The Soldier and the Single Mom

by Lee Tobin McClain

  “I’d stay out of Lacey’s stuff. You’d better work on the cabinets in here. Do you know how to use a screwdriver?”

  “Sure.”

  She set Bobby up in the corner of this room and went to work washing the cabinet fronts, removing the handles, humming a wordless tune.

  It was a little too domestic for him. “So, how are you gonna punt here?” he asked, his voice coming out rougher than he’d intended. “You got a plan?”

  She looked up, and her eyes were dark with some emotion he couldn’t name. “I thought I’d try the churches in town first,” she said. “Where I lived before, some of the churches had programs for homeless families. Just until I can get on my feet and figure out what to do next.” She paused. “I’d prefer finding work, but I don’t know what’s available.”

  So she thought of herself as homeless. That suggested she wasn’t just traveling from point A to point B. Something else was wrong. And it was weird, because she did have that rich-girl look to her. Her clothes were stylish and new, her haircut and manicure expensive looking. But she also looked scared.

  “Not sure if you’ll find anything formal around here, but the churches are big on outreach. I can take you to ours. And then...you mentioned talking to the police about your car?”

  “They’ll want to get it off the road as much as I do.” She frowned. “I just hope they won’t put my name in some kind of system.”

  “You hiding from someone?” he asked mildly.

  Her eyebrows went together and her eyes hooded. “I... Yeah. You could say that.”

  “Boyfriend? Husband?”

  She shook her head. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

  That figured. A woman as pretty as she was had to have a partner, and Bobby had a father. Had someone abused her? “I’m not asking you to tell me everything, but I can help you better if I know your situation.”

  Her cheeks flushed with what looked like embarrassment. “Thanks.” She wasn’t saying more, obviously.

  “Where were you headed, originally?” he pushed on as he finished painting the crown molding.

  She didn’t answer, so he repeated the question.

  “I don’t know,” she said finally. “Anywhere. It didn’t matter. I just had to leave.” She studied the cupboard she was sanding, one of the old-fashioned and charming parts of the breakfast room, according to Lacey. “I wouldn’t mind finding a place to settle for a while. As long as it was safe.”

  Not here, not here. He didn’t need any complications in Rescue River, and this woman seemed like a complication. “Safe from what?”

  She shook her head. “Too long of a story.” Her voice sounded tense.

  “Okay, then, what would you like to work at? What are you shooting for, jobwise?”

  “My line of work was being a housewife, but obviously I need to find something else.”

  Hmm. From the little she’d told him, he’d guess she’d been abused. And the last thing he and Lacey needed around here was an angry husband looking for his wife and child. She didn’t show any bruises, but maybe they were hidden. “What are you good at?”

  “Organizing things. Raising kids. Planning parties.” She shrugged. “The type of thing housewives do.”

  He’d have said that housewives washed dishes and cooked meals. He had a feeling about what kind of housewife she’d been—not an ordinary one. With that breakfast she’d cooked, he could imagine her catering to some wealthy husband, giving brunches for country-club ladies.

  So it was very interesting that she’d run away.

  * * *

  Gina was bone tired after her short, broken sleep and a morning of physical work, and stressed out about the eleven messages she’d found on her phone, her in-laws demanding that she return Bobby to them immediately. Of course she’d disabled the GPS on her smartphone, but she was still worried her in-laws could somehow find her.

  But Buck had offered to drive her around and, tired or not, she needed to seize the opportunity. Once she had her vehicle nearby with some gas in it, she’d feel better. She’d have an escape route and she wouldn’t be quite so dependent on the kindness of strangers.

  When she went out to Buck’s truck, he was leaning in through the rear door, adjusting something.

  “Wow, where’d you get a car seat? That’s wonderful!”

  He cleared his throat. “It was sitting around here.” He reached out and took Bobby from her arms without meeting her eyes, then settled him into the infant seat and expertly adjusted the straps.

  Mr. Tough Guy continued to surprise her.

  They stopped first at the grocery store, a small, homey market a quarter the size of the superstore she’d shopped at back home. The aroma of rotisserie chicken filled the air, and bushels of produce, labeled as locally grown, stood in rows just inside the front door. Gina held Bobby in his sling, facing out so he could see the people passing by, which he loved. Buck waved to a cashier and pounded a bagger on the back as they walked toward the baby aisle.

  When they got there, she picked out six jars of the cheapest baby food available. She looked over at the diapers and bit her lip, hoping the single one remaining in the diaper bag would last until she got to the box in the SUV.

  Buck held a plastic basket for their purchases and studied the shelves. “Look at this stuff. Turkey with pears. What self-respecting baby would eat that?”

  “I know. We used to see the weirdest baby food at World Gourmet. Avocado risotto, vanilla bean with spinach...” But that was a lifetime ago, when she’d been able to shop at the most expensive healthy foods emporium in her California town.

  “Buck Armstrong, is that you?” came a woman’s husky voice.

  They both turned. There in the food aisle of the Star Market was the most beautiful woman Gina had ever seen. Tall, super skinny, with high cheekbones and long shiny stick-straight black hair.

  A little intimidated by the woman’s breathtaking looks, Gina could only offer a smile.

  “Amy Franklin?” Buck reached out and hugged the woman, then held her shoulders to look at her, a genuine smile on his face. “It’s been a lot of years. Welcome home!”

  “It’s nice to be back. Kind of.” The woman wrinkled her nose. “And this must be your wife and baby! I heard you’d married. He’s adorable!” She reached out to tickle Bobby’s chin.

  “No, I’m not—”

  “No, this isn’t—”

  They both broke off. Bobby reached out to grab for the woman’s gold necklace.

  “No, sweetie.” Gina loosened his fingers from the shiny chain and took a step back. “I’m just a friend he’s helping,” she said to the woman.

  “Oh! My bad.” The woman looked apologetic. “I have a little one, too,” she said, turning her attention to Gina. “I’m raising my nephew, Tyler, and he’s about this one’s age. Maybe we could get together for a playdate sometime.”

  “That would be great. I’m...” She paused, wondering how to describe her uncertain status. “I’m just in from California and I don’t know anyone. Well, except Buck and his sister.”

  “I’m originally from California, too! We should definitely get together!”

  Gina felt a surge of warmth. The idea of making mom friends on her own, rather than having acquaintances who were part of her wealthy in-laws’ power network, was just what she hadn’t known she was hungry for. “That would be great! Where’s your nephew now?”

  “Oh, I’m trying out a babysitter, so I came to the grocery to give her an hour alone with him. And it’s killing me! I should go back, but give me your phone number and I’ll be in touch.”

  They punched numbers into each other’s cell phones, and then the woman gave Buck a quick wave and left.

  “Wow, is this town always that friendly?” she asked Buck.

 
He nodded and tried to smile, but his eyes were hooded and lines bracketed his mouth.

  “Buck?” She touched his shoulder.

  He shook his head very quickly a couple of times. “We done here?”

  “Um, sure. I think so.”

  “Let’s go.” He turned and walked toward the checkout, rapid but stiff.

  She hurried after him. “What just happened?”

  “Nothing. I think I’ll go ahead on out, wait in the truck.”

  “But why?”

  He stopped so quickly that she ran into him. “You look a lot like my wife. My dead wife. People who don’t know me well and don’t know what happened are going to think you’re her.”

  “Ooh.” Realization dawned. “And your baby? What happened to your baby?”

  “Dead in the same car accident.” His words were clipped, toneless. “Let’s go.”

  It was what he didn’t say that haunted her through the checkout and the ride to their next stop, the church. She longed to ask him more about it but didn’t dare push the issue.

  Obviously, his pain was raw. And having her around was like salt in the wound.

  Too bad, because she was really starting to like Rescue River.

  Chapter Three

  When they arrived at the church on the edge of town, Gina was captivated. Its white steeple shone bright against the blue sky, and the building was surrounded by a grassy lawn. A creek rambled alongside the church, and several long picnic tables stood under a shelter. It was easy to picture small-town church picnics on that lawn.

  Gina hoisted Bobby to her hip and followed Buck toward the church. As they walked up the steps, the door opened and several men came out dressed in work clothes, followed by another in a police uniform. Everyone greeted Buck, and the police officer tickled Bobby under his chin, making him giggle. That close, Gina could see the name tag that indicated he was the chief. Her stomach tightened. For the first time in her life, she felt like law enforcement officers were her enemies, not her friends.

  Buck introduced her and briefly explained her story, even though Gina was willing him to be quiet with all her silent might.

  “Car broke down, eh?” Chief Dion said. “SUV? White?”

  “That’s the one,” she said faintly.

  “Saw it this morning. Ran the plates.”

  Gina’s heart thudded like a doom-filled drumbeat. Had her in-laws reported her car missing?

  “Our computers aren’t communicating too well with those in California, so I couldn’t get any information,” he said. “Glad to know it’s got an owner. Need any help getting back on the road?”

  “It’s just out of—”

  “We might,” Buck interjected. “We’re headed out there in just a few minutes.”

  “Call me if there’s any problem,” Chief Dion offered. “In fact, I might be able to meet you out there or have one of our officers meet you. Make sure everything’s okay.”

  “Sounds good.”

  As soon as Dion was gone, she turned to Buck. “Why’d you tell him we might need help? It’s just out of gas. And I’d...rather not have police involvement.”

  “Oh? Why’s that?”

  “It’s complicated.” He’d been very helpful, and yet she couldn’t fully trust him. She’d yet to meet the person who couldn’t be swayed by her in-laws’ money and power. The police detective she’d consulted privately about their unnecessary roughness had brushed aside her concerns and seemed more interested in how to get the wealthy couple to donate even more money to the local police department.

  No, it was her and Bobby against the world. She headed on into the church, welcoming the dark, cool air.

  “Come on—pastor’s this way.” As he took the lead, his shoulder brushed against her in the narrow hallway. An awareness clicked into her, something she hadn’t felt since well before her husband had died. Whoa. What was that?

  As they approached a doorway marked Pastor’s Study, a middle-aged man stood up from behind the desk and came out to greet them, shaking Buck’s hand heartily and then turning to her. “What a pleasure! Buck, we don’t see you here often enough these days. You just missed the men’s prayer group, fixing up one of the elementary classrooms. What brings you here?”

  “This is Gina,” Buck said. “She’s looking for some help. Gina, meet Pastor Ricky.”

  Heat flushed Gina’s face. She hated being in this position: helpless, homeless, asking for what amounted to a handout. It’s for Bobby, she reminded herself.

  The pastor invited them in, and Gina sat down, cuddled Bobby to her chest and explained their situation to a minimal degree. Homeless, purse stolen, looking for work and a place to stay.

  The pastor nodded sympathetically. “The church isn’t really set up for that,” he said. “When we need places for people to stay, we usually ask families to put them up. In fact, Lacey, Buck’s sister, has helped us out a few times.”

  “It would work better if she stayed somewhere else,” Buck said.

  Ouch! Gina had been an interloper back at her in-laws’ place, where she’d been tolerated because she had given birth to the heir to the empire. But that feeling of always being on the outside, a burden, was a part of what she’d been fleeing.

  The last thing she wanted was to feel that way at Lacey’s place, but Buck was making it obvious that he didn’t want her there.

  “Let’s see. There’s Lou Ann Miller, but I think she’s away visiting her sister. Maybe Susan Hayashi? Except her mom and brother are here visiting, and they’re doing some renovations on Sam’s house. Getting ready for the wedding, you know. Such a nice couple.” He looked at Buck’s impatient expression and waved a hand. “But you don’t need to hear about all that. You’re sure Lacey’s place isn’t an option?”

  “Like I said, somewhere else would be better.”

  “Sure enough. I’ll ask around. And I’ll check the balance in the emergency fund.” The pastor studied Buck with a level expression, obviously wondering what was going on. “I’d take you in myself, except we have a houseful of teenagers for the Artists for Christ Concert over in Mansfield. Not very quiet for your baby.”

  As if on cue, Bobby wiggled hard, trying to get down to the floor, and she gave the place a quick check for hazards and then set him down. “Do you know of any jobs?” she blurted out before she knew what she was saying. And wondered when Rescue River had become a viable place to live. “I don’t want charity—I want to work, and I’m willing to do anything. I’m good at decorating, cooking and event planning, and I’m really organized. And I have most of a college degree.” Her voice cracked a little on the last word. She’d been thinking about her job skills ever since she left her in-laws’ place, and figuring out how to package her housewife background into something more impressive. Still, it was hard to brag about herself.

  “Hmm. Again, we’re a very small town, so I don’t know of much. But what about Lacey? She’s doing all that renovation. Surely she could use some help...”

  “That’s not going to work.” Buck’s words were flat, firm and final.

  And that irked Gina. She scooped Bobby back up into her arms. “I’m sorry I remind you of your ex. I’ll get out of your hair as soon as I can. But I have to do my best for my son. Why are you so against my working for Lacey, if I can talk her into it?”

  He lifted an eyebrow, clearly trying to play it cool. “Because you’re on the run and we know nothing about you.” He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. “And...look, Lacey’s not as strong as she acts. Let’s leave it at that.”

  What could she say? She nodded, feeling like there was more to the story.

  The pastor put a hand on each of their arms. “Let’s take it to the Lord,” he suggested, and Gina felt ashamed she hadn’t done more praying about her situation. She’d been too tir
ed and too worried, but that was exactly when she needed to turn it over to God. Buck and Gina bowed their heads, and the pastor uttered a short prayer for Gina to find shelter and work and for everyone to get along. Something like that. Though she felt too upset and flustered to focus on the words, the pastor’s heartfelt prayer offered a tiny sense of peace.

  At the gas station, Buck pulled out a couple of five-gallon gas cans. “We’ll fill both of these,” he said to the attendant who came out to help, even though they were at a self-serve pump.

  Gina touched Buck’s arm, embarrassed. “Um, could we just fill one? About halfway? That should do me until...” She trailed off, her face heating. Never in her life had she been completely broke, not able to afford more than a couple of gallons of gas at a time.

  He waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll fill both.”

  “No, I’d rather just do what I can afford.”

  “I said don’t worry about it.”

  “Trying to get me as far away as you can, are you?” She was half joking, and then she saw on his face that she’d guessed exactly right. “Fine, fill both.” She slammed back into Buck’s truck, feeling unaccountably hurt.

  There was no particular reason why Buck should like her or want her to stay. Just because he’d rescued her last night, he didn’t have responsibility for her future or Bobby’s. That was solely on her shoulders.

  The thing was, as she rode around Rescue River, even now as she watched the gas-station attendant clap Buck on the shoulder and help him lift the heavy gas cans into the back of his pickup, she liked this place. She could picture herself and Bobby playing in the park and attending the church and getting together with other friendly people. She could imagine herself a part of this community.

  On the other hand, the idea of the man beside her resisting every moment of her presence was disconcerting. She hated not being wanted. She’d grown up feeling that way, and she’d married into a family where she felt like an outsider. Was she continuing her same sick pattern?