WindSwept Narrows: #13 Charity, Faith & Hope

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “Or in a haunted house,” he said with a grin, standing up and stretching, he took a step toward the nightstand. He looked at the book-marked paperback sitting there. “What do you like to read?”

  “I…oh…just a book…” She stammered, reaching for the book and missing by a scant inch before he snatched it from her fingers. “Hey!”

  “Off limits?” He asked, carefully keeping his gaze on hers, watching her pull her lower lip between her teeth and scowl in thought.

  “No…not really…”

  Devon glanced at the cover, one brow rising. His gaze moved to see her eyes close and red flush her cheeks. “A big bad wolf romance?” He read quietly, setting the book back down.

  “They’re good…she’s a good writer…”

  “Good night, Hope,” he said, chuckling as he left her room, the door closing at the same time she fell back on the bed, a pillow pulled over her face with a muffled scream.

  Hope sat sideways in one of the recliners in the huge study, feet dangling over the side while Mina played and Devon loaded boxes.

  “Why are you putting stuff in boxes?” Mina got up and wandered to her father’s desk, standing with one foot resting on the other and watching him pack books.

  “Because my office is finished and I’m moving there,” he answered absently, checking the books he put into the box.

  “You won’t be here no more?” Confusion filled the little face, frowning at him when he realized what he’d said.

  “Of course I’ll be here,” he stopped what he was doing and dropped to his heels, pulling her to his knee. “An office is where I work. Hope works in an office, she showed it to you, didn’t she?”

  “It’s nice,” Mina said with a nod. “She has a computer and music.”

  “I have an office, too…in a different place,” Devon explained carefully. “So when you go to play care and Hope goes to her office, I’ll go to my office, instead of working at home.”

  “So home is for play, right?” Mina concluded excitedly.

  Devon swore he heard a little giggle from the other side of the room.

  “Home is for play…sometimes I might have to do a little work, but mostly home is for play,” He agreed with a nod, watching her digest this before going back to her toys.

  “You’re spot is bigger…can I move my toys over here now?”

  “You marauding little real estate jumper,” he burst out laughing, tossing her into the air and catching her, their noses inches apart. “Stay off my space.” To which he received an explosive giggle.

  Hope felt her stomach flutter when the light tap came on the connecting door and she told him to come in.

  “Feel like talking?” Devon asked casually, standing at the bottom of the bed, watching as she put her book on the nightstand after she nodded. “How about my room?”

  “Your room?” Hope slid to the edge of the bed, her feet touching the floor. A twinge of hesitance inside her even as she fit her hand in his. He took them out the hall door and down the corridor.

  “My room is a little larger. When I renovated, I combined rooms. I could never stand cramped quarters,” he told her in a low voice, pushing the door to the room at the far end open and letting her go in first. “It’s kind of a suite. We can sit by the fireplace on the sofa or chairs and relax.”

  “Devon, it’s beautiful. Did you do all this work?” Hope wandered around, two large bay windows with built in cushioned seats drew her attention. She curled up in one and leaned against the wall.

  “It’s a hobby,” he said with a shrug, turning one of the chairs and pulling it closer to the bottom of the bed, his feet up comfortably. “The first two levels are complete and I’m working on the top floor now.”

  “I’m not sure Mina totally understood…I’ll bring her to your office one afternoon and show her,” Hope suggested thoughtfully.

  “She’ll get a kick out of that,” he replied, nodding slowly. “I’ll text you the address for your files and for the child care. How’s the new job going?”

  “The brain fry is lessening,” she said slowly, talking for the next hour about their jobs before she felt the yawn threatening her laughter at his jokes about people and renovations.

  “We’ll be up late tomorrow,” he said, standing up and moving to tug her from the window seat. Devon carried her hands to his shoulders, his mouth down to softly take hers, dropping a series of kisses from one end of that delectable mouth to the other. Fire raged through his veins when she pressed against him, her hands moving to grip the back of his head. She sent her tongue out to play with his, stroking and soothing his lower lip when she nipped playfully at it.

  “I’ll be ready to go at five-thirty,” she whispered, her thoughts disjointed and groan soft when his mouth trailed down her throat. “Devon…”

  “I know…believe me…alright…” He moved his hands to her waist and set her away from him. “Good night, Hope,” he turned her resolutely and took her to the bedroom door.

  Hope paused, turning and looking over her shoulder at him. “I think these talks equal our versions of dates, Devon,” she told him, grinning at the puzzled look on his face. “Very nice dates,” she said, pulling the door closed after her and heading to her room, humming to herself.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Devon paced for a few quiet minutes in Harriet’s office.

  “I don’t think the use of the funds is a bad thing. But I don’t want Hope thinking there’s something to…someone to compete with,” he looked over at Harriet.

  “Your best answer to that is to establish open lines of communication, Devon. About everything. You’re articulate enough to convey honesty to her. Is Hope…does she communicate well? Do the two of you talk?”

  Devon laughed softly. “More than I ever imagined possible. Sometimes about….nothing things…sometimes, serious. She’s…fun. She’s smart and sometimes like a little kid,” he pictured her on the floor with Mina coloring. “We talked a little about Maggie…she asked if we had been friends.”

  “Were you honest in your answer?”

  “The old me…the one guarding the truth,” he corrected quietly. “Almost told her it wasn’t her business, but I caught myself and asked for a few minutes to think…but yeah, I was honest.”

  “Finding a person you can be yourself with…that’s the best thing we can give ourselves. Does Mina like her?”

  “She does…sometimes I’m not sure if it’s a mom daughter relationship growing or sisters,” Devon admitted, but smiled at the thought.

  “They’ll figure that out. Something to think about is with another person in your life, you share the responsibility of a child. We always believe we’re capable and if there’s no choice, most definitely are…however, if you can share the time, share the chores…it all feels more manageable. It sounds like you both got very lucky,” Harriet said gently. “I don’t think Maggie will be a problem in your life, Devon. How you treat the outside world as far as she’s concerned, is a personal decision. For both you and Hope. As long as you’re honest with yourself. Perhaps keeping it…vague…when questioned.”

  “I’ve thought about that, and you’re right. I don’t know…no, I do know…the hospice isn’t something Maggie would have done. Period. It wasn’t in her make-up. She wasn’t…unkind…more self-involved,” Devon said after some thought. “I know I didn’t want the money. Maybe it’s my way of making up for her being absent…I was angry when she wanted nothing to do with Mina. I understand the stages of death and know blame is part of it…”

  “I’ve been with too many people facing their own mortality. There are as many ways to deal with impending death as there are personalities, Devon.”

  “I’m not going to talk about her with Mina anymore,” he said quietly after a few minutes. “I don’t want to lie to her about her mother. But I don’t want her to know the Maggie I knew, either.”

  “Protecting her is important and when she’s old enough to know, she will.”

 
; Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Mina was hopping excitedly on the bed while Jackie helped Hope with the dress once she had her make-up the way she wanted it and hair softly framing her face. She stepped into the shoes and exhaled a long, slow breath of amazement.

  “It’s beautiful,” she breathed softly, turning to the side and accepting the plain black shawl Jackie handed her.

  “Honey, it’s just a dress…you made it amazing,” Jackie told her honestly, moving to scoop Mina from the bed. “He’s been pacing the foyer for the last ten minutes.”

  “He’s early,” Hope complained, opening the door and heading to the stairs.

  Hope was looking down at her feet at the same time Devon looked up, the breath caught in his chest with an almost painful grab at his insides.

  “Wow…”

  Matt sighed. “Articulate, boss.”

  “She looks like a princess!” Mina exclaimed as Jackie came down the stairs behind Hope.

  “That she does,” Devon agreed, his hand up for hers to slide safely into. He carried her fingers to his lips. “A beautiful princess.”

  “Thank you…all of you,” Hope said, her smile beaming around at them all. She kept her shoulders back. “Ready?”

  “Absolutely,” Devon moved to guide her when both of them turned at the little sound.

  “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Mina told them, tapping her cheek with a grin. She giggled wildly when each of them leaned over to kiss her cheek. She listened to Jackie whisper in her ear as they reached the front door. “Drive careful…and make sure you bring her home by midnight,” she told him firmly.

  “Good night, Mina,” Devon said through his laughter, leading Hope into the darkness and the waiting car.

  “We’re riding?”

  “Part of the service,” he told her, helping her arrange her gown before going to the other side and sliding in to join her and nod to the driver. He faced Hope in the back of the car, the glass between the driver and them closing quietly. “The word I came up with when my brain began working again….was stunning, Hope. You’re beautiful and stunning…..I’m a very lucky man.”

  “Thank you, Devon,” she met his gaze, reaching over and covering his hand with hers. “You’re looking very handsome tonight. You have the most interesting gold glow in your eyes,” she whispered, swallowing and turning to peer outside at the lights sparkling off the Sound far below them as they headed north. “These people…did they know Maggie?”

  “No. Maggie wasn’t big on charity things,” he said quietly, meeting her eyes honestly. “I donated a lot of her paintings after she died. There was a small following for her style. She used a lot of bold colors and strokes, or so I’m told. I…there was a lot of confusion and anger in some of her scenes. I feel a little…inadequate that I didn’t know more about her…about her inside, I mean.”

  “Do you think she knew you, Devon? Really knew you?” Hope asked, sliding closer with a little shiver. She didn’t protest when he put his hands on her shoulders, gently turning her and leaning her into his arms. He surrounded her from behind, his cheek resting against her head.

  “I think we were both guarded and I don’t know why,” he admitted slowly. “I don’t remember Maggie ever asking questions like you do. I think there were times when I wanted talk…just simple, quiet conversation. Like this. But if it wasn’t about certain topics, she simply wasn’t interested and let you know.”

  “It sounds like she was very sad inside,” Hope commented quietly.

  “There was a…a kind of sorrow…around her. I know her parents were always trying to get her a therapist…she’d been to a few but always claimed they couldn’t help,” he recalled slowly. “It’s…strange…the memories that come back when you talk about something. I think I believe she needed me to save her. I understand it’s a common belief in guys.”

  “Girls like to be rescued…you can’t take credit for it all on your own, Devon,” Hope reached up and took one of his palms to her lap, idly fitting her hand to his. “I don’t need rescued, so you’re safe. The sorrow part…I think it happens to everyone now and then, hard for it not to. I’m glad you don’t mind talking about her…I think I needed to make sure I wasn’t…a replacement. I can’t be like anyone else but me.”

  “I’m not looking for a replacement,” he assured her.

  “You haven’t…dated much?” She asked, clearing her throat and wishing her question sounded a little more confident. “I just want to make sure I won’t be running into…well, you know…disappointed past girlfriends…”

  Devon chuckled, his mouth next to her ear. “No girlfriends, Hope…and believe me, you have no competition to be concerned about. I’m going to be the envy of every man there tonight.”

  “You say sweet things, Devon.”

  “I got very involved in work and Mina and trying to be there for Maggie at the end,” he said after a few quiet minutes. “You go through a lot of anger…angry that you’re supposed to be sad at the loss because that’s what’s expected of you. You’re angry at yourself and at her and most of the world. You’re numb at the service, listening to people tell you great things about the deceased person and knowing it was all lies. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t fit company for awhile. Mina…” he shook his head. “Watching her grow…the peace you get just from being with her…she pulled me out of it eventually.”

  “It’s nice of you to share her with me, Devon.”

  “I think that’s taking a little mental adjustment on my part,” he admitted quietly. “Even with the play care. Jackie has been lecturing me for the last six months about how she needed more than just us. And believe me, there have been times when I desperately needed time alone but…you shove that aside and work through it somehow,” he straightened up, a little reluctantly he realized as they pulled below an overhang outside their destination.

  Hope sat up, turning her knees toward him, and meeting his eyes.

  “I don’t need you to rescue me, Devon,” she repeated softly, leaning closer and brushing her lips with his. “But I know I want you.”

  Devon felt his body react and his mind blurt out words about her timing as the car door was pulled wide for them both. Then he saw the smile in her eyes and knew she’d done it on purpose. His laughter was deep, his head shaking as he strode around the car and offered her his palm.

  Carefully placed heels stepped to the concrete, a shiver racing through her at the chilling winds coming off the Sound. Hope moved into his arm, closer to his body heat, her head down as he moved them quickly into the hotel.

  “That was a cruel thing to toss out when a guy can’t respond properly,” Devon commented once they were inside out of the winds. She offered only a smile so he sighed and led them to the elevator.

  Hope slipped her hand behind her, twining fingers with his tightly. She’d been to social functions plenty of times through office parties, but this was somehow very different. She knew she was clinging to his hand as they walked toward the large ballroom on the top level of the exclusive hotel.

  Devon knew she was nervous, her body stayed close to his, her fingers cold even wrapped in his palm. He kept his head next to hers, whispering information about people gathered in small clusters throughout the large room. Staff circulated with wine glasses and small food offerings. A much larger display was set against the far wall, a buffet with many choices and people waiting to serve them. Soft music filtered around them, low enough for the conversations to exist without shouting.

  “A glass of wine?” He asked, moving to stand in front of her, his hands moving to frame her face. “Relax, Hope. You’re doing fine. I’m after something a little stronger than wine.”

  “I like sweet white wine, please,” she nodded, inhaling slowly after he kissed her softly and went toward the large bar set back against the wall. She knew people were staring. Judging from the gowns around her, she was positive it wasn’t because of her dress or appearance. She shrugged and began humming to the song playing, stridi
ng casually toward the large expanse of windows. The city sparkled below them, lights of all colors fractured when the rain drops hit them.

  “You’ve managed to become quite the mystery, my dear.”

  Hope turned at the voice, looking down at the older woman a few inches shorter than her. She smiled and offered her palm politely.

  “Hope Alexander.”

  “Miriam Ashford,” the woman returned, her palm out with a firm shake.

  “I’m not sure I understand about being a mystery,” Hope said with a little frown.

  “I’ve worked with Devon for almost four months on this project,” Miriam told her easily. “Not once did any of us know he was married. I personally know several of my friends who have been unsuccessfully attempting to interest him in their daughters,” she confided with a chuckle.

  Hope laughed with her. “I’m glad they were unsuccessful. That would have put a serious crimp in our friendship.”

  “Oh, my dear…I do like your sense of humor,” Miriam laughed, accepting the amber colored liquid from a man a little taller than her. “Harris, this is Devon’s beautiful wife, Hope.”

  “Pleased to meet you, my dear,” Harris Ashford smiled at her and shook her palm. “No wonder you’ve been hiding her, Devon,” Harris winked teasingly. “She’s far too beautiful to be permitted around some of this group.”