Moriah pulled her hair into a casual braid, donned her usual work boots, jeans, and t-shirt, and entered the lodge dining room with a light heart. They had made it into June with no mishaps, and the changes to the lighthouse tower were hard to miss. The top third of it had disappeared.
Ben expected to be finished taking down the tower by the end of June. The first part of July, they would pour a new concrete foundation. After the forms had been taken away and the concrete had cured, Lord willing, they would begin to lay the first course of stone.
Things were moving right along, and she was thrilled.
Even though she’d gotten up earlier than usual, Ben was already in the kitchen, a coffee cup at his elbow, his worn Bible and notebook in front of him.
It was interesting to her how much Ben had changed without really changing. The first time she’d laid eyes on him, she’d not thought he was particularly handsome. She had never liked red hair or freckles on a man. Now, when she came into the room, it struck her that he was one of the most gorgeous men she’d ever met. She had never realized how much getting to know another person’s heart changed the way their outside appearance was perceived.
“Don't you ever get tired of the translating work you do?” She pulled out a chair and seated herself across the table from him.
“Actually, no.” He thrust both arms up and stretched. “It's my cross-word puzzle, my chess game, my…”
Moriah held up a hand. “I get the picture. You enjoy your work.”
“I enjoy my life, Moriah, especially now that you're in it. It's all play when your heart is joyful.”
“Not if you're not a morning person, it isn't.” Nicolas wandered into the dining room and plopped down beside of Ben. “I thought retirement would mean sleeping in.”
“Didn’t you sleep well?” Moriah went over to the kitchen counter, where the coffee pot gurgled, and poured a cup.
“No. I most emphatically did not.”
Moriah held the pot out. “You want some?”
“Of course, I want some,” Nicolas grouched. “Do you have an IV? If so, I shall inject the liquid directly into my veins.”
Moriah sat a cup of steaming liquid in front of him. “What happened?”
“Your aunt came to my cabin in the middle of the night and asked me to go with her to help birth another baby on the reservation. Apparently, the word is out that an obstetrician is available at Kathy’s beck and call. This is my third this month.” He raised his voice so Katherine could hear him in the kitchen. “Why do these people insist on having so many babies during tourist season?”
“Long autumn nights, dear,” Katherine called.
“Was the mother having a problem?” Moriah asked.
“No. She just had no way to get to the hospital. Probably not enough money, either. Everything went fine. In fact, after everything was over, while Kathy tended to the mother, I got to hold the baby.”
“There’s nothing sweeter than a newborn,” Moriah said.
“I did enjoy it,” Nicolas admitted. “I never got to hold them much when I was in private practice. The nurses always whisked the babies away to the pediatrician to be checked out.” He traced a line down the white tablecloth with his finger, absorbed in his own thoughts. Then he glanced up and smiled. “Kathy promised to make biscuits as a reward for helping her last night.”
“You're getting homemade biscuits for breakfast this morning?” Ben’s voice was hopeful. “All I ate down at my cabin was cold cereal. I’m already hungry again.” He raised his voice, “Hey, Katherine, wake me up next time you get a call for Nicolas. I bet I could figure out how to catch a baby. Let Nicolas sleep. I love babies, especially if homemade biscuits are involved.”
Sometimes, Ben reminded Moriah of a big, cheerful, dog who regularly showed up at the lodge, hoping for a meal. Katherine rarely disappointed.
“And sausage gravy,” Nicolas said.
“Wow.” Ben sighed.
“I hear that,” Katherine called. “And I've made enough for everyone, but it'll be a couple more minutes.”
Nicolas peered at Ben’s open Bible. “I forgot my glasses. How far have you gotten?”
“I'm starting into First Peter this morning. “
“You're making good progress, then.”
“Yes, but I'm dreading Revelation. That’s going to be a tough book to put into the Yahnowa language. I don't think they have a term for Great Dragon in Yahnowa.”
“You might try using the term for Great Anaconda,” Nicolas said. “They must have a word for that.”
“They definitely have a word for that,” Ben said.
Nicolas stifled a yawn. “I need a refill, I need my glasses…and I need a good-morning hug from Kathy.” He wandered off into the kitchen.
Moriah grimaced.
“What?” Ben asked. “What's that face about? Don't you want your aunt getting a hug?”
“I just wish they weren't so…you know…so…”
“In love?”
“Well, so open about it.”
“Think about it, Moriah. Neither of them dreamed they'd ever be together again, and now, they are. It’s okay with me if they want to act like teenagers. Besides,” he teased, “I think you’re jealous. You want a good-morning hug, too.” Ben pushed his chair back.
“I don't need hugs. I just…”
“Of course, you do.” Ben stood, leaned across the table and gave her a bear hug that lifted her completely off her chair. Then he dropped her back into it.
“There, feel better?”
Moriah shook her head in mock dismay. “You are way, way too happy in the morning, Ben. “
“I'm living on a wonderful island, in a great cabin, spending time with a beautiful woman. What’s not to like?”
Ben had called her beautiful again.
“In fact,” Ben said. “I’m often surprised any of the men out at the work site can get any work done with you around.”
“Yeah, right.” Moriah made a face.
She knew Ben wasn’t serious. In eighth grade she had shot up almost to her full height, towering over the other kids until some of them caught up in later grades. She had once overheard a boy call her “that big horsey girl” to some other kids. They had all laughed. It had hurt, of course. That was how she had thought of herself ever since, as a big horse of a girl.
Ben apparently saw her through different eyes, and she was happy about that, but she hadn’t yet figured out how to gracefully react to Ben’s compliments.
He closed his Bible, put his pens and papers in their case, and tucked everything beneath his arm.
“I need to gather a few things before we go to work.” He headed out the door. “I'll be back in a few minutes.”
As he left, she pictured the first day she had met him, how awkward he had been around her. That awkwardness hadn’t lasted long. He was, at heart, a confident, intelligent, and talented man. He was a man who deserved to love and be loved by someone special. Someone who could go with him to the Amazon.