“It’s not like there’s a whole lot to do in Wynnton on a Monday night in November.”
She managed a chuckle. “We could try the mall.”
Gabe grinned. “Just like a girl. More into clothes than sports. I should’ve known.”
He sounded dejected, like he was sure he’d blown things permanently. But didn’t most guys just want to watch sports on TV with junk food and drinks at hand? She could probably handle that. Minus the junk food, of course. It wasn’t like she didn’t have hobbies of her own.
“My brother loves soccer,” she said at last. “We used to go to a lot of his games.”
“Tell me about your family. Chelsea seems great, but I didn’t even know you had a brother. Any other siblings?”
Finally a safe topic. “No, that’s it. I’m the oldest, Chelsea turned twenty-five this summer, and Jacob is just graduating from college with a degree in architecture.”
“And your parents? From what Chelsea said, you had a good home.”
She nodded. “Very much so. Dad was gone a lot, driving truck…” Her voice faded as she remembered what Gabe knew about that.
“Does he — does he still drive up here?”
“Gabe.” She twisted in her seat as much as the seatbelt would allow so she could see his face. “Dad was so sorry about what happened. It’s haunted him ever since.”
Gabe’s hands tightened on the wheel. His jaw clenched as he focused on the road, and he closed his eyes for a second.
Any longer and she’d need to reach for the wheel.
Then he glanced her way with a rueful look. “I know. It took me a long time to forgive him, even though the police and rescue personnel said it wasn’t his fault. She’d been working long hours and, when that deer jumped out in front of her car, she swerved. It’s not your dad’s fault he and his big truck were exactly in her way.”
“But he was. They were.”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Yes, he was. Even if he hadn’t been, she might’ve hit the deer. Might’ve rolled the car. Who knows? For some reason — some unknown reason — God called her home that night.”
“I can’t imagine the pain you’ve been through.”
He glanced her way, compassion glinting in his damp eyes. “I’m glad you can’t. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”
Was that supposed to make it easier to take? It wasn’t working. “I know I said some rough things to you when you first got back home. Pushing you to move forward. I didn’t expect…” She gestured between herself and him. “I didn’t mean you had to ask me out.” Well, she’d kind of hoped, but he didn’t need to know.
Gabe chuckled. “I know. And that’s not why. Honestly.”
She leaned back. “Just a random twist of fate?”
“I’d never say that. I’ve come to believe God’s got it. Whatever happens, whatever good things and things that don’t seem so good at the time, He’s got it. It’s been a tough journey, and I don’t always remember. But underneath everything, I do believe it.”
Sierra ran her hands down the thighs of her jeans. These were discussions they had to have, if they were ever to have a relationship. But was that really where they were headed? He’d almost kissed her last night… also possibly the night before.
“What about you, Sierra? You know so much about me. Tell me about a rough spot in your life.”
She took a deep breath. “I’ve got nothing compared to you.”
“Then don’t compare to me. I doubt everything in your life has gone according to your initial plan.” He glanced her way. “Has it?”
“Not exactly. But there’s not much to complain about. I had loving parents, siblings I didn’t fight with too often. Got decent grades. Although we didn’t live in Irvington, we had a big house, several cars… no shortage of money.”
“What did you want to do with your life that you haven’t accomplished?”
She gave a sharp laugh. “Get married and have a family, I guess.”
The words hung in the air. Way to circle back to his pain, girl. Still, it was true, and wasn’t that what this talk was all about? Getting to know each other?
“I guess that’s a normal desire.” He was trying so hard to keep emotion out of his voice.
“Yeah. Other than Allison, apparently.”
“She just doesn’t know what she’s missing.”
Was it Gabe Allison was missing? But no. He’d invited Sierra on a date while Allison was in the house. The dances those two had shared Saturday evening hadn’t meant anything. The ones between her and Gabe, though… maybe those did.
“I always wanted a houseful of kids,” Gabe mused.
She’d guessed as much, watching him with Maddie. Strange that he was so much the opposite of Tyrell, who thought only of himself. Not completely fair. Tyrell thought about her, too. Didn’t he? “How come?”
“Who knows?” He grinned at her. “My brother is so much older than I am, I might as well have been an only child. But I liked kids even then. When the extended family got together, the little cousins followed me around like I was some sort of hero, while my brother listened in on adult conversations. I began to realize I had a lot of influence on those kids and I could use it for good or bad.”
“That’s cool. I don’t have many cousins.”
“So I was the strange guy that helped out with kids’ clubs at church when I was a teen. Maybe some of it was Bethany. She loved kids, too. By default, I loved everything she did.”
Gabe’s hand captured hers where it rested on her jeans. “But I have other dreams, too, now. Dreams of my own.”
The warmth of his grasp went a long way to making her believe him. Other dreams. New dreams. She could do that. She turned her hand to embrace his and caught his gaze for a few seconds before he looked back to the highway.
Yes, these dreams had possibilities.
* * *
Gabe inhaled the sharp tang of snow in the air. “Winter’s coming.” With any luck it would hold off until later. Or maybe tomorrow.
“I love snow. We didn’t get much of it in Portland.”
He grabbed her hand and took off at a run across the mall parking lot. If they were going to do this shopping thing, he’d be a good sport. Besides, he didn’t have a birthday present for her yet. What would be appropriate?
They blasted through the automatic doors, out of the nippy wind. A jewelry shop loomed in front of them. Whoa. Definitely not appropriate, unless he got her a necklace or something. He kept a firm grip on her hand, liking the feel of its warmth clasped in his. Take it slow, Rubachuk. He steered her across the corridor past a hair salon.
They ambled down the concourse hand in hand, stopping to buy poppies from a veteran amid workers setting up a wintry North Pole display.
“It’s easy to forget how little the kids in countries like Romania have.” Gabe pointed out a toy store window display. “Christmas celebrations are big, but not as focused on… on junk.”
“Here kids expect everything from computers to unicorns.” Sierra laughed, shaking her head. “And that’s just in their stockings.”
Whew. He should’ve known she’d see through the commercialism.
“It’s nice to give kids a treat,” she went on. “But people buy random stuff they know will quickly break, just to make up a certain number of gifts or dollars spent. It’s stupid, really.”
He swung her hand. “I agree. Children need their parents’ love more than anything. Time spent together, doing stuff. Working together. Games and challenges to learn to think.”
“Those things don’t fill up our landfills. Taking care of the Earth starts with reducing waste before worrying about reusing or recycling.”
“Right. No junk for our kids. Only well-made stuff that will last and…” Oh, man. What was he saying?
Sierra pulled her hand from his and wrapped both arms around her middle. She always did that when she was uncomfortable, he’d noticed.
“I’m sorry. I spoke wi
thout thinking. I don’t want to rush you.”
She bit her lip… those pink lips… and glanced at him through long lashes.
Shoppers scurried past them carrying bags from all the stores in the mall. Hammers clanged as workers continued to assemble the North Pole. Sierra’s scent still filled his senses. He stepped closer. “I’m sorry, Sierra. You know I want a family. We don’t know each other all that well yet, but I guess I said what I’m thinking. We might be a good fit for each other, but it’s too early to know for sure.”
She stayed still.
Gabe shoved his hands in his pockets. “Can we just focus, for now, on getting to know each other? I agree with you about reducing waste. Not much goes to waste at the orphanage.” Man, he knew he was begging. He’d really said the wrong stuff there. Just blurted it out as though she were Bethany.
She wasn’t. Beth was forever gone, and he was left trying to make sense of another woman’s emotions and thoughts. “Truce? I want to buy you a birthday present.” He held out his hand. “Not some junk you’ll throw away, but something special.” He swallowed hard. “Like you.”
Sierra accepted his hand as they walked toward the anchor store at the end of the concourse. “I don’t really need anything, but thanks.”
What would a woman like her appreciate? He swung her hand, and her fingernails caught his eye. “Maybe a bottle of nail polish?”
She shot him a glance and started to laugh.
Whew. “Maybe pink?”
She rolled her eyes.
“I know. Turquoise.”
“That’s best left to walls.”
“Um. Black seems a little somber for you.”
“Rather. That’s Allison’s style, not mine.”
“Haven’t seen many orange nails lately. Well, except for trick-or-treaters coming into the store at Halloween.”
“No orange.”
“You know what they ought to make? Yellow. What could be more sunshiny than yellow nails?”
“You’re crazy.”
But she was talking to him. Laughing with him. “Yeah, maybe. You’re not the first person to mention it.”
Sierra dragged him into the home goods section of the department store. “I know what I’m getting you for your birthday.”
“Hey wait, no fair turning the table.”
“Uh-uh. I know exactly what you need.” She tugged him down an aisle overflowing with sheets and duvets.
He tried to dig in his heels, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“I saw that ratty set on your bed when we painted.” Sierra came to a stop so suddenly he nearly bowled her over.
That only made it easier to catch her in his arms. And keep holding her, being as she didn’t fight him. “Uh, yeah. It’s old.” It had been Bethany’s long before they’d been married. They’d never gotten around to replacing it.
Sierra pointed at a set showing a Navajo pattern of several shades of gold with turquoise designs. “There. That’s perfect for your place.”
It did look pretty nice, but the price tag — wow, he couldn’t let her spend that much on him. “Is that stuff made of real gold?”
She laughed. “Don’t worry about the price. It’s 600-thread count. Worth every penny.”
Considering he’d nearly put his foot through a threadbare part of the bottom sheet the other night, she was certainly correct that he needed something new. But could he accept a gift this expensive — and personal — from her? It was way more personal than the jewelry he’d avoided at the onset.
He tightened his grip, her hair tickling his jaw as he burrowed his face into her floral scent. Maybe he could look at it like an investment. An investment into their future.
Gabe turned her to face him. “Sierra? Are you sure?” He knew he was asking something more than a set of sheets could answer.
Those blue eyes with a hint of turquoise gazed directly back at him as she contemplated the question. She’d caught the levels of it, he was certain. She nodded as she slid her arms around him, her hands inside his open jacket.
Gabe caught his breath as she nestled close. He barely dared to rock the moment, but he needed to know. Needed to kiss her and feel her response. His hands roamed her back before one tangled in her hair and moved up until he cupped her face.
“Sierra…” He bent and met her lips with his, hungry for something the Bluebell Restaurant would not ever be able to fill. Hungry for this woman. For Sierra.
Chapter 18
“Hey, Sierra! Time to wake up, sleepyhead.”
Sierra tried to blink, but the gunk in her eyes prevented it. She groaned but didn’t roll over. Her gut… oh, man. She wanted to stay curled up in a ball forever. Or possibly die. That might be the better option. Except then when could Gabe kiss her again?
“You okay?” Chelsea’s voice was closer now, and the bed sank where she settled on the edge.
The slight shift caught Sierra off guard and she gasped from the additional pain.
“Hey, sis.” Chelsea’s hand rested on her shoulder. “You’re scaring me here.”
Not half as much as she was scaring herself. Hadn’t she just endured the world’s worst menstrual cycle ever a week or two ago? Wasn’t it a bit soon to have another? She needed to get to the bathroom pronto.
If she lived that long.
“I’ll be right out, Chels.” Sierra shifted her legs to prepare for standing. This was going to be brutal. “Mind fixing me a cup of tea? And maybe fill the hot water bottle from the hall closet.” Good thing this hadn’t hit yesterday when she was out with Gabe.
“Ah, it’s that time, is it? You’ll survive. We always do.” The mattress shifted as Chelsea stood. “See you in the kitchen.”
If her sister hadn’t been in the duplex, Sierra might’ve crawled to the bathroom, but that would evoke more reaction than she was willing to handle. She got herself as upright as she could manage and shuffled across the hall.
A few minutes later, bathrobe tucked securely around her, Sierra made her way into the living room and into the comfy chair her parents had bought her for a housewarming gift. She tucked her legs up under her, accepted the hot water bottle from her sister, and wedged it against her belly. “Thanks.”
“Want honey in your tea?”
Sierra mustered a grin. “Of course. Don’t you know everything should be sweetened with honey?”
Chelsea poured boiling water into the teapot. “You always had a sweet tooth.”
Impossible to deny. “Ever since we saw Mary Poppins, remember? Just a spoonful of sugar…”
“Speaking of medicine going down, what do you usually take for pain?” Chelsea peered into the cupboard. “You look like you need some help there.”
Black cohosh had done little to alleviate the cramps last time. “I don’t keep anything like that in the house.”
Chelsea turned, hands on her hips. “You don’t believe in pain killers? Look, I know you’re all into that natural medicine thing, but when it’s not working, it’s not working. I’ve got some ibuprofen along, and you are going to take it.”
She grabbed a purse the size of a briefcase from a hook behind the kitchen door, opened it, and began to dig around in its vast but crowded interior. After a moment, she pulled a bottle out. “There. I’ll get you a glass of water, and you will swallow these.”
“Ibuprofen?” It seemed Sierra should argue more, but she couldn’t summon the energy or clarity from anywhere.
“Yes.” Chelsea set a glass on the side table, opened the bottle, and poured three little brown pills into Sierra’s hand. “Swallow.”
When did her little sister get so bossy? Sierra obeyed. Just once wouldn’t kill her. Or so she hoped.
A moment later Chelsea returned with two cups of tea. After setting one down for Sierra, she curled up on the end of the old leather love seat Sierra had nabbed when they’d bought new furniture for the straw bale house.
Chelsea raised the teacup to her lips. “When did this start happening?”
>
“What?”
“Oh, don’t play dumb with me. These heavy-duty cramps. You always had them worse than I did, but this seems like an extra notch.”
“They’ve gotten worse in the last few months.” Maybe longer? Sierra frowned, trying to remember.
“Have you seen a doctor?”
Sierra glared at her over the teacup.
Chelsea rolled her eyes. “Honestly, the medical profession is no more a bunch of whackos than you are. A doctor just might know something that could help. Don’t you want answers?”
She’d barely had time to surf her naturopathy sites looking for those elusive answers. Or maybe it was that she didn’t like the direction her research was taking her. The shrug she managed seemed petulant, even to her.
“That’s it. Does this one-horse town have a medical clinic? I’m getting you in to see somebody.” Chelsea pulled out her smart phone.
“There’s a clinic,” Sierra ground out. How could she go, though? She’d prided herself in doing things her way, keeping as close to nature as possible. Those little brown pills were hardened chemical sludge. Maybe she’d forgive them if they worked. It wasn’t their fault they weren’t real.
“Landing Walk-In?” Chelsea scrolled down her phone. “Looks like there are three doctors. With a walk-in I doubt you have a choice of whom to see.”
It would probably be Sharp, who hadn’t lived up to his name in decades, or that snooty Wilburn who thought she was a flake.
“Once you’ve finished your tea, get dressed, and I’ll drive you down there. They open at ten.”
Sierra should mind more than she did, but it was nice someone finally cared enough about her to take charge.
Maybe.
* * *
Gabe whistled as he wiped down shelves in Nature’s Pantry, rotating stock so everything looked fresh. All he could think of was Sierra’s hand in his, her body pressed against his… and her lips responding to his kisses. It seemed her floral perfume had followed him home to the turquoise and gold apartment that seemed much warmer than it had before. More like a home.
A Farm Fresh Romance Series 1-3 (A Farm Fresh Romance Box Set) Page 65