Cedar Creek Seasons (27 page)

A duo of
“What?”
came from Eli and Claire.

Melissa squirmed in the seat.

“Brad’s allergic to strawberries.”

“I puff up like the Goodyear Blimp.”

Eli glanced at him. “But you were fine when I came by the kiosk earlier. And anyway, why would you eat them if you know you’re allergic to them?”

Claire’s eyebrows rose. He’d come by? While she was gone?

Melissa sniffled. “It’s my fault.” She swiped at her face. “I never considered—” She bit her lip, and her face turned scarlet.

Claire patted her knee. “Why is this your fault?”

Melissa wouldn’t meet her aunt’s eyes. She fidgeted and jerked her ponytail tighter.

Brad said, “Tell’em, Mel. How you almost finished me off.” His fingernails raked across his face, and he winced.

The girl released a huff. “I bought chocolate-covered strawberries. And I thought—”

“She’d kill me.” Brad looked over the headrest and frowned, hives peppering his eyebrows.

Eli’s sudden right-hand turn into the clinic parking lot brought the discussion to a close. He drove under the portico and faced Brad.

“Explain.”

“She ate several and then we—kissed.” Brad’s face flushed, the tips of his ears flamed. “Here I am.” He wiggled swollen fingers. “The Michelin Man.”

Claire stifled a laugh and took Melissa’s hand. “Let’s get him inside.”

Eli nodded to the charge nurse. “Serena, didn’t see you at the festival. Working instead?”

“Someone has to stay in the trenches.” Serena smiled and tapped Brad’s elbow. “Strawberry overdose?”

“How did you know?” Brad mumbled.

“Common occurrence this time of year.” She pointed to the triage room. “This way.”

“May I come?” Melissa edged closer to Brad.

The nurse hesitated. “Family member?”

Melissa bit her lip. “No.”

“Soon she will be.” Brad shot the nurse a hangdog look through swollen eyelids. “Please.” Serena grinned. “Come on, then.”

A willowy red-haired woman breezed through the sliding glass doors. “Brad, darling.”

Brad’s eyes lit up. “Aunt Sylvia.” He swirled about and grabbed Melissa’s hand. “This is my—”

“Your Melissa.” Sylvia chucked Melissa under the chin. “Thanks for the text. I’m glad to finally meet you. Let’s get our boy some relief.” She faced Eli. “Seems I owe you a debt of gratitude for rescuing my nephew.” She tucked her arm around Brad’s elbow.

Eli nodded. “Glad to help.”

Melissa grasped Claire’s hand. “This is my aunt Claire.” Claire and Sylvia shook hands. “No need for you two to wait, Eli. I’ll see to them.” Claire lifted a brow in her niece’s direction. “She’s right.” Melissa glanced at the charge nurse. “May I still go in?”

Serena waved her hand. “Why not? Right this way.”

Melissa pecked Claire on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.” The three followed the nurse down the hall.

“First time I’ve heard of a kissing allergy.” Eli smiled. “Not a bad way to go, I’d think.”

A flush painted Claire’s cheeks. “Poor boy. I know he’s uncomfortable. And embarrassed.” She looked at Eli. “I suppose now we can leave.”

“Fine with me.” He waved a hand in front of his face. “Never have liked the antiseptic smell.” He followed Claire to his car.

A gentle wind brushed his face, and he watched Claire’s hair loosen from her headband. She looped silver strands behind her ears.

“Think the table and canopy we left will be okay?” Her sapphire eyes probed his face. “I’m not sure I’m able to wrestle it down.”

“I can fix that.” He pulled his cell from its holster and placed a call to the event director. A short explanation made sure Melissa’s items would be stored inside the visitors’ center. “And I’ll load it for you.”

“Keys.” Claire released an exasperated huff. “Melissa has the keys to the van.”

Eli patted her arm. “We can gather all of it before you leave.”
Before you leave
. His gut twisted at the words as they left his lips. He opened the car door for her, and she slid in.

“Thank you.” Claire glanced at the clinic. “She’ll be worried about her things. I should let her know about your call.”

Eli rounded the car and climbed behind the wheel.

She tugged her phone from her purse. “I can text—” She lifted her head and stared at him, a grin crossing her face. “Unless you’d rather.”

“Uh-uh.” He shook his head. “With these clumsy thumbs, I think you’d better take care of that. I might tell her barbarians absconded with her goods.”

She smiled and tapped letters on her phone. A small V formed between her eyes as she concentrated on the text. He noted tiny brown spots on the back of her hands, like the ones he sported. But the years had been kind to her. Very kind. She still had a trim figure, perfectly formed lips.

Wonder if she’d like a chocolate-covered strawberry kiss?
He squirmed.
Conversation first, Mueller
. They were finally alone. A knot formed in his stomach. A ticktock of his head popped vertebrae in his neck, and he started the engine.

Eli cleared his throat. “I’d like to take you to dinner.”

“Tonight?” She tugged at her capris. “After being outdoors all day?” She shook her head. “I’m too tired. Not tonight.”

Was she avoiding a discussion? He chewed his lower lip to keep words of disappointment in check and pulled onto the highway headed toward the Washington House.

“Lunch would be nice.”

“Lunch?”

“Maybe tomorrow. After church?” She peered up at him. “Do you still attend Christ the King?”

“Yes.” He wiped first one sweaty palm on his jeans and then the other. “Lunch it is.”

Claire’s phone chimed, and she read the text out loud. “Sylvia says B see doctor Monday. K to stay? Please.” Claire drew in a breath. “Guess we are staying until Monday.”

Eli looked out the window to hide a grin.

Claire’s staying. Two more days
.

C
laire shifted on the vanity stool and dabbed her eye with a washcloth to diminish the sting of mascara. Her jittery fingers couldn’t hold the wand steady. “Calm down.” She peered into the mirror at the reflection of her bloodshot eye. “Aren’t you just gorgeous.” She puffed out her cheeks, stuck out her tongue at her reflection, and then propped her forehead on her hand. “Lord, I’m so nervous. Settle me down, please.”

She’d left Eli the night before with a promise to meet him at church. Just like she’d done so many times before. Sleep had been woven between dreams—holding hands, snuggling into his arms at the movies, sharing a bag of popcorn, lying on the hood of his dad’s ‘59 Chevy, staring at the stars.

Then everything changed
.

Claire swiped under her eye with the cold compress and finished her makeup. She slipped into a navy sheath and tucked her toes into red sandals. Standing sideways in front of the floor-length mirror on the bathroom door, she sucked in her tummy then released her breath with a whoosh. “Can’t hold my breath all morning.” She faced the mirror, hands on her hips. “What happened to girdle days?” A chuckle bubbled up. “No. Can’t do a girdle, even for Eli.”

“Aunt Claire?” Melissa entered the room.

“Honey, how’s Brad?”

Melissa flopped on the bed. “Much better this morning. They discharged him and Aunt Sylvia put him in her guest room. We took turns pampering him all night. He looks less like the Pillsbury Doughboy.” She rolled to one side and punched a pillow under her head. “Do you think we can stay a few days?”

“Hmmm?” Claire fiddled with the clasp on her silver cross.

“I want to stay in Cedarburg for the whole week.”

Claire wheeled about. “What?”

“Aunt Sylvia’s invited us to her cottage on Lake Michigan. Well, not exactly a cottage. It has five bedrooms. Brad’s mom and brother are coming—”

Claire lifted a brow.

“To meet me.” Melissa drew her knees up. “Aunt Sylvia has plenty of room where we could stay.” She tugged on the comforter. “Just until Saturday. Please.” She drew out the word.

Claire frowned. “I don’t know, sweetie.” She searched her mental calendar for a reason to return home and drew a blank. “Let me think about it.”

“Great.” Melissa yawned. “I’m going to nap. Didn’t sleep much, checking on Brad and visiting with Aunt Sylvia.”

“Did he need a nurse all night long?”

Melissa laughed. “He thought so.” She clutched the comforter under her chin. “He’s so sweet. I’m crazy about him.” She reached out a hand and grabbed Claire’s fingers. “Please consider staying.”

Claire nodded. She slung her purse strap over her shoulder. “I’ll see you later today.” She patted the pocket on her purse. “My cell is charged in case you need me.”

“Uh-huh.” Melissa closed her eyes and curled under the blanket.

Claire slipped into the hallway and closed the door. “All week in Cedarburg?” She smiled. “I can do that.”

Eli knotted his tie again then lifted his suit coat from the hanger. “I hope this day improves quickly, Lord.” He’d dodged a river of syrup he’d created on the kitchen counter and endured an army-style cold shower. “Dumb hot water heater.”

He folded the coat over his arm and picked up his Bible from the table by his recliner. Pausing in the foyer, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror. He took a deep breath. “This is the moment you’ve waited for, Mueller. Don’t mess it up.”

Sunlight filtered through the elm trees on his four-block stroll to the church. He marveled at Caron’s full pink hydrangea bushes lining the fence and the bevy of tall purple flowers in Mr. Lee’s yard. The peonies and lavender painted a pretty picture. He admired those who could nurture such beauty.

“Claire should see this.” He picked up his pace. Claire. She waited for him at church. Like she had so many decades before.

On the short drive back to the Washington House the night before, their stilted conversation stayed on safe topics. He did learn her family had moved to Indianapolis right after he left town, and that her husband had died in a Cessna crash only six months after they’d married.

“I want to know what happened—” He lowered his head, breathing a short prayer. “Today, Lord, give me words to speak.”

“Good morning, Eli.” Marie climbed from her van, tugging at her skirt, her eyes bright.

Eli nodded. “Morning, Marie.”

She smiled and her lips parted to speak. Then her eyes widened. She puffed out one word. “Claire.”

Eli turned, and his feet froze to the spot. He met Claire’s gaze.
His
Claire stood on the steps of the church.
Their
church. His heart pounded so loudly in his ears he couldn’t hear Marie’s words. He watched Claire hug a stiff-backed Marie, who then disappeared into the narthex.

“Good morning, Eli.” She wore a shy smile.

“Claire.” He reached out a hand.

She grasped his fingertips then let go. “Maybe we should go inside.”

She turned and walked through the doors, and Eli followed. “If this is a dream, Lord, don’t let me wake up,” he whispered.

Claire hadn’t been this distracted during church in forty years. Sitting beside Eli, she inhaled his musky scent. When he slid his arm behind her along the back of the pew, her pulse raced. He brushed her side when he crossed his legs. She tracked every movement the man made. Surely it wasn’t right to sit in a church service and concentrate on a man. But this was not just any man. This was Eli.
Her
Eli.

Forgive me, Lord. Help me focus on You instead of Eli
.

Claire placed her Bible on her lap then let it slide between the two of them. Maybe if the Word of God were between them …

The lovely choir director had the congregation stand. Eli held the hymnal for her to read. His fingers brushed hers.

Here I go again, Lord!

Claire sang the song, greeted other parishioners, and listened to the sermon, still in a daze. She sighed, an overwhelming desire for these moments to last. All too soon the closing hymn was sung and the final amen pronounced.

Eli ushered her from the pew, nodding and speaking to those around them. Claire scanned the crowd for anyone she knew. Marie seemed to be the only one she recognized.

“Claire?” A stoop-shouldered gray-haired lady clutched her elbow.