Salt Water Taffie (Boardwalk Brides Book 1) (15 page)

Still, as he gazed in Taffie’s beautiful brown eyes, as he held her in his arms and pondered the possibilities, Ryan prayed it wouldn’t be long before the Lord opened that door. When that moment came, he would gladly walk through it.

TWENTY-TWO

In the weeks after Ryan’s father was transferred to the rehab hospital, his family celebrated countless milestones in his recovery. Yes, there were many obstacles ahead, but countless miracles had already taken place. Ryan didn’t take a one for granted. Luke had come to his senses and started helping out with the family business. Pop’s illness seemed to have matured Luke. Or scared him. Still, Ryan was happy for the help. And then there was the big one. Vic and Mallory appeared to have reconciled. Truly reconciled. Mallory’s countenance had changed completely, and Vic. . .well, Ryan could hardly believe the change he’d seen in his brother. Their father’s near brush with death had motivated Vic in a number of ways.

It had motivated Ryan, too. Though he wasn’t completely content with the idea of repairing appliances, he’d made his peace with it. He would do whatever it took to make sure Pop’s needs were met. And, besides, much to his pleasure and surprise, Ryan had still found a little time on the side to venture out into marketing. The work with Taffie and her family had motivated him in a number of ways. Maybe. . .if he would just hang on awhile longer, he could jump-start Atlantic City PR–a company focused on marketing the city’s local businesses.

In the meantime, his days were filled with trips back and forth from job to job, rehab to home. . .and, of course, to Carini’s, where he spent every available hour with the woman who now captured his heart. Oh, the joy that flooded over him as he and Taffie walked quietly along the water’s edge, celebrating the influx of fall customers at Carini’s. How good it felt to walk with her hand in his. He would be happy to do so. . .for the rest of his life.

The final Thursday in September, just as Ryan wrapped up a job at a local restaurant, he received a call from his mother. Her words surprised him. “Pop wants to chat. Can you stop by the rehab after you wrap up your last job of the day?”

“Talk? About what?” Ryan’s curiosity almost got the better of him. And though his father could manage a few words of conversation, they were slow and strained. Usually Mom did most of the talking when they were together.

“He wants to share some things about the business. But don’t fret. Just get here when you can.”

“Okay. I’ll see you around five-fifteen.”

As Ryan worked, his thoughts continually drifted to his father. Was he worried about the job Ryan was doing in his absence? Curious to see if they were bringing in new customers?
Stop worrying. God’s got this under control.

At exactly five-fifteen, Ryan entered the rehab and wound his way through the many hallways till at last he came to Pop’s room. He found him sitting up in bed, eating a small container of ice cream.

“If I’d known you were in the mood for ice cream, I would’ve stopped at Carini’s,” Ryan said.

His pop’s eyes lit up as he managed, “R–rocky R–road.”

“Yes, I know. It’s your favorite.” Ryan laughed. “But it looks like you’re enjoying that vanilla, so keep it up.”

He took a seat in the chair by the bed. “Where’s Mom?”

“C–coffee.”

“Ah.”

As if she’d been standing in the wings awaiting her cue, his mother entered with a Styrofoam cup in hand. She came to him and placed a kiss on his forehead. “Thanks for coming. I know Pop’s anxious to talk to you.”

“About?”

“Well. . .” She glanced at his pop, then smiled. “I think he’ll want me to do most of the talking, actually. But I know just what to say. We’ve had this speech planned for weeks, long before. . .well, before the stroke.” She gave him a reassuring look.

“What is it, Mom?” Ryan sat up on the edge of his chair and tried to calm his nerves. “What’s happened?”

“Calm down, son.” She paused, then began to spill her thoughts. The words flowed quickly. “Your father and I have been so grateful to you for everything you’ve done over the past year or so. Since his first stroke. The business would have folded back then, if not for you.”

Ryan rested his arm against the edge of the chair. “Well, you both know I would do anything to help.”

“Y–yes.” The word came from his father, who managed a crooked smile.

“We do,” Ryan’s mother echoed. “But that’s just it. Even before this stoke, Pop and I had been talking about a plan of action. He has wanted to sell the business for more than a year now.”

“S–sell the business?” Ryan looked back and forth between his parents, confused. “Who would you sell it to?”

“M–martinsons.”

“Martinson’s?” Their chief competitor?

“They made an offer months ago,” his mother said. “But your pop was afraid to take it because he knew how much you loved the business and he didn’t want to hurt you.”

“L–loved the business?” Ryan slapped himself in the head and he turned to his father. “They made an offer? A good one?”

Pop’s eyes widened as he slowly nodded.

“And you turned them down?”

Another nod.

“When we turned them down last year, your father decided he could probably handle working at least a few more years. But now. . .” She shook her head.

“I–I’m. . .t–tired.” Pop’s eyes misted over.

“He’s ready to rest. Relax. And Bob Martinson came by the other day to visit.”

“Oh?”

“He made a second offer. Even higher than the first. We’ve. . .well, we’ve decided to sell. It’s really the best thing. We could use the money and your father needs a break. Still, we’ve been so worried about how you would take this news. We’ve known since you got your degree just how much running a business has meant to you.”

“I–I’m so s–sorry, s–son.” A lone tear trickled down Pop’s cheek.

Ryan stood and began to pace the room. “Pop, I love you. And you know I love working alongside you. You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever known and I enjoy spending time with you. But. . .” He paused for a moment, garnering the courage to continue. “I don’t enjoy repairing appliances.”

His mother glanced over at him, stunned. “Y–you don’t?”

“No.” Ryan shook his head. “With my marketing degree, I can do so much. I have so many ideas and plans—but I’ve never been able to get worked up about commercial appliances. Not sure why.”

“R–really?” Pop’s eyes held a hopeful look.

“Really.” Ryan leaned over and took his father’s hand. “And I can’t believe I managed to convince you that I was happy being a repairman. I was so afraid your feelings would be hurt if you found out I didn’t love the things you loved.”

His mother’s brow wrinkled. “Ryan, we’ve raised you boys to follow after God. And He will lead you all into the various businesses you’re supposed to be in. It never occurred to me that you might be working out of obligation.”

Ryan swallowed hard and tried to figure out how to respond. Of course he’d been working with Pop out of obligation—ever since the first stroke. But to say so now just sounded. . .callous. Cold.

Thankfully, he didn’t have time to respond. The door to the room swung open and Casey entered with a broad smile on her face. “Grandpa!” She squealed, then bounded toward the bed. Ryan grabbed her and planted a kiss on her cheek before she could pounce.

“Hey, you!”

“Uncle Ryan. I need to talk to Grandpa.” She scrambled out of his arms and made her way to the side of the bed, where she began to fill everyone’s ears with chatter about her day at school.

At that same time, Mallory and Vic appeared in the doorway, hand in hand. Ryan looked over at them with a smile. He could see the peace in their expressions. For some reason Mrs. Carini’s words came flooding back over him.
The safest place to be is in the center of God’s will.

The center of God’s will. Hmm. All those years of repairing appliances when I really wanted to do something else. I wanted to spread my wings and fly. And now. . .

All at once a peace that passed all understanding swept over Ryan as the truth registered. He’d been faithful in the little things. . .and it looked as if the Lord was about to shift him into something much, much bigger.

With a smile on his face, he excused himself to make a very important phone call.

***

Taffie sprinted down the stairs, ready to bid her parents goodbye. They’d spent the better part of the afternoon packing up the RV and now, finally, the time had come. Her mother and father would ride off into the sunset. Literally. They would head west to Philly to spend the night at an RV park, then continue onward. . .westward. . .over the next several months. Of course, her mother still insisted they’d be back next summer for the wedding. Not that anyone was actually getting married.

Just as she reached the bottom of the stairwell, Taffie’s cell phone rang. She pulled it from her pocket and smiled as she saw Ryan’s number.

She answered with “Hey, I was just thinking about you.”

“Same here.”

“What’s up?” She continued on her way to the front of the house. From here, she could hear the racket from outside. Half the neighborhood had turned up to bid her parents farewell.

“I have some news.” Ryan’s voice carried an unexpected level of emotion. Had something gone wrong? Taffie found herself distracted as both of her sisters rushed her way.

“Hurry up!” Tangie hollered. “They’re ready to go.”

“Pop’s not going to leave until he says goodbye to everyone who’s ever bought candy from him,” Candy argued. “So, no rush. Most of Atlantic City is out there, saying goodbye, anyway. Take your time.”

As her sisters disappeared through the front door once again, Taffie did her best to focus on Ryan, who continued to talk on the other end of the phone. She missed part of it, but heard something about his father’s business.

“I’m sorry, Ryan. What did you say?”

“My pop.”

Her heart plummeted. Surely something hadn’t happened to his father. Not now, when things were going to well with his recovery! “W–what about him?”

“He’s selling his business.”

“Selling his business?” Taffie practically squealed with delight. For weeks she’d prayed that God’s perfect will would be done in Ryan’s life, particularly as it related to his work. While she’d admired his amazing work ethic, she could read the truth in his eyes. He really longed to be doing something else entirely.

“Pop is selling the business to Martinson’s on the first of October. No more appliance repairs in my future.”

“Well, except one,” she prompted.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, there’s no guarantee our taffy machine is going to hold up forever. Now that you know how to fix it. . .”

He laughed. “I can promise you this. . .if anything breaks at the shop, I’ll take care of it for you. But don’t tell your friends. My future is in marketing, not repair jobs.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She smiled, thinking about it. “I’d say you’ve done a fine job of repairing a great many things.” She dove into an explanation of how he’d played a major role in fixing the future of Carini’s Confections, and how he’d helped to repair his brother’s marriage, as well.

She heard a horn honking from his end of the phone and it startled her. She’d assumed he was at the rehab. “Where are you?”

“I’m in the car on my way to your house.”

“Seriously?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t let your parents leave without telling them goodbye. And besides, Casey made a card for your mom. I should be there in a couple of minutes.”

“Hope they’re still here. I’ve never seen two people more anxious to travel.”

She opened the front door and stopped short when she saw the mob of people. Squinting against the sunset, she made out her parents. Pop handed out bags of candy to folks and Mom. . .well, Mom hugged neck after neck. Taffie ended her call with Ryan, then bounded toward her parents, half saddened and half energized. The moment had finally come.

Drawing near her mother, Taffie found herself with tears in her eyes. “It’s just not going to be the same around the shop without you. But I promise to do my best.”

“You’ve always done your best and then some.” Mom gave her a warm hug. “And I have a feeling you’re going to have a lot of help.”

“Oh?” Taffie followed her mother’s gaze to Ryan’s car as he pulled up to the curb. “Ah, I see.”

She watched with joy flooding over her as he made his way through the mob to her side. It was just like a scene from that movie—when the hero appeared from out of nowhere to save the day. Sure, Ryan wasn’t dressed in regal attire and he certainly didn’t come wielding a sword. But with the sun setting behind him, he almost carried an angelic glow.

Nah. It had nothing to do with the sun.

He greeted her with a kiss as sweet as candy, which she returned willingly. Then he gave her mother a warm hug and handed her a homemade card. “It’s from Casey,” he explained. “She’s already missing you and you’re not even gone yet.”

“I’m going to miss her, too.” Taffie watched, stunned, as her mother’s eyes filled with tears.

Pop appeared at her side and shook Ryan’s hand. “Take care of this girl of mine,” he said with a wink.

“That’s my plan.” Ryan slipped an arm around her waist and drew her close.