A Memory to Cherish

by Kay Correll

  “I’ll just be over at my desk grading papers. You two do your thing.” Beth turned and walked away.

  Beth tried not to make it obvious that she was watching Mac and Jimmy. Mac actually had the boy laughing at one point. They both sat with their heads bent over the material Mac had brought with him.

  Mac McKenna was such a complicated mix of a man. Business owner. Patient teacher to Jimmy. Confident, but at times she saw the tiniest hint of insecurity. Strong, but gentle and just a bit rough around the edges.

  She bowed her head over her papers and tried to pretend she was grading them. But, mostly, she was watching Mac.

  An hour later, Sheila Nelson showed up at the doorway to the class. She walked over to Beth’s desk. “Is that Jimmy smiling?”

  “It is.” Beth stood. “He and Mr. McKenna seem to have hit it off.”

  Mac glanced their direction and flashed a just a minute sign. They finished up and Jimmy raced up to his mother. “Mom, look. Mr. McKenna said I could bring this home tonight. I read a bunch of pages in the book.” He opened the book. “See how this word looks like a bed. Bed. Look at the outline of the word. It even looks like a bed with a headboard and footboard. He taught me some other tricks, too.”

  Sheila reached out to Mac. “Mr. McKenna, thank you so much for working with Jimmy.”

  “It’s not a problem. I hope we can make things easier for him. Teach him how to read and some coping skills for organization and whatever else I can help him with.”

  “Come on, Mom.” Jimmy tugged on Sheila’s hand. “You said we could go to Bookish Cafe and get some ice cream after my lesson. I’m gonna show this book to Miss Annie.”

  Sheila and Jimmy walked out of the classroom, and Beth leaned against the edge of her desk. “You were really good with him.”

  “It’s obvious he’s a sharp kid and anxious to learn. He’ll do fine. We just have to figure out the best way to unlock his brain and get the information in there.”

  “He’s usually so stressed by the end of the lesson when I’m working with him, but you sent him out of here in smiles.”

  “Sometimes it helps just to know there’s someone like you who understands.” Mac lounged against her desk beside her.

  Inches from her. Not that she noticed. Their fingers almost touched. She might be imagining it, but she’d swear she could feel the heat of his skin jump the distance between them.

  He cleared his throat. “So, I left last night without getting an answer.”

  “To what?” She knew darn well what he meant.

  “I asked if you wanted to go out on a date with me.” His eyes flashed with determination.

  There was no way he was going to let the question go this time, she could see that.

  “I… it’s complicated. I have the boys, the job, running for mayor. My life is just so crazy right now.” She was actually late to pick the boys up from her mother’s right now. Her life was busy and crazy… it wasn’t just an excuse.

  “So, you don’t want to date me?” He asked her point blank.

  “It’s not that. I just don’t have time to be involved with anyone right now.”

  “I wasn’t asking for a long commitment or anything, just a simple date. But I understand.”

  She could see the hurt in his eyes. A hurt that he tried so hard to hide from her.

  “Mac, I—”

  “Hey, it’s no problem.” He pushed off the desk and headed for the door. He turned when he got to the door. “When is Jimmy supposed to have another session?”

  “Thursday.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  Without another word, he disappeared out into the hall. The complete and utter silence of her classroom was broken only by the tick-tock-tick of the clock on the wall.

  Beth walked into the cheery warmth of her mother’s cabin. “Hey, boys. I’m here. Time to go home.”

  “Mom, I’m almost finished with my homework. Uncle Jason helped me.” Trevor called out.

  She walked into the kitchen where her mother stood at the stove. “I’ve made some homemade soup. I was going to send some home with you for dinner.”

  “That would be great, Mom.” She sank into a kitchen chair. Now she didn’t have to face that daily question of what to fix the boys for dinner.

  Her mother turned to her. “Do you remember that nice young couple from Florida who got stuck here in the big snow storm last spring? The boys befriended their son, Tommy.”

  “I remember. The boys were fascinated by someone who lived right by the beach. They’ve never even seen the ocean. I should take them sometime…” She’d just put that on her ever-growing to-do list. Sometimes it seemed like that there just wasn’t enough time to do everything she wanted to do.

  “Well, I think they’re going to become some more of our repeat customers. People sure do come here and fall in love with the place.”

  “If we can keep the lake like it is.” Beth sighed. They were going to have a long fight ahead of them.

  “Hey, sis.” Jason came around the corner and swiped a piece of cornbread her mom had cooling on a rack by the stove. “The boys are almost finished.”

  “Thanks for helping them with their homework.” That was another chore she wouldn’t have tonight. The ever-present homework battle.

  “I don’t mind at all.” He reached for another piece of cornbread.

  “Before you eat all that, how about grabbing a container and packing some up for your sister and the boys.” Her mom waved a spoon at Jason.

  He went to the cabinet and took out a container and filled it with cornbread. “I heard you’re seeing Mac McKenna.”

  “I’m not really seeing him.”

  “Right. You just had a picnic with him here at the lake. And the boys have met him. Heard he dropped by your house. He helped with their tree house. And Mom said he helped clean up your house after the break-in. Yep, sounds like just normal, everyday, not-seeing-each-other to me.” Jason’s eyes sparkled.

  “Jason, quit teasing your sister and get me a container for the soup.”

  “He’s just a friend.”

  “I see.” Jason rolled his eyes. “Rescued you from your flat tire calamity, too.”

  “Are you keeping score?”

  “Pretty much.” Jason nodded agreeably.

  “I think it’s time for me to go.” Beth stood, and her mom handed her a box with the food containers.

  “There are cookies in there, too.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” She leaned through the doorway and called to the boys, “Let’s go.”

  “Coming.” She heard the scraping of chairs and the commotion of them gathering their things.

  They entered the kitchen and hugged her mom. “Bye, Grams.”

  “Bye, Uncle Jason.” Trevor slipped on his jacket.

  “Bye, boys.” Jason swiped yet another piece of cornbread.

  Beth swore the man never stopped eating. Or stopped teasing her.

  The boys raced out the door.

  “Have fun not seeing your Mac McKenna.”

  “He’s not my…”

  Jason grinned at her. She grabbed a kitchen towel and swatted at him.

  “Hey, you two are too old for that nonsense.” But her mother smiled in spite of herself.

  “Okay, I’m outta here.” Beth put down the towel, left the warmth of her mother’s home, and headed out into the chilly Colorado evening.

  Chapter 14

  Mac had been meeting with Jimmy twice a week for a few weeks now. He and Beth had gotten into the habit of sitting and talking after Jimmy left. He’d come to look forward to those late afternoons with her.

  He’d made up an excuse today to come by the school even though it wasn’t a regular lesson time with Jimmy. His excuse, a printout of a new research project on techniques to teach kids with dyslexia, sat on the front seat of his truck. He knew she’d enjoy reading the article.

  And he’d enjoy seeing her…

  He spied her car at the far end of the
parking lot and slowly drove the truck over. He parked beside it, trying to decide if he should wait outside for her or work up the courage to actually go into the school and look for her. After all these weeks, he still wasn’t comfortable entering the silly school. Which was ridiculous. He was a grown man. He shouldn’t be afraid of a school building.

  He climbed out of the truck. As he passed the driver’s side of Beth’s car, he paused and frowned. With a quick glance around the lot, he walked over closer and bent down. Her front tire was low, and someone or something had punctured it, maybe with a knife. He ran his finger over the puncture.

  As he stood up and looked around again, a police car with flashing lights pulled into the parking lot and stopped behind Beth’s car, blocking him in.

  “Stay where you are.” Daniel Smith stepped out of the car.

  “What’s the problem?”

  “That’s what I’m here to figure out. I got a call that someone was out lurking around the cars in the lot.”

  “Yes, it appears that Beth’s car might have been tampered with.” Mac tried to steady his pounding heart, annoyed that he was having this reaction. He hadn’t done anything.

  “And you just happen to be here by her car?”

  “I was coming to… I have something for her. I noticed the flat and was checking on it.”

  “Awful lot of coincidences there, don’t you think?” Daniel’s partner came to stand by his side.

  The two of them stared at Mac. “Why don’t you put your hands against the car?”

  “You’re kidding me.” Mac gave both of them one long look, then placed his hands against Beth’s car.

  “Got any weapons on you?”

  “Of course not.”

  Mac gritted his teeth as Daniel ran his hands over him, searching, patting him down.

  “What’s this?” Daniel held up a knife.

  “That…” Mac looked at what Daniel was holding, and his heart thudded in his chest. “That’s my knife. I was using it to open boxes at my tavern. Didn’t realize I still had it in my pocket.”

  Daniel’s partner bent down and looked at Beth’s tire. “Looks like it’s been punctured with a knife.”

  “I didn’t puncture Beth’s tire,” Mac said slowly and forcefully.

  This school held some kind of curse over him. He was always being accused of wrongdoing. Even after all these years.

  “What’s going on here?”

  Mac looked up to see Beth standing near her car. A brief flash of embarrassment stabbed through him at her seeing him standing here, legs spread, hands on her car.

  “Caught him messing with your tire.” Daniel held the knife flat in his palm. “Caught him red-handed.”

  “I don’t understand.” Beth’s eyes clouded with confusion.

  “We got a call that someone was lurking around the cars on the lot. We pulled up and Mr. McKenna was bending over by your tire. Found this knife on him.”

  “Mac?” She turned to look at him.

  “Didn’t do it.” He looked at her. “I was coming to see you and noticed your tire was flat.”

  Beth stared at him, then looked at Daniel.

  He waited what seemed like an eternity for her to say something.

  “If Mac says that’s what happened, then it is.”

  “But we caught him.” Daniel’s partner insisted.

  “You actually saw him puncture the tire?” She walked up beside Mac and rested her hand over one of his pressed against her car.

  “Well… not exactly. But he was here and has the knife and he was kneeling by the tire.” Daniel frowned.

  “He said he was checking it.”

  Daniel nodded at Mac. “You can stand up.”

  Mac slowly stood up straight, anger mixed in with embarrassment flooding through him. He balled his hands into fists, but then relaxed them and jammed them in his pockets.

  “I’d still like to run him in for questioning.” Daniel turned to Beth.

  “I’m not going to press charges against him.”

  He felt Beth standing just inches by his side.

  “I think you’re making a mistake.” Daniel’s partner insisted.

  “I don’t think I am.” Beth stood firm.

  Charlie Patterson—Mac could finally read the name on his badge. He’d add that name to the list of people to avoid in this town.

  “Okay. Your choice. You need help changing that flat tire?” Daniel offered.

  “I’ll change it for her.” Mac stood beside Beth, every muscle in his body screaming at him, trying to hold back all the emotions that plagued him. Anger. Embarrassment. Protectiveness toward Beth. And last, but not least, an intense dislike that he had for this school and everything associated with it.

  Good old Charlie looked distrusting and doubtful.

  “Thank you, Mac. I’d appreciate that.” Beth stood by his side in what he couldn’t help but feel was solidarity. He wanted to throw his arms around her and hug her but figured that wasn’t the appropriate move at this time.

  Daniel nodded, and he and Charlie headed back to their vehicle. Beth didn’t move or say a word until they pulled out of the lot.

  He sucked in a deep breath, struggling to steady his nerves.

  She turned to him and looked at him with her warm brown eyes. “You didn’t do this, did you?”

  She might as well have taken his knife and stabbed his heart.

  Beth looked deep into Mac’s eyes. She couldn’t help it. She needed to look straight at him and watch his face and his eyes when he answered her question. She had to know the truth. Feel the truth. She didn’t think he did it, but he did have a way of showing up when these things happened.

  He didn’t answer her for a full minute. He just stood there staring at her. “I can’t believe you’re asking me that.” He jammed his hands into his jeans pockets. “No, I did not puncture your tire. It wasn’t me.”

  “I’m sorry… I just…” How did she explain that she had to ask him again? Had to ask when Daniel and Charlie weren’t around. When she could watch his face when he answered. She had her boys to consider. She had to be careful, for their sake, if not for her own.

  She could read the expression on his face clearly now. He was hurt. Disappointed. Maybe even angry.

  He turned away from her. “Open your trunk. I’ll get your tire changed and then I’ll get out of your way.”

  “Mac… I…”

  “No problem.” He stood by the trunk.

  She opened it, and he wrestled the spare out. He didn’t say one word to her while he changed her tire.

  When he finished changing the tire and putting the punctured one into the trunk, he stood and wiped his hands on his jeans. Dirt covered the knees of his jeans where he’d knelt to change the tire.

  “I’ll be going now.” He turned away from her and took a step toward his truck.

  She reached out and grabbed his arm. “Mac—”

  “Save it. I’ll never outrun my reputation in this town. Ever. I’m through trying to persuade people in Sweet River Falls that I’m not some big troublemaker or, apparently at this stage, a criminal.”

  “Mac, I don’t think—”

  “Frankly, I don’t care what you think.” He pulled away from her grasp and climbed into his truck.

  She watched as he pulled out of the parking lot and headed down the road, wondering if that was the last time she’d ever see him.

  Chapter 15

  Beth sat at Bookish Cafe sipping coffee with Sophie. “I really messed up. Mac doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

  “And that’s a problem, isn’t it? Because you’re falling for him?” Sophie eyed her over the rim of her mug.

  “What? No, of course not.” She frowned. She wasn’t exactly falling for the man… She just… liked him. He was fun to be around. She enjoyed their time together. That was all.

  Sophie rolled her eyes. “I’ve known you too long. Good try with the denial.” She tilted her head. “Though, maybe you’
re just trying to convince yourself there’s nothing there.”

  “I… well, I think I hurt his feelings when I asked him if he slit my tire. But I mean, why did I ask him? What reason would he have to do that? It was a silly question, and I just convinced myself that I had to watch his expression when I asked him, so I knew the truth.”

  “And what did his expression say?”

  “That he was hurt that I’d asked him. And I think he was embarrassed to be seen like that. Hands against my car.” She pushed a lock of hair away from her face. “He’d also asked me out to dinner, and I turned him down. I was busy that night, but honestly, my life is so crazy right now. Why would I add in one more thing?”

  “Because you like this guy?”

  “I don’t like him. Well, I like him. I just don’t like-like him. Oh, you know what I mean.”

  “Actually, I do know what you mean. You like him a lot. You just won’t admit it.”

  Beth stared at her friend. Her friend who was telling the truth even if she hadn’t seen it. She did like him.

  “I kind of understand why you asked him about the tire. Maybe. But why would he puncture your tire? It makes no sense. He has been around when a lot of things have happened, but I just don’t get the feeling any of that involves him. He seems like a fine, upstanding guy. And he was there helping Jimmy Nelson. I really think he’s a nice guy.” Sophie set down her mug.

  “I don’t know how to make it right with him now.”

  “I’ve got an idea.” Sophie grinned.

  Beth wasn’t sure she liked that grin on her friend’s face. “What is it?”

  “Go to Mac’s Place and apologize.”

  “If he would even listen to me.”

  “And while you’re there, ask him to the Fall Festival.”

  “What?” Beth looked at her friend in surprise.

  “What better way to say that you want to go out with him than to invite him to something the whole town is going to?”

  “I couldn’t do that.”

  “Yes. You could.” Sophie leaned back from the table and grinned again. “And you know, it will drive Dobbs crazy to see you there with Mac. That’s a plus.”