Only Mine (22 page)

“I should have thought this through,” Aurelia admitted. “When they first put me with Stephen, I was so embarrassed. He's younger and attractive and outgoing. Everything I'm not. But I was afraid to walk away. It would just be another rejection. I also wanted the twenty thousand. I want to buy a house of my own.”

She clutched her hands together in front of her waist. “I know you can't understand. You've always been successful. Look at what you've done with the family business and with your brothers.”

She glanced at Stephen, then back at Finn. “I've never had the courage to stand up for myself. I've always been so afraid. Being around Stephen has shown me who I can be if only I'm willing to take the risk. He's taught me to be brave. I didn't know I could be.”

“I'm sure this would be very compelling to someone who gave a shit,” Finn told her. “But I—”

“I wasn't finished,” she told him firmly, staring directly into his eyes. “I would appreciate it if you would let me finish what I have to say.”

“All right,” Finn said slowly, surprised she was willing to take him on. He was pretty sure he had intimidated her, so this act of courage was unexpected. It was possible it made him like her a little.

“I'm not a cougar. I wasn't looking for a younger man.
I don't know what I was looking for, and maybe that's the problem. I never thought I would find anyone. I never thought I was good enough. But I am. I deserve love as much as anyone else.”

She raised her chin slightly. “It was never my intention to be caught in a passionate embrace on television. I apologize for that and any embarrassment it may have brought your family. But I don't apologize for loving your brother. I don't apologize for caring about him and wanting the best for him.”

She drew in a breath. “I know he's too young. I know he has a lifetime of experiences waiting for him and I shouldn't get in the way of that. God has nothing if not a sense of humor, because I can't help being in love with him.”

Finn had been with her right up until she said she was in love with his little brother. But before he could speak, Aurelia turned to Stephen.

“Your brother is right. You don't belong here with me. Go home. Finish your degree. Get a job doing what you love. Live your life.”

She sounded sincere, Finn admitted, if only to himself. Under any other circumstances, he would've believed her and been impressed as hell.

Stephen moved toward her. Finn knew what was going to happen. His brother would yell and stomp and pout until he got his way, his actions proving that he wasn't ready to be in a relationship. But it turned out Finn was wrong.

Stephen cupped Aurelia's face in his hands. “I know that's what you believe. I know you think being with me only hurts me. But you're wrong. You are everything I have ever wanted. I
will
go to college and finish my degree. I
will
get a job. But I'm going to do it here. With you. There is nothing you can say to make me go away. I love you.”

Finn could feel the emotion between them. He felt like an outsider caught staring at something intimate.

Stephen turned to him. “I was wrong to run away. Coming here the way I did only reinforced your idea that I wasn't a man. I was acting like a kid and I deserve to be treated like one. I'm sorry for screwing up. I'm sorry you had to come after me. I know you have a business and responsibilities. But I didn't think of any of that. I only thought of myself.”

Finn wouldn't have been more stunned if Aurelia had morphed into a squirrel and started dancing. “It turned out okay,” he said roughly.

“Not yet, but it will.” Stephen faced Aurelia again. “I want to marry you. I know it's too soon, so I'm not asking. I'm just letting you know where I think this is going. I'm going to finish school and get a job. I'm going to keep on seeing you. A year from today I'm going to ask you to marry me. And on that day, I'll expect an answer.”

Finn waited for the fury, but there wasn't any anger. There wasn't even a mild annoyance. If he had to name the emotion surging through him, it was regret. Not
because his brother had grown up, but because he, Finn, didn't have anything close to what Stephen had with Aurelia. His kid brother had won the prize.

It wasn't that he wanted to be in love. Not exactly. What he wanted was something different. Still, he couldn't escape the sense of having missed out on something important.

“I'll get out of your way,” Finn said.

“You don't have to go,” Aurelia told him. But she was looking at Stephen as she spoke.

“You two have a lot to talk about.”

He thought his brother might want to make sure things were okay between them, but Stephen was too busy kissing Aurelia. Finn backed out of the room, stepped onto the walkway and closed the door behind him. One brother's situation solved, another to go.

He walked down the street, wondering what to do about Sasha. How to get him—

He stopped by Morgan's Books and stared blindly at the display in the window. There was nothing to do about either of his brothers. Dakota had been right all along. His job was done. He'd parented them as best he could, and keeping them safe forever wasn't an option. He had to trust they were ready to make their own decisions. It was time.

 

D
AKOTA STARED
at all the clothes spread across the bed. It was as if a department store had exploded in her mother's bedroom.

“I didn't know you owned this many things,” she said, putting Hannah into her playpen. “When was the last time you cleaned out your closet? Are those leg warmers? Mom, the eighties were a long time ago.”

“You're not funny,” her mother snapped. “If you think this is humorous, you're wrong. I'm in crisis here. A really, really big crisis. I feel sick to my stomach, my head hurts, I'm retaining enough water to sink a battleship. I'm a woman on the edge. You need to respect that.”

Her mother sank onto the bed where she sat on several outfits, crushing them.

“I'm sorry,” Dakota said, trying to keep the humor out of her voice. “I won't be funny again.”

“I don't believe you. But that's not the point. I can't do this.” Her mother covered her face with her hands. “What was I thinking? I'm too old to do this. The last time I dated, dinosaurs roamed the earth. We didn't even have electricity.”

Dakota knelt in front of her and pulled her hands away from her face. “I happen to know nearly all the dinosaurs were extinct and there was electricity. Come on, Mom. You know you want to do this.”

“No, I don't. It's not too late to cancel, right? I can cancel. You could call and tell him I have some kind of typhoid fever. Imply that it's very contagious and I'm going to be shipped off to one of those federal medical facilities in Arizona. I hear the dry air is very good for typhoid fever.”

Just then, Dakota heard voices in the hall. “Are we too late?” Montana called. “I don't want to miss the fun part.”

Montana and Nevada entered the bedroom. They looked around at the array of clothing and accessories.

“I didn't hear about a tornado on the news,” Nevada said cheerfully. “Was anyone hurt?”

“I can see I raised you girls with too much freedom and affection,” their mother snapped. “I should have repressed you more. Maybe then you'd treat me with more respect.”

“We love you, Mom,” Nevada said. “And we respect you. I didn't know you had this many clothes.”

Dakota chuckled. “Don't go there. She'll bite your head off.”

Montana lifted Hannah from the playpen and cuddled with her. “Who's a pretty girl? We're going to ignore all those sniping grown-ups, aren't we?”

“I was telling your sister that I can't do this,” Denise said. “I can't go on a date. We were discussing telling him I have typhoid fever.”

Nevada rolled her eyes. “Right. Because he'll never guess you're lying if you say that. Come on, Mom. It's one evening. You need to get out there and see if you're interested in dating. Right now it's just a theory. If it's horrible, you never have to go again. Besides, you're making us all nuts. None of us are dating.” She glanced at Dakota. “Well, Dakota might be. No one can pin her down on her relationship with Finn. For all we know,
they're running off to the Bahamas tomorrow to get married.”

“You're getting married?” her mother asked.

Dakota sighed. “Don't pretend to be distracted by something you know isn't true. Nevada is right. Try the date.” She carefully avoided asking what the worst was that could happen. That question never went well.

“Who's the guy?” Montana asked, still holding Hannah.

“A friend of Morgan's,” Denise said.

“We like Morgan,” Nevada said. “That's a good sign.”

Denise stood and pressed her hands against her stomach. “His friend may be nothing like him. He may be a serial killer. Or a cross-dresser.”

“At least you have enough clothes to support his habit,” Montana offered.

Dakota and Nevada laughed. Their mother glared at them.

“You're not helping,” Denise informed them. “I'm going to have to ask you three to leave. Hannah can stay. She's very supportive.” She looked at the little girl. “Never have daughters. Trust me. They only break your heart.”

Nevada walked to the bed and stared at the clothes strewn across it. After a second she reached into the mess and withdrew a white-and-blue floral print wrap dress.

“Wear this,” she said. “It will work nearly anywhere. You look great in it and it's comfortable. It's perfect for
the season. You have those gorgeous blue shoes. He'll be wildly impressed.”

Denise stared at the dress, then at the three of them. “Really?”

Dakota nodded. “You know how I hate to admit that Nevada is right, but this time she is. That dress is perfect. You'll look lovely, and more important, you'll feel good.” She walked over to her mom and put her arm around her. “I know this is scary, but it's important. Dad's been gone for nearly eleven years. It's okay for you to move on. You deserve to be happy.”

Her mother drew in a shaky breath. “Okay,” she said. “I'll go on the date and I'll wear the dress. My makeup is done and this is as good as my hair is going to look. So all I have to do is get dressed.” She glanced at the clock. “Oh, God. I have two hours until he gets here. I think I'm going to be sick.” She waved her hands in front of her face. “Quick. I need a distraction. Somebody say something that will make me forget I even have a date.”

Montana and Nevada looked at each other and shrugged, as if they didn't have anything to offer. Dakota figured this was as good a time as any to spill her news.

“I'll give it a try,” she said with a smile. “Mom, I have something to tell you. I'm pregnant.”

D
AKOTA'S SISTERS
looked at her with identical expressions of surprise. Her mother lunged forward and hugged her close.

“Really?” Denise asked, still holding on. “You're not just teasing me to get my mind off my date?”

“I wouldn't do that. I'm pregnant. It's kind of unexpected, given my medical history. I wasn't planning on this, but I can't help but be happy.”

“Finn must have some great swimmers,” Montana said. “It is Finn, right?”

Dakota laughed. “Yes, it's him. There hasn't been anyone else. I know there're complications and I know this isn't anything he wanted, but I can't help being happy. I'm going to have a baby and I never thought I could.”

“You're probably having enough sex to defy the odds,” Nevada told her. “Statistically it was always possible. You just needed the right set of circumstances.”

Dakota stepped back and turned in a circle. “I don't care whether it was his swimmers or the moon or an alien landing. I'm so excited.” She was having trouble grasping the reality of the situation, but so far there was
no downside. Sure, having two kids so close together would be a challenge, but other women got through it and she would, as well.

“When you decided to become a mother, you did it in a big way,” Denise said with a laugh. “If you're happy, I'm happy.”

“I am. Hannah is going to love having a baby brother or sister.”

Montana and Nevada exchanged a glance. Dakota knew exactly what they were thinking. She drew in a breath.

“No, I haven't told him,” she said, answering their unasked question. “I will. I know I have to. And I know he's not going to take it well. Finn has made it very clear what he wants from life and it isn't more responsibility. He's been great with Hannah, but she's not his. He can walk away at any time. A baby is going to change everything for him.”

There was an emotional storm coming. As much as she wanted to believe he would be happy, she knew better. He might even think she'd tried to trick him. Whatever happened, she would get through it. Even if he walked away, she would be fine. Broken hearts healed. Hers would, too. Because no matter what, she was having a baby.

“He might surprise you,” her mother said. Although her expression was hopeful, her tone was thick with doubt.

“I don't think so.” Nevada looked uncomfortable but
kept on talking. “When it comes to things like this, men tend to tell the truth. If the guy says he's never been faithful, a woman needs to listen. And if a man says he doesn't want a family, he's probably not lying.” She turned to Dakota. “I'm sorry. I really want to be wrong. But I don't want to see you hurt more.”

“I know.” Dakota understood the risks. She and Finn had started their relationship for a lot of reasons that were about attraction and hot sex. Along the way, she had discovered he was a pretty great guy. She'd felt herself starting to fall for him and figured that was the biggest problem she would face. Being in love with a man who only wanted to leave.

Now she had to explain how her claim of being unable to conceive might not have been completely true. Not a conversation designed to go well.

“Maybe he'll surprise you,” Montana said. “Maybe he'll be mad at first, but then he'll realize this is what he's wanted all along. Maybe he's wildly in love with you and doesn't know how to tell you.”

“If wishes were horses…” Denise said, then sighed. She looked at Dakota. “I'm sorry, honey. Nevada's right. Men tend to tell the truth, even when they don't mean to. I don't think Finn is going to be happy about this.”

“I know.” Dakota smiled. “I'll be fine, whatever happens. I know I have all of you and the town. I have Hannah. And I'm having a baby. That's the miracle. Whatever else happens, I have my miracle. Most people don't get to say that. Most people go their whole lives
without experiencing something like this. Having Finn around would have been an amazing bonus, but I'm okay with what I have.”

“You love him,” Nevada murmured. “Did I see this before?”

“No, because I didn't want to admit it to myself.” Love? Dakota told herself not to be surprised. Considering the man in question, it was probably inevitable.

Love. She turned the concept over in her mind and found that it fit. She loved him. No doubt she had for a long time.

“It will be an unconventional happy ending,” she told her sisters and her mother. “I won't get the guy, but I'll get everything else. That's going to be enough for me.”

They moved toward her as one, embracing her and holding her close. She felt their love wash over her and through her, strengthening her. There were people who had to go through much worse situations alone. She was lucky. She had her family, and they had her.

 

F
INN CHECKED
the cargo manifest against the boxes he loaded. It was a good day to fly. The winds were light, the sky was clear and he was going to Reno. Sure, it was a turnaround trip, with him on the ground less than an hour, but it was always interesting to fly somewhere he'd never been.

He was enjoying the airspace of the West Coast. The weather was more predictable, and there were a lot more airports to be had. Even moderately sized communities
like Bakersfield lay sprawled in all directions. There were people everywhere, little towns and big cities. Instead of dodging mountains and arctic storms, he had to find his way through commercial flight paths in the wake of a 757 jetliner. Different challenges, same thrill.

Flying was in his blood. He couldn't escape it, and he didn't want to. He regretted that neither of his brothers were as interested, but he accepted it. He wouldn't have wanted to be pushed into some other career.

He finished the paperwork and started toward the office. If he got back early enough, he could take a second trip that day. That would make Hamilton happy. The old coot reminded Finn of his grandfather. Both men were smart entrepreneurs, patient with honest mistakes and unfailingly generous. They were men from another time.

“Finn?”

He stopped and turned. Sasha was walking across the tarmac. His younger brother had been voted off the show the previous night. Given what he and Lani had admitted on camera, it wasn't a surprise that viewers had been disappointed in them and wanted them gone.

He'd wondered if Sasha would be disappointed. Now as he watched his brother approach, he recognized the other man's excitement. Sasha had good news.

Finn knew without being told that Sasha was not going back to South Salmon. Even so, he paused and waited for his brother to speak.

“Did you see the show?” Sasha asked, sounding more
happy than sad. “I can't believe we got caught like that. We've been so careful.” He shrugged and grinned. “I guess not careful enough.”

“You don't sound upset.”

“I'm going to L.A. I got a call this morning from an agent. One of his assistants has been watching the show and she thinks I'm really hot.” The grin broadened. “Hot is good. So he wants me to come down to L.A. We're going to talk. He already has a few ideas of where he's going to send me. There is a show looking to replace an ongoing character and a small part in a movie.”

Sasha kept talking, going on about how he and Lani were driving down that afternoon. She knew of a cheap apartment where they could stay. It seemed she, too, had an audition and interested agent.

Finn knew it was time to let go. Sasha no longer belonged in South Salmon. His brother needed to be other places.

“This is what I really want,” Sasha told him earnestly. “I know you're disappointed.”

“A little,” Finn admitted. “But not surprised. You've been heading in this direction for a while.”

“That almost sounds like you're not mad.”

“I'm not. I won't say I didn't wish this had turned out differently. I would rather you finish college. But you have to make your own decisions and live with the consequences. I hope this turns out for the best. I hope you get to be on TV or in a movie.”

“Thanks!” Sasha sounded both happy and surprised. “I thought you'd be furious.”

“You wore me down, kid.” Finn pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and counted out the money he'd withdrawn from his account that morning. “Here's three hundred dollars and a check for a thousand more. Get yourself a decent place to live. Try to eat regularly.”

“I don't know what to say,” Sasha admitted, taking the money. “I really appreciate this. It's gonna make a big difference.”

“Your brother is going back to college. The money is still there, in your education fund. If you decide to go back, you'll be able to finish whenever you want.”

Sasha's mouth twisted. “You're the best brother a guy could have. I know I've been a pain. It wasn't on purpose.”

Finn felt his throat tighten. “Most of the time it was.”

Sasha laughed. “Maybe fifty percent.” His humor faded. “You did a good job with us. Mom and Dad would be proud. I have a plan. You can stop worrying about me.”

“That's not going to happen, but I'm ready to let you go.”

They moved toward each other at the same time. There was some back slapping and a brief hug. About as much emotion as either of them were comfortable with. Then Sasha put the money in his pocket, waved and walked away.

Finn had come to Fool's Gold to force his brothers to return home. He'd believed the only place they belonged was in college or in South Salmon. He'd been wrong on all counts. Neither brother was coming home, and oddly enough, he was just fine with that.

 

D
AKOTA ARRIVED
at work the next morning with a burning need for coffee and a promise to herself that she would tell Finn about the baby before sundown. Or maybe by the end of the week.

She wasn't trying to be a coward or even keep the information from him. It was just that she was so happy. She wanted to stay happy for a little longer. She wanted to have her fantasies about the future and pretend everything was going to work out fine. She wanted to imagine a house with a big tree in the yard and two children playing together and Finn beside her.

Because as much as she wanted this baby, she also wanted to be with that baby's father. The big surprise wasn't that she had fallen in love with him, it was that it had taken her so long to figure it out.

She walked toward the temporary production offices and was surprised to see large trucks pulled up in front of them. As she approached, she saw guys in T-shirts carrying boxes and furniture into the trucks. If she didn't know better, she would say everyone was leaving.

She saw Karen, one of the production assistants, sitting at a table in the middle of the sidewalk.

“What's going on?” Dakota asked as she approached. “Why are you working out here?”

Karen looked up at her. Her eyes were swollen and red, as if she'd been crying. “It's over. The show's canceled.” She sniffed. “We were shut down late last night. Geoff called me from the airport. He's already back in L.A.”

“Canceled? How can they do that? We're not even through this cycle. Who wins?”

“No one,” Karen told her flatly. “No one cares. The numbers suck. We started out okay but then plummeted in the third week. It's a disaster.”

Dakota was having trouble taking in the information. “What happens to the contestants?”

“They go home.”

“What happens to you?”

Tears filled Karen's eyes. “I work for Geoff. Right now that's not a good thing. I have a lot of friends in the business and they'll help me. I need to get work with another company or producer.” She sighed. “I have savings. This sort of thing happens all the time, so if you're going to survive, you have to be prepared to deal with weeks of unemployment. But it's not fun and I know people are wondering if I knew. I didn't. But nobody gives a crap about that.”

“I'm sorry,” Dakota said, feeling awkward. She didn't know what else to say. She didn't understand how so much money could be put into a show and then the show simply canceled within a few short weeks.

“If you need a recommendation or if I can help in any way, please let me know,” Dakota told her.

“Thanks.” She glanced at her watch. “You'd better get into your office. If you have anything personal, I'd get it in the next five or ten minutes. Your part of the office is going to be dismantled by nine.”

“Okay. I will.” Dakota stood there awkwardly for a few seconds, but Karen returned her attention to her work and didn't look up again.

As Dakota walked toward her small corner of the production office, she pulled out her cell phone and left a message for the mayor. She had a feeling that word had already spread all over town. She looked around at the cameras being loaded onto trucks and people getting in cars and driving away. The TV show had tried to take over the town. She had a feeling that in a matter of hours, it would seem as if it had never been there. Maybe that was just the nature of the business. It was all an illusion and nothing ever lasted.

 

B
Y NOON
, Dakota was back in her old office, ready to tackle the curriculum planning for which she'd been hired. She'd had a quick meeting with Raoul Moreno and, as he put it, a game plan. She let him call her schedule a game plan for two reasons. First, because he was a former NFL quarterback and sports terms made him feel happy. Second, because he signed her paycheck.

Before his summer camp had been transformed into a temporary elementary school, his dream had been to
open a facility for kids in middle school. The emphasis would be on math and science. They would come for three or four weeks at a time, have extensive study in either math or science and, in theory, return to their regular schools enthused about what they could accomplish. As the elementary school would need the camp for at least two years, they had ample time to develop their program.