A Home for the Marine
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Kellie A. King
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CHAPTER ONE
ANOTHER SPRING AT Ballad Inn and life had evolved tremendously. In nearby Crawford’s pasture new houses were being built. Margo Ballad’s sister Mia and her husband Ryan were already living in their own home and ground had been broken for homes for the rest of the family. Ballad Inn, the business the three sisters had created, was flourishing. They were booked solid from July through October, with July having two weddings on the property.
Margo was now a private home health nurse to various clients. It was easier to go to their homes and give them more personal care. The agency she worked for made patient care a wonderful priority. The policies at the rest home didn’t favor the seniors she was responsible for and with no changes being made Margo knew she had to leave. The new job also gave her more time at home at the inn, and to be in the kitchen, where creating her dishes calmed her.
It was also a time of change because sister number three had fallen off the roof and broken her wrist. Margo shook her head recalling the sound of tumbling, a falling scream, then a cry of “Ballad Girl down!” She’d been working the front desk. She and Mia ran out the front door to see Micki lying close to the bush that her body had bounced off. It was the only thing that’d kept her from being injured worse. As it was, Micki was holding her injured hand and when Margo looked at it, it was easy to tell that she’d broken her wrist.
“I’m putting my foot down, Micki,” Mia told their sister at the hospital that night. “No more crazy handyman stuff. I’m hiring an on-site maintenance person and contractor. We make enough.”
“Where are they gonna live?” Micki shot back.
“We have the little apartment above the garage that we only use for storage. If we clean it out, it could work,” Mia replied seamlessly. “Until then, whoever we hire can live in one of the guest rooms.”
“But...”
Mia raised her hand. “No buts, Michelle.”
“You used my full name!” Micki hissed. “How dare you, ma’am! You affront my sensibilities with your insult!”
“What?” Mia said in confusion.
“It’s probably the pain medication they gave her while the doctor set her arm,” Margo told her sister, amused.
“Either way—Micki—” Mia emphasized the word. “No more handyman stuff, you should be concentrating on other things.”
“Yeah, I know. I was waiting to tell you I’m starting law school in the fall, so we’ll need to hire someone anyway.” Micki sighed.
“Micki!” Mia fanned her face as tears formed in her eyes.
“You didn’t tell us!” Margo gasped happily and hugged her.
“I didn’t want to say anything until I got the acceptance letter,” Micki grumbled. “That and you guys act like this. I started some of the pre-law classes online and found I had a knack for it. I took the LSAT and smashed it. My teacher was impressed and wrote a recommendation letter for Carolina Shores University, Charlotte Campus, and I got in.”
“Our baby is growing up.” Mia’s laugh was full of emotion.
Micki pointed at her with her good hand. “I’m going to be on this new guy twenty-four seven. There’s a certain care needed for Ballad Inn, she’s finicky.”
“Huh.” Margo mused. “I never thought of the inn as a woman.”
“Created by women, run by women—it’s like the obvious choice,” Micki pointed out.
That was a week ago and Margo was impressed that Mia had already found a replacement. They wanted someone diligent, someone they could trust. Plus, they wanted to give a veteran the opportunity to have a full-time job. They placed the notice on all online employment sites listing that veterans would be given preference, with background checks and the right references. A new hire was made in days, and Margo would be the one to get him all settled when he arrived. Mia had an appointment and Ryan went with her, something was going on with those two, but Margo couldn’t quite put her fingers on it. Her sister and brother-in-law would share when they were ready. She sent up a prayer that all was okay.
A noise from the porch caught her attention. It was more like a combination of noises. Curiosity was about to drive her from behind the reception desk when the front door was thrown open and a large man filled the entrance way. The pink-and-gray strap of a baby bag was around his neck, under his arms was a folded-up something, possibly a booster seat, which he attempted to lean against the wall. All the while a set of chubby legs kicked. The cutest baby girl had her head thrown back laughing. She grabbed her father’s face trying to give him a kiss.
“Claire—okay. I love you too, sweetie pie, but let Daddy...”
His voice faded away as he began to lose his grip on the squirming body of the toddler he held. There was no other option than to put her down. The baby girl he called Claire dashed away like she had the wings of Hermes on her feet. That was when Margo moved. Before the baby could round the corner and head to the hallway that led to the kitchen, she picked Claire up and brought her back to her father.
“Hold on there, Speedy,” Margo said with a laugh. Her heart melted when the baby girl smiled back. “Hello.”
“Lo-lo,” a tiny voice answered and began to tell Margo something in baby gibberish.
“Sorry about that.” He finally set everything down and took his daughter from Margo’s arms.
“Not a problem. She’s cute and apparently has a lot to say.” Margo laughed. “Now, how can I help you? Did you have a reservation?”
He frowned. “I’m Gideon Holder, the new on-site maintenance man.”
“Oh—Oh!” Margo exclaimed. “We’re expecting you, but I didn’t know you had a family.”
“Only my daughter,” he answered simply.
Margo smiled. “That’s still a family. Well, the room that we were giving you until the apartment over the garage is finished definitely won’t do. That little one will need her own space too. Let me go see what I can do about that.”
“You don’t have to go to any trouble.” Gideon played with his daughter’s hand while Margo went behind the desk. “I have her pack and play. That can do for a few months until we have a place to set up her crib.”
“It’s no trouble at all.” Margo lifted her head and smiled. Each time the baby smiled at her, she felt a fist squeeze sweetly around her heart.
She focused on the computer screen, tapping lightly at the keyboard and talked to herself. “There it is. Yep, I can switch this here and give them this room... Perfect.”
“I take it you have good news?” Gideon’s voice held amusement.
She laughed self-consciously. “Sorry, I tend to talk to myself.”
“That’s fine. We all do it. Sometimes we are the best conversation around,” he teased.
“I agree.” Margo reached into a drawer for a key. “Well, I call it creativity because sometimes the only one who can answer the question is me.”
“Touché.” His voice was an appealing deep baritone. “So where are we heading?”
“We’re heading up to the second floor.” Margo came around the desk again. “I’ll help you get this stuff to your room.”
“You don’t have to,” Gideon said quickly.
“It’s absolutely okay. I want to.” Margo bent over to pick up the bag and what she assumed was the pack and play. “If she has a stroller we can store that in the hall closet so you don’t have to lug it up and down the stairs anytime you need to use it.”
“You sure?” Gideon followed behind her.
“Yep, its only paper towels and stuff like that on the shelves in there. Plenty of room.” Margo trudged up the stairs to the second floor speaking as she walked. “We don’t have an elevator. Sorry, but we kept the house as true to its original build as possible.”
“As you should. It’s a great historic Queen Anne–style house with a wraparound verandah no less,” Gideon remarked. “Has the house been designated as a historical landmark?”
Margo frowned. “I think Mia said something about having the certificates done after it was toured by the society three years ago. We’re one of the first houses built in this area. I can’t remember what year Mia said. You’ll meet her and she can tell you what you need to know.”
“Great. I want to ensure if I fix anything it stays true to the design,” he said.
Margo got to the room and unlocked it before handing him the key. “We don’t use key cards—again part of the historic value of the house. We didn’t want to ruin the doors with those metal slot thingies.”
They stepped inside and put down his things before she showed him around the rooms.
“This suite has its own bathroom and a small bedroom, while the main room has a pullout love seat,” Margo explained. “There’s plenty of space if you want to get her crib and a few of her things to make it more comfortable for Claire?”
She let the words hang in the air until he answered.
“Sound great. Thanks,” Gideon replied. “This little Claire Bear is two.”
“Two? Aren’t you a big girl,” Margo crooned.
“Two!” Claire said the word distinctly. “Heyyyy Dad-deee, ba-ba-ba.”
She went off on a string of garbled baby speak and Gideon nodded sagely like he understood every word.
“Care to enlighten those of us who don’t speak baby?” Margo asked with a grin.
“She wants her milk and a nap.” Gideon chuckled. “We stayed in a motel in South Carolina last night and had a decent breakfast before we left. So, it’s time for her lunch plus milk, and an afternoon nap.”
Claire was a mass of reddish-brown curls and wide hazel eyes set in plump rosy cheeks. A little pink bow sat crooked in her hair. Margo could only guess that trying to get an energetic baby girl dressed and organized was an effort. She smiled at the little girl but stepped away. That sweet ache was becoming something more, and the memories of the past would buckle her if she didn’t leave.
“I’ll let you guys get settled so Claire Bear can have her nap,” Margo said softly. “We eat a family style meal around six in the evening. If you have a high chair...”
“I have one,” he answered.
Margo ran her hand against the smooth door frame that led from one room to the other. “Great, and there’s the light switch... Well, you can see it for yourself. Dinner at six.”
“Thank you,” Gideon called after her.
She raised her hand in a wave and left the room, closing the door as quietly behind her as she could. Heading back downstairs she thought about Gideon and his hazel eyes that matched his daughter’s. He was tall compared to her own average height, and the military haircut accentuated his rugged jawline. He didn’t raise his voice; it was right in the middle of a baritone. She could just tell that Claire fell asleep listening to him read a story in that calming cadence.
Margo’s caring personality told her that he had been through a lot, but it was his story to tell. She also knew that she could find herself caring too much and ending up with hurt feelings, especially to do with Claire. They were a sad reminder of a long-ago time in her life. One she never truly got over.
Margo went back to the front desk and focused on the to-do list that Mia had left. Her very particular sister’s detailed bullet points included her preferred method of how to change the plastic jug in the water cooler.
“Mia, you are a giant pain in my neck,” Margo murmured, but she would have her sister no other way.
Mia, trailed by Micki and Ryan came through the door thirty minutes later. She’d just checked out their last guest. June would be stock car racing season and they never took guests during that month after the last debacle of bad customers, bad weather and just a general badness all round from previous enthusiasts who’d stayed at the inn. Instead, it would be a time for renovations and prep for the first wedding right after the Fourth of July.
Their schedule was booked well into next year. After a family meeting they’d decided that June would be the one month they closed for vacation. New staff would be coming on to be trained to help with events, so Mia had two employee workshops for new hires in their vacation month as well.
“Hey, family, where did you find our bird with the broken wing?” Margo teased—meaning her younger sister, Micki.
“We saw the poor thing outside under a tree and decided to save it,” Mia replied. “Ryan coaxed it with some sugary water and then it came home with us willingly.”
“Ha-ha.” Mick rolled her eyes.
“Look, Micki, cotton candy.” Ryan pulled a bag of blue and pink sugary strands from his knapsack.
“Ooh gimme.” She snatched the parcel and held it against her body with her casted hand and tried to open it with the other. When that didn’t work, she used her teeth.
“See, sugary,” Ryan remarked as Micki shoved a piece of the sweet treat in her mouth.
Micki leaned against the reception desk. “First of all, I don’t care what y’all say. Secondly, for some reason the hospital has the best cotton candy. It’s like how? Why?”
“I think they get it delivered from Carowinds or something. Who knows?” Ryan replied.
“How did everything go?” Margo asked her sister and brother-in-law.
She saw the look that passed between them. The sadness that crossed over Mia’s face was fleeting before she put on a bright smile. “Fine. It was all good.”
“We’d probably believe that if we knew what it was,” Micki pointed out.
“Tax stuff.” Mia lied. They knew it, but they let it go.
“The new handyman, contractor, maintenance guru, whatever title you decided on is here,” Margo said. “Gideon Holder and his daughter are now in residence.”
“Whoa, daughter?” Micki looked at Mia. “You didn’t tell us he had a kid.”
Mia sighed. “Shoot, it slipped my mind. Sorry, guys.”
Margo smiled. “It’s not a problem. Claire is a two-year-old cutie.”
“A baby I can spoil.” Micki clapped her hands. “I wonder if she would like Monty.”
“She’s a toddler,” Ryan said drolly. “Just keep her from trying to taste him.”
“Ewww, no!” Margo shook her head. She would have to tell Gideon about her menagerie of pets. It wouldn’t be wise to pet them without her or a family member around.
“Well, I can’t wait to meet my replacement.” Micki popped another piece of cotton candy in her mouth.
“You better be nice, Micki.” Margo snagged the bag of cotton candy from her hand. “You can have the rest of this after dinner. Mia, the desk is yours. I’m going to my domain.”
“I’m a grown woman,” Micki called out behind her.
“Yep, you are a grown woman who will ruin her dinner.”
Margo entered the kitchen grinning and surveyed the wide room. Two baker’s racks stood along the far wall, they’d chosen an open cupboard design for her spices, and the copper pans hung over the stone hearth. They didn’t use the fireplace anymore, but it made the room feel more homey and comfortable. She sighed at the sense of peace that overcame her.
She pulled out ingredients for that evening’s dinner and dessert, and put on the radio to her favorite station—humming along lightly as she worked. Gideon and Claire filtered through her mind, and she smiled for just a moment. Stay away, don’t get attached, because Margo knew she would. Nothing could replace what she’d lost.
THE EVENING CAME but daylight savings time in Charlotte meant the sun didn’t go down until after seven. Sometimes you could sit on the verandah and watch the oranges and yellows of the sunset blend with the Carolina blue sky. The sun was still up when Margo and Enid got the food on the table. The family came in first, and finally Gideon came downstairs with his daughter, Claire.
“Um, hi?” Gideon said from the doorway.
“Hi, hi, hi,” Claire sang out and waved a small hand.
“Hey, guys.” Margo looked away and pasted a bright smile on her face. “Let me introduce you to the rest of the gang.”
“I can intro myself,” Micki said, and stuck out her hand. “I’m Micki Ballad. Just call me Micki. You’re filling my shoes, buddy.”
Micki shook his hand and Margo saw she was trying to squeeze his fingers firmly—a sign of superiority. She almost laughed when Gideon didn’t even flinch.
“Nice to meet you,” Gideon replied with a grin.
Micki stopped for a second or two before she laughed out loud. “I like you. Plus, you have a baby and that’s my kryptonite.”
“This is Claire,” Gideon introduced his daughter.
“Hey, little girl,” Micki crooned. “Will she let me hold her?”
“Go for it,” Gideon answered. “If she doesn’t want to be held, she’ll be very vocal about it.”
“Ah, my kind of girl.” Micki held out her hands and Claire reached out to be held, making Micki beam. “Look, she likes me! I got to hold her first.”
“Actually, I held her first.” Margo claimed her victory. “Anyway, this is Mia, the oldest of the trio and her husband Dr. Ryan Cassidy.”
“Nice to meet you.” Mia also shook his hand. “Your daughter has enthralled us all, I think.”
Ryan was next. “Luckily you have an on-site pediatrician and nurse available in case she ever needs us.”
“You’re a pediatrician?” Gideon asked.
Ryan nodded. “Indeed, and Margo is a registered nurse with a Master’s of Science in Nursing.”
Gideon turned to her. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“We didn’t have much of a conversation,” Margo said and changed the subject quickly. “And this is our Enid. She’s the foundation of this house and everyone in it.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Ballad,” Gideon said politely.
Enid laughed. “Oh no. I only helped raise these girls. Their parents travel frequently. I’m the chief cook and housekeeper.”
Gideon nodded. “I’m sorry I presumed.”
Enid patted his shoulder. “It’s not a problem. You brought a baby I can spoil.”
Micki danced around with the baby. “Besides she was practically our mother.”
“Let’s eat before this all gets cold,” Margo said. “Gideon, I set up the high chair you brought next to your chair.”
“Great. Thank you.” Gideon held out his hands for his daughter. “Time for nom-noms, Claire Bear.”
Claire kicked her little feet as he tried to put her into the chair. “Nom-nom-nom-nom.”
They all laughed, as they sat around the large mahogany table, and started to pass the serving dishes. Margo took in account their new tiny guest, and made mashed potatoes and soft peas, while the others also had roasted chicken and its natural gravy, biscuits, salad. For dessert she made pineapple upside-down cake with fresh whipped cream. Gideon made sure the baby’s plate was made and her cup with water was close by. He fastened a plastic bib around her neck before pressing a kiss in her hair.
“Eat up, little girl,” he said gently.
The conversation went back and forth as they ate, more from them than Gideon, so she tried to make him comfortable.
“So, you were in the military?” Margo asked casually.
Gideon nodded. “Marine. I did a few tours and became a full-time dad when I came home.”
“No mother?” Enid asked bluntly.
“Enid, no...” Mia said.
Gideon held up his hand. “No, it’s fine. Claire’s mother passed away soon after I returned from my last deployment. Then it was just me and her. This job gives us a fresh start away from old memories.”
“Well, we’re sorry for your loss.” Margo shot a glare toward Enid who glared back in return.
“You drove cross-country with Claire?” Micki asked. “That’s quite a journey.”
“We drove all the way here from Tacoma and saw the sights as we went along.” He spoke after a mouthful of food. “By myself it would take about forty-eight hours. With my precious cargo, it took around four days. I stopped when she was tired, of course, and got a hotel room for the night.”
“I want to do that on a motorcycle one day—drive cross-country,” Micki said with a wistful sigh.
“But she won’t because she doesn’t want me to die of a heart attack,” Enid said sweetly.
Micki rolled her eyes. “Of course, I won’t.”
“I saw that look, little miss thang,” Enid scolded. “Don’t make me put you on KP duty the rest of the week.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Margo glanced at Gideon who grinned in her direction, making her smile in response. While they chatted, Claire tore into her food. The potatoes disappeared in no time, followed by the peas. Once that was gone, she gobbled up dessert.
“She eats like a linebacker,” Margo said in approval. “My kinda girl.”
“Wait till you see her eat oatmeal and fruit in the mornings,” Gideon said, amused.
“I look forward to that.” Margo chose to ignore the teasing looks that passed between her family.
“Is it okay if I put her in the stroller and tour the grounds tomorrow?” Gideon asked. “I’d like to check out the property and buildings, see my workspace and all that.”
“Please, go ahead. Margo can show you around,” Mia offered up with a wide smile.
“I’d love to,” Margo said warmly. She pinned Mia with a quick look.
“Great, well this has been the best meal I’ve had in a long time—well, we’ve had. I’m sure Claire was sick of my cooking,” Gideon said with genuine warmth in his voice.
Margo could tell he was relaxing in this new environment already. The wariness in his eyes had faded but the exhaustion remained.
“I’m going to go get this messy one in the tub. She’ll be ready for a bottle of warm milk and then she’ll be out for the night.” Gideon cleaned his daughter up as best he could and tried to also tidy up the high chair.
“Don’t worry, we can get that,” Margo told him. “Go on up with her.”
“I left her stuff, like her milk and juice cups, in the kitchen, if that’s okay,” Gideon said hesitantly.
“No worries at all.” Enid got up and began to bustle around with the leftovers of the meal. “Our home is your home until the apartment is ready. I’ll clear some space in the mudroom for any of her things that don’t fit upstairs.”
“Thank you, everyone, for everything.” Gideon hesitated. “I think this will be a good fit for us.”
Mia’s tone was confident when she spoke. “I think we made the right choice.”
“Well, good night, all, and thanks again,” Gideon told them. “Say nighty night, Claire Bear.”
“Nite-nite.” Claire waved over his shoulder.
They echoed their good-nights and watched as he climbed the stairs with the baby still happily waving her tiny arm. Margo waited until he was out of sight before looking at Mia.
“What the heckity-heck was that?” Margo exclaimed. “Why did you just offer me up on a silver platter.”
“Margo, I offered for you to show him around the property, not to be the entrée in a luau.” Mia laughed. “Besides, it was cute, how you guys kept glancing at each other when you thought the other wasn’t looking.”
“We were not!” Her faced warmed. “I just don’t think it’s my place.”
“It won’t take long, sis.” Micki laughed now. “And this way you can make goo-goo eyes at him with no one looking.”
“Ryan, help,” Margo pleaded.
He looked immediately at the open doorway. “What’s that? I’m needed in the kitchen. On my way.”
“Ryan, there is no one in the kitchen,” Margo said dryly.
“Yeah, but it’s an escape. I know better than to get in the middle of the notorious Ballad girls.” Ryan grinned.
“I don’t want you hanging with Mr. Bolton or Marley anymore.” Mia ruffled her husband’s hair and kissed him. “They teach you bad things.”
Margo pointed at each of them. “All you people are too much.”
“Oh, honey, you are one of us.” Mia stood and came over to hug her shoulders. “Now, help clean up, so I can go home and water my garden.”
“Never thought I’d hear her say that about cleaning.” Micki grabbed a chafing dish.
Margo shook her head in amusement. Love. This was her unique family and she loved them, even though they were exasperating. Now she had to figure out how to keep a safe distance from Gideon and his daughter while maintaining a professional and polite business relationship. That girl was a cute little Claire Bear to a very handsome father, she thought to herself. She ducked her head so her braids would cover her face while she helped her sisters clear the table. It seemed they could always tell exactly what she was thinking.
