18

The auction was coming up almost too quickly. Raine had little time during the day to dwell on the heartache of knowing she loved a man she simply couldn’t be with. By nighttime, exhaustion sent her to sleep without any trouble, despite the turmoil in her soul.

Two nights from now—on Wednesday evening—the event would take place at the shelter.

On Friday, Raine would accompany Dec to Santa Barbara.

The pieces he’d created for display were exquisite. This showing held incredible potential for Dec’s career in the art world.

But first, they had to get through the auction.

Response from local merchants had been phenomenal. Two of the bedrooms at Chrysalis were stuffed with donated items.

Aside from the auction itself, Raine’s press releases about Chrysalis to major news sources in neighboring towns and big cities throughout the state, as well as phone calls to merchants in those same locations, had garnered an outpouring of direct donations for use at the shelter. Every day, more deliveries came in from all over. The kitchen and pantry were filled with food, clothing, kitchen appliances, bedding, and toiletry items. In addition, a large amount of overflow had claimed space in a portion of the church fellowship hall.

A furniture-store chain shipped in eighteen twin beds and matching nightstands. Another sent a big-screen television for the group room, along with a DVR and a generous selection of movies and games for young adults. Twenty-five Bibles had arrived from a well-known Christian bookstore.

Raine and the other board members, with volunteers from the church and even a few young people who would soon be guests at Chrysalis, worked long hours preparing the shelter for opening day.

Greg Apperson even showed up alongside Shay to offer his considerable brawn wherever it was needed. He and the manicurist had been spending a great deal of time together, and if the stars in Shay’s eyes were any indication, neither of them was inclined to back off just yet.

Raine couldn’t have been more thrilled. Despite her avoidance of Greg at the university, she’d discovered during this trip that he was fun to be around and a gentleman to the core. Perhaps because she’d already met the ogre woodcarver next door to Paradise Pines, she wasn’t drawn to Greg except as a friend, but Shay clearly found him irresistible…and it seemed the feeling was entirely mutual.

With all that help, the shelter was unrecognizable as the run-down building it had been a few weeks before. All the rooms now boasted fresh paint—most of which had been donated, along with enough carpet for all ten sleeping “dorms” and the TV-and-game portion of the common room. Bright, inspirational posters hung on the walls. The place had taken on a cheery, homey atmosphere—like a hug from the heart.

Raine stood up and stretched her back. She’d been kneeling on the floor, helping Cole put together the last of the donated bed frames. “I’ll go find the bedding. I think Miss Angie stacked it in the meeting room.”

“I did.” The older woman entered the room, wearing her beautiful, perpetual smile. “But I’ve dropped off two sets of sheets, two blankets, and a couple of comforters in each room.” She dumped a set on each of the newly assembled beds. “Raine, go in one of the other rooms, close the door, and lie down while I make these beds up. Cole will help me, won’t you, dear?”

“Sure, Miss Angie.” The boy turned an adoring gaze on her. “You got it.”

“I’m not lying down while everyone else works,” Raine protested.

“Yes, you are.” Miss Angie planted hand on hips and tried to glare…it wasn’t very convincing, but it got her message across. “If you don’t, you’ll be sick. You’ve been here longer than any of us, and you haven’t had a single break today. Go. Shoo! Get some rest. That’s an order from the housemother.”

Raine laughed. “You do know you don’t scare me?”

“Yes, dear, but I also know you’ll do as you’re told, because you love me and you don’t want me to worry about you.”

“Oh, that’s so not fair!” Raine hugged the woman. “I guess I could stand to lie down, but only for a half-hour. Then I’m getting up.”

“Whatever you say.” Miss Angie gave her a gentle shove. “Now go.”

As she made her way down the hall, Raine realized how tired she really was. Miss Angie knew her too well. She let herself into the last room at the end of the hall and squeezed between stacks of boxes to reach the bed, where she stretched out with a grateful sigh. Turning on her side, she allowed her gaze to travel the crowded room.

The outpouring of donations continued to amaze her. God was awesome, and so were His people. Today’s world made it too easy to forget that, and situations such as this served as a nice reminder. Yes, evil had sunk its claws deep into humanity, but God still maintained a chosen element of people who loved Him and cared about each other. People who were willing to help when the need arose.

“Thank You, Lord,” she breathed. “I needed this experience.”

Even as she prayed that simple prayer, her eyelids grew heavy, and she dozed.

****

“Raine…Raine, dear, wake up.”

Dec stood in the doorway. He couldn’t see Raine back behind all the boxes, but he heard her sleepy mumble when Miss Angie tried to rouse her. He shook his head.

She’d been working way too hard—especially considering she was supposed to be on vacation.

He couldn’t help grinning. How many people chose to get involved in a grassroots project such as this while they were supposed to be idling away the days on a first-time-ever getaway?

“Sweetie, wake up. Dec’s here, and we have a special guest who wants to meet you.”

“‘K.” A loud yawn followed the barely legible response. “I’m ’wake.”

Miss Angie’s soft chuckle floated over the jumble of stuff packed into the room. “I’m not too sure about that. Maybe you should just go ahead and sleep a little longer.”

“No. I’m up. Really.”

Sounds of movement. The scrape of shoes across the floor. And then there she stood, one fisted hand rubbing at her eyes, looking as if still in the world of sweet dreams. Dec’s heart clenched. The woman was heartbreakingly beautiful.

“Dec!” She blinked at him. “What are you doing here?”

Miss Angie chuckled. “Excuse her manners, Declan. I’m afraid she still has a head full of dream webs.”

Raine frowned. “Dream webs?”

“Well, it sounds so much better than cobwebs, don’t you think, dear?”

Dec couldn’t help laughing.

Apparently, Miss Angie’s humor finally woke her up, because Raine joined him. Then she hugged the older woman. “I have a feeling you let me sleep way longer than a half-hour.”

“Who, me?” Miss Angie’s eyes widened. Then she smiled and took Raine’s hand. “Come, darling, Dec brought a friend to meet you.”

Raine hung back, brushing at her hair with her fingers. “I can’t meet anyone looking like this.”

“You look amazing.” Dec thought the words sounded more like a growl than a compliment, but he couldn’t quite get his voice pushed past his throat. She took his breath away.

“Right, I’m sure I do—amazingly messy.” Raine still hung back. “Miss Angie, do you have a brush?”

“As a matter of fact…” The woman reached into a deep pocket in the apron she wore over her dress and pulled out a brush and a small compact. “You’ll find a mirror in this little thing.”

Raine giggled. “You’re an angel!”

“Now who let the cat out of the bag?” Miss Angie teased. “Go ahead into the ladies’ room, Raine, and take a minute to freshen up. I’ll serve our guest a cup of coffee while he waits. Dec, you come with me.”

He shrugged and followed her down the hall. Behind him, Raine giggled. He loved the sound of it.

In the room off the kitchen, he waited with Miss Angie and their guest, barely able to keep from going back and hurrying Raine along. He couldn’t wait to see her reaction when he introduced his friend.

“I’ve been wanting to come visit.” The visitor accepted a slice of olallieberry pie and sipped at the coffee Miss Angie set beside it. “You folks have created quite a stir around here. It’s a wonderful thing you’re doing.”

“Well, to be truthful, Raine has had a big hand in getting this thing started. Pastor had the want-to and a vague plan for ‘someday,’ but Raine’s heart for the kids kind of pushed it into the here and now,” Dec explained.

“You give me far too much credit.” From the doorway, she chided Dec around a wide smile. “Too many people have put heart and soul into this project to be pinning that much praise on me, Dec Keller.”

Dec jumped to his feet, as did his guest.

“Raine, you’re here.” He joined her at the door and took her hand, leading her to the table, where his friend stood openly gaping. Dec couldn’t blame him. Fresh from her nap, Raine’s dewy-eyed beauty was enough to make any man stare. “This is a good friend of mine—and someone whose talents I happen to know you admire. Raine Presley, I’d like you to meet Logan Bullard.”

Raine gasped. “Oh! Logan Bullard…the artist?”

Logan grinned and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I suppose I’ve been known to wield a paintbrush now and then.”

“Please, sit down.” Raine waved the men back into their chairs.

Dec pulled one out for her before he took his own seat again.

“It’s wonderful to meet you, Mr. Bullard.” Raine was clearly overwhelmed.

Logan looked over his shoulder. “Is my dad here?” He grinned and shook his head. “I’m Logan. Too young to be Mr. Bullard, and besides, that’s my dad.”

They all laughed, including Miss Angie, who set a cup of coffee in front of Raine, but politely refused to join them. “I’ve got an appointment with Tara and Cole. Those kids are just full of questions about the Bible today. You young folks enjoy your coffee, and there’s more in the kitchen if you want it.”

Raine chuckled, watching the older woman take her leave. “Miss Angie enjoys nothing more than talking about the Bible.”

“True. And she knows more about it than anyone else I know.” Dec grinned. “She makes me ashamed of myself.”

“You and me both,” Raine said. She sipped at her coffee. “Mmm. I needed this.”

“So, Dec tells me you and he have visited the gallery in West Village a few times.” Logan watched her over the rim of his mug.

“We have, and I have to admit I’m feeling a little star-struck right now. I always head straight for your work, Logan. You’re incredibly talented. If I only knew the magic word, I think I could just walk into your paintings and become a part of them.”

Logan laughed. “That’s quite the most charming compliment I’ve ever received.”

“Well, I mean it sincerely. I’m honored to have actually met you. One day I plan to have an entire collection of Logan Bullard masterpieces.”

“Speaking of which…” Logan stood. “Excuse me for a moment.” He walked through the kitchen and disappeared into the storage room on the other side.

Raine sent Dec a puzzled glance. “What—?”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

Logan reappeared in a jiffy, carrying a large framed canvas. He’d turned the back of it toward Raine and Dec, and he propped it on the table, still not turning it around.

“I wanted to contribute something to the shelter. I stopped in the other day and spoke with Pastor Merckle. He showed me around and told me about the name Raine had come up with. Chrysalis…it’s perfect, by the way. By the time I left, I knew exactly what to do.” He paused.

Dec glanced at Raine.

She gazed at Logan through wide green eyes.

“What is it?” she breathed. “Show us.”

Logan grinned at Dec, and then slowly spun the canvas around.

Raine gasped.

Dec had a hard time not doing the same.

Against a blue sky background, a single monarch danced in flight, an inch or so above a leafy branch. Just beneath the butterfly, still clinging to the bark, was an empty cocoon. While the beautiful, newly winged creature clearly dominated the painting, a beam of sunlight lanced through the leaves and shone directly on the chrysalis, making it an important feature of the painting.

“Ohhh!” Raine’s single breathy syllable said more than any number of words could have.

Dec hiked a brow. “I think she likes it.”

Raine’s eyes flashed. “Like it? I’m almost speechless. Logan, it’s stunning! Absolutely perfect.” A single tear overflowed and trickled down her cheek.

Dec reached out and caught it with his thumb.

“I hardly know what to say.” She stood and rounded the table to stand beside the artist. “Thank you.” She tiptoed and kissed his cheek. “This will go above the fireplace in the common room, and it will bless so many young people as they burst free of their old lives and fly into a new one. A better one.” She brushed away another tear. “Just…thank you!”

Logan looked at Dec. “I hope you don’t mind, old friend, but…” He pulled Raine into a gentle hug. “You are most welcome, Raine. Your reaction is more than ample compensation.”

Dec fought a wave of ridiculous jealousy. When Logan released Raine, he pulled her to him and slid a decidedly proprietary arm around her waist. He grinned at the artist. “No problem, Bullard, but just to be clear…that’s the last time you’re allowed to do that.”

Raine blushed and landed a playful blow to his arm. “Dec!”

Logan laughed. “I can’t say I blame the man.”

“Well, ‘the man’ is showing his Neanderthal side,” she quipped.

Miss Angie spoke from the doorway. “Oh my! Logan…is that for the shelter?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, it’s…it’s…” She shook her head. “It’s simply heavenly, dear. Just…heavenly.”

Dec grinned.

“That’s exactly the word I was looking for, Miss Angie. Heavenly.” Raine smiled.

“O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.” Miss Angie touched the edge of the canvas, her blue eyes fixed on the painting. “Only our heavenly Father could inspire something so beautiful. Heavenly, indeed.”

Dec could only nod, as the profound truth of the sweet lady’s remark wrapped itself around his soul. He tucked Raine closer to his side and tugged her chin upward with his thumb so he could look through her tear-dampened eyes and into her heart. Then he smiled, satisfied she felt it too.

Logan had given them far more than a painting for the shelter. He’d brought them a hug from Heaven.