A Soldier's Valentine

by Jenna Mindel

  It didn’t take long.

  “Wow.” Annie took in the small group of women watching Zach at work with molten glass.

  Ginger rolled her eyes. “I know.”

  “What is all this?”

  Ginger lowered her voice. “His fan club. Some of these ladies come every morning.”

  “You’re kidding.” Annie chuckled.

  “I’m not.” Ginger chuckled. She didn’t know what she envied more—that he had customer fans or that she was too busy to join them.

  There were a range of ages, but the daily ones were a few older ladies who stopped in after they’d met for breakfast at the diner around the corner. One of the women wrote for the Maple Springs Gazette, circulation—not many, and she wanted to do a spread on Zach.

  Zach had laughed but grudgingly agreed under the condition that she stayed focused on his work with glass and the shop. What he didn’t say, Ginger had heard loud and clear. His war experience and military career were off-limits for questions. Maybe even for her, too.

  “Looking for tea?” Ginger gestured toward her own counter.

  “That and stopping in to say hello before I head to my dance class. Marie is watching the baby.” Annie walked with her through the glass slider. “So...how come you’re waiting on Zach’s customers?”

  “We made a deal.”

  “And?” Annie’s eyebrows rose.

  Ginger didn’t make a big deal about it. “I watch his shop while he does hot glasswork and he’ll pay for the window display supplies.”

  “Nice.” Annie poured herself a sample cup of the romantic chai blend. “Mmm, this is good. I’ll buy a bag, please. Have you decided on your window then?”

  “No. I need to get moving on it, but I’m at a loss.”

  “You always do a nice display, so what’s the trouble?”

  Ginger shrugged. She didn’t want to give voice to her fears that she wasn’t creative enough to pull this one off. She’d never won a window display contest before.

  She sighed instead. “Brady wants an update on how many merchants have committed to participating. He’ll remind everyone tonight at the meeting, but it’s up to me to follow up and push, you know? Make sure everyone’s in. And I need to be upbeat about it, too.”

  “Your usual self, then.” Annie took another sip of tea. “So I take it you’re going.”

  Ginger didn’t miss a meeting, but she didn’t feel so positive about this one. “Yes, I’m going. Are you?”

  “I hate to leave John.” Annie loved her baby to pieces.

  That was to be expected in a new mom, sure, but Ginger knew the grief her friend had been through trying to get pregnant, and then the pain of losing her husband plus the added turmoil over falling for Matthew so quickly afterward. Annie kept a low profile these days.

  Ginger scooped aromatic loose tea into a plastic bag. “If I had that little man waiting for me at home, I wouldn’t go, either.”

  “Go where?” Zach stood in the doorway, appearing from out of nowhere.

  Annie waved hello while she sipped her tea.

  “Hey, Annie.” He gave her a nod.

  “The chamber meeting,” Ginger told him.

  “Oh.” The tone of his voice sounded preoccupied, but his eyes glowed with satisfaction and something close to joy.

  No doubt he looked pleased from having created something special out of a clump of hot glass. It was no wonder he drew an audience. Especially female. Today, he’d seemed okay with it. The day before, those feminine titters and stares had irritated him to no end.

  “It’s the one with the really good food.” Ginger handed over the bag and waved away Annie’s attempt to pay. “It’s on me.”

  “You really should check it out, Zach,” Annie added. “You might be able to protect Ginger from the book-man’s unwanted advances.”

  “Annie!” Ginger wanted to crawl under her counter and hide.

  Zach’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s the book-man?”

  Knowing her face was on fire, Ginger cringed. “He works at the library.”

  “And he’s been after Ginger for a date ever since they attended a chamber-sponsored class together.” Annie gave her a wink.

  Ginger glared. “I have nothing to worry about with Lewis.”

  “Hmm.” Annie glanced at her watch. “Oops, I gotta run. ’Bye.”

  They both watched her exit.

  “Is she serious about this guy bothering you?”

  “No. Well, it’s not a big deal. We worked on a project for that class, and well, he can’t seem to take the hint that I’m not interested.” Ginger wouldn’t want to run into Lewis in a dark alley—not because he was dangerous; he wasn’t. He was simply a little odd and clung like lint.

  Zach rubbed his chin.

  Ginger changed the subject fast. “Hey, I have an idea for the windows. What do you think about big puffy cotton clouds raining teapots in my window and glass globes in yours?”

  “How’s that romantic?”

  Zach had asked the question innocently enough, but an image of him caught in the rain had her skin tingling. “Um... I don’t know. Nice things for a rainy day?”

  “You can do better.”

  “Like what?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Dig deeper.”

  “Right.” He was no help. No help at all. No brainstorming of ideas. Nothing. “Deeper into what?”

  He raised one eyebrow at her, as if she was pretty dense for not understanding where to dig for romance.

  Ginger raised her chin. She didn’t bare her soul to anyone. She certainly couldn’t do it for a window display. How dismal would her heart look represented by her window? It’d be like something from a sporting goods store with layers of padded protection.

  He turned to leave.

  “Wait.” Ginger came out from around her counter. “What’s the spending limit here?”

  “What’s your time worth?”

  Ginger cocked her head. “What do you mean?”

  “Multiply your hourly rate by the hours you cover my store and put into the displays. There’s your budget.”

  She stared at him. “My hourly rate?”

  He cocked one infuriating eyebrow again. “How much is an hour of your time worth in dollars and cents?”

  “I don’t know.” Ginger huffed. “What’s a fair price?”

  “Only you know that.”

  Ginger opened her mouth, but then stopped and thought about it. What was her time worth? “I’ll have to get back to you.”

  He gave her that crooked lift of his lips that was barely a smile and walked back to his shop. Frustrating man. But he’d made a point. A good one.

  Ginger had sunk countless hours into her store and the community hoping to increase business, hoping that if folks liked what they saw in her, they’d buy what she sold. Never once had she considered the cost of her own time, her hourly rate. Did she even clear minimum wage? Surely, the satisfaction of a job well done along with the appreciation from others counted for something.

  She liked to tell herself that much of what she did was to grow her business. It wasn’t about acceptance. It wasn’t about proving herself worthy of respect. But she knew better. She lapped up the approval given by others like a thirsty Great Dane. She wanted to be somebody. And in Maple Springs, she was. People knew her and for the most part, they cared.

  In spite of the new coffee shop stepping on her toes, Ginger wasn’t a quitter. Not anymore. She’d work harder, and getting her business name out there statewide would no doubt help.

  If she won the window display contest.

  She had to win. Failure wasn’t an option, because it couldn’t be. If she let those thoughts in with all the doubt that came with it, she’d be doomed before she started.<
br />
  Dig deeper...

  She glanced at Zach. He was sort of the pot calling the kettle black with that statement. Wasn’t he?

  All those years of hearing her father say she wouldn’t amount to anything special had stayed with her. It drove her. The scary part was what if she dug deep and it still wasn’t enough? It’d be as if those words she’d heard her whole life were true.

  * * *

  That evening, Zach quickly showered and dressed in a pair of jeans, turtleneck and a sweater. He didn’t think anyone expected a suit even though the restaurant sponsoring the chamber meeting was on the high side of uppity.

  He was going because of Ginger.

  And that gnawed at him. He didn’t do these things, didn’t care about chumming with the local dignitaries and business owners. He didn’t like crowds or crowded places. He wanted to make stuff with glass, sell it and be left alone. Zach knew what his time was worth, and the Maple Springs Chamber of Commerce couldn’t afford him. Maybe no one could.

  But the thought of big brown eyes made worried over some creep badgering her was another matter. One he couldn’t let go. He’d told Ginger she could trust him to keep her safe, and that’s what he was doing. He’d check this guy out for himself before believing Ginger’s admission that it was no big deal.

  He slipped on his coat and headed out. It wasn’t far. A couple of blocks’ walk at most. Another reason to go. It wouldn’t take long to get in, check things out and then exit.

  After snowshoeing with Ginger on Sunday, Zach realized there was more to the bubbly personality than he first thought. There were things about her that bothered him. No boyfriends. No mention of family, other than the little brother who’d fallen through the ice.

  She seemed completely alone in Maple Springs. Monica said that Ginger spread herself thin considering everything she did. Known and loved by everyone, yet who’d she hang out with other than Annie Marshall? Who had Ginger’s back?

  He stepped into the foyer of a tiny upscale restaurant with its deep wood tones and rich-looking upholstered chairs. It was crammed tight with people hanging up coats and moving inside.

  The itchy feeling of being boxed in scratched through him. Taking deep breaths, he scanned the walls for another exit and noticed one through the doorway leading into the dining area, on the other side of the bar.

  Okay, okay. He had another way out if needed.

  Looking down, Zach spotted an ornate woven rug on the wood floor. The same kind of rug he’d seen in an Afghan village. In the blink of an eye, he was back there, on patrol with his men, looking for insurgents. Men and women spoke quickly in a language he didn’t understand. Their gestures he knew, though, a mix of anger and fear as he and his men went door-to-door. A dog barked in the distance.

  After taking fire, they’d kicked in the door to a place with a rug like this one, with woven threads of gold and brown in an intricate pattern. A thing of beauty in an ugly place.

  A shriek of laughter echoed through his ears, startling him, pulling him back to the present. He felt a guy grab his collar and jerked back to loosen the hold.

  But the guy pulled him toward the doorway. “Zach Zelinsky. I heard you’d moved back home. How are you?”

  He’d made a fist and was ready to throw it when he blinked instead, recognizing a pair of wide eyes he remembered from high school. “Charlie?”

  Charlie let go and backed up, nervously running a hand through his thinning hair. “Wow. Look at you. Still mean and lean. I heard you retired from the army.”

  “Yeah. Sorry.” Zach felt like an idiot.

  “What are you doing now?”

  Zach relaxed. Sort of. Adrenaline still pumped through his veins. He’d reacted too quick and had nearly clocked someone. “Opened a glass shop on Main.”

  Charlie tipped his head back in shock. “The artsy one?”

  “The same.”

  His old school friend whistled. “My wife was in there the other day and said it’s pretty cool. Have you got your insurance lined up? If you need anything, let me know.” Charlie slipped him a business card. “I’m an independent agent, so I can hook you up with the best deal.” Then he gave him a nod. “Gotta run. Big client over there.”

  “No problem.” And so it went. Charlie was all about networking now. Scoring the next contact that might make him money. That’s what these things were for. And Zach wanted no part of it.

  “I didn’t think you’d come.” Ginger walked up to him, smiling and beautiful.

  He shrugged. “So, where’s this dude?”

  “Who?”

  He searched his memory for the guy’s name. “Lewis?”

  Ginger gritted her teeth. “I’m going to kill Annie. Seriously, that’s why you came, to play protector or something equally stupid?”

  Trained to protect. What did she expect? “It got me here.”

  “I suppose that’s one way of looking it at.” Her hair fell in lush red waves around her shoulders. She wore the same black pants and sweater that she had on earlier along with a pair of boots that had ridiculously high heels.

  Zach mused that he could look at her all night. Look, but don’t touch. Playing protector might have its advantages. He leaned toward her. “Where is he?”

  “I haven’t seen him.” Ginger gave him a smug smile and wandered away. Not far, though. The crowd was too thick.

  Zach made his way toward the bar. He could see the entire place from there, and if he turned around, he’d see everything through the mirror on the wall behind shelves of expensive liquor bottles.

  He ordered a pop, leaned back against the bar of carved mahogany and watched people. Folks with drinks in hand, making small talk about nothing, wasting time. His sister Monica came to these kinds of things, but he didn’t see her tonight and he didn’t recognize most of the people present, either. He wouldn’t have known Charlie if he hadn’t approached Zach first. Twenty years away from a place had a way of making things unfamiliar.

  A waitress came around with a tray of funky-looking snacks and offered him one. He wasn’t sure what it was, but it tasted good so he grabbed another two before she left.

  Searching the restaurant, he spotted Ginger. She’d made it across the room and chatted comfortably with a group of older women. The sound of her laughter was warm and infectious. He heard it from where he stood.

  A strong, powdery scent tickled his nose.

  “I sure hope Ginger and her tea shop make it.”

  Zach looked down at an old lady. Definitely wearing lilac-scented something, she stood next to him and she wasn’t talking to anyone else that he could tell. “Ma’am?”

  “It’s where I buy my tea and always have. Be a shame to see her fold.”

  “Why would she?” Zach probed.

  The old lady shrugged. “Retail is tough. Stands to reason when that new coffee shop started selling loose tea, Ginger faced competition. But it’s a messy place. Those kids with their ratty hair and tattoos.”

  Zach chuckled. He’d have loved to hear what this lady might say about his tattoo. But then the wicked knight was tame compared with some of the coffeehouse-grunge ink. He didn’t care what they looked like as long as the service and coffee were good. Both were very good, and the place was always busy.

  “Ginger’s such a sweet girl.”

  Why was she telling him this?

  The old lady winked at him. “And single, too.”

  “So I’ve heard.” Zach extended his hand. “Zach Zelinsky.”

  She gave him a firm handshake and didn’t let go. “I know who you are.”

  He tipped his head. “You have me at an advantage, ma’am.”

  “Sally Monroe.”

  “Ahh, you’re the woman I bought the building from.” He’d never met her because even though he’d to
ured the building when he’d been home for Darren’s wedding, he’d gone after hours with her real estate agent. Due to his short leave, he’d had to sign all the closing paperwork through the mail.

  There was something warm and caring about Sally’s honest gaze that reminded Zach of his mother. This small gray-haired woman who smelled like lilacs saw a lot.

  She finally let go of his hand, but her gaze held on. “You’ve made nice changes to the shop. I peeked in the window.”

  “Thank you.” He tipped his head, ready to invite her to stop in for a tour, but heard Ginger’s approach. It had to be her high-heeled boots clicking quickly on the hardwood floors.

  “Sally!” Ginger gave the woman a big hug. “I didn’t know you were in town. Why didn’t you call?”

  “I arrived this afternoon and thought I’d come by tonight and surprise you.” Sally looked at Zach. “We attended many of these functions together.”

  He nodded.

  “She taught me everything. Way better than school. Have you met Zach?” Ginger gave the woman’s shoulders a quick squeeze before letting go.

  “Yes, just now. And a fine young man.” Sally patted his arm.

  He was neither.

  Ginger gave him a long, thoughtful look. Maybe she agreed with her mentor. But then she turned toward Sally. “How long are you staying?”

  “Just today and tomorrow.”

  “Have you had dinner? We could go out—”

  Sally tapped her arm. “I’ve already eaten at June’s. I’m staying there tonight, but thank you.”

  Ginger stuck her lip out in a pout before adding, “You have to come by the shop.”

  “I will.” Sally nodded and then gave him a stern look. “Tomorrow, when you open.”

  Zach looked forward to showing the old lady all the changes he’d made. How did she know him if she didn’t live here anymore? Or was the reason Sally approached him because she’d caught him admiring Ginger from afar? She seemed pleased by that, but with reservation.

  Zach had his own reservations, but Sally obviously cared. Maybe seeing the shop had more to do with how he’d treat Ginger than anything else. He didn’t want to let either of them down.