A Home for Her Daughter

by Jill Weatherholt

  “Mommy’s a really good cook. Her spaghetti and meatballs are the best!”

  “Thank you, sweetie.” Janie released a contented sigh and looked up at Drew. “It was nice of you to bring Riley’s favorite. Can I get you something to drink? Soda, water or sweet tea?”

  “Tea sounds perfect.” Drew followed Janie into the kitchen.

  Janie retrieved three glasses from the cherry cabinet and filled each one with crushed iced from the refrigerator. She placed the glasses on the granite counter and turned to retrieve the tea. Slowly she poured the beverage and passed one to Drew.

  “What’s in your briefcase, Mr. Drew?” Riley pointed to the leather satchel.

  “Riley, don’t be so nosy,” Janie reprimanded.

  Drew stowed the bag on the built-in desk underneath the cabinets. “It’s okay, Riley. After we eat, I thought I’d run a couple of ideas I had by you and your mommy.”

  Janie reduced the heat underneath the pot of boiling noodles. “Looks like these might be ready.”

  “Can I help?” Drew moved closer and his arm brushed against hers, igniting a shiver. Ten years of marriage and her ex-husband had never offered his assistance.

  “Yes, thank you. If you could take the noodles off the stove, I’ll grab the colander.”

  Seconds later Drew stepped closer with the pot in hand. His spicy scent reminded her of a crisp autumn day at an outdoor festival. He carefully emptied the pot while Janie held the colander to drain the noodles over the sink.

  He turned to her and she could feel his breath. “We make a pretty good team, don’t we?”

  Janie was no longer nervous. Panic mode had taken over. Drew’s proximity was unnerving. Her reaction to him had caught her off guard. Don’t drop the noodles.

  “Mommy, isn’t Mr. Drew nice? Daddy never helped you in the kitchen.”

  Janie flinched at her daughter’s comment. She couldn’t be angry at Riley. She’d spoken the truth.

  “Well, I love to be in the kitchen. I only wish I was a better cook.” Drew placed the pot on the counter.

  “Mommy loves to cook. Maybe she can teach you!”

  Janie’s invitation to Drew had filled Riley’s head with all sorts of crazy ideas. “Riley, why don’t you take Frankie outside. He needs to get a little exercise. Dinner will be ready in a couple of minutes.”

  “Okay. Come on, Frankie.” Riley picked up her dog and the two breezed out the back door.

  “I’m sorry. Riley has a tendency to say whatever pops into her head.”

  Drew laughed. “There’s no need to apologize. There’s nothing sweeter than a child who speaks from the heart.”

  Janie considered his words. “What Riley said about her father was true.” Should she be opening the door to a conversation she wasn’t sure she was prepared to have?

  “The kitchen wasn’t his thing?” Drew’s left brow arched.

  “Pretty much. But then again, being a husband and a father wasn’t his thing either.”

  Drew nodded. “I guess some men aren’t meant to be married.”

  “Are you including yourself?” Janie recalled his statement about having a family. She couldn’t imagine Drew would walk out on his responsibilities, but then again, she never thought her ex would turn out to be such a cruel man.

  “What do you mean?”

  Janie grabbed the pot holder off the counter to remove the toasted garlic bread from the oven. “Before, you said you had a family—past tense.”

  Drew took a sip of his tea. “I did. I had a wife and a little girl. They were killed two years ago in a car accident.”

  Janie’s stomach turned over. “Oh Drew, I had no idea. I’m so sorry.” She placed her hand on his arm and the two stood in silence.

  The back door flew open and Riley came skipping through the kitchen with Frankie on her heels. “Is dinner ready? I’m starving, Mommy.”

  Janie’s and Drew’s eyes connected before he turned to pick up the drinks and carried them to the table.

  What a tragic loss he’d experienced. She couldn’t imagine what he’d been through the past couple of years. She watched Drew as he and Riley played with the dog. Did her daughter’s presence fill a void or was she a constant reminder of what he had lost? Janie prayed it wasn’t the latter.

  Chapter Eight

  Drew took the final swig of his second cup of strong black coffee, preparing to meet with Janie and the architect to go over the renovation plans for the activity building. He’d decided whatever Janie wanted, he’d agree to it. The camp would belong to her after the Fourth, so she should be the one to make the final decisions. It had become obvious to him from the exchange she and Riley had at Huggamug with Molly that Janie’s ex-husband probably had some control issues. Drew didn’t want to be like him.

  His eyes fixed on the Whispering Slopes Times he’d tossed on the kitchen table earlier. He picked it up and glanced at the front page. The traveling petting zoo and carnival would be in town a week from today. He rested the paper back on the table. Riley would love that.

  Drew snatched his phone from his pocket before he had time to second-guess his decision. He scrolled through his contacts. Janie. Squaring his shoulders, he pressed the call button and exhaled.

  “Hi, Drew. What’s up?” Her voice sounded sweet as the peonies that filled the valley. “You’re still coming to meet with the architect this morning, aren’t you?”

  Drew grinned. Even though Janie had stressed she wanted to do everything herself, she needed his help. He liked the idea of the two of them working as a team for a common goal. Had Mrs. Applegate hoped that by carrying out her last wishes, he and Janie would be reunited as something more than friends? Was Mrs. Buser right? Had Mrs. Applegate intended to play matchmaker while securing Janie’s and Riley’s futures?

  As much as Drew hated to disappoint his dear friend, there was no way he could allow anything to develop between him and Janie. “I’m not bailing on you. I plan to be there at eleven sharp. I was calling about something else. I didn’t want to bring it up in front of Riley in case you didn’t think it was a good idea. It has to do with some of the plans I wanted to discuss with you last night, but we never had a chance.”

  “Sure, what is it?” Janie sounded curious.

  Drew studied the news article. “Next Saturday, the Black River Annual Petting Zoo and Carnival will be in Whispering Slopes. I thought it would be something Riley would enjoy. Would the two of you like to join me? It’s a huge attraction for this area. It always brings in a big crowd.”

  A moment of silence hung in the air as Drew waited for her response. Did she think he was asking her out? “It’s not a date, Janie,” he added.

  “I know. It’s for Riley. I think she would really enjoy it. Thank you for thinking of us...I mean, her.”

  “Great, so it’s a date.” Wait, didn’t he just say it wasn’t? “Sorry, I—”

  Janie laughed. “I know what you meant, Drew. Don’t worry about it.”

  His shoulders relaxed. “Thanks. I’ll pick you around ten a.m. next Saturday.”

  “I’ll put it on my calendar.”

  Drew reached for a pen and stood from the table. He walked to the calendar hanging on his refrigerator, circled Saturday, June 20 and smiled. “I got it on mine. I’ll see you at the farm in a little while.”

  He disconnected the call and placed his phone on the table. As much as he tried to tell himself it was best to keep his relationship with Janie and Riley all business, he couldn’t help but be excited about a day spent with them that didn’t include working toward opening on the Fourth of July. Whether this was right or wrong, he was following his heart for the first time since it was shattered two years ago.

  * * *

  When Drew arrived at the farm, he pulled his truck up in front of the activity building. Outside he spotted Janie speaking with the archite
ct she’d hired. Jeremy Waters held an iPad and appeared to be showing her some photos as she pointed at the device, nodding her head. She was dressed in pink capris with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, but the white sweatshirt she wore captured his attention. The temperature was already in the middle eighties.

  He released the seat belt, swung his legs out of the truck and headed toward Janie. The sky was a brilliant blue with billowy white clouds dotting God’s canvas. Drew inhaled the clean mountain air. There was no place else he’d ever want to live.

  “Hey, Drew. You know Jeremy.”

  Drew nodded. “Sure. It’s been a while. How are you doing, man?” Jeremy had grown up in Whispering Slopes. He had around twenty years on Drew, but he was in great shape. With a hint of gray around his temples, he looked younger than his age.

  Jeremy extended his hand. “I can’t complain. Business is good, so that’s always a blessing.”

  Drew turned toward Janie. “Where’s the munchkin?”

  “She’s down at the barn playing farmer with her pretend goats. She said she needed to hand-feed the baby goats with a bottle today.” Janie pushed a strand of hair caught up in the breeze away from her face. “She’s got quite the imagination when it comes to animals. If she had her way, she’d want us to own an entire barn full of critters.”

  Drew liked the sound of this. He’d been contemplating the idea and thought it might be a good attraction for the camp. Learning how to care for them could be a great experience for the children, especially for kids who came from the city. “Well, she might be onto something.”

  Janie’s brow arched. “What do you mean?”

  “That’s part of the reason I invited you both to the carnival next Saturday.” Drew slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

  “I remember as a child getting so excited to see all of the animals. I begged my dad to buy me a baby goat and a pig,” Jeremy recalled.

  “So you want Riley to hound me even more about filling our farm with livestock?” Janie questioned Drew.

  “Well, not exactly. I think having a few animals might be a big draw for the camp.”

  “Drew’s right, Janie. Not many kids can resist a pony or a baby goat,” Jeremy added.

  Janie eyed both men. “I don’t know. It sounds like a lot of extra work. I’ll have enough to handle without caring for animals, too.”

  “I can help.” Drew surprised himself blurting out the offer. His heart had spoken before his head. Could he make a commitment to help Janie with the animals? When he thought of Riley, his heart warmed. Of course he could do it for her.

  “Do you mind if I think about it? Right now I feel like I’ve got so much on my plate.”

  Drew nodded. “Sure. Why don’t we head inside and let Jeremy show us his ideas for the renovations?”

  As the threesome entered the building, Drew let excitement bubble up inside him. He hoped once Janie cuddled with those baby animals at the fair she’d have a change of heart. Without a child of his own to love and nurture, maybe bringing some joy into Riley’s life could be good for all of them.

  * * *

  Saturday morning, Janie changed her outfit three times. The weatherman reported another hot day ahead. She stood in front of the mirror looking at her arms and a shiver rattled through her body. You’re worthless. I should have never married you. You can’t do anything. His words played through her mind. Even after a year of therapy, there were times she questioned whether her ex-husband had been right. No. She wouldn’t let him ruin her day with Drew and Riley. She couldn’t give him that kind of control over her. Never. And she wouldn’t allow another man to have that much power over her, either.

  “Mommy, are you ready yet?” Riley’s sweet voice echoed in the hall before she and Frankie wandered into the bedroom. “Can you please tell me where we are going today? Why does it have to be a secret?”

  Janie quickly buttoned the red long-sleeved blouse as her daughter approached. One day, she’d explain to Riley about her arms, but for now, she was too young to learn the truth.

  “You look pretty, Mommy.” Riley hopped up on the bed. “I hope I’m as pretty as you when I get older.”

  “Aw...thank you, sweetie. You’re beautiful now.” She strolled to her child and kissed the top of her head. “How is it that you know just the right thing to say at the perfect time?”

  Riley shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe I’m like that lady on the commercial who says she can read people’s minds.” She giggled.

  “Maybe so.” Janie grabbed a pair of white leather sandals and slid each one on to her feet. They’d be doing a lot of walking today, so she wanted to be comfortable.

  “I think I can read Mr. Drew’s mind.”

  Janie turned to Riley. “Oh, you can now?”

  “Uh-huh. I think he really likes you, but for some reason he’s afraid to tell you.”

  Janie’s stomach fluttered at her daughter’s observation. “What makes you think that, sweetie?”

  “I just see the way he looks at you. He thinks you’re really pretty.” She paused and looked up at Janie. “Maybe since my real daddy doesn’t want me, Mr. Drew would.”

  Again, anger toward her ex filled her. It was one thing to make his wife feel worthless, but it was something else when he did it to his own daughter. Janie was like a protective mamma bear. She wasn’t going to let her ex, or any man, ever let her daughter question her worth. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s go feed Frankie. Mr. Drew will be here any minute.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Drew arrived and the three were on their way to the carnival.

  “Can you please tell me now?” Riley called out from the backseat. Drew had asked Janie not to tell Riley where they were going so he could surprise her.

  Janie turned to Drew. “This has been my world all morning.”

  Drew removed one hand from the wheel and covered his mouth. “Sorry.” He replaced his grip.

  Janie stole quick glances at Drew’s chiseled profile. His freshly showered scent tickled her nose.

  “Don’t you like surprises, munchkin?” Drew said to Riley.

  Janie turned around to see Riley with her arms crossed over her chest and her lip rolled. “Not when it’s kept a secret forever.”

  The grown-ups shared a laugh.

  “It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day.” Drew pulled the visor down to block the sunlight.

  Janie nodded and glanced out the car window at the mountainous landscape. “I can’t believe our grand opening is coming up so fast.” She rubbed her palms over her thighs. “I’m starting to get a little nervous that we’re not going to get everything done.”

  “Try not to worry. If we focus on what has to be finished in order to open, like the repairs and getting the activity building ready so we can serve meals, everything else will come in time.”

  He reached over, took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

  Janie flinched at his touch and Drew quickly placed his hand back on the wheel. She ran her fingers through her cascading loose curls that she’d spent twenty minutes creating, earlier. “I know you’re right. Worrying isn’t going to accomplish anything. At least Jeremy was able to get a large crew. They should have the kitchen up and running by later today.”

  “What time did they plan to start this morning?” Drew asked, flipping on the turn signal.

  “Jeremy told me they’d be at the farm around seven o’clock.”

  “I have all of the confidence in the world with Jeremy. He knows our timeline is tight. He’ll make sure the work is done. Try not to worry, Janie.”

  Squeals of delight ignited from the backseat when Drew turned at the sign reading Black River Annual Petting Zoo and Carnival.

  “Is that the surprise, Mr. Drew?” Riley bounced up and down pointing out the window.

  “It sure is, munchkin,” Drew sang out as he navi
gated the grassy parking lot. “Are you ready to have some big fun today?”

  “Oh yes! I can’t wait to see the baby goats!”

  Janie glanced at Drew and rolled her eyes.

  “You’ll be seeing a lot of different animals.” Drew placed the truck into Park and jumped out of the vehicle. He rounded the front and opened Janie’s door.

  Janie’s pulse quickened when Drew took her hand to help her out of the car. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had performed such a simple gesture. “Thank you.” Her cheeks warmed.

  Drew opened the back door and unfastened the belt. Riley bounded from her booster seat that Janie had placed in the car earlier. “Where are we going first? Oh wow, look at that Ferris wheel! It’s huge!”

  Drew laughed. “Pace yourself, munchkin. We’ve got a lot of things to see and do.”

  Janie looked over the opened field now transformed into a child’s dream come true. The scent of sweet waffle cones and popcorn filled the air. Laughter and music could be heard along with the occasional ringing of bells and whistles from the various games. In the distance, roosters crowed and horses neighed. “Riley, stay close. It’s crowded. We don’t want to get separated.”

  “Okay, Mommy.”

  Janie looked at Drew. “What’s first on the list?”

  Drew kneeled in front of Riley. “Today is your day. You decide what we do.” He stood, removed the sunglasses from the top of his head and slid them on.

  “Cool! I’ve never had my own day before. Let’s see.” Riley strummed her fingers along her chin. “The line for the Ferris wheel doesn’t look too long. Let’s go there first.”

  Drew bowed. “Okay, the Ferris wheel it is.”

  Riley cheered as the three headed toward the ride. For a second, Janie felt like they were a family.

  As they got closer to the Ferris wheel, Janie realized it was so much bigger than it had looked in the distance. She leaned toward Drew. “Do you think Riley is big enough to go on this?”