Noah gripped the steering wheel with more force than necessary. New York. Beth was returning to New York. All her talk about staying in Dover was just that. Talk. Apparently her friend Kurt had convinced her that coming to work with him was too good an opportunity to pass up.
What hurt even more was how she’d accused him of deliberately sabotaging her building inspection. How could she think he’d be so underhanded? And if she was so upset that he’d nixed her building, why was she going back to New York?
He glanced out the window at the open country along the highway. Maybe he should have taken time to ask her. But the scalding shaft of pain in his chest had released all the old hurt from her walking away long ago. Instead, the anger had churned inside him all night, robbing him of sleep and darkening his mood all day. This was his last stop. Maybe then he could deal with Beth’s defection and try to move forward.
The green-and-white sign for Old Agler Road flashed by, signaling he was nearing the old Victorian house. He was in no mood to deal with Harvey Kramer today. The man had no concern for his own safety or that of his crew, and balked at every regulation he had to adhere to. If Kramer had his way, he’d ignore building codes altogether.
If he hadn’t promised Kramer he’d be here to check out the foundation problem, he’d turn around and have it out with Beth. Even if that meant going to New York to confront her. She’d left him so confused, he wasn’t sure which way was up. All he knew for certain was that he didn’t like being at odds with her. He didn’t want to lose the connection that was reforming between them. The kiss they’d shared still had the power to warm his blood and send his heart pounding.
Flipping the turn signal lever, he eased the truck into the long, narrow driveway leading to the old home. It wouldn’t take long to get under the house and identify the problems, but convincing his client to make the necessary reconstruction might take a while.
Kramer met him at the front door. “I hope you can come up with a quick and cheap solution to this floor issue. I’m losing time on this deal.”
Noah followed him into the large kitchen on the northeast side of the house, noticing Kramer had ripped out cabinets and appliances in his haste to remodel. The man’s impatience was also evident in the pulled-up floorboards, which now exposed the joists below. He also noticed the sagging ceiling had been braced. Unfortunately he’d done so with a few two-by-fours, which were far too weak to do the job safely. Noah pointed to the already bowing lumber. “You need to use two-by-sixes to hold that up.”
Kramer waved him off. “I’ll get around to it. It’s all I had. So what about this floor?”
Noah flicked on his flashlight and examined the exposed wood beneath the floor, then began taking a few measurements. “I don’t like what I’m seeing, but I’ll have to get under the house to know for sure.”
“Fine. Do it. I need to get the project on track before I lose my shirt.”
Noah shook his head and went back to the truck, pulling out his blue coveralls and the tools he’d need to do a thorough foundation inspection.
A quick glance at the sky told him a rainstorm was on its way. He’d better get started. But between his truck and the opening to the crawl space, his thoughts reverted to Beth. He didn’t want her to leave Dover. But how did he get her to stay? She’d gone to New York—but was it for good, or a quick trip to work out the details of a new job? He should have at least asked her before storming off. He’d considered calling her, but each time he’d lost his nerve. How could he convince her she needed to stay here with him and Chloe? Could they even compete with the life she’d once had?
Zipping up the coveralls, he flipped up the hood and got down on his knees. Thankfully the crawl space was reasonably spacious and allowed him plenty of headroom. He belly-crawled toward the corner, examining joists and foundation pilings as he went, not pleased with what he was seeing. When he reached the opening Kramer had made, he pulled out his tape measure and the flashlight again. Thunder rolled through the sky.
The floors definitely needed more joists to bring it up to code. The current ones were too small, and a couple were completely rotten. Rolling over, he scooted to the next pier block, which had sunk down nearly three inches into the poor soil. He took a couple pictures and made a few more measurements before preparing to crawl back out. As he maneuvered past another pier, he noticed a joist riddled with termite damage. How had he missed that? Simple answer—because he’d been constantly distracted by thoughts of Beth. He’d had to take each measurement twice because he couldn’t keep the numbers in his head.
A closer look at the wood revealed the entire section was paper-thin. It could collapse at any moment. Time to get out of there. He stashed his tools in his belt and started forward on his stomach.
A loud snap sounded from overhead. Thunder? He reached forward, his feet digging into the soft dirt below the house. A loud crash. The house shook. A crack. Sudden weight pressed on his back, robbing him of air. Pain sliced into his thigh.
There was another rumble, then a blow to his head…then darkness.
* * *
Beth ducked in to the entryway, escaping the pouring rain, then stepped into the real estate office, unable to keep the smile from her face. Her mother glanced up. “Welcome home, sweetheart. How did it go?”
She placed her small suitcase and purse in the corner then sat down. “The doctor said I’m healing better than expected, and he even thinks I’ll be able to do a little pointe work in time. Nothing long-term, but I might be able to dance a little.”
“That’s wonderful news. You must be excited.”
“I am, but that’s not the only thing that happened. On the plane back, I sat with Katie Lorman. Remember her? We studied ballet together.”
“I do. How is she?”
“Fine. She’s working and dancing with Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, and she’s asked me to join the staff working with the trainees. It’s part-time, so I can still have my school and work with the ballet, too. Maybe even perform with them at some point.” She didn’t mention the one part of her plan that was still unsettled. Noah’s place in her life.
Her mom held up her finger. “Speaking of your school, I did a little more digging on that blue building you liked.” She tapped the keyboard then angled the computer so she could see. “It’s on south Church Street, and it’s in great shape. I looked it over this morning. Wood floors, lots of windows. It was an office complex, but it could easily be reconfigured to suit your needs.”
Beth scrolled through the photos of the interior, her excitement growing. “It’s adorable.”
“I’ve already been in touch with the owner, and he’s very motivated. And you won’t need to worry about an inspection. He’s already had that done, and I have the paperwork. In fact, I’ve started the purchase papers, too, and talked to Todd at the bank. All you have to do is take a look at the property, and we can get moving on it.”
“You sound more excited about my new business than I am.”
“I guess I am in a way. I like having you back home.”
Beth wrapped her mother in a tight hug. “Thank you. I’m glad to be home, too.” The reality of her decision landed on her mind, triggering a rush of insecurity. “Mom, I’ve never started a business before. There’s so much to think about, so much I don’t know.”
“Don’t worry. I know exactly what to do. I’ll walk you through every step. We’ll come up with a business plan and get everything lined up.”
The phone rang, and her mother answered. Beth looked at the photos again, mentally assigning each space to a part of her dance studio.
“Evelyn, what’s wrong? Yes. She’s here. She just got back.”
Beth’s heart seized when she saw the look of horror on her mother’s face. “Yes. I will.” She scribbled something on the notepad. “I’ll notify the prayer chain.”
Fear gripped her lungs. “Mom? What is it? Chloe?”
“No. Evelyn has been trying to reach you for the last half hour. Is your phone dead?”
She nodded. “I forgot my charger at the hotel.”
Her mother took her hand. “It’s Noah. He was doing a foundation inspection, and there was an accident.”
Blood iced in her veins. “Is he—” She couldn’t bring herself to ask the question.
“The house collapsed, and he’s trapped underneath. The rescue squad is trying to get him out now, but it’s a slow process. They don’t want to cause another collapse.”
“I’ve got to go. Where is he?” She took the paper from her mother. She recognized the road. The house belonged to Noah’s first client, the difficult one.
“Maybe I should take you.”
“No. I’m fine. I’ve got to go.”
Her heart pounded so hard as she drove out of town she feared she couldn’t breathe. Sweaty palms made gripping the steering wheel difficult. Fear like crashing waves ebbed and flowed in her stomach. A thousand questions darted through her mind. What if she lost him? Where was Chloe? How much of the house had collapsed? Why wasn’t he more careful?
The answers didn’t matter. She had to be there with him. He needed her. She needed him.
The pouring rain caused her to miss the driveway, and she lost precious time turning around. Fire and rescue trucks were parked next to the old Victorian, which was still standing. In her mind she’d imagined a pile of rubble. She grabbed her raincoat from the back and slipped it on as she hurried toward the activity, her feet sloshing on wet earth. She wanted to call his name, but he’d never hear her above the rain and thunder and the shouting of the workers. She looked around for a familiar face.
“Beth.” Evelyn hurried toward her, wrapping her in a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Where is he? Is he all right?”
Evelyn kept an arm around her waist as she walked her toward the back of the house. That’s when she saw the corner of the house sagging awkwardly and a heap of rubble on the ground. “Oh, no. Is he under there?” Her heart beat in an unnatural rhythm, as if one chamber had shut down.
“Yes. They’re working to get him out. All I know right now is that he’s alive.”
Beth glanced around at the men coming and going, walking slowly as if there was no urgency. “Why aren’t they working harder? They have to get him out of there.”
Evelyn patted her arm. “They’re working as fast as they can. They don’t want to trigger another collapse, and the rain is making things difficult.”
Beth’s barely controlled emotions gave way. Tears poured down her cheeks, and a sob burst from her throat. “He has to be all right. I can’t lose him now. I love him. Please, Lord, not now.” She found herself in Evelyn’s strong embrace as she cried, holding on to the woman tightly.
“Let’s go sit in my car and get out of the rain. We can see everything from there. The chief promised he’d keep me updated.”
Beth resisted moving. She needed to be right here when he came out. She wanted him to know she was here. “No, I’d better wait.”
Evelyn pulled her around and urged her toward her vehicle parked a few yards away. Inside the warm, dry car, Beth was able to take a steady breath and think a little more clearly. “Where’s Chloe? Does she know?”
Evelyn shook her head. “She’s with friends. They were going to the movies in Sawyer’s Bend. I’m not going to call her until we know something for certain.”
After a half hour, Beth couldn’t sit another moment. She got out and moved as close to the activity as she could. It was silly, but standing here in the rain, near Noah, made her feel like she was doing something. Lending moral support by her presence.
The next half hour saw progress. The firemen had shored up the area and were now under the house tending to Noah’s injuries, but there was still a lot to do before they could safely remove him from the small space. He was unconscious.
Cold and wet, she returned to the car to wait with Noah’s grandmother.
Evelyn took her hand, rubbing it to restore warmth to her skin. “You’re freezing.”
“I didn’t notice.” She laid her head back, closing her eyes. “He has to be all right. He has to be.”
“That’s what I’m praying for.”
Beth squeezed Evelyn’s hand. “I’m sorry. I should be trying to comfort you. I know you’re as worried as I am.”
“We both love him, don’t we?”
“I always have. Life just got in our way.”
“It happens.” They sat in silence for another forty-five minutes, then Fire Chief O’Brian tapped on the car window.
“We’re bringing him out now. He’s still unconscious, but he’s stable. He has a leg injury, and probably some cracked ribs. We’re taking him to Magnolia County Hospital in Sawyer’s Bend. You can meet us there.”
“Can I see him?”
“He won’t know you’re here, but I guess it won’t hurt.”
Beth squeezed Evelyn’s hand before getting out and hurrying toward the house. The rain had eased up. She stopped when she saw the men carrying the stretcher. She got as close as they would permit. Her heart was a cold lump in her chest. Noah had a wide brace around his neck, and his right leg was wrapped in thick covering. She ached to touch him to prove to herself he was alive, but she wasn’t allowed that close. She had to settle for whispering his name and telling him she loved him.
She waited until the ambulance started off before getting into her car. Evelyn had left, probably to go get Chloe. Her impulse was to start the car and race to the hospital. But common sense prevailed. She took a moment to calm herself, then called her mother before she headed out.
By the time she arrived at the hospital, Noah was in surgery to repair damage to his leg, and all she could do was wait for Evelyn. Since she wasn’t a relative and no one would tell her anything about his condition, she sought out the chapel. Her mind was so clouded by fear that she couldn’t form a coherent prayer so she sat silently, knowing the Lord would understand her pleas.
She knew now that loving Noah and Chloe was more fulfilling than any starring role. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with them. She’d prove to him somehow that she’d never leave again. She’d stay by his side until he regained consciousness. She wanted to be the first person he saw when he woke up. Maybe then he’d understand that he was her obsession.
* * *
Noah fought his way through the gray fog of pain and confusion. He hurt, but he couldn’t pinpoint where exactly. Thinking made his head throb. Something heavy was sitting on his chest, making it hard to breathe. He tried to move, only to regret it when pain shot through the right side of his body.
He heard his name being called. A soft feminine voice. Beth? He struggled to clear his thoughts, but the gray fog swirled around him again, drawing him down into darkness.
When he opened his eyes again, his vision was blurred. He blinked and glanced around, trying to grasp where he was. A hospital. He recoiled as the memory rushed back. The house. It had collapsed on top of him. He’d been too preoccupied with thoughts of Beth to notice the danger.
Beth. Was she here? He started to raise his head, only to wince and drop back down on the pillow.
“Noah. Oh, praise the Lord.”
Gram? He closed his eyes to ease the ache and drifted off again.
“Daddy? Please wake up.”
His vision was clear when he opened his eyes the next time, and he could process thoughts easier. “Chloe?”
Her little face held a bright smile. She leaned over the side rail and grasped his arm. “Daddy. You’re awake.”
He squeezed her hand, but his gaze searched the room. “Beth?”
“She’s not here. She’s talking to someone about a new job. I’ll go get Gram.”
Before he could speak, Chloe darted away, leaving him with a new ache that twisted deeper into his core than any physical pain. She’d left. The job had won. His gut kicked, stirring up the old sediment of resentment. When would he learn?
“Noah. Oh, my dear boy, it’s so good to have you back. You had us worried.”
He tried to force a smile for her sake but failed.
“How do you feel?”
“I’ll survive.” He’d survive his injuries. But not Beth’s defection. “Has she left?”
“Who?”
“Beth?”
“No. She’s right here. She’s on the phone. I’ll go get her. She’ll want to talk to you.”
“Don’t bother. I know what she’ll say.”
“You’re not making sense. Maybe I should call the nurse.” She reached for the call button.
“Chloe told me Beth was taking a new job. I know all about it. There’s nothing I need to say to her. I knew she’d never stay in Dover. Once that friend offered her a job, I knew she’d jump at the chance. I can’t depend on her to hang around.”
He glanced up as someone stepped close to the foot of the bed. Beth. His heart swelled with affection. She was the only thing he wanted to see when he woke up, and his muddled brain had dangled her image in his mind repeatedly. But she’d been smiling, and she wasn’t now.
“You’ll never change, will you? I could start a dozen dance schools here in Dover, and you’d still be waiting for me to walk away.”
“Dance studio?” What was she talking about?
“If I miss your call, or if I leave town for some reason, your first thought will always be that I’ve left again. Well, I’m done, Noah. I won’t live like that.”
Tears were seeping from her eyes. “I’m glad you’re going to be all right.”
He reached out to her, but she spun and walked out. “Beth.”
Gram pressed him back against the pillow, her stern expression clearly revealing her distress. “Honestly, you are the most blind, closed-minded man I ever knew. Worse than your granddad and your father. I’ll have you know that young woman has been here at your side from the beginning. She stood in the pouring rain while they dug you out from under that house. She’s been here at your bedside around-the-clock the last two days, refusing to even eat. Her mother brought her food because she was afraid you’d wake up while she was down in the cafeteria. Francie had to bring her fresh clothes.”
“Gram.”
“I’m not finished. Beth loves you, and if you don’t come to your senses, you’re going to lose her again. You listen to me. I know you’re protecting your heart from being broken again. But that’s not your job. You’re not strong enough to do that alone. You’re supposed to give your heart, all of it, to the Lord so He can heal it and return it to you able to love again.”
Noah knew she was right. It was the one thing he’d never been able to turn over to God because he feared he’d be opening himself to disappointment and failure again.
He loved Beth. He’d made a mistake and jumped to conclusions because she hadn’t been the first thing he’d seen when he’d awakened. Now he had to fix the mess he’d made. “Gram, call her, tell her I didn’t understand. She’ll listen to you.”
“Not on your life.” Gram shoved her hand into her purse and pulled out her phone, laying it firmly on his chest. “Do your own dirty work.”
Chloe had come to the side of the bed and frowned at him. “Daddy, Miss Beth isn’t like Mom. She loves me.”
Gram took Chloe’s hand. “Even your daughter sees more clearly than you do. We’ll be back later. The doctors say you can go home tomorrow, and I have to get the house ready. Come along, Chloe. Let’s leave your father to stew in his own sour juices awhile.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’ll explain on the way home.”
Noah stared at the cell phone a long while before finding the courage to call Beth. It went straight to voice mail. Four more tries brought the same result. He left messages, but he was beginning to fear Beth would never listen to them.
It hit him then that she might leave Dover after this. And it would be entirely his fault this time.
* * *
Beth strolled through the lower rooms of her new dance studio. Things had moved quickly, and she’d signed the papers first thing this morning. Her mother had handled all the details and greased some wheels along the way. Beth had wanted to be involved with every aspect of her new venture, but she’d been too concerned about Noah to leave the hospital.
That was proving to be a pointless endeavor. She’d stayed by his side every moment, but all he could see when he woke was that she wasn’t there. His first reaction had been to assume she’d left again. She’d done all she could to convince him. Now it was time to let go and move on.
Turning her attention to the building again, she stepped into a small room at the back that held a sink and small fridge. She could expand this to accommodate a full kitchen. She would be spending many hours here now. Retracing her steps, she went back to the front of the store. The room on the left would be her office, and with a little remodeling she could have two large rooms downstairs and two upstairs. It was all working out perfectly. All that remained was to complete the business paperwork and decide on a name for her new dance school. She was undecided between Bethany’s School of Dance and Montgomery’s Dance Academy.
Hopefully the countless details of setting up her school would keep her mind off Noah. The thought of him never failed to send a spike of pain into her chest and moisture to her eyes. He’d called repeatedly, and left messages begging her to talk to him. As much as she longed to, she knew it was futile. She had to find a way to let go before she went nuts.
The bell sound on her cell phone was a welcome interruption—until she saw the name on the text message. Evelyn. Her heart ballooned into her throat as she read the words. Noah needs you. How soon can you get here?
Please, Lord, let him be all right. What had happened? Had he relapsed? Fallen? The drive to Noah’s was only a few blocks, but it felt like forever. She hurried to the front door and didn’t bother to knock. “Evelyn.” She went into the front parlor and stopped. Noah was coming toward her, moving slowly, his hand clutching a cane. He looked pale but better than he had in the hospital. The chambray button-up shirt he wore matched the blue of his eyes. Eyes that were bright with affection and curiosity.
“Beth. What are you doing here?”
She scanned his tall frame, searching for something wrong. The bandage was still on his temple where the board had struck him, but it was smaller today. Otherwise he looked fine. A bit pale but solid. Strong. “Evelyn said you needed me and to come right away.”
Noah frowned then nodded slowly. “I see. She’s right. I do need you.”
Beth took a step backward. Obviously Evelyn was trying to get them to work out their differences. But it was too late. “You look perfectly fine to me. I have to go.” She whirled, but Noah called out to her.
“Please don’t leave. I can’t chase after you in my condition. Won’t you take pity on a guy who has no sense, who let fear rule his life for so long it might have cost him the only woman he’s ever loved?”
She closed her eyes, willing herself not to rush into his arms.
“Forgive me. Gram told me how you stayed with me through all this. I think I knew that on some level because the only images I remember during that time were of you. When I woke up and you weren’t there I—”
She heard him take an unsteady breath. Were his ribs hurting him? She faced him, the love in his eyes making her breath catch.
“I wanted to crawl back into the dark and never come out.”
He took a few slow steps toward her, never taking his eyes from hers. “Beth, please forgive me. I don’t want to lose you again. I love you. Chloe loves you. We belong together.”
“How can I trust that you won’t always think I’ll leave?”
“Because I heard about your dance school and your position with Ballet Magnificat. But mostly because I’m going to love you so much you’ll never want to go anywhere else but in my arms. Beth, you’re my family. You’re where I fit.”
Her tears blurred his handsome face. She swiped them away and met him in the middle of the room. “And I fit with you.”
He wrapped her in his arms, letting the cane fall to the floor with a thud. She held him close, too close. He grunted. She’d forgotten about his ribs.
“I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “No. It’s worth the pain to hold you close.” He kissed her tenderly, cradling her face in his palms. “Marry me.”
“Yes. Oh, yes.” She kissed him before sliding her arms around him and snuggling close to his chest. She wanted to stay here forever. “When?”
He chuckled. “Are you in a hurry?”
“Oh, yes. We’ve waited too long to find each other again.”
He stepped back and pointed to the cane on the floor. “Let’s sit and talk about it.”
After handing him the cane, she slipped an arm around his waist to steady him, and to feel his warm presence. She sat on the arm of the chair, her hand holding his, unwilling to let go.
“I thought you’d want a big wedding with all the trimmings.”
“No. Not big. Fast.”
He laughed and squeezed her hand. “Lady, you make a man feel like a king. All right, when do you suggest?”
She took a moment to orient her dates. “Christmas Eve?”
“That’s only three days away. Are you sure?”
“What about Christmas Eve eve, would that be better?”
Noah pulled her down and kissed her again. “Today would be perfect, but I think there are a few legalities to take care of.” He captured her mouth again, kissing her with all the love and promise she knew he held in his heart.
“Gram. I think they made up.”
Chloe’s voice drew them apart. Beth stood, taking a place behind him, her hands resting on his broad shoulders.
“Are you getting married now?” Chloe’s tone was filled with hopeful excitement.
“Yes. We are.”
“Oh, Daddy.” She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed. “You’ve given me the best present ever. A mom for Christmas.”
“What’s this I hear about wedding bells?” Gram joined them, her smile wide and loving. “I knew if I could just get you two knuckleheads in the same room, it would all work out. So when is the wedding?”
Beth bit her lower lip. “Christmas Eve.”
“Oh, my. Then I need to get busy. It’ll be too late to get the church. We’ll have the ceremony here. Thank goodness I had the house professionally decorated for the holidays. I’ll call Francie about food. But you’d better talk to her first. I know she’ll be thrilled at the news.”
“Wow. A wedding right here. That’s so cool.” Chloe gave Beth a hug. “Miss Beth, is it okay if I call you Mom?”
She glanced at Noah before answering. “Yes, but do you think your mother will be okay with that?”
“She won’t care. She always wanted me to call her Yvonne anyway.”
Gram gathered Chloe away to start making preparations, leaving them alone again.
Noah rose to his feet again and tugged her into his arms. “There’s just one more thing I need from you.”
“Anything.”
He touched his wounded leg. “You helped Chloe and Gram. Do you think you could teach me to dance—to help with my leg, of course?”
She laughed and caressed his face with her palm. “I would love to teach you to dance. In fact, I have the perfect studio. All it needs is a name.”
Noah kissed her lips, letting his finger trace a path across her lower lip and up her chin. “I was thinking Carlisle’s School of Dance sounds nice.”
“I think it sounds perfect.”
* * * * *