Always the Hero

by Anna J. Stewart

“Lori Bradley has agreed to oversee the landscaping portion of our project.” Lori’s heart expanded as Matt’s chest puffed with pride. There were times he did seem to be in her corner. “I think we can all agree she has the expertise and talent to make this project work.”

  “But she can’t.” It was then Lori saw panic in the normally controlled BethAnn’s face. “She’s already committed to the welcoming dinner committee—”

  “No, I’m not.” Lori didn’t want to take pleasure in the statement, but she did.

  “I don’t understand,” Gil said. “Given you’re an employee of the Flutterby, I assumed you were helping Abby with the barbecue and food market.”

  “I am. I have been,” Lori said.

  “Along with the welcome dinner?” Gil frowned at BethAnn.

  “I never volunteered for that, actually.” Lori wiped her damp palms on her hips. The last time she’d spoken in front of this many people had been in her high school speech class. It wasn’t any less terrifying now. “I only offered to take the minutes at the first meeting since it was at the inn. No one ever took me off the email loop.”

  “Well, then clearly you need to choose,” BethAnn challenged.

  “I already have,” Lori said. “There are more than enough committee members to make the welcome dinner happen, especially since most of the arrangements have already been made. I’d be thrilled to work with the sheriff and his deputies on this project. If they’ll have me.”

  “We’ll have you,” Matt said in a way that had Lori’s cheeks burning and the audience chuckling.

  “That’s settled then!” Delilah, acting in her role as council secretary, plucked the gavel off the table and struck it once, hard. BethAnn jumped. “Motion passes. Let the committees, all of the committees, commence.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  MATT WASN’T KNOWN for making Hail Mary passes, but when he threw one, he tended to score. Success, however, might be measured differently this time around. Given the shell-shocked expression on Lori’s face once Delilah banged the gavel, he was betting she’d need some time to digest what had taken place.

  A wave of residents rushed forward to swallow them into congratulatory circles of backslaps and handshakes. He had a little trouble processing what had just happened himself, but that Lori would be working on this project with them, with him, inflated that tiny bubble of hope that had been bouncing around inside of him. To have this time to repair their relationship, get his personal life on solid footing so the judge considered him a more acceptable candidate as Kyle’s father? It was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Add to that, Lori might finally see for herself how well liked and appreciated she was by those living in Butterfly Harbor.

  While he didn’t have much trouble navigating the crowd, he caught an occasional glimpse of panic in Lori’s eyes. Probably a reaction to making such a public declaration. Maybe a tinge of regret, but he was grateful for whatever bolstered her volunteering. He should have thought of it himself given he’d been watching her sketch in that notebook of hers, seeing images of the inn take shape behind the explosion of flowers and plants, details she plucked out of thin air. He knew she was the secret weapon he’d been looking for. Of course, she was the perfect solution.

  Now, as cochair, she wouldn’t have any choice but to work with them. Uh-oh. Matt made forgetful conversation with his neighbors as he realized he had only come tonight as a substitute voice; this wasn’t his idea or his project despite his willingness to be a part of it. Now he found himself in the uncomfortable position of having taken the lead on something his boss and fellow deputies had devised.

  He certainly didn’t want them thinking he was taking credit for their idea or work. That said, if he hadn’t, he wouldn’t be witnessing what he could only define as a sudden blooming of Lori Bradley.

  She hadn’t pulled into her shell, hadn’t dipped her head or lost eye contact with anyone coming over to congratulate and thank her. Instead, while she seemed a bit flummoxed, he thought for sure he caught something akin to excitement shining in her eyes.

  Typical Lori, with a smile that brightened an already-pretty face. She had no idea how people reacted to her, that she had a way of making whoever she was with feel as if they were the most important person in the room.

  She looked over at him and her eyes sharpened, as if she wasn’t quite sure what to make of him and the entire situation.

  Whether she realized it or not, Lori Bradley made him happy. Now it was his turn to return the favor.

  “You going to need protection on the walk home?” Fletcher slapped a hand on Matt’s already-bruised shoulder.

  “They’re leaving,” Matt looked back as the crowd filed out.

  “Wasn’t talking about them.” Fletcher’s normally amused eyes held a hint of seriousness. “I meant protection from my sister. I’ve been on the other end of that look, pal. She hasn’t made up her mind what she thinks about this situation yet. She’s not the only one.”

  “Yeah, sorry about usurping the project like that.” Matt winced. “Luke said you wouldn’t be here.”

  “Wasn’t supposed to be,” Fletcher said. “And things turned out the way they were meant to. No worries on my part.”

  “Or mine.” Paige Bradley ducked in under her husband’s arm and tugged her long brown ponytail free. She’d come a long way from the shy, secretive person she’d been when she’d first arrived earlier in the year, but she’d made a new start—and a home for her and her daughter in Butterfly Harbor. “This is exactly what Lori needs. She spends too much time cooped up at work or at home. This project is perfect for her. And if she’s worried about Abby not having enough help with the food market, I’m happy to lend a hand. Holly’s already working with her, so it makes sense. And—” Paige craned her head to look up at the stage where the board members were filing out “—you managed to tick off BethAnn Bottomley. I bet that’ll be worth a free mocha shake from Holly next time you come by the diner.”

  “Our good diner owner isn’t a fan of our new town council member?” Matt asked of his boss’s wife. As he was clearly not as up on town gossip as he should be, a trip to the hardware store this week might be in order.

  “I don’t know the particulars other than BethAnn burned a lot of bridges on her way out of town. Something to do with Holly’s mother?” Paige shook her head. “I might be able to pry it out of her on our next girls’ night.”

  Fletcher looked down as his stepdaughter, Charlie, ran over to grab his hand, her red pigtails sticking out crookedly on either side of her head. “What’s going on, kiddo?”

  “I want to help plant the new flowers with Aunt Lori.” She swung her arm high and back as she bounced on her heels.

  “You mean you’re going to abandon me along with your mother?” Fletcher teased.

  “You can help, too,” Charlie said with an exaggerated eye roll that was all her mother. “Besides, Mom said I could start my own garden if I learned what to do. Do you think Aunt Lori will mind teaching me?”

  “I can speak for Aunt Lori.” Finally free of her crowd, Lori bent down to retrieve her belongings and stayed low to meet her recently acquired niece eye to eye. “I would love to have you as a student and a volunteer. After your homework gets done, though. And after all your chores are finished. And you’ve checked with Mrs. Hastings to make sure you’re caught up with her.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know.” Charlie leaned so far over to the side she nearly tipped over. “Mom, I’m going to need a calendar like yours.”

  “No one has a calendar like your mom’s.” Fletcher pulled Paige close and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Always the busy bee. Must run in the family.”

  “I’m going to head back to the inn, talk to Abby. Fill her in on...things.” Lori seemed to be looking at anyone—and anything—other than Matt. “Paige, I’ll give you an update on the inn’s plans as soon as I do some r
earranging with my schedule.”

  “How about I walk you back?” Matt offered.

  “Not necessary, thanks.” Lori looked across the empty room to where BethAnn was having a pouting session with a less than sympathetic Gil. “She’s actually taking this pretty well all things considered.”

  “She just assumed you’d do her bidding on helping to organize the welcome dinner, didn’t she?” Fletcher said.

  Lori shrugged. “I am helping on a few things.”

  “Oh, Lori, you aren’t.” Paige sighed. “Why didn’t you say no?”

  “Because she doesn’t like disappointing anyone,” Matt said before Lori could respond. She glared at him, but didn’t argue.

  “What did she rope you into?” Fletcher asked.

  “Nothing much. Just mailing out her special invitations. I can do it one night after work. Or two. It’ll be fine.” Judging by her tone, however, Matt could hear an unfamiliar trace of resentment in her voice. “It’s the last thing I’ll do for BethAnn. Promise.” She held up her fingers like a Girl Scout swearing an oath.

  “Uh-huh.” Paige rolled her eyes. “As one people pleaser to another, I’m going to hold you to that.”

  Lori smiled. “Deal.”

  “I don’t like her. She’s rude,” Charlie declared. “Mrs. Hastings called her a snob.” Charlie’s eyes were big as saucers as she slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oops. I wasn’t supposed to repeat that.”

  “Mrs. Hastings would probably know the details about BethAnn,” Fletcher agreed. The former high school principal had become a surrogate grandmother to Charlie. “She definitely made a name for herself around here before she married into politics. Perfect bedfellows, our grandfather said. But now you don’t have to worry about her, Lori. You’ll be working with Matt here, instead.”

  “Hmmmm.” Lori’s lips thinned as she said her goodbyes and headed to the door. “Lucky me.”

  “Seriously, man, I wish you luck.” Fletcher pushed Matt behind her. “Just don’t forget, she’s my sister.”

  “Ease up, Fletch,” Paige ordered. “Charlie, let’s say you and I check in with Calliope about our fresh produce deliveries for tomorrow?” She held out her hand, and mother and daughter scampered off, leaving Matt and Fletch alone.

  “What’s going on with you and Lori?” Fletcher asked Matt before he could get away. “A bit of on-again, off-again?”

  “Yeah.” Matt fought the urge to wince. He didn’t need to be reminded how badly he’d handled things with Lori. It had definitely bitten him in the backside in more ways than one. “That’s on me and it was a mistake.” He reached for his baseball cap and tugged it on. “One I plan on fixing, believe me. But since you brought it up. You good with this? With me and her?”

  “Are you asking my permission to date my sister?” Always one to make a joke, Fletcher’s usual levity didn’t quite break through. Matt’s fellow deputy was known for his easygoing nature to the point of being a pushover at times, a family trait, obviously. Fletch definitely wasn’t the disciplinarian in the recently formed Bradley household, which was why Matt took the stern glare in Fletch’s eyes to heart.

  “Lori hears you ask that, I won’t be the only one in need of protection,” Matt said. “I like her, Fletch. I like her a lot and I’m being straight with you when I say I know I screwed up.” Not that he was about to admit how he’d screwed up. On the one hand, he probably shouldn’t have kept his marital status a secret. On the other hand, Matt hadn’t cared enough to talk about it. Not that anyone had asked. They’d just assumed. That said, it probably wasn’t the best idea for Fletcher to know that, technically, he was a married man. Or that he needed to get things back on track on the off chance she was called to testify at Kyle’s placement hearing.

  “And if I say no, that I want you to stay away from her?” Fletcher asked.

  Matt could only imagine how protective he would be if he had a younger sister, so he cut his friend some slack. “I’d say I’m sorry you feel that way, and tough. I want... I need to see where this can go.” After three years of uncertainty and self-doubt, he was finally feeling as if he was back on solid ground. And honestly? He had Lori to thank for that. Being around her had pulled him out of the quicksand of his past. Now that he was out, he didn’t have any intention of sliding back in.

  Fletch turned, looking to where Lori stood just outside speaking with Willa O’Neill. “Getting past me isn’t your problem,” he said. “She’s locked a good part of herself away, Matt. There are walls I’ve never been able to scale and I lived a lot of the same things she has. What went down with our parents, for instance. We only turned out the way we did because our grandfather stepped up and took us in. She puts on a good show, but she doesn’t trust easily. Nor should she with the wounds she has. Just be prepared. And be careful. As much as I want her to be happy, I don’t want her hurt.”

  “On that we agree.” Another hurdle passed, Matt bade his goodbyes and pushed through the door to outside. The laughter in Lori’s eyes faded when she saw him. “Ready when you are. Hey, Willa. How’s Nina doing?”

  “Mom’s better, thanks.” Willa pushed her hands deep into her sweater pockets and rocked back on a pair of thick-soled practical shoes. “The experimental treatment she got into in San Francisco seems to be working and I was able to bring her home sooner than expected. Did you hear Paige is going to start doing home care here in town? Once she gets her nursing license anyway. We’re on the top of her patient list.”

  “I knew she’d been studying for a big test,” Matt said. “You know your house is on the list for the beautification project, right?”

  Willa’s silver-gray eyes showed genuine surprise. “It is?”

  “If it’s okay with you,” Matt added, realizing how presumptuous he sounded.

  “I’ve been so preoccupied with Mom and Marley I haven’t really thought about it. Other than installing the wheelchair ramp, we haven’t had the money—”

  “This wasn’t Matt criticizing,” Lori broke in, and it was then Matt realized his error. “If Fletch hadn’t put your house on the list I certainly would have considered it. It’s about time we started taking care of our own around here.”

  Matt caught the well of tears in Willa’s eyes. “It would make Mom so happy. She used to love gardening before...well, before everything happened.”

  “How about we get in touch when we finalize our plans and schedule?” Lori wrapped an arm around Willa’s narrow shoulders and squeezed. “Maybe we can even keep it a surprise in some way for her?”

  Willa nodded. “That sounds wonderful. Thank you so much. I can’t wait to tell Marley and Jasper.”

  “Your brother already knows,” Matt said. “Who do you think put your name on the list?”

  “Of course he did.” Willa swiped at the single tear that plopped onto her cheek. “You all have been so good to him, this seems almost like it’s too much. He’s started looking into colleges thanks to you.”

  “Yeah, well, he’s earning his keep at the station,” Matt assured her. It was extra handy having someone with the talent for basic forensic tests in-house, which ended up saving enough money on the budget to afford to pay him.

  Selfishly, Matt hoped once Kyle was released from detention, Jasper would renew their wayward friendship—and provide another example of how someone dealt a bad hand in life could turn things around.

  “I didn’t handle that particularly well, did I?” Matt asked Lori as Willa headed off on her walk home.

  “You’ve done worse,” Lori said with enough spark in her voice to reignite Matt’s guilt over how he’d shut her out. “I can’t believe I did that.”

  “What? Volunteered? I can.”

  “Well, in private, sure, but in front of the town?” She fanned her face. “I haven’t been that terrified since I had to give a speech senior year in high school. Had nightmares about it for a
month beforehand.”

  “You did great,” Matt assured her as he followed her down the stairs. “And I bet we’ll work well together.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Her flat shoes slapped against the plank boards. “Do you need me to talk to Luke or are you going to?”

  “I’ll do it.” If Fletch’s reaction had been any indication, their boss wasn’t going to have any issues about Lori working with them. The evening breeze kicked up with its normal ocean chill. “I’m just glad we’re finally alone so we can talk.” He followed Willa’s lead and pushed his hands into his pockets as he caught up to Lori. “I want to explain about why I didn’t return your calls. Why I disappeared—”

  “Contrary to popular belief, I don’t need coddling, Matt. You apologized. I accepted. We don’t have to discuss it anymore.”

  Matt reached out, caught her arm and pulled her to a stop. “Would you please slow down? I don’t move as quickly as I used to.”

  “Oh, I’m so sor—” The instant sympathy on her face faded when she lifted her gaze from his leg to his face. “Really? You played that card?”

  “Desperate times.” Matt let go, not liking the tension in her arm. When he saw her shiver and pull her sweater across her chest, he shrugged out of his jacket, hesitating briefly at the guarded look in her eyes. “You aren’t going to slug me for this, are you?” Before she could respond, he draped the coat around her, grateful for the excuse to step closer. He loved how her hair smelled, like flowers and vanilla. “Just give me a few minutes, please. That’s all I’m asking. Believe me it won’t take much longer than that to admit what a complete idiot I’ve been.”

  Lori’s eyebrow arched. “So the universe is wrong? Men are fine admitting when they’re wrong?”

  “Some of us are.” It wasn’t his favorite pastime, but he knew when he was due for a mea culpa. “I meant it earlier when I said I had some things to work out. Some things I’ve been carrying around since before I got out of the service. Then you and I started getting close and I realized I was out of time.”