by Lois Richer
“No way, Cara. You can’t miss this party. And Mom will be hurt if you and the munchkins aren’t there.” He thought for a moment. “Why don’t all of you fly into Las Cruces? I’ll pick you up. The tickets will be my treat,” he insisted, knowing Cara and her husband couldn’t afford the expense. “We’ll get you a hotel room if need be. We’ll figure it out.”
“Nick, that’s too much—”
He cut off her interruption. “Just come and enjoy yourself. I’ve got it all taken care of.”
As Nick said goodbye and pulled into Shay’s driveway, he hoped Shay would help make his words would come true. A minute ago he’d been regretting that he had to leave Hope, but here was another reason for showing up for that assistant coaching job—his family needed him. Without a steady job he’d run out of funds to pay for things like spur-of-the-moment plane tickets. Then he’d be as useless to his family as his father. Leaving Hope for that job was the right choice and he needed to stop doubting his decision.
Nick climbed out of his truck and blinked in surprise. Shay had all the outside lights on—every single one of them. Something must be wrong.
He strode to the front door and rapped once, hard, before he called out, “Shay? It’s me.”
She opened the door a few seconds later, struggling to hold back the madly wriggling puppy. Her laughter bubbled out to greet him, eliminating his worry. Despite her efforts, Hugs burst free of her grip and in one giant leap had his front paws on Nick.
“Hey, guy. What’s got you so excited?” Nick squatted to pet the animal. When the dog had calmed, he rose and shook his head. “Giving you this fellow may have been a mistake,” he muttered, swiping his thoroughly licked face with a tissue.
Shay brushed off her jeans. “He gets a little—exuberant. That’s all.”
“Exuberant? That’s one word for it.” He was about to pull the outside door closed when Shay stopped him by laying her hand on his, for one tiny second. Then she pulled it away. “What?”
“Don’t close the door. We’re going out again. I need to show you something.”
She didn’t sound scared, he noted with relief. She sounded sort of—keyed up.
“Is anything wrong?” He searched her face for the fear he often saw buried in those beautiful eyes.
“Just—come with me. Wait. I need my shoes.” She thrust her pink-tipped toes into the rattiest pair of sneakers he’d ever seen. The shoes did go with her worn, almost threadbare jeans and the chunky, red-checked flannel shirt with holes in the elbows. Swaying pigtails made the picture complete. Nick smirked. Supermodel indeed.
And yet, even in work clothes, there was something exquisitely elegant about Shay, something that made him want to protect her.
“Okay, let’s go.” The dog bounded out in front of them. Nick went next, waiting while Shay locked the door behind her.
“Is that really necessary?” he asked as she pocketed the key.
“Let’s say, I’m not sure that it’s not. Come on.” She avoided his stare by leading the way to the harvest shed. Once there, she unlocked the big double doors and threw them wide. “Well, what do you think?” Shay was so keyed up her copper curls almost vibrated with anticipation. She danced from one foot to the other, eyes wide and expectant. When he didn’t immediately answer, she looked at him as if he’d become particularly slow-witted. “For the party, of course.”
Nick took in the room, touched that Shay had wanted to offer her home for his mother’s celebration. For a moment, he couldn’t speak.
“Think of the advantages,” she continued. “There’s plenty of room to park in the yard, space for people to spread out, shelter if the sun gets too strong, and best of all, it’s easy to decorate.”
Nick studied the big shed, his nose twitching at the aroma of past pecan harvests. It was clean, rustic and, best of all, not too fussy—his mother would definitely approve.
“There’s a company in Las Cruces that rents those big white tents. We could get one for that side.” She glanced at him, waiting for his nod before she continued. “A band could set up over there. There are a couple of local bands that play country music—your mom loves country music,” she reminded. “There’d be lots of room over here if folks wanted to dance.”
Nick hadn’t seen Shay so vivacious in years. Her skin bloomed a rosy peach. Her green eyes, lit by the gigantic yard light, radiated pleasure and eager anticipation. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
Ever.
“You don’t like it.” In a flash, her delight snuffed out. “I’m sorry. I thought—”
“It’s perfect,” Nick said. And it was. His mom was going to love it.
“You don’t have to say that. It was just an idea.” She turned away.
“I’m not just saying it.” He stopped her with a hand on her arm. Though she drew away from his touch, Nick wouldn’t let her escape so easily. He grasped her fingers in his and hung on until she faced him. “I think it’s absolutely brilliant, Shay. But it’s a lot of work. Are you sure you want to take this on?”
Shay looked down at their entwined hands, and for a moment Nick thought he saw her smile at the sight. And then she slowly pulled her hand from his.
“Are you kidding? I’d love a chance to make the old place come alive with a party. Dad always said we had the best land for partying.”
Nick almost laughed as that glimmer of pure joy flared to life in her eyes again.
“The stove is old, but it still works. So does the fridge. We’ve got enough power out here to make coffee, string fairy lights and whatever else we dream up.” She continued, listing one asset after another until she ran out of breath.
“You’ve done some serious thinking about this.” Her generosity amazed him, but then, that was Shay. “There’s only one thing.” Nick had to say it before she went any further. “What about Maggie? Will she be able to handle it out here?”
Shay looked at him. He could tell she was now considering all the aspects of the day from his niece’s viewpoint. She was silent so long it made him nervous.
“Well?” he demanded when he couldn’t wait any longer.
“I don’t know.” Shay’s mouth stretched in a smile. “But we can find out.”
“How?”
“Tomorrow you bring Maggie out here for her session and we’ll see how she adapts.” She chuckled when he blinked in surprise.
“Seriously? You want to do this?” He wasn’t sure about it—it seemed a lot to ask. But nothing else he’d come up with came even close to Shay’s plan.
“Absolutely serious.” She grinned at him as if he’d given her the biggest gift anyone could. “Let’s go back to the house. There are a lot of things to discuss.” She tugged him along beside her as she talked. “For one thing we’ll need tables and chairs…”
As Shay talked, Nick wondered if she realized she was touching him. Apparently she hadn’t because halfway to the house, she yanked her hand from his arm as if she’d been scalded.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I didn’t mean to drag you.”
“Hey, what are friends for?” He changed the subject before she could get more flustered. “Do you think we could wrangle a campfire? Your dad used to have an old tractor wheel we used when we held our youth group out here. Is it still around?”
“Yes! I saw it in those bushes where the barn used to sit.” Shay skipped up the stairs with the dog nipping at her heels. She motioned Nick to follow her inside. “I’ve got iced tea. I think it’s probably too sweet but—”
“The sweeter the better,” Nick told her, thinking that Shay looked very sweet as she bustled around to offer him some cinnamon buns she’d made to go with the tea.
“They’re your mom’s recipe,” she said.
“When do you find time to make cinnamon buns?” he asked.
“I couldn’t sleep last night so I baked.” Before he could ask her why, she handed him a filled tray. “Come on.”
Though he wanted to say more, Nick f
ollowed her to the table in front of the wall of windows. She took his tray and set it on the table, beckoned him to a chair then folded herself onto the floor in what he’d once heard termed the Lotus position.
As Nick munched his cinnamon bun and sipped his tea, he couldn’t help but think how he felt completely comfortable in Shay’s home, sharing her baking and talking about his mom’s party and what would happen next week, next month. Gradually his worries about the party seeped away. Shay’s place was far homier than his condo and Nick had a hunch the exterior would soon boast that same relaxed, beckoning feel she’d created inside.
Too bad he wouldn’t get to see what she did with the place.
He’d be in Seattle.
Alone.
Chapter Seven
“I can’t do it, Shay. I can’t!”
Maggie’s mournful wail pierced Shay’s heart. Everything for Mrs. Green’s birthday was coming together so perfectly. But if Maggie couldn’t manage the rough terrain around Shay’s pecan shed with her braces and her Tiger machine, they couldn’t have a party for her grandmother here.
Shay glanced at Nick and saw her worries reflected in his eyes. If Maggie couldn’t handle the ground, their party plans has just flown out the window.
Nick sighed and nodded. “Okay then.”
“But I’ll practice lots, really I will,” Maggie promised Nick as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I don’t want to miss the party, Uncle Nick.”
“Whatever happens, you are not staying home from your Grandma’s party, Maggie-mine.” Nick hunkered down until he was at her eye level. “No way.”
“Do you promise?” she asked with a sniff.
“Cross my heart.” He brushed away her tears with the tenderest of touches then gently set her on a nearby stump. “Here’s the deal. You keep working your hardest. Don’t say a word to Grandma about her party. I’ll think about this some more. So will Shay. Okay, darlin’?”
“Okay.” Maggie huffed a huge sigh of relief, which turned into a giggle when Hugs jumped into her lap. She obviously trusted her uncle to sort everything out. But from the way Nick looked at Shay, she knew he was as stumped as she was.
“Maybe we should go with the wheelchair,” she suggested, hating the very idea of it.
“After all the work she’s put in to get herself walking?” He shook his head, his gaze on something distant as he turned over the problem in his mind. “No way. A wheelchair would be no better in this gravelly sand anyway.”
“Well, we have to come up with something.” Frustration at the seeming hopelessness of the situation gnawed at her. “Maybe a new machine?”
“I haven’t got time to design and build another machine before Mom’s party!” he exclaimed, eyes widening. “Even if I had a clue what to build, which I don’t.”
“Then we’re back at square one.” Shay bit her bottom lip as she checked her watch. “I have to get back to the office.”
“You go ahead.” Nick sighed as he raked a hand through his already mussed hair. “Maggie and I have to pick up Mom at the hairdresser’s. Thanks anyway.”
“I’m not giving up yet, Nick, and don’t you either.” For a second, Shay felt tempted to reach out and reassure Nick with a touch. Startled by her impulse, she offered him a smile instead. “Your mother deserves the best party we can put together for her. With Maggie present.”
“Hey, Uncle Nick and Shay,” Maggie called. When they walked to her side, she tilted her chin and stared at them.
“What’s the matter, honey?” Shay touched her cheek. “Do you hurt?”
“No. But do you remember last Sunday when Pastor Marty said God wants us to talk to Him about the hard stuff and the easy stuff? This is really hard. I’m gonna pray for God to help me walk for Grandma’s birthday.”
“That’s the spirit, Mags.” Nick hugged her and pressed a kiss against the top of her head. He scooped Hugs from her and handed the wriggling bundle to Shay then swung Maggie into his arms. “Now, come on. You and I need to let Shay get back to work.”
“Okay. Bye, Shay.” Maggie wagged her fingers at Shay then blew a kiss.
“Bye, sweetie.” Shay caught the kiss in her outstretched palm and blew one back. She laughed when Nick reached in front of Maggie and caught it. After pretending to swoon, he tucked his clenched hand to his heart mimicking his performance of Romeo in their high school play. “That kiss was for Maggie,” she chided, laughing again when he pretended to pout. Nick was just so much fun. What would she do when he left?
Shay walked over and brushed her lips against Maggie’s forehead. “Don’t give up.”
“I won’t.” Maggie’s brown eyes shone. “I’ll pray about it when she’s not listening.”
Shay watched them drive away, waving until she couldn’t see them anymore, then returned to the house just as the phone rang.
“Hello?”
No one answered.
Immediately, memories of the innumerable calls she’d answered with the same result swamped her.
Is it him? Is he back?
Fear crept up her backbone as she laid the phone down.
God has not given us a spirit of fear.
Shay repeated the words, but before peace could fill her soul, the phone rang again. She wiped her damp palms against her thighs, and then picked up the receiver a second time.
“H-hello?”
Nothing. No dial tone. No voice. Just an empty yawning silence.
“Who is this?” she whispered.
Click.
God, help. The fingers of fear clamped hard around her throat. Not a spirit of fear, her brain chanted. But it seemed her heart didn’t get the message because when the phone’s shrill peal broke the silence for the third time, it took every ounce of courage Shay had to answer it.
“Shay? Shay, are you there? Oh, this stupid cell phone. Three times I’ve dialed this number and I still can’t hear if anyone is answering. I should have let Nick get me a new one and tossed this dumb thing in the garbage. Doris, do you know how I tell if this thing is working?”
Nick’s mother. It was Nick’s mother calling.
Shay’s throat suddenly opened.
“Mrs. Green, this is Shay. Can I help you with something?”
“Oh, good. You’re there.” She let out a huff of irritation. “Nick said he was driving out to talk to you while I was getting my hair cut. I wanted to tell him to pick me up at the grocery store, but I can’t reach his cell phone.”
“He’s already left, Mrs. Green. I’m sorry.” Shay smiled at the hiss of irritation. “But I’m sure if you leave a message with Doris, she’ll pass it on to Nick.” The town’s hairdresser had an uncanny knack for being able to relate most messages before the telephone did.
“Oh, yes, I know that, dear. It’s just that I was hoping to get him to look at Faye Campbell’s granddaughter’s old tricycle on the way. Faye’s throwing it out. I thought he might be able to adapt it somehow for Maggie. Faye says it has special tires that work in any conditions. With all the gravel in my yard, I thought…”
The rest of Mrs. Green’s sentence disappeared into oblivion as Shay registered what she’d said. Special tires—
“Shay? Are you there? Oh, this stupid phone.” The line went dead.
Shay hung up and tried call return but Mrs. Green’s number was busy. Faye Campbell. She’d said Faye Campbell had this tricycle.
Shay patted Hugs, grabbed her car keys and left, glad that for once the car started without a problem. Maybe she could catch Nick on the road to town. When she reached town without seeing his truck, she dialed the office and asked RaeAnn for directions to Mrs. Campbell’s.
“Your next client is here,” RaeAnn warned.
“I’ll be a bit late, but I’ll be there,” Shay promised.
When Shay pulled up in front of Faye Campbell’s big Victorian home, she saw a pile of discarded things, obviously waiting for trash pickup. But it was the big tricycle that snagged Shay’s attention. The wheels were not like
the usual bicycle tires. They were the old-fashioned very wide kind—Was this the answer she’d been praying for? She hopped out of her car and rang the doorbell.
It took a bit of convincing but Shay finally persuaded the older woman to allow her to store the tricycle in the side yard until Nick could pick it up. She’d no sooner disentangled it from the other items when a truck pulled up and two men began loading the junk into the back.
“Want us to take that, too?” one of them asked.
“No, thanks. I’ve got an idea for this,” Shay told them.
“A project, huh?” The burly driver surveyed the rusted fenders, torn leather seat and bent handlebars. “Good luck. You’ll need it.”
“Thanks.” Shay pushed her treasure to the area under a big cottonwood tree where Mrs. Campbell had directed. “Thank you very much,” Shay told her. “I’ll have it out of here by tonight.”
“As long as it’s gone when I get back, I’ll be happy,” Mrs. Campbell said.
Shay said goodbye and got back in her car, her heart light. That was a heavenly answer, wasn’t it? Surely a clever guy like Nick could figure out how to make those big tires work. He had to. Nick was pouring his heart and soul into this party so his mom would have a wonderful day. Shay was going to do everything she could to make sure the day was absolutely perfect.
For Mrs. Green, of course.
But also for Nick. Her very dear friend Nick.
Because she wanted to see Nick happy.
What could be wrong with that?
*
Saturday, the morning of his mom’s birthday, Nick stood outside the doors of Whispering Hope Clinic, anxiously shifting from one foot to the other. Getting the wheels on Maggie’s Tiger was supposed to be the hard part. He’d managed that without any problem. But this—this had him panicked.
