Violet led the way to the bedroom setup she’d been working on the other day, with a Louis XV style headboard and dresser. The armoire would create the perfect effect of a luxurious eighteenth-century bed chamber.
Nate considered the space, as if mentally sizing it up.
“It will fit.” She rolled her eyes. “I measured it.”
He gave her a doubtful look.
“You don’t think I know how to use a tape measure?” She only used one on a daily basis.
“I’m sure you know how to use a tape measure.” Nate’s voice held the first trace of amusement she’d ever heard from him. It softened his whole demeanor. “But I think you may have done it wrong this time.”
“Okay.” She placed her good hand on her hip. “Tell you what. If it doesn’t fit there, I’ll buy you another plate of cookies. But if it does―” She cocked her head to the side and squinted at him, trying to come up with a good wager. “You have to let me give you a tour of the store and tell you about the antiques.” She relished the opportunity. She’d make him come to see their worth.
“You’re on.” He bent to lift the armoire, and Violet held the cart handle again.
Once it was off the cart, Nate alternated moving each side until it was only inches from the spot she’d cleared for it.
“You sure you want to go through with this bet?” He rested with his arm on the door pull. “I can tell you right now it’s not going to fit.”
She had to admit the space she’d left looked too small now that the armoire was right next to it. But she was confident in her measurements. “I’m sure.”
She chewed her lip as Nate angled the armoire back and forth. “Push it a little to the left.”
“No cheating.” But he moved it to the left, then wiggled it some more until it slid right into place, a small gap between it and the dresser on one side and the wall on the other.
“Ha.”
Nate gave an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. You were right. Happy now?”
She grinned. “Yep. And I’ll be even happier once I show you the joys of all the antiques here.”
Nate pivoted to look around the large space. “All the antiques?” She heard the wariness in his voice.
“Yep. Hope you have some time.”
“This clock is one of my favorites.”
Nate had to chuckle. She’d said that about nearly every antique she’d shown him so far. And she’d shown him a lot. If the clock she held now was correct, they’d been at this tour for over an hour already.
“See how this window gives you a peek at the gears inside? I love how it gives you a feel for how the clock works without losing that sense of mystery and wonder.”
Violet’s face was animated, her eyes bright. With every object she showed him, she spoke faster, as if she was afraid he would take off any second.
She shouldn’t have worried. He may not share her love of antiques, but her passion for them had completely captivated him.
“How old is it?” He mainly asked to keep her talking.
“This one would be late 1700s, early 1800s.”
He let out a low whistle.
“I know. Isn’t that amazing? This thing was around when our country was being founded. Just think what it’s seen. Sometimes I―” She broke off and set the clock down, turning to grab an old iron from the table next to it. “So this―”
“Wait. Sometimes you what?”
The way her cheeks had turned pink made him curious.
She gave an embarrassed laugh. “Fine. Sometimes I make up stories for the items in here. You know, like this clock.” She set down the iron and rested her hand on the clock. “I like to think it sat in the parlor. And when a young lady was waiting for her suitor, she would pace to it to check the time and then go sit down. And then a couple minutes later she’d do the same thing. And then when he came, she’d forget to look at the clock the whole time he was there. But when it was time for him to leave, she’d look at the clock in surprise and wonder how the time had gone by so quickly.”
Nate tried to take his eyes off her, but he couldn’t. He wished he could see the past like that. Like this place of endless hope and joy. Instead of a string of mistakes and regrets.
She turned her back to him and rearranged a few trinkets. “It’s silly, I know. Just something to keep myself amused.”
“It’s not silly.” He cleared his throat. “Well, it’s a little silly. But that’s what’s so―”
A loud chime sounded from the other end of the store, and Violet spun toward the door. A group of older women with cameras around their necks filed into the building.
“Excuse me for a second.” Violet hurried toward the women.
“Sure. I should get going anyway.” Before he let himself get any more caught up in the feelings that had been tugging at him as she spoke.
He allowed himself one last glimpse of her as he crossed the store. She was talking with the women, who were all laughing at something she had said. She seemed to have a unique gift for bringing joy.
Probably because she’d never known sorrow. At least not the way he had. Some people had charmed lives that way.
Nate looked away. One more reason to leave her alone. He didn’t want her to get caught in the trap of his tainted past.
He was nearly to the doors that led into the workshop when he spotted the smaller room to the right. He almost kept walking. But he caught a glimpse of the edge of a piece of furniture. Something about it felt familiar.
He moved closer to take a look.
The moment he reached the entry to the room, he stopped and caught his breath. A Bosendorfer grand piano. He took a few steps forward, until he was standing close enough to touch it. His fingers itched to feel the keys, but he held them back.
The piano pressed on an empty spot deep in his soul. A spot that had once been filled by music. Snatches of the songs he’d written filled his head, and it took all his willpower not to sit down and let the melodies out. He’d promised himself he’d never play again. If it weren’t for music, his life would be on track right now.
“It’s beautiful isn’t it?”
He jumped and took a step back. How long had Violet been standing next to him?
“Yeah.” His throat was too dry.
“It’s a shame. It’s been here forever, and I just can’t sell it. It’d be nice if I played, so I could enjoy it for myself at least.” She pressed her fingers to the C and D keys, and he winced at the dissonance.
She lifted her hand off the piano. “Yeah. I could use some lessons. You don’t happen to play, do you?”
Nate stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from touching the keys. “I used to. A long time ago.”
“Well, it has to be like riding a bike, right?” She nudged him with her cast. “Maybe you can teach me.”
He shook his head. “That’s not part of my life anymore.”
“So this is the perfect chance to make it part of your life again.” Her smile was genuine, open.
He had to leave before this went any further. “It will never be part of my life again. Look, I have to go.”
He walked away, ignoring the almost overpowering desire to look back.
Chapter 9
The waves rolled over his feet and then retreated. Nate let the cold zip up his legs as he watched the sun rise. Not many people were out at dawn on a Sunday morning. Just the way he preferred it.
So why had the sliver of loneliness worked its way into his heart?
He should be happy. After skipping out of work early Tuesday, he’d put in extra hours at the office the rest of the week and had finally managed to finish sorting through all the scattered paperwork. Now he could start to reconcile it with the electronic records and figure out which properties had expired leases or were in default on their payments. If he kept up the long hours, he might be able to meet Dad’s unreasonable deadline for the report.
Plus, he’d be able to avoid seeing Violet.
He’d run
into her in the hallway only once since she’d given him the tour of the antique shop, and they’d had some ridiculously mundane conversation about the weather. It was painful.
He could tell she was hurt from the way he’d run out of the antique shop the other day. But he’d had to. Being with her had started to make him want something he couldn’t have.
He needed to stay focused on what he was here for. To do his penance. To prove to Dad he wasn’t the world’s biggest mistake―even if the mistake he’d made had been a colossal one that would define him for the rest of his life. And to earn the chance to see Mom and Kayla again.
Nate took another step but jerked his foot up quickly as something sharp poked into his heel. He bent to pick up the shell fragment that had stabbed him. But it reminded him of the shell sitting in the drawer of his bedside table.
The sliver of loneliness widened into a plank.
He chucked the shell into the water, watching as it floated for a second before being swallowed by the waves. Is that what would happen to him too?
“Duke, come.” A guy’s angry yell traveled down the beach.
Nate lifted his head in time to spot a big dog barreling at him, water spraying up from his legs. There was no time to get out of the way. The dog sped past, and a wall of water hit Nate square in the face.
“Sorry about that,” the guy called as he chased the dog.
But Nate laughed and wiped at the water.
He’d just figured out how to ease his loneliness.
Violet hummed one of the songs from worship this morning as she pulled into the parking spot behind her building. The service today had been lovely. Somehow Dan always knew what she needed to hear. His sermon had been about the loneliness that could only be filled by God.
She had to admit her loneliness had been deeper than usual this week, with Sophie still gone and Nate―whom she’d just started to consider a potential friend―avoiding her as if he feared her love for antiques might rub off on him. But between Dan’s reminder that God was the only one who could meet all her needs and a wonderful lunch at the cafe with her friends, her heart was lighter than it had been in days.
Violet gathered up her purse and Bible and was halfway out of the car when something big and powerful slammed into her, knocking her back into her seat.
A slobbery tongue slapped kisses onto her cheek, and she raised her good arm to fend it off. Water dripped from the dog’s fur onto her skirt. Violet felt at the dog’s neck in search of a collar she could use to get it under control, but it didn’t have one.
“Maverick, down.”
The dog’s ears perked at the distant male voice, but its kisses were relentless.
Violet gave in and held her hand out to the dog, letting it sniff her for a minute. Then she moved her hand to scratch behind its ear. The dog laid its front paws across her lap and leaned into her.
“There we go, buddy. You’re not so big and bad, are you?”
The dog responded with a contented groan.
“I’m so sorry.” Nate raced up to the car. “I thought a swim would calm him down, but it seems to have riled him up more.” Nate’s hair was windblown, and a thin sheen of sweat shone on his forehead.
“You got a dog?” Violet hadn’t pegged him as a dog lover.
Nate grabbed the dog by the scruff of the neck, pulling him off Violet. “Are you hurt? Is your arm okay?” He groaned. “Oh no, look at your skirt.”
Violet straightened her drenched skirt as well as she could, ignoring the muddy paw print in the middle, and stepped out of the car. “I’m fine. I thought this was a strictly no pets building, though.”
Nate shrugged. “I changed it. Although I’m kind of regretting that now. They didn’t tell me this dog was the devil’s child.”
Violet considered the animal. He wasn’t a beautiful creature, with his splotchy gray and black coat, cropped tail, and ears that hung past his muzzle. But Violet could see the appeal in him. She moved around Nate to the other side of the dog and squatted next to the animal, rubbing his ear again. The dog lowered himself to the ground and rolled over.
“Okay. How’d you do that?” Nate sounded both amused and mystified, and Violet risked a look up at him. His mouth lifted into a smile.
She didn’t like the way her heart sped up when he did that. She directed her attention to the dog, busying herself with scratching its belly.
“I always had dogs growing up. I haven’t had one in years, though. My husband was allergic. Anyway, this sweet guy just wants some attention.”
Nate huffed. “I’ve given him attention all morning. He repaid me by using my bedroom floor as a bathroom.”
Violet couldn’t stop the laugh that snorted out. “Sorry. That’s not funny.” But she couldn’t have sounded too sincere around her giggles.
“No, it’s not.” Nate’s voice held a laugh around the edge of the exasperation, and the sound drew her eyes to him again.
“So, do you have any experience with dogs?” She vaguely remembered her mom’s frustration with puppy training the first dog she and Jade had convinced her to buy.
She locked the memory away before the ache she always felt when she thought of Mom could rear up again. One constant heartache was enough.
Nate gave a short laugh. “I figured they couldn’t be that hard to figure out. Turns out I may have been wrong.”
Violet patted the dog one more time and stood, glancing down at the wet skirt plastered to her knees. She must look ridiculous.
The dog sidled from Nate’s side to stand in front of Violet, and she bent over to pet him again.
Nate snorted. “Thanks for the loyalty there, Maverick.” The dog didn’t move.
“Is that really his name? Maverick?”
Nate’s forehead creased. “Yeah. Why?”
Violet wrinkled her nose. “It’s such a clichéd name. You’re a big boy dog so you need to have some big macho name. When clearly he’s a sweetheart.”
“Well, what would you name him then?” Nate’s ocean eyes landed on hers, and hard as she tried to look away, she couldn’t.
“Obviously he’s a Tony.”
Nate laughed out loud this time. “Tony. That’s the most ridiculous name I’ve ever heard for a dog.” Nate bent down and patted the dog’s head. “Come on, Maverick. I still have to figure out what to do with you while I go spend all my money on the supplies you need.”
Nate’s hand was perilously close to Violet’s on the dog’s head, and she straightened, letting her arm drop to her side.
“You mean you got a dog before you had any dog supplies?”
Nate straightened, too. “Um, yeah.” He ducked his head. “Not my smartest move ever.”
Violet studied the dog, who perked his ears at her. Her plan had been to come home from church and spend the afternoon cleaning, then curl up with a book.
“I could watch him while you go out.”
Nate’s eyes met Violet’s again. Something warred in his, but it passed in a moment. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.” He patted his leg for the dog to come.
“You didn’t ask. I offered.”
Nate studied her, as if not sure she was serious. “You’re sure you wouldn’t mind?”
“Absolutely sure. That’s what neighbors are for, right? Anyway, I’ve missed having a dog around.” She squatted and wrapped her arm around the dog. “We’ll have fun, won’t we, Tony?”
Nate gave her one last appraising look. Then he walked toward the alley, calling over his shoulder, “His name is Maverick.”
Violet grinned at his retreating form. “Not if I have anything to do with it.”
The sound of Nate’s laugh drifting back to her only made her grin wider.
Chapter 10
Violet pulled the back door of the antique shop closed behind her and locked it. She should be happy. It had been a good day for a Friday. She’d managed to sell a couple of big pieces, along with several smaller items. If things kept up like this, she might be abl
e to make her rent payment on time. Not that it meant she’d be caught up on what she owed in back rent, but at least she wouldn’t fall further behind.
But for some reason she couldn’t put her finger on, her heart felt heavier than it should. She glanced up the staircase, her thoughts tracking to Nate’s apartment. Were he and the dog in there? She’d bonded with the dog when she’d watched him last Sunday―she’d even managed to train him to answer only to Tony. Nate had pretended to disapprove, but she’d seen right past his tough act to the laughter hiding in his eyes.
Over the past few days, she’d gotten used to running into them as Nate took the dog out before work. Yesterday, she’d waited with him on the hill as he let Tony out. And after work, he’d stopped by the antique shop to ask if she needed anything else moved. She’d ended up deciding on the spur of the moment that she needed a whole dining setup rearranged, and he’d spent a good hour helping her. But she hadn’t seen him at all yet today.
Not that it mattered.
Violet grabbed her mail from the box at the foot of the stairs, then trudged up to her apartment. But once she was in the cozy space, she couldn’t figure out what to do. It was such a beautiful evening that it was almost a shame to spend it indoors. She moved to the window in the small dining area and slid the curtain aside. Although it was after five, the sun was still high in the sky, and groups of children splashed in the water. A few couples strolled along the shoreline. Violet’s heart tightened. She and Cade used to do that―long walks where they talked about everything or nothing at all.
She hadn’t been able to bring herself to walk on the beach since his death.
She let the curtain fall and moved to the couch. Maybe she’d read. But the moment she picked up her book, she set it down. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel like reading about someone else’s life.
She felt like doing something with hers.
Maybe she could go for a walk. Not on the beach. She didn’t think she could handle that. But the Sugarbush trail was only half a mile away.
Not Until You (Hope Springs Book 3) Page 6