by Emma Miller
Milton tsked and tapped David’s folder on the counter. “Listen, I’m not charging you for my services this quarter. I know you can’t afford it right now.”
“I can’t let you do that,” David began, but Milton shook his head.
“Nope, not taking a penny. But what I am going to do is start praying that you’ll think about what I’ve said and consider other options. You’re a smart young man with a business degree from a great university and your whole life ahead of you. There are other things you can do, businesses that can make a profit and keep your head above water.” Milton turned to leave. “However, if you’re determined to give it a go, I’ll pray for your success.”
David agreed that a prayer wouldn’t hurt.
Help me out, Lord. Show me what I need to do to breathe life into this place. I could really use some guidance here.
The bell on the front door sounded as Milton exited, and Zeb Shackleford edged his way toward David with books balancing over the top of his red plastic basket. He gingerly placed the basket on the counter and then reached to his back pocket and pulled out a worn leather wallet. “Now, I’m gonna pay you today, David. Please don’t fight me on this. I got a lot of books, and I know you can’t afford to keep giving ’em to me for free.”
David suspected Zeb had gotten the gist of his conversation with Milton, even if he might not have caught every word. He loved the old man and the way he took care of so many people around Claremont. Right now he was trying to take care of David, but there was no way David would take his money. “We’ve been through this before. Those books are a donation.”
Zeb opened the wallet and moved a shaky thumb across the top of a few dollar bills. “Please, David. Let me pay.”
David placed his hand on top of Zeb’s, and the trembling ceased. “It’d be different if you were keeping those books yourself, but I know that you’ll be hauling them over to the nursing home and to the hospital and then to the shut-ins around town. You’ll read the books to them, and then if they like the story, you’ll let them keep them, won’t you?” When Zeb didn’t answer, David added, “My grandmother’s last days were so much better because of your visits. She loved listening to you read. You’ve got a way of bringing stories to life. She had that gift, too, before the cancer got the best of her. But with your visits, she could still enjoy a good story.” He pointed to the books. “I’m not letting you pay for them.”
“She never would take my money, either,” Zeb huffed, folding the wallet and sliding it in his back pocket. Then he lifted his eyes and said, “I know you need the money.”
David didn’t want the older man to worry, even if his own anxiety made his stomach churn. He placed all of the man’s books in two plastic bags. “I’ll be fine.”
Zeb placed a hand on David’s forearm and squeezed. “You have a blessed day, son.”
“I will.” The words had barely left David’s mouth when he heard someone moving through one of the aisles from the front of the store. He hadn’t heard the bell sound, but he definitely had another customer. “Hello?”
Zeb turned so that he saw the pregnant woman at the same time as David. But David was certain Zeb didn’t recognize the lady, since she wasn’t from Claremont. David, however, did, and his heart squeezed in his chest the way it always had whenever he saw the stunning blonde in college. Infatuation had a way of doing that, lingering through the years, and David’s had apparently hung around. “Laura?”
“Hey, David.” She continued toward the counter. “I came in when the other man left,” she said, which explained why David didn’t hear the bell, “and then I didn’t want to interrupt you while you were talking to a customer.”
“Well, I’m about to leave.” Zeb extended a hand. “I’m Zebulon Shackleford, but folks around here call me Zeb.”
“Laura Holland,” she answered, shaking his hand and giving him a tender smile.
Holland. David didn’t miss the fact that she was still Laura Holland. No married name. Why not? And who was the father of the baby she carried? So many questions, and he wanted to know the answers.
“I...” She hesitated. “I hope it’s okay that I came here.”
Shell-shocked, David realized he hadn’t said anything more than her name. He mentally slapped himself out of the momentary stupor. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Yes, of course it’s okay.” Though he suddenly wondered why she was here, in his bookstore, when he hadn’t heard anything from her in over two years. The last time he’d seen her, in fact, she’d been very much in love with his college roommate.
Zeb slid his arms between the loops of the bags then pulled them off of the counter as he stepped away. “David, if it’s okay with you, I might sit a spell and read in one of your nooks before I head out. I’m feeling a little weary and think it might do me good to rest a few minutes.”
David had to forcibly move his gaze from Laura, still amazingly beautiful, to Zeb. “Sure, that’s fine. And let me know if you want me to drive you home. It isn’t a problem.”
“Aw, I drove today, wasn’t quite feeling up to walking this time. It’s just that I parked on the other side of the square, and I think I’ll handle that walk a little better if I sit a minute or two.”
“Take all the time you need,” he said, glad that his mind began to work again, the surprise of seeing Laura finally settling in to reality.
She looked even prettier than he remembered. She had her straight blond hair pulled back, drawing even more attention to pale blue eyes and a heart-shaped face. Jared had often compared her to Reese Witherspoon, and David agreed they were similar, but Laura was...Laura. Back then, he’d found an instant attraction toward the striking beauty, but as usual, he’d fallen into the role of second fiddle when she dubbed him her friend, and Jared her love. Then again, David was wise enough now to realize that his fascination with her had been merely that, a fascination. But beyond the intriguing element that’d always been a part of his relationship with Laura, had been the friendship that David had found with Jared’s girl. He was certain that friendship was what brought her here now, because David knew she was no longer with Jared. His buddy had married in June.
Laura forced a smile, blinked a couple of times and then seemed to struggle to focus on David, as though she were afraid if she looked directly at him, he’d see too much. Which was probably true.
In college, he mastered reading her eyes. If Jared had hurt her, David could see it in those telling eyes. He’d seen that look way too many times. Even though he was close to Jared, David never believed his old friend treated Laura the way she deserved. She had a kind heart and would do anything for anyone. Jared took advantage of that; he’d taken advantage of her love. David hated seeing that look of emotional pain in her eyes back then.
He studied her now and didn’t see pain, but he saw something else that bothered him almost as much. Fear.
“Laura, is something wrong?” he asked, then quickly added, “I’m glad that you’re here, but—” he decided it best to state the truth “—I haven’t heard from you since I graduated from Tennessee, so to see you now, over two years later...” His gaze moved to her belly. “Do you need help?”
Her lip quivered, and then tears pushed free. She quickly brushed them away with two flicks of her hand. “I told myself I wouldn’t cry.”
David felt bad for causing her to release those tears, but he didn’t know what else to say or do. However, he did know this—he would do whatever it took to help her. “Hey, it’ll be okay.” Rounding the counter, he did the only thing that seemed right—opened his arms and let her move inside his embrace. But he had no idea why she needed his comfort, so he said another silent prayer for God’s guidance.
Laura let him hold her for a moment, but then he sensed her gaining her composure again, her shoulders rising as she sniffed then eased out of his hug. She looked up at him, and David sudd
enly felt taller than his six-one. He’d forgotten how petite she was, no more than five-four. Her size made him feel an even stronger urge to protect her from whatever had her so upset.
“I’m sorry I fell apart. I’ll be okay.” A lock of blond hair had escaped her barrette and rested along her cheek. She gently pushed it behind her ear. “It’s been a long day.”
David knew that was an understatement, but he’d maintain his patience and wait until she was ready to explain. He tried to think of what he could do to make her feel more comfortable. He had no idea where she’d parked or how far she’d walked to get to his store. Finding a spot at the square was sometimes difficult, so she could have walked a bit to get here, probably not all that easy with the pregnancy. “Why don’t we sit and visit?” He pointed to the reading area nearest the counter. “I’ve got some lemonade in the kitchen. I’ll get us a couple of glasses, and you can tell me what’s going on.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
He went to the small kitchen in the back and poured two glasses of lemonade then returned to find her sitting in one of the oversize chairs pressing her hand against her belly and smiling.
“Here you go.” He placed a glass on the table beside her and then took a seat on the sofa nearby. “Everything okay?” He indicated her hand, still rubbing against her stomach.
She nodded. “Yes, they get a little more active as it gets closer to night.” A soft chuckle escaped when her hand actually edged out a little as something pushed—or kicked—from inside. “Makes sleeping quite a feat.”
David would have said something about that kick, because he’d never seen anything like it, but instead he keyed in on the most important word in her statement. “They?”
Another nod, then she said, “Twins.” She took a sip of the lemonade, swallowed and then announced, “Twin girls.”
“Twin girls,” he repeated, amazed.
Then, before he could ask anything like how far along she was, she added three words that put every question David may have had on hold.
“And they’re Jared’s.”
He focused on her stomach. Twins were there. Jared’s twins. His mind reeled at that. It’d been, what, over four months since he stood beside Jared as a groomsman at his wedding?
David continued staring at her swollen belly—he couldn’t help it—and wondered how far along...
“Seven months,” she whispered, obviously following his thought process. “I found out about the pregnancy the end of May, the week I graduated. By that time, our relationship had been over for two months, which was exactly how far along I was.” She held the glass of lemonade, palms sliding up and down the clear column as her shaky voice continued. “I didn’t know he’d been seeing Anita—seeing both of us—and then...he married her.” Her attempted smile caused a couple of tears to fall free, and again she wiped them away. Then she seemed to gather the courage to tell him more and said, “He told me he’d pay to get rid of the baby.” One shoulder lifted. “He had no idea there were two.”
David’s mouth opened, but no words came, and his opinion of his old roommate plummeted.
“My parents wanted me to put them up for adoption. They said it’d be better, you know, since I don’t have a job or anything.” She placed her glass on the table. “I got my early education degree, but schools aren’t that interested in hiring a teacher who’s going to have to miss work for doctor appointments and will be out for six weeks of maternity leave.”
He tried to put the pieces together but still didn’t see what had brought Laura here, to Claremont. However, he wanted to make sure that she knew, whatever she needed, he would try to help. “I hate it that you’ve had a hard time, and I’m really sorry that I haven’t tried to contact you since I left.” He’d thought of her often, but it didn’t seem right calling Jared’s girl, even after he knew they weren’t together anymore. Plus he’d been seeing AnnElise Riley for the majority of that time, and she’d never have understood him reconnecting with an old, moreover attractive, female friend. Her jealousy had been over the top, which really made the fact that she’d cheated on David with her old boyfriend—and consequently left town with him—sting.
David shook away the bitter memory and concentrated on the woman in his bookstore. Now he wished he’d at least tried to check on her over the past couple of years.
“I didn’t call you, either,” she said softly, “so we’re even.”
That was true, but somehow it didn’t help David’s tinge of guilt. When Jared married Anita, he should have called to see if Laura was okay. And she was so not okay. She’d been several months pregnant when Anita walked down the aisle. David still couldn’t get a handle on that fact. Why hadn’t Jared at least mentioned it?
In any case, David would do what he’d always done back in college—help Laura after Jared had left her hurting. “Well, I’m glad that you’ve come here now, and I want you to know that if there’s anything that I can do to help you, I will.” He placed his glass next to hers then took her hands in his. “I mean that, Laura.”
She blinked, nodded and then David saw pleading in those vivid blue eyes. “When my parents realized I wouldn’t give up the babies and that I couldn’t get a job in the school system, they offered to take care of everything. They wanted me to live with them, let them support me and the babies, for as long as I needed.” One corner of her mouth lifted. “You remember how they were always fighting, how Mom was always threatening to leave or actually leaving. I didn’t want my babies to grow up around that tension.” Another sniff. “I want them to have a real home, somehow. And I want to take care of them.”
David had met her parents a few times when they visited Laura in college. Her mother had always seemed angry or been pouting over one thing or another, and her father had tried to explain and make amends for her behavior. Laura had been even more independent because she didn’t want to rely on them. “You didn’t take them up on their offer.”
She shook her head. “No, I couldn’t. I’ve stayed with them the past few months, since I graduated, while I tried to find a job. At first I was able to substitute teach, but the schools don’t even call me for that anymore. I think they’re afraid I’ll go into early labor.” She gave him a soft smile. “Probably wouldn’t be too great for my water to break in a classroom of first graders.”
He grinned. “Yeah, probably not.”
“But I want to show my folks that I’ll be okay on my own. And I really didn’t want to stay in Nashville.” She touched her hand to her stomach, then added, “Jared and Anita live there.”
David nodded. Jared and Anita were beginning their life in Laura’s hometown, and he was certain she wouldn’t want the slightest chance of running into her babies’ father and his new bride.
“So, here goes.” She took a deep breath, pushed it out. “I need a job. I want to support myself and my babies. And I thought of you and your bookstore, and—” she scanned the surplus of books “—I would work really hard for you. I know I’m limited physically now, but I can still sell books, and maybe I could help you start some reading programs or something like that? Something that would let me work with children, like I would have been able to do with my teaching degree?” She paused a beat then quietly added, “And I’ll need help finding somewhere to live. I have a little cash in my savings, and I thought with this being a smaller town and all, maybe the cost of living would be lower than Nashville.” She looked at him hopefully. “Do you think I could help you out? Or, I guess what I’m asking is, do you think you could help me out?”
He swallowed thickly through the lump lodging in his throat. He’d seen the worst figures ever this afternoon on his P&L statement, had even wondered how he’d stay in business past the holidays. Hiring someone wasn’t something he’d have considered, at all. He couldn’t pay himself, much less someone else. But this was Laura. And her baby girls. David knew t
he only answer he could give, even if it didn’t make sense and even if it might give Milton Stott an early heart attack.
“Yes, I can use your help.”
Chapter Two
Laura had been around David enough in college to know when something wasn’t going right in his world. Right now, as he talked on the phone to the woman who owned the Claremont Bed-and-Breakfast, she could tell he wasn’t getting the answer he wanted. He’d removed his glasses and placed them on the counter, then he pinched the bridge of his nose as he listened to what the lady had to say.
“No, Mrs. Tingle, I understand. I’d forgotten about the crafting folks coming in for the First Friday festival. They don’t usually stay overnight, though, do they?” He flinched as she apparently delivered another bit of bad news, then his head slowly moved up and down. “That’s right. I wasn’t thinking about everything happening next week. Yes, the bookstore is going to offer some activities for the festival. I just haven’t decided exactly what I’m doing yet.” His jaw tensed. “Okay, I’ll let Laura know you should have some rooms available in a couple of weeks.”
Laura waited for him to look her way then mouthed, “No luck?”
He held up a palm and gave her a half smile in an apparent effort to let her know everything would be okay. But Laura’s stomach quivered, and she began to think everything might not be okay. What if every room in town was booked for this festival he mentioned? For two weeks! Then what would she do?
“Yes, ma’am, we are having a book signing for Destiny Lee at the store next Saturday. That’s the only thing I’ve officially set up so far, but it’s definitely happening. It’s her first signing and she’s pretty excited about it.” He nodded. “I’d heard she included a story about you and Mr. Tingle in the book. I look forward to reading it.” He continued listening, then finally said, “That’s okay, I’m sure we’ll find something.”
