Claiming the Single Mom's Heart (15 page)

Lord, what am I getting myself into?

Chapter Fifteen

“Y
our mother isn't up to doing the ribbon cutting at the grand opening tomorrow.”

Grady's father rubbed the back of his neck in a weary gesture, then turned back to where he'd been hand sanding splintered wood on the seat of one of the inn's chairs late Friday afternoon. The glare of the work shed's overhead light revealed in his haggard expression the toll concern for his wife was taking.

“She'll rally.” Grady adjusted a gooseneck lamp to provide better lighting. Mom had made a decent comeback so many times throughout the chemo treatments. She'd do it again.

“She should be taking better care of herself,” Dad said gruffly. “Even with you filling in at the election events, she's overdoing it. Pushing herself.”

“That's Mom for you.”

“I want her to pull out of the race.” Dad reached for a fresh piece of sandpaper. “But she won't hear of it.”

“Although she hasn't been able to attend meetings recently, she loves being on the council and wants to fulfill her duties both this term and next.”

Dad looked up at him, his gaze bleak. “At what price, son?”

A knot twisted in Grady's gut.

They hadn't dared let themselves consider that she might not come through this. That the chemo wouldn't work. That prayers might be unanswered.

“You know the doc is treating this more aggressively because Mom's mother died from it. There have been promising medical strides since then.” The words of assurance were as much for himself as his father. “Mom's going to make it, Dad.”

Dad nodded slowly. “She has to. I can't... I don't know how I'd live without your mother, Grady. I—”

His father's voice broke and Grady swiftly moved around the worktable for a quick embrace. “She's going to be fine, Dad.”

“We'll be married forty years next June.”

“And you'll be celebrating that anniversary together.” Unbidden, Sunshine's smile surfaced in his mind. If things worked out as he was beginning to hope they would, could a fortieth anniversary be in their future, too? But loving had a price, as his father was experiencing. “So tell me, Dad, how'd you know Mom was ‘the one'?”

Dad returned to his sanding, a slow smile surfacing. “I couldn't stop thinking about her. Couldn't imagine my life without her.”

Was that how he was beginning to feel about Sunshine? He sure wasn't getting much sleep at night. All the praying. Wondering how she really felt about him. Remembering every word she said, how the corners of her mouth lifted in a smile, how good that kiss had been.

Dad looked up, studying Grady. “Was that a get-the-old-man's-gloomy-thoughts-diverted question? Or do you have your eye on some young lady? Like that Sunshine gal you spent considerable time talking to on the patio the other night?”

“I—” He wasn't ready to talk about how he felt about Sunshine. He was thinking about her. Spending time with her. But after Jasmine's betrayal, it was like walking on quicksand as he tried to find his footing.

“I know you got handed a raw deal with that other woman a few years back. Took it hard.”

“It's not something I'd care to relive.” Being manipulated for selfish purposes—left feeling like a fool for thinking she cared for him as much as he did her—wasn't something you easily got over. But Sunshine made him want to try.

“Loving takes courage, son. Risk. There are no guarantees. But don't let the past dictate your future.”

The fact that he'd taken her and Tessa to a fun-filled lunch in Canyon Springs on Sunday, talked to her on the phone every night this week and couldn't wait to see her after the grand opening tomorrow had to mean
something
, didn't it?

“How would you feel, Dad, if I did start seeing Sunshine Carston?” There, he'd said it out loud. “I mean, she's Mom's rival and is a vocal backer of the artists in this town, too. There's no getting around either of those facts.”

Dad nodded knowingly. “Your mother said she thought there might be something developing there between you two.”

“So do either of you have a problem with that?”

He was taking a risk asking a point-blank question. What if Dad said he and Mom didn't like her, that he was making a big mistake? Would that make a difference in his feelings about her?

Dad set aside the sandpaper. “You may not know this, son, but your mother's folks didn't think much of me at first.”

“You're kidding.” He never would have guessed. But they'd lived in Scottsdale, and Grandma had died when Grady was just a boy, so he wouldn't have been the most perceptive of observers. “Why not?”

“Your mom and I were teenagers when we met, heading into our senior year of high school. Her father had come to the Hideaway to hunt and brought his wife and kids along.” Dad shook his head at the memory, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Believe me, I found lots of reasons to hang out wherever your mother might be, which didn't set well with her parents. They were well-to-do and she was college bound. Ivy League. Some punk kid whose folks ran a hunting lodge didn't fit the picture.”

“But Mom married you anyway.”

“She did. We both knew our own minds. Knew deep down that God had a hand in it. But her folks made the road rocky at first.” Dad shifted his weight and looked Grady in the eye. “I guess what I'm trying to say is that your mother and I, we're good with whatever decisions you make as long as you're sure God has a hand in them.”

Did
God have a hand in his relationship with Sunshine?

It felt right, despite the obvious barriers. But it had felt right with Jasmine, too, hadn't it? No, not like it did now with Sunshine. Sure, he'd been drawn to Jasmine like a moth to a flickering flame. But looking back, it was more of an ego thing. She was smart, beautiful—and he liked how it felt to be seen with her as much as anything. He'd been bowled over by the fact she was into him, a guy from a small town in what most might consider the middle of nowhere.

But a more-than-friends relationship with a spiritual foundation such as the one that was blossoming between him and Sunshine? No, none of that with Jasmine.

“Guess I've given you food for thought, huh?” Dad grinned.

Grady gave him a hesitant smile. “I can't be sure since this is barely getting off the ground. But there's something more there, more solid than what I had with Jasmine.”

“Good to hear it.”

“This could get sticky, though, you know? Sunshine representing the artists' community and going up against Mom in the election.”

“You can't decide who's going to get your vote?” Dad's teasing tone prodded.

Which candidate is it you're campaigning for?

Irvin's question echoed uncomfortably in his head. Dad might find it funny, but it was no laughing matter.

* * *

“It's nippy out there, isn't it?” Sunshine shivered as Grady helped her out of his SUV Saturday night, then escorted her up the cabin steps to usher her inside. The scent of baking potatoes welcomed her, triggering a homey whisper of belonging that touched deep inside. Not only of belonging at his place but belonging anywhere he happened to be.

She smiled up at Grady as he assisted in removing her coat, treasuring that quiet, inner assurance. But was she letting her hopes get ahead of her? Despite what Grady had said earlier, she couldn't shake concerns about how she'd be accepted by his family. Their backgrounds were vastly different. She very much wanted to believe that wouldn't matter. But her mother had once alluded to the fact that Sunshine's father's grandfather had pressured him not to marry her, a girl from the other side of the tracks, and instead to wed a woman who fulfilled family expectations. Or was there no substance to that at all, but what Mom chose to believe, unable to face the truth that the man who'd fathered her child didn't love her enough to marry her?

Grady hung her coat on a peg. “I'm glad Tori's back so we could get together tonight. I've missed seeing you. A glimpse or two of you at today's grand opening just didn't do it.”

“Unfortunately, she's back because her fiancé broke up with her.” Sunshine was both relieved and angered by that turn of events. And no doubt tonight's uncertainty about Grady had been influenced by her friend's emotional upheaval.

“I'm sorry things didn't work out. She's a nice gal.” Grady led the way to the dining table, where he had his laptop set up for a final review of his presentation. He'd told her earlier that he liked what she'd developed, so this meeting was probably an excuse to spend time together. Which was fine with her. She'd missed seeing him this week, too, even though she'd delighted in his phone calls.

Late each evening, Tessa having been sound asleep for hours, those moments of intimate conversation filled her with a happiness she'd never before imagined. They'd talked well into the wee hours of the morning, both eagerly sharing hopes and dreams and spiritual journeys. Each generously offering the other a glimpse of who they were as children, teens, young adults. So many questions and a mutual willingness to confide answers drew them closer than she would have expected in such a short time. When had she ever felt so comfortable with a man? So safe in opening her heart without fear of rejection? It was crazy. They'd just met. But in many ways it seemed as if they'd known each other forever.

“Here you go.” Grady set a cup of fragrant tea on the table next to her. “This should get you warmed up, and I've lit logs in the fireplace, too. Then as soon as we finish here—I don't think it will take long—I'll throw the steaks on the grill and we'll dine like kings.”

“You should have let me bring something. I could have made dessert.”

“I have that covered.”

“Wow. I feel spoiled.”

“You deserve to be spoiled.” He settled down next to her and adjusted the laptop screen. “You did a fabulous job on the presentation, putting my data into an eye-catching design.”

She took a sip of tea. “You did the hard work. All the research. I got to do the fun stuff. Making it pretty.”

“It was your marketing savvy that filtered the research down to something concise and comprehensible.” He eyed her hopefully. “I'm thinking it might make sense to have you there when I make the presentation. Not only for moral support, but to field questions. I'll get hammered by Luke and Uncle Doug, and you know this stuff as well as I do now.”

“You'll do fine without me there. This is
your
dream, your moment to shine.”

“You're my dream, too.” His words caught her by surprise as his gaze, smoldering with mischief, drifted to her mouth.

“Now, now, Mr. Hunter.” Flustered, she reached over to tap the page-down key, keeping her eyes trained on the next slide. “Let's not mix business with pleasure.”

“Where's the fun in that?” He leaned in a tad closer.

A ripple of anticipation coursed through her, but she kept her attention glued to the laptop. “Behave yourself now.”

He laughed, then settled back in his chair. “Okay, I can take a hint. Let's take a look at this presentation of yours.”

She pressed Page Down again with more force than necessary. How absurd to feel disappointed that he didn't persist. That was what she wanted, wasn't it? For their relationship to progress slowly? She was older now, wiser than she'd been when Jerrel had come into her life. With a daughter now to consider, she didn't dare make any mistakes this time.

Not when she might very possibly be falling in love with Grady Hunter.

* * *

As they washed up the dishes, Grady couldn't help but occasionally sneak a peek at Sunshine. And each time he did, his heart did a funny little skip he wasn't accustomed to. While he washed and she dried, there were plenty of opportunities for his fingers to brush hers. Or to lean in close to point out which cabinet or drawer an item she'd dried called home. He couldn't remember when he'd enjoyed cleanup chores so much. Maybe he needed to rethink installing a dishwasher his mom seemed to think he should get.

“That was a wonderful meal, Grady.” Sunshine looped the damp towel through the handle of the refrigerator. “A perfect ending to your grand-opening day. Were you pleased with the attendance?”

He leaned against the counter. “Actually, I was surprised at the great turnout considering that the largest volume of sales is expected to come from online orders. I guess those merchandise drawings and giveaways for adults and the balloons for the kids did the trick.”

“Tessa made me go back three times so she could have one of each color. Red, white and blue.”

“Is she sleeping better?” He motioned for Sunshine to precede him into the living room, where they settled in. Her on the sofa, him in his trusty recliner and the fire in the fireplace snapping and crackling and keeping the space comfy.

“It's a little early to tell, but she doesn't seem quite so anxious at bedtime. Sometimes after we've said our prayers and I've left the room, though, I can hear her saying ‘Jesus says, “Stop.”'”

He couldn't suppress a smile, picturing Tessa, eyes closed and blankets snuggled around her as she told the antagonistic feelings who was boss. “Has she given you any hints as to how this all got started?”

Sunshine shook her head. “None. I'm hesitant to ask if she's not ready to talk about it.”

“Give her time.”

They were silent for several minutes, both gazing into the flames licking at the logs in the fireplace. He sneaked a look at Sunshine, her gaze thoughtful and...troubled?

Concerned about Tessa?

As if sensing his attention had focused on her, she looked up. “What?”

“Is something besides Tessa weighing on your mind?” Gideon's face flashed into his thoughts. “That Edlow guy isn't causing problems, is he?”