by Jenna Mindel
Working in a relatively safe place like Northern Michigan hadn’t mattered in the end. They all had breathed easier after moving here, thinking the threat had been removed and her father was safe. But her dad hadn’t been killed on the streets of suburban Detroit. He’d been shot on a lonely stretch of back road in Leelanau County and left for dead.
Eva squeezed her arm. “Well, your Mr. Grey just walked in the door and he’s headed our way. Maybe he doesn’t know he’s on your do-not-touch list.”
Nick’s hair looked damp from a shower and he wore a long-sleeved navy shirt and jeans. Tall and lean, Nick wore jeans well. Even better than his sheriff’s uniform.
“He knows.” Beth took a deep breath.
Nick wanted to bring God onto the front burner of his life.
Even more reason to like the guy.
“Uh-huh.” Eva gave her a doubtful look.
“Look, Nick doesn’t want to get involved, either.” With Corey’s issues, moving to a new town with a new job, Nick had more things to concentrate on than her.
“And he told you that when? After you told him about your vow not to date policemen?”
Beth rubbed her forehead. Since when had Eva gotten so smart? “I don’t know. Maybe.”
And then Nick stood before them with Corey closing in right behind him. “Miss Ryken.”
Beth smiled. “Mr. Grey.” They still didn’t call each other by first names. “Hi, Corey.”
Eva’s eyes held amusement before she extended her hand. “Nick, was it?”
He accepted it. “Yes. And you’re Eva Marsh.”
“Soon to be Eva Peecetorini. In fact, it...”
Beth gave her friend a pointed look. Would Eva get the hint not to invite Nick? They didn’t need any matchmaking. If Beth wanted him to go, she’d ask him herself. She didn’t need any help. Didn’t want it, either.
“...is just a matter of waiting now.” Eva smiled.
And Beth let out the breath she’d been holding.
“Congratulations.” Nick nodded.
Eva barely contained the happiness that perked and gurgled within her, ready to bubble over on them. “Thanks. Nice to see you both again. Bye, Corey.”
“Bye.”
Beth watched Eva sidle up to her fiancé. The two were rarely far from each other for very long. The music started and folks scattered into their seats.
“After you.” Nick gestured for her to lead the way.
They were going to sit together. And why shouldn’t they? They were friends, right? Despite Eva’s observation that Nick’s gaze had lingered on her at the pizza shop, they were friends. They were adults, too. They could handle attraction for each other and not act on it.
Beth slipped into a pew next to her mom.
“Morning.” Nick strategically placed Corey between them.
“Good morning, Nick. If you’re not busy after church, why don’t you and Corey come over for dinner?”
Beth felt the smile on her face freeze. Her mother hadn’t said a thing about inviting the Greys for Sunday dinner. She’d been looking forward to an afternoon nap.
Nick glanced at her. “Thank you, but I don’t think so....”
Corey turned toward his dad. “Can we, please?”
“I have more than enough, and homemade cookies are on tap for dessert. I made the dough this morning.” Her mom knew how to twist the knife.
Nick hesitated.
Because of her. And that would never do, not when Corey wanted to come over. She faced Nick. “You can’t turn down homemade cookies.”
He gave her that crooked half smile. “What kind?”
“Peanut butter.”
“My favorite.”
Hers, too. Beth smiled.
He smiled back.
Were they kidding themselves to think they could maintain mere friendship? Nick needed to make summer arrangements for Corey soon. Then they’d hardly see each other. Save for maybe Sunday mornings.
Nick leaned forward. “I guess that settles it. We’ll be there.”
Beth ignored the flutter of excitement that zipped through her. This was going to be a long six weeks until summer break.
Throughout the worship service, Beth heard Nick’s deep voice singing the songs as if he knew them. Proof that he’d been a churchgoer, as he’d said. Not that she had any reason to doubt him, but hearing him sing reassured her all the same.
When the kids were dismissed for children’s church, Corey hesitated.
Beth leaned toward the boy. “You don’t have to go, but you’ll have more fun there than here. Do you want me to walk you down and then you can decide?”
The boy nodded and took her hand.
Beth glanced at Nick. “I’m going to go with him to check it out.”
He gave his boy a reassuring nod. “It’s okay, bud. See what you think.” And then he looked at her and mouthed the words thank you.
Maybe she’d overstepped her place, but Beth got the feeling that Nick didn’t expect Corey to go. And then Corey would miss out. She knew the children’s program director and her aides. They’d take good care of the boy and maybe he’d make more friends.
As they descended the steps, Beth asked, “Did you go to church with your grandparents?”
“Sometimes.”
“Did they have stuff for kids to do during service?”
Corey shook his head. This was clearly all new to him.
They entered the noisy lower level and Beth introduced Corey to the teenage co-teacher. “He’s new to the area.”
“Great.” The girl gave Corey a wink. “We’re going to have a snack first before we get started. Do you like animal cookies and juice?”
Corey nodded.
The girl offered her hand. “Follow me and I’ll find a place for you.”
Corey looked at Beth.
“I’ll hang out for a little bit if you’d like to stay.”
That satisfied. Corey went with the teenager and squished in between a couple other kids at the table.
After snack time and cleanup, it didn’t take long for Corey to join in their form of singing. Beth watched for a few moments while the kids moved and wiggled to match the words of the song amid giggles and laughter.
Corey wiggled, too, and when he glanced her way, Beth gave him a wave and left for upstairs.
The minister was already into his message when she slipped in next to Nick.
He leaned close, sending a shiver through her. “He’s okay?”
“Yeah, he’s doing great.”
Beth tried to focus on the sermon. Pretty hard to do with Nick next to her. Everything about him seemed magnified in the space of the pew. Her gaze strayed to his strong hands resting on long jean-clad thighs.
“God answers prayer,” she heard the minister say. “He doesn’t always give us what we want, but He’ll give us exactly what we need.”
Beth closed her eyes as those words hit her hard and took root. God knew what she wanted—a safe man to love and make a family with. But what if she needed something else?
* * *
“Try this one again.” Nick had the sports page of the weekend paper open on the coffee table in the living room. He and Corey had been banished from helping in the kitchen.
Silence.
Nick glanced at Beth setting the table in the dining room. She wore a blue dress with white polka dots that skimmed the middle of her calves. Tall and trim yet with full curves, Beth looked ultrafeminine and sort of old-fashioned, as if she’d stepped right out of the Dust Bowl era. She’d kicked off her sandals when they walked in the door and puttered around in her bare feet.
He liked watching her move.
His chest tightened as it hit him that this felt like home. L
istening to Beth and her mom fixing a meal together lulled him into a relaxed, sleepy sort of place. Tempted to stretch out on the couch and close his eyes, he wondered how the Rykens would react if he did just that.
Only then he’d miss watching Beth.
He looked at his son. Corey’s eyes were glued to the TV screen. There was work to be done, so he tapped the newspaper. “Come on, bud. It’s about the Tigers, your favorite team.”
Corey shrugged. “I don’t want to read it.”
Nick grabbed the remote and clicked off the television. This was their ritual. Nick brought out the books, and every night Corey said he didn’t feel like reading. Nick insisted. Corey slumped and tried and stumbled and grew more discouraged until Nick couldn’t stand it. So he’d take over and read the rest.
That probably wasn’t what Beth had in mind when she’d given him books for his son to read. He thought about what Beth had told him yesterday. Corey was stressed. Somehow he had to put his boy’s fears to rest without breaking Beth’s confidence.
“Corey, look at me.”
His son obeyed.
“We’ve got all summer to work on this, but the more progress we make now, the easier it will be. You want to be ready for third grade, right?”
Corey looked at him closely as if reading between lines, only he struggled there, too.
“Look, bud, would you rather repeat second grade?”
His son’s eyes grew round with fear.
Nick hated scaring the boy but he needed to level with him.
“No....”
Nick nodded. “I don’t want you to either, but we’ve got to work hard and show Miss Ryken you’re ready to move on. Don’t you think we should try?”
Corey nodded.
Nick had him. “I heard the third-grade teacher here is pretty tough.”
“How do you know?” Corey responded with a look of pure skepticism.
Nick had lost him and thought quick. “Thomas’s mom might have said something about it.”
Corey narrowed his eyes even more and then glanced at Beth.
Nick closed the deal before his boy saw through the fib. “This is about getting you ready to learn big stuff next year. You’re a smart kid and this is a hiccup we’ve got to cure.”
“Okay.” Corey sighed and pulled the paper close. “Will the Ti-eye...geerrrrs maaake the paaay-uh.”
Nick cringed. “That’s it. Take your time and sound it out. What do the Tigers do?”
“Play baseball. Play-offs?” Corey looked at him.
“Yeah. What do you think? Will they go this year?”
Corey grinned. “They better.”
Nick ruffled his son’s hair. “If they know what’s good for them. Okay, let’s get back to the article.”
He spotted Beth standing in the dining room with a dish towel in her hands watching them. Their gazes locked and he saw the approval shining in her blue eyes. He got the feeling that he’d turned a corner with his son. Maybe with Beth, too.
“Dinner’s ready,” she said softly.
“Let’s wash up, bud.” Nick stood.
“Can we take the paper home with us?” Corey asked.
Nick could have given his son a bear hug but decided against it. Small steps required small reactions to keep them going. “Absolutely. After we make sure it’s okay with Mrs. Ryken.”
“We’ve read it. You can take the paper.” Beth nodded. “Now hurry up. Mom and I are setting out the food.”
Dinner smelled amazing and he wasted no time bustling Corey into the half bathroom to wash up.
Once they were seated around the table, Mary grabbed his hand. “Will you say the blessing?”
“Sure.” Nick took Corey’s hand and bowed his head. Beth sat across from him holding his son’s other hand and her mom’s. They made a tight circle around the table. “Thank You, Lord, for bringing us together. Please bless this food, and bless us as we place our trust in You. Amen.”
Mary squeezed before letting go. “That was lovely.”
Nick nodded. The words had sort of spilled out of him. He was grateful Beth was Corey’s teacher and her mom lived right across the street from the school.
Even more grateful that they attended church and made good role models for his son. This move north was looking more and more like the right thing. And Corey might yet grow easier around him.
Nick didn’t feel so lost. Not with the help he received from these two women. As he sat in the Ryken dining room spooning a healthy glop of mashed potatoes onto his plate, this felt like family. He glanced at Beth. She cut Corey’s roast beef into smaller bites.
She’d make a great mom.
To Corey.
He banished the thought before it took root.
Nick needed a level of certainty in who Beth was before he could even think about pursuing her. This time, he’d know the woman inside and out before he’d allow one kiss between them. Then there was the mammoth obstacle of Beth’s objection to his choice of career to consider. He couldn’t promise her he’d always be safe. What had happened to Beth’s father could happen to him.
But if God had truly brought them together as he’d prayed, then dating would fall into place at the right time. Or not at all.
Nick trusted his calling for law enforcement and he’d trust God to take care of preparing Beth’s heart. If they were meant to be together, they would be.
* * *
Monday afternoon, Beth walked home from school with a new packet of reading material centered on sailing for Corey. The boy had worked well with Thomas on an essay assignment about tall ships. Corey had even completed a couple of answers.
The child had listened with rapt attention when Beth read a story about sailing ships and trade on Lake Michigan during the eighteen hundreds. She wondered if Julie’s invite to sail the Manitou Islands wasn’t something that might work as further incentive for Corey. A reward to work toward that was tangible, instead of the fear of failing. She’d have to talk to Nick about it.
“I’m home.” Beth kicked off her shoes, but silence greeted her.
“Mom? Corey?” She walked into the kitchen. The house was too quiet.
Then she peered out the windows into the backyard. Both her mom and Corey were on the grass playing with a small black-and-white terrier. A small dog with a very round belly.
Beth stepped outside onto the deck. “What’s this?”
Her mom grinned. “Isn’t she precious?”
Had her mom brought home a pregnant dog?
The little girl came right up to her, tail wagging. Beth crouched low and scratched behind the pooch’s ears. “Where did she come from?”
“She followed me home from school,” Corey said.
The dog responded to Corey’s voice and went straight for him, climbing onto the boy’s lap to lie down as if she’d finally found safe harbor. Just like the ships they’d read about today.
Beth couldn’t believe the look of adoration that little dog gave to Corey. She nuzzled under his hand, begging to be pet. “She’s adorable.”
And very, very pregnant. How many puppies did she carry and how much bigger could she possibly get before delivery? The dog wore no collar. Surely she belonged to someone. Or had someone dropped her off by the school because they didn’t want to deal with puppies?
Beth clenched her teeth. How could anyone do something so horrible?
“She looks like a misshaped peanut,” her mom said.
Beth laughed when the dog’s ears perked up.
“Do you think Peanut is her name?” Corey said.
Again the dog looked up at Corey and then cuddled her head against him.
“It suits her, that’s for sure.” Beth had never seen a dog so enamored with a child before. As if Peanut had c
hosen Corey as her own and expected him to protect her. Provide for her.
What was Nick going to say?
“We gave her some milk-soaked bread that she lapped up pretty quick.” Her mom brushed off her jeans and stood. “I think she might have been wandering awhile, but she’s pretty clean. No fleas that I can see.”
Maybe she’d been well cared for and gotten lost. Which meant her owners might be worried sick.
Beth took a deep breath. “Corey, we should find out if her owners are looking for her.”
The boy’s eyes clouded over. “How? Why would they lose her if they wanted to keep her?”
Good question. “I don’t know, but anything can happen with a dog.”
Corey cuddled her closer.
And Beth prayed there was no one looking for little Peanut.
By the time they heard Nick pull into the driveway, they’d eaten dinner and Beth had returned from a quick trip to the store for a bag of dry dog food. Tutoring Corey on his reading had gone out the proverbial window. They’d played and fawned over Peanut the entire evening. Beth would gather books about dogs—a new subject of interest for Corey.
After a quick knock on the door, Nick stuck in his head. “Hello?”
“Come in, Nick. We’re in the living room,” her mother called out.
Beth met Nick in the dining room. “We’ve got a surprise for you.”
He cocked his eyebrow.
“Dad! Dad!” Corey had jumped to his feet. “This is Peanut. Can we keep her?”
Beth watched Nick’s controlled expression. “She followed Corey home.”
“Is that dog fat or is there something else going on?” Nick didn’t look amused.
Corey grabbed his father’s hand and pulled. “She’s going to have puppies. Come here and feel. They’re moving around inside.”
Nick glanced at her with wide eyes while following his son into the living room. He sat on the couch where Peanut lay like a miniature beached whale.
Sure enough, something inside that rounded belly moved.
“See? Did you see that?” Corey jumped up and down.
“I saw it.” Nick laid his hand on the dog’s stomach and his expression grew more grim. He scratched under the dog’s chin before standing back up.
