Read the book: «Their Family Blessing»

Chapter One

The office was exactly what widow Carly Porter Hughes had expected from a small-town attorney. Wood paneling, thick carpets, massive desk and walls lined with legal books. It had been designed to instill trust and confidence in those who entered, none of which she was feeling at the moment. Nathan Holt came around his desk, greeting her with a smile and a firm handshake before smiling down at her six-year-old daughter, Ella.

Carly hugged Ella close to her side. “I hope you don’t mind me bringing her along. I had no one to leave her with.”

“Certainly not. In fact, I have some books over here she can look at while we talk business.”

With Ella settled in, Carly took a seat in front of the desk, smoothed the front of her gray skirt, then clasped her hands tightly in her lap. The reading of the will. The whole situation seemed surreal. She never expected to be back in Hastings, Mississippi, and she certainly hadn’t expected to inherit anything from her father. They hadn’t spoken in years. Mostly she resented the demand for her presence at the reading.

Carly swallowed past the tightness in her throat. All she wanted to do was get through this ordeal and head back to Atlanta, where she belonged. “Can we get started, Mr. Holt? I’m anxious to get back home.”

Holt nodded slowly. “I understand, but we’re waiting for the other beneficiary to arrive. He should be here any moment.”

“Other beneficiary?” Who in the world could he be talking about? She had no siblings, and only a very distant cousin she’d never even met. She started to ask who it was when the door opened behind her and Holt stood, a welcoming smile on his round face.

“Ah, there you are. Have a seat, Mr. Bridges, and we’ll get started.”

Carly’s heart skipped a beat. No. It couldn’t be. She turned her head to the side and her gaze traveled up the long length of the man who had entered. Her gaze collided with his and her mind hiccupped. Mackenzie Bridges. The last person on earth she wanted to see.

He held her gaze, a hint of amusement lifting one side of his mouth. “Hello, Carly.” He took the seat beside her and crossed his long legs.

It took her longer than it should have to find her voice. Mack had changed. He’d be thirty-four now, two years older than her, and the years had been very kind to him. The tall slender boy she remembered had grown into a very handsome man. His six-foot frame had developed a pair of broad shoulders that spoke of his strength. His dark brown hair, once so long and careless, was now trimmed neatly, wavy enough so it invited a woman to run her fingers through it. His sky blue eyes still held a perpetual sparkle, and his crooked smile was still very much in evidence and hadn’t lost any of its charm. “You’re the other beneficiary?”

“It appears so.”

She should have known. Her father had always loved Mack, his surrogate son, more than her.

Holt opened the file and Mack leaned forward, looking over at Ella. “Yours?”

“Yes.” Carly tried to not look at him, but he was still very hard to ignore. Dressed in dark slacks and a pale blue shirt, he looked professional. Not like the jeans-and-T-shirt-wearing boy she remembered. Pushing her hair behind her ear, she refocused. She wanted to get through the reading and go home. Holt began explaining about the unusual nature of the will, which sent a small frisson of concern along her nerves.

“To my daughter, Carly Porter Hughes, I leave the Longleaf Lodge and all its contents.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. This was the first light at the end of the dark financial tunnel she’d been in for the last few years. Things had been hard enough after her husband had died, but the addition of Ella’s surgery had only made things worse.

“To my dear friend, Mackenzie Scott Bridges, I leave all the land on which Longleaf Lodge sits, including the cabins, canoe livery, pool and campgrounds.”

Mack rubbed his forehead. “This doesn’t make any sense. Why not divide it up equally between us?”

Holt peered over his glasses. “There’s more.”

He read a long passage of legalese that left Carly more confused than ever. “I’m sorry, but could you just spell it out for me.”

The attorney sighed, removed his glasses and then leaned back in his chair. “Basically it comes down to this. Neither of you can sell your portion of the estate unless both agree. You are required to live at the lodge for the next two months, reopen the business and run it for the duration of this agreement. At the end of that time if you haven’t agreed to either keep the estate and continue to run it jointly or mutually agreed to sell, then the estate will be put up for auction and the proceeds given to charity.”

Carly’s mind was reeling. “Can he do this? We either follow his dictates or we get nothing?”

“I’m afraid so. I understand this is an unusual situation, but I assure you it’s all legal. Of course, if you both agree to sell, we can start that process right now.”

“Yes. I want to sell.”

Mack gave her an incredulous look. “No. Wade loved that lodge. He wouldn’t want us to sell out.”

Holt nodded. “Then until you are in agreement, you’ll be required to follow your father’s requirements.”

Carly’s pulse raced and heat crawled up her neck. “This is absurd. Isn’t there anything you can do?” The pleading in her voice was embarrassing.

“Nothing. It’s in your hands now. However, I’ll be here to help in any way with advice, and there’s an account set up for you to use to make any repairs and small upgrades to the estate.”

Her concern slid into fear. “Repairs? What kind of condition is the lodge in?”

Holt stood, signaling the meeting was over. “The lodge has been closed for the last two months. Your father was too sick to manage the place, and the Thompsons, who have managed the business for thirty years, couldn’t run it alone. But it was your father’s greatest desire to see the lodge up and running again.”

Of course it was. It was the only thing Wade Porter ever cared about, certainly not his wife and daughter. Carly stood and held out her hand to Ella. “Let’s go, sweetie. I’m all done.”

She was keenly aware of Mack following her out into the reception area. The scent of his spicy aftershave made him hard to ignore.

“Uncle Mack. Are you rich?”

A little blond-haired girl about Ella’s age jumped up and hurried toward Mack.

Carly spun and looked at Mack. He returned the child’s hug with a wide smile. The look of affection in his blue eyes made one thing clear. He loved the little girl.

“It’s not polite to speak about money, but no, I’m not. I told you this wasn’t about money.”

What did he mean by that? Was he making a not-too-subtle dig at her request to sell the estate? It probably had sounded mercenary, but she had a good reason. What did he hope to get out of this bequest?

He met her gaze, and one corner of his mouth arched as if amused. “This is my niece. Lucy, this is an old—This is Mr. Wade’s daughter, Miss Carly, and her daughter, Ella.”

Despite her roiling emotions, she couldn’t resist the sweet smile on Lucy’s face. “Hello, Lucy. Is she Valerie’s child?”

“Yes.” His expression turned serious. “We need to talk. Why don’t we meet at the lodge in an hour, get settled in and see what we can work out?”

“I’m not staying at the lodge.”

Mack lowered his voice and pinned her with his steely blue gaze. “I believe Mr. Holt stated that staying at the lodge was one of the conditions of the will. Would you like to double-check with him? Or are you ready to let your dad’s estate go up for auction tomorrow?”

She hated being forced to do things. How like her dad to die and leave a complicated mess behind. She wanted no part of it. But if she had any chance of inheriting even a small sum, she had to go along. Her only hope was to convince Mack to sell his portion, then they would both be free. Surely he had no desire to run the business.

“Fine. I’ll see you there.” She took Ella’s hand and walked out of the office. Her heart filled with old resentments and new frustrations. There had to be a way around this ridiculous will. Why would her father do this to her? He knew how she and her mother hated the lodge. It was the reason her parents had divorced.

But Mack was right. She couldn’t allow the estate to go to auction. She needed the money she could get from selling. There was no hope of paying off Ella’s hospital bills otherwise. Her father owed her that much. At least then the lodge would finally justify its existence.

Somehow she had to convince Mack that it was in everyone’s best interest to cut their losses and sell. There were too many memories here, too much pain and sadness. Adding Mack into the mix was only making it worse and stirring up another collection of painful incidents.

There was nothing at all at Longleaf Lodge and Campgrounds that she wanted. Except out from under it and hopefully enough money to be free of debt.

Mack watched Carly stride stiff-backed through the office door, pulling her daughter along with her as if she couldn’t get away fast enough. He’d hoped that coming back to Hastings after all this time would have softened her attitude. Given her response to the conditions of the will, she hadn’t changed at all. Emotionally, that is. Physically, she was very different. The last time he’d seen her was when she was seventeen and she’d made her last visit to the lodge after her parents split. She’d been every inch a tomboy. That skinny kid was now an incredibly lovely woman, with soft curves and an inner strength that showed in her fawn-colored eyes.

Her warm brown hair was no longer pulled back into a sassy ponytail, but fell in soft sections around her pretty face, calling attention to her big brown eyes. Unfortunately, her old resentment toward her father—and to him—was still in evidence. Her parents’ divorce had changed everything and he didn’t fully understand why.

He’d hoped they could finally move beyond the tensions of the past and become friends again. He’d never understood why Carly ran so hot and cold toward him. They’d even shared a kiss on her last visit to the lodge. One that he still regretted, though he’d never been able to forget it. She’d been younger than him, and the boss’s daughter. A combination nearly impossible to overcome. The same way his feelings for Carly had never been overcome. And after seeing her again today he knew he hadn’t gotten over her. She still held a part of his heart.

A short while later, Mack pulled to a stop in front of the Longleaf Lodge. Lucy hopped out as soon as he turned off the engine. The parking spots were empty. Carly hadn’t arrived yet. He wasn’t sure she would. Her feelings toward her father ran deep, and he feared they were strong enough that she would stand by and let the lodge be put up for auction. The last thing he wanted to see.

He loved this place. It had been his second home since he was fourteen, and Wade Porter the father he’d never had. He stepped into the lodge, the sense of peace and welcome settling on his shoulders the way it always did.

Dwayne and Thelma Thompson looked up from behind the registration desk. The couple had worked for Carly’s father as long as Mack could remember. Dwayne was general manager and Thelma kept the books and ran the lodge. They were as much a part of the lodge as Wade.

Dwayne came toward him. “How did it go?”

Mack shook his head. “Wade threw everyone a curveball.” He filled them in, watching the surprise on the couple’s faces. “Did you have any idea he was going to do this?”

Dwayne shook his head. “I knew he was trying to get Carly to come home. He hoped she’d change her mind and keep the lodge, but I had no idea about those conditions.”

Thelma met his gaze. “Did you see Carly?”

“I did. She looks great.” He couldn’t hold back a smile. “Her little girl looks just like her.”

“I wish her daddy could have seen her. Is she coming to stay here?”

“She doesn’t have a choice. It’s a condition of the will.”

“Oh, then I’d better get the apartment ready.”

After his wife left the room, Dwayne leaned closer. “Tell me the truth. Do you think Carly will go along with this arrangement? Do you think she’ll keep the lodge?”

Mack hated to kill the hope he saw in the older man’s eyes. “I wouldn’t count on it. The first thing she asked the attorney was how soon she could put the place on the market. She wants no part of this place. If it wasn’t for me being listed as an heir, she’d have a real estate agent out here pounding a for-sale sign into the ground.”

Dwayne shook his head. “Maybe when she’s been here a few days, she’ll remember the good times. There were a lot of them before the divorce.”

“I don’t understand why she doesn’t.”

“That last year was hard on everyone. Wade and Sonia were at each other’s throats every day, and Carly was caught in the middle. She probably felt she needed to stand by her mom, who was being mistreated.”

“Wade never mistreated anyone.”

“That was Sonia’s side of the story. I always told Wade he should have fought for joint custody, but he thought Carly would be better off with her mom.”

Lucy came in from the backyard. “Uncle Mack, is that little girl and her mom coming here to live? It would be nice to have a friend to play with.”

“I’m not sure, kiddo. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Car doors slamming drew everyone’s attention. The lodge door opened, and Carly and Ella entered, stopping inside the entrance. Carly slowly surveyed the large main room, and from the expression on her face, Mack’s hopes began to deflate.

Having Carly in his life again was going to be more awkward than he’d expected. He had wondered if seeing her once more would have any effect on him, and it had. The old attraction was stirring to life again. She was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, though much of the sparkle she used to exude was missing now. One thing he couldn’t deny was that seeing her back in the lodge felt right.

“Welcome home.”

She met his gaze, her brown eyes hard and determined. “My home is in Atlanta.”

His last thread of hope vanished. He’d envisioned a new beginning for them, and a return to the old friendship they’d shared. Getting Carly to remember how happy she’d been at Longleaf Lodge might be a bigger task than he’d anticipated.

From the look on her face, she had no warm memories of the lodge, and if that was true then his hopes of keeping the place and providing a real home for his niece were slim. For the first time in sixty years, the Longleaf Lodge might not be in the Porter family.

And that broke his heart.

* * *

Carly was keenly aware of the intense stare Mack was sending in her direction, and she tried to ignore her fluttering pulse. His blue gaze had always had an unsettling effect on her, and she wasn’t pleased to find that it still had the power to elevate her heart rate. Her gaze traveled around the large open room that was the heart of the lodge. The place hadn’t changed at all. Three large leather sofas were positioned in front of the tall stone fireplace. A wagon wheel light fixture hung overhead. Floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end of the room looked out onto the beauty of Lake Hope with comfy furniture arranged to take in the view.

For a brief moment she remembered her days as a child when she had found so much joy and comfort within the large log lodge. But that was long ago, before her world had fractured.

Dwayne stepped forward, arms outstretched. “Welcome back, Cupcake.”

Her heart warmed at the old nickname, because that was her favorite dessert, and his wife, Thelma, made the best ones. She accepted his hug willingly. The Thompsons were the only bright light in this trip back to Hastings.

“It’s so good to see you again. Ella, this is Mr. Dwayne, a very old friend.”

Ella smiled up at him. “Why do you call her Cupcake?”

Thelma hurried across the room from the direction of the west wing, where the owner’s apartment was located. “Because she couldn’t get enough cupcakes as a little girl.” Thelma hugged her and placed her hands on Carly’s cheeks, her eyes moist as she looked at her. “It’s so good to have you back. We’ve missed you.” She transferred her attention to Ella. “And look at this sweet thing. You look just like your mama did when she was little.”

“Can I have a nickname, too?”

“Of course. What’s your favorite snack?”

“Cookies.”

“Then that’ll be your pet name. Cookie.”

Ella nodded and smiled. “We’re Cupcake and Cookie, that’s cool.”

Lucy entered the room and hurried toward the new arrivals. “Hi. I’m Lucy. You wanna come play with me on the swing set?”

Ella glanced up at her with a hopeful face. How could she refuse? Besides, she needed to run off some energy after the long drive to Mississippi.

“Go ahead, sweetie. But don’t wander off. Stay close by.”

The girls dashed toward the back door as Thelma slipped her arm in Carly’s and led her toward the hall off the registration desk. “I have the apartment all ready for you and Ella. All your daddy’s things have been packed up and stored for when you’re ready to go through them.”

Carly stopped in her tracks. There was no way she was going to stay in her father’s home—the section of the lodge that had been designed for her family. Too many bad memories. “No. We’ll just stay in one of the guest rooms. We won’t be here that long.” She slanted a glance at Mack, who had been standing at the desk silently, studying her with his piercing blue eyes filled with confusion and a bit of disgust, no doubt. Her only goal now was to convince Mack to sell the property as quickly as possible. Surely he had a life elsewhere?

Thelma exchanged looks with her husband. “Well, of course, dear. Right this way.” Thelma led her to the other side of the lodge, settling her in the corner room with the best view. No memories here.

“Well, I’ll let you get settled. You know where everything is, but if you need anything you let me know.”

She gave the woman another hug. Dwayne and Thelma had been the two constants in her life. The dear aunt and uncle she’d never had. Her dad was always busy running the campgrounds and keeping the place in order. Her mom used to manage the lodge but stopped when things became strained between her and Carly’s father. Dwayne and Thelma, however, had never changed.

“I was sorry to hear about your husband.”

“Thank you. I miss him.” No more than at this moment. Troy always knew the right thing to do.

It took her only a few moments to unpack the few belongings she’d brought. If they were going to stay here for any length of time she’d have to go shopping soon. Her gaze drifted to the large window that looked out over the lake and the long sloping lawn. Age-old oaks, sweetgums and longleaf pines, for which the lodge took its name, swayed in the late-spring breeze. Farther along the back, tucked in a pine grove, was a small worship center.

A yard swing hanging from the branch of a massive live oak at the edge of the water was still there. Swings were a symbol of the lodge. Her dad had them everywhere. They were on each porch around the main lodge; each campground had a swing, and picnic tables and swings were scattered around the pool area. There was a private one on their apartment porch. But the one by the water had always been her favorite. Her dad said swings were the perfect place to think, reflect and relax.

And now two little girls were enjoying the swing set her father had built for her closer to the lodge. Lucy, with her curly blond hair and blue eyes, and Ella, her brown-eyed, brown-haired treasure. It was nice to see her daughter with a friend. She’d been without any for a long while.

Stepping into the hall, she glanced up to see Mack at the top of the stairs. She braced for a barrage of questions about her not staying in her dad’s rooms. He wouldn’t understand her feelings. He had always been her dad’s ally.

“Your daughter is adorable.”

His comment caught her off guard. “Thank you. She’s my whole life.”

“I understand that now more than ever.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m Lucy’s guardian. She came to live with me six months ago. I’ve had a steep learning curve on fatherhood.”

Mack, a dad? She hadn’t expected that. She’d assumed he was watching his niece, not raising her, though she remembered he’d always been good with the kids who came to the lodge and campgrounds. “Where’s Valerie?”

He took a long moment to respond, and she could tell by the shadows in his eyes something was wrong.

“She got into some trouble. She’s in prison for the next decade.”

Her heart clenched. “Oh, Mack.” She reached out and touched his arm. “I’m so sorry to hear that.” Valerie had always been troubled, even back when Carly first met Mack. She’d run away from home, and Mack and his mom had been sick with worry. His dad had walked out on the family when Mack was a toddler.

Mack laid his hand on top of hers, sending a strange current along her nerves, leaving her with a conflicted desire to pull away and remain at the same time.

“She tried to turn her life around, even got a good job on the coast and moved Mom down there to help with Lucy, but after Mom passed away, she fell back into her old ways. Thankfully, she arranged for me to have Lucy.”

“So you live on the coast now?”

“Gulfport for the time being.”

She pulled her hand from beneath his, rubbing it slightly to dispel the lingering sensation of his broad palm. “You’re moving?” A wry smile moved his lips.

“I’d like to raise Lucy here at the lodge. She needs a family, and between me and the Thompsons she could have a good life.”

A long-forgotten memory flashed into her mind of a childhood spent outdoors, hiking, canoeing, climbing trees and sitting around campfires. It was quickly overshadowed by other memories of shouting and anger and betrayal. She squared her shoulders. “If you’re trying to play on my sympathies, it won’t work.” She stepped past him and started down the stairs.

“I’m only telling you what I want for my niece. She deserves a real home, and I can only give her an apartment and part-time father.”

Carly stopped. She was in a similar position, raising her daughter alone without a father. She understood his concerns. Looking over her shoulder, she met his gaze. “Lucy is very fortunate to have you, Mack.”