Tenderly (Seven Brides Seven Brothers Pelican Bay)

by Belle Calhoune

“Micah! That’s not how He works. He always listens to our prayers, both great and small. You’re no less worthy of prayer than anyone else in creation.”

  “Thanks for reminding me of that.”

  Faith grinned and reached for his script. “Let’s dig in to this script so you can rehearse with Lorelei. Time’s a wasting.”

  He mockingly saluted her. “Yes, Ma’am.”

  With Faith and Lorelei’s help, Micah had aced the commercial, which was scheduled to air during the Super Bowl in one of the prime commercial spots. The client had hinted at using him and Lorelei for a sequel to the initial ad. It had been a proud moment for Micah.

  Although things had been going great between him and Faith, Micah couldn’t help but wonder why he hadn’t heard from her in a few days. He’d left several messages on her phone and texted her a few times, but he hadn’t heard back from her, even though it was now the weekend and she wasn’t working.

  He had spoken to his mother about it this morning and taken advice from her.

  “Micah, you should find her and see what’s going on. Maybe something happened at work. Or perhaps she’s sick. Don’t assume the worst.”

  “But why wouldn’t she just tell me that?”

  “For a dozen or more reasons. You have to give people the benefit of the doubt before you start thinking all doom and gloom. The two of you are in a relatively new relationship. These things happen.”

  Strangely he sometimes felt as if he’d known Faith for a lifetime. But his mother was right. He pressed a kiss against his mother’s temple and said, “Thanks for always being here and having my back. You always make me feel better about everything.”

  “I’m your mom. That’s what I’m supposed to do. Now if I could only take my own advice for my marriage.”

  Micah felt a slight sense of alarm. He prayed his parents weren’t moving toward divorce. Seeing them enduring a separation had already been very emotional for the entire family.

  “Is something going on? Other than the separation?”

  A hint of a smile played around her lips. “Well, don’t rush to tell everyone, but we’ve been going out on a few dates here and there. Nothing major, but it’s been fun. Movie dates. Walks on the beach. Dinners.”

  “That’s great, Mom,” Micah said as a feeling of joy spread through him. The thought of his parents reconciling felt like manna from heaven. It was what he and his siblings wanted more than anything. And he knew they still loved each other despite their problems.

  “So far it’s all good. We still have our issues, but we’re slowly moving back in each other’s orbit.”

  “Do you mind my asking about those issues? You and Pops have been really quiet about the specifics.”

  Penelope let out a sigh. “Your father and I were slowly drifting apart. We discovered that each of us viewed our future quite differently. I want to travel and spend more time with my grandbabies, while your father dreams of expanding the Silver Spoon and spending almost every waking hour there.” She made a tutting sound and shook her head. “That’s not living. Not after all these years. We’ve earned the right to enjoy your golden years.” She winked at her son. “Not that I’m ready to sit in my rocking chair just yet.”

  He chuckled. “I understand what you’re saying, Mom. And I don’t blame you for wanting to stop and smell the roses. You’ve earned that right. I’ve been praying for you guys.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart. We’ll take all the prayers we can get. Now hurry up and go see about Faith. I like that girl!”

  After hearing his mother’s sage advice, Micah decided to drive over to her house to check on her. When he drove up to her home, Micah couldn’t help but stand in the front yard and grin at the structure. It reminded him of Faith. It was a light blue color with cheery pink shutters. It was modest in size, yet full of personality. Flower boxes graced all of the front windows—a cornucopia of colors were on full display. Micah walked toward the door and rang the bell.

  A few moments later Faith opened the door dressed in a beautiful floral sundress. Her expression was one of surprise as she laid eyes on him. “Micah! What are you doing here?”

  “I was worried about you. It’s been a few days since we’ve spoken. It’s like you disappeared on me.”

  A sheepish expression crept over her face. She waved him inside. “Come in. I owe you an apology and an explanation.”

  Micah stepped into Faith’s home and immediately felt a sense of being in a good space. Faith’s influences were all around him. Photos of her parents and her as a child graced the mantelpiece. Beautiful framed pictures hung on the walls. A floral bouquet sat on her kitchen table. The place was comforting and cozy.

  “I just made some lemon bars and iced tea. Let’s have a seat,” Faith said, gesturing toward the kitchen table. As Micah sat down Faith grabbed the pitcher of iced tea and the plate of lemon bars. She poured the ice tea into two glasses and sat down.

  She let out a sigh. “It’s been a tough week.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, biting into a lemon bar. “I wish I could have helped.”

  “It was the anniversary of my parents’ death. It brought back a lot of emotions and a world of pain.” She sipped from her glass. “And guilt.”

  Micah frowned. “Guilt? What do you have to feel guilty about?”

  She ran a hand through her lustrous mane. “I made it out when they didn’t.” She let out a deeply held breath. “And I’ve always felt guilty about the cause of the fire. Oh Micah, I think it was my fault.”

  **

  There. She’d finally said the words she had been holding onto ever since the fire. Faith had always felt guilty about her parents’ deaths, but she had never been able to articulate her feelings of pain and ownership for the fire. Now, she was finally able to get it off her chest. Because of Micah. Because she trusted him with her truths.

  “Faith. What are you talking about?”

  “I was your typical teenager, Micah. Obsessed with my looks and my hair and makeup and clothes. I was playing with my hair for hours, trying out new styles and using the curling iron. It wasn’t mine though. It was my mother’s curling iron and I was using it at her vanity in her bedroom. I fell asleep that night without turning it off.” Hoe tears ran down her face. She didn’t bother to wipe them away. Her pain cut like a knife through her soul.

  “Oh, baby,” Micah said, standing up from his chair and making his way to where she was seated. He embraced her, pressing kisses against her temple. “I can’t believe you’ve been carrying this around with you for such a long time. That type of weight is way too much to carry.”

  “I feel so much better now that I’ve put it into words.” She pressed her eyes closed. “It’s been eating me up inside and I was always too afraid to tell anyone.”

  “You don’t know for sure that was the cause, do you?”

  “No, I don’t,” she said with a shake of her head. “But what if it was?”

  “Faith, we can’t live our lives with what ifs. Can we?”

  “No,” she said softly, shaking her head.

  “I think you might be dealing with survivor’s guilt. You lived when they didn’t. That’s a hard thing to accept, even though it was exactly what your parents would have wanted to happen.”

  “You’re right about that. They were the most loving, selfless parents in the world. Everything they did in this world they did for me.”

  Micah tipped her head up by placing his finger underneath her chin. “They loved you, Faith. By being in this world you’re carrying them around with you. They live on through you.”

  She smiled at him, marveling at the way he always made things better.

  “Thank you. You’re absolutely right. My parents always put me first. They loved me.”

  Micah leaned over and pressed a tender kiss against Faith’s lips. It was a bit unexpected, but Faith didn’t mind one bit. She’d been wanting for Micah to kiss her for the longest time, so much so that she had begun to wonder if she
shouldn’t make the first move. But now she didn’t have to. He was kissing her! And it felt special and wondrous. As his lips moved against hers, Faith placed her hand on Micah’s shoulder. She felt so connected to him in this moment. The scent of him filled her nostrils. He smelled like clean, fresh soap and sunshine. His lips were soft and warm and she felt as if she just might lose herself in this kiss.

  When they broke apart neither of them could stop grinning.

  “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time,” Micah confessed.

  “I’ve been wanting you to do that for a long time,” Faith teased, her cheeks blushing.

  Micah stroked her cheek. “Faith, I’m really glad you came into my life.”

  “I feel the same way, Micah. An hour ago I was down in the dumps, yet a simple visit from you has turned everything around. That’s a special talent, Mr. Donahue.”

  “You’re special, Faith. I hope you realize how special you truly are. And if you don’t, I’m going to spend every day telling you just how magnificent you are.”

  “In the end, it’s about truth and light. Love thrives in the light, not in darkness.”

  Jason Donahue

  Chapter Eight

  Faith had been by his side and soothed his fears through her nurturing personality and prayer. Now, he had an opportunity to help Faith and to smooth things over between him and Rafferty. Micah had set the wheels in motion a few days ago and now he was meeting up with Rafferty at the fire house. He prayed Rafferty would be over their dispute.

  The Pelican Bay Fire House was a well-established brick building in the downtown area. The firefighters from this house were some of the bravest, most hard working rescue works in the state. Micah had seen up close and personal Rafferty’s dedication to his profession. Heroes ran into burning buildings while others tried to escape. Like his best friend, the profession was a noble one.

  As Micah walked into the firehouse he was immediately greeted by a host of firefighters who worked alongside Rafferty. Micah was treated like one of their own. They knew him as Rafferty’s best friend, and to them, Rafferty was the heart and soul of the firehouse.

  When he found Rafferty he was in the kitchen whipping up some pasta for his fellow firefighters. Micah stood watching for a moment, unsure of how to break the ice.

  “Are you just going to stand there? I could use a hand.” Rafferty spoke to him without even turning around.

  Did Rafferty have eyes in the back of his head or something? It was a little uncanny how he always seemed to sense things. It was probably one of the reasons he was such an amazing firefighter.

  Micah stepped forward and began to stir the sauce on the stove while Rafferty drained the pasta. Micah loved the camaraderie amongst the firefighters. They were like a family. They cooked meals for each other and always had each other’s backs. It reminded him of his own family in many ways.

  Once the pasta was drained, Rafferty took out a huge bowl and poured the pasta in. He took a spoon and dipped it into the pasta sauce then blew on it before tasting it. He shut his eyes and said, “It’s perfection.”

  He poured the sauce on top of the pasta and began stirring it all together. When he was done he walked over to the large, wooden table a few feet away and plopped the bowl down. Within seconds firefighters seemed to be crawling out of the woodwork to eat. Rafferty returned with cut up slices of Italian bread, a big salad and some mozzarella cheese.

  Micah’s mouth started watering.

  “Why don’t we go in the lounge and talk?”

  “Don’t you want to eat?” Micah asked, feeling badly that he’d come at an inconvenient time. “I can come back later.”

  “No worries. I’ll grab something later,” Rafferty said. “Save some pasta for me, all right?” he called out to his co-workers.

  “We’re not making any promises,” a female firefighter named Jordan called out, earning a chorus of laughter from the others.

  Once they were inside the room, Rafferty turned to face Micah. His expression was inscrutable. “Let’s sit down,” he suggested, taking a seat at the small table. Once Micah sat down, Rafferty said. “I did some digging about the fire that killed Faith’s parents.”

  Micah leaned on his elbows. He could barely contain his curiosity. “And? What did you find out?”

  “This particular fire was subjected to a lengthy investigation due to it involving two fatalities. The investigation showed it wasn’t arson. And it wasn’t due to a curling iron or a household appliance.”

  “Woot!” Micah said in a raised voice. He pumped his fist in the air. Relief flooded him. “That’s incredible news. Do you know what happened?”

  “It was electrical in nature. Sadly, it was due to some wiring issues in the house. It was one of those things waiting to happen. They probably had no idea it was faulty. Probably wear and tear since the house was old. Sadly, we see it all the time.”

  Micah let out a ragged breath. It was such a tragic loss. “And it cost Faith’s parents their lives. I can’t wait to let Faith know she wasn’t responsible. It’s still heartbreaking to learn the true cause of the fire, but at least she won’t have to bear the brunt of the guilt.”

  “I’m sure she’s going to feel incredibly relieved.” Rafferty frowned at him. “What’s going on between the two of you? Are you dating?”

  Micah nodded. “Yes, we are. Faith is an incredible woman. I’m a lucky guy.”

  Rafferty grinned. “It’s been a while since you’ve been in a relationship. You seem happy.”

  “I am. And I’m sorry about our disagreement. It doesn’t feel right not speaking to you. You’re my best friend, Raff. I don’t want anything to get between our friendship.”

  Rafferty nodded. “I feel the same way. But we have to squash this awkwardness about Pamela. We’re getting married, Micah, and I need your support.”

  “I don’t know how to fix it.”

  “Maybe we should all go out some time so everyone can just smooth over everything.”

  Micah crossed his hands on the table. “I’m not sure you see Pamela for who she is. If you’d heard her the other night—”

  “I know her, Micah,” he said curtly. “And she may not be your idea of an ideal life partner, but she’s mine. Got it?”

  Micah nodded. “Got it.”

  Rafferty was in deep. He didn’t have a clue. He was looking at everything with rose colored glasses. But he was still his best friend and Micah needed to help him. Perhaps he could show him Pamela’s true colors. He was afraid if he told him about Pamela’s come-ons he might lose Rafferty’s friendship forever. After all, he would have to explain why he hadn’t told Rafferty about the incidents much earlier.

  Maybe there would be a miracle. Or perhaps he would just learn to live with Pamela as Rafferty’s wife.

  “We can do dinner one night, the four of us. But I won’t sit by and allow Faith to be disrespected,” Micah said. “Pamela will have to cool it or I don’t want any part of it.” He wasn’t going to sit by and allow Faith to get hurt. Not on his watch!

  Rafferty let out a relieved sigh. “I’ll make sure Pamela does her part to put away any childhood beef they had between them. She loves Faith. She invited her to be in the wedding, which is huge for Pamela. I really believe it will all work itself out.”

  Micah couldn’t even muster the wherewithal to speak. He didn’t agree with Rafferty but he wanted to move forward and support him as best he could.

  Rafferty gestured toward the other room. “I’ve got to get back to work. Let’s get something down on the calendar.”

  Rafferty clapped him on the shoulder and grinned at him.

  “Thanks for digging in to the report on the fire. I know you probably had to go looking in some old files to do so. I greatly appreciate it. And I know it will bring Faith some healing,” Micah said.

  “That’s what best friends are for, right?” Rafferty asked with a grin.

  “You’ve got that right,” Micah said, walking behind his
best friend as they exited the lounge. With a wave, Micah was walking away and out of the firehouse. Although he was overjoyed about the report Rafferty had dug up, he was still worried about the upcoming wedding. Micah knew Rafferty believed what he was saying about his fiancée, but he himself was still wary of Pamela. Because of those feelings he was uncertain of what the future might bring.

  Friends forever! Hadn’t that always been their motto? Hadn’t they always said they would stick together through thick and thin? Through the best and worst of times?

  He prayed it wouldn’t all fall apart because of Pamela.

  **

  Faith had tentatively agreed to dinner out with Micah, Rafferty and Pamela. Because she cared so deeply for Micah she was willing to be in her cousin’s presence for a night out, knowing Micah would serve as a buffer between them. Faith knew without a shadow of a doubt she had fallen in love with Micah. It had all happened so quickly she hadn’t fully prepared herself for the feelings he might arouse in her. She felt almost giddy about it, but filled with a good dose of fear. What if he would never be able to return her feelings? What if he broke things off with her? Because of her insulated life, Faith had never had to deal with such things before. She’d been plodding along in life until Micah had crashed into her world. Now, nothing would ever be the same. Her heart no longer belonged to her. It was Micah’s.

  She glanced at the clock on the dashboard of her car. She and Micah had agreed to come separately since he was traveling back to Pelican Bay from an out of town assignment. Faith had deliberately worn a sleeveless dress that hid nothing. She had no intention of hiding behind long sleeves anymore. If Pamela didn’t like it, she could take a hike. Faith began to giggle. For so long she had been afraid of her cousin’s venom and wrath. She used to cower like a frightened animal rather than risk upsetting Pamela. Those days were gone. She prayed Pamela would be on her best behavior tonight. She really wanted Rafferty and Micah to get back on track. If she had to deal with Pamela’s stinky attitude for a little bit, she knew it was something she could handle.