by Mary Manners
As she climbed into the truck, she fought the urge to cry. She wouldn’t allow him to see that weakness in her.
****
“Rena’s awfully quiet today.” Kyle hoisted another bundle of shingles up to Cody, who was perched on the roof with his feet dangling over the edge. “Kelsie told me she overslept, and that you went to pick her up. Did something happen between you two on the way over here?”
“She freaked out a little...a lot.” Cody paused to wipe moisture from his brow. The sun beat down on the black tar roof, baking him as he worked to lay shingles in neat rows. The smell of sawdust mingled with sweat as it drifted up from the circular saw that whined through two-by-fours below. He briefly related what had happened at the truck that morning. “I was just trying to get her attention and keep Sammy from taking all her food, but she backed away like I intended to hit her.”
“Hmm…” Kyle studied Rena as she helped unload, sort, and stack various building materials from a trailer that had pulled onto the site. “Maybe you should try talking to her.”
“Holding a conversation with Rena is like trying to crack open a vault….next to impossible.”
“Remember, with God nothing is impossible.”
“Yeah, well...” Cody pondered the wisdom of those words as he laid a series of shingles across the plywood roof. His gaze found Rena below, where she worked with Kelsie to organize materials for the next leg of the project. “OK, I’ll give it another shot. I’d really like to know...why won’t she trust me, even a little bit?”
“Good.” Kyle opened a fresh box of roofing nails. “Now toss me that nail gun and let’s get this roof done. I’ve got a hot date tonight with a beautiful woman.”
Cody laughed. “I hope you’ll still say that twenty years from now when you and Kelsie have a houseful of rowdy kids and a mortgage the size of Montana.”
“My friend, I’ll still say it after fifty years, when we’re just another really, really old married couple with a troop of great-grandkids and a room at the local retirement home.”
“You know, you’re making it awfully hard for me to keep a certain commandment.”
“And that would be?”
“Thou shalt not covet. I want to be crazy in love, too.”
“Well, you’re halfway there—crazy, that is. Do something about the in love part. You know, God helps those—”
“I know, I know…who help themselves. Point taken.”
Later, Cody found Rena lounging beneath a shade tree feeding Sammy bites of grilled hot dog. Workers had gone for the day except for Pastor Marcus, who was tidying up the site and tossing trash into a dumpster set off to the back side of the lot.
“I see you’re spoiling my dog again.” Sammy wolfed down the last bit of hotdog and then laid his head in Rena’s lap. The dog sighed contentedly as she stroked his neck.
“I hope you don’t mind. He looked hungry.”
“He knows how to work a crowd.” Cody grinned, and she surprised him by grinning back. “Mind if I sit with you?”
Rena hesitated only a moment, then patted the ground. “I guess it’s OK.”
Though he would have preferred to sit beside her, he left Sammy as a buffer between them when he settled to the ground. The breeze lifted wavy strands of Rena’s long ponytail and carried the scent of her honeysuckle perfume.
“Hey, buddy,” Cody murmured as he scratched Sammy’s back. “Have you been a good boy today? Did you stay out of mischief?”
“He got into the potato chips,” Rena offered. “He devoured half a bag of sour cream and onion before Pastor Marcus caught him and took the bag away.”
“Great...I don’t think chips are on the list of easily digestible foods for dogs.”
As if on cue, Sammy lifted his head to belch.
“Oh, bad dog!” Cody scolded. “You really have to work on your manners, Sammy. You’re becoming an embarrassment.”
Rena laughed. The sound was music to Cody’s ears. He settled back against the tree trunk.
“I’m sorry about this morning,” he offered when the laughter eased and she caught her breath.
The smile left her face. “It’s OK. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I frightened you.”
“It wasn’t you. It’s just…”
Cody looked into her eyes and said firmly, “Rena, I would never hurt you. Not intentionally—and certainly not physically.” He felt a sudden, overwhelming desire to protect her. How could anyone hurt her? She’s was...fragile, yet strong, too.
He studied the battered tool belt on the ground beside her. He’d seen her drive a nail. Her aim—the speed—were impressive.
“I know that, Cody.” Her gaze lowered and she sighed. “At least I think I know you wouldn’t…hurt me, that is.”
“Trust comes hard, doesn’t it?”
Slowly, she nodded.
“That’s OK,” he soothed, undaunted. “You don’t know me very well yet. When you do, you’ll see that I’m telling the truth. I don’t mind earning your trust.”
His heart skipped a beat as Rena dared to glance up at him with huge honey eyes.
“I never told you...” She smoothed a stray hair from her face. “It’s Dunigan.”
“Done again?” Cody watched her fingers, long and delicate, as they wound the blonde strand back into the ponytail. “What’s done again?”
“My last name. It’s Dunigan.”
“I see.”
Rena nudged Sammy from her lap and stood up, brushing grass from the seat of her jeans. She gathered her tool belt and, without another word, she left Cody sitting there in the shade staring after her.
Light the Fire
5
“I liked that story.” Jilly wiggled onto Rena’s lap. Story hour had ended and the other preschoolers had dispersed after the first reading of Sam, Bangs, and Moonshine, yet Jilly snuggled up to Rena like a baby panda to its mama. “Will you read it again, Miss Rena? Please.”
“Maybe just once more.” Rena hugged the little girl who smelled of peanut butter and crackers. She smoothed springy wheat-blonde curls that refused to be tamed by a brush, and sighed. Story hour was her favorite part of the job at the library. She loved bringing storybooks to life for children and adored the smiles of delight on their cherubic faces.
“I like your coat.” Jilly fingered the large buttons on a bright yellow rain slicker Rena wore along with a black rain hat and shiny galoshes. She looked just like the fisherman from the story she’d read, with waves of hair tucked up beneath the hat and the length of the slicker covering her street clothing from neck to shins.
“Can I hold Bangs?” Jilly reached for the stuffed fat black cat Rena had allowed the children to take turns cuddling while she read.
“Yes, you may.” They settled in together for another reading. The rhythmic rocking of the chair along with Rena’s lilting voice lulled Jilly into silence. Her hushed yawns punctuated each turn of the page.
When the story was told once more, Rena gazed at the spirited little girl whose sleepy gaze was trained on her with such innocent expectation.
“How’d you like to take this book home and look at the pictures again?”
“Can I?”
“Sure. We’ll check it out with your library card. Your mom will read it to you again—maybe after you’ve had a little nap.”
“And again and again and again!”
Jilly’s mom wandered over from the magazine section where she’d been relaxing. She flashed Rena a wry grin as if to say, “Thanks a lot.” She’d be surprised to know Rena envied her, that she longed for a child of her own to cuddle on her lap and read never-ending stories to.
Allie would be two years old now. The realization filled Rena with regret. Oh, to have just one story hour with the precious child, to feel her warm, sleepy body as they rocked through naptime.
Rena swallowed tears as she nudged Jilly gently from her lap. She cleared her throat and plastered on a smile. “Take the book and let you
r mom help you check it out. I’ll see you next week, OK?”
“OK. Thanks, Miss Rena.” Jilly sneaked another quick hug before she gathered the picture book and scampered off to join her mom.
Rena forced memories away as she stretched her cramped legs, and then tidied the children’s story area. The kids had done a simple craft activity, and she gathered sticky confetti clippings of bright construction paper from the tables and floor. She hummed softly as she worked to keep the memories away.
“You’re one incredibly cute fisherman, or should I say fisherwoman?”
Startled, Rena swung toward the deep voice. The heel of her galoshes snagged on carpet and she stumbled into Cody. The rain hat toppled off her head.
“How long have you been…um… sitting there?” The sight of his tall, muscular form folded into a miniature plastic chair meant for a toddler was comical. Rena laughed as she righted herself by pressing one hand against his chest.
“Long enough. That was one heck of a story. I can’t believe I’ve been missing this.”
“Yeah, well, we aim to give the crowd its money’s worth.” Rena quickly put distance between them. She tried hard not to notice the muscles straining against Cody’s T-shirt and the clean, masculine scent of his aftershave. “Sometimes that means an encore reading to one very persistent little customer.”
“Makes me want to be four again.”
“Thank you.” Rena collected the rain hat from the floor and tipped it toward Cody matter-of-factly, then unbuttoned the rain slicker, fanning herself. A flush of heat crept up her neck. Suddenly the room felt summertime warm. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to beg your boss into giving you an hour off so I can take you to lunch, but it seems you are the boss.”
Rena smirked at him as she tugged the galoshes from her feet and replaced them with navy pumps. “Actually, the taxpayers of this little community are the bosses.”
“Then this taxpayer is requesting your company for lunch.”
Rena slid the slicker from her shoulders, uncovering a floral-print rayon blouse. “I have books to shelve.” She motioned toward a cart overflowing with returns.
“I’ll help.”
“And interlibrary loan orders to place and fill.”
“Interlibrary…?” Cody scratched his head. “I can help with those, too.”
“And I have to catalog a new shipment of books and magazines that have just arrived.” She pointed to stacks of boxes that buried the floor of her office.
Cody spread his arms wide, surrendering. “I’ve got plenty of time, Rena. I’ll help with whatever you need.”
“In that case, the restrooms need cleaning.”
“I’ll—whoa, hold up.” Blue eyes grew round with mortification. “You’re joking, right?”
“Gotcha.” Rena laughed. Her throat no longer felt tight with sorrow. Cody had chased away the tears, but the memories would always be there.
A slow smile spread across Cody’s face. He unfolded himself from the chair. “Good one. Now, how about lunch?”
She avoided the question as she strode around the room, pushing tiny chairs against low, wooden tables. “How’s Sammy?”
“He survived the potato chip buffet without too much damage. He misses seeing you, though. He told me so this morning over sweet rolls and coffee.”
She paused to glance at him. “Maybe you should bring him by the library for a visit, then.”
“Yeah. He could sit on your lap while you tell him a story.”
Suddenly she stopped pushing in chairs and slipped into one, instead. “Oh, Cody, you’re amazing. That’s a brilliant idea!”
“I am? It is?” His gaze told her he didn’t understand. He settled into the chair beside her. “What idea?”
“Does Sammy like kids?”
“He’s OK with my nephews, even when they climb on his back and try to ride him like a horse. Why?”
“I promised the kids that next week I’ll read Clifford the Big Red Dog and I’ve been racking my brain for a way to bring the story to life.” Rena stumbled over the words, nearly too excited to speak. “Sammy would be perfect! We could dress him in a huge red T-shirt and tie a bandanna around his neck. And we could take photos of the kids with him, and—”
“Well…I don’t know…”
Her voice faltered. “You…you don’t think it’s a good idea?”
“Sure, I do. I guess you can borrow Sammy for the morning, but it’s gonna cost you… Dinner with me.”
“Oh. In that case…” Rena jumped from the chair to pace the colorful carpet. She wouldn’t give in, couldn’t go down that dangerous path again. If she took a favor from him with strings attached, who knew where it might lead? She’d been lured once by Carl’s promises—with devastating results. No. She’d stand firm on this. No bending. No giving in. “I guess I could rent a costume at the shop downtown if I must. We might have some money in the budget, though it’s tight. I’ll have to check. I can’t let the children down. Maybe—”
“Wow, Rena.” Cody unfolded himself from the toddler chair once again and stood to face her. “It’s just dinner. I’m not asking you to sacrifice a limb or your firstborn child or anything like that.”
A boulder lodged in Rena’s throat. Sacrifice my firstborn child…
“What is it?” Cody had her by the shoulders now. Concern filled his eyes. “What did I say? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I-I…”
“It’s OK. Whatever I said, just forget it. I won’t hold Sammy ransom. I’ll bring him here bright and early Monday morning to get primped for story hour. He’ll make a great Hereford.” Cody’s car keys jangled as he pulled them from the pocket of his jeans. “I’m sorry. I should go. Maybe we can have lunch…some other time.” He started toward the door.
“Cody, please…wait,” Rena managed. When he turned back to face her, she said simply, “It’s Clifford, not Hereford. A Hereford’s a cow, not a dog.”
“I knew that.”
“And, well...I’ll go with you…to dinner.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.” She nodded for emphasis. It was only dinner. She’d eat, chat a bit, and then go home. It was a small sacrifice for the pleasure Sammy would bring to dozens of kids next week. She could do it. She would do it.
“OK, then.” Cody studied her as if he heard the wheels of reason spinning in her head. “If you’ll give me your number I’ll call you later, and we can figure out the details, if that’s OK.”
She managed a thin smile. “That would be fine.”
****
“OK, Rena, what’s gnawing at you today?” Kelsie spread a red and white checkered tablecloth across the rectangular folding table she’d brought to the building site. She set out platters of food for the workers, who had grown in number over the past few weeks.
“Why do you ask?” Rena lifted a bowl of potato salad from the nearby cooler and set it on the table beside a platter of hamburger buns. The scent of chives tickled her nose.
“Because you nearly bit my head off when I tried to help you hang Sheetrock earlier”
”Well, you almost nailed my hand to the two-by-four.”
Kelsie rolled her eyes as she stacked paper plates beside bins of plastic forks and knives. “A minor detail. You’ve been short-tempered all day and that’s just not like you. So, spill.”
Rena sighed and unwrapped plates of sugar cookies and frosted fudge brownies. “I made a terrible mistake.”
“Just one?” Kelsie propped a hand on her hip. “In that case, you’re doing a lot better than I am.”
“I’m being serious.”
“So am I. What is it, Rena? What’s this big mistake?” Kelsie stared at her with huge hazel eyes that seemed to change color with her mood. Now they were a dangerous smoky gray.
“I agreed to go to dinner with Cody…tonight.” Just the thought of it made her belly flip-flop.
“Oh, Rena, that’s awesome news!” Kelsie hug
ged her, smothering her in strawberry scented curls.
“No, it’s not awesome news.”
Kelsie stepped back and narrowed her gaze. “Why not?”
The words gushed out. “Because I’ll be alone with him. What will we talk about? What will we…do? What if he thinks dinner means something more? What if he tries to force me—?”
“Whoa, Rena. Stop right there.” Kelsie held up a hand. “Cody’s not going to force you to do anything. You’ll have a nice dinner and you’ll talk…about whatever. You’re getting way ahead of yourself here. Don’t borrow trouble.”
“Oh, Kelsie, you know I can’t have anything to do with Cody. It’s just not fair…to him.” She lowered her gaze as tears filled her eyes. “Because eventually he’ll find out about…well, you know…and he won’t want anything to do with me.”
“Nonsense.” Kelsie brushed a tear from her cheek. “You don’t know that for a fact, Rena. Cody’s a great guy. You need to give him some credit. Don’t put words in his mouth. Give him a chance.”
“I just can’t go through with this. I can’t go to dinner with him. I have to talk to him before this goes any further and tell him I’ve changed my mind.” Her gaze flitted to Cody who was up on the roof laying the last few rows of shingles. Even from across the yard she saw his skin glistened from exertion. He was a hard worker, dedicated to the job, and he seemed to take a great deal of pride in doing things right. His work ethic impressed her, yet Rena forced the feeling back. “I’m going to tell him—right now.” She turned away from Kelsie to march across the yard.
“You’ll do no such thing.” Kelsie grabbed Rena’s arm and pulled her back. “You’ll go with Cody, and you’ll get to know him. You’ll have a good time. It will be fun.” Her intense gaze was impossible to deny. “You deserve to have a little fun, Rena. It’s been way too long.”
Hot tears burned Rena’s eyes and blurred her vision. “I don’t want to know Cody. I just want to go home. Oh, this is all a horrible mistake!”
“You can’t hide forever.” Kelsie sighed and handed her a napkin from the table. “Rena, listen to me. Go with Cody tonight, and if for some reason it doesn’t work out and you find yourself having a miserable time, call me and I’ll come get you right away. I promise, OK?”