Читать книгу Lakeside Redemption - Lisa Jordan - Страница 12
ОглавлениеCould she really do this?
Zoe closed her eyes, took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Yes, she could. Time to stop questioning and start proving.
After Sully left Canine Companions, he called a couple of hours later, asking if Zoe was still interested in working with his family.
So here she was.
She released her air-filled lungs and rang the doorbell. Standing on the front porch of Caleb’s tan ranch with chocolate-colored shutters, she heard the sounds of a dog barking, and a child’s cry, then a man’s raised voice echoed through the storm door.
Her stomach twisted. What was she getting herself into?
If she could handle four years of prison, surely she could handle a dog and a couple of kids. After all, she had a kid of her own, right?
One she wasn’t currently raising...
The front door opened, jerking her out of her thoughts.
Sully stood in the doorway wearing a wet T-shirt and faded jeans, barefoot. His hair looked like it had been combed with a garden rake. Lines pinched his taut jaw.
Apparently not a good morning at the Sullivan household.
She swallowed the tangle of nerves twining around her windpipe and smiled. “Good morning.”
“That’s debatable. Come on in.”
She wouldn’t let his growl diffuse her enthusiasm, but she didn’t want to intrude, either. “If this is a bad time, I can come back later.”
Sully breathed deeply, then ran his hands through his hair. “No time like the present. Just don’t expect miracles.”
She stepped through the screen door he opened for her, then pulled her lips between her teeth to bite back the laugh gurgling in her throat.
Sully’s two daughters stood about four feet behind him, wearing oversize T-shirts. Their wet hair soaked the cotton fabric as puddles formed on the ceramic tile around their feet.
Riley barked from somewhere deeper in the house, then raced down the hall with something in his mouth. He rushed over to Sully, dropped it at his master’s feet, barked, then waited for expected praise over his trophy.
Sully scooped the toy off the floor, stared at it, then groaned. He thrust it behind his back and scrubbed his free hand over his face.
He glanced at Zoe. “We have a lot of work to do.”
For some reason, she didn’t think he was referring to only dog training. The man looked exhausted, and it was only nine in the morning.
They decided to schedule their appointments for mornings when the girls would be refreshed and wide-awake after breakfast. Then Sully could work for a couple of hours while they napped. Seemed ideal on paper.
“Daddy, are you holding Melly Moon?”
Sully’s shoulders sagged. Looking at his oldest daughter, he held out a headless doll. “I’m sorry, Ella. Riley found Melly Moon.”
Ella snatched the doll from him and crushed it to her chest. Tears filled her eyes and spilled over her rounded cheeks. “No, Daddy. Not my Melly.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Maybe we can fix it.”
“But she won’t be the same.”
Caleb Sullivan, the person she admired so much in college, who used to lock up criminals and preserve justice, looked about wiped out after a few hours with two young girls and a frisky pup.
Riley bounded back into the room and dropped something at Zoe’s feet. She picked it up to find an orange-haired chubby face adorned with glittery stars and moons smiling at her. The newly decapitated Melly Moon.
At that moment, Ella glanced at Zoe, then let out a wail. She jumped into Sully’s arms and buried her face in his chest, sobbing as if her heart were broken.
His other daughter stood rooted to the spot with a fearful look on her face.
The pitiful sight tugged at Zoe’s heart.
She examined the doll head and realized it was made of cloth. Riley had ripped it off at the seam. She dug through her purse to find her travel-size sewing kit, then stepped closer to Sully and Ella. Sitting cross-legged on the floor next to him, her knee brushed his, but she didn’t move, savoring the very brief contact.
She touched the sobbing child’s shoulder, then carefully slid the girl’s tangled hair behind her ear. “Ella, I can fix Melly Moon.”
Sniffling, Ella peeked out from behind Sully’s shoulder. “But it won’t be the same.”
“No, maybe not exactly the same, but I think you’ll still love Melly anyway, won’t you?”
She nodded.
Zoe held out her hand. “May I see Melly Moon?”
Ella tightened her grip on the headless doll and shook her head.
Sully shuffled his position and winced. “Let’s move into the living room.”
Still holding Ella, he reached for Ava’s hand. Zoe followed them into the living room and sat on the end of the leather couch opposite from Sully.
He lifted the hem of the oversize T-shirt Ella wore and wiped the traces of tears from her face. “Hey, Ella, remember when Ava cut her finger?
Ella nodded again. “There was a lot of blood, and she cried.”
“Yes, she did. It hurt a lot.” Caleb reached for Ava and pulled her gently to him. He opened his youngest daughter’s hand and rubbed his thumb across the tiny knuckles on her pointer finger. “The doctor put two small stitches in it. Her finger isn’t the way it was before because now it has a tiny scar, but her finger still works just as well. If Zoe sews Melly Moon’s head back on, you may be able to see where she stitched, but Melly Moon will be in one piece and almost as good as new.”
Ella considered that a moment, then handed the doll over to Zoe. She plopped onto Sully’s leg to watch.
Sully’s face twisted in pain as he readjusted both girls on his lap.
The man needed a shower, strong coffee and a nap...not necessarily in that order.
Zoe threaded her needle. With three pairs of expectant eyes watching her, she felt more nervous about this than training Riley. Dogs were her superpower. Sewing, on the other hand...
With small, even stitches, she secured Melly’s head to her body, knotted the thread, then bit off the excess. She gave the head a gentle tug. Pleased with its strength, she handed the doll to Ella. “Here you go, sweetie.”
Ella took the doll and inspected its neck. “I can’t see where you sewed.”
That was the point.
Sully nudged his daughter. “What do you say to Miss Zoe?”
Ella flew off Sully’s lap and flung her arms around Zoe’s neck, taking her by surprise. “Thank you, Miss Zoe. You saved Melly Moon. You’re the best.”
The girl’s words pricked the fragile shell around Zoe’s heart. It had been a long time since anyone had considered her the best at anything. The warmth of the little girl’s body pressing against Zoe’s chest seeped into her soul, fanning the flicker of a spark she thought had been snuffed out long ago.
Hope.
Careful not to poke the child with her needle, Zoe wrapped her arms around Ella and hugged her close. “You’re welcome, sweetie.”
Ella pulled away from Zoe and hugged Melly while she twirled through the living room. “Look, Avie, isn’t Miss Zoe the best?”
Ava cast a shy glance in Zoe’s direction and gave her a small smile. Then she nodded.
Did Sully realize how blessed he was to have such sweet daughters?
The look of love he wore answered her question. He would never stop loving his daughters, no matter what they did.
A pang pinched her heart. She wasn’t going there.
Eyes up and feet forward. Her new mantra.
Sully pushed to his feet, not quite swallowing a groan, then held out a hand to her. She took it and stood, not wanting to release his warm, strong grip.
He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze before releasing them. “You’re amazing. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
“What a morning.”
“What happened?” Zoe returned the needle and thread to its case, then stowed everything back in her purse.
“What didn’t happen would be quicker to answer. Ava woke up with a wet bed. I was trying to give them a bath and keep Riley out of their room when you arrived. I’m sorry you walked into chaos.”
She placed a hand on his upper arm. “Sully, relax. It’s just fine.”
“Thanks. That’s cool of you to say. It means a lot. Let me get the girls some breakfast, then we can talk about training the monster if you’re still up to it.”
“I’m game if you are.”
“Yeah, after this morning, we need to do something fast.” He gathered a bundle of unfolded laundry off the couch and righted a beige throw pillow. “Have a seat and I’ll get them squared away. Then we can talk about how to proceed.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Nothing. I’ll take care of it.”
Zoe reached for his arm and tried not to think about the strength radiating from his muscular form. “Sully, stop being stubborn. You’re a great dad. But asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, you know.”
Sully stared at her for a long moment, then sighed. Instead of answering, he sat on the couch cushion, dropped the laundry at his feet and wrapped his hands around his head. “How do single parents do this, Zoe? How did you handle it with Griffin?” Then, as if realizing what he had just said, crimson rose above the collar of his shirt and colored his neck. “Sorry, I mean, before...”
“Listen, Sully, I’m the last person qualified to give you parenting advice. I’m probably the world’s worst mom, but I’m so thankful for my parents and my brother, Ian. They deserve all the credit for Griffin being such a great kid. But, the way I see it, you’re trying too hard to prove you’re some kind of superdad.”
“I’m all they have.”
“Doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. Let’s face it, we all need help every now and then. The way you handled Melly Moon was great. You proved to be a hero to your daughter.”
“You were the one who saved the day with your mad sewing skills.”
“My point is you’re doing what matters. Focus on the big stuff. Who cares about a wet bed? Sheets can be washed. Give the girls what they need most—your unconditional love.”
“That’s a given. Thanks, Zoe. There’s coffee in the kitchen. Help yourself to some. I need to get the girls dressed.”
They headed in different directions—Sully followed Ella’s giggles down the hall while Zoe went to the kitchen.
She searched the cupboards for two mugs and filled them with coffee. She pulled out three bowls and set them on the round table under the window. She found two boxes of cereal and grabbed milk and apple juice from the fridge. Cups, napkins and spoons completed the table settings.
Once Sully and the girls had some breakfast and were a little more relaxed after this morning’s calamity, then they could focus on working out the best training plan for Riley.
Excitement brewed, but she couldn’t quite determine if it was for finally using her dog-training skills or for the amount of time she’d be spending with Sully and the girls.
She’d have to work hard to keep an emotional distance. After all, she couldn’t risk her heart over something that could never be.
She couldn’t mix business and pleasure, especially with this family. Sully deserved someone who could give him a shining future, not one with a clouded past.
* * *
How could two little girls make such a mess?
He needed to do better at keeping things together.
Caleb stepped over stuffed animals, a coloring book and several scattered crayons to grab Ava’s wet pajamas off the girls’ bedroom floor.
After they’d moved to Shelby Lake, Caleb had called his sister, Sarah, for help in setting up the girls’ bedroom. He didn’t even want to think about his credit card bill next month.
Sarah had selected white twin beds with matching purple-and-green comforters and curtains. Flower-shaped throw rugs lay in front of matching white dressers with mirrors.
Apparently she felt the girls needed every stuffed animal the toy store had in stock. Not to mention the dollhouse in the corner of the room. A basket of books sat between two fairy-princess beanbag chairs under the window.
A new room for a fresh start.
Giggling in the bathroom pulled him out of his thoughts. He dropped the wet clothes on the pile of dirty towels in the girls’ hamper in the closet, and then strode down the hall.
Within two minutes, he had both girls dressed, hair brushed in some semblance of order and shooed them out of the room so he could empty the tub.
Once the bathroom looked less like a wrecking zone, he headed for the kitchen. He found the girls huddled together on the couch in the living room with Ella aiming the remote at the TV as she sang along with Dora the Explorer in Spanish.
Caleb reached for the remote and flicked off the cartoon. He held out his hands to them. “Come on, girls. Let’s find you some breakfast.”
He didn’t realize how much he had missed the little touches of domesticity until he walked into the kitchen holding the girls’ hands and found the table already set.
That was one thing he never took for granted while he was married. He always made sure he let Val know how much he appreciated what she did for him.
“You didn’t have to do this.” He looked at Zoe, leaning against the kitchen counter, coffee mug in one hand and the newspaper folded open in the other.
She smiled at him over the edge of her mug. “I wanted to. You had your hands full, and I figured I could be a little useful. Hope you don’t mind that I went through your cupboards.”
He waved away her concern. “Doesn’t bother me one bit.” In fact, it warmed him a little to think she was comfortable enough with him and his home to do that. But she wasn’t here to be their housekeeper.
No, in fact, he needed to get a better handle on this parenting thing because he was determined to give his daughters the stability they needed.
He buckled the girls into their booster seats and motioned for Zoe to sit in one of the empty chairs. Once she did, he sat across from her and folded his hands. “Girls, let’s say our prayers before we eat.”
They bowed their heads, and Caleb gave thanks for the food. Under his breath, he thanked God for reconnecting him with Zoe again. He didn’t know what God’s plan was for the two of them, but he didn’t believe seeing her again was a coincidence. He’d go with it until God steered him in a different direction.
Caleb poured cereal and milk into the girls’ bowls. He pushed his bowl out of the way and reached for his coffee mug. After the first couple of sips, he started to feel almost human again. Almost.
Caleb leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table.
Ella tapped his arm with her spoon. “Daddy, no elbows on the table.”
“You’re right, sweetie. I forgot.” Caleb smiled at her as he pulled his elbows down and rested his forearms on the table.
“It’s okay. Everybody makes mistakes.”
And he’d made more than his fair share of them. He smoothed a hand over Ella’s drying hair and shifted his attention to Zoe.
She watched them with a mix of sadness and wistfulness. What was she thinking?
Even in the short time they’ve been reacquainted, Caleb could see she wasn’t the same girl he’d known at school. The woman sitting across from him carried heavy burdens. Her eyes used to sparkle with laughter and a touch of mischief. Now they had been dulled with pain and brokenness.
He wanted to see her filled with joy once again, not return to a past life they’d once shared. No, those days were over. But perhaps this could be a new season of fresh starts for both of them.
She reached for Ava’s napkin and wiped the milk dripping off her chin. “I can stay for another hour if you’d like to get a start on Riley’s training.”
He glanced at his watch to see their designated hour was almost up. She was right—the morning hadn’t gone as expected. “Yes, that would be great. But only if you’re sure.”
She smiled. “It’s not a problem as long as I’m not messing up your plans.” At the shake of his head, she continued, “I’d like you to have some basics in place before I leave. Let me just grab my bag so we can go over paperwork and a couple different training plans.” She pushed back her chair and stood. “Mind if we talk in the living room? That way I can see how the girls interact with Riley and his reactions to his surroundings.”
“No, that’s just fine.”
As she walked past him to retrieve her bag, he caught a whiff of her perfume, a sweet fragrance that reawakened emotions he thought were forever locked behind a door marked Do Not Enter.
Maybe not.
Ella drained her juice and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Daddy, may I get down? I’m all done.”
He glanced at Ava. “Are you ready to get down, too, Aves?”
She nodded and smiled, but didn’t say a word.
She’d talk. In her time.
He slid out their chairs and helped them down. “Let’s go into the living room so Daddy can talk to Miss Zoe, okay?”
They headed for the living room to find that Zoe had laid a couple of folders on the coffee table and sat back against the cushion to wait for them. Her long fingers stroked Riley’s fur as he curled in her lap.
As he settled beside her and flung an arm over the back of the couch, Riley stirred. His ears perked. He bounded off Zoe’s lap and jumped on Caleb’s chest.
Caleb turned his face away from Riley’s rough tongue and moved the pup into a better position on his lap.
Zoe reached for the folders and handed one to him. “I’m sure Leona gave you some of this material already when you met with her, but I included it in the packet so it would be together in one place. I’m kind of OCD like that.”
“No worries. Despite the chaos you walked into this morning, I’m an organized person, too.”
“No wonder we get along well.” The smile that spread across her face warmed his insides faster than the coffee he’d downed a few minutes ago.
Zoe reviewed the papers in the packet—Leona’s advertising brochure for dog-training options, a more detailed letter explaining policies and practices, and then an in-home behavior-training program. “At any time, if you’re dissatisfied with Riley’s progress or my training, contact Leona and she will refund your money. All of her programs offer a money-back guarantee. Any questions?”
“Would it be possible to do trainings several times a week instead of spreading them out over the next six or eight weeks?”
“I’m sure we can work something out. Once you sign the release form, we can get started this morning with some basics.”
Caleb leaned forward, upsetting Riley’s comfortable sleeping spot. Once the dog bounced off his lap, Calebreached for the Canine Companions pen and scribbled his signature where Zoe had marked an X. Just knowing they were heading in the right direction helped him to lean into hope—something he hadn’t done in a while.
“The key to Riley’s training is going to be consistency. Training a puppy is similar to caring for your daughters—you want to stay positive, remain patient and praise him for doing well. When you came into Canine Companions, you seemed frustrated.”
That was an understatement.
Caleb rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I guess you could say that.”
“Don’t worry. By the time we’re finished, Riley will be the best-behaved pup in town.”
With the girls in tow and Riley nipping at his heels, he gave Zoe a tour of the house and backyard. She suggested he move Riley’s crate into his bedroom to give the little guy some extra security.
Out in the yard, the morning temperatures were climbing already. As the girls chased each other, Zoe showed him how to take the lead when they snapped the leash onto Riley.
Back in the house, she demonstrated how to stay consistent with crate training. She helped Ella and Ava give Riley a treat. Each time Riley did as instructed, she praised him with words and affectionate touches, then offered him a small treat.
By the time their hour was up, Caleb felt more confident about the pup not destroying everything in the house. But he was reluctant to walk Zoe to the door.
She handed him a piece of paper. “Here’s a list of things that will help you with training. If you give Riley toys to chew on, he’ll leave your personal belongings alone. Try to remember he’s like a toddler and needs gentle guidance and instruction to help learn positive behaviors.”
He glanced at the sheet, then looked at her. “You’re a natural at this, Zoe.”
She dropped her gaze to her feet and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I love animals, especially dogs. Always have. They’re forgiving and eager to please. I get them, and they get me.”
“I can see why. Thanks, Zoe. For everything.”
She placed a hand on his forearm and squeezed. “My pleasure, Sully. I’m really looking forward to this.”
“Me, too.” He curled his fingers over his arm where her hand had been to lock in the feel of her tender touch against his skin.
Maybe, by working together, they’d have an opportunity to revive the past connection they’d once shared. Maybe he could be the one to fill her eyes with joy once again. Would she give a broken has-been like him a chance?
He’d let things move at a natural pace. He wouldn’t rush her into anything she didn’t want, but he wasn’t about to lose her friendship again.
