Love Inspired May 2015 #1

by Brenda Minton

  Chrissy released his fingers and reached for a small blue plastic teapot. “We need water.”

  “Please,” Natalie added sweetly.

  Shaw took the pot into the kitchen, questioning his lapse in judgment in agreeing to watch the children. He felt inadequate. Nervous. What if he failed? What if something happened and he messed up, the way he’d messed up with their father? Lord, please keep me alert and aware. Help me keep these little girls safe until Lainie comes home. He’d keep an eagle eye on the children. Never let them out of his sight. Shaw stared at the small blue teapot, old doubts rising to the surface of his mind. He still questioned his actions that day on the roof. He needed to make sure nothing happened tonight. A quick glance at his watch revealed he’d only been a babysitter for ten minutes. It was going to be a long night.

  “Sit down, Misser Shaw, so you can have your tea and cookies.”

  Resigned to his fate, Shaw lowered himself to the floor sitting cross-legged as Natalie handed him a tiny cup and saucer. His hand was so large, he could barely pinch his fingers together to grasp the small handle. He watched as the girls took little sips of “tea.” He raised the cup and took a sip. He felt ridiculous.

  Natalie smiled at him. “Isn’t our Princess Club pretty?”

  Shaw took in the circular area filled with feathers, bows and other girlie things. “Very nice. But I thought you said boys weren’t allowed. Except Beaux.”

  “You’re not really a boy,” Natalie explained.

  “Yeah, you’re more of a daddy so it’s okay.”

  Shaw’s throat tightened. Daddy? No. Not happening.

  “Our daddy is in heaven.” Chrissy adjusted her hat.

  Natalie nodded. “Mommy has a picture in her room.”

  How was he supposed to respond to that? “I’m sure he was a good dad.”

  “I guess.” Natalie shrugged. “I don’t remember him.”

  Chrissy poured more tea into her yellow cup. “He was a superhero. Mommy said so.”

  The knife edge of guilt twisted deeper inside him. His actions had cost Lainie her husband and these girls a devoted father.

  Chrissy looked at him. “I want to buy a new daddy. One I can hug.”

  Natalie adjusted her white hat with pink flowers. “You can’t buy a daddy, silly. You have to find one.”

  For the first time, Shaw felt the full impact of what Lainie and her children had lost. The hole left in their lives. Lainie’s struggles became more apparent. But she was young and lovely, and full of determination. She’d meet someone someday who could fill those empty places and be the husband she deserved, and the daddy Natalie and Chrissy longed for.

  The truth was painfully clear. He had no place in Lainie’s life. He’d best keep his barriers up. He couldn’t afford to let his heart care. One day, the girls would grow up and ask questions about their dad. He’d never withstand the look of horror in their eyes when they learned his role in their father’s death.

  Natalie picked up a pink hat and held it out. “Here, Mr. Shaw, you can wear this one.”

  He frowned. “That’s okay. I’ll pass.”

  “You have to have a hat for a tea party. It’s a rule.”

  He took the floppy hat with its long trailing ribbon, then looked at the little girl. The bright sparkle in her eyes, the joy in her smile, was his downfall. How was a guy supposed to stay strong in the face of such cuteness and innocence?

  The girls were miniatures of their mother. Bright, engaging and full of life, and he wanted nothing more in that moment than to make them happy. With a dejected sigh, he placed the hat on his head.

  “You look bee-you-tee-ful.” Chrissy clasped her small hands together and gave him a dreamy smile.

  He nodded, knowing that two little princesses had taken his six-foot-two frame to the mat like a WWE champion. And he didn’t really mind.

  For tonight, he’d let go and lose himself in pink glitter and a pretend tea party. He scratched Beaux’s ear. “You tell anyone about this and I’ll deny it and ship your spotted carcass to the pound. Are we clear?” A resounding and heartfelt bark was the response.

  * * *

  Lainie sat in the empty meeting room Tuesday evening, clutching her folder, her stomach churning with an odd mixture of emotions—anxiety over leaving Shaw in charge of her daughters, excitement over the prospect of working with the book collection, and fear that her logic and enthusiasm might not sway the board. She shoved the doubts aside. She had to trust Shaw would keep a close eye on the girls. As far as the meeting went, she’d do her best. That was all she could do.

  She’d spent the day working on Shaw’s books. His accounts weren’t in bad shape, just behind. She’d gained a better understanding of his business. He was balancing multiple projects, any one of which could fall apart suddenly and leave him in financial trouble. She couldn’t decide if he was a risk taker or just a man in the throes of starting a new business. In her job for Mrs. Forsythe, she’d helped the older woman start several small businesses and dismantle a few when they didn’t work out.

  The door abruptly opened and Mayor Ogden and two others walked in. The look of surprise on the mayor’s face told her he hadn’t been forewarned of her presence. “I thought we covered your position yesterday, Mrs. Hollings.”

  “We did, but I have questions about another aspect of the library I’d like to discuss with the board.”

  “Very well. However, you’ll have to wait until we get our regular business out of the way. Let me introduce you to the other board members, Angie Durrant and Blake Prescott.”

  Mrs. Durrant welcomed her with a smile and a warm handshake. “You’re Shaw’s friend. I’m so glad to finally meet our new head librarian.” Angela Durrant was an attractive woman in her fifties, with a friendly smile that made Lainie like her immediately. The other member was a man in his midthirties. Confident, polished and attractive, but distant and guarded.

  Lainie’s mind wandered as the business part of their meeting unfolded. She wondered how Shaw was doing with the girls. Maybe she should call and check on them. He’d looked terrified when she’d asked him to babysit. Maybe her concern should be for his safety. Her little treasures could be a handful.

  She was puzzled at how quickly the girls had taken to him. She’d heard children had good instincts about people. If that was true, then Shaw wasn’t all bad. If she looked at things objectively, she had no reason to distrust him. He’d been nothing but helpful from the start, and working for him had given her a sense of purpose she’d lost after the robbery and the setback with her job.

  The memory of shaking Shaw’s hand replayed unexpectedly in her mind. She’d found herself lingering in his grasp, surprised at the odd flutter in her pulse. His touch had been warm and secure, and given her a sense of grounding deep inside she hadn’t felt for a long time.

  “Now, Mrs. Hollings. What did you wish to discuss with us?” The mayor motioned her toward a chair near their conference table.

  “I wanted to ask about the books.” She opened her folder.

  Mayor Ogden frowned and peered over the rim of his glasses. “I don’t understand.”

  “The donor’s private collection. Is it here in town? Has anyone started to sort them? And what about the other books the library will need? Who selected them? Has that process even begun?” The board members stared back at her. “Everyone seems to be focused on getting the building finished, but no one has mentioned what’s to go inside once it’s done.”

  Angie Durrant glanced at the mayor. “That’s a very good question. As I understand it, the collection is housed in a warehouse in town until it’s time to be transferred to the library.”

  “I hope the warehouse is climate controlled, otherwise the books could suffer damage.”

  Mayor Ogden harrumphed. “As for the rest of the books, they
are to be ordered by the head librarian.”

  “Which is me. So when can I start? I’d like to see what books are included in the donation so I can decide what needs to be purchased for a well-rounded selection. I’d like to review the budget, as well, to see how many books I can order and how many employees I can hire.”

  “Wait just a minute, Mrs. Hollings. You aren’t even on the payroll. We can’t authorize anything like that until the building is done. And the project is behind schedule.”

  “Exactly. Was there no provision for that? How were the books supposed to be processed if the job had been on schedule?” The members glanced at one another.

  Lainie took a second to tamp down her rising irritation. Didn’t these people understand what they were facing? “May I ask how you planned on opening a library without any books?”

  Angie Durrant turned to the man on her left. “Blake, you’re the legal advisor here. Mrs. Hollings raises a good point.”

  Blake, who had been silent so far, straightened in his chair. “If the remodel had been completed by the initial deadline, then there would have been ample time for the books to be moved in and the remainder ordered and delivered. With the deadline pushed back, there were no provisions for adjustments in other areas.”

  Lainie was beginning to think this bequest was more trouble than it was worth in some ways. “So what happens now? You’ll have a grand opening for an empty library?” Lainie leaned toward the members, pressing her point. “The books in the donor’s collection have to be entered into the library system individually by hand. That takes time.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  Lainie appreciated Angie Durrant’s genuine interest. “Let me start work on that now. Mr. McKinney assures me he’ll have the construction done before the deadline. If I can start cataloging the book collection and start ordering the rest of the stock, then we can finish at the same time.”

  Angie Durrant sent Lainie an encouraging smile. “She has a point, Bill.”

  Mayor Ogden huffed and tapped the table with his finger. “She cannot work until that building is done. It’s not just the bequest, it’s the law. There’s no way around it.”

  “What if I could find another place to work? I could start on the books, Shaw can keep working on the building and when it’s done, we simply move the books into place.”

  “That’s a good idea.” Angie smiled at Lainie.

  The mayor tapped the table top with one finger. “But is it in compliance with the donation? We cannot do anything that will jeopardize this bequest.”

  Blake clasped his hands on the table. “That’s true, Mayor, but maybe I can find something that will allow us to give Mrs. Hollings the ability to work in another capacity. I’ll look into it.”

  “Fine.” The mayor waved a hand. “Blake will contact us if he finds a solution. In the meantime, things remain as they are. Thank you for your input, Mrs. Hollings.” The mayor stood and exited the room. Blake followed with a smile and a nod in her direction. Angie Durrant stopped and offered her hand.

  “I think we made a wise choice when we selected you as our new librarian. Your passion for the job is evident. I’ll do a little checking on my own, and keep a fire at Blake’s feet and let you know when I hear something. Give me your phone number and I’ll call you myself.”

  “Well, I must admit it’s partly driven by need. I have two little girls to support. I’m living off charity at the moment and I don’t like it.”

  “That’s right. I heard Shaw was taking care of you. He’s a good man. We think the world of him.”

  Everyone in Dover seemed to think that. Apparently, she was the only one who knew a different side to him. Or were they right and she was wrong? She didn’t have time or energy to think about that now.

  Inside her vehicle, Lainie pulled out her phone and dialed Shaw’s number, needing reassurance that things had gone well. The phone rang several times before going to voice mail, triggering a small grain of concern. Maybe he hadn’t made it to the phone in time to answer. She dialed again. Still no answer.

  With her heart in her throat, she started the car and headed home. The urgency in her veins cried out to break the speed limits, but common sense ruled. It was only a few blocks, after all. But what if something had happened? What if one of the girls was ill or hurt and Shaw had taken them to the hospital? Losing her girls was the only thing that turned her from a practical, commonsense woman into a panic-stricken jellyfish. Why hadn’t he called? Surely, he wasn’t that irresponsible. But he had been in the past.

  Lainie stomped on the brake, bringing her car to an abrupt halt beside Shaw’s truck. Grabbing her things, she jogged to the porch and hurried into the kitchen. Her heart pounded violently, but not so loudly that she didn’t notice the quiet in her apartment. Were the girls in bed? If Shaw’s truck was here, then nothing bad must have happened. She didn’t smell smoke.

  Taking a deep breath, she dashed into the living room, stopping in surprise at the sight that greeted her. Shaw was sitting in the middle of the sofa, head resting on the back, sound asleep. Chrissy was tucked up at his side, her princess crown askew on her head as she slept. Natalie was stretched out on the floor using Beaux as a pillow. The sight of the three of them brought a smile to her face. But what really tickled her were the small glitter stickers on Shaw’s cheeks. From the looks of things, all was well.

  She couldn’t wait to hear the story behind that. Gently, she tapped his knee. He stirred then jerked awake.

  “Lainie.”

  “Did the girls wear you out?”

  He sat up, careful not to waken Chrissy. “No. They were great.”

  “I expected to find them asleep in their beds. Not down here.”

  He gave her a sheepish glance. “Yeah, well I put them in bed, but they wouldn’t stay there.”

  Lainie giggled. “I know what you mean. I’d better get them upstairs.” She scooped up Chrissy.

  “I’ll help.” He picked up Natalie, and they went upstairs and tucked the sleeping girls into bed.

  Back in the kitchen, Lainie faced Shaw. “Thank you for helping tonight.”

  “No problem, but I’m glad you’re back.” He grinned and tugged on his ear. “They’re more active than my dog. Taking care of them is a huge responsibility. I don’t envy you.”

  “Too much responsibility for a bachelor?”

  “Way too much.”

  For some reason, Lainie was disappointed by his response.

  “Did you win your case with the board?”

  She smiled. “I think so. I’ll know soon. The problem stems from not being allowed to work in the library until it’s finished.”

  “No one can until the final inspection is approved and we’re issued the Certificate of Occupancy.”

  “I pointed out flaws in their process and a possible solution. Their attorney, Blake Prescott, is looking into it.”

  Shaw scratched his cheek and found the stickers. He pulled them off, a blush of embarrassment staining his tanned skin. “The girls promised they’d go to bed as soon as I put on stickers.”

  Lainie smiled. “Didn’t work, did it?” He shook his head. “They can be very inventive when they don’t want to go to bed. I imagine having you and Beaux to play with was too much fun to waste on sleep.”

  Shaw fisted his hands and stared at them a moment before opening them and showing her his fingernails. “How do I get this stuff off?”

  “Oh, my.” She couldn’t stop laughing at the sight of this rugged guy sporting blue nail polish. “You are a pushover, aren’t you? Sit down.” She took the bottle of nail polish remover from the cupboard, along with several cotton balls. “It was nice of you to let them paint you up.”

  “They were having fun so—”

  “Give me your hand.” Shaw complied, but when she too
k his fingers in her hand, a flash of heat darted along her arm and lodged in the center of her chest. She forced herself to look only at the nail she was working on and not his face. But with each swipe of the cotton ball, she grew more and more conscious of how nice his hands were. The broad palms, the long tapered fingers, the smooth tanned skin marred by a few scars and calluses. A workingman’s hands.

  Touching him stirred an unwelcome attraction. She was impressed with his willingness to let the girls cover him in stickers and paint his fingernails. She wouldn’t have expected that from a diehard bachelor. Aware of the tension between them, Lainie cleared her throat and attempted light conversation. “My girls can be very persuasive.”

  “A couple of little charmers. It’s hard to say no. They told me this sky color matched my eyes.”

  “Oh, no. Your eyes aren’t sky blue, they’re cobalt like those old bottles...” She froze. What was wrong with her? She shouldn’t be paying Shaw any compliments. What would he think?

  “I’m partial to brown eyes myself.”

  She had brown eyes. Lainie pressed her lips together, forcing herself to not react. That was the Shaw she’d expected, always looking for a way to charm the ladies. Picking up a fresh cotton ball, she doused it with polish remover and started on Shaw’s other hand working quickly to complete the task.

  “I’m sure the library board will decide in your favor.”

  “You sound confident.”

  “I am. Anyone who can raise two great kids all alone can do anything.”

  Lainie finished cleaning the last nail and released his hand, trying to ignore the compliments he’d given her. They didn’t mean anything. He scattered flattery like beads at Mardi Gras, without any real thought. Still, she found herself wishing he’d meant them. Which was completely out of line. She needed some space. “Thank you again.”

  Shaw stood. “My pleasure. If you need a babysitter, you know where to find me. Just tap on the glass and I’ll come running.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t think I’ll be needing you anymore.” His eyes darkened again, and he turned to leave. A funny hitch in her pulse refused to stop, even after he’d closed the door. She needed to get a grip. She would not fall prey to the compliments of a skilled charmer like Shaw.