If You Cherish Me

by Ciara Knight

  “You mean Stella’s father, right?” she asked, already knowing the answer based on what happened only months earlier.

  “Yes.” He rolled to a stop at the four-way and then proceeded to the edge of the town square. “I’m afraid that the only way I could get them apart was to put my mother into a home and take him out of town. He’d agreed to stay away from my mother if I drove him to Sugar Maple. I promise I had no idea what he was planning when I brought him here. I’ve been wanting to apologize to Stella, but Knox won’t let me near her. Not that I’m surprised. I wouldn’t let me near her either if I were him.”

  They reached the town square, and Felicia’s breath quickened at the sight of the production crew already setting up. “Why would you say that?”

  “Because I wouldn’t want you near me if I were lucky enough to be your boyfriend.”

  She smiled at him, but his gaze was laser focused on the parking spot he pulled into. “I’ll get this unloaded.”

  “Not unless you take the job.” She unclipped her seat belt and opened the door to a crowd of people staring at her and Declan in his camper.

  “I’ll think about it, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  She didn’t even have time to open the side door to get the plants before three of her friends—Carissa, Jackie, and Mary-Beth—whisked her away.

  “What’re you doing in a car with him?” Jackie scolded.

  Mary-Beth held tight to her arm. “I hate to admit it, but Jackie’s right. You can be nice all you want, but you shouldn’t endanger yourself.”

  “He’s not like that. I promise. You all have it wrong about Declan. He’s a nice guy and a total gentleman. Besides, he wasn’t put in jail for some deviant crime that would endanger my life. It was a white-collar crime dealing with money in a corporation.”

  Carissa moved in front of them, halting them near the camera area. “See, girls, we can relax.”

  Based on Mary-Beth’s fingers allowing circulation back into Felicia’s arm and Jackie no longer scowling at her, Felicia assumed that the nonviolent nature of his crime eased their worry.

  “I’ll relax when that criminal is run out of town,” Davey shouted from the bench at their side, where he had apparently remained since she’d left the square to get the plants.

  Jackie obviously found the camera crew more interesting, so she bolted to where they were setting up.

  “Mary-Beth!” Stella hollered from across the square, where she rubbed her hands with a cloth next to the senior bus.

  It was nice having all five of them together, even if it was a crazy time that wouldn’t allow Felicia to hang out with them at all.

  “Sorry, ladies. I promised to be Stella’s assistant since her new boyfriend is so busy with the show,” Mary-Beth said with an air of surprise, as if they all didn’t already know that Sassy Stella had started dating the internet sensation Knox Brevard. An unlikely match that not even Ms. Horton had seen coming. Or had she? The woman was more than a second mom. She was all-knowing about everything in Sugar Maple.

  Mary-Beth bolted, leaving only Carissa to continue the inquisition. “Are you really going to hire Declan? I mean, aren’t you worried about him stealing from you?”

  “No.” Felicia glanced over her shoulder to discover Declan had vanished. “Listen, I don’t know why he did it or if he even committed the crime at all.”

  “If he went to jail…” Carissa said, insinuating that every person who served time was guilty as charged.

  “Do you remember when Stella was accused of graffitiing something and it turned out she was innocent?” Felicia reminded her, as if an indiscretion by a fourteen-year-old girl measured the same as a grown man embezzling money. “And my father? How many times was he picked up for some erroneous reason until my parents finally up and left Sugar Maple?”

  “You really think he’s innocent, don’t you? Did you ask him?”

  “I did.” Felicia adjusted her apron.

  “What did he say?” Carissa tilted her head with that you-better-tell-me-now look.

  “He didn’t. Actually, he said he wouldn’t take the job and that he wouldn’t answer the question.”

  Carissa’s expression softened. Her gaze traveled behind Felicia, telling her that Declan had reappeared and was approaching. “That’s suspicious, don’t you think?”

  Felicia explained what Declan had said about why he wouldn’t work for her and his answer to the question about the reason for his incarceration.

  “That actually makes sense, but do you really think he’s trustworthy?” Carissa shifted between feet. “You have a tendency to pick up a lot of pets and people in need. You can’t save everyone, you know.”

  “Did you ever think maybe I need him to save me? I’m desperate for help, and let’s face it, Lacey has been anything but a model employee. Declan loaded his camper with all the plants in a fraction of the time it would’ve taken me. This is my busiest time of year. Add to it this event, the show, and my grandmother… I can’t do it all on my own. All the teenagers are still in school, and anyone else worth hiring doesn’t want to work outside getting dirty or already has a job.”

  “Okay. I get it.” Carissa took Felicia’s hand. “Listen, girl, if you need help, I’m sure we can have a town day or an intervention to help.”

  “No way. This isn’t a case of need like when we refurbished Jake’s yard to help him grieve and go back to life after the death of his mother. It’s my company, and I need to hire a good employee. One who actually shows up and works.”

  “You mean like that?” Carissa pointed toward where they’d left the camper.

  Declan approached, carrying a lumberjack load of plants. The man was breathtakingly strong. Felicia had always had a soft spot for strong, hard-working men. “Yes.”

  Declan set the load down and clapped his hands together to rid them of dirt. “You can start organizing while I unload, and then I’ll help with whatever you need. As long as I’m not the one decorating. I have no creative abilities.”

  “You ain’t got no abilities.” Davey pushed from the bench. After a little wobble, he found his footing and glowered at Declan. “You best get out of my town. No place here for a bum.”

  “Hush up now, Davey. You need to be polite. Besides, Declan’s not a bum.” Carissa flashed a brilliant smile at them all. “He’s working for Felicia now.”

  Felicia blinked at her but then cleared her throat and stood tall. “That’s right, he is.”

  Declan approached with a concerned, shy, chin-lowered kind of look. “I thought we discussed this. You need the right man for the job.”

  “I think she found him. Look.” Carissa pointed at all the plants he’d unloaded. “Besides, she’s desperate.”

  Felicia snapped a narrow-eyed gaze at her.

  “I mean, she has a bad employee who isn’t helping but getting paid while Felicia is drowning in work. If we don’t get her some help soon, she’s going to collapse from exhaustion. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

  “No, of course not.” Declan shoved his hands into his worn jeans pocket and rocked back on his heels. “I’ll help you out until you find someone.”

  “Nope, that’s not a job. You need real employment,” Davey chimed in with the authority of a supreme court judge. “You work, or you leave. No respect for bums ‘round here.”

  “Okay, I surrender.” Declan removed his hands from his pockets and held them up. “I better get moving if I want to prove myself worthy of this job offer. But you still can’t pay me for today. I’m only helping a friend out. Deal?” He offered his hand.

  She shook it, noticing how his fingers wrapped around her tiny hand, strong yet with a gentleness. “Deal.”

  “It would be, but a man can’t work if he don’t have a home. And he can’t park that camper at the store no more. Sheriff’ll tow it.” Davey shuffled away. “Thought you’d outsmarted me. Ha.”

  Declan’s bright eyes fogged with worry. “I can’t afford a place right
now.”

  “I can advance you the money.”

  “No. Not going to happen.” Declan backed away, retreating from her and the job opportunity. “Best finish unloading if I’m going to make it to somewhere I can park the camper before tonight.”

  Carissa patted Felicia’s shoulder. “Maybe it’s for the best. I mean, I know he’s hot and all, but I’d hate to see you get hurt. I trust your judgment, but I’m not the only one you have to convince. The town wouldn’t be too happy knowing you had him working out there alone with you all day.”

  The town had gossiped for weeks when her last boyfriend’s car was at her house for two days. They never bothered to find out it was left there so she could take him to the airport for some business meeting up north. The so-called perfect boyfriend material didn’t bother to tell her the business meeting was actually a hotel visit with a married woman and the only reason he needed a ride was so that the husband didn’t follow him to their rendezvous. Her words filtered in and settled around the only option that could solve both Declan’s and her problems, but the town would be in an uproar. “Wait. You can park your camper at the nursery. There’s plenty of room. There’s even a hookup from when we had a camper ourselves.”

  Carissa squeezed her shoulder, as if warning her to retract her offer, but she wouldn’t. She’d spent too many years making sure everyone else was happy and got along. For once, she was going to choose what was best for herself, and she needed the help. Even if the entire town thought she’d gone pick-up-stray crazy.

  Four

  The fresh spring air turned stale with the realization everyone around Declan stood glaring judgment. “I can’t park my camper on your property.”

  “Why not?” Felicia took one of the potted plants and headed for the gazebo as if she didn’t care what he had to say.

  He charged after her but with soft steps so as to not look aggressive in front of the town residents. He’d learned years ago that his size and stature made people intimidated and quick to assume the worst about him. She couldn’t be this naïve. She had to realize what this would do to her reputation. But was the legend of her kindness to all around her what caused her to sacrifice herself for someone else’s needs? “Listen, I know you’re a nice person and you’re only trying to help, but this isn’t a good idea.”

  “Why?” She didn’t even bother to look at him, which aggravated him further.

  “Because in case you haven’t noticed, the entire town wants me gone. I’m surprised the sheriff hasn’t arrived to take me away in handcuffs yet.”

  Felicia placed the plant in the heart of a circle of flowers already staged next to the white lattice work on the side of the gazebo. “You mean the sheriff headed this way?”

  He looked up to indeed find the sheriff marching toward them. “I don’t need any trouble. I’m on probation. I’m leaving now.” Declan followed the winding path around the flowers toward his camper.

  “Hold up.” Felicia caught his sleeve, stopping him before he reached the yellow sunflowers near the bench. “Relax. The sheriff’s here for part of the Knox Brevard show. I didn’t mean to frighten you away. Listen, I get it. You don’t want to have any issues here in town with anyone because you accepted the job. If I get the town’s approval, will you agree?”

  He hadn’t noticed the circles under her eyes until now. Was she really that desperate for help? Was Felicia caring for her grandmother on her own? He knew how much of a strain that could be. Add a business to run, and he was surprised she was still on her feet with a smile.

  Her gaze traveled his face, as if inspecting every line. The sun reflected in her dark pupils, the color he could only describe as the Petunia Deep Midnight flower she’d showed him earlier but surrounded by a silver pool with yellow glitter flecks scattered like gold dust. Despite his draw to her, he knew he had to refuse. This was all too complicated. His parole officer would tell him to stay away from anything that could damage his freedom. “I don’t know. I can’t risk getting arrested because Davey reports me for loitering.”

  “I’ll get the sheriff on board, too. Come on.” Felicia took his hand, making him feel like he’d jump out of his work boots. The way her heat traveled into his palm, through his wrist, and up his forearm didn’t surprise him, but it frightened him. His four-year relationship with his ex-fiancée had ended before the cell door had clanked shut. That was over two years ago.

  “Ms. Horton. Over here.” Felicia waved with her free hand.

  He thought about pulling away, to stop her from this madness, but he couldn’t bring himself to let her go, despite his brain screaming at him to run far from this town and Felicia.

  “Hi, Felicia. Big day for you?” Ms. Horton, the mayor of Sugar Maple, was dressed in a silver straight skirt with matching jacket and square heels. Even with her sunglasses on, she looked all business.

  “I’m good.”

  To his disappointment, Felicia slipped away to hug Ms. Horton. “You remember Declan, right?”

  “Yes, nice to see you again.”

  Declan nodded his agreement but didn’t have time to open his mouth for a proper greeting before Felicia dove into her argument.

  “Listen, Davey is being…well, Davey. He’s all but chased poor Declan out of town.”

  “But you want him to stay?” A brow rose over the rim of the dark-brown glasses.

  “Yes, I’m desperate for him to. I need help. Look at this place, and with the show, the fact that it’s spring, my grandmother, and everything else, I need to hire someone who can actually take a load off my shoulders. And I mean that literally. Declan can help with all the heavy lifting, deliveries, planting, and more.”

  “You do need help.” Ms. Horton’s eyes didn’t need to be seen for Declan to figure out she was analyzing him from head to toe, assessing his worth and credibility to be near Felicia.

  Declan held his breath, not sure if he wanted to run away or beg to stay. His head spun with indecision.

  “Then he should work for you.” Ms. Horton tugged Felicia into her side. “Unlike the rest of this town, I trust your judgment.”

  “Thanks. Listen, we’ve got to go finish unloading, and I need to talk to the sheriff.”

  “The sheriff? What on earth for?”

  Declan opened his mouth to explain Felicia’s insane plan, but the minute her fingers slipped between his again, he was lost. Ms. Horton didn’t chase after them, so apparently it was a rhetorical question. Like a little puppy, Felicia guided him to the curb where the broken-down senior bus sat. “Sheriff, do you have a minute?”

  “Sure thing. What ya need?”

  “Davey says its illegal for Declan to park his camper behind the general store.”

  “He’s got a point. I think the town’s uneasy and worried about how it looks.”

  “So he needs to move it?”

  “Preferably before tonight, yes.” The sheriff adjusted his Texas-style hat.

  “Okay. Is it legal to park it on private property with owner’s approval if it doesn’t show on the main streets?”

  “Sure. That’s fine.”

  “Great.” Felicia squeezed Declan’s fingers, and that’s when the sheriff obviously noticed their hand holding, given his raised eyebrow and pointed expression. “Let’s get the camper unloaded, and then we can get you settled next to the house at that hook-up I told you about.”

  Declan eyed the sheriff, the townspeople, the mayor, Felicia’s friends and neighbors and knew he had to stop this. He dug in and stood when she tugged him toward the camper. She stumbled forward, her hand slipping from his. “This isn’t right. I can’t—”

  Felicia faced him with a determined look he hadn’t seen from her before. "Nope. No way. You made a deal, and you can’t renege or people will think you’re dishonest.”

  Five

  With the last of the plants reloaded into the camper once the filming was over and the sun setting over the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance, Felicia looked forward to getting Declan se
ttled. Although, she wasn’t positive he wouldn’t sneak away in the night to avoid trouble. She needed to make him feel more welcome than the town had so far.

  “Thanks so much for your help today. I seriously couldn’t have pulled this off without you.” Felicia eyed the back of his camper. “And it doesn’t appear as if too much soil spilled out onto your carpet. I’ll vacuum it out for you when we get home.”

  “No way. You show me where you keep your cleaning supplies, and I’ll take care of it before I leave.”

  The way he casually mentioned leaving didn’t escape her notice. He was digging his heels in and turning onto the road headed out of town. “Then after you’re done, you need to come inside for dinner. I won’t take no for an answer.”

  “I can’t,” he said in a hoarse whisper.

  “You’ll be doing me a favor. Since there’s no home nurse on the weekends, Nana has been alone all day except for Ms. Horton stopping in to check on her while I was working. She needs some company while I cook and clean up. Seriously, you’d be doing me a huge favor.”

  He stared at the road ahead, as if contemplating the political turmoil of the nation instead of accepting a meal invitation. “Sure. I’m happy to help.” He offered a sad grin and said, “I know what it’s like to care for a loved one who’s aging. My mother has dementia.”

  “I’m so sorry.” A knot formed in Felicia’s chest at the way Declan’s eyes hooded and his mouth went slack. “I know you love her based on the way Stella’s father used it to get you to bring him here. How is she now?”

  “Gone mentally, except for patches of clarity. Unfortunately, those patches lead to her yelling and spewing hatred toward me.” His hands gripped the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary to turn onto the driveway.

  “It’s tough watching the ones we love deteriorate in front of our eyes. Some days I long for the grandmother who would kneel by my side in the garden. I love the quiet of working in a field or flower bed, but it can get lonely without her next to me.” Felicia pointed to the split in the drive that led around the back of the house. “Pull around here. There’s an actual hook-up out back. My parents had a motor home years ago. I don’t know if it all still works, but if it does you can use it.”