CHAPTER TEN

Jake hauled on a pair of jeans and a blue crewneck sweater and headed off to the youth rally. He hoped it would be fun. He sorely needed to do something fun.

Drew was already busy setting up chairs in the gym. “About time you got here.”

“Hey, I’m ten minutes early. Can I help it if you have this morbid fear of being late? I’ll bet you got here ten minutes ago.”

“Fifteen. Can’t help it. I guess my dad beat it into me. Marine, you know. Semper Fi.”

Jake threw up his hands. “Your dad wasn’t a Marine. He works in a bank. Besides, he’s one of the kindest men I’ve ever met. He wouldn’t hurt an Oriental rat flea.”

“A what?”

“Oriental rat flea. Remember, a history teacher knows all sorts of interesting trivia. Google it.”

Drew snorted and shoved the chairs on the rolling rack toward Jake. “Never mind.”

Catching the padded chairs handily, Jake pitched in to help. After moving four hundred chairs, he accepted an assignment to make gallons of hot chocolate and assembled a “Welcome” table in the foyer of the church. The day was mighty cold for mid-April, and the busloads of kids who started trooping in seemed grateful for the hot drinks and snacks.

As he worked, a shapely young woman strode toward the main entrance and pulled open the heavy glass door. She scanned the area, eyes darting around the space. After a brief hesitation, she turned around, stepped back outside, and perched on a bench near the entrance. The wind picked up, and her light brown hair whipped around her face. Shivering, she turned up the collar of her jacket and pulled bright pink mittens out of her pockets. The cute brunette tugged at his heart. How could he ignore a damsel in distress? He donned his jacket, grabbed a warm cup of cocoa, and slipped outside.

As he walked up to the woman, she turned toward him and he got a good look at her face. It was the girl from the vet. Maybe God was giving him another chance. He wore what he hoped was his friendliest smile. “Hey there. Chilly out here, huh?” He held out a Styrofoam cup. “Could you use something to warm you up?”

Gratitude lit up her face. “Well, aren’t you the gallant guy?” She grasped the cup and, without even asking what he’d brought her, took a tentative sip of the hot drink. Her smile widened with delight. “Hot chocolate. Um, I love hot chocolate. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Hey, haven’t I seen you somewhere before?” What a stupid line. Now she was going to think he was coming on to her. Come to think of it, he supposed he was. “I’m Jake Montgomery.”

“Nice to meet you, Jake. I’m Didi.” She extended her hand and they shook. The mitten was warm and fuzzy, and he held on a beat too long.

“And yes, I do remember you. You said my cat, Maisie, was pretty.” The smile she turned on him chased away the chill in the air. Her cat wasn’t the only pretty thing.

“Oh, yeah. The vet’s office, that’s it.” He was pleased she remembered him. “Are you waiting for someone?” He hoped it wasn’t her boyfriend.

“Uh-huh. I’m waiting for a friend to show up. Is this the main entrance to the church?” Her eyes skimmed across the double doors and back to him. “I don’t go here…I’m from First Community.”

“I’m fairly sure it is the main entrance, but I’m not from this church, either. Why don’t I wait with you, and if your girlfriend doesn’t come soon, we’ll go inside together?” He was heartened when she didn’t correct him on the girlfriend part.

Pleasant conversation followed as they discussed the youth rally, their assignments for the evening, and their respective churches. With soft, caramel-colored hair, wide hazel eyes, and a face as cute as a speckled puppy, Didi had an easy manner he found appealing. Though she wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous in a Hollywood sort of way, she charmed him with her vivacious smile. Or perhaps it was the mittens. He wasn’t sure what it said about a woman, but he loved her hot pink mittens.

The more they talked the more he was drawn to her. He noted the tiny silver crosses in her ears and the way her shiny, brown hair caught the fading light. Although wrapped in a heavy jacket, he couldn’t help but see the way her black jeans hugged her curvy figure. He was a sucker for petite brunettes. She even laughed at his lame attempts at humor. Her eyes crinkled with amusement as he related a funny story regarding something that had happened at school. It had been a long time since he’d talked with an attractive girl.

When her girlfriend arrived, Jake was sorry the easy banter ended. Didi quickly introduced them, and then the pair disappeared into the church. Her friend—he couldn’t remember her name—was in charge of the twelve-to-fourteen-year-old girls for the evening, and Didi was helping her. Jake especially liked the fact that Didi hadn’t chastised her friend for being late. She wasn’t just cute. She was gracious and kind, a winning combination in his book.

For the rest of the evening, he searched the crowd but only glimpsed her twice, way on the other side of the huge auditorium. He’d wanted to catch her attention during one of the breaks, but apparently, she didn’t like overdone hotdogs. Just in case she sauntered his way, he’d kept an un-burnt hotdog waiting for her, but she never claimed it.

He reviewed their conversation the whole way home. She’d only given him her first name, but she attended First Community Church of God. That was his Great Aunt Alice’s church.

As soon as he walked in his front door, he called his aunt to pump her for information. She answered on the second ring.

“Hello, dear. How lovely of you to call.”

Buying Aunt Alice the phone with caller ID had been a good purchase. “Hi, Aunt Alice. I have a quick question for you.”

“Quick I can do. My ladies group at church is making cookies for the homeless shelter. I signed up to bring eight dozen, and I’m only half done.”

“What kind of cookies?”

“Dark chocolate chip and snickerdoodles.”

“Yum.”

“And yes, I’ll save you a dozen of the chocolate chip. What’s up?”

“Thanks. Do you know anyone at your church named Didi? She’d be about my age.”

“Didi. Sure. Didi O’Brien. Lovely girl with a sweet spirit. Why, you interested?”

Jake broke out in a grin. Good thing “Didi” was an unusual name. Aunt Alice attended a big church. “Could be. Do you happen to know if she’s seeing anyone?”

“Sorry, I don’t. Do you want me to ask around?”

“Uh, no thanks, but would you have her phone number? Maybe in a church directory or something?”

“I’ll be happy to look. Hold on.”

Jake grabbed some chips and dip and moved into the living room while he waited.

“I’m back, Jakey. Yes, I have her number right here. She lives in Airy Ridge, not too far from you.”

That was a plus. Jake wrote her number down on a pad next to his chair. “Thanks. By the way, do you need any groceries? I’m going to the store tomorrow.”

“I’m good, but thanks for asking. Stop by for the cookies, though, anytime. We can catch up.”

Jake hung up the phone. He had her name, and he had her number. He was either going to give her the impression he was desperate or a stalker, or maybe a desperate stalker, if he called her tonight. Why hadn’t he talked to her more at the church while he’d had the chance?

Jake hunted for his cat, but Lucy had long since fled to his bedroom. How could a drowsy cat get her rest with all that angst floating around the room? He sighed, left Lucy to doze, picked up a book, and tried to read.

When he reread the same page for the third time, Jake slammed the book shut. As nervous as a buck on the first day of hunting season, he picked up the phone.

* * *

Didi drove away from the rally toward home. At a stoplight, she pulled down the visor mirror and checked her appearance. Just as she suspected, there was a wide grin plastered to her face. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been in such high spirits. Getting out of her little world and helping someone else for a change had been cathartic. She had a great time with the kids, and she couldn’t wait to do it again in the fall. Even the lousy weather hadn’t dampened her mood.

Since it was still early, she turned the car around in the opposite direction. How long had it been since she’d done something to make herself happy? What made her happy? That was an easy one. Books. Traffic was light as she hung a left toward Barnes and Noble. She’d buy herself something new to read and maybe get another cup of hot chocolate.

Traveling through the front double doors, Didi turned toward the romance section and meandered. After much deliberation, she chose the latest Debbie Macomber novel, nestled into a soft couch in the café, and breathed a sigh of relief. Thank you, God, for this peaceful place. Serenity landed on her shoulders and settled down to rest.

She stayed until they closed, then headed home.

After a wet ride through town, she rounded the corner and coasted into her parking spot. Chilly showers skated down the windshield with no end in sight. Darn it. What had she done with her umbrella? She’d searched for it for a couple of days. Had she left it at Chez Monte Carlo?

She’d always relied on Kevin to remind her to carry it. In fact, Kevin had given her the great big umbrella, big enough for two people. Magenta, her favorite color. Covered in tiny black cats holding tiny umbrellas in their tiny little paws. How romantic. At least it was at the time.

The gift was perfect not just because of the color and kitty motif. He’d given her the umbrella on the one-year anniversary of their first kiss. He’d held her close in his arms and whispered softly he would keep her warm, safe, and dry and always take care of her. She could count on him to be like her own personal canopy of protection.

Ha. Upon reflection, she was sure she’d left the umbrella in the booth at the restaurant. She’d call tomorrow. Or…maybe she’d buy a new umbrella, one that didn’t remind her of Kevin. Better.

Braving the raindrops, she sprinted up the stairs to her front door. A bit on the soggy side, she stuck her key in the lock and turned the doorknob. Leaving the wind and the rain outside, she toed off her squishy shoes and left them by the door. Maybe she’d give Bridget a call. Her sister would want to hear the story of the breakup from start to finish, no detail left unexplored.

“Maisie? Where are you, sweet thing?”

She traipsed into the living room and stopped dead.

Kevin sat planted on her couch, storm clouds scudding across his face. “It’s about time you got home. Where. Have. You. Been?”