Love Inspired December 2014 - Box Set 2 of 2: Her Holiday Family\Sugar Plum Season\Her Cowboy Hero\Small-Town Fireman (17 page)

But—

If given the chance again?

A tiny spark of warmth inside allayed the bitter cold metal beneath her, because if Max was willing to give her one more chance at that gold ring of love?

She'd never be foolish about taking it for granted again.

Chapter Thirteen

“W
ell.” Max shoved his hands into his pockets while they waited for Laura in the hospital lobby. Ryan would have to pass a short series of psychological tests to prove he wasn't a threat to himself or others, but then he'd be free to come home.

Tina looked up at Max and patted the seat beside her. “You could sit.”

“Sitting makes me antsy.”

“And yet you sat on that bridge today, looking like you weren't freezing from the ground up and like you had all the time in the world.”

“Just following a good example.” He slanted a smile down to her.

“I was scared to death,” she admitted. She reached up and shoved her hair back behind her ears. “My knees were knocking, my hands were shaking and all I could think was that the minute I opened my mouth, he'd know I was more afraid than he was. Only, you know what?”

Max raised one beautiful, thick, dark brow.

“All the fear disappeared the minute I started to talk to him. It was like God heard my fear and dissolved it. I felt...” She groped for words, then shrugged. “Like a peaceful blanket got laid on my shoulders. Weird, right?”

“Not weird. God.”

God.

Calming her. Helping her. Laying peace on her heart.

A rising trust swelled within her. Trust in God, in His path, in His timing.

“You were amazing out there, Tina. When you sat down and challenged him, I wasn't sure what he was going to do, but you made all the right moves. I was so proud of you.”

Her heart melted at his words, his expression. “Max, I didn't know that stuff about you and Pete that day. I knew you were there, but no one ever let on that Pete and Amy were drinking. And I thought you were a jerk for never coming around again.”

He shrugged like it was no big deal, but Tina read his eyes. She stood, crossed the small space between them and reached up to kiss his cheek. “I'm sorry I doubted you. And I'm sorry you carried that guilt around for all those years. It broke my heart to hear you talk about it.”

He sighed, staring off, then shifted his attention back to her. “It's taken me a long time to face what happened that day. I've avoided coming home, I've avoided the water, I've avoided my family, all because I let guilt eat me alive. It was stupid.” He waved off Tina's protest with an easy hand. “Hey, it's better now, so I can admit it was stupid to let it go so long, and that's why I'm so glad Ryan came clean. Because guilt makes for a real lonely partner in life.”

Laura's approach halted their conversation. She reached out and hugged Tina, then Max. She wasn't crying. In fact, she looked strong, able and energized, more so than Tina had ever seen in the past. “I think he's going to be fine.”

“Yes?”

She nodded to Tina, then motioned both of them to sit. They did. Laura leaned forward and clasped Tina's hands. “I need to apologize to you.”

“Laura, I—”

Laura gripped her hands tighter. “Let me say this. I know you and I have made progress, but Tina, our actions, mine and Rocco's, messed up more than our business. They messed up our son and ruined your café. Forgive me, please. Forgive us. And when you do that?” She offered Tina a small smile of entreaty. “I have a huge favor to ask of you.”

Faith. Family. Forgiveness. Tina squeezed her aunt's hands. “Yes, I forgive you, and I'd like you to do the same for me. Resentment and revenge aren't good examples, either. Now, go for it. Tell me what you need, because that's what family is for.”

“Take over the restaurant so I can take care of my son.”

It took Tina several seconds to register Laura's request. “Laura, I—”

“Ryan's going to need some time, some therapy, and he needs to have a hands-on parent. More than he's had the past several years because, even before his father died, we were too busy working to do right by our son. On that bridge today I prayed, Tina. I prayed for the first time in a long time, and I told God I'd make better decisions if He gave me a second chance.”

“And he did.” Tina squeezed her hands lightly, understanding.

“Yes. So I know it's a lot to ask, and you probably think I'm crazy.”

“First, you're not crazy at all, and I can totally see the Holy Spirit at work in this whole thing and I'm never going to question His timing or methods again.”

“Huh?” Laura looked from her to Max and back.

“I was coming to the restaurant this afternoon to see if you'd like to become partners.”

Laura's jaw dropped open. “You were?”

Tina nodded. “I'd been praying about my choices, and I realized that I'm happiest here, in Kirkwood Lake, working in a kitchen. So why not do it in your kitchen? The place where I grew up?”

“Are you serious?”

Tina sent a teasing glance to Max before bringing her attention back to Laura. “I'm generally way too serious, it seems, but in this instance, serious is good. So what do you think? We could partner up, you get more time off, and we build a café corner on the west end of the restaurant with my insurance money?”

Laura gripped her hands. “The best of both worlds.”

“For both of us.”

“Oh, Tina.” She grabbed Tina in a big hug, a hug that said home and family and forgiveness rolled into one beautiful embrace. “This is perfect. I'll have time with Ryan and an income.”

“And I don't have to move.” She tipped a quick look toward Max, wondering what he thought of all this. Would he be delighted to have her in Kirkwood or had she totally ruined the beautiful chance at love he offered?

He stood. “Laura, are you staying at the hospital?”

She nodded. “Yes. Until they release him. I want him to know that I'll be by his side as long as he needs me.”

He faced Tina more directly. “Then we better get going, because you have a restaurant to open in the morning.”

Tina gave Laura one last hug. “Don't worry about anything and keep your cell phone charged in case I have questions. We'll have a lawyer draw up the legal stuff after Christmas, so for now, just relax and take care of Ryan.”

“I will. And Tina? Max?”

They turned as they headed for the door.

“I don't know how to thank you enough.”

Max met her gaze. “Right back at ya. Good night, Laura.”

* * *

A crazy but fun week, Tina decided as the dinner rush wound down on Friday evening.

Max and Earl had pretty much taken over at the hardware store, Seth's daughter Tori was going to help there on weekends, and Tina and Han had been running The Pelican's Nest for several days. She'd planned menus, logged orders and checked food quality as vendors made deliveries to the kitchen door, loving every minute. The best part?

She felt like she'd come home after a long time gone.

She hooked the clean pots into place as Ryan walked into the kitchen. “Tina?”

She turned, surprised, because she hadn't seen him since they'd released him from the mental health evaluations a few days before. “Hey.”

He came forward, a little nervous, but not stricken, and that was a huge improvement. “You look better.”

He rolled his eyes as if that was an understatement. “I feel better. A lot better. Would it be all right with you if I came back to work?”

“Oh, my gosh, yes!” She grabbed his hands. “Yes, please! I missed you like crazy tonight, we were slammed from five o'clock on. It was downright insane for a couple of hours.”

“You don't mind me being here?”

This time she stepped over the personal boundary lines and hugged her cousin for the second time since he was a preschooler, riding his Big Wheel up and down the driveway of his house. “I will absolutely love having you here. Family business means just that, Ryan. Family.”

Laura stepped in behind him. She smiled at Han behind Tina, then clasped Ryan's shoulder. “We were just discussing that, and how we want this place to be like it used to be. The kind of spot that welcomes travelers and boaters and locals. Where everyone feels at home.”

Her words reflected Tina's memories. Her parents had forged a delightful business just that way, by welcoming all who came through their doors. “When can we sit down and write up a schedule?”

“Monday,” Laura answered. “I know you've got things going on tomorrow, so Ryan and I are going to work with Han and the girls to cover things, and then we'll go to the later service on Sunday if you can come over here after the early service and relieve us.”

Laura and Ryan, going to church. Spending time together, rekindling faith. Planning with her as they reconstructed a Martinelli family business. Joy soared inside her. “That would be great. You sure you don't need me tomorrow?”

Laura smiled and shook her head. “Last I heard you were helping at the church—”

“In the morning,” Tina countered.

“And then tomorrow night you have a date,” Laura finished. “Max wanted to make sure things were covered here so you couldn't cancel on him.”

“He said that?”

Laura grinned as she turned to go. “I believe his exact words were ‘It took me weeks to get her to actually accept a date with me. Let's not give her a window of opportunity to wiggle out of it.'”

That sounded exactly like Max. Quick, funny and blatantly honest.

She turned the key in the lock a few minutes later, waved goodbye to Han and turned back to Laura and Ryan. “I'll see you guys Sunday morning. And thank you both for making tomorrow night possible.”

Ryan waved it off as if it was no big deal, but Laura grabbed Tina in a big, motherly hug, then stepped back and cradled Tina's cheeks in her hands. “Have fun, okay?”

A day off. A day with Max. A day to help others with Christmas and then relax as the
Kirkwood Lady
trolled the lake's perimeter, listening to Christmas music and eating fine food.

Her heart did a silly skip-jump in her chest as she returned Laura's hug. “I will.”

* * *

“On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...” Max intoned the old carol as they delivered the last boxes and baskets for the day. He climbed into the front seat of the church van and kept right on singing.

“You're really starting to get into this small-town Christmas stuff,” Tina teased. “I expect this Christmas is quite different from last year's holiday.”

Max considered that as he turned up Lower Lake Road. “Last year I was stashed in a Middle Eastern bunker, pretending to negotiate the release of accused political prisoners who were actually bargaining chips on a badly skewed administrative gaming table.”

“Did the negotiations work?”

Max sent her a “what do you think?” kind of look. “They rarely do.”

“Max.” She leaned closer, almost kissably close, and laid her hand on his arm. “I'm sorry.”

He shook his head. “Don't be. We got them out. Over the years I've learned that negotiating with terrorists generally falls under the ‘no positive outcome' scenario. So we learned to go in and spring folks on our own.”

“You rescued them?”

He nodded. “Safe and sound. One of them got married six months later and last I heard they're expecting their first child, a daughter, in about four months.”

“Max.” Tina tightened her grip on his arm. “That's wonderful.”

He shrugged off the praise. “Just doing my job, Tina.” He got out and walked her to her door, even though she argued that he shouldn't. “I'll see you tonight. I'll be here for you about quarter to six, okay?”

“Yes.”

He looked down at her and let the intensity of his gaze wish for a kiss, but then he smiled, winked, stepped back and moved to the car.

* * *

It took every bit of willpower she had to not run after him and demand a kiss. The only thing that held her back was sheer and total embarrassment.

But the thought of kissing Max, of having an evening with him in a romantic setting, put her pulse in high gear.

The hours dragged on forever.

She tried reading, then ended up throwing the book across the room. She turned on the TV, knowing there was a weekend-long Christmas movie marathon on her favorite inspirational station, but seeing the happy glow on the heroine's face made the afternoon seem way too long.

She dressed with care and was ready impossibly early. That way she had plenty of time to wonder if her sour attitude had ruined whatever chance she and Max had.

He's taking you on a cruise tonight
, her inner voice scoffed.
I think he's making all the right “I'm still interested” moves.

She wanted to believe that, but did her overreaction mess things up? Then and there she decided that if Max was still interested...and she prayed he was...she'd work harder to be the best partner he could find, a loving and committed wife.

The doorbell rang.

Max.

She stood, slipped on her coat, scarf and gloves and moved to the stairs. The boat would be warm, but the walk over? Another thing entirely. She went down the steps, opened the door and paused, then sighed. Max stood in full dress uniform, looking way too handsome, strong and commanding. “You clean up nice.” She tried to keep her words casual but he read the expression on her face and grinned.

“When a guy's working overtime to impress a pretty girl, he's got to pull out all the stops.”

“About that?” She turned once she pulled the door shut behind her and faced him square, ignoring the chill breeze off the water. “I'm impressed enough, Max. Just the way you are.”

His smile deepened, and he leaned in, brushed a too-light kiss to her mouth and held out his arm. “That's good to hear, but for tonight, you still get the full deal. Mrs. Thurgood assured me that's the best way to a girl's heart.”

Mrs. Thurgood.

Tina smiled. With Jenny Campbell and Elsie Thurgood tweaking things, there was little room for failure. Walking to the dock with Max, Tina clung to his hand. The glorious lights of the village and town spread out before her, then ringed the lake like a circle of hope. A stream of traffic to their right aimed for the lighted park display, while tourists from all over the area milled the streets, snapping pictures and frequenting local businesses.