* * * *
Abel listened to his dad give his lecture to the new officers and some of the rookies. Abel was pleased with the two men and one woman he hired. He was proud of his dad, too, as he shared some of his experiences as former town sheriff. Lincoln stood with Abel against the wall. When the class was over, Abel thanked his dad for the help.
“Any time, Abel. I am glad to help.” Oscar gave him a hug. He turned to Lincoln. “And you look well rested, Lincoln.”
“I am. Not liking the cold and the snow though. The beach and sand are calling me back.” Lincoln pretended he was freezing, making them laugh.
“Oh no, sir,” Abel teased him. “You are stuck here acting as stand-in sheriff for a week. Mia and I have rented a cabin at the lake in Ozarks. We plan to bond and not get out of bed.”
“Too much information, bro.” Lincoln punched him in the arm. “It’s about time you got your head out of your ass. Jessy and I love Mia.”
His dad looked sad. “I know you are upset with your mother, Abel, but you should talk things out with her. She feels bad.”
“Why hasn’t she called me or apologized to Mia?” Abel had to stay firm on this. His mother could not go around hurting Mia’s feelings because she could not open her eyes about Jane. “As long as she is on Jane’s side, I can’t have her upsetting Mia. She is stressed out and the doctor is worried about her high blood pressure. This vacation is also a good excuse to help her relax and not worry about all of the stupid rumors Jane and her buddies are spreading about me being forced to stay with Mia. What bullshit.”
“If I hear one word against Mia, I will have Jane in a cell so fast her head will spin,” Lincoln growled. “She was always cruel and cold. How Mom can’t see that is a mystery.”
“Jane puts on a good act. She reminds me of Lydia.” Abel shuddered.
Oscar shook his head. “I never saw Jane as mean hearted, just too full of her own worth, but with your mom she is as sweet as sugar. Your mom is starting to come around. Give her time.”
“I will, Dad, but I have to protect Mia and my child. I gave Mia my word and I have no intention of breaking it. She holds my heart and without it I will go back to my dark cave,” Abel told them.
Lincoln broke the silence by taking out his phone. “Say it into the recorder one more time. Jessy will never believe me even if I told her.”
Abel shook his head and gave his dad a pleading look. “Please say he is adopted, Dad.”
Oscar chuckled. “As far as I know we picked him up in the hospital same as you, son. I’ll be around to keep him and the rookies in line, Abel. Go have your vacation without worry.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad.” Lincoln chuckled. “Let’s go have lunch. I need some warm chili in my belly.”
Abe felt optimistic about is future. He had talked to Gwen and they called a truce on their dislike for each other. She assured him Frank was indeed in rehab for at least six months in Colorado. Part of the court order was that he stay away from Mia from now on. His parents had been horrified at the hell he put Mia through and how his uncle had covered it up. It had been a big scandal Gwen told him with glee. Now he only had to make sure Jane stayed away from him and Mia. That was going to be difficult.
Chapter Seventeen
“I can’t believe what a difference a week makes, Mia.” Reva sounded astonished. Mia was back to work after a weeklong vacation. She felt stronger, well rested, and so in love, she couldn’t stop smiling. Everything felt brighter and she was afraid her cheeks would never stop aching from smiling so much.
“I feel good.” The words didn’t even begin to cover how she felt, but it was hard to explain her feelings of deep happiness, a happiness that was settled all the way down in her soul. She felt close to Abel now. He showed her with every touch he was sincerely in love with her. It wasn’t in the sex but in his smile, in his simple caress as if he liked touching her, or his tender soft kiss that made her eyes water. The way he spoke to the baby, making her laugh so hard. They spent hours talking about everything under the sun. She liked who he was. She knew who he was now and that made her feel secure in the knowledge that this was the right decision. Her stomach was slightly rounder, but still not visible in her large gray sweatshirt she had bought at the lake.
“So was it romantic?” Reva winked with a smirk, nudging Mia playfully.
Mia giggled, feeling on top of the world. “Of course, girlfriend. There was a fireplace, a huge window that overlooked the frozen lake. A huge deck but we didn’t go out there. Abel promised we’d go back this summer and do some fishing. We went out on the trail once when it was snowing and it was beautiful. The snow looked unreal and it was so quiet. Out of the blue, he proposed to me.”
Mia held out her hand and showed off her engagement ring. Reva screamed and people started looking at them. When they realized what it was about they clapped for her. Reva told her Jane had not been to the coffee shop or her friends either. Abel admitted he had a stern talk with Jane, and warned her to never approach Mia again or deal with his wrath. And he said it loudly so others could hear. Mia was secretly pleased.
“Oh my God. I am so happy things finally worked out for you, Mia. You deserve it.”
“I am so lucky, Reva.” Mia sniffed, refusing to cry. She had already cried over the phone when she called Gwen, then Becky from the cabin. “Abel is the sweetest, most gentle man I have ever met. I feel like life is finally smiling down on me. He is everything I dreamed of as a kid and everything I never knew I wanted.”
“I never heard my son being described that way.” Mia
turned to see Delores coming from the back with Becky. Mia had not even realized she was there. She felt bad because she knew Delores and Abel were still not talking. Mia had tried talking to him about it, but he refused to budge saying it was his mother’s place to apologize. He made a stand and he was sticking with it.
“You raised a good man, Mrs. Ramirez. He is so wonderful to me and I am a lucky woman,” Mia said softly, feeling sorry for the lady. She loved her kids. Jane was an excellent actress and fooled Delores.
She wished Abel’s mom liked her. She never had a mom before, and it would have been nice to have a mother-in-law at least. She had seen how motherly Delores acted toward Jessy and Lily both. She had dreamed of that, but it wasn’t meant to be. Still, it would not detract from her happiness.
“He has a good heart,” Delores agreed, coming closer and looking at Mia’s ring with tears in her eyes. “He was hurt before and I saw the devastation in his eyes. I thought Jane was level headed and would be a balm to his passionate nature. Abel feels things deeply, too deeply at times.”