Suddenly she broke eye contact and gently elbowed him back. “So what’s next? We still have half a day.”
Before he could respond, Dwayne drove up in his truck, pulling a large flat trailer. He waved out the window. “Roof looks good. Did you help, Carly?”
She gave him a thumbs-up.
He grinned. “Good to know you still have your skills.”
“What’s the trailer for?”
“I ran into George Meacham at the marina, and he said if we can get the canoes to him today he’d put them at the top of his to-do list. Y’all want to give me a hand?”
Mack nodded and glanced at Carly. She took a step back and gestured toward the ground.
“I’ll pick up around here.”
Mack climbed into Dwayne’s truck and a let out a slow breath, welcoming the chance to put some distance between him and Carly. His senses were still reeling from being so close. He needed to get a handle on his emotions. Fast, before he did something stupid.
Working alongside her had felt like old times. Only they weren’t. This was a different time and they were different people. They could never go back to those young people who were so close.
But, oh, how he wished they could.
* * *
Carly watched the truck pull away, finally exhaling the breath that had been trapped in her lungs. What in the world had just happened? She’d been determined to jump into the repairs to make sure things moved quickly. It had felt good to channel all her anger into driving the nails into the roof. Then she’d slipped on the ladder and ended up in Mack’s arms, close enough to feel the heat from his body and inhale his scent. She should have shoved him away, but instead she’d lingered, feeling her pulse speed up, her heart pound and her every sense vibrate to his nearness. It was insane.
And dangerous.
She pivoted and reached down to pick up the paper wrapping from the shingle bundles. There was no reason to flip out over her reaction to Mack. It was a onetime thing, an anomaly. A moment of weakness triggered by old memories of something that would never happen again.
Carly focused on picking up the roofing debris and placing the tools in the back of the golf cart. As she was finishing up, Dwayne’s truck reappeared, the long trailer stacked with silver canoes. Mack got out. Carly took a closer look at the water craft, then leaned in the truck window. “These are all pretty banged up.”
Dwayne tilted his hat upward a tad. “A couple of them were already needing work from normal use, but several of them were tossed pretty hard in that storm a while back.”
“How long will it take to get them operational?”
“Less than a week, I hope.”
Carly sighed. “Well, at least we have two that are intact for when we open.”
Dwayne pulled away and Carly tried to ignore Mack, who was standing beside her. She was thankful that her phone rang, until she saw the name on the screen. The collection agency again. Her heart chilled. She’d avoided them for over a week. She’d learned the hard way that if she didn’t answer, it only made things worse the next time.
“I have to take this.” She couldn’t risk looking at Mack. She walked off a few paces and answered the call. The voice on the other end launched into a stern dialogue, tinged with more threats and stating that they were taking steps to garnishee her wages. Carly’s throat tightened. “I’m doing the best I can. My father died recently and I have to deal with his estate. Maybe we can work something out when I get back home.”
The voice wasn’t interested in making any deals, only getting a payment. Today. A scream worked its way up through her and Carly ended the call, resisting the urge to toss the phone into the bushes. Instead, she jammed it into her pocket as the tears started to roll down her cheeks.
“Carly. Is everything okay?” Mack came to her side.
Keeping her back to him, she wiped the tears. “Fine.” She schooled her features and turned to face him. She tried to ignore the look of concern on Mack’s face, but the tenderness in his probing blue gaze was too much. Her usual determination started to crumble. “No. Nothing is all right. Everything is falling apart and I don’t know how to stop it.”
Mack took her arm and led her to the picnic table in front of the cabin and sat down. “What’s going on? Maybe I can help.”
“No. The only thing that will help is selling this place.”
“Who was that on the phone, Carly? What upset you so?”
She weighed her options. She didn’t really want to tell Mack but, then, what did she have to lose? She was at her wit’s end. Her pride was the least of her worries now. “Bill collectors. They hound me day and night.”
“Why. What happened?”
“Ella’s surgery.”
“I don’t understand. Was she sick?”
Carly clasped her hands, rubbing her thumbs together. “She was born with a serious and rare heart condition. It couldn’t be repaired until she was older. The surgery was six months ago.”
“Is she okay now?”
“She’s perfect. Completely normal. I don’t have to worry about her at all. She’s so happy and so excited to be able to do everything other kids do. But the surgery was very expensive and my insurance only covered a fraction of the cost.”
Mack nodded and rubbed his jaw. “Is that why you’re so anxious to sell the lodge? To pay off the hospital bills?”
“They are threatening to garnishee my wages. I’m barely making it week to week as it is. I owe more than I can ever pay.” She propped her elbows on the top of the picnic table. “I’ve been battling financial trouble since Troy died. He was a wonderful husband and father, but he made some bad investments and we lost everything. When he died, Ella and I were left with only enough for his funeral. We managed until the surgery but now—”
Mack gently touched her shoulder. “I wish I could help.”
She stared at her hands. “I just wish they’d stop calling me. I’m doing the best I can.”
Mack leaned closer. “Maybe I can help a little.”
“How?”
“It’s against the law for collection agencies to harass you. They’re rarely prosecuted, so they ignore the law. But I’m an attorney.”
She met his gaze. “I thought you were a deputy.”
A corner of Mack’s mouth lifted. “I am, but I do have my law degree. I just never took the bar exam. I can’t officially do anything, but I can send a strongly worded and very official sounding letter reminding them of the law and threatening legal action.”
“Will they stop calling me?”
“For a while. At least until things here are sorted out.”
The thought of not freezing up each time a bill collector showed up on her phone gave her hope. “Thank you. But if you’re not licensed, can you really do this?”
“You’d be amazed how the word lawyer can strike fear in the hearts of evildoers everywhere.”
Carly smiled, the sense of panic fading away. She reached over and took his hand. “Thank you.”
He laid his other hand over hers, encasing her in a warm sense of security. “Why didn’t you tell me why the money was so important? I would have understood.”
“There’s was nothing you could have done. It’s too much money for anyone to pay back.”
She wiped her eyes again. “One of the ladies at the widow’s group I went to knows of an organization that can help people in situations like mine.”
“Good. I’ll help you talk to them if you like.”
“Thank you. Sometimes I get so tired of doing everything by myself.”
He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close, letting her rest her head on his chest. “We’ll work this out, Carly. I promise.”
She fought the desire to remain forever in his embrace. It felt good to lean on someone, to share her burden. But his offer to help h
er with the medical situation didn’t change all the other things she was facing. Even with help, the end result was that bills needed to be paid and the lodge needed to be sold.
She pushed away, trying to ignore the solid feel of his chest.
He stood. “I’m starving. Why don’t we take a break and get some lunch?”
“I am hungry, but it’ll have to be quick. I’m moving our things into the apartment this afternoon. We need all the lodge rooms free for guests.”
Mack stood. “Moving back home, huh?”
She shrugged. “I think Ella will be happier in the house instead of a guest room.”
Mack slid behind the wheel of the golf cart and waited for her to be seated before starting the vehicle. “I understand. That’s why Lucy and I are moving in with the Thompsons. They have plenty of room and I think the environment of a real house will be good for Lucy. Not to mention having live-in grandparents.”
“They do seem to be enjoying the girls.”
“Another reason to be thankful for coming home. You’ve made them happy.”
“I suppose.” That’s not something she’d considered, but he had a point. Dwayne and Thelma were genuinely delighted to have everyone back at the lodge.
They rode in silence until they reached the lodge. Mack pulled to a stop near the back entrance. “Carly, maybe you should stop being so stubborn and just admit that you have good memories of the lodge and your dad.”
Carly set her jaw and got out of the cart. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. And I’d appreciate it if everyone would stop trying to make me remember things I don’t want to relive.” Pivoting on her heel, she walked away.
* * *
The knot that had formed in Mack’s stomach since Carly had come home tightened. Everything he said to her triggered her anger and resentment. He was at his wit’s end to know how to approach her anymore.
Maybe she had the right idea after all. The obstacles were mounting more than he or the Thompsons had anticipated. He was beginning to think getting the lodge open was an impossible task. If he agreed to sell, then it would all be done. He could go back home to the coast, raise Lucy and let any ideas about Carly slowly die away.
He rubbed his forehead. Except he knew that would never happen. Seeing her again and being close had only unearthed all the feelings he’d carried for her from the first day they’d met.
Steering the cart back toward the shed, he caught sight of Lucy and Ella playing with the puppies in the backyard. They each held a furry pet in their arms, their smiles revealing their delight. He doubted the poor dogs’ feet had touched the ground since the girls had met them. They carried the critters everywhere.
He stopped and took a closer look at Ella, his heart stinging as he thought about what she and her mother must have been through. He couldn’t imagine dealing with something so serious. Lucy was his life now, and the thought of her needing major surgery filled him with fear and dread. How had Carly managed all alone? He’d always known she was a strong and determined woman, but it would have taken an extra measure of courage to deal with a seriously ill child.
He drove on, his thoughts still occupied with the things Carly had shared. The one that lingered was the tone in her voice when she spoke of her husband. It was clear she’d adored him. Losing him at such a young age must have been devastating. He wished he could have been there to comfort her through the loss and the anxious days of Ella’s surgery. But he doubted he could have lived up to the man she married.
His cell phone rang as he was leaving the shed. His concern spiked when he saw it was from the prison. Val only called once a week. Something must be wrong. He answered and held his breath.
“Hey, little bro.”
“Val, is everything okay?”
“Not really. I’m in the infirmary. I got into a little scuffle and broke my arm.”
Mack knew enough about the prison system to read between the lines. Beatings were a common problem among inmates. “Are you going to be all right?”
“Sure. I just wanted to let you know and see how my baby is doing.”
“She’s happy. She loves it here at the lodge, and she and Ella are best buds.”
“I’m glad. Look, I don’t have much time so I want you to think about something. I’d like you to adopt Lucy. Straight out.”
The request hit like a blow to his chest. He fought to find his voice. “Val. I can’t do that. She’s your daughter.”
“And she’ll be seventeen when and if I get out of here, and I’ll be a stranger to her. I want her to have a normal life with a loving parent. That’s you.”
“Val. You understand that means you’d have to relinquish all your parental rights forever.”
“I know. But it would be for the best.”
Mack’s mind was churning. “Sis, you need to reconsider this idea. I’m not sure you’re thinking clearly.”
“I’m not going to change my mind.”
A prerecorded beep sounded, signaling the call was ending.
“We’ll talk again. Love you, Val.”
The call ended and Mack shoved his phone into his pocket, then walked to the water’s edge and leaned against the trunk of an old pine tree.” His sister’s request was out of the question and he had no idea how to approach her request.
“A man only stares at the water for two reasons. He’s either crazy in love or thinking over a problem. Which is it?”
Mack smiled and faced Dwayne, who stopped beside him. “Take a guess.”
“Knowing you the way I do, I’d say it’s a little of both.”
“I hope I’m as wise and all knowing as you are when I’m your age.”
“Age has its benefits.”
Mack shifted and leaned his back against the tree trunk. “Val wants me to adopt Lucy. She thinks it would be better for her since she’ll be a teenager before Val is released.”
“Are you open to that idea?”
“I don’t know. I’d feel like I was stealing her child. Being her guardian is one thing, but cutting Val out of her life altogether is something else. Lucy would be deeply hurt.”
“Maybe. But her mother isn’t part of her life right now. You are. And from what I’ve seen, she is thriving under your care. Her mother is only a once-a-week voice on the phone.”
“I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel right.”
“You don’t have to decide today. Let it percolate in your mind and heart awhile and have a few long talks with the Lord. You’ll find the answer soon enough.”
He had other things he was already struggling to sort out. “Did you know Ella had heart surgery a while back?”
“No, I didn’t. She okay now?”
Mack nodded. “But the medical bills were staggering. It’s why she wants to sell the property.”
“Does this mean you’re going to change your mind and let the place go?”
Mack pushed away from the tree. “No. Not without looking at every other option first.”
Wade had loved Longleaf, and Mack wouldn’t stop trying to save it until all solutions were exhausted. In the meantime, he’d try his best to help Carly with her problems, too.
* * *
Ella inhaled slowly, her eyes wide, her mouth in a perfect O. “Is this my new room? It’s so big.” She darted toward the large window. “I can see the whole lake.”
Carly set the suitcase and backpack on the bed and smiled at her daughter’s delight. She’d felt the same way about the room when she was a child. “This was my room when I was little. I loved the window seat. It’s a great place to read a book.”
“I love it. I can’t wait for Lucy to see it. We’re going to have so much fun here.”
She had no doubt. The girls were growing closer by the moment. Anyone who saw them might assume they were sisters. “I’m sure you will.”
Carly spent the rest of the afternoon getting settled into her childhood home and answering an endless stream of questions from her daughter, many of which forced her to revisit her childhood and her relationship with her father.
She was grateful when bedtime rolled around. Carly tucked Ella into bed and placed a kiss on her head. “Sleep tight, sweetie.”
“Mommy, can we stay here forever? I love it here. And I love my friend Lucy.”
“I’m glad you’re having a good time.”
“And I love Miss Thelma, too. Is she my grandma?”
“No. Your grandma, my mom, lives far away. That’s why you don’t see her.” The truth was that she was too busy with her social life to find time to visit her daughter and grandchild.
“Can I pretend Miss Thelma is my grandma?”
“I think she’d like that.”
Carly made her way downstairs to the living room of the apartment and opened her laptop. Her boss had emailed her and she’d yet to respond. She had a bad feeling that Jessie would have to let her go. She was supposed to be in Hastings for only a week, two at the most, but it was obviously going to take much longer. But if she lost her job, she’d be destitute.
Tapping the keys, she opened her email, then changed her mind. Speaking to her boss directly might be a better approach. She tried to quell her anxiety as she waited for Jessie to answer. Jessie’s voice was filled with concern when she did.
“Are you okay? What’s happening over there?”
Reluctantly, Carly explained the situation. “I’m so sorry. I have to stay until the end of next month or until we sell the place. I had no idea this would happen. I was thinking I could still do the ordering and anything that could be done on the computer.”
“Well, actually, I’ve already been working on a plan. I can hire a store manager with no problem. What I really need now is someone to work on marketing and handle social media. A virtual assistant. You’re really good at that, Carly. How would you feel about focusing on that end of things while you’re gone? I’ll keep your pay the same and you can do all your work from Hastings. When you get back, we can assess things and figure out where to go from there?”
Their Family Blessing Page 7