Homecoming Hero

by Renee Ryan

  “You think I don’t know that?” he growled.

  J.T. held his stare, refusing to back down. “Sometimes you can do all the right things and still get a bad outcome.”

  To his shame, Wolf felt the pinprick of tears behind his eyelids. He hated this feeling of helplessness. So he lashed out. “Speaking from experience, J.T.?”

  The guy didn’t even flinch. “Yeah, I am.”

  Wolf lowered his gaze, swallowed several times then forced a note of calm in his voice. “I’ll take what you’ve said under advisement.”

  “Meaning you didn’t hear a word I said.”

  “I heard you.” Wolf rose.

  J.T. followed suit. “You still want to go to lunch?”

  No. But he was no coward. He met J.T.’s gaze and grinned. “As long as we can talk about football.”

  Scooting around his desk, J.T. gripped Wolf’s shoulder. “I think that can be arranged. You a University of Georgia fan?”

  Wolf thought about Hailey’s over-the-top reaction at the silent auction. She’d been a little rabid—but kind of cute, too—when she’d lost out on her bid to spend a day with the school’s mascot. “I’m becoming one.”

  “Good man.”

  They headed for the door, but Wolf stopped midway, remembering the initial reason for his visit. “Before we go, I need a list of Savannah’s homeless shelters and food banks.”

  J.T. looked at him oddly. “Why?”

  “I want to take Hailey on a date before she leaves for Haiti.”

  “To a homeless shelter?”

  “You got a problem with that?”

  For a moment, J.T. just stared at him. Then he released a quick laugh. “Not at all.” He went back to his computer. Fingers on the keyboard, he asked, “You need phone numbers and addresses, too?”

  “If you have them.”

  “Give me a sec.” He moved his mouse around, left-clicked a few times, then typed something on the keyboard. The next thing Wolf heard was the sound of a printer firing up.

  J.T grinned. “You’re in business, soldier.”

  Finally, Wolf thought, something was going his way.

  At precisely 0900 Wednesday morning, Hailey locked her front door. She turned and caught sight of Wolf coming up her walkway.

  She studied him as he approached. He was dressed in what she was coming to recognize as his civilian uniform. Worn jeans that hung low on his lean hips, a black T-shirt that clung to his muscular chest and a leather jacket that topped off the masculine ensemble rather nicely. The guy was a walking magazine ad for an expensive men’s cologne.

  Her stomach quivered in reaction.

  The Lord had brought Wolf into her life at the worst possible time, under the worst possible circumstances. And yet, she couldn’t help but feel blessed he was here with her now.

  Of course, she’d be foolish to forget he’d initially sought her out because her brother had asked him to find her. The reality, always in the back of her mind, left Hailey feeling a bit depressed.

  Still, she headed down her front steps with a light heart. Drawing closer to him, she caught a whiff of spice and soap that was pure Wolf.

  She smiled. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning.” He dropped his gaze and grinned back. “I see you dressed comfortably.” His smile broadened. “I always did like a woman who could follow orders.”

  She tried not to smile at his teasing manner. “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it.” Still smiling, he pulled her arm through his and steered her toward the heart of downtown.

  The sensation of being this near to him, walking arm in arm like a real couple, was incredibly appealing. Hailey found herself snuggling closer. Wolf’s grip tightened, just a little, enough to communicate he was enjoying this, as well.

  When they passed by his car, Hailey realized she had no idea where they were going. “We aren’t taking Stella?”

  “Nope. We’re walking.”

  Determined to go with the flow and be flexible, Hailey held silent for two entire city blocks. But curiosity got the best of her midway down the third street. “Where are you taking me?”

  He laughed. “I knew you wouldn’t last the whole way without asking.”

  Was she that predictable? Or did he just know her that well? “So…?”

  “We’re going to the Savannah People’s Mission, your town’s version of a soup kitchen.” He slanted a challenging look at her. “You’ve heard of it, right?”

  “Sure I have.”

  Which was mostly true. Months ago, J.T. had given her a list of all the homeless shelters, soup kitchens and food banks in town. She’d read about the organizations then shoved the paper in the back of her Bible. Not because she was heartless, she told herself quickly, but because she wasn’t involved with any of the ministries that would put her in a position to need their names and locations.

  But now Wolf was taking her to a soup kitchen, within walking distance of her home. And, despite all her charity work in town, she’d never technically heard of it.

  What did that say about her?

  They rounded the corner of one of her favorite squares. A tiny grove of camellia bushes ran along the main sidewalk. Such pretty, bold flowers, daring to bloom when others lay dormant. The winter chill couldn’t keep them down.

  So engrossed with their courageous beauty, it took a moment for Hailey to realize Wolf had stopped walking. She turned her head and gaped at all the people.

  An impossibly long line snaked around a rectangular, nondescript building that stood adjacent to one of the historic churches open for daily tours. However, these people were not tourists. Some were dressed nicer than others, but they all had a look of defeat about them.

  How had she driven by this building countless times in her life, but had never known it was a soup kitchen? “This is the Savannah People’s Mission?”

  Wolf hooked his thumbs through his belt loops. “You’ve never been here before?”

  “No.” And yet the mission was only a handful of blocks from her home.

  Why hadn’t she known it was so close? Why hadn’t she cared enough to know?

  She drew in a shaky breath.

  “Let’s go inside,” Wolf suggested. “There’s a lot to do before they open the doors for lunch.”

  A sudden wave of fear danced a chill up Hailey’s spine and she remained frozen in place, unable to move. What if she couldn’t help these people? What if they didn’t accept her help?

  “Come on.” Wolf tugged her toward a side door. “We go in this way.”

  “You’ve been here before?”

  “I came yesterday during my lunch hour.”

  “You did? Why?”

  He lifted a shoulder. “I wanted to check it out before I brought you here.”

  He’d put a lot of forethought into this outing.

  Gaze still locked with hers, Wolf drew her through the doorway.

  The moment they stepped inside the building, a large black woman gave a whoop and yanked Wolf into a bear hug. “Two days in a row.” She pulled back and beamed at him. “What a blessing you are, my boy.”

  Wolf shrugged. “I can’t seem to stay away.” He slapped his palm onto his chest. “You’ve captured my heart, Cora Belle.”

  Giggling like a young girl, the large woman waved her spoon at him then caught sight of Hailey. “And who’s this pretty thing?”

  “I brought you another helper. Hailey O’Brien, meet Cora Belle, the best cook in Savannah.”

  Laughing at Wolf’s outrageous compliment, the big lady smiled at Hailey. “Any friend of this boy’s is welcome in my kitchen. Besides—” she jabbed Wolf with her elbow “—I’d never send away a helping hand.”

  Hailey instantly liked Cora Belle, but she wasn’t sure how to proceed. “I’m here to work,” she offered, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. “Just tell me what to do.”

  “I got plenty of hands in here.” Cora Belle turned back
to her stove. “Why don’t you help Captain Ty and my husband set up tables in the dining room?”

  That sounded like something she could do. Hailey might not be able to cook, but she could set a table with her eyes closed.

  An hour later the dining hall was full of chattering people, hovering over full plates of food. Hailey had been assigned to the relatively simple task of serving the potatoes, but she still felt uncomfortable, much as Wolf had looked at the country club.

  She didn’t make eye contact with the people she served. She simply heaped a spoonful of potatoes on the empty plates thrust in front of her.

  That made her a coward, she knew. But as much as she disliked this new insight into her character, Hailey couldn’t muster the courage to lift her head.

  How could she serve the Lord, when she couldn’t even look His people in the eye?

  Please, dear God, give me the courage….

  Gulping down her trepidation, she lifted her head and connected her gaze with a woman who looked to be her same age. Something about her felt familiar, yet Hailey was sure she didn’t know her.

  Perhaps it was the loneliness masked behind the woman’s shaky smile. Over the last six months, Hailey had experienced that emotion far too often. Maybe that was the way to go. Strike common ground, connect on a personal level.

  Hailey returned the smile.

  The young woman looked quickly away and moved on.

  So much for making eye contact, Hailey thought.

  Feeling completely out of her element, she caught sight of Wolf weaving his way from table to table.

  Unlike her, he looked comfortable. He spoke to every person he came across, treating each one like a long-lost friend. He wasn’t afraid to touch them, either. He clutched a few men on the shoulder, then placed a gentle hand under an elderly woman’s elbow as he steered her to a seat at a table. For a man who’d experienced such an unsafe, lonely childhood, Wolf made family wherever he went. Not friends, family.

  Hailey wondered if he realized that about himself.

  Watching him work the room, she felt embarrassed by all the lofty speeches she’d given him about what it meant to serve people in need. Just like she’d always feared, she was a fraud.

  Wolf, on the other hand, was authentic. And so at ease with everyone he met. They gravitated toward him. He was probably just as good with his soldiers as he was with the people here today. Well, of course he was. Clay had said as much in his e-mails.

  Hailey hadn’t realized she’d been standing there, staring at him, until a kind-faced, middle-aged woman slid in beside her. “I’ll take over if you need a break. You’ve been serving for a full hour.”

  “I have?”

  The woman gently pulled the spoon out of Hailey’s hand. “Go on, get yourself a plate and join the others.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t possibly take food.”

  “Volunteers are encouraged to eat with our guests.” She bumped hips with Hailey. “Go on. Make some friends.”

  “Sure. I can do that.” Hailey drew her lip between her teeth and moved to the back of the line.

  Once she had a full plate of food, she chose a seat at a table where the young woman she’d made eye contact with earlier sat. “Hi.”

  No response.

  Hailey tried not to sigh. “I’m Hailey.”

  Still no response.

  “Mind if I sit with you?”

  The woman raked her with blunt appraisal. “It’s a free country.”

  Find that common ground, Hailey told herself. Don’t give up. “Like I said, I’m Hailey.” She spoke softly. “What’s your name?”

  “Sara.”

  “Really?” Hailey filled her fork with potatoes and quickly took the bite. “My mother almost named me that.”

  “Why didn’t she?”

  “You know what?” Hailey let out a short little laugh. “I don’t know.”

  Sara gave her a small smile, one that still had suspicion clinging to the edges.

  “Do you have any kids?” Sara asked.

  Unsure where this was going, Hailey shook her head. “No. I’m not married.”

  Sara tossed her fork down and snorted. “Like that matters.”

  Caught off guard by the woman’s response, Hailey lowered her own fork. Less than five minutes into the conversation and she’d already managed to offend Sara.

  Nevertheless, Hailey would not turn tail and run. Yet. “Do you have any children?” she asked.

  An echo of a smile crossed her lips. “I have an eight-year-old daughter.”

  So old? Hailey did a quick calculation in her head. Unless she looked younger than she was, Sara had to have had the child when she was still a teenager.

  “My daughter’s in foster care right now,” Sara explained. “It’s been a tough year.”

  The shame in her eyes made it clear she did not like accepting charity.

  “You don’t have any family?” Hailey asked.

  Sara lowered her head. “My parents disowned me when they found out I was pregnant.”

  Such a harsh response. If only Hailey knew what to do to help her. She didn’t think money was the answer. Sara needed a long-term solution.

  Hailey remembered a story in Scripture where the disciples didn’t give alms to a blind man but gave him his sight instead.

  What would be the equivalent here? A job, maybe?

  She had all kinds of contacts in the business community. Surely one of them would hire Sara.

  Unable to make any guarantees, yet, Hailey stayed focused on their conversation. “What’s your daughter’s name?”

  “Sara.” She gave a self-deprecating shrug. “I never did have much imagination.”

  Hailey reached to her, touching her sleeve with a tentative hand. “Why not name your daughter after yourself? Men do it all the time. My brother was named after my father.”

  “Was?”

  “He died in Iraq,” Hailey said. “Six months ago.”

  Sara’s shoulders slumped forward. “I lost my boyfriend, Tyler, back in the early months of the war. He was called up before we could get married. We were waiting until he came home.” Her voice filled with regret. “But he never came home.”

  How awful. “How’d your boyfriend die?”

  Sara’s lips trembled. “His Humvee hit an IED.”

  A gasp flew out of Hailey before she could stop it. “I’m so sorry.”

  I want to live with them, cry with them, find joy and hope with them. Had Hailey really said those words to Wolf only a few nights ago? She’d been referring to people of other cultures, like the ones she would meet in Haiti next week. But here, right in front of her, God had given her someone who needed her help now. Not next week. Now.

  “My brother died from an IED, too,” she said.

  A look of unity passed between her and Sara. Tragedy had struck them both, but Hailey had had money and security to soften the blow of her loss.

  Sara had not been so fortunate. She’d been disowned by her family, unmarried and completely on her own. Without the official help of the military she’d been left destitute.

  Hailey would help her. She just had to figure out how.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Wolf watched Hailey scribble on a piece of paper then hand it to the woman she’d been speaking with since sitting down. With their heads bent close together, they looked as if they were in the middle of a serious conversation.

  Once again, Hailey had surprised him. She’d clearly been uncomfortable when they’d first arrived, but that hadn’t stopped her from helping where she was needed. She’d moved tables, stacked plates, served food and now was in the process of doing what she did best. Impacting another person’s life for the better.

  “You look at that gal the way my husband used to look at me when we were first married,” Cora Belle said with a dreamy glint in her eyes.

  Completely unconcerned he’d been busted for staring at Hailey, Wolf laughed. “He doesn’t look at you like that anymore?”
<
br />   “It’s different now.” But as soon as she made her claim, Cora Belle waggled her fingers at her husband. He paused in the middle of wiping a table and tossed her a wink.

  “It doesn’t look so different to me. In fact,” Wolf said, grinning, “that light is burning so strong I might have to put my sunglasses back on.”

  She slapped him lightly on the arm. “Oh, you.”

  Wolf relaxed against the wall behind him. “How long have you two been married, Cora Belle?”

  “Fifty-three years come next March.”

  Talk about staying power. Wolf was impressed. “What’s your secret?”

  Before answering, the older woman smiled after her husband as he walked back into the kitchen, arms full of dirty plates. “Having the Lord in our lives is the key.” She pursed her lips. “But it also helps to like the person you’re married to. Makes everything else go easier.”

  Wolf looked over at Hailey again. She was still deep in her conversation. As he watched her, a solid sense of peace spread through him. The emotion settled over him like a whisper.

  Yeah, he liked Hailey. No question about it. But his feelings were far more complicated than simple “like.” And more significant. If she walked away from him now, if she were hurt or killed, Wolf wasn’t sure he’d ever get over losing her.

  His fingers curled together, every muscle in his body growing tense as the truth washed over him.

  He didn’t just like Hailey. He loved her.

  She was strong and sweet and the best person he’d ever met. She’d brought him back to life, and then made him desire an existence beyond himself, beyond just going through the motions of the day.

  But was he meant to be with her? Could he provide for her and give her the family she deserved? There were a lot of obstacles standing between them—their different pasts, their conflicting goals for the future and the largest obstacle of all, Clay.

  There was suddenly too much to think about, too many questions without answers.

  Wolf crossed his arms over his chest and cleared his mind.

  Eyeing him like a dog on point, Cora Belle wiped her hands on her food-stained apron, slowly, methodically. Then her gaze narrowed even more. “You gonna marry that girl?”