Love Inspired June 2021--Box Set 1 of 2

by Patricia Johns

  “I’m a dad. And there is no passing through my child’s life.”

  Her heart gave a painful squeeze and she blinked away tears that gathered. He might be larger than life but he was also thoughtful in ways that mattered. That was the new Grayson, not the one she’d known a dozen years ago.

  “I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He squeezed her hand.

  Avery shook her head in denial that she was crying but swiped at a tear that trickled down her cheek.

  “I’m glad you aren’t passing through her life.” Her own father had done that to her and she’d vowed she’d never allow that to happen to her daughter.

  The thoughts brought her to a stop, guilt and shame flooding her.

  “Avery? What’s wrong?”

  “I let my fear do this to you and to Quinn.”

  “Your fear?”

  “Grayson, I have to protect Quinn. I won’t let her live the life I lived. I don’t want her to feel the heartache of being neglected or abandoned. I don’t want her to be anything other than confident and sure of herself. My father walked out shortly after I was born. He never came back. I don’t know where he went, maybe a new life, maybe jail. But I didn’t search for him, either. I know his name. I know I have a grandmother in Illinois. I never went looking for either of them. They didn’t want me so why should I want them?”

  “So...you’re saying I paid for your father’s sins?”

  “Yes, yes, you did.” She stood there quietly, feeling the tears sliding down her face. “Please forgive me, Grayson,” she whispered.

  “I forgive you,” he answered. “I understand but wow, I just don’t know how to process all of this. You’re telling me I missed ten years of Quinn’s life because of another man’s actions?”

  “I know.”

  “I want to make sure you know that I won’t miss another birthday, another Christmas, another year. I’m not sure what God’s plans are with all of this, but I do know that none of this was an accident.”

  “I see.”

  “Do you?” he asked. “God knew that I had a daughter here. She was never a secret to Him. And God knew that it was time to end this cycle. You deserved a father, Avery. And my daughter deserves to have me in her life, as a father and not as a visitor.”

  Avery squeezed her eyes shut tight and allowed her heart to open up just a little. Quinn needed her father. She needed this man who promised to be there for her.

  She prayed hard that he would keep those promises.

  Grayson put his arm around Avery. “Let’s go back and see if Nan needs help with dinner.”

  They walked back from the corral, then entered the house to find the kitchen dark.

  “Nan?” Avery called out, heading from the back of the house to the front.

  “She isn’t here,” Nina answered from the laundry room. The caretaker came out, a pile of folded towels in her arms. “She went to her house to work on a boat. She said she has an order and she can’t just stop working. I tried to get her to stay here but she was stubborn.”

  “There’s still no electricity at the house.” Avery reached for the purse she’d dropped on the counter as she came in. “Why would she go work on a boat when she really can’t do any? Where is Mr. Stone?”

  “He’s on the front porch,” Nina said with a smirk. “He might have been watching the show as you all tried to catch the runaways.”

  “I’m going to sell those animals first thing tomorrow.” Grayson issued the empty warning with a grin.

  “No, you won’t.” Avery knew that with a certainty. “Is Quinn with him?”

  “She is,” Nina said.

  “I’m going to check on Nan,” Avery said as she headed for the back door. “Is it okay if Quinn stays here? She really does need to rest.”

  “Of course she can stay here,” Nina answered as she carried towels into the bathroom.

  “I’ll go,” Grayson broke in. “I’ll check on Nan. You stay here and make sure Quinn rests.”

  The sound of a vehicle rumbling up the drive stopped their conversation. Grayson went to the kitchen window. “Nan’s back.”

  “Good.” Avery went out the back door. Quinn started to follow but Grayson told her to wait. She mouthed a quiet “Thank you.” She needed a moment alone with her foster mom, to make sure she was okay.

  Nan met her in the yard and she certainly looked well enough.

  “Nina said you went home to work on your boat,” Avery said, trying to sound fairly normal, not at all concerned.

  “That was my plan. But I got there and there was no electricity. I’m not sure why I thought it would be back on today. And then it took me a little longer than expected to get back here.”

  “Oh, why was that?”

  Nan shrugged off the question. “It’s a pretty day for a drive.”

  “Yes, it is.” Avery walked with her foster mom, back to the house and into the kitchen where the others waited.

  “Oh dear, I forgot to make chicken pot pie.” Nan sighed. “This storm has me rattled. I have an idea. Why don’t we send Grayson to town for fish dinners from Tilly’s?”

  “We could make sandwiches,” Avery suggested.

  “I think fish dinners are a great idea,” Grayson said as he gave Nan a hug. “I love Tilly’s fish.”

  “Me, too.” Nan patted his cheek. “You’re not so bad.”

  “You’re pretty terrific yourself,” he told her.

  Avery walked Grayson to his truck. “Are you sure you don’t mind doing this? I feel as if we’ve become the worst kind of houseguest, the kind that doesn’t leave and now you’re having to feed us.”

  “You’re the best houseguest and I don’t mind at all. And stop worrying. I think Nan is fine.”

  “I hope so. She hasn’t been herself lately.”

  “She made a valid point. This storm has rattled all of us. Give her a week or so to get past it and I’m sure she’ll be back to her usual self.”

  “Thank you,” Avery said as they stopped next to his truck.

  “Thank you for what?”

  She touched his cheek. “For being here. For being thoughtful. For giving us a place to stay.”

  “I think I was here at the right time, Avery.”

  “Maybe so,” she agreed.

  “I’ll be back with dinner.” He leaned down, catching her mouth in a warm kiss that took her by surprise, not only because it was unexpected but also because it shifted the foundation of her world.

  He broke the kiss off and got in his truck, leaving her a bit dazed as she watched him drive away.

  Boundaries, she reminded herself. She really needed to remember those boundaries. Grayson was easy to look at, easy to kiss. He always had been. It was all of the other stuff that got in the way. No matter how much she wanted to trust him, she kept waiting for him to do or say something that would hurt her or her daughter.

  * * *

  Grayson slowed as he drove through Pleasant on his way to Tilly’s. As he passed by the feed store, a man got out of a car to talk to someone in a truck. Grayson recognized both men. Once, a long time ago, they’d been friends. The worst kind of friends.

  The man who had been sitting in the car turned to catch his eye. Recognition flared. Chet Martin waved at Grayson, wanting him to come over. He yelled something that Grayson didn’t hear. Then a third car pulled in. Greg.

  Some people changed. Some people didn’t. For Grayson, there was always a fine line. A line he hadn’t crossed in nine years. As he drove on past, he thought of Quinn. Of Avery. He thought about how easy it would be to let them down and how much he didn’t want to be the person Avery couldn’t count on.

  Pleasant represented a past he didn’t want to get tangled up in. Ever again.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Avery went in to work at PRC on Thursday. It had been eig
ht days since the tornado hit Pleasant and the surrounding area. For six of those days they’d stayed at the Stone farm. Going back home had felt good. Back to Nan’s. Back to their routine and back to the security that Avery felt in that farmhouse.

  It felt odd, to return to work, to note all of the differences. Three of the halls had been shut down. More than half of the residents had been evacuated to residential homes in the area. The small number of residents who remained were confined to their rooms. All those changes meant that a large portion of the staff had been let go or moved to other facilities.

  Slipping into a darkened room, she took a seat next to the bed. Margie opened her eyes and smiled. “It’s about time you showed up.”

  “I’m sorry,” Avery whispered, and reached for Margie’s hand. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you, as well. It’s been very quiet here. How’s Mr. All Hat and No Cattle?”

  “Margie, Mr. All Hat is Grayson Stone. Do you remember him?”

  “Well, of course I do. He’s Judge Stone’s boy. He was wild as a March hare, that one was. And you always were calf eyed when he was around.”

  “Calf eyed?”

  “Big eyes watching that boy. Even when he was ornery to you.”

  “Yes, even when he was ornery.” She thought about that for a minute. “He once told some kids that he couldn’t invite me to a party. His mom didn’t want trailer park trash in her house.”

  “That was unfair of him, but he was just a boy back then. He was probably trying to impress someone and didn’t know how hurtful it was. Kids do that. But what about now?”

  “He’s Quinn’s father,” she confessed to the older woman. “What am I supposed to do?”

  She didn’t know why she was asking Margie. Maybe because she needed the impartial wisdom of this woman she had always admired?

  “Ahhh, that makes sense. She has his dark hair and dark eyes. I’m guessing he didn’t know.”

  “No, he didn’t.”

  Margie patted her hand. “Oh, the tangled webs we weave, trying to hide our secrets and protect our hearts.”

  “It was a mistake,” Avery admitted.

  “Yes, it was. We all make them so don’t be too hard on yourself.”

  Avery sighed. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.”

  “Now’s the chance for the two of you to make up for the past.”

  Both of them had things to make up for, not just Grayson. She had realized that but when Margie had put it into words, that made it hit home all the more.

  “You’re right. I know I can’t give him the ten years he lost. It’s tough.”

  “It is, but you’ll do the right thing for them both. And for yourself. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, Avery. It’s the ‘all’ that matters.”

  “Thank you.” She glanced at her watch. “I have to go now.”

  “Will you be back?” Margie’s voice brightened. “I heard we’re going to start our Bible study again. I thought we’d never get back to normal.”

  “The storm changed everything, didn’t it?” Nothing had been normal since the storm.

  “Life has its storms, Avery.” Margie pushed the button to raise up the back of her bed. “I can’t stand lying down like that. I need to be able to sit up and see you. I want you to remember that life has storms, but you remember Who is in the storm with you. And remember that storms never last forever.”

  “I’ll remember.” Avery stood, then leaned over to hug Margie. “I’m so thankful for you.”

  “Likewise, honey. Now you go do what you need to do, but remember, you belong here with us.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Margie. I’ll be back Monday.”

  “That isn’t what I meant.”

  “What did you mean?” Avery asked, hesitating in the doorway.

  “You’re not going to California with Grayson Stone? I thought if he asked, you’d go.”

  “He hasn’t asked and even if he did, my answer would be a definite no. I have no intention of leaving Pleasant.”

  Avery stepped out of Margie’s room and wandered down the hall to her office. The picture of Quinn, the one she’d hidden from Grayson, was still behind her diploma. She pulled it out and set it back on her desk where it belonged. She stared at it for a moment, smiling at the image of her daughter, so like Grayson. She’d loved Quinn from the moment she’d been born. Actually, she’d loved her before she was born.

  She’d been a frightened nineteen-year-old when her daughter came screaming into the world but she’d taken one look at her and she’d fallen in love. From that moment on, only Quinn mattered. Everything she’d ever done, she’d done for Quinn.

  Letting Grayson in her life? That was also for Quinn. It hadn’t hurt as much as she’d thought it might. But that was only because she wouldn’t let him into her life enough to hurt her.

  “Hey, why the frown? I mean, I know you don’t like the way we remodeled, but it isn’t all bad.” Laura stood in the door of her office. “Mind if I come in?”

  “Come on in.” Avery welcomed her friend. “How are you doing?”

  “Oh, I’m good. My house is still standing.” Laura cringed. “Sorry. That’s probably a sore spot with you.”

  “It’s fine. I’m still going to build. It’s just going to take longer than I thought. I’ll have to recoup all the money that my contractor stole from me.”

  “I wish there was something that could be done about that guy.”

  Avery shrugged it off, although it still hurt that she’d been duped. “I know. Live and learn.”

  “Something like that. How’s Quinn feeling?” Laura pulled out a chair and sat across from her.

  “She’s much better. It’s been tough, not being able to be at home. I think we’re moving back to Nan’s in the morning.”

  “Has it been tough, staying with Grayson?”

  She had to think on that one. “Not really tough. He’s been gone a lot, helping people in the community. He’s an architect and a builder so he’s doing what he can for people around town and also for the church.”

  “That’s nice of him. Who would have guessed that Mr. All Hat would be the kind of guy to pitch in and save a community?”

  “He isn’t saving anyone. He’s helping.” She heard the snappish tone in her voice and immediately apologized.

  Avery glanced at the clock on her desk. “I have to run and get Quinn. She’s with Nan, working on a boat. I told Grayson I’d meet him at two. He wants to show me what he has planned for my house.”

  “Avery, he seems like a nice guy,” Laura said.

  “He is a nice guy,” Avery agreed. “But he’s a nice guy who isn’t staying in town. He’s going to help me get my house started again. And in a few weeks he’ll go back to California. Hopefully, once he’s there, he won’t forget he has a daughter in Missouri. That’s really my biggest concern.”

  Laura gave her a quick hug. “I know you didn’t ask for my opinion, but he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would walk out on his daughter.”

  Avery nodded. “You’re right. I know you’re right.”

  In her head, she knew Laura was right.

  But her heart was too frightened to agree.

  * * *

  An hour later she’d picked up Quinn and was heading to her home. Or what remained of it. As she pulled up the driveway to what, just over a week ago, had been the frame of their future home, she felt a catch in her throat.

  “Mom, it’s going to be okay,” Quinn said, reaching to hold Avery’s hand. “Dad’s going to fix it for us.”

  “Of course he is,” Avery said. He was already Quinn’s hero.

  Avery parked and got out to inspect the work that had been done in the past couple of days. The frame was going back up. There were supplies nearby to finish that first phase of buildi
ng. Grayson came out from behind the building, hammer in hand and wearing a hard hat. He had a man with him, someone she didn’t recognize.

  “Avery, I’d like for you to meet Larry Childers. He’s going to manage everything here when I leave.”

  At his words, Quinn’s face fell. Avery noticed, and she was glad that Grayson noticed, too. Surely, he understood that their daughter wanted him here forever?

  “When are you leaving?” Quinn asked, her expression still pained. “Soon?”

  “No, not soon. I mean, in a few weeks. But I’ll be back.” He looked unsure and it wasn’t something Grayson was used to, being unsure.

  It wasn’t going to be as easy as they’d thought, only being part-time in Quinn’s life. But it was all they had. Avery met Grayson’s eyes and they both knew it. They’d discussed visits and how he would be able to spend time with Quinn. The planning had all been easy because it hadn’t included Quinn’s feelings in the mix. No matter how simple they thought it would be to share custody, Quinn would feel the pain of separation.

  “Miss Hammons, I want to assure you, I’ll do my best work for you. We’ll have your home finished and better than you ever thought possible.” Larry had stepped forward to shake her hand, not realizing the emotions at play among father, daughter and mother.

  “I want to make sure you have a storm shelter, too,” Grayson added. The conversation was strained. They could discuss the house all they wanted, but they were also thinking about his departure, about Quinn’s hurt feelings.

  “A storm shelter would be good,” Avery responded, but her gaze still lingered on Quinn. She was walking through the skeleton of what would soon become their home.

  “I thought so,” Grayson said. “I’m also talking to a man about a pole barn. You’ll want a barn.”

  “Will I?” Avery asked. “I hadn’t considered a barn. I’m not sure it’s in my budget. I doubt a storm shelter is in my budget, either. Remember, I’m trying to cut back on the amount I’ll spend.”

  Larry Childers walked away, giving them space.

  “We’ll work it out,” Grayson told her.

  “Why is Tucker at your house?” Quinn asked. She hurried to climb in the back of Grayson’s pickup, standing and peering across the field that separated them from the Stone farm. “He has a horse trailer.”