by Lisa Jordan
If she was going, then she needed to pack, then swing by Canine Companions and let Leona know she wouldn’t be coming back to work. She regretted not being able to give her boss two weeks’ notice, but hopefully she would understand and provide her with a reference at a later date.
Zoe pushed to her feet. Once the room stopped spinning, she hurried up the steps with Harper at her heels. After changing into jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and warm socks, she ran a brush through her hair and pulled it into a ponytail.
She pulled out her first drawer, grabbed an armful of shirts, then searched her room for something to put them in.
When she moved in, she had used her parents’ suitcases, but those had been returned. Her packing boxes had been dropped at the recycling center.
Grocery and trash bags would have to do, which meant a trip to the kitchen. With her arms full, she hurried downstairs, dumped the clothes on the couch and headed for the kitchen to find the bags. Packing would be easier downstairs.
She headed back upstairs and made several trips back to the living room. She retrieved her toiletries, then checked her room a final time. Hangers swung in her empty closet.
Empty.
That’s about how she felt.
She returned to the couch and started shoving clothes into black bags. While upstairs she should have grabbed a couple of blankets, especially since she’d probably have to sleep in her car for a couple of days until she found a cheap room to rent.
Jumping up, she raced for the stairs. Her foot caught on the bag she’d been filling. She stumbled and managed to catch herself from falling, but her jaw caught the corner of the coffee table.
Her teeth clamped her bottom lip. Pain shot through her jaw as the metallic taste of blood flavored her mouth. She dropped to the floor, cradling her face.
Her chest constricted as tears scalded her eyes. Her breath came out in gasps. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
* * *
Caleb knocked on the cabin door. Harper barked inside, but Zoe didn’t come to the door. Her car was parked in the driveway. He rapped his knuckles again, but instead of waiting, he cracked open the door and peeked inside. “Zoe? You here?”
Clothes littered her living room, as if they had been strewn in a hurry. Was she going somewhere? Looking for something?
Harper barked and bounded down the steps. She greeted Caleb at the door. “Hey, Harper. Where’s Zoe?”
A moment later, Zoe walked barefoot down the stairs. She entered the living room with a pink washcloth pressed to her face. She wore jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. Her hair had been pulled into a ponytail. “What are you doing here?”
Ignoring her snappy tone, Sully straightened from petting Harper. He frowned as his eyes roamed her face, taking in the crimson welt on her chin and bloody, swollen bottom lip. He gently touched her cheek. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“Do I look okay?” Glaring, Zoe pushed past him and headed for the kitchen. She reached for a bottle of pain reliever by the sink and downed two tablets with some water.
He followed her and leaned against the kitchen counter. “No, not really. You look like a mess, actually.”
Zoe scoffed, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Thanks, just what every girl wants to hear.” She pushed past him and returned to the living room.
He didn’t mean to make her cry. This wasn’t how he had things mapped out in his head.
Caleb waved a hand over the living room. “Laundry day? Or cleaning out your closets?”
“Neither.”
“What happened, Zoe? And why are your clothes all over the living room?”
“I tripped over a bag and banged my chin on the coffee table. I put my top teeth through the inside of my bottom lip.”
He touched her shoulder and turned her so he could survey her face again. “Ouch. Maybe you should get that checked out.”
She dragged a hand through her hair. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m trapped here.”
“What’s going on?” He reached for her, but she pushed past him and stomped to the table where this morning’s paper lay scattered. She snatched it up, crinkling it in her fist. “Did you read this?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve ruined everything, Sully.” A tear rolled down the side of her nose. She dashed it away. “It’s a bunch of lies. Now the community will try to shut down Agape House all because I tried to help a friend. And my family won’t ever let me have my son back.”
“Zoe, the right people will know the truth.”
“Like you? You didn’t believe me, so how can I expect strangers to believe me?”
She flung her arm, pointing past the cabin door. “The fine residents of Shelby Lake will read that drivel and think the worst.”
“Then let them.” A muscle jumped in the side of Caleb’s jaw. Pressing his back against the counter, he crossed his arms and ankles and shrugged. “The article’s false, Zoe. Agape House can stand on its own feet. You can, too. You’re strong. You can’t control what people think and say. You can only control how you react to them.”
“How could you say that? You took one look at those pictures and jumped to conclusions without listening to me. What makes you think anyone else will be any different? Without this community’s support, Agape House ceases to exist. And what about my son? He’s too young to understand what’s happening.”
“This will blow over in a day or two, and everyone will be just fine.”
“That’s easy for you to say. This doesn’t affect you.” She pulled out a chair and sat, burying her face in her hands.
Caleb knelt in front of her and peeled away her hands. “Yes, Zoe, it does. Very much. It affects you, so it affects me. First of all, I was very wrong to jump to conclusions. I’m so sorry about that. As for Griffin—he may be upset by how they’re treating his family, but he knows the truth about you, your family and Agape House. I have a feeling he will be your strongest defender.”
“But at what cost? I just want to get in my car and go. Leave this town behind and start fresh elsewhere.”
“Is that what you really want? To run again? Doesn’t that get old?” Caleb picked up a shirt and started folding it. “What about Griffin? Your family? Me?”
“You’re all better off without me.”
He reached for another shirt and folded it. “So, tell me, Zoe, who do you have planning this party of yours?”
“What are you talking about? I’m not having a party.”
“Your pity party. Sounds like you’re hosting quite the shindig.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. And stop folding my clothes.” She snatched the shirt away from him and tossed it on the couch.
“I’m not the one being ridiculous.” He reached for the shirt again and refolded it. He dropped it on the couch, then waved a hand around the room, his voice raising. “This is ridiculous. Where’s your faith, Zoe? Where’s your fight?”
“I don’t have any left.” She dropped on the couch surrounded by her mess. “I’m tired of struggling.”
“Your struggles are an important part of growing in your faith. Let me help fight for you.”
“I’m not your problem.”
Caleb reached for her hands and pulled her to him. He cradled her face in his hands. “I’m in love with you, Zoe. I think I have been from the day you sewed Melly Moon’s head back on.”
“Then you’re a fool. I have a past.” She twisted her hands in the folds of his shirt. “This mess isn’t even over. I have to go back to court. I could go back to prison, Sully.”
“I’m not going to let that happen.” He pressed her head against his chest and enfolded her in his embrace. “I love you despite your past. That’s always going to be a part of you, but it doesn’t define you. You’re a beautiful woman with a young son who�
��s spent too much time away from his mom. Instead of wanting to run away, face your Goliath. It takes only one stone to take down your giant.”
She sighed, relaxing against him. “Where do I start? I don’t want to be a disappointment anymore.”
“You’ll never be a disappointment to me. Your son adores you. My girls think the world of you. We are here with you, every step of the way.” Caleb pulled back and cupped her face. “Before I came here, I drove out to the parking lot next to The Sassy Cat. There’s a security camera overlooking that area. That footage will prove you weren’t on Sassy Cat property.”
“That wasn’t my beer bottle.”
“I believe you. Your attorney will be interviewing Gina and the bartender. He never served you. With the time stamp on the camera footage coordinating with your cell phone records, there’s enough for the judge to consider tossing the case all together. I love you, Zoe, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. I’m not going anywhere, and I promise never to doubt you again.”
“You’re a great cop, Sully.”
“It’s my superpower.”
She reached up and brushed the hair off his forehead. “I love you, too. You’ve seen me like no one else does. I’ve never had anyone like you on my side before. I choose you, Caleb. You are enough for me.”
He loved the sound of that. Now all he needed to do was make it permanent.
Chapter Fifteen
Caleb had never thrown a birthday party before, but with Zoe by his side, he was learning he could do pretty much anything.
Pink, green, and lavender balloons bobbed against the ceiling and hung in the doorways. A pink tablecloth covered the dining table where party hats, noisemakers and treat bags waited for the girls’ friends from church and Ava’s preschool program.
He wandered into the kitchen where Zoe swirled pink frosting from a pastry bag onto the tops of vanilla cupcakes. He slid an arm around her waist and pressed a kiss below her ear. She smelled of sugar and cake batter.
She nudged him away. “Hey, no distracting the decorator. I have to finish these before Sarah comes back with the girls.”
He swiped a fingerful of frosting from the bowl and licked it off his finger. “I can’t believe Ava’s going to be four. Hopefully this next year will be a lot smoother for her.”
“She’s had a lot happen in her young life, but she’s resilient, Sully.”
“Have I told you how amazing you are?” And to think a week ago, he almost lost her due to his own stupidity.
“Hmm, not in the last hour.” She smiled at him over her shoulder.
“Well, then let me remedy that.” He took the pastry bag from her and set it on the counter. He lowered his mouth and brushed a kiss across her lips. “Apparently I’m not the only one testing the frosting.”
“Quality control, you know.” She grinned and picked up the pastry bag. She finished the last cupcake, and then arranged them on the tray in the shape of a flower. “How’s that?”
The woman constantly amazed him. “Perfect. She’ll love it. Thank you.”
“I enjoyed it.”
“If you get tired of the dog business, you can always go into the cupcake business.”
“Yes, that would be a pretty sweet line of work.” She licked frosting off her finger, then carried everything to the sink and ran hot water into the bowl.
Riley barked and raced for the front door. Caleb pushed aside the kitchen curtain to see his sister pulling into the driveway. “Sarah’s here. I’m going to give her a hand with the girls.”
He headed out the front door and made it to the car as Sarah lifted a sleeping Ava out of her seat. Caleb unbuckled Ella. She struggled to open her eyes. Spying him, she smiled. “Hi, Daddy.”
“Hi, chipmunk. Are you ready for a party?”
She nodded, but laid her head on his shoulder. For a moment he held her and allowed her sweetness to wrap around his heart. No matter what problems he had had this year, his daughters were turning out pretty okay.
He followed Sarah into the house and laid Ella on the couch at the opposite end from her sleeping sister. Instead of going back to sleep, she sat up and looked around, gathering her bearings. Ava opened her eyes, but didn’t move.
Caleb sank onto the couch beside her and pushed her hair off her face. “Aves, your party will start in a little bit. Are you ready to wake up? Daddy and Zoe got you a very special present, but we want to give it to you now. Okay?”
She smiled and nodded. She crawled into his lap. He pulled off her fleece jacket, revealing a pink sweater and matching leggings.
Zoe carried a wriggling box covered in cartoon puppy dog wrapping paper and set it on the floor in front of Caleb and Ava.
She glanced at him with wide eyes as if to ask, “For me?”
He smiled and gave her a brief hug. “Yes, Aves, that’s for you.”
She touched the box, and it wiggled. She jerked back and hid her face in Caleb’s shirt.
Caleb laughed. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Maybe Ella can help us, too.”
“Come on, Avie. I’ll help you.” Wearing a lime green sweater and leggings, Ella knelt on the floor by the box and opened the flaps.
Ava scooted off Caleb’s lap and peered inside the box. She gasped, and then smiled. Caleb reached inside the box, lifted out a marshmallow-colored schnauzer, and held the trembling dog close to his chest. He turned to Ava. “His name is Shiloh.”
Ella jumped up and extended her hand the way Zoe had taught them when she helped them train Riley. Shiloh sniffed her fingers, then Ella petted the dog’s back. “Oh, Daddy. He’s so cute, isn’t he, Avie?”
Ava watched them with wide eyes and nodded. A huge smile spread across her face.
“Would you like to hold him?”
She nodded again and reached out her hand like Ella had done. Shiloh licked the tips of her fingers, causing her to giggle. She climbed up on the couch and sat beside Caleb.
He set the dog in her arms. Shiloh wiggled and tried to lick her face.
“He likes you, Aves.”
Ava leaned back, hesitating, but then she reached out and stroked his fur with a finger. For several minutes she continued petting him, not taking her eyes off him. Once Shiloh settled in her lap, she hugged him and rested her cheek on his head. She looked up at Caleb with large eyes and whispered, “Fank you, Daddy.”
Caleb’s pulse quickened. Did she just...talk?
His eyes darted to Zoe and Sarah, who had been taking pictures. Everyone stopped, waiting and wondering.
“What was that, Ava? I couldn’t hear you.”
“I said ‘Fank you, Daddy.’ I love him.”
Caleb slammed his eyelids shut and forced back the sudden gush of wetness. His chin quivered. He worked his jaw and swallowed the boulder in his throat. Once he could talk without bawling, he opened his eyes and ran a hand over her hair. “Oh, baby. I’m so glad. So glad.”
With watery eyes, he peered at Sarah to see tears sliding silently down her cheeks. Her gaze connected with him, and she smiled.
Zoe watched them with tenderness in her eyes as she brushed away a tear with her fingertip. She crossed behind the couch and stood behind him, leaning down to kiss his cheek. She pressed her lips close to his ear and whispered, “You’re an amazing man and a terrific dad, Caleb Sullivan.”
He threaded his fingers through hers and kissed her knuckles as his heart swelled with emotion.
Thank you, Lord.
His sweet Ava had finally broken from her own darkness. Had he not met Zoe and her love for animals, who knew how long it would be before Ava came out of her shell?
He’d made many mistakes and would probably continue to do so, but for the first time in his life, he knew he could handle the big stuff and the little things as long as he had Zoe by his side
. Now he just needed to find the right time to ask her to be a part of their lives.
* * *
From the moment Sully and his daughters entered her life, things hadn’t been the same. And Zoe wouldn’t have it any other way. She planned to spend every day of the rest of their lives letting them know how special they were to her.
Dad, Ian and Sully, with Riley napping on his lap, lounged in front of the TV in Mom and Dad’s living room, watching a football game. Amos, Mom and Dad’s golden retriever, curled up in his bed near the fireplace, sleeping in spite of the noise.
Mom, Agnes and Mary, Agnes’s mom, talked in the kitchen over cups of tea. With Harper and Shiloh at his feet, Griffin entertained Ella and Ava at the cleared dining room table with a game of Candy Land.
With dishes done and food put away after their traditional Sunday dinner, Zoe wrapped an afghan around her shoulders and headed out to the back deck. She stretched out on one of the cushioned loungers, threw her arm over her head and sighed. The scent of wood smoke drifted through the chilly air.
The bare branches above her head swayed as the late afternoon wind blew, ruffling her hair and scattering leaves off the neatly raked piles. The chill nipped at her nose and cheeks, but Zoe made no move to head back inside.
With seven adults, three kids and four dogs, she needed a couple of minutes of solitude. She’d really like a nap, but if she stayed outside, she’d turn into a Popsicle. She burrowed her chin into the collar of her fisherman’s sweater and tightened the blanket around her arms. Closing her eyes for a minute, she released a contented sigh.
She was blessed. Definitely blessed.
With the drama of her recent arrest behind her, she was able to focus on building a life with Griffin now that the courts had awarded her custody over the Jacobys. Mom had mentioned that the house seemed so quiet now that Griffin was living with Zoe, but they still spent plenty of time with her parents.