Bachelor to the Rescue (15 page)

An odd rush of excitement made her light-headed. She stood, removing the paper from the envelope and studied it. Seeing their names on a very official-looking marriage license caused an odd tightness in her throat. “It looks real.”

“It is. The document, I mean. It wouldn't be honored if we presented it at the courthouse, but it's on official paper.”

“Do I want to know how you did this?”

“Nothing illegal, I promise.”

Lainie prayed the ruse would convince her mother-in-law that she and Shaw were serious and able to provide a stable home for the girls. A wave of fear increased her heart rate. She pressed her hands to her face. “Oh, Shaw! What if she wants to take my girls?”

He pulled her against his chest. “I won't let anyone take those girls from you. I promise.”

She wiggled out of his arms. No need to torment herself with something that couldn't be. “I'm sorry. You have enough on your plate without worrying about my problems.”

“We're getting close. Everything should be done for the inspection tomorrow. Let's pray the inspector shows up on time.”

“This is nerve-racking. I can feel the clock ticking in the back of my mind. One for the library and one for my future.”

“Hang in there.” He held up the envelope, smiling confidently. “We have some ammunition.”

His plan was outrageous, and she should never have agreed to it. “Don't take this the wrong way, but I hope we don't have to use that.”

“Right. Me, too. We'll wait and see what she wants before we produce our evidence.”

* * *

Friday afternoon slipped away, adding further to Lainie's frustration. She'd planned on going to Dutch's warehouse to check on the shipments of furniture that had been arriving. She needed to make sure each piece was what she'd ordered, but there hadn't been time. Between her injured arm and the flood, she'd fallen over a week behind. She was trusting that none of the deliveries were wrong.

She and Millie had decided they'd make do as best they could. The library was required to have furniture and books in place. Blake had checked, and nothing in the specifications mentioned anything about being completely furnished and stocked. Thank God for loopholes.

Still, there was so much to do in only two days, and she was beginning to lose hope. She kept up a confident face for Millie and Shaw, but inside, her heart was breaking. She didn't see any way it would happen.

The last thing she needed was a visit from her mother-in-law. In her present state of mind, Lainie wasn't sure she could maintain a civil attitude with the woman.

Millie joined her at the computer. “How's it going?” She looked at the box of newly scanned library cards, then flipped the edges of the stack of applications still waiting to be entered into the computer. “You want me to do this for a while? I'm waiting for Dutch to bring a few more boxes.”

Lainie opened her mouth to reply when her cell rang. She scooped it up, her heart turning to ice when she saw the name Hollingsworth. Craig's real last name. Her mother-in-law was here. Paralyzed with fear, she stared at the name. Her whole life could change with this one call. She pushed the button and muttered a soft hello. She closed her eyes as the voice on the other end spoke. Heart pounding, she kept her responses short. Her hand trembled as she ended the call.

“Well?” Millie asked. “Was that her?”

“She's coming by this evening. What if she wants to take my children away?”

“Don't go borrowing trouble. Didn't Shaw say he'd be with you when you met her?”

She nodded, pacing the small work area. She wasn't sure she wanted Shaw with her now. She'd become too dependent on him, too quick to turn to him to fix things. She needed to face this woman on her own and let her know she was willing to fight for her family no matter what. If things became contentious, she'd call Shaw, and they'd present the evidence of their intentions. And dare her to challenge it.

“I've got to go.” She grabbed her purse and headed out. She pulled into the driveway at home with no recollection of having driven there. Inside, she flitted from one task to the next. Straightening the kitchen, checking her makeup, wondering whether to leave the girls at Gwen's while the woman was here or have them with her. What was the right thing to do?

She picked up her cell to call Shaw and let him know, only to put it down again. She could do this. She was grateful for his help and his crazy marriage license plan—though she still doubted it would work—but she had to do this alone. She would show Mrs. Hollingsworth she was a strong, capable woman who wasn't easily intimidated, and who could handle anything life threw at her. But what she really wanted was to call Shaw and have him come and hold her and assure her everything would be all right.

Her gaze landed on her Bible lying open on the kitchen table. But it wasn't Shaw's strength she should be seeking. Sinking onto the chair, she clasped her hands and bowed her head.
Forgive me Father for my fear and doubt. For borrowing trouble. I am a good mother, a woman of faith. Give me courage and strength to face this woman. I know You'll work it out for good.

The fear eased as she prayed, and her courage grew. She made her decision. She would bring the girls home from Gwen's, tell them a little about their visitor, then face whatever was to come.

A short while later, Lainie was prepared. The girls were playing in the Princess Club, the house was straightened and everyone was presentable. There was nothing more she could do. According to the clock, Mrs. Hollingsworth should be arriving any minute. Panic rose and clogged her throat, flooding her mind. She couldn't do this alone. She couldn't. Grabbing her phone, she dialed Shaw's number, gasping small breaths of air as she waited. Why didn't he answer? She heard the click in her ear and didn't wait for him to speak.

“She's here. She'll be at the house any second now.”

“Why didn't you call me?”

“I thought I could do it alone, but I'm scared.”

“It'll be okay. Stay calm. I'm in Sawyer's Bend. I had to pick up some hardware. I'm on my way. Stall her as best you can.”

Lainie hung up the phone, feeling abandoned and defeated. Sawyer's Bend. It would take him twenty minutes or more to get here.
Lord forgive me for being so weak.

Opening her apartment door, she stepped into the hall to watch out the front door for her mother-in-law's arrival. The silver car pulled to a stop at the curb in the front of the house. A woman got out and started up the sidewalk. Through the leaded glass panes, it was impossible to see what she looked like. With one more heartfelt prayer, Lainie opened the door at the first knock.

The woman she saw was nothing like what she'd expected. She'd envisioned Craig's mother as tall and thin with a superior glare and impeccably groomed. But this woman was medium height, slightly plump, with gray hair and a pleasant face.

Lainie cleared her throat. “Mrs. Hollingsworth. Won't you come in?”

“Thank you.” She stepped into the foyer and glanced around, her expression puzzled.

Lainie squelched the urge to explain about the old house. She motioned her toward the door on her side of the house.

Mrs. Hollingsworth stopped inside the living room and faced her. “You're Lainie? My son's wife.”

“Yes.”

“You're not what I expected.” She raised her hand. “That came out wrong. I had formed a picture of you in my mind as cool and aloof, but I can see you're nothing like that.”

Lainie wasn't sure what to make of her comment. “Won't you sit down?”

“Mommy?”

She'd almost forgotten about the girls. “Mrs. Hollingsworth, these are my daughters, Natalie and Chrissy.”

Mrs. Hollingsworth's eyes grew moist. “Hello. I've waited a long time to meet you.”

The girls eyed the woman suspiciously, staying close to Lainie's side. “Girls, go back and play while Mrs. Hollingsworth and I talk.”

Once they were settled on the sofa, Lainie decided to take command. “I have a lot of questions, Mrs. Hollingsworth. The main one being, what do you want here?”

“I wanted to meet my grandchildren and my daughter-in-law.”

“Is that all? Because if you've come to try and take my girls away, I will fight you with everything I have.”

Mrs. Hollingsworth's face pressed into a deep frown. “I have no desire to do that. Whatever gave you such an idea?”

“Craig. He said if you ever tracked him down, and found out about our children, you'd stop at nothing to get them.”

Her mother-in-law hastily pulled a tissue from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “I was afraid this might happen, but I'd hoped...” She composed herself. “What did my son tell you about his father and me?”

Her husband's warnings echoed inside her head, but she was finding it hard to apply them to this woman. “That you lied to him. That he cut all ties and never wanted to have anything to do with you. That's why he changed his name. He didn't want you to track him down and force yourselves into our lives. He would get very angry when he spoke of you, though he mentioned you only a couple times when we were married.”

Mrs. Hollingsworth nodded, her hands twisting the tissue into knots. “I'd hoped he'd come to understand. But I think I knew when I learned he'd changed his name he would never forgive us.” She glanced at the girls before going on. “My husband and I couldn't have children so we adopted Craig when he was three months old. We adored him and probably spoiled him more than we should have. We always planned to tell him he was adopted, but the time was never right and the years passed. When he graduated from high school, we realized we needed to let him know. He didn't take it well. He was furious. We tried to explain, but he was so angry. He said some horrible things to us, and then he left. We tried to find him, but we couldn't keep track. We finally gave up, hoping someday he would come to understand.”

“I had no idea. He never said anything.” Lainie could easily see her husband holding a grudge. He harbored resentment too long. “How did you find us?”

“From time to time, we'd hire a detective to search for him. One of them discovered he'd changed his name. It helped narrow the search.” She smiled. “I'm so glad to have found you. You're lovely. I'm sure my son loved you very much.”

“He did. And his daughter. Chrissy was born after the accident.”

Mrs. Hollingsworth looked over at the girls playing in the corner. “They are so beautiful. I didn't come here to disrupt your life, only to find you, and ask if perhaps I could come and see you and the children occasionally. They look so much like their father.”

“Yes, they do.” Lainie's fears melted away. Mrs. Hollingsworth was a mother looking to reconnect with her son, and find answers and closure. She understood those things. She'd looked for them as she'd grieved. It would be nice to have a grandmother for the girls.

The familiar rumble of Shaw's truck sounded as he pulled into the driveway. He was coming to rescue her. But she didn't need him to. She had to stop him before he charged in thinking he was saving the day. Their plan would only create confusion and suspicion now.

“Mrs. Hollingsworth, I need to speak to my landlord a moment. If you'll excuse me. Girls, why don't you show Mrs.—” she glanced at the woman and saw hope in her blue eyes “—your grandmother the Princess Club.”

Natalie frowned. “I thought our grandma was in heaven.”

“That was Grandma Denton. My mother. This is your daddy's mother.”

Natalie smiled. “I always wanted a grandma.”

Lainie hurried to the back porch, stopping Shaw as he topped the steps. He grasped her arms, his face filled with concern. “Are you all right? Has she threatened you?”

She placed her hands on his chest. His heart was beating wildly. “No. It's all right. She's a sweet lady and she has no intention of taking my girls.”

“What?”

“I can't explain right now. But it's okay. You can go back to the library. I don't need you, after all.” She pushed away, but Shaw took her arm and stopped her.

“I don't understand.”

“I'll tell you all about it later. Promise.”

Lainie hurried back inside, pausing when she saw her daughters. Mrs. Hollingsworth had pulled up a chair near their little table, and was enjoying a cup of “tea.” The joy on the three faces chased away the last of her fears. Smiling, she joined her family in the Princess Club.

* * *

Shaw stood on the back porch, feeling as if he'd been sucker punched. Lainie didn't need him. He'd rushed in like a white knight only to be told he wasn't wanted. She didn't want help from a man who had made her a widow. She hadn't voiced the words the other day, but he knew what she'd meant to say. He stared at his back door, not knowing whether to go inside or go back to the library. Slowly, he pivoted and headed back to his truck. He was needed at the library. There was still a lot to do before the inspector came. He'd got word from the mayor that the benefactor's representative would be in town in the morning to conduct their own inspection to make sure all points in the bequest had been met.

Inside his cab, he inserted the key in the ignition, then leaned back against the seat. He had a lot of unanswered questions where Lainie and her mother-in-law were concerned, but all that should matter was that the woman wasn't going to try and take Natalie and Chrissy away. Lainie seemed happy, even relaxed. Whatever had happened was a good thing.

So why did he feel so miserable? Lainie was safe, and she'd connected with Craig's family. Shaw could rest easy. He didn't have to be responsible for them any longer. His ego was bruised—that was all. He had arrived, had charged in to save the day and had been dismissed.

“I don't need you.”
Her words pierced deep into his heart. She was turning away from him. Like his mother had. Like Vicki had. He should have expected this. It was the pattern of all his relationships. So why was this time harder than the others? His heart was being shredded into tiny pieces. His blood surged through his veins like they were on fire. His chest was cold and tight, each breath painful.