The ecstatic grin on Greg’s face warmed her soul. Maya smiled broadly in response. Her eyes grew misty. “What did he say exactly?”
“That he’d exaggerated about being at death’s door to get me to come home. He actually admitted he wanted to get to know me better.”
“That’s wonderful.” She meant that from her deepest heart, yet still yearned to hear that Greg’s father had voiced forgiveness for his remarks about her having had Layla out of wedlock. When that wasn’t forthcoming, she was positive he had not done so.
Hiding her disappointment she eased her hands free from Greg’s grasp, picked up her gloves and slipped them on again. “So, want to help me drag the rest of this stuff to the curb? There’s supposed to be another special trash pickup Monday and I want to take advantage of it.”
“Sure. Stand back. Let me do the heavy work.”
“I’ve managed fine so far,” she countered, more upset with herself for being hurt by the truth than she was at him for being bossy.
Although Greg paused for an instant after she spoke, he didn’t reply directly. Instead, he went to work beside her as if they had always been a capable team.
“I’ll figure out a lumber list and have the materials delivered ASAP,” he said as they labored. “The best place to drop the load will be in the driveway so don’t leave your car parked in the garage or you won’t be able to get it out.”
“Right. I understand.” She was watching him. Waiting until he turned to face her and she could read his expression she asked, “Are you still planning to help me do the work or should I try to hire someone else?”
“Of course I plan to help you. I’ll bring a couple of men with me for the rafter and roofing work so we have enough hands to do the job safely. The rest, I think you and I can handle by ourselves. You do know how to swing a hammer, don’t you?”
“Of course. I used to help Dad at the ranch all the time. I can mend fences and build corrals with the best of them.”
“That’s what I figured. You’ll feel more in charge if you work on your house, too. I’m looking forward to getting out from behind my desk again and using my muscles. The cleanup work on the Waters cottages was the most fun I’ve had in ages.”
Maya flinched. She’d already had enough chances to look at his muscles, thank you. Even when he was wearing a suit she could tell what great physical shape he was in. That kind of unacceptable admiration had become so second nature she hardly realized she was doing it.
Which was one more good reason to hurry and repair her home, she told herself. The sooner she got away from Greg, the better. The minute the house was finished and she had paid him for the materials, she was going to start looking for another job. Working beside him, seeing him every day and not throwing herself into his arms like a lovesick fool, was the hardest challenge she had ever faced.
She cast a sidelong glance at him and her heart raced. He was so dear, so sweet. So unsuited for her, she added ruefully. Dan’s words had been crude but his opinion was valid. She had made a terrible mistake and she was still paying for it. She always would be, in some respects.
Yes, God had forgiven her. That wasn’t the same as being free of the consequences of her sins. Those remained in the form of the dearest little girl Maya had ever known.
If keeping and loving and raising Layla by herself meant she would never be considered good enough for a man like Greg Garrison, then so be it.
Greg had checked often at Lexi’s veterinary hospital and the animal shelter, and had also kept in touch with the older woman who had collected frightened pets immediately after the tornado. Sadly, there had been no sign of Tommy Jacobs’s missing dog, Charlie.
Greg had encountered the boy often and when he spotted him wandering around in the park, he hailed him. “Tommy! Hi. How’s it going?”
The boy didn’t answer. That didn’t deter Greg. He joined him and they sat on the grass near the river in companionable silence for a few minutes before Greg tried again.
“I keep hoping Charlie will show up,” Greg said with a sigh. “Have you heard anything?”
Tommy shook his head and stared at the placidly flowing water. Enough trash had been cleaned up that it had almost been restored to its original beauty and the bridge was once again open, but it was clear that the child wasn’t really observing any of those details.
“I think we should put a lost-and-found ad in some newspapers so we get the word about Charlie to places that are farther away,” Greg said. “What do you think?”
The boy’s head snapped around. His blue eyes were wide. “I don’t know how to do that.”
“I do. And I know what Charlie looked like so I can describe him. Do you happen to have a picture we could use, too?”
“No.” Tommy’s lower lip began to quiver with emotion. “I can remember how he looked without any dumb old picture. I’ll never forget him.”
“I’m sure you won’t. Say, how about rescuing another pup in the meantime? I know you’ve seen lots of homeless dogs at the animal shelter. Then Charlie would have a buddy to play with when he gets home.”
“I don’t want a different dog. I want Charlie.” Tommy continued to pout. “Besides, Mrs. Otis wouldn’t let me have another one.”
“Why not? Is she still sick?”
“Yeah. I can tell Mr. Otis is real worried.”
This was not the first time the boy had mentioned that things had not returned to normal at the Otis home since the tornado. “What’s the matter with her? Do you know?”
“Nope. They don’t tell me stuff like that. But I listen to them talking when I’m supposed to be asleep. They said…” His voice cracked. “They said I might have to go away to another foster home. Then I’d never find Charlie.” With that, he began to sob.
Greg put his arm around the boy’s shoulders. He wanted to do something for him. But what? He wasn’t familiar with the workings of the foster-care system in Kansas so he had no idea what the child might be facing. That was the first order of business, he decided. He’d look into it and see if there was some way to intercede, to let the child remain in High Plains. Surely someone would take him in. Maybe Nicki Appleton had room for another child.
The idea that the person to volunteer should be him hit Greg like a punch in the stomach. No way. He wasn’t father material. He had a business to run and too many other concerns. Besides, didn’t a kid need two parents?
Those mental ramblings carried his mind immediately to Maya, as did most other thoughts of late. What a great family they would make: him, Maya, Layla…and Tommy. The idea made him smile. It was farfetched, of course, yet it refused to go away even when he rejected it outright.
He got to his feet and held out his hand to the boy. “Come on. Let’s go grab an ice cream and then hit the computer at my office to place those ads. You can help me decide what to say. I’ll even let you type some of the words if you want to, just like we practiced in the church basement.”
The small hand that slipped into his and held tight touched his heart. This boy was as like him as any birth son could have been. Greg knew exactly what it felt like to be alone, rejected, in search of a place that felt secure. He and Tommy were kindred souls. He accepted that without question.
The dilemma then became, what was he going to do about it?
Maya was working at Garrison Investments when Greg and Tommy arrived. She greeted them both pleasantly while remaining busy at her own desk.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see what Greg was doing and it touched her deeply. It had been weeks since Charlie had run away in panic. Each day that passed meant a slimmer chance of his ever being recovered. And yet, Greg was keeping his promise to a six-year-old as if it were as important as a corporate merger.
Her fingers stilled over the keyboard. She listened. They were constructing a lost-and-found ad for Charlie, and from the sound of it, it was going to be a doozy, complete with a hefty monetary reward.
“I don’t have any money,” T
ommy reminded Greg. “I bought ice cream and stuff with the quarters you gave me for bringing you stuff from the store.”
“That’s okay, son. I’ll have plenty more errands you can run. Besides, I’ll take care of the reward.”
“Thanks.”
Maya saw the kind, empathetic smile Greg gave the little boy and it brought unshed tears to her eyes. How could so many people believe that that man was anything but tender and compassionate?
It doesn’t matter, she told herself. Whatever Greg is or is not has no bearing on my life. It never will.
That conclusion was so disheartening she nearly wept. Their work on her house would be finished soon, except for some interior painting, which she could do alone.
And then it would be time to pay Greg for the supplies he’d ordered and take her leave. Where she would find future employment was another question, one she had been mulling over for some time. There were few jobs in High Plains that paid as well as the one she currently had, but if she couldn’t find a position around there, she could always consider driving to Manhattan to work. That trip didn’t seem nearly as long and arduous now that she’d been making it regularly to visit Jesse’s triplets in the hospital. Such a daily commute was doable, especially once Layla was in school all day.
That won’t be for two more years, Maya reminded herself. How are you going to cope with being near Greg for that much longer? You’re already so in love with him you can hardly concentrate on your work, and when he’s present in the office it’s almost impossible.
Boy, was that the truth. Maya chanced a sidelong peek at him and found him staring back at her.
“Finish up whatever you’re doing,” Greg said soberly. “I have another job for you.”
“Sure. What?”
“Just one second. We’re almost done here.”
Patiently, kindly, he encouraged Tommy to contribute to the text of the newspaper ads, then used a credit card to pay for them.
“Okay. That should do it,” Greg said, getting up and escorting the boy to the door. “I’ll let you know when we get any responses. In the meantime, I want you to go straight home and be really good for Mr. and Mrs. Otis. Understand?”
Wide-eyed, the child looked up at Greg as if he were seeing a superhero. “Uh-huh. Thanks, Mr. Garrison.”
“You’re welcome, Tommy. I was glad to be able to help.”
The boy started to leave, then suddenly dashed back, wrapped his thin arms around Greg and gave him a hug.
In response, Greg ruffled Tommy’s hair, patted him on the back and sent him on his way. When he turned back to Maya, she saw that his eyes were misty.
“I want you to research the foster-care system for Kansas,” Greg told her. “I need to find out what qualifications are necessary to become a foster parent.”
She was thunderstruck. “You what? Why?”
“Because Tommy may need a new place to live soon.”
“Really? Why?”
Greg approached Maya’s desk and casually perched a hip on its edge. “He says Mrs. Otis is having more heart problems and he thinks he might have to move again. I figured, if it wasn’t too complicated, I might keep him for a while. You know, just till he finds his dog or gets over the loss.”
“You’d do that? For him?”
“Of course I would.”
When Greg reached out and gently patted her hand, Maya froze, barely breathing. They hadn’t talked about anything personal in ages and she had wondered if he was ever going to discuss her so-called sins. This might be the opening she had been waiting for.
“I think that’s wonderful of you,” she said. “Tommy can’t help the situation he’s in any more than my Layla can help being fatherless. It’s not her fault.”
“I never said it was.”
“I know. But your dad…”
“Apologized. I told you that.”
Swiveling her desk chair, she stared at him, incredulous. “No, you didn’t. You said he was sorry for being so outspoken. You never said he accepted me.”
“He doesn’t have to,” Greg answered. “I do.”
“You do? But I thought…”
“That your past bothered me? It does. It’s a good thing you never told me the name of the lowlife who deserted you because if I got a chance to face him, I’d probably be tempted to deck him.”
A lopsided smile began to lift one corner of his mouth. “However, in retrospect, I can see that we both owe the guy a lot. If he’d hung around longer, Layla might not need a daddy.”
Maya was speechless as Greg circled the desk, gently clasped both her hands and urged her to her feet.
“She does, you know.”
“Does what?” Maya managed to squeak out.
“Need a father. I was going to wait a little longer to bring this up but since we’re already on the subject, I’d like to apply for that job.” His grip on her fingers tightened. “If you’ll have me.”
“Have you?” Was he serious? Was he asking what she thought he was? Was it possible that all her wildest dreams were coming true? Or was her imagination tricking her with what she’d yearned to hear?
“I can see you’re not totally convinced,” Greg said, sobering but continuing to hold her hands. “That’s okay. Give it some time. Talk to Michael if you think it will help. Once you’re back in your own home it should be easier for me.”
“Easier?” She knew she was starting to sound like a half-witted parrot but she was barely able to speak at all, let alone form sensible replies.
“Yes. Easier. I’m tired of pacing the floor and lecturing myself about not going down the hall to see you when that’s all I can think about.”
“It is?” Maya was positive that her blossoming grin was silly-looking because it was stretched so wide it hurt her cheeks.
“As if you didn’t know.”
“I didn’t.” The tenderness and sincerity in his eyes helped her finally find her voice. “I really and truly didn’t.”
She sighed deeply, tellingly, before continuing, “All of a sudden you stopped paying as much attention to me as you had been. I was sure you’d written me off after—after you’d found out I’d never been married.”
“Because you fell in love with the wrong person when you were young and impressionable and trusted him too much? No, Maya. If anything, I admire you for staying single to take better care of your little girl. I’d like to help you do that from now on.”
“You—you would?”
“Yes. I love you.”
“I—I love you, too.” Her voice was breathy, almost inaudible, though her heart wanted to shout it from the rooftops.
“Then marry me? Let me be Layla’s daddy.”
“You really want us both?”
“Of course I do.”
A disturbing thought suddenly struck her. “What—what about Tommy?”
“I’d like to include him, too, if you wouldn’t mind too much. If I qualify as a foster parent, that is.”
“Mind? I’d love it. We could even adopt him!”
“Whoa. One thing at a time.” Greg’s smile had returned and he was gazing at her with adoration. “You have to accept my proposal before we consider adopting more kids. Can I take that as a yes?”
Standing on tiptoe she slipped her arms around Greg’s neck and echoed his word, a single, sincere yes, just before she kissed him.
As he held her close and kissed her in return, she marveled at God’s amazing gifts. He had given her more than the simple love she’d yearned for, prayed for. He had given her an entire family. Her life wasn’t over because she’d defied society and had kept her darling Layla. It was just beginning. She could hardly wait.
Epilogue
Michael had acted thrilled when Greg had broken the news to him later, particularly because Greg had professed a return to his Christian faith at the same time.
“I wouldn’t want to think you were saying this just for Maya’s sake,” the pastor remarked.
“I’m not.
She played a part, of course, but I think I’ve wanted to come home for a long time.”
Michael embraced him. “In that case, welcome back.”
“Thanks. So, how’s it going for you?” Greg asked as the cousins shared a late evening stroll along the banks of the river behind the church and parsonage.
“Fine. I may actually survive having a willful fourteen-year-old like Avery living under my roof. I know my sister misses her but we all agree that staying with me is the best way to get the kid straightened out.”
“I wasn’t exactly referring to your niece,” Greg said. He watched Michael’s dark eyebrows arch.
“Oh? Then what? Who?”
“Heather Waters. I heard she’s coming back to town any day now.” The astonishment on Michael’s face made him chuckle. “What? You don’t think I remember?”
“There’s nothing to remember. Heather and I were just friends. There was nothing else between us.”
“Only because she was going to marry your best buddy, not because you weren’t madly in love with her, even after the wedding fell through,” Greg said with a knowing smile.
“That was a long time ago. Situations change. People change.”
“So, there’s no soft spot in your heart for her now?”
Michael’s deep breath and ensuing sigh was telling. “Not exactly.”
Dear Reader,
As you have probably already discovered, this is book number one in a series of six. I wish I could have tied up all the loose ends for you, but if I had, there would have been no more secrets for the following five books and the other authors to reveal!
When I was asked to write about a tornado hitting a small town I had no idea how emotionally taxing it would be for me, living on the fringes of “Tornado Alley” myself and having experienced nearby twisters more than once.
Those of us who know what it’s like to try to cope after such a storm want to offer special thanks and praise to the professional rescuers and the many hardworking volunteers who are always ready to pitch in and do whatever is necessary to help restore order and speed healing. You are truly God’s heart and hands.
Healing the Boss’s Heart Page 14