A Hero for Her Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions Book 885)

by Candice Miller Speare

  She laughed. “At the time you said it was fine. Now you’re changing your story?”

  “Never.” He squeezed her shoulder. “You’re fast becoming one of my favorite people on the planet.”

  Smiling, Allie tilted her head. “That’s sweet. Do you really mean it?”

  He thought about what he’d blurted out, and yes, it had come from the heart. “I mean it.” Derrick hopped out of the truck and walked around to her side before he did something stupid.

  He opened the door for her, took her hand, and helped her out of the car. Not that she needed his help. She’d demonstrated physical and emotional strength he wasn’t sure he possessed. She’d held up after her dad, sister-in-law, and brother died. Would he have that strength when Sandy passed away?

  They entered Bright’s, and he abandoned his morbid thoughts and instead inhaled deeply of the sweet scent that hung in the air. The mixture of chocolate and sugar. . .and Allie by his side. What more could a man ask for?

  “Yum, what should we get?” Allie stood in front of the counter smiling.

  Derrick eyed the goodies behind the glass, licked his lips, and pointed. “Fudge.”

  “I take it you like fudge?”

  “Love it.” He patted his well-toned stomach as if that was proof enough. “How about you?”

  “I like their mint truffles.” She looked relaxed now. Maybe he’d scaled the walls around her heart. Then again, maybe it was Bright’s atmosphere. Everybody turned into a kid when entering a candy store.

  After they ordered, they sat outside at a table in the sunshine and shared their sweets. “This was a good day, Allie. Thanks for taking the time.”

  “Uh-uh. No need to thank me. I should be thanking you. I haven’t done anything for fun in far too long.”

  “That explains it then.” Derrick pointed at her face.

  “What?” Allie laughed. “What are you grinning about?”

  “Can’t take you anywhere.” Squinting, he leaned forward. “You’ve got chocolate on your cheek.”

  “Do I?” She wiped her face with her fingers. “Did I get it?”

  He shook his head, then picked up his napkin, reached across the table, and wiped the corner of her mouth.

  Allie remained stone still. The look in her eyes made his heart beat faster. If they weren’t in public, he would’ve kissed her again. “I guess we should—”

  “Yes, let’s go.” Allie gathered their candy wrappers and tossed them in the trash.

  He had to stop sending her mixed signals. Unless, and until, Sandy gave him permission to identify himself as Danny’s uncle, their relationship didn’t have a chance. And if he was able to admit the truth, Allie might totally reject him for leading her on. He would probably lose no matter what.

  They walked to his truck, and his cell phone vibrated. Derrick pulled it from the holder on his belt and glanced at the screen. “My mother. . .” Fear weighted his limbs.

  Allie walked a discreet distance from him.

  Derrick hit the TALK button. “Mom?”

  “Derrick, Sandy has taken a turn for the worse. They say it won’t be long.”

  Fifteen

  Early Monday morning a blaring alarm clock startled Allie awake. Grumpy from fitful sleep, she slapped the OFF button, then stomped to the bathroom to get ready for the day. She had an early appointment to shoe an Arabian gelding nicknamed Goober. The name suited him. His markings and classic Arabian looks made him appear regal and distant, but only because he was too dumb to act any other way.

  Scrubbing her face, she told herself it could be worse. She could be returning to work on Eddieboy, who was smart enough to pretend he was dumb before lashing out with his teeth.

  In the kitchen her mood didn’t improve when her favorite coffee cup shattered onto the floor, victim of her half-closed eyes and errant elbow.

  What was yesterday about? Why had she been so silly to ask Derrick to go to Bright’s? Why had he accepted? Derrick’s quick end to their day in Walla Walla only compounded her confusion. She knew his mother called and there had been a family emergency, but she didn’t know what it was. She had locked lips with a total stranger. But still, the ugly reminder emerged—knowing a person a long time meant nothing, either. She’d grown up with Luke. She’d looked up to him as her older brother, yet she’d discovered he’d been deceiving her for years and maybe his wife, Cindy, as well. Why all the checks to Paige?

  Allie stared at the shards of ceramic on the floor. That’s what her life felt like. As if a big hand had picked her up, dropped her, and pieces of her emotions were scattered all over.

  She went to the utility closet and grabbed the broom. Once again since Pastor’s prayer for her, she longed for a return to the kind of faith that would make her want to open her Bible first thing in the morning, meditate on the scripture, and get on her knees for a conversation with God. To return to the faith she’d drifted away from, captured by the cares of this world and her own resentments. It seemed a long way back.

  ❧

  Two hours later, after her session with Goober, Allie stopped by the coffee shop in town. She sat at a small round table next to the window, ordered a skinny latte with two extra shots of espresso, and stared outside. If only she could turn off her brain for a while—forgive and forget and get rid of the anger. Her mental churning made her head ache and her heart pound.

  The young waitress, looking as carefree as a summer breeze, brought her the latte. Allie nodded and smiled a thank-you. Not so long ago she was as cheery as the server. That’s when Dad was strong and full of life. And Luke and Cindy may have had their battles, but when they’d sneak peeks at one another across the table, they appeared madly in love.

  Or was it all an illusion? Could anybody truly know another person? Allie sipped her drink and gazed out the window again. An older couple shuffled along the sidewalk, hand in hand. How sweet. Romantic. She closed her eyes and saw only one man with whom she’d love to grow old. A man she might never see again.

  She opened her eyes, and the dream disappeared. Was that Paige Maynard crossing the street? Allie gritted her teeth. Just look at her! Perfectly groomed. Dressed to the nines. Were her clothes bought with Luke’s money while she and Ma had to sell off their land to pay off Luke’s company credit cards?

  Allie stood and tossed her empty cup in the garbage, her throat suddenly dry. Despite a little voice in the back of her head telling her to take a deep breath and calm down, she threw open the door, charged across the street, and met a startled Paige on the sidewalk.

  “Allie.” Paige took a step back. “Wh-what’s wrong?”

  “We need to talk.”

  “Uh, what about?” Paige glanced around, and her gaze slid back to Allie. “Is this about Danny’s adoption?”

  Allie blinked. “Danny’s adoption?” Ah, the parade. Understanding dawned. “I wouldn’t use you as my attorney if I decide to adopt Danny, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Oh. . .that’s fine, of course.” Paige’s shoulders sagged. “Still, I could do the paperwork. I handled the first adoption.” She motioned toward the coffee shop. “Do you want to go inside and grab a cup of coffee with me?”

  “No, I don’t want anybody to overhear.” Allie pointed to the park bench across the street. “We’re going to need privacy and time.”

  Paige drew a deep breath. Did she know what was coming?

  “Of course. I’ve always got time for you, Allie”

  Allie stepped off the curb, and Paige followed. Something was very, very wrong here. Paige was too compliant and overfriendly. Must be the guilt.

  They sat, and Allie looked her dead in the eyes. What had Luke seen in this woman? All the makeup. The opposite of Cindy with her natural beauty.

  “I think you know what this is about,” Allie blurted and took pleasure in the sight of Paige’s guilty face going white.

  “You look angry, and I don’t even know what I’ve done.” Paige’s voice broke off. “At least give me a h
int of what we’re talking about here.”

  Allie snorted a humorless laugh. “All right, if you want to play stupid I’ll spell it out for you. Hint number one: I found my brother’s check stubs. That ring a bell?”

  Paige shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  “Of course you don’t.” Allie scanned the expensive designer clothes, and fury rose up in her to a level she’d never known. “I’m going to warn you that I won’t abide lying, Paige. I’ll have more respect for you if you fess up and be a woman about this.”

  Nodding, Paige licked her lips. “Yes, Luke gave me money—”

  “Because you and my brother were having an affair, right?”

  Paige pressed two manicured fingernails to her frosted pink lips. Her gaze darted left and right before she blew out a long breath. “Can you ever forgive me, Allie?”

  “No!” Allie’s nails bit into her palms. “You knew he was married with a son.” She choked up. It was true after all. The money worries slipped from her mind along with the anger, replaced by memories of Luke and overwhelming sadness. “Why you?”

  Paige flinched like she’d been slapped. “It was wrong, I admit, but you don’t have to be vicious.” She shot to her feet. “We were in love. We had been for years, you know. Since high school.”

  “When people are in love”—Allie stood and came within an inch of her face—“it doesn’t require an exchange of money.”

  “There was the rent on my apartment.” Paige had the decency to look down at the sidewalk. “We needed a place to meet.”

  “A place to meet?” Bile rose at the back of Allie’s throat. No wonder Paige had moved out of her father’s mansion. “And you’re trying to tell me you don’t have money of your own with that wealthy family of yours?”

  Paige shrugged. “Daddy is stingy, you know. I get my paycheck from the law firm, of course, but I needed more.” She sniffled. “I loved Luke. It wasn’t easy for me, either, carrying this secret.”

  “A secret?” Allie snapped. “That’s not what I’d call it. Adultery is more like it.”

  “Please.” Paige reached her hands out in supplication. “What are you going to do?”

  Allie ignored the gesture and backed away. “I have no idea what I’m going to do.” She whirled around and took long strides toward her truck. She looked over her shoulder and couldn’t resist one last jab. “What do you think your father would do if he found out?”

  “You wouldn’t tell him, would you?” Paige’s face was ash white.

  Allie took no pity on her and didn’t wait for a response. She pulled open the truck door, jumped inside, and turned the key. As she drove away, she burst into tears.

  ❧

  Derrick forked pieces of stuffed french toast around his plate, trying to force himself to eat. Last thing he wanted was to hurt Hank’s feelings since the chef had prepared one of Derrick’s breakfast favorites, as he’d done for the rest of the family this morning. Hank had faithfully served the Owenses for nearly two decades and took part in raising him and Sandy. Cooking was Hank’s remedy for the bad things in life. When Sandy broke up with boyfriends, he cajoled smiles from her with her favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Derrick’s broken arm in grade school was treated with a large dose of snickerdoodles. Hank handled pain by cooking, whether it was his own or someone else’s. And today he was trying to fix everybody’s grief with his delicious creations.

  He was scrubbing the already spotless dark granite counter. Pots hung from hooks, their copper bottoms gleaming like new pennies. Hank kept a tidy kitchen, but today every inch of the room sparkled. Derrick wished he had the energy to work out his grief with something productive. Instead it was as if he were paralyzed. He could think of nothing else but Sandy lying in her bed upstairs, the hospice nurse by her side. Her lucid moments had diminished, and he understood why his parents were maintaining their vigil anywhere but in his sister’s room. No words could express the pain of watching a loved one pass away from this world.

  “It’s okay. You don’t have to eat.” Hank dropped on a stool opposite him at the kitchen island.

  Derrick looked up. Buried in thought, he hadn’t noticed Hank walk across the kitchen. “Sorry. Any other day I would’ve devoured—”

  “I understand, believe me.” Hank blinked back tears. “Hard to let go of our little girl.”

  Feeling like a kid, Derrick wiped his nose with a napkin and stood. “I need to go be with her.”

  “Of course.” Hank reached across the island and rested his hand on his shoulder. “I’m here if you get hungry.”

  As Derrick walked down the hall toward the main staircase, Dad popped his head out of the study. “Derrick, I’d like to speak with you, please.”

  Derrick sucked in a breath. He needed to see Sandy, but his father’s tone demanded compliance.

  Dad was ensconced behind his desk. Strain stretched the skin across his face, making it look almost like a mask.

  “What’s going on with the land in Walla Walla?”

  Derrick summoned an all-business tone. “I’ve got preliminary papers drawn up. I need to get them signed.”

  “Good. Please stay at it. I may have another developer who’s interested in a large piece of property for a new housing development.” Dad grinned wolfishly. “We could begin a bidding war.”

  “That would be good.” Now that Derrick had an idea of the extent of the Vahns’ debt, he wanted to do everything he could to help them. Perhaps this would bring more money.

  Derrick watched his father pull something from his desk. It was the photo Derrick had given to Sandy of Danny and his grandma. A tense silence hung in the room while he heard his pulse pounding in his ears.

  “Do you know anything about this?” Dad asked, tapping the photo with his forefinger.

  Derrick swallowed hard. Did his father know? “Where did you get that?”

  “It fell out of Sandy’s Bible.” Dad squinted at it. At least the photo wasn’t a close-up. He wouldn’t be able to see Danny’s eyes.

  The less said, the better. Derrick waited, holding his breath.

  Dad finally looked up. “Must be one of her friends’ kids. She was always praying for someone.” His harsh tone made it clear what he thought of prayer as a way of seeking answers.

  Derrick nodded. He wouldn’t have to lie. . .again. “I’m going to sit with Sandy for a while.”

  His father studied the photo again, and Derrick made a quick escape.

  As he stood in the doorway to Sandy’s room, Derrick whispered, “God, help me.” A memory of Allie infused him with strength. She had lost three family members, but she kept on.

  Leanne, the hospice nurse, stood and waved him in.

  He tiptoed to Sandy’s bed and whispered, “I’ll sit with her for a while.”

  “I’ll wait outside in the hall.”

  When she was gone, Derrick sat, and Sandy opened her eyes. “D-man.”

  “You’re awake?” He reached for her hand.

  “I won’t be here much longer.” She spoke with effort, and tears filled her dark eyes.

  “I know.” He swallowed, unable to see through the blur of his tears.

  “Hey.” She squeezed his fingers. “I know for a certainty I’ll see you again. Meantime, you’re going to be happy.”

  “Don’t talk to me about happiness today.” Derrick choked on a sob.

  Sandy managed a weak smile. “My only regret is you and Allie.”

  Derrick wiped at the tears on his cheeks with his fingers. “What?”

  “I think you’re falling in love with her.”

  An automatic denial came to his lips. He opened his mouth, closed it, then leaned his weary head against Sandy’s bony hand.

  “It’s true, and I’m standing between you two. I made you hide your identity.”

  Allie had been in his thoughts constantly, and he’d tried to push her out. He had too much grief to deal with right here in front of his eyes. Knowing he’d left behind a woman
he could love with all his heart and a nephew he wanted to help raise made the pain of loss unbearable.

  Derrick sat up. “Don’t fade away on me, Sandy, please.”

  “Listen. I was wrong. Tell Allie the truth.”

  The truth. “I don’t think she’ll listen.”

  “Tell her, and send Mom and Dad in here now.”

  A deep sob ripped through his chest. Derrick leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I love you. I always will.”

  “I love you, too, Derrick.”

  He walked out of her room, knowing in his heart he’d never hear her speak those words again, never hear the sound of her laughter.

  Tears flooded his eyes as he headed toward the office, but his dad already stood in the hall. “Sandy wants you to come—”

  “I’m going to her room now.” Dad swiped his hand over his face. “Your mother will join me.” He walked past quickly, but not before Derrick saw the tears, the gray pallor of his face.

  Leanne put a hand to his arm. “Will you be okay?” She handed him a wad of tissues.

  Derrick wiped his eyes and nodded. “I’ll be okay, but I’ll never be the same.”

  “Loss does that, but God wants you to go on. Sandy’s work here is almost done, but I suspect the good Lord has plenty for you to do yet.”

  A short laugh escaped his tight throat. “You’ve been talking to Sandy, haven’t you?”

  Leanne wrapped her hand around his wrist. “Sandy said to tell you that you must invite me to the wedding.”

  Sixteen

  “Lord, I’d rather not have known.”

  Allie headed home and caught herself going over the speed limit. She had to get there before Jake’s mom dropped Danny off.

  She hated herself for grilling Paige. Instead of fond memories of Luke, she’d forever live with the ugly truth. An adulterer? How could it be so? Nearly every word Luke spoke, every romantic gesture toward Cindy, all of it a lie! Is that the reason Luke gave Paige money—to keep her quiet? “Let it be true, Lord.” At least it would mean Luke wasn’t in love with Paige. That he only paid her off to keep the truth from Cindy.