by Lois Richer
“Not that far down. I want him to feel like every other kid in his class. Secure. Normal.” His voice was firm. “I’m prepared to wait a month, two at the outside.”
Her mouth flopped open. “Gabe, I can’t! There’s a lot to see to. A lot to think about.”
He shook his head, his face implacable. “You’ll dither and fuss, and it will never happen. Two months, that’s as far as I’m prepared to go. Unless Daniel puts up some objection.” He frowned at the idea.
“You’re still issuing decrees.” Blair fumed out loud. “I’m not promising anything, Gabriel. I want Daniel to have a chance to get to know you first. He has to be comfortable with this, or it isn’t going to work. So does my family.” She held her breath and waited, praying that she hadn’t made a terrible mistake. “If our marriage happens, it will be because everyone is comfortable with it. Not because you force me into it.”
Finally Gabe’s dark head nodded his agreement. “Yes, maybe you’re right. The community will have a chance to get used to the idea, too. And the house will be done.”
“In two months?” Blair almost laughed. “I think you’d better be prepared to rough it out at the hotel, Gabe. It’s going to take a lot longer than a few months to build the kind of house you’re talking about.”
“Where there’s a will there’s a way,” he quoted gravely. He walked out of her office with a quick measured stride and returned moments later. “Keep this as a reminder,” he murmured, holding out the diamond.
It caught her breath, sparkling and shimmering on his palm. But diamonds were for love. And he didn’t love her. He never had.
Blair shook her head, wishing she could have at least tried it on. It was so lovely. She swallowed. “No. You keep it.”
“If you don’t like it we can get something else,” he offered with a frown. “It’s just that when I saw it, I thought of you.”
“Willie would say that was God directing you.” The brilliant stone caught the sun’s rays and deflected them onto her shirt. “I’ve always loved this particular cut. And the setting is beautiful.”
He let her admire it for a while. But when Blair finally glanced up, she caught a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“I’ll try not to mess up, Blair. I’m not very good at listening, but I promise I’ll work on it.” His voice brimmed with determination. “I think I could be a good husband and a good father. If I try hard enough.” Before she could protest he slid the ring onto her finger. “Keep it as a symbol of our agreement,” he murmured. “You can wear it when nobody’s around if it makes you feel better.”
“I’ll try, too,” she murmured, automatically threading her fingers through his out of habit. She ignored a noise from outside. “But I’ll pray for some heavenly direction, as well. Just so we don’t get off track.”
He nodded. “Did you hear something?”
“Course she didn’t. Thunderstruck by that ring, I imagine.” Willie surged through the door, her austere face wreathed in a smile as she wrapped Gabe in one of her smothering hugs. “Knew as soon as I laid eyes on you that you were the man for Blair. ‘Those whom God has joined together let no man put asunder.’” She smiled at his stunned surprise. “Plain as the nose on your face. Told Mac that yesterday.”
“Yesterday? But…I only decided for sure last night.” Gabe tilted his head as he studied the older woman. His eyes stretched wide in amazement.
Blair couldn’t help the giggle that burst out even as she scorned her aunt’s matchmaking.
“We’re not getting married, Willie. At least, not just yet. So don’t get too worked up. We want to let Daniel get used to his father first. Besides, Gabe might change his mind before the time is up,” she warned, then gave up as Willie teetered on her tiptoes and smacked a kiss against Gabe’s cheek.
Blair’s eyes met Gabe’s glittery ones. She shrugged in apology. “We’re not the usual assortment of family members.”
“No, we’re better.” Willie let him go and picked up Blair’s hand. “When we love someone, we don’t give up easily. That tenacity will be important to you.”
“Busy Bee, have you seen Wil—” Mac burst through the door, then stopped as he spied the three of them. “Oh. What’s going on?”
“These two are getting married.” Willie glanced at Blair and sighed. “Eventually,” she added. She frowned at Mac. “Well, don’t just stand there! Welcome him into the family.”
But Mac’s eyes were scrunched tightly closed. No one could miss his whispered prayer. “Thank you, God! I knew You and I could pull it off if I could just get them together.”
As she watched the two men shake hands, Blair frowned, remembering Mac’s words. Time would tell if her grandfather had done them a favor or foiled any hope for the future.
Please help us, she thought while everyone chatted. Please show me if this is wrong so I can stop it before it’s too late. I have to be strong. I can’t let myself need him.
She glanced up, her eyes snagged by the look on Gabe’s craggily handsome face. For the first time since she’d met him, he looked content. Why was that?
Chapter Four
“Daniel?” Two days later Gabe gulped, prayed for courage, then knelt in front of the little boy. “Could we talk?” He felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle, felt the burn of Blair’s eyes as she watched from the doorway. Oh, why had she insisted he do this? She was far more qualified. She’d given the boy enough hints that Gabe figured he didn’t need to say more. If she was so worried, why didn’t she tell him all of it?
“Whatcha wanna talk about? ’Lectricity? I got a book about that.” Daniel rummaged through the bookshelves in his room, finally locating the tattered volume. He held it out proudly. “We’re learning about this at school. I can read most of it myself.”
“Really?” Gabe allowed himself a small diversion. “Did you know that I learned to read when I was about your age?”
Daniel’s head came up with a jerk, and he stared at Gabe as if he knew something big was about to happen. “Oh.”
“I guess it’s only natural that you and I would learn to read early, you being my son and all.” He held his breath and prayed for the wisdom to handle this properly.
“Yeah. Kids and dads have lots of things the same. Like our hair, ’cept yours is shorter.” Daniel rubbed his hand over Gabe’s shorn stubble. “An’ you got eyes like mine, too. My mom’s are a different color. Are you gonna stay my dad?”
Boy, the kid’s mind was a maze. Gabe sucked in a breath.
“Yes, I sure am. Forever and ever. I bought some land from your grandfather, and I’m building a house across the valley.” He waited for the questions.
“Dads usually live with their kids.” Daniel’s voice dropped to an almost-whisper. “Aren’t you going to be staying around here? Is that why you need your own house?” He flopped onto the floor beside Gabe, the book forgotten.
“No, I’m staying. It’s just that your grandpa’s house is pretty full with him and his sister and your mom and you.” He sat down and stretched his legs out, kneading the kink out of his knee as he searched for an explanation. “Besides, I have a lot of toys, and I need a special room for them.”
“Toys?” Daniel scoffed. “Dads don’t need toys.”
“Oh, yes, Daniel. Everyone needs toys. That’s what keeps our minds busy. My favorite toy is a big computer that I call Fred. I can do lots of stuff with him.”
“Fred’s a funny name for a computer.” Daniel let that go, his mind obviously busy with something else. “Why did you wait so long?”
Gabe frowned. “Wait? What do you mean?”
“Felicia Cartwright gots a new baby in her house and its dad is already there. How come you waited so long to come and see me?”
Behind him, Gabe heard Blair walk into the room, felt the whoosh of air as she sank onto the carpet in front of him and folded her legs into the lotus position.
“It took Gabe a while to find you, sweetheart. He didn’t wait
on purpose.” She picked up Daniel’s chubby little hand and cuddled it between hers. “I’ll bet he’s really sad that he missed seeing you play hockey this winter, but I know he can’t wait until you start riding Mortimer. Besides, your dad is here now. Is that okay?”
“Yes. That’s what I prayed about.” Daniel’s big eyes widened, and a beatific grin spread across his face as he turned to his father. “Mortimer’s a horse. Grandpa Mac says he’s coming to stay on my birthday. Do you want to come to my birthday party? It’s not for a while, but I could remind you.”
Gabe had to swallow the lump in his throat. “I would really like that.”
“Cool!” Daniel’s grin drooped a little. “Are you sure you can stay that long?”
“Daniel, I’m going to live here. That means I’m not going to go away again, except maybe for a day or two to do business.”
“Oh, you mean like when my mom goes to the big show to sell her candles? That’s when Willie and me get to eat lots and lots of spaghetti. When we’re full as a tick, Grandpa Mac does the dishes, and Albert cleans the floor. Making spaghetti is messy.” He studied Gabe for a little longer. “Can you and me do things?”
“I sure hope so. I’d like to do things with you.” Gabe shoved away the fear those words engendered. He would learn, he vowed. He’d learn it all. “There’s just one thing, Daniel. I don’t think I’m a very good dad. I’ve never been one, you see, and I’m not sure of exactly how to do it.”
Daniel nodded sagely. “’Cause you didn’t practice, right? Mrs. Jenkins says practice makes perfect. She’s my teacher,” he added in a confidential tone.
“She must know what she’s talking about, then.” Gabe made himself take a deep breath. “But just in case I do something wrong, you have to promise that you’ll tell me so I can fix it. I want to be a very good dad.”
Daniel nodded, then after a moment turned to play with his building set. Gabe sought Blair’s eyes, wondering what to do next. She shrugged.
“Honey, are there any questions you want to ask Gabe or me? We’ll try to answer the best we can.”
Daniel glanced from her to Gabe. “What kinda questions?” he said.
“Oh, just things you might have wondered about. Things you don’t talk about but would still like to know the answers.” Blair spoke in an offhand tone, allowing the boy a chance to think his own thoughts on the subject.
Once more Gabe realized what a wonderful mother she was. She had a knack for knowing when to push ahead and when to back off, and he’d seen it at work in the past few days.
“I dunno.” Daniel stopped what he was doing and cocked his head to one side. “What’s his house gonna be like?”
Gabe understood this one. The boy wondered if it would be full of don’t-touch stuff. “I call it my castle,” Gabe told him, grinning as the boy’s eyes grew huge. “When it’s finished, you’ll be able to live there with the rest of us. If you want to see a drawing of it, I could show you that sometime.”
“Wow! A real castle.” Daniel jumped up and swung himself around the room in a series of acrobatic moves that had no name. They were the simple joyful outbursts of a happy boy. “I’m gonna live in a castle. Wait till the kids hear about this.”
Gabe’s glance flew to Blair. He caught the same stunned surprise in her face that he knew filled his own. Now what? he wondered. How was he supposed to handle this? Blair had been very clear in her insistence on a waiting period before she agreed to marry him. But how did you explain that to an excited five-year-old boy who’d only just found his father?
Mac’s grizzled head poked around the corner. “What’s all the racket up here?” he grumbled, a smile tugging at his lips. “Sounds like a herd of grumpy elephants.”
“Grandpa, guess what? I’m gonna live in a castle with my dad.” Daniel’s eyes glittered with excitement.
“Is that right?” Mac’s eyes moved from Gabe to Blair and back again. “Isn’t that something? I suppose once you get all doo-dahed up in your fancy castle you won’t want to come and see Willie and me in our rickety house?” He winked at Blair. “I’ll be left all alone.” His mournful face brought Daniel to his side.
“I’ll always come and see you, Grandpa. Me and my dad are going to do lots of things together, but we could bring you and Willie to the castle, too. Couldn’t we, Dad?”
The child’s pleading gaze suddenly turned on his father, who was having trouble breathing after hearing himself called dad. “Sure, sure we could,” Gabe managed to say, trying to recall what he was agreeing to.
“And Grandpa can show us about fishing. Grandpa’s the best fisherman in the world.”
“Danny, my boy, that’s a wonderful compliment! Thank you.”
“Welcome.” Daniel glowed as Mac patted him on the shoulder.
“But I think it probably takes a while to build a thing like a castle. Until it’s done and everything gets sorted out, I think Willie and I will stay right where we are. We need to be around for Albert, you see. And I kinda like my own place.”
Daniel nodded as if he fully understood that sentiment. “Me, too. Maybe I could have two homes.”
“Or three or four,” Mac agreed. “No reason why not. A house is just a house, but a home is a home because of the people in it. Doesn’t really matter where it is or how fancy it is. What matters is how much love there is inside it.”
“I know, Grandpa.” Daniel’s hand slid into the blue-veined grasp, his fingers wrapping around the gnarled, bent ones. “An’ we got lots and lots of love, don’t we? We can make anyplace be home.”
Mac bent over and kissed his tousled head. “That we can, laddie. Now maybe your mom and dad need some time to talk about things. How about if you and I go check out the creek? It’s getting pretty high, you know. Albert’s been trying out a new gizmo that counts how many fish go down the stream. Do you want to see it?”
“Yes!” Daniel danced from one foot to the other. Then he glanced at Gabe. “I can’t do nothing with you right now, ’cause Grandpa and I gotta go look at somethin’. Maybe after lunch. Okay?”
Gabe tried not to laugh. “Very okay,” he agreed. “I’ve got a few things to do myself.”
“Cool.” Daniel dragged his grandfather out of the room, talking a mile a minute as he went.
“Cool. The word of the week.” Blair smiled, but there was worry lurking in the depths of her coffee-bean eyes.
“Thanks for stepping in.” Gabe said it sincerely. “I got a little flustered there for a minute. He might look like me, but his mind works like yours, twisting and turning all over the place.”
“Gabe, how long is it really going to take to build that house? I’ll have to try and put it in some kind of time frame that he understands.” She got to her feet, her eyes moving to the window.
“Don’t look smug, but the two months has been extended. They’ve now promised no longer than nine weeks, and I guarantee they won’t go beyond that because they’ll forfeit a huge amount of money.” He checked to make sure she wasn’t laughing. “That puts us around the end of April. Might take a few days to get some furniture and stuff, but I’d think we could move in by the end of the month. Does an early May wedding suit you?”
“You’re intent on going through with this?”
He nodded. “Oh, yes. I intend to go through with all of it.” She stood there studying him, so Gabe got up and wandered to the window. This was a nice enough site, but he had the better one, especially with that creek running alongside.
He heard the whisper of her movements, knew the exact moment when she stopped behind him.
“Are you positive? You’re not missing the company?”
Gabe turned, wondering at the funny sound in her voice. A certain huskiness that usually meant she was emotional. But why?
“I told you, the company will do just fine without me. I’m not needed there. Not anymore. My staff is trained to handle almost anything.” His breath caught in his throat when a hint of her perfume snagged on the breeze an
d wafted past him. A little bit spicy, a little bit flowery, very soft. It personified Blair, and Gabe suddenly realized that he’d never forgotten even that small detail about her.
“What’s really bothering you, Blair? I’ve seen you giving me these little sideways looks when you think I’m not watching. What’s going on inside here?” He tapped the tumble of curls she’d fastened to the top of her head with a huge yellow clip.
“You won’t like it,” she warned.
“Probably not.” If he knew Blair she’d blurt it out full speed, without worrying about his sensibilities. She was hopeless at prevarication. “Go ahead.”
“It’s not a criticism. You’ve done very well with Daniel. Better than I ever expected. It’s just…well, I didn’t expect you to fall in with Aunt Willie or Mac so easily. I kind of thought you and Albert had things in common, but Aunt Willie is different.”
“She’s a breath of fresh air. I can’t imagine how anyone can’t love her. She’s like you.” Blair’s tiny frown made him smile. “She never lies or pretends what she doesn’t feel. She doesn’t try to stroke you.”
“You always did despise that. Come on, let’s get some coffee and relax on the veranda.” She led the way to the kitchen and poured out two cups.
“I hate it because it’s deceit. I can deal with somebody’s anger or dislike, or most of the other stuff. But when they sweet-talk out of one side of their mouth while they stab you with the other, well, I get mad.” He took a sip of the potent black brew and shuddered. “What do you people do to get it like this? It tastes like sludge.”
Gabe emptied the pot and set about making a fresh one. When it was streaming through the filter, he turned to study her. “There’s more, we both know it. You might as well say it, Blair. I can take it.” He hoped.
“I wish you wouldn’t listen to Mac so much.” She let him take her cup, pour a fresh one.
“You don’t like me to talk to your grandfather?” Gabe filled his mug and sat down. He tried to figure it out, tried to keep his cool. “Why not? What do I do that bothers you the most? Am I upsetting him or something?”
