A Dream of Family

by Jill Weatherholt

  Derek’s life had been divided into two pieces. The first was a picture-perfect childhood he’d made up in his young mind. A time filled with family vacations, sitting down to dinner each night, playing sports, watching old Western movies with a giant bowl of popcorn and spending time together at Christmas, even though his father had been rarely present. His mother had covered for her husband. She’d even convinced Derek that his father worked so hard because he loved his family. That had all come to an end. Ripped to shreds. Everything he’d once believed about family, love and the importance of keeping your word had been destroyed two years ago.

  Arriving at his shop, he rounded the back of the building and navigated his SUV into an empty parking space. Placing the car in Park, he glanced to his left and spotted Molly’s bright red VW Beetle. She was in early. He hoped she was calculating profits generated by her Book Buddies. For a second, he considered popping in to apologize for his abrupt departure yesterday, but he decided against it. How could he explain the reason he’d bolted was the way he felt whenever Grace was around? For the first time since learning about his father’s indiscretions, Derek had imagined what it would be like to have a child of his own. He couldn’t allow those thoughts to take root, so he’d left the store as soon as he said goodbye to Molly.

  He climbed out of the vehicle and pushed the key fob to lock the door, which wasn’t necessary in this town. One of the many things he loved about Whispering Slopes. As soon as Derek rounded the building and approached his store, Molly’s door flew open. Her arms flailed and her red hair swung back and forth as she sprinted toward him. “Derek! You have to help me...my store is underwater!”

  Chapter Ten

  It wasn’t a dream. She was wide awake. From the moment Molly had opened the store’s front door and stepped inside, her shoes had squished in the standing water soaking the floor. Sounds of water running caused her stomach to flip-flop. This couldn’t be happening.

  “I need to turn off the water. Do you know where the main shutoff valve is located?” Derek shouted.

  “I’m not sure. I called Rusty, but I got his voice mail. I left a message. I’ll check the back for the shutoff.”

  Before Molly had a chance to blink an eye, Derek bolted toward the rear of the store. Water splashed from underneath his feet onto his jeans.

  “The chairs!” Molly caught a glimpse of the freshly painted blue and yellow rocking chairs in the children’s section, and her heart squeezed. Yesterday, the children attending Book Buddies had loved the newest addition to her store. She raced toward the rockers and grabbed two at a time. With lightning speed, she shot toward the checkout counter and placed the chairs on higher ground.

  “I’ve got the water turned off.” Derek entered the room and wiped his hands down the front of his jeans. “For future reference, the valve is in the utility room.”

  “Thank you.” Molly sped to move the remaining rockers. “I don’t want these to get damaged. The children loved them.”

  Derek followed her lead and headed across the floor. “It’s going to be okay, Molly.” He grabbed three chairs, drawing her attention to his biceps.

  Once all of the seats were safe on higher ground, Molly placed her hands on her hips and released a heavy sigh. “Look at my store. It’s ruined.”

  “It’s not as bad as it looks. At least none of the books got wet. Rusty will get a water restoration company in here. They can have it dried out with their industrial fans in no time.”

  Time was something she didn’t have. “I can’t stay open with those huge fans blowing into customers’ faces. If I’m forced to close for a couple of days, I’ll never be able to pay Rusty or my creditors.” And what about Grace?

  Derek stepped in closer. “Try and stay calm. Let me try to call again. Once the pros take care of the water, we’ll work around the fans. I’ve known a few book lovers in my life. Trust me, they won’t let a breeze in their face keep them from buying a book. Plus, I’ve got the online purchase link on your website. Remember?”

  Molly’s shoulders relaxed. She’d forgotten. Just yesterday, Caitlin had shipped out a couple of orders generated through the website. “Yes, but—”

  “But nothing. You’re going to be reopened in no time.” Derek glanced at his watch. “We’ve got a couple of hours before you even open. I didn’t see a mop in your utility room, so let me run next door and grab mine.”

  Molly hardly realized when Derek left the shop. The water had been turned off, but the sound of a rushing river continued to roar in her head. God, what are you trying to tell me? That I should close my shop since I don’t have a chance against my competition? Should I forget about trying to adopt Grace? This flood had to be a sign. Her shoulders stiffened. This place was her life. She couldn’t go down without a fight. It wasn’t what her mother had done. She’d fought the cancer until the end. Oh, how she wished her mother was still alive.

  “What in the world?”

  Molly whirled around to the familiar voice. “Rusty. I left you a message.”

  “I got it. Joe and his crew from the water restoration company are on their way. What happened?” His question sounded like it was spoken in slow motion.

  “I’m not sure. When I opened this morning, the water was gushing from a pipe in the storage closet. The floor was already underwater.”

  Rusty shot looks around the room. “Judging by the amount of water, it looks like it went on for quite a while.”

  She should have asked where the main shutoff valve was located when she first moved in. A business owner should know those things. But she didn’t. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to stop it. When I saw Derek pull in, I rushed to get him.”

  Rusty ran his hand across his nearly bald head. “This isn’t good at all.”

  Molly could read his mind. If he’d accepted the investor’s offer from the start, this wouldn’t be his problem. But Rusty was a good man, and a dear friend to her mother. He’d made a promise to her mother that he’d look after her, and he was a man of his word.

  The front door swung open for the second time in the past two minutes. Derek raced inside carrying a giant mop. It reminded her of the one Mr. Simpson, the janitor from her high school, used to push all day.

  Derek stepped beside Rusty. “I got the water turned off. I’ll start mopping.”

  “Thank you, son. The restoration company is on their way. Is your space okay?”

  Derek nodded. “It seems to be fine. Don’t worry about this. We’ll take care of it. Her sales are increasing. We’ll keep the momentum going.”

  Molly appreciated Derek’s attempt to bring some light to the situation. But as she watched Rusty paddle his feet through the water, taking in the damage, she prepared herself.

  “I think it might be time.” The landlord’s gaze dropped toward the ground.

  Derek’s brow crinkled. “But what about the time frame we discussed? I’ve implemented some new marketing strategies for Molly. I think they are working, but we need more time.”

  Molly cleared her throat. Or was she swallowing her pride? “Thank you, Derek, but as much as it pains me to say it, Rusty is right. Maybe I need to accept the fact that my store can’t compete with the big guys.” She paused, took in her surroundings and held out her hands to Rusty. “You mentioned you might not have to sell if my store does better. I know you want to retire with peace of mind that I’ll be okay. I love you for that, but what happened this morning is a sign. It’s time to cut my losses.” Saying those words out loud spawned a queasiness deep in the pit of her stomach, one she hadn’t felt since her mother passed away. She spun on her heel and headed toward her office.

  “Wait!”

  Molly stopped. Derek’s tone meant business.

  “I believe in this place. I believe in Book Buddies,” he said to Molly. His cheeks flushed. “I believe in you.” Turning his attention to Rusty, he continued. �
�You said you’d give me time to get Molly’s store making a steady profit again. I can do that. I know I can.”

  “Wait, did you guys make some sort of deal?” Molly’s eyes grazed over the two men.

  Rusty nodded. “I promised your mother I’d look after you. This is about helping you and keeping my word to a special woman. That’s all.”

  “It’s true, Molly,” Derek added. “We both have your best interest in mind. This is just a minor setback. Rusty, I’m asking you to keep your end of the bargain. I’ll take care of the expenses involved in cleaning this place and any repairs. I promise it’s going to be worth it. You can retire knowing Molly’s store is thriving.”

  Molly’s heart squeezed at Derek’s words. As much as she didn’t like the idea of him becoming her landlord, what other option did she have? Losing her store could mean losing Grace. She wouldn’t allow that to happen. She’d have to keep her emotions out of it and look at things from a strictly business perspective. That’s what she’d do in order to make a home for Grace.

  Rusty placed his hand on Derek’s shoulder. “Molly’s mother would’ve liked you.” He blew out a long breath. “I’ll keep my word and give you time. But I can’t let you pay for any repairs. This is still my property, so it’s my responsibility.” He removed his hand and extended it to Derek.

  “Deal?”

  “Yes, sir. It’s a deal.”

  Rusty was right. Her mother would’ve loved Derek. But Molly had never told her mother Derek was the reason she’d been left at the altar. If she had, her mother would have told her to keep her distance. And that’s what she planned to do. If there was any chance of Derek taking over as her landlord, it was all the more reason to keep her focus on business and her heart out of the equation.

  * * *

  Late Friday afternoon, Derek’s phone chirped, pulling him from his laptop and the monthly budget he’d been working on for the past hour. A quick tap of the screen displayed an email notification from his bank. He bit down on his lower lip and read the correspondence. The loan he’d applied for was under further review. When he’d made his initial offer to Rusty, he hadn’t foreseen any issues with getting approved for a loan. Now if it fell through, he wouldn’t be able to afford his original offer, let alone the higher one to match eighty percent of the developer’s bid. More waiting. Derek flopped back against his leather chair and looked at the ceiling.

  The look on Molly’s face yesterday morning had stuck in his mind. Her concern about the store flooding accounted for a fraction of her worries. What if she couldn’t adopt Grace? Thankfully, the store would be easy to fix since there was no major water damage. The cleanup was almost done. Molly could open tomorrow. He doubted the adoption situation would be as simple if the store didn’t start to turn a profit soon.

  Derek skimmed over the remaining emails. He lifted his finger off the down arrow when he came upon the message from his mother. He’d opened and read it a couple of days ago, but he hadn’t taken any action. His mother’s suggestion to reach out to his father had been unexpected. He wasn’t ready. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

  A sudden burst of loud voices turned Derek’s thoughts from his father. He saved his document and powered down the computer. He stepped outside his office and noticed of a group of patrons gathered at the front window of the shop.

  “What’s all of the commotion out there?” Derek walked toward Charles, who was busy grinding some coffee beans.

  “Some of the hotshots from Mountain Ridge Development are out there casing out the town.” Charles shook his head. “That can’t be good.”

  Strange. From what Derek learned at the chamber of commerce meeting, this group wasn’t supposed to arrive in Whispering Slopes until next week. What was their rush? “What makes you say that?”

  Charles wiped his hands down the front of his apron. “I’ve seen this before. A quiet, quaint town gets bought out by some big-city company and everything changes. The little guy doesn’t stand a chance.”

  Derek watched the three men dressed in expensive-looking suits. Their watches glistened in the sunlight while they strolled down the sidewalk, taking pictures and making notes on their iPads. They saw the potential. Like he’d seen the first time he’d come to check out Whispering Slopes. His jaw clenched, and he shook his head. “Well, I’m one of the little guys, and I’m not about to go down without a fight.” His jaw loosened when he spotted Molly entering the store.

  “What can I get you, Molly?” Charles called out when she moved toward the counter.

  Derek’s chest thumped, and her fruity scent teased his nose. “Hey, Molly.”

  She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and narrowed her eyes in his direction. “Hey, Derek.” She focused her attention back on Charles. “I’ll have a tall latte with an extra shot of espresso.”

  “Whoa! Going for the hard stuff, huh?” Derek joked.

  “I didn’t get much sleep last night. I plan to work on my next newsletter, so I need the extra afternoon jolt.”

  Molly losing sleep over her situation wasn’t a surprise. “Go have a seat over there.” He pointed to the only empty table overlooking the main street through town.

  She nodded, reached inside the pocket of her jeans and pulled out a credit card.

  “No.” With caution, he placed his hand over hers and allowed it to linger. “It’s on the house.”

  A forced smile parted her pink lips before she headed across the store. No argument. She must be tired.

  “Here you go, Derek. Take this and go on over there. Give her a reason to smile for real.” Charles passed the steaming beverage over the counter.

  With a million things flooding his mind, he approached Molly’s table. There was so much he wanted to confess to her, like why on the day of her wedding, he’d told Ryan it was a mistake to get married. How his father’s lies were the reason. More importantly, could he explain the emotions that had swirled through his mind the morning of the wedding? How devastated he’d been after learning about his father’s indiscretion. Discovering his parents’ marriage had been a lie and being the best man in his friend’s wedding on the same day had been more than he could handle.

  “A penny for your thoughts.” Derek placed the coffee on the table in front of Molly and slid into the chair next to her.

  She smiled. A real smile this time. “My mother used to say that.”

  “I’m in good company. Care to talk about it?”

  Molly squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them, a tear shimmered on her lower lid.

  “Is it the store? Is that why you couldn’t sleep last night?”

  Her head shifted. The coffee grinder whirled. “It’s part of the reason. At least the place has dried out, and I can open tomorrow morning.”

  Derek leaned closer. “So what kept you awake?”

  Molly pressed her back against the chair. She wrapped her arms tightly around her chest.

  The distress etched on Molly’s face was undeniable. He didn’t want to press her, so he remained quiet.

  “When we were in college, you didn’t know much about me. I mean, I was your best friend’s girlfriend, but we never got to know each other.”

  That was true. He remembered little things about Molly, but he’d never made the time to learn more about her. Now he found himself questioning why. “I’m sorry. I should have made an effort to get to know you better.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t fishing for an apology. I was stating a fact. I didn’t make a concerted effort to learn more about you, either.” She turned her gaze downward. “I remember feeling like I was in a different class than you and Ryan.”

  “Why would you have thought that?”

  Molly looked up. “You probably didn’t know I was adopted.”

  “I think I remember Ryan mentioning it.”

  Molly leaned forward and rubbed her hands down her t
highs. “I was abandoned by my birth mother and placed in foster care.”

  “I...um. I didn’t know.” Why hadn’t Ryan mentioned that to him? Didn’t best friends tell each other everything? He’d never even mentioned his doubts about marrying Molly. Then again, he always thought his parents were best friends, and look what happened with their relationship.

  She shook her head. “You couldn’t have known. I never told Ryan. He knew I was adopted, but not any of the details.”

  Derek cringed. More secrets. Just like his father. “But you were going to commit your life to him. Why didn’t you want to share your past with him?” Secrets undermined trust. They were lies of omission. Marriages should be based on trust. This was exactly the reason committing his life to another person wasn’t in the cards for him.

  “When I met Ryan, he loved me in a way I’d never experienced.” Molly raked her hands through her hair. “At least, at the beginning of our relationship. I was afraid if I told him about my past, he’d look at me like I was defective and no longer worthy of his love.” She turned to Derek. Her eyes glistened with tears. “I was abused. What happened to me in some of the foster homes was degrading. I was ashamed and embarrassed to talk about it. For a long time, I believed I deserved it. My own birth mother didn’t want me, so why would any of the foster families want to welcome me into their home and treat me like a child of their own?”

  Derek’s heart broke. He had no idea. Had Ryan calling off the wedding reopened old wounds for Molly? “I’m sorry you had to endure such a painful childhood, Molly. I hope you realize now what happened to you wasn’t your fault.”

  She wiped a stray tear off her cheek.

  Derek reached across the table and took her hand in his. “You were a defenseless child. I’m sorry you didn’t have anyone to protect you.” Having been raised in a loving home, Derek couldn’t imagine how scared Molly must have been.

  “It’s the reason books are so important to me. They helped me to heal and took away the pain left behind from each bruise. The characters became my friends. I’d pretend I was part of their story, experiencing everything they did. Like working jigsaw puzzles, it was another way I escaped. Until recently, I believed the words and illustrations on those pages saved my life. But now I feel as though there’s not a book in my store that can save me. Not only am I going to lose my store, but I’m going to lose my chance to save Grace. To make a home for her.”