The Soldier And The Single Mom

“Oh! My bad.” The woman looked apologetic. “I have a little one, too,” she said, turning her attention to Gina. “I’m raising my nephew, Tyler, and he’s about this one’s age. Maybe we could get together for a playdate sometime.”

“That would be great. I’m...” She paused, wondering how to describe her uncertain status. “I’m just in from California and I don’t know anyone. Well, except Buck and his sister.”

“I’m originally from California, too! We should definitely get together!”

Gina felt a surge of warmth. The idea of making mom friends on her own, rather than having acquaintances who were part of her wealthy in-laws’ power network, was just what she hadn’t known she was hungry for. “That would be great! Where’s your nephew now?”

“Oh, I’m trying out a babysitter, so I came to the grocery to give her an hour alone with him. And it’s killing me! I should go back, but give me your phone number and I’ll be in touch.”

They punched numbers into each other’s cell phones, and then the woman gave Buck a quick wave and left.

“Wow, is this town always that friendly?” she asked Buck.

He nodded and tried to smile, but his eyes were hooded and lines bracketed his mouth.

“Buck?” She touched his shoulder.

He shook his head very quickly a couple of times. “We done here?”

“Um, sure. I think so.”

“Let’s go.” He turned and walked toward the checkout, rapid but stiff.

She hurried after him. “What just happened?”

“Nothing. I think I’ll go ahead on out, wait in the truck.”

“But why?”

He stopped so quickly that she ran into him. “You look a lot like my wife. My dead wife. People who don’t know me well and don’t know what happened are going to think you’re her.”

“Ooh.” Realization dawned. “And your baby? What happened to your baby?”

“Dead in the same car accident.” His words were clipped, toneless. “Let’s go.”

It was what he didn’t say that haunted her through the checkout and the ride to their next stop, the church. She longed to ask him more about it but didn’t dare push the issue.

Obviously, his pain was raw. And having her around was like salt in the wound.

Too bad, because she was really starting to like Rescue River.

Chapter Three (#u33fc0a0e-9e06-5298-b48e-cb2d1d60b816)

When they arrived at the church on the edge of town, Gina was captivated. Its white steeple shone bright against the blue sky, and the building was surrounded by a grassy lawn. A creek rambled alongside the church, and several long picnic tables stood under a shelter. It was easy to picture small-town church picnics on that lawn.

Gina hoisted Bobby to her hip and followed Buck toward the church. As they walked up the steps, the door opened and several men came out dressed in work clothes, followed by another in a police uniform. Everyone greeted Buck, and the police officer tickled Bobby under his chin, making him giggle. That close, Gina could see the name tag that indicated he was the chief. Her stomach tightened. For the first time in her life, she felt like law enforcement officers were her enemies, not her friends.

Buck introduced her and briefly explained her story, even though Gina was willing him to be quiet with all her silent might.

“Car broke down, eh?” Chief Dion said. “SUV? White?”

“That’s the one,” she said faintly.

“Saw it this morning. Ran the plates.”

Gina’s heart thudded like a doom-filled drumbeat. Had her in-laws reported her car missing?

“Our computers aren’t communicating too well with those in California, so I couldn’t get any information,” he said. “Glad to know it’s got an owner. Need any help getting back on the road?”

“It’s just out of—”

“We might,” Buck interjected. “We’re headed out there in just a few minutes.”

“Call me if there’s any problem,” Chief Dion offered. “In fact, I might be able to meet you out there or have one of our officers meet you. Make sure everything’s okay.”

“Sounds good.”

As soon as Dion was gone, she turned to Buck. “Why’d you tell him we might need help? It’s just out of gas. And I’d...rather not have police involvement.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“It’s complicated.” He’d been very helpful, and yet she couldn’t fully trust him. She’d yet to meet the person who couldn’t be swayed by her in-laws’ money and power. The police detective she’d consulted privately about their unnecessary roughness had brushed aside her concerns and seemed more interested in how to get the wealthy couple to donate even more money to the local police department.

No, it was her and Bobby against the world. She headed on into the church, welcoming the dark, cool air.

“Come on—pastor’s this way.” As he took the lead, his shoulder brushed against her in the narrow hallway. An awareness clicked into her, something she hadn’t felt since well before her husband had died. Whoa. What was that?

As they approached a doorway marked Pastor’s Study, a middle-aged man stood up from behind the desk and came out to greet them, shaking Buck’s hand heartily and then turning to her. “What a pleasure! Buck, we don’t see you here often enough these days. You just missed the men’s prayer group, fixing up one of the elementary classrooms. What brings you here?”

“This is Gina,” Buck said. “She’s looking for some help. Gina, meet Pastor Ricky.”

Heat flushed Gina’s face. She hated being in this position: helpless, homeless, asking for what amounted to a handout. It’s for Bobby, she reminded herself.

The pastor invited them in, and Gina sat down, cuddled Bobby to her chest and explained their situation to a minimal degree. Homeless, purse stolen, looking for work and a place to stay.

The pastor nodded sympathetically. “The church isn’t really set up for that,” he said. “When we need places for people to stay, we usually ask families to put them up. In fact, Lacey, Buck’s sister, has helped us out a few times.”

“It would work better if she stayed somewhere else,” Buck said.

Ouch! Gina had been an interloper back at her in-laws’ place, where she’d been tolerated because she had given birth to the heir to the empire. But that feeling of always being on the outside, a burden, was a part of what she’d been fleeing.

The last thing she wanted was to feel that way at Lacey’s place, but Buck was making it obvious that he didn’t want her there.

“Let’s see. There’s Lou Ann Miller, but I think she’s away visiting her sister. Maybe Susan Hayashi? Except her mom and brother are here visiting, and they’re doing some renovations on Sam’s house. Getting ready for the wedding, you know. Such a nice couple.” He looked at Buck’s impatient expression and waved a hand. “But you don’t need to hear about all that. You’re sure Lacey’s place isn’t an option?”

“Like I said, somewhere else would be better.”

“Sure enough. I’ll ask around. And I’ll check the balance in the emergency fund.” The pastor studied Buck with a level expression, obviously wondering what was going on. “I’d take you in myself, except we have a houseful of teenagers for the Artists for Christ Concert over in Mansfield. Not very quiet for your baby.”