A Daughter's Redemption. Georgiana Daniels

once been lush with grass and a flowerbed was now hard-packed dirt overrun with weeds. Why hadn’t Brad and Abby done more to help their dad? After all, by growing up here full-time they’d been close to him in a way Robyn never could be.

      “I talked to Dan a few times. We ran into each other every now and then at church. I wasn’t someone he confided in.” A look that Robyn supposed was sympathy crossed his face. His jaw flexed. “I’m sorry I don’t know more, but I only came here to work...after.”

      After. She knew he meant after the accident.

      An unexpected swell of grief surged in her chest. The rapid change of emotions she’d experienced since her father’s death was new and would take some getting used to.

      She ambled toward Caleb’s black truck, hiding her watery eyes. “After all this time away from here, I’m surprised how much I miss him.” She stopped herself from opening up to Caleb any further. Finding out he hadn’t actually worked for her dad made him a virtual stranger. Even her mom, as free-spirited as she was, warned Robyn against being so open and friendly. Still, Caleb’s presence was calming, and he seemed safe enough.

      He shook his head regretfully. “One thing I do know is that your dad was a good man. Everyone misses him. You can’t go anywhere in town without someone mentioning Dan.”

      Robyn gripped the door handle, trying to move past the sadness pressing against her chest. It was time for her to think about logistics, rather than dwell on her feelings. “Do you mind if I ask how you’re getting paid? I suppose that’s something I’ll need to take care of now that I’m here.”

      He hesitated. “Don’t worry. It’s being handled.”

      That was all Robyn needed to know—about that topic, anyway. She still had questions, myriad questions. Like what Caleb knew that he wasn’t saying. Or why her dad willed the run-down cabins to her after a twelve-year estrangement. But most of all she was desperate to know if he’d forgiven her or simply done what he felt was his duty.

      Questions she’d likely never have answers to, no matter how hard she searched and prayed.

      * * *

      The drive to town was pure torture.

      Rather than ride in silence, Robyn asked Caleb about himself. He tried to be vague, but she was impossible to ignore, especially with a scent that reminded him of an ocean breeze wafting off her. Even worse, her eyes sparkled with a quiet hope whenever she mentioned Dan. Caleb imagined Robyn was highly likable when she wasn’t walking through a tragedy, which reminded him that being her friend was one hundred percent out of the question.

      “I hear Ginger’s the best Realtor in town.” He parked his truck curbside and let it idle.

      Robyn peered out the window at the sign on the door. “Ginger Hanson?”

      “You know her?” He shifted in his seat, wondering who else Robyn knew. Who else had the potential to rip the cover right off him? Not that he enjoyed withholding the entire truth from Robyn but he had his own issues to deal with before purposely heaping more sorrow on a woman he’d just met.

      “I spent a few weeks every summer with my dad when I was a kid.” Robyn turned to him, a full smile illuminating her features. “Ginger and I were together every day at Lakeside Cabins, checking in guests and cleaning rooms. We lost touch after I stopped coming.” Her gaze shifted to her sandaled feet. “I didn’t see her at Dad’s services.”

      Caleb tightened his grip on the steering wheel at the mention of Dan’s funeral. In order not to upset half the town, he’d opted not to go. “I can pick you up when I’m finished at the hardware store.”

      “It looks like Ginger’s office hasn’t opened yet. We can come back later.”

      There she went with we again. The word sent prickles down his back. He had to figure out a way to tell her who he was. He’d prefer waiting until after the cabins were in salable condition so she wouldn’t force him to leave before the job was done, but Robyn’s insistence on working with him would make that next to impossible.

      Against his better judgment, he let her tag along.

      Joe’s Home and Hardware was already alive with activity. For decades, it’d been a meeting spot for contractors, do-it-yourselfers and retirees. Despite Caleb’s work hours on the police force, he made it a point to stop by on occasion, if for no other reason than to get a beat on the town.

      Caleb whipped a cap out of the glove compartment and pulled it low over his eyes before entering the store. If he made it out with paint and his lumber order without someone giving him away, he’d consider it mission accomplished.

      Cold stares and whispers greeted him inside, and people turned their backs when he walked by. Dan Dawson had been part of the daily gathering at the hardware store, and no doubt his buddies missed him.

      “Why don’t you pick out the paint, and I’ll head back to get the lumber.” Caleb broke away from Robyn before she had a chance to protest.

      He inhaled the comforting smell of sawdust. He’d spent his college summers on various job sites back when he thought he wanted to be a contractor instead of a cop. Though he’d eventually chosen a different path, he was thankful to have the skills he needed now to do repair work at Lakeside.

      “’Morning, Caleb.” Old Joe, the store’s owner, eyed him.

      “I came to pick up my order.” Caleb pulled the receipt from his pocket and handed it over the counter. His eyes darted around the store, searching for Robyn. He didn’t want to imagine the scene if she wandered back and one of the regulars asked why she was there with Caleb Sloane.

      Joe’s arthritic fingers riffled through papers in a file bin. The small store hadn’t quite caught up to the computer age. “Here it is. I’ll have one of the guys load it for you.”

      “I’m parked out front.” Caleb tucked the receipt inside his wallet, his eyes making another sweep of the store. No sign of Robyn. The tension in his gut ratcheted up another notch. A few more minutes and they’d be out of there.

      Joe’s stare closed in on Caleb, years of history passing between them in seconds. “Still working out at Dan’s?”

      “Doing my best.”

      “Just not the same around here without Dan. He always had time for a cup of coffee and a story or two. He was a good ol’ boy.” Joe leaned away from the counter, his comment stabbing Caleb in the gut. “I don’t suppose your best really makes up for it.”

      With nothing left to say, Caleb headed for the paint department.

      Robyn shuffled through paint chips like a hand of cards. “I like lighter colors, but it might stand out too much in the forest.” She locked into his gaze, causing his heart to react in ways it had no right to. “Maybe we should stick with brown. What do you think?”

      “I was going to keep it the same color Dan chose, but it’s up to you.” He snuck a glance around the area for workers or customers who might know who Robyn was. So far, everyone but Old Joe seemed content to ignore him. “Why don’t you choose, and I’ll finish up in here.”

      “We’ll stick with dark brown then.” She stashed the fan of paint chips on the display. “I probably shouldn’t worry over the details so much. It’s just that I really want to get this right. It’s not all about selling and the money. As much as I hate to admit it, this is my last chance to do something for him.”

      Mine, too. Caleb steeled his emotions, blocking out every runaway memory that threatened to surface. He held out his keys. “Go ahead and wait in the truck. I’ll pay.”

      “I thought that was my responsibility.” She narrowed her eyes, as though not quite believing his motives were pure.

      “I told you that it’s all been handled.” He jingled the keys in front of her, briefly wondering if he was doing the wise thing by using his own savings. He wanted to do right