CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

The sun came out from behind the clouds, and sunbeams glinted on the wet pavement. Didi shed her light jacket and soaked in the warmth. She couldn’t remember ever having such a wet spring. The April showers of last month had given way to the flowers of May, but those flowers were so drenched it was a wonder they hadn’t drowned.

On this sunlit Sunday afternoon, Didi followed Jake’s SUV on the curving roads of central Maryland. As the countryside rolled gently through the hills, Didi spotted twin fawns by the side of the road and reveled in the glory of the season’s new birth. In celebration, she opened the car windows and let the wind stream through her hair.

After driving for several miles, they turned toward a cottage in the woods. Didi coasted into the long drive behind Jake’s blue car and parked next to the house, situated in a small clearing on a slight rise. The classic, sweeping lines of the bungalow and the restful solitude of the surrounding forest fed her soul. Only one other dwelling could be seen, and that country farmhouse was hundreds of yards away. In this protected, secluded setting, life unwound and slowed down.

She hopped out of her car and stood by a fieldstone wall. Jake described his home as tiny, but its small size was more than offset by an abundance of charm. Broad steps led to a deep, full-width front porch. Built above the porch, a gabled dormer displayed a certain elegance accented with double-hung triple windows. The one-and-a-half story stucco house was a light sandy tan, and the red cedar shake roof gave the craftsman house character. Didi grinned with delight. What a lovely place to live.

“It’s beautiful, Jake. You had me thinking you lived in a shack.”

“Still needs some work, but I’ve cleared out the weeds, planted some flowers, and painted most of the interior. Though it’s not really mine, I want it to feel like home. When I arrived here last summer, I signed a year’s lease. It’s up at the end of July. Then I have to decide if I want to buy it, continue to rent, or move on.” He smiled at her and escorted her to the front porch. “Care to take a look at my not-so-palatial palace?

“Uh-huh. I’ve come to pay homage to Queen Lucy.”

“I’m not sure if she’s receiving today, but we’ll hope for the best. Don’t be surprised, though, if she doesn’t come out.” Jake tugged his keys out of his pocket and opened the front door.

As they made their way into the living room, Didi spotted a lean, disdainful feline glaring down at her from the top of a bookcase. Lucy sniffed the air with apparent disgust and wrinkled her nose. Sailing down from her perch, she landed without a sound on the carpet and, with stiff legs, stalked into the adjacent dining room. She paused, turned her back on her guest, and sat on her haunches. Her ears flicked, and she licked the tip of her tail. The miniature lioness left no doubt as to her opinion.

“I think I’ve been snubbed.” Didi bellowed with laughter.

“I’m sorry, Didi, but I did warn you. When Victoria and I first started going out, I was lucky to glimpse the furball. It was weeks before she’d consent to stay in the same room with me. Lucy can be…capricious.”

“Don’t give it another thought. She hasn’t hurt my feelings.” Didi crashed on the couch, toed her shoes off, and lifted her stocking feet up on a hassock. “Did I tell you I had a Siamese when I was a kid?”

“No, you didn’t. How old were you?” Jake settled on the edge of the stool. “You must have been a cute little kid.”

Didi batted her eyelashes. “I suppose I had my moments. I was five when we adopted Sushi. He was a tiny baby—barely eight weeks old when we brought him home. He was my first cat.”

“Sushi?”

“Yep. My dad named him. We thought the name terribly funny, because Sushi was the first cat we’d ever heard of that hated fish.”

“Was he as unpredictable as Lucy?”

Didi loved Jake’s rich baritone. “Well…he was picky about the people he associated with. Siamese are usually one-person cats. He slept with me, but Dad was his favorite if I wasn’t around.”

Jake picked up Didi’s feet and placed them in his lap. He grasped her right foot in his hands and rubbed her toes.

“Umm. That’s so nice.” Soothed, Didi wiggled the toes in his hands. Was this what being cared for felt like? Like warm hot chocolate on a cold winter’s day? Her eyes shuttered on their own accord. “No one’s ever done that before.”

“No? Then it’s past time they did.” Jake took his time kneading each and every toe. “So, Sushi adored you, but your dad came in a close second?”

“Right. My dad always claimed he didn’t like cats, but we all knew better. Sometimes, I’d creep into the living room to find Sushi sprawled out on Dad’s lap. Both of them would look embarrassed, and Dad would say something like, ‘How in the world did that get up here?’ I’d have to pretend it was a fluke. It was a game we’d play.” Didi blinked sleepily and tried to form words. “I have such good memories of my dad.”

Jake reached for her left foot. “I wish I’d gotten a chance to know your father. But, like your dad, I wasn’t so sure about Lucy when she came to live with me. Thank goodness, I’m apparently up to her standards, but it took a while to win her over. I suppose I should feel privileged.”

“Absolutely. Let’s give Lucy some time to check me out, but I won’t be offended if she doesn’t take to me right off. Siamese need time to think things over.”

“Why don’t you set a spell—as they say in the country—and I’ll see what’s in the fridge.” Jake shifted her feet back to the stool and stood.

“’Kay. More foot rubs later?” she mumbled.

“Anytime.” Jake plodded into the kitchen. “I have a jug of lemonade, orange juice, and I could perhaps find a stale tea bag if I search hard. What will it be?”

“Lemonade sounds great.” Didi curled up on the couch, cradled her head on a pillow, and closed her eyes while cabinet doors slammed and pots clanked. What a long, exhausting day they’d had, and Jake had stood by her side without hesitation. Her life had changed completely in the past few weeks, and she’d landed safely in a sheltered corner of the world. God was indeed good, and she was thankful.

Jake’s soft words woke her from a sound sleep. “Didi, honey, open your eyes and be very quiet.”

Her eyelids fluttered open to an unexpected sight. Lucy sat on the pillow next to her ear, sniffing her hair. Didi stayed still and enjoyed the soft snuffling sound as the orange beauty breathed in her scent. Lucy touched her cheek with a tentative paw, and Didi couldn’t help but let a soft chuckle escape. The spell broken, Lucy soared gracefully to a nearby windowsill and groomed with vigor.

Jake whistled between his teeth. “Well, that was something.”

“Call me the cat whisperer.” Didi’s yawn morphed into a sleepy grin. “I’m sorry. I seem to have fallen asleep. Can I help you with lunch?”

“All done. Everything’s ready in the dining room.” He held out his hand and drew Didi from her seat. They left Lucy to her bath and treaded into the dining room.

Didi did a double take. A feast spread across the ball-and-claw-footed table. A small pineapple-glazed ham, scalloped potato casserole, and a fruit salad waited to be eaten. Two glasses of lemonade rested on purple placemats, and a jelly jar with a daffodil adorned the very center, completing the picture.

“Wow. How long have I been asleep?” Didi hadn’t expected a banquet.

“Maybe half an hour.” Jake offered a smug smile.

“Don’t tell me you cooked all of this food! And please forgive me if that sounded sexist.”

“It did, but I’ll forgive you because you’re right. My next-door neighbor, Mrs. Mueller, made the ham and the potatoes. But I’m proud to say I sliced the fruit for the fruit salad.” Jake pulled out her chair and scooted his seat closer to hers. “Oh, and I picked the flower.”

“The flower’s lovely, and what a nice thing for your neighbor to do. She must think you’re special.”

“She’s Drew’s grandmother, and I like to help her out when I can. I cut her grass yesterday and raked up some leaves. No big deal, but when I was done, she gave me all of this food. Sweet, huh?” Jake breathed a prayer and passed Didi the casserole.

“So, have you decided if you’re going to buy the house?” Didi scooped up a large portion of the fattening dish and plopped it on her plate. Forget the diet. Who turned down homemade scalloped potatoes? “You already have nice neighbors, and it’s so beautiful out here in the country.”

“I’m leaning in that direction. Especially now.” Jake covered her hand with his. “The house may be old, but it’s in decent shape. In the kitchen, the cabinets and countertops are original, but the appliances are new. I gave the room a fresh coat of paint, and other than that, I haven’t done much. The asking price is good, and the financing is excellent. I could more or less swing it on my pathetic teacher’s salary.”

Didi figured the house was more than big enough for two people and two cats, but she kept that thought to herself. “Sounds like a good investment. When do you have to decide?”

“Three days after my birthday.”

“Your birthday’s July 28, right? You’ll be thirty-one?” Didi had already been musing over what to get him for his birthday. Sure, it was many weeks away, but she wanted to find the ideal gift. Her family always made a big deal of birthdays, and she loved celebrations.

“I’m impressed. You were paying attention on our very first date.” Jake jabbed a bite of ham with his fork and shoved it into his mouth.

Didi’s gaze shifted to the view through the bay window into the side yard. Ruby-red tulips swayed in the breeze near the stone wall, and cows lowed in a pasture in the distance. She breathed in the peace of the moment and turned to her host. “And I’ve been paying attention ever since. Can I have a tour of the house after lunch?”

“Okay, but the upstairs is a disaster. I don’t think I made my bed before I left yesterday.”

Didi squeezed his hand. “Really, don’t give it a thought. I like it that you’re not perfect, either.”

* * *

After lunch, Didi made Jake keep his promise to show her around the bungalow. The tour opened with the den off the entryway. Painted a forest green and accented with dark wood molding and wainscoting, the room was cozy and filled with mementos and treasured possessions. An open rolltop desk stood against the far wall, its shelves and cubbies filled with knickknacks and paperwork. On the desk’s writing surface sat Jake’s laptop, its modern shape a strong contrast to the more organic lines of the antique. Several photographs, tennis trophies, and assorted high-quality tennis rackets invited further inspection.

Didi fingered the dozen or so trophies. “I’m impressed. Quite the jock, aren’t you?”

Jake inclined his head modestly. “I was rather good in my time.”

Didi turned to the pictures grouped on top of a mahogany table. Starting from the left, her gaze alighted on a photo of Jake’s college graduation. He was in cap and gown and had his arms around his sister Lori and an older woman.

“My mom.” Jake shrugged. “We’re not close, but I see her every few months. She still lives in Baltimore in the house I grew up in.”

“And this one?” Didi pointed at a picture of a middle school basketball team. Jake stood in the middle of the players, holding a basketball.

“I’m the assistant coach of the basketball, track, and tennis teams. That’s a picture of our Oakdale Ocelots. We came in second in the intramural championship. The kids tried hard, and we came close to pulling off the top spot.” He beamed as if every kid were his own. “I don’t remember ever feeling so proud.”

Interesting. Jake was more proud of his middle school basketball team than of his own tennis victories? He was, indeed, a different kind of man.

Didi picked up the next picture and traced the face of a small boy holding a tennis racket. “This has to be you. Aren’t you the adorable one? How old were you?” The child in the photograph wore a goofy grin, but it was the beautiful blue eyes that drew her attention.

“I was eight, and the photo was taken a little before my dad ran out on us. He always told me tennis was for wimps. I won my first tournament the following year, but he wasn’t there to see it.”

“I’m sorry, Jake. Not much of a dad, was he?”

“Nope, not much. This last picture is of Drew and Donna’s wedding. I clean up nice, huh? I was best man.”

“My, yes, you are a handsome chap in a tux.” Didi studied the picture. Jake stood next to—but not touching—a dark-haired woman in a high-necked dove gray dress. The dress looked expensive though somewhat dreary and shapeless. She was tall, almost as tall as Jake, and painfully thin. With a pinched, pretty face and a melancholy expression in her deep brown eyes, the woman looked somehow…lost. A stab of pity pricked her, but she wasn’t quite sure why. “And next to you is…?”

“That’s Victoria. The picture was taken three years ago, before we got engaged.” Jake slung his arm around Didi’s waist and drew her close. “Don’t worry. I’m over her.” He smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead. “Please don’t be jealous.”

Didi put her arms around his neck. “I’m not jealous, Jake. It’s okay if you miss her sometimes. You told me you love me, and that’s enough for now.” His warm breath brushed her neck, and she shivered. She could get used to this.

“You’re incredible, you know that?” He withdrew from the embrace and grasped her hand in his. “Now, why don’t I show you the rest of the house?”

Upstairs, they peeked into the spacious master bedroom. The bed was rumpled, and Jake colored at the sight. In the middle of the long wall, Jake had placed a massive antique dresser complete with scrolled mirror. The expensive-looking piece was made even more appealing with no old photos cluttering the top. In the corner sat a wicker hamper and a laundry basket filled with clean, folded pants and shirts. The closet door stood open and boasted neatly hung clothing and orderly boxes on the shelf above.

By one of the windows, a plush cat bed nestled on a gold brocade chair. Didi smiled inside. Jake was a sweetie. How could she not love a guy who made sure his cat had a soft place to lay her pretty head?

The second bedroom, empty of furniture, was perfect for storage. The warm taupe walls glowed as a stray sunbeam streamed through the open blinds. Didi could imagine the room as a guest bedroom or a nursery. With a jolt of common sense, she mentally shook herself. She didn’t want to scare off her new boyfriend…and what was she thinking? Dreaming about future kids was not the way to slow down a relationship. She’d have to try to remember Pat’s advice.

Back downstairs, they finished the tour in the kitchen, and Didi helped Jake put the food away. They worked side by side at the counter, and Jake handed Didi plastic food containers and aluminum wrap. “If I decide to buy the house, I thought I’d lay down a new floor and install new countertops. I’m not sure I need new cabinets, though. That’s a big expense. What do you think?”

“I’d say yes to the countertops and floor, but the cabinets look like they’re in good shape. Maybe you can get away with refinishing them.” Didi covered the ham with foil and slid it into the fridge. “You sound as though you want to stay.”

“I do, but sometimes we don’t always get what we want.” An uneasy look crossed Jake’s face. He turned away.

What did he mean? She let the comment pass. They finished cleaning up.

Taking her hand, Jake ushered Didi to her car. “So, what are you doing this week?”

“It’s strange, but for some reason, I seem to be Miss Popular. Since the girls’ party last Saturday, I’ve reconnected with my friends. We’ve been calling and emailing again. It’s nice.”

“I’m glad. I’ve met Kelly briefly, of course, at the youth rally, and I like your friend Suzy. I’m looking forward to meeting the others.”

“Good. Believe me, they all want to meet you.” Didi dug through her purse, found her car keys, and unlocked the door. “Tomorrow night, I’m seeing Mom, and Tuesday I’m having dinner with your sister.”

“Oh, yeah. Chancel Cafe, right?”

“Yep. On Wednesday night, I have an appointment with Pat, and on Thursday night, I have ladies’ Bible study.” Didi leaned against the car. The metal door warmed her back. “Busy week, huh?”

“Wow, you are busy. I guess I goofed. I figured I’d see you sometime before this weekend. I already made a date with someone else Friday night.”

“A date? You have a date on Friday night?” Didi spotted the sparkle in Jake’s eye, so she wasn’t bothered.

“Yep, and it’s with a beautiful woman, too.” Jake chuckled. “I’m going to see Aunt Alice. If I’d known you were so popular, I’d have made it another night.”

“That’s okay. We still have Saturday.” Didi batted her eyelashes at Jake and tried to look coy. “Right?”

“Saturday it is. I’ll call you tomorrow, though, okay?”

“Sure.”

Jake put his hands on her shoulders and drew her near. Didi rested her head on his chest and sighed with contentment. They clung together for a moment, snuggling close.

Didi’s heart leapt at his embrace. She was falling and falling hard. It was way too soon—and way too fast. She didn’t care. There were fine, honorable men out there. Men like her father. Men like Suzy’s husband, Michel. Men like Jake. “I love it when you do this,” she whispered.

“Do what?”

“I love it when you hold me.”

“Me, too. Maybe we could do it again sometime,” Jake teased. “Soon.”

He kissed her goodbye and opened her car door. Shivers rippled up and down her back. Then he kissed her again.

* * *

Jake waved as Didi pulled out and drove down the lane. Walking back to the house, he collapsed on the front porch steps.

He looked around at the solidly built house and the land that surrounded it. He reflected on the things that were important to him and where he was going in life. Most of all, he focused on the pretty woman who had just been in his arms. He loved that lady, and he was concerned for her.

He dug his phone out of his pocket and called a friend. “Hey, Brian. It’s Jake. How’re you doing?”

“I’m finer than frog’s hair split four ways. Haven’t heard from you in months. Tennis?”

Jake was relieved his buddy had answered. “Sounds good for later, but right now, I need you for another reason.”

“Professionally, you mean? You okay?”

“I’m okay. Can I meet you at your office at four o’clock tomorrow? I’ll explain then.”

“Make it five. I already have an appointment at four.”

“Thanks, guy. See you at five.” Jake hung up and trooped into the house.

Mission accomplished.