Song of the Surf (Pacific Shores Book 3) (19 page)

The redhead smiled tentatively. “Thanks.”

Dakota found her feet then and rushed over and pulled Riley into a hug. She wasn’t going to do any asking. “I’ve been praying for you to do that very thing. I’m so happy for you.”

Riley let her cling to her for a moment and then laughed. “There’s more to my story.”

Dakota released her and stepped back. “Right. Tell us.”

“So…um…after I lost…” She laid one hand protectively over her abdomen, but then blinked hard and took a breath as though pushing herself to finish the thought. “The baby. After I lost the baby I was in a bit of a daze, I think. Nate was killed that same night and everything has just been a blur. Both Dakota and Marie were there and urged me to go live at House of Hope. I didn’t have the energy to make any other decisions at that point, so I mostly let other people make the decisions that needed to be made. But the thing is…my family is kind of…rich. I had a falling out with my dad several years ago and, well, we haven’t been on very good terms. But I have an account with some money in it. I haven’t touched it in all these years. But I planned to repay House of Hope once I could get my feet back under me again. And just Sunday while I was at church and thinking about the decision I made Saturday night, I prayed. Well, sort of, it probably wasn’t a very good prayer, but—”

Pastor’s laugh cut her off. “Any time you are talking to God, Riley, it’s a good prayer. Prayer isn’t about being all flowery or pious. It’s about opening yourself up to your Creator, telling Him your needs and desires, and then allowing him to change you. But go on…”

“Well, I told God that in addition to paying back the church, I wanted to use that money to do something good for Him. This would help the church out, give both Dakota and I a place to live, and maybe we could keep using the house to help other people in need?”

Pastor smiled and Dakota felt another bubble of joy welling up in her.

“It will take time for the repairs to be completed,” Pastor cautioned.

Riley only nodded.

“Well then. I don’t see why we can’t take your down payment to the bank and at least offer it to them. I do have to say they might balk because neither of you are currently employed.”

Riley cleared her throat. “Actually. I could pay cash outright.” She hesitated. “And still have money to help us rent a place until the repairs are complete.”

Dakota felt a little flabbergasted. And Pastor Mark looked like he felt the same.

He rubbed one eyebrow. “Well, I don’t want you to rush into this. You could probably find a house in much better shape for maybe just a little more.”

Riley nodded. “Dakota and I will talk.”

Dakota suddenly didn’t care about housing decisions. “Have you told anyone else your good news?”

Riley scrubbed one toe into the carpet and tightened her lips against a smile. “Not yet.”

Dakota grinned. “We should go out and tell them. Everyone is going to be so happy for you.”

“Thrilled!” Pastor Mark smiled. “Riley we have a class for new believers at church that I’d like to talk about getting you into, but”—he glanced at his watch— “for now I need to run to an appointment. I’ll leave you girls to talk.” With that he exited the room and shut the door behind him.

On the heels of such good news, Dakota dreaded what she knew she needed to do next as she stepped across the room. “I need to talk to you about something, actually. I’m sorry I sort of fell apart on you the other night, but I’d like to tell you why.”

Riley frowned and folded her arms. “You said you were the girl on the bike?”

“Yes. I was still in high school at the time. My boyfriend’s name, as you probably know, was Jason Murton. I was supposed to go back to Africa the next day and just wanted a few more minutes with him. He didn’t want to go because we only had the one helmet, but I talked him into it.” Dakota massaged her fingers over the tension in her forehead. “So…in a way…it’s my fault what happened to Nate. If I hadn’t pushed so hard for Jason to take me to Shady Shore…” Tears pricked the backs of her eyes. “Lots might be different today. Your baby—”

Before Dakota knew what was happening, Riley had gripped her gently but firmly by the shoulders. “Nate’s actions are not your fault, Dakota. He was already on the edge. Anything could have pushed him over. And the truth is, much of what he did was probably my fault.”

Dakota gripped her friend’s forearms. “No, Riley. You can’t believe that!”

Riley pulled back with a knowing look and clunked their casts together. “Exactly my point. We’re quite the pair I guess, huh?”

Dakota shook her finger at her. “You are slick. Okay, I take your point. But I can’t help but feel partially responsible.”

Riley nibbled on her thumbnail. “I totally understand that. Maybe we are, in part. I know I feel that way all the time. I lost my baby because I stayed with Nate. Just like you probably wonder what life might be like if you hadn’t talked Jason into that drive, I wonder what life would be like if I’d just left Nate like so many people told me I should. If I had, my baby might still be alive. Or if I hadn’t moved in with him in the first place I could have saved myself years of anguish.” Her voice emerged on a choked whisper. “I wish and wish and wish, but I can’t go back and change the decision I made. And I always come back to the realization that Nate has to bear most of the blame.”

“I totally know that feeling.” Dakota squeezed Riley’s arms. “We can only go forward and with God’s help, make better decisions next time. But I need you to know that if I could go back and change the decision I made, I would. I hope you can forgive me for the part I played in Nate’s degradation.”

Riley nodded. “Yes. I can. I do. And you need to know that I might have never listened to Marie and come to church if things with Nate hadn’t been so bad. So maybe…” She shrugged.

Dakota pondered that. “We’ll never know for sure, I guess. But what I do know is the Bible says God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” Relief spread through Dakota. Now she just had one more person she needed to talk to about that night. “Thank you, Riley. I’m glad we are friends.”

Riley seemed choked up by that. “I want you to know that the friendship you and Marie have offered me has made a huge difference in my life. Without that, I don’t know if I would have made it.”

Dakota pulled Riley into another hug. But no words seemed to be needed.

After a moment Riley stepped back. “So, what do you think about us buying the house?”

Dakota felt her hesitation rise. She didn’t want to take advantage of Riley. “I’m honestly happy to help pay a mortgage or rent once I get a job, but I have no savings and no way to help in buying it. I think that will have to be your decision.

Riley turned to look out the window. “Well, buying it would help the church out of a bind. And I like the thought of us being able to help women who need a place to stay.”

“Yes, but I don’t want you to spend all your money just so we’ll have a place to live.”

“I appreciate that.” Riley’s lips thinned into a smile that said Dakota might not understand everything, but she didn’t elaborate further. “I’ll think on it and let you know. How’s that?”

“Sounds good. Now come on, we have to go tell everyone your good news!” She grabbed Riley’s arm and dragged her, laughing, down the short hallway to the dining room, knowing everyone was going to be thrilled with Riley’s decision to follow Christ.

Chapter 14

Everyone was as elated for Riley as she’d known they would be and Dakota’s heart could not have been more full as she watched Riley grin and try to brush away all their attention.

Jalen tilted back in his chair, his empty plate before him, arms folded over his chest, and a soft smile on his face as he watched Riley speak with Darlene. He was quiet, but Dakota had a feeling based on the amount of emotion reflected in his eyes that he was overjoyed the same as Justus and Darlene, who had already hugged Riley and told her how happy they were.

Dakota layered two pancakes and syrup on her plate, thankful for the return of her appetite.

Justus strode across the room and put his empty plate in the sink. His own mug still in hand, he lifted the coffee pot and one eyebrow, asking her if she wanted a cup.

She nodded and mouthed, “Yes, please” and then let her scrutiny linger as he grabbed a mug from the cupboard, filled it, and added cream and sugar. Today he was wearing a royal blue button-down that brought out the color of his eyes to perfection. He had it tucked into trim black jeans that only emphasized his broad shoulders. She took a slow bite of her pancakes as she studied those shoulders and the lithe ripple of every muscle as he moved.
What would it feel like to have those arms wrap around
—

He turned with a cup in each hand and caught her staring. He stilled. And grinned.

She blushed to the roots of her hair, hoping her thoughts had not been readable, and suddenly took great interest in cutting up the rest of her pancakes.

Only a moment later he set her coffee next to her plate, grabbed a chair and turned it around so he could straddle it backwards, and then set his own cup on the table next to her. He folded his hands over the top slat of the chair. All the while she could feel his watchful study.

He leaned so close that his shoulder pressed against hers, and he spoke low. “I think I liked the look that was on your face just now.” The warmth of his breath brushed her ear and heated her face.

She pretended naiveté. “I had a look?”

“Mmmm, you know you did.”

She scrambled for an explanation and couldn’t help a grin and a coy dip of her lashes. “Must have simply been giddiness at the prospect of having my caffeine addiction fulfilled?” She didn’t meet his gaze.

His low chuckle warmed her to her core but she had to know the answer to the question that had been whispering at the back of her mind all morning. “When are you and Jalen heading back home?” She forked in another bite and held her breath.

Justus glance around at the other occupants of the room, then looked back at her and said quietly. “Take that walk with me and we’ll talk?”

So he had had another motive when he’d asked her earlier. She nodded and set to work finishing her pancakes.

A few moments later after they’d grabbed their coats, Justus held the door to the back patio open for her and she stepped out into the Pacific breeze. The sun was shining, but the icy wind took her breath away.

“This is too cold for you to be out walking in.” Justus looked concerned.

“No, it’s fine” She tightened the strings of her hood. “I’m bundled up. And it will really feel good to stretch my legs a bit.” She tipped her head for him to follow and headed toward the path that cut along the hillside down to the beach.

They walked beside each other, quietly taking in the beauty of the sun shimmering off the undulating waves below them and the white crests where the surf bubbled onto the shore.

She was suddenly feeling shyer than a ninth grader on her first date. She studied the ground near her feet. He hadn’t made any sort of comment to her change of mind about the date. But maybe
he
had changed his. Maybe he hadn’t wanted to talk to her in front of the others because he planned to let her down easy. Tell her it had all been a mistake from the get go. And she was too chicken to be the first to speak.

But if he was backing out, what had all that flirting been over breakfast this morning? They left the firm rocky soil of the path and stepped onto the soft sand at the edge of the beach. The tide was out and Justus led her to the firmer ground of the wet-packed sand, but still held his silence.

She chanced a peek at his expression. So serious and thoughtful.

This was silly. She should just take his hand, look into his face, not fall over a piece of driftwood, and ask him what he was thinking. But just as she tucked her lower lip between her teeth and casually reached for his hand, he shoved both his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. She rolled her eyes and almost giggled. Was this the right thing, anyway? She wasn’t really sure.

He stopped and tipped his head to something further down the beach. “Look.”

She followed his gaze. Mrs. Murton was walking toward them, a long wool coat cloaking her from neck to mid-calf and a bright red scarf wrapped around her neck and over her grey curls. Her Pomeranian had his ears back and looked like he’d rather be walking anywhere other than the windy Pacific coast.

Mrs. Murton stopped. “Oh, hello. I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to intrude on any private time.”

“No. No.” Dakota hurried to assure her. “We were just stretching our legs.”

“Okay.” Mrs. Murton didn’t look convinced. The elderly lady’s gaze flitted to Justus standing by Dakota’s side, then she smiled and took in Dakota’s lack of crutches. “I’m glad to see you are…moving along a little better.”

The woman was referring to a relationship with Justus, and Dakota knew it. She wondered if Justus recognized it too. How many times had Mrs. Murton prodded her to get into another relationship? She chose to pretend ignorance. “Yes. I’m doing great. I haven’t needed the crutches since Saturday.”

A twinkle lit Mrs. Murton’s faded blue eyes. “I meant your relationship with this young man, and you know it.”

Justus chuckled and shuffled his feet.

A burn started at the base of Dakota’s neck and washed up into her scalp. “We’re just friends.”

“Mmmm. That’s what Jason used to say about you and him.” Humor glimmered in her wise old eyes. “I’ve watched you for years, Dakota. There should be no guilt for you in moving on.”

The burn dissipated and left in its place a cold wash of guilt.

Justus settled one hand at her back and leaned close. “I’ll wait for you up the beach a ways. Talk to her.” With that he turned and strode away.

For a moment as she watched him leave, irritation surged through her. And then she thought of how good it had felt to talk to Riley about it and was reminded she’d been putting this off for far too long. She tucked her hands into the pockets of her coat and doodled her toe across the sand in front of her. She opened her mouth, but shut it again, unsure how to begin. Swallowing, she closed her eyes.