Ever Caring Read online

  He had always been careful not to say anything negative about Molly, but at times Addison’s grief over her mother disturbed him. Molly hadn’t deserved such sorrow.

  “Of course you do,” he murmured, his heart melting at the sight of the tear tracking down his daughter’s cheek. “Come here, honey,” he said, pushing himself away from his desk and holding out his hands.

  She shuffled toward him and climbed onto his lap. He cuddled her close, barely able to get her head under his chin. When did she get so big?

  “Someday you won’t fit on my lap anymore,” he murmured, stroking her head with his chin.

  “I’ll always sit on your lap because I’ll always be your little girl,” she announced. “But someday I won’t be your only girl.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Grandpa was saying he hoped you would get married again. If you do, I won’t be your only girl anymore.”

  A chill washed over him. “When did Grandpa say that?”

  “Last night. He was talking to Aunt Sally on the phone.”

  Aunt Sally was his mother’s sister and lived back in their old hometown of Radium. Though his mother had died when Tate was young, his father had stayed in close contact with her, even after his father moved here to Rockyview. And Aunt Sally was never short on advice.

  “I don’t think you need to worry about me getting married again,” Tate promised his daughter.

  “Why won’t you?”

  Too complicated, Tate wanted to say. Marrying Molly had caused him a world of hurt. He’d truly thought she was the one for him when they met. Even after enduring three miscarriages, they’d been happy, and when they finally adopted Addison, Tate truly thought his and Molly’s life was complete.

  His perfect life started unraveling, however, when Addison was a year old. Tate had discovered that Molly had been unfaithful to him. She’d promised to change. They moved to Toronto for a fresh start, and for a while life seemed good. Until he found out that she’d cheated again.

  Though it seemed harsh to think, her death a year ago was a mercy. At least Addison was spared the nastiness of a prolonged divorce and custody battle.

  “Grandpa and Aunt Sally think you should get married again.”

  Tate winced at the thought. He’d been so wrong about Molly. He certainly didn’t trust himself to make those promises again to any woman. Nor did he ever want to put himself in a position to be hurt again.

  Besides, more than that all, he had Addison to think of. She was his first priority and there was no way he was putting her through any extra stress.

  But even as he told himself that, a picture of Renee drifted into his mind, and once again he filed it away under What Are You Thinking? Sure she was attractive, but he’d seen attractive women before. So he just had to stay focused.

  Tucking his finger under Addison’s chin, he tilted her face up. “Grandpa and Aunt Sally shouldn’t make decisions for you or me. Right now you’re the most important person to me.”

  Addison gave him a tremulous smile. “God is important, too,” she reminded him.

  Tate released a semi-embarrassed laugh. “Yes. And God.”

  His faith had taken a backseat to his personal and professional life the past few years, but coming to Rockyview felt like a renewing of his values. After his father moved here, Tate had visited a couple of times, and he’d appreciated the laid-back ambience of the town. So when it had been time to make a change in his life, this was the first place he’d thought of.

  Tate gave Addison a quick kiss, then glanced back at his files. “Let me finish up here, then we’ll go to the ranch.”

  Addison rested her hands on Tate’s shoulders, and her expression grew serious. “I want to go to the store again.”

  “Sure, we can go shopping.”

  Addison shook her head. “No. I want to go to the scrapbook and printing store.” She sat up, looking suddenly animated, grabbing his cheeks between her hands, still sticky from the candy he’d given her. “I saw some really cool books there. With pictures and stuff. We could go there and make a book. We could get stickers and paper and...and all kinds of things and Renee can help me make a book.”

  Tate frowned, trying to keep up with his daughter’s unexpected bubbling enthusiasm. “A book?”

  “Of pictures. Of Mommy.”

  Tate saw his little girl’s eyes sparkling with an anticipation he hadn’t seen in months. “Do you think you would enjoy making a scrapbook of pictures of Mommy?”

  Addison nodded. “I don’t like having my pictures of her just in a box. If we put them in a book, then I can look at them better.” She jumped off his lap, clapping her hands in anticipation. “That could be so fun. And you could help me. We could do it together.”

  Tate glanced at his work, then back at his daughter, who was smiling eagerly. Despite his own feelings for Molly and what had happened between them, to Addison, Molly was her mother. And the grief she’d fallen in to was normal. However, maybe making a scrapbook might help her deal with her emotions. Might help her move on.

  “Can you wait an hour or so?”

  Addison frowned, blinking away the shine of tears. “Can’t we do it now? Before the store goes closed?”

  Tate blew out a careful sigh as he looked at his daughter, assessing her mood. He knew there were times Addison liked to turn on the tears to manipulate him. And many times they were real. It was an ongoing struggle to sort the two out.

  However, this time he figured he may as well err on the side of believing her sorrow to be real.

  So he shut off his computer, reminding himself that his father had repeatedly told him to ease back into work, one file at a time.

  He’d moved here to make Addison his priority. This could be a way to do it.

  And it wouldn’t hurt to see Renee again.

  Tate was surprised at how thoughts of Renee kept entering his mind. Since Molly’s death, he’d never had a problem keeping himself aloof from the flirtatious looks he’d get from some of the single mothers at Addison’s dance class or music lessons. None of them appealed to him in any way.

  Renee was the first woman who caught his attention and intrigued him on a level he couldn’t truly analyze. Strange as it was, he felt as if he knew her.

  As they stepped outside, Tate glanced up at the mountains surrounding the town, cradling the valley created by Rockyview and allowed himself a moment to enjoy the view. He felt a sense of peace and well-being he’d never really felt in Toronto.

  A young couple passed them while walking their dog. They smiled in greeting, and Addison took a moment to pet the dog, asking a few questions about him.

  This was a good place to raise a child, he thought, thankful that he had listened to his father. Maybe, once they settled down, found a place, he could get a dog for Addison. Make a home.

  Once they reached the store, Addison ran ahead, pushing the door open, her enthusiasm easing away any second thoughts Tate had about doing this.

  “Hello,” she called out. “I’m back.”

  No one responded, and Addison walked farther inside, but Tate stayed back, feeling out of place amongst the rows of papers and stickers and ribbons.

  A movement near the back of the store caught Tate’s attention, then he saw Renee step out from behind a row of shelving, carrying a stack of paper.

  She wore her hair tied up in a loose ponytail tucked to one side, enhancing her heart-shaped face. Her blue jeans and white shirt gave her a country-girl look that was curiously appealing.

  Renee looked up at Tate, her mouth curving in a wistful smile that quickened his heart. Again, he was surprised at his reaction to her.

  Then, as Addison came toward her, Renee stumbled to a full stop. Her mouth formed an O of surprise immediately followed by a look of dismay.

  And the papers she held slipped out of her arms.

  “Here, let me help you with that,” Addison said, crouching down to help gather them up.

  “It’s okay. I got it
.” Renee’s voice held a surprisingly sharp tone as she snatched up the fallen papers.

  “I’m really sorry,” Addison was saying, obviously noting the reprimand in Renee’s voice, as well.

  Tate hurried over to help, his defenses coming to the fore. Why was she so upset? It wasn’t Addison’s fault.

  “I’m sure it’s fine,” he said quietly, his voice holding a faint warning note as he helped. “She didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “No. I know she didn’t,” Renee said, looking suddenly contrite. “I was just...” She tapped the stack together with trembling hands and slowly rose to her feet. “Sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to snap at you. Things have been busy and stressful here... Anyway, I’m sorry.”

  “No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have scared you like that,” Addison said, clearly eager to make amends.

  “What can I help you with?” Renee asked, quickly turning her attention back to Tate.

  “Addison wants to make a scrapbook with pictures of her mother.” Tate rested a protective hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “I understand this is the place to do that.”

  “Of course,” Renee said. “I’m sure we could help you buy what you need.”

  “But my daddy doesn’t know anything about making scrapbooks,” Addison said, appealing to Renee. “I want you to help me make it.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to help?” Tate asked Addison. “I’m thinking Ms. Albertson is too busy for this.”

  Especially given her reaction to his daughter. He wanted to protect Addison, not put her in a more difficult spot.

  “I want to do it here. This is such a fun store to work in.” Addison’s voice took on the hurt tone that he knew she did on purpose, but, at the same time, he also knew was often genuine. Besides, he knew working in his office or at his dad’s house, where they were staying for now, could not compete with the bright and happy tone of this store.

  Tate sensed he wasn’t going to change his daughter’s mind so he turned back to Renee.

  “I would gladly pay for your time,” he said, noting that Addison hadn’t been this eager about anything in so long, so he was also willing to do whatever it took to make her happy.

  “I could come after school with Blythe,” Addison chimed in, her voice eager in the face of Renee’s obvious reluctance. “So you won’t be babysitting me.”

  Again that moment of hesitation. He sensed this wasn’t going to work.

  “If it’s too much trouble, I’m sure we can figure something else out,” Tate added, his voice firm, giving Renee an out. “Who knows, maybe I could learn to make scrapbooks,” he said, forcing a grin for his daughter’s sake.

  “But I want to do it here,” Addison said, shooting her father a panicked glance. “In the store. And I want you to help me, Daddy.”

  “We would gladly help Addison put a scrapbook together,” Renee’s mother said, rolling her wheelchair toward them. “No need to go somewhere else.”

  “I’m not sure we’ll have the time,” Renee sputtered, her gaze flicking from Addison to her mother. “You know we’re trying to sell the store.”

  The sale was on hold until he released the lien, Tate knew. Selling the store wasn’t making them busy, so what was the real reason Renee seemed to be putting him and Addison off?

  “Of course we’ll have the time,” Brenda said, her voice holding a note of reprimand.

  “But if it’s too much trouble...” Addison began, obviously sensing the discord between Renee and her mother.

  Renee put her hand to her lips. Then, just as Tate was regretting this spontaneous decision, she looked down at Addison and gave her a tentative smile.

  Then she crouched down to make eye contact with her.

  “It’s not too much trouble. We can help you.” Her hand fluttered toward Addison, but then withdrew, as if Renee couldn’t make up her mind what to do around his daughter. For a moment Tate caught a fleeting glimpse of pain and sorrow in her eyes that called to him. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, making him wonder if he had only imagined it. “Why don’t you come tomorrow, and we can start then. We were just closing up the store for the evening.”

  Addison looked up at her father as if for permission. “Can I come after school and can you come, too?”

  For some reason, his daughter was fixated on the idea of having Renee help her, and Renee seemed as reluctant as her daughter was eager.

  His misgivings arose again.

  He would have to come with Addison. Create a buffer between her and the reluctant Miss Albertson. Just as he frequently had to do with Molly.

  “Sure, sweetie,” he said. “We can come tomorrow to start working on the scrapbook.”

  “Can we come here on Saturday, too?” she asked. “Before we see the horses?”

  Though he would have preferred to spend the entire day with Addison, he just nodded. He sensed Addison wasn’t going to let go of this until it was done.

  “We have horses,” Addison explained to Renee. “We keep them at Miss Arsenault’s place.”

  “That’s pretty neat,” Renee said. “Do you ride?”

  Addison nodded enthusiastically. “My mommy took me all the time.” Addison’s voice broke, and Tate saw Renee’s smile waver, as well.

  “So I guess Addison will see you tomorrow,” he said, filling in the awkward silence. “How long will it take to make the scrapbook?”

  Renee shrugged. “It depends on how many pictures you want to include, and how fancy you want it to look.”

  Tate thought of the large shoebox sitting in Addison’s room and shrugged. “I’d like to keep it simple. I can only spend so much time on this project.”

  Renee bit her lip, shuffling the papers she still held. “Speaking of time, I don’t suppose you’ve heard anything new on how long it will be before the lien is removed?”

  Tate shook his head. “I can’t get hold of Freddy, and Benny still insists he paid Freddy in full.”

  “And we can’t do anything about that?”

  “Not until I contact Freddy or until the lien expires.”

  “Which is?”

  “Freddy has ninety days to prove his case.”

  “Ninety days? That’s too long,” she said, panicking. “We have to be in Vancouver in six weeks, and I don’t know if Cathy will wait three months to purchase—” She pressed her fingertips to her forehead as if holding herself back from saying anything else. “Should I contact Freddy directly?” she asked. “Light a fire under him? I need this resolved soon.”

  Tate felt pity for her predicament. His father had told him that Renee wanted to sell the store to pay for an experimental therapy that would, hopefully, help her mother to walk again. He couldn’t help but admire her sacrifice.

  “No. Don’t worry about this. I’ll take care of it,” Tate said. “It will all work out.”

  She nodded and gave him a careful smile that, in spite of all that had gone before, still created a flicker of attraction. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how it goes.”

  He held her gaze, suddenly unable to look away, and he saw a softening in her expression that quickened his heart.

  You can’t get involved, he reminded himself. She’s leaving, and you’ve had enough difficult relationships in your life. You don’t need any more.

  Chapter Three

  The chirping of his cell phone broke into Tate’s contemplation of the will he had been working on. He glanced at the picture that showed up on the home screen of the phone. Addison.

  “Hey, Daddy, where are you?” Addison asked in a singsong voice that he hadn’t heard for months. “You’re supposed to come to the store, remember?”

  “I thought I wasn’t supposed to meet you until four o’clock?”

  “School closed early. So, can you come?”

  “I suppose I can come now,” he said, shooting a glance at his desk and the files piled on it. Maybe he could go for a few moments then come back.

  “Don’t forget the pi
ctures.”

  “I won’t.” He disconnected the call, then grabbed the box sitting on Addison’s table. She had brought them there this morning before Blythe picked her up to take her to school. Then he stepped out of the office to tell Debbie where he was going just as his father came out of his own office carrying a mug.

  “Where’s Debbie?” Tate asked.

  “Went to the post office. You heading out to see a client?” his father asked, walking over to the coffee machine that Debbie kept going for his father and clients.

  “Actually, I’m going to Renee Albertson’s store,” Tate said, suddenly feeling like a kid caught sneaking out of class early. “I said I’d help Addison with the scrapbook she’s doing. I’m going today to see how it all goes.” He felt torn. He wanted to be with his daughter in Renee’s presence but at the same time he felt like he was ducking out on his responsibilities.

  His father nodded, his eyes bright with pleasure. “That’s an excellent idea. Addison needs something to keep her mind off her sorrow. This is the perfect solution.”

  Tate was surprised at his father’s enthusiasm. “I’ll take work home tonight to get it done. I know it seems silly to take time off to work on some scrapbook...” He let the sentence hang, trying not to feel as if he was letting his father down.

  Arlan waved off his objections. “I’ve told you several times that your main focus should be getting Addison settled in. If helping her with this book at Renee’s store helps her get through all of this, then I encourage you to go.”

  Tate felt a weight slip off his shoulders at his father’s understanding words. Back in Toronto, his work had taken precedence over everything: family life, personal life, faith life. There was no way any boss of his would have allowed him to leave work early. Especially to do something as frivolous as work on a scrapbook.

  “You better go,” his dad said, pushing himself away from the table. “Don’t want to keep Re—I mean, Addison, waiting.”

  Tate shot his father a grin, then headed out the door and down the stairs.

  When he stepped into Scrap Happy, he took a moment to get his bearings. An older woman with white, tightly curled hair, wearing a bright pink velour jogging suit, was contemplating a wall filled with shiny plastic packages. A young mother was pushing a buggy with a sleeping baby back and forth, putting sheets of patterned paper into a basket balanced on the hood of the baby’s buggy.