“Legacy means a lot to you. I can tell.” She paused in her work. “I know our legacy is in Heaven, but I wish I knew more about my family. My mother’s family is scattered all over. I never knew her parents. Grandmommy is the only grandparent I ever knew, and Dad was an only child. What did they do? What did they stand for?”
Tom laughed. “Sometimes you’re better off not knowing. Every family has its secrets and its black sheep.”
She waved her hand in dismissal. “Oh, I know that, but I don’t even have cousins to turn to in times of need. How many cousins do you have?”
He stopped and looked up into the sky. “Hang on. I’m counting.”
“See? I have two cousins. Two. And they live in California. I’ve seen them maybe three times in my life.”
“I’ll give you a good deal on some slightly-used cousins of mine.”
She laughed out loud. “I may take you up on that.”
“Thirty-five.”
“Thirty-five what?” She stared at him incredulously. “Cousins?”
“Yep.”
How can anyone have thirty-five cousins?
“Dad was one of ten kids, and Mama was one of five. They were a prolific bunch. Our branch was the smallest.”
“Do they all live around here?” She still couldn’t wrap her head around thirty-five cousins.
“No. They’re spread all over, but a lot of them do.”
“I’d better not bad-mouth you around the community, huh?” She grinned as she finished pushing the old shingles and felt off the side of the house. She wiped her hands together and put her hammer in her tool belt.
“Better not. They’re probably related.” He stood and surveyed their work. “Good job. Now we get to do the easy part.”
“Not until you do the heavy lifting.” She looked down at the shingles and felt to be brought up. “Are you sure you can climb a ladder and carry one of those bundles?”
“It’s not my first rodeo. Don’t worry. I’ll carry them one at a time. They’re only seventy-five pounds each.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Is that all? I’m surprised you don’t carry them all.”
“I may be strong, but I ain’t stupid. I’ll get the felt so we can get it nailed down before lunch.” He started down the ladder as she stretched her arms up in the warm sunshine.
“Sounds like a plan. In the meantime, I’ll be up here enjoying the view.” She looked back over the panoramic view not visible from the ground. “So, so beautiful.”
Before continuing down, Tom stopped at the top of the ladder, looked at Lucy, and smiled. “Totally.” When she looked down at him in surprise, he winked and went on his way.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Slow down, Sarah, I can’t understand what you’re saying.” When Tom came up the ladder with the roofing felt, Lucy was still standing on the roof, her finger in one ear and her phone at the other.
He laid down the felt and whispered to her. His gut began to churn with worry. “What’s happening?”
Lucy put her hand up to stop his talking. He was familiar with that signal. She couldn’t hear what Sarah was saying if she was listening to him.
“He’s awake? Oh, Sarah! That’s wonderful!” She looked up at Tom with a happy smile. “Okay. We’ll wait until later to come. Love you too! Bye!” She pushed the “end’ button on her phone and reached up to hug Tom.
He squeezed her extra-tight. Probably tighter than she had intended, but it felt good. “I’m assuming Jared is awake?”
She pulled away, red-faced, and began fiddling with the clasp on her overalls. “Yes. He’s awake, clear-headed, and has already told her that the wedding would not under any circumstances be postponed.” She grinned. “He said he wasn’t waiting one more moment for her than he had to.”
“That’s my boy.” He laughed, having an idea of what Jared was thinking. If he spent much more time alone with Lucy, he would have no hope of sticking to his plan of not burdening her with his family.
“They’re running tests this afternoon, and Sarah said no visitors until this evening.” She lifted her shoulders, shaking with happiness. “Sarah couldn’t talk for laughing and crying at the same time.”
“I can only imagine. Did the doctor say anything about long-term?”
“No, that’s why they’re running tests. They hope to know something by tonight or tomorrow.” She paused in thought. “Hmm. You know what this means.”
“It means Jared is okay?” He looked at her in confusion.
“No, Mister Best Man, it means we’ve got to get on the stick. Neither of them will be in any shape to finish planning a wedding. That means it’s up to you and me.”
He laughed at her hands-on-hips stance, even as she balanced on the roof. She was in brigadier general mode now. He saluted her and said, “I’m ready for my orders, sir, er, ma’am.”
Her gaze softened. “Thank you, soldier. I’ll keep you posted.”
He nodded. “I think, for now, if we’re not going to the hospital until later, we can get this felt down and the shingles on within the next two hours. What do you think?”
“I think we have motivation now, don’t you?”
He grabbed her hand and squeezed. Such a small hand. Was that a blister forming on the inside of her palm? He rubbed the tender spot.
“Definitely.” The relief rushing through him made him feel lightheaded. Or was it Lucy? He didn’t care. Jared was going to be okay. Lucy was by his side. The sun was shining, God was in His Heaven, and all was right with the world. For now anyway.
After a quick cleanup, Lucy was ready and waiting to go to the hospital. Tom had offered to pick her up. “With the extra patients in the hospital, there’s no reason to clog up the parking lot with our two vehicles.” She smiled. Yeah. That was why he insisted on picking her up.
Was he softening toward her? She caught glimpses of the Tom she had met last summer; a little more carefree, even though the world around them was falling apart. A few more smiles, even though he was worried like crazy about his best friend. And when she spontaneously hugged him on the roof? She sighed. He definitely hugged back. That had to be a little bit of Heaven.
After picking him up at Lazy Acres, Oliver stuck to her like glue and was beside himself to see one of “his people.” He wouldn’t let her out of his sight. The kitchen at Pilot Oaks was getting a slight face-lift, and Lucy had agreed with Linda Crawford that Lazy Acres might be a better place for Oliver for a few days.
After the hurricane scare, Lucy preferred staying alone at Sarah’s with Oliver there at night. She was getting attached, and so was he. He would have showered with her if she’d let him. When she left the bathroom, he was waiting right there at the door and followed her every step of the way. She sat down in Sarah’s easy-chair, patted her lap for Oliver to join her, and began to pray.
“God? Are you there? I know You are. Anybody that is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, is everywhere. I tend to forget, and I’m sorry. Sometimes I only come to You when I’m sad or upset about something, but not today. Today, I thank You for a happy day. Forgive me for not thanking You earlier.”
Tears began to fall from her eyes, and the familiar pressure in her chest from trying hard not to cry began to release. She had been angry with God, and she had avoided Him. It wasn’t right, and her remorse was right up there with that niggling feeling of irritation that things hadn’t gone exactly as she had planned.
“I know You love me and anything You allow can be used for good. I love him, You know? I can’t imagine being happy with anyone else. If Tom isn’t who You have for me, would You take this away? And if he is who You have for me, would You please tell him that?”
She giggled through her tears. “I know I can be capricious, but You made me, remember?”
She hugged the fluffy dog and wiped away her tears before scooting him off her lap and heading to the mirror. The damage to her makeup was repaired in time to hear Tom drive up into Sarah’s driveway.
She put Oliver in his crate with his toy, double-checked herself in the mirror, and was at the door before the bell rang.
Tom opened the door to Jared’s room to let Lucy pass, smiling at his friend over her head. “So you decided to join the rest of the world, huh?”
Jared grinned back. “I did it to get out of picking out curtains and silverware.” He gave a fake flinch when Sarah swatted his arm. After the swat, she hung on to his arm for dear life, and his other hand covered hers with a squeeze.
This was what he needed to see. Sarah and Jared had been through it, nevertheless the teasing and the flirting? It was still there.
“Do they have you hooked up to enough monitors?” It worried Tom a little to still see the many tubes and wires.
“Humph. They want to know if I burp around here. Not that I’ve had much to burp. They did let me have broth a couple of hours ago. I don’t suppose you snuck me in a burger?” Jared’s brown eyes beseeched him.
“I’m afraid not. Sarah here would kill me if I did.”
Sarah nodded. “Yes, I would. I want you in tip-top shape for October sixth. That means you do exactly what the doctor tells you.”
Jared chuckled. “And what Sarah tells me too.”
“Well, yes. We only have your best interest at heart, dear.” Sarah arched her eyebrow.
“I’m sunk.”
“I’m thankful he knew his name, knew my name, knew the date of our wedding, and remembered that his house was no longer there.” Sarah gazed on her fiancé.
“That was rough, even though we didn’t plan to live there forever. It’s a shame to lose a valuable piece of property like that.” Jared shook his head. “But you know, the important thing is we’re all alive, and nobody lost anything that couldn’t be replaced.”
“Amen, brother. What is your recovery looking like?”
Jared cut his eyes to Sarah, who nodded at him.
“Recovery can last anywhere from six months to two years, but the fastest will be the first few months. Doc told me I’ll suffer from some anxiety and irritability and will probably have a hard time concentrating.”
“Sometimes he forgets words, but the doctor said this was common, and may continue.” Sarah smiled at Jared. “I’m glad to have him back. It’s up to me to keep the anxiety and stress down.”
Jared squeezed her hand. “As long as it doesn’t double it for you.”
Lucy nodded. “I thought as much. I told Tom since you’re both tied up with this whole recovery thing, we would have to pick up the slack on the wedding front.” She looked up at him. “Right, Tom.”
“Was that a question?” Tom gave her a sideways look.
She focused her glare on his face. “No, it wasn’t.”
“What she said, then. I’m sure she’ll let me know what I need to do and when I need to do it.” This time Tom flinched when Lucy not-so-gently elbowed him in the ribs.
Sarah snorted. “Lucy is a task-master. Don’t cross her.”
“You’re telling me. We completed a two-day roof repair in less than a day. She’s stronger than she looks.”
Lucy looked up at the ceiling. “It wasn’t that big a job.”
“It would have been for me by myself. Hey, if you stay around here, I may start flipping houses again and hire you for a flunky.” He loved to see her blush. Could he maintain that level of camaraderie with her? Nope. Couldn’t be done. He’d have to hug her every once in a while, and that would slow down construction work.
Sarah spoke up. “Watch it, Tom. Lucy would end up being your boss. She organizes everybody.”
“It would be interesting to see who is the best organizer, Tom or Lucy.” Jared tilted his head to one side. “Tom is the most organized person I know, but Lucy?”
“She’s a drill sergeant, a taskmaster, a slave driver.” Sarah grinned. “But she’s also my best friend.”
“I’m beginning to feel like a cross between Attila the Hun and Martha Stewart.” Lucy looked back and forth at the group.
Tom whispered in her ear, loud enough for everyone to hear. “They’re just jealous.”
“Well, of course they are, but really? Slave driver?”
“Okay, I’ll take that one back. However, you are a taskmaster and a drill sergeant. Admit it.” Sarah laughed at Lucy’s shaking head.
“Fine. I guess I’ll have to live up to my name. And do we have a contest, Tom, between me and you?” She gave him her Cheshire-cat grin. “I’d be interested to hear about your ideas about wedding planning and organizing.”
He held his hands up in mock-surrender. “I concede already. Consider me your flunky for wedding planning.” Or anything else, for that matter.
She reddened slightly and nodded. “Very well. We’ll get started tomorrow. We have an appointment with Emmaline at 10:00 in the morning.”
Sarah laughed. “Don’t leave me out completely!”
“Don’t worry. You’ve already done the hard part. Well, for the most part.” Lucy wrinkled her nose. “What about your venue?”
Sarah looked down at Jared. “What do you think? Atalaya is closed until November. We could always get married on the beach, I guess. Or at Pilot Oaks?”
Jared was quiet, thinking, then his smile grew. “How about the church for the ceremony?”
Tom could tell Sarah liked the idea. Calvary Church had a beautiful sanctuary: white wood paneling, white walls, white pew ends with wooden pew backs, and deep burgundy carpeting and upholstery. The stained-glass windows had every color in the rainbow. “I love it.”
“Pilot Oaks for the reception? After all, that’s where I fell in love with you.”
Sarah leaned down to kiss him. “Pilot Oaks, it is. I happen to know we can get a deal on the venue.”
“I’ll tell Emmaline, and we’ll get on it. Right, Tom?” Lucy poked him.
He clicked his heels and stood at attention. “Yes, ma’am.”
Jared’s laugh was the best thing Tom had heard in a long time.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tom sat at his desk in the squad room, chin in hand, thinking about Jared, weddings, Lucy, Sam, and missing funds.
He heard footsteps in the hallway and looked up. Sam came to the squad room door and halted when he noticed Tom at his desk. He looked surprised.
“I thought you were out for the weekend, working on your roof?” Sam didn’t greet him, just started talking.
“We were able to get it done yesterday. Did you need something?” The last thing he wanted was for Sam to know he and Lucy were on to him. The information he had received from the bank yesterday was enough to end Sam’s career. He was anxious to find out why he did it. Why steal money from the fund, and beyond that, why try to frame him?
“Uh, no, thought I’d stop and speak when I saw you here. How’s Jared Benton doing?” Sam didn’t seem to want to meet his eyes.
“Better. He came out of the induced coma fine, and the prognosis is good.” Why the sudden interest?
“That’s great. He’s getting married soon, isn’t he? Lucy mentioned a wedding.”
“Yes, in October.”
“Lucky guy. Maybe someday.” His laugh sounded forced.
Tom kept his expression neutral. His first instinct was to avoid him, but maybe finding out more about him would help him understand what his motivation was.
He leaned back in his chair, feigning a relaxation he didn’t feel. “Yeah, me too. I’ve never even been close. You?”
Sam cleared his throat nervously. “A long time ago. A girl I dated in high school. We were young and dumb.”
“What happened, if you don’t mind my asking? I mean, you’re not married now.”
“She was killed in an accident.” He stared at Tom. It was a little disconcerting.
What was going on? “That’s tough. It’s hard to get over stuff like that.”
“Yeah. Well, it probably wouldn’t have worked out. I guess we’ll never know, will we?”
There was an edge to Sam’s voice he hadn’t
noticed before. “I guess not.” Tom was relieved when his phone notified him of a text message. Emmaline @10, remember? Thank you, Lucy Dixon.
“Hey, that was a reminder about an appointment. I’ll talk to you later.” He texted back a “thumbs up” to Lucy.
Sam seemed to come back to his usual affable self. “Sure. Hey, have a good rest of the weekend.”
“You too. See you Monday.”
Monday was the next meeting of the relief fund committee. He wasn’t on it, but wild horses couldn’t keep him away.
Lucy tapped her fingers against the steering wheel as she sat in front of the station in Georgetown. What was taking Tom so long to get out here? She didn’t want to be late for the meeting with Sarah’s wedding planner. She rolled down her window a bit and glanced around, glad it was a pretty day. The majority of the storm debris had been cleared away. You could still see evidence in broken trees and washed-out yards, but this was a community that prided itself on keeping things neat and tidy. It wasn’t only a tourist area, it was a charming place where people lived their lives.
People like Tom, Jared, and now Sarah. Could she think of it as home? Maybe. The breeze felt good. Her nose picked up the signature scent of salt and earth from the marsh. She was about ten blocks from the ocean, and even here the marshes and tidal rivers brought the ocean inland. She had seen Sam enter the building as she was coming down the street and was glad he didn’t see her car. There was something strange about the whole thing. Every time Jared’s or Sarah’s name came up, he seemed to tense. He was friendly to Tom, but . . .
Tom opened the car door on the passenger side. “Mornin’. Are you sure you need me for this?” He folded his tall frame into the Mustang.
Lucy laughed at the anxious look on his face. He was dreading this, she could tell. “Fear not. I’ll make the big decisions. It only needs to look like Jared is being represented.” She gave him a cheesy grin and pulled out into traffic.
Carolina Mercy (A Southern Breeze Series Book 2) Page 16