Love Inspired January 2016, Box Set 1 of 2 (33 page)

It felt good to hear him laugh and agree. “You're absolutely right, I'll talk to you later.”

“Good. Love you.”

The moment crunched to a swift stop, and for the life of her, she couldn't imagine why those last two words had slipped out.

Sure you can.

Well, okay, she could, but—

“You waited until we were on the phone nearly thirty miles apart to tell me that?”

“I...umm...”

“If I was there, I'd kiss you right now,” he told her. “And then I'd probably kiss you again and we'd never get our work done.”

“And we have a boatload of work to do this week.” She played it easy, just like him, but then he cranked it up a notch.

“But every time I look at you this week,” he promised. “No matter who's in the room, or how busy you are, or how frantic things get, I want you to know that I feel exactly the same way. I'll call you later.”

He hung up, wanting the last word like always, but what a last word it was. Heat bit her cheeks, and as she, Emily and Allison worked through the day, Drew's words bolstered her. And when her mother called late afternoon to say the laser ablation appeared to be a success, a huge weight lifted from the sisters' shoulders.

“But we're still retiring,” Kate declared when they put her on speakerphone. “We'll talk more about that later, but Dad's already filed his retirement papers with the mayor. You girls have a crazy week ahead of you, and while Dad and I wish we could be there to help, I know everything will be just fine.”

“You rest, let Dad heal and don't worry about a thing here,” Emily answered. The self-assurance in her voice raised Kimberly's growing confidence in Emily's work. “This is the best present you could give us, and, oddly enough, Kimber and I make a pretty good team. Allison hasn't had to referee a fight in weeks, so that's a big step in the right direction!”

“Although I bring my whistle to work, just in case,” Allison joked. “Kate, we love you guys. I'm so glad the surgery went well.”

“Us, too. Gotta go. The doctors are coming in, but all is well here. Tell Rory, okay?”

“She's subbing at the elementary school for a teacher out on maternity leave, but we'll call her right now,” Kimberly promised. “We love you, Mom. Give Dad a kiss for us.”

“Will do!”

“What an amazing relief that is.” Emily disconnected the phone, jumped up and hugged them both. “I know it doesn't come with guarantees, but I'm thrilled. I'm going to meet Rory and tell her, then I'm getting us old-fashioned fried chicken for supper, like we used to do.”

“Wonderful.” Kimberly meant the word sincerely. No matter what the coming weeks brought, knowing her father was doing better, being back home, welcomed into the community she had forgotten she loved... It all felt wonderful. At least until she had to tell Drew and Amy goodbye.

She couldn't think about that now. Her focus had to be on one thing this week, Shelby's wedding. For the next five days everything else went on the back-burner because this wedding wasn't just a gift for the bride. It was a gift for Drew to give to the bride and her father, reason enough to want everything perfect.

* * *

One bride. One groom. One gloriously perfect day, unmarred by anything more than the wrong shade of mascara for Shelby's close friend, and Kimberly fixed that by offering hers to the overwrought bridesmaid.

“Miss Gallagher.”

“Yes, sir?” She smiled as the senator and his wife approached her once things began to quiet down midevening. She saw Drew heading their way from the opposite side of the room, and knowing the day had gone smooth as silk made her happy for the Vandeveld family, but mostly for Drew.

“We wanted to take a few moments to thank you personally,” Linda told her. “I had some misgivings about the idea of barbecue at a formal affair, but I can honestly say I was pulled right back to my South Carolina roots by that food. The best I've had and the guests loved it.”

“I'll pass your compliments on to Josie,” she promised. “She trained with major-league chefs on the Gulf Coast, and we're blessed to have her back here.”

Drew reached them at that moment. “Is everything all right?”

“Perfect,” Rick declared. “We were just thanking Kimberly for all of her hard work. The entire afternoon and evening were splendid. Linda and I are beyond grateful, although I missed you on the campaign trail. I'm glad I don't have to split my defenses any longer. We're anxious to have you back, Drew.”

“With the crowd of Secret Service you have at your beck and call, I'm pretty expendable now,” Drew countered smoothly. “You just don't like breaking in new people, Rick, but we both know that's likely to be the reality after the election.”

“I hope so,” Rick agreed. “I can't say I'm not excited by the possible prospects of Pennsylvania Avenue. And, of course, you'll be with us in Washington come January. I wouldn't have it any other way.” When Drew didn't answer right away, Rick studied him more intently. “Unless you're not following us to Washington.”

Linda gripped his arm and shook her head slightly. “Our daughter's wedding day is not a time for business. Well, except for that envelope of checks you have for Kimberly.”

“Of course.” Rick reached into his pocket, withdrew a slim envelope and handed it over discreetly. “A measure of our thanks and good esteem has been included.”

“Thank you.” As the Vandevelds moved to say goodbye to a guest, Drew took the envelope, tucked it into his vest pocket and held out his arms. “I do believe I've been waiting for this dance, Kimber.”

She'd been waiting, too, song after song, but she wasn't there to enjoy the wedding. She was there to make sure everything went according to plan. Mission accomplished.

“Do we dare?” she murmured, stepping into the circle of his arms.

“For tonight we do.”

And when one arm closed around her...and her right hand was clasped in his left... It was perfect, warm and wonderful, everything she'd imagined it would be as she'd looked on all evening.

His cheek to her hair. Her head on his chest. The calm, steady beat of his heart, the kind of thing she'd love to come home to, every day.

But concern darkened Drew's eyes every time he faced Callan, and she knew Drew Slade. He couldn't be a constant source of anguish for anyone and live with himself. He'd left town once because of that. With his sacrificial heart, she had no doubt he'd do the same thing again.

* * *

“That had to be the best wedding ever!” Amy clutched the little bouquet Shelby had given her and breathed deeply late Monday afternoon. “And I never saw prettier tables! And the shiny pumpkins made everything sparkle!”

“You had fun.”

Drew shot her a quick look now that everyone had left town, ready to pick up their lives where they'd left off before the big day.

“So much fun. I can't believe I was in the same room with so many famous country music people. No one will ever believe me if I tell them.”

“Well, you're free to tell them now that it's over.” He pulled into the drive, saw Jandro's car parked to the left of the carriage house and parked farther up the drive on purpose. “Take care of your homework and reading, okay? I've got to see what the lieutenant wants and check on Rocky.”

“It looks like Nurse Mags beat you to it,” Amy whispered with a finger to her lips. Her mouth formed an O, and when he saw little Mags lying next to Rocky's big kennel, he almost got choked up himself. Mags had curled up against the metal kennel, side by side with her respected adversary, and one tiny ivory paw was stretched between the bars, lying atop Rocky's huge leg in a gesture of canine love.

“I'll come down when my homework's done,” she whispered.

“Okay.” He crossed the front of the garage bays without waking either dog, which meant Rocky was taking his downtime seriously. “Jandro. What's up?”

“This.” The lieutenant held up the letter Drew had mailed the previous week, removing his name from consideration for the police chief position. “You have everything it takes to do this job. Why are you backing out?”

He had a very good reason why. Every time Dave's son saw him, the kid was reminded of what he didn't have. A father. He didn't say that out loud, of course. Facing Jandro, he made a noncommittal face. “I realized it's not the right time. If I'd thought it through more carefully, I never would have applied.”

“Well you did apply,” the older officer told him bluntly. “And I'm going to pretend I didn't see this.” With that, he tore Drew's letter into small, indefinable pieces and stuffed them into his pocket.

“You can't do that.”

“Can. Did. Meeting is tomorrow night at the town offices at seven. Be there.”

“Jandro, I—”

“Not open for discussion. If you get the job and then take the job, you can demote me for insubordination. Right now, I'm ordering you to show up at that meeting. If you leave your hometown to the likes of a guy like Brian Reynolds, shame on you.”

“Hey.” He tried to protest, but Jandro climbed into his car and headed down the driveway. “Jandro!”

The lieutenant ignored him, turned right and then right again, cruising down Center Street on the beautiful, crisp, autumn afternoon.

Drew kicked the curb, fuming.

How dare the lieutenant tear up his notice of withdrawal? This all could have been so simple. He'd withdraw his name, grab his kid and move on. No harm, no foul.

Except that Amy wanted to stay here. And didn't his own child deserve some kind of roots?

And leaving here meant leaving Kimberly. She'd promised her parents she'd stay and run the family business, so he couldn't even beg her to go with him and share his life somewhere else.

Corinne pulled into the driveway. Callan sat to her right, and Tee was bouncing like a crazy person in the backseat. “We wanted to check on Rocky!” she called out the back window.

“He's sleeping right now. And doing better but still dicey,” Drew explained as he moved closer. “He doesn't like that he's sequestered in the kennel, but he's dealing with it.”

“Aw, look at Mags.” Corinne withdrew her phone and snapped a quick picture. “How sweet is that?”

“I thought she didn't like him?” Tee asked. “She was always barking at him, going crazy.”

“Maybe she knows he's hurt,” Callan said softly. Guilt bowed his head and rounded his shoulders as he studied Rocky in the big metal crate.

Corinne glanced from her son to the two dogs. “I think she does, Cal.”

“She's showing respect for her foe,” Drew told them.

“Huh? What does that mean?” Tee made a show of knotting up her face, overdramatic and crazy cute.

“Like when a runner shakes everyone's hand after a great race,” Drew explained, “because they know what it took to get to that level and they respect the effort. Mags likes Rocky even though she challenges him. Like Snoopy and the Red Baron.”

“I love Snoopy,” Corinne said, smiling. “And we never miss a
Peanuts
special on TV.”

“I remember.”

Callan watched the two dogs for a moment, then stepped back. “Mom, I've got to get that book out of the library.”

“Right.” She grabbed Drew's arm as the kids got back into the car. “I'm glad he's doing better and that Mags has taken on nursing responsibilities. That's story-worthy, right there.”

“It's funny, isn't it?” Drew glanced down at the two resting dogs. “To go from archenemies to allies like this?”

“I'd go with nice,” she told him, then smiled and gave him a big hug. “Just like it's nice having you back, Drew.”

She climbed into the car and pulled away a minute later. Callan turned back, watching the dogs from the back window. Remorse drew his mouth down. Worry brought his brows together.

Amy came downstairs just then. “Was Tee here?”

He nodded. “They stopped by to check on Rocky.” Mags stirred when he spoke. She opened one fluff-covered eye, looked at them, then curled back into sleep alongside her big buddy.

“Was Callan with them?”

“Yes. Is he still being mean to you?” He didn't intend for the question to come out gruff, but it did, because no one should be mean to a sweet kid like Amy. Ever.

“No.”

She answered quickly. Too quickly. He stared at her, one eyebrow arched, and when she blushed, a new realization swept him.

Amy had a crush on Callan. Or vice versa. Or both.

Puberty. Adolescence.

“Are we making supper or going to grab supper?” she asked, and her question changed the subject and let him off the hook.

“Let's walk to the diner and get the Monday special.”

“I'd rather die,” she told him, laughing. “
You
can get the meatloaf special, and I'll get chicken fingers.” She grabbed his hand, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Holding his hand in public meant she was still his little girl, at least for a while.

They cut across The Square, still busy with late-day shoppers, and when they came to the Village Diner, Drew opened the door for her. A couple of folks called out their names as they made their way to a booth, and seeing Amy's answering smiles drove a point home. Amy didn't just like being
in
the town; she loved being part
of
the town. Did he have the right to jerk that out from under her, or would that be another stupid choice?

I'm coming to an intersection with too many choices...

Kimberly's words, and he understood them fully. He'd prayed over this decision, he'd shrugged it aside and then he'd prayed again.

Still no clear answer, but was that God's fault or his? Drew wasn't sure. The meeting tomorrow night would push him to choose. If all things were equal, he'd stay right where he was, in Grace Haven, with Amy and Kimberly, surrounded by old friends. But things hadn't been equal in a long time, and the thought of sacrificing Callan's happiness by his mere presence weighed heavily on his soul.