The Courage to Dream

by Margaret Daley

  “I think we may be in trouble,” Rachel murmured, sliding a step closer to Michael.

  “I think you’re right. Run,” Michael said the second the teenagers started toward them.

  The hoses were turned on Rachel and Michael. They didn’t get three feet before they were drenched. Laughter bubbled up inside Rachel while Michael tried to wrestle the hose from the teen nearest him. Finally, he managed to capture it.

  “Scatter,” Amy shouted to the group.

  Before Rachel could blink the water from her eyes and flip her wet hair out of her face, the parking lot was deserted. Michael stood ready to do battle with no one to fight. He glanced at Rachel. The gleam dancing in his eyes warned her she was his next target. She backed away, scanning the area for the second hose. It lay five feet away—five long feet away.

  Rachel dove for the hose and got hit with a spray of water. “You won’t get away with that.” She grasped the hose and aimed it toward Michael, squeezing the handle on the nozzle. Water dribbled out.

  Michael laughed. “I won’t? Looks like I might.” He blasted her with the full force of the hose.

  Rachel peered toward the building and saw Amy push Kevin out of the way then turn the faucet on before hurrying to the one that controlled the flow to Michael’s hose. Rachel pressed her handle down and fired water at Michael at the same time Amy managed to shut off his flow, leaving him at Rachel’s mercy. She covered him with water from top to bottom. Exasperated because his hose didn’t work, he tossed it down and rushed her.

  Rachel saw his intent, screamed, threw her hose down and ran for the church. As she wrenched the door open, she heard the giggles of the teens nearby, then the sound of Michael’s pursuit. Inside the building she frantically searched for a place to hide.

  Before she could move toward the ladies’ rest room down the long hallway, Michael captured her. “Now I know where Amy gets her playfulness.” He swung her around.

  “Uncle. Uncle.”

  “But I haven’t done anything.”

  “But you’re thinking about it. I can tell.” Rachel shivered in the coolness of the air-conditioned entrance. “Admit it.”

  Michael released his hold on her. “The thought did cross my mind—but only briefly.”

  “Sure. And pigs fly.”

  “Rachel Peters, are you mocking me?”

  “Never.” She skirted him, keeping several feet between them. “I need to thank Amy for her help.”

  “And I thought Amy was a friend.”

  “She is, but she’s my sister,” Rachel said over her shoulder as she went outside. Pride swelled her chest at the thought that she and Amy were finally truly sisters.

  While she and Michael had been in the building, the teenagers had returned to the parking lot and begun cleaning up their mess. Rachel stopped dead in her tracks, amazed.

  “You’ve done well, Michael. I thought you and I would have to clean this up.”

  “Well, thank you, ma’am. I’ll accept that compliment.”

  When everything was put away, Amy came to Rachel and Michael. “Are y’all coming with us to get some ice cream?”

  “Of course. That’s the only reason I agreed to help today.” Rachel gestured toward her wet clothes. “But what do we do about these?”

  “Nothing. We can get our ice cream and eat outside at the picnic tables,” Amy said, walking toward Carol’s Sundries, halfway down the block from the church.

  Michael and Rachel fell in behind the group of teenagers. Again, she felt that Amy was planning something. Whispers flew among the youths with a few knowing glances thrown toward Michael and her.

  “There isn’t anything they could do at Carol’s Sundries, is there?” Rachel asked when Amy smiled at her.

  Michael took a moment to answer. “I don’t think so, but your sister is definitely up to something. The last time, I got drenched.”

  “We’d better be alert, then.”

  After Rachel and Michael got their ice cream cones, they left the shop to sit at the picnic tables across the street in the park. There was nowhere to sit except at a lone table under a live oak. The teenagers lounged all over the benches of the three tables clustered together, leaving no room for Michael and her.

  Rachel smiled sweetly at Amy and marched to the lone table. “Now we know what she was planning.”

  “I think Helen is rubbing off on her,” Michael grumbled and sat across from Rachel.

  “Do you think? That’s all Magnolia Blossom needs is another matchmaker.”

  Michael’s expression went neutral. He concentrated on eating his chocolate ice-cream cone.

  “Does that bother you?” Rachel asked, taking a lick of her peppermint ice cream.

  He shrugged. “If she wants to waste her time, that’s fine by me.”

  “Yeah, we’re just friends.”

  Rachel slid her gaze away, afraid her feelings were reflected in her eyes. She shouldn’t feel hurt, but she did. When had she wanted there to be more than friendship between her and Michael? She was leaving, which made it an impossible situation. She had a restaurant deal in New York waiting for her. She had a life outside Magnolia Blossom. She wasn’t good at making commitments to others. She had little practice.

  But while she ran through all the reasons it would never work between her and Michael, she kept thinking she wished that wasn’t so. Would it be so bad if she postponed going to New York for a year to see what developed between them? That way Amy, Shaun and she would be able to stay together. Her restaurant deal could be renegotiated later.

  * * *

  “Yuck! I don’t see why I have to go to this dumb play. Boys don’t see Romeo and Juliet. It’s for girls.” Garrett squirmed in his seat in the back of the car.

  Michael pulled into Rachel’s driveway. “The last time I checked, I’m male, and I’m looking forward to the play tonight. Amy is playing the lead, and she’s a friend of ours.”

  “I have one thing to say. Yuck!”

  “Well, then please keep your opinions to yourself. I don’t want to do anything to ruin Amy’s big night.” Michael opened the car door. “You stay here. I’ll go get Rachel and Shaun.”

  As he closed the door, he heard his son say, “Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!”

  In the past Michael had been relatively assured that Garrett would behave himself at functions like the one they were attending. But lately he wasn’t so sure. Garrett was angry a lot of the time. When Mary Lou came back into their lives, Garrett changed. All the more reason to fight her on the custody issue. She wasn’t a good influence on Garrett.

  Before Michael could ring the bell, the door flew open, and Shaun raced outside.

  “He’s faster than a speeding bullet,” Rachel said from the entryway. She gathered her purse and stepped onto the porch. “He’s been complaining about the play, but the second you pulled up to the house he made a mad dash for the door. Do children ever make any sense?”

  Michael looked toward his car, the light from the dome illuminating his child’s surly features. “Nope. The day we think we have them figured out is the day they are guaranteed to change again.” He opened the door for Rachel, then rounded the front and slid in behind the wheel.

  “And if I hear another negative word about this play from either one of you, we’ll just come home afterward instead of going out to eat. I’ll fix you both one of my specialties.” Rachel flashed Michael a grin. “Let’s see. If I remember correctly, the boys haven’t tried snails. I think it would be a good opportunity to expand their palate. What do you think, Michael?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “We don’t have any snails,” Shaun said from the back seat.

  “I could go out in the yard and hunt some down.” Michael threw the car into reverse and pulled out of the driveway.

  “You wouldn’t!” Garrett exclaimed.

  “I think I saw something slimy out in our backyard the other day.”

  “Those were slugs, Dad. Yuck! Yuck!”

  �
�That seems to be his favorite word lately,” Michael whispered to Rachel, then said, “this is Amy’s night. Be good, boys.”

  During the short drive to Natchez, Shaun and Garrett were unusually quiet. Rachel felt pinpricks in the back of her head, as though they were staring holes through her. Despite the boys’ reluctance concerning the play, she was looking forward to this evening, not because Amy was performing, but because when Michael asked Rachel if she would like to go with him, it felt as if he was asking her out on a date—a crowded date with two young boys as chaperons but a date nonetheless.

  At the community theater in Natchez, Michael led them to their seats. While Rachel settled down to watch Romeo and Juliet, the two boys wiggled and whispered to each other until she had to intervene and threaten extended grounding. Finally, in the second act, they calmed down, and Shaun fell asleep.

  By the time the performance was over, Rachel was in awe of her sister’s acting ability. She knew the story, had seen it performed in London by the Royal Shakespearean Company, but watching Amy in the part of Juliet made her realize what talent her sister had. Amy definitely needed to be exposed to Broadway and the theater in New York City.

  Everyone crowded around Amy backstage after the play. Rachel’s gaze sought Michael’s as though it had a will of its own. While the group parted to let Amy see them, Rachel felt trapped by Michael’s intense look, a look that told her she was missing out on life, that she was throwing away the best thing she could ever have by leaving Magnolia Blossom.

  “What did y’all think?” Amy asked, her eyes alight with happiness.

  “You were nothing short of brilliant. Where did you learn to act like that?” Rachel asked, her smile attesting to how proud she was of her sister.

  Amy shrugged, suddenly embarrassed. “I just like to pretend.”

  Kevin came up next to her and took her hand. “Are you ready?”

  “Hey, little brother, would you and Garrett like to go get hamburgers with Kevin and me?”

  Rachel winced when she heard Amy name a fast food chain. “I was thinking we could celebrate at—”

  Amy waved her hand in the air and laughed. “Don’t worry, sis. I don’t expect you to eat there. Kevin and I made a reservation for you and Michael at one of the plantations in town.”

  “But—”

  “I hear the food is great. Since when would a chef pass up an opportunity to eat good food?”

  “This is your evening. We’re celebrating your play.”

  “And I want a hamburger. We’re meeting some other kids there.”

  Michael arched a brow. “And you are voluntarily taking your brother and Garrett?”

  Amy grinned. “They’ll behave. I can’t see them eating in a fancy restaurant after sitting through the play. I thought I would reward them for coming.”

  Rachel narrowed her eyes. “You’re just too good to be true. It’s not going to work.”

  “Sure it is.” Amy checked her watch. “You have fifteen minutes to get there. Come on, Garrett and Shaun. You two better not give me a bit of trouble or y’all will be walking back to Magnolia Blossom.”

  “Amy!” Rachel exclaimed, ready to snatch the two boys back.

  Amy glanced over her shoulder and winked. “Just kidding. Have fun.”

  As everyone filed out of the community theater, Michael whispered close to Rachel’s ear, “I think we’ve been had.”

  “I think you’re right. We can always go back to Magnolia Blossom. I think Southern Delight is still open.”

  “No. Your sister went to a lot of trouble to plan this. I wouldn’t want to ruin this evening for her.”

  “And she’s right. I would like to sample the food at this restaurant.”

  “Then we’d better get going.”

  Michael touched the small of her back as he guided her to his parked car. The light feel of his fingers sent a tingling sensation up her spine. Now tonight felt like a real date. She knew she would need to say something to Amy tomorrow about trying to match her and Michael, but for the rest of the evening Rachel intended to enjoy herself.

  At the plantation house they were shown to a table set for two in a dark, secluded alcove. They each ordered something different so they could sample each other’s dishes. When Michael held up his fork, Rachel leaned forward to taste the steak speared on it. The intimate gesture of sharing their meals heightened her awareness of the man sitting next to her. His clean, fresh scent surrounded her and pushed all other delicious aromas away. His deep, masculine voice centered her full attention on him while they discussed the renovations on the riverboat.

  “So, do you have a chef for the restaurant?”

  “No. I’ve interviewed several but haven’t made up my mind yet. Maybe you could help me decide.”

  “Possibly,” Rachel said, stirring some sugar into her after-dinner coffee.

  “I’m leaning toward a young woman who’s working in New Orleans right now. I think she’s got a lot of possibility. She wants to strike out on her own.”

  A seed of jealously swamped Rachel, the sudden feeling disconcerting. She busied herself by taking several sips of her coffee while she wrestled with an emotion she had no right to feel. “Has she ever run a kitchen before?”

  “No, but I like to give people a chance to grow. And she seems quite loyal. She’s been at her present place for four years. She doesn’t move around a lot. I like that.”

  His words held a hidden rebuke, directed at Rachel. He hadn’t really forgiven her for what had happened ten years before. Loyalty had always been important to Michael. It went hand in hand with trust.

  She took another swallow of her coffee to ease the constriction in her throat. “I’d be glad to help any way I can.”

  His gaze snared hers. “Then I’ll set up a time for you to meet the applicants.”

  Candlelight danced in his eyes, drawing her in. For a few seconds she fought the desire to tell him she would be his chef. Then she remembered her plans and his earlier comment about trust and loyalty. She realized she loved him, always had, but could she make the kind of commitment he deserved?

  * * *

  “Well, what do you think, Rachel?” Michael sat at a table in the riverboat’s newly redecorated dining room.

  “I have to agree she has possibilities as a chef,” Rachel said, shifting in her chair next to him.

  “But?”

  “But I’m concerned about her management skills. You’ll need someone who can run your kitchen as well as be a good cook.”

  He tossed the pencil he’d been taking notes with onto the wooden table. “And Paul Fontaine earlier?”

  “His experience is with making desserts, not entrées.”

  Michael rose and began to pace. “There’s only one more I’m interested in. Marcus Davenport couldn’t come till tomorrow.”

  “Then I’ll be back. What time?”

  “One.”

  “Good. I can oversee the final touches to the kitchen and sit in on your interview with Mr. Davenport.”

  Michael continued to walk from one end of the dining room to the other. Rachel could understand his uneasiness over hiring a chef, but something else was making Michael as restless as a caged animal.

  “Michael, you’re exhausting me. Sit. Tell me what else is wrong.”

  He didn’t stop pacing. “I got served with the papers today.”

  “But you knew Mary Lou was going to go to court.”

  “Yeah, but I kept hoping she would tire and go away. Leave us alone.”

  “Have you told Garrett yet?”

  He came to a halt a few feet in front of her. “No. I will tonight. If I don’t, Mary Lou will.”

  “You and Garrett have a good relationship. He’ll understand. Are you going to tell him about Mary Lou’s drinking?”

  Michael scowled. “I can’t. He’s not even eight yet.”

  “Then what are you going to tell him?”

  He ran his hand through his hair repeatedly. “I’ll think of
something. I don’t have any choice. I have to tell him now.”

  “Remember what you told me about God being with me. It’s the same for you. The Lord is here to guide you, Michael.”

  “Right now I feel very alone,” he murmured, his shoulders sagging as if he had the weight of the world bearing down on him.

  Rachel stood and reached out to lay a comforting hand on his arm. Her cell phone rang. She touched Michael, intending to ignore the call. The jingle sounded again in the quiet.

  “Please answer it,” Michael muttered and stepped away from her.

  She flipped open her phone. “Yes?”

  “Rachel,” Amy said in a tense voice. “You’ve got to come home now. Mom’s here, and she wants us to pack.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Rachel slammed on the brakes, jumped from the car and raced up the steps of Aunt Flora’s house. Her heart hammered against her chest as she thrust open the front door and entered. She came to a halt halfway into the living room. Amy and Shaun sat on the couch, facing their mother, who stood by the fireplace, tall, stiff, frowning.

  Shaun leaped to his feet and launched himself at Rachel. “I’m so glad you’re home.” His arms went around her.

  Rachel placed her hand on his back and patted him. “Everything will be okay,” she whispered, then looked at her mother. “Hello, Mother. This is a surprise.”

  “It shouldn’t be. I told you I was coming.”

  Rachel walked with Shaun to the couch and waited until he was seated before facing their mother. “No, the surprise is the part about Amy and Shaun packing their bags.”

  Her mother’s tanned features were pinched together in a deep frown. “Weren’t you the one who a few weeks ago brought me to task for not doing my duty by my children? I’m here now to take Amy and Shaun back with me.”

  Amy shot to her feet, her arms ramrod straight at her side. “No, I won’t go!”

  Rachel gave her sister a reassuring smile. “Amy only has another year of high school left. She shouldn’t leave Magnolia Blossom right now.”