by Jill Kemerer
Father, give me wisdom. I love her so much. Will You lead her down the right path? I want her to be happy.
Claire’s phone rang, and her eyes flashed open.
Dad.
“So, what’s this about your sister calling off the wedding?” He sounded exasperated. She could relate.
“Yeah, she peeled out of Aunt Sally’s a little while ago.”
“Did Sally talk some sense into her?”
“No, she was getting groceries.”
“What is going on in that girl’s head? She’s not going to find a better guy than Jake. She’s making a mistake.”
Claire normally would take his approval of Jake as the green light to have a nice, long heart-to-heart with her sister, but she couldn’t. Not this time. “She’s twenty-one, Dad. She can make her own decisions. We’ll have to be extra supportive and pray she’ll come around.”
A long silence stretched.
“Dad? Are you still there?”
“I’m here. I get what you’re saying, but I don’t like it. What if she doesn’t come around?”
“Then it will be for the best.” How Claire longed to trust the words she’d uttered. What if she was wrong? And it turned Libby into a miserable man hater?
They said goodbye, and she hung up. She could use a sounding board. Or a distraction. A pontoon ride. A kiss...
But Reed wasn’t a distraction. The way she’d started thinking about him nonstop—even more than she thought about working at the zoo—made him the opposite of a distraction. Obsession, more like it. And she shouldn’t be doing this...this flirting and hanging out and hoping.
Too familiar. These feelings had been there with Justin, and she’d thrown away too much. Lost too much.
Besides, Reed had his own work to do. Reports and bids and things related to his vice president job. Tasks that didn’t involve Lake Endwell. Or her.
Keep me strong, Lord. Keep me focused.
* * *
Flaming orange gave way to rich purple as the sun dropped on the horizon the next night. The lake shimmered with reflected colors. Reed never tired of the sight. He sat in a lounge chair on the deck and sipped an ice tea. Sally had brought a pitcher over earlier. This one was pomegranate flavored. One of her best.
He couldn’t remember a time he’d been this spoiled.
He’d better not get used to it.
Gulping down another drink, he slid his finger over his phone. Although work hours were long over, John wouldn’t mind the interruption for an update. The reports Reed had gone over all afternoon showed profits, growth and all-around success. Too bad the reports were slowly driving him bonkers.
Before arriving in Lake Endwell, he hadn’t factored in the differences between being a senior project manager and vice president. His old position involved making calls, meeting with clients, stopping in at job sites and generally moving around. Basically, what he’d been doing here in town. But the vice president’s duties seemed to be about one thing: poring over reports.
Maybe he wasn’t being fair. Working remotely meant paperwork and phone calls. When Reed took the VP position, he would naturally travel, visit job sites and be more active—wouldn’t he?
He sighed. Part of the problem lived next door. He’d missed Claire today. Studying dull statements meant no smiles, no teasing, no car rides around Lake Endwell. No whiffs of coconut lotion.
He dialed John’s number.
“Hey, how are you doing, Reed? Out of the cast yet?”
“Not yet. I can’t wait to get it off, though.”
“I’m sure. So, when are we going to see you around here again?”
Two ducks soared overhead. The gentle laps of the lake against the shore were the only sounds. A vision of busy streets, sirens, horns blaring and all the other things he thought of as home came to mind. “I probably won’t be able to drive until a few days before our Denver trip. Once I get back to Chicago, we can fly out there together.”
John chuckled. “Glad to hear the fresh air hasn’t changed you.”
“I’m enjoying it. But I’d have lost it a week ago if I wasn’t organizing the crews in town. Looks like we’ll have a good shot at preserving the historical feel of this place.”
“Good. Good.”
Reed hesitated, wanting to be as up-front with his boss as possible. “John, can I ask you something? And I don’t want you to be offended.”
“Your honesty is why I trust you enough to make you my right-hand man.”
“I know, and I appreciate it. But the more I work on these reports, the more I’m wondering how much time I’ll be spending at my desk as VP.”
“There is a lot more paperwork with this position. I’ll be the first to admit it. But there’s also more travel. Like Denver. And San Diego in August. And we’ve got other potential clients all fall. You’ll be working with me to land the biggest customers, and I know you’re the best.”
“Thanks, John.”
“Take care of your leg.”
Reed set his phone on the side table and took another drink of tea. In his quest to secure the VP title, he hadn’t put enough thought into the actual position. Nonstop travel, endless reports—neither appealed as much as he’d thought. Maybe the fresh air was getting to him.
He replayed John’s words, let them soak into his consciousness. You’re the best. I trust you... Words he’d never heard from anyone else. He’d earned them. Rockbend Construction was the closest thing Reed had to a family, and he wouldn’t throw it away.
He glanced at Claire’s yellow cottage.
But something more lived next door, wore sparkly tank tops and smelled like the beach.
She’d started bridging the gap between him and Dad. Healing the scars with Dad wouldn’t alter Reed’s reality. It only made him consider something he’d never let cross his mind.
A relationship.
Lake Endwell.
The people in town appreciated his help and acted like he belonged there. All because of Claire and Dale. The attention was making him forget how easily appreciation and the sense of belonging could disappear.
Maybe he needed to spend less time with his attractive neighbor. How could he get her off his mind if they were together all the time? Every minute in Claire’s presence drew him closer to her and farther from the vice president title rightfully his. Her dad had offered time and again to drive anywhere Reed needed to go. He dialed Dale’s number.
* * *
“Yoo-hoo, Reed, it’s me.” Claire arrived at Reed’s cottage that night.
“Out here, Claire.” His voice came from the deck. She slid open the patio door and joined him. Dusk had fallen. She plugged in the strings of patio lights strung through the deck railing. Tiny white sparkles made the space festive. Romantic.
“How did your reports go?” She sat next to him and pretended to study his face. “You look awfully tan. You skipped the boring stuff and sat out here, didn’t you?”
“Caught me.” He raised his hands, his eyes twinkling.
She laughed. “Did you get everything done?”
“I did. Everything is set for me to fly to Denver with John on July 15.”
Her spirits nose-dived at the mention of leaving. “Funny how time flies.”
“I can’t wait to get out of this cast and in the driver’s seat of my truck. I miss my apartment.” His firm tone left no argument.
Could she blame him? If their roles were reversed, she’d be homesick too. “Remind me what’s in Denver?”
He filled her in on the hospital addition, the work involved, how important it was to clinch the deal. The expressions playing across his face made him look alive, passionate. Obviously, his job filled him with vitality. She asked questions sporadically and took note of his answers. His life in Chicag
o sounded exciting. Nothing like life here.
She fought to keep her smile in place. As much as she enjoyed listening to him, her insides churned at the truth. She might belong in Lake Endwell, but Reed belonged in Chicago. And all this time driving around town with him had eroded her dedication to getting the zoo job. She’d barely prepared for her interview, and it was set for tomorrow.
“Oh, you don’t have to pick me up tomorrow afternoon,” Reed said. “Your dad is going to drive me to meet with the new project manager in charge of the buildings downtown. Did Dale ever work in construction?”
Her mind reeled. He wanted Dad to drive him? Not her? Why was she so disappointed? She shook her head. “Construction? Not that I know of.”
“Hmm. He knows a lot. Seems to enjoy it.”
“Yeah.” Her voice sounded weak. She infused iron into it. He’d given her an excuse to refocus on her priority—the zoo job. If she protected her heart in the process, so be it. “That works out better for me. My interview with Tina is tomorrow.”
“That’s right.” His gaze seemed to see right through her. “Everything will work out the way you hoped.”
Everything? She peeked at his face. Not quite. But no one got everything they wanted. She girded her shoulders. “Will you be okay on your own for dinner tomorrow night?”
“I’m watching the game at Tommy and Bryan’s.” He avoided eye contact with her.
“Oh.” She plastered a smile on and stood. Replaced by her Dad and brothers. Great. “Okay. Well, I’d better get back. See you...sometime.”
Marching down the ramp with her back straight, she tried not to let her emotions give her away. Because if Claire knew anything at all, she knew what had just happened.
She’d been dismissed.
As usual.
Chapter Eleven
“Yes, they’re wonderful. Look at how they’ve grown.” Claire smiled as Hansel chased Gretel around the backyard Wednesday afternoon. Tina had insisted on conducting the interview here to see the otters for herself. Claire held up a finger. “Give me a minute and I’ll get you their growth charts.”
“These two do look lively.” Standing on the deck, Tina watched the otters interact. The tall, solid woman reminded Claire of a gym coach. She wore her light brown hair short without the aid of hair products. Her burgundy shirt, knee-length khaki shorts, white gym socks and matching orthopedic shoes gave her a no-nonsense air.
Claire flitted to her home office, found the files and hurried back.
“You’re doing a good job,” Tina said, scanning the sheets. “Surpassing my expectations.”
Her chest tightened. It felt good to be praised. “Thank you. It means a lot to me. Hansel and Gretel are a pleasure to care for. They’re easy to love.”
“I never expected the temporary arrangement would last this long.”
“It’s no problem. My yard suits them fine. They’ll enjoy their state-of-the-art facilities soon. The quarantine will only be thirty days, right?”
“Yes. Is the feeding arrangement still working for you?”
“They can’t get enough of the fish. Little gluttons.”
Tina nodded, a serious expression on her sturdy face. “Will you be willing to help get them acclimated?”
Claire’s breath caught. Tina had given her an opportunity to negotiate for the job. Should she? Or was it manipulative? Lord, show me the way.
“Of course I’ll help get them settled. Ideally, I want to check on them every day. That’s one of the reasons I applied for the full-time position.”
Tina assessed her. Then she rested her thick forearms on the deck rail. “You really want the job, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“When you filled out your application for Louise’s position, I was surprised.”
Claire frowned. Why would Tina be surprised? Had she heard the lies Mark spread?
Tina continued. “Your current job has regular hours and is—what—a mile away? You’d be trading it for a thirty-to-forty-minute commute and a hectic schedule working weekends. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you about our budget concerns either. We never know when we’ll have to make cuts. Are you sure you want it?”
“I’m no longer working for Tammy’s clinic, but even if I was, I would want the position.” Claire held her head high. “Every job has its rewards, but my heart lives at the zoo. To be given the chance to work with the same animals every day? It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for me.”
A pleased gleam lit Tina’s eye. “Louise still has two weeks left. We’ll be making our decision before she leaves. Your dedication has been noted, not only by me, but by most of the staff.”
Claire nodded, unsure how to respond.
“Thanks for letting me come over.” Tina pushed away from the handrail.
“Anytime.”
She walked Tina to her car, waved as she drove away and skipped back inside. Tina might come across as stern, but she had a good, sincere heart.
Claire grabbed her phone, ready to call Reed and share the meeting, but she stopped. By working with Dad and spending nights with her brothers, he’d made it clear he wasn’t as into her as she’d hoped.
The gentle pullback. The move that said “if I make other plans, eventually she’ll get the hint I’m not interested anymore.” She’d been subject to it before. It forced her to be less needy. To lower her expectations. Be less demanding.
And where had it gotten her?
Spinning in a slow circle, she took in her house, the view of the lake, the deck off the dining room.
It had gotten her here, and here was a good place to be.
She had no reason to complain. She had enough. Those other guys wouldn’t have made her happy. In fact, she could be like her brothers, with a stack of divorce papers in her office and pockets full of regrets. If Reed was cooling off, so be it.
She was nobody’s Tuesday girl.
She’d be an every-day, every-hour, every-second girl, or none at all.
* * *
Somehow Reed hadn’t realized how much he’d miss Claire. Dinners didn’t taste as good. And as much as Reed enjoyed hanging out with her brothers, he missed Claire’s shining eyes, her opinions on movies, her insights about life.
He missed Claire.
“My buddy’s wife works for Channel 8, and she said the festival next year will be widely covered. Their station loves feel-good stories. All the area papers will help spread the word. City council ran into a few snags on funding. Seems there’s an it’s-not-fair cry being yelled by the unaffected businesses. They want upgrades sponsored by the town too. Kind of see their point, but...not really. Selfish, you know? Hey, did you find out if those construction firms will offer a discount in exchange for free advertising?”
Reed’s head spun with all the information Dale spewed, but Reed liked a man who got things done. And Dale definitely got things done.
“Two are considering it.” Reed waited for Dale to park before carefully stepping out and pulling his crutches from the truck bed. “Three won’t budge on price.”
“Let’s hope they come around. Fund-raising will get us far, but not the whole way.” Dale hustled to the front sidewalk and opened the door to Uncle Joe’s Restaurant. “Let’s see how the kitchen’s shaping up.”
Reed followed him into the dining hall and inhaled the faint aroma of deep-fried everything. He stood in the exact spot he’d been when he picked up Claire the night of the tornado. Longing punched him in the gut—longing to text her, call her, find out what she’d been doing.
This spend-less-time-with-her idea wasn’t getting her off his mind. In fact, it only seemed to be drawing her closer to the zoo.
Claire was the one who blew him off today. Said she had business with the otters. What kind of business did a person
have with an otter?
Reed made his way to the doorway of the kitchen and paused.
“The new ten-burner gas range will be in next week. No, not there. The deep fryers go in the corner.” Sally’s voice grew louder from the kitchen until she appeared in the dining room. “Reed! What a nice surprise. Where’s Claire?”
“Not sure.” Time to change the subject. “Did you see the Johnsons’ roof? Looks pretty good. The tarp’s gone.”
Frowning, she wiped her hands together. “Well, that’s terrific about the roof, but why isn’t Claire with you? She didn’t say a word to me about having other plans.”
How was he supposed to answer? She prefers otters to me...
Sally’s eyebrows drew together. “Libby’s canceling the wedding must have knocked some of her brains loose. Claire’s always dropped everything at the hint of a crisis with one of her brothers or Libby. She’s got to learn to put herself first sometimes. Libby isn’t going to fall apart if Claire helps you.”
The wedding was off? Reed’s mind spun. Why hadn’t Jake called him?
A knot of uneasiness built in his chest. A better question would be why Reed hadn’t called Jake all week. And now Sally thought Claire was to blame for not being with him, when it wasn’t the entire truth.
“Actually, Sally, I asked Dale to drive with me a few days this week.”
“I’d better get over there.” Sally searched through her purse, pulled out her keys and walked toward the door, muttering, “Might not get the zoo job she’s been obsessed with for years. Plus, Libby’s a wreck, which makes her a wreck. Now this.” The door closed behind her.
Acid rose in his stomach. Put like that...
Claire wasn’t making him handle the town stuff on his own. If he had to guess, he’d say she was avoiding him.
Did he blame her? He’d asked her dad to drive him around and flat out told her he was out of there mid-July.
He was a jerk. Selfish. He wouldn’t be surprised if she put him in the same category as the old boyfriend she told him about.
Dale strode into the dining room. “All set here, Reed. How about I take you out for pizza?”