Maid to Love

by Jennifer Johnson

  “I’ve said it once. I’m going to say it again. What is the matter with you, Nick?”

  Nick snapped from his thoughts and looked at his friend. Mike’s hardened expression was proof that Nick had nudged a nerve. Feeling defensive, he frowned. “Nothing’s wrong with me.”

  “Something is. You’ve always been a bit gruff, but today you’ve been mean to me and cruel to Lacy. And you seem to be enjoying it.” Mike folded his hands together on top of the table. “That’s not like you.”

  Nick chewed on Mike’s words. He rubbed his face with his hand. He was being a jerk. Grumpier than usual. And he was being mean. But he was tired. He hadn’t slept well, and he couldn’t seem to clear his mind. God, I don’t want to be unkind to Mike and Lacy. I’ve got this pent-up anger or frustration or something ever since I saw Addy. I don’t know what it is, why she bothers me so much.

  Before he could respond, Addy walked to their table. She pulled Mike’s hat down over his eyes. “See ya later, friend.” Without looking at or speaking to Nick, she walked out the door and down the street.

  Nick felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. How dare she come over to their table!

  Mike’s eyebrows rose, and he grinned. “I think I see the problem.”

  “What?”

  “You got a thing for Addy?”

  Nick howled. “You think I have a thing for skinny, freckle-faced Addy!”

  “She ain’t so skinny or freckle-faced anymore.”

  Boy, didn’t Nick know it. He couldn’t stop thinking about it. Couldn’t stop arguing with himself for thinking about it.

  “Maybe you’ll be the one to lose the bet first.”

  Mike’s mocking tone sent shots of fire through Nick’s veins. “No, Mike, I don’t think so.”

  “I don’t know. You seem a little jealous to me.”

  Nick fumed. “Jealous? We’ll see who’s jealous when my Angus steer stomps yours into the ground in the judge’s eyes at the fair.”

  Mike shrugged. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

  Nick’s retort was on the tip of his tongue when Lacy stopped at their table with their lunches. Grabbing the ketchup bottle, he unscrewed the top and tried not to think about how adorable Addy looked when she pounded the bottom of her ketchup container.

  Three

  Bless these résumés. May they end up in the right hands. Addy opened her eyes and pushed the envelopes into the mail slot. She’d applied for a position at every company she knew of that was within an hour of River Run. She didn’t have to live in her hometown, didn’t even plan on it. But she wanted to be close enough to her family that she could visit often.

  If she landed a job with one of the companies she’d just sent résumés to, she would be able to commute. For a while anyway. Besides, she was ready to settle into a job. She was twenty-three, finished with school, and it was time. She thought of Gracie, married and preparing for the birth of a baby. It’s time, God. I want to be settled, at least in my occupation.

  As a girl, she’d envisioned herself married and working from home. Her old dream resurfaced in her mind. She’d wake up and fix a nice breakfast for Nick. In her dreams, it had always been Nick. He’d eat it up, mumbling about what a wonderful cook she was. Once finished, he’d take his plate to the sink then wrap his arms around her, sending shivers up and down her spine. He’d kiss her lips, murmuring about how beautiful she was. As he walked out the door to his day’s work, she would clean up the kitchen then pull out her work. She’d be busy all morning, working on designs for her various customers.

  Snapping from her reverie, she chuckled to herself as she walked to her car. No one can claim I’m not a dreamer. But now wasn’t the time for dreaming. She started to the car. She’d agreed to redecorate the church’s Sunday school rooms. The pastor loved her idea of a Noah’s Ark theme and set up a church-wide workday in three weeks. Now she just had to pick up Gracie, and the two of them would find the items she needed for the church; hopefully they’d find a few things for Gracie’s nursery as well.

  They were meeting Nick for lunch, which made Addy as nervous as a cat traipsing through a dog pound. But it had been set at the pastor’s suggestion, since Nick was in charge of the workday and Addy was in charge of the design. At least Gracie will be with me.

  She pulled into her friend’s driveway. Before Addy had a chance to call Gracie to let her know she’d arrived, her friend opened the door and walked toward the car. She looked a little paler than usual, but she still attempted a weak smile as she slipped into the passenger’s seat.

  Addy frowned at her friend. “Not feeling too good today, huh?”

  Gracie shook her head. She leaned back against the seat. “The doctor gave me some medicine for nausea. I’m hoping it will kick in soon.”

  Addy’s heart beat so strong it nearly burst from her chest as she thought of meeting Nick alone for lunch, but she cared about her friend too much to ask her to go with her when she obviously felt so poorly. “You don’t have to go, Gracie. If you need to stay home—”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  Addy placed her hand on her friend’s hand. “You don’t look like you’ll be fine. You look like you need to stay home.”

  “I know.” Gracie looked at Addy and let out a long sigh. “I’ve been cooped up in the house for a week. It just seemed to hit me all of a sudden. Smells make me sick. Sights make me sick. Movement makes me sick. But I’m so tired of being stuck at home. You know I’m a doer.” She attempted a faint smile.

  Addy chuckled as she thought of all the times Gracie had dragged her out of the house to go on one adventure after another. “Yes. I know you like to go, go, go.”

  “Then let me try to go with you. I took the medicine an hour ago. Surely it will kick in.”

  “Okay. We’ll go nice and slow and easy.”

  Gracie smiled. “Thanks, Addy.”

  Though Addy had planned to drive to Lexington for more selection, she decided to stay closer to home. They were able to make it through a few stores, and Addy was surprised she’d found almost every template, color, and supply she needed for the church in her own hometown. They hadn’t found much for the nursery, but with lunchtime approaching, Gracie’s color was growing pale again.

  “I don’t think I can make it to lunch,” Gracie said. She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.

  “I know.” Addy turned toward Gracie’s street. “I was already heading to your house.”

  “I’m sorry.” A tear trickled down Gracie’s cheek. “I know you didn’t want to meet Nick alone for lunch.”

  Addy pulled into the driveway, turned off the car, and turned toward her friend. She touched Gracie’s arm. “Why are you crying? I’m a big girl. I can eat lunch with Nick.”

  Gracie huffed and smacked her hands against her lap. “I cry all the time. I’m a sick, emotional wreck.”

  Addy grinned as she leaned across the seat and hugged her friend. “Do you need me to help you inside the house?”

  “No.” She opened the car door. “I’m going to go try to down some saltine crackers and lemon-lime soda.” She snarled as her tone became more sarcastic. “It’s become my favorite meal. If I can handle adding some chicken noodle soup, that will be a real treat.”

  “Before long, you’ll feel better, and you’ll eat everything in sight.”

  Gracie gagged. “The very idea makes my stomach turn.”

  Addy laughed.

  Gracie turned toward her and grew somber. “I’ll pray the meeting goes well.”

  Addy lifted one shoulder and swatted the air. “Piece of cake. Why wouldn’t it?”

  “Because you’ve had a crush on the man more years than you haven’t.”

  Addy’s heartbeat skipped as she forced a smile to her lips. “I’m past all that.”

  She waited until Gracie made it into the house before she pulled out of the driveway. I am past all that, right, Lord?
/>
  ❧

  Nick walked into the diner. He scanned the place to see if Lacy was working. She worked the lunch shift almost every day, but sometimes. . . He spied her and sucked in a breath as he made his way toward her. He cleared his throat. “Lacy, I need to talk to you.”

  She gave him a wary look. “Yeah?”

  “I’m sorry for being so grumpy with you last week. Will you accept my apology?” He extended his hand. “Friends?”

  Lacy grinned. She pushed her glasses higher on the bridge of her nose. Her blue eyes softened, and Nick inwardly admitted she was an attractive girl with a kind heart. She’d probably be good for Mike. “God’s been workin’ on you, huh?”

  Nick shuffled his feet. He felt like a newly broken filly. “Yeah. I already apologized to Mike. I was just out of sorts the other day.”

  “Every dog has a few fleas. Even you, Nick Martin.” She reached out and gave him a quick hug. “All’s forgiven. You eating lunch?”

  “Yeah. I’m meeting Addy Wilson and Gracie Spencer. We’re going to talk about the workday scheduled at church—”

  Lacy nodded toward a booth at the far side of the room. “Gracie’s not here, but Addy is.”

  Nick turned around and saw Addy look quickly from him to her hands. She started to pick at one of her fingernails with such intensity that he felt she would draw blood. Even so, her long, blond hair hung in perfect waves down her shoulders. Her profile was too pretty for words. Lord, when did Addy Wilson become so beautiful?

  She’s always been beautiful.

  “But now she’s so grown-up,” he murmured under his breath.

  Lacy giggled, and Nick snapped from his thoughts. He felt heat climb up his neck when he saw Lacy’s all-too-knowing expression. She nudged his arm with her elbow and winked. “Go on over there. I’ll come get your orders in a minute.”

  Nick made his way to the booth and slid in across from Addy. Begging God to keep him from making a fool of himself, he cleared his throat as he clasped his hands together then rested them on the table. “Gracie couldn’t make it?”

  Addy shook her head. “She’s not feeling well.” Her gaze traveled around the room until she spotted Lacy. “If you want, Lacy could join us. I’m sure she’ll get a lunch break sometime, and she’ll be helping with the rooms as well.”

  Though he knew she tried to mask it, Nick heard the edge of jealousy in her voice. She does still have a bit of a crush on me. Confidence swelled within him, and he sat up straighter. “I think we’d be waiting for quite a while if we did that.”

  A memory of being a senior in high school, having just bought his first work truck, and making plans to get a loan to buy part of his dad’s land filtered into his mind. Little Addy Wilson, probably no older than seventh grade, marched up to him one Sunday after church.

  Her face was painted with far too much makeup, and she’d knotted her extralong blond hair in some weird fashion. She bit her bottom lip as her fingers played with the coat’s zipper. “I’ll come help you on your farm, Nick. Anytime you need.”

  “Don’t worry ’bout it.” He’d brushed her off, barely acknowledged her. He’d been too busy waiting for the pastor’s oldest daughter to venture into the parking lot.

  “This is what I want to do.”

  Nick snapped back to the present at Addy’s authoritative tone. The woman before him had changed quite a bit since that day. He still couldn’t quite come to grips with the memories he had of her as a little girl and teen and what he could see in her now as a woman.

  Lacy came to their table and took their orders. While they waited for their meals, he listened as Addy described her vision. He liked it. When she showed him her drawings, all planned to the nth degree with measurements, supplies, and expected expenses written into them, Nick had to admit he was impressed.

  “These are really good, Addy. Very detailed.”

  “You like them?”

  The glimmer in her eye—the desire for his approval—tugged at his heart. “Very much.”

  Lacy arrived with their food, and Nick reached across the table and took Addy’s hands in his as he said a quick blessing. His heartbeat quickened with the feel of her soft palms in his hands. It took all his energy to focus on the prayer. He looked up at her, noting the slightly red tint to her cheeks.

  Purposely focusing on his food, he picked up his burger and took a bite. Swallowing it down, his mind played around with the Noah’s Ark theme she’d shown him. He wiped his mouth with the napkin. “You know what would be great to go with your idea?”

  Addy cocked her head to one side. “What?”

  “An ark for the playground. It could be like an open fort of sorts. The kids could pretend to be Noah. There could be a couple of slides coming off the sides of the ark. Maybe some monkey bars in the center.”

  Addy’s eyes brightened. “You could do that?”

  Nick shrugged. “I don’t think it would be too much of a problem. It would just be a matter of getting the materials, and I could donate those.”

  Addy chuckled as she cupped her hands on her cheeks in obvious excitement. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. I can just see the kids playing on it now. They’ll have a blast.”

  Nick shoved another bite of hamburger in his mouth as he felt heat speed up his neck again. He was surprised at the pleasure he felt at her approval, and he definitely didn’t want her to see it. The silly no-women bet seemed more ridiculous with each bite. Maybe it was one he’d be willing to lose.

  ❧

  Addy reflected on her lunch with Nick as she walked up Gracie’s sidewalk. She wanted to make sure her friend was feeling better before she made her way back to the house. As a girl, she’d had such a strong crush on Nick because he was so good-looking—the epitome of the cowboy-riding-a-white-horse of her dreams. But she’d also admired his strong character and integrity. Today she’d seen a softer side to the man that drew her with a stronger force than she’d expected.

  She’d listened, fully engrossed in the excitement of his tone and the glistening of his eyes. He could see the kids playing on his mental creation, and Addy found herself pulled into his anticipation. A smile tugged at her lips as she pushed the doorbell.

  Gracie opened the door, not quite as pale as she’d been two hours ago. She motioned Addy inside. “How are you feeling?”

  Gracie gave her a quick hug. “A little better actually. I was able to hold down some chicken noodle soup, and I took a nap.”

  “I’m glad.” Addy looked around the room. “Do you need me to help you with anything?” She walked toward the kitchen, noting a sink full of dishes. She dropped her purse on the counter and started the water.

  “You’re not doing my dishes for me, Addy!” Gracie wailed and turned off the water.

  “Yes I am.” She pointed to the breakfast nook. “You sit.”

  “Addy!”

  “If I were pregnant and not feeling well, would you help me?”

  With a look of defeat, Gracie nodded and sat down. “I suppose I would. So, how was lunch?”

  Addy stared at the pile of dishes in the sink as her stomach knotted with thrill at the memory. “It was fine.”

  “Just fine?”

  “Well, he was very supportive of my designs, even came up with an idea to make an ark for the playground.” Addy rinsed a plate then slid it into the dishwasher. She knew Gracie wanted more information than that, but Addy couldn’t quite get her mind wrapped around the renewed feelings she had for Nick.

  “And?”

  Addy shrugged. “And the workday is in three weeks. He’s going to take care of the supplies we didn’t find, and—”

  “That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”

  Addy stared at the dishes. She couldn’t look at her friend. If she did, Gracie would see the confusion she was sure covered her face. She tried to sound nonchalant. “What do you mean then?”

  “I mean—you used to keep me up nights talking about your wedding with Nick Martin. You had planned
when you would have kids, how many, even what you’d name them.”

  Addy closed her eyes for a moment. She remembered planning two kids, a boy and a girl, Amanda Renee and Nicholas Bryan. Names taken from both of their families. She bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing at what a silly girl she’d been. She shook her head, still not able to look over at her friend, and mumbled, “That was years ago.”

  “True, but sometimes a girl has a hard time forgetting.”

  Addy shoved the last dish into the dishwasher. She needed to finish these dishes and head home. She needed time to think through the feelings she was having, to ask God to guide her heart and mind. The problem isn’t forgetting. It’s the remembering.

  Four

  Addy sat at the kitchen table blowing the steam away from her morning cup of coffee. It had been three weeks since her lunch with Nick. Aunt Becky’s wrist seemed to be healing well. Only two more weeks and Becky wouldn’t need Addy’s help with the cleaning jobs. The time had passed quicker than she’d expected, and Addy found herself wanting to spend more time in her hometown. I could stay for a while. It’s not like I have a roommate waiting on me for rent money, and I still don’t have a job.

  She sighed when she thought of the résumés she’d sent and messages she’d left with no response. She felt out of sorts, like a colossal lowlife living with her parents without a job at her age. She knew her parents enjoyed having her and that she’d been a huge help to Becky, but with her aunt’s recovery time coming to an end, Addy wanted to know her independent life would soon begin.

  She thought of the scripture she’d read that morning during her quiet time. She’d memorized the verse as a girl, but the reminder this morning had come at just the right time. She whispered, “ ‘Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’ ”