by Elsie Davis
“I remember the fancy recipes she used to cook up. I miss her. Mom took it hard when she passed away.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I wish I’d been there for you both.”
Gemma let out a deep breath. Speaking of the past reminded her of things she preferred to forget. “Anyway, here’s what I was thinking about earlier.” It was easier to change the subject to safer territory.
“I talked to Jake, and he mentioned the Hallbrook Rescue Squad is in desperate need of funds for some special equipment and training. I don’t have the kind of money they need, and I feel what I could donate, wouldn’t make a dent. But a fundraiser is something I can do, and it would help raise the money needed.”
Chad’s gaze stayed riveted on her, but he didn’t say a word as he waited for her to explain.
“It would be my way to thank everyone for saving Brody. I’d have to stay here for two weeks if we did this the day after Thanksgiving—if that’s okay with you.”
His eyebrows shot up, the expression on his face one of complete surprise. “Absolutely. You’re always welcome here. But what about your job? What about your mother? I’m sure she’ll be missing you, and she might not be too pleased with that kind of extension, especially since it’s Thanksgiving. Not to mention in a small town like Hallbrook, making something that size happen in two weeks seems almost impossible.”
“As far as my job goes, I have an assistant I can reassign my workload to. She’ll be thrilled to help. I’ll make sure of it. Mom will be ecstatic because then she can extend her stay in Colorado Springs without the guilt of leaving me alone for a holiday. And as for putting something together in two weeks, trust me, I’m a professional, and I can do it.” She had faith in herself, and now Chad needed to put his faith in her.
“As far as I’m concerned, thanks aren’t necessary, but I won’t stand in the way of you helping the volunteer rescue squad raise money. I think it sounds like a wonderful idea.” Chad sat back in his chair, a satisfied expression on his face.
“Glad to hear it, because here’s where you come in. To make this work, I’m going to need a big name, and around here, yours is as big as it gets. PBR’s rodeo darling will draw a lot of attention and bring in a lot of people from outside Hallbrook.”
He flinched. “I’m not overly partial to that nickname. It painted the wrong picture of me, and nothing I did could ever dispel the image in people’s heads. I’ve done some PR work to benefit others in the past, so I guess one more thing couldn’t hurt.”
“Thank you. That’s awesome. And I’ll stick with the Bullbuster if you prefer.” She laughed.
“I do.” He looked relieved, but no more so than she was.
Half the battle was won, but the other half was a big if at this point. “I’m going to need your help getting Jake to sign on to do this with me. He’s got a lot of clout around town, and he’s on the rescue squad. As the lead rescuer, and a handsome man, he’ll bring in his fair share of the business. For some reason, he’s not a fan of mine, but I’m sure he’ll do it for you.”
“I bet if you ask him, he’ll agree. You might have to do some sweet-talking, but I’m sure you can handle him. I’ll be the backup hammer if you need one.” Chad’s grin emphasized the wrinkles on his sun-weathered face.
Gemma wasn’t nearly as confident in her abilities with Jake, but she’d give it her best shot. Because more than anything, deep down, she wanted more time with her dad, and the fundraiser was the perfect excuse to stay.
Chapter Seven
“Hey, Kyle. Go get your sneakers, and I’ll help you put them on so we can go outside and play. Gramps is coming over this morning. Maybe we can talk him into a game of catch.” Friday mornings, he liked to make the most of his time with Kyle. Next year, he’d be in school, something Jake wasn’t sure he was ready for.
“I like to play ball. Wait wight here, Daddy.”
“Okay, buddy.”
Kyle raced up the stairs as fast as his little legs would carry him.
Jake relished the time he could play with his son. Moments when he could put on his daddy hat and enjoy life through a child’s eyes. It was also a reminder of why he moved away from the city. He would do anything for his son and didn’t regret a single decision, which had led him to this point.
Not even his ex-wife. If it hadn’t been for her, he wouldn’t have Kyle.
Remembering his own childhood, he wanted to do better for his son. Growing up, his father had done the best he could, but back then Tom worked long, hard hours to make ends meet, even more so after Jake’s mom left. He’d spent most of his time alone and had become a nobody. Just a kid growing up, going through the day-to-day motions to get through life until he got out of school.
Being alone all the time had a couple of perks. One was good grades. Another was the freedom to watch whatever he wanted on TV, his favorite being ER. Watching the action play out on the screen day after day made him want to be the doctor who always got it right.
Popular. Smart. Respected.
Somebody.
It wasn’t his dad’s fault he had to work twelve to fourteen-hour days at the railroad. It wasn’t his dad’s fault his mom ran off to find a new life. And it wasn’t Jake’s fault his ex-wife put having the perfect image above their son.
The thought of her still had the power to make him burn with anger. Kyle was never a burden, the word she’d used still branded in Jake’s memory, a word he never wanted to hear again. Kyle deserved the love of two parents, and Jake vowed to give him that love, flying solo. No one would ever have the power to hurt his son again if he could help it.
And that included Gemma. Not that she’d do it on purpose, but it would happen.
“I’m back. Got my shoes.” Kyle held them up for inspection.
Jake knelt to help with the sneakers. “Let’s go over the bunny rule. First, we cross the strings and slide one string under the other. Then we pull it tight. Then we make one bunny ear. Then we make another bunny ear. Keep the ears tight between your thumb and finger of one hand. Then with your other hand, loop the string around his ears at the bottom and take it back through the hole. Then we grab the two bunny ears and pull tight. Now, it’s your turn to do the other shoe. Okay?”
“Okay, Daddy.”
He slipped the shoe on Kyle’s foot and pulled the strings into place to get them started.
Kyle’s little fingers held the laces in place. “Look, Daddy, look. I got the cross.”
“Good job, buddy. Keep going.”
Three minutes later, Kyle was frustrated, and Jake knew he’d reached his limit. Showing him one last time, Jake finished tying the shoe, so they could go outside and play.
When the time was right, he’d be able to tie his shoes, and that was good enough for Jake. The last thing he wanted was for Kyle to grow up too fast.
They headed outside, and he set up the T-ball post for batting practice.
“Whaw’s Gwamps?”
Kyle glanced next door. His dad may not have had much time for him growing up, but now that he was retired, he was making it up to Jake by being there for his grandson. And then some. Jake didn’t know what he would do without his help.
“I’m not sure, but he’ll be here soon. You know he won’t want to miss this.” “It’s funny to watch him chase the ball.” Kyle giggled.
“Let’s warm-up your swing so we can show him how well you’re doing.”
Kyle hit the ball several times and ran around the pretend bases, Jake close on his heels. The fresh air and exercise were healthy for his son, but for Jake, it was more. Kyle’s laughter touched his heart in a way nothing else could, knowing he was responsible for the happiness in his son’s life.
A familiar white Jeep pulled into the driveway. What was Gemma doing here and how did she know where he lived? He glanced at Kyle, tempted to send him in the house to wash his hands. Anything to keep him apart from their unexpected visitor.
“Daddy, Daddy, look. It’s the lady wif the wed hair and b
ig wed dog, Bwody.” Kyle ran across the yard toward the vehicle.
“Kyle! Get back here. We don’t run up to vehicles in the driveway. We don’t know if they see you. Safety first, you know the rules.”
“But Daddy, I wanna play wif Bwody.” At least he listened and stopped in his tracks, even if it was with a pout on his face.
“Go sit on the porch a few minutes while I find out what she wants.”
“Okay,” Kyle mumbled. His son was close to tears, and it broke Jake’s heart. From laughter to tears in a matter of seconds, and it was all Gemma’s fault for showing up unexpectedly. He took just enough time to make sure Kyle followed his order before he made his way over to meet their unexpected and unwelcome visitor.
She looked like a breath of fresh air as she stepped out of the Jeep, her blue jeans, sweater, and boots, completely replacing the city-girl image with a fresh country look.
“Is Chad okay?” Jake’s initial concern was for his friend.
“He’s fine. I hope I didn’t scare you by showing up this way. I needed to talk to you about something, and I got your address from Chad. He told me Friday’s are your late-in day. I hope you don’t mind.” Her continued use of Chad’s name irritated him. The man was her father.
“Now isn’t a good time. My dad is on his way over, and we’re playing a game of ball.”
“This will only take a few minutes, I promise. It’s important.” She didn’t seem in the least daunted by his attempt to send her away without hearing her out.
Idle curiosity overruled common sense. “So, talk. Make it fast.”
Gemma waved at Kyle on the front steps. “Hi, Kyle. Sorry to interrupt your game. Do you mind if I talk to your dad for a few minutes?” She was asking permission from his son to interrupt. Nothing he’d ever seen done before, and just one more thing he grudgingly had to admit he admired.
“Hi, Miss Gemma. Can I play wif Bwody? Please?” Kyle was turning on the little-boy whine, hoping to make headway with Gemma, since he’d already told him no. Jake didn’t want them playing. Playing meant bonding, something he couldn’t allow to happen.
Jake shot Gemma one of those help-me-out looks, hoping she’d be the one to say no.
“Fine by me, if it’s okay with your dad.” So much for her helping him. Why did he have to be the bad guy? Especially when all he was trying to do was keep Kyle from getting hurt.
“Let him play with the dog.” His dad spoke from behind them as he crossed the yard.
“It’s not gonna hurt anything, and I’ll keep an eye on him while you both talk. It’s all Kyle’s talked about ever since he met Brody. Here’s his chance.” His dad came to stand next to them.
“Fine.” It was anything but fine, but he was outnumbered. Just a few minutes was all she was getting.
Brody bounded out of the Jeep the second Gemma opened the door. The dog ran into the yard, running and pouncing into some of the leaf piles as if he was a puppy.
“He’ll calm down in a minute, he’s always excited when he first gets out of the Jeep.
“Come here, boy,” she called out.
“As long as he doesn’t jump on Kyle and hurt him.” He didn’t care if he sounded like he was one of those over-protective dads—Brody was a huge, muscular dog.
“I would never let him hurt Kyle or any other child.”
“Most people never plan on it happening, but sometimes, it happens anyway.” She didn’t need to understand him, only to say what she came to say and leave. He turned away from Gemma’s intense gaze.
His dad took Kyle by the hand and called Brody. The dog immediately went to greet them and sat down, waiting for attention.
“See, he’s fine now. Your dad understands dogs and has the situation under control.”
Kyle hugged Brody’s neck like he was his long-lost friend, proving Gemma was right. When Brody took off running, Kyle was right behind him, chasing the dog all over the yard and laughing, his sullen attitude gone as fast as it had come on.
“What is it you want to discuss?” Time to hurry this unplanned social visit up and get her and her dog to leave before Kyle irrevocably fell in love.
“I’ve talked to Chad, and I have an idea I want to share with you.”
Jake frowned.
“And you can stop with the frown, it’s not helping.”
“I just find it a bit odd you call him Chad.”
Gemma pushed her hair back out of her face and glared. “And again, I need to remind you the situation is not as it may appear. You have no reason to judge what I call or don’t call him.”
“Then why don’t you explain it to me.” Jake was hoping someone would because none of it made sense.
“Because it’s not why I’m here, and Chad is your friend. You should be asking him if you want details.”
“Hmmph.” It wasn’t often Chad broached the subject, but Jake had other evidence his friend had gone above and beyond to connect with his daughter, no matter what the reason they were apart. And it wasn’t likely he would ask Chad because the last thing he wanted to do was upset his friend.
Jake glanced at his watch, hoping she’d get the message.
“I’m here about the Hallbrook Rescue Squad. You told me they were desperate for donations for equipment and training. You told me to write a check as my way of saying thanks. I took it upon myself to talk with the Captain and found out how much they need. I can’t possibly write a check for that amount, but I did cook up a plan of how to get the money.”
Jake gazed at her with renewed interest. He might not want her here, but anything that would help the rescue squad raise money deserved his attention. “I’m listening.”
“I’m thinking about a fundraiser. A carnival, to be exact. I’ve put together what I think would be a workable plan of action, but it would take help to pull it off in two weeks. It would need to be the day after Thanksgiving.”
“That’s impossible. And who would even venture to take on organizing and leading this fundraiser campaign? You, while you’re sitting at a desk in Syracuse?”
“No, Mr. Know-It-All. I’m going to stay here and organize the carnival. But I need help. Chad’s already agreed to do a couple advertising spots and some photo ops for the posters to announce the fundraiser. I think to have the local PBR celebrity available for autographs and to do a workshop with some of the local kids would be a huge draw to get a lot of people in from areas outside of Hallbrook.”
A fundraiser in two weeks. The woman was out of her mind, but they did need the money. Who was he to stop her? “What did you want to talk to me about? It’s not like you need my permission.”
“No, but we do need to get the word out, and that’s where you come in. You’ve got contacts and connections—lots of them. And we need manpower.”
She wasn’t laying on sweet talk to get her way, but instead, was appealing to his deep sense of responsibility and community. “That’s a tall order from a stranger just passing through town.”
“I’m not a stranger. I used to live in Glen Haven until I was twelve years old. Come on, it’s for a worthy cause. Isn’t this what you want? To raise money for the rescue squad?”
It was a shock to discover Gemma had lived near here. Their age difference alone would have been enough to keep him from knowing her when they were kids, but if she’d moved away at the age of twelve, a whole new question came to mind.
Where had Chad been during the first twelve years that she did live here?
A big piece of the Gemma puzzle fell into place, but what he saw wasn’t anything he liked. It would have been Chad’s rodeo days. It was the first inkling of truth regarding the situation she referred to whenever he berated her for staying away. Unease settled in his stomach like a prickly porcupine.
“Yes. You’re right. Do you think it’ll work?” He couldn’t believe he was going to agree. He’d made a commitment to this town and to himself to be a part of the community. His doctoral oath promised to protect, help, and save lives to the best
of his ability. But it was the rescue squad that filled his deep-seated need to make a bigger difference. To use his expertise as an ER doctor trained to respond in a split second when seconds counted in saving a life. It was his one way to stay in touch with the life he gave up in the city to become the town doctor and be a father to his son.
“It will, but I need your help to make it work. I’m a professional event planner, I can do this. And I don’t intend to commit myself to something I can’t make a success. Are you in?” Gemma’s determination and confidence was impressive. She’d make a great team player.
“I’ll help. Just remember I have office hours and a son. My patients rely on me so anything you need we’re going to have to fit into my schedule. And Kyle is always my number one priority.”
Gemma nodded. “That’s fine. I can work with those terms.”
“And one more thing. If you need to talk to me, talk to me at the office. I don’t want Kyle getting any more attached to Brody than he is already. I prefer to keep my business life separate from my private life.” What he really meant was he didn’t want Kyle getting attached to her, but he would never be rude enough to say it directly to Gemma.
“If that’s what it takes. I wouldn’t hurt Kyle if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I won’t give you the chance to prove it one way or the other. It’s just the way things have to be.”
She had no way of knowing how much his son had talked about Brody and her after the first night he met them. Tonight, he was sure bedtime and bath time would be filled with lots of happy talk about Brody. The furry red dog and red-haired lady, as Kyle called them, had made a big impact on his son in such a short amount of time.
And Gemma had made a big impact on Jake, whether he wanted it to or not.
He admired her decision to stick around and help. A woman who put others’ needs in front of her own was special. But there was more to it. Her smile warmed his heart, her strength of spirit and independence were refreshing, and her generosity knew no bounds. Gemma was undoubtedly a unique woman, but one who could destroy the wall he’d erected around himself and his son.