Project Love (Cascade Brides Series) (5 page)

“
Did I get all of the spill?”

He nodded. “I was wondering, if you weren't busy this
coming Sunday, if you'd like to accompany me to church.”

She regarded him with wonder. What was his deal? Had he
not met his quota? While it was hard to be offended by a church
invitation in general, she still suspected his motives. “Why?”

Daniel made a face. “Well, because I'd like to attend
with you. I think you would enjoy it.”

“
Is this a proselytizing thing?”

His face darkened. “Ah, no. I have picked up bits of
conversations over the month that you occasionally attend church
services.”

“
So you're spying on me?”

“
No.” He paled slightly. “The shop is small. I
have to try
not
to hear your conversations.”

Charity suddenly became aware of the fact that Amy was
watching the interaction.
I bet her mind would be blown if I told
her Daniel asked me to church
.
Or maybe she already heard him
.

“
If you have no interest, that's fine. I just hoped to
catch you before you had plans in case you were open to the idea.”

She didn't know what to say.
Why can't the man smile,
so I can move on?
And yet, she was intrigued at the idea of
spending some time with him. He was not only attractive, but he also
had an old-fashioned manner that appealed to her on some level. And
he was a customer. A good customer who might make it a habit to place
large orders for his firm. So she could technically view church-going
as a way to keep him coming to Rose City Java. Her conscience panged
her at such non-altruistic motives, but she had to acknowledge that
maybe she wanted more than a smile from Daniel Tabor.

Chapter Four

Daniel straightened his tie as he regarded his
expression in the mirror. He looked scared. But such an emotion
lacked logic. Getting ready to attend his church fellowship should
evoke feelings of anticipation and relaxation. Of course he needed to
take account of the variable that was Charity. But he wanted to spend
time with her. So why the extra adrenaline?

He sorted through the possibilities.

I want her to like my church. Maybe even to the point
of attending regularly with me
.

Why?

His brows lowered.
Because I like her
.

Another why.

I like her because...well, she's pretty. And kind
.

But there were a lot of pretty, kind women where he
worked, or where he bought his groceries. He stared at his tie, then
stripped it off. Too formal.

Maybe God wants me to reach out to her for reasons
only He knows. I'm just the conduit
. Daniel regarded the tie in
his hands.
Or that's just an excuse to cover my real thoughts on
the subject
.

It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

He returned the tie to his closet hanger and unbuttoned
the top button of his shirt.
If I'm too formal, I might scare her.
Better to stay a little loose and relaxed
. If only his gut would
follow suit.

Daniel grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair and
headed out the door. While the day was nice enough to walk, he
decided to drive in case Charity wanted a ride home. She had refused
when he offered to pick her up. At least this way, there remained the
option.

The short trip through his neighborhood helped ease his
grip on the steering wheel of his Camry. Sunlight dappled through
towering fir trees onto twisted Japanese maples that dotted the
well-manicured yards along the route. Lawns sparkled with dew and the
last few blooms of the azaleas and rhododendrons added spots of
color. He was grateful to have found a small bungalow to rent in this
area. The trim, two-bedroom house with a pocket-sized yard was
perfect for his needs. Like church, it was something of a refuge
after the rigors of the work week—rigors he never expected to have
to endure.

Daniel firmed his lips.
Think of something else
.

As he parked in the church parking lot, he scanned the
area, looking for Charity. He was a few minutes early, so maybe she
hadn't arrived yet. Then beyond the people gathered in small groups
or wandering toward the large front doors, he saw her walking up the
sidewalk. Daniel hurried to meet her, struggling to keep his
expression impassive. A difficult endeavor when he came abreast of
her. She wore a flowered dress with a cardigan and her dark hair was
up in some kind of loose twist. But it was her eyes that drew him.
Large and long-lashed, her irises nearly black. Right now they
regarded him with quiet reservation.

“
I'm so glad you came,” he said, his words coming in
a rush.

She arched a brow. “Thank you for inviting me.”

He cleared his throat, and lightly touching the small of
her back, they walked the rest of the way to the church. Once they
entered the lobby, mellow organ music met them along with an usher
who handed out programs. Several people greeted them, either by nods,
or quick conversations, followed by handshakes. Charity smiled and
responded in kind as they made their way into the sanctuary.

Daniel showed her to the pew where he'd sat the previous
week. This Sunday, the space next to him was filled. He wasn't
entirely sure why that notion filled him with a sense of pleasure,
but it did. He watched Charity as her gaze swept the ceiling and
stained-glass windows.

“
It's really beautiful,” she said in a near whisper.

“
I think so, too. The building is about a hundred
years old, made from local rock quarried on site. The windows were
made here, too, by a local artisan. I found the church after I moved
here and have been attending ever since.”

She looked up at him. “Where did you move from?”

“
Missouri.”

“
Whoa. How long have you been in Portland?”

“
About six months. After growing up in a land-locked
state, I wanted to live closer to the ocean. The Midwest gets a
little hot for my taste, so I came west.”

Charity nodded. “What do you think about all the
rain?”

“
It's sunny today.”

She acknowledged the truth with a small smile. “But
never for long.”

Daniel lightly cleared his throat. “Are you from the
Portland area?”

“
No. I grew up further east in the state.”

“
In the mountains or in the desert?”

“
Mountains. Or close by.”

“
Wow, the Cascades. Such a pretty area. I wish I could
see Mount Hood where I live, but I just see my neighbor's siding.”

“
I get a little glimpse of the mountain from my
place,” she said as she perused her program.

He scrounged through his mind for some way to keep the
conversation going. “Before I moved here, I researched the area
pretty thoroughly. Learned all the Cascade Mountain peaks and things
like that. Have you heard of the peak called Charity? It's part of
the Sisters Mountains.”

Her eyes flashed up at him. “That's what I was named
after.”

“
Seriously? Very cool. I was named after an uncle who
died during Prohibition.”

His attempt at humor seemed to have fallen flat as she
didn't respond. “Wouldn't that be something if, say, you had
sisters named Faith and Hope?”

Her fingers crinkled the program. “Have you been
checking up on me?” she asked in a low voice.

Daniel stiffened. “What? No, I'm...just making
conversation.”

Charity looked up at him, her cheeks flushed. “As a
matter of fact I do have two sisters named Faith and Hope. Hope is my
fraternal twin.”

“
Oh.” He didn't know what to say because her tone
told him she wasn't terribly thrilled with him at the moment. “It
must be very meaningful to be named after something so beautiful and
majestic.”

Her mouth firmed. “Not so much.”

Thankfully the service was opened when the minister
welcomed the congregation to the sound of subdued organ music. After
the greeting and a time of prayer, a gathering song was sung. Daniel
directed Charity to her bulletin so she could follow along during the
Confession and Forgiveness portion of the service. When they began
another song, he was tempted to tell her it could be considered a
canticle, but refrained as he felt he was on uneven ground with her
at the moment.

He wondered why the mention of the Sisters Mountains
upset her. Perhaps she wasn't close with her family. Perhaps there
were some bad memories. A new thought shuddered through him, making
him suddenly feel dizzy. Maybe her sisters were no longer alive.

Gripping the hymnal with icy hands, Daniel struggled to
remain focused on the songs and the service. But when they had been
seated and the sermon began, he realized he'd been going through the
motions. He pulled in a deep breath, wishing his pulse would slow. As
his surroundings slowly became more clear, he glanced at Charity and
saw she was staring up at him with concern in her eyes. Had she
noticed any weird behavior? Had he acted strangely? He didn't know.
But it took a fair amount of self-control not to reach for her hand.

Charity bit her lip and tried not to stare at Daniel but
her gaze kept returning to his face. For a moment there she wondered
if he was going to pass out. He'd suddenly stopped singing and his
face had gone white and red by turns as his breathing increased. When
she was sure he was acting normally, she turned her attention back to
the service. Oddly enough the minister was speaking about mountains
melting like wax before the Lord.

Haven't heard that one before
.

But talk of mountains, as always, reminded her of her
sisters. She wondered how they were. Wondered
where
they were.
Just because Hope's number had an Oregon area code didn't mean she
actually lived in the state. She could've been borrowing someone
else's phone or kept her old cell number after moving.

At some point, she knew she would need to get in touch
with them. It was silly the way they avoided each other. But memories
of their treatment of her still rankled and she didn't relish the
idea of them swooping back into her life and telling her what she was
getting wrong.

Because they most certainly would.

Suddenly she realized people around her were standing,
including Daniel. She rose as he pointed to a portion of writing on
the back of the program. The Apostle's Creed. The congregation began
to repeat the words aloud, so she followed along. Once that was
finished they sang another song from the hymnal. Then there was the
offering portion of the service. Charity had spent her last money at
The Viking Burger, so she passed the plate to Daniel, who slipped in
an envelope.

The minister dismissed the congregation, mentioning
something about water, and people rose and began to slowly leave the
pews.

Charity sensed Daniel's gaze upon her. She looked up at
him and smiled. But of course he didn't return the gesture, although
his eyes were filled with some emotion she couldn't name.

As they got up and followed the others out, Daniel
dipped his fingers in a bowl of water and made the sign of the cross
on his chest. Charity refrained since she didn't entirely understand
the meaning. As they emerged into the bright sunlight and slowly
walked to Daniel's car, she wondered what he was thinking about.

“
Was it very different from what you're used to?” he
said after a moment, leaning up against a gray Camry.

She nodded. “But I liked it. Sometimes I wonder if
church has gone a little too casual.”

He shoved his hands in the pockets of his slacks. “Yeah,
I know what you mean. I went to a fellowship like that during college
and really enjoyed it. But as I got older, I found myself returning
to some of the traditions of my youth.”

“
So you grew up going to church?”

“
Yes. In a church very similar to this. What about
you?”

Charity shook her head. “My mom wasn't...well, so we
didn't get out much. I really didn't have the opportunity until I
left home.” She fiddled with the clasp on her purse. “I can admit
I haven't really connected anywhere. I've bumped around haphazardly
to a few places in my neighborhood. All nice.” She shrugged. “I
guess I just don't know where I fit in.”

“
Are you searching for the Lord or just a place to
fellowship?”

Charity nibbled on her bottom lip, wondering how much to
reveal. She could give a surfacey answer, but decided to tell the
truth whether Daniel liked it or not. “A little bit of both. I
mean, I believe in God, I pray, I went to a church camp once with a
friend and invited Christ into my life. I'm just having a hard time
knowing what the day-to-day part looks like, I guess.”

“
I think any Christian can relate to that. Things are
not always as clear cut as we'd like them.”

Feeling that such a personal conversation had gone on
long enough, she adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. “Well,
thanks again. I had a nice time.”