15. Lake

LAKE

Bronson kepthis promise and Stormi was one happy girl.

She wasn't the only one that was giddy to be around him. Over the last few days, I found myself soaking up every second he was with us. Even if I was trying so damn hard not to get too attached. But the friendship we once had was resurrecting itself and that was something I couldn't ignore.

Nor were the new feelings he provoked.

And while I was pissed about being run out of my home and scared out of my mind, it kind of felt good to lean on someone else for once.

So, after picking me up from work—which had been fairly uneventful and void of any crazy men calling—then grabbing Stormi, we were parked out in front of Capri's bakery.

Even though Stormi wanted to be with Bronson the night before, she'd had a great time at Jurnee's and couldn't stop talking about the kids. But most of the drive was her carrying on about how she couldn't believe how rich Embry was.

"What do you think she's going to do with all that money?" my daughter asked before we got out of the car.

"I have no idea, sweetheart."

Since I didn't give her a concrete answer, she asked Bronson assuming he would give her one. I firmly believed she thought he knew and could do anything, along with everything too.

"I don't know the specifics because Embry keeps it a secret, but I bet it will be something really good," he said, looking at her through the rearview mirror.

I turned in my seat to see Stormi nodding vigorously. "You're smart. I bet she will do something amazing with it too."

My eyes rolled on their own accord. Those two were wrapped around each other's fingers. It was definitely a two-way street.

"I saw that," the man next to me said. "Maybe you shouldn't get a pastry."

A gasp came from the back seat. "You said she got one too!" my daughter said in a scolding tone not picking up on the fact he was just teasing me.

She may have adored Bronson, but she loved her mom and would be on my side if I needed her. That felt damn nice since I'd been feeling a bit neglected and less superior lately. To her, Bronson could walk on water and then some.

"I was just joking with your mother. She can have one."

My body still turned in my seat, I looked at my daughter as she said, "Yay, then can we go? I can smell the cinnamon rolls from here."

She wasn't wrong. It was a beautiful summer day and even though it was early, it was already warm so our windows were down a bit. The amazing, sweet smell was drifting into the car, making my mouth water.

Bronson opened the door but glanced at each of us before getting out. "Yeah, we can go. You guys, wait for me and I will come around to get you both."

I was totally capable of getting out of the car myself, but it was something he liked to do and it felt nice. When he made it to the passenger side, he opened my door and held out his hand to help me out. Then he got Stormi out and swung her into his arms.

We walked into Capri"s, looking very comfortable as a unit of three.

I didn't knowhow anyone could choose just one.

They all looked scrumptious.

Which was probably why I'd found myself sitting at one of the wooden tables in Capri's shop with three different pastries on a plate and banana nut white mocha next to it. When I couldn't decide, Bronson insisted on buying them all.

Glancing down at my array of goodies, I shook my head in disbelief. I would never eat all that, but I wasn't complaining if I got to take some home with me either. The few items I had of Capri's at the party had been almost as drool-worthy as the man sitting across from me. Snagging a bite of the chocolate croissant first, I popped it into my mouth and closed my eyes as the flavor bombarded my tastebuds.

Damn that was good.

Opening my lids, I found Stormi digging into her gigantic cinnamon roll and Bronson staring at me, amusement flashing in his eyes.

"That good, huh?"

Taking a sip of my coffee, which was almost as delicious as the croissant, I had to hold myself back from moaning. I wondered why I hadn't found Capri's place sooner but then realized if I had, I'd probably have to add a couple of extra workouts to my schedule each week.

"Good is an understatement," I said, answering Bronson.

Just as I was about to take another bite, the bell over the door rang, announcing a customer and my head swiveled in that direction.

For the second time in a week my world shifted and I knew my life was about to change again. The first life-altering moment was with the reappearance of Bronson and the unwavering spark he ignited inside me, making me want things I'd fully given up dreaming of.

The second, was looking at the woman who'd stopped dead in her tracks, her penetrating gaze taking me in with a look of shock and curiosity that I was sure mirrored my own.

"Holy shit," Bronson mumbled, obviously seeing exactly the same thing I was.

"You just said…" Stormi, about to call him out on his choice of words, stopped and changed course. "Mom, who's that?"

Shaking my head to clear the silly possibilities running rapidly through my mind, I pulled my gaze from the woman and glanced at my daughter. "I don't know, sweetie."

Just then, Capri approached and stood beside me. "Uncanny, isn't it?"

Looking up at her from my seated position, I opened my mouth, but no words divulged themself. What was I supposed to think or say for that matter. It would be crazy to have the thoughts I was having yet I couldn't quite shake them free.

My head swiveled back to the lady who hadn't moved a muscle. No, there is no way. Yet everything inside me said all the wild things swirling through my head weren't far off base.

I could feel it with every fiber of my being.

The woman before me had my blood running through her veins. And hers in mine.

Capri broke the spell we seemed to be under. "River, please let me introduce you to someone."

The sweet bakery owner had tried to tell me there was something strange about her therapist and myself. Something was definitely brewing and it seems it wasn't just the amazing coffee she served. She'd tried to tell me about her therapist and the similarities she saw, but I'd forgotten about it with everything else going on.

With every step the woman named River took my way, I knew serious wasn't a strong enough word for what I thought may be revealed.

When she made it to our table, it seemed that some of the shock that was evident when she'd walked in, cleared, and a wall went up. I could see it the second it happened because it was something I'd effectively done all my life. But she couldn't hide the emotions fluttering in her eyes because I knew they mirrored what mine most likely held as well.

Our eye color was not alike, mine a boring brown—although over the last few days Bronson had said something completely different about getting lost in them—to her alluring violet color, something I'd never seen in my life, they were so unique. However, the shape, depth, and the story that played in them like a Hollywood motion picture were the same. Her hair was a soft black, mine dark brown, but our noses, lips and bone structure of our faces were so much the same.

"What are the odds?" Bronson mumbled, voicing my thoughts exactly.

River's head snapped in his direction as if she had just realized more people were witnessing the unbelievable meet and greet happening.

"Pretty slim I would say," she replied, her tone much like I imagined it would be when she was in therapy mode.

Her gaze wasn't mean, but that wall she built in record time just moments ago, left her eyes a bit lifeless and well, I guess unfeeling. Then something changed when her stare shifted to the right and took in Stormi.

The purple hues in her eyes twinkled, her face softened, and a genuine smile lifted her mouth. When Stormi smiled back, the woman's grin brightened even more, reminding me of the blinding effect my daughter's smile had on those she graced someone with.

Capri made introductions, but as she got to Stormi, my daughter broke in to announce herself.

"I'm Stormi," my girl said in a chipper tone.

"My daughter," I added, pride strong and evident in my voice.

River turned to me, her eyes going round at the announcement.

With my heart thumping faster than a bunny"s foot when it was feeling afraid, which wasn't too far off from the feelings I was experiencing lately, I waited to see what conclusion she came to.

"She could be… she might be…"

River didn't have to finish for me to know her thoughts.

Not only could I be related to her but Stormi might be too. Did my daughter have an aunt? Did I have a sister? Was she related in some other way?

I didn't have the answers but I sure the hell knew I needed them.

Bronson to the rescue.

After our unwavering stares and silence barreled on too long, Bronson jumped in and took charge. Standing, he offered River the extra chair, ever the gentleman. She hesitated but after a beat, she sat down.

"Let me grab you something to eat and some coffee, I know just what you like," Capri said as she scurried off toward the pristine bakery case full of wonderful treats.

I had a feeling Capri knew exactly what she was doing. It had been her idea to get Bronson to bring Stormi and me into the shop since we hadn't been there before. And being that she didn't seem all too surprised to see River, if I had to take a wild guess, I'd say she knew she would be in the shop at the same time.

Taking a peek in her direction as she grabbed something for River, I could see a satisfied smile playing on her lips. When her eyes met mine, she gave me an encouraging nod in the direction of the woman I didn't know how to handle at all.

Growing up the way I had, losing my best friend, and having a baby who I raised all alone, I knew I had to take care of things.

So why didn't I have the faintest idea what to do when it came to the woman beside me? I was so far out of my element when it came to connections that truly mattered and something told me River mattered a lot.

"What's your favorite thing to eat from here?" Stormi asked River. "Mine is Capri's cinnamon rolls."

Just as the announcement came and before River had time to answer, the baker herself sat down a hot cup of java in front of the newcomer and a plate that held a gooey cinnamon roll.

"Guess that answers your question," River said to Stormi.

My daughter giggled and the tension in the room lightened slightly.

With that therapeutic tone again, River asked, "So where do we go from here?"

A bit oblivious to what was happening, my angel shouted, "Let's go to the zoo!"

Bronson let out a deep chuckle. "We will do that soon, but I don't think that was quite what she meant."

Stormi's little nose scrunched up. "Why not? The zoo is a good place for families to go together."

All the adult's jaws dropped.

Okay, so not so oblivious at all.

River recovered first. "Not only is she cute, but she's also smart as a whip."

"If you want me to help I can," Bronson said. "I can do some research and the two of you can do a DNA test with a swab of your cheek." He glanced from, River, to me, waiting.

I felt Capri rest her hand on my shoulder in silent strength.

Looking over at River, I asked, "Will your family be upset?"

A lump formed in my throat as I waited for her to say she wouldn't do it, that she had all the family she needed, or deny what was right there looking us both in the face. What she said instead had chills running down my spine.

"I don't have any family that would be upset, I was abandoned by the river as a newborn."

Everyone in the room, except for Stormi, made some sort of incoherent noise. My daughter, ever the ray of sunshine once again, announced, "Just like my mommy, but she was left at the lake."

I didn't keep secrets from my child and some may say she was too young to be told the story of how my life began, but I believed we had an even deeper bond because of everything we shared.

River's eyes went as big as saucers at the confession. "It sounds like we have many unknowns to figure out, but that we have more in common than just our appearances." She took a deep breath. "Before I answer, I have to add to my statement. I said I had no family that would be upset, but I do have two kids I've adopted, so I don't come into this alone."

While she had just divulged something momentous about herself she didn't offer more. I could tell her walls were still up and that secrets, maybe even demons, lurked behind her mesmerizing eyes. I found myself hoping that one day we'd be at a place in our lives—as sisters or not—that she'd feel comfortable enough to share.

Something told me that River could use friends as much as I could.

I didn't know the woman, but after hearing that, my opinion of her was off to a good start and I could sense as the words were spoken that there was a story that came with them. I found myself thinking that if we went through with the test, that no matter the results, I wanted to know what her past entailed.

"That's amazing," Capri praised. "You didn't tell me that."

River laughed. It transformed the woman right before my eyes. The wall dropped a bit and the cool demeanor she put off—one I suspected was a coping mechanism—wasn't visible.

"It probably has something to do with me being the therapist and you being the client. I try to keep my personal life separate from my work. You talk, I listen and all that."

Now it was everyone else"s turn to laugh.

I turned my head to look at Capri over my shoulder. From everything I heard and knew, she'd come a long way at being present and embracing relationships since the past that haunted her had been resolved. With things settled and the love of her husband, Paxton, who saved her life, Capri wanted everyone to have what she had now. Friendships, happiness, and love.

So when she said, "Yeah, yeah, but we are friends too, or we will be." She flashed River a beautiful smile. "And with me, come a lot of other amazing ladies."

I looked back at River and she almost looked sick to her stomach. I knew exactly how she was feeling, not being used to having so many people in my life. And while I was by all means not used to it, since it was new for me too, in only a week I had found myself excited about the possibility.

"Well, I—"

Not giving her time to argue, Capri spoke again. "Just wait and see, okay?"

I couldn't see Capri's face, but I knew the look she could give—I saw it a few times at the party and over the week— and it was damn hard to say no or deny her anything. Paxton told me once that denying the woman a thing was impossible and I believed him.

River just nodded and Capri's hand that had still been resting on my shoulder left, and I heard her clap in glee.

"So are we doing this?" I asked, getting back to the big subject at hand.

"Doing what?" Stormi asked, confused.

I looked at her. "I'll explain it to you later, baby."

Being a fairly easy-going child, she simply shrugged a shoulder and replied, "Okay." Then she dug back into her cinnamon roll she still hadn't finished.

Looking back to River, I waited, watching the indecision cross her face. Then finally, her features settled as she came to a decision.

"We're doing this."

Something akin to a tsunami of nerves made waves in my belly, but I wouldn't back down. I glanced at Bronson and he gave me a tender smile, which I returned.

Witnessing the exchange, River asked, "Is this your husband?"

Stormi's head jerked up so fast, I was surprised she didn't get whiplash. Capri made a dreamy sound and I lost the ability to breathe.

Bronson raised his brow waiting to see what I would say.

"No. I don't have a husband. He's…" Something came over me and I said what had always been in my heart no matter the past. "He's my best friend."

He looked utterly pleased with my answer and his face went soft as he gave me another sweet smile. Then a wicked grin took its place and he looked at River. "Soon to be, boyfriend."

When Bronson looked back my way, butterflies started to flutter uncontrollably in my belly and I couldn't bring myself to contradict him.

"He has to be her boyfriend because he kissed my mommy yesterday," Stormi announced.

I looked at my daughter. "Tattletale."

Capri gave a smug smile and said, "I knew it was only a matter of time before all that built up combustible attraction I witnessed at the party would need to be defused and second chances would be in the making,"

My cheeks grew warm with all the attention.

"Sounds like there is more of a story here," River said. "Let me remind you in case either of you need it, I am a therapist."

And with that, laughter once again filled the room.

For a moment my anxiety dissipated but I knew it wouldn't last.

Not with so much hanging in the balance.

Bronson, River, new friends, and we couldn't forget the man out to get me.