Their Family Blessing

by Lorraine Beatty

  Dwayne tugged on his ear. “I think I can help with that. I know a few guys who owe me favors. Let me see what I can work out.”

  Thelma sighed. “I’ll let the group know.”

  Dwayne scooped the burgers onto a large plate. “I suggest we enjoy this meal and the beautiful weather because we may not get another peaceful meal for the rest of the week.”

  Chapter Ten

  The sun was climbing the treetops when Mack strode into the kitchen at the lodge the next morning. He’d slept longer than normal, which meant he was nearing the end of his physical limits. After the manhunt and learning that the Magnolia House children would be coming, he was worn thin.

  Lucy trotted behind him, climbing up on a stool in the main kitchen. “I’m hungry.”

  Thelma chuckled and gave her a big hug and kiss. “I suspected as much. Would you like pancakes or French toast this morning?”

  She thought a moment. “I think I’d better wait and see what Ella wants.”

  “Wants for what?”

  Carly entered the kitchen holding Ella’s hand. The child broke free and scrambled up on a stool next to Lucy.

  Mack couldn’t take his eyes off Carly, wondering if she always looked so adorable in the morning. The chambray shirt she wore over white shorts made her look like a breath of spring. Shoving that thought aside, he smiled and went to pour coffee into his travel mug.

  “You’re getting a late start today.” She came to his side and poured a cup for herself.

  “I’ll make up for it by working twice as hard.”

  She chuckled. “I know you will. I remember how hard you worked. It was one of the things my dad admired most about you. He always knew you’d be a success at whatever you chose to do.”

  “I worked hard because I didn’t want to let him down.”

  “You never did.”

  “Miss Thelma, Lucy and I decided we want French toast with orange juice, please.”

  “All righty. French toast it is.”

  Mack laughed. “Thelma, you have been bamboozled good. Those girls have you dancing on a string.”

  “I know it and I love it, so you hush.”

  Carly took a sip of her coffee. “Where are you heading first?”

  “The Carly’s Hill Trail. With all this rain we never did get it cleared out.”

  “Need any help?”

  “Sure. I can always use a hand and the company.”

  They rode in silence to the trailhead. Mack steered the Gator onto the path, slowing to a crawl as he navigated the path. He stole a glance at his companion. Something was on her mind, and he debated whether to ask her about it or let it slide. He decided to try a nonpersonal topic. “I was sorry to hear that our private party doesn’t qualify as the lodge being open.”

  “Me, too, but Mr. Holt pointed out that the deadline for being open to the public is only three days out from the weekend so technically we’re ready.”

  Mack pulled to a halt and hopped out, hoisting a large twisted limb onto the trailer behind the four-wheel Gator while Carly gathered up a few branches and a fallen section of vine and tossed them deeper into the brush along the trail.

  “Do you think we can get everything ready for the children this weekend?”

  “I don’t see why not. It’s going to be a busy few days, though.”

  “I never expected my dad to get involved with orphans.”

  “Really? I think it was exactly something he’d do. I told you how unhappy he was after you ran back to your mom’s that summer. It was shortly after that when he got involved with Magnolia House. I think it helped him cope.”

  “I guess I never really knew the man, only the father, and that was only a part of who he was.”

  A few yards farther on, Mack halted the vehicle and loaded more downed limbs onto the trailer while Carly cleared out the smaller debris. Having Carly working with him brought back fond memories of other tasks they had performed together. Every tree, leaf and stone here at the lodge held memories of Carly. It was as if she were a part of his DNA. He didn’t want to think about how he’d get used to living without her again. He’d realized that more than anything, he wanted to make her happy. That meant agreeing to sell the campgrounds and letting it go to a stranger, no matter how much the thought tore at his heart.

  Back in the Gator, he continued along the upward sloping trail until he felt Carly’s gaze studying him.

  “You’re awfully quiet. Something on your mind?”

  “You mean other than the kids coming and the hurricane in the Gulf?”

  “It’s still moving away from us, last I checked.”

  “That’s a blessing.” Carly fell silent again.

  He wasn’t ready to discuss the sale of Longleaf so he brought up another topic that was weighing heavily on his mind.

  “Val has asked me to adopt Lucy. She’s willing to sign away her parental rights so I can become her legal parent. Val thinks she needs the stability I can give her as she grows up.” He rubbed his forehead. “I love Lucy as if she were my own, but that feels wrong to me.”

  “I can understand why she’d want to do it, given her circumstances, but I can’t imagine legally giving up my child. Have you decided what to do?”

  Mack shook his head. “I wish your dad were here. He’d know exactly what I should do. He gave great advice. I relied on him a lot.”

  “I went to him about everything, too. Except the most important thing. I should have asked him about the affairs. At least let him tell his side of things.”

  Mack stopped the cart. “Do you really think you could have done that?”

  “No, but I could have at least listened to his side of things. Just like I should have asked him about that day he forgot my birthday dinner. But I was too hurt and angry, and I didn’t want to hear it.”

  Mack brought the Gator to a halt near the bench overlooking the lake. The one Wade had made for his daughter. Carly climbed out and approached the bench, letting her hands trail along the smooth back before taking a seat. Mack joined her, waiting silently, sensing a shift in her mood. He longed to pull her close and comfort her, but he doubted she’d allow that right now. Instead, he waited for her to share what she was thinking.

  “I didn’t think he even thought about me.”

  “He never stopped. You were his daughter. I think he got discouraged when you didn’t answer his letters or emails.” Carly faced him, a deep frown marring her pretty forehead.

  “I never heard from him. I never received any letters. And as for emails I was online every day, I would have seen any messages from him.”

  “Would you have responded?”

  “I don’t know. Probably not at first.”

  “I think building this bench was his turning point. He was more like his old self after that, though a part of him was still missing.”

  Carly trailed her fingers along the arm of the wooden bench. “He was always ready to help others. I’m not surprised he got involved with the kids at Magnolia House.”

  “He was so excited when you married and had Ella.”

  “I can’t believe Troy got in touch with him without telling me.” She shook her head. “That’s not completely true. We argued frequently about me ignoring my dad. Troy thought I was being too harsh.”

  She turned her back and brushed her fingers across her cheeks. Mack’s heart went out to her. Facing the truth was never easy. He moved close and rested his hands on her shoulders, fully expecting her to pull away. Instead she leaned back against him.

  “I’ve been so wrong about him, and now it’s too late to let him know.”

  “He understood, Carly.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because he loved you, no matter what came between you.” He turned her around and pulled her close. “Don’t ever doubt that. Your husba
nd bridged the gap for you and it made Wade very happy.”

  “But it should have been my job to do that.”

  She looked up into his eyes. The sadness he saw there melted his heart. He brushed hair from her damp cheek, allowing his thumb to brush against her soft skin. He inhaled her sweet scent as she leaned toward him. His heart pounded fiercely in his chest with anticipation.

  Suddenly Carly pulled back, a look of shock on her face. “No. We can’t... I don’t want...” She stood. “I’m going back to the lodge. I’m sure Thelma could use some help.”

  “I’ll drive you back.”

  “No. That’s silly. I can walk.” She hurried off down the trail, leaving him more confused than ever. He was certain her feelings for him were as strong as his for her, but she was refusing to acknowledge them. He wanted to know why. There were too many options for him to pinpoint one. Was she afraid of commitment? Was it because of Ella and the large hospital debt? Or was it because of the will and the looming decision about the future of the campgrounds?

  It was time to find some answers.

  * * *

  Carly stood at the edge of the deck staring out at the lake, but her mind was too troubled to appreciate the view. The children from Magnolia House were due to arrive late this afternoon and, thanks to a lot of hard work and many sincere prayers heavenward, everything was ready. There was only one giant obstacle to overcome. The health department inspections. Dwayne had managed to get the building inspections moved up, thanks to his longtime friendship with the inspectors. But the health department inspection had been rescheduled three times this week. If they didn’t get the approval today they’d have to find other ways to provide food for the children. Thelma was working on alternative ideas. The biggest setback if they failed the inspection would be the inability to use the snack bar as the main food area.

  A tapping behind her pulled her attention to the doors leading to the deck. Thelma stood there with a smile on her face giving her a thumbs-up sign. The inspector had arrived. Another prayer answered.

  She caught sight of Mack as he drove past the lodge, and the memory of his comforting embrace warmed her. He’d almost kissed her again and this time she’d almost let him. Only the thought of the dictates of the will looming between them kept her from going through with it. Neither one of them knew what the future would be. Being at the lodge had done what everyone had hoped. It had forced her to remember how much she loved the place and her father.

  Time here had revealed the truth about her parents and renewed her friendship with Mack. And her attraction. She was falling for him again, not with the shallow emotions of a young girl, but with the deep feelings of a woman.

  There was no way she could allow those feelings to grow no matter how much she wanted to. Until the future was settled, there were boundaries they needed to keep. Once the Magnolia House kids left, they’d be officially open to the public for business. And they’d have to make a decision.

  She could see herself staying here, running the lodge. Her online business was doing well. She’d taken on the Marina Fudge and Candy Shop as a new client, which brought her total client list to four. Back home Jessie was happy with her work and she wouldn’t have to return to Atlanta.

  But what would her life be like if she stayed at the lodge? Would Mack stay, too? Probably. His dream was to raise Lucy here at Longleaf. How could she deal with that? Would they be partners? Business associates? Or would he move back to the coast and raise Lucy there?

  No time for this now. She had to focus on the weekend. Once that was over she could breathe a bit easier. The lodge would be open for business, hosting guests in a matter of days. The biggest question, however, still loomed.

  Should she stay and run the lodge or sell out, pay off her debt and go home? The thought of returning to Atlanta didn’t hold the same appeal as it did when she first arrived. She felt at home here. Ella was happy and they had family here.

  Carly entered the lodge, making her way to the kitchen, where she found Thelma standing near the entrance, her eyes never leaving the inspector as he tested the temperature of the water, the refrigeration equipment and a long list of other things. She turned and left. This was Thelma’s area of expertise. Nothing Carly could do to help.

  There was plenty to keep her busy until the children arrived. Lucy and Ella hurried toward her from the back entrance. She could tell by the bright looks on their faces they had something up their sleeves.

  Carly crossed her arms. “Okay, what are you up to?”

  “We want to make the orphans happy to be here.”

  Lucy nodded in agreement. “We want to pick a bunch of flowers and put them in the cabins. Flowers always make people happy.”

  “Especially the gardenia ones. They smell so good.” Lucy tilted her head and sighed.

  “I think that’s a very sweet idea. Let’s go do that right now. We also have to put Poppy and Petunia in the apartment. They’ll have to stay inside most of the weekend.”

  Ella pouted and whined. “But they are so cute. The orphans will love them.”

  “Some children are allergic to dogs and some are afraid of them. To be safe, we’ll keep the little dogs inside so no one gets hurt or upset.”

  “What about Riley? He’s a big dog. He could scare someone.”

  “Riley is very well behaved and he will stay with Mr. Dwayne whenever he’s outside. But Riley is a good watchdog and guard dog. He’ll help keep the children safe.”

  The activity kept Carly occupied and her mind off the inspection. Lucy and Ella fussed over the flowers until they were perfect. She had to put the skids on their new idea to get every child a stuffed animal and a bag of candy. It warmed her heart, however, to see the girls so eager to give to the children.

  Mack pulled up in the golf cart as they were finishing.

  “Hi, Daddy Mack. We put flowers in the cabins to make the orphans happy.”

  “That was very nice of you. I’m sure they’ll enjoy them.” He looked at Carly, a half smile on his face. “Good news. The health department has given us an A. We’re ready for business.”

  Carly exhaled a deep sigh. “What a relief.”

  “Agreed. You ladies need a ride back to the lodge?”

  They climbed into the cart. Mack started forward at a slow pace. “I have more good news. Ronnie Baker, the college kid Thelma asked to fill in at the snack bar this weekend—he’ll be here first thing in the morning.”

  “Wonderful. That will leave the rest of us to concentrate on the children. I want this to be a wonderful experience for them.” Finally, everything was going in a positive direction.

  The butterflies were in flight in her stomach as Carly anticipated the arrival of the children later that afternoon. Everything was ready. Thelma had baked plenty of cupcakes, cookies and other treats. The two cabins were clean and filled with bunk beds for the children to stay in.

  The snack bar at the pool had been stocked and the water treated so that it was a sparkling crystal blue. Everything was prepared, and Carly had brainstormed all kinds of fun activities to do with the children. Even Ella and Lucy were looking forward to the guests. The children were a little older than the girls, but they were eager to play hostess and show the kids around the grounds.

  Dwayne called from the front entrance. “They’re here.”

  The faded gray van clanked to a halt, leaving her wondering how the dilapidated old vehicle had made it all the way down here from Olive Branch in the far northwest corner of the state. The door opened and a tall blonde woman stepped out. Carly’s heart stopped. Natalie Reynolds. The woman she’d seen Mack kissing that summer and the reason she’d left Longleaf. A cold rush surged through her veins even as her throat tightened.

  The woman’s gaze landed on Mack. “Mack. I didn’t expect to see you here. What a nice surprise.”

  Mack opened his arms. “Natali
e. I didn’t know you were involved with this organization.”

  She held his embrace a long moment, sending small flicks of heat along Carly’s nerves. Suddenly her delight for the weekend lost its appeal. Seeing Mack and Natalie together would be impossible.

  “I’m the director of Magnolia House. I approached Wade several years ago when I took over at the orphanage, and he was eager to help. We couldn’t have held these weekends without him. Are you the manager of the lodge now?”

  “No. Just one of the heirs.”

  “Oh? That sounds interesting. You’ll have to fill me in. I was so sorry to hear about Wade’s passing.”

  “Yes. It was a shock. Let’s get y’all registered and then I’ll show you to the cabins.”

  “I think I can find them. It’s our fifth year here, you know.”

  “Oh, Natalie, I’d like to introduce you to Wade’s daughter. Carly Hughes, this is Natalie Reynolds.”

  Carly pasted a smile on her face that she was sure looked totally insincere.

  “I remember you,” Natalie said, and smiled as she shook her hand. “Nice to see you again, Carly.”

  Carly nodded silently, not trusting her voice.

  A broad-shouldered man emerged from the van and stepped toward Mack, extending his hand. Natalie had transferred her hug to Dwayne, then turned to the man.

  “This is Jack Younger, the director of education for Magnolia House.”

  The chatter of children grew louder and Mack gestured toward the lodge. “We’d better hurry or your kiddos might burst out of the van.”

  “You’re right. They’re ready to expend some energy after the long three-and-a-half-hour ride.”

  After Natalie had signed the register, she and Mack headed out to the van. Carly watched as Mack placed a hand on the small of Natalie’s back, gently guiding her out. She spun around, unable to watch them together, and came face-to-face with Thelma and her expression of disapproval.

  “Would you like to tell me what’s got you so wound up?”

  “Nothing.”