by Tara Randel
Grace glanced at the phone. Reached over, hesitated, then tapped the numbers to the law firm, asking for her coworker Stacy when the receptionist answered.
“Hey, Stace. What’s going on?”
“Swamped, as usual.”
Guilt pressed on her shoulders. They’d been hired around the same time and now Stacy had to handle Grace’s work as well as her own. “I’m sorry you had to take my cases.”
“Don’t even worry. Someday I’ll need a favor and you’ll owe me.”
“You bet.” Should she ask if there was any scuttlebutt that she was in danger of losing her position? “So it seems like it’s still okay that I’m gone?”
“Yes. Things are running smoothly, don’t worry.” Grace heard voices in the background. “Look, I have to run.”
“Thanks, Stacy,” she said, but her friend had already ended the call. Grace stared at the receiver, then replaced it, a shiver of dread drifting over her skin. She shouldn’t have called. Shouldn’t have given in to her doubts. The partner who had interviewed her had been thrilled with her work at the public defender’s office. Had given her the okay to take time off. Had assured her that family came first. She wanted to believe that...
The phone rang and she was soon caught up with vacation business. By three, she needed a change of scenery and decided to close up early. Maybe a walk by the lake would calm her nerves. Or the opposite, make her worry about what she was missing in Atlanta. Either way, she desperately wanted to head home.
She called her mother to see if she needed anything, but Wanda Sue informed her that some of her friends were going to bring dinner by the house. With her mother taken care of, Grace drove up the mountain. When she’d pulled up to the cabin, her mind had already created ten worst-case scenarios about her job, which quickly faded away when she spied a dusty, silver minivan that had seen better days parked in front. She eased to a stop. Only one person drove that make and color car with a deep dent in the back quarter panel.
She grabbed her purse from the passenger seat, opened the door and walked to the porch. She’d just stepped inside the screened enclosure when her sister appeared at the door, a baby on one hip, a toddler with his arms wrapped around her legs.
“Hey, sis. Mind some company?” Faith asked.
Just then the baby yelped out a loud wail followed by the little boy bursting into serious crying.
After the few days she’d had, Grace could relate.
CHAPTER FOUR
GRACE TRIED TO school her expression as she studied her sister. It had been almost a year since they’d crossed paths, but the changes in Faith were startling. Dark circles ringed her hazel eyes, tawny hair tangled around her wan face and her drool-stained, stretched T-shirt hung haphazardly over baggy shorts. What on earth had happened? Fatigue seemed to have washed the life out of her and Grace couldn’t ignore the warning bells ringing in her head.
“Faith?”
Annoyance flashed in Faith’s eyes at Grace’s soft tone, a look Grace recognized from her sister’s rebellious days, and she silently cringed.
“Don’t mind me. I don’t have the energy to dress up after mothering a six-month- and four-year-old all day.”
“I didn’t mean...” She could never get it right with Faith. “I just... You look beat.”
Faith sent her a really? look.
Okay. Time to try another angle. “What are you doing here?”
“I don’t mean to impose on you while you’re in town, but Lyle has been beyond difficult lately, knocking down every idea I’ve come up with to solve our financial problems. I took off to find some space.” Faith shot her a knowing look. “Apparently you had the same idea.”
Grace closed the door behind her. “This has always been our go-to place.”
Faith bounced her daughter. “If I’d known you were staying here, I’d have gone to Mama’s.”
“No, stay,” Grace rushed to assure her. “Please.” Hearing sniffles, she looked down at her nephew, clinging to his mother’s leg for dear life. She knelt down. “Hey, John. What’s with the tears?”
John tightened his grip on Faith’s leg.
“Separation anxiety,” Faith informed her. “This phase of child-rearing is wearing me out.” She shifted Lacey again, bouncing up and down to get her daughter to calm down. Seemed both her children were on the same wavelength.
Grace rose. “What can I do?”
Faith nodded over her shoulder. “John’s favorite truck is on the couch.”
Grace tossed her purse on the sagging chair and fetched the toy. Once again on John’s level, she held it out to him. “Here you go, buddy. Want to play cars?”
John sniffled, looked up at Faith, then eased his death grip. After a few tentative steps, he walked to Grace. Once the truck had his full attention, Grace rose, questions on the tip of her tongue.
“Let me get Lacey a bottle,” Faith said. “Then we can talk.”
“That’ll give me a few minutes to change.”
Grace disappeared into one of the two bedrooms and quickly shucked her work clothes for a hot pink T-shirt, denim shorts and pink sneakers, then quickly joined her sister in the kitchen.
Faith was preparing a bottle as Grace walked in and she handed Lacey to her while she finished the job. Inhaling the scent of powder and just plain baby, Grace tried to settle down her fussy niece.
“When Mama told me you were coming home, I should have known you’d escape here,” Faith said loudly over Lacey’s crying. “As soon as I stepped foot inside the cabin earlier today, I knew someone had aired out the place. Figured it was you after nosing around. Nice outfits, by the way.”
“Thank you?”
Faith chuckled. “My first instinct was to leave, but I didn’t want to go home to Lyle or explain to Mama that we aren’t seeing eye to eye. Again.”
“How long has this been going on?”
After testing the formula to make sure it was the correct temperature, Faith rubbed the nipple over Lacey’s lips until the baby opened up and started drinking. Silence reigned. “Let’s sit so I can keep an eye on John.”
Heading back into the living room, Faith collected Lacey from Grace and took a seat in an armchair to feed her daughter, while Grace sat on the nearby couch, tucking one leg under the other.
“Uncle Roy didn’t tell me you were staying here.”
Grace grimaced. “Probably on purpose.” Obviously their uncle thought the way to get the sisters speaking to each other again was to stick them in the same cabin. Talk about tough love.
“I can call him. See about moving over to his place.”
“He rented his cabin.”
Faith did a double take. “This is news. Since when?”
“A day ago.”
“That doesn’t sound like Uncle Roy.”
“It might have something to do with a woman he met on his trip.”
“A woman?”
“Long story, but when I thought someone was breaking into his cabin last night, I discovered a new tenant. When I called to confirm, Uncle Roy mentioned that he’d extended the trip.” She grinned. “I heard a female voice in the background so I had to ask.”
“Wow. I don’t know whether to be pleased or confused. Since when did he start dating?”
Grace shrugged. “Beats me.”
“I wonder if Mama knows.”
“Are you kidding? If she did, we’d have gotten an earful by now.” Grace picked at a thread in the couch fabric. “Besides, this is Golden. He probably wants to keep any potential romance private for now.”
“I can sympathize. Privacy is hard-earned in Golden.” Faith shifted in the chair. “I hate to admit this to you, but you’re going to hear about it anyway.” She took a deep breath, then blew it out in a hearty gust. “My bad decisions have finally come back to bite me. Big-time.”
Shocked that Faith would admit her failings to her, Grace said, “You know I’d help you if you’d let me.”
“Right.” Sarcasm twisted her tone. “Like always. Grace to the rescue.”
Grace opened her mouth to defend herself, then pursed her lips together, before saying, “Look, I don’t want to fight. Since we’re both staying here, can we agree on some kind of truce?”
More than anything Grace wanted to end the impasse they’d been perpetuating since they were teens. With Daddy long gone, Mama needing help and Grace once again dropping everything to save the day—as they’d see it—her siblings would resent her for it.
Faith’s tone was begrudging when she said, “I suppose we can handle a truce.”
She’d been expecting an uphill battle. Faith’s words came as a surprise. “I know things haven’t been—”
“Pleasant?”
“—in a long time. I hate that we can’t sit in the same room and carry on a conversation.”
“Don’t put that on me.”
Dejection swamped Grace. “Are you ever going to let it go about Daddy?”
Faith could fix it right here, right now, by working with Grace instead of fighting her, but Grace worried old habits died hard.
“We were kids, Faith. Stuff happened. You have to know I never meant to get Daddy in trouble.”
“Yeah, but he did and it changed everything.”
“So I’m guilty forever?” Grace brushed her hair behind her ear. “Mama still expects Daddy to come waltzing through the door like nothing happened. You still hold a grudge for my part in that, and all the other things we fought about when we were kids. And Nathan...where is he by the way?”
“I have no clue.”
“Great.”
An uncomfortable silence blanketed the room. John filled it with his sunny chatter about cars and trucks while Lacey dozed off as her belly filled. Maybe it was time to leave the past where it belonged, in the past, and make strides toward becoming closer.
“We’re family,” Grace continued. “I know I’ll mostly be working while I’m here, but I’d really like to catch up.”
A strange look flitted over Faith’s face. She opened her mouth and Grace waited on pins and needles to find out what was going on in her sister’s mind when John carried his truck over to Grace. Frustration mounted as the moment passed and whatever Faith was going to say slipped away.
“Don’t mind him,” Faith said instead. “He’s obsessed with anything on wheels, sleeping with his favorite truck and demanding to watch programs on television about heavy machinery.”
Lacey had fallen asleep, snuggled against her mother. A rush of love for her niece consumed Grace. Reaching over, she ran a finger over the baby’s soft skin. Lacey shifted and Faith rose to carry her to the crib she’d set up in the second bedroom. Grace was on the floor with John when she returned, racing his little cars around.
“Dirt,” John said, holding up his truck.
“Code word for take me outside,” Faith said. “Not now, John. Your sister is sleeping.”
Not sure how Faith would react to Grace’s suggestion, she said, “I can take him outside if it’s okay with you. You look like you could use a breather.”
Relief softened Faith’s features. “Are you sure? My sister, the big-time attorney, actually asking to play with a four-year-old?”
She tried not to let the sarcasm in her sister’s voice pinch her heart, but it did. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to do this.”
“Sure. But watch him closely. He takes off like a flash.”
Grace rose, held out her hand and took John’s smaller one in hers. “I may not be a runner, but I promise to keep an eye on him.”
As Grace passed by Faith to get to the door, she stopped. “What were you going to say before John interrupted us?”
Tears clouded her sister’s eyes. Instead of answering, she glanced away.
Grace touched her arm. “This is a safe place.”
Faith blinked, straightened her shoulders and met Grace’s gaze. “I’m a mother now. Time to own up to all the choices I’ve made.”
“You don’t have to do it alone.”
“This is hard.” She barked out a sharp laugh. “You always tried to look out for me, but I thought I knew better. Look how well that’s worked out for me.”
If Grace wanted to push for changes, now was her chance. “Faith, we’re going to be in close quarters for a while. If there’s something you want to say, just say it.”
Faith ran a hand through her hair, her voice shaky when she said, “Give me a little time to sort it all out, okay, sis?”
“All the time you need.”
With those words, Grace took John out to the path that led to the dirt lane, then headed toward the lake. She should be thankful that her sister wanted to talk, something they hadn’t done in ages. Maybe living together was a blessing in disguise. As she listened to John’s ongoing chatter, she hoped so.
* * *
GOOD GRIEF, WHAT was Faith feeding her son? And where could she buy whatever it was? The four-year-old had enough energy for a full platoon of men, with no signs of letting up soon.
They’d walked to the lake, then circled around to the play area. The sun was half-mast in the sky, which meant they’d be ready for dinner soon. Her stomach growled at the reminder.
“Okay, buddy. What do you say we head home?”
“No. I want to play truck.”
“We have been.”
He stomped his little foot, squeezed his face tight. “More.”
Grace laughed. She couldn’t help it. John was the spitting image of his mother when she was a child. “Good luck with that,” she muttered under her breath, remembering how hard it was to corral Faith when her mind was made up. Seemed like karma was having a belly laugh about now.
“How about we get something to eat and come back later.”
“No. Want to play.”
“After dinner.”
His brown eyes flashed. “No.”
John had no sooner said the word than he streaked right past her. She turned in panic, ready to give chase, when she saw him dash right into a pair of long legs. Which belonged to her new employee.
“Slow down there, champ.”
Her heart took a dizzy twirl when Deke waylaid her nephew. He smiled at the boy, revealing those dimples, which in turn made her chest squeeze tight. The sun caught the hidden highlights in his dark brown hair, and that woodsy scent of his tickled her nose. When his gaze met hers, well, she was nothing short of a goner.
This could be a problem.
“Hey,” he said in greeting, his voice scratchy like he hadn’t used it in hours. It definitely rubbed her the right way.
“Hi.”
Their gaze held for a long moment before she felt John wrap his arm around her leg.
A glimmer of something—what, she couldn’t say—crossed Deke’s eyes before he covered his reaction. “I didn’t know you have a son.”
“Nephew. His name is John.”
Grace reached down to take John’s hand in hers. “This is Mr. Matthews.”
John looked up at her with a frown. “Maffews?”
Deke chuckled. “How about Mr. Deke.”
“Oh, I don’t—”
“Deke,” John shouted and took off. It was then she noticed the trailer full of canoes hitched to Deke’s Jeep.
“That’s Mr. Deke,” Grace called as she hurried after him.
“I don’t mind losing the ‘Mr.’,” Deke said as they followed the little boy.
“He should be learning manners,” Grace argued.
“I think that’s the least of your worries.”
John stopped by the trailer, pointing up. “Boat,” he proclaimed, tugging on Deke’s jeans when they joined
her nephew.
“That’s right.”
“Go for ride?”
“Not yet,” Deke said. “I have to get them in the water first.”
“And then we have to check with your mom,” Grace added.
John wrinkled his freckled nose, but at least he didn’t argue. Grateful for small miracles, Grace held back a smile and turned her attention to Deke. “What are you doing with the canoes?”
“Your uncle asked me to haul them to the lake.”
Uncle Roy had called him? Without telling her?
“I figured I’d get ahead of the weekend rush by putting them in the water.”
Unbidden, she heard herself ask, “Need some help?”
His brow rose. “I got the impression you were strictly office-bound.”
Which had been the case until Mr. Tall, Dark and Outdoorsy walked into her place of business. Then all bets were off. “I’ve been known to wander into the great outdoors from time to time.”
He eyed her, top of her head to her feet and back. A devastatingly handsome smile spread over his lips. She wanted to brush her hand over her hair to make sure she wasn’t a mess, but she didn’t want to seem obvious.
“I wouldn’t refuse an extra pair of hands.”
Oh, boy.
John jumped up and down. “I help.”
Deke chuckled and tousled the boy’s white-blond hair. “You bet, champ.” He glanced at Grace. “Undo the straps?”
While Deke lowered the small gate at the back of the trailer, Grace unhooked the lines holding the canoes in place. Deke grabbed hold of one and slid it out. “Catch the end?”
“Sure.” She hurried over, grabbing her end and hefting the weight of the canoe once it was in midair. Deke began walking backward to the ramp while Grace balanced her end, John skipping alongside them.
Her uncle had built a large enclosure abutting the water’s edge to keep the canoes in one place during the season. This way they didn’t float away, there was easy access when a trip was scheduled and they could lock them up when not in use. When they reached the ramp, Deke eased his end into the chilly water, guiding the boat into the enclosure. Grace bent down, sidestepping the ensuing splash as she let go.
