Lakeside Hero (Men Of Millbrook Lake Book 1) (13 page)

Alec had been chasing his father’s broad shadow for most of his life. And he’s been hiding behind a facade that wasn’t about scars and healing.

He
was
afraid. Afraid of love, afraid of coming out of the shadows and really finding the unconditional love that only the Lord could supply.

He thought of Marla and her little girl, his heart hurting when he remembered how frightened Gabby had been to see him with her mother.

Alec held that same fright but he was willing to fight for a woman like Marla. In order to do that, he’d have to step out and find that light that would shine deep into his soul, where the real scars still festered.

He wanted to tell Marla that he understood now.

He truly understood.

But she’d probably never want to deal with him again.

Unless he could find a way to prove to her that he needed to heal completely before he could love completely.

Chapter Seventeen

M
arla went back over what the therapist had taught her about introducing Gabby to new situations. It had worked when the therapist had guided them through some role-playing. She prayed it would work now. “Remember, honey, we might see some big people today. People besides Pawpaw and Memaw and your teachers at preschool and church school.”

“Who?” Gabby played with her new stuffed dog. Another suggestion from her therapist to help her feel safe.

“Remember Mr. Dipsey? He looks a lot like Santa, right?”

Gabby nodded and stuck her lip out in a frowning pout. “He rides a cart like Pawpaw but he tried to tickle me.”

“Yes, and he wants to wave to you—not tickle you—so you and Pawpaw and Memaw are going for a ride around the neighborhood. You’ll be safe with Pawpaw. I want you to wave to Mr. Dipsey. He’s a Pawpaw, too. He has three grandchildren.”

“Do they like him?”

Marla stared down at Gabby’s big, trusting brown eyes. “They love him in the same way you love Pawpaw.” She touched a hand to Gabby’s hair. “Do you think you could smile and wave to Mr. Dipsey without getting upset or scared? He’s a really nice man.”

“I’ll try.”

That was better than running to her bed and hiding her face. Marla breathed a sigh of relief and prayed this would work. Mom had already been practicing, now with Marla’s permission, but after that episode with Alec, Marla knew if she ever wanted to move on she had to help her daughter do the same.

Gabby deserved to know love and happiness when she got older. Marla intended to show her both so they could perhaps move on to the puppy therapy Alec had suggested.

“The puppy therapy works in most cases,” Gabby’s counselor had told Marla at their last appointment. “If you want her to meet this new man in your life, you need him and the puppy in the same room. When Gabby sees the puppy, she’ll trust the animal first. But she’ll warm up to your friend, too, if things go the way they should.”

“And what if they don’t?”

“We keep trying,” the therapist replied. “Just have your friend stand back and stay quiet for a while. Then you can engage him in conversation about the animal. Gabby will decide if she can trust him or not and when that time comes, you’ll know by the way she reacts whether it’s working or not.”

Marla wanted to keep trying—and not just because she wanted to spend more time with Alec. Meeting him had certainly been the catalyst that had woken her up to her own needs, but she’d tried several different forms of therapy with her daughter to help Gabby overcome her anxieties. Some had worked, and some needed more time and patience—she was afraid the dog therapy might be one of those. But time and patience could work in her favor, too. She had to be sure about Alec, about taking on a puppy and about protecting and encouraging her daughter.

Mom came into the bedroom where Gabby and Marla sat. “Ready for our special ride?”

Gabby hopped up and grabbed her little stuffed dog. “Barky is going with us.”

“Barky.” Mom shrugged at Marla. “I love that name.”

“He really barks.” Gabby pushed at Barky’s belly and the little dog made a
woof, woof
sound.

“And so he does,” Mom said, her smile full of reassurance. “You can make him bark at Mr. Dipsey. He might fall out of his golf cart.”

Gabby giggled and hugged Barky close. “I wish Barky was real.”

Mom gave Marla a hopeful glance.

“How would you like a real puppy?” Marla ventured, her heart bumping into a jitter.

“I’d love it!” Gabby jumped up and down, threw her stuffed puppy in the air and then caught him again.

Marla leaned down to her level. “I know a very nice man who might be able to let you play with a special puppy.”

Gabby’s eyes widened, fright evident in her expression. “A scary man?”

“No,” Marla replied. “You saw him here the other night. He was hugging me, remember?”

Gabby shook her head. “I don’t like that man.”

Mom tried. “Gabby, that man was hugging Mommy because we’d all been so worried about Pawpaw. He helped get Pawpaw out of that bad storm. He’s a very kind man who would never do anything to hurt Mommy or you. He takes care of other people and helps them find good doggies to protect them and love them. And he knows all about puppies and how to help little girls.”

Gabby held Barky tight and shook her head. “I don’t know if I want to see that man again.”

“It’s all right, honey,” Marla said. “You don’t have to do anything that you don’t like.” Then she remembered what she had to do. “But Mr. Dipsey is safe and friendly. So you need to learn to speak to him and at least greet him with a smile.”

Mom took Gabby by the hand. “Let’s go. We don’t want to miss letting Barky woof at Mr. Dipsey. He’ll ride by and wave but we aren’t going to talk to him at all.” Then she leaned down. “I’ll tell you more about Alec. He’s the nice man who might be able to find you a cute
real
puppy. But we have to try not to be upset with him.”

Marla watched as they hurried out and held her hands across her stomach. She’d tried so hard to be patient. They’d nurtured Gabby through the past year with lots of hugs and reassurances, but while her parents had encouraged Gabby to heal, Marla knew she’d held back, afraid of pushing Gabby too fast.

What if Gabby never healed? What if her daughter had anxieties the rest of her life because of one incident that she could never fully understand?

I have to trust in the Lord
, she reminded herself.

She’d decided that and she’d stick to it. But Marla also knew that the Lord needed her to do her part. And that meant gently pushing Gabby to be brave and to find the good in people.

Including Alec Caldwell.

* * *

Alec went back over the floor plans for what would become the Alexander and Vivian Caldwell Canines Service Dog Association. The architect had done a good job of accessing the building and the acreage behind it.

“Paul, could we add a few more dorm rooms?” Alec asked, turning to his friend. “I want as many veterans and others in need as possible to be able to stay here while they train with their animals. We’ll need easy accessibility for those with disabilities, too, of course.”

Paul Whitman was in his late forties and married with four daughters. He laughed and nodded. “I know all about dorm rooms, Alec. Two in high school and two in grad school.”

Alec patted Paul on the back. “I admire you. And that’s why I hired you.”

Paul made some notes on his electronic pad. “Girls are hard to learn, Alec. A lot of drama there.”

“I can only imagine.” Alec pushed away thoughts of Marla and how undramatic she was. He had work to do, and he intended to keep busy day and night so he wouldn’t think about the woman who’d come into his life in such a soft, stealthy way.

Holding the remains of a wedding cake.

But not wanting to ever walk down the aisle with anyone again.

He’d been abrupt with her the last time they’d talked and now he regretted that with the same intensity Paul would probably regret going shoe shopping with his daughters. Alec didn’t know how to fix things between Marla and him. Maybe things couldn’t be fixed or didn’t need to be fixed. He’d see her at the gala in a couple of weeks, so he’d steel himself against not seeing her a minute before.

But when he heard a female laugh echoing throughout the empty open building, his heart did a little bump that only reinforced how much he missed Marla. He whirled from the foldout table where the blueprints were spread and glanced toward the glass doors at the front of the long building.

High heels clipped against the concrete.

“Alec, darling, there you are.”

So not Marla.

“Hey, Annabelle,” Paul said before giving Alec a quick questioning glance. “How ya doing, kiddo?”

“I’m fine,” Annabelle said through the fog of a sweetly scented floral perfume. She gave Paul a chaste hug and then opened her arms wide toward Alec. “So good to see you again. I see our little project is coming to fruition. I’m so excited about being a part of this.”

Alec tried to form both a smile and a thought, but Annabelle just kept right on talking. “When I saw your cars here, I just had to stop by and see how things are progressing. The buzz is that this gala will be
the
event of the summer. I can’t wait to see the invitations.”

Alec didn’t miss the hint of suggestion in that assumption. He’d have to invite the woman since she’d helped him broker the sale, but he dreaded that shrill, exaggerated drawl moving through the crowd all night. He tried not to compare this stunning woman to Marla. But there was no comparison in his mind. Marla was pretty, sweet and unassuming.

And in spite of what he had thought or believed about himself before, he liked those qualities. Because meeting Marla had shown him a different kind of woman.

“Alec?”

He came out of his dreams and saw Annabelle staring at him with a fixed smile on her red lips. “I do hope I get to dance with you at the gala.”

“The dance floor will be open,” he said. “I have someone working on finding a good jazz ensemble.”

“Jazz?” She made a face. “I like fast music.”

Paul gave Alec what might have been a sympathetic glance but refrained from joining the conversation.

Alec chuckled and tugged at his ear. “I’ll make sure we include a few upbeat numbers.” Then he gently took Annabelle by her skinny elbow. “Was there any other reason you stopped by?”

If his question stung, she recovered quickly. “Do I have to have a reason? I wondered if you’d be at the Rotary Club lunch.” Her blue-eyed gaze fluttered like a butterfly over Paul and Alec. “You know how I hate being one of the few females there.”

“I hope to be there, yes. Paul and I both plan on attending.”

“Good. Then I can sit between y’all.”

Paul started rolling up blueprints. “I’ll get right on these changes, Alec. Got to get back to the office and handle some other pressing matters. Annabelle, always good to see you.”

Coward. Alec shook Paul’s hand and thanked him. After his friend left, he turned back to Annabelle. “It was nice to see you today. I have a lunch meeting, so let me escort you out.”

“I was hoping
we
could have lunch,” Annabelle said, her blond curls reminding him of fingers curling toward him.

“I’m sorry. I can’t make it today. This project has me running twenty-four-seven.”

“So I hear,” she said on a tight little note. “Running by the pastry shop or out to the retirement village. Who in the world do you know at those boring old places, anyway?”

Enough was enough.

“And who in the world would bother gossiping to you about both of those places?”

She looked shocked. “I hear things. See things. Think things.”

“Then maybe you should become more like the three little monkeys. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.”

“What are you implying, Alec Caldwell?”

“I’m not implying anything except this, Annabelle— I don’t listen to gossip and I don’t like gossip. It’s especially annoying and unbecoming from such a lovely person. You’re above that kind of behavior, surely?”

Annabelle wasn’t sure how to answer that so she just giggled. “Of course. It’s just that, well, you know—that Hamilton woman isn’t used to moving in Caldwell circles.”

Alec’s pulse paced in much the same way it had whenever he’d been in the middle of combat. His aunt had a saying that there were all kinds of enemies in this world and some of them smiled when they went in for the kill. Annabelle was certainly doing that right now.

“Marla Hamilton is a good friend of mine and she’s also helping with some of the food for the gala. You should consider using her services at the next Realtors meeting at the chamber of commerce. The best cookies and cupcakes in the world.”

“I’ll try to remember that.” Annabelle tugged at her heavy purse and fluffed her hair. “Got to go. If you won’t have lunch with me, I guess it will be another salad at my desk. I’ve sworn off sweets.”

Ouch. The claws were out.

Alec watched as she strolled out the door with her pride still very much intact. He was proud of himself for not escorting her out and locking the door behind her. At least this time, Marla hadn’t seen Annabelle hugging him close.

Not that it mattered, really. After the gala he’d probably never see Marla that much again. She’d be done with him. But that didn’t mean he could go back to a woman like Annabelle, either.

“I’m spoiled,” Alec mumbled to himself as he moved through the location that would become a big part of his future. He longed to call Marla and tell her about all his plans. He wanted to stop by the bakery and get some cookies for dessert or maybe order a sandwich made with freshly baked bread.

He
was
spoiled. He would never swear off sweets again.

But Alec knew Marla needed time. He knew this from his own experience with a traumatic event. It had taken him a long time to reach out to others, to get up and clean up and put on a suit and tie and begin the work his mother had left for him to do.

Did you know, Mother? Did you know I’d need something to make me whole again?

His mother might have left Alec a legacy, but Vivian Caldwell had no idea that he’d found something—someone—much more important than any legacy he could cultivate.

He’d found a woman who understood what it was like to do something good with your life. A woman with whom he could build something solid and strong. Marla.

If only he could help her find her own path to healing.