Fourteen

Addy had finished redecorating Nick’s kitchen the day before. He’d paid her for her services. Now she had no reason to go to his house. No reason to see him except on Sundays at church. She pinched her straw between her index finger and thumb and twirled it around several pieces of ice.

“What’s the matter, Addy?”

She looked across the booth at her friend Gracie. With Nick’s house and the hotel complete, she’d invited Gracie to the diner for lunch as a celebration of sorts. Since Gracie’s morning sickness had finally subsided for the most part, she had accepted with joy.

Addy shrugged, feeling the weight of sadness pressing down in her chest. “I guess I just feel so uncertain. I wanted to celebrate the completion of the jobs, but now—”

She peered into Gracie’s eyes. “What am I supposed to do? I have no job. No job prospects. Nick’s not—”

She stopped. She was tired of wishing and praying that Nick Martin would think of her as more than a friend or a little sister.

Gracie reached across the table and placed her hand on Addy’s. “God knows what He’s doing with you. He has a plan. You know He does.”

“I know that in my head, but right now, I sure don’t know that in my heart.”

“You still have to work on my nursery, remember? And you agreed to lead the middle school girls’ Bible study on Wednesday nights.”

Addy willed herself to feel encouraged by her friend’s words. “Yes. I know. And I’m excited about that. I remember how much we both learned from Miss Faye when we were that age.”

“Right. And when people see what you’ve done with Sarah’s hotel—you know she’s been bragging about it to everyone.”

Addy’s spirits lifted as her face warmed. “Yes. I had heard that. That’s what I’ve been told.”

“I’m sure you’ll be getting calls from people who’ll want to enlist your services. You could work right out of River Run.”

“That would be a dream come true.” She took a drink of sweet tea. “To stay right here with my family and friends. I’d love that.”

Gracie cocked her head and pursed her lips. “Oh, I think you’ll be staying.”

Addy studied her friend. Everyone had been acting so weird the last few weeks, looking at her strangely and saying things that just didn’t quite make sense. Gracie shoved a bite of food into her mouth then grinned at Addy, as she used to when they were kids.

“What do you know, Gracie?”

Gracie shoved another forkful of coleslaw into her mouth. “I don’t know anything.”

“Yes you do. You can’t lie to me, Gracie. Does Sarah have someone lined up to call me about a job?”

Gracie shrugged and took a long drink of tea then shoved another forkful of food into her mouth.

“I’ll figure it out, Gracie. You know I’ll get it out of you.” Her phone rang from inside her purse. She pulled it out and clicked it on. Addy listened as her mom told her someone had stopped by to see her and that she needed to come home.

Addy pulled some money out of her purse and placed it on the table. “I have to get home. I’ve got a visitor.” She squinted at her friend. “But I will find out what you’re keeping from me.”

❧

Four days had passed since Nick purchased the engagement ring. He was alone at the cabin painting the color Addy said she loved on the walls. Almost everything was complete. Mike would install the wiring over the next two days. His dad would be coming out tomorrow to help him get the Jacuzzi tub installed.

Realizing it was almost four o’clock and he still hadn’t had lunch, he walked into the bathroom and turned on the sink. “But I have water and plumbing.”

He opened the cooler and pulled out a ham sandwich and soft drink. With the table and chairs and bed all covered in plastic while he painted, he had nowhere to sit except to shut the cooler lid and park himself on top of it.

The room looked good. He just had a few touch-ups to do on the walls, then he’d remove the plastic and move the furniture close to the places it needed to be. His mom and Amanda planned to drive out after Mike got the electric running and put some girlie touches to the room.

He shoved a huge bite of sandwich into this mouth. The room had grown rather warm in the heat of the day, but with it being surrounded by large trees, he knew he was much cooler in his cabin than he would be outside. “Once the electric’s running, I’ll put in the air conditioner.”

The little cabin originally had only one window, but once he decided to add electric, he knew he’d want to go ahead and purchase a window unit to cool the place down in the dead of summer. He just wanted it to be a comfortable place for Addy.

Pushing the rest of the sandwich into his mouth, Nick wadded up the baggie and shoved it inside the cooler. He grabbed a paintbrush and finished touching up the paint. Once satisfied with the work, he rinsed out the brushes and pans and packed them into his truck.

Anxious to see the place in some semblance of order, he pulled the plastic off the furniture, folded it, and placed it in the corner with the tools they would still need for the electric. Everything else he packed in the back of his truck.

The windows were bare of curtains, but he had made up the bed with the sheets and comforter Amanda picked out. It was very girlie. Even though the main color was some kind of tan, it still had purple flowers and bows in various places. But he didn’t mind. He knew Addy would love it, and that was what mattered.

He grinned as he leaned against the door and inspected their hard work. It had been sweat-pouring, backbreaking labor, but it looked really nice; he was proud of all they’d accomplished.

You’ve put Your hand of blessing on this project, Lord. There’s no other way for me to think of it. We couldn’t have gotten all this work done had You not allowed it. You blessed me with wonderful family and friends. Please bless me with Addy as a wife as well.

His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the screen. It was Drew. Opening the phone, he pushed the button. “Hey, Drew. What’s up?”

“You’ve got to get over here quick.”

Nick’s heart jumped at the sound of urgency in Drew’s tone. What if something had happened to Addy or to his parents? He yanked his keys out of his pocket and jumped in the cab of the truck. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Addy.”

Nick’s gut churned, and a wave of nausea washed over him. “What is it? What happened? Is she hurt?”

“No, she’s not hurt, but you better get over here quick.”

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s a city slicker sitting at my kitchen table trying to sweet-talk her. That’s what’s wrong.”

Fury replaced fear. A vision of the scrawny business suit–covered guy who hadn’t had the guts to stand up for her at the sandwich place flashed through his mind. There was no way that guy was going to sweet-talk his Addy.

He yanked the truck into gear and barreled down the trail. God, give me grace. Give me patience. And give me words. Because if You don’t, I’m liable to use my fists.

❧

Addy could not believe Trevor was sitting at her parents’ kitchen table drinking a glass of her mother’s sweet tea. First of all, he hated sweet tea. He must have just felt obligated to drink it when her mother offered. Second of all, she was fairly frustrated with Trevor for slipping out of the deli as he had when Nick showed up.

He’d made it perfectly clear for the second time that he would not be there for her when she needed it. The first time being when he broke up with her shortly after she’d graduated.

It was obvious her parents didn’t like him, as her dad sat at one end of the table, a scowl wrapping his face, and her mom stood leaning against the kitchen sink. If Mom liked him, she’d be sitting at the table talking his ear off. But then Addy had always known in her heart that they wouldn’t like Trevor.

When she was dating him, she had moments when she felt he looked down his nose at her for her “hillbilly” upbringing. She’d always brushed the feelings off as her being supersensitive to the stereotype some people had about those who were raised in the hills of Kentucky. Seeing him look down his nose at her mother’s beverage every sip and squirm in his chair as if he’d be attacked by a mouse at any moment confirmed the feelings she’d sometimes had.

“What was it you said you do for a living, son?”

Addy looked across the table at her dad. He was trying to be nice to Trevor. She had to give him credit for that, but the scowl on his face gave away that he sure didn’t want to.

“I’m a computer programmer,” Trevor said.

“Mmm.” Her dad nodded his head back then looked over at his wife. “Amanda, I suppose we ought to go check on the garden.” He looked at Addy. “Give them a chance to talk.”

Addy didn’t want her parents to leave the room. She had no desire to be left alone with Trevor. For the life of her, she had no idea why he would be here. Or why she had ever been interested in him.

She tried to beg them to stay with her gaze, but either they weren’t taking the hint or they weren’t going for it. She watched as her parents walked out the back door toward the garden.

She clasped her hands together and placed them on the table. “How’s everything been, Trevor?”

“Not so good.” He looked up at her. The sincerity in his gaze made her stomach roll, and she bit her bottom lip. “I can’t stop thinking about you since we had lunch at the deli. I was such a fool to let you go.”

Addy didn’t know what to say. She watched as he pushed the chair back and stood. He paced the floor, placing one hand against his forehead. “I thought I was doing the right thing breaking up with you. At the time I just couldn’t see us staying together, but now—”

He walked around the table and touched a strand of her hair. “I want you back.”

Addy stood and stepped away from him. “I’m sorry, Trevor.”

He stepped toward her again. “Don’t say that. I really care about you. You could come back to the city. You could—”

Addy shook her head and waved her arms in front of her.

“No, Trevor. I’m sorry. I’m going to stay in River Run. You were right to break up with me. You and I aren’t—”

“Addy, we could make it work.”

“I don’t want to make it work.”

Addy walked toward the front door with Trevor following her. She pushed open the screen and stepped out onto the porch. “I’m sorry you drove out here, Trevor. I don’t mean to upset you, but I won’t lead you on either.”

Trevor exhaled a long breath then walked to his car. Addy followed him and stood beside the driver’s door as he opened it. He looked past her, and his eyes widened.

“Addy, wait!” a familiar voice sounded from behind her. She turned and saw a red-faced man stalking toward them. “I won’t let you do this.”

Addy felt her jaw drop. “Nick?”

❧

“Listen, buddy, I’m sorry you drove all the way out here and all.” He nudged the guy, who once again was all too willing to run from him into his car. Nick shut the door and tapped the hood. “Sorry, man, but you’re not going anywhere with Addy.”

“Excuse me.” Addy placed her hands on her hips. “This is not your concern. What do you care if I go somewhere with him?”

Nick nodded his head at the man. “See ya, mister.” Then he scooped Addy up into his arms and headed back toward his truck.

“Nick Martin, what are you doing?”

Addy twisted in his arms, but he wasn’t about to let her down. He’d waited like a fool for too long, and he wasn’t going to let her get away. “I need to show you something.”

Addy stopped squirming and jutted out her chin. “What if I don’t want you to show me something?” She punched his shoulder.

He put her down beside the passenger door of his truck. He opened the door then turned back to her. Fury lit her eyes, making the green deepen. He couldn’t help it. He reached up and gently touched her cheek with the back of his hand. She sucked in her breath. “Please, Addy. Can I show you something?”

She looked away from him but stepped up into the cab. “Fine.”

Nick wanted to howl his excitement as he skipped around the front of the truck and hopped into the cab. He looked to his left and saw Bryan standing beside the house. Her dad gave him a thumbs-up, and Nick tipped his cap. The truck roared to life, and Nick headed back to his farm. With his Addy.

Addy didn’t talk to him the whole way, but that was okay with Nick. His mind swirled with what he should say to her. Should he get on his knee? Should he kiss her first? What if she said no?

He sneaked a quick peek at her. He couldn’t handle it if she said no. Please, God, don’t let her say no.

He didn’t have the ring. It wouldn’t be ready for three more days. He wanted to propose to her the right way. And the cabin wasn’t completely done. It didn’t have the electric yet, and his mom and Amanda hadn’t had a chance to give it some finishing touches. But none of that mattered. He had to do this now. He wouldn’t let her go back to the city, not without him putting up a fight anyway.

Nick pulled onto the trail that led to his cabin. The truck bounced to and fro as he drove over the rough ground. At one point Addy fell against him, but she grabbed the door handle and pulled herself away.

She’s madder than a hornet at me right now. Please, Lord, soften her heart. I love her.

Nick pulled next to the cabin. He looked at Addy. He could tell all the equipment and leftover supplies lying on the ground surprised her. “Have you been working on the cabin?”

“Yep.” He opened the door and ran across to her side before she had a chance to get out. Opening her door for her, he extended his hand. She stared at him for several moments. “Please let me help you out.”

Hesitantly she placed her hand in his. It took every ounce of strength within him not to scoop her up in his arms and carry her to the cabin. But he didn’t want to scare her or make her angrier with him. He guided her to the cabin door then opened it and waited for her to go inside first.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked around the room. “You’ve done a lot of work.”

“Yes, I have. We made a bathroom, too.” He walked past her and opened the door, exposing a hooked-up sink and toilet. “We’re going to finish the Jacuzzi and put in some electric in the next few days.”

Addy looked up at him. “We?”

“Yeah. Your dad, my dad, Drew, Wyatt, and Mike have been helping me.” He pointed behind them to the bed. “Your mom picked out the comforter and stuff.”

“My mom?” Addy furrowed her eyebrows. She wrapped her arms around her chest and shook her head. “Nick, I don’t understand.”

Nick swallowed. Heat washed over him. He’d never felt so nervous, so vulnerable. “Well, I hadn’t planned to do this for a few more days, but when Drew called and said that city slicker was at your house—”

“What’s Trevor got to do with this?”

“Absolutely nothing.” Nick grabbed her hands in his own. He caressed her palms with his thumbs. The confusion in her gaze melted him, and he lifted her hand to his cheek. Brushing it softly with the back of her hand, he noticed tears pooled in Addy’s eyes.

“I love you, Addy.”

She bit her bottom lip as a tear slipped down her left cheek. He brushed it away with his thumb then lowered himself to one knee. “I don’t have your ring. It won’t be finished for three more days.”

“You already have it?” Addy’s voice squeaked, and she sniffed as she looked down at him.

He kissed her knuckle. “Yes, Addy, I do. I want you to be my wife.”

“You love me?”

He stood to his feet and cupped both sides of her jaw in his hands. “Yes, I love you. More than I ever dreamed possible. I love you, and I want you to be my wife.”

Addy grinned and then a little giggle slipped from her lips. Nick leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. She wrapped her hands around his neck and deepened the kiss. He forced himself to push her away and smiled down at her. “Is that a yes?”

“Of course that’s a yes.”

Addy punched his arm, much harder than he expected. “Ow.” He rubbed the spot and grinned. “I still love you.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “It sure took you long enough.”

He wrapped his arms around her again and planted a firm kiss on her lips. “I’ll never take that long again.”