Love Inspired January 2016, Box Set 1 of 2 (22 page)

She walked down the narrow block to her car, started the engine, then paused. The town opened up before her, the lake to her left, the business and historic district to her right, with tree-lined neighborhoods stretching in every direction. She watched as Drew and Amy disappeared from view on Center Street, then sighed.

She was a fish out of water in her own hometown, and that was her own fault for staying away too long. Worse? She suspected Drew felt exactly the same way. They'd led two distinct lives in Grace Haven: A life set before Dave died, and another marked by laying him to rest.

Maybe moving away was a major mistake, because the people who stayed in town, the others who loved Dave...her parents, her sisters, Corinne, his friends...had moved on, while she and Drew were mired in thick guilt.

Her phone alarm reminded her of Callan's game. She put the car in gear. She passed a local church; the young pastor was outside the rectory, having a catch with a boy about five years old.

She wanted that. She hadn't realized how much until Phil broke their engagement. In retrospect, she knew he'd done the right thing. She didn't love Phil. Hadn't loved him. They'd worked well together on events, they liked a lot of the same things and he was a good guy, but they'd coasted into a status they thought everyone expected because all their Nashville buddies were tying the knot.

They'd been silly. Calling the wedding off made some kind of painful sense, but she didn't love biting back embarrassment every time she came face-to-face with folks who didn't know.

She pulled into the athletic field parking lot, found Corinne and her precocious niece and sank onto the bleachers next to them.

“Do you or do you not love this outfit, Aunt Kim?” Ten-year-old Tee asked, smiling widely.

Kimberly faced the delightful girl and grinned in appreciation. Her niece had been christened Theresa at birth, but Callan had shortened it to “Tee Tee” long ago, and the name fit. Tee Gallagher was looking for an over-the-top reaction. Kim did her justice. “Tee! Beyond adorable, bordering breathtaking, where on earth did you get it?”

“Goodwill.” While so many little girls shopped designer stores at the big mall in Victor, Tee loved to celebrate a great bargain. “Five dollars and fifteen cents. Including socks I don't have on because I'm wearing flip-flops.”

“I'm getting you a gig on QVC,” Kimberly declared, laughing. “Corinne, she's got a great eye.”

“And a rockin' affordable budget,” Corinne agreed. She exchanged smiles with Kimberly and pointed slightly left. “Callan's in at shortstop, his favorite ‘I love Derek Jeter' position.”

“Well, who doesn't love the Captain?” Kimberly exchanged high fives with Tee because not loving the Yankees didn't happen in their branch of the Gallaghers. “The guy rocks.”

“Mom, I'm going over to the playground to see Sophie and Reese, okay?”

“Yes, but you should have worn your sneakers. Flip-flops aren't meant for climbing.”

“Sorry!”

She dashed off. Corinne followed her with her gaze, then said, “Watch.”

Kimberly kept her eye on Tee as she paused at the edge of the playground, kicked off her flip-flops and began to climb like a monkey. “Don't you worry nonstop?”

“It would do me no good, so why bother?” Corinne asked. “Tee's her father's daughter, one hundred percent. Nothing is too high, too far or too fast. So I pray and encourage and watch her go.”

Brave words from a woman who'd lost her husband because of similar personality traits. “Pretty gutsy on your part.”

Corinne shrugged. “I've got little choice in the matter. You either learn to adjust or bang your head against the wall, repeatedly. I got tired of sore heads.”

Kimberly wished she'd seen the common sense of that long ago.

“Besides, having Tee around is like having Dave here with me. I think God made her that way on purpose, so I wouldn't ever really be without him.”

Kimberly fought back the lump in her throat. “Are you working tonight?”

Corinne shook her head. “I've got two nights off. Callan, great catch!” She hooted across the field as Callan scooped up a grounder and hurled it to first with Gold Glove accuracy.

“He's good.”

Corinne sank back down. “He's amazing. They're already talking high school scouts. Our team isn't strong enough to make it to the Little League regionals, but Callan's progressing like crazy. Coach Cutler has been a huge help. Have you heard from your parents today?”

Kimberly shook her head. “We've prearranged eight o'clock phone calls. That way we're not all on pins and needles all day, waiting for an update.”

“But you'll miss it if you're here.”

Kimberly shoulder-nudged her. “Rory's there, and maybe Emily, too. If there was an emergency, they'd call me. Mom and Dad know I've got other important stuff to do. Like cheer for my nephew. And pray my niece doesn't fall off that monkey bar setup. Do you see how high that is, Corinne?”

“I do. I'm ignoring it.”

“I'd be a lousy mother.” Kim frowned across the ball field to where the girls raced, played and climbed around the big playground. “Overprotective and overbearing. If I have kids, they'll most likely need counseling early on. I can't look.” She turned her back on the playground, determined not to witness Tee's probable annihilation.

The woman sitting in front of Kimberly turned. “I was like that. Crazy overprotective. And then my husband gave me this long lecture about letting kids be kids, about the old days, how kids have survived for countless millennia. I finally stopped worrying just to make him stop talking.”

“Did it work?” Kim wondered, laughing.

“It helped.” The woman stuck out her hand. “Rilla Gunther. My son's playing right field.”

“Kimberly Gallagher. Crazy aunt, unaccustomed to kids.”

“We'll take care of that now that you're back home.” Corinne handed over a tub of popcorn. “Save me from myself. Eat some of this.”

“I can't.” Kimberly grimaced. “Drew bought me a monster banana split for supper at Stan's. I'm going to be stuffed for a while.”

“How is Drew?” Corinne turned more directly her way as the teams changed up at the bottom of the inning. “Better, I hope?”

Better than what?
Kimberly had no idea. “He seems all right. Kind of.”

Corinne frowned. “He had a rough couple of years before he left here.”

“Like you didn't?” Kimberly couldn't believe she was hearing correctly. “Not to rehash old news, but being a pregnant widow with a toddler wasn't exactly a walk in the park.”

“But I had them.” Corinne smiled softly at the field, then the playground. “I had a part of Dave that lived on, regardless. And I was so busy that I didn't have time to be overwhelmed. And time went on. But Drew took it all on his shoulders, bore the weight of the whole thing, and when it got too heavy to carry around, he left. And that felt wrong.”

“He's got a kid.”

“He does?” Corinne's expression went from surprise to approval. “Good.”

“She's amazing. Spunky. A mind of her own. And so funny, that same dry humor from her father. She and Tee would hit it off, and they're only a year apart. It's like female versions of Dave and Drew, all over again.”

“I can't wait to meet her.” Corinne raised her hand to shield her eyes from the angled sun as she looked west. “Isn't that Drew over there? Just walking in?”

Kimberly pretended her heart didn't do an adrenaline-laced gymnastic move just because Drew and Amy showed up at the town baseball game. He scanned the crowd, saw her and smiled, but when he realized she was next to Corinne, his smile faltered.

Corinne was up and off her bleacher seat in a heartbeat. She charged down the stairs, across the grass and caught Drew in a hug so big that Kimberly was pretty sure she'd bowl him over.

She didn't, but even from this distance, she read the emotion in his face as they talked. Corinne greeted Amy, pointed out the playground, and then the two adults skirted the field to introduce Amy to the growing group of kids playing there.

By the time they got back to the bleachers, the teams had changed up twice, and Callan was just coming to bat. Corinne took her seat on Kimberly's left. Drew sat on her right. When they announced Callan's name, Drew's expression tightened.

Was he seeing Dave out there? Was he remembering countless games for two of Grace Haven's best and brightest ball players? Or was he seeing that wretched, cold, fateful night?

“Watch, Drew.” Corinne reached across Kimberly to pat Drew's knee. “See how he swings the bat, the way he moves, just as if you and Dave taught him. He's a natural, but unlike his father, who was kind of a slob around the house, Callan's got a place for everything and everything in its place. Which is refreshing because Tee got every bit of Dave's no-holds-barred personality.”

Drew glanced sideways. “Including the messiness?”

“Exponentially worse.”

“That's funny.”

“It is, right?” The smile Corinne sent him was like a benediction. “It's like God did a little fun mix-up with both of them to show me just how well Dave and I did together. A good balance.”

Drew started to look uncomfortable, but Corinne reached across Kimberly again and smacked him. Not hard, but hard enough to get his attention. “We count the blessings. Not the heartaches. Get with the program, Slade.”

Kimberly wasn't sure what to expect. Oh, she knew how the old Drew would have reacted. He'd have agreed completely.

But this older, more somber edition seemed to carry a heavy burden. To her surprise and delight, he laughed. Then he clutched his arm, feigning injury. “I thought you were nice. What's happened to you?”

“I am nice.” Corinne shot him a self-assured look. “But now I'm nice and tough. So don't think I'm going to let you get away with any moping or guilt or nonsense like that, my friend. We've finally got you back in town, and I'm going to celebrate the moral victory in that.”

“How so?” Kimberly wondered.

“Well, by thanking God, of course. And taking the kids for pizza after the game. There was no time to eat between Tee's riding lesson and Cal's game, so food is a must. You guys should come with us. Kimberly, I know you're not hungry, but I promised Tee you'd be there, and you can't disappoint her.”

She was right, so Kimberly nodded.

“And, Drew, you need to come and tell them Dave stories. Nobody does it better than you. These kids have heard so much about you, they think they know you. Don't disappoint them, or I'll go all Mama Bear on you, and that's not a pretty sight.”

“You've put severe limitations on my choices.”

She grinned, smug. “Welcome to small-town living. No place to hide, big guy. Callan! Yay!” She jumped up as the crack of the bat sent the ball deep into the outfield for an in-the-park home run. As Cal rounded the bases, his speed brought him into home plate two seconds before the well-thrown ball.

Callan didn't over-celebrate. He trotted into the dugout as if it was no big deal, high-fived a few players and took a seat, sure of himself, much like his father had been, back in the day.

Drew's body tensed beside her.

Was it Callan's resemblance to Dave or too many old-time buttons being pushed at once?

Maybe both. Sitting there, shoulder to shoulder, she wished she could help because she'd come face-to-face with a new reality today. She'd wasted way too much time already. She needed to take hold of the sage advice Drew gave her a long time ago when a knotted skate lace had given her conniptions. “Work from the middle and tease each knot loose, one by one. When you're done?” He'd handed back her figure skate and grabbed hold of her teenage heart. “Everything's fixed, good as new.”

And what she wanted more than anything now, was for everything to be fixed. Good as new.

CHAPTER FIVE

T
he image of the boy, so like his father, pierced Drew's heart. He watched Callan in the dugout, saw the casual way he accepted his teammates' high fives. When Dave's son looked their way his mother gave him a big thumbs-up.

He smiled, then ducked his head.

Humble.

He got that attribute from Corinne, because no one had ever accused Drew and Dave of being meek.

A local police car pulled up alongside the gravel-lined path outside the field. A uniformed cop climbed out, waved to a few people, then ambled toward the bleachers.

“Kimber. Your buddy's here.” Corinne's stage-whispered words made Kimberly cringe. “He's heading our way.”

“A new friend?” Drew didn't turn toward Kimberly. He was too busy watching the cop make a show of standing big, brave and tall as he spoke to a couple of parents.

“Hush. Both of you. There's a game to watch.”

The cop looked up just then. His gaze scanned their section, but Drew recognized the practiced ruse. He was pretending to sweep the crowd, while checking out who was sitting with whom. For Kimberly? Or Corinne? Drew scanned his memory bank and this guy's face didn't click into place, which made him new in town.

The officer strode up the bleacher stairs, waited until the inning broke, then moved into the empty seats above them. He sat directly behind Drew, leaned down and touched Kimberly's shoulder. “Kim, how's your dad? Any news?”

Drew had watched her field questions about her dad throughout the day. Her current reaction was more guarded, and that gave him something else to wonder about. “Nothing new. We'll keep the station informed through Alejandro like we've been doing. That way everyone gets the same story.”

“We'll hope for good news.”

“And pray.” Corinne tipped her bag of popcorn up to the officer. “Popcorn, Brian?”

“Thank you, no. I just happened to be driving by, saw the game and figured I'd stop in to see what was happening. Good to see our boys winning against a solid team like this. They've stepped up their play.”

“They're working hard,” Corinne agreed, but she didn't sound all that pleased, either. Again, Drew wondered why. “Brian, this is our friend, Drew Slade. Drew, this is Brian Reynolds. He works with Dad.”

“Drew Slade?”

Drew waited as Brian weighed the name, and he saw the minute reality clicked in—that Drew was the cop with Dave the night he got killed.

“You've been gone awhile.”

“Back now.” Two could play this game, and Drew wasn't about to give information to anyone, even if they wore a uniform.

“Welcome home.”

Corinne's smile softened the insincere greeting. “We're thrilled to have him back here at last. We get to spoil him a little.”

“Lucky him.”

“I'll say.” Drew turned back to the game, hoping the guy would take the hint and leave because Kimberly was clearly uncomfortable with either him or the situation. Either one was enough for Drew to put an end to the conversation. “Nice meeting you, Brian.”

“Yeah.” The cop stood, realized he was blocking the game for the people on the top bleacher and ducked to the side. “You, too.”

He almost swaggered down the stairs. When he was out of earshot, Drew poked Kimberly's arm. “What was that all about?”

“He wants Dad's job.”

That wasn't the answer Drew expected. “You're kidding.”

“Nope. Oh, he doesn't say it in so many words, but he's been needling Alejandro for weeks about appointing either a long-term interim or to place Dad on disability and hold a special election to vote in a replacement.”

“He's either putting your father in the grave or dismissing him completely,” Drew said. “I don't like either scenario.” He kept his voice down, but the woman in front of them turned around.

“That's Brian for you. He's good at feathering his own nest. He may not be evil, but he's not all that nice, either. He watches out for numero uno, 24/7. And if you ask me, that's not a recipe for a good chief.”

Drew agreed silently. A strong squad commander put his personal issues behind the good of the people and his command. That's why Pete Gallagher had enjoyed such a successful career. He wasn't afraid to be humble when needed and strong overall. “Has your dad been considering his options? Is there a reason this guy's after his job?”

“Dad's been focused on getting well.” The frown Kimberly shot toward the cop made Drew want to ease the furrow from her brow. He didn't. “But of course the department has to look at the big picture. Brian seems to show up all over the place, digging for information. My guess is he wants the job and he won't be afraid to go after it.”

“What about Alejandro? Isn't he in the running?”

“His wife's company is supposedly moving their headquarters, so he won't be in contention if that's the case. It's a muddle because we're used to the way things are here. We don't do change all that well.”

“That's a small-town truism for sure.” Drew watched as Brian sauntered over to his car, looking haughty.

A too-proud cop was unapproachable. Sure, a cop should walk tall and strong. But not
above
the people.
With
the people. And that was a big difference, no matter what beat you walked.

The girls raced around the outside of the field just then. Amy's eyes were shining, and when Tee Gallagher dashed up the bleacher steps, the noise and clatter she raised said yes, this was Dave's daughter to the max.

“Tee. People are trying to watch the game. In peace, darling. Tone it down, okay?” Corinne's expression indicated they'd had this conversation many times before, and then she slanted a look at Drew, a “see what I mean?” look. And he did. He smiled, remembering.

“Sorry, Mom!” She popped into the seat behind Kimberly, Amy sat behind Drew and a third girl grabbed the seat behind Corinne. “Any popcorn left?”

Corinne sent a guilty look to the bag.

Tee groaned, and Drew stood up. “I'm on a popcorn run. You girls each want one?”

Quick affirmative answers sent him down the bleacher stairs to the sports boosters' hutch. “Can I have three popcorns, please?”

“Drew Slade, you can have as many as you like! It's so good to have you in town, and way more handsome than ever.” Bertie Engle laughed to see him as her husband scooped and buttered three big round tubs of popcorn. “You're feeding that crew up top, I expect, and you're right to get the big size. Tee Gallagher can eat this in a New York minute, and I expect her friends can do likewise. How are you, Drew?” She looked right at him as if he mattered, and when he met her gaze, it felt like he mattered and that was good. “Gosh, it's nice to see you again.”

“It's good to be here.” He handed over a twenty. When she went to make change, he shook his head. “Put it in the fund. Equipment costs are crazy high.”

“They sure are.” Hi Engle nodded as he fed more kernels into the decades-old machine. “But in the end, it's worth it because we all come back to two things. God and baseball.”

“Do you still play?” Bertie wondered as she handed him the first two tubs. “Or working too hard to have time?”

“The second choice.”

“Well, maybe there'll be time now that you're back.”

He wasn't back, but he couldn't launch an explanation to these two nice people, folks who'd supported the local baseball league and the booster club for decades. “That would be fun, Bertie.”

“Oh, it would, wouldn't it?” She beamed at him, and it didn't matter that they were both older and water had flowed under a lot of bridges... Her gaze said welcome home. And meant it.

He handed out the popcorn once he got back to the bleachers. Rocky sat politely, straight and tall at his side, watching the game.

“May I pet him?” Tee wondered. She wiped her hand on her pants and ignored her mother's groan. “He's a really gorgeous dog.”

“Sure.” The game broke for the seventh inning stretch, and Tee and Reese took turns petting the stalwart shepherd. As the teams were preparing to take the field, Kimberly turned his way. “So you guys got settled into the B and B okay?”

“Last-minute change of plans.”

Kimberly frowned. “How so?”

“The B and B isn't pet-friendly.”

The furrow between her brows deepened. “They didn't want Rocky there?”

“She suggested a kennel run by the local veterinary.”

“A kennel?” Corinne's brows shot up. “For a police dog? I can't imagine not allowing a service dog on the premises.”

“Oh, Drew.” Kimberly put her hand on his bare arm, and the soft touch of cool, long fingers scrambled his thoughts. “I'm so sorry I suggested it. I had no idea they'd have a problem with Rocky.”

“They haven't given away my room at the Country Inn, so I think we'll just head over there after the game.”

“That strands Amy while you're working.”

He didn't see any way to help that. “Yes, but—”

Corinne leaned around Kimberly. “You're both being stupid. The garage apartment would be perfect.” She pointed at Drew. “You're going to be working with Kimber, Amy would be in town and Rocky will love being at Mom and Dad's.”

“The mop-dog isn't exactly one of Rocky's fans.” Drew scrambled for words because the thought of living there, with Kimberly, Emily and Rory in the big house, surrounded by reminders of Dave and all they'd lost, seemed wrong.

“Mags will adjust. This is perfect!” Corinne exclaimed. “It solves both problems and saves you a boatload of money.”

“The senator pays, so—”

“Then we just made a nice contribution to his presidential campaign by saving him a solid chunk of change. It's the ideal solution, isn't it, Kimberly?”

* * *

It wasn't the least bit ideal. The thought of having Drew second-guessing everything she did with the upcoming wedding was mind-boggling enough, but to have him there, living in the carriage-house garage apartment her parents usually rented out to college kids?

“Can we do that?” Amy peeked around Kimberly's shoulder from above and met her gaze. “Would that be okay? Because I'd really love to be in town, and then Rocky wouldn't have to feel like a burden.”

“Dogs don't feel like burdens,” Kimberly protested, but when she looked around at the big, burly shepherd, his deep brown eyes did look a little guilt-stricken. Which meant she didn't have a choice. “Of course you can use the apartment. It probably needs a cleaning.”

“Amy and I've done our share of that.” Drew looked up at Amy, and she grinned, agreeing.

“We've been splitting chores for years,” Amy assured her. “Can we clean it first thing in the morning? Does that work for your work schedule, Dad?”

Drew arched one eyebrow in his daughter's direction. “So all of a sudden you're worried about my work schedule? Now that you've crossed multiple states, broken a ton of rules and interrupted a very important job?”

She nodded, undeterred. “Well, sure. As long as Team Slade is together, we look out for one another. Right?”

Corinne covered her laugh with a quick cough, but Kimberly didn't bother. “Man, she's got your number, Drew.”

He didn't argue. “That she does. You're sure you don't mind, Kimberly? None of this is going according to how your mother and Shelby arranged things. I never intended that my job here would put you on the spot like this.”

Kimberly hadn't planned on any of this, either, but compared with what her father was going through, her life was a cakewalk. “I think it's a great solution, actually. Rocky won't be displaced, Amy will love being in town and within walking distance to the office—”

“And Stan's,” she broke in, grinning.

“The money we save in lodging costs could be lost in ice-cream consumption,” Drew noted. He turned and looked straight at Kimberly, and she had to clamp down her racing heart when he did. “You're okay with this? Really?”

What had she just pondered in the car on the way to the game? That she and Drew had fallen behind the times because of their enforced hiatus away from town, family and friends. Maybe this was life's way of working things out, finally. “I'm fine with it.”

“Then it's a done deal.”

Amy screeched and high-fived Tee and Reese.

The game ground to an end about fifteen minutes later. The Grace Haven Indians lost by one, and it was a glum home team that headed to parked cars after a meeting with the coach.

“Nice game, Cal.” Corinne clapped a hand on his shoulder, and Drew was surprised to see how tall the boy was up close. Not looking him in the eye yet, but he had a good four inches on his mother. “Cal, this is your godfather. Drew Slade.”

Her words startled the boy. He stood still, then squared his shoulders and stared up into Drew's eyes, and if anger and distrust had a look, it was reflected in Callan Gallagher's gaze. “You were my dad's friend.”

“Yes.” Drew met the hard gaze and refused to back down.

“And my godfather?”

A position he'd abdicated by leaving town and not making contact after Dave died. “Yes.”

“And you were my dad's partner the night he was killed.” The boy didn't ask the question; he made it a statement of fact.

“Callan.” Corinne stepped in to stop him, but Drew shook his head.

“Let him have his say, Corinne.”

The boy's smirk said Drew wasn't worth wasting too many words on, and his rude expression made Kimberly want to jump in and defend Drew—which was a sudden turnaround. “I don't have anything more to say. I think what you did speaks for itself. I'll be in the car, Mom.”

He strode off, his athletic bag banging against his leg, head down.

“Drew, I'm sorry.” Corinne moved around in front of Drew and put her hands on his upper arms. “I know that's hurtful, and I know he's being a brat, but—”