A Father's Promise (5 page)

Once again, Zach was impressed with Renee’s selflessness. Last night his father had told him about Renee’s dedication to finding a cure for Brenda’s injury. How she had been willing to give up the store that had been her dream. All that made her even more appealing to him.

A conundrum to be sure.

Renee cleared her throat. “One option would be for me to put together a kit for her with some instructions. That way she could finish it on her own. With your help.”

Zach leaned back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest. “She seems to have formed a deep connection with you. She’s not going to like—”

The door of his office suddenly burst open, and Tricia bounded inside, her backpack swinging from one hand.

All color drained from Renee’s face, and she clutched the arms of the chair with a white-knuckled grip. Then she drew in a breath and forced a smile to her face.

And Zach realized how hard it must have been for Renee to see his daughter initially. She hadn’t known who Tricia was the first time they met in the store, but maybe, on some biological level, she felt a kinship. A connection.

Now her actions made far more sense, and he felt a pang of sympathy for her.

“Hey, Renee. What are you doing here?” Tricia asked, tossing her backpack on the table in the corner and coming to stand beside her, her eyes glowing with pleasure.

Zach’s heart dropped to his stomach as his gaze flicked from Tricia to Renee and then back again. He began seeing a resemblance between them where he hadn’t before. They had the same heart-shaped features. The same slightly slanted eyebrows. The same coy half smile that could melt his heart...

Renee’s cheeks flamed, and Zach saw she was struggling for self-control. He had to help her out.

“So...why are you here so early, Tricia?” he managed to get out, fully aware of the heightened emotions in the office. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”

“Nope. It’s early dismissal today. I told you yesterday. You probably forgot,” Tricia said, bouncing on the tips of her toes as she often did when she was excited. Her entire attention was focused on Renee, however. “So, can you still help me with my scrapbook?” Tricia asked, clearly unaware of the tension in the office that she’d walked into. “You said you had to do something today, but you’re here now.”

Renee shot an agonized appeal for help to Zach, and his brain scrambled to find something to say to his daughter.

“Miss Albertson still has an appointment,” Zach said vaguely. “In fact, Miss Albertson just found out she’ll be so busy she won’t be helping you with your scrapbook anymore.”

Tricia’s mouth dropped open, looking first to Renee, then to Zach. “Why not?” she wailed.

The ball was in Renee’s court now.

“Um. Well, I’ll be busy getting my store ready to sell,” Renee said, improvising. “And, um, we have a lot to do before we go.”

“I won’t be in the way,” Tricia said, her shoulders slumping, her head falling to one side. “I’ll be real quiet. I just need a bit of help.”

“Maybe your dad could help you,” Renee said, trying to sound reasonable, but Zach heard the anguish edging her voice. “This way just the two of you can work on it. It will be a special time.”

“He was coming to the store because he doesn’t know nothing about making a scrapbook,” Tricia protested, turning to her father.

“Tricia,” Zach warned.

“Well, you don’t,” Tricia said, her lower lip trembling. “And I wanted Miss Albertson to help us because her mother said she couldn’t and now nobody can help me. I really want to make this book for my mom. Because I miss her so much and I don’t want to forget her and I don’t want you to forget her and if you don’t help me and if Miss Albertson doesn’t help me, then everyone will forget her.” Tricia stopped, her head lowered, her shoulders shaking, her face scrunched up in an expression of utter sorrow.

“Oh, honey,” Zach said as he got up, hurried around the desk and folded her into his arms. He held her close while she sobbed against him, glancing over her head to Renee, whose own eyes glistened with tears. “We won’t forget her. We can work on it together. I promise.”

“You won’t. You’re always so busy and you never have time and you won’t have time for this and I’ll have to stay every day after school in this stinky office and the book won’t turn out nice at all.” Her words tumbled out, broken by sniffing and hiccuping.

Okay, Lord, I’m going to need some divine guidance here,
he prayed.

He stroked her hair some more, feeling utterly helpless. He had obviously underestimated how much Tricia still missed Molly.

Molly is the only mother she knows,
Zach thought. Then he looked over at Renee.

What was he supposed to do about this?

Chapter Five

D
on’t give in. You can’t give in.

Renee clenched the tissue in her hands while the sound of Tricia’s sobs wrenched at her heart.

She couldn’t look at Zach, who was watching her as if wondering what she would do.

You’re leaving. You can’t get involved with these two.
Tricia was her daughter, and Zach, well, Zach was another problem altogether. Now that he knew who she was, she couldn’t let herself be involved in their lives. It wasn’t fair to Tricia.

Or Zach.

And yet, as the girl continued to cry, Renee felt her heart soften.

She’s your daughter. Your little girl.

The thought made her heart skip a beat, and she blamed that reaction on what she said next.

“You know, Tricia, maybe we could work on the book after all,” Renee said, the words tumbling out of her before she could stop them.

Tricia sniffed, then lifted her head away from Zach, as she swiped at her wet cheeks. “Really?”

Renee caught her gaze as second thoughts swirled in her head. She knew this would just make everything more complicated.

You gave this baby up. You have no right to be in her life. Especially because you’re leaving.

The thought was like a fist to her chest. But at the same time, she knew this was one thing she could do for Tricia. For her daughter. Though her mother was her top priority, she could help this sad girl capture the memories of her own mother.

“Really,” Renee assured her, her voice shaky with a mixture of emotions. “But we have to make sure it doesn’t take too long because I still have to sell the store.”

“Not right away.”

“No. Not right away.”

“And my daddy is going to help.”

“Yes, I’ll help,” Zach assured her.

Renee caught Zach’s glance as he said this. She wasn’t sure how to read him, but she would be lying if she didn’t feel the tiniest thrill of anticipation at the thought of working so closely with him every day.

“You promise?” Tricia said.

Renee nodded, her smile growing at the sight of Tricia’s beaming grin.

“Yay! I’m so happy!” Tricia turned to her father. “We’re still going to make the book!”

Zach’s expression was reserved, and Renee sensed he wasn’t entirely sure this was a good idea. But for Tricia’s sake, they had to find a way to make this work.

“Are you still busy today?” Tricia asked her. “Can we start today?”

Zach jumped in to help. “Actually, sweetie, we got a few things sorted out for Miss Albertson, so, yes, I think she can help you today.”

Renee gave him a grateful smile, then turned her attention back to Tricia, whose grin threatened to take over her face.

“So I guess I’ll see you both soon?” she asked.

“Give us about half an hour?” Zach asked.

“That should work.”

Zach’s gaze held hers, and again she felt the connection between them. She knew she had to ignore it.

It was just a mixture of loneliness and being around an appealing guy, she reminded herself. She would have to be careful as they worked together. She just hoped this scrapbook wouldn’t take too long to finish.

* * *

“And this is when Mommy and Daddy and me went to Disneyland the first time.” Tricia held up a picture of a beautiful blonde woman hugging Tricia, who looked to be about three at the time. “Mom is so pretty in this picture.”

Renee looked up from the Disneyland stickers she was sorting out for Tricia to use in her scrapbook and couldn’t help but agree. Molly had been a stunning woman. Tall, blonde, with an easy elegance that shone through in every picture no matter what she was doing or what she wore. In a few of the pictures Molly and Zach stood side by side, and Renee had to admit they were a striking couple. A perfect family for her little girl.

“She is very pretty,” Renee said, struggling to keep the wistful tone out of her voice. She knew it would be difficult helping Tricia with her album, but she didn’t think it would be this hard. Every time Tricia and Zach talked about a trip they’d made or drives they’d taken, Renee compared what Tricia’s life would have been like had she kept her.

No trips to Disneyland. No shopping excursions where Tricia would come home with enough toys to keep four girls happy.

Every memory they shared was a reminder that Tricia had ended up in a better home than any Renee could have provided as a young, single mom.

Yet even though Renee felt vindicated in the choice she had made for Tricia, regret still clawed at her.

While she struggled with her own emotions, she wondered what Zach was going through as Tricia laid out the pictures on the large craft table they had taken over in the back of the store. Was he missing his wife? Did seeing pictures of her make him sad?

As if he knew she was looking at him, he raised his eyes to catch hers, but she didn’t see sorrow in them. She saw something more troublesome.

Attraction.

The same thing she felt every time she saw him.

“Look, Renee, here’s me on Splash Mountain. See how scared I look,” Tricia said. In the photo, Molly sat behind Tricia, holding her close, laughing herself.

“You do look scared,” Renee agreed, dragging her attention back to the pictures.

“Screamed like a little girl,” Zach said, giving Tricia a one-armed hug.

“I
was
a little girl,” Tricia protested.

“And that’s why you screamed like one.”

Tricia grinned, looking down at the picture. “So, what do we do next?” she asked.

“Now we decide how to lay out these pictures on this page. Maybe your dad can put them in order, and we can figure out what colors to use to make them stand out and how many other things to put on the page. You should also leave a space for writing a story about the pictures.”

“There’s some red in each of these pictures,” Zach said, setting out four pictures on the page. “Why don’t we go with that color. What do you think, Tricia?”

She nodded, agreeing with her father’s choice. Zach had a good eye for color combinations, which surprised Renee. More than that, he was infinitely patient with Tricia, who got distracted every time a new customer came into the shop.

“I like red, but I like purple better. Just like Renee.”

Renee smiled at that. “What was your mom’s favorite color?”

“Green.”

Zach and Tricia spoke at the same time, then they chuckled and bumped fists. A little routine Renee was sure they didn’t even think about.

“But not a dark green. More like water in a lake?” Tricia looked at her dad for reassurance.

“I think it’s called aqua, and please, no comments about how I know the name of that particular color,” he said, shooting Renee a smile.

“When you start rhapsodizing about the difference between eggshell and cream, I’ll start wondering,” Renee returned, pulling the paper cutter toward her, thankful for his humorous comments that eased the tension between them.

The buzzer rang and she looked over her shoulder just as the door fell shut behind Evangeline.

“I’ll be right back,” Renee said, jumping up. She didn’t want Evangeline coming into the back room and seeing Zach or Tricia here.

“So we just stick the pictures in now?” Zach asked.

“Unless you want to mat them first.”

“I’m sure my fellow lawyers will be impressed that I know how to mat a picture as well as what embellishing a page means.”

“Just wait until we start with the glimmer mist,” Renee retorted, determined to keep the tone light.

“I don’t even want to know.” He caught her grin and returned it with one of his own.

That little curl of awareness that his smile so easily created tightened in her stomach.

She spun around and hurried out of the room. As she came around the stickers aisle she almost collided with Evangeline.

“Doing a card class?” Evangeline asked, looking past Renee to the back room.

“No. Just helping a customer put a scrapbook together.” Renee took Evangeline’s arm and led her to the front of the store. Evangeline was kangaroo quick when it came to jumping to conclusions, and after their conversation at the book club about Zach, Renee was fairly sure where Evangeline would land. “What did you want today?”

“I sold out of all those bookmarks you made me and was wondering if you could do some more.” Evangeline trailed behind Renee, still shooting questioning glances over her shoulder.

“How many do you want?” Renee said, making a note on the pad of paper she always had by the phone.

“About twenty. I’ll let you decide on the design. You had some really cute ones the last time. You always do such great work.”

“I love doing them,” Renee said, smiling.

“By the way, have you had a chance to read the book I picked? Mia was wondering what you thought.”

“If I tell you now, you’ll text her right away. I’d save my comments for book club. Otherwise we won’t have anything to talk about.”

“As if that ever happens,” Evangeline said with a wry note.

Renee laughed, then caught a movement behind Evangeline. Oh, no. This was not good.

“Renee, I think we’re out of glue,” Tricia announced, holding up the glue container. “My daddy said he’s no mechanic, so he can’t fill it up.”

Renee stifled a groan as Evangeline looked at Tricia with a gleam in her eye. “I’m guessing your daddy is Zach?” she asked.

“Yep. He is,” Tricia answered. “Zach Truscott. Renee is helping me and my dad make a scrapbook. Of my mom.”

“Really.” Evangeline drew out the single word, loading it with innuendo as she shot Renee an arch look. “That’s kind of her.”

“Twenty bookmarks,” Renee said, ignoring her friend’s cheeky grin. “When did you need them?”

“Soon as possible, though if you’re busy...” Evangeline let the sentence fade away as she added an exaggerated wink.

“Not busy at all.” Renee’s confusing response to Zach and Tricia had thrown her off kilter. She didn’t need her friend stirring the pot.

“I’ll be with you in a flash,” Renee told Tricia as she ripped the paper off the pad and tucked it into her to-do file.

Tricia nodded, then trotted to the back of the store, leaving an intrigued Evangeline in her wake.

“I thought her mother was dead?” Evangeline said.

“She is, but the scrapbook is Tricia’s way of remembering her.”

“Tricia is adopted, isn’t she?” Evangeline asked.

The word sent a shot of adrenaline through Renee.

“Yeah, she is.”

“Interesting that Zach chose to bring her back here,” Evangeline said, looking back at Tricia, then at Renee.

Renee shot a panicked glance at Tricia’s retreating back, feeling as if the fact that Tricia was her biological daughter was stamped all over her face.

Evangeline knew every detail of Renee’s life. Knew exactly how old her baby would be. What if Evangeline put everything together? What if she took her deductions to Mia?

Somehow she had to distract her friend from the situation. Tricia could not get even a hint that Renee was her mother. It would be devastating for her so soon after her adoptive mother’s death and her move here.

Plus, Zach would think she had something to do with the disclosure.

Renee grabbed at the first idea that dropped into her head. “Well, I’m glad Zach did,” she said, adding what she hoped was a sweet smile. “And Zach has been great about helping her put the book together. In fact, I suggested that he work with her, and I’m so glad he agreed.” She blinked her eyes, hoping, praying Evangeline’s romantic heart would home in on the diversion.

“I thought you weren’t interested in Zach?” Evangeline said, her own grin dimpling one of her cheeks as she leaped to exactly the conclusion Renee wanted her to.

Bingo.

“Well, you know, he
is
attractive, and I guess I’m just a weak woman,” Renee said, relief sluicing through her as she put on a fake, simpering smile, embroidering on the situation.

Evangeline gave Renee a satisfied smile. “Well, you sure change your tune quickly.”

“Not so quickly,” Renee said, suddenly wishing she hadn’t started down this road. “But I’m taking it slow,” she said, giving herself a vague out. “I still have my plans in place.”

Evangeline nodded, her expression suddenly serious as the implications of Renee’s plans settled in her mind. “Of course, but who knows what can happen once you get back?”

“That’s a long ways away” was all she would say. Her mother’s therapy was such a huge time commitment she had never thought past that.

“It’s amazing what you’re doing for your mother,” Evangeline continued, toying with the card at the till. “But sometimes I wonder if you haven’t made too many sacrifices. Given up too many dreams. I know you love this store, and you and your mother have done such great work here. But Zach seems like a great guy. I’d hate for you to lose your chance with him.”

Even as Renee felt guilty, her eyes slipped past Evangeline to the room where Zach and Tricia worked.

Zach glanced up and caught her eye, his smile tipping up one corner of his mouth, highlighting a shadow of a dimple.

Even from this distance he made her heart trip. For a tiny moment, possibilities hovered with tantalizing promise.

Then the front door of the store opened. As her mother entered, the whisper of her wheelchair swept away the momentary delusions.

* * *

“This doesn’t seem right,” Zach grumbled as he followed his father down the streets of Hartley Creek, the warm afternoon sun shining down. Though it was still early May, spring was heralding its approach in the greening of the trees in the town, which spread up the mountains reaching to the dark green of the spruce and fir trees and the snowcapped tops.

“What doesn’t?” his father asked, nodding a greeting to a passing couple.

“Heading out to lunch on a Monday morning without a client in tow,” Zach said as they walked up the steps to Mug Shots. “Doesn’t seem professional.”

“Get used to it,” his father said, pulling open the door of the coffee shop. “In a town like Hartley Creek, it’s good business to frequent the local coffee shops.”

Any comments Zach might have had were carried away by the jumbled noise of the café as they stepped inside. Jazz music wafted from speakers, adding to the rumble of conversation filling the space. Customers lined up alongside the glass display cases, which held a surprising variety of sandwiches, croissants, bagels, muffins, cookies and pastries. People jostled for seats at tables as waitresses in black shirts and pants scurried from the kitchen delivering the hot food people had ordered at the counter.