“I doubt I’ll be able to keep it up.”
“The doctor says you need exercise,” she countered. “Pushing a lawn mower around the yard and pulling a few weeds will be good for you.”
He grunted and folded his arms. “I guess it won’t hurt to spruce it up a little. If your mother were still alive, she’d like that.”
Cambri heard the slight catch in his voice when he talked about her mother. In his own way, he’d loved her deeply, just like Cambri had. She felt her heart lighten a little bit more. “Yes. Yes, she would.”
That night, as Cambri booted up her laptop to work on the design for her boss, her mind opened, and a week of pent-up creativity came gushing out.
She quickly sketched her ideas out on paper then got to work.
Cambri blinked at her bedroom ceiling as the first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the blinds. Even though she’d spent half of the night working on the landscape design plan, she’d never felt so invigorated. She’d look it over one last time this morning, then send it off to her boss two days before the deadline. And then she’d get to work on her father’s yard. A slow smile stretched across her face at the prospect of a new day with a new project on her plate. She couldn’t wait to get started.
In no time at all, she had clicked Send, dressed in the oldest jeans she’d brought, made her father some oatmeal, and headed outside. An early spring chill made her shiver, but she didn’t care. Cambri had work to do, and she’d begin with her father’s poor excuse for a shed. It took the majority of the morning to clean it out and try to organize everything. Her father came out close to noon, asking what she was up to.
“Just reorganizing, Dad. Don’t worry about it.”
His expression wary, he eyed the boxes of fishing gear that she’d collected from the shed. “I expect everything to be put back the way you found it when you’re done. Otherwise I won’t be able to find anything.”
Cambri lifted an eyebrow. He could actually find stuff in the chaos that was his shed before? Good thing she snapped a few pictures, because unbeknownst to her father, this shed was coming down.
“You’re just going to have to trust me,” she said, shooing him back inside.
After lunch, Cambri coerced him into going on a mandatory walk before parking him in front of the TV with his favorite Discovery show on, with the volume turned up loud. Then she returned to the backyard, hefted a sledgehammer, and started bringing down the house—or shed, in this instance. The fact that a few swings of the hammer could do so much damage was proof that it needed to come down.
“What in Sputnik’s name are you doing?” boomed her father from the back patio. Evidently Cambri hadn’t turned up the volume enough.
She set the sledgehammer down and wiped at the perspiration on her forehead. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m putting your shed to rest.”
He charged toward her. “Where do you propose I keep all my fishing gear now?”
“In the garage, for now. Then in the new shed I’m planning to put up over there.” Cambri pointed to the side of the house, adjacent to the garage. She’d already found the perfect pre-fabricated shed online and planned to order it through Sutton’s Hardware later that afternoon, along with the supplies she’d need for the water feature.
“What about all that gravel?” he said, referring to the iffy foundation he’d used for his old shed.
“I’m getting rid of it. The concrete pad on the side of the house is a way better location for a shed. It will be easier access for you too.”
He didn’t look pacified. “What about this space? What’s it going to become? A garden to grow all those fresh fruits and veggies you’ve been trying to shove down my throat lately?”
“No, it’s going to be a water feature. Your garden will go over there, where it’s sunnier.”
“A water what?”
“Feature,” Cambri said. “It will be like having a little stream of your very own.”
Her father’s eyes widened and his frown deepened. “I don’t want some frou-frou waterfall back here. I’m not an old woman!”
“I said stream, not waterfall, and I know you’re not an old woman. You’re a cantankerous old man. Now stop being so resistant to change and go finish your show. I’ve got this.”
Glowering, her father stalked toward the house, muttering about how that’s what he got for giving a woman the go-ahead to make a few improvements. “She’s just like her mother,” he grumbled.
“Thanks,” Cambri said under her breath, feeling a connection to her mom that she hadn’t experience in awhile. With a satisfied smile, she finished tearing down what was left of the shed. Several wheelbarrow loads later, the majority of the gravel was transported to the back of her father’s truck, revealing a completely clean ten-by-ten space for Cambri to work with. She smiled at the prospect of what it would become.
“Wow, someone’s been busy.”
At the sound of Jace’s voice, Cambri spun around, feeling suddenly self-conscious. Her hand flew up to tuck a few stray locks of hair behind her ear. She could only imagine how filthy and horrible she looked, though she wondered why she cared. She never used to before. “What are you doing here?”
His cocked his head toward the house. “Your dad called. Said I needed to get over here right away and put a stop to all your girly plans. He wants a few shrubs added to the front yard and that’s it.”
Cambri suddenly felt like dropping the sledgehammer on her father’s big toe. All day long, she’d been working hard to create something more functional and beautiful for her father. But could he find at least one thing to appreciate about her plans or discuss it with her in a mature, adult way? Even ask to see her quickly drawn out plans or offer any sort of compromise? No. Instead, he calls on loyal Jace to talk some sense into his daughter.
Maybe it was her exhaustion, but Cambri’s blood started to simmer. “A few shrubs?” she said, her voice escalating with every word. “He wants a few shrubs, and that’s it?”
Jace eyed her with a wary expression. “I’m just the messenger.”
“Great. Then you can give my dad this message: Tell him it’s either a water feature and a new shed, or a yard full of the frilliest, most colorful perennials I can find!”
Jace’s lips lifted into a smile. “That’s very mature of you.”
Cambri chose to ignore the fact that she’d just accused her father of the same thing. “He started it!” she said, jabbing a finger toward the house. When she saw her father peeking through the slats in the kitchen window, she threw down her work gloves and stormed toward the house. The slats immediately fell closed, and the click of the back door lock sounded.
She froze. Unbelievable. He’d actually locked her out.
Cambri continued forward, ready to pound on the back door until her father let her in, but a strong arm caught her around the waist, easily stopping her progress. “Let me go!” she said, squirming to free herself from Jace’s grip.
“Calm down, Cam,” he breathed into her ear, sending shivers down her spine. “What are you going to do, break down the door?”
Hmm… not such a bad idea. Cambri twisted her head around. “Where did that sledgehammer go?”
Jace chuckled, pulling her against him. “What did that door ever do to you?” More warm breath, more shivers. Man, he felt good.
“It locked.” Cambri’s voice came out sounding weak and breathless.
His chuckle became a laugh, reminding Cambri how wonderful it sounded. When she stopped squirming, he loosened his grip and stepped in front of her, his hands still on her waist. “Why don’t you tell me what you have in mind for back here? If you can convince me it’s a good plan, it’ll be two against one.”
Cambri didn’t answer right away. She liked his hands where they were, and once she agreed, he’d move them. But she couldn’t exactly keep quiet forever either.
“Deal,” she finally said.
Just like she expected, he dropped his hands. “Ok
ay. I’m all yours.”
She blinked up at him, feeling her heart drop to her toes. “All mine?” She didn’t mean to actually say the words—especially not in that lovesick, breathless way—but they were out before she could stop them.
“Yours?” His brows furrowed together.
“You said, ‘I’m all yours.’”
The corner of his mouth tugged up. “No, I said ‘I’m all ears.’”
Nice, Cam, real nice. Now she was both a stalker and a wannabe Valentine. “Oh. Right. Ears.” Too bad hers weren’t working properly.
A knowing smile on his face, Jace cocked his head toward the spot where the shed used to stand. “What’s going there?”
Glad for an excuse not to wallow in embarrassment, Cambri sighed. “Dad loves fishing, so I thought I’d put in a small stream, some flagstone pavers, a tree, and some shrubs scattered around. It would be the perfect spot for a hammock. The shed, on the other hand, will work better against the house over there.”
Jace nodded slowly, as though considering it. “A water feature would be cool, and a hammock even better. And you’re right, it does make more sense to keep the shed out of sight and on the existing concrete pad.”
“Thank you.” Cambri felt like hugging him. “Why can’t my dad see that?”
“Because he’s stubborn and likes to be contrary.”
Cambri threw up her hands. “Well, now what? As much as I’d love to show him that I can be equally stubborn, I don’t want to do anything that’s really going to upset him, and this is his yard. So, do I hire someone to pour a slab back here, replace the shed, and forget the water feature?” She frowned, not liking that option at all. If her father would just let her do it, she was positive he’d love the end result.
Jace glanced at the house, looking amused. “What do you say we let your father cool off and go order that shed? We have a few catalogs at the store.”
Wait, he was offering to come with her? Cambri blinked at him, tempted to take him up on it. But then she remembered his house. “Thanks, but I’m sure you have better things to do with your time. I’ll stop by the store a little later, after I’ve calmed down and can make my dad see reason.”
“My projects can wait.” It sounded so final, as though no amount of arguing would change his mind. Jace would help her whether she liked it or not.
Cambri’s stomach flip-flopped.
“Now that I think about it,” Jace said, rubbing his chin. “Last fall, Larry brought back a waterfall pump he’d ordered through a catalog and didn’t end up using. It’s a decent size, and I bet it would work great for this project.”
“You still have it? Why didn’t you send it back?”
He shrugged. “It was past the return date.”
“And yet you let Larry return it.” It was a statement, not a question, because of course Jace did. He was the sort of guy who’d take a loss so someone else wouldn’t have to. A lump formed in her throat.
“It wasn’t a big deal. I figured I could resell it in the spring,” he said. “But if you think it will work for this and can take it off my hands, it’s yours. I’ll even help you build it.”
“I thought you had a lot going on with your house?”
His eyes met hers in a look that made her heart skip. “It’ll wait.”
Of all the guys Cambri had dated over the years, none were half so good as Jace Sutton. How could she have walked away from him before? How could she walk away from him now?
He’s not yours to walk toward or away from, came the sad reminder. It was true. That ship had already sailed, and no amount of hoping or watching the horizon would bring it back. She’d messed up, and that was that.
Cambri cleared her throat, steering her mind toward slightly less depressing thoughts. “As much as I’d love to put a stream back here, I really don’t think Dad would have gone to the effort to get you over here if he wasn’t that opposed to it. Maybe I’ll just plant a tree, bury two posts for a hammock, and call it good. A water feature would be a pain to build anyway.”
Jace must have caught the wistfulness in her voice because his arm came around her shoulders, and he directed her toward his truck. “The Cambri I know wouldn’t give up so easily. Where’s the girl who was about to break down her dad’s door with a sledgehammer or plant a bunch of perennials?” he teased.
“She’s sick of fighting with him, so she’s giving up.” She stopped and looked up at him, feeling deflated all of a sudden. “No matter what I do or how hard I try, I’ll never be good enough for him, will I? I’ll never be you.”
Jace spun her around to face him. “What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You’re the loyal one with your head screwed on straight, and I’m the disloyal screw-up.”
“You? A screw-up?” Jace’s lips twitched for a moment then straightened, as he realized she wasn’t joking around. “I don’t get how you could think that. You’re beautiful, determined, motivated, successful, and loyal. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t. And if that’s your definition of a screw-up, then yeah, I guess you are one.”
“Gee thanks,” Cambri said.
He drew her into a hug, holding her close and reminding her how wonderful it felt to be hugged by him. “Your dad loves you, Cam. The only reason he acts that way or says what he does is because he’s afraid of losing you again. It was hard for him when you left before, and it’s going to be hard for him when you leave again. This is just his way of trying to protect himself from getting hurt. I mean, think about it. He already lost his wife. He doesn’t want to lose his daughter too. He just has a more ornery way of showing that.”
Cambri simultaneously laughed and sniffed. His words rang true, easing the pain and restoring the good. She kept her arms tight around him, refusing to let go. “How do you do that? No matter what happens or how badly I mess up, you’ve always been able to make me feel better. Even when Mom died…” She shook her head, remembering the pain. “I honestly don’t know how I would have made it through that without you. I’ve really missed you.” And don’t want to live without you anymore.
His response wasn’t immediate, but it did come. “I’ve missed you too.” Was it her, or did his arms tighten ever so slightly?
“What do you say we go check out the sheds and pump now?” He loosened his grip, bringing Cambri back to the harsh reality that he wasn’t hers to hold.
She stepped away and glanced at the locked house once more, still not sure that was the right course of action. “Tell you what. If you convince my dad to let me do it, I’ll let you help built it.” If anyone could talk him into it, Jace could.
“You’ll let me help?” Jace laughed. “Sheesh, I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”
“Don’t worry. It’s an easy out. There’s no way you’ll ever get him to agree to it.”
“That sounds like a challenge.”
“It is.”
“You know I never back down from a challenge.”
“That’s my hope.”
He laughed again and headed toward the house with that confident stride of his. The click of the lock sounded, the door opened, and Jace disappeared inside. Cambri rolled her eyes. Of course her father would let Jace inside. The toad.
Ten minutes later, Jace emerged with a triumphant grin. “Ready to go?” he asked.
Cambri stared. “No way. How did you do that?”
His grin widened. “I told him we’d stock the stream with fish.”
Despite Cambri’s protests, Jace put all his home improvement projects on hold so he could help out every evening after work—and some afternoons when Sutton Hardware was a little slow. Every time Cambri mentioned her guilt at keeping him away from his own work, he’d always say, “You have a deadline, I don’t.” And no amount of coercion would change his mind, not that Cambri put up much of a fight. When the familiar sound of his truck pulled into the driveway, the day seemed to brighten. He made the work fun and the hours pass like sec
onds.
Gone was the awkward tension, and in its place bloomed something sturdier and deeper than their old high school friendship. Cambri had never felt so close to anyone, and her heart ached every time she thought of leaving.
On top of that, Cambri’s relationship with her father was better than ever. Every so often, when she was replanting the front yard, he’d come out, walk around, then silently nod his approval. A few times, he took a seat on the steps and asked questions about what she was doing. He ate the food she made without grumbling and didn’t argue when it was time for their daily walk around the block. He even remembered a few of her mother’s plants that Cambri had forgotten.
By the following Saturday, the yard had been restored to a younger version of its former self. The electrical line had been run, the area for the stream had been excavated, and the liner and pump were in place. All that was left was to test it and arrange the boulders that had been delivered the day before.
As Cambri carried some shrubs from the back of her father’s pick-up to the soon-to-be stream, the sun warmed her back at the same time a light breeze chilled her arms. The day would be a beautiful one, and Cambri couldn’t wait to turn the plastic-lined trench into a beautiful stream.
The sound of a familiar engine rumbled in the driveway, followed by the slamming of a door. A welcoming smile touched her lips as she turned around.
“You didn’t test it without me, did you?” Dressed in work jeans and a loose-fitting t-shirt, Jace lifted the last shrub from the truck and walked toward her with an easy smile.
“No.” Cambri couldn’t help but admire his strong arms or the way his damp hair glistened in the morning sunlight. “As promised, I waited for you, though I did fill the reservoir. And guess what? No leaks!”
“Good.” He set the plant on the ground and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Let’s do this then.”
Righting a Wrong (A Ripple Effect Romance Novella) Page 7