A Second Chance House

by Stacey Wilk

  Before she could get out of the house, Colton walked through the front door, wearing his tool belt, work boots, and that same dimpled smile Blaise had. The smell of cigarettes followed him in.

  “You’re not smoking in the house, are you?” It was out before she could stop it.

  His eyes grew wide, and he threw a hand to his chest. “Who? Me? Never.” He pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket. “You want one?”

  “Don’t smoke in the house, please.”

  “I won’t mess up your new house with my bad habit.”

  “Good.” She pushed past him and headed outside.

  Colton called from behind her. “You know you could say thank you.”

  She stopped dead and turned around. The muscles in her neck twisted together. “Thank you for what?”

  “For working on your house. I don’t have to do that, you know. It’s not like I need the money.”

  “So why are you?” She hadn’t given it much thought. She was grateful Colton decided to join the crew. He seemed to know what he was doing, and the boys listened to him better than they listened to Beau. He was right. She was being rude. “Sorry, Colton. Thank you.”

  He stared at her in surprise. “You’re welcome.” He turned on his heel.

  “Hey, you didn’t answer my question. Why are you helping out?”

  He stopped. “I have my reasons. But now it’s mostly because Beau needs my help.”

  She took a deep breath and retied her hair in a ponytail. “Does that mean Cash is really leaving?”

  “I’m not sure, and if he stays, there’s no saying if he’ll get his job back.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder, pointing to the direction Beau went.

  Colton was more of a softy than he let on, but she wouldn’t point it out. Let him have his bravado and stage presence. He didn’t seem to have a whole lot outside of his immediate family.

  “Thanks again, Colton. I mean it.”

  Colton waved with his hammer and went in.

  Grace hurried to the library, but not without a glance at Blaise’s house before she pulled away. Hopefully, Cash would stay. Hopefully, Blaise stayed too. His tour would be a problem for all of them.

  Grace didn’t recognize the one car in the library parking lot. That meant Savannah wasn’t in yet. If she hurried, maybe she’d get in and get out.

  The air-conditioning hit her as she pushed through the door. The place smelled like old paper and overhandled books. She loved that smell.

  Arlene sat at the circulation desk, her face buried in the computer screen. Her brown hair was piled on top of her head. Her lips were painted blood red. She left a lipstick ring on her white coffee mug that had seen one too many turns in the dishwasher, as the writing was all but worn off.

  “Good morning.” Grace hoped she sounded good humored.

  Arlene’s head popped up. “Oh, Grace. I wasn’t expecting you today.”

  “I’m not here to work. I wanted to use the computer for a minute. I need to do some research.” She forced her sweaty hands to grip her purse instead of trying to smooth down her shirt. Her voice sounded strangled even to her.

  “You don’t have internet access at your new place?” Arlene put more lipstick on that mug.

  Grace waved a hand. “It’s so dusty there right now. I had a few errands to run anyway. I’ll just be a minute.” She scooted off to the back corner where the computer center was located.

  The Heritage River library had only three computers for use. They were old-style personal computers with a wide monitor, but they still worked. Savannah wanted to use some of the fundraising money to buy new computers. Some of the town’s residents couldn’t afford computers or internet hookup at home and relied on the library to look for jobs, write resumes, and even stay in touch with friends and family faraway. Unfortunately, most of the fundraising money was going to fix the roof and update the checkout system. New books would be nice, but Savannah didn’t think the money would go that far. If Blaise didn’t play, the money raised might not be enough for the new computers.

  Grace poised her fingers over the keyboard. She didn’t have much to go on. Where was Claire Phillips even from? She should have asked Blaise. She punched in the name, and a whole page of Claire Phillipses popped up. Some on Facebook, LinkedIn. One even had a Wikipedia page, but she didn’t look like a good fit since she was born at the turn of the nineteenth century.

  Facebook was a good a place to try as any. Maybe Claire would have pictures with Nancy. People were pretty savvy with their security settings, locking Grace out of many of the photos. She scrolled and clicked, but not knowing where Claire was from had her going in circles. The search was pointless without more information. She should have planned better.

  She tapped her fingers on the table and thought of the way Blaise always did that but with rhythm, unlike the awkward noise she was making. There was one other person she wanted to look up, although the library was the worst possible place to do it. She could ask around and hide her intentions better than punching his name into the search engine. If she was smart, she’d leave now. Instead, she checked around to make sure no one was nearby and typed Jud Montgomery, Heritage River into the search box.

  As she suspected, articles from the local paper popped up. A full page of results with titles like:

  Riverhawks Score Again!

  Montgomery Soars with Three Touchdowns!

  Riverhawks Give Their Opponents a Bath!

  She skimmed through the articles. Jud was always mentioned as the team hero. The coaches and players loved him. She scrolled onto the next page and found the school’s honor roll listed. Jud’s name came up repeatedly. Another article talked about Jud and some classmates helping to build homes for the homeless. The picture that accompanied the piece was of Jud and four other boys, all smiling, their arms wrapped around each other.

  Grace sat back in the chair. This kid had it all. Two loving parents, a good family including famous uncles, smarts, looks, and athletic prowess. And he hated Cash because Cash was none of those things. Often times kids like Jud found the weakest link and picked and picked until there was blood. How could he do that to his own cousin? To his uncle? But blood had nothing to do with it. It didn’t matter how you were related. Your closest relative could slice you up in ways no one else could.

  “Grace.”

  She jumped in her seat and fumbled with the mouse to shut the screen down before Savannah was on top of her. A quick glance at the clock said she’d been there longer than she’d planned.

  Savannah dropped her big tote on the table and flopped down in the chair next to her. “You’re here early. Needed some quiet time?”

  “Exactly.” The woman had a sixth sense. “I was just about to leave.” Grace jumped up and gathered her purse and keys.

  “Before you go, I wanted to show you the seating layout I did for the concert.” Savannah rummaged through her bag and pulled out an overstuffed yellow folder. “I thought we’d use the parking lot and set the stage up at the south end. I know it means people will have to park on the streets and walk, but we don’t have enough grassy space for everyone to sit.”

  “How are the ticket sales going?” Maybe no one was coming, and the loss of the main attraction wouldn’t be felt as much.

  “Great. I think we sold a hundred tickets already. I’m salivating over that technology room.”

  A hundred tickets. “That’s more than you thought you’d sell.”

  “What can I say? My brother is still pretty popular in these parts. If I could convince Colton to join him even for one song, ticket sales would triple. This whole place would get a face-lift. So what do you think of the layout?”

  Savannah dropped the folder on the keyboard, waking the monitor up. Grace fumbled across the table to shove it back to sleep, but not in time.

  “Oh, were you searching for something?”

  “Just trying to get into my Facebook account.”

  “You’re on Facebook? Me
too. You should friend me.”

  “Thanks, I will.” If she were on Facebook, wouldn’t it stand to reason the Facebook page would be up and not Google? “I was just taking a quick peek before I researched materials for the new counters.” She felt like the kid caught drawing on the wall with crayons.

  “Don’t worry about it, Grace. We all need a little mindless entertainment. I love all the pictures of people’s kids. I won’t tell Beau what you were up to. I’m sure he wants you back on the job site after yesterday.”

  “Why do Jud and Cash fight so much?” It really wasn’t any of her business, and she expected Savannah to say so. Grace was an outsider. She had no right sticking her nose where it didn’t belong.

  “You know boys. They say something, get mad, duke it out, and it’s over. Colton and Blaise were like that all the time growing up. Drove my dad crazy.” Savannah offered a thin smile.

  Grace pushed her shoulders back and took a deep breath. She needed as much confidence as she could find to say what she was thinking. “I certainly don’t know them well, and don’t pretend to, but during our time together I’ve noticed the constant bickering. They aren’t getting over anything.”

  Savannah shoved her folder back in her bag. “You’re right. You really don’t know them, and of course a mother knows her son better than anyone.”

  Why did women think just because they pasted a smile on their face no one else could detect the disdain simmering below the surface? Grace nodded, but she knew where this was headed.

  “Jud and Cash are going through a stage. They’re the same age, their bodies are changing, their minds are forming, and this will pass. I’m not worried,” Savannah said.

  Grace’s throat dried up. She tried to swallow. “I’ve heard them. Is it possible, just a thought really, that there’s some jealousy?”

  Savannah pressed her lips together. “You noticed. Please don’t say anything to Blaise. I don’t want to upset him. It stands to reason Cash would be jealous of Jud. Cash never sees Blaise. His grades were never great, and he doesn’t participate in any school activities. He doesn’t have a lot of friends, and he gave up playing music. And don’t get me started about his look. He’s a handsome kid, and I love him to death, believe me, but what does he expect people to think when they see him?”

  There was no denying people made judgments based on appearances. It wasn’t always right, and often times people got things wrong—look at Ted Bundy—but Cash was a good kid. He didn’t want trouble. He kept to himself. Something more was going on, and Savannah was blinded by her “mother eyes.” Grace could understand that too.

  “Would there be any reason Jud would be jealous of Cash?” Grace took a step backward to give Savannah as much space as possible to lob at the question.

  Savannah pulled her shoulders back, studying Grace. “Did Blaise ask you to quiz me?”

  Grace waved her hands. “He would never ask me to do something like that. I was just making an observation, that’s all. I’m sorry I said anything.” Grace gripped her keys. “I should be going.”

  “Do you think you know my brother well?”

  Heat filled Grace’s cheeks at the thought of how well she was starting to know him. His muscular chest, his thin waist. His soft lips and strong tongue. “No, certainly not.”

  “That’s good, because you don’t and you don’t know his son well either. Thank you for your concern, but we have it all under control.”

  “You do. Again, I’m sorry I mentioned anything.” Grace took her purse and headed for the front of the library. She understood Savannah was filling the role of protector of her family. She was the matriarch and had been for a long time. Women always stepped in and did whatever was necessary to keep the gears grinding, and she wouldn’t want Grace questioning the harmony in the family.

  Grace didn’t want Cash to get the short end of the stick either, and he might be. She’d talk to Beau herself to get Cash’s job back if Cash wasn’t already on a plane back to California by then. She hurried to her car and pulled out of the parking lot before she remembered. Her breath caught in her throat. It was too late to go back. How would she explain her return? No, she’d have to keep going and just pray she hadn’t pushed Savannah too far or that Savannah wasn’t one to hold a grudge.

  She’d forgotten to clear the history on the computer.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  By the time she returned to Dogwood Drive from picking counters and appliances, her head spun. So many choices. Did she pick something she loved and wanted for herself or pick something practical and economical another owner could change if they wanted? How could she even consider staying? Well, she was starting to see what was so special about Heritage River.

  Blaise’s truck was nowhere to be seen. Did that mean he was taking Cash to the airport? Grace pushed open the front door. Chloe, Beau, and Colton were in the kitchen.

  “Mom, look what we did.” Chloe pointed around the room as if she were a game-show model.

  The brand-new white top cabinets were in. On either side of the enlarged window were the glass front cabinets she’d drooled over and pasted pictures of on her vision board. She hadn’t realized Beau was paying attention.

  “How did you mange that?” She didn’t think they’d get that far, just the three of them.

  “Let’s hope they stay on the wall.” Colton swept the subfloor.

  Her new hardwood was on its way, and then her island could go in.

  “Hush now.” Beau glared at Colton. “Don’t go scaring Miss Grace. You should know Chloe was a big part of today. She really helped.” His face beamed as he looked at her daughter.

  “Thank you. Thank you, all of you. How about dinner on me?”

  “No, thank you. I’ve got to go rest these old bones. Big day tomorrow. We’re fixing that bathroom, then tearing up yours. Plan on getting dirty tomorrow. No errands that run you out of town. No time for that.” Beau scooped up his toolbox and a dirty coffee mug. He knew about her visit to Nancy Templeton. “Miss Grace, you mind following me out to my truck?”

  He didn’t wait for her answer, and she followed as told. He kicked the gravel in the driveway before looking at her.

  “Is there something going on with the house?” She licked her dry lips.

  “You like this house?”

  She turned back and glanced. “Sure. It’s cute. A lot of potential. Why?” She noticed he hadn’t answered her question.

  “This house suits you and Chloe. None of my business, but she could use a place like this to come home to when she’s not at school.”

  No, it wasn’t his business, so why was he sticking his nose in it? “I don’t imagine Chloe will be coming home much at all. She’s been dying to leave home for years.” Grace was just trying to prepare herself for that moment.

  “All I’m saying is, don’t keep going on jaunts that risk losing it.”

  Her chin went up. “I’m not sure what you’re getting at.” She knew exactly what he meant.

  “Don’t go digging. Leave it be. It don’t matter.”

  It mattered to her. She wanted a family, a big one. She was losing her daughter with every day. She lost her marriage, and her parents. There was no one left. She glanced at Blaise’s house. He wasn’t offering her what she needed. Not emotionally. She didn’t expect him to. He wasn’t asking for anything. Why would he?

  “Did Hoke say something to you?”

  “I’m warning you. You’ll lose it all. I’m killing myself to finish on time for you. Don’t go ruining what I’m doing because you’ve got to know. You don’t need to know. Leave it.”

  “Why are you killing yourself? Why didn’t you tell Hoke to find someone else?”

  “That’s my concern. Not yours. Now I’m going home and resting my old, tired body. See you in the morning.”

  “Beau, I was wondering if you’d hire Cash back.”

  He shook his head.

  “You need the help, and I don’t think Cash is the one who started i
t.”

  “How do you know that? You weren’t there.”

  “No, I wasn’t, but it’s an instinct. A mother thing. I don’t know.” She looked over her shoulder to make sure Colton wasn’t coming out. “Jud pushes Cash’s buttons.” She lowered her voice. “There’s something going on between them, and no one seems to know what it is. Please give him another chance. I want him to know I believe in him.”

  Beau scrutinized her with his cold eyes. He was going to say no. “He means that much to you?”

  “He does. He’s a sweet boy. Maybe confused and misguided.” She didn’t want that to come off in a bad way for Blaise. “It must be hard for him with his parents living in separate states. He’s had a hard time at school. Can’t we give him another try? I don’t mind, and it’s my house.”

  “It’s my crew, and I don’t allow fighting on my crew. Never have.”

  “Please, Beau. Just this once.”

  “You want me to hire Cash and not Jud?”

  She hadn’t thought about it all the way through, but that was what she was saying. “Jud has opportunities Cash doesn’t.” She thought of Blaise’s money troubles. Would they affect college or how they lived? He never shared the details.

  “I’ve got to live in this town after you go, Miss Grace. I can’t hire Cash back without Jud and look Savannah Montgomery in the eye when I pass her on the street. You take them both or not at all.”

  “But Jud started it and has something against Cash. No, just Cash. I’m the homeowner, aren’t I? Isn’t that what everyone wants me to remember? Well, as the homeowner, I have the right to hire who I see fit for the job. I want Cash Savage to help out.” She crossed her arms over her chest for good measure.

  “All right.” He waved a hand in the air. “You women will be the death of me for sure. I’ll do it.” He slid into the driver’s seat and rolled down his window. “You know your Chloe likes him too. Asked me the same thing this morning.”