Will had to swallow hard to clear the lump in his throat. They’d been unable to make marriage work, but he was reminded again how he’d appreciated Olivia’s friendship. “See you Sunday.”
After he hung up the phone, he started to restack all the files. The heavy envelope buried under the paper begged to be opened. Since the flap was loose, he peeked inside.
Cash. A lot of cash.
Why did Sarah have an envelope filled with money?
“Are you snooping through my desk?” Sarah asked from the doorway. “I didn’t expect that.”
“I did want to borrow a pen.” He held out his hand to display his notes. “My ex called and I needed to write something down. To find one, I knocked everything over.”
Sarah looked over her shoulder and shut the door behind her. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I think that’s from my father. The lights in the parking lot at midnight? Somehow they’re connected to that envelope.”
“What are you going to do with it?” Will carefully sealed the open edge and placed it squarely in the center of the desk.
“My father wants me to buy a plane ticket.” Sarah dropped into the chair and covered her face with both hands. “Hollister will confiscate it if I call him and all I can think about is all the things I could pay off, set up, the life I could get a start on, if I just...kept it. Here.”
“It’s a lot of money.” Any normal person would consider doing the same thing, keeping the money. It was a gift from her father. Did Hollister really have a right to it?
Big Bobby Hillman’s victims might.
“So, you don’t want to make your getaway?” Will tapped the corner of the envelope. “I bet your daddy has a lot more of this.” He watched her intently while trying to appear disinterested.
He thought Sarah would stay. She was doing good things and making impressive progress on a real, authentic life, one she built for herself.
And he wanted her here in Holly Heights.
“For so long, I was running in place, waiting for him or hoping for a chance to get my old life back.” She leaned forward. “I really had convinced myself he was innocent.”
Giving in to impulse, Will grabbed her hand and tangled his fingers with hers. “I’m sorry. It can’t be easy when your hero lets you down.” He’d been there. Through every divorce and shuffle, he’d become a little more cynical about his own parents. “You should be proud of everything you’ve done without Bobby Hillman.”
Sarah studied their hands. “You’d think less of me if I just...kept the money. Forget the plane ticket. Forget Hollister.”
The answer should be yes. Giving it over to the police was the ethical thing to do.
Why didn’t that answer roll off his tongue?
Maybe because he understood that she had to make the decision. “You don’t have any doubt anymore—you know that you can save yourself, don’t you?”
She studied the ceiling. “Even better. Now I know there are good people in the world who will help me save myself.”
Will squeezed her hand before he pulled away.
“You aren’t going to tell me what to do, are you?” Sarah let out a huff.
Had he finally learned the lesson his sister had been trying to get through his hard head for years? He could tell her what he’d do, but she had the right to make up her own mind.
She’d impressed him with all the decisions she’d made lately.
“Sorry. That’s the thing. This life in Holly Heights? Now it’s all up to you.” Will eased around the desk. “One more day, then the finish line. You’ve got a choice now. Which life will you choose?”
Will pressed his lips against hers, savoring her taste and the perfection of having her in his arms, while he crossed his fingers and hoped this wasn’t the last time he’d see her.
“Are you two ducking your chores?” Chloe said from the doorway. “Aunt Jen and I have a lot to get done this weekend. She wants my opinion on her new house before I go home, and we don’t have much time. She’s promised to come to Austin to show me the floors she picks, but we can’t put every decision off.” One hand was propped on her wet sweater, while her sneaker squeaked in rhythm as she tapped it. “We’ve got a lot of animals to bathe, people, and these cats aren’t going to brush themselves.”
“Think she has a future in shelter management?” Will asked as he slowly slid his hands to his own hips.
“Perhaps military officer training.” Sarah ran her hand down his arm before she winked. Just for him. “Either way, she’s going places.” She spun around and held out her hand. “Put me to work.” Without hesitation, she and Chloe trotted away.
So Jen was now a part of the visitation cycle. As if they were a real family. Will realized that nothing had worked out as he’d intended, but it was going perfectly, anyway.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THE NEXT DAY, Sarah was doing her best not to panic over the second biggest Saturday of her life. Rebecca, Stephanie and Jen had made it clear the community support was critical to them. Sarah didn’t want all the work she’d done to save Paws for Love to evaporate.
But fund-raisers needed people with funds to show. Had she done enough social rehabilitation?
By the end of the day, she’d know whether she’d jumped the next hurdle or tumbled headfirst into the track.
No pressure or anything.
That uncertainty had made it twice as hard to make her first phone call of the day. Leaving the message for Hollister had twisted her stomach in knots, but even after examining the issue all night long, she knew there was no way to justify keeping the money.
As soon as Hollister brought her father back, the people of Holly Heights would understand the truth.
And Will might not be forced to choose his business or her.
Before Sarah had finished letting the second group of dogs into the play yard, Rebecca was calling out from the lobby. “Cookies. Come get the world’s best cookies!”
“Set them on the counter for now. We’ll move them out to the refreshment table right before the open house starts.” She yanked the knife out of the washing machine door and moved the load of dog blankets to the dryer. Even on special occasions, the animals came first. She carefully set the knife behind the detergent box. All she needed was a kid skewering some rich guy’s leg.
“Bandannas.” Jen held out six different bandannas in a variety of colors. “My assistant and I will match them to the right dogs, according to color.” Chloe waved a hand from the doorway. “And she’s determined to try brighter collars with these cute name tags—” Jen swung a handful of thin collars and bedazzled tags “—on the cats. Says they need their own bling.” Jen shrugged. “We got these and a whole lot more over in Austin last night.”
Chloe clapped and dug into her purse. “Also, a digital camera. There was a camera place right next to the pet store, so Aunt Jen said we should pick one up. The first open house will be captured in pictures.”
Sarah slapped Chloe’s hand in an exuberant high five. Jen held up a fist for Sarah to bump, but she surprised them both by wrapping her arms around Jen and holding on tight for an awkward hug. “Your ideas rock.”
“First my dad. Now you’re all lovey with Jen. Should I warn Brenda to be on the lookout if she wants to avoid being squeezed until she squeaks?” Chloe asked as she sorted the collars.
“Nope. You’re next.” Sarah made grabbing motions until Chloe shrieked and ran away.
“The shrieking. I’d forgotten that part.” Jen cupped her hands over her ears. “And watch the hugs.”
“There’ll be more today. I feel huggy.”
“The suitcase is out, right? Office is clear?” Jen waved the bandannas.
“All clear. I’ll be a legitimate renter tomorrow and I won’t even have to ask Will for help moving.” Sarah held her breath, certain she’d hit the missile launch button.
Jen let out a breath. “He’s taking Chloe home tomorrow. Buy him dinner.” Then she disappeared down th
e hall. The barks of ecstatic dogs filtered from the dog room and Hope’s happy howl was easy to distinguish. Hope would be pretty in pink. The bald areas where Les had had to cut the collar off would barely show.
And the crowd would eat their hearts out because Hope was spoken for.
“Are you ready?” Rebecca asked from the doorway. Stephanie and a handsome man, who had one arm draped over her shoulders, hovered behind Rebecca.
“No. Yes. No. Yes.” Sarah shook her head. “Yes. We’re ready. We’ve done everything we can.”
“Meet Daniel.” Stephanie tugged Daniel forward. “He’s not great at pressing donors for cash, but you’ve got us.”
Daniel gave Stephanie a long stare. “Not sure about that introduction, but I know better than to complain.” Daniel held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Sarah tried not to shift nervously under Daniel’s stare. He was in Peru, saving lives, while his sister was giving a fortune away. What sort of star had the Lincoln kids been born under?
Saving a bunch of cats and dogs was...
“Thank you for everything you’re doing here,” Daniel said. “I admire anyone who’ll stand up for animals who have no voice.”
Sarah blinked back tears and cleared her throat. Admiration. That was new. She’d had envy and jealousy and spite and anger and even friendship and love. Admiration was nice.
“I hope you’ll be able to keep Rebecca and Jen on the right path once we head back to Lima. We all know that Stephanie is the voice of reason in this group.” Rebecca rolled her eyes behind her brother’s back. “Stephanie’s science in the schools program is taking off, but leaving them here unsupervised is dangerous.”
Stephanie slid under his arm again, and the look they shared was enough to make a cynic’s heart gooey. “Hiking in the Andes will be a vacation compared to house shopping with Jen. You’ve saved me, Daniel.”
“I can imagine what that sounds like. Jen and Rebecca owe me and South America big-time.”
She fluttered her eyelashes at him, and his deadpan head tilt made them all laugh.
“It’s go time, boss.” Shelly stuck her head around the corner. “Tables are set up. We put out the cookies and the bottled water. Shady awnings are in place. The chairs are on either side of the fashion runway and Les is on alert, the digital camera locked and loaded.” She grinned. “This is going to be awesome.”
Sarah returned her thumbs-up and watched her bustle away.
Then she retreated to her office, tickled Bub until he stood up to stretch and pulled him down across her lap. “We did it. Now all we can do is wait to see if anyone shows.” He rested his chin on her chest and blinked up at her.
Dinah was the first one through the door, followed by Brenda, Sue Lynn and five other business owners she’d approached to ask for employment opportunities. Bub immediately assumed the position of Head Dog and greeted each one with enthusiastic tail wags. His payment, pats on the head, kept him loitering around the front door for the next visitors. Sarah tried to make a list of everyone who visited, because she wanted to send thank-you notes with a discreet request for donations.
The contractor, roofer, fence guy, the salesperson who’d walked her through the fright of buying a computer and the parents of all four high school volunteers arrived in the next wave.
Before she could greet them, a reporter from the Holly Heights newspaper pulled her aside and Shelly asked where the list for businesses with donation stations was, because she needed to add two more, the repair shop that had replaced the van’s battery and a day care.
Shelly, Jen, Rebecca, Stephanie and Les were each running tours through the shelter, answering any questions that might come up and leading people out to the repaired second play yard.
Will floated on the perimeter. She lost track of him and then got a happy jolt when he crossed her line of vision again. Sarah shook herself free of the reporter to find that he had been cornered by Cece and her husband, Doug. Since they were also his clients, Sarah hesitated to free him. Doug offered his hand and, after a hesitation, Will shook it. Whatever he’d decided to do about Doug and his gossip, it looked as if they’d be working together.
Relieved Will was keeping his clients, Sarah went through the cat room to make sure every single cat was collared and tagged.
Then she hit the dog room, closed the door and let one group of overexcited dogs out into the play yard. “Les, get the camera!” The dogs, sensing the need to put on a show, were in fine form, romping in their bright bandannas.
Until Meatloaf got too excited and threw up his breakfast and whatever else he’d eaten in the past week. At that point, her volunteers were suspiciously absent.
“That’s all right, Meatloaf. I’ve got it. The show must go on.” She shooed him back into the yard and hurried to the storage room to grab the scoop. She didn’t want a close encounter with bodily functions to put anyone off their donation game.
“Sarah, honey, I can tell how hard you’ve been working.” Sarah turned as Cece shook her head sadly. “It shows all over your poor hands and face. But really, this is quite a cute party.”
Torn between the urge to take care of Meatloaf’s mess and schmoozing a potential whale of a donor, Sarah said, “Thanks, Cece. Go enjoy the party. I saw you talking with Will. Smart decision.”
Cece’s eyes lit up. “Not as smart as yours, honey. Will just made it very clear he’s your number one fan.”
Sarah tugged on her shirt as the heat of a blush covered her cheeks.
“A man like that, one who’ll pay your electric bill and defend your honor...” Cece shook her head. “How do you always land on your feet?”
Pay my electric bill?
Sarah watched the people milling around the play yards as she processed that. She’d thought he’d gotten the lights back on by pulling strings. Instead, a guy who’d hated her had spent his own money to help.
And he’d done it without handing her a bill or asking for anything in return. He wanted to be with her.
She must have been born under the luckiest star in the sky.
“Make sure to try Rebecca’s cookies. I know how you love your desserts,” Sarah said. Then she gave herself a mental slap. Sure, she could trade hidden insults with the best of them. That wouldn’t win her any big donors.
“I’ve got to run outside. Wait for me?” She checked over her shoulder as she walked to make sure Cece was waiting, then hustled out to pick up the mess as best she could.
She dumped the scooper and turned to see an impressive grimace on Cece’s face. They walked outside. “Please, Sarah, don’t you have people for that?”
“She doesn’t need people,” Jen said from her spot in the play yard. “She knows how to work.”
Gratified that her biggest critic was defending her, Sarah cleared her throat. “And that’s what this event is all about, Cece. Getting more people, more help. You’ve got such a generous spirit. I’d love to hear any suggestions you might have on how you can help Paws for Love.”
Cece stepped carefully around the spot Sarah had just cleaned up, her high heels as out of place at an event like this as Sarah had been in her own life lately.
Until today.
Then Cece dodged Jen’s glare twice as carefully. “Well, you know,” Cece said as she waved a hand at the refreshments, “I’ve always had a knack for flower arrangements. I could help the next time you have an event like this.”
Jen’s snort made her opinion on the offer clear.
Sarah’s lips were twitching when she said, “Uh, Jen, let’s go ahead with the show. You’re on.”
Jen stared at Cece and then nodded. “Got it.”
“Let’s get you a good seat,” Sarah said as she motioned Cece forward. “This should be fun.”
Sarah stood under the awning, next to the bottled water, and watched her dogs prance on their leashes. Every kid holding one was grinning and some of the dogs were, too. The little redhead kid who’d demanded his soda loudly claimed th
at Meatloaf was going to be his dog.
Given the way his helpless parents followed the boy, Sarah wondered if she should have set up a separate table to run adoptions as soon as the show was over.
Jen and Hope were the final pair on the runway and everyone who knew Hope’s story was sniffling by the time they made a graceful turn and swaggered back down the aisle. Her brindle coat was shiny, the bare patches in her skin were filling in and she’d gained fifteen pounds. Hope walked with a certain step that made it clear she was right where she was supposed to be.
And as soon as Jen rested her hand on Hope’s head, the dog sat beautifully, as if she’d been trained her whole life.
“Not tears again.” Sarah pinched her nose. She didn’t have time for this.
“You should be patting yourself on the back, not pinching your nose.” Will’s whisper in her ear made her shiver.
“Happy tears.” His hand on her shoulder steadied her and made it possible to clear her throat.
“And now, we’d like to introduce you to the woman responsible for keeping Paws for Love open, Sarah Hillman.” Jen and Hope stepped aside and Sarah was nearly certain that if she didn’t step up, Jen would make her.
So she did.
“I’d like to thank everyone for coming...” Her words faltered when she noticed Hollister standing outside the play yard. He didn’t wave. His face revealed nothing.
“I haven’t done this alone. Shelly and Les taught me how to take care of these animals. Rebecca, Stephanie, Jen and Will gave me the confidence and most of the cash to keep the doors open. And you, all of you, who took time out of your weekend to see what we’re doing here, will be the ones to take Paws for Love forward. We need volunteers to help day in and day out. Fosters take the dogs that need one-on-one care. And donors keep the lights on and the food coming. Please, whatever help you can give, let me know. These animals deserve it.”
The light applause that followed her as she stepped off the runway faded as she walked over to the fence. “Meet me inside. I have something to give you.”
Heart's Refuge (Lucky Numbers) Page 21