A Temporary Courtship

by Jenna Mindel

  “One more.” Darren’s voice coaxed, impossible to refuse.

  “Yes, encore. Encore,” some of the others chanted.

  “Okay. Here’s one that I composed, but it’s not finished yet.” Bree launched into the restless piece she’d been working on since applying for the music residency.

  She’d added to it after coming up north. She’d added more after meeting Darren, but the remainder of the piece eluded her. Like the future path she’d committed to taking, the music twisted and turned only to stop, waiting for the next chord. The next step in her life.

  She held her bow still and took a deep breath to calm her racing pulse. “That’s it.”

  Stella clapped first. Followed by the rest of the class.

  Bree glanced at Darren.

  He gave her a quick nod.

  What was he thinking? Any thoughts about her? Lately, he’d taken center stage in her mind.

  Bree blew out her breath, stood and bowed. “Thanks. I’ll turn it over to our hosts.”

  Helen Zelinsky spoke up. “Thank you so much for playing, Bree. It was beautiful. If everyone will gather round, Andy will explain how we turn sap into syrup, and then we have a little something for you to take home.”

  Bree quietly returned her cello to its case while listening to Darren’s father. The process of collecting sap, boiling it down to syrup and then bottling it sounded like hard work. It had to be. Creating something so sweet didn’t just happen.

  She glanced at Darren again. Something sweet boiled between them, too, but it wouldn’t keep. How could it from such a distance away? Literally across the country.

  She heard Ed peppering Andy Zelinsky with questions.

  Darren made his way toward her and pointed his thumb at the group. “I guess I’m not the only one he challenges.”

  Bree whispered back, “Maybe it’s a compliment, him giving you a hard time.”

  “Maybe.” He reached for her cello case. “I’ll load this in your car.”

  “I’ve got it.” Bree stalled him. She didn’t let people carry her case. His parents had grabbed it earlier without any damage, but she hadn’t known about it.

  He lifted his hands in surrender, smiling. “Okay.”

  She tried to listen to the presentation, but her focus was shot with Darren standing so close.

  “That was amazing, by the way,” he whispered near her ear.

  “Yeah?” Bree reeled, feeling the warmth of his breath brush her skin. Darren’s father still spoke in the background, wrapping up his speech. Class was over but Bree wished it wasn’t. She wished—

  “So, what inspired you to write that last song?”

  “A lot of things.” Bree lifted her cello case, putting space between them.

  “Anything from up here?”

  Should she tell him that he’d been part of what she’d composed? Her feelings for Darren had translated well into notes on a page. Really well. “Some.”

  He gave her a languid smile. “Tell me.”

  The pull between them tightened.

  Andy Zelinsky walked past them with a box. The entire class swelled around him as he handed out small bottles of maple syrup.

  Bree stepped back to get out of the way and bumped into Darren. She froze when his hand slipped to her waist in an attempt to guide her forward. She closed her eyes. Only for a second to savor the rush of his touch before moving away. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” His voice sounded rough.

  Bree focused on making it out the door, bulky cello case in hand. At the door, she set down her instrument and reached for Helen’s hands. “Thank you for making this class special.”

  Helen pulled her into a hug instead. “You made the day. God’s got plans for you, my dear. Stay tuned into that.”

  Bree returned the embrace, careful not to hang on too tightly. How’d this woman know she searched for her place in the world? How much more could she see?

  Bree pulled back but didn’t meet Helen’s gaze. “Thank you.”

  Darren’s mom smiled. “You’re welcome.”

  Bree quickly made her escape. Outside the rain had stopped, leaving behind clear skies and sweet-smelling air. The Zelinskys’ lawn glittered like diamonds where sunshine hit water droplets clinging for life. Another half hour or so and the grass would be dry. The sparkle faded like a memory.

  Bree glanced at her left hand, which was bare of any rings. She wore no jewelry but a watch around her wrist that showed they’d gone over their class time yet again.

  She glanced at her mother hobbling ahead on crutches. Would she mind that they’d gone long? Bree’s heart pinched at the thought of leaving, of moving so far away.

  “Beautiful playing, Bree.” Stella grinned at her as they approached the driveway. “It sounded different than when you practice.”

  Bree tipped her head. “What do you mean?”

  “More passionate.” Stella winked.

  Bree’s stomach flipped. “Oh, well, I, uh—”

  “It’s okay, honey. That’s a good thing. Don’t ever be afraid to feel.”

  Surely Stella didn’t see into her heart, too. “Thanks. I’ll remember that.”

  “See that you do.”

  Bree lifted the hatchback of her car, settled her cello inside and closed the trunk with a soft clunk. She spotted Darren on his cell phone, his brow knitted together and his face ashen.

  Bree’s stomach tightened. She was feeling—feeling like something was terribly wrong. She strained to listen, but the chatter of Stella and Ed and the others as they loaded into the van kept her from hearing anything clearly.

  When she overheard Darren mention the hospital, she moved toward him and touched his arm. After he pocketed his phone, she asked, “What is it?”

  Darren’s parents stood close enough to hear, too, and both looked worried.

  “That was Kate. Neil’s been in a motorcycle accident. They’re at the hospital and it doesn’t look good.”

  Bree squeezed his forearm. “I’ll take you there.”

  Darren looked like he’d been whipped. “But the van.”

  Andy Zelinsky stepped in. “Give me the keys. I’ll drive them back.”

  “But—”

  Helen backed him up. “I’ll drive Joan and then bring your dad home. Darren, go with Bree.”

  Bree felt thrown into a bad dream. She’d spent enough time with Kate and Neil over the weekend to care. They’d been nice to her. And now? She closed her eyes.

  Dear Lord, please touch Neil and be with Kate.

  Darren handed over the keys to his father and then reached toward her for hers. “Let’s go.”

  “I’ll drive. Get in.” Bree turned to her mother. “I’m not sure when I’ll be home. Will you be okay?”

  “Of course. Go.” Her mother glanced at Darren, then back to her. “And be careful.”

  Bree didn’t waste more time. Darren had slid into the passenger seat. He looked like he expected to lose his friend.

  Please, God. Not more loss for him. Not this way.

  Bree slid behind the wheel and clicked her seat belt. She noticed that Darren hadn’t. “Buckle up.”

  He complied but didn’t say a word.

  Pulling out of the Zelinskys’ driveway, she drove back the way they’d come. She needed to get him there fast but in one piece; she let up some from the gas pedal. “What happened?”

  He shrugged. “Kate said he’d hit a deer.”

  “Oh.” Bad news.

  “It was raining.”

  Worse news. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Just drive.” Darren’s voice was low and craggy-sounding. The man was scared.

  Bree covered his hand and squeezed. Her breath caught when Darren threaded his finger
s through hers and tightened his hold. She prayed again. The same prayer as before.

  This wasn’t good. Not good at all.

  Chapter Ten

  No one liked hospitals, with the antiseptic smells and winding hallways that required instructions to find a room. Darren was no exception. He wiped the palms of his hands on his pants before entering the emergency room.

  The TV blared in the main waiting area, where several people sat. He didn’t see Kate. Had they moved Neil to a room already? Maybe everything was okay. He stepped up to the nurses’ station and gave his friend’s name.

  “Oh. The family are gathered in the small waiting room around the corner.” Her face looked grave. Much too grave.

  That look hit him in the midsection, stealing away his breath. Neil was hurt badly and there was nothing Darren could do to change that. One more thing he couldn’t control.

  He felt Bree’s hand slip into his own.

  For a moment, he’d forgotten she’d come with him. His throat closed up tight as he squeezed her hand, grateful for her calming presence.

  They turned a corner and entered the smaller waiting room. Kate looked up, her eyes puffy and red. Neil’s parents were there, too. Darren opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

  “Any news?” Bree rushed toward Kate, hands outstretched.

  Darren watched his friend’s wife hold on to Bree as if she were a lifeline. What if Neil— He didn’t finish his thought. He couldn’t. Darren had known Neil most of his life. He was a nice guy who didn’t deserve this freak accident.

  “We’re waiting to hear.” Kate reached toward him.

  He grabbed her hand and squeezed. He still couldn’t seem to form the right words, but Kate understood. She gave him a watery smile.

  More people entered the waiting room—the minister who’d married Kate and Neil, followed by Kate’s parents. Kate leaned against her mom while the minister offered to pray. More hand-holding.

  Bree stood beside him and grabbed his hand.

  Darren couldn’t focus on the minister’s words. All he could think of was what Neil faced. Would he come out of this the same? What if he didn’t? What then?

  “Amen,” Bree whispered, but didn’t let go.

  They sat down and waited. Darren listened to Kate explain what had happened in a soft, broken voice.

  Her mother cried.

  After fifteen minutes, Darren couldn’t take the hushed voices, the tears. He stood and stared a moment at the coffee dispenser on a counter near a small sink, along with cups, sugar and powdered creamer. Bad coffee was not what he needed.

  “I’m going for something to drink. Can I get anyone anything?”

  Folks shook their heads.

  “I’ll go with you.” Bree followed him out.

  Darren walked the hallway, took a couple of turns and stopped where it dead-ended at an open area with a couch. A wall of windows showcased a spectacular view of Maple Bay. He glanced at the small table beside the couch. It held an open Bible and a lamp that had been left on.

  The urge to clear off that table with one swipe overwhelmed him, so he stepped closer to the window and bumped his forehead against the cool glass, helpless.

  Bree didn’t say a word, but stood close. Right next to him, offering her support if he needed it.

  He needed far more.

  Darren touched her fat braid. Feeling its weight, he lifted it and pulled off the elastic band at the end. Then he unraveled the strands, threading his fingers through the mink-colored mass of hair. It felt silky-soft and pretty. Like her. He let her hair drop against her shoulder.

  Bree searched his eyes. “What can I do?”

  Make things stay the same.

  He’d almost said it aloud. Bree couldn’t turn back the clock any more than she could change her plans to leave. Her future promised a different path than his. A path far away. He handed back the elastic band.

  Bree took it without a word and then wrapped her arms around his waist. She rested her head against his shoulder.

  Darren didn’t dare move. He kept his arms at his sides, draped over hers, and closed his eyes fighting his desire to touch her. Whatever was between them couldn’t end well, and holding her was only going to make things worse.

  When Bree drew away, he reacted and pulled her back, only closer. He buried his face in her neck, into all that hair he’d let loose. She smelled good, like flowers and sunshine and rain.

  She trembled.

  Maybe that shudder had come from him.

  “Darren?” Her whisper should have warned him to back away, but it sounded more like a question. Or a plea.

  Darren answered the only way he knew how. Crushing his lips against hers, he kissed her.

  * * *

  A few minutes later, Bree stared at Darren’s broad shoulders. She’d pulled her hair back, anchoring it at the base of her neck with the elastic band Darren had pulled out of her hair.

  Now was not the time to fall in love.

  Certainly not in such a short time, but then, feelings this strong and reckless were new to her. Scary, too. She followed him back to the waiting room with an unopened soft drink can in her hand that made her fingers cold.

  They’d shared only a couple of kisses. Kisses of comfort that she’d hoped to ease his worry. Her hopes had backfired the moment she deepened the kiss. Backfired, big-time. Who’d she think she was kidding? She’d wanted to kiss him. Wanted him to kiss her back and keep kissing her. But Darren had soon skittered away from her like a spooked rabbit. He wouldn’t look her in the eyes when he’d mumbled that they should return.

  Bree walked behind him, boring holes into his back with no success of seeing into his heart. They entered the small waiting room filled with new tension. Everyone looked ready to burst into tears, and guilt immediately smote her for worrying over a kiss.

  She watched as a doctor talked to Kate. He spoke too low for Bree to hear, but from the look on Kate’s face, the news wasn’t good. Bree glanced at Darren.

  He ran a hand through his hair. He must have been able to hear the news, because his eyes grew shiny wet as whatever the doctor shared with Kate sunk in.

  Bree wanted to go to him but stayed put. Now wasn’t the time for embraces, nor could she share her feelings. Bree needed to leave him alone.

  The doctor left and people swarmed Kate.

  Darren leaned close and whispered near Bree’s ear. “You might as well go home. I’ll catch a ride back to Bay Willows later for the van. It looks like a rough night ahead.”

  Staying wouldn’t be good for either of them; she might do something else she’d regret. “How bad?”

  “Neil’s in surgery. They’re hoping to save his leg, but there’s a lot of damage.”

  Bree cupped her mouth.

  Darren awkwardly patted her back. “Go on. Go home.”

  She nodded and slipped out of the room unnoticed. Heart heavy, Bree made her way out to her car. Climbing behind the wheel, she placed the can of pop into the cup holder and rested her forehead on the steering wheel. Tears ran down her face, so Bree gave in and cried.

  Her phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Bree? Baby, what’s wrong?”

  Philip!

  Her stomach turned and she sniffed. Why hadn’t she checked who it was? Or let it go to voice mail? “It’s nothing.”

  “Sounds like something.”

  She cleared her throat, hating the edge in Philip’s voice that wasn’t concern. “A friend’s in the hospital.”

  “What friend?”

  “You don’t know him.” Bree sniffed again.

  Silence.

  “Was there a reason you called?”

  “Yes, actually there was.” Philip chuckled. An irri
tating sound. “I was thinking about coming up. Take in some golf and give you a good send-off.”

  Bree closed her eyes. “Please don’t.”

  “There’s no reason we can’t be friendly, Bree. Our parents are friends.”

  There was every reason. “Philip, please.”

  “Think about it.” He paused and then added, “Sorry about your friend.”

  “Thanks.”

  He disconnected.

  Bree stared at her phone. Why wouldn’t he leave her alone?

  She drove toward Bay Willows, but instead of pulling into her parents’ driveway, she headed for Stella’s cottage. She passed by the community building where Darren’s work van sat parked. Seeing that green vehicle brought new tears to her eyes.

  At Stella’s, Bree got out, bounded up the porch stairs and knocked.

  Stella opened the door wide. “Bree, come in. You okay?”

  “I don’t think so.” She walked into her friend’s open arms.

  Stella gathered her close and led her toward the kitchen. “Tell me what happened. Is his friend going to be okay?”

  “They’re not sure.” Bree explained the situation while Stella made tea.

  “That’s not what’s really bothering you, though, is it?” Her elderly friend set a cup of herbal tea on the table along with the honeypot.

  Bree shook her head. “I have feelings for Darren.”

  Stella brushed aside Bree’s bangs like she was a child with a skinned knee. “Is that such a bad thing?”

  “It’s the last thing either of us wants.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m leaving in two weeks. I’m not passing up my chance to do something special, and I’m not getting stuck here.”

  Stella frowned. “How do you know there’s nothing here for you?”

  “I just know.” After talking to Jan Nelson, the Bay Willows music school looked unlikely to get off the ground anytime soon. The board couldn’t agree on who they wanted to reach or what venue they’d provide. There were few opportunities here for her.

  Bree sipped her tea, but it didn’t quell her concerns, her fear.

  “Has Darren asked you to stay?”

  “No.” He might not return her feelings. Even after that earth-shaking kiss. She grabbed the little ceramic pot decorated with bees and drizzled more honey into her tea.