Chapter 28
“Nikki!” Katrina nodded her head toward her friend because her hands were full. Several plates were balanced on each arm.
“Busy morning,” Nikki said, looking around the full diner. She slid onto a stool at the counter.
“You want your usual?” Katrina said as she deposited the plates, then hurried back to the window that looked into the kitchen where she retrieved the next order.
“That’s what I’m here for,” she smiled. “I don’t remember the last time it was this busy.”
“I think all the rain has made people hungry.”
“Is that what rain usually does?”
“Who knows? It’s been too long to remember. I guess I shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
After delivering the next order, Katrina collected a muffin from the tray and slipped it into a bag before getting a coffee.
“Here you go,” she said .
“Blueberry?”
“Baked this morning.”
“I’m drooling already.” She breathed the scent of the baked goods before crinkling the top of the bag. “I’ll see you later.”
“Have a good one.”
Once out the door, Nikki ran for her car as a fresh surge of rain fell, and she dove into the driver’s seat before shaking her raincoat. Droplets of water scattered all over the front seat. If it hadn’t been raining, she would have walked. Most people were. Soaking in the rain they hadn’t experienced for so long.
The word “miracle” had been bandied about by a lot in town, especially after they moved back to their farms and began to rebuild their lives. It hadn’t taken as long as expected for the properties to be restored to their rightful owners. A lot of what Fairfax had done was shifty because of paperwork not being filed properly and purchases being made under false pretenses.
By the time she reached the church, there was a lull in the weather, and she hurried inside to the small room at the back where Isabel had stayed for a short time. It was also where her dad used to prepare his messages. She liked to spend a few hours a week there praying and reading her Bible, but she’d never call herself the pastor of the church. While she had been true to her word to Gideon and had thought about it, going as far as inquiring about the process to becoming an ordained minister, in the end, she didn’t feel it was right.
For a while, she’d shared what she’d prepared from the study she’d done, or she’d asked others to share. But it was Ty and Mary who had come through in the end. Their leadership gift became evident quickly, and they naturally fit into the position of leading the church. It was a relief, Nikki realized when the pressure came off. She’d been trying to stuff herself into a hole she was never made for.
The front door banged closed, and she jumped to her feet. She’d meant to lock it. There was no need to keep the doors opened all the time now. She’d had to be vigilant about keeping herself regulated or she wouldn’t have time for what was most important. It was only a couple weeks ago that she’d almost burnt out in her excitement to encourage everyone who arrived on the church’s doorsteps. In an effort to give Ty and Mary as much support as they needed, she’d gone too far.
“I’m sorry,” she said as she entered the sanctuary from behind the stage. “I should have—Gideon.”
“Hey. Your mom said you’d be here.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m interrupting?”
“No—of course not, it’s great to see you, but I wasn’t expecting?—”
“I should have called. It was kind of a last-minute thing.” He smiled shyly, half his mouth lifting as his eyes dropped to the floor. “Actually, that’s not quite right. It took me ten hours to drive here, and that was after I wrestled with it for a few days. So that’s not really last-minute, is it?”
She bit down on her lip to hide her emotion, but her face heated. “It’s really great to see you. This is a wonderful surprise. But why the visit?”
The way he smiled at her, she wondered if he knew how flustered seeing him made her.
“You look good,” he said, walking up the aisle.
“You too.” And he did. His T-shirt stuck to him where it had been soaked in the rain. She hated her primal response to his presence. There was no reason to believe he was here for anything but to check up on things before he left again. “Did you walk here? You’re soaking wet.”
“No, but I stood outside for a few minutes wondering if I should come in. And to enjoy the change in the weather. Another miracle.”
“It is, but you should have come in. Did you think I wouldn’t want to see you?”
“I think I was more afraid you wouldn’t be that excited to see me.”
Her lips pursed. “That means you were hoping I would be excited?”
His grin spoke volumes. She wasn’t making it hard for him to see how she felt. His confidence was intoxicating. She’d had to carry so much responsibility over the last few months, she’d forgotten how much his presence lifted her.
“I’ve been talking to my dad,” he said.
“Oh, yeah? Things are still going well?”
“Yeah. We talk most weeks. ”
“About what?”
“Getting a workshop up and running again.”
“I thought he lost everything in the fire.”
“Believe it or not, he had insurance on the place.”
“Your dad? Really?”
“I was as astonished as you when I found out.”
“But he can’t work it, can he? I mean, he can do a little, but?—”
“No. He can’t. I would.”
“Oh. You would run it.”
“I would.”
“So…you’d move back here?”
“I think I’d have to, wouldn’t I?” That smile again.
“Yeah, well, you couldn’t run a business from…wherever you were.” Her brain had abandoned her, and she hated it for that.
“He said your mom’s still visiting him.”
“Yes.” The mention of her mom brought her back to earth, although he’d stepped closer, and she found it harder to breathe or think. “She’s started visiting a lot of people. She’s loving it.”
“Good. I’m happy for her.”
“Me too.” After a couple seconds of silence, she felt the need to fill it. “So, that’s good news you’re moving back. The town will be thrilled to hear it. They appreciated the work you did.” He nodded lightly and moved closer. “And with the rain returning, they’ll be able to pay you, so that’s something.”
He reached for her hand. “Honestly, I don’t really care what the town thinks. There’s really only one person who I’m interested in around here. ”
“Oh, yeah?”
He pulled her close and wrapped his arms round her. “Yeah.”
“That’s too bad. Deputy Cole’s not in town anymore.”
He laughed. “I’m happier knowing he and the rest of them are paying for their crimes.”
Then, before she knew what was happening, he kissed her. It was the best feeling she’d had in a long time. Better than the rain, better than her mom’s joy. The impossible had happened once again.
When they finally pulled apart, she could barely remember what day it was.
“Well then,” she said, unsure what to do with herself. “That settles that.”
“Settles what?”
“My uncertainty.” It felt so good to be held in his arms, her head was spinning. “I wanted you to come back but didn’t want to waste time hoping for it.”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you while I was away.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I know I didn’t contact you, but I had some stuff to sort out, and I wanted to give you space and time.”
“I know.”
“But you’re probably busy. I should let you get back to work.” He didn’t release her.
“You really think I can concentrate now?”
“Does that mean you’ve got some time to give me?”
“We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“You want to go for a walk in the rain?”
“I’d love to.”