Rainn tried to work in his studio, but Mia distracted him. At this rate, getting ready early for his date with Geneva might be a good idea.
Mia studied the array of colors, captivated by the multicolored pieces of glass. It proved too much for her not to touch.
“This is my favorite color,” she announced, and held a glass that matched the pony from Geneva.
It took every ounce of restraint not to startle her so she wouldn’t drop it or get cut. Mia then became mesmerized by a piece of iridized purple that in the light reflected a rainbow oil-on-water effect.
Fearful that she would touch a sharp edge and get hurt, he kept his voice steady. “Mia, glass can be dangerous, it can break and cut because it’s sharp like a knife. So please, don’t touch my tools or glass, unless I’m right here with you.”
Her lip quivered. She set down the glass, and started rubbing at her sides, palms up and wrists flapping.
He knelt down and brushed curly red bangs off to the side. “Tell you what. You may touch my artwork only with your eyes. That will show me what a big girl you are. Can you try?”
“OK.”
“That’s my girl. I know you can do it.”
The sun hit the glass in the cross design dangling at the window, forming a reflected prism in aqua and blue surrounding the golden cross encircled by his rendition of a hibiscus. Maybe Mia would like a sun catcher of her own. He’d let her pick out the colors and what flower to accent the cross.
Terrific idea. He mentally patted himself on the back.
“Now, if you can keep that promise for, say, one week, I’ll make you something special. I can turn a glass piece into the shape of a pony, wrapped in foil. But you can help me choose what glass. All right?”
At her nod, he wondered if she could comprehend, able to fix an imagined object in her mind’s eye.
Initially, he’d thought it cute, the way she’d tried to reorganize his studio tools. After some coaxing about his materials—the soldering tools, grinder, saws—he got through to her that she needed to play quietly while he worked.
“Mia, we’re going to have company soon. Moselle and Eric won’t be able to walk through the room with your ponies scattered on the floor.”
The ponies in question were arrayed single file on the geometric pattern of the living-room rug from small to large and by color. He tried to step over a large pony, but knocked it over.
“No, Uncle Rainn.” Mia screamed into a fit.
The battle began.
He picked up the pastel pony he tripped on. “But sweetie, we’re going to have company so the ponies have to be moved to a safe place.”
“OK,” came her standard answer. But instead of picking them up, she replaced the misaligned one.
She did have a method. Like colors went side by side. The pony from Geneva, since it was shiny and more iridescent than a specific color, stood apart like a princess holding court. She eventually moved them to the end of the couch.
As he now finished in the bathroom, music rose in a crescendo from the living room. How much television or DVDs should a child see each day? He poked his head around the bathroom door. Mia lay curled in the corner of the couch with a stuffed pony, the prized pony from Geneva at Mia’s shoulder.
He continued to prep for his date. The phone rang.
“Hey, buddy, just checking to see if there’s any change in tonight’s plans,” Eric greeted.
“We’re still on.”
“Any change in the situation with your sister’s disappearance?”
“No sign of Lindsay yet. Her landlady left my phone number, and Geneva’s, with Fort Worth authorities.” Rainn’s breath hitched. “What if she’s gone forever, Eric? What if she’s in such deep trouble there’s no way out?”
“Give it to the Lord, man.”
All right, calm my anxious thoughts. And Lord, wherever Lindsay is, please enfold her in Your loving arms.
“You’re right. See you shortly.” He put down his comb and shut out the light.
What if Mia is with me permanently?
His life would change big time.
He’d already talked to Chief Kory Schaeffer and put his work for the Platteville Volunteer Fire Department on hold. He wouldn’t be answering calls unless the manpower was short.
Were Geneva and Moselle going to be willing to care for Mia when he needed them?
The uncertainty of the situation unnerved him.
Oh, boy. His next thought blasted into him. School. He had to contact the proper authorities and get that underway.
Lord, I need Your help. Show me what Mia needs. I am willing to learn how to parent. I believe that You don’t make mistakes when You place people in their families or among those who cross our paths, but I need You to show me the way. And I really could care for Geneva for the long haul. If she is someone I’m meant to spend a lot of time with, I’m counting on You to guide us both.
“Amen” was on his lips when he heard voices and footsteps, followed by a loud knock.
Mia paid him no mind when he excused himself to walk between her and the movie, but she did sit up straight.
He had eyes only for Geneva when the threesome walked in.
“Since Eric was stopping for me to come watch Mia,” Moselle said. “We brought Mom, too. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Uh. Sure.”
Eric grabbed Rainn’s hand and they shook in passing. Moselle had already asked Mia to look at her while she introduced Eric.
Geneva smelled as great as usual, and looked even better. His mouth went dry. He licked his lips. He’d never seen her in solid colors. Most of her clothes seemed to be decorated with colorful quilted-looking things, or sported a hundred buttons. Tonight, she wore sage green with a sparkly, airy kind of scarf in bright purple. Her toes were polished a shiny and soft-looking color, poking out from gold sandals.
She did a little spontaneous pose, but it must have embarrassed her because she turned beet red and focused on Mia. “Hello, Mia. What are you watching?”
“Princess and the Swan. There’s a bad guy in the movie that flies.”
“Almost every story has a bad guy. Even the stories in the Bible. There’s a good guy in this story, though, isn’t there?”
“Yes. A hero. He’s a hunter, but he can’t shoot the swan.”
Eric joined in. “Do you like stories at bedtime, Mia?”
“Mia likes stories.”
“Tonight then, I’ll tell you a story about how Rainn was the hero, and he saved Geneva.”
Mia turned her big blue-green eyes on Rainn. “Is that really true, Uncle Rainn? Are you a hero for real?”
“Sweet thing, I will always be your hero.” Rainn swooped her into his arms and swung her around before he remembered that she didn’t do well with sudden movements. Aside from her wide frown and straight mouth, she didn’t react. This time.
He set her down as gently as possible. She started rubbing her wrists against her hip bones in delayed reaction.
“I’m sorry if you didn’t like that. I’ll try to remember before I grab you again.”
“Mia misses Penny Shake’s rocking chair.”
“I’ll see what I can do about that.” He ruffled her hair and brushed a kiss on her nose. “Well, it’s about time for us to go, so you will be asleep when I get back. But don’t worry, because Moselle and Eric are here with you. And if you want, you could call Penny in Texas.”
He kissed her again, this time on the forehead.
Geneva knelt down. “May I hug you, Mia?”
Mia didn’t answer with words, but she lifted her arms and hugged Geneva around her neck. “Mia likes the way Geneva smells.”
“Uncle Rainn does too. Night all.” Rainn waved, reminded Mia about bedtime routine, placed his hand on the small of Geneva’s back, and guided her out the door.
“You look truly lovely tonight, Geneva. I’m proud to be going out with you.”
“Thank you, Rainn. But I have to be up front and tell you how uncertain I am about all this. I about died when Kate Rawlins walked in this morning. I felt like a fourth grader whose teacher had just caught the best-looking boy in class grabbing me in the coat corner.”
“Hey, I’m glad you think I’m the best-lookin’ guy in the class.” He grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him. He liked the way she looked up at him, her lashes and lids accented with shimmering color. “I don’t care what Kate Rawlins or anyone else in town thinks. I want to spend time with you.”
And experience more than one kiss with you.
At the side door of his SUV, he paused before pulling up the handle. He grazed her smooth cheek with his knuckles. “And I’m going to be up front with you, Geneva Elaine Carson.”
One corner of Geneva’s mouth twitched at his use of her full name.
“You do something to me that no other woman has ever done. I want to explore whatever that something may be.”
Her color rose and her nostrils flared, but she must have changed her mind about speaking. Had she sensed how deep his feelings flowed?
Rainn opened the door, and she gracefully slid onto the seat. No plopping for this woman. She glided. He tapped the roof of the car after closing the door.
He rounded the hood and climbed in.
“Now,” he spoke from behind the wheel. “You brought her up. Tell me about Kate Rawlins. Why does she get to you?”
“Goes way back. Small town memories are passed down generation to generation. Our trouble had to do more with Moselle than me, but as her mother, it’s one and the same.”
Her hand went to her throat then landed in her lap to clasp the other. “Has Eric told you much about what happened between him and Moselle before they left for college?”
“Not really. Just that he and Moselle grew up together and then broke up. He’s touched on his mistake with his ex-wife, Beth.”
She chuckled. “That pretty much sums it up. Moselle was heartbroken. Then she closed off her feelings. She felt as though she’d lost the love of her life as well as her best friends, who were Eric and Beth in high school.”
“So what’s that got to do with Kate Rawlins?”
“Eric can give you his side of the story. After a big fight in the country on their last date, Kate Rawlins saw Moselle wearing her torn blouse in the wee hours. So the stories started flying over the telephone wires.”
Rainn whistled through his teeth. He started up the SUV and backed onto the street.
They rode in companionable silence after that exchange, for most of the ride to Mahoney State Park. At the lodge, he thought the huge buffet gave Geneva perfect choices. But he would have preferred a more intimate setting for their first date.
If Mia were there, she might eat three things out of the hundreds of dishes offered. But he got a kick out of Geneva’s enjoyment. The scenery from the high dining room overlooking the Platte River was a definite plus for their outing, especially when they saw a pair of soaring eagles.
“Before I forget,” Geneva said, arching a brow with her direct gaze, “I want to thank you for saying grace here in the restaurant. I wouldn’t be with you at all, if you didn’t have a relationship with the Lord.”
“I am who I am. And I thank God for His grace, Geneva, so I’m not ashamed to pray in public.”
He asked how things were faring for Lanae.
“She had a good day, thanks. Eric told me there’s no news of your sister. How about you tell me how Mia’s doing.”
“She continually finds interesting things to line up like her ponies. And in true Texas fashion, she informs me when she’s ‘fixing’ to do this or that before she fixes the place up.”
Geneva’s arched brows rose higher. “I would imagine she doesn’t pronounce the ‘g’ when she speaks like a Texan.”
“Got it right, pardner. Before she had her own clothes arranged, she’d already been in my closet. She lined up my shoes from athletic to dress to boots, so it ended up being a size thing. But while that occupied her time, she didn’t distract me with chatter or need to be entertained while I cleaned up some church glass.”
“You’ll fall into familiar patterns soon.”
“Mia has other ideas when it comes to her timetable,” he rubbed his belly, replete. “I’ve discovered her to be a very careful child who can occupy herself for long stretches of time, no matter what she has in front of her.”
They were interrupted by wait staff, and he indicated their table could be cleared except for their water glasses. Neither one moved when they were alone again.
“I’m convinced surrogate parenting skills don’t come naturally. I may drive you nuts with questions, Geneva.”
“When I don’t have the answer, you can try the children’s pastor at Faith Bible Church.”
“I have too many things to figure out. I’ll need to ask as things arise. I sure can’t take the chance of doing anything harmful that may have a long-term effect on Mia.”
“Rainn, you’re a natural when it comes to Mia. And remember, no matter what, our lives will work out the way the Lord plans for them to work out. No adult, or parent, is perfect.”
“Do you believe that goes for time spent with me as well, sweet lady?”
She sat back and gave him that wise-woman smile he was getting used to. “As a matter of fact, my scripture verse for the day is from Jeremiah twenty-nine, verse eleven.”
“Ah yes. He does know His plans for us.”
“And even if they are calamitous, He’ll lead us through.”
“First Corinthians ten thirteen.”
“I appreciate your forthrightness. I think it’s admirable the way you dropped everything to come to the aid of your sister and niece.” She took a drink of water. Not a sip, but a gulp, and he liked that so much about her, the way she went after even a drink of water with such delight.
“Have you come to any conclusions about Lindsay’s whereabouts?”
Rainn shook his head. “I don’t know what to think about it.” He was ready to move. “Would you like to take a walk?”
“Yes, I’d like that. And thank you for a lovely meal.”
“You’re very welcome.”
She wandered into the gift shop while he took care of the bill. When he came to her side, she was handling a sun catcher in muted blues and pewter.
“The stained-glass-cross design you made Moselle for the loft is so lovely. You are a talented man, Mr. Harris.”
“No more talented than you, pretty lady. What is your favorite flower?”
“I don’t have one really. I like purple, of course. So I suppose iris, maybe a pansy, but they’re so delicate. I love the fragrance of lilac but the flower itself is so transitory, too frail somehow. I don’t care for that kind of delicacy.”
“That’s because you’re not fragile. You are strong and resourceful. Purple calla lily, I think.”
“Not resourceful enough to get a cat down from a tree.” Her spontaneous laughter encouraged a group of men to direct admiring glances her way.
Rainn didn’t give in to jealousy. His esteem grew for Geneva instead. She didn’t have a clue her vitality had drawn the others’ attention. She was a lady, all right. And he wanted her to be his lady.
He reached for her elbow. “Ready for that walk?”
Outside the mammoth front entrance of the lodge, he drew her hand into his. “A woman’s hand is so soft compared to a man’s.”
“And a man’s is so strong that it helps her feel safe and secure.”
I’d like to be strong for you, and make you feel safe and secure.
They meandered for a while, not really going anywhere. The breeze was a soft whisper. The birds fluttered but had begun to settle in for the evening. A hint of fall hung in the air, like a promise of change.
He let go of her hand, and reached for her opposite shoulder, pulling her to his side. “I could get used to this, spending time with you at the end of the day.”
“And I could get used to the same.” She stopped walking and turned to face him.
Her countenance invited exploration, but the place was too public. He’d say goodnight properly.
“Don’t you think we should get back? Moselle or Eric hasn’t called. I know that doesn’t mean bedtime went smoothly with Mia.” She stared off into the distance. “I’ll never forget when Moselle had a friend spend the night for their first sleepover when they were in kindergarten. I made the mistake of wetting the friend’s toothbrush. Heavens, I don’t even remember her name, but the little twerp had a genuine hissy fit. She carried on like I had beaten her bottom.”
Rainn joined her laughter, picturing a little girl screaming in anger. Then he sobered. And checked his cell phone. No messages, what a relief. “Yeah. It’s probably time to get back.”
During most of the return drive to Platteville, Rainn thought about how nice it would be to have a bench seat, so he could hold Geneva’s hand.
She spoke when they turned off the highway. “Do you want me to come in and check on Mia with you?”
“No way, but thanks for the offer.” His voice sounded gruff, and he hoped she didn’t mind. “I was taught to take a girl home to her front door after a date. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Geneva’s hand flew to her throat and fluttered in that familiar way she had.
He thought of Mia and her fidgeting hands. Girls. They were a mystery to most guys.
They didn’t speak again until they stepped onto the front porch.
“Rainn, seeing my glider just reminded me. If you can’t find a rocking chair for Mia, she can come on my porch any time she needs to.”
“You are some awesome lady, Geneva. I had already forgotten she said she liked to swing. It makes sense. Penny’s rocker swivels. That movement is comforting to autistic children.”
At the door, he moved in close and she didn’t step back.
He’d anticipated this good-night kiss ever since their dinner date was a sure thing.
Neither raised their arms.
He angled his head, she tilted hers.
At the first meeting of their lips, his were a little too high, so he adjusted them lower.
Rainn was unprepared for the explosion that jarred the core of his being.
She moaned and swayed forward, but their mouths alone touched.
Shaken to his foundation, he pulled back. His breath was ragged. “You’re playing with fire, lady.”
“I doubt that you are any more combustible than I am.”