Loving Tenderness (5 page)

T
he judge’s voice still rang in Hannah’s ears as she left the courtroom—thirty days and a two-hundred-dollar fine. That and the judge’s personal protection order after Jack’s release alleviated her fear. She had a full month to move. Today was April twenty-eighth, and she had until the end of May. She could start her new job without waiting for Jack to pop up unexpectedly and start his terror all over again. Her life was beginning to change for the better.

Past police records, Carla’s testimony, and the reports and photos from Loving Arms provided all the evidence needed. The whole proceeding had lasted only a couple of hours, and Hannah felt grateful that for once Jack hadn’t talked his way out of serving jail time. He’d done it before with his empty promises and had gotten probation. Jack’s promises were lies.

Today, Hannah’s heart lifted, and she looked at her watch, pleased she had time to spare; she headed toward Loving Treasures. Annie had learned about an apartment above the shop that would soon be available and
would meet Hannah’s needs. After pondering Andrew’s insistence, Hannah had decided moving could be a positive step.

The bell tinkled over the shop door when Hannah entered, and she stood a moment looking around the boutique. She’d passed the store many times but had never ventured inside. Twenty dollars for a silk scarf seemed pricey, though she knew many people found the purchase commonplace. A woman’s greeting sailed across the room, and Hannah pivoted left toward the checkout counter before realizing the voice came from her right.

“May I help you?” the woman asked.

Hannah appraised the clerk. She wore a long purple skirt in crinkle-crepe. Beneath the hem, Hannah noticed a pair of silver sandals offering a view of magenta-painted toenails. A flowered top with flowing sleeves gave the illusion that the woman had stepped off a ship from the Pacific Islands. The only thing missing was a lei.

“I’m Hannah Currey,” she said, extending her hand to the lady.

“Hannah,” the woman said, gliding across the room to grasp her hand. “I was expecting you. I’m the owner, Claire Dupre.”

“This is nice,” Hannah said, scanning the room again while not knowing where to begin.

“Annie mentioned you’re looking for an apartment.”

“Yes. I suppose Annie told you I need to move from my present location.” She waited for Claire to say how sorry she was for Hannah’s troubles, but the woman only smiled, leaving Hannah wondering if Annie had told her about Jack.

“It’s no fun,” Claire said, her face registering no con
cern. “I’ve been packing and getting organized. My new place will be ready in a couple of weeks—the first house I’ve owned in such a long time.”

“Congratulations,” Hannah said, wondering if she would ever have a real home of her own and not just an apartment.

Claire pointed her index finger toward the ceiling. “I’ve lived up there since I arrived in Loving. It was convenient, but I’m getting older, and lugging groceries up those stairs is wearing me out. Now I’ll have a nice ranch. Everything on one level.”

Hannah grinned, waiting for Claire to suggest she look at the apartment. Instead, Claire shifted to a display table and sorted through the silk scarves until she located one and drew it from the stack.

“This will look beautiful with your coloring. The rusts and browns draw attention to your eyes, and it’s attractive against your beige top.” She flared the scarf and drew it around Hannah’s neck, then tied it in a loose knot. “Look how lovely,” she said, shifting Hannah to a mirror in the center of the display table.

Hannah had no questions about how the woman ran a successful business. She found it difficult to avoid listening to Claire’s compliments. “It’s very nice, but I’m not in a position to purchase—”

“Purchase?” Claire drew back, a frown washing away her smile. “It’s a gift. It is obviously meant for you.”

“I can’t accept a gift,” Hannah said, trying to untie the bow.

“Please,” Claire said, her expression intent as she patted the scarf back into place. “I love to give gifts. Don’t spoil my day.”

Hannah had second thoughts about her shrewd busi
ness sense. If the woman gave away her merchandise, her business savvy left something to be desired.

Claire shifted and motioned toward the doorway from which she’d appeared earlier. “I know you’re not here to shop. You’d like to see the apartment.”

Before Hannah could answer, Claire sashayed across the room, beckoning her to follow. Passing through the doorway, Hannah noted a door to the outside and another to a workroom. On the left a staircase ascended to the second floor.

“You’re young enough to handle these stairs without a problem,” Claire said, puffing as she took each step.

At the top, she paused, drawing in a deep breath. “When I first came here, these stairs didn’t wear me out one bit.” She unlocked the door and pushed it open, then motioned inside. “Here it is.”

Hannah stepped into the apartment and surveyed a cozy kitchen.

“I’d intended to leave the apartment unoccupied,” Claire said. “I didn’t want a stranger living above the shop, but Annie told me what a sweet woman you are and mentioned your darling little boy. It just seemed God’s plan.”

God’s plan.
Hannah thought the move was Andrew’s plan, although a wise one the way things had turned out. “I don’t want to trouble you. You’re very generous, but if you prefer not to—”

“No. I prefer to rent it to someone like you. Having you here will mean someone’s keeping an eye on the store…not that anything has happened, but you never know.” She sent Hannah a bright smile. “If you hear strange noises in the night, you can call the police.”

Hannah had had enough of the police. Calling them
was the last thing she wanted to do. Hannah turned her gaze from Claire to the kitchen. Though galley-style, it felt roomy enough, and a round table sat in an alcove with seating for four.

“It’s nice,” she said, running her hand along the neat oak cabinets and pastel-blue countertops. Her focus settled on the stove.

Claire must have noticed. “I’ll be leaving all the appliances. The new house comes with them, so it seemed a good idea. Everything here is fairly new. Philip Somerville had this place spiffed up when I moved here.”

The name surprised Hannah.

“He always pooh-poohed it, but I’d bet my teeth he did.”

She lifted her hand to her mouth as if resettling her dentures, and Hannah feared she had contemplated taking them out and showing them to her. Hannah turned away, fingering the silky scarf around her neck.

“Go ahead and see the rest,” Claire said, stepping back to let Hannah go through the doorway.

Hannah wandered into the living room. Sunlight streamed in from the side and front windows, making the room bright and cheery. She followed the opening on the right that led to a short hall with three doors: two bedrooms and a bath. Perfect for her and JJ.

“It’s very clean,” Hannah said. “Even the carpet looks perfect.”

“One person banging around these rooms doesn’t give it much wear.” She sent Hannah a smile. “Do you like it?”

Like it? Hannah loved it. She’d had to deal with stairs at her other apartment, too. That didn’t bother her, and this seemed more private. More like a home. “I like it very much, but I’m not sure I can afford—”

“You can live here free if you pay the utilities.”

“Free! I wouldn’t think of doing that. No. I’d want to pay a fair rent.”

Claire frowned. “What are you paying now?”

Hannah told her, and Claire’s face brightened. “Knock a hundred dollars off that, and it’s a deal.”

“A deal? But why do you want less for—”

“You’ll have the utilities, too. Electric and water are set up independently—everything except the heat. We share the same furnace so I’ll pay the gas bill.” Claire stepped forward and extended her hand. “Please say yes. You’d make me very happy.”

Hannah didn’t understand, but she didn’t question what seemed like a miracle. As frustrated as she was with God, He sometimes opened doors and windows Hannah had never expected. She knew the Bible said His grace was sufficient. Maybe it was.

Hannah grasped Claire’s hand. “Thank you so much. The decision to leave my present location has been difficult for me, but I’m glad I made it.”

“Wonderful. You can move in any time after May eleventh. The place will be empty.”

“Perfect,” Hannah said, knowing Jack would still be in jail then. She halted before asking the question that hung in her mind. “Did Annie explain about my move?”

Claire’s eyes glanced upward as if thinking. “Well she mentioned you’re starting a new job at Loving Chocolate. That’s right up the street.” Her brows lifted as if waiting for Hannah to respond.

“Yes, I begin in a couple of more weeks.” She released Claire’s hand, figuring that Annie hadn’t told the woman anything about her troubles with Jack, but one day, Hannah knew, she would have to be honest. She
wondered if Claire would be as excited about her new tenants when she learned the truth.

Andrew lowered the chair onto the carpet, then stretched his back. “Once Dave and Bob get the sofa up the stairs, that’s about it.” He surveyed the large room now filled with furniture. “What do you think?”

Hannah turned from the window, her face stressed, eyes tired. “I’m amazed you rounded up so many men from your church to help move my things, and then Annie called and said her husband Ken had volunteered, too.”

“Better a bunch of men moving furniture than you, and it’s wiser. No one, except Carla, knows where you are, and I think she’ll keep that from Jack when he’s released.”

“And then I have the protection order.”

“Let’s hope you won’t need it. You’ll have moved and have the new job by the time he’s released.”

Hannah’s shoulders lifted in a sigh. “It still scares me. If he does find me, I don’t want him coming here and making a scene like he did at Loving Arms, and I haven’t told Claire anything yet.”

Andrew shook his head. “The news will roll right off her back. She’s not a woman to let problems upset her.”

“How do you know Claire so well?” Hannah asked.

“She’s Jemma’s former mother-in-law. Her son died young and left Jemma a widow. She came to Loving when Claire moved back here.”

“Claire mentioned knowing Philip.” Hannah brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. “I hope you’re right about Claire not getting upset when I tell her.”

“If anyone can handle a difficult situation and turn it into something positive, it’s Claire.”

“I know Claire’s generous. She tied a scarf around my neck right off the display counter and wouldn’t give up until I accepted it.”

Andrew’s gaze lowered to Hannah’s slender neck, and he felt a stirring in his gut. “I’ve heard that about Claire.” At least, being an unmarried man had saved him from Claire’s penchant for giving away her merchandise.

A noise from the hallway captured Andrew’s attention, and he hurried to the doorway in time to hold it open for two men to wrestle in the sofa. Behind them, Ken struggled with an armchair.

“This baby is big,” Bob said as he and Dave maneuvered it to the bare wall. “Here?” he asked.

“That looks great,” Hannah said. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“No problem,” Dave said.

Ken hefted the chair toward the sofa. “How’s this?”

Hannah gave him a thumbs-up. “It looks good.”

He patted the cushion into place and did a full turn, eyeing the room. “Looks like you’re all set.”

“Yes, thanks.” Hannah dug into her pocket and pulled out some bills. “This isn’t much but I’d like to—”

Andrew watched the three men lift their hands in protest.

“No ma’am,” Dave said. “This is our way of doing for others as we would have them do for us.”

“The Golden Rule,” Bob added. “One day we might ask you to move our furniture.”

Ken grinned. “You’ve babysat enough for Annie over the last couple of weeks that I owe you a move all by myself.”

“Thanks to both of you for the use of your trucks,” Andrew added. “We couldn’t have done it without those.”

“You’re welcome,” Ken and Bob said as the men headed toward the kitchen. Andrew followed, thanking them again. When he saw the outside door close at the bottom of the stairs, he shut the apartment door and returned to the living room.

“You should probably keep your door locked,” he said, hating to mention his worry. “You don’t want a customer wandering up here.” Or Jack, once he’s free, he thought.

“I will.” She gestured toward the kitchen counter. “I made some coffee. Would you like a cup?”

“Sure,” Andrew said, sinking into the chair and observing her as she pulled mugs from the cabinet. She stood on tiptoe to reach the second shelf, and Andrew’s gaze was drawn to her slender form. Short and sweet, he thought with a grin.

“I’m glad I got some of these things put away yesterday,” Hannah said. “It makes getting settled so much easier.”

“And you have your car again.” When his comment registered, he realized she wouldn’t need rides anymore. The thought gave him an empty feeling.

Andrew’s gaze drifted around the small apartment. “Hannah, have you realized there’s no yard here and no place for JJ to play? That’s not good.”

As the pungent scent of coffee sailed from the maker, Hannah set the mugs on the table. “The other apartment didn’t have a yard, either. I can take him to the park, and I’m saving money on rent—Claire has been so kind— I talked with Christie Hanuman at Loving Care about sending JJ there a couple days a week. Her childcare facility has swings and a nice playground. Then in the fall, he’ll start kindergarten.”

“I know Christie Hanuman. She’s a member of my church,” Andrew said. But he left thinking of the child’s predicament, which wasn’t his business. He needed to face facts. Hannah had handled life before he’d come along. Why did he think she couldn’t deal with it now?

Hannah poured coffee into the mugs, then offered him cream and sugar, but he declined and stared into the black liquid. There were so many things he wanted to know about her.

He opened his mouth, then closed it. A direct question wouldn’t sit well with Hannah. Not now, and he let his mind drift to a new subject. “Are you ready for the new job tomorrow?”