Love Inspired January 2016, Box Set 1 of 2 (42 page)

Anne stilled at his words. “I hope you don't think I'm trying to usurp your place as parent.”

“Not at all. I'm just realizing I need to try harder.”

“Okay,” she murmured.

“Besides, I'm also going because the nearest mall is Pueblo and that's over two hours away. We can take my truck.”

“I have a truck, too.”

“Mine is bigger.”

Anne shook her head. “Bigger isn't always better.”

“With trucks it is.”

She gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “Okay, fine. But you know you're probably overthinking this whole parenting thing, right?”

“Possibly, but I'm a hands-on guy. Reading books like you do doesn't do it for me.”

“Would you like a little advice about our outing today?”

“Sure.”

“Shopping with girls involves a lot of walking.” She glanced down at his feet.

“Why? You go in and buy the dress and get out.”

Anne tried, yet once again laughter erupted.

“Glad you're finding this so amusing. I don't think I've ever heard you laugh so much.” Matt pulled open the hall closet and grabbed a pair of sneakers. “These work?”

“They might. But you really have to have the stamina and fortitude for this job.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Right. Like working construction doesn't provide me with much stamina and fortitude. I'd flex my big manly muscles for you, but I don't want to tear this shirt.”

Anne bit her lip. “Fine. Just don't say I didn't warn you.”

He scoffed loudly and looked toward the hall. “Claire, we're ready.”

His daughter came into the living room, a puzzled expression on her face. “What do you mean ‘we'?”

“I'm going to go, too,” Matt said.

Her face reflected pure horror.

“But we're going shopping for a dress and shoes and maybe hair stuff.”

“I can keep myself entertained.”

Claire looked at Anne.

Anne shot her a weak smile.

“You won't even know I'm around,” he murmured.

Anne and Claire exchanged knowing glances that said they fully concurred. Not knowing Matt was around would never be a true statement. Not in a million years.

* * *

Five hours after they arrived at the Pueblo mall, Anne checked her watch as they headed back to the parking lot in search of the truck.

“Maybe I should drive.” She peeked at Matt's face as he loaded their packages into the shell-covered back of his pickup. He was doing an admirable job of pretending he wasn't exhausted and in severe pain.

“I'm good. Although I will admit that I never in my entire life would have believed anyone could shop for five hours.”

“Matt, you're limping. Maybe you should take an aspirin and I'll drive.”

“I don't need an aspirin.” He scoffed at the suggestion. “Besides, all sorts of great and wonderful things come from suffering.” He cocked his head toward his daughter. “Look at her face.”

He was right. Claire's grin was two miles wide. Her eyes were round and sparkling with joy.

Anne handed him a hot-pink shopping bag by the beribboned handle. “You're a good father.”

“Am I? Seems like I don't know what I'm doing most days and the rest of the time I'm just playing catch-up.”

“I believe most parents feel that way a large percentage of the time.”

“Hmm. If that's the case, why do people keep having kids?”

“I'm probably not the right person to answer that question.”

“You ever think about having kids?”

Startled, Anne nearly dropped the beverage cup in her hand. “Not much anymore.”

“It's not like you're too old, you know.”

“Yes, but...” She paused, hoping beyond reason that if she didn't answer he might change the subject.

Awkward silence stretched between them and she knew it was because they were both thinking the same thing. They could have had a child. Together. If they had remained married.

“But what?” he finally said. “Biological clock aside, you could even adopt as a single mother.”

“I could. The truth is, Matt, I haven't had time to give the subject a lot of thought lately.”

“The trouble with that line of reasoning is that by the time you do have time, it will be too late.”

“I appreciate your concern. Thank you.”

“Hmm. Why do I doubt that?” he murmured.

Matt moved to the passenger side of the truck to open the back door for Claire and the front for her. As he did, a double stroller passed by the rear of the car next to them. Anne turned to glance at the toddlers that were strapped in and smiled at the irony.

“Anne?”

She looked up. “Sara!” She reached out to hug her good friend Sara Rogers. “Ben, good to see you, too.”

Anne turned to Matt and Claire. “Sara and Ben, this is Matt Clark and his daughter Claire. Ben and Sara are doctors from Paradise Hospital. They work our remote traveling bus that goes into the rural areas of the valley.”

Matt reached out to shake both of the Rogers's hands, a smile on his face. “Great to meet you.” He glanced down at the babies. “Twins? Now that's the way to do it, don't you think, Anne?”

Anne offered an anemic laugh, her face hot with embarrassment. “We were just talking about...” She waved a hand as she realized she was digging deeper and deeper into a hole she could never find her way out of alone. “Oh, never mind.”

Sara chuckled. “Now you've got me curious.”

“Oh, just one of those random conversations,” Matt said.

Sara and Ben exchanged glances and smiled indulgently at them like an old married couple.

“Good to see you two and the girls,” Anne said.

“We were going to stop for dinner before heading home. Did you want to join us?” Ben asked.

“We just ate at Los Très.” Anne held up her go-cup as evidence. “But, thanks. Maybe another time.”

“You know, we'd love that. We don't know many couples our age,” Sara said, a wistful tone in her voice. “I will for sure call you.”

Matt held the door for Claire and closed it carefully. Then he opened Anne's and leaned close as she got in. “We've been promoted to a couple,” he whispered.

“I'm sorry. I thought it was easier to let it go.”

“Don't be sorry. I'm flattered.”

“Are you? Really?” She turned and her face was inches from his.

“Yeah. Really,” he said softly.

Her heart tripped as his warm breath touched her face and she saw the truth in his eyes. Anne licked her lips, grateful for Claire in the backseat.

She and Matt a couple? Anne hadn't dared to let her mind travel down that particular road. They'd barely gotten to friends yet. Yesterday was long gone. They had moved on. Or had they?

Her aunt's world was one where trust was in God and not in mere mortal man. Where a solitary life was safe.

Unfortunately it was also very lonely. That brought her full circle to the house. Why was she struggling to save a house where she would spend the rest of her life alone anyhow?

The more she was around Matt and Claire, the more confused she became. Or maybe she was becoming
less
confused, as what she wanted became clearer. But that absolutely terrified her because she didn't know if she had the courage to reach for it.

CHAPTER EIGHT

C
laire's nose was practically pressed flat against the glass of the pickup's back window as they drove down the main thoroughfare of the small town of Four Forks, Colorado. This past week she'd been happier than Matt had ever seen her and the extra advantage was the two Saturdays in a row that he and his daughter had gotten to spend with Anne.

This was good, but also worrisome. He'd like his daughter to show as much enthusiasm for spending time with him. Was that possible?

“Four Forks is even smaller than Paradise,” Claire murmured with awe as they passed a fountain in the downtown area.

“Tell me about it,” Matt said over his shoulder. “One stoplight and no movie theater. Blink and you've finished touring the town. All I ever thought about for eighteen years was leaving,”

“You grew up here?” his daughter asked. “In Four Forks?”

“I did.”

“Where is your house?”

“Oh, we moved around a lot.”

“Where are your parents?”

“You know, I don't exactly know where my mother is and my father passed away a long time ago.”

“So I have another grandma somewhere?”

“Somewhere covers a lot of space, Claire. I have no idea where my mother is.”

“I don't understand. How can you not know where your mom is?”

“You didn't know where I was for a long time. Sometimes life gets complicated. That's all.”

Matt watched her in the rearview mirror. She leaned back against the leather upholstery, thinking for moments. “You grew up in Paradise, right, Anne?” she finally asked.

“Yes. I moved there when I was your age.”

“When your parents died?”

“Uh-huh. I've lived there ever since, in my aunt's big old house.”

“Four Forks is pretty close to Paradise. Did you ever meet my father?”

“As a matter of fact, your father and I knew each other in college.”

His eyes searched Anne's across the space of the truck and he saw the moment she began to remember the first time they'd met. Campus mailboxes; he was trying desperately to open his combination lock only to realize he was at the wrong mailbox.

Anne smiled and turned to look out the window.

“Did you ever go out on a date with my father?” Claire asked.

“Look. There's the restaurant,” Matt interrupted. He eased the truck into a parking spot, praying the conversation would neatly detour, as well. They'd stumbled into the “it's complicated” territory long enough. No use spoiling the day by making them all uncomfortable.

Besides, today was all about Claire, not him and Anne, and he was determined to keep the focus on his daughter.

“Where? I don't see any restaurant,” Claire asked.

“See that lodge-looking building? That's the place. Pine Lodge. We've got reservations for five o'clock. So we're right on time.”

He jumped from the truck to open first Anne's door and then Claire's.

Claire skipped ahead of them, pausing occasionally on the sidewalk to shyly admire her reflection in the shop windows, twirling to see the dress's skirt float around her.

“It's a beautiful dress. You did good, Anne.”

“Claire knows what she wants. I was a little surprised. She always wears hoodies and jeans. That dress is all femininity. Just look at those ruffles.”

“Mmm-hmm. Looks like you got a new dress, too,” he said. It took significant determination not to stare.

She glanced down at the red print dress she wore with a little red sweater.

“Claire's enthusiasm was very contagious. Generally I am not a big shopper.”

“You look beautiful. You should wear scrubs less and dresses much more often.”

Her face pinked and she smiled. “Thank you.”

Matt held the door for them as they entered the lodge restaurant. “You notice how everyone is looking at us, wondering how I got so lucky to be escorting two beautiful women to dinner,” he said for their ears only.

“Aunt Lily calls that honeyed talk,” Anne whispered to Claire.

The little girl giggled.

Anne pointed to a plaque on the wall, her face bright with excitement. “Look at this. The lodge portion of the facility is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1926 as a boarding house for the mill workers in the nearby mill. Why, my home is older than this.”

“How old is your house?” Matt asked.

“One hundred and nine years old. Goodness, this gives me hope my house will be approved when the paperwork is reviewed.”

“I didn't know you applied,” he murmured.

“Too late, it seems, but you never know. I did put everything in God's hands, right?”

“Right. Right.” As he said the words Matt began to mull them and consider once again how he could help Anne save her house, because he knew that losing that Victorian lady would certainly put a divide between them.

Once they were seated, Matt leaned over to Claire. “You checked your glucose before we left the house, right?”

Claire nodded. “Not too high...”

“Not too low.” He followed her example.

Anne smiled and joined in. “But just right.”

Matt chuckled at their inside joke.

The waiter brought the menu and they spent another ten minutes laughing and talking while they decided what to order.

As they waited for their meal, Anne reached into her purse. “I almost forgot your birthday present.”

Claire's eyes widened and her shoulders scrunched in an expression of pure excited delight as the small silver box with a silver ribbon was placed in front of her.

“For me?”

Anne narrowed her eyes, glanced around the room as if searching. “You're the only birthday girl here.”

Claire laughed at her antics. There was no savoring the moment as she opened the wrapping, until the box was free of trimmings. Inside, on a bed of white cotton, lay a sterling-silver, vintage charm bracelet. A diabetes alert charm in red and silver hung from the dainty chain.

“Oh, it's so pretty.”

“They sure have changed Medical Alert bracelets, haven't they?” Matt asked.

Anne nodded.

“Is this like what Aunt Lily wears around her neck?”

“Not exactly. Hers has a little panic button. She can press it if she falls and someone will be sent to help her.”

“I didn't know that,” Claire remarked. She held up the bracelet to Anne. “Will you put it on me?”

“Sure,” she returned.

Claire admired her wrist where the bracelet hung. “So pretty.”

“It is,” both Anne and Matt said at the same time.

Her gaze met his and she smiled, melting the edges of his heart. For tonight, at least, it seemed as if they were in their own little world, and he liked it that way.

“I guess maybe I could give you my present now, as well,” he finally said to his daughter. “I mean if you want it.”

She gave a small gasp. “Another present? But you already bought me my dress and shoes.”

“Oh, that's just routine girl stuff.” Matt, too, pulled a small jewelry box from his pocket. It was smaller than the box Anne had given Claire, with a red ribbon around a white leather box.

“Another jewelry box.” Claire grinned.

“Like minds,” Matt murmured, his gaze meeting Anne's once again.

Claire fingered the small white box and played with the ribbon.

“Aren't you going to open it?”

“Yes.” This time Claire gently removed the bow and slowly pulled open the hinged box. Inside, a silver heart locket with a chain rested on white velvet. She looked up at him, chewed her lower lip then inhaled and swallowed.

“The locket opens.”

Claire's breath caught when she flipped open the locket and turned the case around toward her to examine the inside photo. “Oh, it's my mom.” She held it out for Anne to see. “It's my mom.”

“Beautiful,” Anne said. When she smiled her eyes became suspiciously moist.

Matt was totally unprepared when Claire placed her napkin on the table, eased from her chair and threw her arms around his neck as she kissed his cheek. “Thank you, so much, Daddy.”

She'd finally used the D word.

He was forced to look away as the realization of how far he and his daughter had come shook him to his core.

When he turned back Anne was talking to Claire and he couldn't help the direction of his thoughts. If the good Lord could perform this miracle with his daughter, then certainly He could get Matt to the place where forgiving Anne wasn't just words. Could he put his pride aside to seek a second chance with Anne?

Would she be open to one?

The thought terrified him as much as it excited him.

When dinner was served, things moved quickly as Claire became very impatient for her promised treat; the dessert that Lily Gray had suggested was fitting for a birthday girl. There was little discussion once the sweets cart appeared at their table.

“Lava cake. That's the one.”

An elderly woman walked by the table and paused, her gaze lighting on first Matt and then Anne. “Excuse me for interrupting, but I've been watching your family. I can see it's your daughter's birthday. She's such a lovely girl. You two have done a fine job raising her.” She turned to Claire. “Happy birthday, dear.”

Claire beamed. “Thank you.”

When the woman left, Claire leaned close to Anne on her elbows and whispered behind her hands. “She thought you were my mother.”

“I'm sorry. Does that upset you?”

“No, because I know my mother would really have liked you. Just like I do.”

“Oh, Claire, that's so sweet.” Anne's eyes once again were bright with moisture.

Matt also found himself overcome with emotion. The constant what-ifs of the time lost between him and Anne continued to spin through his thoughts.

He'd promised himself today was all about Claire, yet he couldn't ignore the woman across from him or his confused feelings for her.

When the waitress brought their check he turned to Anne. “Do we need to get you back home soon? Is Lily alone?” he asked.

“Oh no, she goes down to Alamosa a few times a month to visit with a friend in a retirement community. They came and got her today.”

“Is she thinking of moving there?”

“Never. She loves to visit, but she's determined to stay in her house.”

“Did you know that Anne's great-great-grandfather built that house? Aunt Lily's grandpa,” Claire commented. “He put that white stone on the fireplace.”

“White marble,” Anne corrected. “From Marble, Colorado. The same stone that's in the capitol building in Denver.”

“I didn't know that.”

No, he had to admit he hadn't considered the home's emotional history before now. He'd merely designed the best ingress and egress to the lake community. No emotions involved. Simple pragmatics. While he'd always understood the historical connection and value of housing structures, today's discussion about his heritage caused him to consider the emotional aspect. Roots and family tree were absent from his life, but not from Anne's.

Was there something he hadn't thought of? Something he needed to do that could change everything. Could it be the Lord was nudging him to dig deeper. To find a way to save Anne's home?

It seemed an impossible task.

* * *

Anne reached for her chiming cell phone and offered a groggy hello. She blinked but her room remained dark. Either she was dreaming or it really was the middle of the night.

“Anne, I'm sorry to bother you, but Claire's blood glucose level is registering low.”

“Low? How low?”

“No reading. Just low.” Matt's voice was taut with fear.

Her eyelids popped open and she sat up in bed, instantly awake. “Is she responsive?”

“Yes.”

“And you? Are you okay?” she asked him.

He released a breath. “Trying to be okay is the best I can do right now.”

“Matt, you can handle this.”

“Can I? I'm starting to think I'm the last person who should be handling this.”

“You know the drill. Give her a box of juice and test her glucose level in ten minutes.”

“Can you come over?”

“Of course. Tell me where you live.”

He rattled off an address in downtown Paradise.

“I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Call me back if you need to.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

Anne went to peek on Lily and then realized she was still out of town. She brushed her teeth and pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt and then grabbed her keys. Running a hand through her hair would have to suffice as a fix for her bed head.

There was no traffic in Paradise except one lone patrol car parked on the edge of town. The town's only deputy waved at her from his marked vehicle. She waved back and checked her speedometer, easing up on the gas pedal. No use breaking the law.

Matt could handle things, despite his thoughts to the contrary. She understood that this was his first diabetic crisis and she would be on hand for moral support, but she was confident that he'd do everything right. Matt was a very smart man.

His little rental house was only a few blocks off Main Street. He was right; it was a tiny cottage with a postage-stamp-size yard illuminated by a trail of solar-light stakes. She could hear Stanley barking from inside the house as she approached the front walk.

The door swung open and Matt stood behind the screen with the excited dog pushing his way around him in an effort to see who had arrived.

Matt's jeans were wrinkled and his T-shirt was on inside out. The relief that was evident on his face spoke volumes and she was flattered that he trusted her expertise.

“How's she doing?” Anne asked.

“Better.” He held open the screen. “The meter popped up into a low normal range with the juice.”

“What do you think happened?” Anne asked.