Heart's Design: A Contemporary Christian Romance (9 page)

“I don’t know, to be honest. There’s something about you. Like I’ve known you from somewhere before, but I have no idea where. Trust me, even though I realize it sounds like one, that’s not a line.”

“I know what you mean,” she said, dropping her gaze. “When I first met you, I had the same feeling. Odd, isn’t it?”

“Very. I’m not complaining. Have you had a chance to meet Liesel and Paul?”

“Yes. Lovely couple.” Caroline sipped her punch and once again their eyes met as Seth did the same. “You mentioned knowing Paul for a number of years. Where did you meet him?”

“I’ve known Paul for about ten years. He’s one of my best friends.” Seth ushered her to a seat and sat down beside her. “Paul and I did our undergrad studies at UMass-Amherst and got to be friends through a campus Bible study. We’ve kept in contact ever since. He’s a psychologist and works as a counselor with the Youth Services Center here in town.”

Caroline set her punch cup on the floor. “Why do I have the feeling that you have something to do with the reason we’re here in this church today?”

Seth ran his hand over his jaw and grinned. “You’re good.”

“I try. Please don’t let me keep you from your duties as a groomsman or whatever you need to do.”

“Trying to get rid of me so soon?”

“Not at all, but don’t you need to be…making a toast to the happy couple or something?”

His grin grew wider, and that dimple twisted her heart. Combined with those beautiful light blue eyes that said so much—seemed to
see
so much—Seth Barnes could so very easily make her forget her name. Make her violate the unwritten credo that you should never entertain romantic thoughts about another woman’s boyfriend.

“Maybe you should go. Circulate. Chat with the other groomsmen.”

He nodded slowly, seemingly not surprised by her suggestion. “I’ll do that for now but you’re not rid of me yet.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Yes.” He rose to leave, and Caroline forced her gaze away, questioning in her mind whether she should stay or go.

An hour later, she’d been entertained by Clara and several of her friends and learned all sorts of fun tidbits about Evergreen’s history and colorful inhabitants. The buffet boasted delicious offerings and she’d sampled most all of them, deflecting Seth’s frequent glances in her direction. Making sure she was surrounded by well-meaning townsfolk, Caroline clapped when Liesel and Paul cut their two-tier wedding cake. Sighed when Paul daintily fed Liesel a bite and then laughed when the bride smashed an icing-laden piece against Paul’s mouth. Almost swooned and then blushed when Paul dipped his bride backward and kissed her with abandon.

“Ah, young love. Is there anything better?”

Caroline refused to look at him this time. “I’m sure I wouldn’t know, but you should.”

“I’m not promised to anyone, Caroline. We’re not exclusive at this point. Look, can we just get to know one another as friends? That’s my only motive here, believe it or not.”

“Oh. I see.” She fumbled for her next words, feeling like a colossal fool. “My mistake for apparently misinterpreting your intentions.” Humiliation burned her cheeks. No doubt they were beet red by now.

“You didn’t mistake anything, but I’d really like to spend a little time with you.” Seth waited until he had her eye contact once again. “Is that a crime?”

“No, no. It’s not. But please answer one important question for me.”

“Shoot.” Oh, those eyes. What they could do to a girl’s resolve. This was most definitely dangerous territory. Maybe she should cut her losses and take off now.

Someone tapped a spoon against a glass to get everyone’s attention. Clanged was more like it.

“If I may have your attention,” the woman announced, raising her voice to an irritating level in order to be heard above the conversations floating about the room. Even the smallest sounds echoed in the large basement hall. “Liesel and Paul are going to open a few of their gifts now.”

Oh, no.
Caroline’s pulse pounded.

One of the kids scampered around the table in the direction of the gift-wrapped quilt. Of course a child would choose that gift. It was the largest one. The one sure to draw the most attention. In the eyes of the little ones, the best gift usually came in the biggest package. In this case, it was a gift from someone the bride and groom didn’t even know as anyone more than a face and a name. Caroline couldn’t sit and watch while they opened the gift. Couldn’t handle the stares of well-meaning folks who might speculate if she’d been the giver and, if so, why she’d do such a thing. Pay so much money. Not that she could adequately explain it.

With wealth came privileges, indeed. But it often came with a high price tag that had nothing whatsoever to do with money.

While Seth watched the events at the front of the room with everyone else, Caroline took the opportunity to make her departure. She slid out of her chair, quietly climbed the stairs to the main level, and darted out the front door.

Question was: if she’d had a glass slipper, would she have left it behind?

Chapter 10

~~♥~~

Shedding the dress as soon as she returned to Landon’s, Caroline smoothed it out on the bed. Liesel had told her she could keep the dress, but she couldn’t, no matter how well it fit. No matter how pretty it was, or made her feel, or the fact that it would remind her of talking with Seth. Flirting with Seth. Whatever it was she’d done with Seth.

“Oh!” This was the very reason she never flirted or got involved with men. Why did Seth have to look at her like that? Like he understood her and wanted to get to know her as a person? Was he a Christian like Beverly, Liesel, and Paul? Of course, he was. He had to be a man of faith, based on what he’d told her about meeting Paul through a campus Bible study at UMass. Weren’t Christians supposed to stay away from nonbelievers? Or was it
un
believers? Was there a difference?

Maybe the line was a fine one similar to the difference between an atheist who denied the existence of God and an agnostic who could care less. That was her understanding, anyway, but that was one arena where she was woefully inadequate. As long as she’d never be called upon to defend God in a courtroom, she’d be all right.

Grabbing her khaki shorts and one of her cotton tops from her backpack, she stomped into the bathroom. A second bath of the day sounded relaxing and appealing right about now, something to soothe her body while she argued and hopefully reasoned with herself and all the emotions muddling her mind.

After running the hottest bathwater her body could withstand, Caroline slipped into the sudsy water. Ah, it felt so good. She’d learned to appreciate the value of a good soak in the tub in the last month, especially after her legs and calf muscles were sore from those hiking boots. The aroma of honeysuckle bath salts teased her nostrils and reminded her of the bushes on the side of the house on Beacon Hill. She and Bryce used to call it the mausoleum. As she’d grown older, she’d learned to appreciate the value of the home’s architecture. In some ways, it held a character all its own.

Leaning her head against the back of the footed tub, Caroline closed her eyes. For whatever reason, her thoughts kept coming back to God. What
was
it about this little mountain town that brought God into her mind so much? The beauty of nature surrounding her, for one thing. Beverly talking with her in the kitchen about how He was her source of strength and encouraging her to pray. The sweet way Paul had quoted verses from the Bible when he addressed their guests at the wedding reception.

“Okay, God. Or do I call you Lord? I’m a novice at this, obviously, but here I am again. Look, I’m not asking you to make yourself known to me in any kind of supernatural way or anything, but I get the feeling you’re trying to get my attention. Trying to tell me something. Maybe it’s Evergreen, maybe it’s the people here, but it’s like I can
feel
it. I’m probably crazy and I’m not sure how it works, but I guess what I want to tell you…”

Heaving a sigh, Caroline opened her eyes. “What I’m trying to say—because I know I shouldn’t try to tell you anything since you’re the Almighty—is that…I’m listening. So,” she swallowed, “I, uh, hope you’re listening, too. ’Cause if you’re not, I have to say, I feel pretty stupid about now.”

If she’d expected a loud clap of thunder outside the window or a gentle lap of water flowing over her to give her some kind of “sign” from God, then she would have been disappointed. Instead, the water cooled and she had no more answers and felt no different than when she’d first started the bath. Climbing out of the tub, she wrapped one of the big white bath towels around her. Maybe God was busy with other more important people or matters. She’d try again…sometime.

Caroline sat on the front porch a short time later, her legs propped beneath her,
The Maltese Falcon
propped on her lap. She’d forgotten how much she missed the pure joy of reading. Every now and then, she’d pause to watch as a bird landed on the nearby birdhouse. A few guests exchanged pleasantries with her as they returned to Landon’s. She’d wondered how many other guests there were since they’d all stayed conspicuously absent when she’d been in the kitchen with Seth. She found it strange how they’d come out of the proverbial woodwork as soon as he’d left and before Beverly’s return to the kitchen. One couple told her they were Beverly’s relatives from New Hampshire and another young couple from Connecticut was in Evergreen to celebrate their third anniversary.

Her cell phone rang, interrupting her concentration. Marking her place in
The Maltese Falcon
where Sam Spade muttered a memorable line, Caroline pulled her phone from her pocket.
Paulina.

“Please don’t tell me you’re getting us in trouble or need bail money.”

“Very funny. You’re the one I’m calling to check on. Did the party pick up? I’m hoping you’re going to dinner or dancing—something—with Seth. Did you talk with him?”

“A bit, yes.”

“And?”

“And nothing. We talked and now I’m back at the inn enjoying the quiet and reading.”

“Well, Mr. Barnes will come back at some point. The evening’s just now starting. Promise me you’ll spend some quality time if he comes calling again. I have the feeling he might.”

“I can promise you that if he comes around again, I won’t push him off the porch.” Unless Caroline retreated to the room for the rest of the day, she’d see Seth at some point if he wasn’t headed out of town. Most likely, he’d stay until after church tomorrow.

“So, where
are
you?” Caroline unwound her legs and stretched them out in front of her. She’d been sitting in one position too long, the same as she often did when she was engrossed in her studies.

“We hooked up with a couple of cute younger guys in town and now we’re headed to dinner the next town over.”

Caroline cringed at friend’s terminology. “Hooking up” implied they might not return until morning. And by “younger,” she hoped these guys were older than high school boys. If she were a praying person, she’d be asking God to give her friends a sense of morality
.

“Are you planning on returning to the inn tonight?” She held her breath for Paulina’s answer.

“Sure, but don’t wait up. I mainly wanted you to know not to wait on us for dinner.”

Caroline frowned. “Don’t forget Roberto’s picking us up at seven sharp. We need to catch the train late tomorrow morning to get back to Boston.”

“I know. No worries. We’ll be there.”

Tucking her cell phone back in the pocket of her shorts, Caroline returned her focus to her book. Five minutes later, she couldn’t concentrate on the words and stared into space, absently watching as several of the wedding guests strolled by. She wondered where Liesel and Paul were going on their honeymoon and enjoyed hearing the gentle laughter and teasing comments from couples walking by the bed and breakfast.

She didn’t realize her eyes were closed again until she felt his presence. Her eyes fluttered open. Seth sat in the chair next to her. He’d removed his bow tie and unfastened the top button. His tuxedo jacket was draped over the back of another nearby chair. With his feet on the porch railing, crossed at the ankles, he appeared as relaxed in his tuxedo as a man who preferred casual wear could.

“Don’t tell Beverly I have my feet on her porch railing.”

She laughed under her breath. “I won’t if you don’t tell Beverly I might very well sneak some of those incredible bath salts in my backpack.” She caught his raised brow. “Don’t worry. I’ll leave a very nice tip in the room to cover the cost and more.”

“I’m sure you will. You darted out of the reception so fast I didn’t have the opportunity to say good-bye.”

“It wasn’t good-bye, Seth. I just needed to leave.”

“I missed you.”

She frowned. This man had such a knack of unsettling her in the best of ways with the things he said, and the way in which he said them. The way he looked at her as if he could somehow read her emotions. “You shouldn’t miss me. What would be the point?”

Removing his feet from the railing, Seth pushed himself up in his chair, resting his elbows on his thighs. “Liesel was very touched by the quilt. I don’t think anyone suspects you were the giver.”

Caroline turned away from his scrutiny. Why should she be surprised that he’d guessed she’d been the one to give the quilt to Liesel and Paul? Seth also was uncommonly patient as he waited. Again, no big surprise from what little she knew of him.

“I probably shouldn’t have done it,” she said, looking at him again. “I hope no one thinks I was trying to…I don’t know…impress them by buying something so expensive. Or to make anyone else feel somehow inadequate because they couldn’t buy the quilt.” An image of Clara popped into her mind.

When the late afternoon breeze blew a long strand of blonde hair across her cheek, Caroline brushed it aside. “How did you know it was me?”

“Several things. Number one, not many have the money to spare for such an extravagant gift for someone who’s not a blood relative. Number two, even if they have the money, not many would give a gift like that with the right heart attitude.”

When Seth paused, she knew he had one more to add since these things usually came in threes. A brilliant blue jay darted across the yard, playing with a smaller, black and yellow bird she didn’t recognize. Caroline followed them with her eyes as they darted and flitted about the yard.

Seth spoke again a few seconds later. “From knowing you only one day, I can safely say you’re probably the only person I know who meets the qualifications for one and two. Kat also mentioned you’d spent time in Mahoney’s talking with Clara about quilts.”

Flattered that he’d picked up on such a small detail, Caroline dipped her head. “Clara mentioned how much Liesel admired it. I’ve seen how hardworking Beverly is. How loving and giving she is. When we first arrived and Beverly took us to our room, she told me about the quilt hanging at the top of the stairs. Beverly said her mother had given her that quilt when Liesel was born. It was made by the same lady who made the quilt for sale at Mahoney’s. Liesel’s wedding is another important milestone in her life, so I figured it was worthy of commemorating with another quilt.”

“I was right,” Seth said. “You have a beautiful heart.”

Caroline’s gaze settled on the birds again as she gathered her thoughts. “My whole life, I’ve never wanted something that I haven’t received as a gift or bought for myself.” She lifted her shoulders. “Most people can’t understand and wish they could know that kind of privilege even if only for a day or two in their lives. But you know what?”

“What?” Seth’s tone was quiet. Gentle. His expression held understanding.

“I didn’t buy the quilt—and I didn’t give the quilt as a gift—for any reason other than to do something nice for someone else. With privilege comes obligation that most people can never imagine. I’m not denying it, but I’m saying it’s not easy. I can’t pretend to know what it’s like to be poor or to want for something. But I can pretend to know what it’s like to be lonely and to want something that no amount of money can buy.”

Seth said nothing but reached for her hand. Caroline looked at his hand for a long moment before offering hers in return. Clasping them together, he squeezed her hand before releasing it. He gestured to the smaller yellow and black bird, still frolicking about the large front yard. “That’s the Black-capped Chickadee, Maine’s state bird.”

She smiled, relieved for the change of subject. “I can understand the black cap description. The black markings on his head are distinctive.”

“You know, the birds here in Maine are like people in more ways than you might think.”

Her book started to slide off her lap. Closing it, Caroline put it on the table and caught Seth’s smile when he noticed the title. “Tell me about the birds of Maine, Dr. Barnes.”

“Okay.” He chuckled and stretched out his legs again, keeping them on the floor this time. “You have your year-round residents. Then you have your breeding birds that spend the growing season here in Maine to raise their young. Of course, there’s the migrants who pass through with the seasons. And then you have the snowbirds that spend part of the winter here to escape even colder conditions up north.”

“I never thought of it in that way,” she said. “I’ve never really thought much about birds at all, to be honest, although I can appreciate their beauty.”

“Sometimes we don’t think about birds, or people for that matter, unless they’re in our constant range of vision. But it doesn’t mean we don’t care about them.”

Caroline snapped her gaze back to his. “Seth, what are you saying? I mean,
really
saying?”

“I’m saying we also have the rare bird who stumbles into our lives, into our region, on occasion.”

“A vagrant?” She laughed but sobered when she saw he was serious.

“No. I’m talking about the rare beauty that’s not part of Maine’s ecosystem. Maybe she got lost in her travels between her summer and winter residence. Or maybe she got displaced by bad weather.”

“Or maybe she’s not sure where she belongs,” she murmured. “Or needs to gather the strength to separate from the nest and fly where she needs to go.” Caroline’s breath caught at what she glimpsed in Seth’s eyes. Caring that went beyond mere acquaintances. This man somehow understood her and she couldn’t begin to fathom how that could be possible.