4

 

Apparently she’d said something humorous.

David threw his head back and bellowed out a hearty laugh. “Afraid not. My taste isn’t much better than Uncle’s.”

They started up the curving staircase, and she trailed a hand along the banister, admiring the rich patina of the carved wood. “So who, then?”

“A local lady who once operated a famous interior decorating business in Dallas. She and Uncle—”

Pia stopped in her tracks, and David slammed into her from behind. She would have fallen up the stairs if he hadn’t flashed one arm around her waist and pulled her against him. Her body zinged from the contact, and she quickly extricated herself.

“You’re talking about Vivian Mallory, aren’t you?” Eager to get past the awkward moment, she sprang onto the next step, breathing a little easier with the distance between them.

“Uncle Andy and Viv’s late husband were childhood friends. After Vance was diagnosed with cancer and it became clear he wouldn’t live, Viv sold her business in Dallas to bring him here and let him live out his last days in his hometown.”

They reached the upper floor, and Pia stopped and turned toward him. “But Mr. Mallory’s been gone several years. She didn’t want to go back home?”

He shrugged. “Apparently not. And Uncle felt responsible for her after his friend died. Here she was in a new town where she didn’t know a soul—” He broke off when Pia presented him with what she hoped was her best disbelieving stare. She couldn’t help laughing. One of her most loyal customers, Vivian Mallory never met a stranger.

“Not that the lady has trouble making friends,” he said.

“She knows more people in Angel Falls than I do, and I’ve lived here all my life.”

“Well, Uncle Andy doesn’t make friends easily, but he definitely counts Viv as one of them.”

He pushed open a swinging door, revealing a well-appointed kitchen. “This room was added when Uncle moved his living quarters upstairs. The one on the ground floor is for the guests when their functions require a place to cook or heat food.”

Pia let her gaze travel over the bright room. “I don’t suppose Mrs. Mallory had anything to do with decorating the upper floor, did she?”

“She did in here.”

She eyed the cheery kitchen through a narrowed gaze. “Black and white polka dots with red accents. Great combination.” Her gaze danced over the inviting space. “I just—” She shot him a wry glance and shook her head. “Sorry. I’m having a hard time imagining Mr. Hart in this room.”

He took a couple bottles of water from the refrigerator and offered her one. “Want a glass?”

“No, this is fine.” She removed the lid and took a healthy swallow.

“And as for Uncle and this room…” He strode across it and pushed open another door in the opposite wall. “This is where he eats. He dines in the ‘fancy dinin’ room’ only when Viv is here.”

The tiny breakfast nook boasted a single piece of furniture, an antique, chrome-legged table with a bright red, marbled top. One black, Shaker-style chair graced each end, but someone had softened the look with polka-dot cushions. Pia chuckled. It wasn’t hard to spot Mrs. Mallory’s touch.

On their way downstairs, David indicated a tapestry hanging in the hallway. “Granny Hart’s creation.”

Pia stepped close and studied the piece, which someone—probably Viv Mallory—had hung from a polished wood mounting rod. A border of vines and roses formed the outer edge, and the colors—deep burgundies and forest greens—still remained true. Because her mother had taught her to embroider, Pia was able to recognize the fine stitchery in the scrolling gold letters that spelled out the familiar quote: May Love Find All Who Enter Here.

“This is incredible. I can’t believe the colors are still so vibrant.” She narrowed her eyes, examining the exquisite piece. “Are you sure this is the original tapestry created by Mr. Hart’s grandmother?”

“This is it.” David shook his head and shrugged. “It’s been painstakingly preserved throughout the years. Apparently every family member who took possession of the house genuinely valued this tapestry and saw to its maintenance. Uncle continues the practice. It goes out once every year or so for professional cleaning and repair of any weak or broken stitches.”

Soon they were leaving the big house behind and returning to the complex in the dying light of day. As they rounded the back corner of Hart’s yard, Pia heard the landlord’s dry voice from across the lawn, where he stood alone, attacking the shrubbery with a pair of pruning shears.

“Yes, yes, I know she’s a good girl, but that don’t mean diddly. David’s not—” He paused, and the snip-snip of his shears filled the air, while Pia closed her eyes in abject humiliation. It wasn’t hard to figure out exactly which “good girl” Mr. Hart referred to. “Just because you know more about it than I do doesn’t mean I don’t know anythin’! Well, go ahead, then. Have your say. You always do.”

David’s hand on the small of her back urged her on, past the big house and out of earshot. When she finally found the courage to look at him, merriment gleamed from those captivating mismatched eyes, while his ultra-white teeth clamped down on a full bottom lip.

Pia stopped in her tracks, both hands planted on her hips. “Exactly what do you find so amusing, David Myers?”

He bent at the waist and guffawed in an uncontrollable torrent while Pia glared.

After a moment, her own lips twitched. She bit down hard, wanting to stay at least a little bit outraged, but it was impossible in the face of his hilarity, and soon they were both out of control. Tears dripped off her chin, and she couldn’t catch her breath. David slipped an arm around her waist to support her and left it there as they continued toward her cottage.

So much for keeping a healthy distance from the new minister.

He said goodbye at her gate, and she watched him until he entered his own and turned to wave—as if he knew she’d be gazing after him like a love-struck teenager. Mortified, Pia hurried up the walkway and into the privacy of her cottage.

After a simple dinner and a long shower, she stood over her worktable, studying the items spread over its surface. She wanted to give each of her neighbors a gift from JK. Susanna and Zoe already had their necklaces. The one remaining female neighbor was Kaci James, a pretty strawberry-blonde who’d lived at Heart’s Haven longer than most of the current tenants. Though she had met Kaci only once, Pia knew the one necklace left in the assortment of gifts belonged to the young teacher. She fingered the gold cross pendant—a Peretti Original she called ‘Hearts at the Cross.’ A tiny heart glittered from the end of each arm, sparkling with red, amber, and aurora borealis crystals. What message did it hold for her neighbor?

That left the men. The quiet, bookish tenant in the unit immediately to the east of David’s was Zack Manning. Pia had known him on a casual, distant basis for several years, due to his college friendship with her brother, Gabe, who would soon be moving into one of the Heart’s Haven cottages on a sabbatical from his job as a policeman.

The other male tenant bore an unusual name. Not Ryan, but something close…Ryne. Ryne Calvert. Pia had met him the day she moved in, when he stopped outside her gate and offered a quiet welcome to Heart’s Haven. She’d spotted him walking the greenway alongside the forest with Kaci a time or two. Were they friends, or was there something more between them? Thanks to David, the Heart’s Haven legend had her imagination working overtime, seeing romantic connections where there probably were none.

Which brought her right back around to David…he of the blue and green eyes and the heart-stopping smile. Pia grabbed her little bottle of anointing oil. Time to pray for guidance on these gifts. Anything to get the handsome new minister off her mind.

She shook a drop of oil onto her finger and touched it to six antique gold key rings, all shaped like old-fashioned keys, each with a different design. These would go to the men. The stem of each piece was engraved with the attribute it symbolized: faith, success, love, peace, friendship, and happiness.

Except…as she looked closer, Pia realized “success” was missing. Instead, “faith” appeared on two of the rings. A little tingle of electricity zipped from the top of her spine right down to her toes. A shipping error…or a God-thing?

A couple of other accessories lay scattered around the table. On a whim, she anointed those, as well, then bowed her head and prayed for direction in distributing the gifts.

Finished, she settled into her old-but-oh-so-comfy recliner, closed her eyes and allowed her worn Bible to fall open on her lap, trusting God to lead her to whatever passage she most needed.

The pages parted, and Pia touched her finger to one of them, her eyes still closed. This solitary ritual was not a game to her, and she opened her eyes, eager to see where the Father had led her today.

Ephesians. Her finger rested on the tenth verse of the sixth chapter. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Familiar, much-loved words. She read on: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

A low vibration began in her fingertip, where it still rested on the page. Puzzled, she lifted her hand and rubbed her thumb and index finger together. The sensation stopped.

Weird.

Returning her gaze to the Bible, she rested her hand on the opposite page as she read.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

The tingle returned—suddenly and with increased strength, traveling the length of her arm. Pia jerked it off the Bible. What in the world?

As the strange electric vibe once again abated, she managed a shaky smile. “I’ve read these scriptures at least a hundred times, Lord,” she whispered. “Am I missing something?”

Sitting quietly for a moment, she waited, but the Creator of the universe remained silent. What a silly goose she was! Why would God talk to her about these particular scriptures? It wasn’t as if she was any kind of spiritual warrior.

Placing both hands firmly on her Bible, she read on. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Before she reached the end, both arms jerked spasmodically. Bolts of power shot from fingertip to elbow, and tears rained down her cheeks. The Bible slid off her lap. She jumped to her feet and crossed to the makeshift studio, propelled by a steely-velvet pressure against her back.

The key rings for her neighbors lay spread across the table. A few inches above them, a smaller item caught her eye. Pia gasped, her eyes fixed on the tie tack, which glowed as if backlit against the polished wood of the tabletop. She reached for it, half expecting to be zapped with some kind of spiritual electricity. That didn’t happen, but as she picked it up she realized the metal that should have been cold radiated a subtle heat.

“What is it, Lord?” She wept, frustrated at her inability to understand. With the piece still in her hand, she hurried back to her chair and retrieved the Bible she’d dropped. Despite the tumble from her lap, it still lay open to the page she’d been reading.

She set the little trinket on top of the open Book and looked at it. A cross. A crown studded with three clear cubic zirconias. A sword. The three elements melded together to create an attractive design, with the word “WAR” spanning the bottom.

Just a tie tack. A nice one, but hardly applicable to what she was reading.

Zap!

Pia’s breath came in ragged bursts. The words on the page swam crazily before her eyes, but burst into her mind with amazing clarity.

“Who wears armor?” she whispered, and answered herself in the same breath. “A soldier…a warrior.” Tentatively, she touched one finger to the word on the tie tack. War. Her finger moved up to touch the sword. “The sword of the spirit,” she said, her voice a little stronger now. “A star-studded crown. And the cross. A soldier of the cross. A warrior for the kingdom of God.”

A minister.

“David.” As she choked out his name, she turned the tie tack in her hand. It caught the light from the small lamp at her side and, as if in corroboration of her epiphany, she was treated to a miniature light show as the three stones refracted the bright beam.

The illusion was gone in an instant, and Pia managed a sheepish grin. She returned to her workbench and packed the tie tack into a small gift bag.

Why David needed this particular piece she had no idea. But she wasn’t about to risk another electric prod by questioning God’s leading. She thought for a moment before dumping all six of the key rings into a small box. Since she hadn’t received any neon messages about which keys her neighbors needed, she’d have to handle this in her own way.

She took the little bottle of anointing oil and, once again, swept her finger over each of the keys and bowed her head. “God, I have no doubt about giving David the warrior tie tack. Whatever the reason, please open his heart to your leading even as he opens this gift. And, Father, please use these simple keys to encourage the hearts and minds of the men in this complex. I’m not sure who needs what, but You know, and I trust You to deliver the proper message to each of them.”

She lifted her head, her decision made. The six keys would be inserted into identical little gift bags. Pia would place one bag into each of the remaining three men’s mailboxes, and she would trust God to guide her placement of them, since not even she would know which key each man received.

Tired, but exulting in her unusual little interlude with God, she tumbled into bed. As she drifted off to sleep, the mesmerizing eyes of Heart’s Haven’s resident minister teased at her memory and found their way into her dreams.