by Tanya Agler
She glanced in the rearview mirror, the guilt rising. She lied to a dog. Her dog. Sharing an adventure wouldn’t be nearly as fun as if Mike were along for the ride.
No, but she could have a permanent reminder of Mike. The Thunderbird. Beau would have much more room to stretch out in the Thunderbird’s back seat.
It would be tight, but she had enough money. She was the person to give Miss Brittany the best home. After a slight detour, she installed Beau in the back seat. The flick of Beau’s tongue against her cheek was thanks enough.
The Thunderbird rode like a dream.
Breaking at the stop sign, she flinched. That twinge in her heart caught her off guard. Sure, Mike hadn’t had a choice. He’d done his job, but he didn’t have to like it so much.
Georgie pressed the accelerator. The sooner she left the city limits, the sooner the next chapter of her life would begin. A chapter without her friends, Max’s Auto Repair, Rachel and Mike.
At least she had Beau.
She squinted at the old clunker on the side of the road. Not just any clunker, a white PT Cruiser. Groaning, she rubbed her forehead and pulled the Thunderbird over. She should have known she wouldn’t get out of Hollydale without saying one final farewell. And, of course, it would have to be Lucie. Appearances could be deceiving. Coming back to Hollydale had taught her that and more.
“Stay here, Beau.” She rolled down the windows enough for Beau to get fresh air but not enough to wriggle out and get hurt.
She eased out of the Thunderbird and headed over to Lucie’s ancient Cruiser just as Lucie slammed shut the open trunk.
“Georgie!” Lucie scooted over and hugged her. To her own surprise, Georgie didn’t even flinch at the contact.
Because it’s real and genuine. Just like everything about Hollydale.
“What can I do to help?” Georgie waved to Ethan and Mattie, who waved back. “If you pop the hood, I can take a look.”
“No need.” Lucie wiped her hands, a smudge of dirt on her cheek and mud on the knees of her jeans. “I changed the tire myself. I was just getting ready to leave.”
Pride shone in Lucie’s eyes, and Georgie stepped back. “Good for you.”
Was it her imagination or did her voice sound even huskier than usual?
Lucie came over and gave her another hug. “No, good for you. You taught me so much, especially how to take care of my car so I can be more independent.”
Was that what everyone thought? That she had taught the car repair classes to preach independence? Well, that might have been part of it, but...
“You’ve got a support network, you know.” Georgie bit her lip. Independence had served her well, too well perhaps.
Lucie laughed, a light, whimsical, feminine laugh. “They’re called friends.” She glanced at the Thunderbird. “Are you taking that to Mike?” Her face lightened, and a genuine smile lit up her perky features. “Have you two made up? Are you staying?”
“No.” Georgie hesitated. She had her dream job waiting for her, a fresh start. Why did everything feel so wrong? “Mike sold the Thunderbird. The new owner’s taking possession.”
The smile left Lucie’s face. “I was hoping...”
“What? What were you hoping?”
“That you’d forgive Mike.” Lucie shrugged and fretted with her hands. “He’s one of the good ones. After the feds arrested Justin, our bank accounts were frozen. I didn’t know how I was going to feed Mattie and Ethan. I couldn’t rub two cents together. Then someone started leaving groceries on my porch. They even packed Oreos, the real ones, not the generic ones. I caught sight of the Good Samaritan’s back once. It was Mike. Good guys don’t come along every day. Might be worth a second thought.”
Or a third or a fourth... Mike was one of a kind. Her heart slammed into her chest with a thud. Mike is one of a kind. She was throwing away his love like an empty package of Oreos.
Georgie looked at her jeans and flannel shirt, now flecked with brown fur. Mike accepted her, loved her. The real her, the tomboy who loved motors and oil and cars. Love like that did not come along every day.
Love like that would provide a new adventure every day.
“I love him, but that’s not enough. He arrested me, for crying out loud.”
“Love is always more than enough, if you let it. You have to believe in it, Georgie. Believe.” Lucie leveled a stern gaze in Georgie’s direction. “When will you realize Hollydale is your home?”
Suddenly, Georgie had realized it as everyone, once hazy, came into perfect focus. She could see giving Mr. Reedy updates at the assisted living home. She could see partnering with Max. And if it wasn’t too late, she’d be counting her lucky stars that someone accepted her, just the way she was.
Friends. Acceptance. Home. “Now.”
The weight lifted off her shoulders. The sun glinted off the metal on the back of a sign. No, it couldn’t be. Georgie walked over and read the words.
Welcome to Hollydale, City Limits.
She had never even left.
* * *
“DADDY?” RACHEL ENTERED the living room, her nose scrunched up and a scowl marring her pretty features.
A scowl that matched the gray covering Mike’s world. Mike hadn’t a choice about the Thunderbird, or had he? Losing the car wasn’t causing the hurt, though. The real pain came from missing Georgie.
He had to hold it together for Rachel’s sake.
He drew a deep breath. Although he loved his daughter and would do anything that would help her, even selling the Thunderbird, he had to be himself while he did that. If he could, he’d thank Georgie for that hard lesson. He’d had to dig deep, but no longer would he be the shadow of the person he’d been when Caitlyn left him. Now he was whole again.
Whole, and without Georgie.
His throat clogged at how he wanted her at his side, wanted her to know he accepted her and would fight for her. How he was better with her beside him. Even though only a day had passed since she left, this Sunday had a dull and dreary fog all around it.
Rachel tapped her foot. “I have a confession.”
Mike sat up at the insistence in her voice. Ginger yowled her displeasure and scattered off his lap. He glanced at his daughter, hiding something behind her back. He waved her over.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I failed a test.” She threw the paper at him, and it fell onto the floor. Then she crumpled against his side, strong sobs taking over. “I should have told you on Friday. I didn’t want you to think less of me, Daddy.”
His chest heaved, and he retrieved the test. A sixty-nine was circled in red ink next to Rachel’s name. Her first failure. He brought her close and comforted her. “I’d never think less of you.” Did Georgie believe he thought less of her? He pushed away the thought and focused on his daughter, her spasms lessening. “Let’s look at what you did right, then look at what you did wrong and see what you can do differently next time.”
Sniffling, she sat up straight beside him. “I thought you’d be mad at me.”
“Disappointed you didn’t tell me right away, but I’m not angry.” He studied the paper as if it was a lifeline. He wasn’t spotless in forthright disclosures. “I also have a confession to make.”
She rubbed her nose on her sleeve and glanced at him, her huge brown eyes wide. “You did something wrong? But adults are supposed to get things right.”
Yeah, he hadn’t gotten that memo, but he was trying his best. That was all he could do.
“I gave the Thunderbird to Georgie so she could take it, Rache, to the person I’ve sold it to.” He could go into specifics and try to justify himself, but he left it at that.
Rachel pushed up her other sleeve, the red skin raw but healing, although there’d always be a scar. “Is it because of me?” More tears streaked down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Mike brought her closer, shaking his head. “No, kiddo. You have nothing to be sorry about. Accidents happen. This was my decision.”
“What did Miss Georgie say about it?” She wiped away her tears. If only it were that easy to wipe away the tears on the inside.
“Miss Georgie and I had a...” Fight seemed a strong word, one he’d rather not use in front of Rachel. “We had a falling out.”
“Why?” Rachel fingered the edge of her pink shirt. “I think she likes you.”
Heat flooded his cheeks, a ridiculous reaction for a man his age, but not unwelcome. Balling the paper, he longed to call Georgie, talk to her, see her.
“Daddy!” Rachel cried out.
“What?” Mike stilled his fingers.
“You have to sign that, and I have to take it back to the teacher tomorrow morning.”
Mike smoothed the paper and searched for the right words. None came. Since Caitlyn left, he’d sat on the sidelines and gone through the motions. Of course, that had been easy enough with a daughter and a full-time career. Still, Georgie had opened his eyes to how love and duty combined could make life richer, fuller.
How did he repay her? By walking away. That mistake ate at his insides like acid on metal.
Rachel had faced up to him and admitted her failure. Thirty was old enough to fix his shortcomings.
First he’d bring Miss Brittany home. Dreams, memories, family. He and Rachel would manage fine without the extra money. Nothing wrong with peanut butter and jelly. Miss Brittany was worth it. Mike jumped off the couch and ran to the kitchen, where he grabbed a pen and his phone. Returning, he scribbled his name on the top of the test.
“After I make a phone call, we’ll go over this together. You’ll do better next time, kiddo.”
Putting work into a relationship was new to him, but he was up to the challenge.
Was Georgie?
He found Georgie’s name in his list of contacts and pressed the red button. Four, five, six. No answer. A text would have to suffice.
Have changed mind. Don’t sell Thunderbird. Will u change yr mind & come back 2 Hollydale? I love U. Mike.
The return ping came back almost instantly.
Not possible. Thunderbird is already in hands of new owner.
So Georgie couldn’t even bear to hear his voice and had ignored his call. The full impact of what he’d done hit him hard. Georgie always did everything with her whole heart. Even staying mad. But underneath it all? She loved him. He was sure of that. His fingers flew across the screen.
Call me. Let’s talk. You name the subject, and I’ll listen.
A return ping came less than a minute later.
Subject is Thunderbird. Already sold. Have cashier’s check in hand. Will mail tomorrow.
His reply was quick and sure.
Tear up check and bring car back.
Her reply arrived.
Not possible.
Was she so upset with him she wouldn’t talk to him? Then again, he did arrest her and handcuff her. Guess she needed more time to get past that.
Rachel left and bounced back into the room, purse in hand. “Daddy?” He put down his phone, something obviously on Rachel’s mind. “Miss Georgie came over when I asked her to make a house call and offered her money. I think you need to ask her to make a house call. Money talks. I have eighteen dollars left. How much money do you have?”
He closed his mouth, anything to stop from laughing. One of these days he was going to have to have a long talk with his daughter about how money didn’t buy everything. Of course, he didn’t know whether to throw his arms around her or head for the hills. Either way, life with Rachel would never be boring.
Rachel was right about one thing, though. Convincing Georgie to stay would involve more than a mere apology. That great big gaping hole in his heart grew even bigger.
“Um. Love doesn’t work like that. When you love someone, your pocketbook doesn’t matter. You want to spend time with them, do something special for them, be with them.”
Something special. What could he do to show Georgie he loved her just the way she was? A plan came together. It would take work and some convincing and help. Lots of help. Georgie was worth it.
Want u to deliver check in person. Don’t trust mail.
Her reply was almost instantaneous.
I have to return on Friday. There’s something you should know.
Three dots indicated she was still typing.
He’d be faster.
See you Friday. Face-to-face.
He held his breath as he waited for her reply.
OK.
He sighed and pushed the phone away. He had one shot to convince her to stay. At least that was more than he had five minutes ago. With any luck, they’d make this work. Together.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
GEORGIE CLUTCHED THE keys to her new home in her hand. Moving to Hollydale and partnering with Max was now a reality. She didn’t want to go through another week like this one again. Packing up her apartment in Nashville had taken longer than she’d expected. She glanced at the moving trailer, now detached from the Thunderbird. Unloading her possessions would have to wait until after she met with Mike.
Beau barked from the back seat of the Thunderbird, and she hurried over. Clasping his leash in one hand, she let him sniff his new yard before unlocking her front door. This was her new home.
An image of Mike’s home with Ginger and Rachel popped into her mind. Mike. The hardest part about this week was not texting him everything, from her relocation to her buying the Thunderbird. He’d seemed insistent on a face-to-face meeting. That alone was the only reason she didn’t spill everything to him. She wanted to see his face when she told him her plans.
She unclasped Beau from his leash, and he ran circles around her. She chuckled, and her phone pinged.
I’m running late. Pls meet me in high school parking lot. MH.
“Okay, Beau. Change of plans. We’re not meeting Mike at his house.” Her phone alerted her to another text. “Hold on.”
Still mad at you for not hearing my brother out but heard you’re in town. Meet me at high school, and we’ll talk.
Groaning, she hadn’t even considered how Natalie would be feeling about her right now. A sister bear defending her kin bested the friend card every time.
Another text pinged, this one from Lucie. Natalie would have to wait as Georgie opened Lucie’s note.
Had interview at high school. Twins are at a friend’s house. How about you pick me up and we’ll go to dinner?
Wait a minute? Three texts about the high school in three minutes?
“Beau, methinks there’s something rotten in Denmark.”
Her phone chirped again. Another message from Mike.
Am late. Meet me in high school parking lot. I have eighteen dollars. LOVE, Michael. XXXXXOOOOO.
“Now I know something’s up.” Biting back her chuckle, she grabbed her keys and waited for Beau to calm down enough before clasping his leash back on. She might as well try to persuade Natalie and Lucie to help her unpack.
As for Mike? Had Rachel sent that last text? She rubbed Beau’s head for luck before grabbing the check for the Thunderbird. Whatever was going on, she intended to get to the bottom of it.
* * *
“RELAX, SHE’LL BE HERE.” Natalie came over and grinned. “I sent her a text, and who can resist me? Besides, I went all grizzly bear, and Georgie hates conflict. She’ll be here.”
“You sent her a text?” Mike groaned and taped the final streamer in place. “I did, too, asking her to meet me here.”
The third cohort in his scheme cleared her throat. “Great minds think alike. I lied and told her the twins were at a friend’s house.” Lucie’s gaze met Mike’s. She shrugged before pointing to Mattie and Ethan. “I haven’t lied sin
ce Justin lied to everyone, but it’s for a good cause, so Georgie will forgive me, right?”
Mike gave a slight nod, his stomach sinking. At least Rachel didn’t have a phone. He patted his back pocket. His phone? Where was it?
He trotted over to Rachel. Sure enough, his phone was in her hands. “What’s going on, kiddo?”
She handed the phone back, her bright smile scaring him to the pits of his stomach. “I’m a great helper. Miss Georgie’s on her way.” Her wink catapulted his stomach down to the floor. “She not only does house calls—she does gym calls, too. It was my eighteen dollars that did the trick, Daddy.”
Life without Georgie wouldn’t be as bad as it’d been all week, would it? With his helpers, he might find out. Glancing around the gym, Mike hoped Georgie would forgive their clumsy efforts to get her here. And forgive him.
Natalie ran back from the door and held up her thumb. “Showtime! She’s here.”
Mike sprinted to the cooler and brought out the pale pink wrist corsage, better late than never. Nerves took over, and his mind blanked for a second. What if Georgie didn’t want to stay in Hollydale?
He closed his eyes. Then they’d have their first and last dance. He made his way to the entrance of the gym, corsage in hand. Natalie leaned over and kissed his cheek. “We have the gym for two hours. We all love you. Don’t screw it up this time.”
Natalie left, her duty to guide Georgie to the gym well in hand. Lucie, holding one child’s hand in each of hers, shot him a hopeful glance and followed Natalie. Deep breathing helped little to calm his agitated nerves.
Within minutes, the entrance opened, and Georgie stood there. A week only magnified her beauty. Without her, his mornings wouldn’t be filled with light, and his evenings would seem all the duller.
“What’s going...” Her mouth fell open as her gaze swept over the gym.
His crew went beyond his wildest expectations in just a few hours. Twinkling lights covered the basketball posts. Silver and white balloons stood on either side of cutouts dotted all around. The Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Pyramids. All places he’d love to explore with Georgie and Rachel at his side.