by Cindy Kirk
“I keep the ice cream downstairs,” Dan told his sister. “If we have any, it’ll be there.”
“I’ll check.”
Oaklee had barely started down the steps when Dan wrapped his arms around Katie Ruth. “I’m glad you came.”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
She smiled up at him, and his heart swelled with emotion. It seemed so natural, so right, to press his lips to hers. The kiss started out slowly, as if they had all the time in the world.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers sliding into his hair as he deepened the kiss. Oh, how he’d missed this. Oh, how he’d missed her.
“There was only this carton, but it—”
Dan sprang back at the sound of his sister’s voice.
“—should be…” Oaklee’s voice trailed off. A knowing gleam filled her eyes. “Were you two making out?”
“We, ah…” Dan, known for his way with words, found himself stumbling to explain.
“I missed your brother, and he missed me.” Katie Ruth spoke in an unapologetic tone.
“Cool.” Oaklee held up the carton of vanilla. “I’ll put this in the freezer up here.”
“What’s on the menu tonight?” Katie Ruth asked. “Other than pie and ice cream?”
Food, always a safe topic. Dan seized on it. “The burgers are on the grill. I picked up coleslaw at the market’s deli counter, and there’s a bag of chips in the cupboard.”
“Sounds good to me.” Katie Ruth glanced around. “What can I do to help?”
“I’ll set the table,” Oaklee said. “You make sure Dan doesn’t burn the burgers.”
Dan shot his sister an I-owe-you look and stepped onto the deck with Katie Ruth.
She immediately turned to him, placing her hands on his shoulders. “Where were we?”
Dan chuckled. As he slid his arms around her, he realized this was how it was supposed to be with someone you loved. The mutual need, the closeness, the feeling of coming home.
He’d never had this before, never experienced this depth of feeling before. As he lowered his mouth to hers, he knew he never wanted this feeling to end.
Katie Ruth wanted to hear all about Dan’s interview, but she let him and Oaklee steer the conversation until dessert was on the table.
Once a slice of apple pie, topped with an obscene amount of ice cream, sat before her, she could wait no longer. “Tell me about the interview.”
Dan’s fork stilled on its way to his mouth.
“Thank you.” Oaklee clapped her hands. “I would have brought it up myself, but I wanted to hear about the basketball game first.”
“It was interesting.” Dan set down his fork and leaned back in his chair. “I expected a committee, and that’s what I got. Six men sitting around a conference table.”
“How many women?” Katie Ruth asked.
“None.” Dan pulled his brows together. “I’m embarrassed to admit that, until this second, that fact hadn’t registered.”
Oaklee rolled her eyes. “Tells you what they think of women.”
Dan shook his head. “We don’t have enough information to make that leap.”
“I’m sure Dan will check that out before making a final decision.”
“I will.” Dan met Katie Ruth’s gaze. “Keep in mind, I haven’t been offered the position.”
“Did everyone pummel you with questions?” Oaklee spoke around a mouthful of pie.
“Pummel me?”
“You know, like sharks going in for the kill.” Oaklee’s eyes brightened at the thought.
Puzzlement filled Dan’s eyes. “Why would they do that?”
Katie Ruth dipped her spoon into the ice cream, intrigued by this glimpse into sibling interaction.
“To see how you react under pressure.”
“No pummeling. The senior pastor, Ted Martelle, posed the majority of the questions.” Dan’s lips twitched. “Not a shark in sight.”
“Bor-ring,” Oaklee pronounced.
Katie Ruth decided it was time to step in. “What kind of questions did they ask?”
Dan shot her a grateful glance. “They started with the theological.”
“What’s that?” Oaklee asked.
“My beliefs. Pastor Martelle said, and I agree, that a minister’s beliefs shape everything he or she does with the church.”
Katie Ruth smiled. “I’m sure you wowed them.”
“I was honest. My faith is a part of me and is what drew me to ministry.”
“Let’s move this along.” Oaklee made a rolling motion with her hand.
“If this is boring you, you don’t have to stay,” Dan told his sister.
Oaklee’s gaze slid from Dan to Katie Ruth. She grinned. “I get it. You two want to be alone to discuss ‘church business.’”
Pushing back her chair, Oaklee stood. “I’ll be in my room if you need me, but otherwise I won’t be coming out. If you get my drift.”
Dan chuckled when she sauntered out of the room. “Life was sure boring before Oaklee.”
“She’s a wonderful girl.” Katie Ruth smiled. “I really like your sister.”
Reaching across the table, Dan squeezed her hand. “I’m glad.”
“After verifying that you are a man of faith, what did they want to know?”
“I won’t bore you with each question…”
“Stop.” She laughed, wrinkling her nose. “For the record, I think Oaklee was angling to be asked to leave. She wanted to give us this time. Like I said, she’s a sweet girl.”
“Sweet?”
“Yes, sweet. Don’t you dare say anything different.”
Dan lifted his hands in surrender. “I wouldn’t think of it.”
“Okay, so tell me more about the interview.”
Katie Ruth listened as he talked, hearing his passion. The man had a burning desire to serve God. Those men around that conference table couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Was there anything they said that hit you wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“Anything that wasn’t what you expected?”
“Well, I found out I wouldn’t be involved at all in the youth ministry. I knew they had a youth minister on staff, but I thought as an associate pastor I would have some input.”
“Not your purview.”
He expelled a breath. “Not my purview.”
“You’ve got so many good ideas that I’m sure that was disappointing.” Katie Ruth kept her tone light. “Anything else?”
Dan began to shake his head, then stopped. “The committee/church council structure sounds unwieldy, but they are actively working to remedy it.”
“That’s good.”
“Yes. Those were the only two areas that gave me pause. Then we moved into the personal area, character issues.”
Katie Ruth couldn’t hide her surprise. “Why would they even interview you if they had questions about your character?”
“Not my character, but you know, how does my family feel about my being in the ministry, stuff like that.”
Character issues.
Katie Ruth’s blood turned cold. “What did you tell them?”
“The truth. That my father wasn’t keen on me being in the ministry at first, but my parents have been supportive. I told them my sister has taken more of an interest in her faith since moving to Good Hope.” His brown eyes met hers. “They also asked if I was dating anyone steadily. I said I am.”
She cleared her throat. “Did you?”
He nodded, reaching over to take her ice-cold fingers in his warm hand. “I bragged on you a bit. I told them you’re our volunteer youth director and are very involved with the congregation. I believe they were impressed.”
“I wonder if they’d have been as impressed if they knew about my parents. I assume you didn’t tell them about that.”
When he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, she had her answer.
“I didn’t feel it was necessary to share that information.�
��
“Because we’re not engaged. Because I’m just your girlfriend.”
“Partially, and because your parents’ actions are not your actions.” Dan paused. “I considered what I’d say if they had asked about your family.”
Katie Ruth’s heart skipped a beat. “What would you have said?”
“Because of the sensitive nature of the information, I would have asked to speak with Pastor Martelle privately.” Dan’s fingers tightened around hers. “I’d have told him about the swinging, but stressed that their actions are not yours. Their beliefs are not yours. I’d reiterate that your personal actions are above reproach.”
Katie Ruth forced a smile. She deeply regretted her actions back in college. She’d asked God for forgiveness and knew she’d been forgiven.
But God was one thing.
She wasn’t confident that, if her past became known, Pastor Martelle and his godly men would deem her worthy to be a pastor’s wife.
Perhaps she wasn’t giving them enough credit. But she wanted only the best for Dan. If she told Dan about Judd, he’d be honest if another search committee asked about her. Which meant her secret past must remain a secret.
Forever.
Chapter Sixteen
A week later, Katie Ruth sat with Oaklee and the three women Oaklee had dubbed her “posse.”
As the five sat around a table in Blooms Bake Shop, Katie Ruth relaxed with her cup of herbal tea and listened to the women tease Oaklee about needing to find her “a nice young man.”
There was something about the interior of the bake shop in the heart of the Good Hope business district that Katie Ruth found soothing. It might have been the mint-green trim around the windows and doors or the three-tiered round table holding prepackaged bags of treats. Most visitors commented on the antique chandelier, but what always drew Katie Ruth’s eye was the It’s Cupcake Time clock.
Katie Ruth heard the women giggle as Oaklee informed them she wanted a man as “trashy” as she was.
“You’re not trashy.” Katie Ruth didn’t care if Oaklee was joking. She wouldn’t allow the girl to put herself down.
Oaklee shifted her gaze, and Katie Ruth saw the surprise in her eyes. “I was joking.”
“I don’t like that kind of joking.” Emotion had Katie Ruth’s voice turning husky. “We’ve all done things we regret, things we wish we could take back. That doesn’t make us bad or trashy. It makes us human.”
“We all fall short of the glory of God,” Ruby murmured.
“Some of us more than others.” Gladys cackled, her laugh growing louder when Katie Ruth shot her the stink eye.
“Oh, lighten up.” Gladys spoke good-naturedly. “Since we’re forbidden to speak of Oaklee’s desire for a trashy boyfriend—”
Bells over the door jingled, and Ethan strode in.
“Or rather, speaking of nice respectable young men.” Gladys waved a hand in the air. “Yoo-hoo, Ethan. Over here.”
“Respectable equals boring.” Oaklee muttered the words, but didn’t bother to lower her voice.
Ethan raised a dark brow.
“What brings you to the bakery today?” Gladys asked.
“I thought I’d take some pastries to Eliza and Kyle,” he said absently, his gaze now on Oaklee. “You look different.”
Katie Ruth glanced at Oaklee and realized she was wearing a dress.
“You look the same.” Oaklee popped a bite of doughnut into her mouth. “Like my dad.”
Ethan glanced down at his suit. “Your brother wears a suit every Sunday.”
“He looks like my dad, too.”
Ami stepped from the back and called out, “Oh, Ethan, I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Ladies.” Ethan inclined his head, then strode to the counter as the bells rang again.
“Speaking of our wonderful pastor.” Gladys’s curious gaze settled on Katie Ruth. “How are you and—?”
“Wow. This is a motley crew.”
“Oh, for goodness sake,” Gladys muttered as Izzie crossed to the women, interrupting her interrogation.
Katie Ruth rose to hug her friend. Something about Izzie seemed different today. “What’s the matter?”
Izzie lifted the phone in her hand. “I got a text from my sister. My mom had a small stroke.”
“Oh no. Is she in the hospital?” How strange, Katie Ruth thought. She’d known Izzie for nearly four years and had no idea about her background.
“She’s at home.” Izzie dark eyes remained hooded. “It sounds as if she’s having trouble tending to business.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Katherine spoke up, appearing genuinely concerned. “What are you going to do?”
“Is your sister able to care for her?” Ruby asked.
“My sister and her husband have two small children.”
“That makes things difficult,” Gladys said.
“Where does your family live?” Oaklee asked.
“Not far. In Michigan.” Izzie glanced at the bake case. “I better get my scone. I’m doing a mural for the Bayshore Hotel. I’ve a tight deadline for completion.”
“If you need anything, let us know,” Gladys said, and everyone around the table nodded.
Katie Ruth realized this was what she liked best about Good Hope. People were always ready to help each other in any situation.
She wondered if Dan would miss this camaraderie and caring when he took the job in Lincolnshire. A sharp pain lanced her heart. She reminded herself that he hadn’t been offered the job. Perhaps he wouldn’t even take it.
If he did take it, what would that mean for her? For them?
“Earth to Katie Ruth.”
Katie Ruth blinked at the sound of Oaklee’s voice and found everyone at the table staring at her. “I’m sorry. What did I miss?”
“Gladys thinks we should throw Dan a birthday party.” Oaklee smiled brightly at Katie Ruth. “What do you think?”
Katie Ruth realized she didn’t even know the date of Dan’s birthday. “Are you thinking of a small party? I’m not sure Dan would be comfortable with something big and flashy.”
“Who doesn’t like big and flashy?” Gladys scoffed.
“Dan needs to get out of his own way,” Oaklee asserted with the brashness of youth.
“But if he doesn’t like big and—” Ruby stopped when Gladys shot her a warning look.
Katie Ruth had the feeling if she protested too much, this group would go ahead and plan something without her.
Pushing her cup aside, she leaned forward and focused her attention on Gladys. “Tell me what you have in mind.”
Dan strode down the hallway of the hospital and paused outside Lindsay’s room. He’d been in the middle of paperwork, never a favorite task, when the phone had rung.
Olivia Vaughn, eight pounds and change, had arrived that morning. When Owen had asked Dan if he would come to the hospital and say a blessing over the child, Dan hadn’t hesitated.
After Mindy’s death from cancer last year, both Lindsay and Owen had been on edge about the pregnancy. But the months had gone by without a hitch, and according to Owen, it had been a quick delivery with mom and baby doing well.
Dan rapped on the door.
“Come in.”
He was surprised to find only Lindsay and the baby in the room. “Where’s Owen?”
“He went down to the coffee cart in the lobby.” Lindsay lowered her voice, though they were the only ones in the room. “What they serve here is awful, and he wanted the good stuff.”
“This must be Miss Olivia.” Dan moved to the rocker where Lindsay sat, a swaddled pink bundle in her arms. He caught a glimpse of blond hair and a rosebud mouth that moved even in sleep. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Lindsay gestured with her free hand to a nearby chair. “Sit down. Please.”
Dan sat. “I’m happy for you and Owen.”
“We’re lucky we found each other.” Lindsay’s lips lifted in a soft smile. “Now we have Olivi
a. Life, well, it couldn’t be better.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but our breakup was the best thing that could have happened to both of us.” Dan saw that now. At the time, he’d been hurt and, yes, angry. But God had been looking out for him and Lindsay.
“You understand now.”
He arched a brow.
“What it’s like to really love someone.” Lindsay stroked the fine down fuzz atop her baby’s head with one finger. “You and I never loved each other.”
“No. We didn’t.”
“Now you have Katie Ruth.” Lindsay’s eyes held a twinkle. “She’s a wonderful person and well-suited to being a minister’s wife.”
“Katie Ruth and I are enjoying getting to know each other better.”
Lindsay’s eyes held a mischievous gleam. “We both know you like what you see.”
The door pushed open, and Owen powered into the room. “I couldn’t remember if you could have coffee, but I got you a cup.”
The mechanic skidded to a stop when he spotted Dan. “Wow. That didn’t take long.”
Dan stood. “Any excuse to get out of working on the church budget.”
“We appreciate you coming.” Owen crossed the room, set the cups on the bedside stand and clapped Dan on the shoulder.
“How could I miss the chance to see this little miracle?” Dan thought of Mindy. “Mindy would have loved a baby sister. Especially if she could deck her out in all pink.”
For a split second, Dan wondered if he should have brought up Mindy, but realized she would always be a part of this family, of this community.
Gone but never forgotten, Mindy, with her gap-toothed smile and her love of all things pink, was woven into the fabric of Good Hope.
Though his eyes remained somber, Owen laughed. “Pink with sequins.”
“We’re going to tell this little one all about her wonderful big sister.” Lindsay paused to clear her throat.
The family and friends would soon be descending on the hospital room, and Dan knew that Lindsay and Owen wanted this to be a private time. “Shall we pray?”
When the two lowered their heads, Dan began to speak, “Heavenly Father, thank you for the life of this child whose care you have entrusted to Owen and Lindsay. Keep her safe from harm and—”