by JoAnn Durgin
“What about the house next door? Say it straight out, Karl.” Ben’s voice was gruff and held a challenge.
“I hear your boy rented it for Sandy and her kids and—”
“First off, don’t you be calling him names,” Caroline said, shaking her finger at Dante’s accuser. “That’s demeaning and condescending.”
Karl grunted. “Yesterday afternoon, I saw Karen Higgins from the realty place puttin’ the For Sale sign in her car. Told me someone rented it for Sandy and the kids. Said that person plans to buy it for her, too, as soon as they can get everything set up.”
“Come on now, Karl,” Ben said, “you, me, and everyone else in Starlight knows Sandy, Sammie, and Travis need a place to live that’s closer to the school and church.”
“I know that,” Karl growled. “That’s not my point.”
“Well, then, what is your point?” Caroline asked.
Ben moved down one step to the sidewalk. “Admit it already. You’re mad because another man stepped up to the plate for Sandy and you wanted to be her hero, her…savior, and I don’t use that word lightly.” Ben shot an apologetic glance at Pastor Ted.
Karl’s shoulders slumped. Ben’s remark must have hit its mark. “I’ve been saving over a year to help Sandy and her kids. Planned on buyin’ something real nice even if it’s not a house.”
“Then use your money to buy her a car,” Jake said. “Charlie Davidson’s got a nice used Honda for sale.”
“You could do that,” Caroline said, “but you know what you can give Sandy that’d be of the most value, Karl? Give her the gift of you. Sandy’s kids could use a father figure. But you’d better shape up ’cause they don’t need a jealous, spiteful man like the one standing on my front lawn tonight. You could be the kind of man Sandy needs if you’d push aside your stubborn pride long enough.”
Karl opened his mouth to speak but then closed it, staring at Caroline as though he was in shock. “Ma’am, I know what you’re saying, but—” He scratched his head. “That still doesn’t explain how this guy can show up out of nowhere and just offer to buy a house for somebody. It ain’t right, I tell you. For one thing, why would he do something like that for a perfect stranger?”
Pastor Ted stepped forward. “The Lord’s apparently blessed him financially, and he’s chosen to share what he has with others.”
“Does Sandy even know someone’s done this for her?” Caroline asked.
“Yeah,” Karl said, his voice raspy. “Karen Higgins dropped off an envelope for Sandy. It said Blessings at Christmas and had a key inside with this address.” He angled his head again at the house next door.
“How do you know Dante’s the one who rented the house?” Amanda asked.
Karl blew out a breath and shifted from one foot to the other. “I saw Moretti going in the house yesterday with a Christmas tree and a bike for one of the kids. So, I figured it was him. Not that it wasn’t a nice thing for him to do.”
Amanda’s pulse skipped a few beats. What a sweet gesture. If Dante had asked, she would have been glad to help, but apparently he wanted to do this on his own. Was it possible he didn’t want anyone in Starlight to know? She shivered in the cold, crossed her arms over her midsection and prayed no one would catch a cold tonight.
“Here’s an idea,” Jake said. He nodded to where she stood on the top step. “My sister’s put donation boxes all over town since the fire. She’s collected a good amount of money. Use the money you’ve saved, Karl, put it together with the donations, and then go with Sandy to buy furniture, groceries, clothes, appliances, whatever they need.”
“Jake’s right,” Pastor Ted said. “That’s a great idea. From where I’m standing, the spirit of Christ is working through Dante Moretti and a lot of people in Starlight.” He stepped closer to the big man. “Dante’s not trying to be Sandy’s hero, Karl, but you can accept the gift and carry on the good work from here. Be a real blessing to that family.”
Amanda was shocked when she saw tears in Karl’s eyes. “I know you’re right, Pastor Ted.”
Caroline spoke from behind her. “If we’re squared away now, you all need to see something.”
20
Amanda’s heart sputtered when she spied Dante standing behind Caroline in the open doorway. He’d changed out of the dress pants and shirt he’d worn all day and now wore his jeans and a sweatshirt. Caroline tossed a soccer ball to him. He caught the ball and rotated it in his hands.
“Show them.” Caroline said.
“Honey bun,” Ben said, lowering his voice, “Dante doesn’t owe Karl any explanations.”
“All the same, I think he needs to see this.” Caroline smiled. “You all need to see this,” she said, giving her a pointed glance before turning back to Dante. “Show them what you’ve got, son.”
Amanda inhaled a quick breath, waiting to see what Dante would do. No one spoke, no one moved. He shuffled his feet. Then he bounced up and down a couple of times before sweeping his right foot in a half-arc on the walkway. She figured he wanted to ensure it was free of ice and snow. After a few more seconds, Dante nodded and tossed the ball in the air. With some of the fanciest footwork she’d ever seen, he bounced it between his feet, knees, elbows, forearms, and head. How could anyone keep the ball in the air so long without touching it with his hands? The man was nothing short of amazing.
Some in the small group clapped, and one of the men whistled. Karl crossed his arms over his massive chest. A thrill of satisfaction ran through Amanda when the man’s hardened expression begin to ease and he began to clap with the others. Was that a small smile?
With a final kick, the ball soared high in the air. Dante caught it and turned to go back inside the house.
“Hold on there a second, Dante.” Karl moved forward. When Jake put a hand on his arm, he gave him a nod and turned back to Dante. “You done that real good.”
“Grazie, Karl.” The tension in Dante’s shoulders relaxed, and his voice held the slightest hint of humor as he shook the other man’s hand.
“Come on inside the house for some hot chocolate,” Caroline said. “I’ll show you what this man can really do. I’ve got it on tape.”
Twenty minutes later, Amanda felt a tap on her shoulder. Dante pulled her away from the family room where the others were gathered and onto the summer porch at the back of the house. He closed the door, shutting out the lively chatter and the drone of the television announcers on the tape.
“You did some great work out here,” she said before being cut off by his kiss.
“I don’t want to talk about that now, if you please.”
“I’m sorry about what happened earlier tonight.”
“At least everyone knows now…well, that’s not true. But they’ll know by tomorrow morning.”
She smiled. “You know us pretty well.” Something was different. It was in his eyes, his voice, even his body language. “What’s the matter, Dante? Are you upset by what happened tonight, with Karl and everything else? What you did for Sandy was incredible. You had no way of knowing he’d react like that.”
“As I said, you see so much.” He released her. “I did what I felt the Lord was prompting me to do. Karl reminded me of a bully I punched out in school once. He doesn’t bother me, and I think he’s kind of enjoying the game in there right now.” His eyes met hers. “This time in Starlight has been the best detour of my life.”
A pounding rang in her ears, and Amanda could barely breathe. What he said sounded like the prelude to a classic breakup scene.
“I know. For me, too.” Tears pooled in her eyes and she turned her head, afraid for him to see. “I never could have imagined I’d come home to Starlight for the wedding and—”
“And what?”
She’d always thought the man she loved would be the one to say it first. But in this moment, it no longer mattered. It didn’t even matter if Dante didn’t return her love and wanted to kiss her good-bye forever. She wanted, she needed him to know how she felt. “Ti
amo. I’m not even sure when it happened, but…I love you. The watch you wear is a token of my great affection for you, Dante, but I also give you my heart.”
“And you hold mine, Amanda. Ti amerò sempre.”
“I imagine you’ve said that to a lot of girls over there in Italy.” She tugged on his shirt, afraid to meet his eyes. In her heart, she knew Dante wasn’t a man to lie. He was as honorable as they come.
“No,” he said, his words whisper soft. “Not in Italy, not in America, or in any other country or language. As God is my witness, I would never tease you about my feelings. I’ve only said these words to you, bella.” He tipped her chin and waited until she met his gaze.
“And I’ve never said them to any other man.”
His smile seared straight to her heart. “If I have anything to say about it, you never will.”
Something struck a chord inside her, something she didn’t understand, yet it broke her heart. After what she’d witnessed—the man’s incredible athleticism and skill—how could she hold Dante back from fulfilling his destiny on the soccer field? They’d had a great time together and were compatible in so many ways. But that didn’t mean they were destined to be together. God had picked His path for each of them, and they took divergent roads. He’d never be happy coming to live in a little town like Starlight, but this was where she belonged. It was home in her heart.
Dante sighed, leaning his forehead against hers. “So, what are we going to do?”
A tear streaked down her face, and she pushed against his chest. She’d thought he was going to tell her it couldn’t ever work between them, and now she couldn’t believe what she was about to say. She choked but managed to get out the words. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”
His blue eyes widened as she stepped back. “Can’t do what?” He shook his head and reached for her, but she pulled away.
Faced with the most difficult speech she’d ever had to give, she summoned all her inner strength.
“Don’t say what I think you’re about to say, Amanda.” Moving his hand over his chest, Dante stared at her like she’d rammed an arrow through his heart. And then twisted it. She couldn’t bear to see the pain in those gorgeous eyes and hated that she was the cause.
“Seeing what you did with that soccer ball tonight shows me where you truly belong.” She sniffled. “You said it yourself. This stop in Starlight has only been a detour. Even if it’s the best detour of your life, that’s all it can ever be. Don’t you see?” The tears streamed freely down her cheeks now. She placed one hand on the side of his face and he leaned into it. “You’re like this incredible, brilliant star that fell from the sky and landed in Starlight. In only a few weeks, you’ve spread hope and love.” She faltered, swallowing hard. When he started to speak, she held up one hand. “Please let me finish, or I won’t be able to get it all out.”
As she took in his handsome face, she lost a little more of her heart. “You brought out the best and worst of us and taught us how to live and treasure each moment. You taught me how to love. And now,” she said, her words punctuated by her tears, “it’s time to let you go.”
“I won’t let you walk out of my life. You’re too important.” His eyes ablaze, Dante took hold of her arm, exerting a gentle pressure. Not enough to hurt but enough to keep her there and not allow her to run away. “We just confessed our love for one another. You’re going to let that go? Walk away and never look back?” He ran his hand through his hair. “I can’t believe you’re willing to let go of what we’ve found together here in Starlight.”
Dante took both her hands in his. “Henry Ford once said, ‘Obstacles are things people see when they take their eyes off their goal.’ I’ve always adopted that philosophy in terms of playing soccer, but I believe it also applies to you and me. More importantly, there’s a verse in the book of James, in the fourth chapter. It talks about boasting about tomorrow and going from city to city, carrying on business and making money. It goes like this, ‘Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’”
When Dante tipped her chin, Amanda looked into the eyes of the man who held her heart.
“Like I told you the other day, I know God has a plan. A reason I came to Starlight and a plan for us. You and me. Together. My career in soccer is like the mist in that verse. Making money and going from city to city. But soon enough, it’ll disappear. The fame, the attention, the accolades? They’ll fade. What will I have if I don’t have love? I’ll have nothing to show for it. Nothing but things, but things don’t make a life. I don’t have all the answers, bella, but we need to keep our eyes on the goal, work through any obstacles, and trust Him to work out the details. This is not good-bye.”
“I don’t know what to think,” she said, “what to hope, what to dream. All I know is I need to pray.”
“Agreed. All I’m asking is that you not make any rash decisions. Can you promise me that?”
She withdrew her hands and stepped away. “I’m not sure of anything right now.”
“Amanda, don’t go. Not like this. Stay. Please.”
She rushed through the house. Ignoring everyone and blocking out everything, Amanda grabbed her coat and departed.
21
A brisk walk was what she needed to clear her head. The tears continued to fall, and Amanda let them fall. She knew a vehicle moved slowly on the street behind her, but she dared not look. If it was Dante, she wasn’t sure what more she could say. Surely he’d respect her wishes and leave her alone. If it was Caroline, Amanda wasn’t sure she was ready for her. Not tonight.
A truck pulled alongside her with Jake behind the wheel. “Wanna talk about it?”
“Not really.” What a night. “Getting a little fresh air. Trying to clear my head.” She broke into a sprint. Seemed the thing to do.
Jake kept pace with her. “Well, like it or not, you caught everyone’s attention the way you went tearing out of the house. The way everyone’s been talking lately, you and Dante are the next two getting hitched in Starlight.”
Amanda snorted. “Not likely.”
“I’d say you did a mighty fine job of breaking the man’s heart. He looks like he got sucker-punched in the stomach. And to think his opponent is my little sister. You’re tough. Congratulations on bringing a World Cup goalie to his knees. A mighty impressive feat. On Christmas, no less.”
She stopped and cringed. “I only said what needed to be said. I can’t help the timing,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “Soccer’s a game, and I’m not his opponent. This is real life we’re talking about, Jake. Big difference.”
“Says who?”
She stared, crossing her arms. “Me, that’s who.”
“Have you thought this through, or did you push Dante away because you’re scared?”
Inside, she seethed. “I can admit I’m scared, yes, but I’m doing what’s best for Dante. You saw how talented he is, Jake.” She lifted her hands and then lowered them as she resumed walking. “Sure, there’s lots of people who can do that, but not as well or with as much skill as Dante. I can’t hold him back from fulfilling his destiny.”
“Then go to Italy and cheer him on from the sidelines. Watch him fulfill that destiny. Be part of it.”
“He didn’t ask me to do that.”
“He probably will. Give him time.”
She stopped. “You think he’d ask?”
“Why not? That’s what I’d do if the woman I loved told me to get lost because it’s for my own good.”
Amanda started walking again, a bit slower, lost in thought. “I’m a small-town girl from central Iowa. He’s around supermodels and famous people all the time.”
“So? Are you sure you don’t want to hop in the cab with me? It’s a lot warmer in here.”
“No, thanks. The cold air is invigorating and refreshing.”
“Look, Amanda, Dante’s heart is right before God and man. Caroline told me Dante prays with them every night before he goes to bed. Said he’d been living a good, moral life but faltered in his faith since the plane crash that killed his family. Something like that would suck the life out of anyone, but from what I know, he’s done a great job of pulling himself together and getting on with his life. He’s done a lot with the foundation he started in Ana’s memory and works with a lot of charities and groups in Rome. His priorities are straight, and there’s a whole lot of people who can’t ever say that.”
“So, what’s your advice, big brother?” Amanda kept walking, her focus straight ahead.
Jake rolled beside her in his big, old red truck. “I say stop putting all that pressure on yourself, and let God take over. Seems to me you’re trying to do His job, and that’s never going to make you happy.”
His words smacked her in the face, but Jake was right. They’d reached the house and Amanda gave him a salute. “Thanks for the pep talk.”
“I’ll be up for a while if you need to talk.”
She jogged over to his truck, opening the door for him as he stepped out. She collapsed in Jake’s arms and released the tears she’d been holding.
“Aw, sis, I’m here.”
“I know,” she said, as they started up the front stairs to the house. “You don’t know how glad I am about that.”
22
With one hand on Marv’s arm, Dante half-hauled the bulky man along beside him as he approached the circulation desk at the small but well-stocked Starlight Library. At least Marv wore something other than his stained Barney’s apron. Khaki pants peeked out from beneath his heavy black parka and he was clean shaven. Dante even caught a whiff of cologne. Not overpowering but enough. The man looked very respectable. The way Dante figured it, if his own relationship with Amanda wasn’t going to work out, he sure as anything wanted to make sure Marv’s love life would. As miserable as he was without Amanda, Marv deserved happiness and so did Miss Laverne.