Lois Richer - Heart's Haven

“Your boss agrees with me, Cass. Divine Providence at work for both the giver and the receiver. How can you still doubt?”

Cassidy’s pretty face hardened into rigid lines. “Believe what you want,” she snapped, chin lifting.

Puzzled by her reaction, Ty walked around the flatbed, studying it from many different angles.

“How exactly do we get these beasts inside?” he finally asked.

“Many hands make light work.”

“Davis is big on these homilies.” Cassidy’s eyes danced with glee. “Actually, Davis is just plain big.”

“Ha. Cassidy is too funny today.” Her friend didn’t seem to take offense. “Move out of the way, you puny woman. We men have to work.” He flexed his bicep then leaned his head toward Ty. “See the way her eyebrow twitches. That means she’s steamed and she’s thinking up ways to pay us back.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Judging by the glares the two were exchanging, Ty guessed they’d known each other for quite a while. “Forewarned is forearmed.”

“Don’t you start.” Cassidy yanked hard on a bit of leftover rope. “I thought you said you’re getting ready for a vacation, Davis. It’s cold out here. Don’t you have something to do other than stand around and jabber?”

“Tsk tsk. I hoped Europe would have cured you of that crankiness.” Davis pulled out a cell phone and began dialing. “If I can just figure out where my ‘many hands’ are, I will prove how much truth there is in my little homily.”

He hadn’t completed punching in the last number before a big black truck pulled up to the curb and four muscled men jumped out.

“About time you got here.” Davis introduced them to Ty.

Once they’d greeted him, the men took turns wrapping Cassidy in a bear hug, swinging her around, then planting a loud kiss on her cheek. By the time they were finished her face glowed and she giggled like a young girl. Ty couldn’t stop staring at her.

“Good to see you again, Cass.”

“Good to see you, too, I think.” When they lunged toward her again, Cassidy stepped backward and pointed to the flatbed. “Could we get some work done here today? It’s supposed to snow again, you know.”

The four men glanced at Davis. “Hasn’t changed much, has she?”

“Nope. Just as bossy as she ever was.”

Cassidy snorted her disgust while the four pulled a cart from the truck’s bed and handed it up to Davis, who began fastening it to the first piece of machinery. Obviously they knew what they were doing, so Ty followed their directions and did exactly as he was told. A little better than half an hour later, both units were installed and running nicely. The old ones had been removed and were now tied onto the flatbed.

He overheard Cassidy promising to repay the five men with her specialty, which sounded chocolaty and very fattening.

“You going to provide shelter here, too, like with beds and everything?” Crank, the man with the biggest biceps, insisted Ty give them a tour of the old school building.

“That’s the idea. It’s a bit much for us to do all at once so I guess we’ll start with a soup kitchen and work up from there. Want to see more?”

“Yes.”

Ty led them through the building. Eventually they came to the gym. “This is the best part.”

“No kidding.” Hart, the tallest of the four men, grabbed a basketball from a box in the corner, raced across the floor and sank a hoop shot.

“You haven’t lost your touch.” Cassidy lounged in the doorway, watching them. “This old school has a big playground. Come spring, you guys could spend a day putting up a fort, some swings, maybe a few slides. Couldn’t you?”

“Could,” Hart agreed.

Ty couldn’t help staring. He hadn’t imagined Cassidy had given any thought to the Haven, let alone considered future possibilities.

Furtive whispers drew him back to awareness. Cassidy nodded at Crank, who seemed tongue-tied.

“He’s willing to donate some bedsprings from a motel he just bought.”

“Great.” Feeling as if he’d been grasped by one of those muscled arms and shaken, Ty gulped. But before he could accept, she continued.

“Hart’s brother’s a football pro. He could get some gym equipment for you.”

“Not fancy, but free,” Hart inserted.

“It’s really kind of you, all of you.”

Apparently his message about being in charge hadn’t sunk in at all. But Ty didn’t mind when Cassidy took over, coaxing Davis to approach his church for donations toward a day care, mocking his upturned nose.

“What’s the matter, Davis?” Cassidy teased. “Not into diapers?”

“Funny.” He ignored her to face Ty. “Her humor hasn’t changed since we were in high school together. It’s still nonexistent.”

“High school?” Ty recalled the way she’d interacted with the other men. “All of you?”

“Afraid so.” Davis laughed at Cassidy’s groan. He leaned toward Ty and spoke sotto voce. “Cassidy was number one on everybody’s dating list.”

“Liar. I never made it onto anyone’s dating list.” She thumped Davis on the shoulder. “You never even knew I was alive until you discovered I could cook.” She glanced at Ty. “They had some kind of contest to see who would persuade me to go out with them first.”

“I won.” Davis thrust out his massive chest.

“You won because you conned me.” Her scathing tones dared him to deny it. “Anyway, that wasn’t a date. You got me to cook a meal under the pretext of helping your poor sick mother.”

“He said you offered because you were infatuated with him.”

“You actually believed that?” Cassidy rolled her eyes.

Crank made a threatening gesture at Davis. “Your past is coming back to haunt you big-time now that Cass is back. You know what she’s like about lying.”

“Hates it. Yeah, I know that.” Davis sobered immediately. “I’m sorry, Cass.”

Ty found her reaction curious. His first impression of the chef had been of a strong, aggressive and capable woman. Somehow he never imagined her as an uncertain high school girl trying to figure out the intricacies of dating. Seeing her interaction with these men added a sense of vulnerability, made her more approachable.

“You’re going to be very sorry you lied about me, Davis.” Cassidy’s words held a thin edge of pain. A moment later her grin flashed. “I’m going to think up some really big payback.”

“Look, forget the past. I’m more interested in the present.”

“I’m sure you are.” Cassidy winked at Ty then turned to face her friend. “I could tell a lot of stories on you, Davis, and you know it. But because you came through today, I won’t.”

Relief washed over the big man’s face.

“And because you got me interested in cooking and pushed me to get my own place, I guess I owe you one, too.” He risked a look over one shoulder. Crank and his friends were huddled together, muttering about a football game on the weekend. Davis ignored them, turned to face Ty. “So it’s okay with you, if I suggest your place as a project for our church?”

“I’ll be very thankful for anything your church is willing to help us with.” Ty glanced at the others. “That goes for all of you. The Haven is only going to work if we get community support. Then people will see we are only trying to help. Hopefully that will allay any suspicions that are out there.”

“That sounds like you have problems.” Cassidy frowned at him.

“Some local kids have made a few threats. Nothing we can’t handle.” Ty hoped that was true.

“You’re welcome to join us at our church if you like, Ty. First Street Community Church isn’t big, but it’s all heart. We would welcome you anytime.”