Above All Else (Sandy Cove Series Book 7) Read online

  ABOVE ALL ELSE

  Sandy Cove Series Book Seven

  Rosemary Hines

  Copyright © 2016 Rosemary Hines

  www.rosemaryhines.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

  Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

  Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only. This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead is coincidental and not the intent of either the author or publisher.

  Formatting by 40 Day Publishing

  www.40daypublishing.com

  Cover design by Benjamin Hines

  www.benjaminhines.com

  Printed in the United States of America

  To Pastor Terry and the multitude of pastors worldwide

  who faithfully teach the love of the Father

  See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

  1 John 3:1

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FORTY

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  BOOKS BY ROSEMARY HINES

  CHAPTER ONE

  “How am I going to make it through another year of him?” seventeen-year-old Caleb Baron muttered as he pulled out of the driveway and floored the car, leaving screech marks in his tracks. This was the third blow up with his dad that week, and all Caleb could think about was getting through his senior year and getting out of the house for good.

  As he barreled toward his job at the Coffee Stop, he ignored the speed limit and squeaked through a four-way stop with barely a pause. Maybe he’d make it to work on time after all.

  Then he saw it. The flashing lights in the rearview mirror. Great! Now I’ll be late again, and this will give Dad one more opportunity to blast me. Pulling over to the side of the road, he tried to control his rage as the officer approached his window. After listening to the lecture and signing the ticket, he feigned repentance and got rid of the cop. This was going to cost him more than one day’s work.

  “I wonder what it would be like to have a father who wasn’t always on me for everything. One who would help me out with things like this ticket,” he mused to himself aloud. “Guess I don’t have to worry about ever finding that out,” he added, mumbling to himself.

  When he got home later that night, he decided to just get it over with. Spotting his dad working in the study, Caleb walked in and dropped the ticket on the desk. “Don’t worry, I’ll pay for it,” he said.

  At first his dad looked baffled. “Pay for what?”

  “This ticket,” Caleb answered, pushing it toward him. “I was running late, remember? Because of the trash.”

  “Because you didn’t take it out earlier when you were supposed to?” Steve said.

  “Yeah. Whatever.”

  Steve took a deep breath. Shaking his head, he stood up and handed the ticket back to Caleb. “On top of paying for this, you’ll be attending traffic school as well, or our insurance will go through the roof.”

  “Fine.”

  “What’s with you these days?” his father asked, studying Caleb’s face.

  “Nothing,” he replied, taking the ticket and walking out of the room. Good old, Dad. Always knows how to make me feel like a jerk. I’ll bet he regrets the day they adopted me. Well he’s not the only one.

  Billows of white satin swirled around Madison’s feet as Michelle Baron helped her daughter step out of the second dress of the day. It was their third stop of the day, and she could see that Maddie was feeling discouraged.

  “You’ll find it, honey,” Michelle said, lifting the discarded dress and handing it to the shopkeeper’s assistant. “And when you do, you’ll just know—this is it.”

  Madison smiled, but she didn’t look convinced.

  “Let’s go get a bite to eat and then try Vintage Bridal,” Michelle suggested. “It’s near your dad’s office. Maybe he’d like to join us.”

  Laughter escaped Madison’s mouth. “You think? Dad in a bridal shop? He gets impatient at the grocery store.”

  She’s right, Michelle mused silently. “You never know. He’s buying the dress. Maybe he’d like a say.”

  Raised eyebrows told her Madison was skeptical. “Up to you, Mom,” she replied as she slipped on her jeans and sweatshirt. “Maybe we should start by seeing if he wants to join us for lunch.”

  “Good idea! Then he can pay for that, too,” Michelle agreed with a wink.

  Madison checked her cell phone as they walked out the door. She’d texted Luke a picture of the front of the shop along with a “Look where I am!” message when they’d first arrived. She sighed when she confirmed there’d been no reply.

  “Something wrong?” Michelle asked, reading her daughter’s anxiety.

  “Luke still hasn’t replied to my text.”

  Michelle could hear the familiar insecurity in her daughter’s voice. Although Madison had come a long way in the six years since high school, she still battled feelings of not being good enough, especially when it came to Luke.

  Thankfully, nursing school had been so good for her. Madison was a natural and seemed like a different person when she was in her nurse’s uniform. She’d graduated with honors and fulfilled her internship at the pediatrician’s office and had an offer in the wings to work there part time.

  But Michelle could sense a very vulnerable part in Madison’s heart. It was likely she still hadn’t forgiven herself for a bad relationship in high school, and it continued to lurk in the shadows of her mind wi
th regards to Luke.

  Michelle had seen Maddie’s insecurity surface several times lately when her fiancé was mentioned. Now she hoped her daughter’s anxiety wouldn’t cloud the beginning of her upcoming marriage.

  “I’m sure he’ll get back to you soon, Maddie. He’s got a lot going on right now with finishing up his finals and packing to come home.”

  “Yeah, I guess,” her daughter replied, not sounding convinced.

  They caught Steve between meetings at his law firm. “Lunch sounds great,” he replied. Soon the three of them were settled into a booth at a nearby café perusing the menu.

  “I think I’ll just have a half order of the chef’s salad,” Madison said as she slid out of the booth to head for the ladies’ room.

  There was a time when this would have concerned Michelle and Steve—a season when Maddie was in high school and wrestling with her self image. There’d been battles over her compulsive dieting and exercise as they’d watched her lose pound after pound.

  Thankfully those days were over. Madison had just completed her nursing degree and was turning a page on a new chapter in her life. Soon she’d be marrying the boy of her dreams—Luke Johnson.

  Michelle had so many fond memories of watching the two of them grow up side by side, since Luke was the son of their pastor and close friend, Ben and his wife Kelly. But it was hard to imagine that those two kids were now adults and about to embark on a whole new life together.

  “So it’s really happening.” Steve’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

  Michelle reached over and placed her hand on his. “Yep. Our little girl is going to be a bride.”

  Steve took a deep breath and let it out. “And to think I could have stopped it,” he said. “I could have just said no.”

  “What do you mean?” Michelle asked with a grin.

  “I could have told Luke ‘no’ when he asked for her hand,” he said with teasing seriousness.

  “Right. I’ve got a big picture of that,” Michelle replied, squeezing his hand as Madison approached the table.

  “What are you guys talking about?” their daughter asked.

  “About how your father could have told Luke no when he asked for your hand in marriage,” Michelle replied.

  “Daddy!”

  “Just kidding, princess. You know we love Luke. He’s a great guy.” He paused and then added, “It’s just going to be tough letting you go. We’re kind of used to having you around,” he added with a wink.

  After lunch, Michelle and Madison convinced Steve to accompany them to their next stop—Vintage Bridal. She caught Maddie checking her phone again. From the way she tossed it back in her purse, Michelle could see that there was still no answer from Luke.

  As Steve held open the door of the shop for them, Michelle’s eyes swept the room. It was very different from the other bridal stores they’d been to that day.

  Gowns from a variety of eras graced headless mannequins. Vintage photos of weddings of the past accented the walls and rested in tabletop frames, and fresh flowers sweetened the air as they sat poised on antique furniture pieces and stands along the walls and in the corners. Dark hardwood flooring and an elegant crystal chandelier transported the three of them to another time.

  A chime from the open door brought the shopkeeper out to greet them. “Good afternoon,” the middle aged woman said with a warm smile. “Welcome to my shop. I’m Amelia,” she said, extending her hand to Steve and Michelle, who introduced themselves. Then, turning to Madison, Amelia added, “And I’m guessing you are the bride.”

  Madison beamed and nodded. “I like your shop. Very retro.”

  “Why thank you,” Amelia replied, clearly pleased by Madison’s enthusiasm.

  “So are these used gowns?” Steve asked, fingering one of the old fashioned styles from the mid nineteen hundreds.

  “Many of them have graced brides of the past,” Amelia confirmed. “But some are remakes of older styles with slight modifications such as changes in the neckline or lace.”

  Steve lifted the price tag on the gown he’d been looking at. His eyes told Michelle the price was not cheap. Michelle gave him a subtle shake of her head to send the message it wasn’t time to talk about prices.

  Amelia held her hand out to Madison. “May I show you around the shop?”

  Nodding, Maddie took her hand and followed as the shopkeeper led them to a far wall of hanging gowns. The rack was divided into sections with black and white photos illustrating each division. Above the photos were framed newspaper headings showing a specific era and noting the headline with a snapshot in time.

  “As you can see, our dresses go back to post World War II—the beginning of the baby-boomer generation, as soldiers came home and married their sweethearts.”

  Madison glanced over at Michelle. Her eyes were filled with delight, and Michelle could almost feel what it must be like to be her daughter at this moment. She flashed back to her wedding to Steve, and the one-stop shopping for her own bridal gown.

  Of course it had been a wonderful afternoon with her mother. But it was a quick trip, and she bought the third dress she tried on. Watching Madison soak in the ambiance of the shop and enjoy the stories of the owner made Michelle’s heart sing with joy. Glancing back at Steve, she could see that he was momentarily caught up in their daughter’s adventure as well.

  Madison selected five dresses from various eras that she wanted to try on. While Amelia placed them in the fitting room, Madison looked at some necklaces in a glass case on the counter.

  “Would you like to see our ‘some day’ dresses?” Amelia asked.

  Madison’s expression prompted the shopkeeper to continue.

  “We have a small selection of contemporary gowns as well,” Amelia explained, leading them to a corner in the back. “I call them our ‘some day’ dresses because in the not too distant future, they, too, will be vintage.”

  “I like that,” Madison said, clearly taking to this woman.

  Carefully shifting through the gowns, Amelia selected one and pulled it out. “This one would be lovely on you,” she suggested, holding it up for Madison’s approval.

  “Yes. I’d like to try that one, too,” Madison replied, nodding in agreement.

  Before the three ladies headed for the dressing room, Amelia suggested that Steve help himself to some coffee and relax in the sitting area. “We’ll let you know when she’s in the first gown and you can come take a look,” she promised.

  “Are you okay for time?” Michelle asked.

  Steve glanced at his watch. “Let me check in with the office,” he replied pulling out his cell phone. “I should be fine for another half hour or so.”

  Madison decided to work her way from the past to the present. The first gown she tried was from the 1940’s. It was a surprisingly sophisticated style, much sleeker than Michelle expected to see in a vintage gown. The three-quarter length cream colored satin gown had an off-the-shoulder shawl collar with a cluster of pink satin roses at heart level. A fitted bodice flared to a curve hugging, tulip style skirt and flutter hemline.

  “The brides of this era had weathered a war. They’d seen the women on the home front take up the slack for the men overseas. There was a certain level of confidence and boldness these gals had developed. The notion of a traditional gown was seen as outdated and old fashioned to many of them,” Amelia explained as she zipped up the dress and cinched it in the back with extra pins to show Madison the fit that could be achieved with some tailoring.

  “What do you think, Mom?” Madison asked.

  Michelle hesitated for a moment. “Honestly? It looks more like a bridesmaid’s dress to me.”

  Maddie nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Do you want me to go get your father?” Amelia asked.

  “No. Let’s wait. I’ll try on the one from the sixties,” Madison replied, gesturing to the next dress on the rack.

  Three gowns later, Madison slipped into a dress made just for her. As the chapel length
train fell to the floor, Michelle’s voice caught in her throat. “Let me get your father,” she managed, before slipping out of the dressing room. Tears filled her eyes as she approached Steve.

  His face dropped in response. “Is something wrong?” he asked, concern furrowing his brow.

  Michelle shook her head and smiled as she dabbed at her tears. “Come on in,” she said, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze.

  Amelia had just finished pinning the dress in the back. Madison looked absolutely stunning.

  “Wow,” was all Steve could manage. Michelle nodded her head in agreement.

  After the dress had been ordered, Steve headed back to work and Michelle and Madison got into the car to drive home. Michelle could see Maddie digging through her purse for her phone. Pulling it out, she checked her texts.

  “Anything from Luke?” Michelle asked hopefully.

  “Nope,” was Madison’s reply.

  Michelle watched some of the day’s joy drain from her daughter’s face as they pulled out of the parking lot. Oh Lord, please help her get past these insecurities, she prayed silently.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “So your dad told me about the ticket,” Michelle said to Caleb.

  “Yep. I messed up again. Your perfect son,” he replied sarcastically.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” his mother asked.

  “It means Dad’s right, I’m a loser,” he said, trying to sound nonchalant.

  “No one ever said you’re a loser, Caleb,” his mother countered, an edge to her voice.

  Caleb felt himself soften a little. After all, it wasn’t his mom who was always after him. “Maybe not in those words, Mom, but you know how he is.”

  “He’s just trying to help you be the best man you can be,” she said, reaching out and putting her hand on his shoulder.

  Pulling away, Caleb steeled himself against the emotions that were threatening to overtake him. He looked into her eyes for a minute then walked away.