by Tanya Agler
She’d warned Aunt Rosemary of the latest development last night, finding comfort in petting Ladybug during the entire painful conversation. Even though Aunt Rosemary hadn’t chided her, she hadn’t sounded happy about Lucie’s decision, either. News of the extra income Lucie would be receiving from Caleb’s rental of the cabin had placated her aunt and provided a more stable repayment policy so Lucie could get out from under these obligations sooner rather than later.
After Caleb signed the standard rental lease, she’d fill out the rest of the mortgage application and drop it off before the close of the business day. The money should be in her account by the end of the week, and next week the new furnace would be installed and paid for.
Her phone pinged and she glanced at the screen. Caleb was outside? She hurried upstairs and opened the front door. Sure enough, he was on the porch, sitting on the wooden swing connected to the eaves by metal chains, clanging in the wind.
“Want to join me?” Caleb patted the spot next to him and she laughed.
“In case you haven’t noticed, it’s raining.” She pulled her jacket close.
“Your fingers are already blue. Come on over.”
A few minutes couldn’t hurt. “They do need to warm up so we can sign the lease.”
She settled in next to him, his warmth emanating like a space heater, and it took all of her willpower to stay on her side of the swing. “We never negotiated the final amount.” Although he’d batted around a thousand per month, she needed a number for the income section of her mortgage application.
“I’m still willing to pay a thousand a month.”
“Then it’s only fair I provide some of the furnishings. So I’ll feel better about charging that amount. How soon were you looking to move in?”
“As soon as possible. This week even.”
Her legs stilled and she turned to him. “You’re joking, right?”
The musty smell alone would take a couple days of fresh air to overcome, and she couldn’t get everything done at the wellness center if she had to concentrate on the cabin, as well.
“I’m not high-maintenance. Besides, all the utilities are already turned on. That’s the important part. And don’t worry about the furnishings. I left a message with Dr. Keane to ask if a special mattress would help my back. I should hear something by the end of the day. I’d rather buy what I need than have it come with the place. I’ll stay at Jonathan’s until the mattress is delivered, but then I should be good to go.” Caleb kept the swing moving under his power.
“Pardon me, but I haven’t met many people who are low-maintenance.” She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth.
He stilled the swing and placed his hand over hers. “I am. I love the outdoors. Once I find something special, I hold on to it and don’t need much else.”
“I know.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
The more she connected with Caleb, the more she recognized the truth in his words. He didn’t need much more than the outdoors, friends and family. “Nothing to it, actually, since you live what you speak.”
“I’ll go ahead and ask. Why Justin? When I introduced the two of you, I never thought you’d marry him.”
Everyone in her sorority had told her what a good match they were—the golden boy with a bright stockbroker background and the golden girl whose family connections could help him live up to his full potential. Then came the freak car accident that had claimed her beloved parents. Vulnerable after their deaths, she’d listened to her friends and to Justin’s parents, who had proclaimed they’d love her forever.
“According to his family, who has disowned me as well as my children, I ended up being the worst thing to ever happen to him.” A pang of hurt traveled through her. She didn’t care so much that she’d lost the Decker family, but she minded for Mattie and Ethan. “They justified his actions by saying he was obviously trying to fulfill my need to live in the lap of luxury. They said I was as much to blame for his crimes as he was.”
She gripped the wooden railing, her knuckles turning white. No one except Justin was responsible for his actions. Still, she’d married him...
“You don’t believe that, do you?” he asked, his incredulity evident.
“Of course not.” She shuffled her feet and kept her gaze trained on the steady rain, eager to change the subject away from her ex-husband. She wanted to look forward. “The cabin is rather small, and since you’ll be bringing your own furniture, I don’t feel right charging more than six hundred. I’m paying for utilities, but I can understand if you only want to pay five hundred a month.”
“You undervalue yourself.” Caleb started swinging again, the metal melody keeping time with the staccato rhythm of the rain. “Did he ever tell you why he stole the money?”
Many people in Hollydale only asked the question with their eyes. “At first he denied everything. He was already in prison and everyone believed I must have known, but I didn’t. I even believed him until the feds sat down with the evidence and I had to hire an attorney to protect myself and the kids. They kept insisting I helped Justin hide information about more possible victims, but they couldn’t prove anything because I wasn’t involved.
“For the longest time every cent I had that didn’t go toward utility bills went toward paying the lawyer. There were times I had to work three jobs to cover all the costs and put food on the table.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Lucie shrugged and traced the outline of the metal links. “Justin said his family expected him to succeed and he saw dollar signs in my eyes rather than love. He made it about everyone except himself. Not once did he ever bring up Mattie and Ethan.” Her throat clogged at how he’d signed away all custodial rights without even blinking an eye as he entered prison. She was their only family now.
Caleb stretched out his legs and shook his head. “Are you happy?”
Of all the follow-up questions he could have asked, that wasn’t the one she’d expected.
She cleared her throat, trying to find her voice, something she’d been doing for some time now. “No one’s asked me that in forever.”
“The answer’s important to me.”
Lucie folded her hands in her lap, trying to move forward with the present. Her home was full of love and laughter, something to be grateful for. “I think I’m finally coming into my own. My life is full with my pets, the twins and my business. That has to be enough for now.”
Enough so she wouldn’t cause trouble for Caleb by having anyone turn on him. Besides, Mattie and Ethan needed a mother who would protect them, would provide stability for them, would surround them with people they could depend on. They’d finally turned a corner over the last six months. Maintaining stability was everything.
“Where’s the Lucie with happy stories and daydreams in her eyes?” The steady downpour of rain almost drowned his words—his voice was that low.
That Lucie had returned before their kiss. It would be so easy to believe in twinkling lights, moonbeams and happy endings. Part of her yearned for that idealism again. Yet the memory of jumping for joy after a police officer had dropped groceries on her porch because she couldn’t afford food held her back. She had to stand on her own two feet for the sake of Mattie and Ethan.
And she had to prove something to herself, as well.
“That Lucie grew up fast. Without my parents or money in the bank, I have to make this business work.”
“It’s not an either/or situation, you know. You can be a successful businesswoman while still reaching for the stars. Mitzi believes you can make a go of this, and so do I. Today I arranged a deal with my boss, Owen, so you can attend. You’re not a corporate sponsor, but you can still publicize your company all you like.”
Lucie rubbed her ear. Those tickets cost a fortune. “Say that again?” Between the metal chain
s and the soft rain falling to the earth, she’d missed something. “You were able to make a deal on my behalf?”
Caleb’s hand still rested on hers and she kept it that way, his presence flooding her with happiness. “Only with the best of intentions. This morning the keynote speaker had to back out. When Owen asked me to step in, the only thing I asked in return was that the Hollydale Training and Wellness Center come as my guest. Owen agreed.”
She blinked. She would love to support a great cause and promote herself, but there had been no wiggle room in her budget for a ticket. “I don’t know how to thank you, especially since Jared Engel followed up with me and I sent him the cost and program information he requested.”
“Why don’t we go to the soiree together?” He smiled and her gaze landed on his mouth, which made her think of their kiss at the gazebo.
A kiss implied a relationship, something Caleb himself had said he didn’t want, something she knew she couldn’t have for so many reasons. For one thing, she was his landlady. The rent money would come in handy toward her future mortgage and starting to repay Aunt Rosemary. For another, whenever she was near him, she didn’t get much work done. That wasn’t the way to run a business.
“I have a better idea. You can move in anytime you want.” She scooted back to her side of the swing.
“That’s not as much fun.”
No, it wasn’t, but it was much easier and safer for her heart. “How about a handshake, then, to seal the rental agreement and as a thank-you for the invite?”
“I’m a patient man, so a handshake it is.” He slipped his hand into hers, providing sparks of electricity made all the more romantic by the misty rain. She’d have to stoke her control and keep a strong head.
Staying true to her present course required vigilance. His endearing eyes showed the challenge in that.
But thanks to his gaining a spot for her at the Sunset Soiree and a celebrity endorsement possibly on her horizon, life might finally be falling into place.
* * *
SOMETHING WAS WRONG. Work had been Caleb’s lifeblood for the past eleven years. He shouldn’t be strolling downtown on a Monday afternoon with Lucie at his side. Not since he’d battled that infection had he missed this much time away from a job. The urge to march to Dr. Keane’s office for another evaluation made his hand itch. He scratched his left palm, but the irritation continued.
“The sun is finally peeking out from the clouds, yet you look on the outside like I feel on the inside. What’s bothering you?” Lucie broke through his reverie, and he blinked, regaining his bearings.
This was a day for a walk. A red cardinal alit on the branches of one of the maples in full color on Timber Road. The cooler air lent itself to a cup of decaf, but The Busy Bean had closed a few hours ago. A customer emerged from The Book Nook with a full tote bag and a disposable cup. Smart move on Connie’s part if she offered drinks to her buyers and browsers. The customer smiled and dipped his head in passing before sipping from his cup.
Pleasantries like that had engrained themselves in Caleb’s memory about his hometown. Sharing his problems might not seem like a way to spread cheer, but he’d take the chance. “Owen placed me on temporary leave for yet another week due to my back. And when I report next Monday, I’ll officially be on desk duty for five weeks until Dr. Keane clears me.”
“I was wondering why you weren’t working today, but I didn’t know if I should ask.” Lucie laid her hand on Caleb’s forearm, and he leaned into her touch. The world seemed happier for it. “Look at the bright side. You have extra time to write your keynote speech and to furnish the cabin. It’ll be a real home by the time we’re done with it.”
Whether she realized it or not, Lucie’s true nature couldn’t stay hidden forever. Seasons came and went—the ice and snow of winter always melted into a verdant and vibrant spring. He steered her away from a puddle and they strolled along.
“Before I lose my nerve, thank you for coming with me to drop off my mortgage application. Having you here—” Her voice cracked, and she exhaled while moving her hand away from his arm. “It means everything to me. I’m taking a heavy risk with this mortgage. I need a working furnace to open the center. This is a step forward, not a step back, and I’m doing it on my terms.”
They stopped in front of the bank. He already had the rental agreement in his pocket, so he should leave her here, hike over to Bryant’s Furniture on Oak Street and check out their selection. His father had graduated with the owner and had always spoken highly of Todd Bryant whenever they passed the store. If Caleb found what he needed, he could arrange for delivery as soon as possible.
But first, he wanted a memory of this day. Something to put into a frame on his mantel. A picture of this Lucie, professional in a blazer and matching pants, her curly hair shining in the afternoon sun. Caleb whipped his phone out of his rear pocket. “Before you go in, let me take a picture of you.”
Lucie laughed and crinkled her nose. “I’m hardly presentable.”
“One or two quick pictures, that’s all.” He opened the camera app on his cell phone. “Someday, when you pay this loan off, you’ll look back at this and feel a huge sense of relief.”
“Oh, I need a photo for that? I would think submitting the last payment would be relief in and of itself.” Lucie shrugged and looked toward the entrance. “Besides, they’re about to close.”
“Hold up the application. That way you can see how far you’ve come when you pay it off.” Caleb lined up the shot. “The quicker you let me do this, the sooner you can go inside. And today’s a day to celebrate. It’s not every day you score a ticket to the Sunset Soiree.”
“Hurry up.” She raised the paperwork and kept her face scrunched.
“Come on. A real smile.”
“For you.” Her cheeks softened and her eyes glowed.
He snapped the picture, and she walked toward the entrance. “Wait. Let me get one of the paperwork really fast.”
“Caleb. They close in ten minutes, and I have to pick up the twins at the salon after that.” She rolled her eyes, but her smile reassured him that he’d helped her relax even a little.
He situated her hands and took a close-up of the paperwork. “There, all done. I’ll run over and tell Mitzi you’ll be there soon.” Her salon was on the way to Bryant’s, so he wouldn’t lose much time.
“Thanks.” She came closer, reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, his beard scrunching under the softness of her lips. “Thanks for believing in me and for being honest with me.”
Lucie scurried inside, and her kiss seared into his skin. Believing in her? Always. Being totally honest with her? He’d have to tell her about his parents before they moved back. Taking a chance on her understanding his slight delay was much better than facing the consequences down the road.
* * *
LUCIE ENTERED A New You, unsure of whether the weight had been lifted from her shoulders or was heavier than ever. All four chairs in the salon were occupied, each stylist taking care with a customer. Including Mattie, her wet blond hair receiving a trim from Mitzi, and Ethan, across from her, his shoulders hunched as Wendy snipped away at his bird’s nest of hair. Lucie winced. She’d only meant for them to hang out in the break room with Sadie the teenager who helped sweep up hair and did the other thousand and one tasks Lucie used to do.
With her credit cards maxed out, she wasn’t sure how she was going to pay for this. “Mitzi! I didn’t expect you to cut their hair.”
Mitzi waved her over to where another surprise awaited. There stood Caleb, acting like the casual observer but staying close enough to keep an eye on Mattie and Ethan. “Hi again. I decided to take Mitzi up on her offer of a free haircut before I start shopping for furniture. I’m next.”
Mitzi kept her trained eye on Mattie’s hair. “They couldn’t stay in the break room, darlin’. Sadie’s grades are tanking, s
o her parents and I persuaded her to take some time off to devote to her studies. Caleb arrived while they were getting their hair washed. I should have called you first, but this girl of yours needs to make sure to rinse all the shampoo out of her curly hair, which is absolutely gorgeous. I’ll give you some spray that will help tame the frizzies while keeping the curl.” Mitzi gripped her scissors and trimmed the ends. “Don’t worry, sweet girl. I know how to cut curly hair. It’ll be more beautiful than ever with a couple inches off. And Ethan needs to discover water and shampoo won’t hurt him. How’s that looking? Okay with you?”
Mitzi had somehow said all of that without taking a single breath. Lucie met Caleb’s gaze and bit back the giggle threatening to escape, but the thought of paying for two haircuts quickly tamed those stray giggles. “Of course. You’re as close to a grandmother as they come. I know you wouldn’t do anything bad...” Would her business partner accept a payment plan? Or a chocolate-chip pound cake in trade? That familiar coppery tang of failing her kids flooded her mouth.
“Lucie!” A customer in a hot pink cape with perm rollers in her hair shouted over the din of the hair dryer at the front of the salon.
At the realization she was about to face off with Belinda Chastain, the Pie Queen of Hollydale, Lucie wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. No, that’s what the Lucie of last December would think. Her nostrils flared and her shoulders stiffened. The new Lucie had painted and renovated a training and wellness center, fought a bat battle and won, and steeled herself to do what was best for her business so she could keep food on the table and in the pet bowls. She was a survivor, and she wasn’t going to let anyone make her feel otherwise.
“Mrs. Chastain.” Lucie nodded but kept her resolve firm. “I’m so glad Alicia and her family moved back to town. You must be ecstatic to have your grandchildren nearby. Tell her to give me a call sometime.”
If Belinda’s daughter would talk to her, that was. Alicia’s in-laws had been two of Justin’s victims. Hopefully, by reaching out an olive branch, she’d at least be able to look Alicia in the eyes and not have to skulk around the Piggly Wiggly if they were shopping at the same time.