Ever Caring Read online

“Addison and Tate are busy,” Renee said, catching Mia by the arm before she sat down. “As, I’m sure, are you? Who’s minding the flower shop?”

  “Oh, don’t you worry about my business,” Mia said. “But I’m curious about yours?” Mia gave her a broad wink and a flick of her head in Tate’s direction.

  Renee rolled her eyes, then tugged on Mia’s arm. “And you’re busy, too. I think I see someone going into the flower shop.”

  “Blythe is there. I’m just taking a break from a big order from Hidden Creek Inn,” Mia said, her dark eyes focusing on Tate and Renee as if looking for something. “Larissa and Garret are having some fancy shindig there. Something to do with some bigwigs from the government and other sawmills for Larissa’s dad.”

  “That’s great,” Renee said, walking toward the door, practically pulling her friend along with her. Considering that her friend was only a few inches above five feet and Renee looked to have about six inches on her, it wasn’t much of a contest.

  “Guess I’ll be seeing you around,” Mia said, pointing to Tate and adding a bright smile, flashing her dimples again.

  Then they were out the door, and Tate turned his attention back to helping Addison, making quick work of putting the photos down on the page.

  “Now we have to write something about the pictures,” she said, pulling the cap off a colored pen.

  “We can do that at home. Let’s just get the pictures done first,” Tate said. He wanted to get this book done. Wanted to get away from the confusing distraction Renee was causing in his life.

  Renee came back a few minutes later looking flustered. She glanced over her shoulder, then back at Addison. “My mom said she has some new stickers to show you, Addison. Do you want to see?”

  “Were those the ones I wanted?” Addison asked, dropping the pictures she was holding.

  “They certainly are. My mom is at the front of the store with them.”

  “Yay!” Addison bounced off the chair, knocking the pile of remaining pictures onto the floor.

  Tate blew out a sigh, then bent over to pick them up just as Renee reached for them, as well. Their fingers brushed, and Renee snatched her hand back.

  “Sorry about that,” Tate muttered, his own fingers tingling with reaction. “That kid has the attention span of a gnat sometimes.”

  “She’s doing really well,” Renee said, getting to her feet and straightening out the supplies lying on the table, fussing with the scraps of paper. She shot another look behind her, then turned to Tate, her expression serious.

  “I sent Addison away for a few moments. I...I feel like I should explain something.” She sighed and folded her arms over her chest. “Mia and Evangeline...I’m sure you’re wondering about their strange behavior the past few days. It’s just...they’re...well...” She paused, her one hand wavering in the air as if trying to capture the words she labored to get out. “They seem to think that we’re an...an item.”

  Tate looked baffled. “Item?”

  “They think I’m interested in you.” Renee lifted her shoulder in a self-conscious shrug as her words registered with Tate.

  To his own surprise, he felt his heart give a juvenile thump.

  “It started when Evangeline stopped in last week.” Renee moved closer, lowering her voice. “Evangeline has always been at me about trying to find out where my daughter...well, Addison...was. She’s a romantic at heart and seemed to think that it would be good if my daughter found out who her biological mother was. I never wanted to mess up my daughter’s life like that, as you know.” Renee stopped, blew out her breath as she plunged her hands through her hair in a self-conscious gesture. “This is a small town. News travels. Evangeline already knew that Addison was adopted. So when Addison came up to the desk to ask about the glue container the other day, Evangeline was staring at her. When she started asking questions about Addison, I got nervous, and to deflect her questions about Addison, I sort of, well, made it sound like...we...you and I...” Renee let the words hang between them, a flush working its way up her neck.

  “Sorry, I’m not sure what you’re getting at,” Tate said with a light frown.

  “I made it sound like I was interested in you. That the reason I was working with you and Addison was because it was a way to spend time with you, not help Addison.” Her words tumbled out as the pink in her neck reached her cheeks.

  Tate stared at her, her last words surging around the small space they occupied.

  “That’s why Evangeline made those comments the other day at Mug Shots,” Renee continued. “And that’s why she went hotfooting to Mia, who, of course, had to come here to see for herself. Ever since you came to town, they’ve been joking about what a perfect couple we’d make and we both know that can’t happen, but I made it sound like it could.”

  Renee’s last words came out in a rush followed by a heavy sigh, as if she was glad to be free of them.

  But even as what she said registered, the fragments of conversation, the arch looks and the heavy hints all became crystal clear.

  “I was wondering what Evangeline was talking about at Mug Shots,” he said. “And that’s why Mia was looking at me with that look just now.”

  “Exactly.” Renee dragged her hands over her face. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I did it to distract Evangeline from Addison. I was so worried she would put two and two together—” She stopped there, looking behind her again.

  Her concern for Addison’s well-being touched him. He guessed it wasn’t easy for Renee to admit all this, or to even distract her friend the way she had. In spite of her discomfort, he admired her selflessness.

  “I’m really sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” Renee repeated. “My friends mean well, but they can get carried away. Especially Evangeline. She’s such a romantic.” Renee shook her head and blew out another sigh. “I just hope she hasn’t been blabbing to our other friends.”

  Tate laughed at the dismay on Renee’s face, surprised he didn’t mind. “Don’t worry about it. I think my dad has been thinking the same thing your friends were.”

  Renee shot him a look of horror. “Has Evangeline talked to him?”

  Tate held up his hands in a placating gesture, smiling at the look of dismay on her features. “I have a feeling that’s how we ended up sitting together at Mug Shots the other day. So don’t worry about your friends, because I think my father is on the same wavelength.”

  Renee released a nervous laugh. “Oh, boy.”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  Suddenly self-conscious, they exchanged a quick glance, then their gazes broke apart.

  She probably thought her little speech would release some of the tension between them, but instead, Tate found himself more aware of her than before.

  He sneaked a quick look at her, to gauge her reaction, and caught her looking at him, too.

  “So, I guess we need to figure out how to get around this,” Tate said, knowing they needed to deal with this, yet feeling a curious reluctance to be realistic and practical. “I mean, you’ll be leaving soon and—”

  “I don’t want Addison to find out about me.”

  Tate nodded. They were being mature and responsible. Nothing could begin between them.

  “Maybe I could tell Evangeline that it just didn’t work out,” Renee suggested. “You and me. That would keep her brain going in the right direction.”

  “You mean, you’re breaking up with me?” Tate placed a hand on his chest, injecting a note of humor into the situation.

  Renee’s bubbling laugh made Tate smile even more.

  “It could have been such a happy-ever-after.” Renee sighed dramatically, playing along. “Just the type of story Evangeline loves.”

  Tate laughed again, and in that moment, as their eyes met, he felt a flutter of disappointment that puzzled and confused him even more.

  The file on his desk dealing with the builder’s lien against the store was a reminder of Renee’s future.

  Addison’s presence a r
eminder of Renee’s past.

  “I just hope Evangeline can stay distracted until we get this scrapbook done,” Renee said, growing serious again. “We can’t let Addison find out.”

  “Let me find out what?”

  Tate’s heartbeat faltered as Addison skipped into the room, holding a package of stickers.

  His shocked gaze flew to Renee, who stood there, hand pressed to her lips.

  “Um, can’t let you find out about the surprise,” Tate said.

  Addison just laughed. “I already know about the surprise.”

  “You do?”

  Tate and Renee spoke at the same time, and Addison giggled. “Now you have to fist bump,” she said, looking from one to the other.

  “That’s you and your dad’s thing,” Renee said, her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes riveted on Addison.

  “It could be your thing, too,” Addison said with a grin.

  Tate knew Addison wouldn’t let it be, so he made a fist and reached across the table. Renee hesitated, then at Addison’s urging, made a fist herself. They bumped, their eyes met again, and Tate felt his heart quicken.

  Then Renee pulled her hand back.

  “So tell me what you know about the surprise,” she asked, wrapping her arms around her midsection.

  Addison giggled again, her hand over her mouth, shoulders hunched. “That Mrs. Albertson has something special for me when I finish my scrapbook.”

  Relief sluiced through Tate as he caught Renee’s puzzled look. Obviously she was as confused as he was.

  “Then we have to hurry,” Renee added, sitting down at the table beside Addison. “We have only a few more pages before Mother’s Day.”

  To Tate’s surprise, Addison nodded, grabbed a couple of pictures and laid them out on the page. “We can use these stickers, okay?” She held up the package that Tate suspected Mrs. Albertson had given her.

  Tate nodded, and the next half hour zipped by as Addison, inspired by whatever it was Mrs. Albertson had said, devoted herself fully to the task at hand.

  “Will we get it done tomorrow?” Addison asked as she cleaned up the scraps of leftover paper.

  “Maybe not tomorrow, but certainly the day after that.”

  Addison nodded. “That’s good, because Mother’s Day is on Sunday. And that’s when—” She stopped, her hand flying to her mouth as if to prevent what might come out.

  “That’s when what, honey?” Tate asked, slipping the pictures that hadn’t been mounted yet in a colorful box Renee had provided.

  Addison giggled and shook her head. “Can I go look at some more stickers before we go?” Addison asked.

  “You just looked at some stickers. Besides, it’s almost closing time,” Tate said. “And you need to help us clean up.”

  “I’ll be quick.” And she ducked out before he could stop her.

  “Sorry about that,” Tate said, feeling a need to apologize for Addison’s flightiness.

  “She got a lot done in the last half hour,” Renee said as she stacked up the papers.

  “That was mostly thanks to you,” Tate said quietly, dropping the pens into the bucket Renee had set out. “I really appreciate how you managed to keep her on task. She’s so distractible.”

  Renee laughed, tapping the papers straight. “Apparently I was the same way when I was a little girl.” She cut him an apologetic glance as she dropped the papers, her eyes wide. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have—”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Tate said with a gentle smile. “It’s to be expected to see some similarities.”

  Renee’s smile held a hint of melancholy. “I do, but I don’t want to intrude.”

  “You haven’t. And I want to say how much I appreciate your tact and consideration. I’m sure this can’t be easy for you.”

  Renee fussed with the papers on the table, avoiding his gaze, but he caught a hint of a smile teasing one corner of her mouth. “It isn’t, but at the same time, it’s cathartic for me to know she ended up in such a good place, with such a good mother and father. I’m sad for her that she lost Molly, so I feel like this is one thing I can do for her before I go. Help her document her memories of Molly.”

  She looked up at him, and Tate’s heart twisted as Renee’s sincere words coupled with the truth of who Molly really had been.

  He wanted to blame his heightened awareness of her on loneliness, but in his deepest heart he knew something else was happening between them.

  And before he could stop himself, he closed the small distance between their hands and covered hers with his. He squeezed and she returned his touch.

  “So there you are.” Renee’s mother appeared in the doorway, glancing from Tate to Renee. “Addison said you were still here.”

  Renee snatched her hand back, and Tate looked away, hoping Addison hadn’t caught that little exchange. Thankfully, Addison didn’t show up, too.

  “Are you two done here?”

  “Yes. Just cleaning up,” Renee said quietly, her voice holding the faintest tremor. She shook her hair away from her face and shot her mother a quick smile. “Where’s Addison?”

  “Still looking at some stickers she wants for the book. Ashley is helping her.” She looked behind her, then wheeled herself farther into the room. “Tate, I understand you’re looking to buy a house here in Rockyview.”

  Tate was momentarily taken aback at her comment. “I am. Addison and I have been staying with my father long enough. I want to settle here. Make a home here.”

  “If you’re in the market, our house is for sale.”

  Renee frowned. “I don’t know if Tate would be interested—”

  “Of course he would.” Mrs. Albertson looked back at Tate. “It’s a beautiful home. My husband was a carpenter, and he fixed it up. It has a large backyard, and the house is big enough that, if you want more family, there’s plenty of room. We had it listed, but our real estate agent didn’t do much for us, so we decided to try to sell it ourselves.”

  “Well, sure. I guess I could look at it.” He had checked out a few houses with a real estate agent, but hadn’t found anything that caught his eye.

  “We’re going to need the money if this store doesn’t sell,” Mrs. Albertson was saying. “I think you would love it, and if you buy the house, it would save us both real estate fees. And you’re a lawyer, to boot,” Mrs. Albertson said as if everything was already settled. “Why don’t you come by on Saturday?”

  “Sure, I think that could work.” His father could look after Addison.

  “Perfect. We’ll see you then.”

  Then she spun her wheelchair around and left.

  “Um, are you okay with this?” Tate asked Renee after Mrs. Albertson had gone. “Me coming to look at your house?”

  “Of course,” Renee said, waving off his objections. “It’s just a house, and the reality is, like my mother said, we’re going to need the money now more than ever if I can’t get the lien off the store in time.”

  “It’ll happen,” Tate assured her. He had set up an office appointment for Freddy and Benny to discuss the situation. He was fairly sure they could come to an agreement.

  “I really appreciate what you’ve been doing about the lien,” Renee said quietly as they finished cleaning up. “It’s been a needless complication for me.”

  “I’m sure you have enough on your mind,” Tate said, returning her careful smile, then he glanced down at what was left of the pictures. “And from the way Addison worked today, looks as if we might get this scrapbook done by Mother’s Day after all.”

  “I think that would be good.”

  It wasn’t hard to hear the faint note of relief in her voice. “I want to say how much I appreciate your willingness to do this for Addison,” Tate said, straightening the box of pictures, shifting the papers to one side. He looked up at her, holding her gaze.

  Renee looked away.

  Tate caught the faintest glimmer of a tear in one eye and felt like smacking himself.


  “I’m sorry,” he said, lifting his hand to touch her elbow. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  Her only reply was a curt nod as a tear tracked down her cheek. She turned her head and swiped at it with a surreptitious movement.

  But as he left, he gave her arm a gentle squeeze, fighting the urge to pull her into his arms and comfort her.

  It was definitely time to go.

  Renee glanced around the house, wiping her suddenly damp palms down the legs of her blue jeans. She should have worn a skirt and shirt instead of jeans and a hoodie.

  Then she wondered why she cared. She wasn’t a real estate agent trying to make an impression on a client. She was just a woman trying to sell a house.

  To a guy you’re attracted to and the adoptive father of your daughter.

  Renee wished, for the hundredth time, that the next few weeks were behind her. Wished that she and her mother were in Vancouver, getting ready for the therapy sessions.

  Seeing Addison every day was like a white-hot agony. How many times had she stopped herself from reaching out and brushing the little girl’s hair away from her face? How often had she dragged her attention away from Addison’s happy face to the project they were working on?

  Yet she couldn’t deny her feelings or change them. Even worse, Tate was woven into the whole business. He was the father of her daughter. A good man, and way more appealing than he had a right to be.

  Renee grabbed a pillow and pounded it, taking out her frustrations on the innocent object. She looked around the house again with an assessing eye.

  Should have decluttered more, she thought, remembering too late the frequent advice she heard on the TV shows she loved to watch. She walked to the fireplace to remove some of the pictures on the mantel, when a knock on the door stopped her midstride.

  Her eyes flew to the grandfather clock tucked in a corner of the living room. Tate was ten minutes early.

  She glanced around one more time, stifling the crazy beating of her heart at the thought of Tate in her house, then strode to the door and yanked it open.

  Tate stood at the top of the step, looking away from the house, a smile fixed on his face, a lingering scent of soap wafting toward her.