A Mother's Secret. Gabrielle Meyer

      “It’s amazing how little this place has changed,” he said as he followed her up the steep set of stairs outside the carriage house. The apartment was on the upper level, while the original carriages were stored in the garage on the main level. When Uncle Morgan had lived here, they had installed a chair lift to take him up and down the stairs, though he didn’t leave the house often.

      “Why change something that’s already perfect?” she asked.

      “I couldn’t agree more.” His voice had dropped an octave and Joy forced herself not to assume a deeper meaning behind his words.

      When she reached the top of the steps, she unlocked the door and pushed it open. The apartment was dark, but she knew her way around. She and the kids had visited Uncle Morgan often, and he was always ready to hear about their lives. The place wasn’t the same without him.

      She flipped on the light switch as they stepped into the kitchen.

      “Here are the keys.” Joy turned and found Chase right behind her—much too close. She took a step back and handed him the keys. Their fingertips brushed against each other and she pulled away quickly. She remembered his touch all too well. “You should have everything you need,” she went on. “We didn’t move anything out after Uncle Morgan died, so you’ll find all the necessities.” Joy started to step around him to leave the apartment.

      “Are you going?” he asked, setting his suitcase on the tile floor. “I had hoped to talk to you about the conversation with my dad.”

      How had she forgotten so quickly? “Okay.”

      He pulled one of the chairs out from the table. “Why don’t you sit down?”

      Joy did as he asked and took the seat. Unease crept into her stomach as she watched him settle into the chair opposite her. Why didn’t he just get it over with? Tell her what she was dealing with.

      “My father agreed to let you stay until the end of July.” Chase’s forehead wrinkled in dismay as he spoke to her. “I told him what you said about Uncle Morgan’s wishes, but he won’t budge.” He swallowed and reached across the table to touch Joy’s hand.

      She pulled away, like she had just been burned.

      Chase nodded, as if he understood that he had no right to touch her anymore. “He wanted to give you a week, but I talked him into letting you stay for two months.”

      Joy couldn’t sit. Standing, she walked over to the counter and turned to face him. Had he fought hard for them, or simply given in to his father again? “I love Bee Tree Hill.” She looked down at the floor, afraid she might cry. It was the last thing she wanted. She’d told herself years ago she would never let someone else see her pain. They just used it to hurt her. “I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived anywhere in my life—and the kids—” She couldn’t continue.

      Chase rose from his chair and crossed the room. “I’m sorry, Joy. If I had a choice, I’d let you and the kids stay here forever.”

      His words and voice were so genuine, she almost believed he cared. But she knew better.

      She moved away from him again and stood by the sink. “There has to be a way we can keep Bee Tree Hill.”

      “I wish there was, but I have no choice. I have to put it up for sale.”

      “Why can’t I buy it?”

      He frowned. “You?”

      Indignation rose in her gut. “Why not?”

      “Joy, it’s worth millions of dollars. Do you have that kind of cash?”

      “Of course not—but it’s not impossible.” Her mind started to race with possibilities. “I can apply for grants, ask service organizations for donations, hold fund-raisers and apply for a loan.” If she’d learned anything in life, she had learned how to fight for what she wanted. “If you give me enough time, I can come up with the money.”

      “I don’t know...”

      “Just give me a chance. I have to try.”

      He didn’t look convinced, but he nodded. “If you think you can do it...”

      “I know I can.” She crossed the room and turned when she got to the door. Desperation tinged her voice, but she didn’t care. She had to fight for Bee Tree Hill. If she didn’t, she couldn’t face her kids. “I’ll do everything in my power to raise enough money.”

      “I still have a job to do here,” Chase said. “My father is expecting reports, so I’m going to have an appraiser come in and let me know what everything is worth. I’m also going to make all the necessary repairs and go through Uncle Morgan’s personal items.”

      “I know.” She didn’t care what Chase had to do. All she cared about was raising the money. “And I’ll meet with you tomorrow to go through the house and grounds to make a list of repairs.” She needed to reassure him that she wouldn’t be a hindrance to him, but would cooperate. If she was amiable and easy to work with, maybe he could convince his father to lower the price for the property—or give her more time. Anything would help.

      “Okay.” His smile looked sad and it made his blue eyes soften at the corners. “I hope you raise the money, Joy. I wouldn’t want anyone else to own Bee Tree Hill.”

      His words brought a lump to her throat and she turned to leave. She was going to cry and she couldn’t let him see.

      The next afternoon, Chase sat in the Jeep outside the mansion as he waited for Joy. Sunshine warmed his shoulders, while the breeze off the river was just enough to keep him from getting too hot. Up above, the tops of the pine trees swayed in the wind, while white cumulus clouds drifted by in the bright blue sky.

      He had forgotten how much he loved Minnesota in the summer, especially here in Timber Falls, where life had a slower pace and neighbors still took the time to visit one another. Back in Seattle, he hardly knew the names of the people who lived in his apartment building, and he never visited with them. It was strange if they shared more than a brief hello in the hallway.

      “Sorry.” Joy stepped out of the house and came to the Jeep, her purse over her shoulder. “I had a harder time than usual putting Kinsley down for a nap. I try not to leave all five children with Mrs. Thompson, unless the girls are sleeping.”

      She grabbed the roll bar and pulled herself into the Jeep. He was astonished all over again that this young, attractive woman was the mother of five children. She was trim, stylish and had more energy than anyone he’d ever met. Her dark blond hair was a little longer than he remembered, but still as silky and thick. She tucked one side of it behind her ear like she used to, and let the rest fall over her shoulders.

      A memory from their summer together hit him like it was yesterday. They had taken a picnic basket to the riverside and spent hours lying on a blanket, watching the water flow by, talking about what they wanted out of life. Chase had run his fingers through her hair as it lay splayed on the blanket and she had smiled up at him, love, trust and hope in her beautiful brown eyes. And that’s when he knew he had wanted to marry her. Later that evening, he had called his father to tell him he wouldn’t be returning to Seattle after graduation that year. He had wanted to marry Joy and move to Timber Falls.

      But Dad had other plans, and he was in Timber Falls less than twenty-four hours later, giving Chase the ultimatum.

      “Do you remember how to find the hardware store?” Joy asked, looking over the list they had compiled earlier.

      Chase pulled his mind out of the past and nodded. “I went there almost every day with Mr. Thompson.” He put the Jeep in Drive and pulled out of the estate. The top of the vehicle was still down and the wind pushed and tugged at them.

      “Thanks for inviting me to come with you and help choose the paint.” Joy held