Someone Like You

by Victoria Bylin

  Julia fetched a glass from a cupboard, filled it with ice water, and handed it to her.

  “Thanks.” Ellen drank it down. “I’m going to church with George on Sunday morning. Why don’t you come with us?”

  Julia let out a frustrated sigh. “I’d love to, but Hunter’s leaving Sunday. We’re trading Max back at checkout time.”

  “Hunter again.”

  “Always.” Julia stood and put away the candy. “I’m beat. Do you need anything before I go to bed?”

  “No, I can manage.”

  “Be brave, Mom. It’s what you’d say to me.” Julia kissed Ellen on the cheek. “I’m going to check on Max.”

  Ellen watched her leave, her own heart full and aching. She and Julia were friends as well as mother and daughter, sisters in Christ now, and joined by a history as complex and beautiful as a tapestry. She hoped Ben was watching from heaven, because he’d be proud of their daughter.

  “I am, Ellie. I am.”

  “I miss you,” she said out loud.

  Ben didn’t answer back, not even in her mind. But somehow she knew he was proud of her too, and that he’d like George Travers very much.

  sixteen

  Whoever thought golf at dawn was enjoyable was crazy. Zeke would have gladly slept in this morning, especially since the memory of sand between his toes had kept him awake half the night. He and Julia were good together, still. But now she was a Christian and he was . . . adrift. Friendship only made sense, but his heart and body were having trouble believing it.

  On the driving range for a golf lesson with John, Zeke raised the club, swung, and topped the ball. It dribbled onto the grass, painfully short-fallen, like Zeke’s walk with God.

  “Do you know what you did?” John asked about the bad swing.

  “Pushed up on my toes.”

  “Watch your hips too.”

  Zeke tried again. This time the ball went sideways. The golf date was set for Thursday, along with dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Carter, himself, and Julia. Technically, it wasn’t a date, but she’d be wearing high heels. Maybe a little black dress and the red lipstick he liked.

  He swung and missed the ball completely.

  “You got distracted,” John remarked.

  “A little.” More like a lot.

  With John offering advice, Zeke refocused and banged out three buckets of balls until the last shot finally flew straight and true, an encouraging sign and a good way to end the morning.

  John clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ll get it.”

  Zeke shook his head. “I’m going to humiliate myself with Carter and you know it.”

  “Yep,” John said with a grin. “He’s going to beat the pants off you. But who cares? Enjoy the game.”

  “I’d enjoy bringing in his business a lot more.”

  John reached for the club in Zeke’s hand. “We’re behind you, Zeke. The whole staff is pulling for you.”

  “Thanks. It’s mutual.”

  John took care of the clubs, leaving Zeke to hop on a golf cart and head out to the fourteenth hole. Because of a sprinkler malfunction, the green itself, a complex mix of sod, sand, and drainage, had nearly died yesterday. Pete Martin, course superintendent, was out there now with a crew and a water truck.

  Zeke pulled the cart up next to Pete, greeted the two workers with a wave, and took in the improved condition of the grass. “It looks a lot better.”

  “Yep.” Pete didn’t say much in general.

  Confident the green would survive, Zeke thanked him for his fast response, waved to the workers, and drove the cart along the dried-out fairway. The natural landscape would bounce back from the drought, but the golf course looked awful. Mr. Carter would notice that.

  With the weight of two hundred jobs on his shoulders, Zeke went home, showered, and put on a suit. While tying the tie, he wondered how Superman managed to change clothes in a phone booth. Then again, superheroes didn’t need to worry about practicalities.

  When Zeke arrived at the main hotel, he checked Hunter’s reservation himself. Everything was in order, so he headed to his office to work until noon, when he planned to greet Hunter in the lobby.

  As he dropped down at his desk, his phone flashed with a text from Julia.

  Another photographer crashed & burned. Will you be in the ofc @ noon? Hoping for someone local.

  Seeing Jules appealed to him a lot more than meeting Ginger at the stable, reason unknown, but he was stuck. He texted back. Sorry, can’t. Mtg w/ Ginger. Later?

  Can’t. Food tasting.

  After that?

  Can’t. Dessert tasting.

  After that???

  She texted back an emoticon pulling its hair out. ACK! Let’s try for tomorrow morning.

  Sure. Text me when you’re up.

  A smile lifted his lips. If she wanted to come to his house, he’d cook her breakfast. It would be a nice follow-up to the hot dogs, but in the next breath he dismissed the idea of another cozy meal together, one where she’d ask him questions. She had opened up to him, and he owed her the same respect, but he squirmed at the notion of telling her about his loss of faith.

  Maybe, if he found it again on his own, he could skip that confession altogether. But how did he find it again? What did a man do when he’d read the Bible through ten times, heard a thousand sermons, sung all the songs, and prayed a million prayers?

  Disheartened, he set the phone down, refocused his mind, and plowed through his email until close to noon.

  Not sure what to expect from Hunter, Zeke put on his coat, walked into the lobby, and headed for Katrina’s Kitchen. Between the crisscross of guests and staff, he saw Hunter standing stock-still, his hands in his pockets and his eyes locked on the revolving door at the front entrance. A languid blink erased all emotion from his face except for a trace of disapproval.

  Zeke never had liked the guy. At St. John’s, homeless people in need of legal help received it, but many of them remarked on Hunter’s attitude, as if he were holding his nose while he met with them. He still wore that superior look. It grated on Zeke, but he was determined to put the old hostility aside. For Julia’s sake, the best strategy was friendship, so Zeke crossed the lobby with relaxed strides.

  When Hunter spotted him, his eyes narrowed. Most people would have taken a few steps and met Zeke part way, but Hunter waited like a king holding court. Zeke was accustomed to dealing with difficult guests. It was part of the job.

  He put on a smile and thrust out his hand. “Hunter Adams. Welcome to Caliente Springs.”

  “Hello, Zeke.” Hunter offered a flimsy handshake as if Zeke weren’t worth the effort of a strong grip.

  “You must be waiting for Julia.”

  “And my son.”

  Hunter was doing more than claiming Max and Julia. He was warning Zeke to keep away. That wasn’t going to happen, unless it was Julia’s choice.

  Hunter glanced pointedly at his watch. The rudeness didn’t matter to Zeke, but Julia did. Determined to be courteous, he handed Hunter his business card, the one with his full name. “Call if you need anything.”

  Without sparing a glance, Hunter slid the card into his pocket. “Thanks.”

  Zeke walked away. Being dismissed irked him, but he was determined to show goodwill to Hunter. Using the back entrance to the restaurant, he found Katrina and told her to charge Hunter’s lunch to his personal account.

  Katrina promised to make the arrangements, then pointed to the biggest walk-in freezer. “I hate to tell you this, but that one’s acting up again. Maintenance looked at it this morning, but they can only do so much.”

  Zeke glanced at the dingy steel door. The freezer was ancient. “Is it working now?”

  “Yes. But it needs to be replaced.”

  Zeke mentally ran through the budget. The freezer wasn’t slated to be replaced for another year, and the cushion built into this year’s budget was long gone. Plus, he needed to consider paving the path to the lookout. “Let’s give the repair some
time. If the freezer goes out again, I’ll do some juggling.”

  “Thanks, Zeke. If anyone can do it, you can.”

  “We’re a team.” He meant it.

  “Do you have another minute?”

  “Sure. But just one.”

  “I’ll make it quick.” Katrina told him about the new chicken-and-apple soup she was adding to the autumn menu. He told her it sounded delicious, said good-bye, then spotted the cook, a man named Jack-T with a booming voice and a colorful past.

  Zeke called out a greeting. “Thanks for making those cheeseburgers well done.”

  “You mean burnt.” Jack-T’s laugh barreled out of his chest. Just to show off, he flipped a burger high.

  The cook reminded Zeke of the men at St. John’s. Like everyone else, Jack-T needed this job, and Zeke was determined to save it for him. He just wished he really had superhero powers, because with the drought and broken freezers, he needed help.

  With Max in hand and his backpack on her shoulder, Julia hurried into the lobby, where she spotted Hunter staring at the revolving front door. She was five minutes late. Not the end of the world, but she braced for a snide remark.

  “There’s Daddy!” Max pulled out of her grip and ran to Hunter, nearly bowling over a guest in his eagerness.

  When Hunter swooped him into the air, Max giggled and clung to him. Julia’s heart jammed into her throat. Sometimes she wondered if she was being too hard on Hunter. He really tried to be a good father. On the other hand, she knew his personality. If Max displeased him, Hunter would hold back his love the way he used to do with her.

  Not anymore. Her mom was right. She kept a solid two feet between them. “Hello, Hunter.”

  “Julia.”

  Still holding Max, he leaned in to kiss her, something she had told him repeatedly not to do, but old habits were hard to break. Forgiving him, she dodged and offered her cheek. The kiss, as light as it was, made her queasy.

  Easing back, Hunter placed his hand on the small of her back. “I’ve missed you.”

  She scooted away from his touch, but what did she say? I’m sorry to be blunt, but I don’t miss you at all. Sometimes the truth couldn’t be told because it was just plain mean, but neither would she pretend to feel something she didn’t.

  To avoid a losing battle, she changed the subject. “How was the drive?”

  “Nice.”

  “It’s a beautiful day, but we need rain.” The weather seemed like a safe topic. “Max is happy to see you.”

  “Yeah!” Max bounced on Hunter’s hip.

  Grinning, Hunter winked at his son. “We’re going to have a good time, aren’t we? How about going to the pool?”

  “I like the one with the slide.” Max wiggled sideways to find her. “Mommy, come with us.”

  “No, sweetheart.” She hated moments like this one, where she was forced to crush her son’s hopes or perpetuate a lie. “This is Daddy’s time. You two will have fun.”

  Max screwed up his face. “But—”

  “Mommy’s right,” Hunter said. “This is guy time. But I bet she’ll have lunch with us if we say please.”

  Julia barely stifled an angry reply. Why did Hunter do this to her? He knew she was working this afternoon. She frowned at him, but he set Max on his feet and stepped back, leaving her to deal with their son alone.

  She put on her strong mommy face, a look that meant business. “I’m sorry, Max. But Mommy needs to work.”

  Max’s whole face drooped. “Can you work later?”

  He wasn’t manipulating her like Hunter did, and he wasn’t being bratty or demanding. He was just a kid who wanted his parents to be together. Guilt swamped her. How could she say no?

  Hunter broke in. “We’ll keep it short. I promise.”

  Max bounced on his toes, pleading with his eyes. Love for him mixed with the guilt, and she thought a prayer. I need help, Lord. Yes or no?

  Turning slightly, Hunter whispered in her ear. “Before you decide, I want to tell you something.”

  “What is it?” She braced for a false promise, maybe a bribe of some kind.

  “I’ve been going to church.”

  Her mouth fell open. She snapped it shut, but old conversations played through her head, the ones where Hunter belittled her new faith and called her weak-minded.

  Stunned, she gaped at him. “Are you kidding me?”

  “I’m dead serious.”

  “When did this start?”

  “Two weeks ago.” He looked a little sheepish, or like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. “There’s a church near the law office. I’ve been feeling pretty down, mostly about us, and I decided to give church a try. I liked it.”

  She didn’t know whether to trust Hunter or not, but in good conscience, she couldn’t slam the door on him. “This really is a surprise.”

  “A good one, I hope.”

  “Well . . . yes.”

  How could it not be? And yet a gut feeling held back any real sense of joy. If Hunter was manipulating her, he’d sunk to a new low. She didn’t know what to think.

  He spoke in a murmur just for her. “I thought the three of us could go to church tomorrow.”

  Julia loved church—the singing, the teaching, the holiness of prayer, even the weak coffee afterward. She wouldn’t know anyone at George’s church, but she was sure she’d feel at home. Hunter deserved a chance to join that family, not because he had earned it, but because Jesus had died for him too.

  “Tomorrow is fine,” she said. “In fact, we can meet my mom and a friend of hers. He goes to a church in San Luis Obispo.” Julia decided to leave George’s name out of it for now. His star status would detour the conversation.

  “Perfect.” Hunter placed a hand on Max’s shoulder. “Did you hear that, son? We’re all going to church tomorrow.”

  Max spun toward Julia for an explanation, so she told him they were going with Grammie and George. “It’s not our regular church, but I think you’ll like it.”

  “We’re going with Daddy?”

  “Yes, we are.” Somehow she kept her voice light.

  When the hostess approached, her eyes swept from Hunter to Max and back to Julia. “Three for lunch?”

  Hunter looked at Julia, his brows slightly arched with a reminder that she hadn’t yet said yes.

  She took in Max’s eager face, the menus in the hostess’s hand, and looked again at Hunter. “I’ll stay. But we need to keep it short.”

  “Thanks.” There wasn’t a trace of arrogance on his face, only a wistful smile.

  Hoping her decision was the right one for Max, she followed the hostess through the maze of tables. Hunter, a step behind, put his hand on the small of her back.

  As she turned to scowl at him, Zeke strode out of the kitchen. His gaze went straight to her back, then rose to her face.

  seventeen

  When Zeke saw Hunter put his hand on Julia’s back, he didn’t like it a bit. The scowl on her face said everything. She didn’t want Hunter to touch her, and Hunter didn’t respect that boundary. Zeke’s fists knotted at his sides, but Julia took care of herself by brushing Hunter’s hand away.

  Love your enemies. The Bible verse echoed in Zeke’s mind, but he couldn’t bring himself to love Hunter. He could have faked it, but he was done lying to himself and to God. The truth was that he wanted to kick Hunter out of Julia’s life the way he wished Adam had kicked the snake out of the Garden of Eden.

  When the trio arrived at a booth, Max slid in first. Julia sat next to him, forcing Hunter to sit alone. Zeke reached the restaurant entrance, turned, and saw Max talking a mile a minute and Julia staring at him over Hunter’s shoulder, anguish plain on her face. When her gaze met his, he nodded as if to say, I understand. He’s Max’s dad.

  She nodded back, almost imperceptibly, then raised the menu and hid behind it.

  Leaving her sickened him. No man liked to feel helpless, and that was particularly true for a man raised to play the hero.

  Zeke was late fo
r his meeting with Ginger, so when he arrived at the stable, he parked next to her car and strode toward Chet’s office, a route that took him past Ladybug’s new pen. So far the goat hadn’t escaped, but she screamed obnoxiously at guests. Most people found the screech amusing, and Chet had put up sign that read Ladybug, The Singing Goat. Zeke braced for a bone-jarring serenade as he passed, but the pen was empty.

  Chet barreled around the corner, his face red and his fists knotted. His Resistol hat shaded his eyes, but his jaw jutted like the prow of a battleship. Whatever he had to say, it wouldn’t be good.

  Zeke dragged a hand through his hair. “Please don’t tell me Ladybug’s on the loose again.”

  “She’s with Ginger,” Chet said with a growl. “And if you don’t stop Ms. Travers’ crazy plan, I’ll quit on the spot.”

  “What plan?”

  “She’s bringing in another goat.”

  “What for?”

  “She didn’t tell me. But I think she wants to breed the stupid things. If she turns this place into a goat farm, I’m outta here faster than you can shake a stick.”

  Was goat breeding a new craze that would earn income, like raising alpacas for their fiber? Zeke had checked into that one. He’d do anything to save Caliente Springs, even breed goats.

  “Is she bringing in a male?”

  “I don’t know, but I heard her cooing to Ladybug about being a lonely old lady. Goats don’t get lonely. They get mean.”

  Zeke didn’t know what goats felt, but he knew people. Ginger had endured more than her share of hurt, a lot of it due to George’s drinking and the ruin of her career. Many years ago, she had also been married and divorced. Ladybug wasn’t the only lonely old lady who liked to sing.

  Zeke focused back on the goat breeding. “Let’s get the facts. This might be a false alarm.”

  “It better be!” Chet’s voice rose to a near shout. “I have a good mind to tell Ms. Travers to—”

  Zeke spotted Ginger rounding the corner of the barn. “Chet, wait.”

  “—pack up her goats and—”

  Ginger sauntered up to Chet. “And do what with my goats?”