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Authors: Carrie Turansky
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pants and matching sweatshirt strode toward her, a hot pink sun visor shading her eyes. The walker looked up and smiled.
Rachel lifted her sunglasses and waved to Hannah Bodine, curator of the small Fairhaven Historical Museum that shared space at the Arts Center. Moving N.C.Y.T. there had been Hannah’s idea. Maybe she could help smooth things over with Cam, or at least give her some direction. Rachel strolled over and greeted her friend.
“Out for walk and a little fresh air?” Hannah asked.
Rachel shrugged, struggling to summon a smile.
“What’s wrong, dear?”
Hannah’s kindness and interest in N.C.Y.T. had won Rachel’s trust and friendship, so she plunged ahead. “I had a run-in with Cam.” Her throat suddenly felt thick, and a weight seemed to press down on her shoulders. “I’m afraid he’s going to ask us to leave.”
“Oh dear. What happened?”
Rachel related the story, even confessing how she’d spoken her mind a little too freely. “I don’t know what it is about that man. I just can’t seem to keep a lid on my temper when he’s around.”
“He seems to have a powerful effect on you.” Hannah’s eyes twinkled.
“Oh, there’s nothing going on between us. I wouldn’t even call us friends. Our relationship is more like the explosive reaction you get when you mix vinegar and soda.”
Hannah chuckled. “Sounds exciting!”
“Seriously, Hannah. I think I pushed Cam too far today.” Why had she unloaded all her frustration on him? If she’dheld her tongue, or at least apologized after she’d blown up, things might have worked out differently.
“I wouldn’t worry too much. Cam may seem all rough and bristly on the outside, but he has a good heart. He’ll cool off.”
“I still don’t understand why he was so upset. It was just a little noise and a small puddle of water. Why is he so antagonistic toward my kids?”
The amusement faded from Hannah’s eyes, and she patted Rachel’s arm. “Come on. Let’s walk. I want to get in a few more minutes of exercise before the rains come.”
“Okay.” Rachel set off, matching Hannah’s brisk pace.
“Cam has his reasons for being sensitive about children.” The older woman’s voice softened. “He lost his wife and son a few years ago in a terrible car accident.”
Rachel nodded. “He told me.”
Hannah’s steps slowed. “He did?”
“Yes, I saw their photo at his house.”
Hannah cocked her head, a slight smile lifting the corners of her mouth. “He invited you to his house?”
Warning bells rang in Rachel’s head. Here was another opportunity to lead someone on with a little bit of truth. But she didn’t want to make the same mistake this time. “He did invite me in, but only because I’m renting his upstairs apartment.”
Hannah’s eyes danced now. “Really?”
“I’m just the tenant. That’s all there is to it.”
“Okay. If you say so.” But Hannah’s smile said she suspected a budding romance between her and Cam.
“So you think having my drama kids around reminds Cam of the son he lost?”
“Yes. That’s part of it.”
“And what’s the other part?”
“I think he’s afraid of getting involved and risking thatkind of loss again. So he puts up this gruff front to keep people at a distance, especially women and children.”
Rachel turned that idea over in her mind. It made sense, considering everything she had observed about Cam in the past few weeks. Suddenly her irritation with him seemed trivial, even petty. Regret burned in her throat. How would she cope if she had suffered such a great loss?
“God and time have a way of healing old wounds,” Hannah added, sending her a brief smile. “Maybe that’s why you’re here.”
Rachel laughed softly. “I doubt my coming to Fairhaven is going to play a part in Cam’s healing. All I seem to do is irritate him.”
“Maybe so, but helping him over the hurdle of being with children every day could be an important step forward for
Rachel lifted her sunglasses and waved to Hannah Bodine, curator of the small Fairhaven Historical Museum that shared space at the Arts Center. Moving N.C.Y.T. there had been Hannah’s idea. Maybe she could help smooth things over with Cam, or at least give her some direction. Rachel strolled over and greeted her friend.
“Out for walk and a little fresh air?” Hannah asked.
Rachel shrugged, struggling to summon a smile.
“What’s wrong, dear?”
Hannah’s kindness and interest in N.C.Y.T. had won Rachel’s trust and friendship, so she plunged ahead. “I had a run-in with Cam.” Her throat suddenly felt thick, and a weight seemed to press down on her shoulders. “I’m afraid he’s going to ask us to leave.”
“Oh dear. What happened?”
Rachel related the story, even confessing how she’d spoken her mind a little too freely. “I don’t know what it is about that man. I just can’t seem to keep a lid on my temper when he’s around.”
“He seems to have a powerful effect on you.” Hannah’s eyes twinkled.
“Oh, there’s nothing going on between us. I wouldn’t even call us friends. Our relationship is more like the explosive reaction you get when you mix vinegar and soda.”
Hannah chuckled. “Sounds exciting!”
“Seriously, Hannah. I think I pushed Cam too far today.” Why had she unloaded all her frustration on him? If she’dheld her tongue, or at least apologized after she’d blown up, things might have worked out differently.
“I wouldn’t worry too much. Cam may seem all rough and bristly on the outside, but he has a good heart. He’ll cool off.”
“I still don’t understand why he was so upset. It was just a little noise and a small puddle of water. Why is he so antagonistic toward my kids?”
The amusement faded from Hannah’s eyes, and she patted Rachel’s arm. “Come on. Let’s walk. I want to get in a few more minutes of exercise before the rains come.”
“Okay.” Rachel set off, matching Hannah’s brisk pace.
“Cam has his reasons for being sensitive about children.” The older woman’s voice softened. “He lost his wife and son a few years ago in a terrible car accident.”
Rachel nodded. “He told me.”
Hannah’s steps slowed. “He did?”
“Yes, I saw their photo at his house.”
Hannah cocked her head, a slight smile lifting the corners of her mouth. “He invited you to his house?”
Warning bells rang in Rachel’s head. Here was another opportunity to lead someone on with a little bit of truth. But she didn’t want to make the same mistake this time. “He did invite me in, but only because I’m renting his upstairs apartment.”
Hannah’s eyes danced now. “Really?”
“I’m just the tenant. That’s all there is to it.”
“Okay. If you say so.” But Hannah’s smile said she suspected a budding romance between her and Cam.
“So you think having my drama kids around reminds Cam of the son he lost?”
“Yes. That’s part of it.”
“And what’s the other part?”
“I think he’s afraid of getting involved and risking thatkind of loss again. So he puts up this gruff front to keep people at a distance, especially women and children.”
Rachel turned that idea over in her mind. It made sense, considering everything she had observed about Cam in the past few weeks. Suddenly her irritation with him seemed trivial, even petty. Regret burned in her throat. How would she cope if she had suffered such a great loss?
“God and time have a way of healing old wounds,” Hannah added, sending her a brief smile. “Maybe that’s why you’re here.”
Rachel laughed softly. “I doubt my coming to Fairhaven is going to play a part in Cam’s healing. All I seem to do is irritate him.”
“Maybe so, but helping him over the hurdle of being with children every day could be an important step forward for
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