by Cheryl Wyatt
“You knew she was coming?” Amelia said to Glorietta.
“I knew she’d called asking to find you. So did Miss Evie.”
“How long had you been planning this, Mom?”
“Since the day I figured out your dad wasn’t going to humble himself and call you. But he’s been moping around the house like Shasta in a thunderstorm.”
“Maybe you leaving will help him try.”
“Doesn’t matter. No matter what he decides, I want a chance to be the mom you’ve deserved all your life and never got. And, I know you’ll need someone to watch Reece. I’m glad to help. Miss Evie offered me a place to stay. But I was hoping I could stay with you and Reece. At least for a few weeks. I missed you dreadfully and worried about you something awful.”
“Hi Meal-ya! I got a job!” Hutton ran toward her.
“You did? Hutton, that’s great!” Amelia hedged.
Ben eyed her.
Amelia put her arm around her mom. “Ben, this is my mother.”
He nodded, leaned forward and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.” He smiled in his kind-mannered way. “What brings you to these parts?”
“My baby and grandbaby. I decided I can’t live without them.”
Ben smiled. “I know just what you mean.”
Amelia’s mom’s eyebrows rose and a knowing gleam entered her eyes. “Is that so?”
Ben nodded and lingered a thankful gaze over Reece and Amelia and the half miracle happening here now. “Absolutely.” He took Amelia’s hand and met Amelia’s mom’s gaze. “So, I hope you’re okay with that because it would mean a lot to Amelia to have your blessing for our relationship.”
“If you’re half the man that Glorietta claims you are, I’m more than okay with it.” She picked up Reece and eyed Hutton. “I heard you like Charlotte’s Web as much as Reece does. I happen to have the DVD in my suitcase. Shall we watch it so your mom and Ben can sneak off on a romantic date?”
Glorietta and Evie grinned. Amelia blushed. Hutton and Reece giggled.
Ben, grinning the most, moved like a rocket from a launch-pad. “I’ll show you how to work the DVD player.”
“I can’t believe we’re taking a stuffed bear on a date.” Ben eyed the stuffed toy that Glorietta had insisted could chaperone them.
Amelia laughed. “I can.”
“Not much of a date, playing chess at the B and B, is it?”
“I like it here. Besides, I know you don’t want to stray too far away from Hutton in case he gets nervous without you.”
“You picked up on that, huh?”
She nodded. “I also picked up on how much he looks up to you, Ben.” Her voice betrayed her by going whispery and breathless. “He admires you, as does anyone who’s ever met you.”
He set his guitar aside and pulled her into his arms. The way he gazed deep at her made her feel like the most beautiful woman on earth.
He smiled. “You’re nervous. Aren’t you?”
“A-a little. Not that I don’t trust you. I’m just unsure in this kind of situation.”
“I hope you’re not unsure about how I feel about you.”
He set Bearby on the rail they leaned against.
She started to dip her head but his finger on her chin prevented it.
“You know how I’m always telling you to trust and believe, even when there’s no proof?”
She nodded, drifting into him as he pulled her closer.
“Well, this time, I’m going to prove it to you instead.”
Ben lifted her chin higher, and placed a tender, chaste kiss on her mouth. Tentatively, he brushed his lips against hers. She didn’t pull away, but she didn’t respond, either. “Is this okay, Amelia?”
She nodded and swallowed. “Except, absurd as it sounds, that stupid bear is watching.”
Ben laughed, reached over and tipped Bearby forward so his nose and eyes rested on the banister rail instead of facing them. Amelia’s laugh caused one of his.
“That’s much better,” she said.
“So is this.” He lifted her chin once more and kissed her, this time like he meant it. Trying to infuse her with confidence and knowing that she was attractive and the kind of girl any guy would be proud to have.
“I wanna know which one of you is giving the other guitar lessons, and which one’s giving the kissing lessons.” Amelia’s mom smiled over the paper a month later as Amelia joined her for late-night tea after returning from Ben’s balcony.
Amelia laughed. And stalled answering the question by going in to check on Reece. She was in bed, sound asleep, armed with Bearby. Hutton, adjusting well to living with Ben over the last few weeks since his parents had left to travel, had spent the evenings here playing games, watching videos and talking about his dishwashing job with vigor.
Sitting across from her mom, Amelia tucked her feet beneath her. “You know?”
Smile intact, Amelia’s mom sipped her tea. “Of course. Where do you think you and Reece inherited your sleuthing and insatiable curiosity? Do you care about him?”
“More than that. I think I love him.”
Her mom smiled. “He seems very honorable.”
“Does it bother you that he’s part Asian?”
“Of course not.”
“It’s going to bother Dad.”
“Everything bothers your dad. He’s a grumpy old curmudgeon.” She eyed her phone. “Who won’t stop calling me. But until he calls you and issues a sincere apology, I’m ignoring him. And yes, he has the number. He’s probably living off cold corn from cans. Stubborn man.”
“But you love him.”
“Sometimes I wonder why, but yes. I do.”
A pounding on the door brought both of them to their feet.
Before Amelia could fully open the door, Ben rushed in. “Pack a bag. Both of you. Glorietta’s keeping Reece and Shasta. She’s on her way.”
“Ben, what’s wrong?” Amelia’s heart pounded at the serious look on his face as he sat her mom down.
“The hurricane shifted. It grazed your hometown pretty good. Petrowski arranged for a military craft to take us. We need to leave immediately.”
Amelia’s mom covered her forehead with her trembling hand. “Our home. Your dad—” Tears choked off her words. Amelia pulled her close. “Whatever happens, we’ll get through it. I’ll grab our stuff.”
She nodded then faced Ben.
“Your dad’s neighborhood wasn’t hardest hit. But it was hit. There are no domestic flights into the area, but we have our own ride if you think you can handle riding in a military chopper.”
She nodded. “What about Hutton?”
“He’ll have to come with me. I can’t risk leaving him.”
Soon they piled into Manny’s truck. A dozen men dressed in military garb and parachute harnesses occupied the truck bed.
“Who are they?” Amelia’s mom asked.
“Petrowski tasked a few of our recruits and part of my team to help rescue anyone stranded from floods.”
Manny drove with Hutton beside him. Ben rode shotgun and Amelia and her mother were in the backseat of Manny’s extended cab.
Amelia recognized Manny’s son, Javier, and his friend Enrique in the crowd. She also recognized Vince Reardon and Nolan Briggs, from Ben’s PJ team. She didn’t recognize the others.
Amelia’s mom held her cell phone to her ear minutes later. “I can’t reach your father.”
“With a disaster of this magnitude all the phone lines and cell signals will be jammed. Just because you can’t reach him doesn’t mean he’s not okay.”
“But it doesn’t mean he is, either.” Amelia chewed her lip.
Amelia suddenly worried if her father were really okay, he probably wouldn’t be the moment he saw her together with Ben. How would she handle that?
“You’re pretty good with a hammer. Why don’t you build yourself some sense and get your sorry boots off my roof.” Amelia’s father glowered as he towered over Ben.
Ben slapp
ed another shingle down on the fresh plywood. “Your wife’s home and all its contents will be ruined. Quit being so stubborn and accept the help, for her sake at least.”
The man’s fists clenched. “I don’t need help from the likes of you.”
Upon arriving, they’d discovered the North home’s roof had been ripped off by wind, despite hurricane ties in the trussing. But at least her dad had survived and the rest of the structure stood sound.
It wouldn’t for long with all this rain. After rescuing people trapped by flooding, his teammates and recruits had helped secure things with tarps and industrial plastic, then helped lay new plywood. But it would only be a matter of time until the rain slipped through the seams and ruined everything beyond repair.
They were fighting against time.
And Amelia’s father was fighting against Ben.
Ben wanted to laugh as he looked around at his recruits and his team, pitching in around the property, cleaning up debris. They were a multiethnic group, and Ben was sure it was driving Amelia’s dad beyond crazy to have the entire United Nations helping on his property. Ben fought a grin.
“What? You got nothin’ to say?” the man said.
Hammer down, Ben drove the nail all the way in with one slam. “When I think of a sentence severe enough for you, I’ll say it.”
The man stood and squared off with Ben. “Why don’t you get off this roof before you get pushed off.”
“I’m a man of my word. I said I’m not leaving until it’s repaired.” Calm, Ben stood to get another pack of shingles.
The man clanged his hammer down and followed. “I oughta knock you off right here and now.”
“You knock me off, you better knock me hard enough to knock me out. Because nothing short of a coma is keeping me off this roof.”
“You sleepin’ with my daughter?”
“No, sir. We’re waiting until we get married.”
“You asked her?”
“Nope.”
“Why in tarnation not?”
“Haven’t asked you yet.”
“Well, well. What’s the world coming to.”
Ben started pounding the next layer of shingles in. The wind picked up, lifting one end of the shingle with it. He looked around for something to set on the end of the shingle so he could maintain positioning. Otherwise the roof would leak in the long run. This was taking twice as long due to winds. And storm-raging adversity from Amelia’s dad.
“What, you ain’t gonna defend yourself?”
“Not to you. No point.”
“Just why is that?”
“Because all you wanna do is argue and intimidate me. And it’s not going to work. I don’t know what those people did to you in Nam, but I’m not them. I serve my country same as you did. I’d bleed to death for freedom. And you’re certainly not going to deter me from wanting to marry Amelia and be a dad to Reece. And I won’t stand for you yelling at Amelia.”
“I might not be able to stop you from marrying her. But I can withhold my blessing and make your lives as miserable as a leech-infested rice paddy.” He stormed off the roof.
Ben clenched his jaw against frustration. He’d never met a more stubborn, irrational man. Ben laughed. “I see where Amelia gets her tenacity.”
The man half-turned as he started to climb off the roof.
Ben didn’t miss the half smile the statement evoked that the man tried to bite back.
Progress. Albeit amoebic, Ben would take anything at this point. Ben swiped sweat from his brow and looked around the roof. Still a ton of work to be done. He’d work all night if he had to. He took a swig of water and screwed the cap back on as he surveyed the ground.
Amelia’s mom and dad were talking. Heatedly. Amelia stood back a ways, face stern, arms folded. Hutton approached the man. Ben stood, preparing to defend his brother. But, for once, Amelia’s dad’s face softened as Hutton spoke. Ben knelt back down. “Wish I had my gun.”
Nolan laughed.
“Nail gun. For the roof, Briggs. Not the man.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you, Dillinger. Guy’s a jerk and you’re keeping your cool in the face of ugly prejudice,” Manny said.
Vince had taken Javier, Enrique, and most of the PJ recruits to other houses hit worse in the neighborhood. A handful of them stayed here to help with the North home.
Moments later, the three PJs heard a rhythmic clopping, as a hovercraft came into sight.
“That’s Joel.” Ben stood with his teammates.
Manny’s military phone rang. He answered it. Seconds into the conversation, his dark face paled. He glanced at Ben and walked to the other side of the roof, hidden by the pitch.
Nolan eyed the hovercraft, then Manny. “Something’s up.”
“Yeah.” And Ben didn’t have a good feeling. Not at all.
“Dillinger.” Manny surfaced from the other side of the roof and waved Ben over. The look on his face set Ben on alert.
Nolan moved close when Manny put his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “I’m afraid I have bad news, bud. Your mom called.” Emotion filled Manny’s eyes. “Your dad…” Voice thickened, Manny shook his head.
Ben’s legs went weak. Face in his hands, he sat.
Manny whispered something to Nolan and they both knelt, hands on Ben’s back and shoulders. “I’m sorry, bud. He died very suddenly. Your mom’s on standby for the next flight from Paris.”
Ben surged to his feet. Swallowed against nausea. “But…He can’t be gone. Him and mom, they didn’t get to—”
But they had. For three weeks, thanks to Ben taking Hutton early. Speaking of which…
Ben whirled and paced. “How’m I gonna tell my brother?” Ben sat and picked up a hammer.
Nolan reached for the hammer. “Ben, Joel brought the chopper back for you and Hutton. You need to go be with your mom now. We can finish this roof.”
A group ascended the roof. The sight of his entire team choked him up. Joel, Chance Garrison, Brockton Drake, all armed with nail guns and expressions of sympathy. Vince trailed behind with the recruits.
Amelia’s dad peeked his head over the roof. He approached Ben, who knelt, pounding in nails. “Your superiors told Amelia about your dad. Then she told me.” He dropped to his knees beside Ben. “Sorry for your loss.”
Ben nodded.
“Me saying this doesn’t mean I’m okay with your relationship with Amelia. But you don’t have to stay and fix my roof, son.”
Ben pounded another nail. “I told you I’d stay. And I told you I’m a man of my word.” Plus, he needed a minute to figure out how to break news to Hutton about their dad. Did Hutton even understand the concept of death? How much had his mom told him?
“Dillinger, I can have the pilot fly you and Hutton back. Your mom’s meeting you in Refuge. She’s going to need you to be there. We can finish the roof for you,” Joel said.
“Mom won’t be back in the country for another twelve hours. We can get back in four. That means I have eight hours to get this roof done.” Fighting tears, Ben pressed the nail gun into the edge of the shingle.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
His dad was gone.
Just, gone.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
Ben fought a crumbling dam of tears. And lost. They dripped. On his hands. Shingles. Nail gun.
Memories of helping his dad with the roof of the house they’d build together after the first one burned. Drips turned to steady streams. Big splotches spattered the shingles.
And everyone just stood there staring. He wished he could be alone. Hating the tears, he pressed the trigger.
Nothing.
He turned it over and opened the chamber.
Empty, just like his heart right now. Just like his mom’s dreams with his dad. Vanished in a breath that could still be there had his dad gone to the doctor.
He pulled the ring that held the nails.
Dad’s gone.
Gone.
Ben suddenly deplored the word. H
ated it with everything in him.
Hope.
Heaven.
He’d see his dad again. So would Hutton. That’s what Ben would say. Focus on the hope.
How?
“Heart attack?” Ben asked Joel, now beside him working.
Joel nodded. “Appeared to be.”
Ben clenched his jaw and jammed another ring of nails into the machine.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
Frustration grew when the wind folded back the shingle. Ben fought the urge to slam it down and pressed it down instead.
More tears. Another gust. The shingle flipped up again.
Dropped to his knees beside Ben again, Amelia’s dad moved forward and held it down. “Now look who’s being stubborn.” He scowled. “Maybe you and Amelia’d make a good pair after all.”
Ben wanted to laugh. He’d said it with a scowl.
But at least he’d said it.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Ben is acting weird today.” Amelia scooted over so Amber and Celia could sit next to her at church. “Granted, his father’s funeral was just two months ago, but still. He’s avoided me all morning.”
Celia smirked and Amber cleared her throat with a cough that didn’t seem real.
Amelia eyed them carefully. Suspicion mounted. “You two are acting strange, as well. You’re all wiggly and stuff.”
Her two friends simply sat straighter and smiled as if they held a secret. Ben stepped out from a side door and onto the church stage with his guitar. Where was the rest of the worship team? And why was Ben looking at her so seriously?
He approached the microphone. “Hi, everyone. Worship will start shortly. But first, I’d like to ask Amelia to come up.”
Her mouth dried and her palms moistened. She looked at Celia and Amber for any clue as to what this was. Celia’s grin and Amber’s sparkling eyes told her it might be what she’d dreamed of since she was little. Arms numb and heart pounding from all the eyes on her, Amelia made her way to the stage.
Ben started strumming a tune she didn’t recognize. All the while, never taking his eyes off of her. Now on stage with him, Ben motioned her to the stool across from his. He strummed. He smiled. He never removed his eyes. A hush fell over the auditorium. The pastor brought Reece from her classroom to sit in the front row.