A Hero for Her Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions Book 885) (13 page)

Danny wiped the tears off his cheeks, leaving wet smudges on his face. “At least I have my granny and Aunt Allie.” He smiled despite his tears. “She’s the best aunt in the whole world. She loves me, and she’s not afraid of big rides.”

“She’d make a great superhero, too,” Derrick said.

“Yeah.”

“I know she loves you. You’re easy to love, Danny.” Derrick released a pent-up breath. “But if she’s not afraid of big rides, maybe you shouldn’t tell her I’m a chicken. Heroes don’t like to talk about their flaws.”

“Scout’s honor.” Danny closed the album. “I think I’ll go upstairs now. Thank you for the present.” He crossed the room, turned back, and hugged Derrick, who felt his own eyes burn.

“Mr. Derrick,” Danny said, “will I see you tomorrow?”

“I don’t know if I’ll be back.” Derrick’s heart pounded. What was the point of getting closer to this family? He was falling hard for Allie. Betsy Vahn felt like a second mother to him. And Danny. . . His nephew had stolen a chunk of his heart.

Danny backed away, and his smile faded. “Okay then, see you sometime.” He walked from the room, head down.

The boy was getting too attached.
Lord, I’ve been completely self-centered
. He hadn’t considered Danny’s emotions before barging into the Vahns’ lives. The poor kid didn’t need anyone else to depart from his life. And even if Derrick spent more time here, sooner or later he’d have to return home. His facade couldn’t continue indefinitely.

The time had come to leave Walla Walla. Tomorrow he would take Allie to Bright’s like she suggested, then he’d return home and handle everything else by telephone and fax. No need to continue here.

He stood, stretched his legs, then headed to the kitchen to say good-bye to everyone. But before he could enter the room, he heard Betsy’s voice.

“Allie, you mustn’t overreact. I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.”

“This explains the debt he left, Ma. At least we know that much.”

He heard the sound of a chair scraping on the floor. “I need to see what Derrick and Danny are up to. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

Derrick was about to be caught eavesdropping. He hurried back into the family room and turned toward the bay window.

“Where’s Danny?” Allie asked behind him.

“He’s gone to bed.” Derrick turned toward her. He needed to tell her about the photo album and Danny’s tears, but not with the deep pain already etched on her face.

“Are we still on for tomorrow?”
Please say yes.

Allie nodded. “Yes, of course.”

Derrick smiled, reached out to give her a hug, but dropped his arms at his sides. Unless he could tell her the whole truth and nothing but, he didn’t deserve Allie’s affection.

Fourteen

As he took Allie’s hand to guide her into the truck, Derrick caught another whiff of her flowery perfume, reminding him of their kiss—a distraction he didn’t need. He’d have to work hard to keep his wits about him today. Squelch the urge to kiss her at all costs.

He closed the door, came around to the driver’s side, and started the engine. He wracked his brain to think of something to talk about so he wouldn’t slip and say,
Hey, I know what I said about being friends, but I really liked that kiss yesterday. Could we try again?
Or,
Did you know you’re Danny’s aunt, but I’m his uncle? And may I kiss you again?
And then there was the conversation he’d overheard last night.
Hey, Allie. Not only am I not telling you that I’m Danny’s uncle, I also eavesdropped on you. What’s up with the debt?

“So, I take it from the frogs I hear at night that the road is named Frog Hollow for a reason?”

“Oh yeah.” Allie smiled. “I used to love trying to catch them at the pond.”

Talk of the pond brought back a rush of fresh memories of their kiss. Derrick searched his mind for a change of topic. “I bet Danny enjoys frog hunting, too.”

“That and picnics near the pond.” Allie sighed. “I guess all that will have to end soon.”

Poor Allie. She was suffering having to give up the land. That they would still have their house and a few acres wouldn’t make things easier. She’d probably die a little bit with each house a developer built on the land she used to ride on. This was one time he hated his job. Maybe he could send her money anonymously. With everything in him, he wanted to do something to help the Vahns. Still, that wouldn’t help them keep all their land.

“You can make a left here. I’m taking you to town a different way.” Allie smiled at him with genuine warmth. If she had a clue as to why he’d come to Walla Walla, she wouldn’t be friendly. Guilt washed over him. How had a simple search for his nephew become ugly and complicated?

Derrick hit the turn signal. “I’ve never taken this road.” But he was willing to go wherever Allie wanted to take him.

“This is mostly farmland, but if you get bored—”

“No, I won’t get bored.”
Not with you sitting beside me
.

“Good.” She settled back against the seat then turned toward him, her gaze glued to his face. Did she see the strong resemblance between himself and Danny? Derrick cleared his throat. It was dangerous for him to be alone with her. A part of him wanted to spill every secret—confide his purpose for coming to Walla Walla. But he did owe her one truth right now.

“About Danny, I think you should know that he showed me a photo album last night. Pictures of him and his folks. He said this was his first birthday without them.” Derrick choked up, took a breath, and started again. “The kid was crying. I tried to cheer him—”

“Oh no.” Allie’s face lost color. “My poor little boy.”

“I’m sorry.” Derrick reached over and squeezed her hand. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I’m glad you told me.” Allie squeezed his hand in return. “My sister-in-law, Cindy, started the album as soon as she and Luke adopted Danny.” She sniffed. “I can’t believe it most days. None of this is real.”

“I’ve got tissues in the glove compartment.”

Allie released his hand and snapped it open. “Thanks.”

“Does Danny know he’s adopted?”

Allie nodded. “Yes, Cindy and Luke felt they owed Danny the truth. They let him know as soon as he could understand. They told him he was special, handpicked by God for them.”

He felt Allie shutting down, but he needed more answers. “Sounds like Cindy and Luke were thrilled to get Danny.”

“Oh, Cindy would only allow me to hold Danny long enough for her to take a shower.” Allie laughed, and he loved the musical sound of it. “Luke and Cindy, they were a dynamic couple. So in love and happy.” She glanced out the side window as though a new thought had stolen her attention. “At least most of the time, but at the end. . .”

Derrick held his breath, waiting. But as the seconds ticked by, he accepted that Allie had clammed up on the topic and he’d get no more from her. Pain was like that. You just had to shut it out sometimes.

Allie sat forward and pointed. “Did you know the Nez Perce Trail was located right here on Main Street?”

“No. Maybe I should brush up on Walla Walla’s history since I live nearby in the Tri-Cities.”

“My dad was a history buff, and I spent many Saturdays with him exploring this area. His research files fill a whole drawer in the cabinet in my office. I haven’t had the heart to look at them until yesterday.” She balled the frayed tissue in her hand. “He once talked about writing a book.”

“No kidding?” The sadness in her voice cut him to the core. Time for a change of topic. “I do know that Walla Walla means ‘place of many waters.’ ”

“Yep.” She smiled. “Good job. See? You do know something.”

“A bit. But I’d like to learn more from you.”

“My pleasure.”

Allie showed him all her favorite places in town, giving him a litany of history. A tour guide couldn’t have done better. They finally parked near Bright’s Candies.

“Weird, being here with you.”

Worry wormed its way into his heart. “Why’s that?”

“This is where we met for the first time.”

Relief relaxed his stiff shoulders. As if he could ever forget. “You mean when you knocked my whole bag of jelly beans to the ground?”

She laughed. “At the time you said it was fine. Now you’re changing your story?”

“Never.” He squeezed her shoulder. “You’re fast becoming one of my favorite people on the planet.”

Smiling, Allie tilted her head. “That’s sweet. Do you really mean it?”

He thought about what he’d blurted out, and yes, it had come from the heart. “I mean it.” Derrick hopped out of the truck and walked around to her side before he did something stupid.

He opened the door for her, took her hand, and helped her out of the car. Not that she needed his help. She’d demonstrated physical and emotional strength he wasn’t sure he possessed. She’d held up after her dad, sister-in-law, and brother died. Would he have that strength when Sandy passed away?

They entered Bright’s, and he abandoned his morbid thoughts and instead inhaled deeply of the sweet scent that hung in the air. The mixture of chocolate and sugar. . .and Allie by his side. What more could a man ask for?

“Yum, what should we get?” Allie stood in front of the counter smiling.

Derrick eyed the goodies behind the glass, licked his lips, and pointed. “Fudge.”

“I take it you like fudge?”

“Love it.” He patted his well-toned stomach as if that was proof enough. “How about you?”

“I like their mint truffles.” She looked relaxed now. Maybe he’d scaled the walls around her heart. Then again, maybe it was Bright’s atmosphere. Everybody turned into a kid when entering a candy store.

After they ordered, they sat outside at a table in the sunshine and shared their sweets. “This was a good day, Allie. Thanks for taking the time.”

“Uh-uh. No need to thank me. I should be thanking you. I haven’t done anything for fun in far too long.”

“That explains it then.” Derrick pointed at her face.

“What?” Allie laughed. “What are you grinning about?”

“Can’t take you anywhere.” Squinting, he leaned forward. “You’ve got chocolate on your cheek.”

“Do I?” She wiped her face with her fingers. “Did I get it?”

He shook his head, then picked up his napkin, reached across the table, and wiped the corner of her mouth.

Allie remained stone still. The look in her eyes made his heart beat faster. If they weren’t in public, he would’ve kissed her again. “I guess we should—”

“Yes, let’s go.” Allie gathered their candy wrappers and tossed them in the trash.

He had to stop sending her mixed signals. Unless, and until, Sandy gave him permission to identify himself as Danny’s uncle, their relationship didn’t have a chance. And if he was able to admit the truth, Allie might totally reject him for leading her on. He would probably lose no matter what.

They walked to his truck, and his cell phone vibrated. Derrick pulled it from the holder on his belt and glanced at the screen. “My mother. . .” Fear weighted his limbs.

Allie walked a discreet distance from him.

Derrick hit the T
ALK
button. “Mom?”

“Derrick, Sandy has taken a turn for the worse. They say it won’t be long.”

Fifteen

Early Monday morning a blaring alarm clock startled Allie awake. Grumpy from fitful sleep, she slapped the O
FF
button, then stomped to the bathroom to get ready for the day. She had an early appointment to shoe an Arabian gelding nicknamed Goober. The name suited him. His markings and classic Arabian looks made him appear regal and distant, but only because he was too dumb to act any other way.

Scrubbing her face, she told herself it could be worse. She could be returning to work on Eddieboy, who was smart enough to pretend he was dumb before lashing out with his teeth.

In the kitchen her mood didn’t improve when her favorite coffee cup shattered onto the floor, victim of her half-closed eyes and errant elbow.

What was yesterday about? Why had she been so silly to ask Derrick to go to Bright’s? Why had he accepted? Derrick’s quick end to their day in Walla Walla only compounded her confusion. She knew his mother called and there had been a family emergency, but she didn’t know what it was. She had locked lips with a total stranger. But still, the ugly reminder emerged—knowing a person a long time meant nothing, either. She’d grown up with Luke. She’d looked up to him as her older brother, yet she’d discovered he’d been deceiving her for years and maybe his wife, Cindy, as well. Why all the checks to Paige?

Allie stared at the shards of ceramic on the floor. That’s what her life felt like. As if a big hand had picked her up, dropped her, and pieces of her emotions were scattered all over.

She went to the utility closet and grabbed the broom. Once again since Pastor’s prayer for her, she longed for a return to the kind of faith that would make her want to open her Bible first thing in the morning, meditate on the scripture, and get on her knees for a conversation with God. To return to the faith she’d drifted away from, captured by the cares of this world and her own resentments. It seemed a long way back.

❧

Two hours later, after her session with Goober, Allie stopped by the coffee shop in town. She sat at a small round table next to the window, ordered a skinny latte with two extra shots of espresso, and stared outside. If only she could turn off her brain for a while—forgive and forget and get rid of the anger. Her mental churning made her head ache and her heart pound.

The young waitress, looking as carefree as a summer breeze, brought her the latte. Allie nodded and smiled a thank-you. Not so long ago she was as cheery as the server. That’s when Dad was strong and full of life. And Luke and Cindy may have had their battles, but when they’d sneak peeks at one another across the table, they appeared madly in love.

Or was it all an illusion? Could anybody truly know another person? Allie sipped her drink and gazed out the window again. An older couple shuffled along the sidewalk, hand in hand. How sweet. Romantic. She closed her eyes and saw only one man with whom she’d love to grow old. A man she might never see again.