In His Eyes

by Barbara Lohr

  “You would do that for me? Really?” Beneath that tough exterior, Maisy was a sweet kid. Definitely underappreciated.

  “Sure. I’d do it. I mean, it won’t look like Macy’s or anything.”

  “Oh, Maisy. You’re the best.” Diana’s hug came so naturally. At first, the girl felt stiff as an icicle. Then she melted, making an awkward attempt to hug Diana back. Hugs were no doubt something she didn’t do that often.

  They fell into a schedule. All that week, Maisy came to Hippy Chick to help straighten the stock or work on the windows. Around two o’clock she’d walk over to the library. “She’s doing a terrific job of organizing things,” she told Will when he stopped at her house Thursday night.

  “Glad to hear it. She doesn’t really say much when we’re together. Just disappears into her room to work on the computer. Probably your site, right?” She’d told him about Maisy’s offer.

  “Any word from Delinda?”

  At the mention of his sister, Will’s face clouded. “No. She hasn’t contacted Maisy or me. One week before Christmas and she hasn’t spoken to her daughter since she left. This borders on abandonment.”

  The past week had been absorbed by Delinda and Maisy. Her tiny tabletop tree glimmered in the low light. The place felt warm and cozy now that Will was here. Every cell in her body leapt to life when he gave her a slow smile that let her know he was thinking the same thing.

  “What’s on your mind?” He came closer, slipping his arms around her waist. His eyes said he missed her and so did his body.

  “Want a beer...or something?” she breathed.

  “Definitely the something.” He nuzzled her neck, and she felt other parts of her body leap to life.

  “Or we could make hot chocolate.” How she loved to tease him.

  She felt his growly chuckle in the pit of her stomach. “Save it. I’m already overheated. Only one thing could cool that fire.”

  Cupping his face, she stroked his forehead with her thumbs. For just a second, the worry lines smoothed. Stubborn, they came back too fast. Lately he’d had plenty to worry about. First her accident, and now Delinda and Maisy. “So what do you have in mind, relaxation therapy?”

  “Yeah, right.”

  When he pulled her closer, she moaned. “Oh God, Will.”

  “Yeah.” His hands moved over her body with familiar remembrance. She longed to trace the same path with him.

  “You’re a good man,” she whispered as he led her into her dark room. Her heart brimmed with love.

  “Let me show you how good,” he rasped, pulling her down onto her bed.

  “So what are you going to do about Maisy?” she asked later when he was getting ready to leave, and she was still savoring the bliss.

  He kissed the tip of her nose. “Don’t worry. I have a plan.” His eyes sparkled. Once again, he was the man she knew and loved.

  Loved. There it was.

  “You know what?” she said.

  Pulling on his jacket, he stopped. “What, beautiful?”

  This time she was ready for those words. “I love you, Will Applegate. Every bit of you from your sunny smile to your silly dance moves.”

  He plunked back down on the bed, as if his legs had been taken out from under him. “Aw, Diana. Finally.”

  She kissed him. “Yep, I love the guy who can make senior ladies wish they could adopt you. But with Maisy? You’ve done an amazing job coaxing your poor niece out of her shell.”

  “Wow. I’d say you’re the one doing that.” Looking dazed, he fell back onto his elbows. “So...you’re finally admitting to your feelings, huh?”

  “Finally feeling it, Will. So deep sometimes it hurts.”

  He slipped out of his jacket.

  “What are you doing.”

  “Think I’ll stay a while.”

  The gleam was back in his eyes, along with a love she knew would last forever. “Want to tell me about your plan?”

  “Later.”

  Chapter 22

  Maisy and Diana were decorating the tree in Will’s living room when they heard the crunch of tires on the hard-packed snow in the driveway.

  “Is that them?” Maisy asked, setting down her box of ornaments.

  Will looked through the blinds. “Yep, looks like Dad’s driving a huge SUV. Wonder when he got that.”

  Peeking out, Diana asked, “Do you think he rented it? Red for the holidays? Looks as big as a fire truck.”

  “Maybe.” Will went to the door. “He needed room for your mom and Aunt Ethel. Knowing my mother, they brought a gazillion gifts.”

  Poor Maisy had turned pale. “Nervous?” Diana asked.

  “Yeah. A little.” Maisy smoothed her hands over the black jeans Diana had bought for her when they visited the Michigan City outlet mall. “What if they don’t like me?”

  “Not gonna happen.” Diana rubbed Maisy's shoulders. “You’re their granddaughter. They already love you.” How could Paul and Marianne Applegate have raised a man like Will and not be warm and caring?

  But then there was Delinda. Will had left three messages on his sister’s phone. No reply and Maisy hadn’t heard anything either. His last-minute plan for Christmas was sorely needed. When his father included Diana’s grandmother and great Aunt Ethel in the plan, she was thrilled. Paul Applegate had offered to pick them up in Newtown. “It’s on the way,” he’d said, although it meant making an eighty-mile loop.

  Springing outside, Will helped the older ladies out of the red SUV, while his mother clucked at her husband to open the back. Their breaths formed white clouds in the cold air as they greeted each other. Will had been right. His parents trekked to the open door, laden with bulging shopping bags.

  “You must be Diana,” Will’s mother said, plopping the bags in the front hall.

  “Yes, I am.” So Will had gotten his sparkling blue eyes from his father and charm from his mother. The burly guy helped his wife inside with the packages, while Will escorted Grandma Kit and Aunt Ethel up the walkway. Will and Maisy had scattered enough melter on the snow to turn the entire walkway blue.

  While Diana hugged Will’s parents, she was aware of Maisy hovering in the background. This must be so awkward for her. When Diana took her hand, Maisy threw her a grateful smile. “And this is Maisy. Your granddaughter.”

  The teenager stood trembling. So much hung on this moment. Marianne Applegate flung her arms wide. “I would have known you anywhere, honey. Can I give you a big hug?”

  “Yeah. Sure.” Maisy looked over at Diana as if to say, Do you believe this? But she hugged her grandmother back. She was getting better at the hugging.

  “Just call me Paul,” Will’s dad said, looking uncomfortable with the granddaughter he didn’t really know.

  When Grandma Kit and Aunt Ethel made it inside, there were more excited introductions.

  “Will you just look at that tree,” Aunt Ethel exclaimed as Diana took her coat. “Kit have you ever seen anything like it?”

  “Uncle Will cut it down!” Maisy said, as if this were a miracle.

  “Right,” Will admitted with a rueful smile. “Nearly chopped my hand off doing it.”

  His mother recoiled until Maisy turned to her with a very serious face and said, “He’s kidding. He does that a lot.”

  “Hungry?” Diana asked. She'd bought a frozen lasagna and the smell of garlic permeated the condo.

  “Starved,” Will’s dad roared while his mother bent to arrange her gifts under the tree.

  “Your grandfather is not a quiet man,” Marianne told Maisy. What followed was a wild evening of catching up. Of course, Diana’s grandmother and aunt were very interested in Will. She could feel their eyes circling from Will to her and back again. The two women would stay in Diana’s second bedroom. Luckily, Will’s place had three bedrooms, so his parents could have more time with their granddaughter.

  During the two days before Christmas, there was a lot of traveling back and forth. Of course, everyone wanted to see the Gull Harbor
downtown. Diana’s mother found the two-block downtown area “quaint,” while Aunt Ethel wanted to buy everything she saw in Hippy Chick.

  Will’s folks were more homebodies. They spent time with Maisy, trying to catch up. Taking a hint from Will, they took her to Rosie’s for breakfast. Later, Paul told Diana how excited Maisy had been when explaining the website she was building for Hippy Chick. “Very bright girl,” Diana overhead Paul tell Will.

  “Runs in the family,” Will shot back, but his parents exchanged glances. Clearly, the situation with Delinda concerned them. Diana was grateful that they’d stepped into the picture, for Maisy’s sake. She was a good kid, who deserved a lot better than what life had doled out so far.

  When Christmas Eve came, they joined the carolers strolling down Lake Shore Road, aglow with candles in paper bags. A soft snow was falling and peace seemed to fill the earth as they sang the traditional songs about a silent night and the little town of Bethlehem. By the time they’d made their way back to the condo, their cheeks were red and they needed hot chocolate to warm up.

  “Do we get to open presents tonight?” Aunt Ethel asked.

  “Presents?” Maisy looked amazed.

  “What do you think is in all these boxes?” Aunt Ethel chuckled.

  Face beet red, Maisy made an admission that absolutely broke Diana’s heart. “My mother always wrapped empty boxes. She said decorations were what the season was about. No one actually got presents in those boxes on TV...or so she said.” Her voice faded.

  The air was sucked from the room. The only sound was the spitting and crackling of the fire. “Okay, want to help me hand these out, Maisy?” Will broke the tension by grabbing a couple of gift bags. “I can assure you these actually contain something. If you don’t like it, you can exchange it or regift it.” That caused a laugh, and Will had to explain the whole regifting thing to his niece. The frantic rustle of paper was followed by exclamations of surprise. Clothing and kitchenware, candles and special teas. Will’s father gave him a drill. “You can’t own a home without a good drill. Just too much to do.”

  A home? Was Will buying a new house? Pouring another glass of eggnog, he wore a secret smile. The women had baked Christmas cookies that day with Maisy. Diana was glad to see the girl’s appetite had changed since she’d been eating regular meals. By the time midnight came, Will’s parents had gone off to bed and so did Maisy, probably eager to play with her new iPod. Will and Diana drove her grandmother and aunt back to the yellow bungalow. Red Arrow Highway felt so peaceful under a light coating of snow.

  Before Grandma Kit retired for the night, she pulled Diana aside. “Just want you to know, I think you’re wonderful with Will’s niece.” While Diana’s eyes brimmed, her grandmother kissed her cheek the way she always had, smelling of White Shoulders. “Maisy appreciates your kindness. You know how hard it can be sometimes.”

  “Yes, I know.” Her grandmother shrugged because in their family, they never made a big deal of things. “Sleep tight,” she said as Grandma Kit closed the door.

  While the older women settled down, Diana cherished the gift her grandmother had just given her.

  “You okay?’ Will asked, coming up behind her.

  “Perfect.” She turned and buried her face in his shoulder, so warm and wonderful. “They really like you.”

  “Then it’s mutual. You have a great family.”

  “Certainly not perfect.” Turning, she began to pick off the refrigerator magnets and tossed them in the trash. What good were painful memories?

  “No family ever is. Here, let me help.” Will joined her.

  When the refrigerator was a clean slate, Diana made decaf and the two of them settled onto the sofa. “Such a busy week,” she said, grateful that Rachel had helped her with Hippy Chick.

  “Sure has been.” Wearing one of his secretive smiles, Will took a sip of coffee.

  “My grandmother is so happy to be here, Will. And so is Aunt Ethel. And it’s perfect having your folks visit at the same time. They all get along so well.”

  “Just like one happy family.” He rested his mug on the coffee table.

  She liked the sound of that. “Yep. I guess so.”

  Taking a small box from his pocket, Will said, “Just one thing more. Maybe we should make this family thing official. I love you, Diana, and I know you feel the same. Will you be my wife?”

  “Oh, Will.” Diana’s hands shook as she untied the silver bow and unwrapped the box. “Are you sure?” When she flipped open the lid, a beautiful solitaire winked up at her.

  “Will you make me the happiest man in the world?”

  She couldn’t get the words out fast enough. “Yes. Yes!”

  “Shhh. You’ll wake up the whole place. I want you to myself for a little while.” After slipping the ring on her finger, he quieted her with a kiss warm enough to heat her heart and soul forever.

  Epilogue

  Five Months Later

  “You doing okay, Harold?” Diana fidgeted with her hyacinth Juliet cap.

  “Yes, ma’am. I sure am, Diana.” Wearing a light blue sport coat Will had bought for him, Harold stood tall. His standby winter hat had been put aside today to walk Diana down the path to the gazebo.

  Outside the glass exit door, a June breeze carried the promise of summer. But the only promise Diana needed was in Will’s eyes. She didn’t need any vows. His steady gaze told her everything she needed to know. From this day forward, their lives would be linked. They’d meet happiness and tears together, stronger because of each other. Waiting for her at the gazebo, he looked so handsome in a new sand-colored linen suit. No tux for him, he’d said. He wanted a suit he could wear again, and she figured he was thinking of how the ladies would like it at the Sunday dances. So practical. Underneath his polished exterior, Will still was a boy from Beanblossom, Indiana. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

  A trip to Second Hand Rose with Phoebe, Carolyn and Mercedes had turned up a wedding gown with scalloped cap sleeves, a pattern repeated in the floor length skirt that rustled when she walked. The demure neckline was a contrast to the revealing dip in the back. Thank God for Chicago people who brought their designer clothes to the consignment shop on Red Arrow. The dress was worthy of a runway, at least in her eyes. Her Juliet cap of blue hyacinths anchored a tea length veil.

  Fidgeting next to them, Maisy swished the long glass-green dress that made her feel like a mermaid...or so she said.

  Chairs arced in rows bordering the path. Residents had been gathering for the past hour, carefully choosing their seats for the best view. “Good grief, they’ll all have sunstroke,” Jan had fretted. “Why don’t they wait?”

  “What? And miss that end chair?” Diana had teased. But their interest pleased her. The whole group felt like family.

  The sunny June day didn’t have the intensity of July. Will and Diana had purposely chosen a date before the arrival of seasonal tourists. Today the ladies were all dressed in their Sunday best, some with hats. A cloud of competing perfumes hung in the air. Even the older gentlemen had spiffed up, with Tim sporting a new bow tie.

  In the front row sat their families. Paul and Marianne beamed at their son, while next to them Grandma Kit and Aunt Ethel whispered, no doubt with a hankie in their hands. How Diana wished her grandfather could have been here. But she knew that somewhere Grandpa Stanley was watching.

  She glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Ready, Harold?”

  One final swipe at his thin hair, Harold nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” He held the door open and she stepped into the sunlight. When the musician at the keyboard saw Diana emerge on Harold’s arm, he struck up the traditional wedding march. Will and Diana both wanted everything to be a bit old-fashioned.

  Hearing that first chord, Maisy asked, “Is it time, Diana?” Due to Phoebe’s talent, Maisy’s honey brown hair had been restored, sporting a gleaming green streak. She looked so sweet, a far cry from the angry girl who’d been dropped off in a snowstorm months ago.


  “Yep, this is it.” They shared a nervous smile. “Pass Uncle Will and then just stand on the left. Cole is on the right.” Maisy was spending a trial summer in Gull Harbor. Will’s parents had rented a house near the beach. “About time we take a vacation,” Paul told them. But they all knew Paul and Marianne wanted to be near their granddaughter. The teenager would be staying with Diana and Will this summer after they returned from their honeymoon, camping in the Upper Peninsula. They’d take it from there. Delinda’s new life in Florida had no room for a teenager, so some things had to be worked out. But Diana and Will both felt optimistic.

  Her eyes swept the crowd. Everyone she cared about was here. A sense of completion filled her.

  “Ready, Harold?” she whispered. Maisy was about six feet out and everyone was waiting for the bride.

  “Yes, ma’am. Sure am.” With a cheek-splitting smile, he stepped forward, Diana on his arm. Heads swung their way. Diana had dressed in Will’s office so no one had seen her gown yet. As they passed, approval hummed through the guests, all craning their necks for a better view. A couple of the women even popped up like jumping jacks. The photographer began to snap photos. Maintaining a smile was no problem for Diana. This was the happiest day of her life.

  Not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings, she didn’t have bridesmaids except for Maisy. But as she slowly passed Phoebe and Carolyn, they gave her a thumbs-up and Mercedes beamed. In the row behind them, Kate and Cole sat on one side of Sarah, her hands folded complacently on a bulging tummy. Her baby was expected in August. Chili and Ignacio were on the other side, with Chili giving her usual running commentary.

  When they reached Will, Harold stepped back. “Gotcha here, safe and sound. Right, Diana? Safe and sound.”

  “Yes, you sure did,” Will assured him, winding Diana’s arm through his.

  With a pleased smile, Harold took the seat next to Will’s father.

  “You look beautiful, sweetheart,” Will whispered.

  Her heart so full of love and joy, Diana didn’t trust herself to say a word. So she squeezed his arm and turned to the minister.