Page 29 of Deception & Daylight (Oak Ridge #3)

Mag s

? No Complaints - Noah Kahan

“ I hereby convene the first ever Books and Baddies Book Club. Shit, someone get me a gavel next time. I feel so powerful like this.” Laughter erupts as Ivy speaks, standing behind a podium surrounded by cushioned chairs at the back of Chapters and Brews.

It’s after hours on a Tuesday, and everyone filed in right on time with their favorite books in hand, as requested. I eye the crowd, recognizing most of the faces in the room.

It seems we’ve each arrived with a companion in tow.

Rosie is here with her granddaughter, Olivia.

Paige brought Nana and Evelyn, and I coerced Lucy into tagging along.

Mo is here with someone I don’t recognize — a strikingly beautiful plus size woman with wire-frame glasses and short dark hair.

She catches me looking and her mouth tips into a friendly smile, which I quickly return before averting my gaze.

“We’ll each take turns at the podium introducing ourselves and talk a little about our favorite books so we can get a feel for our tastes before we pick our first book of the month.

” Ivy reaches into her purse and pulls out a familiar dark romance novel.

We read it earlier this year as a part of our long distance book club, and it rewired my brain chemistry.

Who knew I had a thing for men in masks?

“I’m Ivy,” she says, beginning her introduction. “I have a 5-year-old daughter and I’m expecting my second baby in a few months. I mostly read romance and fantasy.” She gives a quick synopsis and breakdown of her favorite book before motioning for Paige to take her place.

My introverted bestie approaches tentatively, scanning the crowd. When her gaze lands on me, I give her a subtle thumbs up and she proceeds with a succinct introduction and, to absolutely nobody’s surprise,the synopsis of a popular cowboy romance.

Lucy is up next, and to my shock, she holds up a taboo age gap romance, the cover depicting a suggestive scene between a young woman and an older man, playing on the forbidden ex-boyfriend’s dad trope. Go Lucy.

We go around the circle like that until the unfamiliar woman steps up.

She clears her throat and straightens her spine.

“My name is Callie Cooper. I’m a librarian and I have a Maine Coon named Atticus.

” She hesitates for a moment before she retrieves a book from her oversized leather book bag.

It’s a sapphic romance I don’t recognize but immediately add to my Tbr.

Mo squeals excitedly when she produces the same book from her backpack. She quickly swaps places with Callie. “I’m Morgan, but my friends call me Mo. I use they/them and she/her pronouns interchangeably, and this cozy little establishment is all mine.”

We continue on with the introductions until the last person standing is yours truly.

My heart r aces as I step up to the podium. I swallow thickly before shaking out my nerves.

It’s now or never.

“Hi. I’m Maggie Watson. I’m—” I waver over my next words, wondering if this is the right time. “Oh, fuck it. I’m an author.” I reach into my tote and pull out my well loved first edition of Love Between Loathing.

A hush falls over the room and my heartbeat thrums in my ears as I wait for a reaction.

My eyes instinctively find Paige, slack jawed and stunned silent.

She stares blankly, doing mental gymnastics to puzzle out my confession.

“M.W. Hartley. Maggie. Watson. Hartley. Son of a bitch! You little shit!”

The room erupts into whoops and cheers as Paige rushes the podium and pulls me in for a hug. “I’m so proud of you,” she says. Tears spring to my eyes as the weight of my secret evaporates.

“That explains the long hours in that window seat. Does Miles know?” Lucy asks.

My cheeks heat as I recall his discovery and everything that followed. “Yeah. He found out before anyone else did, actually.”

The rest of the meeting devolves into a round of twenty questions, and I have to insist on a different book for our first book club pick, assuring them they’re more than welcome to read it when I’m long gone from this town.

But for some reason, the thought of leaving all of this behind doesn’t feel freeing anymore.

Miles

Hopping down from the wraparound porch, I give our work a once over, an overwhelming sense of pride blooming in my chest. The black trimmings stand out against the stark white vertical siding, and the warm wood accents on the pillars add the perfect rustic touch to the sprawling farmhouse that now sits to the left of the newly erected fencing beyond where the horses are grazing in the field.

Ivy stands in awe, one hand casually draped over her growing belly as she rests her head on Luca’s shoulder.

“I’ll let y’all have a moment.” Patting Luca on the shoulder, I head back to my truck.

There’s still a lot of work to do on the interior before the baby arrives, but I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in the short time we’ve been working on it.

It’s been priority number one since Ivy decided to take the land the Hayes family had set aside in her name.

A few short months ago, Luca came to me with a rough blueprint and a list of Ivy’s demands, intent on making his woman’s wildest dreams come true, and we ran with it.

Not to be outdone, Rylin came to me with a list of her own requirements. She had on her pink tool belt and hard hat, a list of her requirements scribbled in crayon fisted in her tiny hand, and you better believe Uncle Miles delivered.

As the engine blares to life, the radio picks up where I left off on my playlist, an acoustic guitar reverberating throughout the confined space as I put it in drive and pull onto the interstate.

I’m absorbed in the lyrics of a Ruby Lynn Hayes song, when the music is abruptly cut off by the shrill sound of my phone ringing through the speakers.

The display tells me Maggie is calling, and the sudden feeling of contentment that hits me is a shock to my system.

I tap accept, not giving myself time to consider what it means that I’m so easily excited by the mere sight of Maggie’s name. “Hey there, Wildcat.”

“Miles.”

The way she says my name has me immediately on edge. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end at the rapidly unfurling sense of unease. “What’s wrong?”

There’s rustling on the other end of the line and I hear her mutter something to someone out of earshot before she finally responds, “It’s Lucy. There’s been an accident.”

“What happened? Where is she?”

“She fell down the stairs. The paramedics are here now. They’re taking her to the hospital.”

I inhale a steadying breath, clutching the steering wheel as I try to tamp down on the rising panic that’s clawing at my chest. As if sensing my distress, Maggie continues, “She’s going to be alright. I’ll stay on the line with you until you get to the hospital, okay?”

The drive to the hospital is a blur and I quickly pull into the first parking spot I can find, dashing towards the double doors. Some of the tension eases when I find Maggie waiting for me and pull her into my arms.

“She’s in the ER. I couldn’t go with her because I’m not family.” Not family my ass. When I finally meet her eyes, she looks terrified and my need to soothe her overrides all other instincts.

Without thinking, I interlock our fingers and pull her along with me as I head straight for the nurse’s station. I make eye contact with a short, grey haired woman with a kind smile. “What can I do for you, dear?”

“I’m Miles Barlow. They just brought my mother in. Can you tell me where she is?”

“I should’ve known. You look just like your mama. I’m Doris. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ll go check in with the doctors and give you an update. Hold tight.”

Maggie leads me to a bank of chairs and urges me to sit down. I wrap her in my arms, no longer certain if I’m comforting her or myself.

Doris returns a short while later with a clipboard and a somber expression that has my hackles rising.

“She’s looking a little worse for the wear, but you can follow me and I’ll take you to her.

It’s best if you stay calm. She does have a concussion and any sudden loud noises will cause her more pain. ”

The sterile scent of antiseptic thrusts me back in time to a memory I’d rather not revisit as she leads us down a long hallway before stopping in front of a windowless door and knocking lightly.

“Come in,” a quiet voice calls from the other side.

Doris gestures for us to head inside. “If you need anything at all, just press the call button on the side of your mama’s bed and someone will be right in. ”

Stepping into the stark, brightly lit hospital room is jarring. She looks so tiny in the massive bed, and her eyelids droop slightly as she reaches for us. “My baby,” she says, her voice a little garbled. “And my sweet girl. Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” she responds, taking my mom’s hand in hers while I grasp the other one, trying to mask the panic that threatens to consume me. Before she can say anything else, a doctor enters holding a clipboard against his chest.

He offers me a handshake. “Hello. I’m Doctor Shaw.” He’s a tall, slender man, likely in his late fifties with grey hair and a closely cropped beard. “Lou. Not exactly how I wanted our date to go this evening.”

My eyes go wide and it seems I’m not the only one who’s shocked as I take in Maggie’s stunned expression. “I had hoped to meet you under different circumstances, Miles. But it’s nice to finally meet you all the same. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I’ve heard absolutely nothing about you,” I retort, my tone slightly clipped.

“I was going to tell you, sweetheart,” Ma says. “I just hadn’t found the right time.”

Guilt claws at me as my eyes rake over my mother in her hospital bed, an IV hooked up to her arm as the sound of the heart rate monitor fills the oppressive silence that’s fallen over the room.

The last thing I nee d to worry about right now is the fact that my mom is dating some doctor.

Even if we weren’t in this situation, I should be happy for her.

She’s been alone for a long time, and if anyone deserves happiness, it’s Lucy Barlow.

“It’s fine, Ma. Let’s just focus on getting you better.” I squeeze her hand, letting her know I’m not mad at her for keeping secrets. “How’s she doing?” I ask, turning to Dr. Shaw.

“She has a mild concussion and a hairline fracture in her left hip. The fall was likely caused by the cancer treatments. I warned you to be careful, Lou.”

The world around me grows hazy and frantic voices become a dull hum in the background with one word replaying over and over in my mind. Cancer.

Mags

My fight or flight instinct has been running on overdrive since we arrived at the hospital.

Everything about this place is threatening to pull me under, from the sterile scent permeating the halls to the stark white walls, and the whirring sounds of the machines keeping people alive.

But I have to hold it together for Lucy, and for Miles.

An onslaught of terrifying memories is lurking just beneath the surface.

My hold on them is tenuous at best, but I can’t afford to break down right now. Miles needs me.

“She has a mild concussion and a hairline fracture in her left hip. The fall was likely caused by the cancer treatments. I warned you to be careful, Lou.”

Cancer. Lucy has cancer. Worry claws at my chest when Miles goes silent.

Lucy reaches out for him, but he doesn’t move, and her pleading eyes find mine.

I step into his space, cup his cheeks with both hands and force him to look at me.

“Miles, baby. Breathe.” The world around us disappears as he grips my wrists and leans his forehead against mine, inhaling a shaky breath.

“There you are,” I whisper when his eyes finally regain focus.

He places an all too brief kiss on my temple before kneeling at his mother’s side. She grasps his hand and the emotionally charged moment has me choking back tears. This is what family is supposed to look like.

“Why didn't you tell me?” he asks.

“You’ve already been through so much, losing your dad. And everything before that... I didn’t want you to worry. They caught it early and I guess I had hoped I could buy some time before I had to tell you the truth. I’m sorry, sweetheart. It was never my intention to hurt you.”

“I’m not mad. Am I upset you didn’t feel like you could tell me? Hell yes, I am. But I love you, Ma. And I would’ve wanted to be here for you.”

“You’re a good man, Miles Barlow.”

Suddenly feeling like I’m intruding on their moment, I start to turn away.

I don’t belong here. This isn't my home and they aren’t my family.

“And just where do you think you’re going?

” Lucy’s voice stops me in my tracks. “Come here, sweet girl. I need to hug you.” A small smile forms on my lips as I let her pull me into her arms, her hand gently stroking over my spine.

“I know you don’t want my thanks, but you have it anyway. ”

“Can I get you anything?” I ask. “Something to eat or drink? I can run out and get whatever you want.”

“I’m okay, Maggie. If you need to go, I understand.

” I hang my head and blink back tears. I’ve never felt so seen, but all I want to do is disappear.

“Hey. Don’t do that. It’s okay if you’re not okay.

Miles, why don’t you take our girl home.

I know you don’t like hospitals.” Our girl.

God, I wish they were mine. I’d give anything to be a part of this beautiful family.

“I can ’t leave you, Ma.” He looks at me apologetically, and I nod, a quiet understanding passing between us.

“I’m fine. I need to get some sleep anyway. And Nathan — Dr. Shaw — will be here with me.”

“Are you sure,” he asks. “I can stay.”

“Go home,” her tone is a little more forceful now and Miles huffs out a laugh.

“Yes Ma’am.”