Love Inspired January 2016, Box Set 1 of 2 (47 page)

“I was at the construction office. Sometimes I get to spend the day there helping. It's on the other side of the woods. Stanley came with me.”

“You ran away and played in the mud?”

A small smile appeared on Claire's face. “Stanley's leash got tangled around my feet and I fell.”

“Did you hurt yourself?”

“No. I'm okay.”

“I should call your father. He'll be worried.”

Claire's face crumpled. “I don't want to go home.” Tears welled up in the girl's eyes. She wiped at them with her hand, smearing mud on her face. “He's going to take us far away. I heard him say so.”

Anne quickly put her arms around Claire. “Oh, sweetie. It's going to be okay.”

“No, it's not,” she sobbed. “He's moving to Denver and I don't want to go. I want to stay here with you and Aunt Lily.”

“Denver?” Anne straightened abruptly. “Are you sure?”

“He said that. To Manny. I heard him.”

“I'm going to call your father, right now.”

Claire shook her head, a fierce expression on her splotchy face. “I don't want to go to back to Denver. I love Paradise. Please, can I live with you?”

“Why don't I ask him if you can stay over? He can pick you up on Saturday. You and I can have a little vacation together. We'll figure out what's going on with Denver, too.”

Claire's face lit up. “Yes, please.”

“Okay, you go to the porch and take off your sneakers and roll up your pant legs. I'll be right there.”

Claire smiled and nodded, running toward the back of the house.

Anne pulled out her cell and looked up Matt's number.

“Matt, it's Anne. Claire is here.”

“Here where? At the hospital?”

“No. I'm at home. She's here and she's fine.”

“How is it I can manage a crew of grown men but I can't keep an eye on a little girl? This is the second time she's gotten lost.”

“She's not lost. She's right here with me.”

“You know what I mean. I was on my way over.”

“No need. She's fine, except she's certain you're moving to Denver.”

Matt groaned. “I knew she overheard me talking to Manny.”

“Are you?”

“Am I what?”

“Moving to Denver.”

“I don't know. At this point, it's only under discussion.”

“That's too bad.” She released a breath before the words spilled out. “Because I don't want you and Claire to leave Paradise.”

There was silence on the line.

“I'm sorry, but it's true,” she admitted.

“Don't be sorry,” he said into the silence that once again had fallen between them.

“Well, obviously, I've left you speechless.”

“I don't know what to say,” he admitted.

“There's no need to say anything. I guess I didn't realize it myself until she told me you were moving.”

“I'm not moving. Manny and I were talking. Like I said, it was just a discussion. I'm sorry I wasn't more discreet.”

“Well, she's pretty upset. What about letting Claire spend the night here?”

“I don't want to impose. And I don't want to reward her for running away.”

“It's not imposing when it's my idea...”

“And?” Matt urged her on.

“The first year after a loss is the hardest. I think you should consider cutting Claire a little slack. I don't think this can be considered a pattern of behavior.”

“No?”

“No. Besides, I took off this afternoon and tomorrow. I'd love to have her. Aunt Lily will love it, as well. You can pick her up on Saturday.”

“Saturday? Are you sure?”

“Very. But I'll need to get her insulin and some clean clothes.”

“She has a house key in her backpack,” Matt said.

“Oh, and by the way, I've got Stanley, too.”

“Dog food is in the pantry closet in the kitchen.”

“You know this will be good practice for me.”

“Being a mom for a few days?”

“I meant being a dog owner.”

Matt merely chuckled.

Anne slipped the phone back into her purse. A mom? She doubted that. Being a dog mom was probably as close as she'd ever get.

* * *

Anne turned the key and stepped into Matt's house. The smell of burned popcorn lingered in the air. She tiptoed through the living room and then paused before she remembered that no one was home. The quiet was unnerving and it seemed totally wrong to be in his house when he wasn't there.

She walked past the living room where Stanley's throw toys were scattered on the floor, and straight to Claire's bedroom. Fifteen minutes earlier she'd left the little girl asleep on the couch where she had been watching a television game show with Aunt Lily. The two of them had been calling out answers at the screen and laughing before Claire had finally nodded off.

Claire had given her instructions on what to bring and Anne easily found the requested items in the well-organized drawers.

The stuffed animals were lined up on the bed. The patterned pink spread that covered the bed was taut with each side perfectly angled at the same distance from the floor. The pillows were fluffed, the edges touching each other in a straight line.

Anne chuckled. Not unlike her own room.

Everything in the room was neat and tidy. Like Claire. It hadn't escaped Anne how much alike she and the little girl were. Orderliness was sometimes to control a world that seemed, at best, out of control. She definitely understood that. Though Anne was coming to understand just how rigid and inflexible the life she had created for herself in the past ten years was.

Maybe it was time to begin to step out of the shadow of the old Anne and start to loosen up. She headed to the kitchen with a small stack of fresh clothes and a clean pair of sneakers. Inching aside diabetic literature and a Bible, she set the clothes on the table.

First she filled a plastic bag with dry food for Stanley, and then she turned to locate Claire's needed medication. The refrigerator was impressively well-stocked and Anne had to move containers to find the insulin pens. Two casserole dishes took up most of the space on the shelves.

The Paradise ladies auxiliary was still bringing over food? No doubt the women in town absolutely loved every minute of delivering the dishes to Matt.

One foil container held a note with a recent date and described the casserole as Minnie's pasta bake. Anne was familiar with Minnie St. Claire, an elderly widow in town. The other was covered with clear wrap and the note on top simply included a phone number with a heart drawn in red ink and the words “Call me.”

Matt remained the heartthrob of the auxiliary, it seemed. For a moment jealousy tangled its roots in Anne's mind. She resisted the urge to copy the number down to find out who it belonged to. Then she discarded the thought. She didn't really want to know. And, besides, Matt wasn't a man who sought attention. That wasn't him at all and it never would be.

Anne grabbed the insulin and scooped up the clothes and plastic bag. When she turned, the Bible slid off the table and onto the floor. She sighed at her carelessness and placed everything that was in her arms on the counter to retrieve the good book. The pages had flipped open to the middle, exposing a faded color photograph with worn edges that served as a placeholder.

A small gasp slipped from her lips when she picked it up and realized exactly what she held in her hands.

Her and Matt on their wedding day. Anne had never seen this picture and she herself had no such mementos of that day. Just her own memories that she'd tucked away and only brought out to examine and savor in the late hours of the night.

A smile curved her lips at the sight of both of them in their Sunday best at the office of the justice of the peace. The dress she wore had long ago been discarded, but at that time it had been the most sophisticated outfit she'd owned. They were kids, and so much in love.

She caught her breath at what was evident in both their eyes as they looked at each other. Matt had offered her his heart so freely that day. She'd been a different person then. Impulsive, hopeful and deeply in love.

She had wanted to wait for a church wedding, but he had suggested the justice of the peace and begged her to concede to his wishes for them to be joined together right away as husband and wife.

She had, and five hours later they were apart again.

All these years later she'd wondered why he hadn't fought her aunt's edict. Why he hadn't come for her.

Anne turned the photo over. On the back in Matt's distinctive handwriting was a scripture reference. Psalm 31:24. She pulled the Bible into her lap as she sank to the kitchen floor. Unsteady fingers flipped through the thin pages until she found Psalms and read the verse aloud.

“Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

For moments she stared at the page until her vision blurred and a drop of moisture plopped down onto the Bible's delicate parchment pages. She wiped it away with her finger and then wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand.

She still loved him.

She'd never stopped loving him.

Anne scrambled to her feet and put the photo and the Bible back on the table. But how could he ever love a woman who was once persuaded to turn her back on their love? How could he love her back without doubting her feelings?

An impossible situation.

CHAPTER TWELVE

L
ily Gray sat in the yard, wearing a large floppy yellow sun hat. Her throne was a bright red Adirondack chair. Stanley lounged at her side, looking for the entire world as though he belonged there. He barely acknowledged Matt; instead, the Lab happily thumped his tail while his gaze never left the elderly woman.

“Morning, Ms. Gray.”

“Matthew. What a nice surprise. I gave Stanley a few biscuits. He assured me that it would be all right with you.”

Matt gave a silent chuckle. “Certainly. It looks like he's decided to stay, too.”

“Dogs and small children like me. Adults are less easily persuaded.”

He arched a brow at the random comment. “Ah, were you saving this seat for someone?”

“My aide was sitting here. She's in the house making us lemonade. So please sit down.”

“Thank you.”

“I thought you weren't supposed to be here until Saturday. It's Friday, correct?”

“Yes, ma'am.” Matthew glanced around. “Is Claire okay?”

“Oh, yes. She was upset. But she's calmed down. Apparently she was under the impression that you were moving to Denver. I told her that was absolutely ridiculous. You wouldn't go. Especially now that you and Anne have found each other again.”

Matt nearly choked.

“Ma'am?”

Lily pierced him with her gaze. “Sometimes it takes me a while to figure things out, but eventually I do.”

Was Lily Gray's mental acuity as clear as it seemed today?

He nodded but said nothing, afraid of what might be about to unfold.

“I was wrong, young man, and I owe you an apology for what I did. Ten years late, I'm afraid. But there it is.”

Matt was too stunned to respond.

Once again Lily stared deep into his eyes. “You're still in love with her.”

“Yes.” He nodded, unable to offer anything else but the truth.

She shook her head very slowly. “Ten years ago I did what I thought was best for Anne. I chose to overlook the fact that you were the best thing for her.”

“I thought it was because I wasn't...”

“Good enough? Did I say that? If I did, then I apologize again. No doubt I could have come up with any number of reasons. I didn't want you to take Anne away from me. That was the bottom line. A very selfish decision on my part. All parties involved have paid the price for my choices. I can only hope you'll forgive me and her.”

“Forgiveness is a decision. A step of faith. I've forgiven. The hard part is the pride.”

“A wise man, as well, I see. We've all got a mountain of pride that stands between us and happiness.”

“I've got a lot to learn, Ms. Gray.”

“Don't we all?” She offered him an indulgent smile. “Anne is still in love with you, of course. Perhaps she hasn't always realized that, but she's had plenty of opportunities to marry. There have been suitors, but she turns them all away.”

He held his breath, knowing that he lived in a world where the other shoe always dropped. Would it today?

“I think you and I should come up with a solution to our problem.”

“What problem is that, ma'am?”

Lily waved a hand in the air and the voluminous sleeves of her white blouse waved in the breeze. “Oh, you know. The house, Anne, Claire and you.”

His head jerked back. “You know about the house?”

“Of course. I'm old, not dead.”

Matt coughed. “Yes. I mean no, ma'am.”

“I've gotten several phone calls from my so-called old friends who are angry because Anne and I are the only holdouts.” She frowned and her voice slowed as if she was trying to sort out the facts. “That is correct, isn't it? We are the only holdouts.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“I see.” She stared straight ahead through the woods, as if she could see the lake in her mind's eye.

“I'm sorry to say that my company planned the road that will be going through here.”

“Progress. I used to be all about that, too, once. Made a living on it.” Lily shrugged. “The town needs that road, I imagine.”

“It does.”

“Then progress will prevail. So the obvious thing to do is to find a way around the situation.”

“A way around?”

“Of course. I know people in the valley, lots of people in the construction industry. Surely putting our heads together we can fix this.”

“I don't know. I've put my head together with a half dozen people lately and haven't come up with a viable option.”

“But none of them were Lily Gray.”

“True. What did you have in mind?”

“They want the land and we want the house. It seems obvious.”

Matt blinked and then was very still as her words penetrated.
“You want to move the house?”

“As I said, you're a very clever man.”

“There are quite a lot of details that encompass moving a house.”

“Such as?”

“The cost is pretty hefty, especially when you consider both the size and age of this particular house. Then we've got to find enough land to do justice to your Victorian.”

“Don't forget the rose garden. That must come, as well. Some of those blooms are as old as this house.”

“Ma'am, this is a huge undertaking you're talking about.”

“Yes, but what's that saying? About attempting something large enough that failure is guaranteed without God's help?”

“That's pretty much how it goes.”

“And theoretically if all your details were attended to, it is a possibility. Correct?”

“Details? Yes. That's right.” He said the words slowly, afraid of what might be coming next.

Lily was lost in deep thought for moments.

Matt cleared his throat and she looked up. “Does your niece... I mean does Anne...?”

“Does she know that I am aware of the situation?”

Matt nodded.

“No, she's protecting me. Isn't that sweet? She's been protecting me for far too long. I'm not as frail as she thinks. My mind may be Swiss cheese some days, but the rest of me will hang in there for quite a few more years.”

Matt didn't know what to say to that.

Lily met his gaze. “It's time to shake things up around here. Time for her to have a life of her own.”

Once again Matt didn't know what to say so he remained silent, desperately trying to determine if Lily was lucid or leading him down a rabbit hole.

“Overdue, too. Don't you think?”

“Um...” He floundered for an answer.

She glanced at the antique silver watch on her thin wrist. “Goodness, look at the time, you'd better get going if you're going to stop her.”

“Stop who?”

“Anne.”

“I don't understand.”

“Anne and Claire have gone into town for lunch at Patti Jo's. Then Anne is going to sign the contract to allow the town to take the house in thirty days.”

He stood and scratched his head. “You want me to stop her?”

“Of course I do, and while you're gone I'll get the ball rolling.”

“Rolling how?

“It's time for Lily Gray to call in a few favors.” She waved a regal hand in the air. “I've got things under control, don't you worry. Sometimes it takes people a little bit of time to realize I mean business.” Lily narrowed her eyes. “I always mean business.”

“Yes, ma'am. I believe you do.”

“Good. So if you get a phone call or two from some of my contacts, you need to heed their instruction immediately.”

“Okay. I can do that.”

“All right, then. Go stop Anne. I'll let you know as soon as I have everything set.”

Matt turned to go and then faced Lily Gray. “What were you going to do if I hadn't showed up here today like I did?”

“I always have a plan B. I called Sheriff Sam Lawson.” She smiled. “I was going to have him find you. Oh, I think I hear his patrol car now. He'll take you to town expeditiously.”

* * *

Anne instinctively eased up on the gas pedal when a patrol car passed them from the other direction with the lights on and the siren screeching.

She couldn't help but quickly glance over her shoulder in stunned surprise. “I think your father was in that patrol car with Sheriff Lawson.”

“My father?” Claire, too, glanced behind her for a moment before looking at Anne.

“I think so.” Anne looked in her rearview mirror. “Wait. They stopped. Are they turning around?”

Once again Claire twisted around in her seat. “Uh-huh. They are.”

“I'd better pull over.”

“Are we in trouble?”

“I doubt it, but this is Paradise. You never know.”

Anne eased the truck off the road and unsnapped her seat belt.

“Stay in the car, Claire.”

She strode toward the patrol car as Matt and Sam got out. “Is everything all right, Matt?” She looked at Sam. “My aunt is okay?”

“She's fine,” Sam said. He tilted back his Stetson with one finger and grinned.

“Better than fine today,” Matt agreed.

“I guess I can leave you here, Matt?” Sam asked.

“Yeah. Thanks, Sam.”

“Good luck.” The men shook hands and Sam headed to his patrol car.

“What's going on?” she asked.

“Anne, don't sign the paperwork yet.”

“Why not?”

“Well, I can't actually tell you why not. You're going to have to trust me.”

“I don't follow you, Matt.”

“I've got a plan and I'm going to need a big leap of faith on your part. I'm asking you to give me a little more time before you go in to sign the paperwork.” He offered a sheepish shrug. “But I can't tell you why.”

“How much time?”

“I don't know yet.”

Anne tipped her head back and looked at him. “Nothing can stop the inevitable. I have an appointment at the mayor's office at one to sign. Besides, what if your plan doesn't work? The town will simply file the paperwork and force us to move.”

“That sort of thing isn't done overnight. It will require getting someone to serve you. That would be Sam, and since he assured me he'll be very busy when the paperwork comes through, as will Ed, his deputy, I am thinking you don't have to worry about that right away.”

“But your business is going to be losing money. You said so. I'd rather give up the house than hurt your livelihood.”

A tender smile lingered on his lips. “What did you say?” he asked quietly.

“Matt, I know how much this project means for your company. You've come so far and I'm thrilled for you and Manny. I don't want to be responsible for its ruin.”

“Thank you for saying that.” He smiled into her eyes. “But you must realize that I feel the same way. I don't want to be responsible for you losing your home.”

“So once again we're at a standoff?”

“No. Not if you can just trust me for a little while. There are other things going on that I can't share with you right now.”

“Sure, I can do that.” She paused and released a breath. “I owe you that much.”

“No, I want you to do it because that's how far we've come, not because you owe me.”

Anne met his intense gaze; her eyes following the firm set of his jaw, the resoluteness there. “I trust you, Matt.”

He put a hand on her shoulder. “Thanks.”

She nodded, warmed by the simple touch.

“I guess I need a ride,” he said, glancing down the road.

“We were on our way to lunch. Would you like to join us?”

“Sure. But Claire might not want me along.”

“I can find something to do, so you two can talk.”

He shook his head. “The three of us have been through too much to have secrets now.” Matt walked to the passenger door and tapped on the window.

Claire opened the door and Matt hovered in the door frame, his arm stretched across the roof of the small pickup.

“Mind if I join you and Anne for lunch?”

The little girl just sat there, twisting her hands in her lap with her eyes firmly fixed on her shoes.

“Can you look at me, please?”

Slowly, Claire raised her chin. Her lips quivered for a moment and then she met his gaze.

“We are not moving to Denver.” He offered a reassuring smile along with the words he knew she needed to hear.

“We aren't?” Hope flickered in her eyes.

“No. I'm sorry you heard that. But you have to remember that what you were doing is called eavesdropping. And there is an old saying about that. Eavesdroppers seldom hear anything good.”

“What's that mean?”

“It means that you should have come to me right away. The fact is, you didn't hear all of the conversation. If you had you would know I was only talking because I was frustrated.”

“I'm sorry.”

“So am I.” He put a finger beneath her chin. “But running away is never the answer. I'm your father and you have to believe in your heart that I love you and I would never do anything that wasn't in the best interest of our family.”

He paused. “Us. You and me. We're a family now, okay?”

She nodded. “Does that mean that we're staying in Paradise?”

“As long as Paradise will have us, we're staying.”

His gaze met Anne's across the interior of the truck.

He saw the sigh and the silent rise and fall of her chest as she stared at him. Was he imaging it or was her heart in her eyes?

Family
was what he'd said to his daughter.

From his lips to God's ears.

There was nothing he wanted more in this minute than for that to come true.