Heart's Design: A Contemporary Christian Romance

by JoAnn Durgin

  “Father, please forgive him, for he knows not what he does,” she muttered under her breath.

  Then she left his office with no plans to return.

  Chapter 15

  ~~♥~~

  Eleanor’s reaction to her news wasn’t any easier to accept, not that she’d expected otherwise. “Have you suddenly taken leave of all your senses, Caroline?” her mother had demanded when she’d arrived home in Beacon Hill. She’d driven straight from the firm downtown. Crying all the way, but she needed to get it over with all in the same day so she could get on with her life.

  “Where will you go? Whatever will you do?”

  Probably march straight to the mental ward. What had possessed her to go straight from Dad’s office to the mausoleum? Oh, she really did need to pray.

  Caroline dragged oxygen into her lungs as she faced her mother. She couldn’t even sit down and paced the floor in front of the fireplace. Below the imposing portrait of her father as if he was glaring at her all over again. If she survived this day, she’d survive anything.

  Help me, Father.

  “I’m going to do something I’ve always loved to do.” She’d kept her tone quiet but firm as she’d struggled with nerves already shredded.

  “I’m waiting for an explanation. What could possibly be more important than joining your father’s law firm?” Eleanor’s thin arms trembled and the knuckles of her hands were white as she gripped both sides of the chair. Her blue eyes were wide as she gaped at her, slack-jawed. The color had drained from her face and she looked ill. Too thin. Bony almost. Caroline could only pray she wouldn’t faint on the floor. But this had to be done.

  Couldn’t her mother understand? The way she’d phrased the question spoke volumes in itself.

  “I’m moving to Maine to design jewelry.” Oh, that felt so good to say it out loud.

  “You’re what?” Eleanor slowly rose from her chair, visibly ashen. “Young lady, if you think…” Eleanor started toward her, pointing a thin finger in her face.

  “Mother, I’m old enough to stand on my own two feet and make decisions for myself.” Her voice, and her resolve, grew stronger with every word. She was tired of defending her actions, tired of fighting a losing, uphill battle. And she was determined to win at all costs.

  Losing isn’t an option. How many times had she heard her father say that very thing?

  Eleanor dropped her hand. “Wait until your father hears this. You’ll soon be supporting yourself. You’ll be cut off from the family money supply, and then we’ll see just how far your little jewelry hobby will take you then.” The words sounded spiteful and almost hateful.

  “I’ll be fine.” She wouldn’t remind her mother of the trust fund established for her by Eleanor’s own parents. She’d come into it when she turned 21. “Dad already knows. I’ve just come from his office.”

  “Your father knows?” Eleanor had walked away, one hand on her hip, the other on her brow. She stopped and turned to face her. “What was his reaction to this preposterous plan?”

  “As you can imagine, he wasn’t pleased.”

  Eleanor shook her head and bitterness edged her tone when she let out a short laugh. “All Duncan has wanted is to have his three children working alongside him at the firm, assuming your rightful place when he retires.” Crossing her arms, she began to pace across the Persian carpet in her Italian leather loafers.

  “But it’s not what I want, Mother,” Caroline protested. She dared to meet her mother’s steely gaze when she stopped pacing. “What about my hopes, my dreams? Are they to be shoved aside to save face?”

  Eleanor spun around so fast she nearly fell over as she stared incredulously at her daughter. “You sound like a terribly ungrateful, spoiled child, Caroline Prescott.” Eleanor walked across the room to her favorite armchair, sinking into it. “This will kill your father.”

  “Oh, I’m sure Duncan Prescott is strong enough to withstand the shock.” That was unkind, but she didn’t care anymore. She was too exhausted with trying to reason with the unreasonable. They’d never understand her. They’d proven it by their reaction to her announcement. Instead of being proud of her independence, they were faulting her for being assertive and strong in her own right.

  Maybe I’m bolder than I thought. Caroline knew she was different from her brothers. Quieter and more reserved, she’d proven she was every bit their match in wit and intellect.

  “I have what it takes to be a good lawyer, maybe even an excellent one,” she said. “But I don’t want it in my heart. And that’s the best reason not to become one. I’m following my heart and that can’t be wrong.”

  Eleanor looked up sharply, her pale lips frozen in a straight, prim line. “This big announcement of yours has something to do with that Seth person, doesn’t it?”

  Caroline had started to leave the room, but at her mother’s question, she whirled around to face her. “What did you say?”

  Eleanor sat up straighter and crossed one leg over the other. “I’m neither blind nor deaf.” She cocked her head to one side. “You came back from that little jaunt to Maine with a ridiculously besotted grin on your face. I assumed something must have happened.”

  “How do you know about Seth?” She’d said nothing to anyone in the family about Seth other than Bryce. Her brother would never betray her confidence.

  “Then there’s the fact that you haven’t even looked at another man the last year. That’s not normal, even as busy as you’ve been with your studies. You should be going out on dates or be involved in a serious relationship by now. You’re reasonably attractive when you put on something nice and contain that wild mane of yours. Heaven knows, Biff Carlson has been in love with you for years. He’d make a good husband. Solid career, old family, and he’s a nice looking young man.”

  Caroline’s fists clenched at her side. “For starters, I couldn’t look any man named Biff in the eye and pledge to love him with a straight face. Biff’s not a name for a man. It’s the name for a pink stuffed bear or a circus monkey.”

  Her mother’s brow creased, a rare occurrence in recent years since she’d discovered the miracle of Botox. In spite of it, she appeared quite smug. She probably assumed she’d gained the upper hand.

  “Nothing happened in Maine.” It was a lie, but she had no idea how to explain what transpired between her and Seth Barnes. By now, it was probably a moot point, anyway. If she couldn’t explain it to herself, how could she begin to tell her mother, a woman incapable of understanding romance, dreams, and unfulfilled longings? All Eleanor Prescott understood was doing what’s proper, adhering to family tradition, and forsaking all else.

  Caroline stared into the unsympathetic eyes of her mother. “What happened to you, Mother? What’s made you so closed off and cold all these years? Tell me, please. I want to know. I need to know.”

  Eleanor turned her head but not before Caroline caught the fleeting glimpse of something—hurt? pain?—in her expression. She could stand in this living room with her mother all day, for weeks on end, and she’d not get any answers.

  Never in her life had Caroline been so ashamed of her family.

  “I’ll pray for you, Mother. And…I forgive you.”

  “Forgive me?” Eleanor waved her hand in dismissal. Just like her father had done. “Go, Caroline. We have nothing more to discuss.”

  Shaking with her anger, Caroline had barely been able to hold her tongue as she turned and left. She’d driven her car off the grounds and then parked in a nearby park and given in to the overwhelming urge to cry. Her shoulders shook with the force of her tears.

  “Lord, help them. I don’t know what to do but pray. Please hear my prayer.”

  After contacting the trustee of her trust fund, Caroline pre-arranged to have a specific amount transferred from the Boston bank. All she needed to do was call them with the transfer instructions from the bank in Evergreen. If Evergreen had a bank. Surely they did. What town didn’t have a bank? The Oxford Hills or one of th
e surrounding communities would have one if she couldn’t find one in Evergreen.

  Lord, what am I doing? Give me your peace and please be with me every step of the way.

  If it weren’t for the fact that all of her worldly possessions were in the Beacon Hill home, she wouldn’t have returned. A new peace flooded Caroline as she set about packing and preparing to leave. Surprisingly, Eleanor stayed out of her way and Duncan didn’t come home for three nights. Bryce wisely said nothing but gave her much needed hugs. Without her brother’s encouragement and support, she might very well have lost her sanity.

  “I feel like I’m divorcing my family, Bryce. It’s not supposed to be this way.”

  “I know.” Standing with her beside the Pathfinder and the packed U-Haul, Bryce tugged her into his arms and leaned his head against hers. “I’ll work on Dad. Give him time. He’ll come around.”

  She’d cried and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Do you really believe that?”

  “I do. You threw him a curveball and took him by surprise. He doesn’t like surprises, and he’s not used to them. Remember those three cases he lost?”

  “Kind of hard to forget them. He didn’t really lose the one since the defendant was acquitted.”

  “But Dad prosecuted that trial. In his eyes, an acquittal was a failure since he didn’t get the conviction.”

  She nodded. “I suppose. Bryce, why is it that we always focus on our failures more than our successes? Why is Dad haunted by those three cases? Why not focus on the hundreds of cases he’s won?”

  “I wish I knew. Human nature is the only way I can explain it.” He lifted her chin with a small smile. That wonderful, encouraging smile. “You’re doing the right thing for you, kiddo. Now don’t you worry about Biff. He’ll get over it.”

  Laughing, Caroline had thrown her arms around Bryce, holding him close. “Tell Sidney I said good-bye. I’ll send him a letter soon and hope he reads it.”

  “I’ll work on him, too.”

  “Thanks.” She’d mouthed I love you as she drove away from the house. Bryce walked into the middle of the driveway and waved until she’d pulled out onto the street.

  Caroline startled and her eyes fluttered open. She’d fallen asleep and her cell phone was ringing.

  “Hello?”

  “Wake up, sleepyhead.”

  “Good morning, Liesel. What time is it?”

  “Early afternoon. Listen, I know it’s last minute, but can you come over for dinner tonight?”

  “Sure. What’s the occasion? Are your mom and dad up from Florida?”

  “No, they’re coming next week, and I’m hoping the baby will, too. I’m so ready for her, I can’t even tell you. I didn’t get much sleep last night. I had that nesting instinct and couldn’t sit still. You should have seen me. I was running around the place like a crazed maniac dusting and stuff.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be holding that sweet baby girl in your arms soon enough. What time for dinner and what can I bring?”

  “I hope you’re right. Since you asked, would you mind bringing a salad or a dessert? Take your pick. We’ll eat at six so if you could come a little early, that’d be great.”

  “I’ll bring both, and I’ll be there a little before six.”

  “Thanks, sweetie. I appreciate you. Oh, sorry, my mind is scattered. Paul has a friend coming over from Oxford Hills. He’s been away in California the past year, and we thought it might be fun for you to see him again. You met him at our wedding.”

  “Again?” Caroline’s pulse shot to the heavens and she stifled her gasp. Could it be…? Would it be…? No way. A lump lodged itself in her throat and she forced it down. She’d heard from Clara that Seth had been working in California. She’d never said a word to Liesel about Seth. Not that she wanted to keep him tucked into her heart, a secret she shared with no one, but really, what was there to tell?

  Caroline closed her eyes and asked the inevitable question, trying to make it sound casual in spite of her hammering pulse. Knowing exactly what name her friend would say.

  “What’s his name?”

  Chapter 16

  ~~♥~~

  “Miss Caroline? You home?”

  Hanging up the phone, Caroline snapped to attention.

  “I’m here, Toby. Come on in.” She rose to greet him as he entered the kitchen through the side door. Together they walked into the living room of the small but cozy house. She’d found it almost immediately after moving to Evergreen and staying at Landon’s for the first week.

  “I’ve finished those sketches for the new designs. I think you’ll like them.” Withdrawing several pieces of paper from a folder on the desk, she handed them to him.

  Retrieving his glasses from the pocket of his shirt, Toby studied them. “These look real good. You sure have a talent for design.”

  “Thanks. You’re so good for me. A girl could get used to your compliments real quick.”

  “I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. Meredith wanted me to tell you she needs more amethyst necklaces and bracelets. She’s sold out already.” He whistled under his breath. “That last group went real fast.”

  “She is? I just delivered them last Friday.”

  “Barry Mahoney wanted me to tell you to come down to the store. He’s got some of those fancy little berries from the Netherlands. Said Clara knows you like them.”

  “Lingonberries. Great. Thanks so much.” Maybe she could serve them with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

  Toby tucked the designs back in the file folder. “Oh, I knew there was something else I wanted to tell you. I saw Liesel this morning. If she hasn’t already called you, she wants you to come over for dinner tonight.”

  “I actually just got off the phone with her.”

  Toby shook his head and grinned. “Nine months pregnant and trying to run a bed and breakfast, things have a way of slipping her mind. I was over at the inn fixing the back door this morning and told her I’d give you the message. I think she wanted me as a backup plan in case she got busy and forgot.”

  Caroline smiled. “All taken care of. Are you coming to dinner, too?”

  Toby’s grin broadened. “Nope. Not this time. I think you’ll be having yourself a pretty good time without me.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” She tilted her head. “Tell me, partner, or I’m taking those designs back.”

  “Not likely.” He laughed but they both knew he was right. He was the best partner ever and could transform her designs on paper into exquisite pieces of jewelry. When she’d first moved to town, they’d met at the church. Toby had offered his services to help her out and also as a way to supplement the income he earned from his original oil paintings. Caroline’s gaze traveled to the landscape he’d painted which hung above her fireplace. The man was crazy talented. Their working relationship had been mutually beneficial and she treasured his friendship.

  “I hear she’s invited Seth Barnes to dinner.”

  “And…?” Her pulse hadn’t stopped racing since she’d talked with Liesel.

  “Miss Caroline, everyone in town knows you and Seth had a date when you were here the weekend of Liesel and Paul’s wedding.”

  “It wasn’t a date, Toby. And everyone in town? Really?” She wasn’t sure how to react to that news. She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. While small town living could be great in many respects, she’d learned early on that not much was private unless you didn’t breathe a word of it to anyone. Sometimes she wondered if she should call Liesel to find out what she should be doing next.

  “I don’t mean any disrespect.”

  “Of course not. It’s fine. No worries.”

  “You and Seth would make a real good couple. Well, I’d best be on my way. What’s your timeframe on these?” He held up the folder as he headed back toward the kitchen.

  “Can you get them to me in a couple of weeks? We need to gear up for the Harvest Festival in a few weeks, too. I’ll put some pieces together
myself for Meredith’s booth, but if you have any extra time to put anything together, I’d be indebted.”

  “I’ll see what I can do, boss. See you soon.” With a small salute, Toby let himself out the side door.

  ~~♥~~

  By six o’clock, Caroline was a nervous wreck. Her stomach churned as she helped set the table at Landon’s. Thankfully, it kept her hands busy, and Liesel seemed too preoccupied with the meal to notice.

  Would Seth look the same? Did he know she’d be there? What would they say? The questions swirled in her head until Caroline wanted to scream. Please, Lord, let me accept whatever happens graciously. Don’t let me make a fool of myself in front of Seth tonight.

  “What else can I do?” Caroline set the last glass on the white linen-covered table in the dining room.

  Surveying the table quickly, Liesel nodded her head in the direction of a fresh loaf of homemade Italian bread sitting on the kitchen counter. “If you want to slice the bread and slather some garlic spread on it, that would be helpful.” Caroline followed her into the kitchen. Pulling the spread container from the refrigerator, Liesel put it on the counter. “I’m not going to stick it in the oven until shortly before we sit down to eat.”

  “The lasagna smells delicious.”

  “Thanks. Mom’s recipe and it’s always been one of Seth’s favorites.” Liesel wiped her hands across her apron, reminding Caroline of Beverly.

  Grabbing a knife, Caroline began slicing the bread. “So, how are your mom and dad?” When they’d moved to Florida during the past summer, it had been a natural transition for Liesel and Paul to move into the bed and breakfast and resume its operation. Keeping it all in the family. Like her mother, Liesel thrived on meeting new people and, combined with her organizational skills and homemaking abilities, carried on the tradition of hospitality. Paul, a strong, quiet man, was the perfect complement for his wife’s outgoing personality.

  “She called just this morning, as a matter of fact. Actually, she’s been calling every morning now that the baby’s due any day.”