Lakeside Sweetheart (17 page)

Marla grinned. “I need to get out of your hair and get back to the shop.”

But when Vanessa opened the door, Kandi was standing there.

“Hi,” she said, surprised that the girl was here. “Why aren't you in school?”

“Half day,” Kandi said. “Miss Wanda is parking the car over at the church. She's coming over, too. To help you.”

When she saw Marla, Kandi looked embarrassed. “I...I didn't know you had someone in here with you.”

“You remember Marla, I'm sure,” Vanessa said. “She's the cupcake lady. Marla's Marvelous Desserts.”

“Right,” Kandi said. “You brought cupcakes from her shop to the youth meeting that first night.”

“I sure did,” Vanessa said. “They were a hit.”

“Good to see you again, Kandi,” Marla said. “I've seen you in church a lot, of course.”

Kandi nodded and pushed at her always-rumpled hair. “Want me to start in another room, Vanessa?”

“You can help me in here,” Vanessa replied, deciding she should keep Kandi close just in case the teen needed to vent some more.

Marla gave Vanessa a questioning glance and then smiled at Kandi. “I'm so glad you're here. I'm always looking for summer help in the bakery, and I was wondering if you might be willing to work a few hours a week. I can only pay minimum wage and I know we'd have to clear things with your foster parents and your caseworker, but will you consider it?”

Kandi stared at Marla for a few seconds, her eyes wide and her expression unsure. Finally, she said, “I could use some spending money.” She gave Vanessa one of her kohl-rimmed stares. “I'd already thought about finding a summer job since I'm sixteen now.”

“Great,” Marla said as she breezed by. “I'll call Wanda and we'll set something up for you to come in and fill out an application.”

After Marla headed out the back door, Kandi turned to Vanessa. “Do you think she'll let me work for her?”

“She wouldn't have asked you if she didn't mean it,” Vanessa said. “You'd be great at the bakery.”

Kandi lifted a red leather purse and toyed with the strap. “Your mom sure had a lot of stuff.”

“Yes, she did,” Vanessa said. Then she finished sorting through some T-shirts. “How are you?”

Kandi stared at a T-shirt with a dolphin motif on its front. “I'm okay. I stayed home from school yesterday, and then we had only a half day today. People were staring at me. I guess I'll have a reputation now. Even worse than before.”

“People are curious,” Vanessa replied. “And some of them will be cruel. But you hold your head up and ignore them. They don't know what you've been through, so they shouldn't make speculations. Don't let them get to you.”

“Or what? You'll storm the school yard and scare them away?”

“If you need me to do that,” Vanessa said. “But I'm thinking you're able to overcome that kind of stuff all on your own.”

Kandi's smile wasn't so sure. “What do you need me to do?”

Vanessa dropped the subject and pointed to a box of old books and magazines. “We need to get these in some sort of order. I'll toss the ones that don't have any value and save some for the collectors who'll show up tomorrow. If you can sort them by magazine name, that would help. And put the books on that table over there with the rest of them. And if you find any documents or business papers, put those here on this old desk.” She pointed to the old rolltop near the front window.

Kandi went to work with the various magazines, books and old folders. Soon Wanda came in with a platter of snack cake. “I think Rory smelled this spice cake. He might show up over here.”

Vanessa nodded. She missed Rory. She hadn't seen much of him yesterday. And she wasn't sure about anything regarding their feelings for each other. “The more the merrier,” she said. “I'm so ready to get this house in order.”

Chapter Twenty

R
ory never made it over on Thursday.

But Friday dawned bright and sunny, with the church parking lot full to capacity and the side streets along the lake lined with vehicles. The rummage sale at the church was in full swing, and Vanessa had a steady stream of people moving through her house.

Her house.

She had to grit her teeth and turn away because she wanted to shout to all of them to leave. She wasn't ready to give up her memories or her pain. Each item she sold tore at her hurting heart like a jagged knife. How could she let go of her mother's possessions by selling them to strangers?

But she would have to let them go. She would because Rory had shown her how Christ had been willing to die for her pain. To save her from any pain. To wash away her sins and make her whole again in a new life.

A new life.

She couldn't wait to see Rory and to tell him how she felt. The pain of letting go was slowly being replaced with the hope of living again. With Christ at the center of her life.

Two hours later, she took a breath and went to the rolltop to look for a notepad. Then she saw a note from Kandi lying there.

Found this in one of the books. I didn't open it
.

It was a sealed envelope addressed to Vanessa.

From her mother. She recognized the elaborate handwriting, all scrolls and loops and curlicues. The same kind of handwriting as the verse she'd read on the little plaque she'd found in the kitchen.

“Vanessa, can you help me with this dresser?” one of the volunteers called. “We're haggling on the price,” she whispered when Vanessa whirled around.

“I'll be right there,” Vanessa said, her mind still on that sealed envelope. But it would have to wait. She had too many people in her house right now to open it anyway.

She'd need to open this in private. So she tucked the envelope into her mother's journal, which she'd placed on the desk before the sale. Then she put the journal back into the cubbyhole inside the open rolltop and pulled the cover back down.

* * *

Rory looked around the church gathering room.

They'd had a very successful sale, which had netted a lot of money for the church. That money would go toward their mission work, which included helping the homeless, giving funds to the foster-parent organization and even donating always-needed funding to the new animal rescue shelter that had opened up in town. He glanced across the way, wondering how Vanessa had fared.

He'd gone over a couple times to help move heavy purchases, and they'd spoken briefly but she'd been busy, very busy.

They were supposed to go to dinner tonight. Then she'd be at Blain's wedding on Sunday afternoon, too. After that, he wasn't sure what would happen, but Rory knew the Lord would show him the way. Always.

“What about all of this?” Barbara asked, her short hair sticking up like tufts of grass while her gaze scanned the leftover items that hadn't sold.

“We'll clean up tomorrow and send a truck full of stuff to the local thrift store,” he said. “You go home and rest. You worked hard today.”

“And don't my tired feet know it,” Barbara retorted. “What about you? You got plans?”

“I do,” Rory said. “I'm taking Vanessa out to dinner.”

Barbara stared at his feet. “You aren't wearing those flip-flops, are you?”

Rory chuckled. “No. I'm wearing pants—which is good, I think—and a nice shirt. And real shoes.”

“Whew, scared me there for a minute.”

His secretary, ever the dramatic clown.

After Barbara and the other volunteers left, he glanced back across the street, his heart full and grateful.

He couldn't wait to have a real dinner with Vanessa.

* * *

Vanessa checked her reflection in the bedroom mirror. She'd found a gorgeous blue dress in the back of her mother's closet, and she'd had it cleaned for tonight. It had a white portrait collar and a full skirt that flared out around her legs. She wore white strappy sandals with it, and she'd put her hair up in a loose chignon.

She was nervous.

But ready. So ready to have a night with Rory where they didn't need to talk about the big sale or her problems or his administrative duties as a minister. Tonight, she wanted small talk, silly, quirky, fun talk. And maybe a nice walk along the lake, in the moonlight.

She moved through the house, amazed at how big and empty it felt now that so much of the furniture and clutter had been removed. This old place had good bones. It was spacious and rambling and sunny in places but nice and cool in other places.

She prayed someone would buy it and make it into a showcase again.

Then her gaze hit on the old desk by the window.

And the sealed envelope she'd stuck into one of the cubbyholes.

Checking her watch, she debated whether to open it before Rory came over to pick her up. She had to know in the same way she had to know the rest of the journal's content. She'd waited all day, and then she'd hurried to get a shower, followed by the frenzy of hair and makeup and what shoes to wear with this vivid blue dress.

Did she want to read the letter? Or was she putting that off right along with finishing the journal?

Why can't I finish what I started here? Why am I stalling?

But before she could lift the aged seal, she heard a knock at the front door. Rory. Always prompt. And yet he was early tonight. A good excuse to stall out again.

Should she ask him to sit with her while she read this?

No. Her mother had left it for her eyes only. It would have to wait a little bit longer.

Glancing longingly at the yellowed envelope, Vanessa took a deep breath and opened the front door. When she saw Rory, she had to take another breath.

Dressed in a crisp light blue shirt and pressed khakis along with polished brown loafers, he looked good. So good that Vanessa wanted to reach out and smooth his always this-side-of-disheveled, dark-blond bangs.

Instead, she enjoyed the way his eyes moved over her.

“You look like a movie star wrapped up in a summer package. A summer movie. A blockbuster.”

She couldn't stop the giggle that bubbled up in her throat. “I've never had quite that kind of compliment before.”

“And I rarely wear real shoes on a date,” he said as he came inside and kicked the door shut. “We could be in a fifties sitcom.”

“And yet here we stand in real life.”

“I like real life better,” he replied as he tugged her into his arms and danced her around. Then he leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss. “And we have plenty of room in here now.”

“Yes.” She pulled back and swung her arms wide. “We did it, Rory.”

“You did it,” he replied, pride in his eyes. “You did it and now, this place looks like a different house.”

She smiled at that. “I tried to leave a few pieces to showcase the Craftsman features. And the spaciousness of this place. I'd forgotten how beautiful this house used to be.”

Rory tucked a finger underneath her chin. “How ya doing?”

“I'm good. Okay. Sad but happy, too. I feel as if I've cleaned out a lot of the clutter in my mind, too.” She almost told him about the envelope but held off.

He checked his watch. “We have a lot to talk about, don't we?”

“Yes. Let me grab my purse.” She hurried to the desk and picked up the straw clutch she'd found to finish her outfit, her gaze drifting over the journal and the letter.

She wanted this special time with Rory. Later tonight, she'd finally sit down and take care of this one last task.

Reading the rest of the intimate details of her mother's strange, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, life.

* * *

The quaint French restaurant sat on the pass where the lake followed a tributary out into the big bay. Rory had asked for a table out on the patio, overlooking the water. A perfect spot for one of the Gulf's famous sunsets.

The night was perfect. A gentle tropical breeze teased at Vanessa's hair while he longed to take every pin and clip out of it and pull his fingers through it. Seagulls lifted out over the water, their soft caws as much a part of his life as praying. Candles and flowers adorned the white tablecloth, and an attentive waiter refilled their drinks and water without either of them having to lift a finger.

“This place is so beautiful, Rory,” Vanessa said, her smile lighting up the gloaming. “I can't believe we're on a real date.”

“Our first real date. My first date with anyone since...”

“Since you lost your wife,” she finished. “Do you still miss her?”

“All the time,” he admitted. “But I'm all about waiting on God's timing. Or at least I was until I met you.”

Vanessa's eyes grew misty. “Are you sure? I mean, you two were so in love. This has to be hard.”

“Hey, I'm okay. I'll be all right.” He reached for her hand. “I had this battle going on in my head. I couldn't let go, but I think Allison would approve of you.”

“Good to know.” She took a sip of her drink. “I've dated so many men but nothing special, obviously.”

“Does that include me?”

She gave him an indulgent smile that made his throat go dry. “You know you're very special. You've been so much more to me than someone to date. You've counseled me, consoled me, taught me grace and forgiveness and...made me rethink my whole way of life, including my future.”

His heart hammered like a swinging pendulum. “Hey, I'm good, what can I say?”

“You are good. A good man.”

He reached for her hand. “And since I'm so good, are you considering a future closer to me? As in, across the street? Or even closer?”

Her eyes went dark. “I'm considering a lot of things. But I don't know if I can live in that house again.”

“You know, fresh paint and new furniture can—”

“Cover a multitude of sins?”

“Can give you a new perspective,” he said, wishing he could wipe away the stains that only she could see.

“I'll have to think about keeping the house,” she said.

Rory wisely changed the subject. They talked about the weather, about Blain and Rikki's wedding on Sunday, about her business and how much she loved finding and reselling wonderful collectibles. He told her about some of the fishing trips he'd been on with his buddies and about some of his darkest days during his deployment.

By the time their entrées had come—chicken for her and seafood for him—they were laughing and enjoying each other. All of the issues holding them apart seemed to settle down with the setting sun.

He held her hand while they waited for dessert, and together, they watched the bright golden sun slipping behind the water, its light leaving the heavens and the water washed in muted pinks and bronzed yellows. Cameras snapped the moment all around them, but Rory and Vanessa sat silent and held this moment close. That intimacy lasted through the crème brûlée and coffee, too.

And Rory knew in his heart, this was the woman for him.

Then he prayed that somehow Vanessa felt the same.

He kissed her good-night. Over and over. While they stood on the porch.

Vanessa finally slapped at his shirt. “Miss Fanny will be scandalized if you don't stop.”

“Miss Fanny is a forward-thinking romantic who will appreciate that I've finally found a woman who can meet my high standards and amazingly handsome looks.”

“You are so cute.”

“Yes, I am that, too, of course.”

He kissed her before she could form a retort. Then he whispered, “But you are beautiful and talented and you smell like spring and you're way out of my range, darlin'. I'm amazed you even looked at me twice.”

“I tried not to,” she reminded him. “Now I can't stop looking at you.”

“I like looking at you while you're looking at me.”

Vanessa didn't want to move out of his arms, but she was tired. Happy but exhausted. “I have to go inside before dawn, Rory.”

“Hmmmm. We could cuddle in the swing all night.”

“The mosquitoes will like that.”

“I'll nibble on your neck and keep them away.”

“Scandalous.”

And tempting.

She pushed away and grinned at him. “You have a busy day tomorrow, too. Cleaning up the church, then rehearsal dinner for Blain and Rikki and then your sermon Sunday and then the wedding.”

“I'll see you at the wedding. And in church, too.”

“I plan to be at both. And I can help with cleanup tomorrow. We want the church to look good for that wedding.”

He finally let out a sigh and stepped backward. “If I don't leave now, I'll never want to leave.” But he took her hand in his and held it, their arms stretched out like a connecting bridge. “I want you to think long and hard about this, Vanessa. About how much you'll miss me if you leave.”

“I know I'll miss you.”

“And you know I'll miss you, too, don't you?”

“I believe that, yes.”

“Okay then. We've established a strong attraction and we have to figure out what to do about it. But later, darling.”

“Later,” she said. “I enjoyed dinner.”

“Me, too.” He waved good-night, and then she watched him, heard him whistling and smiled to herself.

She didn't want to leave him. She was in love with Rory.

Somehow, she'd figure out a way to tell him that...and deal with it.