“Not right now, sweetie.”
Lainie’s gaze drifted from the exquisitely carved stairs on one side of the hall to the wall on the other. Two crudely constructed sections stood out like an ugly patch on a pretty face. She guessed the additions had something to do with covering up old doors and sealing off that side of the home. The house had an odd, schizophrenic feel to it. One side grand and stately, the other run-down and hopeless.
“Mommy are we going to live in this castle?”
“For a little bit. Mr. Shaw is going to help us until—” How did she explain to young children the predicament she was in without alarming them? And how did she keep her own fears under control? “Until I can get a new purse.”
A loud bark shattered the silence. A black-and-white blur darted from behind the stairs and charged at them. Natalie screamed. Chrissy stood still, clenching her little hands into fists at her side. Lainie’s heart pounded violently as a large dog barreled down on the children. She pulled her girls close shielding them with her arms.
“Beaux. Heel.” Instantly, the Dalmatian slid to a halt, then trotted to Shaw’s side.
Lainie glared at the man as he approached. Natalie pulled out of her arms. Lainie grabbed the back of her shirt to hold her back.
“I want to pet the doggie.”
“Absolutely not.”
“It’s all right.” Shaw commanded the dog to sit then stooped and gestured to the girls. “Want to meet my dog?” They nodded and took small steps forward. Shaw extended his palm. “Hold your hand like this and let him sniff you.”
With the animal under control, Lainie relaxed her hold on her children. Both girls followed Shaw’s instruction, giggling with delight when Beaux sniffed their fingers.
“Now pet his head and he’ll be your friend forever.”
Natalie scratched the dog’s head and ears vigorously, while Chrissy moved to the dog’s side and stroked his black-and-white fur. She smiled at her mother. “He has polka spots.”
Lainie’s heart still pounded, but at a more normal rate now that it looked as if the animal wasn’t going to eat her children.
Shaw rose and joined her. “He’s a very gentle animal, but rambunctious.”
“You should have told me you had a dog.”
“Would it have made a difference?”
“Yes.” She crossed her arms and glared at him.
Shaw raised an eyebrow, challenging her statement.
Lainie turned away. She wasn’t in a position to turn down his help. Dog. Horse. Dragon. It wouldn’t have made a difference because she had nowhere else to go.
For the time being, she and her daughters were at the mercy of Shaw McKinney. It was Friday afternoon. It would be Monday before she could sort out her financial situation and meet with the mayor. Time in which she’d have to rely on Shaw. Not a comforting thought.
Chapter Two
“You’ll be staying on this side of the house.” Shaw unlocked the bulky door beside her, pushed it open, then handed her the key.
With a hand on each daughter’s shoulder, she urged them into the large living room, pleasantly surprised at what she found. The apartment was fully furnished. Everything was covered with sheets, but she could make out a sofa and chairs, and various small tables. The rooms looked livable despite the accumulation of dust. A little elbow grease should fix that. It was definitely preferable to sleeping in the car.
“The woman who owned the house lived here until she was into her nineties. After she passed, her family removed the sentimental items and left the rest. You should have everything you need.”
The house was the embodiment of Victorian style. The large windows, with intricate moldings, were covered with aged lace curtains, but still allowed in plenty of sunlight. French doors provided access to the front porch. Beside it, the curved walls of the tower added another element of charm to the room. It was a welcome change from the cramped apartment she’d shared with her mother, and the small garage apartment her former employer had provided. The girls ran to the tower, peeking out the long narrow windows.
Natalie smiled over her shoulder. “Mommy, this can be our Princess Club.”
Shaw gave Lainie a puzzled look. “Princess Club?”
“It’s a game the girls like to play. They find a cozy corner and pretend it’s their special castle where they can play dress up and do crafts.”
Chrissy pushed her glasses up, her expression serious. “It’s only for girls.”
Natalie ran back to Beaux and hugged his neck. “And cute dogs.” Chrissy smiled and nodded in agreement.
Shaw ran a thumb along his jaw. “Uh, Beaux is a boy dog.”
The girls looked at each other. Then Natalie whispered in her sister’s ear, generating an enthusiastic nod that sent the little girl’s ponytail waving. “Boy dogs are allowed. But not real boys.”
Shaw led them to the rear of the apartment into a large kitchen. The once-white cabinets were yellow with age, the laminate countertops worn and scratched, but there was a cozy quality that appealed to Lainie. She could envision a large family gathered here for a hearty meal, discussing the day’s events, and sharing laughter.
Shaw rested a hand on his hip, glancing around the kitchen. “Everything works. I keep it up in case I have to rent it out. I’d hoped to restore the place and get it on the market, but that’s on hold now.”
“You were going to sell it?” How could anyone not want to live in this lovely home? Even divided in half it was amazing.
“A single guy doesn’t need a place like this.”
“But you’ll have a family someday.”
He drew his eyebrows together in a frown, one corner of his mouth lifting in a sardonic smile. “Me? And give up my unencumbered bachelor life? Not in this century.”
She should have known. His statement reinforced what her husband had always said about him. He was the stereotypical self-absorbed bachelor, a man who liked the ladies, but wanted no part of the responsibility that came with a real relationship.
Shaw pointed to the narrow staircase at the back. “There are two bedrooms and a full bath upstairs.”
That’s when she saw it. The door-sized opening in the wall between her kitchen and the main hallway. She could see straight through to Shaw’s kitchen. Setting her jaw, she faced Shaw. “What is that? You said we’d have privacy and safety. Not with a giant hole in the wall we won’t.”
Shaw grimaced. “Yeah. Just some exploratory work. I’ll take care of it.”
“When?”
“Today.”
It suddenly occurred to her that she and her girls would be alone with Shaw in this house. Concern skimmed along her nerves. She was accepting help from a stranger. All she knew for certain was that he had been irresponsible in looking out for her husband. “Do all the door have locks?”
His blue eyes bored into hers. “You’re safe here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Lainie pulled her gaze away from Shaw’s probing assessment as her girls ran past.
“Mommy, look at the trees.” Natalie pressed her nose to the multipaned back door that led to a wide back porch and a large yard.
“Trees,” Chrissy said in awe.
Natalie looked over her shoulder at Shaw. “Mister, is there a swing?”
Shaw frowned, glancing at Lainie with a puzzled expression. “No.”
Natalie’s lower lip poked out. “But I wanted there to be a swing.”
Lainie peered out the window, at the tall leafy trees above full shrubs and a wide green lawn.
“Mom, can we play in the yard? Please?”
She couldn’t blame the girls for wanting to run and play. They’d never had a yard. Apartment life was limiting for children. She’d dreamed of a place like this to raise her girls. Maybe aft
er she’d worked a few years, she could afford to buy them a home of their own. Lainie took Natalie’s hair in her hands gathering it at the back of the little neck before letting it go. “Not right now.”
Shaw cleared his throat. “Uh, Lainie, we need to talk. Maybe the kids could play outside for a while? Beaux can go with them. He’s a great guard dog.”
The serious expression on Shaw’s face started the anxiety in her stomach swirling again. She sent up a quick prayer. She couldn’t take any more bad news. “Girls, you can play outside for a while. Mr. Shaw and I need to talk. Take Beaux with you.”
With squeals of delight, Natalie and Chrissy rushed out the door. Lainie gathered what little strength she had left and looked at Shaw. “What is it?”
Shaw dragged a hand down the back of his neck. His dark eyes were filled with confusion and concern. Finally, he smiled. “Come over to my kitchen. You can use my phone and computer to get your accounts closed.”
He’d changed the subject. Why? But he was right. First things first. She couldn’t afford to have that crook charging her cards to the limit.
Shaw gave her an encouraging smile. “Don’t worry. It’ll all work out.”
Oh, but she did worry. She had mountains of things to worry about, and relying on Shaw was at the top of the list. How could she depend on someone who couldn’t take care of the people entrusted to him? Lainie followed Shaw through the opening. The minute her accounts were taken care of, she and her girls were out of here. She just had to hang on and get through the next few days. Once she started work at the library, everything would be fine.
* * *
Shaw settled Lainie at his kitchen table with his laptop and helped her get started on contacting her creditors to close her accounts, then he went outside to bring in her luggage. Having Lainie in his home created an odd tension in his chest and triggered a variety of unwelcome emotions. He’d never expected to see her again, let alone assume responsibility for her and her children. He’d worked hard to conquer the guilt associated with Craig’s accident. But now, every time he saw Lainie and those girls, he’d be faced with the consequences of his actions. In less than an hour, his old doubts and remorse had clawed their way to the forefront of his mind.
He sent up a prayer for strength. Somehow he had to take care of Lainie and her children, and keep the past at bay, because he needed all his focus on the job. Too much was at stake.
After hauling in several suitcases and bags from Lainie’s car, there was nothing else to distract him from the real problem—telling Lainie that her job wasn’t going to start this week. Or the week after. While the residents of Dover were grateful for the donation made by the anonymous benefactor, the many strings attached had caused problems. One of the biggest was the rumor that beloved former head librarian, Millie Tedrow, wasn’t going to return. Shaw wasn’t sure how the townspeople would react when they learned Lainie got the job instead. He had to prepare her for what she might be facing, and it would be up to him to stand between her and the town. If she’d accept his help.
Lainie was still sitting at the computer when he returned. She shifted in her chair and her thick, dark hair brushed across her shoulders like a curtain of brown silk. She wore ankle-length sand-colored pants and a bright yellow top that skimmed her curves. He shut down his observation.
He hated to interrupt, but she needed to know the situation. She glanced at him and he looked into her warm chocolate eyes, feeling momentarily disoriented. He didn’t remember her lashes being so long or her eyes so expressive. He could read her every emotion, and right now he read fear and anxiety. She was waiting for the next shoe to drop, and he was about to drop a big one. “How’s it going?”
She nodded, chewing on her thumbnail. “Almost done.”
She tapped a few more keys, her intense concentration evident in the rigid lift to her shoulders. He stepped to the back door, watching her little girls play. They resembled their father with their blond hair and blue eyes. Shaw rubbed his forehead. Funny, he only remembered one child.
“All done.” Lainie came to his side, looking out at her daughters. “They needed to run and play. It’s been a long day for them.”
The weary tone in her voice concerned him. “You, too.” She shrugged without looking at him. “Lainie, I need to tell you something about your job at the library.”
“What?”
The fear that flashed through her eyes filled him with dread. Best get this over with. “You won’t be starting work at the library this week.”
“You’re wrong. Mr. Ogden said I would start on the eighth. That’s this Thursday.”
“The library isn’t finished.” The confusion in her eyes made him want to hold her close, the way he had outside the police station when she’d nearly collapsed. His nerves still vibrated from holding her in his arms, inhaling the strawberry scent of her hair, feeling her tremble against this chest.
“What do you mean it’s not finished? I don’t understand.”
“The project is three weeks behind.”
“Project? I thought this was a new building.”
Shaw dragged a hand across his jaw. “The old Webster House was donated to the city for use as the library, along with the funds to remodel it, and provide books and staff.”
She crossed her arms, and frowned. “What happened? Why isn’t it ready?”
“We ran into unforeseen problems. It happens. Especially in old buildings like this one.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What do you have to do with it?”
“I’m the contractor.”
Lainie’s eyes widened in shock. “Why are you so far behind? Why didn’t you stay on top of things?”
Her words scraped like a steel rasp across his old guilt. She had every reason to think he was at fault. “There were foundation problems, and we uncovered asbestos in the walls, then—”
She held up her hand to stop his explanation, then rested her fists on the sides of her neck as if protecting herself from more bad news. His heart ached. She looked so defeated. She’d been through so much and he was piling on more.
“Why didn’t Mr. Ogden let me know?”
“I don’t know. I’m only involved with the construction phase.”
Shaw saw the full realization sink in. Her shoulders slumped and she leaned against the wall. “What am I going to do? I have to have a job.”
He stepped closer, catching a whiff of her strawberry scent. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything. It’s the least I can do.”
A flash of anger sparked in her brown eyes. “Because you owe me?”
He winced at the truth of her comment. “Yes. But I also want to help. None of this is your fault.”
“No, it’s not.”
Shaw clenched his jaw. Her inference was clear. It was his fault she was a single mother. “But I can take care of things until you’re squared away.”
“Like that?” She pointed to the opening in the wall.
He grimaced. He should have thought about the opening. But then he hadn’t been expecting his past to slap him in the face. “I’ll fix it right now.”
She leveled her gaze at him, then walked through the opening to her side of the house. With her back straight and head high, her posture told him he’d better fix it. If he wasn’t so tied in knots, he would have found her attitude amusing.
In his garage workshop, Shaw inspected the extra lumber and other leftover materials he kept at the back. He moved a few pieces of scrap wood aside and picked up the single French door and leaned it against the workbench. It wasn’t the best solution to the hole in the wall, but it would have to do. His gaze fell on the coil of rope at the end of the counter. It would be the perfect size and length for a swing. He dismissed the idea. Lainie and her kids would be here for only a couple of days. Once she had her business settled,
she’d be gone.
He hooked his tape measure onto his belt, shoved a few shims and screws into his pocket, then picked up the door and headed to the house. In the hallway, he rested the door against the wall, took some measurements, mentally calculating the best way to secure the door in the opening. Giggles and footsteps sounded overhead. Lainie’s girls.
They were two little cuties, for sure. Natalie, with her long curly hair and deep dimples was full of sparkle. She smiled and bounced every moment as if happy with life. The little one was more serious, with straight hair pulled back into a ponytail and wispy strands falling around her face. Tiny glasses perched on a button nose added cuteness to her already-sweet face. It must have been hard raising them alone. How had they managed these past five years? Who had Lainie turned to for help? Family? Friends?
He’d tried to offer his help right after the accident, but she’d refused his calls, and at the funeral, she’d ordered him to leave, making it clear she blamed him for her husband’s death. He could still feel the hot sting of her last words to him that day. “I don’t need anything from you. Ever.” But now she did, and he wasn’t going to let them down. He’d protect them and provide for them until they were safe and settled. As long as they were under his roof, he’d make sure they had everything they needed. They were his responsibility now.
Shaw channeled all his energy into securing the door into the opening. He was stooped down, driving in the last screw when Lainie appeared on the other side of the door. She glared through the pane, a deep frown on her face. He knew what was coming.
“It’s glass.”
Her words were muffled. He nodded and shrugged. She pursed her lips and pivoted on her heel. A few seconds later, she pushed through his back door and stopped at his side.
“You can see through it. Don’t you have some wood or something to cover this opening?”
“Not here at the house. I’m sure you can find something to hang over the door to maintain your privacy.” He pushed to his feet. “I’m hardly ever here. You’ll have the place to yourself most of the time.”
Love Inspired May 2015 #1 Page 41
