Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
S aturday, Levi felt as excited as Madeline, knowing Rachel would spend the day with them. His mother had suggested he take her and Madeline for a picnic. Without waiting for him to respond, she packed the picnic basket.
“I guess we’ll have a picnic,” he said as his mother bustled about the kitchen. He eyed her curiously. “What’s your plan, Mom?”
“Plan?” The innocence in her tone made him curve the corner of his mouth. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“Never mind.” He turned away and moved down the hall to Madeline’s art room. He was used to his mother’s innocent act—something his father couldn’t resist.
Innocent or not, the woman had never been subtle.
Levi stepped into Madeline’s room and hesitated when he saw the stack of drawings piled on her table. She was busy drawing another.
“Is Miss Rachel here?” She lifted her head. Her eyes held hope as she poised her pencil above the drawing.
“Not yet. She still has a few minutes.” He glanced at the wall clock. Rachel was prompt. She’d be here at precisely eleven thirty.
Madeline nodded and dropped her gaze to her picture, her pencil moving over the paper like the skilled artist she was .
When the sound of tires crunched up the gravel drive, Madeline gasped, dropped her pencil and started to cross the room.
“Let’s go together,” Levi said.
She nodded and took his hand. Together they moved down the hallway to the entryway. Madeline waited patiently for Levi to open the door.
“Miss Rachel.” Madeline bounced on her toes. Even though they’d seen each other this morning at gymnastics class, she squealed as if she hadn’t seen her in ages.
“Hi, Madeline.” Rachel grinned at her, then shifted her gaze to Levi. Though she smiled, her eyes showed the warmth of her gentle spirit. “Hello, Levi.”
“Rachel.” His voice held steady despite his desire to draw her close. His heart expanded at her fresh look that made her look as she had in high school. She looked carefree in a ribbed sweater and faded jeans. Her hair was clasped in a loose ponytail. She held a bouquet of sunflowers, carnations and roses.
“Would you like to carry these?” Rachel climbed the steps and held out the bouquet to Madeline.
“Yes.” Madeline’s eyes widened. She dipped her nose into the flowers. “They smell pretty.”
“I’m glad you like them,” Rachel said as she and Levi laughed. This time Madeline wasn’t embarrassed. She laughed, too.
They walked into the kitchen where Naomi spread mayonnaise over the rows of bread lined on the counter before her.
“Look at the flowers,” she exclaimed, her eyes bright. “Let me get a vase.”
“I can do that.” Levi took the flowers from Madeline, then drew a vase from one of the cabinets.
“What can I do to help?” Rachel moved next to Naomi.
“Did you tell her?” The flick of Naomi’s eyes at Levi drew a curious look from Rachel.
“Not yet.” He looked over his shoulder at Rachel. “Do you want to have a picnic?”
“With the whole family?” Rachel looked confused .
“You, Madeline and me,” he said. He wouldn’t add it was his mother’s idea—a good idea. He wanted to spend a quiet afternoon with Rachel and Madeline. The McSweeney household was never quiet.
“You should go, dear.” Naomi glanced at her before turning back to the sandwiches. “There are some wonderful areas for picnicking.”
“All right,” Rachel spoke hesitantly.
Naomi smiled as she placed the cut sandwiches on a platter.
“I’ve hitched the horses to the buggy.” Levi lifted a picnic basket from the counter. He swept his hand toward the back door. For now, he would ignore his mother’s machinations.
“We’re taking a buggy ride?” Rachel’s brows lifted. “That sounds like fun.”
Madeline giggled at her surprise and delight.
“It’s the perfect day for it,” Levi said.
“It’s a wonderful day and a wonderful plan.” Rachel’s smile was soft as she stared at the horses, then looked at him. “I can’t wait.”
A half-hour later, Levi parked the buggy beneath a large tree where sweet grass waved in a gentle breeze. A brook streamed through the grass and tripped over moss-covered rocks.
In the distance, a doe and a fawn sipped from the creek. Wordlessly, Madeline excitedly pointed at the duo, who gracefully lifted their heads before hopping through the grass and disappearing into the forest.
“You have good eyes.” Levi chuckled. He climbed from the buggy and stepped to the horses where he loosened their harness. He moved to Rachel. Offering her his hand, he helped her from the buggy, then lifted Madeline to the ground. He grabbed the picnic basket and a blanket from the back.
“It’s so beautiful here.” Rachel looked out at the plains stretching before them.
He glanced at her, then followed her gaze.
“Yes, it is,” he said.
The scenery was beautiful. Rachel was stunning. Her casual attire didn’t hide her graceful curves and elegant movements .
“Do you want to sit under that tree?” He dragged his gaze from Rachel and nodded to a tree that stretched powerful branches over a grassy area. Its leaves had started to turn gold and orange reminding him of how beautiful Colorado falls could be.
“That looks perfect.” Rachel took Madeline’s hand and picked their way through the wafting grass.
“Let’s sit here.” Madeline slipped her hand from Rachel’s and rushed ahead of them. She stood in a spot with a view of the plains and Sweet Mountain.
“That looks perfect,” Rachel said with a laugh.
Levi spread out the blanket. From the picnic basket, he lifted containers of cold fried chicken, a vegetable salad, grapes and sliced watermelon, fruit drinks, and a container of chocolate chip cookies.
Rachel’s stomach growled, and she blushed.
“Sounds like someone’s hungry.” Levi eyed her as he set out the containers.
“I was hoping you hadn’t heard.” She dropped her gaze. Her blush deepened, reminding him of all the reasons he had liked her in high school.
“I heard,” Madeline said with a triumphant nod.
“Out of the mouth of babes.” Rachel’s mouth curved.
When Madeline frowned, Rachel hugged her. “It’s a compliment, honey.”
Madeline nodded slowly but seemed to accept the explanation.
Levi handed a plate to Rachel, then set a drumstick, a sprig of grapes and a spoonful of salad on another plate. He handed it and a napkin to Madeline. She munched her chicken and salad and chatted about everything from school to gymnastics to her latest drawing.
“I drew pictures for you.” She looked at Rachel. “You have to take them with you when you leave.”
“Thank you.” Rachel looked stunned before she smiled. “I will.”
“You’re welcome,” Madeline said simply, then talked about her friends at school.
Levi listened to her chatter, but his mind drifted to Rachel, who listened to everything Madeline said while making conversation .
Next week, he’d fly to San Francisco to launch a new product—a computer application that would tackle real-world problems but could be accessed by anyone—then he’d fly to New York and Los Angeles to promote the product on national news. It meant time away from Madeline—and time away from Rachel. Now he saw her briefly a couple of times a week when he took Madeline to gymnastics, which wasn’t enough. He wanted to see her every day for hours.
He constantly received buyout offers for his company, but he wasn’t ready to release control. He had to know that a new leadership team would maintain his vision.
A gentle reminder nudged his mind that when he started the company, he had given control to God. Over the years, as the accolades and the money poured in, he’d taken back that control.
Regret was heavy in his chest. He was torn between his feelings for Rachel, his concern for Madeline and his preoccupation with his company. If his priorities were right, he wouldn’t be conflicted. Trusting in God would set those priorities straight.
What he needed was to look to God with the same faith he had when he was in high school.
Let go. Let God. How many times had he heard those simple statements?
“Daddy Levi, I want to climb that tree.” Madeline set her plate on the blanket and jumped to her feet.
He looked over his shoulder at the tree towering over them.
“I think that can be arranged,” he said.
“Will you come?” Madeline looked at Rachel.
“I’d love to.” Light filled Rachel’s eyes as she set aside her plate, which was still filled with an untouched chicken drumstick and a salad serving.
“Do you want to finish eating your lunch?” Levi didn’t want to interrupt her.
“I’ve had enough,” she said, her smile so like when she was following him and Jonathan and trying to keep up.
“Why don’t you lead?” Levi said. “I’ll follow Madeline. ”
“All right.” She strode to the tree. Grabbing a branch she pulled herself up, then balanced herself as she reached for the next limb.
Because of her gymnastic training, she moved easily from one branch to the next. So did Madeline.
“Maybe we should stop here.” Rachel straddled a branch and looked up. They had climbed halfway up the tree. “The branches above are pretty small.”
“Good idea.” Levi took in the view. “What do you think, Madeline?”
“I guess we can stop. It’s wonderful.” She looked around, then at the ground. “We climbed a long way. This is a big tree.” She switched her gaze to Levi. “When you were little, did you climb trees?”
“All the time.” He laughed dryly.
When he was a kid, never had he imagined the life he would have. He helped with the animals on the ranch. In high school, all he wanted to do was play football. Then college came, and God opened an entire world to him. He was blessed.
During that time, he never forgot his feelings for Rachel. How often had he wanted to call her and see how she was doing? Instead, he talked to Jonathan, who always had news of Rachel. Concealing his emotions, he listened to everything Jonathan shared about her with more interest than he wanted his friend to know.
Had Jonathan known? He had to. He was so free at discussing his sister. Levi’s noncommittal interest wouldn’t have fooled his friend.
Whenever Levi thought to act on his feelings for Rachel, his company was ready to launch a product, or he was caught up in negotiations for a partnership or a company sent their high-powered lawyers to him to convince him to take the company public.
Now he was raising Madeline.
More excuses.
Having Rachel near him filled him with warmth that was welcoming and challenging. His body responded with a rush of sensations. He was attracted to her because of her tenderness and compassion. At the same time, he couldn’t ignore his own body’s response. He wanted her as a friend, and he wanted more .
Would God help him find a way to include Rachel in his life while he raised Madeline and ran the company?
Again the gentle nudging that it might be time to step back from his company’s leadership churned the unrest that he’d tried to fight. He’d reached an impasse. Decisions were needed on every front.
He’d wasted so much time. He was thirty. Rachel was twenty-eight. Most of his friends were married and had started their families. He and Jonathan were the only holdouts.
Why had Levi thought marriage wasn’t for him?
Because there was only one woman who filled his mind—the woman so close he could take her in his arms.
“Can we climb down now?” Madeline’s tiny voice broke through his thoughts.
“Sure.” His mind jerked back to the present.
He looked at Madeline, her brows knitted in question, her chin tipped in the thoughtful way that revealed her intelligence.
How long had he been sitting on this branch, staring at the view, his mind consumed with Rachel? He lifted his gaze to her. As if feeling his look, she turned from the view, her expression bemused. Had her thoughts wandered, too?
“Let’s head back to the ranch and show Rachel the new horse.” Levi stepped to a lower branch but watched Madeline. “Can you make it down?”
“Yes, and by myself,” Madeline said, her jaw set with determination.
“I’m sure you can,” he said, amused.
Still watchful, he reached the ground and stepped from the tree.
Madeline was a few feet from the ground when she jumped from the tree. Her chin high, she landed in the perfect stuck position.
“Good job,” Rachel called from above. Laughing, she jumped to the ground, too, her position as poised as Madeline’s. “I can’t wait to meet your new horse.”
“You’ll like him a lot,” Madeline said with excitement. “He’s very pretty, and he runs like the wind. ”
Levi didn’t move but watched Rachel and Madeline make their way to the picnic area.
How natural it was to see Rachel and Madeline talk as if they’d done that for years. Rachel was a natural when it came to children. The heat rising in his chest made him want to hold her close and relish the way her body formed into the angles of his own.
Too much time had passed since he’d spent time with her. He wouldn’t let her go again. All he needed was God’s direction. He’d pray that God would make His way clear.