323 Love Lane: Ashbrook, Montana Saga

By Merri Maywether

One by one, Amanda helped her friends navigate the waters of love to find the man meant to be their husband.

Determined to have a happy ending of her own, she issues her long-term boyfriend, Rick, what she thinks is an irresistible ultimatum: either they get married or they break up.

When Rick walks out the door, leaving Amanda alone, she is forced to pick up the pieces of her life.

As she contends with the life of a single mother, Amanda reconsiders her definition of happily ever after. One that involves forging new friendships, chasing after her dreams, and closing doors to the past.

Faced with the possibility of losing Amanda to the life she's building without them, Rick, along with Amanda's friends and family, find themselves working together to mend bridges.

Except, Amanda seems to always be one step ahead of them and has no desire to slow down long enough for them to catch up to her.

In this sweet romance, the Ashbrook friends and family will discover the power of coming together in love to conquer obstacles.

*Previously published as The Missing Piece of My Puzzle

• Language: English
• Publisher: Merri Maywether
• Release date: Jun 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223284772

Merri Maywether

Twenty years ago, Merri Maywether went on a date with a very sweet man from Montana. Three weeks later they were engaged and they have lived happily ever after. This is Merri taking over the biography section...When I write my romance novels, the characters are the people that I see on a day to day basis. Up here in what I like to call the far, far north, people work hard, live fiercely, and love knowing that they have a community of people behind them. We support each other through the hardships and celebrate the victories. The best part...similar to the characters in my stories, at the end of a long day or a rough week we have stories to share for the years to come.

Book preview

SMALL TOWN STORIES

Finding Love After Friendship

Second Chance Romance

Homecoming Romance

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Victor and Mayra’s story starts on the next page.

1

A CHANGE OF SEASON

Amanda rolled down the window and tilted her chin to take in the full measure of the clean night air. Warmth wrapped in layers of the cold sting promised the weather would change. Summer was around the corner, peeking in, asking, Is it my time to shine?

She was looking forward to nights that allowed for restorative sleep and days of making plans and actually having the time to follow through with them.

Would that hold true for the other parts of her life? Amanda turned her gaze toward Rick in search of signs that he was ready for a change. They’d lived together for a little more than two years. His best friend, Eric, had promised Amanda that he’d talk to Rick about the perks of marriage, which would hopefully nudge Rick to that end.

Rick’s gaze was steady, and his jaw relaxed. His baseball cap and the gray light made it hard to read his full expression. Amanda pulled in a breath that deepened her appreciation for how handsome he was. While a lot had changed in their lives, Rick’s appearance hadn’t. He looked the same as he had when they met in college. He was tall, still trim, and despite his foray into the business world, he always looked like he was ready to go on a hike.

Eric and his wife, Gina, offered to take the baby for the night, so Rick and Amanda could have a heart-to-heart. They had a child. They lived together. They loved each other. Rick’s actions contradicted his whole marriage is a construct argument.

If things went according to plan, it would be an easy discussion. Then Amanda would have a summer to plan a wedding. Just as she reached the height of confidence, they pulled up to the house.

A night to ourselves. Rick’s body slumped into the seat.

Yes, Amanda cheered. A break from being Mom and Dad. The unspoken and a chance to enjoy each other without interruption lingered between them, but Amanda saw it when he opened the cab door, and the dome light filled the once dark space. He was smiling. They’d have time to connect.

Rick’s jaw was stiff as he slowly turned the doorknob and pushed the door open like they were in the middle of a heist at an art museum. Amanda held her breath. Neither knew what they’d see on the other side. A living room littered with toys and a fatigued cousin on the couch–or had they settled, and Caleb was ready for bed. Either situation demanded a smooth entrance.

When the door was fully open, they caught their cousin Marianna mid-stride in the living room.

Sometime after Rick and Amanda had left, Marianna had switched from her work scrubs into yoga pants and a long tank top. James wore basketball shorts and a v-neck t-shirt. The gray hair around James’s ears and the little curls of gray at Marianna’s temples were the only hints that James and Marianna were old enough to have adult children.

Marianna joined James on the couch. Caleb was cuddled against his uncle’s chest, sucking on a bottle. The baby glanced at his parents briefly as though to say, I see you made it home, finally. Then he settled back into James’s chest.

Was he okay for you? Amanda whispered to avoid exciting Caleb. His eyes drooped in his losing battle with sleep. Thanks to his long lashes, chubby cheeks, and always pleasant disposition, people often compared him to the baby on the tiny jars of food.

He was an angel. Marianna wriggled Caleb’s baby toe. Her light brown eyes sparkled with delight. Marianna had long brown wavy hair that she often wore in a messy bun. Loose pieces dangled around her temples. Amanda could imagine her son’s tiny fingers getting caught in her hair.

For the time being, Amanda was the only one of her cousins who had a small child. In their own ways, the others relished the novelty. James, the logical one in Amanda’s family, was known for having the magic touch for settling Caleb. Marianna loved kissing his dainty fingers and toes.

He’s a good kid. Ever since his talk with Eric, Rick’s voice was distant, like his mind was elsewhere, and he was fighting to stay in the present.

James handed the baby over to Marianna. Is everything okay?

Roughly eighteen months ago, the family played a scavenger-hunt style game orchestrated by Marianna and Amanda’s aunt. She said it was to determine how to settle her estate, when in fact, it was to reunite the family and build bonds. When it was over, the husbands built on their friendship and supported each other.

Yeah, everything’s fine, Rick answered. I just have a lot on my mind. We’re at the end of a big project, and I’m playing through the scenarios to make sure all the pieces are in place.

James rubbed the side of his jaw and grimaced. I know the feeling well. I’m the same way during the insurance re-enrollment season. If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.

Thanks, it feels good knowing I have someone to turn to.

Amanda caught the edge in Rick’s voice but held her tongue. What was up with the backhanded compliment? She had done everything she could think of. Woke up hours before the school day started, so she could give all of her attention to Rick and Caleb. At the end of their day, she always made sure to ask Rick questions about his day. On the days he seemed stressed, she asked him how she could help him. Their only disagreement was Rick’s complaints that she had tricked him into staying at Ashbrook.

You know I’m a phone call away. James slid his hands along the tops of his legs. Until then, I promised Marianna we’d try to catch a couple of episodes of Manifest.

James and Marianna danced around Gina’s protruding belly when they passed by her in the doorway. Eric kept a watchful eye. Marriage had changed him. He stood a little straighter, and his once slim mid-section was showing signs of Gina’s good cooking. The pride in his expression sent a tinge of envy in Amanda. Other than her father, no man had looked at her with profound ardor. Amanda used the time Eric and Gina exchanged pleasantries with James and Marianna to fill a tote bag with formula powder and empty bottles.

Gina poked her head into the kitchen. Pregnancy hadn’t altered the sleek lines on her face. Her voice was bright with enthusiasm. I’ll go get his pajamas. She had helped Amanda so much with the baby; she knew how to find most of the things he needed for a sleepover.

Rick had tucked Caleb in his car seat and helped Eric pack the portable crib in the back of his pickup. Gina threw the strap of the diaper bag over her right shoulder and carried the tote bag with his snacks and some toys in the crook of her left elbow. This makes me feel a little more comfortable about having a little one around the house. We won’t be caught completely unaware. Her baby bump barely protruded from her maternity top. If it didn’t have stripes, Amanda wouldn’t have been able to tell her friend was close to six months pregnant.

Let’s talk in the morning and see if you feel the same way. Rick’s laugh was light with the tone of experience.

Amanda remembered life before and after Caleb. She and Rick talked about how they would handle problems. They wouldn’t buckle, and their son wouldn’t behave like some of the children they judged as naughty. A couple of times since then, they reconciled reality with what they had planned and laughed.

As quickly as the door closed behind Eric and Gina, Rick returned to his pensive state. Rick’s silence, combined with the absence of the baby, created an empty feeling that took over the simple skill of entertaining a conversation.

Amanda slipped into her plaid pajamas. The bottom had a logo silk screened on the left hip. Her shirt had her last name ‘Darling’ across the back. Then she pulled her wavy brown hair into a high ponytail.

Buying time to muster the courage to speak to Rick, Amanda wandered around the house looking for something to do. All the dishes were washed and stored on their correct shelves. The laundry was folded and put away. Except for the one bottle Caleb finished before he left with Gina and Eric, there weren’t any dirty dishes. Amanda recalled the times when Caleb was teething and grumpy, and she had wished for quiet. Her wish had come true, and she was at a loss for what to do with herself. Even her standby activity, a word search, lacked appeal.

To shake off the uncomfortable feeling that lingered in the air around her, Amanda roamed back into the kitchen to make herself a cup of decaf coffee in the Keurig. When her aunt lived in the house, the kitchen had white wood cabinets with white ceramic tile countertops. As a gift to Amanda and Rick, Janine’s husband, Matthias, remodeled the kitchen with whitewashed cabinets and granite countertops. Shortly after Amanda admitted that she was having a child out of wedlock, her family pulled out all the stops to show they supported her.

Still, the hours Amanda had spent in the kitchen with Aunt Tee sitting on stools flooded her memories. Her Aunt loved to discuss ways to handle life’s problems. She had gone as far as to organize an event with the family to reinforce the point. Amanda sipped her coffee and thought about what her aunt would say if she were in the kitchen.

Push through the problem to get a solution. Bonding is on the other side of the conflict. However, one must be prudent when fighting for love.

Invigorated by her epiphany, Amanda brought the remainder of her coffee to the living room and sat in the recliner. The blue light from Rick’s laptop gave no hint of what he was doing. He was either seriously engrossed in something or intentionally ignoring her.

Amanda tested the waters. Maybe the uncomfortable gap between her hopes and the ability to fulfill them was only in her mind. Do you want to play a video game?

Nah, I think I’ll get ready for bed. I have an early morning. Rick leaned forward to leave the room.

Speaking abruptly because she knew time was scarce, Amanda asked, What is happening to us?

What do you mean? The confusion in Rick’s voice expressed sincerity. He had no idea what Amanda was talking about.

Can I be honest with you? she asked. A line of tension ran across her shoulders and wound its way around her chest.

Rick crossed his arms in front of his chest and inclined his head, letting her know she had his attention.

Amanda took in a breath and shook her shoulders to relieve some of the tightness. To avoid sounding confrontational, she used her I feel statements. I feel like we’re drifting further apart rather than growing closer. I thought after Caleb was born, we’d get over whatever was holding us back from getting married. Instead, I feel like you are growing closer with my friends and family. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were with me to be with them.

Rick’s breathing quickened, and his delivery came out clipped. How long have you been nursing those ideas?

I don’t know, but it’s been a while. Amanda paused to think. Probably when Gina and Eric got married. I thought for sure we’d be married before them. I mean, you helped other people find their happiness. I thought if I went along with where you were going, we’d find ours too.

Matthias says comparison is the biggest cause of discontent. We can’t compare our relationship with our friends. Our circumstances are different.

How poetic? Rick was quoting her cousin’s husband to justify why he didn’t want to marry Amanda. The response added heat to the volcano simmering in her stomach.

When did Matthias become your source of relational wisdom? She heard the challenge in her tone but didn’t know how to pull it back. When we first were together, you didn’t like him.

Rick took a deep breath and spoke slower. I didn’t know him then. After working with him, I’ve learned a lot about how to handle situations. He’s more like a father figure to me.

And you are proving my point. Her voice thinned. You don’t need me. He had told her in so many ways over the years. The long hiatuses so he could travel around the world, the way he turned to her cousins’ husbands for support, and it was easier to get him to change a diaper after a blowout than it was to get him to share updates about his day.

What have I done to make you believe I don’t care about you?

First, you confide more in Eric, or James, or Matthias than in me. Second, because of my family, you have your job, and we live in this house. You need what they can do for you more than you need me.

Her body vibrated with anticipation. This is the part where he was supposed to contradict her. To tell her that her fears were unfounded. That he loved her and the benefits that came with their relationship were insignificant.

Rick’s eyes widened in surprise. That’s what you think? There was no denial. In fact, it looked like he had been caught, and he was annoyed with having to confront the ugly truth.

The intensity of Amanda’s emotions washed over her, changing how she saw the relationship.

Uncertainty fell to the ground in drizzles, making room for painful clarity. The sliver of truth pricked Amanda’s heart and dug its way in until she couldn’t deny it was there.

Rick didn’t need her.

The only reason he was with her was their son.

Her voice pleaded with him to prove her wrong. You won’t even fight with me, for me.

Rick breathed deeply before speaking each word slowly, impressing the intention. After I yelled at your aunt at the family challenge, I promised myself I would never get desperate enough to raise my voice in anger again. I won’t fight with you, Amanda. We can talk about this in the morning.

You’re right. we won’t.

The thorn dug deeper, asserting the pain of what Amanda had ignored for too long. She had invested years in the man who would never love her the way her father loved her mother, and her grandfather loved his wife. Waiting for him to change was useless. The will to fight for what she wanted seeped away.

Her voice returned to a normal volume. This isn’t working. We have different visions for our relationship. I think we should go our separate ways.

Instead of yelling, as she expected, Rick’s voice deflated. Like that? It’s over?

Amanda felt like a weight had been removed from her shoulders. The uncertainty of their future had been more than she could bear. With a clear vision of their future, she'd be free to move forward—to grow into the person she was supposed to become.

Her voice was a little louder than a whisper. It was the last of the energy she had to give. Yes, like that.

Rick stood up from the couch and strode across the living room to their bedroom. Amanda heard the soft sound of items in the closet shifting; then the sliding of the duffel bag zipper Rick used for their vacations. She hadn’t expected the conversation to go this way, and she didn’t know what to do, so she sat there quietly. She heard him walk into the bathroom and fill the bag with whatever he needed from the medicine cabinet.

Amanda’s body fell into the pool of numbness, and the ringing in her ears disconnected her will. The unfair accusations Rick had made over the past couple of years were too heavy a burden. The accusations of trapping him by getting pregnant on purpose and trying to prove she was worthy of his love had taken their toll.

She hadn't tried to trap him by getting pregnant.

She was on birth control and had taken it religiously.

Arguing with Rick to stay would only prove his point. She was manipulating him to do something he never intended.

When Rick finished packing, he returned to the living room with his bag over his shoulder.

Amanda shifted her attention to a corner on the other side of the room.

I’m sorry you feel the way you do. I’m especially sorry there’s no way for me to prove otherwise. I’m also sorry that what I had to offer as a father wasn’t good enough.

The disappointment in Rick’s voice pushed the thorn deeper into Amanda’s heart. They had tried, and it wasn’t enough. Now, the truth was so deeply embedded, she couldn’t have extracted it if she tried. It was hidden beneath the layers of tissue.

He walked out the door and closed it softly behind him. The click of the door latch was the sound her tears needed to be able to fall.

2

THE NEXT DAY

From the couch where she’d spent the night, Amanda replayed the prior evening’s events in her mind.

Every time she tried to figure out what she could have said differently to create a different outcome, her mind drew a blank.

She only wanted Rick to see they needed to get married. She was the mother of his child.

Yet, no matter how she replayed it, the ending remained the same.

Rick saying they weren’t ready, and her insisting he leave. If it hadn’t happened last night, it would have happened sooner or later. Yet, the logical conclusion didn’t soften the blow of the separation.

When Amanda was twenty, sleeping on the couch was usually the result of a movie marathon with her friends in college. Even though it wasn’t the most pleasant of sleeping experiences, the fun of being with friends made it worth it. They spent most of the night talking about fact versus fiction in the movie plot,

She tried recreating the movie marathon effect by watching several episodes of Vampire Diaries. It didn’t work. Instead, the late-night gave her a foggy head and a cramped neck to accompany her stiff back.

Her groggy voice broke the silence. Reach for the apple from the tall tree she envisioned. She practiced some of the stretches she’d learned in yoga class, hoping it would work the kinks out of her stiff back. The loud pop from her lower back made the effort worthwhile.

That thing about tomorrow being a new day was BS. The morning after an unresolved argument was horrible. At thirty-seven, the combination of a body change after having a baby and spending the night on the couch crying slapped the notion out of the air, sending it careening into a younger person’s life.

Ready to get Caleb, Amanda texted Gina. You awake?

Gina responded immediately. I am. Eric and the baby are still sleeping. A picture of Eric sleeping in a La-Z-Boy chair with Caleb sprawled across his chest accompanied her response.

Amanda replied, Hard night?

Rick came by.

Gina’s response caught Amanda off guard. Her breath caught in her throat.

Oh, then you already know. She punctuated the text with a sad face.

I can sneak out if you want to talk. Gina added a heart symbol to her text.

Amanda smiled at the irony of the situation. A year ago, text messages were going back and forth about Gina’s foray into dating. Gina had fallen prey to an unrequited childhood crush on Jorgen and was trying to avoid any attempts at a relationship her now-husband Eric offered. Now they were talking about Amanda’s relationship status, and she feared Gina’s reciprocation of the tough love Amanda had doled out so freely.

Deciding it was safer if she and Gina weren’t alone, Amanda replied, I’ll bring donuts to the house.

The coffee will be ready when you get here.

As Rick’s best friend, Eric was the only person who’d take the separation harder than Amanda. She hoped the sugar from the donuts would sweeten Eric’s response.

With the May weather balanced on the warmer end of the spectrum, like Amanda, people had broken away from their winter routines and started their day with a sweet treat. To her dismay, the parking lot in front of the donut shop was filled with cars. Can you cut a girl a break here? she said aloud.

A car backed out in front of her, prompting a quick prayer of thanks for small blessings. After the night she had, any small signs of making it to