Healing the Widower's Heart

by Susan Anne Mason

  For a brief moment, Paige closed her eyes and allowed herself to float, listening to the many sounds around her. It was then she detected the subtle change in the wind, the slight increase in intensity. She doubted anyone else had noticed—they were all too intent on their tasks. She rose and took deliberate steps out the door. As she suspected, the sky had taken on an eerie quality. An odd greenish light glowed from within the rolling clouds. She remembered seeing a sky like this once before when she was a child—the day a tornado touched down.

  Her heart roared as fast as the wind. There wasn’t much time. Her breath came in gasps as she tore up the stairs, back into the church.

  “Tornado’s coming. Everyone into the basement,” she yelled.

  All activity stopped and a moment of stunned silence followed before the men and women took action. Immediately, Paige raced back outside, almost tripping over her own feet. The rain had eased off, but far more disturbing was the wind that swirled about her in a circular pattern. Leaves, paper and dirt danced in the air above her head. Blocking her face with her arms, she raced over to George and Nathan.

  “Get everyone inside.” She grabbed George’s arm and pointed at the sky.

  “I’ll get the others,” he shouted above the gale.

  “Where’s Dan?”

  “Inside the church, I think.”

  Paige’s thoughts flew to Gwen and the boys. Had anyone warned them? Paige pivoted, only to find Nathan blocking her path.

  “Where are you going?” The wind had torn off his hood, leaving his hair to blow freely, his face as thunderous as the sky.

  “To warn Gwen.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  She didn’t waste time arguing. The gales grew stronger by the minute. Nathan clamped his arm around her waist, and together they ran toward the house. He managed to wrench the front door open and bang it shut after they entered.

  “Gwen,” Paige called. Not bothering to remove her boots, she ran into the kitchen.

  Gwen looked up from the stove, startled.

  “Tornado’s coming,” Paige gasped out.

  Gwen’s eyes grew wide with alarm. “Where’s Dan?”

  Paige wasn’t about to tell Gwen she didn’t know for sure. “In the church. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.”

  Without a word, Gwen turned off the burner under a big pot, put the lid on and followed Paige into the living room, where the two kids sat playing video games.

  “Come on, boys. Let’s go down to the basement.”

  Gwen scooped Alex into her arms, while Paige waited for Johnny. The windows rattled as wildly as Paige’s nerves.

  “Is it a tornado?” Excitement glowed in Johnny’s eyes.

  “I don’t know, honey.” Paige tried to answer in a calm voice, despite her racing heart. “We need to be safe just in case.”

  The boy tucked his hand in hers, and they headed to the stairs.

  “Do you have a flashlight, a radio, batteries?” Nathan asked over his shoulder.

  Gwen nodded. “Everything’s in the basement. First door on the right.”

  The walls of the house literally shook as the group descended the stairs to the gloom below. A single bulb illuminated the cold gray walls and cement floor. The musty air seemed to shroud them as they entered. Johnny broke free from Paige’s grasp and ran to his mother.

  Paige moved to the middle of the room. Thankfully, there were no windows in the immediate area. They should be safe here. Gwen grabbed a stack of blankets from the corner and spread them into two thick sitting areas on the hard floor. With Alex on her lap and Johnny squeezed tight to her side, Gwen cuddled her family, murmuring words of comfort.

  Nathan found the flashlights on a metal table and checked them for battery strength. He opened his raincoat and pulled out his cell phone. Scowling, he stuffed it back in his pocket. “No signal down here.”

  Paige raised a weary hand to push back her soaked hood. She wanted to assure Nathan that Zach would be safe at Wyndermere, but spots danced before her eyes. “I think I need to sit down,” she whispered a second before her knees gave way.

  Nathan lunged, his strong arms grabbing her before she hit the ground. Gently, he lowered her to a pile of blankets on the floor.

  “Gwen, do you have any water?” His eyes never left Paige’s face as he unzipped her jacket.

  “In the cooler by the wall.”

  He went to get a bottle, cracked the lid and handed it to her, shadows dancing over his pinched features.

  She took several long gulps before handing it back. “Thank you.”

  Nathan frowned and captured her hand. “You’re bleeding.”

  She stared at the bloody gashes covering the backs of both hands as if they belonged to someone else.

  “There’s a first-aid kit on the table,” Gwen offered.

  Nathan retrieved the box, removed an antiseptic wipe and began to clean her wounds. The warmth of his hands seeped into her chilled ones. He checked the palms, his fingers whispering over hers, then lightly rubbed salve into the cuts and bandaged the bigger lesions. Paige trembled at the tenderness in his touch. When he finished, she raised her eyes to meet his intense stare, and her breath tangled in her lungs from the sheer force of emotion vibrating between them.

  Suddenly, a great roar, like a Learjet hovering over the roof, shattered the space. The entire house shook and groaned. The lightbulb flickered once, and then gave a loud pop, plunging them into total darkness.

  Alex and Johnny shrieked, their terror palpable. Paige’s nerves stretched to near breaking, and she clutched the soft cotton of Nathan’s shirt. He gathered her into his arms and sat with her on the blankets. In the anonymity of darkness, she took comfort from his solid presence, pressing her face against the warmth of his chest, where his steady heartbeat soothed her.

  Dear God, please keep us all safe. Let this tornado pass us by without harming anyone.

  The deafening roar seemed to rage on indefinitely until it appeared the house would surely cave in under the pressure. Then, as abruptly as the noise had started, everything went still.

  Paige lifted her head, listening for the next onslaught. After several minutes of eerie silence, she dared to hope the worst was over. The boys switched on the flashlights, and two beams of light cut a path through the darkness, focusing in on Paige and Nathan. She squinted against the glare, suddenly conscious of her proximity to Nathan. She tried to move away, but he held her fast.

  “Do you think it’s safe to go up?” Gwen asked in a hushed tone.

  “Not yet,” Nathan said. “Let’s give it a bit longer to be sure.”

  Paige knew Gwen was terrified for her husband and prayed Dan and the others were uninjured. As if sensing Paige’s fear, Nathan kept his arm around her, holding her snug against him. A few minutes later, pounding footsteps above them interrupted the silence. Gwen shot to her feet, a flashlight aimed at the foot of the stairs.

  “Gwen? Johnny? Alex?” Dan’s frantic voice preceded him into the room.

  A strangled cry escaped Gwen. The flashlight clattered to the ground as she threw herself into her husband’s arms. The sound of her sobs echoed in the small space. Both boys ran to join their parents, hugging the legs of the entwined pair.

  “Thank God,” Paige whispered, unaware of the tears that streamed down her face until they dripped off her chin.

  Dan gave his wife a passionate kiss, one almost too intimate to witness, then turned to hug his children close. “Everyone all right?”

  “Fine.” Nathan helped Paige to her feet. “How about everyone else?”

  “No injuries as far as I know.”

  “Did you see the ’nado, Daddy?” Alex asked.

  “No, son. I didn’t. We were very lucky it didn’t touch down here. Came pretty close though.”
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  “How’s George?” Paige wiped the moisture from her cheeks.

  “George and the others are fine. They’re in the church basement.”

  “Any damage?” Nathan asked.

  “Some. I’ll have to do a thorough check later. But first, let’s get out of here.”

  * * *

  After holding her close during the storm, Nathan hated to let Paige go, especially when she seemed so shaky. But his first priority had to be Zach’s safety. Once Paige was in Gwen’s capable hands, he set out to find George. The battery for Nathan’s phone had died while they were inside, and he prayed George had heard something from Wyndermere.

  George, along with some of the other men, had just emerged from the church as they arrived. “Nathan, Dan. Is everyone all right?”

  “They’re fine,” Dan told him.

  “Have you contacted Wyndermere yet?” Nathan asked.

  George walked toward them. “No signal in the basement. I’m going to try again now.”

  He whipped out his cell phone and punched in the numbers. A few seconds later, relief spread over his craggy features. “Catherine, honey. You’re all right?” He waited. “That’s good news. Yes, we’re all fine here.”

  They spoke for a few minutes more, with George doing most of the listening. Nathan could barely contain his impatience until the end of the call.

  “Everyone is safe and sound,” George told them at last. “The tornado, or whatever it was, missed them.”

  Nathan released the breath he’d been holding.

  “Catherine has gone to tell Zach that you and Paige are okay.”

  “Thank you.”

  George clapped him on the back. “Let’s finish this job so we can go home.”

  It took the crew another hour and a half to finally get the tree out of the church. By the time the last of the wood had been cleared, Nathan ached all over. Inside, however, he felt better than he had for a long time—needed and useful, part of a team working for a common goal. Dan’s parishioners were warm, kind and loyal. Their absolute acceptance of Nathan as one of their own only heightened his longing for his own parish. Did he dare even hope for such a thing?

  He paused, watching the men nailing plywood over the broken window, and waited for the familiar pain and guilt to swamp him.

  But it didn’t.

  Dan came up behind him. “The girls have food ready. Why don’t you take a break?”

  Nathan gave him a weary smile. “Only if you join me.”

  Dan returned the smile. “I wouldn’t miss Gwen’s chili for anything.”

  As they walked toward the rectory, Dan turned serious. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help today, Nathan.”

  “Don’t mention it. You’d have done the same.”

  Dan nodded. “Times like this make you appreciate your friends and your community.”

  “They sure do.” Nathan gave Dan a pensive look as they mounted the stairs to the house. “I’d like to set up a date to talk to you again whenever you can manage it.” He stopped. “Sorry. Timing’s probably not the best.”

  A grin spread across Dan’s boyish face. “No time like the present. I’ll check my schedule as soon as we eat.”

  Chapter Twelve

  On her way through the Wyndermere lobby the next day, Paige picked up a newspaper from the front desk counter, pausing to scan the headlines. According to national weather reports, a small tornado had indeed passed by yesterday, touching down briefly in a wooded area to the north of them. Thankfully the only damage sustained was some fallen trees and a few downed power lines. Wyndermere itself had come through relatively unscathed with some minor water damage and a few uprooted trees on the property.

  That morning, Paige and Sandy had kept the children’s schedule running as close to normal as possible, while Jerry helped the rest of the crew with the outdoor cleanup. She looked at her watch as she walked. Hopefully the work was finished by now. They needed Jerry for the last rehearsal before the play’s grand performance tomorrow.

  Paige’s pulse skittered as her thoughts turned to Nathan. If he followed his usual routine, he’d probably come to watch them rehearse. After the intimate moments spent together yesterday, the way he’d bandaged her hands and held her during the ordeal, Paige wasn’t sure how to react around him. The feelings she’d been trying so hard to ignore kept bubbling to the surface.

  Tucking the folded newspaper under her arm with her clipboard, she pushed through the auditorium doors. Right away, her gaze collided with Nathan’s across the room. He moved away from the stage and headed toward her. She swallowed her nerves and pasted on a smile.

  “How are you this morning?” His gaze was warm and friendly.

  She moved the clipboard, hugging it to her torso, as if shielding herself from her emotions. “Okay. And you?”

  He smiled, rubbing his upper arm. “Muscles are sore. Haven’t done that much manual labor in a while.”

  She shifted in her sneakers. “I wanted to thank you for...well, for everything.” She willed the color from creeping into her cheeks.

  He glanced at the bandages still covering her hands. “Someone had to look after you. Did George speak to you yet?”

  She frowned. “How did you know?”

  A light of amusement shone in his eyes. “I figured he’d have a few choice things to say.”

  She lifted her chin. “You may be surprised to learn that he thanked me for helping.”

  “Really?” He raised a brow. “I thought he’d chew you out for disobeying orders.”

  She let out a sigh. “That, too. The truth is I deserved a reprimand. Being impulsive is one of my biggest flaws.”

  “And one of your more charming features.” He winked at her, and Paige’s heart skipped into overdrive.

  The sound of children’s voices pulled her back into work mode. “I’d love to stay and discuss my charms, but I’m late for rehearsal.”

  His low chuckle rumbled behind her as she hurried to meet the campers.

  Two hours and several small mishaps later, they wrapped up the dress rehearsal. Overall, Paige was pleased with the performance. She jotted ideas on her clipboard for a few subtle changes that would make things run more smoothly. As she passed through the hall on her way to the change room, she found Jerry sprawled on a bench, eyes closed.

  She gave his shoulder a playful punch. “Hey, why so gloomy? Everything went great.”

  When he opened his eyes, alarm shot through her. His face was chalky white, his eyes glassy.

  “You don’t look so good.”

  He wiped the sweat from his brow. “Just tired.”

  “You must have overdone it yesterday.” She peered closer. “Are you sure you’re not coming down with something?”

  He shrugged off her concern and got to his feet. “Nah. It’s this costume and the stage lights. I’ll be fine.”

  She frowned. “If you say so.”

  Despite his assurances, an uneasy feeling plagued Paige as she watched him leave.

  * * *

  The next morning it was official. Jerry had contracted a nasty stomach virus and would be unable to perform in the play.

  Paige sat in the cafeteria, her breakfast untouched, trying to imagine how she was going to break the news to the kids. In addition, she now had to juggle their schedule for the day’s activities without Jerry.

  Equally dejected, Sandy picked at her eggs. “What a shame after all their hard work.”

  “They’re going to be so disappointed.” Paige sighed. “Maybe we can do the play at the end of August, instead of the talent show I had planned.”

  “Maybe.”

  Paige pulled out her clipboard and pen. “Right now we need to change today’s activities.”

 
The two were deep in concentration over the paperwork when a shadow fell across the table. Paige glanced up, surprised to see Nathan standing there, looking crisp and neat in dark pants and a white golf shirt.

  “Good morning, ladies. I hear you have a dilemma on your hands.”

  Paige frowned. “How did you know? We haven’t told anyone yet.”

  “I ran into George in the dining room. He told me about Jerry.”

  Sandy drained the last of her orange juice and stood to leave.

  “Wait a minute, please,” Nathan said. “I have a proposition for you both.”

  Sandy folded her arms and cocked her head to one side. “What kind of proposition?”

  Nathan looked from one woman to the other. “What would you think of me playing the part of the captain?”

  Paige’s jaw dropped open, but no words formed. Nathan as the male lead—opposite her?

  “I’ve been at almost all the rehearsals, and I’ve played the part before. I’m sure if I run over the script a few times today, I could manage it.”

  “No.” Panic snaked through Paige’s chest. Not a good idea. Not when it would mean having to kiss at the end.

  Sandy frowned. “Why not? I think it’s a fantastic idea.”

  Paige’s mind reeled, her gaze fused to the papers on the table. “A different captain will throw the kids off. And the costume won’t fit.”

  Sandy’s dark eyes narrowed. “The kids will adapt. And I can fix the costume this afternoon.”

  Paige searched for a valid reason to refuse and couldn’t come up with a thing. “I don’t know. This could be a disaster.” Especially for her. A kiss would do nothing to help diminish her attraction to Nathan.

  Nathan studied her. “We don’t want to let the kids down, do we? A mediocre performance would be better than none at all.”

  “I agree.” Sandy shot to her feet, tugging Paige’s arm. “Come on. We’ve got a lot of work to do. Nathan, I’ll meet you later to adjust the costume.”

  Paige rose, her jaw tight. “I guess it’s settled then.”

  If only her stomach would settle, as well.

  * * *