Howie glared at him, his know-it-all smirk firmly in place. “Don’t be an idiot. If you walk in there by yourself, she’ll think you’ve been spying on her—which is true.”
“Not really.”
“Well, you’re watching her like a cop, right?”
Rafe couldn’t deny it. “Yes, I am. But only because she’s flying blind and could get in trouble. I need to talk to her.”
“Fine. But I’m going with you,” Howie replied. “Stay here while I pay for the tires, then I’m buying you coffee for driving me down here. We’ll say hi to her together.”
“Thanks. It’s a good plan. That’ll give me a reason to wait for her without looking like a stalker.”
Howie left to settle up on his car, and Rafe drove across the street. A few minutes later, Howie pulled up in his ancient Corolla and they walked into the café together. The space was a mix of half walls, booths, and coffee-doctoring stations. Rafe spotted Jax in the back with a woman rocking spiky blue-tipped hair, maybe on a FriendsFirst date. Chelsea and Hannah were out of Jax’s view, seated in a corner booth, waiting for their food to be delivered.
Howie ordered coffee, a couple of sandwiches, and two big cookies. Rafe led the way to a table by the front door. When Chelsea left, he planned to stop her.
He and Howie didn’t say much as they ate, though when Jax and the blue-haired girl left, Howie shot daggers at his back. A few minutes later, Chelsea carried her tray to the bussing station, gripped Hannah’s hand, and headed their way.
Rafe signaled her with a wave. She approached with a friendly smile, and he stood to greet her. “Hey, Chelsea. Do you have a minute?”
She glanced at Howie, her expression both curious and confused. “I guess. But not too long. The restaurant was slammed today. I’m beat, but at least the tips were good.”
“It’ll only take a minute.” He nodded toward Howie and told Chelsea they worked together. “It seems that you two have a mutual friend.”
“Really?” Casual interest sparked in her eyes. “Who?”
“Have a seat.” Rafe pulled out a chair for Chelsea, then wrangled one from another table so Hannah could sit next to her mother. Chelsea pulled a Disney princess Barbie out of her big purse, the mermaid with flaming red hair, and gave it to Hannah.
Rafe shifted his chair so he could speak more directly to Chelsea. “How well do you know Jax Martin?”
“Jax?” Honest confusion washed over her face as she glanced from Rafe to Howie.
Howie took the cue. “The guy in the parking lot.”
“I know who you mean,” she replied, slightly defensive. “I just don’t know why it matters. What—were you spying on me?”
“No.” Rafe told her about taking Howie to pick up his car. “We were at the tire store when we saw you with Jax.”
“I don’t understand. I met him online. We went out once. So what?”
Howie and Rafe exchanged a look, then Rafe opened his mouth to speak. In the same instant, Hannah pushed up on her knees. The chair slid back and the doll tumbled to the floor on Howie’s side.
“I’ve got it,” he said, bending down. “How about if Hannah and I sit at the next table over? Rafe can tell you about Jax.”
She hesitated—not a surprise considering Howie’s rough appearance. Rafe started to speak, but Howie broke in. “I’m a grandpa. I know who Ariel is. In fact”—he looked down at Hannah—“did you know that Ariel’s favorite food is fish ice cream?”
Hannah’s eyes widened, then she laughed. “With chocolate on top!”
“You guessed it.” Howie winked at Hannah, then turned to Chelsea to be sure she was okay with him taking Hannah to another table. When she nodded, he indicated the cookie the size of his hand. “A-okay?”
“Yes.” Chelsea even smiled. “Thank you.”
They went to a nearby table, and Rafe focused back on Chelsea. “I’ll make this quick. Howie recognized Jax from an incident at one of Jesse’s worksites. The guy’s a drug dealer.”
“What!”
“Yeah, he’s dirty.” Rafe told her about Jesse running Jax off the jobsite. “I thought you should know.”
“I can’t believe I went out with him! It was just once—this same coffee place. But still—” She whipped out her phone. “I’m blocking him right now.”
Rafe nodded. “That’s smart.”
She heaved a sigh from deep in her chest. “I know the online world can be deceptive. I’m not stupid—or crazy. I’m careful, Rafe. I am. But if I don’t take a chance now and then, I’ll be alone for the rest of my life.”
“And if you take the wrong chance, you could end up in real trouble.”
“It’s just so frustrating! Why can’t I meet someone special?”
Rafe said nothing. He’d learned in his conversations with D’Andre that platitudes—You’ll meet someone someday; it’s just not the right time—only made the situation more awkward.
Chelsea glanced past him to Howie and Hannah. “At least I have my little girl.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I might not have a date for MJ’s wedding, but I have Hannah.” A hint of boldness returned to Chelsea’s voice. “She’s my plus-one for the ceremony. In fact, we just found the cutest dress for her at the secondhand store. It’ll be fun.”
“She’s adorable.”
“Who knows? Maybe I’ll meet someone fun at the reception.”
The reception was at the Riverbend Steakhouse and included dinner, dancing, and all the traditions. Children were invited, but Rafe couldn’t see Chelsea flirting with her daughter in tow. “Are you bringing Hannah?”
“No, just to the ceremony. After that, she’s spending the night with her bestie. I just wish”—she looked right at him—“I had someone like you in my life. Daisy’s a lucky woman.”
“Thank you.” The compliment touched him, but her wistful tone grated even worse than her chatter. “Hang in there, Chels. I’m not going to blow sunshine and tell you the right guy will come along, but I will say that life is full of surprises.”
“I just hope they’re good ones.” She gave him a wobbly smile, and they both stood. Howie returned with Hannah, and Chelsea left with her little girl, chattering about how pretty they’d look for MJ’s wedding.
Rafe and Howie waved through the window as they passed, then sat back down. Howie broke off some of the second cookie. “So how did it go?”
“Good. She blocked Jax right away.” Rafe gave Howie a nod of respect. “Thanks for everything. You stopped a potentially dangerous situation.”
Howie grinned. “So, SuperCop, does this make me your sidekick?”
“Nope.” Rafe let the cookie sit. “It makes us partners. SuperCop and SuperCon. Sounds like a bad TV show.”
“Or a good one.” Howie chuckled. “Netflix here we come.”
“Works for me.” Rafe swigged down the last of his coffee, and they left the café, both proud of a job well done.
Daisy was about to walk into her AA meeting when Chelsea texted. Frustration shot through her. She really needed this meeting—not because she was tempted to drink, but because she was torn up over Rafe and what to do.
She opened the text, and emojis with heart-eyes stared up at her.
Chelsea: If you don’t marry Rafe Donovan, I will.
Daisy: Ha ha! What happened?
Chelsea: Details later. But he’s a good guy. Seriously, you should marry him. More heart emojis. I envy you!!!!
Daisy glanced at the time on her phone. She had five minutes before the meeting, so she slipped around the corner of the church building and called Chelsea. “So what happened?”
The story unfolded in typical Chelsea style. Daisy remembered Jax’s profile—an electrician with insomnia. There had been no clue about his extracurricular activities. Not a surprise, but Daisy worried even more. “Maybe you should stick to people we know in real life.”
“Like who?”
“Let me think.” None of the men Daisy knew from chur
ch were right for Chelsea, or she wasn’t right for them. But she wanted to give her friend hope. “Maybe you’ll meet someone at the reception. Some of Shane’s old baseball friends are coming. I’ve met his former roommate—”
“A professional ballplayer?”
“You got it.”
Chelsea perked up. “In that case, I’m glad I bought a new dress. Well, new to me. It’s from the secondhand store, but it’s adorable.”
They ended the call and Daisy went into the meeting. Her heart ached for Chelsea, but it also ached for herself.
Refuge or Rafe?
She wanted both, and though she was committed to visiting Cincinnati, she could hardly breathe from the fear of leaving her nest.
Chapter 30
On the day of Shane and MJ’s wedding, Rafe drove alone to the church for the six o’clock ceremony. He couldn’t help but wonder about his future with Daisy. In his experience, weddings were a turning point. Dating couples either fell more in love, or they backed away from each other.
He knew how he felt. He loved her and wanted a future with wedding rings, a couple of kids, and a dog. Wherever he worked, that meant asking Daisy to live with the risks of his career, something they hadn’t directly discussed. He needed to bring it up, but she’d been somewhat distant since telling him she’d visit Cincinnati. He hoped today would tip the scale in his favor. If it did, they needed to have the danger talk.
She was already at the church, doing maid of honor duties. When he arrived, he texted her and she met him in the hall outside the bridal room for a quick hello.
At the sight of her, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. He’d seen her in denim, dressed to the nines for dinner, and in business casual, but her bridesmaid’s dress belonged in a class all its own. The soft rose color made her skin glow, and the strapless top showed off her shoulders and feminine curves. The floor-length skirt fell in soft waves that captured a natural elegance unique to Daisy.
“Whoa.” He skimmed her from head to foot, slowly but with respect. Yearning leaked into his voice. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you.” Her blushing cheeks rivaled the pretty pink of the dress. “I hope I don’t trip, or drop the bouquet, or—”
“You’ll do great,” he assured her. “I’d kiss you right now, but I don’t want to mess up your lipstick.”
“Smart man! I am so nervous. MJ’s calmer than I am!”
Lyn poked her head out from the hallway leading to the dressing room. “Rafe—hello. We need Daisy again. You can have her back after the ceremony.”
“I’m counting on it.” He gave Daisy’s hand a squeeze and stepped back. She scurried away but turned to blow him a kiss before vanishing down the hall.
Rafe walked into the sanctuary, soaked in the air of anticipation, and joined Jesse and Angela McCullough, Jesse’s date, in the fourth pew.
A female voice came over his shoulder. “Rafe!”
He turned and saw Chelsea approaching with Hannah. Chelsea looked great in a short, peach-colored dress, but Hannah stole the show in a cloud of matching ruffles.
Chelsea gave him a desperate smile. “Could we sit with you?”
Since the episode at the coffee shop, she’d made a point of being extra friendly. She even dropped the “if you weren’t with Daisy, I’d be even friendlier” bomb again, but she did it in front of Daisy, who, to Rafe’s pleasure, had hugged his arm as if to say mine.
Jesse and Angela slid over in the pew. Rafe stood and made introductions to Angela. Chelsea scooted in with Hannah, and they all sat with Rafe still on the aisle.
They made small talk while a harpist played Shane and MJ’s favorite songs, including a delightfully campy version of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” The music shifted to something serious, and the formalities began with the minister, Shane, and Shane’s best man taking their places at the front of the church.
When Daisy made her entrance, she stole Rafe’s breath—every bit of it—as she walked confidently down the aisle, her eyes focused straight ahead except for a glance and a wink just for him. She reached her spot near the altar, traded a smile with Shane, then turned to face the guests.
After a moment of silence, the harpist plucked the first notes of wedding music Rafe had heard before. When the church doors opened again, MJ stood there with Cody at her side, her chin high, flowers trembling ever so slightly, her white gown practically on fire it was so bright. Cody held out his elbow like a pro and walked his mom down the aisle.
When they reached the front of the church, MJ stopped at the front pew and hugged her mother hard. Shane came forward, gave his future mother-in-law an equally long hug, then he helped MJ up the two stairs to the altar, with Cody between them.
The minister’s voice boomed through the church. “Ladies and gentlemen, friends, family, and loved ones. We’re here today for a joyous event—the marriage of Shane Matthew Riley and Melissa June Townsend. Today they take a sacred step—a step that will unite them in holy matrimony. It will also make Shane a father to Cody.”
The minister paused to survey the guests—a crowd of local friends with a few out-of-towners like Lyn. This was Daisy’s church, too, and Rafe wondered how many people celebrating today were also her friends. Love and good will radiated from every face, even from the log walls of the church. Rafe felt welcomed, though he knew just a few people.
Light poured through the stained-glass windows as the minister continued. “Marriage is about more than a man and a woman falling in love. It’s about forming a family, a foundation that will support generations—young and old, children and grandparents, even siblings and cousins. A family lifts us up when we’re hurting and shares our joy when we triumph.
“In more practical terms, we call on family when we need help with anything from childcare to”—he looked at Daisy and grinned—“serving as maid of honor.”
The guests chuckled, and so did Rafe. But when Daisy smiled with the pleasure of being included, he tensed. She belonged here. Belonged. If their relationship continued to deepen, could he really ask her to leave her home?
The minister scanned the crowd, his expression solemn again. “I’m not naïve. Families are flawed and many are broken. But that doesn’t change God’s plan—or his great love for his children. That love is the foundation of what Shane and MJ are forming today—a family of their own.”
Rafe swallowed hard. Those words hit home, and so did the look on Shane’s face as he turned to his bride to speak his vows. There wasn’t a doubt in Rafe’s mind that Shane would fight for MJ, work hard to support her, and love her as best as he could.
When Shane finished, Rafe stole a glance at Daisy. Daisy kept her eyes on the couple, but in the middle of MJ’s pledge to Shane—where she promised to follow him to the ends of the earth—Daisy looked straight at Rafe, her eyes bright, her lips trembling, and her face full of emotions he hoped matched his own.
Daisy watched as the limo taking Shane and MJ to their hotel pulled away from the restaurant. A few soap bubbles still floated in the air, and birdseed crunched under the feet of the retreating guests, but Daisy’s maid of honor duties were complete. Tomorrow Shane and MJ would fly to Hawaii for their honeymoon, leaving Cody with his grandmother and Daisy free to relax after a fun but intense week.
With the last of the crowd drifting away, she turned to Rafe and choked up with love for the hundredth time since the ceremony. During the vows, Daisy had been astonished by how deeply she loved Rafe. Like a flooding river carving new banks, that love for him refused to be contained.
But practicalities were another matter. She couldn’t see herself in Cincinnati—she just couldn’t. But neither could she see herself without Rafe. On the other hand, could Rafe be happy in Refuge?
Turning to him now, she didn’t know what to say or do. She only knew she didn’t want this night to end—especially after slow dancing with him to “Unchained Melody,” the most classic of classic love songs and her very favorite.
He looped
his arm around her waist. “Let’s take a walk. I need to tell you something.”
Something could mean anything. Daisy decided to play it cool. “Good or bad?”
A half smile lifted his lips. “That depends. Let’s go to the lookout.”
Arm in arm, they ambled along the same path they’d walked on their third date. The babble of the river competed with the music of crickets, and the cool air soothed her skin. Leaning into Rafe, she rested her head on his shoulder as they walked. The tension in his body seeped into her, and she wondered again what he wanted—needed—to say.
When they reached the lookout, he drew her into his arms. They savored a long kiss until Rafe eased back. “I’ve wanted to do that since the minute I saw you at the church. Daisy, you amaze me.”
“You amaze me, too.” She choked out the words. “Rafe, what are we going to do? I told you I’d visit Cincinnati, but—but it’s so far away. I’m scared. But it’s your home—your job.”
“You’re right about all of it. Plus there’s something else we have to talk about.”
“What is it?”
“My job. Being a cop is dangerous work. I don’t want to exaggerate the risk, but we can’t ignore it either.”
“No, of course not.”
“I’ve seen the toll it takes on relationships. It’s hard on everyone. That’s why I need to say this. If you want to back out of what’s happening between us”—he sucked in a deep breath—“I’ll understand.”
“Back out?” Daisy gawked at him. “After that kiss? Fat chance, buster!”
“Daisy, I—”
“Wait. It’s my turn now.” She stepped back so she could see his face—and so he could see hers. “I know police work is dangerous. Of course I’d worry about you, but my faith is strong in that area.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Those moments in the ICU, when she’d glimpsed Jesus and heaven, flooded back to her. “God alone gives life and takes it away. I don’t understand why God does what he does, but that’s one area in my life where I’m strong.”
A Gift to Cherish (Road to Refuge Book 2) Page 25
