Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge (Sweet Colorado Romance #3)

14. CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 14

Barb

Barb’s head was killing her by the time she got to the bungalow. As she let herself in, Jackie greeted her with a warm smile.

“Hi.” Jackie got up from where she was studying by the dining table. “You’re back early.”

“I had enough for one day,” Barb told her, taking off her coat, hat, and gloves to hang on the coat hooks by the door. “How did everything go?”

“Perfect.” Jackie started gathering her books. “Charlotte is a little angel. ”

“Her temperature and infection?” Barb asked, walking into the kitchen to make some ginger tea.

“My brother checked her out earlier when he dropped off Max and said she was coming along well,” Jackie told her. “I’ve taken Charlotte’s vitals, and she’s recovering fast.”

“Thank you, Jackie,” Barb said, feeling a pang of guilt at having left her daughter for three hours while helping at the lodge. “Have you had dinner?”

“Yes, I ordered from the lodge,” Jackie told her, frowning. “Barb, are you feeling okay?”

“I have a headache,” Barb admitted with a weak smile. “Probably all the stress and aggravation from my soon-to-be ex, who happens to be staying across the way in one of the new chalets.”

“Ah, Oscar told me all about his dad, Zac,” Jackie told her. “Sorry, I wasn’t prying. Oscar was so excited to tell me his father was here.”

“It’s okay,” Barb told her. “Would you like some tea? I’m making some ginger and honey tea.”

Jackie walked into the kitchen. “Do you mind if I take your temperature?”

“I’m fine,” Barb lied. “Nothing a hot bath, some aspirin, and my ginger tea won’t cure.”

“Then you won’t mind if I just check your vitals?” Jackie asked. “You’re really flushed.”

“Anger,” Barb told her with a small laugh. “I had a run-in with Zac.” She pulled a mug from the cupboard. “Tea?”

“Sure.” Jackie nodded, turned, and walked out of the kitchen.

Barb pulled another cup out and set about making the tea. Jackie came back into the kitchen with a bottle of aspirin and the infrared thermometer that she aimed at Barb's head.

“That was sneaky,” Barb said with a nervous laugh.

“You have a slight temperature,” Jackie noted, holding out the aspirin. “Take two of these and go have a hot bath. I’ll finish making the tea. Have you eaten?”

“No.” Barb shook her head. “I was going to order dinner at the lodge, but then Zac appeared.”

“What do you feel like?’ Jackie asked.

“I’ll do it.” Barb smiled. “You’ve been here all day. I’m sure you just want to go home.”

“No, I’ve decided to stick around,” Jackie told her. “Barb, you’re exhausted and stressed, and I’m willing to bet you’ve picked up Charlotte’s virus.”

“I don’t have tonsils,” Barb told her, taking the medication with some cold water from the refrigerator. Having a relaxing hot bath was appealing to her.

“You can still get the virus which infects the pharynx, which is the area behind the tonsils,” Jackie explained. “It still causes sore throat, fever, and general virus discomfort. ”

“It’s just a headache,” Barb insisted. “I do suffer from migraines.”

“As Oscar and Max are staying with Emily and Rose tonight,” Jackie told her, “you won’t mind if I sleep in Oscar’s room.” She held up her hand before Barb could say anything. “I can look after Charlotte while you get some rest, as that can also knock your immune system.”

Barb’s head was starting to pound, and she did feel like she’d been sucked up in a tornado and spat out. “I think taking a bath sounds like a great idea,” she agreed with Jackie. “If you don’t mind staying, maybe I should try to get a decent night's sleep so I can enjoy all the festivities that are starting at the lodge and help with setting up the Mistletoe Winter Festival.”

“There you go,” Jackie said. “You need your strength, and if you do have the virus, you don’t want to be spreading it around. Now go take a bath and tell me what you want to eat.”

“Can you ask if they have a nice vegetable or chicken soup with some of Chef’s soft buttermilk or sourdough bread?” Barb asked.

“Of course,” Jackie said before pushing her out of the kitchen. “Now go. Oh, and I put Charlotte back in her room. The monitors are all set throughout the bungalow. Maybe turn the sound down on yours.”

Barb nodded and walked down the hallway. She couldn’t resist taking a peek at her daughter, who was soundly sleeping. She didn’t want to re-expose Charlotte to the virus if that was even a thing, but Barb didn’t want to take any chances.

“Night, my little love,” Barb whispered before quietly exiting the room and heading to her bathroom to take a hot bath and enjoy the luxury of a peaceful night's sleep.

The following day, Barb was awakened by excited voices echoing down the hallway. She smiled, hearing Oscar’s voice, and sat up as the knock resounded on her bedroom door .

“Mom!” Oscar yelled as the door swung open and bounded in, bouncing onto the bed. “Are you okay? Jackie told me you had a headache?” His eyes narrowed as he examined her. “You’re not getting Charlie’s sickness, are you?”

“No,” Barb lied as her head was still sore, and her throat felt a little raw. “Are your friends with you?”

“Just Max. He’s with Jackie in the living room,” Oscar told them, his eyes filling with excitement. “On our way here, I saw Dad. He’s going to ask if I can go with him to Frisco to buy Christmas gifts.”

A flash of anger spurted through Barb that Zac had approached Oscar without speaking to her first. Barb bit down the anger and smiled at her son. “Honey, I thought we could start decorating the bungalow for the competition today.”

His face fell, and he nodded. “Oh! Okay.”

Barb’s heart pinched at seeing how deflated he’d become, and it only added fuel to the angry fire she was trying hard to hold back in front of her child. “Let me speak to Zac, okay?”

“Really?” Oscar perked up again and hugged her. “Thank you, Mom.” He looked up at her. “Sorry, I can’t kiss you in case you have the virus.”

“I don’t have the virus…” Barb’s words trailed off as she swallowed. “But you’re wise to be cautious. Now let me get up and dressed so I can have a word with Zac.”

“Okay,” Oscar said, bouncing off the bed. “Love you,” he yelled over his shoulder as he rushed from the room, slamming the door behind him.

Barb sighed. “I wonder why kids can never just close a door.”

Forty minutes later, Jackie had left with Max and wasn’t due back until tomorrow. Barb and Oscar were having breakfast, with Charlotte doing her wiggle-wiggle exercises in her rocker on the table beside Barb.

“Do you know that as a baby's nervous system matures and their motorized skills get better, these continuous movements will start slowing down,” Oscar surprised Barb by saying.

“That’s right,” Barb said, looking at him in amazement. “Where did you learn that?”

“Jackie told us yesterday when we were laughing at how Charlie is constantly moving like she’s trying to wiggle herself somewhere,” Oscar explained.

“She does move a lot now,” Barb agreed, rubbing her head, then sipping some ginger, honey, and lemon tea to soothe her throat and headache. “You still move quite a lot, too.” She laughed.

“That’s because there’s a lot to do in a day,” Oscar told her, grinning. “Like running around and making snow forts for snowball fights.”

“Just make sure you’re all bundled up warmly and change your clothes when you're done,” Barb reminded him. “Don’t stay in damp clothes.”

“I know!” Oscar sighed, rolling his eyes. “ I’m ten now, mom.”

“Of course you are,” Barb hid a smile. “But moms still like to feel useful and nag their kids about these things.”

“Can I be excused from the table?” Oscar asked. “I want to get ready to go with Dad into Frisco.”

“Sure,” Barb said, nodding before standing and taking their dishes to the sink.

As she was going back to Charlotte, there was a knock on the door. Her heart leaped, and the anger once again boiled as she instinctively knew it was Zac. Barb swung the door open and froze when she came face to face with the brunette she now knew was Paige.

“Hi!” Paige waved a gloved hand at her with a smile on her face. “I’m Paige Shields, Zac’s sister.”

“Hello, Paige.” Barb couldn’t help the frostiness that laced her voice.

“I came over to introduce myself as we didn’t get a chance to meet yesterday,” Paige explained. “As we’re spending the day with Oscar, I thought it best to meet you.”

“Where is Zac?” Barb asked, her anger rising a level at the assumption that she was just going to let Oscar go with them. “I need to have a word with him.”

“Oh,” Paige turned to look toward the chalet. “He’ll be here soon.” She looked at Barb again. “He takes longer than most women to get ready. Especially when it’s cold.”

Barb nodded.

“Is that Dad?” Oscar’s excited voice rang down the hallway as he rushed toward them, stopping beside Barb at the door. “Hello, Aunt Paige.”

“Hey, Ozzie,” Paige greeted him.

“Ozzie?” Barb’s anger gauge was rising to the steam out the ear point.

Paige’s eyes widened, and her smile dropped as she looked at Barb. It must’ve registered with her then that Barb wasn’t aware she’ d met Oscar.

“Oscar and I met at the main lodge last night,” Paige explained. “Priscilla introduced us, and we—”

“Decorated the lodge’s window tree together,” Oscar explained. “Dad put me on his shoulders and lifted me as Avery said I could put the angel on it.”

Barb’s eyes widened as they caught Paige’s. She didn’t want to cause a scene in front of Oscar. “Honey, go brush your teeth.” She smiled at him.

“Oh, yes, I almost forgot,” Oscar said, glancing at his mother and then back to Paige. “I’ll be back in three minutes.”

He turned and ran to the bathroom.

“Could you call your brother for me, please, Paige,” Barb said with a tight smile. “I really need to have a word with him. I also have to make sure Oscar is ready.”

“Of course,” Paige said, nodding and smiling at Barb. “Barb, Zac didn’t mean any harm last night. Ryder was going to lift Oscar as your friend Emily didn’t let us near Oscar after Priscilla introduced me. It was Oscar who asked Zac to lift him.”

“Thank you for telling me that, Paige.” Barb nodded. “But I still need to have a world with Zac. It was nice to finally meet you.”

Paige stared at Barb for a few seconds before giving a nod and turning back toward the chalet as Zac walked down the path. Again, Barb’s traitorous heart skipped a few beats as he drew nearer.

“Why don’t I take Oscar to the lodge so you and Zac can talk?” Paige offered.

“That won’t be necessary,” Barb told her.

“Oh, okay,” Paige said. “It was nice to finally meet you, too.” She turned and walked toward her brother.

They were too far away to hear what Paige said to him, but his head turned toward Barb, and their eyes met.

“Is that Dad?” Oscar was back by her side in a flash, waving at Zac from the door.

“Honey, I need to have a word with Zac in private,” Barb explained. “I need you to watch Charlotte and make sure she doesn’t wiggle out of her rocker, okay?”

“Is Dad in trouble?” Oscar looked at her suspiciously.

“No, baby,” Barb lied, shaking her head, turning to take Charlotte's rocker off the table and put it in the middle of the living room floor. “But I just need to tell him something. Now go watch your sister for me, please.”

Oscar did as he was told while Barb stepped out of the bungalow, closing the door behind her. She hadn’t grabbed her coat, and the cold felt like it was blasting through her jumper as she walked down the path to meet Zac.

“Hi,” Zac greeted her with a tight smile. “I can see you’re upset with me for asking Oscar to come with me to Frisco, but… ”

“There’s no but here, Zac,” Barb seethed. “I explicitly told you twice, no, three times yesterday not to approach my kids without my consent.”

Something flashed in Zac’s eyes as they met hers. “I’m sorry,” he apologized, but she could see he was angry as a muscle in his jaw ticked. “I met Oscar on my way to the main lodge this morning. He asked me what I was doing today, and I told him. Oscar wanted me to help you decorate the bungalow with him today and was disappointed I couldn’t spend time with him.”

“So you asked him to go to Frisco with you before clearing it with me?” Barb hissed. “Or did you do that on purpose because you knew I wouldn’t say no to my son?” Her eyes narrowed as her anger grew hotter. “I have no option now but to let him go with you. But I’m warning you, don’t make any more promises to him or invite Oscar anywhere without speaking to me first.”

“You know, Barb,” Zac said, his eyes flashing with anger and darkening with pain, “they are my kids, too, and I have a right to see them.”

Barb’s hands clenched at her sides. Did he really just say that to me? “Rights?” She looked at him in disbelief. “First, Zac is not your biological son and Charlotte… well, she was born without a father—check her birth certificate. Any rights you thought you had disappeared when you did from our lives eleven months ago.”

Zac’s eyes widened, and he looked like Barb had just punched him. He stared at her in shock. “I’m not on Charlotte’s birth certificate?”

“No!” Barb sneered, allowing her anger, hurt, and bitterness to take over as her headache started to increase. She rubbed her arms as the cold began to seep further into her bones. “I didn’t think you cared as I’d left you numerous voice messages and texts. Which you didn’t even bother to read.”

“Barb… no…” Zac reached toward her, but Barb recoiled as the pain of his abandonment rose once more.

“Oscar’s ready to go,” Barb told him through gritted. “Have him back before lunchtime. Don’t feed him too much sugar, and try to keep him away from grape soda, please. ”

With that, she spun around and stormed back to the bungalow, stopping before she opened the door. “And I’m warning you, don’t make any more promises to Oscar without speaking to me first.”

She yanked open the door, took a deep breath to calm herself, and forced a smile onto her face. “Oscar, Zac’s here.”

“Dad!” Oscar called from the living room. “Come say hello to Charlie. She’s so excited that you’re here.”

Zac’s figure loomed behind Barb as she stepped over the threshold and froze at her son's words. She spun around and knocked into Zac, who was so close to him. His hands reached out to grab her in case she stumbled backward.

“You're freezing cold,” Zac said in alarm.

“I’m fine,” Barb said, pulling out of his arms, hoping he couldn’t hear how loudly her heart was beating or how his touch had instantly warmed her skin.

“Dad!” Oscar yelled again.

“I can tell him we need to get moving,” Zac said in clipped tones.

“No, go. I don’t want Oscar dragged into our troubles,” Barb told him.

“Thank you.” Zac’s voice was gruff as he stepped past Barb and walked into the living room.

Barb followed him. The heat of the fire enveloped her freezing body. She positioned herself close to it to absorb the warmth as she watched Zac drop to his knees on the rug beside Oscar.

“Hello, princess,” Zac’s voice was soft, and Barb’s heart pinched once again as guilt flooded her when she saw the love in his eyes for his daughter and Oscar. “If you were older and your mommy said it was okay,” he glanced at Barb, “you could come with us.”

“Am I going with Dad, Mom?” Oscar looked up at her .

“Yes, honey.” Barb smiled warmly at him. “Go get your coat, hat, and gloves on.”

“Okay,” Oscar said, nodding, kissing Charlotte on the cheek. “See you later, Charlie. I’ll buy you a present.”

As Oscar bolted from the room, Zac looked at Barb. “May I hold her?”

Barb didn’t trust her voice at that moment and nodded as a turmoil of conflicting emotions churned through her, intensified by the thumping pain in her head. Zac picked Charlotte up, and she reached out a little hand to touch his face, and a lump lodged in Barb’s burning throat.

“I must go check on Oscar,” Barb’s voice was hoarse, and she cleared her throat.

Zac smiled at Barb and nodded before his attention returned to his daughter.

“This is the only coat I could find.” Oscar popped out of his room. “And these gloves.”

“They’re perfect,” Barb said, zipping it up. “Where’s your hat?”

“I can use the hood on the coat,” Oscar reasoned.

“You know you need your woolen beanie.” Barb walked into his room and found one of the beanies. “Here, this will go nicely with your coat and gloves.”

“I don’t need to match like you, Mom,” Oscar moaned. “I’d rather have the red one.”

“The red one is dirty and being washed,” Barb reminded him. “So you’re going to have to use the dark blue on.”

“Fine,” Oscar said with a sigh. “But do you think you can buy me more red and green beanies, please?”

“I’ll look into that,” Barb promised, smiling. “There, now you’re all ready to go.”

Oscar threw his arms around her neck and hugged her, whispering. “Thank you for letting me go with Dad.” He kissed her cheek. “I love you, Mom.”

Guilt poured through Barb as she hugged her little boy tight. “Of course, my angel. Be good and listen to Zac, okay?”

“I promise.” Oscar nodded as they walked back into the living room.

Zac was playing with Charlotte, and try as she might, Barb couldn’t hang onto the anger that had been boiling inside her since Oscar mentioned Zac had asked him to go into Frisco with him.

“Oscar’s ready,” Barb said, keeping her voice level as she followed Oscar and Zac to the door.

“Thank you for letting him spend the morning with me,” Zac said, kissing Charlotte's forehead before handing her to Barb. “Bye, princess. Daddy loves you.”

His words hit Barb right in the middle of her heart, and she felt the sting of tears burning at the back of her eyes as she took Charlotte from him. Barb suddenly felt like a thief, like she was robbing Zac of time with his kids, as more guilt flooded her .

“I’ll have Oscar back before lunch if that’s what you want,” Zac assured her.

Barb drew in a breath and forced a smile. “Did you want to take him to lunch?”

“I was planning to,” Zac admitted. “But not if you want him back here.”

“It’s okay,” Barb said. “Enjoy your day.”

Their eyes met and held, and Barb’s heart accelerated some more.

“Thank you, Barb.” Zac’s voice was deep and hoarse with emotion when he finally broke eye contact as Oscar tugged on his hand.

Barb watched them walk down the path, but the cold was too much, and she didn’t want to expose Charlotte, so she ducked inside, closed, and locked the door. Noting the time, Barb saw it was Charlotte’s nap time, and she went to put her down. It wasn’t until Charlotte was asleep that Barb took some more headache pills, curled up in a blanket on the carpet beside the fire, and let herself have a good cry.

Confusion whirled around her aching brain while a mix of emotions flooded through her, overwhelming her. As she let the tears she’d kept at bay for too long fall, Barb made plans to call her lawyer later that day to find out where the divorce papers were and what she proposed as the best option for the kids. While Barb still loved Zac with all her heart, she was sure she could never trust him again. But she did know that she couldn’t keep him from the kids.