Secretly In Love: A Madison Creek Novella

by Jackie Castle

  His brows shot up under his beanie cap. “No, I was in a hurry. I am sorry… Sage, is it? I’ve seen you around church. You’re friends with Prater. And Moi?”

  Their names he knew. Sage bobbed her head, not surprised he hadn’t looked twice at her. Except, at the moment he was looking very intently at her. Well, her legs, at least. But that was a start, right? “I am. They’re my best buddies. No hard feelings about not stopping.”

  He seemed startled that she would even say such a thing. “Right. Well, nice to see you again, Sage.”

  Haley interjected, “I just hired her as part of our wait staff. And it’s her sister’s wedding that we’ll be catering. Might be doing it here.”

  “Great.” He bobbed his head then headed toward the stairs.

  Haley sighed in resignation as she watched him leave. “That boy. He’s got the drive, but …” She waved her hand. “Well, never mind that. Let’s go talk about wedding receptions. I don’t normally agree to work on a Sunday, but figured I could smoke the brisket and ham the day before and have it ready to go. Since the wedding is taking place in the afternoon, I’ll be willing to make an exception and give up my Sunday evening.”

  “Miss Haley…” Sage hated broaching the subject, but before they went much farther, she had to get some kind of estimate on costs. “The place we were going to hold the party at was free. Now I know you can’t offer that—”

  “No, sugar, I certainly can’t.”

  “I’m wondering what you charge for receptions.”

  “No idea, to be honest.”

  Sage gaped at her, which made Haley laugh.

  “I’ve never held a reception. Been tinkering with the idea because look at the space.” She swung her hands toward her backyard. “It goes all the way down to the creek. And there are large open spaces. I’ll eventually build a stable for my horses, and I’ve been dreaming of putting in one of them big fancy gazebos beside the water. Wouldn’t that be grand?” She clasped her head, her eyes widening. “Talk about a noggin full of popcorn ideas. Mine’s bustin’.”

  “Sounds wonderful. All of it, Miss Haley. This is a beautiful place, really. People will love having weddings and receptions here.”

  “Yeah, I think so, too. But I still have a lot of work that needs doing. So I’m not too keen on charging a high fee on my first one. Already discussed this with Ethan. We think since it’ll be a bit of a trial run, we should give you a special deal. And after talking to you, I have a deal I bet you’ll be hard put to refuse.”

  “What kind of deal?” Sage’s stomach fluttered with nervousness. This place would be perfect for Lana’s reception. She knew her sister would love it.

  “You need a reception. I need a website. And a business logo. I thought of offering a trade. I’ve checked on the prices of web-design. Can’t afford it right now. But I have a place to hold a reception. I have lights and tables and can make it look right pretty. And if the weather doesn’t hold for outside, I think we can squeeze inside.”

  “You want me to design a logo and website in payment for the reception?”

  “You got it. Quick on the uptake, you are. I like that.”

  Sage laughed, relief flooding through her. She could hug the blond southerner. Instead, she held out her hand. “You have a deal, Miss Haley.”

  Chapter Six

  “I suppose I can forgive you dissing me for a damsel in distress.” Ethan met Nick at Sage’s car with a jack, tire iron, and teasing grin. “I can see why you’ve lost your heart to her, young Prater.”

  Nick pulled the tire from the trunk, hoping it wouldn’t need air. He bounced the spare against the pavement and it seemed to hold shape. “We’re just friends. I’m like a brother to her. Nothing more.”

  “Sure about that?” Ethan set to loosening the lug nuts. “I paid attention to how she looked at you yesterday. I think you can ditch that brother tag and move on to something more substantial.”

  Oh, but he wished. “What if I tell her how I really feel and it ruins everything? It’s not like I have an abundance of friends, you know.” Most of his high school buddies had left for larger towns and those who remained behind were getting on with their own lives and starting families.

  Ethan folded his arms across his chest. “I’m wounded, young Prater. Do you not consider us your friends?”

  Nick couldn’t hold back his smile. “Of course. And I’m truly grateful for your offer to help me out this morning. More so than I can say. I feel bad about ditching you.”

  With a wave of dismissal, Ethan moved the jack into place and began lifting the front end. “If you had left her in this mess, I would have lost all respect for you. I’m concerned about these other tires. They’ll not hold out much longer. Does she know that?”

  “Yeah, she knows. Neither of us is in a great financial spot at the moment. Another reason I’m hesitant to … you know, to say anything. I have nothing to offer her.”

  “Nothing but a heart of gold, man.”

  “Did you find that in some song?” Nick leaned against the passenger door as the front slowly rose.

  Ethan laughed with a shrug. “Probably. But I stand firm in my belief that although being financially stable has its advantages, finding someone who compliments you is worth more.” He locked the jack in place. “But hey, if the relationship is working for you as it stands, then maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie, as Haley is fond of saying.”

  Nick chuckled. “Where does she get those sayings, anyway?”

  “Who knows? Must be a southern thing. But she keeps the conversation lively, doesn’t she?”

  Nick had heard the story of how they’d met just days before Thanksgiving last year. Ethan loved going around telling everyone that Haley blew him off his feet. Though actually it was his car that she’d blown off the road.

  “So … is your friendship with Sage working out for you?”

  “Not sure it matters.” Nick removed the nuts and pulled off the flat tire. The thread showed through and if the others were like this one, she’d be taking a risk every time she got on the road. He really hated that.

  “I wouldn’t even know how to… I mean, she’ll probably think I’m pranking her. If I came right out and told her that I’m … falling for her. You know?” He rolled the tire aside and replaced it with the spare. “And if she doesn’t feel the same way, it’ll make things uncomfortable between us. I don’t want to—”

  “Let me ask you something, Nick. Do you just like her? Or do you seriously feel like you’re falling in love with her? That you can’t imagine your life without her in it.”

  Nick’s silence must have answered his friend’s question. One of the biggest reasons he kept quiet was his fear of driving her away. He couldn’t image her not being a part of his life in some way.

  Ethan came to stand beside Nick. “If it’s the latter, then what you have now won’t last much longer anyway. You’ll not be able to take being around her. Eventually, you’ll start finding excuses to push her away, or you’ll try to avoid her. Know what I mean?”

  “Already feel that way. Staying at her house last night, just a couple of rooms away from her, was pure torture. I was so afraid I would do something like hold her hand too long or hug her too tight. And she’d know. Or I’d say something stupid and give away my feelings. So I kept my distance and didn’t say anything. She noticed. I hated myself for acting like that.”

  Ethan helped him set the tire in place and held the wheel steady while Nick tightened it. “Then it doesn’t sound like you have much of a choice, do you?”

  Half an hour later Nick followed Ethan, who drove Sage’s car, back to the house. When he got out, he stood beside the Saturn raking his long bangs out of his face. “I’m really worried about those tires.”

  Nick walked past his friend and patted his shoulder. “She’ll get them replaced soon as she can. Once I empty out my car, I can get her to classes and back. We have a similar schedule.”

  Etha
n nodded but said nothing as he chewed on his thumb and stared at the worn tires. Nick, though he appreciated the man’s kind heart, knew Sage would never accept charity from someone outside what she deemed her inner circle. “Don’t offer, man. I know her prickly pride.”

  Following Nick up the steps, Ethan said, “It’s not that I can go purchase a new set of tires though I wish I could.” They headed around to the back of the house, past the open shelter outside the side door. Miss Haley called it her smoke shack and had one impressive grill set-up where she cooked her meats for the weekend restaurant.

  “Can’t save the world, man.” Nick had to laugh. He’d never seen Mr. Ethan so intent about something. This was really bugging him.

  “Don’t want to.” He drew in a deep breath. “But I’m a firm believer that God brings certain people into our lives for a reason. I’ve been blessed this past year, after I nearly made a wreck of my life. I intend to pour out into others what the Lord has poured into me.” Ethan stopped at the corner of the house and turned to face him. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way, young Prater. You’ll see.”

  “I don’t doubt you for a second. Not for one second.”

  When they found the girls talking excitedly in the backyard, Nick’s heart nearly stopped at the wide grin on Sage’s face. He’d not seen her looking so happy in a while. Her time spent with Miss Haley must have gone well.

  Haley, upon seeing them, grabbed Ethan’s hand and pulled him into the house, saying she needed a quick word. Sage, holding her shoes in one hand, threw her arms around Nick’s waist and hugged him tight. Too tight.

  “Thank you, thank you, Nikolai. I love her. And this place. I have a job. And a means to help Lana. And a website design job that I can do to pay for the reception.”

  “Everything worked out well for you, then?” His hand rubbed over her back, and he resisted the urge to kiss the top of her curly head. They used to be close like this, and he never thought twice about it. Until now. He wanted to hold her and never let go. He wanted to kiss her and never stop.

  Instead, he held her out at arm’s length so they were eye to eye, and a safe distance apart. “I’m happy for you.”

  Oh, but he needed to tell her.

  “Did you know Leon works here, too?” She swung her shoes from side to side. He didn’t like her coquettish smile one little bit. “I was just talking to him. That’s a perk Moi is going to be so jealous about.” Her brows wagged in a way he hated even more.

  Maybe he’d tell her some other time. Maybe. He’d never considered she might care about someone else.

  She giggled, bouncing on her bare feet. “I need to get home and tell Ma and Lana the news.” She planted a quick kiss on his cheek. “Will I see you later? Oh wait; you have a place to stay now, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, and I need to go help Mr. Ethan with those walls.” Why’d she have to be so darn cute? “Say, don’t drive too much on those tires, okay? I’ll come get you for class on Wednesday.”

  “But, you’ll have to wait around for me again.”

  “I don’t mind. I’ll get more work done if I don’t have anything distracting me.” Though she distracted him to the point he worried he might lose it. “They’re not safe, Sage. Don’t drive too far, and call me if you have any problems.”

  “Got it.” She nodded and blew him another kiss. “I’ll see you later, then. Love you and thanks again.”

  “Sure thing. Love you, too.” More than he cared for her to know.

  He watched Sage retrieve her bag from his car and then slipped into hers. Hopefully it would hold out until she earned enough to fix it.

  “I really need to get my act together.” Having a place to live would help a lot. He’d not blow off this opportunity Mr. Ethan was giving him to get back on his feet. He needed a real job. A good one. And he needed to find a way to let Sage know how he felt. Their brotherly friendship simply wasn’t going to float anymore.

  He went inside the house where the owners were in the middle of a discussion. Miss Haley always provided a bowl of fruit and plate of cookies for guests, and workers, to snack on. He grabbed one of each and then noticed a stack of stationery left out for people to write notes on. Sage had admitted to being taken by her siblings’ love note. She seemed a little sad that it hadn’t been real. Girls did like that sort of thing.

  Nick had always hated writing longhand, ever since his high school teachers harassed him about his sloppy penmanship. When he finally got a computer and printer, he no longer wrote out his work, much to everyone’s relief. He’d need to take his time on this. But if it opened the door to letting her know how he felt, the trouble would be totally worth it.

  He grinned and snagged a couple of sheets which he neatly folded and tucked into his shirt pocket.

  Chapter Seven

  Sage dodged as the twins barreled into the kitchen through the screen door and tossed the mail on the table. Max set to filling his hands with sugar cookies while Meghan poured two glasses of milk. Without a word to each other or anyone else, they hurried down to the family room in the basement.

  The front of the house was Ma’s work area where she spent most of her time at her sewing machine. Most of her clients needed tailoring, but she also created stunning dresses and bridal gowns which she sold in local small shops.

  Cartoon music floated up the back stairs. The twins were supposed to be doing homework. Television certainly wasn’t allowed at the same time, but Sage didn’t feel like arguing with them.

  She poured over several logo samples, made sketches based on Miss Haley’s ideas, and came up with two possibilities to email her. Sage wanted to give her first real customer options. If this went well, Haley promised to give her full credit for the site and promote her in the town’s small business owners’ association.

  Sage needed to make this her best site yet.

  Ma entered the kitchen where Sage was working and rummaged around the cabinets, trying to decide on something for dinner. “Will any of your friends be stopping in to join us tonight?”

  “Moi is coming over to study for our next exam.”

  “What about Nikolai. If I find out he’s sleeping in his car….”

  Sage updated Ma on his current job and living arrangements.

  “These are the same people you will be working for? The place where we’re having Lana’s reception?”

  “One and the same. Mr. Ethan and Miss Haley are really great people with big hearts. He plays the violin on the worship team at church, Ma.”

  Her mouth opened with her nod of recognition. “I’d heard a few rumors about the Madison girl turning the farm into a hotel and restaurant.” Ma pulled out a large pot and set it on the stove. “I’m so happy the town is beginning to thrive again. Have you seen the two new stores that opened recently? One of them is a clothing store. I stopped in and left my cards, letting them know I do alterations. They’d like to see some of my dresses.”

  “That’s great, Ma.”

  Sage remembered the Mayor’s speech during the Christmas Tree Lighting event about reviving the town. At the time, she’d not paid too much attention. But now that she was seriously thinking about starting her own business, she’d wondered about the city improvement grants being offered. Of course, she wouldn’t need to open a real shop. For the kind of work she did, an actual store wasn’t necessary. But she’d mentioned the grants to Nikolai a time or two.

  They used to talk a lot about their futures. Being a total computer geek, he was up on all the latest gaming trends, and loved tinkering with computers in general. There was a little electronics store on Main Street, but the owner offered little on stock, and wasn’t any help if someone needed repairs. Anyone who needed to get their computer fixed had to drive nearly fifty miles north or south to the next larger town.

  Nikolai could make a nice living if he opened a shop in Madison Creek. If only he had the confidence in himself.

  Ma brought a bag of potatoes to the table just as the back door opened
and Moi-Joy entered toting her hot pink laptop with a Legend of Zelda logo on the front. Today she was dressed in jeans, the kind with the rips artistically placed in all the right places, and a shimmering green top. Even on casual days, Moi looked like a model from Cosmo.

  “How’s the website coming, Sweet Sage?” She pulled out a chair between them and daintily sat, her legs crossed at the ankles. Sage dropped her foot off the vacant chair and sat up. She loved her friend but always felt like a slouch around her.

  “I just emailed a couple of ideas. Soon as I hear back from her, I’ll know which direction to go. Until then, I’m working on setting up the pages she wants to include on her site.”

  Ma picked up the pile of mail and rummaged through the letters, tossing an ad for college master degrees at Sage, then stopped at another letter also addressed to her. “This one doesn’t have a return address.”

  Sage grabbed it from her mother’s hands. “Don’t tell me those little brats are trying to prank me again.”

  Moi covered her mouth to hide her laugh.

  Ma called the twins into the kitchen. Pointing to the envelope, she asked in her most threatening tone. “You two up to your shenanigans again? What’s that supposed to be?”

  Max’s eyes rounded. “It was in the mailbox. We don’t know.”

  “It looks like the last letter you sent your sister. On April Fools. I told you no more of your tricks once the day was over, and good riddance. I’m hoping by next year, you two will grow a bit more sense in those brains of yours.”

  Meghan shook her head, sending her red curls tumbling around her shoulders. “We didn’t send that, Ma. Swear it. Though the one we did send was hilarious. Remember the look on Sage’s face? She got all dreamy for a moment.”

  Max mocked Sage with a big, dopey grin which sent Moi into another fit of laughter until she was pounding her hand on the table.

  “Hush you,” Sage hissed, rising from her seat. “I did not look like that, you little—”

  Ma blocked Sage and pushed the twins toward the basement. “If I find out you’re fibbing, I’ll bring out the switch. I don’t tolerate lying tongues, and you know it. Now get your homework done, pronto. And turn off those cartoons!”