by Delia Latham
Then before she could find a response, he switched subjects.
“Wait right here. I’m going for popcorn and sodas…and then we’ll see what tonight’s ‘message’ is all about.” He walked away.
Raine’s heart was full…and she hadn’t yet even seen the play.
****
“Well? What did you think?” Dec’s question came only after he pointed the car back toward the lodge.
“I’m completely overwhelmed. It was beautiful—and beautifully orchestrated. Were all of the actors local talent?”
He nodded. “Usually, yes. The Panther has always been insistent on our community theatre actually being ‘community’ driven. Occasionally, a group will bring their own stage play to town, but even then, local talent usually plays bit parts, or extras.”
“Wow. This little place seems to draw talent, doesn’t it? I mean, artists like Logan Bullard. Stage actors that could easily perform on Broadway.” She grinned and touched her fingers to the longish hair that curled against the back of his neck. “And talented, handsome, charming wood sculptors, the likes of which I can’t imagine being found anywhere else.”
Dec laughed. “Now you’re just being facetious—and awfully cute.”
“No, I’m not. It’s true.”
He slid her a playful glance. “Well, then thank you. I’m always glad to please. Now what did you think of the play?”
She stifled a grin. As usual, Dec refused to seriously acknowledge his own gifts. “I loved it. Loved it! The humor was superb, and yet there was enough true, heart-touching drama to keep it from being slapstick or corny.”
“Exactly what I thought.” He hesitated, and then opened his hand.
She placed hers in it, and he brought it to his lips, where he held it, almost reverently, for such a long time that Raine began to think her heart might burst from the sensations zinging along her nervous system.
Finally, he lowered her hand, but didn’t release it. Beneath his breath, Dec hummed the melody of the title song from the play.
After a moment, she sang along, keeping her voice low—probably too low for Dec to really hear. Raine stopped singing as the words faded away.
Dec cleared his throat a couple of times before speaking. “I watched that young man struggle with claiming his independence, and I couldn’t help thinking of you.”
“I know.” She nibbled at her lip, thinking about the blind hero’s efforts to free himself from an overbearing mother. “It was almost as if I was looking in a mirror—not that my parents are mean like that mother.” She hurried to clarify. “But still, the way she refused to give him room to grow and become his own person…and how hard she made it for him to step out on his own. She seemed incapable—or was it just unwilling?—to release him from her control.”
Dec squeezed her hand, and then moved his thumb in slow, gentle circles across the back of it. “You’ve made a great start on taking control of your life, honey. God has been doing an amazing work in you.”
“He really has.” She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes for a moment. “Actually, this entire trip has been one huge life lesson, woven into a hundred different, wonderful experiences.”
“He’s the ultimate loving Father. He does His best work in us using the full force of His love—just points us in the right direction with gentle little tugs and pushes…and then allows us to make our own choices, right or wrong.”
Raine sat up straight and fixed her gaze on him. “Dec.”
“Yeah?” He glanced at her and then back at the road.
“I want to make the right choice.”
“You will.”
“How can you know that?” A hint of panic fluttered in her stomach. “Up until Cambria, I’ve never really balked against anything my parents wanted. I’m not sure—” She broke off and pulled in a shaky breath. “What if I can’t do it? What if I seriously can’t take control of my life?”
Dec said nothing right away. He slowed the car and turned into the driveway at Paradise Pines. Once he cut the engine, however, he unbuckled, and then reached over to loosen Raine’s seatbelt. “Come here,” he whispered, and tugged her closer.
She scooted across the seat and into his arms.
With a thumb under her chin, he lifted her face and gazed into her eyes. “You can do it, Raine, and you will. I believe in you.”
“You…do?”
“With all my heart.”
She snuggled closer to his side and laid her head on his shoulder. “Then I can believe in myself.” Just a whisper, but strong and firm. “I can do what I need to do.”
They sat like that for a few minutes.
Raine pulled away, just far enough to look at him. “Thank you again. For tonight, and for helping me be strong.”
“You are strong. Stronger than you even know.” He bent his head and brushed his lips over hers. His kiss was gentle at first, and then he allowed it to deepen.
Raine melted against him, wondering if it was possible to get close enough to share one heartbeat, one breath, one soul.
Then he pulled away, leaving her feeling like half a person.
As if he felt it too, he touched a thumb to her tingling lips, re-establishing contact. “I’ll walk you up.”
She nodded.
At her door, he took her face in his hands and kissed her once more—thoroughly enough to make her knees weak. Then he released her and took a step back. “Sleep well.”
“You too.” Raine opened her door and backed inside. “Thank you, Dec. For a beautiful evening—actually, for the entire day. I’ll never forget a moment of it.”
“Nor will I.” He brushed the backs of his fingers against her cheek, and Raine leaned into the caress. “Good night, sweetheart.”
“Night, Dec.” She couldn’t quite find the courage to voice a term of endearment. It seemed to come so easily to him. Would she ever overcome that part of her that shied away from putting what she felt into words?
He turned and went down the stairs to his car.
Raine closed the door and leaned against it, a hand to her heart. “Good night, my love,” she whispered into the empty room.
The moment the words left her lips, she froze in place. My love?
Dazed, she made her way to her bedroom, changed into her nightclothes, and then slipped between the sheets. After turning off the bedside lamp, she stared into the dark, stunned by how long it had taken her to realize the truth. She loved Dec Keller. Every cell in her body yearned to be with him…and not just in a physical sense, although she could not deny her response to his every touch. What she wanted was to be with him. To be the woman he came home to every night, forever.
But it couldn’t happen…could it? She had to return to Pasadena, and he had a career and a father and a home he loved, right here in Cambria.
No, a lasting relationship with Dec was out of the question. And yet she’d allowed herself to fall deeply, madly, crazily in love. “Oh, God,” she breathed into the darkness, “what am I supposed to do now?”
18
The auction was coming up almost too quickly. Raine had little time during the day to dwell on the heartache of knowing she loved a man she simply couldn’t be with. By nighttime, exhaustion sent her to sleep without any trouble, despite the turmoil in her soul.
Two nights from now—on Wednesday evening—the event would take place at the shelter.
On Friday, Raine would accompany Dec to Santa Barbara.
The pieces he’d created for display were exquisite. This showing held incredible potential for Dec’s career in the art world.
But first, they had to get through the auction.
Response from local merchants had been phenomenal. Two of the bedrooms at Chrysalis were stuffed with donated items.
Aside from the auction itself, Raine’s press releases about Chrysalis to major news sources in neighboring towns and big cities throughout the state, as well as phone calls to merchants in those same locations, had g
arnered an outpouring of direct donations for use at the shelter. Every day, more deliveries came in from all over. The kitchen and pantry were filled with food, clothing, kitchen appliances, bedding, and toiletry items. In addition, a large amount of overflow had claimed space in a portion of the church fellowship hall.
A furniture-store chain shipped in eighteen twin beds and matching nightstands. Another sent a big-screen television for the group room, along with a DVR and a generous selection of movies and games for young adults. Twenty-five Bibles had arrived from a well-known Christian bookstore.
Raine and the other board members, with volunteers from the church and even a few young people who would soon be guests at Chrysalis, worked long hours preparing the shelter for opening day.
Greg Apperson even showed up alongside Shay to offer his considerable brawn wherever it was needed. He and the manicurist had been spending a great deal of time together, and if the stars in Shay’s eyes were any indication, neither of them was inclined to back off just yet.
Raine couldn’t have been more thrilled. Despite her avoidance of Greg at the university, she’d discovered during this trip that he was fun to be around and a gentleman to the core. Perhaps because she’d already met the ogre woodcarver next door to Paradise Pines, she wasn’t drawn to Greg except as a friend, but Shay clearly found him irresistible…and it seemed the feeling was entirely mutual.
With all that help, the shelter was unrecognizable as the run-down building it had been a few weeks before. All the rooms now boasted fresh paint—most of which had been donated, along with enough carpet for all ten sleeping “dorms” and the TV-and-game portion of the common room. Bright, inspirational posters hung on the walls. The place had taken on a cheery, homey atmosphere—like a hug from the heart.
Raine stood up and stretched her back. She’d been kneeling on the floor, helping Cole put together the last of the donated bed frames. “I’ll go find the bedding. I think Miss Angie stacked it in the meeting room.”
“I did.” The older woman entered the room, wearing her beautiful, perpetual smile. “But I’ve dropped off two sets of sheets, two blankets, and a couple of comforters in each room.” She dumped a set on each of the newly assembled beds. “Raine, go in one of the other rooms, close the door, and lie down while I make these beds up. Cole will help me, won’t you, dear?”
“Sure, Miss Angie.” The boy turned an adoring gaze on her. “You got it.”
“I’m not lying down while everyone else works,” Raine protested.
“Yes, you are.” Miss Angie planted hand on hips and tried to glare…it wasn’t very convincing, but it got her message across. “If you don’t, you’ll be sick. You’ve been here longer than any of us, and you haven’t had a single break today. Go. Shoo! Get some rest. That’s an order from the housemother.”
Raine laughed. “You do know you don’t scare me?”
“Yes, dear, but I also know you’ll do as you’re told, because you love me and you don’t want me to worry about you.”
“Oh, that’s so not fair!” Raine hugged the woman. “I guess I could stand to lie down, but only for a half-hour. Then I’m getting up.”
“Whatever you say.” Miss Angie gave her a gentle shove. “Now go.”
As she made her way down the hall, Raine realized how tired she really was. Miss Angie knew her too well. She let herself into the last room at the end of the hall and squeezed between stacks of boxes to reach the bed, where she stretched out with a grateful sigh. Turning on her side, she allowed her gaze to travel the crowded room.
The outpouring of donations continued to amaze her. God was awesome, and so were His people. Today’s world made it too easy to forget that, and situations such as this served as a nice reminder. Yes, evil had sunk its claws deep into humanity, but God still maintained a chosen element of people who loved Him and cared about each other. People who were willing to help when the need arose.
“Thank You, Lord,” she breathed. “I needed this experience.”
Even as she prayed that simple prayer, her eyelids grew heavy, and she dozed.
****
“Raine…Raine, dear, wake up.”
Dec stood in the doorway. He couldn’t see Raine back behind all the boxes, but he heard her sleepy mumble when Miss Angie tried to rouse her. He shook his head.
She’d been working way too hard—especially considering she was supposed to be on vacation.
He couldn’t help grinning. How many people chose to get involved in a grassroots project such as this while they were supposed to be idling away the days on a first-time-ever getaway?
“Sweetie, wake up. Dec’s here, and we have a special guest who wants to meet you.”
“‘K.” A loud yawn followed the barely legible response. “I’m ’wake.”
Miss Angie’s soft chuckle floated over the jumble of stuff packed into the room. “I’m not too sure about that. Maybe you should just go ahead and sleep a little longer.”
“No. I’m up. Really.”
Sounds of movement. The scrape of shoes across the floor. And then there she stood, one fisted hand rubbing at her eyes, looking as if still in the world of sweet dreams. Dec’s heart clenched. The woman was heartbreakingly beautiful.
“Dec!” She blinked at him. “What are you doing here?”
Miss Angie chuckled. “Excuse her manners, Declan. I’m afraid she still has a head full of dream webs.”
Raine frowned. “Dream webs?”
“Well, it sounds so much better than cobwebs, don’t you think, dear?”
Dec couldn’t help laughing.
Apparently, Miss Angie’s humor finally woke her up, because Raine joined him. Then she hugged the older woman. “I have a feeling you let me sleep way longer than a half-hour.”
“Who, me?” Miss Angie’s eyes widened. Then she smiled and took Raine’s hand. “Come, darling, Dec brought a friend to meet you.”
Raine hung back, brushing at her hair with her fingers. “I can’t meet anyone looking like this.”
“You look amazing.” Dec thought the words sounded more like a growl than a compliment, but he couldn’t quite get his voice pushed past his throat. She took his breath away.
“Right, I’m sure I do—amazingly messy.” Raine still hung back. “Miss Angie, do you have a brush?”
“As a matter of fact…” The woman reached into a deep pocket in the apron she wore over her dress and pulled out a brush and a small compact. “You’ll find a mirror in this little thing.”
Raine giggled. “You’re an angel!”
“Now who let the cat out of the bag?” Miss Angie teased. “Go ahead into the ladies’ room, Raine, and take a minute to freshen up. I’ll serve our guest a cup of coffee while he waits. Dec, you come with me.”
He shrugged and followed her down the hall. Behind him, Raine giggled. He loved the sound of it.
In the room off the kitchen, he waited with Miss Angie and their guest, barely able to keep from going back and hurrying Raine along. He couldn’t wait to see her reaction when he introduced his friend.
“I’ve been wanting to come visit.” The visitor accepted a slice of olallieberry pie and sipped at the coffee Miss Angie set beside it. “You folks have created quite a stir around here. It’s a wonderful thing you’re doing.”
“Well, to be truthful, Raine has had a big hand in getting this thing started. Pastor had the want-to and a vague plan for ‘someday,’ but Raine’s heart for the kids kind of pushed it into the here and now,” Dec explained.
“You give me far too much credit.” From the doorway, she chided Dec around a wide smile. “Too many people have put heart and soul into this project to be pinning that much praise on me, Dec Keller.”
Dec jumped to his feet, as did his guest.
“Raine, you’re here.” He joined her at the door and took her hand, leading her to the table, where his friend stood openly gaping. Dec couldn’t blame him. Fresh from her nap, Raine’s dewy-eyed beauty was enough to make any
man stare. “This is a good friend of mine—and someone whose talents I happen to know you admire. Raine Presley, I’d like you to meet Logan Bullard.”
Raine gasped. “Oh! Logan Bullard…the artist?”
Logan grinned and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I suppose I’ve been known to wield a paintbrush now and then.”
“Please, sit down.” Raine waved the men back into their chairs.
Dec pulled one out for her before he took his own seat again.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Mr. Bullard.” Raine was clearly overwhelmed.
Logan looked over his shoulder. “Is my dad here?” He grinned and shook his head. “I’m Logan. Too young to be Mr. Bullard, and besides, that’s my dad.”
They all laughed, including Miss Angie, who set a cup of coffee in front of Raine, but politely refused to join them. “I’ve got an appointment with Tara and Cole. Those kids are just full of questions about the Bible today. You young folks enjoy your coffee, and there’s more in the kitchen if you want it.”
Raine chuckled, watching the older woman take her leave. “Miss Angie enjoys nothing more than talking about the Bible.”
“True. And she knows more about it than anyone else I know.” Dec grinned. “She makes me ashamed of myself.”
“You and me both,” Raine said. She sipped at her coffee. “Mmm. I needed this.”
“So, Dec tells me you and he have visited the gallery in West Village a few times.” Logan watched her over the rim of his mug.
“We have, and I have to admit I’m feeling a little star-struck right now. I always head straight for your work, Logan. You’re incredibly talented. If I only knew the magic word, I think I could just walk into your paintings and become a part of them.”
Logan laughed. “That’s quite the most charming compliment I’ve ever received.”