A shocking surprise…
Beau spent the next two days trying to reach Cara by phone, but she wasn’t answering. Of all the things they’d talked about in between kisses, where she lived wasn’t one of them, so he had no idea where to look for her. After his appointment with Dr. Appleby, one which involved all manner of visual tests and a CAT scan, he’d been given the all-clear with a promise to relay the news of the return of his sight to Dr. Percy in Vancouver. The team manager had been notified, and the owner wanted to know when Hamilton could return to the ice. In all, it had been a busy day. Beau spent most of it distracted by thoughts of Cara.
He was more than happy to be told he could begin training again in another week, but despite permission to drive and get back to regular activities, he’d have to wait a little longer before he could rejoin his team for an actual game. Dr. Appleby explained that until a full eight weeks had passed, and another CAT scan determined that all markers were cleared, he needed to take it easy. Light exercise and some skating would be fine, but no rough stuff. Another hit to the head too soon might be all it would take to rob Beau of his sight forever.
If he were honest with himself, hockey was the last thing on his mind. His thoughts were filled with a spikey-haired pixie whose touch lit a passion inside him the size of a pre-game bonfire. He missed her. Missed her caring ways, her feistiness, her humor, her unwitting sexiness, and even her adorable klutziness.
Beau did remember her mentioning Wegman’s grocery store.
He rode by, finally able to drive his Jeep once again, but the store was closed. Down the street, shoppers filled the parking lot of the new Falden’s Supermarket. He pulled in, finding a spot. It was possible she’d found a job at the new grocery store. Getting out, he made way his inside, looking down the row of registers. Nowhere did he see a crop of dark, spiky hair.
A middle-aged man with a balding pate walked by wearing a green vest with a name tag that said he was Harvey West, Manager.
Beau stopped him.
“Excuse me.”
Harvey West paused, looking at Beau. Recognition lit his eyes.
“Say, you’re Beau Hamilton!” The man reached out a hand, grabbing Beau’s and shaking it like there was no tomorrow. “A Vancouver Canuck in my store. I’ll be! What can I do for you, son?”
Beau nodded, acknowledging the fan. “Mr. West—”
“Harvey. Call me Harvey.”
Beau cleared his throat. “Yeah, Harvey. I’m looking for someone. She might be one of your employees.”
“Oh?” The man grew concerned. “Tell me who. I’ll get to the bottom of whatever it is and make it right. The customer is always right, especially when it’s you.” Harvey crossed his arms over his barrel chest, waiting to see which of his employees had gone and angered Beau Hamilton. “Heads will roll, I assure you.”
A chuckle escaped Beau’s lips. “No, it’s not that. There’s no problem. I’m just trying to find her. Her name is Cara Delavine. Is she here?”
Harvey West looked relieved, and then confused. “I don’t know who that is. She’s not an employee here, but the name is sort of familiar. I think she may have applied…”
Beau was surprised. “And you didn’t hire her?”
“Well, we filled up pretty quickly.”
“You do realize that she worked at Wegman’s for six years?” He looked around at the teenagers manning the four open registers. “She has far more experience than any of those high school students.” One of the students glanced over at them and popped her gum.
“Now hold on, son. I give everyone a chance…”
Beau sighed, knowing he’d gone off the rails and lost focus. He’d come looking for her and now stood there arguing with a Canuck’s fan for not hiring the woman he loved. He’d lost it.
“I’m sorry. I’m a little distracted. I didn’t mean to imply anything.” He ran his fingers through his hair.
Harvey West sucked in a breath, relieved. “Not a problem. We’ve all been there.” The manager reached out, patting Beau on the shoulder. “Relationship problems, huh?”
“Something like that.”
“Well, son, I sure hope it all works out. Oh, and if she still needs a job, I’d be happy to look at her resume again. Anything for our hometown hero. Say, didn’t you sustain an injury, lose your sight or something like that?”
“Yeah, but it’s all good. I’ll be back on the ice soon.”
Harvey West’s face split into a happy grin. “That’s good to know!” He pumped Beau’s hand again. “Good to know, indeed.”
A crowd had begun to gather. People were aiming their cell phones at Beau, and Mr. West leaned in, giving a thumbs up to several of the oglers.
Beau pulled away.
“I’ve gotta go. Thanks, Harvey.”
“Anytime, Beau. Anytime.”
As he walked away, Beau could hear Mr. West telling the bystanders, “That was Beau Hamilton of the Canucks. In my store!”
Outside, he paused, taking a deep breath. Someone had to know where to find Cara. Where had his mother found her anyway? Taking out his cell phone, he hit number one on the speed dial.
“Hey, mom.” He paused. “Yeah, it’s all good. Listen, who recommended Cara to you?” After a few minutes, Beau hung up and jogged to his Jeep. He pulled out of the parking lot and headed to Main Street. There, he found an open parking space and hopped out, walking quickly across the road. He stared at the business in front of him, seeing a sizable crowd through the large window inside. Without waiting another minute, he walked through the front door. A bell jingled announcing his arrival.
“Welcome to Three Sisters, come on in—”
“Where is she?” Beau cut Faith Louise off.
The old woman’s mouth was still half open. She closed it, put a hand on her hip, and glared. “Young man, it is rude to interrupt someone when they’re speaking!”
Beau felt the sting. His impatience to find Cara had robbed him of all manners and he’d gone and stepped right into a big pile of verbal manure. He had the good sense to shut his mouth, nod, and then apologize.
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
Faith Louise pinned him with a piercing glare a half-second longer, and then nodded, accepting his apology. “Good. Now…where is who?”
“Good Lord, can you see again?” Hope Margaret came to the counter carrying a stack of plates which she handed off to a young man who immediately took them to the kitchen to clean.
“My goodness, you’re right, Hopie!” Faith Louise blinked, suddenly realizing Beau no longer wore his dark sunglasses. Her face brightened with a smile, and she rushed over, engulfing him in a big hug. “That’s wonderful!”
Beau let the ladies have their moment. “Thanks. Yeah, I just came from Doc Appleby’s. It’s looking good.”
“Praise be. God is good, son!” Charity Rose hollered from the back.
“So, who are you looking for?” Hope Margaret asked.
“Cara,” Beau replied. “I need to know where to find her.”
The ladies stepped back and looked at him, appraising Beau from head to toe, then glanced knowingly at each other.
Their actions elevated his anxiety.
“She’s not answering her phone. As soon as she knew my sight returned, she up and quit, and I haven’t heard from her since.”
“Well, your ma hired her to help you out while you were blinded. What do you need her for now?” Faith Louise asked, blunt as ever.
Beau shuffled his feet. “Well, it’s not that I need her…” his voice trailed off. He scratched his head, unsure how to answer the nosy biddy.
“Oh, for goodness sakes, the boy is in love!” Charity Rose shouted.
Hope Margaret snickered, and then, seeing the annoyance on Beau’s face, shifted her features into a sympathetic smile.
“Oh, hon, we’re sorry. Didn’t mean to put you on the spot like that. How can we help?” She leaned over the counter as Beau plopped down on one of the stools.
“Yeah, what can we do?” Faith Louise joined her sister.
“I just need to know where she lives. I need her to know…”
The ladies smiled at each other, and then at Beau. “That you love her?” Faith Louise asked.
Beau blew out a breath, and then sighed heavily, eyeing the two well-intentioned but nosey women. “Yeah. I need to tell her that I’ve fallen in love with her.”
“My gosh, that’s so danged sweet!” Charity Rose oohed and ahhed from the kitchen. “Tell him where she lives, Faith.”
Hope Margaret nudged her sister’s shoulders. “Go on. Give him the address. Never let it be said that Faith, Hope, and Charity stood in the way of true love.”
Faith Louise hesitated, and then grabbed her order pad and a pen. She scribbled down the address, and then held the paper just out of reach as she issued a stern warning.
“Don’t you dare hurt Cara, Beau. We’ve known that child since the day she came into the world. Like a granddaughter to us all, she is, and she’s as sweet and innocent as they come. If you mess her about, you’re going to get a late-night visit from three angry sisters, you hear?”
Beau noted the serious expression on her face, but more than that, heard the worry in her voice. And he believed her. If he made one wrong step with Cara, these three women would probably bludgeon him to death with frying pans, carve him up, and feed him to the wild moose of Moose Ridge. He shuddered at the thought.
“I promise I won’t, Miss Faith. All I want to do is marry that girl.”
Faith Louise smiled and handed over the address. “Then you go get her.”
Beau grinned, snatching the paper. He stood, leaning over the counter and planted a kiss on Faith Louise’s cheek first, and then Hope Margaret’s. Both ladies blushed.
“I’m blowing you a kiss too, Miss Charity.”
“I’ll expect mine in person next time, young man,” she chortled.
He ran out the door, to his Jeep, and hopped in. As he was about to crank the ignition, his phone rang. Hoping it was Cara, he answered.
“Beau? It’s Jerry.”
“Oh, hey,” Beau replied, a little disappointed. “What’s up?”
“I got that picture for you. Check your text. I’m sending it now. I’m also forwarding a copy to the manager. Jack will want it right away.”
“That’s good news, Jer. Thanks, man.”
“No problem. You let me know if there’s anything else I can do. Call me later.”
“Will do.” Beau hung up and flipped to his text messages. As the image popped up, he looked at it. It was thumbnail size, and somewhat blurred. He ran his fingers over it, making the picture larger. As the face came into view, a string of expletives left his lips in rapid succession.
It couldn’t be!
“Sonofagun! You’ve got to be kidding me!” Beau stared at the screen, stunned. In full color, slightly pixelated, and running out of the arena like a panicked rabbit, was none other than the woman he loved.
Next chapter arrives Wednesday!
Get caught up on last week’s episode here.
Read the first episode FREE here.