I'll Be There For You (Canyon Creek, Co. Book 5)

by Lori Ryan

  “What is it?” his mother asked.

  He shook his head. He didn’t want to dump all his issues on his mom. It was one thing back when he was working on things he believed in and was passionate about. But lately, the Senator was shifting his stance on things too easily for Jake’s taste.

  Senate staffers had to add a number of provisions to the insurance bill that watered it down. At this point, Jake was killing himself just to see that they salvaged some of what it would do for their constituents. He was beginning to wonder if it was worth it.

  His phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out he saw the call was from Phoebe. “Hey, Phoebe, I’m sorry I forgot to call you to tell you we made it okay. We just walked in a few minutes ago and Becca’s settling in fine.” I hope.

  “That’s all right,” Becca’s grandmother said. “I know you’re not used to having to check in with people.”

  There was one thing Jake had learned for sure in the last two weeks: Phoebe was a wonderful person. Taking guardianship of Becca without letting her sorrow at losing her only child—all while caring full-time for a husband who was slowly deteriorating from a gut-wrenching disease—yeah, that made her a saint in his book.

  “So, how was the tour of the first place?” he asked. He and Phoebe had talked a lot about what she was hoping for in a facility for Becca’s grandfather.

  “Not good, I’m afraid. Steven had a melt-down. The staff were very kind, but I had to bring him home before we could see much of it.”

  “I’m so sorry, Phoebe.”

  “What are you going to do?” She laughed but there was no humor. He could hear the ache in her voice. “I married him for better or for worse.”

  This definitely counted as worse, Jake thought.

  “We had a lifetime of betters,” she said. “This is the least I can do for him now.”

  Well, hell. What did he say to that?

  “Is Becca there?” she said. “I just wanted to say hello.”

  “She’s outside with my aunts. If you want to hang on, I can get her.”

  “No. no. Don’t disturb her, I’m sure she’s having a good time. Being from three generations of only children, Becca will have the time of her life with you and your large family.”

  “I hope so,” Jake said.

  “Thank you for giving me some time to sort things out with Steven.”

  “Thank you for letting me have her.” Jake tried to reassure her. He didn’t want Phoebe thinking Becca was a burden to him at all. He had heard a hitch in her voice and he couldn’t help but think she might be stifling a cry. “I’ll have Becca call you as soon as she comes back inside.”

  “Yes,” Phoebe said through a cough, “that would be wonderful. I miss her already.”

  “She misses you, too. And her grandpa,” Jake added.

  “It’s the first time the three of us have been away from one another.”

  Jenni had lived at home with her parents after Becca was born. As much as he would have liked to be there to offer financial and emotional support after his daughter’s birth, it had been Jenni’s decision not to involve him. He didn’t think he would ever understand that, but he didn’t have any choice but to accept it and move on. Railing against a dead woman was pointless.

  “Well, have fun with your family. Enjoy your time with Becca and tell her I love her.”

  “I will,” he said. “Call if you need anything.”

  “You too, dear. Good-bye.”

  “Bye, Phoebe.” He pressed the end button and stuffed the phone back in his pocket.

  His mother slid an arm around his waist. “She sounds nice, from what I heard from your end of the conversation.”

  “She really is. Becca has been lucky. Phoebe is worn out, but she misses Becca, I can tell.”

  “Any grandmother would.” She slid her other arm around him and squeezed.

  Jake wrapped himself around his mother, savoring a rare moment of peace in his family home. It had always been filled with friends and family his entire life. He wondered if Becca had ever felt that kind of happy chaos. The kind filled with love, laughter, and noise. A lot of noise, he thought, ruefully.

  “I’m happy you’re home,” his mother said. “And Becca,” she added. “I’m so glad you brought her here.” His mother pushed up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “We’ll take good care of her, and you.”

  “Thanks, Ma.” He kissed her head. “I’m glad to be home too.” And he was. If there was any place on Earth he could slow down and figure out this mess he called a life, it was here, in Canyon Creek with his family. A family that had just grown by one.

  Surprisingly, the thought didn’t make him panic quite so much this time. Now, the idea that he’d just gained a daughter made him smile.

  Chapter Five

  Lina walked down the trail from the wedding barn toward the lodge, admiring the beautiful landscape. Her shift had been short, just a luncheon for the local garden club. That didn’t mean it hadn’t been hectic. Nothing like needy, demanding women who were used to being waited on to run you ragged.

  My tea isn’t sweet enough. Could I have a Splenda?

  Is this arugula in the salad? I prefer baby romaine. Can you make another one?

  Does that sauce have butter in it? I don’t do butter.

  Lina had no idea how Lily Sumner did it, putting up with the hundreds of requests from party goers at events. Somehow, she did, always with a smile on her face.

  For Lina, she had to bite her tongue so smiling wasn’t really an option. She was going for don’t bite their heads off more than anything. She’d always considered herself a people person, able to charm the pants off a priest, but sometimes people were too much, even for her.

  She was wiped and wanted nothing more than an evening off—complete with a bottle of wine and a bubble bath. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen. Instead, she had to prepare for a meeting with concerned citizens who were opposed to the highway expansion. They needed to discuss how they could present a unified front at the town hall meeting in a few days.

  Canyon Creek Mountain had become a haven for her. Preserving the area for generations to come was too important to let developers and money-hungry investors destroy it all for a faster thoroughfare and a quick buck.

  Lina stopped suddenly, turning her head to the sound of crying not far away. It was a child, that much she could tell. Stuffing her bow tie into her pocket she rushed toward the wailing. When she rounded a towering blue spruce, she saw a little girl, sprawled out on all fours, crying, a stuffed animal next to her on the ground.

  “Oh, honey.” Lina rushed to the girl and crouched down. “Are you all right?”

  “N-n-no,” the girl stuttered through tears.

  “Did you fall?”

  “Y-y-yes.”

  “Come here, let me look at you.” Lina put her hands around the little girl’s waist. She couldn’t be more than four or five. Lina lifted her with ease and turned the small child until she sat in her lap, pushing back long dark curls that stuck to her face. A flash of memory washed over her as she remembered playing with her baby sister, Natalia as a child. Back then, she thought of it as playing with Natalia instead of what it really was; being a substitute mother.

  When her sisters were this age, Lina had enjoyed taking care of them. It was only as they got older and she’d spent every afternoon after school and evening taking care of them instead of hanging out with her friends while her parents worked in their restaurant that she began to resent the responsibility.

  Reaching into her pocket, Lina pulled out her uniform bow tie. Trying to be gentle, she brushed away the dirt and grass from the little girl’s knees.

  “Ow,” the girl cried. “It hurts.”

  Okay, maybe not so gentle then. “I’m sorry, sweetheart but I need to see how bad your cuts are.”

  “It’s here, too,” she said, holding out her hands.

  Lina looked down and saw blood on the heels of the little girl’s hands. Poor
thing.

  “We need to go get these cleaned up, sweetheart.”

  “No!” she screamed as if Lina was strangling her. Now, that reaction was a lot more like Lina’s sister, Francesca.

  “It’s okay, it won’t hurt.”

  “That’s a lie,” she pouted.

  The little girl had a flair for the dramatics, but she was smart enough to call out anyone’s BS.

  “Okay,” Lina hedged, “so maybe it will hurt a little.”

  “No!” she screamed again, her voice echoing through the trees. This kid could substitute for a fire alarm.

  “Hey,” Lina squeezed the girl’s shoulders, gently but firmly. “Let’s see if we can find your mom or dad. You’d probably prefer they clean out your knees.”

  Where was the kid’s parents? Lina looked around. There was no sign of anyone with the child. What parent wouldn’t hear their child crying and yelling in the woods and come running?

  The girl’s eyes went round. “I don’t have a mommy,” she whispered.

  Holy, hell, how could any mother leave their child? Lina took a slow breath and let it out. “Come on,” she said, “let’s get you inside and fix you up.”

  The girl remained unusually quiet and Lina braced herself for another scream, but none came. She dusted them both off and rose. “I’m Lina.” She smiled.

  The little girl studied her for a moment, as if wondering if she was safe. Lina liked that about her, she was cautious, not one to easily trust. “I’m Rebecca,” she finally responded. “But my friends call me Becca.”

  “I’m actually Angelina,” she said, “but my friends call me Lina.”

  “You have a nickname too?” the little girl said.

  “Yes, I do. Can you walk?”

  The little girl nodded and they started moving toward the lodge. “My mom said only special people get two names like us.” She glanced up at Lina, eyes wide. “Are you special?”

  Lina thought about the girl’s question. Her grandmother had always told her she could do anything. In reality though, Lina was pretty ordinary nowadays. She could no longer afford to take the risks she had as a teen. She’d learned early on that every action had consequences with the potential to affect a multitude of people, not just her.

  “Becca!” A man’s loud voice boomed through the woods, cutting off her thoughts. “Becca!” he shouted again.

  It must be her father. How could he have let his child wonder so far off the path?

  “I’m here,” Becca called out.

  Lina glanced down and noticed the little girl limping a bit.

  She reached down and scooped her in her arms to lessen her pain and speed up their journey.

  Carrying the girl with one arm, Lina rounded the trees to the clearing, and ran smack into a hard chest. She and Becca went tumbling back.

  The man reached out a hand and grabbed Lina’s arm before she and the girl fell on their asses.

  “Oh, God, Becca,” he panted, “there you are. You scared the ever-loving-shit out of me.”

  Becca held out her hand. “A dollar please.”

  The man’s eyes were wide, his face ashen. Anyone could see he was scared out of his wits. “Becca, now’s not the time for—”

  “Dollar,” the child repeated, eyes narrowing.

  So, that’s how their house was run, Lina thought. A five-year-old was in charge. She laughed silently. She’d seen it many times babysitting for people growing up and it always ended badly. Then again, who was she to criticize? This wasn’t her kid.

  The man dug in his pocket as he lectured the little girl. “You can’t just wonder off, Becca. I’ve told you.”

  “She’s hurt,” Lina said.

  The man paused, staring at her. He had gorgeous eyes that matched his daughter’s, and a strong jaw and full, kissable lips. He looked like he could talk the skirt off any woman. The light splattering of whiskers on his face only made him more appealing.

  “What?” he asked as if confused, his gaze finally landing on his daughter’s skinned knees.

  “She fell,” Lina said. “That’s what happens when a child is running loose in the woods on their own.” She raised a brow at him.

  Becca leaned against her and smiled.

  Lina was stunned when the man didn’t say anything about traipsing off without him. Shouldn’t he be telling his child that running in the woods was dangerous? That she could get hurt or lost. Or worse?

  Lina opened her mouth, but bit down on the words before they could escape her. Lord knew, she wasn’t often good at holding her tongue, but something was telling her she should zip her mouth now.

  “Becca,” a female voice called behind them.

  Lina turned, surprised to see Valerie Sumner, owner of the lodge and wedding barn, standing behind them. Her normally perfectly styled hair was uncharacteristically out of place, her blue eyes just on the edge of wild.

  “Where were you?” Valerie rushed toward them.

  Becca held out her hands and as Valerie drew near, she fell into her arms, burrowing her head in Valerie’s neck.

  “Shhh,” she said, rubbing the child’s back. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”

  Valerie’s gaze fell on Lina. “Thank you so much for taking care of her, Lina.” She reached out a hand and squeezed Lina’s before she glanced down at Becca’s legs. “Oh, my goodness, you skinned your knees, poor thing. Just like your daddy used to do.”

  At that comment, Becca sat straight up and stared at the man now returning her gaze. Lina took a good look at him, too. Lord, was that Jake Sumner?

  Now she was seeing the connection with Valerie. Not that she remembered hearing anything about Jake Sumner being married or Valerie Sumner having a five-year-old grandchild. Could the Canyon Creek rumor mill really have failed on so monumental a scale?

  Something big was going on here, and Lina had no desire to be a part of the drama. She’d grown up in an Italian home and had experienced enough theatrics to last a lifetime.

  “If you’ll just excuse me.” Lina moved to leave, but Becca reached out for her.

  “Thank you,” the girl said quietly and for some strange reason, Lina felt like this was an oddity for the child.

  “You really do need to stay with your father from now on, okay?” Lina raised her brows, waiting for Becca’s response.

  The girl nodded, stuffing two fingers in her mouth.

  “How old are you?” Lina asked.

  Becca tightened her arm around her stuffed rabbit, clutching him to her neck while she held up her hand, waggling with five fingers.

  “Five?” Lina asked.

  Becca nodded.

  Lina was about to tell her she was too old to suck her fingers but remembered what the girl had said about not having a mother. She wondered if the girl had sucked on her fingers before she lost her mom. Before she could ask any more questions, like what happened or where her mother was now, Lina reminded herself that she didn’t want to know more.

  Lina smiled at the girl. “Is this your bunny?” She pointed at the stuffed animal the girl was clutching to her.

  Becca nodded, pulling her fingers from her mouth. “He sleeps with me.”

  Lina nodded, as if that was expected. “My roommate still sleeps with Cupcake.”

  The girl’s brows furrowed as she studied Lina.

  “That’s his stuffed animal’s name. Cupcake. He’s an armadillo.”

  “Really?” The girl smiled, the expression transforming her face.

  “Oh, yeah, Cupcake is totally cool.”

  Becca held her rabbit out like a proud mother. “This is Dog.”

  Lina shook her head. An armadillo named Cupcake and a rabbit named Dog.

  “Hello, Dog. It’s nice to meet you.” Lina grabbed one of the rabbit’s legs and shook it.

  “Oh, look,” she said, pointing to the stuffed animal. “Dog has a tear, right there.” She pointed to the seam of the rabbit’s leg where it attached to the body.

  “My grammy was supposed to fi
x it,” she said.

  “It would be easy enough to fix.”

  “My mommy used to sew,” she said quietly.

  “I know how to sew,” Lina said, having no idea why she’d mentioned it. Well, she knew why. She felt bad for the little girl if she truly had lost her mother. “Maybe I could fix Dog for you sometime.”

  “My mommy said Grammy taught her to sew. Who taught you?” The little girl was about to slip her fingers into her mouth again, but as if reading Lina’s silent thoughts, stopped herself.

  Lina smiled. Maybe she wasn’t such a little diva after all. She was just mourning the loss of her mother. What kid wouldn’t act out?

  “My nonna taught me,” Lina said.

  The girl tilted her head, giving her the kind of quizzical look only small children could. “What’s a nonna?”

  “Nonna is Italian for grandmother. My grandmother, Nonna, taught me to sew.”

  Becca’s gaze went from Lina to Valerie. “You could be my nonna.”

  Lina turned and glanced at the man next to her. She hadn’t known Jake Sumner well. She was seventeen when her family moved to town and he’d been leaving for college. Now he was some political genius who worked for a senator in California.

  When she’d taken an online course on environmental activism a few years back, they’d had to choose a state politician who was taking a stance on the environment. She’d chosen California state senator Todd Douglas, partly because of his positions on environmental issues.

  At the time, Senator Douglas had been making waves in California, pushing an agenda that protected the environment. That’s why she’d followed his career. After studying him in class, she’d kept an eye on what he was doing, and she’d been disappointed to learn the guy was a complete sell-out now. He was all about business and couldn’t give a damn about the environment or his constituents.

  And Jake Sumner worked for him.

  She looked at the man in front of her and wondered what Jake thought of his boss now. So that meant Becca was Jake Sumner’s daughter. Well, blow her down with a feather. Could things in Canyon Creek get any stranger?

  “I would like very much to be your nonna,” Valerie said, a smile transforming her once worried expression. “Come on, let’s get you inside. We’ll clean you up and you can get a cookie from Aunt Sally.”