He'd noticed lately, though that it was easier to just pick up things and put them away without calling his nephew downstairs to take care of it. He could hear Lori's voice telling him that wasn't good parenting.
His phone rang. He blinked at the name on the screen. “Hi, Lori, what's up?”
“I'm sorry to bother you, but could you help me? I don't know who else to call. I ran out of gas, and I'm stranded, and it's dark.”
Did she think it wasn't dark where he was? He grabbed his keys, and while Lori gave him directions, he put her on speaker and entered the address she gave him on the maps app. Then he texted Brent that he was going out but would be back soon. “I'm on my way. Is there anywhere you can walk to?”
“No. The next town is about two miles away. There are a few houses, but I'm not sure about being the stranger that knocks on the door after dark.”
“What were you doing out that way?”
“Nothing. Just a thing I do. Listen my phone doesn't have a full charge, so I can't stay on long.”
Or did she not want to talk to him? “Wise. Hang up, and I'll be there soon.”
Twenty minutes later, Trey saw the slow blink of Lori's hazard lights. Was her battery low? He'd suggest to her to get that checked out this week. He pulled in behind her car and set his own lights to blink, then stepped out of the car.
Lori waited for him. “I'm so sorry to have to call you. Lucy was at Joel's, and they are in the middle of a family meeting so I couldn't call. Besides, Lucy doesn't have her truck right now. Evan didn't answer.”
“Glad to help.” So, he hadn't been her first choice for a rescue call. He was surprised that pricked his heart. What would it take to be the one she depended on? Something to think about. He pulled the gas container from the back of his pickup. “Let's get this into your tank.”
She stood next to him, using her phone as a light so he could see. Her hand trembled, and the light bounced. “Are you cold?”
“A little. I have my coat, but the air has a chill to it, especially when there isn't any heat in the car.”
“Cars cool off faster than people think. It might be a good idea to carry a blanket in the trunk now that winter is on its way.” Shut up, Trey you sound like her big brother.
“My dad used to tell my mom that.”
Wonderful. He reminded her of her dad. And she said used to tell her mom. Were her parents divorced? None of his business.
“Can I take you to dinner for coming to my rescue? There's a place down the road that is really good. I'm stopping anyway. I didn't get a chance to eat before I got the call to come this way.”
“How is Lucy? I'm wouldn't have thought you would have left her if she was as sick as Evan said.” Had she wanted to get away from him since he'd asked her to spend time with him? She rushed out the door without giving him an answer. Maybe his brother was right. He was getting too old to be a desirable mate.
“It's complicated. I dropped her off at Joel's.” She shifted her weight back and forth.
Something was up. “Sure, I'll eat with you.” If it meant he'd get to spend time with her, he'd do his best to eat, even though his stomach was full, already stuffed with pizza.
The small diner was empty. Lori grabbed a table near the door. “This is my spot. I like being by the exit. It’s a quirk. The menu is pretty simple.” She pointed to the painted tabletop. “It’s all there. Pick a number and tell the waitress. Warning, do not ask for substitutions. I can promise that it will not go well for you.”
Trey scooted out a chair and took a seat. She watched him while he looked at the menu. His hair had a touch of curl to it. That made her smile.
“What would you recommend? I’m having trouble telling that there’s a lot of difference in these choices.” He sat back in the chair. “I’m not a fan of ketchup.”
“They bring that and mustard so you’re safe. I get the #3. It’s a burger, fries and a drink of your choice.”
He nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
The waitress sidled up to the table. “You’re back.” She looked at Lori. “Same thing?”
“Yes, please.”
“And you, handsome?”
“The same with a water.”
“We. Don’t. Do. Water. Go to the city if you want that. Pick a soda.”
Lori had warned him. He must not have believed her. Would he ask what kind they had? She tried not to smile.
“You have Ski? I discovered that soda this summer. Can’t get enough of it.”
“It’s on the menu. Yeah, we have it. No refills. Order’ll be ready soon.”
Trey let out a breath. “You weren’t kidding about going off the menu. I didn’t think water would be an issue though. They have to have it, right? They have to use it to clean.”
“Shh.” Lori could see the waitress headed their way. “Just go with it.”
“Ski for you and for you.” She set the glasses on the edge of the table. “You need a straw?”
While the waitress stared at Trey, Lori gave a quick shake of her head.
“No, I’m fine thank you.”
As the waitress left, Trey mouthed the word “Wow.”
“I know, but I promise it’s worth it. It would be better if they had a drive thru, but then a person wouldn’t get to experience the ambiance.”
“That might not be a bad thing. Are you going to tell me what you are doing in a high-crime neighborhood at night?”
Lori glanced around to make sure the kitchen staff and waitress weren’t close enough to overhear. “I only tell people I trust because it can put others in danger.”
Trey frowned. “I don’t like the sound of this, but I can promise I won’t speak of it to anyone.” He leaned across the table.
Without thinking, she was inches in front of his face. She swallowed hard. This is about Hope House, not about Trey’s lips. “I take photos of women and their children before they leave an abused women’s shelter. I don’t often come this late, but I always stop here after. I need to process what I’ve seen before I go back to my normal life.”
“But why?”
“Because everyone should have a family photo. And when they leave, I can do that for them. Then they have a memory of when mom decided to keep everyone safe.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the waitress coming. She sat back. “And that’s the story of why I need a better lens for closeups.”
“That’s a good reason.”
“Food’s up.” The waitress slid the plates in front of them and walked away.
“Yeah. And, like I said—” she picked up the check stuck to the bottom of her plate— “this one is on me.”
He slipped it out of her hand as fast as if he were a magician.
“How—”
“Don’t argue. It won’t work. Just make us later getting home, and I have a teenager to check on.”
“Now that’s good parenting.” She lowered her head and folded her hands and said a quiet prayer of thanks. When she looked up Trey was still praying. So he was a believer, too. Her heart warmed.
She waited for him to take his first bite. Would he like it as much as she did? He was the first person she’d brought here.
Trey wiped his mouth with the paper napkin. “This is amazing. I do believe it would heal anyone after a bad night.”
She almost purred like a kitten. The man had everything going for him in the looks department and now he approved of her favorite comfort food. “Glad you like it. If you come back try the number five, unless you’re afraid of spicy.”
“There is no if, I will be back. Maybe I’ll bring Brent.”
She looked down and grabbed a fry hoping he wouldn’t see the disappointment that had to be showing on her face. She’d hoped he’d ask her to come back with him.
When they’d finished eating, he opened his wallet and dropped some bills on the table. “Ready?”
“Sure, and you might want to pick up your phone before you leave.”
“Thanks. I’m sure I woul
d have forgotten it.” He slipped it into his pocket, but not before Lori noticed he’d left the waitress a ten-dollar tip.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lucy sat across from her brother and next to Deni as she told them about the baby and what had happened. Emotions she felt in the past months matched the ones her brother’s face displayed. But she was past being angry, at least for now. He wasn't.
“Why didn't you come to us right away? Or call us? We would have sent you money for one of those super-fast planes. Or I would have flown over and helped you.” Joel ran his hand through his hair.
Deni grasped her hand. “He's upset he wasn't there to protect you.”
“I know. He's always been like this, even for small things.” And she loved him for it.
“Why don't you plan on staying at the lake house as long as you need? We can ask Lori to find another place. I'm sure she won't mind.” Deni's brow furrowed.
It wasn’t fair to ask Lori to move. “No. It will be fine. If she wants to move, that's her choice, but for now let's leave the living situation the way it is.” She hadn't told them that Lori and Evan both knew about the baby. Lori was right, she should have come to her family first.
“What are your plans?” Joel drummed his finger on his leg. “You'll need a job, but how are you going to manage—?”
“Leave her alone, Joel. This is all still new to her.”
“He's right, Deni. I have a little bit of savings. I'll apply as a sub for now, maybe check to see if I can work at the boutique part-time too. If it's still there?”
“It's going to be okay. Joel and I will help you with the baby.”
“I haven't decided yet what to do about that.” The horrified look on her sister-in-law’s face had her spitting out the next words in a rush. “I mean, about keeping it for myself. I've been thinking about adoption.”
“We'll take the baby,” Deni and Joel both said.
“We'd welcome him or her with open arms,” Joel said.
“We always wanted an infant.” Wistfulness laced Deni’s words.
“That's true.” Joel put his arm around Deni. “We would like to be the parents of your child. The baby is half you, sis. Think about it. Wouldn't you rather know the family raising the baby is doing it the way you would have?”
“And you wouldn't have to wonder what the baby grows up to be because you'd be right here. It's an almost perfect solution.” Deni smiled. “And Joel was thinking about adding on to the house anyway, so there would be room.”
But could she stand to see her child in their arms and know she'd given the baby up? Watch those first steps, hear “mama” and know it wasn't for her? Would her heart break into pieces? Or would she see the child and want to run in fear from the memories? And what if this was her only chance to have a child?
“Have you told our parents yet?”
“No. Not Grams either.”
“Why don’t you go out on the deck or use our room and call them?” Deni hugged her. “We’ll be here when you get done.”
Lucy nodded. It was something she didn’t want to do, but it was time. “I’ll sit on the deck it’s not too chilly.”
“Take this with you.” Deni handed her a throw from the back of the chair. “You might need it.”
She took it and headed out the door. How was she going to break this news? It wasn’t going to be easy over the phone. She slid through her contacts and called Grams after she told her what had happened there was silence.
“Lucy. I wish I were there to give you a hug. This isn’t your fault, remember that always.”
“I’ll try.” A tear traveled down Lucy’s face. Grams always knew what to say. Lucy’s mom was a different story. With dread she scrolled through her contacts to get to her parents’ number. She should have called them first, before Grams, then maybe she could have gone home not feeling like a failure. She’d done everything out of order starting with Evan.
Trey followed Lori down the drive to the lake house, glad that he had. He wasn’t comfortable that there wasn’t something else wrong with her car, like a slow leak in the tank. But everything seemed to be fine. He stopped behind her, set the parking brake and turned off the engine.
He jumped out of his truck and opened Lori's door before she could.
“Do you open doors every time, not just when someone isn’t feeling well?”
“Yes, I do. My mother insisted I learn, and I'm not going against those rules.” There were other rules too, and some of those he chose to break, like being home every holiday. It didn't always work with his photography schedule. His mother was already insisting he come home this Christmas, but that was his busiest time. Last-minute family photos to be given as presents. Not to mention Chad's wedding a few days after. That wasn't a good excuse, though. Branson wasn't that far away. Barring a blizzard, he'd be able to drive back in plenty of time. But Christmas was the time he was poked by family the most about not having a wife and a son. He knew they were teasing, and in the beginning, he thought it was funny. But now the truth that he was alone stung more than his family knew.
“I kind of like it. Especially when I have my hands full.”
She hugged her camera bag in front of her chest as if she carried a toddler. He understood that. His cameras were his children too. There was a loose strand of hair covering her face. He pushed the silky piece behind her ear. “Now I can see you better. Though it was making me want to grab my camera and catch that shot. You looked mysterious and glamorous with the dim light coming from the cottage.”
Lori laughed. “That is the nicest and strangest compliment I've heard. Thanks again for helping me tonight. I wish you would have let me buy your dinner though and pay for the gas. All you need is a tux and a long-stem rose to complete the role of gallant rescuer.”
“Not a tux, but I wouldn't mind being on my horse. Do you ride?” She hadn't jumped away from his touch. Did that mean anything? He was going to go with yes, he was making progress.
“I haven't in a long time.”
“Maybe we can try that together before the snow gets here. I have a horse, but I don't get back home often enough to ride. My younger sister takes care of him when I’m gone and takes him out on the trails. There’s probably a stable around here where we could rent a couple of horses.”
“I don't know. My time is pretty full, with making lesson plans. And then there’s Hope House.”
“About that, it’s not the safest area.” He'd been warned about that area when he was looking for a place to rent. It had lake access which would have worked for him, but the management company told him the crime rate was high. He wasn't concerned about his safety as much as he was about his photography equipment. He didn't want to lose any of that.
“No. It's not, but I'm careful. Tonight was unusual, and I forgot about putting gas in the car before I left. Most of the time I go during the day.”
“If you find yourself going at night again, call me? I’ll go with you.”
“Thanks, but they don’t allow men inside. And I’m able to take care of myself. I’d better get inside.” She moved toward the house. He'd crossed the line.
As Lori walked to the house, she listened for Trey's truck door to slam. But there was only silence. Was he waiting for her to get inside safely? Her shoulders relaxed. He'd been different tonight than when he was with Brent. But that made sense. He was a bachelor trying to be a parent. than she'd expected. And she’d put up her own barriers. He hadn’t even been unkind about calling him. Joel would have made fun of her for not noticing the almost empty fuel tank. She whirled around. “Do you like butter brickle ice cream?”
“I do.”
“Would you like to come in and have some?” Then she remembered she didn't live here alone anymore. “Wait, let me check to see if Lucy is back and okay with company.” She most likely wouldn't want to see anyone else tonight.
“I'll be right here.”
Inside, she set her camera stuff on the counter and called out. “Lucy?
You home?” She didn't get an answer. She checked to see if her door was closed. She might be asleep. Lucy had been doing that a lot and now Lori knew why. The door was open. She wasn't back yet. She sent a quick text to her roommate to warn her they had a guest and then went to let Trey inside.
“Nice place, more like a cottage than a beach house. I heard the waves on the beach too. How did you find this place?” The room was eclipsed by his presence. His maleness looked out of place in the daintily decorated kitchen.
“It belongs to Deni, and now Joel, too, I suppose. Deni inherited it. It's quite a story really. For a while she had a hard time with Joel and Chad wanting her to leave. They had plans to develop the property.”
“Looks like Joel and Deni worked it out, but why is this house still here?”
“Deni has a soft heart and she convinced Joel not to develop the land. Deni lets women who are in need of a home stay here, sometimes for free or like in my case a reduced rent they can afford.” She opened the fridge. “Butter brickle is gone. Chocolate almond okay? You don't have a tree nut allergy, do you?”
“Perfect. Chocolate almond is my favorite and no, Teach, I don't have an allergy.”
She set the ice cream on the counter, and then got out two bowls. “Sorry, but if you've ever seen an anaphylaxis reaction in a child...” she paused thinking about having to use an epi pen on one of her students a few years ago. She'd been terrified that it wouldn't work. “I had a student who ate a cookie his friend had brought to school. He complained of a stomachache, then in seconds hives seemed covered him. He couldn’t breathe It happened so fast.” She took a breath. The memory still hadn't faded. He could have died right there in front of her and his classmates. “His mom had an action plan for him and had supplied me with an epi pen which I kept with me. I never thought I'd have to use it. After I injected him with it, I couldn't stop shaking. I had nightmares for a long time. I hope I never need to do that again.”
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