Broad Street Goddesses Read online

  “Phantom pie makers are rarely dependable.” Etta laughed.

  The kitchen door creaked, and they both looked up. “Good morning ladies.” Will said looking nervous, staring straight at Etta. “Paige, if it’s alright with you I’d like a minute with Etta.”

  “Just what makes you…” Etta was fired up looking scared.

  “Please, Paige.” He shot her a mournful look.

  “Sure.” She looked at Etta, “You ok?”

  “Yeah,” She wiped her hands on her apron, eyes filled with fire.

  “So you have a baby, a son… and he’s coming to live with you next month…for good. And you didn’t tell any of us here because what… we would have supported you through it all?” She was pissed off, nerve wracked and overwhelmed.

  “I was an ass for not telling you but I didn’t want to drag you into the ugliness. And believe me it was ugly.” He took her hand.

  “No faith.” Etta said it straight into his eyes, pulling her hands away from him.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “We grew up together. You wouldn’t have hesitated for a minute to tell your ‘friend’ Etta about what was going on. But we have sex and magically you need to protect me from ugliness? Do you have any idea how many nights I sat here wondering what happened? Do you have the foggiest idea how it felt to be made love to and left, no call, no letter, not a fucking word. It was the sweetest night of my life and you walked away. I hummed and cleaned my house all that day, thinking you’d pop in at any minute. Do you know what it feels like to be disposable? Have you ever been dismissed? I’m still mad as hell, Will. I have known you my whole life and I adore everything about you. I spent months being sad and then angry and then finally I got to a place where I felt nothing. I found a new friend, I’ve been helping her with the B&B and now you come in here and drop this bomb on me.”

  “I’m so sorry…”

  “I would have been there with you.”

  “I didn’t tell anyone about this Etta, not Jake or my Mom. I am asking you to be here with me now.” He moved forward and embraced her. A year of uncertainty melted away as her head snuggled up on his shoulder and he held her tight against him. She balled up a fist and whacked him square on the shoulder.

  “Will’s been over there for two days.” Paige pulled the kitchen curtains back looking across the yard at Etta’s house.

  “That’s a good sign,” Jake said taking a tentative bite of pie, “What is this again?”

  “It’s caramel cream.” Disgusted with Jake’s lack of enthusiasm for her culinary pie making skills, Paige picked up his plate and plopped it into the sink. “You know, I was thinking that I should probably rely on Addy’s desserts for the B&B.”

  “I think that’s a solid decision on your part.” He smiled apologetically.

  “Well, Will walked in before Etta taught me about the filling. How was the crust… was it good at least?”

  “It’s legendary!” He grinned widely at her never quizzing her on the goodness of the Raspberry pie.

  “I’ve got a lot of work to do out there, if you don’t mind.” Paige walked to the kitchen door and headed straight to the unfinished side of her house. She eyed the power washer, grabbed onto the pull cord, put her foot against the edge of the tool and was relieved that it started right away. She didn’t look to see if Jake had followed, she could feel him behind her.

  Paige tackled the power washing with all the enthusiasm of a failed pie maker. Jake told her the story of Will’s last year in San Francisco. When he finished the story she flopped down on her front porch steps looking at him in disbelief, “You’re telling me that a woman who had a one night stand with Will, had his baby, didn’t tell him and then asked him to take the baby and give her money?”

  “Pretty much…”

  “Well, what did he do about it? Sounds like blackmail to me… I mean I know he is fighting for legal custody… but what did Darla get out of it? Women like her just piss me off.” She pulled off her gloves, slapped them against her leg and looked at Jake for the answer.

  “Well she got a vintage Alpha Romero, which she pawned for drugs. About a month ago Will sent her to rehab.”

  “So she’s still a part of his life?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t call it a pleasant part. She never asks about the baby, she just wanted more and more from Will.”

  “What a nightmare. You know, she’ll follow the gravy train forever.”

  “I think things will come to a halt after he signs the papers.”

  Paige felt the cool prickle of Georgia close by, “take him upstairs!” the ghostly voice instructed. Paige mentally scanned what on earth Georgia would want Jake to see upstairs, then jumped up with the spark of inspiration, “Hey help me with something!” Jake happily followed her up the stairs and into the attic.

  She walked to the middle door in the attic and opened it up for Jake to see the beautiful carved bedroom furniture all in small scale for a child. The set had birds and tree branches intricately carved into the headboard and drawers of the dresser, “what do you think?”

  “I didn’t know you had this stuff up here,” He ran his hands over the wood, inspecting the craftsmanship.

  “I think we should refinish it.” She said proudly, “I mean the baby is coming home to stay, right?”

  “We?” Jake grinned hopefully. “Yes, the baby is coming home to stay.”

  CHAPTER 12

  She found him in a gilded frame. In his dark blue suit and white hair, he looked down at her with sharp eyes. Until Paige had arrived in Nevada City her lineage hadn’t interested her for a second. Once there, it was all she felt; the desire to know and connect with her roots which apparently, were firmly planted in the red dirt of Nevada County. In her moments standing there looking into the eyes of Judge Matheson, she felt the deep pangs of guilt and then anger. Her gut twisted up and wanted to start screaming, “I hate you”. Rattled to the core, Paige felt the chill of rejection hanging over her. She rubbed her bare arms and looked away from the harsh accusing face of her great-great Grandfather, the judge.

  Black marble floors reflected light in spite of the cracks that aged the architecture. Paige’s heels echoed in the cold hallway to the door that read “Business License Department.” She pushed through the door and stood at the ancient counter waiting for the woman behind the desk to respond.

  Without looking up, she raised her pen to point at the wall covered in pamphlets. “Applications are on the wall.” The woman stated. Her unspoken message was very clear, “You are an unwanted interruption.” Paige looked at the name plate on her desk which read, “Blanch Blossom”.

  “Thank you.” Paige thumbed through until she found the right application and took it without bothering the woman again. The courthouse was the only unfriendly place she’d been so far.

  The walk home started out leisurely. It was late on Friday afternoon. She’d left Jake in her attic putting the finishing touches on the baby furniture. He paid attention to the tiniest details, even created a guard railing that looked like a tree branch so the baby wouldn’t roll out of bed. Most of her free time was consumed with thoughts of Jake. During the day he was at his law office fulfilling his obligation to the city. The last two nights he’d been working on the furniture in her attic. His intangible drive was directed at a little boy he’d never met.

  She felt her hesitation to become involved with him crumbling away. He was a big part of her life, just as he said he wanted to be. It had taken little to no effort on her part. Paige replayed his words from their day together and realized she trusted him. Now she needed to trust herself. How in the world was she going to trust herself when she’d made a mess of her life every chance she’d been given? It had only been a few weeks since she met him, but he felt solid. Her appreciation for him had grown into something with foundation, not like her other relationships that started with sex and ended in disillusion. Quickening her steps she hoped to catch him in the attic.

 
“It’s the weirdest thing, Paige,” he said as she walked over to look at the finished project in the corner of her attic, “The first door over there,” he pointed at the door standing wide open, “I keep shutting it. I mean really shut it, I walk over and make sure the latch catches in the lock and everything. I’ll be working over here, then I see it just creak open again.”

  Wondering if it was a good idea to announce to him that she’d been talking to a pie baking, advice giving ghost for weeks, she just nodded and watched the expression on his face. Jake looked at the door and then back to Paige, “You’re not going to tell me that you’ve got ghosts are you?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think there must be an explanation.”

  “And yet you’re sure that you close the door and it latches…” she tilted her head giving him a sideways grin.

  “That’s what I’m saying.”

  “This whole town is over a hundred and seventy years old. Are you telling me you’ve never met a ghost?”

  “Well, I sometimes hear my granddad talking in my head, but it’s not his ghost, they are just memories coming back to me.”

  “So you don’t believe in ghosts?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  The attic door into the main house slammed shut and they both jumped.

  “Perhaps you should be open minded,” Paige suggested.

  “It’s a draft,” Jake said stubbornly.

  The door creaked and slammed shut again. He was watching the top of the stair case like someone was going to come in the room at any moment.

  “Jake this house in haunted.”

  His gaze went straight to her face, “Can’t be.”

  “Believe what you will! I had tangible proof that this house is haunted, but you ate it.”

  “You’re not making any sense.”

  “That incredible raspberry pie you ate the other night? Well, I didn’t bake it.”

  His eyes narrowed at her in confusion, “So you got it at Addy’s?”

  “Nope. I didn’t get it anywhere. I came downstairs and found it cooling in the window sill.”

  “You let me eat a paranormal pie?”

  “Looked pretty good to me,” she looked directly into his eyes.

  “Let’s go down stairs, I’m getting creeped out.”

  The mysteriously opening door closed right in front of him and he heard the latch click into place, “Let’s go, NOW.”

  Paige laughed out loud at the way they bounded down the stairs together. He was pale and breathless when they landed in the foyer, “That was just weird.”

  “Yep, but I’m used to them now.”

  “Them?”

  “Georgia. Etta says there are others. It’s Georgia’s house and she’s always talking to me about silly things like forgiveness and having an open heart.”

  “Paige, you’re a sensible woman. I know Etta dabbles in the paranormal, but this may take some getting used to.”

  “Etta thinks she’s upset about the condition of the house. She’s reading up on how we can help Georgia to the other side before we open the Bed and Breakfast.”

  “So there is a plan.”

  “Of course, don’t be silly.”

  “Let’s go out for pizza, I’m not sure I wanna’ hang around for the second show tonight.”

  Friday nights were always crazy at Louie’s pizzeria. The buzz inside was friendly and loud. The juke box was playing Elvis. Louie’s voice on the loud speaker announced another finished pizza. Jake found a table next to the front window and they sat down with beers in hand. Paige took a long drink and let the bubbles work their way into her stomach.

  “Hey I got the Business License paperwork today!”

  “Great! So it’s full steam forward.”

  “Time is passing so quick, I thought I should start everything rolling in the right direction.”

  “The house is amazing. I’ve seen your drawings. I snuck down into your library and looked at them on the wall. I must have sounded like a doubting Thomas when I was preaching to you about menus and marketing the other night. The room plans are incredible. You didn’t miss a thing Paige. You’re a talented woman.”

  “It feels like the house is talking to me.” She put her beer down and rubbed her cold hand against her pants. Jake took it as an invitation to open his hand on top of the table. She hesitated but couldn’t help slipping her hand into his. “I instinctively know what to do in each room. I’m seeing it vividly in my mind and then sketch it out. Sometimes I even dream about it. I’ve got an old Grand piano coming for the turreted window in the parlor. It feels crazy and I love every minute of it!”

  “Are you an interior decorator?”

  “In my previous life I was a business consultant. All suits and board room meetings… I did refurbish a little cottage in Sisters… but that’s another story. I’ve come to enjoy overalls and dirty fingernails.”

  “I think both suits you well. Do you believe in reincarnation?”

  “I’ve had some pretty weird dreams of another time period since I’ve been here… so I’m not ruling out anything… but it’s a weird notion.”

  “How does it feel to be here?”

  “It feels right, even Georgia talking to me feels normal and that scares me. This is the time when everything usually falls apart for me, the moment I trust it’s going to stay good.”

  “Because you’re finally here, where you belong, Paige.” a quick squeeze of his hand brought a round of chills from her shoulders to her feet.

  “I’m happy Jake. I don’t want anything to mess this up. I’m talented at messing things up.”

  “I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. You’ve been successful in business, obviously.”

  “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to analyze numbers and improve market share.”

  “Well, you’ve got the funds,” He stopped short, “Sorry that was presumptuous.”

  “I had help, and I’m not proud of how I got it.” She looked out the window.

  “You want to talk about it?”

  Paige shook her head no.

  “Nothing in the past can be changed, Paige. But you can make the best of the opportunities and relationships that come to you now.” He poured her another beer.

  “Thanks.” Her smile was weak but it widened as she watched a little boy try to cram a whole piece of pizza into his mouth. “I can’t wait to see this all play out with Will. I’ve become quite fond of him.”

  “Big stuff coming his way,” Jake nodded and raised his glass.

  “I can’t imagine growing up in a better place than this! It must be every kid’s dream.”

  “Actually, if you talked to any one of the teenagers here tonight they would tell you different. It falls under the category of you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Look at those faces.” Jake motioned to the noisy corner of the parlor, “dying to get out of here…to drive, to leave, to experience the world out there... anywhere but here.”

  Paige, remembering her teenage years, looked at the restlessness emanating from the group in the corner; Heavy make-up, piercings, long hair covering eyes, “The thought of them leaving here must drive their parents crazy.”

  “I know some of those parents and right now they aren’t sure how they feel. Apparently raising teenagers feels like nailing Jello to a tree.”

  “I always thought I was too selfish to have kids. I’m probably right. Anyway, it’s a little late for that now. I’ll be forty in a few months.”

  “There’s no sin in knowing you don’t want them. I like kids okay, I just never saw myself being a dad,” Jake said quietly.

  “Are you just saying that to make me feel better?” Paige leveled off a look at him.

  “Nope, not for a minute. I think I’ll be an incredible Uncle to Will’s little boy. I’ve got my Law Office, cabinet shop and hopefully the chance at a relationship with this woman who came home to save an old house and let her roots dig in.”

&nbs
p; “There is a lot you don’t know about me Jake.” She slipped her hands away from him.

  He pulled them back, “Everything I need to know is sitting here in front of me. Everything else is what brought you here. How could I not be thankful for it?”

  “You make me feel…” She looked away trying to hide the emotional wave.

  “Precious,” he finished her sentence and kissed her hands. Betty was the farthest thing from her mind in that moment.

  They walked holding hands, the satisfaction of full bellies and a three beer buzz. The warm earthy air of newly watered lawns surrounded them on the way home. He walked her up the front steps to the mansion and leaned on the doorway alcove, “it’s getting harder to go home at night, Paige.” His face looked genuinely pained.

  “I dream about you.” She said putting her hands on his shoulders, ashamed of herself but the attraction had become too powerful to resist, easily falling into her old ways of seduction.

  “You have no idea what I’m dreaming….” He brushed a rouge lock of hair out of her face and let his hand linger on her neck, behind her ear. She was malleable putty, thrilled with each new position of his hand.

  “Please let me…” he brought his face closer to her and waited for her response. Paige lost every ounce of hesitation and met his mouth with a warm welcome. He responded softly to her urges, she drew him deeper. He slowed the pace. She reached for the door knob and stumbled backward into the foyer never loosing contact with Jakes lips. She was tugging at everything that was a barrier to their skin touching. His shirt lay crumpled on wooden floor at the base of the stairs. He didn’t take anything from her, he let her take. She was panting against the skin of his neck and nipping softly as she kissed his warmth and ran her hands up his bare back. He smelled like something she couldn’t wait to eat, warm and musky. Tugging at his waist band, she unbuttoned his pants and pulled hard while she kissed her way down his stomach. Her hands found his backside firm and warm. A moan of deep pleasure came from both of them as she squeezed and kneaded him. His pants fell to his ankles and he stepped out of them revealing his admiration and need for her. Paige reached down to touch him. He was hard and thick and beautiful. Her stomach fell 10 stories and landed with a pounding need in her belly.