With a tender smile, she leaned down and kissed her daughter’s forehead.
“Can you tell me about the Tooth Fairy now?” Emma asked, looking up at her mother.
He should’ve known Emma wouldn’t forget what he’d told her after she’d showed them her loose tooth that morning.
“When your tooth falls out, you put it under your pillow,” Annie said. “After you go to sleep that night, the Tooth Fairy comes. She takes your tooth and leaves you some money in its place.”
“She takes my tooth?” Emma’s eyes widened. “Does she give it back?”
“Not usually.”
Emma’s face puckered. “That’s not very nice.”
“Well, you don’t have to give her your tooth if you don’t want to. It’s just a game parents play with their kids when they lose a tooth.”
“It’s a game?”
“Yes, or maybe we should call it a tradition, like the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.”
Emma’s expression grew thoughtful. “But they’re not real, right?”
Alex straightened. Emma seemed awfully young to know that the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus weren’t real.
“That’s right,” Annie continued. “But we can still play the Tooth Fairy game when you lose your tooth if you’d like.”
Emma glanced up at her mom, a slight frown creasing her forehead.
“Hey, who says the Tooth Fairy isn’t real?” Alex crossed the room and squatted next to Emma’s bed. “She always left me a dollar every time I put a tooth under my pillow.”
Emma’s eyes grew round as marbles. “A dollar?”
“That’s right, a whole dollar.”
“Sounds like you had a very generous Tooth Fairy,” Annie added, but she didn’t sound particularly happy about it.
“That’s right. She never let me down.” He smiled at Emma. “And as you can see—” he pointed to his teeth “—I had a lot of chances to find out if she’d come.”
“Do you think she’ll leave me a dollar when my tooth comes out?”
“Sure she will. Just be good and be sure to tuck your tooth under your pillow the day it falls out.” Alex patted her shoulder. “She’ll know it’s there. You’ll see.”
She smiled up at him, her eyes glowing. “Okay. I will.”
“Night, Emma.” He smoothed her hair down and stepped back. “Sweet dreams.”
Annie kissed Emma once more and followed him out of the room. As soon as they stepped into the hall, Annie motioned him to follow her away from Emma’s door.
His heartbeat kicked up in anticipation of another kiss, but when she turned and faced him, the look in her eyes said a kiss was the last thing on her mind.
“Why did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Try to make Emma believe the Tooth Fairy is real.”
He straightened, surprised by the irritation in her voice. “Well...she seems awfully young to give up a fantasy she could enjoy for a few years.”
Annie’s eyes flashed. “There’s a big difference between truth and fairy tales.”
“Come on, Annie. What’s the harm in believing in the Tooth Fairy, or the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus for that matter?”
“The harm would be confusing her about what’s real and what isn’t.”
“She needs to know that at five years old?”
“Yes, she does.” Annie crossed her arms and leveled her steady gaze at him. “I want her to know Jesus is real, and when we read stories about Him in the Bible, I want her to believe those things actually happened.”
He tipped his head, conceding her point, but he still felt she was taking this too far. “So you don’t do Easter egg hunts? And what about Christmas? Is Santa banned, too?”
Annie bristled. “No, Emma hangs up her stocking and we visit Santa at the mall, but I tell her those are games we play, and I make sure she knows the true reason for the holiday.”
“That seems like a lot to expect a five-year-old to grasp.”
“She seemed to grasp it just fine until you tried to convince her the Tooth Fairy was real.”
“But that’s just a fun part of being a kid. It’s not going to hurt her.”
“Maybe not, but I wish you’d respect my decision and not try to undermine me.”
He held up his hands. “Okay. I get it. You’ve made up your mind.” His voice came out harsher than he intended. “I won’t mention the Tooth Fairy again.”
Hurt reflected in her eyes. “Try to see this from my perspective, Alex. You won’t be here to put a dollar under her pillow or fill her Christmas stocking. It’s up to me. I’m the only parent she has.”
Her words stung, but she was right. Unless he was willing to commit himself to taking on the role of husband and father, he had nothing to say about how she raised Emma.
She turned away and walked toward her bedroom.
“Annie, wait.”
She stopped in her doorway and looked back at him. “I’m tired, Alex. This isn’t a good time to talk.”
He swallowed and nodded. “Okay. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
But she didn’t reply. Instead she stepped into her room and closed her door.
* * *
Alex rolled over onto his side and stared out his bedroom window. The row of pines on the hill behind his grandmother’s home rose like tall, black soldiers silhouetted against the midnight sky. Above the treetops, stars winked back at him like tiny flashes of hope.
The kiss he had shared with Annie that morning replayed through his mind for the hundredth time, but the memory was quickly washed away as the conversation about the Tooth Fairy returned in full force. That final look of hurt in Annie’s eyes flashed before him again.
He groaned, rolled over and punched his pillow.
Was he crazy? What had he been thinking? He didn’t want to lose his chance with Annie over something as stupid as the Tooth Fairy.
Of course, it wasn’t stupid to Annie, and it wasn’t just the Tooth Fairy. He’d called her parenting skills into question and undercut what she’d been teaching Emma. That was a mistake, one he regretted now. She deserved his respect and support, but he’d laughed at her ideas and blown off her concern.
Would this ruin their chance at a relationship before it even started? What a terrible way to end the day.
He released a deep sigh and lifted his eyes to the ceiling. Lord, I’m sorry. I really messed things up tonight. Could You help me figure this out?
He wasn’t sure what else to say, but just talking to God about it and admitting he didn’t have the answers was a relief. A sense of peace settled over him, and for the first time in a long time, he believed God not only heard his prayer, but that the answer was on the way.
Closing his eyes, he settled into his pillow and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Thirteen
The doorbell rang a third time as Annie hurried down the hallway the next morning. Who would be coming to the door at nine-fifteen on a holiday weekend?
Annie passed Emma in the living room. Her daughter lay on the rug in her pajamas watching a VeggieTales video.
Peeking out the edge of the large oval glass in the front door, she spotted Jason Hughes. Surprise flashed through her, and she quickly pulled open the door and greeted him.
“Morning, Annie.” He smiled and held up a file folder. “I have the bid for the bakery renovations ready. I know you want to move quickly on this, so I thought I’d stop by and drop it off.” His warm gaze traveled over her, approval glowing in his eyes.
Heat infused her cheeks, and she pushed her damp curls over her shoulder.
His gaze shifted to her drippy hair. “I called and left a message about an hour ago.”
“I guess I didn’t hear the phone. Sorry.”
He held up his hand. “No, I’m the one who should apologize. Would you like me to come back later?”
“No, it’s okay. Irene’s still resting, and I’m not sure where Alex is, but you can come in.” She looked over her shoulder, wishing Alex would appear. Maybe Jason was just a friendly guy, but his admiring glances were making her a little uncomfortable.
“Alex went running.” Emma hopped up and joined her in the entryway. She smiled up at Jason. “Where’s Faith?”
He grinned at the mention of his daughter. “She’s at her aunt Cindy’s this morning, hanging out with her cousins and eating French toast with strawberries and whipped cream.”
“Mmm, I love French toast.” Emma turned to Annie. “Can you make me some?”
“We’ll talk about that in a few minutes. Why don’t you go get dressed?” She gave Emma a little pat on the back to get her moving.
Emma scampered off toward her bedroom.
“There are a few things I’d like to explain about the bid. Maybe I could go over those with you, and then you could pass that info on to Irene and Alex.”
A whisper of unease traveled through Annie. “I think we should wait for Alex to get back.”
He tipped his head and smiled. “But you’re going to be the new manager, right?”
“Yes, that’s true.” She rubbed her damp palms on her pants legs, still feeling uncertain.
“I don’t think he’ll mind. It’s all pretty straightforward.”
She couldn’t think of any other reason to delay him, so she motioned toward the living room. “Okay. Let’s sit in here.”
Jason settled on the couch while she paused the DVD. He opened the file folder and laid it on the coffee table.
Annie sat next to him, careful to keep some distance between them. She didn’t want to send the wrong message or encourage him in any way.
Jason studied her for a moment. Then he launched into his presentation, outlining the phases of the renovation and the different types of workmen he’d hire for each part of the job.
Annie nodded, trying to take it all in, but she didn’t have much experience with construction.
“If we can schedule some of the work for late December and the first half of January, we can save quite a bit by hiring college students who’ll be home on break. If you’re agreeable to that, I have a couple guys in mind who could do the tile and painting.”
“Are they experienced?”
He nodded. “I’ve used them before, and they did a good job for me.”
“We do want to save money, but we also want quality work.”
“Of course.” He grinned. “I’ll make sure you get what you pay for and keep the whole job on track. I won’t let anyone do shoddy work or cut corners on quality.” He paused and sent her a meaningful look. “I’ll look out for you, Annie. I promise.”
A tremor traveled up her back, and she broke eye contact with Jason. She flipped through the bid again, stopping at the last page. The figure at the bottom was higher than she’d expected, but what did she know about the cost of renovations?
“Do you have any questions?” Jason sat back and stretched his arm out behind her on the couch.
Annie leaned forward and placed the papers on the table. “Not right now, but I’ll show it to Irene and Alex and talk it over with them.”
“Great.” He turned toward her. “I’m looking forward to working on this project with you. I promise I’ll give you my best.”
Annie forced a small smile, trying to hide her discomfort. “Thanks, Jason.”
* * *
Alex’s feet pounded out a steady beat on the wet pavement as he rounded the corner of Bayside and Willow Road. Fresh, cool air filled his lungs.
He glanced at his watch and picked up the pace. He planned to be back at the house by nine-thirty. Annie should be up by then. He’d ask Irene to watch Emma so he and Annie could have a few minutes alone to talk. He had some important things he needed to say.
When he woke up this morning, the answer to his prayer was clear. He did not want to lose Annie. If he was going to convince her to take a risk on a long-distance relationship, he’d have to make the most of his last two days in Fairhaven. But he was up for the challenge.
He’d show her how much he cared and prove he was a man worthy of her trust and respect. And even though they’d soon be separated by hundreds of miles, their relationship could work.
By next summer, if things were still progressing as he hoped, Annie could move to San Francisco. That would give them more time together and a chance to be sure this was the right relationship for both of them. If that went well, maybe by next Christmas he’d be ready to propose.
Positive energy surged through him. Yes, this was a good plan, one that would make them both happy.
His grandmother’s house came into view at the end of the street, and he slowed his pace. But his heart continued to pound. He wasn’t sure if it was from the run or the thought of seeing Annie and telling her what he’d been thinking.
He jogged up the driveway and took the front steps two at a time. With his spirits flying high, he pushed open the front door and strode into the house.
He walked into the living room and spotted Annie sitting next to Jason. The brawny contractor had his arm stretched out across the back of the couch only a few inches from Annie’s shoulders. Alarm shot through Alex.
Annie’s eyes widened. “Alex!”
Jason stood and extended his hand. “Good morning, Alex.”
Alex nodded and shook his hand. “Jason.”
“I’m headed out of town later today, so I stopped by to drop off the bid.” He picked up a folder on the coffee table and offered it to Alex. “I thought you’d want to take a look at it before you fly back to San Francisco.”
The reminder that he’d be leaving town while Annie stayed behind hit him again. He clenched his jaw and glanced over the bid, frowning when he saw the total on the last page.
Jason smiled and motioned toward the file. “I always give my friends from church a ten percent discount.”
Alex studied the bid a few seconds longer without replying.
“Well, why don’t you read it through and then give me a call? My cell number’s on there.”
Alex nodded.
“If everything looks good to you, we could start working on the exterior right away. The order for the new sign should go in as soon as possible.”
Alex closed the folder. “We’ll discuss it with my grandmother and get back to you with our decision.”
Jason’s expression sobered. “Okay, I’ll wait to hear from you.”
Jason focused on Annie, and his smile returned. “Hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend. We won’t be in church on Sunday. I’m taking Faith down to Longview to see her grandparents, but we’ll be back Sunday afternoon.”
Alex frowned. Why did he think Annie needed to know when he was coming back? Were they making plans to get together after Alex left town? That thought shook him, and he quickly ushered Jason toward the front door.
Annie followed them into the foyer. “Hope you have a nice time with your family.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you next week.” Jason pushed open the screen and stepped outside.
She waved to him. “Bye, Jason.”
“Goodbye, Annie.” He nodded to Alex, but it looked like an afterthought.
Alex closed the door. “Man, he’s sure eager to get this job.”
“Yes, he’s quite the salesman, very persuasive.”
Alex huffed. “Persuasive? It seems more like overconfident and arrogant to me.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” He shook his head. “Like I said before, I’m not sure I like the idea of working with him.”
Annie narrowed her eyes
and studied him for a few seconds.
“What?” He lifted his hands, trying to read her expression. “He’s acting like he already has the job, but we haven’t even hired him.”
“I suppose he’s trying to show confidence.”
“It’s more than that. He’s obviously got something on his mind other than winning a contracting job.”
A faint smile teased the corners of her lips. “Alex Jameson, you sound like you’re jealous.”
He straightened and shook his head. “I’m not jealous. I just don’t like that he’s so pushy.”
She tipped her head and waited, her slight smile unchanged.
Heat crawled up his neck. “Okay. Maybe I’m a little jealous.”
Her smile bloomed, and she took a step closer. “Aw, Alex, don’t look so flustered, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
“It’s not?”
“No.” She slipped her hand into his and gave it a little squeeze. “It’s kind of sweet.”
Pleasant warmth flowed from her hand up Alex’s arm, and his irritation with Jason faded. “Can we talk about last night?”
She nodded, still holding tightly to his hand.
He led her into the living room, and they sat on the love seat. “I’m sorry for what I said. I was out of line. You’re doing a great job with Emma.”
“Thanks, Alex. That means a lot.”
“You deserve my support and encouragement, not some off-the-cuff advice I haven’t even thought through.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, I mean it, Annie. I want to do better.”
Sweet acceptance filled her eyes. “You know, ever since Emma was born, I’ve been the only one making decisions about what’s best for her. I’m not used to taking parenting advice from anyone else.”
He nodded, realizing again how much he admired her for the sacrifices she’d made to love and care for her daughter.
“But that doesn’t mean I have it all figured out, or that I don’t need help and advice. I do. But last night when you questioned me, I felt defensive and I overreacted.”
“But you were right, Annie. It’s important for Emma to understand what’s true and what’s pretend. When I was lying in bed last night, I prayed and God helped me see what’s most important.”
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