She jerked around at the sound of footsteps crunching on pine. Andrew’s smile reached his eyes as he marched confidently toward her.
She whispered his name. “Drew.”
“I wouldn’t want to be in the lake’s position.” He panted as if he’d jogged over.
What was he doing there? Was he there to break up with her?
Her heart thundered, and she wrapped her arms around herself, forcing herself to still for the worst possible news.
“You okay?” Andrew asked.
No, she wasn’t. Callie’s presence and obvious interest in him bothered her. "Needed fresh air," she said instead, turning away.
He chuckled. “Bianca...Bianca.” Shaking his head, he came around her, standing next to her, and slid an arm around her waist. “I like it when you get jealous.”
How did he know? “I’m not jealous.” She shrugged. “It’s just...you didn't mention that Callie was coming.” She probably would've stayed home if she’d known that his ex would be there.
He pulled her back a few inches from the water and stroked her jaw. He wouldn’t be breaking up with her if he was running his hand along her jaw. She forced herself to look up at his searching eyes.
“You wanna talk about it?”
No. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“The truth is,” Andrew said, “Callie is not here for me, but for my mom...okay, maybe sort of both, but I've moved on...with you.”
Her cheeks aflame, she said, “You told her that? She was practically throwing her body in your face. Doesn’t seem like she’s giving up without a fight.”
He chuckled and cupped her chin. “I think it has to go both ways for two people to be together.”
He looked into her eyes for a moment, then leaned in and kissed her on the mouth before wrapping his arms around her. She instantly felt warm and protected in his strong arms. She closed her eyes and breathed in the spicy clean scent of his conditioner.
When he pulled back, he kept his eyes on hers. “I think you're underestimating one thing.”
“What’s that?” she said, her voice soft.
“The fact that I’m crazy about you. And that I have no idea how I'm going to get through the days that we don’t see each other.”
Her body relaxed at his genuine words.
“Let's take a walk,” Andrew suggested.
Bianca fell in step with him as they followed the winding road around the lake. The air smelled of pine and aspen trees that were lush and green around them.
Andrew picked up a stone here and there and tossed it into the lake. He did have good aim. They recapped the day's events, and she told him about her shopping experience with her friends as he talked about his rock climbing.
They shared a comfortable silence before Andrew took her hand in his and said, “You know what I’ve been thinking?”
She shook her head. “What’s that?”
“We both love each other ...” He hesitated, then cleared his throat. “What would you say if I said I want to marry you?”
Her eyes widened, her heart lodging in her throat. This was the last thing she’d expected him to say. At least not during the camping trip. She glanced away, then looked back at him, shaking her head. “Don’t... I think...”
“I don't want to go through this whole engagement thing and then drag things out.” His face was hopeful, his tone nervous.
She should be excited by the idea of spending her life with Andrew, but suddenly her stomach felt queasy. Pulling her hands out of his hold, she wrapped them around her. She then ran a hand over her face, not meeting Andrew’s gaze. She couldn’t.
“Uh...” she stuttered, not sure how to end things politely. She’d let things go too far, too fast. She forced herself to look up at him, uncomfortable at the emotion and confusion she saw in his face. She’d just made a show of jealousy about his ex, and now was rejecting him.
Her feet wavered, almost making her lose her balance. Her mind was a mix of excitement that the man of her dreams had asked her hand in marriage, yet anxious and scared at the same time.
Daisy would adore him as a father figure, but...there was so much uncertainty.
Her breathing quickened as she forced her feet to turn toward the trail leading back to the cabin. “I have to go.”
“Bianca!” His voice rang over her shoulders. “We don’t have to do anything.”
She walked faster and ignored Andrew’s voice when he called again and again. She could only hope that Daisy would be easy to find, because they needed to get out of here as soon as possible.
Not wasting any time, she tossed hers and Daisy’s luggage in the van and went to look for her at the playground. She wasn't there, nor was she at the GaGa pit. Bianca finally spotted her playing horseshoes with Ezra.
“Daisy!” Bianca hollered loud enough that her daughter darted toward her instantly. Bianca grabbed her wrist. “We’re leaving.”
“Now?” Daisy’s brows wrinkled, but Bianca didn't bother explaining. She ignored her daughter’s protestations and screams while she dragged her by the hand all the way to the car. She fired the engine and roared away, leaving a trail of dust behind.
“Why can’t I stay?” Daisy yelled between sobs, along with many other words that Bianca tried to ignore. Silence was the best medicine, since she’d ruined her own life, too.
Her hands trembling on the steering wheel, Bianca glanced through the rear view mirror to peek at Daisy. Her daughter’s arms were crossed over her chest. Her pouty face was streaked with tears as she peered through the window.
“Mr. Drew was going to be my dad,” Daisy started again, her voice tight with tears. “He’s.. he’s supposed to take me mountain biking tomorrow.”
“We were just fine before Mr. Drew came along.”
“No...” she said, in a trembling voice. “You chased him away!”
Her heart constricted with pain at her daughter's sadness and fear. She’d never seen Daisy this upset before.
Bianca’s throat choked when she spoke. “Everythings’ going to be okay.” God please help me, what have I done? Is everything going to be fine?
“Why, Mom, why? Why did you take my friend away?”
Bianca’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as she merged onto the Interstate. She felt the pang of guilt at her daughter’s pain and loss. Why did I do this to me, too? He’s everything I’ve ever dreamt of and more.
The three hour drive felt like an eternity.
It was dark now, the light from the porch throwing enough light on the driveway for her to park her van. Daisy was asleep when she opened the back door to let her out. Her eyes instantly popped open, and she rubbed at them as she looked both ways. “Mr. Drew?”
Not again! Bianca unbuckled Daisy’s seatbelt.
“I want to go back to the cabin!”
Desperate, Bianca did the only thing she could. “You need to stop it right now!” she snapped, and straightened to rub her temples at the sharp pain in her head. “Get out of the car. You’re grounded!”
Daisy darted ahead to the door, wailing, before pounding it.
It swung open, and Daisy all but dove in through the screen door, slamming it behind her.
By the time Bianca made it in the house, Mama’s face was filled with questions.
Mama lifted her hands, then opened and closed her mouth before asking, “What happened? Why did you get back so early?”
Just like Daisy, Bianca needed to go to her room and sob. She parted her lips to talk to her mom, but tears welled in Bianca’s eyes, emotions clogging her throat so that she couldn’t speak. Suddenly her eyes opened a flood that streamed down her cheek. I messed up. The words couldn’t come out.
Not normally one to initiate hugs, Mama pulled her into an embrace and held her there until her tears were spent.
When Bianca pulled out of the embrace, she gestured to Mama’s and Daisy’s room. “Can you help me talk to D, please?”
“I’ve got it, Mija!�
� Mama left for her bedroom to tend to Daisy, and Bianca trudged down the hall to her own bedroom. Slamming the door, she threw herself onto her bed, burying her face in her pillow, dejected and empty.
Although she knew she’d messed up, she told herself it was safer not to entangle herself with another hero. She was doing this for Daisy. It was Bianca’s fault that she’d let things go this far with Andrew.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to rid herself of the image of Andrew, but all she could see was his crushed face and his panic when Bianca didn’t respond to his proposal. She could hear his voice when he spoke. “What would you say if I said I want to marry you?”
She hadn't expected him to love her back when things started between them. The reality of his love for her was mind blowing. He’d chosen her over Callie.
Her pounding head kicked up the pain, and new tears streamed from the corners of her eyes as several questions rose in her mind.
How was she to pick up the pieces of her old life, the life before Andrew? How would she be able to move on, when in her heart, she couldn’t go back to a life without him in it?
CHAPTER 21
Andrew drove the Interstate, soft gospel music filling the cab of his truck. He glanced through the rearview mirror at the teenager in the back seat. Preston had his earbuds planted in his ear as his thumbs busily moved across the phone in his hand.
Good! Andrew was in not the best of moods to pretend that everything was okay. He normally pulled it off, keeping all his problems to himself while giving others advice about their personal lives.
Look at me now. He gripped the steering wheel as he switched lanes to exit the Interstate. It was his turn to give himself advice—advice about relationships gone wrong. The way Bianca had taken off when he’d asked to marry her still boggled him.
He let out a slow breath, wondering if he'd done the right thing by giving her space for an entire week.
Would things have been different if Callie hadn’t shown up? She’d hovered over him after Bianca had left. Andrew had listened long enough to her rambling about her moving back to Colorado, and her hope to get things back to where they’d left off.
Women! He was done trying to figure them out. At least he’d tried putting himself out there again after the breakup.
He pulled up to park on the street in front of Preston’s rundown apartment complex, which was strewn with soda cans and other trash.
“You sure you don’t want to hang out with me today?” he asked when Preston hopped out of the truck.
“No, thanks. A couple of friends from the youth group invited me to go swimming this afternoon.” Preston shut the door and lifted a hand to wave at Andrew, and he waved back.
Andrew normally attended church with his parents, but he’d gone to Ezra’s church in Fort Rock because Preston’s grandma had said the boy needed a ride. Andrew had been taking him to the youth group at Ezra’s church since it was closer than Andrew’s church.
Bianca also attended the same church as his siblings, so he was somewhat relieved that he didn’t see her there. Despite his relief, part of him still wished he’d seen her or Daisy. How were they doing? Did they miss him the way he missed them? he wondered as he drove back home and to the weekly Sunday afternoon BBQ at his parents’ house.
SMOKE BILLOWED IN THE air when he transferred raw steaks from the tray to the grill. The full size grill by the pergola was better to use when barbecuing for several people.
The smell of gas mixed with freshly cut grass permeated the air around him. On the deck at the house, Leila and Renee assembled bowls of food on card tables. Bianca would be with the ladies, helping them set up for their company.
The happy sound of children playing pulled Andrew’s attention to the pool at the far side of the yard. Water splashed out of the pool as kids dove in. Ignoring the splashing, Andrew’s friend Levi served his beverages to the kids and adults who stopped by his beverage stand by the poolside.
The sound of children’s laughter stirred up a painful memory of the little girl who should be a part of the fun. At least I don't have to get wet. Daisy would've wanted him to jump in the pool with her and all the other kids. It didn’t matter what he wanted or didn't want anymore, did it?
His phone vibrated, and he tugged it from the pocket of his cargo shorts. He squinted against the afternoon sun to see the caller. His realtor.
“Drew!” The enthusiastic greeting sounded before Andrew could say hello.
“What's up, Cox?”
“You’ve got the Fort Rock house. Can you believe it? You’ve got the house!”
The Fort Rock house he’d bid on was in his siblings’ neighborhood, not on the same street, but close enough that he could walk to their houses and ride his bike to work.
Bianca would be happy to get the news. She liked the expansive backyard that she thought would be good for a vegetable garden.
His chest tightened when he was suddenly hit with the bitter reality. Neither Bianca nor Daisy were part of his future anymore. He would end up stuck with a big house, all alone.
Ezra walked toward him, an empty tray in hand.
“You’re happy about this...right?” Cox’s voice came from the other end of the line after Andrew’s lengthy silence.
He raked a hand through his hair. “Yeah...yes.” He was going to pay more than he’d budgeted for a house, but he was too disheartened to keep searching for homes. “I’ll take it.”
“Great!” Cox said. “I’ll stay in touch to discuss closing dates once I get all the details.”
“Thanks.” Andrew said and hung up. He pocketed his phone and turned to his brother.
“Looks like you’re about to burn these steaks.” Ezra flipped the meat.
Andrew ignored his brother’s comment. “I got the house.”
Ezra blinked and set down the tongs. “The one in our neighborhood?”
Andrew nodded.
His brother’s grin warmed Andrew’s heart, making him temporarily forget his deep problems. “Too bad you’re not cool enough to end up on Lincoln Street,” Ezra said.
Andrew felt light as he stacked a batch of medium-rare steaks on the tray. “No, thank you. Heard Lincoln has a reputation for bad neighbors...”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not too pumped up about the house?” Ezra arched an eyebrow. “Everything okay?”
Everything was always okay with him, except it wasn’t okay. He lifted a shoulder. “Yeah, why shouldn’t it be?”
“That’s always the problem with you,” Ezra said. “You don’t have to be okay. It's fine if you’re not okay sometimes.”
There was no need to pretend anymore. He said, “I could really use a bright side.” Anything to cheer him up or give him hope. He opened his mouth to ask Ezra if he’d seen Bianca and Daisy this week, but then decided against asking. What was the point? He clamped his lips shut.
As if reading his mind, Ezra said, “Don’t worry about Bianca, she will come around. You’re the first person she’s dated since her husband’s death. She’s probably scared. Your job hits close to home.”
It hadn’t crossed Andrew’s mind that his job might be a major factor for her fears. She’d brought up his job from time to time, but Andrew hadn’t given it any more thought.
“What a terrible way to live, in fear,” he said. He should've done something to help ease her fears, but what? “I’m terrible with romance, you know that?”
Ezra chuckled. “You've always been the love expert.”
“Not when it comes to my personal life, I guess,” Andrew said. “The break up with Callie, and now Bianca.” He lifted the well done steaks from the grill and piled them on the tray.
“Boys!” They both turned when Dad’s voice bellowed across the yard. “Are those steaks coming anytime soon?”
“Coming right up,” Ezra said, then turned to Andrew, slapping him on the shoulder. “Go talk to her.”
He’d been too pushy, perhaps. That strategy had worked best for ev
erything else he did, but not for Bianca. “Been doing that for the last six months, and look where it got me.”
“That’s what you told me once or twice when I had a falling out with Leila—to find out what exactly is wrong. D misses you.”
I miss her, too, and her mom. “Yours and Leila’s situation was different...an argument. Ours was not even anything.” Whatever it was he had no idea. “Do you know what rejection does to a man’s ego?”
Ezra lifted the tray off the side of the grill and Andrew fell into step with him. They walked across the freshly cut grass toward the deck, where several tables had been set up. “It's not easy being in your shoes, man, but a little humility is always good for us.”
Andrew elbowed his brother. “Good advice, Dad.”
Truth be told, this was a humbling experience for Andrew. Who was he to stop God from teaching him life’s lessons? God, I know that You’re in control, and You’re writing the story of my life.
Just like other times he’d lost his way, or been knocked down, with God’s help, he’d somehow managed to get back up. He prayed it wasn’t too late for him to get back up again.
CHAPTER 22
Thick, black smoke obscured the late evening sky as Andrew and his team hurriedly ushered the last of the tenants from the blazing apartments. Frazzled families swarmed a safe distance away, coughing and consoling each other as they watched the orange flames consuming the three story building.
No way I’m sending any of my guys into that building. At least the tenants had all been safely evacuated.
Andrew pressed the button on his radio to contact the hose team. “Levi, everyone’s out. Let’s just hit it from the outside,” he ordered when it crackled to life. He stared at the billowing black clouds and muttered, “This fire’s going to be a challenge.”
AS THREE MEN SCURRIED past Andrew with the hose, a commotion stirred from the crowd behind him. People yelled frantically over each other, making it hard for Andrew to understand what they were saying.
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