“Is that the part that bothers you the most?”
“Which part?” Matt stood up and started to pace. “It all bothers me.”
“The part where you found out she planned to shack up with her boyfriend.”
He turned his back on her so she couldn’t tell how bad that image hurt. “I’ll admit I didn’t see that coming. Never in a million years. She fit right in at church. She’d attended with a friend in her teens and gave her heart to the Lord. She seemed genuine in her desire to grow closer to Him.”
“Matt.”
Josie’s quiet use of his name made him look back at her.
“Sit down with me.”
He did as she asked.
“You need to talk to her. The worst that can happen is she can admit to everything you already suspect about her. But what if there’s something more? What if she was genuine with you? What if she and Ryan had parted ways, and he didn’t want to accept the fact? Can you live with yourself if you let her go without knowing you gave the relationship everything you had?”
“I did give the relationship everything I had. I think I fell in love with her the moment we met.”
“Did she feel the same way?”
“I don’t think so.” He laughed, but the sound wasn’t happy. “She more than likely hated me. I gave her a traffic ticket.”
“Ouch.”
“Maybe that’s why she did what she did. To get even.”
Josie raised an eyebrow. “Does that sound like Brit?”
Matt sighed. “No. You’re right. She doesn’t seem the type to do something like that either.”
“Go to her, Matt. Listen to what she has to say. What do you have to lose?”
“Nothing but the last shred of my pride.”
He walked over to the counter and tossed her both sets of keys.
“I’ll make sure Cameron gets her set as soon as she arrives.”
“Thanks, Josie. For everything.”
“You’re welcome. And Matt?”
He stopped.
“I’ll be praying for you. Let me know how things turn out.”
He nodded and headed out the door.
Eighteen
Matt pulled up Aunt Ethel’s drive but didn’t see any sign of Britney’s car. Brady ran down to meet him.
“Whatcha d–doin’, Matt? Did you come to t–take us out on the b–boat?”
“Not today, bud. It’s Monday. We’ll go out again on Saturday.” Matt didn’t miss the fact that Brady’s stutter had returned.
“Even if Britney leaves?”
Matt’s heart clenched. “Even if Britney leaves.”
“You hurt her f–feelings, you know. You made her c–cry the other day.”
“I did?”
“Yep. Saturday, when we came home from the boat. She’d been crying.”
Matt felt the first hint of hope. Why would Brit cry if she didn’t care about Matt?
“I’m sorry if I made her cry. I didn’t mean to. That’s why I’m trying to find her. I need to talk to her. Do you know where she is?”
“No. But I h–hope you find her and fix things with her so she’ll s–stay.”
“I’ll do my best, buddy. Keep us in your prayers.”
“I will. G–Gram and everybody already p–prayed, too. Today when Allie was c–crying.”
The whole family was falling apart, and Matt felt personally responsible. He waved at the young boy and swung the bike around and rode back down the driveway. He had no idea where to look next. He prayed for guidance as he neared the heart of town. He hadn’t seen her at the park but figured that would be the last place she’d go since she was so upset when she’d left the Landing. She’d want to go somewhere private where she could pull herself together.
He drove through town and kept going around toward the far side of the lake. He glanced over at the various trailheads as he went. Finally he found what he had been looking for. Her car sat in the shade of a large tree near the trail that he’d told her about at the committee picnic. She’d mentioned her desire to walk to the small waterfall. They hadn’t had time to go out there, but it looked like she’d decided it was now or never. However, he noticed that she hadn’t exited the car.
She’d folded her arms against the steering wheel and rested her forehead on her arms. Matt didn’t want her to run, so he parked in front of her so she couldn’t drive away. He flipped on his police light. The red orb flashed and caused her to look up.
❧
A bike pulling into the lot interrupted Brit’s prayer. She glanced up and saw Matt’s bike blocking her escape. His light was flashing. She’d already known it was Matt and wished he’d go away. All she wanted to do was gather herself enough to return to Gram’s for her things and head on down the road. She didn’t know where she’d go. But anywhere would be better than here, where Matt had so callously judged her.
He thumped on her window.
She sat up, reached over without looking at him, and lowered the window an inch. “What did I do now? You’ll notice I have the windows up, the car locked, and I backed in so I could make a hasty exit if necessary. And as much as I wanted to run up that trail and see the waterfall before I leave town, I didn’t. I figured it wouldn’t be a good idea to enter such a deserted area alone. By the way, the light seems like overkill.”
Matt bit back a smile. “Thanks for listing each and every safety precaution. Even if you hadn’t, I’d have noticed every one.”
“Good, then your job here is done, and you can go back to town and resume keeping everyone else safe.”
“If you didn’t notice, I was volunteering at the center last we talked.”
“Oh.” She glanced at his bike. “Then why’s your light on?”
“I figured if it looked like official business, you wouldn’t dare run.”
“How could I run with your bike parked in front of me? I’d have to run you down.” Though the thought was sort of enticing at the moment.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
Brit shrugged.
“Brit. Open the door so we can talk.”
“Seems like we’re talking just fine with it closed.”
“I want to talk face-to-face, not while bending down talking through one inch of a window.”
“You really should turn off your light. First of all, it seems an abuse of power if you’re off duty.”
“I had probable cause that you might run. On duty or not, I have a responsibility to uphold the law.” He walked over and turned off the light. He sauntered back to the car. “Done. Second of all?”
“Second of all, everyone already knows I got in trouble coming into town, I don’t want rumors of the same while I’m leaving the area. The others might misjudge me, too, and I’d hate to have everyone hate me after I leave.”
“No one hates you, Brit. You know I care about you.”
“You have a funny way of showing it.”
“I know I handled everything wrong. But when I saw that guy pull you into his arms and kiss you—” His jaw worked as he clamped his mouth shut. “When I heard him talk to you about the beach house you were going to share—”
“We were sharing it with separate rooms and several other people.”
“Oh.”
Brit’s world had been tilted off its axis. Matt’s words had it moving back in the right direction. She felt hope.
“Please get out of the car so I can grovel face-to-face.”
She pulled the keys from the ignition and hurried to do as he asked.
He reached in, slid her purse under the front seat, and locked the doors.
“Always the sheriff.”
“Yep. Now come with me.”
He held out his hand, and she tucked her keys in her pocket and grasped it like he was her only lifeline. In a very short time he’d become exactly that. He was more important to her than anyone else.
Brit needed to tell him. “Matt, you have to know that I’m not with—”
“Not until we get to where we’re going.”
She didn’t want to wait. “But I—”
“Patience.”
She heard the sound of the waterfall long before they reached it. Once they did, she stopped in her tracks. “It’s beautiful.”
She could tell he couldn’t hear her over the rush of the water.
“Wonderful place to talk, Matt,” she yelled. “I’m glad you picked it over the car or the trail. This is so much more effective.”
He glanced over at her and cupped his ear. She rolled her eyes. He continued to look at her. He battled emotions she couldn’t read. He finally leaned close to her ear, and even though he shouted, she could barely hear him. “Do you love Ryan?”
Matt had never been one to beat around the bush.
She looked up at him and shook her head no.
All signs of stress left his expression as his face softened into a smile. He grasped her upper arms and pulled her close against his chest. He kissed her with such intensity that her legs went weak, and if he hadn’t been supporting her, she would have collapsed onto the trail. When he loosened his hold, she reached up to wrap her arms around his neck.
“I love you, you crazy, frustrating man!” She wasn’t sure he could hear her, but when he grinned she knew he had. She clung to him like the lifeline that he was. He’d become her rock, her stability. She’d never had anyone she could rely on before Matt had stepped into her life.
She knew Gram was there for her, and she knew Gram would help with any need Brit or her siblings had, but Brit always felt like she was imposing. With Matt it was different.
Matt released her and Brit felt adrift. She wanted to fall back into his arms. She’d missed him the past week.
“Follow me.”
Always. He led her up a steep incline, and they hiked farther into the forest. The waterfall dimmed in the background, but Brit still heard the rush of water in her ears. She felt deafened by the power of the water.
“Just a little bit more. Are you doing okay?”
“I’m doing fine.” Brit would follow him to the ends of the earth. She knew they still had to talk, but since Matt had righted her world, she’d felt the cloak of stress lifted from her. Her prayers had been answered. Thank You, Lord, for bringing Matt to me and for giving me a chance to explain.
The path narrowed and ran along the base of a tall cliff. A stream bubbled along the other side of the trail.
“If we were to follow the stream, we’d end up at the top of the waterfall.”
“It’s kind of interesting that this quietly bubbling brook can turn into the powerful rush of water we saw at the base of the falls.”
“True. Reminds me of you.”
His comment left her perplexed. “How so?”
“You run deep and quiet for the most part, but when crossed, you’re a power to reckon with.”
“I seem to remember you ignoring that power pretty easily for the past week.”
He stopped in his tracks and spun to look at her. “That’s how you saw things? I was a wreck. Ask the judge. He finally told me if I wanted to wreck my own life that was totally up to me. Then he said he happened to like you, and I’d have to deal with him if I ran you out of town.”
Brit laughed. “He said that?”
“Not in such kind words, but yes.” They had to walk single file, but he didn’t release her hand. “Allie called a couple of days ago and read me the riot act.”
“I didn’t know.”
“I didn’t figure you did.”
“Anyone else?”
“Gram the day after Sam came home and Brady today.”
“Hmmm.”
They rounded a corner, and the cliff rounded out to surround a beautiful lagoon that was filled with light-blue water. A large cave was carved into the walls of the cliffs, and the pool disappeared into it.
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.”
He beamed. “I thought you’d like it.”
“How did you keep this from me for such a long time?”
“There are lots of other things for me to show you. I’m pacing myself.”
He led her over to a small bench-like boulder. They climbed on top of it and rested in the tranquil setting.
“I wish we had a picnic lunch.”
“Next time.” He searched her face. “If you want there to be a next time.”
“Of course I do.”
“I’ve been a jerk. I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Ryan sooner. To be honest, I didn’t think there was anything to tell. He saw me off the night I ran with the kids. He was angry that I wouldn’t leave with him right then. He refused to even come inside and meet them.”
“His loss on all counts,” Matt muttered.
“I’m glad you think so.” She watched a bird take off from the far side of the pool. “You know, I could build a grass hut right over there and be perfectly content living out the rest of my life right here.”
Matt laughed. “Wouldn’t you miss the creature comforts?”
“Probably.” She thought a moment. “I could make it my refuge then, so when things get too nutty in town, I’d have a place to run to.”
“Would there be room for two?”
“There could be if the conditions were right.”
“Conditions? What kind of conditions?”
“Well for starters, a wedding ring on my finger would be a major one.”
“Ah, yes, that is a good one.”
She rubbed her finger across the moss growing on the north side of the rock. It was soft. “Anyway, back to Ryan, we weren’t sharing a beach house with each other like he made it sound. We were renting it with six other people. Everyone had their own rooms and paid their own way. Ryan kept mentioning that I could share his room and he’d foot the bill, but I’d already made it clear that wasn’t an option. That last night we got into an argument over it. When he refused to take the time to meet my family, it was the last straw. I went inside and found out my siblings needed me, and we ended up here.”
“Do you think they need you any less now?” Matt’s words didn’t carry any reprimand.
“I don’t know. They have Gram, the judge, you.”
“That’s true, but you’re their foundation, Brit. You’re the one they’re going to need when life throws them a curve. They need you here with them.”
She nodded. “I guess they do. And I need them. I was only leaving because of you.”
“I don’t ever want you to leave because of me. I don’t want you to leave because of any other reason either. I want you to stay.”
“I am.” She grinned up at him. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go anyway. My entire family is here.”
“And hopefully your future job at the center.”
“Right.”
“I think the entire town is in an uproar. As a matter of fact, it would probably be nice if we’d head back into town and set everyone straight.”
“I doubt that many people are even thinking about me right now.”
“You’re wrong. Your family is a mess. The church is frantic over what they’ll do without you. Josie was shocked.”
“I guess we should give them a call.”
“Can’t. No reception up here.”
“I don’t want to leave.”
He pulled her against his side. “I don’t either. I could sit up here with you forever.”
“Can we come back soon?”
He rested his head on hers. “We can come right back up as soon as we tell everyone you’re staying as far as I’m concerned.”
“I’d love it, but we still have a fund-raiser to head up. The Fourth of July is a week from today.”
“Right. Soon then. I really am sorry for the way I acted, Brit. For the hurt I put you through.”
“I understand. Ryan put on quite a show for you, and I didn’t know how to counteract it. I could
tell by the look on your face that I’d already lost you.”
“You never lost me. If you’d left town, I’d have followed you.”
“That’s good to know for the future.”
He helped her off the boulder, and they hurried off to share the news that Brit was staying.
Nineteen
Independence Day was bright and sunny. Brit surveyed the pile of frothy blue fabric in Gram’s arms with a frown. “What on earth is that?”
“This, my dear, is your outfit for the festival. At least I hope it is. I made it for your mother quite a few years back, and she left before she ever tried on the final creation. It’s going to be perfect for you.”
“Um. I’m not wearing that.”
“Oh sure you are.” Gram flapped a hand her way. “Everyone’s coming in costume. That was decided early on.”
“If I remember correctly, someone”—she fixed her eyes on her grandmother—“had already made the decision that it would be Memories of Summers Past way before I got here. But who’s to say that Memories of Summers Past doesn’t mean a year or two ago?”
“I’m to say. I was very clear in my handouts. As the head of the fund-raiser, you have to go decked out. You have to go in costume.”
Gram helped Brit put the billowing outfit over her head. The dress slipped into place and fit Brit like a glove.
“It’s not nearly as roomy as it seemed in your arms.”
“I told you.” Gram’s eyes got teary. “You look just like your momma.”
“Thank you. I wish things had turned out better for her.”
“That’s why we started the center. We might be too late for Kimberly, but we’ll help others just like her. If I’d only known she was pregnant when she ran off—”
Brit sat down and let her grandmother fuss over her hair. Noelle entered the room in a miniature version of the same dress. A bonnet completed her ensemble. Skye wore a white shirt and vest. The vest matched the fabric in Noelle’s dress. Brady trickled in on their heels. He matched, too.
“You’ve had a heyday with this, haven’t you, Gram?”
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