You’re Still The One by Erika Kelly

Chapter Ten

Her mom glancedup at her husband with a confused expression. “They’re engaged.”

Stella got out of the car, dreading this moment. Griffin had warned her lying to her parents was the worst thing she could do when trying to repair the relationship.

He was right.

Her mom hugged her. “Oh my God. You and Griffin? I had no idea.”

As her mom rocked her back and forth, her dad leaned into the car. “Come inside.”

With an arm wrapped around her waist, her mom ushered her up the stone walkway, holding her tight as if she thought Stella might pull a runner.

She glanced over her shoulder to find Griffin getting out of the truck and following them.

Dammit.Just when they were starting to get along, now he had to lie to her parents. He was going to hate this.

Once inside, Stella shrugged off her parka and tossed it onto the back of a blue velvet love seat. How many times had she done the exact same thing, when she’d come racing in breathless, happy, hurrying through homework, dinner, chores, whatever she had to do, so she could get back out and join her friends or see Griffin?

Momentarily disoriented from flying back in time seven years, she reached out to steady herself, and a strong arm gripped her, grounding her. “You okay?” Griffin murmured.

She nodded, leaning into him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Stella?” Her mom stopped on the way to the kitchen. “Everything all right?”

Griffin answered for her. “She hasn’t eaten since breakfast.”

Stella looked up at him, wondering how he knew that. His love, it was like a blanket on a cold day. It was like hot cocoa in front of a fire. It enveloped her, comforted her, and strengthened her.

The past seven years had taught her a painful lesson. Several, actually. But number one was that Griffin James was the fabric of her soul, and she would never be complete without him.

It wasn’t just the connection she felt when they kissed. And it wasn’t some nostalgic sense of the history between them.

It was because Griffin James was the best man she knew, and the worst thing that had ever happened to her had been losing him.

She had to get him back.

“Let me grab some appetizers.” Her mom hurried to the island. “You guys sit down. Hon, why don’t you pour some drinks?”

Her dad, still as muscular and fit as his days as a pro quarterback, shifted his gaze from Griffin to Stella. “I’m not thirsty.”

Her dad was the most loving, generous man Stella had ever known. Even at her worst moments in her teen years, when he’d had to come up with some serious consequences for her actions, he’d never lost his temper.

He hardly ever got pissed like he was right then.

“Everyone sit down.” That commanding tone, so rarely used, had all of them comply.

When Griffin headed to the couch, Stella grabbed the back of his Henley and pulled him onto the love seat. She needed him next to her.

“You’re engaged?” Her dad’s tone was flat.

They both stayed quiet a beat too long.

What do I do?

Was she actually going to lie to her parents? It was one thing when it was a concept, and her only concern was protecting Griffin and Austin.

It was entirely another thing to face her father and flat-out lie to him.

And to make Griffin party to this?

It’s just wrong. And it’s unfair to him.

But then what about the Pilsons?

It’s working. They’ve backed off.

Dammit, she’d made such a mess of the situation.

Besides, I’m wearing a freaking engagement ring.

No, she had to do it. She had to lie.

“Stella.” Her dad’s tone made her palms go clammy.

I’m the worst liar. Everyone knew it. As a teenager, she’d dated a seasonal worker at Wolff Lodge. A few years older than her, he’d had a British accent, dressed like a punk rocker, and doused himself in a cologne so strong, they’d never gotten the scent out of her truck.

That scent was the giveaway every time she’d tell her parents she hadn’t snuck out.

Whatever. You just have to do it. For Austin’s sake.

But just as she opened her mouth, Griffin said, “No, sir.”

Her dad’s gaze dropped to the diamond ring. “Explain.”

“You don’t have to do this.” She said it quietly but obviously her dad heard.

“Yes, Stella. He does.”

“No, Dad, you don’t know what—”

But Griffin cut her off. “I have a situation.”

“Wait.” Her mom came out carrying a platter of cheese, crackers, slices of sausage, and grapes. “So, you’re not engaged?”

“No, but you have to listen,” Stella said. “This is serious. You can’t tell anyone.”

Her dad made a rolling motion with his hand. Explain.

Griffin let out a breath. “I’m taking care of Judge Pilson’s grandson.”

Immediately, her parents understood the seriousness of the situation. Everyone knew the judge’s reputation.

“If the Pilsons live here, why is their grandson living with you and not them?” her mom asked.

“I don’t know if you remember Peyton Greene, Mack’s son?” Griffin asked.

Her mom shook her head.

“He’s four years older than me, so I didn’t know him well. But by the time I started full-time at the shop, Peyton had a five-year-old. The mother wasn’t in the picture—”

“That’s the Pilsons daughter?” her dad asked.

“Right. And Peyton had enlisted to try to make a good life for his son, so I’ve spent a lot of time with Austin over the years when he’s visited Mack. He’s comfortable with me. And when his dad deployed last month, he said he’d rather stay with me. As you can imagine, the Pilsons don’t understand that choice.”

Her dad gave a curt nod.

“They’re difficult and controlling, and Austin doesn’t want to live with them.” Griffin let out a breath. “He threatened to run away if his dad made him go there, and we believe he’d do it. He’s got a will of iron, that kid.”

“Look, this whole fake engagement thing is my fault,” Stella said. “I was bringing Austin home, and we heard them talking to Griffin. They said something incredibly offensive, and I just couldn’t let them get away with it.”

“What did they say?” her dad asked.

She glanced at Griffin to make sure it was okay to tell them. He nodded. “They asked him why a ‘grown man would want to spend time with a teenage boy.’” She looked at them with an expression that said Can you believe it? “Austin was standing right there. He heard it.”

“That gives me chills,” her mom said.

“Which is why she did it,” Griffin said. “To save my reputation. She marched right over and charmed them…”

“And I told them I was his fiancée.”

“Okay, but I’m confused,” Her mom waved a finger between them. “Have you and Griffin been in touch all this time?”

“No, it was my first day back in town,” Stella said. “I hadn’t seen him until that moment.”

Her mom looked disappointed in her. “So, you had no idea what you were walking into?”

She waited for Griffin to say, Exactly. But, instead, he said, “You know their influence, and if they’d thrown that comment out to someone in town, it would’ve done serious damage to my reputation. Besides, it got them to back off. Turns out, all they want is for Austin to be raised in a wholesome environment, and knowing I’m marrying into the Cavanaugh family seems to make them happy.”

“But you’re not marrying into the family.” Her dad sent her a pointed look. “This could backfire.”

“It could.” Griffin sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “It’s a tough situation all around, but we chose this approach, and we’re sticking with it. I don’t like putting Austin in a position to lie, but it’s better than forcing him to live with them.”

“And running the risk of him running away.” Thankfully, her mom got it.

“And now I’ve drawn you into our circle,” Griffin said. “I apologize for that, but I know the last thing Stella wants is to ruin this reunion with lies.”

“Understood,” her dad said.

Her mom sat back. “Well, how far are you going to take this? Are you going to get married?”

“No.” Griffin almost sounded offended by the suggestion. “I don’t anticipate this lasting long.”

Don’t sound so happy about it.

“Peyton’s talking to a JAG lawyer to make me Austin’s legal guardian in his absence. Once I have that, the threat’s gone.”

“Well, at least you won’t have a hard time pulling it off,” her mom said.

“What does that mean?” Stella asked.

“Oh, come on. Look at you two. No one would doubt you’re together.” Her mom reached for a grape. “Well, I suppose it wouldn’t be a Stella homecoming without some drama, now would it?” She pushed the charcuterie board over to Griffin. “Please, help yourselves.”

Her dad remained silent, and Stella grew uncomfortable. “What’re you thinking, Dad?”

“I’m thinking I’m damn glad to have you home. I missed you, sweetheart.”

Stella leaped off the couch and threw herself into his arms. “I missed you, too. So much. I love you, Daddy.”

He got up, holding her tightly, his body growing warm. “I love you, too.”

And the tilted axis of her world righted. For the first time in years, she stood on solid ground.

“Can I get in on this?” Her mom’s voice sounded thick with emotion.

Her dad got up, and the three clung to each other.

Warmth spilled into all the cold, empty crevices carved out by too many years spent alone and far from home. Comfort rose like a forgotten scent, driving her back to her childhood when she’d felt safe, loved, and whole.

Her mom smoothed Stella’s hair. “Are you staying in Calamity? Please tell me you’re staying.”

Swiping the tears from under her eyes, Stella pulled away. “I’m scared.”

“Oh, sweetheart. What’re you scared of?” Her mom looked concerned.

“I don’t know if I’ve ruined everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been gone so long. What if I can’t fit back in? My sisters have gotten used to there only being three of them. They have adult relationships with each other now.” Tears spilled hot down her cheeks. “Coco’s had two babies, and I’ve missed everything. Lulu got married, and I wasn’t there.”

Strong arms wrapped around her waist and turned her around. The next thing she knew, she was enveloped in Griffin’s embrace, his big hand at the back of her head. She slumped against him, giving him all her weight because she knew he could take it.

“I don’t belong here anymore,” she whispered.

“Then fix it,” Griffin said.

The noise in her head shut down, and she gazed up at him.

“This is your family. They love you. So, just go on and fix what you broke.”

“I don’t know how.” Not after what she’d done. Which was why she’d run in the first place.

“Stella,” her dad said. “You don’t have to do anything. You just have to show up. Everything will fall into place after that. You’re here. That’s the first step. One foot in front of the other.”

“I can do that.”

She could…with her parents, Gigi, and probably with Coco.

But what about Lulu?

It wouldn’t be that easy with the sister of her heart. Lulu might never forgive her.

And then what would she do?

After dropping Austin off at the training center, they stopped in town for coffee.

Stella got out of the truck, stepped onto the sidewalk, and came to a hard stop. Wait a minute.

Where’s Duke’s?

In between Calamity Joe’s and Coco’s Chocolates sat an historic building with plate glass windows. A sign said Harley Lu Emporium.

Griffin pocketed his keys and joined her. “What’s up?”

“What happened to the toy store?”

“Duke moved to Arizona a couple of months ago. He sold the place to Lulu and Maureen’s daughter Harley.”

“Harley, the surfer?”

“She retired, but yeah.”

“How could he do that? That store…that’s my entire childhood.” Shock turned to disbelief. “Every year on our birthdays, my dad would take us there. We got to buy three things. One for ourselves, one for all of our sisters, and one to donate to the Women and Children’s Shelter.” She didn’t like change. Especially when it erased her childhood. “How could Duke just leave?”

“He wanted to be near his kids.”

“But what about all the kids? Where do the children of Calamity get their toys?”

“They don’t.” He said it seriously. “The children of Calamity have no toys. They have no books. They sit on hardbacked chairs and do math problems. The Youth Center council grades them. If they fail, they get lashes on their bare backs.”

“What?” She was totally confused.

“I’m kidding. You should see your face right now. It’s okay. The children of Calamity are fine.”

“But every town needs a toy store. That’s as basic as a bakery.”

“Where have you been living? You know the big box stores have killed a lot of Mom and Pop places.” He gave a chin nod to Calamity Joe’s. “Come on. Let’s grab our drinks.”

“Wait, why would Lulu buy a building?” Disbelief shifted into something that squeezed her lungs and made it hard to pull in a full breath.

Does that mean she’s here?

Now?

“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask her. But it’s a cool place. Calamity’s never had a gourmet store. It’s got a bakery, a prepared foods section, and I hear they’ll eventually have a café.”

“But she lives in Dallas. How can she own a store here if she’s not around to take care of it?” No one had mentioned Lulu owning a business here. “How often does she come to town?”

“They’re in Dallas during the football season and here when it’s not. But just like Gigi, she comes and goes. It’s just a three-hour flight.”

“So, that’s why she showed up at the office. She was in town for her store.”

“Probably. You want to go in and check it out? I can grab our coffees, while you look around.”

“Are you kidding me? My sister took one look at me and ran out of the room. I’m not going to just wander around her store.” She doesn’t want to see me.

“Why are you being so weird about this?” He came in close enough for their shoulders to touch. “What’s really going on?”

“I think I’ve just been in this bubble, you know? Since I landed, I’ve either been working or hanging out with you and Austin. And this…” She made a sweeping motion, taking in the coffee house, the sidewalk, and the town green across the street. “It’s like the first slap of reality.” She became keenly aware of the passersby. The population of Calamity might be under thirty thousand residents, but in the ski season, it swelled to a million. It wouldn’t be uncommon to run into someone she knew.

She felt…exposed. Because if her own sister didn’t want to see her, what about her old friends? All the people who’d once loved her and went out of their way to say hello and chat with her—did they all hate her, too?

“Hey.” Hands on her shoulders, he turned her to face him. “What’s going on in your head right now?”

His touch kept her from spiraling. “I should go.”

“I thought you wanted a coffee. You said you wanted to warm up.”

“I don’t want to be here.”

“Because of Lulu?”

“Because of everything.”

He tipped her chin. “Sweetheart, talk to me.”

Sweetheart. This man melted her into a hot puddle even on an icy cold day. Holding onto his gaze to keep her grounded, she let herself slow down enough to actually process her feelings. And once she did, the panic ebbed, and she could think clearly. “When I grew up here, everyone loved me. I couldn’t even go to the grocery store without a dozen people stopping to say hello. And now…I mean, is everyone going to look at me and go, What the hell is she doing back in town?”

He tugged her wool hat so it covered her ears better. “You bet your ass everyone’s going to look at you. Because you’re gorgeous. Look at you. You’re as glamorous as a movie star, and you give off this big, happy energy. You’re the sun, and everyone who comes near you gets caught in your gravitational pull.” His hand caressed her cheek till it cupped her jaw. “And if Lulu sees you and runs? That’s on her. You’re home, this is where you belong, and I know you won’t stop until you fix the relationships that are broken.”

She smiled at him. “I’m the sun?”

“Yeah, you are.” His thumb stroked her chin. “And you know, maybe instead of worrying about other people, you should work on forgiving yourself. It’s time to let it go. Everyone has moved on. So should you.”

She grasped his wrists, awash in affection for this man. “Have you?” Their gazes locked, and her body vibrated with anticipation. “Moved on?”

She could tell from his expression he understood the importance of his answer. “No, Stella.” He picked up her hand and pressed it over his heart. “I don’t think I can do that.”

It was a strange kind of happiness that flooded her. It was quiet, but it had lift and thrust, and if his hand hadn’t been touching her, she thought she might just…float.

Until he looked away, and she landed on the snowy ground. “Let’s go inside and get you warmed up. You’re shivering.”

“No, that’s okay. I don’t want coffee anymore. Besides, I need to get going.” She glanced up at the gray sky. “I heard this storm’s going to be worse than expected.”

“You sure? I can run inside and grab one for you.” He lifted her hands to his mouth, cradling them in his and blowing on them. “Let me warm you up.”

Desire bloomed in her, warming her like sunshine. “That’s okay. Thanks, though. Honestly, I’m not going to run scared in this town, and I’m not going to avoid Lulu. I mean, I live here now. I’m staying. But I have to turn on the generator and vent the water pipes of a cabin for one of my couples, and I don’t want to get caught in a blizzard.”

“Where is it?”

“It’s the Montrose’s place, about five miles from Moose.”

“Moose is a twenty-minute drive from here, and then you have to get up the mountain.”

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I’m skipping the coffee.”

He glanced up at the darkening sky. “Can you put it off till tomorrow?”

“No, the wedding’s this weekend. They’re going straight to the cabin Saturday night.” On a sled. Which she still had to decorate. Gah. So many things to do. “It has to be ready for them.”

“There must be someone who does that for Diane.”

“It’s too late now. Besides, it’s my fault. I didn’t make the connection between the storm and preparing the cabin. It’s been a while since I’ve had to think about things like that.”

“Look, if you put it off till tomorrow, I’ll go there and do it myself.”

“I appreciate that, but it’s their honeymoon. I can’t have anything go wrong.”

“Fine.” He turned back to his truck.

“What’re you doing?”

“You’re not going up the mountain alone with a snowstorm on the way.”

“No, Griffin. You have to get back to the shop.” Not only did he need to take advantage of the fact that Austin had after school activities now, but the Pilsons were picking Austin up for a sleepover. “You’ve got a big block of time to catch up on work.”

“You’re not going alone, so get in the truck. We’ll stop at my parents’ house and get the snowmobiles.”

“Griffin—”

“We don’t have time to argue. Get in.”

“Okay, Mr. Bossy Pants.” He might not be so insistent if he knew where they were going.

He didn’t know it, but the Montroses had bought several cabins as part of a new rental business. And this one in particular…

It had been theirs.

Which meant she’d have to be alone with him in the cabin where they’d first made love.

Only this time, he wasn’t hers to touch.