went.”

He touched her elbow. “I know. I didn’t mean it like that. You caught me by surprise. I’ve been tied up inside ever since.”

“Feeling better now?” she asked, though she tried to appear disinterested.

“Some. But there’s one more thing I need before I’ll feel right again.” He took her shoulders, pulling her close and kissing her firmly, tipping his head to seal their mouths together.

Relief and joy rushed over her. She felt as if she had come home again as she melted into his kiss, shifting closer and putting her hands on his hard chest. His body heat radiated to her, and she moved into him in the evening chill, melding her body against his. She’d dreamed of kissing him again, but the real thing was definitely better.

“I missed you so much,” he whispered against her lips. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. Please say you’ll give me another chance.”

“You want another chance?” Her heart soared.

“More than anything. I was confused about moving on and taking risks with a relationship, but I’ve got it figured out now. Please tell me it’s not too late for us.”

She slid her hands around his neck. “It’s not too late.”

“Say you’ll still move to Texas so we can give this a real shot.”

Mara grinned. “I’m already packing.”

“Say you love me as much as I love you,” he said in a whisper. “I do love you, you know.”

It seemed impossible that he’d said the words she’d been longing to hear. She let out a little laugh of joy. “I love you too. Being away from you has been terrible.”

He held her tight, running one hand up her spine then running his fingers through her hair. “Then I have everything I need.”

“Make me a promise?” she asked.

“What?” 

“That you’ll take me to feed the ducks often. And to dance at flea markets.”

“You got it.” He kissed her again, lingering over it until Jo came out.

“Hey, stop putting on a show for the whole neighborhood and bring him in to meet Dad.”

Mara giggled and buried her face in his shirt, happier than ever that she let Anna talk her into that spring vacation.

About Heather Justesen

Heather Justesen earned a BA in English Literature from Southern Utah University, where she met her husband, Bill. She worked in newspaper for several years, and they spent two years as foster parents. They now live in the little town where she grew up in Central Utah, work on their local ambulance as Advanced EMTs, and raise a cat, two dogs, and a whole slew of chickens, geese, ducks, guineas, and a tom turkey, which is very vain. When she can squeeze in the time, she gardens and bakes. She also writes serial stories for
BigWorldNetwork.com
, available in e-book and audio book formats.

You can learn more about Heather on her blog:
http://heatherjustesen.blogspot.com/

Or her website:
http://www.heatherjustesen.com/

Or contact her via email at
[email protected]

Other Works by Heather Justesen

The Ball’s in Her Court

http://www.amazon.com/The-Balls-Her-Court-ebook/dp/B004A90DFY/

Rebound

http://www.amazon.com/Rebound-ebook/dp/B004AM5OEQ/

Family by Design

http://www.amazon.com/Family-by-Design-ebook/dp/B007Y15WTM/

Shear Luck

http://www.amazon.com/Shear-Luck-a-Novella-ebook/dp/B006WH9C3Q/

Blank Slate

http://www.amazon.com/Blank-Slate-ebook/dp/B004YDSXTO/

The Switch

http://www.amazon.com/The-Switch-Blank-Slate-ebook/dp/B007VWX2T6/

Brownies & Betrayal

http://www.amazon.com/Brownies-Betrayal-Sweet-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B009NI6VT4/

Homecoming

http://www.amazon.com/Homecoming-ebook/dp/B008E95MYI/

Homecoming: Second Chances

http://www.amazon.com/Homecoming-Second-Chances-ebook/dp/B00ACLCYCO/

The Best Laid Plans

By Sarah M. Eden

Chapter One

“It’s Cancún, Madison. How can you say no to
Cancún
?”

Madison slid her smartphone across the desk to Beth. “From my mom.” She indicated the chain of texts already open.

Beth gave her a curious look, but picked up the phone, reading out loud. “‘I had a wonderful evening with Mr. Fabulous. He took me to the new Italian place on Vine. He likes lasagna. That is a good sign, don’t you think—’” Beth looked up, eyes wide with amusement. “Her texts get longer all the time.”

“I know. It’s like she’s writing a novel.”

Beth dropped her gaze back to the phone. “I’m surprised she doesn’t have arthritis in her thumbs.” She took up the reading again. “‘Mr. Fabulous is coming over tonight again. He is so wonderful. Also, the water heater broke and flooded the basement. Talk to you soon. Mom.’ Wow. A flooded basement is an afterthought now?”

“Exactly.” Madison took her phone back. “I think it’s time I met ‘Mr. Fabulous.’”

“You haven’t yet?”

Madison dropped her phone in her purse, packing up for the end of the day. “I haven’t been home since summer. Mr. Fabulous wasn’t in the picture then.”

“Is his name really ‘Mr. Fabulous’?”

Madison hadn’t thought of that. “Ugh, I hope not.”

Beth slung her own bag over her shoulder. They’d had desks next to each other at the bank for a year. “What was the name of the last guy?”

They walked to the doors together. Madison waved to the afternoon tellers before pushing the door open.

“Mom called him ‘Captain Dreamy.’ The nicknames are a very reliable early warning system.”

“What was he captain of?”

“Being a pig.” Now in the parking lot, Madison unlocked her less-than-pristine Altima with the key-chain remote.

Beth’s sportier compact sat next to it. She spoke across the roof. “Was Captain Pig the Vegas guy or the Aspen guy?”

“Vegas.” Half the miles on Madison’s car were from driving to various places to pick up her mother after one guy or another had ended a relationship hundreds of miles from home. Vegas. Aspen. Anaheim. Phoenix. Madison had seen America saving her mother from romantic disasters.

“How about this time you let your mom deal with the loser, and you come with the rest of us to Cancún?”

Beth’s suggestion was tempting, but Madison needed to nip this latest star-crossed love story in the bud. “I don’t have enough vacation days to go to Cancún right now, and in another month or two, I’ll have to take more time off to chase my mother to San Francisco or Albuquerque or wherever she lands herself next.”

“So you’re picking Folsom Lake over Cancún. Are you insane?”

Madison tossed her purse into the car. “Sometimes I think I am.”