Catching Serenity

by JoAnn Durgin

  Her assistant pushed her shoulder-length dark, wavy hair behind one ear and gave her a skeptical glance, as if she suspected she wasn’t being entirely forthcoming. “No, he didn’t give me a name or a card. He was overdressed for Croisette Shores, but he looked sharp. Dark suit and fancy silk tie. Nice looking, shorter than Jackson, but then, most men are. Brown, straight hair. I couldn’t see the color of his eyes. His voice was masculine, but not as deep as Jackson’s.”

  Serenity moved a hand to her hip. “Must you compare every man to Jackson?”

  “Yeah, I kinda do,” Kelsie said. “He’s more or less the measure of a man around Croisette Shores. Your doctor friend’s caused quite a stir among the womenfolk in the village.”

  “That’s really none of my business. While I admire your powers of observation, Kelsie, I really can’t think of anyone I know who matches the description of this man. Let me know if you see him or if he comes into the office again.” Shaking her head, Serenity dropped the junk mail in her trash can and dumped the rest on her desk, feeling a sense of relief when Kelsie departed without another word. Although she appreciated her assistant’s sunny disposition, she wasn’t in the mood today. After making a few phone calls to her father’s health care provider and confirming the ongoing arrangements for his care during the upcoming week, she pushed away from the desk and walked back to the outer office.

  “Kelsie?”

  Her assistant swiveled in her chair. “I knew it! You’re going out with two guys, aren’t you? Not a big surprise, really. If I looked like you, boss, I’d never need to buy groceries.” A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

  “For the record, I’m not even going out with one,” Serenity said. “And you’re a lovely girl. You’ll meet the right guy when the time comes.”

  Skepticism was written all over the younger girl’s pretty face. “Thanks, but don’t change the subject.” She laughed when Serenity waved her hand. “The way I see it, you might not think you’re going out with Jackson, but he believes you are.”

  Crossing her arms, Serenity frowned. “Yes, we do things together, but only as friends and business acquaintances.”

  “Denial is a sin, boss.”

  “So is idol worship, but I’m not engaging in either one.” Dumb comment, but Serenity couldn’t come up with anything better. She headed back into her office then thought of something else and turned around again. “So, this other man came into the office? When was that?”

  Kelsie smirked. “I thought you weren’t interested.”

  Serenity blew out a sigh. “I sign your paycheck. Give it up, Kelsie.”

  “He came in right before lunch and asked when you’d be in. I asked if he had an appointment and he said no. I gave him your business card.” Her eyes widened. “That was okay, right?”

  “Sure. That’s why they’re on your desk. Did he mention needing an interior decorator?” Serenity tried to control the rapid acceleration of her pulse, but it wasn’t working. Why was some man in a suit at her place of business and asking about her? “Did he say anything else?”

  Kelsie thought about it a moment before snapping her fingers. “No, but he did something I thought was kind of odd, now that I think of it.”

  Serenity was almost afraid to ask. “What was that?”

  “He walked over to that photo on the wall. He didn’t ask any questions but stood there, staring at it like he was trying to take a mental picture or something.” Serenity didn’t need to follow the direction of Kelsie’s finger. She knew very well which photo. The one she debated whether to mount on the wall, a constant reminder of her past. But it was also part of her heritage, so there it was, on the side wall, not visible to everyone unless they walked closer to her office. She moved her gaze across the room and landed squarely on the smiling but immovable eyes of her mother.

  ~CHAPTER 24~

  Serenity watched with interest as Jackson and Deidre’s husband, Weston, hit it off like old pals at Melvin’s on Saturday night. The two men kept up a steady stream of conversation punctuated with frequent laughter. You’d think they’d known each other for years. Of course, Wes peppered Jackson with questions about his car. All Serenity could think about was how gorgeous Jackson looked in his dark suit, white pin-striped shirt and red silk tie. The man cleaned up extremely well.

  “What are you two frat boys yakking about now?” Deidre teased. “You’d better calm down or they’ll send the waiter over here to shush you up. Melvin’s is a sophisticated, upscale joint and you’re embarrassing us.”

  “Why send a waiter over when you do it quite well? The shushing, that is,” Wes said. “You’re never embarrassing.” He planted a kiss on his wife’s cheek. “You ladies will be happy to know we’ve come to an agreement on the landscaping of the playground,” Wes said, pride lacing his announcement. “I’m donating my professional services in exchange for some free shrinking for our kids.”

  Serenity shot a grin at Jackson. So much for gathering bids. Wes had this one wrapped up in less than an hour. He was good. No wonder he and Deidre were an unstoppable team in their business endeavors.

  “Shrinking?” Deidre laughed. “Is that what the Freudian set is calling it these days, Jackson?”

  “It’s an unofficial term,” Jackson said, smiling, “but contrary to what Wes says, I imagine your kids are very well-adjusted. Of course, I reserve the right to change that assessment once I meet them.”

  Deidre winked at Serenity. “That’s debatable in light of recent events. Stephanie’s threatened to chop off her gorgeous long hair in support of some new environmental cause and Paul’s decided to collect coats for the homeless.”

  “Both worthy causes, especially for kids so young,” Serenity said, sipping her water with lime and meeting Jackson’s admiring gaze over the rim of her glass. The pale blue silk sheath she’d found on her Thursday excursion to Clara’s with Deidre was the perfect fit, color and price. When he’d picked her up at her door, Jackson kissed her cheek and told her how lovely she was. The compliment meant more than he could know. She hadn’t felt lovely in a long time, either inside or out.

  “You think so?” Deidre asked, startling her from her daydreaming. “Tell me how my well-intentioned but misguided daughter chopping off her long, beautiful hair is going to further the cause of some endangered spider in the rain forests because their webs can be used as a cure for some rare, tropical disease. What?” Deidre said as Serenity nudged her arm. “Okay, I know there’s no such thing, but I said it to prove the ridiculousness of it all.” She raised her hands in a helpless gesture as the others hid their grins.

  “Donating her hair to cancer patients would be a good solution,” Serenity said.

  “Now, there you go!” Deidre sat back with a satisfied smile. “I can get behind that idea.”

  “Honey bunny, you know our kids.” Wes’s voice was soothing as he covered Deidre’s hand on the tabletop and squeezed. “By next week, they’ll be focused on some new pet project. We can take heart in the fact they’re thinking outside the box and expressing a desire to help someone other than themselves. Like our friends Jackson and Serenity here with the playground.”

  Deidre leaned her head on her husband’s shoulder. “Are you saying we actually did something right?”

  “I’d say I did the right thing by marrying you,” Wes said. “Still, we should keep the free shrinking offer on the table. Once Steph and Paul get to college, anything’s possible. Now, let’s talk some more about the landscaping for the playground.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Jackson said, raising his glass in a toast, winking when he touched his glass to hers.

  “So, honey bunny, that was a fun evening.” Jackson sat beside her on the top step outside her front door three hours later. It was a gorgeous night, balmy but not too humid. The stars winked at them in the clear night sky. With him sitting so close, his elbow resting lightly against hers, Serenity’s breathing grew shallow with the exhilaration of heightened awareness. The musky sc
ent of his aftershave was heady and masculine. He’d removed his suit jacket and tie, his sleeves were rolled and he’d unbuttoned the top of his shirt.

  “Jackson, tell me something.” She stretched out her legs, crossing one ankle over the other, fully aware Jackson watched every move. The sparks flying between them tonight were palpable.

  “Anything.”

  “Have you ever called a woman a pet nickname?”

  His eyes met hers. “I called someone sweetheart once. Not very original, but she wasn’t really a honey bunny kind of gal.”

  “What happened?”

  “She decided she’d rather be someone else’s sweetheart.”

  “How old were you at the time?”

  “Twenty-one and still in college. I had stars in my eyes. We both did.”

  “Did you date long?”

  “A little over a year. Long enough to put a ring on her finger and ask her to join me in marital bliss.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He shrugged. “Don’t be. We both had some growing up to do and the relationship taught me a lot. Breaking it off was the right thing to do, although it took a while to get over it. I’m thankful Laura had the foresight to see it wouldn’t work out between us for the long haul before we made a colossal mistake. Neither one of us was a Christian, either, and I think in some ways, it was the Lord’s protection, saving us both from future heartache. After that, I dated a lot, but nothing serious. I pretty much concentrated on my career and establishing my practice.”

  Serenity reached for his hand and leaned her head on his shoulder as they sat and talked. Time lost all importance as they shared childhood memories and traded fun stories of school antics and accomplishments. At one point, Serenity heard Mrs. Marciano calling for Mr. Darcy to come inside. From the corner of her eye, she knew her neighbor watched them.

  “That you over there, Doc Jack? Keeping Miss Serenity company on such a fine night?”

  Jackson chuckled and they both waved. “Nice to see you again, Mrs. Marciano.” He turned to her when the elderly woman went back inside her house. “Have I told you how great you look tonight?” he said.

  “A few times, yes. If nothing else, you’re very good for my ego.”

  “I want to make sure you know I’m thinking of you when you go to bed tonight. And ditto when you wake tomorrow morning.” They were venturing into dangerous territory. Jackson brought out emotions and feelings she’d believed long buried.

  When Jackson stood up and held out one hand, Serenity allowed him to pull her to her feet. Her gaze fell on the large Tuscarora Crape in the front yard. With its coral-colored blooms, majestic and beautiful, the tree served as a protector of sorts, giving her privacy in her little house and shielding her from the rest of the world.

  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding,” he whispered, his warm breath against her skin, his lips brushing against her temple. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Jackson moved his lips to her brow where he planted a light kiss. Even as she leaned into it, Serenity sensed he wanted to say more, desired more than a soft kiss on the forehead. Such a gentleman, this man. “Thanks for tonight. I had a great time meeting your friends, and being with you.”

  “Wes and Deidre are quite the pair, aren’t they?”

  “I’m glad you have them in your life.” He angled his head toward Mrs. Marciano’s house. “Not to mention your sworn protector next door.”

  “Be glad Mrs. Marciano likes you. She wields a mean cast iron skillet.”

  “Thanks for the warning. I’ll try to be good. Good night.” He released her. Draping his jacket over his shoulder, he started down the front steps.

  “Jackson?”

  He turned around slowly. The way she felt in this moment, she’d be content simply looking at him the rest of her life. “Yes?”

  “Am I…honey bunny material?”

  That sexy, slow grin surfaced. “Oh, yeah. Good night, sweet Serenity.” In the moonlight, his eyes caressed hers.

  Warmth enveloped her as she watched Jackson climb into that fabulous car. It suited him well. Looking down at her hand, she marveled over how she missed Jackson’s hand around hers. It suited her well, too. Climbing into bed a short time later, she understood Jackson waited on her cue to take their relationship to the next level. More importantly, he waited on the Lord’s timing.

  Reaching for her Bible, Serenity opened it, fingering the pages as if they were spun gold. This book was precious, yes, but she needed to read it. Absorb it.

  She wanted the pages to be turned so often they became well-worn. Reading verses of scripture would help heal the frayed edges of her heart like nothing else. But first, she’d pray. Falling to her knees by the side of her bed, Serenity burrowed her head in the bedspread.

  I want to be worthy, Father. Help me be worthy of Your love. I’ve done so many things wrong in my life, but I’ve tried to be a good person. I love how You see my heart and who I am inside and not on the outside. You’ve taken on all my faults and made me clean again. I don’t deserve it, but I guess that’s what mercy and grace is all about it. And, if it’s not too much to ask, please help me be worthy of Jackson’s love. He’s a good man, and I only want the best for him. I never thought I’d be anybody’s best. I’m willing to try, but I’m going to need You beside me.

  ~CHAPTER 25~

  “Based on the results, I think we make a great team.”

  Jackson didn’t pose it as a question this time, as he so often did. Turning in a slow circle from the middle of his office, Serenity surveyed their handiwork. “I think you’re right, professionally speaking. Not bad at all, especially for a first effort.”

  He was standing so close, their shoulders touched. His nearness was unsettling in a good way as he turned to face her, his eyes bright. “You were spot-on about the chair rail, and the pale yellow above it is the perfect backdrop for all the great photos you helped pick out,” Jackson said. “I like that you’re a real hands-on kind of girl.” His cheeks flushed and he ran a hand over his hair. “That sounded a whole lot better in my head. Sorry.”

  Serenity swallowed her grin at his thinly-veiled reference to what she’d said to Hayley. They’d never discussed that little episode, but perhaps it was for the best. “Isn’t that what all good decorators do? Get personally involved in satisfying their client’s needs?” She shook her head as he laughed. “You’re a bad influence on me.”

  “In answer to your question,” he said, “the good decorators hire someone else to do the dirty work for them. But the truly great decorators like you? They do it themselves because they pay close attention to detail and are insanely committed to their clients.” He nudged her shoulder. “In case you missed it, that was a big compliment.”

  “They must teach you that in Faking People Out 101 in Shrink School. I was stuck on the insane part. On the other hand, it could be that some decorators are neurotic and control freaks and have this insatiable, compulsive need to make sure everything’s done just so.”

  When Jackson laughed, she liked how the corners of his eyes crinkled, making him even more attractive. “Well, speaking for myself, I couldn’t be happier, and I’m going to recommend my decorator to everyone I know. Which reminds me, I need more of your business cards.”

  “Thanks for all the free advertising. Much obliged.” Retrieving her purse, Serenity opened a small case and placed a handful of her cards on the top of his desk. “You know, Jackson,” she said, taking the bigger chair in front of his desk while he dropped into his desk chair, “I’ve lived in Croisette Shores most of my life, but I think you know more people than I do.”

  “Not true, but a lot of them seem to believe we’re dating.”

  “Don’t know why they’d think that.” Her gaze fell on his business cards in the holder on the desk. It featured a simple cross in the background, like the one mounted on the wall behind his desk. Made by Jackson’s grandfather, it ser
ved as the perfect focal point for his office. A beautiful reminder of the ultimate price paid to cover the sins of man.

  “Probably because we’ve been spotted together all over town buying everything from stuffed animals to light fixtures and paint,” Jackson said, interrupting her musings. “Going to The Summer Palace. The church picnic. Waiting at the hospital while your dad was in surgery. I think going to dinner with Deidre and Wes pretty much sealed the deal, though.”

  Time to change the subject. Twisting in the chair, Serenity nodded to the far wall. “Those watercolors of Croisette Shores we found at the antique shop are the perfect touch. I’m so glad we found them. It’ll give the kids a sense of familiarity.”

  “That was my thinking. Glad you agree.”

  “I wish all my clients were as easy as you.”

  “Beg your pardon?” A muscle in his jaw twitched.

  “Don’t harbor any illusions, Dr. Ross. All I mean is, people can be unbelievably picky and some do what they want, anyway, so why bother hiring a decorator?”

  “That’s easy. Some people simply want a sounding board, whether it’s a pastor, a psychologist, a bartender, a waitress or a decorator.” He rose to his feet. “Come on, let’s go. I want to show you something.” Walking through the outer lobby to the front door, Jackson pulled it open and waited. He cocked a brow with an expectant expression.

  She glanced at her watch. “I need to be back at my office for a two o’clock appointment.”

  “It won’t take long. Promise.” He placed a light hand on the small of her back as they exited the office. As they walked, Jackson told her more about the plans. “Because of Charlie’s connections, we’re getting the swings and jungle gym a lot sooner than expected, and the fencing is being donated and put together by Harry Maine’s Hardware staff. Today I got a call from a local family who wants to donate a top-of-the-line sandbox. The Neiman-Marcus of sandboxes, if you will.”