Season of Hope Read online

  The five-year-old twins and Annabeth ran ahead of Jake and Tori down the rutted tractor path between the cornfields and pasture to Arrowhead Creek, which sliced through the Holland property.

  Turquoise-blue skies and warm sunshine offered a perfect day to fish on the bank. Tori adjusted her tote bag filled with sunblock, a blanket, water bottles and snacks.

  “Want me to take that?” Jake held out his hand.

  “Thanks, but I’ve got it. You have enough to carry.”

  He wore a gray T-shirt and navy khakis. Polarized sunglasses and his Ohio State baseball hat shaded his face. A canvas satchel-like tackle bag hung across his chest as he carried five fishing poles in his left hand.

  “You’re positive you don’t mind us tagging along?”

  “For the last time, no.” A muscle jumped in the side of Jake’s jaw, betraying his words.

  Yeah, that did little to settle her nerves.

  “The fish are going to laugh when they see me casting.”

  “Relax. I’ll help you. Besides, we’ll be pretty busy trying to keep those three little monkeys from splashing in the water.”

  “Maybe we should’ve gone swimming instead.”

  “Uh-uh. Nice try, city girl. You’re not getting out of it that easily.”

  They reached the end of the path and needed to cross the barbed wire fence to enter the section of the pasture next to the creek.

  “Here, Tori, I’ll hold up the fence for you. I have big, strong muscles.” Landon curled his arms to show off his biceps, then he lifted the bottom line of fencing.

  “Careful of the barbs, buddy.” Jake stood behind Landon and helped hold up the wire.

  Annabeth and Olivia scuttled underneath as quick as sand crabs, jumped to their feet and shot their arms in the air. “Your turn, Aunt Tori.”

  Tori eyed the space and glanced at Jake. “How am I supposed to get under there? I’m not exactly built like a five-year-old.”

  A slow smile creased Jake’s face. “And for that, I’m very thankful.”

  Heat settled across her cheeks. Was he flirting with her?

  The man gave her mixed signals.

  She stooped down as low as she could and maneuvered under the fence without catching her hair in the wire. She jumped to her feet as Olivia had done, but with much less grace, no doubt.

  Once Landon was under, Jake released the bottom wire, set the gear on the other side of the fence, then pushed down on the top line and stepped over like it was no big deal.

  The joys of being long-legged.

  The kids ran across the pasture and stopped at the creek bank.

  A downed oak lay over the water, its branches causing a logjam of sticks and surface foam. A couple of ducks quacked as they floated downstream with their flock of growing ducklings. A frog hopped from one of the logs into the water, creating ripples in the deep pool.

  Landon pointed at the water, excitement ringing in his voice. “Uncle Jake, did you see that frog? It was huge!”

  “Yeah, I did, buddy.” He went down on one knee in front of Landon and placed his hands on his shoulders. “You need to stay away from the water near that tree. It’s very deep. Do you understand me?”

  The child nodded, but his eyes stayed fixed on the area where the frog had disappeared.

  “We’ll fish over there.” Jake pointed to a safer, shallow area away from the fallen tree.

  They walked away from the downed tree. Jake flipped open the flap of his tackle bag and pulled out a small container of worms, helping Landon to slide one on his hook.

  Jake scanned the shoreline, then dragged a dry log a safe distance from the water. He helped his nephew to cast his short pole, then instructed him to sit on the log away from the water. While he helped Olivia bait and cast her pole, Tori spread out the blanket on the sun-warmed grass and sat with her knees to her chest as she watched them.

  Annabeth wandered over, clutching a fistful of buttercups. “Aunt Tori, I picked you some flowers.”

  Tori took them and brought them to her nose. “Thanks, sweetie. They’re so pretty.”

  She sat next to Tori on the blanket and rested her head against Tori’s shoulder. “I miss my mommy.”

  “I know, precious. I do, too. But we can talk to her on the computer tonight, remember?” Tori wrapped her arm around the little girl’s shoulders and pulled her close. She pressed her lips against Annabeth’s blond hair. Snuggling with her niece filled her with bittersweet sadness.

  She loved watching Jake with his niece and nephew, but part of her continued to mourn what she’d lost. Seeing Jake’s gentleness and patience with the kids showed what a great father he would’ve been. Was there hope of having a family with him?

  “What’s the matter, Aunt Tori? You look sad.” Annabeth tipped up her head and stared at her.

  Tori wrapped her in a hug and tickled her. “How can I be sad when I’m hanging out with the most wonderful girl on the planet?”

  She giggled, the sweet sound a balm to Tori’s soul. “You’re silly.”

  A quiet click caused Tori’s head to turn in Jake’s direction in time to see him stowing his phone in his back pocket. Had he taken her picture?

  Why?

  “Hey, city girl. Ready to show the fish what you’ve got?”

  Tori nodded and laughed. “Won’t be much of a show. I hope your expectations are pretty low.”

  Holding Annabeth’s hand, Tori walked down the bank to the water’s edge. Jake tossed her a smile that sent her heart tap dancing.

  “AB, ready to catch some fish?”

  She nodded and put her hand in Jake’s large outstretched one. He helped her cast, positioned her on the log next to Olivia and Landon, then turned to Tori. “Your turn.”

  Tori eyed the water and shook her head. “You guys go ahead. I’ll just watch.”

  Jake rolled his eyes. “Nonsense. This is a full-participation family activity.”

  Family.

  Of course Jake didn’t mean that literally. Right? But she’d soak up the moment, squirreling it away in the chest of memories tucked in the back of her heart.

  Jake baited Tori’s hook, then moved next to her. “Remember how to cast?”

  “Is it anything like riding a bike?”

  He grinned. “Of course. Except no chance of falling off.”

  With a shrug, she reached for the pole. Instead of handing it over, Jake held on to it and moved behind her, so close she could smell the scent of his soap and feel his chest pressed against her back. With his muscled arms on each side of her, he cupped his hand over hers as he demonstrated. “This is a spinning reel, so you need to make sure the line is closest to the rod. Then place your hand on the rod and hook your index finger around the line. Be sure you have at least twelve inches of line hanging from the tip of your pole. Open your bail—that curved wire on top—and then bring your rod back over your shoulder. Cast it forward, taking your index finger off the line.”

  Tori tried to pay attention to Jake’s instructions, but his closeness, and the heat of his hand against hers, distracted her from what he was saying.

  Why did he have to smell so good?

  He released her and stepped back. “Think you can try it now?”

  No.

  She nodded, hoping she retained some of his words. She focused on the water, mentally recapping what he’d demonstrated, brought her rod over her shoulder, then cast it forward. Her line landed in the middle of the creek with a subtle plink.

  “Great job. You’re a natural.” Jake smiled and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

  Another time, she would’ve turned her face up to his for a kiss, but things were different between them now. She needed to remember that.

  A splash sounded off to their left.

  “Uncle Jake!” Landon’s scream shattered the tranqui
l stillness, jerking Tori from her thoughts.

  Her eyes scoured the bank to see Landon’s pole on the ground, but he wasn’t anywhere near it. She dropped her rod and ran across the shoreline. “Landon!”

  Jake sloshed through the water toward the fallen tree just as Landon’s head popped up in the deep pool between the branches.

  Jake dived under the water, surfaced a moment later and shouted, “Landon!”

  “Over here.” A small hand went up on the other side of the heavy oak where he was wedged in the crook of the tree. His arms clung to one of the thicker branches protruding from the trunk.

  “Stay there! I’m coming.” Jake disappeared again.

  Tori scooped up the girls and carried them to the grassy bank away from the water. “Stay here, girls. I’m going to help Jake. Promise not to move?”

  The girls nodded, their eyes wide.

  Tori hurried back to the water’s edge as Jake resurfaced next to Landon and wrapped the kid in his arms. “I’ve got you, buddy. Let go of the tree.”

  Landon shook his head, crying. “I can’t. My foot’s stuck.”

  Jake disappeared again, then popped back up a few seconds later. Landon released the branch and curled his arms around Jake’s neck.

  Chest heaving and water streaming off him, Jake carried the child out of the water and set him on the bank. “Are you hurt?”

  Landon’s bottom lip trembled as he looked down at his bare foot. “I lost my shoe.”

  “Don’t worry about your shoe. We can buy you new ones. Are you okay? Does anything hurt?” Jake knelt in front of him, lifting his arms and legs to check for injuries.

  “My elbow.” He lifted his arm to show a two-inch bloody scrape. “It hurts.”

  “Are you sure that’s all?” With shaking hands, Jake examined the cut and then scanned the rest of the boy’s arms and legs.

  Tori grabbed her bag off the blanket and handed a water bottle to Jake. He twisted off the lid and poured water over Landon’s cut elbow. Tori handed him a couple of napkins that he pressed against the wound.

  She knelt in front of Landon and slipped off his other shoe. “You’re going to have to walk barefoot, okay, honey?”

  Landon looked down at his bare feet and nodded. He shivered despite the warm sunshine and his teeth chattered. Tori tugged a beach towel out of her bag and wrapped it around his small frame. She sat on the warm grass, crossed her legs, then pulled him into her lap and rubbed his arms to generate some heat.

  Jake tipped up his nephew’s chin. “What happened, little man?”

  “I saw another frog and climbed onto the log to catch it. My foot slipped. I fell into the water.”

  “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from the tree? You could’ve gotten seriously hurt.”

  “I’m sorry, Uncle Jake.” A tear rolled down the boy’s round cheek.

  “I know, kiddo. Let’s grab our gear and head back to the house.” Jake gathered the abandoned poles and reeled in the lines. He dried his face with the hem of his shirt and looked at Tori. “I should’ve been paying more attention to the kids and...I shouldn’t have been so distracted.”

  She was beginning to hate that word. She shot him a glare. “Are you blaming me for what happened?”

  He lifted Landon off her lap and hoisted him on his shoulders. “No, but—”

  Not wanting to fight in front of the kids, Tori kept her face neutral and her voice steady, but she glared at Jake. “Let’s stick to just working on the fund-raiser. Better yet, I’ll text or email you if I have any questions. That way I won’t be a distraction.”

  Gritting her teeth against the rest of the words choking her throat, Tori wadded the blanket and jammed it in her bag. She reached for their fishing poles and kept an eye on the girls as they ran down the rutted path to the house.

  “Tori...that’s not what I meant.”

  “It’s what you said.” She quickened her pace to catch up with the girls.

  Why was it always two steps forward and about a hundred steps back with him?

  Just when she thought they were finding their way back to some semblance of friendship, something tripped them up.

  Part of her wondered why she even bothered, but that part managed to get drowned out by her heart that yearned for more.

  But what if Jake wasn’t able to give her more? Was she setting herself up for more heartbreak?

  She’d been praying for this reconciliation for so long, but what if all of these stumbling blocks were God’s way of saying no?

  Then what?

  She didn’t know.

  * * *

  After yesterday’s fishing fiasco, Jake was surprised when Tori and Annabeth showed up at the house with Claudia for dinner. Her lack of communication with him all day and her cool greeting upon arrival showed she was still upset at his words.

  Of course, he was an idiot. Why did his words always seem to stray from what he actually meant?

  Why did she have to be so supersensitive to every little thing he said?

  That annoyed him.

  Could they manage one decent conversation without either of them walking away mad?

  He had to admit, though, he wasn’t annoyed with her being there.

  If he were honest with himself, it was quite the opposite.

  He continued to man the grill, but his vantage point also allowed him to watch Tori playing with the kids.

  She blew bubbles as they tried popping them. She’d been sure to ask about Landon’s elbow, pressing a kiss on his Paw Patrol Band-Aid.

  She’d make a great mom someday. But he didn’t even want to consider the possibility of her being with anyone but him.

  Then he’d need to stop putting his foot in his mouth and step up his game.

  His thoughts drifted to their conversation from the other day when she asked if they could be friends.

  Sure, he could. But for how long? And at what cost?

  Problem was, friends didn’t look for excuses to call or text. Friends didn’t think about kissing.

  He wanted more than friendship. He wanted the past six years back, but that was impossible.

  They were different people now. And until she told him why she left in the first place, then they couldn’t have a future together.

  “Dude, the meat’s burning. Focus less on the girl and more on the burgers.” The screen door slammed behind Tucker as he stepped out onto the porch pulling a clean T-shirt over his damp hair.

  Jake scowled at his brother. “I’ve got everything under control.”

  “Famous last words. Just remember I like my burgers medium well, not charcoaled.” Tucker jogged down the deck steps and headed for the yard, pausing to mention something to Tori. She looked at Jake and nodded, her smile disappearing. She handed him the bright blue bottle of bubbles and headed for the deck.

  Jake threw up his hands in a “what gives?” motion, but Tucker grinned and snapped a mock salute. Jake scanned the grilling area and looked for something to throw at his brother. Given his recent track record, though, he’d hit one of the kids, and that was the last thing he wanted to happen.

  But now he was going to make sure he burned his brother’s burger.

  Tori joined him at the grill, her face deadpan. “Tucker suggested you might need a hand.”

  Jake flipped the burgers. Flames lapped at the sizzling meat. “Tucker needs to mind his own business.”

  “Fine, I’ll see if Chuck and Claudia need help in the kitchen.” She moved behind him and reached for the door.

  Jake grabbed her wrist. “No. Stay. I didn’t mean it like that. Tuck, well, he’s just being a jerk.”

  “You sure? I don’t want to distract you.” She shot him a direct look.

  He hated hearing his own words being thrown back at him, especially knowing they’d hurt her, but the more he
hung around with Tori, the more he was beginning to enjoy the distraction.

  So why did he have to be a jerk about it?

  “Stay. I mean it.” Jake pulled her close and whispered, “Notice how Dad and Claudia are going out of their way not to be near each other? Do they think they’re fooling anyone?”

  Tori peered around his shoulder through the screen door into the kitchen and smiled. “If you hadn’t said anything, I wouldn’t be any the wiser. Does Tucker know?”

  “I haven’t said anything.”

  “Why not?”

  “Not my place.”

  “You told me.”

  “Yeah. I was still in shock, I guess. But I’m not in the habit of spreading gossip. They have their reasons for not saying anything and I need to respect that.” Jake flipped the burgers one last time and managed to slide them onto the platter without dropping any on the ground, much to the dismay of Poppy and Spencer, Dad’s yellow Lab, who positioned themselves at Jake’s feet. After several weeks of using only his left hand, he wasn’t feeling as clumsy and ridiculous.

  Once the eight of them were seated at the picnic table and shooed away the two begging dogs, Dad prayed over the food, then they dug into burgers, baked beans, Dad’s special potato salad and watermelon. Annabeth sat between Tori and him with Tucker on his other side while Dad and Claudia corralled Liv and Landon between them.

  Chuck snuck a bite of meat under the table to one of the dogs. “So how’s the fund-raiser coming along, Tori?”

  “Good. We’re selling a lot of tickets. Jake’s lined up local sponsors and businesses to donate for the auction. We’re getting fliers printed up for businesses to post in their windows. We’re meeting with another caterer about the menu. We have a meeting with a reporter to share about the program and the purpose of the fund-raiser. Decorations have been ordered. So we’re making progress, but there’s still quite a bit to be done.”

  “Let me know what I can do to help.”

  “Thanks, Chuck. Seems like you have your hands full enough.”

  A cell phone chimed and Tori pulled hers out of her back pocket, read the display, then looked at them sheepishly. “Sorry, but I have to take this.”