Bachelor to the Rescue (14 page)

The implications were gut-wrenching. Water could destroy all of the work they'd accomplished over the past weeks—wood floors, carpet, the new shelving. A knot the size of a basketball lodged in his stomach and refused to budge. He didn't want to think about the far-reaching ramifications. What if he lost his business? What if Dover lost its library? It would be his fault.

He shoved those concerns to the back of his mind. One thing at a time. He'd told the mayor he'd be right over, but first, he had someone else to share his bad news with. Lainie. She would be crushed. He'd considered waiting until after he'd seen the damage, but she'd hear his truck when he pulled out, and she'd worry.

Resting his hands on his hips, he set his jaw and prayed for strength. He pulled on his jeans and a shirt before picking up his cell again and dialing Lainie's number. She slept with the phone beside her. He hoped she was still awake. When she answered, he simply asked her to meet him at her back door.

His feet moved as if made of lead. His heart likewise. She was waiting for him when he arrived. He wished he could wait until morning, but he needed to get to the library and deal with the disaster. He had no idea when he'd get home again.

The fear in her eyes twisted his heart, but the sight of her smoothed the sharp edges of his emotions. Her hair was sleep-tousled, framing her face in delicate wisps. She clutched a robe closed at her throat. She looked beautiful. He forced his thoughts back to the problem at hand.

“Shaw. What's wrong?”

“One of the sprinkler heads failed at the library and flooded the first floor.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “Oh, no. How bad?”

“Bad. I'll know more when I get there.”

The worry in her eyes ripped through his heart. They were both thinking the same thing. This setback most likely meant they'd miss the deadline, and that would put them both out of work.

As he drove to the library, Shaw bore the weight of two worlds on his shoulders. Everything looked normal from the outside. But the flashing lights of a police cruiser and the mayor's large SUV told the real story. He also recognized the truck belonging to the owner of the sprinkler company. He braced himself for the worst.

Mayor Ogden charged toward him the moment he got out of the truck. “How could you let this happen? We're already weeks behind schedule. I'm beginning to think you aren't capable of handling this project. Do you realize the deadline is only eight days away? How long will it take to clean up this mess?”

Shaw strode toward the rear entrance of the library, dreading what he might find. “I won't know until I see how bad it is.”

“Bad. Real bad.” The mayor followed him. “This is all your fault.”

“No, sir. This is the fault of the company who installed the system.”

“Which you approved.”

Shaw stepped into the building, his boots splashing through the accumulated water. It wasn't as bad as he'd expected. Definitely not two inches of water, but enough to ruin carpet and warp floors and baseboard. It could have been much worse. The broken sprinkler head had failed from the bottom and sent water directly downward. If it had sprayed outward the way it was designed to do, the walls would have been ruined, as well.

“I brought our shop vacs and fans, but we'll need more.”

Shaw spun around to find Russ setting a large shop vacuum on the floor. “What are you doing here? Is Viola okay?”

“She's fine. Still waiting on a few test results, but right now they think it was an arthritis infection.”

“I've never heard of that.”

“Me, neither. But she's doing better. I figured you'd need extra help to get this cleaned up.”

Just knowing Russ was with him took a huge load off his shoulders. “Well, I'm not going to send you home.”

Russ chuckled. “Didn't figure you would.”

Setting his mind to the task, Shaw made the necessary calls, then turned on the other shop vacuum and got to work.

It was after one in the morning when he and Russ called it a night. They'd done all they could for the moment, setting up the fans to run through the night to speed the drying process. Tomorrow, the professional cleaners would arrive and do their work, then he could make a better assessment of the damage.

By the time he returned to the house, his hopes for completing the project on time were in doubt. As he neared the back door, he saw lights in Lainie's kitchen. Was she waiting up for him? He hoped so. She appeared at the door, a small smile on her face as she pushed it open.

“I have fresh coffee or sweet tea if you'd rather have that.”

“Tea sounds good. It was hot over there.”

He sat at the table taking a long drink from the glass. Lainie sat beside him studying him with her expressive brown eyes. She was worried, anxious to hear the extent of the damage. “You want the good news first or the bad news?”

“The good.”

He smiled. He knew she would say that. “Only the lower level was flooded. The second floor is untouched. The bad news—we can't tell the extent of the damage until we get the place dried out. The carpets in the reading room and the children's area are ruined. I think the wood floors will be okay if we can get them dried out quickly. A few of the shelves and cabinets have water damage, but we don't know how much yet.” He met her gaze. It was nice to have someone to talk to and share his concerns.

Shaw enfolded her hands in his, finding comfort in the softness and the connection. “I have a bad feeling, Lainie. On the surface, it doesn't look too bad, but water can seep into everything, and it'll take days for everything to dry.”

“There's nothing you can do in the meantime?”

“We'll pull out the carpet tomorrow and order a new one, but other than that, no.” He let go of her hands. “I should have checked things again.”

“This isn't your fault.”

“Mayor Ogden wouldn't agree with you. He was waiting when I arrived, and he was demanding answers.” Shaw ran a hand down the back of his neck. “Whatever the cause, the buck stops with me, Lainie. As the contractor, I'm responsible for everything that happens. And I take those responsibilities seriously. If something or someone comes under my care, I'm not going to back out when things get difficult or inconvenient.”

A cloud passed over Lainie's eyes. “And what about me and the girls? Are we your responsibility, too?”

“Of course. You had no one else. I had to make sure you were taken care of. I couldn't let you go to a shelter or sleep in your car. I promised you I'd take care of things until the library was done and you could go to work. I keep my promises.”

Lainie picked up his empty glass and carried it to the sink. “It's all about responsibility, isn't it?”

“Yes.” Something in Lainie's attitude had changed, but he didn't have the strength to analyze it at the moment. He was tired, and a headache like a nail gun was shooting pains through his skull. He needed sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a nightmare.

He stood and moved to the door. “Thanks for waiting up and for the tea. Don't worry. I'll get it all taken care of.”

Lainie crossed her arms over her chest, her mouth set in a thin line, her usually warm brown eyes dark and hard. “I'm sure you will. You'd better go. You have a lot of responsibility to take care of.”

Shaw searched her face for some explanation. Why had she turned so cold? What had he said that had angered her? “Lainie?”

“You'd better go.”

Too tired to argue, he walked out. Whatever was bothering her would have to wait.

Chapter Eleven

L
ainie leaned back in her chair, gently stretching her arm back and forth to exercise the muscles the way the therapist had taught her. Her elbow was getting better, but she had to be careful not to spend too much time at the keyboard. It had been three days since the flood, and everyone was pushing themselves to the limits to make repairs and get things back on track. She hadn't seen Shaw since the night he had returned from the library.

“If the books had been in place when the sprinkler broke, we'd have lost them, too.” Millie sealed up a box, adding a firm slap to the top. “Another one done.”

Lainie glanced up from her computer. “It feels like we're buried in boxes. First they come in, we empty them, sort them, then box them back up again. This would be so much simpler if we were in the library already. We could place them right on the shelves.”

Millie sat beside her. “I hate to admit it, but this is more work than I expected. Maybe the board is right. I
am
too old to handle this job.”

Lainie squeezed her friend's hand. “Not true. You could have done it easily. This was a huge job. Anyone would be worn-out.”

“Not you. You're like the little engine that could. Working here all day, doing Shaw's bookkeeping at night and taking care of your girls. You're going to be a blessing to this town, Lainie.”

“Thank you. That means a lot. I hope I get the chance to prove you right.” She glanced out the small carriage house windows toward the large mansion. “I'm worried. Shaw is so discouraged. I'm afraid the damage is worse than he's letting on.”

“Really? Russ told me things were looking good, and they should be done for the big inspection.” Millie studied her from over the rim of her glasses. “Maybe something else is bothering Shaw. Something personal. Maybe the same thing that's bothering you?”

“The only thing bothering me is impatience. I want this library open so I can start work.” Millie sent her a skeptical grin and went back to packing. Lainie's gaze drifted out the window to the library again. Shaw and his crew had pulled up the carpet the other day and hauled off some of the shelves and cabinets that needed repair. After they'd left, she'd gathered her courage and peeked inside the old mansion. Even with the surfaces dried out, the stench from wet carpet, damp wood and concrete permeated the air. She'd managed to get into the reception area and survey the damage. The large industrial fans were still blowing, making a racket, but to her untrained eye, it looked hopeless.

She thought about all the work Shaw and his men had put into the building—the hours, the skill and dedication—and her eyes burned. He would be heartbroken. He took pride in his work. He wanted the library for the town, but he needed it for his future, too. So did she. The deadline was Monday, less than four days away. She didn't see any way the library could open on schedule and still have time to bring in the furniture and all the books.

When Lainie arrived home that evening, she was exhausted. She picked up the girls from Gwen's, fed them and sent them out to play until bath time. She needed a few minutes to unwind. Shaw wasn't home. She knew he'd work through the night to get finished. He had to be exhausted, too. She was starting to worry about him.

On the front porch, she pulled the mail from her box and Shaw's, sorting through it as she went back inside. She placed his on the small table in the main hall, then went into her duplex. Her mail consisted of two bills she'd had forwarded and one official-looking envelope. It was addressed to Mrs. Craig Hollings. The bold return address was from a detective agency.

Icy fear twisted around her heart. Her fingers trembled as she opened the seal on the thin paper. Her eyes scanned the contents, but her brain struggled to process the words. She forced herself to take a calming breath before starting again.

Craig's mother had tracked her down and she was coming to Dover to meet with her. The rest of the words on the paper blurred. All the horrible things Craig had warned her about burst forth, releasing her darkest fears. He'd always said his parents would try to break up their marriage if they found them, and push for custody of any children they had. Their controlling behavior was one of the reasons he'd cut all ties with them.

Was his mother coming to try and take the girls away? What if Lainie had to go to court? How would she afford to fight for them? She was a good mother. No court in the land would take them away. But what if they did? A wave of panic bent her forward and she clutched her stomach.

Throat pinched with fear, Lainie grabbed her cell and called Shaw. It didn't occur to her until he answered that there was nothing he could do to help. But hearing his voice immediately eased her fears, giving her a sense of calm and support to cling to. “Shaw, how soon are you coming home?”

“Not for a few more hours. What's wrong? You sound upset.”

“I received a letter from my mother-in-law today. She's coming to Dover.”

“How did she find you?”

Lainie stared at the letter in her hand trying to keep her senses. “She hired a detective agency.”

“Did she say why she was coming?”

“No. Maybe.” She couldn't think straight. “She said she wanted to meet to discuss family issues.” Lainie paced the room, gripping the phone like a lifeline. “What if she's coming to check me out to see if I'm a good mother? Craig warned me she'd be ruthless if she ever found out about me.”

“I'll be right there.”

The minutes crawled by as she waited for Shaw. Her stomach was churning. Fear had coated her skin with dampness. She couldn't concentrate. She prayed constantly, but even that failed to calm her anxiety. She let the girls play outside longer than usual, not wanting them to see her so upset.

She handed Shaw the letter the moment he stepped inside the kitchen, chewing her thumbnail nervously as she waited for him to read it.

“What do you think she wants?”

“Maybe exactly what she says. To meet and discuss family issues.”

“What issues? Does she want to take my girls?”

Shaw slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Don't jump to conclusions, Lainie. It might mean nothing at all.”

She allowed her head to rest on his shoulder a moment before pulling away. “No. It means something. Craig rarely talked about his parents, but when he did, he said horrible things about them. He said they lied to him, that they'd want to take the baby if they knew about her.” She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I thought I'd hear from them after his death, but when I didn't, I assumed they didn't care. As the years passed, I forgot about them. Now, out of the blue, she shows up. What does she want? Why now after all this time?”

“What can I do? Just tell me.”

“I don't know. I want to grab my girls and run, but I know that's ridiculous. But if she wants to fight for them, I can't afford a court battle.”

“Lainie, you're getting upset before you know the situation.” He pulled her into his arms. “I'll be here beside you. Let's hear what she wants first before we second-guess her motives.”

The letter had shattered her common sense. Her deep fear of losing her girls raged through her like a volcanic explosion. Lainie clung to him, needing the comfort he offered. “I have to be prepared. I have to be ready to show her I'm a good mother and I can provide for them, that I have a job—” She stilled. “Oh, Shaw, I might not have a job if the library doesn't get done.”

“It will.”

“But what if it doesn't? The flood could ruin the whole thing.” She pulled away, placing her hands on her cheeks as she saw her life from her mother-in-law's perspective. “It all looks so bad right now. The town doesn't want me here, the library might not be done and I'll be unemployed. I'm living in the home of the town's most notorious bachelor, accepting gifts of money from him. It's a scene right out of a bad soap opera.”

Shaw smiled. “I don't think I'm notorious. And you're my tenant.”

She glared. “You know what I mean. My whole life right now looks shady. And we don't even have a lease to show her.”

“I'll draw one up. Tell me what you need me to do. I'll do whatever you want. I won't let her take the girls from you.”

“You don't have any say in the matter.”

“But I have friends who can help. Some with powerful influence.”

Lainie shook her head, trying to think around the fear scraping every nerve raw. “I need to look in charge and competent. That I am providing the best loving environment for them. When I told Mrs. Forsythe what Craig had said about his parents, she suggested I get married again. Then there would be no way she could take the girls away.”

Shaw set his hands on his hips. “That's an idea. If she questions your reputation, tell her we're engaged. If she thinks you're involved with someone able to provide a solid home, she won't do anything.”

It was a silly idea, but Lainie was frantic, and at the moment, any idea was worth considering. She pressed her fingers to her temples. She had to get a grip. Shaw was right. She was panicking over something she didn't know would happen. “No. Thanks, Shaw, but no one would believe you're in love with me.” She looked into his eyes and thought she saw a flash of pain behind the dark blue. The notion sent a wave of longing zipping through her body. For a second, she let herself believe he did love her. But then she remembered he was a happy bachelor, and merely saw her and the girls as his obligation.

Shaw frowned. “Why not?”

“Dover's most eligible single man and a mom with two kids. You said it yourself. You're not the marrying kind.”

“Maybe I've changed my mind.”

Lainie didn't want to think about what he might mean. “I don't think this woman will be easily fooled. I'm afraid the only way to convince her would be to produce a marriage license.”

“Then let's show her proof. Marry me.”

Her heart stopped before kicking into action again. He couldn't be serious. He was taking his responsibility to the extreme. “Don't be ridiculous. I'd do anything to protect my girls, but I stop short of marrying a man who—” The words
doesn't love me
died on her lips. She swallowed and turned away. Oh, but how she wished he did.

“Lainie, it wouldn't be real. I have a good friend at the courthouse. All we need is a piece of paper that shows we're serious. I can get a marriage application or even a license. It won't be legit, but it will look official to her.”

At her wit's end, Lainie had to admit it wasn't a bad idea. If Craig's mother questioned her current situation, she would produce Shaw and the license. There would be nothing the woman could do.

“All right,” she said. “But just as a last resort.” Drained from worry and fear, Lainie sank onto a kitchen chair.

Shaw rested his hand on her arm. “Lainie, it'll be all right. You're scared and worn down from all the stress of the library. You're not thinking clearly. I'll be with you. Whatever she throws at us, we'll tackle it together.”

“This isn't your fight, but thank you. I couldn't have handled any of this without you.”

“Nonsense. No one is more capable and determined than you. Or more beautiful.”

Lainie laughed, wiping the tears from her face. “Oh, right. Red eyed and weepy.”

“That's the way you looked when I first saw you in the station. I thought the same thing then.” He touched her chin with his fingertips, his blue eyes intense and probing. “I told you I'd take care of you.”

His words pierced her heart, adding another pain to her already-tattered emotions. He hadn't said he loved her. The girls scrambled in the door, shattering the moment.

“Mommy, we're thirsty.”

She hid her hurt in the activity of fixing drinks, aware of Shaw moving toward the door.

“I'd better get back. We'll talk more later. Don't worry about anything.”

She nodded, afraid of speaking and losing control of her emotions. She made the girls a quick supper, keeping busy with getting her daughters ready for bed. Once again, Shaw had stepped in to fix her life and handle her problems. She didn't want him to fix her life. She wanted him to care for her. Not because he felt obligated, but because he loved her.

Right now she needed to get prepared to meet her mother-in-law. But worrying didn't solve anything. She'd do her part to make sure the library was done and trust that Shaw would keep his word to her and the town and meet the deadline.

* * *

Lainie scanned the bar code on the plastic library card then typed in the information written on the application. She'd wanted to have all the cards ready to hand out on opening day, but that was in three days, and she was behind. She'd decided to get the books ready before the cards. Of course, she was having trouble concentrating on anything since the letter had arrived from her mother-in-law yesterday.

The message had said she'd arrive sometime this week. The worst possible week to show up. Shaw was working like a madman trying to finish the last details on the library. She and Millie were trying to process and organize as many of the books as possible, but there were still far too many boxes sitting in Dutch's warehouse. Along with chairs, tables, benches plus beanbags for the kids to sit on.

The tech guys were installing the computers today, but she still couldn't start moving the books in until that final inspection was completed. Shaw had scheduled it for tomorrow.

She sighed and brushed her hair off her face. Her stomach was in knots, and she'd been unable to eat since the letter had arrived. She felt as if she was about to explode from the stress. It was near noon when she looked up to see Shaw coming in the door. The sight of him eased her tension. He had that effect on her.

He stopped at the worktable, pulling an envelope from his shirt pocket. “I have our marriage license.”