“You’re here early.”

He scanned the picture Laura presented, starting at her bare feet with toenails painted bright purple. She wore khaki shorts and a matching T-shirt.

He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. The door to the barn is locked. Can I have the key?”

“Give me a minute and I’ll join you. I need to go through my dad’s stuff anyway.”

Jack shifted his box. He didn’t want her invading his space, distracting him. “It’s dirty out there, I can handle it.”

“What, I can’t get dirty?” Laura reached for a key tied to a faded blue ribbon and handed it to him. “I’ll meet you in a few minutes.”

Jack stood staring at the doorknob, key in hand. It’d been a long time since he’d noticed another woman with interest. It was impossible not to notice Laura Toivo. Losing Joanne had left a gaping hole in his life, but he was finally putting it back together. Building a secure environment for his daughter Angie. He didn’t have the time or energy to date.

If only he didn’t find tall, blue-eyed blondes attractive…

JENNA MINDEL

Originally from central New York State, Jenna Mindel lives in northwestern Michigan with her husband and their three dogs. She loves activity that’s conducive to daydreaming, whether it’s walking the woods, picking mushrooms and berries, fall leaf peeping or zipping along nearby snowmobile trails on her Polaris 600 Classic.

Jenna’s always been a dreamer. From the time she was a kid, she relished the dashing heroes and feisty heroines found in fairy tales. She completed her first illustrated novel, a romance, in sixth grade.

In a rush to grow up, Jenna graduated high school a year early and went to college in pursuit of a career—changing majors faster than the seasons and forgetting all about her love of story. After marrying her college sweetheart, Jenna landed a job in banking that has spanned more than twenty years and several positions.

In the midst of her corporate climb, Jenna joined Romance Writers of America and her love for romantic stories was reborn. Ten years later in 2001, her first Traditional Regency was published, and in 2006 Jenna became a RITA® Award finalist. But the world of contemporary Christian romance beckoned, and Jenna answered the call to write the books of her heart.

Mending Fences
Jenna Mindel

www.millsandboon.co.uk

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”

—Proverbs 24:3–4

In memory of a dear friend, Amber Schalk

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

Laura Toivo stopped by her assistant’s desk before she went home to change. “Cindy, are the reservations for tonight’s dinner meeting set for eight o’clock?”

“They are.” Cindy, at twenty-six, was five years Laura’s junior, but every bit as hungry for success. “Close the Albertson deal and you’ll get promoted to senior sales exec.”

Laura drummed a pencil against her lips. Everyone knew she’d thrown her name in the hat. She wanted to move up. A promotion might be hers if she succeeded. After years of proving herself, it boiled down to the outcome of tonight’s meeting. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Closing a deal was the sweetest side of sales. When everything clicked, it was like celebrating a lucrative marriage—one she hoped to make happen with Albertson Manufacturing.

Not that she knew anything about marriage. Once upon a time, she’d longed for a husband, house and kids. But that was before she’d had a taste of domestic life. After a brief engagement fraught with tension due to her fiancé’s young daughter, Laura had had enough. Or rather, her fiancé did by breaking it off nine months ago.

Laura scanned her list of cell phone messages. Too many to follow up on tonight. She rolled her shoulders to stretch out the knot of tension that had become a permanent fixture in the middle of her back. There was only one person she could count on. Herself.

“Laura? Anthony from corporate is on line three,” Cindy said.

The knot pulled tighter. Speaking of her ex-fiancé… “I’ll take it at my desk.”

Stepping into her gunmetal-gray cubicle, Laura slipped off her headset and picked up her phone. “Hey, Anthony.”

“I knew you’d be working late.” His voice was soft, but carried a hint of regret. Or maybe it was condemnation.

“I heard you’ve got a big deal going with a plastics company. Keep it up, you’re getting noticed.”

“Thanks.” Laura traced the buttons of her phone with her fingertip.

“I called because…well, I’m getting married.”

Laura closed her eyes. He’d set a speed record, even for a rebound relationship.

“Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”

“Congratulations.” Her well wishes sounded dull. Lifeless.

“She’s Brooke’s teacher. You’d like her.”

Brooke was Anthony’s obnoxious seven-year-old. Laura couldn’t please the girl no matter what she did or didn’t do. Obviously, the kid had bonded with her teacher. So had Anthony.

She spotted her direct line blinking and jumped at the chance to end the sensation of her heart bleeding all over her desk. “I’m happy for you, Anthony, really I am, but I’ve got another call.”

She heard him sigh. How many times had he accused her of putting work first? When he’d made her choose between work and him, work always won. Work didn’t hurt her. “Take care, okay?”

“You, too.” She connected with the other line. “Laura Toivo.”

“Laura, you have to come home, your mother’s had a stroke.” Her aunt’s frantic voice rang through the phone.

“How bad?”

“We don’t know yet, honey. She’s in ICU. She needs you. We both do.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Laura stared through the glass partition at Cindy.

Laura had to make that meeting. Her mom was hospitalized, surely a few hours wouldn’t change anything. But what if a few hours was all the time her mother had left? She’d regret it the rest of her life if she didn’t see her mom one more time.

What if—

Panic coiled in her gut, making Laura sick.

Cindy poked her head into Laura’s cubicle. “Everything okay?”

“Call Mr. Albertson and postpone my dinner plans. I’ve got to go to Michigan. It’s my mom—I’ve got to go home.”

It was late when Laura pushed open the door to her mom’s hospital room. Stepping closer, she stared at the frail-looking woman lying in a bed surrounded by monitoring machines. The stroke had aged her mother, making her look older than her seventy-four years.

If Laura were a good daughter, she would have visited more often. But she wasn’t a good daughter. She was an only child who’d never figured out how to please her mom.

Her mother’s eyelids fluttered. “Is that you, Laura?”

“How are you feeling?” Her whisper came out sounding choked.

“My left side is nummmm.” Her words slurred. She opened only one eye, the other lid drooping.

“I know.” It wasn’t easy seeing half her mother’s face immobile.

“Have you eaten anything? I can get you something,” Laura asked. Did they feed stroke patients?

“Too much trouble.” Her mom’s thick slur held a trace of stubborn martyrdom.

Laura knew if she went out of her way to bring food, it would sit untouched and uneaten. With a sigh, she peered out the window at the shiny black water of the Portage River. It’d be crammed with boats lapping up the last days of summer come daylight.

“Are you home to stay?”

Laura fiddled with the buckle to her purse. Pressure. Whether she closed a deal, tried to make a relationship work or please her mom, the pressure built and simmered, never finding release. “People depend on me. It’s not easy to get away.”

“You’re too thin.”

“I can’t cook like you do.” Laura pulled a chair closer to the bed. How long did they keep a person with a stroke? She’d left a message for her sales manager that she needed family leave.

“Your hair looks lighter.”

“I just had it done.” Laura threaded her fingers through her highlighted blond bob. Looking like she hadn’t worked hard this summer was a sure sign of success, wasn’t it?

After hours of sitting beside her mother, watching her sleep, the door opened. Her mother’s only sibling and younger sister, Nelda, entered with a fresh-cut bouquet of flowers in her perfectly manicured hands.

“Good, you’re finally here.” Aunt Nelda gave Laura one of her pointed glares—as if driving through the night from Wisconsin was not enough. Married to a man who’d once been an actor off Broadway, her aunt dressed like she was headed to Hollywood instead of the local Wal-Mart.

“How’s Anna?” Aunt Nelda kissed her sister’s forehead.

“A little weak,” Laura’s mom whispered, her slur worse.

Aunt Nelda pinned Laura with another stern look. “You’re lucky your mother and I were shopping in Houghton when she had her stroke. There’s no telling what might have happened had she been home alone.”

Like she needed more guilt. Laura rubbed her aching head. “I need coffee. Do either of you want anything?”

“I’ll meet you in the cafeteria in a few minutes.”

Aunt Nelda wanted to talk, but it was a conversation Laura didn’t look forward to.

Twenty minutes later, Aunt Nelda sat down across from Laura. “Sweetie, you look beat up.”

Laura cradled her mug of coffee and shrugged.

Aunt Nelda patted her arm. “I’m sorry, are you okay?”

“I’m working on it.” Laura cringed. She’d sounded too much like her mom.

“How long are you home for?”

“I don’t know, a couple weeks?” Laura lived in Madison, Wisconsin. It was six hours south from her mother’s hospital room in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but it might as well have been halfway across the country.

Aunt Nelda fetched a mug and a fresh carafe of coffee. “What if you need more time?”

Laura stared at nothing in particular.

“Laura,” Aunt Nelda scolded softly, “your mother needs you. It’s not like she has other kids to lean on. Nancy and I visit when we can, but your mom’s going to need constant care.”

Laura avoided her aunt’s gaze.

“What if you moved back home?”

Laura straightened. “I spent my whole life trying to stay out of Mom’s way, get away from the U.P., and make something of myself. Moving back is the last resort.”

Aunt Nelda shook her head, making her drop earrings bounce against her neck. “Why?”

“Because I’m on the verge of a big promotion. There’s no need to jump to conclusions just yet.”

“Strokes at your mother’s age are serious, no matter how mild the damage,” her aunt whispered.

“What am I supposed to do? Uproot my whole life and make us both miserable? Mom doesn’t want me here. She never has.”

Aunt Nelda sighed.

“I’ve suggested she move near me.”

Aunt Nelda stirred sugar into her coffee. “Your mother will never leave that house. I know, I’ve offered for her to live with Ed and me. I’m sorry to be so hard on you, but you’re all she’s got.”

Her cousin Nancy’s three young children were no doubt part of the reason Laura’s mom wouldn’t think of living with Aunt Nelda and Uncle Ed. Her aunt had her hands full watching her grandkids while her divorced daughter worked full-time.

“I could hire someone to come in,” Laura said.

“Who’s going to pay for that?”

“Me.”

“I didn’t think you were doing that well.”

With that promotion…

Laura had homework to do. Her mother’s insurance might not cover home visits. She’d have to borrow against her 401 K, or maybe her condo. Either way, she’d figure it out.

“What about selling the barn with half the acreage?” Aunt Nelda said.

“Daddy’s barn?”

Aunt Nelda brightened, clicking her hot pink fingernails on the table. “Why not? It’s not doing anyone any good sitting there empty. You might get a good price for it.”

“Do you think Mom will agree?””

“She doesn’t have much of a choice.” Aunt Nelda rubbed Laura’s forearm. “Go home and get some sleep. I’ll call my friend who’s a Realtor and see what she thinks.”

Laura stretched when she stood. Aunt Nelda’s idea was a good one. She needed her mom’s agreement to make it work, but then real estate didn’t move fast in the U.P. They had time. She gave her aunt a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Aunt Nelda.”

Her aunt looked surprised. “It’ll work out, Laura. You’ll see.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Jack Stahl threw his hands up with disgust.

“Didn’t you get my letter?”

Jack clamped his mouth shut before he said something he’d regret. “No, Carl, no letter.”

“I know we agreed for you to rent month by month, but I had to sell the place. My wife took the kids to live with her parents in Saint Ignace. I closed last week.”

Their agreement had been verbal, and Jack could have kicked himself. What had he been thinking not to call and confirm his plans? He reached out and squeezed the guy’s shoulder. “I’ll find another place. I’m sorry about your wife.”

“Thanks, man.” Carl looked away. “Life stinks, doesn’t it?”

“Sometimes.” Jack scanned the fields surrounding Carl’s house. They were in the middle of nowhere with only a few other homes along the road, and those were miles apart.

“Do you know of any other houses for rent in the area? My daughter, Angie, starts school in a couple of weeks and I’ll be working nearby.”

Carl shrugged. “There’s a real estate office at the corner before you hit town. They might be able to help. They found me a small place just north of here.”

“Thanks.” Jack collected the boxes he’d left a few months ago—cleaning stuff and a few tools.

He thanked God he’d found out about this situation, before the movers showed up this weekend. A lucky stop after dropping off his son, Ben, at Michigan Tech. The past six months, he’d put his life in order to move. He’d been so sure, and now…

He backed out of the driveway and headed toward his motel room. It was too late to stop by the real estate office. He ran a hand through his hair. Being both mom and dad to his daughter, Angie, was becoming impossible for both of them. He couldn’t get anything right.

It’d been a rough couple of years since his wife, Joanne, had died. They might not have had the kind of relationship that inspired love sonnets, but she’d been the ground wire in the family. Joanne had kept them connected, involved in church and the community. Too late, he’d realized how much of his time and attention he’d denied her. Working around the clock to buy into a lucrative vet practice at the expense of his family was a lesson learned too late. He couldn’t make up for lost time, but a better future waited.

If he could just find another house.

Jack pulled off the road and rubbed his eyes. It had been so easy with Ben, but he didn’t have a clue how to reach his daughter. Forcing this move had pushed her further away.

With a defeated sigh, he bowed his head. “Dear God, I’m in way over my head. Show me where to go from here.”

The low hum of locusts and the wind swishing cornstalks in the field next to him was interrupted by a new noise. The grind of a motor sounded in the distance. Looking across the road, Jack spotted an attractive blonde astride a riding lawn mower.

He surveyed the two-story house in need of paint and a hundred feet to the right was a large barn with a stone foundation, also in need of some fixing up. His heart pounded as he stared at the sign posted in the front yard: Barn With Apartment And Twenty Acres For Sale.

Jack got out and walked across the street to get a better look. He tried not to gawk at the woman on the mower, as he signaled with waving arms and then pointed at the sign. He had to know more.

She drove the mower toward him.

Squinting against the glare of a late afternoon sun, he scoped the view of Lake Superior shimmering like a strip of blue tinsel on the horizon. He took a deep breath, wiped his hands on the bottom of his shirt and moved forward. The closer she got, the slower he walked. She was tall, lean and tan. She looked like one of those beach volleyball players he’d seen on cable. All he had to do was sound intelligent and not stare.

The woman carried herself with an air of professionalism that was at odds with the neglected property. She gave him a cheeky grin and extended her hand. “I’m Laura. Wanna buy it?”

He gave her a firm handshake. “Jack.”

She quickly let go and slipped her hands into the back pockets of her denim shorts. Her cell phone hung from a holder clipped to her waist.

“Is it just the barn and not the house?” He kicked at a stone with the toe of his boot. “I’m in the process of relocating and the house I had rented was sold.”

“Wow, that’s a tough one.”

“Yeah.” He glanced at her.

She squinted, too, her hand shielding her eyes. “Sorry, but it’s just the barn. There’s an attached apartment, though. Take a look around.”

“You wouldn’t mind?” Jack had his reservations, but he might as well check it out. If nothing else, he’d met a pretty woman who’d brightened an otherwise frustrating day.

“If you don’t mind me finishing the lawn. Go on in, the door’s open.”

“Perfect,” he said.

Her expression changed as if it just dawned on her that she was alone in the sticks with a pretty good-sized stranger.

Jack gave her an encouraging nod. He might be tongue-tied, but he didn’t pose a threat. Crossing the driveway, he stepped into the barn and flicked on a light switch to a single bare bulb hanging over a workshop area. A few old bales of hay lay stacked in a corner and dust covered everything.

Nosing around, he found a ladder leading to a lower level. He climbed down and noticed cooler air mingled with the smell of stale oats. The walls looked solid and the foundation opened to an overgrown pasture by way of a sliding door.

He found the apartment and entered a big room containing two sets of bunk beds, a loft overlooking a small kitchenette, and a curtained entrance to a bathroom with a shower stall, sink and toilet.

He turned on the faucet. After a minor shudder, cloudy water spewed out, and then ran clear. Even the toilet flushed without trouble. He took the wrought-iron spiral staircase to the loft, testing each step. Sturdy. The loft was big enough for a twin bed and maybe a small dresser, but it would allow his daughter some privacy. She’d have to make do until they had a house of their own built.

Was moving Angie to the U.P. the right thing? His sister thought he was crazy. Angie would surely hate this compared to her frilly bedroom overlooking the river back home in Lansing, but it wouldn’t be forever.

This felt right. And the timing was perfect. He rubbed his neck. Was this God’s provision from out of a jam or just Jack’s wishful thinking?

Looking out the back window of the apartment, he spotted a powder-blue sports car parked near the house. If that belonged to Laura, she had a decent job—probably in Houghton. If she lived here, why’d she let it go?

Outside, he caught the woman’s attention and shouted, “Mind if I take a walk?”

She gave him a thumbs-up.

The property looked good as far as he could tell, but he’d have to see the survey. The gentle sloping field stretched to a small woods, then more open meadow. A slice of Lake Superior shimmered just beyond that.

He could picture his daughter here—riding horses, planting a garden. An image of Angie picking the vegetables they could grow together was all it took. He came around the side of the barn and waited for Laura to notice him.

She drove the lawn mower toward him and shut it off. “What do you think?”

“I’m buying out a vet practice in town, but my goal is to work and live on the same property. I’m not sure if building a home first or the business is more appropriate.”

“You’re a vet?” Her eyebrows lifted, as if surprised. “This place would be perfect for you.”

“I have a daughter, that’s why I wanted to rent. Get to know the area better before committing.”

“I’m not interested in renting. I need to sell.”

Jack rubbed the stubble on his chin. “But should I buy a house or a practice facility? This place would work well as a vet’s office.”

Looking into her blue eyes for guidance he knew she couldn’t give, he noticed her irises were rimmed in yellow. She had beautiful eyes that tilted up at the corners. His mouth formed the words before his mind registered. “What’s your asking price? I’m interested in buying.”

Chapter Two

Laura felt the weight of his stare and shifted her stance. This guy was big, well over six feet. He had an unruly mop of sandy blond hair with more than a day’s growth of beard. He was rough-looking with a lumberjack quality that most women would admire. But Laura wasn’t most women. He had a daughter. “How old is your daughter?”

He beamed like any proud parent, his blue eyes shining. “She’s thirteen and she starts school after Labor Day.”

“There’s not much room in that apartment for a teenaged girl.”

“We’ve had to adjust to tougher things.”

What kind of things?

Laura’s interest piqued. Any self-respecting girl would hate living in a barn.

He pointed toward Lake Superior. “Eventually, I could see myself building on the edge of those woods, as long as they’re part of the twenty acres.”

“Maybe I should call my Realtor.” Laura grabbed her phone and dialed. When her Realtor finally answered, Laura explained the situation.

“I’ll ask.” Laura lowered her phone. “She wants to know if you’ve had dinner?”

He looked surprised. “No.”

“He hasn’t.” Laura held his gaze. “Are you hungry? We can go through the papers over dinner if you have time. You can bring your daughter, too.”

“I have the time, but Angie’s not with me. She’s at my sister’s in Lansing.”

“We’ll meet you there.” Laura disconnected and looked up. “I hope you like Italian.”

“Some of my favorite food.”

“The restaurant’s in the center of town. You can’t miss it. It’s called Gino’s.”

“Mind if I follow you?” he asked.

“Not at all. I’ll get my keys.” Laura headed for the house. She turned in time to see Jack climb into his monster-sized SUV parked across the road. He was a big, tall man with a big truck.

She usually met with men in the safety of offices and restaurants to go over business plans, but this was different. Grabbing her purse, she locked the front door and walked to her car while Jack pulled into the drive. She caught him giving her the once-over, but then he quickly looked away.

She was used to men checking her out. Her looks were one of the challenges she’d faced at work—getting the tech heads to trust her and businessmen to take her seriously. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder what Jack might look like if he shaved.

Slipping in behind the wheel, she turned the key but nothing happened. The car turned over but wouldn’t start.

“Sounds like you’re out of gas.” He leaned close and smelled like sunshine and spice. His nearness gave her goose bumps.

“I guess I pushed it too far.” She’d been back and forth to the hospital several times the last couple days. On her way home last night, the gas station in the four-corner town her mother lived near was closed.

“You can ride with me.”

Laura looked up into those kind blue eyes of his, but she wasn’t buying. “What did you say your last name was?”

He smiled, displaying perfectly even, white teeth—no doubt the handiwork of a good orthodontist. “Jack Stahl.”

“Thanks, Dr. Stahl, but there’s a gas can in the barn. I’ll be just fine.”

He backed away as she got out. “It’s just Jack. I’ll get the can if you show me where.”

She hesitated only a moment before leading the way. She matched his long strides across the lawn and opened the barn door. “Where are you from?”

“East Lansing. What about you? You don’t strike me as the U.P. type.”

“What gives you that idea?”

He gestured toward her waist. “The latest in cell phones.”

“What, no one in the U.P. has a cell phone?” She didn’t want to admit that her mother lived alone, not yet.

“Yours is pretty high-tech. Are you a professor?”

She laughed. “No.”

“Landscaper then, you mow a mean lawn.” He actually winked before he picked up a five-gallon gas can as if it weighed nothing.

“Thanks.” She focused on anything but him. Something about him made her feel off-kilter.

“Nice tractor.” He pointed toward the old John Deere. “Antique?”

“It belonged to my father.”

“Does it work?”

“I don’t know.” She followed him out.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he reached in and popped her gas cover. She watched as he unscrewed the cap. His hands were large and broad with clean fingernails cut short. He wore a modest wedding ring, but he hadn’t mentioned a wife. Was he divorced? It didn’t matter. Like Anthony, he had a daughter.

“How far?”

His question scattered her thoughts. “What?”

“How far to the restaurant?”

“Five or six miles.”

“I’ll follow you, but you may want to stop and fill up just the same.”

“Will do, Jack. I’ll meet you there.”

Jack took a deep breath before opening the door to the pizza parlor. “Italian, huh?”

“You can order pasta, pizza, even meatball subs.” She gave him a quirky grin.

“I’ll remember that.” He held the door for her. When she passed by him, he inhaled her perfume. It was soft and incredibly pleasing. He hoped she didn’t live next door. He was noticing things he’d be better off ignoring.

He spotted a middle-aged woman with a file laid open on the table. After the introductions had been made, Maddie Smith, the Realtor, smiled. “I hope you don’t mind a booth,” she whispered. “More private.”

“Fine with me.” Laura scooted in next to Maddie.

Jack sat across from them. Laura looked ready to get down to business. Surely that meant she was eager to part with the barn instead of negotiating. He didn’t want to waste time haggling.

“What do you like on your pizza?” Maddie asked.

“Everything or nothing. I like it all. Whatever you choose is fine.” Jack didn’t care what they ate or drank. He wanted to put his offer on the table.

The waitress quickly took their order and left. Soon the restaurant started to fill up with customers.

Jack took a sip of his soft drink. “I need a place right away but I know the mortgage process doesn’t work that fast.”

He looked at Laura. Her brow furrowed slightly, so he touched her arm with reassurance. The softness of her skin registered, which reminded him to move his hand away. “Hear me out. I’m interested in making an offer.”

She leaned back against the red vinyl of the booth.

He wasn’t sure if he’d offended her with his touch or his honesty. Either way, he wasn’t about to be discouraged. “I’d like to rent with the option to buy within a year at your listing price.”

Laura sat forward. “You don’t even know my listing price. How do you know you can afford it?”

“I can afford it.”

Her eyes widened. “What if you decide after a month that there’s too much work needed?”

“I can’t see that happening, but if I pull out, I’ll give you six more months rent so you can relist.”

She shook her head. “I have to sell. Can you tell me what’s stopping you from buying?”

Jack also leaned forward. “I have a daughter to consider. I think this place might be good for us. But if I’m wrong, I need the ability to change gears.”

“I see.”

Maddie, who quietly watched their exchange, cleared her throat. “We can look at a land contract. It’s a little more than just renting yet not quite buying it outright.” They both glanced her way as she explained the specifics.

Maddie wanted him to have it. Of course she did, she was the Realtor, but Jack couldn’t help but feel like Maddie was in his corner. She’d just offered a plan that fell somewhere in the middle of what they both wanted.

Laura looked skeptical but in control. “What if he defaults?”

“Pardon me for sounding arrogant, but money’s not an issue. In fact, if you decide to sell the house, I’d be interested in that, too, but I won’t be taken for a sap.”

“You’d have the deed, dear.” Maddie turned to Laura as if he’d never spoken. “You’d simply be back where you are now, looking for a new buyer, only you’d keep the agreed down payment for your trouble.”

Laura looked him straight in the eye, judging him, weighing his words. “You said you could buy the house, too? Pardon me for being nosy, but I didn’t think vets made that much.”

She’d just put him in his place. Whatever she did for a living, the sleek image of a shark came to mind. He shifted under her direct gaze. “I sold off my part of a limited partnership for a generous sum. I have other investments as well. The point is that my daughter needs new surroundings and so do I. I could retire, but being a vet is no less a calling than any other type of doctor. I’m buying out a nearby practice so the guy can retire. This area is perfect for many reasons. Check my credit, my bank accounts, whatever it takes to prove my credibility.”

That earned him a look of surprise from Laura. He’d managed to impress her and for some odd reason, that pleased him.

After a brief silence, she smiled deliberately. “Forgive me, Dr. Stahl, but I tend to look for all the pitfalls. This is my mother’s house and barn. I’m acting in her best interest, but I think we can move forward.”

“Of course we can,” Maddie said with a wave of her hand as if it all were nothing. “I’ll have the papers drawn up in the morning, then meet with you both again, say tomorrow at noon at the house? Dr. Stahl, I need you to sign a credit release.” Maddie searched her file, until she produced the document and laid it upon the table.

He had nothing to hide. He took the offered pen, signed his name and dated it. “And, please, it’s just Jack.”

They discussed the details, and even after acting like he could buy the world, Laura didn’t attempt to pinch him for more. The down payment was modest.

“So that’s it.” Laura set down the pen.

“I’m buying your barn and twenty.” A slow grin spread across his face and then he remembered. “I have movers scheduled for this weekend.”

Laura bit her bottom lip. “I have to clear out the barn, but that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“If you’d like, I can buy what’s in there for another two thousand.” He wanted that tractor.

Laura shook her head. “I need to sort through things first. There might not be anything of worth.”

Again, she didn’t take advantage of the situation. She might be deadly direct in negotiations, but she had integrity. “Do you mind if I swing by early tomorrow and start cleaning?”

“Does that work for you, Laura?” Maddie asked.

“It does.”

Jack looked at the last name on the listing agreement. “So tell me, what nationality is Tee-ovo?”

Laura tipped her head and laughed softly. Her pretty eyes slanted even more. “You’re saying it wrong. It’s pronounced Toy-vo. It was my great-grandfather’s first name but it got turned around during immigration. I’m Finnish on both sides.”

“Pretty name.” For a pretty woman. He shouldn’t like the color that stole over her cheeks, knowing he’d put it there with such a simple compliment, but he did.

He watched Laura’s attention waver by the arrival of the pizza. She reached for a piece.

“Does anyone mind if I say grace?” He might as well let her know he was a man of faith right up front.

Laura’s eyes narrowed as if judging him, questioning his sincerity. She shrugged her shoulders. “Go ahead.”

“Wonderful.” Maddie laid a slice on her plate.

Jack offered up his simple thanks and asked a special blessing upon both Maddie and Laura. Then a cell phone rang.

“I’m sorry.” Laura got up from the table and headed outside.

“She’s in sales,” Maddie said with an indulgent smile.

Jack nodded, thinking that made perfect sense.

Laura closed her phone. Mr. Albertson wanted to wait for her return before signing. Her sales manager, Jeff, offered to step in and close the deal, but Mr. Albertson wouldn’t hear of it. He didn’t trust Albertson Manufacturing’s I.T. support to anyone but Laura.

It felt good to be that respected by a client. Laura hadn’t impressed anyone in her family with her climb up the corporate ladder from computer programming geek to one of their top salespeople.

She’d managed to impress Jack Stahl, though. He’d given her a look of admiration over the negotiation table. Jack seemed like the kind of man who was used to getting his own way, but she hadn’t let that sway her. Hearing him pray had been surprising. When he asked a special blessing over her and Maddie, softness had crept into her heart.

Laura had stopped looking to God for help when she was a kid, but she wouldn’t mind a little divine assistance now. With her manager pressing for a return date she couldn’t give, and her mother’s blood pressure still unstable, Laura hoped things got back to normal fast. Until then, she’d work as much as she could from here. She had her laptop, but the sooner she got back to work, the better.

Chapter Three

The next morning Jack called his sister from his motel room to let her know that he’d be home later than planned. He asked if she’d keep Angie one more night. His daughter was still asleep, so there wasn’t a chance to talk to her. He’d soften the blow of their new home in person.

After a quick breakfast at a local diner, Jack stopped at the school office to confirm Angie’s enrollment, then he turned down the road toward Laura’s. After pulling in the drive and shutting off the motor, he checked his watch. Eight-thirty. The Realtor wasn’t coming until noon so he had plenty of time. He stared at his barn, soon to be home, and his hands itched to grab his tools and start renovating. But cleaning was the first priority.

He glanced at the house. Was Laura an early riser? His wife used to sleep in on Saturdays. Jack had never succeeded in getting Joanne up early in the morning to kayak with him on the river near their town house. No matter how hard he pushed or pleaded, she hated mornings and the water. If only Jack had paid more attention to her fears.

He got out of his truck, shifting a box of cleaning supplies on his hip. Taking care not to dump the contents that rattled and clanged, he walked to the side door of the barn and turned the knob. Locked. Laura had the key.

He headed toward the porch and rapped on the kitchen door. Laura’s sleek blue convertible sat in the driveway. That car didn’t belong in this part of the U.P. where the winters were long and harsh. He knocked again.

The curtains parted abruptly and Laura peeked through, her cell phone against her ear. She gestured for him to hold on. He waited only a few moments until she opened the door. “You’re here early.”

He took in the picture she presented, starting at her bare feet with toenails painted bright purple. She wore khaki shorts and a matching T-shirt.

He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. The door to the barn is locked. Can I have the key?”

She scanned his box of cleaning supplies. “Wouldn’t it be easier to hire someone?”

“Maybe, but I need to get to know my place hands-on,” he said.

“Give me a minute and I’ll join you. I need to go through my dad’s stuff anyway.”

Jack shifted his box. He didn’t want her invading his space, distracting him. “It’s dirty out there. I can handle it.”

“What, I can’t get dirty?” She reached for a key tied to a faded blue ribbon and handed it to him. “Besides, I can show you some of my dad’s tools in case you want to buy them. I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”

Jack stood staring at the doorknob, key in hand. It’d been a long time since he’d noticed another woman with interest. And it was impossible not to notice Laura Toivo. Losing Joanne had left a gaping hole in his world, but he was finally putting his life back together. And that meant focusing on his kids. Building a secure environment for Angie. He didn’t have the time or energy to date.

He refused to find a high-strung saleswoman like Laura desirable. She had career first family second written all over her. Definitely not what he wanted. If only he didn’t find tall, blue-eyed blondes attractive.

Laura pulled on her sneakers from under the kitchen table, where she’d kicked them off last night. Just that small movement caused sweat to bead along her brow. Morning and already it was a scorcher. Unusual for late August in the U.P.

She opened her mother’s cupboard and grabbed an old-fashioned pitcher. She smiled when she thought of the look Jack had given her on the porch. She should be used to it by now—the eager eyes most men wore when they noticed her. But Jack’s expression had been softer, sweeter somehow. He had turned beet red. He was too cute. Something she certainly had no business noticing.

She quickly made lemonade, grabbed a couple of ice-filled glasses, and headed out the door. It was as good a time as any to go through her dad’s things. And she might as well get to know Jack, now that he was going to be living across the driveway from her mother.

As Jack scrubbed the toilet, he heard Laura’s approach with a clinking of glass. He looked up.

“Want some lemonade?” She stood in the doorway brandishing a metal tray topped with refreshments like some sort of shield.

“Sure.”

“Ugh, that’s just gross.” She placed an icy glass on the edge of the sink. “I’m sorry this place is in such sad shape. It’s too much for my mother to keep up, so we decided to sell it.”

“It’s not so bad.” Jack took a long drink. It made sense, the neglected property, the outdated wiring. He’d bet Laura didn’t live anywhere near here. Good thing, too. Out of sight, out of mind. He went back to the toilet with a vengeance. “Is it just you and your mom?”

“Just the two of us.”

“No brothers or sisters in the area?”

“Nope.” After setting down her tray, she moved toward a dusty radio perched on an even dustier shelf. “Do you mind?”

“Go ahead.”

She turned the knob with sounds of static blips until she settled on a station. “Do you like jazz?”

“Not really. But it’s coming in clearly.” Jack stood and stretched his back. He fumbled through his box for a can of foaming bathroom cleaner. He sprayed the sink and the tiled walls.

“Let me guess, you like country.” She’d parked herself on a nearby stool, sweating glass of lemonade in hand.

“What’s wrong with country?” He’d grown to love country music since it was often played in the horse barns where he’d made house calls.

Her expression clearly showed that he’d dropped a tick or two on her impressed scale. “Nothing. It’s just so typical up here.”

Why’d he care what she thought? “My parents used to summer near here when I was a kid.”

“Is that what made you choose this area?”

“That and the chance to buy out Dr. Walter’s practice.” He emptied his glass with a rattle of ice. “My daughter and I need a change in scenery and my son’s college is nearby. The location seemed perfect.”

“You know, you’re sticking her in the middle of nowhere. Thirteen’s a tough age.”

What could she possibly know about it? “Do you have kids?”

Her expression took on a strained, almost haunted look. “No. I’ve never been married, but I got close once.”

“What happened?” He shouldn’t have asked, but the words slipped out. He could have kicked himself for caring about the answer. He didn’t want to care about what Laura might have been through. He didn’t want to care. Period.

She shrugged. “He had a young daughter who didn’t want me for a stepmother.”

Jack could tell the admission hurt. He wondered why she hadn’t gotten along with this guy’s kid. Probably too busy with her job. Kids knew that stuff. They picked up on priorities.

“What about you?”

Jack hesitated. “Widowed.”

Her expression changed to pity. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

He let out a sigh. “It’s been two years this past June.”

She sipped her lemonade, looking more composed. “That must be hard on your kids.”

You have no idea.

He wiped down the wall with a rag, keeping busy, but he suddenly found himself wanting to unload, and Laura was surprisingly easy to talk to. It wasn’t as if she’d stick around, so what harm was it to confess a few insecurities? “Sometimes, I feel like a blind man searching for a book in the braille section of a library. Only, I don’t know the title.”

“I’m sure you’ll find it, just like you found this property when you needed it most.”

She couldn’t possibly know how God had answered his prayer. He needed to trust God to lead him to the book—to lead him through this. Good things took time and commitment. He had plenty of both to make this place a real home. A place where Angie could grow out of her grief. A place where he could release his regrets. “Thanks.”

“I hope this property proves to be a blessing for you and your daughter, like it was for my dad. I think he’d approve of your plans if he were here.”

Jack stopped cleaning and turned to look at her. She didn’t strike him as having a rock-solid faith, but then he didn’t know what was in Laura’s heart when it came to God. “I take it your father’s dead.”

“When I was your daughter’s age my dad died at work from a chemical leak.” Her voice lowered.

“I’m sorry.”

She shrugged. “The worst part was never saying goodbye, you know?”

Jack looked away. “Yeah, I know.”

After a few moments of silence, she popped off the stool and changed the subject. “Want more to drink?”

“No, but thank you.”

“Before I sort through the stuff in the barn, was there anything that caught your eye?”

What a loaded question. He followed her, though, noticing her height. He was pushing six-four and the top of her head would graze his nose if they stood close. But he didn’t want to consider standing close to Laura.

“I’d love to buy that old tractor and the lawn mower. How much do you want for them?”

“How much are you willing to pay?” she asked.

He’d already offered her two thousand for the lot, but he’d play her game. It was more fun than cleaning. “What kind of sales do you do?”

“Business solutions.”

“No wonder,” he said with a smile.

“What?”

“Answer a question with a question, is that your motto?”

She gave him a cheeky grin. “The client should always give me the number and I’ll work it from there.”

Jack put his hands in the pockets of his worn jeans. He liked her. She was edgy, maybe even a little cocky, but he liked her. “Well, Ms. Toivo, name your price and I’ll count it as fair.”

“Just Laura. And if you show me what tools are worth keeping, then the tractor is yours for eight hundred. I have to keep the lawnmower until I find a reasonable landscaper.”

“You give me the mower, and I’ll make sure your mother’s lawn is kept neat as a pin.”

She smiled and extended her hand. “You’ve got yourself a deal. And you’re good. You never gave anything away. Shall we shake on it?”

He grasped her hand firmly and then noticed a dusty spider’s web clinging to her head. “Seems you’ve got a cobweb in your hair.”

He felt her hand tremble and her eyes widened in fear. “Get it off, please, get it off.”

Without letting go, he stepped closer. He swiped his fingers through her silky hair, taking the sticky fibers with him. He wiped his hand on the back of his jeans. “It’s gone.”

She pulled back and frantically turned around. “Are there any more? Please don’t tell me if anything is crawling anywhere, just brush it off.”

“Nothing. You’re fine.”

She faced him, her cheeks pink. “Thanks.”

The space between them suddenly shrunk, so Jack backed up.

Laura must have felt it too, because she shifted from one foot to the other looking confused. “So, your movers are coming this weekend?”

Jack cleared his throat. “We should be here by late afternoon or early evening on Saturday. Like I said last night, I want to get my daughter settled before school starts. Are you sure that won’t cause a problem?”

“Not at all.” She threw her arms wide. “I’ll get this stuff out of here as soon as possible and the place is yours.”

“Perfect. Now, how about a look at those tools.”

Jack didn’t need another complication in his life, especially an attractive neighbor. He needed to concentrate on Angie. He wanted to prove that he could be the kind of father his daughter needed. Involved and attentive, not distracted by a beautiful blonde.

Later that day, Laura straightened her shoulders and entered her mother’s hospital room. The nurses had her mom sitting in a chair looking nearly normal except for the droop on the left side of her face. A bouquet of balloons rested in the far corner—no doubt from cousin Nancy and her kids. She noticed a small arrangement perched on the bedside table. “Where’d you get the flowers?”

“Maddie Smith, from the real estate office.”

Laura’s heart sank. She’d struggled with how to break the news to her mother that she’d sold the property. Even though her mom had agreed to list the barn, Laura knew her mother would blame her for having to sell it. Seemed like ever since Laura was a kid, she couldn’t do anything right in her mother’s eyes.

Laura had been a daddy’s girl. She’d felt like her birth had come between her parents. That her mother had resented her for creating some rift between them. She remembered overhearing her mom tell her dad that he was spoiling his daughter rotten.

“Any bites? I guess it’s early yet.” Her mother’s speech had also improved.

“A guy stopped by yesterday.” She just couldn’t fess up to the land contract.

Her mother’s eye closed and then she shrugged her good shoulder. “Well, it’s a nice piece of property, don’t go giving it away.”

“I won’t.” Jack had paid the listing price without flinching. Surely, that would please her mother, but it wouldn’t hurt to give her mom a little more time to get used to the idea of selling.

“Have you seen your cousin Nancy?”

“No.”

“You should see her children. Her youngest is a cute little thing.”

“Uh-huh.” Since when did her mother like kids? Growing up, Laura wasn’t allowed too many friends over because her mother didn’t like the noise or the mess. Her mother didn’t like all that commotion. Laura had spent her share of time at Nancy’s because of that.

A quick knock on the door and Aunt Nelda peeked in. “I hope you’re in the mood for company.”

Her aunt’s three grandchildren scampered across the room. They surrounded Laura’s mom, wide-eyed with wonder, asking questions about her mother’s drooping face all at once, failing to use their inside voices. But her mother clearly enjoyed the attention, and that surprised Laura.

“Maddie called me,” Aunt Nelda said with a nod toward the hall.

Laura took the hint. “Mom? Aunt Nelda and I are going to get ginger ale for everyone. Will you be okay?”

Her mom shooed them away and returned to her tale about her hospital stay. The kids wore rapt expressions, and Laura’s heart twisted. Her mom had never entertained her with stories when she was kid. Not even a bedtime story. That had been left for her dad to do. And then he’d died.

“The kids love her,” Aunt Nelda whispered.

Laura stared at her mom a moment longer. Who’d have guessed? She followed her aunt out. “Did Maddie tell you we found a buyer?”

Her aunt grinned. “A handsome doctor from Lansing, who just happens to be single.”

Laura shook her head. “He’s a veterinarian, a widower, with two kids, one’s a thirteen-year-old girl. I doubt he’s interested.”

“He’s a man. They’re always interested.” Her aunt’s smile was positively devious.

“I’m not interested.” Since her broken engagement to Anthony, Laura had vowed she’d never be anyone’s stepmother.

“Maybe I’m thinking of Nancy,” her aunt teased.

Laura rolled her eyes. The thought of Jack Stahl dating her cousin made her teeth clench, which was ridiculous. Like she’d told her aunt, she wasn’t the least bit interested.

“Did you tell your mother?” Aunt Nelda asked.

“Not yet.”

Aunt Nelda nodded with understanding. “See, we made the right choice. Everything happened just like it was supposed to.”

Laura had grown up going to a church that spoke of miracles. They never seemed to happen for her, though. Maybe they didn’t exist. She worked hard, and made choices. But it was one big, fat coincidence when Dr. Jack Stahl happened to be driving by yesterday. “Let’s hope Mom agrees with you.”

Aunt Nelda frowned. “When are you going to tell her?”

“When the time is right.” Laura wished God would perform a miracle with her mother. She could use the help.

Chapter Four

That Saturday evening, Laura returned from the hospital to find a moving truck parked in the drive. Two men and Jack unloaded boxes and plastic-wrapped furniture into the clean and empty barn. A tall, lanky girl with one long, dark braid sat on the porch swing looking lost.

Laura parked her car and put up the top just in case it rained. The weather had been hot and humid. She eyed the girl on the porch who watched the movers with annoyance. Poor kid.

“You must be Jack’s daughter.” Keeping her distance, Laura sat on the top step of the porch. “My name is Laura.”

“Mine’s Angie,” the girl said softly.

Sensing the kid’s reluctance to chat, Laura didn’t want to push. She rose to leave, but the stark grief pooled in the girl’s blue eyes stopped her cold.

“Moving is tough,” Laura quickly said. “My mom’s lived here for thirty-three years. She’s in the hospital right now and hates it. I tried to get her to move into an old folk’s home but she said she’d rather live in a barn. I can’t blame her a bit. Barns probably smell better.”

She spotted Jack coming toward them. She cringed when she realized the kid had reduced her to rambling. Besides, Laura’s heart went out to her. “Have you seen the inside of the apartment yet?”

Angie nodded and rolled her eyes.

Ouch.

Jack stepped onto the porch, his color high. “Laura, this is my daughter, Angie.”

“We’ve met. If you’re interested, I’d be happy to fix you dinner, but I’m no gourmet cook. Either of you like macaroni salad and sandwiches?” Laura didn’t know where that offer had come from, but it seemed like the neighborly thing to do.

Angie shrugged her shoulders. She looked like she wanted to disappear.

“Come on, Ange, what do you say to Ms. Toivo?” Jack said.

A teenager living in a barn, even with a cute little apartment, was not a good idea. Angie probably thought her father had taken leave of whatever sense he might possess by moving up here.

“Please, no need to call me that. Makes me sound like an old lady.” She looked at Angie, hoping Jack didn’t mind that she’d just counteracted his instructions. “Just Laura, okay?”

“Okay.” Angie glanced back at her dad.

Jack didn’t look confident about what to do with her, but his eyes narrowed in some form of communication.

His daughter evidently understood. With a sigh, she rose from the bench swing. “Point me to your pots and pans. I can help.”

Laura unlocked the door to the kitchen. “Good, because I need all the help I can get.”

“Ange, you go on ahead with Laura. I’ll finish unloading. We don’t have much more,” Jack said.

Angie nodded, but her shoulders drooped.

Laura had heard that junior high girls might as well be aliens. One of the tech guys at work constantly complained about his daughter’s changing attitudes—nice one minute, grouchy the next. She couldn’t blame Angie. Who’d want to move here anyway?

“Your dad said you lived in East Lansing—anywhere near Michigan State? That’s a pretty college campus.”

No answer, just a shrug of skinny shoulders as they went inside.

“Living in the country will grow on you, kind of like mold.” Laura released a nervous laugh.

No response, not even a hint of a smile.

Great. Laura set her purse on the kitchen table. “So—” She clapped her hands together. “Are you good with a knife?”

Angie looked surprised. “I guess.”

Laura opened the refrigerator. “Let’s see, carrots, cukes, pickles, celery and hard-boiled eggs. You can cut these up into a big bowl. I’ll start the pasta and sandwiches.”

“Where’s your big bowls?”

Laura looked through her mother’s cupboards and found some. “How’s this?”

“Fine.”

Laura kept busy. She gathered the fixings for turkey sandwiches and then grabbed a pot, causing all the other pans to rattle and spill out of the cupboard. She glanced at Angie. A ghost of a smile hovered at the corners of the girl’s lips.

“Do you live here?” Angie’s quiet voice asked.

“No. This is my mother’s house.”

“What’s the matter with her—your mom?”

Laura heard the slight tremor in Angie’s voice. It still hurt. Of course it did. Laura still felt twinges when she thought of her dad. She filled the pot with water and set it on the burner. “She had a stroke. Her blood pressure’s too high for her to come home yet.”

“Oh.”

Laura dumped macaroni into the pot and turned on the gas. She knew Angie watched her every move as she slathered a piece of bread. “Do you like mayo? I didn’t think to ask.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“What do you like to drink? I’ve got milk, Diet Coke and prune juice.” Laura looked at Angie, hoping for a smile.

Nothing. And then finally, “Milk’s fine.”

Laura set the table when a hissing sound caught her attention. She turned in time to see bubbling water foam over the rim of the pot and onto the stove. The gas burner flared red. Laura ran to grab the pot, and gasped when she burned her fingers.

Angie actually laughed. “You put the pasta in too soon. You’ve got to wait until the water boils.”

Laura finally relaxed. “Why didn’t you tell me? I make macaroni like, never.”

Angie laughed again. “I used to make macaroni and cheese from the box all the time, but now we get the microwave kind.”

“I didn’t know there was a microwave kind.” Laura’s meals were either eaten out, ordered in or frozen entrees.

“Don’t you cook?” Angie asked.

“I do breakfast. Eggs and toast.”

Angie shook her head then took over. She fished in a drawer for potholders, grabbed the hot pot and dumped the contents into the colander.

“Hey, you know what you’re doing,” Laura said.

Angie ran the noodles under cold water. “I help with dinner at home.”

Laura stepped closer and peeked into the sink. “Are they done?”

“They’re okay.”

Laura fished a limp noodle from the colander and popped it in her mouth. “I guess they’ll have to do.”

“It’ll taste better once I mix in the veggies, eggs and mayo.”

“Obviously, you’ve done this before,” Laura said.

Angie gave her a “the artist isn’t finished” look. “Salt and pepper?”

“Whoa.” Laura jumped when the screen door suddenly slammed shut with a gust of wind. She didn’t realize it had been left open.

Then Angie screeched.

“What’s the matter?” Laura’s heart jumped into her throat.

“What is that?”

Laura saw a small black form dart through the kitchen. “It’s just a bat.”

“Eeeeew, gross,” Angie breathed.

“He won’t hurt you,” Laura said.

“I must have left the screen open,” Angie whined. “Can you get it out?”

Laura took control by fetching a plastic bowl. She’d chased bats out of her mother’s house ever since she was a kid. It was no big deal. She placed her finger on her lips and crept into the living room.

“But I thought bats were deaf,” Angie whispered.

“No, they’re blind. They use radar or something to fly.” Laura quietly closed the door to the upstairs, then the door to the laundry room and spare room. And then waited for the bat to land.

Angie ducked under a magazine she grabbed from the coffee table when the black ball of fur zoomed through the air. But she stayed quiet.

The minutes ticked by until finally the bat gripped a torn piece of wallpaper in the dining room.

Angie’s eyes went wide as plates, when Laura lifted the large bowl overhead. “What are you going to do?”

“You’ll see.” Laura tiptoed toward the bat.

Angie scooted behind Laura, not wanting to be left alone in the open.

“Don’t move,” Laura breathed.

Angie folded herself into Laura’s back. “I won’t.”

Laura cupped the bowl against the wall, trapping the bat underneath. It flapped then settled down. “Get me that macaroni box. Open it flat so I can slip it between the wall and the bowl.”

Angie looked unsure, but she ran to the kitchen and returned with a flattened box.

Laura kept one hand on the bowl and wedged the cardboard underneath the rim.

“You did it,” Angie said with a trace of awe.

“Yup.” Laura headed for the porch. She set the bowl down and lifted the cardboard lid, then stepped back. The bat flew out against a darkening, angry-looking sky.

“Is it gone?” Angie whispered from the other side of the screen door.

“Yes.”

“I thought bats only came out at night.”

“Usually just before dark, to get the bugs. I think they’re cute.”

“You’re crazy. They make nests in your hair and stink.”

Laura laughed. “Who told you that?”

Angie shrugged. “I dunno. Isn’t it true?”

“Nope, not true. You’ll get used to them.”

Angie didn’t look like she believed Laura, but she sighed. “I’ve got a lot of stuff to get used to.”

Jack wiped his hands on his shirt. “Are you guys sure you won’t stay for a bite to eat?” He overstepped Laura’s invitation by offering food to the movers, but it had taken longer than he thought to finish up and he was starving.

“Thanks, but we’ve got to get back,” one of the movers said.

Jack nodded, relieved. He gave each man a tip and shook their hands before they climbed into the moving truck. A low rumble of thunder in the distance made Jack thank God for keeping the rain away until the last of his boxes were unloaded and stacked in the barn. Now, it could rain buckets for all he cared.

A fork of pink lightning skittered across the sky and the wind picked up as he stepped onto the porch and stopped. Through the screen door, he caught a scene in the kitchen that made his jaw drop. Angie stirred something in a big bowl and Laura placed a tray of sandwiches on the table.

Jack checked his watch. It had been over an hour and a half but the girls didn’t seem to have noticed his delay. They chatted comfortably and Jack thought he heard a few giggles. He wiped the sweat from his brow and noticed a plastic bowl at his feet beside a piece of cardboard. He picked them up and knocked on the door.

“Come in, Jack,” Laura said.

He handed her the bowl. “Something smells good.”

“Eeewww, Dad, you better wash your hands. There was a bat in there. You’ll get rabies.”

Jack grinned. “You can’t get rabies from a bowl. What was in here, a bat? Who caught it?”

Laura squared her shoulders, looking pleased. “I did. With your daughter’s help, of course. Welcome to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.”

Jack raised his eyebrows.

“Angie has also saved the macaroni salad from becoming a pile of mush.”

“How’d she do that?”

“Laura doesn’t know how to cook pasta.” Angie looked more amused than disgusted.

And Laura ignored the comment as if she’d known his daughter longer than just a couple hours. “We have turkey sandwiches, too.”

“Sounds great.” Jack looked around quickly. “I better wash up.”

Laura guided his way. “Down the hallway off the dining room. The door to your right, it’s closed but no one’s in there.”

Then Angie giggled. “Use lots of soap, so you get the bat stink off.”

Laura joined in with a soft laugh.

Jack nodded. It wasn’t that funny, but he clamped his lips shut and entered the bathroom. He didn’t want to ruin a private joke by making someone explain it. Besides, he was tired of trying so hard with Angie. He was just plain tired.

As he dried his hands, he thought about what Angie had said about Laura. How could someone not know how to make macaroni? The instructions were right there, easy as can be. He returned to the kitchen and took a seat at the retro metal-legged table with matching red, vinyl-covered chairs.

“Water, Diet Coke or prune juice?” Laura asked.

His daughter giggled again.

After all the arguing they’d done about the move, he’d nearly forgotten how much he loved the sound. After driving nine hours with Angie, he’d rather examine a porcupine. Now she laughed as if nothing had ever been wrong. He’d never figure her out. “Water’s fine. I can get it.”

“Sit, sit.” Laura gestured with her hands.

He sat across from Angie and they waited for Laura. Then Jack bowed his head.

“Oh,” Laura whispered.

Jack peeked up at her. “Do you mind?” He caught her quick glance at Angie, who rolled her eyes.

“Not at all.” She bowed her head and waited.

Jack took a deep breath. “Dear Lord, thank You for this wonderful food and bless those who prepared it. Oh, and please protect me from rabies and any bat stink I might have missed. Amen.” He reached for a napkin and a rumble of thunder echoed through the air.

“I think He heard you.” Laura scooped pasta onto her plate, and then looked at him. “I didn’t think you could make fun when you prayed.”

“God made us with a sense of humor, why wouldn’t He have one, too?”

Laura cocked her head. Her chin-length blond hair had been pushed back with a headband. It made her look young and vulnerable. “I never thought of it like that.”

He quickly looked away as he took the bowl of macaroni salad from her.

“I love thunderstorms,” Angie said, digging into the pile of sandwiches.

“Ugh, why?” Laura said.

“I dunno.” His daughter tossed her head and flipped the braid off her shoulder. “I just do.”

Laura took a bite of the macaroni salad. “Wow, this is really good.”

“Thanks. But I think it still needs something.”

Jack watched in amazement at the easiness between them. His daughter didn’t warm up to strangers. Lately, she didn’t warm up to anyone. “So, how’d the bat get in the house?”

“I left the screen door open,” Angie said.

Laura looked at him. “It was an accident. I think the bat was looking for a place to ride out the storm. We’re supposed to get a real soaker. We need the rain.”

Just then a flicker of lightning brightened the room and a crash of thunder shook the house. The fluorescent light overhead dimmed, flickered and then went out.

“There goes the power,” Laura whispered. “I hate it when this happens.”

Her admission surprised him. The bat in the house didn’t rattle her, neither did his daughter. Other than spider webs, Jack didn’t think Laura Toivo scared easily. Yet the sounds of a storm building outside made her anxious. “How long does it stay out?”

“Who knows?” Laura got up from the table, leaving her sandwich half-eaten. She rummaged through one of the kitchen drawers and pulled out some taper candles. Sticking a few into skinny juice glasses, she lit them and placed a couple on the table. “We’ve got plenty of candles if you’d like some to take to the apartment.”

“That’d be great.”

“Yeah, great,” Angie muttered.

“It’s only for a while, Ange.” Jack squeezed his daughter’s hand.

She pulled away. “Where am I going to put my clothes?”

Another flash of lightning followed by a deafening crack of thunder and Laura jumped. She focused on her plate, looking uncertain, almost shy. “It’s late and probably too dark to get unloaded in the apartment tonight. There’s plenty of room if you’d like to stay here tonight.”

Jack stared at her. They were practically strangers. “We couldn’t put you to all the trouble.”

“Really, it’s no problem.” But she sounded nervous.

Another crack of thunder boomed while lightning danced through the windows. The wind whipped and, with a roar, a deluge of rain fell followed by heavier beats. He heard the clicking of ice balls ricocheting off the side porch.

Angie ran to the screen door, water spraying in from outside. “Dad, we can’t go out there. It’s hailing.”

“Close the door, Ange.” He glanced back at Laura who twisted her napkin. She looked tense.

“To be honest, with a storm like this, I wouldn’t mind the company.”

He knew Laura’s invitation had more to do with her fear of storms than anything else. Cocky, capable businesswoman, Laura Toivo was scared of a thunderstorm. An unexpected urge to protect her assaulted him. But staying overnight under the same roof couldn’t be a good idea. He’d prefer to keep his attractive neighbor at a safe distance across the lawn and driveway.

Angie noticed his hesitation. “Come on, Dad. How are we going to find anything in the dark? Let’s just stay here with Laura.”

“Okay, okay. We’ll stay. Now, could someone pass me another sandwich?” But something more than hunger twisted his gut. His magnetic spark of interest flashed into full-blown attraction.

Chapter Five

“Your room is this way.” Laura gathered sheets from the linen closet. Angie followed her down the hall cupping a flickering candle.

She opened the door to her old bedroom just as lightning streaked across the sky, brightening the room. The downpour had settled into soft rain, but the storm still lingered.

“It’s huge,” Angie said. “This was yours?”

“All mine.” Laura walked to the bed and pulled off the frilly coverlet. “Being an only child has its perks.”

Angie set the candle down and helped her strip the bed.

“My bedroom’s tiny.”

“Small can be cozy.” Laura shook out the sheets. She remade the four-poster canopy bed with Angie’s help, aligning the old white-ruffled spread back into place.

Laura sighed. Potential lay everywhere in this house, but her mother refused to see it. The windows overlooked the backyard, complete with a view of Lake Superior. Laura had done a ton of dreaming staring out those windows.

“The bathroom is next door.” Laura placed a couple towels and a washcloth on the desk then scooped up the discarded sheets.

“Where’s my dad sleeping?” Angie asked.

“A spare bedroom next to this one.”

“Great, I’m beat,” said a masculine voice.

Laura’s heart skittered to a halt along with her footsteps. Jack filled the doorway. The front of his T-shirt showed wet spots from washing their dinner dishes. She tried not to stare. “I’ll get more clean sheets.” She hurried out into the hall, turning to peek back in. “Good night, Angie.”

“Night, Laura.” Angie smiled.

Laura dashed for the closet. Stuffing the old bedding into a hamper, she grabbed fresh linens for Jack. Her breath came quick as if she’d run up a flight of stairs.

She entered the spare room and lit an oil lantern. She could hear the muffled voices of Jack and Angie through the wall. Even if Jack made her feel a little unsettled, it was definitely a comfort having them here. She’d sleep better knowing someone else was in the house.

Laura pulled off the quilt and sheets of the twin bed, remembering how Angie had perked up when Jack had called her brother, Ben, to check on him after the storm had settled.

Laura had always wanted a brother or sister—someone to talk to or even fight with, anything to cut through the silence of growing up.

“Thanks again. You didn’t have to do this.” Jack’s voice was low, but unsure. Self-conscious.

“But I think Angie’s glad. Sort of a transition before the ‘barn.’” Laura made quote marks with her fingers.

He laughed softly. “You’re probably right. Can I help with that?”

She felt him lean toward her and her pulse picked up speed. “No problem, I got it.”

She tucked the top sheet under the corner of the mattress then reached for the quilt. He bent to grab it, too. They were close. They both straightened. A low rumble of thunder shook the ground, and Laura dropped the quilt.

“You sure you’re okay?” The corners of Jack’s mouth twitched.

“I just don’t like storms. They make me nervous.”

“I thought salespeople were fearless.” Jack picked up the quilt.

“We’re a neurotic bunch, but we act like we’ve got it all together.”

Jack laughed, a deep, rich sound.

“What about you? Isn’t there anything you’re afraid of?” she asked.

Jack spread the quilt over the bed then sat on the edge. “Thirteen-year-old girls and eighteen-year-old boys out on their own for the first time.”

Laura looked into his troubled eyes. He worried about his kids. She imagined all parents did that—some more than others. But Jack admitted his concerns. He didn’t act like he had all the answers and that made him that much more appealing. “Why not stay in Lansing? Wouldn’t that have been easier?”

He looked away and fluffed the pillow. “Angie started hanging out with the wrong kids, skipping class and giving my sister a hard time about where she was headed after school. I caught her smoking cigarettes in our backyard. That’s not my Angie. We needed a change, starting with me. I need to be around more, plain and simple.”

Lightning flashed and thunder grumbled in the distance. Laura wiped her hands along the sides of her shorts. “Sounds like you’re doing the right thing, then.”

Jack ran a hand through his hair. “I hope so.”

She didn’t know what it was like to be a parent, but she knew what it was like to be a kid. Jack struck her as a dad who cared, deeply. Angie had a parent who tried. That had to count for something.

“It’s late,” Laura said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night, and thanks.” His hair stuck up in odd directions and his eyelids were puffy.

The urge to smooth back his hair tugged at Laura. The worst part was that he looked like he might welcome her touch.

“Good night, Jack.” She hurried out the door before she gave in to her impulse.

Laura breathed in the scent of fresh-brewed coffee and sizzling bacon as she bustled around the kitchen hoping the aroma of food teased the senses of her guests enough to wake them. It was nearly nine o’clock and she had to head out to the hospital. After her pasta fiasco, she wanted to prove to Angie that she could make breakfast.

She poured herself a cup of coffee and listened. She heard male humming coming from outside. She didn’t recognize the tune but the sweet sound intrigued her.

With a light knock, Jack opened the screen door and stepped into the kitchen. “Morning.”

“You’re up.”

“Just getting a head start on unpacking. Is that coffee up for grabs?”

“Sure is. I’ll have breakfast ready in a minute if you’re interested.”

Jack grabbed a mug from the counter and filled it with coffee, milk and sugar—just like Laura took hers. “I’m starved.”

She smiled. “What were you humming?”

His cheeks flushed. “Just an old hymn.”

Laura smiled. It had been ages since she heard a male voice in this house, especially in the morning. “My dad used to sing.”

Jack nodded. “Sounds like you were pretty close to him.”

“I was.”

He sipped his coffee. “This is good.”

Laura wrinkled her nose. “My mom’s grocery-store variety. Too bad I didn’t bring the good stuff. There’s this awesome coffee shop around the corner from my condo. They roast their own beans.”

He laughed. “So you like more cultured coffee?”

She turned the slices of bacon over. “Don’t you?”

“I don’t care as long as it’s hot and fresh. Just don’t give me decaf.”

“You’ll fit right in up here. You can’t get good coffee without driving into Houghton or Hancock.”

“This area is not without culture.”

The colleges, tourists and local artists gave the connected cities of Houghton and Hancock an attractive refinement. Some of it even trickled out into the four-corner towns like the one her mother lived near. But not much. “Yeah, right.”

He looked offended. “I’m serious. During the peak of its mining day, this area was a draw for actors and playwrights from as far as the East Coast.”

“Thanks for the history lesson, Dr. Stahl, but I learned all that in school. Houghton and Hancock are just a couple of college towns separated by a pretty river.”

She patted his arm, but quickly pulled back when she felt his muscle flex beneath her touch. “Nice try, though.”

Jack looked at his arm before glancing back at her. “Can I help?”

She grabbed a carton of eggs, ignoring the brief tension that had materialized between them. “You can do the toast.”

“Let me guess, you need nightlife and excitement. Noise.”

She laughed. “I’m usually home by eight most nights and in bed by ten, real exciting.”

Her cell phone rang. She pulled it out of the pocket of her sweats and answered. “This is Laura.”

Her assistant gave her a message from Mr. Albertson about an invitation to a team-building retreat. Her manager RSVP’d for her to attend and Cindy sent her the details via email.

Laura would check her BlackBerry later. She continued making breakfast while getting office updates and then finally disconnected.

“She’s calling you on Sunday morning?” Jack looked shocked.

Laura shrugged. “Sometimes we work weekends to catch up. No big deal.”

“And I thought I worked hard.” Jack slipped two pieces of bread into the toaster.

“Were you never on call for a weekend?”

“Well, yeah.”

“See, no difference.” Laura dumped scrambled eggs into a hot skillet.

“So, why the long face?” Jack asked.

She shook her head. “It’s nothing, really.”

“You miss it,” Jack said.

She looked into his eyes. Big mistake. His gaze held understanding. “I’ve been home a week and I’m itching to get back.”

The toast popped up and Jack buttered it. “What do you like most about your job?”

It was a good place to hide. With sales, everything was superficial. Laura didn’t have to make people happy, just meet their business needs by offering a fair contract of service. Her job gave her confidence, a sense of importance. Like she counted for something. “It’s something I do well.”

“Better than making macaroni, I hope.” His blue eyes twinkled.

If he was trying to flirt with her, he might as well give up. “Wait till you try the eggs. Should I call your daughter?”

“She’s not much of a breakfast eater. If you don’t mind, I’ll let her sleep until after I shower.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Laura sat down and focused on her plate.

She grabbed a piece of bacon and bit into it. “Mmm. Gotta love grease.”

Jack’s head was bowed. He really did the whole prayer thing before meals. He looked up at her and smiled.

The strip of bacon hung between her lips. She pushed it in and mumbled, “Sorry.”

He waved her apology aside. “So tell me, what are business solutions?”

“Information system technology, network support, long-range planning, programming help, that sort of thing.” She wiped her greasy fingers on a napkin.

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