Tad

by Harmony Raines

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” He chuckled. “If we’re baring our souls, then I’ll admit I didn’t think I would ever meet the one.”

  She jerked back from him, but his arm stayed around her shoulders. “The one.” She waved a finger between them, pointing at him and then herself. “You think this is…”

  “I do.” Those eyes again. The honesty in his words shone through. He truly believed that they were…what? Soul mates?

  “Tad. This is too sudden, too fast. We only met yesterday. We don’t know anything about each other.” She got up from the desk and cupped her coffee in two hands to stop them from shaking.

  “So?” He leaned back and stretched his long, lean legs out in front of him.

  “So?” She held her hand up about to list off several reasons why this was crazy, but she couldn’t think of a single one. With Andy she’d gone down the route of meeting him at a party, getting to know him, falling in love and then getting married.

  And then getting divorced.

  That hadn’t worked out, so why not take a chance?

  A car engine jerked her out of that thought process. Maybe she did have a creative side after all. A creative side that had wrestled control from her logical brain for one blindingly stupid second.

  “Heather,” Tad said gently. He reached out and touched the back of her hand with his fingertips. Her skin tingled and warmth radiated through her body, comforting her. Why did he have that effect on her? It was as if everything in the world was okay when he was around. “Just give it a chance.”

  She nodded, turning away from him as she brushed a big fat tear from her cheek. “My mom’s here, I’m sure she’d love to meet you.”

  He gave a half-smile. “Meet the man who has upset her daughter?”

  Heather ducked her head and half turned to face him. “You haven’t upset me.” She gave a hiccupping laugh. “You’ve disturbed me.”

  “Ahh, disturbed. Like when you look at the most beautiful painting in the world and know that you will never be the same again?” He stood up and followed her out of the office.

  “A piece of music,” she said over her shoulder. “For me, it would be like hearing the most beautiful piece of music and being moved in such a way that you will never be whole or complete again.”

  She burst out of the office into the bright morning sunlight as her mom switched off the engine and got out of the car. Tad was right behind Heather, she could feel his presence, the heat of his body, and the lingering look that caressed her body before he switched his attention to Lillian, who was getting out of her car as if she were the Queen of Sheba.

  “Thaddeus Harrison.” Lillian smiled her most benevolent smile. She was a beautiful, almost ethereal creature despite her advanced years. Her face seemed immune to time and her dyed honey-blonde hair gave her an ageless quality. “When Heather said she bagged you, I thought you were playing a joke on her, but here you are as I live and breathe.”

  A smile twitched at the corners of Heather’s mouth as her mom wafted over to them. She’d made an extra effort this morning, choosing a light floral dress that floated as she moved. Although Heather suspected the dress was for Edgar, rather than Tad.

  Heather’s body snapped to attention. Her mom hadn’t looked this young or happy for years. She really liked Edgar. It wasn’t a crazy fling with another artist. It was something deeper than that.

  Her mom had every danger of losing her heart to Edgar and she was willing to throw caution to the wind and go for it.

  “How could I say no to such an amazing idea?” Tad turned toward the craft barn. “Artists need to help and support each other.”

  “Which is ironic, since my daughter is no artist.” Lillian offered her hand to Tad and then leaned forward and said in a conspiratorial voice, “But she is brilliant at business and organization.”

  “I don’t doubt it.” Tad shook Lillian’s hand, even though the older woman had expected a kiss on her papery thin skin. “But I also don’t doubt that there is an artist inside Heather, too.”

  “Oh, no,” Heather said quickly. “I’m not an artist. Believe me, my parents made me try all the arts to see which one fit. None did.”

  “My beautiful, brilliant daughter thinks she is a failure because of this. She never realized even to this day that none of it mattered.” Lillian looked directly at Heather. “She never realized all her father and I ever wanted was for her to be happy.”

  “Shall we go and take a look at the barn and start to form a plan of what we’re going to do tomorrow?” Heather still couldn’t believe that despite all her perfect planning, they would be right up to the wire organizing the opening.

  “Sure.” Tad’s amusement was evident as he followed Heather back into the barn. “I spent the evening last night asking some of my clients if they would loan me some pieces for the opening. Only a handful are really close enough to get the sculptures here in time.”

  “That’s incredibly kind of you.” Heather opened the door and went inside. All her hard work might just pay off if she could display some of Tad’s pieces, alongside those of the other artists.

  As they talked through the opening, her brain started work on a social media marketing plan, that along with Carter Eden’s tweets might just launch the craft barn and local artists in Bear Creek into the stratosphere.

  “You are being very generous with your time and talent,” Lillian said as they reorganized a corner of the barn to make room for Tad’s work. The famous sculptor was more than happy to get stuck adding free labor to the list of things she needed to thank him for.

  As they worked, his eyes often lingered on her. She tried not to notice, she tried not to return his looks, but she couldn’t deny the attraction.

  “I’m happy to help. I remember being a struggling artist. My brother, Jake, he believed in me and supported me through the very painful early years of my career. He kept pushing me to continue even when I took a job in Bear Bluff as an orderly in the hospital.”

  “What happened?” Heather asked, straightening up as she surveyed the barn.

  “I worked all day to support myself and then sculpted at night. I found the quiet times were the best times for my work. I also learned so much about people and their expressions. Pain, joy, loss. Slowly, over the next year or two, my sculptures changed, became something more.” He laughed quietly. “Then I was lucky enough to have an art critic as a patient. He broke his leg while hiking and he had to stay in town for a couple of weeks. We got to talking, I helped him out and he saw my work.”

  “Wow,” Heather said. “Right place, right time.”

  “Fate,” Lillian said evenly as she adjusted the angle of a display table. “Fate works it’s magic to bring us what we need at just the right time.”

  “Since when do you believe in fate?” Heather asked.

  “Oh, since we moved here.” She gave a whimsical smile. “A lot of people in Bear Creek believe in fate. And do you know, when you look at the divorce rate, I’m inclined to agree.”

  “The divorce rate?” Heather asked. “Why would you look at the divorce rate?”

  “I didn’t. It was something Betsy at the diner said.” Lillian lifted her head and sighed. “There, perfect. Rosemary won’t mind her pottery being moved around a little. As long as we are careful and don’t break any of the pieces.” Heather’s mom laughed. “And it’s not as if she’ll be able to do anything about it since she’s going to miss the whole thing.”

  “How is Rosemary?” Tad asked.

  “She’s as tough as old boots. She’ll be just fine. When she called last night, she said she’ll be arriving the day after the opening,” Lillian said, taking over the conversation. “I’m not sure how she’s going to like living here with us while her arm heals. She’s used to being close to busy restaurants and the theater.”

  “I think she’s looking forward to spending time with family,” Heather replied.

  “Really?” Lillian asked. “I’ve always been so
envious of her life. I can paint, but it’s never been more than a hobby that brought in a little extra money. The same for your father. He worked that same job for forty years while painting in the evenings. He never had a break.” Her voice drifted off.

  “He was happy, Mom. He always told me he was happy. He loved his art, but he loved his job, too.” Heather crossed over to her mom and slipped her arms around her shoulders.

  “He knew family was important. His dad had been a starving artist who refused to get a job to support the family. He told me he used to go to bed with hunger gnawing at his stomach. He didn’t want that for you. He didn’t want that for me.” Lillian rested her blonde head on Heather’s shoulder. “I loved him so very much.”

  A melancholy silence filled the barn as mother and daughter held each other, filled with the sense of loss that had haunted them since the death of Thomas Cornice.

  “Someone is here,” Tad’s quiet voice broke the spell and Lillian jerked her head up and listened. “It’s Edgar.” She pulled away from Heather and straightened her hair. “Do I look all right?”

  “You look beautiful, Mom.” Heather watched the sadness slip away and a newfound hope replaced it in her mom’s expression. “You go and say hi to Edgar. I can finish up here.”

  Lillian gave a grateful if not nervous nod and then turned around on her heel and walked away from her daughter, with a lightness in her step that had been gone for some time.

  “She likes him?” Tad asked quietly.

  Heather turned a concerned face toward him. “Yes.” She groaned. “Don’t tell me he’s after her money or something. He seems like a nice guy, a little smooth, but nice.”

  Tad nodded. “He is. I didn’t know he was dating.”

  “Is there any reason he wouldn’t be dating?” Heather jumped on Tad’s comment, her concern for her mother growing.

  “No.” Tad was keeping something to himself. Something he wasn’t about to share. “I should get going. I need to round up those sculptures. I’ll get them to you as soon as I can.”

  “Thanks again, Tad.” Her concern for her mother hadn’t gone away but with Tad so close, she struggled to focus on anything but his dark brown hair streaked with silver and his eyes that crackled and flashed as he looked at her.

  “No problem.” He lingered, wanting to say more. “Bye.”

  “Bye. See you tomorrow.” She waved.

  “Call me if there is anything else you need.” He nodded and took one last look before exiting the barn, leaving her alone.

  A feeling she’d craved. Until Thaddeus Harrison had entered her life.

  Chapter Nine – Tad

  “You haven’t told her?” Josephine scraped the last of Milly’s breakfast off the bottom of the bowl and offered it to the small child, who was growing bigger by the day.

  “Nope.” He ran a hand through his hair as he pulled out a chair and sat down next to his sister-in-law. “There wasn’t a right time.”

  “But there is plenty of time. So don’t worry about it.” Josephine side-eyed him. “It’s tough. I can only imagine how tough. But I think you are doing the right thing.”

  “You mean waiting until after the craft barn opens?” Tad asked. “Because I don’t think I can wait any longer than that.”

  Josephine grinned. “Until the craft barn opens. It’s obviously very important to Heather and she needs her full focus on that.”

  “It is. After her divorce, she needs something to go right.” Tad smiled at Milly, he loved her so much. The little girl was such a huge part of his life.

  You didn’t tell Heather about Milly, his bear reminded him.

  “Did she tell you that?” Josephine asked.

  “No, I figured it out for myself. If you’d seen the relief on her face when I agreed to open the craft barn. She needs to prove to herself she is capable of succeeding.” He ran his fingertips across the wooden tabletop. “Carter Eden is going, too, he’s tweeting about it, whatever that means.”

  Josephine burst out laughing. “You, my fine man, are going to need to get up to speed on all this social media stuff before our lovely Milly is much older. You can’t keep kids safe if you don’t know what they are doing online.”

  Tad groaned. “I’ll delegate that to the rest of you. I’ll trade for all the dirty diapers and laundry you want.”

  “And what about Heather’s children. How old are they?” Josephine asked.

  “I’m doomed! They are six or seven. I’m not exactly sure. But they are youngsters.” He hadn’t given much thought to Bella’s and Zack’s ages. “Heather must have had her kids later in life.” He looked up at Milly. “It’ll be great for this little one to have children close to her own age to grow up and play with.”

  “It will.” Josephine’s expression clouded. “I always worried she would grow up an only child.”

  “Hey, I’m sorry.” Tad knew how much Josephine would have loved to have a child of her own, but it wasn’t going to happen.

  “Ah, I’m just being silly. I’m incredibly thankful that I get to be a mommy to the sweetest little bear cub on the planet.” She leaned forward and kissed Milly’s cheeks. “She is the best.”

  “And you are the best Mama Bear.” He stood up and held out his hand. “Come on, I have something to show you.”

  “What?” Josephine asked as he pulled her to her feet.

  “It’s a surprise.” He wiped Milly’s face and then lifted her out of her highchair. “Come on, you can come, too.”

  “Where are we going?” Josephine asked intrigued.

  “To my workshop.” He carried Milly on his hip and left the kitchen, holding the door open for Josephine, who looked mildly worried. “It’s a gift for you. To say thank you for everything.”

  “You don’t have to thank me,” she told him. “I should thank you all for letting me part of your lives.”

  Tad put an arm around her shoulders and then slipped it over her eyes as they entered the workshop. “No peeking.”

  Josephine put her arms out in front of her as she walked carefully past Tad’s kiln and around to his large workbench. “You made me something.”

  “I did. It’s a belated wedding gift.” He took a deep breath, hoping she would like it. “Ready?”

  “Absolutely.” As he slid his hand down from her eyes, Josephine gasped and put her hands to her mouth. “Tad, it’s incredible.”

  “Mama Beh,” Milly said excitedly as she pointed at the sculpture of Josephine cradling Milly in her arms while a bear walked by her side, watching over them protectively.

  “I should have waited and shown it to Max, too, but it’s more for you…” His voice trailed away as Josephine let out a sob. “You do like it?”

  “I love it.” Josephine could hardly breathe as she reached out her hands. “Can I touch it?”

  “Yes, it’s all finished.” Tad eyes misted with tears as Josephine’s fingertips caressed the sculpture he’d been working on while the newlyweds were on their honeymoon.

  “I love it.” Her fingers lingered over the bear. “You have an amazing talent, Tad.”

  “It’s nice to see your reaction. I usually just package the sculptures up and send them to their new owners.” He didn’t realize how much he missed this part of the process. He’d become distanced from the pleasure his work gave people.

  “Perhaps that’s something you need to address.” Josephine half turned to face him.

  “Perhaps it is.” He looked down at the sculpture. “Do you mind if I display it at the craft barn tomorrow?”

  “Of course not, I’d love for everyone to see what an incredible artist you are.” She turned back to look at the sculpture. “Heather is a very lucky woman. I hope she knows that.”

  “She might not yet, but I intend to make sure she knows it soon enough.” Tad laughed. “Not that I can make her do anything she doesn’t want to do, and I wouldn’t if I could.”

  “Yeah, that is one thing you have in common with Max. Do you think Jake will
be the same when he meets his mate?” Josephine asked as she stared at the sculpture.

  “When he meets his mate?” Tad asked as Milly squirmed in his arms. “You’re so sure he will.”

  “I like to be positive.” Josephine turned around and wrinkled her nose. “First Max, then you. I have a feeling the Harrison brothers have had a change of luck. So why not Jake?”

  “Why not?” Tad waved his hand in front of his nose and made a face. “Someone is stinky!” He tickled Milly, who laughed and kicked her legs.

  “Come here, we need to change your diaper.” Josephine held out her arms and Milly leaned forward with her hands outstretched.

  “Mama beh.” Milly snuggled into Josephine’s arms and put her head on her mom’s shoulder.

  “I wish I was a bear,” Josephine said as she took one last glance at the sculpture.

  “It’s an incredible thing to experience. Shifting.” Tad leaned forward and tickled Milly’s chin. “But it has its downsides. As Milly might find out growing up.”

  “Like what?” Josephine asked. “You can turn into a bear. And so will Milly when she’s older.”

  “But you don’t get to experience life in the same way as normal people. There are no teenage crushes, no first love. Just one love.” Tad’s melancholy mood hit him out of nowhere. He should be happy, he should be on the mountain, as a bear, leaping into cool mountain streams and roaring from the highest peaks that he’d found his mate.

  “And you and your brothers waited a long time for that one love.” Josephine sighed. “What a pair we are.” She gave him a playful punch in the arm. “Do you know what we need?”

  “No, what?” Tad asked as she turned away and walked out of the workshop.

  “Ice cream. We need ice cream. And there is only one place in Bear Creek to get ice cream from.” They walked out into the light. It was a perfect day, and while his first choice would be to spend it with Heather, the thought of ice cream with his other two favorite females, Milly and Josephine, were a very close second best.

  Don’t ever tell Josephine or Milly they are second best, his bear warned.