He laughed. “I never have before, but that’s how badly I wanted to meet you. I felt like we got off on the wrong foot the other day.”
Charlotte turned around to look at him, placing one hand on her hip in annoyance. “We didn’t get off on any foot. I don’t know you.”
He hung his head, looking like a schoolboy whose companions had run off and left him. It was rather endearing. “I know. That’s what I mean.” He lifted his head and stuck out his arm. “I’m Frank Rubin, a local boy who has tried to make good.”
Charlotte felt like a heel but she refused to take his hand. “And why should I care about any of that, Frank Rubin?”
“Good question. Exactly,” he answered, relieved that she hadn’t sent him away. “There is no reason you should care. That’s why I was hoping I could take you to lunch. Maybe you’ll find me worth knowing.” He grinned, showing dimples, reminding Charlotte of her cousin Joey.
Everything in her told her she should just turn around and walk into her house, but the house seemed so lonely and she hesitated. “I know you just came from church,” he continued. “I go to First Church on Elm Street. Our service got out a few minutes before yours.” He looked at her hopefully, like a little boy waiting to be rewarded with a lollipop for being good. “I thought it might be important for you to know that.”
Charlotte studied him a minute, trying to figure him out. “Okay, Mr. Rubin. Where would you like to go for lunch?”
“Really? Great! How about we drive over to Carlston? There’s a steak place there I bet you’ll love.”
She stepped into his Corvette and settled into the bucket seat. “What am I doing?” she thought. “I don’t know anything about this guy.” But there was something about him she liked and trusted. She wished she’d put this off so she could ask Janice about him, though.
They sped off into the countryside and Charlotte had to admit she liked zooming along in this attractive little vehicle. She rolled the window down and he yelled out landmarks of interest as they drove. They arrived in Carlston about twenty minutes later, and he ran around to her side to open the car door. So far, he’d been a perfect gentleman in every way.
The restaurant turned out to be delightful. The I was pleasant and the food was some of the best that Charlotte had tasted. Frank turned out to be a great conversationalist and she had to admit that she enjoyed every minute of the afternoon.
When he brought her back home, he once again opened the car door for her and walked her to her front door. She didn’t invite him in, nor did he seem to expect her to. “Uh, Charlotte, this was really nice. Do you think we could do it again sometime?”
“I had a great time, Frank. But I need to process this now. Is that all right?”
“Sure. Absolutely. Take all the time you need. I’ll ask again, don’t worry.” He smiled his little boy smile, looking content with the world.
“Thank you.” She unlocked her door and slipped inside, waving one last time to Frank as he was getting back into his car. She sat down on her sofa, ignoring the paint smell that still permeated the house. “He was nice,” she said out loud. Living alone had caused her to talk aloud more than she used to. “I like him. But he doesn’t seem to have much spiritual depth, even if he does go to church. Maybe I’ve made too big a deal out of that and no one will ever live up to my expectations.” She picked up a pillow and traced the floral design with her finger, thinking unwillingly about Pastor Gordon. “I think I need to talk to Janice about this.”
CHAPTER Nine
It was several days before the opportunity to talk to Janice presented itself. She invited her over for lunch, making a quiche, a fruit salad, and some oatmeal cookies. The house smelled good when Janice walked in the door. “Mmm, am I hungry! I can’t wait to taste what you’ve made.” She was dressed in bright yellow today, looking like a daffodil in full bloom.
“I think you’ll like it. It’s a recipe I’ve used for years.”
They settled into the kitchen chairs and Janice admired the fresh flowers on the table. “Thank you. They’re from Mrs. Bartholomew across the street. She’s a dear, even if she is a little nosy.”
“I don’t really know her, but I’ve never seen her without that cat at her heels. He must be at least fifteen years old.”
“Yes, Custer is quite loyal. Sometimes I think he gives her information, the way she’s always consulting him.”
Janice bit into the quiche and gave a purr of satisfaction, sounding quite a bit like Custer when he’s rubbed behind the ears. They settled into casual conversation until Charlotte felt she could ask a more personal question. “What do you know about Frank Rubin?”
“Frank, well . . .” Janice rubbed her chin and looked like she was concentrating. “He’s a Crispens Point boy, has always lived here. Made quite a success at the insurance business with customers all over the county. He banks with us so I’ve seen his account balance. It’s pretty impressive.” She looked at Charlotte, trying to figure out what this was about. “Is that what you want to know?”
“Not really. Actually, he told me more or less the same. I want to know more about his personal life.”
Janice’s eyebrows shot up, making her look more startled than she felt. “Why the sudden interest in Frank?”
Charlotte bit her lip, looking like a school child who’s just been caught passing notes. “He took me out for lunch on Sunday. We had a nice time, but I realize I don’t know anything about him other than outside information. I was hoping you could fill me in on inside stuff.”
Janice nodded. “I can tell you plenty. Probably way more than you want to know. Can I have another cup of coffee before I get into this?”
“Sure.” Charlotte poured and Janice began.
“Frank was a real jerk in high school, one of those athletes who was full of himself, thought he was God’s gift to women, all that kind of attitude.” She took a sip and Charlotte waited patiently. “But when he graduated, he sort of fell through the cracks, got in trouble with the law, and had to do a stint in the Army or go to jail. It turned out to be the best thing for him. The Army taught him discipline, which he applied to selling insurance when he came back to Crispens Point. Can I have another one of those cookies?” Janice was easily distracted by food. Charlotte shoved the plate toward her and waited. After taking a big bite and swallowing, she continued, “He married Shari, his high school sweetheart, probably the most popular girl in school. The trouble was that she was as self-centered as he was and hadn’t learned discipline through the army, so she divorced him after a couple of years. I always felt kind of sorry for him because I think he really wanted to make a go of it. Anyway, Frank’s okay. I approve of him.”
Charlotte sat silently stirring her coffee. She’d added way too much cream and stirred it now in hopes that some of it would evaporate. “What’s he like spiritually?”
“Oh, I’d say he’s a Christian, faithful churchgoer, volunteers for charitable events and stuff. I’ve never actually had a conversation with him about that, but I’ve always seen him as a sheep rather than a goat. Even in high school, he stood up for what he believed in, which didn’t carry a whole lot of weight because of his lifestyle, but I wouldn’t hold that against him now.” Janice took her last bite of cookie then asked, “Do you like him?”
“Yes, I do like him. I don’t see how someone could not like him. He’s very pleasant.”
“But . . .”
“I don’t know. There’s just something missing.”
“Well, I’d date him if he asked me, but he’s never even looked my way.” Janice patted her red curls as if they were to blame for her failed social life. Charlotte stared at her a moment more and wondered why someone hadn’t snapped her up years ago. She was adorable.
“Thanks, Janice. I value your opinion more than I can say.”
“Wow, that’s really nice. I don’t think anyone’s ever told me that before, except maybe my little sister. I never dreamed when I first read one of your novels
that I’d ever sit in your kitchen and talk about men. It makes me believe anything can happen!”
Charlotte smiled and Janice jumped, “Oh my goodness, I had no idea so much time had gone by. I’ve got to get back to work. Thanks for the food and the fellowship.”
Charlotte walked her to the door and waved as she climbed into her car. Mrs. Bartholomew’s cat sat in the window watching, and Charlotte thought for a moment that she saw the woman herself peeking out, but she couldn’t be sure. Just in case, she waved over that way. Inside her house, Mrs. Bartholomew jumped.
Gordon McCrae was happy. After the frustration he felt Sunday, he went on a long run and felt much better. He’d gotten that woman out of his mind and hadn’t thought of her again all week. He knew he’d probably see her tonight at Bible study, but he was prepared. The thought of her being there didn’t bother him at all. He knew who he was and she couldn’t change that. He’d decided that if her presence bothered him, he’d just pretend she wasn’t there. He thought it would work.
Besides, the passage they were studying tonight was complicated. He doubted very much that she’d be able to contribute, so it should be easy to ignore her. He felt so good that he whistled all the way to church, and continued humming when he got inside.
Sure enough, right on time, Charlotte walked into the room, once again sitting by Janice. The other people in the study seemed glad to see her, which was fine by him because no one noticed his inattentiveness. In fact, he was still humming as he turned to the second section of Romans 5.
Everyone participated at the beginning, when they were talking about Adam and Christ and the similarities and differences. Charlotte kept quiet during this discussion which really pleased Gordon. However, toward the end of the study, it grew quieter and quieter as each person tried to figure out the relationship between sin increasing and grace increasing all the more. Pastor Gordon started to worry a little about how to help his people understand the concept, but he kept stumbling over how to explain it. Finally Charlotte interrupted in her soft, gentle voice. “Pastor, isn’t it just a matter of understanding that we are sinners and desperately need the grace of God? The more we comprehend our sin, the greater we understand God’s great kindness to accept us through Christ. Until we know for sure what big sinners we are, we can never know how much we’ve been forgiven.”
“Oh, I see. It’s quite simple when you put it that way,” said a man on her left.
“Yeah, I get it now,” added a woman. “Thanks, Charlotte.”
“You oughta consult her when you get stuck, Pastor,” another man said.
Pastor Gordon turned bright red, but before he could say anything Charlotte added, “Not at all. Pastor knows a million times more than I do. I just happen to be able to put things in words easily.”
Pastor Gordon nodded, “Thank you. Well, that wraps up the study. Any questions?”
There were a few, which he answered coherently to his supreme joy, then they closed in prayer. As they were walking out, Charlotte approached him. “I hope I didn’t embarrass you, Pastor. I never meant to.”
“Not at all.” He wasn’t sure where to go from here. He didn’t really want to continue the conversation at all, but it was hard to avoid. “Do you have any Bible training?”
“Oh no. I just have been in lots of Bible studies and love to read it and study it on my own. I don’t really know very much.”
At that moment Janice caught up with them. “Pastor Gordon, I’m having a party on Saturday night for Charlotte. Won’t you come?”
Gordon started to shake his head “no” when a chorus of voices said, “You’ve got to come, Pastor. You can pray for her as we welcome her to our community.” “That’s right. Besides, if you’re there, lots more people will come.” “I’ll stop by and pick you up, Pastor,” added a young man. Gordon didn’t know what to do so he nodded in agreement. He didn’t feel like humming when he left church that night, but he thought maybe he’d misjudged Charlotte.
As Pastor Gordon got ready to go to the party, he began to smile. He had to admit he sort of liked this girl. He’d been fighting the attraction that he’d felt toward her, but maybe he didn’t have to. Maybe she was all right, and he’d been so much on his guard that he hadn’t been able to recognize her true character. For the first time in ages, he put on a little cologne and spent a little more time than usual deciding what to wear.
Arriving a little late to the party, he was amazed at how many people were there. Janice had decided to use her parents’ house since it was bigger than her apartment, and although their living room was large, almost every nook and cranny was filled with people. Evidently Charlotte’s fame had spread like wildfire and curiosity brought out Crispens Point in droves. After all, the last exciting thing that happened here was when Ralph Morris’s barn burned down.
He caught a glimpse of Charlotte talking in the kitchen and his heart leapt at the sight of her. He realized now that his heart had been doing that from the beginning, but he’d been so careful that he’d ignored his feelings. His impulse was to run right up to her, but he didn’t want to be obvious. After all, he had no idea what she thought of him. So instead, he began to visit with those around him, glancing her way every now and then.
Finally, enough time had gone by that he felt he could approach her to converse. His hands began to sweat and he noticed he was clenching his teeth. It had been a long time since he’d felt this way. Something about it made him feel almost giddy, like a little kid going to the circus for the first time. He’d almost reached her when Frank Rubin stepped in front of him. “Hi, Charlotte, I’m sorry I’m late. I had a customer that I couldn’t shake. How have you been since I saw you last?”
Charlotte gave him a warm smile and reached out to give his hand a squeeze. “I’ve been fine, Frank. It’s wonderful to see you again. I missed you.”
Frank beamed and Charlotte beamed back. Pastor Gordon’s face fell and he turned quickly to retreat. He moved so fast through the room that he bumped into a few people. One of them asked, “Are you okay, Pastor? You don’t look so good.”
“I’m not feeling too well. Would you tell Janice I had to head home? It’s a big day tomorrow, after all.”
“Sure. I hope you’ll be all right.”
Gordon nodded and shot out into the cool night air. “How could I be so stupid!” he yelled once he was a good distance from the house.
CHAPTER ten
Pastor Gordon recovered quite nicely from the previous evening. His sermon was composed and sensible. No one would have known what he went through. After the party he’d gone home, read his Bible, and drifted into a dreamless sleep, waking Sunday morning as if he’d never met Charlotte Fyne.
He felt released from her. When he saw her at church, he smiled in a friendly manner, feeling victorious that it hadn’t hurt a bit. He was able to treat her like anyone else who was coming to his church, and wished her the best spiritually without being entangled emotionally. It felt wonderful. It confirmed again that he was meant to be a bachelor, and glad for it.
Charlotte, of course, had no idea what had been going on in his mind, and she thought that for the first time he was acting as if she really existed. It was nice.
She’d enjoyed the party that Janice threw for her. Most of the names had already escaped her, but she still felt the warmth of such an enthusiastic welcome. She’d greeted Frank more warmly than she’d meant to, but she really was happy to see him. They’d agreed to another lunch date today.
He picked her up at church when the service was over. Pastor Gordon noticed her get into Frank’s car and drive away. He was happy for her.
Charlotte arrived home later in the afternoon feeling tired. It had been a big weekend, and she wanted nothing more than to put her feet up. She’d just turned on the TV when the phone rang, “Hello, little girl, it’s your mother.”
“Hi, Mom. It’s good to hear your voice.”
“How’s small town living?”
“It’s ta
king some getting used to, but I think I’m going to like it.”
“I’m taking next week off. Mind if I visit?”
“Oh, that would be wonderful. I’d love it. Maybe you can give me some decorating ideas, and I want you to see my neighbor’s garden. You’ll be impressed.”
“I’ll get there tomorrow around noon. You know me, always the early riser.”
“I do indeed. I’ll have lunch waiting.”
Charlotte hung up the phone feeling satisfied. Something about her mother coming to visit made everything seem right. They’d fought like badgers when Charlotte was a teenager, but now they got along like best friends. Charlotte’s mother had learned that rare skill of knowing when to quit giving her opinion.
The day her mother arrived, the sun shone and the birds chirped their welcome. She got out of her car and stretched. Mrs. Bartholomew noticed the stranger, of course, and wondered who she could be. She never would have guessed it was Charlotte’s mother, because they looked nothing alike. Charlotte was rather small and curvy. Her mother was tall and thin. Their complexions were completely different too. Charlotte’s was dark and tan, her mother as pale as Snow White. Only their hair seemed similar.
Margaret Fyne walked to the front door and knocked quickly before walking in. “Charlotte, it’s me.”
“Mother! How was your trip?” She leaned toward her and embraced her, kissing her on the cheek.
“Great. The weather couldn’t have been more cooperative.” She pulled back and looked around her. “Good choice, Charlotte. This place is delightful.”
“I thought you’d like it. I’m pretty pleased with it myself.”
“I’m here to work as well as visit, you know. Any painting or wall papering, I’m available. I also do a pretty good job of stenciling.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll try not to work you too hard.”
They sat down to lunch after putting Margaret’s things in the guest bedroom. “So, darling, have you met any eligible young men yet?”
“Mother! I’ve only been here two weeks.”
Crispens Point - Book 1 of the Blackberry County Chronicles Page 5
