Rainn on My Parade

by LoRee Peery

“What is the scent you wear?”

  She stopped moving and arched a brow. “Is it too strong?”

  “Not at all. I find it…” Dare he say it? “Alluring.”

  She sucked in a breath and cleared her throat. Geneva looked everywhere but at him. “Lavender and sage,” she murmured. “I have it mixed at the Old Market.”

  “Ah. Omaha?”

  She nodded. “I’m ready if you are.”

  He liked the idea he unsettled her enough that she shifted focus off herself.

  They headed toward his red SUV and Geneva waited while Rainn tossed in her bag. When he stepped near the passenger door, she opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

  “Try not to be so nervous, Geneva.” The fresh air grew heavy with awareness. “I really don’t bite, at least not since I was about a year and a half.”

  His grin drew an answering smile from her.

  “So my mom has told me a time or two,” he finished.

  “You were probably that age when I started babysitting,” she announced, then switched her attention to something over his shoulder. “Now, that’s a sobering thought. If we had lived in the same town, I could have been your babysitter.”

  He wondered if she was deliberately trying to distance herself.

  “Let’s get something out in the open. When I look at you, I don’t see an older woman. I see a savvy, attractive, energetic, giving—”

  Her gaze shot to his. “Stop already.”

  “Sure. But relax. You’ll live longer that way.”

  They shared a laugh before Rainn rounded the front of his vehicle to the driver’s side so he could take his seat.

  “It’s so hard for me to think of myself as anyone other than a widow, a mother, a soon to be motherin-law.” A wistful smile bloomed. “I can’t wait to be a grandmother.”

  “You’re way too young to be a grandmother,” he commented.

  “When you’re my age, you’ll realize how fast time slips away.”

  “I can see that, already. I also see you as more than the roles you fill, and I want you for a friend. You’re a vibrant, Christian woman. One who hasn’t given up on new experiences life has to offer. How many moxie gals do you know who have begun such a business venture as Frivolities?” Rainn paused to start the engine. “And, young women who attempt to rescue critters in trees,” he teased, hoping to help her feel at ease.

  Rainn settled into the business of driving. When he noticed Geneva drop her rigid shoulders, he spoke. “Tell me how Frivolities came about.”

  She sank back into her seat and adjusted the belt on her shoulder. “Frivolities didn’t start out with Moselle’s help, but it sure is a family affair now. The Lord sparked the idea for both Lanae and me at the same time. So weird, how that happened. She resided on a ranch in western Nebraska and I’ve always lived here. The Lord put the idea in both our heads. At the same time, would you believe? There’s no doubt that He directs our lives according to His time.”

  She hesitated. He didn’t interrupt.

  “Things were settled pretty fast. She sold the ranch to her foreman, and we settled on the building in downtown Platteville. Then almost immediately, Lanae was hit with body aches and a fatigue that I’ve never witnessed in anyone close to me. She became sick soon after and then was diagnosed with hepatitis C.”

  “Does she know how she got it?” He didn’t say out loud that Lindsay claimed most hepatitis cases were drug-related.

  “We’ve speculated, but came up with nothing conclusive. Her liver tests normal.” She heaved a sigh. “Back to Frivolities. Moselle came up to help us on weekends. Before long, she left the antique store where she worked in Kansas City, and started putting her energies into the shop.”

  He slid a sideways glance and saw that she was now all loose in posture and engrossed in her story.

  “Soon after Moselle joined Frivolities, she coined me as the quilt queen, which she sometimes changes to Queen-bee of quilts, and Lanae as the crochet queen. I don’t remember which one of us first called Moselle glue-gun queen.”

  “Sounds like Moselle’s return was meant to be. She and Eric seem to be a perfect match.”

  Geneva laughed full throttle. “Not at the beginning. Those two had a history from high school. It took some work on Eric’s part to clear his way back into her heart.”

  It wouldn’t take much for you to be in my heart.

  “Oh, yeah. Eric has been like a son to me for a long time, but when she moved back, Moselle was business all the way, trying not to give him the time of day. It took Eric’s humility and offer to turn the loft into a living space to get her to look at him again. So, the rest will soon be history, as they say.”

  “I’m sure Frivolities will be a great success. Thanks to your place, Platteville’s probably a better town already.”

  They fell silent and he was comfortable with it, thinking he could spend hours sitting next to Geneva. And that was exactly what he was doing.

  After countless signs and lane changes, he broke the silence. “Thank you for dropping everything and lending me a hand. And, I’ll thank you ahead of time for Mia.”

  “I want to know about her.” Genuine compassion filled her voice. “But first, what do your parents think of Mia?”

  He tried to put his words in order so they told the truth without sounding hurtful. Where his parents were concerned, Rainn had put expectations and disappointments behind him a long time ago.

  “I’m not going to say they’re selfish. Mom and Dad worked really hard to get what they have. They agreed long before they retired, they weren’t about to spend their waning years raising their grandkids.”

  And because he was turned off the illusion of family by his parents’ attitude, Rainn had dedicated his life to his art, motivated to produce an admirable, tangible stained-glass product.

  Intangibles left scars.

  “What a shame. I can hardly wait to be a grandmother. But let’s get Eric and Moselle married first.”

  He was feeling ornery, and he loved to watch the bloom come into her cheeks. “And to quote a Brit I knew in Afghanistan, you’ll be a ‘smashing one.’”

  She flicked her hand as though shooing off the compliment the way she’d swat at a fly. It disappointed him when she grew serious. “How was it over there, Rainn?”

  “Always wondered if I’d be in my bed the next time I woke, or if I’d wake up in the presence of the Lord.”

  “Well, I’m glad you returned safe and sound.” She adjusted her seat belt again and squirmed deeper into the corner.

  “Not as glad as I am. The land has its attributes, like any place, but it made me realize that without God it would be a dry and weary land. Anywhere is a desert place, and even a person’s heart is dry as a bone, without God.”

  “Ah. Psalm sixty-three.”

  “You got it. My soul thirsted after God, more in Afghanistan than anywhere I’ve been since. Many biblical phrases became more real to me while I was in that country.”

  “What bothered you most?”

  “I worried about Lindsay.”

  “Rather than your own safety.”

  He valued the admiration in her voice. “I know I was supposed to trust that God would take care of her and all, but sometimes we hold on to our worries.”

  “I can identify with that.”

  “I never got used to the sight of children with shot-off arms and legs.” He paid attention to his driving, pushed away the images. “Which brings me back to the subject of Mia. We don’t really know how smart she is, but it’s up there. She’s tested as highly functional and will do well in life as an adult. For now, she needs a secure routine.”

  “I’ve heard that autistic children don’t look you in the eye.”

  “That was true of her for some time between the ages of two and four. Now, after therapy sessions and reinforcement in school, she just has to be reminded to look at eyes when she meets someone new.”

  “How will she deal with the new sit
uation, being removed from her familiar environment?”

  “Penny has already prepared her as much as she knows how. She told Mia that she doesn’t know where her mother is, but that I am bringing a nice lady friend to meet her. And she reminded Mia of other visits from me.”

  “Is there something that she likes to play with? Isn’t it common for a child such as Mia to have specific toys they fixate on? Is that the term?”

  “Oh, yeah.” He nodded his agreement at her accuracy.

  “I’ve heard of boys and trains or those little collector cars. But I haven’t a clue about an autistic girl.”

  “With Mia, it’s ponies. Those rainbow-colored ponies that have brushes and combs and stuff.” Rainn laughed full out. “Come to think of it, Mia’s colorful ponies remind me of the things in Frivolities.”

  “Great reference to our merchandise. We’re almost to Walmart.” She indicated an exit sign. “Could we stop, so I can pick out a pony for her?”

  “Geneva, I should kiss you.” For real. “She’ll be your friend forever if you take her something like that. She’s also a girly-girl. I’m sure she’d love things from your shop.”

  “I’ve thought about Mia’s reaction to the over-abundance of merchandise and the narrow walkways.” Geneva spoke as though musing aloud.

  “On second thought, I’m not so sure she’ll like the whole of Frivolities. The place might be too much stimulation for Mia,” Rainn finished.

  “What about when you work with glass? Will she be safe around your artwork?”

  “I hadn’t thought that far ahead.” But he needn’t worry. Lindsay would show up soon, and Mia would be home in no time.

  “What will you do if your sister has disappeared?”

  He sure couldn’t run away. He’d have to depend on the Lord big-time.

  “Lindsay has done this before. Penny Shake was always there for Mia. I suppose I could take a leave from the fire department.” He scrunched his forehead and curved his tongue from one cheek to the other. “Let’s face it. I don’t have a child-friendly profession.”

  The seriousness of their situation drove out all the fantasy he had concerning Geneva as an attractive woman.

  “And Frivolities isn’t exactly a place for a child to hang out.”

  He detected skepticism in Geneva’s voice. He grazed her shoulder with his palm. “Looks like we’ve both got some praying to do.”

  The stop at the discount store took only a few minutes. Rainn got a kick out of watching Geneva shop. She scanned the selection, snagged her choice and that was that. No idle shopping along the way. This woman was on a mission.

  Once on the road again, they grew silent, lost in their own musings. He wondered so much about her. Based on the glances she tried to mask, he was sure there was a mutual attraction between them.

  “You’re different from other women I’ve known. Not one of the gals I can think of would have dropped everything and taken this trip with me.”

  Geneva pulled out bright colored fabric from her tote. “The way I’m about to work on a purple cow?”

  After a few sidelong glances, he soon distinguished thick thread eyelashes. This woman was talented all right.

  Twice, they stopped for gas and coffee, and twice to eat. The interstate construction was as disruptive as usual, and created a tedious amount of time getting through Oklahoma City. Before Rainn thought it possible, they were zinging south into Texas on I-35 West.

  “Ever been to the Stock Yards?”

  “Once, but it was a long time ago. Lanae and her husband, Keith, lived on a ranch in the Sandhills before he was killed. Bret and I traveled to Texas with them once. That was way before it was turned into such a tourist attraction.”

  “Bret’s your husband’s name?”

  She squirmed. “Yes. Sometimes I wonder what’s proper after a person is deceased. Whether to say is or was.”

  Geneva raised her hands and waved them in the air, that graceful little dance that he liked. “Listen to me. I can get so sidetracked.”

  “Does it bother you to talk about Bret?”

  “Oh, my. No. I was a different woman then, in a different stage of my life. Sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago. I especially feel old when I look at how fast time has sped by since he died.”

  “When was that?”

  “Bret died of cancer, fast-acting lymphoma, when Moselle was in high school.” She stared out the window. “Goodness me, time flies. That’s been fifteen years already.”

  “You said you’re not bothered talking about him, but you seem agitated somehow.”

  “How can you tell that?”

  He reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “You can’t seem to sit quietly.”

  “You notice too much,” she huffed.

  Her action brought joint laughter, and he returned his hand to the wheel, missing the brief contact. He tried not to dwell so much on the memory of her in his arms. He hadn’t minded rescuing her from the tree at all. He always got a kick out of the picture of her climbing that tree.

  She’s one gutsy woman.

  Geneva slapped his upper arm. “So, you find me humorous. I don’t know what to say about that.”

  Her long, slim fingers wandered to her throat, then splayed for a second, before waving back and forth in the air. “Guess I’m nervous about meeting Mia. My life with Bret is in the past. I try to live in the present now, with my focus on the eternal. I gave Moselle a plaque when she moved into the loft above Frivolities—”

  “There is more to this life than this life,” they finished together.

  ****

  Geneva sat deep in thought, convinced she’d need global satellite help if she ever drove to this part of Texas. Rainn maneuvered through traffic on the numerous interstate lanes as though he did it every day. Before long, they were in an older, but well-kept neighborhood, of Fort Worth.

  Introductions were brief. As soon as he said hello, Mia catapulted against Rainn’s legs, where she rubbed her cheek over his jeans. Mia’s riotous strawberry curls stood up from static electricity.

  Penny Shake was a surprise. For some reason, Geneva had pictured a true-to-stereotypical grandmother. She now guessed Penny at only a few years older than herself. She appeared to be in great physical shape, and twenty pounds lighter than Geneva.

  When Rainn crouched to Mia’s level, Geneva tried to swallow the sudden heart-flickering emotion building in her throat.

  “Wow. Thank you for that great hug, Mia.” Rainn kept his hands on her small shoulders as he spoke, gave her a squeeze, and then stood.

  Reinforcement for her spontaneous action brought an open expression that lit up Mia’s whole face.

  He leaned close to Geneva’s ear. “That’s a first,” he whispered. “Getting a hug without asking for one.”

  Rainn turned back to Mia. “I brought a friend with me. Mia, I would like you to meet Miss Geneva.”

  Mia’s glance touched Geneva’s face, but then skidded off to the side.

  “Hello, Uncle Rainn’s friend. My name is Mia Grace Harris. You say it ME-ah, but spell it M-I-A.”

  Geneva kept her face expressionless, and followed Rainn’s example by moving down to Mia’s eye level. She remembered doing the same with Moselle, so many long years ago. Yet at times, it felt like only a few months ago.

  She held out her hand. “Hello, Mia Grace Harris. My name is Geneva Elaine Carson. But that’s a mouthful so you can call me Geneva.”

  Mia reached out her hand and looked Geneva full in the face. “Penny takes care of me. She has names that mean something else. A penny is one cent. I don’t like to shake. That happens when I’m cold. But hot cocoa helps.”

  That was a lot to follow, but at least Mia appeared to be at ease.

  “Yes, hot cocoa keeps me warm, too. And I’m glad that Penny has been around to spend time with you.”

  Rainn bent down again. His arm touched Geneva’s from elbow to wrist. Neither of them moved. His proximity raised the hair on her arm.
She put aside her reaction to Rainn in order to pay attention to what he said to the child.

  “Mia, has Penny told you that she needs to leave Fort Worth to care for her sick sister?”

  Mia nodded and stood stiff. Then she pulled her elbows in close to her body, rubbing her wrists over her hip bones.

  “Mia, hold your hands still, please,” Penny put in.

  Mia stopped the movement. She met his gaze briefly before sliding off to look beyond his arm. At least she appeared to focus on Rainn’s words.

  “Geneva and I will be taking you on a long road trip,” he told her, “to Nebraska where we live.”

  Mia’s glance wended Geneva’s way. “Do you live in the same house?”

  “No,” Geneva and Rainn said simultaneously. It struck Geneva they had done that twice in a span of hours.

  “Mia, look at me, please,” Rainn continued. “When I’m at home, you will be at my house. And any time you won’t be at my house, you’ll be safe and we’ll talk about it then. All right?”

  She took time to process the situation before she answered. “OK. Is there a school for Mia in Nebraska?”

  Geneva would have to get used to Mia’s young mind referring to herself in the third person. Instinctual motherhood and her nurturing heart went out to the child. She found Mia beautiful. Her eyes appeared huge in her gamin face, bluish-green, inquisitive and intelligent. Geneva figured Mia would probably despise the strawberry blonde curls someday, as well as the cute freckles that dotted her nose.

  Viewing this child as a member of Rainn’s family, Geneva saw that Mia had the shape of his eyes and full brows. And she wore that same hint of optimistic smile.

  “You remind me of my daughter Moselle when she was a little girl.” Mia would fit right in with her family. Geneva attempted to swallow a huge lump, thinking the three females could be a family unit. Since Mia looked like Moselle, and Moselle was Geneva’s daughter…

  Crazy dream perception.

  “We’ll go on up to the apartment, then,” Rainn told Penny. He remained silent as they ascended the stairs. The cleanliness pleased Geneva.

  “I’m sure you’ve thanked God for Penny Shake’s influence on Lindsay’s and Mia’s lives.”

  “Oh, yeah.”