Moonlight on the Millpond (21 page)

Jace had been pleased when Maddie said she wanted to go for a walk on Sunday afternoon, but they were only a few steps out the door before he realized all was not well. For some minutes he was weary of finding a different woman every time they met, but he pushed this thought aside, working to give her the benefit of the doubt. He wanted to hear what she had to say with the intent of keeping their relationship alive. He'd only just come to this conclusion when she stopped and faced him.

“What do I really know about you?”

“What do you want to know about me?” Jace was able to ask calmly, having settled down a bit in his mind.

“Are you married?”

“No.”

“Have you been married?”

“No.”

“Have you been with a lot of girls?”

“What do you mean when you say
been with?”

This question frustrated her, and Jace had to put his hand up to stop her from speaking.

“I'm not trying to duck out of the question, Maddie, but I don't know exactly what you want to know.”

“Have you made promises to girls?” Her hand came up and she counted on her fingers. “Have you kissed them and left? Have you acted like you were in love and then changed your mind?”

Jace thought for a moment and then began. “I have never made a promise to a girl that I haven't kept. I have kissed girls I no longer wish to see, but love is a new emotion for me when it comes to women.”

Maddie didn't know what that meant. Was he saying he loved her? She was afraid to ask. Choosing not to comment at all, she turned and started on their walk again, but she wasn't agitated this time, only thoughtful.

“Do I get to ask some questions?” Jace wished to know.

“I guess so.”

“All right—then you answer the same ones for me.”

Maddie thought it only fair, even though she didn't want to talk about herself.

“I've not made promises I haven't kept,” she began, but Jace cut her off.

“Are you married?”

“Oh, I forgot about that. No, I'm not married and have never been married. I did know a man once, and I loved him, but he lied to me and I haven't been with anyone else.”

“What did he lie about?”

“He said he loved me and we would be married, but he was already married.”

“Did you kiss him?”

“Yes.”

“Did you do more than kiss?”

“Jace Randall!” Maddie stopped to confront him. “I didn't ask you that.”

“But you could have.”

Maddie glared at him but still said, “No.”

Jace nodded.

“Your turn,” she continued.

“No.”

“But you wanted to,” she accused him, still trying to gain the upper hand.

“Every man wants to, Madalyn,” he said without apology. “Make no mistake about that.”

Maddie looked away. She knew all this to be true but was suddenly sorry she had brought it up. Jace read her face and, seeing that she was unhappy, determined to make amends.

“I'm not playing games with you, Maddie. I'm not kissing you and saying sweet things to you with the intent to use you and throw you away. I've never done that to any woman, and I certainly wouldn't do it to you.”

Maddie looked up at him.

“In fact, if anyone is in danger of being hurt in this, it's me. You don't live in Tucker Mills—I do. I dread the day you come and tell me you're going back Boston. I don't know if I'll be able to stand that.”

Maddie had never even considered this. She thought that Doyle would need at least six months' rest, and she'd only been home for two. But then she realized she'd never shared this with Jace. She knew she was going to be around for a time, if not forever. He didn't.

And what if he asked her to stay? What if things grew very serious? As serious as those kisses they'd shared in the storeroom?

“I'm not going anywhere right now, Jace.” Maddie knew it was only fair to tell him.

“And later?”

“I have no set plans, and I don't wish to surprise anyone.”

“So you're saying you'll be here?”

Maddie took a moment to think about this. “As long as I'm needed or wanted, I'll be in Tucker Mills.”

Jace smiled. That was exactly what he wanted to hear. He felt himself relax. There was never going to be a time when he didn't want her.

“What is that smile for?”

“Nothing.” Jace looked away, spotting an area of trees that would give them some privacy. “Why don't we walk over here?” he suggested, but Maddie shook her head.

“I think we'll head back.”

“We don't have to. Woody stayed home today.”

“It's not Woody I'm thinking of. It's my own reputation.”

“You weren't thinking about your reputation a week ago.”

Before he could catch her smiling over the memory, Maddie turned and started back toward the house. Jace fell into step beside her but didn't speak. He didn't need to. With a single glance, Maddie could see by his face that he was pleased. She also knew that that look would mean she would have to keep her distance for the rest of the day.

Douglas waited until bedtime on Sunday to give Alison the gift. She was tired—they both were—but he was so pleased about what he'd found in the middle of the week that he didn't want to wait any longer.

“I have something for you,” he said, climbing into bed after her.

Alison turned to look at him, her book still in her hand.

“For me?”

“Um hm. A little gift I picked up.”

Alison set her book down on the table by the bed and rolled to look at her husband.

“Why did you do that?” she asked, her voice pleased.

“Well, you've been tired lately and not feeling well, and I want to thank you.”

“For what?”

“For never complaining, and for all the hard work you do.”

Alison smiled at him. She had waited to share her news for two reasons. She had wanted the time to be special and also had the silly notion that talking about it would more likely result in another miscarriage.

“Dooner,” Alison began, using his old nickname. “I need to tell you something.”

“Okay.”

“I think I'm expecting.”

Douglas looked into her eyes and called himself a blind fool.

“Of course you are,” he said with wonder. “How could I have missed it?”

“It's all right.”

Douglas put his arms around her and pulled her close, kissing her temple when she was settled against him.

“How do you feel?”

“Like always.”

“Are you afraid?”

“A little. The children are older now, and should I lose the baby, there's always so much blood. I don't want to scare them.”

For a moment Douglas knew his own fear. She had miscarried once after Hillary and twice since Martin was born. There
had
been a lot of blood and no guarantees that she would live through the ordeal.

“What did you get me?” Alison asked.

“It's silly now. You're giving me a baby, and I bought you a crystal ink pot.”

“A crystal one?” Alison asked, coming up on one elbow to smile at him.

Douglas' doubts melted in the light of her pleasure.

“I've seen those but never thought I would have one for myself.”

Douglas reached down on his side of the bed and handed the wrapped package to her.

“Well, now you do,” he told her with great satisfaction.

Without even unwrapping the gift, Alison put her arms around his neck, kissed him, and told him how much he was loved. Douglas held her right back, asking God for grace and peace as He did His will in their lives and the life of this unborn child.

Jace couldn't stay away. He didn't have time to see Maddie on Tuesday evening and he was tired, but spring was in the air, and he went anyway. What he didn't expect to see was Maddie with another man. His steps slowed as he approached the store, and as he watched, the man reached up and touched Maddie's ear. Jace watched her laugh and then put a hand on his arm.

A foreign emotion filled him. He'd never known jealousy before and didn't immediately recognize the source. He knew Maddie was not the type of woman to play false with him, but what he'd just seen gave him pause.

How well did he really know her? Doyle and Cathy were honorable people, and Maddie seemed to be the same, but she'd spent many years away from home. Was she still the woman that Shephards had raised her to be? Or had an experience with one man made it impossible for her to commit to him or any other man, no matter how much she might wish to.

Jace shook his head. He knew that Cathy would not do that to him. She had told him that Maddie hadn't been interested in anyone since the man she loved in Boston.

Choosing not to read more into the situation when he had little or no facts, Jace finished walking to the store. As he hoped and expected, Maddie was just closing up and invited him to tea. And it turned out to be a good evening. Maddie was completely normal, and as long as Jace didn't think about what he'd seen outside the store, he was normal as well.

Ten

Jace sat against the headboard of his bed, thinking about the evening. He had a full day of work starting early in the morning, and he was tired from the day right now, but sleep would not come.

He wanted to know where he stood with Maddie Shephard. He knew that some women threw kisses away while others only kissed men they wanted to marry. With Maddie he simply couldn't tell. She seemed drawn to him, and she certainly enjoyed the kisses they shared, but at times she looked at him with complete distrust, almost anger. He knew that he had another man to thank for that, but who had she been so familiar with today? Jace let his head fall back against the wall, wishing answers would come from the sky.

He stayed this way for a time before reaching toward the small dresser that sat near his bed. He opened the top drawer and felt around until he found it. Jace pulled his mother's bracelet from inside and cradled it in his hand, letting the candlelight bounce and sparkle as it caught the gold.

“I want to give this to you, Maddie,” he whispered, mindful of Woody sleeping in the next bedroom. “I want you to know how I feel.”

Jace fingered the intricate chain, knowing what a treasure it was. He would never give it to just anyone. He hoped he wouldn't have to use a lot of words, but for him this was a gesture of love. If he only knew how Maddie felt about him.

Suddenly a small, breathless laugh escaped Jace, relief filling him. He knew exactly who he could ask. He would check with Cathy. The dilemma was solved; he was finally ready to sleep. Cathy would tell him how Maddie felt. Of this he was certain.