Page 9 of Turning Back

“No. Didn’t have a chance. She gave me Miss Bastille’s name last night and told me to meet her here so she could introduce me to you.”

“Well, don’t tell her yet,” I say, picking up the invoice. I flick my fingers in the air for Margaret, who comes immediately, and give her the piece of paper. “Give me the address, Mr. Jameson. And then Margaret will pay you for your time.”

“Sure thing,” he says, pulling out a business card and writing it down. “That’s the resort,” he says, tapping the card. “Her suite and phone number are on the back.”

And just like that, my world has changed.

“Don’t tell Chella,” I remind him as he walks off.

“No problem,” he calls back over his shoulder.

I get out my phone and tap the private contact for Lisa, my travel agent. She picks up the phone on the first ring. “What can I do for you, Elias?”

“I need a jet. Centennial to Pagosa Springs. Do they have an airport there? Somewhere close, if not.”

“One moment. Let me check.” I listen to the tapping of her computer keys for a few seconds. “They do have a small airfield in Pagosa Springs. When do you want to leave?”

“Now,” I say.

“Well,” Lisa says, “I can get you on a private charter in about two hours. But you’ll have to stay overnight. The airport closes at sunset. Which is at four thirty-six today.”

“Fine. And book me a suite at”—I look down at the card—“Mineral Springs Resort for one night. I need to be back here first thing in the morning.”

“And a regular room for the pilot at the resort as well?” Lisa asks.

“Sure. Whatever.”

“OK, got it. You need to be at Centennial Airport in an hour to check in.”

“I’m leaving now.”

I end the call and take a deep breath.

A daughter. We have a daughter with Rochelle.

How the fuck will I ever explain this to Quin?

Chapter Three - Rochelle

Mommy and Me just… isn’t for me. I kinda knew this on day one when I walked into what amounted to the rural Colorado version of the Stepford Wives.

Pagosa Springs is about as picturesque as it gets. It’s up there with any of the postcard places you see in movies and travel brochures if you’re into mountains, rivers, and national forests.

I like those things, which is why I chose this place. And I like small towns, so I like that too. But I guess I didn’t realize that almost everyone here is on permanent vacation.

Kinda like me, now that I think it through.

Permanent vacation because they are so damn rich, these women have nothing better to do than pretend they live in rural America as they sip mimosas at the club every Monday afternoon and let their nannies socialize their babies.

Anyway… I’m here starting a new life. These women in the Mommy and Me group at the country club (complimentary membership for all long-term residents of the Mineral Springs Resort) are here because this town is boring.

Well… that’s kinda why I’m here too.

I’m not what you’d call a city girl by any means. I’m not. I like moccasins and gauzy shirts. Hell, my whole apartment back in Denver was decorated in what the guys liked to call modern-day Bohemian. And I chose to live in Denver because while it’s a city, it’s a city alone. There are no other big cities anywhere close to it. Colorado only has three cities to begin with and Pagosa Springs is not one of them. Not even close.

So even though whitewater rafting down the San Juan is something I’d totally dig, and even though I could really get behind an off-grid week-long camping trip up in the Weminuche Wilderness, and even though I’d love to be looking forward to an entire winter of snowboarding up at Wolf Creek, I can’t do any of those things with a baby.

And I wouldn’t want to go alone, anyway.