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- Herausgeber: WS
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Serie: Love in Cedar Valley
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Malachy Corcoran takes a demotion in order to accept a front-line job far away from his old position. If he can just keep his head down, perhaps he’ll avoid the worst of the personal and professional disasters headed his way. But once in Mission City, BC, he finds the woman he once walked away from. The woman he’s never forgotten.
Abigail Reardon manages the office at Healing Horses Ranch in Mission City. She never told Malachy that she decided to raise their gifted son as a single mother. The son they’d planned to give up for adoption. Malachy’s arrival in town spells disaster—what if Malachy demands parental rights in his son's life? What if he wants custody?
Abby and Malachy are forming a fragile alliance to support their son, until Malachy’s past catches up with him just as they start to reach a place of peace. Keeping his new family safe might mean walking away from them. Malachy left once, trying to do the right thing—but does he have the strength to do it again?
This Absolution of Abigail Reardon is a second-chance, single-parent romance with a touch of angst and a precocious ten-year-old boy. The book is the prequel to the Love in Cedar Valley series set in a small town in British Columbia, Canada.
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The Absolution of Abigail Reardon
A Love in Cedar Valley Prequel
Gabbi Powell
The Absolution of Abigail Reardon
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Malachy Corcoran takes a demotion in order to accept a front-line job far away from his old position. If he can just keep his head down, perhaps he’ll avoid the worst of the personal and professional disasters headed his way. But once in Mission City, BC, he finds the woman he once walked away from. The woman he’s never forgotten.
Abigail Reardon manages the office at Healing Horses Ranch in Mission City. She never told Malachy that she decided to raise their gifted son as a single mother. The son they’d planned to give up for adoption. Malachy’s arrival in town spells disaster—what if Malachy demands parental rights in his son's life? What if he wants custody?
Abby and Malachy are forming a fragile alliance to support their son, until Malachy’s past catches up with him just as they start to reach a place of peace. Keeping his new family safe might mean walking away from them. Malachy left once, trying to do the right thing—but does he have the strength to do it again?
This Absolution of Abigail Reardon is a second-chance, single-parent romance with a touch of angst and a precocious ten-year-old boy. The book is the prequel to the Love in Cedar Valley series set in a small town in British Columbia, Canada.
Cover art by Dee J Holmes, Bad Unicorn Design
Edits by ELF
Copyright © 2023 Gabbi Powell.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously.
References to real people, events, organizations, establishments or locations are intended to provide a sense of authenticity and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Dedication
Dee
Contents
Chapter One
“Matthew!”
Malachy startled. His son Matthew would be about the same age as the boy sauntering over to the woman who’d called him, having abandoned the group of children playing with a large, yellow Labrador retriever.
The kids laughed as the dog chased them.
A familiar ache settled in his chest—that intense visceral pain always accompanying the memory of his loss. His son was living with the couple who adopted him ten years ago. He still ached like the adoption had happened yesterday, and not a decade ago.
Malachy peeked at the woman who’d summoned the boy.
Holy crap.
It can’t be.
His breath whooshed out of his lungs. Abby. His Abby. The woman who’d given birth to his son, and then been with him the day they’d given him up.
He shook his head slowly, but then he growled and clenched his fists. This boy had the same moss-green eyes and brown hair Malachy saw in the mirror every day. There wasn’t a moment’s doubt he was looking at his son.
His son.
The boy wore a blue dress shirt with jeans and was almost level with Abby’s shoulders.
In fact, all the kids wore jeans, even on such a special day. Perhaps their clothes were more appropriate for the ranch.
Most of the adults’ wedding finery matched the occasion.
Malachy himself wore a suit while Abby looked gorgeous in a sunshine-yellow dress with a fitted top and a long, flowy skirt.
“Mom, Adam and I want to show Hoku the puppies. Do you think that’d be okay?” Matthew had a wide grin.
Abby scanned the crowd. “Why don’t you ask Rainbow? But only if she’s not busy, okay?”
The boy nodded and gestured at the other child to follow.
The other boy must be Adam. Malachy’s world still spun from seeing Matthew. The midafternoon sun offered little warmth, and a light breeze tickled his scalp.
The wind blew Abby’s blonde hair in her face, and she pulled it back with a delicate finger.
She’d always been beautiful, but her face held maturity that hadn’t been there ten years ago.
The scent of barbeque also carried across the air.
Although moments ago, Malachy’d been starving, his stomach was now in knots. Whether from stress or anger, he wasn’t sure. He waited until his son was out of sight before stepping into Abby’s line of vision.
The color drained from her face.
Ah, so perhaps time hadn’t changed him either.
“Malachy.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, and her ocean-blue eyes widened with obvious panic. Her gaze darted over his shoulder, then quickly both left and right before settling on him.
Separated from the rest of the guests, they weren’t likely to be overheard.
“Abby.” His voice was just as quiet. Banking his temper proved challenging, but a friend’s wedding was neither the time nor the place.
“I—”
“You—”
He spoke first. “When, precisely, were you going to tell me about Matthew?”
“Not here.” Abby’s voice pitched low, and she glanced around yet again.
“Then when? When would suit you?”
His sarcasm hit the mark as twin spots of color rose high on her cheekbones.
“It’s a long story—” Her voice was tight. Strained.
“I’m sure it is.” He interrupted her with a snarl. “I thought we agreed…” He ran his hand through his hair, tempted to pull on the ends. “What about the Kaurs? Didn’t they adopt Matthew?”
Abby looked at the ground, and she kicked at a stone. “I changed my mind, Malachy, that’s all.”
“That’s all?” His chest tightened as he ground his teeth, and his heart grew heavy. He needed to rein in his temper, but it proved impossible. Of all the things he ever contemplated, this was last on his list. “You kept our son—and you didn’t think to inform me?”
“My son.” Although her voice was quiet, she tilted her chin stubbornly.
That lift he was well-familiar with. Despite his anger, she obviously felt she was on the right side of this discussion.
Losing your shit won’t help.
But the temptation to do just that was strong.
“Matthew is my son. I just couldn’t give him away, even though the Kaurs were amazing people. I changed my mind, Malachy. I probably should’ve told you, but you’d left by then. I didn’t want you to feel obliged to shelve your dreams because of my actions.” Her eyes flashed.
Was she serious? “Matthew is my son too, Abby.” He swallowed past the lump in his throat. What was she saying? That he would’ve dropped everything to come and help her raise their son? Well, he would have. She wasn’t wrong on that count. “All this time I thought he was being raised by the Kaurs, and you’re telling me he’s been with you?”
Another gust of wind.
She again brushed away a wayward strand of hair.
He’d always loved her hair. Touching it, playing with it. Holding it tight when they made love.
Wrong thought.
“I don’t know what to say.” Words weren’t coming easy.
“You’re angry,” Abby began, finally looking up to meet his eyes. “But it’s not your concern. Just forget about it, okay?”
He glared at her, not even trying to mask his disbelief. “Forget that I just met my son?”
“What are you doing here?”
Her tone was plaintive—something he wasn’t accustomed to. Was she talking about the ranch and the wedding, or Mission City in general? “Friend of the groom. Colton and I were in the same class at Depot in Regina. We’d lost touch over the years, but we recently crossed paths.”
She nodded. “You became a police officer.” Her smile was forced. “I’m glad you achieved your dream.”
Don’t be sidetracked. “When did you go back for Matthew?”
She hesitated, and something dark flickered in her soft-blue eyes.
He remembered those eyes well. Her blonde hair was loose, falling to her shoulders, and it still resembled spun gold. She was as beautiful today as she’d been the day he met her. Perhaps even more so, because she had maturity to her looks. To her demeanor.
“A few days later.”
“Are you a doctor? I thought you were going to medical school and planning to join Médcins Sans Frontiers in some African country. Working with the poor and sick. Did that happen?” She’d been single-minded in her focus to achieve her dreams. Those dreams had never included a baby and a husband when she was so young. Or at least that was what she claimed.
She shook her head, hesitated, then seemed to make some decision. “I moved home with my mom, and she hired a nanny who took care of Matthew while I got my CPA. I’ve been working as an accountant at the ranch here for five years. As soon as I was able, Matthew and I moved into our own place. We have a good life, Malachy.”
Was she trying to convince him of that or merely stating a fact? Did she think she could brush him off with a few assurances and platitudes?
Think again.
“Mom, Rainbow said it was okay.”
Matthew came up on them suddenly. Had the young man had heard? No, he didn’t show any signs of seeing anything amiss.
“I’ll take you.” Abby made the offer and stepped away, but Malachy caught her by the elbow. She looked down at where he was touching her, then up at him.
At the naked panic and pain in her eyes, he dropped his hand immediately. He didn’t want to upset their son, so he tried to make his voice conversational instead of confrontational. “This isn’t over.”
A heavy sigh. “Yes, I was afraid of that. Just not today, okay?” She turned and headed to the barn, one tall boy in tow, two smaller ones tagging along.
His son. Same brown hair, same green eyes…
“You seem surprised.”
He spun to see one of the Dixon sisters at his side. Either her approach’d been silent, or he’d been too focused on Matthew to hear her. “I’m not sure what you mean.” Act innocent. The last thing he wanted was to have a discussion about his private life with one of the sisters of the bride.
She gave him a long, level look, then held out her hand. “Torah Dixon.”
Manners won out, and he returned the handshake. “Malachy Corcoran.”
“And Matthew’s father.”
The woman was striking, and a dead ringer for her sisters, including the bride. Long blue-black hair with unfathomably pale-blue eyes. Blue eyes that gauged his reaction intently.
Could he bluff? Pretend he didn’t know what she was talking about? Or was she as insightful as she seemed to be? “As Abby said, this probably isn’t the right time.”
The woman regarded him shrewdly, her eyes unblinking. “Is there ever a good time? To find out you’re a father, I mean.”
“Not that it’s any of your business.” He tried to keep his voice level, but his resolve wavered. Who the hell did this woman think she was, challenging him like this? “I’ve always known I was a father. Abby and I put Matthew up for adoption, and the last I’d heard, he was settling in with his adoptive parents. Abby never told me she went back to get him. She should’ve told me.”
“To what end?”
The intensity of her gaze, and the set of her mouth, told him she wouldn’t give him a pass on this—no matter what he hoped. “I would’ve married her.” Plain and simple. “I would’ve given my son a name.”
Her lips pursed. “Matthew has a name. And a mother who loves him. He’s surrounded by people who care about him, and he wants for nothing.”
“But a boy needs a father.” Did she not see? Did she not understand? It wasn’t a macho thing, but a genuine concern for the well-being of his son. All the studies said children raised in two-parent households did better in life. His loving parents had proven that with him. Abby’s capabilities as a single mother weren’t the point. That his son was being raised without a male influence was.
“Plenty of children are raised by single mothers.”
“But I would’ve been there. I should’ve been given a choice.”
She regarded him as if she could look past the veneer and into his very soul. “Think very carefully about what you’re going to do next. Maybe you should leave town before things get out of hand. Before people get hurt.”
He laughed, a cynical and tight sound brittle to his own ears. “I think it’s too late for that, don’t you?”
The woman tapped her lips with her index finger. “The resemblance is remarkable, but if you leave now, there shouldn’t be too much gossip. Abby is well-respected and well-loved in Mission City.”
“I can’t leave.” Can’t she see? “Even if I hadn’t just started a new job, I have my son to consider.”
“Well, I had to try.” She shrugged, as if it was no big deal.
But she didn’t fool him for an instant. She met his gaze, and the intensity of her stare nearly bowled him over.
“Just know that we protect our own.”
He frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Abby is an honorary Dixon sister and part of the team that works at the ranch.”
“She mentioned that.”
“She’s the office manager and integral to the place. She’s been here since Kennedy opened shop, and she makes sure the place runs smoothly.” Torah glanced over to where a group of women stood, including the bride. “Abby prevents things from descending into chaos.”
Was Torah telling him this to prove Abby was competent? Did she think he didn’t know that? His Abby’d always been incredibly capable and diligent—a success at whatever she put her mind to. He doubted that’d changed over the intervening years. And since he’d always known her to be organized and skilled, he wasn’t surprised. What did surprise him was that Abby wasn’t working in the medical field. He wanted to quiz Torah, but that’d only bring further scrutiny.
“I need to go give my congratulations to the couple.” He didn’t bother to hide the attempt to put an end to this excruciatingly awkward and uncomfortable situation.
“Give her time.” The warning was clear.
“That’s none of your business.” She’d reduced him to snapping his response. His patience had run out, and he wanted nothing more to end this here and now.
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Her reproof was mild, as if she had no concerns in the face of his anger.
Of course she was safe. Malachy, for all his bluster, wasn’t going to use anything but a menacing glare to cow her.
“Anything to do with Abby is my business. She’s like a sister to me.” She gave him one more look, telling him that he didn’t intimidate her, before she wandered off to join another one of her sisters, who also wore a pale-yellow gown.
All seven sisters wore the color, and all the decorations matched. Pale-yellow was a cheerful choice. It matched the bride Sunshine’s name and personality.
Deliberate choice?
Ah, Sunshine and Colton were alone for a moment, so he made his way over. What he really wanted to do was find a physical outlet for his anger, but this was hardly the place, and leaving before speaking to the bride and groom would be rude. He put on a fake smile and held out his hand to Colton—who shook it—then took Sunshine’s hands and leaned in to give her a chaste kiss to the cheek. When he pulled back, her pale-blue eyes scrutinized him.
Her eyes widened, and she pressed her fingers to her lips.
“Sun?” Colton’s voice was filled with concern.
“I didn’t see you coming.” Sunshine’s eyes never left Malachy’s.
Can she see into my soul? Her fathomless eyes seemed older and wiser than the twenty-six years he knew her to be. He frowned. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You, Abby, Matthew… I should’ve seen this coming, but I…”
What is she talking about? He turned to his former classmate. “Things have just gotten very complicated, but I don’t want to burden you right now.” The last thing he wanted to do was spoil his friend’s wedding. Their time together at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Depot training facility ten years ago felt like a lifetime, but also like just yesterday at the same time. The brass had posted the men to opposite sides of the country, and they’d fallen out of touch until recently. Until Malachy had hit a rough patch and needed to leave his old job.
Rough patch? Who was he kidding? He was facing the end of his career, and Colton’s suggestion he take a constable position in Mission City was a Hail Mary pass, so to speak. A huge demotion, but Malachy didn’t care. All he ever wanted was to be an RCMP officer, and his graduation from Depot’d been a dream come true. Hiding out in Mission City wouldn’t solve his problems, but it would give him time to think.
“I have to go see how the twins are doing. I think they’ve headed to the barn with the other kids.” Sunshine looked back and forth between the two men, as if giving them permission to speak freely.
Malachy searched his memory. Oh yes, there were twin Dixon girls who were in their mid-teens. Younger than the rest of the clan by quite a number of years, if he remembered correctly.
Sunshine squeezed Colton’s hand, gave Malachy a small smile, and then headed toward the barn.
“What’s up?”
If his new wife’s odd behavior perturbed Colton, he didn’t show it. Malachy was still reeling both from the knowledge that Matthew was here and Sunshine’s odd reaction to him.
What the hell am I supposed to say?
This wasn’t his place, but since the Dixon sisters were probably going to close ranks, he was being provided an opportunity to solidify his position.
“How well do you know Abby Reardon?” How do I tell him about the double sucker punch I just got?
Colton frowned. “I’ve met her a couple of times when I’ve come out to the ranch, but I don’t know her well. The sisters love her, and she’s got a great kid.”
“Do you know Matthew?”
“Not well. I’d recognize him, sure, but not more than…” His eyebrow arched as the light clearly switched on. “Really?”
Malachy nodded. “Yes, really.”
“I don’t know what to say. Did you know about him?”
“I did.” His chest tightened. “We gave him up for adoption. I helped her pick a family, and signed the papers myself. Abby and I had broken up by that point in time, and she asked me to leave her alone. I was headed off to Depot, so I respected the space she asked for. Over the years I’ve wondered…but this? I did not see this coming.”
His friend regarded him carefully. “And now that you know?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t know.” He wasn’t sure he’d ever felt so helpless in his life. Walking away wasn’t an option, but there didn’t appear to be any simple solution, either.
“Don’t do anything rash.” Colton quickly glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot. “Abby and Matthew aren’t going anywhere, so you’ve got time to deal with this. I could suggest you put in for a transfer, but that’d really mess up your career. I suspect you’re not going to walk away—now you know.”
True. He wouldn’t walk away. Couldn’t walk away. “I’m not.” He was sure of very little at this moment, but leaving wasn’t an option. “Do you know what Sunshine meant when she said she should’ve seen this coming?”
Colton frowned and his dark eyes were almost black. “She believes she can sense things—feel things. I don’t believe in that kind of stuff.” He flapped his hand in the air, dismissing it as if waving off a fly.
“But she does?”
“Yes, she does.” Curt and abrupt.
“How’s that going to work?” Interesting. Were these two even compatible? Another missing piece of this puzzle. His friend’d always been serious, almost brooding. From what little Malachy’d seen of Sunshine, she seemed to be the polar opposite.
Colton let out a long breath. “We just won’t talk about it. We’re happy together, you know? She’s a good woman, and she makes me smile. She makes me lighter.”
What did Colton give Sunshine in return? Never mind. His friend hadn’t referred to love or any other feelings of affection. None of your business. Still, something felt…off.
“How’s the groom doing?”
Both men turned to face Seth Jacobs, another RCMP officer. All three cops were over six feet tall, Colton being the tallest of them all.
“Preparing to dance with yet another sister-in-law.”
Colton’s quick response saved Malachy from having to make up an excuse while the swirl of emotions still enveloped him.
Seth was playing the role of best man, while one of Sunshine’s seven sisters was the maid of honor. Rainbow? Colton had once sat down and listed all his seven new sisters-in-law, but the list had overwhelmed Malachy.
Colton had only his sister, Mallory, so maybe he was happy to be marrying into such a gregarious and buoyant group of women.
“And as much as I like the other ladies, this groom is wondering when he can get out of here.” The man winked, a salacious grin on his face.
And just like that, Malachy was at least partially reassured.
Chapter Two
“They’re adorable.” Sunshine stood next to Abby in the barn.
The puppies were running around like whirling dervishes, clearly pleased with all the attention. Their mother, Tiffany, wasn’t even trying to corral them, instead opting to lay by the door, just in case one of the little rascals tried to escape.
“You’ll get dust on your dress,” Abby protested, looking at the ivory satin-and-lace gown.
Sunshine hadn’t opted for white because this was her second marriage. The ink had barely been dry on her divorce papers when she and Colton announced their engagement. Since she hadn’t cheated on her first husband, this had to have been a whirlwind affair.
Abby would never have advised Sunshine to get married again so soon, but that wasn’t her place.
Torah and Sunshine had fought about this, but all had been quickly forgiven. Such was the way with the Dixon family. They all had strong emotions and stronger personalities. They could be quick to temper, but also quick to forgive.
The Dixon twins, Autumn and Summer, played with the puppies.
Matthew, Adam, and Hoku were in the pile as well.
Tiffany was the comfort dog on the Healing Horses Ranch, and this was her litter. Seven healthy yellow Labrador retrievers, identical to both mom and dad, Monty.
Matthew wanted one of the puppies, but he was respectful of her firm no. Abby was allergic. Although she could tolerate Tiffany here at the ranch by keeping her distance and taking her antihistamines, having a dog at home would be a whole other issue.
“I just saw Malachy.”
Abby glanced sharply at the woman she considered a friend and as close a sister as she’d ever had.
“I’m sorry, Abby, I should’ve seen. I should’ve warned you.”
Ah, yeah. She knew what Sunshine was referring to. “You’ve walked away from that life, Sunshine, and I respect that. It’s not your place to watch out for me. I’m a grown woman.”
“Colton doesn’t believe.” The bride’s look was contemplative, yet she didn’t appear distressed at the apparent lack of understanding from her groom. “Since it got me into so much trouble with Logan, I figured it was time to, as you say, walk away from that.”
“Even if you’d warned me, what difference would it have made? Apparently, Malachy is staying in town and, as you know, I’m not in a position to leave.”
“Still, it must’ve been a shock.”
“It was.” A band still tightened around her chest at the thought. Like she was going to have a panic attack. Of all the things she could’ve envisioned happening today, this hadn’t even been on the radar screen.
Time. I thought I had more time.
Eight years, to be precise. She believed she had another eight years before she’d have to deal with Malachy Corcoran—when Matthew turned eighteen and wanted to know about his father.
Got that one wrong.
Now consequences for the lack of vigilance were guaranteed.
“I don’t know who was more surprised, Malachy or myself.”
“Malachy.” Sunshine was definitive in that unsettling way she had.
“Yes, I think so.” Abby wanted to confide in her friend, but she also hoped she’d wake up and find all this to be a nightmare. “Funny how we both wound up in this small town.”
“Mission City is small.” The empathy and concern were palpable. “Didn’t you move here because your mother was here?”
“Between marriages number three and four.” A shudder ran through her as she remembered that dark time in her life. “She settled here because of the proximity to Vancouver. Needless to say, she wasn’t pleased when I turned up with a baby she knew nothing about.”
The knowing gaze sharpened. “Your mother didn’t know you were pregnant?”
Give me strength. “We weren’t close. I stayed on campus at the University of British Columbia and always came up with excuses why I couldn’t make the hour-long trip out to Mission City. Since she was busy looking for the next husband, it didn’t enter her mind I might be in trouble.”
“And how did she take being a grandmother?”
A strangled bubble of laughter escaped Abby’s lips. “Oh, she was not pleased. She hired a nanny so I could go back to school. As soon as I was a qualified CPA, I moved out. By then, she had met husband number four, which turned out to be her shortest marriage to date.”
“Yet you don’t sound bitter.”
Sunshine’s gaze was sharp, as if checking the veracity of the emotions Abby was reliving. “What would be the point? She lives her life as she sees fit, and I usually don’t have a place in the narrative. She had me when she was very young, and she doesn’t want these husbands to realize how old she is. Matthew and I are just a reminder of that fact. Plus, husband number five is obscenely wealthy and lives in Europe for most of the year. They went over about eight months ago—before the winter.”
“Will they be back for the summer?”
Shrug it off. “If there’s nothing better to do. I wish…” She had to cut off this line of thinking before it took her into dangerous territory.
“Wish…?”
“Nothing.” Snap out of it. She didn’t need to replay her childhood, especially on her friend’s special day. “When do you leave for your honeymoon?”
Said friend raised an eyebrow, and was about to speak, when one puppy barreled over to them, stepping on her satin shoes. He left a nice paw print, and the bride laughed while Abby rolled her eyes.
Her friend was such an easygoing and happy person. Except during the last few months of her marriage to Logan. Those’d been dark days. Hopefully Colton would be good for Sunshine.
Tiffany herded her puppies into the pen and then lay down.
“It’s dinnertime!” Adam vibrated with excitement, as if this were a new event instead of something he’d seen many times. At five years old, he was cute yet mature for his age.
His mother, Denise, was also a single mother. Unlike Abby, she’d been widowed at the very young age of nineteen. Now she was completing her PhD in psychology and doing her practicum at the ranch. This worked out brilliantly for her because Adam came there after school, just like Matthew did.
The ranch had been a godsend for Abby when she’d been looking for work. Her boss, Kennedy, had been only too happy to make accommodations for the single mother with a five-year-old.
Matthew took the bus there after school and would hang out with Rainbow, the horses, and Tiffany while Abby finished up her work.
You’re one lucky woman.
Pretty soon, though, Matthew’d be old enough to stay home without her. Where had the time gone?
Suddenly, without warning, Sunshine pulled her into an embrace. “It’s going to be hard, Abby, and for that I’m sorry. I can stay, you know.”
Tears pricked the back of her eyes. Of course things were going to be hard. And no surprise, Sunshine would offer to stay. “I’m a big girl.” Still, she held on just a moment longer. “You need a honeymoon. Time to get to know Colton, right?”
Sunshine pulled back and gave her an appraising gaze. “Yes, of course. But family comes first.”
Which was why Abby was so lucky. Who else applied for a job and wound up a member of a huge clan, made up mostly of women? She pitied Mr. Dixon.
A long-haul pilot, he flew across the Pacific Ocean several times a month. Probably the only way to stay sane in a house formerly filled with nine women. Now, all but the twins were gone from the family home—making their own way in the world. Yet each sister had settled and stayed in Mission City.
“Mom?”
Abby glanced down at her son. Her son, who’d soon overtake her in height. He was going to be as tall as his father. “Yes, Matthew?”
“Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine, darling.” Please let him believe me.
As she intended, he scowled. “Don’t call me that.”
“Sorry.” But she wasn’t. Her baby boy was easygoing about most things, but truculent when it came to her nickname for him. Sometimes she liked to tease him. “I need to help with the clean-up, but then we can go.”
He regarded her carefully. “You look sad.”
Crap. She’d have to do a better job of hiding her swirling emotions. Her sensitive little boy didn’t have Sunshine’s ability to read people, but he was more aware than most of how people were feeling. Perhaps because he interacted with clients here at the ranch, or maybe this was just his nature.
“I’m not sad.” She pulled him into her arms. “I think we might do takeout pizza tonight.”
His face split with a huge grin.
Crisis averted.
Chapter Three
Malachy let himself into Colton’s condo and flipped on the light. He’d been staying in a hotel since he’d come to town, but now Colton was moving in with Sunshine, so the condo sat empty. The first door he opened was the bedroom. He dropped his two suitcases on the floor and laid the garment bag carrying his dress uniform on the bed. Red serge, black pants with yellow stripes down the side, and his hat. He’d packed his boots in one suitcase. The uniform had been his pride and joy. Now it symbolized everything wrong in his life.
Get over it.
Exploring the condo took exactly one minute.
A bedroom, a bathroom, and a great room encompassing the kitchen, dining, and living room, all in one open space. The furniture was black leather and chrome while the dining room table was glass and steel. All very utilitarian and, frankly, cold. A couple of bleak, dark paintings hung on the wall.
A shiver skittered up and down his spine.
What was going on? The man he met four days ago had been happy and ebullient. Granted, it’d been his wedding day. He’d been joyous. Well, as enthusiastic as Malachy’d ever seen him.
Just like the day we graduated from Depot.
Had Sunshine turned around this man who seemed to favor the dark? Possibly. Malachy didn’t know her, but she seemed like a cheerful and warm person.
Heading back to the bedroom, he hauled one of his suitcases onto the bed and unzipped it. He needed to press his working uniform before going on shift that night. Without doubt, Colton’d have an iron and board. He pulled out his bulletproof vest.
May I never need this.
He always made that wish. He’d never been shot, but Colton had, during his second year on the force. Always a risk that came with the job.
After eight years in a cushy position in cyber and financial crimes, Malachy’d grown soft. Not physically, as he’d continued to work out daily, but psychologically. He’d lost some of the edge he had when he first joined the force.
Now we’ll see just how bad things are.
Once he unpacked everything and was ready for that night, he retrieved his briefcase from the car and came back inside, setting it up on the dining room table.
I don’t want to open it.
You have to.
He did, but that didn’t make it any easier.
After a half hour, though, he was at his wits’ end. He couldn’t concentrate.
And the memory of Matthew made its way into his consciousness.
Ignoring the situation isn’t going to make him go away.
I have a son.
Well, he’d always known that fact, but the day had driven the situation home, making it even more real. Abstract to tangible. He checked the local phone company’s website. No listing for Abigail Reardon. What if she’d married? He hadn’t thought to ask, stunned as he’d been. There hadn’t been a husband today, but that didn’t mean anything. He hadn’t even noticed whether she wore a ring.
He had the means to track her down, of course. A couple of quick phone calls or some deep net searches through work and he could find it.
Not that way.
No, he’d have to track her down the old-fashioned way. Hadn’t Torah told him Abby worked at the ranch? And Abby’d said as much, which made things simple. Someone at the ranch must know her.
Colton and Sunshine knew her, but they were somewhere over the US border and on their way to Seattle. They planned to drive down the Pacific coast through Washington and Oregon, then spend a few days in Napa before returning home. A bit of a whirlwind tour, but hopefully it’d solidify their relationship.
He’d go to the ranch after work.
And… What? Words failed him today, and he wasn’t sure they’d be any better the next day.
Time had been good to Abby. She still had a flawless complexion. That beautiful pale skin had blanched even more when she saw him. Her blue eyes had been wide with panic, but were still the dark ocean color they’d always been. Her hair was long and pale blonde.
As always, she took his breath away and, in that moment, he hadn’t been able to remember why they broke up in the first place.
Yet she was so much more than a beautiful woman. She had guts, and an obstinate streak a mile wide. No, their parting had been mutual as they realized the relationship wasn’t going to work. They stayed in close contact because of the pregnancy, and he’d been there for Matthew’s birth. But once they handed his son over to the Kaurs, he said a final goodbye to the love of his life and walked away. Not without regrets, of course, but too much had happened for them to stay friends. No, a clean break had been for the best—or so he thought at the time.
More fool you.
When had she changed her mind about Matthew? Had she always planned to go back, or had something happened during those intervening days? And why hadn’t she called him? Yes, he’d been at Depot, but he would’ve dropped out and come back. For Matthew’s sake, he would’ve married Abby, despite their problems.
Would they’ve managed to stay together or eventually divorced? Malachy’d watched several coworkers divorce because the job could be so demanding, and spouses simply tired of the stress. Would he and Abby have wound up in the same position? Also, he’d worked in three remote areas of the country before being tapped for the relatively cushy job in cybercrimes. Would she have minded the repeated moves, taking her away from her home?
Her home had been Vancouver, though, so how had she wound up in Mission City? And what were the odds they’d wind up in the same small town? He’d been lucky to get the transfer, so if he wanted to stay in the RCMP, he was going to have to stay here. At least until things blew over in Montréal, where he’d been working.
Stop obsessing.
He took a shower, dried his short brown hair, and then looked in the mirror. His mother kept a meticulous record of his childhood, so he knew what he’d looked like when he’d been ten. He’d never, even for a moment, questioned Matthew’s paternity. His son was a dead ringer for him. Those green eyes, plus the same brown hair that’d be lighter by the end of the summer.
He let out a long sigh.
God, I miss them.
His parents would’ve loved to be grandparents. They would’ve welcomed Matthew and Abby with open arms. He hadn’t told them. He feared they’d step in and try to take over. As much as he’d have welcomed the interference, Abby’d made it clear no one was welcome. Then his parents died in a car accident mere months after he graduated. At least they’d been alive to see him achieve his dream. Their pride had shone through, and he was ever grateful for the picture he had, one parent on either side, with him in his dress uniform. But now they’d never know their grandchild.
Not meant to be.
His phone rang as he was about to slip on his shirt.
Unknown number.
His number wasn’t listed, and only a handful of people including work had it.
Abby?
If she’d tracked him down…
Nah.
But better answer it.
“Corcoran.”
Strains of Vivaldi came through the speaker. “Hello Malachy.”
His breath hitched. The voice was low, sexy, and unmistakable. Five years’d passed, but she sounded just the same.
“Hello, Emily.”
“You remember me. Glad to hear it.”
As if I could forget. But recent newscasts had pushed her to the fore of his mind. His neck tightened. “Why are you calling?”
“Always straight to the point.”
Her low chuckle raised his hackles.
“Did you think you’d seen the last of me?”
“To be honest, yes. We had a deal, Emily.” Stay calm. Keep her talking.
“Tisk, tisk.” Her giggle was discordant. “You need to watch yourself, Malachy.”
“Are you threatening me?” She had the power to destroy his career. And she knew it. They both did.
Her laugh verged on maniacal. “I’d never threaten you, Malachy. You’re one of the few people I consider a friend.”
Really? He’d arrested her, and then tried to get her charged with a number of crimes. Friend? Bit of a stretch.
“Don’t you have other people? Other friends?” Why me? Why after all this time?
The pause nearly shattered his nerves. “No, Malachy, I don’t. What I do doesn’t cultivate a lot of friendships.”
“Even at the university? Surely you made friends with fellow students.”
“Oh, Malachy, you’re so naïve. I had nothing in common with them. I studied like a good girl, got good grades, then split town as soon as I could. Haven’t you been keeping tabs on me?”
He had, and he’d known about her graduation. “You fell off the grid a year ago. What’ve you been doing since then?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Her tone mocked because, as she was well-aware, he hadn’t discovered her location or activities. And with her, not knowing was the worst. “Actually, I would.” Keep it light.
“I’ll just bet.” She snickered. “You don’t really want to know, Malachy.”
Few criminals called him by his first name. She did. To get under his skin.
Don’t fall for it.
She infused just the right tone of disdain and amusement.
“Yes, Emily, I’d like to know.”
“You think I’m Purity.”
Ah, the crux of the conversation. The true reason she’d called. The computer handle he suspected she was using. “Are you?”
“What do you think?” A taunt.
“I think you are”. No sense lying. She’d know. She knew everything. Well, not everything.
“Is that why you left your job at cybercrimes?” More mocking.
For the second time today, he was banking his temper. He wasn’t known to be an angry guy, but he could be as irate as the next man when pushed beyond his limits. He didn’t respond.
“Yes, well, that’s what I thought. I’m glad you haven’t bothered to trace the call.”
The smile in her voice tightened the vise around his chest. “I don’t want to waste the time and resources of the RCMP.” Deep breath. “I know you’re that good, Emily.”
“It’s Purity.”
“Which I suppose is better than your last handle.”
She sniggered. “Yes, well, Prudence worked back then. I’m better now, by the way. Learned a few lessons as Prudence and have put them to work as Purity.” Another jarring pause. “You didn’t have to leave cybercrimes, Malachy. Your secret was safe with me.”
Was. Not is.
“There were others.” An unnecessary statement, but one he needed to state to get his point across. He wasn’t the only one who stood to lose in this perverse game she was playing.
“Who’d have to admit their own duplicity.” She purred. “If they’re even able to figure it out. I considered using a generic handle, but Anonymous was taken.”
Anonymous was one of the most famous hackers out there, operating in the shadows of the dark net.
“So far you’ve only hit innocuous targets.” He mentally crossed his fingers, hoping they’d hit the end of her shenanigans.
Not likely.
“Targets who deserved it.” Her voice bit. She was getting irked. He hoped to rile her up enough so she’d slip and give him something—some clue—as to where she was, or what she was planning. “That political organization was disseminating hate material directed at women, minorities, and gays. Of course they deserved to lose their ability to convey their message.”
“And the law offices?”
“Defending environmental polluters who destroyed an entire waterway.” A casually tossed argument. “I also hit up that polluter’s website, but they kept the cyberattack under wraps. I bet they have friends in high places.” She tittered. “You have friends in high places. Well, one friend at least.”
Shit.
Before he could speak, however, she continued. “But you don’t see him very often, do you? He’s been climbing that career ladder at an impressive speed. He always was ambitious.”
“He is.” Acknowledging this wasn’t revealing any secrets.
“You haven’t asked how Grandfather’s doing.”
He knew, of course, but still he dutifully asked. “How is your grandfather?”
“Cantankerous.” She snickered. “And wants nothing to do with his black-sheep grandchild.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Emily. Family is important.”
Some dark emotion tinged her bark of laughter, and that caused an ache in his chest. “Well, Mommy dearest is still entrenched in her career, and Daddy precious just took a new job. Another political appointment.”
Again, not anything he didn’t already know. He kept careful tabs on the family. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“Because you didn’t win the lottery on good parents.”
“But you’ll do a better job, won’t you?”
Jesus Christ. She can’t know.
“What are you talking about?”
