Kellie leaned over her seven-year-old niece’s desk to check her coloring project. “Nice job, Gracie.”
Gracie, missing both front teeth, grinned up at her. “Thanks.”
Kellie scanned the second grade classroom where she worked as a teacher’s assistant. The bulletin board was filled with colorful leaves cut from red, yellow and orange construction paper. Leaves also hung from the ceiling, but they should have been scattered on the floor to be accurate. A few days of strong winds had tossed most of the outside leaves from the trees. Something about the cluttered creativity of elementary schools warmed Kellie’s heart, not to mention that kids were naturally open and honest.
Beth Ryken, the teacher she assisted at LeNaro Elementary, stepped close and smiled. “You’re pretty special to have your aunt help out in the classroom.”
“Yup.” Gracie nodded as she used a green crayon to make grass around her drawing of yet another small house with flowers growing in the front yard.
Kellie was fortunate to have nabbed this part-time position at the end of the summer. It was the perfect way to work near her related field and earn some money while she interned. She was sick of slinging pizzas into the wee hours of the night and smelling like burnt cheese when she got home.
Beth cocked her head toward her desk. “Kellie, can I talk with you a minute?”
“Sure.” Kellie followed the tall blonde toward the back of the room. “What’s up?”
“I got a call from the school in Traverse City. They’re checking out your references, so that’s got to be a good sign. I think you’ll get a second interview.”
Kellie fought the urge to chew her fingernails, a habit she’d beaten long ago, but the temptation still reared its ugly head. She wanted this chance so badly. “So, what’d you say?”
Beth grinned and tossed her long blond hair over her shoulder. The woman was gorgeous but didn’t seem to know it. A rare combo. “Only that you’re great with kids because you really listen to them. I’m going to miss having you in my class.”
Kellie let loose a nervous laugh. Everything seemed to be coming together. Everything she’d worked so hard for. “I haven’t gotten the job yet. Besides, I have to pass section fifty-one of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification.”
“You will.”
“I hope so.” Kellie had been studying. Hard.
Saturday, she’d finally take the monstrous thing and in the nick of time, too. She didn’t want to leave anything to chance and miss this job opportunity. Traverse City was the perfect location—close enough for her to be near her nieces, yet far enough away from her folks, who still lived in Grand Rapids.
Funny. Growing up, she’d pined for her parents’ time and undivided attention. As an adult, she visited them when she had to for holidays and birthdays. Sure, she loved them, but she’d stopped depending on her mom and dad a long time ago.
“I’m done.” Gracie popped up out of her seat.
“Very good, Gracie. We’ll collect your work when everyone’s finished with theirs,” Beth said.
Gracie slipped back into her seat. “Aunt Kellie, are you coming to the house tonight?”
“I’m going to try.” Kellie hadn’t been there the last couple of weeks because of studies for her upcoming test.
“She’s really excited about their new home,” Beth said. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that houses take center stage in every one of her drawings, her collages, everything.”
“Oh, I’ve noticed.” Poor kid equated a real house with stability. Not bad for a seven-year-old.
Gracie’s mom, Dorrie, had applied for and been accepted by a nonprofit group of churches that built homes for needy families that qualified. Dorrie did everything she could to give Gracie and her older sister Hannah a sense of security despite their many moves, and this new home promised stability. Something they’d been missing along with the fact that they never saw their father—her brother, Karl.
A twinge of guilt knotted in Kellie’s stomach. A few weeks ago, Dorrie had told her that many of the summertime volunteers for the Church Hammers group had dropped off, leaving her house behind schedule on construction. Kellie still hadn’t picked up the pace in helping out. She’d been too busy studying, both for the upcoming certification exam and teen group dynamics for her internship at LightHouse Center.
The bell rang announcing the end of the school day and kids bounded for their coats. Beth’s instructions to leave their projects on their desks fell on deaf ears. Some gathered theirs up only to dump them on their teacher’s desk and then race for their in-class cubby lockers.
After helping with the raucous mass exodus of second graders, Kellie returned to the classroom to help Beth straighten up and grade papers. She had plenty of time to make it to the construction site, work for a bit and then head home to study.
Kellie finally scooped up her purse. “Hey, I gotta run.”
“Yeah, I’m leaving, too. Thanks for your help. See you later in the week.” Beth gave her a wave.
Once in her car, Kellie rolled her shoulders. A few hours at Dorrie’s might do her some good. She could concentrate on manual labor for a change. No brain exercises, no worries.
Kellie drove out of town, past her road and headed north toward Dorrie’s building site. Church Hammers built homes every other year for a needy family. This year, Dorrie and her nieces were that needy family. Needy, like her. Casualties left in the wake of her brother’s neglect and drug use.
Kellie parked on the side of the road where there were already a few cars and pickup trucks. One of them looked disturbingly familiar and her gut clenched.
No way. Not here. There’s dozens of dark blue trucks in Northern Michigan.
Shaking off images of the man who consumed her thoughts enough lately, Kellie gathered up her work gloves and walked along the gravel driveway.
The newly sided house was a pretty little ranch on a large lot at the beginning of a quiet cul-de-sac. This struggling housing development lay smack in the middle of cherry country so the views were beautiful, especially in May when the cherry trees were in blossom. The builder who’d donated the lot must have needed a tax break since several other lots still sported rusty For Sale signs. Real estate, especially new builds, moved super slowly these days. If at all.
Scanning the darkening horizon, Kellie wondered if they were in for more rain. Thankfully the volunteers worked primarily inside. The house had been roughed in with the plumbing and electrical wiring completed. Opening the side door, Kellie stepped into the unfinished kitchen. Zipping sounds of electric drills and the tap-tap of staple guns greeted her.
“Aunt Kellie!” Gracie tore around the corner and launched into her arms.
“Hey, Gracie.” Kellie looked up as her older niece Hannah hobbled her way toward them.
“Hi, Aunt Kellie.” Hannah’s recovery from a mowing accident that cut her Achilles tendon this past summer was slow but sure. She wore an air cast to her knee.
“How’s the leg?”
Hannah shrugged. “It’s okay. I have to go to physical therapy when the cast comes off.”
“Take it easy until then.” Kellie tugged on one of Hannah’s pigtails. How would Dorrie manage that? Kellie would help where she could. “Where’s your mom?”
“In the living room. They’re hanging insulation.”
Kellie nodded and stepped forward holding Gracie’s hand. But when she entered the living room, she sucked in a breath. Ryan, wearing a tool belt and looking too much like a permanent fixture, held a swath of pink insulation while Dorrie staple-gunned the sides in place.
“Mommy, Aunt Kellie’s here,” Gracie announced.
Kellie heard Dorrie’s greeting, but her gaze was fixed on Ryan. It appeared as though she couldn’t escape this guy.
He turned and smiled. “Hey, Kellie.”
It was a devastatingly handsome smile. All traces of having gone through an emotional meltdown in group last week were gone. He looked healthy and strong. And good. Way too good.
Kellie felt like a deer blinded by headlights. “Hi.”
Dorrie looked from her to Ryan. “You guys know each other?”
“Yeah.” Again with the smile, like they shared a secret. “We’ve met.”
Kellie found her tongue. “Right. Okay, put me to work, Dorrie.”
“Ryan’s your guy for directions.” Dorrie stepped down from the short ladder and whipped off her gloves to wipe her forehead. “I do what he tells me.”
Kellie’s startled gaze locked back on Ryan.
“Might as well take a break. I’ve got to get more rolls of insulation from the trailer.” Ryan tucked his gloves into the back pocket of his jeans.
Dorrie nodded and gathered her daughters close. “Come on girls, I’ve got a job for you two.”
Kellie looked around. This was the last room to be insulated. A couple of men were working on laying the floor in the dining room. And a couple of women prepped the kitchen for the dinner that would be brought in by more volunteers. Not exactly a big group. More guilt washed through her.
Ryan stepped toward her. “So, you’re Aunt Kellie. I never put the two together. I didn’t think you had any family here.”
“Just Dorrie and the girls.” Kellie had moved here because of them. And because she could complete her master’s at the regional location of Western Michigan University in Traverse City.
“Talk about a small world.”
Way too small. “What are you doing here?”
“Help me get the insulation?” He nodded toward the door.
She gestured for him to lead the way. They walked in silence through the front door outside into the crisp autumn evening. A huge builder’s trailer sat parked on the grass beside the driveway.
Ryan lifted the trailer door and jumped up to grab some kind of metal cart. “This is where I’m putting in my community service hours.”
“Ah.” Now it made sense that he didn’t want to announce that in front of the other volunteers. “Does Dorrie know?”
He leaned against the wall of the trailer. “Yeah. I figured she should because of her kids. She also happens to go to my brother’s church.”
“How long have you been doing this?”
He shrugged. “A couple weeks. The builder that oversees the project signs off on my hours for the court.”
But Dorrie made it sound like he was somehow in charge. Did he have experience in construction, too? “I thought you worked for a research center that grew cherries.”
“And some other fruits, yeah. So?”
“You looked like you knew what you’re doing in there.”
He smiled. “It’s not rocket science. I finished up my own home project this summer. I know my way around the basics.”
“Oh.” Like he knew engines. Ryan Marsh was a pretty handy guy.
Clearly, Dorrie needed his expertise, and Kellie couldn’t argue with Ryan’s choice of community service. But something swished deep inside her gut like an unpleasant stirring of her defenses. Would Dorrie depend on Ryan for more than his construction help?
Kellie wouldn’t blame her if she did. The woman shouldered so much on her own, and Kellie knew Hannah’s accident had taken a heavy toll. Still, Kellie didn’t like where her brain had gone. She didn’t like the thought of Dorrie and Ryan together. But Kellie had no claim on Ryan. She couldn’t have.
“Before I forget.” Ryan stepped down from the trailer to stand directly in front of her. “I won’t take this.”
Kellie stared at the white envelope containing her fifty bucks. Not again. She looked up at him. “I need to repay you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes. I do.” Kellie tapped her chest. “For me, I do.”
“Why can’t you accept it?” He stepped even closer and his voice softened and coaxed. “Sometimes it’s more important for a person to receive.”
In her experience, receiving led to expectations that were eventually let down or crushed. But it was pretty hard to argue with him standing so close that she could smell his spicy scent that reminded her of a cedar forest. Hard to breathe normally, too, especially looking into those bittersweet eyes of his.
He leaned down and her heart beat madly. It might even hammer its way out of her chest if she weren’t careful. He was so close she felt the warmth of his body that beckoned like a cozy fire. She’d almost leaned into him, but she froze when he stuffed that envelope into the front pocket of her jeans.
“Learn to receive, Kellie.”
She batted his arm away and backed up. A wrench of awareness hit her like a strong wave of heated water, pleasant at first, but frightening as the undertow threatened to pull her out into dangerous depths.
Ryan looked a little shaken, too, like he was caught up in an internal struggle of his own.
Keep it professional. Ginny’s advice screamed through her mind. Ha! The feelings running through her were a far cry from that.
Pulling it together, Kellie raised her chin. “Show me what needs to be taken inside.”
“Ah, yeah.” Ryan moved back and readjusted the ball cap he wore. “All these rolls of insulation can go in. They’re big but not heavy.”
Kellie nodded and slipped on her gloves. She quickly looked around. Church ladies were bringing in food, but none of them seemed to notice what had happened between her and Ryan.
What had happened? Kellie wasn’t exactly sure as she got to work carrying the pink bundles inside. All she knew was that she didn’t dare let it happen again.
* * *
Ryan kicked himself as he watched Kellie walk away. What in the world had gotten into him? He’d been a heartbeat away from tugging her close and laying a good one on her. He’d actually wanted to kiss her.
He stacked pink insulation bundles on the metal cart with a vengeance. His attraction to this woman didn’t make any sense. For starters, Kellie thought he was an alcoholic. And she wasn’t anything like Sara, who’d been bubbly and engaging. Always cheerful.
Kellie Cavanaugh seemed guarded and unlikely to trust him or anyone. Was that what drew him? Her vulnerability hinted at a painful past of her own. Renting a room pretty much spelled out her financial situation, but he didn’t know that when he’d paid for her tow truck. Even then, he’d wanted to take care of her because she’d seemed so alone with no one to call.
Ryan stopped piling on the bundles and readjusted his cap. He’d been given the twelve steps from Alcoholics Anonymous at his last group session. He’d heard of them before, but those steps had meaning for him now. New meaning. Because Kellie had been right about giving group an honest effort. It might make a difference.
He wasn’t there yet, but he wanted God to restore him back to sanity and away from the grief that ate at his insides. He wanted to move on. Did that mean he wanted to move on with Kellie, or were his male instincts kicking in?
He dragged the cart filled with insulation over the gravel driveway. Entering the living room, Ryan quickly tossed the bundles inside while everyone gathered into the kitchen.
“Ryan, dinner’s here. Would you come in and bless the food?” Dorrie smiled.
“Sure.” Ryan followed Dorrie into the kitchen.
She was an attractive woman, even though she looked nothing like Kellie. Nice, too. But he wasn’t interested. He took off his ball cap and raked a hand through his hair. Since when had his thoughts started categorizing women as potential interests?
He spotted Kellie by the sink. Since he met her, that’s when. She wouldn’t look at him, but her cheeks were rosy-pink.
Ryan cleared his throat and tried to concentrate. He wasn’t used to praying in front of people, but he’d give it a whirl. “Can we all bow our heads? Dear Lord, thank You for this food and the chance to be Your hands today. Amen.”
Amid the chatter of folks filling their paper plates from a makeshift table comprised of plywood resting atop two sawhorses, Ryan hung back. He noticed that Kellie did, too. She still leaned against the sink.
He walked toward her, feeling like he owed her an apology. “Hey, I’m sorry about that.”
Her eyes widened. Their color nearly matched the blue of her fleece shirt.
“I invaded your space,” he explained.
“Umm...yeah, okay, thanks.” Again her cheeks flushed, reminding him of how pretty she was. And delicate, like a newly opened cherry blossom.
Okay, now he was really losing it, but he smiled. “We’re good?”
She laughed. “Yeah. We’re good.”
“No more with the envelope?”
Kellie looked down at her feet. She had thick eyelashes that fanned the tops of her cheeks. “I’ll keep it.”
“Good.”
She looked at him with friendly irritation. “Get in line, will you?”
He chuckled. “Ladies, first.”
She went ahead of him, taking only a couple of small spoonsful of casserole, a handful of chips and some veggies. Her plate didn’t even make a decent snack.
When he finally had a plate full of food, he leaned against the wall. Better not to get close, but his gaze kept checking her out.
“Gracie, come sit with me and let Ryan have your chair,” Dorrie said.
“I’m fine.” Ryan noticed that Gracie sat right next to her aunt Kellie.
Aunt Kellie. He’d never have pictured the pretty intern as anyone’s aunt. Kellie looked young and had way too much nervous energy. Was she always like that or did he make her uncomfortable? If it was him, then why’d he make her nervous?
“Sit down, Ryan.” Dorrie gave him a direct order with a wink.
“Alrighty then.” Ryan sat down and turned to Kellie. “Your sister always this bossy?”
“She’s my sister-in-law. Ex, rather, but yes, she is,” Kellie said with a hint of a smile.
Ryan must have looked confused because Dorrie leaned toward him and added softly, “I was married to Kellie’s brother.”
“Oh.” Ryan wanted to ask more but noticed Gracie listening a little too intently. And Kellie picked at her food instead of eating it. There was definitely a story there. One that he suspected wasn’t good dinnertime conversation.
* * *
By the time Kellie finished eating, Ryan had gone up for seconds. The guy could pack it away, but then there was a lot of him to fill. She got up to throw her paper plate away.
“You don’t eat much, do you?” Ryan stood next to her, tossing his very empty plate in the trash.
“Sure I do.” She couldn’t quite choke down the tuna noodle casserole and threw most of it away.
“Ryan, do you want some cake? I helped make it.” Gracie held out a piece.
Ryan took it with a smile. “You made this? How’d you know chocolate is my favorite?”
Gracie shrugged.
“Did a little bird tell you?”
Her little niece giggled. “No...”
Ryan made a big show of his first bite. “Wow, this is better than I make. And I make a pretty mean chocolate cake.”
Gracie giggled again. “Want some cake, Aunt Kellie?”
“Yes, please.” Kellie smiled and couldn’t help but ask, “So you cook, too?”
“If I want to eat.” Ryan shoveled in cake and tossed his plate. “Your niece is a good kid. They both are.”
“Dorrie does a great job.”
“I take it your brother’s not around much?”
“He’s not around at all.” Kellie failed to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
“Hmm.” Ryan looked puzzled, but gratefully he didn’t ask more. Not with Gracie back with another piece of cake.
Kellie took the offered dessert. “Thanks, Gracie.”
“C’mere.” Gracie grabbed her hand. “I wanna show you something.”
“Want me to hold your cake until you get back?” Ryan’s mouth curved into a wicked grin.
“Not happening.” Kellie found herself grinning back as she followed Gracie down the hall to the bedrooms.
“This one’s mine.”
Kellie took a bite of cake as she peeked into one of the two bedrooms. The room the girls would share. The framed walls had only been partially drywalled, and the flooring hadn’t yet been installed. Carpet would be one of the last details after painting. The place was really coming together with quite a bit completed since the last time she’d been here.
No doubt thanks to Ryan.
Gracie sat on one of two window seats. “Ryan made these for us. Aren’t they cool?”
“Very cool.” And sweet, too. Kellie couldn’t help the warm feeling that settled in her stomach, right next to Gracie’s cake. Ryan seemed like one of the good guys, but was he, truly?
“Pretty neat, huh? Ryan made those out of scrap wood. I told you he knew what he was doing.” Dorrie stood in the doorway.
“Talented guy.” Kellie moved Dorrie’s purse over and sat down on one of the window seats. It felt sturdy. She could easily imagine a fluffy cushion with matching pillows. A perfect place to enjoy the view of the cherry orchard across the street.
“I think he’s got his eye on you.” Dorrie lowered her voice.
Kellie looked at Gracie, but the little girl was looking out of the window at the darkening sky with interest. “Dorrie—”
“I’m just saying.”
“Yeah, well don’t. There’s no way.”
“Why not?”
Kellie gave her a pointed look. Due to a client’s privacy rights, she wasn’t at liberty to discuss the obvious why-nots. Even if she could, Kellie wouldn’t in front of Gracie. The kid was a motormouth.
“We better get to work.” Dorrie gave her a knowing smile.
Kellie’s skin prickled with unease. First Ginny, now Dorrie. This really had to stop.
She stood too quickly and accidentally tipped over Dorrie’s purse, and the contents spilled out onto the floor. Bending down to pick things up, Kellie noticed a letter had fluttered out and lay open at her feet. The words eviction notice caught her attention. She scooped it up before Dorrie could intercept.
“Don’t worry about that.”
Kellie’s gaze flew to hers. “Seriously? I thought you had until the spring to move.”
“Gracie, go help your sister.” Dorrie snatched the letter.
“Awww, Mom.”
“Go on.” After Gracie left, Dorrie explained. “The property sold and the new owners want to move the trailer off the land before the holidays. Before the snow gets too deep.”
Kellie did the math. In two months, her nieces would be homeless. “Where are you going to go?”
“We’ll figure it out.”
Could they get this house done before Christmas? “Have you told the construction crew?”
Dorrie stooped down and gathered up the items from her purse. “It’s not their problem.”
Kellie didn’t agree, but she understood how Dorrie worked because Kellie worked the same way. Neither of them relied on others very well. There was less chance for disappointment if they didn’t depend on others.
“Come on. There’s work to do.”
Kellie followed Dorrie back into the living room to hang insulation. As the evening passed, Kellie racked her brain for solutions. Her parents could take the girls, but would Dorrie allow that? She wouldn’t want Hannah and Gracie to miss school here. They’d be the new girls once again. And Hannah had physical therapy coming up as soon as that cast came off.
Would Mrs. Wheeler open her home? She had the room, but Kellie didn’t think the elderly woman cared much for young kids.
By the time they’d cleaned up and the volunteers headed for their cars, Kellie knew she needed to talk to Ryan about Dorrie’s situation. He’d know if they could finish construction before Dorrie’s rented home was literally carted away.
She lagged behind waiting for Dorrie and the girls to leave. But of course, they stalled, and all of them walked out of the house together. Ryan locked the door behind them.
Her chances were slipping away.
“Thanks for your help, Ryan.” Dorrie loaded her girls into their car. “Good night, Kellie. Thanks for coming tonight.”
“You’re welcome.” Kellie watched Ryan head for the building trailer to lock it.
“Don’t worry, I’m leaving.” Dorrie wiggled her eyebrows and then climbed in her car.
“No, it’s not—” The denial died on her lips. Maybe it’d be better to let Dorrie think what she wanted.
Kellie waved as they backed down the driveway, but her insides fluttered when she heard the crunching of gravel behind her. She turned to face Ryan.
He looked surprised to find her still there. “What’s up?”
“Can I talk to you?”
He smiled. “Sure. Want to go somewhere?”
Kellie shook her head. “This will only take a minute.”
“Okay.”
Kellie blew out a breath that curled like white smoke in the cold night air. “How long before the house is ready for Dorrie to move into?”
Ryan shrugged. “Depends on the amount of help we get. Why?”
“Dorrie’s been served with an eviction notice she won’t tell anyone about. I stumbled upon it, so we have to keep this quiet. Can we get this place done before Christmas?”
Ryan shifted on his foot. “We’re going to need more help.”
Kellie nodded. After she took that test, she’d have more time. Besides, Dorrie needed her. “I can be here every night.”
“We’ll need more than you and me.” His voice softened, stealing her equilibrium.
“What about your brother’s church?” Kellie offered.
“What about it?”
“Can’t we round up some more volunteers from there?”
A shadow crossed over Ryan’s face. “I don’t know.”
“Don’t you go there?”
“No.”
Kellie twisted her mouth to resist the temptation to ask him why he didn’t attend his brother’s church. But that was a question for another time and place. Sinclair Marsh’s congregation was the most logical place to rally troops, and she needed Ryan’s help to do that. Dorrie went there, but knowing her, she’d never ask for help.
“Would you be willing to go?”
He grinned at her then. “I’ll go if you do.”
He’d thrown down a challenge. One Kellie had little choice in refusing. She could do this. For Dorrie’s sake, she’d keep her distance and keep it professional. She had to.
Raising her chin, Kellie met Ryan’s gaze without flinching. “You’re on.”