Kitabı oku: «A Mother's Secret»

Chapter Two

Chase pulled his phone from his back pocket and stepped out the front door of the house. Bright sunshine filtered through the massive pine trees lining the circle drive. An old tennis court and pool house sat on the sprawling front lawn, and stone pathways crisscrossed over the property, leading down the hill at the back of the mansion to the river beyond. Why had Chase waited so long to return to Bee Tree Hill? He had been in Italy on business when he got word that Uncle Morgan had passed. It had been impossible to get a flight home on such short notice, so he had missed the funeral. He should have made a point to come back to visit before Uncle Morgan died, even if it meant facing his past mistakes.

He walked to a double gliding swing and sat, tapping the phone icon on his screen. He found his father’s number and pressed Call.

It rang several times and then his father answered. “Did you have any trouble getting in?”

“Hi, Dad.” Chase could imagine his father sitting in his office in downtown Seattle, mist outside the large windows, and a view of the Space Needle not too far away.

“What do you need, Chase?”

Taking a deep breath, he rose from the swing, not able to stay still. “We have a problem.”

There was a pause. “What kind of problem?”

Chase didn’t want to tell his father that Joy was the one living in the house. If he knew who it was, he would probably call Chase home and send someone else to deal with the situation.

“Apparently, Uncle Morgan had moved into the carriage house a couple years ago and was letting a woman live in the mansion. She’s a foster mom and has five kids. Mrs. Thompson is still living here, too, helping with the kids.”

“What’s the problem?”

Chase rubbed the tension in the back of his neck as he paced across the manicured lawn. “She told me that Uncle Morgan wanted her to stay here, even after his death.”

“I’m sure she did.” Dad’s sarcastic words were flat and devoid of emotion. “Tell her she has a week to vacate the premises.”

“I can’t do that.”

Dead silence on the other end of the phone wasn’t a good sign.

The boys ran out of the house, shouting and hollering in excitement as they disappeared around the corner of the mansion. Chase moved in that direction, drawn to their enthusiasm.

“The mom has nowhere to go,” Chase continued. “Not to mention Mrs. Thompson. She’s lived here for at least thirty years. Where will she go?”

“That’s not my problem. My grandfather built Bee Tree Hill and when he died, he left the estate to the corporation. We allowed Uncle Morgan to live there, because it was the only home he’d ever known. Now that he’s dead and there are no other Ashers living in Timber Falls, we can finally sell the estate. I won’t let a woman and her kids dictate what we do with the place.”

Uncle Morgan had shared the history of the estate with Chase when he’d stayed with him four years ago. Chase’s great-great-grandfather was a lumber baron in Illinois who had sent each of his sons to a different location in the Western United States to build sawmills in the 1890s. He sent John, Chase’s great-grandfather, to Timber Falls, Minnesota, and that’s when John built Bee Tree Hill. Uncle Morgan was one of John’s sons. He was born and raised in the mansion, and had chosen to stay when the rest of the family moved to Seattle where the company was now headquartered. The property had been part of the family legacy for over a century and it seemed like a shame to sell it now, but it wasn’t up to Chase.

“It’s going to take me at least a month to get the place ready to sell,” Chase said, trying to buy time for Joy and the kids. “I need to have an appraiser look at a hundred years’ worth of antiques and collectibles, not to mention all the work that needs to be done around here. It could take another month or so to find a buyer after that. Why can’t we let her stay until we sell the place? Timber Falls is a small town. It would look bad for the corporation if we kicked out a foster mom, her five kids and an old woman with little warning.”

Dad hated looking bad. It was the reason he had stepped in when he heard Chase wanted to marry Joy. One of the first things he said to Chase was, “What would it look like if you married a woman who grew up in foster care?” He had different plans for Chase, which included marrying the daughter of one of his business partners. But Chase had messed that up, too. Tamara was tired of waiting for Chase to set a wedding date after being engaged for three years, so she left him just before he went to Italy. It wasn’t even two months since their breakup and she had already become engaged to someone else.

“Fine.” Dad’s voice was louder than it needed to be. “She can stay, but only until the end of July. That should give her plenty of time to find a place to live.”

Relief filled Chase. At least Joy had two months to figure out a different plan. He took the stone steps down the hill, toward the river and the sound of the boys playing. “What about Mrs. Thompson?”

“I don’t care about the staff.” Dad was the president and CEO of the Asher Corporation and he’d earned his way to the top by being a hard-nosed businessman. His lack of empathy was famous in the Asher family, but very few people understood it as well as Chase. “She should have planned better,” Dad said. “Let her stay until the end of July, too, but not a day longer. And keep an eye on all of them. Once they know they’re being evicted, they’ll probably start selling off the antiques.”

Chase had nothing but respect for Joy and Mrs. Thompson and he knew they would never stoop so low. “I will.”

“Chase.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t mess this up, too. It’s an easy job. That’s why I sent you to do it.” His father hung up without a goodbye.

Chase lowered his phone and stared at the home screen for a second. His parents had divorced years ago, and his mother hardly spoke to his father anymore. Chase’s aunts, uncles and cousins also kept their distance. The only person who spoke to Malcolm, besides Chase, was his aunt Constance. She and Uncle Morgan had been siblings. She was the last family member from that generation to remain alive and she took it upon herself to remind Malcolm—and the rest of the family—where they came from.

What would it be like to have a father he could lean on for support or a word of wisdom? Aunt Constance said Dad wasn’t always this way. His love of money and power had turned him into a ruthless man. He wanted Chase to take over the business one day, but if Chase followed in his steps, would he become like his dad?

The day he had walked away from Joy, he suspected he had the ability to become ruthless. But how did he stop the trajectory of his life, when he wanted to please his father, despite all the pain and heartache his father had caused?

Chase found the boys near a large basswood tree, a pile of old lumber sitting at the base, and another pile nailed to the tree in a dangerous, haphazard way. The oldest boy had a handful of nails and one of the smaller boys held a hammer.

“What are you boys doing?” Chase asked, his hands in his pockets.

“Building a tree fort,” the smallest one said. “Did you ever build a tree fort?”

Chase hadn’t spent much time playing outside as a kid. In the summer, when most boys were building tree forts, he was inside with a tutor, hired to teach him French and trigonometry. His father wanted him to be the smartest student in his class, but all Chase wanted was freedom to play like a normal kid. “No, but I always wanted one.”

“Do you like our fort?” The oldest pointed up into the tree.

Chase tried to keep his face from showing his real thoughts about the mess in the tree. “That looks a little dangerous.”

“It’s okay, if we’re careful.” The boy started to climb a makeshift ladder they had nailed into one of the trunks of the massive tree. The strip of wood spun and his foot slipped off.

“I think you better not climb up there.” Chase was tall enough to push on one of the boards. It dislodged and fell between the trunks. “Does your mom know you’re building this?”

The oldest boy shrugged.

“Did you tell her?”

“No.”

“Will you help us?” the youngest asked, his blue eyes wide with hope.

Chase had a hundred things he needed to do, but none of it sounded half as fun as building a tree fort. The boys had a couple months left at Bee Tree Hill, why not give them good memories while he could? “We can ask your mom if it’s okay at supper. If she says yes, then we can make our plans for a proper tree fort.”

The boys cheered and dropped all their supplies.

“Let’s go now,” said the oldest.

“We can wait for supper.” Chase smiled at the kids, their enthusiasm contagious. “I don’t even know your names.”

“I’m Ryan,” said the oldest. “I’m eight. Jordan is seven, and Kodi is six.”

“I’m Chase.” He wasn’t sure if Joy wanted them to call him Mr. Asher, but he didn’t want to sound so formal. People called his dad Mr. Asher. “I’ll be living in the carriage house for a while.”

“Come on, Chase.” Kodi took his hand and tugged him toward the barn on the south end of the property. For some reason, his fingers were covered in chocolate. “We’ll show you where we got the wood.”

He let go of Chase’s hand and took off running down the road that led around the base of the hill. Ryan and Jordan trailed after their little brother, glancing over their shoulders to make sure Chase was following.

It was bad enough forcing Joy and Mrs. Thompson out of their home, but even worse evicting kids. There had to be a way to keep them all at Bee Tree Hill.

He owed it to Joy to at least try.

The aroma of Mrs. Thompson’s famous lasagna and garlic bread wafted through the house as Joy picked up the coloring books and crayons the girls had left on the dining room table. She had sent them off to the kitchen to wash up for dinner when she had caught sight of Chase walking toward the house with the boys.

Several things had distracted him when he first arrived, and he probably hadn’t had time to think about Kinsley and Harper’s age, or the fact that they had his nose and hair. She’d come to accept that it would be impossible to keep them away from Chase forever. If he suspected he was their father and asked, she wouldn’t lie, but she wasn’t quite ready to tell him, either.

“Mama?” Kodi ran into the house, his big brothers close on his heels. He was the youngest of the boys, but he usually led the way. “Can we build a tree fort with Chase?”

Chase followed the boys into the dining room, his hair windblown and his eyes sparkling.

Joy’s breath caught at the sight of him and it took her a moment to compose her thoughts. Why did he have to be so good-looking?

“I’m sure Mr. Asher has enough to keep busy.” Joy set the coloring books and crayons in a built-in hutch. The dining room, just like the rest of the house, still retained its historic flavor. Thick trim, painted a creamy white, dominated the room, while a chandelier hung over the long walnut table. She kept a tablecloth on it at all times to protect it from the inevitable scratches and dents the kids would inflict on the expensive wood. All the rooms in the house were full of Asher family heirlooms, and it was a full-time job keeping them safe from the kids.

“They can call me Chase,” he said, but then added quickly, “if that’s okay with you.”

It wasn’t okay with her. She’d rather he keep a professional distance from the kids. But one look at their expectant faces and she knew it was already too late.

“Can we build the fort?” Ryan asked, his freckles already becoming more prominent from the sunshine and being outside during the warmer weather. “Chase said he’d help, but we had to ask you first.”

Joy searched Chase’s face. He almost looked as excited and eager as the boys. “Would you like to build them a tree fort?”

He nodded, his mouth tilting up in a smile. “I would.”

“It’ll be better than the one we built,” Ryan said with assurance.

How could she say no to this request? The boys didn’t have many male role models in their life—and though she would have chosen someone other than Chase, it seemed that God had brought him here.

Hopefully not for long.

“Did you speak to your father?” she asked Chase.

“Mama!” the three boys called out impatiently.

“Can we build a fort?” Jordan asked.

It didn’t pay to fight them. She put her hands on Jordan’s cheeks and smiled down into his adorable little face. “You can build your tree fort, but only when Mr. Asher has time. Don’t bug him if he’s busy.” She knew how persistent these children could be. They would drive him crazy if she didn’t stop them.

“Yes!” Ryan pumped his fist in the air and the other two tried to mimic him.

“Now go wash up for supper.” She ruffled Kodi’s hair as he ran past.

The door between the butler’s pantry and the dining room swung on its hinge after the boys rushed through. It squeaked mercilessly.

Chase walked over to the door and opened and closed it a few times. “I’d be happy to fix this for you.”

It had been making that noise for weeks, and Joy would be grateful to have it fixed, but she didn’t want Chase in the house, if she could help it. “I can take care of it.”

“It’s why I came, Joy.” He went to the French doors that led from the fountain room into the dining room and ran his hand over a piece of trim that had come loose. “If you have time tomorrow, I’d like to go through the whole house and make a list of the minor repairs that need attention. If there’s something major, I’ll call a professional.”

Joy was conscious of being alone with Chase, even if her kids and Mrs. Thompson were on the other side of the butler’s pantry. While Chase had called his father, she had run up to her room, pulled her hair out of the messy bun, changed into some cuffed jeggings and put on a nice shirt. She’d even touched up her makeup and slipped on a pair of sandals. She told herself she had done it because he was a guest, and she usually tried to look nice when she entertained—but she knew she had done it because there was still a part of her that didn’t feel worthy of Chase Asher. It was a part that had been with her since she was a child in her first foster home. She was always viewed as the dirty, unlovable kid that no one wanted. When Chase left her, it only confirmed that belief.

“I didn’t realize you were the handy type,” Joy said, wanting to change the course of her thoughts. She was now a respectable adult, raising a houseful of kids. She didn’t have anything to prove to anyone.

He smiled as he continued around the dining room inspecting the trim, the windows, even the wallpaper. “When I was here last time—” He paused and glanced at her, regret on his face. “About that, Joy. I’d like to explain why—”

She lifted her hand to stop him. “Please don’t.” There was nothing he could say to make up for what he had done to her. She’d rather they not discuss it.

Chase let out a long sigh. “Mr. Thompson took me under his wing that summer and taught me a lot. I helped him with several projects and found I had the knack for handiwork. You can trust me.”

Trust him. How could she ever trust him again?

“Dinner’s ready.” Mrs. Thompson poked her head into the dining room. “Come and get it.”

“Aren’t we eating in here?” Chase asked.

Joy wrinkled her nose. “We prefer to eat in the kitchen. The dining room feels too formal.”

She led him into the butler’s pantry and through another swinging door into the kitchen. The room wasn’t overly large, but it was big enough for a table and chairs. A large window looked out at the river, displaying the late evening sun glistening off the water.

“It smells delicious, Mrs. Thompson.” Chase went to the sink and washed his hands. “I remember your lasagna well.”

Mrs. Thompson grinned. “I thought you would. I once made a pan, just for you.” Her eyes grew wide when she looked at the children. “And he ate the whole thing in one sitting!”

“Whoa!” Ryan said, clearly impressed by such a feat.

“Hello again,” Chase said to Harper and Kinsley, who were seated in their booster chairs at the table, large bibs covering their pink and purple overalls.

Joy held her breath while her pulse ticked in her wrists. Would he recognize them as his daughters now?

“Sit here,” Kinsley ordered Chase, pointing to the chair beside her.

“Please,” Joy reminded her, watching Chase closely. If he had any suspicions, he didn’t show them.

“I’d be happy to sit beside you,” Chase answered, “but you better not try to steal my lasagna.”

Kinsley’s dimpled grin lit up her face. “I eat all your lasagna!”

“Not if I can help it.” Chase laughed with the little girl and Joy’s heart squeezed at the sight. From the moment she knew the girls were on their way, to this moment now, she had always wondered what it would have been like if Chase had chosen her over his family money. All throughout her uncertain pregnancy, while she was giving birth and in the long months afterward when she was trying to finish college and get a job, she had been so angry at him. As a child, she had promised herself a different life for her children than the one she had been dealt—yet here she was, a single woman, trying to do the work of both mom and dad. She couldn’t even guarantee a place for the kids to live.

Harper sat across the table from Kinsley and Chase, uncertainty in her dark brown eyes. She was the least likely of Joy’s children to embrace a stranger, but when she allowed someone into her heart, she held on to them fiercely. Joy had witnessed it in the Sunday school classroom, in her preschool classroom and in their interactions with neighbors and friends. Would Harper ever embrace Chase?

“Hello, Harper.” Chase must have noticed the little girl’s frown as she stared at him.

Harper didn’t respond, but put her head down on her folded arms.

The food was already on the table, so Joy took a seat beside Harper and laid her hand on her back. “Harper is just a little shy around strangers,” she tried to explain—though why she felt the need to clarify anything to Chase was a mystery to her. After the way he had left her, he deserved very little from her or the children.

“Let’s say grace.” Joy took Harper’s and Jordan’s hands and bowed her head, but she kept her eyes open to see how Chase would handle praying with the family. When he had been in Timber Falls the last time, they had spent hours talking about their questions concerning God. It wasn’t until after the girls were born, and Mrs. Thompson had introduced Joy to the members of her church, that Joy had embraced her faith. Had Chase become a believer, too?

He didn’t hesitate, but took Kinsley’s hand in one and Ryan’s hand in the other. He also bowed his head, but caught her watching him before he closed his eyes. His smile was soft and gentle, but it made her cheeks burn.

Closing her eyes tight, she prayed, “Lord, thank You for this meal, this family and all Your provisions. Amen.”

“And thank You for Chase,” Kodi added quickly. “And the tree fort he’s going to build us.”

“Amen,” everyone else echoed.

“Tree fort?” Kinsley’s eyes grew wide. “I come to your tree fort?”

“No, Kinney, you’re too little,” Kodi told her as he took a piece of bread from the basket passing by.

“I not too little!” She frowned indignantly, crossing her arms.

Chase smiled. “Would you like some salad, Miss Kinsley?”

Her frown deepened and she wrinkled her nose. “Carrots are yucky.”

“Then pick them out,” Joy told her daughter.

Kinsley started to pick out the carrot sticks on her plate. While Chase was helping Jordan, she quietly set the offensive vegetables on Chase’s plate.

“What’s this?” Chase asked when he finished with Jordan. He hadn’t placed anything on his plate yet, so the carrots were obviously not his.

Kinsley took a bite out of her garlic bread. “They’re yucky.”

“Then why would I want them?” he asked.

“Because you’re an adult,” Kodi supplied, as if the answer was obvious. “And adults eat their vegetables. Right, Mom?”

Joy nodded, hiding a smile. “Kids should eat their vegetables, too.”

A chorus of complaints filled the kitchen and then the conversation shifted in a dozen different directions. Since Chase was new to the kids, he was the center of their attention, and he answered all their questions patiently.

Joy watched him interact with the kids while a deep sadness overtook her. Why couldn’t things have been different? Why had he told her he loved her four years ago, when he didn’t plan to stick around and prove it to her? Were they just flowery words, used to get what he wanted?

It didn’t matter anymore. She had learned her lesson.

She’d never trust Chase Asher again.

Chapter Three

“It’s getting late,” Mrs. Thompson said as she set her coffee cup in the sink. “Here I’ve been, talking your ear off, and you’re probably tired from all your traveling today.” She set her hand on Chase’s shoulder as she took his dirty plate. “You should head on down to the carriage house and get some sleep.”

The sooner he was out of the mansion, the better. Joy stood and took her plate to the sink. The kids were watching TV in the front parlor while Mrs. Thompson and Chase had visited. Over the past thirty minutes, she had discovered that Chase graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, the year after he left Timber Falls, had gone on to work with his father directly after college and was now living in Seattle. When Mrs. Thompson had asked if there was a special lady in his life, he had evaded the question and changed the subject.

Was there someone else in his life now? Did that someone know he was in Timber Falls with the mother of his children at this very moment?

Joy checked her thoughts and forced herself to stop thinking about Chase’s love life.

“Let me help clear the table,” Chase said.

“Nonsense.” Mrs. Thompson took a dirty glass out of his hand. “I’ll call the kids back in and they can help with the dishes. You should go with Joy and she’ll show you around the carriage house.”

The sun had already set, so the last streaks of daylight were splayed against the sky in pinks and purples. If she wanted to get him settled before it grew completely dark, they’d need to hurry. She’d prefer to send him there alone, but she still didn’t know how his conversation had gone with his father and she hadn’t wanted to ask in front of the children or Mrs. Thompson. If it hadn’t gone well, she’d find a way to tell them herself.

“I’ll grab the keys to the carriage house, if you want to drive your car down the hill,” she said to Chase.

He nodded and cleared another plate off the table, despite Mrs. Thompson’s protests. “Thank you for the delicious meal.”

The older lady’s cheeks glowed at the praise. “Anytime.”

While Chase went out to his car, Joy grabbed the keys from a drawer in the foyer.

Stepping outside, she inhaled the fresh scent of early summer. Ducks quacked in a nearby pond, birds chirped from the treetops and squirrels pranced around the lawn. Deep green foliage filled in the space between branches, offering lushness to the great outdoors.

She walked down the hill to the white carriage house at the bottom and waited for Chase to park his rented Jeep Wrangler. The canvas top was down and he looked every bit the carefree son of a millionaire.

What would he think of her silver minivan, with dried french fries and cheesy fish crackers littering the floor? They were definitely living in two different worlds.

He jumped out of the Jeep and took his suitcase from the back seat.

“It’s amazing how little this place has changed,” he said as he followed her up the steep set of stairs outside the carriage house. The apartment was on the upper level, while the original carriages were stored in the garage on the main level. When Uncle Morgan had lived here, they had installed a chair lift to take him up and down the stairs, though he didn’t leave the house often.

“Why change something that’s already perfect?” she asked.

“I couldn’t agree more.” His voice had dropped an octave and Joy forced herself not to assume a deeper meaning behind his words.

When she reached the top of the steps, she unlocked the door and pushed it open. The apartment was dark, but she knew her way around. She and the kids had visited Uncle Morgan often, and he was always ready to hear about their lives. The place wasn’t the same without him.

She flipped on the light switch as they stepped into the kitchen.

“Here are the keys.” Joy turned and found Chase right behind her—much too close. She took a step back and handed him the keys. Their fingertips brushed against each other and she pulled away quickly. She remembered his touch all too well. “You should have everything you need,” she went on. “We didn’t move anything out after Uncle Morgan died, so you’ll find all the necessities.” Joy started to step around him to leave the apartment.

“Are you going?” he asked, setting his suitcase on the tile floor. “I had hoped to talk to you about the conversation with my dad.”

How had she forgotten so quickly? “Okay.”

He pulled one of the chairs out from the table. “Why don’t you sit down?”

Joy did as he asked and took the seat. Unease crept into her stomach as she watched him settle into the chair opposite her. Why didn’t he just get it over with? Tell her what she was dealing with.

“My father agreed to let you stay until the end of July.” Chase’s forehead wrinkled in dismay as he spoke to her. “I told him what you said about Uncle Morgan’s wishes, but he won’t budge.” He swallowed and reached across the table to touch Joy’s hand.

She pulled away, like she had just been burned.

Chase nodded, as if he understood that he had no right to touch her anymore. “He wanted to give you a week, but I talked him into letting you stay for two months.”

Joy couldn’t sit. Standing, she walked over to the counter and turned to face him. Had he fought hard for them, or simply given in to his father again? “I love Bee Tree Hill.” She looked down at the floor, afraid she might cry. It was the last thing she wanted. She’d told herself years ago she would never let someone else see her pain. They just used it to hurt her. “I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived anywhere in my life—and the kids—” She couldn’t continue.

Chase rose from his chair and crossed the room. “I’m sorry, Joy. If I had a choice, I’d let you and the kids stay here forever.”

His words and voice were so genuine, she almost believed he cared. But she knew better.

She moved away from him again and stood by the sink. “There has to be a way we can keep Bee Tree Hill.”

“I wish there was, but I have no choice. I have to put it up for sale.”

“Why can’t I buy it?”

He frowned. “You?”

Indignation rose in her gut. “Why not?”

“Joy, it’s worth millions of dollars. Do you have that kind of cash?”

“Of course not—but it’s not impossible.” Her mind started to race with possibilities. “I can apply for grants, ask service organizations for donations, hold fund-raisers and apply for a loan.” If she’d learned anything in life, she had learned how to fight for what she wanted. “If you give me enough time, I can come up with the money.”

“I don’t know...”

“Just give me a chance. I have to try.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he nodded. “If you think you can do it...”

“I know I can.” She crossed the room and turned when she got to the door. Desperation tinged her voice, but she didn’t care. She had to fight for Bee Tree Hill. If she didn’t, she couldn’t face her kids. “I’ll do everything in my power to raise enough money.”

“I still have a job to do here,” Chase said. “My father is expecting reports, so I’m going to have an appraiser come in and let me know what everything is worth. I’m also going to make all the necessary repairs and go through Uncle Morgan’s personal items.”

“I know.” She didn’t care what Chase had to do. All she cared about was raising the money. “And I’ll meet with you tomorrow to go through the house and grounds to make a list of repairs.” She needed to reassure him that she wouldn’t be a hindrance to him, but would cooperate. If she was amiable and easy to work with, maybe he could convince his father to lower the price for the property—or give her more time. Anything would help.

“Okay.” His smile looked sad and it made his blue eyes soften at the corners. “I hope you raise the money, Joy. I wouldn’t want anyone else to own Bee Tree Hill.”

His words brought a lump to her throat and she turned to leave. She was going to cry and she couldn’t let him see.

The next afternoon, Chase sat in the Jeep outside the mansion as he waited for Joy. Sunshine warmed his shoulders, while the breeze off the river was just enough to keep him from getting too hot. Up above, the tops of the pine trees swayed in the wind, while white cumulus clouds drifted by in the bright blue sky.

He had forgotten how much he loved Minnesota in the summer, especially here in Timber Falls, where life had a slower pace and neighbors still took the time to visit one another. Back in Seattle, he hardly knew the names of the people who lived in his apartment building, and he never visited with them. It was strange if they shared more than a brief hello in the hallway.

“Sorry.” Joy stepped out of the house and came to the Jeep, her purse over her shoulder. “I had a harder time than usual putting Kinsley down for a nap. I try not to leave all five children with Mrs. Thompson, unless the girls are sleeping.”

She grabbed the roll bar and pulled herself into the Jeep. He was astonished all over again that this young, attractive woman was the mother of five children. She was trim, stylish and had more energy than anyone he’d ever met. Her dark blond hair was a little longer than he remembered, but still as silky and thick. She tucked one side of it behind her ear like she used to, and let the rest fall over her shoulders.

A memory from their summer together hit him like it was yesterday. They had taken a picnic basket to the riverside and spent hours lying on a blanket, watching the water flow by, talking about what they wanted out of life. Chase had run his fingers through her hair as it lay splayed on the blanket and she had smiled up at him, love, trust and hope in her beautiful brown eyes. And that’s when he knew he had wanted to marry her. Later that evening, he had called his father to tell him he wouldn’t be returning to Seattle after graduation that year. He had wanted to marry Joy and move to Timber Falls.

But Dad had other plans, and he was in Timber Falls less than twenty-four hours later, giving Chase the ultimatum.

“Do you remember how to find the hardware store?” Joy asked, looking over the list they had compiled earlier.

Chase pulled his mind out of the past and nodded. “I went there almost every day with Mr. Thompson.” He put the Jeep in Drive and pulled out of the estate. The top of the vehicle was still down and the wind pushed and tugged at them.

“Thanks for inviting me to come with you and help choose the paint.” Joy held her hair back with her right hand. “I know you didn’t have to.”

Several of the rooms in the house hadn’t seen a fresh coat of paint in years, so Chase had invited Joy along to pick out the colors she liked. If it was up to him, he would have chosen white for everything. Even if they were only there for a couple more months, he wanted Joy and the kids to feel at home.

“I don’t know what color to get for Kinsley and Harper’s room,” she said with a sigh. “Kinsley insists on pink and Harper on purple.”

Chase couldn’t help but smile. It was easy to tell the girls apart that morning when he’d joined them for breakfast, because they were dressed the same as the day before, except this time, they weren’t wearing overalls, but matching sundresses. Pink for Kinsley, purple for Harper.

“You can’t change the color of their clothes, or I’ll never get them straight.” Chase took a left onto Main Street, the sight of the stately brick buildings bringing back even more memories.

“I’ve bought everything in those two colors.” Joy’s hair continued to blow in the wind, giving her a wild, carefree look. “If one of them decides to like yellow or green, I’ll be in trouble.”

Chase was quiet for a moment as he thought about the twins. Of all the things that had surprised him these past couple of days, Joy’s twin daughters were the biggest shock. They had her brown eyes and her heart-shaped mouth, but those were the only features they shared with their mom. Yesterday, he hadn’t thought too much about their father, but today, the thought had crossed his mind several times. Was Joy still in a relationship with him? If she was, no one had mentioned it. Had the dad skipped out on her? Was he still part of their lives?

It wasn’t his place to ask her such a personal question, especially if the breakup was painful, but he couldn’t help but wonder. Would she open up about it, if he asked?

Joy waved at several people along Main Street and one older gentleman shouted a hello as they turned onto Broadway. The sun reflected off the large plate glass windows on several buildings. A bakery, a bookstore, a woman’s clothing store and more filled the charming downtown. Colorful flower baskets hung from historic streetlights and cast-iron benches were positioned along the tree-lined street.

At the hardware store, it took them over an hour to select paint and find all the necessary supplies to make repairs on their list. They carried doorknobs, hinges, light switches and plaster out to the Jeep when they were finished.

“Is the West Side Café still open?” Chase asked Joy after they secured their purchases in the back seat.

“Of course.” She repositioned a can of paint. “It’s the most popular restaurant in town.”

“I have been craving their stuffed hash browns and biscuits and gravy for years.” Just the thought of them made his stomach growl. “How about an early supper?”

She paused as she climbed into the Jeep. Her face grew serious and she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Chase.”

He got into the driver’s seat, but didn’t put the keys in the ignition. “Why not?”

She sat and clasped her hands on her lap. “It’s too complicated.”

Chase put his hands on the steering wheel and studied the bricks on the building ahead of him. He didn’t want to go another step further until he apologized to her, but how could he put into words the regret he felt? There was no way to explain his actions—or any excuse that could possibly make up for the heartache he was sure she had endured. The only thing he could think to say was, “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t respond, but stayed motionless in the seat next to him.

He faced her. “There’s nothing I can say—”

“No.” She swallowed. “There’s not, so please don’t even try.”

“But I have to. I was young and stupid—not to mention scared.” His words sounded flat, even to himself. “I know that’s not an excuse, but it’s the truth. If I could go back—”

“What?” She finally looked at him. “What would you do differently? Stay? Stand up to your father?” She put up her hand. “No. Don’t answer me. I don’t want to know. I’d prefer to just focus on the present and what I need to do to keep Bee Tree Hill for my children.”

“Joy?” A tall man approached the Jeep wearing a black pinstripe suit and a red tie. He wore shiny black shoes and dark sunglasses, and carried a briefcase.

“Tom.” Joy got out of the Jeep and met him in the parking lot. They embraced and when Joy pulled away, she had a beautiful smile on her face. “When did you get back?”

“Last night.” He took off his sunglasses and grinned at Joy. “I was going to call when I got home, but it was too late. And then this morning, I had an early hearing. I was just entering the courthouse when I saw you.” He held her at arm’s length. “You look great.”

Joy dipped her head and continued to smile. “You look good yourself. The Florida sun agrees with you.”

Chase stepped out of the Jeep, tired of being ignored, and extended his hand to Joy’s friend. “I’m Chase.”

“I’m sorry.” Joy motioned to Chase. “Tom Winston, this is Chase Asher—Morgan Asher’s great-nephew.”

Tom’s eyebrows came up. “This is Chase?”

Chase clenched his jaw at the question, but Joy simply nodded.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” Tom shook Chase’s hand with a steel-like grip. “What brings you back to town?”

Chase hated to say why he came, but he had little other choice. “I’m here on behalf of the Asher Corporation to sell Bee Tree Hill.”

Tom’s smile fell and he looked at Joy. “Did you know this was going to happen?”

She shook her head. “I thought Uncle Morgan made his wishes known to the corporation, but apparently he didn’t.” Her mouth thinned. “And, if he did, I doubt his wishes would be honored.”

It was a dig to Chase’s family, but it was probably true.

“Do you want me to check and see if there’s anything you can do from a legal standpoint?” Tom asked. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes for you and the kids.”

Joy put her hand on Tom’s arm and smiled. “I know you are, but I don’t think there’s much you can do this time.”

Tom’s face was serious as he looked deep into Joy’s eyes. “If you’d only give me the word, I’d be by your side. You know I’d go to the moon and back for you and the kids.”

Chase narrowed his gaze as he studied Tom’s face. Was there a resemblance between him and the twins?

“Tom.” Joy glanced at Chase, her cheeks turning pink. Was she embarrassed that Chase heard Tom?

“I ask her to marry me about every six months since she told me she was pregnant with the girls.” Tom pulled Joy to his side and put his arm around her, but he looked at Chase. “Maybe you can convince her to say yes to me.”

She put her hand on Tom’s chest and playfully pushed him away. “You only ask me because you feel sorry for me.”

“Your words hurt, Joy.” Tom grinned, but then he grew serious again. “And you know that’s not true.”

An awkward silence came between them and Chase stepped over to the Jeep to open the door for Joy. “We should probably get back. Mrs. Thompson will be wondering why we’ve been gone so long.”

“Are you staying at Bee Tree Hill?” Tom asked Chase.

“In the carriage house,” Joy supplied as she got into the Jeep and closed the door. The window had been rolled down, so she put her elbow on the ledge and reached out to take Tom’s hand. “Come by sometime soon. The kids miss you.”

Tom wrapped both his hands around Joy’s. “I will. And I’ll see if I can do something about the estate.”

“Thanks.” She waved as Chase jumped into the Jeep and started the engine.

For some reason, knowing who possibly fathered Kinsley and Harper didn’t fill Chase with relief. Instead, it made him more uneasy than before. But why wasn’t Joy with Tom? He seemed like a nice, successful kind of guy. He was clearly interested in marrying her. So why did she remain single?

They didn’t speak the entire way back to Bee Tree Hill.

Chase pulled into the circle drive and parked the Jeep near the front door. When he turned off the engine, they sat in silence for a heartbeat before they spoke at the same time.

“Who is Tom?”

“Tom is an old friend.”

Again, silence.

“How long have you known him?” Chase asked.

She shrugged. “Since I was in high school. We dated on and off, but then the summer you came...” Her words trailed away.

“Did you connect with him after I left?”

Joy’s fists rested on her knees and she let out a sigh. “I would rather not discuss it.”

She opened the door and reached into the back to grab a couple gallons of paint, and then went into the mansion.

Chase sat in the Jeep for another minute wishing he could turn back the clock and do everything differently. He wanted to ask Joy if Tom was the father of her twins, but he suspected he already knew the truth.

They looked just like the overly friendly lawyer.

Chapter Four

Early morning sunshine streamed through the multipaned window of Joy’s small sitting room. It connected to the master bedroom and served as her private office, as well as a place for her morning devotions. The window was cracked just enough for her to feel the fresh air and hear the birds singing in the basswood trees just beyond the mansion. In July, they would bloom and their fragrance would fill the air with the sweetest perfume. The trees also attracted honeybees, which was how the estate had been named.

But her mind wasn’t on the honeybees, or even the beautiful morning. From her vantage point, she had a view of the carriage house, distracting her and causing her to think about Chase.

The previous afternoon, when they’d returned from the hardware store, they had gone their separate ways. He had started to fix some of the minor, more bothersome issues around the house, and she had gone into the girls’ room to start clearing out the furniture for Chase to paint the walls. The boys had followed Chase around for the remainder of the day, and though she had tried to call them away from him several times, he’d insisted that he didn’t mind. Instead of grow impatient, he had taught them how to use a hammer and screwdriver, showed them how to replace a hinge and water faucet and even did a little math with them using his measuring tape.

And they didn’t even complain about adding when they were on summer break.

While Chase had put blue painters tape around the trim in the girls’ room, and Mrs. Thompson had entertained the girls with some gardening, Joy had begun working on the grants and fund-raising efforts to buy Bee Tree Hill. She hadn’t gotten far, though, since the girls’ room was close to her office and she could hear Chase talking with the boys. They hung on his every word and told him things they’d never told her. She’d tried not to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help it. She’d learned things about the boys’ past that made her want to weep for them—but throughout the conversation, Chase had been a pillar of support for the boys, never pressuring them to talk, or making them feel unimportant.

Now, as she sat in her office, researching possible grants online, her gaze drifted to the window, searching for a glimpse of the man who still made her heart gallop, despite her best efforts.

“How about a cup of coffee and a friendly face?” Mrs. Thompson asked, entering the room with two steaming mugs.

The smell of freshly-brewed coffee made Joy turn her attention away from the window. “Always,” she said with a smile.

Mrs. Thompson handed Joy one cup and took a seat on the lounge chair near Joy’s desk. She settled back and put her feet on the ottoman, a satisfied smile touching her lips just before she took a sip of the coffee. “The first sip is my favorite.”

Joy leaned back in her chair and did the same. “You make the best coffee.”

Mrs. Thompson held her cup between her two palms and studied Joy. “When are you going to tell him?”

With a sigh, Joy set her cup on her desk and crossed her arms and legs, not ready to face this topic.

“When you became pregnant,” Mrs. Thompson said, “Morgan wanted you to call Chase—”

“And I did—he just didn’t answer.”

“If you remember correctly, Morgan said he’d find a number that would work, but you said you weren’t ready and made us promise not to tell him.”

“You know how devastated I was when Chase left.”

“Yes.” Mrs. Thompson took another sip of coffee. “And that’s why we didn’t pressure you to say anything until after the girls were born. But at that time, you were just trying to keep yourself afloat and finish college.”

“That wasn’t a good time to tell him, either.” Indignation rose in Joy’s chest. “I had as much as I could handle just surviving. I didn’t need the added emotional stress of telling Chase about the girls.” Or worrying that he might take them from her.

“And when you finally had a handle on being a single mom and you finished college,” she patted Joy’s knee, “—which I’m so proud of you for—then you were busy trying to find a job.”

“I couldn’t handle telling Chase when I was dealing with everything else.”

“But then you found a job,” Mrs. Thompson continued, “and I told you it was time to tell Chase, but then you learned about the boys and decided to start fostering them.”

“And I couldn’t have done it without you and Uncle Morgan.”

“We were happy to help,” she said, “but, honey, it’s time to tell Chase.”

Joy shook her head. “Not now, not when we’ve just learned that we might be homeless.”

Leaning forward, Mrs. Thompson leveled her gaze on Joy. “Life will never be perfect enough to tell Chase the truth. Something will always come up. We’re either in a crisis, just past a crisis or about to enter one. If you wait too long, and he learns the truth some other way, it will just cause more pain.”

Lifting her mug off the desk, Joy couldn’t deny Mrs. Thompson’s wisdom. When was the last time her life was uncomplicated? When might everything be perfect enough for her to tell Chase he was a father?

Joy lowered her cup to her lap. The brown liquid was more hazelnut creamer than coffee. She was quiet for a moment as she took stock of her real fear. “What if he tried to take them?”

“I know that’s the real reason you haven’t told him.” Mrs. Thompson set her coffee on the desk and scooted forward to place her hands on Joy’s knees. “But you can’t let that keep you from telling him the truth. I know he left, and I know he hurt you, but I also know that those two baby girls need to know who their daddy is—and he needs to know them.” She put one hand under Joy’s chin and tilted her face up. “God’s got this, honey. He’s not surprised by any of it. He’s not surprised that Chase is back, or that he came to sell the estate or that you’re afraid to say something.”

“But how do I know it will come out okay in the end?”

“You don’t. All you can hope is that God will use this for your good and His glory, no matter how things turn out.”

Joy took a deep breath and tried to nod. She realized Mrs. Thompson spoke the truth—she just had a hard time believing it. “What if—” She paused, almost more afraid of the alternative thought that had plagued her all these years. “What if he doesn’t want anything to do with them?”

“Kind of like your daddy didn’t want you?” She spoke gently, but the words dug into Joy like a knife.

She couldn’t even respond.

“I wish I could promise you that Chase will do the right thing—but I can’t. I also wish I could promise you that he’ll be a good daddy—but I can’t. What I can promise you is that God will always be the Father you and those girls need—and, God willing, I’ll be here to help as much as I can.”

Joy set her coffee on the desk and leaned into Mrs. Thompson’s embrace. The older woman was as dear to Joy as a real mother—something Joy had not had since she was nine years old.

“I love you,” Joy said to her surrogate mama. “I’m so happy you’re a part of my life.”

“I love you, too, honey.” Mrs. Thompson sat back and took her coffee again. “And I’ll be praying for you and Chase and those children.” She winked and nodded. “You’ll see—God has a plan and everything will turn out exactly how He wants it to turn out.”

Joy clung to Mrs. Thompson’s confidence, even though she didn’t have any herself. Life had taught her to expect and prepare for the worst, and though she hated that about herself, she didn’t know how to change.

She would continue to fight for her children—and she would do what was best for them, even if what was best was also what was hardest.

“You know what we should build?” Ryan asked with his eyes big and bright.

“What?” Chase set the first board against the trunk of the tree and held it in place until he could pound a nail through the wood.

“A skylight, so we can look out at the stars. Then, we can have a sleepover in the fort to watch them.”

“You can’t watch the stars while you sleep, silly,” Jordan said, shaking his head.

“No!” Ryan rolled his eyes. “We’ll watch the stars until we fall asleep.”

Kodi cheered at the idea, but Chase simply nodded, as if he was considering the request. “We’ll have to see. I’m not sure I can build such a fancy fort.”

“You can build anything,” Kodi said with awe in his voice.

Chase grinned and started to hammer the nail into place. “Could you fill my tool belt with a few more nails, Jordan?”

Jordan jumped to help and pulled several nails out of a box, then he put them in the tool belt around Chase’s waist.

The warm June weather was as perfect as it could get without the addition of mosquitoes or other pesky bugs. Those would come later in the summer, if Chase’s memory was correct. For now, the bright blue skies, warm breezes and occasional thunderstorms made this his favorite month of the year.

“We’ll put a few boards on the tree for a ladder and then we’ll start on the platform,” Chase explained to the boys. “Hopefully we can get a good start on that before suppertime.”

“Are you going to eat with us again?” Ryan asked. “I heard Mama tell Mrs. Thompson it was awkward to have you eat with us and she wished you didn’t.”

Chase paused as he put another nail in place. Joy didn’t want him eating with her and the children? He tried not to feel offended or embarrassed by the revelation, but he shouldn’t be surprised.

“Ryan!” Jordan said. “That’s not nice.”

Ryan just shrugged. “I didn’t say it—she did.”

Jordan put his hand on Chase’s shoulder. “I want you there.” He smiled. “I like you.”

“So do I,” said Ryan, defensively.

“And me,” agreed Kodi.

“I like you guys, too.” Chase hammered the second nail in place and then tried to wiggle the first board. It didn’t budge. “But if your mom doesn’t want me eating with you, then I should probably start eating in the carriage house.”

“No!” the boys cried in protest.

“See?” Jordan pushed Ryan with his shoulder, a frown on his face.

“It’ll be okay,” Chase tried to assure him, taking another board and placing it above the first. “I’ll still see you all the time.” His phone started to vibrate in his back pocket. He’d turned the ringer off, because it felt like too much of an intrusion into this idyllic place. “I need to take this call,” he said to the boys. “Ryan, do you want to try to nail the next board into place like I just did?”