Making His Way Home

As Grace watched the family make their way over to one of the benches that lined the interior walls of the barn, the secret she’d been keeping stirred in her heart and brought a smile to her face.

In God’s timing, when the adoption agency she’d been working with finally called, she would discover that particular truth for herself....

“Is the lemonade free?”

A pack of adolescent boys jockeyed for position in front of the beverage table and Grace smiled. “Yes, it is.”

When they left five minutes later, Grace had to refill the dispenser and open another package of napkins. She was in the process of filling more cups of lemonade in anticipation of another wave of thirsty dancers when the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The temperature rose several degrees, weighting the air and making it difficult to breathe.

Two possibilities collided and neither one would bring the evening to a pleasant conclusion.

Either she was having some kind of allergic reaction to the egg salad or...

Grace slid a cautious, sideways glance at the entrance of the barn. The ladle in her hand tipped sideways, sending a stream of lemonade running down the side of the cup and onto the checkered tablecloth.

What is going on, Lord? If this is some kind of test, I should have had a chance to study for it!

Because Cole was framed between the rough-hewn timbers of the doorway, backlit by the setting sun as if he’d been photoshopped there. A day’s growth of beard shadowed his angular jaw and the strands of dark hair across his forehead were carelessly mussed. The sleeves of his lightweight cotton shirt were rolled back to reveal tanned forearms. Both hands tucked into the front pockets of faded, boot-cut jeans.

It wasn’t fair that the casual look totally worked for him, Grace thought.

The square dance had started less than an hour ago, but if she had a dollar for every time someone had asked her about the “gorgeous guy” who’d bid on her basket, the city council wouldn’t need the money they’d raised at the box social. Grace could have singlehandedly funded the new playground equipment at the park herself.

Not only that, Kate and Abby had ambushed her in the parking lot, anxious to hear all the details about the lunch she and Cole had shared.

Her friends had all become engaged or married over the past few years and for some reason, it wasn’t enough that they’d found their happily ever after. They were committed to making sure that Grace found hers, too.

They weren’t happy to discover that he wasn’t going to be at the dance.

“I don’t understand,” Kate had huffed. “Jenna and Dev were standing right next to Cole during the auction and she said that he looked thrilled when he won your basket. What’s the matter with him?”

Grace remained silent, knowing there probably wasn’t anything wrong with Cole. But based on the way her heart started thumping like a bass drum whenever he smiled, there was definitely something wrong with her.

Because Grace had already been exposed to that smile, you’d think she would have built up, oh, some sort of immunity over the years.

During the short amount of time they’d spent together at the box social, she’d had to remind herself—frequently—that Cole wasn’t her friend. He was the one who’d broken her heart.

But the most disturbing thing was, Grace couldn’t quite shake the feeling that he possessed the power to do it again.

She watched Cole begin to weave his way between the clusters of people. Her gaze skipped ahead of him in a panicked attempt to guess his destination.

And landed on Kate and Abby, taking a break from the dancing on one of the wooden benches that lined the wall.

Her friends looked up as Cole stopped right in front of them.

Don’t be paranoid, Grace chided herself. Just because he hasn’t left town yet, it doesn’t mean he’s looking for you.

Abby and Kate were both laughing now at something that Cole said, as if they’d known him for years. Then they exchanged a knowing look that made Grace’s blood run cold.

Don’t do it! she silently pleaded. Don’t. Do. It.

Two hands lifted. Two fingers pointed in her direction.

And Grace took cover behind the nearest post.

* * *

“That’s strange.” Abby O’Halloran rose to her feet, a frown puckering her forehead. “I just saw Grace behind the beverage table a few seconds ago.”

Cole shifted his weight and tried to see over the heads of the couples that whirled past him. Given the number of people packed in the barn, the entire population of Mirror Lake must have turned out for the event.

The space behind the beverage table was empty. Where had she...

Cole saw a dab of yellow calico peeking out from behind one of the weathered support beams.

“Thanks.” He smiled at Grace’s friends. “I’ll head over there and see if I can find her.”

“I’m glad you changed your mind about escorting Grace to the dance tonight,” Kate said.

Changed his mind?

If it hadn’t been for Candy Sullivan, Cole wouldn’t have known that he was supposed to be Grace’s escort that

evening.

After she’d left him, Cole had finished his lunch and set out to find the elusive Marty Sullivan. The man had managed to elude him all afternoon, but Cole had received a tip—from a guy collecting aluminum cans in the alley—that Candy Sullivan always checked her bid on eBay before she locked up for the day. Cole set up a stakeout at the law office and waited. Sure enough, his informant was right. Candy had shown up sixty seconds before closing time.

“I know this is probably a bad time—” He had followed her inside and flashed what he’d hoped was a charming smile.

Candy hadn’t been charmed.

“Can’t whatever business you have with Marty wait until Monday morning?” She’d glared at him over her computer monitor. “Some things are more important than business, you know.”

Right. Things like box socials, square dances, Pin the Tail on the Donkey and whatever else was in the works for Mirror Lake’s birthday celebration.

Finally acknowledging that resistance was futile, Cole had given in. “When will he have time to meet with me?”

“Monday morning. Nine o’clock.” Candy scooped up a snakeskin purse roughly the size and shape of a bicycle tire from the floor. “Now you better get on over to the Redstones’ place before Grace thinks you stood her up.”

“Stood her up?”

“You won her basket at the box social, you’re her date.”

“For the square dance?”

“For everything.” Before Cole had a chance to ask Candy to clarify that cryptic response, she marched to the door, grumbling. “The last thing a woman needs is a guy who won’t step up to the plate and do the right thing.”

The words had continued to cycle through Cole’s mind on his way to the parking lot.

He had done the right thing.

It was the reason he’d left Mirror Lake.

And Grace.

* * *

When a large, masculine hand curled around the beam a few inches above her head, Grace realized she should have hidden behind something larger. Like a bale of hay. Or the rain barrel.

She dared to look up and found herself neatly trapped in a pair of cedar-green eyes.

“Cole.”

“Grace.” The crooked smile made an appearance, but it wasn’t the boyish one that she remembered. This was a potent, take-no-prisoners grown-up smile. And it packed more of a wallop than Delia Peake’s cane.

She retreated to the beverage table again and poured a glass of lemonade. For herself. Because her mouth had gone as dry as the sawdust scattered on the floor.

Cole propped a hip against the side of the table, clearly in no hurry to leave. “That looks good.”

“Would you like a glass?” Grace asked reluctantly, because as a member of the hospitality committee, it was her duty to be...hospitable.

“No, thanks.” He planted both hands on the table and leaned forward. “But I would like to know why you didn’t tell me that I was supposed to escort you to the square dance tonight.”

In a town the size of Mirror Lake, she should have known someone would spill the beans.

“You told Kate you were leaving.” Grace shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

Cole raked a hand through his hair, disheveling it even more. Grace resisted the urge to smooth a wayward strand back into place, which only proved the theory that those who didn’t learn from history were destined to repeat it.

“I had a few things to take care of and they took longer than I thought.”

Disappointment rattled through her, bumping and bruising everything in its path.

Did you really think he stuck around so he could spend more time with you?

“Don’t worry about it.” Grace moved the pitcher to cover the damp spot on the tablecloth. “I don’t think anyone on the planning committee took into consideration that we might get bids from outsiders today.”

A shadow passed through Cole’s eyes, and she felt a stab of guilt. But, she reminded herself, he was the one who’d chosen to leave.

I love this town, Grace. We could build a cabin near the water...

“There you are!”

Grace inwardly braced herself as Sissy Perkins, the local Realtor, strode up to them. She’d been aware of the curious looks she and Cole had been receiving for past few minutes. She was only surprised that Wes Collins, the editor of the Mirror Lake Register, hadn’t gotten to them first.

“Sissy, this is—”

“My newest client, according to Candy,” Sissy flipped a panel of dark hair over her shoulder and aimed a megawatt, sign-on-the-dotted-line smile at Cole.

“Client?” Grace echoed.

“That’s right.” Sissy nodded. “Sloan Merrick’s place.”

“You’re selling it?”

The words slipped out of Grace’s mouth before she could stop them.

Cole hadn’t explained why he’d come back to Mirror Lake so Grace had assumed that Kate’s letter had somehow prompted the visit. That he’d decided to check things out for himself before allowing people to tour the property.

But no. He’d come back to snip off his last tie with the town like an annoying thread dangling from the pocket of his shirt.

“Grace—” The husky rumble of Cole’s voice reverberated through her.

She forced a smile.

“You don’t owe me an explanation.”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind hearing one,” Sissy declared. “That land has been in your family for years.”

* * *

My grandfather’s family, Cole wanted to say.

Sissy Perkins might be familiar with the town’s history but it was clear she didn’t know anything about his personal history. Sloan had never considered Cole’s mother, Debra, a “true” Merrick.

Cole’s parents had eloped two weeks after graduation and left Mirror Lake for good. Sloan had blamed Cole’s mother for the fracture in their family, but failed to see his own pride had ultimately prevented it from healing.

“If you aren’t interested, I can talk to someone else,” Cole said evenly.

“I didn’t say I wasn’t interested.” Sissy backpedaled so quickly the words practically left skid marks in the air. “How long are you going to be in town?”

“That depends,” Cole hedged.

“On what?”

It was a good question. And he should have known the answer.

Cole watched Grace dab at an invisible stain on the tablecloth and wondered what she was thinking. He used to tease her that she couldn’t keep a secret. Every one of her thoughts—every feeling—had been reflected in her eyes. But not anymore.

On the way to Mirror Lake, he’d spent several hours mentally preparing himself for the moment he walked through the front door of his grandfather’s house. When he would relive those first few weeks following his father’s death.

But nothing had prepared him to see Grace again.

Should he apologize for not saying goodbye? For not contacting her again after he’d left town?

Or would she think he was crazy for bringing it up? Or even worse, that he was arrogant enough to believe that she’d actually thought about him over the years?

“I’m meeting with my grand—Sloan’s—attorney Monday morning at nine o’clock,” he finally said, reluctant to talk business in front of Grace.

Although she, of all people, should understand why he felt no sentimental attachment to the property.

“Then stop by my office at ten.” Sissy poured a glass of lemonade. “I’ll try to take a drive out that way before we meet. Is the place in pretty decent shape?”

“No.”

Cole and Sissy both turned toward Grace. Her eyes widened a little, as if she hadn’t intended to join the conversation. But then she raised her chin, daring him to disagree.

He couldn’t.

“It could use a little TLC.” Cole refused to feel guilty about its run-down state. Forty-eight hours ago, he hadn’t even known the house and land belonged to him.

Sissy’s gaze bounced between him and Grace. “That’s right. You two are neighbors.” She flashed that bright smile again. “I’ve tried for years to convince Grace to sell. She could find a nice little place in town instead of living way out in the woods like that. It isn’t exactly the most practical home. And all those rooms. It’s waaay too big for a single woman. Unless—” Sissy tossed a sly glance in Grace’s direction “—there’s something you aren’t telling us.”

Cole couldn’t help but notice that Grace didn’t deny it. And was she...blushing?

“You look a little flushed, sweetie,” Sissy said. “It is warm in here.” She picked up a paper napkin and fanned herself. “Oops, I told Doug I’d be right back. I better scoot over there before Mayor Dodd draws the names for the competition tomorrow.”

“Competition?”

“The 1800s’ version of Survivor.” The Realtor smiled. “You didn’t hear about that?”

“No.” Cole glanced at Grace, but she wasn’t looking at him. Her gaze was fixed on something over his shoulder. And every drop of color had drained from her face.

Cole’s emergency response team training kicked in and he was at Grace’s side in an instant. “Do you need some fresh air?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Can you get me some, please?”

“That might be kind of difficult.” In spite of his concern, Cole wrestled down a smile. “Maybe we should go outside.”

“Right. Outside.” Grace lurched toward the door, but the wall of people shifted, effectively blocking her escape. Her frantic gaze bounced from person to person, looking for a space large enough to squeeze through.

“Excuse us.” Cole took a step forward, but a teenaged girl cut them off.

“You can’t leave now.” She flashed a smile and the light reflected off the row of metal braces on her front teeth. “You won’t be here if the mayor calls your name.”

The expression on Grace’s face made Cole wonder if that hadn’t been her plan all along.

“Is there something else you forgot to tell me?” he murmured.

Grace nodded.

“Run.”

Chapter Five

Grace tried not to groan when she saw Mayor Dodd making his way to the platform.

“If I could have everyone’s attention!”

“You go ahead without me,” she gasped. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

Cole didn’t budge. “You’re the one who needed some fresh air.”

What Grace needed was divine intervention. Because she’d assumed Cole would be long gone by now. Blissfully unaware that when he’d bid on her basket, he had inadvertently set a whole new chain of events into motion.

Which might explain why she was feeling a bit nauseous.

“Welcome, friends.” The mayor pitched his voice above the hum of conversation. “First of all, I’d like to thank Daniel and Esther Redstone for generously allowing us the use of their barn for the square dance this evening.”

Enthusiastic applause followed the statement and the attractive, middle-aged couple who attended Grace’s church smiled and waved to the crowd.

“Our little community has a lot of big things planned for the weekend and trust me, you won’t want to miss out on a single one of them,” Mayor Dodd continued. “Our first event starts bright and early tomorrow morning with a special competition that pays tribute to the brave men and women who settled Mirror Lake.

“Eight couples will face a series of challenges that will help everyone appreciate how difficult life was a hundred and twenty-five years ago but—” the mustache rustled along with his smile “—we also wanted to make it entertaining.”

A knot formed in Grace’s stomach, because she hadn’t expected Cole to be at her side during this particular announcement.

“All the lovely ladies who took part in the social today agreed to have their names placed in this basket. From that group, we will choose eight participants.” Mayor Dodd held up an old fishing creel. “Will the eight women—and their escorts—please join me on the stage when I call out your names?”

The fiddle player’s bow danced across the strings as the mayor dipped his hand into the basket and retrieved a slip of paper.

“Our first contestant is...Sissy Perkins!”

The Realtor’s shriek cut through the whoops and hollers that echoed through the barn. As she made her way toward the platform, Doug, the burly truck driver who’d won her basket, took her by the hand.

“Kate Nichols! Come on down.”

Kate grinned and bobbed a curtsey at the crowd. Alex followed at a more leisurely pace as she bounded toward the stage.

Grace could feel her heart pounding in her ears, muffling the sound of the mayor’s voice as he shouted another name.

What were the chances she would be chosen to participate? Over two dozen women had made baskets for the box social and only eight would be required to take part in the competition....

“Contestant number three—Haylie Owens.” The mayor had pulled out another slip of paper.

The teenagers in the far corner of the room cheered and nudged Haylie and Rob Price, her blushing date, toward the other couples.

Grace held her breath as several more of her friends took their place in line. Abby and Quinn. Emma and Jake.

“And last, but certainly not least—” the mayor paused and Grace closed her eyes as he reached for the final slip of paper in the basket.

“Grace Eversea!”

Heads began to swivel in her direction, but Grace’s feet were glued to the floor. Delia Peake bustled up, brandishing her pink-tipped walking cane like a sword.

“Go on, Gracie. They’re waiting for you.”

Grace stumbled forward as the crowd parted, clapping and shouting words of encouragement. Halfway to the platform, she realized she wasn’t alone.

“I think you forgot something else.” A familiar voice murmured in her ear.

“What?” Grace pushed the word past the lump of panic that had lodged in her throat when the mayor called her name.

“Me.” Cole’s low laugh wrapped around her heart and squeezed.

Why was he being such a good sport?

Because he had no idea what he was getting into.

Which was why, Grace decided, it was up to her to get him—them—out of it.

As quickly as possible.

“Each of the couples will be required to complete three different challenges, which I will announce right before the competition begins.” Mayor Dodd smiled when a rumble of disappointment stirred the air and Grace realized the omission had been deliberate. The competition had been advertised as one of the highlights of the celebration, but a little mystery would fan the people’s curiosity and guarantee a good turnout the following day.

“But—” the mayor motioned to someone across the room “—this might give you a hint as to what is in store for the couples.”

Happy, the lanky mechanic who was almost as old as some of the buildings featured on Grace’s historical tour, stepped out from the shadows, weighted down with tin buckets that clinked together like wind chimes as he ambled toward them.

“Inside the buckets that Happy is handing out is a coupon our couples can exchange for one item at the beginning of the competition tomorrow morning.” The mayor’s eyes twinkled. “Agreeing on that item just might be the first challenge some of them will face.”

Laughter followed the statement, which Grace knew had been his intention.

She didn’t dare look at Cole. A private picnic lunch under a shady tree was one thing, a competition in full view of the entire community was another.

“Andy will play one more song and then you can all go home and get a good night’s sleep.” Mayor Dodd grinned at the couples lined up in front of him. “You’re going to need it!”

The fiddler began to play another lively jig as Happy paused in front of Grace.

Cole reached for the bucket at the same time she did, and their hands touched. Grace’s heart began to flop around inside her chest like a freshly caught trout.

She could only hope the mayor would let her exchange her coupon for another partner.

* * *

Grace had vanished.

The last time Cole had seen her, she and the mayor had been deep in conversation.

He had a hunch what the topic of that particular conversation had been. It had occurred to Cole as he’d followed Grace to the front of the crowd, prodded by the elderly woman with a helmet of salt-and-pepper curls who resembled a swashbuckling gnome, that he’d messed up. Big time.

“I thought you might want to take a look at this.” The mayor stepped in front of Cole as he was making his way to the door to find Grace. “We printed up some brochures so people could learn a little history of the town. It mentions Samuel Merrick, your great-great-grandpa. If it wasn’t for him, this town wouldn’t exist. But I suppose you’re familiar with the story.”

As a matter of fact, Cole wasn’t. His dad hadn’t talked about Mirror Lake very often, and Sloan wasn’t the kind of man who’d propped his grandchildren on his knee and entertained them with stories about the family genealogy.

“Thanks.” Cole folded up the brochure and stuck it in his back pocket, anxious to intercept Grace before she left.

“If you’re looking for Grace, you just missed her,” a young woman pointed to the side door.

Sometimes, Cole thought, being in a small town where everyone was privy to everyone else’s business was a good thing.

As he jogged down the row of cars parked along the road, it occurred to Cole that he had no idea what kind of vehicle Grace drove. Other than a horse-drawn wagon.

“Grace’s truck is the third one from the end,” someone called. “Silver Ford.”

“Thanks,” Cole called back, unable to keep the smile out of his voice as he dodged an abandoned stroller.

A hundred feet away, he saw the silhouette of a woman with her back against the door of a compact pickup truck, the vehicle of choice in this area of the state. Grace’s head was tipped toward the sky, eyes trained on a band of moonlight that spilled through a seam in the clouds. Her lips were moving, and Cole knew she wasn’t talking to herself, she was talking to God.

Her strong faith had both mystified and challenged him when they’d first met. After his father died, Cole wasn’t sure whether to blame God or ignore Him completely. Grace was the one who’d said it was okay to be honest and simply tell Him that.

Cole felt something inside him shift and break loose from its moorings. What would his life be like if he’d told Grace the truth about his family? Would she have waited for him? Or run in the opposite direction?

Not that it mattered now. He’d made the decision for them and never looked back.

Cole took another step forward, feeling very much like the intruder that he was.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

Grace started at the sound of his voice but didn’t look at him. The gravel crunched under Cole’s feet as he made his way to her side.

“It’s not your fault.” She sighed. “I should have told you the box social was the kickoff for the other events this weekend, but...”

She hadn’t thought he’d stick around.

Cole was tempted to apologize, except he wasn’t sure he was sorry things had worked out this way. A plan slowly began to take shape in his mind.