Family in His Heart

by Gail Gaymer Martin

  Rona grinned at her enthusiasm. “There’s the problem. I don’t know the area.”

  Mandy cupped her chin in her hand. “Okay. If you want to have some fun, we could do a little of that tomorrow, too.”

  “I’d love it.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Rona saw a man’s form approaching, her heart skipped to her throat, then sank. It wasn’t Nick. She’d hoped, because the longer she waited the more she wished that he’d offer her the housekeeping job.

  Mandy turned her head to follow her gaze, then looked back. “Waiting for someone?”

  Rona shook her head.

  Mandy let her question drop. “Ever been to Drummond Island?”

  “No. I’ve never been anywhere but Hessel and Cedarville.”

  “Why don’t you come to church with me in the morning, and then we can take the ferry to the island. We’ll have lunch there. I know a great restaurant. It’ll be fun.”

  Church? The vision billowed over Mandy’s conversation. Rona shrunk beneath her offer. “How about getting together after church?”

  Mandy shrugged. “Sure, and maybe we could check out the studio I mentioned.”

  “It’s a date.”

  Mandy slid from the chair. “I’d better get back. I’m not on break like you are.” She grinned and vanished.

  It’s a date. That’s something Rona hadn’t had in a long time with anyone. She looked out the window, drawn by the view and the sunshine. An SUV passed the inn, and her pulse quickened. Nick. She craned her neck to follow the vehicle until it turned the corner and headed toward the pier. Maybe he’d walk back and have dinner.

  With her gaze riveted to the road, Rona waited until too much time had passed and her hope sank.

  She lowered her head, disappointed in herself. She’d allowed fanciful thoughts to puncture reality. She’d lived in the real world long enough to know that dreams didn’t come true.

  Still she wished they did.

  Chapter Five

  Nick sat in his SUV on the Drummond Island ferry and gazed through the window at the limestone quarry with its powdery white trail leading away from the shore to Humps Road. He shifted in the seat and rested his head against the neck support.

  After church, Gary had asked to spend the day with Amy’s family. Amy, he’d learned, was the girl who’d been glued to Gary’s side; Nick spoke to the girl’s mother—with Gary’s approval, to his surprise—and learned Amy’s family had planned a picnic.

  Another surprise had been Gary’s agreement to attend worship without an argument, and though Nick knew he should be pleased, Gary’s cooperation set him on edge. After the phone call to Amy’s parents, Nick relaxed and, with the day free, he’d decided to put some time into his work at the resort.

  He drew in a breath, sorry for so many things. He’d tried to be a good father after Jill’s shocking death. Jill. The picture flashed through his mind of that horrible day, and like everyone who watched a tragedy happen, he replayed it in his mind, wondering what he could have done to make a difference and what had really happened. He was at a loss.

  Gary’s words had stabbed him since Friday. He wanted to grill him about Jill’s drinking, but Gary had only been a boy and Nick shot the questions at himself. Gary may have been confused, and if not, then why hadn’t Nick noticed? Or had he? He recalled smelling something like mouthwash on Jill’s breath when he arrived home…late so often. Running two businesses had stolen time from his family.

  He’d told himself Jill had freshened up for him, but now that he thought back, had it been alcohol he smelled? Jill’s personality had changed, too. She’d stopped smiling when they were alone. Her cheery face only lit up in social settings. He figured she’d gotten tired of his long work hours, but he did it for her and Gary. He wanted them to have a good life. Jill liked nice clothes and jewelry. She liked—

  He had no idea what she had liked. Gifts, jewelry, a new boat, a home on Marquette, he’d done it all for her and nothing had seemed to make her content.

  He couldn’t let go of the drinking issue. He and Jill never drank. At least, that’s what he’d thought. Though he knew some Christians who saw no harm in a glass of wine, he’d always stayed away from it. But Jill? His head swam, struck with the possibility.

  The ferry bumped the pier and Nick straightened in the seat and readied the SUV to roll across the ramp to the shore. He craned his neck to look in the back to make sure he’d remembered to put the box into the car. He needed to stop at the Information Center with his new brochures. The way his mind had been he’d begun to question himself.

  Pulling his mind from Jill and his flagging memory, he replaced it with his mission. He headed up Channel Road, and as he passed the Island Restaurant and Bakery, he remembered he wanted to stop on the way home for one of their great chocolate cakes. Maybe that would cheer up Gary.

  He sped past and headed for Four Corners, the business center of the island and on the way to his resort. When he arrived at Warner’s Cove Road, Nick pulled in front of the Information Center. He climbed out, lifted the hatch and pulled out the carton, then strode to the building.

  When he swung open the door, Nick stopped cold and did a double take. The women’s mouths dropped open as far as his had probably fallen.

  Mandy’s surprise turned to a smile. “Hi, Nick.” She gave Rona a poke with her elbow as if to wake her from a trance.

  “Hi,” Rona said, her gaze shifting from him to Mandy.

  Nick managed to harness his amazement “What are you two doing here?”

  “Sightseeing,” Mandy said.

  He glanced in Rona’s direction, but she didn’t say a word.

  Mandy tilted her head. “What brings you here?”

  “Dropping off some resort brochures, then doing some catch-up at the resort. You know how it is getting ready for the tourists. They come in droves starting next week.” He heard himself prattle on and stopped.

  The two women just looked at him.

  He shifted his gaze from Mandy to Rona, hoping she’d say something more than hi. “What have you seen so far?”

  “Nothing yet,” Rona said. “Just the ferry ride over and now we’re here.” She motioned to the wall of brochures.

  “I brought her right to Four Corners. We’re going to check out the shops.” Mandy had clipped off the last of Rona’s sentence. “But I have to be back for work so it’s a short day. Before we left Hessel, I took Rona to look at a place to rent.”

  Nick kept his focus on Rona as his heart sank. Look at a place. “Did you rent it?” His direct question forced her to answer.

  She shook her head. “I’m giving it thought.”

  He needed to talk with her privately. He grasped for a way. Then one struck him. He focused on Mandy. “I’d love you to stop by the resort. It’s on Tourist Road. Do you know where that is?”

  Mandy jumped in. “We have a map, but—” She looked at Rona. “I could drop you off, but I can’t stay.”

  Rona frowned and bit the corner of her lip as if she wanted to say no. Finally she looked at him. “Thanks anyway. Maybe another time.”

  “I don’t mind,” Mandy said, appearing to hide a grin, then turned her attention to Nick. “You’ll give Rona a ride home?”

  “Sure will,” he said, hoping he’d learn to control his skipping pulse.

  Rona’s shoulder lifted in a hesitant shrug. “I suppose it’s okay if you don’t mind, Mandy.”

  Mandy shook her head. “I wish I could stay. I’d love to see your resort.”

  Nick gave thanks that she couldn’t, but he stood a moment, his previous plans dashing against his head. He’d decided to get to know Rona better before asking her about his job. He thought it best that she and Gary meet to see how they related. What had he been thinking by deciding to ask her to take the job without making sure it would work?

  “We’d better get moving then,” Mandy said. She motioned to the door. “Ready?”

  Rona gathered the brochures and stuffed th
em in her shoulder bag. “I’ll see you later, I guess.”

  “It’s Maxton Beach Resort,” Nick said, his voice sounding strained in his ears. “You can’t miss it.”

  She turned away and he watched them head through the door. He stood there holding the heavy box of brochures and looked heavenward. Lord is this Your doing? This meeting is too coincidental. It must be— What? He couldn’t find the words.

  Rona could barely concentrate as they wandered through Suns’ Dragoons and The Islander Shoppe. She’d picked up a knit top and eyed a novel, but passed on it. When they stepped outside, Mandy checked her watch and suggested they visit the Maxton Plains near Nick’s resort.

  “What’s the Maxton Plains?”

  “Hard to describe. It’s an alvar region and considered a treasure because there are so few places like this on the earth. You’ll have to see it.”

  “Let’s go.” Rona motioned toward the car, not wanting to ruin their sightseeing, but anxious to get to the resort. Since she’d seen Nick, she’d felt topsy-turvy, totally upside down and sideways. The sensation made no sense.

  Mandy pulled onto a grassy path and they bumped along to a parking spot. Rona looked out on a rocky field with tall grasses and pines in the distance, wondering what was the big deal. She stepped outside, noting the lichen and moss clinging to the rocks as barren as her life seemed.

  Yet as they strode down the stony path, she noticed tiny wildflowers bobbing in the breeze—little blue harebells, clusters of flowers tucked among the rocks, including ones that looked like tiny yellow coreopsis. The plain had an earthy charm and maybe her rough life had a hidden charm, too. She just needed to find it.

  Mandy gestured toward the expanse. “This is said to be four-hundred-and-fifty million years old, caused by glaciers and limestone bedrock.”

  Despite her antsy mood, the age impressed Rona, but when Mandy suggested leaving, she was happy to get to the resort.

  On the way, Mandy talked, but Rona gave one word responses as her anxiety rose. In her eagerness to spend time with Nick, she hadn’t thought about what she and Nick would talk about over the next couple of hours. She’d chatted with him at the diner, but she barely knew the man.

  Still, if the conversation drifted to family, Rona knew she didn’t want to talk about hers. Her difficult life didn’t make good casual conversation. It seemed more appropriate for a psychiatrist’s couch.

  The sign rose in front of them and Rona viewed the massive white building with dark shutters sitting close to the water, then noticed the small cabins nestled in a pine woods.

  Mandy pulled down the drive and stopped. “I’ll drop you here. I imagine the entrance is over there.” She pointed to the right.

  “I’ll find my way. Thanks so much.” She grabbed the doorhandle and hesitated. “I hate to send you on the ride home by yourself.”

  “I’m a big girl. I’ve driven this many times before.” She brushed her away. “Have fun. I’ll see you later.”

  Rona stepped back and waved as Mandy backed out of the driveway and onto the road. She turned toward the hotel, realizing once again Nick’s lifestyle and hers were so different.

  “Over here.”

  Nick’s voice came from a doorway toward the back of the building. Her heart skipped when she saw him. He looked so good to her with his amazing smile, and once again his hair looked ruffled by the wind. He beckoned, and she headed toward him, her nerves jumping.

  “Glad you found the place.”

  She looked at him and noticed his jaw was prickled with a five-o’clock shadow. It added character to his already rugged look. Her hand twitched to touch his cheek with the winking smile lines. “I hope I haven’t kept you. We stopped at the Maxton Plains.”

  “Great place. Not many areas like that on the earth. Did you know it’s millions of years old?” He pushed open the door.

  “Mandy told me,” she said as she stepped inside. She paused a moment and let her gaze sweep the large office—a wide desk, file cabinets, a computer, a table piled with brochures and more boxes on the floor.

  “Sorry about the mess. We’re late getting the mailing out. We send brochures to old customers and names we pick up from the tourist office. I want to drop a box of the brochures in Cedarville at the chamber of commerce.” He pulled a file folder from a chair and motioned to her. “Have a seat.”

  She motioned to the pamphlets. “Can I help?”

  He grinned. “I’m finished for today, but thanks anyway. Would you like a pop?”

  “No, thanks, but I’d like to see the resort.”

  Pleasure filled his face. “Follow me.”

  He led her through another door that exited beside the registration desk. The lobby, a blend of stone and wood, featured a broad window that looked out to the bay. A few easy chairs and sofas were scattered into seating arrangements and through the window she could see a patio with natural-toned wicker furniture beneath a canopy roof. “Very pretty.”

  “Thanks.” He headed toward a door on the right. “I’ll show you one of our rooms.”

  She followed him into a corridor, then stepped inside a guest room. Soft coral-hued walls and a moss-green carpet greeted her. Draperies and a bedspread picked up the colors.

  Nick crossed to the curtains and pulled them open. Behind was a wide window and a door that opened to a private patio that held a small wicker umbrella table and two chairs upholstered in the same cheery coral and green. “It’s beautiful, Nick.”

  “We bring in fresh flowers every day and chocolates. Pretty fancy, huh?”

  She chuckled at his pantomime putting the chocolate on a pillow. It seemed paradoxical with his outdoors look.

  “The rooms are pretty much the same except for the cabins. We’ve gone more rustic there and we deliver breakfast in a basket.”

  “I wish someone would do that for me.” When the words left her, she wished she hadn’t said them. They sounded like a come-on and she’d already wondered what kind of woman he thought she was. He’d given her so much unexpected attention.

  “Maybe someone will someday.” He turned away and drew the drapes again, shutting out the light.

  He grasped her arm and led her back into the lobby, then to his office. “I have a house on the island, too. It’s not far from here.” He gave her arm a squeeze when he released it.

  Warning buzzers sizzled in her head. “This is enough for one day, but thanks.” She felt breathless and when she looked at him, she realized he’d been taken aback.

  “I wasn’t suggesting anything, Rona. I’m sorry if it sounded like that.”

  She shook her head. “Don’t be sorry.” She wanted to tell him it was her jangled nerves, but she let it drop and so did he.

  He dug his hand into a pocket and pulled out a ring of keys. “Let’s get going.”

  Outside, he locked the office door and they settled into his SUV. When he pulled away, Rona looked down toward the water and the wide stretch of beach. She struggled to find something to talk about. Instead, she settled into silence.

  Nick turned on the radio and switched stations until he found music, then lowered the volume. He glanced at Rona and smiled. She tried to smile back, but her discomfort unsettled her. It wasn’t fear that bothered her, it was that hopeful desire to be Nick’s friend and to feel at ease in his company.

  “What kind of rental did you find?”

  His voice cut through the music and surprised her. “It’s more of a studio apartment in a house. The price is good, but I’ll feel as cramped as I do in the motel.”

  Quiet hung over them again, except for the country music drifting from the speakers. Nick looked ahead as a frown settled on his face, and he reached for the volume control and lowered the song to a faint hum. “I know a place that might work.”

  She faced him. “A place to live?”

  He nodded.

  “Really?” Her heart skipped, hoping it was what she wanted.

  “You can move to the island with us.”

/>   Yes. That’s what she so longed to hear.

  He twisted for a second to face her. “It’s not what you might be thinking, Rona. I know I upset you before.”

  She shook her head. “I understand.”

  “It’s a job. I’m looking for a housekeeper and I have living quarters above the boathouse.”

  Above a boathouse. She’d heard about the guestrooms. “I—I thought by now you’d filled the job. I read about it in the paper.”

  His eyes widened. “You didn’t ask me about it?”

  “No, I figured if you were interested you’d ask me.”

  He shook his head. “We both second-guessed each other.”

  Mixed emotion fluttered in her chest. He had been thinking of her.

  She wanted the job so badly, yet she worried. She didn’t know Nick well. And his son? How would she get along with him? Dealing with a teen could be frustrating. “I’d have to give Bernie notice if I take the job.”

  “Here’s a thought. Come to the island tomorrow. I know Bernie closes on Memorial Day. You can check out the apartment and meet Gary. What do you say? I’ll pick you up at the marina.”

  His look seemed so sincere that Rona couldn’t have said no if she’d wanted to, but she didn’t want to. “That sounds great and I’ll have time to think about your offer.” Think? That’s all she’d thought about.

  “I’m glad. We’ll talk business tomorrow then.”

  She agreed, but her heart didn’t want to talk business. Nick had wiggled into her life and she wanted to know him better. She wanted to talk about life and dreams. She wanted to talk about everything but the past. She had no desire to go there.

  After Nick dropped Rona at her apartment, he stopped at the market to pick up steaks and groceries for a barbecue tomorrow, and after storing those away at home, he dashed into the guesthouse apartment and eyed the space.

  He could picture Rona here with the sunlight streaming through the living room window and streaking through her honey-colored hair. Without a housekeeper, the apartment had been neglected. The room needed dusting and the carpet vacuuming. He headed into the bedroom. Though neat, it needed dusting, too. He checked the bathroom. The mirror gleamed, and he was grateful Rose had left the place in good condition. She’d had a good work ethic.