Love Inspired November 2014 #2 (25 page)

“Can't we all.” Sylvia picked up her package and left with a wave of her hand.

Nicki grabbed Ethan's forearm with both hands, a big smile on her face. She looked like a little girl who'd been told she was going to see the circus.

“Did you hear what she said? The sale is going to be bigger than ever. We need to get busy around here. When can we start painting these shelves?”

Ethan chuckled. Her enthusiasm filled him with a desire to work round the clock to ensure her plan came together. “Who's this
we
you keep talking about? Does your hand fit a paintbrush?”

Nicki laughed and started back to the office, glancing over her shoulder at him with a teasing smile. “Yes, and a hammer and a saw. I'm very talented.”

* * *

By the end of the day, Ethan had grown comfortable assisting customers, and Nicki had settled on the final arrangement for the shelves. It had been a good day and his relationship with Nicki had grown. Nicki's easygoing attitude and her welcoming spirit were giving him direction on how to live in the moment and not hide.

Ethan straightened up the stockroom before leaving at the end of the day. After a quick goodbye to Nicki, he got into his car and headed toward the Dixiana Motor Lodge. Tonight was his first meeting with Ron's PTSD group, and he didn't want to be late. After a quick stop at a fast-food place, he returned to his room. The place was really beginning to feel cramped. He was anxious to start fixing up the apartment above the store. Hopefully he'd have it ready by the weekend. He'd have to purchase furniture, a bed, dresser and a sofa. Maybe a flat-screen and kitchen items, but the old table and chairs in the place would suffice.

As he pulled his taco from the sack, his cell rang. A quick glance at the caller's name set his teeth on edge. Karen. His boss at TNZ. How had she found him?

He knew what she wanted. She wanted him back on a plane, headed to some foreign crisis, camera in hand. He'd told her repeatedly that he wasn't going back. His life as a photographer was over. But Karen refused to accept it. That was why he'd taken the leave of absence. He needed time to regroup, find out who he was and where he was going with his life.

Tossing the phone onto the bed, he decided that tomorrow he'd buy a new phone. Whatever it took to keep Karen Holt off his back.

* * *

Ethan had no trouble finding the church gym at Hope Chapel that evening. There was a noisy game of basketball going on when he entered. Ron Morrison came toward him with a welcoming smile. “Hey, Ethan. Glad you could make it.” They shook hands. “Let me introduce you to the guys.”

Ron was fifteen years older and a retired marine. Joe Ford, a stocky man of medium height, with intelligent eyes, was a former cop. Ethan guessed he was in his early forties. Stan Arnold was a retired career navy man. The other new member, Bobby Edmonds, was a twentysomething army corporal who'd been recently discharged.

Ethan knew each man had a story. He also knew from experience that it took time and trust before the members felt safe enough to open up and share their pain. He wasn't ready to reveal his experience tonight.

The aroma of fresh pizza brought shouts of approval from the men as a deliveryman walked into the gym with two large boxes. The smell triggered Ethan's hunger. He'd barely touched the taco after Karen's call.

Ron paid the man, then led the men to a small room off the gym filled with comfortable furniture and a table and chairs. After they'd quickly inhaled the pizza, Ron opened the meeting with prayer, then addressed upcoming service projects. “It's our week to work at the Dover homeless shelter. We'll be serving the meal from eleven to one on Sunday. I hope y'all will try and make it. Service projects are a key element in your recovery.”

The new guy, Bobby, crossed his arms over his chest. “How's serving food going to help me with my PTSD?”

The man had a defiant tone to his voice. Ethan suspected Bobby was still at the stage where he felt his PTSD was a physical scar visible to everyone. Ethan remembered the feeling well and felt compelled to respond. He leaned forward, meeting Bobby's gaze. “Helping others takes your mind off your own problems and gives you a new perspective.”

Ron nodded. “Ethan is right about that. It helps you see that everyone has problems.”

Bobby shook his head. “Sounds too easy.”

“It's not easy at all. But you won't know until you give it a shot.”

After cleaning up the room, the men headed out. Ethan found himself walking to his car alongside Ron.

“So, you think you'll be able to help out at the shelter Sunday?”

Ethan had intended to skip it. He was eager to finish up the apartment over the store so he could move in after church. But then he thought about his reaction to seeing Nicki and Sadie and the moment in the park when he'd felt himself losing control. He needed this group, and he needed to be active. “Yeah, I think I am.”

“Good. I'll see you there. If you want to ride together, let me know. And, Ethan, if you want to talk one-on-one, we can make time for that, too.”

“Thanks.” Ethan was always amazed at how God worked in his life. First Paul and now Ron and the support group. The Lord always put people in his path to help him along the next step. What he couldn't figure out was why Nicki and the baby were in his life. What possible good could come from having the constant reminder of his trauma in front of him every day? He was handling it so far, but he'd have to be vigilant. All he could do was walk by faith and not sight because seeing them every day would be like juggling a time bomb.

* * *

Ethan slid his arm into the sleeve of his plaid shirt, wincing when the muscles in his shoulders and back protested. He'd spent most of yesterday dismantling the old store shelves. He should have rested last night, but he was determined to finish the apartment before Sunday so he could get settled in. After a quick sandwich at the Magnolia Café, he'd spent the evening cleaning and making minor repairs on the plumbing and electric. It had been nearly one in the morning when he'd stopped, so he'd spent another night in his sleeping bag. Thankfully he'd packed a change of clothes and a few other necessities into the car, along with his well-traveled coffeemaker.

Walking into the bathroom, he leaned toward the mirror, gently removing the tiny piece of tissue he'd placed over the nick on his jaw he'd made while shaving. He should have left the stubble, but he'd decided to adopt a more professional appearance.

Be honest, Stone.
He sighed and stared at his reflection. He wanted to look good for Nicki. Trouble was, he didn't know why. Foster care had taught him early how to keep himself detached from his emotions and maintain a safe distance in his relationships. But it had cost him.

The one woman he'd loved had ended their engagement, calling him cold, empty and incapable of living a normal life. LeAnn had accused him of hiding behind his camera to avoid living in the real world. He'd been unable to disagree with her. He'd loved her, but he hadn't known how to let her into his heart. He'd never cared for anyone since.

What would that woman say if she could see him now? The explosion and the horrific picture had changed him forever, and not only physically, with the scars on his face and arm. He'd awoken in the army hospital drowning in a flood of feelings he couldn't control and had spent the past year learning to manage his emotions without shutting them down completely.

But Nicki was different. She was a fountain of emotion. She wore each one with ease, moving from happy to irritated to sad in an instant, leaving him to marvel at her adaptability. Watching her expressive face and gestures had become his favorite form of entertainment.

But he had questions. She'd given him his first paycheck last night, signed with her married name, Collier. Yet she went by her maiden name and she didn't wear a ring, and he couldn't forget the way she'd bluntly said her husband was dead, displaying no emotion at all.

She was running from something. Sometimes he could see the longing to leave Dover in her eyes, and it left him with burrs in his heart. He wasn't ready to see another person he cared for walk away.

Ethan glanced at his watch. He was anxious to get back to work on the fixtures. Weather permitting, he'd start painting the shelves today. Stepping to one of the two small windows in the back of the apartment, he looked down at the parking area just as Nicki's car pulled into view. He watched as she removed the baby from the car seat, holding her tenderly and placing a kiss on her cheek. He smiled, realizing he was enjoying the sight of them together instead of bracing against a possible emotional attack.

Perhaps his exposure to the mother and child would be a good thing. He had to admit he looked forward to coming to work each day and he suspected the engaging Nicki was the reason.

* * *

Nicki made a sweep of the aisles, straightening up and checking for bins and shelves low on merchandise. The quiet gave her a moment to regroup and remember that she wasn't truly alone in her situation. She had Sadie. Though she'd greatly underestimated the time and energy required to manage the store and care for a baby. She'd stolen a few minutes this morning for devotional time, reading her favorite verses, but they hadn't provided the usual comfort. She'd blamed it on fatigue and being overwhelmed by problems at the store.

She'd been surprised to see Ethan's car already parked behind the store when she arrived this morning. He'd appeared at the top of the back stairs and hurried down to help carry Sadie's things inside. He'd explained that he'd worked on the apartment and had slept there last night.

Now he was eager to start rearranging the fixtures. His eagerness to work was admirable. Perhaps she should give him a key to the store. That way when he was ready to work, he wouldn't have to wait for her to show up. Wouldn't her mother love that idea? A stranger with access to the entire building.

She caught sight of Ethan as he walked from the kitchen to the stockroom. She'd tried not to notice the way he looked today. His face was clean shaven, revealing the interesting little scar above his mouth and the deep planes of his cheeks. The pale green shirt made his dark good looks even harder to ignore. In a few short days he'd become more than an employee and more like a friend.

The morning passed quickly. Sadie took a long nap, which gave Nicki time to rearrange the merchandise and clear more fixtures for painting. Ethan had already finished several. The store was in a state of upheaval, but hopefully for only a few days. Her excitement grew as she saw her new plan coming to life. She hoped her father would approve. More important, she hoped her plan worked.

Nicki glanced up as the doorbell jingled, smiling when she saw Shelby Durrant and her stepdaughter, Cassidy, enter. “Good afternoon. How's the scrapbooking store coming, Shelby?”

“We'll be open in time for the sidewalk sale. How about you? I hear Latimer's is getting a makeover.” She scanned the store. “Wow. You
are
making changes.”

“I couldn't have done it without Ethan's help. Can I help you find something? Most of our merchandise is still on the floor, but it's been shuffled around.”

Shelby glanced down at Cassidy, giving her an encouraging nod.

“I got my first cell phone for my birthday, and Miss Debi told me you have some really cool covers.”

Nicki blinked, darting a questioning glance at Shelby. “I just put them out yesterday. How did you know?”

“We saw Debi at soccer practice last night.”

That explained it. Debi was almost as excited about the new merchandise as Nicki. “They're over by the front window.” Cassidy exclaimed in delight over the selection of covers. Everything from faux diamonds, sequins, geometric patterns and textured designs.

“I want them all. I don't know how I'll choose just one. These are awesome.”

The girl's enthusiasm gave Nicki an idea, and she walked over to the display. “Cassidy, how would you like to have one free of charge?” The girl stared wide-eyed. “But I need a favor in return. I'll give you the cover of your choice, but I want you to tell all your friends where you got it and encourage them to come and buy them from me. How's that sound?”

Cassidy nodded eagerly. “I can do that.”

“Is it all right with you, Shelby? I think it would help bring customers in if they see we're carrying new things now.”

“I don't see a problem, and I know what you mean about bringing in customers. My brother-in-law Adam is making changes since he took over the hardware store. His ideas are really helping.”

“Are your in-laws ready to retire?”

“They were, but now they're not so sure. With new grandchildren on the horizon, they might hang around a bit longer.” She rested her hand across the bump in her belly.

“Grand
children?
”

“Ty and Ginger are expecting, too. They just told us last night.”

“That was quick.”

“They were surprised, but excited.”

Shelby had married Matt Durrant last fall. Matt's sister, Laura, had recently married, and her husband was now running Durrant's Hardware. Their brother Ty had married this past Valentine's Day. The thought of all those happy couples left Nicki with a hollow sensation in her chest. She'd like to have someone special in her life, but after what she'd been through, she was content for now with her sweet Sadie.

Cassidy chose a bright pink cell-phone cover overlaid with clear bugle beads. Nicki watched the pair leave together, giggling with joy. Someday, she and Sadie would be doing mother-and-daughter things. She couldn't wait.

Ethan walked toward her, setting off a little flutter in her heart. She looked away. He was a nice man. Solid. Dependable. Reliable. All those qualities she'd look for next time. But she needed to get her life back on track before she thought about another relationship. Especially with a guy who was secretive about his background. Still, she had a feeling Ethan would be a good dad. A man like her father.