Second Chance Dad (10 page)

“But, Mo-om…”

“
Now
. I'll be there in a minute.” She waited until he dragged his feet up the walk to the front door, looked back one more time and then went inside. “I'm not offended or angry, Dr. McLaren. I'm
afraid
.”

He frowned. “Isn't that taking this a little too far?”

“I'm afraid for my son.”

“I would never do anything to harm a child, Sophie. If you know nothing else about me, that ought to be clear.”

“I know. You were the one who brought up your own concerns in the first place, while I was encouraging you to spend a little time with him. But now…all I can think about is how terribly he still misses his father. And, after the one time I briefly tried dating, how much he missed Todd—even though the man barely gave him the time of day.”

“You're a good mom, protective and loving, but you can't really be a male figure in his life.”

“I know,” she murmured.

“Let's just play it by ear. He's crazy over that motorcycle in my garage, so let him work on it with me. Come along, if you like. Before long that Harley
will be all put together again, and then I'll probably sell it.”

She looked up, startled. “Really?”

“Unless my sister changes her mind and says she wants it. We don't have the happiest memories associated with that bike, though, so I'm guessing she'd rather see it sold. And after that, coming to my place won't be nearly as intriguing. Eli will probably even start begging you to take him someplace else.”

“S
ooo, Sophie, how are things going?” Keeley asked as she eyed a dried flower arrangement in an old milk can in front of her antiques shop.

“Not bad.”

She pulled out a cattail and poked it back in, farther to one side. “We missed you at the book club meeting last Saturday. A little birdie tells me you've been seeing Dr. McLaren.”

“And that little birdie. Would she be about five feet tall and two hundred pounds? Pushing ninety?”

“You got it. Alberta saw me in the grocery store and she's quite a chatterbox, but I didn't quite understand it all…something about a ‘romancin' pie'?”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “She stops in to keep Gramps company now and then, so she thinks she has the latest scoop. But there's no romance going on, believe me.”

Keeley angled a dry look at her, then reached up
to gather some flyaway strands of her long, blond hair into the loose knot on her head. “So tell me about this nonromance of yours. McLaren seems like a pretty nice guy.”

“He is. It started because Eli saw an old Harley in his garage. And you know Eli and his Harleys—it was love at first sight.”

Keeley grinned. “With that kind of focus, some day your boy is going to be a rocket scientist.”

“McLaren was nice enough to let Eli help him tinker with it, and things sort of grew from there. I stay close by, in case Eli gets a little too rambunctious or starts to drive the man crazy with all of his questions, but so far I think Josh seems to enjoy a little company.”

“Eli needs someone like that.”

“Exactly. Gramps is too old to want to be involved in projects, and Dad isn't at all patient with him. So Eli is now like Josh's shadow, whenever he has the chance.”

“Eli must love it.”

“And it's not just the motorcycle. He doesn't necessarily relate to people well, and I'm just hoping that the companionship with a kind man and the chance to learn to work with some tools will do him good. He'll always have his Asperger's, but if he can learn to relate to Josh through that Harley, then maybe that can help Eli deal with other social situations in a more positive way, too.”

Keeley's eyes lit up. “Really? That's wonderful!”

“I still have so much to learn about what makes Eli tick, though, and what I can do better so I can help him. I wish there were support groups in the area, or something.”

“So…what will happen if this guy moves away?”

“My worry, too, since Eli got so attached to the man I dated last year.”

Keeley raised an eyebrow. “But how can you prevent that?”

“I keep reminding him that Josh is only a friend and not daddy material. I just hope it helps if Josh suddenly picks up and moves back to Chicago, or something.”

“Good luck with that.” Keeley fluffed the cranberry corduroy pillows on the fanciful willow settee on the sidewalk under her front display window, then stepped back to assess the overall appearance of her storefront. “One of these days you'll just have to settle down with someone.”

Sophie laughed. “Like
that's
so easy. I really think I'm better off alone.”

“Maybe not. Just because your dad is difficult and Rob and you were practically just roommates doesn't mean there isn't some wonderful guy out there who could sweep you off your feet.”

“Right. So when
you
find one of those paragons, just ask him if he has a brother.”

Keeley grinned at their familiar exchange, gave her a hug, then waggled the tips of her fingers. “I've got to open up and get ready for the day, or Edna will give me demerits. Be good.”

Sophie watched her friend go inside and flip over the sign in the window of the pretty little cottage to Open, then headed to the drugstore down the street for suntan lotion.

Eli had been excited about the outing planned for this afternoon, and hadn't wanted to go to his grandparents' for the day. But with her full schedule of home visits with clients, there was hardly a choice. Her job—as long as she had it—had to come first.

After she finished her errand and started driving to her first appointment of the day, she let her thoughts wander. There
were
no paragons out there. She no longer had foolish, teenage fantasies about that.

But just for a while, she had something better.

With twice-weekly physical therapy appointments scheduled for Josh through the last week in July, going out there had become a comfortable routine since that picnic on the Fourth.

He was always her last appointment of the day, so now she usually stopped by Dad and Margie's house to pick up Eli. He read quietly or did crossword puzzles out on the porch with Bear at his side during Josh's physical therapy session.

Afterward, Sophie sat on the wide, cool porch of
the cabin and caught up on the day's patient charting or read while Josh and Eli had their hour to tinker on the Harley restoration or some other project around the place—whether it be a leaky faucet, an oil change, or replacing filters on the cabin air conditioner.

Eli avidly researched everything on the internet and the library, soaking up information and Josh's praise like a thirsty seedling.

Sometimes, they grilled hotdogs or steaks, or caught some nice sunfish for supper…or stopped at some little café in one of the surrounding towns. Low-key, no pressure, just comfortable, light banter and companionship. Friends, and nothing more.

Except for that first kiss.

The knowledge of it still seemed to hover in the air between Josh and her, adding a sizzle of awareness to every inadvertent touch. Whether it was an accidental brush of a hand, or a brief moment when their eyes met and locked, she found herself thinking about that kiss
way
too much.

And, just like the old joke about telling someone to not think about elephants, the more she tried to forget it, the more it flitted back into her thoughts.

Had she ever felt that way with anyone else?
That
was a definite no.

Sometimes she even wondered if she might have dreamed it, except for the fact that Eli had seen Josh
kiss her and then, with his simple, childish logic had asked hopefully if she was going to get married.

But that would never again happen without true, abiding love. And given what she knew about herself, it would therefore never happen at all.

 

The next Monday, Josh met her at the door, moving even better than he had before. There was an unmistakable gleam in his eyes. “I have been out here for too long,” he announced. “What would you say to the possibility of some adventure instead of our usual routine?”

“Adventure?” She thought about the specific new exercises she needed to introduce today, according to the treatment plan she'd drawn up. The progress notes that Grace would probably review at some point and then question. “I'm not sure I—”

“I don't remember the last time I've been outside and really had a workout. That ought to count as therapy. Right? It sure would to me, anyhow.” He grinned. “I imagine it would involve muscles I don't even know I have.”

“Workout?” she asked cautiously. “As in, completing your therapy out on the porch?”

“Farther. Eli is with his grandparents, right?”

“Yes, but—”

“If you were to give them a call, do you think they could watch him an extra hour or so?”

“We really need to stay on task here, Josh. That's
why I come out here. It's an
appointment
. For your therapy.”

“Let's split the difference, then. Half hour here. Then let's hit the river.”

Startled, she caught the amusement in his eyes. “River! Since when do you have any interest in the river?”

“Since you railroaded me into therapy and made me feel better.” His mouth twitched. “It's been years, now, but I used to compete in triathlons during my college days. Once I got into medical school and then started practice, I never found the time.”

Taken aback, she looked up at him. “So you want to go out on the river.”

“I'm going stir-crazy here. I thought it might be fun for both of us, to go out for just a while today—and definitely great for strength building, right? Then maybe over the weekend we could go longer and take Eli with us.”

“Do you have a canoe or a kayak?”

“Not here. But there's a high adventure sporting goods store down the block from the bookstore that belongs to your friend Beth, and it backs right up to Aspen Creek. I think,” he added after a moment's thought, “that it belongs to her fiancé, if I'm not mistaken.”

She laughed. “I guess you've done your home work.”

“I just happened to be in his store yesterday, and they were discussing their wedding plans. Deal?”

“Deal. Your full hour of therapy, and then we can go.
If
Eli can stay with his grandma a little later.”

 

With Grandma Margie willing to let Eli stay for the rest of the evening if need be, Sophie drove with Josh to Devlin's store. “Are you sure you're up to this?” she asked. “We could go for a cup of coffee instead. I know your muscles must be tender after the range of motion exercises you just did.”

“This will be like dessert.” He smiled at her as he climbed out of her car. “Though if you aren't up to this, just say the word.”

She grinned back at him. “Lead the way.”

The massive limestone building, a twin of the building housing Beth's bookstore, had always reminded her of an old castle, though while Beth's store was decorated in a quaint, welcoming style with plants, comfy rockers and upholstered chairs, and scented with candles on warmers, Devlin had created an entirely different atmosphere in his own store.

Outside, colorful pennants danced on the breeze from the second story, and bright kayaks leaned against the building along the sidewalk. Inside, the northwoods decor and enticing displays of everything from high adventure mountain climbing gear to
skiing, camping and roller blading equipment caught the eye.

They found Dev and his assistant store manager, Frank Ferguson, working on a display of mountain bikes.

Frank, in his late-sixties, had the thin, austere look of a man who could be a college professor and indeed had been a teacher until region-wide cutbacks eliminated his career. But now, he clearly loved his new job and beamed when he saw Sophie walk in the door. “You're back, and I'll bet you decided to go ahead with that mountain bike over there, right?” He nodded toward the rack of used bikes against the wall. “We can do layaway, you know.”

“In my dreams, Frank.” Still, she walked over to the rack and ran a hand over the sleek frame of the Trek Fuel EX 8. A year old, it had a few dings, yet it was still well over twelve hundred dollars. It might as well be a million, given her current financial status. “But it sure would be nice. We're actually here to rent a canoe for a few hours. Have any to spare?”

Dev set aside a screwdriver and stood, every inch of him the career Marine he had been until injuries forced his medical retirement. He nodded at Josh. “Good to see you in here again. If you decide to consign your Rossignol skis this fall, let me know. I'd like to start building up some stock in higher-end skis before the season starts.”

Sophie looked over her shoulder at Josh in sur
prise. He'd started out as a grumpy recluse who barely left his dreary cabin. Now this, too? “You're a man of many surprises. What else do you do?”

He shrugged. “Past tense. A few things—back when I had the time and motivation. Times change.”

Maybe so, but he was still becoming more intriguing all the time. “No, really. Tell me something else about yourself. This is fascinating.”

“Not really.” He hiked a thumb toward the back of the store. “Let's get that canoe paperwork done so we can be on our way.”

Dev laughed. “Better just give it up, McLaren. If I know our Sophie, she'll badger you until you go cross-eyed. She's one determined little gal.”

Josh sighed. “Okay. Horses.”

“
Really?
What kind? Where? Do you—”

“Let's go,” he insisted as he walked away.

Dev followed him to the rental desk, but Frank just leaned against the bike display and grinned at her. “Once you've got him in that canoe you'll have him cornered,” he chortled. “Then you can fire away. He'll either have to answer, or swim for shore.”

 

“The section of Aspen Creek going south of town has to be one of the prettiest stretches of river anywhere on the planet,” Sophie said as she smoothly swept her paddle through the clear water. Dappled with sunshine, the surface sparkled like diamonds.
“Soaring bluffs…birch…pine trees…what more could anyone ask?”

“It's good to be outside.”

She'd insisted on taking the rear seat of the canoe, and after thirty minutes she could already see the tension in the muscles of his back and shoulder. His lower back was probably starting to hurt, though she knew he wouldn't admit it.

“Let's just drift with the current and not push so hard,” she suggested. “I'll guide from back here.”

“Isn't Frank supposed to meet us at the landing point downstream by seven?”

“We'll be fine…and I can always call on my cell. No worries.”

He rested his paddle across his thighs. “Next time, kayaks.”

“What,” she teased, “so you can be totally independent, practice your Eskimo rolls and scare me to death?”

“Adventure.”

She shook her head, chuckling. “A side of you I hadn't imagined until today. You must be feeling better.”

They fell into a companionable silence as they drifted through state forest land, then through hilly southwest Wisconsin terrain dotted with picturesque red barns and black and white dairy cattle. A horse farm came up next, and soon they were back into the cool, deep shade of a forest.