CLEAN ROMANCE: Finding Peace (Christian Romance, Inspirational Romance, Second Chance Romance) (New Adult Contemporary Romance/Clean and Wholesome) (5 page)

Three days had
passed before Vanessa showed up at the house again. Lucy had managed to make
all the meals, keep up with the laundry and entertain the children. She had
limped about the house, dusting, sweeping and polishing. When Vanessa walked in
and found them all seated at the kitchen table indulging in fried eggs and
sausage she had no words to offer.

The children
sprang from their chairs and ran to her. “Aunt Van!” they yelled and hugged her.
She kissed the tops of their heads and wiped the corners of their mouths with
the pad of her thumb.

“Welcome back,
Van.” Nash said.

“Humph” the woman
added and set off toward the laundry room.

Lucy got up and
started to clear the table. She was happy for the children, but she was less
excited for herself that Vanessa had returned. Spending the day cooped up with
her was not her ideal day.

“Lucy,” Nash
interrupted her thoughts. “Do you think that ankle is good enough to go out
with me to the stables?”

Lucy’s face lit
up. She wouldn’t have to deal with Vanessa right away after all. “Yeah, it’s
perfect.” she lied.

“Great. Kids
behave for Aunt Van. Lucy and I will be back for lunch.” He got up from the
table and waited as Lucy hugged each child and followed him out to the truck,
trying with all her effort not to limp.

Nash drove them
down to the lower barn. He slid the large door open and a dozen horses stomped
and whinnied at their sudden presence. Nash pulled a few sugar cubes from his
pocket and handed them to Lucy. “Have you ever ridden?”

Lucy shook her
head, popping a sugar cube into her mouth. Nash tilted his head and eyed her
with amusement. “You do know those are for the horses?”

Lucy blushed. “Oh
yeah right, of course I do.”

As they walked
together through the center of the barn, Lucy saw each horse had a name on a
carved plaque, similar to the one on Jasper’s stall. “Who did these?” she
asked, tracing over several on their slow journey.

“I did Ma’am.” He
answered.

“They are
beautiful. You are talented,” she complimented.

“Thank you.”

They stopped next
to a black spotted appaloosa. The plaque read “Georgia Pines”. Nash took a
sugar cube from his pocket and held it out in the flat palm of his hand. The
mare curled her lips around the sweet treat as Nash stroked her neck. “Give it
a try. She’s very gentle.”

Lucy lifted the
cube up in her fingers, holding it out to Georgia. Nash wrapped his hand around
hers. He opened her fingers and placed the square piece in the center of her
palm, silently showing her the proper way to feed the horse. The lips tickled
her hand as they lifted the cube away. Lucy dared to reach out and pet the
mare’s nose. “She is a beautiful creature.”

Nash had stepped
away to retrieve a saddle and bridle. He climbed into the stall with easy and
fitted Georgia with the equipment. “You want to give it a try?”

They had gone a
few miles when it started to rain. Nash guided them to a tree and tethered the
horses to a low branch helping Lucy from her saddle. She rubbed at her thighs
and bottom. Nash looked so natural up on his horse; she felt like a fool
bouncing all over and trying not to fall flat on her face. He had promised
she’d pick it up in no time, but Lucy felt it would be years before she would
look graceful and would be better suited to keep her own feet on the ground.

They stood under
the boughs of several trees on the outskirts of the open field they had
crossed. Lucy looked over the afternoon sky seeing the shelf of clouds and rain
fade off over the horizon. Droplets of water dripped from her bangs and the tip
of her nose. “It’s so beautiful here Nash, so very different from the noises
and crowds and heavy air of New York. Every day I wake up an am amazed all over
again.” She looked over to Nash and her heart caught in her throat. He was
standing there starring at her. She crossed her arms over her rib cage and
hugged herself, suddenly self conscious. “Your children are wonderful.” She
wanted to end the uncomfortable moment.

Nash touched her
cheek and her words stopped. He turned her face towards him and lifted her
chin. His lips were soft and his skin smelled clean and fresh like morning dew.
He kissed her and time stopped. She hadn’t been prepared for it. When he pulled
away her heart sank to her feet. “I’m sorry.” He whispered.

She was confused.
“Why?”

“It stopped
raining, we should get back. Van will have lunch waiting.” Nash untied the
horse, helped her get back on Georgia and rode off ahead of her without another
word.

As he stored the
tackle, and walked the horses back to their stalls giving them water and food,
Lucy stood by the truck. Neither of them had said another word the full way
back to the barn. She was confused. He had kissed her, she hadn’t initiated it
and it felt right. So why was he sorry? Nash emerged from the barn and walked
to the truck opening the passenger door for her. She hesitated. “Nash, you have
to talk to me. Why did you kiss me?”

He stood by the
open door for a full minute before he opened his mouth. “I thought it was time
we had that moment over with. Are you getting in?”

It was Lucy’s
turn to stand silent for a minute. “I think I’ll walk.” She needed to calm
down.

“Lilly, don’t be
like that.”

“I’m Lucy.”

Nash blushed a
deep red that filled his cheeks and traveled down his neck. He didn’t say a word,
closed the door and walked to the driver’s side. Lucy stood there in silence
and watched the truck drive away.

The smell of
bacon and waffles wafted up the stairs and seeped under the door to Lucy’s
room. She had no appetite. Her mind was heavy and her heart felt hollow. She
had lain awake all night hashing out how she was going to afford to return to
New York. She knew she could stay with a few of her friends for a short time,
but she’d need to get couple of jobs and try to find an apartment or a roommate
situation. After the kids were outside and Nash was sure to be out in the back
pastures she would pack her belongings and contact her bank to see if she could
draw on an overdraft for a short amount of time.

Looking out her window
she could see Olivia dashing off to care for Jasper. Galen and Rufus were not
far behind. She would miss them and already felt the sorrow in the pit of her
stomach. The truck was gone and when she opened her door she could hear the
clanking of dishes as Van cleaned up after the morning meal. Venturing out, she
walked on tip toe down the hallway, past Olivia’s room and beyond Galen’s room.
Nash’s bedroom door had been closed.

In the spare room
at the opposite end of the hallway Lucy moved to the computer that set on an
old roll top desk. She logged into her bank account and sent out a request.
Then she tapped out the website address for the train station. Lucy sat there
and starred at the screen. The schedule showed the first available train,
without overnight layovers, taking the most direct route back to New York was
not available for another five days. Lucy sighed and researched plane tickets,
her budget could not afford it. She sat there and considered talking to Nash,
telling him this was a mistake and if he could lend her the money she would
return it as soon as she could. This would be difficult, but she felt she had
no option. Her email flashed one new message. Her bank had refused her.

She leaned back
in the desk chair and cursed into the empty room. Walking out of the room she
saw the picture for the first time, just inside the door off to the right was a
built in shelf, a silver frame sat below eye level. She hadn’t noticed it
before, but with the sun glinting off the glass she took note. Nash stood in
front of the house holding a small blue bundle, a vision of pride. Olivia clung
to his leg, a brand new golden retriever puppy at her feet. Standing on his
opposite side stood a petite woman with golden hair. She was the same height as
Lucy with blue eyes as well. The bundle must be Galen. They were happy. How
long did they have from that moment in time before their lives had been
devastated.

Lucy’s heart was
being strangled in her chest, Nash was in pain. How could he not be? He had
lost his love, the mother of his children. Lucy was an intruder in her home,
learning to take over her duties with her children. She had been selfish,
thinking of only herself and her situation. She needed to find Nash and
apologize.

“Vanessa,” She
called as she ran down the stairs. “Vanessa.”

She appeared from
the kitchen, the usual apron tied at her waist. “For Pete’s sake, what is it?

Lucy jumped from
the last step and wrapped her arms around Vanessa. “Van, I’m sorry.” She smiled
and ran from the house leaving Vanessa standing there stunned and silent.

The distance
between the house and the back pasture was much shorter when taken at a running
pace. She arrived at the truck and opened the door snagging up some water and
drinking it until it was gone and she had regained her breath. Nash was on
horseback with the other hands and she leaned on the grill of the truck
watching him take control and call out commands. When he looked in her
direction she waved and smiled. He stopped, tilted his hat back and looked at
her with confusion. She watched as he told a hand to take over and trotted over
to her, dismounting and crossing the last few yards on foot.

“Everything
okay?” he asked.

Lucy walked up
close to him. She took his face in her hands as she stood on her tip toes. She
kissed his lips with a light swiftness and looked into the sea green of his
eyes. “I get it.”

Nash didn’t say
anything.

“I’m sorry I was
so self-centered. I can’t pretend to know how hard this is for you, but I
recognize that it is.” She let her hands drop from his cheeks and was surprised
when Nash took them and held them in his own. “I was going to go back to New
York.” Lucy paused and saw his brow crinkle with concern. “I’m planning to go,
unless you say you want me to stay, but don’t tell me unless you mean it.”

Nash kept hold of
her hands. “Do you need a ride back to the house?”

She shook her
head and recognized he needed time. “I can walk. I only wanted to say that and
now I have. I’ll see you at lunch.”

Nash stood by the
truck and watched her walk away.

Vanessa had
prepared a lunch of sandwiches, potato salad and lemonade. The day was cooler
than normal so when Lucy arrived back at the house she saw that Vanessa had set
up a picnic table just outside the kitchen door. Lucy jumped in and began to help
her, bringing out plates and napkins. She set the table and then walked to the
barn to find the children.

Olivia had
stationed herself in a heaping stack of hay near Jasper’s stall and was reading
out loud. Galen was busy driving miniature toy tractors and plastic horses
through a box of kernels of cow corn.”Hey there cowpokes.” greeted Lucy.

“Lucy!” they both
cried and Galen ran and jumped into her waiting arms. “What’s a cowpoke?” he
asked.

“What’s a
cowpoke?” she teased and tossed him with gentle care into the hay pile by his
sister. “This is a cowpoke.” Lucy began to tickle the small boy’s sides and he
laughed with genuine glee. She started to poke Olivia too until the three of
them were wrapped up in a tickle fight of epic proportions, covered in hay from
head to foot. None of them noticed Nash standing outside the barn door
observing their interaction.

Vanessa called
from the porch and the hay covered trio walked to the lunch table hand in hand,
their face glowing with happiness. “We should go in and clean up first.”
suggested Lucy. “Van, it looks wonderful, thank you for all your efforts.” She
placed her hand on Nash’s forearm with a little squeeze as she walked by and
led the children into the house.

While in the bathroom
washing their hands, Olivia hummed her usual tune. Lucy dried her hands and
handed the towel to Galen, helping him dry his fingers, hands and the sleeves
of his shirt. “Olivia, where did you learn that song?”

Olivia stopped
and considered her answer, not sure she should vocalize it. “Momma, use to sing
it to me and Galen.”

Lucy now
understood why Vanessa had quieted Olivia that first day. She smiled at the
girl. “That makes it extra special.” She sang in a soft whisper as they made
their way back outside. Once they stepped onto the porch she squeezed Olivia’s
hand and gave her a wink before placing her finger to her lips. “We can sing
again later.”

Nash walked out
behind them, Lucy had not seen him. He stood there with a fresh picture of
lemonade waiting for them to go before him and be seated.

After lunch Nash
remained at the house. He played with the children outside while Vanessa and
Lucy picked up and put items away. When Lucy had stacked the last of the plates
back in the cupboard she turned to Vanessa. “I want you to know I see what a
wonderful person you are.”

Vanessa scoffed,
“What are you on about?”

“You stepped in
and raised two amazing children and stood by a man that was broken. That could
not have been easy. I mean she was your sister, you were grieving too.”

Vanessa’s eyes
looked to Lucy’s and filled with tears. “I love them all so very much.” She
whispered. “I couldn’t bear to see them hurt all over again.”

Lucy shook her
head. “Van, I won’t hurt them. I promise. Even if Nash decided this is not what
he wants…if I am not what he wants, I love those two little children. I didn’t
think a person could fall this hard this fast, but I have.”

There was a
scuffling of feet in the hallway and Galen came running into the kitchen. “Aunt
Van, daddy says we can have a cookie.”

Vanessa pulled
the boy on to her lap. “He did now, did he?”

Galen nodded
emphatically.

“Well I think
perhaps you should ask Lucy if that is okay?” she said, watching Lucy from
across the table.

Galen looked at
Lucy with pleading in his eyes. “May I, Ma’am?”

She smiled and
dabbed the corner of her eye. “I think we can allow that.” While she handed him
a napkin stacked with chocolate chip cookies she whispered, “Thank you.” to a
sincere Aunt Van.