The Firefighter's Twins

“Shay,” Mom called out from where she sat at the end of a long picnic table, Aiden and Liam across from her.

“Da-da!” Aiden shrieked, his blue eyes gleaming. Frosting coated his fingers and ringed his mouth. The paper plate in front of him held a half-eaten slice of cake and a melting scoop of vanilla ice cream. Liam didn’t even look up, all his attention centered on loading his fork with the sugary treats.

Shay’s stomach lurched. “Mom. The cake—” He raced to the table, reaching for the boys’ plates.

“Sweetie, I scoured the labels and interrogated the poor girls serving it. It’s fine. No peanuts.”

Aiden’s lower lip quivered, and he snatched the plate back, glaring. “Mine.”

“We don’t know if it’s safe for you to eat, buddy. Let me check.”

Mom sighed. “I promise I double—”

Her words were drowned out by the sound of the boys crying. Not a little crying, either. The kind of sobbing that stopped all conversation.

“Hey, fellas.” A young woman approached the table carrying an ice-cream carton and scoop. “Is everything okay?”

“Aiden has a severe peanut allergy, and I don’t let Liam eat peanuts, just to be safe.” Shay felt the curious stares of the other guests as the boys continued wailing. “I was concerned about cross-contamination.”

“My daughter’s the birthday girl. She has a severe allergy, too. Trust me, I can guarantee this cake is completely acceptable.” She set the ice-cream container on the table. “I’m Caroline Walker, by the way. You probably know my husband, Trent, from the station.”

Man, he felt like an idiot. He wished the ground would open and swallow him whole. Shay dropped his gaze to the boys’ plates. “Here you go, boys. I’m sorry. Daddy messed up.” He slid the plates back in front of them. “Go ahead. You can eat it.” He offered his hand to Caroline. “Thanks for clarifying. I’m Shay Campbell, and this is Aiden, Liam and my mother, Belinda Campbell.”

“Nice to meet you.” Caroline shook his hand. “Do you mind if they have more ice cream? We bought way too much.”

Aiden and Liam’s pathetic sniffles disappeared as they shot cautious glances in Shay’s direction. “It’s fine. You may have more.”

The conversation around him ebbed and flowed again, much to his relief.

“See?” Mom patted their little hands. “Everything’s going to be okay. By the time you’re finished with that yummy cake and ice cream, I bet it will be time to watch Ella open presents.”

“We’re glad y’all could come today.” Caroline added a tiny scoop of ice cream to Aiden’s plate, and he grinned up at her.

“Thanks for the invitation. This is quite a treat.” He’d been counting the minutes until the party ended and he could get the boys home for nap time. More ice cream would probably derail their afternoon routine. But a sugar high was a small price to pay for inflicting such pain on his innocent little boys. They’d suffered enough already.

“Are you all getting settled in your new place? Trent said you’re in that neighborhood behind the farm?”

Shay nodded. “Meadow Crossing. Yeah, it’s...great.” He pictured the moving boxes still stacked against the wall in the detached garage. Sometime soon he’d carve out time to tackle those. Getting the boys settled in their new bedroom and unpacking their toys was as far as he’d gotten. Well, that and the kitchen essentials. Even with Mom’s help, establishing a new routine and helping them cope with Monica’s absence was all he could do.

“How about you, Mrs. Campbell? Are you close by?”

“My husband and I live in the new retirement community a little closer to town. But I stay with the boys when Shay’s at the station.”

He grimaced. Did she have to tell everybody about that? It wasn’t a secret that he didn’t have a wife, but the looks of sympathy and awkward silence that usually followed made him uncomfortable.

If Caroline was surprised by the revelation, she hid it well. “That’s wonderful. We have family nearby, too. It’s such a blessing, especially when the guys are on duty. This is a great group of people, Shay. We treat each other like family, so if you need anything, let us know.”

“Thanks. I will.” He forced a smile, ignoring Mom’s triumphant look.

“I better serve some more ice cream. Oh, wait.” Caroline surveyed the gazebo. “Huh. That’s weird. I thought for sure she’d stop by. I wanted to introduce you to Natalie McDowell.”

Shay’s gut clenched. He wasn’t here to make new friends. “That’s okay. I’m not exactly—”

“I heard Chief Murphy assigned you to her fall festival committee. I thought you might want to say hello before the first meeting.” Caroline shrugged. “She manages this farm. I’m sure things are hectic today, with Maria almost giving birth and all. Maybe she’ll stop by later.”

Visions of a sundress, boots and a golf cart raced through his mind. Uh-oh. Based on their previous interaction, she’d be less than thrilled about his assigned role. He wasn’t really crazy about it, either. Working closely with an attractive young woman only put him and his broken heart on a pointless trajectory. Between Monica’s sudden departure, the move from Virginia and caring for two toddlers, there wasn’t space in his life for a new relationship. He couldn’t fathom falling in love again, anyway. Especially not with someone as strong-willed and determined as Natalie.

Chapter Two

After attending the early service at church the next morning, Natalie sat at her kitchen table, eating a sandwich while scrolling through her email on her iPad. There were a hundred things to do today, and all she really wanted was a quiet afternoon at home. And possibly a nap.

A message from Forever Love dropped into her inbox. She stopped chewing and let her finger hover over the screen. Did she even want to read this right now? Her brief meeting with Karen after the Maria debacle had ended on a cryptic note. While Karen had taken several pictures with her phone and asked plenty of questions, she’d driven away after offering a quick handshake and the standard “we’ll be in touch.”

Oh, why not. What did she have to lose? She opened the message.

“‘Dear Natalie,’” she read out loud, “‘it was wonderful to meet with you and see your delightful venue. Magnolia Lane is everything I hoped it would be.’”

Natalie’s pulse sped as she devoured the rest of the message silently. “Forever Love is actively working to expand its reach into the greater Raleigh area. Our research indicates this market has tremendous potential. We have a proposition we believe you’ll find very appealing. Our firm is interested in acquiring your business. Secondly, we’d like to offer you a position as an event planner here in our Charlotte office...”

Natalie gasped. “What in the world?” She read the details again. Sell Magnolia Lane? The thought had never crossed her mind. But working for an elite firm like Forever Love—now that she’d dreamed about often, especially in the lean times when she’d struggled to open Magnolia Lane. Having someone else in her corner to brainstorm strategies for dealing with high-maintenance brides, or share the burden of upkeep and help secure new vendors when the caterer went out of business... Forever Love’s proposition felt like a breath of fresh air.

Easy. Natalie heeded the warning in her head and forced herself to focus on the message’s closing lines. “My business partner and I would like to give you some time to consider our offer. If you’re available, we’d like to discuss this via a video conference call on Thursday, October 2, at 1:00 p.m. Please respond at your convenience and indicate your availability...”

“Yes, yes, I’m available.” Natalie’s fingers trembled as she clicked over to her digital calendar and scrolled to October 2. Even though it was less than two weeks away, thankfully she was still free. She scheduled the call with Forever Love.

A dozen questions flew through her mind, but a quick glance at the clock revealed she had all of five minutes to get out the door and over to The Grille to make sure Nolan, the new manager, was prepared for the after-church lunch rush. If he had everything under control, she’d have just enough time to walk across the highway to the fall festival committee meeting.

After typing a brief response and accepting the meeting request, Natalie pushed back her chair and tucked her iPad inside her handbag. Striding to the sink, she added her plate to the dirty dishes already stacked on the counter. Chores would have to wait. She cast a longing glance toward her bungalow’s cozy living room as she headed for the front door. Sunlight streamed through the wide front window, spilling onto the overstuffed cushions of her favorite chair and a stack of untouched novels she’d intended to read before the hectic fall season started. Those would have to wait, too.

With a heavy sigh, she shifted her focus to the mirror in the entryway, frowning at her reflection. A string of late nights and early mornings hadn’t done her complexion any favors. She fished a tube of lip gloss out from the depths of her bag, and then she dabbed on a quick coat and surveyed the results. Good enough. Natalie readjusted the coral scarf layered over her white T-shirt and navy cardigan and then slipped out the front door.

Outside, her porch swing swayed in the breeze. She drew in a deep breath—crisp, cool air and no humidity. Birds chirped, while the familiar rumble of a tractor echoed across the otherwise empty fields. She shouldered her bag again as she walked down the steps and across the yard.

“Hey, there, sunshine,” her sister Kirsten called out from the parking lot, wearing a stylish, belted denim dress and short, open-toed suede boots. She clasped Daddy’s elbow with one hand, while Mama assisted him on his left side. “We thought we’d have lunch here today.”

“Great.” Natalie pasted on a smile, determined to mask her heartache. Daddy hadn’t made eye contact yet, his focus on the gravel in front of him as he struggled to walk the short distance from the car to the front door.

“Hey, Mama and Daddy.” Natalie held the door open for them. “I bet Nolan has your favorite table ready.”

Daddy met her gaze briefly, a twinkle evident in his blue eyes. “Sure hope so.”

Mama squeezed Natalie’s arm as they passed. “Hey, sugar.”

Natalie followed them inside. The aroma of fried food lingered in the air, even though the restaurant didn’t open until twelve thirty on Sundays. The dining area sat empty, although it wouldn’t stay that way for long. While Mama and Daddy made their way to a corner booth near the windows with a beautiful view of the pond, Natalie tugged on Kirsten’s short sleeve.

“What’s the occasion?”

Kirsten lingered near the door. “What do you mean?”

“Mama and Daddy haven’t been here for lunch in weeks.”

Kirsten sighed. “I wanted Mama to have a break from fixing a meal. They used to love to go out for lunch after church, but Daddy says he gets too worn out. I convinced them to come here, since they’re only two minutes from the house.”

Natalie watched Mama help him maneuver into the booth. “We’re going to have to talk to them about assisted living. Soon.”

“Go for it. I’ve tried bringing it up. Mama shuts me down every time.”

Natalie turned away, her stomach clenched in a tight knot. Daddy’s mobility had declined more rapidly than she’d expected. “I don’t understand how they can ignore the facts. He’s getting worse. We can’t pretend his health isn’t going to impact their lifestyle.”

“I know. But Mama thinks she can handle it. Like she handles everything—by sheer force and stubborn determination.”

“What if she’s not able?” Natalie threaded her scarf between her fingers. “Eventually he’ll need care, possibly around-the-clock. Sure, the farm’s doing well, but the liability insurance and property taxes get more expensive every year. What if the cost of his care exceeds their income?”

Kirsten’s eyes glistened with tears. “Believe me, I’ve thought about everything you’ve mentioned. Mama and Daddy simply don’t want to hear it.”

“If Daddy’s diagnosis isn’t...” Natalie swallowed hard. She couldn’t bring herself to say the words. “If the news isn’t what we’d hoped, I think we should be prepared to have that hard conversation. Cami’s in school at Clemson, you’re working on your MBA and I’m practically working two jobs. Tisha’s not here, right—”

“Mama says Tisha’s coming back from Alaska in the next week or so,” Kirsten said.

Natalie sighed. “Tisha’s been away a long time. She can’t exactly make an educated choice about what’s best.” She stopped short of mentioning how their sister’s ridiculous plan to lease some of their land to that solar energy company nearly cost them everything.

“She’s changed a lot since she moved away, Nat.” Kirsten shifted from one foot to the other. “Mama and Daddy are her parents, too. We can’t exclude her from the discussion.”

Natalie clamped her mouth closed. She couldn’t argue with that. Although Tisha’s blind affection for her conniving ex-boyfriend and careless actions almost ruined any future plans for the farm, Natalie couldn’t be too critical. Not with the surprise news from Forever Love sitting in her inbox. If she decided to accept their offer, she’d be moving to Charlotte. What if the sale of Magnolia Lane helped provide professional caregivers? Then they wouldn’t have to worry about financing Daddy’s care. On the other hand, it meant pursuing her dreams at the expense of her family’s heritage. Daddy’s parents had built the barn themselves. Even if they’d deeded the building and the surrounding land to her, the news of the sale would still come as a shock. Could she really live with that?

Kirsten’s gaze flitted from Natalie to Mama and Daddy. “Let’s wait and see what the doctor says before we try to talk to them again. Maybe it’s not as bad as we think.”

“Miss Natalie?”

Natalie glanced over Kirsten’s shoulder to see Nolan, who was hurrying toward her as he tied an apron over faded jeans and an NC State T-shirt.

“I was fixin’ to text you. Justine called in sick. Any chance you could fill in at the register during the lunch rush?”

Oh, brother. What other surprises could land in her path today? “I’ll find somebody to help out, Nolan. Thanks for letting me know.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He returned to the kitchen.

Kirsten frowned. “Are you short-handed all day? I’d offer to help, but—”

“Could you? I’ve got my first fall festival committee in a few minutes.” She regretted the request as soon as she said it. Maybe having Kirsten fill in for Justine wasn’t the best idea. Her sisters hadn’t worked the counter in ages. Natalie bit her lip. What if she pushed back the meeting until—

“I guess I can do it. I’ll work on my presentation later...”

Natalie shoved her doubts aside. It would have to do for now. “Perfect. Thank you so much.” Natalie didn’t stick around. If she lingered, she’d be tempted to tell Kirsten everything about Forever Love, and it was too soon for that. She needed more information. More time to weigh her options. She rubbed at the ache in her chest as she hurried toward the door. A solution that appealed to everyone and allowed her to follow her dream felt hopelessly out of reach.

Outside, she offered friendly greetings to the customers coming into The Grille, recognizing several familiar faces. Mama and Daddy would be glad to see some of their friends. A line of at least a dozen cars waited on the two-lane road beside the entrance to the farm, blinkers on, indicating they’d be pulling into the parking lot. Looked like another busy Sunday afternoon. That would make Mama and Daddy happy, too.

Her smile quickly faded once she jogged across the road to the new subdivision where the committee meeting was scheduled to take place.

Shay Campbell was less than twenty feet away, climbing out of a pickup truck.

Natalie’s steps faltered, and she stumbled, wincing more from embarrassment than from the twinge in her ankle. What was he doing here?

Shay waved, a smile lifting one corner of his mouth.

Natalie tried to play it cool while her pulse went all kinds of crazy. Although she hated to admit it, he did look handsome in khaki slacks and a brick red button-down, the sleeves rolled up to reveal his chiseled forearms.

“Hey.” Shay closed the driver’s door. “Is this the fall festival committee meeting?”

She cocked her to head to one side. “It’s supposed to be. The others aren’t here yet.”

“Mind if I join you? I’m not on duty today, but the chief sent me as the liaison from the fire department.”

Rats. Why him? The chief had ignored her email requesting Trent Walker’s help.

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “He said we needed to have a presence at major community events.”

“You must’ve drawn the short straw.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Two of our key members and biggest supporters of the festival had to step down unexpectedly. They’re in Chicago caring for their daughter and her family. We’re going to struggle to pull the festival together without them.”

A frown etched his features. “Unless Chief Murphy tells me differently, the fire department is committed to helping. When’s the festival?”

“In about six weeks. The first Saturday in November.”

“One of the guys mentioned a service project. Is this it?” He angled his head toward the lot nearby.

“Yes.” Natalie glanced at the concrete foundation and exposed wood framework for the walls. Mounds of ugly red clay and large rocks dug up by the construction crew surrounded what would eventually be a three-bedroom rambler. Nothing much had changed since the last time she’d stopped by. Had the volunteers run into a problem no one had mentioned to her?

“Is anyone managing the project?”

“That’s where things get complicated. I guess I’m in charge now.” She sighed and met his gaze again. For the second time in one weekend, the luminous color of his eyes—green rimmed with hints of blue—captured her attention.

A girl could get lost in those eyes.

Shay’s brow arched, waiting for her to elaborate.

Warmth heated her skin. “The house is for a wounded veteran and his family. The big reveal happens during the festival. At least, that was the plan, anyway. Now with Maureen, the former committee chairperson, gone—”

The sound of another car approaching interrupted her. Natalie glanced over her shoulder to see her best friend, Erin, parking beside the curb.

“Wait.” Shay held up his hand. “Before the others get here, I have something I need to say.”

“Oh?” Natalie faced him again and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. This should be interesting. “I’m listening.”

“I—I owe you an apology.”

“For?”

“I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you at the farm. I shouldn’t have been so critical.”

“Apology accepted.” She reached into her bag for her iPad. “Have you heard how Maria’s doing?”

“I have.” He offered a sheepish smile. “She had a healthy baby girl in the ambulance, on the way to the hospital.”

“Whoa. That was quick.”

“Very quick. If it weren’t for that stellar emergency plan of yours, she might’ve delivered in the middle of the party.”

“So you recognize my plan wasn’t so flawed, after all?” She couldn’t resist a subtle jab. Or conceal her smile.

“I do. I mean, I recognize that your plan isn’t so flawed. At all. Again, I apologize for being rude and trying to take control of the situation.”

She lifted one shoulder. It was kind of fun to see him stumble over his words. “Don’t worry about it. But thank you for apologizing.”

“You’re welcome.” He studied the lot again. “Any idea what you still need in terms of building supplies? You’ve got walls up, it’s framed...looks like the subflooring was started. What would it take to finish this in time for the festival?”

About fifty more volunteers and an extra three weeks. She bit back her snide reply as Erin strode toward them, a pastry box and a stack of napkins in hand.

“Hey.” Erin’s curious gaze flitted from Natalie to Shay and back. “What’s going on?”

Natalie pretended not to notice Erin’s nonverbal cues. No doubt they’d exchange a flurry of text messages later about the newest member of their committee. “Shay, have you met Erin Taylor? She and her husband own the coffee shop in town.”

He shook Erin’s outstretched hand. “Shay Campbell. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too.” Erin let go of his hand and then pressed her palm over the napkins on top of the white cardboard box to keep them from blowing away. “Are you building in this neighborhood?”

“Not exactly. I’m a volunteer committee member from the fire department. Natalie was bringing me up to speed on the status of the service project.” Shay’s arm brushed against hers, and the scent of something clean nudged her nose, like laundry soap and fresh air. Natalie’s stomach tightened. Why did he have to smell so good?

“Was she?” Erin asked, an innocent smile tugging at her lips. “She’s served on the fall festival committee for years. If anyone can whip us into shape and get the job done, it’s Natalie.”

It was Natalie’s turn to fire a pointed gaze Erin’s direction. “That’s sweet of you to say, but Maureen had much stronger contacts for building supplies and coordinating volunteers. I’m all about weddings and hay rides. Lumber and windows? Not so much.”

“Oh, please.” Erin playfully nudged Natalie’s hip with her own. “You’re the logical choice to replace her, especially on short notice. She’s only in Chicago while her daughter’s recovering from her car accident. It’s not like you can’t reach her. If I know Maureen, she’ll find a way to get you all the information you need. This festival was her pride and joy.”

“I just wish we could do more.” Natalie frowned. “We could’ve built three new houses for wounded veterans and their families if we had more resources.”

“You only lost Maureen and her husband. There are plenty of other people in Meadow Springs who will gladly help,” Erin reminded her.

“I’m grateful for the little bit of progress we’ve made. I’m just afraid we won’t finish in time.” Natalie’s declaration was punctuated by more car doors slamming. Missy Josephson hurried over, with Pastor Adams not far behind. Thank You, Lord. Natalie straightened, the tense knots in her shoulders loosening. She was beginning to think they’d forgotten. “Hey. I’m so glad you’re both here.”

Missy’s purse slid down her arm as she leaned in and gave Natalie a quick hug. “I wouldn’t miss it. I’m sorry I’m late. It took forever to get the kids out the door and over to my parents’ house.” She looked at Shay speaking with Pastor Adams and shot Natalie a questioning glance.

“Missy, Pastor Adams, this is Shay Campbell. Shay, this is Missy Josephson and Rick Adams, the youth pastor from Meadow Springs Community Church.”

Once introductions were finished, and they’d all gathered in a half-circle, Natalie perused her notes quickly. “Thank you for coming. I’m sure you’ve heard two of our committee members have resigned as a result of recent events in their daughter’s life. But we’ve gained a new member, thanks to Chief Murphy at the fire station. I was updating Shay on the building project before you both got here.”

Pastor Adams smiled. “We’re glad to have you, Shay. The fire department’s presence at the festival is always a big favorite.”

“Oh, the kids love it.” Missy bobbed her head. “My students are already asking if they can squirt the hose and wear those plastic fire hats.”

“Missy’s a preschool teacher,” Natalie said.

Shay smiled. “Little boys love fire engines.”

“That sounds like the voice of experience.” Erin opened the box to reveal an assortment of her legendary cookies. “Do you have kids, Shay?”

Natalie stilled, pretending to stare at her screen. But her racing pulse was a dead giveaway. She was more curious than she cared to admit. Hadn’t he mentioned something about his kids at the birthday party?