Devon paced the inn’s lobby, waiting for Cathy to arrive. The white sheer curtains over the front windows fluttered each time the heat kicked on. A soft melody played from the kitchen, low enough that he could still hear the hum of the radiator beneath the window. The old house creaked with each wind gust, making him jump at the smallest noise. Patience was never something he was good at.
Taking a deep breath to calm his nervousness, he eyed his phone, willing Cathy to call, but nothing. He rounded the couch once more and stared at the door until he couldn’t take it any longer. Why did he send Cathy in his place? He needed to be there.
He snagged his coat off the walnut coat tree and swung the door open to find Cathy standing on the front porch, shivering. “What are you doing out here?” Devon asked, before he pulled her inside and shut the door against the freezing wind.
Cathy only shrugged.
His heart fell. So, it’s true. Becca hates me. He ran a hand through his hair and collapsed onto the floral-patterned loveseat. “I get it. Thanks for trying. She didn’t even speak to you, right? That’s what she does. Just blocks everyone out.”
Cathy’s hand rested on his shoulder. “We had a conversation. She’s coming around, but needs a little more time.”
Devon swung to face her, his feet knocking into the coffee table, causing a ceramic vase to teeter. “Are you serious? She actually said she needed time? Not that she wanted me gone and out of her life?” Hope filled him, like a little kid on Christmas morning, waiting for a shiny, new bike.
Cathy walked around the chair and sat on the sofa beside him. He took her hand and kissed it several times. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means.”
Her gaze traveled to the floor and his hope faded a little. There was more and whatever it was, she was reluctant to tell him.
“I don’t know how long it’ll take, and she didn’t say she would speak to you, but let me keep working on her. I think she just needs time.”
“Time I can handle. I can take that job at the community college, or heck, I could retire. It doesn’t matter. I have enough saved. I’ve only worked so long to avoid the loneliness of an empty house. I know that sounds crazy.”
“No, I get that.” Cathy squeezed his hand. “I kept busy all these years to avoid being alone, too. It’s tough to be without a partner.”
Devon scooted forward. “Then give me a chance. Let me court you. I’ll treat you like no other man ever has. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman. You’re kind, tough, passionate, and honest. Those qualities are so difficult to find together in one package. Most of all, I enjoy being with you. It doesn’t matter if we work in the shop, eat, or fall asleep in front of the fireplace. I’ve enjoyed every minute with you.”
Cathy slipped her hand from his. “Don’t you go putting me on a pedestal, now. I’m too heavy and it’s likely to break, and then where would we be?”
Devon laughed. “You’ve no idea how beautiful you are, do you?” He leaned forward and placed a hand on each knee. “That just makes you even more attractive. I promise I’ll be the perfect gentleman. I think I proved that last night. You’re the kind of woman a man respects and adores. You are not and never could be a one-night stand. I want to be the man I know I was supposed to be before I became so sour. Give me a chance to be that man. You inspire me to be a better human being.”
Cathy toyed with a loose thread on a throw pillow at her side. “I think you do the same for me. I’m no angel, trust me. I drive most people crazy. But with you, I’m more relaxed and not so impulsive. I want to think things through, instead of always pouncing.” She exhaled heavily. “You need to know that I’m just as broken, or possibly even more broken than you. I don’t know that I can be this person you see me as.”
“You already are that person. The one person in this world that’s all the things I need. I can see a future I’ve longed for my entire life, and I believe with you by my side, it’s finally possible. Perhaps you’re right, this town does have some sort of secret power to bring people together. Let’s just take it one day at a time. We’ll promise to be honest with each other and communicate about things so that we keep each other straight.”
Cathy nodded. “I’d like that.”
Her words filled him with enough adrenaline he thought he could run thirteen miles in the freezing rain and still feel like he was twenty-five again. “Good. It’s settled. So then, what’s on your agenda today? Is there anything I can help with?”
“I’m going to meet with Karen and Susan about the fundraiser and then I’m going to head over to the hospital to talk to Dr. Hendricks about the bone marrow screening. Why don’t you go speak with Sheriff Mason about the police department getting involved? Then we could meet for lunch.”
“I’d be happy to. I’m just sad we have to part ways. I’ll have to get a hug before I go though.” He stood and opened his arms, wishing he could kiss her and make love to her, but he knew restraint was essential with Cathy Mitchell. She was a woman of character and if he won her love, he knew it would be forever.
Her head tucked under his chin and her frame fit perfectly into his.
“Until later.” He released her.
“Until later.” She stepped away then slipped out the front door.
He hesitated, wanting to reach for her, for one more embrace, but she’d already reached the bottom step and was headed in the opposite direction. He shut the door and shuffled down the street toward his car. The sheriff would be willing to assist with the fundraiser, he was sure of that. His job would be easy. Cathy, on the other hand, had a much more challenging job ahead of her.
He reached his car in the back parking lot, a sting on the back of his neck made him spin to see who was behind him. Only a squirrel, skittering across the cold asphalt, no doubt searching for a hideout from the cold. Still, he scanned the few people at the edge of the lot, preparing to begin their day, but there was no sign of his ex.
With a heavy sigh, he climbed into his car and drove to the precinct. As he headed for the front of the building, he tightened his coat around his middle to block the icy breeze. The glass doors were decorated with spray snow, cling-on snowmen, and other holiday icons.
A man exited, holding the door open for Devon. He quickly stepped inside and found a deputy behind the front desk.
“Can I help you, sir?”
“Yes, please. I’d like to speak to Sheriff Mason. Is he here?”
The deputy picked up a phone. “May I ask your name, sir?”
“Devon West. He won’t know me, but I’m here to speak with him on behalf of Cathy Mitchell.”
The deputy nodded and pressed a button. “Susan? Is Sheriff back there? There’s a gentleman named Devon West who’d like to speak to him. Says Cathy Mitchell sent him.”
He lowered the receiver. “Just a second. She’s checking with Sheriff Mason to find out if he has a few minutes.”
“Thank you.” Devon leaned against the counter and eyed the shrub of a Christmas tree in the corner. The star on the top reminded him of the one on the town clock, and on the tree at J & L antiques. Creekside showed their Christmas spirit in and on every building.
The deputy angled the receiver back to his mouth. “Great. I’ll tell him.” He hung up. “He’ll be right out. You can have a seat over there, if you’d like.” The deputy pointed to two grey chairs in the corner.
“Thanks, but I’ll stand.” Devon paced the waiting area to keep warm. The smell of bitter coffee and pine drifted throughout the room, along with a faint odor of disinfectant. He glanced out the front doors, still feeling uneasy. Was Kimmie really watching him? Why would she even bother? She had made it clear she didn’t want anything to do with him when she walked out of their lives.
His gaze drifted to the thick metal doors behind the reception desk and he realized the precinct probably had holding cells in the back. It was still hard for him to comprehend that his ex-wife had spent time in a cell somewhere. Try as he might, he just couldn’t imagine his vain ex-wife wearing the drab jumpsuit of a correctional facility.
One of the metal doors in the back popped open and Sheriff Mason stepped out. He stood tall, with a little silver lining his dark hair. The man had an honest face and he smiled when he saw Devon. “Hello, Mr. West. It’s a pleasure.” He extended his hand and Devon took it to exchange a firm handshake. “Please. Follow me back to my office. We’ll be more comfortable there.”
“Certainly.” Devon followed him through the door and into a sterile hallway. They walked past the two empty holding cells and turned left into a hall of offices. Back here, the disinfectant smell overpowered all the other aromas in the building. That, coupled with the plain white cinderblock walls, reminded him of the hospital where he’d had his appendix removed a few years back.
Sheriff held out his hand, gesturing to Devon to have a seat while he took the chair behind the desk. “So, what can I do for you? Susan mentioned something about Cathy. She’s an amazing lady. And she never really asks for anything, so I have to admit, I’m intrigued.”
Devon sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I assume you know who Amelia Gaylord is?” Sheriff Mason’s face grew pale. He must’ve known something was going on with the baby. “They, uh, they received the news that she has Leukemia.”
He heard a gasp behind him. “Oh, dear lord in heaven.”
Devon turned to see a woman standing in the doorway, a hand cupped to her mouth.
“This is Susan, my secretary,” Mason said.
Wait. Didn’t Cathy say she was going to talk to a Susan? He cringed, feeling guilty for being so blunt. He knew Cathy would have handled it better.
He nodded to her, but she remained transfixed, a pleading look on her face, as if the sheriff could arrest this nasty culprit.
Devon cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to bring such bad news, but Cathy wants to help.”
Sheriff Mason took a long breath. “I’d expect no less from that woman. Tell me what she needs.”
“She wants to set up a fundraiser with some sort of big shopping day here in town to help pay for the astronomical costs of treatment and also get the word out that Amelia needs a bone marrow donor, not to mention a few other things. I’m not sure what all she wanted from you exactly, but I told her I’d come speak to you. She’s meeting with a Karen and Susan to work on getting the word out. Something about the church.”
“Yes. Karen’s the church secretary.” Mason steepled his fingers then rested his chin on his hands.
“I think they’ll be planning a fundraising event with the church.”
“Ah, I see.” The sheriff glanced at Susan.
“I’m on it.” She pulled a notepad and pen off Mason’s desk and disappeared just as quickly and quietly as she’d come.
Devon looked between them, feeling as if he’d missed something.
“Don’t worry. I know what Cathy’s asking for,” Mason assured him. “She’ll need help expediting permits and making a few other things happen in town. Tell her that, for her, I’ll do anything.”
Devon nodded. “Thank you.”
He leaned back in his chair and smiled. “By the way, word in town is that you’re interested in our Cathy Mitchell. You’ve been seen dining with her and I know you were at her house last night. You’re one lucky man. She’s a good woman.”
Devon smiled. “I know. I asked her if I can court her and she said yes, so I hope to be staying in Creekside for a while.”
The sheriff leaned forward, his chair squeaked loudly beneath him. “There’s one more thing. From what I understand you’re Becca’s father and you’re hoping to reconnect with her.”
Devon swallowed hard. “Yeah, but I assure you there won’t be any trouble. Cathy spoke to her just this morning and she’s thinking about reuniting with me. She’s been troubled for years, but I think this town has been good for her.”
“What kind of trouble?” The sheriff’s tone turned more interrogative than inquiring.
Devon shook his head. “Nothing of that sort. It’s more that she’s been in some sort of depression or something. She went from a star athlete and straight A student to running away from home. She’s never been in jail or anything. From what I understand, she’s been working two jobs and doesn’t have time for any nonsense.”
“Mrs. Fletcher, the owner of Café Bliss, says she’s a good girl who just fell on bad times, but she’s a hard worker and great kid.”
“Yeah. I just wish I knew what caused her the hard times.”
Mason cocked an eyebrow. “You still don’t know?”
Devon traced a finger over the cracked varnish on the sheriff’s desk. “No. I have an idea, but nothing substantial.”
The sheriff stood and offered his hand. “Well, I hope you’re able to figure it out soon.”
“So do I.”
Mason kept hold of his hand. “You sound like you don’t believe it will happen.”
“It’s not my daughter,” Devon said, looking him in the eye. “It’s her mother.”
The sheriff released his hand and leaned a hip on the desk, crossing his arms over his chest. “What about her?”
Devon rubbed his throbbing temple. Even the idea of her made his head hurt. “She left without a word when Becca was thirteen, which is what I believe sparked my daughter’s challenges. I recently discovered her mother served time, got released two months ago, and now she’s here in Creekside. I saw her yesterday. Didn’t actually talk to her, but I’m positive it was my ex-wife, Kimmie. I’m afraid she’ll confront Becca and send my daughter running from town and I’ll lose her again, possibly forever this time. I’m not sure why she’d even want to see Becca. She abandoned us and never looked back. But her being here at the same time as Becca is too much of a coincidence.”
Sheriff Mason tilted his head. “People can change, you know. Maybe jail time set her straight and she just wants a chance to try again.”
Devon swallowed. “Perhaps, but if she had, why didn’t she call out to me when she saw me, instead of running off? I feel like she’s been watching me, too. It sounds paranoid, I know, but I’m just afraid for my daughter.”
The room remained silent for a few moments before Sheriff Mason straightened. “I tell you what. If you can provide a picture, I can have my men keep an eye out for her. If we spot her, we can at least ask her what she’s doing in Creekside.”
“You would do that for me?”
Sheriff Mason touched Devon’s shoulder in a friendly gesture and led him from the room. “I’ll do it for my town and Cathy. You, I don’t know yet. I’m hoping you’re a man of your word and have the best of intentions. We’ll see.”
Devon admired the man and his ability to command without disrespecting.
When they reached the metal door they’d entered through, the sheriff paused. “Devon, send that picture as soon as possible. If you’re right and you’re ex-wife’s really in town, one of my men may have already seen her. He reported seeing a woman he didn’t recognize standing outside the café the other night, looking through the windows. When he approached her, she fled. From her behavior, I suspect she’s waiting for an opportunity.”
Devon froze. “An opportunity for what?”
“I’m not sure. That’s what concerns me. I believe she’s waiting for a chance to speak to your daughter or you alone. In my experience, when someone won’t be upfront, it usually means they’re hiding something.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, but they’ll do anything to keep from getting caught, and take down anyone who gets in their way.”