A Father for Bella

by Jill Weatherholt

  Joshua shivered at the sound of the slamming door. He moved to the window and watched his father drive away in his SUV. With heavy footsteps he headed out the door, wondering how on earth he’d ever tell Faith she’d lost her dream for the second time.

  * * *

  Later in the afternoon, Faith pressed her index fingers against her temples, attempting to keep the headache at bay. It wasn’t working. Mrs. Watson had been kind enough to take care of lunch for the guests and then offered to pick up rotisserie chickens and some side dishes for dinner. She knew Faith was preoccupied with the auction. Now, holed up in her office in an attempt to get some paperwork accomplished, Faith was unable to maintain her focus. Her mind wandered to Joshua. Earlier, when she’d taken the casseroles up to the inn, she could tell he was upset. He’d raced past her without saying where he was headed. He hadn’t even said goodbye. She could only assume the meeting with his father hadn’t gone well.

  A gentle knock on the door pulled her from her worries. “Faith, can I come in?”

  She’d never been so relieved to hear her twin’s voice. With the auction quickly approaching, she had so much she wanted to talk with her about.

  The door slowly opened and her sister’s smiling face appeared.

  Faith pushed herself out of her chair. In desperate need of a hug, she met Joy in the center of the room. Standing on the circular Oriental rug once belonging to their grandmother, Faith was overcome with emotion.

  “Why are you crying?”

  She wished she knew. The past several weeks had been an emotional roller coaster. She was thrilled to think she’d become part owner of the Black Bear Inn, but the feelings swirling in her heart for Joshua left her with tremendous guilt. “There’s so much I need to tell you.” Faith headed toward the door and pushed it closed.

  “Talk to me.” Joy reached for her twin’s hand and led her to the leather love seat situated between two windows. They both took a seat. Fifteen minutes later, her sister knew of Joshua’s plan.

  “I think I might be falling in love with Joshua.” Faith blew out a heavy breath. “Did I just say that out loud?”

  Joy laughed and clapped her hands together. “I knew it! Isn’t it amazing how God works? He brought Joshua to you to provide you with the security you’ve longed for since Chris’s death.”

  Faith had never thought the man who was trying to steal her only desire would be the one who’d make her dream come true. She ran her fingers through her hair. “Ever since Bella and Joshua were stranded in the storm, I’ve been feeling as though God’s been trying to talk to me again.”

  “He’s talking to you or you have you been speaking to Him?”

  That night after the storm, when Joshua had brought her daughter home to her, she’d spent an hour in prayer. She had finally reignited the relationship she’d had with God before Chris died, confessing her anger toward Him. “Well, He’s been talking all along, but I haven’t been listening. I could never understand why He allowed the fire to steal my husband from me. Once I revealed my heart through prayer, everything became clear.”

  Joy reached out and hugged her only sister. “I’m so happy for you. No one deserves this more than you.”

  Faith nodded. “You were right. God did bring Joshua to me for a second chance. I just hope—” She couldn’t stop thinking about the way Joshua had acted when she’d brought breakfast to the inn. “Never mind.”

  “What is it?”

  “Joshua’s father is here.” And now Joshua was missing. Something was up. A shiver rattled her spine.

  “I guess it makes sense. It is his property after all. Maybe he wants to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

  “That could be it, but their relationship is very contentious. According to Joshua, they don’t speak to each other. Even at his mother’s funeral, his father didn’t acknowledge him.”

  “But his father has reached out to him. Maybe this is a good sign. Try not to worry so much.” Joy rubbed her sister’s arm.

  When Joy’s phone chimed, Faith waited as she responded to a text message.

  Her twin slipped her phone into her purse. “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to get going. We have a faculty meeting scheduled this afternoon and Rose needs a ride. I’ll be back to pick up Bella for her overnight. I got the kettle corn she likes so much and a stack of movies.”

  They said their goodbyes. Joy gave her a hug to reassure her that everything would work out.

  Faith remained on the love seat for the next ten minutes. The whining and whirling of drills and the noise of nails being hammered entered through the cracked door. Renovations were moving along, but doubt consumed her. Had Mr. Carlson convinced his son a partnership was a bad idea? What if she’d lost her dream yet again?

  Chapter Fifteen

  Joshua paced the floor of his room like a nervous father waiting on the delivery of his first child. Earlier, he’d stormed off without a word to Faith. He’d jumped into his car to go for a drive. He needed to clear his head. Before he knew it, he’d found himself pulling over at a rest stop to text his father. He’d needed answers to so many questions. If he didn’t address his father then, he probably never would. A knock at the door pulled him back into the moment. His stomach lurched.

  “I wasn’t sure if you’d come.” Joshua moved out of the way as his father stepped inside and removed his hat.

  “I said I would.” The old man scanned the room.

  The familiar scent of pipe tobacco lingered on his coat. “Here, let me take those.” Joshua took the outerwear and hung them inside the coat closet. He turned to face the man who’d caused him a lifetime of pain and loneliness. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “No—I can’t stay long,” his father grumbled, avoiding any eye contact.

  There was no warm and fuzzy from this man. There’d never been. Why would Joshua think anything would have changed after all these years? “There’s a reason I asked you to come, so I’ll get to the point.” He stepped toward the desk and opened the drawer. Reaching inside, he pulled out a letter-size manila envelope and approached his father, who’d taken a seat in the leather chair in the corner of the room.

  “What’s this?” His father asked as he reached for the envelope.

  “Open it.”

  His father did as Joshua requested. His eyes bulged as he scanned through each photograph in the envelope. His hands shook. Was he suffering from early Parkinson’s disease? Of course not. Joshua hadn’t seen them shake when they met earlier. It was the photos causing the tremors.

  “Where did you get these?” He sprung from the chair unlike any old man Joshua had ever known. Loosening his tie, he locked his eyes, filled with fury, onto his only son. “Tell me! Now!”

  Joshua had prepared himself for an angry response from his father, but he hadn’t imagined this. The guy was livid. “Calm down—please.”

  He stepped toward his son, swatting the envelope into his face. “Don’t tell me to settle down. I want an answer.”

  “At the inn...down in the basement. There were stacks of boxes. Faith didn’t know who they belonged to so I took a look. Who’s Jimmy, Dad?” Suddenly, this seemed like a bad idea. His father looked as though his head would explode. The redness initially filling his face seemed to be getting deeper in color.

  “Don’t ever mention that name again.” He turned his attention back to the photo of him and Jimmy holding fishing poles as they stood beside a pond.

  Were those tears he saw in the corner of his father’s eye? No. It couldn’t be. From the time Joshua was a little boy, his father had drilled into his head, “Real men never show their emotions and they certainly don’t cry like babies.”

  His father slumped down into the chair, dropping the photos to the floor. As Joshua watched, the man who’d never showed any emotion, even at his wife’s funeral, covered his face with his hands and r
eleased a lifetime of pent-up tears.

  Joshua knelt down in front of the chair. He noticed his father’s shoulders jerked in rapid movements. Placing his hand to stop the trembling, Joshua felt the bones where once there had been muscle. “Dad?”

  The man peeled away his hands and looked at his son with tear-soaked eyes. “What have I done to you? I’m exactly like my father. Your entire life, I’ve treated you the same way he treated me.” He ran his hand across his face. “How will I ever make this up to you?”

  “Grandpa? What are you talking about, Dad?”

  Joshua listened as his father talked about his painful past, recalling the demons from his childhood. How his own father had blamed him for the drowning death of his other son, Jimmy. Never offering forgiveness, no matter how many times he’d been asked. Joshua began to understand his father. His father was human after all. He’d treated Joshua the only way he knew how. Exactly how he’d been raised. The cycle of dysfunction had carried on to the next generation, but thankfully it would end today.

  “It was my fault. I was the one who wanted to go skating. Jimmy didn’t even want to go, but I forced him, my baby brother, and that day, his life ended when he fell through the ice.” His sobs were uncontrollable. “It should have been me, not Jimmy.” Years of pain and suffering flowed from the elderly man.

  Joshua took two steps forward and, for the first time in his life, embraced his father. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving. “It’s okay, Dad. I forgive you.”

  His father pulled back and stared at his son with bloodshot eyes. “But why? I’ve treated you so badly—your entire life.”

  “It’s what Mom taught me by taking me to church every Sunday.”

  A half smile parted the man’s lips. “I miss her so much.”

  Joshua patted his father’s shoulder. “So do I, Dad—every day.”

  After his father left, Joshua checked his messages on his phone. He smiled as he listened to a voice mail from Faith inviting him over for dinner. Since she didn’t enjoy cooking, he assumed she was ordering a pizza or some takeout.

  An hour later, after a quick shower and shave, Joshua walked in darkness to Faith’s house. He felt as though the weight of the world had been removed from his shoulders. Making peace with his father had brought him more joy than he’d ever imagined. Much to Joshua’s surprise, his father was actually a nice guy—and funny, too. He had told his son about the practical jokes he loved to play on his wife throughout their marriage. This had been a side of his father Joshua had never seen. He liked it. He’d been grateful when his father agreed to go through with the auction tomorrow. His father had finally understood why it was so important for Joshua to keep his promise to his mother. They’d hugged, said their goodbyes and even planned to meet for breakfast before the auction.

  Since Faith knew nothing about his father’s threats to take the inn off the auction block, he saw no need to mention it now, since everything was back on track for tomorrow.

  It was after 8:00 p.m., so he gently knocked on the front door, in case Bella was already in bed. Of course, it was Friday night, so she might still be up. He hoped she was. After today, he needed a Bella fix.

  His breath hitched when Faith opened the door, dressed in a red cashmere sweater and gray wool slacks. Her wavy caramel hair cascaded over her slender shoulders.

  “Hello, Joshua. Please come in.”

  She cast a warm smile, causing his heart to hammer in his chest. Her fragrance smelled like sweet honeysuckle at the peak of summer, making him light-headed.

  “I thought maybe we’d have dinner in the dining room.”

  “Sounds great to me.” He looked around the room. “Where’s the munchkin?”

  “She’s sleeping over at Joy’s tonight. She’ll bring her over to the community center in the morning. I still can’t believe the auction is tomorrow.” She turned and headed into the other room.

  Joshua trailed behind her, enjoying the aroma drifting from the kitchen.

  When he entered the dining room, his mouth dropped open. The lights were dim, but the warm glow from the candles on the elegantly set table emitted the perfect lighting for a romantic dinner.

  Joshua turned to her. “Did you do all of this yourself?”

  Her questioning brow signaled to him his words hadn’t come out right. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just the delicious smell coming from the kitchen and all this.” He panned his hands in the air. “I didn’t think you could cook.”

  A smile tugged at her lips. “I never really said I couldn’t cook. I just don’t like to, unless it’s for someone special.”

  Apart from his mother, no one ever had uttered those thoughts about him. His heart soared. He’d made peace with his father, and now the most beautiful woman in the world thought he was special. His heart was overflowing with joy. “Would you like some apple cider before we have the salad?”

  At that moment, he would have been happy with a stale piece of bread. He didn’t want anything but to spend the rest of his days with this woman. Of course, he didn’t want to be rude. “Sure, cider sounds great.”

  “Please, make yourself at home. I’ll be right back with our drinks.”

  He watched as she glided out of the room. As he scanned the living room, the photographs on the mantel caught his eye. He stepped closer for a better look. He smiled at the pictures of her late husband dressed in his uniform. Joshua was happy Faith had realized leaving photos of Chris hidden away in the attic wasn’t good for Bella or for herself. Another shot of Bella and Faith taken on a crisp autumn day warmed his heart. They were jumping into a large pile of golden-yellow leaves, wearing wide smiles. Next fall, could he be in the photograph, too? Warmth filled his chest at the thought.

  After they finished their beverages and salad, Faith surprised Joshua with a lovely meal of surf and turf.

  “This is the most tender cut of meat I’ve ever eaten. It’s melting in my mouth.”

  She nodded as she chewed a bite and then swallowed. “I’m glad you like it. I drove over to a quaint little town called Davis earlier. They have the best cuts of beef.”

  “I think you’ve been holding out on me.”

  “What do you mean?” She tapped her napkin to her pink lips.

  “All of this time, you could have been doing all of the cooking for the guests. I think you’re better at it than I am.” He speared a piece of steak with his fork.

  “Maybe so, but we probably wouldn’t be sitting here together. We’d still be butting heads over the inn.”

  She was right. All the weeks they’d spent together in her cozy kitchen had brought them to this point. He was overwhelmed by the amount of trouble Faith had gone to in order to make this special meal for him. “Can I tell you something?”

  “Of course.”

  “During my marriage, my ex never cooked a meal like this for me. In fact, she never made anything. Our dining usually consisted of delivery and premade dishes that only required reheating.”

  Faith placed her fork on her plate. Her eyes shimmered with flecks of gold when she looked up and met his gaze. “You’re the first man I’ve made a meal for since Chris was killed. In fact, he was the only man I’d ever cooked for.”

  He reached over for her hand. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this, but please know how special this night is to me.”

  Following dinner, they feasted on a decadent chocolate mousse with a dollop of whipped cream. Then they headed into the kitchen to tackle the dishes.

  “You really don’t need to help with these. I can take care of it later,” Faith said as she stacked some plates next to the sink.

  “Nonsense—you did all the hard work, it’s only fair I lend a hand.”

  Faith leaned up against the counter. “Can I ask you something, Joshua?”

  “Sure—anything.”


  “Why are you so sure we’ll get the inn? There might be other people, maybe real estate developers, who’ll be interested in the property.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ll pay as much as I have to.”

  Her eyebrow arched. “Money’s no object?”

  He rested the oversize spoon on the plate next to the stove. Turning, he strolled toward her and their eyes held. She flinched when he took her hands and drew her closer to him. “No, it’s not. I’m doing this for you...for us, and no one can stop me, Faith.” He meant it, even if he had to beg his father to lend him the money.

  It hadn’t been planned, but when he was close enough to feel her warm breath on his face, he couldn’t resist. Her lips were soft and tender just as he’d imagined them to be. Nothing else existed or mattered as their kiss deepened.

  Faith pulled one hand free and gripped the edge of the countertop. A dreamy looked danced in her eyes. “I’m dizzy.”

  He pulled away. “Well, you better hold on because our ride is just getting started.”

  Later in the evening, back at the inn, Joshua cleared some of the auction documents off the desk and placed them into his leather briefcase. Since he’d left Faith’s house, his feet hadn’t touched the ground. Her dinner had been the perfect gift tonight, giving him a glimpse of what their future could be after tomorrow. He reached for his phone to check for messages, since he’d left it there when he went to dinner. He hadn’t wanted any interruptions during his time with Faith. When he saw two voice-mail messages from Melissa, he deleted them without listening. Joshua pressed his back against the chair and released a breath, thankful to have that woman out of his life.

  * * *

  After Joshua left, Faith settled into her room with a cup of herbal tea and a romance novel. She laughed. Who needed to read this when her own life was starting to feel like one of these stories? When Joshua had kissed her, she’d stood speechless, hanging on to the counter. If she’d let go, she wasn’t sure her weak legs could have kept her up right. She’d felt like a teenager with her first crush. Watching him work so hard over the past several weeks to keep the inn running as close to normal as possible, she’d known she was getting closer to realizing her dream. Thanks to that gorgeous man, her dream of owning the inn had turned into something even better—a chance for a new beginning. With her name on the deed, along with Joshua’s signature, the inn would once again be a permanent home for her and Bella. The ground shifted under her feet when she realized she had fallen in love with Joshua Carlson. And deep inside her heart, she knew Chris would be okay with that.