Across the grassy town square, near the small rose garden, Principal Timmons sat on a park bench and waved for Caleb to join him. Yes, then there was the bad side of small-town living—he could never escape his boss. Good thing he liked the man.
Timmons held a giant mint chocolate-chip ice-cream cone as he smiled at Caleb. “Enjoying your first school-year weekend?”
“Plan to.” Caleb set the heavy canvas bag next to Timmons. “Did you need something?”
“I know we’re off school hours, but I wanted to remind you about the Barn Dance. I should have done so on Friday, but I forgot.”
His gut tightened. “What about the Barn Dance?”
Out of all of Goose Harbor’s yearly festivals—and there were many—the Barn Dance had been Sarah’s favorite. The students loved the event and most of the teachers and school staff attended, but there was always a scramble to find adults willing to wear the label of chaperone. It probably had something to do with the fact that the chaperones had to serve as square-dance instructors for the party, as well. Caleb avoided the event the past two years. Even drove out of town so he wouldn’t have to hear the music and be reminded.
Timmons stopped to eat some of his ice-cream cone. “I looked in the file, and in our rotation schedule this year’s chaperoning duties fall on the science department. Since you’re department chair I want you to be at the event and get commitments from three of the other teachers.”
Caleb’s jaw locked for a moment. “I can’t.”
“You must.”
He shifted his weight. “I don’t think you understand. I can’t go to the Barn Dance.”
“Special events are listed in the contract you signed when you took over as head of the department last year. I thought you knew that.” Timmons’s voice was gentle, but firm.
“Evidently I didn’t read all the small print.” Because he wouldn’t have signed if he’d seen that.
“If you look, that’s part of your role. I’ll need you to lead the other volunteers next week as they brush up on the steps for square dancing, and you’ll have to bring a partner to the dance so you can teach the students the steps involved.”
“You’re ordering me to bring a date?”
“Not ordering—more like, reminding you to fulfill your responsibility.”
Caleb grabbed the bag of produce and headed to find Shelby. Being surrounded by so many people had suddenly lost all its appeal. He needed home and time alone.
Most of all he needed to think of a reason not to attend the Barn Dance.
* * *
Maggie looped her arm through Paige’s. “Have I told you how glad I am that you came to live with me?”
“Only about five or six times.” Paige patted Maggie’s hand as they walked down the sidewalk toward the center of town. Maggie said Goose Harbor held a farmer’s market every Saturday and Paige had to be seen there if she wanted to successfully become a member of town.
“I still wish you’d let me pay something for rent.”
“I couldn’t.”
Paige stumbled as her foot went off the edge of the sidewalk onto the grass. “I feel like a squatter sometimes—which is why, drumroll please, I’m meeting with a real-estate agent tomorrow after church to see some rental properties in town.”
Maggie gave her arm a light squeeze. “You don’t have to, you know that, right? I don’t mind if you stay. It’s nice having someone else in the private quarters with me.”
“I need this—for me.” Paige splayed her hand over her heart.
“I get that. Believe me. I do.”
Paige waved to some of her students as they passed. “What about you, Maggie? I feel like you spend all your time serving others. What do you need to do, something just for you?”
Maggie laughed—a loud, carefree sound that ended with the smallest snort. “Get myself a man! But that’s never going to happen.”
“We don’t need no men. Am I right?” Paige playfully elbowed Maggie in the ribs.
Maggie tugged on her arm, pulling Paige to a stop. “Can I say something?”
“Sure.” Paige shrugged.
“Wishing for a man or a future marriage and family isn’t a bad thing.”
“No...but I don’t think that a woman needs a man.” Paige kept her voice low as people passed them on the sidewalk. Maggie sometimes had the oddest timing when it came to serious conversations.
“Right, but you make it seem like it’s a bad thing to want that, or that a woman who wants that is being stupid or is wrong. It’s not.” Maggie clearly didn’t feel the need to keep the conversation private or her voice low. “All I’m saying is just don’t put too much stock in being alone. Okay?”
“Listen.” The conversation needed to end. She’d just tossed the antiman card out there hoping for a laugh and a shared sisterhood wink. Old friends back home talked bad about the opposite gender all the time. What was Maggie’s problem? “Wanting to be married is fine and all, but I think it’s a stupid thing to hold your breath for.”
“I have a feeling you didn’t always believe that.”
“Oh, really?”
“You were engaged once. Now you’re so standoffish when the topic of men or dating comes up. I’m terrified that you’ve cut yourself off from the possibility of love.”
Maggie had a motherly way about her, but Paige didn’t need a mother right now; she just wanted a friend.
Maggie placed her hand on Paige’s forearm. “What happened, Paige? You haven’t told me yet.”
Paige glanced behind her and brushed out of Maggie’s touch. Okay, no one nearby right now. “You know what happened? Men lie, and I feel no need to be in a relationship just to find myself disappointed and hurt in the end.”
Maggie crossed her arms. “Not all men.”
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “In my experience, it’s all men.”
“Sure, there’s no such thing as a perfect human, so of course every relationship on this earth will disappoint you at some point. That’s why I’m glad God’s there and will never let us down.”
God...there for her? He seemed to have better stuff to do.
So be it.
She’d gotten by this far without Him stepping in to help. Hadn’t she?
It wasn’t like she didn’t want to be different. How many nights had she spent on her knees crying out for help? She wanted to trust Him—trust He was good like the people at her church in college said. Paige wanted it as badly as a drink of cool water in a desert wasteland, but she was afraid it was all a mirage and once again she’d be left flat on her face with nothing but a mouthful of sand to show for her efforts.
Maggie was still staring at her, waiting for a response.
“Oh. Of course.” Paige needed to change the conversation.
A little old man with his pants pulled up past his belly button stepped out onto his porch and squinted into the sun. With a pronounced nose and a garland of gray wisps, he had to be close to her grandfather’s age.
“There you are—the man of your dreams.” Paige poked Maggie in the side. “Why don’t you blow him a kiss?”
“Mr. Banks?” Maggie wrinkled her nose.
“Why not? It’ll make his day.” Paige winked.
“He’s the town curmudgeon. He always claimed he was born on a Sunday and started doing chores that very Monday and that the rest of us should do the same.” Maggie shook her head.
“Well, then, maybe he needs that kiss more than anyone,” Paige joked.
“All right.” Maggie shrugged. She let go of Paige’s arm. “Morning, Mr. Banks.”
“Eh?” The gruff grunt was Mr. Banks’s formal greeting.
“This is for you.” Touching her hand to her lips, Maggie kisse
d her palm and made like she was tossing it to the elderly man.
He reached out his hand and pretended to catch the kiss and hold it to his heart. “What a nice gesture. You just made this old man’s day, girlie.” Mr. Banks spoke louder than he needed to.
Maggie’s cheeks turned red and she ducked her head. “You have yourself a good day.”
“Guess he’s not such a grump after all,” Paige whispered, and they both started laughing. They approached the buildings that led to the center of town; all they needed to do now was make it to the corner and turn past the redbrick building to reach the square.
“You know,” Paige continued, “you could marry him and maybe he’d leave you all his money.” She chuckled.
Maggie didn’t. She let go of Paige’s arm.
Paige stopped and faced Maggie. “What did I say?”
“It’s...” Maggie blinked rapidly. “It’s nothing. Your turn.” She pointed at a car pulling up the road. “You have to blow a kiss to whoever is in that car.”
What if Principal Timmons drove that car? Paige bit her lip. But Maggie looked so upset all of a sudden, and maybe it would lighten the mood.
Paige nodded and kissed her hand. When the car came to a rest at the stop sign, she blew the kiss to a boy who looked about six years old sitting in the backseat. He scowled and stuck out his tongue as the car pulled away.
“Wow.” Paige shook her head good-naturedly. “I had quite an effect on him.”
Maggie doubled over in a fit of giggles. “Guess he likes girls about as much as you like boys.”
Paige looked back at Maggie as she rounded the corner and subsequently smashed right into Caleb’s solid chest.
“Careful, Paige.” He grabbed her wrist to steady her. It felt all too familiar.
The bouquet he carried thumped to the ground. Who were those flowers for? Amy?
A pretty woman with wavy mocha hair peeked out from behind Caleb. “Is this her?”
He held Paige by the elbows and her hands rested on his biceps until, suddenly self-conscious, she pulled away.
Caleb and Paige both stooped to pick up the flowers, but instead banged heads.
“Ouch.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She rubbed her forehead. “Sorry about your flowers.”
The girl with wavy hair stepped forward. “They’re fine. They were just for the house anyway.” She scooped the pretty blooms up and pressed them to her nose. Despite the warmth building that morning the girl wore a navy blue long-sleeved shirt and jeans. “Sandra’s Boutique has the best lilies.”
Caleb’s hand was still on her arm. Paige stared at it. He slowly helped her stand and then let go. “This is my sister. Shelby.” He jutted his finger to indicate the pixie-size woman next to him.
“I’m Paige.” She extended her hand.
Shelby grinned at her. “You should know by now, we don’t really do the whole shake hands approach in this town.” She reached over and gave Paige a hug. “Great to meet you.” Shelby held on to Paige’s upper arms and set her back to look at her face. “So you’re the one who’s been getting under my brother’s skin? You’re so beautiful. Caleb, why didn’t you tell me how pretty she was?” She swatted her brother in the chest.
Caleb looked off to the left and acted like he couldn’t hear Shelby, but Paige saw he was watching them.
“Caleb.” Done laughing, Maggie finally joined them. “Why do you look like the dog that bit the porcupine?”
“Timmons wants me to chaperone the Barn Dance.” Caleb worked his jaw back and forth.
Maggie tilted her head. “That’d be good for you.”
“I think not.”
Why? Paige swallowed questions she wanted to ask. The first line of defense for battling her attraction to Caleb would be to know the least about him that she could. Knowing made him personal, and each piece of information she learned made her more vulnerable to caring.
“Those two can waste time talking, but I say we go enjoy the market.” Shelby looped her arm through Paige’s. “Here, I’ll show you around.”
The town square around the corner was splashed in a downpour of sunlight. People milled in between rows of vendors set up in the grassy center of town. A couple of families sat together in the gazebo eating freshly made pastries. The small parking lot had been blocked off, and beyond that was the doughnut shop across the street with a mural that wrapped around the side of the building. The painting depicted children in every season—kids selecting Christmas trees, kids posing with pumpkins and kids running in a field of flowers with big, fat bumblebees dancing around them.
Paige was impressed at how much the vendors made the town square look like a country market. She’d driven past on her way back from Sarah’s Home the other night, but it had just been a patch of grass and park benches then.
As they walked closer, the heady, sweet scent of ripe fruit and fresh-baked bread filled her lungs. Amber jars of honey caught the sunlight and cast prisms onto the ground. Tiny pumpkins decorated with painted faces in different expressions dotted every table. Pyramids of yellow corn, squash and zucchini filled a whole table, butting up against a refrigerated compartment on wheels with fresh meat and large blocks of orange cheese encased behind glass.
“Were you looking for anything in particular?” Shelby asked.
Paige glanced over her shoulder at where Caleb and Maggie talked on the corner. “Can I ask what you meant when you said I’ve been getting under Caleb’s skin?”
Mayday! Why did she ask that? So much for telling herself not to find out more about him.
Shelby waved to a family near the red band shell. “Let’s just say he brings you up—often.”
Paige stopped. “In an I-can’t-stand-that-girl way?”
The corners of Shelby’s lips tipped up. “No. Not like that. But I think I’ve probably said too much already.”
“Sorry.” Paige ran her fingers along the edge of a table where a vendor sold bracelets. “I don’t want you to break any sort of sisterly bond, but I guess I’m having a hard time understanding your brother.”
Shelby turned and tilted her head. “Caleb’s not hard to figure out. He’s basically an open book. I mean, he takes care of everyone—way more than he needs to—loves kids and teaching, and keeps to himself for pretty much everything else.”
“A regular Rochester.” Paige selected two bracelets to try on.
“Huh?” Shelby wrinkled her nose.
“Sorry. English teacher.” Paige laughed. “It’s from the book Jane Eyre.”
“Does this Rochester guy at least get a happy ending?”
“Eventually. But he’s a grouch for almost half the book.” Paige selected the orange cloth bracelet. She’d wear it to Sarah’s Home this week and see if Smalls noticed.
“That sounds like my brother.” Shelby rolled her eyes.
“What sounds like your brother?” Caleb’s voice made both of the women jump.
His sister offered a silly grin. “Paige says you’re like some fictional guy named Rochester.”
Heat raced up Paige’s neck. Hopefully Caleb didn’t know English literature well enough to know who the character was. She spun around to meet his eyes.
He knew.
Caleb tilted his head and squinted at her. “That brooding guy with his wife locked in an attic?”
Shelby burst out laughing and fanned her face. “Oh. That’s so funny. You didn’t tell me that attic part.” She sucked in air. “Have fun explaining that one.” Shelby squeezed Paige’s arm and turned to talk to the young family next to her.
* * *
Caleb bit back a smile. Paige always came off as so knowledgeable and put together, it was fun to catch her off her game.
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Paige’s cheeks turned candy-apple red. Her mouth fell open. She closed it. Then opened it again. “I guess I shouldn’t have said that.”
He shrugged and softened his voice. “I don’t remember that much about him. I haven’t read that book since my high school days—and that was a long time ago.”
She offered him a soft smile. “Hey. We’re about the same age, so I’m going with it wasn’t that long ago.”
Turning back to the booth, she handed the orange bracelet and her credit card to the person manning the booth.
“Cash only.” The clerk pointed to indicate a small handwritten sign on the table.
“Oh. I didn’t bring any with me.” Her cheeks flushed again. “Will you be here next week?”
Caleb pulled out his wallet and handed a few bills to the clerk. “I’ve got it.”
Paige turned quickly toward him. She worked her lip between her teeth. “You don’t have to.”
The clerk handed him some change and the bracelet.
Caleb motioned for Paige to put out her wrist. “Perhaps I wanted to.”
“I’ll pay you back at school on Monday.” She held out her arm.
His fingers brushed against her hand as he tied the bracelet on. “There’s no need.”
“I should.” Her eyes darted to his.
He squeezed her hand awkwardly. “Consider it a welcome-to-town gift.”
“Thank you.” She spoke so softly he had to lean closer to hear her. She blinked a couple of times. It almost looked like she was holding back tears.
Over a bracelet? Perhaps it had been too long since someone offered her a gift for no reason other than they cared. Maybe she was low on money. Either way, he wouldn’t push the issue.
They fell into step together.
She broke their silence first. “I picked orange because it made me think of Smalls.”
Love Inspired August 2014 – Bundle 1 of 2 Page 52