A Soldier's Valentine

by Jenna Mindel

  He shrugged. “You lead the way.”

  Ginger headed to the left and slipped into the middle seats of the middle rows. Looking around, she noticed that many of Zach’s family were seated all over. Annie’s sister had come all the way from Arizona with her husband and their two small children. They sat in the front, but that was it when it came to Annie’s family.

  Ginger figured that Helen Zelinsky had probably erased that middle line of demarcation in the seating. A seemingly small thing, but incredibly thoughtful. Annie didn’t need any reminders that her family was scarce in numbers.

  Zach fidgeted next to her. He turned and looked around, then leaned close and whispered in her ear. “Mind if we move to the end of the row?”

  She shook her head. “Then people will have to climb over us.”

  He ran his hands against his thighs. “I don’t like the middle. I can’t see what’s behind me.”

  “You’re at a wedding.”

  “Old habits die hard.” He got up and moved.

  Ginger considered staying put, but then someone might think they’d been arguing, and she didn’t need that. Not when most of the folks attending were Zach’s relatives. She moved toward him. “You’ll be sorry once this room fills up and someone steps on your toe.”

  He draped his arm around the back of her chair, pivoting in his, so he could see the way they’d come in. He scanned the room thoroughly before relaxing. “This is much better.”

  She narrowed her gaze. What threat could there possibly be in Maple Springs? But Zach was serious. He’d been conditioned to anticipate trouble and be prepared to deal with it.

  He’d gone to the VA office this past week and had asked if she’d watch his retail space while he was gone. She’d been glad to do it. Anything to ensure he found the truth in his actions and made peace with it.

  The night of the open chamber meeting, Zach had made the right call with Lewis. He’d known that guy wasn’t dangerous and had stood down. Though not without making a show of staking his claim.

  Ginger briefly closed her eyes, as her skin tingled with the memory of Zach so close. And that snippet of a kiss...

  “Excuse me.”

  Ginger looked up at the man wanting to get by. Talk about getting caught in a daydream.

  “This is my uncle John.” Zach was standing, too, giving her an odd look. “Ginger has a shop next to mine.”

  Ginger stood as well and shook the man’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Pleasure.” Zach’s uncle gave her a knowing wink. “Keep this guy in line, you hear?”

  She felt her cheeks heat, but played along. “Sure thing.”

  The room filled up fast. And with each person who needed to file by them, Zach not only stood to let them by, but thanked them for coming and introduced her as he did with his uncle.

  When their row was finally full and he sat down for the last time, Ginger relaxed, mumbling, “The power of a suit.”

  “What?”

  “You’re quite the charmer with all that grateful-host stuff.”

  “That’s why I sat here,” he whispered near her ear. “To show you that I can be cordial.”

  She knew that wasn’t true but accepted it as a good enough excuse. Zach might be out of the army, but would the army ever be out of him? Glancing at his strong profile and eyes that took in everything around him, she doubted it. Zach protected his own. And that wasn’t a bad thing. Not at all.

  He noticed her attention and winked.

  And that caused the butterflies in her belly to dance. If she worked for him, would he turn army captain on her, barking out orders and missions for each day? He’d been a patient teacher, but who knew what kind of employer he’d make. She liked making her own decisions, but she’d loved making glass, too.

  Her church minister entered the room from the side, as did the wedding party. Annie had chosen her late husband’s parents to stand up with her instead of a bridesmaid. And Zach’s parents acted as best man for Matthew.

  With Annie dressed in a beautiful yellow party dress, it wasn’t the traditional sort of wedding, but she carried a small bouquet of dark pink roses and yellow tulips and looked every bit a glowing bride. And Ginger felt her throat close up tight.

  The ceremony was short and sweet. When the minister pronounced Annie and Matthew as man and wife, Zach grabbed her hand. “Get ready to scoot out of here as soon as they walk by.”

  She dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

  “Are you crying?” He sounded horrified.

  She sniffed and laughed, making the tears run over and dribble down her cheeks. “I can’t help it. I’m happy. For them.”

  “Come on.” Zach grabbed her by the hand and they exited through a side door.

  “Wait, what about the receiving line?” Ginger glanced back at the small mob of guests waiting to congratulate the newly married couple.

  “We’ll talk to them at dinner.” He gently tugged her forward.

  Holding fast to Zach’s hand, Ginger followed. “So, where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.”

  He led them down the stairs to the lower level and through a long hallway toward the sound of jazz music. They exited a door and were outside, but the pathway leading to a large garden pavilion was completely protected by sturdy clear plastic and lit with tiny white lights. Outdoor heaters kept the area cozy while a swing band played and people danced.

  “Are we crashing another wedding?”

  Zach smiled. “No. This is one of your chamber’s Valentine’s Day specials set up for this weekend and next. I can’t believe you didn’t know about it. Brady announced it at the meeting the other night, remember?”

  Ginger must have missed that announcement at the open meeting. But then, that was the night Zach had attended and he’d snagged her thoughts and attention all evening. The evening that had ended with a kiss to shut her up.

  Zach hadn’t missed that announcement, though. And he’d not only remembered it, he’d brought them out here on purpose. To dance. Would he kiss her, too?

  Should she let him?

  Ginger scoped the area. Hors d’oeuvres and a huge bowl of punch had been set up on a small round table in a corner opposite the band. “This is really nice.”

  “I know. Dance with me.”

  “Okay.”

  He swung her into his arms. And Ginger’s breath caught when the tempo changed to a slow, languid tune and he pulled her even closer.

  “Relax.” His lips grazed her ear.

  Easy for him to say. She felt like a tea bag heading for a pot of boiling-hot water. “But the wedding.”

  “We’ll join them soon.” He pulled back and looked into her eyes. Then he brushed his thumb against the corner of her eye.

  “Thank you.” Her heart raced at the tender expression on his face.

  “I didn’t think you’d want a smear of eye makeup.”

  She tipped her head back and smiled. “No, I mean, thank you for remembering about the band, and your suit, and—”

  “This is our first date. I want it to be memorable.” He ran his fingers through her hair, his eyes dark and intent.

  If that wasn’t romantic, she didn’t know what was, but she panicked, a little. “Zach, I don’t...”

  “Shh.” He cupped the back of her neck and drew her close and covered her lips with his own.

  Gentle at first, he kissed her thoroughly, properly, and melted every bone in her body. She’d waited for this moment all her life without even realizing it. It was like watching the grand finale of Maple Springs’s famous Fourth of July fireworks, or finding that missing puzzle piece after a long search. Contentment filled her.

  This felt like coming home the way a homecoming should feel. Safe and loving as if she belonged. Maybe she
did belong to this man and he to her. Maybe with him, she had nothing to prove other than her feelings.

  With a surge of courage, she offered those up right along with her heart. Ginger returned the most perfect kiss she’d ever received and hoped for the best. She hoped Zach got the message and maybe had one of his own to tell.

  Zach pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. “Wow.”

  “Yeah. Wow.” Ginger closed her eyes but couldn’t rein in her tongue and went looking for answers. “Why’d you do that?”

  Zach laughed low and soft. “Because, you inspire me.”

  Her courage shriveled up. No declaration of affection with promises of more? She’d have even taken a crass “you rock my world.”

  Her eyes flew open. “What?”

  “Come on.” Zach took her by the hand and led her back the way they’d come.

  She’d offered him her heart and he was inspired? To do what? He hadn’t kissed her again, so she certainly hadn’t inspired a repeat performance. What on earth had he meant? And what should she do now?

  * * *

  When they entered the reception room, the wedding guests were already seated for dinner. She spotted Annie and Matthew making the rounds. Matthew held the baby, and the little guy grinned and giggled and played with Matthew’s ear.

  Zach let go of her hand so he could pull his brother into a hug, baby John and all. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks.”

  As the two brothers pounded each other’s backs, Ginger’s thoughts swirled in a million directions.

  Annie leaned close. “You look like you’re on cloud nine.”

  “More like cloud confusion.” Ginger gave her best friend a hug. “And you’re gorgeous.”

  “Thanks. So, what’s the trouble?”

  Ginger waved it away. Now wasn’t the time or the place. “Oh nothing, it’s nothing. Really.”

  But Annie glanced at Zach and then back at her with raised eyebrows. “Looks like something.”

  “I’ll call you later in the week.” Ginger shrugged and moved on with Zach to their table. The newlyweds were putting off their honeymoon trip until after the baby was older, so Ginger would have no problem following up as planned. Maybe Annie could help her make sense of these mixed-up feelings.

  Zach pulled out a chair for her.

  Again, she gave him a quick look of surprise. “Thank you.”

  He leaned close and whispered, “You’re welcome.”

  When he sat down, he pulled her chair closer to his. Who was this charming man whom Zach had become?

  A man on a date.

  Ginger tried to focus on eating her salad, but she kept glancing at Zach. He looked more relaxed than she’d ever seen him as he talked easily with his cousins and younger brothers seated around them. They laughed and joked and recalled details of their night of snowmobiling that had served as Matthew’s bachelor party.

  Zach draped his arm around the back of her chair and made lazy circles just above her elbow with his fingers. It felt as foreign as it did familiar. And it worried her all the more. They’d crossed over to a couple in an instant. Like those old movies with the trains, she felt like a speeding train that had switched tracks. Were they on the right course? The one that went for miles, or the short track that ended with a crash at a huge blockade?

  She heard the low vibrating hum of her cell phone in her small clutch of a purse on the table. She fumbled to check the caller’s number and saw that it was her mom. A nugget of concern lodged in her throat. Her mom rarely called.

  She let it go to voice mail and leaned toward Zach. “I’ve got to check on this call.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “I don’t know yet.”

  Her stomach knotted when her mom called again and she hurried into the hallway before answering. “Hello?”

  “Ginger! Ginger, you have to come home...”

  “Mom, calm down. What’s going on?”

  “We’re in the ER and they want your dad to stay over and have surgery. I don’t know what to do... There are insurance papers and doctors—you gotta come home.”

  Ginger paced the lobby floor until she got the whole story. Her parents were at the hospital because her father had chest pains. She could hear her father’s voice in the background, yelling at a nurse that he was leaving.

  And her mother sounded close to hysterical.

  “Okay, Mom, it’s okay, I’m coming. I’ll be there soon.” Ginger disconnected and hung her head.

  Zach touched her shoulder. “What is it?”

  She groaned. “I have to go. My dad’s in the hospital and my mom’s freaking out. Sounds like he had a heart attack, but I don’t know yet.”

  “Let’s go. I’ll drive.”

  She touched his arm. “No. Stay here with your family.”

  “Ginger—”

  “Really, Zach. I could hear my father cursing a blue streak. He’s not at death’s door. I’ll be fine. I’ll stay a couple days and make sure everyone’s okay.”

  “I’ll walk you home then.”

  “Please, don’t.” She needed to prep for what lay ahead, and she’d rather do that alone.

  He took her phone and punched in his contact information. “Call me when you get there. I don’t care how late.”

  Then he caressed her cheek.

  She pressed into the palm of his hand. “I’ve got to go.”

  He looked concerned, but nodded, and then gave her a feather-light kiss. “Be careful.”

  “I will, thanks.”

  She hustled toward the coatroom and realized she needed to hit the ladies’ room on her way out. Once inside the stall, she heard voices and froze when Zach’s name was mentioned.

  “So you think he likes running a business?” a young woman’s voice asked.

  “I think so, most of it anyway.”

  Ginger easily recognized the voice of Zach’s sister Monica. She strained to hear over the sound of running water at the sink.

  “But he needs more space to do what he really wants to do. The other night, I overhead him telling Dad that he wants to offer some classes. Sooner’s better than later, but he has to convince Ginger to let go of that tea shop before he can expand.”

  Ginger’s ears rang.

  “What kind of classes?”

  Monica laughed. “Glassblowing, what else? But he said he wants to keep it low profile for now. No mention of it on his website. He needs her help with customers and the community to really grow it, make sure folks are on board. You know how he is.”

  “True.”

  Ginger’s heart pinched tight. She didn’t move a muscle until well after Zach’s sisters left, and then it felt as if her feet had turned into cement blocks. Washing her hands at the sink, she peered at herself in the mirror.

  She was a foolish girl with foolish dreams that were sinking fast.

  Could she really believe Zach’s sudden charm was because of feelings he had for her? His offer to work for him seemed tainted now, as if she was a means to an end. Her end.

  Oh, she inspired him all right, and that inspiration might put her out of business.

  Chapter Twelve

  Zach checked his phone as he walked home. Ginger should have gotten there by now. He couldn’t remember the name of the Podunk town where she’d grown up. She’d said it was smack-dab in the middle of nothing and only a couple of hours south of Maple Springs. It’d been three and a half hours since she’d left the wedding reception, and he hadn’t heard a peep.

  He glanced at the clear black sky above dotted with a million stars and a shining-bright half moon. The temperatures had climbed into the high forties with almost balmy southerly winds. A perfect night for a romantic walk. But he was missing the girl. And it
hit pretty hard that it felt as if part of him was missing with Ginger gone.

  His phone buzzed to life. “Hey.”

  “I made it. I’m home.” Ginger sounded weary.

  “You okay?” He didn’t like hearing the fire in her sound as if it was flickering out.

  She sighed. “Yeah. I practically had to drag my mother from the hospital. She’s afraid my dad will walk out the door.”

  Zach regretted not going with her. He had a few words for her father. “If you need me, say the word and I’m there. I can leave right now.”

  Silence.

  “Ginger?”

  “Thanks.” She sounded distant, as if rallying her strength for battle. “But that won’t be necessary.”

  “Even so.”

  “It’s late. I’ve got to go.”

  “Keep me posted.” Zach didn’t want to hang up. He had so much to say to her but didn’t know how to start. He’d never been good with words.

  “I will.” Ginger hesitated, as well. They stayed connected, neither one saying anything until finally she softly said, “Good night, Zach.”

  “’Night.”

  He pocketed his phone as their storefronts came into view. Tiny white lights and shiny netting and those silver things that looked like explosions dangled behind the glass. It wasn’t a bad display, it simply didn’t say much. He needed to make over both windows in time for open voting on Monday.

  He had all the time in the world with Ginger gone home to her folks. But that contest win didn’t seem nearly as important as showing Ginger what was in his heart. He’d once told her that place was full of icicles. But that wasn’t true anymore.

  She’d made him feel again. She’d given him insight to his future. Maybe even the reason he’d come home alive. He wanted things he’d never wanted before. And as daunting as it was to thaw, Zach had never run from a fight.

  Securing Ginger’s affection was one battle he planned to win. Starting with a message in their windows.

  * * *

  The last time Ginger had been home was Christmas Day. She’d driven down in the morning and returned by nightfall, in and out before anyone got hurt. Especially her. Although she usually left with a sore spirit, tonight she’d arrived with a bruised heart.