A Valentine for Kayla (9 page)

The screen door to the house banged shut. “Your mom wants you to invite your guests inside.” Estelle delivered the proclamation with a smug smile.

What was the woman up to now? Much to his chagrin, she'd actually taken to his mom and the two were good company for each other. Not that their getting along made things any easier for him.

Kayla faced him, brows raised. “Charlie said she was still here. What's up with that?”

“She's unhappy and stubborn. I suppose there's a small part of me that feels sorry for her, too. She's going through a rough patch. Besides, my mom likes her company.”

Kayla's eyes held indifference. “Are you going to invite us in, like she requested?”

“In a minute.” He lowered his voice. “Why do things between us have to change, Kayla?”

Her eyes widened. “Aside from the fact you weren't up-front with me, which I kind of understand, there's no point. Eventually you're going to get bored with this small town and move back to LA and your exciting singing career.” She marched past him without giving him a chance to respond.

* * *

The last place Kayla wanted to be was in close proximity to both Estelle and Derek, but she refused to let him see how the woman's presence rattled her, and the best way to do that was act as though she weren't bothered.

“Are you sure you want to go in there?” Derek asked.

Kayla raised her chin. “Yes.”

“Okay, then. After you, milady.” He grasped her hand as she tried to slide past him.

She raised their entwined hands. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“I'm not sure about a lot of things, but one thing I do know is that I want to hold your hand.”

Kayla held back a smile. “Come on, Charlie,” she tossed over her shoulder. She stepped into the tidy home and immediately spotted Helen in an easy chair and Estelle sitting on the worn leather couch nearest Helen in the front room. Large windows looked out to the area where they'd stood seconds ago.

Estelle beamed a smile at Derek. He grimaced, released Kayla's hand and motioned for her to sit in the center of the couch as he sat on the opposite end from Estelle. If Kayla hadn't been so annoyed, she'd have felt sorry for him. The only other seat in the room was across from Helen. She couldn't take that and force Charlie's large frame to cram between Estelle and Derek. With aplomb she parked herself on the couch between the two.

“Excuse me, Kayla—” Estelle flashed a winning smile “—but would you mind switching spots with me?”

A rough laugh escaped Kayla's lips, and she started to move, but Derek snagged her hand.

“Kayla isn't moving.”

Derek's firm declaration sent prickles of delight shooting through Kayla.

Estelle frowned and an awkward silence settled in the room.

Charlie leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “How is your recovery coming along, Mrs. Wood?”

The conversation continued and the tension in the room dwindled some. Kayla breathed a little easier now that conversation flowed.

Twenty minutes later the three of them headed out to the yard. Derek's mom was a sweetheart, but she seemed taken in by Estelle. Surely she could see through the woman. Why Derek allowed her to stay here escaped her understanding. He'd said he felt sorry for her, but what if it was more than that?

What if he still had feelings for Estelle? Kayla couldn't compete with the glamorous movie star. She was just a small-town girl and life here didn't compare to the excitement and adventure the big city held. Eventually Estelle would take him away and his stay would be only a blip on the timeline of his life.

Derek and Charlie walked directly to the float.

“When will we be able to paint it?” Kayla's gaze rested on the unfinished project.

“Next week,” Derek said with a grin.

“Good.” She spun around. “Call me, and I'll rally the troops. Do you need any more help besides Charlie's to build the arbor?”

“Are you offering your services? I wouldn't turn down your help.”

“Not exactly, but if you need me, I'm available. Or I could find you qualified help.” She wasn't sure what she wanted him to say. Being here with Estelle nearby made her edgy and reminded her that Derek had another life. One she didn't fit into.

“Thanks, but we have everything covered.”

“Oh. Okay.” Disappointment washed over her, but she quickly pasted on a smile. “I'll leave you to it, then. See you guys.”

Kayla drove home, her mind a jumble of mixed emotions. Derek acted as if everything were normal between them. Yet she couldn't get past the fact that he was a famous singer. Famous enough he wanted to hide out for a while to find himself, as her mom had put it. But what happened once he did? Would he pack up and move back to Los Angeles?

A few minutes later she pulled into her driveway, set the brake and wandered inside, her mind still mired in confusion and doubt. “Hello! I'm home,” she called out.

Silence greeted her. “Mom?” With a shrug, she ambled into the kitchen. Mom must be out with friends. She added fresh water to the teakettle and clicked on the stove. The doorbell pealed. Double-timing it to see who was there, she spotted Jill's car in the driveway. She pulled the door open. “Hey, girl.” Since they worked together all day, they rarely spent time socializing.

The deep furrow between Jill's brows made Kayla's stomach twist. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing,” She hesitated. “I…need to tell you something.” Jill stuffed her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “Mind if I come inside for a minute?”

She glanced over her shoulder, and for the first time Kayla noticed Charlie sitting in the passenger seat. “Not at all. I just put water on for tea. Let's talk in the kitchen.” She led the way and glanced back. “Charlie doesn't mind waiting in the car?”

“No. Actually, he's the reason I'm here.”

“Oh?” She pressed her lips together.

“Yes.”

The teakettle whistled. Kayla removed it from the burner, then pulled a teacup and saucer from the cupboard. “Would you like tea?”

“Uh…no, thank you. Will you please sit? All your fidgeting is making me nervous.” Jill pulled out a chair and sat.

Kayla left her tea on the counter and did as Jill requested. “You are scaring me. What's wrong?” Her shoulders tightened and she tapped her heel against the floor.

“I'm probably making way too big a deal of this, but I wanted you to know that Charlie and I are dating.”

Kayla's foot stilled and her shoulders relaxed. “Oh, that's all? I've suspected there was something going on between you for a while.”

“Then you're not angry?”

“Of course not. How could I be? You make a cute couple.”

Jill's eyes sparkled. “I think he may be
the one
.”

“I hope he is. He's a doll, and you deserve someone who will treat you like a princess. I like Charlie, or I never would have hired him. If you want my blessing, you have it.”

“So you're not upset at all? I mean, with what happened with Derek and everything, I thought maybe you might be jealous or feel left out.”

Kayla shook her head. “I'm not so self-absorbed that I can't be happy for my friends when they find love. So what if my Prince Charming hasn't dropped into my life yet?” She shrugged.

“You're the best, Kayla!” Jill pulled her into a quick hug. “I'd better go, or Charlie may wonder what's going on. I can let myself out. Say hi to your mom for me.” She breezed out and a second later the door clicked closed.

Kayla plopped into a kitchen chair and stared vacantly. She'd meant what she'd said to Jill. She was happy for her and Charlie, but Jill's concern for her love life worried her. Maybe she was destined to be alone forever. Derek's dazzling eyes danced across her mind and she sighed.
He
was not an option—too many unknowns to risk her heart.

D
erek stalked along Mom's driveway to the shed. Estelle's heels clicked a staccato beat as she attempted to keep up. Why wouldn't she leave him alone and go back to LA? He was clear about his stance on the subject, but she refused to listen. Pressure in his chest built at every click of her heels. This couldn't be healthy. He rolled his head from side to side, forcing himself to stay calm. He would not be a jerk, but one way or another, she had to know he was serious about his new life.

He stopped, then whirled around. “Look, Estelle. I've told you, I am
not
going to hold a press conference stating we are back together. It's absurd and embarrassing. No one would hold a press conference for that.”

She bit her bottom lip and looked at the paved driveway. A moment later the light returned to her eyes. “Okay, you're right about announcing we're back together. I'll stand by your side as you tell the world about your new album.”

“What new album?” She'd officially lost her mind.

“The one you're going to make as soon as you return to Los Angeles.”

“Not happening. I don't want that life anymore and I want to be here for my mom. I can't cut a new album without losing what I have here.” He glowered at her.

She blinked rapidly, and a pout covered her lips. “I don't understand why. Why would you choose living with your mother in this small town over your fabulous career? You do realize no one walks away from what you had…have. I've been here awhile now, and I don't see what the draw is.”

Derek crossed his arms and studied Estelle. She was a beautiful woman who knew her way around the entertainment industry, and what she said was true, but his heart wasn't in it any longer. Why couldn't she accept that? He understood why Jerry hoped to lure him back, since he received a cut of everything Derek earned, but why did he matter so much to Estelle?

“Are you listening to me, Derek?” Her eyes flashed as she rested her hands on her hips.

“How could I not hear your incessant nagging? You're the one not listening. I left that life behind. I'm done. Finished. I'm making a life for myself here. If you need proof, look at my involvement with the Spring Festival.”

She fisted her hands straight by her sides, stomped her foot and spun around. “You're going to regret this, DJ.”

A sick feeling gripped Derek's stomach. What was this woman up to now? Everyone in the biz knew she had mastered the art of revenge. He'd always felt sorry for anyone on the other end of her wrath, but he'd never imagined she'd turn on him.

When he'd found out she'd been sleeping around while they were supposedly dating exclusively, it had hurt. Then
she
dumped him before he could dump her. At the time he was miffed, but in retrospect she'd done him a favor. She'd saved face, and he hadn't been dragged through the mud. By the sound of it, that was about to change. Not that it would matter. She couldn't hurt him, since he had no interest in returning to his former life.

What he'd seen in her escaped him now. But she could actually be a nice person when she wasn't caught up with landing her next acting gig and making money.

He'd been praying a lot since Estelle's arrival and felt God directing him to take the worship leader position, but how would that work now that Estelle was up to no good? Would she interfere and mess up that part of his life, too?

The only thing he could do was lay it all out there for Pastor Miller and let him decide if he was still interested. They'd spoken on the phone before Estelle showed up, but the pastor might see things differently now. He went into the house and found his mother in the kitchen.

“Where's Estelle?”

“Her room. Did you…fight?”

He didn't want to concern her with his problems, but maybe she should know what her guest was capable of. “We had words. Listen, Mom. Estelle isn't all that she seems. You need to be very careful what you say to her.”

Mom chuckled. “Not saying anything that will cause a problem,” she said slowly but without pauses. Although her speech was improving, the slow speed tried his patience when it was already stretched thin.

He grinned in spite of the circumstances. “What do you say we show our guest to the door?”

Mom frowned. “Whatever you think is best, but I've been sharing the Lord with her. I feel strongly I should witness to her and tell her Jesus loves her.” It took her a bit to get the entire speech out, but he wasn't surprised she'd been witnessing.

“That's great, but I think it may be falling on deaf ears. I'd like her to leave.”

“Okay.” Her shoulders sagged, and the light in her eyes dimmed.

Was he making a mistake? Did Estelle's being there mean that much to Mom? He knew in his heart what God would say, but even though he knew it was the right thing to do, it was a tough decision.

He ground his teeth. “I need to take a drive and think. Don't say anything about this to Estelle.”

He hopped into his pickup and drove to the street near the fountain where he and Kayla had kissed. He parked and sat there with his hands resting on the steering wheel. He'd love to rewind his life to that night and tell Kayla about his music career. If he'd been up-front to begin with, she probably wouldn't have been acting so put out now.

Then again, maybe it wouldn't have mattered. She seemed convinced he would return to his old life. Taking the job at the church ought to prove to her that he was here to stay. He got out and strolled up First Avenue until he came to the old white church building with the towering steeple.

A sign indicated that the church office was located in the basement and an arrow directed visitors to the rear of the building. He squared his shoulders and walked along the side of the church. Steam rose from the parking lot as the sun beat down on the wet asphalt. He rounded the corner and found stairs leading down.