Chapter 1

When one was a single mother, one of the first things that got lost was the ability to arrive on time. Anywhere. Ally Faulkner was late now, as she drove home with a box full of chocolate, spatulas and vegan butter from the restaurant supply store in Meechum, which was a ninety minute drive from her hometown of Blissful. On a good day. Which this day was not.

Her babysitter, Cindy, wouldn’t mind because she loved spending time with Ally’s daughter, Glory. Mostly because she was Glory’s grandmother. But still, Ally felt like showing up late took advantage of her kindness and she tried not to do it. A brand new Ferrari leaving its entrails along Interstate-57 and then light snow meant cars moved slower and overly cautious. Then she got beyond the last big-ish town and the roads opened up, allowing her to press the pedal a little harder than she would under normal circumstances. But thanks to a little bit of luck, it had only taken two hours to get to the little yellow cottage she shared with her six year old daughter.

Cindy opened the front door the same time she cut the engine, smiling as she waited. “Hey hon, did you get everything you need?”

“I did this time.” Living in such a small town meant some specialty items were hard to find, but since her candy shop catered to all kinds of diets, she needed to make sure she had the basics for everyone. “I even found sugar free sprinkles and a few different vegan milk products!” Ally turned and grabbed two of the large boxes, carrying them to the small guest house behind the main cottage. “How was Glory today?”

“Wonderful as always. That girl has so much energy I don’t know where she gets it. She never met a question she didn’t like,” Cindy said in that tone Ally knew well. She’d known the woman since she was ten years old, had been like a mother to her since her own passed away four years ago. Hell, at one time Ally thought she would become her mother. By law, anyway. But that didn’t happen. Squashing those thoughts, she tucked the refrigerated items into the fridge and set the rest on the long metal table in the kitchen. It could wait until later.

“What did you tell her?” For the past few months, Glory had become obsessed with having a father. Specifically, why she didn’t have one. She wanted to know what he looked like and what he did for work. Where he lived. Everything.

“The same thing you did, but-,”

“Thank goodness.” Ally had settled on telling her daughter that her father wasn’t around because he did very important work. More important than me, anyway. “Thanks, Cindy.”

“But,” she said a little louder and Ally froze.

“But?”

A bright smile spread across Cindy’s face and Sky felt all the blood drain from hers. “I heard from Archer today. He’s coming home.”

Home. Archer was coming home. Her shoulders sank and all the breath rushed out of her lungs. “Great.” Not. It wasn’t great. It was the worst thing that could possibly happen. The exact opposite of great, in fact. Who in the hell does he think he is, coming back after all this time. No. She would not be rattled by this. He could come home and she would live her life just as she had since he’d walked out. Without him. “I’m sure you’re happy about that.”

“Oh honey, I am. I really am and I’m sorry this hurts you but he’s coming back Ally. No more danger.” Cindy looked so happy, so hopeful it crushed Ally she couldn’t join in on that. She felt like a jerk, wishing he would stay away when it meant Cindy wouldn’t get to see or hold her son. “And now that he’s out of a war zone it might be okay to tell him about Glory.”

Ally’s shoulders fell and her mouth went dry. She never bothered to tell Archer that she was pregnant because she had no way to contact him once he left. Okay, and because she hadn’t tried very hard. Still, she didn’t need him. Not anymore. “I know that I can’t stop you from telling him Cindy.”

“But if you could?”

If she could, she would just make herself and Glory invisible to him until he left town again. “I can’t, so it doesn’t really matter. If he decides he would like a relationship with her, I’ll figure it out.” She squirmed, feeling uncomfortable at the way Cindy examined her, like she was looking for any little hint that everything wasn’t okay. It wasn’t okay and it hadn’t been for a long time. It wouldn’t be until Archer Black left town.

“What about you?”

“I’ll be fine,” she told her, arms crossed defensively. “This is about Glory, not me.” She knew exactly how he felt about her, watching him walk away had made it painfully clear. She wasn’t going back there again. Nope. No way.

“It might be about you.”

“It’s not,” she insisted. “Cindy, I’m begging you, don’t meddle. I don’t have the time or the energy for another scheme of yours.” The woman was a notorious matchmaker, with a hit or miss record she insisted was perfect.

“I guess you should have given Derek proper consideration.” Even she couldn’t hide her grin at that ridiculous statement. Derek was the town accountant and local taxidermy expert, and he fit every stereotype to a tee.

“Or you could just accept that I’m not dating right now. I have a daughter and a small business I’m trying to grow in case you’ve forgotten.”

“How could I forget when my hips expand at least one centimeter every month?” She patted her long, lean frame that looked so much like Archer’s. Cindy had long legs encased in jeans, she wore a thick green sweater that matched her eyes, no makeup and her thick silver braid rested over her right shoulders. It was the same outfit and hairstyle she’d been wearing for two decades. More or less.

“Maybe I need to do a little matchmaking of my own. Find you someone to help you burn off those candy calories.”

The older woman gasped as a blush spread up her face. “Ally Faulkner, watch your mouth!” She began to move around the kitchen, putting water on for tea. “Don’t worry about me, find a man of your own.”

“I will, Cindy. But right now that isn’t my priority. I need to be able to take care of us on my own, which means I have to make Sweet Glory a success.” It was on the cusp of being a real success and she needed to find a marketing plan guaranteed to work to increase overall and repeat customers. And one that fit her budget. Basically, she needed a magician. And a fairy godmother.

“The right man will help you, walk by your side and help you carry the burden.” Cindy spoke with the authority of a woman who’d spent decades with a man who fit that description, so she often forgot just how many toads there were in the world.

Ally tried not to laugh bitterly but it came out anyhow. “No thanks. I’ll deal with my problems myself, that way I know they’re getting dealt with. But I love you for wanting that for me, Cindy.” Ally came up behind her and wrapped her arms around the woman’s slender frame. “I do love you, Cindy. You’ve been such a tremendous help to me and Glory, I don’t know how I would have made it this far without you.”

“Why does it sound like you’re saying goodbye to me?” She frowned, scanning Ally’s face for any trace of a problem.

Because you are a smart woman. “I’m not, but you’ll want to spend extra time with your son so I won’t see you as much until he goes back home.” Wherever that is, because she’d never been brave enough to ask.

Something flickered in Cindy’s green eyes but it was gone so fast she thought she had to have imagined it. “Nothing will change,” she said in a tone just shy of convincing.

“It will and that’s okay. It’s the nature of life.” It would take some getting used to, not seeing her so often. But she would survive. It was what she did. “But you know you can see Glory anytime you want.”

“And you?”

“We can meet for coffee sometime but I think you should enjoy this time with your family. It’s been a few months since Mia came to see you.” There were plenty of people in the Black family to visit and Ally had never begrudged Cindy that, no matter how much it hurt. “And the twins will be home for the holidays, right?”

She nodded but her attention had drifted to something else. Or someone else. “I’ll be so happy to tell Archer the truth so everyone else can meet our little angel.” She was so in love with Glory, her only grandchild living close by, and she was eager for the rest of the family to meet her.

Ally wished she felt the same joy Cindy did, but all she felt was tension. And an impending sense of doom. She was all alone. Aside from Glory she had no family, which was yet another thing Archer could give her. If he wanted to be involved. That was a big if, since he wasn’t all that big on commitment or involvement.

After Cindy had left for the night, Ally crept into her daughter’s room just to get a look at her cherubic face. Rosy cheeks looked even rosier against the inky black hair she inherited from her mother, but it was the dimple in her chin she’d gotten from her father that truly made her look like Snow White. She couldn’t resist one kiss before she closed the door, picking up discarded toys and clothes as she made her way back to the living room. Her thoughts raced as they always did. A single mom’s mind didn’t slow down, but tonight instead of worrying about getting orders packaged up for tomorrow’s delivery or growing her business, there was just one thought on her mind.

Archer was coming back to Blissful.

 

 

Being back in Blissful after such a long absence felt like going back in time to another world. The long drive from the airport had given Archer Black plenty of time to think. About what it meant to go back to his hometown and about the people he’d left behind. The girl he left behind. Woman, now. Hell, if Ally was still around she probably hated his guts. She probably also has a husband a few kids by now. But if any of that were true, his mom would have said something.

Archer would feel better about things if she were happy. Settled and happy. He didn’t want to see any evidence of it, but it would make him feel better to know she had it. No, it wouldn’t, his conscience hit back.

The truth was he hoped Ally was happy but he didn’t really want to see the form that happiness took. But I’m here now. Whatever was destined to happen, would. It’s that belief that got him through military service and then two years wandering the globe, picking up odd jobs where his skills were needed most after he’d been discharged.

But no place he’d ever been was quite like Blissful. It was home. He knew everything about it, and every detail came back to him as he drove through town. Bo’s Diner had the best pancakes and the crispiest fried chicken around. Big Mac was the guy to go to fix your car for the best cost, but Big Mac was the son and Little Mac was the father. He knew the Blissful Bakery had the best coffee around and the lone bar in town, Last Call, was the only place to get a drink and twirl a pretty girl on the dance floor, though he left long before he could legally drink there. It was run by the toughest woman he’d ever met, Tori Faulkner. Ally’s mom. She was tiny, just five feet, with smooth cocoa skin and expressive violet eyes that were of an unknown origin, and she was the toughest damn woman he’d ever met. And the reason he didn’t stop for a beer before going to see his mom.

In no time, he turned onto the long drive that led up to the big blue farmhouse with the colorful shutters. It had been the one big concession his mom, Cindy, had made to the need he and his siblings had to be individuals in a house full of kids. His sister’s Mia’s room had bright red shutters while the twins, Finn and Stephen, had bright yellow with orange stripes because they were convinced they could be seen from space. And Archer had chosen an electric shade of blue, convinced by his best friend to choose it because it “totally matched his eyes”. He was twelve so he’d given in to her.

Her.

Ally.

On second thought, maybe coming back to town wasn’t the best idea. There were reminders everywhere in this town, hell, he’d thought of little but Ally since he sailed past the town limits. Turning back would have been a good idea, the easy way out. But it was too late. His mom came bounding out of the house, bouncing down the familiar wooden steps with the energy of a woman half her age.

“Archer! You’re home. My baby is home!” She flung herself into his arms and he squeezed her tight. “You are home for good, aren’t you?” Her gaze slid to the two small bags he carried.

“Yes, Ma. I’ll be around so much you’ll get sick of me. Can you put up a Marine for a little while?”

He indulged her in another hug or two and in cupping his face until she memorized every new line, but he drew the line at those tears welling in her eyes so he smacked a kiss on her cheek to make her laugh. “Stay as long as you want or as long as you need. You’re home,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

“I’m home, Ma. I’m good. Safe. Happy.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it for myself.” She couldn’t stop the grin on her face and he didn’t mind. “Let’s get on inside. I’ve got dinner on the oven, my four alarm chili, cornbread, salsa and salad.”

“Only four alarm?”

Her laughter washed over him, one of the few sounds that he’d held close to his heart the past seven years. “I wasn’t sure if you could handle the six alarm if you’ve been eating those military food packs all these years.” Her gaze narrowed in his direction, seeing too much he feared. “Except when you were off doing something you can’t talk about.”

I’m going to hell for lying to my mother. “Ma, I’m here. Feed me, please.”

She swatted at him with a towel and pushed him into a seat. “You’re lucky I love you and that I missed you like crazy. If you ever stay away that long again, I’ll take you over my knee.” Her voice was stern but she wore a soft expression. “Now, tell me about life since I last spoke to you.”

Archer stood and pulled two ice cold beers from the fridge, uncapping them both so they could have a proper chat while she put everything on the table. “Not much to tell, really. I spent some time on a private fishing boat, learning the ropes and seeing the South Pacific.” It had been fantastic, being surrounded by miles on every side, by endless deep blue water. It had been relaxing, other than a few rich chicks thinking they had open access to the crew. “Ate a lot of fish and saw tons of marine life. It was good. Relaxing.” That’s what he’d done the past few months, anyway.

She nodded astutely as she sat the bowl of salad between the place settings. “Got your head on straight?”

He gave a terse nod, serving salad to both of them. “Yeah, think so.” He’d felt out of sorts since leaving the Marines with a medical discharge, and seeing the world, seeing people happy and laughing and free, had helped. He plowed through his salad, eager to get to his ma’s chili.

“Good. That means I don’t have to worry about how you’ll handle what I have to tell you.” Her expression turned sober as sat.

He froze, spoon halfway between his mouth and the bowl. Archer felt a spear of ice settle into his spine. “What could you possibly have to tell me that’s so serious? Are you sick?” He didn’t know what he’d do if his mom was sick and he’d stayed away so long. “Ma.”

“No, Archer I’m fine. This is about…something else.” She waved her hands in front of her, quickly dismissing his assumption.

“Ma,” he said in warning.

“This is probably going to upset you and you might end up hating everyone involved. Me included. But I need you to remember that you played a part in this too. Okay?”

He gave another curt nod, his heart racing as his mind whirled with all the things she would say to him. “’Kay.”

“Shortly after you left for recruit training in California, Ally learned she was pregnant.”

Ally. Instantly her face appeared in his mind as it looked the last time he’d seen her. Big violet eyes filled with water that spilled in two continuous streams down her cheeks. There’d been no anger or outrage, no words of recrimination. She’d seen the resignation on his face and knew arguing would have been pointless. “Is she okay?” Surely she would have said something if Ally had been sick. Or worse.

A smile lit up her face. “Glory? Oh, she is just perfect. Talkative, smart and so inquisitive. She’ll question you to death if you let her. So bossy too.” She looked…in love, he realized and his own heart stuttered to a stop and wilted a little before kickstarting into a limp beat.

Glory? The kid. His kid. His…, “She? I have a daughter.” It wasn’t a question. The love in his mother’s eyes told him it was all true. He’d had a kid with Ally, the only woman he’d ever loved, and he hadn’t known it. He hadn’t felt any different, but he should have. Right? “Why am I just hearing about this now?” That question settled him and let his anger rise.

“I didn’t want you distracted while you were off fighting in a war or two,” she shot back defensively, matching his tone. “Ally has her own reasons for not telling you but once I told her you were coming home, she knew I would tell you.”

“Which meant she still wasn’t going to tell me.” That stung like hell. Hell, he shouldn’t be surprised since he was the one who left, but he was.

“I can’t answer that and I won’t get in the middle of your personal drama.”

He would have laughed if she weren’t trying so hard to look serious. “Ma, you live to meddle and you put yourself in the middle. You could have said nothing since Ally had no plans to tell me.”

“That I know of,” she added hastily. “Being a single mother is hard. The last thing on her mind is the man who walked away.”

His nostrils flared. “Where is she?”

“I’m not telling you. She has a child, Archer. You can’t just storm over there yelling and screaming. You’ll scare her.”

“I will find her, Ma.” He was trained to hunt for people. To seek them out even in the best hiding places. “Blissful isn’t that big.”

“Maybe not, but you left and you never came back. You don’t get to storm over there and make demands. Ask questions.”

“The hell I don’t! That’s my kid.”

“And right now, it will be up to her if she wants you in her daughter’s life.”

Her daughter. Those words were like a knife to his heart. “Why, after everything, did she let you in?”

“She needed someone to be there for her, and she let me be that person.”

He sent a hard stare to his mother, harder than he’d ever looked at her, as fury swamped him. Pushing out of his seat, Archer stalked through the house and out the front door, hopping in his truck and kicking up enough gravel to create a sand storm on his way up the drive. He needed a drink which meant he was headed to see the only other person who probably hated him as much as Ally. Her mom.

Tori was tough and she might punch him in the face first, but Archer needed more information and since his own mother refused to help, maybe she would understand. As a parent. I can’t believe I even thought that. He pulled open the door, bathing a large swath of the dim bar in light, scanning the room for the familiar head of jet black hair.

“Take a seat anywhere, hon.”

He nodded at the passing waitress and took a seat at the bar. Patience wasn’t his strong suit when his emotions were engaged, as evidenced by his nonstop finger drumming on the sturdy wooden bar.

A shadow passed over and he looked up, and up into the eyes of a bearded guy in a flannel. “What’ll it be?”

“Whatever IPA you have. Is Tori around?”

He frowned, the move shifted his brows and his beard so barely any face was actually visible. “You from around here?”

“I am,” he sighed, hating all these damn questions. “Born and raised. Left for college then the Marines, just now getting’ back.”

He nodded, accepting the truth of his answer. “Then you don’t know. She was killed a few years ago when some tweaker robbed the bar.”

“Shit,” he grumbled into the pale ale that sat in front of him. He hadn’t just left Ally, hadn’t just abandoned her. He’d left her pregnant and completely alone with a small child. And I didn’t even realize it.

Merry fucking Christmas.