Caught in the Current (Pacific Shores Book 2) (20 page)

“The flowers were great, Reece. So thank you. But it will just be better all around if you keep your distance. I don’t want Alyssa getting hurt like she did when Dan and I broke things off.” She’d trembled when she said it, and he knew the request had cost her.

Now as he plunked his keys onto the key rack, his teeth smacked together. He felt vacant. Like a treasure chest recently emptied. But he wasn’t the kind of guy to force his attentions on a woman who kept insisting she didn’t want them. So where was the line in this situation when he was fairly sure Marie enjoyed his company, but was trying to do what she thought was best for him? Maybe he needed food.

But Mom was in the kitchen cleaning the fridge out like a madwoman, and she was the last person he wanted to see at the moment. Milk, and Tupperwares of leftovers, and pickles and jams were all over the counters. He should have thought to hit up the burger drive-through on the way out from town. He turned to leave.

“You’re making a fool of yourself over that girl.”

He stilled and pinched the bridge of his nose, keeping his back to her so she wouldn’t see the sheer anger pulsing through him at that moment. “No, Mom. But some people certainly are.”

“Reece, honey. That’s not fair. I only want you to be happy. And I don’t think you’re going to find it with a woman like her—”

“A woman like her?” He spun around so quickly his arm knocked one of the Tupperwares, and it scooted across the counter like a hockey puck. “A woman who works multiple jobs and still manages to keep her little girl happy and healthy? A woman who has a heart so tender for those who are where she’s been that she goes out of her way to make them feel included and special? A woman who is forgiven by the grace of God? That kind of woman, Mom? Yeah, that would be terrible.” He stalked down the hallway to his room, knowing he might have to apologize later, not necessarily for what he’d said, but the way he’d said it. Tonight he was too weary and disgusted to do so.

But as he sank onto his bed, a thought struck him so forcefully he shot back to his feet. He retraced his steps down the hall and slammed his palms on the island in the kitchen.

Mom jumped so hard she clipped her head on the handle of the freezer. “Ow! Reece, what has gotten into you?”

“What did you say to her last night?”

With a guilty look, Mom returned her rag to the shelf she’d been wiping down.

“You did say something to her, didn’t you? After I took Alyssa out to her car?”

The only indication she’d heard him was the tightening of her shoulders.

“Unbelievable!”

Mom turned on him and shook her rag in his direction. “I was only trying to save you from yourself. It’s obvious you aren’t listening to any of my warnings where she’s concerned. So it was time to step in and ask her to put you ahead of herself for a change.”

“No, Mom. Stop!” Reece gripped the edges of the granite island countertop so forcefully it was a wonder the rock didn’t disintegrate to dust in his hands. “This is about you! Not about me. I don’t give a rip whether other people look down on me for being with her. But you certainly do. You didn’t do that for me. You did it for you. Heaven help us if anything about the Cahills isn’t exactly perfect, right? Last time I read my Bible, Jesus was more angry with religious self-righteous people than He was with truly repentant sinners.” With that he spun on his heel and stormed back to his room. He snatched off his boots and jeans and traded them for shorts and running shoes. He needed to run off some steam, and quickly, before he put his fist through something.

Thursday morning Marie arrived at Serenity Shores in grubby jeans and a paint-splattered T-shirt. The first thing they were going to do this morning was comb the beach for unbroken shells, sand dollars, and usable pieces of driftwood.

Reece’s friend, Justus, manned a weed eater along the edges of the driveway and paused long enough to raise a hand in greeting.

Alyssa bounced at her side as they waited for someone to answer the door. Mrs. Cahill was the one who pulled the door open. Her gaze slipped over Marie from the messy ponytail she’d gathered at the top of her head to the toes of her paint-stained shoes. Marie had expected to see the normal disapproval but today there was something different in Darlene’s assessment. Almost sorrow. Almost an apology. Almost regret. But all of them not quite tangible. Darlene’s focus swerved to Alyssa. Marie was gratified to see a total softening in the woman’s expression when it came to her daughter.

Darlene stepped back. “Please come in.” She pointed at Marie. “Reece asked me to just have you come on up to the cabins. And what about you, little miss?” Darlene bent down to peer right into Alyssa’s big brown eyes. “Would you like to stay here and help me make cookies in the kitchen?”

“Can I?” Excitement practically had Alyssa wiggling like a puppy.

Marie felt hesitant. She laid a hand on Alyssa’s head to still her before she knocked something expensive over. “I don’t want her to be a bother.”

Darlene waved her off. “No bother at all. And I’ll bring her up when we’re done so I can see the progress up there. To hear Reece go on, you’ve done wonders for the places.” Darlene’s mouth twisted to one side, but a bit of kindness settled around her eyes. “Can I get you some coffee before you go up?”

“Thanks, but I had some before we left the house. I’m good.” She bent and kissed Alyssa on one cheek. “Be a good helper, okay? I’ll see you in a little bit?”

“Bye, Mama!” Alyssa threw herself so forcefully against Darlene’s legs to hug her knees and look up at her that the woman gave a startled chirp and flailed her arms to catch her balance. Alyssa didn’t seem to notice. “What kind of cookies are we making?”

“I’m so sorry,” Marie blurted. “Are you alright?”

Darlene batted away her concern. “She’s just a little girl full of life. It’s good for me to be jolted once in a while.” The smile she offered was the first genuine smile lacking disapproval Marie had ever received from the woman. “Go on. We’ll be fine. And”—she turned her attention back to the human octopus wrapped around her legs—“what do you say to chocolate chip?”

“My favorites!” Alyssa spun a little jig.

Marie was still chuckling as she made her way through the living room toward the back patio.

She noticed Dave Cahill watching her progress, the twinkle in his eyes almost disguising the parchment-thin dry skin which sagged along his jawline. She paused. “Hi there. You look a little better today.”

He nodded and waved her closer. “So glad to see you! Is that young one of yours here?”

Marie nodded. “In the kitchen making cookies with Darlene. If you’re good, they might even bring you one later.”

He smiled. “Chocolate chip, I hope?”

Marie blinked hard to keep moisture from her eyes. How many more days would he be able to enjoy such earthly delicacies? Darlene had obviously been thinking of Dave when she’d made that suggestion. Marie dipped her head to affirm Dave’s hopes.

He sighed. “My Darlene, she loves me too well.” He gestured Marie closer and clasped her hand. “We’ve had a good life, she and I. Humor an old man who sees much in the face of his son. He’s carried a weight the past few days that goes beyond what he’s feeling about my situation.” Faded green eyes seemed to search the very depths of her soul as his fingers tightened around hers. “Don’t let fear of pain keep you from enjoying the happiness life can offer.”

He continued to probe her with such a searching look Marie felt it to her toes.

She shook her head. “I’m not afraid of pain.” At least not her own.

The older man’s countenance brightened. “Good. That’s good. My Reece is a good man.”

She swallowed. “Yes. He is.” He deserved to hear the truth before he got his hopes up. And she certainly wasn’t going to lie to a dying man, so she shook her head. “I’m afraid it’s a bit complicated. I’m just not sure I’m the right woman for Reece, Mr. Cahill.”

He started to say something but was seized by a fit of coughing. He pointed at the cup of water with the straw on the table by his bed.

Marie picked it up, helped him with his oxygen mask, and held the straw so he could sip.

Dave patted her hand and sank back against his pillow, spent.

Marie set the cup down and helped him adjust his mask once more. “I should let you rest.”

Dave clutched for her before she could leave. He wheezed in a breath as he studied her face, then tightened his grip around her fingers softly. “Don’t ever let anyone make you feel like God’s grace is too cheap to cover your sins.”

Tears welled in Marie’s eyes before she could stop them. That was exactly how she felt sometimes, wasn’t it?

Movement drew her attention across the room. Darlene must have heard Dave coughing and come to check on him, but now she stood in the doorway with one hand covering her mouth, a look of sheer horror on her face.

Startled, Marie stood and glanced around. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she turned back to the woman. “Is everything okay?”

Darlene gave a jerky nod. “Yes. Yes. Fine. Everything’s fine. Thanks for—” She swept a motion toward Dave and then tossed a glance over her shoulder. “I’d best check on our little chef.” With that Darlene rushed from the room.

Marie shook off her curiosity over the incident and turned back to Dave. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Thank you for the reminder.”

Dave patted her hand again even as his eyes slipped closed. His breaths still came even and slow, so she slipped her hand from his and made her way up to the cabins.

Chapter 16

Dave’s words echoed in her mind on the way up the path. Conviction washed over her. That really was what she’d done. Let people make her feel like her sins were too big for God to handle. Like she’d fallen too far to ever measure up against other children of God. When in reality even one little misstep from the line of God’s law removed people exactly the same distance from salvation as those who ran and leapt as far into sin as they could sink both feet. It was the distance of a canyon. A canyon that had already been spanned by Jesus’ death on the cross, if only people would put their faith in Him and walk across.

Marie paused halfway up the bluff. She glanced at the sky. The only thing marring the turquoise-blue expanse was one fluffy white cloud. You can take care of Reece’s reputation as well as my own, can’t You, Lord? I’m a new creation. Help my unbelief, would You? And if there’s a possibility for a future with Reece…

She let the prayer trail away because just the mention of the possibility set her heart to beating so hard she could hear it in her ears.

That giddy, girl-on-a-first-date feeling was back. She would talk to Reece. Mention what his dad had said, and let him know if he wasn’t opposed, she’d be happy to see where this thing between them went.

But when she reached the cabins, Reece was quiet and withdrawn, barely saying two words of greeting before he left her to finish up in cabin one while he went to work on cabin three. His father’s failing health had to be weighing on him, and she knew she’d hurt him multiple times over the past few days, but she’d hoped to catch a bit of the guy who’d brought wildflowers to her desk at work and then made sure Taysia told everyone they were from him.

About two o’clock that afternoon, he stalked into the kitchen she was working on, grabbed up his truck keys, and swung them around one finger. They slapped repeatedly into his palm as he approached the area where she was putting the finishing touches on the second coat of paint. “I’m going to run to the hardware store and get those flower planters you wanted, and order up the sod we’ll need delivered for the lawns outside. Anything else you can think of that we need?”

Marie pressed her lips together. From his all-business tone, now was not the time to discuss her change of heart. But there would be time. She just had to be patient. For now, there were a couple of things she’d wanted to discuss with him about the cabins.

She squinted him an I-don’t-know-if-this-is-too-much look. “Could you check on the price of some freestanding fireplaces? I was thinking that on cooler nights, it might be nice for the guests to have those out on the stone patios.”

He nodded. “Anything else?”

Marie eyed the light switch she’d been contemplating moments earlier. “Maybe you could bring back a couple samples of faceplate styles?” She tapped the switch. “It would be good to fancy these up a bit.”

Reece rubbed his cheek against one shoulder. “Why don’t you just come with me? Then you can choose the fireplaces too.”

“Alyssa—”

He cut her off. “Mom won’t mind watching her. Or we could just bring her with us.”

Marie’s heart nearly tripped over itself. Maybe this was the opportunity she’d been waiting for all day. “Okay.” She tilted a nod toward her rapidly drying paint. “I need five minutes.”

Reece dipped his chin in agreement and strode from the room.

A sigh escaped. “Ir-ri-ta-ble.”

“What was that?” He poked his head back through the door.

“Nothing.”

He grunted and left the room again. This time she held her breath until she heard the click of the front door shutting.