Hope's River

by McHeyzer , Margaret

  I kind of cringe. I’ve made a business decision without talking to Charlie. Although this isn’t Charlie’s business, he is my right-hand man. He runs these flips for me and I trust him with not only my life, but with my money too. I walk over to Charlie, and hug him.

  “Okay, what’s going on?” He hesitantly returns the hug.

  Stepping back, I lower my gaze before lifting it to look him in the eyes. “A few things are happening.”

  “Like?” Charlie’s voice is tight, and skeptical. He steps back, and leans against the wall. “What have you done?”

  “I’m not selling the house.”

  Charlie narrows his eyes while clenching his jaw together. “What are you holding onto it for? Wasn’t the whole point for you to sell this, make some money and move on? Isn’t that what we always do?”

  “It is, and we’re still going to make money.”

  “Is the market here down and you want to keep it until it picks up?”

  I purse my lips together and tilt my head to the side. “Not exactly.”

  “Well, come on. Stop being a snot and tell me what your plans are.” I look at Charlie. Did he really call me a snot? As if he’s answering my unasked question, he nods and adds, “Yes, I called you a snot. What’s going on? Are we moving in here? What?”

  “Well, I’ve got an idea.”

  “For God’s sake, spit it out will ya?”

  For the next fifteen minutes Charlie’s mouth goes from closed, to slightly open, to fully open. “So?” I ask.

  As I explain my idea to Charlie, he pulls his shoulders back, as a proud, wide smile lights up his face. Yeah, he’s on board. “I think I know someone who we can trust,” he says.

  “You do?”

  “Yep, let me make a call.” Walking away from me, he takes his phone out of his pocket. The house is large, and bare, making it easy to hear the low murmurs of his distorted conversation. I know he’s speaking to someone, but not sure who. He returns within a few moments, with a sparkle in his eyes and his chest puffed out. “We’ve got a dinner date tonight.”

  “Yeah? Who with?”

  Charlie’s chin is high, and his shoulders are back. Cheeky bastard. He’s holding out on me.

  When Charlie told me what he was thinking, I couldn’t agree more with his decision. We’re not business partners, but this is a family business.

  Sitting here, there’s so much tension at the table. Tabitha keeps looking down at her plate, and Charlie seems distracted by something. Shit, was this a bad decision?

  “May, this is beautiful,” I say as I help myself to another helping of mashed potato and greens.

  “Tabitha made the roast chicken,” May says giving Tabitha credit.

  “It was nothing,” Tabitha says as she smiles at me, and gives Charlie a quick side glance. She flips her hair out of her way, and I hear a low grumble come from Charlie.

  Hang on, has something happened between Tabitha and Charlie? Note to self: ask Charlie when we’re alone. Side note to self: keep my nose out of it, it’s not my business. Second side note to self: find out what I’m getting myself into. Triple side note to self: kill Charlie if he’s been an ass toward Tabitha and makes me look like a fool.

  “So, the reason Charlie and I invited ourselves over for dinner is because we have some news,” I say.

  “Oh really? How wonderful. Did you sell Old Roger’s house?” May asks with genuine enthusiasm.

  “No, not exactly. Actually, we’re not going to sell it,” Charlie says.

  May looks at Tabitha, then to me. May scratches at her head, and Tabitha’s head tilts to the side. They’re both confused. “What are you doing with it?” May asks. “I thought you said you were going to fix it, then sell it. Did something change?”

  Charlie and I exchange knowing glances. “Actually, a lot has happened,” Charlie says, still smiling.

  “Well hurry up, I’m not getting any younger here!” May snaps.

  “I’m not selling Old Roger’s house. Instead, I’m going to turn it into a bed and breakfast with a function area. And I need a chef, someone who can run the kitchen, and help out in front until we can find someone to run it full-time.” I pointedly look over to Tabitha.

  “Me? I’m just a chef though.”

  “A bed and breakfast? How wonderful.” May claps her hands together.

  “I only need you to help us get started with the bed and breakfast. In the meantime, I’ll interview some people to run the it.”

  “Tabitha, this is wonderful news. I’m so happy. Please, please, please, consider this,” May begs.

  “I…I don’t know.” Tabitha’s tight expression tells me she’s skeptical. “I’m not sure if I’m the right person.” Suddenly, she has no confidence in herself. This totally surprises me because she’s always been so assertive in the past.

  Shit, I don’t want her to retreat. “I need the help, and your food is amazing. Please?”

  Tabitha looks down at her plate with a tight expression, but she clears her throat before giving me a small nod. She licks her lips, before pursing her mouth tightly together.

  Charlie exhales from beside me, and I can’t help but really wonder what’s going on with these two.

  “Now, um. May, I hope it’s okay, but can Charlie and I stay on in the stable please?”

  “You pay your rent so I don’t mind. Weren’t you going to leave Hope River?”

  “We were,” Charlie says. “But both of us have changed our minds.” Tabitha looks up to Charlie, and her nose twitches before she offers both of us a smile.

  Holy shit, something is happening between them.

  “The county called me a couple of weeks ago, and wanted a meeting with me,” I start saying. “You know over in Faith Haven where all those houses have been abandoned?”

  May scrunches her nose, and makes an eeeek, sound. “Oh, Faith Haven? Where exactly in Faith Haven? You know, that’s not a pleasant area. There’s a lot of homelessness, and squatters. Gee, Hope, I’m hoping you haven’t gone and bought a house there to flip. I think it’ll be a waste of your money. No one will want to buy the house you’ll work so hard to transform.”

  “Not exactly. I haven’t bought a house there, no. The county and I have made an arrangement. They’re giving me a row of houses on Oak Tree Parade, five houses on one side, so I can transform them and sell them. If the city is happy with what I do, then they’ll give me the houses on the other side too.”

  May looks to Tabitha. Both narrow their eyes as if something doesn’t add up. “They’re giving you five houses?” Tabitha asks.

  “They are.”

  “As in, the houses are just given to you?” she asks, still unsure.

  “There is a catch, and we worked out some fine print.”

  “What’s the catch?” May sets her fork down, and leans her elbows on the table, completely invested in what Charlie and I will be doing here.

  “The catch is, the city receives fifteen percent of sale prices.”

  “What about the homeless people who use them to squat in?” Tabitha asks. “Although we rarely get snow in winter, it’s still cold and they’ll have nowhere else to seek shelter.”

  “Charlie and I aren’t about to toss those people out anywhere. So, we compromised with the county, and over on Garnet Way in Faith Haven, there’s an old, vacant gym that’s been closed and boarded up for a while. The county is paying us to make that into a shelter for the homeless. Charlie and I will be starting the renovation of Garnet Way next week. It won’t take us long, because it doesn’t need to be stripped down. We’re putting a deadline on it of six weeks.”

  “Six weeks? Is that enough?” May asks.

  “The county has stepped up, and they’re offering us help. So, yeah, it should be. It’s quite straightforward. But, Tabitha, once it’s done, I’d like you to spearhead a food program to help transition the homeless who do call those houses home, over to Garnet Way.”

  May stares at me. “I don’t understand why
the county is doing this.” Shit, is May offended? “I mean, it’s a great idea, but why now?”

  “Because they’ve been keeping an eye on what Charlie and I have done with Old Roger’s house, and they think this is exactly what’s needed to advance Hope River, and the rest of the county. They told me they want more families coming here, and the only way they can do that is by making it appealing. The houses will be starter homes for younger families to settle in.”

  May sits back in her chair, with a wide smile. “I’ve lived in Hope River all my life. Matter of fact, I’ve never left.” She looks around her beautiful dining room. “As you know, this home belonged to my mama and papa, and now it’s mine, and one day, it’ll be yours, Tabitha. And in all my life, I’ve never been prouder to be a resident of Hope River.”

  “Aunt May.” Tabitha reaches across the table, and places her hand over May’s.

  “You’re not a resident, May, you’re a local treasure to the people here in Hope River. I think everyone is blessed to have you in their lives,” I say.

  May takes her hand from Tabitha’s, and reaches for mine. “I think it’s time you both called me Gran,” May says.

  Stupid dust mites. May wants Charlie and I to call her Gran. I’m so damn lucky. “Thank you,” I croak as I unsuccessfully attempt to hold in the tears.

  “Thank you,” Charlie says in a strangled tone. Shit, even he’s affected.

  “Now, tell me, what’s happening with that boy, girly.” Gran moves her hand to pick her fork up and continue eating.

  “I told her she’s a jerk,” Charlie responds going back to his smart-ass tone. He leans back in his chair, and crosses his arms in front of his chest, proudly.

  “Yes, she is,” May…I mean Gran says. “She needs to go after that boy, and tell him she ain’t leaving and he’s stuck with her.”

  “She needs a big gesture for him to know she’s his. A huge romantic, sweet gesture,” Tabitha chimes in while staring ahead whimsically.

  “You know I’m sitting right here!”

  “You better get your act together, girly. A boy as nice as him won’t be around forever.” Exact words River told me. “It don’t look to me like you’re fighting for him.”

  “I don’t have to compete with anyone, because he told me he’s done with me.”

  “Oh hogwash.” Gran flicks her hand at me. “That boy loves you.”

  “That’s what I said,” Charlie echoes.

  “He’s waiting on you to pull that stubborn head out of your ass and tell him you love him!” Gran says.

  “I said that too,” Charlie says.

  I flick an irritated look at him. “Brown-nose,” I spit toward him. He cheekily smiles. Cocky bastard.

  “You need a lesson in humility, girly.”

  “She just needs to be honest with him. In all the years I’ve been coming to Hope River, I’ve never seen or heard anything bad about him. Actually, he’s a bit of an introvert. He’s a good guy, and you’re a damn fine woman, Hope. You’re also smart, and really hot. You’ve got a brain, make it work for you,” Tabitha says.

  I pour myself a glass of wine and mull over everything the three are saying.

  I’m truly blessed and eternally grateful. My career is in the best shape it’s ever been. Now I have to figure out how to make River see that he and I belong together. And that I won’t ever flake out on him again.

  He’s mine.

  I’m his.

  My heart is rapidly fluttering and my stomach rumbles with uncertainty. Excitement and nervousness both bubble through my veins. My skin tingles and I pick the folder up and try to fan myself as I drive.

  This is ridiculous. I shouldn’t be so terrified, but I am. What if he yells at me, then slams the door in my face? I can’t make him love me. I can’t make him want me.

  Oh shit, I feel sick. I’m going to throw up.

  I pull over on the side of the road, put the truck into park, open the door and jump out.

  “What am I doing?” I say as I bend at the waist, grabbing hold of my knees while I take in deep breaths. Straightening, I look up at the moon, trying to find confidence to do what I have to.

  I can hear the ocean waves from where I’ve pulled over on the side of the road. River’s house is only a few minutes away, but I have to get this nervousness out of me. Placing my hand to my chest, I close my eyes. “I need strength. Please.”

  The sound of the ocean washes over me and starts to calm my frantic mind. “Live in the moment, Hope. Live in the moment,” I say to myself.

  I get back into my truck, and take one more deep mind-clearing breath. I start my truck, and head down to River’s house. Pulling into his driveway, I turn the truck off and stare at his. Lifting my gaze, I notice he’s standing out on the deck, looking out to the ocean. How has he not seen me? Or, has he seen me and he’s ignoring me?

  I lower my head to the steering wheel, and just breathe. My confidence is completely shot. Biting on the inside of my cheek, I notice the pain in my hands. Damn it, my fists are clenched so tight, I can barely straighten my fingers.

  Ugh, just do it. Get up there, and tell him.

  Lifting my head, I notice River’s nowhere to be seen. Panicked, I look to my right in a frenzy in case he’s left, but his truck is still here.

  I look over to the passenger seat, and scoop the bright blue folder off of it. Staring forward, I tap my hand on my leg as it bounces up and down. The folder now laying on my leg jiggles with the tempo of my nerves.

  “I can do this,” I say as I take one final deep breath, pull my shoulders back, and find some God damned courage. “What’s the worst that can happen?” I ask. My voice squeaks in defiance of my mind.

  Yeah, well the worst that can happen is he slams the door on my face, and I’m stuck in a town where the only man I love refuses to have anything to do with me.

  “Shit, Hope. Yeah, that sounds bad,” I scold myself. And just like a light-bulb sparks my mind alive, another thought brightly appears. “The worst that can happen is I’ll never know if I don’t go up there and try.”

  I’d rather live a life knowing he no longer loves me, than a life of regret. Something May has been adamant about.

  “Right.” I’ll never know if I don’t get out of my truck. With the folder tucked under my arm, I leave the bubble of my truck, and walk up the steps to his front door. There’s a tightness in my stomach as my blood pulsates through my veins. I hesitantly lift my hand, and knock on his door.

  River answers the door nearly instantly. He locks eyes with me for a second, before lowering them then looking back up. “Hope,” he says flatly. Oh shit. He brings his brows together, before relaxing his forehead. “Are you okay? What do you need?”

  Jesus, he’s so cold toward me. I deserve it though, after everything I’ve put him through. “I’ve come to make you an offer,” I say as I clutch the blue folder tighter to my chest.

  He leans against the door, still not inviting me in. The corners of his mouth slightly turn up. “An offer, eh?”

  I look down to the folder, and nod. Shit, this is really hard. My body trembles as I wait for him to do something, anything. “Can I come in?” I finally ask after what seems like hours of standing at his front door.

  River sighs loudly. “I suppose,” he replies coldly.

  Now, confronted with reality, I think this offer is stupid and immature, and he’s going to laugh in my face. Oh my God, what the hell am I doing here? River steps aside, and waits for me to come in. I can’t even look him in the eye as I walk past him. I walk over to the glass sliders, and look out to the beautiful, calming ocean. I hear the door close, and the latch click.

  “So, what offer do you have?” he asks as I hear one of the chairs scrapes against the floor.

  Turning, I’m confronted by River sitting tall at the table. He indicates I should join him. Sitting on the seat River’s gestured to, I place the file on the table, and straighten my back. “This is an offer,” I start with a trembling vo
ice.

  “Okay.” He looks at the folder again, then me. Jesus, he’s giving me nothing. Not a damn thing.

  I begin fanning myself, suddenly overcome with a fireball of heat. “I should go,” I say as I stand, scooping the stupid offer up from the table, and heading toward the door. I quickly unlatch the door, and slightly open it, before River reaches around, and slams the door shut. I can feel the heat rolling off him. He’s so close to me.

  “No, you shouldn’t.” My heart is crazily thundering inside my chest, as my breath hitches. He leaves his hand against the door, and brings his other arm up, trapping me between him and the door. His body is pushing up against my back. I can feel every part of him on me. “Talk to me,” he whispers against my ear. Something wet touches my lobe, and I close my eyes and melt into him. “What do you want to say to me?” He thrusts his pelvis against me.

  Run, run away before he hurts you.

  No, never again. He won’t hurt me. “I’ve got something for you,” I say trying to keep my mind together, but my damn body is totally loving his hunger toward me.

  He lowers his left hand, and runs it up from my upper thigh, to my hip where he possessively grips me. Shit yeah. “What do you want, Hope?”

  “You,” I blurt without even a second of hesitation.

  “Bullshit. You run before it even has a moment to start,” he says as he steps closer, pushing me up against the door. His hand moves up under my shirt to grip my breast.

  I swallow hard, trying to keep my mind together. “I won’t run,” I say as I close my eyes, and lean my head back against his chest.

  “You always run.” He slips his hand inside my bra, and pinches my nipple making me cry out in pain and pleasure. “Do you just want a fuck?” He quickly removes his hand, and forces it down inside my jeans.

  “Yes. No. I mean, shit.” He plunges a finger inside me, and I grind against his hand, desperate for a release. I thrust my hips against his fingers, and River keeps the tempo smooth and slow. “Faster,” I plead. He kisses my neck, stopping only for him to lick and bite. Fuck, when did he learn to do that with his mouth? And his hand, oh my God, this feels amazing. Suddenly, River stops and moves away from me. “What? No. What are you doing?” I plead as I turn to see him stepping backward away from me. “Don’t stop there.”