Lakeside Redemption

“What didn’t happen would be quicker to answer. Ava woke up with a wet bed. I was trying to give them a bath and keep Riley out of their room when you arrived. I’m sorry you walked into chaos.”

She placed a hand on his upper arm. “Sully, relax. It’s just fine.”

“Thanks. That’s cool of you to say. It means a lot. Let me get the girls some breakfast, then we can talk about training the monster if you’re still up to it.”

“I’m game if you are.”

“Yeah, after this morning, we need to do something fast.” He gathered a bundle of unfolded laundry off the couch and righted a beige throw pillow. “Have a seat and I’ll get them squared away. Then we can talk about how to proceed.”

“What can I do to help?”

“Nothing. I’ll take care of it.”

Zoe reached for his arm and tried not to think about the strength radiating from his muscular form. “Sully, stop being stubborn. You’re a great dad. But asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, you know.”

Sully stared at her for a long moment, then sighed. Instead of answering, he sat on the couch cushion, dropped the laundry at his feet and wrapped his hands around his head. “How do single parents do this, Zoe? How did you handle it with Griffin?” Then, as if realizing what he had just said, crimson rose above the collar of his shirt and colored his neck. “Sorry, I mean, before...”

“Listen, Sully, I’m the last person qualified to give you parenting advice. I’m probably the world’s worst mom, but I’m so thankful for my parents and my brother, Ian. They deserve all the credit for Griffin being such a great kid. But, the way I see it, you’re trying too hard to prove you’re some kind of superdad.”

“I’m all they have.”

“Doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. Let’s face it, we all need help every now and then. The way you handled Melly Moon was great. You proved to be a hero to your daughter.”

“You were the one who saved the day with your mad sewing skills.”

“My point is you’re doing what matters. Focus on the big stuff. Who cares about a wet bed? Sheets can be washed. Give the girls what they need most—your unconditional love.”

“That’s a given. Thanks, Zoe. There’s coffee in the kitchen. Help yourself to some. I need to get the girls dressed.”

They headed in different directions—Sully followed Ella’s giggles down the hall while Zoe went to the kitchen.

She searched the cupboards for two mugs and filled them with coffee. She pulled out three bowls and set them on the round table under the window. She found two boxes of cereal and grabbed milk and apple juice from the fridge. Cups, napkins and spoons completed the table settings.

Once Sully and the girls had some breakfast and were a little more relaxed after this morning’s calamity, then they could focus on working out the best training plan for Riley.

Excitement brewed, but she couldn’t quite determine if it was for finally using her dog-training skills or for the amount of time she’d be spending with Sully and the girls.

She’d have to work hard to keep an emotional distance. After all, she couldn’t risk her heart over something that could never be.

She couldn’t mix business and pleasure, especially with this family. Sully deserved someone who could give him a shining future, not one with a clouded past.

* * *

How could two little girls make such a mess?

He needed to do better at keeping things together.

Caleb stepped over stuffed animals, a coloring book and several scattered crayons to grab Ava’s wet pajamas off the girls’ bedroom floor.

After they’d moved to Shelby Lake, Caleb had called his sister, Sarah, for help in setting up the girls’ bedroom. He didn’t even want to think about his credit card bill next month.

Sarah had selected white twin beds with matching purple-and-green comforters and curtains. Flower-shaped throw rugs lay in front of matching white dressers with mirrors.

Apparently she felt the girls needed every stuffed animal the toy store had in stock. Not to mention the dollhouse in the corner of the room. A basket of books sat between two fairy-princess beanbag chairs under the window.

A new room for a fresh start.

Giggling in the bathroom pulled him out of his thoughts. He dropped the wet clothes on the pile of dirty towels in the girls’ hamper in the closet, and then strode down the hall.

Within two minutes, he had both girls dressed, hair brushed in some semblance of order and shooed them out of the room so he could empty the tub.

Once the bathroom looked less like a wrecking zone, he headed for the kitchen. He found the girls huddled together on the couch in the living room with Ella aiming the remote at the TV as she sang along with Dora the Explorer in Spanish.

Caleb reached for the remote and flicked off the cartoon. He held out his hands to them. “Come on, girls. Let’s find you some breakfast.”

He didn’t realize how much he had missed the little touches of domesticity until he walked into the kitchen holding the girls’ hands and found the table already set.

That was one thing he never took for granted while he was married. He always made sure he let Val know how much he appreciated what she did for him.

“You didn’t have to do this.” He looked at Zoe, leaning against the kitchen counter, coffee mug in one hand and the newspaper folded open in the other.

She smiled at him over the edge of her mug. “I wanted to. You had your hands full, and I figured I could be a little useful. Hope you don’t mind that I went through your cupboards.”

He waved away her concern. “Doesn’t bother me one bit.” In fact, it warmed him a little to think she was comfortable enough with him and his home to do that. But she wasn’t here to be their housekeeper.

No, in fact, he needed to get a better handle on this parenting thing because he was determined to give his daughters the stability they needed.

He buckled the girls into their booster seats and motioned for Zoe to sit in one of the empty chairs. Once she did, he sat across from her and folded his hands. “Girls, let’s say our prayers before we eat.”

They bowed their heads, and Caleb gave thanks for the food. Under his breath, he thanked God for reconnecting him with Zoe again. He didn’t know what God’s plan was for the two of them, but he didn’t believe seeing her again was a coincidence. He’d go with it until God steered him in a different direction.

Caleb poured cereal and milk into the girls’ bowls. He pushed his bowl out of the way and reached for his coffee mug. After the first couple of sips, he started to feel almost human again. Almost.

Caleb leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table.

Ella tapped his arm with her spoon. “Daddy, no elbows on the table.”

“You’re right, sweetie. I forgot.” Caleb smiled at her as he pulled his elbows down and rested his forearms on the table.

“It’s okay. Everybody makes mistakes.”

And he’d made more than his fair share of them. He smoothed a hand over Ella’s drying hair and shifted his attention to Zoe.

She watched them with a mix of sadness and wistfulness. What was she thinking?

Even in the short time they’ve been reacquainted, Caleb could see she wasn’t the same girl he’d known at school. The woman sitting across from him carried heavy burdens. Her eyes used to sparkle with laughter and a touch of mischief. Now they had been dulled with pain and brokenness.

He wanted to see her filled with joy once again, not return to a past life they’d once shared. No, those days were over. But perhaps this could be a new season of fresh starts for both of them.