Small-Town Dad Page 17

  Neal pushed the recliner upright and Ian stirred but didn’t wake. “His snowsuit and stuff are here.” He pointed to the floor beside him.

  “I put him in the pj’s you’d packed.” Neal snuggled the warm form in his blanket sleeper.

  Anne picked up Ian’s backpack and slung it over her shoulder. “I’m sorry I’m so late. I was at a planning board meeting about the birthing center. Our attorney said the board approval was just a formality, which it was. What I didn’t know is that we’d be the last item on the agenda.”

  “No problem. I was here, and Rose and Opal helped entertain him. Hand me his snowsuit. He’s so sound asleep that I think we can get it on without waking him.”

  Anne lifted the navy blue suit from the floor and unzipped the front zippers. She leaned over to slip the legs over Ian’s pajama-clad feet. Warmth and the smell of baby and something more masculine, much more masculine, assailed Anne, causing her to pause in her task.

  “Need a hand?” Neal asked.

  “No, I’ve got it. Can you lift him so I can get his arms in?” she contradicted herself.

  Ian squirmed as she pulled the hood on his head and zipped up the snowsuit.

  “Shh,” she and Neal soothed in harmony.

  He quieted and they grinned at each other.

  Anne stood and Neal handed Ian to her. “We’d better get going.”

  Neal pushed out of the recliner to walk them to the door. “What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” he blurted. “I...we’d...Mom would like you to join us.” He stumbled over his words, making her heart skip a beat.

  “Thanks. But Margaret is planning to come and spend the weekend with us.” Anne shut out the disappointment that engulfed her as she declined his invitation.

  “I’m sure Mom would love for Margaret to come, too. What’s one more at Thanksgiving?”

  “Then we’d love to come,” Anne said, despite the distinct feeling she had that Mary Hazard knew nothing about Neal’s invitation. Or maybe especially because of that feeling.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Neal bounded out of the house in his shirtsleeves seemingly oblivious to the cold, gray Thanksgiving Day weather. “Let me give you a hand.”

  “Thanks,” Anne said as she opened the car trunk. “We brought Margaret’s walker for the day. She thought it would be easier than her wheelchair.”

  Neal lifted the walker from the trunk and unfolded it next to the passenger side of the car before he opened the door for Margaret.

  “Good to see you again, Neal.”

  “Same here. Watch your step. The driveway is a little uneven.” He helped her from the car.

  “Neal,” Ian called from the backseat. “We bring pie.”

  Anne opened the back door. “I asked your mom. It’s pecan. Margaret’s recipe.” Why was she babbling? When she’d called Mary to see if she could bring anything, Neal’s mother had said she could use another pie. She didn’t need to explain herself.

  “It was an act of self-defense.”

  “Pardon?” She unsnapped Ian’s seat harness and he scrambled out of the car.

  “Having you bring dessert, so Emily wouldn’t. Last year she made something. We’re still not sure what it was, and not because the rest of us haven’t discussed it thoroughly.”

  Anne laughed. “I’m not sure I’m any better of a baker than your sister, but I had an expert to direct me.”

  Margaret accepted Neal’s assistance to start toward the house. “She’s being modest. All I provided was the recipe. It was my mother’s. I remembered how much Anne liked it when she used to come home from college with Reenie to spend the holidays with us.”

  Remembering the good times she’d had with Reenie at her parent’s house put a slight pall on Anne’s holiday spirits. She covered it by grasping Ian’s hand. “Let’s go in. We can see baby Isabelle. He’s been talking about her nonstop since the other night when you watched them.”

  Before Neal turned to walk Margaret to the house, a slow smile spread across his face that sent a tingle to her toes. The way he gently supported the older woman’s elbow spoke to Anne of his strength, both inner and outer.

  “Pie,” Ian said, and pointed at the covered dish on the car floor.

  “Right. We can’t forget the pie.” She released his hand and lifted the dessert from the floor.

  Ian took off across the driveway and yard toward Neal and Margaret.

  “Ian!” Anne shouted. “Stop and wait for me.” She quickly caught up with him. “You know you’re supposed to hold my hand. What if a car came up the driveway?”

  “Neal,” the toddler said as if that explained everything.

  “He’s fine,” Margaret said.

  Anne knew Margaret meant well, but Ian needed to mind her. She shuddered. He could have run into the road.

  “Aunt Annie’s right,” Neal said with an apologetic nod to Margaret. “You need to hold her hand.”

  Anne warmed at Neal’s support. It was so different than her parents had been with her. They’d seemed to work at undermining each other’s authority.

  Ian stuck his bottom lip out and looked at his grandmother.

  Anne tensed. A disagreement with Margaret wasn’t how she’d envisioned starting Thanksgiving dinner.

  “You have to listen to Aunt Annie and Neal just like you listened to Mommy and Daddy. Understand?”

  Anne’s tension doubled. What was Margaret doing? Ian was already upset. Margaret was about the last person she’d expect to be purposefully hurtful. Then again, her parents could put up a good front, too, when they wanted and to people who didn’t know them well, they probably seemed like good parents.

  Ian’s lip slowly retreated and he nodded. “Listen to Nee Nee and—” he grinned “—Daddy Neal.”

  Anne dropped her gaze to the stone walkway as heat rose to her cheeks.

  “That’s Grandma’s big boy,” Margaret said with a chuckle.

  When Anne lifted her gaze to continue into the house, Neal was looking at her with a bemused expression on his handsome face.

  The door to the house opened. “Are you coming in or moving the party outside?” Ted Hazard asked.

  Ian tugged on Neal’s pant leg. “Who’s that?”

  “That’s my dad,” Neal said.

  Neal lifted Ian to the first step. “Us guys are going to help your grandma up the stairs.”

  Margaret released her walker and leaned on Neal’s arm. He handed to walker to his dad.

  “Take Grandma’s other arm.”

  Margaret fought to keep a straight face as Ian solemnly did as told.

  “Wait,” Neal said. “Maybe we should let Aunt Annie help. We don’t want her to feel left out.”

  “Nee Nee help, too.”

  Ted held the door open and Neal, Anne and Ian guided Margaret into the house.

  “I’m Ted Hazard,” he said as he closed the door behind them.

  “Margaret Cabot.”

  “Come in and sit down. Mary and Emily are in the kitchen. They have everything under control there. This is my son-in-law, Drew, and granddaughter, Isabelle.”

  Neal hung back while his father made the introductions.

  Ted and Anne helped Margaret settle on the couch.

  “I’ll take the pie into the kitchen,” Anne said. “Ian, stay with Grandma and play with your toys.”

  She let the backpack that was slung over her shoulder drop to the floor. “That is, if you don’t mind.”

  “Mind time with my favorite grandson? Not a chance.”

  “I know what you mean,” Ted said as he scooped up Isabelle and eased into the recliner.

  Ian pulled a fire truck from his pack and ran it up Ted’s leg toward Isabelle. “Vroom, vroom.” He smiled shyly when the man lo
oked at him and scooted back to his grandmother.

  “Our oldest is nineteen.” Ted looked down at Isabelle and Ian. “We’ve been waiting a while for some more.”

  Neal coughed and Anne escaped to the kitchen, feeling his eyes on her until she was out of sight.

  * * *

  Emily poked her head in the doorway. “Mom is out of olive oil for the salad. Can you walk down to the lodge and get ours?”

  “Sure.” Drew rolled from the couch to his feet. “Need anything else?”

  “No, that should do it. Dad, you okay with Izzie? I could take her.”

  “We’ll be fine.” Ted chucked the infant under the chin and she laughed.

  “Okay, then. I’ll get back to peeling potatoes.”

  “Neal, want to walk down with me?”

  “Yeah.” He could use a break from Dad’s not-at-all-subtle comments about grandchildren.

  Neal and Drew shrugged on their jackets. The wind had picked up since Anne and Ian had arrived, making the seasonal high-thirties temperature feel colder. Neal tucked his hands in his pockets and ducked his head.

  “I’m glad you took my advice.” Drew pulled leather gloves from his pockets.

  Neal frowned. “Advice? What advice?”

  “Back when Anne first came to Bible study. I said not to fight it. You’d be ahead of the game.”

  Neal wanted to disagree, but he couldn’t. He had invited Anne to Thanksgiving dinner with his folks. But he wasn’t going to let his brother-in-law take credit for his change of heart toward Anne and Ian. He’d had a soft spot for each of them since they’d arrived in Paradox Lake.

  “What makes you think you had anything to do with it?”

  “You’ve got me there. Nothing anyone said had any effect on me until I figured out myself that I was in love with Emily.”

  “I’m not.”

  Drew gave him a pointed look.

  “Okay, I probably am.”

  “Probably?” Drew snickered.

  “Okay. You’re right. I’m falling for Anne. Does that make you feel better?” Neal’s voice echoed through the forest surrounding the Sonrise Camp lodge at a volume he feared would carry down to his folks’ house.

  “Yep. It’s a good place to be. Glad to see you finally made it. Want to come in?” Drew started up the steps to the lodge.

  “No, I’ll wait out here.” Pacing in the bitter wind might take some heat out of the realization that he wanted to try to make a life with Anne and Ian.

  * * *

  “Dinner’s ready.” Mary Hazard ushered everyone into the dining room.

  Anne worked to keep the smile from her face when Mary seated her next to Neal. First Ted with his grandchildren comment. Now Mary. She glimpsed at Neal’s profile. Maybe it was time to give in to the prodding and chance going where her heart would take her. If only she had a grasp on Neal’s feelings for her and Ian.

  At the head of the table, Ted waited for everyone to sit. “Everything looks—” he breathed in “—and smells so good. I won’t take too long, but some thanks are due.”

  Neal took her hand and she took Margaret’s, who took Ian’s. A warm peace flowed around the table as they all bowed their heads.

  “Lord, thank You for providing us with this abundance of food when so many around the world will go hungry today. Thank You for the company of good friends, Anne and Margaret and little Ian, and for my family here. We wish Autumn was with us, but she’s doing Your work today helping others. And thank You for looking over us all, bringing Emily home and giving Drew the backing to continue Sonrise Camp, Neal opportunities and direction as he moves into a new phase in his life, and Mary and me the blessing of Isabelle and freedom from want as we head toward retirement. Amen.”

  He lifted his fork. “Now, let’s enjoy this wonderful meal Mary and Emily and Anne prepared for us.”

  Anne opened her mouth to protest that she hadn’t done much to contribute to the bounty in front of them, but Neal’s quick squeeze of her hand stopped her. She let herself take pleasure in being included with the Hazard women.

  During dinner, Anne joined in the family chatter and camaraderie with none of the uneasiness she’d felt at the impromptu barbeque at Emily and Drew’s earlier in the fall. She let her gaze drift from Ian to Margaret and around the table ending with Neal, who held it a moment before returning to his dinner. Joy bubbled up inside her. This was what family was all about.

  After they’d passed all of the dishes around at least twice, Mary asked if everyone wanted pie and coffee now or later.

  Ted patted his stomach. “Later sounds good to me, but I’ll take some coffee.”

  “Just coffee here, too,” Emily said.

  Everyone else nodded in agreement.

  “Anne, would you help me?”

  “Sure,” she answered, confused as to what help Mary would need. Unless it was an excuse to speak to her alone for some reason. Before Anne could stop it her mind raced back over her dinner conversation. Coming up with nothing Mary could take as improper, Anne shook off the silly notion that she was in for a reprimand for some indiscretion.

  “I wanted to thank you for coming. I know it means a lot to Neal, even if he hasn’t let you in on that information.”

  The heat of the kitchen made Anne’s face warm.

  “He’s never asked a woman to a family dinner before, not since Autumn’s mother, and he was still a kid then.”

  Anne’s heartbeat ticked up. She didn’t know how to respond.

  Mary unplugged the silver percolator. “Let’s get the coffee out before the guys all fall asleep at the table. The creamers are in the refrigerator. I have milk and half-and-half.”

  Anne found them and followed Mary back to the dining room.

  “Neal,” she heard Margaret say as they passed through the doorway. “Anne told me you’re interested in solar energy.”

  She’d done more than tell Margaret about Neal’s interest. She’d told her all about the plans Neal had drawn up for the birthing center and how he’d impressed the representatives from GoSolar and the other companies vying for the project. She’d also confided in her about the Green Spaces scholarship.

  “My neighbors recently had a system installed by GoSolar and they can’t say enough good things about the system or the company.”

  A grin spread across Neal’s face. “Small world. I just signed a contract to work with GoSolar doing the final electrical hookups for their photovoltaic systems.”

  “So, you made a decision,” Ted said.

  “But you don’t have to,” Anne blurted. She’d thought about telling Neal about the scholarship at dinner so his family could celebrate with him, but not exactly like this.

  Everyone stared at her.

  “You don’t have to take on the extra work.”

  They continued to stare.

  Milk, or was it half-and-half, spilled over the side of one of the creamers and dribbled down her hand to the floor. What was wrong with her?

  She placed the creamers on the table and put her most engaging business smile on her face. “What I meant to say is that I have an announcement.”

  The stares turned to curious looks.

  “For Neal in particular.”

  His eyes lit. She couldn’t wait to see his expression when he heard her next words.

  “You don’t have to take on the extra work. I know it’s probably been a struggle juggling your business and school and paying for your and Autumn’s tuition and other expenses.”

  The light in his eyes dimmed. Had she embarrassed him by mentioning money? Men could be so sensitive about providing for their families.

  “Green Spaces is going to award you one of its annual scholarships. Starting next semester, we’ll pay your tuition and books, plus a stipe
nd for living expenses. And, once you graduate from NCCC and transfer to RPI, the scholarship amount will increase to cover tuition and books there, along with living expenses.”

  “What if I want to work for GoSolar? What if I’m not planning on going to RPI or even finishing at NCCC?” His voice had an edge that sliced right through her.

  “I...” She pulled herself together. “This is a real opportunity. Thousands of students compete for these scholarships every year.”

  “Because they want them.”

  “And you don’t,” she countered in disbelief.

  Ted cleared his throat. “Neal, maybe you and Anne would like to take your conversation somewhere more private.”

  Anne cringed with memories of her father and, at times, her husband, Michael, reminding her of how she should comport herself in front of company and clients.

  “Let’s take a walk.”

  The open architecture of the Hazard’s home made outdoors or Neal’s apartment over the garage the only choices for any privacy.

  “After you.” Neal rose and pulled her chair out so she could stand.

  The forceful way he shoved the chair back under the table conveyed his anger louder than words. All because she wanted to help him? While he was undeniably masculine, he’d never struck her as too macho to accept help.

  “You’ll want gloves and a hat or scarf if you have one,” he said as he handed Anne her coat from the front closet. “You can use one of Emily’s old ones if you don’t.” He reached for his cap and gloves from the closet shelf.

  Anne put her coat on in silence and pulled her earmuffs and gloves from her pockets. She wrapped her scarf around the collar of the coat and threw the one end over her shoulder. Neal held the outside door open for her.

  She stopped at the bottom of the steps. “I don’t see why you’re so angry.”

  “We’d better walk if we want to stay warm.” Neal strode out to the road. Despite his longer stride, she matched him step for step.

  “Working and going to school full-time can’t be easy.”

  He shrugged. “People do it.”

  She refused to rise to his bait. “With the scholarship, you wouldn’t have to take on the extra work with GoSolar. You wouldn’t even have to work at all.”