Hailey was quiet in the back seat as Valerie drove toward her house an hour later. She glanced in the rearview mirror, watching Hailey take in the small town. They passed the historic courthouse with its tall clock tower, and drove down Second Street with all the old, beautiful homes. It must be strange for her to leave Saint Paul, one of the biggest cities in Minnesota, and come to a little community like Timber Falls. There were no big shopping malls, concert venues or skyscrapers. The heaviest traffic happened when the schools let out at three, or a train was longer than normal and the cars were backed up for a couple of minutes along Broadway. It was a charming community with historic buildings, quaint parks and the Mississippi River running straight through the heart of the town.
Neither one said a word as Valerie turned into the alley behind her house and parked the car in the detached garage.
What could she say to her daughter? Even if she’d had weeks to prepare, she didn’t know. There was so much to tell her—yet her mind was blank.
They got out of the car and Valerie closed the garage door as they left the side entrance.
“Are you mad?” Hailey asked as she looked up at Valerie.
“Mad? Who would I be made at?”
“Mom or me.”
Valerie stopped on the back sidewalk and shook her head. “I’m not mad at you, Hailey. You’re not to blame for any of this. Do you understand?”
“That’s what Mom told me, too. Or should I call her Grandma?” She wrinkled up her face. “That’s weird.”
“It doesn’t matter what you call her,” Valerie said with a sigh. “She’s the only mom you’ve ever had.” Until now, she wanted to add, but it was still strange to think of herself as a mom. “Come on. Let’s get inside and make supper.”
Valerie opened the door onto the back porch and then the kitchen. Annabelle was at the door, ready to greet them.
“You have a dog?” Hailey asked excitedly as she got on the floor to pet Annabelle. “What’s her name?”
“Annabelle.”
“Hello, Annabelle,” Hailey said with a giggle. “Mom wouldn’t let me get a dog, but I’ve always wanted one.”
A smile tilted Valerie’s lips for the first time since her mom’s unexpected arrival. “Now you have one.” It seemed weird to think about Hailey being a part of her life full-time. It had been a hard enough transition to get a puppy three years ago. But a little girl?
“Can you take her outside?” Valerie asked. “She needs to go potty.”
“Sure.” Hailey jumped up and called for Annabelle to follow her into the backyard. “Will she run off?”
“No. She stays in the yard, but you still need to keep an eye on her.”
Hailey’s laughter filled Valerie’s heart with a strange ache—and she suddenly realized how much she had missed that laughter. She’d missed a lot of things in Hailey’s life, but it wasn’t something she had allowed herself to ponder before. It hurt too much.
She stood at the kitchen sink and looked out the window to the backyard as she watched Annabelle and Hailey play. She hadn’t seen Annabelle so excited or active before. Perhaps the dog had been missing out, too.
Valerie turned back to her kitchen and stared at it for a minute, trying to decide what to make for supper. What did ten-year-old girls like to eat? As much time as she spent with children, she didn’t know much about taking care of one. She knew how to run a school, how to meet state standards, how to hire and fire employees, and discipline children in a school setting—but when it came to feeding them? She was at a loss.
The school lunches weren’t much help, either. Valerie wasn’t a big fan of what they provided for the children. Pizza, chicken nuggets, hamburgers or fish sticks. None of them looked appetizing or nutritious.
She surveyed at her weekly menu and stared at Saturday’s supper. Spicy Tuna Sushi Roll. She loved to cook and often tried new recipes with complicated ingredients on the weekends just for fun. But would Hailey like raw tuna?
As Valerie began to take out the ingredients, she kept an eye on Hailey and Annabelle. Hailey had found one of Annabelle’s balls and was playing fetch with her. Hailey’s cheeks were growing pink from the cold, but she seemed happy to stay outside.
Finally, as Valerie was slicing the ahi tuna into long, thin strips, Hailey came inside with Annabelle. She was breathless and her blond hair was windblown, but both the dog and little girl seemed happy.
Hailey’s smile fell as she looked at the ingredients for the sushi on the kitchen island. “What’s that?”
“It’s our supper. We’re having sushi.”
“Sushi?” Hailey’s frown deepened. “What’s that?”
“It’s a Japanese dish with rice, vegetables and fish.”
“Fish?” Hailey made a gagging noise. “I don’t like fish.”
Disappointment weighed on Valerie. “Not even tuna?”
Hailey shrugged. “I like tuna sandwiches.”
“That’s all this is,” Valerie said, indicating the fish on the cutting board. “It’s tuna.”
Hailey came closer to the counter and sniffed at the fish. “That doesn’t look like tuna.”
“It is.”
Hailey glanced up at Valerie to see if she was teasing.
“And this is just rice,” Valerie continued, pointing to the container where the rice was waiting. She’d added a mixture of vinegar, sugar and salt to it, but that shouldn’t bother Hailey. “And here are some carrots, cucumbers and avocados,” she continued. “They’re just cut into little strips.”
“Okay,” Hailey said tentatively.
Valerie worked for a few more minutes cutting everything up as Hailey sat on a stool and watched. “After supper, we’ll get your things brought up to the room that you’ll be using.”
Hailey nodded.
“Did Mom sell her house in Saint Paul?”
“She’s trying to.” Hailey lifted a shoulder. “Lyle’s rich, so it doesn’t matter.”
Valerie nibbled her bottom lip. She and her mother had never been close, but after Hailey was born, they had become almost like strangers. She wasn’t surprised that her mother had met and fallen in love with someone and not told her until now.
Neither one spoke for a few more minutes and then Valerie asked Hailey a question that had been bothering her. “Why did you tell Isabel Griffin that I was your sister? Why didn’t you just tell her that I am your mom? We can’t keep it hidden forever.”
Hailey didn’t look at Valerie as she shrugged. “It feels weird.”
Valerie nodded. “It does feel weird.” She stopped slicing the jalapeño and studied Hailey. “I’m sorry—about everything.”
Hailey met her gaze, her blue eyes so innocent and beautiful. “I know. Mom is sorry, too.”
“We never meant to hurt you.”
“Who is my dad?”
The question took Valerie by surprise, and she blinked a few times. She had been dishonest with Hailey long enough. She decided not to keep anything from her again. “His name is Soren Johnson, and he was my boyfriend when I was eighteen. He played football and basketball and was really smart. Everyone liked him. He got good grades and was involved in a lot of activities in school.”
“Does he know about me?” Hailey’s questions were raw and vulnerable, but she didn’t look uncomfortable asking Valerie.
“Yes. When I found out I was pregnant, he was the first person I told.” Valerie looked down at the counter, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her. She prided herself on always being calm and confident, especially in front of children. “He was surprised and really scared—just like me. But he wasn’t ready to be a dad—and I wasn’t ready to be a mom. We were very young, and we both had big dreams. So, he decided to break up with me and I didn’t force him to be part of our lives.”
“And Mom said she’d take me,” Hailey finished for her. “So you could go to college.”
Valerie nodded, but quickly added, “None of it is your fault, Hailey.”
“I know.” Her simple answer told Valerie that her mom had done a good job explaining all this already.
But tears gathered in Hailey’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?” Valerie asked, coming around the counter as she wiped her hands on a dish towel.
“I’m scared,” Hailey said. “I don’t want to live here.”
Valerie had never touched Hailey. Not after she gave birth to her or at any of the Christmases they had shared together. Her mom had never been very affectionate with Valerie, either.
But Valerie wanted to hug Hailey—wanted to pull her into her arms and promise her that everything was going to be okay, even if she wasn’t sure it would be.
Tenderly, Valerie put her arm around Hailey’s shoulders and said, “I know. I’m scared, too.”
“You are?”
Valerie nodded. “I’m scared that I’m going to be a bad mom—and that you’re not going to like me.”
Hailey wiped her cheeks and shook her head. “I like you.”
“You do?”
Nodding, Hailey sniffed. “And I like Annabelle, too.”
Valerie smiled, but then grew serious. “I promise you that I’m going to do everything I can to make you happy, Hailey. I know all of this is scary and you have a lot of new things to get used to, but we’re doing this together, okay? You’re not alone. You have me and Annabelle.”
Hailey’s smile returned and she nodded, but then she looked at the food and said, “Can I have real tuna?”
Valerie chuckled and pulled away from her daughter. “I’ll see if I have some canned tuna for you.”
It wasn’t going to be easy, but Valerie had never let anything get in the way of her goals. And now, she had a new one. She was going to be a good mom.
She just wished she wasn’t so nervous that she’d fail.
Wade entered Timber Falls Community Church on Sunday morning with Issy and Brayden at his side. Their energy was exhausting, but for some reason, on Sunday mornings, it felt twice as draining.
“Church starts in fifteen minutes,” he called to his kids as they ran off to find their friends. “I expect you in the sanctuary in ten.”
His children knew the drill, though it wasn’t unusual for one of them to get sidetracked and forget to come when the worship leader started to sing.
“There you are,” his mom said as he left the back entrance and came into the fellowship hall just outside the doors to the sanctuary. “I forgot my lasagna pan at your house last night. Did you remember to bring it?”
“No.” Wade shook his head. As if that was all he had to remember. “I’m happy that I remembered to tell the kids to put on their shoes and jackets before we left the house this morning.”
“That’s too bad.” She scrunched up her face, as if in thought. “I suppose I can use my second-best baking dish for the casserole I’m making for Mary Lou. She’s down with a cold and the other ladies and I are bringing her meals this week. But I hate to give her my second best. You know how she can be.”
He did know. His mom’s friends were a group of ladies who were affectionately known as the Church Ladies. They meant well, though they could be pushy and exasperating at times. Mary Lou Caruthers was a bit of a ringleader, though Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Topper, and even Mrs. Anderson could cause their fair share of trouble without Mrs. Caruthers. They had been trying to pair him up with some of the single women in the church for years. But he had no desire to get romantically involved again. It hurt too much the first time.
Miss Wilmington entered through the front doors, Hailey at her side. Both looked around the fellowship hall nervously, as if they were trying to be inconspicuous—though they would no doubt draw attention. Miss Wilmington had faithfully attended church each week since she’d come to Timber Falls at the end of August to take over the school. But the addition of a little girl at her side would make people curious.
“Who is that child with the principal?” his mom asked as she moved her head to get a better view. She made no attempt to look inconspicuous herself.
“That’s Miss Wilmington’s sister,” Wade said.
“Sister?” His mom frowned. “That little girl? It’s an age gap if I’ve ever seen one.”
“I think Hailey’s arrival was unexpected. Miss Wilmington seemed a little rattled yesterday when I met her at the school to look at the project in the kindergarten room.”
His mom’s gaze returned to Wade and a new light twinkled in her eyes. “You’ve been talking to Miss Wilmington?”
“About the project—yes.” He knew that matchmaking look. “Nothing more.”
“Why not? She’s single, you’re single.”
“Mom—”
“Oh, let me have some fun,” she said.
“Even if I was interested in a relationship again, Miss Wilmington is not my type.”
“Why not?” she asked, incredulous.
“She’s aloof, for one thing—and organized and punctual.”
“All the more reason you need her in your life.” She took his hand. “Let’s go meet the little girl.”
“I’ve met her.”
She tugged his hand and, for some reason, he didn’t protest.
Miss Wilmington was wearing a pair of black pants with a gray sweater. Her blond hair was styled today, and she didn’t look as frazzled, though she still seemed uncertain and less confident. Hailey stood beside her in a dress, looking around the church like it was the first time she’d ever been to one.
“Hello, Miss Wilmington,” his mom said as she finally let go of Wade’s hand.
“Please,” she said, “call me Valerie. It’s nice to see you again.”
Wade had heard her name before, but not from her own lips. He liked it. He hadn’t known many Valeries.
Valerie glanced at Wade and offered him a smile. “Hello.”
“Hi.”
Issy must have been watching because she ran up to Wade’s side and said, “Hi, Hailey! Want to get a doughnut with me?”
Hailey grinned and then looked at Valerie.
“You deserve it after the tuna fiasco last night,” Valerie said. “But be back in about five minutes so we can find a spot to sit.”
“You can sit with us,” Issy said to Valerie and then Hailey. “We always sit on the right side toward the back.”
“Can we sit with Issy?” Hailey asked Valerie.
Valerie looked at Wade, a question in her pretty blue eyes.
“Of course,” Wade said. “Anyone is welcome to sit with us.”
As the girls ran off, his mom looked from Wade to Valerie, a self-satisfied smile on her lips, as if she’d just coordinated the perfect match.
“Who is that adorable child?” his mom asked Valerie.
“Oh—that’s Hailey,” she said, smiling awkwardly.
“Her sister,” Wade told his mother impatiently, since he’d already explained.
“Your sister?” his mom asked. “Were you expecting her?”
“No.” This time, Valerie’s response was certain, but she gave no other information.
“I hope your parents are okay,” his mom said, her eyebrows coming together with worry. “They didn’t die, did they?”
Valerie didn’t seem like the kind of person who shared her private life openly with others. And she proved that to be true as she smiled kindly at Wade’s mom and said, “It’s been a difficult twenty-four hours, as you can imagine. I’d like Hailey to acclimate as quickly as she can, so I’m not comfortable talking about the difficult situation. I hope you understand.”
His mom opened her mouth to speak again—but Wade responded instead. “We do understand.” He looked at his mom. “And we’ll respect Miss Wilmington’s privacy, won’t we?”
His mom lifted an eyebrow at him, but she eventually nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry to have pried.”
He knew she wasn’t sorry, but it was the proper thing to say.
“Oh, there’s Roberta,” his mom said. “I’ll chat with you two later.”
Mom ran off to talk to her friend Mrs. Anderson, and he had a sneaking suspicion they were going to discuss Valerie and Hailey—and might even throw in his name for good measure.
“Sorry about that,” Wade said to Valerie. “She means well—I think.”
“I know.” Valerie had always seemed busy and distracted when he’d seen her before. He’d watched her from a distance but liked that up close she didn’t seem so unapproachable. “If I was her, I’d have a lot of questions, too.”
“It can be tough raising a child on your own.” He shook his head. “I know it all too well. The last thing you need or want is advice or difficult questions.”
She looked at him—really looked, and said, “I’m sorry. I guess I hadn’t realized that you were raising your kids on your own. I’m still trying to get to know everyone.”
“That’s okay. It’s just been me and the kids for six years now. Their mom is in California. I’ve been a single dad for most of their lives.”
Valerie nodded. “I have a steep learning curve ahead of me.”
“Will Hailey be staying with you permanently? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“That’s okay.” She nodded. “Yes. I think this is a permanent situation.”
“If you need anything—even if you’re just curious what kind of pain reliever takes down a fever, I’m happy to help. I learned the hard way for a lot of things and if I can ease someone else’s difficulty, I’m happy to do it.”
She offered him a smile, revealing two dimples in her cheeks. They took him by surprise and made his pulse tick a little higher.
“Thank you,” she said. “I appreciate that.”
Issy and Hailey ran through the fellowship hall on their way to the sanctuary, Brayden not far behind.
“It looks like those two have become instant friends,” Wade said.
“I wish it was that easy as adults—don’t you?”
Wade looked back at Valerie and smiled. “I do too.” He motioned toward the sanctuary. “Should we join them?”
She nodded, and then leaned a little close as she whispered, “Maybe I can avoid other prying church ladies if I sit next to you.” But then she looked up, her blue eyes growing wide. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply your mother—”
Wade laughed and shook his head. “Don’t worry. I’m the first person to admit my mom likes to pry. She’s in good company with Mrs. Caruthers, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Anderson, and several others.” His laughter quieted, but his smile remained. “I’ll do my best to protect you—but I can’t make any promises. They outnumber us.”
Valerie’s laughter was bright and charming—and he realized he had been all wrong about her.
Maybe adults could make friends as fast as children did if they wanted to.
And Wade suddenly wanted to very much.