She glanced back at Maggie. “It looks like a storybook house. A couple lilac bushes line the house and the Realtor said the entire front patch will bloom with tulips in the spring. The house is sky-blue, all except for the entrance. It’s built of a bunch of stones that form a circular area by the front door. Almost like a castle turret, even if it’s only one story.”
“I think I know the house.” Maggie finished tucking the jars away in the cabinet. “The third one on Belmont Lane?”
Paige nodded. “It’s only a one bedroom, but that’s all I need. If I leave for Chicago in the next hour I’ll be able to get there, pack the rest of my stuff into the truck and be back here before dinner tonight.”
“How long is the drive?”
“Just over two hours.” Paige fished through the contents of her purse. Lip gloss, gum, wallet—all the essentials for her spontaneous day trip were accounted for.
“You must be one quick packer.”
“Oh, no. My stuff’s all boxed up already.” Seeing as she had thought she’d be moving it into Bryan’s condo at any moment, the boxes had stayed in Mom and Dad’s garage. Waiting. Now they could be liberated. Besides, it would be nice not to have her stuff divided between two homes.
The lease she’d signed didn’t start for another month, but she couldn’t stand one more day of wondering if her mom had rummaged through her things or tossed any of her belongings. Always a minimalist, her mom didn’t seem to grasp the concept of having a sentimental attachment to some of her things. Once Maggie offered her the use of the basement to store her boxes, she knew she needed to get back to Chicago right away.
Paige clicked the GPS function on her phone. “Is there an easier way to get to Smithton’s Rent-All?”
“Ugh. Don’t go to Smithton’s.” Maggie pulled a face.
“What’s wrong with them?” Paige set down her phone.
“Someone need a truck?” Caleb’s voice made Paige jump.
She whirled around. “How do you always sneak up on me?”
“The way I see it, you’re the one always running into me.” Caleb grinned and snagged a carrot stick off the platter Maggie was about to set out in the lobby.
“Oh! You.” Maggie swatted at his hand, a smile showing she didn’t really care. She picked up the platter and used her hip to open the door that led to the guest area of the inn.
Picking her phone up again, Paige tried to ignore Caleb. She needed to figure out a plan to get her boxes, and talking with him right now wouldn’t help that. Besides, she was still frustrated about his attitude toward the students at Sarah’s Home after their disagreement the other day.
She scrolled through the list of truck-rental places. Why did so many of them close by noon on Saturday? Saturday was when people moved. In the Chicago area the businesses were open extra late on the weekends. So finally, a downside to small town living.
Caleb braced his hands on the island. “Paige, I need to talk—”
She held up her hand. “I’m kind of in a hurry right now.”
His face fell. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry.” She put the phone back into her pocket. “I need to get to one of the truck-rental places before they close.”
“How about the use of a free one?”
Paige adjusted the hair ties on her wrist before looping her purse on her shoulder. “I’d say that’s even better.”
“Where do you need to go?”
“Chicago.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Is it just for the day?”
She nodded. “My parents are moving, so I want to pick up the rest of my belongings and come back here tonight.”
Caleb pulled out his car keys. “I’ll drive you, but I want to talk first.”
“I’ve found that when someone says that, it usually isn’t a good thing.” Paige perched on the edge of the stool.
“The other day at Sarah’s Home—”
“Please.” She looked down at her fingers. “I don’t want to fight again. Not if we’re going to spend the day together.”
“Hear me out.” He pulled out the stool beside her and sat down. His knee bumped against hers. “I stopped by today hoping to see you. I thought a lot about what you said—about our need to believe in the students. And you’re right. I...I’d lost sight of that, and I wanted to thank you for reminding me.”
She glanced up at him and was met by his soft chocolate gaze. “Really?”
“When I lost Sarah...I realized I’ve been holding on to a lot of anger and directed it at Sarah’s Home and inadvertently onto the students there. We never found out who attacked her that night, and I’ve always wondered if one of the students knew and didn’t say anything. I think—” His voice failed him for a moment. “I think I stopped caring about them for a while because of it.”
Paige fought the urge to take his hand. Her heart twisted for all he’d been through and had to process—was still processing two years after his wife’s death. “Caleb. That’s all understandable.”
“I’m sorry for how I acted the other day. Well, not just that time. I’m sorry for how I’ve acted each time we’ve been to Sarah’s Home. You keep working so hard with those students, and I’ve been such a roadblock. I do care about them. I wouldn’t have kept the place open if I didn’t.”
“It makes sense, though.”
He still seemed to be waiting for something more.
So she added, “I forgive you.”
Caleb let out a long breath. “Since it looks like we’re going to be around each other a lot, can you do me a favor? If I start to do it again, I’m giving you permission to pull me aside and point that out.”
Trying to lighten the mood, she smiled. “Noted.” She fiddled with the strap of her purse. “Was that everything?”
“Yes.” He jingled his keys. “Are we leaving now?”
“If you’re sure that’s fine.”
His eyebrows knit together and he stared at her. “I wouldn’t have offered if it wasn’t.”
Within ten minutes they were both buckled in the truck and pulling out onto the interstate. She stacked the five reading books he had lying on the bench in a plastic bag she found in his glove box to keep them from sliding all over the place. Watership Down, Lord of the Flies, The Rough Riders, Undaunted Courage and The Great Gatsby—all library books. Such a diverse reading list. Who was this man? She bit back all the questions she wanted to ask. Questions and conversation about books would only serve to paint a more charming image of him in her mind than already existed.
Things needed to stay surface level and friendly. No feelings. If she was going to build a life in Goose Harbor, keeping things platonic with Caleb was a must. Getting attached to a man meant pain—always—and she’d seen plenty of that to last her quite a while.
Chapter Nine
Caleb glanced at Paige as he turned into a gated residential community. He’d never actually been to the area, so when Paige had told him she lived in Chicago, he’d pictured a row of small brick bungalow homes situated close enough to reach out a window and touch the neighbor’s siding. Alleys that weren’t well plowed in winter, that sort of city living. She’d failed to mention that her parents lived in the wealthy section of the suburbs.
Behemoth homes, bigger than two of Maggie’s old Victorian inns put together, loomed on either side of the quiet street. People had their own tennis courts and private, fenced-in basketball courts in their backyards. Garages here housed four cars.
Caleb rubbed the grease stain on his jeans. Why hadn’t he changed before they left? What sort of impression would beat-up work boots, a rolled-up flannel shirt and stained jeans make on the Windoms? Maybe he should stay in the truck when they got there. Although, that would mean her lifting all the boxes he
rself, which he’d never let happen.
“Turn down Lavender Avenue and it’s the second house on the left,” Paige directed him.
The Windoms’ home fit in perfectly with the neighborhood. The white house boasted four two-story pillars, and he guessed it had room for six or more bedrooms upstairs. A large sculpture in the middle of a fountain in the front yard spewed water. People had stuff like that in their yards?
The tires of his truck had no more than hit the curb when an older woman and a younger man stepped out the front door and started walking toward them.
The man stopped before continuing down the driveway. He pulled his phone from his back pocket, turned his back to them and talked to someone.
Paige stiffened. One of her hands locked around the edge of her seat, the other around the strap of her purse. “Why is he here? I can’t do this.”
Caleb’s senses went on alert. He popped the truck into Park and then reached over and placed his hand on top of hers. “What’s wrong?”
“Him.” Her lip trembled and she started that rapid-fire blink thing he remembered from the first time they met.
Realization surged through his heart. “Does he have something to do with the wedding dress?”
Paige nodded once, sharply.
“Do you want me to tell him to go?”
She gently tugged her hand out from under his and drew in a long breath. “No one tells Bryan to leave. It doesn’t work like that.”
All the glow that normally filled her features drained from her face.
“Could you start loading the boxes? They’re stacked in the garage.” She pointed to the last open door. “I’d like to get out of here as fast as possible.”
He nodded and climbed out of the truck. What else could he do? Paige needed someone to stand beside her to help fight her dragons, but evidently, she didn’t want that man to be him.
* * *
Willing her hands to stop shaking, she slipped out of the truck. What she’d mistaken early on in her relationship with Bryan for a butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling had really always been a bubbling terror in her gut. Around him, she’d never been free to talk or state any opinion. And yet she’d stayed because her mind had been tricked into believing that he was right to tread on her plans and desires. Bryan had always gotten his way, and she could no longer blame him for that.
She hadn’t possessed the courage or ability to speak up for herself.
Away from Bryan for the past few months, she’d been able to start healing. But was it enough? The sick feeling racing up her throat said no.
Mom marched forward, dressed in her normal heels and pearls. “Who is that man you came with?”
Hi would have been nice. Hearing she’d been missed would have been better.
“A friend.”
Her mom’s jaw went slack. “You’re now accustomed to befriending lumberjacks? I thought I raised you better than that.” Her whisper was no doubt loud enough for Caleb to hear from where he loaded boxes.
Heat rushed up the back of Paige’s neck. “Mom, that’s rude.”
Mom popped her hands on her hips. “So is not greeting my guest.” She smiled sweetly at Bryan.
“Why did you invite him here when you knew I’d be stopping by today?” She shouldn’t have given her mom warning that she was coming. The scolding of showing up unannounced would have been better than dealing with Bryan.
Like a giddy schoolgirl, Mom’s eyes went big and she clamped onto Paige’s wrist. “He wants to give you back the ring, sweetheart. The ring! Do you know what that means?” She started to drag Paige toward Bryan. “Well, I’ll just leave you two alone. Don’t be foolish, Paige.” Mom winked at Bryan and strolled back into the house.
Paige commanded her heart to stop racing and her mind to work fast enough to be able to handle standing up to Bryan.
“Hey, babe.” Bryan leaned in to hug her and Paige sidestepped him.
“Don’t ‘hey, babe’ me. Why are you here?” Pretty good. Better than she’d ever done at standing up to him before. If only she could keep the quiver out of her voice.
He blinked a couple of times in mock disbelief. With his blond hair styled with copious amounts of gel, his bleached white teeth and designer polo that probably cost more than Caleb’s truck was currently worth, Paige wondered what she ever saw in Bryan. Besides the facts that his father served in the Senate, he could offer her a lifestyle she’d grown used to and dating him made her mom happy—nothing. At least, nothing that meant anything to her. Not anymore.
How quickly what ranked as essential to her had changed. After a couple of weeks in Goose Harbor, she never again wanted to live in the affluent manner she’d been raised in. The people in her new town had small homes that held just what they needed, but more significantly, their lives were marked by strong friendships and a willingness to help their neighbors. Those things were important to her, too, now.
Bryan stepped closer, into her personal space. He placed his hands on her arms where her sleeves ended and rubbed his thumbs against her skin. “Don’t be like that. I’ve missed you.”
“I don’t want to do this. Leave me alone.” She stepped out of his hold, yanked a ponytail holder off her arm and piled her hair into a bun.
“Tsk. Tsk.” Bryan grabbed her wrist. Hard. “Who tells their fiancé to leave them alone?”
“You’re not my fiancé.” She tried to pull away.
“Listen.” He jerked her so his mouth was right by her ear. “Everyone thinks you’re a fool. They feel sorry for you, really—the girl who can’t commit to a good guy.”
“You cheated—”
His fingers dug into her skin. “Did you really think I’d let you make me look bad? You don’t get to call off our wedding, Paige. But don’t worry. It works out well. Everyone thinks better of me now. All our friends think I’m the height of understanding because I told them the wedding has been postponed while I allow you to go find yourself in Michigan. But soon enough, your time there will be over. Do you hear me?”
She braced her hands on his chest and applied pressure. “Why would you even still want me to marry you? We don’t love each other.”
Instead of getting the hint and letting go, he latched onto her other wrist and smiled down at her like the Cheshire cat. “You have the right upbringing and family to be the perfect wife for when I run for office. We’ll be a good fit, you’ll see.”
“I’ll never marry you.” She shoved hard enough to finally get out of his hold and whirled around. Caleb stood near his truck, brow low, watching them.
On her heels, Bryan stalked down the grass and hopped into his BMW. Why hadn’t she noticed the scorching red car right away when they pulled down the street? He must have slammed on the gas because the BMW flew down Lavender Avenue in two seconds flat.
* * *
Caleb forced himself to stay rooted in the spot next to the truck. His heart pounded like a war drum, and it wasn’t from the effort of loading all the boxes as fast as he could. He watched the exchange between Paige and the golden boy and had ground his molars with not saying something. She’d done the thing with her hair that he noticed before—pulling it up when she felt uncomfortable. On one hand, it was good to know he’d read her mannerism right; on the other, his gut churned thinking of the number of times she’d done the same thing when he talked to her.
Did conversation with him make Paige feel small and insignificant like she appeared to feel when talking to Golden Boy? She’d visibly shrunk while that man loomed over her. If he had held on to Paige for thirty more seconds, then Caleb would have stormed over. He would have earlier if he’d known the situation better—if he’d known whether Paige would receive that sort of help well.
Paige offered a weak smile to him as she walked, slow and a
lmost wobbly, down the driveway. “Thanks for loading the boxes. I should have helped.”
He looped his thumbs on his pants pockets. “Are you okay? ’Cause you don’t look like you’re okay.”
Paige pursed her lips together and shook her head. Tears started to run down her face. She swiped at them with her palm.
Caleb felt helpless. She looked so defenseless. A deep longing to protect her rose up in his chest. He decided then that moving forward he would stand between her and whatever danger was out there. Golden Boy couldn’t treat her poorly any longer. Caleb would go out of his way to make her feel safe and cherished.
Cherished? Where had that come from?
He didn’t know her well enough, did he?
Paige toed the ground. “I walk away from every conversation with him feeling like I’m not worth anything,” she whispered.
“He’s wrong.” It came out as a fierce growl. Caleb closed the space between them in two steps and gathered her to his chest. To his surprise, she unlaced her arms and drew them around his back, pressing her head into his shoulder.
His hand covered her silky hair as he pressed his cheek against the side of her head. “That’s his sin. His problem. Do you hear me, Paige? You had worth beyond measure from the moment God created you, and no one can take that away. Not that man. And not your feelings.”
They stood together for a couple of minutes before Paige pushed lightly out of his hold. She went into the house to say goodbye to her parents and then they left for Goose Harbor. Paige spent the ride home silently gazing out the window, and Caleb spent the ride home fighting the urge to reach over and take her hand.
He couldn’t pinpoint it, but slowly—like the changing of seasons—Paige had tiptoed into his heart. The realization made panic surge through his veins.
After seeing her ex-fiancé tower over her like a bridge troll, Caleb never wanted to let Paige get hurt again. But Paige wasn’t easily convinced to be careful like Sarah had been. Paige would keep taking risks. Paige would keep going to Brookside and keep forging relationships with the urban youth.
Love Inspired August 2014 – Bundle 1 of 2 Page 54
