“I don’t get why we have to come out here,” Laurel said as Tara turned her car up the dirt lane toward the property. “This is so lame.”
“I told you, I wanted you to see this place,” Tara replied, tired of explaining herself.
“But the mall will close,” Laurel whined, her arms crossed in a rebellious tightening over her midsection.
Tara glanced across at her daughter. “The mall stays open until ten o’clock, Laurel.”
“I want to see the land, Mom,” Amanda said, leaning over the seat to stare ahead. “Wow, this is sure out in the country.”
Marybeth leaned forward, too. “It’s so pretty.”
“It’s hot and full of bugs, and probably lots of snakes, too,” Laurel told her sisters with a tart tongue. “You two are such losers.”
“Hush,” Tara said, glaring at Laurel. “You will not speak to your sisters that way.”
“Well, it’s true,” Laurel said, raising her voice. “We’re all losers. You think we don’t see, Mom. But we do. You’re working now more than ever, when you promised you were going to spend more time with us. We can’t even buy decent clothes for school. And all my friends keep asking why our house is up for sale.”
“Laurel, that is enough,” Tara said, bringing the car to such a fast halt, the tires skidded on the sandy dirt. “I am doing the best I can. And I am spending time with you. That’s why I brought you here.”
“Just so we could see this?” Laurel asked, her hand on the door handle. “Just so you could tell us how much our daddy loved us, then turn around and sell the land he left us? That makes perfect sense, Mom.”
Tara sat with her hands on the steering wheel, clutching it as if it were a life preserver. Her two younger daughters had now slumped into their seats, their eyes wide, their faces devoid of any smiles.
She wouldn’t break down. She couldn’t do that in front of her children. She’d gotten them into this mess, and she’d have to be the one to get them out now that Chad was gone. “I’m sorry,” she said, the whispered apology laced with a plea. “Things are going to get better, I promise.”
“We don’t believe your promises,” Laurel said. Then she got out of the car and slammed the door.
“I believe you, Mommy,” Amanda said, her voice sounding small and far away.
“Me, too,” Marybeth chimed in. “Laurel is so weird. Don’t listen to her, Mom.”
Tara swiped a tear from her face. “Thanks for the support, you two. Do you want to do this? We could just go on to the mall.”
“I want to see this place,” Marybeth replied, her eyes capturing Tara’s in the rearview mirror. “If Daddy loved it, then we will, too.”
That simple declaration almost broke Tara’s heart, but she regained control and got out of the car. That’s when she spotted the sleek black SUV parked off the road, underneath an aged live oak.
The girls got out, too. “Who’s here, Mom?” Amanda asked, glancing over at the SUV.
“I don’t know,” Tara said. “I haven’t had any calls from prospective buyers, so I wasn’t supposed to meet anyone out here.”
“Maybe somebody saw your ad in the paper,” Marybeth reasoned. “They might have just decided to look on their own.”
“That could be it,” Tara replied, careful to glance around. They were in a very remote location. She wouldn’t want any harm to come to her daughters.
They walked up on the slight incline that allowed a view of the marsh and forest. This was the spot where Chad had always talked about building a cabin or cottage. Tara turned to Laurel to tell her that, but the teenager hung back, her face sullen, her whole body rigid with anger and pain.
Tara wanted to run to her daughter and take Laurel into her arms and tell her it would be okay, but she didn’t do that. Instead, she just stood looking out over the quiet marshland.
Then she heard laughter and voices coming from the lane that followed the course of the river to one side and stayed high above the marsh to the other. “I guess we do have visitors, girls.”
Tara waited to see who would emerge from the woods around the bend. And wondered if she really did want to sell this land after all.
He had to wonder now if he should even buy this land.
Stone stared over at the intriguing man who’d taken him on a journey that had revealed more than just the marsh and a tiny ancient chapel.
The chapel was amazing. It looked like a little doll-house, sitting among the old live oaks and cypress trees. It was painted a bright white with red shutters and a matching red door. A crudely made cypress cross was centered over the door. Inside, the chapel was quiet and cool, the scent of vanilla candles long since burned down wafting out into the small aisle. Josiah had invited Stone to sit up front, close to the petite altar, but Stone had hung back while Josiah piddled with clearing away cobwebs and dusting off the pulpit.
And Josiah had not bothered him.
Stone had sat inside that little clapboard building, in the peace and quiet that had endured through slavery and a great war, and somehow, had touched on the shackles and wars of his very own soul. And to think, no one believed he actually had a soul.
But Josiah had seen inside his soul.
Coincidence? Or an opportunity? An opportunity for what, Stone thought now as he strolled along, listening to Josiah’s aged Southern drawl. There couldn’t be any opportunity in taking a man from his home. Stone was accustomed to corporate raiding, but he’d never intentionally raid the home of someone so innocent and centered, so grounded in a simple way of life.
Stone decided he wouldn’t worry about that until he’d signed on the dotted line. He’d make sure Josiah got to a safe, nice new home. He’d also make sure the old preacher wanted for nothing, ever again.
But Josiah seemed to have everything he needed right here, a little voice nagged in Stone’s head. The old man had his chapel and he had his tiny, gray-washed shack that sat precariously close to the marsh. Josiah lived mostly off the land and the kindness of the few who still came to hear him preach the gospel each Sunday.
Wouldn’t the old man be better off somewhere safe and warm, Stone wondered. Josiah whistled as they walked, making Stone think that maybe the old man would never willingly leave the marsh.
For the first time, Stone had doubts about his grand plans.
Then he looked up to the bluff and saw Tara standing there with her three daughters. The wind was playing through Tara’s hair as she held her arms on one of the girl’s shoulders. She looked down at him, their eyes locking, and Stone felt something break loose inside his very being, as if a strong wall had cracked open to reveal the secret places of his heart. And suddenly, he felt as if he were the one without a place to call home.
“Is that her?” Josiah asked, the words falling across the wind like a butterfly’s flutter.
“Yes.” Stone couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“She’s a pretty little thing.”
“Yes,” he repeated, sounding stupid and redundant in his own mind.
“Got a family already, too.”
“Yes,” he said again. “She’s a widow.”
“I know who she is,” Josiah replied just before they reached the copse of trees on the bluff. “That’s Chad Parnell’s widow.”
“You knew Chad?” Stone asked, completely surprised by this new information. But then, this day had been full of surprises.
“Known him since he was a boy,” Josiah said. “Chad used to come out here…a lot. He’d fish and hunt with his daddy. He’d come to my chapel, too.”
“Chad Parnell attended church?”
“He didn’t attend church, son. He came to talk to a friend about all his troubles.”
“And you listened and gave him advice?”
Josiah chuckled and shook his head. “No, young fellow, God listened…and gave him solace.”
Stone turned to face Josiah at last. “I didn’t think Chad Parnell was a godly man.”
“Did you ever think to ask him?” Josiah shot back.
“Well, no. I mean, I didn’t know him that well.”
“Some things are kept close to the heart,” Josiah replied. “Chad knew the Lord. He just didn’t know how to accept all the Lord’s blessings.”
“I guess he didn’t,” Stone replied, his gaze moving back to Tara.
Josiah motioned toward Tara. “You might be able to do a better job than Chad.”
Stone wished the old man was right. But the concept was so foreign to him, he didn’t even know how to begin to ask for God’s blessings. Especially regarding Tara Parnell.
Again, it was if Josiah had read his mind. “Ask and ye shall receive. Knock and He will answer.”
Stone knew what Josiah was saying. After all, Rock had often coaxed him to turn his life around by turning back to the God that Stone had abandoned. Or rather, the God that Stone believed had abandoned him and his family.
Suddenly, Stone felt so very tired. Tired of fighting against his brother’s constant suggestions and gentle admonishments, tired of fighting against the God he didn’t want to accept or acknowledge. And yet, he realized he needed some sort of acceptance, some sort of solace, himself. Meeting Tara had brought out all the loneliness he tried so hard to hide.
“I’ve been knocking, Josiah. It’s like beating my head against a wall.” This time, he wasn’t just talking about Tara. It seemed as if Stone had been knocking against a brick wall most of his life.
“Then it’s time to bring that wall down,” Josiah said on a calm voice. “Starting right now, I think.”
Stone stared up at Tara. She hadn’t moved, hadn’t said a word in greeting. Her three girls stood there with her, staring at him as if he were a marsh monster.
He turned to say something to Josiah, but the old man was already walking away.
Which left Stone alone in the middle of the marsh, alone and more confused and afraid than he’d ever been in his life.
She’d never expected to find Stone Dempsey here.
Tara’s heart took flight like the big heron the two men had scared away with their conversation.
“What are you doing here?” she asked Stone as he strolled toward them. “And who on earth was that man?”
“Hello to you, too,” Stone replied, smiling down at Amanda. “My name is Stone.”
“You’re Rock’s brother,” Amanda announced, her eyes going wide as she glanced over her shoulder at her mother.
Stone nodded, grinned. “Yes. What’s your name?”
“Amanda.” She pointed a finger. “That’s Marybeth.” Then she rolled her eyes toward Laurel. “And that’s Laurel.”
“Hello, Amanda, Marybeth and Laurel,” Stone said, taking the time to shake each girl’s hand, even though Laurel just glared at him. “I saw you at the wedding, but didn’t get a chance to speak to any of you. Y’all are just about as pretty as your mom.”
Tara had her guard up. This was no coincidence. Stone had obviously planned to find her here. “Hello,” she said finally. “Now tell me what you’re doing here?”
“I came out to look over this property once again. You know, just biding my time until you make a decision.”
“I won’t be making any decisions, at least not regarding you,” Tara said, careful that she kept her tone very impersonal and businesslike. Laurel was already giving her keen, condemning looks.
Stone stood silent, letting her curt words wash over him. “Did you know about Josiah?”
“Who’s that?” Marybeth asked.
“The man I was with,” Stone explained. “He came walking up the lane when I first arrived. He has a cabin back in the marsh. And the tiniest little chapel.”
Tara was surprised to hear that. “What are you talking about? This land is vacant.”
“No, not quite,” Stone replied. “Samson Josiah Bennett lives on the edge of this land, near where the river and the marsh merge. Apparently, he’s lived here all of his life and your husband knew him.”
Tara glanced in the direction the old man had gone. “Are you serious?”
“Very,” Stone said. “He kind of took me by surprise, too. Apparently, Chad knew Josiah lived here when he bought the land years ago, but he let Josiah stay. This adds a new wrinkle to things.”
“It sure does,” Tara agreed. “Why didn’t Chad ever mention him?”
Laurel stalked close then. “Maybe because you were never around to talk to Dad.”
Tara whirled to her daughter. “Did you know about this man?”
“No,” Laurel admitted. “But Dad never talked to us about anything, either.” She shrugged and went back into full hostile mode.
“Mom, if you sell the land, that old man will have to move,” Marybeth said, worry clouding her green eyes.
“I know, honey. I’ll have to think about what needs to be done.”
“Let’s think about it together,” Stone suggested. “Over dinner.”
“I can’t,” Tara replied, disappointment warring with common sense. “I told the girls we’d go to the mall out on the interstate.”
“I’ll go with you then.”
Tara stood back, baffled by both his tone and the soft warmth in his eyes. That warmth took her breath away more than his cold, icy stares ever could.
And she wondered what had come over the man.
Laurel shuffled in the background, bringing Tara to full alert. “Mom, if we don’t hurry, we won’t get dinner or shopping. And why does he have to come along?”
“Don’t be rude,” Tara said on a low warning.
“I won’t be too much of a bother,” Stone said, giving Laurel a brilliant smile. “And I’m buying. Just name the restaurant.”
He got at least two different choices. “Pizza,” Amanda shouted, dancing around. “Hamburgers,” Marybeth said at the same time.
“How about we go where they have both?” Stone asked, his eyes on Tara again. “Laurel, where do you want to eat?”
“I don’t care,” Laurel said on a huff of breath. “I’m not even hungry.”
“What’s your favorite dessert?” Stone asked, stepping so close Laurel had to acknowledge him.
Laurel hesitated, tried to keep the pout on her face, then finally said, “Chocolate pie.”
“Okay, then. It’s chocolate pie for dessert. I know a great little pie shop right in the heart of Savannah.”
“I haven’t said we’d go to dinner with you,” Tara reminded him, eternally thankful in spite of her qualms that he was being so thoughtful toward her girls.
His silver eyes held her spellbound. “But you will, won’t you?”
She thought about it for a minute. They did need to talk, about a lot of things. She had almost convinced herself to give in to his offer, but now they had Josiah Bennett to worry about. And she wanted to know more about Josiah’s relationship with Chad.
She turned to the girls. “Do you want Stone to take us to dinner?”
There was a chorus of voices. Two yeses. One no.
“Two out of three isn’t bad,” Stone quipped, giving Laurel a wink. Then he looked back at Tara. “I didn’t hear your vote.”
“Okay, we’ll go,” she said finally. “But only if we can let the girls shop first. If you don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind one bit,” Stone said, his smile sincere and full of hope. “Why don’t I follow you to your house and then we’ll head to the mall in my vehicle?”
“All right,” Tara said, nodding. Then she stopped, “Girls, I’m sorry. I brought you out here to see this land because…well, selling it is your decision, too.”
“Funny you never bothered to ask us about that before,” Laurel said, tossing her hair as she stomped toward the car.
Tara looked over at Stone, the heat of her shame rushing up her face. “She’s right. I never stopped to consider how they would feel.”
“Do we have to sell it, Mom?” Marybeth asked, her green eyes moving over the lush marsh. “Look at the birds. Where will they go if you build houses here?”
Stone touched on Marybeth’s ponytail. “We’d make sure we leave plenty of trees and bushes for the birds, honey. They’ll be safe. We wouldn’t touch the marsh. We just want to build houses up on the bluff here.”
“Why?” Marybeth asked.
Stone gave Tara a helpless look that caused her to smile in spite of her embarrassment. He obviously hadn’t had many dealings with teenaged girls.
“Well,” he said, “it’s a good investment, for your mom and for my company.”
“Mom could use a few good investments,” Amanda volunteered. “We’re flat broke.”
“Amanda!” Tara’s felt sweat trickling down her back.
“Well, it’s the truth,” Amanda replied, her gaze moving from her mom’s face to Stone. “But can’t you find some other way to make money? I like this place just the way it is.”
Stone let out a long breath. “Let’s talk more about it over dinner,” he suggested as a means of stalling.
“Good idea,” Tara said, watching as he walked to his SUV. He looked good in his faded jeans and soft yellow polo shirt. Too good. She got in the car, turned it around on the road, then headed toward the highway that would take them into Savannah.
“Why are you seeing him?” Laurel asked, her harsh gaze full of accusation.
Not wanting to get into another argument, Tara thought about her answer to that question. “I’m not seeing him. We are conducting a business deal. And he is Rock’s brother, after all, so we’ll probably see him a lot from now on.”
“I don’t like him,” Laurel replied.
“I didn’t ask you to like him,” Tara countered. “I only ask that you treat him politely. I did teach you manners, remember, Laurel.”
“He seems nice,” Marybeth said from the back seat.
“How do you know that?” Laurel said over her shoulder. “You just met the man.”
“I saw him at the wedding,” Marybeth reminded her.
“Me, too,” Amanda said. “He’s handsome.”
“Oh, please!” Laurel let out a groan then reached for her ever constant headphones.
Tara didn’t stop her. She had enough to deal with. Stone was following her home. Chad had kept yet another secret from her. And her oldest daughter obviously hated the world in general. Wondering when she’d ever find some peace in her life, Tara sent up a little prayer for God’s guidance. Show me the way, Lord. Help me to understand what I’m supposed to do next.
Tara felt tired, so tired. She needed some rest, some solace. And she decided in a fit of defeat, she needed that job Stone had offered her. She’d tell him tonight that she’d sign the contract. He could have the land to develop, and she could finally have some peace of mind.
And together, they’d have to figure out what to do about Josiah Bennett.