A Sheriff's Star, page 14
“I’ve seen that place and thought about taking Hannah there for a treat.”
“They have the best banana splits.”
“Nana spit? What that?” Hannah scrunched up her nose, making both adults laugh.
He leaned forward like he had a very important secret. “A banana split is an ice cream dessert with three scoops of vanilla ice cream topped with strawberry, chocolate and pineapple with whipped cream, pecans and a cherry on top.”
Her little eyes had grown wide as she listened. “Yummy.”
“Tess Harper, you haven’t introduced her to banana splits?”
“Guilty. They’re so big. It’s always seemed like too much for only the two of us.”
Something he couldn’t name flashed in her expression before she quickly masked her pain with a smile. He reached across the table and took her hand, wishing for a way to soothe her wounds and show her the kind of love she and her daughter deserved. “If we share one today, we’ll each get our own scoop. And Hannah can have the cherry.”
She squeezed his fingers. “That sounds nice.”
Throughout the meal, several people stopped to say hello and meet Oak Hollow’s newest residents. Other folks stared at the three of them with varying degrees of speculation in their gazes. He was thankful their waiter was a high school boy and not the waitress that always flirted and unbuttoned the top of her uniform.
When they’d finished, he went up to the counter to pay. “Hey, Dawn. Business is booming today.”
“It is. And it looks like you’re having a good day as well. Any chance of wedding bells in your future?”
A rush of heat warmed his skin, and he suddenly liked the idea of the girls being thought of as his. “That’s Tess and Hannah Harper. They’re new in town, and they rent my house.”
“You look at her the way Sam looks at me.” She smiled at her husband through the opening to the kitchen.
Anson took a deep breath and wondered if everyone could read him like this observant woman. “Unfortunately, they’re only staying in town for a few months.” His good mood suddenly dipped. He didn’t like thinking about the fact that they were leaving.
Unless...I can change her mind.
Chapter Eleven
Morning came too soon, as most Mondays do. Tess slapped at her alarm and pulled the pillow over her head, blocking out the watery sunlight filtering through the blinds. Even though she loved her work, forcing herself out of a warm bed was a chore. If Anson was still in her bed, it would be much easier—and way more fun—to wake up. Which one of them would wake first? And what wonderfully creative methods could she use to bring a smile to his expressive mouth?
The night before, Anson had dressed and slipped from her bed in the late hours. She understood his fear of leaving his grandmother alone overnight, and she knew keeping some level of distance between them would be better in the long run. His staying all night would only make their relationship feel more serious, but she couldn’t help wishing things were different. Wishing she was different and her heart was whole and capable of fully opening to loving another man. She was treading in dangerous territory, but even with continued warnings to herself, she had no desire to pull back from what they had going on.
Her alarm clock blared again, and she stopped daydreaming and flung back the covers. After the coffee was brewing, she crawled into bed beside Hannah and rubbed her back.
“Time to get up, sweetie pie.” Her little one stretched and sighed but didn’t open her eyes. “Hannah Lynn, you have a playdate with Jenny’s cousin today.”
Hannah popped up onto her knees, rubbed her eyes and then scrambled from the bed. “I play.”
Tess’s heart squeezed as she held her breath and sent up a silent prayer the playdate would be a success. She loved seeing her baby girl excited, but there was always the fear of another child’s rejection. Tess knew all too well how much rejection could hurt. But she didn’t think Jenny would have suggested getting the little girls together if she didn’t think Katie would be receptive to playing with Hannah. And she supposed every parent, no matter if their child was special needs or not, had to deal with such fears.
Hannah climbed back onto the bed, jumped a few times and bounced onto her bottom. “Up, Momma.”
“Okay. Let’s have cereal and toast for breakfast. That’s quick.” She swung her legs off the bed and let her daughter pretend to pull her to her feet. “You’re so strong.”
They stepped out of their front door into the cool November breeze. The morning sun peeked through a thick layer of clouds, and the day was cold enough for jackets.
“My kitty cat.” Hannah tiptoed farther into Nan’s yard, sensing the skittish tomcat might bolt if she moved too fast.
She gave her daughter a moment to coax Tom-Tom over for one brief scratch on the head before he ran behind a bush. Hannah ran ahead as usual, but this time she rang the bell and waited for the door to open.
Tess stood back and watched Anson greeting Hannah. He clasped her under the arms and gave her one of those gentle tosses into the air that made her squeal with delight. The second she was back on her feet, she darted past him and into the house.
He adjusted the holster on his belt and gave Tess a pantie-melting smile. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“’Morning.” She stepped into the foyer and couldn’t resist looking him over from head to toe. The man definitely knew how to wear a uniform and make it look hot, but the sight of his armed utility belt prodded her phobia that she’d lose the people she loved. That tucked-away place inside her that remembered seeing her father leave for work in a similar uniform and never come home again.
He closed the distance between them and took her hands in a way that had so quickly become natural between them. “I’m glad I got to see you before work. You okay this morning? You have that little crease between your brows.”
In an attempt to hide her worry, she looked at their joined hands. “Just tired, and I missed you when I woke up.” Crap. Why did I say that? He’s going to think I’m pushing for something more.
He tugged her closer until she wrapped her arms around his neck. “One morning very soon, I’d like to wake up beside you like I did when we were sick.”
“Guess you need to get sick again.”
His features twisted comically, and he groaned. “Can’t I just fake it?”
“Sure. I’ll never tell. We can play doctor.” She rested her head on his chest, enjoying the vibration of his laugh against her cheek.
The old wooden floor creaked under someone’s weight, and they both turned to see Nan grinning at them.
“Good morning,” Tess said, cheeks warming under the observation.
“’Morning, dear. Anson, you do not need to be here every night. I am perfectly capable of sleeping in my own house without a babysitter.”
“Guess you heard our conversation?” he asked unnecessarily.
“Some of it.”
“Oh God,” Tess grumbled, and rubbed her face.
Nan chuckled. “There’s no need for embarrassment. I’m the one who’s been encouraging the two of you. It makes me happy to see young people enjoying life. Have a good day at work,” she said to her grandson, then turned and headed back toward the kitchen.
Tess punched his arm when he laughed. “I’m so mortified,” she whispered. “I can’t believe she heard me making sexual innuendos.”
“She’s fairly modern-minded for her age.”
“We’re not going to get a lecture about premarital sex, or sleeping with someone you’ve known such a short time?”
“No. Since she approves of you, we’re all good.”
Her brows winged up. “Have there been others she’s tried to run off?”
“Yeah, my ex-wife, but as it turns out, she had good reasons. Nan saw things right away that I didn’t.” The radio on his belt beeped, and voices talked about a fender bender on Main Street. “I better go. I’ll see you this evening?”
“You know where to find me.” She smoothed the front of his shirt. “Be safe.”
“Always.” He kissed her once more, then went out the door.
Tess rubbed her lips, still tingling from his kiss. She made her way to the kitchen and found her daughter and Nan sitting at the table talking about puppies.
“Jenny and Katie should be here any minute,” Nan said.
As if on cue, they heard the front door open and little feet running across the wooden floor.
She held her breath while Jenny introduced the girls. There was always that moment of waiting to see how another child would react to her daughter.
Katie’s big smile never wavered, and she held out a bag stuffed with toys. “Want to see my dolls?”
Hannah nodded, and the two of them left the kitchen.
Tess blew out a breath and smiled at their retreating backs.
“Don’t worry,” Jenny said. “They’ll be fine, and I’ll keep a close eye on them.”
“Thank you. Don’t hesitate to call me for any reason.”
“I won’t.” Jenny began unloading a bag of groceries and putting items into the refrigerator. “I’ll have lunch ready when you and Nan get back from the quilt shop.”
* * *
Tess drove one street over from the town square to a blue-and-white Craftsman house with a big sign that read Queen’s Sew N Sew. Today’s agenda was picking out quilts for display at the museum and gathering stories to go along with them.
“I’ve never seen a fabric store in such a wonderful location.”
“It’s very unique,” Nan said. “You’ll really like the Queen Mothers. We’ve been sewing together for almost thirty years. This will be the first time I’ve met with them since my stroke.”
“I’m glad I could bring you today. Wait there and I’ll come around to your side and help you out.”
Nan put a hand on her arm before she could open the door. “Anson was right. I let myself get the blues and wasn’t trying very hard to get better. Without my Isaac...” She shook her head. “What I’m really trying to say is that having you and Hannah around has reminded me there’s still a lot left for me to live for.”
Tess could see the longing for lost love in every line and wrinkle of her face. “I’m so glad we could be a positive influence. You seem to be recovering quickly.”
“It wasn’t that I physically couldn’t get up and do things. I just didn’t have the motivation. Dr. Clark told me I was depressed, and I refused to believe him, but maybe he was right.”
Tess patted her hand. “It can be a hard thing to admit. I’ve been through it myself.”
“I know you have, my dear. Let’s you and I keep reminding each other about all the happiness yet to come in our lives.”
“That’s a deal I’ll gladly accept.”
* * *
Once they returned to the house with six quilts, they found Hannah and Katie having a tea party. Their precious giggles made Tess smile and lightened some of the worry weighing on her heart.
Nan invited Tess to look through her cedar-lined storage closet for items to use for the “display through time” exhibit. More like a small room than a closet, it smelled of cedar and lavender sachets. It was well organized with a section of hanging garments, trunks and various storage boxes covering a wall of shelves.
“Could you get that long pink-and-white box?” Nan asked.
Tess lifted down the dress box from a top shelf, carried it into Nan’s bedroom and placed it on her bed. Under layers of acid-free tissue paper rested a beautiful ivory satin wedding gown. A uniquely angled neckline and simple adornment created an elegant design, that resulted in the most exquisite dress she’d ever seen.
“Oh, it’s lovely. I knew I liked it from your black-and-white wedding photos, but in person it’s so much better.”
Nan sat on the bed and lightly stroked a line of tiny satin buttons on one sleeve of the gown. “I wish you could’ve seen the rest of my wedding in color. The reception was in this backyard. It was his parents’ house at the time. There were oodles of early spring flowers and my bouquet was pale pink rosebuds. Isaac wore a gray suit and was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. Anson looks a lot like him.”
Tess lay back on the bed and closed her eyes. She could almost smell the flowers and hear the happy chatter as she lost herself in Nan’s vivid retelling of one of the happiest days of her life.
“There was even a quartet playing music throughout the evening. Our first dance was on the grass, but that didn’t stop Isaac from twirling me around and making me feel like a princess.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“Try it on, dear.”
Tess propped up on her elbow. “Oh, I couldn’t.” But I really want to.
“Of course you can. You’re taller than me, but I think it will fit.”
“Okay, let’s give it a try.”
She undressed down to her bra and panties, and Nan helped her slip the sleek, satin gown over her head. The soft fabric slid over her skin like the touch of a lover. She and Nan glanced up into the full-length mirror and both sucked in a breath.
“Oh, my dear. You are so striking.” The older woman clasped her hands against her chest and smiled.
A knot formed in Tess’s throat and tears pricked the backs of her eyes. She’d never thought to see herself in a wedding dress again. Especially one that made her feel so beautiful. Panic rose in her chest, challenging her decision never to consider marriage again.
“Thank you for letting me try it on. I should take it off before I get it dirty.”
Before I get any ideas about wearing it for real.
* * *
Tess sat on the back porch with Nan, while Anson and Hannah played under the magnolia tree. He hadn’t even had a chance to take off his uniform before her daughter took him by the hand and insisted on showing him something.
A brisk breeze gusted across the porch and Tess wrapped her sweater a little tighter around herself. “Tomorrow I’ll go through my notes and write up all the stories you and the ladies told me today. Will you read over them once I’m done and make sure I didn’t miss anything?”
“I’d love to.” The older woman shifted to face Tess. “Thank you for coming to Oak Hollow.”
“Of course. I’m enjoying the work. Having you and a hardworking group of people in the historical society has been a big help.”
“Not just for taking this job. I want to thank you for coming into all of our lives. As I said earlier, you and Hannah have gotten me off my tired old bum and back to the business of living. And you’ve made Anson smile again. His real smile.”
Tess cleared the emotion from her throat. “You’ve both made a difference in our lives as well.”
Nan waved a hand at her grandson and Hannah both crouched down under the tree. “Look at the two of them. So sweet. Did you tell him about Hannah’s surgery yet?”
“No. I’ll tell him tonight after she goes to sleep.”
“That’s good. And you two have got to stop worrying about someone always being with me. I’m more than capable of being home alone overnight,” she said with extra emphasis.
Tess was growing used to her saying things like this, and it no longer totally shocked her.
“I always keep this alert thing around my neck,” Nan continued. “I’ll push the button if I need anything and help will come running. You young folks need to enjoy and live your life without worrying about me all the time. I should lock Anson out of the house tonight.”
Tess chuckled. “I doubt a lock would keep him from coming in to check on you.”
“Well, you know what I’m getting at.”
“Yes, I think I do.”
Hannah ran up onto the porch and stopped in front of Nan. “We make flowers?”
“If we send Anson and your momma to the garden center to pick up some pansies, we can plant a few in some pots.” She looked at her watch. “They’re open for another hour.”
Hannah bounced up and down on her toes. “Go, Momma. Flowers.”
“Are we going somewhere?” Anson asked as he joined them on the porch and took a seat on the swing beside Tess.
“Yes,” Nan said. “I need you and Tess to go to the garden center. Hannah and I want to plant pansies.”
He returned his grandmother’s smile. “I’m happy to hear you feel like working in your garden again.”
“I’ve been doing all those exercises they told me to do, and I’m getting around just fine without my walker. You have got to stop hovering over me all the time. Dr. Clark said my blood work looks good. I’m all better now.”
Anson shared a smile with Tess and put his arm around her shoulders. “Message received, but I’m not going to stop worrying about you until you stop worrying about me.”
“Anson Curry. I’m your grandmother, and I will never stop worrying about you. It’s my job. You, however, need to worry about your own future.”
* * *
As Anson drove them to Green Forest Nursery, she stared out the window at the passing houses, businesses and stretches of nature dotted with drifting leaves and swaying trees. Falling for a man was something that had definitely not been in her plans. Neither had falling for this whimsical, small Texas town that pulled her in deeper with its charms every day. Leaving after Christmas wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d thought. She sighed and pressed her forehead against the cold window.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
She flashed a quick smile, attempting to guard her worrisome thoughts. “Nothing.”
“Not buying it.”
“Just thinking about a few things Nan and I were talking about.”
“She tends to be full of advice, whether the listener wants to hear it or not. I’m sorry if she upset you.”
