by Rula Sinara
“Other than the entrance fee, I’m not sure. I would think there will be things to buy. Or some kind of auction.”
“Hmm. I wonder what they would auction off in this small town.”
“Things people donate, I guess.”
“Grass seed or a bag of feed? How about a car?” He laughed.
“I doubt if they could fit a car in a church basement,” Grace said seriously, then noticed his grin. “You’re joking.”
Caleb smiled. “Just trying to keep things light.”
“You have a good sense of humor.”
“Thanks. Glad you appreciate it.”
As they drove on, at his urging, they tried to think of other amusing things one could buy at a small-town auction.
“Special crocheted socks,” suggested Grace with a giggle.
“The kind with separated toes,” added Caleb. He glanced at a house bordered by statues. “Extra lawn ornaments?”
“Homemade cookies.”
“Actually, that sounds pretty good,” said Caleb.
The ride across town took less than five minutes. The church lot was already half full when they arrived. Grace checked her watch. The doors had opened about ten minutes before.
She said, “It looks like they’re going to have a good crowd tonight.”
“The locals usually turn out in support of each other when there’s some kind of fundraiser. Or anything, really, that brings residents together. People from surrounding towns, too. Most get tired of doing the same thing all the time. And we don’t have a lot of entertainment venues in this neck of the woods. No movie theaters. No arcades. No nightclubs. We have to drive to Kenosha or Milwaukee to have a real night out.”
Things that Grace wouldn’t miss if she decided to stay in Sparrow Lake. She took advantage of city entertainment occasionally, but she didn’t mind the drive to Milwaukee to do so. Thinking that Dad would have a lot of negative things to say about the idea of her living here made her sober a bit. She forced the thought away. She wasn’t going to let anything ruin her evening with Caleb.
Since she’d invited him, she meant to pay their entry fees into the social, but he wouldn’t let her. He took over, saying, “My town, my treat.”
“Does that mean I have to take you to Milwaukee if I want to return the favor?”
They entered the church gym. High tables were set in one area and a bunch of people were already gathered around, standing while eating and drinking. Behind them were more traditional tables with low chairs, but that area was still mostly empty. People milled about, some looking over items carefully placed on display tables at the other end of the room. Items for auction? She didn’t see any bags of feed or power tools. No crocheted socks with individual toes, either, though there seemed to be a couple of beautifully made afghans and a lovely quilt. There weren’t many people she knew well, either. Which was good since the original objective of the evening for her was to meet new townies who would support Green Meadows.
The woman Caleb paid said, “We’re having a big raffle to help raise money. One dollar per ticket. All the items are set over there.”
So no auction, Grace thought. “I’ll take twenty,” she said, and handed the woman her money.
“Twenty for me also.” Caleb set down another bill.
The woman beamed at them as she gave them their raffle tickets. “Just fill these out and drop them in this,” she said, indicating a large glass bowl that already had a bunch of raffle stubs. “And thank you both!”
Caleb slipped an arm around Grace’s waist. “Let’s get some refreshments. Then I can introduce you to some of these folks, and you can give them your business card. Actually, you could give me a bunch of cards and I can hand them out for you.”
“You don’t need to do that.” She preferred finding out who people were and then sending them a brochure unless they specifically asked for a card. “I didn’t mean for you to work tonight.” Or to work in that way herself.
“How about if I want to? The more business you get, the more likely you are to stick around for a while.”
Pleased that he wanted her to stay, she nevertheless discouraged him. “Well, thanks, but I have ideas as to how to approach them.” More indirectly.
“You should feel free to use other people’s ideas, too.”
He seemed to forget she was the person with the sales experience. She didn’t say so, however.
He went on, “If you really want to return the favor of the entry fee, you could always make me dinner sometime. I would appreciate a nice home-cooked meal that I didn’t have to make myself.”
Grace laughed. “If you survived my cooking. Not one of my best skills. I keep mealtime simple.” And when in the city, she ordered out. A lot.
“Then I’ll have to teach you some tricks. We can start on the campout next weekend.”
“Ah, so cooking is part of your skill set. I always hoped to meet a man who knew his way around the kitchen.” At the refreshment table, they took small plates and gathered together a few appetizers. “So your mother taught you to cook?”
“Actually, Mom is a great cook, but she was usually too busy working to do much other than on the weekends.” Caleb stopped at one of the high tables. “Is this okay?”
“Sure. Easier to meet people as they walk by from the refreshment table,” she whispered. “So how did you learn to cook?”
“When I got tired of hot dogs and burgers, I started experimenting on my own out of sheer desperation. Bought a couple of books. Tuned in to the cooking channel. I’m no chef, but Angela doesn’t complain...at least not about my cooking.”
She heard the note of discouragement in his tone. And his expression darkened, as well. He must still be having problems with his daughter.
Trying to lighten his sudden mood shift, she asked, “Is there anything you can’t do?”
He grinned at her. “Don’t ask me to sing. It’ll attract all the coyotes in the area.”
Grace snorted loudly, garnering the attention of the people nearest them. She didn’t care. “More like a howl, huh?”
“Not exactly a howl. I sound like a dying goose.”
Grace shook with laughter. Caleb had an original take on things. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a dying goose.”
“If you do, you’ll never forget it.”
“But coyotes like that sound?”
“All predators exploit situations. Dead goose is dinner du jour to them.” He changed the subject. “Speaking of situations and food, we need something to drink with the appetizers. Iced tea? Lemonade?”
“Tea would be great. With lemon if they have it.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
Grace dug around in her purse and found her business cards, then slipped a few into a front pocket of her bag where she could more easily get to them. Caleb seemed bound and determined on her handing them out, no matter what. If he got too pushy, though, she was going to have words with him. Not liking to feel negative, she started filling out the raffle tickets.
“Hey, you made it,” came a familiar voice.
Grace turned around to see Heather coming her way. “I always try to take good advice from a friend. Are you alone tonight?”
“No. Rick is getting us some drinks.”
“Caleb, too.”
Heather appeared pleasantly surprised. “Did you just meet up here or—”
“Nope. An actual date.”
“Good for you. When the boys get back with those drinks, we can sit together.”
Grace said, “I was thinking that standing at one of these tables would make it easier to meet townspeople I don’t know.”
“Then stand it is.” Heather’s eyebrows arched. “Here comes a couple you might not have met before.”
Heather waved them over. It turned out the couple owned a car dealership in Racine but preferred to live in a small town. They were good contacts as they might know people looking to move their families out of the city into a kid-friendly town.
As they were talking, Grace realized Caleb was standing off to the side, a glass in each hand. He winked at her and approached.
“Did you give them your card?” he asked Grace, not really allowing her time to work her own magic on the couple.
Annoyed and a little taken aback, she found it difficult to concentrate.
Of course, Caleb Blackthorne was a distraction in and of himself. And she had to admit, though sometimes a bit aggressive about helping her, he was the best distraction she’d encountered in...well...forever.
* * *
AT THE REZ, Gran Maddie and Angela started watching a scary movie together. After less than an hour, Gran fell fast asleep in her recliner. Angela knew her grandmother didn’t like horror films and would tune out by either working around the house while the movie was on or dozing. She smiled, appreciating her own cleverness. She knew how to deal with things. Now she could do what she wanted.
She glanced at the nearest clock. 10:00 p.m. Dad wouldn’t be home yet. He was out with that woman! Thinking about Grace, she again wondered how he could do this to her. All these years, he’d lied about keeping her from her mother. As far as she was concerned, he still was keeping them apart. Then, despite her feelings on the matter, he’d gone out with Grace Huber.
She simply couldn’t stand it!
When her cell phone vibrated, she realized Kiki was calling, probably to check on her.
She stepped out into the kitchen and answered, keeping her voice low. “Hey. I was just about to call you.”
“I could come over and keep you company if I can sneak out.”
Angela glanced toward the living room area and Gran Maddie, who was snoring gently. “No, don’t. I don’t want you getting into trouble because of me again.”
“I’m not worried.”
“Thanks,” Angela said. “You really are the best. But not tonight. I’ll find something to do to take my mind off Dad’s date. Don’t worry, I’ll be okay.”
They talked awhile longer. Rather Angela let Kiki do most of the talking as her emotions continued to whirl and grow. No doubt about it, she was filled with confusion and anger.
Within five minutes of hanging up with her friend, and against her father’s orders to stay put until he picked her up, Angela sneaked out of Gran Maddie’s house to go do something to make herself feel better.
* * *
“THE NEXT ITEM is a haircut and blow-dry at Ginger’s Luscious Locks,” Emily Auerbach, the mayor’s wife, announced. “And the winner is—” a nervous woman, her hand shook as she pulled a slip from the fish bowl “—Priscilla Ryan.”
Though the mayor’s wife wore a sour expression that seemed to define her, everyone else clapped as Priscilla accepted the envelope.
Grace was smiling. She’d been smiling the whole evening, and Caleb wanted to kiss her again. Seriously kiss her. No brush of the lips, but a kiss that would make her toes curl. Anticipation built in him.
Grace had met a lot of new people tonight, had given out a lot of her business cards, which had made Caleb nearly as happy as she seemed to be. Just before the raffle drawings had begun, they’d retired to one of the tables where they could sit. Heather and Rick had joined some other friends, so he was alone with Grace. They were close enough that he’d slung his arm over the back of her chair, leaving his hand on her shoulder, and him wishing he could hold her more fully in his arms.
A few more raffle wins were called out, and Caleb was getting anxious to leave. To be alone with Grace.
Even as he thought it, he could see Angela’s disapproving scowl in his mind, but he pushed the unpleasant image away. The girl just needed some time. Once Angela calmed down, surely she would be open to getting on with a woman as nice as Grace was.
Holding her hand on the table, he squeezed it. Squeezing his in return, she gave him an intimate smile that warmed his insides. It had been far too long since a woman had made him feel like this.
Connected.
So right.
Longing for more.
“And the final raffle prize is a private trail ride for two from Sam Larson at the Larson Dude Ranch,” Emily announced.
Caleb moved closer to Grace and whispered, “Do you mind if we leave after this?”
She turned her head so they were almost nose to nose. “Fine with me,” she whispered in return, her sweet breath brushing his cheek.
And lips...
“And the winner is...Grace Huber.”
“That’s you!”
“Oh, my gosh!” Grace rose and headed for the mayor’s wife, glancing back once at Caleb, a big grin lighting up her face. After taking the envelope, she headed straight back for him. He was already on his feet. Waving her prize, she said, “Here’s how I’ll return the favor. By taking you for that private trail ride.”
He grinned. “Deal.”
While their intention was to leave right then, it took at least ten minutes to get to the door, what with everyone stopping them to tell Grace how nice it had been to meet her. Even so, Caleb’s grin never faltered. Everyone liked Grace. Especially him.
“That was fun,” Grace said as he finally helped her into the truck. “Even if it was part work.”
“It was fun. And I loved watching you work.” He just loved watching her.
“You did quite a bit of work for me yourself.”
“I’ve been goal-driven since I was left with a baby to take care of. I had to be.” Then, getting into the driver’s seat, he asked, “Do you want to go right home?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Someplace quiet where we could talk for a while.” Where he could be alone with her. He wasn’t ready for the evening to end just yet.
“Sure. Coffee?”
He shook his head. “Water.”
“You want to go somewhere to drink water?”
“No, to listen to it.”
“Ah, the lake,” she said. “I’m game.”
A few minutes later, they’d parked and were walking hand in hand down to the public pathway that circled the Sparrow Lake shore. Luckily, a nearby bench was free.
“We can sit there,” he said, “so you don’t get grass stains on your dress.”
They quickly settled in, Caleb again putting his arm around her, this time pulling her a little closer.
They could hear the soft lapping of small waves against the shore. The streetlights lit glowing paths across the water. Above, there was a sharp sliver of moon and thousands of twinkling stars. Nearby, a night bird called softly.
Grace made a sound of contentment. “Mmm, I’m really glad Heather told me about the social.”
“And I’m really glad you invited me.”
“There’s such a feeling of belonging at town events... I’ve never experienced that before.”
“Nowhere? Not even in college?”
“I went to the University of Chicago, close enough that Dad expected me home on weekends. So no, not even in college. I just worked hard. And pretty much alone. After the first year, I didn’t even have a roommate,” she admitted. “The girl I roomed with had her own agenda, which didn’t include me, so I got my own apartment.”
“Sounds lonely,” Caleb said. “The one thing about growing up on the rez, I was never lonely. There was always someone keeping track of me, which annoyed me at the time, and I eventually rebelled. But now I see it as a blessing. It takes a village and all that. It makes me wonder if I cheated my daughter of having that by moving off the rez.”
“But she still goes there sometimes, doesn�
�t she?”
He nodded. “To see Mom, mostly. She’s kind of lost her connection with her old friends. Which is probably why she took up with Kiki.”
“Is that really such a bad thing?”
“Kiki’s influence isn’t good.”
“So you’ve said. Maybe they’re both just finding themselves.”
“Hopefully Angela will do that soon, but I don’t know that Kiki ever will.”
“Maybe you should find out more about her,” Grace suggested.
“Maybe.”
For a moment, they sat still, listening to the night sounds. Then Caleb dipped his head and found her sweet lips, kissing her the way he’d been imagining he would do all night. Slowly. Thoroughly. Deeply. Grace sighed and turned into him more fully so he could take her in his arms. Again, the way he’d been imagining.
She was soft and warm and welcoming.
A breeze skipped from the lake over them, attuning Caleb even more to his surroundings. He loved the outdoors, especially with Grace pressed against him. Their lips parted and they separated just enough that they could look into each other’s eyes. Moonlight became Grace, and unable to think of a better way to end this evening, he kissed her again.
A buzzing sound pestered him. Two sounds. Both of their cell phones were ringing. They pulled apart, Grace with a little giggle.
“Okay,” she said. “We got calls at the same time? That’s odd.”
“Yeah...maybe we’d better see who it is.” Though Caleb was pretty sure he knew who was doing her best to ruin his evening.
A glance at his cell screen confirmed that. But it wasn’t Angela herself. “Sparrow Lake Police.”
“Me, too.”
His gut in a sudden knot, Caleb moved away from the bench as he answered. “Blackthorne here.”
“This is Alex Novak.”
A sick feeling filled Caleb as he asked the police chief, “What’s going on?”
“I hate to tell you, Caleb. Angela was just brought to the station from Green Meadows by one of my officers.”
Green Meadows...undoubtedly the reason he and Grace both got calls. He glanced her way, but she was listening to the person at the other end.