Chasing Pearl, page 8
Cora laughed, hard. “You’re embarrassed!” When he scowled at her, she held her hand up in a defensive manner. “Fine. Whatever. But, if you want to make that girl right there happy, you’d give it to her as a gift.”
Chase glanced at Violet and noticed her face burned bright red. “No,” she said, looking at the table, the tension coming back into her body in a visible way. “It’s your family, and it’s a personal letter. I understand.”
She stood, quickly, and Chase stood with her. “Violet,” he said, knowing she was about to bolt, but she interrupted him.
“I have to be in the kitchen at six in the morning, and it’s later than I planned. Thank you for sharing the box with me again.” She looked at Cora, who had stood as well. “Very nice to meet you. Y’all stay in here as long as you like.”
Before Cora could reply, Violet had left the room, sliding the door shut behind her. Chase lowered himself to the chair and sighed. Cora came around the table and leaned against it next to him.
“So that’s Violet.”
“Yeah.” Chase looked mildly confused, as if puzzled why his sister would state the obvious in such a redundant manner.
“Interesting.”
Chase snorted. “Interesting in what way?”
“What do you think of her?”
Chase shrugged. “I like her. She’s really nice.”
“You do know that she likes you.”
“Well, naturally. What’s not to like?”
“Chase, baby brother, I love you. But sometimes you really frustrate me. That girl ‘likes you’ likes you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Did you hear that at the locker after English class or did someone pass you a note in fourth period?” She just stared him down, and he finally shrugged. “Fine. Sometimes. Maybe. But she’s painfully shy, you know. I don’t know how to engage her.”
“She was engaged tonight. She relaxed and forgot we were strangers.” Cora slid until she perched on the solid oak table, her legs swinging above the ground. “Introverts enjoy engaging when it’s something meaningful. It’s the small talk that kills them.” She picked up one of the newspapers Violet had spread open. “This is something meaningful to her. Use it as a bridge to get to know her.”
“Assuming I want to.”
“Oh. Well I happen to know you want to.” Cora stared at him for several seconds before grinning. “I can see that.”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Cora, I’m seriously at a crossroads right now. I got a job offer. A really good job offer. It would bring me back to Texas, doing what I do now, but as a private citizen instead of a military officer. My paycheck would just about double.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Not to sound like a snob, sir, but your paycheck is rather irrelevant, isn’t it, since dad died?”
Grief filled his heart like a physical pain. “I put all that away. Didn’t even touch it. I’m still living on my officer pay.”
“I know. I put it away, too. Davis completely understands and helped me work with Uncle Tony’s guy to invest it in trusts and shelters and thises and thats.” She waved a hand in the air almost dismissively. “Anyway, back to the job. How does that work for you? Don’t you have a contract?”
“Enlisted men sign contracts. I’m a commissioned officer.” He pushed out of the chair and walked the length of the room. The empty buffet looked lonely without all the serving dishes heaped with food. “I’d have to get permission to resign my commission. But, it would likely be granted. They rarely get disapproved. I’ve served well, and I’ve served for an appropriate number of years.”
“Combat twice.”
As always, vivid memories flashed through his mind that he didn’t unpack. One day, he would have to, but not today. “Yeah. So, I could resign. The question is, what’s the right thing to do?”
She let him pace for several seconds before replying. “Seems like that’s between you and God.”
“Right. So, I go off to a quiet place, Pearl Harbor, pray, seek inspiration, and immediately have a voicemail about this football camp. I thought, that’s God’s answer. Bring me here, to the city I fell in love with in college, to the state where our ancestors are from, to the city where this job is, and I’ll get off the plane, and I’ll know. Right?”
Without giving her a chance to reply, he continued, “Wrong. All I got is more questions. I’m living under the same roof as a woman I feel so drawn to, so attracted to, that I cannot even explain it. Honestly? That is driving me a little bit crazy. I can’t seem to stop thinking about her?”
Cora touches Chase’s upper arm. “Chase. That’s awesome.”
He stopped by the table again and gestured at the leather box. “Maybe. I’m still not sure. Was God bringing me here so I’d meet Violet and know this is where I’m supposed to stay? If so, why am I still so full of questions? And then this relic shows up as if delivered by time machine. It’s completely insane.”
Cora grinned. “I think it’s wonderful. I love that God is speaking to you so loudly. I think you just need to listen to Him.”
Chase started to argue with her, but Cora held up her index finger. “You’re grieving. Part of your grieving process is going to be the desire to change something in your life, so you can get caught up in the new, lose yourself in the work, and not think about dad, or about how much you loved him and relied on him and miss him. But it’s not just dad. Maybe his death is reminding you of some other people you lost along the way and you don’t want to think about that. I don’t know. You don’t want to think about the people in your life like mom and Tony who are hurting so much, and you can’t fix it for them. You have to step outside of all that grief and look at everything.”
Chase interjected, “And you, sis.”
Cora nodded. “And me, but I’m coping better than you at the moment, probably because I didn’t immediately return to a combat zone after dad’s funeral. Plus, I have Davis, and he was and is amazing. Back to you. Why did you join the army? What drove you to that commission you feel like you can so easily resign all of a sudden? What would a job in the private sector mean for you as a former military officer? Those are the kind of questions you need to be asking. With the football camp and the attraction to Violet and the box appearing after decades of being lost in the mail, I think God is speaking to you loud and clear. Just remove the wall you built around your heart, let yourself grieve, and you’ll hear Him, too.”
Chase searched his heart before speaking. “My prayers stop at the ceiling lately. At least I feel like they do.”
Cora walked up to him and kissed his cheek. “Call me a ride and let me get back to my hotel. I have early practice.”
Chase walked her to the front porch to wait on her ride. The chirping of insects provided a soundtrack while they rocked back and forth in rocking chairs. His thoughts stormed in his mind, chaotic turmoil rolling around in his spirit. “Thank you for your insight.”
“Thank you for the day spent with my little brother.”
“Younger by seventeen minutes.”
“Nevertheless.” She let her chair slowly rock. “Will I see you on Saturday?”
“Tournament? Yes. Text me the time and address.” The beam of headlights on the drive made them both stand. He walked his sister down the steps. “I needed you tonight. I’m so happy you were here.”
“More God, my twin. None of this is accidental.” He opened her door, and she slipped into the seat. “See you in a couple of days. Enjoy those pee wees.”
As he walked back to the porch, he felt fatigue fall over him like a blanket. His eyes burned while he packed the box back up to take back to his room. He barely managed to kick off his shoes before falling onto the bed.
CHAPTER 6
Violet rushed through her bedroom. Breakfast dishes had taken much longer than usual. Her normal routine had her with a thirty-minute window after breakfast to get ready for church. This morning, she had five.
No time for a shower. Violet threw off the shorts and T-shirt she’d put on that morning and grabbed a dress out of her closet. It was a simple blue dress, with a collar and a skirt that fell to just above her knees. She added a blue and yellow scarf that she tied like a belt at her waist and slipped her feet into yellow sandals. Four minutes.
She rushed into her bathroom and quickly applied eye makeup, blush, and lipstick. She ran a brush through her hair and rushed back into her bedroom to grab her Bible bag off the chair next to her bed. She tossed the brush on the chair, slipped her watch onto her wrist, and shut her bedroom door behind her exactly on time.
There’s no way Scarlett would have gotten ready on time. She’d already told Violet to go without her. Uncle Drew had collected Grandma Vi from the kitchen an hour ago and would have driven her to the church. So, she’d walk alone.
When she came up the stairs and into the front room of the house, her heart skipped a surprised beat when she saw Chase Anderson standing by the registration desk. He wore a pair of khaki pants, crisply pressed with sharp creases, and a light blue golf shirt that made his eyes shine. Without realizing it, she grinned broadly, even though she’d seen him at breakfast an hour ago.
“Hey there,” she said, walking up to him. She saw that he held a black leather-bound Bible in his hand.
“Hi. I thought I’d walk with you ladies to church this morning if that’s okay.”
“Oh.” Her mouth suddenly dry, Violet licked her lips. “I think that would be nice.” She looked around but saw no one else. “Scarlett’s probably going to run late. If we don’t wait for her, we can make it on time if we skedaddle right now.”
Chase winked and opened the door. “She told me. I’ve been down here for a few minutes.”
Violet realized that Chase had waited specifically for her. She tried very hard not to blush. “Oh, I see.”
He gestured toward the outside with his Bible. “After you.”
It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the bright morning sun. Violet wished she’d remembered her sunglasses. “How was your sister’s tournament?”
“Cora and her partner advanced yesterday, so they’ll compete again today.”
She glanced up at him, catching a whiff of his aftershave. She liked the way it smelled. “You don’t want to go?”
“Not today. I want to go to church.” After a pause, he added, “I want to go to church with you.”
“Oh.” She thought her heart would beat out of her chest. He made a point of saying that. Oh no! How did she respond? What should she say to sound clever and intelligent? “I think that would be okay.”
Ugh. That would be okay? What was wrong with her? Violet turned and started walking again.
Chase fell into step with her. The bright morning sun warmed her arms. Violet estimated the temperature would soar before church got out. Say something, she thought, so he can forget you’re such an idiot.
She glanced up at him. “Do you enjoy living in Hawaii?”
He looked at her as if surprised that she asked the question. “I do. It’s beautiful. I love the breeze, the ocean, the culture. My church there meets outside on the beach on Sunday mornings. It’s an incredible testament to God’s creation.”
“I’ve never been outside of Texas. That sounds really neat.” Neat? That sounds neat? She could have said nearly anything else.
They stopped at a crosswalk and waited for the signal. “What? Never? Seriously?”
She laughed a little bit self-consciously. This man had literally traveled the world. Did he think she was some kind of rube? “I know. You’d think someone who works with visitors every day would have some aspiration to travel. But, I couldn’t leave the inn. Gran and Scarlett need my extra hand.”
“Do you ever close the Inn at all? Like, no reservations for a two-week break or something?”
Violet stepped out into the crosswalk with him. She could see the church steeple. “We used to. My parents were strict about it. We’d go to Austin or San Antonio. Once we went to Amarillo. But then we just gradually broke that rule after they passed. It would be smart to reinstate it.”
Chase put a hand on the small of Violet’s back as they stepped up onto the curb, his fingers light but reassuring. Violet felt the electricity in the light touch of his fingertips as if they were cattle prods.
She said, “Scarlett went away for school. I promised her I’d go when she came home, but then my parents died, so I never did.”
“I admire your devotion to your family. My family’s really close. Joining the military was a hard decision only because of my family. I think if I’d gone to school anywhere near them, I would have had an even harder time making the decision. As it was, after four years of college separated from them, it eased the decision.”
Violet gestured toward the church so he’d know their destination. “I think it would be amazing to visit. Especially Pearl Harbor.”
“You should come. You can’t go to the actual memorial right now, but still, there’s so much to see there. And the museums at Pearl Harbor are amazing, especially if you’re interested in World War II history.” He glanced down at her. “My great-grandfather is entombed there.”
“You said that the other night.” She shielded her eyes when she looked up at him. She didn’t inform him that she had read about his visit to the Arizona memorial. “You’re connected to so much history.”
“We all are.” He gave her a soft smile. “We just don’t all get care packages delivered from the previous century.”
They walked up the steps to the church, and she wondered what he would do if she just showed up to visit him in Hawaii one day. If he even remembered her, he’d probably laugh her away.
She watched him interact with the ushers, her uncle, her grandmother, greeting them, smiling with kindness and generosity, and decided she was wrong. He’d remember her, and he’d graciously show her Pearl Harbor. She believed that.
He took the pew behind her and her family. A part of her wished he’d have decided to sit next to her. Just as she turned to invite him forward, one of the deacons approached him, holding an enthusiastic hand out.
“Chase Anderson! Why I’d know you anywhere. Heard you were back. Amazing run you gave us. You were certainly a favorite in our household. Brian Donahue, Donahue Furniture Company. Pleasure to meet you.”
If she hadn’t been watching his face, she would have missed the faint irritation that he replaced with a polite smile as he stood back up. “And you, Mr. Donahue. It’s been a few years. I’m surprised you remember.”
“Well, you’ve been in the news recently, haven’t you? Doing that camp for the pee wees. If I had a youngin’, you can bet I’d put him in that camp. My son’s in high school, though. Starting kicker for the Tigers. Big dreams that one. Love for you to meet him, but he’s off at his own football camp.”
“Well, another time maybe.” Violet watched in amazement as Chase very politely and firmly extracted himself from the conversation. “It was nice meeting you. I look forward to this worship service.”
He sat back down and picked up the bulletin, suddenly becoming engrossed in reading it. Brian Donahue paused, opened and closed his mouth, then slapped Chase on the shoulder. “Definitely. Er, ah, enjoy the service.”
Brian found his way back to his seat. Violet turned in her pew and whispered, “You okay back there?”
Chase leaned toward Violet as Scarlett arrived and slipped past her in the pew. “I almost didn’t come because I knew that would happen,” he said in a low voice. “It’s the only downfall to being here in town.”
She turned more fully in her seat and leaned back toward him. “You handled that well. Brian can be a bit of a chin musician and you kept him from striking up the orchestra. I think I would die if I had to chit-chat with strangers just all the time. I avoid it as much as possible, even with my job.”
“It was something I got used to.” He focused his attention on the front of the church just as the musicians began playing.
Violet turned back around in her seat and caught Scarlett staring at her with some knowing grin. Violet raised an eyebrow. “What?” she mouthed.
Scarlett darted her eyes toward Chase then back to her, cocked an eyebrow, then grinned and shrugged her shoulders at the same time. Violet’s face flooded with heat and she started to deny the allegations Scarlett silently made but decided she would just leave it alone.
Throughout the service, she couldn’t help but feel self-conscious. She enjoyed the sound of Chase’s voice behind her during the singing. While the preacher gave the sermon, she tried not to fidget, wondering if he was enjoying it, what he thought about it, and if her hair looked okay from the back.
Wait. Where had that thought come from?
She started to raise her hand to smooth down her hair but thought that would be too obvious. Instead, she opened a side pocket of her Bible bag and pulled out a tin of mints. Once she popped one in her mouth, she laced her fingers and forced herself to sit perfectly still until the mint was gone.
Three mints and several long minutes later, the sermon finally ended. One more song, a prayer, and she could move with freedom. They barely said, “Amen,” when she grabbed her bag and stood. Turning, she caught Chase writing in a small notebook. She noticed that his handwriting looked very neat, orderly.
Chase capped his pen, slipped the notebook into his Bible, and looked up at her. “That was a great sermon.”
It was? She couldn’t even remember the scripture passage the preacher used. “Yeah,” she said weakly, then with more enthusiasm, “We love Pastor Brown. He’s been here about six months. I’ve loved every sermon I’ve been able to hear.” Or pay attention to. Why did she feel like she’d done something wrong?
“If they’re anything like today, I imagine so. I feel like he spoke directly to me. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s the truth.”
“Mr. Anderson,” Grandma Vi said from beside Scarlett, “I’m so glad you could attend our family’s church while you’re staying in our home.”
