Page 20 of Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge
Like her, Trevor had no other family. He’d been an only child. His mother was in the military and had died in the line of duty, and his father had had a heart attack four years before they’d met. They’d fallen in love when he’d showed up at the safe house. Barb and her parents had been holding up there after they’d given evidence and were waiting to testify against her mother’s younger and older brothers.
The younger brother had been killed in prison, but the day before her uncle, Jason, was about to be tried, her parents were gunned down in front of her on the way to the courthouse. Trevor had taken Barb and run, moving her to a new location where she’d changed her name and taken his last name. The week before they got married, Trevor and Barb had spoken about their future. They’d made a pact that if her uncle wasn’t imprisoned for good within a month of their marriage, they were moving to another country.
He’d also told her that because of the danger of his job, he’d made sure that if he were married when he died and hadn’t had kids yet, he’d ensure his wife would have a child if that’s what she wanted. Trevor had grown up as an only child, watching how it had devastated his parents when they couldn’t have more kids. He wanted at least three, and because of his job, he wanted to make sure he’d at least have a backup plan to carry on his line. He was also worried that he may be like his father when it came to that, so he decided to ensure his family's future.
They had both wanted at least three kids. Barb’s mouth turned into a smile thinking about that conversation. It was a conversation that had helped heal her heart after he, too, was taken from her. Thanks to her mother’s side of the family, Barb had some contacts who forged a marriage certificate for her. Trevor had told her about the clinic he’d used, and she’d gone there with her marriage certificate and Trevor's will, which had provisions in it.
The clinic had been so friendly they’d done the procedure for her, and nine months later, Oscar was born to continue Trevor’s legacy. Barb’s little bundle of joy and the little person who saved her life and mendedBarb’s broken heart. Her eyes opened and landed on Charlotte—now she had another bundle of joy who had helped her and Oscar over losing Zac.
Thinking of Oscar sent another surge of pain through her heart.What am I going to tell him?The truth, her subconscious answered. Or at least as much and as close to it as you can get without bringing in the details Oscar did not need to know. Barb sighed as her eyes started to feel heavy, and her mind slowly shut down to give in to sleep. As she hit the cozy drifting sensation, her phone bleeped.
Barb thought to ignore it for a few seconds, but Oscar was staying with Emily, and it might be an emergency. She picked her phone up and frowned when she saw a message from Zac.
I remember what Trevor said: Ask Barb for bubbles.
Barb’s tired mind started at the message, thinking that Zac really was ill when it hit her, and her eyes widened in realization. Another memory of hers and Trevor's last night flashed through her mind. They had just gotten to her front door when Trevor had given her a present—asilver and gold teddy bear with jeweled eyes holding a heart that said, "Keep me with you forever!"
The bear had a name engraved beneath him—Bubbles. Trevor had made her promise to always keep bubbles close to her. Not only was the bear a valuable antique and family heirloom, but Bubbles was also a representation of Trevor's heart and love for her. Her eyes widened, and her heartbeat quickened as she hopped out of bed and went to her small jewelry box.
There wasn’t much in there. Just Barb’s mother and father's wedding rings, her mother’s locket, and her father's antique watch he’d gotten from his father, as well as a few other items alongside Bubbles.
Barb took the small box over to the bed and sat on it. Switching on her bedside light, she moved the items covering the little gold bear that fitted in the palm of her hand. Barb held it up to the light. It was heavy for its size, but it was made of gold and silver. She examined it. The little bear's head could turn, and its arms moved. But as far as she could see, there were no seams with which to open the bear. Not even beneath its feet where the namewas engraved.
She shook it, but nothing rattled inside it. Zac must’ve been mistaken unless there was another clue about the ornamental bear she was seeing. Yawning, Barb decided she’d give it a better examination in the morning and locked it in the safe in the bungalow’s closet with her jewelry box. That was a problem for tomorrow. Barb was going to catch some sleep while she could. This time, when she drifted off, she fought with herself over another dilemma—did she tell Liam about her impromptu meeting with Zac?
CHAPTER 7
Liam
Suddenly, the pieces started to fall into place. He turned to his sister. “Who is this?” He pointed to the man to Doctor Jerks’ left.
“I told you that Professor Luke Stanton and that woman to Doctor Jerk’s right is his wife, Professor Kealani Stanton,” Paige answered.
“When did they join Keck?” Liam eyed his sister.
“They didn’t join together,” Paige replied. “Kealanie was already working there when Professor Stanton arrived from Boston a year after I got there. So…” She did a quick calculation in her head. “He’s been there about ten years.”
“How long has he been married?” Liam was pumping her for information.
“I don’t know. Six or seven years.” Paige shrugged, then looked at him curiously. “Why all the questions?”
“Who chose you for the project in Boulder?’ Liam asked. “You started this project about eleven months ago, right?”
“Yes.” Paige nodded. Her eyes narrowed some more. “Why is there a sudden interest in my projects and professors?”
“I think the pieces of the puzzle are finally falling into place,” Liam told Paige. “Can you send the picture to me?”
“Okay?” Paige said, taking her phone back and sending him the photo. “What is this about?”
“Do you have a phone number for Professor Stanton?” Liam ignored her question. “I’d really like to contact him about theproject.”
“He doesn’t have a phone,” Paige told Liam and saw the disbelief in his eyes. “I promise you the man doesn’t even have social media. He has this thing about theManspying on us.”
“He is probably right about that,” Liam muttered. “How do you get hold of him?”
“I go to their house or find him at the university,” Paige told him. “I can call his wife for you. She has a phone.”
“When are you going home?” Liam asked her.
