Family Wanted (Willow's Haven Book 1) (8 page)

“He’s never been able to tell Abi no,” Dana said, nudging his arm with her shoulder. “But he doesn’t spoil her too much.”

“Daddy says you do,” Abi said, “but I don’t mind.”

John laughed, ran his hand over the top of her hair. “Yeah, well, Landon is right. And I’m sure you don’t mind.” Then he tilted his head toward Savannah. “She and Abi had a fit over the new vintage-style dolls Mr. Feazell got in today, and I wanted to get them one. I hope that’s okay with you, Titus.”

Savannah had been hugging her doll, but she stopped and looked at her daddy. “It is, isn’t it, Daddy? Because this is the best day ever. I went swimming and we had ice cream and then I got a new doll.”

Isabella watched emotions play over his face. Savannah had made so much progress today at the pool and now again with her disposition, practically beaming as she stood beside her friend holding her new doll.

“Yes, it’s fine,” he said. “But what do you tell Mr. John and Miss Dana?”

She turned to face John and Dana. “Thank you so much!”

“You’re welcome,” they said, as Jacob started rubbing his eyes and whimpering.

“It’s about bedtime for little man,” Dana said. “It was good to run into y’all here. I guess we’ll see you at the pool again tomorrow?”

“Definitely,” Titus said. He turned to Isabella. “As long as that works for you?”

They hadn’t missed a day since they’d started, and she certainly wouldn’t miss one now that Savannah had finally made her way into the water. “Definitely.”

Chapter Eight

I wanted to be a good mom.

T
itus sipped his first cup of coffee Sunday morning and reflected on how differently the weekend had turned out than he had planned. Friday afternoon had gone amazingly well, with Isabella getting Savannah to put her face beneath the water at the end of her swim lesson. Titus had watched in awe as Isabella slowly and gently continued to draw his little girl out of her shell, and his admiration increased each time they were together.

In fact, he’d asked her if she wanted to take another trip to the square with them after the lesson ended, but she’d made plans with Savvy to drive to a furniture store in Stockville to start shopping for the future cabins at Willow’s Haven. Titus would be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed that he hadn’t been able to spend more time with her on Friday evening, but he’d resolved that he and Savannah would go to the B and B on Saturday and see if she wanted to do something outdoors with them. Maybe go on a picnic at Hydrangea Park, hike to Jasper Falls or go horseback riding at the Cutter Dude Ranch. Anything that would let him spend more time with Isabella and have a chance to pick up their conversation where they’d left off Thursday night.

But then he and Savannah had arrived home Friday evening to find the brown box waiting on his porch. All desire to have a good time this weekend dissipated. He’d moved the thing inside, and it still sat where he’d placed it on the table in the foyer. Thankfully, Savannah had been so excited about her progress at the pool and eager to play with the new doll John Cutter had bought her that she’d barely noticed the package.

Titus, on the other hand, couldn’t stop staring at the brown square—larger than a shoebox but smaller than he’d expected for a container that supposedly held everything someone had left behind.

Everything that Nan had left behind.

Yesterday, instead of getting in touch with Isabella and seeing if she wanted to spend time at the park, the square or the dude ranch, he and Savannah had stayed home. She’d played with her dolls and spent a little time on the swing set in the backyard, while Titus managed to smile and interact with her as though everything was normal. As though he weren’t fighting an inner battle deciding whether to open that box.

Now, though he drank his coffee on the front porch, he still felt the tension of knowing that his wife’s belongings were fewer than ten feet away. He wanted to know what was inside. And he didn’t want to know. What if she’d left something that told him exactly why she abandoned them three years ago and that knowledge finally did his heart in?

What good would it do to know now?

The screen door squeaked as it opened, and Savannah stepped outside. She wore her favorite pink nightgown, the one with Strawberry Shortcake on the front. It was probably too short now, the ruffled edge that used to hit her ankles barely passing her knees, but she loved it, and Titus wouldn’t take away anything she loved. Ever.

“Daddy?”

He sat in one of the wooden rockers, and he motioned for her to join him the way she often did on weekend mornings when he didn’t have to work. Titus had awakened before six and come to the porch to watch the sunrise, his typical beginning to a Sunday morning. Before Nan left, they began their week together enjoying the Sunday-morning sunrise, often combined with a short devotional and prayer.

Titus had wanted to see the sunrise this morning, but he wasn’t in the mood to pray, especially not today, with that box sitting just a few feet inside the door. He mustered up a smile for his princess. “Hey, sweetie. Did you sleep well?” He placed his coffee mug on the table nearby and opened his arms so she could climb onto his lap.

“Yes, sir,” she said, her voice still wobbly from sleep. She squirmed into his arms and nestled her head beneath his chin as she curled into her usual position, her knees pulling against the fabric of her gown. Her hair was soft against his face and smelled of the no-tears shampoo she’d picked out the last time they went to the store. It wasn’t as tangled as usual, suggesting she did sleep well, and Titus was glad for that.

He slowly rocked, knowing she’d need her normal amount of time to wake. Like her mom, Savannah wasn’t a morning person, at least not at first. She’d take her time waking up, drift back to sleep a couple of times before deciding that she was ready to begin the day and then find that burst of energy to see her through to the evening. Right now in his arms, her breathing had grown heavy, and Titus knew without looking that her eyes were closed, her doll held tight, and she was catching another little nap before deciding to start her day.

Savannah had always been a snuggler—that was the term Nan had used—and Titus wasn’t sure if he’d ever appreciated the tender quality more than now. He needed to hold the one constant in his life, the little girl who meant so much to him that it ripped him apart to see her hurt. Right now, though, she didn’t seem to be hurting. In fact, over the past week, she’d begun a transformation from the timid, sad child whose mom left three years ago to a happy, smiling little girl who looked forward to every day, swim lessons and new friends and dolls. And Miss Isabella.

Titus had the sudden impulse to say a prayer of thanks to God, but he pushed the urge away. He still wasn’t certain why God had allowed all of this to happen to his precious child, and he wasn’t prepared to talk to Him without that frustration pressing through every word.

After rocking a few moments, she stirred in his arms and raised her head. “Daddy, can we have pancakes?”

He kissed her forehead. “Sure.”

“With bananas on top?”

“I think I can arrange that,” he said, truly enjoying their time together. “You want me to make them now, or you want to wait awhile?”

“Let’s wait awhile,” she said, sleepily laying her head on his chest.

Titus patted her back as he started rocking again. “That sounds like a good plan.” He watched the sun begin a steady ascent above Lookout Mountain and expected her to drift back off, but then she popped her head up, hazel eyes blinking into alertness.

“Daddy, is today Sunday?”

Knowing the probable reason for her question, Titus felt a hint of dread as he answered. “Yes, today’s Sunday.”

“So we need to get ready for church, right? Can I wear my blue dress?”

He’d bought her the sundress and a few other new clothing items on the day he’d gotten the contract for Willow’s Haven, but she hadn’t had a chance to wear it yet. She’d asked the same question last Sunday, when she’d wanted to go to church, and Titus had told her they weren’t going, that he needed to stay home. He’d then offered to take her outside to play, and that had satisfied her for the day.

Today, however, with the look of hope in her eyes, he didn’t know how he’d turn her down. And he didn’t know how he’d go back to church when he wasn’t on good terms with God.

Her eyebrows dipped, and her lower lip eased out. “Do you have to stay home again?”

Titus hated disappointing her, but as he thought about that brown box and everything else God had dealt him over the past three years, he simply couldn’t forget and pretend to worship Him today. “Yeah, sweetie, I do.”

Her head dropped back to his chest, and she clutched her doll tighter.

Titus took a deep breath. He couldn’t bear making her sad. He’d simply have to suck it up and—

“Daddy?” She lifted her head and looked at him with her eyes wide.

“Yes?”

“I could go with Rose and Daisy.” Her hopeful tone couldn’t be ignored, and Titus was extremely grateful that she’d thought of a way to allow her to be happy and keep him from feeling hypocritical by entering the church doors and merely going through the motions of worshipping.

“That’s a good idea,” he said. “I’ll call Miss Savvy and get started making your pancakes. You can go put on your blue dress.”

“Can Miss Isabella fix my hair? I want it pretty when I wear my new dress.”

Savannah had grown so accustomed to having Isabella style her hair each morning during the week that Titus wasn’t surprised she thought of her now. And he actually had Isabella’s number, since she’d given it to him Friday in case they wanted to practice swimming on Saturday.

He knew he could call Isabella this morning and she’d probably offer to come over and fix Savannah’s hair in a style she’d love, but that would also give her the opportunity to convince him to go to church. And Titus was certain he didn’t want to go. He was also certain that, after receiving Nan’s box, he didn’t need to do anything that might tempt him to jump into a relationship with anyone. Even Isabella. “I can fix your hair this morning,” he said. When she looked doubtful, he added, “And if you want it done differently, I’m sure Miss Savvy can help when they come to pick you up.”

“Okay,” she said, her voice somber.

“And don’t forget to model the dress for me, and make sure you wear those new shoes we bought.”

The request received the desired reaction. She smiled. “I will.” Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed. “Love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, too,” he said, glad that she wanted to go to church. In spite of his own misgivings toward God, he was thankful that she hadn’t given up on Him, too.

* * *

“Isabella, I’m so glad you came to lunch with us,” Savvy said, as the twins and Savannah dashed to the dessert bar for a post-meal treat.

“I appreciate you inviting me.” She’d been glad for the chance to go out with the large group from church, many of whom were quickly becoming more than mere acquaintances. People she could classify as friends. Dana and John Cutter, with baby Jacob between them; Brodie, Savvy, Dylan and the twins; Daniel Brantley, the youth minister, his wife, Mandy, and their children, Kaden and Mia; and David and Laura Presley with their babies, Grace and Joy. The group had pushed a bunch of tables together so that they filled an entire side of the buffet restaurant in Stockville that specialized in Southern home-style cooking.

Isabella listened to the laughter, the chatting children and the discussion about Brother Henry’s lesson with something close to awe.
This
was what small-town living was all about—families, friendships, people sharing a meal and sharing love. Her happiness at being included caused her chest to tighten, and she mentally attempted to control the burst of emotion overwhelming her soul.

“Hey, you okay?” Savvy sat to Isabella’s right, and she’d apparently noticed her palpable reaction to her surroundings.

Isabella forced a smile. “Just very happy to be here with all of you,” she said. “I don’t merely mean at the restaurant—” She couldn’t complete the sentence.

“I know exactly what you mean,” Savvy said, offering an understanding smile. “Hard to believe I ran away from all of this, from life in Claremont, when I was eighteen, but thankfully, with a little help from my friend Willow and from God, I found my way back.” She smiled as Rose, Daisy and Savannah returned to the table, their plates filled with brownies and strawberries. “I can’t imagine anywhere I’d rather be.”

“Me, either,” Isabella said. “But...” Her attention moved to Savannah, biting into a fat strawberry. She’d seemed happy at church this morning, but Isabella was certain that she’d have been even happier if Titus had been there, too.

“He’ll come around,” Savvy said, knowing where Isabella’s thoughts had headed. “He’s gone through more pain in the past few years than some people experience in a lifetime. I can see why he’s not so happy with God right now, but Titus has always had a strong faith. That’ll come back, I’m sure.” She looked toward the girls, probably to make sure they weren’t listening. “When we picked up Savannah this morning, I told him that we were praying for him and that we’d keep praying.”

Isabella nodded. “I’ve been praying for him, too.”

“Then I have no doubt that everything will work out,” Savvy said.

Isabella said a prayer that Savvy was right.

“Miss Isabella?”

She turned toward Savannah, watching her from the opposite end of the table. “Yes, Savannah?”

“You didn’t get dessert.” She had a brownie in her hand as she made the statement, and she held it toward Isabella. “You want some of mine? I’ve got strawberries, too, if you like them better than brownies.”

Savvy whispered, “Precious,” and Isabella agreed. Savannah’s sweet spirit and giving nature touched her heart. In spite of everything she’d been through, she wanted to help others, even if that meant giving up her own dessert. “I’ll get something,” she said, “but thank you for offering to share.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, smiling before taking a bite of the brownie in her hand.

“She cares about you,” Savvy whispered.

“I know,” Isabella quietly returned. “I care about her, too.” Knowing Savannah was watching her to see if she’d follow through on getting her dessert, she scooted her chair back from the table and headed to the dessert bar. She didn’t want to disappoint Savannah. And she’d told Savvy the truth; she honestly cared about Savannah more than she’d have thought possible a few weeks ago. However, Savannah wasn’t the only member of the Jameson family that had captured Isabella’s thoughts and pulled at her heart.

She should be happy that Titus had decided to keep his distance. But in spite of her misgivings toward men in general and the fact that she shouldn’t want to get all that close to one after her past with Richard, she hadn’t realized how much she looked forward to seeing Titus each morning at Willow’s Haven and each afternoon at the pool until it didn’t happen. Yesterday, she’d expected him to call or maybe even show up at the B and B, because she’d hoped he might have missed her the way she’d missed him. When he hadn’t, she’d thought she’d possibly still see him at church this morning. But that hadn’t happened, either.

She got a small bowl of peach cobbler topped with a scoop of ice cream and went back to the table to join in the conversation and attempt to get her thoughts off the handsome construction worker. But he’d remained on her mind since she first got to town, and a bowl of cobbler and ice cream didn’t change that. In fact, as the group discussed upcoming plans for the Fourth of July weekend, Isabella’s thoughts wandered to the most vivid memories of the past two weeks.