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Faith’s sister approached his bedside. “Hello, I’m Joy.” She extended her slender hand and smiled.
Both women had caramel hair and fair coloring, but their chestnut eyes were different. Faith had a far-off sadness in her eyes; the light had been extinguished. Maybe it had to do with Bella not having a father around, but perhaps that had been by choice.
He shook Joy’s hand. “I’d stand up, but she might chain me to the bed.” He tipped his head in Faith’s direction. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Joy.” He smiled. “All joking aside, I am thankful for your sister’s help when I fell. Being stuck on top of a mountain overnight isn’t on my bucket list.”
Her smile was warm, unlike her sister’s.
“It sounds as though she returned the favor,” she stated.
“What do you mean?” Faith interjected as she walked closer toward the bed.
“Well, you were there to help Joshua yesterday on the slopes and he helped you find Bella the other evening.” Joy smiled at Joshua. “According to my niece, you came out from nowhere, like a superhero. That’s what she called you.”
His face heated. “I don’t know about that—anyone would have done the same.”
“Faith tells me you plan to stay for several weeks. You must work in a business that allows you the luxury of working anywhere.”
“Actually, Joshua is here to bid on the inn. Isn’t that right?” Faith’s eyes practically seared his skin.
He’d gone from superhero to villain in a matter of seconds. “Ah...yes, it is.”
“He was just telling me RC Carlson—you know, the man I write my rent check to—is his father. Small world, isn’t it?”
Beads of sweat peppered his forehead. “Listen, I’m not really up to discussing this right now.” His head pounded. Perhaps there was more to this concussion thing than he realized.
She reached for Joy’s arm. “Let’s go. He needs his rest.”
Faith turned before exiting. “I’ll have Mrs. Watson bring up your dinner.”
His stomach churned. “No, thank you. I think I’ll hold out until breakfast. I really just want to sleep.”
“Okay, but dial 99 if you need anything. The call will forward to my house.”
And with that, she pulled the door shut.
Joshua released a heavy breath. He’d thought being up-front with Faith would relieve some of his guilt, but unfortunately, it hadn’t happened. The sweet little girl who’d showed so much concern could lose her home, thanks to him. But what else could he do? He had to move forward to honor his mother’s memory. She’d always been there for him—he needed to be there for her.
* * *
“Mommy, can I wear my white dress to church today?”
With her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee, Faith sat at the kitchen table and gazed out the window. The black-capped chickadees were busy devouring the birdseeds she’d put out yesterday. “No, sweetie, that’s a summer dress.”
“I can wear my heavy coat—please.”
Opposite the feeder, the thermometer read twenty degrees. “It’s below freezing outside. Put on the pretty long-sleeved black-and-white dress.” She took a slow and easy sip. Caffeine—exactly what she needed this morning. She thought back about the past couple of days. She hadn’t realized until last night, as she tossed and turned in bed, how emotionally draining it had been being back in a hospital, especially the ER. To make matters worse, now she’d been forced to care for a man whose business plan would make her homeless and unemployed. Where would she and Bella go? Whispering Slopes was the only home they’d known.
Patent leather shoes tapped along the hardwood floor. “Mommy, will Mr. Joshua be okay?”
She turned toward the doorway and her heart squeezed. Bella had a way of melting her worries. Wearing Faith’s favorite dress, her daughter looked like a princess. “I think he’ll be fine. Mrs. Watson is keeping a close eye on him today. He just needs rest.” She headed toward the pantry and pulled out a box of cereal, trying to ignore the concerns she had about Bella’s growing attachment to Joshua.
“Why aren’t we having pancakes?” Bella’s shoulders drooped as she took a seat at the table.
Sunday morning pancakes were a tradition for a couple of years; they’d been Bella’s father’s favorite. After he died, she’d continued the tradition with her daughter. With her mind on the auction and playing nurse, she’d completely forgotten. “I’m sorry, there’s not enough time for pancakes this morning.” She poured the chocolate puffs into Bella’s favorite cereal bowl and bit her lip. “What if we have them for dinner instead?”
Bella’s chair squeaked as she bobbled up and down. “That’s even better.”
“It is?” Faith poured the milk and placed the bowl in front of Bella.
“Because pancakes are for breakfast—we’re breaking the rules.” She giggled and scooped a spoon of puffs into her mouth.
Faith ran her hand through her daughter’s curls. “You’re a goof—now eat. Mrs. Underwood will be here any minute to take you to Sunday school.”
Bella took a sip of her orange juice. “Why aren’t you taking me?”
She didn’t want her daughter to know anything about the auction until she had all the facts. Faith strolled to the coffeepot and poured another cup. “Aunt Joy is coming over this morning. I have to talk with her about something.”
Bella swallowed her last bite. “About what?” She lifted the bowl and started to drink the now-chocolate milk.
Faith reached for her hand. “Use your manners, please.” She took the dish, placed it into the stainless-steel sink and turned on the faucet. “If you want chocolate milk, you’ll drink it from a glass, not a bowl. Now hurry along and brush your teeth.”
“But I want to stay and listen.”
Faith walked toward her daughter with her arms crossed. “Bella.”
Bella gulped down the last of her juice and zipped toward her bedroom.
Gravel crunched outside. Faith glanced out the window and spied Mrs. Underwood’s minivan cruising up the driveway. The horn tooted. Faith opened the front door, just off from the kitchen. She waved as a blast of January air smacked her in the face. “She’ll be right out.” Shutting out the cold, she shuffled into the laundry room and grabbed her sweater. “Bella, your ride is here,” she yelled down the hallway.
“Coming.” The girl tore into the laundry room and snatched her coat.
“Aunt Joy and I will see you after Sunday school.” Faith stooped down and kissed her cheek.
“Love you, Mommy.” She hopped down the porch steps and rushed to the van.
Fifteen minutes later, dressed in a tan pantsuit with a long-sleeved chocolate turtleneck underneath, Faith topped off her coffee and placed it into the microwave for one minute. Her heart squeezed as she recalled how special Sunday morning coffee used to be before Chris died. As though they were the only people in the world, they’d share their hopes and desires during those precious predawn hours. Their first dream had come to fruition with the birth of their daughter. The second had died in the fire, along with Chris.
The microwave beeped. Faith removed the steaming mug as the sound of a car door slamming signaled her twin’s arrival. Her heart raced, anxious to get Joy’s thoughts on the auction.
A chilly draft consumed the room as Joy made her entrance into the foyer and sauntered into the kitchen. “So what’s so urgent, sis? The message you left at three o’clock this morning sounded a little cryptic.” She reached for a coffee mug and poured herself a cup before stripping off her coat and flinging it across the back of the kitchen table chair. “What on earth were you doing up so early?”
“Trying to quiet my racing mind—I need to talk to you about something.”
Joy studied her twin. “What’s wrong? Is Bella okay?”
“Yes, she’s fine. It’s about the inn going up for auction.” Saying it out loud made it even more real.
Joy’s brow crinkled as she slumped into the chair. “What’s the big deal? Businesses go under new management all of the time and nothing changes. You and Bella won’t be forced to move, and you’ll be able to keep your job—after all, you’re the reason the place is so successful.”
Their voices fell silent as a cardinal chirped outside the window.
Despite her worries, she smiled. “I never told you, but Chris and I talked about purchasing an inn one day. At first, I thought it was silly, but Chris really wanted it. In time, I warmed up to the idea and actually became as excited as he’d been. We spent hours huddled around the kitchen table making plans. I have two notebooks packed with our ideas, sketches, costs—everything.” Faith shivered. “If only we’d put our dream into action sooner, he’d be alive.”
“Come on, don’t go down the road of blaming yourself. Chris loved his job.”
True—but she’d pushed him into a field he’d never considered, all because she needed security. What kind of security did she have now? Sure, there was a life insurance for Bella’s college tuition, but she’d lost her best friend, Bella had lost her daddy, and sadly, Chris had never fulfilled his dream. “I’m thinking about bidding on the Black Bear...” Her voice trembled.
Joy’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”
Tears escaped Faith’s eyes. “I forced Chris into a job he never wanted. He would have been content to work along with his father, building furniture for the family business.”
“You know that wasn’t Chris.”
Maybe it wasn’t, but at least he’d still be alive. She’d have a husband, and her daughter, a father. “There wasn’t any security in that position. His father always struggled to make ends meet and he couldn’t afford to send any of their children to college.” Faith wiped her eyes. “I didn’t want that for our future children.” She swallowed hard to force down the lump lodged in her throat. “Or for me. I was selfish and greedy.”
“Wanting security for your family isn’t being greedy, Faith.”
A sense of excitement missing for years returned, as adrenaline coursed through her body. Maybe the auction wasn’t meant to be bad news. Perhaps it was an opportunity for Chris’s dream and hers to live on—for her to provide security for her daughter. She sprung from her chair. “I’ll be right back,” she yelled over her shoulder as she took off down the hall. Her feet skidded on the hardwood floor.
Inside her bedroom, she dropped to her knees and yanked open the lid to the pine chest sitting at the foot of her bed. Underneath Bella’s baby blanket—their dream. She snatched the two spiral notebooks and clutched them close to her heart. Tears moistened her eyelashes as she recalled the day she’d packed them away—the day she buried her husband. Tossing the blanket inside the chest, she closed the lid. On her way back to the kitchen, she grabbed a tissue from the box on her dresser. I’m going to do this, sweetheart—for us. She blotted her eyes and bolted out of the bedroom, excited to share their plan with her sister.
“What’s come over you? You’re glowing like the top of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse,” Joy said as she picked up one of the spiral notebooks Faith had placed in front of her. “Is this it?”
Faith took her seat. “And this.” She slid the second notebook in front of her twin. “This is three years of dreaming and planning, right up until the day before he died. I want to do this, Joy. I’ve never wanted anything so bad in my life.”
Joy leaned back into her chair, flipping through page after page of scribbled notes. She carefully closed the book. “Well, remember what grandmother always said. ‘If you’ve got a dream, track it like a bloodhound.’ I say go for it, sis.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Really? You’re behind me on this?”
Joy laughed. “Does it really matter? You’ve got your mind set—I know you.”
“Of course it does. Your opinion means a lot to me.” She fingered her necklace. “As a kid, I always wanted your approval.” She smiled and reached for Joy’s hand. “I guess nothing has really changed.”
“A lot has. You’ve been through so much in the past four years, losing Chris and raising Bella on your own. I’m so proud to call you my sister. You’re the strongest person I know, Faith.” Joy wiped away a tear and straightened her shoulders. “I think God has orchestrated this auction just for you.”
Her, strong? The weeks following Chris’s death, she’d been about as strong as a newly fledged hummingbird. “I couldn’t have survived those first couple of years without you, sis.” Faith leaned back in her chair and folded her arms. “As for God, I’m not so sure about Him being behind this.” She watched her sister’s reaction. “You know we’re not exactly on speaking terms.”
“That doesn’t matter. He still loves you and wants the best for you. He’ll work everything out for good, if you open your heart to Him.”
The hum of the refrigerator hung in the air.
Joy squirmed in her chair and leaned forward. “About yesterday, let me make sure I’ve got this straight,” she said with a grin. “That gorgeous man, Joshua, is your boss’s son and your landlord, too...very interesting.”
She couldn’t argue the facts. He was handsome. “I thought there was something up with him.” Faith sat forward and placed her elbows on the table. “What I don’t understand is why Joshua’s father doesn’t just give him the property.”
“Maybe he doesn’t know his son’s interested.”
Faith drummed her fingers along her lips. “I suppose, but why keep it a secret?”
“People keep secrets for different reasons. Why didn’t you ever tell me you’ve dreamed of owning an inn?”
Her stomach sank. “After Chris died, I didn’t see any reason to harp on a dream that was over.”
A smile curled across Joy’s lips. “So...how does it feel to bring it back to life?”
“Exhilarating. Scary.” Could she do this? She let her gaze drift toward the window and the snow-covered mountains. This land had always been her home. She couldn’t lose it now. “I think I’ll have to take out a loan.”
“What about the insurance—”
“No!” Faith shook her head. She refused to touch the life insurance money. One thing she knew for sure—life could change in a heartbeat and you must be prepared. That money was the only way she could provide a secure future for her daughter.
“I can help you.” Joy squeezed her sister’s hand. “You know I’ve got a good pension through the school’s retirement plan. I could borrow from my 401(k).”
Faith shook her head. “No way. It’s your security. I won’t have you tapping into those funds.”
“But I believe in your dream. If anyone can make this happen, it’s you...don’t ever forget it.”
Faith didn’t know what she’d do without her sister. “I won’t...thanks.”
“Maybe you could talk to Joshua? Let him know the inn was your childhood home after Mom and Dad were killed, and we went to live with Grandma and Grandpa.”
“He already knows, but it doesn’t matter to him. He wants it as much as I do.”
Joy’s brow arched. “And you know that after only a couple days?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “If only we’d been here, instead of away at college, maybe we could have helped Grandma and Grandpa financially and prevented RC Carlson from purchasing their property? It would have been nice to have kept their house in the family.”
“Well, as determined as you are, I think you’ll get what you want.”
Faith only hoped she could stay strong and fight for the property. Being back in the hospital and then having to use her medical skills to care for Joshua had sapped her strength. Who was she kidding? She was weak. Anyone who dropped out of medical school because they have panic attacks—at a hospital of all places—was pathetic.
But she was about to show her strength.
Chapter Four (#u41ab1d2c-c2a6-573d-bce7-2c31a170e45d)
Joshua squirmed in the front seat of Faith’s SUV. It smelled like lavender, his mother’s favorite fragrance. He buckled his seat belt, thankful Tuesday morning had finally arrived. Cute as she might be, he couldn’t wait to be released from Faith’s care. She’d been like a hawk, watching over every move. Now it was time to get back to the business of keeping the inn for his mother. “I thought Mrs. Watson was driving me to my doctor’s appointment.”
Faith yanked down the visor as the morning sun streamed through the windshield. “She had to stay and help Michael. He’s preparing a special meal for tonight.”
“I know this is the last thing you want to be doing—so thanks.”
“It’s not a problem.”
They traveled in silence for the remainder of the fifteen-minute drive. Faith hit the turn signal when they reached the parking lot of the hospital.
Once inside, Joshua took a seat in the waiting room. Faith made him nervous as she paced the floor. “Why don’t you have a seat?” Her heels pecked against the tile. When he was married to Jessica, her stiletto shoes had always annoyed him. But now, even though she’d broken the vows they’d made before God over love for another man and money, he missed the sound.
It made him think about Jessica. Had she ever really loved him? He certainly had loved her. And he had to admit that a tiny part of him couldn’t wait for her to get wind of his new business venture.
