Finally A Bride

And that’s what she’d told Gavin. That she’d do her best. He just hadn’t trusted her best to be good enough. Selah’s doctors had also said they would do their best. But Mark sure seemed to trust Dr. Haley Calhoun. “How do you know her?”

Mark shifted in his seat, scanned the group of boys behind them and answered, “When I first moved to Claremont, I had an English-American bulldog mix named Roman. When I took Roman to the vet, I’d typically see Haley. She did a great job. Roman was old already, lived a couple of years past his life expectancy, and Haley was so gentle with him. That dog loved her.” He shrugged. “I don’t see her that often anymore. Used to see her at the church, but she hasn’t been there in a while.”

Gavin recalled Mae’s comment that Haley’d given up on God when she’d given up on men and he wondered what had happened in the feisty vet’s world. He knew personally what it was like to give up on God. He’d given up on Him, gotten angry at Him, on this very day two years ago. But then, he’d felt so alone and eventually recognized that the One he blamed...was the only One who could heal his pain.

While Gavin contemplated what had happened to the lovely vet, Eli’s voice overpowered the others on the crowded bus. “And then Miss Haley told me that I could come and see him every day after school,” he told Ryan, the boy sitting beside him.

“I wish I could find a puppy in the woods,” Ryan said.

Mark grinned. “Some things never change. Every little boy wants a dog.”

Brodie Evans, sitting on the opposite bench seat, nodded. “Savvy and I were actually discussing that this afternoon. Dylan, Rose and Daisy have been asking for a dog and we think the new Adopt-an-Animal program might be good for all the children.”

“I can see how that could benefit the kids,” Gavin agreed, even if he wasn’t thrilled about the vet who would lead the program. She made him uncomfortable, set him off balance. However, he remembered how protective Eli had been of the puppy this afternoon. And how much he hadn’t wanted to leave him behind.

“We just want to make sure we can keep animals on site before we get them for our kids, because we wouldn’t want Dylan, Rose and Daisy to have pets if all of the other children couldn’t have animals, too.”

Brodie and Savvy were amazing at not only taking care of the needs of their own children but also those of the children in their care. In fact, after learning about the Christian environment and the way they provided for children, Gavin had moved from Memphis just to work at Willow’s Haven. He’d also considered an amazing children’s home in Oregon, but had decided that, while he wanted to get away from the town where he’d made a home with Selah, he hadn’t wanted to move clear across the country.

Mark leaned forward in his seat. “So we’d have to get it approved by the state before Eli could keep the pup?”

“Yeah, we need to cover our bases and make sure everything is okay before making any changes at the home,” Brodie said. “But Savvy is planning to give the social worker a call tomorrow and ask. I think the only hesitation is that the kids might bond with the animals and then, when they are placed in a permanent home, won’t want to leave them behind.”

“Maybe some of the adoptive parents would consider adopting a pet, too,” Mark said, grinning. “Sounds like a win-win to me.”

“That’s exactly what Savvy said.” Brodie tilted his head toward Gavin. “Eli could barely concentrate on kicking the soccer ball tonight because he kept wanting to tell the other kids about Buddy.”

Gavin, who had been attempting to coach Eli’s team, nodded. “Trust me, I noticed. He was so busy talking, he almost got pegged with the ball a couple of times.”

Brodie chuckled. “Well, maybe when Buddy is better and Eli gets more time with the dog, he’ll pay more attention at practice.”

“That’s assuming we get the okay to keep the dog at Willow’s Haven.” Gavin decided he would add that to his current prayer requests. Not only for Buddy to get better for Eli’s sake, but also that the boy would be allowed to keep the dog he cared so much about.

Mark laughed as Eli’s voice took on even more volume. “It’s good to see him excited about something, though, isn’t it?” he asked.

“Sure is.” In fact, Gavin was very glad for that. Seeing a kid who’d been through so much pain find hope again, even if it was directed toward a near-dying dog, gave him encouragement for himself. That maybe one day he wouldn’t feel that deep void inside. The one that had only grown since he’d walked out of that hospital—alone—two years ago, a diaper bag he no longer needed draped on one arm and Selah’s overnight bag, filled with clothes and items she’d never use again, on the other.

He thought of the blue blouse she’d planned to wear when they left the hospital. And the tiny matching blue coming-home outfit they’d purchased for their baby boy to wear when she carried him in her arms.

Gavin pinched the bridge of his nose and begged God to control the memories and get him through the remainder of this day...some way, somehow.

“Hey, there’s Miss Haley! Maybe she brought Buddy!” Eli bellowed.

Gavin moved his hand from his face, took a deep breath and turned to see Willow’s Haven cabins come into view and the object of Eli’s excitement.

His chest constricted as his gaze rested on the pretty vet standing beside Savvy on Brodie and Savvy’s front porch, bright rays of the setting sun highlighting her white-blond hair. Even though she shielded her eyes from the light, Gavin knew that, if he could see them now, they’d shimmer the most vivid emerald green.

He’d thought of those eyes, the hair, the striking features of the woman, a couple of times—or more—since they’d left her office this afternoon. And hated that he hadn’t been able to completely get her off his mind.

That wasn’t like him.

And he didn’t like feeling this way.

Especially not today.

Chapter Three (#u51fd3d63-d875-5c85-b65b-75e5d634af57)

“Here comes the bus now.” Savvy pointed toward the archway of trees that formed the lengthy driveway to the children’s home.

Haley shielded her eyes from the setting sun to spot the bright yellow bus coming into view. Her stomach fluttered. Not so much because of how anxious she was to make sure Eli received his schoolbag, but because seeing the boy would undoubtedly equate to also seeing the formidable man that’d brought him and Buddy to her office earlier.

She’d chatted with Savvy while waiting for the kids to return from soccer practice instead of merely leaving the backpack, partly because she’d wanted to fine-tune the details on the Adopt-an-Animal program and partly because she hadn’t stopped thinking about Eli and wanted to let him know how Buddy was doing. But now she second-guessed her decision to hang around. If she’d simply left the backpack, she’d have lessened the chance of seeing the grumpy man again.

Then again, maybe Gavin Thomason wasn’t on that bus.

“So who went with the kids to soccer practice? Like, which adults?” She tried not to make it sound as though she was referring to anyone in particular.

Savvy wasn’t fooled. “Gavin is on the bus.” She leaned one hip against the porch rail. “I’m guessing he wasn’t on his best behavior at your office today?”

“You mean he has a best behavior?” Haley, still shielding her eyes, turned away from the approaching bus to face her new friend. She had developed a huge respect and appreciation for Savvy over the past few weeks while they’d discussed the program over the phone and via emails. Even more so after seeing Willow’s Haven firsthand.

Mae Martin hadn’t lied. The circle of cabins nestled in the center of the woods was beautiful. Peaceful. And with the colorful fall foliage creating a kaleidoscope of reds, oranges and golds in the surrounding woods, the location felt extremely welcoming. Warm and inviting.

She was glad Doc Sheridan had encouraged her to use her experience to benefit the community and to let the town of Claremont truly get to know the newest veterinarian. He’d been the one who’d thought she should find a way to help the children at Willow’s Haven. However, he obviously hadn’t realized that one of the counselors she’d be working with would be such a ray of sunshine.

“Bless your heart.” Savvy moved one finger to her mouth in an effort to cover her smile. “But things aren’t always as they seem. Gavin has been through an awful lot in his past, and he really felt God leading him to work with the kids here. He’s one of our best counselors, even if he isn’t so much of a people person when it comes to adults sometimes.”

“And I managed to get on his bad side from the get-go? Just because I couldn’t guarantee that I could heal the puppy? I told him I would do my best, and I intend to, but to make that kind of promise...”

Savvy sighed heavily. “Bless his heart. He doesn’t want Eli to lose that puppy.”

“I don’t, either. Like I told him, I’m going to do everything I can to heal him, but I don’t see why he had to insinuate that I wasn’t capable.” Especially her first day on her own. She’d been nervous enough, but to add a customer who had no faith whatsoever in her abilities didn’t do anything for her confidence.

The brakes on the bus squeaked loudly as it eased to a stop at the far end of the cabins.

“They will be here soon, but you should know that any other day, Gavin might not have come across quite so grizzly.” Savvy frowned, looked as if she debated what else to say before adding, “Brodie thinks he’s got a tough personality. I think he’s merely protecting himself from getting too close to anyone again. But that’s me guessing. Only God knows for sure.”

“Protecting himself?” Why would he feel the need to shield himself from her?

“As I mentioned, he’s been through a lot, but having him here is a blessing for these kids. Particularly for Eli.”

Haley wondered what the man had been through to make him such a grouch and why her friend thought he was such a blessing for Eli, but Savvy didn’t elaborate.

“You’ll get a chance to see the good in Gavin, I’m sure, with the Adopt-an-Animal program. Brodie and I have decided he’d be great as your main point of contact at Willow’s Haven for the new program.”

“What did he have to say about that?”

“We plan to tell him in the morning.”