Making His Way Home (9 page)

The best way.

Grace realized she’d said the words out loud when Kate’s gaze cut back to her. “What are you thinking?” she demanded.

“I think—” Abby moved closer, a smile spreading across her face “—Grace is thinking the same thing
I’m
thinking.”

“Here we go.” Alex looked up at the heavens, as if appealing for help.

Quinn shrugged. “I’m in.”

“Jake and I will tell the rest of the group.” Emma turned around and started back down the path.

“Tell them what?”

Grace saw the confused look on Cole’s face and almost felt sorry for him. “There’s been a slight change in plans.”

“We’re going to put our own, to use the mayor’s term,
unique,
spin on the shelter,” Kate added.

Cole looked at Grace for a translation.

“We’re still going to build a shelter, but it’s going to be big enough for all of us. And we’re going to pool our resources and build it together.”

As if on cue, the rest of the couples began to show up.

“Okay, people!” Kate hopped up on a tree stump. “We’ve got less than an hour. Guys, start looking for downed trees. The girls will collect branches. We can put them over Cole and Grace’s tarp to make a roof.”

“Are you sure this is okay?” Haylie Owens cast a worried look at the older adults in the circle. “I mean, the mayor didn’t say we could work together.”

“No, but he didn’t say we couldn’t, either.” Grace reached out and squeezed the girl’s hand. “Two are better than one...”

“Because they have a good return for their work.” Haylie finished the rest of the sentence. “That was our memory verse last week!”

“Right.” Grace was pleased she remembered. “And I’d say Ecclesiastes 4:9 trumps the mayor’s rules. So tell Rob we need your hatchet.”

“Haylie has a point,” Cole said in a low voice. “Doesn’t this defeat the whole purpose of the competition? If we pitch in and build a shelter together, who wins?”

Grace couldn’t help but smile at the question.

“All of us.”

Chapter Twelve

“I
t looks like you and Grace are getting along pretty well.”

Cole, who’d been tying branches together with the twine that Emma and Jake Sutton had donated to the cause, paused to look up at Kate.

He smiled. “She’s been great.”

Kate, for once, didn’t smile back.

“I talked to Sissy a few minutes ago. She mentioned that you have a meeting with her Monday morning.”

It suddenly occurred to Cole that Grace’s friend hadn’t stopped to make small talk.

He rocked back on his heels. “That’s right.”

“I didn’t realize you’d planned to sell the property.”

“Why would I keep it? It’s not like I have good memories of the place.” Cole regretted the words as soon as they slipped out of his mouth.

Why had he mentioned that? It wasn’t as if he and the café owner were friends.

Kate regarded him evenly. “You could make some.”

“I have other plans.”

“I realize that. Now.” Kate glanced over her shoulder and dropped her voice a notch. “We all love Grace. I can’t tell you how many families she’s helped over the years.”

Cole thought of the way Logan and Tori Gardner had run up to Grace and hugged her when they’d arrived at the park earlier that morning. The way Cody had perked up under the warmth of her smile.

“She’s good at taking care of people.”

“Around here, we take care of each other.”

Cole understood.

“The way you’re taking care of Grace right now?”

“Yes.” Kate didn’t look the least bit guilty.

“We’re spending a few hours together. That’s it.” But even as Cole said the words, he wondered if he was being completely honest with himself.

“That’s what I’m worried about,” Kate said frankly. “You don’t know Grace. She doesn’t date very much. If anyone even tries to set her up with a friend or a brother or somebody’s second cousin, she practically runs screaming in the opposite direction.”

Cole might have thought she was exaggerating if he hadn’t remembered the conversation he’d overheard between the two men standing next to him at the box social. The guy in the purple tie had mentioned that Grace had turned him down multiple times. She had always been on the shy side, but now she seemed...guarded.

“Grace has always been a private person, but this is different,” Kate said, almost as if she’d read his mind.
Scary.
“But we figure some obnoxious jerk broke her heart in college and she isn’t in a big hurry to jump into another relationship. Alex and I would hate to see her hurt again.”

Cole would have been amused by the warning if he hadn’t known that Porter possessed the ways and means—and personality—to make a person’s life very uncomfortable if he set his mind to it.

“Grace and I are...teammates.” At this point, Cole wasn’t even sure if he could claim they were friends.

“Uh-huh.” Kate looked skeptical. “I recognize the signs and—”

“What signs?” Cole interrupted.

“You know. She looks at you when you aren’t looking. You look at her when she isn’t looking. Those kind of signs.”

Cole glanced in Grace’s direction and saw her deep in conversation with Jenna and Abby. A conversation Kate must have set up to keep Grace distracted until her lecture ended.

Grace’s gaze suddenly shifted away from Jenna and locked with his. Across the distance that separated them, he saw her lips curve in a smile, one that warmed Cole from the inside out.

He couldn’t help but return it.

“Teammates.” Kate rolled her eyes. “Right.”

“What are you two talking about?” Grace was suddenly right there in front of him, a bundle of pine boughs cradled in her arms.

Kate didn’t miss a beat. “How protective Alex can be when it comes to the people he cares about.”

“That’s true,” Grace said. “Just ask Quinn. And Abby. And Jenna...never mind. There isn’t time to list them all.”

Cole suppressed a smile, glad to know that Grace had such loyal friends. She belonged here, in Mirror Lake, part of a close-knit community that looked out for one another.

He belonged in Madison.

But suddenly the thought of returning to his empty home, something Cole had patiently waited twelve years for, didn’t seem as appealing as it had twenty-four hours ago.

Rob loped past, dragging another log as a group of his friends shouted encouragement. More people had gathered to watch when it became clear the couples had decided to join forces for the final challenge.

Abby O’Halloran had spoken to Faye McAllister and Cole had seen the woman leading the mayor away from the campsites. He could only assume she’d joined the conspiracy.

As the final minutes ticked by, one of the teenage boys had started shouting out a final countdown.

“Almost finished,” Haylie sang out.

“Finally.” Alex cuffed Cole on the shoulder as he strode past. “Then it’s back to business as usual.”

Cole released a slow breath, knowing he should probably thank the guy for the reminder.

* * *

For some reason, Grace couldn’t quite meet the mayor’s eyes as he walked past her, hands clasped behind his back.

Probably because she felt like a student about to be chastised for not turning in her homework assignment on time.

“I’m not sure how to declare a winner,” Mayor Dodd finally said. “Because all of you technically completed the same shelter.”

She knew she should probably feel guilty for not following directions, but the feeling of satisfaction that came when she looked at the shelter was stronger.

It had a roof, four walls and a slightly crooked front door. And thanks to Daniel Redstone, it even had a window. On the sill, a delicate breeze ruffled the bouquet of daisies and brown-eyed Susans sprouting from the top of Abby’s coffeepot.

Grace thought the flowers were a particularly nice touch.

“I wasn’t expecting my contestants to break the rules, but—” Mayor Dodd’s mustache twitched “—I should have known it would happen. Because the same thing happened a hundred and twenty-five years ago.

“The people who settled Mirror Lake were strong. Creative. Disciplined. Independent. But they also knew when to lean on each other, the way everyone did today. That’s the reason they were successful. It’s the reason our little town thrived. It’s the reason it continues to thrive.”

Tears misted Grace’s eyes, and she found herself wishing she’d worn her bonnet.

Maybe no one would notice...

A warm hand wrapped around hers.

Cole had noticed. Which only caused the pressure against the back of her eyes to increase.

“Now then.” The mayor tugged at the brim of his hat. “Esther and Daniel Redstone were the winners of the breakfast competition and will receive a brand-new cast-iron skillet, a generous donation from our local hardware store.” He waited for the applause to die down. “The grand prize for today’s competition, a romantic dinner for two at Abby’s bed-and-breakfast, was supposed to be awarded to the couple who finished all three challenges first. Unfortunately—” he frowned down at them, but there was no mistaking the twinkle in his eyes “—it looks like I will have to offer an alternative prize instead, because there are obviously more than two winners.”

A collective groan of disappointment rose from the ranks.

“Wait a second!” Kate stepped out of line and flew to the man’s side. The mayor angled his head while she whispered something in his ear.

When Kate returned to her place next to Alex, she was smiling.

“I have just been informed it will be dinner for sixteen. Next Saturday night.”

Applause erupted around them, but Grace couldn’t look at Cole. She was sure he’d rather have an oil change or even an ice-cream cone. Because he wouldn’t be in Mirror Lake next weekend.

If the sale of the property went through as quickly as he hoped, he wouldn’t be coming back at all.

* * *

A dinner date.

Cole glanced at Grace, but she was putting on the bonnet again, her head bent while she fussed with the strings so he couldn’t read her expression.

“You’re all invited to join us at Abby’s bed-and-breakfast at five o’clock for games and an old-fashioned ice-cream social, followed by fireworks at dusk,” the mayor added. “I’ll see you there!”

“I guess this is where we part ways. I have to hitch B.C. up for the one-o’clock tour,” Grace said, so quickly that it sounded as if she’d rehearsed the words.

“We came together,” Cole reminded her, “in my car.”

“Kate invited me to have lunch with her and Alex. She offered to drive me home.”

Of course. Now that Kate had discovered he wasn’t planning to stick around Mirror Lake, she wanted to keep him as far from Grace as possible.

Cole wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or appreciative.

He took the high road and chose door number two. But it didn’t stop him from lingering a moment, giving Grace the opportunity to invite him to join her and her friends for lunch.

“I’ll make sure no one disturbs you when we tour the cabin and the property. I know you have a lot of work to do.”

Yes, he did. And the sooner he finished it, the better.

“I’ll see you later, then.”

Grace didn’t respond, proof that she planned to keep her distance now that the competition was officially over.

“Congratulations!”

Cole turned toward the lilting voice, grateful for the interruption. One more second and he would have said something stupid. Like, “Are you going to the fireworks tonight?” Followed by, “Do you want to go with
me?
”

A couple was walking toward them, hand in hand. The woman broke away from her companion long enough to reel Grace in for a quick hug and then turned to Cole.

“You’re still here,” she announced. “I shouldn’t be surprised, though. That seems to happen a lot.”

Behind him, Cole thought he heard Grace...squeak.

He tried to match a name to the face. “Zoey, right?”

“You have a good memory.”

Sometimes too good, Cole thought ruefully. He wasn’t sure if it was the sweet fragrance of the summer morning, the familiar surroundings or spending a few hours in Grace’s company. But whatever it was, he was beginning to feel as if he’d fallen through a crack in time.

If you aren’t careful, that’s not all you’ll be falling for.

He did his best to ignore the teasing inner voice.

“This is my husband, Matthew.” Zoey linked arms with the man standing patiently at her side. “Matt, Cole Merrick.”

“Cole.” Matt reached out and gripped his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Really?” Cole cast a sideways glance at Grace. Twin spots of color rose in her cheeks like flags.

“From your grandfather.” To his credit, Matt didn’t crack a smile. “I was given the opportunity to get to know Sloan while he was in the hospital.”

Cole thought that was a strange way to put it.

“You’re a doctor?”

“Pastor.”

Cole frowned. Sloan had been deeply suspicious of people who talked openly about things like faith. And new beginnings.

He had discovered that information the hard way when he’d written his grandfather a letter several months after his family left Mirror Lake. Taking Grace’s words about forgiveness to heart, Cole decided that holding on to bitterness would only drain the energy he needed to take care of his sister and brothers. The letter had been one more attempt to make things right. To honor his father’s memory.

It had been returned a few days later, unopened.

“Matt’s the one who started the mentoring ministry I told you about.” Grace joined the conversation for the first time.

“It was God’s idea,” Matt said with an easy smile. “We just listened, took notes and did what He said.”

“From what Grace told me, it’s helped a lot of kids.”

The pastor regarded him thoughtfully. “We’re always looking for volunteers.”

“Cole isn’t staying in Mirror Lake,” Grace said. “He’s only here to meet with Sissy about selling a piece of property.”

A few days ago, when Iola had found the letter from Kate, Cole had been convinced that was the only reason God had brought him to Mirror Lake. But over the past few hours, things had gotten a little confusing.

The feelings Grace stirred inside him were confusing.

Matt’s smiled faded a little. “You already decided to sell?”

Why, Cole thought irritably, was everyone so surprised by his decision?

He waited to see if Grace would jump into the conversation again. But no, this time it appeared she was going to let him have the honor of explaining.

“Yes.” It was the only thing he could say without launching into a list of reasons he didn’t plan to keep his grandfather’s home.

A list he couldn’t come up with at the moment.

An awkward silence descended.

“We’re having an open-air service at the bed-and-breakfast tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.” Zoey tried to jump-start the conversation with a warm smile. “You’re more than welcome to join us, Cole.”

Cole glanced at Grace. “Do I escort you there, too?”

Zoey chuckled, but even though Grace smiled, it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“No,” she murmured. “That’s one thing we aren’t obligated to attend together.”

It wasn’t the first time Grace had used that particular word but somehow, it no longer described the way he was feeling.

And if that wasn’t enough of a reason to politely decline Zoey and Matt’s invitation, he didn’t know what was.

“Thanks,” he heard himself say. “I’ll be there.”