Lakeside Hero (Men Of Millbrook Lake Book 1) (12 page)

“You mean gossip?”

“No. I mean deliberate, heartfelt prayers.” Aunt Hattie took a sip of her water. “I will keep those prayers going for you, and for Marla and little Gabby. You all deserve to be happy—preferably together.”

Alec hadn’t realized how much he wanted that until he heard his aunt stating the obvious. He didn’t want to wind up like his buddy Hunter—sitting alone staring out into the water, emotionally unapproachable, except for a little toy poodle named Roxie. And even then, Hunter denied everything.

“I think I might begin looking for a puppy,” he said after they started enjoying their fully loaded pizza.

“Will Angus like that?”

“Not for myself,” he explained. “But to train for Gabby Hamilton.” He was good at helping wounded veterans. Why not try to help a scared little girl, too?

“I hope her mother will agree to that,” Aunt Hattie said.

“So do I,” Alec replied.

Chapter Sixteen

B
randy met Marla the minute she came downstairs Monday morning. “We have to start preparing for that big fund-raiser. You know, the one with that hunky, mysterious new customer. What’s his name?” She poked Marla in the ribs. “Oh, yes. Alec Caldwell.”

Marla moaned and put her head in her hands, her elbows slumping on the counter. “That’s going to be awkward.”

“Why?” Brandy asked, saddling up close, her brown eyes wide with curiosity. “Did you two have a spat?”

Marla wasn’t ready to have a girl-to-girl with Brandy. They did share just about everything, but right now, she didn’t want to share her feelings regarding Alec with anyone.

“I need more coffee,” she said instead. “Gabby didn’t want to go to preschool this morning and I’m running late.”

“Did she have a bad weekend?” Brandy asked, somehow knowing when to back off on the topic of the hunky, mysterious man.

Marla went straight to the coffee machine and poured herself a cup. Turning to lean against the long counter lining the wall behind the glass display case, she said, “We all did. My dad went on a fishing charter and the boat got caught in that bad storm.”

Brandy immediately stopped piping cookies. “Oh, my. Is everyone okay? I mean, you would have told us if anything bad had happened, but is your dad all right?”

“Other than a sprained arm, he’s fine,” Marla said on a sigh of relief. “Saturday night was the longest night of my life but he made it home around midnight.”

“The roads were flooded everywhere,” Brandy said. “I went out with some friends but my mom called and told me to get home. We barely made it.”

“That was one of those fast-moving storms,” Marla said, her mind on the fast-moving storm brewing in her heart.

She’d thanked God over and over for the Coast Guard and Alec and his friends, but she’d chastised herself for kissing him there in the den at her parents’ too-small patio home. She knew better. Gabby didn’t always sleep through the night and with all the drama of that night, how could anyone?

Deciding to change the subject, Marla said, “At least Mother’s Day turned out nice. We gave Mom her cupcakes, but she was so glad to have my daddy home—that made her day more special than our gifts ever could.”

“I can certainly understand that,” Brandy said. “I’m so glad everything turned out okay. If you’re up to it, let’s get to work. Work always makes you feel better. What do you have planned for the Caldwell Canines fund-raiser?”

“I have no idea,” Marla admitted, not feeling better at all. “I think I’ll help you get started on today’s orders and then I’ll go in the office and plan out the dessert menu for the fund-raiser. That’s all we have to worry about. Desserts.”

Well, she had other things to worry about but that was her problem, not Brandy’s. When she thought of how she’d kissed Alec, the word
dessert
took on new meaning. She could probably skip dessert and go right to the kisses.

“Desserts for an estimated three hundred people,” Brandy said in her preoccupied, cookie-making fashion.

“Right.” Marla didn’t know how to handle this. She couldn’t cancel on Alec just because he’d kissed her and Gabby had seen them and become upset. She needed the Caldwell account for her business. But she’d never done desserts for that many people—and never under this kind of stress. She didn’t need the pressure in her life right now.

She didn’t need a man in her life right now.

But Alec wasn’t going away.

She needed that Caldwell man...for so many reasons.

She couldn’t think about that now. The look of utter hurt and dejection on Alec’s face the other night made her wince but the fear in her daughter’s cries made her ache. Marla had never been so torn in her life.

Maybe her mother was right. Maybe she’d been protecting Gabby too closely. Being overprotective was just as damaging as not being protective enough. Gabby’s therapy had helped her improve, but Marla knew if she wanted her daughter to overcome her anxieties she had to do her part by showing Gabby how to be strong. Since Charlie’s death, Marla had sheltered Gabby to the point of smothering her. No wonder Gabby clung to Marla and her parents like a scared little kitten.

I’ve been so busy trying to provide a safe life for her, I’ve neglected actually spending time encouraging her and challenging her to embrace life.

Somehow, she had to find a way to balance things so that Gabby could heal and know that she was loved and would always be protected. And so would Marla. With the clarity of mind that only comes from realizing you’ve been sleepwalking through life, she suddenly understood that she had to trust in God to give her the same kind of courage she wanted to give her little girl.

Show me how to be strong and brave, Lord
.

Her cell rang the minute she walked into the office.

Alec.

Did she answer right away? Did she tell him she’d finally figured it all out and that she was willing to go on faith and trust him and God to help her?

What if he was calling to cancel the order? No, Alec wouldn’t do that. He was professional about such things and he was a gentleman. He’d honor their agreement and so would she. But she couldn’t blurt out the revelation still pounding through her with each heartbeat. Not this way. Not over the phone on a Monday morning when she was still accepting it herself.

Maybe she could ask him to come by later? Or take him some freshly baked cookies. Both of those choices seemed silly and obvious.

“Hello,” she said, her voice scratchy.

“Hi. I, uh, I’m so sorry about what happened. I got out of there so I wouldn’t scare Gabby any more than I already had.”

Marla swallowed her fears, wondering how she could be upset with herself or Alec. What had happened—that amazing kiss—had happened as naturally as breathing. She’d encouraged Alec, wanted him to stay in spite of her worries for her daughter. Her whole system had buzzed with an awareness she hadn’t felt since early in her marriage.

In spite of her fragile daughter sleeping down the hall the other night when they’d kissed.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she said. “I knew better.” She regretted that slip but the words hung in the delicate thread between them like webbed etchings on a wedding cake. Too late to take back those three words. Too late to tell him that she’d had a big change of heart.

He didn’t say a word after that comment.

“Alec?”

“Yes, I suppose you did.” She heard him clear his throat. “I wanted to make sure you’re still willing to help with the fund-raising event. I’d understand if—”

“Of course,” she blurted. “I intend to help you, yes. Let’s just focus on that, and maybe we can go back to our original plan of being friends.”

Another comment that sounded hollow and unsure. She was making a mess of this while her heart knew exactly how to straighten things out.

“Yes, we can try to do that.”

The flat tone in his voice didn’t sound as if he wanted to try. Marla hated that she’d put that flatness in his mood.

“Unless you feel differently,” she said, giving him an out while she held her breath and hoped he wouldn’t take it.

“I’m not sure I know what I’m feeling right now,” he retorted, the deep huskiness in his voice sliding over her. “I’m glad your dad is okay, and I’m also glad I kissed you. I won’t apologize for that, Marla. Ever.”

“Alec, I—”

“Just work up a proposal for the cost of your contribution to the event. I appreciate your involvement in the evening.”

And then the man ended the call.

Marla could only sit there and stare at the phone. She wondered if they could ever truly be friends. This thing between them wasn’t going away. It was only getting stronger in spite of her efforts to hold her feelings, and him, at bay. And now she knew she had to find a way to show Alec that she’d been wrong, so wrong, to fight him at every turn. She longed to call him back and tell him the truth. She’d thought she’d been protecting her daughter, but really, she was the one who was afraid to trust a man again.

Starting tonight after work, she planned to take Gabby out for walks and show her that not everyone in the world was a bad man. And she planned to show Alec that, too.

Somehow.

But right now work had to come first. She’d made him a promise, and she intended to honor that promise no matter how angry or disappointed either of them might feel toward each other. Marla didn’t want Alec to be angry with her, but mostly she didn’t want to hurt him.

When Marla thought about how Alec had offered to bring a puppy for Gabby to play with, she wondered if she should take him up on that idea. Gabby loved animals but they’d never had a pet of their own. She could just as easily be afraid of a dog, even a puppy, as she was of strangers.

All revelations aside, Marla would have to consider that next step very carefully. She’d talk to Gabby’s counselor about it first and she’d continue to encourage, rather than discourage, her daughter. They could finally heal together.

Marla sat down and became lost in creating appropriate cookies and cupcakes for the big event. She’d make bone-shaped and puppy-shaped cookies and ice them with happy doggy faces. She’d create cupcakes with cute names such as Give Me a Treat Caramel or Puppy Love Luscious or maybe Litter of Glitter Gooey. The ideas began to pour out while her heart held on to the discovery of something she’d been missing.

Her faith in God and her faith in Alec.

“Hey, how you doing in here?” Brandy asked from the doorway about an hour later, her big eyes giving Marla a sympathetic stare.

“I’m finally getting some work done,” Marla replied. “Did you need something?”

Brandy nodded over her shoulder. “I need your help. We have several customers and Amy’s getting behind.”

“I’m sorry.” Marla jumped up and hurried out to help the part-timer with the line of people waiting at the register. Amy was great with her cashier job, but Marla didn’t like to keep any of her customers waiting, so she always pitched in when needed. Brandy was trying to help, too. Which meant she was neglecting the orders that needed to be in the oven. Marla needed to get her head back into the work they had to complete today.

“Good morning, everyone,” Marla called to some of her regulars. “Sorry you had to wait.”

Her customers were always good-natured about such things and soon they were all laughing and happy. She gave them each a free cookie to show her appreciation. In return, in spite of how she and Alec had ended their conversation, she felt a rush of gratitude that made her ashamed she’d ever had doubts.

God was her strength and her protection even in times of trouble.

Marla only wished she could find a way to tell Alec that.

It was going to be a long day. And a long few weeks before the gala Alec had planned for his philanthropic organization. Marla hoped they’d be able to keep things civil until then. Maybe she could find the right moment to explain to Alec that she wanted him in her life.

Maybe even as more than a friend.

* * *

Across town, Alec sat with his board of directors and discussed the plans for the Caldwell Canines Service Dog Association gala to be held in the building he’d purchased. He had a few weeks to clean up the empty shell and at least have the offices and conference room ready. They would work on the dorms, kennels and training areas after the gala. His architect was already working on the floor plans so they could display the whole thing on gala night.

Aunt Hattie attended the board meetings as a member-at-large, probably to give him moral support. She watched him now, a serene expression on her face while her keen eyes took in every nuance of his actions.

She raised a diamond-decked finger. “So we’re going to call this the Caldwell Canines Service Dog Association Kennel and Training Facility?”

Alec nodded, his mind still on his brief conversation with Marla. “Yes.” He shrugged. “The name is long, I know. But we have to get it all in there.”

“You don’t sound very enthused,” Aunt Hattie replied.

When everyone chuckled in agreement, Alec glanced up and around the room. “Unless someone has a better suggestion.”

“It’s a little wordy,” said one man who’d doubted this whole venture from the start.

“What do you think?” Alec asked Aunt Hattie. She had more good taste in her pinkie than that man had in his entire lineage.

Aunt Hattie leaned forward, one finger curled around her three-strand pearls. “Why not the Alexander and Vivian Caldwell Canine Service Dog Association?”

Surprised, Alec stared over at his aunt. He’d been named after his father and his grandfather, but since his father was rarely talked about when his mother was alive, Alec had never thought of naming the facility after his father. “Would you prefer that name?”

“It’s not important what I’d prefer,” Aunt Hattie replied. “It’s a way of honoring your parents and remembering that your father was a veteran.”

Alec swallowed and tried to bite back the heavy dollop of emotions her suggestion brought about. He blinked, cleared his throat and then stared out the window of Caldwell House’s formal dining room, where they’d all gathered.

“Alec?”

He looked back at his aunt and saw the love and encouragement in her eyes. “Yes, I think that’s a very good idea. Thank you, Aunt Hattie.”

“And I’d also suggest we begin to use the acronym to get people familiar with your cause. Goodness, it would take a whole stationery page just to write that title.” His aunt patted his arm and then stood, causing every male in the room to do the same. “I’ll go start the coffee so we can have refreshments.”

The cranky board member who frowned on every subject suddenly sat up straight. “The CCSDA. I like that a lot better. And I approve adding your parents’ names in there, too. That’s a great honor for them.”

Alec glanced down at the agenda and tried to control the roll of something akin to a great wave that moved inside his system. How could he have forgotten that his father had existed and had fought more than a battle with an enemy? His father had been forced to make a great sacrifice for what he believed to be his calling. He’d left his wife and child behind to fight the good fight and he’d sacrificed his life for that fight.