Think of her like a sister, Daniel told himself. And whatever you do, don’t look at her eyes. Those soft brown eyes of hers are a trap. And her lips—
“How’s this?” Bianca asked, returning to the kitchen. She’d changed into a T-shirt and a pair of jeans that showed off her curves. She’d also done something to her eyes to make them even bigger and prettier than normal.
You’re looking at her eyes. Daniel gave a curt nod and turned away. “That’s fine. Now, what do you think about this pattern for the backsplash?”
She walked over and began rearranging the tile. He tried not to inhale her scent or think about pulling back her hair and kissing her neck as she moved the tile one way, then the other. Finally, she settled on a pattern, and they got to work.
Picking up a piece of tile, Daniel demonstrated how to spread the thinset with the trowel.
“Like this?” she asked, smiling up at him.
“Exactly.” He placed his tile on the wall and had her do the same. Because she pressed hers a little too hard into the adhesive, he had to straighten it out before moving on. They continued like that until they reached the end of the row and started over.
“Joy told me you came to the island when she was seven,” Bianca said, breaking their companionable silence.
“That’s right.” Daniel pulled Bianca’s last tile off the wall, removed the excess thinset, and handed it to her to try again.
She sighed and reinstalled it, using a little less pressure this time. “Sorry. I’m trying to keep it straight, but it’s harder than it looks.”
“Five seconds to learn, a lifetime to master, and all that.”
She smiled. “It’s more difficult than it looked on TV, but it’s fun.”
“Good,” he said. “I’m glad you’re having a good time.”
“Speaking of good, Joy did a pretty good job driving us to the Urgent Care the other night, didn’t she?”
“She did. You’re a good teacher.”
“Well, I wasn’t looking for a compliment, but thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” They lapsed back into silence, until Daniel asked how she was feeling. “The work isn’t too hard on your knee, is it?”
“No. My back will probably be a little sore in the morning from leaning over, but every time I come into the kitchen, I can be proud of how I helped.”
He nodded. “That’s how I feel about so many projects around the house. I love my day job, but there’s something satisfying about creating something you get to see every day. It’s not always like that with work.”
“I guess I get that feeling of accomplishment in my job,” she said. “Although, my clients go home and sometimes I don’t see them until next time.”
“But they come back, so you obviously know you’re doing something right. I often only hear back from my clients when things have gone horribly wrong.”
“I’m sure that can be a little frustrating.”
“A little. But it feels good when things get fixed and everyone is happy.”
She nodded before returning to their earlier topic. “So, when you came to the island, did you come because of work or vacation?”
“Vacation.”
“Really? Why Rose Island? Why not South Padre or Galveston or some other more popular place?”
“Well, my wife, Libby, always wanted to come to Rose Island. She’d once met someone from here and thought they were wonderful. Anyway, I decided to surprise her by bringing her here for the Fourth of July.”
“Oh, Daniel. That’s so sweet. I bet she was incredibly happy.”
Incredibly happy? Daniel held back a sardonic grunt. Libby had been incredibly not happy as they’d crossed the bridge and she realized where they were.
“What?” Bianca looked at him with so much compassion that he almost told her. Then, he came to his senses.
Keeping his mouth shut, he removed the last tile Bianca had installed. He held it up for her to see. “You probably don’t want to use this one. It’s defective. See the flaw?”
She stared at the tile in his hand and shrugged. “I kind of like it. The flaw gives it personality.”
He shook his head, amused by her ability to see the good in a piece of imperfect tile. Then, he tossed it in the trash and reached for a new one.
Chapter 17
Bianca
At work the next afternoon, I made my way through several clients before heading over to volunteer at our church’s Dinner and a Movie Night. In the parish kitchen, I cut tomatoes and onions with Caroline Kempner. Caroline, her husband, and their eight boys had recently moved to the island in search of a simpler life.
“I can’t imagine anything being simple with eight boys,” I told her.
She laughed and admitted I was probably right. “Still, it’s relaxing living in a place where the boys can ride their bikes and we can go to the beach every day. Plus, Doug’s new job is an answer to prayer. After surviving a year without a steady income, having a salary makes everything simpler.”
I nodded and asked how she’d found the time and energy to work tonight. “I would think volunteering would be the last thing you’d want to do at the end of a long day.”
“Are you kidding?” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke. “Chopping these tomatoes with you is a huge break for me.”
“It is?”
“Yes. You and I are having an adult conversation. Nobody is tattling on their brother, making a mess, or complaining about what’s for dinner. What could be more wonderful? It’s like an all-expenses-paid vacation for me, and I get the added benefit of feeling like I’m contributing to our church family.”
I laughed. “I hadn’t thought about it like that.”
Smiling, she slid the sliced tomatoes on her cutting board into the large, metal serving bowl. “In all honesty, Dinner and a Movie Night was a huge blessing for our family when we first moved here. Doug had been out of work for so long that all our money needed to go toward getting caught up with our bills. For the longest time, we didn’t really have any money for entertainment. This ministry provided us with a free outing we looked forward to each month. Giving back by volunteering is satisfying, you know?”
I nodded. I’d never really struggled with money. My parents had paid for college, and I’d gotten a good job after graduating. I was easily paying my bills and putting money into savings, so it’d never occurred to me that Dinner and a Movie Night might mean so much to people like the Kempners.
Around five o’clock, Caroline and I switched from meal prep to working on the serving line. We had a great time saying hello to everyone, including some of my school teachers and several clients.
When Caroline’s adorable family arrived, all the boys except one of the twins were thrilled to see her. The boys talked over one another, telling her about the dog throwing up in the living room and Daddy knocking over the gallon of milk that Gavin had left on the counter.
Caroline laughed until the unhappy twin started crying, saying he missed her and it felt like she’d been gone a million years. Doug pushed out a slow breath, patted the boy’s head, and sent his wife a pleading look.
Caroline turned to me. “Do you mind if I leave and go back to my family?”
“No, go ahead.” I glanced at the other volunteers. “We’ve got this, right?”
They all nodded and encouraged Caroline to call it a night.
“Thanks.” Caroline took off her apron and left the kitchen to join her family. The boys greeted her with hugs, and the sad one wrapped his arms around her leg, refusing to let go until his father lifted him upside down in the air.
While I could see having such a big family was a lot of work, part of me longed for Caroline’s chaotic life. Those little boys were such a blessing, and it was obvious her husband adored her.
Would I ever find a man like that? A man who was willing to marry me and give me children? Or would Claudia end up being my only biological child?
The question bounced in my head as Daniel and Jo
y arrived. Is that some kind of sign, Lord? Yes? No? Maybe? I waited for a response but didn’t hear anything.
“My dad just showed me pictures of the backsplash,” Joy said. “I love how it turned out. It really complements the countertops, and I think it will look even better once we paint the cabinets.”
“I agree,” I said.
“Once we paint the cabinets?” Daniel asked his daughter. “Does that mean you’ll be helping?”
She grinned. “Hey, I’m the lead designer on this job. I’ll help if I can, but it sounds like you’ve already got a great assistant.”
I laughed at the realization she was talking about me. “I don’t know how much I helped. Your dad did most of the work.”
“Nah,” Daniel said. “We made a good team.”
I willed myself not to look at him for fear he’d see how much I wanted that to be true.
*
When the volunteer cleanup crew arrived, I made myself a plate of food and joined my sisters in the dining hall. Jillian had left Linda Faith at home with Keith tonight, and she seemed extremely relaxed as she chatted with Vicki.
Sitting beside Vicki, I glanced across the hall and spotted Daniel and Joy, sitting at a table with Phoebe and Kate. In church last week, my mother had saved me from being forced to watch Kate flirt with Daniel.
Tonight, however, Kate was making up for lost time. Dressed in skinny jeans and high heels, she threw her head back, laughing uproariously at everything Daniel said.
“You’re not going to let her get away with stealing your man, are you?” Vicki asked.
I lathered my roll with butter. “He’s not my man.”
“Who are you talking about?” Jillian peeked over her shoulder. “Daniel Serrano? Are you still interested in him?”
“She is, and given how he was looking at her tonight, I’d say he’s interested in her as well.”
“Daniel was looking at me?” I asked, unable to help myself.
Vicki nodded.
I sighed. Was it possible that Daniel had feelings for me? Given how he was acting with Kate, I had to believe he just felt sorry for me because my crush on him was so obvious. That had to be it.
“If I were you,” Vicki said, interrupting my thoughts, “I’d march over there right now and tell Kate to stand down.”
I rolled my eyes and glanced across the room. Daniel was now actually nodding as Kate flipped her hair this way, then that. Were those new highlights in her hair? Had she betrayed me by going to a different salon to get her hair done?
Frustrated by the jealousy boiling inside me, I stood and moved to the other side of the table so I wouldn’t have to keep watching Kate and Daniel. “If Kate is the kind of woman he’s interested in, what do I care?” I declared. “I made a deal with Daniel to teach his daughter how to drive in exchange for having my kitchen renovated. As long as he follows through with his end of the bargain, he can keep company with whomever he wants.”
“Is that so?” Vicki asked.
Knowing I was being ridiculous, I laughed. Then, I heaved a huge sigh. “Always the bridesmaid and never the bride.”
“Hey,” Vicki said, “as a proud member of the Morgan Sister Spinsters’ Club, I resemble that statement.”
Jillian waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t give up hope. When you least expect it, love will find you.”
“You keep saying that,” I said, taking a bite of my spaghetti, “but I’m beginning to doubt you. Besides, if I ever found a man interested in me, by the time I convinced him to propose, get married, and try for a baby, my eggs will have all shriveled up and died.”
Across from me, Vicki groaned. “Shriveled eggs. Such a lovely image, Bianca. Thank you for sharing.”
“What? It’s true. You think you have all the time in the world, and then bam! Your biological clock shatters, and it’s too late. When Mom was your age, she already had three kids. She had her fourth baby at my age, and then that was it for her. No more babies.”
Vicki shook her head. “You’re just full of good news, aren’t you?”
“I’m just telling the truth.”
Vicki waved at something or someone behind me. “Come join us.”
Even before looking, I knew it was Daniel. Coming around the table, he sat next to Vicki. “So, what are you ladies talking about?” he asked.
My face turned red, but Jillian came to the rescue by mentioning one of her classmates who’d just sold a start-up company for millions of dollars.
“Wasn’t he the one who used to eat glue in Sunday school class?” I asked.
Jillian nodded. “That’s the one.”
I smiled at Daniel. “You’re a smart guy. How much money do you think it takes to eradicate one’s reputation as a glue eater?”
“I don’t know, but I imagine a lot.” Daniel grinned at me in such a way that I felt it from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. He honestly had the best smile in the world. Joy had that same smile, and I just loved it.
I allowed myself the fantasy of thinking about two or three little kids with my cute nose and Daniel’s warm smile. Strangers would stop us on the street to admire our growing brood and—
“Excuse me,” a small voice said, interrupting my daydream. “May I clear your plate, please?”
I turned to see a sweet girl wearing a name tag on her apron that read, “Avery.” The child had Down syndrome, and I recognized her immediately as Avery Gray, the daughter of our former governor and his mistress, Lyla Gray.
My family’s history ran deep with Lyla, as she’d written a book about military heroes that included my brother. She’d also been present at the time of Marcus’s tragic death, but that was something I tried not to think about.
Avery motioned to my plate and asked again if she could take it. “Yes, thank you.” I stacked my silverware and napkin on top of my plate and pushed it toward her.
A woman carrying a toddler in a backpack walked over and placed a hand on Avery’s shoulder. “Did you ask if we could clear any plates?”
“I did, Justine,” Avery said excitedly. “She said yes!”
Justine smiled. “Great. Do you want any help?”
“No, I got it.”
“You’re such a great helper, I might not let you go home when your mom and Hank return from their honeymoon.”
Avery froze and looked up at Justine with wide eyes. “You’re not going to let me go home?”
Realizing the child misunderstood her, Justine quickly corrected the situation. “Oh, Avery, I was just teasing. Of course, I’m going to let you go home. I just meant that I’m grateful for your help.”
Avery gave a huge smile before hugging Justine. Then, she turned back to our table and told us that she and her mom were moving to her new daddy’s house. “And you know what?”
“What?” I asked.
“He painted my room pink because I love, love, love pink.”
“I can tell,” I said, noting her pink sweatshirt and pink nail polish. I scooted my chair away from the table to give myself a little more room. “You sure are one lucky girl to have a new daddy and a new pink room.”
Right away, Avery’s gaze dropped to my belly. Leaning forward, she placed her hands on my stomach and spoke in a tone of reverence. “Do you have a baby in your tummy?”
“Avery, no.” Justine pulled Avery away from me.
Humiliated, I gave an embarrassed laugh as if this were all a big joke.
“I’m so sorry,” Justine said.
“It’s okay.” Placing a hand on my stomach, I smiled at Avery. “I don’t have a baby in there. I’ve just eaten too much spaghetti.” I tried to sound light and playful as though everything was fine.
“Not a baby?”
“No.” My face burned with shame, and I didn’t dare look at Daniel. “What about you?” I asked, tickling Avery’s tummy. “Do you have a baby in there?”
She giggled and patted her round stomach. Then, she lifted her shirt to reveal a bright white belly. “Yes, I h
ave a baby in my tummy. A spaghetti baby!”
*
When Avery asked if I had a baby in my belly, I knew I couldn’t take it personally. Avery was just a little girl who’d innocently pointed out the fact that I was so fat that I looked pregnant. Still, hearing those words hurt.
After our plates were cleared, I excused myself to check on something in the kitchen. Nobody said anything as I left the table and snuck out the back door.
All I wanted to do was crawl into bed with a carton of ice cream. I knew binging at a time like this didn’t make sense. Any normal person would use this event to turn their life around and lose weight.
But how?
Eat less and exercise more? How many times had I heard that advice? And how many times had I tried so hard to lose half a pound only to gain back three?
Following the stone wall that surrounded the prayer garden, I headed home, planning to stop at the convenience store for something sweet. When I reached the garden’s entrance, however, I paused.
Seeing nobody was there, I took the path that led to a bench by the fountain. Sitting down, I took one deep breath after another. Then, I closed my eyes and prayed.
I didn’t ask God to help me lose weight. No, I’d long since given up that impossible fantasy. Instead, I simply prayed that He would help me make peace with my body.
Help me continue to exercise and make healthy choices out of respect for all you’ve given me. And help me to get over the hurt and humiliation I’m feeling right now. I want to honor you with my life and my body, Lord, but I don’t know how to do that.
And regarding Kate, take away my jealousy. I want to be a better person. I know the only way to do that is to forgive her for all the mean things she’s said to me over the years.
Help me forgive her. Help me to just let everything go and remember that you love me.
Footsteps on the gravel path startled me. Opening my eyes, I cringed at the sight of Daniel coming toward me.
What was he doing here? Hadn’t he seen enough of my humiliation tonight?
Bianca's Joy: Rose Island Book 3 Page 10