“He isn’t a bad kid,” Louise said. “He’s got a good heart, that boy.”
“I think so, too.” Rachel shot her aunt a smile.
“Isn’t his birthday this month? We should do something fun.”
“It was last month. We celebrated before we came.”
“Did you have a proper party?” Louise pressed.
“We were moving,” she said softly. “So, no. Not a proper one.”
“We should have a birthday party for him here,” Louise suggested. “A big family shindig. It might help him to feel more at home with us.”
Rachel paused, mulling the idea over in her mind, and then she nodded. “That’s actually a good idea.”
“I’m full of them,” Louise said with a grin. “And speaking of good ideas, what about our deputy fire chief?”
“What about him?” Rachel asked.
“You were at the fire station with him today...” Louise’s eyes sparkled. “What do you think of him?”
She looked away, not wanting to share the details of their walk. Her aunt already knew too much, and for some reason, Rachel wanted to keep that sweet walk in the rain as a personal memory.
“He seems like a decent man,” she said.
“And goodness knows a decent man is rare enough,” Louise said with a pragmatic nod. She sipped her iced tea, flicking a pointed look over the top of her glass in Rachel’s direction.
Rachel laughed. “I’m not looking for a boyfriend, Auntie.”
“Who said anything about looking?” Louise shrugged exaggeratedly. “But if one were to fall into your lap—”
“Auntie, stop.” Rachel laughed. “I’m serious. Even if a fabulous man dropped into my lap, I’m in no position to start dating. You know that.”
“Actually I didn’t know that.” Louise turned toward Rachel, eyebrows raised. “Ed has been gone for almost five years now. Why not meet someone new?”
“It’s only a little over four years,” she said, correcting her aunt. “And I can’t just start up with someone. I don’t think Chris could handle it right now.”
“A father figure might be good for him.”
“A father figure, perhaps, but not a stepfather. He has enough to adjust to right now, what with discovering he was adopted and now the move to Haggerston. I came here to try to help Chris, and I can’t get distracted right now.”
Louise nodded. “I do understand that. Chris comes first. You do what you have to do for your children. I wanted to go back to work when Nickie started school, but she hated school, and I didn’t want to add to her stress by adding a babysitter into the mix. You do what you have to do.”
“Exactly,” Rachel said. “Besides, I couldn’t be with a firefighter again.”
“I thought you were happy with Ed.”
“I was.”
“It isn’t his fault he died.”
“I know that.” She shot her aunt a wry smile. “I married Ed not knowing what it meant to be a firefighter’s wife. Well, now I know.”
Louise nodded slowly. “Ignorance is bliss, my dear.”
“No more firefighters.” Rachel lifted her glass in a toast. “I don’t think my heart could take it.”
A bumblebee droned lazily above the flowers lining the walk, and Rachel’s mind wandered back to her girlhood summers spent in this very house. Quiet evenings like this one had been the norm, and she and her grandmother would sit and talk. Their favorite conversations were about Rachel’s “grown-up life,” when they would try to imagine the beautiful life she had ahead of her.
“You’ll meet a wonderful man,” her grandmother would say. “He’ll get to know you the proper way, and he’ll fall in love with you.”
“Why will he fall in love with me?”
“Because of your kind heart, of course,” her grandmother would reply with a throaty laugh. “He’ll ask you out to dinner, and he’ll behave like a perfect gentleman. And after you’ve gotten to know each other, he’ll get down on one knee and ask you to marry him. Then you’ll call me up and tell me that you’re engaged, and we’ll all start planning your beautiful wedding day.”
Her grandmother had always made her life sound like a fairy tale, full of romance and old-fashioned gestures. As a grown woman, she could see what her grandmother had been doing. She’d been trying to show Rachel what was possible if she followed God’s plan.
Ed had been a loving and attentive husband. He was four inches shorter than she was, stocky and balding, and he’d treated her like the most beautiful woman in the world. Tears misted her eyes at the sweet memories, but those days were gone now, and here she was back in the rambling old house.
She was no longer a girl, and she had a child of her own now, but sitting on this stoop reminded her of her grandmother’s predictions for the future, and despite her complicated situation, she couldn’t help the hope that rose inside her.
Were her grandmother’s predictions possible the second time around?
“I miss Grandma,” Rachel said quietly.
“Me, too. She was the best mother-in-law a woman could ask for.” Aunt Louise put her glass down on the table between them. “Have you been to her grave since you’ve been back?”
Rachel shook her head. “I’ve been so busy. I used to love reading all the inscriptions on the stones when I was young.”
“I remember that.” Aunt Louise smiled. “I’m going to help set up for a wedding shower on Wednesday at the church. Why don’t you come along? You could show Chris the Emmett plots while I’m busy inside.”
“Sure.”
It might be good for Chris, too, Rachel thought. A birthday party could introduce him to his family here in town, and a little family-history lesson could introduce him to the family who had already passed away. Christopher belonged to more than just her. He had a whole family in Haggerston, and he belonged with the Emmetts, too. If only she could help him to see that.
Chapter Four
Craig and Gloria Bailey lived in an ordinary subdivision on the east side of Haggerston. It felt strange to walk through a stranger’s home without being let in, but Matt sauntered ahead of her confidently enough. The pictures on their walls were from their wedding—loving looks, poses with the wedding party—and obviously some of Craig’s bachelor decor hadn’t been negotiated out of the house yet, as was evident by a mounted deer head leaning up against one living room wall and a yield sign beside it.
“I can tell that they’re newlyweds,” Rachel said, keeping her voice low. She glanced back to see that Chris was following close behind.
“Is it all the small appliances on the counter?” Matt asked as they entered the kitchen. Rachel had to admit that two toasters, a panini press and the three different sizes of blenders were probably a bit much, but all were likely wedding gifts.
“That, too,” she admitted.
A half-open patio door separated them from the gathering outside. The din of voices and laughter flowed into the house with the warm summer breeze. As they stepped outside, a man waved from his position by the barbecue, and she recognized him from the wedding photo. The redheaded wife stood a few feet away, chatting with an older lady, and when she looked up and saw Matt standing next to Rachel, the woman’s gaze flickered between them, and a smile spread over her face. She excused herself and headed in their direction.
“This is Gloria,” Matt said before she got close enough to overhear. “You’ll like her.”
“Hello, hello!” Gloria gushed, hurrying up. “I’m glad you could make it. Craig did mention you were bringing a date—”
“No, not a date,” Matt corrected with a chuckle. “This is Rachel Carter and her son, Christopher. They’re new to Haggerston. They arrived, what—” He looked toward Rachel. “A couple of weeks ago.”
“Well, welcome to
town,” Gloria said, beaming. She bent down and shook Christopher’s hand. “We’ve got some Popsicles over there.” She pointed to a little group of children on the far side of the yard. “Would you like me to introduce you to the other kids and find you a treat?”
Chris looked askance at Rachel and she nodded her permission. Gloria swept off with Chris in tow, and she cast a knowing smile over her shoulder in Matt’s direction. He laughed softly.
“Sorry about that. She thinks she’s giving us some time alone.”
“Yeah, I got that.” She grinned. “Can’t fault her for trying.”
“Hungry?” he asked.
“I am, actually.”
They ambled toward the table laden with chips, salads and burger fixings. Rachel took a paper plate and dropped some potato chips, veggies and dip onto it. Her stomach rumbled.
“Hi, bro.”
She glanced up to see Matt’s brother heading in their direction. He wore a pair of khaki shorts and a pink polo shirt, a spatula in hand. Matt was taller, and his orange polo shirt strained slightly around his muscular arms, but the brothers seemed to have a lot in common, their fashion sense included. Craig nodded to Matt, then turned to Rachel.
“Hey, nice to have you here. I’m Craig, Matt’s brother.”
“Nice to meet you.” She shook his hand. “I’m Rachel. I’ll be teaching at Broxton Park Elementary this September.”
“Yeah, Matt mentioned. There are a few teachers here today, and I’m sure Matt can make some introductions. Can I get you two a burger?”
“That would be great, thanks,” Matt replied, and Rachel nodded her assent.
“You want your burger well-done, right?” Craig called over his shoulder as he headed back toward the barbecue, but he didn’t stop for the answer.
“The teachers he mentioned are just over there.” Matt pointed across the grass to a group of chatting people, plates in hand. “Actually all four of them. The man over there in the yellow T-shirt is a pediatrician. He’s a good guy to know. The woman he’s talking to is an orthodontist here in town. Oh, and that short woman with the baby is one of the librarians...”
Rachel felt her earlier perkiness waning. She was here to meet other people, and he was here to make that happen. She pushed away her unwarranted disappointment and forced a smile to her lips.
Welcome back to reality, she thought wryly.
“I’ll go over and introduce myself,” she said.
“Do you want me to come with you?” he asked.
“Oh, why start the tongues wagging? I’ll be fine.”
He nodded, and she thought she detected some disappointment in his eyes, too. “Great. Have a good time.”
Of course, she knew that nothing could happen between herself and Matt, but she couldn’t deny the spark between them—a spark that it might be smarter to stamp out before either of them got hurt.
Chris stood next to another boy about the same size, both with a frosty Popsicle in hand. They looked amiable enough, and she let her gaze linger on her son. He stood there with that stance of vulnerable bravery that children had when they felt uncertain about themselves, and she sighed softly.
Lord, she prayed for the thousandth time, show me what he needs.
Before Chris could catch her watching him, which he seemed to hate lately, Rachel angled her steps toward the group of chatting teachers. When she stopped next to them, they continued talking, taking no notice of her. Her own latent insecurity roused itself, and she pushed it back down.
“Hi,” she said cheerfully. “I’ve been told you’re all teachers.”
The conversation stopped abruptly, and they all turned to look at her in mild surprise.
“Yes, we are,” one woman said with a smile. She was plump and blonde with kind eyes. She wore a floral-patterned sundress. “Are you a parent?”
“I am. My son is going to be in the second grade this September,” Rachel replied. “I’m also teaching fourth grade at Broxton Park.”
“Are you really?” She beamed. “I’m teaching second grade at Broxton Park.”
Rachel’s heart soared momentarily with relief. This woman looked kind, understanding—the kind of teacher she’d prayed for, both for her son and as a colleague. “Oh, that’s fantastic. He’s just over there...” She pointed out Chris, who was now tucking in to a bowlful of potato chips, the Popsicle just starting to drip from the other hand. “This is a big transition for him.”
“It would be. I’m Glenda, by the way.” She shot out a hand and Rachel shook it heartily. The others smiled and shook her hand, introducing themselves.
So this will be home, she thought to herself as she listened to the teachers chat and laugh. It felt good. It felt right.
She glanced back in Matt’s direction and found his eyes locked on her. She met his gaze in mild surprise. A smile twitched at one side of his lips, and he gave her a bashful smile, then turned away.
If she weren’t mistaken, Matt was interested in her.
He’s leaving, she reminded herself. Don’t let this get complicated.
* * *
Matt held out his plate while his brother put a hamburger patty on top of his open bun. It was a good turnout for Craig’s annual barbecue, and he had to admit that his brother knew how to entertain. Haggerston was a barbecue and cider kind of town.
“So you’re serious?” Craig asked. “You have no intention of dating her?”
“Sorry. If all goes according to plan, I’m moving to South Maitland in a few months,” he replied.
“She’d be worth sticking around for.”
Matt glanced back in Rachel’s direction at the same time that she swung her gaze toward him. Her hair, now smoothed back to the big, glossy waves she normally wore, swung down in front of one eye, and she pushed it back, at the same time shielding her eyes from the sun. The first image to pop into his mind was his memory of her standing in his foyer, dripping with rain, her hair springing up into her natural curl. Their eyes locked for a moment, and he pushed down the unbidden memory. He smiled uncomfortably and turned back to his brother.
“She’s not interested.”
“Oh, well, in that case.” Craig shot him a teasing grin.
“I thought you were the one telling me not to get any hopes up,” Matt retorted.
“Yeah, well...”
“It’s not a good idea—you know that,” he said.
“And if you don’t get this job?” Craig prodded.
“She’s still not interested.” Matt shot his brother a victorious grin, as if having a cute brunette completely uninterested in what he had to offer were a good thing.
Craig craned his neck around to look in Rachel’s direction again, and Matt refused to follow suit. Instead he grabbed some ketchup and started a slow coil on top of his burger.
“Looks like Allan just introduced himself,” Craig said.
Matt grimaced. Allan Hennick, a real-estate agent, had gone to high school with Matt and Craig. He was successful, lived on a large acreage outside town and was known for his smooth ways around women. Matt couldn’t stand him.
“Doesn’t he have a woman in his life yet?” Matt muttered.
“Seems to me, he’s working on it.” Craig retorted.
Matt glanced back. Allan stood close to Rachel—close enough that she had to tip her head back to look him in the face. Allan said something and Rachel’s laugh floated up over the conversation. Matt groaned inwardly.
Allan was known for sleeping around and moving on to the next conquest in record time—most of which happened during his marriage, resulting in a rather messy divorce.
“She’s a grown woman,” Matt said tersely.
“A grown woman who doesn’t know that Allan’s stint in the military lasted all of three weeks before he flunked ou
t of boot camp,” his brother said.
Craig turned to serve more burger patties to some guests, and Matt looked back in Rachel’s direction. Allan plucked something—probably an imaginary something—out of Rachel’s hair and she stepped back. Allan closed the distance again without missing a beat.
Anger bubbled up inside Matt’s chest. Rachel was different—she was vulnerable, sweet and definitely too good to be toyed around with by the likes of Allan Hennick. He put down his plate, and before he’d even formulated a proper plan of action, he sauntered over in their direction, murmuring his excuses to the people he passed.
Allan was midstory when Matt arrived; the smaller man’s gaze flickered momentarily in his direction.
“So, long story short,” Allan was saying, “that’s how I got this scar.”
“Which scar is that, Allan?” Matt asked with a pointed smile.
“Don’t worry about it,” Allan replied smoothly. “The story’s already over.”
“That’s amazing, Allan,” Rachel said with a shake of her head. “I had no idea that snakes could do that.”
“Snakes?” Matt raised an eyebrow. “We don’t have too many around here.”
Allan met Matt’s gaze, and he shot him an irritated look. “Rachel and I were just talking...” Allan let the words hang in the air, the implication clear.
Matt nodded sagely, ignoring the rebuff. “You’ll have to tell me that story one of these days. It’s good to see you, Allan. How is your mother?”
“Fine. How is yours?”
“Oh, she’s great. I heard that your mom wasn’t doing so well lately and that she was going to move in with you.”
It was a valid rumor that had spread all over town in the past week. Allan’s mother had been angling to move in with her only son for years, and when she broke her ankle, it looked as though she might get her wish—for a few weeks, at least.
Love Inspired May 2015 #2 Page 46
