Page 19 of A Family Affair: The Ring
Her husband, Law, had been stacking tomato products when he spotted her, a smile spreading across his handsome face.Gone was the bad boy she remembered as he inquired about her stay, her grandma’s house, and darn if the man didn’t offer his help.I know Cash has you covered, but if there’s anything I can do, I’m pretty handy with a hammer and a drill.Who would have thought Ava Ventori and Law Carlisle would end up together, married with a baby?Who would have thought he’deversettle down?The whole town was certain he was heading straight to prison, but people changed.Maybe all he’d needed was a second chance and a woman who believed in him.Melanie was pondering the couple as she selected apples from a large display and didn’t see the woman approaching her until she spoke.
“Hello, Melanie.I see you’ve finally come back.”
Melanie looked up from the apples she’d been selecting, met Marjorie Callahan’s ice-cold stare.Will had his father’s blue eyes, not the silver hue of his mother.Even when she smiled and laughed, those eyes held the chill.Melanie had never been quite certain whether the woman liked her or not, but after what happened eight years ago, no doubt the woman despised her.“Hello, Mrs.Callahan.”
Those silver eyes narrowed, matched the coldness in her voice.“I have two things to say to you.How long will you be staying and stay away from my son.”
Yes, the woman despised her, maybe she always had.“I’m cleaning out my grandmother’s house, so however long that takes… A few weeks… Maybe a month.”She did not respond to the woman’s demand that she stay away from her son.
The raised brow indicated curiosity, and her next words dove in with questions.“What?No big-city job you have to get back to as soon as possible?Certainly, there must be one.”A short laugh, cold, hostile.“There absolutely must be one, considering everything.”
She meant breaking the engagement with her son.Ignoring him and his requests for answers and the attempts to work things out.It all seemed so convoluted and disjointed now, but it hadn’t when it happened.And when her parents insisted the only way to save their family was to cut all ties with the Callahans?She’d been trapped.That boy won’t stop telling tales,her mother had said.He only thinks he saw something, but he’s wrong.I fear he won’t stop until he destroys this family, and that’s why you have to break it off with him.He’ll destroy all of us.
Melanie had been too naïve to consider her mother might be the one lying, and she’d definitely not thought of the repercussions of her actions.No, she’d never considered what life would be likewithoutWill Callahan.Instead, she convinced herself that what they shared was young love, and despite the plans and hopes for marriage and happily-ever-after, he was only herfirstlove.Not her only love.There would be other opportunities for mature love, deeper love.Real love.Of course, her mother and even her father made sure to convey the same message.There’s a whole world out there.You’re young.You’ll meet someone else.Oh, yes, they’d tag-teamed the delivery with such emotion and consistency that Melanie believed them.
Why wouldn’t she when they were her parents, the ones who had always looked out for her, guided her...loved her?What she did not understand and would not admit for years was that perhaps Will Callahan was heronlylove.Her true love.If that were accurate, then she’d have to find a way to make peace with that possibility, and the reality that she would spend her life alone—without a partner, maybe without children, definitely without her one true love.
“My son is happy.”Marjorie Callahan’s voice pulled her back.“He has a girlfriend who idolizes him, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t engaged by Christmas.”
Will planned to marry Delaney Hall?
“I see you’re surprised.Did you think he’d never find anyone again?”Laughter spilled from her thin lips.“Oh, dear, you are so naïve.There’ve beenmanywomen since you; beautiful, intelligent, captivating.But none he could commit to for longer than a few months.”A quiet sigh and a tiny smile.“And then he met Delaney.They’ve been together almost a year, and I’ve never seen him this happy.”
Breathe.Don’t let her see she’s gotten to you.It should not have bothered her to learn there’d been so many other women or that he was apparently serious about the woman who’d brought him groceries the afternoon Melanie visited.She was beautiful, soft-spoken, and it was obvious she idolized Will.
No, it shouldn’t bother her, but it did.
And that was a problem because Melanie had no right to anything Will Callahan did, and while they may have planned a life together, that was long gone.She settled her gaze on Will’s mother and smiled.Not a real smile because that would be too painful, but she’d gotten quite good at manufacturing her emotions—and hiding them.“He deserves to be happy.”
“Yes, he does.”She clutched the grocery cart, spat out, “My son tried to be honorable, but you and your family didn’t want to hear any of it.No, you wanted to run away, pretend nothing ever happened.Well, itdidhappen.”Her knuckles turned white, her eyes filled with tears.“You almost destroyed my son.Delaney is the first person who’s made it past six months, and you arenotgoing to step in and confuse him.”Anger swirled through her words, landed on top of Melanie.“Do you understand me?Stay away from Will and go back to that self-important life you’ve been living in that pretend world of yours.”
A nod was all Melanie could manage though she wanted to tell Will’s mother how sorry she was for hurting him.But Marjorie Callahan wouldn’t want to hear it, not when Melanie’s parents had pretended around the truth and convinced her to do the same.Pretending normal, that’s what they’d done, and it had been wrong and caused its own level of damage.
That’s why Melanie couldn’t commit to a long-term relationship, and her younger sister had moved across the country to avoid spending time with her own family.Sorry, I can’t get away.And the worst,I already have plans.Rain check?Except there never seemed to be a rain check, not for Melanie or their parents.
And what about her parents?
They’d renewed their marriage vows, took trips and acted as though they were each other’s heaven.Werethey happy or had they settled because they were petrified to be alone?And if her mother had chosen Joe Callahan over her husband, what then?Would Will and Melanie have survived that?
There was no way of knowing.
Marjorie Callahan gave her one more threatening look before she steered her cart past the produce aisle, her warning burned in Melanie’s soul.Stay away from my son and go back to that self-important life you’ve been living in that pretend world of yours.Leave him alone!
12
Melanie had just removed a tray of chocolate chip cookies from the oven when the doorbell rang.She’d decided two dozen cookies could serve as a thank-you for everything Cash and Tess had done for her since she arrived in Magdalena.Grandma Esther had always said “thank-you” came in many forms, and she preferred to giveandreceive the edible kind.She’d once mentioned how much Cash loved her chocolate chip cookies and one day, she planned to teach Tess how to make them.That sweet girl insists she’s no good in the kitchen, but I’m sure I could help her master these cookies.A few lessons and she’ll be all set.
Unfortunately, that was the year Grandma Esther broke her hip and she never did get around to teaching Tess how to make those cookies.As Melanie made her way to the front door, she decided if Tess still wanted to learn, then she’d teach her.She opened the door, expecting to see her friend on the other side.
She didnotexpect to find Will Callahan staring back at her.
“We need to talk.”
The serious expression told her something had happened.Maybe he’d heard about his mother’s conversation with her.Or someone had relayed the gossip traveling through town about how Melanie should never have come back here.How she wasn’t welcome or worthy of a conversation with her ex-fiancé, let alone create upheaval with his girlfriend.“Are you sure it’s safe?”Pause and then “Your girlfriend won’t mind?”
The scowl said he did not appreciate either comment as he grabbed the handle and opened the door.Melanie stepped back to let him enter, annoyed that his presence could still make her pulse triple.“What do you want, Will?”
He closed the door behind him, stepped into the living room.“I want to apologize for my mother.She’s never been one to know where the line is.”
