by Lorrie Ann’s acceptance, Vickie bit back the urge to cry. “I would love to help at the church. And I’ll give you a discount for the dresses.”
“Don’t you dare. I’ll pay you half as a down payment on Monday. You’re going to earn every penny just dealing with my family.” Lorrie Ann stood. “Thank you so much for the lemonade. And the apology. I really appreciate it.” She leaned in and wiggled her eyebrows. “We might be related someday if Seth and Rachel turn into real sweethearts. Don’t you tell John I said that. He would have a heart attack. I’ll see you later, Vickie. Maybe Sunday we can talk to John about ideas for the youth program.”
Vickie led her to the door and waved as she watched her disappear through the gate. God does work in mysterious ways. In a million years, she would have never dreamed she’d be making the dresses for Lorrie Ann’s wedding. She also had money to buy Ashley the new boots she needed. Tomorrow she would take Jake’s jacket to him. Would she find another friend in Jake or was it too late?
Putting her car in Park, Vickie looked at the surrounding area. Jake had bought a beautiful piece of land to build his home.
Reaching over to the passenger’s seat, Vickie gripped the sturdy jacket in her hands and stared at his two-story cabin. With the last rays of sun slipping over the hills, the richness of the wood called to her, begging her to come closer. Why did she sit out here hiding in her car, unsure?
Because she let her mother’s words re-create all the self-doubt she’d been fighting. No more. She had a new life, a new purpose and needed some old friends. She could be just friends with Jake. She could.
With determination, she stepped out of her car and moved up the gravel walkway to the deep wraparound porch. Her hand caressed the smooth railing as she climbed the wide steps. The huge glass door sparkled from the waning light.
“I can take the jacket.”
The female voice from deep in the porch caused her to jump. Placing her hand flat against her racing heart, Vickie turned to face Maria Torres, Jake’s mother.
“I didn’t see you there.” Vickie moved to the swing at the end of the porch.
“There’s no reason for you to go inside.” Maria closed her Bible and set it to the side. The slight Spanish accent softened her words. “I can make sure he gets it. Just lay it there in the rocking chair.”
“I...would like to thank him for helping me the other night.” Vickie looked back to the door. Maybe she had made a mistake. Trying to recapture some youthful fantasy that had never even been real wasn’t a good idea.
Maria’s eyebrows went up. “Yes, Jake is very good at helping people. I hear Seth has fully recovered. I’ve been praying for him.” Maria folded her hands in her lap and gently swung, the chains creaking over the wood.
“Thank you for your prayers. I know they helped. The doctors said he was very fortunate.”
“Our children are our most precious gifts from God. We must protect them. Right? As mothers we understand the big picture.”
Vickie didn’t like where this was going. “Right. But as they grow up, we have to allow them to make their own choices.”
“True. Let me speak honest with you, Mrs. Miller.” She smoothed out her blouse, her accent thicker now. “You have hurt Jake in the past, a hurt that was not easy for him to get over. I lost him once because of you. You might care for him now, but we both know you are not what he needs. Please do not pull him back into your life.”
Horrified that Maria blamed her for him leaving for the marines the day after graduation, Vickie looked down to the wood boards. She heard he had built this house with his own hands. Vickie laid the jacket on the empty rocker. “I’m no longer Miller. It’s just Lawson now.” She bit into her bottom lip and looked at the setting sun. “No disrespect, Mrs. Torres, but I was not the one who left without a word.”
“If you truly want what is best for him, you will stay away from him.”
“Mother!”
Jake’s voice startled both women.
“I’m old enough to pick my own friends.” Jake stood at the far edge of the house. The setting sun cast him in silhouette, a bridle in his hand.
How long had he been standing there?
Maria stood and headed for the door. Toting her Bible, she nodded to Vickie. “I’m going to make dinner.” Without a backward glance, she marched to the cut-glass door. With her head up, she swung the door open and glided through it. The gentle but firm click reminded Vickie that she had no right to enter Jake’s world.
Hanging the leather headset and braided reins on a hook, Jake made his way up the steps. “Sorry about that.” He sent her one of his heart-stopping grins.
She could spend hours staring at his smile. Sighing, she pulled herself back to reality. She was lying to herself; she wanted more than friendship with Jake Torres, and that could not happen.
He moved to the swing his mother had just abandoned and patted the space next to him. “As you know, mothers can get protective, no matter what age their children are.”
Shaking her head, Vickie edged toward the railing, putting more distance between them. “She has a point.”
“Come on, sit and tell me how Seth’s doing.” He leaned back, stretching his arms across the back of the seat.
His offer tempted her. She gripped the railing, keeping herself away from him. “He’s good, ready to get back to all his regular activities.”
“There’s a father-and-son flag-football game coming up at the church picnic in a couple of weeks. It’s part of our mentoring program at the church. We’ve been practicing.” He grinned. “More like an excuse to throw the ball around and have fun. I thought I could take Seth. If he’s ready, would he like that?”
“Oh, he loves football. Well, he did, anyway. The last couple of times he played with the YMCA in San Antonio were rough. Tommy had high expectations. He made Seth play quarterback.” She looked down at her feet, and followed the patterns made by the grains of wood. “Well, you know how Tommy is on the field. No room for mistakes.” She looked back at Jake. “He might not want to play anymore.”
Jake grunted and looked to the hills, the sun almost gone. “Yeah, I know Tommy. Spent way too many years on the field with him. But there’s more to football than quarterbacking.” He looked back toward her, his dark eyes intense in the last rays of light. “If you don’t mind, I’d love to take Seth and reintroduce him to the fun of football. It’s flag, so not much hitting. Is that okay with you?”
“Yeah, thank you. It’ll be good for him to be around other boys. He hasn’t made many friends since we came back.”
“You could use a friend, too. You and Ashley can join us. We could grab something to eat afterward.”
For a moment, she imagined them all together, almost like a real family. Her gaze traveled the outline of his house. If she had made the right choice in high school, this warm home and special man could’ve been hers. But she hadn’t. The reality of it hit her hard. As much as she would love to reconnect with Jake, she had to put her life back in order, starting with her kids.
Her kids were the best part of her life. The one thing she got right with Tommy.
Her baggage was too heavy to leave on Jake’s steps. Friendship with Jake sounded good, but now she knew she’d want more.
She made so many wrong choices and it was too late to change them. “Jake, your mother’s right. I’m not what you need.”
He leaned forward, elbows planted on his knees. “Why don’t you and my mother let me decide what I need?”
His