“Not right now, but I do have a lot of old furniture in the attic to bring downstairs. I’m donating most of it to the flood victims.”
“That’s very generous of you.”
“Not really. It’s a way to dispose of things I’ll never use anyway.”
“You’re too modest. You’re always thinking of others first.” She blushed, and his heart skipped. She had no idea how amazing she was. She caught him staring, and he looked away. “I’m going to get to work on the bathrooms. Call me if you want anything else moved. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“I will.”
He held her gaze and was keenly aware of the sense of connection that vibrated between them again. He didn’t understand it. Yes, he was attracted to her, but he’d been attracted to many women in his life. Though none gave him the feeling of belonging the way Tori did. What would she do if he shared that information with her?
He strode down the hall, picked up the bag of materials and took the back stairs to the second floor, not stopping until he was inside the bathroom. He channeled his irritation into digging out the old grout around the tub.
He’d said too much. First he’d bared his soul to Tori about his parents, then he’d paid her a compliment. He couldn’t afford to get entangled. He had a mission—to get Lily to her father. He could only do that if he set his emotions completely aside, which was getting harder to do each day.
He pried the last bit of old grout from the edge of the tub and sat back on his heels. The two ladies in this old house burrowed deeper into his heart every day. And he had no idea how to stop it.
* * *
Tori heard Reid’s footsteps fade as he went back down the hall. She resisted the urge to watch him, not unlike when she’d run into him at church. He’d looked dashing in a crisp white shirt and dark dress slacks, more polished than his usual jeans and work shirt attire. Her gaze had been drawn to him so frequently she’d barely heard a word the pastor spoke. She had the feeling that other women in the congregation had been looking, too. Reid was a man who turned heads.
Her emotions where he was concerned were a jumbled mess, and she needed time to sort them out. She’d been grateful when he’d come to help her with the buffet. She’d convinced herself she could do it alone, even though she knew it was too cumbersome for her to manage. Reid had appeared at the right moment, stepping in to save the day like he always did. Mr. Helpful. Mr. Handy. Mr. Hero.
Then he’d told her about his parents and everything she thought about him shifted. Murdered. She bit her lip and closed her eyes, the horror of it weighing heavy on her heart. She couldn’t begin to image how two young men would deal with such a profound and tragic loss. Reid had apparently funneled his grief into law enforcement, perhaps driven by a need to avenge his parents’ deaths. What about his brother? From the little she knew, Eddie must have taken the dark road. A twinge of sympathy formed for Eddie. It must have been hard for a boy to make sense of something so heinous. But he’d had choices, same as Reid.
No. She would not get caught up in finding an excuse for Lily’s father. All that mattered was keeping her promise to Judy. Even as she was beginning to question the wisdom of her promise.
An hour later, hunger drove her to the kitchen. The buffet cabinet had proved to be a perfect check-in counter, and she had a dozen ideas on how to utilize the space and make it welcoming.
She glanced up to see Reid walking into the room. “How is the bathroom coming along?”
“Good but I need—”
His cell tone sounded and he slipped it from his pocket and moved off into the hall. She heard him say yes, then he froze. His voice softened and his shoulders hunched as if receiving bad news. When he faced her, the look of sadness in his brown eyes tore at her heart. “What is it?”
“Eddie. My brother. He’s had a setback. I need to go.”
“How bad is it?” Why was she asking? The less she knew about the man the better, and the easier to maintain her position. She’d been tempted several times to ask him what exactly was wrong with his brother, but she was afraid if she knew the real circumstances it might influence her, and she didn’t need any more conflict in that area.
“At this stage everything is serious.”
“I never asked you where he was. Do you have far to go?”
“It’s a nursing home in Hammond, Louisiana. It’s only a little over an hour from Dover. I’ll be back as soon as I can to finish up the bathroom.”
He turned to leave, and her conscience prodded her to speak. “Reid. I’ll pray for your brother.”
He faced her with a sardonic expression. “You’ll pray for him, but you won’t grant him his dying wish?”
She had no response. Put that way, she was a sorry example of a Christian woman. But she had to think of Judy and the promise she’d made to honor her wishes.
Reid glanced back over his shoulder. “Can you take care of Buster? He’s not much trouble. I really can’t take him with me.”
Great. Not only did she not want the dog, but now she’d have to be responsible for the mutt. She started to refuse, but the look of anxiety in Reid’s eyes couldn’t be ignored. He was deeply worried for his brother. “Fine. But he’s still not coming into the house.”
“Thanks.”
He walked out the door—and the old house suddenly felt lifeless and empty in a way it never had before.
* * *
Lily clasped her little fingers together tightly under her chin, her eyes sorrowful. “Please let Buster come inside. He wants to be with me. Mr. Reid always lets Buster inside his house. He was cold and lonely on the back porch last night.”
Tori felt herself weakening and had to fight to stand her ground. With Reid away for the last few days seeing to his brother, Buster had become her responsibility. Letting that scruffy, albeit clean and flea-free, animal into the house was out of the question. She was grateful the mutt was well behaved and was surprisingly good with Lily. But what about her forthcoming guests? What if they were allergic to dogs? She couldn’t afford to lose business. Thankfully, once Reid was gone, Buster would be, too. She didn’t want to think about how Lily would react when that time came.
“No, Lily. He’s fine on the porch. You can play with him there. Have you fed him this morning?”
“Yes, ma’am. And I gave him water, too.” Lily pouted and went back to the porch, and Tori settled her laptop at the small table in the sunroom so she could keep an eye on her daughter. Should she have given in to make Lily happy? She might have if the request didn’t involve other people. Moments like this always made her second-guess her decisions. She tended to be reactionary instead of taking a moment to discuss things with Lily the way Judy had, though, she had to admit, Judy’s way rarely worked. Many times Tori had thought things would have gone much better if Lily had had clear rules and boundaries the way she and her brothers and sister had growing up. Mom and Dad had been the ones in charge. Not the children. Period.
She heard Buster bark. Would it be so awful to let the dog in the house? She sighed and chewed her bottom lip. Too many decisions and problems in her head to settle on one. Her gaze drifted to her cell phone. She’d picked it up several times since Reid had left to see how he was and how his brother was doing, but she couldn’t make herself call. It wasn’t like he was family or anything. He was only a temporary employee.
No, he wasn’t. He was a friend. She cared about him, and his loss had touched her deeply. She couldn’t imagine how two young boys would deal with having their parents murdered. Maybe letting Lily meet Eddie wasn’t such a bad thing. She didn’t have to tell her daughter he was her father. Only Reid’s brother.
No. She couldn’t. All she could do was pray, and she had. Except it had failed to bring peace, instead leaving her feeling like a hypocrite. Reid’s last words before he’d left to see Eddie couldn’t be ignored. What was the rig
ht thing to do?
A short while later Tori glanced up and looked in the yard. She didn’t see Lily or the dog. She stood and walked closer to the window. Her heart jumped into her throat when she realized the back gate was open. She hurried out the door, calling for Lily. As she crossed to the driveway she saw Lily and Buster trotting down the drive toward the street, chasing a runaway ball. “Lily, come back here.”
“I have to get my ball.”
The colorful sphere picked up speed as it hit the slope to the street, and Lily ran faster. From the corner of her eye Tori saw a car coming down the street. She broke into a run. “Lily. Stop!”
She knew she’d never make it in time. “Lord, please save her.”
Buster loped in front of Lily with a loud bark, causing the girl to fall down onto the drive, landing on her behind. Tori blinked, then raced forward, scooping the little girl into her arms. “Lily, don’t ever do that again. You could have been seriously hurt.”
Lily teared up. “Buster knocked me down.”
Tori glanced at the dog, who stared back at her with expectation. “Buster. You are my hero. Thank you. I take back every bad thing I ever said about you. Come on, Lily. Let’s get back into the yard. I’ll get your ball later.”
With Lily and the dog safely in the backyard and the ball retrieved, Tori sat on the glider swing, reflecting on the terrifying event. It was strange the way things worked out. She’d been wrong about Buster. He had protected her daughter, instinctively getting between her and the oncoming car. If Reid hadn’t brought the dog home, Lily might have been in the path of that vehicle.
If Reid hadn’t shown up, she wouldn’t be this close to getting the B and B open. She’d changed her mind about Reid. And now Buster. Should she change her mind about Lily’s father, too? How would she live with herself if she went against Judy’s wishes? But how would she deal with Lily when she asked about her father? How could she explain that she could have met him, but Tori had refused to allow it? Lily wouldn’t be upset with Judy. She’d be angry at her.
There was no simple answer. She had to focus on the present. The inspector was coming in the morning. That’s all she should be thinking about right now.
* * *
Reid stared out the window of his brother’s room at the small pond with the fountain in the center. It was surrounded by a grove of live oaks decorated with lacy Spanish moss, creating a soothing vista that calmed the spirit. Eddie had commented on it many times since coming here. He only wished his brother was strong enough to stroll around the lovely grounds, but it was out of the question now. He doubted even a ride in a wheelchair would be possible. His recent setback had cost him time he couldn’t afford.
“Hey, bro.”
Reid moved back to the bed. Eddie was smiling up at him, albeit feebly. But the lift in his spirits was welcome. “Hey. ’Bout time you woke up. This place has turned you into a lazy bum.” He took his brother’s hand and squeezed it. “You gave me quite a scare.”
“Scared myself. I was afraid it was the final hour, and I would never get to see my little girl.”
“I’m working on it, Eddie. I promise, but Tori is devoted to Judy and she sees her promise to never acknowledge you as sacred. She believes if she lets Lily meet you, she would be betraying her friend’s dying wish.”
“What about my dying wish?”
Reid’s heart burned. “I know.”
“This latest relapse of mine has got me to thinking. I want you to set things up for Lily to get whatever inheritance I have from Mom and Dad. I know you’ve kept those funds over the years. Maybe my portion will allow Lily to go to college or help Tori with the bed-and-breakfast. Talk to Tori, convince her the money is for Lily because I love her, not out of some attempt to buy her forgiveness or get her to come here.”
Tears stung the backs of his eyes. “I will. Don’t worry, I’ll set it all up.”
“Thanks. If I never get to see Lily, at least I’ll know I provided for her future in some small way.”
“You’re a good man, Edward Blackthorn.”
“No. Just a sinner saved by grace. I wish I’d found the Lord sooner. He’d been trying to get my attention ever since I walked out on Judy, but I didn’t want to hear him. Won’t be long till I’ll be able to talk to him face-to-face. What a moment, huh?”
“Not for a while, little brother. We have things to do. I’m not ready to let you go so soon.”
“Then I’ll do my best to hang on as long as possible.”
Exhausted, Eddie closed his eyes and drifted off. Reid’s chest squeezed so tight he could barely breathe. He had to concentrate on making the most of every moment, and he’d start with renewing his efforts to get Tori to change her mind.
* * *
Tori’s nerves were on edge from the moment she woke up the next day in anticipation of the inspector’s visit. When he’d finally shown up she’d retreated to the sunroom, but found sitting still impossible. Instead, she wandered the hallway, trying to look busy and attempting to read the man’s expression as he moved about the house.
To her dismay, she found herself wishing Reid was here. His absence had been keenly felt. At least a dozen times during the day she found herself wanting to ask him a question or seek his help. Everything seemed more difficult without him. He always made her feel strong and confident. She hated that. She was an independent woman capable of handling her own life, but Reid’s belief in her dream, his support, gave her extra confidence during these stressful final weeks before opening. Mostly she wished he was here to hold her hand through this inspection.
He’d sent a text to let her know Eddie was stabilized and that he’d be back to work on Monday. He’d even wished her good luck with the inspection. It would be too easy to start relying on him for more than repair work. She looked forward to the evening mealtime when they would discuss the day’s accomplishments and listen to Lily’s chatter about her day. She warned herself to regain the distance she had kept at the beginning, but it was becoming harder to do.
Reid was a fascinating man. Smart, kind, and his gentleness toward Lily touched her heart. She had to admit, having someone to share the load had eased much of her stress. He’d changed since he’d been at Camellia Hall. The cool, aloof demeanor had softened. He was approachable and relaxed, though his presence still did outlandish things to her nervous system.
She appreciated him sticking to their deal. He hadn’t pressed her once about going to see Lily’s father. But she had to admit she was beginning to question Judy’s choice to deny Eddie’s existence. The man was dying after all. Did she have a right to keep Lily from seeing her only living parent, no matter what he’d done?
The inspector strode past in the center hallway. He’d been upstairs looking at plumbing and roofing. She opened her mouth to ask how it was going, but changed her mind.
She had confidence in her contractor’s work and the guidance of her restoration specialist, so she felt certain those things would pass, but she’d also been told by a few owners of other historic properties in town that the process often found unexpected issues that had to be addressed before the funds could be released. More issues meant another waiting period, and she couldn’t afford more delays. She had to pass today.
A half hour later the inspector stepped into the front parlor, where she was arranging a cozy conversation area.
“I’ll be going now. You should receive a report in the mail in a few days.”
Tori watched with a heavy heart as the slender, balding older man walked out. He hadn’t smiled, hadn’t offered an encouraging word. Her stomach sank. It was going to be a long couple of days.
* * *
By Sunday she’d worried herself into a frazzle over the inspection report. Tori pulled her thoughts away from her troubles and back to the sermon Reverend Barrett was delivering. Maybe she should have stayed home this morning. She’d
been tired and anxious since the inspection, vacillating between confidence that she’d pass with flying colors and dread she would fail and not get the funds she so desperately needed.
“Compassion. It’s the first trait the Lord mentions about himself. Then he must hold that quality in highest regard.”
The pastor’s words grabbed her full attention.
“Yet oftentimes we find it hard to show compassion to others. Our tendency is to judge others to see if they deserve our compassion. We tell ourselves they got what they deserved, or we decide their behavior or situation is too egregious to sympathize with. It’s easy to show compassion to the person battling cancer, or the grieving family. But what about showing compassion to those who have hurt us or betrayed us? The Lord displayed compassion to everyone, no matter their station or situation. Should we do any less?”
His words reverberated in her mind long after a quiet afternoon with Lily at Friendship Park and Sunday dinner with her family. She was withholding compassion from Lily’s father out of devotion to Judy. It also stemmed from her own sense of anger and resentment at his treatment of her friend. But didn’t the man deserve compassion for the life he’d led that was now costing him an early death?
Lord, how do I do that? I can’t get past the wreckage he left behind.
After tucking Lily in bed that night, she curled up on the sofa and reached for the remote. She wanted to escape, and the movie she’d recorded yesterday was exactly what she needed. As it filled the screen, her cell rang.
Tori frowned at the name on the display. Why would Councilman Holmes be calling her, and on a Sunday evening? Please don’t let it be more issues with the house.
“Hello Tori. This is Dick Holmes.”
“Yes, sir, what can I do for you?”
“I wanted to give you a heads-up on something. Seems a few of your neighbors aren’t too happy about having a business next door. They’ve filed a complaint. They’re trying to say you’re violating zoning laws by having a bed-and-breakfast in a residential area.”
“That’s absurd. We have approval from the zoning board, and a B and B is by nature in a residential area. That’s the point.”
Her Handyman Hero Page 9