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“I’m sure it’s not,” she answered.
“It’s a good place now. They’re starting a shelter for abused women.”
Women like the ones who had attended the church her father pastored. A church where men were encouraged to force their wives and children into submission.
“I’m glad to hear that,” she said with a catch in her voice.
He started to reach for her but he knew she wouldn’t welcome his touch. The very last thing he needed to be doing was building a connection. She was still broken. He had his own life now. He had a daughter who needed his full attention and he didn’t have time for relationships that were destined not to end well.
“You should stop by and see what they’re doing,” he suggested. “It might be good for you, to see it in a new light.”
“I’ll think about it. But you don’t know me well enough to give me advice.”
“I’m trying to be a friend,” he offered. “Sorry, a neighbor.”
She smiled, the gesture softening her features in a way he hadn’t expected. “Neighbors bring casseroles but they don’t pry.”
“This neighbor isn’t much of a cook,” he confessed.
“Really, Dane, thank you for telling me about the church. I’ve had enough surprises for one day.”
“You’re welcome.”
She glanced at her watch. “I have to get ready for dinner. Essie wants us to eat with her tonight.”
As he watched her drive away, he realized what Essie had done. Lucy was in for another surprise. One she probably wasn’t going to like.
Chapter Three (#u8a35d801-bbe0-5468-bc13-25b7475bf542)
Main Street Bluebonnet was busy for early evening. It took Lucy by surprise when she cruised down the two-block-long street that had once been the business district. The stores had long since been turned into antiques shops, flea markets and craft stores. Hadley’s Tea Room graced a corner building and the Bluebonnet B & B next door to it catered to tourists passing through Texas Hill Country.
Essie’s Diner was at the end of the two-block strip of businesses. It was next to the Farm and Feed Store, making the locals happy and the tourists charmed. The diner boasted a covered deck that overlooked the spring and the railroad tracks, where an occasional train rumbled along, blasting a horn that shook the tables.
New businesses, including a grocery store, clothing store and discount chain store, were located in a strip mall on the main road going through town.
Lucy parked up the street from the diner. She didn’t allow herself to glance down the side road. She didn’t want to lay eyes on her father’s church. Church of the Redeemed, he’d called it.
Maria reached for her door but stopped.
“Lucy, I think Essie is trying to drag you into something you aren’t going to like.”
“Is that a warning?” Lucy asked as she pulled the keys from the ignition.
“Yeah, it is. It’s Saturday night. Essie is closed on Saturdays.”
“Then why is everyone in town?” Apprehension grew in the pit of her stomach.
“The church,” Maria said. “It’s new. A community thing. People meet for dinner.”
“And you didn’t feel the need to tell me until now?”
As Maria opened her mouth to explain, Lucy held up a hand to stop her.
“Don’t worry about it. We’ve survived a lot. This is just stuff. We’re going in. We’ll have dinner with Essie. End of story.”
Maria’s features relaxed. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry.”
“It’s okay. You didn’t do anything, other than lure me here so you could have fried chicken.”
They walked the short distance to the diner, entering to find the tables filled and conversation buzzing. Essie hurried from table to table, barely pausing to give them a distracted smile as she refilled water glasses. There were people Lucy knew, quite a few that she didn’t.
A few of the locals glanced their way, quiet whispers following as they moved through the crowded dining room. Essie caught up with them.
“I have a table for you.” She pointed to a table marked with a reserved sign. There were six chairs and only one was taken. By old Chet Andrews, a local farmer who had never remarried after his wife of forty years passed away. And that had been a good twenty years ago. He was dapper, with his silver hair and silver mustache. He stood up as they approached and held out a chair for Maria.
“Hello, young ladies. What a fortunate man I am, to be able to share a table with the two of you.” Chet winked at Lucy as she sat across from him. “Lucy, I’m glad to see you back in Bluebonnet.”
“Thank you, Chet.” She reached for a menu but Maria shook her head. “No?”
Chet handed her a paper. She browsed it, her skin going clammy as she read. Essie had quietly moved away from their table.
The paper trembled in her hands as she read. The evening menu was catfish, hush puppies, fries and coleslaw. The profit from the sales would be given to the Bluebonnet Shelter for Abused Women and Children. Located in the Community Church building. No mention of the Church of the Redeemed. The irony hit her and she laughed a little. The place that had once hidden abuse now sheltered people from it. She knew that Essie had something to do with this. She’d bought the building. She’d closed down the church her nephew had started. She’d always told Lucy that she meant to use the building to rebuild lives, not to destroy them.
A man approached. He wore an open, friendly smile on his middle-aged face. His blond hair was thinning. Laugh lines crinkled at the corners of pale gray eyes.
“Ladies, mind if I sit with you for a few minutes?”
Maria cleared her throat. “Lucy, this is Pastor Matthews.”
He held out a hand to Lucy. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Duncan Matthews. Some of the residents prefer just to call me Preacher.”
She took his hand briefly. “Pleased to meet you.”
He sat down next to her. “I’m glad that the two of you are here to support us. That means the world to me, and to our ministry.”
“I’m not...” She started to reject the idea that she supported this ministry. A warm hand on her shoulder stopped her. She glanced up at her aunt. Essie smiled down, a gentle look in her dark eyes.
“It’s a good ministry, Lucy. I told you we would find a use for that building. Pastor Mathews also started the Community Helping Hands ministry. We have teams of people. Some fix meals, others do construction work on homes that need fixing up, some do lawn work. It’s a good thing. We were so glad that Duncan joined us in Bluebonnet.”
“It sounds as if the church is doing a lot for the community.” Lucy found the words, though her throat felt tight.
“We’re trying,” the pastor said. “And we’d love to have your help going forward.”
“My help?” She didn’t know what to say to that.
“We’re remodeling, as well as trying to help prepare the women to start new lives.”
“I see.”
“Come by and see what we’re doing.”
The guy didn’t back down. She gave him kudos for bravery. And with a tight smile she glanced away from the hopeful look on his face. Aunt Essie was there to distract her.
“I’ll bring you a fish dinner. And I have chicken, just for Maria.” Aunt Essie gave her shoulder a final pat.
Maria gave their aunt a wide smile. “Thanks, Aunt Essie.”
“Anything for you, kiddo.” And then she was gone.
“I’m going to step outside,” Lucy said to no one in particular.
“Lucy, don’t go.” Maria started to stand. Of course she would insist on following if she thought Lucy meant to leave.
Lucy touched her sister’s shoulder. “I’m not leaving. I just need some air. It’s crowded and warm in here.”
She smiled at Chet when he half stood. Quickly, ignoring people who called her name, she escaped the diner. Stepping out the side door, she inhaled the country air, a combination of spring grass, flowers and nearby farms.
She leaned against the side of the building, taking in deep breaths. Boots on the sidewalk pulled her from the quiet place where she’d found a sense of calm. She opened her eyes and groaned at the sight of the man approaching, a small child in his arms.
* * *
She stood against the building taking slow breaths. Her eyes were closed. She was whispering, counting, he thought. Dane paused, and when Issy started to speak he put a finger to her lips to quiet her. He waited a long minute as the woman standing there calmed herself, and then he took a step forward. She quickly jerked to attention and faced him.
He held up his free left hand. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“I wasn’t frightened.”
No, she probably wasn’t. But in that moment before she’d sensed him there, she’d looked like she was having a panic attack.
“Okay, not frightened,” he conceded. He didn’t know how to ask if she was okay, if she needed anything. A change of subject would probably be best. “Have you met my daughter, Isabelle?”
It worked. Lucy’s features softened the tiniest bit and a hint of a smile tugged at her lips.
“I haven’t. It’s good to meet you, Isabelle. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Issy, just three years old, never feared a situation or a stranger. She held out her little hand for Lucy and grinned. “Good to meet you. I like chocolate cake.”
Lucy chuckled, a little breathless. “Really? I think chocolate is my favorite, too.”
“Essie always has chocolate cake. Even if it isn’t my birthday.”
“Does she really? Then maybe we should go inside and have a piece of cake.”
“Dinner first,” Dane warned his daughter.
Issy frowned and let out a loud sigh. “Dinner first.”
“Are there empty chairs in there?” he asked Lucy.
“There are a few at our table.”
“Is that an invitation?” Dane teased.
“Not an invitation, just a fact. Don’t push it, Scott.”
“Back to a last name basis? And here I thought we were friends.”
A hint of a smile hovered on that wide, generous mouth of hers and she shook her head. “Neighbors.”
He reached past her to push the door open and she slid through but she didn’t walk away as he thought she might. Instead she walked just in front of him. If he was to guess, he thought she might need a friend. Even if she only wanted to call him a neighbor.
As she navigated the crowded café, he thought of the girl he’d known. She hadn’t been a typical teen girl, eager to be seen with him, talking of forever before they’d even had a chance to know each other. She’d always been self-contained, keeping her hopes and dreams to herself.
He’d wanted desperately to know what made her tick. And then he’d wanted to protect her. He’d failed miserably on both counts.
In his arms, Issy struggled, wanting down. He leaned in close. “It’s too crowded, honey.”
There were too many obstacles. Too many chairs, too many legs stretched, too many purses. Born two months premature, she’d lost her vision. It had been devastating to Dane and his wife. Issy didn’t know any different. She ran, she played and she chased kittens. She navigated the world with the bravery of a three-year-old.
They reached the table at the back of the room. Lucy pointed to the two remaining chairs. “I’m sure Essie reserved them for you.”
Of course Essie had planned those chairs for him. Right there, next to her niece. The older woman had been telling him for over a year now that someday he’d find someone. She’d told him to give God a chance. Up to now, her meddling had been harmless.
Lucy’s return to town had changed things. Essie was convinced everyone deserved a great love, the kind of love she’d shared with her husband. Dane didn’t want to hurt Essie’s feelings, but since his ex-wife left him, he wasn’t looking for that. She hadn’t been a partner in their marriage. She hadn’t been a mom to Issy. The day she walked out, she said she’d never planned on being tied down on a ranch and she hadn’t signed on to raise a child who was less than perfect.
He couldn’t think of that day, the way she’d blindsided him, without a big dose of anger washing over him.
Essie hurried their way, her attention immediately going to Issy. “I knew you would be here. You’ve done so much for the church, Dane. I wanted to make sure you had a seat. And, Miss Issy, I have chocolate cake.”
Dane arched a brow and Essie knew to avoid looking him in the eye. This seat had nothing to do with making sure he had a place, and everything to do with Lucy. His gaze focused on the woman standing several feet away, doing her best to ignore him.
“Don’t forget me, Essie.” Maria spoke up. She had a plate of chicken strips in front of her. “And if Issy doesn’t want fish, I have plenty of chicken. I don’t mind sharing.”
He set his daughter in the chair next to Maria. Issy immediately felt for the teen, putting a hand on her cheek, then pushing up to her knees so she could get a little closer to whisper, “I like ranch dressing.”
“I have it,” Maria whispered back, reaching for an extra plate. “I have fries, too.”
“And ketchup?” Issy patted the table and found a fork wrapped in a napkin. “Can I have chocolate milk, Miss Essie?”
Essie leaned to kiss the top of his daughter’s blond head. “You sure can, Issy girl. I’ll be right back. Lucy, why don’t you help me get drinks? Dane will want sweet tea. Chet, what can I get you?”
“I think I’ve had enough.” Chet leaned back and patted his rounded belly.
“Do you want pie?” Essie asked.
“Nope, can’t keep a figure like this by eating pie.”
Essie’s hands went to her hips. “Now what kind of nonsense is that, Chet Andrews? You’ve been eating my pie every day for as long as I can remember. And you haven’t been worrying about your boyish figure.”
