Love Inspired January 2016, Box Set 1 of 2 (40 page)

Instead of answering her, he shook his head, took a claw hammer and hunkered down to examine the step again. Two hard taps and the nail was firmly back in place, the step secure once again.

“All fixed.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“Thanks to you and your aunt for all you've done for Claire.”

“It's only been a week and yet she's given us much more than I've given her. My aunt seems to have purpose again. I'd like it if Claire could come over next Saturday afternoon and spend the day again.”

“I'll ask her, though it's easy to guess that she'll love that plan.”

Matt met her gaze. “I need you to know I really mean it,” he said. “She's blossomed, thanks to you.”

“Claire is an amazing child. You have her mother and God to thank for that. They laid the foundation. I'm merely offering her the opportunity to do what comes natural.”

A moment later Claire emerged from the house with a foil-covered dish in her hands.

“What's this?” he asked.

“Baked herb chicken. I made it myself.” An expectant expression crossed her face.

“Wow. You're learning to cook, too?” he asked. “I'm impressed.”

Claire glowed beneath the praise.

“All part of our nutritional education,” Anne said. “Besides, she's a quick learner. We're going to be done sooner than I thought.”

“You said I could still come over,” Claire protested.

Anne placed a hand on Claire's shoulder. “That's right. You can. We're friends now. And you know Aunt Lily loves showing you the secrets of the house. She has plenty more left.”

“Secrets?” Matt raised his brows.

“There's a secret door that disappears right into the wall,” Claire said. Her eyes were bright with excitement.

“Pocket doors,” Matt said with a grin. “Pretty cool.”

“That's right. I always forget what the official name for them is. I imagine you architects remember all of that.”

“We do.”

“Well, this house has two pocket doors.”

“What other secrets have you discovered?” Matt asked Claire.

“There's an attic room that you can only get to through a closet, and a turret room I haven't seen yet,” Claire continued.

“Did Aunt Lily tell you about the hidden passage in the basement?” Anne asked, her face as animated as his daughter's.

Matt could have stood there watching the two of them talk for hours. They got along like old friends and he admitted to himself that he was envious of their bond.

Claire's mouth formed a circle of astonishment at Anne's question. “Really? No, she didn't tell me about that.”

“You'll have to act surprised when she does. I don't want to spoil her fun.”

“Where is your aunt?” Matt asked.

“She goes to bed around this time.”

“It's still daylight.”

“Only because it's summer,” Anne reminded him. “Keep in mind that she gets up before sunrise to read her Bible and pray.”

“Aunt Lily read the Bible to me today,” Claire said. “We're memorizing verses.”

“What are you memorizing?” Matt asked.

“Psalms. ‘Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the Lord.'”

“Do you know what that means?” He looked at Claire and smiled.

She shook her head. “Not really.”

“It means hang in there. If you trust in God, then eventually everything is going to work out.”

Claire's face brightened and she turned to Anne. “Did you hear that? God is going to take care of your problem. Everything is going to work out.”

The loving smile Anne gave his daughter caused Matt to pause.

“You're right, Claire,” she said. “I guess I'm just a little concerned I might not be prepared for exactly how he's going to take care of my problem.”

“But it will all work out. That's the important part. You just have to believe that,” Claire returned.

Matt smiled at the wisdom in his daughter's words.

“Did you want to talk about your problem, Anne? Maybe I can help.”

“No. Claire is absolutely right. The only thing standing between me and moving this mountain is my ability to trust that God can and will for me. I believe He will. Somehow.”

“Okay. I'd like to stand in agreement with you on that, as long as you remember that sometimes He uses His people to help each other.”

Anne raised her face and looked at him, her eyes questioning. “Are you telling me you know something I don't?” she probed quietly.

“Not at all. I'm only saying that it's been my experience that often we wait for an answer to prayer, when one is already standing in front of us.”

CHAPTER SIX

“T
hree croissants with Black Forest ham, avocado and Brie to go,” Anne said to the clerk at Patti Jo's Café and Bakery.

“Wow. That sounds amazing. I'll take two to go, as well.”

Anne whirled around at the sound of Matt's voice.

“Not in your scrubs?” he commented.

“I had a meeting at the hospital. Once or twice a month I try to look like a grown-up instead of a kid in pajamas.”

“You look like a grown-up for sure.”

When Matt's gaze took in her simple navy suit and pumps she found herself looking anywhere but at him. Why should it matter what he thought of her? Why should his assessment make her nervous?

“Join me for a coffee while we wait?” he asked.

“I, um...”

“It's only coffee, Anne, and I want to talk about Claire. Nothing else. For now.”

“Yes...then, I guess so. But I only have a few minutes.”

He nodded. “I'll get the coffee, you find a table. Okay?”

“I can do that.”

She chose a bistro table rather than a booth, which might make their meeting appear intimate. Patti Jo's tables were higher than regular tables with glossy silver edges and red-laminate tops. Red-cushioned stools were tucked beneath. Anne pulled out a stool and put her purse on the one next to her.

As Matt wove through the small café with two mugs in his hands, several people greeted him. He stopped for a minute at a booth to offer a hello to a group of businessmen.

When he finally slid the mugs on their table she couldn't help but comment. “You certainly have gotten to know people in Paradise in a very short time.”

“Networking. It's part of the job. Are you surprised?”

“No, of course not.”

He poured creamer into his white stoneware mug and thoughtfully stirred. When his gaze met hers, the blue eyes were cold.

“Ten years ago your aunt predicted I'd be in a dead-end job holding you hostage with me.”

“That was my aunt. Not me.” She lifted the black coffee to her lips and sipped, needing the jolt of caffeine to deal with Matt's accusations.

“If you didn't believe that, then why did you leave?”

“I thought we were just going to talk about Claire.”

“Yeah, well, I've changed my mind.”

Anne thought for a few seconds before answering. “Matt, you can't possibly understand what it's like to be alone in the world.”

“Can't I?”

“I didn't mean...” She paused and regrouped. “My aunt took me in when there was no one else. She'd planned to travel when she retired, to see the world. And instead she remained in Paradise to raise a ten-year-old child. I owed her my loyalty.”

“Did you owe her your future?”

“I was eighteen. I still had three years of college left. She wanted me to finish.”

“Oh, it wasn't just about finishing your education and you know that. She pulled you out of D.U. so fast, I didn't even get to say goodbye.”

“I'm sorry.” Anne swallowed. “That's all I can do now, say that I'm sorry.”

“Anne, I forgave you a long time ago. But I still need to understand why.”

“You haven't forgiven me,” she scoffed. “If you had, you wouldn't need anything else from me.”

He wrapped his hands around the mug and slowly nodded. “Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm only human.”

“Two lunch orders to go?”

Anne looked up at the waitress who stood at their table. “Yes. Thank you.”

She slid from the stool and gathered her purse. “I have to get back to work.”

“Wait. I still want to talk about Claire,” Matt returned. “Please?” he asked when she didn't respond right away, his gaze softening in apology.

“Claire is doing well, Matt. I anticipate her moving to an insulin pump by the end of summer.”

“Good. Good.”

“I have to get back.”

“I'm sorry.”

“There's no need to be sorry. You were right. We had to talk about this eventually.”

He offered her a sad nod as she turned away.

Minutes later Anne slammed the door of her truck and hurried into the emergency department with the lunches for herself, Marta and Juanita.

“Did you get lost?” Juanita asked from behind the counter.

“No, I ran into... I had to talk to...”

“Well, it must be a man, because I've never seen you so tongue-tied,” Juanita continued.

“Matt was at Patty Jo's. He wanted to discuss Claire.”

“Claire. Uh-huh.”

Juanita grabbed the sack and opened it. She frowned. “Where's my cookie?”

Anne gasped. “Oh, no. I forgot.”

“You forget about us and our cookies for a tall, handsome man?” Juanita's hands went to her hips in a stern stance. A moment later she grinned. “Just kidding. I would have done the same thing.”

“It was an accident. An oversight.”

“Tell that to Marta. She might believe you.”

“Believe what?” Marta asked as she approached.

“She had coffee with Mr. Hunky and forgot our cookies.”

Marta chuckled. “This might be a good time to ask if I can leave early. I have to swing by the dry cleaner's to pick up my dress for the hospital dinner tonight.”

“No!” Anne glanced at the calendar behind Juanita. “Please, tell me that it's not tonight. Not really.”

“It is. Did you forget?” Marta asked.

“Of course I did. I'll have to call to get someone to stay with my aunt.” She rubbed her forehead. “I've got eight hours. I guess I'll figure it out.”

“Anne, are you all right?”

She frowned as she looked at Marta. “Why do people keep asking me that?”

“Maybe because forgetting cookies and appointments isn't like you,” Juanita said.

No. They were right. It wasn't like her. Since Matt had come to town everything had become one continuous “not all right.” And it could only get worse.

* * *

Matt hadn't been able to take his eyes off her. Though the wisdom of age taught him that beauty wasn't as important as heart and soul, he still had to admit Anne Matson was by far the most beautiful woman in the room. In a swirly, deep purple dress she was a vision unlike any he'd ever seen. The skirt moved when she moved and now as she swayed slightly to the music, the fabric danced around her, as well.

He'd watched her minutes before when she was on the dance floor with Doc Nelson—the tall, smooth guy from the ER that she'd insisted wasn't her boyfriend.

If the good doctor had his way Matt was sure he'd be first in line to claim Anne's affection. The thought rubbed him the wrong way, though he had no right to those feelings. Not to mention that a smart man would be wary of the flame after being scorched the first go-around.

Apparently he'd lost a few brain cells since arriving in Paradise, because here he was moving closer and closer to the light that was Anne. He slowly crossed the room to where she stood next to the buffet table, her head tilted to one side as she pondered the hors d'oeuvres.

“Quite a fancy spread, isn't it? Those bacon wraps are tasty. The bacon hides the vegetables on the inside.”

Anne whirled around.

“Matt, I didn't know you were going to be here,” she finally said. The words were hesitant.

“First Construction is one of several companies bidding for the hospital contract. If the Paradise Lake project goes well, we'll probably get pulled in for this project, as well.”

She nodded slowly, as though considering his words. Then her glance swept the room. “Is Manny here?”

“No. He makes me do anything that involves wearing a suit.”

“You look very nice. Where are your crutches?”

“I'm a fast healer.”

“Does your doctor know?”

“Yeah, he knows that I'm tired of the crutches and the boot.”

“That wasn't quite what I meant.”

“I've got a support wrap on the ankle. I'm fine.” Matt gave a small nod of dismissal. “Now let's change the subject and talk about you.”

“Me?” she asked, her voice cautious.

“You aren't mad at me about our discussion earlier, are you?”

“I was never mad.”

“Good, then I guess it's okay to say that you look lovely,” he said, and easily meant every word. He took a moment to appreciate the dress close up. Only a moment. Any more than that would be dangerous to his well-being.

Anne held her hands together and then unclasped them, her fingers fidgeting.

Did he make her nervous?

“Thank you,” she said, her gaze flitting around the room. She ran a hand over the silky-smooth fabric of the skirt of her dress. “I thought it was a nice change from the navy suits and scrubs I usually wear.”

“You're right,” he said as he fought a hard battle not to stare at the woman and the dress yet again.

This time a bemused smile curved her lips as though she could read his mind and was flattered.

He smiled, as well, but only for about half a second. Then he realized that Manny was right; she needed to know the truth about him and about his involvement in the decision to destroy her home.

Matt cleared his throat, working up courage. “Listen, Anne, there's something you should know about the Paradise Lake construction project.”

“Is it something about my house?”

“Yes.”

She stared at him, thinking, her dark eyes confused. Then something changed. Her expression became resolute and she held up a palm and met his gaze. “No.”

“No-o?” He dragged out the word, waiting for her to continue.

“I don't want to think about that or talk about it tonight. I've turned it over to the Lord an additional ten times today and for a few hours I'm going to do something out of character by relaxing and having fun.”

He knew he shouldn't be relieved, but he was. Eventually he'd pay the price for the reprieve she had handed him, though it wouldn't be tonight. No, not tonight. “Well, I can't argue with that,” he said.

Matt dared to shoot a glance at the small dance floor to his right, where the band, consisting of mostly Paradise senior citizens, had begun a slow number.

Anne's boss, Dr. Nicholas Evans, the hospital's director, strode toward them from across the room.

“Matt, I see you've met Anne.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Band sounds great, doesn't it? Why aren't you young people dancing?”

Matt turned to her as the doctor walked away. “You heard the man. Would you care to dance?”

“But your ankle.”

“I'm fine. No fancy moves, that's all.”

“Well...”

“Your boss pretty much just ordered you to dance.”

A tiny smile urged her lips upward and she glanced from him to the dance floor and back again.

Matt was encouraged.

“What do you say?”

She took a deep breath and gave a “barely there” nod of her chin.

She placed her hand in his palm and he did his best not to let her see how the simple act affected him after all these years.

The music required merely a gentle sway and very little real movement. One hand held hers and the other was carefully positioned and lightly placed at the small of her back.

Anne's fingers were gently splayed upon his lapel. Her dark, silky hair skimmed his chin each time she turned her head. Vanilla and flowery shampoo mingled, filling his senses.

He could have stayed like this for a very long time, he realized.

They moved silently for minutes, somewhat stiffly, until he finally felt her relax in his arms.

“This is a nice little get-together,” he said.

“Yes. Paradise is known for events like these. Founder's Day. Fourth of July. We especially like holidays.”

“Where do you fit into all of this?” he asked.

“‘All of this'?” Her head tilted back as she looked up at him, the dark eyes speculative. “Paradise is my home. What do you mean?”

“I mean this hospital. The new emergency department. They'll start breaking ground on that in the fall. Is that your future?”

“Yes, I suppose it is.”

“That doesn't sound very enthusiastic.”

“No?” She paused for a moment, as though considering her response. “It's funny you should ask me that, because lately I've been trying to figure out exactly that. Where do I figure in the future of the hospital?” A measure of concern filled her eyes. “I haven't even dared to say that out loud until now.”

“You've been here how long?”

“Oh, I was a volunteer first, and this has been the only nursing job I've ever had. So it's been a long time.”

“Why aren't you happy?”

She shook her head, her gaze registering confusion. “I thought I was.”

“Hmm,” he murmured.

“What exactly is on your mind, Matt?”

“I'm wondering if it will bother you that I'm staying in Paradise for the duration. I mean if we get the hospital contract, it'll be another year at least.

“Why would that bother me?”

She stopped moving and he nearly tripped.

“Sorry,” he said.

“No. My fault.” She looked up at him. “Why would it bother me?”

“I'm just checking. Wondering if we can get to a place where we can be comfortable around each other again.”

The music ended and Anne stepped back, remorse on her face. “Matt, I'm so sorry. I've been thinking about our conversation at the café and I don't think I've ever really apologized for...”

This time it was Matt who held up a palm. “My turn to say no. We need to discuss the past, but tonight isn't the right time. For this evening let's pretend we're old friends.”

“Friends?”

“Yes. That was my plan.”

Anne nodded and his heart swelled with hope. It was a good place to begin. To start over.

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.