Finally a Bride

by Renee Andrews

  Before Aaliyah could plead her case further, like she did each week, the office door burst open. Mae Martin entered, bracelets jangling as she waved off her apologies.

  “I’m so sorry, Haley. I know you’re about to close up shop for the day, but I realized after I started getting Snowflake’s dinner ready that I left those supplements here. I’m beginning to believe I’d lose my head if it weren’t attached.” She laughed and crossed the lobby to where Aaliyah had already reached beneath the counter and pulled out the white bottle.

  “You must have placed them behind the computer when you were writing your check,” Aaliyah said. “I found them after you left.” She placed the bottle in a brown paper bag this time, probably so Mrs. Martin would have a better chance of keeping up with it.

  Mae leaned over the counter toward Haley. “Tell me, how’s that little puppy doing? I could tell Gavin was concerned about him.”

  “He’s doing better,” Haley said, frustrated that Gavin’s lack of confidence had been so easily visible.

  “Good. That little boy has been through so much already.” She looked knowingly toward Haley. “I’m sure that’s why Gavin was intent on making sure the little pup would be okay.”

  “He isn’t always so full of sunshine?” Haley didn’t disguise her sarcasm.

  Mae put a hand to her chest, laughing deeply. “Oh, my, you’ve got his number already, don’t you? Actually he’s always like that around adults. But when you see him around those kids at Willow’s Haven, especially Eli, you get a glimpse of the heart hiding beneath the surface. Both Brodie and Savvy will tell you that he’s one of the best cabin counselors they have.” She tilted her head and lifted one corner of her mouth in a smile. “Gavin’s a good guy. He’s just a pro at hiding it.”

  Haley wondered why that was. And why, if he was so good with kids, he didn’t have an equal affinity toward adults.

  Then she shook those questions away. She didn’t need to be wondering anything about the devastatingly handsome and undeniably annoying man. Plus, they were already fifteen minutes past closing and she had no desire to prolong this discussion.

  Mae started toward the door, then stopped and pointed beneath one of the lobby chairs. “Oh, dear. That’s Eli’s backpack. I’m sure he’ll need it for school tomorrow. I hope he isn’t upset at leaving it. He’s already had such a bad day, being worried about the puppy and all.” She turned and frowned. “I’d take it to him, but I need to get back and feed Snowflake.”

  “And I need to get home to see Cierrah,” Aaliyah said, referring to her adorable four-year-old daughter.

  Mae’s smile widened. “Looks like you’ll probably need to take this out to the children’s home, hmm? You wouldn’t want Eli to be sad about leaving it, and you’ll definitely want to make sure he has it for school tomorrow.”

  Haley stared at the red-and-blue backpack then stole a glance at the two women, smiling and nodding at each other as though thrilled with this predicament. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say one of you left it there so I’d have to go see that bear of a man.”

  “You are good with animals.” Aaliyah barely stifled her giggle.

  Mae winked at her, charm bracelet clanging as she pointed a pink-tipped finger her way. “Oh, that was good.”

  Haley did her best to ignore any additional remarks, because both ladies were obviously on a roll.

  With a heavy sigh, she headed for the door.

  * * *

  “Eli is really taken with that dog, isn’t he?” Mark asked while he and Gavin rode in the front seats of the Willow’s Haven bus with some of the other cabin counselors. Most of the kids behind them chattered about this evening’s soccer practice. But Eli, who sat a couple of rows back and had a voice a little louder than the average seven-year-old, couldn’t stop talking about Buddy.

  Gavin glanced over his shoulder at the boy. “Yeah, he is.”

  “So, does the vet think the dog will be okay with treatment? Because I’m not sure how Eli will take it if he isn’t.”

  Gavin wasn’t surprised the other man’s thoughts mirrored his own. “She said she would do her best.”

  “She? You didn’t take him to Doc Sheridan?”

  “From what I gather, he retired, and this was the new vet’s first day on the job.”

  “Aw, man, that doesn’t sound good for Eli’s puppy.” Mark propped his arm on the back of the seat and ran his hand across his mouth in a that’s-too-bad move.

  Gavin felt the same way. “Yeah. Well, according to Mrs. Martin, she’s been there for a while working as his assistant, so I’m praying she’ll be able to help.”

  “Wait a minute. Doc Sheridan’s assistant? Haley? Haley Calhoun?” Mark asked, his tone livening with every syllable. “She’s the vet taking care of the puppy?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “I didn’t realize you were talking about Haley. She’s awesome. I’m surprised you haven’t seen her around town already. She’ll be coming to Willow’s Haven on a regular basis soon, since she’s the one running the new Adopt-an-Animal program, where she’ll bring animals to Willow’s Haven.” He smiled broadly. “We’ll also be taking the kids out to the Cutter Ranch to spend time with the horses, hiking and all of that, and I’m sure she’ll be part of that, as well. It was Haley’s idea, actually, and she’s donating her time. Pretty cool.”

  Gavin wasn’t certain how “cool” it’d be. He hadn’t liked that niggling attraction he’d felt when he’d seen the pretty lady, and he certainly didn’t want to experience it on a regular basis. Especially when he had no desire for any relationship again. He’d had the perfect relationship, with Selah, and he didn’t want—or need—another.

  Maybe he wouldn’t have to see the good doctor when she worked with the kids.

  Yeah, right. His cabin would undoubtedly be involved with the Adopt-an-Animal program, so he’d be interacting, in some manner, with Haley Calhoun. Even after they finished seeing each other because of Eli’s puppy.

  Gavin swallowed past the grumble in his throat.

  Thankfully, Mark didn’t seem to notice. “She’ll do her best with the puppy,” he said, nodding, “I feel certain of that.”

  And that’s what she’d told Gavin. That she’d do her best. He just hadn’t trusted her best to be good enough. Selah’s doctors had also said they would do their best. But Mark sure seemed to trust Dr. Haley Calhoun. “How do you know her?”

  Mark shifted in his seat, scanned the group of boys behind them and answered, “When I first moved to Claremont, I had an English-American bulldog mix named Roman. When I took Roman to the vet, I’d typically see Haley. She did a great job. Roman was old already, lived a couple of years past his life expectancy, and Haley was so gentle with him. That dog loved her.” He shrugged. “I don’t see her that often anymore. Used to see her at the church, but she hasn’t been there in a while.”

  Gavin recalled Mae’s comment that Haley’d given up on God when she’d given up on men and he wondered what had happened in the feisty vet’s world. He knew personally what it was like to give up on God. He’d given up on Him, gotten angry at Him, on this very day two years ago. But then, he’d felt so alone and eventually recognized that the One he blamed...was the only One who could heal his pain.

  While Gavin contemplated what had happened to the lovely vet, Eli’s voice overpowered the others on the crowded bus. “And then Miss Haley told me that I could come and see him every day after school,” he told Ryan, the boy sitting beside him.

  “I wish I could find a puppy in the woods,” Ryan said.

  Mark grinned. “Some things never change. Every little boy wants a dog.”

  Brodie Evans, sitting on the opposite bench seat, nodded. “Savvy and I were actually discussing that this afternoon. Dylan, Rose and Daisy have been asking for a dog and we think the new Adopt-an-Animal program might be good for all th
e children.”

  “I can see how that could benefit the kids,” Gavin agreed, even if he wasn’t thrilled about the vet who would lead the program. She made him uncomfortable, set him off balance. However, he remembered how protective Eli had been of the puppy this afternoon. And how much he hadn’t wanted to leave him behind.

  “We just want to make sure we can keep animals on site before we get them for our kids, because we wouldn’t want Dylan, Rose and Daisy to have pets if all of the other children couldn’t have animals, too.”

  Brodie and Savvy were amazing at not only taking care of the needs of their own children but also those of the children in their care. In fact, after learning about the Christian environment and the way they provided for children, Gavin had moved from Memphis just to work at Willow’s Haven. He’d also considered an amazing children’s home in Oregon, but had decided that, while he wanted to get away from the town where he’d made a home with Selah, he hadn’t wanted to move clear across the country.

  Mark leaned forward in his seat. “So we’d have to get it approved by the state before Eli could keep the pup?”

  “Yeah, we need to cover our bases and make sure everything is okay before making any changes at the home,” Brodie said. “But Savvy is planning to give the social worker a call tomorrow and ask. I think the only hesitation is that the kids might bond with the animals and then, when they are placed in a permanent home, won’t want to leave them behind.”

  “Maybe some of the adoptive parents would consider adopting a pet, too,” Mark said, grinning. “Sounds like a win-win to me.”

  “That’s exactly what Savvy said.” Brodie tilted his head toward Gavin. “Eli could barely concentrate on kicking the soccer ball tonight because he kept wanting to tell the other kids about Buddy.”

  Gavin, who had been attempting to coach Eli’s team, nodded. “Trust me, I noticed. He was so busy talking, he almost got pegged with the ball a couple of times.”

  Brodie chuckled. “Well, maybe when Buddy is better and Eli gets more time with the dog, he’ll pay more attention at practice.”

  “That’s assuming we get the okay to keep the dog at Willow’s Haven.” Gavin decided he would add that to his current prayer requests. Not only for Buddy to get better for Eli’s sake, but also that the boy would be allowed to keep the dog he cared so much about.

  Mark laughed as Eli’s voice took on even more volume. “It’s good to see him excited about something, though, isn’t it?” he asked.

  “Sure is.” In fact, Gavin was very glad for that. Seeing a kid who’d been through so much pain find hope again, even if it was directed toward a near-dying dog, gave him encouragement for himself. That maybe one day he wouldn’t feel that deep void inside. The one that had only grown since he’d walked out of that hospital—alone—two years ago, a diaper bag he no longer needed draped on one arm and Selah’s overnight bag, filled with clothes and items she’d never use again, on the other.

  He thought of the blue blouse she’d planned to wear when they left the hospital. And the tiny matching blue coming-home outfit they’d purchased for their baby boy to wear when she carried him in her arms.

  Gavin pinched the bridge of his nose and begged God to control the memories and get him through the remainder of this day...some way, somehow.

  “Hey, there’s Miss Haley! Maybe she brought Buddy!” Eli bellowed.

  Gavin moved his hand from his face, took a deep breath and turned to see Willow’s Haven cabins come into view and the object of Eli’s excitement.

  His chest constricted as his gaze rested on the pretty vet standing beside Savvy on Brodie and Savvy’s front porch, bright rays of the setting sun highlighting her white-blond hair. Even though she shielded her eyes from the light, Gavin knew that, if he could see them now, they’d shimmer the most vivid emerald green.

  He’d thought of those eyes, the hair, the striking features of the woman, a couple of times—or more—since they’d left her office this afternoon. And hated that he hadn’t been able to completely get her off his mind.

  That wasn’t like him.

  And he didn’t like feeling this way.

  Especially not today.

  Chapter Three

  “Here comes the bus now.” Savvy pointed toward the archway of trees that formed the lengthy driveway to the children’s home.

  Haley shielded her eyes from the setting sun to spot the bright yellow bus coming into view. Her stomach fluttered. Not so much because of how anxious she was to make sure Eli received his schoolbag, but because seeing the boy would undoubtedly equate to also seeing the formidable man that’d brought him and Buddy to her office earlier.

  She’d chatted with Savvy while waiting for the kids to return from soccer practice instead of merely leaving the backpack, partly because she’d wanted to fine-tune the details on the Adopt-an-Animal program and partly because she hadn’t stopped thinking about Eli and wanted to let him know how Buddy was doing. But now she second-guessed her decision to hang around. If she’d simply left the backpack, she’d have lessened the chance of seeing the grumpy man again.

  Then again, maybe Gavin Thomason wasn’t on that bus.

  “So who went with the kids to soccer practice? Like, which adults?” She tried not to make it sound as though she was referring to anyone in particular.

  Savvy wasn’t fooled. “Gavin is on the bus.” She leaned one hip against the porch rail. “I’m guessing he wasn’t on his best behavior at your office today?”

  “You mean he has a best behavior?” Haley, still shielding her eyes, turned away from the approaching bus to face her new friend. She had developed a huge respect and appreciation for Savvy over the past few weeks while they’d discussed the program over the phone and via emails. Even more so after seeing Willow’s Haven firsthand.

  Mae Martin hadn’t lied. The circle of cabins nestled in the center of the woods was beautiful. Peaceful. And with the colorful fall foliage creating a kaleidoscope of reds, oranges and golds in the surrounding woods, the location felt extremely welcoming. Warm and inviting.

  She was glad Doc Sheridan had encouraged her to use her experience to benefit the community and to let the town of Claremont truly get to know the newest veterinarian. He’d been the one who’d thought she should find a way to help the children at Willow’s Haven. However, he obviously hadn’t realized that one of the counselors she’d be working with would be such a ray of sunshine.

  “Bless your heart.” Savvy moved one finger to her mouth in an effort to cover her smile. “But things aren’t always as they seem. Gavin has been through an awful lot in his past, and he really felt God leading him to work with the kids here. He’s one of our best counselors, even if he isn’t so much of a people person when it comes to adults sometimes.”

  “And I managed to get on his bad side from the get-go? Just because I couldn’t guarantee that I could heal the puppy? I told him I would do my best, and I intend to, but to make that kind of promise...”

  Savvy sighed heavily. “Bless his heart. He doesn’t want Eli to lose that puppy.”

  “I don’t, either. Like I told him, I’m going to do everything I can to heal him, but I don’t see why he had to insinuate that I wasn’t capable.” Especially her first day on her own. She’d been nervous enough, but to add a customer who had no faith whatsoever in her abilities didn’t do anything for her confidence.

  The brakes on the bus squeaked loudly as it eased to a stop at the far end of the cabins.

  “They will be here soon, but you should know that any other day, Gavin might not have come across quite so grizzly.” Savvy frowned, looked as if she debated what else to say before adding, “Brodie thinks he’s got a tough personality. I think he’s merely protecting himself from getting too close to anyone again. But that’s me guessing. Only God knows for sure.”

  “Protecting himself?” Why would he feel the
need to shield himself from her?

  “As I mentioned, he’s been through a lot, but having him here is a blessing for these kids. Particularly for Eli.”

  Haley wondered what the man had been through to make him such a grouch and why her friend thought he was such a blessing for Eli, but Savvy didn’t elaborate.

  “You’ll get a chance to see the good in Gavin, I’m sure, with the Adopt-an-Animal program. Brodie and I have decided he’d be great as your main point of contact at Willow’s Haven for the new program.”

  “What did he have to say about that?”

  “We plan to tell him in the morning.”

  Haley winced. After their first meeting she didn’t imagine that would go over well at all.

  A waving Brodie Evans caused them to look toward the bus. He wore a red T-shirt that matched those of the kids around him, scrambling eagerly as they exited the bus.

  Savvy returned the wave with a grin. “Eli should be getting off soon.”

  “That’s great,” Haley said, even if she knew that meant the bear would also arrive soon.

  A group of boys in green T-shirts climbed off next, with a man in the center. No sign of Eli or Gavin.

  Yet.

  “Soccer went well,” Brodie said to his wife as he neared the porch. “A little better once we convinced them it wasn’t cold enough for their winter coats.”

  Savvy laughed and then explained to Haley. “The church gave the boys their new winter clothing today. Most of them aren’t used to getting new things, so they wanted to wear it all immediately.”

  Haley smiled. “Eli had on a jacket and mittens earlier. I thought it was a little much for the temperature outside, but I didn’t say anything.”

  Brodie laughed. “Yeah, he was the last one to admit he was hot, but he ended up taking it off for practice.”

  “So, how did the teams do?” Savvy asked.

  “I don’t expect we’ll win a lot of games, but we’ll do okay. The guys are having fun.”

  “That’s what matters.” She gave a reassuring smile to Haley and then also to her husband. “I’m not so sure the Willow’s Haven girls will win any games, either, but they had a good time at their practice last night. Rose and Daisy were excited about their new pink T-shirts. I think that’s all they cared about.”