“What about that woman you spent Thanksgiving with?”
“What about her?”
“Does she go to church and believe in the same religious things as you?”
Dan closed his eyes as a mental picture of Bev flashed into his mind. She was a Christian, and as near as he could tell, she lived like one. Ever since he’d first met Bev, he’d been attracted to her sweet, caring disposition. She reminded him of Darcy in so many ways. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. If that’s so, then why can’t I—
Leona shook his arm, and Dan’s eyes popped open. “Are you ignoring me?”
“No, but I …”
She pursed her lips. “I want to know one thing before I go.”
“What’s that?”
“If you have no interest in me, then why have you been leading me on?”
Dan cringed. Had he led Leona on? He’d thought he was being kind and neighborly when he’d agreed to have dinner with her a few times. He was only trying to set a Christian example.
“If I led you on, I’m sorry,” he said.
Leona stood and pushed her chair aside with such force it nearly toppled to the floor. She grabbed her shoes and tromped across the room, but before she reached the door, she whirled around. “Just so you know—you’re not the only fish in the Atlantic Ocean. When you turned me down for Thanksgiving dinner, I invited an old army buddy of my husband’s over, and he was more than willing to share the meal with me.”
Dan was about to comment when she added, “I’ll send you the bill for the shoe repairs!” The door clicked shut, and Leona was gone.
Dan leaned forward and continued to rub the pulsating spot on his forehead. I never should have had dinner with her. When he glanced at the picture of Darcy, he thought of Bev again, and feelings of confusion swirled around in his brain like a frightening hurricane.
“Come look at what I found, Mommy!” Amy called to Bev.
Several minutes ago, the child had become bored with decorating the tree and had wandered over to a box of stuffed toys that had recently been donated to Twice Loved.
“I’m busy, honey. Can it wait awhile?” Bev asked over her shoulder. She and Ellis were still trying to get the train set up.
“That’s okay. I can manage on my own if you need to see what your daughter wants,” Ellis said with a grin. “I’ve got six grandkids, and I know how it is when one of ’em gets excited about something.”
Bev smiled gratefully. “Thanks. I’ll be back soon.” She stepped across the room and knelt on the floor beside Amy. “Let’s see what you’ve found.”
Amy lifted a bedraggled-looking teddy bear from the box and gave it a hug. “He reminds me of Uncle Dan.”
Bev tipped her head and studied the bear. One eye was missing, both paws were torn, the blue ribbon around its neck was faded, and some of the fur on the bear’s stomach was gone. He didn’t look anything like Dan, who was always nicely dressed, with his hair combed just right.
“What is there about the bear that makes you think of Dan?” Bev asked her daughter.
“He needs someone to fix him, Mommy,” Amy said in a serious tone. “I think he’s lonely and has no one to love.” She pointed to the bear. “Can we take him home so he won’t be sad?”
Bev’s eyes stung with unshed tears. She didn’t know why she felt like crying. Was it the touching scene with Amy and the bear, or did she feel sorry for herself because, like the tattered bear, she too was lonely and needed love? Was it possible that Dan felt that way, too?
“I’ll tell you what,” Bev said, giving Amy’s arm a gentle squeeze. “If you promise to help me finish decorating the tree in the window, I’ll see about buying that bear for you.”
“Can he go home with us today?”
“Yes. After I patch him up.”
“Okay, but I would love the bear just the way he is.”
Bev smiled. “That’s how Jesus sees us, and the best part is that He loves us the way we are.” She held out her hand. “Should we go back to the window and finish the tree now?”
Amy nodded and grabbed the bear by one torn paw. “Until we’re ready to go home, I’m gonna put him in the window with the dolls and stuffed toys. That way he can see all the people who walk by the store.”
As Bev started across the room, the door to Dan’s photography studio opened. Leona marched through the toy store with a pained expression on her face.
Bev was tempted to say something, but the woman’s angry glare made her decide to keep quiet.
A few seconds after Leona stormed out of the store, Dan emerged from his studio, wearing his coat, hat, and a pair of gloves. He looked upset, too. Was he mad at Bev for bumping into his girlfriend? Did he think she had done it on purpose?
“I’m sorry, but something’s come up and I won’t be able to help you today after all.” He nodded at Bev.
“I’m sure I can manage.”
He was almost to the door, when he halted. “Uh—can we take a rain check on that dinner I promised you and Amy?”
She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Sure. It’s probably best if we don’t go out anyway.”
Dan merely shrugged and opened the door.
He’s probably going after Leona. Bev reached into the cardboard box and removed the train’s caboose. She was on the verge of tears. What had happened between yesterday’s pleasant Thanksgiving dinner and today? It must be Leona Howard.
At that moment, Bev made a decision. From this point on, there would be no more romps in the snow or friendly dinners. Her relationship with her boss must be kept strictly business.
CHAPTER 11
Holding tightly to Amy’s hand, Bev trudged up the stairs to her apartment. Today was Thursday, and her workweek was nearly finished. The last two weeks had been the hardest she had experienced since Dan hired her to run Twice Loved. Not only had there been more customers than usual, but despite her best intentions, she continued to struggle with her feelings for Dan. He seemed sweet and attentive where Amy was concerned, even allowing her to visit his photography studio a couple of times. He’d also taken the child Christmas shopping one afternoon, which gave Bev the freedom to wait on customers without any distractions. Around Bev, however, Dan was distant and appeared to be preoccupied. He’d been friendly and attentive until the day after Thanksgiving, and Bev didn’t know what had happened to change things.
She’d thought at first that Dan’s lack of interest in her was due to Leona Howard, but shortly after the woman’s last visit to the store, Dan had told Bev he had informed Leona he wasn’t free to pursue a relationship with her because she wasn’t a Christian. He’d also made it clear that he hadn’t fully recovered from his wife’s death and didn’t know if he would ever be ready for a relationship with another woman.
Bev opened the door to her apartment, allowing her thoughts to return to the present. She and Amy had purchased a Christmas tree at a reduced price, and the man at the tree lot would be delivering it soon. For the rest of the evening, she planned for the two of them to decorate the tree, snack on popcorn and apple cider, and sing whatever Christmas songs were played on the radio.
That should take my mind off Dan Fisher, Bev told herself as she entered the living room and clicked on the light.
Amy went straight to her room and returned a few minutes later with Baby Sue. She placed the doll on the sofa and plunked down beside her. “We’re gonna wait right here till the tree arrives,” she announced.
“I think it’s here already, because I hear the rumbling of a truck.”
Amy jumped up and raced for the door. Bev caught her hand, and the two of them hurried down the steps and onto the sidewalk.
The delivery man was already unloading the tree from the back of his pickup. “Want me to haul this upstairs for you?”
Bev shook her head. “I’m sure I can manage.”
“It’s a pretty big tree, ma’am.”
“Thanks anyway.”
He merely shrugged and climbed ba
ck into his truck.
Grabbing hold of the cumbersome tree trunk and directing Amy to go ahead of her, Bev huffed and puffed her way up the flight of stairs until she stood in front of her door. She leaned the tree against the wall and studied it, wondering if the oversize tree could be squeezed through the doorway.
She turned to Amy. “Sweetie, I want you to go into the living room and wait for me. After I bring the tree inside, we can begin decorating it.”
“Okay.”
Amy disappeared inside, and Bev grabbed hold of the tree, lining the trunk up with the door. She gave it a hefty thrust, but it only went halfway and wedged against the doorjamb. “Oomph!” She pushed hard again, almost losing her balance and catching herself before she fell into the scraggly branches.
Bev dropped to her knees and crawled under the limbs. Maybe I can grab hold of the trunk and push it through that way. Grasping both sides, she gritted her teeth and gave it a shove. The tree didn’t budge.
With a sense of determination, Bev reassessed her situation. This time, facing the hallway, she would back in under the branches, grab hold, and try to pull the tree as she scooted through the doorway.
Bev had backed partway through the evergreen tunnel when a pair of men’s shoes appeared. She froze.
The branches above her head parted, and Dan grinned down at her. “Oops. Looks like I’m too late.”
“Too late for what?”
“I … uh … brought you a tree.”
“You did what?”
He shuffled his feet a few times, and Bev pushed against the branches of the tree again, hoping to dislodge it. In the process, her hair stuck to a prickly bough. “I’m trapped, and so is the tree,” she admitted sheepishly.
Dan reached through and untangled her hair. “See if you can back your way into the living room, and I’ll try to follow with the tree.”
Bev was skeptical but did as he suggested. Once she had clambered out from under the branches, she stood off to one side and waited to see what would happen.
To her amazement, Dan and the tree made their entrance a few minutes later. He obviously had more strength than she did.
After Amy greeted “Uncle Dan,” Bev asked the child to go to her room and play. Then she turned to face Dan. “Now what’s this about you bringing another tree?”
He swiped his hand across his damp forehead. “I—I figured you probably couldn’t afford to buy a nice tree, so I bought you one and was going to leave it outside your door.”
“An anonymous gift?”
He nodded and offered her a sheepish grin. “To be perfectly honest, I’ve done a couple other secret things, too.”
She frowned. “Such as?”
He pointed to the front door. “While I wasn’t the one who actually hung the wreath there, I did pay for it and asked the girls from church to put it on your door Thanksgiving morning.”
Bev sank onto the couch. “Anything else I should know?”
He shifted uneasily. “Well …”
She blew out an exasperated breath.
“I know the man who owns this building, and when you said you were interested in renting an apartment here but might not be able to afford it, I agreed to pay your landlord the extra twenty dollars he normally would have charged per month.”
Bev’s mouth fell open. “Why would you do such a thing without asking me?”
“When I offered to increase your wages, you flatly refused, and several times you’ve mentioned that you don’t want any charity. I thought the only way I could help was to do it anonymously.”
Bev’s body trembled as she fought for control. How dare this man go behind her back! “Please take the tree and the wreath to your own home. I’ll speak to Mr. Dawson in the morning about the rent.”
“Does that mean you won’t accept any of my gifts?”
She shook her head as tears pooled in her eyes.
“I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, Bev.”
She made no reply.
“I–I’d better get going.” Dan turned for the door. “I hope I’ll see you at the store tomorrow.”
As much as she was tempted to quit working at Twice Loved, Bev knew it would be difficult to find another job. Besides, she enjoyed the work she did there. “I’ll make sure I’m on time,” she mumbled.
The following morning, Bev found it difficult to concentrate on her work. Last night, she and Amy had decorated their tree, and she’d lain awake for hours thinking about Dan and the gifts he’d given her in secret. She had lost her temper and hadn’t shown any appreciation for his thoughtfulness. I need to apologize, but he also has to understand that I won’t accept his charity.
She glanced around the store. Christmas was only a few days away, and most of the toys had been picked over. Most that were left needed repair. She’d been too busy with customers to get more mending done. She was also behind on the bookwork and wanted to finish that before the week was out. It was time to get busy and quit thinking about Dan.
Since there were no customers at the moment, Bev decided to start with the book work. She seated herself at the desk, opened the drawer, and reached for the ledger, prepared to record the previous day’s receipts.
Near the back of the drawer, she discovered a folded slip of paper. Funny, she’d never noticed it before. Curious, she unfolded the paper and silently read the words.
One thing I have learned since I was diagnosed with leukemia is not to worry about things I can’t change. Every day God gives me is like a special gift, and I am putting my trust in Him. I’ve also learned to accept help whenever it’s offered. I used to be too proud to ask for assistance, thinking I could do everything in my own strength. But since I became sick, I have no choice except to rely on others. Dan has been especially helpful, often setting his own needs aside for mine. I know he would rather be in his photography studio than at the toy store, yet he works here without complaint.
Bev blinked away tears. Dan’s late wife had obviously written the note before she’d become too ill to be at the store, but for whom was it intended? Perhaps it was a letter to a friend or family member and Darcy had forgotten to mail it.
The poor woman had been through more than Bev could imagine, yet Bev realized Darcy had kept a positive, thankful attitude despite her ill health. She’d learned not to worry and had been willing to accept help, two areas in which Bev often struggled.
She realized, too, that Dan had only been trying to help when he’d given money toward her rent and purchased the tree and wreath. Even so, she didn’t want to feel beholden to a man who only saw her as his employee—a man who was still in love with his wife and might never be ready for a relationship with another woman. Too bad she hadn’t been able to keep from falling in love with him.
Dan stared at Darcy’s Bible lying on his desk. He’d discovered it in the bottom drawer of their dresser this morning and felt compelled to bring it to work with him. Maybe it was because Christmas was fast approaching and he needed the comfort of having something near that belonged to his wife. This was Darcy’s favorite time of the year, and every Christmas carol he heard on the radio, every decorated tree he saw in a window, and each Christmas shopper who came into the toy store reminded him of her.
Dan leaned forward and closed his eyes. Help me, Lord. Help me not to forget my sweet Darcy.
He had been fighting his attraction to Bev ever since she came into the store looking for a doll for her daughter, yet he hadn’t succumbed to the temptation of telling her how he felt. He couldn’t. It wouldn’t be fair to his wife’s memory.
Dan opened his eyes and randomly turned the pages of Darcy’s Bible. To his surprise, an envelope fell out, and he saw that it was addressed to him. With trembling fingers, he tore open the flap and removed the piece of paper.
My Dearest Dan,
If you’re reading this letter, then I have passed from this world into the next. One thing you can be sure of is that I’m no longer in pain. Take comfort in knowing I am healed and
in my Savior’s arms.
Dan’s throat constricted as he tried to imagine his precious wife running through the streets of heaven, whole and at peace. With a need to know what else she had written, he read on.
My greatest concern is that you will continue to grieve after I’m gone, when you should be moving on with your life. You’re a wonderful Christian man who has so much love and compassion to give. Please don’t spend excessive time mourning for me. Praise God that I’m happy, and ask Him to bring joy into your life again.
Love Finds a Home (Anthologies) Page 20