A Home for Her Daughter

by Jill Weatherholt

  He listened as she discussed in detail specific flowers and trees native to the Shenandoah Valley. The children were full of questions about the wildlife and the Shenandoah River, which she answered in depth. Nothing went unanswered. It was obvious that Janie was in her element and she’d done her homework. Judging by the expression on Mr. O’Reilly’s face, Janie had impressed him, as well. Drew hoped that the events from today would end up as a cover story for his magazine.

  Janie tightened the reins on her horse and turned around to face the group. “Are you all ready to stop for some lunch?”

  The children cheered a resounding yes as Janie continued to lead everyone down the path. Excited chatter filled the forest.

  Mr. O’Reilly’s horse rode up beside Drew and the man leaned in. “She sure knows her stuff, and she’s great with the kids, isn’t she?” he commented as the two lagged behind the group.

  Drew could hardly take his eyes off Janie. It was obvious Mr. O’Reilly was intrigued, so the timing couldn’t be better. “She’d make a great lead cover story. Don’t you think?” Drew hadn’t planned on being so forward, but Janie’s confident attitude seemed to be rubbing off on him.

  The man cleared his throat. “Actually no, I don’t think she would.”

  Drew’s shoulders slumped. How could he have misread Mr. O’Reilly? He’d seemed so captivated by Janie’s knowledge. “I don’t understand, sir.” The smile he’d been wearing since the start of the ride slid from his face.

  “I’m sorry, son. I meant to say I think you both—this place—would make a spectacular story. In an age where everyone is so connected to their electronic devices and not getting outside to appreciate nature, I think what you’re doing here for the children is a wonderful thing. You should be proud.”

  Thank You, God. This was exactly what he’d prayed for last night. He wanted this so bad, not only for him, but for Janie. Since she’d returned to town, Drew had been fighting their connection, but he now knew it was a losing battle. He was in love with her. But did she feel the same way? “Mr. O’Reilly?”

  “Please, call me Tim.”

  Drew nodded. “Tim it is. Could you not mention the article to Janie today? I’d like to tell her myself.” He couldn’t wait to share the news. Just the two of them, over dinner in a nice restaurant. Or maybe he could cook dinner for her. She’d always loved spaghetti and meatballs. That just happened to be his specialty.

  “Of course, son.” Tim nodded as though he was aware of the feelings Drew had for Janie. “Mum’s the word today, but I’ll give you a call in a day or two to arrange a time to come back for the interview. I’ll be bringing a photographer. We’ll take a lot of photographs for the camp and your new business venture, as well. I want to get the word out about what you’re doing.”

  Drew’s head whirled like a windmill in a storm. “You’re going to be doing the interview?”

  “Of course. I want to take the credit for discovering this gem.” He hesitated for a moment. “Really my son found you, but we’ll keep that between ourselves.” He winked. “Let’s go eat. I’m starving.” Mr. O’Reilly kicked his boots into the side of the horse and took off to catch up with the others.

  Drew trailed behind, trying to absorb the conversation. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Janie’s face when he shared the big news. A part of him wanted to tell her now, since he felt like he could burst, but this was their news to share together—privately.

  When everyone climbed off their horses at the large clearing surrounded by towering pines, Drew was relieved to see Mark and Laura Marie had arrived with the food. Six picnic tables filled the area, each covered with a tablecloth and a brown-bag lunch.

  “Come sit with us, Mr. Drew!” Riley called from the table where she sat with Janie, Tim and his son.

  After climbing down from his horse, Drew tethered the reins to a nearby tree. As he headed toward the group, the sounds of children laughing and chattering echoed through the forest. Not long ago, he would have escaped to the safety of his isolated cabin. No more. He thought of Heidi and how much she would have loved an outing like this. Once at the table, pushing the sadness away, he slid onto the bench and snatched a bag. “What’s for lunch?” He peeked into the bag, trying to appear as though he was being sneaky.

  Riley giggled. “It’s ham and cheese on rye with Mrs. Buser’s homemade potato chips. They’re really good.” She grabbed one for herself.

  Drew turned to Janie. “The woman makes homemade chips? Is there anything she can’t do? And where in the world does she find the time?”

  Janie nodded. “I know. She’s got endless energy. I don’t know how she does it. She’s always busy.”

  Riley sat up straight. “Mrs. Buser says she’s not busy. She calls it being fruitful.” Riley reached for her bag and jumped up from the table. She motioned to Tim’s son. “Let’s go over and sit with Mark and Laura Marie.”

  Drew had been guilty of trying to stay as busy as possible. After the accident, he did everything he could to keep his mind occupied so he wouldn’t have to think about his family. But now, his life had changed. He had a reason to get out of bed in the morning. There were people who depended on him. He was helping Janie and Riley build a better life and now, looking around at the children’s smiling faces, he knew he was making a difference in their lives, too.

  “I think I’m going to walk around a little bit and take in some more of the scenic view.” Tim pushed away from the table, leaving Drew and Janie alone.

  Drew picked at the napkin on the table, trying to get up the nerve to ask Janie out so he could share the exciting news. “You were really incredible out there today.” He glanced up at Janie.

  Her brow arched. “What do you mean?” She took a bite of her sandwich.

  “On the trail—with the children. It all seemed to come so natural for you.”

  Janie blushed. “We were just riding.”

  Drew shook his head. “No, it was more than that. You captivated the kids with your knowledge of the landscape and wildlife. Trust me. I know how difficult it can be to keep a child’s attention.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “You should be proud of yourself, Janie. Take a second and think about what you’ve accomplished.” He squeezed her hand and smiled. “And this is only the beginning.”

  She pulled away from his touch. “Thank you, Drew. That really means a lot.”

  Above, a lone hawk cried out while Drew gathered his thoughts. “Are you busy on Friday night?”

  “I don’t think I have anything planned. What’s up?” Janie asked.

  “Would you like to have dinner with me?” When her shoulders appeared to stiffen Drew realized he needed to rephrase his question or he might be shot down. “There’re some things I wanted to discuss with you about the opening of the center.”

  Her body seemed to relax. “Oh, sure.” She paused. “I guess we could do that.”

  “I thought I could cook your favorite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.” Once again, she appeared tense. “Or we can go out...something casual. Pizza maybe?”

  “That sounds good to me.”

  “Great. I’ll come by your house around seven o’clock.” Drew relaxed. He’d taken the first step.

  Janie rose from the table. “That sounds good.” Grabbing her brown bag, she gathered her trash before turning to him. “I’m going to check on the children.”

  Drew nodded and watched as she scurried toward the trash can. After dumping her garbage, she pulled on the sleeves of her sweatshirt and headed toward the other tables.

  Drew picked up the last bite of his sandwich and paused. He and Janie were going to be featured in a national magazine. Unbelievable.

  His mind started to go into overdrive. They would have to hire more staff. If their business increased even the slightest from the article, they wouldn’t be able to handle the volume. They’d probab
ly need more horses and maybe a wider variety of animals.

  After losing his family, he’d thought his future would never seem bright again. Where there is light, there can be no darkness. He believed that now. God had brought light back into his world in His own special timing. Drew was ready to start living his life again. But what about Janie? Was she ready to move on and begin a new life with him? He could only hope and pray her answer would be yes.

  * * *

  Janie stood in front of the full-length mirror hanging from her bedroom door on Friday evening. Thankfully, the day had been so busy she hadn’t had much time to think about her plans for tonight. Unfortunately, she hadn’t thought about what she’d wear, either, but she was relieved she’d opted for dinner out rather than Drew cooking for her in his cozy cabin. She wasn’t sure she was ready for a man to cook a meal for her, even if it was Drew.

  “How many times are you going to change your clothes, Mommy?” Riley sat perched on Janie’s maple sleigh bed, cuddling with Frankie.

  Janie turned around dressed in black skinny jeans and a long-sleeved cotton peasant blouse. Void of any jewelry, ballet flats completed her outfit. “What are you talking about?”

  Riley scrunched her nose. “That’s the third time you’ve tried on something different. I like that one the best.” She smiled. “You look pretty.”

  Janie approached her daughter, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, sweetie.” She cupped Riley’s chin, tilting her head up. “I think you look pretty too, baby girl.” She turned and walked back to the mirror. “Are you sure? Maybe I should try the dress on again,” Janie said, heading toward the closet.

  “No, that outfit is perfect for your date, Mommy.”

  Janie flinched. “It’s not a date.” Or was it? Drew had been acting a little odd when he invited her. He seemed almost giddy. Maybe he was just excited for the upcoming opening. Seeing a dream come true can cause a wave of emotions.

  “If it’s not a date, then what is it, Mommy?” Riley tilted her head.

  The million-dollar question she’d been pondering since Monday. A part of her wanted this evening to be a date—the first of many with a man she’d always cared for. Something she’d dreamed about when they were younger. But then there was the flip side. Having a relationship meant taking risks, trusting that person wouldn’t hurt you or try to control your life. It meant opening up about her past and revealing what was underneath her jacket. Janie wasn’t sure she was capable of that. Correction—she couldn’t do that. “Well, you know Mr. Drew and I are going into business together, right?”

  Riley bounced up and down on the bed. “Yeah, the outdoor place. It’s going to be so cool! There will probably be people coming from all over the world!”

  Janie laughed. “Well, I’m not sure about that, but I appreciate your enthusiasm. That’s what this dinner is about. With the grand opening only a couple of weeks away, we have a lot of things to discuss to ensure we’re ready to open and that everything runs as smooth as possible. It’s all business stuff.”

  “But shouldn’t I go to dinner with you guys, since I’ll be helping you run the place?” Riley questioned.

  Janie smiled at her daughter’s words. Riley had always been her mother’s little helper. “The things we need to discuss probably won’t be of much interest to you, sweetie. Besides, aren’t you excited to have Mrs. Buser coming over to babysit?”

  Riley smooshed her face into Frankie’s coat then looked up. “Yeah, she said we could bake chocolate-chip cookies.”

  When the doorbell chimed, Riley sprang from the bed and ran to the front door. Janie’s stomach tightened. She hoped it was Mrs. Buser and not Drew. Checking her hair in the mirror, she wasn’t quite ready. Her nerves were getting the best of her. This nondate was beginning to feel more like the real thing. She sucked in a deep breath, exhaled and headed down the hall.

  Once in the foyer, warmth spread into her heart when she spotted Drew kneeling as he talked to Riley. Janie noticed the look in her daughter’s eyes as Drew gave her his undivided attention. Riley hung on to every word he said. When he presented her with a bouquet of daisies he had hidden behind his back, Janie thought Riley would burst with joy.

  Riley accepted the flowers and raced toward Janie. “Look, Mommy! Mr. Drew gave me flowers!” She could hardly catch her breath. “No one has ever done that before!”

  Drew crossed the floor and extended his other hand to Janie. “I didn’t forget you.”

  As he handed her the flowers, their fingers brushed, igniting warmth in her face. “Thank you, Drew. I’ve always loved daisies.”

  “Me too, Mommy! They look like they’re smiling. Don’t they, Mr. Drew?”

  The adults shared a laugh as the doorbell rang for the second time.

  “That must be Mrs. Buser,” Riley announced. “I’ll let her in.” The child headed back toward the door.

  Janie stood face-to-face with Drew, connected like a magnet to metal. Neither one seemed to be able to look away.

  “Good evening.” Mrs. Buser stepped toward the couple.

  Janie forced her focus away from Drew, but her heart continued to race.

  “You look so pretty tonight,” the elderly woman commented as she looked at Janie from head to foot.

  Janie tilted her head to the ground. “Thank you.” For some reason, she felt embarrassed that Drew had heard the compliment. She didn’t want him to think she’d spent extra time on her appearance because she thought this outing was a date.

  Drew placed his hand on Janie’s arm. “Are you ready to head out?”

  “Sure.” She turned to Riley. “Be a good girl for Mrs. Buser.” She gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

  “I will, Mommy.” She looked up with a smile. “Have fun on your date!” she exclaimed before running toward the kitchen. “I’ll get the recipe for the cookies, Mrs. Buser.”

  The three adults stood in an awkward silence.

  Drew looked at Janie and grinned. “Ready for your date?” He winked and placed his hand on her lower back, guiding her toward the front door.

  Janie’s nerves were jittery during the twenty-minute drive to the restaurant. Drew hadn’t told her where they were going. He said it was a surprise. Her stomach was turning somersaults. How in the world would she be able to eat a meal? Right now, she couldn’t even stomach a saltine cracker. When Drew had arrived at her house tonight, the attraction she’d always had for him intensified. Dressed in casual jeans and a crisp white-collared shirt, his captivating smile sent her pulse into overdrive. Could this really be a date?

  Her anxieties settled a little when she stepped inside the restaurant. “I can’t believe you brought me here,” she said, smiling at Drew. While in high school Janie and Drew, along with a gang of other kids, always came to Vito’s Pizzeria on Friday night. A quick scan of the room proved it had the same electrifying atmosphere she remembered. Packed with young people and adults, it was exactly as she remembered. And the same seat-yourself sign sat perched at the front door.

  Drew took Janie’s hand and the electricity intensified. “Let’s take that corner booth over there.” He pointed to the rustic table with an empty bottle covered with candle wax placed in the center.

  “What happened to the red-checkered tablecloths?” Janie slipped into the seat.

  “When Vito passed away about ten years ago, his son took over. He did a little remodeling, but tried to keep most of it the same.”

  Janie surveyed the wall lined with family photos displaying generations that had come before Vito’s son. On the other side of the room a painted mural of an Italian café, owned by one of Vito’s relatives, filled the entire wall. “Remember when we talked about one day going to that café?”

  Drew gazed at the painting. “Yes, I do remember.” He smiled.

  The euphoric sense of nostalgia slipped away. “I guess life doesn’t always
turn out the way we dream it could be,” Janie said.

  The discussion stilled when a young waiter, carrying a pitcher of water and two glasses on a tray, approached the table. “Hi, Mr. Brenner.”

  Janie studied the young man. He bore a strong resemblance to the Vito she remembered growing up in Whispering Slopes.

  “Janie, this is Vito’s grandson Michael.” Drew turned his attention back to the young waiter. “This is Janie Edmiston. She grew up here and recently moved home. She’s Nick Capello’s sister.”

  “Welcome home. We always love when Nick brings the family to the restaurant.” Michael placed the glasses on the table and filled them to the top with icy water. “Do you want a few minutes to look at your options?”

  Janie read the menu. It had expanded since she’d last eaten at the restaurant.

  “What do you think, Janie? Should we have our usual?” Drew didn’t touch his listing.

  Their usual. It was exactly what she wanted. Turning to Drew, she closed the menu and nodded.

  “We’ll have the classic with everything on it,” Drew told Michael. “And two iced teas.”

  “Extra cheese, please,” Janie added.

  “You got it.” Michael collected the menus and headed off toward the kitchen.

  Drew placed his hands on the table and folded his fingers together. “So, do you think we can eat the entire pizza like we did that one Friday night after our team won the state championship?”

  Janie recalled that evening. Although it seemed like a lifetime ago, the memory remained vivid. Drew had thrown the winning touchdown and won their school the trophy. It was the first and only time the two had kissed. At the time, it was nothing more than the excitement of the moment. But for days after, she had dreamed about it. “I don’t know—that’s a pretty big pie. I might have to take some of mine home to Riley. Would that count?”

  Drew laughed as Janie took a sip of her water, feeling more relaxed than she’d been all day. She looked around the restaurant before directing her eyes back on her date. Yes, that’s what this was. Riley had been right. “This is nice. Thank you for bringing me here.”