Redemption Hills: The Complete Collection

34. Eden

THIRTY-FOUR

EDEN

Warm rays of sunlight speared down through the summer sky. I sat on the lower step of the porch out back, clinging to a mug of coffee, while my daddy sat on the upper step, the man toiling in questions and confusion and worry.

I was no fool.

I felt it.

I knew what it looked like.

Disquiet stirred.

Heck, it didn’t just look like it. It was the truth.

My father had walked in to find a virtual stranger standing in my kitchen making breakfast in the early morning hours, barefoot and not wearing a shirt.

His son propped on the counter, who just so happened to be one of my students.

Awesome.

Very awkwardly, Trent, Gage, and I had made breakfast, brewed coffee, sat my daddy down at the little nook in my kitchen while we’d eaten together. Thank God Gage had prattled right through the discomfort.

Masking it.

Or maybe what he’d done was make it better.

Afterward, Trent had pressed the quietest kiss to my lips, said he’d clean up, and gestured to where my father had wandered out back. “You should go talk to him,” he’d encouraged.

Because the man was amazing.

Incredible and wonderful and, in that second, he’d filled my heart up all over again.

So, there I sat on the back porch steps outside the sunroom, staring up at the thin wafts of clouds that breezed through the warm air.

I decided to rip the Band-Aid off like Tessa had suggested.

“I love him, Daddy.” I whispered it toward the sky, though I prayed my father felt it in his heart. In his big, giant heart that was most likely terrified for me.

He blew out a long sigh. “I see that, Eden. Plain as day. See he loves you, too.”

My chest squeezed, and in question, I peeked back up at my father who gazed down at me with a soft but worried smile on his face.

“Not a lot of men who’d stick around through breakfast with some girl’s father who showed up out of the blue, unwelcome and unannounced, and keep looking at you the way he was.”

“Well, you know what Gage says—breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

Affection poured out when I said it, and I wrapped my arm around my father’s leg. “And you’re always welcome, Daddy. Please don’t ever think you’re not.”

“But you didn’t trust me enough to tell me.” There was his disappointment.

I wavered. “I didn’t know what to tell you. Didn’t know where he and I were going. And it’s…”

“Complicated,” he supplied.

“Yeah.”

More than my father could understand.

Silence drifted around us for a few moments before he shifted, sat forward, and rested his forearms on his thighs. “How? You saw him at the school and…”

That time, I sighed, the sound a confession that wheezed from my mouth. “No, Daddy, the fact that Gage is in my class was a coincidence. My second job…”

My father tensed, and I peered back at him again.

“The diner?” He phrased it as a question. Like maybe he’d known all along.

My head shook. “No. I started working at a club on the other side of town. Absolution. Trent is the owner.”

His throat bobbed heavily as he swallowed, his nod slow and full of disappointment. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

My head shook. “Because you’d worry. You’d say it wasn’t necessary. You’d say the burden was all on you, and I couldn’t sit around and let that happen. I needed to be there for you, fight for you, the way you’ve always done for me. It’s not exactly the kind of place I’d typically find myself in.”

I wasn’t ashamed of working there.

It just was the truth.

Until I got to know the people behind the doors, it’d felt foreign.

Removed.

A place I could never call home.

And that’s exactly where I’d found myself—home.

“You should have told me, Eden.”

“I know, but there are some things we just have to do, and that was one of them.”

“And you…met him there. Fell in love with him,” he surmised.

“I did.”

It might have been messy and fraught with uncertainty, but I had.

“When I found out he was Gage’s father, when he realized I was Gage’s teacher, we tried to ignore our feelings for each other. Knew it would be frowned upon at the school. We tried to keep in our lanes and pretend we weren’t drawn. I think it was impossible for both of us.”

Some gravities were too strong.

Daddy scrubbed a palm over his face.

“He’s so different…” He trailed off. He didn’t say it. Still, I heard what he’d meant.

So different than Aaron.

Everything my daddy never would have imagined for me.

Ruthless and hard and intimidating.

“I know, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t fit me perfectly.”

At that, my daddy flinched. “I’m happy for you, Eden. You know the only thing I’ve ever wanted in my life is to see you find the full joy of yours. But I…”

He wavered, hesitated, contemplating if he should say it. “I need you to be careful…there’s…there’s a darkness inside him. I met him at the church last week, and I felt it then. Felt it just as strong as I did this morning.”

I nodded. “He has demons.”

“We all do, but I’m not sure his are in the past. There’s something, right there, just below the surface.”

God, I’d been keeping so much from my father. But the last thing I wanted was to add more to his burden. Deepen his worry. Not when we were barely seeing hope lighting at the edge of our horizon.

And I doubted much that the pain of my sister was ever going to go away, and at some point, I needed to find a way to tell him about the letters she’d been sending. Once I figured out her intentions.

With all of that, there was no way I would saddle him with the weight of what’d happened to my car.

Besides, I’d started to hope it was random. That there was no threat. That Trent didn’t need to keep looking over his shoulder.

Weeks had passed and…nothing.

That’s the way I wanted it.

I looked back up at the man who’d always been my rock. The one who’d taught me to believe. “We all deserve forgiveness, Daddy. To be loved in spite of what we’ve done, to move beyond it when we’ve made the choice to live our lives the best that we can.”

Chuckling out a self-deprecating sound, he looked to the sky. “I know that in theory, in God’s way, but as your father here in the flesh, it’s harder to accept, looking at someone and seeing they might be dangerous. It makes me want to wrap you up and run away with you.”

He forced lightness into it. A wistful smile. His love flooding out.

I jostled my shoulder into his leg. “Which is exactly why I didn’t tell you. Because I didn’t want you to feel like you needed to protect me.”

My voice tightened in emphasis. “And I know you’ll always think of me as your little girl, but he is a choice I have made. And even if his demons are right there…alive…I will choose to fight them with him. At his side.”

My daddy touched my chin. “You’ve always been such a beautiful, brave girl. Every life you touch, you brighten, and I hope that man is smart enough to let you brighten his.”

This time, I curled both my arms around his leg, hugged him tight. “I think you wouldn’t worry so much if you understood the way he’s brightened mine.”

“Uh, think I don’t need that information, thank you very much.”

“Daddy.” I giggled a discomfited sound.

He stood, his smile soft as I followed. “Like you said, I’ll always think of you as my little girl, but you’re a woman. A woman who’s been through hell and back. And I want you to experience the most beautiful things in this life. Have it all. Just promise me you’ll demand it, Eden. That you don’t fall into a temptation that you’ll regret later.”

“I could never regret him.”

My father nodded, hugged me fiercely, and murmured, “Then love him with all your might.”

He stepped back, though he was still holding my hand. “I love you, sweet girl.”

“I love you, too.”

He started to walk away then he turned back and grinned. “I’ll try not to barge in next time.”

Affection rippled out and I ran my hands up my arms. “That might be a good idea.”

He lifted his hand in parting, and I did the same, and he turned and disappeared around the side of the house. I waited until I heard the gate latch before I moved back up the steps, through the sunporch, and into the back of the house.

Gage was at the little table by himself. Singing and scribbling with a pen and paper. I moved to him, pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “Where’s your dad?”

“He got a call he had to take.” Gage rolled his eyes as if it was something annoying he heard all the time.

While something inside me pinched.

This feeling that took hold.

That fierce energy suddenly whipping up a disorder.

Pushing against the walls and scratching across the hardwood floors.

I moved out the archway and through the living room before I started tiptoeing down the short hall.

Trent had his back to me, his phone to his ear, and I caught just the end of a plea.

It was indistinct, but I could tell it was a woman’s voice.

“Hurry.”

“I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

He ended the call, and I knew when he felt me, when the air shifted and thickened and brimmed with that feeling that pulsed between us.

A compulsion.

He slowly turned around.

The man menace.

Mayhem.

“Who was that?”

He slipped his phone into his pocket and came my way, took me by the face, and dropped his forehead to mine. “Gage’s mom. She says she’s in trouble. I have to go check it out.”

Fear curled down my spine. Compressing. Crushing.

At the same time, I was so thankful he was giving me this. Letting me in. I tipped my gaze up to meet the ferocity of his. “Do you think she’s responsible for what happened at the club?”

Trent tipped my face up to meet with his. “I don’t know, Eden. Gut tells me she is. She’s not exactly proven herself to be trustworthy, and if she thinks she’s going to put my son in danger…”

Cringing, my eyelids squeezed shut.

Trent kissed both of them.

Softly.

Tenderly.

While every muscle in his body rippled and jerked with bated aggression.

“Little Temptress.”

I held him by both wrists. “Please, just be safe.”

He nodded then peeled himself back. “I’m going to send Jud over here. You and Gage sit tight until he gets here, yeah?”

I’d woken up to the rental sitting in the carport.

Trent had had Logan and a friend drop it off since I had a meeting with parents this afternoon about a student who was struggling.

The man always thoughtful. Taking care of me.

“Yes, of course.”

He nodded then blew down the hall. He came up short at the end, pausing, sooty gaze dimmed with devotion. “I love you, Eden.”

My heart swelled. “I love you.”

Then he was gone.

“Oh please, oh please, can I go with you?” Gage actually steepled his hands together in a prayer.

A laugh tumbled out. “It’s super exciting to go to the mailbox, huh?”

I took one of his hands in mine, smiling as we headed out the front door. I’d just gotten a text from Jud that he was wrapping up at the shop and would be on his way to follow us back to Trent’s house.

I went ahead and rescheduled the conference so Jud wouldn’t have to follow me there.

Since I hadn’t been back to my house in so long, I’d tried to get a few things accomplished.

Gage had helped me water the plants on the sunporch, and we’d weeded a flowerbed out back. I guessed I’d put off grabbing the mail until the last. Both hopeful and wary of what might be waiting.

It was strange hating something and wanting it at the same time.

“I just like to be by you.” He shrugged it like his sweetness wasn’t demolishing every bit of me. All those broken pieces transformed.

Mending.

Healing.

Growing.

I squeezed his little hand. “I just like to be by you, too, Gage.”

“I know why because I’m your favorite and you love me so much! Right, Miss Murphy, right?”

“That’s right.”

Gage skipped along at my side as we moved down the walk to the street, and I realized I was shaking a bit as I dug into the box.

Praying for another message from my sister. My spirit could feel it. Her remorse. That she was asking for forgiveness but didn’t have the courage to come out and say it.

And I knew…I knew I’d forgive her. Our daddy would, too. We just needed her to make a move and actually mean it.

No more lies.

No more stealing.

No more leaving.

It was time for her to come home.

My chest swelled. I realized I wanted to share this with her, too. That I’d found a man that I loved with a little boy who I loved just as much.

A family to call my own.

Would she share in my joy? Feel all the things I’d feel for her?

Tears blurred my eyes when I saw the light blue envelope peeking out, the same as she’d sent the rest in.

Relief pressed against my ribs.

I so badly wanted to fix this part of my life. To restore what had been broken down.

“What’s the matter?” Gage blinked up at me.

“Nothing, sweet boy. Nothing. I just got a letter I was hoping to get.”

“From a friend?!” Excitement widened his eyes.

“From my sister.”

“You got a sister? I don’t have a sister or a brother, but I think I want to have five of ’em.”

A laugh ripped free. Clogged with the emotion. With the love. I ruffled my fingers through those locks of gold-kissed hair as we stepped back through the front door. “Five, huh? That’s a tall order.”

He shrugged. “My dad says brothers are the best. Obviously, I really need to get me some of those, too. Life’s better with the ones you love, you know, least that’s what my uncle Logan says.”

Love burned. Burned bright with the possibility.

Although five was pushing it.

“I think your uncle Logan is definitely right. Sisters are good, too. Let me show you.” I grabbed an album that was tucked in one of the shelves in the living room and carried it with the stack of mail into the kitchen. I set it on the table for Gage to look through while I tore into the envelope and pulled out the folded letter.

My eyes raced over the words, knowing they were likely to hurt, but we often had to open ourselves up to the pain, let the wounds bleed, before we could truly heal.

Do you remember…

Do you remember, Eden, after I left? I went to Las Vegas thinking there would be a better life waiting for me there. After all, the only thing I’d wanted to do was dance. I knew I was leaving you behind, closing the door on that chapter of my childhood because it was too painful to keep it open.

Do you remember I didn’t call for so long, not until I started calling Daddy for money, manipulating him while he was grieving for Mom? He’d wipe out his bank accounts because I’d convince him I was in need, not making enough, when all I’d really done was put it up my nose.

It was easier not to feel that way. To numb. To hide. To pretend like I could maybe be halfway whole.

Do you remember how you both still loved me then, even though I know you knew? That you saw right through the lies?

I choked over her confession. I suppose a part of me had always known. That she’d slipped so far that she’d begun to numb herself from the pain. But she’d never once come out and said it. Admitted it. And I knew…knew she was opening up, giving me more in a way she’d never done.

Behind me, Gage chattered and giggled at the pictures in the album while I went back to devouring the letter.

Do you remember when you sent me a letter asking me to come back for your wedding? To stand at your side? I said yes, but I didn’t show, but I still watched you from afar.

I saw a flicker of your joy, and I was jealous then that you could feel any joy at all.

Do you remember, Eden? When I spiraled? When the drugs became the only thing that mattered? When I started to take off my clothes for money before I started to crawl into strangers’ cars where I walked the street?

The next fix.

The next hit.

Do you remember, I hopped on some guy’s bike and rode with him to LA where he promised me he would make it better?

No, you don’t, because you didn’t know me then.

I wheezed over the shock. My brow pinched tight. Pain lanced through me. Pain for my sister. For that life. For all she’d let go. Her confessions felt like a brand-new puncture to my heart.

My mind began to spin with the rest.

She’d gone to LA? When?

In the background, Gage was saying something about me being a cute baby, but I couldn’t focus on anything but trying to process what Harmony was saying.

The depravity.

The sickness.

The endless cycle of pain and numbness that just went on and on.

But I do.

I remember it all.

I remember when I stooped to my lowest low.

I got pregnant there, Eden. Do you remember?

What? The paper curled in my fingers, eyes frantic as I rushed to read the rest.

No, you couldn’t remember, because I’d shut you and Daddy out.

I was only supposed to prove some biker’s disloyalty to his father. No big deal. All I had to do was lure the son out and he’d set me free forever.

Buy me a diamond and a house and I’d be set.

So I’d seduced that man. Tricked him. Manipulated him.

Except at the last minute, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it.

They were going to kill him.

I had to stop it.

Only it spiraled. It spiraled and spiraled.

So much death.

My legs wobbled. My body swayed. I blinked. Tried to process. To understand.

Do you remember, Eden, six years ago when I came racing home, terrified for the life of me and my baby after I’d betrayed all of them? Do you remember when all that money went missing from the church treasury? I’d taken it because I was going to disappear.

Do you remember how Aaron caught me as I was sneaking out?

No.

No. No. No.

My eyes blurred and sickness raged.

He’d begged me to stop before he got in his car.

He chased me, Eden.

I ran a red light.

So did he.

But he didn’t make it through to the other side.

Do you remember, Eden? Because I remember it all, and there is nothing I can do to take it back.

Harmony

I fell to my knees. Unable to stand. Unable to see. Images struck me from every side.

Knives and arrows.

Impaled and impaled.

She’d been responsible for Aaron.

Aaron.

Oh god.

I gasped, unable to stop the sob from ripping up my throat.

The biker.

The biker.

Gage climbed down beside me, that album in his hands.

The walls began to spin, and I tried to remain sitting up as bile lifted in my throat.

He giggled and pointed. “Look it, Miss Murphy, look it. That’s my mom. I got a picture of her at home with a bear she gave me when I was a baby and it said on the back of the picture that she loved me ’cept I don’t even know her because my dad says she lives far away. You wanna be my mom?”

Gage.

Gage.

Gage.

I recognized him then. Those eyes. That smile. The way my heart had pressed full the first time I’d seem him.

I felt the dismantling.

The crashing.

The falling away.

The walls. The ceiling. My heart.

My sister.

My sister.

Aaron.

Trent.

My cell rang on the floor beside me.

Jud.

I didn’t even know how I managed to answer it through the blur of tears and the clot in my throat. Through the ache and the questions and the pain. “Jud.”

Maybe part of it was his. This intonation that crashed through the line.

Agony.

His voice was hoarse. “Don’t have good news, Eden. Gage’s biological mother was found dead.” He hesitated, then said, “Trent was arrested at the scene for her murder.”

I couldn’t do anything but throw up right here on the floor.