Jeb stepped back to his truck and returned quickly with a blue-and-white striped box. Shaw chuckled. “The Donut Palace. Sugar covered?”
“I figured if you were here this early you might be in a bad mood. I was being prepared.”
Shaw placed a friendly slap on his shoulder. “Let’s get to work. After a doughnut break.”
* * *
Lainie poured a second cup of coffee and carried it into the living room, stopping at one of the large windows facing the front porch. It was a beautiful morning. She would like to sit outside, but the swing was on Shaw’s side of the porch and she didn’t want to cross that barrier. Besides, if she sat outside, she might not hear the girls, and she didn’t want them alone when they woke up in a strange house.
She hadn’t slept well. Her dreams had been dark and threatening, each one jolting her awake and making it hard to fall back to sleep. In one, she’d been standing in a lovely garden that had suddenly changed into a dark cemetery. Another time, she’d dreamed she was running down wet streets searching for something, but no idea what. However, one dream had been more disturbing than the others. She’d dreamed she was being carried in strong arms against a solid chest and cradled in safety and warmth. When she’d looked up, she had seen Shaw’s face. That nightmare had pulled her from sleep with a yelp.
Clearly, her subconscious was struggling to sort out the events from yesterday. Back in the kitchen, she sat at the table and opened her Bible, flipping through the psalms. Like David, she was wandering in an unknown wilderness, unsure of her direction and wondering what the Lord was working in her life by putting Shaw in her path again. She hoped his statement that she couldn’t start work on time was wrong. She planned on being in the mayor’s office the moment Mr. Ogden returned to get things straightened out.
God willing, her replacement cards would arrive quickly, and she could regain control of her life. She glanced at the small makeup bag lying in the middle of the table. She’d emptied it out to use as her temporary purse. In addition to the cell phone, Shaw had given her a prepaid credit card for emergencies. She now possessed the things she needed to function on a daily basis—a temporary driver’s license, a phone, a credit card and her change from the diner. It wasn’t much, but it restored the sense of normalcy and control she’d been missing since being robbed yesterday.
“Mommy, I’m hungry.”
Natalie shuffled to her side rubbing sleepy eyes. Lainie lifted her onto her lap. She was getting so big. “Did you sleep well?”
“It’s a happy room.”
“It is? Why do you say that?”
“’Cause the sunshine woke me up.”
Little footsteps on the stairs announced Chrissy’s arrival. She hurried toward her mother for a morning hug. Lainie’s heart swelled with love and gratitude again for being delivered safely from a dangerous situation. She had her girls. Everything else could be handled in time.
Lainie prepared breakfast, enjoying the meal with new appreciation. Despite her feelings about Shaw, she had to admit she felt safe in this old house, and having a man nearby was comforting, too.
Chrissy swallowed the last of her juice then scooted off her chair. “I want to see Misser Shaw and play with Beaux.”
Lainie had heard Shaw’s truck pull out of the drive early this morning and assumed he was going to the library to work. “He’s not here, sweetie.”
Chrissy pulled back the curtain covering the French door. “Mommy, there’s a note.”
She joined her daughter, bending down to read the note taped to one of the glass panes from Shaw’s side.
Working today. Call if you need me. Doggie door unlatched if Beaux wants to play.
“What’s it say, Mommy?”
Beaux came to the door and sat down. Chrissy pressed her face to the glass and giggled. “Hi, Beaux. Do you want to play with us?”
Lainie ruffled Chrissy’s hair. “Mr. Shaw is at work, but he said Beaux can play with you if you want.”
Both girls squealed, threatening to burst her eardrums. They dashed out the back door and Beaux slid through the pet door to join them. Pouring another cup of coffee, she went onto the back porch to watch the girls play.
For a few moments, she allowed herself to daydream. If this were her yard, she’d clear out the bushes along the garage and put in a vegetable garden. And she’d put a small playhouse under that large live oak tree in the back corner. A sturdy one that would last until her grandchildren could play in it, too.
“Hello. Yoo-hoo. Over here.”
Lainie looked in the direction of the shout and saw a woman about her age standing at the picket fence waving. Lainie waved back. “Hi.”
“I’m Gwen Rogers. I heard the kids playing and thought I’d introduce myself.”
Lainie joined the woman at the fence. Her smile was warm and friendly, making her blue eyes sparkle. “I’m Lainie Hollings.”
“How old are your girls?”
“Natalie is six and Chrissy is four.”
“Great. My Mark is seven and Jacob is five. They’re at their grandmother’s now, but they’ll be home later. It’ll be nice for them to have playmates next door. Do you work?”
“I’m the new librarian.”
Gwen’s smile grew bigger. “Really? That’s wonderful. We’ve all been wondering who it would be. I can’t tell you how excited the town is to finally have our own library again. The closest one is in Sawyer’s Bend about twenty minutes from here. It’s nice, but it’s not ours. I think a library should be part of the town.”
“I agree, and I have lots of ideas for programs and events to benefit the community. I want the library to be a place the residents of Dover look forward to coming.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. Are you and your husband staying here with Shaw?”
“No. I mean, yes. I’m a widow. I’m only staying here temporarily.” She filled her in about the purse snatching.
“That’s awful. You must have been terrified. I’m glad you’re all right. And I’m glad Shaw was there to help. You know he’s Dover’s most eligible bachelor?”
“I didn’t know that.” Though she wasn’t surprised. It fit with what she’d heard about him.
“Every woman from here to Jackson has tried to catch him. But he’s not about to be caught. He’s too content being single. If we could auction him off, we’d raise enough money to fund our local charities for the next decade.”
Lainie couldn’t argue. Shaw was very attractive. Physically well built and handsome, but it was his character she questioned. His irresponsibility where others were concerned was a flaw she couldn’t ignore.
“He only dates a woman twice, then it’s over.” Gwen snapped her fingers in the air to emphasize her point. “I think something or someone in his past hurt him deeply. But he’s a good guy. He teaches some of the teen boys woodworking in his spare time.”
Lainie wasn’t sure what to make of that piece of information. Her neighbor was painting a picture of her landlord that was difficult to process. She found the contradictions unsettling.
“If you need a babysitter, just let me know. I don’t work so I’m here most of the time, and I love kids. The more the merrier.”
Gwen was going to be a joy to live next to and Lainie had a feeling they would quickly become close friends, even after she left Shaw’s house. “I might take you up on that, if you’re serious. I need to meet with the mayor on Monday to see when I can start work.”
“I’d be happy to keep the girls. I’ll bring the boys over later so they can get acquainted. It was so nice to meet you. Why don’t you visit our church tomorrow? Peace Community on the square. We’ll save you a seat.”
The invitation warmed her heart. “I’d like that. I want to get the girls back into Sunday chool.” Gwen gave her the time of the service then sa
id goodbye, leaving a smile on Lainie’s face. Her visions of small-town life were starting to materialize. She’d had her first cozy conversation over a picket fence with a neighbor and been invited to church. She prayed the looming issues with her new job would be resolved as easily.
Returning to the porch, she watched her daughters darting in and out of the bushes and playing with the dog. Accepting Shaw’s offer was turning out to be a blessing, after all. She was staying in a charming old Victorian house, her girls had a yard and a dog to play with, and now neighbors. But this home was only temporary. She prayed she could find a place as nice once the issues with her job were sorted out.
* * *
The aroma of fresh pizza permeated the cab of Shaw’s truck as he drove home Saturday, reminding him how hungry he was. He and Russ had managed to get a good portion of the drywall hung on the second floor of the library before running out of materials. He couldn’t get another load until Monday.
Tired and hungry, he’d stopped and picked up a couple of pizzas. One for himself and one for Lainie and the girls. He wasn’t sure if she’d appreciate the gesture, but he felt guilty for leaving them alone all day. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about them. Lainie had flitted through his mind at unexpected moments, tempting him to call and check on her, but he’d held off. He understood her resistance to accepting his help. But his conscience wouldn’t let him turn away. Now that he understood how alone she was, he was even more determined to protect her and the kids until the library was done and she had a job And a safe place to live. He owed them that.
Shaw carried the boxes onto the back porch and knocked on Lainie’s door. He found himself looking forward to seeing her again, and curious about what she’d done all day. The frown on her face when she opened the door dampened his mood. He forced a smile anyway and held out the pizza box. “I thought you and the kids might like a pizza.”
Lainie blinked. “Oh. Thank you. That was very thoughtful. I was just about to fix supper.” She looked into his eyes and he saw the indecision. She was wondering how to invite him to stay. And not wanting to. The realization stung more than he’d expected. He handed her the top box.
“It’s pepperoni. I didn’t know if the kids like the other toppings.”
Chrissy charged into the kitchen and stopped in front of him, tilting her head back and smiling. “Hey, Misser Shaw. We played with Beaux today.”
“Is that pizza for us?” Natalie glanced at her mother. “Pepperoni?”
“Yes. Won’t you stay and eat with us?”
Her smile had warmed some. “No, but thanks.” He raised the other box. “I got one for myself. And Beaux.” He stepped back, suddenly aware of the sweet scent of her perfume, and his own end-of-the-day dirt and grime. His shirt was covered in drywall dust. “Besides, I need to clean up, and I have a lot of paperwork to catch up on. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thanks again.”
Shaw crossed the short distance to his own back door and went inside. He set the pizza on the table, his appetite fading. Russ had expressed concern about having Lainie nearby all the time. Shaw had dismissed the idea, but now he was beginning to think his friend was right. Simply knowing she was on the other side of the wall left him distracted and off balance.
He needed to lock thoughts of Lainie in the back of his mind, and tackle his bookkeeping files. Grabbing a slice of pizza, he munched it on his way to the shower. Feeling like a new man, he pulled on khaki shorts and an old T-shirt and returned to the kitchen. He loved his job, and he was proud he’d managed to start his own company. But he wasn’t fond of the paperwork involved. He’d rather spend his time working with clients and overseeing the projects. He hoped to hire someone to do the books soon, but not until the library was done. Until then, he was living on a shoestring.
He’d been working about an hour when he sensed he was being watched. He glanced around, realizing his kitchen door was still open and he could see across the hall to the French door sealing off Lainie’s side. Since he lived alone, he’d never thought about closing doors, but he might need to start now that he had three ladies next door who could easily peek through the glass door and see him. Movement prompted a closer look, and he saw a little face peering through one of the panes. The younger one. Chrissy. She smiled and waved at him. He waved back, feeling silly. He’d never been around little kids and wasn’t sure how to handle them. Beaux rose and trotted into the hall and poked his nose at the glass. Shaw could hear Chrissy’s giggles.
The little girl disappeared and Beaux returned to Shaw’s side. It was going to be interesting having them in his house. He focused his attention on the computer screen again, but he’d barely started on his task, when he heard a knock on the back door. He was surprised to see Lainie on the other side. “Hey. What’s up? You okay?” She wouldn’t come to his side without a good reason.
“I hate to bother you when you’re working, but the sink is stopped up, and I can’t find a plunger. Could you take a look at it?”
“Sure. I’ll get my snake and be right there.”
When he entered Lainie’s kitchen a few minutes later, she was staring at Natalie with a stern expression and her arms crossed.
“Why would you do that?”
The little girl shrugged. “It was dirty and I wanted to clean it. It fell down the hole. I didn’t mean to.”
Shaw looked at Lainie. “What’s wrong?”
“My daughter tried to wash her fuzzy bracelet in the sink.”
Shaw frowned. He wasn’t sure what a fuzzy bracelet might look like, but if it was stuck in the drain, he could get it out. “No problem. We’ll get it out and have your sink working in no time.”
Lainie sent Natalie to her room with instructions to take her sister with her and get ready for bed. “I’m so sorry.”
“This is an old house and something always needs fixed. This sink drain should have a cover. I never noticed that before.” He started feeding the slender wire snake down the drain. “I guess everything went okay today?”
“Yes. I met your neighbor.”
“Gwen and Eric are good people. We attend the same church.”
“You go to church?”
Shaw wasn’t sure if he should be hurt or angry at her surprise. He shot a glance at her over his shoulder. “Just a sinner saved by grace.” Her lack of response told him she regretted her comment.
“So, how is the library coming along?”
He knew what Lainie really wanted to know. Had he made significant progress today? She wanted to make sure he was keeping on task. Shaw pulled out the snake. Whatever was clogging the drain was wedged in the trap. He pulled a wrench from his tool box and sat on the floor, opening the cabinet doors to work on the pipes. “We hit another snag. Russ and I will have to do the drywall ourselves. We can’t find a crew available to do the job.”
“What does that mean?’
“Several days’ delay. Can you get me a bucket?”
“What?”
“I have to take the trap off. I need something to catch the water.”
“Oh. I think I saw one in the laundry room.”
She returned quickly with the bucket. He lay down under the sink, stretching his legs across the floor as he fought the rusty pipe. “Don’t worry, Lainie. I’ll stay on top of the project. I want it done on time as much as you do.” He put all his strength behind the wrench and pulled. The joint finally broke free. A stream of brown water and a thick glob of slimy junk plopped into the bucket.
“I doubt that.”
Shaw tugged himself from under the sink, staring up at Lainie from the floor. “If I don’t complete this job on time, I’ll have to pay a fine that will probably bankrupt my company. So yes, I do have as much to lose as you do if I fail.”
He hadn’t meant to sound angry. But he was painfully aware of the looming
deadline and what he had to lose. The setback with the drywall hadn’t helped. Moving back under the sink, he reconnected the trap and stood. It would need to be replaced with plastic pipes soon, but it should hold for a while.
He ran water through the sink to make sure the drain flowed freely. “Good as new.” He stepped back and found Lainie staring at him.
“Is that true?” she asked. “Could you lose your business if the construction isn’t done in time?”
“Those are the terms of the contract I signed. I’ve got four weeks to finish and six weeks of work yet to do.”
“I didn’t know.”
“No reason you should.”
“Do you think you can finish in time?”
“It’ll mean pulling some all-nighters, but I have no choice. I need to finish. My future depends on it. It’s not just the fine. It’s my reputation that would be ruined. The people here would never trust me again. I’ve worked too hard to mess that up.”
Lainie studied him a moment as if she were contemplating what he’d told her. “Thank you for fixing the sink.”
“You’re welcome. There’ll probably be more repairs to do. Like I said, it’s an old house.” He thought he saw a hint of understanding in her eyes. Hope took root. He wanted to see more than understanding. He wanted to see friendship, anything other than condemnation.
“Hey, Misser Shaw.” Chrissy hurried over to him as he dried his hands on a paper towel. “Did you find my sister’s fuzzy bracelet?”
“Uh, yes, but I don’t think it’s any good anymore.” He pointed to the bucket on the floor filled with brown gunk.
“Ew.” Chrissy pinched her nose against the smell.
“Thanks for the pizza, Mister Shaw.” Natalie grinned up at him from her mother’s side.
“My pleasure.”
“Girls, it’s bedtime. Say good-night and go back upstairs. I’ll be up in a minute.”
Love Inspired May 2015 #1 Page 43
