“You’re wrong.”
“You forget who you’re talking to, Noah. I know you better than anyone. I know what you’re most afraid of. I know how much you want a family again. A place to belong. Just like I do.” With some of her anger spent, she took a deep breath and met his gaze. “We found that place in each other, but we were too young and naive to understand what we had. We were the right people. It was just the wrong time.”
Noah ran a hand through his hair before resting his hands on his hips. “I didn’t do this to hurt you. I didn’t even know you were the one trying to buy the place.”
“Then change your report.”
“I can’t do that. The building is too dangerous. I won’t say it’s safe when it’s not just to make you happy.”
Noah rubbed his forehead, then lowered his head and stared at the desk. Beth waited for him to continue. His shoulders braced. He reached over and picked up the printed boarding pass lying on the desk. His jaw flexed rapidly as he read the destination. “New York?”
His eyes were the color of an angry summer sky. She hastened to explain. “Yes, I’m going to—”
He waved the paper at her. “Your friend’s offer was too good to pass up.”
“No. That’s not why I’m going.”
“But you are going.”
“Yes, but if you let me explain—”
The door swished open and her mother hurried in. “Beth, I need that list of properties for the Andersons. I forgot to put it in my phone before I left. Hello, Noah.”
“Francie.” He sent a glare at Beth, tossed the paper back onto the desk then walked out, leaving a heavy tension in the air.
“Did I interrupt something?” Her mother cast a puzzled look in her direction. “What’s wrong?”
Beth could barely speak around the pain and hurt clawing at her throat. “Noah condemned my building. And then he saw my boarding pass for New York.” She sank into the desk chair, wiping tears from her eyes. “He thinks I’m walking away again.”
Francie frowned. “You’re leaving?”
“Yes, but I’ll be right back. I’m due for a follow-up visit with my doctor in New York, and I decided to go right away and get it over with. Noah stormed out before I could explain, and I’m sure in his stubborn, distrustful way, he thinks I’m going back to work.”
“And this building thing. What’s that about?”
“Oh.” Her guilty conscience swelled. “I was going to wait to tell you until it was all finalized, but I put an offer in on Miss Barker’s old building, the one where I took lessons. It’s for sale, and I thought it would be a good place to open my school.” She shrugged. “Sort of carry on in her honor.”
Her mother nodded. “You want to open a dance school. Here in Dover? I thought that was the very last thing you wanted to do.”
She nodded. “It was, until I started teaching the girls and working with the seniors and helping with the show. Now it sounds like a good idea.”
“I think so, too.”
“But Noah did the inspection on the building and recommended it be condemned.”
“Good for him.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“His, in this case. Honey, I know that building. The owner lives in New England someplace, and he has no intention of fixing it up. He’s only interested in the ground it sits on. How had you planned on paying for it? You sold the land your father gave you when you moved to New York.”
“I know, and I don’t regret it. But I’m in good shape financially. I can afford to do this.”
“Why didn’t you come to me about this?”
The hurt tone in her mother’s voice scratched across her conscience. She should have thought things through better. “I wanted to accomplish it on my own, to prove to everyone I’d changed.”
“I admire your intentions, but if you’d told me, I could have saved you a lot of trouble. If you really want to open a studio, I have several places better suited that wouldn’t need much to get them ready. Or you could rent a place until you get up and running.”
“I’d rather own.”
“Okay. Scoot over.”
Her mother pulled up another chair to the desk and quickly pulled up three locations on the computer. Beth took one look at the two-story property, with its blue paint and dark blue awnings, and knew it was perfect. “That’s the one. Do you think I can afford it?”
“We’ll make sure of it.” She hit the print button and pulled the sheet from the printer.
“When do you go to New York?”
“Now. I need to leave for the airport in a few minutes. I have an appointment first thing tomorrow morning. I had just printed out my boarding pass when the bank called and I found out Noah had done the inspection on my building and condemned it. I accused him of doing it deliberately to hurt me.”
Her mother frowned, studying her closely. “Do you really think Noah would be so vindictive? Not to mention unethical.”
With her shock and anger fading, Beth realized she’d overreacted. “No. He’s too honorable to ever do something like that. I was upset. I guess I was lashing out at him without thinking.”
“Maybe you’d better go explain things to him.”
“No. I think we both need to cool off. I’ll talk to him when I get back tomorrow afternoon. That way he’ll know for sure I’m staying here.”
At least she prayed he would understand. Once this final checkup from the specialist was done, she could cut the last tie to her past life, and turn all her attention toward the future.
Please, Lord, let that future include Noah and Chloe.
Chapter Twelve
Noah gripped the steering wheel with more force than necessary. New York. Beth was returning to New York. All her talk about staying in Dover was just that. Talk. Apparently her friend Kurt had convinced her that coming to work with him was too good an opportunity to pass up.
What hurt even more was how she’d accused him of deliberately sabotaging her building inspection. How could she think he’d be so underhanded? And if she was so upset that he’d nixed her building, why was she going back to New York?
He glanced out the window at the open country along the highway. Maybe he should have taken time to ask her. But the scalding shaft of pain in his chest had released all the old hurt from her walking away long ago. Instead, the anger had churned inside him all night, robbing him of sleep and darkening his mood all day. This was his last stop. Maybe then he could deal with Beth’s defection and try to move forward.
The green-and-white sign for Old Agler Road flashed by, signaling he was nearing the old Victorian house. He was in no mood to deal with Harvey Kramer today. The man had no concern for his own safety or that of his crew, and balked at every regulation he had to adhere to. If Kramer had his way, he’d ignore building codes altogether.
If he hadn’t promised Kramer he’d be here to check out the foundation problem, he’d turn around and have it out with Beth. Even if that meant going to New York to confront her. She’d left him so confused, he wasn’t sure which way was up. All he knew for certain was that he didn’t like being at odds with her. He didn’t want to lose the connection that was reforming between them. The kiss they’d shared still had the power to warm his blood and send his heart pounding.
Flipping the turn signal lever, he eased the truck into the long, narrow driveway leading to the old home. It wouldn’t take long to get under the house and identify the problems, but convincing his client to make the necessary reconstruction might take a while.
Kramer met him at the front door. “I hope you can come up with a quick and cheap solution to this floor issue. I’m losing time on this deal.”
Noah followed him into the large kitchen on the northeast side of the house, noticing Kramer had ripped out cabinets and
appliances in his haste to remodel. The man’s impatience was also evident in the pulled-up floorboards, which now exposed the joists below. He also noticed the sagging ceiling had been braced. Unfortunately he’d done so with a few two-by-fours, which were far too weak to do the job safely. Noah pointed to the already bowing lumber. “You need to use two-by-sixes to hold that up.”
Kramer waved him off. “I’ll get around to it. It’s all I had. So what about this floor?”
Noah flicked on his flashlight and examined the exposed wood beneath the floor, then began taking a few measurements. “I don’t like what I’m seeing, but I’ll have to get under the house to know for sure.”
“Fine. Do it. I need to get the project on track before I lose my shirt.”
Noah shook his head and went back to the truck, pulling out his blue coveralls and the tools he’d need to do a thorough foundation inspection.
A quick glance at the sky told him a rainstorm was on its way. He’d better get started. But between his truck and the opening to the crawl space, his thoughts reverted to Beth. He didn’t want her to leave Dover. But how did he get her to stay? She’d gone to New York—but was it for good, or a quick trip to work out the details of a new job? He should have at least asked her before storming off. He’d considered calling her, but each time he’d lost his nerve. How could he convince her she needed to stay here with him and Chloe? Could they even compete with the life she’d once had?
Zipping up the coveralls, he flipped up the hood and got down on his knees. Thankfully the crawl space was reasonably spacious and allowed him plenty of headroom. He belly-crawled toward the corner, examining joists and foundation pilings as he went, not pleased with what he was seeing. When he reached the opening Kramer had made, he pulled out his tape measure and the flashlight again. Thunder rolled through the sky.
The floors definitely needed more joists to bring it up to code. The current ones were too small, and a couple were completely rotten. Rolling over, he scooted to the next pier block, which had sunk down nearly three inches into the poor soil. He took a couple pictures and made a few more measurements before preparing to crawl back out. As he maneuvered past another pier, he noticed a joist riddled with termite damage. How had he missed that? Simple answer—because he’d been constantly distracted by thoughts of Beth. He’d had to take each measurement twice because he couldn’t keep the numbers in his head.
A closer look at the wood revealed the entire section was paper-thin. It could collapse at any moment. Time to get out of there. He stashed his tools in his belt and started forward on his stomach.
A loud snap sounded from overhead. Thunder? He reached forward, his feet digging into the soft dirt below the house. A loud crash. The house shook. A crack. Sudden weight pressed on his back, robbing him of air. Pain sliced into his thigh.
There was another rumble, then a blow to his head...then darkness.
* * *
Beth ducked in to the entryway, escaping the pouring rain, then stepped into the real estate office, unable to keep the smile from her face. Her mother glanced up. “Welcome home, sweetheart. How did it go?”
She placed her small suitcase and purse in the corner then sat down. “The doctor said I’m healing better than expected, and he even thinks I’ll be able to do a little pointe work in time. Nothing long-term, but I might be able to dance a little.”
“That’s wonderful news. You must be excited.”
“I am, but that’s not the only thing that happened. On the plane back, I sat with Katie Lorman. Remember her? We studied ballet together.”
“I do. How is she?”
“Fine. She’s working and dancing with Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, and she’s asked me to join the staff working with the trainees. It’s part-time, so I can still have my school and work with the ballet, too. Maybe even perform with them at some point.” She didn’t mention the one part of her plan that was still unsettled. Noah’s place in her life.
Her mom held up her finger. “Speaking of your school, I did a little more digging on that blue building you liked.” She tapped the keyboard then angled the computer so she could see. “It’s on south Church Street, and it’s in great shape. I looked it over this morning. Wood floors, lots of windows. It was an office complex, but it could easily be reconfigured to suit your needs.”
Beth scrolled through the photos of the interior, her excitement growing. “It’s adorable.”
“I’ve already been in touch with the owner, and he’s very motivated. And you won’t need to worry about an inspection. He’s already had that done, and I have the paperwork. In fact, I’ve started the purchase papers, too, and talked to Todd at the bank. All you have to do is take a look at the property, and we can get moving on it.”
“You sound more excited about my new business than I am.”
“I guess I am in a way. I like having you back home.”
Beth wrapped her mother in a tight hug. “Thank you. I’m glad to be home, too.” The reality of her decision landed on her mind, triggering a rush of insecurity. “Mom, I’ve never started a business before. There’s so much to think about, so much I don’t know.”
“Don’t worry. I know exactly what to do. I’ll walk you through every step. We’ll come up with a business plan and get everything lined up.”
The phone rang, and her mother answered. Beth looked at the photos again, mentally assigning each space to a part of her dance studio.
“Evelyn, what’s wrong? Yes. She’s here. She just got back.”
Beth’s heart seized when she saw the look of horror on her mother’s face. “Yes. I will.” She scribbled something on the notepad. “I’ll notify the prayer chain.”
Fear gripped her lungs. “Mom? What is it? Chloe?”
“No. Evelyn has been trying to reach you for the last half hour. Is your phone dead?”
She nodded. “I forgot my charger at the hotel.”
Her mother took her hand. “It’s Noah. He was doing a foundation inspection, and there was an accident.”
Blood iced in her veins. “Is he—” She couldn’t bring herself to ask the question.
“The house collapsed, and he’s trapped underneath. The rescue squad is trying to get him out now, but it’s a slow process. They don’t want to cause another collapse.”
“I’ve got to go. Where is he?” She took the paper from her mother. She recognized the road. The house belonged to Noah’s first client, the difficult one.
“Maybe I should take you.”
“No. I’m fine. I’ve got to go.”
Her heart pounded so hard as she drove out of town she feared she couldn’t breathe. Sweaty palms made gripping the steering wheel difficult. Fear like crashing waves ebbed and flowed in her stomach. A thousand questions darted through her mind. What if she lost him? Where was Chloe? How much of the house had collapsed? Why wasn’t he more careful?
The answers didn’t matter. She had to be there with him. He needed her. She needed him.
The pouring rain caused her to miss the driveway, and she lost precious time turning around. Fire and rescue trucks were parked next to the old Victorian, which was still standing. In her mind she’d imagined a pile of rubble. She grabbed her raincoat from the back and slipped it on as she hurried toward the activity, her feet sloshing on wet earth. She wanted to call his name, but he’d never hear her above the rain and thunder and the shouting of the workers. She looked around for a familiar face.
“Beth.” Evelyn hurried toward her, wrapping her in a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Where is he? Is he all right?”
Evelyn kept an arm around her waist as she walked her toward the back of the house. That’s when she saw the corner of the house sagging awkwardly and a heap of rubble on the ground. “Oh, no. Is he under there?” Her heart beat in an unnatural r
hythm, as if one chamber had shut down.
“Yes. They’re working to get him out. All I know right now is that he’s alive.”
Beth glanced around at the men coming and going, walking slowly as if there was no urgency. “Why aren’t they working harder? They have to get him out of there.”
Evelyn patted her arm. “They’re working as fast as they can. They don’t want to trigger another collapse, and the rain is making things difficult.”
Beth’s barely controlled emotions gave way. Tears poured down her cheeks, and a sob burst from her throat. “He has to be all right. I can’t lose him now. I love him. Please, Lord, not now.” She found herself in Evelyn’s strong embrace as she cried, holding on to the woman tightly.
“Let’s go sit in my car and get out of the rain. We can see everything from there. The chief promised he’d keep me updated.”
Beth resisted moving. She needed to be right here when he came out. She wanted him to know she was here. “No, I’d better wait.”
Evelyn pulled her around and urged her toward her vehicle parked a few yards away. Inside the warm, dry car, Beth was able to take a steady breath and think a little more clearly. “Where’s Chloe? Does she know?”
Evelyn shook her head. “She’s with friends. They were going to the movies in Sawyer’s Bend. I’m not going to call her until we know something for certain.”
After a half hour, Beth couldn’t sit another moment. She got out and moved as close to the activity as she could. It was silly, but standing here in the rain, near Noah, made her feel like she was doing something. Lending moral support by her presence.
The next half hour saw progress. The firemen had shored up the area and were now under the house tending to Noah’s injuries, but there was still a lot to do before they could safely remove him from the small space. He was unconscious.
Cold and wet, she returned to the car to wait with Noah’s grandmother.
A Mom for Christmas Page 17
