Saturday Faith took a change of clothes to the clinic so she didn’t show up at lunch wearing her uniform.
“You must have a hot date after work,” Marjorie commented dourly when she saw the change of clothes. “Don’t get sidetracked from your responsibilities here.”
“Just a group meeting,” Faith replied. “I won’t let anything interfere with my work here.” She was doing her best to keep an even disposition around the woman, but the week had been trying. Marjorie never did anything overtly disruptive, but her snippy comments wore on Faith. She was not going to give Marjorie anything to comment on when it came to her lunch plans.
She hurried to the restaurant as soon as her shift was over. Arriving at the height of the lunch rush, she told the hostess she was meeting the sheriff.
“He arrived a bit ago. He’s over there near the window,” the hostess pointed out.
Tate sat at a table alone, speaking to a couple at the nearby table.
Faith wound her way through the crowded tables and was pleased that he rose and held out a chair when he saw her. “Am I early?” she asked, glancing at the two empty places.
“Janette called this morning with a cold and bowed out. Peter got a call at work on Thursday and canceled then. So, it’s just you and me.”
“Oh. Great.” She was surprised that Tate would continue with only her. She couldn’t contribute much, being so new to the area.
After their orders had been taken, he looked at her. “So, how’s Maggie?”
“Doing fine. You’ll have to come see the puppies—they’re growing so fast. I think they’ll open their eyes soon. I can’t wait.”
“Once they start running around, you’re going to have your hands full.”
“But what fun!” Faith smiled at Tate, startled to feel a growing awareness around him. His eyes focused only on her. She looked away before he could guess that she felt a mix of anticipation and shyness around him. He was just a friend—that’s all.
“So how’s your head? Not giving you any more trouble?” She needed something to take her mind off her attraction to the sheriff. She would be horrified if he suspected.
“No trouble for days now. Good as new. I hoped to get the stitches out before my mother saw me, but Doc said to come in next Monday. She and my dad’ll be home Monday, so it’s a question of timing.”
“You haven’t told them about the accident?” Faith asked.
“Not yet. Once they’re home I’ll fill them in. But I didn’t want to worry them on their trip.” He scrubbed a hand across his jaw. “They rarely leave town, rarely take time off. I think my dad’s stroke’s given them a different perspective on things. If it had been more serious, I’d have called.”
“Did you tell me your father owns the hardware store?”
“He does. I used to work there as a teenager. One reason I bought a house is to fix it up. Not much time during the summer months to work on it, but once the tourists leave, this town really gets quiet. That’s when I can get a lot accomplished.”
“I think it’s quiet already. Work is nothing like the E.R. in Portland.”
“Tell me more about Portland,” Tate invited.
Faith talked about her job and the friends she had made at the hospital. She carefully omitted any mention of Allen. She was doing her best to move on from that stage of her life. The conversation moved to Tate’s time in Boston and comparisons of the two cities.
By the time they finished lunch, the café was almost deserted.
Faith glanced around. “Did we run everyone else off?” she asked.
“Lunch’s over and there are other attractions on one of the last Saturdays of summer. Another couple of weeks and we’ll have the headache of Labor Day weekend.”
“And that’s a headache why?” she asked.
“Kids go crazy. Blowing off steam, trying to cram everything they didn’t get done all summer long into three days. Others are leaving and want one blow out weekend to remember. Everyone in my department’s on duty that weekend. Clinic, too.”
“Good to be forewarned. Dr. Mallory said something about being available that weekend.” She returned to the task at hand. “Do you still want to go requesting donations, since it’s only you and me?”
“Of course. We’ll get a head start on the other two.”
She grinned. “So if you weren’t here, what would you be doing today?”
“Probably painting the back bedroom in my house.”
“Umm, I want to paint the bedroom in the apartment—Joe said I could. But so far, I haven’t had enough energy. It’ll be a project for fall.”
“It goes easier with more than one doing the work. You should have a painting party.”
“Invite people over and expect them to work?” she asked.
“Why not? People have been helping others out for centuries. Remember hearing about barn raisings?”
She nodded. “In history lessons. Hmm. Have you ever heard of painting parties?”
He shook his head. “Can’t say that I have. I like the mindless work, the time to think while I’m making a change to the house. Couldn’t do that if there were a lot of people around.”
“Do you plan to live there forever?” Faith had never owned a home and wondered how it would feel. She wanted to put down roots—but could she commit to such a huge purchase one day?
“No. I’m hoping to sell it when I’m finished. Move on to another place and fix it up. Gives me something to do. It’s a family home, three bedrooms and two baths, big yard. Not meant for a single man.”
She grew thoughtful. From the little she’d seen, Tate would make a wonderful family man. She hoped one day he’d find someone to love again and maybe have that family.
Marcie Winter came over to their table, grinned and sat down in one of the empty chairs.
“Hello, you two. What’s up?”
“We’re planning for the rummage sale,” Tate said.
“Oh, I have a bunch of stuff. Am I on your route?”
“No, we’re out by the Fullers’,” Tate said.
She wrinkled her nose. “Whoever’s covering the town, tell them I have some things I don’t want to move out to the house when I get married. Might as well get rid of them now as later.”
“I think George is heading up that team,” Tate said. “I’ll let him know to check in here since you’re so rarely home.”
She grinned and gave a little dance move in her chair. “I know. And come December, I’ll be living out in a house with a white picket fence.”
Tate nodded, glancing at Faith. “Marcie and Zack are going to live in the Kincaid family home. Joe and Jenny are moving to Gillian’s house when they get married.”
Marcie looked at Faith. “How’re the dog and puppies?”
“Doing well. The puppies are growing like crazy.”
“I heard you’re officially the owner now,” Marcie said.
Faith nodded, growing used to news traveling fast in the small town. “Want a puppy in a few weeks?”
Marcie chuckled. “No, thanks. I’ll hold off on that. But I know Jenny’s dying to see them again.” She looked back at Tate. “You should invite Faith to the wedding.”
“Isn’t that the bride’s prerogative?” he asked.
“You can bring a date,” Marcie said.
“Not practical being in the wedding party,” he responded.
Faith knew the last thing Tate wanted was anyone pairing him up. “It’s on a Saturday, right? I work Saturdays,” she said, hoping to smooth things over.
Marcie shrugged. “Just a thought.”
“We have work to do,” Tate said. “Unless you want to join our team to forage for donations?”
Marcie laughed an
d rose. “I no longer consider myself single, now that I’m engaged. You two have fun.” She smiled and left, stopping at another table to talk to that couple. The staff was busy clearing tables and setting things up for the evening meal.
“Never trust a newly engaged woman. Now she wants to do matchmaking,” Tate grumbled.
“She’s met her match in us. We’re immune,” Faith said as they rose.
“True enough. Come on, let’s get out of here.” He paid the tab and they walked out to the parking lot. “I thought we’d drive to the outlying area first and stop at some of the homes on our route to let people know we’ll be coming back in a few weeks to take anything they’re donating.”
Tate had his own SUV today, not a sheriff’s car. Soon they were heading out of town to the outlying homes of the community. Faith enjoyed the drive as the road wound among trees and open areas gave a view of the sea.
“This’ll be a good chance for you to meet more people, plus give me a chance to talk to them, as well,” Tate said as he slowly drove up to a house.
“Don’t you talk to them when you see them in town?” she asked.
“If I run into them. Being a cop here’s a lot different than in Boston. The city’s too big to get to know the majority of residents in different areas. Here, I like to keep track of what’s going on, who’s doing what. And make sure everyone knows I’m available anytime.”
She nodded, thinking about Portland. She had only known a few police officers—the ones who had showed up in the E.R. with an accident victim or a suspect. In her old apartment, she didn’t even know where the closest police station was. She’d been in Rocky Point less than two months and she’d already visited city hall and seen the sheriff’s office.
“That’s one of the reasons I moved here. I wanted the small-town closeness. Portland isn’t as big as Boston, but it can still be impersonal,” she said, already hopeful about meeting more residents.
Tate came to a stop by a saltbox house surrounded by old trees. A small black dog with three white paws came running from the back, barking, tail wagging.
“This is the Comstalks’ home. They’re a young couple with two kids,” Tate said, getting out. Faith climbed down, smiling at the dog as it came dancing over, tail wagging so hard it almost knocked him over.
“Hi, there,” she said, letting it sniff her hand and then patting it.
A young woman came to the door. “Hi, Tate. Socks is better than a doorbell. Come on in.”
“Marylou, I’d like you to meet Faith Stewart. She’s the new nurse at the clinic. And on the rummage sale committee this year.”
“Whoa, you must be a newcomer…that’s one of the busiest committees at the church. That and the Christmas pageant. Don’t get on that one if you want any free time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Come on in. I can make some coffee,” Marylou said.
“Thanks, we won’t stay long. This is your friendly reminder that we need items for the sale,” Tate said, holding the door for Faith then following the two women into the living room.
Faith liked Marylou and her warm welcome. “Have you done the rummage sale before?” Faith asked.
“Never been on the committee, but my mom’s been involved for years and always enlists help from me and Sam before it’s over. I can talk from experience about the Christmas pageant. That one I have been on.”
“And you volunteer every year,” Tate said as they all sat.
“Well…” She shrugged, smiling. “When did you move to Rocky Point, Faith? Have I seen you in church?”
“I moved here a couple of months ago and I’ve been attending Trinity.”
“And already involved—good for you. The Lord loves willing volunteers. We’re lucky you’ve jumped right in.”
Faith smiled and nodded. She couldn’t claim too much credit, though. Tate had talked her into going to the singles meeting and that led to her joining the committee.
They chatted for a while, then Marylou gave a quick rundown of the items they could expect from her. Tate jotted them down in a notebook. “So you don’t need us to pick up, right? Sam can bring all that in his truck.”
“Yep, count on us doing that. So nice to meet you, Faith. I’ll see you Sunday.”
The afternoon went smoothly. There was someone home at every place they stopped, and Faith met couples, older men and women, young children. Her head was spinning by the time Tate returned her to her apartment. She was tired, but felt buoyed up from all the positive responses to requests for donations to the annual sale.
“That was fun,” she said, checking the notes Tate had taken about who was donating what. “I think I need to study names and donations, so I can recognize all of them next time I see them.”
“Take your time. Most of us aren’t going anywhere.”
“Want to come up and see the puppies?” she asked.
“Sure.” He grinned at her and Faith felt her heart flip over. Her tiredness fled. She smiled back and hurried from the car, admonishing herself that he was merely being neighborly. He didn’t want any involvement of a romantic nature, nor did she. So he was drop-dead gorgeous. She’d seen gorgeous men before and never felt her heart tumble. So what that the dimple in his cheek cried out for her to touch it. She could never let herself get carried away. Taking a deep breath, she vowed to get a grip on her emotions.
But for the moment, it didn’t seem as if the rest of her was keeping up with her resolve. She loved spending time with him. Liked the feelings of excitement that stayed right on the edge when he was around. He was funny and smart and she was pleased that he treated her as if she were an old friend. He hadn’t brought up her confession about her disease, taking her at her word that she was fine. No hovering over her, no watching her when he thought she wasn’t looking.
No more tiptoeing around, for which she was grateful.
“Let me call in just to make sure things are okay,” he said as they walked up the stairs.
“I need to take Maggie for a walk—we’ll be quick. You can play with the puppies while we’re out.”
In only ten minutes Faith was back in the apartment. Tate was sitting on the kitchen floor, teasing one of the puppies with a bit of torn newspaper. Their eyes were open now and they tried to walk around, slipping on the linoleum, scrambling over his legs, running to their mother.
“Aren’t they sweet?” she said, sitting next to him and reaching for one. Her fingers brushed against his and she tried to ignore the spark that seemed to flare between them.
“I heard that Jenny Kincaid’s in love with them all,” he said.
“Nice if Joe would take them all,” she quipped.
Tate laughed. “He has enough on his plate with moving and marriage. One dog will be a nice addition to the family.”
“Umm, know anyone else who might want one?”
“I’ll take some pictures and we’ll post them in the library, down at the station and in the grocery store. I’m sure you’ll have them all placed before the week’s out.”
“Nothing critical at work, I take it,” she said a few minutes later as they both placed the puppies next to their mother and rose.
“Nope, deputies report everything’s quiet. When it gets hectic is later, after the bars have closed and some people don’t want to end the party. If they take it to Carlisle Beach south of town, we keep an eye on things.” He looked over at her. “But some want to party at the park near the marina, bringing beer or strong liquor. That’s not allowed. We try just to move them along. Sometimes people get belligerent.”
“Still has to be safer than some of the neighborhoods in Boston,” she said.
“True. And once summer visitors leave, things really get quiet. It helps that everyone knows everyone else. Can’t get away with much.”
“Um
m.” And one day, she’d know most of the people in town.
“Do you want to stay for dinner?” she asked, glancing at the clock. It was getting to be that time and she was hungry.
“You fed me before. How about we get some steaks at the store and cook them on my grill. If it stays warm enough, we can even eat out on the deck.”
Faith smiled. “I’d like that. Let me feed Maggie, take her out again and then I’ll be ready to go.” She couldn’t help being pleased that Tate didn’t want to end their afternoon together. And she looked forward to seeing more of his house and backyard.
Faith noticed several curious glances when they were shopping at the grocery store. Several people greeted Tate and he, in turn, introduced Faith. It felt odd. In the past she had never run into anyone she knew at a store. From the glances between the others, she knew they were speculating on the two of them being together. She looked at Tate. Did he care if people thought they were seeing each other?
They were—but only in a friendly kind of way. Maybe she was making a mistake in doing things with him. She already looked forward to seeing him more and more. She had to make sure she kept her emotions under control. No falling for the handsome sheriff. He was no more interested in starting a relationship than she was.
When Tate pulled into his garage, they entered the house through the side door straight into the kitchen. Tall cabinets lined the walls over the spacious counters. The modern appliances gleamed in the overhead light. A door in the back led directly to a deck, which gave way to a grassy yard surrounded by trees.
“This is nice,” she said, wishing she had some outdoor space. A balcony or deck would be perfect.
“I like it. In Boston, we didn’t have anything like this. Sometimes we’d take a picnic to a park, but longed for the time we could afford a larger apartment that had a balcony.” He grew silent, looked pensive.
Rocky Point Promise Page 8