19

 

 

Tuning out the conversation around her in the rehab center wait­ing room, Val tried to concentrate on the new suspense novel that had been garnering accolades. The praise was well deserved. The book had an excellent plot. Strong characterizations. Fast-paced action.

But it wasn’t holding her interest—thanks to the drama in her own life.

With a resigned sigh, she closed the book and leaned back against the wall. In less than three weeks she’d be returning to Chicago, her quest for resolution and redemption a bust.

There were some positive outcomes from her trip, though. She and Karen had become the sisters—and friends—they’d never been in their younger days. And their mother’s shocking revelation had explained…if not justified…her behavior.

As for David…

She examined the framed print of a winding country road that led who knew where on the wall across from her.

How did you deal with a man who was tempting you to break every rule about relationships you’d followed for eighteen years?

But somehow she had to find the strength to resist the urge to cave.

And she was trying. Hard. Maybe her evasion tactics were spineless, but they were working—more or less. Too bad Mom had asked her to wait around today in case she was done early. Otherwise, she’d have dropped her off and come as late as possible to pick her up, as she’d done the last couple of sessions.

The door to the treatment rooms opened, and David appeared on the threshold, holding two disposable cups.

He lifted one. “Can I tempt you?”

What a question.

Without waiting for a response, he crossed the room and dropped into the chair beside her. Other than an elderly man engrossed in a fishing magazine, they had the place to themselves.

“I haven’t seen much of you lately.” David handed her one of the cups.

“I’ve been at church.”

“But you disappear too fast for me to say hello—and you stopped staying for therapy sessions.”

“I’ve been busy.” She took a gulp of coffee—and burned her tongue.

“Victoria asks about you.”

Val forced herself to meet his gaze. “I’ll be leaving in three weeks. It’s best if I don’t see her. She could get attached, and she’s had too much loss in her life already.”

“I had a feeling that was your reasoning—and I agree it’s very tough for people of any age to lose someone they care about.” He took a slow sip of his coffee. “I heard there’s an opening at the high school here for a drama and speech teacher. Someone with your qualifications would be a shoo-in.”

It took a second for his implication to sink in.

Once it did, her heart stuttered.

He wanted her to stay. To create a new life in Washington and become part of his and Victoria’s.

A tremor rippled through her, and she wrapped both hands around her cup. Not once since the day she’d left for college had she given any serious thought to coming back to Washington to live. The very notion had been anathema.

It wasn’t anymore, thanks to a sister she’d befriended and a man who was offering a tantalizing glimpse of a future she’d thought she could never have.

Except there wasn’t any future with David. As kind and honorable as he was, he’d never be able to accept what she’d done. Not with his special interest in the pro-life cause. Despite being new in town, he’d already found an opportunity to help save the lives of unborn babies by volunteering for the church benefit.

She might as well accept the hard truth.

Staying in Washington wasn’t any more of an option now than it had been the day she left for college.

In the sudden quiet between them, David spoke again. “Victoria would be happy if you stayed. I would be too.”

She blinked back the sting of tears. “It wouldn’t work.”

“How do you know if you don’t give it a chance?”

“Trust me. I know.”

The interior door opened, and the older man laid his fishing magazine aside in response to a summons from his therapist. Once he disappeared inside, David set down his coffee cup, took hers from her fingers—and before she realized his intent—enfolded her cold hands in a warm, comforting clasp.

Her lungs short-circuited.

Pull away! Now, or it will be too late!

But she didn’t.

“You must have realized by now that I think you’re a very special woman, Val.” His voice and demeanor were as serious as she’d ever seen them. “And I know you’ve felt the connection between us. I’ve seen it in your face. I also know there are some issues we’d have to work through if we got involved. Trust me, I’ve wrestled mightily with the ones on my side during many a sleepless night and some lengthy conversations with God. But I’ve come to believe we ought to explore this.”

“David, I—”

He held up a hand. “Let me finish…please. I’m not a speech-making kind of guy, so this is a stretch for me.”

She closed her mouth.

“I know you didn’t come home this summer to find romance. I didn’t move to Washington for that reason, either, but that’s how it happens sometimes. When we least expect it, someone walks into our life who may be destined to change it—or become part of it. I don’t know if that’s what will happen with us, but I’d like to find out. Will you do me a favor and think about the job for a few days?”

Don’t build up his hopes—or yours. Say no. End this.

Yet different words spilled out. “I guess I can do that.” At least she had the presence of mind to tack on a warning. “But I’m not making any promises.”

“I’ll take it.” He squeezed her hands. “Margaret should be finishing up. I have to get back.” He stood, surprising her again by leaning down to brush his lips across her forehead in a whisper-soft kiss. “See you soon.” And then he was gone.

Yet he left behind the faint whisper of a feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long while—and yearned to embrace.

Hope.

But did she dare?

 

* * *

 

Harold Simmons steepled his fingers as Karen entered his office. “Tell me why you think you can do this job better than the other people on the list.”

She blinked, struggling to regroup. She’d only given him the descrip­tion for the new job and the list of candidates two days ago. He’d never responded this fast to anything.

“You seem surprised by the question.” He pinned her with one of the intimidating looks he usually reserved for his managers.

Ah.

She knew this game. Had observed it on a number of occasions during her tenure.

He called in a manager. Threw an unexpected question at him or her. Watched their response. Those who buckled under the pressure, who hemmed and hawed or got flustered, were toast career-wise.

She didn’t intend to be one of them.

Head erect, she walked to one of the chairs across from his desk, sat, and rested her hands loosely on the arms, keeping her posture open rather than defensive. “I’m surprised by the timing, not the question. I just gave you the report Monday night and you were out of town yesterday.”

“Things move fast in the business world—and they’ll move faster in the new position we’re creating. I want someone with strong technical skills who can juggle multiple responsibilities.”

“In that case, I’m a perfect fit. I have a business degree, with an emphasis in finance. In my present job, I handle all the budget duties for this department. As you know, that includes not only reconciliation but analysis and planning. I also work on the month-end closings—and a multitude of other tasks. I’ve never missed a deadline, and my work is always accurate.

“As for juggling multiple responsibilities...my personal life is also an excellent example of that. In addition to my career here, with its often extended hours, I’m raising a teenage daughter alone. I’m active in my church, and I’ve been the primary caregiver for my elderly mother for many years. I’m an expert at managing often competing demands.”

There was silence while Harold digested her speech, and Karen held her breath. She’d recited her qualifications and accomplish­ments in a confident, concise manner, highlighting her strengths without exaggeration or bragging. Truth be told, she’d impressed herself with her assertiveness and her credentials.

As Harold studied her, she caught a speculative gleam in his eyes—and a glint of admiration as he leaned forward to draw a stack of reports toward him, signaling the end of their meeting. “Give me a copy of your resume. We’ll talk again later.”

Not until she was back at her desk did she realize her legs were trembling.

But on the inside she felt rock solid.

Too bad Val wasn’t around. It was definitely an achievement worthy of a high five.

 

* * *

 

“Let’s put this one aside and run through the second benefit piece. I’ve asked Karen to try the solo section. Karen, I’ll sing with you on the first pass.”

A wave of panic crashed over her as the other choir members sent her curious glances. Her last rehearsal with Scott had gone well, and she’d felt ready for her solo debut in front of the choir.

Not anymore. Fear was paralyzing her lungs, and she doubted she’d be able to get out more than a croak.

“Ready, Karen?”

She refocused on Scott. His tone was encouraging, his message clear.

You can do this—and I’ll be there with you until you feel ready to sing it alone.

Calling up every ounce of her courage, she gave a slight nod.

The first run-through was rough. The second was better. After he dropped out on the third, she faltered but kept going. And with each successive repetition, her voice grew stronger.

At last Scott closed his music and stood. “That was outstanding.” His gaze swept the group...but lingered on her. “I think the audi­ence will be impressed by this piece. I’ll see you all on Sunday, and be careful going home. If this rain keeps up, we’ll have to start building an ark.”

His comment was met with chuckles, followed by the rustle of paper as the choir members tucked away their music. A number of them stopped to compliment Karen as she gathered up her own music, and by the time the place emptied, she was floating on a buoyant sea of praise.

“See? I told you my assessment of your talent was honest—and accurate.”

At Scott’s comment, she turned. He was leaning against the piano, ankles crossed, arms folded.

“I guess I’m not too bad.”

Instead of responding, he pushed away and strolled toward her, sliding his hands into his pockets. “It doesn’t take much to make you happy, does it? A few compliments, and you’re glowing.”

“Actually, it’s more than that. I got a promotion today at work too.” She’d been bursting to tell someone ever since Harold had called her into his office at five o’clock, but Kristen was in St. Louis spend­ing the night with her dad and Val wasn’t answering her cell phone.

“No wonder you’re so happy. I think a celebration is in order. I’d suggest Mr. Frank’s, but the weather isn’t exactly conducive to sap-covered benches. How about dessert at that res­taurant down by the river near the train station?”

She knew the one he meant. It was a special-occasion kind of place—meaning she hadn’t gone there often. But if a new job and successful solo debut didn’t merit a trip there, nothing did.

“I’d like that. Thank you.”

“Excellent. We can take my car.”

Alone with Scott in his car. In a rainstorm. Insulated from the world, with lots of electricity flying.

Not the best idea.

She had to get her act together on the romance front before she took that kind of risk.

“Actually, it will be closer for me to go home from there than to come back here to get my car.” She kept her tone matter-of-fact. “Why don’t I meet you?”

He acceded with a nod. “See you there.”

Fifteen minutes later, as she dashed in from the rain, he was waiting near the door.

“What a downpour!” She closed her umbrella and shook it out.

“But we won’t let it dampen our party.” He took her arm and guided her between the tables as they followed the hostess.

His touch was polite, nothing more—but still, a tingle ran up her spine.

Once they were seated at a candlelit table, a server arrived to take their order.

Scott perused the menu. “What would you like?”

“They have a fantastic green apple cobbler here, with a wonder­ful sauce. It’s totally decadent—but I’m not inclined to worry too much about calories tonight.”

“Do you ever have to worry about them?”

“Oh, yes—and some days it’s a struggle.” Yet all at once, the forfeited Fritos and denied desserts didn’t seem such a big sacrifice.

“Two green apple cobblers.” Scott handed their menus to the waitress.

“Wise choice. That’s our house specialty.” The waitress noted the order on her pad. “But I have to warn you, they’re baked fresh. It’s about a thirty-minute wait.”

Scott looked at Karen. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”

“I’m game.”

As the waitress returned to the kitchen, Karen draped her napkin over her lap. “I’ll pay for this late night tomorrow—but rules were made to be broken, weren’t they?”

“Throwing caution to the wind, are we?”

“I’m too practical for that—but on occasion I do go a little wild.”

His lips twitched. “Staying up late and eating a fattening dessert hardly qualify as wild.”

“They do for me.”

He studied her. “Are you saying you’ve led a sheltered life?”

“Quiet would be more accurate.”

“Is that bad?”

“It is when you let people walk all over you.”

“You don’t strike me as that kind of woman.”

Nice to hear.

She rested her elbows on the table and linked her fingers. “I’m not anymore—but for most of my life, my decisions were designed to please other people. My mother. My husband. My daughter. My friends. I’m learning, though, that there’s a fine line between selfishness and self-esteem. It took me far too long to recognize that my value isn’t based on my ability to meet the expectations of other people.”

“Sounds like a healthy attitude to me. Now tell me how the new job came about.”

She gave him the details, wrapping up with an admission. “To be honest, I’m in shock at the outcome.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t know I had it in me to be that assertive—but I’ve learned a lot from Val this summer. She’s always been confident and self-assured, and she never lets other people dictate how she behaves. I wish I’d followed her example years ago.”

“Better late than never. And in the spirit of open, honest communication—I like a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it.”

At the intensity in his eyes, her respiration went haywire again.

Change the subject, Karen.

“Uh…all we’ve done is talk about me. What about you? Tell me how it’s been going with Steven.”

He took her cue, and they chatted about his pupil until the waitress delivered their desserts.

“This looks delicious.” Scott inspected the cobbler and picked up his fork.

“It is.” She dug into her own dessert. “So have you given any more thought to where you’ll go from here? Especially now that you’re playing the sax again.”

“Believe it or not, I’m toying with the idea of staying in Wash­ington.”

Her hand froze, leaving her spoon poised halfway to her mouth. “Are you serious?”

“Why not? I like the small-town atmosphere, and St. Louis is a manageable com­mute for occasional performance gigs. I’ve also discovered I like teaching. There may be sufficient work here to keep me busy. What do you think?”

She lowered her spoon to the ramekin and made a pretense of scraping out some of the crust.

This was more than a discussion about locales.

Scott was asking her if she wanted him to stay, telling her he was interested.

And she was.

She knew that in her heart even if her mind hadn’t yet come to grips with it.

Pulse accelerating, she gave a slow nod. “That sounds like a reasonable plan.”

The smile he aimed at her was so warm it curled her toes. “I’ll have to give it some serious thought, then.”

After that, their conversation became less personal, and their parting after he walked her to her car was friendly, nothing more.

But as they said their good-byes in the fresh, rain-washed air…as he took her hand in his firm clasp and gave it a gentle squeeze…as a star peeked through the dispersing clouds to twinkle down on them…it felt as if she’d turned the page to a new chapter in her life.

For what had begun as an ordinary day was ending with extraordinary possibilities she would never have allowed herself to dream of a few short weeks ago.