Family in His Heart Page 10

  Something in common. They had so little in common and she wanted to tell him so, but why? He’d learn soon enough.

  Hearing voices behind her, Rona glanced toward the doorway and saw customers heading for a table. “I’d better get to work.” She stood and slipped her chair seat under the table.

  “Would you like to get moved in on Monday?”

  Her heart skipped, and she turned toward Nick’s voice. “Monday? Are you sure?”

  “Positive. It’ll give us time to settle you in before I’m faced with Gary’s outcome.”

  “I know you’re worried.”

  “I am, but I’ll feel better knowing you’re settled in. Is Monday good?”

  “It’s perfect.”

  “Great, and I’ll take a cup of that coffee now.”

  He sent her a full smile that made her day.

  The weekend had dragged, and though Nick had dropped in, he’d been tied up with keeping an eye on Gary. Rona spent the weekend repacking the boxes she’d emptied after the last moving plan had failed. Today she prayed everything would go as planned.

  The clock seemed to inch its way toward quitting time. Her car had been packed with her few belongings since yesterday, except for minimal things she needed at the motel for her final night. Today she believed she would really move into her new apartment on the island; and though she had an occasional concern, for the most part the idea lifted her spirit.

  When Nick finally came through the door, her pulse galloped. She’d never been so ready for life to begin.

  Nick waved and headed toward her. “I know I’m early, but I finished the business I had in town. Should I pack things on the boat?”

  She glanced at the clock, noting she had another half hour to work. Rona wanted to leave now, but Bernie had been so good and had already listed the job in the local paper. He told her he had one good possibility and all he needed after that was a new busboy for the dinner hour. If the woman took the job, she’d be free to start working for Nick. She lifted her gaze to Nick’s. “I’ll get my car keys and you can drive it to the boat. I’ll meet you there.” She darted to the back for her keys and returned in a moment, handing them to Nick.

  He slipped the keys into his pocket. “See you out on the pier.” He turned and headed out the door. A few eyes followed his departure, then focused on Rona.

  She tried to disguise her smile, but they all knew the story anyway. Everyone who ate at the inn seemed to know everything about everyone. That was the bad part of a small town. She wondered how soon before they all knew about Gary’s trouble.

  The dinner crowd began to fill the tables and Rona handed out menus and served some guests, then pulled her tips from one of her tables before she slipped into the kitchen and pulled off her apron. She hung it in the storage area and grasped her shoulder bag. “I’m on my way, Bernie.”

  “Moving to the island tonight?”

  She nodded. “Nick’s loading the boat now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He slipped a plate under the warmer, then turned to face her. “I’ll talk to the woman who filled out an application tonight, and I’ll let you know. If she’s willing to start work soon, then we won’t be bound to the notice.”

  She crossed the floor and gave him a quick hug. “Thanks, Bernie. You’re a good man.”

  “And you’re a good waitress. Remember if this job doesn’t work out, you’re welcome back.” He gave her a wink and she sent him a thumbs-up.

  As she walked through the exit, she hoped she’d never have to collect on Bernie’s offer. The thought of living on the island in that lovely apartment meant feeling stable and having a real place to call home.

  She hurried toward the marina. Noticing her car was gone, she guessed that Nick had moved it to the space near the Linberg cottages across from the water.

  Nick saw her when her feet hit the plank walkway to his boat slip. He waved, his ruddy tan heightened in the spring sun and adding to his already good looks. She loved his hair, never slicked back like so many typical business men. Nick seemed so different—grounded and real.

  She waved back, feeling lighthearted and ready for a new adventure. Her boxes and luggage were piled onboard, and Nick was leaning against the hull, looking at some papers. When she drew nearer, he tossed the clipboard inside and strode toward her.

  She waved. “Did I keep you waiting?”

  “Only a couple of minutes.” He gestured toward the boxes. “Is this all of it?” His forehead wrinkled with the question.

  “Not much of one’s life, is it?”

  “We all carry too much baggage. I mentioned a while ago how we cling to every mess we make. We need to shed material things and problems.” He held out his hand and helped her step into the craft.

  The boat rocked beneath her feet and she balanced herself, knowing she needed to get sea legs. She’d be in boats from now on when it was time to come to town for groceries and—“Nick, I forgot. I wanted to pick up some groceries for the apartment.”

  “Don’t worry about it tonight. We can take care of that tomorrow. You can eat with us until then.”

  She wasn’t sure she wanted to do that, but she’d already received so much from him, lugging her belongings onto the boat and giving her the apartment early. Instead of arguing, Rona nodded and figured she could finagle out of it once she was on the island.

  She sat in the passenger seat in the cockpit and watched Nick start the motor and move away from shore. He kept it slow until he moved farther into the bay and then picked up speed. This time she knew where they were going and enjoyed watching Hessel become smaller as the island grew nearer.

  When they sailed close to Cube Point, she rose from her seat and made her way outside where the wind whipped through her hair and the sun spread across her arms. When she looked at Nick, he was focused on the point, but he may have sensed she was watching him, because he turned toward her and grinned.

  Life hadn’t felt so complete in many years. She felt like a child playing house and wondered what it might be like to have Nick as a husband and to be part owner of this boat and the lovely home she’d seen when she’d visited two days earlier.

  A week and a day had passed since she met Nick and it felt like she’d known him a lifetime. Was this what it meant to be a soul mate? The idea screeched to a halt in her chest.

  Housekeeper. She needed to remind herself. Nick had always been a kind man to everyone. She recalled the day he jumped up to help Gerri when she’d slipped and dropped the food. That’s all he was doing for her and she needed to remember that.

  They’d swung around the end of Cube Point and Rona tried to envision where the house was in relationship to the vast shoreline. She squinted ahead and finally saw the shape of the boathouse—her home.

  With good thoughts in her mind, she moved back to the shelter of the cabin and to Nick. “I hate to admit this, but I’m excited.”

  “Why hate to admit it? But I want to warn you, with these new problems with Gary, you may want to skedaddle back to Bernie’s. I have no idea what’s in store.”

  She didn’t like the sound of his comment. “Are you afraid I can’t handle it?”

  “No. Not at all. I’m thinking you won’t want to. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to, but then I feel guilty. I’m his father and I know there’s a solution somewhere. I just haven’t found it.”

  Rona understood the feeling. She’d spent the past few years looking for a solution to her troubles, and she could only hope this was the right answer.

  They quieted. The sound of the motor and lapping waves infringed on the quiet, but not as much as the worries they both had. She’d sounded confident with Nick just now, but could she handle a teenage boy? She hadn’t been able to cope with a brother only a couple years younger than she was. What did she know about teenagers?

  The boat slowed as they neared the shore and Nick called her to his side. “Want to learn how to pilot this thing?”

  “The speedboat?” She felt panicky. �
��I thought I’d have a smaller boat.”

  “You will, but you never know if an emergency arises. Come here.” He beckoned her to his side and she went, but not without trepidation.

  He slid from the seat and motioned for her to sit, then he stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Grip the wheel.”

  The heat of his body and the scent of his fragrance heightened her crazy thoughts. “It’s like driving a car, just head the prow toward the house.”

  She clinched the wheel as if her life depended on it, and, to her, it did.

  “Ease up,” Nick said, lifting one hand and then the other to loosen her fingers. “You don’t grip your car’s steering wheel like that, do you?”

  “No, but—”

  “I’ll take over when we get close. I won’t let you down.” He rested his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

  His fingers felt warm through her cotton top and it gave her a feeling of companionship. She sensed her body relaxing and enjoyed the feel of being in control. It was a feeling she’d lost until recently.

  “That’s it,” he said close to her ear. “Enjoy yourself.”

  She chuckled at his comment and his voice whispering against her ear. She scrunched her cheek to her shoulder and Nick drew back.

  “Sorry. I hadn’t meant to tickle you.”

  Rona turned her face toward his and saw a glint in his eye. Their noses nearly touched and once again her heart raced to her throat with a deep longing to kiss his welcoming lips. She managed a smile to let him know she didn’t believe a word of it.

  “My turn,” Nick said, as they drew closer.

  He took the wheel while she slid out from beneath his arms. The warmth vanished from her body but not from inside. Rona hadn’t felt this much happiness in a long, long time.

  Nick pulled to the dock and tied the lines while she waited, eager to get into her apartment and to begin making it her own.

  “I’ll teach you how to tie up another day,” he said. “I don’t want to overwhelm you with my brilliance all in one day.”

  His silly expression made her laugh.

  Nick held out his hand to help her from the boat. She’d begun to get the knack of it and felt more secure. He went on board and stacked the boxes and luggage onto the wooden planks, and Rona grasped a box and headed toward the apartment.

  “I’ll get those,” Nick said as he stepped from the craft with more boxes. He motioned toward the guesthouse. “Go ahead and I’ll bring these up.”

  She didn’t listen. Instead Rona grabbed one of the smaller bags and headed to shore. She turned to the flagstone walk and climbed the stairs, aware that this was home. She would walk these steps many times before she had to leave.

  Before she had to leave. The words smacked against her heart. At this moment Rona never wanted to leave. The comment sounded ludicrous because she’d known Nick for such a short time, but she had the feeling she’d known him forever. He was that kind of person, so open, so kind and generous, so wonderful.

  With the thrill of having her own place again, she turned the knob and shoved open the door. The lemony scent she’d smelled days earlier still lingered on the air. She rolled the luggage into her bedroom and hurried back to the front room window to look down at the speedboat. Nick had vanished, but then she heard him behind her.

  “Where do you want these?”

  She cast a flailing gesture. “Anywhere. I have to open them to see what’s inside.”

  He set the box beside the lamp table and headed out again. This time she watched him on the dock, setting three boxes into a pile and hoisting them in his arms. Even from the distance, she could see his muscles flex, and it sent a spiraling sensation to her stomach.

  Rona faced the truth. She needed to get a grip on her emotions or she would be out of a job sooner than she wanted. Nick was her employer. She had to keep saying it over and over in her mind, because her fantasy led her in directions that could be her downfall.

  Not wanting to get caught ogling, Rona headed for the last stack of boxes and opened the top one. Shoes and handbags. She carried them into the bedroom, noticing the chocolate candy, as Nick dropped another three boxes onto the floor. She recognized the sound. Books. She’d brought some of her favorites with her. They’d been her solace and she couldn’t stand to leave them all behind.

  As she opened more of the boxes, Nick returned with the last carton. She’d found some dishes and kitchen utensils, things she probably wouldn’t need in this well-equipped apartment.

  Nick collapsed on the sofa and tossed his head against the cushion. He released a sigh, and Rona drew closer. “I’d offer you a pop, but I’m not sure which box I put them in.”

  He grinned and motioned to the refrigerator. “I’d love one. I stocked a few for you.”

  Thoughtful. The word billowed in her mind. “Thanks.” She saw a mix of cola and ginger ale. He’d remembered. She pulled out a cola for him and carried it to him along with a can of ginger ale for herself.

  She handed him the drink, then sat in a nearby chair and opened the can, hearing the snap and fizz. When she took a lengthy drink, she realized she’d look more ladylike with a glass.

  Nick rested his elbows on his knees, the can clutched in his hands. “I hate to go home.”

  “Gary?”

  “He’s sick today. I hope it teaches him a lesson about alcohol. I should have made him go to school, but I didn’t.”

  “Should haves are a waste of time. Now is important. Think of what you’ll do to improve the situation.”

  “If I only knew. I want to be his friend. I want to—”

  “Be his dad, Nick. He already has friends.”

  Nick lifted his gaze and studied her.

  “A woman of wisdom.”

  She watched his fingers run along the side of the pop can as if weighing her words, and she wasn’t sure if his comment was facetious or genuine.

  “Thanks,” he added, answering her question.

  “I’m not trying to meddle.”

  His head tilted up and her heart melted with his look. “You’re not meddling. I hope you realize that you’ll be dealing with Gary, too, when I’m not here. He’ll be your headache as well, and the more I think of it the more I wonder how wise this was.”

  “I thought you said you believed I could handle the situation.”

  He straightened, his gaze anchoring hers. “I do, but I like you too much.”

  Too much. She tried to grasp his meaning. She knew he liked her, and she loved that, but—

  “You don’t understand,” he said.

  “I—”

  He rose and moved toward her, drawing her from the chair. He closed his eyes a moment and drew in a lengthy breath. “I don’t know how to say this, but I feel as if we’ve been friends forever. Do you believe in that? Do you think it’s possible for two people to be on the same wavelength, the same frequency? Like soul mates?”

  She’d felt that way herself and thought she’d gone crazy. “I do understand.”

  “It’s as if we landed on an island. Gilligan’s Island maybe, and I don’t want to be rescued. I enjoy your company. I really like being with you.”

  Rona felt she had been rescued…by Nick.

  Her voice caught in her throat and she only nodded. “I like you, too, but we barely know each other. Once we face each other’s idiosyncrasies, we could feel differently. We’d be disillusioned and I don’t want that.”

  He grasped her shoulders. “I know, but I don’t think that will happen. I’m—”

  “Shush. Let’s just get to know each other. Let me do my job, and we can—”

  “Pray about it.” He studied her face. “Do you pray, Rona?”

  He’d kicked her in the stomach. She bit the inside of her lip, knowing at this moment she would disappoint him again. “You know how I feel. I’ve prayed a great deal of my life and God doesn’t hear my prayers, so what’s the point?”

  “Persistence. Faith. Trust.
”

  “I had that once.”

  “Then it’s still there, but tangled in your flotsam. Do you know that God doesn’t always say yes?”

  She knew that, and how she knew that. “But He could.”

  He shook his head. “No, then we’d be without free will. We couldn’t make choices. We’d be His prisoners and not His children.”

  Rona had heard the same lecture from Shirley. She hadn’t wanted to talk about it then and she didn’t want it to ruin the happiness she felt now.

  Nick didn’t wait for a response. “Gary always accuses me of treating him like a prisoner. Maybe that’s the problem. I want him to be my son, not a prisoner.” He looked deeply into her eyes. “God wants the same for us.”

  She wanted to respond, but she had nothing to say. He’d thrown her with his feelings and then with his explanation. She looked at him a long time before she spoke. “I’ll be happy to cook dinner for you tonight.”

  Her shift in topic threw him for a minute. She saw it on his face. “That would be nice. Gary’s home and I can’t go out to eat. I put him on house arrest except for school.”

  House arrest. Prisoner. The vision pelted Rona’s conscience. Gary needed love and punishment. He needed both.

  “I suppose I’ve contradicted myself just now, but he’s my prisoner until tomorrow. Then I’ll take stock of what happens at the hearing.”

  She clamped her mouth closed, willing herself not to interfere. Housekeeper. I’m the housekeeper.

  Chapter Nine

  Nick lay in bed all night asking the Lord what to do about Gary. As he tossed from one side to the other, he recalled the story of the prodigal son and what his father had done. Instead of punishing him, since he’d already punished himself by his behavior, the father had opened his arms and thrown a party.

  Although Nick wasn’t ready to throw a party, he weighed what he could do that would have a similar affect. He still needed some kind of recompense, but he’d wait and see what happened on Tuesday.

  He slipped his legs over the edge of the mattress and sat on the bed, listening. He could hear the shower running down the hall. He’d left his door open just to keep an eye on Gary if he’d awakened in the night. Relieved that his son had gotten out of bed without a hassle, Nick rose with a spring in his step and headed for his own shower.