Chapter 14

Fourteen

Elena

The sunlight peeked around the curtains, gently waking me. Sunday mornings like this usually meant lazy breakfasts and catching up on chores, but today felt different—lighter, brighter, like the start of something good. I stretched, rolled onto my side, and grabbed my phone from the nightstand.

A grin tugged at my lips as I imagined texting Cory, inviting him over for breakfast. It would be nice for the three of us—Cory, Jake, and me—to have a slow morning together. Maybe we’d rake leaves in the yard, toss a football around, and cap the day off by grilling a brisket in the evening. The thought of such a simple, cozy day filled me with a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time.

I opened my messages, ready to type, when I saw Cory’s most recent text, sent late last night.

CORY: Elena, there’s been a fire at the office. It’s bad. I’m heading to Dallas early in the morning to figure things out. Let Jake know I’ll be back as soon as I can. I will try to call as soon as the cell service is restored. Sorry!

The cheery bubble of my morning burst instantly. I sat up, rereading the message, a pit forming in my stomach. A fire? At his office? My heart sank as I imagined the stress he must be under. And here I was, planning pancakes and yard work while he was dealing with something this serious.

Without thinking, I tapped his name and pressed call. The line rang once, then twice, before going silent. I tried again, but it wouldn’t go through. A low groan escaped me as I realized the connection issues he mentioned in his text still affected the area.

I sank back against the headboard, my phone resting on my chest as I stared at the ceiling. What now? Should I wait for him to call? Should I drive to Dallas myself? A dozen questions swirled in my mind, each one more urgent than the last.

The sharp buzz of my phone jolted me from my spiraling thoughts. My mother’s name flashed on the screen. I hesitated momentarily, then answered, forcing my voice to sound steady. “Hey, Mom.”

“Elena! Good morning, dear.” Her voice was as warm and enthusiastic as always. “I wanted to see if you and Jake could come for lunch today. Your father and I sure have missed you two.”

I hesitated. Lunch with my parents wasn’t exactly what I had in mind for today, especially not after seeing Cory’s texts. But something in my mother’s tone told me she was eager—maybe even a little lonely. “Sure, Mom,” I said, trying to sound upbeat. “We’d love to come.”

“Oh, wonderful! Your father will be so happy to see Jake.”

After hanging up, I sat there with my phone still in my hand. My plans for a quiet day with Cory were officially off the table. Jake would be bummed, but he loved visiting his grandparents. At least there was that to be thankful for.

I swung my legs out of bed and stood, determined to put on a brave face. If I’d learned anything over the years, it was how to stay strong when things didn’t go as planned. Today would be no different.

The drive to Beaver Creek was quiet, save for the hum of the tires on the pavement. Jake had been briefly disappointed about not seeing his father today but was happy we were visiting his grandparents. Not long after we left Cedar Cove, he fell asleep, his ball glove clutched tightly against his chest like a prized possession. I glanced at him in the rearview mirror, his peaceful face reminding me just how young he still was despite the big questions he’d started asking.

The familiar curve of the road leading into Beaver Creek stirred up a mix of nostalgia and apprehension in my chest. The town looked much the same as it always had—quaint, timeless, its streets lined with old oak trees and modest homes with manicured lawns. It wasn’t until I turned onto the driveway leading to my parent’s house that I felt a jolt of panic.

As I pulled in, my father, Bill, stepped out onto the porch, shielding his eyes from the sun. My mother followed close behind, waving enthusiastically. Jake stirred in the back seat, blinking awake as the car came to a stop.

“Grandpa!” he exclaimed, his grogginess instantly replaced by excitement. He threw open the door and bolted toward my father, who caught him in a big bear hug.

“Well, look at you, champ!” Dad said, his voice full of pride. “How’s the star player today?”

“Great! We won the championship!” Jake practically shouted.

“Well, isn’t that something?” Dad beamed, fist-bumping with Jake. “Come on, let’s see what you’ve got.” He led Jake toward the backyard, their voices fading as they talked about baseball.

I stepped out of the car, grabbing my purse. Mom was already coming toward me, her arms open wide. “Elena, sweetheart. It’s so good to see you.”

Her hug was warm and familiar, but I sensed faint tension in her smile as she pulled back to look at me. “You look tired. Is everything okay?”

I nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. “Just busy, as always. You know how it is.”

She eyed me, her motherly intuition undoubtedly picking up on the cracks in my facade. But instead of pressing, she looped her arm through mine and started leading me toward the house. “Come on. Let’s get lunch started.”

The kitchen smelled like home—fresh bread, roasted chicken, and the faint tang of vinegar from Mom’s homemade salad dressing. I inhaled deeply, letting the comforting aromas settle me as I helped Mom gather dishes from the cupboard.

As we worked together seamlessly, the conversation turned to the usual topics—Jake’s school, Reflections, and Cedar Cove life. But as I set the last plate on the table, I knew I couldn’t avoid the subject weighing on my mind.

“Mom,” I began, lowering my voice in case Dad stepped in from outside. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

She paused, looking at me with a mix of curiosity and concern. “What is it, Elena?”

I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. “Cory’s back. He… owns a cabin in Cedar Cove.”

Her eyes widened slightly, but she remained silent. Then, she sighed, her shoulders dropping as she leaned against the counter. “So, it is true.”

“What’s true?” I asked, my heart thudding.

She glanced toward the backyard. “Your father and I heard through the grapevine a long time ago that Cory was back in Texas, but we weren’t sure and decided not to mention it to you. So now he’s in your life again?”

“Yes,” I admitted, feeling myself blush. “It was so random how we met again. He showed up at the salon for a haircut. One thing led to another, and now he wants to be part of Jake’s life.”

Mother’s expression was a mix of understanding and lingering frustration. “Elena, you know how your father feels about him. He’s never forgiven Cory for leaving you like that, for not even writing after he enlisted. And to find out now that he’s… well, you know.”

I frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”

She hesitated as if weighing whether to say more. “Cory. He’s a billionaire now, isn’t he? He sold his grandfather’s oil business years ago. That’s what we’ve heard, anyway.”

The revelation hit me like a tidal wave. Billionaire? That didn’t match the image of the man who’d been quietly helping Jake’s baseball team or sitting on my back porch with me, pouring his heart out. “He… never mentioned that.”

Mom gave me a pointed look, her tone softening. “Be careful, Elena. This isn’t just about you anymore. Jake’s involved now, and you need to think about what’s best for him.”

I nodded, my thoughts swirling as I tried to process it all. Before I could respond, Dad’s voice boomed from the backyard, asking if lunch was ready.

“Let’s not keep them waiting,” Mom said, gently squeezing my arm. “We’ll talk more later.”

Lunch was a lively affair, as it always was at my parents’ house. Jake and Dad sat at one end of the table, their conversation bouncing from baseball to Florida fishing, while Mom and I occupied the other, more subdued in our exchanges. The smell of roasted chicken filled the room, mingling with the fresh tang of Mom’s signature potato salad.

“Grandpa,” Jake began, his mouth half-full of chicken, “do you think I could pitch next season?”

Dad chuckled, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Pitching takes practice, champ. But with some work, I bet you could be the best pitcher in Cedar Cove.”

Jake’s face lit up, and I couldn’t help but smile at how Dad doted on him. My son’s relationship with his grandfather had always been strong—a bond I cherished, even if it sometimes came with unsolicited advice about how I should be raising him.

“So,” Mom said as I followed her into the kitchen, her voice low enough that only I could hear, “are you going to tell your father about Cory?”

I stiffened, glancing at Dad, who was showing Jake how to properly grip a fork like a “real gentleman.” I shook my head. “Not today. I’m not sure how he’d take it.”

Mom sighed, pouring another glass of iced tea for us both. “You’ll have to eventually, you know. Secrets don’t sit well in this family.”

I nodded, my appetite dwindling. “I know. I just need a little more time to figure out how to tell him.”

She gave me a sympathetic smile, patting my hand. “You’ve always been independent, Elena. Sometimes to a fault. But you don’t have to handle this all on your own.”

Before I could respond, Dad’s voice boomed through the room. I sucked in a quick breath, wondering if Jake had mentioned Cory being his father. But to my surprise, Dad started laughing. “Elena, you remember when you tried to pitch for the church’s softball team?”

I groaned, burying my face in my hands as Jake’s eyes widened with curiosity. “No, Dad, let’s not revisit that particular chapter of my life.”

“Oh, come on!” Dad said, grinning. “You lasted four pitches before you walked Bobby Haynes. Never seen a kid run faster to first base as the runners on first, second, and third advanced, allowing the winning run.”

Jake burst into infectious laughter. Despite my embarrassment, I found myself laughing along with him, the memory from my own youth easing some of the tension I’d been carrying.

Mom began clearing the plates as lunch wound down, and I helped her gather the leftovers. Dad and Jake headed back outside, Jake clutching his glove while Dad promised to show him how to care for it properly now that the season was over. The sight of them together made my chest tighten—a bittersweet reminder of how much support I’d had from my parents over the years.

“Are you staying long?” Mom asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I shook my head. “We’ll head back to Cedar Cove this afternoon. Jake’s got homework to finish.”

“And Cory?” she asked gently, her tone laced with curiosity.

I hesitated, glanced out the window, and noticed Dad and Jake were seasoning his mitt with glove oil. “I’ll figure it out. One step at a time.”

The drive back to Cedar Cove felt longer than usual, the sun dropping below the horizon. Jake sat in the back seat, his baseball glove resting on his lap, earbuds firmly in place as he bobbed his head to the beat of whatever song he was listening to. The sight made me smile, but the worry gnawing at my chest refused to ease.

As we turned into the driveway, I glanced in the rearview mirror at him. “We’re home, buddy,” I said softly, hoping to pull him out of his music trance.

Jake blinked, pulling out one earbud and looking at me with a sheepish grin. “Can I finish my homework later?”

“Just make sure it’s done before bed,” I replied, watching him trudge up the porch steps. Once I was sure he was inside, I pulled out my phone and dialed Sarah.

“Ellie?” Sarah answered on the second ring, her voice cheerful. “What’s up?”

I let out a long sigh, leaning back against the car. “A lot. My folks are back from Florida, and we went to have lunch with them today. Jake had a great time with my dad, but… I told Mom about Cory. And then, she dropped a bombshell.”

“What kind of bombshell?”

“She said Cory’s a billionaire,” I said, the words still feeling strange on my tongue. “Apparently, he inherited his grandfather’s oil business in Oklahoma, then sold it.”

“Wait—what?” Sarah sounded as shocked as I felt. “And you didn’t know?”

“I Googled him,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair. “But all I saw was the stuff about his foundation. Nothing that led me to conclude he is a billionaire. I don’t even know if it’s true.”

Sarah was quiet for a moment before saying, “You need answers, Ellie. Real answers. Not just for you but for Jake. You need to know what kind of man he is and what he wants from you.”

“I tried calling him,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice. “But he’s not picking up. And now, with that fire in Dallas, I don’t even know if he’s okay.”

“Then go to Dallas,” Sarah said firmly. “I’ll watch Jake and take care of your clients. You can leave first thing in the morning and figure out the truth. You can’t keep second-guessing this, Ellie.”

I hesitated, glancing toward the house where Jake’s bedroom light was already on. “Are you sure? Watching Jake, I mean. It might take more than a day.”

“Of course, I’m sure,” Sarah said. “You’d do the same for me… that is if I had a kid. Besides, this is important.”

I exhaled, the weight of her words settling over me. “Okay. I’ll go. Thank you, Sarah.”

Tomorrow, I’d go to Dallas. Tomorrow, I’d insist on answers. Not just for me, but for Jake—for our future.