Second Chance Dad (13 page)

T
he worries she'd dealt with since graduating from college and needing a job here in Aspen Creek paled in comparison to what she was facing now.

Gramps—the most consistent, loving person in her life—could be at the bottom of a ravine right now, praying for help. He could've driven off the road into any number of lakes and streams. Perhaps he'd had a heart attack or stroke, or had become confused, and was now at the mercy of strangers who would have no idea of just how special and wonderful he was, under that crotchety exterior.

Please, God, help us find him—and please, keep him safe in the meantime.
She whispered her prayer in a continuing litany as she cruised around town one more time, then stopped by her house for another check. Would he go there? Unlikely. But what had been normal about this day at any rate?

At home, she stowed fruit, crackers and peanut
butter in a backpack, grabbed some blankets, her lightweight backpacking tent, flashlights and a case of bottled water, and rushed out the front door toward her car.

“Hold on a minute, Sophie. Can we talk?”

At the deep, familiar voice, she whirled around and saw Josh getting out of his car.

What was he doing here? Conflicting emotions clogged her throat. Hurt. Anger. That extra little thump of her heart whenever she saw him. But he'd already shown how little he valued her, and any attraction she'd felt for him had obviously been one-sided.

“Maybe another time,” she said coldly as she stowed the supplies in the backseat of her car. “Right now, I'm in a hurry.”

“I know. I heard on the radio.”

“What?” She slammed the back door, then moved to the front door and climbed in. She rolled down her window.

“Your grandfather. I heard a missing persons bulletin on the radio while I was driving into town.”

She turned the key in the ignition. “That's right.”

“Where are you going?”

She gave an impatient wave of her hand. “What do you care? I'm looking for him. I've been looking for him all day, and I'm worried. So if you don't mind—”

“Let me come along.”

“Where I'm going, you won't be able to follow. Just stay here. Do whatever you planned to do in the first place. You have no obligation to help.” She shifted the car into Drive. “None at all.”

He rounded the front bumper of her car and jumped in the front seat. “If you find him, maybe I can be useful.” He flipped up the front visor and looked at the horizon. “I'd say you have just an hour of daylight left, at most, anyway. How will you be able to find him in the dark?”

She shot a glare at him, then stepped on the accelerator. “Just fasten your seat belt.”

Twenty miles out of town, he angled a bemused look at her. “Can I ask now?”

“Ask what?” she snapped.

“Where we're going.”

She exhaled, letting some of her anger go. It hadn't been Josh's fault if he didn't care about her. Whatever she might have fabricated in her mind, he'd certainly never led her on. “Tinnikanik State Forest. It never crossed my mind that he'd go there, until one of the deputies called to say that someone reported a bright red and white ‘59 Chevy in that vicinity. One lucky thing about Gramps's car—it's distinctive.”

“Why would he go there?”

“We always did, when I was growing up. We camped there every summer, and again in the fall. He loved going, but we haven't done it in years.”

“You think he went
camping
?”

“I don't know what he's doing. I checked his garage, and none of his old camping equipment seems to be missing.” She bit her lower lip, still struggling with the fact that maybe her dad had been right all along. “Maybe…he's confused.”

“Is he on many meds?”

“For his heart, and he hasn't had them since this morning. On top of that, his jacket was still hanging in the closet, so if he's outside, he'll be at risk for exposure. We're supposed to have light rain and temps in the fifties tonight.”

The light mist starting to form on her windshield was an ominous warning of the elements that could give Gramps a bad case of pneumonia, or worse.

She drove the last ten miles in silence, praying to herself. At the turnoff for the park, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Finally.”

“How big is this place?”

“Vast. With just one fire road through the center, as far as I know, and a road on the perimeter. There's a network of trails leading through the timber.”

The old Taurus jolted and squeaked as she drove down the bumpy gravel road. Dusk had turned everything to shades of gray, making it harder to see the road. She flipped on her headlights.

“Do you know where you're going in here?”

“Not exactly. It's been a long time, but we always found campsites down by the river.”

As she maneuvered around a bend in the road, the headlights swept past something that reflected a dull gleam. She slammed on the brakes, then backed up a few yards.

Sure enough, it was the Chevy, nosed into thick underbrush, its right side flattened against the rough bark of a pine. And there was no doubt as to its ownership—she could read Gramps's Wisconsin license plate on the rear bumper.

She jerked open her car door but Josh gently grabbed her arm. “Let me check,” he said quietly. “Just stay here for now.”

He grabbed a flashlight and went outside. After searching the interior of the car, he swept the beam of light across the area. When he returned, he shook his head. “No sign of him. No evidence that he was hurt, either—at least, there's no blood on those white leather seats and the windshield shows no sign of impact.”

“Thanks, Josh.” She met his gaze and saw the concern in his eyes, the compassion. “I'm so glad you came along. This would've been so much harder alone.”

After a quick call to the sheriff's department back in Aspen Creek, she pulled in behind Gramps's car and turned off the engine. “He can't have gotten very far.”

She got out, pulled a couple of oversize rain ponchos from the backseat and handed Josh one, donned
the smaller one, and piled some water bottles into her backpack.

She started to shoulder into it, but Josh took it instead. “There are trails everywhere through here. Now, the question is to decide which one he might've taken…or if he even took one at all.”

 

By ten o'clock, the light drizzle had turned to a soft, steady rain. The pine needle strewn paths were slippery, and the forest was pitch-black.

If they went much farther, they'd be lost, as well.

A gurgle of water ahead made Sophie pull to a halt. “I hear the stream. We always used the campsites along the bank…maybe he found his way down here while it was still light?”

Josh swept the beam of his flashlight through the heavy timber. “I hope he's close. He's got to be chilled and wet by now. With his health, that won't be good.”

“Gramps!” Sophie continued to call for him, her throat raw after two hours of trying.

“Here.”

His voice was weak, thready, distant. But—
thank you, Lord
—he was able to answer. Josh led the way, following the sound of his voice.

They found him huddled against the trunk of a tree, his face bluish pale, his breathing labored.
Sophie felt his bone-deep shudders when she knelt at his side and hugged him. “Oh, Gramps—we're
so
glad to see you.”

“J-just went for a d-drive.” He broke into a wheezy series of coughs. “W-wanted to c-come back out here once again. Got l-lost.”

She angled her flashlight and swept the surrounding trees. Near the water's edge, a white wooden sign with #45 on it reflected in the beam. “You found it, though—the campsite we used to come to.”

He managed a weak smile. “A lot of good memories here, from back when your grandma was still alive. We all came here together.”

Josh took his wrist and checked his pulse, then rested the back of his hand against Gramps's forehead. “It's a long way back to the car. Could you walk with us if we help?”

He nodded.

Josh and Sophie each hooked an elbow under his arms, and Gramps staggered weakly to his feet. His knees buckled and he moaned. “Guess not. I think I sprained my ankle.”

“We're going to need to stay right here,” Josh said. “The stress of trying to get you back to the car will be too much for you.”

Sophie frowned. “All I've got with me is one of those reflective silver emergency blankets…but I've got a two-man backpacking tent in my car, and blankets.”

She dug into her backpack, unfolded the thin emergency blanket and wrapped it around Gramps's shoulders, then draped her own poncho over him.

She looked up at Josh. “If you—” She thought a moment, remembering how he'd started limping more and more, the farther they'd come over the rocky, slippery ground. “No, I'll go back. If you can stay with him, that would be great. There's water and some food in the backpack, if you can get him to eat anything.”

Josh stood and opened up his cell phone, then shook his head. “No. You stay and try to keep him warm. I'll get everything, and will call 911 when I have better reception. I'll be back in a flash.”

 

The wind came up, rattling branches overhead and blowing at the thin walls of the tent. They'd all crowded inside, and in the dim illumination of the flashlight, it looked as if a bit of color had come back into Gramps's whiskery cheeks.

He was asleep now, clearly exhausted, while Josh and Sophie sat cross-legged on either side of him.

“I can't tell you how thankful I am that you came with me,” she whispered. “I guess I was letting pride stand in the way of logic.”

“Pride?” Josh looked up at her, his eyes dark and compassionate.

She felt warmth suffuse her cheeks. “I…well, I was a little hurt when you left town so suddenly and
didn't say goodbye. I thought…I'd thought there was more between us than that. But of course, there was no reason to.”

He stilled, and his gaze locked on hers for a long moment.

“I left to take an Emergency Medicine board-required exam in the Twin Cities. I hadn't planned on going through with it—a couple months ago, none of that even mattered. But after you came along, things changed.” A brief smile played at one corner of his mouth. “I guess I needed a good dose of Sophie Alexander to finally straighten me out.”

“B-but your cabin. You moved out.”

“Not entirely. On my way back to Minnesota, I called the Realtor and gave my notice, though my things are still there.” He gave a rueful laugh. “For about a hundred miles, I did think I'd just move back to the Cities, since I didn't think there was anything left for me back here in Aspen Creek.”

“What changed your mind?”

“When I went through the house I inherited from my grandparents some years back, it just…I don't know, it just didn't seem like home any longer. It's a beautiful old place, but I couldn't even imagine living there alone.”

She felt her heart lift and suddenly had a hard time breathing. “You couldn't?”

“I've spent the last couple years angry. Angry at myself. Angry at God. Choosing to punish myself,
while refusing to see the other blessings in my life that could've helped me through my loss.” A brief twinkle sparkled in his eyes. “People like you, for instance, though I'm still glad I rejected the others, because then you came along.”

She stared at him, not knowing what to say.

“But the long drive to Saint Paul and back gave me a lot of time to think. And,” he added quietly, “time to gather some courage.”

“Courage?” She held her breath, hoping she was right. Afraid she was wrong. Her heart clenched.

“I know I've failed in a lot of ways. With my family. With your son.”

“Those were both
accidents
, Josh. You can't take that responsibility on yourself.”

“I'm trying not to, but when someone you love is harmed, it's hard not to take the blame. So when Eli got hurt, I—” He closed his eyes briefly. “I don't know what I would've done if it had been more serious.”

She reached across the even rise and fall of Gramps's chest to take his hand. “It was Eli's fault, not yours. He wants to apologize.”

“He's a great kid, Sophie. It was almost scary, seeing how much he needed a dad. Wondering how I could ever measure up. But I'd really like another chance with you—with both of you. I just can't imagine not having you two in my life. Not having a chance to get to know you better. I—”

A faint, distant sound of voices drifted through the trees. The deputies and EMTs would be here soon, if they could accurately follow the trails in the dark and had a map of the campsites.

She suddenly wished they would take a wrong turn and need a little longer to find Campsite #45.

“I would like that,” she whispered. “Very, very much.”

Josh shifted, rose to his knees and reached over to cup the back of her head to draw her into a sweet, gentle kiss.

“I never imagined saying this in a pup tent with your grandpa asleep between us, but…I love you, Sophie.”

And then she kissed him back, with all of the love in her heart.

S
ophie slid up the zipper of Beth's floor-length, sleeveless halter dress and took a step back. “You are absolutely stunning in this, Beth,” she murmured.

Thousands of sequins and crystals sparkled in swirling drifts throughout the autumn-gold silk fabric, as ethereal as fairy dust. Glittering clips held her thick chestnut hair in a loose French twist.

“It's like a fairy princess just materialized in the youth room of our church,” Keeley said in awe. “You are absolutely stunning.”

“I can't believe this day is already here.” Beth's lovely gray eyes sparkled with happiness. “I remember the first time Devlin and I got married. I was thrilled, excited—but I was also so scared. Our parents weren't one bit happy about it, and he and I were like two lost bunnies, going out into the world and trying to be so grown up.”

Olivia laughed. “Somehow I can't quite picture your Special Ops husband as a little lost bunny.”

“And I'm guessing it isn't a mental picture you'd want to share with him, either,” Keeley added with a grin. “But I'm thinking your revelation might be good for a little blackmail.”

At a soft knock, they all turned toward a petite blonde in the doorway.

“Hannah!” Beth exclaimed as she rushed forward to give her a big hug. “I can't believe you're here.”

“I can't, either.” Hannah laughed. “It took just under sixteen hours, and I drove straight through from Dallas.”

“You must be exhausted, hon,” Olivia said as she and Keeley took turns embracing Hannah.

“A little cross-eyed maybe, but I wouldn't have missed this for the world. How could I not show up for the wedding of one of my book club buddies? You're all just like my sisters.”

Sophie stepped up for her own quick hug. “It's great to see you again. When are you coming back for good?”

A hint of sadness flickered in Hannah's green eyes. “I just don't know. My sister's estate has proved to be complex, because she and Sam died without wills. And the kids…”

Olivia shook her head slowly. “They must still be taking this so hard.”

“Still grieving, rebellious, struggling in school. I
figured they needed their friends and familiar home for as long as possible, so I just couldn't uproot them right away. But there's no way I can afford to keep that house for them, and some of the legal matters are still unresolved.”

“How much longer will you need to stay?”

“A few months, maybe. I'm licensed as a physician's assistant here, but not in Texas, and I can't afford to be down there much longer. The community hospital promised me a job if I can get up here by January first.”

“Not long, then,” Beth said, giving her another quick hug. “That's wonderful.”

“Well, if you come back and the hospital job doesn't pan out right away, I'll hire you,” Keeley said. “Edna is still threatening to retire, and lately, she's been leaving Florida brochures all over my shop. I think she's serious.”

“Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.” Hannah took a deep breath. “But I really don't know what will happen—or when. Sam's brother, Ethan, is due back in the States next month, and if he decides to fight for custody, things could get messy.”

“So your sister didn't make custody plans
or
a will, then.”

“Nope. Leanna always said that she wanted the kids to go with me if anything ever happened, but she left nothing in writing.” Hannah managed a wan smile. “She was a good mom and a wonderful sister,
though responsibility wasn't exactly her mantra. But this isn't a day to talk about all of that. It's a day of celebration! So, Beth, are you two going on a honeymoon somewhere?”

“Thanks to all of our friends, we are.” Beth laughed “And what teamwork that will be, too—thanks in part to Dev's late mother.”

“You're kidding.” Hannah's brows rose.

“She was still running her little boarding home when she died, trying to help people in need. She wanted Dev and me to help the remaining residents become more independent.”

“I remember the boardinghouse, but I never knew there were special-needs people there.”

“Not special needs, per se. Just people who had hit some hard times for one reason or another. Neither Dev nor I had a clue about what to do for them, and we weren't very happy about taking over the place at first, believe me. But it was a blessing, because it brought Dev and I together again. In fact, sometimes I wonder if that was his mother's plan.”

“What a change of heart,” Keeley said with feeling.

“Definitely. But now every last one of those boarders is doing fine—in their own apartments, with decent jobs.” Beth grinned. “Elana is now in college and working for me. And two of them—Frank and Genevieve—even got married. They're going to help Elana run the bookstore while Dev and I are gone.”

“Don't forget Carl,” Olivia added softly.

“Carl White?” Hannah looked between Olivia and Beth. “I remember him—a crotchety old guy.”

“Well, he's now running the boardinghouse, and he's as happy as can be to have the job. We're keeping the business going after realizing that Vivienne had the right idea about giving people a hand.”

At the soft notes of the organ, Beth paled. “I shouldn't be—but suddenly I'm
nervous
.”

“You've got all of us here with you,” Sophie said. “And a wonderful man waiting for in front of the altar.”

“And every person seated in those pews is a good friend or close relative, and is thrilled for you both,” Olivia added. “You'll be fine. So let's get moving, young lady, and get this show on the road.”

 

Sophie stood with the rest of the wedding party at the back of the church, greeting guests, accepting hugs and handshakes, and thanking everyone for coming.

So many familiar faces—all a part of the fabric of this beloved town, where she'd hoped to stay forever. But there still hadn't been any word from Grace about Paul making different career plans, so he'd probably be returning any day to take back his physical therapist position. And then she and Eli would have to move away.

She felt her heart wrench at the thought.

From the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of Eli and Josh standing at the door of the church watching her. Both were grinning, as if they'd just shared a secret.

Her heart wrenched at that, too, because her son so rarely connected with people, yet he clearly adored Josh. What would it be like for him when they had to leave town?

Maybe Josh had said that he loved her, and maybe they'd been seeing each other almost every day since the night they rescued Gramps, but wishes weren't horses, and she couldn't linger here after she lost her job. Even if it meant losing the chance to let that relationship grow.

A hand settled on her forearm, startling her out of her thoughts.

“Beautiful wedding,” Grace murmured.

She was dressed in a pretty periwinkle-blue dress with a sparkly shawl, and Sophie did a double take at her feminine outfit. “And you're beautiful, too.”

Grace winked. “Not quite my usual get up, I know.”

“Will you be at the reception and dinner? We could sit together if you'd like.”

“Thanks, but I can't. I need to make it up to Mosinee for my niece's ballet recital, and I should be on the road right now.” She twisted the clasp of her small sequined purse and withdrew a folded white business envelope, one corner of her mouth tilting in
a faint smile. “I'll just leave this with you to look at later tonight, after all the wedding excitement dies down. I—I'm sorry it wasn't better news.”

Sophie searched the woman's face, her mouth going dry as she accepted the envelope. Was this the end, then? A formal notice on the ending of her temporary position? “I…”

But Grace had already moved down the line to the final bridesmaid, and Harold Bleeker from the hardware store was now gripping Sophie's hand and pumping it vigorously.

And by the time Harold moved past, Grace had disappeared through the church door.

 

“You were a beautiful bridesmaid,” Josh murmured when Sophie met him and Eli at the entryway of the church, after the last straggler made it through the receiving line. “Absolutely stunning.”

“The prettiest,” Eli added. “Your dress was the shiniest, too.”

“Thanks, sweetie,” She looked down at her russet silk sheath. “I like how Beth wanted us to all wear different fall colors. You did really well sitting through the service, too.”

Eli angled a look up at Josh. “Josh brought a crossword book for me, and M&M'S.”

Josh coughed, looking a bit uncomfortable. “I…hope that was all right. I figured the service might be a little long for him.”

Warmed by his thoughtfulness, she smiled and rested a hand on the sleeve of his navy sport coat. “That was so nice of you.”

“Beth will still have her bookstore, won't she?” A frown creased Eli's forehead. “She lets Cody and me read all the books we want, just like a library.”

Sophie laughed. “Don't say that too loud. She's trying to run a bookstore, you know.” She felt a shiver of worry work through her at the thought, and gripped the envelope in her hand. “Speaking of business…”

“What is that?” Josh teased. “Bridesmaid battle pay?”

“Hardly. Wonderful friends, a day of joy. Every minute of this wedding was an absolute delight.”

He curved an arm around her waist and drew her close. “Then why do you suddenly look so sad?”

Her heart heavy, she took a deep breath and glanced out the open doorway toward the quaint main street of Aspen Creek, with its Victorian storefronts and old-fashioned street lamps hung with overflowing flower baskets. The town where she'd hoped to stay forever.

She held up the envelope. “Grace handed it to me a few minutes ago. It's about my job. She—she didn't look happy.”

“She handed you a pink slip and didn't even stick around to explain?” Josh frowned. “That doesn't sound like Grace.”

“She was late for a family event. It's…it's okay.” Sophie backed away from Josh's embrace and dredged up a smile as she started to stuff the envelope into her small evening clutch. “I knew this was coming.”

Eli fidgeted from one foot to the other. “Open it, Mom. Maybe it's a million dollars so we can pay the mortgage and never hafta go anywhere else.”

At that, she laughed and leaned down to give him a hug. “Dreamer. But it's a nice thought. We'll be okay, though, just you and me. I promise.”

“Open it, Mom. Please.”

“And spoil a happy evening?” But she knew he wouldn't stop asking until she complied, so she slid a polished pink fingernail under the flap and withdrew the paper inside. At the few words on the pink square of paper stapled to the document, her heart faltered.
I'm sorry it isn't more. But we'll work on it next quarter. Grace
.

Her hand flew to her mouth as she swiftly scanned the contents of the document beneath it.

Eli tugged her arm anxiously. “What is it? Is it bad? Mom!”

She felt faint. Giddy. Her knees were ready to buckle and yet she wanted to do cartwheels down the street. “It—it's a county job contract.”

Josh grinned at her. “So the other guy decided not to return?”

“I—I don't know. It doesn't say.” She breathlessly
scanned the paper again. “Wait—he must be coming back. This is for just a three-quarter-time position. Grace did it! She convinced the county to add additional therapist hours.”

Josh brushed a kiss against her forehead. “Congratulations.”

“Can we stay?” Eli tugged on her arm again. “We don't have to move?”

She framed his face between her hands and kissed the top of his nose. “Even without full-time hours yet, it's far better pay than I ever managed at the restaurant. We can stay.”

“With Josh and Gramps and everybody?” He joyously wrapped his arms around her neck. “Then you can finally marry Josh and he can be my new dad! Is it time for cake and ice cream now?”

Caught off-guard once again by his swift change of focus, she felt her cheeks flame as she gently disentangled Eli's arms from her neck and hoped Josh hadn't overheard.

She struggled to find her voice again and settled on her son's most innocuous words. “Um…cake and ice cream?”

“At the party! You said there'd be a party.”

“It's a wedding reception. No ice cream, probably. We need to walk down the block to Riley's,” she said, naming the nicest restaurant in town. “There will be a lovely supper, and then there will be wedding cake and mints.”

Eli's face fell. “It's not a real party?”

“It is, but a little different from a birthday party. It's in the private rooms downstairs.” She nudged him and glanced across the entryway of the church. “Did you see that Cody and his mom are here, too?”

He brightened instantly. “Can I walk with them?”

“Of course.” She brushed a kiss against his cheek. “But don't wander, okay? Stay right with his mom, and when we eat, you need to sit with me.”

Eli raced off to join Elana and Cody as they merged with the stream of people heading outside. Fresh fall air wafted into the church to blend with the warm scents of freshly snuffed candles and lemon furniture wax.

“It was a lovely service, wasn't it?” Sophie asked. “The pastor's beautiful message nearly made me cry. I truly do think Beth and Devlin will make a go of it this time around, don't you? They seem so very happy.”

“Sophie.”

“Mrs. Reed has the most wonderful soprano voice, don't you think?” Sophie started to trail the final stragglers out of the church. “And the fall flowers were spectacular.”

“Sophie.”

She faltered halfway out the door, realizing that Josh wasn't following her, and turned back. “Is something wrong?”