Precious Blessings (Love Inspired) (10 page)

“Enough that I'm gonna have to cuff you and haul you down to the station.”

“
What?
You're kidding, right?”

Cute. She was real cute. “Right. In fact, you weren't speeding at all. You have a taillight out.”

“Really? Oh. Okay.” She reached behind her passenger's side visor where an organizer was attached and
quickly extracted her registration and proof of insurance. “Let me get my license. How much is that going to cost me?”

Was it his imagination or was she rattled, and not because she thought she was facing a ticket, either. She fumbled through her neatly organized wallet and when she withdrew her license, she dropped it. It tumbled out of sight.

Now, there
could
be another explanation to her nervousness. His chest fluttered. “Knowing you, the taillight probably konked out about five minutes ago. I won't even give you a warning. I know you'll get it fixed.”

“First thing.”

Yeah, he knew.

There wasn't much traffic on the highway this time of evening—well, compared to a big metropolitan area, there wasn't much traffic ever. But for Bozeman standards, it was a very light night. The storm was keeping most people off the roads.

He waited for a triple-trailer semi to whoosh by, going slowly due to the weather conditions. Jack did a visual of lights and plates before turning back to Katherine. He liked her new cut, the way the bobbed ends of gold curled in to frame her chin, emphasizing the oval shape of her face.

Definitely lovely.

The flutter in his chest sped up a notch. “How did it work out with the copier guy?”

“You're the fourth person to ask that tonight. First Marin, then my sisters. There's nothing going on. He asked me for a date and I declined.”

“Do you do that a lot?”

“What? Turn down dating opportunities? Mostly I'm pretty picky. I have to know a man first, you know, like with Kevin, my fiancé—”

“I didn't know you'd been engaged.”

Her voice thinned with pain. “A few years ago, but it didn't work out.”

Why? he wondered. Why would any man ever let her go?

“Anyway, Kevin and I went to the same church all of our lives. We went to the same schools. While I didn't know him closely, I knew that he wasn't the kind of man who would harm a woman, or deceive her in any way.”

“It sounds smart. I've seen a lot of horrible stuff through the years. Most shifts are like this, quiet, helping with minor problems, broken-down cars or patrolling. But sometimes I see what some people can be capable of. It's not a safe world. It's good to be cautious.”

“Cautious is my middle name.”

He liked that about her, that she was careful and conscientious and sensible. She was the kind of woman a man could count on. All sorts of protective feelings rose to the surface, and it wasn't easy for a man like him to deal with. He liked things cut and dry, emotions under control.

He had a feeling that was a sign in itself. No one had ever made him come alive, soul-deep, like Katherine did. “Will I see you when I drop Hayden off after school? Or will you be busy in your office again?”

“Probably the office. There's this financial thing Spence is all worked up about.”

“Then I guess I'll see you at church.” He tipped his hat. “Drive safe, Katherine.”

“You too, Jack.” Her window zipped up, camouflaging her behind the glass.

Only as he backed away did the utter wetness of the rain begin to register and the bitter cut of the wind. With every step he took, he became wetter and colder. Lonelier, when she drove away on the dark ribbon of highway. He felt as empty as that lonely stretch of road.

He wasn't falling for Katherine; he'd already fallen. It was a done deal. But he couldn't stomach the possibility that she might not feel the same way.

“W
hat did you do to your hair?”

Katherine swiveled away from her computer monitor to see Danielle in her office doorway, with little Madison on one hip. Gladness uplifted her as she abandoned her work and scooped her grumpy niece into her arms. “She's still cutting that tooth?”

“It's not easy being little.” Danielle looked exhausted, but her voice and her smile were loving as she hitched the diaper bag into a better place on her shoulder. “I can't believe this. I'm sorry, but…I'm in shock. I hardly recognize you.”

“You and everybody else I've seen today.” Katherine tried not to let it bother her. This is what happened when a girl acted rashly and didn't think things through. And now it was too late, she had to live with it.

“I was in the mood for something different, what can I say?” She circled around the corner of her desk to the
seating area near the wide window, giving her niece a kiss on the cheek.

Madison scrunched up her cherub's face, fisted her hand and started crying. She buried her face in Katherine's blouse and sobbed, shaking.

Poor sweetie. Katherine cuddled the little one, and her heart squeezed tight. As much as she loved her precious niece, it was always a bittersweet thing to hold a baby. Always a reminder of what was best left buried in the past.

“We were up most of the night.” Danielle plopped into the second chair. “We're on our way to the doctor, I'm afraid she's getting an ear infection or something because she's cut teeth before and this just isn't right.”

“She feels a little warm.”

“She is. But I figured if we didn't stop by now, by the time we wait for the doctor and stop to fill a prescription and pick Tyler up from the church's pre-school, we'd never get a chance to do it. I have the information right here—” She opened her diaper bag, pulled out her purse and rifled through it. “Somewhere.”

“What information? Oh, right. The blind date guy.”

“Yep. Here it is.” She flipped open her date book. “How does Saturday night work for you? I know you usually close the store early on Saturdays, right?”

In truth, no day would be good, but since she had to do this, it might as well be Saturday. “Sure.”

“That's not a very enthusiastic sure.”

“It's the best I can manage. What's this man's name and where am I meeting him?”

“I think he wanted to pick you up.”

“No. I'm not going anywhere with a stranger, and you know why, Danielle.” She shook her head, willing the painful thoughts out of her mind before they set in, as they used to do with such force. “I meet him at the restaurant, or no deal.”

“Okay. I'll tell him that. It's just that—” She slipped her book back into her purse and the purse back into the diaper bag. “He's not a stranger to Jonas and he's one of the good ones. You have my word on it.”

“I still won't do it.”

“Okay, I'll tell Jonas and he can get the where and the when. Are you sure you're all right?”

“Why wouldn't I be?” She pressed a kiss into the soft crown of Madison's curly brown hair; she was quieting. “I'm fine. Spence and I are pretty stressed about the operating budget, but we'll figure it out.”

“I wasn't asking about the store. Why did you cut your hair? It looks great, but it's pretty extreme for you. What's going on?”

“Just feeling dull, I guess.”

“Don't we all.” Danielle sighed. “I feel less dull when I get a full night's sleep. But why you? You are so on top of everything. Is this about the roses guy?”

Jack. Why did Dani have to bring him up? Katherine had gotten through the last few hours of work without thinking of him once…since lunchtime. Every time she thought about him it was like a cut to her heart. Why had she fallen so hard and fast for him? And it was all one-sided, all her.

She cleared the emotion from her throat, refusing to
let anything show. A girl had her pride, after all. “There's nothing going on with the roses guy.”

A knock at her open doorway interrupted her. Spence, imposing in a black shirt and slacks, glared in, dourly. “Sorry. Did you know the copier isn't working? I went to use it and nothing. Give the repair guy a call, okay? Oh, and that teenager is here. Since Ava isn't, you deal with her. I don't have time.”

Katherine watched her brother march off.

Dani took Madison back. “He's so Heathcliff.”

Katherine loved her brother, but he wasn't the warm and fuzzy type. “I'd better go deal with Hayden.”

Dani settled her baby daughter on her hip. “Where's Ava? Isn't she supposed to be working here?”

“Well, only because we're family and we can't fire her.” It was an old joke, and an affectionate one. “She's temping last minute as a pastry chef at the big hotel downtown. It's a good opportunity. Keep her in prayer, okay? This could work into a full-time job.”

“Wouldn't that be good.” Dani wiped a tear from Madison's chubby cheek and kissed her forehead. “We have to go, but I'll give you a call later. I'll get the 411 for Friday night.”

“And let me know what the doctor says about Madison.”

Dani said goodbye and hurried out the door. Katherine meant to follow her but her intercom buzzed. She changed directions and grabbed the phone. “I'm going to have Kelly make the call, Spence. Stop stressing.”

“Fine. It's the girl. I don't want her unsupervised in this store. Kelly's ringing up a sale, and I'm too busy
to watch her. You let her back in this store. You deal with her.” He disconnected with a terse click.

Fine. The money situation was really getting to Spence. He felt his responsibility to their parents so strongly. His heart was in the right place, but… She stepped wide of his office door and found Hayden slouched in a chair in the sitting area meant for customers.

The teenager radiated the attitude of a secular hip-hop singer while wearing her wholesome navy blue school uniform of an oxford shirt and pleated trousers.

Hayden didn't look happy. Anger glittered in her eyes. It wasn't hard to see what lay beneath. Pain. Fear. Sadness.

Yeah, she knew what that was like, too. “Hayden, come with me and we'll get you started on the March mailing.”

“Whatever.” Hayden drew herself up out of the chair with a protesting snort.

Katherine wasn't bothered by it. She pulled a box of newsletters from a shelf beneath the front counter and a box of business-sized envelopes. “Kelly's already folded and stuffed a box full.” She set that box on the end of the counter for Hayden. “Your job is to seal the envelope and adhere the mailing label.”

Hayden grabbed an envelope. “I know you like my dad and everything. But he's only being nice to you because you didn't press charges. That's the only reason. Just so you know.”

Not sure what she should say to that, Katherine opted for silence. She hesitated at her office doorway,
glancing over her shoulder one more time. There was no missing the satisfied smirk on the girl's face.

Katherine went to her desk. Since she could see Hayden through the open doorway, she made sure to keep an eye on her.

It had to be a sign, Katherine thought, from heaven above. A call from Dani confirmed it. She was calling from the waiting room at the doctor's office. She said the blind-date guy would be willing to meet her Saturday night. The steakhouse on Country Homes Boulevard. Seven o'clock.

Katherine jotted it down on her day timer. Then it struck her. That was the restaurant she'd recommended to Jack. Surely he wasn't the blind date? No, that's just wishful thinking, Katherine. Her gaze cut to Hayden, head down, jaw set, frown in place, sealing envelope after envelope.

No, there's just no way. I have to let this go.

She flipped her diary to the current day's page and banished Jack Munroe from her mind. But he remained in her heart like a weight so heavy, it felt as if not even prayer could remove it.

 

“I can't get used to your haircut.”

Katherine watched Ava lean across the kitchen counter, where she was sitting in her yoga outfit, reaching for the cookie jar. “I just wanted to get out of a rut.”

“That's why I avoid ruts entirely. Once you get in one, it's tough to get out. Right, Aubrey?”

“Totally.”

Katherine checked the chicken simmering on the
stove—it was done—and lifted the skillet onto a back burner. “Why do I get the feeling you're no longer employed?”

“Hey, this time it wasn't anything I did. It was just a one-day deal. Lindsay, you know, she's the head chef, we went to school together. She said it was only a one-day thing, their pastry chef had a wedding to go to. But—”

“This means you need more hours at the bookstore?” Katherine guessed as she gave the brown rice a stir.

Ava plucked the lid off the ceramic jar and began transferring custard-filled iced cookies into the beehive. “I also have good news. One of the bakeries messed up on Kristy Brisbane's wedding-cake order, and she asked if I would do it for her. Kind of a last-minute thing.”

“That's great, Ava. Isn't this, what, the third or fourth time this has happened lately? You might be able to turn it into a business.”

“Don't scare me like that. Aubrey, what do you think?”

“You'd have to be responsible. And not set your own kitchen on fire.”

“Problems I need to work on.”

The phone rang. Perfect timing. Katherine was draining the green beans. “Aubrey, would you get that?”

“My pleasure.” Aubrey grabbed the cordless and disappeared around the corner.

That can't be good. Katherine righted the saucepan, removed the lid and plunked the pan on a waiting trivet. “Aubrey, who is it?”

“It's the white-roses guy,” Ava said, giving the cookie jar a shove back into place. “I can tell.”

“It better not be. It can't be.” There was no reason for Jack to call, right? Still, if it was, what was Aubrey saying to him? Whatever it was, it couldn't be good. She stalked around the corner into the living room and yanked the phone out of Aubrey's hand. Just to be safe. “Hello?”

“I was just having a conversation with another one of your sisters. How many do you have?”

“Too many. Don't ask.” Katherine noticed the twins were standing side by side spying on her and turned her back to them. “Wait, I know why you're calling. It's about the taillight. I got it fixed right away, just like I promised.”

“I wasn't worried about it.”

Okay, so why was he calling? “I can hear noise in the background. Are you on your dinner break?”

“Guilty. The diner's noisy tonight. I need help.”

Katherine glanced back at her sisters, who seemed to be expecting a romance to blossom at any moment between her and Jack, when nothing could be farther from the truth. She sat in the bay window seat, the farthest point away from the twins, and kept her voice low. “Is it about your date?”

“Sure is. I've got the place figured out and made the reservations.”

“For which night?”

Tea sloshed over the cup rim, scorching his fingers. Jack nearly dropped it into the saucer, making a bigger mess. She hadn't figured it out, had she? “This weekend. I'm nervous. I'd feel better if I could run some things by you. Get a woman's opinion.”

“On what?”

Relief washed through him. He wanted this to go right. It was in God's hands, but after a lot of prayer, Jack had a gut feeling. This was going to work out right. “Where do women stand on flowers on the first date? Does it look like the guy's trying too hard?”

“Flowers are always a thoughtful gesture.”

“Duly noted. Roses or one of those mixed bouquets?”

“Depends on the message you want to send, I guess. You're asking the wrong person, Jack. I'm not an authority on this.”

“You're a woman and I need a woman's opinion. I also called to find out about your plans with the blind-date guy. You're not going to back out, right?”

“A promise is a promise. I'm meeting him tomorrow at my favorite steakhouse.”

“What do you know about this guy?”

Not enough. Katherine opened the mini blind, drew her legs up and crossed them and stared out at the dark windy night. “My sister has been evasive on that information. I suspect it's someone from our church and if she told me his first name, then I'd be able to guess his identity and, foreseeing disaster, I would cancel.”

“No canceling. So, what time are you meeting him?”

“At seven.”

“I'll be there around that time. I tell you what, if things don't go well, how about we meet afterwards at nine for tea.”

“Add a consolation dessert, and you're on.” Something was troubling her, but she couldn't figure out what.
Maybe she'd better not examine it too closely. She was moving on, leaving her feelings for Jack behind. Maybe this new date dude would be The One. Hey, it
could
happen.

“Thanks for the help. I'll let you go. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow night.”

“Okay.” She disconnected and stared at the phone.

There was so much she hadn't said to him. So much that only occurred to her now. Like how she hoped this worked out for him. That he liked this woman, and that Hayden would, too.

Remembering the quiet, confused and hurting teenager who'd worked two solid hours on the March mailing without complaint, keeping her distance, Katherine bowed her head, pushed her feelings aside and prayed.
Please let this work out for Jack and Hayden, Lord. They both deserve to be happy.

As for her hopes? She would trust the Lord with that. Maybe that was the mistake she'd made with Kevin. She hadn't listened to God closely enough.

When she looked up the twins were still watching her. “Dinner's ready,” Ava said.