“I’m so sorry Laurel. I let pride get the best of me—” a tear spilled onto his cheek “—and ended up hurting the two people I love most in this world.”
Laurel’s vision blurred. How she had dreamed of hearing her father say he loved her. That he hadn’t abandoned her. Or rejected her. He’d wanted her.
“There wasn’t a day that’s gone by I didn’t send up a prayer for you.”
Reaching for her napkin, a move that sent her silverware clanging against the table, she stared at him. “You did?” She dabbed her eyes.
“I couldn’t be there to watch over you, so I asked the Lord to do it in my stead.”
Through tears, she said, “You have no idea how much I want to believe that.”
“I understand.” Straightening, he sucked in a breath. “Trust is something that needs to be earned. But I intend to use whatever time I’ve got left to do just that.”
Here she was, in the middle of a restaurant, and the tears simply wouldn’t stop. This would not do. “I’m sorry—” she sniffed “—but we’re going to have to change the subject before I turn into a bawling heap.”
He chuckled.
She blew her nose. “Um, so you own a drilling company?”
His brow lifted. “Sounds like you’ve done some research.”
“Actually, Wes did.” She reached for her water. “He had a friend run a background check.”
“Can’t say as I blame him. He was trying to protect you, like a good husband should.”
“Well, he’s retired military, if that tells you anything. And...” Setting her cup back down without ever having taken a drink, she wondered if she should tell him. Yesterday she hadn’t wanted Jimmy to know any details about her life. But then, she’d also believed he was a fraud, someone who only wanted something from her. Now, though, she actually believed he was her father and the reasons behind his sudden appearance were sincere.
Meeting his gaze once again, she said, “Wes is not my husband.”
“Oh.” Jimmy looked surprised. “I just assumed.”
“It’s a rather complicated situation.” Out of the corner of her eye, Laurel saw Rae approach.
“All right, I’ve got your beef tips with noodles.” Rae set the plate in front of Laurel then handed the other plate to Jimmy. “And chicken fried steak for the gentleman.”
“Thank you, young lady.”
“Can I get you anything else?” Rae said those same words to everyone in her restaurant. But the look she sent Laurel said she was ready to provide a means of escape if Laurel needed it.
“No.” Laurel winked. “I think we’re good.”
A smile lit Rae’s blue eyes. “Glad to hear it.” She patted Laurel’s shoulder. “Just holler if you need me.”
Laurel was surprised when Jimmy asked if he could say grace. Then, over their meal, Laurel explained her and Wes’s relationship. What little of it she understood, anyway.
“It’s obvious he cares about you very much.” Jimmy shoved another bite of steak into his mouth.
She thought about the feel of Wes’s hand touching her face. Oh, how she’d wanted to lean into it. To feel his embrace once again.
Shrugging, she nabbed a forkful of noodles. “He’s an honorable man, and I happen to be the mother of his child.”
“I saw firsthand how fiercely protective he was of you.” Knife in one hand, fork in the other, he cut another piece of meat.
“He was protecting his daughter.”
Jimmy glanced up at her. “Don’t kid yourself, Laurel.”
She wasn’t kidding herself—she was protecting her heart. Her feelings for Wes had begun to shift, moving into unfamiliar and terrifying territory. Believing that his feelings were only because of Sarah-Jane was what Laurel needed to keep her from getting her hopes up.
“Well, it doesn’t really matter, anyway, because Wes is leaving soon.”
Jimmy’s brow lifted in question.
“He’s going to Iraq for a year to work with Servant’s Heart.”
“I’ve heard of them. However, a year’s not that long, then he’ll be back.”
She paused, her fork in midair. “I’m not trying to be hurtful, but the concept of coming back isn’t something I can easily wrap my head around.”
He frowned, nodding. “Laurel, your grandmother loved you. I’m sure she thought she was doing the right thing by you. She took very good care of you. Left you her entire estate, from what I hear.”
“Yes, but she took away the only thing I ever really wanted.”
Chapter Thirteen
Wes needed to stop thinking about Laurel. Ever since that night they had dinner with Irma and Joyce, his resolve to steer clear of romantic relationships had seemed to be fading fast when it came to her. Perhaps all that talk about weddings had gotten to him.
Whatever the case, he needed to get a grip. Just because he and Laurel shared a daughter didn’t mean that they were destined to be together. Sure, he cared about her and wanted what was best for her. But Wes wasn’t the best. He’d failed his parents. He couldn’t bear it if he failed Laurel, too.
By the grace of God, he’d managed to keep himself in check when she’d stopped by Irma’s a little over an hour ago to let him know how things had gone with Jimmy. She seemed to be getting closer to accepting that the man was, indeed, her father, which was something Wes couldn’t argue with based on everything she’d told him.
Pulling the front door closed at Irma’s just after three, he twisted the key in the dead bolt before heading toward his truck. He’d accomplished everything on his list today—added the subfloor to the bathroom, removed the remaining vinyl and then did the drywall repair on the family room ceiling. He supposed he should start thinking about what he was going to say at the men’s prayer breakfast tomorrow. He could make a list of the details he wanted to be sure to touch on.
But first, he owed his sister some attention. He’d been spending so much time with Laurel and Sarah-Jane that Rae had become relegated to a back burner, and that wasn’t fair. Not after all she’d done for him. At least he’d managed to get in most of the painting she’d wanted done.
Rae was in her newly opened-up kitchen, folding laundry at the table when he arrived.
“You’re home early.” She set a towel on the table. “Did you accomplish much?”
“There’s no longer a gaping hole in Irma’s family room, if that tells you anything.” He set his tool bag on the wooden floor, in the corner by the table, then headed to the sink to wash up.
“Sounds like progress.” Adding another towel to the growing stack, she said, “By the way, I just got off the phone with Laurel. We’re going to dinner with her and Sarah-Jane tonight.” She grabbed another towel from the basket on the chair. “I’m craving Mexican and some time with my niece, so I figured I may as well kill two birds with one stone. And since you’ve been spending all of your time with them anyway...”
He turned the hot water on and squirted soap onto his hands. Just when he’d decided he should take a break from Laurel. Then again, a meal with his sister at a restaurant wasn’t the same as the two of them and Sarah-Jane feeling like a family at Laurel’s house.
After working up a lather, he scrubbed his hands and forearms.
Behind him, his sister continued. “How are things going between you and Laurel, anyway?”
He cringed, not wanting to talk about Laurel. “We’re adjusting.” He moved his arms back and forth beneath the stream of water, hoping his sister wouldn’t press the conversation.
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.” Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a frustrated Rae set the final towel atop the stack. “Is there any chance the two of you could, you know, have a future together?”
As if he deserved a future with Laurel or anybody else. Rae knew better. He’d cost their parents their live
s. That was why he had to forfeit his.
“Not with me leaving soon.” Turning off the water with his elbow, he reached for the dish towel on the counter.
“But you’ll be back.” Rae was not about to let this go. “Besides, I’ve seen the way you two look at each other.”
Hands clean and dry, he threw the towel back onto the counter. “We share a child, Rae. Of course we’re going to have a mutual respect for one another.”
Skepticism narrowed her blue eyes. “Mutual respect, huh?” Crossing her arms over her chest, she continued to watch him.
He retrieved a glass from the cupboard. “Don’t do this to me, Rae. You know where I stand when it comes to relationships.”
“Then how do you explain Sarah-Jane?”
Reaching for the handle on the fridge, he froze. He hated it when she was right. Because he still couldn’t understand how he’d allowed that night to happen.
He yanked open the door and filled his glass with some iced tea without saying a word. Then he slammed the door closed, went into the living room and dropped onto the leather couch, all without so much as a glance toward his sister. He could only hope she’d take a hint.
Instead, she crossed the room and sat down beside him, setting a hand on his knee. “You’re a good man, Wesley. A man who’s spent his entire adult life serving others. I know you feel as though you deserve to be punished for what happened to Dad and Mom, but I think your sentence has been served.”
He watched her out of the corner of his eye. “Don’t tell me you’ve never blamed me, Rae. I mean, look at all you gave up.”
She stared at him. “Not once. I may not have liked it. I certainly didn’t understand why, but I never blamed you or anyone else for their accident. Because that’s just what it was, an accident.” With a final pat, she walked away. “I saw Laurel’s father today.”
His sister knew him well and understood he was done discussing the previous topic. Of course, not without having her own say. “And?”
“She introduced him on their way out.” Returning to the table, she began folding a pile of clothes.
“Did she refer to him as her father?” Grateful for the reprieve, he stretched an arm across the back of the sofa.
“No, she called him Jimmy, but I have no doubt that he is her father. She looks a lot like him. Same eyes, same smile.”
He took a sip of his tea, the cold liquid soothing his suddenly parched throat. “Any other observations?”
“No, I tried to leave them alone. They were pretty deep in conversation. Though I did notice a few tears from both of them.” She dropped the shirt she’d just picked up. “Oh, I almost forgot.” Moving to the kitchen counter, she retrieved a large envelope. “A package came for you from Servant’s Heart.” She started toward him.
He leaned forward to deposit his cup on the coffee table with one hand while intercepting the envelope with the other. “Must be the paperwork they told me about.” After digging his pocketknife from his jeans, he sliced open the top.
Pulling out the forms, he sifted through them. They wanted him to list a beneficiary, which wasn’t much different from serving overseas with the military. In the past, he’d always listed Rae. But that was before Sarah-Jane.
“You look awful serious over there.” Rae continued to fold. “What’s in the packet?”
“The usual stuff.” He lifted his head to look at her. “What should I do about the beneficiary this time?”
“What’s your first instinct?”
“Laurel.”
Rae shot him a smile and a thumbs-up. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“But I’ve always named you.”
“And you think you’ll be hurting my feelings.” She shook her head. “Wesley, you know I don’t need the money.” Rae had gotten the last laugh when the judge ordered her ex-husband to pay her for her half of the car dealership they’d owned together, allowing Rae to walk away with a tidy chunk of change. “Besides, I’m not raising your child. If anything happens to you, the money should go to Laurel.”
Staring at the paperwork in his lap, his new job suddenly became more real. He’d be leaving in just a little over a week. He was used to leaving, except things had changed. This time he’d be leaving someone besides Rae. Truth be told, two very important someones—Laurel and Sarah-Jane. Could he do that? Not that he had a choice. He was committed. If only he’d known about Sarah-Jane before he signed his contract.
He shoved a hand through his hair. This could be his toughest assignment yet.
* * *
Laurel was glad when Rae had called and suggested they do dinner. She hadn’t had much time with her friends since Wes came to town. And with her father showing up, well, she could really use a friend about now. There were so many thoughts tumbling through her head that it was difficult to sort them all out. Perhaps a change of scenery and a listening ear would help. Even if Wes was going to be there, too.
She pulled into the already full parking lot of La Familia just as Rae and Wes were exiting his truck. Rae hurried over and hugged Laurel as she got out while Wes unhooked Sarah-Jane from her car seat. Moments later, they all made their way inside the colorful eatery, where they were greeted with the enticing aromas of fresh-made tortillas, sizzling meat and spices.
Laurel’s mouth watered in anticipation.
Despite the busy Friday-night crowd, they were seated right away. Something Laurel was more than grateful for, because she was starving. With so many tears over lunch, she’d found her appetite waning. Now, it was back with a vengeance, along with a sudden craving for Mexican food.
While Wes studied his menu, Laurel had already settled on the cheese enchiladas, so she simply sat back and took in the busyness of the place. Waiters and waitresses scurrying back and forth with large trays laden with food, patrons talking and laughing, and Rae playing peekaboo with Sarah-Jane, making the child giggle.
Grabbing a tortilla chip from the bowl on the table, she scooped up a fair amount of salsa, her gaze drifting toward the door. Somehow, beyond the throng of waiting people, she spotted Jimmy Donovan. He was alone, of course, and something about that bothered her.
She glanced toward her daughter. Did she dare invite him to join them? Would Wes be okay with that? After all, they had yet to expose Sarah-Jane to the man. But then, what if he saw them?
As she continued to stare, Wes nudged her elbow. “Do you want to ask him to come sit with us?”
Her gaze shifted to the man beside her. “I don’t know. What about Sarah-Jane?”
Rae leaned across the table. “What are y’all whispering about?”
“My father is here.” Only after the words left her mouth did Laurel realize that she’d referred to him as her father instead of Jimmy. Perhaps this was the beginning of acceptance.
“Why don’t you invite him to join us, then?” Rae made it sound so simple. “That is, unless you don’t want to.”
“It’s not that. It’s just that he hasn’t met Sarah-Jane yet.”
Rae briefly glanced over her shoulder in the direction Wes and Rae had been looking. “Do you think he poses any sort of threat to her?”
“No. It’s just all so...new.”
“Hmm... Kind of like when Wes showed up, huh?” Rae reached for a tortilla chip. “Look on the bright side—you’re surrounded by friends.” She motioned between herself and Wes.
Laurel saw Rae’s point, though she still found herself looking to Wes for guidance. After all, he was Sarah-Jane’s father.
He smiled. “Go ask him. I’ll have the waiter bring another setup and menu.”
Standing, Laurel took in a deep breath and crossed the terra-cotta pavers to where Jimmy waited, aware that this would likely signal a change in their relationship.
“Jimmy?”
He looked up at her with a smile she’d seen a thousand times o
n Sarah-Jane.
“I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I’m with Wes, my best friend, Rae, and Sarah-Jane. My daughter. Would you care to join us?”
As he stood, his smile became more tremulous. “Aw, I’d hate to intrude.”
“You’re not intruding. You’re invited.” It surprised her when she realized that she actually meant it.
“In that case, I’d be honored.”
Amid the sounds of mariachi music, they returned to the table, where Wes formally introduced himself and Rae.
“And this is Sarah-Jane.” A sense of pride washed over Laurel. “Your granddaughter.”
He crouched beside the high chair, his gray-green eyes filled with wonder. “Hello, Sarah-Jane. You sure are a cute little thing. Just look at those pretty blue eyes.”
“She has her father to thank for those,” said Laurel.
“Though I don’t think anyone has ever said mine are pretty.” Wes bit into another chip.
“At least not since you were little,” injected Rae.
Once they sat down, the conversation remained casual, just as Rae had suggested. And it was comforting to have Rae and Wes asking Jimmy questions about himself, giving Laurel more insight into the man she had so much to learn about. Like the fact that he’d never remarried. Laurel wasn’t sure what to read into that, but given their conversation earlier today, it was obvious he had loved her mother very much. And from what she knew about her mother, she suspected the feeling was mutual.
When the waiter brought the check, Jimmy insisted on picking up the tab. “Y’all made me feel welcome, and I appreciate that.”
Rae and Jimmy fussed over Sarah-Jane as they exited the restaurant into the steamy night air.
Moving into the parking lot, Laurel tugged Wes aside. “Do you think it would be okay to invite him over to the house for a little bit? Maybe let him see Sarah-Jane in her element. Of course, she’ll be going to bed soon, so—”
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