Lisa Jordan - Lakeside Redemption

“The judge ordered their remarks to be stricken from the records, but they succeeded in swaying the jury’s opinion. I was found guilty of vehicular homicide while driving under the influence. I served four years at VWCI.”

Vanderfield Women’s Correctional Institute.

Caleb leaned an elbow on the arm of the couch and pressed his fist against his lips as he processed Zoe’s words.

Not only had he witnessed his wife destroying their lives with her choices, but he’d spent years arresting people suspected of driving under the influence. He heard their excuses, their pleas, and listened to their lawyers argue in court in their defense. They deserved to be held accountable for their actions.

And now Zoe had just told him she was like one of those people he’d arrested more times than he could remember.

His beautiful Zoe with the eyes that peered deep into his heart. His beautiful Zoe with the laugh that allowed him to fall in love with her over and over again.

His friend was dead because of her decision to get behind the wheel.

He simply couldn’t wrap his head around it.

No, not his beautiful Zoe.

He’d walked into Canine Companions hoping she could help him out with the wayward puppy probably eating his couch right now. He didn’t expect any of this.

He leaned forward, braced his elbows on his knees and rubbed his hands together. “I’m not going to lie, Zoe, this has...thrown me for a loop. Man, I did not expect it in a million years.”

“I understand.” She stood and moved toward the door. “Thanks for coming in. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

“Hold up. I said it threw me for a loop. Sit back down. I’m not leaving just yet.”

Zoe hesitated. She glanced at the door. A look he could only describe as yearning crossed over her face. Did she wish she could throw it open and run from the room?

“You were great with Ella and Ava last weekend at the park. I know they’d enjoy learning from you.”

“But?”

He filled his lungs, then released the air in a long burst. “But the thing is, my ex-wife was an alcoholic who walked out on our marriage and our daughters to shack up with some guy she met on the internet.”

“I’m sorry, Sully. I understand. I do. I’d love the opportunity to work with you and your daughters, but I get your hesitation. If it makes a difference, I’ve spent the past year at Agape House—a transitional home for women released from prison started by my family. I’ve been given a second chance, and I’m not going to mess it up this time. A couple of weeks ago, I moved into my family’s cabin by the lake. I’m determined to prove I can get my act together.”

Though Zoe professed to be sober, how could he be sure she wouldn’t stray back into that old lifestyle?

However, they shared something in common—he, too, had lost everything and struggled daily with trying to earn back those pieces of his soul that had been chipped away and traded until redemption seemed like an almost unachievable hope.

Chapter Three

Could she really do this?

Zoe closed her eyes, took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Yes, she could. Time to stop questioning and start proving.

After Sully left Canine Companions, he called a couple of hours later, asking if Zoe was still interested in working with his family.

So here she was.

She released her air-filled lungs and rang the doorbell. Standing on the front porch of Caleb’s tan ranch with chocolate-colored shutters, she heard the sounds of a dog barking, and a child’s cry, then a man’s raised voice echoed through the storm door.

Her stomach twisted. What was she getting herself into?

If she could handle four years of prison, surely she could handle a dog and a couple of kids. After all, she had a kid of her own, right?

One she wasn’t currently raising...

The front door opened, jerking her out of her thoughts.

Sully stood in the doorway wearing a wet T-shirt and faded jeans, barefoot. His hair looked like it had been combed with a garden rake. Lines pinched his taut jaw.

Apparently not a good morning at the Sullivan household.

She swallowed the tangle of nerves twining around her windpipe and smiled. “Good morning.”

“That’s debatable. Come on in.”

She wouldn’t let his growl diffuse her enthusiasm, but she didn’t want to intrude, either. “If this is a bad time, I can come back later.”

Sully breathed deeply, then ran his hands through his hair. “No time like the present. Just don’t expect miracles.”

She stepped through the screen door he opened for her, then pulled her lips between her teeth to bite back the laugh gurgling in her throat.

Sully’s two daughters stood about four feet behind him, wearing oversize T-shirts. Their wet hair soaked the cotton fabric as puddles formed on the ceramic tile around their feet.

Riley barked from somewhere deeper in the house, then raced down the hall with something in his mouth. He rushed over to Sully, dropped it at his master’s feet, barked, then waited for expected praise over his trophy.

Sully scooped the toy off the floor, stared at it, then groaned. He thrust it behind his back and scrubbed his free hand over his face.

He glanced at Zoe. “We have a lot of work to do.”

For some reason, she didn’t think he was referring to only dog training. The man looked exhausted, and it was only nine in the morning.

They decided to schedule their appointments for mornings when the girls would be refreshed and wide-awake after breakfast. Then Sully could work for a couple of hours while they napped. Seemed ideal on paper.

“Daddy, are you holding Melly Moon?”

Sully’s shoulders sagged. Looking at his oldest daughter, he held out a headless doll. “I’m sorry, Ella. Riley found Melly Moon.”

Ella snatched the doll from him and crushed it to her chest. Tears filled her eyes and spilled over her rounded cheeks. “No, Daddy. Not my Melly.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Maybe we can fix it.”

“But she won’t be the same.”

Caleb Sullivan, the person she admired so much in college, who used to lock up criminals and preserve justice, looked about wiped out after a few hours with two young girls and a frisky pup.

Riley bounded back into the room and dropped something at Zoe’s feet. She picked it up to find an orange-haired chubby face adorned with glittery stars and moons smiling at her. The newly decapitated Melly Moon.

At that moment, Ella glanced at Zoe, then let out a wail. She jumped into Sully’s arms and buried her face in his chest, sobbing as if her heart were broken.

His other daughter stood rooted to the spot with a fearful look on her face.

The pitiful sight tugged at Zoe’s heart.

She examined the doll head and realized it was made of cloth. Riley had ripped it off at the seam. She dug through her purse to find her travel-size sewing kit, then stepped closer to Sully and Ella. Sitting cross-legged on the floor next to him, her knee brushed his, but she didn’t move, savoring the very brief contact.

She touched the sobbing child’s shoulder, then carefully slid the girl’s tangled hair behind her ear. “Ella, I can fix Melly Moon.”

Sniffling, Ella peeked out from behind Sully’s shoulder. “But it won’t be the same.”

“No, maybe not exactly the same, but I think you’ll still love Melly anyway, won’t you?”

She nodded.

Zoe held out her hand. “May I see Melly Moon?”

Ella tightened her grip on the headless doll and shook her head.

Sully shuffled his position and winced. “Let’s move into the living room.”

Still holding Ella, he reached for Ava’s hand. Zoe followed them into the living room and sat on the end of the leather couch opposite from Sully.