Even Heroes Cry, Fords of Nashville, Book 1

by Hildie McQueen

  Outside, a loud pop followed an unnatural screech when the ancient truck pulled to a stop on the driveway. On the truck's driver side door the words "Shanty and Sons" was spray-painted in crooked red letters. Moments later, knocks on the door echoed through her mostly empty house. Finally the start of the largest project would begin. She couldn't wait to tear down dilapidated walls and replace them with fresh drywall.

  A burly bearded middle-aged man greeted her by removing his paint splatter stained hat. "Miss, I'm Fred Shanty, from Shanty and Sons." Next to him stood a slim man who couldn't possibly be his son, by the grey whiskers and lined face. Mr. Shanty pointed to his companion. "This here is my associate, Jerry Pike."

  Mr. Pike gave her a bright smile, which showcased a missing front tooth. "How do you do, Miss Lady?" Tesha couldn't help but smile back at the friendly man.

  Fred Shanty held a clipboard covered with duct tape in one hand and pulled a long tape measure from a holster that swung low on his hip, and under his belly with the other.

  It took several hours for them to walk through the down stairs. While Tesha explained what she wanted, he took notes and made suggestions. Most of what he suggested surprised her. Mr. Shanty obviously knew his stuff, which impressed her.

  Jerry Pike mostly poked at fixtures and tsked while mumbling under his breath. Once they returned to the front room, she promised to call him with her decision once she met with her two other contractors.

  After Mr. Shanty left, leaving her a crumpled estimate, she went to the kitchen and poured a glass of tea. From her kitchen window, she glanced across the way toward Adam Ford's house. She'd not seen him in two days. He'd left on Saturday morning. Tesha supposed to his parents’ house for the weekend.

  Although she'd considered driving to Atlanta, to visit her own mom over the weekend, her mother insisted it was not necessary as she'd already planned a spa trip with a friend thanks to a gift certificate Tesha had gifted her. Since her mother kept busy, it was best to preplan visits since it was hit and miss whether or not the social butterfly and travel aficionado would be in town.

  Again Tesha peered out the window toward Adam's house. Something didn't feel right.

  The black F250 was in the driveway. He'd returned from visiting his parents, it must have been sometime in the middle of the night. She'd not seen him outside much since moving in and it occurred to her that perhaps it was his way to remain inside. After all, the realtor had described him as a recluse. Besides, it was not her place to worry over her neighbor, or to attempt to bring any sort of therapy into his life. If anyone needed help it was her.

  Tesha let out a sigh at realizing that the decision to move to Lovely was already helping. The ache in the center of her chest every time her mind wandered to David was as sharp as ever, but thankfully it happened with less frequency now. New projects, the plans for the garden, and admittedly her handsome neighbor were wonderful distractions from the constant grieving her life had become.

  Later that day, Tesha couldn’t believe her crappy luck. The second contractor she'd planned to interview didn't show up, and the third called and cancelled not bothering to set up a follow up appointment. Fuming, she got in her truck to head to town. Hating to waste an entire day, she decided to get some things checked off her endless 'to-do' list. It was only four o'clock in the afternoon. The hardware store would still be open.

  She'd already started stripping wallpaper in one of the smaller rooms downstairs. It would be her pet project for now. One that would take a few days to complete and allow her to get something accomplished while meeting with contractors and such. Once the walls were touched up, she planned to paint in soothing tones and turn the room into her office. It would be her base of operations for all the renovations to come.

  Unable to shake the feeling of something strange happening at Adam's house, she turned right instead of left and slowed her car to pass his house. It was too early to see if any lights were on inside, especially with every window covered with closed blinds.

  Since he parked on the driveway on the side of his house, she assumed it allowed him to enter through a back door. The truck was a sure sign he was at home.

  With a huff, Tesha sped away. It was ridiculous really. It was one thing to check on a neighbor when feeling sure something was wrong, but if she were totally honest with herself, his safety was not her true motivation. The thought of catching a glimpse of the hot guy was. For goodness sakes, she'd only met him a few days earlier.

  The bell jingled as Tesha stepped through the doorway of Miller's Hardware. Bright fluorescent lighting shined from the ceiling. Although not a very large store, every shelf was stocked in an orderly fashion. On the front end of each aisle, signs informed shoppers to its contents. With the size of the town, she figured no one read the signs anymore, knowing the locations by heart.

  She neared a counter to the right of the entryway where an older woman held up a flyswatter with a huge fuchsia silk flower glued onto the flat end. Her sharp eyes flashed to Tesha. "Have you ever seen something so gaudy in your life?"

  "No, ma'am." Tesha wrinkled her nose. "If you kill a bug with it, it would ruin the flower."

  "Who in their right mind wants a decorated flyswatter? My sister Marlene sent me this. She's a nut job." The woman moved away from the counter and shrank about half a foot. She'd been standing on a small stool. Shaking her head, she made her way to the side of the counter and flung the offensive item into a trashcan. "I have to figure out how to tell her these contraptions won't be gracing my shelves. I don't care if she made a hundred of them. She wasted her time."

  Tesha giggled. "I hope she won't be too upset."

  The woman wagged her finger at Tesha. "She needs a better hobby than making ugly crap."

  With that, she lifted a box to rest on her hip and tottered way.

  "Where is your spackle?" Tesha followed the surprisingly quick moving woman. "I also need to get some paint strips."

  The store was silent for a few seconds. Tesha looked around and turned in a full circle as she gauged where the woman could have disappeared.

  A muffled cursed was followed by the lady coming back up the aisle. "Damn box fell apart." The tiny woman smiled up at Tesha and held out her hand. "Where are my manners? I assume everyone knows me, but you don't. I'm Tallulah Miller."

  "Nice to meet you. I'm Tesha Washington." They shook hands.

  Mrs. Miller studied Tesha for a short moment. "You're the young woman who bought that house on Magnolia Street, next door to Adam Ford. Well, aren't you just as cute as a button? Come on, I'll show you where the paint section is."

  Tesha liked Mrs. Miller immediately. Although she was older, it was hard to tell her age. Her dark brown hair was streaked with silver and her face had few wrinkles. She followed the woman while scanning the shelves for items she might need.

  Soft classical music played, giving the air of a forgotten time. "How long have you lived here, Mrs. Miller?"

  Waving a hand in the air in a circular motion, Mrs. Miller shook her head. "Since I came here to find my wonderful husband. I'll have to tell you all about it over tea one day. It's been about twenty-four years now that I came to Lovely. Four since Mr. Miller died and I took over the store."

  The pang in her chest at realizing their common bond made Tesha slow down. She studied the older woman as she hummed and swayed with the music in front of the paint strips. "I love the colorful array don't you? It reminds me of the many choices we make in life and how each one has the ability to make us happy." She winked at Tesha and then pointed to a shelf across from the display. "There's the spackle. Holler if you need anything."

  The front door jingled twice and Mrs. Miller smiled widely. "More friends." In the blink of an eye, she headed away.

  Tesha studied the array of shades. The last time she'd picked paint colors was after she and David purchased their Atlanta townhouse. Her hand moved over the strips, not seeing them, but remembering how he'd pulled bright colors from the slots urgi
ng her to choose something crazy.

  Admittedly, she'd made a lot of progress since her husband's death, yet each time she thought about him, time moved backwards. How she missed his easy smiles and the mischievous lift at the corner of his lips when teasing her. Almost three years without his touch, their wild lovemaking and other times when they'd cuddled on the couch, watching movies. The memories brought it all back so it seemed like only yesterday she'd lost him. The war had stolen so much from her.

  "What grieves you, sweetheart?" Mrs. Miller stood next to her, the woman's kind gaze taking in her tears.

  Tesha hadn't realized tears had fallen as she stood in front of the paint swatches. "I miss my husband." Not sure why she'd blurted the truth, Tesha gasped and covered her mouth.

  A warm hand covered her shoulder. "How long has it been?"

  "It's strange. I lost him three years ago, but sometimes it seems like only days. Silly things like this." She motioned to the display. "Bring back strong memories of him." Tesha wiped at the tears. "God, I miss him so much."

  Mrs. Miller took her hand and led her to a small room behind the front counter. The quaintness of it immediately helped ease her mind away from her sorrow. The walls were covered with colorful wallpaper. The print was of stripes in green, russet, and crème. Two Queen Anne chairs upholstered in another soft floral fabric flanked a painted off-white table that held a beautiful electric teapot, tea bags, and two cups inverted on their saucers. "What a beautiful space," Tesha said and sniffed loudly.

  "Well, you sit right down and have a cup of tea. Take as long as you need, sweetie. If I get a break I'll come and join you." There was understanding in Mrs. Miller's gaze as she patted her arm. "It will get better. I bet already there are times when you think of him and smile."

  "Yes, I do," Tesha replied with a watery smile. "He made me laugh a lot."

  An hour later, Tesha drove away from the hardware store. She'd promised to meet Mrs. Miller and her friends for tea soon and actually looked forward to getting to know her new friend better.

  Once on her street, she drove past her own house to slow in front of Adam's. Nothing had changed. The blinds were closed, still no lights on that she could see.

  It was none of her business, Tesha told herself all the while pulling to a stop and getting out of her small truck. She trotted up the front stairs and pushed the doorbell. Her heart accelerated and she wondered what she'd say if he opened the door.

  The two tones of the doorbell sounded hollow inside the house foyer. Would it be rude to try again? Tesha looked around despite the fact there was no house except hers from which anyone could spy her here. She tried the doorknob and it was locked. Once more she pushed the doorbell and put her ear against the door.

  Bong. Bong.

  She let out a sigh and placed her palm against the wood of the door. Unsure why she'd even come, Tesha returned to her truck. If anything she should be grateful he didn't answer, what would she have said? Hello Adam, just making sure you're alive?

  A thought occurred as she made a U-turn to her own home. What if Adam had a girlfriend? He could be 'entertaining' and here she was interrupting. She let out a huff and then giggled at the reaction. She'd never acted so aggressively over a man. Why did she now?

  It was absolutely none of her business what Adam Ford did. Yet as she climbed the stairs to her front door, she took one more look toward his house.

  For a week now, the sounds of hammering and low masculine voices were familiar. The contractors had been working on her entryway and large front room walls.

  In a smaller adjoining area, Tesha rolled the cream colored paint onto the wall in her soon to be completed office. She'd chosen to paint stripes in two tones, off-white and buttery yellow and it was shaping up well. Another country song started from the larger front room where Mr. Shanty, and his assistant Jerry Pike who hummed off key, worked.

  Tesha joined in and whistled along with the quick tempo while painting.

  Since she was alone in the room she began to sway in time with the music, wiggling her hips side to side. She may as well paint and get exercise at the same time.

  "Hello."

  The deep voice startled her and she swung around so fast, the roller landed squarely in the middle of Adam's broad chest. He looked down and then back up to her face, his right eyebrow lifted.

  "Oh my God," Tesha moved back and then closed her eyes in embarrassment as her butt squished against the wet wall. "Crud." She put the roller down and grabbed a towel. "Its water based, should come out in the wash if we throw it in now." With quick strokes, she wiped at the paint spot on his chest only managing to make the stain bigger. "I will pay for it of course."

  "No need. It's an old t-shirt," Adam replied, his gaze following her movements. Once again she was struck by how he maintained a neutral expression despite the situation. "I came to see what you needed when you stopped by the other day."

  He'd been home. Now what to say?

  His face was drawn, with dark circles under his eyes and the presence of a beard made her wonder how long it'd been since he'd slept or shaved. Catching herself, she cleared her throat and lifted her shoulders. "Nothing important. I--I...okay honestly, I was checking to make sure you were all right."

  Something flashed in his eyes, but he remained quiet.

  At a lack of what to say, she motioned around the room. "What do you think? I've always been a fan of two-toned walls. The subtle color difference and one being flat and the other glossy add a texture variance as well." He studied the walls, giving her an opportunity to take him in.

  What had been a flat stomach was concave. It gave her the impression he'd not eaten in days. "It looks good." Once again the words were flat, nothing in his expression giving away what he really thought.

  In her gut, she knew something was terribly wrong, but with his impenetrable walls, she'd not ask. Instead, Tesha automatically came up with a plan to feed him. Whatever reason kept him from answering the door, the cause of his appearance, she may never know, but she'd do what she could to help.

  The look in his eyes, the lack of emotion reminded her of the first days after her husband's death. Her mother had commented on how the hollow look was painful to look upon. Adam radiated pain.

  "Would you mind going with me to grab a bite? I'm starving and have no idea where to get a good home cooked style meal. I've been surviving on thrown together sandwiches and salads."

  "I know where you can go." His reply made it obvious he did not plan to accompany her.

  Tesha frowned. "You don't want to come?”

  His eyes shifted away, the pensive expression on the handsome man's face made her want to grab his face and soothe him. "I'm not much for going out to eat."

  "How about we get it to go and eat it outside somewhere. Back here maybe. Come on. I'm so tired of eating alone. I have a picnic table in my future garden space. Just you and me?" She was not about to give up.

  His shoulders lowered and his face visibly relaxed. "There a place just past town, they make good barbeque and everything to go along with it."

  Tesha searched for the number on her phone and called in an order. "Meet me out front in five minutes. I have to change my shorts." She dashed from the room not giving him time to change his mind.

  Chapter Four

  Adam paused inside his front door waiting for the panic to reappear. When it didn't, he felt assured in venturing out with Tesha.

  A smile threatened at recalling her perky butt shaking to the music. He'd not expected the added treat of her having to touch him after painting his chest. Adam pulled the T-shirt over his head and held it up. Instead of throwing it into the wash, he carefully placed it over the back of a chair to dry.

  She'd come to check on him. Thank God he'd locked the door and closed all the blinds. The last thing he needed was for her or anyone to appear in the midst of one of his attacks. He didn't want to know what he was capable of in the middle of one of his flashbacks if he imagined her to be an Af
ghani rebel.

  Not wanting to miss his five-minute deadline, he yanked a second t-shirt on and went back out.

  Tesha stood by her small truck. She'd changed her grey shorts for a pair of jean cut-offs and on her feet she wore flat sandals. Although he pretended to look at her face, he took in her sweet tight body and felt his own react. No. Off limits.

  Half an hour later they sat on the picnic bench beside her house eating in quiet accompaniment. He appreciated how she didn't bombard him with questions, but instead spoke of her upcoming projects and on occasion asked his opinion.

  She'd bought enough barbeque to feed ten people. He couldn't help but eat more than his fill. Just the smell of the food and her easy company brought out a hunger after not eating for several days.

  Shanty and Jerry Pike had also eaten and were now back inside. Tesha was a thoughtful person. It seemed in her nature to care about others. She insisted they sit and eat, fussing over the men when they claimed to be full, pushing extra servings onto their plates.

  Her beautiful eyes slid to him. "I apologize for coming over and bothering you the other day. I promise I wasn't trying to be the nosy neighbor. Just had a strange feeling right here.” She pushed the side of her fist on her stomach.

  It felt good that she'd cared about his well-being, but at the same time, it could be dangerous for her. "I am not always in the mood for company."

  Hurt flashed in her eyes and her lips wobbled into an unconvincing smile. "I understand." It was obvious she didn't.

  "Tell me about your plans for the garden."

  She immediately brightened. "I met Mrs. Miller yesterday. She's going to help me with it."