A Father for Bella

by Jill Weatherholt

  “I love monkeys, too.” Bella giggled. “Mommy, can we go to that zoo sometime?”

  Faith poured the hot chocolate into the first of three oversize red-and-white mugs. “Maybe someday we will. Now, who wants marshmallows?”

  Bella bounced in her stool. “I do, I do! I want the mini ones.” She turned to Joshua. Her eyes, the size of walnuts, tripped his heart. “Do you like the small ones, too, Mr. Joshua?”

  “Yes, but only five, please.”

  Her head slightly tilted. “How come?”

  “It’s my favorite number.”

  “Mommy, can I have five?” She grinned at Joshua. “It’s my favorite number, too.”

  Faith raised an eyebrow. “But you always like them overflowing in the cup. You love the marshmallow mustache.”

  “Just five.” She turned her gaze back to Joshua.

  Her mother shrugged her shoulders. “Okay, then.”

  Joshua watched while Faith filled each mug with the rich, creamy chocolate. She counted the marshmallows and tossed a few extra into her cup. She peered at Joshua and her cheeks reddened.

  “Hot chocolate just isn’t the same unless it leaves a marshmallow mustache.” She slid a mug in front of him.

  He took a sip and ran his tongue along his lips, savoring the sweet marshmallow residue. When he spied Faith doing the same, his heartbeat quickened—she sure was cute. Joshua pulled his shoulders back and looked away. He didn’t need any distractions.

  * * *

  Seeing guests come and go at the Black Bear was normal for Faith, but she wasn’t in the mood to entertain the guests this evening. Her mind was preoccupied after she’d read the disturbing news about the inn, just minutes before Bella wandered off. Her stomach knotted as she thought about what could have happened. She was thankful Joshua had arrived when he did.

  He was certainly striking. At five feet and eight inches, she’d always considered herself tall, but next to him, she felt tiny. He’d be about six foot three, she guessed. It was difficult not to stare at him, with his closely cut dark hair and chiseled features, but his looks were a good reason why she needed to keep her distance. Obviously, he’d captured Bella’s heart. Most nights, Faith overheard her daughter saying her prayers. Bella always prayed for a daddy and a new husband for her mommy.

  “Mommy, did you hear me?”

  She jumped at the sound of Bella’s voice. “I’m sorry, sweetie, what did you say?”

  “Can Mr. Joshua come to our house for dinner tonight?” Bella gazed at her newfound hero with starry eyes.

  Faith bit the inside of her cheek and glanced toward Joshua, who appeared completely at ease with the question. “Bella, don’t be silly. We’ve taken up enough of his time. He hasn’t even checked into his room.” She noticed the empty mug. “Speaking of, Mrs. Watson typically checks in our guests, but if you’re finished, I can take care of that.”

  Bella hopped off her stool. Plato, who’d been asleep on a fluffy brown pillow by the back door, jumped up. His toenails scrabbled as he scurried along the hardwood floor, his tail moving like windshield wipers in a driving rainstorm. Bella grabbed Joshua’s hand. “I can show him!”

  He smiled at Bella before turning to Faith. “I appreciate your hospitality, but I don’t want to keep you from going home.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost dinnertime, and isn’t tonight a school night, Bella?” He rubbed the top of her head.

  Faith walked to the sink. “Yes, it is.” She poured the rest of her hot chocolate down the drain and rinsed the cup under some warm water. “Let’s get you settled into your room.” She dried her hands on the striped dishtowel and flung it on the granite counter.

  “Oh, man, school ruins everything, even if I’m only in kindergarten.” Bella scooped Plato into her arms and kissed the top of his head. “I’m going to go watch Mr. Watson. He’s building something in the basement.”

  “Don’t bother him while he’s working. We’ll head home as soon as I get Mr. Joshua checked in.”

  “I won’t bother him.” She skipped out of the room with her dog tight in her arms, whistling a random tune.

  Joshua turned to Faith and smiled. “You’ve got your hands full with that one.”

  “You’re not kidding. I think the child was born whistling.”

  They headed out of the kitchen and into the foyer. Chatter from the dining room echoed across the foyer. The aroma of tangy mustard and brown sugar tickled her nose. Home-style meat loaf smothered in onions was Chef Michael’s specialty, and Faith’s favorite.

  “The Black Bear must have a great chef. That’s quite a crowd.” He pointed toward the dining room. “And the food...it smells wonderful.”

  Her heart sank as the newspaper article she’d read before Bella took off seeped back into her mind. Would Michael lose his job? Would she lose hers? And what about her home? The inn couldn’t be going up for auction out of nowhere, but according to the paper that was the owner’s plan. Why hadn’t she been told? As the manager for four years, she should have been informed.

  She couldn’t think about that—not now. “Yes, Michael came from a popular restaurant in New York City about three years ago. He gave up the frantic pace of city life. We’re grateful we hired him. He knows how to bring in the crowds.”

  “They’re not all guests, are they?”

  She shook her head. “No, we’ve got a lot of the locals who love his food.”

  Where would everyone eat after the inn was sold? The paper said there were rumors of an upscale resort and condos. What would happen to the quaint cottage she rented on the property? Bella called it their gingerbread house. It’d been their home since the fire.

  Faith stepped behind a mahogany counter and tapped her fingers on the keyboard. “Oh, I see you have reservations for four weeks.” Her head tilted to the side. “Our guests normally don’t stay that long. Many are weekend warriors who come up to hit the slopes. You must be a great skier.”

  He examined his fingernails. “I’m okay, I guess.”

  Faith scrolled through the information and took notice of the Bethesda address he’d mentioned earlier. Her best friend from high school had graduated from George Washington University in DC. Real estate in the surrounding area wasn’t cheap. She wondered what Joshua did for a living, but didn’t want to appear nosy by asking. “It’s nice you’re able to take so much time off from work.”

  He nodded and pulled his credit card from an eel-skin wallet. “I assume you take this? Or would you rather have a different kind?”

  Faith grabbed the card and swiped it through the machine. “This is fine.”

  The click of the equipment printing the receipt filled the air while they waited.

  “Earlier, I heard an advertisement for the inn on the radio. Do you do any other form of advertising?” He slipped his credit card into his wallet.

  He was certainly curious about the business. Perhaps he was only making conversation. “Not really. Word of mouth works well for the Black Bear.” She tugged the receipt from the machine and slid it across the counter for his signature.

  She stole a quick glance at the signature—Carlson. Why did the name seem familiar? “Do you have any family in the area?” She waited for his answer as he pulled a pack of peppermint gum from his pocket.

  “No, my family’s all from Bethesda.” He extended the pack of gum in front of her. “Would you like a piece?”

  Her cheeks warmed as she accepted the offer. “Thank you.” She peeled away the foil and slid the cool stick on her tongue. Peppermint had always been her favorite, too.

  “What about you? Any family in the area?”

  “Only my twin sister, Joy, and she’s a schoolteacher here in Whispering Slopes.”

  “Joy and Faith... I like that, and twins, too. When I was a kid, I always thought it would be great to have an identical twin. You know, to play
tricks on your teachers and other kids.” He flashed a smile.

  She forced her eyes away from his rugged good looks. Why did he make her so nervous? “We’re not identical twins. Except for our hair color, we’re nothing alike, but we’re closer than any twins you’ll ever meet.” She rolled the gum wrapper between her fingers into a tight ball, anxious to get home.

  “I guess that made it easier on your parents. Do they live in the area?”

  Ready for him to leave, but not wanting to be rude, she answered. “They died in a car accident while driving to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to celebrate their anniversary.” She paused when a shiver ran down her spine. “Joy and I were only two years old, so our grandparents raised us—here in this house.” The sound of her parents’ voices or the feel of their touch was something she couldn’t remember. All that remained were a few boxes stuffed with crinkled photographs. Except for the past four years, she felt she’d barely had roots or a home—another reason why she couldn’t lose the inn.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to reopen old wounds.” His voice cracked.

  Faith shook her head. “No, it’s okay.” But it really wasn’t. Sharing pieces of her personal life with a strange man—what was she thinking? It was wrong. “Listen to me rambling on. You’re probably exhausted.” She stepped out from behind the counter with his room key in her hand. “Do you need help with your luggage?”

  “No, thank you. I can handle it.” He turned and headed toward the front door.

  With a stack of credit card receipts, Faith scuttled to her office, which was located off the foyer. The massive cherry desk that faced a floor-to-ceiling window provided her with an amazing daytime view, especially on snowy winter days. She slipped behind her desk and opened the lateral file drawer. She fingered through the manila file folders before placing the receipts inside. As she started to push the drawer closed, her eyes locked on a folder labeled “Our Dream.” She slammed the drawer shut. Our dream, baby—we both wanted it so bad. You’d still be alive if we’d gone after it sooner.

  Her thoughts shifted when Joshua stepped into the foyer carrying a large black suitcase, along with a leather briefcase. Perhaps this was an extended trip for pleasure and business. She pushed in the lock before pulling it shut and headed toward the door. “Let’s go upstairs. Your room is the first one on the right.”

  The sound of their footsteps echoed as they climbed the winding oak staircase. Once at the door, she slid the key into the doorknob and pushed it open.

  “Wow! I wasn’t expecting such a large room.” Joshua smiled and stepped inside. His gaze stopped at the stone fireplace. “And it has its own fireplace—very nice.”

  She flipped the light switch. The recessed lighting provided a warm glow throughout the room. “This is the largest of our five rooms. The other four are much smaller.” Heat filled her face. “Actually, it’s our honeymoon suite.”

  “I take it there’re no honeymooners coming into town the next four weeks.”

  She watched Joshua set his suitcase down on the luggage rack.

  “This office space is perfect.” He placed his briefcase on top of the desk.

  Faith flipped the plantation shutters closed. “We used to have it arranged as a sitting room, but one suggestion that continued to come up in the guest surveys was they’d like a workspace. I suppose with the internet, people don’t know how to unplug from the office anymore, even on their honeymoon.”

  He nodded. “I think the room is perfect, and it smells so outdoorsy.”

  “It’s pine. Usually for the honeymooners, we use lavender. We made a quick adjustment for you.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I’m going to let you get settled.” She handed over the key and pointed toward the desk. “The number for Mr. and Mrs. Watson is on that information sheet. They live on the premises in a spare room, off from the dining area. You’ll probably meet them when you go down to dinner. If you need anything, please give them a call.”

  Faith reached for the doorknob and turned around. “I almost forgot. Dinner’s served until nine thirty. I’m sure you’re starved.”

  “Actually, I am kind of hungry. I’ll definitely order the meat loaf. It smelled like my mother’s recipe.” He smiled.

  “Yes, Michael’s Thursday night special is a crowd-pleaser. He makes terrific garlic mashed potatoes, too.” Her stomach grumbled. She hadn’t eaten anything since lunch, and that was only a small bowl of vegetable soup.

  Joshua stepped toward the door and extended his hand. “Thank you for your help checking in. I appreciate it.”

  She hesitated before reaching for his hand. “It’s part of my job. Besides, I’m the one who should thank you.”

  “For what?”

  Her gaze met his. “For finding Bella... I get sick to my stomach thinking what could have happened.”

  “She’s safe now, that’s what matters.” He ran his hands down the front of his slacks. “Speaking of, you be safe driving home. On my ride here, I spotted several deer darting across the road.”

  Faith smiled. “I don’t have to drive anywhere. My house is on the property.”

  Joshua began to cough and clutched his hand to his throat.

  She reached for his forearm. “Are you okay?”

  He nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. I swallowed my gum, that’s all.” His face reddened. “Did you say you live here—on the property of the Black Bear?”

  “Yes. We live in a two-bedroom cottage.” Faith noticed his coloring had turned from red to pale in a manner of seconds. “It’s adjacent to the back of the inn.”

  He gave a quick nod and grabbed the doorknob. With a swift jerk, he pulled the door wide open—her clue to leave. She turned and walked through the door. When it slammed behind her, she realized neither had said goodbye. Odd. The new guest had been so friendly earlier. Why did he seem rattled to learn that she and Bella lived on the grounds of the inn?

  Chapter Two

  Joshua closed the door fast, but it didn’t release the guilt that gripped him. The ticking wall clock in the office space caused his thoughts to race. She lived on the property? He didn’t recall seeing a house.

  Discovering that Faith had lived at the inn after her parents were killed was bad enough, but being a landlord wasn’t part of his plan. How could he evict a young mother and her child? There were so many other things that needed his attention prior to the auction, but this was a huge, unexpected curveball.

  He strolled toward the clock and took it off the wall. Carefully, he removed the batteries and remounted it. He’d never liked the sound of time passing him by.

  As he admired the Bob Timberlake painting hanging adjacent to the stacked-stone fireplace, his cell phone chirped. Without looking at the screen, he pulled it from his back pocket. “Hello, Joshua Carlson speaking.”

  “Josh, hey, it’s Steve-o.” Steve Hayes, his best friend from Georgetown University.

  His voice brought a smile to Joshua’s face. “Steve-o, it’s great to hear from you—it’s been a while.”

  “It’s my fault, man. I’ve been working in London for the past four months. I had to set up a new network system for one of our customers. The hours have been brutal.”

  “No problem. I know you tech guys work around the clock.”

  A brief silence hung in the air.

  “I just heard about your mom, Josh. I’m really sorry. I wish I’d known. I would have flown back for the funeral.”

  First the cancer diagnosis and within six months, she was with the Lord. It was hard to believe a month had passed since he’d kissed her cheek and held her hand for the last time. “Don’t worry about it. I should have called you, but it was a small service. You know how my father is, always trying to keep family business hush-hush.”

  “How’s he doing? Despite his ways, I know he loved your mom.”

  “Yes, he did.
I think it’s been tough for him, but we haven’t talked since the funeral...we hardly spoke then. He’s still angry at me for quitting my job at his firm.” He didn’t want to dump the gory details on his friend, but the truth was that his father had disowned his only son. “I did hear from Melissa.”

  “So, she’s still handling your legal affairs?”

  “Yeah, she said my dad’s attorney told her that my dad’s getting rid of anything that reminds him of my mother.”

  “That must be tough on him.”

  “He’s even selling the businesses. The hotels and inns they’d owned together are either for sale or going up for auction.” He paused. He could trust Steve to keep his plan under wraps. “That’s why I’m in Whispering Slopes.”

  “Whispering Slopes—the ski resort in the Shenandoah Valley? The Black Bear Inn, wasn’t that your mother’s favorite place?”

  He smiled. Steve had always been a good listener. “Yes, it was. My father’s putting it up for auction and I plan to make an offer. I’ve got a healthy nest egg saved, as well as my trust account. Hopefully it will cover the cost. There’s no way I’ll let strangers take over the inn. It meant too much to my mother.” He paused as the ache of losing her bubbled to the surface. “It’s all I have left of her.”

  “I understand. Do you think he’s too angry at you for leaving his firm to gift the place to you?”

  Joshua slid into the leather club chair next to the fireplace. “Angry isn’t the word for it.” Despite Steve being his best friend, it was tough to admit his own father thought he was a loser. He glanced out the window. The outdoor spotlight exposed a gathering of seven white-tailed deer on the grounds below.

  The silence lingered for a couple of seconds. Joshua hadn’t meant to make his friend uncomfortable “It’s all good. I’m going to buy this inn and the surrounding property. My plan is to redevelop it and make it a five-star resort.” Although Faith and her daughter would present a bigger problem than he anticipated, he wasn’t backing down—he couldn’t. “It’s going to be the best resort on the East Coast.”