CHAPTER TWO #2
Staying at the manor had freed up some of his money since they refused to take any pay from him. So the money he'd have had to spend on a motel, he planned to give to Marty to help him and his family out until the man could find another job.
"Evening," Nate said as he rounded the corner to the kitchen to find most the Collingsworths gathered around the table there.
"How's it going?" the sheriff—or Dean, as he'd requested Nate call him—asked.
"Well, as expected, all signs point to arson, but they haven't been able to find the guys responsible yet."
"They'll show up eventually." Dean spoke with more confidence than Nate felt about the situation. He hoped the sheriff was right. "Those types of guys can't stay hidden very long. They're not smart enough."
As Dean spoke, Nate caught Laurel and Violet exchanging glances before looking at him. "Everything okay here?"
Again, they looked at each briefly, but this time Violet spoke. "Um, we had no idea this was going to happen, but Lily arrived home tonight."
Feeling as if he'd just been kicked in the gut, Nate braced a hand on the wall beside him. "Lily? She's here?"
Laurel nodded. "She arrived an hour ago, but she's already gone up to her room."
"Well, I'll get my things together and go to the motel." There was no way she would want him around, he was certain of that.
Lance stood and came to him, laying a hand on his shoulder.
"Actually, I think it would be good if you stayed.
There's plenty of room here. I don't understand all the events that have transpired over the past few days, but I feel that God has brought us all together in this place for a reason.
We want to support you through this difficult time.
God only knows why Lily has come home now, but I don't think it's necessary for you to leave. "
Nate glanced around at the others seated there. Each of them was nodding their head, apparently in agreement with Lance. "Well, I'll stay for tonight and then let her decide what she wants me to do."
"Fair enough," Lance said. "I guess we should also tell you that we didn't let her know that you were staying here yet. She was pretty tired from the flight, but I'll make sure she knows tomorrow."
Nate was at a loss for words. Lily? Here?
Just when his life had completely fallen apart again, she showed back up.
A knot formed in his stomach. The pain of her leaving three years ago and then not communicating with him at all still lingered.
He had wondered how it would be to see her again after all this time.
But right then, facing the realization that it was going to happen sooner rather than later, Nate wasn't sure he was ready for it.
"Guess I'm going to head up and crash. I'm running on about two hours sleep out of the past forty-eight."
"Once again let me say how sorry we are for what's happened," Lance said. "Be sure and let us know if there's anything we can do to help."
"Giving me a place to stay has been plenty of help. I appreciate it a lot." He hoped his weariness didn't show too much as he smiled at the group. "See you in the morning."
They said goodnight as he turned to leave. He paused just outside the kitchen. Laurel's voice carried to where he stood.
"Lance, are you sure it's a good idea to have them both here?"
"Trust me on this one.” Lance's voice was firm. “I believe it's God's timing."
Nate reached out to grip the banister of the stairs and began the climb to the second floor. The door to the room that Lily had once used was closed where it hadn't been up until that point. He hesitated for a moment before turning in the direction of his room.
Though he felt considerably better after a shower, the headache that had been pulsing at his temples earlier had turned into a full on throbbing one.
Once hitting town earlier, he'd stopped and bought a few more clothes and some toiletries since all he had left were the things he'd taken with him to Sanford.
He dug through the bag for something to sleep in and found the bottle of painkillers he'd bought as well.
After getting a glass of water from the bathroom, he popped a couple of them and then sank down on the bed.
For the first time, the enormity of his loss struck him.
Everything he'd had was gone. The photos of his mom and dad. He had some of the pictures scanned onto his computer, but not all of them. There were digital photos that he’d saved on the computer as well.
Thankfully he'd used an online back-up system so all his business records and other personal documents and the pictures he did have were safe.
But there would be no replacing the things of more sentimental value.
The gifts his mom had chosen for him. Or the ones Lily had given him.
Even the engagement ring she’d returned to him was gone now.
Like a sentimental fool, he’d kept it in the nightstand next to his bed instead of the fireproof safe or a safety deposit box.
He pressed his fingers against his forehead. Nothing. That’s what he had. Absolutely nothing. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out exactly what he’d done to deserve all of this heartache. God must have it out for him.
Even though he still had the garage in Collingsworth, it was going to be shut down for a couple of weeks. The fire had never fully engaged, but there had been enough damage done that he needed to have it repaired before continuing on with his business.
He leaned forward, grasping his head in his hands. The temptation to just pack up and leave was stronger than ever. Particularly now that he knew Lily was back. She'd probably thank her lucky stars that she'd left him when she did.
Pull yourself together, son. Trust God for the strength to go on.
The words in the voice of his father came to him so clearly he actually lifted his head to look around the room.
Though his father had been gone for almost two years, so much of what he'd taught Nate had lingered on.
Particularly the part about going on in spite of the difficult circumstances.
If anyone had known about that, it had been his father.
He'd nursed a wife as she battled a terminal illness, and had managed to build up a business that had been respected throughout the community.
The least Nate could do in his father's honor was to pick himself up from this and go on.
Though it was barely nine o'clock, Nate crawled under the covers and snapped off the light on the nightstand. He set the alarm on his phone and finally allowed the exhaustion that he'd been fighting for hours to overtake him.