Jack cleared his throat and shook his head. “But Derik saw the hurting, and he tried his best to help her through it. I won’t lie to you. When she died, we buried a piece of him right alongside her. Those two were joined at the hip from the very beginning. I love Derik like a son. He’s been a part of our family since they met. Now, he and the boys are the only family I’ve got left, and I’m mighty thankful I have them.” He took a long sip of coffee. “But that’s the past. That life is over. Mary Ann’s gone. I’m not going to say we don’t all miss her and think about her, but life has to go on without her.”
He stood, refilled their cups, then returned to his seat. “I can tell by watching you two that Derik loves you, just like you love him. And anyone can see those boys love you. These guys need you, Kelly. Not to fix them or to save them, that isn’t your job. The boys need someone to love them as they grow. Derik needs someone to share his life. That man still has a lot of love to give to the right person. And I think that person just might be you. I haven’t seen his eyes light up like they do now since before Mary Ann got sick. And from what Derik’s told me, it sounds like you need him, too.”
He patted her arm again. “Don’t worry about what I think or how I feel. You worry about what you feel and think. That’s all that matters. Honey, I could tell two hours after being around the four of you, that you’re good together. You complement each other. You help each other. I could tell you love each other. And there’s nothing that makes this old heart gladder than to know that the people I love the most have found someone to love them. Be happy, Kelly. Whatever it takes, be happy. Take it from an old man who’s stood beside the graves of two of the most important people in his world, you don’t want to waste a minute of what time we have here on this earth. Not that you need it, but you have my blessing.”
She wiped a tear from her cheek. “Thank you, Jack. I don’t know where this relationship will go. I guess that’s up to Derik, but I promise you that I’ll do everything in my power to love them the best way I can, for as long as I can.”
“I never doubted it for a minute, darlin’. Never for a minute,” he said as he squeezed her hand.
The rest of the morning she took care of her chores, and he pitched in and helped. As noon approached, she began to prepare lunch. When Derik walked into the kitchen, he smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist, hugging her to him. She reached up and kissed him.
“Did you have a good morning?” he asked before stealing another kiss.
Jack walked into the kitchen. “We had a real nice morning. Except that woman of yours darn near worked me to death. Do you know she had me out there playing in the dirt? I think she was trying to tempt me into taking her fishing with all those worms.” He laughed as he placed his arm around her shoulders and hugged her.
Kelly put lunch on the table, and they took their time eating and visiting. When Derik returned to work, Jack wiped the table while she loaded the dishwasher.
“Kelly, what are your plans this afternoon?” Jack asked. “I’ve got something I’d like to do, and I’d sure enjoy your company, if you’ve got the time.”
“I’m free until the kids get off the bus. What did you need to do?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking. These last few days with the boys have made me realize how fast they are growing up and how much I miss them. I’m considering moving a little closer, if that’s okay with everyone, of course. I thought I might take a look at what’s available out there to rent or buy. Would you like to go house hunting with me?”
“Jack, that’s wonderful. Derik and the boys will be thrilled. This is going to be so much fun.” She clapped her hands in excitement.
“How about you? Will it be uncomfortable for you if I live closer? I won’t do this if it’s going to cause any problem with you and Derik.”
Kelly hugged Jack. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. Let’s get busy and find you a new home.”
They called a real estate agent, and Jack explained what he was interested in. The lady had a couple of houses she thought might be perfect.
Jack didn’t like either place they looked at that day. The agent promised to keep searching. When they returned home, he told Kelly he was discouraged, but not defeated.
That evening, as they sat around the dinner table, Derik asked, “What did Kelly have you doing this afternoon, Jack? Did she put you to work in the flowerbeds again?”
“As a matter of fact, I was the one who kept her busy. We went house hunting,” he said, watching Derik out of the corner of his eye.
Derik grinned. “Really? You’re really going to move? That’s great. You don’t know how happy I am to hear that.”
“You’re going to move here, Grandpa? Are you going to live with us?” Win said.
“No, if I move, I’ll find a house of my own. And I want to make sure I get one big enough for you boys to come over and spend a night or two. How would you like that?”
“Yeah. When are you going to move?” D.C. asked.
“It takes a while for someone to find a house they want to buy. And Grandpa would have to sell the one he has now. Those things take time,” Derik said.
The next day, the realtor called shortly after Derik left for work. She wanted to show them a place that had just come on the market. It was a three-bedroom house owned by an elderly couple who were doing the same thing Jack was doing, moving closer to their son. She gave them the address, and they agreed to meet there a few minutes later.
While Jack looked through the house, Kelly stood at the door looking at a shady backyard with two large trees and a cobblestone patio. There was a small shed in the corner.
“You like it too, don’t you?” Jack asked as he walked up beside her.
She nodded. “I do like it. I was just imagining the boys playing in that backyard. But my opinion isn’t the one that counts. What do you think?”
Jack saw the owner walking in the backyard. “I think I’m going to have a man-to-man talk,” he said as he stepped outside. Before Kelly could stop him, he was approaching the homeowner. She watched as Jack and the man shook hands. Within minutes, they’d assumed the same stance of arms crossed and eyes focused on the ground. Once in a while one would lift his head and nod at the other. They talked for several minutes then shook hands again. Jack came back to the house and said, “I’m ready to go. I’ll meet you at the car.”
They were quiet on the drive home. Jack stared out the window, deep in thought. When they got to the house, he sat at the table with a pad and pencil. After several minutes, Kelly slid a glass of tea in front of him and sat down with one of her own. “Okay, you’ve been pretty mysterious since talking with the homeowner back there. What did he say?”
“We talked about the house, our boys, and moving. He explained there’s a small leak in the shed if the wind blows hard during a storm, and the stove will need to be replaced in the next year or two. I told him I liked the house and thought it might be just what I’m looking for. He suggested the tree at the back of the yard was the best one for the boys to climb. He also agreed to include the riding mower in the deal.”
He pushed the pad toward Kelly. “I’ve been playing with some numbers, and I think I can do this. I’d like Derik to look at it, but I think I want to make an offer.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yep, I think that’s what I want to do. What do you think, Kelly? Give me a woman’s perspective.”
“I liked the house. I think the size would be good for you, not too big for one person to take care of, not so small you’d be tripping over yourself. The yard’s a nice size, but not too big. Any place you find has a risk of appliances breaking down, so that doesn’t concern me, but should be taken into consideration when you make your offer. I guess the bottom line is, I think this sounds like a darn good deal, and I say go for it.” She squeezed his hand and smiled.
&nb
sp; When they sat down for dinner that night, Jack cleared his throat and looked at Derik. “Kelly and I looked at another house today. It’s off Harrison Road, on the west side of town. Nice little place, big enough for what I want. The price sounds right. The owners are an older couple, and they want to move closer to their son and his family. I have an appointment with the agent to take another look at it in the morning. If you can get free, I’d like you to join us.”
The next day Derik met Jack and Kelly at the house. The men walked and talked as they went from room to room. Jack made an offer that afternoon. The following day the realtor called to tell them the offer had been accepted. He was buying a house.
Chapter 24
After signing the papers on the new house, Jack returned to his home to list his place on the market and begin making preparations for his move.
Derik, Kelly, and the boys spent the next three weekends helping him sort through years of possessions and prepare his house to sell. During one trip, Kelly took an empty box to the living room and began packing books. On the second shelf from the top, she found a beautiful white album with a picture of Derik and Mary Ann on the front cover.
She sat down and opened the book. The pictures began with the bride preparing for the ceremony: getting dressed, laughing with friends, hugging a woman Kelly assumed was her mother.
A photo of Jack and Mary Ann, both with tears in their eyes, took Kelly’s breath away. The photographer had caught a private moment between a father and his little girl, seconds before he walked her down the aisle.
After the formal pictures of the ceremony and reception, the remaining pages contained candid snapshots of the bride and groom. Mary Ann remained in her wedding gown and veil, but Derik had gradually adopted a more relaxed appearance. At first the bowtie was loosened and hanging from his neck. Then the jacket was removed. Sleeves were rolled to the elbow. The hair that had been so carefully combed in the photos of the ceremony now appeared rumpled.
The last picture was taken from behind the couple, as they sat on a bench, watching the sunset. Derik’s arm was draped along the back of the seat behind Mary Ann, her shoes dangling from his fingertips. Her head rested on his shoulder as his lips pressed a kiss on her hair. They didn’t appear aware of the photographer, or his camera. The love emanating from the page brought tears to Kelly’s eyes.
“We were exhausted, and our feet hurt. Neither one of us knew that picture had been taken until we got the proofs back,” Derik said from behind her.
“I’m sorry. I came across this while I was packing the books. I hope you don’t mind. How long have you been there?”
“Since the reception.” He nodded toward the album and sat beside her on the sofa. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen those. There’s an album just like it at the house somewhere, but I can’t tell you where.”
“It’s obvious you two were in love,” Kelly said as she ran her hand over the padded album cover. “The photographs are beautiful.”
“Yeah, we were.” He slid the book into his lap. He draped an arm around her shoulder and began flipping through the pictures. “It seems like a million years ago. Then again, it seems like yesterday.” After looking at a few pages, he closed the book and pulled Kelly closer to him. “But that was another lifetime, regardless of the number of years. My life’s different now. I’m not a young kid, fresh out of school. I’m a father of two sons. I’m a businessman with my own shop. And I’m crazy about you.” He kissed her, letting the album slide to the floor.
By Sunday, they’d packed everything Jack didn’t need access to on a daily basis. Kelly marked each box with the name of the room it would go to in the new house. When she caught Jack putting one of the frying pans in with the bathroom towels, she chased them all out of the room and said she would finish the packing. After the boxes were sealed, labeled, and stacked in a back bedroom, they went home and waited for the house to sell.
Jack called two weeks later and said he had accepted an offer on his house. He had already signed the papers on the new one, so all they were waiting for was for Jack to contact the movers and settle in.
When Kelly heard Jack’s house had sold, she took the set of keys he had left at Derik’s and a carload of cleaning supplies and spent the day at the new place. She only stopped long enough to run home and meet the boys when they got off the bus then went back to do more work.
She was scrubbing the bathroom when Derik came into the house calling her name. They met in the hallway where he backed her against the wall and pressed his body against hers, kissing her throat.
“Why do you always catch me with nasty gloves on? I’m filthy and sweaty,” she said between kisses, her hands hanging limp at her side. “Give me a minute.”
“No.” He continued to kiss her as his hands began to caress her ribs. “I like you just as you are, right here, right now, with me.” He continued to nibble on her earlobes and her neck, moving to her shoulder just as the back screen slammed and the boys ran into the house. Derik sighed and placed his forehead against hers. “I can’t let the boys see me like this.”
“I’ll take care of them. You go cool off. That’ll teach you to attack me in the hallway when small children are around.” She laughed, pushed him away, and headed toward the kitchen.
The boys were helping themselves to one of the pizzas Derik had brought. There was no furniture in the room, so they were sitting in the floor. “Hi, Kelly. Look, Daddy got pizza. Where is he?” Win asked.
“He’s washing up. He’ll be here in a minute. Are you guys having fun?”
“Yeah, we’ve been climbing the tree back there.” D.C. turned and pointed to the backyard. “We found a treehouse.”
“You boys stay out of that treehouse until I’ve had a chance to take a look at it,” Derik said as he walked into the kitchen. Kelly smiled when she noticed his shirttail had been pulled from his jeans. “Those boards are probably older than you are, and may be rotten. No one plays in the treehouse until I say so, understood?”
“Yes, sir,” the boys said.
Kelly saw the disappointment on their faces. “I bet if you ask your grandfather, he might put a swing in one of those trees.” She was rewarded with a smile from both of them.
After the pizza boxes were cleared away, Win and D.C. took Derik to the treehouse. Kelly returned to cleaning until the boys came in saying they were tired. She looked at her watch and was amazed at how much time she’d spent scrubbing the house. They returned home, where the children were bathed and put to bed without a word of argument.
The boys were asleep before Kelly finished their story. Once they were tucked in, she went to take her shower. Her body ached from all the hard work she’d done. As the hot water danced across her shoulders, the door slid open, and Derik stepped into the steaming shower. “What do you think you’re doing?” she asked as she ran a soapy hand up his chest.
“I came to finish what we started at Jack’s house.” He pulled her wet body against his. His kiss was as heated as the water cascading down her back.
A short time later, they lay in bed, sated from their lovemaking. Her head rested on his shoulder while his hand played with her hair. “Kelly, I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for Jack. Helping him pack, and getting the house clean and ready for him. I don’t know how to repay you.”
“You just did.” She kissed him. “I tell myself every day how happy I am. My life is perfect.” She snuggled against him and closed her eyes.
The van with Jack’s belongings arrived two days later, and Kelly was there to supervise the unloading. Derik picked up the boys from school and took them to Jack’s house. They were like mini tornados as they rushed into the house, running from room to room until they found their grandfather sitting on the floor, putting a bed together. Derik helped Jack assemble and arrange furniture, while Kelly unpacked
. When everyone grew tired, they gathered the boys and left the man to become acquainted with his surroundings.
One benefit to having Jack closer was that he began inviting the boys to spend the night every other weekend. They didn’t want to give up their Friday bowling, so the solution was to have Jack join them, then he’d take the boys to his house, giving Kelly and Derik some time alone.
At least once a week he’d eat dinner with Derik, Kelly, and the boys. He even invited them over one night for ribs on the grill.
On the night of one of his dinner visits, he asked if he could bring a guest and arrived with a lady on his arm. Her name was Mildred Blanchet, a widow who volunteered at the library two days a week. Kelly had met her when she took the boys in for story time. When the couple prepared to leave, Kelly took Mildred to the kitchen for the apple pie recipe she’d asked for, while Jack stepped outside with Derik.
“How serious is this?” Derik asked, nodding toward the house. “I didn’t know you’d met anyone. I think it’s great.”
“Oh, we’ve had dinner a few times . . . and breakfast. She’s a real sweet lady. I’m glad you like her, because I plan on seeing a lot more of her.”
“I think that’s great. It’s time.” He patted the old man on the shoulder as the women walked outside to join them.
When Jack and Mildred drove away, Derik said, “Jack’s totally smitten.”
“Well good, because Mildred’s head over heels.” They went inside, where the boys were standing in the kitchen.
An Unexpected Rescue (Oak Springs Series Book 1) Page 13