Page 11 of Mistletoe Misses
“She got mixed up with the wrong guy after college,” Mom explains, “and tried to disappear to protect her baby.”
My jaw clenches. “Don’t tell me some asshole laid a hand on her.” I consider Izzie another sister and would protect her with any means necessary, as I would all my family.
“Unfortunately, and he’s dangerous. He found her in Michigan where she moved with her parents after they retired. When she started showing, she came here to hide and have the baby.”
“Does she have a restraining order?”
“In Michigan, yes. We’re hoping that will stop him from searching for her or assume she wouldn’t come back to Ember Falls since her parents are in Michigan. She just needs to keep the baby a secret until he moves on.”
“Cooper and I can make sure that happens.”
“Maddox …”
I wave off her concern. We’re soldiers and have dealt with far worse things than an arrogant prick who likes to beat up defenseless women. “How can she hide the baby?”
“We’ll pretend to foster it from an out-of-town family and hire her as a nanny.”
“Good. With us all working together, we can keep them both safe.”
“Our thoughts, exactly. The P.D. and everyone in town who needs to know is in on it.” She grins at me. “It’s great to have you home where you belong.”
“I don’t know if that’s true anymore.”
“Of course, it is. You always have a home here, Maddox. And thank you for wanting to help.”
“That’s what I’ve been trained to do.”
“No. It’s who you are.”
I don’t know who I am these days, but I stop myself from disagreeing with her. It would only prolong the uncomfortable topic.
“You’re staying with us, aren’t you?” she asks.
I hadn’t thought past throwing clothes in a bag to come here. That took all I had to give at the time. “I’m not sure. Aren’t all the bedrooms taken with the twins and Izzie?”
“We’ll figure it out. I will not have my son staying somewhere other than his home. I was being polite when I asked.”
I stifle a groan. “In that case, I guess I’m moving in today.”
She fakes surprise, earning her an eye roll. “Oh, that’s wonderful, son.”
Chapter 3
Carmen
We need to talk,” Dad says, not two steps inside the store.
“Alright. Take a seat and help fold.” I pass him a red Ember Falls Spectacular T-shirt, but he doesn’t sit. This must be serious. “What’s going on?”
“Maddox is here.”
On instinct, my hands pause at his name. I thought I saw him at my gig last night, but the lumberjack-shaped man with Maddox’s features and shaggy hair cut short looked too broken and angry to be the same boy I remember from high school. My Maddox had a carefree way about him, reminding me of a firefly—unassuming and gentle with a quiet beauty that rivaled the sun at dawn.
As I always do to keep his memory close, I sang our song in my set. Even when the man at the bar stormed out a few lyrics in, my brain couldn’t convince my heart it had been him. He’s avoided Ember Falls since high school graduation, except for when he came back for his grandfather’s funeral four years ago. I hadn’t been here, but I heard he didn’t stay more than a few hours.
“Are you sure?” I finally respond, unsure if I want to hear him confirm it. If Maddox is here to stay a few hours, days, or more, can I face him? Can I handle seeing him if he despises me, or worse yet, brought another woman with him? I focus on the task in front of me to keep that vision and the ache it causes locked away where it belongs.
“I talked with him myself,” Dad says and sets the poorly folded T-shirt on the pile. He’d been watching my reaction too closely to pay attention to his chore.
