“I’m surprised you remembered my name,” Olivia teased Reese.

“Of course I remember your name.”

“You didn’t earlier.”

“Well, I was focused on two small troublemakers. So my brain was occupied elsewhere. If you had kids you’d understand how easy it is to get side-tracked.”

If she had kids—

I was a wife and mother once, her heart cried out. Until my family was stolen from me.

What would it be like to be part of a family again, to work with kids again, to find the connection that would make her part of something? Olivia longed to find out—but still feared some newspaper reporter would figure out who she’d been and run another story about her pitiful past.

Reese’s sister Sara had been the first person Olivia had trusted in a very long time. And even Sara didn’t know the whole truth.

The jury was still out on trusting Reese.

LOIS RICHER

likes variety. From her time in human resources management to entrepreneurship, life has held plenty of surprises. She says, “Having given up on fairy tales, I was happily involved in building a restaurant when a handsome prince walked into my life and upset all my career plans with a wedding ring. Motherhood quickly followed. I guess the seeds of my storytelling took root because of two small boys who kept demanding, ‘Then what, Mom?’” The miracle of God’s love for His children, the blessing of true love, the joy of sharing Him with others—that is a story that can be told a thousand ways and yet still be brand-new. Lois Richer intends to go right on telling it.

Twice Upon a Time
Lois Richer

For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, doesn’t want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.

—II Timothy 1:7

This book is dedicated to dads who love when it

isn’t easy, try when they have no strength left and

come running when you most need them.

Yours is a rich legacy.

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

Epilogue

Question for Discussion

Chapter One

Iwas that happy once.

Olivia Hastings slipped away from the crowd at the hilltop wedding reception to regain her peace of mind. She set her bridesmaid bouquet on a rock before wandering farther downhill and away from the laughing guests.

A few moments of solitude were all Olivia needed.

“We’re not s’posed to come here.”

That childish warning, barely audible, floated toward her on the soft summer wind, rousing her curiosity. The Woodward twins?

Olivia kept walking, stepping carefully around thistles as she followed the voices. The twins, Brett and Brady Woodward, were the bride’s nephews. They’d taken part in a fundraiser Olivia had directed last month. The twins had stolen the show, though their father hadn’t bothered to see it.

Reese Woodward was busy, his sister Sara claimed. Olivia thought he was too busy.

“Uncle Cade said he caught fish in here when he was a little boy.”

The stream! Olivia picked up her pace downhill, over hillocks topped with cropped grass, not caring that her silk dress would probably be ruined.

Two four-year-old boys near water spelled disaster.

“I want to catch a fish.”

“No, Brett. Uncle Cade said…”

His voice dissipated. Olivia strained, but couldn’t see the boys. She glanced around to call for help and realized no one would hear above the wedding reception music. Anyway, the wind would carry her voice away. She’d have to manage on her own. Olivia felt certain that, given the love she’d witnessed the Woodward family lavish on the twins, one or another of Denver’s famous wedding-planning family would soon come looking.

“Brett, you can’t go in. Daddy said—”

“You boys get away from that water,” Olivia yelled in her sternest tone, praying she wouldn’t be too late. She stubbed her toe on a rock and bit down to smother her cry as she climbed over it, using both hands to speed her descent.

There. She could see them. Brady hovered at the edge of the water, obviously uncertain about his next move. But Brett already had one shoe off.

“Hey!” Olivia shouted, waving her hands. Brady saw her, smiled and waved back. Brett was wading in. “No!”

But in the next moment Brett tumbled face-first into the swiftly moving water. When it looked like Brady would go in after him, Olivia threw caution aside and raced downhill, ignoring the stabs and jabs of anything that tried to impede her progress.

Brady teetered on one leg, about to lose his balance. Olivia plucked him up and sat him on a big rock several feet from the water’s edge.

“Don’t you dare move,” she ordered. “I can’t see Brett.”

Big, fat tears tumbled down chubby cheeks. Brady pointed.

“There.” He sniffed. “He’s not swimming.”

Brett lay facedown in the water, floating farther away.

“I’ll get him, Brady, but don’t you move. Promise me.”

“’Kay.”

“Good boy.” Olivia stepped into the stream. Moving as swiftly as possible, she kept going, though the water was icy cold against her warm skin. In seconds her thin dress was soaked and she was chilled.

Olivia ignored it as she’d learned to ignore the pain of loss that so often gripped her heart. When she was deep enough, she began swimming. It seemed to take forever, but finally she was able to grab a corner of Brett’s white tuxedo and tug him into her arms.

Moving as fast as she dared over the sharp yet slippery rocks, Olivia carried the still body to shore. She laid Brett flat and began lifesaving maneuvers she’d learned years ago in a Red Cross class. While she worked, she prayed, vaguely aware that Brady was bawling at the top of his lungs. At least he hadn’t moved.

Neither had Brett.

Olivia kept working. Finally the boy responded, spewing a mouthful of water all over her before he gasped for oxygen.

“Thank you, Father,” she whispered, holding him as the last of the water gurgled out and his breathing grew more normal.

“No, thank you.” Reese grabbed his son’s shoulders and helped him sit up. When Brett tried to stand, Reese wrapped him in his arms and held on, eyes squeezed shut. His chest heaved with the exertion of running downhill. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead. His gray-white face looked like an ice sculpture as he hugged the shivering little body against him.

Olivia stayed silent for a few minutes, but finally she touched the shoulder of the man who’d played best man to her bridesmaid in his sister’s wedding. His eyes flew open and he stared at her as if awakening from a nightmare.

“Come on, we need to get away from here.”

“Yeah. I know.” His voice grated, frosted with fear.

Olivia understood that horrible choking awareness that a child you’d protected and adored since birth, a child you would sacrifice your very life for, had almost been snatched away.

Only in her case, there was no almost.

“I’m cold, Daddy,” Brett stuttered, his teeth chattering.

“The water comes from snow on the mountains.” The leashed tension in Reese’s voice chastened the young miscreant into silence as he carried the boy to safety.

Olivia followed them, picking her way back along the water’s edge. Her feet screamed a protest, but she ignored it, smiling when Brady blubbered with joy at the sight of his bedraggled twin.

“He’s fine, Brady.” She led them to a massive boulder that felt deliciously warm to the touch. “Reese?”

“Yeah?” He looked at her, his blue eyes dark as storm clouds.

“He can sit down here.” She touched the rock, but Reese didn’t move. His arms remained locked around his child. “Brett’s cold, Reese. We have to warm him up.”

The frantic father studied her for a moment before he looked down at the boy he held. He seemed unable to let go.

“Brett is all right, Reese. But he’s cold and wet and we need to fix that.” She didn’t want to frighten Brett, but his shivering bothered her. She stood on tiptoe and whispered in Reese’s ear. “You’re scaring him. Put him down, okay?”

He looked at her as if she’d asked him to move mountains.

“Put him down, Reese. I only want to help.”

He finally nodded, loosening his grip by degrees until at last Brett had been lowered to the big rock she’d indicated. But Reese remained close by, obviously not quite trusting her with his precious child.

Olivia’s heart ached to comfort him some other way, but she was only his wedding partner. So she smiled, then began removing Brett’s shirt and pants.

“Come on, sweetheart. Slip out of these wet things. We’ll let that big old sun warm you up.” When she fumbled, Reese helped, but his stiff, jerky actions gave away his distress.

After a moment, Reese moved toward Brady. His hand shook as he reached for the boy’s fingers and a strangled breath squeezed out from his throat at the contact.

“Brady’s fine, Reese. Everything is all right now,” Olivia soothed softly, hoping to reassure all of them. As she brushed damp brown curls off Brett’s forehead, she couldn’t resist pressing a kiss against his sweet cheek. “Feeling better, sweetheart?”

“K-kind of.” He stared up at her, his spiky lashes stuck together. “Are you going to take off your dress? It’s wet, t-too?”

“I’m fine.” She suppressed a shiver. “Brady, slip off your jacket, will you? Brett needs it to warm up.”

Once Olivia had Brett buttoned inside the white jacket, she gave way to her own weakness and sank down beside him, smothering a groan at the sweet heat of the stone against her skin. Still Reese hovered, silent and grim, holding Brady close.

“It’s okay,” she repeated softly. “It’s okay.”

Several minutes passed before Reese nodded. He drew an audible breath, then sat Brady next to Brett. He cupped his palm around each miniature chin, forcing his sons to look at him.

“What were you doing, Brett? Uncle Cade told you not to come down here.”

“Y-yes. But I wanted to catch a fish. I almost d-did, too,” he chattered, his chin thrusting out with pride.

Olivia’s heart lurched at the thought of what might have been. Anika had been four when—

“Uncle Cade said we shouldn’t go past those blue flowers.” Brady pointed uphill to blooms that were at least three hundred feet above them. “You said that was the rule, didn’t you, Daddy?”

Olivia struggled to control her shivering. If only she had enough strength to drag herself back up the hill. But the truth was, she felt drained. Death had come too close.

But it had not taken another child…this time.

“Why did you disobey me and your uncle?” Reese demanded in a rasping voice.

“I don’t like rules,” Brett said as if that explained everything.

“Too bad. Everybody has to follow rules, Brett.” There was no give in Reese’s tone. “That’s the way life is. Rules help protect us from bad things.”

“They didn’t pro-teck my mom.” Brady mourned. “I heard Great Granny say my mom followed the rules when she stopped at the sign. But my mom got dead.” His bottom lip trembled as he glared at his father. “Dead means she’s gone, and she isn’t coming back ever again.”

Reese’s mouth worked, but he said nothing. So Olivia took over.

“Do you remember your mother, Brady?”

From her many conversations with Sara, Olivia knew Reese’s wife had died several years earlier. The twins would probably not remember her, but Olivia knew it would be helpful to encourage them to talk about her anyway. Maybe something today had triggered a sense of loss.

“Brady doesn’t remember nothing.”

“Do so. She had brown hair.” Brady glared at his brother. “Like choc-lat.”

“You saw that in a picture. You don’t remember it.” Brett’s voice wobbled. “I think I do sometimes, but—” He shrugged, his little face confused.

Olivia glanced at Reese, expecting him to soothe them. But he was still dealing with his own shock. His stare remained frozen on the children.

“Sweetheart, your mom is tucked inside here.” Olivia tapped Brett’s little chest. “She wouldn’t care if you remembered what she looked like. All she’d care about is that you remember that she loved you very much.”

Brett studied her for a few minutes.

“There’s only Daddy and us in our house. It’s not like the kids at day care. Most of them have daddies and mommies. I wish I had a mommy.”

“Why do you wish that, Brett?” Years of training and thousands of phone calls to a kids’ radio show Olivia had taken from a small New York station to national syndication had taught her that talking was often the best therapy.

“The other kids’ mommies send cookies on special days and push them on the swings and help say prayers at night.” Brady, not Brett, volunteered the information.

“But your dad does things with you, too, doesn’t he?”

Please don’t let me be wrong.

“Not cookies,” Brady corrected. “He does other things.”

“The minister at church said God made families with moms and dads.” Brett blinked at her through the hank of dark brown hair that flopped over one eye. “We don’t gots a mom.”

Implying God didn’t make his family?

Realizing Reese wasn’t capable of responding at that moment, Olivia hurried to reassure.

“God loves all kinds of families, Brett. He loves families with lots of kids and families with only one little boy or girl. He loves families with only a daddy or only a mommy, too. That part doesn’t matter to God. What matters is that families love each other. I know you love your daddy.”

“Yep,” Brett squealed, jumped up. “I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, too.” Reese’s voice emerged hoarse, choked as he swung his son into his arms and hugged him close. He smiled at Olivia, but it was a distracted courtesy. His attention returned to Brett.

“Why did you come here?” The question held a warning.

Brett’s bottom lip jutted out. “To fish.”

“What did Cade say?” Reese squatted with Brady resting on his knee. “What did I say, Brett?” His voice was stern, his gaze intense, but his hand, as he lifted it to drag through his hair, trembled. When the boy didn’t speak, Reese repeated, “What did I say?”

“Not to.”

“What did you promise? Both of you?”

“Not to come.” Brady looked at his brother. “I told him not to.”

“But you came along with him. After you’d both promised me.”

Olivia admired the way Reese forced them to admit their wrongdoing without raising his voice. Though his olive-tanned skin had sallowed and his rich blue eyes still looked haunted by the near disaster, he was trying to teach them.

“I make rules to protect you guys, so you won’t get hurt. I do that because I love you and because I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.” Reese inhaled to steady his voice. “Brett could have drowned. This water is dangerous. It’s not a place for kids to come by themselves. Cade told you and I told you, but you disobeyed anyway.”

“If I had swimming lessons I could—”

“Brett!”

The little boy gulped, raised his head and looked at his dad, shame washing over his face.

“I’m sorry, Daddy.”

“Me, too,” Brady chirped right before he wrapped his chubby arms around Reese’s neck and squeezed.

Olivia’s heart tightened. If only she could feel Anika’s beloved arms once more. If only Trevor…Her heart wept as she sent a prayer for peace heavenward.

“I’m sorry, too.” Reese sat the boys back down, his tone firmer now. “But being sorry isn’t always enough. It wouldn’t do any good to be sorry if Brady didn’t have a brother anymore, would it, Brett?”

The twins stared at each other as if they’d never imagined such a thing.

“Obedience is important. The only way I can do my daddy job properly is to keep you two safe. That’s why you have to obey me.”

Fatherhood equaled safety? Olivia frowned.

Reese looked in control, but she saw signs that his emotions were still riding high. And little wonder.

“Do you understand?”

Two brown heads slowly nodded.

“Are we getting punished?”

“Yes, Brett, you are. After Auntie Sara’s party, when we’re at home. Right now I want you to put on your shoes, take your brother’s hand and get back up the hill. Your backpacks are in the house. You can change clothes. Emily will help you.” He pointed to the teenage girl who stood at the crest of the hill, watching. “Understand?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

They began gathering their belongings.

“Boys?”

They turned, studied Reese with question marks in their eyes.

“Do you have something to say to Olivia?”

“Thank you for helping my brother,” Brady said. He gave her a shy hug.

“Yeah. Thanks.” Brett offered his hand. Once she’d shaken it, he backed away. “I’m sorry you got wet and your dress got wrecked.”

“I’m glad you’re okay, Brett.”

“No more disobeying,” Reese ordered. “You either behave yourselves or we’ll go home right now.”

“And miss seeing the horsies?” Brady’s eyes swelled.

“And miss seeing them,” Reese confirmed.

“Come on, Brett.” Brady shoved his brother’s shoes at him, then nudged him upward. “We gotta be good.”

Olivia smiled as she watched the adorable pair scurry uphill. Then her attention returned to Reese.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever be all right again,” he muttered half under his breath. Then he shook his head at her, smiled. “I’m fine. I lost about five years when I saw you dragging him out. He could have drowned.”

“But he didn’t. They’re all right, thank the Lord.”

“The Lord. Yeah.” Reese didn’t sound as if he was giving God any of the credit for the twins’ safety as he tracked their progress uphill.

“They really are all right,” Olivia whispered.

“Yeah. I know.” But he didn’t look away until the young girl, Emily, had them by the hand.

Olivia tried to hide the shiver that rippled over her, but Reese’s moody gaze had registered her discomfort.

“I’m sorry. I should have done this earlier.” He slid out of his tuxedo jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “Better?”

“Thanks.” She sighed as his warmth caressed her goose-pimpled skin.

“It’s I who should thank you. When I saw Brett floating on that water, I thought my heart would stop. I couldn’t have wished for a better rescuer.” His hands fisted at his sides, but when Reese noticed her glance he shoved them in his pockets. “You know your first aid.”

“I took a course—the basics, nothing extra. It came in handy.”

“Yeah.” A half smile lifted his lips. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She strove for levity to break the tension. “You didn’t step on my bouquet on your way down, did you?”

“Ha! Very funny.” His broad white-covered shoulders lifted with his sigh. “What a day.”

“A wedding here, a swim there.” Olivia shrugged. “Pretty ordinary.”

“I’d like to know what kind of life you lead.”

“A boring one,” she said quickly before he could ask more.

“You have a great rapport with my sons. Of course, Sara told me that when the boys were in that theater project of yours. I must have blocked it.”

“Ah.” Blocked it or didn’t notice?

“Life with those two—” he raked a hand through his hair before jerking a thumb over one shoulder “—doesn’t allow a lot of time for thinking. I’m always in protect or prevent mode. They’re so little and I couldn’t bear it if—”

“I understand.” Too well. Losing a child was the nightmare every parent feared most, the thing she’d never thought she’d live through.

Olivia’s admiration for Reese grew. Sara’s comments about her overprotective brother had painted a very different picture of the man who now looked shaken and disturbed by the incident that had just occurred.

Reese Woodward was actually quite charming.

“We should go.” He glanced at her feet. “Your feet must feel horrible. And you seem to have lost your shoes.”

“No. I kicked them off before I went in the water. There.” She pointed to the edge where her dyed satin slippers looked a lot worse for their trek downhill.

Reese walked over, picked them up and let them dangle from his fingers, chagrin tipping down his wide, generous mouth as he studied her.

“My kids are murder on your wardrobe.”

“Yes, but on the bright side,” she said after a glance at her bedraggled dress, “at least the wedding pictures have been taken. And it’s not like I’m going to wear these clothes again. They have served their purpose. We got Sara and Cade married.”

“Yes, we did.” He laughed. The sound of relief echoed down the riverbed, a deep-throated burst of pure relief. “Tough lady. I like that. Let’s go see if my sister has something you can wear.” He bent down, slid the slippers on her feet, then rose and held out a hand.

Olivia took it, allowing him to pull her upright. She held on, borrowing his strength as he helped her climb past the rougher spots, enjoying the sensation of being supported. It had been so long since she’d felt protected, cared for.

“We probably should have gotten to know each other better earlier, but I was trying to make sure a certain pair of ring bearers didn’t mess up the whole wedding.” He grimaced. “This is really bad timing, but I have been meaning to talk to you about something for the past week and never had the chance.”

“Oh?” A tiny coil of fear wound tight inside.

The past was always there, waiting to snag her back into that misery.

“You’re a child psychologist.”

“Yes, I am.” Relief washed through her at the simplicity of that. “But please don’t ask me to explain why they decided to go fishing today.” She hoped humor would ease his tension while redirecting his questions. “I don’t understand the lure of fishing at the best of times.”

“Believe me, I intend to find that out firsthand.” His lips pinched tightly.

His parenting style wasn’t her business, and she was probably overstepping the boundary of a bridesmaid to a best man, but—“Reese?”

“Yeah?” He stared at her, brows lowered. They’d gained the top of the rise and his attention honed in on the twins up ahead, laughing and playing as carefree as if nothing untoward had happened.

“I know they scared the daylights out of you this afternoon, but could you try not to let them see that?”

“Why not?” Reese demanded, his prominent cheekbones jutting sharply in the sunlight. “The twins should know their actions affect others.”

“You must teach them that, of course. But maybe not today.”

“Because?”

“Because they don’t realize how worried you were.” She saw his brow furrow and rushed to explain. “That’s a good thing, Reese. You don’t want to make them afraid of life. You don’t want them fussing about all the things that could have happened.”

“Brett already has nightmares,” he admitted, watching them. “And that talk about their mother—I never even imagined they’d been thinking about her.”

“Kids are funny that way. Sometimes they take forever to blurt out what’s on their minds,” Olivia said. “I’m not trying to tell you how to parent your sons, believe me. I’m just suggesting you might want to focus on the disobedience part of the experience.”

Reese studied her for a long time before he exhaled his pent-up breath. He bent his head to one side, then the other as if releasing his tension. Then he nodded.

“Thank you. Again. I needed that reminder.”

“You’re a good parent. The twins love you and you love them. That’s what matters.” She changed the subject. “Sara said you work at Weddings by Woodwards—legal counsel?”

“That’s better than the other names she used to call me.” He smiled good-naturedly. “I do work as legal counsel for the business, but I also serve on the board at the Byways Youth Center.”

“I’ve heard about it from Sara and some friends. Sounds like it has great potential.”

“If we could find a new director.” Reese grimaced. “We’ve been running shorthanded for a while.”

“I see.”

“Maybe it’s something you’d be interested in.”

Olivia changed the subject.

“The bridal couple is leaving. I don’t want to call Sara back and ruin everything. Maybe I should go home.”

“No.” Reese frowned as he pulled open the door. “Cade’s sister, Karen, will help us. You wait inside. I’ll go find her.”

He was as good as his word, returning a few minutes later with Karen, who didn’t ask any questions, but quickly provided a pale blue sundress and sandals, all the perfect size. Olivia showered, tied her hair back and dressed, feeling almost warm again as she stepped outside.

Reese leaned against the doorpost, watching the twins pet a pony. Brett now wore shorts and a T-shirt. The teenage girl stood beside Reese, talking to him.

“Thanks for lending me this. It’s still a bit damp.” Olivia handed him his jacket.

“We’ll let it hang here to dry,” he said, carelessly dropping the expensive jacket over the banister. “Olivia, this is Emily Kirsch. She babysits the twins for me sometimes. Emily, this is Olivia Hastings.”

“Nice to meet you. Thank you so much for getting Brett out of the water.” Emily clung to her hand, shaking it over and over. “I should have been watching more closely. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.” The girl risked a sideways glance at Reese. “It’s all my fault.”

“No, it isn’t. It’s harder to care for the twins here than at home. I know that. I also know you’ll watch them more carefully next time. You did fine, Em.” Reese patted her shoulder, smiled. “You’re the best babysitter they ever had. They love having you care for them.”

“I love them, too. Uh-oh.” Emily clapped a hand over her mouth as Brett tried to get the pony to eat the ball he was offering. “I better get them busy on a game. Nice to meet you, Miss Hastings.”

Miss. It still sounded strange to hear that.

“You, too,” Olivia said, but Emily had already left. “I’m surprised you remembered my name,” she teased Reese, remembering how he’d stumbled during an introduction earlier in the day.

He was good-looking in a dangerously rumpled kind of way. His profile reminded her of Prince William. One of the twins had left a grubby print on his shirtfront. The dab of red on his collar matched the red stain on Brady’s white pants. Reese’s sandy-brown hair was just an inch too long to be neat.

“Of course I remember your name.” He blinked innocently.

“You didn’t earlier.”

“Well, we’ve already established I was focused on two small troublemakers. So my brain was occupied elsewhere.” He made a face when Brett began climbing up a tree and moved forward as if to stop him. He relaxed when Emily intervened. “If you had kids, you’d understand how easy it is to get sidetracked.”

If she had kids—

I was a wife and a mother once, her heart cried out. Until my family was stolen from me.

“What would you say to a hot cup of coffee and some wedding cake? Emily seems to think those two need their bellies filled. Again.”

“Someone actually cut that gorgeous cake?” Olivia walked beside him with the twins following.

His family greeted him with good-natured jeers and teasing. Reese responded in kind, though his attention never left the twins for more than a few minutes.

What would it be like to be part of a family again, to work with kids again, to find the connection that would make her part of something? Olivia longed to join humanity and replace the ever-present worry that held her back, prevented her from getting too close—lest some newspaper reporter figure out whom she’d been and run another story about her pitiful past.

Sara Woodward had been the first person Olivia had trusted in a very long time. And even Sara didn’t know the whole truth.

The jury was still out on trusting Reese.

Chapter Two

Two weeks later, Reese could only hope Olivia’s interest in touring Byways was genuine enough that she’d cut him some slack for being late for this meeting.

He’d done everything he could to interest her in the director’s position, from forwarding reams of accolades for past successes to ideas and possibilities that had been tossed around for the future. As chairman of the board of Byways, he wanted the place to live up to its potential of a refuge where kids could learn new things, find someone to talk to and have a safe place to hang out. Byways needed a director who could oversee everything and deal with questions the kids inevitably needed answers to.

Olivia had remained steadfastly noncommittal—until today when she’d finally agreed to tour the facility with him. Reese sincerely hoped she’d be impressed enough to agree to take the job as director, and soon. Lately he spent almost as much time here as at work, and the twins were not happy about his frequent absences.

Only Nelson’s car sat on the lot.

Olivia had given up and gone home and Reese didn’t blame her. He was half an hour late. This would have to be the day the twins’ nanny quit. He’d been stuck interviewing new candidates all afternoon. The last applicant had scared even him.

Good thing Granny Winnie wasn’t above a spot of babysitting when the need arose. If only the twins didn’t—

“You think I should work here, but you’re afraid to get out of your own car? Is that your excuse for being late?”

Reese snapped out of his reverie to see Olivia laughing down at him. She looked different today. Not because she was less elegant in her navy slacks and sleeveless white shirt with a navy jacket slung over one arm. It was her hair that caught his attention. Again.

It was as lovely as he remembered. Loose, flowing to her shoulders in a swath of blended honey and amber, it glistened with a hint of orange—no, cinnamon—enhancing the flawless perfection of her face.

“I like your hair,” he blurted out.

“Oh. Well. Thank you.” Olivia’s smile faltered as she lifted a hand to brush the long spiky bangs off her forehead.

Idiot!

Reese chided himself for embarrassing her as he climbed out of his car. Too bad he hadn’t concentrated on what he intended to say instead of her hair.

“So. Should we risk it and go inside?”

Her lighthearted comment killed his tension.

“Yes.” Reese locked his car then began telling the history of Byways. “An elderly man used to live here, a grouch who put up a big fence around the place to keep the neighborhood kids out. But his yard was the perfect place to play catch and the kids always found a way in. He began sitting at the window, watching them play. The laughter and voices cheered him up and he soon looked forward to their coming.”

“Charming, but is it true?”

“Oh, yes. So Mr. Mung changed from the old grouch he’d been. But suddenly the kids stopped coming. He couldn’t figure out why, but he knew he wanted them to come back. He missed the way they made him feel younger.”

“Why did they stop?” She matched her step to his.

“Some do-gooder built them a softball field.” Reese chuckled at her droll look. “Mung figured that if he took his broken fence down, the kids might come back. He was trying to remove it when one of the kids passed, a punk who had been troubling the neighborhood for years. They argued. Short version is Mung had a heart attack, the kid got him to hospital and while Mung was away, the kid and his punk friends took down the wrecked fence, mowed the yard and started meeting on the front lawn.”

“Nice.”

“They say guilt is a great motivator. Anyway, when he came home, Mung couldn’t keep up the yard without help. The kid noticed, got his friends to pitch in and pretty soon Mung’s place became their drop-in center. The kids began to tell him their stories and Mung showed them a new perspective. When he couldn’t help, he conned his neighbor, a counselor, into stopping by. The word spread.”

Reese paused to catch his breath, but Olivia was way ahead of him.

“So Mung left the kid the house, the kid called it Byways and found funding to keep it running as a youth center.” Olivia slid her fingers over the worn sign that sat at the bottom of the stairs. “That kid was you. I do love a happy ending.”

Reese studied her more intensely.

“You’ve been doing your homework, Miss Hastings.”

“I like to know what I’m getting into, Mr. Woodward.” She tossed him a cheeky grin then skipped up the stairs.

“And?” Reese followed, wondering where this was leading.

“I’ve done some checking. Byways has a great reputation as a safe place where kids can come to have fun, share and, with a little help, figure themselves out. So far I’m quite intrigued by this place.”

“Intrigued is good.” Reese followed her inside, trying to quell his fervent hope that she’d agree to take on the directorship and give him, its chairman, a breather.

A tall, lean man met them in the foyer.

“Olivia Hastings, this is Nelson Kirsch, Emily’s brother. Nelson is our activities director. Nelson, Miss Hastings is considering joining Byways.”

“Joining as what?” Nelson lifted one eyebrow in his inimitably imperious way.

Irritation pricked Reese at Nelson’s snarky tone, though he knew the reason for it. Nelson wanted to be offered the job as director, though he didn’t have the necessary credentials. But before Reese could say anything, Olivia thrust out her hand.

“As whatever I can be to help, Mr. Kirsch.” She waited for him shake. “I hope that won’t be a problem.”

“That remains to be seen, Miss Hastings.” Nelson shook her hand once, then quickly dropped it. “Excuse me. I’m putting the last few details in place for a day trip.”

“Certainly.” Olivia stepped back to allow him to pass. When he’d disappeared, she glanced at Reese. “The temperature seems to have dropped.”

“That’s just Nelson.”

“You mean he thaws out?”

“Truthfully? Not really. Ah, here’s Emily. Hi, Em.” Reese hugged her thin shoulders and frowned when she immediately tensed, then slipped away. “You okay?”

“Sure. How are the twins? Did Brett get sick from that dunking?”

“His sickness came on after he found out their punishment was to peel potatoes for a week.” Reese winked at Olivia. “Brett isn’t fond of the job and he gets testy when Brady outdoes him with the plastic peelers I bought. Peeling potatoes keeps them busy and gives both of them time to think about the error of their ways.”

“Potatoes.” Olivia chuckled. “That’s creative.”

“Mr. Woodward has lots of ideas.” Emily threw him a cheeky grin. “We mess up his house real bad sometimes when I look after the kids. He usually tricks me into helping clean up. But he never gets mad at me.”

“Do other people get mad at you, Emily?” Olivia asked softly. Something wasn’t quite right with Emily. She could sense it.

“Sometimes.” Emily cast a worried look over one shoulder. “I gotta go. We’re going fishing.”

“Don’t eat the worms if you don’t catch anything.”

“Yuck. That’d be a Brady thing.” She slipped out from under Reese’s hand as he tried to ruffle her hair and raced away, giggling.

“She’s the nicest kid and she’s great with the twins.”

“I can hear a ‘but’ in there.”

“I don’t know how to say it. Lately I sense she’s afraid of me. Maybe it’s because I’m so much bigger than her.” He caught Olivia staring at him. “You’re the child psychologist. What do you think?”

“Maybe you’re right.” Olivia’s noncommittal answer left a lot to be desired. She glanced around. “How often do they go on field trips?”

“Almost every day in the summer. Nelson has a schedule of things for them to do. I’m not sure why they need to go out all the time, but Nelson seems to feel it’s best and the kids do gain exposure to a lot of activities that they’d miss if they stayed here.”

“I hear another ‘but.’”

“It’s a nightmare getting all the permission slips accounted for. But I won’t risk a lawsuit.”

“Very wise. They guarantee no parent can claim ignorance.”

“That’s the plan.” Reese led her through the building.

“Not much actually happens here in the center now, though, does it?” Olivia studied the gym area that had become more of a storage room. “That’s too bad. It looks like your funding is pretty solid. I’ve seen colleges with less equipment than this place.”

“We have corporate support and a couple of bequests we can tap into for repair or to replace, if necessary. Nelson has about six staff.” He looked around, shrugged. “We have at least two on the premises at all times when we’re open.”

“Smart. But what does the staff do? If there are no events held here, I mean.”

“I’m not sure,” he admitted, “but Nelson keeps them busy. We used to have lots of things happening at Byways, but not recently. That’s something I hope a new director might change.”

“Because?”

“As a board, we feel Byways should be the center of activity and not simply a place to catch a bus. Activities are nice, but run properly we could offer more. I feel our staff is under-utilized in the current situation. We have good people who just need some direction and fresh vision.” Reese told himself it was okay to feel a little proud of what he’d helped accomplish. “I think our salaries are pretty competitive, too.”

He explained the range for the managing director’s position.

“Very reasonable, although, for me, the job isn’t about the money.” Olivia inspected the director’s office after he’d unlocked it, glanced at the operating budget. “For me, it’s more about the kids and the things Byways offers to help them.”

“We are happy to hear any and all suggestions.”

The tour over, Reese led her to the kitchen area now used for staff breaks, hoping that light in her eyes had intensified because she was interested.

“Let’s take a break. Coffee?” He poured two cups, held one up.

“Black, please.”

He indicated she should sit in one of the easy chairs before he handed the cup to her.

“Thanks.” Olivia sipped her coffee. Silence stretched between them before she spoke again. “If my opinion counts, I’d say Byways has a very effective board. Everything looks well maintained. I don’t understand why this job is still open.”

“Frankly, neither do we.” Reese hated this part, but he had to be honest. “We’ve had several applicants accept our offer in the past two years. They each came in, worked for six to nine months and then gave their notice.”

“Because?”

He flopped down in the chair across from her, rolled his head from side to side to ease the tension in his neck. “The work isn’t what they expected. The job isn’t what they want. Like that.”

“How many candidates have come and gone?”

“Three, so far.”

“None of them stayed even a year?” Olivia blinked, hazel eyes darkening as the gold flecks melted. When he shook his head, her irises dimmed to the shade of forest shadows in the mountains outside Denver. She sipped her coffee, but kept her gaze on him. “Oh.”

“Exactly.” Reese nodded.

“What happened to your last director?”

“He quit six months ago. Said he wanted a different line of work. There was some, uh, tension in the office. We’ve had a complete turnover of other staff since then. Except for Nelson, of course. He’s been here forever.”

“And he applied for the director’s job.” Olivia rubbed the bridge of her nose with one knuckle.

“You knew?”

“The attitude gives it away.”

“I suppose.” Why did he always feel he had to apologize for Nelson? “After the last one quit I think Nelson was so sick of the constant changeovers he decided he could do the job himself. But he can’t.” Reese wanted to make it clear Nelson was not her competition.

“Because?”

“We have to comply with state and city regulations by having a qualified counselor who approves our programs—and Nelson isn’t, he simply doesn’t have the training to talk someone down, counsel them about the future or offer advice for problems. He’s not interested in going back to school, either. So the day trips continue.”

Reese thought he could watch her hair forever. The unusual shades seemed to change every time Olivia moved her head. She wasn’t the least bit plain or retiring, but she had a way of seeming to melt into the background that encouraged him to lose whatever reticence he might have. Reese wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.

“What do you do now?”

“A local psychologist comes in two days a week. She’s made it clear it’s only temporary and that she’d like to go back to her private practice—yesterday. Kids are not her forte so perhaps it’s as well she isn’t staying.”

Olivia didn’t ask any more. She finished her coffee, rose and walked over to read the notices on the bulletin board. She flipped through the canvases Byways’s art students had created last winter and checked out the marionettes swaying from the ceiling.

Reese held his tongue, willing to give her all the time she needed to decide. He hoped she’d agree to take the job quickly because he needed to get on the phone and find a new nanny fast.

After many moments had passed, Olivia turned to face him.

“I am a board-certified child psychologist, licensed to practice in Colorado.” Olivia listed her degrees and the colleges where she’d attained them, her voice neither boastful nor deferring. She was simply stating her qualifications. “I have not been employed for several years, however, so I don’t have any current references.”

“Were you ill?” Reese didn’t think she looked unhealthy.

“No. Family problems. I am single, I have no dependents. I, er, moved from the East to start again.” And she didn’t want to talk about it. That much was crystal clear from the solid jut of her chin as she stared at him.

Reese didn’t hold it against her. He didn’t like to talk about his past, either.

“But you do have experience? References from your past employment?”

“I had my own practice, which is now defunct, but yes, there are people who will vouch for me. Professional and otherwise.”

He studied her, confused by the eagerness he’d glimpsed in her eyes and the stiff, unyielding way she held herself, as if she wasn’t quite ready to commit.

“Are you applying for the job, Olivia?” he asked quietly when time had elapsed and she hadn’t spoken or looked at him again.

She lifted her head, met his stare.

“I’m definitely interested.” Her back straightened. “But I do need to pray about it and learn God’s will on the matter before I make a final decision.”

“Okay.” Reese rose, gathered their cups and placed them in the sink.

“But.”

“But?” He whirled around unable to keep hope from sneaking into his voice. “What does ‘but’ mean?”

“I would like to learn more about Byways, about what’s worked in the past and what has failed. I want to get the feel of the operation and hear a little more about the board’s expectations.” Her voice dropped, but her hazel eyes did not avoid his scrutiny. “Mostly I want time to pray about it, make sure Byways is where God wants me to be.”

“And then?” he prodded.

“As soon as I’m certain, I’ll give you my decision.” Her shoulders lifted, her spine straightened. “I don’t know why your other applicants quit, Reese, but if I don’t take this job, my reason will be because I do not feel this is where God wants me.”

“You’re a person of strong faith, aren’t you?” He didn’t need to ask, but Reese did anyway because he wanted Olivia Hastings to talk and he wanted to listen to the smooth soft lilt of her voice. He wanted to see her eyes flash from green to gold again, as they did every time she spoke of God.

Most of all, he wanted to know what situation had brought her to Denver and how God had helped her. Maybe then he’d understand why God never seemed to be there for him or his boys, though the family would be shocked to hear him say that.

“Strong faith?” Olivia raised her eyebrows as she considered the term, then nodded. “Yes, I guess you could say that. I believe in God. I believe I am His child and that He will show me the way I should go, if I pay attention and wait for His leading.”

“And do you always do that—wait?”

“Always,” she said with a smile. “I’ve learned it works better that way.”

Was that his problem? Reese wondered. Did he not wait long enough for God to show him which way to go? But it had been almost three years since Taylor had been hit by a drunk driver on her way home with a quart of milk.

Couldn’t God have gotten in touch once in three years?

Anger bubbled to the surface, but Reese was sick of being angry. It never did any good. He pushed it away, wishing he had the same solid confidence in God as Olivia.

“How long do you need?”

“I’m sorry, but you see that’s where the waiting part comes in. I don’t know how long it will take.” She smiled. “If someone else comes along in the meantime, I’ll gladly step out of the way. But I have to be sure.”

“You do realize we’ll need to do a background check in either case? It’s policy,” he added when she seemed to freeze for a second.

“Yes, of course. The safety of the children is always paramount.” Olivia recovered quickly and led the way out of the room. She walked beside him out of the building. “I’m sure you have things to do. I’ll fax you my information if you’ll give me your number.”

Reese pulled a card out of his pocket and handed it to her.

“That’s my e-mail address and fax at Weddings by Woodwards,” he explained. “I’m not usually at Byways every day.”

“I’ll send you my information soon. I’m sure you’re anxious to get home to the twins.” She tucked the card into her pocket and asked, “How are they?”

“Busy.” Reese sighed. “Their nanny quit today. Brett ‘colored’ her sandals.”

Olivia held her hands up as if to hold him back. “I’m not even going to ask.”

“Thank you for that.” He unlocked his car. “You’re parked nearby?”

“My car recently retired. I’m looking into a new one. I took a cab here.”

“You need a ride then.” He moved to open the passenger door, but she stopped him.

“No. I told the driver to come back in—here he is,” she said as a taxi rolled up beside them. “Thanks for meeting me, Reese. I’m glad I came.”

“Great. Thanks a lot, Olivia.”

“Thank you. This might be just what I need.” With a funny little smile that roused his curiosity, Olivia waggled her fingers then left.

Reese drove toward Weddings by Woodwards and the briefcase of work that needed to be finished before his meeting tomorrow morning. He had yet to hire a nanny. Day care and preschool couldn’t begin to cover the hours he worked or the emergencies that sometimes came up.

The parking lot at Weddings by Woodwards lay empty when he pulled into his spot. He’d barely opened the back door when someone called his name. His guard went up automatically. The parking lot was out of the way. No clients came back here.

Frowning, he waited as a young woman he didn’t recognize walked toward him.

“Were you calling me?”

“Reese Woodward?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

She drew an envelope out of her jacket and held it out.

“I was asked to see that you got this personally, ASAP.”

He glanced from the paper to her disappearing figure, surprised.

Using his finger, he slit open the letter and drew out the papers inside. He caught his breath.

Weddings by Woodwards had plans to open a new store in Chicago. Reese had scouted the location, chosen the perfect site on Chicago’s famous Magnificent Mile. He’d lobbied the owners for a long-term lease and revised his terms several times. In fact, just yesterday he’d requested more changes to ensure his grandmother’s requests for the new store were met on every level.

Apparently he’d hesitated too long.

Dear Mr. Woodward:

I apologize for taking this extreme measure to contact you, but I felt you should know immediately of Mr. Garver’s untimely passing this morning. You will understand that the family is extremely emotional at this time, but Mrs. Garver is most insistent that I notify you at the earliest possible date of her intentions. Those intentions include liquidating all her real estate assets, meaning she will put the Chicago property up for sale. Because of the amount of time you and her husband spent discussing a possible lease, and because Mr. Garver thought very highly of you, Mrs. Garver is granting you first offer of sale. I have enclosed the amount and terms she’s requesting. You should know that she intends to move to be nearer her daughter in France as soon as can be arranged, and thus wishes to close the sale on the property this month. I would be most appreciative if you could let me know your decision as soon as possible…

Reese’s breath whooshed out of him as if someone had plunged a fist into his solar plexus.

His family was counting on a smooth transition. He’d reassured his grandmother only this morning that he would get everything she’d requested, that there would be no problems with this property, that he’d chosen the best possible building. Because of him, they hadn’t even looked at other possibilities, content to let him nitpick over every detail because they trusted him.

If only he’d stopped haggling and agreed to sign the lease sooner!

There was no way they could buy the property. Renovations on the Denver store had exceeded their budget. A tripling in costs of organza and silk had affected Winifred’s latest collection and their bottom line because the pricing had been preset for the catalogues. If that weren’t enough, a fire in the sewing factory two months ago had taken its toll on Weddings by Woodwards’ bank account.

Yet time after time Reese had reassured each family member that he had everything in Chicago well in hand. How stupid they’d been to trust him.

His grandmother’s favorite phrase echoed in his head.

God’s in His Heaven, all’s right with the world.

Well, where was God now?

Chapter Three

Olivia loved the first pink rays of dawn. She especially loved sitting on the patio, hugging a big mug of coffee close as the flamingo fingers of dawn crept over the mountains and colored the sky with promise.

The thought of having a job to go to wasn’t bad, either.

She’d been working at Byways for two weeks now, and each time she walked through the door she still felt the same rush of anticipation. She still relished the young faces that came looking for something. She still caught her breath at the possibility of once more sharing something good, fulfilling and satisfying.

“Thanks for being the God of second chances,” Olivia whispered, her heart overflowing.

She was certain now that Byways was where God wanted her. In truth, she’d known it the day she’d toured the place with Reese. But she’d waited; both for the rock-solid certainty that now nestled inside her heart and the latest report from her friend, Nancy, to be certain that no one was nosing around the last place she’d lived, asking for an interview, demanding to know how her tragic life had moved on.

She picked up the phone on its first ring.

“Did I wake you?” Nancy sounded out of breath.

“No. I’ve been sitting here watching the sunrise.” Her fingers squeezed around the phone nervously. “Is anything wrong?”

“No. But I have information I thought you should know. Olivia, two reporters have been digging into your past. One contacted me. Apparently, he’s doing an anniversary story on Anika and Trevor. You know the kind of thing—three years ago today…” She stopped, unwilling to repeat the horrible tragedy aloud.

“Okay. Do they know where I am?”

“No, I’m pretty sure not. I just wanted you to be aware.”

“Thanks, Nancy. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. I’m sorry this has put you out so much.”

“I’m at my favorite coffee shop talking to my best friend. No problem.” Her voice softened. “How are you?”

“I’m healing. I’ve found a job I love and it’s mostly perfect.”

“Mostly?”

“Well, there is this thorn in my side named Nelson. But I’m coping.” They chatted for several more minutes, catching up on each other’s lives. Then Nancy had to go. “Is there a number where I could reach you at Byways in case something else comes up?”

Olivia hesitated, but finally recited the number.

“Remember, I’m Olivia Hastings now.”

“Take care of yourself, sweetie. Keep trusting God.”

“I am. Thanks for calling.” Olivia hung up before she allowed the tears to fall.

One splashed against the photo propped in her lap. Anika and Nancy’s daughter Cara had played together like sisters. Trevor and Nancy’s husband had been high school buddies. Everything had been so perfect.

“I miss you, darlings,” she whispered, tracing one fingertip over the ruggedly handsome face of the only man she’d ever loved. “You were the best part of me, Trevor. You kept me focused on the important things. I know you’re glad I’m at Byways.”

A little girl with a gap-toothed smile and hair the exact shade of Olivia’s snuggled on her daddy’s knee, beaming. Olivia couldn’t stop the tear that tumbled down her cheek, even though she knew these precious ones were beyond hurt and pain, in a place where love lived.

“Be happy, baby. Look after Daddy, okay?” Olivia carried the photo inside, set it on her mantle. They were at peace now. And she was slowly finding serenity for herself. At last Olivia felt ready to move ahead with her life.

But to truly move ahead, she needed to put down roots. The condo was nice, but it came furnished. There was nothing of Olivia in it. Maybe this weekend she’d contact a real estate agent to initiate her search for a place to begin again.

Olivia dressed carefully, wondering what negative remark Nelson would find to object to her plans today. Not that he would be loud and obnoxious. He wasn’t. Nelson was more like a toothache. Annoying, painful and always there, pressing on your last nerve.

Still, it wasn’t the first time Olivia had had to work with an unhappy coworker. It wouldn’t be the last. It was just that with Nelson, life was trying when it didn’t have to be. All Olivia wanted was for Byways to be the most effective youth center in the city. That meant doing away with some of the old ways and adopting a few new ones.

Unfortunately therein lay Nelson’s biggest problem. He took affront with every suggestion she offered. Soon she’d be walking on pins and needles to avoid raising his hackles. And that would make her less effective—something that bothered Olivia. A lot.

“Give me strength today, Lord,” she prayed as she drove. “Let me be a peacemaker. Most of all, help me meet the kids’ needs.”

By the time she arrived at Byways, the bloated red sky had altered, now blooming a funny purplish shade. The air hung heavy with the cloying humidity that portended a storm. Hopefully the tempest would only be on the outside of Byways.

“Good morning everyone,” she said brightly as she stepped into the office.

Glowering silence greeted her. Not a good sign. Olivia sighed.

“What’s wrong?”

“I understand you’ve canceled today’s outing and substituted something else,” Nelson said.

“Yes, I did.”

“Perhaps you don’t understand how things work around here, Olivia.” Nelson’s icy tones brimmed with patronization. “As activities director, I make the arrangements for events inside and outside this building. You were hired to take care of counseling. You do not override my plans without a good reason.”

Oh, brother.

“I do when the chairman of the board asks me to, Nelson,” she said quietly. “Since some of the permission slips were not returned, Reese asked me to organize something else. Which I’ve done. Because you weren’t here.”

“I was busy managing fifty kids on a field trip!”

“Nor did you answer your cell phone, which is against the rules,” she reminded quietly, “or I would have apprised you of the situation ahead of time. As it was, all I could do was to leave you a note.”

“Reese asked you?” His eyebrows arched. “You two are getting pretty tight. Something you want to tell us, Olivia?” His voice sneered her name.

Olivia glanced at her secretary for a hint, but Casey only rolled her eyes. Time to face his antagonism head-on.

“Innuendo doesn’t work with me, Nelson. If you have something to say, then say it. Otherwise let’s get busy.” She waited a moment, pinning him with her best “teacher” look. When he said nothing more, she marched past him to her office.

Casey followed a few seconds later with the mail.

“He’s a royal pain—”

“Is everything arranged for the party this afternoon?” Olivia asked, cutting off the diatribe about to spill. The heavy weather outside seemed to seep in and swell the sense of unease filling the building. She didn’t want to add to it.

“All taken care of, boss. The kids are gonna love it.” Casey prattled on about the events planned for the afternoon. When the phone rang, she grabbed it. “Byways. This is Casey. Oh, sure. Just a sec.”

Casey held out the phone.

“For me?”

“Reese Woodward.” Casey winked before giving her the receiver. “I’ll get back to my desk and head off Nelson if he comes near.”

“Thanks, Casey. Hello, Reese. Is everything okay?”

“Hi, Olivia. I had a phone call from another board member. There’s been a bad accident a couple of miles from you. Apparently they’re going to cut power in your area while they do some extensive repairs. The electrical disruption is expected to last until near dinnertime, which makes this afternoon a no-go.”

“That’s a shame.”

“Yes. I suggest you put up a sign canceling whatever you’d planned in place of Nelson’s outing and go home. It’s going to storm anyway. Thankfully our area should be okay, which is good because I need some heavy-duty computer time.”

“Thanks for the warning. I’ll get Casey to put up some signs right away.”

“Good.” He sounded tired, fed up.

“Reese?”

“Yeah?”

“Is everything okay?” She felt stupid for asking. They were acquaintances. Boss and employee. But she heard a tone in his voice, a tinge of defeat he couldn’t quite mask, and it bothered her. “Surely you’re not having to race around and find a place for a wedding today? Who gets married on a Monday?”

“You’d be surprised. We actually do about eighteen Monday weddings per year,” he said. “But I’m not even at work yet.”

“Why not? Kids sick?”

“They’re healthy as hogs. No, it’s the same old nanny problem and since the day care I use is on your side of the town, it’s also shutting down for today. I’m trying to juggle things.” He rasped a harsh laugh. “Between filling your job at Byways and trying to keep a nanny, I’m starting to feel like an employment agency.”

“I’m sorry.” That sounded woefully inadequate.

“Yeah, me, too. But thanks.”

“Reese? Would it be okay—I mean, since I have the day off and everything.” Olivia paused, squeezed her eyes closed and counted to ten. “What if I took care of the twins today? I have nothing else planned, so it’s not a problem.”

“Really? You wouldn’t mind?”

“I’d love to see the boys again.” She meant it. But she also wanted to see him, too.

For some reason Olivia couldn’t quite dislodge Reese’s face from her mind, though she’d told herself to get over it a thousand times. She was not interested in a romantic relationship and there was a good reason for that. Being the fodder for gossip tabloids meant everyone you came into contact with was a target. Granted, few people outside New York would remember her, but Brett and Brady were totally photogenic. As was their father. Add in the notoriety of Weddings by Woodwards and who knows how big an enterprising reporter could make the story.

Stop worrying. Nancy said no one knows where you are.

Silence gaped across the phone connection like a chasm too wide to cross.

“Reese?” She regretted offering. After all, they were strangers. She’d only been a bridesmaid in his sister’s wedding. “Never mind—”

“If you’re really sure, I’ll be forever grateful.”

“I’m really sure.” Funny how sure she was.

“Then thank you.” A crash sounded in the background. “Want to change your mind, Olivia?” he murmured.

She laughed.

“No. But I’ll need directions how to get there.”

Reese told her, then added, “Drive carefully.”

Olivia hung up the phone, smiling at the ruckus she’d heard in the background.

“So now you’re babysitting his kids.” Nelson leaned against the door frame, his face expressing his displeasure.

“I don’t think it’s polite to listen in on other people’s conversations, do you?” Olivia stared at him for a second. Seeing no remorse she gathered her bag and her jacket. “I was about to tell you and Casey that we have to cancel out today. Reese says the power’s going to be shut off and will probably stay that way till this evening, so we’re to close up shop for the day. I hope that won’t put you out too much.”

“That’s not exactly true, is it, Olivia?” A sneer stretched his lips, marring Nelson’s good looks. “You really don’t care if my plans are ruined at all.”

“You’re wrong about that. But I’m not going to argue with you. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She paused outside her office, waiting for him to leave so she could lock the door.

Nelson made her wait a few seconds before ambling out of the room. He stood watching her, as if memorizing the way she turned the deadbolt and checked to make sure the door was locked.

“Secrets protected, Olivia?”

“I have nothing to hide.” But I don’t want my life on the front page anymore.

“Sure you don’t. How come nobody’s heard of you?”

“Lots of people have heard of me.”

“I heard your references were rather skimpy.”

Frustration vied with anger. Olivia fought to keep both from showing and sent a prayer for help heavenward. Composing herself, she slid the handle of her bag over one shoulder and dug her keys from the outside pocket.

Then she looked him squarely in the eye.

“The board was completely satisfied with my references.” She exhaled and tried again. “I don’t know why you’re acting like this, Nelson. I’m not at Byways to ruin your world or make your life difficult. I am here for the children. I intend to do the very best I can for them, for as long as I’m here. And nothing you can say will sway me from that goal.”

“Uh-huh.”

Olivia paused a fraction of a second longer, maintaining eye contact. Then in her softest voice, “Excuse me.”

Nelson stepped back, waved her past.

“Of course. I’ll lock the place up for you and make sure all the other details are seen to while you go off and have your date with the chairman.”

It took every ounce of strength Olivia could muster to keep walking. She found Casey, told her the plan, then left. When she finally reached her car, she kept her back to Byways as she drew in deep cleansing breaths.

“I didn’t mean to listen to your conversation, Olivia.” Emily stood behind her. She danced from one foot to the other. “But I heard what my brother said in the hallway. You’re going to Mr. Woodward’s.”

“Yes.” Olivia felt sorry for the thirteen-year-old. Having Nelson for a brother must be difficult. “I’m going to look after the twins for the day. Their nanny quit.”

“Can I go with you? Please? I’m used to babysitting them, I could help.” Emily tracked Olivia’s gaze back to the building where her brother stood on the top step, watching them. “Please? I really want to go.” She sounded nervous. “I need to.”

Need to? Olivia studied the young girl, saw shadows in her eyes.

“Is anything wrong, Emily?”

“No.” It came out too quickly. Emily darted another glance over her shoulder. “I just need to get away from here today,” she said, desperation edging her voice. “I promise I won’t cause any trouble. I’ll do whatever you want me to. But please, let me come.”

The look crouching at the back of Emily’s eyes reminded Olivia of her own feelings when cameras had been shoved in her face, harassing her, intruding into her grief. All she’d wanted was to escape. Emily’s face bore that same fear.

“You’ve babysat the twins before. Maybe you should go instead of me,” Olivia murmured, stalling for time. Nelson was still watching them.

“I—I don’t want to babysit all alone. I’m kind of—tired.” Emily’s jerky voice came out in little gasps. “I was up late last night.”

“How come?” Olivia didn’t understand why the girl wanted to escape, but she recognized the extreme anxiety in Emily’s voice. The way she kept checking to see if her brother was still watching them was curious. It wasn’t that Olivia wouldn’t welcome the extra help with the two busy boys, but she had a feeling allowing Emily to come with her would only irritate Nelson more and she did not need that. “Were you sick?”

“No.” Emily blurted the word out too fast. “I was busy doing—stuff. It took longer than I figured. You could phone Mr. Woodward and see if it’s all right, couldn’t you?” Emily’s big eyes implored her to say yes. “I wouldn’t be any problem. I promise.”

“I’m not worried about that, honey.” Instinct was telling Olivia that Emily had come to her for help. She didn’t know why yet, but she did know she could not fail the girl. “Look, I’ll call Reese and get his approval while you check with your brother. I have to have Nelson’s permission to take you with me.”

After a long pause, Emily agreed. As she slowly walked across the parking lot, Olivia pulled out her cell phone and explained the situation to Reese. He sounded puzzled.

“So I get two babysitters. The twins are going to be ecstatic. They’ve been talking about you constantly.” He chuckled. “Of course Emily can come. In fact, if she wants, she can babysit on her own. I’ve been trying not to ask her because I know she loves being with the other kids at Byways and babysitting fulltime is no way for a thirteen-year-old to spend her summer.”

“She loves Byways, but she adores the twins.” At Byways, Emily was also with Nelson most of the time, and Olivia was no longer certain that was a good thing.

“Hey, if she comes today, you’d be free to do other things.”

“I suggested that, but she said she was too tired to babysit on her own. I think something’s wrong between her and Nelson, though I’m not sure what that might be.” Olivia reassured him she’d do her best to find out the problem. “Maybe she’ll relax with the twins and tell me what’s wrong.”

“Maybe. They probably had an argument.”

“I think it’s more than that.”

“Such as?”

“I don’t know. Yet.” She changed the subject. “Are you trying to do me out of a day with those two sweethearts, Reese?”

“No way. If you’re sure, come on over and bring Emily. She can probably use a break.”

“I’m sure. We’ll see you in a bit.” Olivia snapped the phone shut.

Her gaze slid to brother and sister, who stood facing each other on the stairs. She couldn’t hear what Nelson was saying, but Olivia could see the effect it was having on Emily. Her whole body sagged as if she’d been physically hit. Her chin dropped to her chest, her pretty face lost all animation as she stared at the ground.

Olivia fumed. Nelson could be as miserable to her as he wanted, but he was not going to take it out on his sister if she could help it. She tossed her handbag in the car, slammed the door and started forward.

“Is there a problem with Emily coming with me, Nelson?” she called. “I’ll be responsible for her.”

For a moment it looked as if Nelson would argue. But then he said something to Emily, some whispered remark that Olivia couldn’t hear. Emily backed away, but she nodded quickly, obviously agreeing to whatever he stipulated.

“Fine. Emily can go. But I expect her at home by seven. No later.”

“Not a problem. Thanks, Nelson.” Olivia grabbed Emily’s hand, found it icy cold. “Come on, Em. Let’s blow this place,” she said, and pulled her toward the car.

“I’ve never heard you talk like that.” Emily clambered into the car. The relief on her face did not need translating.

“You’re going to hear lots of stuff today. I’ve never babysat twins before.” Olivia switched on the engine and shifted into gear. “Hang on to your hat. Time to get to work at the Woodward house.”

The Kirsch siblings’ relationship had bothered Olivia ever since she’d come to Byways. Now a niggling worry would not be silenced. Something was clearly wrong between Emily and Nelson. Olivia needed to find out what.

“Mr. Woodward said it was all right for me to come?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t he want you to come over?” She glanced sideways, but Emily would not meet her gaze.

“I thought maybe since the boys got in the water at the wedding, that Mr. Woodward wouldn’t want me around them so much.” Emily turned to stare out the window.

“I’m sure you’re wrong about that. Reese told me you’re great with the twins. He wouldn’t lie about that and if he didn’t want you with them, he wouldn’t have said you could come today. He sure wouldn’t have enough faith in you to try to send me home.”

“Send you home?”

“He thought you’d be okay to babysit by yourself. That doesn’t sound like he blames you for anything. Does it?”

“I guess not.” Something was definitely wrong.

“Emily, you know that if you ever need to talk to someone, about anything, I will always listen, don’t you?”

Emily kept staring out the window. A moment later she reached up to scrub her knuckles against her cheek.

“Thanks,” she whispered.

Olivia’s misgivings grew. But she said no more, leaving it to Emily to initiate conversation when she was ready. A few minutes later the girl relaxed enough to point out interesting things along the way. Soon she was chatting freely, and by the time they arrived at Reese’s house, she seemed perfectly comfortable.

“I am so glad to see you. Both of you.”

Olivia didn’t think the look on Reese’s face was relief, but she couldn’t quite decipher what it was, other than to say it made her heart rate increase and her skin feel warm.

Though he was dressed in his usual business attire, Reese did not look as polished as usual. His sandy hair stood up in unruly tufts. There was a green streak marring the perfection of his pristine white shirtfront—marker perhaps?—and evidence of white hand prints on his knee. A splotch of red decorated the underside of his jaw.

The twins raced outside and enveloped them in jubilant hugs. Olivia hugged them back, genuinely glad to see the children again.

“Can we go jump on the trampoline, Mr. Woodward?” Emily had each child by the hand, holding them back as they strained to pull her inside the house.

“Sure.” Reese nodded. “Sure. But make sure the netting is fastened around the side.”

“I always do.” Her giggles burst out as the twins pulled hard on her arms. “I’m coming, Brett. I’m coming!”

“Hold on a second, guys. Don’t I get a hug before I go?”

Olivia’s heart gave a bump of longing as Reese’s big strong arms gathered his sons’ wriggling bodies to his chest. Her arms ached to hold her own child again, to feel the bliss of baby-soft skin against hers, to breathe the sweaty aroma of a busy child on a warm day, to hear a certain voice chirp, “I love you, Mama.”

“Olivia?”

She blinked away the mist of the past and found she was alone with Reese.

“Sorry.” Her mocking half-laugh sounded shaky in her own ears. “Guess I zoned out. Any last-minute directions?”

“More like warnings. Tons of them.” His eyes held hers, a question in their depths. “But I haven’t got time right now.” He rasped a hand across his jaw. “I didn’t even have time to shave this morning.”

“I believe that stubbled look is very fashionable.” The way he kept watching her told Olivia something else was going on. “There’s nothing wrong, is there?”

“What’s with Emily?”

“I don’t know yet. She asked, no make that begged, to come.” Ordinarily Olivia wouldn’t have shared her concerns, but as Nelson worked for Byways, and since Reese was head of the board, she felt it important to go on the record with her suspicions. “I think she and Nelson were arguing about something. Their relationship troubles me.”

“Because?” He frowned.

“It’s too early to be certain and I’d just be voicing suspicions, but next time you’re at Byways, watch their interaction. I’ll be interested in your opinion.”

“I’m not sure my opinion is worth much lately,” Reese muttered.

“Want to explain that?” It wasn’t only her emotional reaction to him. Olivia knew something else was going on with him.

“Not right now.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “I’ve got to get to work. I’m sorry to dump this on you and run. It’s a lot to ask.”

“It’s fine. Besides, I have Emily to help me.”

“Yeah.” His cell phone rang. “Yes, Grandmother. I realize I have two clients waiting. I got hung up, but I’m on my way now. Thanks.”

She saw the way Reese glanced wistfully toward the house as the children’s laughter carried toward them.

“They’ll be fine,” she said softly.

“I know. Thanks.” He turned toward his car.

“Wait!” Olivia grabbed his arm then dropped her hand when he turned to stare at her. “Sorry, but there’s this little problem. May I?”

Reese said nothing, simply inclined his head, granting permission. She moved in front of him, lifted her hand and touched the rock-solid edge of his jaw.

“Is this blob of ketchup part of your fashion statement?”

He groaned, pulled a tissue from his pocket, dampened it and rubbed it against the offending area. Then he looked at her, raised his eyebrows in a question.

“Gone. You are good to go.”

“They wanted pancakes and sausage for breakfast,” he explained.

“Which would explain the flour fingerprints on your knee.” Olivia couldn’t stop her laughter when he groaned and bent down to dust off the offending marks.

“Anything else?”

“You do have some green on your shirtfront, but if you put on a jacket it won’t show.”

Reese muttered something grumpy as he found the mark.

“Pardon?” She couldn’t help giggling.

“I said, my jacket’s in the car. Hopefully, it’s clean.” He threw her a disgusted look when she snickered. “You will lose that smile when you see the inside of the house. Promise you won’t take it out on me later?”

“No promises.”

“I was afraid of that.” He shrugged. “Don’t try to straighten, okay? It’s enough that you’re looking after the kids. I have a cleaner coming tomorrow. They’ll take care of it.”

“Go to work, Reese. Stay as long as you need to. We’ll be fine.”

He stood silent a moment, then nodded.

“Thank you.” He climbed into his car.

“Have a good day.”

“It’s looking better all the time, Olivia.” He met her gaze and held it for a moment. Then he drove away.

Olivia watched his car disappear from sight before she walked inside the house. Her eyes bugged at the mess.

An old adage about idle hands flickered through her mind. No way was she going to have to worry about that today.

Eight-thirty.

Reese rubbed the back of his neck and wondered if he should phone Olivia again.

To say what? That he was going to be even later than he’d promised the last time?

“What are you still doing here, son?” Winifred stood in the doorway looking almost as fresh as she had when he arrived this morning. “Shouldn’t you be at home, tucking those little sweethearts of yours into bed?”

Yes, he should be. But instead Reese was stuck here, digging for a solution to a problem he’d created.

“Hi, Grandmother. You’re here rather late yourself, aren’t you?”

“I had an afternoon nap, doctor’s orders.” She chuckled. “Whereas you look like you didn’t even get a full night’s sleep.”

“Brett had a nightmare.” Reese scrambled for a way to find the answers he needed without telling his secret. “You know the chapel you wanted to include in the Chicago store? Are you still certain about it?”

“More than ever. If there’s a chapel on-site, people will want to use it for their weddings. If they do, we get a chance to talk to them about the giant step they’re taking and maybe the opportunity to mention God’s plan for marriage. The chapel is integral to the new store.” Winifred’s excitement lit up her eyes. “For so long I’ve prayed for a chance to share my faith more openly and I believe a chapel is something God will use. Why are you asking?”

“I’m concerned about costs. Renting space on the Magnificent Mile that includes a chapel carries a hefty price tag.”

“But that was one of the things you said was so great about the Garver property—the ability to have all the square feet we need.” Winifred’s flawless temples furrowed. “If I recall correctly, you agreed that was the best part of starting another store—the chance to let God direct things.”

He had. But only because that’s what she wanted to hear.

“Has something changed, Reese?”

“There have been some snags,” he admitted, but stopped when her face went white in that way that meant her heart was acting up again. “We have to be mindful that space there is extremely costly.”

“I have no doubt you’ll handle that.”

She trusted him. It didn’t seem to matter that he was only a Woodward by adoption. Winifred, his parents, his siblings—they all felt he was up to the challenge and not one of them had expressed the least doubt about his ability to do his job since he’d come home from law school. The insecurity lay hidden inside him, a by-product of long ago.

Reese let Winifred ramble, hoping it would calm her and give him an idea of something they could cut back on. But according to Winifred, everything she’d dreamed of was in the plans for the Chicago store, especially the chapel.

“You’re sure you couldn’t just rent a church nearby?”

She gave him the look she often used to quell his sons’ rebellions.

“Weddings by Woodwards does not need to rent a church when we can offer our own little chapel. Churches sometimes intimidate people. But they don’t mind a chapel. It’s a perfect opening to have the kind of talks I want to have with my brides. Why are you asking me these things, Reese? What’s the problem?” Her hand trembled as she gripped his desk.

Reese dredged up the cocky grin he always used on her, unwilling to trash the dream she’d treasured for years or add to her anxiety.

“I’m the detail man. That’s why you hired me, remember? To cross every T and dot every I. That’s what I’m doing, making sure.”

“I see.” She sat with both feet on the floor, steadily watching him.

Reese heaved a sigh of relief when the phone rang.

“This is a call I’ve been waiting for. Do you mind if I take it privately?”

“I am the president of Weddings by Woodwards. Surely there aren’t any secrets from me?” Winifred said, but she rose and walked to the door as he asked his caller to wait. “When you’re ready to talk, Reese, I will listen.”

“Thank you, Grandmother.” He waited until she’d closed the door behind her. “Go ahead,” he said to the bank manager.

“I’m sorry to say this, Reese, but you wanted a second opinion and here it is. I’ve checked and rechecked the numbers. Weddings by Woodwards is not in a position at the current time to achieve the kind of loan you are considering, as well as pay for the in-store designs already drafted for Chicago. I’m sorry.”

“I see.” His heart dove to his toes.

“I know how much your grandmother is counting on this new store. I suggest you begin lease negotiations with the new buyer of the property as soon as possible.”

“But there’s no guarantee they will lease and if they up the square foot price—” Reese gulped. If none of Winifred’s ideas could come true, he’d have failed her. Failed the family. Proven that he wasn’t worth the trust they’d placed in him.

Unless he could figure out some way—

“I wish the news was better.”

“It’s not your fault. I appreciate your help, Tim.” Reese paused a moment, lowered his voice. “Please keep this discussion between us. I need time to sort things through.”

“Of course. I’ll add my prayers, too.”

“Great.” Reese swallowed his bitter response about his doubt that God would help. He hadn’t so far.

The full impact of the call hit home.

He’d messed up.

Him. Nobody else.

Because of his impossible demands. He’d refused to accept the lease they offered, revising points that already met most of Granny Winnie’s demands. And why? Because he wanted to prove himself to them.

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