“I couldn’t eat another bite.” Melanie pushed from the kitchen table and took her plate to the sink. The morning sun brightened her attitude, considering the barbecue was set to start in a couple of hours. “I think I’ve gained five pounds in the last few weeks.”
“An extra five pounds never looked as good on me.” Grace gave her the once over. “If you’ve got ’em, we can’t see ’em.”
“Gracie.” Martin patted her hand. “In the lean times and in the good, I love every inch of you.”
“Oh, go on.” She swatted at him.
Gabe cleared his throat. “Didn’t sound much like love a couple days ago when Mom put that salad in front of you.”
Melanie laughed with them, marveling at how easy it had been to slip into the warmth of the family. She’d never experienced total acceptance, complete inclusion, as she had from the moment they’d rolled onto the Davidson Ranch. God bless this special place. A healing place. A place filled with love.
She caught Gabe looking at her, and heat rose to her cheeks. Since the day before last, she’d been walking on air. She’d kissed the most handsome, kind, considerate man she’d ever known. She’d accepted his invitation to return to the ranch after visiting with her folks.
He’d even reassured her of his feelings last night by praying with her at the door of the cabin after he’d walked her home from the evening of movies at his parents’.
Her smile started to fade. Today was the last day she’d be with the family, with Gabe. Tomorrow she’d get her truck back and drive off to introduce Jason to his grandparents. Then she faced the possibility of relocating to a new town, a new life. She drew a deep breath and pulled her smile tighter.
When had her life become so complicated?
“Melanie, how about we spread those tablecloths now?” Grace stacked the breakfast dishes in the sink. “Crowd will be here before you know it.”
“Let me run back to the cabin.” Melanie stepped away from the counter and started for the door. “I forgot a clip and my hair is going to drive me nuts.”
“It looks great.” Gabe met her at the door with a grin. He opened the door for her and did a double take. “Someone’s here already. They’re not supposed to show up until eleven o’clock.”
Melanie peeked past his shoulder and saw a midsized sedan with dealer plates at the yard fence. The sun reflected off the windshield. She couldn’t see inside no matter how hard she squinted.
Grace came up behind her. “Might as well welcome them. We’ve still got plenty of waffles and sausage.”
Gabe pushed the door open and stepped out. “Mornin’, folks. Come for the auction?”
The driver’s side door opened and a man with a khaki-colored camper hat got out. A woman with gray, perfectly coiffed hair stepped out of the passenger side. They both looked around at the buildings then back to Gabe. “We’re looking for Melanie Hunter.”
The blood drained from her face. No. Not here. The pit of her stomach roiled and knotted, and Melanie thought her double stack pancakes would make a return appearance. She grabbed the doorknob as her knees went weak.
“What’s wrong?” Grace grabbed her arm. “Come here and sit.”
“I’m okay, just…just surprised.”
Voices filtered up the walk. Gabe opened the door and let the guests in. “Melanie? Someone here to see you.”
She wasn’t ready for them yet. Why today? Why now? “Mom. Dad. What are you doing here?”
Jason ran in from where he’d been setting up the dominoes to play with Martin. “Mom? Is someone here for you?”
Ester Hunter sized up the boy as if she were appraising one of her antiques. She looked from Melanie to him, then back at her. Apparently satisfied with what she saw, she offered a strained smile. “We’ve come to meet our grandson.”
Jason stepped closer. “Mom, is this your mom and dad?”
Finally finding her voice, she nodded. “Ester and Jim Hunter, this is Grace and Martin Davidson. And behind you, Gabe Davidson.” She cleared her throat as everyone exchanged greetings. All she wanted was for the earth to open up and swallow her. She hadn’t anticipated this at all.
Gripping Jason’s shoulder, she eased him in front of her. “And this is Jason. Your grandson.”
“Hello, young man.” Jim Hunter kneeled until he was Jason’s height. “You been taking care of your mother all these years?”
“Yes, sir.” Jason hesitated. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
Her dad smiled the same crooked smile Melanie remembered him giving her. “You’ve done a fine job.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Melanie had never heard so many sirs out of her son in his life. As her dad straightened, she looked from Ester to Jim and frowned. “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
Ester nodded at Grace. “Grace called us the other evening and invited us to a barbecue you’re hosting. You didn’t mention it in your phone call.”
Melanie stood speechless. Grace had sold her out.
“What better way to reunite than surrounded by friends,” Grace chimed in with her usual good humor. “Littleton isn’t that far from here. I thought your parents might enjoy a drive in the mountains on a beautiful summer day.”
“And pork flies south for the winter,” Martin mumbled behind Melanie, shuffling around until he stood next to his wife. “Jim and Ester, nice to meet you. Why don’t we go sit outside while Grace fixes tea? Gabe? Is everything ready for the crowd?”
Gabe nodded. “Nice meeting you, folks.” He opened the door and disappeared.
Coward. What was she supposed to do? So many last-minute details needed attention. She didn’t have time to catch up on eight years of baby history. That was what tomorrow was supposed to accomplish. Today, she’d had other plans.
Plastering on a smile, she indicated the door. “The table is right around the house.”
Gabe walked out the door then shot around the side of the house and came back in the office door. He stood in the living room until Melanie, Jason and her folks were out of hearing. Stalking into the kitchen, he cornered his mother. “What have you done?”
“Nothing that any concerned friend wouldn’t have done. I arranged a meeting for Melanie and her parents on neutral territory. Her relationship with her parents is strained. She needed to mend fences someplace where she felt comfortable. With all the party planning on her mind, and now a chance at that job she wants, she hasn’t had much time to think through her options. Considering she’s leaving for Denver tomorrow, I had to act fast.”
“Maybe she wanted to handle this herself?” Anger simmered just beneath boiling. Gabe had stood by and watched his mother orchestrate the lives of his brothers. The result? Both were gone and had few plans on returning. Something deep down told him she had plans for him, too.
“Gabriel Thomas, watch your tone.” Her eyes darkened, the only sign of her agitation. “I just had the best interests of that girl in mind. She needs support right now and I hate to say it, but we’re it. The last thing I want to see is her running away again and her parents never getting to know that precious boy. They need to talk. Children need to honor their parents.”
“And parents respect their children.” Gabe fought to keep his voice low.
“Exactly.” Martin came up behind Gabe, putting his hand on his shoulder. “On both counts. Grace, go give those people a drink of tea.”
Tension strummed between mother and son. The look on her face announced she knew she’d won the battle. She always did. She gathered up tea, glasses and spoons and backed out of the screen door, tray in hand.
“God is stronger and wiser than Grace Davidson and if He wants fences mended, He’ll supply the materials Himself.” Martin rubbed his chin. “I don’t approve of her meddling, son, but she has a point. Melanie is a strong woman when it comes to protecting and providing for Jason. Something tells me she’s not quite sure what to do about taking care of herself. Maybe it’s good we’re here for her.”
Of course Dad was right. Too bad his advice didn’t remove more of the sting of his mother’s methods. Protecting Melanie and Jason beat fiercely within his chest. Gabe stopped and frowned.
Because she’d confided in him?
Because she’d shared her secrets?
Because she made him feel like a hero?
Gabe blinked a couple of times to clear his head. His father stood beside him, watching him with that look on his face. That look told Gabe every cog, every piece, was falling into place and his dad was close to solving the mystery.
Gabe turned on his heel and headed out the back door. He stalked across the open lot and into the barn where his entrance startled the two fat barn cats. He paced down the corridor then retraced his steps. The cats tangled around his feet and he pushed them away.
He liked Melanie. He liked Jason.
He hadn’t been paying attention. The truth washed over him and stopped him flat.
He loved them.
Her battle with the taffy popped into his mind. The pure joy on her face as she’d swung high in the air before letting go of the swing. The wracking sobs as he’d held her in his arms and stood by as she poured out the anguish she’d held in her heart for so many years. Had he only known her a couple of weeks? Seemed like forever.
Lord, how can I fall in love with a woman I barely know? One who has her life all figured out and none of her plans include me?
Gabe hung his head and leaned against the stall door. Now he understood a fraction of the pain Nick had undergone when his wife died. If it hurt this much to lose, how would it feel to win?
Hasty footfalls pounded toward the barn. Jason ran past the open doors like a pack of wolves nipped at his heels. Gabe ran out in time to see Jason round the corner and disappear.
Jogging down the side of the barn, Gabe found Jason leaning against the rails of the fence, his head buried in the crook of his arm. “Hey, Bud. The party’s this way.”
Jason didn’t answer. Gabe stepped up and saw the uneven breaths, heard the sniff. Gabe hung his elbows over the fencing and jammed his boot on the bottom rail. “Looks like the day has surprises for everyone.”
“I don’t like them.” Jason kept his arm over his eyes. “They’re not like grandparents are supposed to be. They’re so stiff. Make them go away.”
Hurt emanated from the little body. Betrayal. Gabe understood wanting something to be one way and finding out it’s nothing like you’d imagined. Lord, give me the right words. “Yep, it’s pretty hard meeting someone important for the first time. You don’t know how to act. I know if it’s someone real important to me, I get all tongue-tied. I’m scared I’m going to say the wrong thing and they won’t like me.”
Gabe stepped closer and knelt beside Jason, staring eye level at the tear-streaked face. “Always remember, Jason. A good, loving family is the best you can have here on earth. Family will stand by you when things get tough and no matter how foolish you act, they’ll always be there to love you.”
“Isn’t Mom enough?”
“God knows what He’s doing.” His dad’s words of only moments ago rang through his head. “He has a plan for you that can’t be derailed. He brings people into your life because maybe there’s something you can teach them.”
Jason swiped his sleeve across his eyes. “Really?”
Gabe nodded. “Give your grandparents a chance. They’re going to love you.”
Jason flung himself into Gabe’s chest. Gabe caught his balance just before the both of them toppled over. Jason buried his face and rubbed his forehead in Gabe’s shirt. “Are you sure?”
Feeling the words thicken in his throat, he hugged Jason tight. “They’ll love you more than you’ll ever know.” And so do I.
In the distance, Gabe heard Melanie calling. With a final hug, he pulled just far enough away to look into the uncertain face. “Always remember, Bud. God knows what He’s doing.”
Melanie rushed around the corner of the barn. “Jason. What happened?” She pulled him into a hug and then set him back, a serious scowl on her face. “Why did you run?”
Jason kicked at the ground. “I dunno.”
The standoff between the two twisted his gut. Gabe rested his arm over Melanie’s shoulders and drew Jason close. “Is there not anything we’ve learned over the past weeks? I don’t know about you, but I sure have.” He resisted the urge to bury his face in her soft, shining hair. Jason wrapped his arm around his leg and Melanie nestled closer to his side. They stood together as he always prayed someday he would with a family of his own.
“Life is full of surprises. Just when you think you have all the answers, you realize the questions weren’t the ones you wanted answered in the first place.”
She shifted and looked up at him, her brow raised in question.
“When you guys first showed up, all I thought of was having one more responsibility added to my workload.” Melanie tried to squirm away but he held her tight. When her frown deepened, he winked at her.
“When my load began to lighten because you were here, I breathed a sigh of relief. When I started looking forward to seeing you every day, I gave thanks to God for bringing you into my life.”
Jason hugged harder. “Gabe, I like seeing you every day, too.”
Gabe tightened his embrace around them and thought he felt Melanie rub her cheek on his shoulder. “We’ve all been through some hefty changes. Bud, your grandparents just want to get to know you. Let them see the real Jason, and I’m pretty sure they’ll love you all the more for it.”
“He’s right, Jason.” Melanie cleared her throat. “Mom and Dad haven’t met you. But they want to get to know you. They want a chance to love you.”
Gabe swallowed against the tightening in his throat. “They want to get to know you, too, Melanie. Family is a wonderful thing.” He squeezed them tight.
Wisps of her soft hair brushed his skin as she turned and kissed him on the cheek. She gave him a watery smile that made Gabe want to hug her and never let her go. Ever.
Melanie sniffed. “C’mon, Jason. Let’s go meet the folks.”
Melanie walked with Jason and her parents around the grounds, milling with the folks showing up for the barbecue, introducing her parents to the town. She knew something about everyone who greeted them, making the strangers she was introducing to her parents sound like old friends.
“Melanie!”
Jennifer popped up behind Mr. Deacon and waved a bandana in the air.
“Thought I’d never find you. Will you look at this crowd?”
Shayna skirted around a group of men and squeezed past a chair and table. She grabbed Melanie by the arm and pulled her into a hug. “Thanks so much for filling in at the store. I can’t begin to tell you how much better I feel. Dad’s not as worried about me now.”
She stepped back beside Jennifer. “I can’t believe how many people are lined up to eat!”
Jennifer craned her neck. “Folks probably knew Gabe had someone else cooking for him, so the food was safe to eat.” She winked at Jason.
He giggled. “Gabe made me a baloney sandwich and it was good.”
“Yeah, well, he ought probably stick to that specialty of the house.” She turned to Jim and Ester. “Jennifer O’Reilly.”
“Shayna Leon.” She wedged in between Jennifer and Melanie. “Are you here with Melanie?”
“These are my parents.” Melanie made the introductions. “They’ve come up to see what we’ve been doing with our summer.”
“Great!” Shayna rushed in. “Melanie has helped me so much.”
Ester raised an arched brow. “Oh? What did you do?”
“Just offered a friend some support.” In such a short time, Shayna and Jennifer had become her friends. A reality Melanie still struggled with. “Doesn’t the barbecue smell great?”
“Hank tossed seasoning on the beef to keep up with the spices you rubbed into the pork. RJ is flipping ribs as fast as he can.” Jen pointed all around. “Ed, Bob, Gus, all of ’em love it. Guess you know you’ll be welcome back anytime.”
Melanie stopped before she spoke. The town liked her? All she did was organize a picnic, and really, if truth be told, she didn’t do much of the planning. She grinned at Jen for stretching the truth.
“Melanie.” Her mother broke through the fog. “Where have you and Jason been living?”
“Over here, Grammy.” Jason pointed up the path. “Wanna see?”
A tender smile touched her mother’s eyes. “I’d love to.”
Jason squeezed between his grandparents and led them up the path. Melanie brought up the rear. Jason’s existence was a shock to her folks, and they handled the surprise quite well. Those miracles just kept popping up all over the place. They reached the end of the path and Jason pushed open the door.
“Home.” He swung out his arm.
“It’s beautiful.” Her mother took a quick look around the small cabin. She came back out while Dad and Jason poked around. “The Davidsons were very generous to let you use such a quaint cabin. And look at this view! I’d say it was worth planning the party, wouldn’t you?”
The lightness of her mother’s voice stunned her. Her mother, the one who always saw life through very proper eyes—teasing her over the situation? Melanie couldn’t help but smile back. “Two people and one bathroom in the mornings became dicey at times, but yes, it’s been wonderful.”
“Seems like many things are wonderful up here.”
The mountains, the people, Grace and Martin. Gabe. Yes, a lot about Hawk Ridge was wonderful. “I really like the small town.”
Ester tilted her head. “Hmm.”
Jason gabbed as he came out of the cabin, tugging his Grandpa by the hand. “And Gabe taught me how to ride a horse, and Hank’s teaching me how to rope and…” The two passed Melanie and Ester on their way down to the food.
“Your friends seem nice.”
Melanie scuffed her toe into the dirt. “Jennifer is a nurse and Shayna works for her dad in the hardware store. They’re very special.”
“I can tell.” Ester circled around, pushing a pine bough out of the way. “When is she due?”
“Four weeks, I think.”
A distant look clouded her eyes. “I’ll bet her family can’t wait.”
“Yeah, her dad is pretty excited.”
Ester tilted her head. Melanie knew what her mother’s next question would be and she didn’t want to discuss it now.
“I guess we better go eat while there’s food left.” The words flew out of her mouth. Melanie dreaded moments alone with her mother, wanting to put off judgment day as long as possible. “It is, after all, my party.”
As she turned toward the path, she felt her mother’s hand on her shoulder. Melanie hesitated then met the bright eyes of her mom.
“I’m glad you kept him.” Her mother’s chin trembled.
Tears stuck in her throat. The memory of the fighting and screaming and all the hurtful words that had shot between herself and her parents wove through her mind. Melanie waited for the familiar stab of resentment and anger…but all she felt was relief.
She managed a smile in return and embraced her mom. “I’m glad. I was so scared you’d find out.”
Ester hugged her close. “I’m sorry we made you feel that way.” She pulled away and cupped Melanie’s face with her palm. “We have a lot to talk about after your event is over.”