A Family for Thanksgiving (Love Inspired)

by Patricia Davids

  “I hoped you’d understand. Their marriage wasn’t happy, but everyone thought the babies would change that, including Jesse.”

  “She left her babies?” Even Clay was shocked by that.

  “I really think she was suffering from some type of postpartum depression. I can’t imagine leaving my child if I was in my right mind.”

  “Poor Jesse.”

  “In one of those bizarre things that happens in a twister, the kitchen was damaged, but the note and her wedding ring were still on the table. However, the Logan family ring was gone.”

  “That’s a shame.” The ring didn’t have great monetary value, but to the Logans it was a priceless treasure. It had been handed down with love through the family for six generations.

  “We all lost so much that night. Especially Jesse. Losing the ring was like adding insult to injury. He feels so bad about it.”

  “You say the house was hit. How badly was it damaged?”

  “It tore out the kitchen wall and took off a small section of the roof. The dining table Dad made for Mom was broken and Grandmother Logan’s shadow box was smashed. I think I was as upset about that as I was about the ring.”

  Clay gestured toward her hand. “You can start a new tradition with your engagement ring.”

  She turned the diamond solitaire around on her finger. “I might just do that. I wish you could have been here for my wedding. Not that it was much, just a quick ceremony so we could get custody of Tommy…and all that other stuff that goes along with wedded bliss.”

  Her cheeky grin and sparkling eyes told him just how much she loved her new husband. Clay found himself looking forward to renewing his acquaintance with the man.

  “I’m sorry I missed it, Maya.”

  “That’s all right. You’ll just have to be here when we renew our vows in the new Old Town Hall as soon as it’s finished.”

  “I won’t miss it. I promise. When’s this going to be?”

  Rolling her eyes, she answered, “Good question. The hall is being rebuilt by volunteer workers and with donated supplies, but some of the work, like the electrical stuff, has to be done by professionals. It seems like every electrician and contractor in this part of the state has work backed up for months. That has slowed our progress.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “There was a lot of enthusiasm for the project when it was first proposed, but that has tapered off. People are busy trying to get their own lives in order, their businesses open and their homes rebuilt before winter. We meet on Monday evenings and Saturday afternoons now. Volunteers come and go as they can.”

  She glanced at the clock. “In fact, I’m volunteering there tonight.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Whatever they need me to do. Hey, why don’t you come, too?”

  Nicki might have been the main reason he’d returned to High Plains, but helping the town recover had also been part of it. “Sure, I can drive a nail as well as the next guy.”

  “Great! And this way you can see some of your friends from the old days. Oh, wait!” Her smile vanished. She chewed the corner of her lip.

  “What?”

  “I just remembered. Nicki will be there tonight. Will that make it awkward?”

  “Nicki and I have already run into each other.”

  Her faced perked up with special interest. “Really? How did that go?”

  Nicki unzipped Kasey’s jacket and handed it over to Josie at the day-care area in the annex building at the side of the church. The room, painted brightly with primary colors, had a separate play area lined with low shelves just the right height for an inquisitive toddler. Kasey, all smiles, waved at Josie. “Hi. Hi.”

  “Hi, Kasey. Are you ready to play with me?”

  Kasey nodded and headed toward the toy she liked best, a red, white and blue plastic horse on wheels. Straddling the riding toy, she pushed herself across the carpet. “’Orsey. My ’orsey.”

  Satisfied that Kasey was happy and occupied, Nicki turned to leave. As she did, the door opened, and Maya Garrison walked in with Tommy and Layla. Behind them came Clay.

  Once again, Nicki’s breath caught in her throat. Heat rushed to her face as her pulse skipped into double time. Why did he have to be so good-looking? It wasn’t fair that he could still turn her insides to jelly just by entering the room.

  He nodded in her direction. “We meet again.”

  It had to be some kind of test. What was God trying to teach her? How to develop grace under pressure? Hadn’t she learned that already?

  Maya glanced from Nicki to Clay and back again. “I understand you’ve already run into my prodigal brother.”

  Nicki tore her gaze away from Clay and smiled at his sister. “Yes, we saw each other earlier today.”

  “Clay mentioned that. He’s going to help with rebuilding the Old Town Hall.”

  “That’s great. We can use all the help we can get.”

  Kasey came hurling across the floor and latched on to Clay’s leg. Startled, he looked down. “Whoa, there, sugar face.”

  “’Orsey man. My ’orsey man. Hi.” She held up her hand.

  He shot Nicki an uncomfortable look. She supplied a translation of Kasey’s babble. “’Orsey man is her word for cowboy. It’s your hat.”

  He smiled down at Kasey. “So you like my hat, do you?”

  Taking it off, he plunked it on Kasey’s blond head and tipped it back so she could see out from under it. It was miles too big, but Kasey grasped it with both hands and tried to walk back to her pony.

  Seeing that she was about to run into a chair, Nicki stepped forward, but Clay was faster. He scooped Kasey up, carried her to the riding toy and settled her in the saddle. Crouching beside her, he said, “Ride ’em, cowgirl.”

  It touched Nicki’s heart to see the gentle way he kept a hand on Kasey to make sure she didn’t fall as she scooted her mount across the play area. After a few minutes, the little girl lost interest in the hat that kept falling over her face and let it fall to the floor.

  Dusting off his Stetson, Clay settled it on his head and headed toward the door. Opening it, he nodded to Nicki. “Shall we go?”

  He made it sound so personal, like they were going somewhere special together. There wasn’t anything special between them. There never really had been or he would have come back years ago.

  Walking past him without telling him required a force of will Nicki didn’t know she possessed.

  Clay caught up with her before she’d gone a dozen yards and fell into step beside her. She glanced over her shoulder, but his sister was nowhere in sight.

  “Isn’t Maya coming?”

  “She told me to go on ahead. I think she needed to talk to Josie about something.”

  Great. Nicki resisted the urge to race toward the construction site. Instead, she tried to accept Clay’s company as if he were any other neighbor. It didn’t actually work, but she gave herself an A for the effort.

  The wind had abated allowing the late-afternoon sunshine a chance to warm things up. The sunlight cast two long shadows in front of them as they walked eastward from the church. Nicki didn’t need the visual evidence that Clay was beside her. Her nerve endings tingled with awareness of him. She knew exactly how it would feel if he were to take her hand and mesh his strong fingers with hers.

  She shoved her fists deep into the pockets of her gray sweater-coat before she did something foolish—like reach for his hand.

  “How long are you going to be in town?” she asked, desperately searching for something to say.

  “I’m not sure.”

  Glancing his way, she caught him staring at her. What was he thinking?

  She looked straight ahead. “I told you Maya would be glad to see you.”

  “You were right about that. She tells me you’re the preschool teacher here. Screaming kids five days a week. How do you do it?”

  “I scream back.”

  “I can’t quite picture that. You used to have the patience o
f Job.”

  “Oh, how I wish that were true. Teaching can be trying, but it’s also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”

  They had reached the building. He stepped ahead and pulled the door open for her. “What does your husband do?”

  “I’m not married.”

  Stepping inside the building, she noticed he hadn’t followed. When she looked back, she saw a slow smile spreading across his features.

  Chapter Four

  Nicki wasn’t married.

  Clay couldn’t believe how happy the thought made him. She didn’t belong to someone else. He grinned as he followed her inside the shell of the rebuilt Old Town Hall.

  The narrow-eyed glare she threw his way wiped the smile from his face, but didn’t stem his curiosity. Where was her daughter’s father? Was Nicki divorced? Widowed?

  Just because she wasn’t married didn’t mean she wasn’t seeing someone. He struggled to rein in his excitement.

  No doubt Maya could supply him with the information he wanted. High Plains was still a small town. Not much went on that didn’t become common knowledge in short order.

  Only, he didn’t want secondhand information. He wanted to hear from Nicki about her life. They had been good friends once. God willing, she would think of him as a friend again someday.

  Pausing inside the door, Clay surveyed the interior of the newly constructed building. Illumination came from the uncovered windows and a few work lights hung on exposed beams. Three tables had been set up in the middle of the floor. A half-dozen orange extension cords snaked across the floor to various power tools. The space smelled of newly cut wood, tar paper and sawdust.

  Six people were already gathered in a group near the opposite end of the building. A blond, burly young man in a red plaid shirt seemed to be the site foreman, issuing jobs and instructions to the others. It took a second for Clay to recognize him as Allen Belford.

  Allen had been one of the wild crowd Clay ran with in high school. They hadn’t parted on friendly terms. The last time Clay had seen Allen both of them had been sitting in the High Plains police station. Allen had been nursing a black eye and split lip while Clay sported some equally impressive bruises and bleeding knuckles.

  Because of Nicki.

  Allen stopped in mid-sentence when he caught sight of Clay. The people with him turned to stare. Recovering quickly, Allen shouldered his way through the group. “Clay Logan, is that you?”

  “In the flesh.” Clay waited with a sinking stomach for the reaction to his presence.

  “I can’t believe it. When did you get back in town? How in the world are you? Where have you been?” Allen, grinning from ear to ear, held out his hand.

  Clay grasped it and received a hearty shake. Any worry about his reception vanished when he saw the genuine welcome in Allen’s eyes.

  “I got back in town today. I’ve been in Canada.”

  “Canada? Doing what?”

  “A little of everything, but most recently a wilderness packhorse guide.”

  “You always did prefer a horse over any other mode of transportation.” Allen clapped Clay on the back hard enough to make Clay wince.

  Glancing at Allen’s tool belt, Clay said, “I never thought carpentry would be your thing. You were into electric guitars and loud amplifiers if I remember right.”

  Allen let out a jovial laugh. “I still strum a little on weekends, but for our church, not the rock band I once dreamed about. I’m an insurance broker.”

  His face sobered slightly as he patted the leather belt at his waist. “The woodworking is a hobby that’s come in handy lately.”

  “So I’ve noticed. I’m really sorry the town was hit so hard, but it looks like you’re making a comeback.”

  “Actually, I don’t live in High Plains anymore. I moved to Kansas City after I graduated from college. I started coming back to help with this restoration when Glenis Appleton called me a few weeks ago.”

  Nicki spoke up. “Mother has devoted an enormous amount of time and energy into seeing that the hall is done in time for Founders’ Day. She’s been fundraising, recruiting volunteers and haggling with suppliers for the materials we need.”

  “Glenis is a force to be reckoned with,” Allen admitted.

  “When my father was alive, the Founders’ Day celebration was always one of his pet projects. He loved the history of High Plains. Mother’s intent on seeing that tradition carried on. They were married in this building on Christmas Day.”

  “Which means we should get to work,” Allen said, briskly. “I hear there are a couple more weddings planned for when this place is done. I don’t want it to be said that I stood in the way of true love.”

  As soon as the comment left his lips, Allen’s stricken glaze locked with Clay’s. An awkward silence filled the air.

  Clay glanced at Nicki and saw the puzzled look she was giving them.

  “What do you need me to do?” Clay asked, defusing the moment.

  Allen’s smile returned, but it wasn’t as bright. “You can take your pick of jobs, but let me introduce you to some folks.

  Leading the way to several other men, Allen said, “I think you might remember Michael Garrison. He’s our minister now.”

  Clay did remember him. The fact that he’d become a minister wasn’t much of a surprise. Michael, a cousin of Maya’s husband, had always been the serious one.

  Clay nodded in acknowledgment. “Reverend.”

  “Welcome back, Clay. Maya must be delighted.”

  “For now. I give it twenty-four hours before we’re bickering like we did when we were kids.”

  A teenage girl with her light brown hair in two braids came bounding into the room and skidded to a halt beside them. “I’m ready to help, Uncle Michael, as long as I don’t have to sweep up sawdust. I’m sooo tried of that yucky stuff.”

  Michael chuckled. “This is my niece, Avery. Avery, this is Clay Logan. He’s Maya’s brother.”

  A guarded look flashed into her eyes. “So, that makes you Jesse Logan’s brother, too?”

  Clay winked. “Guilty as charged.”

  She looked down abruptly. A hint of color stained her cheeks. “I’ll go see if I can help Josie with the kids.”

  She headed out the door as fast as she had entered leaving Clay to wonder about her reaction. Did she have a teenage crush on his brother or something?

  “Let me extend an invitation to services on Sunday. We’d be delighted to have you join us for worship.” Michael’s words caught Clay’s full attention. He promptly forgot about the teenager.

  The prospect of attending church was flat-out daunting. Clay slid his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.

  He hadn’t been inside a church since the funeral service for his parents. While he sat silently in the front pew staring at the twin coffins and listening to Maya weeping, he’d railed inwardly against God and all that religion stood for. He’d turned his back on God.

  But under an icy lake, with his lungs screaming for air and numbing cold sapping his strength, Clay found Him again. God had given Clay a chance to redeem himself.

  It might have been Clay’s stupidity that cost his parents their lives, but Clay had been able to save one pain-in-the-neck little girl. God must surely have big plans for that kid.

  In his heart, Clay knew his parents would say the scales had been balanced.

  But was he ready to face God in His own house? Clay wasn’t sure.

  “Thanks, Reverend,” he said, without committing himself.

  As Allen made the introductions to the group, a woman with long red hair pulled back in a ponytail extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Logan. I took care of your nieces when they were in the NICU.”

  Nicki said, “Clay, this is my next-door neighbor, Lori Martin. She’s a neonatal nurse.”

  He raised one eyebrow. “Neo-whatal?”

  Lori laughed. “Neonatal. It means I’m a baby nurse. I take care of sick and premature infants. How are th
e girls? I really got attached to them when they were in our unit. I was so sorry to hear about the death of their mother.”

  “I haven’t seen them yet, but Maya tells me they’re cuties.”

  “When you do see them, give them a hug for me.”

  “Will do.”

  Nicki and Lori then joined two women beside the far wall and entered into an animated conversation.

  Clay longed to spend more time with Nicki, and it was clear she wasn’t feeling the same way. Simply because she wasn’t married didn’t mean she’d be interested in renewing their relationship. Besides, would it be fair to her? He wasn’t even sure he’d be staying in High Plains. And Nicki had a child.

  Of all the reunion scenarios that had played out in his head over the years, not one had included a third party in a high chair.

  Clay turned his attention to Allen as the man took center stage again. “I was hoping for a few more bodies today, but I know most people are trying to get their own homes rebuilt or repaired before winter sets in. Those of you who made it, you have my thanks.”

  “And mine,” Michael chimed in.

  Allen rubbed his hands together. “Okay, Christmas is less than two months away, and our project is running behind schedule, but Glenis Appleton has found a contractor willing to do all the electrical and ducting work for us.”

  A brief cheer erupted from the volunteers. Allen grinned, but held up one hand. “He’s going to cost a little more than we budgeted for, but she assures me he can get the work done in the next three weeks.”

  From behind Clay someone asked, “Is he reputable? I haven’t been able to find a local electrical contractor who can start work on my house until after the first of the year.”

  “According to Glenis, he’s got good references and they check out. He’s just arrived from Arizona and is looking for as much work as his crew can handle. Glenis gave me a bunch of his cards to pass out. Maybe he can get to you after he’s done here.”

  “That would be great. I don’t mind paying more if he can get the work done fast.”

  “I agree. All we need to do is finish the interior work that still needs to be done and get the siding on outside. I think it will be easiest tonight if we divide into teams.”