Tom had a warm smile on his face. “Well, how does it feel? You can come and go as you please now.”
“Great.” He lifted his foot slightly. “And the lack of jewelry doesn’t hurt either.” He started to move, then remembered something important was missing from his stash. “My car keys.”
Tom slipped his hand into his pocket and came up with the keys, dangling them in the air. “You looking for these?”
“How did you get them?”
“You’ll see.” He handed over the keys and placed a hand on Adam’s shoulder, steering him to the door. “Be patient.”
Adam’s curiosity was spinning as they walked out of the police station. But the moment they approached the parking lot, the answer was waiting for him. Parked right in the first slot was his classic Porsche 356, sparkling clean and fully repaired. “My car.” He hurried forward, inspecting the vehicle closely. “How did you manage this? I figured I’d have to rent something to get home. I asked about it several times, but no one would tell me anything.”
“Well, don’t thank me. I had a very small part in this.”
Adam turned to face him, the sparkle in the man’s eye speaking volumes. “Laura?” His tried to grasp the significance of her action. If she’d gone to all that trouble, then she must have some feelings for him. Something more than friendship and gratitude.
“She wanted you to know how grateful she was for all your help.”
He looked around. “Where is she? I thought—”
“She’s waiting at her house. She didn’t want to see you here, like this.”
Adam looked at the keys and then the car. He didn’t understand.
Tom inclined his head. “Don’t worry. She’s anxious to see you. I promise. Adam, I don’t know what the future may or may not hold for you and my daughter, but I want you to know that if you two decide to join your lives, I’d be proud to have you as a member of our family. You make my daughter happy and that’s the most important thing to a father.”
Tom’s words of approval meant more than he could ever express. He shook his hand. “Thank you, sir. I’m deeply honored.”
“Oh, I nearly forgot.” Tom pulled an envelope from his jacket. “I picked this up on the way over here. I thought you might need it for today.”
Adam took the envelope, unable to find words to express his appreciation. “Thank you for your help. I couldn’t have pulled this off without you.”
Tom waved off the gratitude. “Go. Talk to my girl.”
The Dover town square was bustling with activity when Adam drove down Main Street a few minutes later. The scaffold had already been dismantled and painters were busy on the newly restored section of the gazebo. A delivery truck from a local garden center was being unloaded. Small tents and displays were going up all over the green for the arts and crafts vendors. Peace and Mill streets were already blocked off. In a few hours all evidence of his accident would be gone.
The light turned red and he stopped at the intersection. The same one where he’d lost control of his car and crashed into the gazebo. He eased off the gas, heading toward Laura’s house, the nervous knot in his stomach growing. How would it feel standing in front of her as a free man? Not her saw boy. Not the prisoner in her father’s home. But himself, the man who loved her?
But how did she feel? Could she love a man like him? Tom advised him to tell Laura how he felt, to let her decide. Shaw McKinney had reminded him that Laura deserved someone who could love her completely. So who did he listen to?
Chapter Eleven
Laura peeked out the dining room window, then moved to the front door to look at the street in front of her house. Wally barked and sat down in the middle of the hall. He’d been trailing at her heels all morning. Apparently he was tired of trying to keep up. Laura smiled and bent down to pet his head. “Sorry, fella. I just don’t know what’s taking him so long. He should have been here by now.”
Adam was being released this morning. He was no longer a man confined by a sentence and an ankle monitor, and no longer someone she was responsible for. He was just Adam. Things would be different between them now and she couldn’t wait to see him.
Her mother had convinced her that his attitude the other day had been from his need to finish the job and prove himself to her. She was hanging on to that hope. She would tell him how she felt and let God work it all out.
A flash of light flickered through the beveled glass door. “He’s here.” She hurried outside, waiting at the edge of the porch. She wanted to run to him and throw her arms around his neck, but their relationship hadn’t progressed that far yet. She watched as he got out of the small car and came up the walk. He looked wonderful, but different. It was more than the dark jeans and the crisp blue cotton shirt he wore. More than the bronze jacket that made his green eyes fiery bright. There was a different tilt to his shoulders and a slow easy gait to his stride. Had freedom restored his confidence or was it something else?
He stopped at the foot of the porch steps. She searched his face for some clue to his emotions, finding herself captured by the warmth and affection in his green eyes. “Good morning.”
He glanced toward his car. “You had it fixed.”
“Were you surprised?” Her heart raced wildly in her chest.
“Shocked. How did you pull it off?”
“My dad helped. We sent it up to Jackson. There’s a guy there who specializes in classic-car restoration.”
He came up the steps, stopping in front of her. “Why did you do it?”
He was so close that she could feel his breath when he exhaled. She swayed against the attraction that washed over her. She opened her mouth to speak but her voice failed. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I knew how much it meant to you and I wanted to thank you for all your hard work. I’m only sorry that we couldn’t get it done in time for you—”
Adam reached out and took her hand. “Don’t. None of that matters.” He touched the side of her face gently. “Laura, no one has ever done anything like that for me before.”
“You deserved it. You worked hard and got the gazebo done on time. We’re all so grateful to you.” His eyes darkened to a forest green.
“Is that the only reason you did it? Out of gratitude?”
“No, I knew it would make you happy. And I want you to be happy.”
Adam grasped her arms with his hands, drawing her ever closer. “Why?”
She held her breath, her eyes locked with his. She loved him. All she had to do was tell him. “Because…I care for you. A great deal.”
Adam smiled. “How much do you care?” He lowered his head and kissed her lips lightly.
She melted into him, drowning in his tenderness.
“And I care about you, too, Laura.”
She stepped back, needing to regain her senses. She tugged him toward the house. “Let’s go inside. I want to talk.”
He stopped abruptly, a teasing grin on his lips. “You going to present me with the repair bill?”
“No, silly.” She pulled him along into the kitchen before releasing his hand. “I have coffee and muffins. Have a seat.”
“Hey there, Wally.” Adam tussled with the dog a moment before taking a seat at the table. She set the plate of muffins on the table along with a hot cup of coffee.
“Did you make these yourself?”
“Of course. My mother taught me and she’s a very good cook.” Adam smiled, making her heart skip again.
“I know. That’s one of the things I’ll miss about living there.”
She started to ask him what else he would miss, but her courage failed her again. She started to move to the counter again, but Adam took her hand.
“I have something for you. I was going to wait and give it to you tomorrow, but I think this is the perfect time.” He pulled a large envelope from his jacket and handed it to her.
Puzzled, she opened the flap and pulled out a legal document. “Oh.” She read the paper twice, unable to believe what
she was seeing. She looked at Adam for some explanation. “This is the deed to the Keller building.”
He smiled. “Look at the bottom line.”
Her eyes struggled to focus on the page. “It’s in my name.” She gasped, one hand covering her mouth in surprise. “How did you do this?”
“I made arrangements to buy it at the auction. I know how much it meant to you and I hated to see you lose it. Your dad helped me work out some of the details. He’s a very influential man around here.”
“My father?” She lowered the paper. “He’s been a busy little fixer, hasn’t he? Helping me with your car. Helping you with this.” Tears clogged her throat and stung the back of her eyes. “Oh, Adam. I don’t know what to say, how to thank you.” She moved toward him, arms open. He stood and accepted her hug. She lifted her face to kiss him on the cheek, but he shifted, pulling her against him and capturing her mouth. She melted against him.
He ended the kiss, putting a little distance between them. “Lady, you’re dangerous. I think we’d better get back to the muffins. You go sit over there and I’ll sit here and we’ll keep this nice table between us.”
She smiled and nodded, exhaling a shaky breath. “Probably a wise move.”
“So, tell me what you wanted to talk about.”
“I want you to come to the festival tomorrow.” She chewed her lip, gathering her courage. “You deserve to participate and I want you to see how much having the gazebo done means to everyone.”
“Is that the only reason?”
She shook her head, reaching out to gently touch his fingers. “I want to get to know you better. As a…friend, not an assignment.”
“I want that, too, Laura.”
“So you’ll stay? You could even stay for Matt and Shelby’s wedding if you’d like. It’s next week.”
“I’d like to, but I can’t.” He reached across the table and took her fingers in his. “I’ll stay for the festival, but I can’t stay any longer. I have to go back to Atlanta and talk to my father.”
Her heart clenched. Maybe she’d read him wrong after all. “To see about your trust fund?”
“No. To try and reconcile with him. I’ve come to realize that I’m as much responsible for our bad relationship as he is. I’ve always blamed him for certain problems in my life, but I’m equally guilty. I have to try and work things out. Do you understand?”
She did, but she didn’t like it. Glancing at the clock, her heart sank. She’d intended to talk to him about so many things and now she was out of time. “I need to leave in a few minutes. I’m driving up to Jackson today to meet with a potential client. Would you like to come along? We could have lunch. Talk.”
“It’s tempting, but I have some things to do before I leave. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning for the festival.” He smiled. “That’ll be a nice change. I’m looking forward to seeing you in my little car instead of your big truck.”
Laura walked him to the door. He turned and pulled her into his arms. “Laura…I…Thank you again for caring.”
Laura rested her head against his chest, her arms around his waist. Say it. Tell him now. “You’re welcome.” She pulled back and looked up at him. “If you come early, we can have breakfast before we go.”
“I’ll call you when I get up.” He bent and placed a kiss on her forehead.
“See you in the morning.” She watched him go, wishing it was tomorrow, and wondering why she hadn’t told him she loved him.
*
Laura stepped through the front door of her father’s store, turning around to look at Adam. She wanted to see the expression on his face when he saw the town square for the first time. He strode out the door and froze. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open in stunned surprise. He moved to the curb, resting one hand on the iron poles supporting the balcony above the store. She went to his side, glancing back and forth between the scene on the square and the delight on his handsome face. “So? What do you think?”
Adam shook his head and looked at her, his green eyes bright. “This is wild. I had no idea. I expected a few booths and a food vendor or two. But this—” he reached over and pulled her to him “—this is totally unexpected.”
Laura caught her breath. She was beginning to like that word. “Unexpected is good, right?”
“Very good.”
She took his hand. “Come on. I want you to see everything.” The sidewalk beside Durrant’s was clogged with clothing racks and tables filled with jewelry and accessories from Jacqueline’s Boutique next door, so they walked into the street. It was the only means of moving around the festival.
She’d hoped to have breakfast with Adam this morning, but he’d called last night and said he’d be tied up with some business matters in the morning. Waiting for him to pick her up had been nerve-racking, like waiting for Christmas morning to open her presents. Even the ride in his Porsche had been fun. They’d navigated the back streets and parked behind her dad’s store. It was a good home base for the day and offered a respite from the noise and activity.
“Where did all these people come from? I didn’t know Dover had this many people.”
“Oh, our festival is a really big deal around here. We have hundreds of craft and food vendors from all over the country who are regulars. Some come from as far away as Canada and Mexico.” Adam pulled out his phone and took a picture of the area.
Laura took a moment to survey her beloved town. The park around the courthouse was littered with white shade canopies all sheltering various crafts and specialty artists. The broad downtown streets, lined with food vendors in wagons, vans and tents, resembled the midway of a county fair. At the far end of the park stood the gazebo. She couldn’t wait to take Adam there.
“This is crazy.” Adam smiled down at her.
At the end of the block, Laura pointed down the side street. “The carnival rides are set up down there in an old grocery store parking lot. There’s the usual stuff—Octopus, Tilt-a-Whirl, Ferris wheel. If you’re looking for a thrill, we could head that direction.”
Adam squeezed her hand. “You’re thrilling enough.”
Her heart melted. “That’s also the street where the parade will be.”
“A parade? Through all this activity?”
‘No. The children’s parade. It starts at the old church a couple blocks down and ends right before this intersection. Kenny and Chester will be in it, so we don’t want to miss that.”
Adam frowned. “Chester? Have I missed a nephew somewhere?”
“No, silly. Chester is his dog. The kids and pets dress alike. It’s always fun.” Laura continued the tour, strolling along Peace Street and crossing onto Main Street. “The stage is on the far corner. You’ll hear all kinds of music throughout the day. Gospel. Rock. Country. The local talent winners will be singing this morning, and tonight we have a famous country group coming in.”
“Hey, Mr. Holbrook.”
Laura looked around as a man about her father’s age approached. She felt Adam brace and gently touched his side.
The man extended his hand, a friendly smile on his face. “My name’s Elliot, Ben Elliot. I just wanted to thank you for working so hard to get that gazebo up and ready for this weekend. I live in Sawyers Bend and I know the gazebo belongs to Dover, but we have a special attachment to that little building, too.”
Adam cleared his throat and took the man’s hand. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Mr. Elliot nodded, smiled at Laura, then moved off.
“That was a first.”
“What do you mean?”
“No one has ever appreciated anything I did.”
“I appreciate you.” She slipped her arm in his and started walking again. “Okay, your tour is over. Time to get down to some serious exploration. First we’ll shop, then we’ll eat. Then shop some more and then eat more.” She grinned up at him. “Any objections?”
“I just do what I’m told, boss.”
Laura took his hand, entwining her fi
ngers with his and wishing she could keep him at her side always.
*
Adam leaned against the trunk of the old magnolia tree beside the gazebo. The same one he and Jim had met under. Laura had taken her numerous packages to her father’s store, giving Adam the first chance to catch his breath. She’d been like a kid in a candy shop all morning, scurrying from one attraction to another. He’d happily followed along, marveling at her energy and her joy. He’d be perfectly content to bask in the glow of her delight for the rest of his life.
His gaze drifted toward the gazebo. His reason for being here. People wandered in and around the structure. Some had taken the steps into the center, sitting and talking for a while. Others had stopped and taken pictures. Small groups of kids had raced in and around and down the steps again in a game of tag. One couple had slipped inside for a kiss. Hardly a moment had passed when the beloved landmark went unused.
Laura had wanted to make it their first stop this morning, but somehow they’d been redirected to talk to friends or family, then lunch with the Durrants. He’d been convinced to try chicken on a stick and fried Twinkies. His stomach would never be the same.
He glanced back toward Durrant’s Hardware. He’d learned a lot about Laura today. She liked handmade jewelry and paintings of gardens. Her taste in scarves leaned toward vibrant colors. She bought any kind of handmade soap, and she had a weakness for funnel cakes. He smiled thinking of her excitement. Laura found something beautiful in everything her eyes touched. From wind chimes to rusty old tools. He couldn’t even count the number of times they’d stopped to greet friends and acquaintances, a couple of whom Adam had helped through the Handy Works ministry.
They’d watched the children’s parade, cheering for Kenny and his dog, who were dressed like Insect Man. He had no idea who or what that was, but it was the cutest thing he’d ever seen.
This afternoon Laura had promised to take Kenny to the Kids’ Zone. From what he could gather, there would be face painting, balloon animals and an inflatable jump house. Cassidy had convinced her aunt to go with her to the Dover princess pageant, claiming she needed to observe for when she was sixteen and could participate.
Restoring His Heart Page 16