Brides And Blessings. Molly Bull Noble
to the kitchen, he brought a yellow rose from the bouquet Mrs. Winslow had sent. He placed the flower in a china bud vase on the small table. Sitting across from her, Josh folded his big, rough hands, and said the blessing.
Later, as they spooned their soup, Suzann took in the white linen table cloth and her sister’s spotless kitchen. The table looked lovely. Josh had thought of everything. They were even using linen napkins and Holly’s best china.
“Everything looks perfect,” she said. “I feel like a queen. But you’ve done too much. If this keeps up, you’ll have me spoiled.”
“Sick people deserve to be spoiled.”
“You’re very kind. In fact, the whole congregation is kind. Maybe too kind. I’ve never seen so much food in all my life.”
“I’ve talked to several of the ladies since they stopped by to see you, and you’re well-liked here in Oak Valley. But I suppose you know that.”
She glanced down at her soup bowl. “Thanks again.”
He put down his spoon and wiped his mouth. “Mrs. Winslow mentioned that you insisted on seeing pictures of all her grandchildren. Do you like children?”
“Yes. I mean—Of course I do.”
Suzann liked children, all right, but that was not the reason she’d asked to see the pictures. She was still trying to match names with faces.
“Have you ever worked with children, Miss Harmon?” he asked.
“Yes. And please, call me—call me Holly.” Suzann blinked, trying to think how her sister would have responded. Nothing surfaced. Was she about to blow her cover?
“Maybe you shouldn’t call me Holly after all,” she said.
“Why not?”
“It sounds too informal.”
“As you must know, many in the church even call the pastor by his first name.”
“That’s true but…”
“You think I should call you Miss Harmon.”
“Exactly.”
“All right,” he said, and a faint smile shone through. “But it seems out of character for you.”
“Out of character? Why?”
“Now that I’ve gotten to know you, you seem more down to earth than the shy librarian I first thought you were.”
“The change is only temporary. As I said earlier, I’ll be my old self again as soon as I get over this cold.”
He chuckled softly under his breath. “Frankly, I like you better the way you are now.”
“Coughing and sneezing my head off?”
He threw back his head and laughed. “No, that’s not what I meant at all.” His mirthful laugh evolved into something much more intense. “I think you know it too.”
Was she imagining things? Or did that look in his eyes say that he found her extremely attractive?
This would never do. She shouldn’t have allowed Josh to drop by again, much less fix her supper. It was probably something Holly would never have considered doing.
She glanced at the clock over the refrigerator. “It’s ten after seven. If you don’t leave right now, you’ll be late for that movie.”
“I’m already late,” he said. “The movie starts in five minutes. I could never get there in time. But that’s okay. The picture is there for three more nights and—” he studied her painstakingly “—you’re tired, aren’t you?”
“Well, it has been a long day.” She faked a coughing spell to make her point.
“You go in and rest while I do these dishes.”
“Please. Don’t.” Suzann hadn’t intended to sound so abrupt She tried to soften it by forcing a weak smile. “Put the dishes in the sink to soak. I’ll do them later.”
“Sure, and then I’m out of here.” He paused contemplatively. “Do you mind if I phone you in the morning to see how you’re doing?”
“Go ahead if you like, but I can’t promise I’ll answer. I’m taking your advice and sleeping in.”
“I won’t call until after church then,” he said.
“That’s very thoughtful of you, but don’t feel that you must. I do a pretty good job of taking care of myself.”
His face flashed disappointment. “I see.” Josh continued to study her with those electrifying blue eyes of his.
She felt terrible for speaking so curtly to him. Suzann wished she could take back her sharp remark. Yet if she did, he might miss her meaning.
Josh slipped his right hand in the pocket of his jeans as if he was searching for his truck keys. “I better go,” he said rigidly, “and I hope that cold of yours disappears real soon.”
“Thanks.”
Then he left.
She hadn’t liked treating him so callously. Suzann bit her lower lip.
Like many child actors, Suzann had always felt that in order to get love and acceptance, one must perform perfectly—before the camera and everywhere else. She had no faith in people who offered affection without expecting something in return.
Suzann knew she was still slightly depressed over her breakup with Greer Fraser. Until the onset of her cold, she hadn’t realized that she was physically exhausted as well. When Josh offered to nurse her back to health, Suzann was warmed by his concern and amazed at how different he was from Greer and the other men she’d dated in the past.
Somehow, Josh’s interest and nurturing nature struck an unsung chord deep within her—as if he was gently teaching her to trust. At the same time, Suzann saw Josh’s kindness as a warning. Take it slow and easy. Men like Josh were rare in California…and that was where she would be living in six months.
She knew she needed the kind of tenderness and understanding that Josh could give her. But she was afraid to reach out and take it. Besides, she wasn’t in Oak Valley to start a romance. Or to steal her sister’s beau.
Suzann crawled into Holly’s single bed under the double windows and went right to sleep. Four hours later, she woke up, feeling uneasy and slightly disoriented, but fully awake.
Yawning, she glanced at the luminous clock, blinking in the darkness. Eleven o’clock.
It would be nine in California. Maybe she should give her sister a call.
Suzann fumbled for the phone on the nightstand, then dialed. Bates answered. Rats. She’d hoped Holly would pick up. She faked her best Spanish accent ever and asked to speak with Miss Condry.
“She’s talking to a gentleman in the drawing room.”
Suzann’s right brow lifted. “Really? Tell her this is Maria Garcia from Texas. Her friend from Oak Valley.”
“She hasn’t been taking her calls today. But if you’ll hold, I’ll go in and give her your message.”
Suzann coughed. “Thanks.”
A few minutes later Holly came on the line.
“Your Spanish accent must have been pretty convincing,” Holly said. “You sure had your butler fooled.”
“It’s not the first time. How’s—” Suzann coughed again “—how’s California?”
“Super,