Nadine swayed toward him, and her hand came up and rested against his wrinkled shirt, as if to support herself. Then his arms were around her again, his mouth on hers.
It made no sense.
It made perfect sense.
Nadine let herself slip away to a place she had never imagined would be hers. A place where mind, heart, and spirit were one with another, a place of surrender and strength, of peace and tumult; Clint’s arms surrounded her, his body warming hers and his mouth caressing hers. She returned his kisses, clinging to him.
When he ended the kiss then tucked her head once again under his chin, she did not dare think what it could all mean.
They were silent, as if each needed to absorb the moment.
Finally Nadine pulled away, looking up at him. “I know you saw what I wrote last night. You need to know I’m not running the article.”
Clint frowned, as if puzzled by what she said.
“I wrote it after I got the note from Chantelle.” Nadine looked down, fingering the cuff of her tunic top. “I was upset. All those questions we’ve had about my father were finally answered.” She looked at Clint, praying he would understand. “I discovered how he died, what happened...” A wave of sorrow welled up as she remembered what Gordon had written about her father’s cries. Her words were choked off, and once again she was in Clint’s arms. Hot tears slid past her eyelids and flowed down her cheeks.
“It’s okay, Nadine. It’s okay to cry,” he murmured as he held her. “I read the letter that you attached to the e-mail. It was awful.”
Nadine nodded. She drew in a steadying breath as the tears subsided. “I’m sorry. All I do lately around you is cry,” she said with a shaky laugh.
“I don’t mind,” he said softly, his hand on her shoulder. He angled his head, his hand squeezing her shoulder. “I want you to know, Nadine, that I think you should run the article on your father.”
“What are you talking about? I thought Matthew said Skyline was threatening the paper with a lawsuit?”
“So far it’s just the usual threats.” Clint traced the track of a tear down Nadine’s cheek, his eyes following the path of his finger. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned, but your battle with Skyline has shown me something important, reminded me of the reason I went into this business: to print the truth, to expose wickedness and collusion.” He smiled a wry smile, stroking her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “I learned from you in all of this. You have shown me how a child should love their parent, and how strong love can be. I never cared for my parents that way.”
“Please,” she begged, shaking her head. “Don’t look to me as an example of filial love. My mother and I had a totally different relationship.”
“Probably, but you did the same for her that you did for your father. You sacrificed for her. A career, a marriage—”
“Breaking my engagement to Jack wasn’t a huge sacrifice,” she interrupted.
“That’s good to hear.” He fiddled with a strand of her hair, sending delicate shivers down her spine at his casual touch. “You have always been someone who holds fast to her beliefs. Your faith in God and your strength has always been an example to me. I’ve often wished for the same strength, the same ability to face problems head-on.”
Nadine felt ashamed as he spoke. He was making her out to be so much better than she was. “Please, Clint. I’m not like that. I battled many times with God over my mother’s illness. When she died, I was relieved and had to ask God to forgive me for that, as well.”
“It doesn’t matter, Nadine,” he said. “You have a beauty, a strength of character, a faith that has depth,” he continued, his eyes on the hands that still played with her hair. “You’re not the kind of person someone can get to know in one night, or one week, or even a month. You always intrigued me and scared me at the same time.”
What he said began a faint stirring in the depths of her being.
“I think I’ve always cared for you. I know I have,” he amended. “I don’t know exactly how to say this, except to be very honest.” His hand stopped, resting on her shoulder, his finger caressing her neck. “I love you, too, Nadine.”
She saw his lips move, heard the words as they settled into the empty, lonely part of her heart that she had kept blocked off for so long. As if in a daze, she slowly shook her head. “What did you just say?”
“I said I love you.”
Nadine closed her eyes as if to hold the words in her mind. The words echoed and resounded, drowning out so many other tiny voices she had stored away—voices of friends of her sisters, old boyfriends. Voices that had humiliated and hurt, sometimes unintentionally. She opened her eyes again, and then, surprising herself at her audacity, reached over and pulled Clint’s head down to hers.
Their lips met, seeking at first then moving more slowly as pain was eased and loneliness filled. Finally, Nadine pulled away, her heart as full as when she had first fully experienced God’s love for her.
“I love you, too, Clint. I have loved you for years,” she said simply, her hands resting on his shoulders, and his clasped behind her waist.
He drew in a deep breath, as if he had been holding it since he first declared himself to her. “So that means if I ask you to marry me, you’ll say yes?”
“More than likely,” she returned.
He pulled her close once again, and as she rested against his heart, she let her arms slip around him, enjoying the solidity of him.
“It worked, you know,” she said softly, rubbing her cheek against his shirt.
“What do you mean?”
“My life.” Nadine lifted her head so she could look up at him. “It seemed so unorganized, like anything I started would end up going in a different direction. Yet God took all those scattered pieces and made them work.”
Clint smiled down at her. “And now I hope that your life can become a part of mine. I know we can’t expect a life without trouble, but I still choose the kind of marriage your parents had, with their faith and their love. They built on a strong foundation, and I pray that we will, too.”
As Nadine returned his smile, she sent up a prayer of thanks.
And then she stood on tiptoe and kissed her man. She pulled back, smiling at him.
“There’s just one more thing I need to do,” Nadine said. “I hate to ask you, but I’m really going to need your help.”
Clint nodded. “Okay. Sounds interesting, but I’m willing to go along.”
“It’s just to my apartment. I need to talk to Grandma.”
Chapter 19
“So, Grandma, Clint and I need to tell you something.”
Clint held Nadine’s hand, wishing he had a ring on it to show Grandma and everyone else that he and Nadine were, indeed, getting married.
They sat across from her at the dining room table. Barbara was finishing her breakfast and drinking a cup of tea when they came in, the newspaper open on the table beside her.
She now looked from Nadine to Clint, a smile hovering at one edge of her mouth.
“And, what is that?”
“Nadine and I are getting married,” Clint put in before Nadine could.
Barbara sat back in her chair, looking rather smug. “Well. I’m not surprised. You two were meant for each other, that’s for sure.” She got up and gave Nadine a tight hug. “Congratulations, my dear.” She turned to Clint, shooting him a self-satisfied grin. “And to you too. I’m sure you’ll make my granddaughter very happy. She deserves it, you know.”
“I do. And I will try my best,” Clint promised.
“But, I have a problem.” Nadine tightened her grip on Clint’s hand as if seeking support and strength from him. “I’m going to be making wedding preparations and buying things and, well, I’ll need the room. For the wedding things.”
“You want me to move out?” Barbara sounded shocked, her eyes wide, with her one hand on her chest, her teacup wobbling in her other hand. “I...can’t...I could help
you...I can’t believe you would want me gone when I can really help you.”
Thank goodness Nadine had warned him about her grandmother and how she could manipulate. But this was Nadine’s grandmother and he didn’t want to interfere.
“I know you can help, Grandma, but I really, really need to be on my own.”
Barbara’s hand moved to her mouth, covering it as if she were crying.
“Grandma, please don’t do this,” Nadine said, her voice wavering. “I’m sorry—”
She’s going to cave, Clint thought. She’s going to let her dear, sweet, disingenuous grandmother wrap her around her little finger. He needed to help.
“But we think it’s best for you if you have your own place,” Clint said, interrupting when he sensed Nadine’s wavering. “I understand you have a home in Fort Henday? I’m sure you’d love to get back to it? Work in your flower gardens, be on the yard?”
Barbara blinked then zeroed in on him. “But Naddy will need me now more than ever.”
“Not really; she has me,” Clint said. “I know you’re very happy about that.”
He held Barbara’s gaze, surprised to see a faint challenge in her eyes. But, he held her gaze look for look and, to his surprise, he caught a glimmer of admiration in their blue, guileless depths.
Nadine squeezed his hand as if thankful for the support.
“Well, I see that but—”
“And Nadine will be helping me at the house from time to time—”
“She will be moving in with you after the wedding?”
“Yes. I have a lovely home that I inherited from Dory.”
Barbara nodded slowly. “And your uncle, when is he returning and where will he live?”
“He bought a condo. In that new development that went up along the tracks.”
Barbara nodded slowly. “Wonderful. Well, I suppose I could go back; though, I hope I’ll be allowed to visit from time to time.”
“Of course you can visit—”
“For an afternoon,” Clint put in, interrupting his future fiancée and adding a smile for Grandma’s sake. “I’m sure Nadine would love to see you once in a while. For an afternoon,” he repeated.
This netted him another shrewd look from Grandma, as if she sensed that she had come up against someone who could negotiate like her.
“Of course. That would be nice.”
Nadine shot Clint a look of gratitude.
“So. I guess I better start packing up.” Grandma got up but waited by her chair as if hoping Nadine would stop her.
“Do you need a hand?” Clint asked, taking a step backward, toward her room, as if ready to help her out.
“No. I can manage. It’s just my suitcase and some of my personal items.” Barbara sighed then gave Nadine a smile and moved in for another hug. “I’m happy for you, my dear.” She bracketed Nadine’s face, shaking her head slowly. “I wish your mother could be here to see this.”
Nadine nodded, pressing her hand to her mouth, and Clint slipped his arm around her shoulders for support. “I do too,” she whispered.
“Well...I should get going,” Barbara said, patting Clint on the arm. “Next time I see you two, I hope to see a ring on my granddaughter’s finger.”
“That’s the next thing we need to take care of.”
“I’m so glad. I’ll say goodbye now.” She looked at Clint. “So, when is your uncle moving in?”
“A couple of weeks.”
“Excellent.” She gave Nadine another hug then walked away.
Nadine watched her go, regret flashing over her face, but Clint pulled her close and brushed a kiss over her forehead. “She’ll be fine,” he assured her.
“I know. It’s just, I feel a bit bad. Like I’m kicking her out.”
“I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of her,” Clint said. “And I’m thinking we might not be the only one she’ll be visiting.”
“Your Uncle Dory,” Nadine said with a sigh.
“You caught that, didn’t you?”
“Oh yeah. I know when Grandma is on the hunt.”
“Then you know she’ll be okay,” Clint said.
“I know she will be.” Nadine flashed him a grateful smile. “And thanks for the support.”
“My pleasure. I want you to know that I’ll always be here for you. Always.”
Nadine’s lips quivered a moment, and then she turned her head into his chest, slipping her arms around him.
Clint held her close, looking around the apartment and thinking of the house Nadine and her family used to live in. He was thankful to be able to give that to her again. A home.
She pulled away and drew in a shaky breath.
“I guess we should get back to work,” she said, her tone reluctant.
“We’ve got time,” he said. “Personally, I’d like to go downtown. Make a purchase.”
Nadine grinned. “I like where this is going.”
Clint slid his knuckle over her face, smiling back at her and still trying to absorb the fact that he and Nadine were finally together.
“I do too. It’s been a long haul with some missteps along the way, but I think we’re both where we should be.”
Nadine’s expression clouded, and a faint frown marred her features.
“What are you thinking of?”
“My sister. Leslie.”
“You’ll have to talk to her sometime, I’m sure,” Clint said.
“I will. But not for a while.” The frown left her face, replaced by a broad smile. “Because right now I’ve got bigger and better things to think about.”
“I agree,” Clint said. “Do you want to wait to say goodbye to Grandma or should we just leave?”
“I kind of want to make sure she goes,” Nadine said, chewing her lip. Then she shook her head. “If you’ve got my back, I’m sure you’ll make sure it happens.”
“I do,” he said. “I do have your back.”
“And I have yours.”
“Then we’ll both be in good shape.” Clint kissed her again, then catching her by the hand, led her into the bright sunshine. He looked up at the blue sky then at Nadine. “What do you think of a winter wedding up in the mountains?”
“I think you’re reading my mind,” she said.
“Let’s go pick out a ring. I want to make this official,” Clint said. “I want everyone to know that we’re together.”
“Finally,” she said.
“Finally.” He kissed her again, and the two of them went off on the first step of their future together.
Dear Reader
Dear Reader,
Whenever I tell a story, I start with my characters. What are their dreams, hopes, and wishes? All of us have things that we want from life, yet prayerfully wonder if our motives are right.
Nadine wanted a number of things, but she had to learn to reevaluate her motives and her reasons for wanting them.
As we live our lives, our own wishes and dreams change with our situation. Sometimes we get what we want and then wish we hadn’t. Sometimes we don’t and are glad we didn’t. I think the important thing is to remember that God uses all the good and bad things in our lives to shape and mold us, if we are willing.
Yours truly,
Carolyne
Coming Soon
PRE-ORDER the next book in the Sweethearts of Sweet Creek Series by clicking on the title:
#3 - CLOSE TO HIS HEART
Other books coming up in the Sweethearts of Sweet Creek -
1. Homecoming
4 - Divided Hearts
5 - A Hero at Heart
6 - A Mother’s Heart
In this series you’ll get to know the residents of this town set in the Kootenay mountains and surrounded by ranch land and populated with interesting characters.
Nadine Laidlaw, a newspaper reporter, who can’t seem to get rid of her meddling, matchmaking Grandmother and Clint Fletcher, her new boss, who is a reminder of all she wants to forget.
Tess Kruger whose pain
has sent her back to her hometown of Sweet Creek trying to find redemption. When her ex-fiancee, Jace Scholte shows up and she’s forced to work with him on a fundraiser, she struggles with her old feelings for him and the secret she can never tell him.
Cory Luciuk is working her way through life, waitressing at the Riverside Inn. And then the man who broke her heart and tainted her past shows up again.
Kelsey Swain, a widow with a small boy has seen her share of sorrow when her husband died. She now runs the Riverside Cafe, struggling to get it off the ground. Then his ex-partner comes back to Sweet Creek and with him a reminder of what she lost.
I hope you have a chance to read them.
CHAPTER ONE
The door of the coffee shop opened with a cheerful jingle of bells, and when Tess looked at who had come in, her breath sucked out of her.
He had returned...dragging along the darkness of the past.
It had been a week and a half since she heard that Jace Scholte came back to Sweet Creek. In those ten days, Tess jumped at the sight of any man with dark hair wearing a suit. The sound of any deep, rough voice sent her heart into overdrive.
But each jolt had been a false alarm; she hadn’t seen him face to face. Until now.
Jace’s suit sat easily on his broad shoulders. His tie was cinched and his collar enhanced his sculpted cheekbones. He was tanned, but it didn’t hide the scar down one side of his face, which added a sense of mystique to his strong features.
Then his icy blue eyes latched onto hers and narrowed.
She didn’t want to know what he was thinking or feel this trembling deep in her soul.
She forced her gaze back to the espresso machine, failing to contain her chaotic thoughts as she tamped down the ground coffee for her current order. Why did Claire have to choose this time to do inventory at the back of the store? Tess could use her sister’s support right now. She swallowed her apprehension and wiped her hands on her apron then steamed the milk, disappointed to see her hand trembling.
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