Rich in Faith (Richness in Faith, Book 3) (10 page)

Stephen’s thumb brushes Jenny’s hand as he speaks. She’s simply radiant and beautiful and lovely looking.

Even with that scar.

Must be nice.

But I can tell, looking at her and Stephen, that it comes from within. That the beauty I’m seeing isn’t necessarily about the way they’re put together physically, although they are put together beautifully in a way a lot of people wished they were put together.

With the momentary silence, the atmosphere becomes awkward.

“Would you care to join us?” Court asks.

“I wish we could, but we have some friends expecting us.” Stephen points further down the dock.

Jenny looks my way. “You should bring the girls over. Our housekeeper, Teresa, has a nine-year-old girl, Phoebe. I know she would love some company. Especially now that school’s out.”

“I’ll do that. Maybe next week.” Anything to keep the girls busy sounds like a good plan to me.

“Also,” Stephen says. “I know my uncle Roger has been over to your place a couple of times. We are still having church in my house. We’d love to have you. We have a great ministry started. There are quite a number of kids coming. Your girls might like it. And it’s close to home.”

I sense the atmosphere around Court has tensed.

Stifled.

Shifted.

He takes a long sip of his wine. Probably trying to think of a polite way to refuse the beautiful couple’s offer of attending church.

At their house, no less.

I’ve heard of people doing that but have never personally known any house church people.

“We’ll think about it,” Court says. “Thank you for the invitation.”

“All right. I’m glad we ran into you.” Stephen takes a step back. “Nice meeting you, Shelby. We hope we see you guys soon.”

“Bye,” Jenny says.

Court and I say goodbye and settle back on the bench seat as they walk down the dock.

“So now you’ve met your neighbors.”

“I’ve actually met Stephen once before. There was a wedding going on in the cul-de-sac, and Bristol and Darling decided to have a fight in the street. In the middle of the wedding. It wasn’t the best of days. Stephen met me in the street to see if he could be of any help.”

“How cool to have a wedding at that gazebo. Who got married?”

Court stretches his arm across the back of the seat, his fingertips dangerously close to my shoulder. They could touch me if they wanted to. I want them to.

“The people who live across the cul-de-sac from me, but I don’t know them.”

Court’s voice reels me back to the fact that he is talking and we are having a conversation. I need to participate. “Sounds to me like you need to get to know your neighbors. They seem to have a lot of fun.”

“I’m usually working.” He takes a sip of his wine.

“Maybe we can change that.”

“Maybe.” His fingers touch the back of my shoulder. “I like the way you say we.”

The scent of the water, the feel of his hand, the romantic atmosphere.

Court’s words.

All of those things combine to make this seem like a real date. Not a date to make one’s best friend jealous. Not a date to kill time because there is nothing better to do.

If this is what happens when you forget the here and now, I might lose my whole memory bank.

MANSION

SATURDAY MORNING WE land in North Carolina in a much tamer fashion than when we had made our trip at the beginning of the week. Apparently, news of Cal’s recovery has squelched the intense media scrutiny, and no one approaches us as we exit the plane and make our way to the waiting car.

We’re silent as Court drives. I replay last night’s dinner through my mind. A real date normally ends with a kiss.

And ours didn’t.

So I’m not sure what to call what happened and didn’t happen last night. Maybe it was a night of simply relaxing. Nothing more.

Nothing less.

“Ready to get back to work?” Court asks as we drive down a long driveway.

“Sure. It’s what you pay me for, right?”

He doesn’t answer, but that’s okay, because I’m too busy focusing on the house that comes into view.

And I thought Court’s house was big.

It has nothing on this gorgeous mansion nestled in the midst of rolling green hills. Perfectly manicured, sculpted and colorful, the landscape has me at a loss for words. “This is where your mom and dad live?”

“This is Casa de Treyhune.”

I glance over at Court, knowing in that moment that he will never, ever, ever see where my parents live.

Ever.

Although my mom is a neat freak, and my dad takes pride in his yard, which consists of a patch of grass surrounding the trailer, there’s a level of discomfort that settles in my soul regarding the home I grew up in.

And yes, it is a home in every sense of the word. Clean, loving, gracious.

Full of Jesus.

But those things didn’t seem important to the other kids at school. The kids who lived in the big houses turned their noses up at kids like me.

Until Paul took notice of me.

Then when Paul unnoticed me, after I gave him the most precious gift I could give a boy, I was once again the recipient of upturned noses and snobbish behavior.

I learned early on it’s who you are in life that matters.

And what you have establishes who you are.

We park the car and barely have the doors open when Bristol and Darling come running out to meet us.

Court rather.

I stand to the side and watch the girls’ amazing affection for their father, who hugs them in return.

“Daddy, we’re so glad you’re back. We missed you. Grandpa Cal is here. He came home yesterday.”

As they are all wrapped in their hug I look closer at the girls, not believing what I’m seeing.

Their hair.

It’s still a mess.

Tangled, wrangled and hanging down their backs. They keep pushing it out of their faces.

Oh well, who am I to judge? They were around me for over twenty-four hours and I honestly had no time to take a brush to it.

With Cal’s return and the time needed to prepare for that, Vera and Crystal probably have been busy doing other things.

More important things than worrying about two girls who are happy with things the way they are.

Maybe that’s the issue.

Why fix what’s not broke?

At Court’s prompt, the girls come over and give me a hug.

“Have you been having fun?” I ask.

“Yes! And we’re going to have a party!”

They are jumping up and down, and it’s then I notice they are still wearing their bands on their wrists. “Party?”

“For Father’s Day. Daddy, we made you a present.” Bristol smiles big as she speaks.

Darling pulls Bristol’s sleeve. “You weren’t supposed to tell him, Bristol. It was supposed to be a surprise.”

Crossing her arms, Darling’s lower lip can’t stick out much further.

Do these girls always fight?

“It’s okay, Darling. Whatever it is will still be a surprise. Let’s go inside. I want to see Grandpa Cal.”

My knees are shaky as we walk toward the house and in the door. We enter from the garage into the biggest kitchen I’ve ever seen in my life. It sparkles and shines and boasts the newest and best appliances. Yet it doesn’t feel uncomfortable.

It brings memories of my parents’ home to my mind, which is crazy. My parents’ trailer could almost fit in this kitchen alone.

I can hear the buzz of conversation not far away. We continue walking and enter a great room where a crowd is gathered. I should have known by the amount of cars outside that there were plenty of people here, but somehow, around Court, I’m not always thinking straight.

I tend to be thinking about him and how attractive he is, and how I’m so much not like him, that the realities of my surroundings don’t come into focus until much later.

Like now.

Slowly everyone realizes we are here. I see Crystal and her twins. Storm couldn’t hide in a crowd even if he wanted to.

I notice Davey sitting away from everyone on the hearth of a stacked stone fireplace that reaches all the way to the top of the cathedral ceiling. Everyone starts backing away from the circle they have made.

The circle around Cal Treyhune.

My breath hitches as I realize I’m about to meet one of racing’s greatest, and guilt assails me at how my father would love to be in this moment. Me, not so much.

Yet here I am.

I hang back as Court approaches his father.

Greetings of hello and hugs all serenade Court as he makes his way to Cal. Vera stays close by Cal’s side, her arm never leaving his shoulder, and the look of love never leaving her face.

“Dad. You have no idea how good it is to see you.”

Court leans over and hugs his father, whose eyes tear up when he sees his son.

“Good to see you, Court.”

Their exchange makes me ache for my father. For the hugs he gives me.

For the love he gives me.

In moments the silent crowd is silent no more. Conversation reigns and I have trouble deciding where to focus my interest.

Bristol and Darling are chatting with Taylor and Saylor. Davey is focused on his tablet.

Crystal makes her way to me. “Hi, Shelby. Don’t let this crowd overwhelm you. They wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Is it that obvious?”

She laughs. “Yes. But like I said, we’re harmless. And there will be even more of us tomorrow. This is what we call breaking you in gently.”

“Thanks for that.” In as many people are gathered, my gaze keeps drifting to Court. Whoever was sitting in the chair closest to Cal gave it up, and Court is sitting there now. He and his father seem to have a lot to talk about, while Vera’s gaze scans her living room.

But she doesn’t leave Cal’s side.

“Are you guys leaving tomorrow night?” Crystal asks.

“That’s the plan. I only packed for one night per Court’s instructions.”

“Maybe the girls and I can come down for a visit this summer. Taylor and Saylor really miss Court’s girls. They spent so much time together until Court whisked them all away to Florida. I don’t want them to lose that bond, you know?”

Yes, I know that bond. Or rather, I know what it’s like not to have that bond. “Yeah. That would be great. I’m sure the girls would love to have company.”

My thoughts drift to the conversation we had with Stephen and Jenny regarding their housekeeper’s daughter, Phoebe. I need to remember that and ask the girls if they would be interested in meeting her.

“I’m worried about Vera.” Crystal shrugs in the direction of the couple. “I can’t imagine what she’s been through with this scare regarding Cal, but she’s not acting like herself. She won’t leave his side for a minute. She rejected all the nurses who might have come here for aftercare. In a minute she’ll probably take him back to their room to rest. She’s not been letting him visit with anyone too long. I’m surprised the celebration is still on for tomorrow.”

As if she heard Crystal, Vera announces to Court that his father needs to rest. Court helps his dad up, and Cal waves at everyone, telling them he’ll see them in a little while.

All eyes stay on the Vera and Cal.

All eyes but Court’s.

His are on me.

“Dad, wait. I’d like you to meet somebody.”

Court closes the space between us with the whole family watching. It’s so quiet, like we’re in our own world. How his expression indicates that we have a world that’s our own, I’ll never know, but it does. “I’d like you to meet my dad.”

“Sure.” I try to focus on how my dad would react at meeting his hero because that pushes away thoughts of why Court wants to introduce me to his dad.

When we reach Vera and Court, Vera hugs me. “Nice to see you again. I was so focused on Cal I didn’t notice you.”

“Not notice her?” Cal’s voice is strong, much stronger than his appearance reveals. “She’s too pretty not to notice. Hello, there.”

He holds his hand out, and I take it. His grip is strong like his voice, and I’m thinking Vera is being very cautious in her care.

“Hi.”

“Dad, this is Shelby.”

Cal smiles and it reaches all the way to the time-wrinkled skin around his eyes. “Shelby, huh? Damn good name. I like it.”

“Cal?” Vera’s admonishment is all in how she says his name.

Cal shakes his head. “Sorry. Not supposed to talk like that. Especially in front of ladies and kids. Darn good name.”

“Thank you.”

Vera starts to steer Cal away. “Proof he needs to rest. He’s forgetting his manners. See y’all at dinner.”

I step back to allow Cal to walk in front of me, and find myself leaning into Court’s chest. The warmth is inviting, but I cannot impose. As I attempt to slide past him, I stumble, and Court places his hands on my shoulders, holding me against him while we watch, along with the others, Cal and Vera walk out of the living room.

The touch of Court’s fingers, and the fact that he didn’t introduce me as his children’s nanny, have me wondering what is going through Court’s mind.

THE BIG HOUSE echoes the silence of the night as I stand in the kitchen drinking a glass of water while Court settles the girls in bed.

After an afternoon of a host of outdoor games, the Treyhune clan cleaned up for a massive dinner. The guys cooked on the grill while the women made a slew of cold salads and iced tea sweet enough to cause several cavities. Now, everyone has gone, leaving only Court, Team Twin and myself to stay at Cal and Vera’s house. Even though the place is huge, I can’t help but feel comfortable in it as I see family pictures everywhere. Knickknacks the kids have made for their grandma and grandpa are displayed proudly on tables as if they were high-dollar art pieces.

No one tiptoes around this place. The kids barrel through the halls and staircases like they are at an amusement park.

Life is lived here.

It’s not a façade.

“I hope we didn’t overwhelm you today.”

Vera’s voice startles me.

She opens the refrigerator and pours herself a glass of milk.

“No. Everyone is so nice.”

“It’s easy to be nice to someone who is nice in return. Everyone likes you.”

She sits at the breakfast area table, and it seems like it would be rude for me to walk away. Yet, maybe she wants to be alone and it would be rude for me to stay.

“Sit.”

Her sweet voice settles my dilemma, and grabbing my glass I join her.

I can tell this thing with Cal is tiring her as her eyes don’t have the same life to them as they did last week when I first met her. It looks like she’s dropped some weight as well, weight she couldn’t afford to lose.

“So, tell me. Are you more than the nanny?”

My face heats at her question. “No.”

“Damn, I mean darn.”

We both laugh at her intentional way of bringing humor into the room.

“I want to see my son happy and sharing his life with someone. Someone who truly loves him. This thing with Cal proves how we must live every day to its fullest potential.”

“I’m sure Court will meet someone eventually.”

She keeps one hand around her glass, the other taps the side of it like she’s playing a piano. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you? You’re an intelligent, pretty gal. Good with the girls. What more could he want?”

Somebody he loves and who loves him back is what I’m thinking.

She pats the top of my hand. “It’s okay. It’s a rhetorical question. I can see your wheels spinning trying to think of an answer that won’t encourage or offend me.”

“It’s just—”

“I know,” she interrupts. “I’m tired and overthinking everything. I probably should catch some sleep while Cal is. The problem is my mind stays awake, reliving everything that has happened.”

I point to her glass. “Maybe you can warm your milk. I’ve heard that will make you sleep.”

Vera grimaces, still managing to look beautiful. “Tried that last night. Tasted awful and didn’t work.”