One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

All these thoughts swirled in my head as I pulled into the yard and saw a new car at the house. A steel-grey Cadillac was parked conspicuously in the middle of Bill’s old Ford and Patrick’s rented Chevy.

I pulled the classic Silverado I drove just below it and hopped out, lifting my bag from the bed. Elaine walked out onto the porch as I approached, and her face lit.

“Mariska!” She hopped down the steps and flew to my side, but her face immediately crinkled. “Where’s Stuart?”

A knot tightened in my throat and for the first time all day, I thought I might cry. “I left him.” It was as much as I could say.

“What happened?”

Shaking my head, I looked down. I couldn’t get into the whole thing with her here. We were on the porch, and Elaine stood in front of me. She held my shoulders, studying my expression.

“I was so happy when I saw your text. It was like everything made sense—you coming here, the crazy-protective way he’s been acting, all of it.”

She left her sentence hanging, and I knew she wanted me to fill in the rest. Clearing my throat, I grabbed hold of my emotions. “He says he’s leaving, and he wants to be alone.”

Elaine’s green eyes narrowed. “Horse shit.”

My mouth dropped open, and then we both started to laugh. A tear rolled down my cheek, and she pulled me into a hug laughing more. It was very possible I was losing it because I didn’t think I could stop laughing.

With a sniff, my new bestie straightened up. She smoothed my hair back from my face and leaned closer, speaking low. “You’re completely under his skin, and as much as Captain Asshat likes to act so tough, I’m betting money he’s running scared.”

“Maybe. But even if that’s the truth, I have to walk away or he’ll never see it.”

“You’re absolutely right.” Her arm was back around my shoulder as she led me into the house. “The fact that you know him so well just proves you’re meant to be together.”

Animated voices rang out from the kitchen area, and I glanced at Elaine. “Who’s here?”

“Oh!” She took off toward the noise, dragging me behind her. “Their mom Sylvia got here last night! Patrick told her to come and spend Thanksgiving with us.”

The date hit me. “Oh my god. It’s today!”

“You haven’t missed a thing. We’re being very casual this year, since everything’s been thrown in the air. Patrick’s old secretary Nikki flew in with her.”

My brow lined. “Is that weird?”

“Well, she’s not really his old secretary. She’s the office manager in Princeton. She knows Stuart, too.”

Rounding the corner, Bill and Patrick sat at the table across from a lovely older woman with sandy brown hair and sparkling green eyes. Beside her was a younger woman with white-blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a very tight wrap-dress.

“Elaine! Who is this?” The older woman stood and rounded the table. Her shoulder-length hair was swept back, and she wore beige slacks with a studded belt and boots. Her white ruffled shirt was open to reveal a large dark-blue Cabochon necklace.

“Sylvia, I want you to meet Mariska.”

“Ahh.” Mrs. Knight stopped to inspect my appearance, and I was acutely aware that I was in her son’s shirt, no bra, and my hair was completely bedhead.

“You were at the cabin with Stuart? His cabin?” Her green eyes narrowed.

“I... well, yes.” My cheeks blazed, but Sylvia caught me around the shoulders.

“That’s fantastic! Stuart has always been my problem child when it came to settling down. Whatever did you do to him?”

“She put a spell on him!” Elaine hopped over to wrap her arms around Patrick, who pulled one to his mouth and kissed it. “Mariska’s a gypsy.”

“No shit! You never told me that!” Patrick laughed, and for a split second, I wished his older brother had a little more of the younger Knight in him. Patrick was a blast.

“Language, please.” His mother shook her head, and I would’ve laughed if not for the daggers being shot at me from Blondie’s eyes.

“Aw, shit, Mom. I’m sorry.”