Love Inspired January 2016, Box Set 1 of 2

by Carolyne Aarsen

  “He doesn’t really cook. But the church ladies keep bringing food over to our house.”

  “Yes. I’m sure they do.” Anne gave a small chuckle. “Well, you made this chicken, and it’s delicious. Do you want to take the leftovers home with you to share with your father?”

  “Could I?”

  “Of course. And you know what? We can keep a copy of the recipes you like in a notebook. So when we’re done learning about your diabetes you’ll have your own Claire cookbook to take home.”

  “I like coming over to your house.”

  “And I like having you.”

  “May I come even if you don’t need to teach me?”

  “We’re friends. Friends visit each other. You’re welcome any time you like.”

  “Do you like my father?”

  Anne sputtering was the last thing Matt heard. He’d jerked back at Claire’s words, triggering a domino effect.

  His aluminum crutches slid from beneath his arms.

  Matt groaned as the momentum propelled him forward. He crashed against the deck steps at the same moment that the crutches clattered loudly to the ground.

  Seconds later the back door was pushed open and slammed against the house when first Anne and then Claire raced outside.

  “Matt, are you okay?” Anne’s dark eyes widened in concern as she knelt next to him.

  “Other than total humiliation, I’m fine,” he muttered. He raised his head and his face warmed at the thought of the image he must have provided. To Anne’s credit, she didn’t even laugh, and he was grateful.

  “Can I help you up?” she asked.

  Claire grabbed his crutches as he rolled to his backside.

  “I think I’ve got it.” He used the wooden rail to push to a standing position and then took his crutches from Claire. He nodded to his daughter. “Thanks.”

  “What happened?” Anne asked.

  “I guess I got distract—”

  He looked up at Anne and froze. Though her dark hair was clipped back from her face, a strand had come loose and he nearly reached a hand to tuck it behind her ear. She was dressed down in jeans and a pink T-shirt with some sort of sports logo and, for a moment, he had an image of Anne in college those many years ago. Matt forced himself to look away.

  The direction of his thoughts could only lead to setting himself up for pain once again.

  He looked toward the backyard. “Is Stanley okay? Gotta keep an eye on that dog. He thinks he can run down to the lake if I turn my head.”

  “He’s running in circles chasing a butterfly. Stanley is fine. What about you?”

  Matt straightened. “I’m good.”

  “Your ankle? Maybe I should check it.”

  “I’m good,” he repeated. The only thing injured was his pride and that wasn’t any sort of new diagnosis.

  “That step is sometimes a little wobbly. I’m sure that’s what happened.”

  “Or maybe I’m terminally clumsy.” He reached down to test the wooden step and sure enough one of the nails was loose on the right side. Matt looked up at Anne. “Good of you to give me an out.”

  She smiled.

  “Have you got a hammer?”

  “I do. Right in the kitchen. I’ll get it.”

  He looked at Claire. “All ready to go?”

  “I have to get the chicken and my bag.”

  “Chicken?” Matt murmured.

  Claire nodded and gave a shy smile as she went back into the house.

  Anne returned with an assortment of hammers in her hands. Two claw hammers, a ball-peen and a crosshead-peen.

  “One is all I need.”

  “I know, but you didn’t say which kind.”

  He gave a small chuckle at her serious expression.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked. Her brows were knit in an annoyed frown.

  Matt stilled, resisting the urge to tell her that he thought it was cute that she had so many hammers. No, it was best to keep things strictly business between them. Better for his peace of mind at least.

  Instead of answering her, he shook his head, took a claw hammer and hunkered down to examine the step again. Two hard taps and the nail was firmly back in place, the step secure once again.

  “All fixed.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “Thanks to you and your aunt for all you’ve done for Claire.”

  “It’s only been a week and yet she’s given us much more than I’ve given her. My aunt seems to have purpose again. I’d like it if Claire could come over next Saturday afternoon and spend the day again.”

  “I’ll ask her, though it’s easy to guess that she’ll love that plan.”

  Matt met her gaze. “I need you to know I really mean it,” he said. “She’s blossomed, thanks to you.”

  “Claire is an amazing child. You have her mother and God to thank for that. They laid the foundation. I’m merely offering her the opportunity to do what comes natural.”

  A moment later Claire emerged from the house with a foil-covered dish in her hands.

  “What’s this?” he asked.

  “Baked herb chicken. I made it myself.” An expectant expression crossed her face.

  “Wow. You’re learning to cook, too?” he asked. “I’m impressed.”

  Claire glowed beneath the praise.

  “All part of our nutritional education,” Anne said. “Besides, she’s a quick learner. We’re going to be done sooner than I thought.”

  “You said I could still come over,” Claire protested.

  Anne placed a hand on Claire’s shoulder. “That’s right. You can. We’re friends now. And you know Aunt Lily loves showing you the secrets of the house. She has plenty more left.”

  “Secrets?” Matt raised his brows.

  “There’s a secret door that disappears right into the wall,” Claire said. Her eyes were bright with excitement.

  “Pocket doors,” Matt said with a grin. “Pretty cool.”

  “That’s right. I always forget what the official name for them is. I imagine you architects remember all of that.”

  “We do.”

  “Well, this house has two pocket doors.”

  “What other secrets have you discovered?” Matt asked Claire.

  “There’s an attic room that you can only get to through a closet, and a turret room I haven’t seen yet,” Claire continued.

  “Did Aunt Lily tell you about the hidden passage in the basement?” Anne asked, her face as animated as his daughter’s.

  Matt could have stood there watching the two of them talk for hours. They got along like old friends and he admitted to himself that he was envious of their bond.

  Claire’s mouth formed a circle of astonishment at Anne’s question. “Really? No, she didn’t tell me about that.”

  “You’ll have to act surprised when she does. I don’t want to spoil her fun.”

  “Where is your aunt?” Matt asked.

  “She goes to bed around this time.”

  “It’s still daylight.”

  “Only because it’s summer,” Anne reminded him. “Keep in mind that she gets up before sunrise to read her Bible and pray.”

  “Aunt Lily read the Bible to me today,” Claire said. “We’re memorizing verses.”

  “What are you memorizing?” Matt asked.

  “Psalms. ‘Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the Lord.’”

  “Do you know what that means?” He looked at Claire and smiled.

  She shook her head. “Not really.”

  “It means hang in there. If you trust in God, then eventually everything is going to work out.”

  Claire’s face brightened and she turned
to Anne. “Did you hear that? God is going to take care of your problem. Everything is going to work out.”

  The loving smile Anne gave his daughter caused Matt to pause.

  “You’re right, Claire,” she said. “I guess I’m just a little concerned I might not be prepared for exactly how he’s going to take care of my problem.”

  “But it will all work out. That’s the important part. You just have to believe that,” Claire returned.

  Matt smiled at the wisdom in his daughter’s words.

  “Did you want to talk about your problem, Anne? Maybe I can help.”

  “No. Claire is absolutely right. The only thing standing between me and moving this mountain is my ability to trust that God can and will for me. I believe He will. Somehow.”

  “Okay. I’d like to stand in agreement with you on that, as long as you remember that sometimes He uses His people to help each other.”

  Anne raised her face and looked at him, her eyes questioning. “Are you telling me you know something I don’t?” she probed quietly.

  “Not at all. I’m only saying that it’s been my experience that often we wait for an answer to prayer, when one is already standing in front of us.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  “Three croissants with Black Forest ham, avocado and Brie to go,” Anne said to the clerk at Patti Jo’s Café and Bakery.

  “Wow. That sounds amazing. I’ll take two to go, as well.”

  Anne whirled around at the sound of Matt’s voice.

  “Not in your scrubs?” he commented.

  “I had a meeting at the hospital. Once or twice a month I try to look like a grown-up instead of a kid in pajamas.”

  “You look like a grown-up for sure.”

  When Matt’s gaze took in her simple navy suit and pumps she found herself looking anywhere but at him. Why should it matter what he thought of her? Why should his assessment make her nervous?

  “Join me for a coffee while we wait?” he asked.

  “I, um...”

  “It’s only coffee, Anne, and I want to talk about Claire. Nothing else. For now.”

  “Yes...then, I guess so. But I only have a few minutes.”

  He nodded. “I’ll get the coffee, you find a table. Okay?”

  “I can do that.”

  She chose a bistro table rather than a booth, which might make their meeting appear intimate. Patti Jo’s tables were higher than regular tables with glossy silver edges and red-laminate tops. Red-cushioned stools were tucked beneath. Anne pulled out a stool and put her purse on the one next to her.

  As Matt wove through the small café with two mugs in his hands, several people greeted him. He stopped for a minute at a booth to offer a hello to a group of businessmen.

  When he finally slid the mugs on their table she couldn’t help but comment. “You certainly have gotten to know people in Paradise in a very short time.”

  “Networking. It’s part of the job. Are you surprised?”

  “No, of course not.”

  He poured creamer into his white stoneware mug and thoughtfully stirred. When his gaze met hers, the blue eyes were cold.

  “Ten years ago your aunt predicted I’d be in a dead-end job holding you hostage with me.”

  “That was my aunt. Not me.” She lifted the black coffee to her lips and sipped, needing the jolt of caffeine to deal with Matt’s accusations.

  “If you didn’t believe that, then why did you leave?”

  “I thought we were just going to talk about Claire.”

  “Yeah, well, I’ve changed my mind.”

  Anne thought for a few seconds before answering. “Matt, you can’t possibly understand what it’s like to be alone in the world.”

  “Can’t I?”

  “I didn’t mean...” She paused and regrouped. “My aunt took me in when there was no one else. She’d planned to travel when she retired, to see the world. And instead she remained in Paradise to raise a ten-year-old child. I owed her my loyalty.”

  “Did you owe her your future?”

  “I was eighteen. I still had three years of college left. She wanted me to finish.”

  “Oh, it wasn’t just about finishing your education and you know that. She pulled you out of D.U. so fast, I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

  “I’m sorry.” Anne swallowed. “That’s all I can do now, say that I’m sorry.”

  “Anne, I forgave you a long time ago. But I still need to understand why.”

  “You haven’t forgiven me,” she scoffed. “If you had, you wouldn’t need anything else from me.”

  He wrapped his hands around the mug and slowly nodded. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m only human.”

  “Two lunch orders to go?”

  Anne looked up at the waitress who stood at their table. “Yes. Thank you.”

  She slid from the stool and gathered her purse. “I have to get back to work.”

  “Wait. I still want to talk about Claire,” Matt returned. “Please?” he asked when she didn’t respond right away, his gaze softening in apology.

  “Claire is doing well, Matt. I anticipate her moving to an insulin pump by the end of summer.”

  “Good. Good.”

  “I have to get back.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “There’s no need to be sorry. You were right. We had to talk about this eventually.”

  He offered her a sad nod as she turned away.

  Minutes later Anne slammed the door of her truck and hurried into the emergency department with the lunches for herself, Marta and Juanita.

  “Did you get lost?” Juanita asked from behind the counter.

  “No, I ran into... I had to talk to...”

  “Well, it must be a man, because I’ve never seen you so tongue-tied,” Juanita continued.

  “Matt was at Patty Jo’s. He wanted to discuss Claire.”

  “Claire. Uh-huh.”

  Juanita grabbed the sack and opened it. She frowned. “Where’s my cookie?”

  Anne gasped. “Oh, no. I forgot.”

  “You forget about us and our cookies for a tall, handsome man?” Juanita’s hands went to her hips in a stern stance. A moment later she grinned. “Just kidding. I would have done the same thing.”

  “It was an accident. An oversight.”

  “Tell that to Marta. She might believe you.”

  “Believe what?” Marta asked as she approached.

  “She had coffee with Mr. Hunky and forgot our cookies.”

  Marta chuckled. “This might be a good time to ask if I can leave early. I have to swing by the dry cleaner’s to pick up my dress for the hospital dinner tonight.”

  “No!” Anne glanced at the calendar behind Juanita. “Please, tell me that it’s not tonight. Not really.”

  “It is. Did you forget?” Marta asked.

  “Of course I did. I’ll have to call to get someone to stay with my aunt.” She rubbed her forehead. “I’ve got eight hours. I guess I’ll figure it out.”

  “Anne, are you all right?”

  She frowned as she looked at Marta. “Why do people keep asking me that?”

  “Maybe because forgetting cookies and appointments isn’t like you,” Juanita said.

  No. They were right. It wasn’t like her. Since Matt had come to town everything had become one continuous “not all right.” And it could only get worse.

  * * *

  Matt hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her. Though the wisdom of age taught him that beauty wasn’t as important as heart and soul, he still had to admit Anne Matson was by far the most beautiful woman in the room. In a swirly, deep purple dress she was a vision unlike any he’d ever seen. The skirt moved when she moved and now a
s she swayed slightly to the music, the fabric danced around her, as well.

  He’d watched her minutes before when she was on the dance floor with Doc Nelson—the tall, smooth guy from the ER that she’d insisted wasn’t her boyfriend.

  If the good doctor had his way Matt was sure he’d be first in line to claim Anne’s affection. The thought rubbed him the wrong way, though he had no right to those feelings. Not to mention that a smart man would be wary of the flame after being scorched the first go-around.

  Apparently he’d lost a few brain cells since arriving in Paradise, because here he was moving closer and closer to the light that was Anne. He slowly crossed the room to where she stood next to the buffet table, her head tilted to one side as she pondered the hors d’oeuvres.

  “Quite a fancy spread, isn’t it? Those bacon wraps are tasty. The bacon hides the vegetables on the inside.”

  Anne whirled around.

  “Matt, I didn’t know you were going to be here,” she finally said. The words were hesitant.

  “First Construction is one of several companies bidding for the hospital contract. If the Paradise Lake project goes well, we’ll probably get pulled in for this project, as well.”

  She nodded slowly, as though considering his words. Then her glance swept the room. “Is Manny here?”

  “No. He makes me do anything that involves wearing a suit.”

  “You look very nice. Where are your crutches?”

  “I’m a fast healer.”

  “Does your doctor know?”

  “Yeah, he knows that I’m tired of the crutches and the boot.”

  “That wasn’t quite what I meant.”

  “I’ve got a support wrap on the ankle. I’m fine.” Matt gave a small nod of dismissal. “Now let’s change the subject and talk about you.”

  “Me?” she asked, her voice cautious.

  “You aren’t mad at me about our discussion earlier, are you?”

  “I was never mad.”

  “Good, then I guess it’s okay to say that you look lovely,” he said, and easily meant every word. He took a moment to appreciate the dress close up. Only a moment. Any more than that would be dangerous to his well-being.

  Anne held her hands together and then unclasped them, her fingers fidgeting.

  Did he make her nervous?