A Persevering Heart

by Lisa Prysock

  “I’m so excited you’ve got a date with the lead singer for Eternity! He is super good looking, you know,” Cara reminded her.

  Trisha giggled as she waited for the water to boil in the tea kettle she’d placed on the fancy new flat-top stove. She almost wanted to pinch herself about her upgraded lifestyle. “Yeah, I’m a little worried about that. What if his fans follow him around and stuff?”

  “It goes with the territory, so you’d best accept that right off the bat,” her friend advised. “I mean, do you realize how famous he is?”

  She nodded, placing two teabags in two of her pretty cream colored teacups with the pink and peach flowers. The cups sat perfectly on cream saucers, matching all of her other dishes. “Yes, but it still seems surreal. I haven’t really been able to wrap my head around it yet.”

  Cara smiled, her brown eyes sparkling. “I’m so happy for you. Aren’t you glad you quit your job at that cola company and decided to work for Pepper Barrington? You totally deserve this chance to be with a wonderful Christian guy after that horrible boss and then the fiasco with Dallas Bad-Boy, on top of all that. Is he still together with that obnoxious ex of his, Melinda Martinez? I can’t get over how she stalked you and him while trying to win him back, or that he fell for it. Lou wanted to kill him.”

  The subject of Lou, Cara’s husband of six years, reminded her that she was twenty-seven and all of her other friends were now married, except for her. She was extremely happy for her best friend to have found the love of her life. Lou was a wonderful husband and father, but she was still waiting to discover her own prince charming. As for all the years at the cola plant, working as an admin for Ross, a busy executive and a married man who’d kept hitting on her—she wasn’t going to dredge all that up. The good Lord had led her to safe land. “Yeah, I’m just glad I figured out where his loyalties were before it was too late. I was head over heels in love with Dallas. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to get over him, but I know I finally have. I’m ready to date again, just not him, ever.”

  Trisha poured the hot water into the cups and slid her friend one of them. After she’d caught her friend up on the news about the antique watch and the stolen necklaces, she invited Cara to join her and Brad’s three sisters on Tuesday. “I know I just had my nails done for this date, but I’ll need a pedicure.”

  “Sure, I’d love to go and I need to have my nails done,” Cara responded, accepting the invitation. “I’m sure Lou won’t mind. He lets me do whatever I’d like unless he has to work late. If he does, I’m sure your mom or mine will babysit Dixie.”

  “Oh my goodness, yes! My mom and dad adore her. If your mom is busy, be sure to ask. They’re coming over to have lunch with me on Sunday after church to check out my new domain.” Trisha sipped her tea as her mouth dropped open when Cara’s daughter emerged from her bedroom giggling. She was covered in bright pink lipstick, dark purple eyeshadow, her peachiest blush, and a pair of Trisha’s three-inch heels. To top off the ensemble, she wore one of her floppy hats.

  Seated at the dining room table, Cara had her back to the living room and couldn’t see the sight behind her. “Speaking of Sunday, I won’t be at church to sit with you. Lou and I have plans to spend the day at the zoo with Dixie. The weather is so beautiful, we thought it’d be a nice day to spend with family.” Then she noticed Trisha started laughing.

  “What?” Cara asked, turning around to follow where she’d been looking. “Dixie Louise Miller! What have you been up to?” Then she burst into laughter. Turning back to her friend, she added. “I’m so sorry, but the memories this brings back! We played dress up at your house a cazillion times. It was always so fun that your mom let us try on stuff, unlike my mom’s house.” She guzzled down the rest of her tea as she stood up to remedy the situation. “I think we’d better be going. It’s getting close to when your man will be showing up, anyhow. Dixie, let’s get you home. I think you’ve had enough fun for today.”

  Recovering from a fit of the giggles as Dixie turned around slowly to show off her new look, Trisha grew more serious. “It’s not a problem. I should have more toys here for her, but playing dress up is always more fun than toys. Can’t say that I blame her. I’ll have to buy her some princess clothes for when she comes to visit.”

  Chapter 7

  “Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: it is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.”—Thomas Carlyle, Scottish philosopher (1795-1881).

  AT PROMPTLY FIVE O’CLOCK, Brad arrived at the door to Brook Cottage with the largest bouquet of brightly colored daisies he’d been able to find, making sure there were plenty of flowers in lime green, pink, and orange. He knew his date liked those colors due to the evidence he’d seen amongst her possessions.

  He’d only had to walk downstairs from #8, the Gardenia Suite on the second floor. His room emptied out onto the upper veranda, and he’d turned right, found the staircase, and followed it down to the courtyard. Turning right again at the first floor veranda, he’d followed it until it ended near the rose garden where a walkway led to Miss Johnston’s new living quarters. He prayed again for the date to go well as he rang the doorbell. Why did he always have that jittery nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach before a first date? Something was a little different though this time. It felt more like hunger pangs and a few butterflies.

  He didn’t have to wait long before she answered the door and welcomed him inside with a warm smile and a friendly greeting, looking like the model on the cover of a magazine. She took his breath away. He stood there for a second taking in her beauty, almost forgetting about the flowers he’d brought for her.

  “Are these for me?” she asked, returning him to reality. He’d seen her dressed up before, but the idea that she’d dressed for him, for their date together, impacted him in a different way.

  “Uh, yes. I hope you like daisies.” He handed the flowers to her, hoping they’d be a homerun for the color choice if nothing else. Then he looked around, remaining in the living room, impressed with how organized everything appeared.

  “These are beautiful! Thank you so much. I love daisies. Daisies and zinnias are my favorites.” She breathed in the lovely scent of fresh flowers.

  He noticed a potted plant at the breakfast bar. Had she been on another date? Maybe a housewarming gift? “I see you have some other new flowers.” That sounded too nosy he decided, quickly adding, “Housewarming gift?”

  She busied herself placing his flowers in a vase in the kitchen. “Yes, from my friend Cara. She stopped by the place today with Dixie, her little girl. She actually just left a few minutes ago.”

  Soon they were situated at a table inside the gazebo. He’d carried the picnic basket, which felt like it weighed a ton, glad Esther had prepared a special meal for them with some of her delicious, southern fried chicken. He’d even prayed for the meal. Now they were ready to open the basket.

  “So tell me about...” he’d started to ask about her family when she opened the lid and Norman jumped out with a screech, landing on the table, voicing his discontentment with having been imprisoned. How the cat had managed to get inside the basket, he could only imagine.

  “Norman!” Trisha jumped back, surprised, holding her hand to her heart. From the look on her face, he could tell she was as surprised as he was.

  Norman took one look at him and chose that moment to hiss before leaping off the table. Bradley knew better than to reach out for him. Norman landed on the floor of the gazebo and then scampered to the railing, but he was so fat, he got stuck trying to go under it for a moment.

  “Oh, Norman!” Trisha turned to chase after him.

  Wondering what wounds might happen to him this time, he knew he’d obviously need to appear gallant and rescue the cat, if possible. He stood up and decided to head Norman off from the other side of the railing.

  However, as he reached the cat’s current position, Norma
n managed to wiggle back out from underneath the railing, dodge Trisha’s feet, jump onto the top of the railing, and then claw his way to the rafters under the roof.

  Bradley ran back around to the inside of the gazebo and paused to catch his breath. The cat made his heart race, but maybe it was because he’d just lugged Norman in that basket all the way out to the middle of the rear lawn to the plantation. Now he knew why the basket had seemed so heavy.

  Trisha looked up at the rafters with her hands on her slim hips, looking ever so beautiful. “Oh no!” She was wearing some kind of sandals that made him think how lovely her feet and ankles were, but he had to avert his eyes to figure out what to do about Norman. Drat! “Do you know where Miss Pepper keeps a ladder?”

  “Well, I’ve got the master key to the tool shed, but by the time we make it all the way over there and all the way back, he’ll be sure to have run off. Or, he might be stuck and afraid to come down.” Trisha looked doubtful about the idea of fetching a ladder.

  He had his doubts, too. That had been a lousy idea. He’d have to drag the table over toward the cat and stand on that, or balance on one of those skinny railing ledges while making an attempt to reach the cat. The table idea won, and before too long, he’d set the picnic basket aside, and then positioned the table beneath Norman.

  “Do you think he’ll let you near him?” she asked, more doubt appearing in her tone and on her face. She obviously didn’t think it was too wise of an idea for him to rescue Norman.

  She added, “I don’t want him to scratch your eye out or anything. He’s really worked up.”

  She had a point there. He should listen to her. She knew the cat better than he did; although scratching his eye out seemed a little severe, even for Norman.

  Then he looked up at Norman’s grumpy face. The thing about Norm was that he had a wide, flat, distinctively extra grumpy face. He never smiled, ever. Not in the few hours he’d spent with the cat. As he gazed up at Norman and considered the matter, Norm hissed at him.

  “I think you may be right. Tell you what,” he said, scratching his head. “Why don’t I help you up onto the table. I’ll steady you, and Norm will jump right into your arms, at least I hope. Maybe you’ll even be able to reach him. Then I’ll help you down, and we can walk back to the garden house.” He paused to see her reaction. “What do you think?”

  “Good plan. I like it.” She immediately dragged a chair to the table and climbed up onto it while he steadied her by holding her hand.

  She wobbled a little as she stepped onto the table, but he continued to hold her hand as she found the middle of the table and steadied herself. “Here Norman,” she coo’d softly. “C’mon sweetheart, let’s go back home where it’s safe.”

  He certainly wouldn’t consider Norman as a sweetheart, but if it made her happy to do so, he’d not argue the point. The cat was obstinate and somewhat on the vicious side, at least where he was concerned. Maybe he needed a distemper shot or something. He ought to ask Brandy to offer to give him a full check-up.

  Instantly, Norm leapt into her arms. “I’ve got him!” she yelled, laughing, clinging tightly to the ball of fur. “There, there, Norman. It’s all right now. Let’s get you home.” She turned, slowly, both arms wrapped tightly around Norman as she held him close, inching her way across the table to the chair.

  “It’s all right, I’ve got you!” He reached up and swung her down slowly, setting her on the gazebo floor. “There you are.” He kept his voice low and soft so as not to alarm Norm, stretching his arms away from her body so he wouldn’t start hissing again.

  “Phew!” she sighed, smiling up into his eyes affectionately. “Thank you so much! I’d have been upset if anything...”

  Her look of adoration and appreciation had made the rescue operation more than worthwhile. “Let’s get Norm to safety. Then we’ll talk.” Guiding her by the elbow again, he grabbed her purse with the master key inside, or so he hoped, and led them to Brook Cottage.

  A LITTLE WHILE LATER, they’d secured Norman in the guest house, much to their relief. After returning to the gazebo, the growling in Bradley’s stomach came to an end over a peaceful meal during which they made only small talk.

  After, he’d held her hand and led her on a walk over the trail along the woods toward the pond. They could see azaleas, tulips, hyacinths, lily-of-the-valley, iris, bluebells, and larkspurs in full bloom on Edgewater Coventry’s serene property. Dogwoods and magnolias graced the edge of the walking path.

  He made sure she was situated in one of several rowing boats before pushing the boat out into the water and stepping in. Then he picked up the oars to row them out a ways where they could enjoy the scenery all around them. Glencombe Pond was surrounded by woods on one side, and on the other, a walking trail cutting through a gradually inclining crest leading up a ways, and then eventually down to a retaining wall alongside another tier of land. From there, it leveled out to the walkway along Milton Gap Road. Plenty of ornamental grasses, shrubs, and trees along the road kept parts of the property such as the pond and much of the lawn hidden from view. Consequently, the pond was one of the most romantic places at the bed and breakfast to have a conversation. He liked that they had the pond all to themselves.

  “So tell me about your family,” he said, remembering he’d attempted to ask her about them before Norman had jumped out of the picnic basket.

  “Well, there’s not much to tell. My mom is a librarian and my dad is a teacher.” She smiled as he rowed them out toward the middle of the pond with ease.

  “That explains your love for books. I saw your library shelves. Do you have any siblings?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “No, I was adopted. They can’t have any biological children for some reason, so I’m an only child. I do have a maternal aunt, Marianna, but my father was an only child, too. You can join us for church and come over for lunch after if you’d like to meet my parents on Sunday.”

  “Sure, sounds great!” He tried to respond with enthusiasm, but didn’t know what to say about her being adopted, so he kept rowing, listening.

  She continued. “My grandparents live nearby, both sets. My parents don’t know that I found the file in their office one day about my adoption, but my Aunt Marianna helped me sort through my concerns about the lack of details. I mean, my parents had told me I was adopted, but all they’d said was they didn’t know who my parents were. I read all of the notes and decided it was going to be impossible to find out anything more. There aren’t any leads. They think I might be Italian or of Hispanic descent, maybe even Jewish or Greek, but I look nothing like anyone in my family, and they have no idea what my background or heritage is. Apparently I was abandoned in a park as child, left in a stroller behind some shrubbery.”

  He stopped rowing, shocked at what she’d told him so far. “Wow. Go on,” he encouraged. “That must’ve been terribly hard on you.”

  Trisha nodded. “It explains why I have severe panic attacks now and then. I get really worked up around merry-go-rounds. One must have been in my view when I was abandoned, but I was so young, I don’t really remember anything. It’s my best guess after reading the file.”

  “What do you do to work through the anxiety?” he asked.

  “A variety of things...put on headphones and listen to my favorite worship songs as loud as possible. I carry a portable speaker around and crank it up a lot. Other times I step outside and walk with my headphones on, or clean house with the stereo blasting. Sometimes I bake copious amounts of banana bread. Then I give them away as gifts. Driving sometimes works, but I do tend to get distracted easily if I’m anxious.”

  “Ah, that explains all of the loaf pans.” He chuckled. “Okay, we’ll steer clear of merry-go-rounds as much as possible,” he promised, causing her to laugh.

  He returned to rowing and when they reached the center of the pond, he set the oars aside and let the boat drift for a while. “What did you do before you worked for Miss Pepper?”

  “I w
orked as an admin for an executive named Ross at a Fortune 500 cola company in downtown Atlanta. He hit on me three times, and because he was married, I finally had to quit. They fired him over his behavior because the next secretary turned him in. I realized later, I probably should’ve also. They are a very family oriented company and didn’t approve of him when things came to light. Before that, I worked for a bank doing data entry for quite a few years.”

  “You made the right decision to leave that cola company,” he commented.

  “I realized I wasn’t going to be able to keep him at bay much longer. It was a really tough situation for me. Looking back, I think the Lord spared me by getting me out of there. I did learn a lot of great secretarial skills though, and the pay was good. Overall, it was a great company. I just wish I would’ve left a little sooner. It was really hard to deal with the confusing emotions Ross caused.”

  “Tell me about Dallas Bad-Boy,” Brad said.

  “All right, but then it’s your turn to answer my questions,” she insisted with a coy smile.

  “Deal,” he agreed, dimples appearing when he returned the smile.

  “Dallas and I dated for about two years, but he wasn’t faithful. He had this crazy ex-girlfriend, Melinda Martinez. She kept stalking us on and off until he finally went back to her. When I found out, I dumped him. It took me a while to get over all that. It was kind of a crazy situation.”

  “It sounds like it, but I know what you mean.” He sighed. “I had a similar experience about a year ago when my ex-girlfriend, Misty, left me for someone else. It wasn’t pleasant.”

  “Who was your girlfriend prior to Misty?” she asked, dangling her fingers in the water, appearing to enjoy the view of the sunset as much as he was enjoying it.

  “LeeAnne. She was married to her career. She wanted to become a doctor and it was just all school, work, and no play. We were together for several years, so it was hard to get over.”