Love Inspired August 2014 – Bundle 1 of 2 (52 page)

“Really? You’d do that?” Smalls broke into a huge, genuine smile.

“Sure.”

After Paige and Smalls finished the dishes, they went to the basement and scrubbed
shelves and helped Vick and Claire compile a supply list. She learned that Claire
was a retired cop from Brookside who specialized in the juvenile division while on
the force. She was also the only other woman, besides Paige, currently serving at
the nonprofit.

At the end of the night everyone gathered in the kitchen. Timmons offered her his
chair.

Marty, an aging man who looked like he might have been the leader of a motorcycle
gang at some point, cleared his throat. “I wanted to thank everyone for their hard
work tonight. It looks like we’ll be shining for our opening next week. Please remember
we’ve moved our open night from Tuesday to Thursday this year. Unless anyone else
has something to say, let’s head out. We’ll see you all next week.”

Paige hoped to catch a couple of the people she hadn’t gotten to visit with yet, but
then realized that wasn’t going to happen. At past nine on a school night, everyone
at Sarah’s Home seemed to want leave right away. She grabbed her purse and almost
made it out the door before remembering she’d brought a coat. Where did she leave
it? Paige turned back down the hallway and took the stairs to the basement two at
a time. Her coat wasn’t downstairs, either. No matter, she’d be here next week and
find it then. But now, the muscles in her back ached, and she just wanted to get back
to Maggie’s inn, take off her shoes and relax. It had been a long day.

Caleb’s truck was parked next to her compact car, but besides that everyone had already
left. She clicked the button to unlock her Mazda then froze. Someone waited in the
space between her car and Caleb’s truck, right outside her driver’s door. A scream
died on Paige’s lips. She never could find her voice when scared.

“Are you really set on being a part of this?”
Caleb
. Only Caleb. She should have known. A man’s voice had never sounded so good.

Her knees stopped wobbling.

She loosened the hold on her purse. “You know, you really shouldn’t hide behind dark
trucks and scare women. I could have maced you.”

He crossed his arms and leaned against her car. “At least you’re admitting there’s
something to be afraid of.”

Paige blew her bangs out of her eyes. “Yeah. Creepy science teachers who huddle by
my car.”

Caleb’s hands dropped to his sides. “I wasn’t huddling.”

“You kind of were.”

“It’s cold outside and—wait, you made me lose my train of thought.” He took a step
closer to her. Close enough she could see his eyelashes; they were long for a man.
She’d love to have lashes like that.

Despite the warm temperatures during the day, the evening had chilled. Crisp puffs
of breath escaped from both of their lips and vanished into the air. The streetlight
in front of Sarah’s Home flickered three times before going out completely. Darkness
almost cloaked a homeless man crouched near the doorway of a boarded-up store across
the street. A police siren echoed in the distance, and down the block a man slammed
a car door and started to yell at someone.

Paige shivered. From cold. Or the reality of Brookside. She couldn’t tell.

Caleb tilted his head. What must he be thinking?

“After tonight. After actually seeing this place...do you still want to be involved?”
He spoke so quietly, she had to lean even closer.

Did she? Paige bit her lip. “Yes. Of course.” If only to prove she could.

“But I don’t understand. You’ve now—”

“Listen, because of Principal Timmons, my dad has been involved with this place from
the start. We’ve received every newsletter you sent. I used to scour the mail for
them. I always wanted to be a teacher, but Sarah’s Home opened my mind to helping
students outside of my comfort zone. Because of those newsletters I changed the entire
course of my education—helping students like the ones that come here became my passion.
You don’t just back down from something you’ve thought about for years.” Paige tried
to keep the quiver out of her voice.

Caleb brought one of his hands to his mouth and took another loud, deep breath. “It’s
not safe, Paige. Don’t you see that?” He braced one hand on her car and one hand on
his truck. “For instance, tonight—what if I hadn’t stayed and made sure you got to
your car safely?”

Defuse the situation. “Then you wouldn’t have been hiding by it?”

He tipped his head back and looked up at the sky for a moment. “Be serious. This is
a dangerous city.”

“So you keep saying.” Oh, she just wanted to get in her car and go home.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’ll continue to remind you of that until you
get it.”

Enough. Paige folded her arms, pressing her hands into her armpits to hide that they
were shaking. “And what exactly does
getting it
mean? Dropping out? Not being a part of this? You know, why are guys like this?”

“Like what?”

She took a step closer to him. “Just because you don’t agree with something, doesn’t
mean you can bully me until—”

“I’m not bullying you.” He put his hands on her shoulders, making her look up at him.

“You are.” The words should have come out with more force and in a more convincing
tone, but some of her fight was gone. Speaking up was harder than she imagined. No
wonder she’d never been able to state her feelings with Bryan. It was tiring to disagree
with someone, and he wouldn’t have let the conversation go on this long if she’d tried.

Paige swallowed hard. Caleb’s chocolate gaze locked with hers, full of questions she
didn’t have answers to. The pressure of his hands on her shoulders wasn’t forceful.
Not like he wanted to stop her from talking. Instead, they felt comforting and reassuring
in a way that didn’t make sense. With his eyes he asked her to keep talking—to let
him in on whatever secret formed this wall of tension between them.

She opened her mouth. Then closed it.

No. She couldn’t tell him about Bryan, Jay and Tommy. And definitely not about Dad.
A man like Caleb wouldn’t care to hear about the ribbons of betrayal that each past
relationship had woven into the fabric of her heart. So much that the ribbons were
all she could see—all she knew about herself. Paige—the woman men don’t stay with.

Suddenly, Caleb turned and placed both hands on his truck. He bowed his head and his
eyes snapped shut.

“What are you doing?” She missed the warmth of his hands. It was cold out, after all.

Eyes still closed, Caleb sighed. “Praying. I’m praying.” After a few minutes of silence,
he straightened. “You’re cold.”

In a fluid movement, he unsnapped his jacket and slipped it around her shoulders.
As he buttoned the first two clasps, a waft of his warmth and scent rushed over her.
It was masculine, a perfect mixture of pine trees and fresh night rain and hard work.

Paige reached to unsnap the coat. “It’s not necessary...my car will warm up and—”

Caleb cupped his hands over hers. Paige froze.

“Please keep the coat on.” Caleb’s voice was gentle. “You can give it back to me tomorrow.”

She kept staring into his eyes. As much as she wanted to fight against Caleb and believe
he was just another controlling man, Paige couldn’t deny the concern written in his
wrinkled brow and open expression.

“I might forget it tomorrow. Let me just—”

Still holding her hands, Caleb leaned a little closer. “Goose Harbor’s a small town.
I’m fairly certain we’ll cross paths again.” He let go and clicked the button to unlock
his truck. “Be safe, Paige.”

She nodded and fumbled with her keys as she got into her Mazda. Her engine coughed
when she turned it on, and she slowly pulled out of the parking lot. Caleb’s truck
followed. When she had a bit more money, she’d have to have her car tuned up. What
would she do if it broke down in Brookside? Phone AAA and wait by the side of the
road? Creepy.

At the stop sign she glanced at the truck lights behind her in the rearview mirror.
Caleb.
He’d take care of her if the Mazda broke down tonight.

For the first time in a long time, Paige was thankful for the protection of a man.

Chapter Seven

D
on’t look for her.

He’d checked already and she wasn’t at the farmer’s market. Besides, Paige Windom
certainly didn’t need him watching out for her, nor did she seem to want it. Nevertheless,
she was on his mind this morning. No thanks to Shelby, who teased him mercilessly
the whole walk to the square.

Is that girl you keep talking about going to be here? Paige? She’s pretty, isn’t she?
Don’t argue with me, Caleb. You’re a goner for her. I know because you talk about
her every day at dinner.

Between Shelby and Maggie, suddenly every female in his life had turned into a matchmaker.

Caleb pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and paid for the produce Shelby picked
out from Farmer Turner’s booth at the weekly farmer’s market. The prices always seemed
high to him, but because of Goose Harbor’s local ordinance against chain stores within
city limits, the closest grocery store was more than a twenty-minute drive away. That
alone made the farmer’s market that took over the square each Saturday morning a staple
for most of the population.

He grabbed the canvas bag from Farmer Turner and searched the small crowd in the square
for his sister. Shelby chatted near the gazebo with Mrs. Clarkson, the old widow who
the year-round residents in town made a point to look out for. High-school boys shoveled
the Clarkson homestead driveway without being asked. The postman stopped in, and she’d
ask him to reach a cobweb on the ceiling. Goose Harbor even hosted an annual event
dubbed The Orphaned Sock Mixer, where everyone donated socks without a mate to Mrs.
Clarkson, who sewed them into the oddest sweatshirtlike garments. It had turned into
a huge potluck event that everyone looked forward to after the tourist season died
down.

Goose Harbor might be a strange town, but it was home and it was safe and the couple
of people left in the world that he loved could live protected here. He didn’t have
to worry about Maggie getting taken advantage of in her business or Shelby being hurt
by some man he didn’t know. Not as long as they stayed in town, where the year-round
residents knew them and their past hurts, and sheltered them.

Across the grassy town square, near the small rose garden, Principal Timmons sat on
a park bench and waved for Caleb to join him. Yes, then there was the bad side of
small-town living—he could never escape his boss. Good thing he liked the man.

Timmons held a giant mint chocolate-chip ice-cream cone as he smiled at Caleb. “Enjoying
your first school-year weekend?”

“Plan to.” Caleb set the heavy canvas bag next to Timmons. “Did you need something?”

“I know we’re off school hours, but I wanted to remind you about the Barn Dance. I
should have done so on Friday, but I forgot.”

His gut tightened. “What about the Barn Dance?”

Out of all of Goose Harbor’s yearly festivals—and there were many—the Barn Dance had
been Sarah’s favorite. The students loved the event and most of the teachers and school
staff attended, but there was always a scramble to find adults willing to wear the
label of chaperone. It probably had something to do with the fact that the chaperones
had to serve as square-dance instructors for the party, as well. Caleb avoided the
event the past two years. Even drove out of town so he wouldn’t have to hear the music
and be reminded.

Timmons stopped to eat some of his ice-cream cone. “I looked in the file, and in our
rotation schedule this year’s chaperoning duties fall on the science department. Since
you’re department chair I want you to be at the event and get commitments from three
of the other teachers.”

Caleb’s jaw locked for a moment. “I can’t.”

“You must.”

He shifted his weight. “I don’t think you understand. I can’t go to the Barn Dance.”

“Special events are listed in the contract you signed when you took over as head of
the department last year. I thought you knew that.” Timmons’s voice was gentle, but
firm.

“Evidently I didn’t read all the small print.” Because he wouldn’t have signed if
he’d seen that.

“If you look, that’s part of your role. I’ll need you to lead the other volunteers
next week as they brush up on the steps for square dancing, and you’ll have to bring
a partner to the dance so you can teach the students the steps involved.”

“You’re ordering me to bring a date?”

“Not ordering—more like, reminding you to fulfill your responsibility.”

Caleb grabbed the bag of produce and headed to find Shelby. Being surrounded by so
many people had suddenly lost all its appeal. He needed home and time alone.

Most of all he needed to think of a reason not to attend the Barn Dance.

* * *

Maggie looped her arm through Paige’s. “Have I told you how glad I am that you came
to live with me?”

“Only about five or six times.” Paige patted Maggie’s hand as they walked down the
sidewalk toward the center of town. Maggie said Goose Harbor held a farmer’s market
every Saturday and Paige had to be seen there if she wanted to successfully become
a member of town.

“I still wish you’d let me pay something for rent.”

“I couldn’t.”

Paige stumbled as her foot went off the edge of the sidewalk onto the grass. “I feel
like a squatter sometimes—which is why, drumroll please, I’m meeting with a real-estate
agent tomorrow after church to see some rental properties in town.”

Maggie gave her arm a light squeeze. “You don’t have to, you know that, right? I don’t
mind if you stay. It’s nice having someone else in the private quarters with me.”

“I need this—for me.” Paige splayed her hand over her heart.

“I get that. Believe me. I do.”

Paige waved to some of her students as they passed. “What about you, Maggie? I feel
like you spend all your time serving others. What do you need to do, something just
for you?”

Maggie laughed—a loud, carefree sound that ended with the smallest snort. “Get myself
a man! But that’s never going to happen.”

“We don’t need no men. Am I right?” Paige playfully elbowed Maggie in the ribs.

Maggie tugged on her arm, pulling Paige to a stop. “Can I say something?”

“Sure.” Paige shrugged.

“Wishing for a man or a future marriage and family isn’t a bad thing.”

“No...but I don’t think that a woman needs a man.” Paige kept her voice low as people
passed them on the sidewalk. Maggie sometimes had the oddest timing when it came to
serious conversations.

“Right, but you make it seem like it’s a bad thing to want that, or that a woman who
wants that is being stupid or is wrong. It’s not.” Maggie clearly didn’t feel the
need to keep the conversation private or her voice low. “All I’m saying is just don’t
put too much stock in being alone. Okay?”

“Listen.” The conversation needed to end. She’d just tossed the antiman card out there
hoping for a laugh and a shared sisterhood wink. Old friends back home talked bad
about the opposite gender all the time. What was Maggie’s problem? “Wanting to be
married is fine and all, but I think it’s a stupid thing to hold your breath for.”

“I have a feeling you didn’t always believe that.”

“Oh, really?”

“You were engaged once. Now you’re so standoffish when the topic of men or dating
comes up. I’m terrified that you’ve cut yourself off from the possibility of love.”

Maggie had a motherly way about her, but Paige didn’t need a mother right now; she
just wanted a friend.

Maggie placed her hand on Paige’s forearm. “What happened, Paige? You haven’t told
me yet.”

Paige glanced behind her and brushed out of Maggie’s touch. Okay, no one nearby right
now. “You know what happened? Men lie, and I feel no need to be in a relationship
just to find myself disappointed and hurt in the end.”

Maggie crossed her arms. “Not all men.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “In my experience, it’s all men.”

“Sure, there’s no such thing as a perfect human, so of course every relationship on
this earth will disappoint you at some point. That’s why I’m glad God’s there and
will never let us down.”

God...there for her? He seemed to have better stuff to do.

So be it.

She’d gotten by this far without Him stepping in to help. Hadn’t she?

It wasn’t like she didn’t want to be different. How many nights had she spent on her
knees crying out for help? She wanted to trust Him—trust He was good like the people
at her church in college said. Paige wanted it as badly as a drink of cool water in
a desert wasteland, but she was afraid it was all a mirage and once again she’d be
left flat on her face with nothing but a mouthful of sand to show for her efforts.

Maggie was still staring at her, waiting for a response.

“Oh. Of course.” Paige needed to change the conversation.

A little old man with his pants pulled up past his belly button stepped out onto his
porch and squinted into the sun. With a pronounced nose and a garland of gray wisps,
he had to be close to her grandfather’s age.

“There you are—the man of your dreams.” Paige poked Maggie in the side. “Why don’t
you blow him a kiss?”

“Mr. Banks?” Maggie wrinkled her nose.

“Why not? It’ll make his day.” Paige winked.

“He’s the town curmudgeon. He always claimed he was born on a Sunday and started doing
chores that very Monday and that the rest of us should do the same.” Maggie shook
her head.

“Well, then, maybe he needs that kiss more than anyone,” Paige joked.

“All right.” Maggie shrugged. She let go of Paige’s arm. “Morning, Mr. Banks.”

“Eh?” The gruff grunt was Mr. Banks’s formal greeting.

“This is for you.” Touching her hand to her lips, Maggie kissed her palm and made
like she was tossing it to the elderly man.

He reached out his hand and pretended to catch the kiss and hold it to his heart.
“What a nice gesture. You just made this old man’s day, girlie.” Mr. Banks spoke louder
than he needed to.

Maggie’s cheeks turned red and she ducked her head. “You have yourself a good day.”

“Guess he’s not such a grump after all,” Paige whispered, and they both started laughing.
They approached the buildings that led to the center of town; all they needed to do
now was make it to the corner and turn past the redbrick building to reach the square.

“You know,” Paige continued, “you could marry him and maybe he’d leave you all his
money.” She chuckled.

Maggie didn’t. She let go of Paige’s arm.

Paige stopped and faced Maggie. “What did I say?”

“It’s...” Maggie blinked rapidly. “It’s nothing. Your turn.” She pointed at a car
pulling up the road. “You have to blow a kiss to whoever is in that car.”

What if Principal Timmons drove that car? Paige bit her lip. But Maggie looked so
upset all of a sudden, and maybe it would lighten the mood.

Paige nodded and kissed her hand. When the car came to a rest at the stop sign, she
blew the kiss to a boy who looked about six years old sitting in the backseat. He
scowled and stuck out his tongue as the car pulled away.

“Wow.” Paige shook her head good-naturedly. “I had quite an effect on him.”

Maggie doubled over in a fit of giggles. “Guess he likes girls about as much as you
like boys.”

Paige looked back at Maggie as she rounded the corner and subsequently smashed right
into Caleb’s solid chest.

“Careful, Paige.” He grabbed her wrist to steady her. It felt all too familiar.

The bouquet he carried thumped to the ground. Who were those flowers for? Amy?

A pretty woman with wavy mocha hair peeked out from behind Caleb. “Is this her?”

He held Paige by the elbows and her hands rested on his biceps until, suddenly self-conscious,
she pulled away.

Caleb and Paige both stooped to pick up the flowers, but instead banged heads.

“Ouch.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She rubbed her forehead. “Sorry about your flowers.”

The girl with wavy hair stepped forward. “They’re fine. They were just for the house
anyway.” She scooped the pretty blooms up and pressed them to her nose. Despite the
warmth building that morning the girl wore a navy blue long-sleeved shirt and jeans.
“Sandra’s Boutique has the best lilies.”

Caleb’s hand was still on her arm. Paige stared at it. He slowly helped her stand
and then let go. “This is my sister. Shelby.” He jutted his finger to indicate the
pixie-size woman next to him.

“I’m Paige.” She extended her hand.

Shelby grinned at her. “You should know by now, we don’t really do the whole shake
hands approach in this town.” She reached over and gave Paige a hug. “Great to meet
you.” Shelby held on to Paige’s upper arms and set her back to look at her face. “So
you’re the one who’s been getting under my brother’s skin? You’re so beautiful. Caleb,
why didn’t you tell me how pretty she was?” She swatted her brother in the chest.

Caleb looked off to the left and acted like he couldn’t hear Shelby, but Paige saw
he was watching them.

“Caleb.” Done laughing, Maggie finally joined them. “Why do you look like the dog
that bit the porcupine?”

“Timmons wants me to chaperone the Barn Dance.” Caleb worked his jaw back and forth.

Maggie tilted her head. “That’d be good for you.”

“I think not.”

Why? Paige swallowed questions she wanted to ask. The first line of defense for battling
her attraction to Caleb would be to know the least about him that she could. Knowing
made him personal, and each piece of information she learned made her more vulnerable
to caring.

“Those two can waste time talking, but I say we go enjoy the market.” Shelby looped
her arm through Paige’s. “Here, I’ll show you around.”

The town square around the corner was splashed in a downpour of sunlight. People milled
in between rows of vendors set up in the grassy center of town. A couple of families
sat together in the gazebo eating freshly made pastries. The small parking lot had
been blocked off, and beyond that was the doughnut shop across the street with a mural
that wrapped around the side of the building. The painting depicted children in every
season—kids selecting Christmas trees, kids posing with pumpkins and kids running
in a field of flowers with big, fat bumblebees dancing around them.