Penny pulled into Rick’s driveway on Saturday evening, still shaken by what he’d told her. His confession had left her feeling unprepared to join him and his family for a happy time.
“Glad you came.” Oddly, Rick’s warm brown eyes and welcoming smile didn’t reassure her.
Was that because she liked the way he slid an arm around her waist to shepherd her inside? Really liked the way he made her feel like part of the family by assigning her a job beside his dad? Maybe she liked Rick too much. Maybe she felt uncomfortable because she was letting him get too close.
All Penny knew was that ever since he’d told her about the fire and his fear that he’d be blamed, a frozen part she’d kept tucked deep inside ever since her breakup with Todd had been thawing a little more every time she saw Rick.
“I’m so glad you came.” Eva’s smile chased away all doubt about coming. This woman was the most like Penny’s image of what her own mother would be, which seemed odd given they’d only met once before and talked on the phone twice. “I’ve been thinking a lot about you this week, my dear.”
“You have?” Penny frowned then wondered if Rick had said something about the confidences she’d shared. She glanced at him and sighed when, as if he read her thoughts, he shook his head.
“When I’ve had my devotions this week, the Lord seemed to lay thoughts of you on my heart. Is there anything specific I can pray for, Penny?” Eva asked quietly.
“Why don’t you two ladies take some punch out to the deck? You can talk in peace there.” Rick inclined his head toward the boisterous twins, who were playing a game of snap at the kitchen table.
“But Eva was going to make the garlic bread—” Glancing at his wife, David stopped, shook his head. “Mine’s better anyway,” he told Penny with a wink. “You two ladies go ahead and leave all the work to us men.”
“You should have lots of energy for cooking,” Eva teased. “All you did was sit and read on a bench while I shopped.”
“Go while the getting’s good,” he ordered with fake menace, pointing to the French doors that led outside.
“Rick’s house isn’t huge,” Eva said as they walked onto a stone patio with comfy lounge chairs and a black wrought iron table. “But it is perfectly laid out. He took such care to make sure the flow was just right.”
“He built this house?” Surprised, Penny looked around. A children’s play set occupied a sandy square to the left. To the right lay a small herb garden bordered by some shrubs. Colored plastic children’s garden tools stood pushed into the soil. Behind that was a glass enclosure around a shimmering pool. “It’s much different than anything else he’s done, isn’t it?”
“Yes. After his fiancée broke their engagement—” Eva motioned to one of the chairs then sat opposite “—Rick said he wanted a place for the twins that would be their own, a place they could always come back to. A home. He built this place totally with them in mind.”
“Very thoughtful.” Penny thought of her own longing for roots.
“My son is as committed to the twins as if they were his own kids. In fact, now they are his. After her husband died, Gillian named Rick the twins’ legal guardian. She’d witnessed how fast life could change, you see, and she wanted to ensure the twins’ world would remain rock solid. Gilly always said Rick was as dependable as bedrock.” Eva took a moment to regain her composure then forced a smile. “But tell me about you, Penny. What’s happening in your world?”
This woman was so open, so loving, that Penny couldn’t stop herself from explaining her adoption quandary.
“I want children so badly,” she admitted on a huff of relief. It felt wonderful to share her issue with a godly woman she knew would offer her good advice. “But since God didn’t give them to me it somehow seems wrong for me to consider adoption.”
“I can see why you’d think that but you’re forgetting one thing. The nature of God is love,” Eva reminded. “He loves us and don’t forget, we’re His adopted children. Perhaps He’s put adoption on your heart because He has a child He’s chosen for you to love as no one else could.”
“I thought maybe I could adopt Molly’s baby,” Penny said then offered a brief explanation of who Molly was. “But now that she’s so depressed I don’t think it’s appropriate to ask about adopting. Anyway, I’m beginning to doubt it will ever happen for me.”
“Honey, can I say something?” Eva leaned forward at her nod and held out a hand that Penny grasped, loving the warm connection she felt with Rick’s mom. “In my walk with God I’m learning that I can’t always anticipate God’s plan. For me it always works better if I keep my eyes on Him, keep my focus on loving God. And then when He sends a situation or an issue, I’m able to rest in our relationship knowing that He will lead me through it. Does that help?”
“You mean stop fussing and get on with living and let God worry about working it out,” Penny guessed with a grin.
“Basically.” Eva’s tender smile and the squeeze of her fingers before letting go warmed a chilled part of Penny’s heart. Then Katie and Kyle burst through the door and raced across to their play set in the sand. “Ah, here come my sweethearts.”
“I thought that was me,” David teased as he followed, carrying a huge platter. “Time to grill.”
“You’re way better at it than I am so I’ll let you go ahead, Dad.” Rick winked at Penny as he sank into the chair next to her. “While you grill I’ll pick your brains.”
“Not much there to pick through but go ahead.” David flopped the first huge steak on the grill and smiled at the hiss of searing meat. “What’s up?”
“I’m thinking of starting a kind of mentoring program for a couple of the kids who come to Wranglers Ranch.” Rick shrugged at Penny’s surprised stare. “I haven’t got a lot of time to spare, but a few of the regular attendees at the ranch are gung-ho about construction. Actually, two show real talent. They just need direction. What do you think?”
“Sounds like a great way to train your future employees.” David arranged a variety of vegetables on the upper shelf of the barbecue, closed the lid and turned to face his son. “So what’s your concern?”
“It would be a lot of work and I don’t want it to impinge on my time with the twins.” The uncertainty in Rick’s voice touched Penny.
Had either of the men she’d thought herself in love with ever shown such selflessness? She couldn’t remember it. Yet Rick, with the responsibility of two kids and a construction company he was managing on his own, was willing to take the time to lend a hand to kids he didn’t even know. This was a man to admire.
“It’s right to consider the ramifications of your decisions first, before acting,” David mused, forehead creased in thought. “It would be ideal if you could work the apprenticeship of these kids into your regular hours, of course.”
“That was my thought. But there’s the whole insurance issue to consider. And there’s bound to be the inevitable mistake and that will take extra time.” Rick exhaled. “I can’t afford to miss my deadline at Wranglers.”
“I doubt Tanner would be upset,” Penny offered. “I think he’d be appreciative that you’re taking the time to help with his ministry.”
“Yes, he’s already said that. The problem is I’ve got another job slated to start immediately after we complete our Wranglers job on September first.” Rick gazed at her, a gentle smile tipping the corner of his mouth. His smile widened at a whoop from the twins as they careened down their slide. “Ah, to be carefree.”
“Can you put off the next job?” Penny suggested.
“It’s a prestigious project building multifamily community housing that will really help showcase our business name. We’ve already signed the contract,” Rick said. “I can’t delay that project without major penalties, which our company just can’t afford. Especially not now with Greg out.”
“Oh.” Penny sank back into her chair, stumped yet amazed at Rick’s commitment to reach others. This man wasn’t trying to escape responsibility. He was looking for a way to reach out to take on more! And doing it in spite of his personal problems.
“The solution I see is prayer,” Eva said, looking toward her husband, who nodded.
“Lots of it. We need to pray that God will work things out for His will.” David glanced at Penny. “Will you join us in praying for that?”
“Of course.” Penny hadn’t expected them to pray immediately but when David started petitioning God, she quickly bowed her head, silently adding her plea for God to make a way for Rick’s outreach to kids.
When David finished, Eva added her own prayer.
“And Lord, we ask You to touch Penny, too. Help her to hear Your voice, to rest in You and to wait as You work all things together for good. Bless us now and bless this meal as we enjoy it together. Amen.”
Smiling, David rose to check the barbecue. Penny ignored Rick’s curious stare to beam at Eva.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“Of course. That’s what we do as Christians,” Rick’s mother responded with a smile as the twins washed their hands under the garden hose. “We pray for one another. Besides, you’re family, remember?”
“I’ll pray for you and David, too,” Penny promised.
“And Rick?” Eva wore a funny expression.
“And Rick and the twins,” Penny agreed.
“Good. We can never have too many prayers.” Eva patted the chairs on either side of her. “Come on, darlings,” she called, her voice light. “I do believe Grandpa has our steaks well burned.”
David held up one black-edged piece of meat and everyone laughed. Except Rick.
He stared directly at Penny, his expression thoughtful, as if he’d just realized something he hadn’t known before. And then he grinned and it was as if they shared a secret between them.
That was when Penny knew that Jared and Todd, both men she’d believed she truly loved, could never have lived up to her dreams for a husband. What she really wanted was to be loved by a man like Rick, a man who believed in the same things she did—God, home and family.
But she couldn’t fall in love with Rick. Especially since he’d given no sign that he was interested in anything more than simple friendship.
Funny, Penny mused. Somehow simple friendship no longer seemed enough.
* * *
A week later Rick sat on the beach at his parents’ lake, enjoying the freedom of a Saturday off work. Penny and the twins were in the water with Molly, trying amid much laughter and teasing, to teach her to swim.
“I’m glad Penny persuaded Molly to come with you today,” his mother said as she sat down on the beach chair nearest him. “A pregnant mother shouldn’t be depressed.”
“Your idea to invite her was a good one,” he agreed. “And Penny’s very determined to get her to relax.”
“If anyone can do it, Penny can. She’s a wonderful woman, a blessing for the twins and a much-needed help for you. I thank God He sent Penny into our lives.” Eva leaned back, her gaze on the water as the twins’ laughter carried toward them. “Look at her with the twins. Did you ever see anyone better at mothering?”
“Gillian,” he murmured then wished he hadn’t when his mom’s face tightened with worry.
“How’s that going, son?” she asked softly as her hand curved over his in a touch of gentle comfort.
“Nothing new. They’re still investigating, but the more they do the worse it looks for me.” Rick hated the knot of worry that always formed in his midsection at the mention of his sister. He didn’t want his memories of her to always be tinged with darker ones of the fire.
“I thought you mentioned another investigator had been called in?” His mom’s pale face revealed her worry in faint lines around her eyes.
“There was some holdup in his arriving to look personally at the site so they sent him the photos that had been taken so he could complete a preliminary study,” Rick said, struggling to suppress the bleakness he felt. “Our lawyer says this guy seems convinced that some electrical code violation caused the fire.”
“And?”
“It doesn’t look good for me, Mom.” Why didn’t God do something?
“But Gillian was your sister. You’d hardly practice shoddy workmanship on her house.” Indignant, Eva’s fingers curled in the sand. “Sorry to rant, honey. It just irks me that no one seems able to find the cause of that horrible fire.”
Don’t upset her, Rick’s brain warned.
“Electrical,” he said. “That’s the stated cause. Beyond that?” Rick shrugged. “Let’s forget about it for today,” he murmured as Penny and Molly walked toward them with the twins following.
“We came to see if you’re going to sit on the beach all day or if you’re going swimming,” Penny teased, her blue eyes dancing with fun.
“Molly, you look tired. Why don’t you and I chat while the rest of them swim,” Eva suggested. “Then we’ll have lunch.”
“Hot dogs?” Kyle guessed.
“No. It’s a secret but you’ll find out later,” Eva promised.
Knowing his mom wanted to use this time to talk to Molly about God, Rick rose and stretched. “I guess I could use some exercise. Anybody want to try the water trikes?”
“Penny an’ me against you an’ Kyle,” Katie challenged.
“Okay. But what does the winner get?” Rick asked, tongue in cheek.
“A kiss.” Katie giggled. Her teasing grin surprised him. Apparently Penny, too.
“Uh, I don’t think—”
“I’d like a kiss, Katie. It’s a deal,” Rick agreed before Penny could object any further. He flexed his arms and winked at her. “First one to the buoys wins. Let’s get ready, Kyle.”
His partner raced to the water and dragged a bright green trike to the edge of the shore, facing across the lake. “Ready, Uncle Rick.”
“I am not kissing you, Rick Granger,” Penny warned, cheeks flushed, eyes spearing him like daggers.
“So you give up?” He walked to the water, suppressing his laughter at her indignant snort. “Already?”
“Hardly,” she sputtered, following him. “But it’s not fair—”
“Oh, phooey.” His toes touching the water, Rick faced her. “Life’s not fair. Don’t be a wuss, Penny Stern.”
Her eyes narrowed. Her hands smacked onto her hips. She glared at him, obviously outraged. “What did you call me?”
“A wuss. Sourpuss. Grump. Complainer. All of the above.” He turned his back on her and walked deeper into the water.
“Really?” she demanded.
“Yeah. Really.” Teasing her was so much fun, though Rick quickly lost his grin when he felt two hands on his back, a shove and then his body hit the water. He spluttered upward from the gritty lake bottom with water streaming down his cheeks. “Hey! Not fair.”
“Oh, phooey,” Penny shot back, laughter in her voice. “Don’t be a wuss, Rick.”
“Come on, Penny,” Katie called. “We can get a head start now.”
Rick swiped a hand across his eyes and saw Penny vault onto the trike then begin madly pedaling while urging Katie to do the same.
“I forgot to add cheater,” he yelled before climbing in beside Kyle. “Come on, kid. Pedal. She calls that fair? We’ll show her what’s fair.”
Kyle glanced at him sideways, a frown on his face. When he couldn’t keep up with Rick he gave up and planted his feet flat on the floor.
“What’re you doing, Kyle? Come on. We’ve got to win this,” he urged but his nephew simply sat with his arms across his chest, refusing to pedal.
Accepting that Penny and Katie were so far ahead they’d never catch up, Rick gave up as well, and faced his nephew. The frown on his face said something was up.
“What’s wrong, buddy?”
“I don’t want to win.” Kyle played with a tassel on the handlebars.
“You don’t?” The boy shook his head. “Why not?” Rick asked. Here we go again with this strange world of parenting.
“I don’t like kissing.”
Rick blinked. Well, that was a new one. Now how was he supposed to handle this when he himself actually had a fondness for kissing, provided it was the right person?
“You mean you don’t want to kiss Katie and you don’t want your sister to kiss you?” That brought thoughts of kissing Penny, which sent Rick’s pulse into overdrive.
“That’s not what I mean. I don’t like kissing.” Kyle dipped his hand in the water. “On TV people kiss and then they get mad at each other. I don’t want you and Penny to be mad,” he mumbled, chin against his chest. “I don’t like it when people get mad.”
“Not gonna happen, son.” Chastened, Rick brushed his hand over the boy’s damp hair. “Penny and I aren’t mad. We were just teasing.”
“She sounded mad,” Kyle insisted. He looked up, his dark eyes troubled. “So did you.”
“Then I fooled you, didn’t I?” Rick motioned to the pair out by the buoys who were waving at them, big grins on their faces. “Want to head to shore? We could go for a ride in the kayak.”
“Yeah.” Now Kyle began madly pedaling? Rick just shook his head.
Kids were weird.
That was exactly what he said to Penny half an hour later when they were walking along the shore with the twins racing in front, searching for shells.
“The very moment I think I’ve got this parenting business figured out, they throw me a curveball,” he complained. “It’s getting scary.”
“If they’re telling you why they’re doing something it’s a good thing,” she countered, shading her eyes to look at him. “That’s exactly what you want to happen. It’s when kids don’t talk that problems happen. That’s when you need to start worrying.”
“Boy, thanks for that. Now I have something else to worry about.” They came to some rocks so Rick slid his hand over hers to help her. Seemed only natural to leave it there. “Molly’s really taken to Mom, hasn’t she?”
“Who wouldn’t? Eva’s a darling.” Penny with her floppy sandals couldn’t keep up so Rick shortened his stride. “I hope she can help clear up whatever Molly’s struggling with. Lately that girl has looked so tired.”
“You sound like her mother,” he teased then winced at his gaffe. “I mean—”
“I wish I was her mother. I’d coddle her and tell her a hundred times a day how much I love her and how special she is. I get the feeling no one’s ever done that for Molly.” Tears welled in Penny’s eyes, though she swiftly dashed them away. “I can’t even begin to fathom how tough her life is.”
“She’s got you,” he said, squeezing her fingers. “And now Mom, who will shower her with love and try to run her life for her,” he added fondly.
“But even better, Eva will give Molly some spiritual direction. That’s what I’m most grateful for,” Penny said, rather forcefully he thought and wondered why. “Her boyfriend is trying to get her to quit working at Wranglers.”
“Really?” Rick frowned. “And do what?”
“Live on the street, I suspect. He hasn’t shown up at work recently, has he?” Penny studied his glower then nodded. “That’s what I thought. Why didn’t you say something before?”
“In the rush of starting Wranglers’ apprenticeship program, I sort of forgot about Jeff’s lack of attendance.” Rick shrugged. “But he isn’t your problem. That kid is old enough to figure out that he needs to show up for work. I told him when he started that there couldn’t be any skipping.”
“I know all that. It’s just—”
“Just that you want a happily-ever-after for Molly, right?” Rick grinned at her surprise. “You think I haven’t heard those stories you’re always telling the kids? Every one of them ends in happily-ever-after.”
“Unlike real life,” she mumbled.
“Oh, I don’t know.” He waved a hand around. “This is a pretty good ending to my workweek.”
“Mine, too. I’m sorry for being so ungrateful.” Penny squeezed his hand in what he figured was apology. “Coming to the lake is the best break I’ve had since the last time I was here. I love this place.”
“Good. You deserve a break for all you do for everyone else.” Rick called the twins and they started walking back to his parents’ place. He was fully aware of the moment Penny pulled her hand away. It was right after his mom called them for lunch. Looking chastened she kicked off her sandals and took off running behind the twins as if she needed to get away from him.
It wasn’t only kids he didn’t understand, Rick decided as he followed. It was women, too. Particularly Penny. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to give figuring her out a good try.
Giving up on a lady like Penny was a dummy move, and Eva Granger hadn’t raised her boy to be a dummy.