Springtime at Hope Cottage

by Annie Rains

“It’s not forever. Just temporary,” Josie reminded her. “Ask your grandma and make sure you don’t have something else to do today.”

  “I don’t, and she won’t mind,” Maddie said. “She’ll probably be relieved that I’m someone else’s responsibility for a while.”

  Josie doubted that was true. From what she’d gathered, Beverly was doing all she could for the little girl. Josie understood how Maddie might not feel that way though.

  “Okay, we’ll pick you up in an hour.” Josie was almost glad that Tuck wasn’t here this morning. Now they could swing by Hope Cottage and surprise him later with their glamorous transformations. Gooey warmness spread all through her body just thinking about it. “Wheelchair and cane,” she reiterated.

  “Fine,” Maddie said but her voice was stronger, and Josie thought she could even hear the girl smiling.

  This was going to be good for Maddie. And for Josie too.

  * * *

  “This is fun for you, isn’t it?” Mr. Sajack huffed as he swung his good leg forward while leaning on his new prosthetic. “Torturing people is your sick entertainment.”

  Tuck had to laugh. “Working with you is fun, yeah. I don’t consider it torture. We’re getting you to a place where you can stroll down the street like you used to. That’s a good thing, right? No pain, no gain.”

  “Now you sound like Jane Fonda. ‘Feel the burn.’ My wife still watches those old videos even if she doesn’t do them anymore. I always used to like watching her exercise. It was a good workout for my own heart.”

  Tuck laughed again. He enjoyed working with Mr. Sajack and suspected, despite the old man’s protests, that he enjoyed working with Tuck as well. “Okay, almost to the mailbox. Then we can get hold of all your fan mail.”

  Mr. Sajack shook with a deep laugh. “More like bills. They can all stay there, for all I care.”

  “Then you’d start getting mail from debt collectors. Nobody wants that.”

  They continued forward, one long, suffering step at a time, until Mr. Sajack had turned and pivoted to stand directly in front of his mailbox. He shifted his body weight over his good leg while he reached to open his mailbox. Then he carefully pulled out the mail and put it in a lightweight messenger bag that Tuck had gotten for him. Holding things in his hands while he walked was a challenge right now. He needed his hands free in case he started to fall. When Tuck wasn’t with him, Mr. Sajack used a cane these days. Not as fancy as the one Tuck had provided for Maddie but it was durable, with four prongs at the bottom for extra stability.

  Tuck’s cell phone rang from where he’d placed it on the bumper of his Jeep. The call would have to wait. Right now his sole focus was on Mr. Sajack.

  “Don’t you need to get that?” his patient asked once the phone stopped and started on its third round of ringing. “Must be important if they keep calling back.”

  “Your safety is important. We’re almost to your chair.”

  A couple minutes later, Mr. Sajack took a seat, and Tuck handed him a bottle of water.

  “Drink and open those bills,” Tuck advised. Then he walked over to his vehicle and grabbed his phone, seeing a missed call from Josie and two from Beverly. He was supposed to be treating Maddie after his session with Mr. Sajack. He’d also hoped he could talk to Beverly about Crystal. He had questions that needed answers.

  He was about to call Beverly back when his phone started ringing with another incoming call from her. “Hello.”

  “Tuck. This is Beverly. I’m just calling to cancel Maddie’s appointment with you this afternoon.”

  “What? Why is that? Everything okay?” While his curiosity about Crystal was piqued, his primary concern was for Maddie. He sure hoped last night’s fall hadn’t been a setback. She needed to stay focused and keep working hard.

  “Oh, she’s fine. She just hasn’t returned from her girls’ day out with Josie and Kaitlyn yet.”

  Tuck frowned. “Girls’ day?” he repeated. Josie hadn’t said a word about that to him.

  “Yes. Maddie was so excited when Josie called this morning. I haven’t seen my granddaughter that happy since, well, since last night when you two took her to the dance. I really appreciate all that you’ve done for her.”

  Tuck turned to look back at Mr. Sajack, who was still seated and drinking from the bottle of water. “It’s really no problem. Maddie is an amazing little girl. I’m sorry to hear she’ll miss therapy today but missing one appointment won’t hurt anything. I don’t want her making a habit of skipping though.”

  “Of course. She’s doing much better with therapy this time around. I think that’s thanks to you. You have a way with her.”

  Tuck wasn’t so sure about that as he remembered Maddie blaming him for her fall last night at the dance. She was right; he should’ve been watching her more closely. Then he would’ve realized that she was standing without her chair or even the cane. He could’ve stopped her.

  “Where did the girls go?” he asked. “Do you know?”

  “Downtown, I think. Honestly, I thought they’d be back by now. But I’m glad Maddie is having a good time.”

  “Me too.” And some part of him was jealous that they were doing it without him.

  Tuck disconnected the call and walked over to Mr. Sajack. “How do you feel?”

  “Tired,” Mr. Sajack said as his shoulders rounded.

  “Let me help you back inside.”

  “Nah. My wife will help me inside the house. I want to sit and enjoy the sun on my face awhile longer.”

  “You sure?”

  “Positive. I’m betting you have other things that you can tend to.”

  As a matter of fact, he did. He had a girls’ day out to crash.

  * * *

  Josie couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun shopping, and she hadn’t bought a single thing for herself. Her arms were full of bags containing only items for Maddie. Josie and Kaitlyn had taken turns over the last couple of hours spoiling the girl. Material things wouldn’t fix the fact that Maddie missed her mom or that she was in a wheelchair but it was a break from dwelling on her problems—at least for one day.

  “This is so much fun,” Maddie said with a large face-engulfing smile puffing up her cheeks.

  Josie wished that Tuck could see it right now.

  “Thank you for today,” Maddie said.

  “Well, it’s not over yet,” Kaitlyn told her.

  They’d gone in all the clothing shops and had gotten their nails done too. Josie and Kaitlyn had chosen a soft rose color for their mani-pedis but Maddie had gotten a bright-purple polish that suited her perfectly.

  “Unless, of course, you need to get home,” Josie said. “What time did your grandmother say you had to return?”

  Maddie averted her gaze, and her smile wilted just a touch. “She didn’t say. She’s not expecting me back anytime soon though. As long as I’m back by dark.”

  “Well, that’s hours from now,” Kaitlyn said. “Dawanda’s Fudge?”

  Maddie cheered. “Definitely!”

  “Sounds good to me too,” Josie said, wondering if she should call Beverly to check in first. Just to make sure. She would after the fudge, she decided. Beverly might be sleeping, and Josie didn’t want to disturb her. Plus, Josie had given Maddie her phone number to leave with her grandmother. Beverly could call if she needed to.

  Josie held the shop door open for Kaitlyn and Maddie and then stepped in behind them and breathed in the delicious smell of chocolate, peanut butter, and gooey caramel.

  Dawanda peeked over the counter at them. “Well, hello there, Kaitlyn and my new friend, Josie. Looks like you brought a newcomer today.”

  Kaitlyn waved. “Hi, Dawanda. This is our friend Maddie Sanders. She lives on the town limits with her grandmother.”

  “We don’t get out much these days,” Maddie told Dawanda. “But my mom brought some of your peanut butter fudge home to me once.” Maddie’s gaze shifted for a moment but she continued to smile like she�
�d done all afternoon.

  Dawanda looked between the three of them. “Well, a friend of Kaitlyn and Josie’s is a friend of mine. Sit down, sit down. I’ll bring you all a sampler plate on the house.”

  “No, Dawanda. You don’t have to do that,” Kaitlyn protested but it fell on deaf ears.

  Dawanda put her hands on her tiny hips. “Of course I do. Josie is a legend here in Sweetwater Springs after writing the article that put us on the map. And Maddie is new. New friends always eat for free.”

  The three sat down at a table against the wall where there was plenty of room for Maddie’s wheelchair.

  “I can’t wait to be rid of this thing,” Maddie huffed as she positioned herself.

  Josie resisted the urge to help Maddie maneuver. The girl was tough and independent. “Keep working with Tuck, and I’m sure it’ll be no time at all before you’re dropping that wheelchair off at the Goodwill for someone else to use.”

  Maddie got settled and propped her elbows on the table in front of her. “I know. Next time we do this, I’ll be walking with you two.”

  “Next time. I like the sound of that,” Kaitlyn said with a bright smile.

  “Me too.” Josie pondered when that would be. She usually never broke from work long enough to leave New York. Being here was unusual for her, and soon she’d be booking her flight back home. She’d just have to make time to come back and visit, she decided. Kaitlyn was her best friend, and she wanted to continue her new friendship with Maddie. And with Tuck.

  Dawanda reappeared with a plate full of samples of various fudges and laid it on the table in front of them.

  When they were halfway through devouring the tiny squares, the bell at the front entrance chimed. Josie’s back was facing the door but she turned when she saw recognition cross both Kaitlyn’s and Maddie’s faces.

  Tuck stood there, staring at them, a mixture of emotion swirling on his handsome features. “You,” he said, pointing at Maddie. At first Josie thought he was upset, until he broke into that grin of his that she loved so much. “You’re missing physical therapy right now, young lady. I hope you have a good excuse.”

  * * *

  Tuck looked between Josie, Kaitlyn, and Maddie, and then back to Josie. Something kicked inside his chest. That was happening more and more when he was with her.

  “We can offer you fudge to make up for it.” Josie gestured toward their plate.

  “Well, I’ve never been able to pass on Dawanda’s fudge,” he said loud enough for the shop owner to overhear.

  Dawanda poked her head out from where she was working in the kitchen. “Hi, Tuck. Are you in the mood for a cappuccino today?”

  He laughed as he moved to the table where they were sitting. “Not today. Just fudge.”

  Dawanda’s mouth pinched. “Sometime soon, then. You’ve been dodging me far too long.”

  And he’d continue to dodge having his fortune told if he could help it. Like a fool, he’d believed the fortune she’d given Renee. He’d reminded himself of it when Renee had fallen sick, and it’d been a source of hope to him. Renee was supposed to live a long, happy life because the foam in some stupid cappuccino had said so.

  He looked at Josie, who offered up a fudge square.

  “The dark chocolate fudge is to die for,” she said.

  He took the square, keeping his gaze locked on her. “It can’t be that good.”

  “Oh, it can.” She giggled as she pulled her hand away and licked her fingers, stirring a longing inside him.

  Kaitlyn cleared her throat. “Do you two, um, need me to take Maddie back to her grandmother’s place?”

  Josie straightened and, if he wasn’t mistaken, blushed a little. “No. Why would you do that?”

  “Because everyone else disappears when you two are together,” Maddie said with a laugh.

  “Hey, that’s not true,” Tuck objected. “In fact, I’m heading in the direction of your grandmother’s house right now. How about I give you a lift home?” he asked Maddie, unable to miss the fact that they had the same hair, eye, and skin color. Her chin was shaped like his, her nose like Halona’s. Was he crazy for the questions popping up in his head? Was Maddie his daughter? Was that even possible?

  He cleared his throat and his thoughts. “Your grandma was expecting you home an hour ago, you know,” he told Maddie.

  Josie turned to the girl. “You didn’t tell us you had a curfew.”

  Maddie shrugged. “Just because of my PT appointment.”

  “Which is very important,” Tuck said. “If you start slacking off now, I’m taking the cane back and keeping you in the wheelchair.”

  Maddie held up a hand. “Okay, okay.”

  “Good.” He stood from the table. “You two finish your fudge,” he told Josie and Kaitlyn. “Maddie and I will begin our makeup session by walking all the way to my Jeep. No cane.”

  Maddie’s face lit up. “Really?”

  He nodded. “I’ll be sticking close by though, just in case. If that’s okay with you. And I promise I won’t let you fall this time.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Did you have a good time today?” Tuck asked as he drove Maddie home. He glanced over and noticed her shiny purple nails. They must’ve gone to Perfectly Pampered. Claire Donovan had attempted to spend one of her therapy sessions at the salon, claiming that getting her roots touched up required walking to and fro.

  “The best time. Josie is so cool. So is Kaitlyn.”

  Tuck grinned. “I think so too.”

  “But especially Josie, right?”

  Tuck gave her a sideways glance. “What are you talking about?”

  “You like her,” Maddie said. “Are you dating her yet?”

  “None of your business. How old are you again?” he asked, sliding his gaze sideward at her.

  Maddie shook her head. “Old enough to see that you have a major thing for her. And she likes you too.”

  “You think so?”

  “It’s so obvious. She talked about you a lot today. It was a little disgusting actually,” Maddie said with a giggle.

  Tuck pulled onto her road and followed it to the cul-de-sac where she and Beverly lived. “Well, it didn’t appear to ruin your day. Looks like you got a few things.”

  “Gifts from Josie and Kaitlyn. It won’t even matter if the kids at school pick on me when school starts back up on Monday, because I’ll be dressed better than them anyway.”

  “Clothes don’t matter. It’s what’s on the inside that counts, you know.”

  “You sound just like a dad.”

  Tuck forgot to breathe for a moment as he parked the Jeep and walked around to help Maddie. He’d done the math. Maddie was eleven. That put her conception during the time that he and Crystal would’ve dated.

  It can’t be. Crystal would’ve told him if he had a child. She was a nice person. Always sweet and caring. From what he remembered, there wasn’t a malicious bone in her body, and keeping a child hidden from her parent was cruel.

  He opened the passenger door for Maddie and started to help her stand.

  “Nope. I got this.” She swung her legs around, planted them on the ground, and took the cane from his hand. Then she started walking, slow and steady, toward the front porch.

  Pride rose through him. This wasn’t all on him though. Maddie had worked hard. And Josie’s outing with her had instilled new confidence in the little girl with long, dark locks, light-brown skin, and large mahogany eyes. Just like his.

  Tuck stood frozen for a moment until Maddie glanced over her shoulder and wobbled slightly. He quickly stepped to her and followed her inside.

  Beverly was waiting for them on the couch. “There you are! Did you have a good time?”

  “So much fun!” Maddie told her. “It was an awesome day!”

  “Wow. You sound like you mean it too.” Beverly nodded. “I can cook dinner for you in a little bit.”

  “No need. I ate fudge,” Maddie said.

  “Fudge is not a food g
roup,” Tuck pointed out, sounding just like his father when he was a kid. Tuck’s breaths grew shallower. It simply wasn’t true. But it was possible, and he needed to know.

  “Beverly, can I see you outside?” He didn’t wait for the older woman’s response. Instead, he stepped back outside onto the porch and bounded down the steps.

  “I saw the picture of your daughter, Maddie’s mom. I knew her,” he said once Beverly came out the front door. He scrutinized her reaction. Did she know that he and Crystal knew each other? That they’d dated?

  Beverly came down the steps to meet him. “I know,” she finally said. “Honestly, that’s why I came looking for you, Tuck.” She looked frail and vulnerable as she faced him. “Crystal told me about you. I knew you lived in Sweetwater Springs and that you were going to school to be a physical therapist when you dated. Crystal was the kind of daughter who told me everything.” Beverly stared at him for a moment. “I also knew that you were Maddie’s father.”

  Tuck swallowed hard, feeling like someone had body-slammed him to the ground. “Crystal would’ve told me. I was always good to her. She knew exactly what kind of man I was and that I would’ve stepped up and taken responsibility. Crystal wouldn’t have kept this a secret.” He was suddenly trying to argue against what deep down he already knew was true.

  “Maddie is yours, Tuck,” Beverly said.

  Tuck curled a hand behind his neck, feeling the silver chain beneath his fingers, reminding him that he was strong. He didn’t feel strong right now though. He needed to sit before the gravity of the situation pulled him down.

  “I don’t have any proof. All I know is what Crystal told me in a crying hysteria one day after she told me she was pregnant with Maddie. She said you were in love with someone else and that you didn’t want her,” Beverly said. “I knew how much she loved you. You guys only dated for a brief amount of time but you were all she talked about back then. Oh, she was so heartbroken and determined to raise her child on her own. I tried to talk her out of it”—Beverly shook her head—“but she wouldn’t listen.”

  “I’m not sure what to say.”