His Winter Rose and Apple Blossom Bride (21 page)

Piper checked Jason’s shop, but he was not inside. They needed to talk but it looked as if that would have to wait. Once she’d made sure the children had left and she was no longer needed, Piper returned to her car, intending to head home. But when she was inside, she remembered her father’s words and puzzled over them.

Why would Baron ask her to keep Dylan here when Dylan wasn’t even in town?

She’d have to ask him when next she saw him.

Piper turned her thoughts to Jason, a tiny smile lifting her lips. She wanted to see him, to tell him how much she loved him.

But not like this.

She decided to go home to Cathcart House. She’d cut some roses, fill the house with their heady scent. A bubble bath, fresh clothes and then she’d start dinner.

And maybe, if everything worked out just right, Jason would show up. Then she’d tell him what she’d been afraid to say before.

Now she knew why God had brought her to Serenity Bay.

“I forgive,” she murmured. “Please forgive me.”

The rush of peace assured her God did. She could hardly wait to tell Jason.

Chapter Fifteen

J
ason huddled in his chair, desperately praying for God’s help. Once more his life was out of control.

Outside a car stopped, a door clicked. Footsteps padded to the door. It opened.

“Dylan? Hey! What are you doing here?” Piper paused with one hand on the screen door, scanning her brother’s lounging form in her grandfather’s chair. Her gaze rested on Jason, widened at the gag in his mouth, the ropes binding his hands and feet. Her body sagged, her shocked whisper carried across the room on the wings of fear. “What have you done?”

“
Me?
What have
I
done?” Dylan lurched out of his chair, his voice a notch too high, speech a tad too quick. “Shouldn’t that be what have
you
done?”

A gun appeared in his hand. He waved Piper into the room.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Piper moved forward, dropped her bag on a chair but kept going until she stood in front of her brother. “Dad said you never passed on my message, Dylan. Not today when Jason needed help, not when Vance was sick. Why?”

“Why?” The stark pain brimming in his voice echoed around the room.

“Do you really have to ask, Piper?”

“Yes.” She sat down in front of him, ignoring the gun barrel aiming directly at her midsection. “I have to ask because I don’t understand why you’d do such a thing. I love you, Dyl. You’re my big brother. I thought you loved me, too.”

“I did.” For a moment the dark eyes softened. A wistfulness flickered across his face. “I do. But it costs me too much. I’m sick of paying. Now it’s your turn.”

Jason knew the exact moment she realized the truth.

“It was you! All those incidents, the model hotel, the chlorine in the tub, the plans so conveniently dropped. You did all that. Even the salt in
Shalimar’s
fuel?”

Dylan nodded and Jason wished he could spare her this. But there was nothing he could do except pray.

“Jason’s boat?” Her eyes flared with anger at the response.

“Yes!”

“Why?”

“Do you know what it’s like to be second best? To always fall short, to never feel like you’ve quite managed to meet the bar? That you’ll never be able to do enough, say enough, work hard enough to get your father’s approval?” He shook his head, snorted. “Stupid question. Of course you don’t. How could you? You were always the apple of Dad’s eye. ‘Piper this. Piper that. When Piper comes back.’ Blah, blah, blah. On and on he went. I could count on one hand the number of times I heard my own father say, ‘Good work, son. Well done. I appreciate your effort.’”

“Oh, Dylan.” Tears washed down Piper’s face as the hate-filled words poured out. “You have no idea.”

“Don’t I?” He jerked his head, scanned the room. “Look at this place. Even here you were the favored child. I got cold, hard cash. You got the place they loved.”

“Because they thought you didn’t like it here, Dyl. You took Papa’s diary. Did you read it? He loved you, they both did. But you never seemed to want to stay at Cathcart. Not after Mom died.”

“Why would I? To compete with Perfect Piper?” He glared at her, his face red. “I read the diary, read all about how proud they were of you. You’re right there. I kept as far away from this place as I could.”

“I’m far from perfect.” She shook her head. “But why Vance? What did my husband do to you that you would stop Dad from helping us?”

“He would have bled the company dry looking for a miracle. I knew there wasn’t one. Not for him. Not using the company I’d been breaking my back to keep on solid ground.” Dylan touched her arm. “I was sorry about Vance, Piper. But in reality his chances weren’t good, anyway. According to my information he wouldn’t have made it through the treatments. And when he died, Dad would have felt he had to console you by offering you a job at Wainwright. I wasn’t going to allow that.”

“I feel like I don’t know you at all,” she whispered.

“You don’t.”

“And Jason? What is his crime? How did he threaten you?”

“He didn’t. But you fell for the guy. His business is here. That meant you’d be staying. I couldn’t have that.” He jerked the gun toward Jason. “I figured that if he died on the water somewhere, you’d get out of here fast. Then I could get on with my plans.”

“Your plans?”

Jason had never seen Piper so white. Her fingers clenched around the arm of her chair as she struggled to remain calm.

“Your
plans
could have killed innocent children, Dylan. Your greed and hate could have stolen their lives. You would have been a murderer!”

Dylan paced, agitated and angry.

“I didn’t know they’d be on that boat! He never said anything about them. He only said he was going out in the morning. How was I supposed to know? How could I know?”

The plaintive wail hit a nerve. Jason felt a wash of pity for the boy so desperate to gain love he’d resorted to such extremes.

“It couldn’t have been just jealousy, Dylan. What you did to me, to Jason, to those kids—there has to be more to your actions.”

Dylan nodded, his eyes emotionless, his face very calm. “There is.”

Piper rose, moving forward until she stood directly in front of him—as if she intended to protect Jason from that gun. His blood ran cold and he wiggled hard, thumping the chair on the wooden floor.

Piper’s eyes begged him to be silent. Dylan grew agitated.

“Shut up or I’ll shoot you.” He turned back to Piper, grabbed her arm. “You want to know why? Look. I’ll show you. Then maybe you’ll get it.”

He pulled a folder lying on the table toward him, flipped it open.

Piper bent, staring at the contents.

“This is the hotel model you left in my car,” she whispered. “It’s beautiful, Dylan. But what—”

He didn’t let her finish.

“I own all the land around Cathcart House, Piper. All of it. Once you sell me Cathcart I’ll be able to start construction. The hotel in town will look like a dump compared to this place.
My
place. When you’re gone and construction is complete, then everyone will know, especially Baron, that I’m worthy of the Wainwright name, that I deserve to run the company.”

“When I’m gone?”

Jason knew how hard she struggled to keep calm, to say the words through the fear. He’d never felt more proud or more grateful to God for giving him a chance to love this woman. If only—

“I don’t want to kill you, Piper. I won’t have to if you’ll promise never to come back here. Never.”

“Why? You could have built this in town, Dylan. You could have brought the model in to the council. They would have passed it in a heartbeat.” She touched a finger to the file. “It’s beautiful, the most fantastic work you’ve ever done.”

“Really?” He was like an eager boy, his smile hopeful, begging for a soft word.

“I didn’t tell you, Dyl, but I’ve kept track of your work. You have an amazing talent.
Builder’s Digest
was right when they said your work will only gain more accolades.” She smiled, but it was a sad smile, one filled with regrets. “You could have done it in town. So why here, Dyl? To ruin what Gran and Papa built? To spoil my dream?”

He lost his smile; his eyes burned with anger.

“Isn’t it only fair? You’ve managed to ruin mine.”

“How?”

“After Christmas last year, the old man had a physical. His heart isn’t right. He got scared about dying and had a new will made out.” Dylan’s face altered into a hardened mask of fury. “He left you half of Wainwright Inc. Half of everything I’ve worked so hard to build. Half of what you walked away from and left me holding the pieces. I had to show him I was worth loving, worth holding on to.”

“I do love you, son.” Baron eased into the room and stepped forward, one hand held out. “God has been dealing with me about the way I’ve treated you.”

“God!” Dylan jerked away from Baron’s touch. “Mom used to say God is love but after she was gone I never felt it. I used to come home at school breaks wishing she’d be there to hug me. I was all alone, Dad.”

“I know.” Baron nodded. “You shouldn’t have been. That was my mistake. I have to ask your forgiveness, Dylan. I was not the father you deserved. You are the best son a man could have asked for and it took me too long to appreciate that. I love you. With my whole heart I love you, son.”

“You can’t.” Dylan bit his lip as his father removed the gun from his hand, dropping it onto the floor. “I did some things at Wainwright, Dad. Bad things.”

Baron nodded. “I know. I forgive you. Because I love you.”

“Are you sure?” Dylan murmured, hesitant yet to believe.

“Positive.” Baron drew his son into his arms and held him as Dylan wept, clinging to his father like an anchor. “I love you more than my life.”

“I love you, too, Dyl,” Piper added a few minutes later, wrapping an arm around his waist. “You’re my big brother. I’ll always love you.”

Jason’s heart got stuck in his throat as he watched a family reconnect bonds that had been ripped apart by hate and anger and jealousy.

If ever he’d needed proof that God was in control, he had it now.

Baron signaled and Chief Neely and another officer stepped through the door. Bud picked up the gun, tucked it into his belt. Then they cut Jason’s restraints. Jason rose, stretching his limbs.

“We have to go with the police now, Dylan. But don’t worry. I’ll go with you. I’ll be there to help you. I don’t know what we’ll face, but we’ll do it together.” Baron met his son’s gaze without flinching. “We have to tell them the truth now, son. All of it.”

“I know.” Dylan lifted his head, nodding at the officers. He glanced at Jason. “I’m sorry.” He held out one hand. “Forgive me?”

Jason took it, squeezed hard. “Of course. After all, God forgave me.”

“Thanks.” Then it was Piper’s turn. Dylan’s face fell as he stared at her. “I’m so sorry, sis.”

“It’s okay.” She hugged him, then sniffed. “You go with Dad. He’ll take care of you. I love you.”

The police walked him out of the room to a waiting squad car outside. Jason moved to one side, giving father and daughter space.

“I’ve got to go with him, honey. He’ll probably go to jail but I have to help.” Baron’s eyes begged her to understand.

Piper smiled, touched his cheek. “I know. You go, Daddy. Do what you can. When you want to talk I’ll be here. Waiting.”

They embraced then Baron hurried away. Jason stepped forward, eager to get Piper to himself. But the police had other ideas.

“If you’ll come with me, Jason, I’d like to get your statement. Piper, you go with this officer.”

“Sure.” She looked at him directly, summoned up a smile. “Talk to you later?”

“Count on it,” Jason confirmed.

Epilogue

B
y ten o’clock, Serenity Bay lay in a pool of darkness with only a small, yellow flicker here and there.

Seated on the deck, Piper’s gaze rested on the surrounding forest. She ignored the chilly breeze whispering across the land.

Waiting was the hardest part.

“Piper?” The warm hand on her arm made her smile. “Are you all right?”

She turned her head to look at Jason and nodded. “Yes.”

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, sinking down beside her.

“God. My father and Dylan. Love. Forgiveness. His leading.”

“God led me here to teach me how to trust.” His fingers grasped her chin, urging her to face him. “I believe He led you here, too.”

She nodded.

“I came for the wrong reason,” she murmured. “But He turned that into good, showed me a side of fatherhood I’d never seen before.” She threaded her fingers with his, staring out across the water. “God is like the bay, I think. Ever changing, ever new. Sometimes demanding but always there, always waiting to wrap you up and hold you close.”

Tears rose but she ignored them.

“I saw God in my father today. Tina’s been filling me in on what Dylan’s done to Wainwright. To my father. Dad knew everything, Jason.” She blinked away the tears and smiled. “And yet when the time came he wiped it away, loved my brother in spite of it all.”

“He did the same for you,” Jason reminded.

“Yes. I misjudged him so badly and yet he forgave me. Dad was there, waiting for me all along. Just like God. Only I couldn’t see it, I couldn’t experience the love because I wouldn’t trust in it. I guess He brought me here to teach me trust, too.” She smiled at him as the peace settled like a blanket on her heart.

“I love you, too, Piper. I think it began the first day you showed up at the town office. You looked like a winter rose to me.”

“A rose?”

“Mmm.” He laid his index finger against her cheek, let it glide across the skin. “You were wearing red and I remember you reminded me of a long-stemmed rose, the kind a man gives a woman he loves.”

Jason leaned over, plucked a deep-burgundy rose from her grandmother’s arbor and brushed it against her cheek.

“I love you,” she whispered, sitting very still as he tucked the bloom in behind her ear. “When I thought there was a chance you might drown out there, I knew I couldn’t go another day without telling you how much you’ve meant to me these past months. Everything I’ve worked to achieve, I couldn’t have done any of it if you hadn’t been there.”

“Even though I pushed you too hard?” he asked with a lopsided grin.

“Even though you constantly challenged me to try harder,” she agreed.

He slid an arm around her waist, drew her so close only a whisper separated them.

“We make a good team when we work together, Piper. Will you keep working with me, keep reining me in, keep teaching me to trust? I think God has lots in store for Serenity Bay. Together we’re strong enough to accomplish whatever He sends.” His lips brushed hers. “Someday soon I’m going to ask you to marry me, be my partner for the rest of our lives.”

She tilted her head a fraction to the right, tracing the lines of his face with her eyes.

“Someday soon I’m going to say yes. After we help Dad with Wainwright Inc. Think you can work with me there?”

“Think I’ll love it.” They kissed, sealing the promise of a thousand tomorrows. Across the bay a shower of gold sparks lit up the night sky.

“What’s that?” Piper asked, blinking as one after another, an array of fireworks dazzled them.

Jason groaned.

“I forgot to tell you. We were invited to Ida’s for ribs again. She caught me just as I was coming over here. She knows I love you, Piper.”

Piper burst out laughing.

“After today, I’m pretty sure she knows I love you, too.”

Another boom resounded across the valley and the sky filled with a soft, golden glow. Jason picked up Piper’s hand and squeezed it.

“What’s next on your Serenity Bay calendar?”

“The Summer Splash will be over soon, but then we’ve got the Fall Fair.” She reached up, pulled his head down and told him wordlessly how much she loved him. “Then it will be time for the Winter Festival.”

“Piper, the mayor probably shouldn’t say this, but you are the number one priority on my to-do list.”

She laughed, snuggled her head against his shoulder and thought how wonderful it was that God had planned for her to love this man.

“I think I might be free on New Year’s Eve, Mayor Franklin. Does that fit in with your schedule?”

“It’s pretty far away.” His chin rested on her head. She could hear the rumble of laughter from deep down in his chest. “But I’m learning that good things come to those who wait. I’ll wait for my winter rose.”

* * * * *