Climbing into bed a short while later, Marcus thanked God for the wonderful evening, and he also prayed a blessing on Tiffany, his unexpectedly alluring, gorgeous date.
Chapter 19
A few days later, after dropping the kids at school, Tiffany made her way to the Alcott Estate. Ruth was hosting the weekly Bible study in her home this week and had asked her to help with the preparations after attending to her personal needs. She’d also invited her to stay for it.
Since the evening of the ball, thoughts of God had flitted through Tiffany’s mind, but the idea of sitting with a bunch of ladies studying the Bible made her feel uncomfortable. She hadn’t promised to stay, and now she was thinking she’d attend to Ruth and then make an excuse to leave.
She hadn’t heard from Marcus. While she hadn’t expected him to call, she was disappointed. She couldn’t forget the way her heart beat fast as he’d lifted her hand and kissed it gently; it was the most romantic moment she’d ever experienced, and she hadn’t been able to sleep for hours afterwards. Steve had never had that effect on her. Ever. But maybe she’d only imagined a connection between her and Marcus.
Because of all this, Tiffany was anxious to face Ruth. She drove her car around the back and as she crossed the gravel to the back entrance, she paused and took in the view of the harbour. Memories of the evening with Marcus flashed through her mind. Had it all been a dream? Had she really sat on the deck with him and chatted while sipping their drinks? It seemed so unreal now, like a fairy tale. How silly to have allowed hope of anything more to grow inside her. Things like that didn’t happen in real life, not for women like her, anyway. She was his mother’s caregiver. They’d had a date of convenience. There was nothing more to it than that.
“Tiffany! I wondered if I’d see you before I left.”
Her eyes widened. Wearing a dark grey business suit and looking as handsome as ever, Marcus stepped out the door and approached her. “I was just about to leave for work. How are you?” His broad smile made her heart flutter.
“Great, thanks.” Returning his smile, she tried hard to keep her voice steady.
“Thanks again for coming with me the other evening.” He spoke sincerely, but she sensed caution in his voice.
“You’re more than welcome.” Why did their conversation suddenly seem stilted? They’d chatted so easily the night of the ball. “I’d best go in. Your mum will be waiting for me. She invited me to attend the Bible study this morning.” Why did she say that? She hadn’t planned to stay.
“Really? I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Mum loves her study group.”
Tiffany shrugged. “We’ll see.”
“I have to go, too. Enjoy your day, Tiffany.” He gave her a warm smile before leaving.
She paused before going inside. Seeing Marcus again, she felt like she was swimming through a haze of feelings and desires. She should have known this would happen. If she hadn’t gone with him to the ball, she wouldn’t have this dull ache inside her. Nothing could develop between them. He was a billionaire and she was his mother’s caregiver. She couldn’t afford to harbor any romantic notions—she had to put them away right now before she went inside.
Ruth was in her bedroom. Tiffany knocked softly and entered when Ruth looked up and smiled. “Tiffany, how are you? How did you enjoy the ball?” Her voice oozed sweetness, and Tiffany wondered what Marcus had told her.
She was determined not to let Ruth see the war of emotions raging within her. “I’m good, thanks. And the ball was amazing.” Tiffany walked over to where Ruth was seated on her oatmeal coloured, mid-century Scandinavian armchair in front of the large bay window.
“Marcus said you dazzled the crowd.” Ruth’s eyes twinkled.
Tiffany bit her lip. What else had he said? “I’m not quite sure about that, but it felt nice being dressed up.”
“Well, I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, my dear.” Ruth reached out and patted her hand. “Now you’d best help me prepare for the morning. I don’t want to greet my guests in my nightgown!”
Tiffany chuckled and got about her work. Caring for Ruth Alcott was never difficult; Ruth always put Tiffany at ease and made her feel better about herself. As Tiffany brushed Ruth’s hair, she decided that she’d stay for the study after all. Not because of Marcus. Not because of Ruth. She’d stay for herself. Maybe she could find some answers to the questions she’d been internalizing.
Ruth’s friends began to arrive, and Ruth greeted them warmly and introduced them to Tiffany. They gathered in the morning room where a table was laden with freshly baked cookies and pastries. Tiffany was by far the youngest woman in the group, but the ladies were friendly and kind and included her in their conversations while sipping their tea.
Soon, Ruth cleared her throat and drew the group to attention. “Thank you all for coming this morning, and a special welcome to my caregiver, Tiffany.” Ruth turned to her, and with a warm smile, she patted Tiffany’s hand. “I’m delighted she’s joining us today.”
The group of ten ladies all nodded and smiled at her. With all the attention, Tiffany felt herself growing a little anxious but smiled back.
“Shall we make a start by asking the Lord to bless our time together?” Ruth asked the group.
Once again, the ladies nodded and then bowed their heads. Seated beside Ruth, Tiffany followed suit. It had been a long time since she’d closed her eyes in prayer, and something inside her shifted as Ruth prayed quietly.
“Dear Lord, we thank You for being here with us today. Please bless our time together and may our hearts be open to Your word. Let us be touched by what we read and learn, and help us to become more like You. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.”
A round of quiet amens followed and then they all opened their Bibles. Ruth handed Tiffany one.
“Last week we finished Romans seven, and this week we’re on to Romans eight, which you all know is my favourite,” Ruth said with a small chuckle.
The women quickly flipped through the pages of their Bibles to find the book and chapter. Tiffany had no idea where to find either. She was relieved when Ruth discreetly located it for her.
“Who would like to read the first verse?” Ruth asked.
A woman to Tiffany’s left said she would. She read the verse slowly and carefully. “‘Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’”
Condemnation. Such an intimidating word. Exactly how Tiffany had felt most of her life, or at least since she left home. She’d suffered Steve’s condemnation for most of their marriage, and she’d continued to condemn herself for not leaving before she did and for allowing her children to stay in that environment for too long.
And yet, here was this verse, saying that there was no condemnation in Jesus.
Tiffany listened intently as Ruth and the women discussed this verse and those that followed. For many years, she’d thought God was punishing her. She’d been certain that all the hardships she’d suffered were punishment for disobeying her parents and leaving the church when she met Steve. But these verses were saying that for those who loved God, there was freedom from condemnation, sin and death. God loved her as a precious child, and nothing could separate her from that love.
In that moment, Tiffany came to realise that truth was not dependent upon experience. She’d been condemning herself when there was no need. For so many years she’d taken the blame for her failed marriage and had over-compensated by trying too hard to give the children what she thought they needed, but maybe, all they needed was her love. And for her to be free of guilt.
Later that day, after returning home, she mulled over that morning’s discussion. The Bible study might not have changed her views completely, but it had been enough to make her start thinking.
Chapter 20
That night, while eating dinner together, Ruth once again asked Marcus about the ball.
“I’ve already told you, Mum, it was a wonderful evening,” he replied, wondering if perhaps she’d started forg
etting things.
She leaned forward and tapped his hand. “Yes, but I’m asking about Tiffany. Did you have a nice time with Tiffany?”
“Yes, of course we had a nice time. She was a great companion.”
“I’m only asking again because of this morning’s Bible study. She seemed more open to the gospel than she’s been before, and I wondered why that might be.”
Marcus’s interest was piqued. The whole day at work he’d been curious about how the Bible study had gone and whether Tiffany had enjoyed it, so this was certainly interesting news. “Oh really?” he replied.
“I think she’s really searching,” his mum said while trying without success to twirl some spaghetti onto her fork.
“Let me help, Mum.” He hated seeing her struggle so, but she always insisted on trying to do things herself.
“Thank you, dear. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
He smiled as he took her plate and cut the spaghetti into small pieces to make it more manageable. “That’s great to hear about Tiffany. We did chat about God the other night, so maybe it got her thinking. I’m not sure.” Since the evening of the ball, he’d prayed daily for Tiffany. He couldn’t get her out of his mind or his heart. She’d changed something in him—shown him that he could care about a woman again, and that was a major step forward. But nothing could develop between them unless she shared his faith, and he wasn’t sure if he’d been praying for her for selfish reasons, or because he truly wanted her to know the love of God in her life for her own sake, regardless of whether anything developed between them or not.
“I think you and Tiffany should spend more time together,” his mother announced.
Marcus continued cutting the spaghetti and held in his surprise. Since she’d suggested he invite Tiffany to the ball, he guessed she was trying to match make them, so he simply answered, “And why’s that?”
“Because I think you would be good for her. You know, she really is wanting to know more about God. I can see it in her. I don’t know her full story, but I’ve sensed from little things she’s said that she doesn’t entirely trust men. I think you could change that.”
“She has good reason not to trust men, Mum. And I don’t think that my being around her a whole lot is going to fix that. She needs to learn to trust God first, and I think that you and your Bible study ladies could probably help with that more than I could.”
“I’m not trying to force anything on you, but it would be nice for you to spend time with a woman who makes you happy, and I believe Tiffany does.” Her eyes twinkled mischievously.
Marcus chuckled as he handed the plate back to her. “Are you finally admitting that you’re trying to set us up?”
She remained silent for a moment before shrugging. “Okay, I admit it. But I’m right, Marcus. I know she’s not a Christian, and rushing into a relationship isn’t a good idea, but there’s no harm in getting to know her and being her friend. You never know what might develop, especially since she seems open to the gospel.”
Marcus twirled some spaghetti onto his fork. These were the thoughts he’d been trying to avoid. What if he spent time with her and fell in love, but she decided not to believe? What would he do then? Could he go against his own beliefs and principles, or would he be strong enough to end the relationship, hurting not only himself, but possibly Tiffany as well?
“I truly don’t think I should encourage anything at the moment, Mum. I do like her, but I don’t want either of us to get hurt. I’ll pray for her and I’ll be friendly, but I don’t think it would do either of us any good to take things further right now.”
His mum nodded. “I was afraid you might think that way, and you’re probably right. However, I believe the two of you would make the most wonderful couple, so I’m not going to give up.”
Marcus laughed. “I didn’t expect you to!”
Chapter 21
The Bible study had caused Tiffany to think about her life and what she believed. She’d always considered herself to be a good person, and she believed that as long as she tried her best to be kind to everyone, that was all that mattered. But after hearing those Bible verses and the ensuing discussion amongst the ladies, and then realising that she’d been punishing herself for years over the failure of her marriage, she suddenly felt tired. Tired of striving to prove she was a worthy mother, tired of trying to prove to Steve that she could raise their children on her own, tired of doing life without God. Suddenly, she’d come to accept that He did care, just like Marcus said He did.
By the time she saw Ruth again, she had a ton of questions for her elderly client. Arriving a few minutes early, she wondered if she might see Marcus. Try as she might, she couldn’t shake his image from her mind, but her hopes were dashed. His car wasn’t in the garage. Although she knew a relationship with him was impossible, she couldn’t stop her heart racing every time she thought of him.
Tiffany let herself into the house through the back entrance and looked for Ruth. She wasn’t in the morning room or the kitchen, so Tiffany made her way to her bedroom and tentatively knocked on the door. “Ruth, are you there? It’s me, Tiffany.”
“Come in, dear.” Ruth’s voice sounded frailer than usual.
When Tiffany pushed the door open and entered, Ruth smiled. She was sitting up in bed reading.
“Good morning, Ruth. Are you not feeling well?” Tiffany asked with concern as she approached the bed. Rarely did Ruth Alcott stay in bed beyond seven, despite there being no need for her to rise that early.
“I’m fine, dear. I just decided to stay in bed and read until you arrived. Marcus brought me breakfast before he left.” She put her book down and patted the chair beside her. “Come and sit down.”
Normally, Ruth would be eager to have Tiffany help her dress, not sit and chat in her room. Nevertheless, Tiffany did what she requested and eased herself into the most comfortable armchair she’d ever sat in. She loved Ruth’s bedroom, and she occasionally let herself daydream about decorating her own room in a similar style, but it was very much only a daydream since she couldn’t even afford to buy football boots for her son.
Tiffany guessed that Marcus had opened the floor to ceiling drapes and the French doors leading onto the balcony where Ruth often sat. Dappled sunlight poured in, highlighting the wedding photo on Ruth’s mahogany dresser. Each time Tiffany looked at the photo she felt a pang in her heart. Ruth and her husband looked so young and in love. She felt so sad for Ruth losing her husband when she so clearly still loved him. Tiffany let out a sigh. She and Steve had also been young and in love once, but unlike her client’s marriage, theirs had ended badly.
“What’s on your mind, dear?” Ruth asked softly.
Tiffany blinked. It seemed Ruth could read her mind. She shrugged. “I… er…I’m not sure.” But that wasn’t quite true. She was sick of the struggle inside her and the confused thoughts and feelings that had been assailing her of late.
“Is it Marcus?”
Tiffany shook her head. “No.” That wasn’t quite the truth, but how could she confess to his mother that her son had captured her heart?
Ruth patted her hand. “Well. If it’s not Marcus, what is it?”
Tiffany inhaled deeply. “I’ve been thinking about the Bible study.”
Ruth’s face lit up. “That’s wonderful, dear! Would you like to talk about it?”
Tiffany tugged a piece of hair and wrapped it around her finger. “I think so. But I’m not sure where to start.”
“That’s okay. We’ve got all day. Why don’t you help me dress and we can sit outside and chat over coffee?”
Nodding, Tiffany smiled. She was fortunate to have such a caring and empathetic employer. After helping Ruth out of bed, she assisted her with a shower and getting dressed before pushing her through the massive house, stopping in the kitchen to make coffee before proceeding outside to the deck.
The harbour looked magnificent. With barely a breath of wind, the water was as still as a millpon
d and as blue as the sky above. A hovercraft skimmed across the water before slowing and pulling into a jetty, and overhead, a plane soared across the sky, leaving a trail of vapour behind it. Tiffany doubted she would ever tire of the view.
She placed a cushion behind Ruth’s back and poured the coffee before sitting on a wicker armchair. Sipping her coffee, she tried to relax, but so much was going on inside her that she began to feel overwhelmed. She thought she’d had it all together, that she was strong and could manage life on her own, but she was realising that what she needed was to let her walls down and become vulnerable. Not in a bad way, but in a way that let people see the real her—the woman who’d thought she had it together but couldn’t afford football boots for her son. Not the strong woman she presented to the world.
Feeling tears welling behind her eyes, she glanced away, hoping Ruth hadn’t noticed, but it was too late. Ruth handed her a tissue. “What’s the matter, dear?”
Tiffany grabbed the tissue and wiped her eyes. “I don’t know. I’ve just got all this stuff swirling around inside my head and I don’t know what to do about it.”
“I’m happy to listen.”
Tiffany smiled. “Thank you.” She sniffed and blew her nose.
“Drink your coffee, dear. There’s no hurry.”
Tiffany nodded and reached for her cup. Coffee was what she needed, and as the hot liquid slid down her throat, she felt herself grow calmer. After taking several sips, she told Ruth how she was feeling. That she felt like she’d failed and she was tired. Tired of struggling. Tired of life.
Ruth rubbed her back. “Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’”
Tiffany gave a weak smile. “That sounds wonderful, however, all these years I’ve thought religion was only for people who don’t have the strength to take responsibility for their own lives.” Wincing, she patted Ruth’s hand. “Not you or Marcus, of course, nor my parents, but people in general. I’ve always thought a person should be self-reliant and not depend on anyone, not even God, to get through, so it’s really hard for me to accept that I need someone else in my life.”
Billionaires with Heart Boxset: Christian Romance Series Page 20
