He let out a whoop of joy and scooped her off the floor, hugging her tight. “There is a God!”

  Leah looked anxiously at the factory floor where all the employees had stopped work and were staring up at the office windows. “God is good, that’s true but if you don’t put me down I’ll have some serious explaining to do.”

  Gunny laughed and set her on the floor. “I was wallowing in despair before you walked in here! This is like…the best thing that’s happened all day.”

  “It’s the only thing that’s happened all day,” she teased, leaving the fax on his desk. “I’m glad you’re happy. You’ve been moping around here for a week about those plans, I didn’t know what I’d do if they didn’t get finalized soon.”

  He frowned. “I never told anyone my thoughts.”

  Leah made a rude noise and assured him that he didn’t have to. “Lately it seems every time I see you…” She stopped, and regained her posture. “Anyway, let’s go over the plans again to see if we’re missing any details.”

  “I’m sick of plans,” Gunny said, turning the fax over to the empty side. “I’ve been over them with a fine tooth comb and they’re as perfect as they’re going to get. Starting Monday we’re going to be mired in construction, Pam’s going to have Heidelman’s in the can, and we have to send out a thousand catalogs. Today we need to stop, take a breath and thank God for all he’s done for this company.”

  “You’re right.” Leah looked again at her crew, watching them from the first floor. She went to the door and called out, “Everyone! Close up shop and go home for the day, with pay! We’re celebrating.”

  They didn’t need to be told twice. Within minutes the building was nearly empty, except for the women who needed to prepare their children. Leah and Gunny closed their offices and went downstairs to see the employees off and close up shop. Darlene stopped Gunny as she left.

  “Sunday?”

  He shook his head. “I’ll give Devin a call.”

  “We have all afternoon free, you could come over and wait for him today,” she said hopefully.

  Gunny saw Leah out of the corner of his eye, watching him, her face impassive but when he looked at her she turned quickly and became very interested in wiping an imaginary spot on the break table.

  “I appreciate the offer but Leah and I still have unfinished business.” He smiled and moved away before she could protest.

  Leah smiled woodenly at him. “Don’t stay behind for my sake. Go if you want to be with Darlene and the kids.”

  “That is about the most fake smile I’ve seen since…oh about fifteen minutes ago when you gave me the last one in my office. If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were jealous,” Gunny teased.

  She frowned and avoided his eyes. “Of what? Your personal life is none of my concern.”

  “As a client, no it isn’t. However, as a friend I hope you care at least some.”

  “Some,” Leah acknowledged and went to lock the entrance. She returned momentarily with her hands on hips, shaking her head. “When I think of how my life has changed in the last two months, it almost makes me dizzy. Good changes, of course but whew…Spencer. If you weren’t a professional…”

  He smiled and leaned against the wall. “Did I ever say I was?”

  Leah raised her eyebrows. “Something you want to confess, Gunny Sergeant?”

  “Like…you’re my first client ever and I’m flying by the seat of my pants on this job?” He grinned widely at her look of horror.

  “You’re…Oh…” She laughed out loud and slapped at him. “Spencer Merchant you had me going there for a moment! I almost believed you, except that I see your wisdom in the changes you’ve made and it’s obvious you’ve done this before.”

  He didn’t say a word. Forgive me God for the sin of omission. Gunny pushed away from the wall as a phone rang and he reached for it, using the same greeting Leah always did.

  “Gunny? It’s Pam. Where’s Leah, I have to talk to her right away.” He gave the phone to her sister and went upstairs to gather papers from his office. She thinks I’m a professional! The thought would have made him laugh any other time but today it was more ironic than anything; he wasn’t any more a consultant than a Marine; it was just a title like Gunny Sergeant. Only he had earned that one. Gunny thought about the day that his father presented him with the certificate reading Gunny Sergeant Spencer Merchant.

  “I’m after your job,” Gunny had teased him while shaking the older man’s hand.

  His father’s reply nearly brought tears to Gunny’s eyes that day and it did now as he recalled them. “Son, I couldn’t be any prouder if you were a General. I’ve known since day one you were Marine material, and you’ve proved me right a hundred times over.”

  Tears stung Gunny’s eyes and he wiped at them with the palm of his hand. “I miss you dad. I am so very lost without you.”

  “Spencer there’s a problem with Heidel—.” Leah stopped halfway in the door. He turned away quickly but not before she had heard him speak. “Oh, Spencer I’m so sorry. I’ll leave you alone.”

  He shook his head and told her to stay. “Something reminded me of him, and…” Spencer shrugged. “I miss him terribly.”

  Leah took his hand and massaged the knuckles. “It’ll get better, I promise. He’ll always be a part of your life whether he’s here on earth or not.”

  “I know that, Lee. Thanks for reminding me.” There it was again, her touch that soothed and comforted him…Gunny wanted so much more. If only she cared for him, if he could breach the wall between them, make her want him the way he needed her. How, Lord? He prayed as she silently stroked his wrist with her thumb.

  The heavens were also silent, so Gunny laid aside his grief and concentrated on the matter at hand. “You said there’s a problem with Heidelman’s?” Leah let go of his hand. “Oh no, I left Pam on the phone!” She punched in the call transfer. “Pam? You still there? No, I had to find Spencer.”

  He figured Pam was giving her an earful from the look on Leah’s face. She searched his desk for a pen, and started writing on the first thing she found, his personal notebook. On the top sheet of paper were his notes concerning the memorial for the General. When Leah was finished writing, she stopped, reading Gunny’s message, and looked at him with compassion. He could still hear Pam’s voice talking rapidly into the phone.

  “Wait let me ask Spencer.” Leah put the phone to her chest. “Heidelman’s wants us to build our own displays for the quilts, something unique. They don’t want any of our other products but do want us to make whole bedding groups to sell—sheets, pillow shams, curtains and bed ruffles before they’ll put them on the floor.”

  “Let me talk to her.” Gunny took the phone from Leah. “Pam, hey.”

  “Gunny! What am I going to do?”

  He watched Leah’s face for her reaction. “Tell them yes. Anything they suggest, down to matching hand towels. We’ll use the designs they select and make all the appropriate accessories. No question. Cancel your next trip and go to the supplier for linens, tell them what we’re planning. I’ll have the women here design sheets next week and we’ll have the order filled within a month.”

  Leah was gripping his chair so tight her knuckles were white. Gunny winked at her and tried to calm Pam also. “Yes, you can. We’re talking maybe a hundred sets at first, and then backup orders as those sell. Leah? Do you have enough credit with your suppliers?”

  She nodded. “I’ve never missed paying them, and we’re on very good terms. It’s not going to be a problem.”

  “Good.”

  “What about the catalog? We’ve got all those to send!”

  That was a problem. All the money invested, and now they would be amended. “First deal with Heidelman’s, then if the sets go, we’ll update and change the catalog. We can update the website anytime, and our web address is in the catalog.”

  Pam groaned loudly. “I’m exhausted! How can we handle all this? Leah and I are only two people!”

  “Two women with a very competent crew, and me as backup. We’ll hire more as needed, but don’t freak yet, okay? We need you out there schmoozing,” he said, using her term.

  “Okay. I’m going back in there and see exactly what they want for designs. I’ll call later.” She hung up the phone and Gunny turned to Leah.

  She had sunk into the chair and was staring, stunned. “Complete bedding sets. Gunny Spencer Merchant…what have you gotten us into?”

  “Good things, Leah,” he said, massaging her shoulders. “Growing pains, that’s all. The apartments will finance your business while it’s expanding and you’ll hire enough help. You said yourself that you could fill any orders.”

  “Quilts!” Leah cried. “How will we design and make the rest?” She found the book and showed him a page of samples. “We’ll need checkered, no—flowered sheets. Maybe lace on the ends. No, for a bed ruffle instead. Wait…”He shut the book and made her look him in the eye. “Listen, Miss Armstrong. You can do this. It’s been in your head forever, since you began this business. Think! Have you used your quilts at home?”

  Leah nodded. “Yes, my bedroom is…” her eyes widened. “The only thing I have that is everything I ever wanted! It’s like one of those rooms out of a decorating magazine; I’ve even got pictures. She ran to her office and returned with snapshots of the inside of her room. Everything matched, from the linens on her bed to curtains and even her vanity chair. It was a woman’s dream.

  “That must be why I knew, when I saw your room…” Gunny started and winced as she looked at him with disbelief. “Ah…you know the night I followed you home? Well, I became lost and wound up right back at your house.”

  “How did you see my room?” She touched her fingers to her neck, as if covering her body.

  He raised his hands, shrugging helplessly. “I needed to get my bearings again, so I parked outside your house for a few minutes. I didn’t mean to look, but your light was on, and there you were in that white lacy gown…”

  She gasped. Gunny hurriedly tried to assure her it was innocent. “You were proper! I saw nothing, really…except that you were crying, and I didn’t know why.” “Because I had to make you leave,” Leah remembered, and pursed her lips before swallowing. “Your family is so wonderful; I never had that closeness other than my mom. I wished… you are so very blessed, Spencer.”

  He agreed. “They really liked you too, Leah. My mom hasn’t stopped talking about you since that night, and my brother wants me to bring you over again.”

  For a fleeting second, the mask Leah wore slipped, and Gunny saw the same look on her face that Darlene gave him every day. Could it be? If she harbored feelings for him, then why did she so carefully conceal them? She wasn’t promised to another, and he was free too, what kept them apart?

  “I’d like to be with them again also,” Leah finally replied. “If you don’t think that will upset Darlene.”

  Gunny frowned. “What does she have to do with…?”

  Leah’s deliberately impassive face told Gunny all he needed to know. She thought him and Darlene…of course! All the time he spent with Devin, and at the apartment—It all made sense now. She was jealous! Or at least had feelings for him. All this deliberate professionalism; Leah had carefully kept her distance because she wasn’t the kind of woman to interfere or tempt him away.

  And neither was she the kind of woman who would rub victory into the face of her rival, so Gunny had to be careful and not just blurt that he wasn’t seeing Darlene. He knew Darlene was falling for him; he had for a long time, but Devin needed him and Gunny was careful to keep his distance. He also didn’t want to cause Darlene to quit her job and make him lose contact with her son; he was the only father figure Devin had.

  “Tomorrow is a memorial service for my father at the VFW hall in town.” He sat on the corner of his desk. “It’s going to be a rough day for me and even though I present myself as the most disciplined figure since Chesty Puller…”

  “Who?” Asked Leah.

  He waved his hand. “Never mind, it’s a Marine thing. I was thinking, Leah…You’re about the most compassionate person I’ve ever met. It’s a gift, I can tell—just like my ability to lead and bring profit to the companies for which I consult.” This was stretching things a bit but he had a goal. Gunny took her hand and held it in his.

  “I want to hire you for one day, tomorrow as my consultant and grief counselor. I need someone to lean on and help me through the second most difficult day of my life and there is no one more qualified than you. I’ll take fifty percent off my consulting fee if you’ll spend the day with me.”

  Leah sputtered, and touched his face. “Hire me? No, Spencer…not for what you want to pay! How can you put a price on compassion?”

  “Not just compassion. I need someone strong to hold me up when I can’t stand anymore. I’ve had all the training in the world and can conquer any enemy, except one and that’s losing my father. You have helped me more than anyone to manage my loss. One day, Leah. As my consultant.”

  She stood and hugged him around the neck. “I owe you for all the good you have done for my company, and Spencer you’re stronger than you think. I’ll do it, not as a hired client but as a friend. Everybody needs someone they can count on.”

  He smiled and inhaled the sweet aroma that was her trademark scent. “I knew that I could count on you, Leah. We’re a great team.”

  “You are about the most amazing man I’ve ever met,” Leah replied, pulling away so she could see his face. “I wish this partnership was forever.”

  So do I, Gunny agreed. And God willing, it would be.

  Chapter 6

  One thing good about her office was that she could see to the floor below and keep track of employees or supervise production without running back and forth. What was bad about the arrangement was that Leah could also see things that were not pleasant, such as the many times a day that Darlene looked up at Spencer’s office. Or when he stopped to talk to her, and she could see them smiling at each other. She tried to keep busy and avert her eyes, but it never failed, Leah would peer out her window and just as if it were planned, Spencer and Darlene were sharing some personal information, and Leah was a witness.

  She had done her best to keep the relationship with Spencer professional, especially since that day weeks ago when Leah realized that he was becoming involved with Darlene. Besides Christ, Spencer was the best thing that could happen to Leah’s employee, and it would sinful to lure him away for her own selfish wants. But it was hard with the everyday contact and the way he tried unceasingly to be her friend. Spencer was hurting so much from the loss of his father, and desperately in need of comfort but it was not Leah’s place to be so familiar, especially if he belonged to someone else. Many times she had to stop, remember boundaries and pray to God for forgiveness as Leah failed and let her compassion rule over propriety. Like when she saw that Spencer was in pain she didn’t think about it, just massaged his shoulders. If Darlene hadn’t knocked on the office door Leah wouldn’t have realized her error.

  So what was she to do with Spencer today? Dressing for the memorial service, Leah worried again that she was overstepping her boundaries, but he needed her and she wanted to be a good friend. Leah wanted to be more than that, but not at Darlene’s expense. Those boys needed a father and who would be better than Spencer?

  “Just help me do the right thing,” Leah prayed as she changed into her third outfit. “Lord you know how much he needs comfort; please have mercy on Spencer and heal his wounded heart.”

  The doorbell rang, and Leah allowed her mom to answer while she sprayed cologne and slipped into shoes. She could hear Spencer greet Norma and make small talk. Leah knew her mother would offer him coffee and donuts or whatever baked goods were fresh enough for company. Confident he was in good hands; she went to the mirror and checked her hair one more time. She hated it.

  Ripping out the clasp, Leah started all over.

  It was only minutes, but Leah worried about keeping Spencer and hurried out of her room, donning earrings as she ran. He was in the kitchen, probably seated at the table and she could hear him speaking to Norma as she hurried down the hall. Her mother must have showed him the shelf full of pill bottles.

  “My mother was once on so many pills that we figured her doctor couldn’t possibly keep track of all his prescriptions. And my mom didn’t know either, she trusted the doctor because he was educated—a professional. It wasn’t until we took her to a different doctor and showed him all the medicine that we were able to pinpoint the real problem and get rid of all those unnecessary meds before they killed her.”

  Norma closed the cupboard. “I’ve been with the same doctor for years; I wouldn’t know who to trust.”

  “For how long?” Asked Spencer.

  “Since I first felt sick,” admitted Leah’s mother. “I never tried anyone else.”

  He gave her the number of his mother’s doctor and told her to have Leah call. “He’s out of state but I’m sure he can point you in the right direction. My mom is well today, taking one medication and you’d never know she was once near death.”

  Leah entered the room. Gunny smiled at her as if they were going out on a regular date instead of a memorial service.

  “Wow, Lee. You clean up well.”

  She laughed and rolled her eyes, kissed her mother and found the purse she had left sitting on the table. “Isn’t he charming, mother? And so full of good advice—he’s going to make us all millionaires.”

  “That’s right,” he agreed. “Can’t make Marines out of you so I’ll have to settle for wealthy entrepreneurs.” He stood and saluted Norma as they went outside. The temperature had dropped, and fall was fast becoming winter. Leah returned to the house and borrowed Pam’s white cashmere winter coat. It was more formal than hers, and Pam wouldn’t be home for a few days.

 

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