The Come to Me Complete Collection: Contemporary Christian Romance

by Leah Atwood

  Uneasy, Dani shifted. She wanted to help her cousin, but had little experience in that department. “Have you told him that?”

  “No.” She set two frames on an end table. “I’ve made such a mess of things, I don’t know where to begin healing them.”

  “Tell him how you feel and make sure to tell him you’re proud of him. I might not be a relationship expert, but I know about pride. Losing his job, and then the apartment, probably crushed Greg’s ego. He likely feels like he failed you and the baby.”

  “But he hasn’t,” Gina said with conviction. “He’s a good husband and will be a great father. I know coming here wasn’t what he wanted, but he did it to provide for us.”

  Gina’s eager defense of her husband made Dani smile. “It’s obvious the two of you are very much in love. Hard times fall on everyone, but talk to him and be honest.”

  With her hands now empty, Gina rested them on her belly and gave a shy smile. “I shouldn’t have unleashed all of this on you.”

  “We’re family—that’s what we’re here for. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “Just pray for us, please.”

  “You’ve got it.” The alarm on her phone rang. Time for work. “I have to get to the restaurant. Will you be okay?”

  “Yes. I feel better already, telling someone.”

  “You have my number, you can call anytime.”

  “Thanks again for coming by.”

  Dani hugged her cousin and left, contemplating ways to help as she drove to work. She would ask her mom, but, not knowing who knew Greg and Gina’s full situation, she didn’t want to betray any confidences. No ideas came to her that wouldn’t seem like charity. The idea of a second baby shower crossed her thoughts, but that might seem obvious, since the family in Oden Bridge had sent gifts to the shower held in Monroe.

  A welcome party—maybe that would work. Kind of like a housewarming party, but it wouldn’t be hosted by Greg and Gina. Ideas poured like an upset bucket. Gram would love to help plan it and not only would Gina know she had the support of her family and new friends here, but the young couple could receive gifts welcoming them, gifts that could help in their time of need.

  Excited, Dani pulled into the parking lot of Bayou Bits then drove to the side spots. Once inside the building, she turned on the lights to her office and the kitchen area. Observing the illuminated kitchen, she noted with pleasure that the area was spotless from the night before.

  She went to her desk, sat down, and pulled out her planner. Tonight’s scheduled specials were fried green tomatoes topped with a creamy crawfish sauce for the appetizer, beef tips served over rice as a main course and bread pudding with white chocolate sauce as the dessert.

  She made a list, ordering the tasks that needed to be accomplished. Going back into the kitchen, she stuck the list on the freezer door for easy access. Next, she went into the freezer, doing a quick inventory of her food supplies. Her stock of chicken was low, but she should have enough for tonight, and the truck would bring more tomorrow. Everything else looked sufficient, with no danger of running out this evening. Satisfied, she began her prep work. As she lined up bowls, bread, sugar and other ingredients, a peace came over her.

  This was when she was happiest, elbows deep in cooking and baking. She lined up the loaves of yesterday’s French bread, proceeding to slice them until the loaves became hundreds of tiny cubes. After putting the cubes into a large steel mixing bowl, she cracked the eggs into a separate bowl. She poked each yolk with a whisk—no matter how old she got, she never outgrew the simple joy that accompanied breaking the yolk.

  When all the ingredients were mixed, she spread the batter into two large pans, using a spatula to even the tops. Sticking them into the oven, she sniffed, imagining the sweet and spicy smell that would fill the air in a few minutes. Her bread pudding was a dessert she usually reserved for the colder months, but she’d received numerous requests for it over the last several weeks.

  THE NEXT EIGHT hours passed in a blur. She dropped an entire stockpot of black-eyed peas, her only consolation being that they weren’t yet hot, so no one was burned. One of her waitresses called out sick, and no one was available to take her shift. To top it all off, a representative from the Department of Health and Hospitals dropped in for an inspection. Even though she ran a tight ship at the restaurant, the inspections always made her nervous, afraid she’d missed some minute detail. To her relief, she passed this visit without any violations. Fortunately, she’d never had any critical violations to date, and only one non-critical, which she’d promptly corrected.

  By the time she got home that night, she was exhausted. Resting on her couch, she looked around her living room, spotting the haphazard pile of magazines on the coffee table and the layer of dust on the TV stand. No wonder it’s always messy at home—I spend all my energy at work. Tomorrow, she would tackle the cleaning.

  She picked up a fashion magazine, one she hadn’t subscribed to but still received every month. Her eyes grew heavy with each turn of the page, and she paused to cover a yawn. Giving up on reading, she tossed the magazine aside and trudged into the bedroom. Her phone buzzed, alerting her to a notification.

  “I’ll check it tomorrow,” she told Pip, who’d followed her in and was grooming himself on the dresser. “I just want to sleep.”

  After taking a quick shower to rid herself of the myriad food smells, she put on her standard, comfy sleepwear and crawled into bed. She closed her eyes, ready to meet the world of slumber. A few seconds passed until her eyes flashed open. She’d never had a chance to look at Rob’s profile or send him a message. What if the notification was from him? She’d never logged out, so it was possible.

  A spurt of excitement gave her the energy to get out of bed and grab her phone from the dresser top. She looked at the screen. One new message. Her fingers couldn’t move fast enough to tap the icon. There it was, a message from Rob.

  A giddy smile took over, and she hadn’t even read the message yet. Was she twenty-eight or eighteen? She didn’t even care. After the day she’d had, she needed something good to happen. She looked down at her phone, reading the message, as she sat down.

  Hey Dani,

  Thanks for accepting the friend request. How are things going? Did the new menus turn out how you wanted?

  We’re in California this week, but I’m sure you already knew that through Bryce. The tour has been great, and venues are all sold out, so everyone’s happy about that.

  Anyway, I just wanted to say hi. Feel free to drop a line if you want.

  Rob

  The message had come through a half hour ago. Would he still be around if she replied now? She typed quickly.

  Hi back at you. The menus turned out great. I told my friend what you suggested and the changes he made gave it the exact look I was going for. If you look under my photos, you can see a picture of them I uploaded last week.

  I’m glad the tour is going well. I know how much Bryce was looking forward to it. How’s Gracie doing with all the traveling? I’ve been playing phone tag with Bryce and Sophie this week and have missed my Gracie talks. If you see her tomorrow, can you give her a hug from her Aunt Dani?

  She blanked on anything else to write so left it at that. Sitting cross-legged on her bed, she hit send. Her teeth grazed her bottom lip, waiting for a reply that may or may not come. She’d give it ten minutes—if nothing came in that time, she’d go back to bed.

  Chapter 7

  Soft murmurs throughout the house roused Rob from his feeble attempt at sleep. Soon, the massive log cabin, which was nestled into a mountainside, would be filled with flutters of activity and noise. He threw his legs over the side of the bed, reluctant to leave the comfort of the luxury, pillow top mattress. Since he had not been able to sleep, at least he’d been able to lie in comfort.

  He stood up, dragging his feet to retrieve the hooded sweatshirt draped carelessly across a chair in the room’s corner. He pulled it over his head. By sun’s fu
ll ascent, the extra layer wouldn’t be needed. Raking a hand through his bedraggled hair, he attempted taming the mess then grabbed his phone from the night stand and went down the two flights of stairs.

  A sliding glass door led to a large deck overlooking the lower Sierras. Rob opened the door and went outside. A cool breeze blowing from the west was a welcome relief to the extreme heat they’d been in the last several weeks. He settled into a patio chair and stared out at the sequoia- and pine-covered peaks jutting upward toward the horizon—a familiar landscape he’d seen on a regular basis growing up when his family would often spend weekends camping.

  Sand River was only a few hours’ drive to the south. A hop, skip, and a jump away from the forested lands to the dry, dusty desert. He could take a drive over and go visit his family. The guys would understand if he explained. They’d hand him his keys and push him out the door, despite the fact it was their only free day of the tour and they were spending it at the home of an old friend.

  Family came first. That was their new mantra. It was why Sophie and Grace were here with Bryce, and why Elle, Shannon and Lilah were here with Adam.

  Who was he kidding? He wasn’t going to make the trip. It was a nice thought, but he wasn’t ready, wasn’t sure if he ever would be. Later, when he could carve out some more time alone, he’d make his weekly call to his mom. Their scheduled chats were his concession to guilt for not being present, though they did little to mitigate his conscience.

  But there existed feelings worse than guilt for running away, and they would consume him if he returned to Sand River. Traveling in the same state was bad enough, but there was no way around it. This trip has been especially bad, much worse than previous ones. Maybe it was due to the time of year.

  He was so weary of the heaviness that lingered.

  Footsteps sounded inside. A second later, the door slid open, and Bryce walked out, stretching his arms. “You’re up early.”

  Rob smirked, slipping into character. “It’s the only way to get some peace and quiet.”

  “Beautiful out there, isn’t it?” Arms bent and braced beyond his neck, Bryce stared out at the landscape. “God’s masterpiece for us to see.”

  A noncommittal sound came out of Rob’s mouth that he hoped didn’t sound too much like a snort. There was a time he’d also believed…

  “Yeah, I know, you don’t do the God thing.” Bryce lowered his hands and walked to the railing. “But stare out there long enough and tell me you honestly don’t believe some higher being created all this.” His arm swept the panorama.

  “It’s too early in the morning for philosophical conversations. I’m going to make some coffee.” He stood and took a step toward the door.

  “There’s already some brewing. Should be ready in a minute or two.”

  “Thanks.” Rob went inside and perched against the counter. When the coffee was done brewing, he grabbed a mug from the stack beside the pot and poured a cup. He took a seat at the breakfast bar.

  Last night, after seeing that Dani had accepted his friend request, he’d summoned up the courage to send her a message. He’d tried not to give it much thought, just a simple “hi, how are you doing” type thing. Promptly after sending the quick note, he’d turned off his phone so that he wouldn’t check for a reply with a compulsive curiosity.

  Now, it got the better of him, despite his resolve to not check until tonight. He powered up the device, setting it in front of him. A few seconds later, his notifications from the night came through. There was only one he cared about, the message he’d been hoping would come. Dani had responded already. The time stamp caught his eye—he should have waited up last night. Hers had come not long after he’d sent his.

  The smile didn’t leave his face as he read through. Like his, she’d kept it short and simple, not surprising since their friendship was still new. At least she didn’t hate him and was willing to move past how he’d acted. Thanks to Gram and her slyness. He owed her a world of thanks because he was quite certain he’d never have gone to Dani’s house of his own accord.

  A weightlessness he hadn’t experienced since before the wedding worked its way into him. He’d never hear the end of it if anyone knew why he, Rob Jackson, was grinning like a simpleton. Staring at his phone, he thought of his reply then started typing.

  Gracie’s been a champ. She’s become the belle of the ball, so to say. Well, her, Shannon, and Lilah. We work with tough men, and they all turn to putty when the girls are around, not even flinching when Bryce demanded they clean up their language around the kids. Some days I can tell Gracie is getting bored, but Sophie is really good at keeping her entertained.

  I’d be happy to pass on a hug. Today is a rare day off and we’re at a friend’s house in the mountains. The timing is perfect. In a few hours, we’re all going down to the lake for a day of fun. Bryce rented paddle boats for the whole group, so that should be interesting. Have you ever been on one? I have, but not since I was a child. My sister and I would always share one, and inevitably, would get yelled at for going out of bounds.

  He paused his typing and reread the last line. His finger moved to the back key, ready to delete it. Did he really want to write anything that would invite further questions?

  Isn’t that the point? True, but… No buts. You wanted a friend, right?

  These internal debates were getting old. He left the sentence as it was and finished the message with a generic talk to you soon.

  A large hand slapped him on the back. “Rob, my man, what’s up?”

  When Rob turned his head and saw Ben Marlow, the cabin’s owner and host for the day, he stood and took his friend into a one armed hug, pounding a fist on his back before stepping away. “Not much my friend. Was starting to think we’d come all this way to not cross paths.”

  “Sorry about that, bro. I had a recording session last night that went longer than expected. Did Lucille get all of you settled?”

  “Yes, she did. Your wife’s a class act hostess.”

  “I’d have to agree.” Ben looked around. “Where is everyone? I thought they’d be up by now.”

  “Bryce was out on the deck several minutes ago. The others should be down soon.” Rob went to the coffee pot and poured another cup.

  Ben followed, getting his own cup. “How’ve you been? I heard you’ve been pretty subdued this tour.”

  “What do you mean?” Rob’s eyebrows furrowed.

  “A little bird told me you’ve only been out once on the road this time.”

  “Yeah, so?”

  This time, it was Ben who raised his brows. “That doesn’t sound like the Rob Jackson I remember.”

  “People change.” He shrugged and cast a half smirk. “Or maybe I just needed a break.” His phone vibrated, and he made the mistake of automatically reaching for it, checking to see if Dani had responded already.

  Arms crossed, Ben looked at him with a knowing glint of humor. “Someone’s awfully eager to see who’s sending him a message so early in the morning.”

  A clamor of noise coming down the steps drew the attention away from Rob. Ben went to greet the rest of his guests, leaving Rob to read the message from Dani in relative peace.

  I’ve only been out in a paddle boat once. NEVER AGAIN!

  Do I sense a story? He typed the reply quickly and sent it.

  Shouldering past the influx of people in the kitchen, he escaped to the deck, once again taking a seat in a chair. Bryce must have gone back inside. It wasn’t long before his phone buzzed again.

  Let’s just say, if I’m going to come up close and personal with an alligator, it better be in a boat with an engine that can quickly distance me from aforementioned creature. I won’t go out on a canoe for the same reason. Love being on the water, terrified of alligators. You can tell me they won’t attack unless provoked until you’re blue in the face, but it won’t change my mind about them.

  He laughed at the mental image of an alligator leaping out of the water and into a paddleboat,
but in his vision, it was a slapstick cartoon. It was a reasonable fear, he assumed—he didn’t know much about gators or what made them attack, but she didn’t strike him as the type to let irrational fear dictate her actions.

  Would you go on one in a lake without the gators? Was he inviting her in abstract terms? Possibly.

  If the circumstances were right.

  Adam stuck his head out from the partially opened door. “Hey, Rob, you coming? We’re heading to the little café down the street for breakfast.”

  “Be right there.”

  Maybe one day you can tell me what those circumstances are. He hit the button to send it then typed another. We’re all going out to eat in a few minutes. Will you be around later?

  Hard to say. I’m cleaning now and work tonight. Enjoy your breakfast.

  He hated to end the conversation while they were chatting in real time. The last few minutes, he’d been happy, genuinely happy. Talking to Dani gave him ideas he had no business entertaining. He’d found an unlikely friend in her, and he wasn’t going to mess that up, even if his heart was nudging him to want more.

  “We’re leaving. Now.” This time it was Jay prodding him. “Unless you want to walk.”

  Standing, he shoved his phone into his pocket without replying to Dani’s last message. “Let me grab my wallet, and I’ll be right there.”

  ROB LOUNGED ON the lake’s beach, and all traces of this morning’s chill were gone. He leaned back, almost to a full recline, bending his arms behind him to support his upper body. Granules of sand were stuck to his legs, but he’d given up brushing them off hours ago. For every grain he removed, five more attached themselves.

  All things considered, he’d enjoyed himself today, having the most fun he’d had in a while. By default, he hadn’t talked to Dani since their chat this morning. When he’d returned from breakfast, he hadn’t been able to find his phone and hadn’t searched too hard. He figured he’d find it later so, much like last night, he wouldn’t be tempted to check constantly for replies.