Running Wilde (The Winnie Wilde Series Book 1) (10 page)

BOOK: Running Wilde (The Winnie Wilde Series Book 1)

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“Oh, baby girl,” Winnie said, moving in front of her and shaking her head slowly, “but it is. Remember when I went to spend a few days at a spa with Kathy right before your father and I split? Well, I came home a day early to find your dear father and Vicki going at it like a couple of wild monkeys on
my
bed.” She pointed a finger at her horrified daughter. “If you don’t believe me, ask him. Why do you think I threw him out of the house so suddenly? That very day, in fact. And it’s why I got rid of that bed and bedroom set. I slept in your bed until the new furniture arrived.”

“Dad said he left you,” Chet said.

Winnie shook her head again. “Edward left me emotionally a long time before that happened, but I threw his ass out that very day. I just didn’t want you two in the middle of all the drama so I didn’t say anything and let him spin whatever tales he pleased.”

Ben came up to Winnie and put an arm around her. She leaned into him not caring that he was soaking wet. “I think you two owe your mother an apology,” he said to Tiffany and Chet.

Winnie looked at Chet. “And I think you owe Ben one.”

Instead, Chet threw down his towel and headed for the back door. “Come on, sis, let’s get out of here.”

With one last hate-filled glance at her mother, Tiffany followed her brother. Winnie did not go after them, no matter how much her heart ached. “I expected something like this from Tiffany,” she said to Ben. “She’s her daddy’s girl and not very flexible about things. But Chet’s always been much more understanding. He’s the sweet one.”

Ben drew her closer. “It’s going to be okay. You’ll see.”

“That’s exactly what I told Chet shortly before he lost his temper and went after you.” Winnie turned and looked up at Ben, her eyes filled with fear. “I couldn’t bear to live without my children or seeing Emily.”

“Give it time,” he assured her. “They’ll come around.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Winnie stood staring hopefully out the front window of her new house. She was holding Emily in her arms. The little girl was tired from all the activities of the day and was half asleep, her tiny head resting on her grandmother’s shoulder.

“She’s not coming, Mom.” Winnie turned slightly and saw Chet standing behind her. “Tiffany’s not coming,” he repeated. “She told me this morning she wouldn’t be here.”

It was the official house warming party for the Santa Monica house. Winnie had planned a catered barbeque in the back and everyone was having a grand time. Kathy and Zoe had come, along with Ann Marie and her husband. Nadia and her husband had made a brief appearance on their way to a family gathering. There were also a few members from both Winnie’s writing class and her yoga class. She hadn’t seen or spoken to either of her children since the fight at the big house over a month earlier. She’d left them messages and sent them e-mail invitations to the house warming, but had heard nothing. When Chet arrived with Amanda and Emily, Winnie had cried with happiness.

Everyone loved the house. She and Ben had done a great job finishing the inside and he had painted the outside and found a landscaper who had spruced up both the front and back yards. Along the wall lining the driveway, Winnie had flowering vines planted so that when someone looked out one of the windows on that side of the house they would be treated to something pretty instead of a blank wall. The place was perfect, reflecting both elegance and casual comfort, and every bit of it was testament to Winnie’s taste and preferences.

Winnie kissed the top of her granddaughter’s head. “But you’re here,” she whispered to Chet.

Chet chuckled but didn’t smile. “Amanda said if I didn’t come today, she’d divorce me.”

Winnie eyed him. “Is that the only reason you’re here?”

He looked away, weighing his answer. “No, Mom, it’s not. Amanda set me straight on how you’re entitled to your life and your decisions. It took her a while, but she finally pounded it into my thick skull. After that, I was too ashamed to call or come over. We owe you a huge apology, Mom. You’ve been nothing but supportive of me and Tiffany all our lives, much more than Dad has been, and we treated you badly.”

“Don’t apologize for your sister, Chet. She needs to do that herself. If you’re going to make amends, do it for yourself.”

“You’re right, as usual.” Chet took a deep breath. “Mom, I’m very sorry for the way I’ve behaved. You seem so happy now. Happier than I’ve seen you for a long time, and that makes me happy. Seriously, it does.”

“What about Ben?” she asked. “You owe him an apology too.”

“I already took care of that. We shook and buried the hatchet.”

Amanda approached. “Why don’t I take that sleepy girl and put her down for a bit?”

When Winnie handed Emily off to her mother, Amanda leaned forward, kissed her mother-in-law on her cheek and whispered, “You’re my hero.” Then she disappeared with her daughter.

As Winnie and Chet watched them leave, Winnie said to her son, “You’re a very lucky man.”

Chet laughed, “Don’t I know it.” He looked down at his mother. “You really are quite beautiful, Mom, and smart. No wonder Ben is crazy about you. And he does seem like a great guy. Is this serious?”

She thought about her words before answering. “Ben and I are quite fond of each other, Chet, but we’re not going to live together. We’re just taking it day-by-day. Besides, I’m not in the market for another husband. I’m still planning on doing a lot of traveling and I’m pursuing my writing. Ann Marie thinks I could do quite well with it.”

“Really?” Chet asked with real interest.

“That’s her opinion and I think I’m going to see what happens in that regard now that I’m settled in here.”

Chet gave his mother a long tight hug. “Whatever you do, I’ll support you, Mom. I promise.”

When he released her, he said, “I’m going to go back to the party. You coming?”

“I’ll be along in a minute, sweetie.”

After Chet left, Winnie continued looking out the window at the street. A few minutes later, strong hands gripped her upper arms and gave her an affectionate squeeze. “The party’s going well,” Ben said. “Why don’t you come back to your guests?” He pulled her back against him and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. She snuggled against his firm warm body, finding some comfort.

The night before, she’d gone out to the market to pick up a few last minute items. When she returned home, she found that Ben had set up candles around the living room. He’d even put some inside the fireplace since it was too warm for a fire. In front of the fireplace he’d spread out his sleeping bag. On the coffee table, a bottle of sparkling cider was chilling in an ice bucket, and next to it was a platter of gorgeous sushi.

“I thought we might have our own housewarming party tonight,” he’d said, taking the groceries from her.

After eating, they’d made long leisurely love on the sleeping bag and had spent the night there.

“Thank you for all this,” she said to him, still keeping her eyes facing out the front window, “especially for last night. It was perfect. It’s all perfect, except for one thing.”

Ben squeezed her tight and whispered, “I know.”

“She’s not coming,” Winnie said more to herself than to Ben.

“Maybe not today,” he told her in a soft voice, “but one day Tiffany will come back to you. You watch.”

Winnie hoped that was true.

THE END

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A big shout out to all the people who helped make this book possible through their support of the Winnie Wilde Kickstarter campaign.

Sometimes it takes a village to create a new series.

Anonymous Donor #1

Anonymous Donor #2

Helen Bender

Marge Burglund