Springtime at Hope Cottage

by Annie Rains

“You can look at Maddie and know that she’s your child, can’t you? She looks just like you. Frankly, I thought you might have figured things out as soon as you saw her.”

  He blew out a breath. “I had no reason to think I had a daughter. Why didn’t you find me and tell me sooner?” he asked, anger sparking against all his other emotions.

  Beverly shrugged. “It wasn’t mine to tell. Crystal was an adult, and so were you. All I could do was advise her and hope that she would listen. She never did.”

  “So why are you telling me now?” he asked.

  Beverly frowned, the folds of her face growing deeper with sorrow. “As you’ve probably guessed, I have cancer. The prognosis is good, they caught it early, and I’m a fighter. But Maddie has lost her mom, and I’m not in the best condition to take care of her. She needs her father right now. She needs you.”

  * * *

  When Tuck got back to Hope Cottage, he found Josie waiting for him on the back deck. She had her laptop laid out in front of her along with a mug of coffee. After the news he’d just been handed, he should probably be alone but having Josie here felt right somehow.

  “Little late for caffeine, isn’t it?” he asked, stepping out of the sliding glass door. Shadow barreled past him and into the yard.

  Josie looked up. “Caffeine doesn’t keep me up at night. When my head touches the pillow, I’m out like a light. Always.”

  “That’s a sign that you squeezed every drop out of your day.” He pulled up a chair and sat next to her, facing the backyard where Shadow was sniffing and yapping at butterflies.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  She’d asked him that last night too, after he’d seen the picture of Crystal in Beverly’s home. The implications hadn’t immediately dawned on him then. Instead, they’d slowly turned like pieces of a puzzle, rotating and shifting until the picture was complete.

  “Not really,” he said. “I found out that I knew Maddie’s mom. I didn’t know until last night. I saw Crystal’s picture when I went inside with Maddie’s chair.”

  “Wow. Small world, huh? Did you know her well?” Josie asked.

  He looked over. “I guess you could say I knew her very well.”

  “Oh.” Josie’s brows lifted, letting him know she understood exactly what he meant.

  “We dated about twelve years ago during a time when I was broken up with Renee. Maddie is eleven now,” he pointed out. He saw the moment that Josie connected those dots as well. Her hand immediately flew over her mouth. “Are you sure?”

  Tuck sighed, turning his attention to Shadow. “I don’t have proof but Crystal told Beverly I was the father. That’s partly why Beverly contacted me for therapy. She could’ve found a pediatric physical therapist but she wanted me. Maddie looks more like me than Crystal, so…maybe it’s true.” If he listened to his heart, he was 99.9 percent sure that it was true.

  “That’s crazy. You might be a dad.”

  He nodded. “And if so, I’ve been a dad for eleven years and didn’t know. Maddie thinks her dad abandoned her and her mom. She hates that guy, and now I find out that it’s me. Maybe.”

  Josie reached across the table and touched his forearm. “She hates the lie that she’s been told. The truth is that you didn’t know about her. If you did—”

  “I would’ve been there for her. No question,” he said quickly.

  Something sad passed through Josie’s eyes when he looked at her. Then, like a tide retreating into the sea, it disappeared. “Of course you would have. You’re a good person, Tuck. And you’ll make a great dad, if she’s yours.”

  He reached for her hand. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re here. And thanks for taking Maddie out today. That was a great idea. Why didn’t you tell me you were doing it?”

  Josie shrugged. “I tried but you didn’t answer your phone. Then I thought it’d be nice to surprise you this afternoon. After Maddie’s makeover, we were going to swing by and show off our new looks. It’s silly.” Her cheeks flushed as she looked down at their hands.

  Tuck sucked in a breath. He really wished there was something unlikable about this woman. She was thoughtful and caring and heart-stoppingly beautiful. His life was getting more and more complicated by the second, it seemed. Falling for Josie would only complicate things further. He was already well on his way though, and he couldn’t seem to slam on the brakes.

  * * *

  One minute, Josie was holding Tuck’s hand and consoling him on this dramatic turn-of-life event. The next, he’d pulled her up against him, and they were kissing like their lives depended on it. His tongue slid against hers, and her knees threatened to buckle. They kissed and did a clumsy dance in each other’s arms until they’d moved back inside the house and were leaning against his kitchen counter.

  Josie clutched the fabric of Tuck’s shirt in her hands, holding him hostage as he trailed kisses down the curve of her neck, sprinkling them on the bare skin of her upper chest. She’d debated about wearing a top with a higher neckline this evening. Thank goodness she’d gone with the lower-cut V-neck.

  He lifted his head just long enough to ask, “Am I moving too fast? Is this okay?”

  “Trust me—you would know if it wasn’t okay,” she said with a tiny moan tumbling off her lips. “If anything, you’re moving too slow.” If he went any slower, her brain might catch up to her body, and she didn’t want anyone or anything to interrupt this make-out session. She needed it.

  They continued to kiss until Shadow came running back into the kitchen with a bark.

  Josie felt a smile lift through her cheeks even as they continued to kiss for a few seconds more. “That was…fun,” she said, finally pulling back.

  Tuck reached for her hand. “Fun is an understatement. Half a second more and I’d have swept you off your feet and carried you down the hall to my bedroom.”

  Her chest lifted on an inhale. “I’m not sure I’d have resisted.” In fact, she was quite sure of the opposite. It’d been a long time since she’d been to bed with a man, and this one was all too tempting. “But…” she said, shutting down her desire. Tuck had just been hit with the news that he was a father. Sex would just be a Band-Aid, and that’s not what she wanted. “I did spend all day with Kaitlyn and Maddie, and I have something pressing to do. A prospective employer that I’m excited about asked me to send a couple of my past articles to them ASAP. It’s time sensitive, and I can’t afford to miss the opportunity.”

  Tuck groaned, looking hot, bothered, and disappointed. “And I need a cold shower.”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Sorry.”

  “I’m not.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips to hers.

  “Well, if you want to spend more time together, I’m free tomorrow,” she said. “I was hoping to go to the Sweetwater Springs Festival downtown.”

  Tuck hesitated. “You know that’s not my kind of scene,” he said. “But—”

  “But?” she echoed in question.

  “You seem to make going to these community events fun. I actually enjoyed the dance until Maddie got hurt.”

  “Me too.” She grinned up at him. “So that’s a yes?”

  “Any chance to spend more time with you.”

  “Maybe we can take Maddie. I’m sure she’d love to go,” Josie added. “It could be a little bit of bonding time for you two.”

  “That’s a good idea. Maddie seems to like me better when you’re around,” he said. “I kind of like me better when you’re around too.”

  They were just words but they turned her insides to mush. “So it’s a date?”

  “First a dance, now a festival. What are you doing to me, Josie Kellum?” He tugged the hand he was holding, pulling her against him, and kissed her softly. This was a sweet kiss, full of promise. “It’s a date. See you tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow.” With a wave, she went out the back door and across the yard to her steps. Once upstairs, she closed the door behind her and closed her eyes. What was he doing to her?
<
br />   * * *

  A short while later, Josie had sent off sample material to Heartfelt Media, hoping they would like what they read. Just in case they didn’t bite, she decided to do another search for job openings for journalists in and around New York City. Although she was open to relocating these days. She might even like a change of scenery.

  Tapping her fingers along her keyboard, she did a search. Several homemaking magazines that catered toward motherhood popped up, giving her an almost visceral reaction.

  What do I know about being a mother?

  She’d given up her child. She didn’t even have babysitting experience. Taking Maddie out today was the most she’d ever done with a child, and Maddie was halfway to adulthood. Refining her search, Josie excluded parenting magazines. That sliced the employment opportunities in half. And the pay potential in half too.

  After applying for three uninspiring jobs, she closed her laptop and stared outside her window at the setting sun. She ventured to guess that Tuck was staring at it too, and she was tempted to go downstairs and join him. Without a doubt, that would lead to things she wasn’t sure either of them were ready for though. It would be one thing if it were just physical between them. But it was more than that. Somewhere along the way, she’d developed feelings for Tuck, and she had no idea what to do with them.

  * * *

  Midmorning the next day, Josie headed down the steps and met Tuck at his truck. It was a beautiful day to go to a festival. The temperatures were in the midseventies, and the sky was clear, unobscured by clouds.

  Josie slid her black-rimmed sunglasses over her eyes and allowed Tuck to open the passenger-side door for her.

  “Your light stayed on pretty late last night,” he observed as they drove.

  “You spying on me, Mr. Locklear?” she teased.

  “For some reason”—his gaze slid over her momentarily—“I couldn’t sleep. I was up getting a glass of water and noticed you were still awake. I have to admit I considered going up and knocking on your door.”

  She was only thirty years old but a hot flash tore through her. “I ended up working until after midnight.”

  “I think I’ll keep my nine-to-five hours, thank you very much,” he joked.

  “I sent off sample material for the company who requested it, and then I sent out more résumés. I won’t fit into Bart’s new vision for The Vibe, and that’s okay.”

  “So, what you’re telling me is that kissing me led to an epiphany.” He continued to watch the road.

  She laughed easily, enjoying their flirty banter. “I hate to bust your bubble but the epiphany came long before we kissed.”

  He pretended to stake a knife through his chest. “Did you apply for anything good?”

  Josie shook her head. “Not really. Working for Loving Life magazine was my dream job. But the place I work for doesn’t exist anymore.” She shrugged. “Things change.”

  They pulled into Beverly’s driveway, where Maddie was already waiting for them outside, dressed in one of her new outfits from their girls’ day out yesterday. She had her cane but she was barely leaning on it.

  “Josie,” Maddie said, brown eyes narrowing as Josie approached, “I didn’t realize you were coming too.”

  “It was her idea,” Tuck said, grabbing Maddie’s wheelchair.

  Maddie looked between them, her demeanor notably subdued. “Thanks for inviting me. Grandma already said no when I asked a few days ago. She doesn’t have the energy.”

  Maddie’s gaze cut to Josie, her frown deepening. There was a definite vibe radiating off her. She’d acted like she and Josie were BFFs yesterday while downtown. Now she seemed disappointed that Josie was here.

  “Well, Tuck and I have plenty of energy,” Josie said, “and we’ll all have lots of fun today.”

  Maddie smiled just a touch. “Is Shadow coming?”

  Tuck gave his head a hard shake as he opened the Jeep’s back door. “Too many sights and smells. I promised to give her a little extra love and a treat tonight.”

  Josie watched as Tuck helped Maddie into the back seat. Then Josie climbed into the front and they set off. Twenty minutes later, they headed into a crowd of people who’d all come out to enjoy the festivities.

  “This must be every single person in Sweetwater Springs,” Josie said, surprised at the turnout. She’d expected something smaller.

  “And then some. The Sweetwater festival pulls in a lot of tourists. People from Shadow Ridge usually join in the fun too,” Tuck said, pushing Maddie’s chair. Even Maddie understood that trying to walk through this crowd would be crazy.

  “You’ve really never come out to one of these?” Josie asked Tuck.

  “Only once since I’ve been an adult. Halona had something to do and asked me to take my nephew, Theo. I can’t say no to that little guy. Or to you, apparently.”

  “Gross, you guys,” Maddie called back to them. “I can hear, you know?” She craned her neck and narrowed her eyes. “I hear a lot more than you think.”

  Josie noticed the sharpness in Maddie’s tone. There was definitely something bothering the little girl. Maybe Maddie had just had a bad morning at home but Josie’s journalistic gut told her there was more to the story.

  * * *

  “Win me a stuffed animal,” Maddie begged, sounding more like a six-year-old than an eleven-year-old. She’d seemed a little sullen when Tuck had first picked her up but her mood had quickly lifted by the festival’s mix of laughter and fun.

  “It’ll cost more to play the game to get that stuffed animal than it would to just go to the store and buy it for you,” Tuck countered.

  “That’s not the point, Tuck,” Josie teased, laying a hand lightly on his shoulder.

  He tried to suppress his body’s reaction to her. Every muscle stiffened under her touch. Every muscle.

  “No one’s ever won me a stuffed animal at a fair before,” Maddie said. “It’s on my wish list.”

  How could he say no to that? “Fine.” Tuck dug into his jeans pocket for some cash and handed it over to a jolly guy behind the booth.

  “Which one do you have your eye on, little miss?” the guy asked.

  Maddie pointed to the biggest stuffed animal of the bunch, of course. “The huge purple unicorn would look nice in my room,” she said.

  Josie snickered beside Tuck as he massaged his forehead. Then he leveled the guy with a stare. “What exactly do I have to do to win that?”

  “Pop the target four times in a row, three games in a row. That’s all.”

  That sounded simple enough. He paid for three games and set to shooting the target, hitting every shot with precision.

  “Whoa, man. You should be on the force with us,” Alex said, coming around in his Sweetwater Springs police uniform. As the chief of police, Alex usually wore a nice button-down shirt and jeans. But on days like today, Tuck knew the uniform was so that people who didn’t recognize Alex would easily identify him as law enforcement.

  “Not a chance,” Tuck said with an easy grin for his friend. They shook hands, and then Tuck collected the large purple unicorn for Maddie and started to hand it over.

  “I can’t carry that thing all over the festival. I won’t be able to see where I’m going,” she complained.

  Tuck looked between Josie and Alex and then back at the little girl. His little girl? “So you made me win a purple unicorn, and now you expect me to carry it around for you too?”

  Alex stifled a laugh.

  “Not funny,” Tuck growled, pointing a finger. Nothing could touch his mood today though or his growing affection for Maddie. “Fine. I’ll carry the purple unicorn.”

  “What about Josie?” Alex said. “I’m sure she’d like you to win her a stuffed animal.” There was a mischievous glint in Alex’s eyes.

  “Why, as a matter of fact, I would,” Josie said, playing along. Then she pulled an index finger to her chin and tapped as she looked at the display of stuffed animals. “I want the little stuffed kitten ove
r there.”

  Tuck turned to see the smallest prize available. A fluffy white kitten with bright-blue eyes and a pink collar. “To match the ringtone on your phone?”

  She grinned. “Exactly.”

  The guy behind the booth propped his hands on his waist. “You can win that in one game if your aim is good.”

  Tuck sighed and then shoved the purple unicorn into Alex’s arms for the moment. “Here. You hold this while I shoot. Lucky for you, it’s not a real gun.”

  “I think that might count as threatening an officer of the law,” Alex countered behind him. “Might have to lock you up in jail for that one.”

  Tuck pulled the trigger, hitting his target all three times.

  “Winner, winner, chicken dinner!” the booth guy exclaimed before handing the small kitten over to Tuck.

  Tuck collected it and turned to Josie. “Sorry, but you’ll have to carry your own stuffed animal.”

  Josie’s eyes lit up as she took the small kitten into her arms. He was fascinated by her reaction for a moment. She seemed genuinely thrilled over something he would’ve found suitable for the donation pile.

  “No one’s ever won you a prize either?” he asked.

  Her gaze flitted up to meet his. “My mom was always working during these kinds of things. Better to feed me than entertain me, she used to say. I always wanted someone to win me something though. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He swallowed back some emotion he couldn’t quite pinpoint. Then he groaned as a huge purple unicorn was shoved back into his arms.

  “Duty calls. I have to continue making sure the town and its citizens are A-okay. Looks like you guys are doing just fine here.” Alex looked between Josie and Maddie. “Good to see you both again.”

  “You too,” Josie said.

  “Keep this guy in line.” He patted Tuck’s back. “Hey, let’s do the Tipsy Tavern again soon. We’ll rope in Mitch too, for old times’ sake.”

  Tuck nodded. “Sounds good.”

  With a wave at them all, Alex continued through the crowd while Tuck carried Maddie’s stuffed unicorn under one arm and got behind her wheelchair to push. “Where to next? You ladies are leading the show today.”