Lakeside Hero

“You’re still determined to build your training school? For the service dogs?”

“Yes, ma’am. It takes a lot of money to provide a service dog to an injured vet and most can’t afford that cost. I want to be able to help any wounded warrior who can’t afford to buy a service animal. And I’ve had several good contributions to match the foundation funding.”

Aunt Hattie leaned back and crossed her hands in her lap. “Then what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He put down his plate of cake and sipped at the coffee. He couldn’t explain something he didn’t quite understand himself. But this restlessness had to stem from one thing. “I...I met someone—”

Aunt Hattie clapped her hands together. “Oh, how lovely.”

He held up a hand at that feminine glee. “We’re just friends, as per an agreement.”

Aunt Hattie frowned and touched on her soft gray curls. “An agreement? That’s not very romantic.”

“I met someone,” he began again. “She owns a bakery—”

“Marla’s Marvelous Desserts?” Aunt Hattie’s glee went into overdrive. “Marla is one of the nicest girls I’ve ever known. Her parents are a joy, too. And that cute little daughter of hers—”

“You know her?”

“Of course. I know everyone in Millbrook.”

That was the truth.

His aunt leaned forward in her chair and clasped her hands together. “How did you meet?”

He told her about the wedding and the dinner at church. “Her desserts are...addictive.”

“And she’s a pretty woman.” That knowing smile again.

Alec had to be careful here. “She’s attractive, yes.”

Like, cute-as-a-button attractive.

Aunt Hattie slapped a bejeweled hand against her lap. “I have a confession to make.”

Alec shook his head. “You already knew all of this, right?”

His cagey aunt had plied him with cake and strawberries, hoping to get the real story. She, of all people, knew he had a major sweet tooth.

Giving him an innocent smile, she said, “Well, I might have heard a rumor that you two ate together at the singles dinner the other night. I would have been there, but Delton took me to see a play in Pensacola.”

“Single-and-social,” he countered. “Networking.”

“Oh, is that what they call it these days?”

“It was a great networking opportunity. I’ve received several donations from that one dinner and I’ve had several calls from interested people.”

“And you’ve found a new friend.”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“No, I don’t. And please, I don’t want you talking about it with all your church friends, either.” He patted her hand. “I meet people all the time but Marla is...different. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?”

“Okay, then. All in due time.” His aunt took another nibble of cake. “But I’m so glad you’re making new friends.”

Bless her. She made it sound as if he was back in middle school, but Aunt Hattie would honor his wishes because she’d been raised to be polite and discreet. Even when she “shared” information with the other matrons in town.

Aunt Hattie didn’t pursue the subject of Marla Hamilton, thankfully, and soon they were talking about the weather, his plans for the rest of the week and her upcoming doctor’s appointment. Angus woofed and yawned and glanced longingly toward the window.

His aunt got up after they’d finished their cake. Alec stood, too. Aunt Hattie came around the coffee table and gave him a quick hug. “I’ll see you later at dinner. We’ll keep it light—just fresh sliced tomatoes and cucumbers and some cheese and crackers.”

Then she glanced out the window and turned him around on his heels. “Oh, and by the way, your new friend is out there taking a stroll around the lake with her little girl.”

Alec gave his aunt a frown but he moved toward the window in a flash, with Angus right behind him.

“You should go out there and visit with them,” Aunt Hattie said, the hope in her voice shouting at him.

“I’d rather not,” Alec admitted. “Not right now. Not yet.”

“She’s seen your scars, Alec,” his aunt said on a soft note. “And Marla is the kind of woman who can deal with any scars you might have.”

“Yes, she’s seen my wound.” He touched a hand to his face. “But her daughter hasn’t. And she won’t. Not until Marla thinks she’s ready.”

“I hope that’s soon, then,” Aunt Hattie replied before leaving him alone.

He turned back to the window and watched as Marla walked behind a bright pink-and-white miniature bike with training wheels attached. The little girl on the bike could be a tiny version of her mother from what he could see of her long reddish blonde hair. The sight of them together, laughing and having fun, tore at Alec in a way that nothing else had in recent days.

And made him ache for something unattainable, something unexpected.

Gabby looked adorable.

And so was her mother. Marla wore a flared floral skirt and a simple blue T-shirt. But her long hair spilled out around her shoulders in bright hues of gold and red.

Alec almost headed out with Angus, but he’d promised her he wouldn’t push. And he didn’t want to scare Gabby before they’d been properly introduced.

So he waited until they’d circled the park and when he didn’t see them coming back around, he finally took his dog out for a lonely walk. For now, that would have to be enough.

* * *

Marla and Gabby left the park and headed back to Lake Street, but she couldn’t help but think about the big white Victorian house that stood on a prime piece of real estate right across from the lake. Caldwell House had always been a fixture of Millbrook Lake, and she’d been by the old house many times through the years. But back then, she’d never connected the house with the man she’d recently met.

Funny how their paths had never crossed when they were younger—but then, Marla had lived outside of town on a farm and attended a different school from him.

Alec Caldwell had lived up there, in that wedding cake of a house, growing up. And now he was back as a grown man. A marine who’d served his country and was now trying to help wounded veterans have better lives.

What about his own wounds?