But she did believe him. The thought soothed him, and the anger that had flared up burned a little dimmer.

  But a few minutes later when he got home and called Megan, his fury ignited again. The woman’s number had been disconnected.

  26

  Katie was dying to know how Cooper’s phone call had gone.

  She changed into her pajamas and slid into bed, her thoughts spinning. It had been so hard sitting at the Trailhead, trying to be a good date, when she wanted nothing more than to reach out to Cooper. But Gavin wanted to stay until the band played two sets, and now it was almost eleven thirty. Probably too late to call Cooper or even text.

  She grabbed her phone off the nightstand, propped her pillows, and stared at the home screen—a photo of Spencer and her. Should she text Cooper? She only had his number because she’d called him once about returning a shirt she’d borrowed on their hike. She’d ended up dropping it off on his porch.

  Her fingers hovered over the texting app. She was worried about him. He’d been understandably upset. She opened the app, clicked on his name, and began typing.

  Hi, it’s Katie. How did it go?

  He was probably asleep. After all, it was a work night and he had to be up early. Yet so did she, and here she was.

  Three dots appeared in the text box. Katie waited, her pulse kicking up a notch.

  Hi Kate. It didn’t. Her number was disconnected. I know someone who might have it though. I’ll try again tomorrow.

  Why would she do this to you? Was there an ugly breakup or something?

  We only went out a couple times. But yes, it was a little ugly. I caught her in a lie and called her on it. She got nasty with me.

  Oh no. Would she do this out of spite? That seems extreme. Maybe she just changed her number when she moved.

  I don’t see why she would. I just hope the rumor doesn’t spread before I can get a handle on this.

  She’d been here long enough to know the Riverbend grapevine was alive and well.

  Have you told anyone in your family yet?

  I’d like to talk to Megan before I do that. Make sure there hasn’t been some kind of misunderstanding on Amber’s part.

  Is there anything I can do?

  Three dots appeared in the space. They blinked and blinked. Was he going to respond?

  Finally his reply popped up.

  You’ve been great Kate. I could use your prayers.

  Her heart gave a tug.

  You’ve got them.

  27

  The sun was barely up when Cooper knocked on Megan’s apartment door. He’d awakened at o-dark-thirty this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep, so he showered and dressed in street clothes. It only took a few minutes on Google to locate Megan’s new residence in Mars Hill.

  He didn’t let the early hour keep him from knocking hard and loud on the door. It was possible she wasn’t home but unlikely; her white Camry was out front. He didn’t care if he woke Megan up. He didn’t even care if he woke every neighbor in the building.

  The apartment building was located in a questionable part of town. Its dingy walls needed a fresh coat of paint, the brown carpet had seen better days, and the dim fluorescent lights cast an unflattering glow around the space.

  He had yet to hear a noise from inside Megan’s apartment. He pulled out his phone and punched in her new number—he’d looked that up too. The phone rang and rang, no way of leaving a voice mail.

  Frowning, he knocked a third time on the peeling brown door. A dog barked from inside the apartment behind him. And still not a peep from Megan’s.

  He hadn’t driven all the way over here for nothing. He pounded again. He briefly considered shouting out his credentials, but he wasn’t on duty and this wasn’t official business.

  The door behind him cracked open, chain still attached. An old lady peered through the gap. A dog yapped at her feet and its wet nose protruded through the crack in the door.

  “Sorry about the noise, ma’am. I need to speak with the woman who lives here. Do you know if she’s home?”

  “I don’t know.” She didn’t move from her spot. The dog continued to yap.

  He continued to stare at the woman, hoping the prolonged silence would compel her to fill the void.

  “She doesn’t always come home at night,” she said.

  “Does she work night shift?”

  “Don’t think so. Maybe she has a boyfriend or something.”

  “Any idea when she might come home?”

  “Nope.”

  He’d gotten about all the information he would get from the nosy neighbor. He dug for a card and extended it. “I’d appreciate it if you could give me a call when she returns.”

  The woman took the card, saying nothing.

  He didn’t expect to hear from her. Megan was a woman living alone, and he was just some stranger knocking on her door.

  “Thank you. Have a good one.” Cooper turned and left. When he exited the building he made a right and continued around the building. Megan’s apartment faced the backyard—if you could call it that. But when he got there, her drapes were pulled tight.

  He still had an hour before he needed to be at work. Time for a stakeout. He headed back to his truck and moved it to the side lot where he could keep an eye on the building’s only door without being spotted.

  He hoped he could catch her this morning. If Amber had been honest about what had happened, he needed to find out so he could help squelch the rumor. His stomach turned sour at the embarrassment and humiliation that would result. It reminded him of how he’d felt when his dad was the town drunk. Cooper had managed to live that down, to become someone people respected, and now some woman he barely knew was going to send him right back to that place he hated.

  Not only that, but a rumor like this could have an impact on the election. If Megan had done this out of spite, that might’ve even been her intention. She knew he needed every Riverbend vote he could get. He couldn’t even think about that right now.

  He glanced at Megan’s Camry. It was possible a boyfriend had picked Megan up, and she’d spent the night with him. It was more likely she was in her apartment and had ignored his knocking the same way she’d ignored his call. Hopefully she’d make an appearance before he had to leave for work.

  In the meantime he’d see if he could get information elsewhere. He knew Cheryl Davies, who owned the Beauty Barn. She cut his hair sometimes when he couldn’t get in at the barbershop. She might be more forthcoming about what had gone down yesterday.

  The salon wouldn’t be open yet, but Cheryl might be there. He looked up the number and called it, keeping watch on the apartment building.

  Four rings later Cheryl answered. “Beauty Barn, how can I help you?”

  “Hi, Cheryl, this is Cooper Robinson. How are you?”

  “Hey, Cooper. You need an appointment, honey? I’m afraid we’re pretty booked up today, but I could probably fit you in tomorrow.”

  “That’s not why I’m calling. I was wondering if you could help me with something. I heard Megan Taylor was in the salon yesterday. I heard she said some things about me.”

  “Well . . . that’s true enough.”

  “I don’t mean to put you in an awkward position, but I was told she was telling people she’s pregnant.” He forced out the words. “And that I’m the father of the baby. Is that true? Did she say that?”

  “That’s what she said—heard it with my own ears. And I want to assure you, I haven’t repeated a word of it to anyone. I respect your family too much for that. I can’t speak for the others who were here though.”

  “I appreciate that, Cheryl. I really do. And I want you to know what she said isn’t true. I’ve been trying to reach her, but she’s avoiding me. Are you sure she was pregnant?”

  “Well, sure enough, she had a little baby bump. ’Bout five months along, I’d say.”

  He did the calculation and flinched. Perfect. That was exactly how long ago they’d dated. “Did she say anything else? Anything at all?”

  “Mostly she whined and complained. Said you were denying the child. That you weren’t there for her.”

  He grated his teeth. “Because it’s not my baby. I didn’t even know she was pregnant.”

  “I wondered. I don’t know the woman—never darkened our doorstep while she lived here, mind you. But it didn’t sound like something you’d do.”

  “I appreciate your faith in me, Cheryl. And the information. I’d be grateful if you’d continue to keep the rumor to yourself.”

  “Of course, honey. What’s going on, you think? Why’s she saying these things about you?”

  “I don’t know but I intend to find out.”

  When he disconnected the call he tried Megan’s number again. This time it disconnected right away. She must’ve blocked his number.

  Someone exited the apartment building, but it was only a man and a child.

  Cooper settled back in his seat, staring at the door as Cheryl’s words rang in his ears. There’d been no mistake. Megan was out to ruin him.

  He wanted to talk through this with someone, and he didn’t feel like facing his family just yet. He thought of the texts Kate had sent last night. She always had a way of making him feel better.

  It was early. The clinic didn’t open until nine, and Kate probably wasn’t even awake yet. He opened his text app and sent her a message.

  You awake?

  A moment later her reply popped up.

  Yes.

  They could go on as they had last night, texting back and forth. But it would be more efficient if he just called. He found her in his contacts and tapped her name.

  After two rings she answered. Her raspy voice dredged up a tempting image of her, tousled and sleepy eyed.

  “Good morning,” he said.

  “Morning.”

  “Sounds like you just woke up.”

  “I’ve been awake awhile. I just haven’t spoken yet.”

  “Not in the habit of talking to yourself?”

  “Only at the grocery store.”

  “Ah . . . you’re one of those women.”

  “Afraid so.” A smile laced her voice. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Not well, I’m afraid. I got up early and drove down to Mars Hill to confront Megan. Her car is here, but she won’t answer the door.”

  “You’re still there?”

  “I’m hoping to catch her when she leaves for work. She’ll have to leave soon though. I’m on duty at nine. If she does come out, I’ll have to hang up quickly.”

  “Understood. Maybe you can find her new phone number and reach her that way.”

  “Already did. No answer, no way to leave a voice mail. I think she blocked my number.”

  “She’s definitely avoiding you then.”

  “Like the plague. I called Cheryl from the Beauty Barn a minute ago, and she confirmed what Amber had said. She added that Megan was complaining that I hadn’t stepped up and taken responsibility for the baby.”

  Kate gave a huff of outrage. “Of all the nerve. What kind of woman does something like that?”

  At her defense, satisfaction sprouted deep inside him.

  “You know, Cooper, maybe she had stronger feelings for you than you realized. Maybe she instigated this rumor out of revenge for breaking her heart.”

  “Oh, she’s definitely looking for revenge, but not because of any feelings she harbors. She was really upset when I called her on that lie.”

  “What’d she lie about exactly, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “We were talking about her job at the motel, and she mentioned she’d turned down a clerk position at the courthouse. I knew for a fact it wasn’t true. I have a lot of contacts there, and that position requires a degree, which Megan doesn’t have. I wouldn’t have said anything to her, but I was pretty sure she’d already lied to me a couple times.”

  “Yikes.”

  “She was really uncomfortable when I called her out. She turned it around and blamed me for accusing her. I thought she was going to throw her drink in my face.”

  The apartment door opened and a middle-aged woman exited holding the leash of a mixed-breed dog.

  “Sounds like a toxic personality,” Kate said. “Sometimes there’s no understanding that kind of person. I hope you can convince her to set the record straight.”

  “If she doesn’t leave soon that won’t be for a while.” He suddenly didn’t want to talk about Megan anymore. “What about you? Busy day ahead at the clinic?”

  “We never really know. Business has slacked off a little since they closed the bridge, but it’s still steady enough.”

  “It’s already affecting everyone. Jeff said business at his market is down over 50 percent.” It had only been two and a half weeks since the bridge closure.

  “All the more reason to make Trail Days a success.”

  “Speaking of that . . . How’s it going with your mother?”

  “I haven’t talked to her since Saturday, but she texts me occasionally to update me about the marketing campaign.”

  Cooper held his tongue because he sensed she had something else to say.

  “I still feel guilty not telling Avery about her. There was a long gap after undergrad where we didn’t talk much, but we’ve gotten closer since I moved here.”

  “If you want to tell her, you should. She’s trustworthy.”

  “I know that. But I don’t feel ready to tell Gavin yet, and I’d feel guilty confiding in Avery and not him. But this matter between my mother and me—it’s a real tender spot inside me. I can’t explain it.”

  Her pain was palpable. “I’m sorry. This is a difficult situation. But you have to do what’s best for you and trust they’ll both understand when the time comes.”

  “You really think so?”

  “I do. And I think you can count on them to be in your corner if and when you do decide to tell them.”

  “I keep thinking I should be ready to confront my mother with the truth by now. She’s obviously kicked her drug habit. I’ve had several meetings with her and multiple phone calls and texts. She seems like a genuinely nice person. You and your mom seem to think so too.”

  “Go at your own pace. You’re the one bearing all the risk here.” The ultimate risk for her, he believed: rejection.

  “Thanks.” She gave a wry laugh. “You always make me feel so much better.”

  A warm wave flushed through him and his lips melted into a smile. “Right back atcha, Skittles.” He checked the clock. “Unfortunately, I’m out of time. I’ll have to head to work now.”

  “I’ll be praying all of this works out, Cooper.”

  He started his truck. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

  They said good-bye, and with one last glance at the apartment door, Cooper pulled from the parking lot. He only hoped the rumor didn’t spread far and wide before he could get Megan to set it straight.

  28

  Cooper was sliding into his cruiser when his phone buzzed for an incoming text. He’d been called out to a Poppy’s Pizza, which had alarmed. Turned out the manager was getting forgetful and couldn’t recall the password. Cooper’s ears were still ringing from the piercing alarm, but the security company had finally helped him shut it off. The manager, Helen, had been upset and disoriented at first. He stayed, offering comfort and reassurance, until Poppy showed up.

  Cooper started his cruiser, jacked up the air, and checked in with the office. When he was all caught up he checked the text that had come in. Mom.

  I need to talk to you. Can you stop by or meet me for lunch?

  Dread rippled through him. The pregnancy rumor had definitely gotten back to Mom and before he’d had the chance to warn her. He slammed a palm against the steering wheel. He should’ve known it wouldn’t take long, not for something this juicy. He didn’t want to talk about this at the station, and he sure didn’t want to discuss it at the diner, surrounded by prying ears.

  I can grab lunch and meet you at the house about 12:30?

  Sounds good.

  He scowled as he pulled from the parking lot. So much for getting on top of the rumor.

  Cooper held no grand hopes that his mom’s favorite chicken salad sandwich would soothe her ruffled feathers—but that hadn’t stopped him from waiting in the deli line for fifteen minutes. The speculative stares from the deli workers and a stilted conversation in line with Gus Ferguson confirmed Cooper’s suspicion that the rumor had circulated.

  The minutes ticked by slowly as he waited for his food. His face flushed and his skin prickled. The air seemed thick and stuffy. By the time his order was in hand, he was relieved to leave the crowded shop behind.

  The drive to his mother’s house was short. She met him at the door, uncharacteristic frown lines drawing her brows together. “Hi, honey. Come on in. I already have the table set.”

  He kissed her cheek as he passed, then headed to the kitchen, where he set the bags on the table. They sank into chairs on opposite sides of the table, unbagged their lunches, then Cooper offered a quick prayer.

  “I heard a rumor when I was in town this morning,” Mom said.

  Cooper held up both hands, palms out. “I’m sorry. I should’ve called you earlier, but I got busy and I didn’t think it would spread that fast. I already know all about the rumor—and it’s not true.”

  “You’re my son. I already know that. Now start from the beginning.”

  Cooper told her about Amber’s accusation on their date Sunday night. Then caught her up to speed through this morning when he’d gone to Megan’s apartment, making sure she understood he’d never gotten physical with Megan. “Things did end on a bad note though. I suspect she might be a chronic liar.”

  “Well, you know how I feel about lying.” She set down her sandwich. “This rumor sounds like the spiteful work of a bitter woman to me. And I know you said it ended because of that lie, but . . .” Mom gave him a pointed look. “Maybe she actually had feelings for you. Sometimes women take relationships far more seriously than men do.”