Love Finds You on Christmas Morning (22 page)

Paul laughed at her. “That kind of shopping sounds way cooler than buying clothes.”

“I agree.” She high-fived Paul before she left. “See you later, buddy. Enjoy your time with Grandpapa.”

Nikki’s talk with Paul got her excited about the house again, so she put in a call to Estelle, even though it was Saturday. She had to leave a message.

“Just checking to see if I can make my offer on the house this week, Estelle. Didn’t want you to forget about me. Call me as soon as you can on Monday.”

Hannah turned the CD player back on once Nikki ended her call. “So you’re really going to go through with it, huh?”

“Yep.” Nikki bounced in time to the music, her mood getting perkier by the minute.

“I just don’t get it. Does Estelle really think this is something you should do with your money?”

“What? Estelle? This is my decision, not hers. Anyway, she’s known all along what my investment goals are, and she hasn’t discouraged me from buying the place. Investing in real estate is a smart long-term move.
You
bought a place.”

“I bought a brand-new town house, Nikki.” They pulled into the shopping mall. “Look, I loved Grampa William and Granny Lillian too, but that old home could turn out to be a total money pit for you. Has Estelle seen it?”

“No, she’s not my Realtor. That’s not her job. She’s putting me in touch with a Realtor she recommends. I’ll have him take a look at the house before I make an offer, but this just feels right. I’ve been praying about it for years. Even before the current owners moved out. Everything just keeps falling into place, with the owners putting it on the market, no one making an offer all this time—”

“Yeah, there might be a very good reason for that.”

“And then Harvey giving me this amazing job here and paying me well so I could afford to even consider the place. All open doors. You can’t deny that.”

As low an opinion as young Paul had of shopping, Nikki loved it as much as Hannah did, and she always had to fight the urge to buy when she went. She wasn’t easily satisfied with mere window-shopping. But since establishing her goal, she’d been ever-vigilant. Even today she saw a pair of burgundy pumps she would have loved to buy, but she forced herself to walk away from them.

She gave Hannah a wistful gaze and whimpered like a puppy.

Her expression totally deadpan, Hannah said, “You’re made of stern stuff, Nicole Tronnier. Stern stuff.”

“Tell me about it. Those would look so perfect with that little gray sweater dress of mine. But I need to
Just. Say.
No.” They escaped into the juniors’ section of the store.

She was in the middle of giving Hannah her honest opinion about a skirt her sister was modeling when her cell phone rang.

“I wouldn’t, Hannah. It’s more ‘granny’ than ‘hippy chick.’ ” She turned away and opened her phone. “Hello?”

“Nikki, it’s Estelle.”

Her heartbeat picked up. “Hey! Thanks so much for calling me back so soon.”

“Sure, hon.”

Nikki frowned. Something was wrong. Estelle’s usual upbeat tone was missing.

“You okay, Estelle?”

A sigh.

Uh-oh.

“I’m fine, sweetie. But I have some pretty bad news.”

Nikki turned around and saw Hannah watching her.

Hannah put her palms up, question in her eyes. “What’s wrong?” she mouthed.

Nikki shook her head and turned again, trying to concentrate and not panic. She hadn’t heard anything about the stock market getting hammered this week or anything like that.

“What is it? Is it my account?”

“No, no, your account is right on track. That’s the good news. But I heard your phone message and called Brian—the Realtor I told you about?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, I had mentioned to him, after you and I talked last, that you were interested in your old family home. I asked him to look into it.”

“Right.” Maybe Estelle thought there was too much work to be done, as Hannah had suggested. Nikki didn’t care. She wanted that house.

“Brian talked with the seller and mentioned that he might have a buyer for them if the price was right.”

“Well, that’s good, right?”

“Yeah, honey, that’s fine. And they were asking three hundred thousand, and Brian thought we could probably get as low as two fifty, considering—”

“How long it had been sitting empty. I know. What, they want more? Can I afford more?”

“That’s not it, Nikki. Some yahoo came along this past week and apparently fell for the house.”

Nikki gasped. She couldn’t speak. She clenched her fist against her stomach.

“The seller told him someone else was interested in the house, so he immediately offered them their full asking price.”

Nikki tried to keep her voice calm, but sweat broke out all along her forehead. “But I didn’t even get a chance to—Can’t
I
offer them the asking price?”

“No, you weren’t quite there yet, financially. And they’ve already given him a contract.”

Hannah came to Nikki’s side, her eyes full of concern. She put her arm lightly around Nikki’s shoulders, and the gesture brought tears to Nikki’s eyes.

“Estelle, this can’t be happening. How could I lose the place in a single move like that?”

“It happens, hon. I’m sorry. But there’s always the chance something will fall through on the contract. They won’t be able to close for several weeks to a month, at the soonest. Maybe the guy’s credit is bad or something. We won’t give up completely. Not just yet.”

Nikki had to wait a moment after closing her phone before she could tell Hannah what was happening. She knew Hannah would be supportive, even though she wasn’t totally on board with Nikki’s desire to buy that particular house.

“What’s happened?” Hannah kept her arm around Nikki and gave her shoulder a squeeze.

Nikki released a ragged sigh. “I might as well go back and get those stupid burgundy pumps. My bank account is all dressed up with no place to go.”

Now this is more like it.
Drew walked into the Sunday service at Cary Community Church the next day, right before the music started up. No one was standing to sing yet, so he was able to see Phillip and Gigi sitting nearer the front than they had before. And as he walked up to join them, he made a falsely casual survey of the crowd.

There she was, near the end of the aisle, fifteen rows or so behind Phillip and Gigi. She wasn’t so far away that he was unable to detect a demure smile brightening her expression when her eyes met his. He gave her a quick nod and smiled back. That was all he needed. She definitely recognized him. And if she had been put off by how he’d handled their initial meeting, that no longer seemed to be the case. If she didn’t hurry away at the end of the service, he’d approach her and strike up a conversation.

“Well, there you are.” Gigi grinned at him when he moved to take the seat they had saved for him. “Right on time.”

“Thanks for keeping a place for me.” He handed Gigi her Bible and gave Phillip a quick handshake.

The musicians began to play and people automatically stood to sing without being asked. Drew stood too, and the most ridiculous thought popped into his mind. He knew he stood a bit taller than the average congregant. The idea that the pretty woman from the park might notice the little bald spot on the back of his head diverted his attention for a moment.

What was
that
all about? He didn’t tend toward vanity. Why now?

Especially when he should be focusing on the words and intent of the worship song rather than his hair follicles—or lack thereof. He shook off the distraction and listened to the song. It was such a small spot, anyway. He fought the urge to reach back and check it.

Two songs later he was completely unaware that his thoughts had strayed again to the young woman until he realized the velvet offering bag had just been extended to him by the person on his left.

“Oh!” He spoke out loud without thinking, and he sensed movement in the row in front of him. Great, now he had distracted others as well. They turned to see who the nuisance was. He took the bag and tried to prop the handle of the bag between his arm and his side. He patted his back pants pocket for his wallet—he had taken the time to write a check this morning before leaving for church. He fumbled his wallet out of his pants and opened it. No check.

“It’s all right, Drew,” Gigi whispered. “They don’t care if you miss a collection.”

He sensed she was trying to help not only him but the waiting usher as well. She put out her hand so he could pass off the collection bag.

He pointlessly patted his chest, as if he had stored the check there. He didn’t even have pockets there. And at once he was sweating. “No, but I wrote a check and everything.” He thought he was speaking quietly, but a woman in front of them turned and shushed him.

“Oh, now, be nice,” Gigi said to her. “The poor man’s just trying to give to the Lord.” She didn’t work quite as hard as Drew had to keep her voice down, and the snickers of a couple young girls erupted behind them.

Drew gave up, passed the bag to Gigi, and battled a rapid succession of thoughts so quick that they were mere words.
Disruption. Idiot. Girl from park. Bald spot.

And
Sweat.

He pressed the back of his hand against his forehead, blotted the moisture, and tried to refocus.

Help me, Lord. I honestly meant to honor You this morning. I’m acting like a little kid here. I’m so sorry. I love You. Please help me to focus on You and calm down. And cool off.

He breathed deeply, his eyes still closed, and recognized the song being played. He knew this one from his San Diego church. Gigi’s pretty singing voice was the perfect encouragement, and he began singing. Within moments he had lost himself in the praise of the song.

Had Cary Community Church used the same song arrangement as San Diego Bible Chapel, he would have blended right in. At a crucial moment, however, the worshippers at Cary Community apparently paused for dramatic emphasis and a chord change, whereas the San Diego worshippers usually belted right along. Which is what Drew did.

And only Drew.

Even Gigi looked at him in surprise. How could she help it? How could anyone? He heard himself bark into the stillness like a trained seal over a bucket of herring. He felt heat rush from his cheeks to the raging bald spot on the back of his head.

He looked at the ground, squeezed his eyes shut, and tried to be as invisible as possible. He felt Gigi’s reassuring pat on his arm and ventured a sheepish glance at her and Phil. They were both struggling not to laugh.

Somehow that helped. He had certainly done more embarrassing things in his past. The fact that none of those moments came to mind right now didn’t matter. If any people would forgive him for being an oaf, it would be a church full of Christians, wouldn’t it?

The pastor saved the day, teaching with such conviction and making enough fascinating points that even Drew forgot about his blunders. As a matter of fact, he forgot about the girl from the park until the service ended. Gigi reminded him as soon as the closing song finished and they stood to leave.

“Did you see your pretty friend here today?”

Phillip chuckled and kissed Gigi on the top of her head. “Don’t disappoint her now, Drew. She’s been looking forward to this all morning.”

Drew smiled and looked behind them. “I did see her when I came in, but it’s too crowded now. I was kind of hoping to—”

Then he saw her as she stood to leave. And his hopes fell. A guy was beside her, and he had obviously been sitting with her throughout the service. Even as a guy, Drew could tell the man was good-looking. Now as they were walking out, Drew saw them chatting with such familiarity that there was no way they had just met.

Gigi and Phillip joined him in the aisle.

“Did you find her?” Gigi walked on her tiptoes, trying to see above everyone.

Drew sighed. “I’m afraid so. She’s with someone.”

“Her sister?”

“A dude, honey.” Phillip looked from the girl to Drew and shrugged. “Not necessarily a boyfriend. Maybe he’s just a friend.”

“Maybe.” The guy looked awfully chummy with her, though. Whatever they were discussing, they were laughing about it, and then he briefly rested his hand on her shoulder.

“Okay.” Gigi stepped more aggressively into the throng of people walking out of the sanctuary. “I’ll see what’s up.”

Drew managed to stop her before she moved too far from him. “No, really, I’d rather you didn’t. I think I’ve embarrassed myself enough for one Sunday morning.”

The disappointment in her expression unmistakable, Gigi acquiesced but crossed her arms and frowned. She looked like a little genie, shuffling down the aisle that way, and Drew couldn’t help but laugh.

“You really
have
been looking forward to this, haven’t you?”

Phillip draped his arm around her, which loosened her up. “She likes to see people in love; what can I tell you?”

“Well, I’m going to ask around this week, all right?” She gave Drew a look of warning. “There’s no harm in that. No one needs to know I’m asking for you. You can be a mystery man.”

He gave her a smile. “I like the sound of that. And who knows? I might even be able to figure out something when we finally get into the fellowship hall.” He lowered his voice. “I love this church, but they could use a couple more exits.”

“Mmm-hmm. Or faster walkers,” Gigi said.

A woman turned and shot Gigi a look of disapproval. Drew recognized her as the one who had shushed him earlier.

“Oh, come on, now,” Gigi said to her. “You know you’re thinking the same thing.”

Drew stifled a laugh. He was going to have to be careful around Gigi. Apparently there was little she was afraid of saying or doing. He glanced at Phillip, who simply nodded as if he knew exactly what Drew was thinking.

By the time they reached the fellowship hall, the girl and her guy—friend or otherwise—were already gone, as far as Drew could tell.

“Hey, Phil, Gigi, I’m going to head out.”