Finding Love, page 7
Chaplain Franklin sat next to her on her beige, floral patterned sofa as Major Rhodes squatted in front of her. Funny, the details one remembered. Her hands shook and goosebumps raced up her arms. The air conditioner was set to seventy-seven. There was no reason for her to be cold but a chill wrapped its way around her bones.
“Delaney,” the Major began. He cleared his throat then met her gaze head on. “I’m sorry to inform you, but Parker’s helicopter was shot down. There were no survivors.”
The words could not have been any more devastating than if God Himself sent a messenger to inform her. It was like she’d lost the ability to take in any air. All at once, the air left her body and a denial rose to her lips, falling like a benediction, asking God for the Major to be wrong.
But he wasn’t.
Delaney’s eyes flew open as the remnants of the dream clung to her. Tears ran down her face and dampened her pillow. She glanced at the clock…midnight. Of all nights to have the dream, it had to be after Luke hinted at a relationship.
She sighed, sitting up in the middle of her bed. Once upon a time, she’d only stick to the right side of the bed. After Parker’s death, she filled the bed with dozens of throw pillows to prevent the loneliness. Bits of her past warred with her present.
An image of the folded up flag she received on behalf of the Army scrolled through her mind. She remembered clinging to it as tears streamed down her face. The overbearing smell of dirt and rain. The sound of “Taps” crying out into the air as the bittersweet notes left the bugle.
The boys had clung to her side and would for the next month before the pain of their father’s passing eased into something that was more functional. Somehow, the three of them had found their rhythm again. Moving back to Maple Run had certainly helped.
Delaney sniffed. Was she insane for imagining she could date Luke? For a brief moment, she’d felt pure bliss at his interest. Her mind hadn’t thought of Parker, of her widowhood. No, it had been purely focused on Luke’s ice blue eyes. Of the scent of Irish Spring wrapping around her in the summer breeze.
No, there was no way she could date another man who’d choose to put on a uniform and fight for his country. It was a noble occupation, but she wanted no part of it.
Then what are you going to tell Luke?
He wasn’t her worry. Self-preservation had gotten her this far. It would need to take her further. Making the decision to date after losing a husband wasn’t as big a concern as dating another solider. A shudder shook her body, adding a chill to her already cold room. Why did she have to be interested in Luke?
Can’t you take these feelings away, Lord?
Early on in her marriage, she and Parker had a discussion about what happened if the other should die. Being an Army soldier that deployed to hostile countries raised Parker’s probability. Not one she thought would come true, but it was there. They agreed the other should marry without worry of tarnishing the other’s memory. She’d want Parker to marry if he had been the one still alive.
The past few years though, remarrying hadn’t even entered her hemisphere of thoughts. Not even dating. However, one gaze from a rugged, heart-stopping Texan and she was quaking in her proverbial boots. Not because he wasn’t Parker but because of his uniform.
Who knew she would be attracted to another soldier? She’d curse her hormones if she thought it would do any good. With a whimper, she flopped back onto her pillows. Staying up and contemplating life’s answers wasn’t going to make her change her mind. Luke Robinson was in the military.
A soldier in the United States Army to be exact.
Off limits.
“You got that, Delaney? He’s off limits.”
Somehow, she had a feeling her heart wouldn’t listen.
“Lord, please,” she whispered in the quiet of her bedroom. “Please make sure my heart listens. I can’t be with him. I just can’t. Besides, You wouldn’t ask that of me, would You?”
That was beyond irony, wasn’t it?
Chapter Nine
Luke whistled softly as he plated the dinner order. Monday had a nice rhythm to it. It wasn’t as slow as he thought it would be but not so fast paced it would incite panic. The Maple Run locals, mostly families, were enjoying dinner. The atmosphere in the kitchen was laid back as the soft strands of contemporary Christian music filled the air, mingling in with sounds of laughter from the dining area.
Life was good.
Except for the amount of times he’d lost focus and stared at Delaney as she made her way from the tables to the kitchen to turn in the patrons’ orders. Each time she neared the service window his pulse skittered into a frantic cadence of attraction. At first, she avoided him as if a stench of a skunk clung to his skin. As the evening headed toward night, she began to meet his gaze.
He swallowed as she headed his way again. Her table’s order was ready. Could he get a smile out of her? Anything to give him a glimpse of hope? She slowed as she neared the window.
“Order’s up,” he stated.
“Thanks.” She began to grab the plates, all without making eye contact.
Two steps forward, three steps back. “Delaney?”
“Hmm,” she paused, her eyes focused on the plates.
“You look mighty pretty.” He licked his lips wondering if he sounded as foolish as he felt.
Her gaze flew upward and met his. Her lips curved into a heart stopping grin. “Thank you, Luke.” She turned away and melted into the crowd.
Victory came fast and sweet. That beauty of a smile was worth feeling a little foolish. He whistled as he finished a couple of more orders then took off the apron and placed it on a hook. He tapped on Alex’s back, who then slipped his headphones off.
“I’m heading to break.”
“All right, man.” Alex raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t you just ask her out instead of stalking her with your eyes.”
His neck warmed under the younger man’s scrutiny. “I have my reasons.”
“Pathetic.” Alex shook his head.
Luke whirled around and headed for the break room. He didn’t want to see the look of pity on Alex’s face. There was nothing he could do about his earlier mistake. If he asked her out now, wouldn’t she wonder why he just didn’t do it before?
He grunted and ran a hand down the back of his head. Dating was for the birds. It was exhausting and all he’d done was think about it. Maybe if he came up with an action plan the desperation clawing at his gut would back down to a simple gnawing of the bone.
The break room was silent and he sighed in relief. No one would be around if his ruminations turned to mumbling under his breath. He wasn’t always aware of his actions while his mind came up with a plan. It was a wonder his military call sign wasn’t mumbles instead of Crusoe.
As he ate bits of his meatloaf, his worked through different scenarios. He could walk Delaney to her car after work and ask her out. Maybe equate her beauty to the moon and once she smiled at the compliment, ask her out.
He shook his head, too lame.
What about casual like? He could ask her when she dropped off a food order. Alex would have his headphones on, so hopefully he wouldn’t hear him stumble over the question. Then again, if she rejected him, it was always possible someone would over hear.
Nah, that wouldn’t work.
Just as he took a bite of his macaroni and cheese, the break room door opened. Delaney strolled in with a hot plate of food.
“Hi, Luke.”
He nodded dumbly.
She stared at the table looking to the seat next to him and the one across from him. He straightened up in his chair. What was she thinking? She took an audible breath and headed for the seat across from him.
“How’s the meatloaf?” She pointed to his plate.
He swallowed the food in his mouth in a hurry to answer. “Good.”
“That’s nice.” She gave him a tight-lipped smile.
This conversation was painful. It gave a whole new meaning to ‘walking on eggshells.’ If this is what people meant, he didn’t ever want to do it again.
“Delaney—”
“Luke—”
“You first,” he motioned with his hand.
“I had a horrible dream last night.”
Concern tightened his gut. “Are you all right?”
She shook her head, her ponytail swinging. “No,” she whispered. “I wasn’t even planning on telling you that.”
He reached for her hand and stopped. Would she welcome a hand to hold for comfort? He placed his hand on the table, inches from hers. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not really, but I do need to talk.”
“I’m listening.” He placed his fork down and gave her his undivided attention.
“Your job scares me. I was married to a man who had your job. I know what you do, well as much as you can say.” She waved a hand in the air. “What I’m trying to say is…” she broke off and stared at her plate, various emotions crossing her face.
“You’re worried I’ll get hurt.” He didn’t say ‘die,’ although his mind practically shouted it.
She nodded and a tear slipped down her cheek.
He closed his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. He’d been so foolish to think he’d have a chance with her. How could he ask her to date him when her husband died from job hazards?
His eyes flew open at the touch of her hand.
“Don’t be.”
He stared at their hands. The contrast in shades tugged at his heart, evidence of their differences. It wasn’t about their skin color, but somehow it was a reminder that they came from two different paths in their life. She a widow, he a single man. He wrapped his hand around hers, the warmth curling around his heart. Why did he have to let her go?
“About what I said at the park…”
“Yes?”
Was it his imagination or was her voice slightly breathless? He inhaled trying to draw strength. If she was scared to make the next step because of his job, then he owed it to her to back away.
“Forget it.”
“What? Why?” She pulled her hand away as confusion filled her face.
“You just said you were scared because I have the same job as Jones.”
“So...”
Now it was his turn to feel confused. “But…”
She held a hand up. “I didn’t tell you that so you would go running the opposite direction,” she snapped out.
“Hold on.” He reached for her hand, but she scooted her chair back. “What are you trying to tell me then?”
“Forget it.” She headed toward the door, her dinner an afterthought.
“Delaney.” He hoped out of his seat and slid in front of the door before she could reach it. “Delaney,” he whispered. He cupped her shoulders, marveling at her height. It allowed him to look right into her chocolaty brown eyes. “I like you…a lot…but I don’t want to cause you any more turmoil than I already have. When you said you were scared, I was trying to do the right thing and back away.”
“No one asked you to,” she whispered.
“Then what do you want me to do?”
“Go out with me,” she blurted out.
A glimmer of heat filled his insides. “Yes.”
She blinked as if stunned. Whether it was by her question or his response remained to be seen. Slowly, he slid his hands down her arms and intertwined his fingers with hers. “I’d love to go out with you.”
“Okay.” She blinked again. “I’m off Thursday.”
“Thursday it is.”
He couldn’t remember if he had that day off, but he’d do everything in his power to ensure he did.
Delaney knocked on Nina’s office door. Her heart was galloping like a stallion. She couldn’t believe what just happened. She’d been intent on steering clear of Luke, but somehow she’d ended up asking him out.
“Come in.”
She opened the door thankful to see no other employees in her sister-in-law’s office. Just the woman herself. Her white desk was immaculate except for a couple of white picture frames. Probably held Dwight and the kids’ picture.
“Hey, Dee, what’s up?” Nina leaned back in her white leather chair.
“Can you talk?”
Nina arched an eyebrow skyward. “Sure. What’s wrong?”
“I just asked Luke out.” She flopped into the seat adjacent Nina’s desk.
“Really?” Nina leaned back with a small smile edging her lips.
“Yes,” she cried out. “I didn’t mean to.” She really hadn’t. Yet, each time she picked up an order or dropped one off, the Texan’s blue eyes had tugged at her heart. Then he had to go and tell her she looked pretty. No, mighty pretty. It had sounded like a line straight from a western romance. He’d given her no choice but to seek him out.
“I take it asking him out’s a bad thing?”
“Of course it is! He’s in the Army for heaven’s sake! The Army!” She stood up and clutched the back of her vacant seat. “I wanted to tell him it wouldn’t work. The next thing I know I’m telling him I’m scared. Scared! It’s mortifying what that man does to me when I get too close. One look at his eyes and my insides liquefied. Then, I asked him out.” She snorted in disgust.
“I don’t see what the problem is.”
She squinted her eyes at Nina. It was obvious her sister-in-law was holding back laughter. “What in the world is so funny? My life’s in shambles and your suppressing giggles.”
“Oh, Dee, calm down. You’re attracted to a man. You aren’t the first widow to give another man a second glance.”
“I wish it was only two glances,” she muttered.
This time Nina’s laugh bounced in the office. She shook her head at the woman’s antics.
“I bet you sounded angry when you asked him out.”
Delaney’s lips twitched. Then a smile broke out. “Probably.”
Nina clutched the side of her stomach as laughter racked her body. “Oh my goodness. I would have loved to been a fly on that wall.”
“Nina,” she sighed. She sat back down. “What am I going to do? Seriously, I can’t date him. He’s on vacation and will go back home soon. Back to the Army and a life of jumping out of moving aircraft.” She enunciated each word slowly as disbelief coursed through her. “I don’t know if I can handle that.”
“No one says you have to marry him. Just date. Have fun. Give yourself an opportunity to relax and unwind with an adult.”
She bit her lip. It had been awhile since she had an adult to talk to that wasn’t related to her. And their conversations in the past were intriguing. Maybe she could have fun and not make a big deal out of it. “You’re right. It’s just one date.”
“Exactly. No one’s proposing.” Nina paused. “Wait, you didn’t secretly place an ad in the paper, did you?”
Delaney chuckled. “No, only you’re crazy enough to do that.”
Nina smiled sheepishly. “It worked out though.” She paused. “When are you two going out?”
“Thursday,” she squeaked.
“Where’s he taking you? What are you going to wear?”
Panic clawed at Delaney. “I don’t know. Clothes.”
Nina’s mouth dropped open. “Of course you’re wearing clothes, Delaney. But it has to be the right ones.”
“Didn’t you just say it was just a date?” The woman was confusing her.
“Sure it is. You still want to look your best though. Think of it as a test run for when you’re reading to get back out there for marriage purposes.”
She shuddered. Shopping had never been her favorite activity. In fact, she hadn’t gone shopping in about…three years. Wow!
“Don’t panic.” Nina’s voice was calm. “I’ll help you. We could go shopping earlier that day and make it a ladies’ day. What do you think?”
For the first time, calm found her. “That sounds great, Nina.” She didn’t have many opportunities to hang out with her sister-in-law. She always felt like she had to make up for their rocky start.
“Perfect,” Nina beamed.
The rest of her shift, Delaney tried to calm herself. It was only one date. Certainly that wasn’t enough time to actually fall for a guy. When Luke’s vacation was over, she wanted to be able to say good-bye and thank him for his friendship. She wouldn’t do it if she ended up falling for him.
Despite the calm assurance Nina had offered, panic edged its way back in. Lord, I’m begging you here. Please don’t let me fall for this man. Help me to view this date as a stepping stone to enter the dating scene again. Nothing serious, just one date.
One date.
She could do it. Wear something nice, remember the wit and charm she’d used once upon a time for something other than greeting customers at The Pit. Laugh at a man’s jokes and go through the twenty questions trying to decide if they were compatible.
Her stomach rolled. Scratch that. This wasn’t an interview for a life partner. Just two people getting together to pass the time. It didn’t matter if she was compatible with Luke. Didn’t even matter if there was a spark of attraction.
More like a flame.
Her face heated. Okay she’d need a lot more prayer to make sure her heart was safeguarded. No need to go out on a date unarmored.
Don’t forget about me, Lord. I hope You’re hearing all this. Seeing all this. I need a safety net a mile wide and high. Deep, too.
Chapter Ten
Luke leaned back in his chair, full and satisfied. Between eating at The Pit and the food Ms. Bella fed him, he’d definitely need to work off the extra weight before his leave was over. She made pasta—gnocchi, she called it—from potatoes. It was the best pasta he’d ever eaten. In fact, all the food she cooked was amazing and inspired him to add Italy to his bucket list of places to visit.
The sound of the doorbell peeled through the air.
Ms. Bella rubbed her hands together. “New guest. I’ll be back.” Her skirts swished as she left the kitchen and headed for the front door.
Since he’d been here, one or two guests had also occupied the premises. However, he’d been the last one for the past three days. It was kind of nice to get doted on, even though he felt bad for making Ms. Bella work for one person. Hopefully the new person would stay awhile and take some of the pressure off of him.
