Chapter Twenty-Seven
RACHEL REACHED HER dad’s place in record time.
The walk from the Calvary land back to the Johnson family farm had been a blur.
She felt uneasy about Noah conversing with Pete—whether from fear of competing ideas or jealous uncertainy, she couldn’t say.
Probably both, she thought grimly. Nothing like a good old-fashioned emotional cocktail to keep life interesting.
Whiskers twitching, ClamClam prowled alongside her, tail swaying regally on the well-worn path made smooth with tire treads.
Rachel glanced at the room above the barn.
A light shone through the pane. She considered visiting Benji, but she didn’t know if she wanted to breach the subject of Noah…
and Benji would want all the sexy details.
Which she’d generally be ecstatic to share, she mused, except now she was unsure if they were sexy details or red flags wrapped in romantic packaging.
ClamClam trotted into the mud room, moving immediately to her waiting food bowls. Rachel swore the cat ate her body weight in eight-hour intervals. At least someone had their priorities straight, she thought, watching the cat dive into her Kitty Kibble with single-minded determination.
Walking in the back door, Rachel called for her father.
“Dad?”
“No, sorry,” Bethany said, “it’s just us.”
Rachel frowned. Who was us, she wondered, shucking her dust-covered boots on the custom mat with JOHNSON printed in a giant serif font.
It was a nice touch for a home, the kind of detail that made a place feel permanent and settled, unlike her life, which felt about as stable as a house made of toothpicks.
She found Bethany sitting at the kitchen table with Amarie and Benji. Copies of the renderings Rachel had done earlier were spread out on the table, the salt and pepper shakers pushed aside. Amarie had a purple notebook in hand. Benji’s iPad lay open, but Rachel couldn’t read the website address.
“You look”—Benji paused, before adding—“different.”
Rachel nodded in the affirmative. “I am.” Like a woman who’d just discovered the man she’s falling for again might be hiding something significant? Or like someone who’s questioning whether Noah Calvary actually grew up, or just got better at presenting a shinier version of the same old story?
“Hey,” Bethany said, her voice carrying that gentle concern that made Rachel both grateful and nervous.
“What’s up, big sis?” Amarie winked. “Back to add more shock and awe finishing touches to your plans?”
“Sure.” She sighed. “And giving Noah his space.”
“He doesn’t want that.” Amarie grinned. “That had to be your idea.”
Rachel pondered Amarie’s words. She tended to overthink when it involved Noah.
He said he had everything under control.
She trusted him. So, why was her stomach twisting in knots?
Because maybe—just maybe—she wasn’t overthinking.
Maybe she was thinking clearly for the first time since she’d stepped off Noah’s porch.
She needed a distraction. “So, what’s this meeting of the great minds about?”
“We’re working on the final proposal for tomorrow night’s town council meeting.”
“Oh fun, I’m just in time,” Rachel said, grabbing a bottle of water from the wine cooler.
The four of them, Bethany, Amarie, Benji, and Rachel, would tackle the town council.
A week ago, she never thought this project would bring genuine joy into her life.
Today, she was thankful it had arrived. This was solid.
Something concrete that she could control.
Bethany laughed, pulling the glasses from her face. She sat back, her head relaxing on her neck. “Believe me, it’s not. The mayor… He’s tricky. I really can’t get a read on his problem with me pushing for a clinic in town. There’s a part of me that believes he wants this project to fail.”
That wouldn’t surprise Rachel. Pete Judelson would do anything for Pete Judelson. What did Noah need Pete’s help for? She knew Noah’s heart, and she wanted to understand his choice to share with Pete what he couldn’t or wouldn’t disclose to her.
“Why do you think that is?” Rachel quizzed. “Why wouldn’t he want a clinic here in town? I mean, Dad has to drive all the way to Whynot or Summit Hill for basic medical care.”
“I know, but he’s been finding little ways to slow down this particular project coming up for a vote. Duplicate document requests. Leaving the clinic off the agenda.”
“What else can we do?” Rachel asked.
“Well, I understand business after years of managing my first husband’s medical practice.
Amarie has clinical expertise. Matt is a lifelong member of the community.
And Benji can sell rain to a storm cloud.
We will put our heads together and see if the family can develop a community-centric presentation that resonates with the families, seniors, women, and the disabled. ”
Rachel stood there waiting before finally saying what she was thinking. “I can field any of the design questions from the council members.”
Bethany’s smile spread across her face. “Would you want to stand with me at the meeting… maybe explain our vision for the building design after I present the project summary? Explain how the clinic spaces can be utilized to support the town beyond medical care. I mean, we could finally have indoor rooms for community meetings, craft events, and health education fairs for the kids.”
Rachel chuckled. “You’re a part of this town. And this was your vision. You don’t need my help. But yes, I’ll stand with you.”
She guessed she’d have to get used to being included in a new family, because Rachel would never tire of this feeling—belonging, being a part of a team.
“Amazing.” Bethany sighed. “I’m so excited when I think about everything our town needs and the Johnsons making a difference in the lives of others. This mountain gave me a new life with the man I love. So many people find happiness here. Your dad loves it here, and I do, too.”
Noah wanted the same. Although his methods varied, and he valued commemorative trophies to an extreme, he did care for the community.
Whether it was completing home repairs for a fraction of the cost, organizing a donation drive for fire victims, or hauling lumber after saving a life, Noah cared for the town and the people.
Could she look past one little secret and give in to their happily ever after?
And if she did, what would she sacrifice to share a life with Noah in Service?
Rachel could definitely contribute to a winning proposal. “We could look at the site… just connect with the space, now that we have the visuals.”
“Do you want to run over there again?” Amarie questioned.
“If it’s not too much trouble.” Rachel sighed, not wanting to stray too far. She thought of Noah and Pete. “Maybe.” She shrugged. No one questioned her hesitation. Be a blessing, Rachel, she chided herself. Stop looking for problems where there might not be any.
“Sure. Great,” Bethany said. “Let me grab my keys.”
“To go where?” Rachel’s father said, strutting into the kitchen, a bottle of water in his hands, his overalls dirty, a red handkerchief hanging in his back pocket.
“Hey, Dad. We were heading over to the high school.”
He raised a brow. “You mean, our state-of-the-art medical clinic?”
“There’s that,” she agreed. “I want to just take one more look at the site before we go to the council meeting tomorrow night.”
He looked her over, searching her features. She remembered he’d done the same when she was a kid. Back then, he could see her every thought, every motivation, in the span of seconds. Could he now? Please don’t let him see the crazy brewing in her brain.
“You okay, RJ?”
Rachel looked between her dad and Bethany, a thread of uncertainty knotting in her confidence. “I’m good. You?”
“More than okay, kiddo.” He came over and gave her a big hug.
“Oh, you’re so sweaty, Dad. Let me go.”
“That’s liquid love.”
“Liquid love? You are so hokey.”
“That’s what your dad’s supposed to be. If I’m too cool, I can’t keep the ladies your age off me.”
Bethany came up and patted his chest. “You better keep the ladies off of you, Farmer Johnson.”
“You got ninety-nine problems, but I ain’t one. I only have eyes for you, sunshine.”
It was so cute watching her dad so happy, and yeah, she knew he’d been happy with her mom, but maybe because she was younger, she hadn’t fully appreciated what love looked like.
Her parents had worked so hard. Her dad always looked stressed and exhausted.
Her mom hadn’t fared much better, with a farmer’s schedule from sunup to well past dark.
And then she had gotten sick, and then she was gone.
Rachel was meeting a whole new side of her father, the man who wanted and sought out love.
Seeing him laugh, smile, and relax with Bethany, Rachel was happy that they had each other.
This was what real love looked like: open, honest, and comfortable.
It was not secretive meetings with a mayor she couldn’t trust, not impressive home offices.
Real love was built on transparency, not lavish gifts and convenient omissions.
She thought of Noah and wondered if this was the type of love that they would have. Or was she setting herself up to get her heart broken again, but this time with a better backdrop?
“I’ll shower first. Then drive us to the school. We can head into town for a dinner on your old man. You rolling with us, BW?”
Rachel liked that her father had fallen into a familial yet respectful relationship with Benji.
“Yes, Mr. J. Fresh air will help me prep my argument for solar power.”
“In coal country?” her father bellowed, shaking his head. “Be sure to sandwich that idea between the clinic’s purpose and the community’s possibilities.”
“Will do.” Benji stood, closing his tablet cover. “I’ve also teed up the input, the information, and specs we’ve revamped into the EPA and Appalachia grant applications.”
Bethany paused, worrying her teeth with her lip. “Will that hurt our chances with securing our share of the community redevelopment grant?”
“Mom, more than one project can apply for every grant. I say the more, the more.”
“That’s merrier. But, yes, Amarie is right.
Three is better than one, Bethany. Great watching out, Benji.
Eggs in more than one basket is a smart approach.
” Rachel considered that the energy-saving measure would sell the disaster preparedness aspect of the proposal.
Good to have an engineer on the team, she thought.
“Agreed, RJ. Keep it up, Benji, and you’ll be a permanent Service resident.”
Whoa.
How had Rachel missed what was happening right under the window? If it was a nail gun, it would have banged her between the eyes. “What’s going on?” Was everyone in her life making life-altering decisions without consulting her?
Her father answered before her friend. “Benji loves it here.”
Rachel scoffed, eyes still on Benji. “Oh, my goodness, you have got to be joking,” she exclaimed, not sure why the town of Service insisted on claiming the men she loved.
“California surfers can’t do that here in the mountains of West Virginia.
Tell me Dad’s joking,” Rachel insisted, waiting for Benji to agree.
Benji didn’t flinch away from her questioning gaze. “I’m contemplating staying until the project is complete.” He grinned. “Maybe.”
How could he leave San Diego without a second thought? The town would love him, of course. They’d seduce him with praise and adoration. And he’d stay and never want to leave.
“Hey,” Bethany chimed in. “It’s okay. Life is too short to miss an opportunity. Rachel, you may have found Benji’s next assignment.” Bethany hugged her father, not a bit concerned with the sweat and the grime on him. “I’ve known stranger things to happen.”
“Stranger or better?” her father fussed.
“Definitely better.” Bethany laughed.
“You two are just icky sweet.” Rachel gave a laugh.
She loved Service, but everyone suffered from a lotus room effect.
Loving the place came easy, but the only ladders to climb in this town led to water towers and barn lofts, not c-suites.
That was what she wanted to share with Noah—her life.
Then, maybe they could bring their adventure back to Service.
Why did she feel like she had to choose one over the other or she’d lose—again?
“Yeah, well,” her father said, playfully patting Bethany on the backslide, “I’m not going to ask any questions about you and Noah.”
Rachel felt her face heat. “Please don’t.”
“You got yourself a deal.” Her father paused for a minute, and then he shook his head.
Had she given a sign of her internal turmoil?
Maybe she was worried, in a tiny place in her heart, that she and Noah wouldn’t be icky sweet because their relationship had a fourteen-day time stamp.
Or would this rekindled flame flicker out when she asked tough questions?
Or maybe this issue down at the fire station that required Pete’s help was more of a problem than Noah was letting on.
What if Noah was in real trouble and he was too proud to tell her?
Or worse, what if he wasn’t, and he had reverted to his old pattern of keeping her in the shadows while he played the hero?
As much as she tried to focus on the here and now, they had to make it through the wedding.
Pete popping up with false offers of whatever type of help Noah thought he could provide would put a nail in any future for her with Noah.
Pete… a helper? Rachel wasn’t convinced.
The man always had an angle, and most people didn’t see it coming until they caught the point right in the hind parts.
Twenty minutes later, her father held the door open that led to the attached carport. “Let’s go, family.”
Bethany ducked under his arm. “I like the sound of that.”
Rachel also liked the sound of… family. She followed Amarie out. Benji pulled the door closed behind them. Their house, which had been a quiet mausoleum of buried hopes and lost dreams, was once more filled with love and laughter.
She not only liked it, but she also savored every plump, tender morsel. If happiness had a flavor, this would be it. She couldn’t wait to talk with Noah about her fears and hopes, with her heart in hand. And maybe, just maybe, get some actual answers instead of more charming deflections.
She didn’t want to be right.
Please, she prayed, let Noah be the man she thought he had become, not the boy she remembered.
But as they drove toward the ruins, the doubt continued to gnaw at her, persistent as a hammer strike, and twice as uncomfortable.