“Helping out. Big difference.” When his friend didn’t respond, Shaw dared a glance over his shoulder. He knew the look on the man’s face. He wouldn’t budge until Shaw talked. He put down his drill and leaned against the workbench. “Lainie told me she’s forgiven me. She doesn’t hold me responsible anymore.”
Russ nodded in approval. “That’s good. Maybe now you can stop trying to work off your guilt and let the woman know how you feel.”
Shaw straightened and turned away, picking up the drill again. “Not happening. Until the library is done, I’m responsible for her well-being.”
Russ scowled.
“I failed once. I’m not sure I want to make another mistake. Besides, I’m not ready to give up my freedom.”
Russ rolled his eyes. “You mean like drinking with your buddies on the weekends, a string of beautiful women on your arm, no one to care what you do or where you go?”
“Come on. You know that’s not me.”
“So what exactly would you be giving up?”
He had no answer.
Russ patted him on the shoulder, the gesture fatherly. “It’s time you stopped thinking of life as something to be conquered and start thinking of it as an adventure. And what good is the trip without someone to hold your hand along the way?”
Shaw picked up another set of hinges, fisting them in his palm. Everyone thought they had the answer, the simple solution to one’s problems. But his relationship with Lainie wasn’t simple. There would be no quick fix for him where she and her girls were concerned.
Lord, I know You know what You’re doing here, but I sure wish You’d let me in on it.
He wanted a happy ending, but he’d learned those were few and far between in real life.
* * *
The dust motes in the attic of Shaw’s old house floated on the late-morning sunlight, streaming through the small gable window. With her Saturday free from the library, Lainie had grabbed the opportunity to explore the attic for treasures to decorate the house, and maybe a chair for the front porch so she could enjoy her morning coffee.
Thanks to Millie’s help, they had nearly finished inputting the collection, and the first shipment of lending books had started to arrive. Worried that Lainie was working too hard, Millie had announced she would handle things and ordered Lainie to take the weekend to rest, enjoy her children and do something fun. She’d delivered her decree in a tone that dared Lainie to refuse.
She had to admit, she needed a break, and she’d made the most of the day so far. She’d slept until the girls had awakened, snuggled with them in her bed, made flower-shaped pancakes for the girls and a bone-shaped one for Beaux. After promising lunch at Angelo’s pizza, she’d convinced the girls to play in their room while she went up to the attic to explore.
She wondered how Shaw’s arm was doing today. If he was like most men, he’d forget to put on a fresh bandage. She’d have to check on him later. She’d intended to do that this morning, but he’d already left by the time she had got up. The girls were missing him. They hadn’t seen him in a few days, and they talked about him constantly.
Shaw had backed away from them. Fine with her. Her dependence on him had got out of hand. He was so quick to step in and fix things and handle problems, she’d foolishly read more into his help than was intended.
She had little experience in the romance department. She was as susceptible to the old McKinney charm as every other woman. He’d planted a road sign clearly labeled Bachelorville. Take alternate route. Too late. He’d taken over her thoughts, and her heart was teetering near the edge.
At work, she glanced out the carriage house windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of him during the day. When she did, she stared in rapt infatuation. She liked to watch him work, the way he moved, the stern look on his face as he spoke with his men, and the way he would always run his fingers through his thick wavy hair after he’d removed his hard hat. And the sound of his voice never failed to shoot through her like fireworks.
She needed to be sensible. Even if there was a remote chance for a relationship, how could she reconcile that with her daughters? What would she tell them? She’d set herself up for heartbreak all over again, but now it included her children, too. The girls adored him.
Picking her way carefully around the wooden floors, she kept her eyes peeled for a chair she could take downstairs. So far, she’d found old bed frames, several wooden tables, rugs, trunks and pictures, but no chairs. Turning her attention to the other side of the attic, she uttered a soft squeal of delight. There, in the corner, tucked underneath boxes were two wicker rockers. One was in pristine condition, its weave tight and firm, the rockers smooth and secure. All it needed was a good cleaning and a fresh coat of paint. The other was usable, but in need of minor repairs on the arm and a new rocker to replace the broken one. Shaw could fix it, no problem.
She grasped the arms of the good chair, dropping it back down. It was heavier than it looked. There was no way she could maneuver it down the narrow attic stairs. She’d have to ask Shaw to bring them down when he got home. Her gaze fell on a small table nearby. It looked like a match to the chairs. That she could manage on her own. The table was lightweight, with a round top and legs that angled out from the center. It was lovely, and the perfect size to hold her Bible and a cup of coffee.
Lainie started down the stairs, peering around the tabletop so she could see the steps, which made a sharp turn at the bottom. As she neared the landing, her foot slipped out from under her. She dropped the table, grabbed for the wall, but tumbled forward instead. She stretched out her arm to stop her forward motion. Her arm hit the wall. White-hot pain shot up her arm to her elbow.
She screamed.
When she opened her eyes, she lay in a heap at the bottom of the stairs, her feet in the hallway, her shoulder wedged against the last step and the little table. Pain like a hundred knives pierced her arm. Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Mommy!”
Natalie’s voice pulled her from her confusion. She looked into her child’s worried face. Chrissy hunkered down, starting to cry. “Mommy?”
Forcing herself to ignore the pain, she tried to think logically. “I’m all right, but I need you to go get Miss Gwen. Can you do that?”
Natalie nodded, her blue eyes fearful.
“Tell her I fell.”
Natalie ran off. Chrissy sat beside her and patted her shoulder. “It’ll be okay, Mommy. I promise. Be brave.”
If she didn’t hurt so badly, she would have laughed. Her child had said the words with the same intonation as she herself did when trying to comfort her daughters.
Lainie attempted to shift her position, but any movement sent searing pain along her elbow and forearm. Please Lord, let Gwen be home. I need help.
Natalie had barely left when pounding footsteps shook the floor. “Lainie!”
Shaw. Relief washed through her, removing much of her fear. She didn’t know why he was here in the middle of the day, but his presence gave her great comfort. Shaw could fix anything. He knelt beside her, his eyes filled with fear and concern.
“Mon cher, what happened?” His eyes raked over her with concern.
“I was trying to bring this table down and I slipped. I think I broke my arm.”
“Can you sit up if I help you?”
“I don’t know. What are you doing here?”
“I left one of my tools in the garage.” Shaw took her left arm and gently eased her around until she was sitting on the bottom step. She tried to move her arm only to cry out in pain.
“We need to get you to the clinic.”
She looked at her daughters. Natalie was staring wide-eyed with fear. Chrissy pouted and sniffled.
Shaw touched Natalie’s shoulder. “Girls, I need to take your mom to a doctor so he can fix her arm. I want you
to go next door and tell Miss Gwen what happened. Tell her I’m taking your mom to the clinic, and I’ll call her later. Can you do that?”
Natalie nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Take your sister’s hand and go straight to Miss Gwen’s.”
With the girls on their way, Shaw turned his attention back to her. “I’m going to stabilize your arm. Do you have a scarf?”
She nodded. “In my room, the top drawer.”
He returned and folded the scarf into a simple sling. He took hold of her wrist and carefully raised it against her chest. She tried not to cry out, but failed.
With her arm secured, Shaw scooped her up in his arms and carried her to his truck, placing her gently in the front seat. She barely remembered the ride to the clinic. The only thing that was clear in her mind was Shaw’s holding her hand, and his repeated words of comfort. He had a nice deep voice. Like a rich alto sax. Mentally, she giggled. That was silly. One thing pricked at her thoughts. “Why do you keep saying Shaw over and over?” She thought she heard him chuckle softly.
“I’m not. I’m saying cher. It’s Cajun for dear, or darling.”
She smiled. “It sounds like Sha.”
“Yes, it does.”
“That’s nice.” Her mind was fuzzy through the first part of the examination. She tried to concentrate on what the doctor was telling her. Hyperextended elbow. Not broken. Immobilize. Pain meds. No lifting. Week to ten days.
Full realization of her predicament didn’t hit until she was back in Shaw’s truck and heading home. “Did he say I had to wear this for two weeks?” She stared at the blue brace cradling her injured elbow. She was thinking clearly now, but unfortunately that brought a mental list of the things she wouldn’t be able to do.
“He said a week to ten days if you rest and take care of your arm. That means no lifting.”
Lainie swallowed a lump of disappointment. That meant she couldn’t hold her daughters for over a week. Natalie was almost too big for her to lift, but Chrissy was still small and liked to sit on her lap and cuddle in the morning. A new and more disturbing thought sent her heart racing. “The books. Does that mean I can’t work on the books?”
“Not until the sling comes off. Even then, you might have to go easy.”
Anxiety squeezed her chest. “I have to work at the library. You know what will happen if we’re not ready by the deadline.” Heartsick, she rested her head against the back of the seat. “I can’t believe this is happening now, just when we’re getting on top of things.”
“Millie will help.”
“It takes both of us working together. She can’t do that work alone.”
“She’ll have to. You can oversee the work until your arm heals.”
“Sit back and supervise others? Not me.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
Tears stung the backs of her eyes. “Why now?”
Shaw squeezed her hand. “It’ll be all right. I can help with the girls and Gwen will be next door when I’m not home.”
As they pulled into the driveway, Gwen hurried across the front lawn.
“How bad is it?”
Lainie explained, receiving a gentle touch on her good shoulder from her friend. “You don’t worry about a thing. I’m right next door. Just call. The girls can stay with me for the next few days so you can rest.”
“Thank you, Gwen, but I need them with me. I’ll be fine, and I promise to call if I need you. Can you send them home? I know they’re worried about me.”
Gwen nodded in agreement. “They’ve asked about you every five minutes. Oh, and Millie called. She said not to worry. She’s activating the former Friends of the Library volunteers to come and help.”
Shaw lightly touched her back, urging her toward the door. “You need to lie down. The pain shot the nurse gave you will make you drowsy.”
Lainie allowed Shaw to help her upstairs and get her settled on the bed, making sure she had what she needed. He’d just placed a glass of water on the nightstand when the girls ran in, their blue eyes sparkling.
“Mommy! You’re home. We missed you.”
Chrissy stared at the sling. “Is your arm hurt?”
“Yes, but it’ll be better soon. I have to wear this so my arm won’t move. I can’t lift you up or drive my car or do a lot of the things I usually do. I’ll need you and your sister to be my helpers for the next week or so. Can you do that?”
Two little heads nodded rapidly. “I can make the bed.” Natalie smiled.
“I can fix supper.”
Chrissy’s confidence made Lainie smile. “You can? That’s a big help. What will you fix?”
“Pop-Tarts.”
“My favorite.”
Shaw smiled and bent down to the girls. “Mommy needs to sleep for a while. Let’s go downstairs and make a list of things we can do to help while her arm gets better.”
“I love you, Mommy.”
“Me, too.”
Lainie lay back against the pillows, the number of obstacles in her path growing larger every second. How would she give the girls their baths? She couldn’t wash their hair with only one arm. And what about Shaw’s bookkeeping? Could she manage his accounts with only five fingers to tap the keys? Most importantly, how would she keep things moving at the library?
She closed her eyes, feeling the tug of sleep as the pain medication took hold. There was only one answer. She’d have to learn to do everything one-handed. She’d become a lefty. A southpaw. Easy-peasy. Her eyes grew heavy and she sank into the fluffy cloud of her mind. And how was she going to kiss Shaw with one hand in a sling? Where had that thought come from?
Her eyes closed, releasing visions of Shaw scooping her up and carrying her down the stairs as if she weighed nothing. She knew better, but he’d held her close. Even in her pain she had felt secure and safe. Cherished. Cher. She liked the sound of it. She liked the way he said it. Sha.
Funny how pain meds distorted things.
Chapter Nine
Shaw had never known a Sunday morning like this. Instead of a cup of coffee and the Sunday Dispatch before church, he was sitting in Lainie’s kitchen running a beauty parlor.
He twisted a red stretchy band around the clump of yellow hair he’d pulled to the side of Chrissy’s head, feeling all thumbs and dumb as dirt. The little girl waited patiently while he tugged the other side of her hair upward and secured it with a blue band. He frowned. Something wasn’t right. Chrissy whirled and smiled at him.
“Thank you, Misser Shaw. You don’t hurt my head the way Mommy does.”
He supposed that was a good thing except— “Your ponytails aren’t even.” One was at least two inches higher and farther to the back.
“That’s okay. I’m just going to play outside.” She skipped off.
Natalie stopped at his side, holding out her hand for the brush. “I can do my own hair. I’m six, you know.”
Shaw stifled a grin. “I heard that.” He handed her the brush, wondering what Lainie would say if she could see her daughters. They’d spent the night at Gwen’s so Lainie could get the rest she needed after her fall, but she hadn’t been happy about the arrangement. She’d wanted the girls with her. He’d finally convinced her they’d be safer next door. If something happened, she might be too drugged to respond. He insisted on leaving Beaux with her just as a precaution, though Shaw himself had barely slept, listening for any unusual sound from her side of the house.
Gwen had brought the girls to his place early this morning. They were eager to see their mother, so after a promise to be quiet and not wake her, he’d settled them into the kitchen.
Breakfast had been a new adventure. After deflecting demands from Natalie and her little sister for cookies, chocolate, candy and pizza, he’d finally convinced them cereal an
d juice was a much better idea. He was feeling pretty triumphant about his accomplishment. He’d even managed to get them to clean up afterward, but only after promising to push them “up to the sky” in the swings.
“Good morning.”
Shaw glanced up to see Lainie coming down the stairs, Beaux leading the way. She looked pale, but her eyes were clear, and her dark hair was pleasingly mussed from sleep. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore, achy and totally foolish.” She gave him a little smile. “I should have watched where I was going.”
Shaw pulled out a chair for her. “Coffee?” She nodded. “It’s an old house and those steps weren’t built to today’s codes. They’re too narrow and steep.”
Lainie took the coffee cup, added a dash of milk and a packet of sweetener. “Where are the girls?”
“Swings.” He sat beside her. “I promised to push them. Gwen offered to take them to church, but I thought you’d rather have them here when you woke up.”
She ran a hand through her thick hair, mussing it further and making him want to bury his fingers in the beautiful strands. He settled for laying his hand on hers. “I’m glad you’re going to be okay. You scared me senseless, you know.”
“I scared myself.” She clutched her mug between her hands, her brown eyes troubled. “How am I going to work, or take care of the girls with my right arm out of commission? Just getting out of bed this morning was a challenge.”
“I’ve got it all worked out. Gwen will be on call to take the girls or come and help you with personal things. I’ll be here in the evenings and mornings to help, and I plan on coming by during the day to check on you.”
Lainie shook her head. “You can’t take that much time off from work. The deadline is getting closer.”
“We’re in good shape. I can afford the time to make sure you’re okay.” He looked into her brown eyes, feeling the pull of her sweetness. Maybe, once he was free from his promise, he’d tell her how he felt and see where things went from there. Right now, neither one of them was willing to acknowledge the feelings stirring beneath the surface.
Love Inspired May 2015 #1 Page 51
