Blessed Vows (7 page)

“Well, I have a mop handy.”

“Ha ha.” What Rachel wanted to do was to run outside and keep going until she reached a land where there were no computers, no bookkeeping programs and no general ledgers she didn't understand anyway. “Derrick is back in town. He's a CPA. I could pay him to do this.”

“With the little profit the diner makes, you can't afford to pay him.”

“Maybe I can pay a bookkeeper then. They have bookkeeping services. They're listed in the Yellow Pages. I really think I should call or something. The good Lord clearly did not mean for me to handle accounting responsibilities or He would have given me even a smidgen of ability or something.”

“It's not you, Rachel. Everyone feels this way about keeping their books. You just get used to it.”

“I don't think I want to get used to this.” Rachel didn't think Paige understood. How could she? Paige was smart and capable and she could do anything. “I've been trying to learn this stuff for the last six months. It's not sticking. I'm totally lost.”

She smacked the endless and meaningless reams of printouts with the flat of her hand. It didn't help that she couldn't properly concentrate because her thoughts kept straying to a certain someone who was long gone and whom she wouldn't be able to see again. “None of this balances. None of it makes sense. You know you could still leave me the business, but you could teach Amy how to do this.”

“But it will be your business. And what happens when Amy decides to stay home? Maybe she'll want to have another baby? Or go back to school. She has more options now that Heath is getting his state medical license.”

“You're right. You're always right.” Rachel loved Paige. She just wished she was more like her wonder
ful big sister. “I'm a failure. We have to admit it. There's no point in being nice about it. I'm doomed.”

“I don't allow doom in my diner.” Paige tried to lighten the mood.

But the alarm on Rachel's wristwatch gave a musical jingle saving her from more bookkeeping woes. “Oops, we'll have to continue this drama later. I've got to race over and pick up Westin from school. I promised Amy.”

“And where is our illustrious sister? Isn't she supposed to be prepping in the kitchen?”

“Oh, I did most of that for her already. She got a call from the Realtor and she had to race over to look at this house that just came on the market. I'm so sorry, I have to go.” Rachel decided to leave the papers where they were and grabbed her purse off the back of the tiny desk wedged into the hallway next to the diner's kitchen. “And my keys…?”

She spotted them on the counter and ran off before Paige could stop her. “I'll be back!”

“You'd better be. I'm not done torturing you!”

“Are you sure you want me to take over? When Alex graduates, you never know, you might be overcome with nostalgia and never leave this place. And then I'll have suffered the torture of computer work for nothing.”

“Wishful thinking, little sister.” Paige seemed to drift off into a daydream.

It was so uncharacteristic of her that Rachel couldn't
move. Paige had worked so hard over the years. Harder than any of them had in return. They hadn't needed to, because Paige was always there, carrying the load, shouldering all of the responsibilities without complaint. She solved every trouble before anyone even knew there was a problem.

Paige seemed to shake herself out of her thoughts, and wherever she'd gone in her mind, she looked happier. Younger.

Wow, she's really counting on leaving the diner.

Rachel breezed through the kitchen, where Dave, the evening cook, was prepping for supper, and banged through the back door and out into the chill of the early-winter afternoon. She shivered and realized she'd forgotten her jacket. She wasn't used to thinking summer was over, even when her sneakers crunched over the last of the amber and brown leaves carpeting the ground. Soon snow would be falling and the holidays would be here. Life went on, she knew, but she still found herself thinking of Jake.

Maybe she ought finally to accept Derrick's polite but persistent requests for a date. But the second she thought it, her stomach twisted with the simple truth. As nice as the accountant was, there wasn't that certain something. That special “wow” she so wanted.

Maybe she was too romantic. Maybe she had her hopes set too high? But if she didn't, then she would settle for less than true love. And that seemed sad, she
thought as she opened her car door and dropped behind the wheel. The instant she sat down, a digital tune chimed from inside her purse. It was Paige, no doubt about it. Classic Paige.

Rachel unzipped her purse and fished around as the tune grew louder and the shaking continued. Where did it go? Oh, there, beneath her wallet and a roll of wild cherry candies. “Hey, what did I forget?”

It wasn't Paige's voice that answered, but her brother's. “Nothing that I know about. How are ya doin'?”

“You sound happy. Being married must suit you.”

“What's not to like?” She'd never heard him sound so relaxed or so at peace. He was back from his honeymoon and a very happily married man. “Do you know where I can find Amy? I'm tryin' to track her down.”

“Uh…you could try her cell.” Rachel slammed the door and reached for her belt with one hand. “Or is she out of range?”

“That's why I'm calling you.”

“What do you need?” She sorted through her keys and jammed the wrong one into the ignition. Of course it didn't fit, and so she had to shake through the key ring again until she found the right one.

“Jake's in town.”

Jake's in town. “Nobody told me that.”

“He's on his way back to Florida, but he's swinging by to help me load the moving van tomorrow, but I'm taking him jumping in about fifteen minutes.”

“Jumping. As in out of a plane. Into thin air?”

“Sure. Piece of cake. Trouble is, if Amy's MIA, then we're staying grounded. Amy said she'd keep Sally for Jake.”

Suddenly Amy's disappearance made sense. So, Amy knew all about Jake being in town and yet she hadn't said a thing cooking breakfast this morning. Now, wasn't it a coincidence that the moment Jake needed help, Amy had disappeared?

She loved her sisters, boy, did she, but she didn't need to give Jake any more reasons to run the other way. Her face was already hot.

Ben sounded mad. “Well, we were supposed to meet her here.”

“Oh, are you at her house?” Rachel jammed the phone against her shoulder and maneuvered the gearshift into Reverse. With the clutch going out, it was kind of tricky and she had to listen hard to hear Ben's answer over the grinding gears. She gave it some gas.

“No, cutie. I'm parked right behind you. Could you
stop?
”

What?
She hit the brakes. She'd only backed up about two feet, but there was Paige's extra truck—Ben used it while he was in town, glinting in her rearview mirror behind her. She had a good two yards between her bumper and his, but still. Yikes! Did thinking about seeing Jake again have her rattled or what? “Sorry about that. What are you doing creeping up on a girl like that?
You know I've been banging my head against the wall trying to learn Paige's accounting system. I'm not right in the head.”

“Sure, like that's news,” he kidded fondly. “I have pity for you, really I do, but if Amy's gone, then who's picking up Westin?”

“Where do you think I'm going in such a hurry?”

“Oh, to get him from school. Cool. So, let me get this straight.” She could just make out Ben's face through the glare of the truck's windshield but he was there alone. “You're going to be looking after Westin.”

“Yep.” Where was Jake? Maybe Ben was meeting him at the airport. That made sense. He wasn't actually going to be in town.

Ben kept talking, but a strange sound buzzed in her ears, making it impossible to hear more than distant gibberish as he began to explain something. Her attention had zeroed in on a movement in the passenger's-side mirror—there was a blur of color and that color became a man with amazing shoulders and a lean, athletic build. A man with dark, military short hair and an awesome presence that made her heart roll over and fall and keep falling.

Jake Hathaway was striding toward her passenger door like a soldier on a mission. Panic set in, but it was too late. He was already yanking open her door, already filling the space between them with a half frown and that intensity that made her stammer instead of speak like a normal person.

“Uh, well, h-hi.” Smooth, Rache, real smooth. She gave a weak grin.

He didn't smile back.

“H
-hi back,” Jake stuttered, for his tongue seemed to be paralyzed. He couldn't believe that seeing Rachel again would be such a shock. Like jumping at twenty-five thousand feet where there was only icy atmosphere and empty vast air.

She seemed just as surprised to see him, as her lovely mouth was gaping like a fish out of water.

Yep, I know just how you feel. And that troubled him too because whatever this was, it affected both of them. That can't be good, he thought as he cleared his throat and tried to sound like a normal person. “Aren't you gonna come skydiving, too?”

“I'll keep my feet planted firmly on God's good soil, thank you very much. I'm not about to jump out of a perfectly good plane.”

“Well, I just thought I'd offer. I appreciate you watching Sally for me.”

“Go ahead and bring her in. I've got to run. School is over this exact minute. But Ben has my cell number, and I'll be out at the house. You can find me when you're done.” There was only friendliness in her manner, and he wondered about that dude who'd been talking to her in the diner.

It wasn't his business if she was seeing someone and he wasn't about to lower his pride and ask Ben about it. Why would he? He wasn't interested in getting married. He was an independent sort and always would be, right? This deep awareness he felt for Rachel McKaslin would go away, right?

Sally nudged against his side. She'd climbed out of Ben's truck and was stalking him like a navy SEAL. “Uncle Jake, you won't make me stay with her, right?”

Okay, well, he wouldn't have to worry about this awareness he felt for Rachel because Sally was going to scare her away anyway. The girl had been getting steadily more clingy over the last few weeks. “Sweetie, I won't leave you for too long. I can't take you jumping with me.”

“Oh.” She couldn't hide her enormous disappointment.

Rachel came to the rescue. Somehow that didn't surprise him a bit. She flashed a winning smile their way. “Sally, you and I are going to have the most awesome time. I promise. Hop in.”

“I guess.” Sally's head sank forward in defeat.

Jake's chest gave a hard bump. The girl seemed like nothing but shadow. He'd done his best by her, but he
couldn't blame her. Going back to California and facing memories of her old life had refreshed her grief. Maybe Sally needed Rachel's empathy today.

And he was grateful. “I can't thank you enough, Rachel.”

“No thanks needed. I'm always happy to spend time with a good friend. Right, Sally?”

Sally didn't look as if she agreed but she climbed into the car and grabbed the buckle. Worry darkened her pretty eyes. “You'll be back for supper, right?”

“You won't have time to miss me much, I promise you that, darlin'.” She'd been keeping close track of him, as if she were afraid of losing him, too.

Sally looked up at if she didn't believe him at all.

I'm not ever gonna abandon you, little girl. He couldn't help running his hand over the top of her head or the love that kept getting stronger for this child.

“Hey,” Rachel broke through his thoughts. “I gotta scoot! Have jun fumping! I mean, fun jumping.” She put the car in gear—forward this time—and he slammed the door shut.

The sedan cut through the long slant of sunshine and the stir of golden autumn leaves. His heart stirred, too, a strange mix of emotions he didn't want to acknowledge or name.

 

Jun fumping?
Could she have bumbled that any worse? Rachel still wanted to wither up and die an hour
later as she pulled into the garage with both kids tucked in the back seat.

It was too much to hope that Jake hadn't noticed. With any luck, she'd never have to see him again.

And hadn't she been in serious like with the man? Well, she might as well give up those thoughts now. What he must think of her, she couldn't guess, but chances were one hundred percent that he wanted to run in the opposite direction the next time he saw her.

Liking a man was a tricky thing—it was the first step on a path that made a girl way too vulnerable. As much as she wanted love and romance, a lovely wedding and a good marriage, she wanted it to be with the right man. That man wasn't Jake.

Rachel took a deep breath and tried to imagine the perfect man, if there could be one better than Jake. A man who would love her truly and cherish her forever, the same way she wanted to love him. The truth was, she wanted to love Jake. Her soul seemed to calm in his presence. This was simply another lost opportunity for true love.

She put the car in Park and turned off the engine. Westin's reflection in the rearview mirror caught her attention. He was already free from his buckles and clambering out of his seat. His hair was tousled and windblown from a busy day at school, but his energy not a bit dimmed. He bolted out of the back seat and gave the door a good slam, all before she had time to
do more than pull her keys from the ignition and open her door. “Are you gonna be a gentleman and wait for us girls?”

“Well then, you gotta hurry.” He grinned at her through the rolled-down window. “Cuz I'm hungry. What do ya got for me? Cupcakes?”

“Nope. Nothing but cold ashes for you.”

“You can't eat ashes!” Westin laughed. “C'mon, Sally. Aunt Rachel probably's got cupcakes on the counter. You can have the first pick.”

“Good boy.” Rachel poked him in the stomach, just to hear him laugh again. Then she rummaged around for her purse, wherever it had gone to. “Sally, go ahead with Westin. I know I put it in here somewhere. Have you seen my purse?”

“Nope.” Sally released her seat belt and dropped to her knees in the small space between the seat and the glove box. She looked under the seat. “It's not here.”

“Thanks, I know it's here somewhere. I hope.” This was what happened when she had tried to learn the modern torture known as bookkeeping. “I'll find it later. What I need more than my purse is chocolate. How about you?”

“'Kay.” Sally managed a small smile. “Uncle Jake likes chocolate, too.”

“Then we'll wrap up a few for you to take with you. Deal?”

“Deal!”

“Then let's go. Westin looks like he's gonna pop like a balloon if he has to wait another second for us.” Rachel climbed out of the car, then ducked back in to grab her keys. Her nephew was holding the garage door, but was hopping up and down in place. “Why, thank you, sir. You're such a gentleman.”

“My new dad says a man treats ladies real nice. Holdin' doors and stuff.”

“A good man, your new dad, and you, too.” Rachel waited for Sally and laid a hand on her shoulder to guide her through the doorway.

The girl was such a small thing, more shadow than substance, that Rachel's heart gave a hard wrench. She was clearly worried about something happening to Jake and being left alone again. Well, maybe I can make the next few hours a little easier for the child to get through.

“How about some chocolate milk to go with those cupcakes?” Rachel tossed her keys on the counter. Sunlight streaming through the windows made the kitchen cheerful and toasty and welcomed them over to the table. “Sally—” she gestured toward the chairs, “Go ahead and sit. Westin, grab the napkin holder for me, would you?”

“Can I have two cupcakes, no, three?”

The phone rang, saving her from answering. Westin already knew her answer—could she ever say no?—and she ruffled his head as she skirted past him to grab the
receiver. “You guys decide if you wanna play a board game or go outside when you're done. Hello?”

“Hey, it's me.” Her brother's voice warmed the line. “Got a question for you.”

“First I've got one for you. Are you going to make sure your parachute is packed right before you jump?”

“Here, I'll let Jake answer that, since he's listening in.”

There was the sound of male voices, a crackling sound as the phone was handed over, and Rachel didn't have time to swallow her panic before Jake's confident voice rang in her ear.

“I'm as safe as can be. We're about to go up, but I wanted to give you time to think about this.” Jake's words dipped low and serious.

Rachel felt the impact deep in her soul. See how he affected her? No man had ever done this to her. How was she going to act normally, now? “What exactly are you going to ask?”

“Ben said he could use help moving on Wednesday, and since that's two days away, I can switch our flights, no problem, and stick around to help. But seeing as I don't make the big bucks, Ben suggested Sal and I could stay in the apartment. I wanted to make sure that was okay with you first. Say no if you're uncomfortable with a single old bachelor like me hanging around your house.”

“The apartment's over the diner. Did Ben tell you that?”

“Ah, no, he didn't. Then I guess I ought to be calling your oldest sister. Isn't she in charge of the diner?'

“I'm taking over, and trust me, she won't mind if you stay. Ben could use the help, I know, it'll make this easier on him. And this way I get to spend more time with Sally.”

Jake didn't miss the genuine affection in Rachel's words. He could just imagine her in that house of hers meant for a family, she was probably in the kitchen. Yep, he could hear the clink of dishes. The refrigerator door opened and his mind flashed back to the evening spent in her home in her company, and his world stopped spinning. Everything within him stilled. The back of his neck tingling like it did right before things got hot on a mission.

Except there was no danger, no enemies, no imminent ambush, no unseen threat. Just the pulse of his heartbeat and a strange stillness in the deepest part of him. It was as if God was letting him know that this woman was significant.

It was probably because Sally needed so much right now. Rachel, who'd known the same loss, maybe had the kindness to help Sally a little. Sure, his conscience scolded him, but Sally would be the only reason, right?

Right, he
wanted
to say. But he knew that was wrong. Sally wasn't the only reason. Jake didn't want to think about what that meant as Ben called out to him. The pilot and plane were ready and waiting. He said goodbye,
hung up and took off down the tarmac, determined to keep nothing but blue skies on his mind.

 

Rachel heard the kitchen door open. The sound of boots hitting the floor told her two people were coming her way. She slid the dice across the coffee table to Westin as she rose from the floor. Ignoring the snap in her knee and the creak in her lower back, she ambled around the sectional, expecting to see Jake.

It wasn't Jake who strode into sight, but Amy and her handsome new husband. Heath did not look happy, and Amy appeared flushed either from upset or from a disagreement, Rachel couldn't tell which. But it couldn't bode well.

“What's up, guys?” Rachel left the excitement of the board game behind, knowing the kids were well occupied, and headed for the cupboards. “You look like you need chocolate.”

“Chocolate's a start.” Amy collapsed on the nearest chair. “No, please tell me these aren't your secret-recipe cupcakes because I can't eat just one. Heath, world wars could start over these, they're so good.”

“The secret's in the filling.” Rachel handed down two dessert plates. “Go ahead. Take as many as you want. They're only good when they're fresh. Want soda or chocolate milk to go with?”

“You shouldn't be waiting on us.” Amy had dropped her purse, shrugged out of her coat and was unwrapping
the paper from a cupcake. Chocolate crumbs tumbled everywhere. “But I love ya for it. We just looked at another house we couldn't afford.”

“It wasn't affording the actual house,” Heath added as he took a cake. “It was figuring out how to pay for the repairs it needed just to make it halfway livable.”

“It's a tight market.” Amy bit into her cupcake with a moan. She slumped against the chair back as she chewed. The chocolate seemed to be doing the trick. Amy already looked five times more relaxed.

“This is great, Rachel.” Heath said around a bite of the crumbly goodness. “I feel better already.”

Rachel poured two cups of cold milk and grabbed the chocolate syrup. With a few long squirts and a brief stint in the microwave, she had two cups of steaming goodness that made her sister smile. As she served the drinks, she thought she heard a car in the driveway, but it was the wind knocking the lilac bushes against the siding.

She had to stop thinking about Jake while she could. What she ought to be concentrating on was her sister, who had a real problem. Three people living in a single-wide trailer was do-able, sure, but it was a small trailer. Rachel knew that they needed something bigger, especially since they were hoping to add to their family. Not that Amy had said anything, but Rachel knew from the looks Heath and Amy had been sending to one another. They were so in love, so joyful, just so everything.

“I know of a house that would be perfect for you.”
She couldn't help grabbing one of the cupcakes for herself, not that her hips needed more padding than they already had. “This house I'm thinking of has four big bedrooms on the main floor, a roomy living room and this great country kitchen.”

“No way. We're not arguing about this again.”

“Not unless these cupcakes are included in the deal,” Heath quipped before he took another healthy bite and said to Amy, “What? What's wrong with that?”

“That's an offer I'm gonna accept.” Rachel ignored her sister, who was giving her new husband the narrow glare that all men learned to fear. “It's too late to back out. Your word is binding, Heath.”

“Wow. And I was kidding about the cupcakes. We don't want your house, Rachel.”

“Yeah, Rache, you've lived here nearly all your life.” Amy abandoned her cupcake and caught Rachel's free hand with hers. “You deserve this place. I know what you're going to say, that this is where I grew up, too, but I left home, remember? I ran off and left you and Paige with the diner and when I came back, I didn't have the right to oust you. I still don't.”