She nodded in the dark, not really wanting to explain at that exact moment that though his logic was sound, it wasn’t that easy for her to accept all the help. Or any of it actually. “Sometimes. Probably. Yes,” she answered, indecisively and was glad when he changed the subject.
“You look a lot like your mom.”
“You really think so? People always say that, but neither of us sees it that way.”
“You’re kidding. There’s a strong resemblance in the shape of your eyes. The way you smile. You have a great smile,” he complimented. “It’s so … bright.”
“It’s our family secret.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“Teeth-whitening strips,” she told him honestly, and he chuckled at that.
“No, seriously. I don’t mean just white. I mean bright. As in happy.”
Oh, that was how she had been feeling lately. Happy. At least she felt that way when she wasn’t also feeling confused and scared about the way she was feeling.
“I’m sure you hear that a lot though, don’t you?” he asked, refocusing his eyes on the road. “About your smile?”
“Actually I do. Usually once a week.”
“Yeah?” He did a double take. “That often, huh?”
“Uh-huh. When I see Dan. Dan always tells me that.” Did she actually see him flinch? Seriously? She was only being playful, teasing. She didn’t mean anything by it.
His hands tightened around the steering wheel. “Do I know Dan?”
She nodded in the dimness. “Actually, yes you do. He’s really a great guy and very mature.”
“Mature? I’m not sure how to take that.”
“Mature, meaning he’ll be seventy-two in August.”
That news seemed to ease Mac’s shoulders. “Hmm, I think I like this Dan guy already.”
“You do like him.” She smiled. “Dan Hoffman? He’s one of the volunteers?”
“Oh yeah. Dan. He told me he’s one of your patients. He was also a good friend of my Uncle Jake’s.” He paused and shook his head. “You really had me going there for a minute.”
They both laughed, and she couldn’t believe he’d reacted so possessively. Really? MacNeill Hattaway? Who could have his pick of about any woman in the universe? Jealous? She had to wonder if it was because he really did have feelings for her. Or was it just because he didn’t like to lose—at baseball or anything else?
She found herself hoping it was for the former reason, not the latter.
“What funny?” Sammy asked from the bench seat behind them.
“Your mom’s funny, that’s what,” Mac told him.
“Funny? Maw-mee?” Sammy’s voice registered disbelief.
“I know. Hard to believe, isn’t it, sweetie?” Megan glimpsed at her son in the backseat. “Mommy’s not always so funny, am I?”
Sammy shook his head vehemently, making them laugh, which only made him shake it all over again.
“You nice, Maw-mee. Buh not funny.”
“Yes, she is nice,” Mac agreed, his comment causing her to look his way. “Pretty, too.”
Mac gave her a sideways glance, and she didn’t know how he managed to do it, but his grin widened in approval at the same time his eyes narrowed in seriousness, causing her heart to race in her chest.
Thankfully she managed to escape his gaze when they came around the bend to his farm, and he had to divert his attention to turning his new truck ever so gently onto the gravel driveway.
Slowly pulling all the way to the end of the drive, Mac turned off the engine. Before she could find the door handle in the dark, he was out of the truck and around to the passenger side of the vehicle. It wasn’t like she needed any help, but there he was anyway opening her door, helping her descend gracefully. Then he grabbed the wheelchair from the bed of the Ford before hoisting Sammy down from the back cabin.
“You take me to moo-n, Mac?” Sammy asked while Mac settled him into the chair.
“No, I said I’ll bring the moon to you.”
“Oh.”
Either way, Megan knew it didn’t matter to Sammy. As long as he could be with Mac, his idol and new pal, her son didn’t have a care in the world. The thought suddenly niggled at her that the day the three of them had shared felt too perfect. Too wonderful. A day with MacNeill Hattaway that she would’ve never believed could be true. So, why was she thinking it was for real? A tingle of warning prickled at her cheeks.
What if she and Sammy were just something to keep Mac amused while he was healing? What if he didn’t care for Sammy as much as she thought he appeared to? Or maybe not for her either? Or what if—
Oh stop it! she commanded her mind. Just stop with the “what-ifs,” a voice inside her pleaded. Things have been great today. So easy and natural. With just the three of us. And with family and friends. Mac even said so. Don’t ruin it all. Not now …
She tried to look beyond the thoughts in her head to the sky far beyond her reach. “The moon does look pretty big out here.”
In the wide open space, far from town, with no competition from street lights or house lights, the huge moon looked as white as ever and so did the stars, abundant against the purplish night sky.
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Mac promised from behind the wheelchair.
“Where are we headed?”
He pointed to the left. “To the barn.”
“Barn?” A hint of glee permeated Sammy’s voice. “I like barns.”
Megan didn’t bother to remind her zealous and easy-to-please son that he’d never been in a barn. Instead she let Mac push him along and lead the way, much like he’d been doing all day.
She noticed Sammy didn’t say a word but rather sat in awe as Mac unlatched the barn doors and slid them to each side.
“This is a nice barn,” Megan said, following behind them. “Not that I’ve been in a lot of barns. But this one’s so clean, really nice.”
“I had it redone when Uncle Jake was still alive. He had a few horses for a while until he got too sick to take care of them and had to put them up for adoption. He liked to spend a lot of time out here whittling in their company.”
Mac stepped to the side and turned on what looked to be a small battery-powered lantern before pushing the wheelchair deeper into the barn. “I don’t want to turn on a bunch of lights. It’ll ruin what I want to show you.”
“Smell funny in here,” Sammy remarked.
“It smells like a barn, honey.” Megan chuckled.
At the sound of the voices, Bitty sauntered out of nowhere, meowing her way toward them.
“Bitty!” Sammy extended his arm over his chair.
“How about you let your mom hold Bitty for a minute until we get to where we’re going?” Mac suggested.
Megan scooped up the cat in her arms and followed along behind Mac and Sammy until they reached the middle of the barn. She was still puzzled about what Mac was up to even as she watched him pull at a dangling rope, and a makeshift staircase descended from the rafters.
“Ladies first.” He motioned for her and Bitty to head up the steps in front of him and Sammy.
The air grew warmer and the lantern’s light dimmer as Megan made her way up the ladder to the loft, Bitty nestled against her chest. Settling down onto a bed of hay, it was only seconds later when Mac and Sammy’s heads popped through the opening.
“Hey guys.”
“Mac carry me,” Sammy stated the obvious as Mac deposited him onto her lap and Bitty hopped off, finding a place to curl up near her feet. “He nice. And strong,” Sammy added.
“I think I should hire you to do my PR work, Sammy.” Mac chuckled before moving closer to the barn wall. “Now …” he paused. “Are you two ready?”
They both nodded, Megan for one wondering what they should be ready for. But then they couldn’t have imagined it anyway. Because as Mac opened the large wooden window that ran most of the length of the loft area, so much light flooded in that she and Sammy both gasped.
The moon that had seemed a galaxy away when viewed from the ground now suddenly looked so close. Close enough to reach out and touch, just as Mac had promised. And surrounding it were so many stars, glimmering and twinkling before their eyes, Megan thought it’d surely take till dawn to count them all.
Mac settled in next to them then, and all at once she was totally aware of how close he was. The scent of him, musk and soap blended together, was familiar to her now. So was the pleasant feeling it awakened in her. His shoulder leaned against hers in the dark, connecting them in an unspoken way, feeling easy. Comfortable.
Cuddled together, they all sat in awed silence looking out into the vast sky until Sammy rasped his thoughts out loud.
“God is big!” he said, his voice full of amazed wonder. “He very big!”
“And good,” Mac said, low and reverent. “God is good.”
Then, as if he hadn’t surprised her enough that day with all his tender ways, he surprised her again by reaching for her hand. Gently. Softly. He covered his large, strong hand over her smaller one, making it feel like a perfect fit. His clasp warmed her. His touch assured her. And the words he spoke never felt so true as they reverberated through her. Because suddenly in the veil of night there seemed to be so much light in her life. So much to be thankful for, that tears sprang to her eyes.
There was family … and friends they’d spent the sunny day with. There was the welcome weight and warmth of Sammy’s body leaning against her chest. Sammy—her son—who could not walk through the world, but who could send her heart on trips of bliss. There was Mac—oh, sweet, heartthrob Mac—wanting to share time with them, becoming a part of them, making her feel things she hadn’t felt in a very long time.
And there was God. God who Sammy talked about as if he knew Him, as if He was his friend. God, who really did feel like He was everywhere these days. So, so close.
Oh yes, it all felt right. So right that she couldn’t help but squeeze Mac’s hand in reply. So good that she couldn’t stop the unseen tear of joy, escaping down her cheek.
Chapter 13
I’m Jason. I’ll be your server today.” The waiter wiped his brow then steadied a pen over his ordering pad all in one motion. “Did you want to order lunch now? Or wait for your friend to get here?”
“I think I’ll wait.” Megan squinted up at him, shading her eyes from the sun. “He should be here any minute.”
“Take your time.” Jason slipped the pad back into his pocket. “I’d sit out here all day if I could. I’ll stop back when I see him.”
“Thanks.”
Megan already knew Tano Bistro’s menu by heart, so there was no need to look it over one more time. Instead, she settled back into the rattan chair and checked out the scenery along the sidewalks of downtown Loveland, wishing she, too, could sit outside forever on such a gorgeous day.
The humidity was almost non-existent after the rain the day before. Quite a rarity for summer in southwestern Ohio. Even so, she couldn’t sit and enjoy the outdoors for all that long. Her next patient was due to arrive in an hour and fifteen minutes, and she needed to be back at the clinic a few minutes prior to that.
Still, it was nice Mac had suggested they meet for lunch in the middle of the week to discuss event details. Such a different change of pace, it almost made the obligations of the day fall away for just awhile. Making her feel like she was on a mini-getaway. To somewhere other than Loveland, Ohio. To some faraway place. Where she’d be having lunch at an outdoor café. With Mac.
She couldn’t believe the way the crazy image danced around in her head, instantly making her stomach feel all fluttery. And make her heart feel the same way. Even a drink of her ice water didn’t help at all to cool her flushed cheeks. Or to distract her thoughts from the image of the two of them that kept coming to mind.
But then … she wasn’t used to thinking about lunches with men. Or thinking about men in any kind of romantic way at all. For years, the only males she’d longed for in her day-to-day thoughts included Mr. Clean and a grocery deliveryman. Both of whom she’d hoped would come along and make her everyday life a bit easier.
But hard as she tried, she couldn’t conjure up those imaginary characters now. Those mundane daydreams had disappeared into thin air like the fuzzy white flowers of a dandelion blowing in the wind. Leaving only more thoughts … more daydreams of Mac. And her. Together. Sitting under an umbrella at an open air café in—hmm … maybe Paris? Rome? She tilted her head trying to envision it all. But she’d never been abroad. And even for a daydream those places felt far too extravagant.
But what about, say, Hilton Head Island?
Sliding her elbows on the table, she cupped her chin in her hands, gazing out at the passersby ambling up and down the sidewalk. Letting her mind drift for a change.
Yes … she really could see the two of them in South Carolina. She really could imagine them in Harbortown, to be exact. With Sammy safely stowed at his grandparents’ house in Loveland. Or no. Better yet, Sammy would be in Hilton Head with them, and her mom and dad would be there—one big, happy family. They’d all stay together in a four-bedroom condo. A really plush one with three bathrooms and a terrace off her bedroom. Why not, since she was daydreaming anyway?
After a day at the beach, her parents wouldn’t have any qualms about watching Sammy while she and Mac slipped out for a few hours in the evening.
The two of them would head over to South Beach, walking through the shops there, holding hands—just like he’d held her hand the night before. Not really buying anything—oh, well, except for maybe a Hilton Head T-shirt for Sammy. And then, they’d stop for ice cream on the pier at an outdoor café. They’d sit and talk some. Laugh a lot. People-watch a little. Marvel at God’s exquisite sunset … and hold hands some more.
Mac’s nose would be pink from the sun and his hair even blonder than when they’d left Loveland after just a couple of days on the beach. He’d be wearing a yellow T-shirt that would bring out the amber in his brown eyes and accentuate his tan. So relaxed in his khaki shorts and Reefs, his long muscular legs would be stretched out languidly and crossed at the ankles.
She’d have on a sundress of course. Or no, she’d be in her white ruffled skirt and a tank top actually. A fun and feminine summery outfit very similar to the one the girl strolling down the sidewalk toward her was wearing. And she’d throw on some breezy, brightly-colored bangle bracelets like the girl wore. Which looked very cute along with the straw hat over the girl’s very red hair, and—
“Janey?” Megan blinked. She sat up straight.
Her incognito friend stopped dead in her high cork-heeled sandals, sliding dark, trendy Ray-Bans down her nose.
“Megan?” Janey leaned over the bistro’s wrought iron railing. “How did you know it was me?”
“Um, well, because you look like you.”
“I do?”
“Only with red hair.”
“It’s a wig,” Janey entrusted.
“So I gathered,” Megan answered, not letting her friend know it was the second time she’d laid eyes on her that way.
“Do you think most people would know who I am?” Janey leaned over even more, lowering her voice. A lock of red synthetic hair fell to her cheek. “I mean, with the wig on?”
Megan could tell her friend wasn’t searching for the most honest answer, so she tap-danced around the question. “I’ve known you for forever, Janey. So, of course, I’d know you no matter what color hair you have.”
Standing up straight, Janey appeared to be considering her answer. “Yeah, I guess that’s true,” she finally said. “You’re probably right.”
Removing her sunglasses, Janey dangled them from the rounded neck of her tank top. It pained Megan to see the frustration clouding Janey’s usually bright eyes. “Is everything okay, Janey?”
“Okay? You mean as in, why am I wearing a wig?”
“Well, I mean …” Megan shrugged. “Your hair’s been looking so good lately with all t
hose pretty highlights you’ve been getting. Are you experimenting with a new look or something?”
Janey nodded. “Yeah, I just thought …” At first her friend’s body stilled as if she were ready to deliver a sound explanation. But then her face crumpled and her voice faltered as she blurted out the truth. “Oh Megan, I can’t lie to you. I can’t. And it’s so good I bumped into you because I need to tell someone. I do. And who else would I tell, but you?”
Breaking through the bistro’s metal enclosure, Janey apparently was so wrapped up in her own issues that she didn’t even notice the gate closing with a crash behind her. But several diners did. They looked up from their plates at the intrusive noise as she plopped down into a matching rattan chair across from Megan. “I can’t keep carrying this secret around inside of me, Megan. It’s starting to drive me crazy!”
“You have a secret?” Megan pushed the glass of ice water meant for Mac across the table suddenly aware—and feeling slightly guilty—that her friend wasn’t the only one who hadn’t been dis-3 closing things lately. Certainly she hadn’t been very forthcoming with Janey about all the feelings she’d been having for Mac recently.
Janey’s bracelets clanked on her arm as she took her time sipping at the water. “Yes. Yes, I do.” She nodded, like she was unable to stall any longer. “It’s—I’ve—well …” Janey’s shoulders slouched. She let out a long, defeated-sounding breath. “Megan, the truth is, I’ve been spying.”
“Spying?” Megan could feel her brows knit together instantly as if someone had pulled a loose string, tugging them tight. “Seriously? On who?”
Nibbling her lip, Janey answered meekly, “On Sean. Sean Shaffer.”
“Ohhhh.” Megan’s eyes widened involuntarily as Janey’s confession sank in. “Ohhhh,” she repeated.
“No, not ‘ohhhh’ like that. It’s not like some guy thing.” Janey shook her head, her fake wavy red locks swaying. “I’m not really spying on him. On Sean. It’s more like I’m spying on his doughnut shop, the Emporium.”
“Seriously?”
Eyes downcast, Janey nodded, looking dismayed. “And do you know I actually saw some of my regular customers there? At least I thought they were my regular customers—not Sean’s. They come to Sweet Sensations for lattes and cheese Danish, and then they turn around the next day and go see him for black coffee and jelly doughnuts. I mean, it might sound silly to you—but it kind of hurt to see that.” A pouting frown pulled at her lips. “You know what I mean?”
Wedding Homerun in Loveland, Ohio Page 13