Family in His Heart (6 page)

“What kind of rental did you find?”

His voice cut through the music and surprised her. “It’s more of a studio apartment in a house. The price is good, but I’ll feel as cramped as I do in the motel.”

Quiet hung over them again, except for the country music drifting from the speakers. Nick looked ahead as a frown settled on his face, and he reached for the volume control and lowered the song to a faint hum. “I know a place that might work.”

She faced him. “A place to live?”

He nodded.

“Really?” Her heart skipped, hoping it was what she wanted.

“You can move to the island with us.”

Yes. That’s what she so longed to hear.

He twisted for a second to face her. “It’s not what you might be thinking, Rona. I know I upset you before.”

She shook her head. “I understand.”

“It’s a job. I’m looking for a housekeeper and I have living quarters above the boathouse.”

Above a boathouse. She’d heard about the guestrooms. “I—I thought by now you’d filled the job. I read about it in the paper.”

His eyes widened. “You didn’t ask me about it?”

“No, I figured if you were interested you’d ask me.”

He shook his head. “We both second-guessed each other.”

Mixed emotion fluttered in her chest. He had been thinking of her.

She wanted the job so badly, yet she worried. She didn’t know Nick well. And his son? How would she get along with him? Dealing with a teen could be frustrating. “I’d have to give Bernie notice if I take the job.”

“Here’s a thought. Come to the island tomorrow. I know Bernie closes on Memorial Day. You can check out the apartment and meet Gary. What do you say? I’ll pick you up at the marina.”

His look seemed so sincere that Rona couldn’t have said no if she’d wanted to, but she didn’t want to. “That sounds great and I’ll have time to think about your offer.” Think? That’s all she’d thought about.

“I’m glad. We’ll talk business tomorrow then.”

She agreed, but her heart didn’t want to talk business. Nick had wiggled into her life and she wanted to know him better. She wanted to talk about life and dreams. She wanted to talk about everything but the past. She had no desire to go there.

After Nick dropped Rona at her apartment, he stopped at the market to pick up steaks and groceries for a barbecue tomorrow, and after storing those away at home, he dashed into the guesthouse apartment and eyed the space.

He could picture Rona here with the sunlight streaming through the living room window and streaking through her honey-colored hair. Without a housekeeper, the apartment had been neglected. The room needed dusting and the carpet vacuuming. He headed into the bedroom. Though neat, it needed dusting, too. He checked the bathroom. The mirror gleamed, and he was grateful Rose had left the place in good condition. She’d had a good work ethic.

Sometimes he wondered why she’d really left. Had it been because of the tension with Gary? Nick knew his son could chase away an angel, but he prayed things would change. If he could keep calm and be the father Gary needed, he could move mountains with God’s help.

Standing here will get me nowhere, Nick thought. He headed for the storage closet and pulled out items he needed for dusting and the vacuum. Moving around the room, he sprayed then swept away the dust, admiring the shine and wishing he could sweep away his problems as easily. Outside the sun had lowered in the sky and a palate of purple and coral spread across the horizon.

Beneath him, he heard the powerboat land at the pier. Gary had arrived home. He checked his watch. He’d come home on time. Nick dragged in a grateful breath. God was good.

Looking out the window, he saw Gary head toward the house. Nick strode to the doorway and stepped onto the landing. When Gary rounded the boathouse, Nick gave a call and beckoned to him.

Gary stopped and gave him a surprised look as he moved toward the staircase to the apartment. “What are you doing up there?” He ascended the steps.

“Dusting,” he said, waving the cloth at him. “I’ve found a housekeeper, I hope, and I’ve invited the woman over tomorrow to take a look.”

“Tomorrow? It’s Memorial Day.” His forehead knitted.

“I know, but it worked for her. Would you like to invite Phil over for steaks, or—” his preference came out next “—how about Amy?” Somehow he wanted to get to know this girl. Gary had always been standoffish about his friends. “It would make the lady more relaxed I’m sure with other people here.”

“It’s a job, Dad. You don’t have to entertain her.”

Nick grasped for something sensible to say rather than what was in his heart. “I do need to show her the house. She’d have to live here.”

“Why?”

“Just like Rose. She’s new in town and has no other home in town, so it makes sense.”

“But you don’t know her, Dad. What’s she like?”

“You’ll see tomorrow when you meet her. She’s been working at Harbor Inn for a few days.”

A toying grin spread across his face. “Is this the chick you were looking for the night we had dinner there?”

“I wasn’t looking for anyone.” Heat rose on the back of his neck.

Nick watched Gary’s expression as he processed what he’d said, and Nick could tell he still questioned him.

“What do you say? You want to call Phil? Amy?”

“I’ll check with Amy. Her folks have another party so that’s why they had a barbecue today.” He took a step backward down the stairs but stopped. “You don’t expect us to stick around the whole time, do you? Some of our friends are getting together.”

“No, just come for dinner and meet Rona. Tell Amy we’ll pick her up at the marina around noon.”

He shrugged. “Okay.” He swung around, then turned back. “Rona, huh?” He winked, then bounded down the steps and up the hill to the house while Nick watched him, knowing he’d have to watch himself tomorrow.

He tossed the dust-cloth into the air and caught it before stepping inside. One job done. Two, really. He’d dusted and talked with Gary. Once he vacuumed he’d go inside and plan their meal.

He wanted things to be perfect for Rona.

Rona. He closed his eyes and prayed that what he felt in his heart was God’s leading and not his own longing.

R
ona stood near her car and watched the speedboat head for the pier. As it neared, she could see Nick at the helm and another young man seated beside him. Gary, she assumed. The only other person on the pier was a teenaged girl sitting on the wooden planks and swinging her feet back and forth as if waiting for someone, too.

As the boat nosed to the wharf, Rona left her car and headed to the pier. As she stepped onto the wide planking, the girl rose in pink Capri pants so tight Rona wondered if they were painted on and strode toward the boat.

Gary tied the rope, then waved to the girl and hurried forward as Nick sent Rona a wave. She waved back, noticing that his son was staring at her.

“You’re Rona?” he asked when she approached him.

She nodded. “And you must be Gary.”

He gave her a curious look. “You’re the housekeeper?”

His question held a note of sarcasm and it took her a moment to sort for an answer. “We’ll see.”

He shrugged and wrapped his arm around the girl, then steered her toward the boat.

Nick had stepped onto the pier and held the rope, waiting for her to arrive. “Hi,” he said, his eyes twinkling in the noonday sun.

“Hi,” she said, not knowing how to act being a prospective employee and not his friend. She’d mulled the question and felt at a loss about what he expected. “Thanks for inviting me to look at the apartment.”

“It’s my pleasure.” He clasped her hand and drew her closer. “I hope you don’t have other plans. I’d like you to stay for dinner.”

Dinner. She looked into his smile and caught her breath. “Do you treat all your employees so well?”

He grinned. “No, but you’re different.”

Different. The comment puzzled her until she realized not every employee lived at his home. That made her different.

He clasped her arm, then motioned for her to climb into the boat. “Step right there on the footrest and grab that handle.”

Rona eyed the spots he’d indicated and slipped her leg over the side of the boat, grasped the handle, then brought her other leg inside while balancing her weight. She relaxed when she had both feet on the floor of the craft.

He hadn’t let go of her arm, and before he did, he gave it a squeeze. “Good job.” He motioned to the girl. “Amy, it’s your turn.”

She hopped in as if she’d had lots of practice and sank onto a bench. Amy’s long lashes brushed her cheekbone as she gave a lingering look at Gary, who remained on the pier.

“Rona, this is Gary’s friend Amy.” He turned to the girl. “Amy, Rona.”

They nodded to each other as Nick stepped aboard and gestured to Gary to untie the ropes. Nick dropped onto the pilot’s seat and beckoned Rona to join him. She slid onto a passenger seat and looked back to see Gary hop on board and settle beside Amy.

The motor revved and Nick guided the boat out into the water. Once they’d traveled a distance, they gained speed and sailed into the lake. The island grew closer and Rona could see more detail. Homes nestled beyond the trees, spacious lawns with large boathouses, two stories or higher. She could only imagine what living there might be like.

A hand touched her arm and she looked into Nick’s shining face. “What do you think?” he said, loud enough for her to hear above the sound of the motor and the waves hitting the hull.

“Wonderful.” She couldn’t help but smile and enjoy the pressure of his hand against her arm.

His hand dropped as he gestured ahead. “I suppose you know that’s Marquette Island. Did you know Les Cheneaux means ‘the channels’ in French?”

“Bernie told me.”

He leaned closer. “Marquette’s the biggest. We live on the other side of Cube Point.”

She followed his finger along the sweep of land.

“Have you had a chance to tour the lake?”

She shook her head.

“I’ll have to take you around. It takes a couple of hours and you’ll be amazed.”

He turned back to the wheel, occasionally naming some of the small islands as they neared, while she leaned back and enjoyed the breeze whispering through the cabin.

Rona glanced behind her. The wind was stronger there and Gary held Amy in his arms as she leaned against him, his lips nuzzling her hair, his hands running the length of her arm. A smidgeon of envy rolled up her spine and she turned away.

As they rounded the bend, Nick pointed again. “That’s Long Island and behind it is Birch Island. My place is in that direction.”

Again she strained to see beyond the water to the shore, wondering what his home might look like.

As he cut inward toward the land, the houses became more distinct and finally he slowed. She could see the lovely homes once again—elegant homes, and one of them was Nick’s.

He nosed the boat between two lengthy docks and she gazed ahead of her at the sloping lawn that rose to a lovely two-story home built of stone with brown clapboard siding above. The two-story boathouse, built of the same dark siding as the house, butted to the end of a double pier.

Nick helped her from the boat and, though she’d loved the ride over, the wooden planks felt better beneath her feet. He let Gary tie up and grasped Rona’s arm as they walked to the end of the dock and finally stepped onto solid ground.

“Let’s go up to the house and I’ll show you the apartment later.”

Nick motioned to an outside staircase that rose to the second story of the boathouse. And though she was eager to look inside, she was nearly as anxious to see inside his house—the place where she would be cleaning and cooking, she guessed.

The hill’s incline was steeper than she had imagined and she fell behind Nick, trudging to the top.

“Need a little help?” He turned and offered his hand with a grin. “You’ll get used to it.”

She grasped his large hand as he drew her to his side. Rona loved the feel of her hand in his, his strong fingers wrapped around hers, the scent of his aftershave permeating the fresh air.

“We’re here,” he said, releasing her hand when they reached the top of the hill.

She missed the warmth of his touch, yet the sparkle in his eyes remained. “Welcome to Marquette Island.” His hand swept a span of property encroached by large evergreens and a few sturdy maples.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, amazed at the view of the two islands he’d pointed out earlier. “I’ll take you up on that ride one day. I’d love to see the islands.”

“It’s a deal.”

He grasped her arm and steered her onto the stone walkway that led to an enclosed porch with rattan furniture. Beside the front door, two side-panel windows gave her a view of a foyer with a broad staircase, an elegant fanlight rose above to the second story. She couldn’t imagine even heating the place, let alone paying the mortgage.

Nick pushed open the door and motioned her inside. The first view caused her to gasp. The two-story foyer offered an overlook leading to the second story rooms. She’d never seen anything so lovely.

“Nick, it’s lovely.” Her voice gushed with awe, and she cringed at the sound.

“Thanks. It’s home.”

Home. The word settled into her heart. This could be her home, at least for a while. Then she corrected her thought. She would live over the boathouse—an apartment, Nick called it. She knew it could never be this grand.

He moved ahead of her and motioned to a room on his left. “Dining room here. French doors leading to the porch. On a nice day we can open the doors and let the breeze come inside.”

French doors. Breeze. She controlled her impulse to gasp aloud.

He cut through the dining room into an open hallway that led in three directions. Ahead of her between three columns, she viewed the family room with a fireplace at the far end, a huge room with sofas and chairs and, near the hearth, a serving counter.

Nick led her to the left where he opened a door to the laundry room, then into the kitchen with its butcher-block island and breakfast-nook alcove surrounded by windows that looked out to the expanse of trees beyond the patio.

“Let’s head outside. I want to turn on the barbecue.”

Shade sprinkled patterns on the stones. She eyed the umbrella table, log glider and picnic table, stopping at the barbecue pit made from stone.

Nick spilled in the charcoal chips and lit the fire as she stood beside him, feeling the warmth as the heat flared. Yet when Nick faced her, she realized the warmth had permeated her heart as well and had nothing to do with the fire.

“After we eat, I’ll show you the rest of the house and the apartment. Gary’s anxious to meet his friends in Cedarville, and I promised him he could go.”

“Can I help with dinner?”

“I never turn down an offer like that.”

A flicker of something deeper flashed in his eyes and Rona wondered if it had to do with her or Gary. She recalled Nick had problems with his son, but today she’d seen no sign, except for the questioning look he’d given her at the marina in Hessel.

When she stepped away from the fire, a chill rippled across her arms.

“Cold?”

“Just a chill. I’ll be fine.”

“Let me loan you a sweater.”

He beckoned her inside where the warmer air ended the chill. “I’m fine. What can I do to help?”

“How about a salad?”

“I can handle that.”

He motioned her toward the refrigerator, then pulled a wooden bowl from a cabinet and set it on the counter.

Rona pulled out the salad fixings and went to work, but she couldn’t resist watching Nick marinade the thick steaks and butter the baking potatoes before he popped them into the microwave.

When he carried the steaks outside, Rona stopped a moment to steady herself. This felt too good, too wonderful, to be real. Could she really live here and cook in this great kitchen with everything a chef could want—lots of cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a dishwasher. The mint-green walls with splashes of darker green combined well with the white counters; the natural wood flooring brought the outside in.

Her heart skipped a beat as she heard Nick return followed by the beep of the microwave.

Nick opened the door, slid the potatoes onto a tray and headed outside again. Curious, she peered through the window and saw him slip them onto the grill.

Rona smiled, seeing Nick’s comfort in cooking. Maybe she wouldn’t be expected to cook their meals. She sliced the last of the tomatoes, then added cucumber and mixed lettuce. She gave the veggies a toss and waited for him to return.

Nick came in and crossed to her, bringing along with him the scent of the charcoal and the fragrance of outdoors. “Croutons in the cabinet over the microwave and cheese in the meat keeper.”

“You seem to know your way around the kitchen.”

“I have to know that—”

His face darkened and Rona wished she hadn’t opened her mouth. “Right. You have a growing teenager to feed.”

He nodded but grew silent.

Gary popped his head through the family room doorway. “When are we eating?”

“Soon. Go out and check the steaks.”

Gary drew Amy into the kitchen and through the doorway to the patio. She clung to him and Rona wondered what it would feel like to have a man she could lean on. One that she admired and respected; a man she could love.

Love seemed an alien emotion. She’d run away for lack of it and to safeguard herself. She’d had her reasons, but making the move had been harder than she realized. Moving to a town where she knew no one except an elderly woman might have stopped most people, but if they’d been in her shoes, they might have run off, too.

A couple of friends and a father who’d spent most of his lifetime drunk hardly seemed worth sticking around the Detroit area and dealing with her brother again.

Yet she had loved him. They were kin and she knew that should mean something. To him, it meant someone to rip off and manipulate. To Rona, it meant memories of her mother and the familiar, as bad as it had seemed sometimes.

She gave the salad another toss and realized Nick had left the kitchen. She returned the unused cheese to the refrigerator and studied the dressings. Finding two choices, she pulled them out and set them beside the wooden bowl.

Gary darted in and swung open the refrigerator, then stopped. “He has you working already, huh?”

The tone of his comment took her aback. “I volunteered.”

“Sucker,” he said, pulling out two pops from the shelf. “Grab something to drink for yourself.” He slammed the fridge door and vanished outside.

Sucker. Maybe she was, but what she’d seen of Nick she liked, despite her earlier fears. She’d suspected him of being a playboy or thinking she was a loose woman, perhaps, but now she had second thoughts. He’d proven to be kind and she had to go on trust.

Trust. That was a word that had left her vocabulary for so long.

“We’re ready.”

Nick’s voice broke through her unpleasant reverie and she jumped.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He gave her a curious look. “Are you ready? We need the drinks and salad.”

Rona gathered the salad bowl and dressings.