by Jillian Hart
There they were, talking about Chris. Again. Rebecca cradled the cup in both hands. “Yes, but what I want to know is how did you luck out with such a great guy?”
“My Caleb is one of God’s great blessings.” Lauren shrugged. “I don’t know what I did to get him, but I’m deeply grateful.”
Rebecca’s eyes smarted. She took a small sip of the hot tea. She was glad true love was out there. But tonight it felt as if her chances of finding it were nil. Nada. A big fat zero.
Her phone jingled again. Chad? She set the cup down on the little nightstand. “I’m glad Caleb found you. Do you know what we should be talking about? Katherine’s baby shower. Hello.”
“It’s months away. I have the invitations finished. Ava’s making the cake. The caterer’s set. The flowers are ordered.” Lauren leaned back on the pile of pillows and stretched out, balancing her full cup carefully. “Oh, and did I tell you? William has offered to do all the pictures. To think, an award-winning photographer in our own family.”
“It’s a blessing Aubrey found him, too.” There had been a time when she’d been wistful, glad for her sisters but looking forward to the same blessings herself.
But after tonight, that felt resolved. Okay, she had to silence a tiny bit of longing down deep in her soul, but for the most part she was at peace with her singleness. Thank the Lord she was on her own. She shuddered, thinking of what her future might have been like had she chosen to stay with Chris.
She eased the phone out of her pocket and glanced at the screen. Yep, another note from Chad.
“Is that Ava running late?”
“Ava’s coming?” Rebecca rolled her eyes. She should have known Lauren was only the first wave. “No, this is from Chad. He was there when Chris drove up.”
“And why didn’t he stay?”
“Because I made him go. All I could imagine was Chris getting the wrong idea. That would only make him harder to handle. This way he knows that no matter what, we’re over—if I’m dating or not. He might have actually gotten a clue this time.”
“I’m glad Spence and Caleb could help with that.”
“Me, too.” Rebecca peeked at Chad’s message.
Need a Popsicle?
Do I!!! she typed and hit Send.
“And why are you smiling?” Lauren asked.
“Am I smiling?” No, that couldn’t be right. There was no way she was smiling since Chris was still weighing heavily on her mind. “It’s just the neighbor.”
“The neighbor. Hmm. Want to tell me more about how you feel about the neighbor?”
“No.” Really. Rebecca took another sip of tea and scooted back on the bed. “After this thing with Chris, do you really think I want to jump right into dating again?”
“What I don’t understand is why Chris came by tonight.”
“He wanted to get back together.”
“Why? Doesn’t he get that he messed up? He’s history.”
“Yes, but he wants to start over.”
“And you told him…?”
“That I’m not interested in that. I wish I could go back and have things turn out differently—or I used to.” She thought of that night when he’d come over and frightened her. He had been so angry and on the edge of violence. “But after I saw that side of him and realized why he’d been behaving the way he had, up and down, and so difficult, then there was nothing else I could do.”
“Sometimes people change on you.”
She nodded, unable to say the words. “Dumb me. I should have accepted that Chris grew into someone different than the man I fell in love with, but I stayed in denial. I guess I couldn’t see it.”
“You’re not dumb, Becca. Just good and sweet and wonderful.”
“Says you because you have to. You’re my sister.” Rebecca rolled her eyes. And she loved Lauren for it. Her phone chimed again. She glanced down at Chad’s message. Meet U out back. “I’ll be just a sec.”
“Where are you going? Oh, you’re going to see him, right?”
“It’s nothing romantic, I promise.” Rebecca set her cup on the nightstand and headed toward the door. “I’m sticking to my No Man policy, never you fear.”
“I was sort of hoping you wouldn’t.” Lauren’s gentle words followed her out into the hallway.
“Rebecca.” Spence blocked her way into the living room, glowering worse than usual. “There’s some guy on the patio. Want me to take care of him, too?”
“No, but I appreciate the offer.” She didn’t let her brother’s scowl detour her. The trick to Spence was interpreting him correctly. For instance, he looked formidable and snarling mad. Translation: deeply concerned and too macho to show it. “I can handle this one. Go back to your baseball game.”
Caleb glanced up as she passed by the couch. “I could help take care of him, too.”
“Enough.” Now they were jesting with her. She knelt down to remove the dowel.
“Smart idea,” Spence called as he settled back into the chair. “Glad to see you’re thinking.”
Did she dare tell them that the guy on the patio was the smart one? And then they would want to invite him in, probably befriend him and start speculating about their future. Would they date? Get married?
No way. She mentally rolled her eyes and slid open the door.
“Hi.”
Other men might look uncomfortable standing on the patio and holding a box of Popsicle treats, but not Chad. No, he was steady and sure.
“I brought the whole box,” he explained. “There ought to be enough for everyone.”
He humbled her. He ought to be angry with her, but he wasn’t. “I’m sorry I sent you away. I appreciate that you wanted to help.”
“I still do, Rebecca. That hasn’t changed.”
“I just had to do this on my own. I’m alone. I have to get used to that. I have to start solving my problems that way.”
“You’re not alone. You know that, right?”
“I do.” That wasn’t what she meant. She trusted God. She trusted her family. But it was hard to see past the way Chris’s angry threats had hurt her that night not so long ago. Having a No Man policy was definitely the best idea she’d had in a while. “Thank you for leaving when I asked you to. You listened to me. You actually did.”
“Of course I did. I respect you, Rebecca.”
“I respect you, too.” Her chest felt all knotted up. What was she going to do about Chad? “Do you want to come in? If you do, I have to warn you. I’ve got an overprotective big brother and five overprotective older sisters. Most of them are on their way over.”
“No, this is your family time. I don’t want to interrupt that.” Chad took a step toward her, holding out the box, but it looked to her as though he wanted to say something else. Maybe it was the waning evening light. Maybe it was just her wistful heart.
Or maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t liked any guy so much so fast in a long time. The last time, well, that had been Chris.
She took the box. “I suppose this means we have to be real friends now.”
“That’s the deal with a grape Popsicle. It stands for so much more than a summer treat.”
“I see. We’re in luck. I might have a No Man policy, but I do have a friend clause.”
“Then it’s my lucky day.”
A friend. There was definitely no harm in having another good friend. Perhaps things would be better and easier that way. And if a part of her heart gave a little sigh of disappointment, then that was a part that she refused to listen to. “Well, friend, I’ll see you tomorrow at work?”
“You know it.” He was already backing away, moving slow, grinning at her with that confident, sincere way of his that could calm her troubles. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“I’m glad. You seem to have a gift with the kids.”
“Thanks. That’s nice to know. Now I don’t have to rethink my life’s calling.” There were those dimples flashing at her. “You’re really good with them, too.”
Now
he was being complimentary. Charming. “Did you know tomorrow is swimming lessons?”
“I heard something about that. Marin told me to bring a suit and a towel.”
“You haven’t experienced day camp until you’ve spent a session in the pool. For your sake, I hope you can swim.”
“Like a fish.”
“Then maybe you can keep up with me.” Now why did she say that?
Chad chuckled. It was a heartening sound, soft and low and rumbling. “Maybe you can keep up with me. Stay tuned. Tomorrow you and I will rumble. Good night, Rebecca.”
“Good night.” There she went, smiling again. Didn’t that spell trouble? She clutched the box as she forced her feet to turn her around and take her back inside the living room and away from Chad. She pulled the door open and her gaze followed his retreating form as he crossed the common lawn and circled around the stone wall that separated their yards.
She was through with handsome, charming, seemingly perfect guys. And that’s the way it had to stay. She gathered up her resolve and closed the door.
Gray skies and the feel of rain chased her down the walkway toward the awaiting church bus. Rebecca hefted the duffel bag higher on her shoulder and hopped up the steps. The door snapped shut behind her.
“Rebecca.” Chad’s baritone rumbled above the noisy bus full of day campers.
There he was, near the back. Looking dashing in a GrayStone Church Bible camp T-shirt and jeans. He’d saved a seat for her. She was smiling again and she didn’t want to think too closely about why. She headed toward him, passing seat after seat full of talking kids, laughing kids, squealing kids. He was an island of calm in the middle of chaos. She dropped into the seat next to him and slipped her bag to the floor. The bus lurched to a rumbling start.
“How did it go with your family last night?” he asked.
“The Popsicle treats were a big hit. Thank you again.”
“No problemo. Now we’re friends. You know that, right? We’re no longer just acquaintances.”
“Well, I’m not so sure about that.” Why on earth was she jesting with him? She didn’t have a single explanation other than she liked the guy. He was fun to be around. “I hardly know anything about you.”
“I grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, which is near Portland. I was captain of my high school football team.”
Mental groan. Not another one. Chris had been one, too. Rebecca shook her head, staring hard at the handle of her duffel bag. It was starting to fray. No surprise, as she had been using it for years. Easier to think about the bag than the man seated beside her. Another football captain type. She definitely had the right idea being leery.
“What?” he asked. “You don’t like football?”
“I have nothing against it. Go on. Now I know what, like three thing about you. Wait, four.” The bus bounced over the speed bumps, and she bounced on the seat. “Grape is your favorite Popsicle.”
He bounced, too, and grinned full-fledged. If she had been thinking about him as a guy to date, then her heart would have went yikes. Good thing she wasn’t looking at him that way.
“Hold on.” He turned toward her in the seat. “You are one big question mark to me. I know you have a big family. You’re going to school. You have a No Man policy. I’ve told you something. Now you tell me something.”
“I’m not all that interesting, I assure you.”
“Try me.”
What was she going to say in answer? Especially since he’d arched one brow so that he looked a little like a blond, wholesome, well-groomed pirate.
Double yikes. Her brain momentarily lost function, like a computer searching for its programming.
“All right, I’ll come up with one more thing,” he was saying. “I love old movies.”
“Me, too.”
“Maybe we can catch a showing down at the old renovated theater near campus.”
“Uh, you mean as friends, right?” She grabbed the back of the seat in front of her as the bus lurched around a corner.
“Right. Maybe we can bring Ephraim. He likes movies. And why not bring along Lauren and her husband? What do you say?”
“I say that sounds like fun.”
“I’m glad you think so. How does Saturday night sound?”
“Doable on my end. I’ll check with Lauren.”
“And I’ll check with Ephraim.” He planted his feet as the bus screeched to a stop. “How about we all go out for a bite beforehand?”
“There’s a drive-in just across the street from the theater. They’ve got the best milk shakes.”
“Sounds like a perfect plan.” The doors had opened and the kids were already standing and vying for space in the aisle. “Looks like we’re here. Remember what I told you last night?”
“The challenge. How could I forget?” She swept her bag off the floor and stood in one fluid, graceful motion. Her hair was pulled back in a single ponytail again and wispy locks had escaped to curl around her face. Cute. Very cute.
Friends. It was a good place to start. He grabbed his bag from beneath the seat and followed her out of the bus and into the parking lot at the county swimming pool.
She turned to him, a gust of wind tangling her curls. She couldn’t help joking with him just a little. “Now refresh my memory. What did you say last night?”
“I told you to be ready to rumble.”
“And what exactly does that mean?” She fell into stride behind him.
He slung his duffel over his shoulder. “I talked to Marin first thing this morning and found out that we’re having a water polo game after the swim lessons. Girls against boys.”
“I suppose you think you can win?”
“I’m supremely confident.”
She tipped her head back and laughed sweetly. “You know the saying. Pride goes before a fall. I wouldn’t be counting on a victory if I were you.”
“Now who’s being overly confident?” He kept an eye on the kids. Everyone was walking in a fairly orderly way into the building. “How about we say the loser cooks the winner dinner tonight.”
“Sounds perfect to me. You can cook?”
“No,” he quipped. “I’m just really hoping that I win.”
Rain began to fall in huge drops from dark clouds, tapping all around him, drenching him in only a few steps. He didn’t mind at all because she was at his side. He felt good—better than he could ever remember feeling—as he held open the door for her and followed her inside.
Chapter Six
Once the hour of swimming lessons were through, Rebecca found herself treading water and unhooking the ropes that had divided the Olympic-size pool into stations for the different classes. She looked up to see Chad cutting smoothly through the blue water to help her.
He tossed her a friendly grin as he stopped on the other side of the rope. “You’re a really good swimmer.”
“Oh, does that surprise you?” She couldn’t help jesting just a little. After all, he had made an assumption that might be a tad erroneous and might work in her favor. What was he going to cook her for dinner? she wondered. Since he didn’t have any cooking skills, perhaps he could barbecue. A girl could always hope. “I’ve been swimming since I was little.”
“I guess I didn’t think you were the athletic sort.” He swiped a shank of wet hair out of his eye. “That will teach me to make assumptions. Luckily, I happen to be a superior swimmer and an excellent water polo player.”
“Me, too. Go ahead and talk yourself up, that still isn’t going to intimidate me. I intend to lead the girls to a victory.” She unhooked the rope and handed it to him. “Why don’t you prove your superior swimming skills and take this to the other side of the pool?”
“Now you’re mocking me.”
“Not me.” She backstroked to the next rope.
“Why do I have a feeling of impending doom?”
“No idea. But if I were you, I would be a tad nervous.”
“You have super water polo skills you’re not tellin
g me about, don’t you?”
“Let’s just say I’m even better at volleyball.” She unhooked the last rope and looked across the rippling water to where Chad was treading water in place, watching her with the strangest look. Not of male superiority or of competition or even of doubt. No, he watched her with respect.
Yep, it was hard not to like the guy. She leaned back and kicked across the pool, taking the end of the rope with her. The buoys attached to it bobbed and dipped in the water. “Friday is volleyball.”
“I saw that on the schedule.” He kept pace with her although yards of water separated them. He wasn’t kidding; he was a strong swimmer. “You surprise me, Rebecca. I wouldn’t have pegged you for an athletic girl.”
“What does that mean?”
“I have no idea.” He chuckled, laughing at himself.
She liked that about him. That he wasn’t too serious, and yet he wasn’t too superficial, either. He understood about being friends. She was relieved not to have to worry about the whole girlfriend-boyfriend thing. That came with so many pressures and worries. She liked just being herself with him. She hoped he felt the same way.
They were getting nearer to the wall, where kids were milling around taking sides for the two teams and working out positions under the watchful eye of Marin and the other counselors. Rebecca climbed out and plopped onto the side. She wound up the rope, detached it and carried it to the storage closet where one of the pool staff took it from her.
Chad was on her heels. “I suppose this is where we part ways.”
“Yes. We’re enemies for the next forty-five minutes or so.”
“Remember our deal. What are the chances that you will be cooking my favorite meal tonight?”
“I’d put it in the zero percentile.” She stepped past him, her feet padding on the wet concrete. How fun was this?
Completely fun. She felt lighter than air as she padded down the deck toward her team. The little kids were clustering at one side of the shallow end, and the older kids in the deep end, which had been divided in half. The pool staff was tying in the goal baskets, a set for each game. The noise as everyone talked was deafening but wonderful.