An Ordinary Love (A Christian Contemporary Romance) (Sidney's Sanctuary Book 1)

by Tina Bustamante

  He glanced around the foyer and spotted Astrid Peterson standing next to the bulletin board. She gripped her handbag close to herself. Her lips were pinched together. Her short hair was always sprayed and didn’t move even under the stress of a hurricane. Her perfume wafted over to him and smelled so sweet it made his eyes tear up. She owned the only bed and breakfast on the island. That was until Sidney opened her bed and breakfast.

  Her eyes were squinted. As she lifted her head to look at him, her gaze was cold.

  “Astrid, how are you?” he asked. Astrid Peterson was the oldest daughter of a Finish fisherman, raised in a stoic family known for fulfilling their religious duties. She had been widowed years ago and ended up raising her granddaughter, Candace, all alone. Candace had given her grandmother incredible amounts of grief most of her teenage life.

  “I’m glad you’re here Pastor Matt, even though it’s a Saturday. Can we go somewhere more private to talk?”

  He nodded.“Yes, of course.” He led her into his office. In the corner were two wingback chairs and a round table in between. He sat in the chair farthest from the door. He held out his hand, offering her the other.

  She sat down, set her purse in her lap, and pinched her lips together again.“I have a couple of important things to discuss with you.”

  She was his most faithful complainer. Also, his most faithful informer.

  “I heard your neighbor is opening up an inn next door. Is that right?”

  “As a matter of fact she is. Her name is Sidney. She’s delightful. She’s young and unmarried. My grandson is taken with her.”

  “Well, in my experience young single women are not capable of running a good inn. They’re too busy trying to have sex with their guests.”

  “Astrid! Sidney Franklin seems like a wonderful woman. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  “I’m going to do my best to be a Christian neighbor. But don’t blame me if the whole idea falls apart and all her guests come running to my house for breakfast. Rumor is she can’t even cook.”

  He pushed his glasses further up his nose and leaned back in his chair.“Astrid, you said there were a couple of reasons why you came. What is the other reason?”

  She pursed her lips and took a deep breath.“Candace is pregnant. She’s been pregnant for a few weeks. Already seen your son.” Her hands gripped harder around her purse and her knuckles turned white. She pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes, although he didn’t see any tears. She swallowed.“I went through her bag yesterday and found the prenatal vitamins and information your son gave her.”

  He started to say something. She held up her hand with the palm out as if she were controlling the traffic.“I am here, Pastor, because Candace refuses to tell me who the father is. You’re going to have to help me find out.”

  Matt’s heart sped up. He rubbed his forehead and straightened the glasses on his face. He gulped.“Astrid, I’m so sorry Candace is pregnant. I’m glad she saw Kell. He’s a good doctor, but it’s confidential when you go to the doctor’s office. He won’t be able to tell me anything.”

  She turned her head to look at him so quickly and he felt her infamous cold-hearted stare freeze his insides.“Pastor Matthew, that’s why I’ve come to you. You’ve got to do something. You’re the only one who can. I am not going to sit and watch Candace take all the responsibility for a pregnancy without asking the boy who did this to own his part. I can’t do this again.”

  “Astrid, I understand your concern. I’m sure Candace will tell you in her own time.”

  “Do you know my granddaughter? She has a stubborn streak as hard as granite.” She shook her head and fanned her face.“Lord only knows where it came from. If Candace doesn’t want to do something, there’s no moving her. I’m sure she told the doctor. He’s your son. He’ll tell you.”

  “I’m not in any position to get that sort of information. Even if she told Kell, he’s not going to tell me.”

  She leaned back in her chair.“Been a lot of talk about retirement hasn’t there, Matthew? They say you’re reluctant to give up your position here. I think it’s a little early to be talking about retirement myself. Us islanders have to stick together.” She leaned forward a little.“I think with my influence I could get the session to drop any word of retirement for a couple more years.”

  His face turned pale white. His eyes went blurry.“Astrid, my retirement is something I’m praying about.” His voice came out cracked.“We should focus on helping Candace. She’s going to become a mother.”

  She stood up, raised her eyebrows and leaned over.“Remember what I said. My parents started this church. My father donated the wood from his own lumberyard. My voice matters.” She opened his office door and stepped out.“It’s only right that the young man come forward. He is just as responsible as she is, don’t you think?” She walked out before he could say anything.

  Oh Astrid Peterson. He had a love hate relationship with this island. Traditions, important people, politics, diplomacy. All the things he hated trying to maneuver through. He didn’t want to retire. He knew in his heart he had a good five more years to offer the church. His people still needed him. They weren’t ready for him to go. If Astrid could help him stay on a few years longer, why was that bad? Besides, she had a point. Candace shouldn’t be the only one in this situation to take responsibility.

  He silently prayed, asking God to give him wisdom. What should he do? Could he find out who the baby’s father was? This was a small island and word traveled fast. He could ask his secretary to do some asking around. He could talk to Kell. Maybe Kell would at least lead him in the right direction.

  He would also have to tell Sidney to be careful. Astrid had enough influence on the island to single-handedly sabotage her entire business before it even got off the ground. Which reminded him—he grabbed the notice from his bag and walked out to the foyer and pinned it on the bulletin board.

  He went back to his office and opened his Bible, going through his sermon notes and scripture text for tomorrow. He took some time to pray for Betty and Dan Holberg. He prayed for God to restore, for Dan to realize what he’d done and how much he’d hurt his wife. He prayed for Candace. He also prayed for Astrid. His heart was troubled.

  Perhaps he should try to talk to Candace himself? People confessed things to him all the time. She might spill the entire story to him out of sheer desperation. He prayed for a way to help Candace in the middle of this whole mess. He asked God to make it all come around, to redeem it somehow.

  ~

  The next morning, he arrived at the church about an hour early. His favorite time of the week was Sunday morning just before service. He’d kneel on one of the pews and offer the service to the Lord. However, this particular Sunday morning he wasn’t alone. A girl sat in one of the pews in the front of the sanctuary. Her cropped blond hair and black clothes reminded him of Candace Peterson, but she hadn’t stepped foot in the church for years.

  He took a few steps forward and the wood floor squeaked underneath him. She turned around and their eyes met. It was Candace. She jumped up, startled, wiped underneath her eyes, and grabbed her bag.

  “Hi, Candace,” he said. His voice was gentle.“I’m so glad you’re here. Is everything all right?”

  “Hey, Pastor Matt.” She took a step out of the pew, into the aisle.“I’m leaving now. I needed a few minutes of peace and quiet by myself.”

  He couldn’t let her leave. God had brought this young girl right to his doorstep. He needed to help her. This was the perfect opportunity to talk with her.“Are you sure you don’t want to stay and talk for a few minutes or stay for the service? Sometimes it’s just what we need to bring a sense of peace—God’s presence. Especially in times of difficulty.”

  Candace hung her head and shook it slowly, recognition dawning on her face.“My grandmother told you, didn’t she? I can’t believe her. She’s such an old hag. What, is she blackmailing you to find out who the father is?” Candace threw her bag over he
r shoulder and started to push past him.“I’m not telling. And that’s final.”

  Pastor Matt cleared his throat. Goodness, he wasn’t expecting such intensity.“She’s just worried about you is all. She didn’t tell me who got you in trouble, though. I was hoping I could help.”

  “You were hoping to be her spy, more like it. I’m not telling anyone who the father is. You can put a big old A on my shirt for all I care.”

  Pastor Matt realized he had underestimated Candace. She was barely eighteen, pregnant, and alone, but not stupid.

  Candace was talking again.“I’ll figure out what to do. Don’t you worry about me.”

  “You might not want to tell us who the father is, but what about him? What does he think about all this?”

  She shook her head.“He doesn’t know.”

  Matt leaned back.“Don’t you think he has a right to know?”

  She shrugged.“I’m pretty sure me and the Supreme Court agree that this is my body, not his.”

  “Yes, I know about the law. However, there is an issue of ethics here don’t you think?”

  “Pastor Matt, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re just an old-fashioned pastor who’s lost touch with reality.”

  Thoughts jumbled around his mind. He had not lost touch with reality. How could this young whippersnapper think that? It’s not like teenage pregnancy was anything new.

  Candace put her hand to mouth with a distinct look of someone with a bout of nausea.“Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom before I leave.”

  “It’s in the foyer, right next to the bulletin board.”

  She rolled her eyes as she walked past him.“I remember where the bathroom is.”

  “Of course you do. I’ll be in my office if you need anything.”

  “I don’t need anything from you.” She exited the doors from the small sanctuary and stepped into the bathroom.

  Matt gripped his Bible, wondering what he could do to make this situation better. He stepped into his office, but kept the door open in case Candace changed her mind and wanted to talk before service.

  He opened his Bible and took out his notes. He started to read through them slowly, when he heard the toilet flush. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Candace come out of the ladies bathroom. She started for the door, but turned around to see the bulletin board. Her eyes rested on one of the notices. Matt pushed his glasses up onto his nose better, and looked down at his Bible before she caught him spying on her. She cleared her throat.

  “Hey,” she said.

  Matt looked up from his reading.

  Her hand was on one of the notices.“You mind if I take this job advertisement?”

  He stood, went to his door, and leaned against it.“The one for the new bed and breakfast?”

  “Yeah. I’m looking for a job.”

  He crinkled his eyebrows.“You don’t think that would be a bit of a conflict of interest for you? Your grandmother owns the only other bed and breakfast on the island.”

  She pulled the tack off the board and snatched the small piece of paper Sidney had typed up for him the day before. Candace brought it closer to read.“Might be a conflict of interest for my grandmother,” she said,“but I’ve got a heck of a lot more experience than any one else on this island. This lady’d be a fool not to hire me.”

  “Don’t forget to tell her you’re expecting a child.”

  Candace glared at him.“That’s my business. No one else’s. Besides I’m not even keeping it.” She gripped her bag and turned towards the door.“Thanks for the chat, Pastor Matt.”

  “Wait. Do you mean you plan to terminate the pregnancy?”

  “Once again, none of your business. But just so you don’t go marching off to my grandmother—no. I’m giving it up for adoption.”

  “Candace, you have the right to do whatever you want, but you need to tell the baby’s father. He needs to have a choice in all this.”

  “Good-bye, Pastor Matt. See you around.”

  He took a deep breath and watched her walk out of the church. He decided to focus on the morning’s service. There wasn’t much else he could do. After church, he’d try to warn Sidney to steer clear.

  ~

  It was raining outside. Not a hard rain, just the consistent patter of rain drops falling against her roof. Sidney was glancing through a Country Living magazine trying to get ideas for a couple of bedrooms, when she heard a car pull up. Betty had left for church only a few minutes before and afterwards she was going to bring home everything needed to teach Sidney how to make cinnamon rolls. Betty promised Sidney the cinnamon rolls would make her bed and breakfast the most famous one in all the San Juan Islands.

  Sidney heard footsteps come to the main door, followed by a soft knock. Who would be coming to see her right now?

  To Sidney’s surprise, a young woman dressed like she belonged in downtown Seattle and not on Perez Island stood at her front door. She was petite, not more than five-feet-tall with cropped blond hair, black clothes from head to toe, even black nail polish. Her blue eyes, which could have been a beautiful addition to an adorable face, seemed glazed over and hard.

  “I’m sorry to come over without calling first.” The young girl held up the advertisement Sidney had passed onto Matthew the day before.“I saw this at the church bulletin board,” she explained,“and decided to come over before anyone else beat me to it. I’m Candace.”

  Sidney’s face broke out in a wide smile. It seemed to catch the girl’s attention.“It’s nice to meet you, Candace.” She opened her front door a bit further.“Would you like to come inside?”

  The young woman cleared her throat.“I was hoping to apply for this housekeeper job.”

  Sidney motioned for her to come through the door.“Oh sure. Why don’t you have a seat in the living room? Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  The young woman stepped into the mansion, clutching her purse, and sat down in one of chairs.“No, thank you.”

  “I’ll be right back. I’d like a cup of coffee and I need to get some paper and a pen. How about something to eat?”

  “Sure. Maybe some crackers?”

  “I’ll see what I can find.” Sidney stepped into her kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. She found some Wheat Thins in the cupboard and brought out a small bowl of them for Candace.

  She handed her the bowl and sat down in the chair next to her.“Tell me a little bit about yourself? Have you ever had a housekeeping job in the past?”

  Candace picked up a cracker and took a small bite. She nodded.“My grandmother runs the only other B & B on the island. I’ve changed a few sheets in my day.”

  “Your grandmother owns The Wild Ivy Inn?”

  “Yes. I’ve lived there my whole life.”

  Sidney could tell by the way the girl shifted her eyes that she wasn’t telling her everything.“Do you have any references? Like I said on the advertisement, the job comes with room and board and an added hourly wage. Are you wanting to stay at your grandmother’s inn, or live here?”

  “I need to move. That’s why this job appealed to me.” She held the 3x5 card in one hand and ran it through her fingers with the other hand.“I can get some references for you later today. I’m eighteen and just graduated high school. I’m not going to college, yet. I need to figure some things out first.”

  “I see. I know all about needing to figure a few things out.” Sidney bit her bottom lip. There was something this girl was not telling her, but she got the feeling no matter how much she pried, Candace would keep her thoughts to herself.

  “I don’t plan on doing a drug test, but I expect my employees to be drug free.”

  The young girl’s eyes shifted and turned towards Sidney.“I don’t do drugs. At least not now.”

  Sidney nodded.“That’s good. Okay. You can clean, change sheets, dust, help with the fall gardening and with breakfasts in the morning—that is, when we get some guests. Why don’t we try it for a month and we’ll take it from the
re?”

  Candace’s eyes lit up.“You’ll hire me?”

  “Why don’t we give it a month and see how it works out. If I like how everything’s going, I’ll hire you more permanently, then.”

  Candace stood up and shook Sidney’s hand.“That’s perfect. Thank you.”

  “When do you want to start?”

  “As soon as possible. I can start this afternoon. I need to go and get my things.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll show you where your room is and you can come back later on today.”

  “That’s perfect.”

  After Sidney showed her the room, Candace grabbed her bag.

  “I’ll be back this afternoon. Thanks again, for the opportunity.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll see you later on.”

  Sidney closed the door with a slight smile on her face and walked to the kitchen to get another cup of coffee. She thought it was going to take months to hire someone as a house cleaner. And not only had it been easy, but she hired someone with experience. But, there was something nagging at Sidney. She got the feeling Candace was trying to escape something or get away from somewhere. Well, if it didn’t work out she’d only lose a month.

  Sidney poured herself another big mug of coffee, splashed some cream into it and went back to her magazine. Sunday mornings were wonderfully calm on the island.

  She perused the magazine, enjoying the different decorating ideas. After she finished with her coffee, she decided to get in the shower before Betty came home from church. Sidney showered, and instead of blow-drying her hair, she pulled it back into a long braid down the middle of her back. And before she had time to put any make-up on she heard the doorbell ring.

  Candace was already back, standing at her door with three large suitcases. Sidney had no idea how she had managed to get three suitcases packed in such a short amount of time.

  Sidney opened the door.“Back already? I thought it would at least take a few hours for you to get your things ready.”