Hometown Hope

by Laurel Blount

  Whing! Something whizzed past Anna’s shoulder. Before Hoyt could react, the sound of a rapid-fire Nerf gun came from the railing overlooking the foyer. Blat! Blat-blat-blat-blat-blat!

  A shower of yellow foam projectiles rained upon the two of them, bouncing off their bodies. Hoyt stepped in front of Anna. “Whoa! Cease fire!”

  “What’s going on out here?” A tall woman hurried through an arched doorway in the back of the foyer. Her long, dark hair was twisted on top of her head with the kind of casual elegance Anna could never manage to pull off, and she held her floury hands in front of a big white apron. “Noah! Liam! What are you doing? Inanimate targets only, remember? And we certainly don’t shoot at our guests!”

  Hoyt looked sheepish. “Go easy on them, Chloe. This is my fault. Last time I was here, I ambushed them in the backyard with the water hose, remember? They’re just paying me back.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Chloe turned to Anna. Her tone was serious, but there was an affectionate maternal twinkle in her dark eyes. She shot a narrow glance at Hoyt. “Apparently my sons have come under some questionable influences. Come here, boys, and apologize to Miss Anna.”

  Two sheepish boys clumped down the steps, oversize plastic weaponry drooping in their hands. They shot guilty glances at each other as they approached.

  The two culprits looked to be between six and eight years old. They were obviously brothers and as cute as buttons.

  “Sorry if we scared you.” The taller one spoke up first. “We didn’t mean to. We was just playing.”

  “Were.” Both Anna and Chloe made the automatic correction at the same time. The two women glanced at each other, startled. Anna flushed, wishing she could find some hole to crawl into.

  The stupid correction had bypassed her good manners and jumped right past her lips. She hadn’t even been in the house five minutes, and she’d already offended her hostess. This was a new record.

  But to Anna’s astonishment, Chloe only threw back her head and laughed. “Finally! Somebody else who won’t stand for sloppy grammar. The good Lord knew I needed reinforcements. You and I are going to get along just fine. Hoyt, I’m covered with flour. Take charge of those guns for me, will you? Just put them on top of that bookcase over there. No,” Chloe cut sharp eyes at her sons as they started to protest. “You knew the rules. No arguments or it’ll be that much longer before you get them back.”

  Hoyt held out his hands for the toys, and, groaning, the two boys surrendered them. “Sorry, guys. What can I say? You know your mom’s the boss of me.”

  Chloe chuckled again. “I’m the boss of everybody around here, and don’t any of you forget it.” She reached out with both hands and touched the tips of her sons’ noses, dusting them lightly with flour. “Now go play outside with your cousins and leave the house in peace. Anna, I need to get back to my biscuits. Would you like to come back to the kitchen with me, or would you rather watch baseball with the others?”

  “I’m not really that into sports,” Anna confessed.

  “Wonderful!” A friendly smile warmed Chloe’s face. “I was hoping you’d say that. I love having company in the kitchen.”

  “You might have more of that if you didn’t always put people to work back there!” called a female voice from the living room. “Take my advice, new person. Come watch baseball with us, or she’ll have you up to your elbows in whatever she’s cooking back there.”

  “My sister-in-law is a very funny woman.” Chloe raised her voice to be heard over the noise of the game. “But she’s also going to be a very hungry woman if she doesn’t stay on my good side.”

  “Hey, I brought a pecan pie, didn’t I?” the other woman pointed out. “And ice cream. I did my part.”

  “I’ll come back to the kitchen with Anna,” Hoyt said. “I could use another biscuit-making lesson anyway. The last time I tried your recipe, the things came out like hockey pucks.”

  “You handled the dough too much then. I told you that makes them tough. But I don’t have time to give you pointers right now.” Chloe turned to the side and gave Hoyt a playful push with one narrow shoulder. “Tell you what. You love watching the Braves. Why don’t you go on and watch the game with Mitch and let me get acquainted with Anna here?”

  Hoyt shot Anna an uncertain glance. “That all right with you?”

  “Of course.” Anna spoke with more confidence than she felt.

  Hoyt hesitated for another second and then nodded. “Okay, then.” He set the confiscated toys on top of the bookshelf, smiled again at Anna and headed in the direction of the living room.

  You’ll be fine, that smile seemed to say.

  She wished she believed that.

  Chloe watched him go, an affectionate smile lingering on her lips. Then she turned to Anna and tilted her head. “The kitchen’s back this way. I love your blouse, by the way. Such a pretty shade of green.”

  “Thanks.” As Anna followed her down the short hallway, she caught a glimpse of the outfit the other woman’s huge chef’s apron was concealing. Chloe was wearing a black dress patterned with large, vibrantly red poppies. Cut just above her knees, the artistically uneven hemline fluttered as she moved gracefully down the narrow space.

  Suddenly feeling woefully underdressed, Anna smoothed her khaki slacks and tugged her carefully ironed linen shirt a bit straighter as they stepped into the kitchen.

  Unlike Anna’s shabby galley kitchen, this room looked like something out of a magazine. Every single feature looked well crafted and pricey. The floor was tiled in ruddy rectangles, and the cabinets were a dark cream. A huge stainless steel stove was angled under a brick arch on the far wall, and a generous island split the space in half and provided an ample workspace.

  It was all beautiful, but the space obviously wasn’t just for show. The air was thick with appetizing scents, and a gleaming pot on the stove had dribbles of a rich red sauce snaking down its side. On the white-sprinkled island was a metal bowl holding a heaping mound of flour.

  Chloe moved to the small, deep sink at one end of the island and washed her hands. “At the risk of proving Donna right, I really could use some help if you’re up for it.”

  “Of course.” Anna moved to the sink. “I should warn you, though. I’ve never been very good at biscuits. Mine would probably make Hoyt’s hockey pucks taste good.”

  Chloe laughed. “Oh, don’t you worry. I always use my grandmother’s recipe, and Hoyt notwithstanding, it’s foolproof. Her buttermilk biscuits melt in your mouth. If you work the shortening in with your fingers and don’t overhandle the dough they turn out perfectly every single time. I’ll show you.”

  Anna quickly washed and dried her hands. Following Chloe’s instructions, she began to work the blob of vegetable shortening into the silky flour.

  “Just keep rubbing it in until it’s like little crumbs,” Chloe said. She was busying herself with a dark, leafy salad at the other end of the island. “My mother always cut the shortening in with two knives, but I do better when I can feel the texture with my hands.” For the next minute or two, they chatted about cooking, and Anna started to relax. “There, that’s perfect. Now we add in the liquids.” Chloe left the salad to snag a carton of buttermilk from the refrigerator and set it by Anna’s elbow. “You can do the honors.”

  Anna unscrewed the plastic cap on the container. “How much?”

  “Gram would say ‘until it looks right.’” Chloe chuckled at Anna’s doubtful expression. “I know. But Gram believed the best cooks never measure anything. They just add a dash and a dribble of this or that until the dish turns out like they want it to. Basically, you want all the dough to gather together. That’s it. Now, we’ll have to handle it lightly as we roll it out and cut it.” Chloe tossed more flour on her work surface and dumped out the mound of dough. “This is the part Hoyt messes up. He’s too heavy-handed. Tell you what, I’ll show you, and you can
save me the trouble of giving him a refresher lesson.”

  Chloe obviously had the wrong idea. Anna shook her head. “I’m not sure I’d ever have the opportunity. Hoyt and I don’t usually— We’re just friends.”

  A smile tugged up the corners of the other woman’s mouth. “Oh? Well, friends cook together sometimes, don’t they? Like you and I are doing now. Careful, there. Put a tiny bit more flour on your rolling pin. The dough’s sticking. Now you’ve got it. So you and Hoyt aren’t dating?”

  Well, Chloe Connor certainly didn’t pull any punches. Anna refloured the wooden pin meticulously, avoiding the other woman’s eyes.

  “No, we’re not. There. Do I have this rolled thin enough?”

  “Yes. It’s perfect. Here.” Chloe handed her a glass tumbler. “Gram always used the rim of a tea glass to cut out her biscuits—so I do, too. I have tons of metal cutters, but doing it this way reminds me of her. Dip it in the flour first.” There was a short awkward pause before Chloe spoke again. “Hoyt’s a great guy, you know. A fantastic dad, too. I know he can come across a little rough around the edges sometimes, but deep down where it counts he’s an absolute jewel.”

  “Mmm.” Anna didn’t quite know what to say to that. She transferred circles of biscuit dough onto the waiting baking sheet with suddenly clumsy fingers. “Does the oven need to be preheated for these?”

  “Yes. I’ve already switched it on, and it’s nice and hot.” Suddenly Chloe reached around Anna’s shoulders and gave her a brief, hard hug. “Now I’ve made you uncomfortable. I’m so sorry, Anna. I shouldn’t be poking into your personal business like this. Hoyt and Jess just have a very special place in our hearts, that’s all. And you’re the first woman he’s ever brought out here to meet us. He’s been going on and on about how wonderful you are, so I just assumed— Never mind. If you’ll forgive me, I promise I’ll behave myself.”

  Anna smiled and nodded, but her knees suddenly felt wobbly. Hoyt had called her wonderful? Really?

  Suddenly, there was a chorus of shouts from the front of the house, followed by a rapid skittering sound. Chloe tensed and turned toward the doorway with an expression of horror. “Mitch? That better not be what I think it is!”

  A small brown-and-white dog barreled into the kitchen, followed hard by Mitch and Hoyt. The animal skidded across the gleaming tiles, tongue lolling, looking well pleased with himself.

  The two men stopped in the doorway. They didn’t look pleased at all.

  “I’m sorry, Chloe. He got out of his crate somehow, and you know he doesn’t pay much attention when he’s called.”

  “That’s because he’s a very naughty dog who doesn’t behave himself!” Chloe leveled a stern look at the furry offender. He yipped back sassily, and Anna laughed. Apparently Chloe’s no-nonsense tone worked better on adorable little boys than on adorable little dogs.

  And the dog was darling. Anna crouched down and wiggled hopeful fingers in the puppy’s direction. He advanced a few cautious steps and sniffed her, his tail wagging slowly. “Aww, but who could be mad at that face? He’s so cute.” Anna laughed as the dog licked her hand. “And I just can’t get over how much he looks like a stuffed dog I used to have when I was a little girl. Doesn’t he, Hoyt? Isn’t it amazing?” She fondled the soft, floppy ears.

  He liked being petted. He butted his round little head up into her palm enthusiastically. Anna was so caught up with the dog that it took her a second or two to realize that the room had gone strangely silent.

  She glanced up to find everybody looking at Hoyt.

  “Sorry, Hoyt.” Chloe made a rueful face. “It looks like the cat’s out of the bag. Or the dog’s out of the crate. Whatever. Either way, the secret’s out now. You might as well go ahead and tell her.”

  For once Hoyt looked oddly unsure of himself. His cheeks were the exact same ruddy red of the tiled floor, and he was shifting his weight from one boot to the other.

  “Hoyt?” Anna frowned. “What’s Chloe talking about? What’s going on?”

  “Surprise,” Hoyt said quietly. “He’s yours.”

  “Mine? I—don’t understand.” Anna looked down at the happy animal who was trying his best to climb into her lap. “You—got me a dog?”

  Mitch laughed. “Not a dog. The dog. It’s no accident he looks so much like your toy. Hoyt searched every shelter database within driving distance until he found one that looked just like that.”

  “He’s a rescue from two counties over,” Hoyt volunteered sheepishly. “Chloe’s been fostering him until you could pick him up. I have dog food and a bed and everything he needs. And he’s already been checked out by a vet, and he got a clean bill of health.”

  “He’s certainly full of energy. You’re going to have your work cut out for you when you start training him,” Chloe spoke up wryly. “He chews on everything, and he’s stubborn as a mule.”

  Anna didn’t answer. She couldn’t quite form words, and the world had gone a little blurry.

  “I hope this is okay,” Hoyt said. “I guess maybe I should have cleared this with you first, but I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Somehow Anna forced the words past the lump in her throat. She could feel everybody’s eyes on her, and suddenly it was all too much. “Could you all excuse me for a minute, please?” Blindly, she headed for the back door, pushing through it into the heat of the late Georgia afternoon.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Sure, genius. Give the woman a dog that reminds her of the biggest lie her father ever told her. Stupid idea,” Hoyt muttered as he went out the back door in search of Anna. At Chloe’s insistence, he’d waited before following her.

  “She probably just needs a few moments by herself, Hoyt.”

  He hoped Chloe was right, but he was pretty sure he’d just made another huge mistake. Apparently, when it came to Anna’s feelings, he had all the finesse of a silverback gorilla turned loose in a room full of breakables.

  “Stupid,” he muttered again.

  Anna was standing under a trio of pines in the corner of the yard, looking out over the Connors’ back pasture. Hoyt made his way over to her, his brain fumbling for something halfway decent to say.

  She had her back to him, but she was standing on a thick carpet of crunchy pine needles, so there was no way to make his approach quiet. He could tell the instant she knew he was there, because her shoulders stiffened.

  He halted a few steps behind her.

  “You don’t have to keep the dog. I’ll find him another home.” He might as well get the rest of this over with while she was already ticked off with him. “The Connors had nothing to do with this, by the way. This was all my idea. I asked Mitch to invite you over here so I could give you the puppy, not to talk about the electrical repairs for your store. Mitch and I are going to take care of those. I’m donating the material, and the work won’t cost you a cent.”

  She turned to face him, and his heart fell. Her face was splotchy, and her eyes were red-rimmed. He’d made her cry with his dumb dog surprise.

  Chalk up another disaster for the gorilla.

  “I’m sorry, Anna. This was a bad idea. I really didn’t mean to upset you.”

  She waved her hand, and he could see her slim throat working as she tried to get words out. “Hoyt,” she whispered finally.

  He hurried to make his case. “I think I know what you’re going to say. You don’t want me to do the repairs, and I don’t blame you. But please let me help you out. It’s important to me to pay you back somehow for what you’re doing for Jess. Not many people have ever...gone out of their way for me. You have, and I’m not just talking about now, with Jess. You did back in high school, too. Somehow I keep messing things up between us, so you’d probably be better off just letting me handle your repairs for you. I’m good at that kind of stuff.” He attempted a laugh. “Otherwise who knows what kind of crazy
stunt I might try next? Just be glad your dad didn’t give you a stuffed elephant.” She didn’t laugh. Okay, too soon to joke about this. “Like I said, I’m sorry. Believe it or not, I’m trying to get this right. I really am.”

  “You did.”

  She spoke so shakily he wasn’t sure he’d heard her right. “What?”

  “You did get it right, Hoyt. That little dog.” Her voice broke again. “I can promise you, he’s not going home with anybody but me. He’s...he’s just perfect. And you went to all that trouble... That’s the sweetest, kindest thing anybody’s ever done for me.” A fat tear rolled down her cheek, and she sniffed and shook her head and tried to laugh. “I’m the one who’s sorry. No wonder you got the wrong idea—me running out here like that. I just didn’t want everybody to see me blubbering like a baby.” She swiped at her cheek with the back of one hand and sniffled.

  Relief swamped him so completely that for a moment his knees actually sagged. Anna was crying because she was happy.

  He shoved a hand in his jeans pocket and yanked out a ragged handkerchief. It was one of the first things he’d learned the hard way in Single Dad 101. Always carry something to wipe tears and noses with. He stepped forward, intending to offer it to Anna.

  That was what he planned to do. But instead, for a reason he could never put his finger on afterward, he didn’t do that. He used the wadded cloth to gently wipe her tears away himself.

  As he did, his eyes locked onto her shimmering green ones, and all the memories and worries he’d been juggling faded into a dim blur. The only thing left to focus on was this moment, the one he was standing in with Anna.

  He leaned forward, closer than he’d ever been to her, and hesitated, just for a second. Then something deep inside him snapped loose, and he crossed the last gap standing between himself and complete insanity.