6

Lucy hurried to answer the doorbell, anxious to be off with Noah before Isabel could ask any questions. Honestly, it was like living with her parents again. She was a senior citizen, for crying out loud. She didn’t answer to her sister. She threw open the door to find Noah holding out a brightly colored box.

“What’s this?” Lucy asked.

Noah stepped into the house. “Cactus candy. You liked the prickly pear jelly so much, I thought you’d enjoy these. They’re Betsy’s favorite.”

“You’re too sweet.” Lucy reached for the box. “I’d better try one now. If I leave them here with Isabel, they might be gone by the time we return.”

“I heard you,” Isabel called. “Now you need to share them with me.”

Noah laughed. “There’s plenty for both of you, but if you want to try one now, I’m sure it won’t spoil your dinner.”

Lucy popped one of the squares in her mouth and savored the chewy sweetness. “Mmmm,” she moaned. “My sweet tooth is in paradise.” She carried the box over to Isabel, who promptly lifted the lid and sampled a piece for herself.

“Don’t keep my sister out too late,” Isabel said.

Noah grinned. “I’m not making any promises. Don’t wait up.”

Lucy swatted his arm, and they walked out to his car. “I’m excited to take another ride in this thing.”

“I’m glad you like it. Some might call it a mid-life crisis car, but I call it enjoying my golden years. I need something more stylish than the ice cream truck to take you out on a proper date.”

“So, where are you taking me on this date?” Lucy asked.

“First, I’m taking you for the best Mexican food you’ve ever tasted.”

“Oh? How can you be sure?”

“Because you grew up two thousand miles from Mexico. I can’t imagine they’ve perfected the art of Mexican cuisine so far north of the border. Trust me.”

“How do you know I didn’t sample authentic cuisine in Mexico itself?”

Noah glanced at her before backing out of the driveway. “Because you told me this is the farthest you’ve ever been from home. Because you’ve never seen cacti before or eaten sopapillas or prickly pear fruit. I’m sure this will be new to you as well.”

Lucy leaned back against the car seat, frowning. “I guess I’m boring and predictable. I’m not sure why you want to spend time with me.”

“Predictable is not the same as boring. And you are neither. At this point in my life, I don’t want unpredictable. I like my routines, same as you, but I’m enjoying sharing my world with you.” He reached out and took her hand. “You are far from boring. Every time I’m with you, I’m full of excitement.”

Lucy’s heart kicked up a notch, both from his touch and from his words. “I know how you feel,” she admitted. Before the conversation got too serious, she changed the subject. “You said first. What comes after dinner?”

Noah’s eyes sparkled. “That, my dear, is the surprise. Wait and see.”

After what was, in fact, the best Mexican food Lucy had ever eaten, Noah drove for several minutes along a road that truly felt like a desert, then pulled into an enormous parking lot filled with hundreds of cars. Whatever this place was, it was certainly popular.

Noah pulled into a parking space. “Welcome to the botanical gardens.”

Lucy blinked. “We’re in a garden in the desert? And at night?”

“Trust me,” Noah said.

They strolled to the entrance. As they approached, the sound of Christmas carolers drifted toward them. They entered the gardens and were greeted by men and women dressed in old-time caroling garb, their voices raised in song. Lucy broke out into an enormous smile and they hurried over to watch them. They stayed for several songs.

Noah held out his arm. “I think it’s time to move on. There are more musical groups throughout the gardens.” Lucy took his arm and he guided her along the paths lined with hundreds of luminaries lighting their way. Lucy stopped every few steps to admire the different varieties of cacti lining the walkways. They soon reached another area where a brass group played more Christmas songs. By the time the night was over, they’d seen a string quartet, a handful of guitar groups, a harpist, and an acapella group. The musicians were fabulous. As they made their way towards the exit, Lucy’s eyes filled with tears. “Noah, that was wonderful. You brought Christmas music to me. You didn’t realize it, but tonight was the night of our church’s cantata. I was sad to miss it, but this was absolutely wonderful. I loved the luminaries, the cacti, the music, everything.”

Noah’s eyes sparkled in the lights of the luminaries. “I’m glad it was special to you. I’ve come here every year at Christmastime. We’ll come during the day sometime so you can see the impressive cacti in the sunlight.”

“That would be wonderful. I love plants. I tend a healthy garden back in Pennsylvania. Well, not in the winter, but it keeps me busy for several months each year. I had no idea so many things grew in the desert.”

“God can make things grow anywhere.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

Back in the car, Noah turned to Lucy. “Thank you for coming out with me tonight. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed being with someone my age. I love spending time with Betsy’s family, but it’s not the same as having a friend.”

“I know what you mean. I enjoy chatting with my friend, Hadessa. In fact, I need to catch up with her again soon.”

“I’m sure she misses you.”

“I’m not worried about her. She’s a social butterfly who runs a party-planning business and is always busy. She stops by when she’s walking her dog and we share a cup of tea from time to time, but she’s certainly not sitting around waiting for me to come home.”

A sense of melancholy settled over Lucy. It must’ve shown, for Noah turned to her, concern wrinkling his forehead. “What is it?”

“I was reminded there’s no one waiting for me to go home. Ethan’s long gone, and the girls are far from home now. Yes, Hadessa has been a wonderful friend, but she’s busy with her own life. I enjoy my women’s Bible study and my church friends, but I guess, now that I think about it, I’m lonely.”

Noah reached over and took her hand. The simple gesture warmed Lucy from the inside out. “Your girls love you and your friends care for you. Sometimes that’s hard to remember when you’re lying alone in bed at night. Believe me, I understand how you feel.”

Lucy blinked away the moisture in her eyes. Of course, Noah understood. He lived alone too, even though he was once part of a marriage. “I suppose you’re right.”

“There’s no rush for you to go back, is there? Is your house OK to be vacant for a while?” Noah’s eyes filled with hope.

“The winter before Ethan passed away, we spent a month in Florida. We winterized the house, so I knew what to do this time. Hadessa walks by nearly every day. She’d tell me if there was a problem.”

“Then stay. Stay as long as Izzy wants you. Or longer. I’m not sure what’s happening between us, but I’d love to see where it goes. You’re an amazing woman, Lucy, and I can’t help thinking God brought you into my life for a reason.”

Lucy stared at Noah. What was he saying? Sure, he was attractive and a delightful companion, but how could she consider starting a relationship with another man? What would the girls think? Was she ready to move on from Ethan? And there was the matter of his ex-wife.

Noah released her hand and pulled out of the parking lot. “I don’t mean to put any pressure on you. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

The drive home was silent. Lucy mulled Noah’s words over, not sure what to make of her conflicting emotions. She hardly noticed when the car stopped in front of Isabel’s house.

“I enjoyed our time together this evening. I hope I didn’t make you too uncomfortable.”

Lucy turned toward Noah. “It was a wonderful evening. Thank you for everything. You didn’t make me uncomfortable, but you’ve given me a lot to consider.” She slid out of the car and into Isabel’s house.

The house was quiet. Isabel hadn’t waited up, which was fine, since Lucy needed time to process her feelings before she could explain them to anyone else.

The next morning, Lucy was awakened by Roscoe’s whining. He stood by the side of her bed, Flick at his side. Lucy bent to greet them. Roscoe was trembling.

“Oh, my sweet puppy. Are you anxious? I thought you were OK now.”

Roscoe barked and raced out of the room, glancing back at Lucy. Flick followed along, her tail twitching.

“What’s wrong?” Lucy’s heartbeat kicked up a notch as she followed Roscoe and Flick to Isabel’s bedroom. “Isabel? Are you OK?”

Lucy rushed to Isabel’s bedside. Moisture beaded on Isabel’s forehead, and her breathing was labored. “Isabel,” Lucy repeated. “Talk to me. Does your chest hurt?”

Isabel nodded. “Hard… to… breathe.”

Lucy palms grew clammy. “Oh, no. You may have a clot in your lungs. That can happen after a hip replacement. I’m calling an ambulance.”

Isabel’s face was pale. “Thank… you…”

“Shh, don’t talk. You’ll be all right.” Lucy dialed 911, and mere minutes later was following the ambulance to the hospital. Isabel was whisked away, and Lucy paced the waiting room, her mind racing. Her prayers came in a rush.

“God, please take care of Isabel. She needs Your help. I’m not sure if she has a relationship with You. Please, don’t let her die. I’m sorry, God. I should’ve been with her, not off on a date with Noah. Please forgive me. I promise, I’ll be a better sister. I’ll talk to her about You. Please, don’t let her die.”

Her phone rang, and Lucy startled. She pulled it from her pocket. “Oh, Hadessa. How did you know I needed a friend right now?”

“What’s wrong, sweetie?”

“It’s Isabel. I think she has a pulmonary embolism. I’m worried sick.”

“Is she back in the hospital?”

“She is.”

“Then she’ll be fine. With fast treatment, she’ll be OK.”

“I don’t know if it was fast. I only found her this morning with symptoms. What if she had shortness of breath all night?”

“You can’t blame yourself. These things happen.”

But she did blame herself. “I was out last night. I left her alone.”

“You had no way of knowing this would happen. Last I talked with you, she was doing well.”

“She was. But now she’s not. What if she started having symptoms last night, and I wasn’t there to notice? She could die, Hadessa.” Lucy swallowed against the lump forming in her throat.

“Lucy, honey, don’t assume the worst. Where’s your faith? Calm down and pray.”

“I’ve been praying.” Hot tears streamed down her face. “I’m worried about her.”

“I wish I could be there right now to give you a big hug. I didn’t realize you and your sister were close. You never speak of her.”

Lucy bit her lip. “We weren’t. But we’ve spent more time together in the last week than we have in decades. It turns out we enjoy one another’s company far more than I expected.”

“Well that’s a blessing.” Hadessa’s voice brought comfort, familiarity.

“I can’t stand the thought of losing her just when we were getting close.” Lucy fished a tissue from her purse and blew her nose. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be needy, but I’m scared.”

“You’re not needy. It’s normal to be scared,” Hadessa said. “Where were you last night?”

Lucy hesitated. Did she want to share about Noah? She was getting far too attached to him.

“Lu?”

“I went out with Isabel’s neighbor.”

“The thirty-year-old with the sexy voice?”

Lucy’s face heated. Had she really described him that way to Hadessa? “He’s in his sixties, and yes, he does have the best voice.” And the best everything else, she added silently.

Hadessa’s voice raised an octave. “Oh, my goodness! I can’t believe you’re dating again. How wonderful!”

“I’m not dating him,” Lucy protested. “We’re friends spending time together while I’m out here.”

“There’s no spark?” Disappointment weaved through Hadessa’s words.

Lucy bit her lip. She’d always been honest with her friend. “Yes, there’s a spark. Quite frankly, he’s amazing. But I can’t let myself fall for him.”

“Why not? You’re still young. Ethan would want you to be happy.”

That was true. When Ethan was dying, he made Lucy promise to go on living. “Find yourself a knight in shining armor to take care of you,” he’d said. At the time, Lucy couldn’t imagine ever caring for anyone else, but Noah had shown her it was possible. Lucy sighed. “First of all, he lives two thousand miles away. And secondly, he has a wife.”

“Wait, what? You’re dating a married man?”

“Well, technically, he’s divorced.”

“That’s completely different,” Hadessa said. “He’s not married.”

“He is in God’s eyes.”

Hadessa’s groan echoed through the phone.

“The Bible says what God has joined together, let no man separate. What if his wife comes back? He needs to be with her.”

“Don’t let your religion get in the way of common sense. You should talk to him. Tell him how you feel.”

“There’s no point in getting into a deep personal discussion with someone I’m only going to see for a few weeks, but thanks for your advice. I should check on Isabel. She needs me to take care of her.”

“What about you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Who’s taking care of you?”

Lucy blinked. “I’m fine. I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”

“No? Did you eat yet today?”

Lucy was silent for a moment, trying to remember. Her stomach growled in protest. “I rushed right out after the ambulance. There was no time to eat. Poor Roscoe is blessed that I had the presence of mind to let him out. I threw food into his bowl and Flick’s and came here.”

“Then you need to get something to eat. It’s nearly lunchtime.”

“It’s only 10:00 here, but you’re right. I am a bit light-headed.”

“You won’t do your sister any good if you’re passed out. Go. Eat. Call me later.”

Lucy disconnected and glanced at her phone. She hadn’t charged it last night and the battery was at 3%. She wouldn’t be able to charge it until she was back at Isabel’s house. In the meantime, Hadessa was right. She needed to eat something and get her mind off her sister’s condition. She visited the cafeteria for some breakfast, and then stopped by the gift shop to pick out a paperback to keep her occupied. She hurried back to check on Isabel’s condition.

“No news yet, I’m afraid,” a pretty dark-haired nurse told her.

Lucy tried to focus on her book, but couldn’t help the worries swirling around her head.

Finally, a doctor came out. “Are you the family of Isabel Crompton?” he asked.

Lucy rose to greet the scrub-clad man as her stomach twisted with concern. “Yes. How is she?”