Adrift in cheshire bay, p.1
Adrift in Cheshire Bay, page 1
Adrift in
CHESHIRE BAY
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
H.M. SHANDER
Return to Cheshire Bay
Published by H.M. Shander
Copyright 2021 H.M. Shander
Return to Cheshire Bay is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used factitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, events or locals, are entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored, in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written consent of the author of this work. She may be contacted directly at hmshander@gmail.com, subject line ‘Permission Requested.’
www.hmshander.com
Cover Design: Eleanor Lloyd-Jones @ Shower of Schmidt Designs
Editing: PWA & IDIM Editorial
Shander, H.M., 1975—Return to Cheshire Bay
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Epilogue
Awake in Cheshire Bay – sneak peak
Christmas in Cheshire Bay – sneak peak
Dear Reader
Other books
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Chapter One
I clicked off the walkie-talkie and walked to the bank of full-length windows. Flight 145 inbound from Seattle was on visual approach, and I was prepared to greet the three passengers aboard the Cessna 140. Off to the sidelines was the love of my life – Mitch Macomber, the airport mechanic, baggage handler, and all-around sweetheart of a sex-god.
Some say they’d never be able to work with their boyfriends, but I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my day. We’d drive in to work together, go our separate ways – him to the garage, me to the front desk as the face of West Coast Air and Cheshire Bay Airport – and we’d cross paths occasionally before heading to our home at the centre of our tiny village.
“Flight 145 had touched down.” Mitch’s voice crackled on the walkie-talkie.
“Check.”
Cheshire Bay typically had two flights a day, which given the size of the town, was quite a lot. Most were intra-island, but occasionally, a few times a week there was a flight to the mainland, either Vancouver or Seattle. Over the summer months, our lovely little village swelled a hundred times its size as visitors drove across Vancouver Island to visit our impressive beaches and ride the amazing waves. Those with a little more money, caught the more expensive charter flights.
The inbound flight from Seattle was the last of the day, finally.
Tonight, Mitch and I were going to celebrate our fifth anniversary at one of the seaside restaurants I’d managed to secure a reservation at. September was still a busy tourist month, but the Harbour Chophouse saved ten percent of its capacity for the locals during the summer rush. Tonight, we’d be one of two tables. Lucky us.
My drop-dead gorgeous guy was laser focused as he walked over in his grease-stained coveralls, baggy enough to fit the both of us, and popped the door where the luggage was stowed. With ease, he set the suitcases on the tarmac near the stairs unfolding from the plane.
I loved the tourists and drummed my fingers on the metal doorframe as I eagerly awaited their descent off the plane and over to me, where I could inquire about their flight and if they needed any information about the location of the motels and local amenities. Since I was the first person they greeted, I had to have the knowledge about everything in Cheshire Bay, as well as the two nearest towns, which were larger, but tucked back on the highway away from the coast.
The tourists grabbed their suitcases and walked my way, the idyllic maple and elms trees blowing lightly behind them just off the runway.
My excitement on overdrive, I inhaled a mixture of the fresh salty sea air combined with the robust stench of jet fuel, as I propped open the huge glass door for the incoming passengers, water bottles in hand.
“Good afternoon, and welcome to Cheshire Bay.” I gave the first guy, an older man with a hat and cane, his complimentary bottle.
He tipped his hat in greeting and declined the cold water.
“Did you have a good flight, sir?”
His colouring was great, so I imagine the pilot – Eric Morris, one of my best friends, had a smooth ride with little to zero turbulence.
“Great, yeah.”
“Do you have a ride picking you up, or shall I call for one for you?” Our selection was minimal, not at all like a major urban area.
“Julia’s got me. That’s my granddaughter. D’ya know her?” He grinned a toothless smile and pointed to the door, where a young lady around my age was entering.
“No, I’m sorry, sir, I do not.” It made me smile. Yes, we were a small town, a village really, but I didn’t know everyone. Most though. “Enjoy your stay, sir.”
I turned my attention to the mother and son still on the tarmac and repositioned the last water bottles.
The little guy seemed to be struggling with his bag, as it kept tipping to the one side when he pulled it, likely to the contents shifting during flight.
The mom had a tight-lipped smile and a firm grip on the child’s hand. I strode towards them.
“Can I be of any assistance?” Specifically, I looked at the little boy, who appeared as though he’d slept most of the quick flight. “I can carry your suitcase.”
“No.” The mother said with a sharp bite and followed it with a sigh. “We’ll be fine.”
My gaze fell to the little guy who continued to walk, stop, right his suitcase and do it all over again.
“It’s really no trouble, ma’am, and it’s a bonus service we offer here at Cheshire Bay.” I bent down to take the handle.
“Fine, thank you.”
I hunched down to the little boy’s height. “How about I take care of this until we’re inside and you take care of this for me?”
The little guy yawned and eagerly let go of his suitcase while embracing the cool bottle of water.
With ease, I retracted the handle and carried it. “How was the flight in from Seattle?”
Her perfume, possibly a Coco Chanel by the nice way it smelled, blew in my direction. “Uneventful, which is always a plus.”
We entered the building, and I closed the door, scanning on the whereabouts of Mitch and Eric. Eric was walking the length of the plane, likely checking for any forgotten items, and Mitch was giving the underside a thorough inspection. The plane was older, but it passed every inspection as Mitch was proactive in his approach, rather than reactive when there was a problem. Eric put his full trust in his best friend.
Eric hopped down the stairs and over to the mother and child. “I think someone left something behind.” Eric wiggled a little white stuffed bear. “Is this yours?”
“Thank you,” the mother said, and scolded her son. “Jackson, if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a dozen times. Stop leaving your things everywhere.”
He hung his head full of dark wavy hair.
Eric hunched down in front of the boy and waved the toy side-to-side. “What’s his name?”
“Mr. Fluffy.”
Eric shook the teddy-bear’s hand. “It was lovely to have met you, Mr. Fluffy, and as much fun as it is flying, I think your friend Jackson would like you to stay with him.”
That put a smile on the little boy’s face, and he hugged Mr. Fluffy.
“We’re all good now.” Eric tipped his hat and walked over to my desk, grabbing the binder to detail his flight.
“Is there anything I can assist you with? Do you have a ride, or can I call one for you?” I softened my tone, while still trying to be friendly, yet not in your face.
The mother sighed, glancing around, a nervous smile playing on her lips. “Actually, yes. I’m looking for a Mitch Macomber. You wouldn’t by chance happen to know of him? Heard he works around here.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I glanced over to Eric, who popped his head up from his writing. “Why yes, I do.”
Did I call for Mitch, or ask her to leave her number? This was highly unusual.
Her head tipped back a little and under her breath, she whispered, “Thank God.” Her shoulders sagged in relief. “Do you have a contact number for him?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. That information is confidential, and I am unable to provide that to you. However, if you leave your number, I can forward it to him.”
“Does he work here?” Her eyes darted around the small, enclosed section of the building.
I swallowed down a hard lump and was about to ask Eric what he suggested, but Mitch opened the door and strolled inside, washing his hands with an orange wipe that always left the best scent behind.
The woman turned her attention in the direction I looked and gasped. “Mitchy?”
Mitchy?
He straightened himself up to his full height of six-two at the same time as his jaw unhinged and hit the floor. “Jas?”
She quickly paced over and stood before him, her dark auburn hair billowing in straight lines as she moved.
“Oh. My. Gawd. How are you?” Her voice pitched in excitement and she embraced him in a quick bear hug.
The colour drained from Mitch’s face, and he stumbled over his words as he put some distance between them. “Wow. Hey, Jasmine. What brings you out this way?”
She squared her shoulders and smoothed out her silky-smooth top. “It’s been a while, right?”
“Yeah.” His dark blue eyes connected with me, confusion clouding his strong features, before he returned his focus to Jasmine.
Lovingly, she pointed to the little guy currently holding tight to Mr. Fluffy. The kid was sitting on the couch a few feet away, swinging his legs and rocking from side to side as he sailed his bear through the air.
“I thought it was time for you two to meet.”
My mouth dried out, and I flung my hand out to grip Eric’s arm.
She lowered her voice, but it was still loud enough to hear over the twenty feet separating us. “He’s yours. That’s your son.”
With Thor-strength, I smacked my chest to restart it beating.
Chapter Two
Eric’s hand flew to my back and caught me before I fell. Just this morning, I had discovered I was pregnant, and my plan had been to tell Mitch tonight over our special anniversary dinner, but how could I tell him now?
Mitch stood frozen in place. He hadn’t yet blinked or swallowed.
After nudging Eric, I too, was unable to move.
How could that boy be Mitch’s? Aside from the same kind of hair, they looked nothing alike. The boy had the same shape of face as his mother’s, if anything, the boy was a male image of her. Not of my boyfriend. And they were American, where Mitch was as Canadian as could be.
It wasn’t possible.
It couldn’t be.
Had to be a mistake.
“Why don’t you come over and say hi to Jackson, Mitchy?”
He blinked rapidly but slowly moved his gaze from the woman who stood a few inches shorter than him, over to the boy – his son. Allegedly. The Adam’s Apple bobbed, and he cleared his throat. “Uh, hey there, little guy.”
However, his gaze didn’t remain on the boy. For a heartbeat it flickered to me, and behind those dark blue eyes, I saw fear. Unbridled fear.
Eric walked over to the three of them. “Why don’t you sit over in the waiting area there and take a minute to breathe.”
He pointed to the long couch and a couple of boxy chairs management put out for the guests, however, they were rarely used. Jackson’s sitting on them was giving them more love than they’d received in a long while.
I stepped back and leaned heavily on the top of my desk, unable to fully comprehend what was going on. Mitch, my Mitch, had a kid? With someone else? But I was going to be the one to tell him tonight. And now this other lady has arrived, unannounced, and totally dropped the bomb on my boyfriend. On us, really. Judging by the terror in Mitch’s eyes and the worry all over his face, having a child wasn’t in his future plans and my heart broke knowing that.
Eric walked back over to my desk. “Didn’t see that coming.”
Mitch sat on the arm of one of the chairs, while Jasmine fell into one of the seats and Jackson opened his backpack and took out some toy cars, zooming them all over the floor.
“I know I’m just dropping this whole situation on you, but I needed you to sign off on a few documents.” Jasmin tried sounding sympathetic, but it wasn’t working to soften Mitch at all.
He remained ramrod straight, still pale, and no discernable expression on his face. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was true shock.
“Eric?” My own voice quivered as I spoke.
He was back at the desk, his pen scratching across the papers. He glanced up quickly. “Yeah?”
“Is he going to be okay?” I whispered from the side of my mouth as I couldn’t bare to tear my focus away from my man.
His focus flew over to Mitch. “I think it’ll take a bit for the news to sink in, but yeah.”
“He doesn’t look good.”
“His whole world just flipped upside down.” The pen tapped against the desk. “Imagine what that would do to you?”
It had. This morning, at 6:46 am. I was late, so yesterday I took a leisurely drive to the next town over to buy a pregnancy test. I knew everyone at the local drugstore, and if they saw what I was purchasing, gossip would spread faster than wildfire. Small towns talk. A lot. And they don’t forget, something my new friend Lily had learned the hard way.
“How’s Lily doing?” Lily, Eric’s girlfriend, was due any day with her first child. The child wasn’t Eric’s, but he said he was going to treat it like it was. No doubt, he was going to be a great dad.
“She’s good. Tired. Slept a lot yesterday.”
“I’m so excited for you guys.”
“I’m excited too. Any day now.” He closed the binder and filed it back on the shelves. “Alrighty. Heading home.” But he paused and stared at his best friend. “First, I’ll go and check on Mitch.”
Eric walked around, his footsteps echoing against the concrete floor. “Jasmine, right?” She nodded. “Obviously, this is big news for Mitch. Why don’t you leave me the number of the place you’re staying at and give him a day to work through this? He’ll give you a call tomorrow.”
“We’ve rented a cabin on Bay Drive, near the end.” Jasmine dug through her purse and pulled out some papers, hastily flipping through them until she found what she was looking for. “Here’s the place.”
Eric held his phone over top and took a picture. “Thank you. Give him time.”
“We’re only here for a week, and I need him to sign a few documents.” She gathered her things. “Pack up, Jackson, and let’s go.”
When all was collected, the hurricane of change breezed by me.
Whether I wanted to be a part of West Coast Air at the moment or not, I was still in uniform and had to act accordingly. I swallowed down the budge at the back of my throat. “Do you need a ride?”
She lifted her phone. “Nah, my cousin is enroute.” She tugged her son’s hand, who had a firm grip on his teddy bear. “Oh, crap. His suitcase. I’d hate to ask, but do you mind grabbing it for me?”
I slowly shook my head. “Not at all.” While she made her way to the door, I walked over to Mitch. “Hey, honey.” For assurance I rubbed his leg but got no response out of him. Wanting this day to be over with, for an entirely new reason, I grabbed Jackson’s suitcase and raced it over them. “You have a great day.”
Normally I would thank them for flying here, but polite words failed to produce. Instead, I wanted to scream, but I also wanted to be back with my man, so I left her outside under the darkening clouds. Back in the building, I sat next to Mitch.
“Take him home. We’re done for the day anyways.” Eric sat back at the desk and grabbed my walkie-talkie to announce we’re closing for the day.
With our things in hand, he gave me a pat on the back as I tugged Mitch outside to the car.
Guess I was driving home since there was no way Mitch was in any condition to drive. The man could hardly move properly.
“Say hi to Lily for me.” I waved at Eric.
“I’ll have her call you later.” Eric stood by the door. “And I’ll come by later too, to check up on things.”
“Appreciate that.” I fell into the driver’s seat. “Mitch?”
“After all this time, she shows up now?” He sounded far away, and he turned to face out the car window.
“Should I cancel our reservation?” Just thinking about having to pick up the phone was like a knife through the heart.
“I don’t know. I just need to think.”
Mitch was in bad shape, so my plan for tonight went straight out the window. Probably wouldn’t be able to share our exciting news with him for a while, but how long is too long to wait? Obviously whatever time between him and Jasmine, so if I told him within that time frame, it should be good, right? One day later wasn’t too much to ask, wasn’t it? Damn. I hated arguing with myself.
Chapter Three
Under the circumstances, I let Mitch sulk the rest of the afternoon, and I hadn’t made the cancellation. Selfish, sure, but I wanted to celebrate our anniversary and figured it would be good for him. A distraction.
