by Myra Johnson
Then the conversation turned to Tripp’s family. With difficulty he described his mother’s failing health, then revealed what his sister had told him on the phone last night.
Diana’s heart constricted. “Oh, Tripp.” She grasped his hand. “You said it was bad, but I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”
“Just the mention of hospice makes it hit home with me.” Grief darkened his eyes. He swallowed hard. “My mother is dying, and I’ve got to accept it.”
“But your mother knows the Lord,” Aunt Jennie said softly. “Find courage for the present and comfort for what is to come by remembering Jesus is already preparing a place for her in heaven.”
Tripp nodded. “Thanks, that helps.” Giving Diana’s hand a squeeze, he stood. “I should get going. Enjoyed seeing you again, Mrs.—I mean, Aunt Jennie.”
“Leaving so soon?” Aunt Jennie motioned him over. “You’ll visit again, won’t you?”
“Count on it.” He bent to offer a goodbye hug.
Diana followed him into the corridor. She wanted so badly to share her own hug with him, to somehow ease his unbearable sorrow. “Tripp, my heart is breaking for you.”
He lifted his hand to her face, his palm warm against her cheek. Just as quickly, he dropped his arm to his side. “Don’t feel sorry for me. Please. I can stand anything but that.”
His sharp gaze sliced through her before he turned and strode away.
“Tripp?” She started after him. “Tripp, don’t leave—”
Without looking back, he waved halfheartedly. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the obedience class.”
Deflated and feeling utterly helpless, Diana returned to her great-aunt’s apartment. She slipped inside and leaned weakly against the closed door.
“Your poor young man,” Aunt Jennie said. “Should he be alone right now?”
“Maybe not, but he made it pretty clear he’d rather be.” With a silent groan, Diana crossed to the sofa and sank down. Why did Tripp find it so hard to let someone share his struggles?
Aunt Jennie reached across to pat Diana’s knee. “I still remember how inconsolable you were after he broke things off. Nothing anybody said seemed to help, and you finally told us all to leave you be.”
“For all the good it did,” Diana replied with a smirk. “You, Mom and Dad were all over me like fleas on a dog.”
“Your daddy worried most. Scared him to death that you might do something foolish.”
“No kidding. He came up to see me at school and spent nearly a week making sure I didn’t decide to drop out.” Diana rolled her eyes. “As if! The breakup only made me more determined to get my business degree and do something meaningful with my life.”
Aunt Jennie sat back and folded her hands, a smug look flattening her lips. “You’ve certainly made a success of Diana’s Donuts.”
Narrowing one eye, Diana frowned. “Okay, out with it. There’s obviously more you mean to say.”
“Only that there’s more to life than running a successful business.” Aunt Jennie motioned toward the little white bag Diana had set on the side table. “Speaking of doughnuts, though, I’m about ready for one. Care to join me?”
Diana could only laugh while thanking the Lord for her great-aunt’s wisdom and humor.
* * *
When Diana didn’t see Tripp at church Sunday morning, her concern increased. After leaving Aunt Jennie’s yesterday, she’d been sorely tempted to call and check on him—or even drive out to Serenity Hills as she had the evening after the open house.
But perhaps giving him space was the best course of action for now, for both their sakes. Diana was still reconciling her softening feelings toward him, especially after Friday night and the unmistakable current of electricity thrumming between them. His arm around her shoulder as they sat on the sofa, the look of longing in his eyes as he’d said goodbye on her front porch—for a fleeting moment she’d had the feeling he wanted to kiss her.
It stunned her to realize she would have let him.
Following worship, Diana glanced around again, hoping she might have missed Tripp’s arrival. Spotting Doc Ingram and his family, she casually asked if they’d heard from him.
Doc Ingram frowned. “Think he might be under the weather. He’s got a standing invitation to Sunday dinner at our house, but he called earlier to say he couldn’t make it.”
Seth and Christina Austin, leaving the sanctuary with their two children, strode over. “Asking about Tripp?” Seth said. “I saw him this morning. Seemed okay, just kind of distracted.”
Christina touched Diana’s arm. “You look worried. Is there something we should know?”
“Tripp’s mother is very ill.” Diana hoped he wouldn’t mind her mentioning it.
“I’m so sorry,” Christina said. “He’d mentioned she wasn’t in the best of health but didn’t give us any details. Has she taken a turn for the worse?”
As briefly as possible, Diana related what Tripp had told her about Mrs. Willoughby’s battle with kidney disease. “It looks like they’re going to put her in hospice care. Tripp’s taking it pretty hard.”
By now, Diana’s parents had joined the group. Her dad cast her a questioning glance, obviously wondering why Diana suddenly seemed to have the inside track on what was happening in Tripp’s life. “You two must be seeing an awful lot of each other lately,” he said.
Diana winced. Things had been happening a little too fast to keep her parents in the loop. “Um, yes, Tripp’s been helping me with the therapy pets program.”
“Has he, now?” Dad arched a brow.
“I was thrilled to hear about your program,” Christina said. “If not for getting ready to have twins,” she added with a loving smile for Seth, “I’d consider volunteering with Gracie.”
“You and Gracie actually helped inspire me,” Diana said. As time had passed since her accident, Christina didn’t depend on the golden retriever quite as heavily as she once did, but Gracie remained a special part of the Austin family.
As everyone said their goodbyes, Diana’s mother linked arms with her. “So you and Tripp are spending more time together? Hmm, I think you’d better come to lunch with us and fill us in.”
Getting the third degree from her parents was the last thing Diana needed today, but she didn’t see any chance of escape. Determined to get it over with as painlessly as possible, she agreed to meet them at Casa Luis. The after-church crowd typically packed the popular Mexican restaurant, which meant Diana could count on the noise level to keep Mom and Dad from getting too personal with their questions.
Because if they asked point-blank whether she was falling in love with Tripp Willoughby all over again, she wasn’t sure how she’d respond.
* * *
Tripp pulled into the church parking lot at ten minutes before three. He drove around back, nearer to where the obedience class would be held, and glimpsed Diana talking with Sean, the trainer. Four or five dog owners chatted among themselves while their dogs got better acquainted.
Shutting off the engine, Tripp hauled in a steadying breath. He was doing a little better emotionally than he had been yesterday, when he’d left the assisted-living center so abruptly. Though he’d skipped church this morning, he’d spent a lot of time reading his Bible and trying to pray. Not easy while he still felt so at odds with God over the course his life had taken.
Well, except for one important aspect, and she’d just looked his way, her smile a beacon of welcome...and hope.
With a hesitant smile of his own, Tripp ambled over. He nodded at Diana, then offered his hand to the dog trainer. “Good to see you again, Sean. Thanks for doing this.”
“Glad it worked out.” Sean held the leash of a well-behaved boxer mix. “This is Brutus, my teaching assistant.”
Two more dog owners arrived, including the Mussells with their friendly mutt, Darby. Diana
introduced everyone to Sean, then turned the class over to him. She motioned Tripp to a nearby bench, where they could sit and observe.
“Looks like everyone showed up,” Tripp commented.
“And they’re all so enthusiastic.” Diana’s shoulders heaved with a grateful sigh. “Almost wish I had a dog so I could join the fun.”
“Me, too. Maybe after I get a place of my own...”
She tilted her head, the sparkle in her big brown eyes warming him. “So Juniper Bluff is growing on you, huh?”
“Guess so.”
“I’m glad.” Diana braced her elbow on the bench back, head resting upon her fingertips as she gazed up at him. “Missed you at church this morning. I prayed for you...and your mom.”
“Thanks. Sorry about yesterday. I was still in a really bad place.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I can’t even imagine how hard this is for you.”
In more ways than one, he didn’t say. “Being with you, though—” His mouth went dry, and he couldn’t finish the thought. He shifted to face her and cupped her elbow with his hand. “Diana, is this really happening? You, me...us?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice fell to a whisper. “Do you want it to?”
“Do you?”
“I never thought I’d say this, but...yes.” Lifting her head, she slid her hand along his arm. When her fingers grazed his cheek, the gentleness of her touch made him shiver. “Can we get back what we had, Tripp? Is it even possible?”
“I’d like to find out.” Angling his head, he leaned closer.
Suddenly a pair of giant-sized brown paws plopped on Tripp’s lap, and he jerked aside. Instead of the kiss he’d almost shared with Diana, he suffered Darby’s long, wet tongue lashing across his face.
Diana laughed out loud as Tripp grabbed the hairy beast’s drooling muzzle with both hands. “Hey, big boy,” he said through his own laughter, “enough is enough!”
“Sorry, Doc!” Vince Mussell jogged over and grabbed Darby’s dangling leash. “Guess we have more work to do on the ‘stay’ command.”
“Practice makes perfect.” Tripp patted Darby’s rump as Vince coaxed the dog toward the other class members.
Still snickering, Diana found a tissue in her purse and handed it to Tripp. “You might want to clean up a bit.”
It would take more than a flimsy tissue to wipe away that much dog slobber. Until Tripp could wash his face with soap and water, he could kiss goodbye any further thoughts of kissing Diana.
Which was probably for the best. Number one, they were sitting here in plain view of several townsfolk, some of whom might take great pleasure in spreading the word that Juniper Bluff’s doughnut lady was making time with the new veterinarian.
Number two? It didn’t matter that Tripp had once been on the verge of proposing marriage to the woman he loved. Their breakup had been a cruel one, thanks to his cowardice, and he had a lot to make up for. Even if Diana did seem willing to try again—which thrilled him beyond imagining—his personal life was currently in too big a mess. He had no idea when he might get that dreaded call from Brooke about their mother, and stressing over it wasn’t doing his own health any good.
And he simply couldn’t bring himself to lay all these concerns on Diana, not when things were going so well between them.
* * *
On Monday morning, Tripp discovered the Juniper Bluff rumor mill was alive and well. Doc Ingram had stopped by Diana’s Donuts for coffee on his way to the clinic. He wore a mischievous grin as he set a to-go cup and a pastry bag on Tripp’s desk. “Heard you and your sweetie were canoodling behind the church yesterday.”
“That’s a bit of a stretch.” Heat rose along the sides of Tripp’s neck. “We were just talking, that’s all.”
“You may have thought you were just talking, but half the town is already planning your wedding.”
Groaning, Tripp set his elbows on the desk and palmed his eye sockets. “You got all this from picking up coffee and doughnuts?”
Robert plopped into the chair across from Tripp. He opened the bag, pulled out a paper-wrapped glazed doughnut and passed it to Tripp. “Here, drown your sorrows in sugar. Coffee’s yours, too. I remembered the soy milk.”
“Thanks, you’re all heart.” Stomach issues notwithstanding, Tripp was mortified enough that he couldn’t stop himself from indulging in a little sugar-and-caffeine therapy.
“So,” Robert began, taking a sip of his own coffee, “want to tell me what’s really going on with you and Diana? The most I’ve gotten from you so far is that you knew each other in college, but something tells me there’s a lot more to the story.”
After two delicious but ill-advised bites, Tripp laid aside the doughnut. It was well past time to level with his partner, and maybe it could serve as the next logical step in moving toward full disclosure with Diana. “We were this close to getting engaged,” he said, holding his thumb and forefinger millimeters apart. “But I was under a lot of stress at vet school, and the next thing I knew, I landed in the hospital.”
Robert offered a grim nod. “The pressure can be rough—haven’t forgotten. Was that what kept you from proposing?”
“I could have handled the pressure. What I couldn’t handle was my diagnosis.” Tripp lifted his coffee cup to his lips, then set it down without drinking. He met Robert’s gaze. “I have Crohn’s disease.”
A noisy exhalation whooshed from Robert’s lungs. “Wow. I’d never have guessed—although I have noticed you’re pretty selective about what you eat.” With a guilty glance toward the doughnut, he added, “Sorry if I contributed to the problem.”
“It’s okay.” Tripp released a weak chuckle. “I’ve kept things pretty much under control for several years now.”
“So your disease is what came between you and Diana?” Robert shook his head. “That’s not the Diana Matthews I know.”
“It wasn’t her. I broke things off. Back then, I could barely deal with the diagnosis myself, let alone what it could mean for my future. I couldn’t inflict all that on Diana.”
Sitting forward, Robert pinned Tripp with a hard stare. “You never told her, did you?”
“I didn’t know how.” He closed his eyes briefly. “Still don’t.”
“Well, if things are getting serious again between you two...”
“I know. Believe me, I know.”
A knock sounded on Tripp’s door, and Yolanda peeked in. “Your first patient is here.”
“Thanks, be right there.” Tripp stood, as did Robert. “You’ll keep this conversation between us?” he murmured to his partner.
“Just don’t wait too long.”
* * *
“Hey, Di,” her not-so-favorite customer LeRoy hollered from across the shop. “Or should I be callin’ you the future Mrs. Doc Willoughby?”
Diana tried not to cringe. It was turning into a busier Monday than usual, and this kind of banter had been going strong all morning. Not quite as vocally as LeRoy, thank goodness.
She carried the coffee carafe to his table and refilled his mug. “Now, LeRoy, you know I don’t kiss and tell.”
Not that there had actually been a kiss, but they’d come close. And now it seemed the entire town knew about it.
Seth Austin had just walked in the door. He ambled over, a mile-wide grin splitting his face. “What’s this I hear about some kissing going on?”
Diana glared. “Nobody’s kissing anybody.”
She set the carafe on LeRoy’s table with a thud, then pulled out the chair opposite him. Carefully stepping onto the seat, she stood tall and shouted for attention. “Thank you all so much for your continued patronage. But the very next person who says one word about the kiss that didn’t happen, or so much as hints about my marriage prospects, will be banned from this establishment for life.”
Catcalls and
applause broke out, a clear indication that no one took her seriously. Not that she expected them to—many of them, including Seth, had known her since childhood and probably felt they had as much of a stake in her future as her own family—but if she didn’t at least try to establish some boundaries, she’d never hear the end of this.
The door chime sounded, announcing the arrival of another customer. All eyes turned toward the front, and the room immediately fell silent.
Tripp stood in the doorway, looking temporarily disoriented to find everyone’s focus on him. He glanced around uneasily, his gaze finally settling on Diana, still high above the crowd on her makeshift pedestal. One eyebrow arching skyward, he cocked his head. “Did I miss something?”
Almost as one, Diana’s customers returned to their previous conversations, acting as if nothing had happened. Diana climbed down from the chair, straightened her apron and held her head high as she marched to her station behind the counter. She would not give her patrons the satisfaction of seeing her pay Tripp any more attention than she would any other customer.
By the time she reached the cash register, Tripp stood across the counter from her. “What can I get for you?” she asked with a tense smile.
“How about a Greek yogurt and a bottle of spring water?” With a quick glance over his shoulder, Tripp murmured, “Any chance you could take a short break?”
She nodded. “I’ll get Kimberly to cover for me. Wait for me at the gazebo.”
After filling Tripp’s order, she gave him a couple minutes’ head start, then slipped into the kitchen to call Kimberly to the front.
Kimberly snickered. “Does this have anything to do with a certain veterinarian who just stopped in?”
Diana rolled her eyes as she hung up her apron. “I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”
She briefly considered using the rear exit, but then she’d have to walk all the way down the alley and around the block. Might as well run the gauntlet since it wouldn’t take her customers long to figure out her destination. Ignoring their stares, she headed out to the square.