Love Inspired March 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: North Country Family\Small-Town Midwife\Protecting the Widow's Heart (51 page)

“Supper. Breakfast. Whatever else.”

“Oh? What's going on?”

Ty made a hasty explanation, omitting some of what he'd told his mother.

“You know what? This is actually perfect timing. I've got a Handy Works project that I've been needing to do, but most guys I know are tied up with the Stanton house. I think you and I can get it done in a day if you're up to it.”

Ty eyed his dad suspiciously. It wouldn't be the first time he'd been drawn into a project that was more work than he'd expected. “Go on.”

“There's this elderly couple out on Holt Road, Jean and Ross Carter, who have an old shed that needs to be torn down and hauled off. They found a vagrant sleeping in there a few weeks ago. Scared them pretty bad. What do you say? Provided you can get away from the project house.”

Ty nodded. “Shaw McKinney is taking over for the weekend. Who's going to watch the store?”

“Adam's got it under control. That boy's a born merchant.”

Ty wasn't in the mood to hear the praises of his oh-so-perfect, soon-to-be brother-in-law. “Sure. Fine. When do you want to start?”

Dad smiled. “The crack of early tomorrow. It's been a long time since we've had any father-son time. This'll be great. I'll schedule a Dumpster to be delivered out there first thing tomorrow. I hear Ginger has tapped into a new source of volunteers?”

“Yeah, she's called a couple other churches, and we've contacted the Dover police and fire. Several of those guys have construction experience. The plumbing crew should finish up today, and electrical said they'd wrap up tomorrow. That puts us back on schedule.”

“Good to hear. Lee Stanton is a good man.” His dad held his gaze a moment, a faint smile brightening his eyes. “Ginger's a very strong young woman. One of a kind.”

“Yes. She is.”

“As long as you're aware of that fact.”

Later, as he settled into his old room, thoughts of Ginger filled his mind. She never ceased to amaze him with her strength and determination. But he didn't like her and EJ being out at the cabin alone. Nels and Mae were out of town. There would be no one around to help if they needed it. And who would pick EJ up after school?

Remorse blanketed his mind. He should have thought it through before letting EJ inspect the cruiser. He knew how Ginger felt, but at the time all he could think of was giving him a fun experience.

On the other hand, this separation was her idea. She was strong and capable. She'd lived her whole life without his help, and she'd managed just fine. The distance would do him good. He'd gotten far too involved in their lives. He had major issues of his own to work through. But he couldn't shake the feeling that taking care of Ginger and EJ was his job.

* * *

“You ready?” Ty watched the side-view mirror of the truck for his father's signal. When his dad dropped his hand, Ty let off the brake, easing the truck forward. The heavy-gauge chain they'd attached to the hitch bucked as it tightened. They'd spent the morning stabilizing the old shed on the Carters' property by tying it off to the surrounding trees. They'd dismantled the roof and taken down the rafters. All that remained was to pull down the four walls. Strategically placed ropes would insure the frame fell toward the center of the slab.

Ty pressed firmly on the gas, one eye on his father's image in the mirror directing him. The chain groaned. His dad took several steps backward. A loud crack rent the air, followed by a splintering sound as the four walls collapsed. Ty braked, turned off the engine, then hopped out, joining his dad at the pile of rubble. “That went well.”

His father chuckled, pulling his gloves from his back pocket. “Now the dirty work begins.”

Ty rubbed the side of his neck. “Yeah. Cleanup was never my thing.”

“No kidding. Most of your mother's gray hair is from trying to get you to pick up your messes. Grab the chain saw. I'm ready to get this done.”

An hour later, Ty removed his gloves and moved to the ice chest in the bed of his dad's pickup, pulling out a bottle of water. His gaze traveled back to the old shed, now a pile of rubble in the field beside the Carter house. The physical exertion had drained off much of his inner frustration and cleared his head.

His dad hoisted himself up onto the tailgate. “We should be able to finish this up in another hour or so. The truck is coming to haul off the Dumpster at three.”

“Good. Can we eat lunch first?”

“Might as well.”

Inside the cab, Ty took a bite of the turkey sandwich his mom had prepared for them. Sensing his father's gaze, he glanced over at him. “What?”

His father studied him a moment. “Don't you think it's time to get things off your chest?”

“What are you talking about?”

His dad snorted softly. “You may be a grown man, son, but I'm still your father, and I know when you're troubled.” He took a swig of his water. “It's not easy coming back from a traumatic event. It changes you. Messes with your head and fills you with doubts.”

Ty didn't want to have this conversation. His mother always gave him space and time to work through his issues in his own way. His dad wanted to push and prod, and get to the heart of the matter. “You wouldn't understand.”

“I understand completely. I've been where you are, Ty, and it's terrifying.”

Ty shook his head. “Dad, no one knows what I'm dealing with. How could you?”

His father's eyes darkened, and his jaw set in a hard line. “I know because I had a close call with death, too. That auto accident I was in when you were a kid nearly shattered our family.”

Ty remembered it well. He just hadn't made the connection to his own situation. Maybe his dad did understand. “How did you get through it?”

“First, I had to get past the silly fear.”

“What?”

“That senseless fear that blocks you from moving forward. It's usually something that has no connection to your trauma. For me it was a fear of putting gas in my car.”

Ty huffed out a sour laugh. “That doesn't make sense.”

“It does when you look closer. In my mind, if I didn't put gas in the car, I couldn't drive. If I couldn't drive, then I couldn't have another accident.”

Ty stared out the window. It was a twisted kind of logic, but in a way it did make sense.

“So, what's your silly fear?”

He rubbed his fingers over the scar on his neck. Admitting his fear, even to his dad, wasn't easy, but he wasn't getting anywhere on his own. “I can't pick up my firearm. Each time I try, I get the shakes. Brady gave me a pass to the firing range, but I can't bring myself to go.” He raked his hand through his hair. “I can't be a cop if I can't handle a gun.”

“I don't think your fear has anything to do with the gun. Think about it. If you don't pick up your weapon, you can't make any more mistakes. No one can get hurt.”

He wanted to believe his father had a valid point. But it couldn't be that simple. “So, is that it? You just got over the fear?”

“Hardly. It also took a lot of prayer, support from your mom and determination.”

His dad reached over and patted his knee. “Look, sooner or later we all have to face our own mortality. Even Lazarus died eventually. Once I accepted that, things started to improve. I decided to lean on the Lord more, trust Him more.”

“But how? How do you let go?”

“It's a choice. Choose to stay in the pit of fear and guilt, or choose to let go and move forward. You've chosen a risky profession, but it's one I truly believe the Lord has called you to. But you've got to face the fear first, or you'll be stuck in that hole forever.”

Ty mulled over his father's advice the rest of the night, but kept coming back to the same sticking point. Telling someone to get over it might be good advice, but how did you choose to face a fear that had a boot heel on your throat?

His dad had mentioned determination. Maybe that was the key. If he was determined enough, then he might be able to push past the fear. The first chance he got, he'd go to the firing range and test out just how determined he really was to remain a cop.

At least it was a start.

Chapter Ten

N
o way was this carton going to get the best of her.

Ginger huffed out an exasperated breath, sending the strand of hair on her cheek lifting upward briefly. She'd picked up Elliot's bike, and an employee had loaded it into the back of Ty's SUV, but when she'd arrived at the cabin she'd realized getting it out of the car and up the steps to the deck was another matter. It wasn't heavy, simply awkward. Three attempts at dragging it up the stairs had left her frustrated and admitting defeat. She needed help. Ty's help. Which meant she'd have to swallow her pride, again, and call him.

EJ was spending the morning with Kenny. She'd wanted to get the bike put together and hidden before he came home, but she had to face the fact that even if she managed to get the box upstairs, she had no idea how to put the thing together. She'd been so anxious to save money by foregoing the setup fee, she'd failed to think things through.

Pulling out her phone, she selected Ty's number, hesitating before placing the call. She missed him. Nothing was the same without him. She missed the sound of his laughter, the way he'd smile and wink when he was teasing her. She missed his strong male presence and the scent of earth and soap when he entered the room. She missed standing beside him preparing meals at the end of the day.

Maybe she'd been too hard on him about the police car. Once they left Dover and reached her mother's, Elliot would probably find new things to excite him. With a sigh, she pushed Ty's number on her phone and waited.

“Hello?”

The sound of his voice on the other end sent a wave of comfort through her. “Hi.”

“Ginger? Is everything okay?”

She smiled. How typical of him to think of her first. “Yes. Fine. But I do need your help with something.”

“Name it.”

“I bought Elliot a bike. The one he's been wanting.”

“That's great. He'll be pumped.”

She sighed. “Not unless he can actually ride it. I have to put it together, and I don't have a clue where to start.” His amused laughter filled her ear, bringing a smile to her lips.

“I'll be right over. Hey, where's EJ?”

“He spent the night with your nephew. He and Kenny have big plans for today.”

“No doubt. I hope Kenny doesn't spill the beans about the surprise party tomorrow.”

“Shelby assured me she had it handled.”

“Good. I'll be home, uh, there, quick as I can.”

Ginger ended the call, holding the phone against her chest. Ty was coming home. Her heart raced with anticipation. She'd missed him. Had he missed them, too?

* * *

Ty parked the truck near the cabin and climbed out, his gaze landing on the large box leaning against the steps. He smiled. He could imagine Ginger wrestling it out of his SUV and trying to drag it up the stairs.

He grabbed the hand holes and carried the carton up to the deck, leaning it against the rail before moving to the front door. He tapped his knuckles lightly on the glass pane. The thought of seeing Ginger again sent his heart racing. The fact that she'd called him and asked for his help gave him hope that she was no longer angry.

The door opened, and he gazed into her green eyes. He wanted to believe what he saw reflected there. She was glad to see him. He cleared his throat. “Good morning. I'm here to assemble a bike.”

She motioned him inside. “Thanks so much, Ty. I really appreciate this.”

“Glad I could help.” The sight of her warmed him clear through. She was dressed in her favorite faded jeans, the ones that made her legs look a mile long, and a dark green shirt that matched her eyes.

“I should have paid the extra fee for assembly, but I'd already spent too much on the bike.” She shrugged and smiled.

“Hey, no big deal. I used to put bikes together at Dad's store. I'm a certified professional.”

“Oh. I didn't know your dad sold bikes. Maybe I should have purchased it from him?”

“No. He quit carrying them after the toy store opened.” Ty retrieved his toolbox from the closet beside the laundry and carried it outside. Ginger shrugged on her bright aqua sweater and followed him, curling up in the rocker. “Can I help?”

“Sure. Somebody has to read the instructions and hand me the tools.”

“I thought you knew how to do this.”

“I do. But just in case bikes have changed since I did the last one.”

She smiled at his teasing, and his heart pumped out an extra beat inside his chest. Lifting a box cutter from the top tray of his toolbox, he slit the carton open, keeping one side intact to use the cardboard as a base from which to assemble the bike and not lose any important parts.

Ginger sighed, watching him intently. “I never would have been able to put this together.”

Ty sat back on his heels, hands resting on his thighs. “Sure you could. Just might have taken you a little longer.”

“Like until EJ's next birthday.” She smiled and hugged her sweater closer. “It's cold out here. You sure you don't want to do this inside?”

“I'm good.” He unwrapped the bike seat and set it aside, then opened the box of parts and spread them out. He worked silently for a long while. Ginger seemed content to watch, and he was content to let her.

The bike was coming together quickly. He stood and tilted it onto its back wheel, giving the front one a quick inspection, then checked the rear wheel. Satisfied, he laid the bike down and tackled the kickstand. The comfortable silence gave him the courage to speak. “Ginger, I want to apologize for the other day.”

She went still. Maybe this wasn't the right time after all, but it had to be addressed. “I should have thought about how EJ would react to the police car. It just didn't occur to me.”

Ginger shifted her position, placing both feet on the deck, leaning forward to look at him. “No, I'm sorry, Ty. I overreacted. Seeing that police car at the cabin, hearing Elliot's excitement over it, scared me. I don't want my son to grow up to be a police officer.”

Her words stung. But he swallowed the hurt. He was aware of the stigma, but it had never been so personal before.

“What you do is an honorable profession. But the danger, the uncertainty, I could never live with that.”

Ty tightened down the nut holding the kickstand in place with more force than necessary. He'd heard this lament more times than he cared to remember. His job was too dangerous. Too uncertain. He agreed, but this time the statement tore a hole in his heart.

“I should never have lashed out at you that way. It was a knee-jerk reaction. Will you forgive me?”

Ty looked into her eyes and had the oddest feeling he'd forgive this woman anything. “Already done. And I promise not to glamorize police work to EJ. I'll keep my job out of our conversations as much as possible.”

“Thank you.”

Ty gave the bike another once-over, then lowered the kickstand and stood back. “Mission accomplished.”

Ginger stood and reached out to touch the silver-and-black bicycle with its red racing stripes and shiny pedals. “He's going to be so surprised. I probably shouldn't have spent the money, but he's been so good. He hasn't had a nice birthday since he was five. Thank you.”

“It still needs the decals put on, but I'll do that later. I'll take this over to my parents. Dad can hide it in the garage until the party tomorrow. I'll put this in the truck and then come back and clean up.”

After securing the bike, Ty returned to the deck, gathering up the scraps and folding the cardboard. Ginger had gone inside. He tapped on the door before entering. The cabin was warm and cozy, and the aroma of fresh coffee welcomed him back. He belonged here. So did she. Ginger handed him a cup, stepping aside to let him doctor it to taste. Now was the perfect time to make his suggestion. “Have you and EJ been okay here—alone, I mean?”

She hesitated a moment before answering “We have. Though the floodlight went out. It was really dark at night. It would have been nice to have you here.”

The look in her eyes encouraged him. “I think I'd better move back into the boathouse. I don't feel right leaving you two out here alone. It's too isolated.” He tried to gauge her reaction. “If it's all right with you, that is.”

She sighed. “I'd like that. I like to think I'm brave and strong and all that, but truth is, I was scared out here alone. I feel safer with you here.”

His heart pounded in his rib cage. He reached out and took her shoulders in his hands, looked at her lips. He wanted to kiss her again, but now might not be the best time. Instead he placed a kiss on her forehead. “I've missed you. I'll bring my stuff over later this afternoon.”

“Oh. Okay.”

The disappointment in her voice made him think she wanted him to come back immediately. “I'd get my stuff right now, but—” he rubbed his neck, dreading what he had to tell her “—the Stanton house was vandalized last night.” Her soft gasp and the shock and tears in her eyes tore through his heart. “That's where I was when you called.”

“Oh, no. Why would someone do that?”

“I don't know. Brady has his men looking into it. Shaw discovered it this morning.”

“How bad?”

Ty exhaled a slow sigh. “Bad. They broke all the windows and tore off part of the siding. They trashed the stack of drywall stored inside and pulled out most of the electrical wiring. Most of the tiles for the flooring were smashed. Not one box left intact.”

“What does this mean for the project? Can it still be done on time?”

“Doubtful. This'll set the completion back a couple of weeks.” Which meant neither he nor Ginger would be there when the project was completed, something he had hoped to avoid.

“Oh, no, Ty, it can't. Mrs. Stanton is counting on bringing her husband home to their house. She told me yesterday that the place Ben Campbell loaned them has been sold. They won't have anywhere else to go but to a hotel. We can't let that happen. What are we going to do?”

“We're assessing the damage, then we'll have to see if there's enough of the donated funds to replace everything. But there's no way we can replace the time it'll take to redo the work.”

“Has anyone told the Stantons?”

“No. We want to have a plan in place first. We're hoping we'll only lose a few weeks. It's not ideal, but at least the house will be done. I've got to go.” He pulled her into his arms for a quick hug. “Don't worry. It'll all work out. I need to get back to the site. I'll be back as soon as I can.”

She smiled and nodded, her eyes brightening. “Okay. I'll be here.”

He liked the thought of her being there, waiting for him to come home. As he drove off, a warm contentment washed over him. He was a man with purpose.

* * *

Butterflies waged aerial warfare in Ginger's stomach as Ty drove them to his parents' after church. She prayed the day would go smoothly, and this would be the best birthday of EJ's life. She was so grateful to the Durrants for putting the celebration together. She couldn't wait to see EJ's expression when he saw the new bike. He would be so surprised.

They'd had a small celebration this morning. Ty had made pancakes, Barney had been decorated with streamers, and balloons had guarded the small assortment of presents. If her son had been disappointed by not getting a bike, he hadn't shown it. He'd thanked her for the gift card and given Ty a big hug for the youth football and the Dover cap.

She had decided to give Elliot the bike last. Otherwise he would never open his other presents. Ty pulled the car to a stop in front of the Durrants' home. He gave her a wink before getting out. EJ ran ahead onto the porch, football under his arm, baseball cap on his head. Ty opened the door, shouting out a greeting as they entered the foyer. “Hey. Anybody here?”

They walked through the front room toward the kitchen. Ty took her hand and squeezed it. Ginger's heart fluttered. She was falling in love with Ty. She knew it wasn't wise, but her heart had other ideas.

EJ stepped into the kitchen, and everyone yelled, “Happy birthday!”

A huge smile spread across his face. He turned to look at her. “Is this my birthday party?”

Ginger hugged him. “It's all for you. Happy birthday.”

Kenny rushed forward, smiling. “We surprised you, didn't we?”

EJ nodded. Kenny tugged on Elliot's sleeve. “Come on. There's lots of presents.”

The Durrants greeted her with smiles and laughter, commenting on Elliot's response as they drifted into the family room, where the presents were arranged on the coffee table. Elliot stared at the gifts, obviously trying to decide which one to open first.

Kenny solved the problem by picking up a large package wrapped in bright red paper. “Open this one first. It's from us.”

EJ tore into the paper, releasing a loud yelp as he unwrapped a bright blue remote-control car. “Mom. Look. Isn't it awesome? I always wanted one of these.”

Kenny bounced on his feet. “I brought mine so we can race 'em.”

“Cool.” The next package, a handheld electronic game player from Laura and Adam, elicited another squeal of delight. “This is so cool. I always wanted an EGP.”

Ginger's heart lodged in her throat. If she'd been able to envision the perfect birthday for her son, it would have been exactly like this. Ty leaned close, sending awareness along her nerves. “I think he's having a great birthday. Just wait till he sees the bike.”

Ginger pressed her palms together, resting the tips of her fingers against her lips. Her heart was so full, she wasn't sure she could handle any more happiness. Closing her eyes briefly, she thanked the Lord for this blessing and for bringing her to Dover, to the doorstep of the Durrants. When she opened her eyes again, Elliot had opened a gift card from Mr. and Mrs. Durrant to buy games and movies for his player. The last gift was from Ty. Surprised, she looked up at him. “You already got him a gift.”