A Wedding Worth Waiting For (17 page)

“Sam, wait.”

She opened the door and looked at him, loving him even as she was leaving. “I will, but not forever.”

* * *

Dylan pushed his way through the crowd blocking the stairs of the Sandpiper Inn. This was the first year that Jillian and Nic had hosted the Outdoor Days Festival and the turnout was amazing. In decades past, the grounds had been the default site for all the community gatherings, but for nearly a decade it had been allowed to fall into disrepair. The new owners were determined to restore it to its former glory, and from what he could see they had succeeded.

Games had been set up on the lawn, as well as booths selling fishing paraphernalia, baked goods and local artwork. Yesterday there had been a demonstration by a sharpshooter and today an archery club had offered free lessons. Down on the beach, some of the oldest residents had volunteered their time to help school children learn to fish, patiently demonstrating how to bait a hook and cast a line. Dylan had brought some of the more tame residents of the rehab center for the kids to see and learn about. But the highlight had been the fish fry put on by the fire department. They had skinned, filleted and cooked hundreds of pounds of fish, serving it up hot with piles of crisp coleslaw and tender hush puppies. He'd eaten way too much, but it was for charity, so justifiable in his book.

The only part of the weekend that hadn't gone well was his personal life. Somehow he'd ended up on both the setup and cleanup crews, on top of his own work with the booth the rehab center ran. The few times he'd managed to break away, Sam had been busy. He hadn't gotten to speak one word with her since she'd left his house Friday night, and if he didn't find her soon he was going to lose his mind.

Pushing down the steps got him a few dirty looks, but whatever. He had bigger things on his mind. He'd spotted Sam's khaki uniform over by the stage where a local bluegrass band was playing. A handful of people was dancing on the small dance floor, but most were spread out on blankets watching the band. He scanned the crowd, but Sam wasn't there. He'd missed her again. Turning back the way he came, he caught a glimpse of dark hair out of the corner of his eye.

There! She was standing with an older man dressed in khaki pants and a button-down shirt, easily the most formally dressed person at the festival. Her boss? Possibly, but he wasn't going to risk losing her again. He could be polite and professional, but he wanted her to know he was thinking about her. That he supported her. And if he smelled like cooking grease, that was just too bad.

“Sam, there you are! I've been looking all over for you.”

She turned, and her smile assured him he'd made the right decision. He'd been dead on his feet, but one look at her had him ready for anything. “Hi, Dylan. This is my boss, Art Sanders. He's in charge of the entire region, and I was just thanking him for taking the time to come out here today.”

Dylan shook hands with him, noting his no-nonsense expression. “Hello, Mr. Sanders. It's so nice that you could be here. Sam's really impressed us here in Paradise with all her hard work.”

“You bet she has.” Dani bumped him out of the way and offered a hand to the older man. “She's becoming such a vital part of the community, wouldn't you say, Dylan?”

“Absolutely. I don't know what I—I mean we, the community—would do without her.”

Sam blushed. “Really guys, you don't have to say—”

“What she means is, I've already heard as much. Over and over in fact. I've had more people talk to me about Sam than I can count.” Art turned to her, a sparkle in his eye. “It seems you've really blossomed here in Paradise. In fact, I'd like to talk to you about an opportunity that's come across my desk. I was waiting to do it in private, but it seems privacy is hard to come by today.”

Oops. “I'm sorry, I can come back later.” Dylan backed up a step and trampled on Dani's foot.

“Um, me, too.” She elbowed him and started to move off.

“No, no, I don't think it's anything Officer Finley would mind you hearing. I'm assuming you two are more of her friends? She seems to have made quite a few of them in her short time here. More than I'd expected, I have to say.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I've received a request from the county to select someone to serve on an interdepartmental task force. It seems that there have been complaints about certain difficulties women face in the law enforcement community, and the idea is to create a mentor system. You'd be working with women from the sheriff's department, and there is talk of including the fire department, as well. Fields where men have tended to dominate.”

“What about the legal field?” Dani piped up. “Women from the district attorney's office, public defenders, that kind of thing? They have to deal with mostly male judges, as well as male law enforcement officers. It can get pretty dicey sometimes.”

“That's certainly something to consider. I can forward the idea to the county if you'd like, Ms....?

“Post. Dani Post. I'm a public defender with Palmetto County. I'd be very interested in helping, if Sam doesn't mind me tagging along.”

“Mind? I think it's an incredible idea.” She smiled up at her boss, confidence radiating off her. “I think the task force is exactly what we need, and I think the more women we can organize, the better. I'd be honored to take part.”

She started tossing out ideas, and Dylan couldn't help but notice how much she'd changed. Gone was the person who'd hid her insecurities behind a false bravado, and in her place was a woman who knew her mind and her place in the world. She'd worried about everyone else's opinions, but it was her acceptance of herself that had made all the difference. She had done it on her own—she didn't need him. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to do his best to stand by her, if she'd have him.

* * *

“It was good seeing you, Officer Finley. Keep up the good work, and I'll let the County Commissioners know that you'll be representing our organization on the task force.”

Sam thanked him again and breathed a sigh of relief. Her job was safe. Even better, she was going to have a chance to help change things for women like her. She had the support of the community and her boss. Now she just needed to know where Dylan stood.

Grabbing his arm, she started to pull him toward the steps to the beach. “Can I talk to you a second, alone?” She offered a smile of apology to Dani. “You don't mind, right?”

“Hey, never let it be said I stood in the path of true love. Y'all go make up or whatever you need to do.”

Would they be making up? Or was her job just too much for him to deal with? She'd learned in the academy that a career in law enforcement made relationships difficult; maybe this just wasn't meant to be. But she
wanted
it to work, and she was pretty sure he did, too. That had to count for something, right?

“Hello, Sam.”

It couldn't be. But it was. Her father. “Dad? What on earth are you doing here?” He never left the house for anything other than work, ever. She would have been less surprised if a mythical swamp ape had crawled out of the Everglades and come to visit.

He glanced around, visibly uncomfortable. “Maybe this was a mistake.”

“Maybe. But you're here now, so out with it. What on earth got you to leave your little hole in the woods and come to Paradise?”

He looked at her with surprise and a new show of respect. She'd never spoken to him like that before, like an equal. Taking a deep breath, he pointed to her. “You did. I came for you, because I have some things to say to you that I should have talked about a long time ago.”

Great. Now he wasn't satisfied with lecturing her in private, and he was going to do it in public. “Dad, I don't think this is the right time or place. How did you even know I would be here?”

“A friend of mine called, an old hunting buddy by the name of Beau Griggson. He told me about some run-ins you and he had, and that you were really making a name for yourself out here. Said I ought to come see for myself what a good job you were doing.” His voice cracked. “He said you were doing me and your mama proud.”

Were those tears in her father's eyes? She'd never seen him cry; she didn't know he could.

“And let me tell you something, Samantha. He was right. I've been watching you today, and I've talked to some people who I haven't seen in ten years or more. And every one of them told me how good you've been doing, and how glad they are that you're back here in Paradise.”

She shaded her eyes and looked up at him. “What about you, Dad? Are you glad I moved back? Because I have to say it hasn't felt like it.”

“Honey, I never wanted you to leave in the first place.”

Her jaw dropped open. “How can you say that? You're the one that sent me away. My mom died, and you were so eager to be rid of me that you sent me to live with strangers.” Now she was the one crying.

“Sam, I know you might not understand, but I hated it when you left. I wanted to keep you with me, but I was a mess. Your mom was my strength and my life, and when she died I didn't know how to go on. I was barely functioning, and there was no way I could take care of you the way your mom would have wanted. And I didn't want you to pay the price for my weakness. I thought boarding school would give you some normalcy and help you get over what had happened. Then, whenever you came to visit, I felt so guilty over failing you that I didn't know what to say or do. So I didn't say anything. You know how much I hate weakness, but I was weak and it drove us apart.”

Sam stood, her head spinning from everything he'd said. Could it be true that he hadn't wanted her gone, that he'd missed her as much as she'd missed him? Shaking her head, she pushed back. “What about telling me I shouldn't join the FWC, that I wasn't good enough because I was a girl? You've never supported me in my career, ever.”

“And I was wrong, obviously. You've done so well for yourself. But you have to understand, it's not that I didn't think you were good enough—it's that I didn't want you to be good enough. When you joined the academy, I was terrified. I know how dangerous this job can be, and I couldn't handle the thought of losing you. I thought if I could discourage you even a little, you'd find something else. Something safer.”

“That's not fair, Dad. I can't live my life in a bubble just so you don't have to worry.” Were all the men in her life destined to be overprotective? First Dylan, now her father. Although technically, her dad had been first, and she just hadn't known that was the motive behind his behavior. Still this argument was starting to feel like déjà vu. “Could I get hurt on the job? Sure. But I could also be hit by a bus on my way home tonight. I can't let the fear of what-if ruin my life. At the end of the day, you need to trust that I'm a grown woman, I'm well trained and I can handle myself.”

“I get that now. I do. Seeing you today, in uniform, I'm not scared, I'm proud. And I know maybe it's too little, too late, but I'd like to start over. Maybe have you over for dinner next week, so we can get to know each other again?”

“I'd like that. But let's get pizza like we used to.” Maybe they couldn't recapture the closeness of her youth, but it was a good start.

“Officer Finley, they need you up onstage. It's the closing ceremonies.” Wow, was it that time already? She glanced at her watch, then looked for Dylan, but he'd disappeared, probably to give her some privacy while she talked to her father. She'd have to hunt him down during the cleanup tonight.

“Dad, I've got to go, but thanks. I'm glad you came.” Impulsively, she gave him a quick hug, then dashed toward the stage before her traitorous emotions could overwhelm her again.

* * *

Dylan watched the stage from the steps below as the mayor thanked all the people who had helped make the festival happen. Special thanks was given to the Fish and Wildlife Commission, the Paradise City Council, and the owners of the Sandpiper. Then a list of volunteers was read, and given how many people had worked on the project, most of the audience had been named by the time he was done.

Next were the awards. The mayor handed out trophies and ribbons for the most fish caught, the biggest catch, the winner of the archery competition, and the Overall Sportsman award for the child with the best combined scores from fishing and archery. The winner this year was a ten-year-old girl not much bigger than the enormous trophy she was presented with.

Now it was Dylan's turn at the microphone. He took the stairs two at a time, adrenaline and anticipation fueling his movement. Over the noise of the crowd, he could hear the mayor introducing him and the purpose of the Paradise Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. When the applause died down Dylan took the microphone and waved to the people below. “Hello, everyone! I want to thank everyone who purchased an item or a raffle ticket at our booth today, or made a donation. The animals we serve rely on your generosity—we couldn't do what we do without your help.”

He waved to Sam, motioning her to join him. “I'm going to ask one of our own, local Fish and Wildlife Officer Sam Finley, to help me give away our raffle prizes.” The crowd cheered, and Sam had no choice but to join him at the podium.

“Officer Finley, I have the winner tickets here. If you could just read off the names in order, I'll handle the prizes.”

Sam took the brightly colored tickets and read the first name into the microphone. A cheer went up from the back of the crowd, and Grace Keville, the owner of Sandcastle Cakes Bakery, made her way to the stage.

“Here you go, courtesy of local photographer Mollie Post.” He handed her a framed print of the beach at sunrise, and she took her seat, beaming.

“The next winner is...Missy Cunningham!” Another winner came forward, claiming a certificate for a weekend stay at the Sandpiper Inn. Sam continued to call names as Dylan handed out prizes, everything from a custom-made fishing rod to a sunset dinner cruise. Finally, there was just one ticket left.