Falling for the Hometown Hero

by Mindy Obenhaus

  All the while, Mama held her close, stroking her hair, her back. A comforting touch Grace hadn’t felt in a long time.

  “I tried to be a good wife.”

  “I know.” Mama’s voice was soothing.

  Grace hiccuped. “I really wanted to have a baby.”

  “Of course you did.”

  Sometime later, when the tears finally subsided, Grace lifted her head and looked at her mother in a new light. She hadn’t given the woman enough credit. Mama really did love her.

  Cupping Grace’s tear-streaked cheeks, Mama said, “What did that ex-son-in-law of mine do this time?”

  “He wants to sell our house.”

  “But you don’t want to?”

  “It’s not that I don’t want to.” She sniffed, accepting the tissue Mama handed her. “I mean, I have no need for it anymore. It’s just—” The turmoil that had been smoldering inside her ever since Aaron’s call burst into flame.

  Fists balled, she shot to her feet, rounded the solid wood coffee table and started to pace. “That was supposed to be my house.” She poked a finger at her chest. “The place where I’d spend the rest of my days, where we’d raise our kids and welcome our grandkids.” She faced her mother. “Now he expects me to sign some stupid piece of paper so he and wife 2.0 can buy a new house.” Tears threatened again and her cheeks burned. “It’s not fair.”

  Her mother sat calmly on the sofa, shaking her head. “No. It’s not fair. But, baby, it doesn’t do us any good to be angry about it either.” Standing, she moved toward Grace. “We have to make a conscious choice to put it behind us and move on.”

  “I thought I’d done that.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She looked curiously at her mother. “What are you getting at?”

  Mama slipped an arm around Grace’s waist, pulling her against her hip. “There’s a difference between moving on and running away. Grace, don’t let Aaron’s actions rob you of the happiness you deserve. Someday Mr. Right will come along and—”

  Grace pulled away. “Don’t go there, Mama. Please. Even if there was a Mr. Right, I will never be Mrs. Right.”

  “Now, why would you say that? You’re young, beautiful—”

  “And broken.” She flopped back down on the sofa. “No man wants a woman who can’t give him children.”

  Mama’s gaze narrowed as she returned to the couch. “Did a doctor tell you that you can’t conceive?”

  “No. But after trying unsuccessfully for two years, it’s pretty obvious that God doesn’t want me to have children.”

  “First of all—” her mother’s expression softened “—even if you weren’t able to conceive, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a family. And second, perhaps God simply didn’t want you to have children with Aaron.”

  Grace snagged the pale blue throw pillow beside her and fiddled with the fringe. “Why would God not want me to have children with my husband? The man I vowed to love, honor and cherish until we were parted by death.”

  “God knows everything about us, Grace. You, me... Aaron.” Conviction sparkled in Mama’s hazel eyes. “Have you ever stopped to think that maybe He was protecting you?”

  “Protecting me from what?”

  Mama looked away briefly, as though she were afraid to say what was really on her mind. “I shouldn’t try to speak for God. However, I can tell you this. I know what it is to feel broken. And even though I tried to run away, God still met me in my deepest pain.”

  “When Daddy died?”

  Mama nodded. “I felt as though I’d died, too.” Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “All the hopes and plans for our future were gone. I was all alone. And I was so angry.” She reached for a tissue on the side table. Dabbed the tears that now streamed down her cheeks.

  Grace watched her mother, wanting to comfort her, but unsure how. Finally, she laid a hand on Mama’s knee.

  Mama covered it with her own. “I tried to carry on. Went through the motions of day-to-day life, but it always felt as though there was this...tremendous weight on my shoulders.”

  Grace knew all too well what that felt like.

  “One day, I couldn’t take it anymore. I’d had enough. I went into my bedroom, dropped to my knees and gave God a piece of my mind.”

  “Really? What did you say?”

  “Through gritted teeth, I said, I can’t do this. I don’t want to do this.” Tilting her head, her mother seemed to ponder the memory. Then the corners of her mouth lifted. “And you know what?”

  “What?”

  “In that still moment, I realized that wasn’t what God was asking of me at all. Instead, He was holding out His hands, waiting for me to give it to Him. My pain, my worries and fears...” Mama shrugged. “So I did. Which is what I should have done in the first place.”

  She made it sound so simple.

  “And did He take away the pain?”

  “Not right away. I still had to walk that road, but I wasn’t alone. And just like any wound, it healed over time.”

  She took both of Grace’s hands in hers. “My precious daughter, I’ve loved you your whole life. But God loves you so much more than either your father or I ever could. And I promise you, God’s got more in store for you than you could ever imagine. But you have to let go of your anger. Give it to God and just see what He can do.”

  She appreciated what Mama was saying. But Grace had been running for so long and allowed the chasm between her and God to grow so deep... “I don’t know if I can.”

  Chapter Ten

  Dusk had fallen over Ouray by the time Grace was ready to leave her mother’s. Talking things over with Mama had been easier than she’d imagined and she was glad they’d crossed paths. In her heart, Grace knew it was no coincidence, but she wasn’t willing to acknowledge it as anything else just yet.

  “You’re sure you don’t want to stay here tonight?” Mama followed her out onto the porch.

  “I’m sure.”

  “I could drive or walk you back to your campsite.”

  “No, thanks, Mama. I have a lot I need to sort out, so it might be best if I’m alone.”

  “Will you check in with me tomorrow? Let me know how you’re doing?”

  Grace adjusted the pack on her shoulder. “I will. Thank you.” She hugged her mother. “You were just what I needed tonight.”

  Tears filled Mama’s eyes when they parted. She cupped Grace’s cheek. “You don’t know how much it pleases me to hear you say that.”

  Grace turned away before she started crying herself. “Night, Mama. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Grace.”

  With the glow of the porch light fading behind her, Grace dabbed her eyes, trying to remember the last time she’d told her mother she loved her. And even when it had come, in phone calls or such, Mama was always the initiator. But she’d learned a lot about her mother since coming to Ouray. Enough to realize that, perhaps, they weren’t so different after all.

  Between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, Grace heard noises behind her. The crunching of gravel. Footfalls. Rapid footfalls. Though some sounded slightly different than the others.

  At the sound of heavy breathing, she quickened her pace, daring a glance behind her.

  A tall figure jogged along the street. Her momentary angst eased as she took in the basketball shorts, sleeveless T-shirt and—prosthetic?

  “Grace?” Kaleb continued toward her, stopping in front of her. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be fast asleep by now.”

  “Uh—” It wasn’t just his question that gave her pause. Instead it was the rapid rise and fall of his muscular chest and that sweaty gray T that not only exposed his massive biceps, but the burn scars that spread up his left arm. Lowering her gaze, she eyed the bladelike prosthetic.
“You run?”

  Hands on his hips, his smile was slow. “And ski and just about everything else I did before the accident.” He moved closer, his smile evaporating as he studied her face. “Have you been crying?”

  She immediately turned away. She could only imagine what she must look like. Red-rimmed eyes, tear-streaked cheeks...

  Drawing closer yet, he said, “Talk to me, Grace. Something’s been bothering you for a couple days now. I don’t like to see you hurting.”

  Hurting? How did he know she was hurting?

  The concern in his eyes had her looking everywhere but at him. While she was fine with getting him to talk about his issues and pointing out in no uncertain terms where he was wrong, she was used to keeping things to herself. Why bother sharing when the person doing the asking really didn’t care?

  But Kaleb wasn’t Aaron. He genuinely cared about people. Including her.

  And, she supposed, there was one thing she needed to set the record straight on.

  “Remember Memorial Day, when I followed you into the garage after the incident with Jack?”

  He nodded, his gaze still boring into her.

  “I led you to believe that I was some strong Christian woman when, actually, I’m kind of on the outs with God right now.”

  His brow shot up. “You’re on the outs with Him or He’s on the outs with you?”

  She let go a sigh. “Probably the latter.”

  After examining her for another moment or two, he crossed his arms over his hulking chest. “So why are you mad at God?”

  How did he come up with that? “Did I say I was mad at Him?”

  “No. I inferred it.”

  “Oh.” Taking a sudden interest in the dim streetlight overhead, she struggled for a response.

  “Are you mad at Him?”

  She dared to look at him again. “Let’s just say He allowed a lot of things to happen in my life that I’m not real crazy about.”

  Kaleb chuckled as he hiked up the left leg of his shorts. “Are you sure you want to go there with me?”

  She narrowed her gaze. “My wounds may not have been physical, but I have plenty of scars.”

  “I’m sorry. That was rather callous of me.” He hesitated a moment. “Don’t suppose you’d care to share, would you?”

  “Not particularly.” Her gaze fell. She wasn’t good at sharing.

  “You sure?” He scanned the stars that illuminated the night sky. “Nice night for a campfire.”

  She smiled, recalling that night they’d first started going through his military stuff. She’d pushed him relentlessly until he finally told her what his problem was. And then she went off on him and stormed away.

  Yet it was Kaleb who’d apologized the next day, because he finally understood what she had been trying to make him see.

  “Throw in a Diet Dr Pepper and you’ve got a deal.”

  A short time later, flames danced in the small fire pit at her campsite.

  Night sounds echoed around them as she popped the top on her soda. She sat beside Kaleb at the picnic table, grateful that the campsites on either side of her were still empty. “That package that came for me today. It was from my ex-husband.”

  Something flashed in Kaleb’s eyes, though she wasn’t about to guess what it was. “I wasn’t aware that you were married.”

  “A little over four years.”

  “So what happened?” With his back against the table, he stretched his legs out in front of him, as though settling in for a long story.

  She took a deep breath, wondering where to start and just how much to say.

  “Of course, you don’t have to tell me, if you don’t want to.”

  The fact that Kaleb was willing to let her off the hook encouraged her to continue. “Aaron and I tried for two years to have a baby.” She fingered the water droplets on the outside of the soda can she’d set atop the table. “But I couldn’t get pregnant. So, while I was out to sea, my husband went looking for someone who could.”

  Watching Kaleb, she saw his left eye twitch. His jaw squaring as the muscles tensed.

  “Nothing like coming home from a ten-month deployment to news that your husband wants a divorce because his girlfriend is pregnant.” She couldn’t have stopped the sarcasm in her tone if she tried.

  “That’s rough.” Raking a hand through his still-damp hair, he blew out a long, slow breath. “Sounds like your ex-husband was a real piece of work.”

  That wasn’t exactly how she’d put it. “I’m just ashamed that it took me so long to realize it.”

  He turned, brushing the stray hairs away from her face. “Grace, you have nothing to be ashamed of. After what he did, Aaron is the one who ought to be ashamed.”

  “I know. But I still heard the whispers, saw the sympathetic stares.”

  “Believe me, I know all about those.”

  She contemplated him for a moment. “Yeah, I’m sure you do.”

  He took hold of her hand, as if offering his strength. “Mind if I ask what was in the package?”

  She told him about the house and the document her ex needed her to sign.

  Kaleb shook his head. “For the life of me, I don’t understand how some people can be so heartless. You didn’t deserve to be treated like that, Grace. Especially by your husband. He vowed to love, honor and cherish you.” His gray-green eyes bored into hers. “You deserve to be cherished, Grace.”

  The intensity of both his words and his gaze had her pushing to her feet to stand beside the fire. “Now you know all about me and my baggage. However, after venting to my mother tonight, I am happy to say that I have signed the document without the least bit of remorse and am eager to move on with my life.”

  Kaleb stood. “And what about God? Is He still on the outs?”

  Her shoulders sagged. “I haven’t decided yet. Right now, He seems pretty distant.”

  “He hasn’t moved, Grace. He’s right where He’s always been, waiting with open arms for you to return.”

  “I know. I’m sure I’ll find my way back eventually. I’m just too weary, perhaps embarrassed, to make that journey right now.”

  “I understand. I’ve been there.” Touching a finger to her chin, he forced her to look at him. “And I can tell you from experience that no matter how tough the journey may be, it’s all worth it.” He caressed her cheek, sending chill bumps down her spine. “What Aaron did was wrong. But don’t let him steal your joy. You deserve to be happy, Grace.”

  Seeing the depth of sincerity in Kaleb’s eyes, she realized that he was the kind of man who could do just that. A thought that was as comforting as it was disconcerting.

  Good thing she was leaving at the end of the summer.

  Or maybe not.

  * * *

  By early Saturday evening, Kaleb wasn’t any more enthusiastic about gathering things for the museum than he was before. However, he was determined. He’d made a promise and he prided himself on being a man of his word. No matter how difficult it might be.

  At least Grace would be there to help him.

  “You ready to go?” He smiled at her across the office.

  Behind the counter, she hoisted her pack onto her shoulder. “Yep. Pizza’s ordered, so I think we’re good to go.”

  Just the thought of spending time with her brought a smile to his face.

  In the few weeks that they’d known each other they’d learned more than most people would over the course of months. It was as though there was some unseen connection between him and Grace. They simply got each other in a way no one else could. Something he found heartening and terrifying at the same time.

  And after hearing what her ex had put her through, Kaleb’s desire to protect her had grown even stronger.

  “Better batten
down your hatches.” He opened the front door to an onslaught of wind and rain. “Go, go, go.” He rushed Grace out the door and toward his Jeep as he locked the office behind him.

  He hurried after her, throwing himself behind the steering wheel. “This is nuts. Reminds me of monsoon season.”

  “Monsoon season?” She eyed him across the center console.

  “It’s a weather pattern we usually go through from July to September.”

  She continued to stare at him. “A monsoon? In southwest Colorado?”

  “Sounds crazy, I know.” He fired up the engine before glancing her way. “You still want to help me tonight?”

  “Better than weathering this out in my camper.” She turned toward him, the corners of her mouth tilted upward. “However, I wouldn’t mind checking on it.”

  He turned on the windshield wipers and shifted the Jeep into gear. “I hear you loud and clear.”

  Arriving at Grace’s campsite, they saw that the tarp he’d helped her with a couple of weeks ago had come loose on one side and was flapping wildly in the wind. They quickly got out and attacked the problem, cinching the rope until everything was secure.

  After retrieving the insulated jacket he’d loaned her from her camper, Grace dived into the Jeep alongside him, slamming the door behind her. “Monsoons, huh? Does this mean you’re prone to hurricanes, too?” She shoved her arms into the sleeves of the coat.

  “Not that I’m aware of.” He adjusted the air from cool to heat and turned on the defroster to remove the fog from the windows. “Sure is raining enough, though.”

  “I’ll say.” She leaned back against the seat as he again hit the road.

  After stopping to pick up their pizza, he headed straight for his house. Times like this he hated not having a garage. “Looks like we’re going to have to make a run for it.”

  She lifted her pack over her head. “I’m ready.”

  “Isn’t your computer in there?”

  “Yes. But it’s a waterproof bag.”

  He held up the pizza. “And what about this?”