by Debby Mayne
For the Love of Pete, Digital Edition
Based on Print Edition
Copyright © 2014 by Debby Mayne
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
978-1-4336-7730-4
Published B&H Publishing Group
Nashville, Tennessee
Dewey Decimal Classification: F
Subject Heading: LOVE STORIES CHRISTIAN LIFE—FICTION FEMALE FRIENDSHIP—FICTION
Publisher’s Note: The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to Gail Sattler, Kathi Macias, Martha Rogers, Trish Perry, Miralee Ferrell, Jenness Walker, and Tracy Bowen. Y’all are the best!
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Tamela Hancock Murray, Julie Gwinn, and Barbara Scott for believing in this project, great editing, and making it happen.
I don’t mind getting older. I just mind
that I have aging children.
Chapter 1
Bethany Hanahan watched Pete Sprockett pop off the old kitchen faucet and install a new one with little effort. He held up the worn parts. “I’ll dispose of these for you.”
“Thanks.” Warmth flooded her as his smile traveled from his lips to his eyes. That was one of the things she’d always found attractive—the way his entire face showed emotion.
“Anything else . . . any other plumbing work you need while I’m here?”
Bethany inhaled deeply. Pete had awakened some of the feelings she’d buried after her husband’s death, and she would love to have him stick around longer. But she knew he had work to do, so she shook her head.
“Then I’d better get going.” He gestured toward the front of the house. “Walk me to the door?”
“Sure.”
Standing there facing him sent a multitude of feelings surging through her. The warmth of his smile set off shivers as she remembered the crush she’d once had on him—since long before she’d started dating her husband Charlie. Pete’s kindness tweaked her heart, and his love for the Lord reminded her that all of his actions were well-intentioned.
“Then c’mon.” He started for the front door, and she followed.
As they approached the foyer, Pete hooked his thumbs through his belt loops and glanced around her house, his gaze settling on a collection of knickknacks on the side table. She had always found Pete handsome with his close-cropped brown hair and slim physique that barely offered a hint of the strength that didn’t appear to have changed much in the thirty years since they’d graduated from high school.
Pete’s expression was unreadable, but Bethany could guess what was on his mind—the same thing that seemed to be on everyone else’s. Clutter blanketed her entire house.
She gestured toward the door, but as she took a step back, she tripped over the needlepoint-topped stool her mother-in-law Belva had made. She forgot she’d brought it down from the attic and placed it by the door. Pete caught her by the arm, but he quickly pulled his hand back once she steadied herself.
Bethany’s face flamed, as she looked him in the eye. “I appreciate your stopping by and fixing the faucet, Pete. I know I’ve got a bunch of stuff lying around. Most of it was Charlie’s mother’s.” She stopped herself, realizing she’d fallen into her old habit of explaining too much.
“It’s not your stuff I’m worried about.” His gaze held hers for a moment before he glanced away, shaking his head.
“I’m fine.” Bethany forced a smile. “Really.”
“You and Charlie’s mom must have gotten along great.”
“Yes, we did, but why do you say that?”
He nodded toward the living room. “She loved knickknacks, and it looks like you added to her collections.”
Annoyance replaced the warmth she had felt only moments earlier. “And your point is . . . ?”
He visibly swallowed hard and gave her an apologetic look. “So how’s Ashley doing in college? Heard from her lately?”
“She called last weekend, and from what she tells me, I gather she’s doing quite well.” She didn’t want to be impolite, but she couldn’t help the crispness of her tone.
“That’s good. Charlie was so proud of her. Every time I saw him, she was all he talked about.”
“I know. They were very close.”
Pete chuckled. “I remember her being a mighty spirited young woman. I just hope she doesn’t get into a mess like some of those college girls do.”
“Why did you say that?” She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to worry me?”
“Of course not. Just being realistic.”
“Maybe that’s your problem.” It was time for Pete to leave.
Pete cleared his throat as he walked out onto the porch and turned around to face Bethany. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“You know I will.” She stood at the door and watched Pete back his truck out onto the cul-de-sac and take off. Once he was out of sight, she closed the door and let out a deep sigh.
Ever since she moved back to Bloomfield after her husband Charlie passed away two and a half years ago, people had been after her to get rid of the clutter—first her mother Naomi and then a few other garden club members who meant well. But until recently, she didn’t see it as clutter. To Bethany, it was all about the memories. Charlie had been a wonderful husband and father before he found out he had advanced stage prostate cancer. After he passed away, her mother had tried to talk her into returning to Bloomfield, but she decided to wait until Ashley finished high school before moving into the modest house Charlie’s parents had left them.
Charlie and Pete both worked for their families’ businesses part-time during high school, with the understanding they’d eventually go full-time until their parents retired. Bethany and Charlie hung around for a couple of years, but he grew tired of Bloomfield and the small-town quirkiness. Leaving her family and friends, she moved away with him as soon as he could find a job. She compensated for her homesickness by finding joy in Charlie’s happiness.
Bethany once thought they might eventually move back to Bloomfield, but after Ashley was born, that changed. Bethany and Charlie didn’t want to pull their daughter away from the church-based social life that kept her busy with so many activities.
Pete had wanted to kick himself a dozen times over during the past few months, but today he wanted to do it with both feet. He had the perfect opportunity to kiss Bethany when she tripped over that silly-looking stool in her foyer, but his old pride and fear of rejection kept him from it. Besides, even if she didn’t reject him, that would have been awkward. Bethany had always been the model he’d held up for any girl he dated, and no one ever matched her softness and sweet disposition, making him want to protect her.
Through the years, he even dreamed about her, but when he awoke, his disappointment almost overwhelmed him. So he poured himself into helping his dad with the family plumbing company that seemed to be slipping through his father’s un-businesslike fingers.
During Pete’s childhood, his parents did the best they could. His mother stayed home with the kids, occasionally taking odd jobs during the holidays to buy gifts. Fortunately, she gave the family a sense of stability, and he never realized back then how difficult it had been for them to make ends meet. His father was always working, which Pete thought might change when he graduated and was able to help out more.
But once Pete took the helm of the family plumbing company, he realized his dad was in over his head with the business and h
ated facing the family since he felt like such a failure. His dad continued running the business until he got prostate cancer. Pete urged him to take time off, promising to keep the business running until he won the battle with cancer. Then less than a month after he was given the word he was cancer free, Pete’s sister gave birth to twins, which kept both of the elder Sprocketts busy helping out with the new grandbabies.
Pete’s mom urged him to go out more and find a nice girl. He had watched most of his pals get married, and then he saw how their relationships changed—not only between him and the guys but also between the couples. He cringed as he remembered how girls who’d been all sweet and warm became nagging wives after they had a ring on their fingers.
Bethany was one woman he doubted would ever change. Charlie was the only guy Pete knew who had been just as happy after the wedding as before . . . maybe even happier. Pete was glad Bethany had come back to Bloomfield.
Bethany had leaned on him during Charlie’s funeral. Her mother Naomi tried her best to be the strength Bethany needed, but the harder Naomi tried, the more Bethany withdrew. He wished Naomi hadn’t been so overbearing—the very thing that had driven away her adult children. Now that Bethany was back, Pete vowed to run interference if he saw even a hint of Naomi trying to change Bethany.
His cell phone rang just as he parked the truck, so he pulled it out of his back pocket and looked at the caller ID. Naomi McCord. That woman had some sort of extra sense when it came to timing. It seemed like every time she called, he was thinking about her daughter, but then he’d been thinking about Bethany quite a bit lately.
He pushed the talk button. “Hey, Naomi, what do you need?”
“I need you to talk some sense into my daughter. You know I kept trying to get her and Charlie to move back to Bloomfield, God rest his soul. And now that she’s here, she’s acting like a hermit in that old house.” She blew out a breath. “Have you seen what a wreck that place is?” Before he had a chance to reply, she continued. “I know you have ’cause Bethany said you just left there. Can you believe what a mess her house is?” She clicked her tongue. “Clutter everywhere—on the furniture, on the floor . . . everywhere.”
“What is it you want me to tell her? She likes her stuff.”
“She just thinks she does, but I think she hangs onto it thinking she’s somehow showing loyalty to Charlie . . . or because she feels safe hiding behind it.”
“There’s really nothing I can say—”
“I don’t know about that. Her stuff is nothing but junk, and we need to help her get rid of it.”
“Bethany has a mind of her own.” He sure wished Naomi wouldn’t put him in this position.
Naomi chuckled. “Don’t I know it. Well, at any rate, maybe you can talk her into getting out more and doing something outside the house.”
He wished he hadn’t answered the phone. “At least she goes to church.”
“Besides church. It took years to get my daughter to move back to Bloomfield, and now that she’s here, I’m more worried than ever.” Naomi paused for a few seconds. “At least she hasn’t started collecting cats.”
“Leave it to you to find the bright spot.”
“Just call me Suzy Sunshine.” The sound of someone talking seemed to pull Naomi away for a moment. “I gotta run. Zumba for Seniors is about to start, and I don’t want to be late on account of I’ll miss the first part where they teach all the steps. Last time I missed, it took me forever to get the moves right.”
“Okay, Naomi.”
“Will you at least try to talk to my daughter and get her out of the house more?”
“I’ll do what I can.”
After he pressed the end button, he shoved the phone into his pocket and got out of the truck. His family business had not only survived his dad’s retirement, it had thrived under Pete’s direction. As much as he hated to admit anything negative about his own father, the company needed to upgrade the quality of materials and do a better job of training the employees.
Once he came on full-time, he managed to convince his father to at least give it a try. Customers appreciated the higher grade of products and services because they didn’t have to call as often. With the smaller workload, the employees enjoyed more time with their families, and that made working for Sprockett Family Plumbing much more pleasant.
He had one more service call to make before calling it a day. Fortunately, this was a simple toy-in-the-toilet issue that he was able to fix in less than ten minutes.
“How much do I owe you?” the harried woman said as her granddaughter pitched a temper tantrum behind her.
Pete lifted his hands and smiled. “This one’s on me. Go give your grandbaby the attention she wants. I can let myself out.”
“Thank you so mu—” A crashing sound abruptly ended their conversation.
As Pete headed out the door, he chuckled to himself. He’d always enjoyed children, but he wondered how he would have handled his own in a situation like this.
He got back to the office, where his dad stood at the counter chatting with the receptionist.
“Hey, Dad.”
“What are you still doing out in the field? You’re the CEO now.” His dad tilted his head forward and gave him a long look from beneath his thick eyebrows. “You do realize that position comes with certain privileges.”
“It also has some responsibilities.” The instant those words tumbled from Pete’s mouth, he regretted them. “Besides, I like being out in the field. It keeps me humble.”
“That’s part of your problem, Pete. If you ask me, you’re a little too nice. I bet you didn’t even charge the folks you helped.”
Pete didn’t bother responding. “So what brought you to the office today? Getting bored with retirement? Want a job?”
His dad chuckled. “I do need a break from retirement, but working at the plumbing company is the last thing I want to do—unless you need me.”
“We can always use another plumber.”
“No thanks.” His dad grimaced.
“Just thought I’d ask. So what’s wrong with retirement?”
“Your mother has me hopping all over the place. First, she wanted me to trim the rose bushes before the garden club makes the rounds for Yard of the Month. As if that wasn’t enough, when I got done, I didn’t even have time to wash my hands before she shoved some fertilizer in them for the flower beds.”
That was probably more manual labor than his dad had done when he worked at the company full time, but Pete would never have come out and said that. He loved both of his parents, but his dad’s flaw had been obvious from the moment Pete stepped into the office and taken over. Grandpa had assumed all he had to do was hand the business over to Dad, and everything would come naturally.
“So what is Mom up to today?”
Dad shrugged. “She’s all worked up about getting more involved in the garden club again.” He chuckled. “I don’t know why she’d want to bother with that bunch of busybodies.”
Pete thought about Naomi and the president of the club, Pamela Jasper, and laughed. “They mean well, and you have to admit they get things done.”
“I know, I know. Those folks are the movers and shakers of Bloomfield, but they still like to stick their noses in everyone else’s business.”
“I’m sure not all of them are that way.” Pete hoped his dad didn’t ask for an example, because he couldn’t think of one off the top of his head.
Dad pulled away from the counter where he’d been leaning. “I best be gettin’ on home. Your mother just wanted me to stop by and ask you to join us for supper. She said to tell you we’re having pot roast.”
“Mom will stop at nothing, will she?”
“Especially when she has something up her sleeve.”
“Gertie Sprockett is having some friends over for supper, and she wondered if you’d like
to join us.” Naomi didn’t even stop to take a breath before she added, “This is real important to me. I want you to go.”
Bethany wished she hadn’t answered the phone, and she should have known better when she saw her mother’s name and number on the caller ID. “I don’t know. I have so much to do.”
“Like what?” The tone of impatience in Naomi’s voice never failed to back down Bethany, as well as most of the residents of Bloomfield. The only other person Bethany knew who would stand her ground to the bitter end was Pamela, the president of the Bloomfield Garden Club. When Pamela and Naomi disagreed on something, which was frequent, sparks flew, and everyone hunkered down for a long verbal battle that almost always ended with them agreeing and creating a formidable force no one else wanted to deal with. “Now don’t go giving me the silent treatment. It’s not going to work with me.”
“I’m not giving you the silent treatment. I’m just trying to—”
“Think of an excuse? It won’t work, so you might as well save your energy for later. I let Bernice borrow my car, so I need a ride anyway. Do you mind picking me up?”
Bethany sighed. No way would she be able to get out of this, so she might as well stop trying. “Of course, I don’t mind.” Besides, after all the things Naomi had done for Bethany after Charlie passed away, there was no way she could turn her mother down, even if it meant going somewhere she wasn’t in the mood to go.
“Good. Gertie said to be there at six thirty, so why don’t you swing by around six, and I can show you the new vegetable garden at the Village? It took a half dozen of us a whole week to get the ground ready, but I have to admit it was all worth it.”
After they hung up, Bethany rocked back on her heels. It was already past four, so she didn’t have much time to finish putting all the photos in the albums she’d picked up. Her daughter Ashley had pulled down all of the boxes of pictures from the attic last time she was in town during semester break. If Bethany had known how many there were, she might have left them up there. Now she had dozens of boxes stacked almost as high as she was tall in the kitchen, with the photo albums covering the table. At least she didn’t have to worry about clearing a place to eat now that she was going over to the Sprocketts’ place for supper.
