Chapter 49
Sarah was making notes the following afternoon when she heard Joan say, “Give it to her.”
There was definite mystery in her mentor’s tone.
Intrigued, Sarah looked up and asked, “What’s going on?”
Charles lifted a hand to the back of his head in a nervous gesture, “Um. I’ll be back.”
With that, he darted from the cottage.
“Wait until you see it. He’s outdone himself.”
Sarah’s stomach did a little leap at Joan’s words. What had Charles done? Noise at the cottage door caused Sarah to turn. Charles struggled through with a blood-red square-shaped gift box. A thick white ribbon surrounded it.
He met Sarah’s eye contact, took a step toward her, and held the box out, “I made this for you.”
The words took a moment to register. He’d made something for her?
“Thank you, Charles.”
He bowed his head and stepped back once she’d accepted the gift.
It felt heavy in her hand. She untied the ribbon and opened the box. What she saw inside made her gasp.
“Oh wow. This is the most beautiful thing anybody’s ever given me. Thank you. I love it.”
His eyes seemed to dance with joy. “I’m glad.”
The two of them exchanged a glance. Sarah sensed more behind the action than an observer would have noticed. But what in particular?
Joan spoke, “Why don’t you take it out of the box? Get a better look.”
Sarah obeyed. With a steady movement, she pulled a tree-shaped bird feeder free.
She peeked up at Charles, “Is it red cedar?”
He grinned, “It is.”
She focused back on the feeder. The wood had been carved to mimic the bark and insect tracks of a usual tree. Half a dozen attachments under the feeder had been carved to look like roots.
The women gushed together, “It’s stunning.”
Charles pointed at the base, “The roots can be pushed into the dirt in one of the pots on your balcony, to help hold it upright.”
Wait, how did he know what was on her balcony? A recollection came. He’d been out there when he’d come over to do the session at her apartment.
She smiled, “You really do have a special talent.”
“That’s what I keep trying to tell him, but he thinks I have to say it because I’m his mother.”
Huh! She understood that feeling well.
He released a light scoff. “Thank you. Both of you.”
Something occurred to Sarah. When did he have time to make this? It was clear he wasn’t getting enough sleep as it was. She peeked down at his hand. It was still bandaged. Being a writer, he probably had a manuscript he was working on too. It would be difficult to write one-handed let alone make this treasure for him.
She nodded at his hand, “How did you manage this with your hand?”
He winced, “It wasn’t easy, but I had the neighbor help me with the more difficult bits.”
“Your neighbor?”
“Mm. He’s a retired wood worker, taught me everything I know. Besides, the outcome was worth it don’t you think?”
“It’s beautiful. I love it.”
“Then it was definitely worth it.”
When he aimed a deep stare at her, Sarah sensed a primal passion behind it that shot into the center of her soul. The edges of the room faded until it was just her and Charles. Her stomach felt like it lifted to her heart. She stopped herself from reaching out to touch him, knowing it would break the illusion. She needed to feel like that for a moment longer.
Joan coughed, shaking the fantasy. When Sarah refocused, it was the three of them in the growing darkness of the cottage once more.
With forced composure, Sarah packed the bird feeder away and stood, “I should leave. Before it gets too dark.”
How was it Sunday afternoon already? The weekend had whizzed by. Her time at the cottage was over.
Charles nodded, “I’ll get your things.”
When he retrieved her overnight bag, it felt like the most natural thing in the world for him to be doing.
***
The look on her face when he’d presented her with the bird feeder was even better than he’d imagined. He couldn’t believe it was time for her to leave already. The time had passed too fast. He could think of no words as he accompanied her outside, so he walked in silence. She didn’t seem bothered by it.
Nor did she appear to be in a hurry. It all seemed so normal and comfortable. More days filled with normal and comfortable, and Sarah Woodward, were exactly what he wanted.
The problem was he didn’t know if that’s what she wanted too. Had she been throwing any hints his way? He searched through his memories but could find nothing obvious.
She was different to all the other women he’d met. The full package: intelligent, honest, easygoing, professional, responsible, and a dedicated writer. It was clear she cared about his mother too. The fact he was physically, and sexually, attracted to her added to the bond he felt toward her. She was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman and had given up trying to find. As soon as the mentorship was over and the plan was well underway, he would tell her how he felt. Hopefully, she would reciprocate.