Promises to Keep

by Vanessa Devereaux

  “It’s not fair. Jon stays up an hour longer than me.”

  “That’s because he’s older.”

  “Then I can’t wait till I’m older.”

  “Don’t worry you’ll get there soon enough.” Cole rubbed his hands over his eyes. “I’ll clean up the plates and flatware if you want to go and study before bed,” Cole told Nina.

  She nodded and then kissed him on the cheek. He was a lucky man, because he had two great kids.

  Cole stood, grabbed the pizza box, and threw it into the garbage bin. Next he took the plates and forks over to the sink and rinsed them before placing everything in the dishwasher. He turned around. Ten minutes ago the kitchen had been filled with chatter about this and that, but now it was silent. It was just him.

  It had been for the last three years, but tonight was the first time he’d actually realized it. He grabbed one of the mugs that had been sitting on the rack, picked up a tea towel and dried it. Drying it more than he really needed to but the spinning motion took away some of his frustration and anger.

  He was caught between two worlds. One of the present, the grieving widower. The second, the man who once loved a woman but had to move on and find someone else to grow old with.

  Putting down the towel and mug, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet and the photo of Amanda. It was his ritual when he got stressed. The psychologist had told him it wasn’t a bad thing. He fingered the outline of her face. He’d grown three years older, but she was stuck in time. She’d be thirty years old forever. One of his tears splashed onto the photo and he quickly wiped it away so he didn’t ruin it.

  “Wish you could tell me what to do.”

  He hung his head and that’s when he saw it. Hayley’s business card balancing on the toe of his cowboy boot.

  Chapter Eight

  Hayley headed inside the fire department offices, not sure which one she needed to help her locate Cole so she could return the Christmas ornaments. Upon hearing men’s voices coming from the one down the hallway, she decided to head that way and ask.

  “It’s unbelievable that someone else is out sick. Just our luck that it’s everyone who’s signed up to do something important for one our holiday programs,” one man said.

  “Any idea who can cook for the pancake breakfast with Santa?” asked another.

  “I can,” said Hayley, stepping into the doorway.

  Wait a minute, why did I say that? Did I actually say that?

  Guess she had, because both men were looking directly at her with smiles on their faces.

  “Is this our Christmas angel or what?” asked a man with greying hair around the temples. “A complete stranger offering to step in and cook pancakes on Saturday morning.”

  She’d volunteered to do what? Guess she couldn’t take it back now.

  “Sure, you tell me what time you need me and I’ll be here. By the way, I’m Hayley Ward and I own the Rustic Inn B and B.”

  Both men stood and took turns shaking her hand. “I’m Fred Niven, the fire chief. And this is Todd Ralston, one of our firemen.”

  “Did you fall out of the sky or what?” asked Todd.

  “No, I was actually here to locate Cole True who’s a volunteer fireman.”

  “One of the best guys we have.”

  “He kindly gave me a box of holiday decorations and it looks like some personalized ones got in there by mistake. I’m sure he’d like returned. I was wondering if you could give them to him or could tell him to call me.”

  “He’ll be at the pancake breakfast on Saturday. He and his kids have volunteered to help clean up after,” said Fred.

  “Then I guess I’ll bring them along. What time would you like me to start?”

  “Breakfast is at 9 a.m. but if you could get here an hour earlier to make sure everything’s running smoothly.”

  “I can do that.”

  “We’re buying a pre-made batter from a discount store.”

  “No, I have a recipe I use at the inn if that’s okay with you?”

  “Sure, and we can reimburse you for ingredients.”

  ****

  Cole headed into the fire station with Jon and Nina ahead of him. This was the one thing they did every year as a family as a way of saying thank you to the fire department that had been first on the scene of Amanda’s accident.

  When he stepped inside he was sure he recognized the woman’s voice. He must be obsessed with her or something because it sounded like Hayley. He turned the corner and sure enough there she was standing in the kitchen wearing one of the fire department’s oversized aprons and beating milk into a bowl of flour. He never thought he’d see her again.

  He felt someone slap him on the back and turned to see Fred.

  “So what do you think of our Christmas angel? She stepped in to save the day.”

  “Yes, I met her at the tree lot. What happened to Gene?”

  “Came down with that weird flu that seems to be going around. Okay one minute, sick the next, fine the day after that.”

  “So how did Hayley hear we needed someone?”

  “I’m not sure and I don’t care because she’s here when we need her the most.”

  Cole glanced over at her as she broke eggs into a bowl and added them to the flour mixture. She glanced up, obviously sensing she was being watched.

  He waved to her and she nodded and smiled as she continued beating the batter.

  “Maybe she could do with some help,” said Fred.

  Cole stepped into the kitchen. Even the raw batter looked great.

  “Wow, this will be the first Christmas pancake event that the pancakes haven’t come from a mix.”

  “It’s the specialty of the inn. The owner left me the secret recipe. There I serve them with real maple syrup and sausages from a local farm.”

  Just the thought of that made his stomach rumble. He hadn’t eaten pancakes for over three years and the thought of homemade ones were a bit too tempting.

  “Anything I can do to help?” he asked.

  “No, I think I have everything under control. I did hear you and your children are going to help clean up for me.”

  “Yeah, and I’d like you to meet them.” He looked out into the main room and guessed they’d made their way to the foosball table.

  “Stay right there and I’ll go get them.”

  Cole found them exactly where he’d thought. Jon was trying his best to outscore his sister. He signaled for them to quit and come join him. He put his hands on each of their shoulders and marched them into the kitchen. For some strange reason he wanted the kids to like Hayley, and Hayley to think they were adorable.

  “Jon, Nina, I’d like you to meet Hayley Ward. Hayley, my children.”

  Hayley wiped her hands down the sides of her apron and first shook Jon’s hand, and then Nina’s.

  “I like your necklace,” said Nina, pointing to the purple beads around Hayley’s neck.

  “Thank you. I made it myself from a kit I bought at the new craft store in the mall.”

  Nina turned to Cole. He knew what she was going to say.

  “Can you take me there so I can get one?”

  Cole nodded. Amanda had always been into crafts and Nina was following in her footsteps. It used to be stuffed toys, but obviously now it was jewelry. He guessed he hadn’t realized that his little girl was turning into a young woman before his very eyes.

  “So I’m just about ready to start making pancakes,” said Hayley. “Anyone want to help?”

  “I can,” said Nina.

  Hayley handed her an apron, which she wrapped around her. Yeah, looked like the two of them had hit it off straight away. Nina stood beside Hayley and watched her pour the batter onto the griddle. She probably missed having a woman around to cook with, and to make things with like necklaces. Maybe he’d been selfish in not bringing someone new into their lives.

  ****

  Hayley leaned against the wall and smiled. Her pancakes were a success and sh
e had lots of folk asking if they could stop by the inn for breakfast even if they weren’t a paying guest. It had given her a new idea about another source of income.

  She’d been busy but it hadn’t stopped her from catching sly glances of Cole. His children both had his good looks. In fact, they were so cute she guessed his late wife had been beautiful. Now as she wiped down the table as the crowd slowly thinned out, she noticed Cole standing in the doorway observing her.

  “What did you think of the pancakes?” she asked him.

  “I haven’t tried them.”

  She turned around to the griddle, lifted two off, placed them on a paper plate, and handed it to him.

  “I haven’t…”

  “Haven’t what?”

  He seemed lost for words, in a panic almost as he rubbed his hand across this forehead and shuffled his feet.

  He finally took the plate from her but simply stared at them.

  Something was wrong with him. Maybe he hated pancakes and was too polite to say so.

  “If you don’t want them…”

  The next thing she knew he’d broken off a large chunk of one with the plastic fork and popped it into his mouth. He didn’t say a word, but she was sure she saw his eyes watering or were they tears?

  Her cooking had never made anyone cry before. What if they’d been awful and everyone had been too polite to say so because of it being a fundraising event?

  “I think I’m in heaven,” he finally said.

  Hayley let out the breath she’d been holding in since he taken his first bite. “Glad you like them.”

  “Best ones I’ve tasted since my wife passed away. She was the pancake making expert.”

  Hayley smiled at his nostalgic expression. “Oh, which reminds me. When I sorted through the decorations you gave me I found some personalized ones that I guess had made their way into the box by mistake. I’ve got them with me. And I’ve put them in a box with your name on it by your locker.”

  Cole had lost all his color. Maybe he was coming down with the flu that was going around the station.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “Sure, I’m fine.”

  “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “No, I’m going to be okay. I’ll just get started on clearing the tables.”

  She nodded and walked back into the kitchen. She peeked through the window. Cole wasn’t clearing or cleaning. Instead he was sitting down simply staring into space.

  Something was wrong with him, but she didn’t know him well enough to pry. Jon and Nina headed over to him, patted him on the back, and then the three of them set about throwing away the dirty paper plates and wiping down the tables.

  Maybe she could help too now that she was done in the kitchen.

  “Guess a fourth pair of hands is always a good thing,” she said, picking up some plastic forks.

  Santa chose that moment to walk by and take off his hat and beard.

  “Man, it was hot in this thing,” he said, wiping the sweat from his face. “Okay if I hang this back in the supply cupboard?”

  “Sure, and thanks for playing Santa. I know everyone had lots of fun,” said Cole.

  “Before I do get rid of this thing I have to ask you what you wish for.”

  Cole shrugged his shoulders.

  “Come on, you have to come up with something.”

  “How about the best year ever?”

  “And how about you, Hayley?” asked Santa.

  “That’s an easy one. More guests at my inn.”

  “May both of your wishes come true.”

  Cole smiled at Hayley as Santa left.

  “Have you decorated your tree yet?” asked Cole.

  Hayley shook her head as she picked up a box of napkins. “I thought I’d put on some music, pour myself a glass of wine, and go about the task tomorrow.”

  Maybe she’d invite him over to the inn to help her out.

  “Sounds like fun.”

  “You feel like joining me?”

  There she’d been bold. She’d taken the first step.

  He shook his head.

  Well at least he was honest. He wasn’t going to get her hopes up and then let her down like her former lover. Still it hurt. Rejection was never easy. And now that she knew there wasn’t any hope in pursuing him, it was best she exited as soon as she could.

  “I guess I should be going back to the inn to make sure everything’s okay. Nice seeing you again.”

  “Yeah, and thanks for cooking the pancakes,” said Cole.

  Hayley grabbed her coat and gloves from the peg on the wall and headed outside. Would she ever get used to the cold? And it looked like it was going to snow again. She pulled the collar up on her coat and rushed to her car and sat there.

  She’d thought there was some electricity between her and Cole, the sly glances, the smiles, but she’d been obviously wrong. Maybe she was getting needy and desperate. She’d heard of women imaging men were attracted to them when it was all due to politeness.

  Better luck next time.

  ****

  Sadie looked into her crystal ball. It was early days for the new pair, so she wanted to check on Cole and Hayley’s progress. Seemed the young lady had been bold enough to ask Cole to the inn, but the cowboy was stubborn. His heart was still broken and fragile, but what he didn’t know was Hayley could mend it so it didn’t hurt so much.

  She tapped her fingers on her desk. These silly mortals; when would they learn? And when would the Department of Love learn that it was a necessity for Sadie to intervene sometimes. Like right now.

  These two had to get together somehow. If they were in constant contact with one another, the barrier Cole had erected around his heart would eventually crumble away. If only he’d stay at the inn for a few days…

  Sadie smiled. That was it. Now she had to figure out how to get him there.

  Chapter Nine

  Cole opened the door and immediately sensed that something was wrong. The toasty warm house they’d left to go help at the pancake breakfast was now freezing.

  “Hey, kids, keep your coats on for a bit. I need to check the furnace.”

  He headed down into the basement and switched on the light. He grabbed the flashlight off the shelf near his workbench and made his way to the furnace. He couldn’t see the usual blue flame. He tried lighting it, but nothing. Damn, it wasn’t that old but he knew these things didn’t last forever. Shitty time for it to go wrong. He put his hand on the water heater and discovered that too was cold.

  Shit and double shit. Fixing both of these things was probably going to be pricey.

  He headed back up the stairs, seeing both Jon and Nina shivering even with their coats and gloves on.

  “I’m going to call the repair guy. Looks like both our furnace and water heater have decided to quit at the same time.”

  “It’s really cold in here,” said Nina.

  “I know, honey, but keep your coat and mittens on and we’ll have it fixed soon. Why don’t you go and sit in the family room with the quilt over your laps and watch TV while I get it sorted out. It shouldn’t take too long.”

  ****

  Hayley sat on the chair in her office and tried to calculate how much it would cost her to open for breakfast, how much she could charge, and if it would disrupt her paying guests at the inn. Maybe she could start with weekdays only. Basic pancakes and sausages. Maybe some biscuits, too. She could make eggs and bacon, neither of which would be too costly because she had to buy them for the guests anyway. She punched in some numbers on the calculator and then heard the bell over the front door ring.

  Standing up, she crossed her fingers that it was someone wanting to check in for a long time. She didn’t expect to see Cole and his kids standing there with backpacks and a small case.

  “Hi,” she said.

  “Don’t suppose you happen to have a couple of rooms for the night?” asked Cole.

  “I do. What, you decide you wanted to try out the R
ustic Inn?” asked Hayley.

  “Both our furnace and water heater just gave out. The technician promised to get the parts to fix them by tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Sorry to hear that. I mean them breaking down, not that he’ll have parts by tomorrow,” said Hayley, sliding a registration card toward him. “Not that I’m not happy to see you here.”

  Cole picked up a pen and began filling in his name and address.

  “It smells sort of musty in here. Can’t we go to the Hampton Inn instead?” asked Jon. “This place doesn’t even have a pool.”

  Cole didn’t say anything to his son. Instead, he addressed Hayley. “Sorry to say my son left his manners someplace,” he said without looking up. “Maybe he’d like to go out to the car, bring in the other bag, and look for them while he’s at it.”

  Hayley tried to suppress a laugh. Cole’s humor was dry, but she liked it.

  “Geez,” said Jon.

  “The truck, the bag, now,” said Cole, pushing the keys toward him.

  Cole finished writing and gave Hayley back the card. She was headed over to the desk with the keys just as Jon arrived back with the bag.

  “Found your manners while you were out there?” asked Cole.

  Jon nodded. “Sorry for the remark about the smell, and the lack of aquatic entertainment.”

  “Jon,” shouted Cole. “What did I just say about the sarcasm?”

  “Hey, that’s okay, he’s got a sense of humor and I like it,” said Hayley.

  Cole shook his head.

  “I have room fourteen for you and Jon, and for Nina, the room across the way, which is number eleven,” she said, handing them the keys.

  “Hey, how come Nina gets a room all to herself?” asked Jon.

  “I’m a girl, that’s why.” She poked her tongue out at her brother.

  “Okay, both of you, that’s enough. We’re cold. Let’s head upstairs and take showers to warm up. Then we can go and eat someplace,” said Cole.

  Hayley watched as Cole headed up the stairs with his kids in tow. Seeing him again so soon had been quite the surprise. It was thoughtful of him to think of her inn rather than a hotel closer to town or one with the aquatic entertainment.