More Than A Promise

By Kristen James

Second Gift Series, Book 2

Cassie escapes to Ocean View Stables on the Oregon Coast to cope with the three year anniversary of her husband’s death. She’s starting to dream about her future, being happy, and even romance again. A safe romance, that is, where people don’t die. She runs into Ethan Caldwell, the cute boy who teased her through grade school. He sure grew up – into a man who would catch anyone’s eyes. Now he’s a single dad to nine year old Isabel, who talks about her parents getting back together, as soon as her mom is out of rehab. “Isy” also talks about her dad’s work trips. Apparently Ethan has some kind of dangerous and secretive government job. Cassie wants to run but she loves spending time with both Ethan and Isy. This isn’t at all what Cassie is looking for! So why is she running full speed into another broken heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristen James
• Release date: Mar 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310238451

Book preview

More Than a Promise

Book 2, Second Gift Series

By Kristen James

Copyright 2012 Kristen James

All Rights Reserved

www.writerkristenjames.com

Smashwords Edition

More Than a Promise

Book 2, Second Gift Series

Edited by Carol Teegarden

Story @ 2012 Kristen James

www.writerkristenjames.com

Connect at www.facebook.com/WriterKristenJames

Also by Kristen James:

Costa Rica

Embers of Hope, Bk 1

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Book 1: Embers of Hope

Savanna Thompson knows what it’s like when you blink and your life shatters. She’s been hiding her divorce from her best friend Cassie, but she knows she can’t any longer. Cassie’s husband, a firefighter, just died. Savanna rushes home, along with her one-year-old daughter to help, and now she’s staying with Cassie in a nursery meant for a baby that won’t ever exist. Cassie lost that dream along with her husband.

Savanna wants to fix their relationship after hiding so much, but it’s complicated with Jason around. He’s the firefighter who saved Savanna’s life two and a half years ago. He just lost his best friend, and like Cassie, he blames himself for Mike’s death. When he convinced Mike to remain with the department, how could he know Mike would die fighting a house fire?

Though hurting herself, something deep inside her won’t let her walk away. Jason needs her but she’s off limits on so many levels. She’s falling for this sexy firefighter but he confuses her to no end. Being stuck in the middle is enough stress, plus her own problems are festering behind her helping smile. Can Savanna find the balance between loving Jason, helping Cassie, and taking care of herself and her daughter? Or is she going to lose this bet and her best friend?

Book 2: More Than a Promise

Cassie escapes to Ocean View Stables on the Oregon Coast to cope with the three year anniversary of her husband’s death. She’s starting to dream about her future, being happy, and even romance again. A safe romance, that is, where people don’t die. She runs into Ethan Caldwell, the cute boy who teased her through grade school. He sure grew up – into a man who would catch anyone’s eyes. Now he’s a single dad to nine year old Isabel, who talks about her parents getting back together, as soon as her mom is out of rehab. Isy also talks about her dad’s work trips. Apparently Ethan has some kind of dangerous and secretive government job. Cassie wants to run but she loves spending time with both Ethan and Isy. This isn’t at all what Cassie is looking for! So why is she running full speed into another broken heart?

More Than A Promise

Part One

A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets.

Gloria Stuart

Chapter One

She couldn’t see through the fog. There were just fuzzy lights, vague sounds, and unfamiliar smells slowly drifting by as she walked. Some of the images drew closer… now she could see a figure walking toward her. It took the shape of a man.

Mike?

He didn’t answer with his voice, just his footsteps, but it looked like Mike’s walk. His scent seemed to float to her.

Mike? she questioned again. Why wasn’t he getting closer? Why couldn’t she see him more clearly? She tried walking toward him, but it didn’t seem to help.

Cassie awoke with a start, quickly sitting up to get her bearings. It was always the same: she was walking in the fog and thought Mike was walking toward her, but she could never see him. It was the recurring dream that she’d had since she’d lost Mike three years ago. You’d think one of these days it would change to…something else.

She glanced at the clock and sighed. It was time to get up.

~ ~ ~

Oh, for a love like that. Cassie watched Savanna and Jason give each other sideways smiles over their daughter’s head of curly brown hair. The four of them walked down the block to the bus stop, little Aubrey skipping between her parents and singing, The wheels on the bus go round an’ round…

The morning was clear and bright—a start to a gorgeous day. Her head wasn’t so clear after her dream and all the flittering thoughts running through it. So many of Cassie’s friends were busy raising kids that all their focus seemed to be on pregnancy and parenting. Cassie didn’t have experience with any of that. Maybe she just needed some single friends. It was, after all, the constant contrast that defined her life. But what was she thinking? No one else understood her like Savanna did. They’d shared their troubles and joys through high school, college and marriage. Of course, it’d been since then that they both had encountered bigger and deeper trials.

Oh, look, here’s the bus stop! Savanna announced while Aubrey was scanning up and down the street. She wasn’t looking for the official school bus, but for the summer camp bus. This was a practice run for when kindergarten would start that fall, and Aubrey was so, so, so excited!

Cassie was too. That little girl always put a smile on her face and reminded her that life could be good. Cassie turned her face up to the sun, loving it. Small pleasures. You can’t take anything for granted. She loved the sun’s warmth and the light breeze that tickled her hair. She had done a makeover about a year before, cutting her long brown hair into a fun, chin-length crop with blond highlights. It made her feel like a different person, someone who had the strength to move forward with life.

The bus came around the corner.

Are you ready for this? Cassie asked Aubrey, grinning as she pointed at the bus down the street.

Aubrey squealed and reached up. I need a hug before I go.

A square, orange bus pulled up to the curb in front of them, gave a familiar sigh from the brakes, and opened its door. Since she’d gotten her hug, Cassie stepped back to let Savanna and Jason see Aubrey off. Aubrey climbed the steps and waved one more time from the top, a huge smile on her face. Bye, Mama! Bye, Daddy! She waved at Cassie too. Bye, Antastic!

Cassie blew her a kiss. It’d been a couple years since Aubrey had called her Antastic. That had evolved into Aunt Cassie as the rest of her speech developed.

I almost missed that…and would have if things hadn’t worked out among the three of them. A lot of ifs. It felt like a long time ago now, instead of just three years since Mike died and she had blamed Jason—at first anyway. Both Jason and Savanna had been understanding while she worked through it, thankfully, because they were closer than ever now.

The soft, morning sunshine set off the gold clip holding back some of Aubrey’s curls as she turned and bounced her way into the bus. Cassie thought Savanna was holding her breath so she wouldn’t cry. The bus made a noise as it went into gear, and immediately Savanna sucked in air and the dam broke.

What am I going to do now? Savanna cupped her hands over her mouth. But then Aubrey waved from a window, and Savanna plastered on a smile and waved frantically, as if Aubrey was headed off to war.

Jason put an arm around Savanna, pulling her against him. They looked so good together with Jason’s tall, dark good looks and Savanna’s model-pretty face and blond hair.

Cassie waved too and even felt the sting of tears in her eyes, but she wouldn’t admit it to Savanna. She reached over and gently rubbed Savanna’s baby bump. Well, you’re going to get some rest when you can, for starters.

Jason glanced over at their exchange, and Cassie caught the shine in his eyes. Savanna rubbed her stomach, but her eyes lingered on the departing bus. Oh, Cassie, why does she have to ride the bus?

Cassie had to laugh. Would she be so over-dramatic and over-protective when her turn came? If her turn ever came. Pushing that thought aside, she said, Aubrey’s being the independent, strong little girl you want her to be. And she’s darn good at it.

I second that, Jason said.

But she’s so little, Savanna whispered, then quickly followed with a laugh. Oh, I know how silly I sound. It’s just…she’s my baby.

Savanna wasn’t usually so weepy and worried, but her baby was leaving on the school bus, and she probably had some weird pregnancy hormones going on as well. Even so, Cassie was actually glad to be fussing over someone else instead of having people worry about her.

Jason leaned over and rested his head against Savanna’s. Cassie felt that third-wheel twinge for just a second, but that was one of the many feelings she had learned to live with. The moment passed and they turned to head back down the cul-de-sac to Jason and Savanna’s dream house. Jason had built their house on the very end lot of the road that backed up to the Willamette River.

Maybe we could follow her, Jason mumbled. Jason too?

Cassie shook her head and almost kept the smile off her face. She’ll see your car. But we could take mine. I’ll drive.

The parents turned in unison and hurried back toward the house where Cassie had parked her Toyota along the curb. Cassie had to run to catch up with them. Nothing like chasing a pregnant lady! Savanna was already in the front passenger seat, motioning for Cassie to get moving. She jumped in, revved the engine, and took off in hot pursuit.

The bus just turned left up there! Savanna pointed as if the verbal directions weren’t enough. She kept up the directions all the way to the school, and Cassie decided it helped the anxiety. She eased the car to the curb close enough to watch a tall, slender woman meet the bus outside the school. The woman smiled ear to ear in that special way people do when they really, truly love working with kids. One by one, preschoolers hopped down the steps, out of the bus, and joined a line. Aubrey wiggled her way to the front and grinned up at the teacher before she led them inside.

Jason and Savanna began breathing again, and Cassie drove back to their house.

Well, I’m off, Jason said as he got out and went to help his pregnant wife out of the car. He sounded rational again. Are you going to make it till Aubrey’s done?

Cassie stepped out of the car before Savanna answered.

I think so, and Cassie will keep me company. Savanna smiled at her husband when he leaned in for a kiss. She sighed as he walked away.

Cassie looked the other way to hide her grin. It felt good to see her best friend so happy, and if she was envious, well, that was her own problem. If it was in the cards, she’d find someone some day. If and when she ever wanted to look again. She’d tried a few dates during the last year, but they had only proven that adult dating is a nightmare. Out of four dates, Cassie had made it to the end of one. Then, when Jeff, the overly talkative car salesman, leaned in for a kiss, she’d instinctively shoved him back. That was the last of that guy.

One happy woof came from the backyard. Cassie had left her chocolate lab, Java, there because she had one puppy left with her. The pair would probably be all right staying home alone, but Cassie knew she’d be worried about them. (Luckily, Savanna had not noticed this bit of irony when Cassie had reassured her about Aubrey going to school!) It looked like the last little pup wasn’t going to another home, and Cassie just couldn’t take an animal to the shelter, or split up the pair. Oh, Java, I’ll get you soon enough. The dog probably wished Aubrey was there to play and keep the puppy busy.

You’ll make it through today, Cassie said as Savanna led the way into the house, and the next time will be easier.

Next time! Savanna looked at her with wide eyes. I can’t do this again.

Cassie broke out laughing. Savanna’s horrified expression softened and, after a minute, she laughed too. You might have to keep me company all week while Aubrey’s gone. She turned and headed down the hallway.

If you need me, I’ll do it! Cassie called. She was lucky to own a business that didn’t require her physical presence, so she’d taken to helping friends with different things, like home decorating projects or simply lending moral support. Truthfully, it was a two-way street. Cassie liked filling her time so she wouldn’t be home by herself. That was partly why she’d kept the last of Java’s puppies too.

Savanna headed to the bathroom, calling out something about one of her least favorite parts of pregnancy. Cassie heard a beep and slipped her phone out to check for a text.

I lost the baby. That’s all Melissa had typed, but it was more than enough to break Cassie’s heart. She stared at her phone, trying to understand it. The message was plain but…how could that have happened? She sank onto the couch.

Cassie had been overjoyed about Melissa’s pregnancy. A little part of her, though, had felt left behind. Melissa and Brent had each other and Ocean View Stables, a successful tourist destination and dude ranch on the Oregon coast. Their property included a scenic river, hiking trails, and riding trails that extended to the beach. It was a showcase of Oregon in all its rugged glory, from the wild, raging ocean to the secretive forests. Between the ocean, estuaries, river and forest, she always encountered dozens of animals, sea creatures, plants and breathtaking landscape. Melissa’s husband, Brent, was a lanky, blond cowboy who called his wife Missy. They were living the dream life except for their trouble getting pregnant. Even that had happened, finally! But now the baby was lost.

That little spot that had been filled with Cassie’s secret self-pity now filled with guilt. Yes, Melissa and Brent had a perfect life, but this…this was horrible. Wrong. But it had happened.

Savanna returned and stopped short. Cassie, what’s wrong?

Remember my friend Melissa? Her voice caught before she could go on. She just had a miscarriage.

Savanna’s eyes widened in horror and her hands covered her baby bump. How’s she doing? She sat down on the couch and wrapped her arm around Cassie’s shoulders.

Cassie glanced at the phone. I don’t know…I should call.

It wasn’t surprising that her call went straight to voicemail. She’d suspected Melissa had texted because she didn’t feel like talking. So Cassie left a message: "Hey, Melissa. I’m so sorry. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.