20

“Darcy…drop it.” Ben draped the wet garments over various hooks and benches flanking the entryway. “Why don’t you get Finn some dry clothes from my room? You should both change. No need to add extra patients to the Penhearst Hospital.”

Darcy yanked her bun from her head, allowing her hair to fall haphazardly around her shoulders. “Come on Pastor. Let’s get you changed.”

They both disappeared around the curve of the staircase. Ben kneaded the base of his neck as he padded around the water puddles in the entryway. Bending, he yanked four logs from the neat stacks on either side of the original wood burning fireplace. Arranging the logs in a crisscross, he reached for the small stack of old newspapers. Tucking the crumpled pages between the cracks in the wood, he lit each of the paper balls and fanned the flames until the wood caught fire. He slid the antique brass screen back into place, but the barrier didn’t diminish the heat beginning to billow.

“You’ve done that a few times.” Harper said.

He turned and reached for the wide tray set with his aunt’s favorite tea service, including four mugs, sugar, cream, and a small plate of shortbread cookies. “How did you get this together so quickly?”

She stepped to the fire and held her palms against the heat. “Mrs. Penhearst has an electric kettle. It boils fast as lightning. And she pretty much has the rest always ready to go in case she gets an unexpected visitor.”

“How did you know?”

She chuckled. “I may often be her most frequent unexpected visitor.” She settled into the high-backed chair his uncle had favored.

He snatched the poker and stoked the fire. “How is it I’ve never met you?”

“I make it a point to not visit when Mrs. Penhearst has her special company.”

“Special company?” Opening the trunk holding several hand knitted afghans, he tossed three to the sofa for his sister and the pastor and handed his favorite purple and cream striped one to Harper.

Tugging her legs under her, she wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. “You and your sister. And your mom, before she passed. You are the only blood family Mrs. Penhearst has. Makes you special.”

Huh? Special? He’d always loved coming to Aunt Lulu’s, but it was a routine part of his childhood. As an adult, he saw the two to three trips to see her as part of his duty. He lowered onto the floor, ready to keep the fire rolling. “Makes me feel a little guilty.”

“Why?”

“I guess I’ve always taken Lulu for granted. Felt coming here was…is…a duty. Visiting this home has been such a part of my life it stopped being special a long time ago.”

“Well, regardless of what you feel or felt, you make Mrs. Penhearst feel very, very special.”

“That fire looks amazing,” Finn said, rubbing his hands as he walked into the living room. “Thanks so much for this and the change of clothes.” He wore one of Ben’s discarded OSU sweatshirts and a pair of sweatpants, Ben was pretty certain were a remnant of his uncle’s. “Harper, I’m surprised to see you here.” Finn took the chair directly beside the fire and Harper.

“I was stuck in town because of the storm. And mom volunteered me to help Ben bake.”

Ben turned back to the fire as they began chatting about the cookie sale and the Christmas pageant as if they hadn’t talked in weeks.

Weird. Weren’t they dating?

“That fire looks amazing,” Darcy said as she stepped toward the fireplace. She rubbed her hands against each other. “You learned something in that one year of Boy Scouts.”

“Two,” Ben said, poking the flames.

“Sorry, touchy much.”

He ignored her as he crumpled several more pieces of paper and tossed them into the flames.

“Let me get you some tea,” Harper said.

He didn’t have to turn to know she was at ease playing hostess. She seemed to be at ease in all situations—until the topic of conversation turned to her.

“Thank you so much,” Darcy said. “Aunt Lulu would be very proud. You set a nice tea on short notice.”

Ben dropped the fire poker in the stand, and turned to face the trio all reaching for tea cups. “What were you two thinking? Why would you come out in this storm? Surely, you’d have been better to stay at the church. Your boots are still by the door, Darc. Didn’t you wear your running shoes today? Not exactly safe from frostbite.”

“Your sister was quite anxious to get home and research equipment for Lulu’s return. Inadequate footwear would not deter her.”

Darcy sighed. “And…well…we made it. No one died. And now I can get everything ordered we need a day earlier.”

“Makes sense. Face a life-threatening situation in order to check off a list early.”

“Bennett James Langston, my feet are numb. My fingers feel as if I have a million needles fighting for space and I’m not certain if the tea is burning my lips or not because I can’t feel them. Could you wait to be self-righteous until I’ve regained my sense of touch?” Darcy sipped her tea, lowered to the couch, and drew her knees to her chest.

“Bennett, it’s as much my fault as anyone’s,” Finn said. “I thought the snow had stopped for the night, but apparently my weather app isn’t as reliable as I thought.”

“No one’s blaming you, Finn.” Harper said, squeezing his shoulder.

Ben’s stomach curdled at the simple touch of Harper’s hand on the pastor’s arm. With a sigh, he adjusted the fire screen. “I better get some more wood. Sounds as though it could be a long night.” He walked from the room through to the kitchen where he’d left his boots and coat. He was being ridiculous. Yelling at Darcy for being Darcy was like spitting in the wind and not expecting to be hit in the face. And, he had no right to feel anything toward Harper, let alone be jealous she touched her boyfriend on the arm. Tugging on his boots, he reached for his coat and gloves.

“Need some help?”

He turned.

Harper stood beside the island dressed in her coat, hat, and boots. The corners of her mouth were at a slight tilt.

“I can get it.”

“Four arms can carry more than two.”

“True. But wouldn’t you like to hang out with your boyfriend?”

“What boyfriend?”

“The pastor.”

“Finn?” She started laughing. “Finn?”

“What’s funny? You said your brother set you up with his fiancée’s cousin. Isn’t the pastor your brother’s soon to be cousin-in-law?”

She folded in half, leaning against the island for support. Her laughter rolled from her toes through her belly to her lips. He was tempted to join her, but he didn’t think the situation was very funny.

Standing tall she waved a hand in front of her face, wiping a tear from her cheek. “Woo-wee, I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Finn is so not my type. I mean. He’s a nice guy, but he’s not my nice guy.”

“Oh…well…that’s good.”

She wiped her eyes and stepped to him. “And why would it be good?”

“Well…I…you…” He shoved his toboggan on his head. “We should get the fire wood.”

“Mmmhmmm…I see…Nice save, Dr. Langston.”