Love Inspired March 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: North Country FamilySmall-Town MidwifeProtecting the Widow's Heart

by Lois Richer

  At the cabin, Ty parked and climbed out, dragging his gym bag with him. As he walked across the yard toward the boathouse, he glanced up the slope at the cabin. The empty cabin. This was crazy. Ginger had been on the job barely a full day, but he already missed her and EJ.

  Inside the tiny boathouse, Ty stowed his gym bag, then slipped off his jacket. He’d come here to sort out his future, but all he’d been doing was thinking about a cinnamon-haired woman with deep green eyes and a little boy who brought a kind of joy into his life he didn’t know he’d been missing.

  Ty pulled the card Brady had given him from his back pocket and placed it on the small dining table, his gaze drifting to the closet where he kept his gun safe. He’d have to requalify with his firearm before he could return to duty. But it was a moot point if he couldn’t get past the fear of picking it up.

  He retrieved the small safe from the back of the closet, carried it to the kitchen table, put in the code and opened the top. The sight of the black steel SIG Sauer sent an electric jolt along his nerves. Gritting his teeth, he reached down. His hand started to shake. Icy fear exploded in his chest. Nausea pooled in his gut. He raked his hands through his hair. He wasn’t afraid of anything, but he trembled like a scared kid when he tried to pick up his gun. It didn’t make sense.

  “Hey, Ty, you in there?”

  The sound of his brother’s voice yanked him from his thoughts. “Yeah, come on in.” Matt joined him at the table, pointing to the gun safe.

  “You have weapons here?”

  Ty closed the lid and set the lock. “Just this one.” He returned it to the closet and shut the door. “What brings you here in the middle of the day?”

  His brother studied him a moment. “Are you okay? I won’t pretend to understand what you’re going through, but I can listen if you need to talk.”

  “I know. Thanks.” He forced a smile, resting his hands on his hips. “I’ll sort it out.” Ty held his brother’s gaze until he looked away. He did not want to talk about his fears at the moment.

  Matt slipped his hands into his pockets and smiled. “Well, I promised to take Kenny to the Natural Science Museum and the Children’s Museum in Jackson this Saturday, and I thought you and Elliot might want to tag along.”

  The idea chased away the last of his tension. Taking EJ on a day trip was a great idea. “Yeah, I think he’d like that.”

  “Do you think his mom will be okay with him going? She can tag along if she’d feel better. She doesn’t know us very well.”

  Ty felt certain he could talk Ginger into the trip. “I’ll work it out. Thanks. I think it’ll be a fun day.”

  “Great. He slapped Ty on the shoulder with brotherly affection. “Hey, Dad told me he’d asked you to take on the foreman job for the Stanton house. You going to do it?”

  “I don’t know. I came here to think, not work.”

  “If you ask me, thinking is highly overrated. When I need to sort things out, it usually helps to keep my hands busy first.”

  “That’s what Dad keeps telling me.”

  Matt chuckled. “I hate it when he’s right.”

  After his brother left, Ty showered, then headed to the cabin for a bite to eat. He smiled when he saw the long row of small metal cars lined up on the kitchen island. EJ loved his little cars. The prospect of having a father-son day with the boy lightened his mood. Father-son? Where had that thought come from? He needed to nix that idea right now. This was not the time to be thinking about family.

  Maybe taking on the house project was a good idea after all. The physical labor, other guys to hang with, would leave little time to think about his decision or his tenant. He wasn’t getting anywhere sitting around here. Pulling out his phone, he called his dad and accepted the job.

  * * *

  Ginger checked another name off her list, then glanced at the clock. She was ten minutes late meeting April. Closing out her files, she picked up her purse and hurried down the hall. The choir room was empty. The lights were on, music flowed from somewhere, but no sign of April. Her gaze fell on the spinet piano set at an angle to the chairs arranged in rows on risers.

  Since seeing the lovely baby grand at the Durrants’ last Sunday, she’d been itching to play again. She had to do something while she waited. Sliding onto the piano bench, she flexed her fingers, then placed them on the keys, her mind pulling up a piece from her childhood. The ubiquitous “Für Elise.”

  Surprisingly, the notes flowed. Her fingers moved easily as if she’d never stopped playing. When she finished, she opened the sheet music on the stand and sight-read the notes.

  “You never mentioned you could play.” April leaned on the top of the piano, eyes wide.

  “I’ve played most of my life up until about eight years ago. I miss it. I didn’t realize how much until just now.”

  April frowned. “I’m sure there’s a story there someplace. Why don’t you tell me about it over lunch? Then I’ll ask you to fill in on Wednesday nights for choir rehearsal since I just found out the regular pianist has decided to go back to school and get her degree.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “That’s why I was late. Oh, and the job pays money. Which I know is something you’re fond of.”

  The idea intrigued her. “Would I have to play on Sundays, too?”

  “No. Sarah Marsh will still play for the services, but she has a night class on Wednesday. By the way, we’re adding a contemporary service in a few months, and I’m putting a praise band together. You could play the keyboard.”

  “Thanks, but I’m sure I’ll be gone by then.” Ginger stood and picked up her purse. “I’ll have to find someone to watch Elliot on Wednesday nights.”

  “We’ll work that out. There’s always a solution, girlfriend.”

  Ginger was beginning to believe she was right. The extra money would not only help pay for the car, but she might be able to pay Ty back for all the things he’d provided.

  * * *

  Ginger took the stairs to the cabin deck with an extra bounce in her step that evening, eager to share her good news with Ty and EJ. Overseeing the volunteers for the Stantons’ home build had fired her imagination, but playing the piano for the choir would add much-needed funds to her bank account. The thought of playing again filled her with a joy she’d long missed. Stepping from the chilly, dark evening into the warm, cozy cabin wrapped her in a blanket of security and contentment.

  “Hey, Mom. We’re making pizza. From patch.”

  Ty turned and smiled at her. “He means scratch.”

  Ginger placed her purse on the small table in the eating area and slipped off her coat. The sight of the two huddled over the counter made her smile. Ty included Elliot in everything, making him feel special and grown-up. The man had a warm heart and a generous spirit that was even more attractive than his handsome face. “Sounds like fun. Need any help?”

  “The more, the merrier.”

  Ginger kicked off her shoes and hurried to the island, raising her eyebrows when she saw her son slicing an onion. “Where did you learn to do that?”

  EJ grinned. “Tyster showed me how so I wouldn’t cut my fingers off.”

  “I’m glad. Fingers come in handy from time to time.”

  Ty handed her a paring knife. “We have some peppers that need to be cleaned and diced.”

  “Yes, sir.” After washing her hands, she joined them. The dough was already spread out on a large pizza pan, and Ty was opening a package of pepperoni. “I don’t think I’ve ever had homemade pizza from patch before.” She ruffled EJ’s hair.

  Ty huffed out a grunt. “Anyone can pick up a phone and order one. It takes great skill to create your own.”

  Ty walked to the fridge and pulled out several packages of cheese. She noticed his limp as he moved, triggering her concern. “Ty
, are you all right? Did you hurt yourself?”

  He kept his back to her, focusing on the packages in his hands. “No. I overdid it at the gym today, that’s all. I should have taken it slower.”

  From the tone of his voice, it was clear he didn’t want to talk about it, so she let it drop for now. “Well, my day was very good. I took on another job. A paying one.”

  “Yeah? Doing what?”

  She couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “I’ll be playing the piano for choir practice on Wednesday nights.”

  “That’s great.”

  “It’ll be wonderful to play again. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I saw the piano at your parents’. I’ll have to find someone to watch EJ those nights. Do you think your mom would let me leave him there?”

  “Sure. She’d love it. But there’s no need. I’ll be here. I don’t mind watching him.”

  “Oh, no, Ty. You’re doing so much already. I can’t ask anymore.”

  “You’re not asking. I’m volunteering.” He turned to EJ. “What do you say, buddy? Can we spend a little more time together?”

  EJ rolled his eyes, then stared at his mother. “Mom, me and Tyster are a team. Teams stick together.”

  Ty stifled a smile. “He has a point.”

  “Clearly I’m outnumbered.”

  Ty and EJ exchanged smirks. “Yep.”

  The pizza came out of the oven smelling delicious, making Ginger’s mouth water and her stomach rumble. “Should we invite Nels and Mae over to share this?”

  “Oh, I meant to tell you. They left today to visit their daughter. They asked me to say goodbye to you, and they hope to see you again before you leave Dover.”

  “I hope so.” She poured drinks and set them on the table while Ty sliced the pizza.

  EJ slid into the chair at the small dining table and pulled a slice of pizza onto his plate. “Hey, Mom, can I have a bike? Please? There’s plenty of room to ride around here, and I saw one on TV that was way super cool. It was black with fire decals and a red seat.”

  Ginger glanced at Ty, who shrugged and shook his head. “I don’t know, sweetheart. We don’t have room to take it with us, and I’m not sure if there’ll be a place to ride at your grandmother’s.”

  EJ slumped in his seat, the appeal of pizza gone. Ty and Ginger took their seats, and Ty offered up a blessing.

  “I have something that might cheer you up, buddy.” Ty laced his fingers and smiled. “You and I have been invited to go with Matt and Kenny up to Jackson this Saturday to visit the Natural Science and Children’s museums.”

  EJ’s eyes lit up. “Really? I always wanted to go to a museum. Can I go with them, Mom?”

  Ginger’s heart pinched with regret. There were so many experiences she’d wanted to give her son, but caring for John had taken all of her time and energy. It took her a moment to realize that Ty was speaking to her. “What?”

  “I won’t let him out of my sight. I promise, Ginger.”

  How could she refuse? “Of course he can go.”

  EJ hooted for joy, sharing a high five with Ty. Ginger looked on with a strange mixture of happiness and regret. Her son deserved a real family, a father who loved him and wanted to spend time with him. Ty was giving EJ a brief glimpse into what a father-son relationship could be. She prayed it would be enough to give him an understanding of what a man and a father should be. Ty was the perfect example.

  “I have more good news to share.”

  Ty smiled over at her. “Oh, yeah?”

  “I’ve been put in charge of the volunteers for a home the church is building for a family, and I’ll be working with a ministry called—”

  Ty paused with a hand full of pizza halfway to his mouth. “Handy Works.”

  “Yes. How did you know?”

  He laid the pizza slice on the plate. “Handy Works is a ministry Laura and Matt started several years ago.”

  “I didn’t know that. That’s a wonderful service for the community.” The look on his face pricked her curiosity. He seemed less than pleased.

  “It is. And the Stanton project is important. Did Jim tell you what happened?”

  She nodded. “I want to get as many people as possible lined up to work.”

  “Good. I’ll need it.”

  “You?”

  “I just took over as foreman for the job. You’ll be checking in with me on the volunteers.”

  “Oh.” She liked the idea of working with Ty, but he didn’t seem too happy with the arrangement. Maybe he didn’t want to spend any more time with her than necessary. Their lives had become very intertwined, and he’d come home for some solitude. Maybe he needed more space. “Well, I’m sure I can use your help.”

  “Laura usually oversees these big jobs, but with the wedding coming up and restoring the house she and Adam will live in, she just doesn’t have the time.”

  “So you’re filling in?”

  “No. I’m not a contractor, but her foreman, Shaw McKinney, is. He’ll be in charge. My job is to make sure things are going smoothly on-site each day. The plan is to have this done by the end of the month.”

  Ginger stared at him. “Is that possible? To build a house in that short a time?”

  Ty nodded. “With enough help and good coordination. But it’ll be tough. This time of year, it gets dark at four in the afternoon, and January is our coldest and wettest month weather-wise. Fortunately, it’s a small frame house on a conventional foundation, which makes things easier.”

  “You don’t sound very confident.”

  Ty shook his head. “I just don’t think we’ll get enough people from the church to help. Not and have it done as quickly as Jim wants.”

  Ginger refused to be discouraged. “Then I’ll just have to prove you wrong.”

  Ty gave her a skeptical smile. “I hope you do.”

  Chapter Seven

  Ginger flipped on the blinker and made the turn from the county road onto a gravel driveway leading between giant oak trees. It had taken her a few minutes to figure out the GPS in Ty’s car, but once she had, she’d found her way to the Stanton property easily. The trees opened up to a wide, grassy area filled with pickup trucks and cars parked around the foundation of the home where the exterior walls were being erected. Selecting an out-of-the-way spot, she parked and climbed out. Loud popping noises filled the air as another two-by-four section of wall was raised into place. She had no idea what was going on, but the thought of all these people here to help a family in need warmed her heart.

  “Hello. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  Ginger glanced over at the woman approaching. It took her a moment to recognize Laura Durrant. “Hi. I could say the same.” She looked completely different from last Sunday and even from yesterday morning. Stained and worn jeans were tucked into scuffed work boots. Her green T-shirt was faded and stretched out. A tool belt hung around her hips. Her hair, so long and lovely the other day, was caught up into a spiky knot on top of her head.

  “My other jobs are on schedule, so I pulled some of my crew off to help over here. Shaw called in a few favors, too. Ty wants to get this roof done by the weekend.”

  “So fast?”

  “I think so. With all of us, and the volunteers that you notified, and if the weather holds, we should be able to. So, what brings you to our job site?”

  “I wanted a firsthand look. It’s exciting seeing everyone come together like this to help a neighbor. Mainly I wanted to get a designated spot set up so everyone knows exactly where to put the food each day.”

  “I have the perfect spot.”

  Ginger followed Laura to an old garage located several yards back from the house. “We’re using this space to store materials that need to be protected from weather. But I’ll make sure we lea
ve this side free for the food tables.”

  “Perfect. This way we can come and go, and not be in the way.” Ginger watched the men working, her gaze scanning each pair of shoulders for one in particular.

  “He’s not here. Evans and Dabbs building supply donated felt paper and shingles for the roof. He’s gone to McComb to pick it up.”

  Ginger blushed. “I wasn’t... I mean, he’s the only person I know who might be here.”

  “Oh, right.” Laura winked at her.

  “Well, I’d better get back to my car and watch for Sue and Doris Young. They’re bringing lunch today.”

  “Before you go, can I ask you a question?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Laura pulled her aside, her expression clouded. “I’m worried about Ty. He’s not his usual self.”

  Ginger frowned. “I’m not sure why you’re asking me. I’ve only known him a short while.”

  “But you’ve been with him more than the family has. I can see he’s troubled, but I don’t know what to do. My parents are concerned, too.”

  She didn’t want to betray Ty’s confidence, but neither did she want his family to worry. “Ty has been through a life-changing event. That’s not something you get over quickly.”

  Laura’s blue eyes narrowed. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”

  Ginger wasn’t ready to get into her complicated past. “We all have situations in our life that are difficult to process.”

  Laura nodded thoughtfully. “I guess you’re right. I was married before, and it ended badly. I had a lot of soul-searching to do before I could give my heart to Adam. It’s just...Ty was so closed off last Sunday. He was scowling and grumpy all day. Usually he’s the one joking around, but the only time he seemed like his old self was when he was talking to you or Elliot. You seem to have a connection with him we don’t.”