Accept Me

by Marion Ueckermann

  One day, hopefully, they’d have a strong enough relationship for him to feel free to tell her about both charity cases.

  Chapter Thirteen

  A KNOCK on Haddie’s door had her scrambling to snatch up all the loose pieces of Ivy’s blouse and the leftover fabric after cutting a new bodice. She could almost have made a completely new blouse with what she’d imported from London. But rather too much than too little. She didn’t have the time to waste ordering more if she were short.

  Haddie shoved everything under her bed then hurried to the door. She’d locked it earlier as a precaution. She didn’t need Ivy walking in on her pulling her beloved Liberty blouse to pieces.

  She opened the door to Ivy standing at the threshold, a puzzled look on her face. Yes, if it were her, she would also be wondering why the door had been locked.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you, Haddie, but I’m joining the girls for a late lunch at The Pancake Shoppe. Would you like to join us, spoil yourself a little?”

  Haddie tucked her hair behind one ear and lowered her gaze for a second. Her heart missed a beat. Oh no, a telltale blue thread snaked across her black pants. She brushed a hand over her thigh and scooped the thread into her palm. Hopefully, Ivy hadn’t seen it.

  “The girls?”

  A wide smile curved Ivy’s mouth. “Yes. Nai and her childhood friends—Kristina and Reese. Oh, and I think Julia and her baby will be there too. That’s Dr. Brock’s wife and child. You haven’t met him yet—he’s such a nice man—but I’m sure your paths will cross soon enough, what with your visits to Jeff—” Ivy’s face flushed a light shade of pink. “I–I mean, Dr. Johnson.”

  Haddie chuckled to herself. Was love in the air between Ivy and Dr. Johnson?

  She’d love to join Ivy and “the girls”. She really did need to get out and meet people. The more she mingled, the greater her chances of finding an opportunity to ask questions about her mother. If by any chance she had siblings in this tiny town, these women Ivy was getting together with might’ve grown up with them.

  Heck, they might even be them.

  But she couldn’t go. Not this time. She had something far more pressing to deal with this afternoon.

  Haddie offered Ivy an apologetic smile. “I would’ve loved to join y’all, but I have plans for today. Please, the next time you go, ask me. I’d love to meet Nai’s friends.” Even more than wanting to meet them, she’d love one of those sinful pancake stacks, except she’d rather share the moment with a certain EMT whose eyes were as chocolatey and inviting.

  Ivy being out of the house would give her a few undisturbed hours of sewing. She could get far with the repairs, and Ivy had said she could go upstairs to use the sewing machine any time she wanted. Thankfully, she’d cleared the working area around the old treadle and had dusted. And she didn’t need to feel guilty about doing it during working hours because the books the machine had been buried under were either destined for the secondhand store or the rare books Amazon Marketplace store she was busy setting up, so the cleaning up exercise had formed part of what she’d been employed to do.

  “All right, then. Have fun, Haddie, whatever you have planned.” Ivy strode away toward the bookshop where Haddie could hear Violet chatting to a customer. Soon the bookshop would close and the house would be deathly quiet.

  Ivy turned to wave. “I’ll think of you when I’m munching on one of Paula’s delicious pancakes.”

  The moment Haddie heard the horn honk outside and the front door slam shut behind Ivy, she dove under the bed and scooped up all the bits of fabric and shirt. Blue thread, scissors, and seam ripper, just in case she made a mistake. She bolted out of her tiny apartment and up the staircase. From behind the closed door of Ivy’s living room, she heard high-pitched yapping. A low bark followed.

  At least the dogs were contained or Heinz would’ve been jumping up at Haddie’s knees by now. And Catsup… Well, the larger mutt with short, wiry brown hair would’ve probably already bowled her over.

  “Shhh,” she snapped as she passed the door en route to the spare bedroom.

  Standing in the doorway, Haddie stared across the room. She might not have to contend with books on top of the sewing machine, but there was still a stray Paige taking up space.

  The gray cat with attitude opened her sleepy eyes and looked up at Haddie as if to say, “Don’t even think of moving me out of this comfy spot.”

  Comfy? How could that cat be comfy squished beneath the arm of the sewing machine?

  After dumping the contents of her hands on the seat in front of the electrified treadle machine, Haddie managed to wedge her hand beneath Paige’s stomach. She inched the cat out from where she’d lain.

  Paige meowed, although it sounded a little more like a growl to Haddie. This cat was not happy about being disturbed.

  Haddie set the feline down on a nearby armchair covered in a soft blanket almost the same color as the cat. She stroked Paige’s fur. “You’ll thank me later, I promise.”

  Paige arched her back at the spine rub, and a begrudging purr escaped her throat.

  “Oh, yes. Much more comfortable already I see, aren’t you Miss Paige?”

  Another disinterested look followed before Paige stretched her body then rolled onto her back and closed her eyes.

  Oh to be a cat. Nothing to do all day but sleep, except for when you’re trying to find a way to eat a colorful parrot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Haddie had seen Paige several times this week sneaking up to the large cage, itching to find a way to get to the other side of the thin metal bars. The stealthy creature definitely didn’t want to keep Oscar company!

  But lazy life aside, she wouldn’t want to be a cat. Cats couldn’t read, and Haddie would miss out on so much in life if that indulgence were ever taken away.

  “You have your catnaps, Paige, I’ll stick to being wide awake because of a good book.” Haddie lifted her sewing paraphernalia and set it in an orderly fashion on the small work surface surrounding the machine. Fabric, pins, scissors, thread.

  After filling the bobbin with the thin, sky-colored strand, she threaded the machine then plunked herself down on the chair, thankful someone had had the forethought to modernize this antique. If she’d had to work that treadle, it would probably take her a month of Sundays to repair Ivy’s blouse.

  Excitement welled in her chest as she lifted the new bodice, the placket strip, and the interfacing and began pinning it all together. Riley was going to be so pleased. And that, in turn, gladdened her heart.

  Haddie had been so engrossed in repairing the blouse, she didn’t hear the door open and shut, or the footsteps coming up the staircase. It was only when she heard Ivy’s voice nearby calling, “Are you up here, Haddie?” that she realized she had nowhere to run with the almost-back-to-mint-condition blouse.

  She couldn’t let Ivy see the shirt. Not now. She needed to give it to Riley first so that he could present it to Ivy.

  Haddie scooped any sign of the Tana lawn onto her lap then yanked the blouse out from under the presser foot. She leaned toward the armchair and whipped the gray blanket out from under Paige.

  The cat leaped onto the armrest like a jack-in-the-box. Her ears flattened, her back arched, and her fur puffed up. With a snarl and a hiss, she flicked her tail from side to side, glaring at Haddie with indignation and a disgusted stare.

  “Sorry,” Haddie whispered as she covered the tell-tale fabric with the blanket. Hands shaking and her heart pounding, she slid a corner of the blanket under the presser foot where the blouse had been moments ago.

  “Oh, there you are. Finally getting to your mending, I see.” Ivy strode across the room, stopping at the armchair to pick up Paige. She stroked the cat and Paige relaxed into a loud purr in Ivy’s arms. “Are you keeping Haddie company?”

  Haddie nodded. “She is. How were the pancakes?”

  Ivy trailed her tongue over her top lip. “Divine. And the company delightful. I’m sorry you weren’t there. You would’ve enjo
yed it.”

  Another nod from Haddie. Goodness, she felt like a bobble-head toy.

  Ivy laid Paige back down on the armchair “Have you eaten? Are you hungry? Because I ordered a blueberry pancake smothered with cream to go, and it has your name on it.”

  Haddie grinned. “Bless your heart.”

  Ivy shrugged as if her kind gesture had been the most natural thing to do. “I left it at your door. I thought perhaps we could enjoy a cup of tea together.”

  “Yes, of course. I’d love that. Just give me a few minutes to finish up here. Why don’t you go down and put the kettle on in the meantime? The apartment is open.”

  Right… Now the door was unlocked, when she wasn’t even there. What must Ivy be thinking?

  “Sure.” Ivy turned to go then paused. “Is that the old blanket from this chair?”

  Oh why hadn’t she brought some of her own pretend-mending clothes upstairs? And a bag to shove Ivy’s blouse and fabric into for just such a scenario.

  “Um, yes. I noticed a loose portion of edging, so I decided to quickly mend it.”

  Haddie raised her eyes to the ceiling for a second. Forgive me for the lie. I hope You’ll understand.

  Ivy chuckled. “With blue thread? Girl, are your eyes worse than mine?” She stepped over to a nearby desk, opened a drawer and pulled out a spindle of gray thread. She handed it to Haddie, a smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. “Thank you for the thought, but I think that might work better. I’ll see you downstairs.”

  Haddie exhaled a relieved sigh when she heard Ivy’s singing grow softer as she descended the stairs. Whew, that was close. Too close.

  She released the blanket’s corner from the presser foot’s trap then dumped it and everything she’d been hiding in her lap onto the work surface beside the machine. She eased out of the chair. Hopefully there was a paper bag or something lying around in which to hide her secret project.

  Haddie opened the last desk drawer and fist-pumped the air. Yes! Inside were brown paper bags and colorful gift bags in an assortment of sizes. She opted for a brown bag big enough to fit everything she’d brought upstairs and that could easily be camouflaged. No bright, standout, attention-drawing colors needed or wanted right now.

  After dumping the sewing stuff into the bag, Haddie found a corner in the room to hide it. The three stacks of books should keep the bag out of sight. Tomorrow morning, when Ivy was at church, she’d return to finish stitching in the sleeve and sewing the half-dozen buttons back on. She’d have enough time to do that before Riley picked her up.

  As she headed for the door, she glanced back. Something on the floor beside the treadle table caught her eye. A small scrap of blue, floral fabric. She hurried to retrieve the piece of imported fabric, a sick feeling washing over her as she slid the Tana lawn offcut into her pocket. Had it fallen when she’d stood up now? Or way earlier?

  Had it been lying there when Ivy was in the room, and worse, had Ivy spotted it?

  Chapter Fourteen

  JUST BEFORE midday, a knock sounded at the side entrance to Haddie’s apartment.

  “Just a moment.” Haddie gave herself a once-over in the mirror hanging on the wall beside her bed. Never before had she been this concerned about her appearance, although she always made sure she looked nice. Today, she wanted to look stunning.

  She scrunched up her nose, doubt circling her like hungry seagulls. It’ll have to do.

  Her hair tied in a high ponytail, she pulled a dark gray slouchy beanie over her head. The soft wool covered her naked ears. Next she wrapped a matching scarf around her neck. Riley had told her to dress comfortably and warm. Jeans, boots, and her hot pink sweater did the trick.

  She grabbed the gift bag she’d snagged this morning from the desk drawer upstairs. Ivy wouldn’t mind her borrowing it, she was sure, and it would come full circle back to her kind landlady. Or was that boss lady? Maybe bosslandy.

  She giggled and dropped the small, colorful bag with its precious cargo into her much larger messenger tote, which also held a few other necessities like woolen gloves. She slung the bag’s leather strap over her shoulder.

  Finally, she scooped up her jacket and gave a parting glance at her reflection, hoping she’d done enough to take Riley’s breath away.

  Right… She was the one who had a problem with breathing, not him. And the thought of Riley standing at her door was enough to have her struggling for air once more. But that would be something her rescue pump couldn’t fix.

  After their Tuesday night date—eons ago, she was sure—Riley had walked Haddie to her door. Actually, he’d started for the front door of Ivy’s, but she’d quickly enlightened him about her own private entrance, which she now used to come and go after working hours. She didn’t want to be presumptuous and use the bookshop’s entrance. And besides, the side access to the storybook house with its wooden portico covered in trailing ivy offered a little more privacy from curious onlookers.

  Ha, privacy for what?

  Visions of her in Riley’s arms surfaced, just like they always did when she read a romance novel, although now the usually obscure hero had a face. And a name.

  Pfft. Had she really expected him to kiss her goodnight? She might’ve wanted him to, but either Riley only saw her as a friend, or he believed in getting to know someone better before taking things to the next level, because he had remained a perfect gentleman. She hoped the latter was the reason.

  Another knock, drew Haddie from her reverie, this time a little louder. Riley’s voice accompanied the rap.

  “Haddie, are you all right?”

  “I’m on my way.” She strode toward the door.

  As she opened, a crisp breeze, and Riley’s wide smile, greeted her. His eyes held a twinkle she hadn’t seen before. “You. Look. Great!”

  Great?

  She’d take that. It was hard to achieve stunning when striving for warm and comfortable, and “great” was way better than her “meh, it’ll have to do.” Why did she always sell herself short? He thought she looked good.

  Or was Riley merely being polite?

  “You ready?” The familiar touch of his hand at the small of her back sent thrills racing through her, so much more intense than the previous times he’d made the same gesture. Her feelings for this man were growing stronger, but she was still as uncertain as she was a week ago whether falling for him was a good thing. Maybe her hesitancy stemmed more from fear than uncertainty. Fear of the unknown. Fear of her feelings not being reciprocated. Fear of not being accepted—by Riley, or her biological mother and family, if she ever found either. Fear of eventually leaving Chapel Cove with her heart in tatters.

  Ugh, she had a lot to be scared of. No wonder her mind was in such a muddle.

  Inside his Jeep, Riley started the engine then quickly turned up the heat.

  “So, where are we going?” Haddie asked as they pulled away from the bookshop.

  “I told you, it’s a surprise—one you’ll enjoy, I promise.”

  Haddie widened her eyes. “You seem very confident.” A trait she really liked in him.

  Riley laughed. “I am.”

  He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Do you trust me?”

  She nodded. “I do.”

  Even though they’d only met two weeks ago, Haddie felt as if she’d known Riley her entire life. There was an undeniable connection between them, and it wasn’t just because he’d saved her life. It was something else.

  A thought flashed through her mind. She dismissed it.

  Soul mates?

  Ridiculous.

  Or was it? If people were meant for each other, made for each other, was there anything in the universe that could stop that? She’d like to believe that was true. At least it was in the romances she read.

  They drove down Wharf Road. The amusement park was on this side of town. Maybe Riley was taking her there. As the Ferris wheel and other rides grew smaller in the rearview mirror, Haddie scratched that idea.

 
; They crossed the bridge over Sweetwater River. She’d never been on this side of Chapel Cove. Didn’t the youth pastor live up here somewhere? She was sure Riley had said something to that effect. Haddie hoped they weren’t going there. She wanted to be alone with Riley, especially as Pete had intruded on their alone time on Tuesday night. Not that she’d minded getting to know Riley’s best friend.

  Just over the river, Riley took a left turn and another mile or so, a right. Rows of trees lined both sides of the narrow, dirt road. Their sturdy limbs, naked of leaves, proudly displayed their meticulous pruning. They were driving through an orchard.

  She shifted her gaze from the fascinating sight to Riley. “What’s growing in these orchards?”

  “Apples. And Jeannie Olsen’s apples are the sweetest you’ll find around these parts.” He flashed Haddie a grin. “Hey, come September, we should spend a few hours out here one afternoon and harvest a few.”

  Haddie wanted to ask “Like a date?” but what was the use? She’d probably be long gone from Chapel Cove by that time. So instead she replied, “I’d like that. Sounds like fun.”

  “It’s a date then.”

  Date? As in I’m penciling the occasion into my calendar, or you and I are going out together, babe, and I am going to woo you? Or better, by then, kiss you silly in the apple orchards?

  Did it really matter if she’d be back in Kentucky in another few months?

  Riley pulled his Jeep to a stop a short distance from a Victorian carriage house, the two double-door entrances to the brick building—tall and arched—an instant giveaway to what this place had originally been used for. But what were they doing here? Was this a restaurant? Had he brought her here for lunch? Haddie hoped so because she hadn’t eaten in case the noon pickup was an indication of a lunch date. So far, however, Riley hadn’t said a thing about food. In fact, he hadn’t said a thing about today except for the dress code.