Unfortunately, he was an important man. A public figure. A leader. The baby with a million dollar arm. A pastor. She almost groaned.
He opened his menu. “Well, I heard you say something about taking Owen Brag to dinner tonight.”
Audrey stopped perusing her menu. “Yeah. I did. Only because I knew you’d strike him out. You’re a great ball player, Gabe.” His physique said he was born to play the game, but when he stepped behind the pulpit, and the atmosphere transformed, it was clear he’d been created to shepherd. His voice filled with intense power and passion. He mesmerized her with his words as God spoke to her soul. What would that be like? To be used by God in such an amazing way. “I love the way you preach even more than the way you pitch,” she blurted.
Gabe quirked an eyebrow and smirked. “You’re good for me, Audrey Gilbraith.”
Except she wasn’t.
She focused on her menu. “What sounds good? I do anything but onions and peppers.”
They settled on a meat lovers with extra bacon and mushrooms. A man after her own heart. “I brought a few landscaping books and I placed post-its on the pages I really liked. I hope that’s okay. I also made some quick sketches.” Audrey took her third slice and went to snag a few stray mushrooms the same time as Gabe. Their hands, then sight, connected; she held his gaze. Her mouth turned dry.
He kept his grasp on the tips of her fingers. “Audrey,” he said, his voice a bare whisper.
“Can I get you two anything else?” Angie Delgatto glanced at their hands then from Audrey’s face to Gabe’s. Audrey yanked her hand away, taking the mushrooms with her.
“I’m fine.” She pulled on her straw and sucked down her soda. What was he going to say? The moment was ruined. The current running between them had fizzled out.
Angie left the table with a smirk on her face.
“So about the garden…” Audrey was going to keep the conversation on flowers and dirt the rest of their time even if it killed them.
***
Audrey had finished dyeing the white roses black for Corey’s Darth Vader show of love for Greta Cannery. They’d been holding hands at the game last week. The shop phone rang.
“The Petal Pusher. We sell it, you smell it.”
“I thought you said Dotty told you to stop using that line.” Jo laughed on the other end.
“She did. Ten years ago. What’s up, bro? And why are you calling me on the shop line?”
“I wanted to order a bouquet for Celeste.”
Her brother, the romantic. Or… “You in the doghouse?”
“No. Can’t a man do something nice for his wife? A spring bouquet. Can I have it delivered to the house tomorrow?”
“Yup.”
“Don’t tell her, either.”
“I won’t.” She rolled her eyes. “I think it’s sweet of you.”
“No mush.” He hung up.
Audrey grinned. She wanted flowers. From someone other than Corey Phillips. Jo had always been a romantic. Wonder where he got it from? She’d never seen Dad bring Mom flowers.
Cassie breezed through the front door wearing casual jeans, green flats, and a matching headband. Her right cheek was covered in a painted shamrock, outlined in silver glitter. With eyes that green, why did the woman think she needed to wear green at all?
“Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, Audrey! I’ve come to pick up the Saint Patty’s centerpiece for the doctor’s office.” She leaned on the counter and eyed Audrey’s festive arrangements in the cooler. “What’s up with the black roses? Got a stalker in town?”
Audrey chuckled. “Debatable.” She opened up the cooler and grabbed the green vase arranged with white tulips, white lilies, and green chrysanthemums. She’d tied a gold bow around for luck of the Irish. Setting it on the counter, she admired her beauty. “Well?”
“It’s amazing. Aud, you’re so talented.” She leaned and sniffed. Second thing customers did right after smiling. She paid Audrey and a sly grin crossed her face. “So what’s up with you and Pastor Gabe?”
Audrey snorted and clipped the stems off the black roses. “Nothing. We’re working on a prayer garden for the church. At Rosemary’s request.” They’d been to two more friendly dinners since last week. The blueprints were coming along nicely. Audrey had spent nights sketching, and Gabe had been tearing out magazine ideas since he could barely draw a straight line.
“The town’s a-talking. Angie Delgatto said you guys were holding hands, and we know you guys skipped the Burger Barn to be alone.” She cocked her head. “That wouldn’t be so bad, would it? Dating Pastor Gabe. He’s super cute and the nicest guy on the planet. Trust me, I’ve dated not-so-nice guys. He’s one you should snag.”
Audrey ignored the comment and handed her the receipt. She didn’t want to talk about Gabe or why she couldn’t date him. It might end up coming back to Foster. Not that Cassie would know anything more than the town rumors. Four years older, Audrey didn’t even really know Cassie, other than her reputation, back when she dated and was engaged to Foster.
But if people thought she was dating Gabe, the rumor mill might get grinding again.
“We weren’t holding hands.”
The door opened and in walked Gabe in a green polo shirt and khakis. “Ladies.” He nodded and pretended to be interested in the card display. That was Gabe. Always waiting to be invited into her space. Too bad she had to continue to decline. She wondered if he’d step in if she did invite him, or was he truly just working on the garden with her? She had mixed signals. Because she stunk at reading them.
Cassie leaned across the counter and lowered her voice. “Tell me he’s not dreamy all prepped out over there. Maybe I’ll take a crack if you don’t.” She grabbed her arrangement and tossed her a teasing look. “Have a great day, Pastor Gabe. By the way, Audrey’s not wearing green. She deserves a pinch.” She pushed the door open with her shoulder.
“Step around the counter and let me see you.” Gabe slowly stalked toward her. Something about the way his sight danced over her face, a bit of mischief in his eyes, sent blood whooshing through her head.
“I will not.”
“I really think you should.” Gabe’s voice seeped out husky and slightly intimate. He leaned over the counter, just enough for her to swoon over his out-of-the-dryer scent. So much better than the floral smell coating the shop.
“Do you really think I’d get out of my apartment on this day without wearing some green?”
“Then let me see.” He lingered on her face just a moment longer, then grinned. Slightly disappointed he didn’t peruse her a little more, she berated herself. That wasn’t Gabe. He was respectful, honorable, and everything a good man ought to be.
“Fine. Fine. Don’t go get getting your pinchers all fired up.” She came out from behind the counter and lifted her foot to show him her patent leather, mint green sling backs. It matched her gray dress with pleated detailing and a frilled hemline.
Gabe inspected her shoes and what seemed like her bare calves, but that might just be her wild imagination. “Don’t your feet hurt wearing heels all the time?”
“Of course,” she said and returned behind the counter. Keeping a safe distance. “But it’s worth it. Although, if I could afford a masseuse…”
“I thought we could survey the land behind the church later. Maybe grab some dinner. See if we can’t catch the vision.”
Yeah, well, while they were catching a vision of a garden, some of the town was catching a vision of them dating. Which wouldn’t be so bad if she was good enough for him. Like Sierra Bradley. Or if she was as thoughtful and caring as Eden.
“Audrey?” Gabe tipped her chin up. She must have instinctively dropped her head in shame, like she did every time the past reared its ugly head. “Is there anything you want to talk about? You haven’t been yourself the last week or so.”
Audrey was about to be jobless, homeless, and when it came to good men like Gabe—relationship-less. Why did he have to be a pastor? A somebody
.
“Just a lot on my mind, Gabe. Don’t give it any thought, no need to worry.” She tried to give him a genuine smile; it failed.
“But I do. Think about you.”
Stomach nose-diving, she wiggled free from his gentle grasp on her chin. “Well, I guess that’s the pastor’s job: Think about the flock.” A nervous laugh escaped. “What time do you want to meet tonight?”
Gabe grimaced and his nostrils flared. “When do you close up shop?”
“Six.”
“Six-thirty?”
She nodded and he let himself out. He did think of her in a total sheep kind of way, right? It’d be spot on. Dumb and easy to lead astray. Boy, had she been led astray.
Eden burst through the door, her face pale. “We have a crisis.”
Audrey frowned. “Is it the baby? You okay?”
“Yeah. I mean, I’m tossing my breakfast every morning but other than that I’m good.”
“You need anything?”
“Yes, but nothing to do with the baby.”
Great. Seemed the day for crises. What was one more? “Shoot.”
“Kathy Martin backed out of the Easter Bonnet parade, and I don’t have time to pick up the slack. I don’t even want to be organizing this event.” Eden slung her purse on the counter and noticed the black roses. “Serial killer in town?”
“Corey Phillips.”
“Enough said.” Eden blew a strand of hair from her eyes. “So I can really use your help with the bonnet part of the parade or anything else you want to volunteer for. It’s mostly together. And you already do the flowers.”
Audrey hated organizing events. People had opinions and grouched. Opinions and grouching weren’t her thing. “Why did Kathy Martin back out?”
“She’s flying out to be with her sister.”
“Is she sick?”
“Overwhelmed.” Eden tossed Audrey a flat expression.
Join the club. “With what?”
“Garage sale items.”
Audrey laughed. “Do I even want to know what you’re talking about?”
“Kathy said, and I quote, ‘she likes keepsakes’ which is basically a nice way of saying she belongs on an episode of Hoarders.” Eden sat on the stool next to the counter. “If I wasn’t so exhausted all the time, I’d do it all. Even though I don’t want to do any of it. But I haven’t been able to pass the baton. Which reminds me…are you and Gabe finally dating? I heard the rumor.”
Audrey’s head turned fuzzy. “Um. No to dating and yes to helping you, little mama. Whatever you need.”
Eden had mentioned a couple years ago that they might make a good pair, and Audrey told Eden she wasn’t ready to date again. Not after Foster. Eden didn’t understand, but Audrey hadn’t expected her to.
She’d never even told her best friend what had truly went down with her and Foster because she’d never told Eden the circumstances behind the break up. Audrey and Eden had been best friends their whole lives, been in youth group together, and vowed to stay pure until marriage. Eden had kept her vow, and Audrey had been too humiliated to come clean with her. It was her dark secret to carry. Eden, being the kind of person she was, never asked. That was pastor’s wife material: A woman who knew when to ask and when to keep silent.
Audrey never kept silent.
Unless shame was involved.
***
Gabe stared out the open window of his church office. After leaving Audrey’s shop, he’d spent the rest of the day in prayer, working his feelings out like a jumbled puzzle. He didn’t receive any concrete answers, but he didn’t feel like pursuing Audrey was wrong.
She was just a couple years younger than his thirty-seven. She loved God, her church, her community. The woman bent over backwards to help others—like creating a Darth Vader display for Corey. He’d have talked him out of it.
A knock on his door tore him from his thoughts. Betsy Davis stepped inside, an envelope in her hand. “I’m dropping off a check for the Easter food baskets. The Hope Center isn’t open today. I forgot.”
Gabe took it and laid it on his desk. “Thanks.”
Betsy lingered and eyed the picnic basket filled with food. “That looks romantic. Are you and Sierra Bradley trying out a new recipe?” Hopefulness twinkled in her eyes.
He raked his hands through his hair. When it came to Betsy, he had to tread lightly. “It’s just dinner. As you know, I’m working with Audrey Gilbraith on designing the prayer garden. She’s coming right after work to survey the land and to nail down some ideas.” Did it come out as casual as he intended?
Betsy poked her lips out and inhaled as if batting around a decision. “Did you know Audrey was engaged once?”
The words struck him hard. “No.” In two years he’d never heard that one. He’d heard she dropped out of college under mysterious circumstances. Maybe that’s why.
“Mmm…” she nodded. “God knows I love the girl, but she’s fickle, Pastor Gabe. You need a woman who’s solid and able to handle the responsibilities of being a pastor’s wife. A woman who isn’t insulting ball players and dancing around like she’s at a club.”
“I really hope that’s not how Audrey would dance at a club.” He laughed and smothered it as fast as Betsy frowned. “She was having a good time, Betsy. I didn’t see anything licentious in her dance moves.” Yeah, he’d been interested in the sway of her hips, but that was whether she was hula dancing, or doing the robot, or standing still… “And I believe she apologized to you about the phone thing. She even made a joke about her own mother.”
Betsy stepped closer and slipped her glasses from her face, dangling them between her fingers. “We took a chance on bringing in a single senior pastor, Gabriel. We want you to make the right choices. Our church took a major hit after Nathan died, then the fire. We couldn’t handle another blow.” She glanced at the basket again. “We want to see you with the right match. Just because it’s good doesn’t make it right. You’ve done a wonderful job. The church is growing. One wrong decision can launch a string of consequences, and everything you’ve worked for could fall apart.” Nodding like she’d done whatever it was she came for, which seemed to be more than dropping off money, she turned and left.
Had that been a threat? No. He was blowing it out of proportion. Betsy was worrying in her usual meddling way. His gut clenched anyway, and he couldn’t help but wonder. He had worked hard to get here. He loved his church and the community. Gabe would never do anything to wreck their trust in him.
“I’m here,” Audrey called. Gabe brushed off Betsy’s innuendos and stood. Audrey slipped inside wearing jeans and a green T-shirt with a matching green hoodie. She’d lost the heels for a pair of running shoes which knocked off a good deal of her height, leaving a tiny woman with the widest smile and a slight underbite, giving her chin the illusion of protruding just a smidge. Endearing. “Sorry I’m late. I didn’t leave on time.” She chuckled. “You want to eat first or check out the land?”
“I was thinking both.” Gabe grabbed the picnic basket and held it up, hoping to disarm her with his grin. “It’s just burgers inside. From Burger Barn. Your favorite.”
Audrey rubbed her hands together and stared at the basket. “Burgers, huh?”
“Extra cheese, extra bacon.”
Hands on her hips, she shook her head. “How do you remember these things?”
He stepped closer. “I pay attention, Audrey.”
She blew out a shaky breath. “Gabe—”
“It’s just burgers on the churchyard. If it gets too cold, we’ll come inside.” He wasn’t going to let her verbally place a boundary between them. Because then he’d have to be respectful of her wishes. If he could just figure out where her head was. Asking might send her for the hills. Might cause a rift and that would be awkward on Sundays and at events. God, help me to do this right. For me. For her. The good of the congregation. I need some serious direction.
She ran her teeth across her bottom lip. “I am starving, and how
can I say no to bacon.”
“Extra bacon.”
“Exactly.” She followed him behind the church. He’d checked earlier and the churchyard wasn’t too soggy. A blanket on the ground might be doable, if not they had a picnic table. About an acre of yard opened into the woods. His parsonage was on the west side with three more houses lining the dead end street. He liked having the church on a small rural road. Away from businesses yet still close to town.
“I brought my drawings.” Audrey helped him spread out the red flannel blanket he’d grabbed from his office closet.
“Good. I brought books.” He laughed. “I can hit a fast ball, but drawing is not my forte.”
Audrey plucked a blade of grass, twirled it. “I’ve always wanted to own my own florist shop and landscaping business. The feel of dirt on my hands…I used to garden with my dad.”
She sat opposite the picnic basket, putting it as a barrier between them. Lord, if I’m wasting my time and setting myself up for heartbreak, please keep me from it. He’d had enough heartbreak after losing his wife. Audrey’s sight trailed to the sky as if remembering her father. He wasn’t dead. But Gabe wasn’t sure what had happened.
“Where’s your dad now?” Maybe she’d open up further. Trust him enough to share her past. Share she’d been engaged. Share why it ended.
“Gone. South of here. My…my sister died when she was eight. A fire took her. It took my dad in a sense, too. He and Mom never recovered.” She stared at the church. “The church almost burning down really freaked me out.”
Gabe wanted to comfort her in his arms. Instead, he fidgeted with the edge of the blanket. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
“It’s been a long time. You know, that’s partly why I became a florist.” She opened the basket and peered inside, then pulled out a cheeseburger wrapped in thick foil. “She died in winter. That spring we took flowers to her grave and then we visited again a few weeks later. The flowers had wilted and died, and I thought that was just so very wrong. I made a vow to never let a petal wilt again, when I had the chance. I took a job at The Petal Pusher when I was sixteen.”
Just the Way You Are (Seasons of Hope Book 2) Page 4