Tattered Dreams: Cloverton Romance, #5

By Marci Wilson and Haven Saunders

When Min Choi and her son Carson move into a quiet Cloverton neighborhood, she expects privacy. However, Wesley Hooper, the man next door extends a friendly hand that always seems to be there when Min and Carson need it. Despite her determination to keep Wes at arm's length, they start to spend more time together after Carson joins the Quiz Bowl team that Wes coaches.

 

Wes can't help but be drawn to Min. Not only is she hardworking, kind, and beautiful, but the air of mystery about her has him intrigued. As they celebrate a surprising victory for the team, Wesley and Min's connection deepens. However, Carson makes it clear he is not okay with his teacher dating his mother.

 

Min is determined to keep a good relationship with her son, but that means giving up the man who has finally broken through the walls she keeps around her heart. Can she and Wes find a way to be together without losing their bond with Carson?

• Language: English
• Publisher: MaHanna Media LLC
• Release date: Jun 23, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227749345

Book preview

Chapter One

Of the five homes on the cul-de-sac where Wesley Hooper had lived nearly all his life, only two were occupied. The others were falling into disrepair. Most of his neighbors had moved away when the logging mill had closed years ago, leaving the once bustling street eerily quiet.

So, when a car with a small cargo trailer attached pulled into the rental home next door, the sound drew Wes’s attention. He peered through the blinds hanging in his living room window, watching the driver of the car expertly back into the driveway.

The little house had been empty for over six months. The owners had moved to Aurora and found renting out the small two-bedroom home to be a challenge. They blamed the local economy, but Wes thought it was because the white paint was chipping, and the once vibrant blue trim was starting to look gray from neglect.

The first person to step out of the sedan was a boy of Asian descent, probably around fourteen.

A woman climbed out of the driver’s side. She had the same dark hair as the young man, but hers was pulled back in a long ponytail. While the boy smiled, she held a neutral expression, her thin lips drawn tight at the corners as she scanned the house.

Wes smiled. His new neighbor was quite pretty. He glanced down the street, wondering if another car could come along—one carrying her significant other—or if it was just her and the boy moving in. After several long seconds without sign of a second vehicle, he returned his attention to the woman.

Suddenly, her gaze turned toward the window as if she sensed she was being watched. Wes released the blinds and took a step back. Shit. He probably looked like a peeping tom. Which he kind of was, but it wasn’t every day that people moved onto the little block. In fact, it wasn’t every day that people moved to Cloverton. The little town was about an hour outside of Aurora, Illinois, giving it proximity to the city, but far enough out to not have the crime and overpopulation. However, without Cloverton Lumber there to support the local economy, many people had left, and businesses had closed. Those who remained were fighting to keep the town alive and thriving, but it was a struggle. Seeing new faces coming to town was cause to peek out the window and stare.

He tugged his phone from his back pocket and texted his little sister. Olivia owned the bakery in town and tended to hear gossip long before he did. He let her know someone was moving into the house next door and asked if she knew who his new neighbors were. If she didn’t, she’d dig into it and let him know.

Until then, he’d put his curiosity on the back burner and get back to binge-watching the gangster series he’d been obsessed with for the last two weeks.

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With the last box hauled in through the front door, Min and Carson Choi finally stopped moving long enough to take in their new house.

It’s so big, Carson remarked.

Min scanned the front hall. They’d always traveled light and didn’t have much more than necessities. They were lucky the house came partially furnished. Seeing how little they owned in the world was strange. She looked over at him and smiled. That’s a good problem to have, don’t you think?

Despite being the smallest one on the block, the house was the biggest Min and Carson had ever rented. Prices were low in the small town and that gave them an opportunity to spread out.

I don’t know. Feels weird. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his worn aviator-style jacket.

Min patted him on the back. You’ll get used to it.

Carson rolled his eyes. Whatever you say.

He was a good kid. But much to her chagrin, Min was starting to learn that he wasn’t exempt from the annoyed teen phase.

Come on, she said. Let’s go look at your room.

On the second level, there were two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, which was partly why Min had chosen to sign the lease. Carson was getting older and needed his privacy. And so did she. Though she was Carson’s mom, she was only twenty-nine and was starting to feel older than she was. She’d been a single mom for a long time, and had preferred it that way, but raising a teenager was wearing her out.

The rooms were opposite one another with Carson’s to the left and Min’s to the right.

When they walked into Carson’s room, they both cringed. One wall, the biggest one, was covered with images of cars.

You can’t be serious, he moaned.

I’ll ask if we can take down the wallpaper.

Carson’s lips twisted in disgust.

She elbowed him. It’s not like you’ll be bringing girls over anyway.

Ew! Seriously. Why are you being so weird?

It’s what mothers are for, isn’t it?

He ignored her and walked to the unmade twin bed. When he sat on it, the springs screeched, causing him to wince. I’m going to strain my back sleeping on this.

We’ll get a new mattress, okay? Min leaned on the doorway, pointing to the window that faced the backyard. We could put your telescope here.

For the first time, Carson’s annoyance with the new house faded. He looked toward the window and smiled. Yeah. That’d be a good spot.

Even a second of respite from his disgruntled teenagerhood was enough. Dig through your clothes and find something to wear to school tomorrow.

Ugh. Do I really have to start tomorrow?

Yes, you do. Tomorrow’s my first day at the clinic, too. I’m going to be just as nervous.

I’m not nervous, he countered.

Instead of debating, she asked, Are you going to be okay biking?

Carson nodded. Yeah, no problem.

And you know, you need to text me if you’re going to stay late or if you’re going to—

"Mom, he said as his irritation returned. He looked down at the worn knees of his jeans. Don’t do the whole hopeful thing, okay? It’s kinda sad."

She frowned. What do you mean?

"It’s the last two months of the school year. There’s no way I’m going to make friends. I’ll be the weird new kid. In case you didn’t notice, there aren’t a lot of minorities around here, either. So, I’ll be the weird new Asian kid."

Let’s try to be a little optimistic, please.

He frowned at her. What’s the point? We’ll probably move before the summer’s over.

No. We won't.

I’ve heard that one before.

Carson, I’m serious. This time we’re… Min swallowed. She had told him this before. They’d lived so many places she’d lost count and lost track. But this time she meant it. She’d found a good job at the local clinic. The town was small and quiet. If they liked it here, Min would focus on setting money aside. Hopefully, they could look at buying something in a year or so. A home base. Finally. You’ve got a few more years of school. You should enjoy them. No more moving.

Carson raised an eyebrow. Promise?

Promise.

Despite the skeptical look still in his eye, he held out his hand. Shake on it?

You betcha.

Min grabbed Carson’s hand. Their shake was not just any old shake, though. It was a detailed sequence of motions: shake, lock thumbs, high five, low five, elbow bump, fist bump, and, depending on Carson’s willingness, a hug.

Once they were done, she laughed lightly. Give this place a chance, Carson.

I think you need to hear that more than me.

She didn’t want to admit he was right. After all, she was the one who decided when they’d move and where to. She’d been antsy for a long time, but she had a good feeling about Cloverton. This place felt like home. She was counting on them being able to stay.

They were interrupted by the doorbell ringing. Min and Carson exchanged a look of confusion.

Is this one of those towns where people drop by with casseroles and shit? he asked.

"Crap, she corrected. Stay here. I’ll see who decided to swing by unannounced."

Min had chosen Cloverton because the little town seemed quiet. Yes, it was cheap, and the local infrastructure had seriously been failing after the closure of the largest employer, but it seemed like a good place to keep to oneself. And that’s the way Min liked it.

Once she got downstairs, she peeked through the long pane of glass beside the door where she was greeted with a smile from a man with curly strawberry-blond hair. His smile and friendly wave seemed harmless enough. However, Min tended to be suspicious of new people.

She opened the door enough to poke her head out. Can I help you?

Hi, I’m Wesley Hooper. I’m your neighbor. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder to the house next door.

So, he’d been behind the eyes she’d felt watching while