She angled him a stern look. “I can’t let you do that.” She’d never even let Dan pay for anything for her or Alyssa. Not that he’d ever offered, now that she thought about it.
He matched her stern expression, even copying the angle of her head. “Consider it my first order as your new boss. I can’t have my newest employee getting sick on the job. Look at it as an advance. I’ll take it out of your first check.” He winked and stretched the bill closer to her.
She glanced down and studied his hand, brown and broad with long, blunt fingers. Her focus honed in on the number in the corner of the bill.
He was offering to help her. She couldn’t remember the last time someone other than Kylen or Taysia had offered to help her. She was the all-sufficient single mother who worked full-time and then some to provide for her little girl. And God had blessed her with a great boss and odd jobs where she could keep Alyssa with her.
But the thought of simply letting that self-sufficiency go, even for just a little bit, was spring sunshine after a long gray winter. It would definitely not be hard to let a man like this take care of her. But…there were so many complications. Not the least of which was that Reece deserved a woman who was more suitable for him.
So…she would compromise. She’d accept his help, but only because it was an advance against a paycheck. This was business. Slowly, she reached out and slipped the money from between his fingers, being careful not to touch him. “Just a loan, then.” She glanced up to meet his perusal once more. “And thank you.”
“Of course.” He nodded, but there was a hint of something more in his green eyes flecked with gold. A hint of something oh so enticing.
She fled before she slipped up and revealed any of the crazy, mixed-up jumble of emotions tumbling through her. The pharmacy had her prescriptions all ready, and it only took her a couple minutes to get back to the truck. She tried to hand him the change.
He shook his head. “It will be easier to deduct a round number from your check, so just keep the change, for now, please.” Reece reached into a little cooler behind his seat and handed her an unopened water bottle as he pulled out of the parking lot.
“Thanks.” She tucked the bills and change into her wallet, poured the prescribed dosage of both painkiller and antibiotics into her palm, and swallowed them down, unable to deny that having her finger stop throbbing, even for a little bit, would be a relief.
After the promised stop at the Thrift and Save, where Reece even kept his word and let her pay for the pickles, Marie found herself swallowing a lump of uneasiness as he pulled to a stop in the Serenity Shores driveway fifteen minutes out of town.
She’d only been here a few times when she and Reece had dated. She’d always been a bit intimidated by the large home, even though she’d absolutely loved the eclectic décor. But it was Mrs. Cahill who’d really made her nervous. She’d never gotten the impression the woman was too pleased Reece was dating her—and with good reason, she supposed. It was no less than she deserved, right? Many of the church ladies gave her the feeling she’d never quite match up. But that was only as it should be, considering the type of person she’d been. She tried to remind herself the only thing that mattered was that Jesus loved and accepted her just the way she was, rotten past and all. And His love was all she needed.
Still, the fact that Mrs. Cahill had handed invitations to several around her in the church foyer, while studiously avoiding her gaze, had actually hurt a little. Most of the time she was able to steer clear of Reece’s mom at church, since they attended different services, but here at the bed-and-breakfast…they were bound to meet. And chances were high Mrs. Cahill was going to be far from pleased to find her crashing this party.
She swallowed. “Reece. I’m not so sure this is a good idea.”
He reached over and settled one hand on her shoulder. “I would really like for you to stay. But if you want, I can try to find someone to take you home. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
The weight of his hand was somehow comforting. There were people who accepted her despite her mistakes from the past. She was being overanxious. There was no need for someone to go out of their way to take her home. She took a breath. She could do this. Reece wanted her here. Kylen and Taysia would be here, she hoped. And Dan would certainly be here. He never passed up the opportunity for free food, and he’d told her he’d been invited.
“Mommy, are we at the party?”
Marie glanced at Reece and hoped he could see the appreciation in her eyes. She mouthed, “Thank you,” before responding to Alyssa. “Yes, baby.” She forced herself to undo her seat belt and climb down from the truck.
As she helped Alyssa down from her booster seat in the back, she noticed there were already several other cars parked in the drive and along the street. She recognized Kylen’s red Mustang and eased out a breath of relief. So Taysia would be here to keep her company.
Reece appeared at her side, carrying the paper bag with the pickle jars in it.
Marie glanced from Alyssa to the clear, blue, still-sunny skies. “Is it okay if I just leave Alyssa’s coat out here? I might need to get the keys from you to come get it later if it cools off too much.”
“Of course. No problem.” He smiled and then turned to Alyssa and waggled his eyebrows. “You ready for some food? My mom makes a pretty mean chocolate cake! And there will be carrot cake too.”
Alyssa wrinkled her nose as she scrambled down from the truck. “Carrot cake? Yuck! I want chocate!” Suddenly she froze in her tracks, and a huge frown creased her pudgy little brow. “Mommy, do I like mean chocate?”
Marie couldn’t help a chuckle, and Reece joined her. She rested her hand in the middle of Alyssa’s back, nudging her forward. “A mean chocolate cake is just one that’s really yummy is all.”
“Oh!” The little girl gasped with delight. “A dog!”
Loping toward them across the lawn was a beautiful golden retriever.
Marie shook her head at the rapidity with which her daughter could change the subject.
“That’s Tawny. Hey, Tawny, girl.” Reece reached down and ruffled a silky ear. “Do you want to pet her?”
Alyssa fisted her little hands together uncertainly. “Does it bite?”
“No. Tawny’s a very nice dog.”
As if to prove his point, Tawny got right into Alyssa’s face and tried to lick her.
Alyssa squealed and darted to Marie, clambering up into her arms, where she looked down to study the panting dog from a safe distance.
“Alyssa, honey, it’s okay. Dogs do that. She’s just trying to give you a doggy kiss.” She glanced at Reece. “Sorry. She hasn’t been around dogs before.”
Reece shrugged and gave her a subtle wink, then bent and patted Tawny’s head as he met Alyssa’s gaze. “It’s okay. Tawny will be here all night, and I bet she’ll have you”—he reached over and pinched one of Alyssa’s cheeks, eliciting a giggle—“wrapped around her wagging tail by the time the night is through. Come on, let’s get inside.”
Alyssa squirmed as they started to walk. “But I want to pet the doggy now!”
Reece grinned at Marie. “I remember you always faced your fears head-on, too.”
Her stomach churned a little at the reminder of the time he and some of the guys from school had talked her into jumping off one of the nearby cliffs into the ocean. She’d done it once, just to prove she could, but she’d never gone back and done it again. She offered him a weak nod.
He held the bag of pickles toward her and gestured to Alyssa. “Trade me?”
“Sure.” She accepted the bag and handed Alyssa off to him.
Reece squatted in front of Tawny and settled Alyssa onto one leg. “Sit, girl.”
The dog obeyed, her tongue lolling and her huge brown eyes fixed solely on Reece.
“Watch me now,” he said to Alyssa as he slid a hand over Tawny’s head and stroked one ear. “See? She’s really nice.”
Alyssa still had her little hand
s curled up under her chin in uncertainty.
Marie wanted to reassure her, but stopped herself. Reece was doing a fantastic job of encouraging her but not pushing her too hard. And it would do Alyssa some good to get adult input from someone besides her this time. Not to mention how wonderful it was to watch the two of them together.
Reece studied Alyssa’s clenched fists for a moment, then asked her, “Are you afraid to touch her?”
Alyssa hesitated, but then nodded.
“Why?”
“She might bite me!”
Reece continued to pet the dog, who had now turned her studious expression toward Alyssa but was sitting very patiently and quietly as if she understood the whole scenario. “Do you trust me?”
Alyssa shrugged.
Marie bit back a grin even as she saw Reece do the same.
“Well…” Reece slanted Marie a quick wink before focusing on Alyssa once more. “Do you think I would lie to you?”
“Lying’s wrong.” Alyssa gave a definitive dip of her head, but she didn’t take her eyes off Tawny.
Reece nodded. “Yes, it is. And I would never lie to you. Tawny might lick you, but she would never bite you.”
“Lick me!?” Alyssa leaned back hesitantly. “Why would she lick me?”
“Well. I guess it’s Tawny’s way of giving kisses. She only kisses people she likes. So what do you think? Do you want to pet her?”
Alyssa still hesitated.
Marie was just about to say they should move on and Alyssa could try again another time, but Reece spoke again before she could.
“How about if you stand right here”—he gestured to the spot between his knees—“and I’ll help you pet her and keep her from licking you?”
Without hesitation Alyssa slipped off his leg to stand where he’d indicated. But she scooted back as close to Reece’s chest as she could manage before nodding she was ready.
Marie pressed her lips together and blinked back tears. Partly because of pride that Alyssa was willing to face her fears, but more because she’d never seen her daughter take to a man so quickly before, and it was simply devastating to know she’d ruined her daughter’s chances at ever having such a wonderful father a long time ago by her own stupid choices.
Not because she didn’t want a guy like him in their lives, but because a guy like him deserved someone who’d served the Lord her whole life and done things right. Waited for marriage. Possessed a little more innocence than she did. Okay, a lot more.
Tawny held her head perfectly still as Reece helped Alyssa reach her little hand out to pet the soft golden coat. At the first stroke of her palm against fur, Alyssa giggled.
Reece leaned over her shoulder and peered at her. “See? Fun, huh? I’m proud of you for being so brave!”
Marie swallowed and wished her estimation of the man wasn’t resprouting so quickly. She glanced around. Where was Dan, anyway? “I’ll just run these pickles into the kitchen. Alyssa, stay with Reece for a minute, okay?”
A squeal of laughter was all the response Marie got from her daughter as Tawny swiped a tongue toward her face and Reece bumped the dog away with the command to stop. A grin firmly in place, Reece glanced up and gave Marie a nod to let her know they would be fine. He held her gaze for a beat, peering at her over Alyssa’s shoulder, his grin fading into something more intimate.
Warmth cocooned her like one of the heated throws they’d had at the ski lodge her mother used to take her to.
She pulled in a slow breath, and it took all her willpower to break eye contact. “I’ll just…” She lifted the bag and spun on one heel.
As she beat a hasty retreat for the house, she swallowed and fisted one hand. No matter how badly she was tempted to go down that road again, she must resist. For his sake. Maybe he didn’t remember exactly what she’d been like? He certainly didn’t understand what a pariah she would make of him to the church people if he started dating her. And she certainly didn’t need all the drama which would go along with a good man like Reece showing an interest in her.
Dan was different. He’d been a lot like her. Everyone seemed content to let them have each other. She just wished she felt more for him. But love was a choice, right? She could learn to love him. And he was really good with Alyssa too.
At the thought of her daughter, Marie was reminded once again that come a week from tomorrow, she needed to have a new babysitter. Dread dropped into her stomach. What was she going to do about that? In the small town of Marinville, there weren’t a whole lot of options when it came to childcare. Alyssa had been in the one and only preschool down on Main for a while, but she’d constantly gotten sick, and Marie had been so thankful when Mrs. Hernandez had said she’d love to watch her.
Marie sighed. She’d asked everyone she could think of, and no one was able to do it. She’d make a few last efforts to find someone; otherwise she was going to have to reenroll Alyssa in the preschool.
The doors to the stone entryway which welcomed everyone to the grand log home stood wide open, and Marie was suddenly second-guessing her decision to bring the pickles to the kitchen. In her hurry to get away from Reece, what if she bumped into his mother?
Cautiously, she stepped onto the natural stone slate. She paused in a moment of awe. She’d forgotten how lovely the honey tones of the well-maintained walls were. Above her a huge chandelier, made from dropped elk horns intertwined together, shone golden light onto the framed original oils of the Pacific at sunset. The entry table was one solid piece of pine with a beautiful dark grain brought out by the natural varnish. A large mirror hung above it, and Marie caught sight of her pale features.
Best she just get on with it. The sooner she left these in the kitchen and made her escape, the less likely she was to be discovered.
She remembered the kitchen lay to her right, and headed down a hallway past the large formal dining room, noting the delicious bounty overflowing on the table. Her stomach rumbled rather loudly. She pressed a hand to it and tossed a glance behind her. Still no sign of Mrs. Cahill, thankfully.
She poked her head into the large dream kitchen.
Across the wide granite-topped island, Reece’s mother looked up and stilled with her hands frozen above the bowl of lettuce she was tearing. “Marie!”
Marie cringed inwardly at the aversion in her tone. There had been no time to evade her scrutiny. But of course. Based on how this day had gone so far, she should have known.
“Hi, Mrs. Cahill.” She was thankful her voice didn’t waver as she lifted the paper bag of pickle jars. “Reece and I picked these up at the store.”
Darlene Cahill’s lips thinned in decided distaste. “You can set them on the corner there.” She resumed her tearing, and by the caliber of her movements, Marie could easily imagine the woman visualizing the removal of her head.
It was obvious Darlene wanted better for Reece than a girl like her. Little did Mrs. Cahill know how much Marie wanted that for him also.
The jars clinked together as she set the bag down. “Is there something I can help you with?” The least she could do was offer help. After all, she could hardly fault the woman for not wanting her to be around her son.
“No. I think I’m just about done. Thanks just the same.” Darlene never met Marie’s eyes.
Marie rubbed her hands down the sides of her jeans. “Okay. I’ll just head back out, then. Thanks for having m—everyone over. I’m sure Reece is thankful.”
The woman did look up then. She gave a little snort and then resumed her annihilation of the lettuce.
Marie took the hint and left her alone.
Her stomach had clenched up so tight during the exchange Marie felt a physical pain. Reece had been wrong. His mother definitely did not want her here tonight. She should just find someone to take her home.
The scent of barbequed burgers and sausage links drew her through the living room toward the large French doors that led onto the back patio on the ocean side of the house.
The hospital
bed in the living room halted her. Mr. Cahill looked so frail and thin-skinned. His sparse hair fanned out around his head like a halo. The patio doors were open, and he was looking out over the ocean. He must have seen her out of the corner of his eye, though, because he swung his head her way. His eyes lit up. “Marie!” Her name sounded garbled through the oxygen mask over his face, but his tone undeniably held more welcome than his wife’s had. He stretched a hand out to her, and a smile lit his green eyes. Reece had definitely gotten his eyes from his father.
Marie stepped forward and took the vein-etched hand, offering a smile of her own. “Hi, Mr. Cahill. I’m so sorry to hear how sick you’ve become. I’ve been praying for you.”
He waved a hand to brush away her concern. “The Lord has given me a lot of good years. Who am I to question the portal He uses to bring me home?” He kept ahold of her and tugged her closer.
Marie clasped her thumb around his and curled her fingers over the back of his hand. She leaned her elbows on the side rail of his bed. He’d always liked her more than his wife had.
“So…” He quirked an eyebrow so much like Reece often did. “You here with my boy?”
Marie tilted her head and took in the twinkle in his lively eyes. Her lips tipped into a smile. “Yes. But no.”
An anemic chuckle slipped from him. “Well, since he’s only been home a day, I suppose I should give it some time, huh?”
He was so sweet. Where Darlene had more often than not set her on edge, Dave Cahill had a way of making her feel like she was special and important. “Thank you for always being so kind to me.”
He nodded. “It’s easy to be kind to a woman I hope will one day be my daughter.”
Tears pricked her eyes. She really should tell him that would never happen, but she couldn’t bring herself to shatter his hopes. She bent forward and placed a kiss on his forehead. “You’re so sweet.”
“Hey. How is it you can always figure out a way to wrangle a kiss from a pretty lady, Dad?”
Marie’s heart stuttered even as she glanced up to see Reece striding in from the patio. She chuckled and stepped back from Dave, swiping tears from under her eyes.
Caught in the Current (Pacific Shores Book 2) Page 5