“I’m just trying to get to the truth.”
“I’ve given you the truth.”
“Ellie, you have to face facts. If you didn’t set that fire—”
“I didn’t!”
“Then someone else must have.”
“Yes, someone else!”
“I know it’s difficult, but you are a Christian woman,” he began warmly. “You know that once the truth, the full truth, is out, you’ll not only feel much better, but you’ll be able to tap into the comfort that God is standing ready to give.”
“I have told you the ‘full truth’!” she snapped. “And don’t you dare question my Christian ethics!”
He bowed his head and visibly, deliberately relaxed. When he looked up again, he was wearing a patently phony smile. Clapping a hand upon her shoulder, he said cajolingly, “You’re too young to fully understand the situation. There are remedies,
legal
remedies, that you can’t be aware of. Trust me to—”
“Trust you?” she snapped, blazingly angry now. “You discount me, disparage me, belittle me and my grandfather…you don’t even listen to me! But I should
trust
you?” She yanked open the door, pivoted on her seat and slid down to the ground, whirling back to face him.
He sat stony-faced, his jaw grating. “You’re behaving foolishly.”
“Am I? Like a child, do you think? Well, I may be little more than a child in your book, and I may not understand as much as I think I do, but I know this—I can’t trust a man who doesn’t trust me.”
“I’m trying to trust you,” he said quietly.
“Are you? I think you’re trying
not
to trust me, because that might mean that you actually care about me. Personally. But that’s the one thing you won’t do, isn’t it? You won’t care. I’ve got that now. And you’ve got the truth, whether you believe it or not, so I don’t think there’s any more to be said.”
She slammed the door closed, turned and strode to her truck without so much as a backward glance. She dared not look back. She couldn’t let him see the tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn’t let him or anyone see what it cost her to walk away from the one man she had dared to dream she might actually love.
Staring at the tall, arched, mission-style doors of the inner sanctum of the Downtown Bible Church, where Chatams had been members since its founding, Asher again considered his options and deemed them just as limited as they’d been in the middle of the previous night. He hadn’t been able to sleep thinking about how horribly he’d blown it with Ellie yesterday. He couldn’t forget how hurt she’d seemed, and the longer he’d thought about it, the more he’d feared that she would never speak to him again.
The idea had seemed wise at the time. He’d thought that after meeting her at the soccer field, where they obviously had something in common, he could take on the manner of a fond uncle and inspire her to tell him what he needed to know. He’d thought, too, that maintaining
an avuncular attitude would help him keep his feelings in perspective.
Wrong on both counts. All he’d done was ruin her first win, insult her and drive her away—and he hadn’t exactly felt like her wiser, older relative in the process. Why couldn’t he have just let her enjoy her first coaching success? Because, he admitted to himself, that hug on the sideline had knocked him for a loop. Everything about Ellie seemed to knock him for a loop. The worst part of all, though, was the deep, roiling panic that he felt at the thought of never speaking to her again.
That panic astonished, humbled and troubled him. Yes, it had to do with the case. Ellie’s cooperation was vital to keeping her and her grandfather out of trouble. But it was more than that. It was more than her being a family friend, too, more than her being
his
friend, so much more that he’d eat crow to mend the rift, which explained why he was here now. If he had to grovel, he might as well do it on hallowed ground.
Squaring his shoulders, Asher stepped forward and pulled open the door far enough to slip inside. The minister of education was announcing the start of a new Bible study. Asher stood at the back, oddly aware of the soaring arches, gleaming brass fixtures, stuccoed walls and stained glass windows that surrounded him.
He had known the crowd would be large at the main service, but he hadn’t expected to see the backs of quite so many heads. An usher approached him then, silently offering to help him find a seat. Smiling, Asher shook his head and returned to his survey. Finally, he spied her, more than halfway down. She sat three people in from the end of the pew, her grandfather on her left, Asher’s uncle Hub on her right, with his cousin Kaylie and her husband Stephan on the outside.
As Asher made his way down the side of the church, he noted that Kent sat next to Odelia, who wore an enormous pink, feathered hat. A pair of bluebirds almost large enough to be real swung from her earlobes as if attempting to land on her yellow-clad shoulders. He smiled, despite his disquiet. It looked as if his dear old auntie was back to her eccentric self. Glancing at Kent, who leaned in to whisper something in her ear, Asher felt a spurt of alarm on her behalf. What would happen to his sweet aunt if it turned out that her old beau was responsible for the fire at his house? Telling himself that he had enough worries of his own at the moment, Asher stopped at the end of the pew, sent Stephan Gallow an apologetic glance and stepped over the big man’s enormous feet.
A professional hockey player, Stephan sent a glower his way, then smiled as if to say that it was nothing more than habit before shifting aside. Asher nodded at Kaylie then jerked his head sideways to suggest that she move down. She sent a bemused glance toward the other end of the crowded pew and snuggled up next to her husband. It occurred to Asher as he struggled past his surprised uncle that Kaylie couldn’t be much older than Ellie. Yet there she sat, happily married. He wondered just how old Stephan was. Not as old as him, surely, he thought, placing a hand on his uncle’s arm to let him know that he wanted to squeeze in next to Ellie, who only then looked his way.
A frown turned down the corners of her mouth, and she moved as far from him as possible, all but turning her back on him. He wedged himself into the small space, stretching his arm out along the back of the pew in order to give himself more room, and leaned in close to whisper pleadingly, “Ellie.”
She twisted slightly, jabbing her elbow into his ribs. “I don’t want to talk to you,” she whispered, “now that I know you’re not on our side.”
“I am,” he softly insisted.
Suddenly she launched herself to her feet. Music erupted, and he realized that somehow, he had missed the call to worship as well as the announcement of the first song. Rising belatedly, he allowed himself to really gaze at Ellie. He almost wished he hadn’t indulged the impulse.
She looked achingly beautiful in a strawberry-red sheath. She’d caught her hair up on top of her head somehow, leaving curly little tendrils to fall about her face and nape. Tiny ruby studs adorned her delicate earlobes.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered in her ear.
She ignored him.
“I only want to help you,” he said. Nothing.
“Please don’t be mad at me.”
She sent him a speaking glance, her eyes so sad that it was all he could do not to take her in his arms right then. Instead, he lifted a hand to help her support the hymnal that she held and listened as she began to sing. She had a credible alto voice. After a moment, he joined his own limited baritone to hers, singing as much in supplication as praise.
E
llie did her dead-level best not to so much as glance in Asher’s direction again throughout the remainder of the service, but she sensed that he was as aware of her as she was of him. She resented that he had cornered her, literally, in church. Maybe he really did feel bad about offending her, but that didn’t change the fact that he suspected her of arson. He had to know that if he’d approached her elsewhere, she’d have told him to get lost, but she couldn’t do that in the midst of a worship service. She didn’t have to acknowledge him, though, and spent most of the time talking silently to God.
Lord, I don’t want to be angry, but he thinks I started that fire! Do I have to spell it out for him? And what about Grandpa? How could he suspect my grandpa of something like that? Especially now, especially after Asher kissed me.
Oh, it was best not to go there. That kiss had meant nothing, less than nothing. Why, it had been downright insulting. He had apologized for it, for pity’s sake. How much more proof did she need that… Wait a minute. Had that kiss been about softening her up so she’d confess? Was that why he’d sat by the fireside with her,
casting her those poignant looks and holding her hand while he’d prayed?
Suddenly incensed, she shifted to sit on one hip in order to present her back to him as much as possible.
“Ellie,” he whispered pleadingly.
She stared straight ahead, but she didn’t hear one word that the pastor said. Later, when the congregation rose for the closing hymn, she was among the last to get to her feet. Immediately, she shifted to her left, intent on putting as much distance between them as possible, only to feel his arm slip around her waist and pull her close to his side. Stiffening, she pretended not to notice.
As they filed out into the central aisle behind his aunties and her grandfather a few minutes later, she did her best to move away from him, but Asher made certain to stay close, his hand curled around the curve of her waist. She attempted to walk ahead of him, but his hand went with her and the rest of him caught up.
Eventually they made it to the cavernous foyer, and she slipped free. The Chatam sisters were there ahead of them, of course, along with her grandfather and Asher’s uncle and cousin and her husband. It felt very much as if they were waiting for her and Asher. She saw the curiosity and speculation in their eyes, but before she could escape, Odelia stepped forward.
“Asher, dear, what a delight to see you here this morning. You’ll take lunch with us at Chatam House, of course. Won’t you?” Surprised because the aunties usually “ate simple” on Sundays so the household staff could have the day off, Ellie blinked. Then Odelia turned a worshipful gaze on Ellie’s grandfather and crooned, “Kent grilled for us yesterday. Isn’t that lovely?”
Asher’s eyebrows rose. He cleared his throat and said, “That sounds great.”
“Chicken and pineapple kebabs,” Kent announced proudly. “Warming in the kitchen even as we speak.”
Ellie targeted her gaze on her shoes to keep from glaring at him. She hadn’t told her grandfather about Asher’s suspicions because she hadn’t wanted to upset him, so naturally he thought everything was fine. Well, that didn’t mean she had to be welcoming of Asher. Let the others do that. She edged toward the exit, but Asher’s hand shot out and fastened about her wrist. She either had to fight him for it or stand still. Fuming, she stood still.
“I’d love to join you for lunch,” Asher said formally.
Nodding with approval, the aunties extended the luncheon invitation to Hub, Kaylie and Stephan. “Oh, no, thank you,” Hub refused for them all. “Kaylie has a pot roast in the slow cooker.”
The sisters took their leave of their brother and his daughter and son-in-law with hugs and pats.
“We’ll see you at the house then, Asher,” Magnolia called as they trundled away. Her grandfather went with them. He’d driven the town car that morning so Chester, the Chatams’ houseman and driver, who had a mild cold, could stay in. Ellie could have gone along, but she’d preferred to make the short trip alone. She hadn’t been in the mood for company since she’d spoken with Asher the day before. Silently, she jerked on her arm, but he held fast.
“Ride with me.”
She shook free. “I drove my truck.”
“Your grandfather could—”
“He’s driving the town car,” she said dismissively, very aware of Asher’s surprise. She didn’t wait around
for his response. Instead, she walked away without another word, leaving Asher to figure things out for himself.
“Well, that’s a first,” Asher muttered, watching Ellie walk away.
“It’s been a morning of firsts,” his cousin Kaylie said.
Asher turned to find her, her husband and his uncle staring at him as if he’d grown a second head. Kaylie’s eyes twinkled merrily as she glanced at Ellie’s retreating figure and then at him. “What?”
Hub cleared his throat. “First, Kent is driving the town car.”
“Chester has a cold,” Kaylie supplied helpfully.
“Then we learn that the Monroes have been staying at Chatam House for weeks!” Hub declared.
“I’m afraid we’ve neglected the aunts a bit,” Kaylie said apologetically. “It’s just been so busy, finally moving into the new house, traveling to hockey games…”
“It’s the middle of the season,” Stephan explained.
“And now this,” Kaylie said, waving a dainty hand to indicate Asher’s presence. “Do I detect a ro—”
“Don’t say it,” Asher growled, striding past her.
“What?” he heard Hub ask. “The
R
word,” Stephan muttered.
“What
R
word?”
“Romance,”
Kaylie answered succinctly, her laughter tinkling like chimes in the soaring space as Asher strode across the foyer. “It’s what happens at Chatam House.”
Wincing, Asher hurried out into the cool, cloudy day to his vehicle. Kaylie was right. And wrong. There was
a romance afoot. It just wasn’t his. He imagined the family’s shock if Odelia and Kent did marry.
He felt a pang at the idea, and not because Odelia was his aunt or they were older. He thought of how Kaylie had fallen in love with Stephan while he was recovering from an accident at Chatam House and of how happy they seemed together. For the first time in his life, he knew the bereft, sinking bite of envy.
That didn’t mean that he and Ellie were destined to follow suit. He cared about Ellie. She was a bright, beautiful, creative, unique woman, but even if he had been convinced that he should try marriage again—and he wasn’t—she was a client and too young for him. Those were the facts, plain and simple. His personal ethic demanded that he keep those facts in mind. Even if he had kissed her.
So what, he asked himself, was doing? What compelled him to pursue Ellie like a lion running down a gazelle? He had apologized. For perfectly reasonable behavior, given the circumstances. Shouldn’t that be the end of it? Why couldn’t he leave it at that?
He asked himself those questions throughout the midday meal—an odd affair, to say the least. Ellie could not have been more uncomfortable. But Hypatia and Magnolia seemed as oblivious to that fact as they were to the way that Odelia blossomed beneath the fawning attention that Kent poured over her. Asher watched in astonishment as his old auntie twinkled, giggled, fluttered her eyelashes, laughed and teased. Perhaps her behavior wasn’t so different from normal—she was known for her ebullience, after all—but it had been weeks since she’d been her old self.
Kent had attention only for Odelia and so did not seem to notice that Ellie ate in withdrawn silence. More
accurately, she pushed her food around on her plate without ever glancing up or speaking a word, when she should have been smugly happy at the byplay going on between her grandfather and Odelia.
When, at length, Odelia pushed back her chair and announced that she was going to help Kent look for his cat, her sisters seemed almost relieved, perhaps even eager, to get her and everyone else out of the way.
“I’ll help you clean up,” Ellie murmured, speaking for the first time.
“Oh, no,” Magnolia objected, rising to her feet. Asher dropped his fork and shot up in an attempt to maintain the aunties’ exacting standard of polite behavior.
“We’ll just carry everything into the kitchen, put away the leftovers and stack the dishes in the washer,” Hypatia said. “It won’t take long.”
“In that case,” Ellie said, getting up, “I’d like a private word with Asher.”
Surprised but pleased by that turn of events, Asher gladly followed her from the large, dark dining room into the library.
“Thank you,” he began before she even turned from closing the door. “I want to apologize again for—”
“Your services are no longer needed,” she interrupted bluntly.
Stunned into silence, he could only stand there gawking while she folded her arms, strode farther into the room and parked herself on the edge of the mahogany library table.
“I haven’t spoken to my grandfather yet,” she went on, “but I’ll have to tell him what you said yesterday.”
Asher clapped a hand to the back of his neck, trying to think. “A-about that, you misunderstood what I was
trying to say. Whatever you might think, I am on your side, and I do care ab—”
“Goodbye, Asher.” She abruptly launched herself toward the door.
Before he knew what he was doing, he’d grabbed her by the arm and spun her around. “You can’t fire me!”
“I just did.”
“For yourself, maybe, but not for your grandfather!”
“Fine. I’ll let Grandpa fire you himself, but you no longer represent me!”
“Is that right?”
“That’s right.”
“Good enough!” he exclaimed, angered beyond reason. What did she want, for pity’s sake? He’d apologized. Repeatedly. For perfectly logical behavior. He’d turned himself inside out trying to protect her. And she fired him? Well, that changed everything. “If you’re no longer my client, then I can do this.” He yanked her to him and pressed a kiss onto her lips.
A heartbeat later, they sprang apart, both gasping, each trying to gauge the reaction of the other. After a moment, she tugged her jacket into place and lifted her chin before leisurely turning to stroll toward the door once more. But then she paused to look back at him.
“You’re still fired, by the way.”
With that, she walked out the door.
Being fired, he thought, watching the door close behind her, was the least of his problems!
If she’d had any idea how he’d react, Ellie mused, she’d have fired Ash long ago. She had not dared hope that he felt as drawn to her as she did to him, and then yesterday after the game, when he’d seemed intent on
squeezing a confession out of her, she’d been angry and hurt. Now she wondered if perhaps he
needed
to suspect her of culpability in the fire in order to protect himself from his own feelings. She was still miffed about that, but somehow, after this latest kiss, it seemed much easier to forgive him. Besides, wasn’t she as guilty of assigning guilt to Dallas for that fire as Asher was of suspecting her and her grandfather?
Up in her room, curled around a pillow on her bed, Ellie relived that kiss repeatedly. In the process, she talked the situation over with God. Being with Asher seemed so right to her, so entirely what she was supposed to do. On the other hand, she could very well be building castles in the air. It was so easy to mistake one’s own desires for God’s will, and she earnestly wanted what God wanted for her. What good was getting her own way if it was going to make her unhappy in the end?
She’d learned that lesson from her grandmother, God rest her. Deirdre Billups Monroe had set her cap for her husband long before he’d ever looked her way and only after he’d given up hope of marrying his first love, Odelia. According to Deirdre herself, Kent had been blatant about his feelings, but Deirdre had been determined to have him. Eventually she had convinced him that they were each other’s only chance at making a family, or so Kent had told her. Sadly, though, over time the knowledge that he’d loved another had eaten up Deirdre’s love for him. Deirdre had gotten her way, but she’d been unhappy with the results. Ellie was determined not to be so foolish.
It still surprised Ellie that her father had married a woman so like his own mother. It seemed that he had learned how to love from his own dad and how to
be
loved from his mother. Ellie hoped that she had learned better. Her dad and grandpa had shown her what sort of man she wanted to love her, and her mother and grandmother had shown her what sort of wife and mother she did
not
want to be.
But what if she could not be better than them and God knew it? What if this was all just history repeating itself? What if she was hung up on a man who couldn’t truly care for her because he couldn’t get past the failure of his first attempt at love?
These things went around and around in her thoughts until a remembered bit of favorite Scripture, Psalm 20:4, brought clarity.
May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
That was what she had prayed for her grandfather for years now, for if the fulfillment of one’s heart’s desire came from God, rather than simply from one’s self, then it was the right, best thing.
Finding a measure of peace at last, Ellie sat up. She had no idea what would happen next, but it was all in God’s hands, just as it should be. If that kiss meant anything at all, then surely Asher would act upon it. If not, well, she wouldn’t be any worse off than before, would she? At least she had finally unburdened herself about Dallas. If Asher hadn’t made the connection, well, then perhaps, please God, there weren’t any connections to be made.
She scrambled off the bed and went to brush her hair, knowing that the Chatam sisters would expect her to show up in the common areas of the house looking her best. Just as she laid the brush atop the dresser, she heard a bustle in the sitting room.
“Careful. Careful!” came Odelia’s voice.
Curious and surprised, Ellie went to the door of her room. Her grandfather was gingerly placing a cardboard box on the coffee table standing in front of the cream-white sofa. Glancing up, he motioned her closer.