Sandwich, With a Side of Romance

by Krista Phillips

  Reuben eyed the stairs. Shouldn’t Livy be ready by now? She looked ready to him earlier. Maybe she was putting on a sweater.

  He looked back at Gertrude, who tapped her cane again. “I, uh, tripped over a chair in the restaurant.”

  “How awful.” Did he detect a gleeful tone? “You need to be more careful. And Maddie was there to help you, was she?”

  Reuben stilled. From the sound of it, Gertrude had already heard the whole story. Why was she grilling him then?

  The click of sandals on the steps saved him. “Ready to go, Reuben?”

  He held out his elbow to her. “Shall we?”

  She accepted and snuggled close to his arm. “We shall.” She turned back to her mother. “Don’t wait up.”

  Reuben escorted her to the car and held open her door. Instead of getting in, she turned and kissed him. “Thank you. I’m so excited to pick out a ring and make this official.”

  He only nodded, not sure how to broach the topic on his mind. Getting into the driver’s seat, he started the car but instead of shifting into gear, he turned toward her. “I wanted to talk to you about the announcement.”

  She grabbed his hand in hers and smiled. “Well, I already told my mother of course, but I thought we’d stop by and tell your mom and show her the ring, and Allie too of course. And we’ll need engagement pictures to put in the newspaper soon.”

  This from the girl ready to fly to Vegas this weekend. “Actually, I think we should wait a little while before announcing it.”

  Her hand tightened on his. “Nonsense. There’s no reason to wait.” Her eyebrows furrowed together. “You aren’t having second thoughts, are you?”

  “Of course not. I just want it to be special. Maybe announce it when we get together for the Fourth of July.”

  Her face lit up like a kid in a chocolate shop. “That’s perfect!”

  Reuben half-listened to her talk about different kinds of wedding flowers on the drive to the jewelry shop.

  An hour later, he ignored the protest of his wallet as he put a hefty deposit down on a ring the size of Texas.

  16

  Sitting cross-legged on her quilt-covered bed, Maddie opened the The Sandwich Daily and flipped to the classifieds.

  The guesthouse had been wonderful these past two weeks, and she couldn’t get much cheaper than free.

  Charity wouldn’t get her Kyle, though. She needed to make it on her own two feet without the help of the Luther/Callahan clan.

  Yet rentals she could afford weren’t leaping off the page either.

  She leaned back and flopped onto a pillow and covered her face with her hands.

  “God, what now? Corina’s going to freak out when she finds I’m mooching off people. You promised you had my back. Need to see a little of that back saving, please.”

  Her cell vibrating interrupted her conversation with the Almighty. Her heart squeezed when she saw the Blakely’s number. Kyle rarely called on a Saturday night, but she’d take any chance to talk to him she could get. “Hello?”

  “Guess what?”

  She settled back into the pillow and smiled at Kyle’s higher than normal pitch. “What?”

  “The Blakelys want to adopt me.”

  Maddie’s breath froze in her lungs. “They told you that?” She’d thought they wouldn’t tell him until it was more of a sure thing. Or at least, that’s why Corina had told her not to say anything. She’d assumed it went both ways.

  “Yeah, just tonight. Wanted to know what I thought about it.”

  Maddie curled up her knees to her chest and took a slow breath. “What do you think about it?”

  “It’s cool, I guess. I mean, Sarge isn’t my favorite, but Sid is fun.”

  She swallowed the lump the size of an orange in her throat. “I see.”

  “Hey, have you, uh, heard from Dad at all?”

  That wasn’t what she expected. Kyle almost never talked about their father, and neither of them had seen him in over four years. “No.”

  “Just curious.”

  “You thinking about him lately?”

  “He was a big fat jerk.”

  Maddie turned to her side and fiddled with the edge of the pillowcase. “Yeah, I know.”

  “Do you remember before mom died? He wasn’t so bad then.”

  She fisted a chunk of pillow like it was a stress ball. “He was always mean, Kyle. Mom just mellowed him a little.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  Memories flooded her. Her dad would yell over a mess, and her mom would do her best to calm him down. Mom was a peacekeeper and was good at it. When she died, the peace left too. “Why are you thinking about all this now?”

  “Sid said if they adopted me, I could call him dad and Sarge mom.”

  Maddie sat up. “He didn’t.”

  “Yeah, I thought it was dumb too. I had a mom. And I hate my dad, why would I want another one?”

  The sister in her wanted to scream AMEN. She squelched it though, as she doubted it was the proper motherly thing to do. “Did you tell them that?”

  “Naw. I just said I’d think about it and went to my room. They didn’t seem happy when I left, but I don’t care.”

  She needed to talk to Corina. Now. “It’ll all be okay, Kyle. I promise.”

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, big Sis.”

  What day was it?

  Oh, yeah, Sunday. Maddie rubbed her sore eyes, pulled her knees up in bed, and hugged the quilt closer to her body. She never wanted to get out of this bed. She could die there and wouldn’t really care.

  Kyle was right. Her promises were empty. She’d called Corina, hoping for some good news.

  There wasn’t any. Everything was looking great for the Blakleys and pretty hopeless for Maddie.

  It would help if she could show a stable job and housing, but even with that, the marks against her record were going to make it almost impossible.

  Maybe they were right. She was damaged goods anyway and could barely hold down a job. No use even trying.

  A knock on the door interrupted her self-loathing.

  She ignored it, hoping whoever was there would go away, but the pounding persisted. Slipping her feet into slippers and pulling her thin robe over her spaghetti-strap cotton nightgown, she padded over to the door and opened it.

  Maddie clenched the robe tighter. Reuben stood on her doorstep.

  He leaned a shoulder against the door jam, looking mouth-watering hot in his dark jeans and light blue, short-sleeve dress shirt that he left untucked. His hair was all wrong yet again, but he still looked gorgeous.

  He’s engaged, Maddie. Control the drool. “You didn’t want me to work on Sunday, did you?” She opened the door wider and stepped aside, her silent method of inviting him in if he wanted.

  He accepted and walked past her, shoving his hands in his pocket. “No, we’re closed on Sundays, you know that.” Without asking, he took a seat on the couch and patted the spot next to him.

  Maddie debated. She hated him seeing her like this, barely dressed and hair probably a crazy mess. But it wouldn’t do to excuse herself to shower and change with him here. Not only would it be rude but also he might think it an invitation.

  Which it wasn’t. At all. She wasn’t that type of girl anymore.

  She settled down on the opposite side of the couch, putting as much room between them as possible without making her discomfort obvious. “What are you doing here?”

  Reuben drew one leg up and laid a foot on his knee. “I was coming to invite you to church, but I’ve changed my mind.”

  Maddie picked at her thin, cotton robe. “Can’t blame you there.”

  “What’s wrong, Maddie?”

  She shrugged. “Just slept in. You didn’t catch me at my best.”

  One side of his mouth curled into a shy smile. “I wasn’t talking about your appearance. You look …” He shook his head. “What I mean is, your face.”

  Scrunching up her nose, she put a hand to her
cheek. “Not much I can do about the way my face looks.”

  “Your face is adorable, Maddie. But it’s also all red and splotchy and your eyes look like you’ve either been crying or had a few too many drinks last night.”

  “Yeah, not really a drinker anymore.”

  “So you used to be?”

  She glared at him. Her past indiscretions were the last thing she wanted to discuss with her boss. “I got some bad news is all.”

  “Care to talk about it?”

  She shook her head. Curling back up into bed and sleeping away the pain sounded much better than spilling her guts to her cute boss.

  Reuben chuckled. “I’m glad you think I’m cute, but I’m not sure why that should keep you from telling me what’s bothering you.”

  Mortification took on a whole new definition when it sunk into Maddie’s head that she’d spoken her thoughts aloud. Why in the world did she do that? “I didn’t mean—”

  “Hey now, don’t tell me you didn’t mean that I’m cute. That would mean you think I’m ugly, and you don’t want to be telling your boss that, do you?”

  Yeah, actually, she’d prefer that over the alternative. But in an effort to keep her job, she just shook her head.

  “What’s wrong Maddie? If you don’t tell me I’ll … I’ll tell Allie something’s wrong and she’ll weasel it out of you.”

  Allie could wring the truth out of a psychotic murderer. Might as well fess up now on her own terms. “I talked to Kyle’s caseworker last night.”

  He frowned. “Wait, your boyfriend has a caseworker? Is he …?”

  Maddie rolled her eyes. “Kyle’s my brother, not my boyfriend. You hadn’t figured that out by now?”

  Reuben blinked, his forehead wrinkled in confusion. “So, your brother has a caseworker?”

  “He’s in foster care.”

  Reuben frowned. “Were you?”

  “Briefly. Mostly in a girls’ home though. Too hard to handle, or so said my caseworker.”

  “Somehow I can see that.”

  She punched him in the shoulder. “Shut up. I’m reformed now. I’m trying to get custody of my brother so he can come here and live with me.”

  He looked around. “Here?”

  “And there’s my problem. His foster parents want to adopt him, and I’m not exactly an example of stability right now to compete.”

  Reuben stood up and pulled her up by the hand. Maddie fidgeted with her robe. He wouldn’t try to hug her, would he? That would be over-the-top awkward.

  He released her hand and took a few steps toward the door. “Get dressed.”

  She blinked. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m headed in to talk to Mom. Get dressed and come to church with us.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Aren’t you Mr. Demanding.”

  He turned around when he reached the door. “You don’t go to church?”

  “I haven’t been in the last month or so, but I planned to find a church eventually.” She just didn’t care to be ordered around like a three-year-old by her boss on her day off. The guy had a serious attitude problem.

  “I’m sorry. Let me start over. Maddie, I would be honored if you joined my family and me at church today. If you’d rather not, I completely understand, but given your current state of frustration, I think God’s house is the perfect place to be.”

  She rolled her eyes and lowered her voice in an over-thetop imitation of Reuben. “ ‘Hey, we’re going to church, do you wanna come?’ would have worked just as well. But, yes, since you asked so politely, give me fifteen minutes.”

  His eyes traveled down to her toes and back up again, probably wondering how she could make a miracle and be presentable in such little time. She tugged the robe tighter.

  Mercifully, he didn’t comment, but nodded and headed out the door. Maddie raced to lock the door, glanced at the clock, then spent the next ten minutes taking the fastest shower she’d ever managed in her life. She lifted a breezy, cotton dress, the only one she owned, over her head and let its length settle to an inch above the floor. After a little twirl in front of the mirror to make sure the funky-print fabric had settled right, she made quick work of her hair, dabbed on a touch of lip-gloss, and grabbed her purse before heading out the door.

  As she walked the path between the guesthouse and the big house, she slipped her phone from her purse.

  Seventeen minutes. Not too shabby.

  She paused at the French door, unsure if she should knock or walk right in. She’d never had to go in without someone walking with her. But knocking on the back door seemed goofy.

  She turned the handle and began to push when the door jerked from her hand.

  “Good morning, Maddie. I hear you’re joining us today.” Livy stood, decked out in a spaghetti strap dress that showed an inch or so more cleavage than Maddie thought appropriate for church.

  And, good night, did the woman have a lot to show! She put Maddie’s own 34B to shame.

  “I am, if that’s okay with you. I mean, I didn’t realize you were here.”

  Livy stepped out onto the porch and closed the door behind her. “Everyone’s still getting ready now, and I’m sure they don’t want a guest in the house at the moment. Why don’t we sit out here and chat for a bit?”

  Her pride bruised from the blatant reprimand and Livy’s overemphasis on the words family and guest, Maddie sat down in a patio chair, wishing again that she’d never gotten out of bed. Why had she let Reuben talk her into this?

  Oh, now she remembered. He’d looked so gorgeous that she couldn’t say no.

  A totally horrible thought to have about a guy, especially when he was her boss and his girlfriend sat right next to her. God, please forgive me.

  “So, I hear you used to work at the Cut ‘N’ Style?”

  This could not end well. “For a short time, yes.”

  “How short?” Her lips curled into a crooked smile.

  All the defense mechanisms she’d had in her arsenal in Chicago, ones she thought she’d shed when she gave her life to Jesus, came marching back, reporting for duty. God, I want to show her love. But I really don’t like her. I really don’t.

  “Reuben offered me the job at The Sandwich Emporium the same day I started the Cut ‘N’ Style. I’m sure he’s told you the story.”

  Livy raised an eyebrow. “In fact, he did. He was really quite upset about his hair. That style was his pride and joy, you know, besides his car of course. He also mentioned how you tried to blame it all on him too. Really very sad, especially after all he’s done for you.”

  Maddie stood, tipping the patio chair over in the process. “Excuse me, but you have no right—”

  Betty opened the door and stepped out. “Is everything all right out here?”

  Livy stood up and winked at Maddie. “Of course, Mrs. Luther. Maddie can just be a little clumsy is all. We’re getting to be real good friends, aren’t we?” She took a step toward her and gave her a one-armed hug. “See? Bosom buddies.”

  Reuben stepped out from behind his mom and walked over to the twosome. “I’m glad to see you both getting along so well.” He put his arm around Livy and squeezed. “Now, let’s get to church.”

  17

  God, you cut newbies some slack, right?

  She sure hoped so, because not one word of the pastor’s sermon had yet to make it past her eardrum to her brain.

  Who could blame her? She sat sandwiched between Reuben and Livy, but how that happened was still a blur.

  She faintly recalled being ushered down the aisle and walking with the flow of traffic into the pew. And maybe she recollected Reuben scooting in next to her and pointing out key people like the pastor and youth pastor and a deacon or two. But then she’d turned to see Livy standing on the other side of her, her face redder than that horrible lipstick she was wearing.

  Jealousy had dripped from Livy like sweat on a pig.

  She had nothing to worry about, though. Reuben sure wasn’t going to pass up
someone as gorgeous as Livy for a stick figure like herself.

  As Maddie had moved to scoot down the pew so the couple could sit together, the music began and the congregation stood. She’d been so enraptured by Reuben’s beautiful, if a little off-tune, tenor, that she must have forgotten to scoot upon sitting.

  Because now, her right thigh rubbed against her boss and her left against his steaming mad girlfriend.

  She should change her name to bologna.

  “Are you trusting God today?” The pastor’s sharply spoken words yanked her back to the present. An interesting question.

  Yes. She trusted Him. He would provide … somehow.

  “If you just thought in your head, ‘Yes,’ what about that bill you’re struggling to pay?”

  She really did need to give Reuben’s mom some rent money.

  “That problem that keeps you awake at night?”

  Maddie bit her lip. She’d barely slept ten minutes all night worrying about Kyle.

  “That relationship that needs mending?”

  The bodies on each side of her shifted.

  “So let me ask you this one more time with those things in mind. Are you trusting God today?”

  Okay, God. I get it. I need to trust you with Kyle.

  “Recognizing the need to trust God is the first step. But the next step is even harder.”

  Oh, for goodness sake. It seemed hard enough just the way it was.

  “If you trust him, you’ll put your money, or your action, where your mouth is. God requires more than lip-service faith, ladies and gentleman. He requires obedience. Remember the man who came to Jesus and asked him to heal his servant? Jesus said, ‘Take me to him.’ But the man replied, ‘Lord, I don’t deserve for you to come to my home. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.’ ”

  Maddie squirmed in her seat. Oh why had she chosen today to come to church for the first time? One more week would have been just dandy.

  The pastor leveled his gaze across the room. Maddie pretended to have a renewed interest in the hymnal in front of her.

  “That took some guts, folks. That man trusted Jesus enough to know that he could heal his servant without even entering his home. He walked back, knowing his servant was healed. That’s the kind of trust we need to have in God. The kind that seeks God’s will and believes God’s word is powerful and trustworthy. So, I ask you again. Do you trust God today?”