Loaves & Wishes

by Maddrey, Elizabeth

  “He reads lips really well. It’s not like you need to sign.”

  “I get that. But it seems reasonable that you learn to talk with your friends.”

  Ruth smiled. “Well, if you want to practice, let me know.”

  * * *

  Corban turned off the engine and turned. “I had a really nice time. Thanks for coming out with me.”

  “Thanks for asking.” Ruth looked at the B&B and sighed. “Guess I should get in there and make sure nothing happened.”

  “I’m sure they would’ve called.” He undid his seatbelt. “I’ll walk you up.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  He shook his head and hopped out of the truck, hurrying around to get her door before she could get out. He took her hand in his and gave a light squeeze. “It’s my pleasure.”

  At the front door, she stopped and turned. “Thanks again.”

  “Can we do it again sometime? I’m not sure what your schedule is like, and things are starting to get busy, but I want to see you again.”

  “I’d like that.” Ruth hesitated a moment before rising on her tiptoes and brushing her lips across his cheek. “Good night, Corban.”

  “’Night.” He swallowed, fighting the urge to grab her and kiss her back. It was too soon. Much too soon. He waited until she’d stepped into the foyer before turning to head back to his truck. She was still standing in the doorway when he climbed into the cab. He smiled and lifted a hand before cranking the engine.

  Lord? Thank You. That was the best date I’ve had in...ever. I have to think You had something to do with it, with bringing Ruth here. Guide me—us—in our relationship. Let it always honor You...don’t let me rush things.

  9

  Ruth waved goodbye to the nice, older couple as they drove away. She’d been here almost a full month and things were finally settling into place. Her brothers had left after a week, but Jonah would be back tomorrow with all his stuff. How he’d tied everything up in only two weeks she couldn’t fathom, but at least he hadn’t hit any major snags. For now he’d take over the smallest of the rooms upstairs, but they’d have to figure something out that could be more permanent. He’d sold as much as he could, but some would stay in storage. That was an expense neither of them were excited about.

  But as of now, she had an empty B&B and plans for a quiet evening with Corban, Emerson, and Pam. They’d done a few things together, when they could find time—or make it. That was more honest. It didn’t matter what she had planned, when Corban called, Ruth did what she could to make it work. Being with him was the most settled she’d felt in years. It was a quiet, comfortable friendship that held the promise of more.

  She hoped that more might happen sooner than later, but the man seemed to have the patience of Job. In this case, it wasn’t an admirable trait.

  Ruth cut thick slices from a cinnamon raisin loaf she’d baked that morning and arranged them on a tray. She eyed the olive and garlic loaf and shrugged. Why not? They’d probably order something in, but bread and some cheese never went amiss. In fact...she crossed to the fridge and pulled it open. She had some sliced meat and leftover olives. There was enough for a good antipasto tray. With the bread, they might not need to order something after all.

  Humming quietly, Ruth arranged meat, cheese, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and artichoke hearts on a plate. Those artichoke hearts...it had seemed like a good idea, but there was simply too much moisture in them to put them in bread. There had to be a way. Maybe Jonah would have an idea. She’d run into that a couple of times now. Some things just couldn’t go in bread without leaving it soggy in the middle despite the slight char on the crust.

  She mixed a small bowl of olive oil and some fragrant herbs for dipping—the olive bread in particular was delightful that way. Plain sourdough worked well, too. For the cinnamon raisin...she was out of cream cheese, but butter would be fine. She’d put together some honey butter at breakfast and there was enough left that they should be fine.

  “Knock, knock.” Corban stepped through the kitchen door, his gaze traveling to the food on the counter. “That looks good. Not in the mood for Chinese?”

  “Not really. Is that okay? I mean, the three of you can still order if you want.” Ruth chewed her lower lip. “Or I can put this away. I wasn’t trying to be rude.”

  “No, it looks great.” He crossed the distance and slipped his arms around her, pulling her close. “Hi.”

  Ruth encircled his waist with her arms, warmth and peace stealing through her. “Hi back. I’m glad I don’t have guests tonight. This is just what I needed.”

  “An evening with friends?”

  She tilted her head up and met his gaze. “That too.”

  One corner of his mouth quirked up and he lowered his forehead to hers. “Ruth?”

  Her heart started racing. Was he finally going to kiss her? “Yes?”

  “May I?” His voice was quiet, his gaze fixed on hers.

  “Please.”

  His lips lowered to hers and her eyes drifted closed. Her fingers clenched at his waist as she lost herself in the sensation of kissing Corban DeWitt.

  “Hey guys. Oh. Sorry. The front door was open so we just...we’ll be in the lounge.” Emerson cleared his throat.

  Corban eased back, shaking his head. “He never had very good timing.”

  Heat burned Ruth’s cheeks.

  “Hey.” Corban brushed his thumb along her cheekbone. “Come on, let’s take the food out. Seeing as how Em and Pam have two kids, I’m guessing they’ve kissed once or twice.”

  She snickered, the need for the floor to open and swallow her whole dissipating. “All right.”

  Corban took the tray of meat and the bowl of oil. Ruth picked up the bread and butter. They could figure out drinks later. And maybe Pam and Emerson would want to order in anyway.

  “So. My husband has great timing as usual. Sorry about that.” Pam’s eyes danced with mirth as Ruth set the tray down on the coffee table in the middle of the seating area. “But I can’t say I’m upset to know things are moving along between the two of you. You’re such a good pair.”

  “Thanks.” Ruth crossed her arms. “Drinks? I have iced tea and lemonade. Or water, of course. Or I can make a pot of coffee?”

  “Iced tea is good.” Emerson plucked an olive from the tray and popped it in his mouth. “Mmm. These are good. Where’d you find them?”

  “Benita’s? It’s a little market in the Arcadia Shopping Center. They have some fancier things that you can’t get at the grocery store. And more varieties of health food type things if you’re into that.” Ruth wrinkled her nose. She skipped those aisles. Deliberately.

  “Let me help you get the tea.” Pam stood and followed Ruth into the kitchen. “I’m really sorry. We didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

  “It’s okay.” Her cheeks were on fire again.

  Pam frowned. “That wasn’t your first kiss?”

  Ruth cleared her throat and opened the cupboard where she kept the glasses.

  “Oh. I’m so sorry. I’ll kick Emerson later, if you want?”

  “Don’t do that. It’s fine. I just hope Corban will want to do it again sometime before I’m ninety.”

  Pam laughed. “He was always a slow mover. But now that he’s started, it shouldn’t be as bad. I think it’s just inertia.”

  “Inertia? Really?”

  Pam shrugged. “What else would you call it?”

  “I don’t know. Something that I haven’t forgotten from high school physics.”

  “Doesn’t sound like you’ve forgotten it if you know it’s from physics.”

  “True enough.” Ruth took a deep breath. Time to change the subject. “Why don’t you grab the pitcher out of the fridge? And if you guys had your heart set on Chinese, we can still do that.”

  Pam groaned and started back to the sitting room. “I was racking my brain the whole way over here for another alternative. We’ve had Chinese the past couple shifts and I’m over it.”
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  “I generally feel that way. I mean, I’ll eat it if it’s what everyone wants, but it’s never been a favorite.”

  “What’s not a favorite?” Emerson looked up from buttering a slice of bread.

  “She’s tired of Chinese, too.” Pam set the glasses down. “Thus this amazing spread. Did you make the bread again?”

  Ruth nodded.

  “Can I buy a loaf from you sometime? The girls on the unit would go nuts for this.” Pam took a slice of olive bread and ripped off a piece before dunking it in the seasoned oil.

  Buy a loaf? That wasn’t...she wasn’t...Ruth shook her head. “I’ll give you one. I have an extra in the kitchen. Remind me before you leave.”

  “What have you guys been up to?” Corban reached for a slice of salami and wrapped it together with a slice of cheddar.

  Emerson leaned back, crossing his feet at the ankles. “We went to help start up a community garden, couple of Saturdays back. The boys loved that. There were a handful of other kids their age—kids of all ages, actually. The boys and I’ve been back a few times to check on the progress of the seedlings and just look around.”

  “How’d you hear about that?” Ruth took a slice of olive bread.

  “There were flyers around town. It’s on the old Akers Garden Center lot, near the church, actually.” Emerson frowned as he studied the trays of food and selected another snack. “I hope they keep it going. A community garden is a great thing. I know the boys and I would enjoy doing more over there.”

  “I like the Akers Garden folks. I’ve set up a standing order for some arrangements for the B&B from their flower shop. There’s nothing like fresh flowers to brighten a space.” Ruth nodded to the colorful bouquet arranged in a cut-glass vase on the sideboard. “They’ve been great to work with.”

  “I like flowers.” Pam sent Emerson a significant look.

  He winced. “I should take the boys by sometime and see what they have.”

  “Yes. You should.” Pam smiled and patted his knee then turned to Ruth. “Corban says one of your brothers is moving out here as well?”

  Ruth smiled, nodding. “Jonah. He gets here tomorrow. I can’t wait. Not only is he fun to have around, he’s an amazing chef. He’s taking over breakfast and I’m over the moon. He may end up looking for another position, too. Maybe at L’Aubergine. That’s the sort of thing he did in D.C. I guess we’ll see what happens.”

  The evening continued with stories from Emerson about homeschooling the boys and Pam’s tales from the surgical unit. Corban seemed content to listen, chiming in here and there, but not as much as he usually did. Ruth caught his eye a few times, and he’d smile and give her hand a squeeze but...was something wrong?

  When the grandfather clock in the foyer chimed half-past-nine, Pam sighed. “We should get going. My parents won’t put the boys to bed, so they’re already up too late. But if they’re up much later they won’t go to sleep for hours, they get wound up when they’re tired.”

  Emerson stood and offered a hand to his wife. “Thanks for having us over. This was fun. Maybe some time the two of you can come see the house. We’re almost settled.”

  Pam scoffed. “Don’t listen to him. We haven’t even been in there a week. Next month, though, consider yourself invited.”

  Ruth and Corban followed them to the front door and waved as they walked to their car. When they’d left, Ruth shut the front door and turned to the lounge. She’d put the food away and leave the dishes in the sink for tomorrow. With no guests, she had a little extra leeway.

  Corban put a hand on her shoulder and swung her back to face him.

  Ruth met his gaze. “Everything okay?”

  He smiled and drew her close, his mouth lowering to hers. “It will be.”

  10

  Corban stopped the tractor and looked across the road. He hadn’t planned to be out here today. The planting was moving along well enough that he didn’t need to work. But he hadn’t wanted to sit around inside, either. He’d taken a little walk around the property near the house. He’d even wandered into the little garden his mother used to love. Its picket fence needed some repair and another coat of paint. The waterfall wasn’t working—probably needed a new pump. Most of the plants were dead, and their beds filled with weeds. Except for the rose bushes that just needed a good pruning. He’d added it to his list of things to do, but it brought too many memories to tackle today. So he’d gone ahead and gotten out the tractor. Spock was still enjoying running around, chasing rabbits...or the rabbits that lived in his imagination, at least. So he might as well get something done while he let the dog play. And if it let him get a look across at Ruth, well then, that was even better. Right?

  As if he’d conjured her with his thoughts, Ruth stepped out of the front door. She paused on the steps and shaded her eyes, then lifted her arm and waved wildly. Skipping down the last two steps, she jogged to the road, and scarcely glanced both ways before darting across.

  “I was hoping I’d see you.”

  Corban grinned. “That’s always nice to hear. What’s up?”

  “I’m on my way in to Twin Falls to pick up Jonah. Wondered if you might want to tag along, but it looks like you’re busy? We could grab dinner in town, or picnic somewhere?”

  A picnic would be fun. “Have you been to Shoshone Falls yet?”

  Ruth shook her head.

  “It’s a nice place to picnic. And a good place to stretch your legs after a long flight, so your brother will probably enjoy it, too. You sure he won’t mind if I’m along?” He didn’t need Jonah getting annoyed about their relationship. As the oldest of the boys, did Jonah feel some kind of paternal responsibility? Would Corban pass muster?

  “He suggested it.” She checked her watch. “Why don’t I go put a picnic together—I probably have enough in the fridge to make something good—and then I’ll swing by and pick you up. Maybe fifteen minutes?”

  That’d give him time to get the tractor put away and maybe hurry through the shower, get some of the dust off. He nodded. “Sounds good.”

  “’K. See you in a few.” Ruth dashed back across the road.

  Corban watched until she was back inside, then, with a sharp whistle for Spock, he started the tractor and turned back toward the farmhouse.

  * * *

  “Here we are.” Corban pointed to the turn. He dug into his pocket for his wallet and pulled out three singles. “You might need this.”

  Ruth frowned. “I can—”

  “Please. I’m happy to do it, if they’re collecting. Call it a welcome-to-Idaho present for Jonah.”

  “Oh no. Leave me out of it. Though I don’t happen to have three bucks on me right now, so I’m also not offering to pay.” Jonah leaned forward and peeked between the front seats. “But someone should pay so we can go in. Whatever’s in that cooler in the trunk smells good. And I’m hungry. The bag of chips I grabbed in Salt Lake City on my layover was a long time ago.”

  Ruth sighed and took the bills. “Thank you.”

  Corban grinned. “You’re welcome. Park right over there.”

  She navigated to an empty parking spot and turned off the engine. “Everyone hungry?”

  “Let’s wait a minute. We should walk out, see the falls. There ought to actually be water this time of year. They regulate the flow, so the experience isn’t always what you expect based on the website.” Corban pushed open the door and stood. He breathed in deeply, there was nothing like the air by the falls. He walked around the car and caught the door as Ruth pushed it open. He took her hand as she stood and squeezed.

  “Coming, Jonah?” Ruth turned.

  “Yeah, just trying to extract myself from this backseat. Is it possible to have less leg room in a sedan? ‘Cause I’m not sure how.” Jonah wiggled out of the car and stretched. “Ugh. That’s worse than the plane.”

  “This way.” Corban tugged Ruth’s hand and onto the path that led to the falls. They reached the viewpoint easily. Water gushed into the river below an
d, as always, Corban’s thoughts strayed to the insignificance of man when faced with the God who could create something so magnificent with just a word.

  “It’s magnificent. Why haven’t I made time to get down here before now? I’ve barely left the B&B. I certainly haven’t been into the city, for all I’ve sent my guests down here.” Ruth leaned her head against Corban’s arm with a little sigh. “I’m glad you thought of this.”

  He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and slid his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t beat yourself up. You’ve been busy. I imagine if you hadn’t had a surprise guest your second full week you might have gotten out.”

  “Most likely. But since I didn’t, I get to see it with you. That’s even better.”

  “Are we going to eat?” Jonah stepped next to Ruth and crossed his arms. “I’m getting hungry.”

  Ruth chuckled and fished in her pocket. Her hand emerged with the car keys and she offered them to her brother. “Go get the cooler out of the trunk and set up a spot. We’ll be there in a few.”

  He took the keys, grumbling under his breath, and headed back up to the grassy spot.

  “I should go help...”

  “No. You should kiss me.”

  He flashed a grin. “Should I? Well, I wouldn’t want to disappoint anyone.”

  * * *

  Corban pulled his truck into the driveway of the B&B and frowned. Why was there a “For Sale” sign in the yard? Ruth hadn’t mentioned anything about leaving. And Jonah had moved in two weeks ago. It didn’t make any sense. He tapped the real estate agent name into his phone as he strode to the front door. It wasn’t a familiar name.

  “Oh, thank goodness you’re here.” Ruth ran a hand through her hair, leaving a thin trail of flour. “Do you think you can get that thing out of my yard? I’ve been on the phone with the real estate agent’s office all morning and can’t get a straight answer about how it came to be there.”