Family Ever After

by Margaret Daley

  * * *

  One week on the job and Cara’s feet still ached from standing so much. And tonight would be extra long because she would help close the restaurant for the first time. In the bathroom she slapped some water on her face, then washed her hands before heading back into the dining area to finish the last hour of her shift.

  At least the tips were good. Pulling her pad out of her apron pocket to take an order, she again approached the table of three college-aged men. She pasted a smile on her face although it was an effort to keep it in place after her last encounter with them.

  “You all ready to order?” She positioned herself a little farther away than usual to avoid the roaming hands of one of the customers.

  “What did you say?” The massively built young man with rippling biceps who had been extra friendly slurred his words, making them run together. He bent toward her and nearly fell out of his chair.

  Blasted with the scent of alcohol, she stepped back. “Are you ready to order?”

  “You don’t have to shout.” He straightened, tossing back his head so hard his blond curls bounced.

  Lord, patience is usually one of my strong suits, but this Friday night must have brought out the worst customers, and they all sat in my area of the restaurant.

  Cara moved closer to the table, sidling toward the tall, thin young man sitting opposite the blond giant. “Do you all need more time to look over the menu?”

  The young man brushed back a curl that fell onto his forehead. “What do you think, Brent? Jeremy? This li’l lady isn’t being too friendly. Do we order or leave?”

  “I ain’t all that hungry. Let’s go find a bar that’s open,” the one called Jeremy said, his words garbled as though he had a mouth full of pebbles.

  “Bring us our bill.” The blond waved his hand in the air. “We’re leaving. We need to do some celebrating and you’re putting a damper on our festivities.” His voice rose with each sentence spoken.

  Since all she had done was bring them water, she said, “There is no bill.” She started to walk away, not sorry they were going, even if that meant the restaurant lost some business.

  Fingers clamped about her wrist, halting her progress. She glared at the blond. “Take your hand off me.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “Or what?” The blond college student shoved to his feet, swaying into her as his chair toppled over.

  The sound echoed through the dining area, and several customers nearby stopped talking and stared. All three young men were standing now. The blond’s huge presence dwarfed her. The odor of the alcohol they must have drunk earlier assailed her from all angles, roiling her stomach. Her heart increased its pounding against her rib cage.

  The blond thrust his face close to hers, the smell intensifying. “I said, ‘Or what,’li’l lady?” He mangled the words.

  Speechless with fear, she tried to yank her arm away. The numbness she felt in her fingertips began to extend throughout her.

  “Let go of her.” The owner’s deep baritone voice cut through the sudden silence.

  The fingers at her wrist dug into her skin. “Whatcha gonna do about it?” The blond slowly turned his head toward Noah Maxwell, but not before Cara saw his bloodshot eyes narrow in fury.

  Trying to ignore the pain his hold produced, she looked at Noah, only a few feet away. An ice-cold expression greeted her, directed at the young man gripping her. The dead calm in his eyes helped quiet her rapid heartbeat. He knew how to take care of himself. That thought eased her rising panic.

  “As I thought, nothing.” The blond started to turn back toward her.

  “Jake—” One of his friends inched closer.

  Noah settled a hand on the drunk’s shoulder. “Let me show you the door, Jake.”

  The steel thread woven through that one sentence chilled Cara and would have made most men pause—if they hadn’t been drinking and had an ounce of sense left. Jake wrenched away from Noah, still grasping her wrist, which pulled her toward the blond giant.

  Cara jerked her arm toward her, hoping to throw the young man off his precarious balance. For a second he teetered, then righted himself and released his hold on her as he concentrated on Noah, who had inched even closer. His two friends came to Jake’s side.

  Freed, Cara hurried toward Noah, thankful it was so late that any families who usually frequented the restaurant were gone. Most of the customers had backed away, and a couple of men stayed near. She prayed they would help Noah. Jake was huge and his two friends weren’t much smaller. Noah’s odds didn’t look good at the moment.

  “We’ll leave when we want. And I don’t think there’s too much you can do about it, old man.” He glanced at his buddies, a smirk tilting his mouth. “You’re outnumbered.”

  Noah chuckled. “Don’t be too sure about that.” Again that lethal quiet sounded in his voice.

  Jake threw back his head and laughed. The action shifted his large body enough that he fell against one of his friends.

  “I think you need to take him home,” Noah said to the young man helping Jake stand upright. “Believe me when I tell you, I have been in worse situations than this and have come out unscathed.”

  The one called Brent took one of Jake’s arms. “Let’s go. Someone’s probably called the police by now.”

  As the two dragged Jake toward the entrance, Noah quickly moved toward the trio. “I’m calling a cab to take you all home.”

  Brent faced him. “I’m not drunk. I can drive.”

  Noah assessed him. “Fine. If you don’t want to end up in jail, I suggest you all go home.”

  Brent turned back to his friends and hooked his arm around Jake. When the door closed behind the trio, Cara sagged against a table. She couldn’t stop the trembling spreading through her body.

  Noah’s arm went around her shoulder, supporting her against him. “Let’s go back to my office.”

  Suddenly voices began chattering around her. She glimpsed the customers and staff staring at her and nodded. Almost in a daze, she allowed him to lead her back to his office and seat her across from him.

  Thank You, Lord, for sending Noah. She folded her hands in her lap to keep them from shaking and lifted her head to look him in the eye. “Are you going to fire me?”

  He looked puzzled. “Fire you? Why would I do that?”

  Over the past week she’d heard wonderful things from the staff about Noah Maxwell, but she hadn’t seen him enough to know him firsthand. “They’ll probably never come back here to eat,” she finally said when she realized he was waiting for an answer.

  “Good. I don’t need customers like that. I don’t want drunks eating here. This is a family restaurant and I don’t serve alcohol. If someone comes in again that is intoxicated, get me or the manager. You shouldn’t deal with problems like that.” He smiled. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to you before, but I hadn’t had to take care of something like that in a while. Most people know I don’t tolerate drunks.”

  “Believe me, I’ll have no problem doing that the next time. I appreciate your help earlier.”

  “My staff should never have to put up with someone like that young man.” Noah relaxed in his chair. “How was your first week on the job?”

  “Fine.” Cara rubbed her thumb into her palm. From all accounts Noah Maxwell was a very wealthy man who still kept a personal interest in his business even though he didn’t need to. He hired competent managers and most of his staff had been with him a long time.

  “Are you attending the barbecue at Stone’s Refuge on Sunday?” Noah asked.

  “Yes, I’m helping Laura and Hannah set it up.”

  “Why don’t you go on home?” He checked his watch. “We’ll be closing up in a few minutes.”

  “I’m supposed to learn how to close up with Kalvin tonight.”

  He waved his hand. “Don’t worry. You can another night. I’ll help Kalvin this evening.”

  “But—”

  “Listen, Cara—” he leaned forward,
his elbows on his knees “—I know how upsetting a scene like that can be. Go home.” He sat back. “Besides, I’m the boss. What I say goes.”

  “How can I argue with that?”

  “You can’t.”

  The smile on his face totally altered the tough-guy facade he’d presented earlier to the three men. His hazel eyes sparkled, and his dimples drew attention to the curve of his mouth. He rose slowly, pulling her gaze down his length. Dressed in a gray, long-sleeved shirt and black slacks, he commanded the space around him, as though there wasn’t any situation he couldn’t handle.

  “Are you working tomorrow?” he asked as he opened the door for her.

  “Yes, I come in at ten.”

  “Then you’d better go. Get some rest and put this evening behind you.”

  After gathering her purse, she gave him a smile over her shoulder and walked toward the exit. “Thanks. I’m still adjusting to the job. My feet are killing me.”

  “Try soaking them in warm saltwater.”

  She placed her hand on the knob and looked back at Noah. Adam, one of the high school workers, said something, and Noah turned toward him.

  Weariness blanketed her. Even though the idea of warm saltwater appealed to her, she was too tired even to take the time to do that. All she wanted to do was fall into bed and sleep for hours.

  She opened the back door, noticing a few other staff members gathering their belongings to leave. As she stepped outside, she relished the night air cooling her cheeks. A pool of brightness shone down from the security light. She saw Maddy, another waitress, climb into her vehicle and back out. She waved to Cara as she drove past. Cara walked toward her car, thoughts of the comfortable bed waiting for her at Laura’s running through her mind.

  * * *

  “Boss, a toilet in the men’s bathroom overflowed,” one of Noah’s employees said, coming from the restroom.

  “Will you clean it up before you leave?”

  “Sure,” Kalvin muttered, quickly trying to cover his frown.

  Pounding at the back door drew Noah’s attention. He peered through the peephole and saw Adam and Cara. Quickly he opened the door.

  The ashen look on Cara’s face sent alarm bells ringing in Noah’s mind. “I thought both of you left. What’s wrong?”

  Adam gestured toward the parking lot. “Those three guys that caused problems earlier in the restaurant were waiting for Cara. They tried to drag her to their car.”

  Hands shaking, Cara crossed her arms over her chest. “They ran when Adam shouted at them. Or rather they staggered away. They had a liquor bottle and were passing it around. I—I didn’t know—”

  “I’m calling the police.Adam, did you see what they were driving? We need to report this before they kill someone.”

  “I want to file charges against them.” Cara lifted her chin a notch. “If they had gotten me into the car…” She shuddered, closing her eyes for a few seconds.

  “I’ll take care of everything, Cara.”

  As the teen gave Noah the description of the white car, Adam shot a concerned look at Cara. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, thanks to you.”

  Noah was glad Adam had been at the right place at the right time, but he felt as though he had let down one of his workers. No one hurts his employees, not if he could do anything about it. He would push for those three to face the stiffest charges.

  “You two can sit in my office while we wait.” Noah walked to the wall phone and punched in the police department. After making his report, he said to Kalvin, “Let the officer in when he comes.”

  “Can we do anything to help?”

  “Yeah, please finish closing up for me. I need to drive Cara home after she reports the incident.”

  “Okay, boss.” Kalvin began to turn away, stopped and peered back at Noah. “I know Jake, Jeremy and Brent from school. They go to the University of Cimarron. They’re the star players on the baseball team. Without them I doubt we’ll win the conference.” Kalvin headed to the kitchen.

  Great! Another added bonus. Noah thought of the publicity this would trigger when the press discovered the charges the three star players would face. He didn’t see any way this could be kept quiet.

  He walked through the kitchen and found Cara and Adam seated in his office. While Adam peered at his hands in his lap, she stared off into space. An urge to eliminate that lost look in her eyes overwhelmed Noah. He settled in the last chair in front of his desk and faced Cara.

  “The police should be here shortly. Can I get you anything until then?”

  “No—yes, some water.”

  Adam bolted to his feet. “I’ll get it.”

  When the teen left, Noah took Cara’s trembling hands. “I’m sorry this happened. This is usually a safe place to work. I—”

  “You didn’t do anything. You can’t control what drunks will do.”

  Her words plunged him back into the past. A picture of his father striding toward him with his fist raised struck him. Those were memories he made a point of never reliving. Shoving them away, he said, “That doesn’t mean I can’t try.”

  Adam reentered the room with a law officer trailing. The teen gave Cara a glass of water and sat again in the chair next to her.

  Noah stood. “Have y’all found them?”

  “Right before I came in here, I got a report the three young men were pulled over not far from here. They’re being taken down to headquarters to be charged with public intoxication. They’ll be spending the night in jail.”

  Noah sighed. “Good.”

  “I want to file charges against them.” Cara clasped the arms of her chair.

  The officer removed a pad and pen. “What happened, ma’am?”

  After Cara told him what had happened in the parking lot, Noah recounted the incident in the restaurant.

  The police officer peered up from writing. “I’ll need you all to come down and file these charges.”

  The exhaustion carved into Cara’s face prompted Noah to ask, “Can I bring her tomorrow morning? This has been a long day for her.”

  “Sure, Mr. Maxwell. They won’t be going anywhere.” The policeman looked at Adam. “I’ll need your statement, too.”

  “I’ll bring him also,” Noah said.

  “You did a good thing this evening, young man.” The officer said as he left.

  “Since you missed your bus,” Noah asked Adam, “do you need a ride home?”

  Adam shook his head. “I’ll get Kalvin to drive me.”

  “Okay. How about tomorrow to the police station?”

  “No, I can take the bus. What time should I be there?”

  “Nine.”

  Adam rose. “I’ll go help Kalvin close up.”

  “Thanks again,” Cara said as the teen hurried from the office.

  “Are you ready to leave?” Noah asked.

  She pushed herself to her feet, tension in every line of her body. “I have my car here.”

  “Since we need to go to the police station in the morning to give a statement, I’ll pick you up and then bring you here so you can get your car. I’ll find someone to take your shift tomorrow.”

  “I can come in to work tomorrow. I need the money.” Anger slashed across her face. “I’m not gonna let those guys do any more to me than they already have.”

  Noah sensed the fear beneath the declaration. Any moment he expected her to fall apart. “I don’t think you should drive yourself home. Your hands are shaking.”

  The urge to draw her against him and hold her until her fear subsided set off alarms in Noah’s mind. He would take her home and to the police tomorrow because he was her employer. Even a temporary employee deserved his support. But after that, he would go his way and she hers. He made it a practice never to get involved with a single mother, and he intended to keep his life uncomplicated.

  “Let’s go. It’s been a long day.” Noah withdrew his car keys from his pocket. When she started to protest, he cut her off. “Humor me. I
wouldn’t be able to sleep if I sent you to Laura’s by yourself.”

  Cara took a deep breath, then released it slowly. “Fine, but I’m coming into work tomorrow.” Her shoulders sagged as though suddenly she couldn’t keep the exhaustion at bay.

  “If that’s the way you want it.” Maybe nothing would come of charging the star baseball players. Although he hadn’t known what the three guys looked like, he’d heard their names. For the first time in years, the team had a chance to win big because of these players. Who was he kidding? It was going to be a mess. This town was sports crazy when it came to supporting the University of Cimarron City Tigers. And Cara would be in the middle of it. He needed to warn her.

  They settled in his Corvette, and for ten minutes, Noah negotiated the streets in silence. He didn’t know how to tell her who the young men were and just how popular they were in town.

  Hesitant to make matters worse, he settled on something he remembered Laura saying about Cara. “Why does Laura call you a free spirit?”

  Her laughter was forced. “She was being sarcastic. I’m anything but that.”

  “But you left St. Louis on the spur of the moment?”

  “Yeah, that was out of character. I normally plan everything down to the tiniest detail.”

  “We all do things out of character from time to time.” Like what I’m doing now. I don’t get involved with women like Cara, women who want commitment. Ever.

  “I guess it really wasn’t on the spur of the moment. Laura had been working on getting me here for the last eighteen months. So when Timothy said he missed Matthew and Joshua and playing with them, I decided it was time to move.” She leaned her head back on the soft leather cushion and closed her eyes. “I don’t want to return to St. Louis.”

  Her comment out of the blue took him by surprise. “Why not?” he asked, before his internal censor could stop him from delving into her personal life.

  “There’s nothing there for me. It was never my home.”

  “How long did you live there?”

  “Four years. Almost two after my husband died.”

  “Where did you live before that?” He increased his speed once they left the city. Only five more minutes to the farm. Obviously his censor was defective this evening.