A Home for Her Daughter

by Jill Weatherholt

  One little girl could change her mom’s mind about love...

  To give her daughter a brighter future...

  she must leave the past behind.

  Inheriting a house, money and a camp is the fresh start Janie Edmiston has been praying for. But the will stipulates Janie must work with her childhood friend—and crush—Drew Brenner, to get the camp running...or lose it all. The newly divorced mother and the widower aren’t looking for love, but sometimes it takes a child to show two broken hearts the way forward...together.

  “What were you telling him, Riley?”

  The little girl giggled. “I told him that I don’t think you know anything about starting a camp. But he probably does since he’s out in the woods a lot.”

  “Funny girl.” Janie grabbed the bag of food resting on the back seat. “I hope everyone is hungry. We’ve got enough food here to feed the entire town.”

  “Let’s hurry up and go inside,” Riley called out as she reached for Drew’s hand. “I can’t wait for you to meet our dog.”

  Janie observed her daughter and Drew with reservations.

  The last thing she wanted was for her daughter to get attached to him. But what about her? Growing up, they’d been the best of friends, but they’d never dated. She’d had a secret crush on him. That was all. Still, she needed to keep her feelings in check. Drew was simply honoring Mrs. Applegate’s wishes to help with the camp, so he could take control of his portion of the land.

  Nothing more.

  When it came to Drew Brenner, Janie would need to keep her guard up...

  Weekdays, Jill Weatherholt works for the City of Charlotte. On the weekend, she writes contemporary stories about love, faith and forgiveness. Raised in the suburbs of Washington, DC, she now resides in North Carolina. She holds a degree in psychology from George Mason University and a paralegal studies certification from Duke University. She shares her life with her real-life hero and number one supporter. Jill loves connecting with readers at jillweatherholt.com.

  Books by Jill Weatherholt

  Love Inspired

  Second Chance Romance

  A Father for Bella

  A Mother for His Twins

  A Home for Her Daughter

  Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com.

  A HOME FOR HER DAUGHTER

  Jill Weatherholt

  A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

  —Proverbs 16:9

  To my beautiful niece, Janie, your enthusiasm for my books and encouragement help to push me through those times of self-doubt. I love you.

  Acknowledgments

  Until I published my first book, I was clueless as to the number of hardworking people it takes to bring a story to life. Two of those people are my agent, Jessica Alvarez of BookEnds Literary Agency, and my editor, Dina Davis. Thank you both for believing in my stories and guiding me on this journey.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Excerpt from With All Her Heart by Kat Brookes

  Chapter One

  Early Tuesday morning, Drew Brenner sat in the reception area of the Caldwell and Richardson law firm, one of two firms in Whispering Slopes—not exactly where he wanted to be on his day off. He hadn’t stepped foot inside this office since the day after he buried his family. It hadn’t changed a bit. A light coating of dust covered the artificial ficus tree in the corner. A stack of outdated magazines fanned the top of the cherry coffee table.

  A shudder rippled through him. Thankfully, Mrs. Wingo’s mahogany desk, with a blank sign-in sheet on top, sat empty this morning. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk. The ticking pendulum clock on the wall struck nine o’clock and within seconds the door behind the receptionist’s desk opened.

  “Drew, it’s good to see you.” Larry Caldwell, a portly, elderly man strolled across the hardwood floor with his hand extended. “It’s been a while. How are you doing, son?”

  Larry had been a close family friend. As a little boy, Drew’s parents often invited him and his wife over for Sunday dinner. He’d always worn a suit and today was no different. Did he ever dress in casual clothing?

  “I can’t complain.” Drew removed his hat and shook the wrinkled yet strong hand. He found comfort in the man’s presence.

  The lawyer gave Drew a once-over. “Since it’s obvious by the uniform that you’re working today, we’ll take care of this as quickly as possible. Go ahead and take a seat in the conference room. The other party should be here shortly. I’ll go see if I can figure out the coffee maker. Mrs. Wingo is coming in late today, so I’m all out of sorts.” He scurried off toward the small kitchenette, and wooden cabinets opening and slamming closed echoed down the hall.

  Typically, Drew didn’t wear his ranger uniform outside of the park, but he had a tight schedule this morning. There’d be no time to go home and change before his shift. He headed toward the conference room, pulling a peppermint from his pocket. After removing the wrapper, he popped the mint into his mouth. The cooling sensation always settled his nerves.

  Who else in Whispering Slopes had been named in Mary Applegate’s will? When the sweet lady had passed away last month, she’d left instructions that there would be no funeral or service. Drew only learned about her death when he’d received a certified letter in the mail informing him he’d been designated a beneficiary in her will.

  The bell over the front door chimed, and voices carried down the hall and into the conference room. Larry spoke, but Drew couldn’t make out what was being said as the discussion grew closer.

  When the new arrival entered the room, Drew looked up from the certified letter resting in front of him and did a double take. His breath caught in his throat. Janie Capello. He hadn’t seen her since her family moved to Chicago their sophomore year in high school, but he’d never forgotten her. Those sparkling green eyes and rich caramel hair were a dead giveaway. His mouth felt like asphalt under a blazing late-August sun as her eyes met his. Of course Mrs. Applegate would name Janie in her will. It made perfect sense. She’d been like a mother to Janie.

  “Drew, you remember Janie Capello—sorry, it’s Edmiston now—don’t you?”

  Stunned, Drew nodded.

  “I’ll go check on the coffee while you two get reacquainted.” Larry shuffled out the door.

  Janie’s fingers touched her parted lips. “Drew? I didn’t expect to see you here.” She glided across the room, glancing toward the hardwood floor.

  Drew stood to greet his old friend. She briefly stepped into his embrace, but when her body tensed, he retreated. “It’s good to see you, Janie.” He smiled.

  “Let me take your jacket,” he offered.

  “No! I’m fine.”

  Drew didn’t respond to Janie’s curt reply. “So who is this?” He glanced down at the child holding Janie’s hand and his heart squeezed. Her blond hair and pixie cut sparked a memory of his own little girl.

  “I’m Riley Edmiston
.” She grinned, revealing a missing front tooth. “I just turned seven. Do you have any kids my age?” She looked up, her almond-colored eyes full of hopefulness.

  Gazing downward, he could only shake his head.

  “Oh rats. I was hoping to meet some new people. I had lots of friends when we lived in Maryland. I didn’t want to move, but Mommy said we had to.”

  Drew turned to Janie as though looking for confirmation.

  “That’s right. My brother finally convinced us to move. You’re looking at the two newest residents of Whispering Slopes.” Janie glanced at Riley. “Until I find a place for us, we’ll be staying at Nick’s house.”

  Drew had always liked her brother Nick. He had been a senior in high school when her family moved, but he’d returned to Whispering Slopes to start a new life after losing his first wife. “I don’t see much of Nick and his family. How are they doing?”

  “Actually, they all left two days ago for a mission trip to Ethiopia. They’ll be gone for three months.” Janie flashed a satisfied grin. “With this being such a small town, I’m surprised you don’t run into Nick often.”

  Since the accident two years ago, Drew kept to himself. “My house is off Hawkeye Trail. That’s where I work, too, so I don’t come into town much.” If he avoided all types of relationships, he wouldn’t suffer any more heartache. At least that’s what he kept telling himself.

  Janie’s beautiful eyes connected with his. “So you work in law enforcement?”

  A job that required being alone most of the time, which was exactly what he wanted. “I’m a park ranger. I got my park administration degree online a couple of years ago.” After the accident, he’d given up his job as a paramedic. How could he expect to help strangers when he couldn’t even save his own family?

  Riley moved in closer to Drew and crinkled her nose. “So you’re like the Smokey Bear guy?”

  Drew laughed. “Yeah, something like that.”

  The little girl continued to stare. “You seem nice. Maybe you can be my friend. I only have one so far. Her name is Leslie.” She exhaled as she looked up at Drew.

  Larry stepped inside the room carrying a tray with three coffee cups. He placed it in the middle of the table. “Hopefully it isn’t too strong. There’s plenty of cream and sugar if it is.” He turned his attention to Riley. “I put out a couple of coloring books and crayons on Mrs. Wingo’s desk, Riley. Is that okay, Janie?”

  “Of course.” Janie rested her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Riley, go color while the grown-ups meet.”

  “Okay, Mommy.” The child skipped through the doorway and down the hall.

  The attorney looked to Janie. “I locked the front door, so don’t worry.”

  “Thank you.” Janie reached for her beverage, poured a splash of cream and took a sip before settling back in the leather chair. “Mmm...it’s perfect.”

  “It looks like we can begin going over Mary Applegate’s estate.” Carrying a thick file, Larry took a seat at the head of the table and placed the documents in front of him.

  Janie glanced sideways at Drew. “I still can’t believe she’s gone. She was such a loving and caring woman.”

  Larry reached over and patted Janie’s hand. “I’m afraid we all lost a special friend last month. Fortunately, Mary passed peacefully in her sleep.”

  Drew watched while Janie brushed her palm down her cheek. “You okay?”

  Janie shook her head. “I should have made more of an effort to keep in touch. For years, I called her once a week to check in with her. But then—”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself. We all have busy lives...plus you were living hundreds of miles away. She knew how much you cared about her.” Larry shuffled the stack of papers in front of him. “That will become clear to you once we go over her estate.”

  Why hadn’t they stayed in touch? Before Janie moved away, she and Mrs. Applegate had been like mother and daughter. Then again, he’d been close to Janie too, but never stayed in contact.

  Larry took a sip of his coffee. “I’ve made copies for each of you since you’re both named as beneficiaries.” He passed a document to Janie and then another to Drew. “As you both know, Mrs. Applegate had no living relatives. Over the years, she and I had a lot of conversations. I know for a fact she thought of you both as her family.”

  Janie whimpered. “After my mother became lost in addiction, Mrs. Applegate stepped in and filled her shoes. She did so much for me. And then we had to move.”

  “She loved you like a daughter, Janie. And that’s the reason she’s left most of her estate to you. She wanted to be assured that you and Riley are well taken care of,” Larry explained as he looked over the rim of his thick-framed glasses.

  Drew pushed away from the table, walked over to the credenza and picked up a box of tissues. Heading back to his seat, he offered the box to Janie.

  She plucked a tissue from the flowered container and dabbed each eye. “Thank you. This is really hard for me.” She softly blew her nose. “If it wasn’t for Mrs. Applegate, I don’t think I would have survived the past ten years.”

  Drew’s attention focused on her words. What kind of life had she lived in Maryland?

  The attorney cleared his throat and resumed reading the document. “You can see on page three how she’s divided her specific gifts to each of you. Her savings and all other monetary accounts are listed.”

  Drew took note of the large sum of money that had been set aside for Riley’s college tuition. That should give Janie some peace of mind. Knowing what a financial burden college could be to a family, this made him happy.

  “Drew, she’s specified some personal items she’d like for you to have along with seventy-five acres.” For a second, he thought about what he might have done with the land if his life hadn’t changed so drastically. Would he have finally opened that outdoor adventure facility? Once upon a time, it had been a goal for him.

  Larry eyed Drew. “Are you okay, son? You look a little pale.”

  “I’m fine.” Images flooded his mind. He and Janie, along with the other children, roasting marshmallows over the open fire as Mr. Applegate played his guitar. Those summers spent at Rocky River Camp had been some of the happiest in his life.

  The antique cherry grandfather clock sitting in the corner of the room struck half past the hour.

  “The remaining land, over two hundred acres, along with the farmhouse, will go to you, Janie.” He turned to her and gave her a single nod.

  She gasped. “The house?” Janie wiped away the tears pooling her eyes. “Riley and I will have a home?”

  Drew wasn’t sure if Janie realized the monetary extent of her inheritance. Over the years, Mrs. Applegate had mentioned to him that numerous developers had approached her about selling the land nestled within the Shenandoah Valley. It was prime real estate.

  Slowly, Larry removed his glasses and placed them on the table. He carefully closed the file and clasped his hands in front of him. “There are some conditions Mary has specified in order to take ownership of your respective portions of the property.”

  Janie turned to Drew and raised her brow before turning away. “Why would Mrs. Applegate do that?”

  “It goes along with some of her last wishes.” Larry’s voice cracked.

  The papers crinkled as Drew fingered through the will feeling as though he held Mrs. Applegate’s life in his hands. She and her husband had built a beautiful life together in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. A sense of peace filled Drew’s heart knowing the two were together once again.

  “I’d like to hear those wishes, Larry.” Janie spoke in a whisper.

  He nodded and looked down at the table. “First of all, Janie, she wants you to reopen the Rocky River Camp you loved so much as a child. She’s made provisions to pay for the cost of labor and materials. Also, the insurance premium will be paid until
you take ownership. She didn’t want to put any unnecessary financial burden on you.” The lawyer paused and glanced at both beneficiaries before turning his attention back to the will. “And Drew, in order for you to take possession of the seventy-five acres, you must sign this document promising to help Janie get the camp up and running for the Fourth of July.”

  Drew tightened his jaw. “That’s only a few weeks away.”

  “I know it doesn’t give you two much time, but the Fourth was a special day for Mrs. Applegate.”

  No matter how distinct the day was to her, Drew had a job. He didn’t have time for this. “What made it so special?”

  “That’s the day she and her husband were married. It would have been sixty years. Also, it will be the fortieth anniversary of the camp’s grand opening.” Larry rubbed his brow. “I’m sorry, but those are her terms.”

  For a second, Drew wasn’t sure if he was still breathing. What was he being pulled into? He couldn’t give up his safety and solitude for seventy-five acres. Helping Janie would only bring him more heartache. How could he be around Riley—a child who would be the exact age of his own, had he been able to save her?

  * * *

  “Are you going to sign the document?” Janie’s clammy hand dropped the pen on the table. She watched as it rolled off onto the floor. Clenching her fists, she struggled to keep her emotions in check.

  Larry cleared his throat and focused his attention on Drew. “What’s the problem, son? Mrs. Applegate wanted to leave her land to someone who would love it as much as she did.”

  Janie’s mind raced. She and Riley would have a home of their own. One filled with love—a peaceful refuge from her past life. She’d been too embarrassed to tell her brother she had little money in savings, thanks to her ex-husband and his high-powered attorney.

  But how could she handle the inheritance if Drew didn’t agree to the terms? After the divorce and up until the move, Janie worked as a writer and travel photographer with a local magazine. It was what she’d always dreamed of doing, but the money wasn’t great and it became more difficult for her to leave Riley.