“This should be interesting trying to get everything back to the right houses,” Rachel said as Jaycee angled the truck back into the driveway of the old farmhouse. “Remind me never to open a bed & breakfast.”
“I’ll make a note of that. Hm,” Jaycee said, looking ahead. “Who’s here?”
“Don’t know.” Rachel puzzled over the little car in the driveway. “You expecting someone?”
“Just Luke but he doesn’t get off work for another four hours.”
Rachel checked her watch. “Rats!”
“What?”
“We didn’t get lunch for the guys.” She put her head back on the headrest and growled. “I knew I was forgetting something.”
Putting the truck in park, Jaycee shut it off and hopped all the way down before opening the back to haul out their loot. “’s okay. It’ll give us an excuse to leave again.” She kicked the door closed. “I thought working on the show was bad. It doesn’t even come close to this insanity.”
As she followed her in, Rachel laughed. “And you want me to sign up to do this too?”
“Don’t ask. Whatever I’ve got is probably contagious.”
Together, arms filled with bed clothes, they trooped into the back door, through the mudroom and into kitchen.
“Here they are!” the woman standing there exclaimed as if she’d just found the good china. “Rachel!”
“Mrs…. James?”
Without pretense the woman came right over and hugged her which didn’t work too well with all of the batting between them.
“What…?” Rachel started in shock. “I thought you weren’t coming until three.”
“Surprise,” Caleb said, coming in from the back, and by the look on his face, it was as much of a surprise to him as her. He stepped right over to her and kissed her on the cheek, his eyes saying just how much of a surprise this was, and it got more the longer he looked at her.
Suddenly Rachel understood he was trying to apologize without saying anything, and graciousness slid over her. It wasn’t all fake though she did have to reach for it. “Oh, Mrs. James, this is Jaycee West.”
The handshake really wasn’t. “Nice to meet you.”
“And what’s all of this?” his mother asked.
Wishing she was a better hostess, Rachel ducked.
“We kind of forgot about the bed things in all the chaos,” Caleb answered for her.
“We did a little scavenger hunting,” Jaycee supplied. “It’ll get y’all through the weekend anyway. Sorry we didn’t plan a little better, what with buying the house and trying to get it all finished and the furniture…”
“Buying?” his mother asked.
“Bed in the master’s together,” Derek said, coming in with what looked like half the town. “Oh, good. You found something.”
“Yeah,” Caleb said in answer to his mother’s question. “It looks like Derek and Jaycee will be buying the place when all the craziness settles down.”
“Oh!” his mother sounded so pleased. “That is wonderful. Oh, I know what a load that takes off of these two.”
“It’s a great house,” his father said to Derek.
“Great place to raise a family,” his mother said, and Rachel seriously thought Caleb might have a heart attack. “Do you two have kids?”
“Oh, uh,” Jaycee said, glancing at Derek and then down at the floor.
However, Derek never even winced. “Not yet. Had to let the ink dry on the marriage license first.”
“Oh, yes,” Caleb’s mom said. “You were the ones that Caleb was in the wedding.”
“That would be us,” Derek said, never losing his smooth ways with people.
“So,” Rachel said, jumping in before this could get any worse. “I forgot to get something for lunch. What are you thinking? I know we’re going to Sage’s tonight.”
“We don’t have to go anywhere,” his mother said, “I’m perfectly capable of making dinner for us.”
“No worries,” Jaycee said, her hands now in her back pockets owing to the fact that Derek was holding all of the bed clothes. “Sage has dinner all under control. But we could run get sandwich stuff for now.”
“Oh,” Rachel said. “I got some earlier. We could use that, and I’ll go get more later.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Caleb clapped. “What do you say, you all get the sandwiches ready, and we’ll finish up these beds.”
Rachel nodded, thankful the whole thing hadn’t gone flying off the rails. “Works for me.”
The house was mostly ready by the time Sara and her family showed up at five. Caleb had long-since given up on trying to figure out the timing of anything. He had the sense that like the pastor had said earlier, he was now just along for the ride. Heading over to Luke and Sage’s with Rachel and the kids later, he settled back in the driver’s seat and took a long, slow breath, glad for the reprieve from the day’s chaos.
A moment and Rachel put her hand over on his shoulder and rubbed there. “Crazy day, huh?”
He laughed softly. “You have no idea. I’m surprised I’m still in one piece.” Coming out of his own world, he put his hand over on hers and let his gaze stay on her a second longer. “How’re you?”
She let out a small laugh of her own. “I’m not sure. Ask me in February.”
Gratefulness for their ability to connect like this even for a few seconds, Caleb nodded. “Are we going to survive this?”
Instead of levity, her eyes slipped into seriousness. “What do you say we just forget it all and elope?”
This laugh was even heartier. “Oh, they would love that.”
She joined in the laugh. “They would probably draw-and-quarter us.”
“Not exactly my idea of a romantic way to spend the honeymoon.” In Luke’s driveway, Caleb parked the car and shut it off. Cars and pickups were already scattered across the space. However, instead of getting out, his gaze went over to her and held. “I just want this to be special for you. I’m sorry it’s gotten so crazy.”
However, holding his gaze, she simply smiled. “Hey, I’m the one who always wanted to be part of a family, remember? I think this comes with the territory. Besides…” She glanced beyond him to the house. “…I’m not going to complain. I love these people, and they love us. Some craziness comes with the territory.”
His eyes softened as his heart did too. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”
“Once or twice, I think.”
“Well, in case I forget to say it…” He laid his lips on hers softly, relishing their warmth and sweetness. When he backed up, he slipped his arms around her. “I can’t wait until Saturday.”
She shook her head. “I’m just enjoying now.”
It was a good point, and one Caleb returned to time and again throughout the evening. When their gazes would catch or their hands would touch, when he caught a glimpse of her playing with the kids or talking with Sara, Caleb understood ever deeper just why she had captured his heart so thoroughly. She was one-of-a-kind.
“Thought I’d bring you this,” the pastor said as he sidled up to Caleb before dinner. “We’re going to have to take off right after dinner, and I didn’t want to forget.”
Caleb took the book and puzzled over it. Spiritual Wholeness. “What…? Oh, you didn’t have to…”
“No. I wanted to,” the pastor said. “I can get my own copy.”
“But…”
“Call it an early wedding present.” The pastor shrugged. “And maybe a little of me hoping we have a chance to talk about paradigm shifts and life on the other side of New Years.”
With a smile, Caleb put his arms around the pastor and patted him on the back. “Thank you. Really. For everything.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Chapter 25
Luke & Sage
“I can see why Caleb has talked non-stop about this place,” Caleb’s mother said as she helped Sage finish preparing the meal. Everyone had learned within an hour of her being on t
he ground in Ridgemount that Dee James had no intentions of simply being a guest that expected everyone to wait on her.
According to Jaycee, Dee and her husband Tom showed everyone without saying a word just where Caleb got his work-ethic and heart. Painting trim, reinstalling baseboards, finishing floors, putting the beds together—there was nothing the two of them stuck their noses in the air over tackling. In fact, it was pretty clear within the first hour of their arrival that they fit right in.
Sage was slightly less sure about Sara and her husband and kids, but it didn’t feel like tension followed them around either, so she had finally relaxed about the evening and the weekend.
“You are all just amazing,” Dee said, scooping out the potatoes into the serving dish. “That house… and they said you’re doing the flowers for the wedding?”
Softly, Sage giggled as she positioned the roast and sliced it. “I’m trying, but with everything going on, I hope they don’t just have to walk down the aisle with stems and petals.”
“Well, what do you need, dear? Sara and I are totally free tomorrow. Tom’s got the bachelor party tomorrow evening, but…”
“Oh!” Sage’s heart jerked, and she dipped her head to check the kitchen behind her. “I was going to mention that we haven’t really given Rachel a shower or anything. I feel kind of bad about that…”
Dee’s face lit with excitement. “Say no more. We’ll do it tomorrow night while the guys are doing their thing. Do you have any decorations? A cake maybe?”
“No.” She could feel her eyes widening. There already wasn’t enough time to get the things done she had committed herself to doing. She still had to finish upcycling the bodice of the dress.
But Dee didn’t look phased at all. “Don’t worry. We’ll get it put together. I’m so happy for these two, I could just about burst. Rachel is so perfect for Caleb. I knew it the first time he started talking about her on the phone.”
Sage’s mind went back to a night, standing in her living room when she had faced off with Caleb over Rachel and told him in no uncertain terms he’d better not hurt her friend. “Rachel has been through so much.”
“You’ve known her for a while then?”
“Since high school, but we didn’t really hang out in the same crowd back then. I always liked her though, felt real bad for her when everything went down with her dad and then with Nathan.” Nathan, Rachel’s first husband, a guy Sage had always thought highly of until she learned the rotten details surrounding their marriage and his treatment of Rachel. Sage wouldn’t wish his death in the military on anyone, but he certainly hadn’t done his wife any favors while he was alive. Forgive me, Lord, she thought as she did every time she thought of the rat, I know I’ve got stuff I’m not proud of either.
“Who do you think we should invite?” Dee asked as she finished tossing the salad.
“Uh, well, you and Sara and Rach of course. Me and Jayc and Jane. Maybe my mom. Rachel’s mom…”
“Is she any better?”
“Rachel said a little bit. I hope she can get there by Saturday.”
“Me too. We were supposed to run by there tonight, but I think Rachel was concerned about stressing her out before the festivities.”
Sage nodded. “She’s been really fragile since the move, probably even before the move, but definitely after. I wish there was more we could do.”
“Honey, you all do any more for them, and you’d be living their lives for them.” Dee laughed and then grew pensive. “Sometimes the best thing we can do for others is just to walk the walk with them. From what I’ve seen, you all do that with each other with every breath you can. That’s something special.” She ducked closer. “And if I don’t get another chance to say so, thanks for taking such good care of them. It’s a mom thing to worry. Makes me glad to know I can put some of that worry aside and know they’re surrounded by good people.”
It was amazing how good Dee could make a person feel. “Well, I’m starting to see just why they are such wonderful people.” And with that, Sage hugged the woman she had only just met but already felt so very close to.
“Okay. Let’s feed these hungry, wonderful people.”
Sage laughed and swiped at her eyes. “Haha. You’ve got it.”
Luke had never seen his house so bursting with people. They were wall-to-wall and then some. If the kids could have gone outside to play on the go-carts, it would have helped. As it was, his boys and Zane and Sara’s two were in the middle of a spirited game of spoons in the now-clean kitchen as the adults and little ones fanned out in the small living room.
Checking on the chaos in the kitchen one more time and warning Jeremiah to keep an eye on things, he went to join the others in the living room. In one corner, the women sat laughing and talking, in the other, was a serious discussion among the men. He chose the serious one though it didn’t look like nearly as much fun.
“We’re meeting with them on Friday,” Caleb said as Luke sat down in one of the myriad of folding chairs he had brought in from the shed for the occasion. “She called today to confirm it. Eleven o’clock. I really think we need to walk the property, get a feel for the amount of work we’re looking at, what we can do show-wise, and what they’re thinking money-wise.”
Derek nodded. “I can’t say this is going to be a slam-dunk. I mean, I’ve seen the place. Honestly it’d be easier to knock it down and start over.”
Caleb’s dad nodded as well. “Why don’t they? What is there that’s worth saving?”
Looking at each of them, Caleb shook his head. “I don’t really know, but she seems really set on Attabury. It’s this house or nothing from what I get from her.”
Luke shivered. “Sorry. That place still gives me the willies. When I was a kid, my sister and her boyfriend thought it’d be hilarious to take us kids out there on Halloween. Old Mrs. Attabury had either just died or was about to. I’ve never forgotten how scared I was. I think I hid in the backseat and refused to come out. Least that’s what I remember of it.”
“She must’ve been something else, old Mrs. Attabury,” Caleb said with a laugh. “Rachel tells the same kinds of stories.”
“Well, the woman was like a hundred and ten, and from the stories, she had a rifle she wasn’t afraid to use.” Luke’s eyes got wide. “You might want to have the pastor go out and bless the place before your start. Yeee.” He shivered again, and it was no act. Just the thought sent his spirit on edge.
“So what’s the story about it?” Caleb’s dad asked. “A house don’t get a reputation like that for no reason.”
“Well,” Luke said, and he glanced at the others, thinking they would surely think him in need of mental help after this, “the story I always heard was that the Attaburies, Mrs. Attabury’s husband’s family were slave owners way back in the day. Mom says she still can kind of remember Mrs. Owens, Ms. P’s mom working out there although I really think she was paid and stuff by that time. I don’t know.” Luke shrugged. “Maybe it’s just got some bad memories around all of that stuff.”
“Maybe that’s why it’s so important to Ms. Richardson,” Derek said, crossing his arms.
“Why?” Caleb asked in confusion.
“Well, think about it, her great-grandmother would’ve been one of the last servants there… Maybe it’s a righting the wrongs of the past kind of a thing.”
Everyone nodded.
“At least that would make some sense,” Luke said.
Caleb tipped his head. “Well, I guess we’ll find out on Friday.”
Chapter 26
Caleb & Rachel
The new couch at what would soon be his “old” place wasn’t half-bad, but Caleb didn’t stay on it very long when he woke up Thursday morning. He was up before the sun, cooking up breakfast for the whole crew when Sara made her way out of the second bedroom and next to him at the counter.
“Well, look at you,” she said with a grin. “Who knew my little brother could cook?”
“Your little brothe
r can do a lot of things,” he said in return. “Who knew you could get up at this hour?”
“Force of habit, I think. Houses don’t sell themselves, you know.” She went over and poured herself some coffee.
“How’s that going anyway?”
“Oh, up and down. It’s great for a while, and then we hit a lull.” Blowing on the steam, she took a sip. “Wish it would be a little more steady and predictable, but it is what it is.” She took another sip. “How about you? Mom says you and Rach are going to make a go of the TV show thing.”
He tipped his eyebrows. “Sounds like we’re going to try anyway.”
His sister had always had the ability to see right through him, ever since he had smashed his mom’s flowerpot, and Sara took the blame. She could tell with one look just how his life was going. “You freaked out about that?”
Over the sizzling bacon, he sighed and put his hands on the counter. “I wouldn’t be, you know? If it wasn’t for…”
“Rachel and the kids.”
He nodded. “Does that ever get any easier? Do you ever get to a place where you can breathe and know they’re going to be okay?”
She smiled softly. “If there is, I haven’t found it.” Letting out a breath, her smile faded into thoughtfulness. “Zane and I’ve spent many nights up trying to figure out how to make the money-thing work and the scheduling thing work, and the life thing work. Best advice I can give you is, hold onto Rachel. You’ve got to work as a team because if you ever get crosswise and start working against each other, it’s gonna come apart.”
“Well, that’s comforting.”
Sara shook her head. “Come on. You know that. Think about the show. You have to work together. What would happen if the electric guys started undermining the plumbing guys, or the carpenters decided they didn’t care what happened with the people flooring, they were going to do it their way and everyone else could just deal with it.”
A Moment Like This: A Contemporary Christian Romance Prequel Novella (The Grace Series Book 4) Page 14