Hometown Holiday Reunion (14 page)

The ceiling blowout had taken more work than he'd anticipated, but now the space was flooded with light from the reclaimed windows, soaring up into the hand-hewn oak rafters with the rustic look he'd envisioned weeks ago. By some remarkable twist of fortune, he and Erin were equally pleased with the result, and he'd quickly gotten her to sign off on that portion of his task list before she changed her mind.

When the school bus pulled up outside, he glanced out the front window to see a dozen kids pile out and wave to each other before scattering to the right and left to walk home. The sight of them sparked an idea, and he jotted a note on his clipboard:
half-price ice cream/snacks for school kids
. It might not amount to much on a daily basis, but over the course of a month, he wouldn't be surprised to find that the extra business would fill the dead spot the Oaks Café normally experienced between lunch and dinner.

Parker swung the door open, his face lighting up when he saw Cam. “Whoa, that's a lotta stuff.”

“We're gonna need it,” Cam told him, glancing back at Erin when she appeared in the newly framed doorway that led into what would soon be her office. “Boss Lady has big plans for this place.”

“Boss Lady,” she echoed with a smirk. “I like it.”

“I thought you might.”

“How was your day?” she asked as she slid off Parker's backpack and zipped it open to rummage through the sheaf of loose papers he'd brought home from school.

“Awesome,” he replied with a bright grin. “We got the science fair forms today. Can we fill them out now?”

“Absolutely. Do you want to help?” she asked Cam. He recognized a pity invitation when he heard one, but it still felt nice to be included.

“Sure.” Clearing a spot on the workbench, he pulled up a three-legged stool and sat down. “Let's see what you've got.”

“Mr. Simms gave us a list of things to choose from,” Parker explained as he handed a collection of stapled papers to Erin. “But I came up with my own idea, and he really liked it.”

“Does it involve going to the moon?” she teased with a smile.

“Maybe someday,” he replied eagerly. “I wanna build an engine that runs on something besides gas. We saw a video about them in school, and how good they are for the envinement.”

“Environment,” she corrected him patiently, waiting while he repeated the ten-dollar word back to her. “That's it. What kind of fuel did you have in mind?”

His freckled face crinkled while he considered his answer. “The video showed some made from corn, but it's past harvest season, so there won't be any more of that at the farm.” Looking over at Cam, he asked, “Do you know something else we could use?”

And just like that, Cam realized he'd been promoted from interested observer to outright participant. Because he'd never been involved with a child older than his adorable, babbly niece Sophie, complicated school projects weren't exactly his specialty. But seeing Parker looking at him with hope shining in his blue eyes, he saw something he hadn't expected to find in this bright, engaging boy.

He saw himself.

Eager and full of enthusiasm, despite all the hardships he'd endured. Somehow Parker had come through all that, emerging out the other side with an upbeat view of life plenty of adults—including Cam—would do well to imitate. And so, because he simply couldn't imagine disappointing his excited apprentice, Cam delved into his own experience for an option.

Inspiration struck, and he grinned. “What about biodiesel?”

“What's that?” Parker asked.

“I don't know all that much about it, but a buddy of mine up in Minnesota converted a lawn tractor to use diesel fuel he made in his shop. We'd have to research the details, but I know he started with used cooking oil from restaurants around town. He got it for free, because they usually paid to have it collected by a recycler and were happy to get rid of the stuff.”

He left off there, and Erin picked up his train of thought without missing a beat. “And we know someone who has a lot of used cooking oil just hanging around in his fryers. That's perfect, Cam. Great idea.”

To his surprise, her approval felt just as good to him as Parker's. Their relationship was challenging, at best, so the gradual shift in her attitude toward him over the past couple of weeks had confused him at first. But as they talked through strategies for how to make Parker's project a winner, they settled into a comfortable rhythm of give and take. It wasn't as hard as he would've thought, seeing as they were both focused on encouraging Parker and what would certainly be considered a revolutionary science project for a third grader.

“I think there's an ancient lawn mower in the shed at my mom's house,” Cam told him, thinking out loud. “I'm not sure if it still runs, but those two-cycle motors aren't too complicated. With a little oil and elbow grease, we can probably get it working.”

“A small engine would be good,” Parker agreed eagerly, sketching it onto the drawing. “Whatever we make has to fit on two school desks so there's room for all the projects in the room where they do the judging.”

“You'd want to include the filtering system to show how it works,” Cam added, tapping the paper. “Otherwise, all folks will see is a motor spinning away till it runs out of gas.”

“Biodiesel,” Parker corrected him, adding a nondescript block to represent the filter none of them had the first clue about how to build.

Even though he'd just been schooled by an eight-year-old, Cam couldn't keep back a grin. “Right. So, what are you gonna call this display?”

“I don't know yet. I'll come up with something.”

Cam didn't doubt that for a second. And as he watched Erin and Parker pencil details on the plan, an odd thought crept into his mind for the first time.

A stranger walking past the shop would assume the three of them were a family. A mom, dad and son sitting in the unfinished space with their heads together over a pile of homework. Even odder, after a month of hanging out with them on a more or less daily basis, he was beginning to feel that way himself.

Maybe it was his father's continued visits to Oaks Crossing or the mushy traditions that came along with the holiday season. Whatever the explanation was, he couldn't deny that he'd begun to think of these two as more than just another set of tenants.

And somehow, when he wasn't paying attention, Erin had become more to him than a friend. How else would he explain accompanying her to see Lynn Smith, or why he'd opened up to her about painful things he'd never even considered discussing with anyone else? Somewhere deep inside, he'd decided that he could trust her to listen without judging him and try to understand where he was coming from, even if she saw the situation differently. Even more incredible, he was confident that he could lean on her and she wouldn't buckle under the pressure.

He was accustomed to being the one people turned to for support, tackling problems on his own because that approach to life had always worked best for him. The fact that he and Erin were there for each other was both astonishing and terrifying.

Because when you gave up your independence and started relying on someone, you gave them the power to destroy you when they left. Since they'd both made it clear that they weren't interested in any kind of entanglements right now, getting in any deeper with Erin and her endearing foster son was out of the question.

For as long as he could remember, Cam had done everything in his power to prove that when it came to relationships, he wasn't his father's son. His divorce had made him gun-shy about making such a serious commitment again, especially if it involved a child. While part of him believed he'd enjoy being part of the cozy family circle Erin was building, the more pragmatic side of him knew that allowing himself to become part of it could only end badly. For all of them.

With that decision made, he reluctantly left Erin and Parker to their planning and got back to work hanging the door to her new office.

Chapter Seven

A
s she'd arranged with Cam, on the first Monday in February Erin walked Parker to the bus and then quickly covered the few yards to start her new job. She hadn't waitressed in years, but she ate at the Oaks Café frequently enough that she was not only familiar with the varied menus, she knew everyone who was sitting in the dining room when she arrived. Cam was on the phone but glanced over when she entered, giving her a subtle nod before turning his back to resume his conversation.

Apparently, the brief exchange was all the employee orientation she was going to get, she mused with a grin. It was nice to know her boss had so much faith in her ability to come in and hit the ground running. She looked around to get a feel for what was going on, then grabbed a couple of menus and headed for a table near the window. On her way, she snatched a pot of coffee and approached two of her father's old friends with a bright smile.

“Good morning, you two,” she greeted them while she set down their menus and filled their cups. “How have you been?”

“You workin' here now?” Pete Miller asked, cocking his head to the side.

Mindful of the fact that he was nearly deaf in his left ear, she leaned forward a bit so he could hear her more clearly. “Yes, I am, at least until Pampered Paws is up and running.”

“How's it going for you over there?” his slightly younger brother, Frank, asked, nodding at the wall that separated her business space from the diner.

“We've got a plan all put together, and with Cam's help we should be ready to open in a month or so. I'm going to run an open house for local folks the weekend before our official opening. I hope you'll come by and see for yourselves what we've been up to.”

Having been an office assistant of one kind or another since graduating from high school, Erin was keenly aware that she wasn't a natural-born salesperson like Cam. Because she had no clue about advertising, she was leaving the marketing tasks for the rescue center to Bekah, who excelled at generating ideas and putting them into motion. Promoting her new business felt a little awkward to her right now, but Erin was confident that it would get easier with practice. At least, that's what she kept telling herself.

“Erin!”

At the sound of her name, she turned to find her friend Glenda Rymer hanging out in the entryway. Erin motioned her inside, but Glenda glanced at Cam and shook her head. Intrigued, Erin left the brothers with their menus and went to see what her visitor wanted. When she reached the entrance, she saw what the problem was.

There, sitting politely but alertly beside Glenda, was a German shepherd puppy wearing a navy blue poplin vest that read Service Dog in Training. Cam hadn't said a word, but he was eyeballing the dog with obvious interest.

Careful to approach slowly, Erin kept her voice calm to avoid upsetting the pup. “This must be the famous Bear we've been hearing about. Aren't you a handsome little guy?”

“And at the head of his class,” Glenda crowed, as if she was bragging about one of her own kids. “I can't thank you enough for agreeing to puppysit for us, Erin. He's a good boy, but you can't leave a service dog with just anyone.”

“It's not a problem at all. Parker was thrilled when Aaron asked him about it, and I think it'll be a great experience for him.” Moving slowly, she hunkered down and looked into those bright, intelligent eyes. When he cocked his head at her and offered his paw, she laughed as they shook. “Nice to meet you, Bear.”

“He's already had breakfast and a walk, and I emailed you his schedule,” Glenda told her as she handed over the leash and a large duffel bag. “He should be fine for an hour or so by himself, but he needs to be around people as much as possible. My sister's wedding is on Saturday, and we'll be home Sunday morning around nine. If you need anything or have any questions, call me anytime. Except during the vows.” She giggled. “I'm the matron of honor, so I'll have my hands full of my sister's bouquet. I won't be answering my phone then.”

“Got it.”

Erin hugged Glenda goodbye and sent another server over to get the Miller brothers' orders. Catching Cam's eye, she pointed next door and got a quick nod. She didn't want Bear feeling hemmed in by closing him in one of the bedrooms, so she shut the interior doors and waited for a few minutes while he sniffed his way through the living area of the apartment. He stopped near a patch of sunlight in front of the bay window and sat, giving her a questioning look.

“Good boy, Bear,” she approved with an exaggerated nod to emphasize her words. “That's fine.”

His lips crinkled in what she could only term a canine smile. After circling three times, he stretched out on the braided area rug, heaving a contented sigh.

“Best houseguest ever,” she murmured on her way down the stairs, making sure the lower door latched firmly behind her. On her phone, she set an alarm that would repeat every hour to remind her to check in with their fuzzy visitor. And then it was back to the salt mines.

When she returned to the diner, Cam met her near the door with a look that was somewhere between stern and amused. It was an odd combination, but somehow on him it worked.

“I'm pretty sure that lease you signed forbids you to have pets,” he began in a conversational tone that wouldn't have fooled anyone with half a brain in their head.

“Bear isn't a pet, and he's incredibly well behaved. I'm just watching him for a friend until Sunday.”

She kept her voice low because she didn't want anyone to overhear their conversation and incorrectly assume that Cam was giving her any kind of special treatment. Why that mattered she wasn't entirely certain, but in a town this small the gossip mill churned 24/7. Anyone who valued their reputation kept their personal issues on the hush-hush if it was humanly possible.

“I noticed he's a service dog,” Cam went on while he straightened the menus in the rack on the front counter. “Is he being trained for anything in particular?”

“Right now, he's learning how to get along with people and other animals at home and in public. When he's mastered the basics, the trainers will teach him to help with specific tasks.”

“That sounds expensive.”

“Actually, the group Glenda fosters dogs for is totally volunteer. Back when I was thinking about starting the shelter, I went to a seminar on how to run a successful nonprofit organization.” Erin paused, smiling at the memory. “She and I bonded over the worst cup of coffee we'd ever had and snuck out to the gourmet coffee shop next door. We've been friends ever since.”

“Your houseguest looks like a purebred to me.”

“He is.”

“So you're telling me this outfit takes on valuable dogs, trains them as helpers and just hands them to people?” he asked.

“Yes.”

That seemed to throw him off balance, and he pulled back in obvious bewilderment. “That's incredible.”

“That's what everyone says,” she replied with an understanding smile. “But when you see a visually impaired person walking at the mall, or someone in a wheelchair who's able to do things they couldn't manage on their own before, you get why they do it.”

Something she'd just said seemed to grab his attention, and his usually reserved manner perked up considerably. Stepping closer, he murmured, “Did you say wheelchair?”

Excitement glittered in those dark eyes, and she immediately understood what he was getting at. “You're thinking your mom might benefit from having a service dog?”

“She hates being cooped up and having to rely on other people to do every last little thing for her.” He paused, as if he needed a moment to decide just how much he wanted to share with her.

“Go ahead,” she urged gently. “This is me, so whatever it is you don't have to phrase it perfectly. You can just spit it out.”

“Well, I hate to admit this,” he hedged with a rueful grin, “but Dad had a point about taking her outside for some fresh air during his first visit. I went through the roof when I saw her sitting on the porch on a cool night like that, but it really cheered her up. Even the next day, she seemed more like her old self than she has in a long time.”

Erin thought it might have something to do with finally seeing her long-estranged husband again, but out of respect for Cam she kept that opinion to herself. “That makes sense. No one likes to feel helpless, and everyone needs to get outside once in a while.”

“Exactly. I keep waiting for her to bounce back from this stroke like she did after her first one, but so far that hasn't happened.” Another pause, and this time his look was somber. “I'm starting to worry that if something doesn't change soon, the way she is now might be as far as she's gonna get.”

Since she'd never known anyone who'd survived a stroke—much less two in the same year—Erin had no frame of reference for intelligently participating in a discussion like this. She feared that anything she might say about not giving up hope would be received as empty platitudes, so she discarded them and went with honesty. “You've been with her more than anyone, so you could be right.”

“If I am, she's gonna need help to make sure she has the best life possible. I have to get back to Minnesota in the spring for the start of building season up north. Even though Natalie and Alex have offered to move in with Mom, they both have full-time jobs and Sophie to take care of besides.”

She'd picked up on the fact that he'd pretty much skimmed over his own plans and seemed much more concerned with the arrangements he needed to make for the family he'd be leaving behind. When they'd last discussed him returning to his own life, he'd been adamant about not staying in Oaks Crossing a day longer than was strictly necessary. Coupled with his new—albeit grudging—acceptance of his father's continued presence, the difference from the cool, distant man she'd signed a lease with was remarkable.

Over the past several weeks, Cam had made an incredible amount of personal progress, whether or not he realized it. “If your mother was more independent, it would make things a lot easier for everyone.”

“That's what I'm thinking. I'm also thinking that we have to get her name on some kind of list,” he added with a frown. “How long do people usually wait for a dog like Bear?”

“I have no idea, but you can ask Glenda when she gets back.” Taking out her phone, she scrolled through the address book and found the name she wanted. “I'm sending you her contact info. That way, you can talk to her directly. I'm sure she can answer any questions you, Natalie and Bridget might have about the program. And if there's something she's not familiar with, she'll know someone who's an expert.”

“Thanks, Erin. I really appreciate it.” Turning to head back toward the kitchen, he glanced back over his shoulder with a grin. “By the way, Bear's welcome to stay with you and Parker anytime. But if he chews it, you fix it.”

“Gotcha.”

Pointing at him, she gave him a wink that made him laugh. As he walked away, it struck her that the cheerful sound wasn't something she often heard from Cam Stewart. A maddening smirk or a low chuckle, sure, but outright laughter was rarer than the proverbial blue moon.

As she grabbed a coffeepot from the double-decker brewing station and waded back into the breakfast crowd, the wheels in her head started spinning, and she had to force herself to concentrate on her customers.

During a lull before the lunch rush, she sneaked into the store room and dialed Glenda's number.

“Oh, thank you for calling.” Her friend sighed. “The kids are all out cold, and Larry hates to talk while he's driving. On top of that, I finished my book ten miles ago and we're still two hours from my sister's house.”

The woman sounded absolutely miserable, and Erin asked, “How did it end?”

“The psychotic babysitter did it. But that's not why you're calling. What's up?”

Erin outlined her plan and waited for Glenda to consider it. “That should be fine. I trust your judgment, so as long as you're with Bear and make sure he stays calm, I'm okay with it.”

“Awesome. Thank you.”

“You've been hanging out with eight year olds for too long,” Glenda commented with a laugh. “You're starting to sound just like them. You really need to get out with a grown-up for dinner or something.”

What a strange thing for her to say. “I'm at the farm all the time.”

“I don't mean your family,” Glenda said in a nudging tone. “I was thinking about your hunky landlord. I've heard a lot about him but I'd never met him until today. Yum.”

“Cam's just a friend.” Glenda let out a derisive snort, and Erin laughed. “No, really. There's nothing romantic going on between us.”

“Then you need to get your head examined, sweetie. See you Sunday.”

She hung up without saying anything more, and Erin switched her phone off with a frown. First Lynn Smith and now Glenda. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out why folks kept assuming that she and Cam were an item.

Shrugging the question away, she decided there was nothing she could do about other people's impressions. The alarm on her watch sounded, and first she went into the dining room to make sure they hadn't been overrun by customers before heading up to check on her canine guest. He was sprawled out in the sunshine and sound asleep, so she tiptoed out and went back to work.

* * *

Cam was pretty sure he could sleep for a month and still not feel rested.

Being in the construction business, he was used to having long, tiring days every week. On the nights when he had class, they were even longer. But back in Minnesota, he only had himself to worry about, and if the laundry went a few extra days or he ate takeout every night, it didn't matter all that much.

Here in Oaks Crossing, he had plenty of other people to consider, both family and friends. While he was enjoying the uptick in his social life, he wasn't too proud to admit that it was on the verge of wearing him out. But here he was, in the backyard equipment shed, digging up the lawn mower he'd volunteered to let Parker use for his biodiesel project.