Maid to Love

by Jennifer Johnson

  The music started and Addy transformed. Her passion for the lively music covered her expressions and flowed through her body. She seemed to be having an absolute blast, and the kids were drawn into her good time. She belted her love for Jesus when the tune turned to the chorus. The children mimicked her again, and Nick couldn’t help but think it was one of the most reverent, God-honoring displays he’d ever seen. From the mouths of children. And Addy is leading them in childlike faith, just as Jesus tells us to.

  Nick continued to watch, finding himself more drawn to Addy than he’d been in the last few weeks. He hadn’t wanted a girl, hadn’t been seeking one out, but Addy drew him like cattle to a tree during a thunderstorm. Maybe she’ll agree to get an ice cream with me after Bible school.

  Someone tapped his shoulder. “Come on, man. The fourth and fifth graders are getting ready to show up for recreation.”

  Nick looked up at Drew. A sour expression covered his friend’s face. Nick nodded to Phil then walked outside with Drew. “Everything okay?”

  “No. Everything is not okay. I’m late ’cause I had to fix a flat tire on my truck. I get here and my friend is making goo-goo eyes at my sister.”

  Nick stopped. “Now wait a minute, Drew.”

  Drew whipped around toward Nick and pointed at him. “I told you you better not be playing games with my sister.”

  “I am not—”

  Drew crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Nick, you haven’t given two bits about a single woman in this county. You love living alone. My sister, who had a crush on you for more years than I can recall, is not going to be hurt by you.”

  “When have I ever hurt your sister? Name one time.”

  Drew exhaled. “Her entire middle school and high school life, Nick. She was head over heels for you. Don’t you get it? Of all the women you’ll ever meet, Addy is the one you cannot lead on.”

  Before Nick could respond, Drew turned and walked down the hill to the recreation area. The fellowship doors opened, and the fourth and fifth grade students peeled out. Anger filled Nick’s gut at Drew’s insinuations. He would never mess around with Addy’s feelings, but he also didn’t feel like he needed to pledge marriage just to go on a date with the woman.

  She’d been a teenager when she had that crush. She was a woman now. She’d grown. She’d matured. Drew acted like Nick needed to exchange vows with her if he even wanted to say a word to Addy. The notion was ridiculous, and it really grated on Nick’s nerves that Drew would treat him like he was some kind of fiend toward Addy. He’d been as close to Drew’s family as he’d been to his own. He cared about the Wilsons, cared about them to the core of his being.

  Still fuming, Nick stormed toward the tubs and buckets, the kids and his friend, his mind still in a storm of its own. Drew had already separated the kids into teams. He pointed to the row of kids closest to him. “Fourth graders, what do you say we show Nick and those fifth graders how to play this game?”

  The fourth graders whooped, while Nick’s fifth graders howled that they’d beat Drew’s team blindfolded. Except for one kid who said, “Man, I wish Drew was leading us. He wins at everything.”

  With his nerves riled, Nick snorted. “Not today. Today we’re going to beat them.” He lifted his hand. “On my mark.” The kids nearest the filled tub leaned over, ready to pick up the bucket and fill it with water. Nick dropped his hand. “Go.”

  The kids raced. They filled the buckets then lifted them over, then under, over, then under. Drew smiled as he encouraged the fourth graders. Nick didn’t feel so generous. He tried to sound lighthearted as he encouraged his team, but they had to win. He was tired of always being known for coming in second place to Drew Wilson. “Come on, fifth graders!” Nick hollered as the bucket made its way back to the kid who had to fill it up again.

  Nick and Drew continued to cheer as both tubs almost reached the marked line. The fifth grade seemed to be marginally ahead. The buckets traveled over and under, over and under. The kids dumped the water. The fifth graders had done it. Nick’s team had won.

  “Woo-hoo!” Nick pumped his fist in the air. He high-fived each one of the fifth grade students. “Good job, y’all. You worked hard for that one.” He turned toward Drew and his team. While Drew congratulated the fifth graders, Nick patted the fourth graders’ backs. “You all did great.”

  Ribbing each other as they went, the kids raced up the hill toward the music rotation. Drew patted Nick’s back and smiled, but Nick could tell it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Well, you beat me again, but I reckon I’ll have you on the no-women bet.”

  Nick clenched his jaw. He wouldn’t be asking Addy for ice cream tonight. He wasn’t about to lead her on as Drew suggested, and he wasn’t ready to lose to Drew Wilson yet either.

  Seven

  “Addy, make sure you grab the mustard out of the refrigerator!” her mother called from just outside the back door. “Other than that, I think I’ve got everything.”

  “I’ve already put it in the bag!” Addy yelled back. She exhaled a breath trying to calm her nerves. Family night for vacation Bible school was that evening. The church would provide dinner for the children and their families. Every year the Wilsons and Martins fixed several pounds of homemade potato salad and coleslaw. Normally Aunt Becky helped Nick’s and Addy’s mothers make the side dishes, but since she’d left for her cruise two days before, the job fell to Addy.

  Not that she minded the work. She was quite nervous about the program that night, with it being the first time she’d ever been in charge of the music, and she needed to keep her hands and her mind busy. It was going over to Nick’s parents’ house that had butterflies flittering in her stomach. She hadn’t visited Renee and Roy’s house since high school. At that time, she’d spent most of her conversations with Renee talking about Nick.

  Addy’s cheeks burned at the remembrance of constant confessions of feelings for Nick to the woman who was very much like an aunt to her. Renee had always been so good to Addy, letting her help out in the kitchen. It was Renee who’d taught her to can vegetables, as Renee had the nicest garden of anyone in River Run.

  Roy had been just as sweet, treating her like one of his own children. She remembered how many kids were afraid of the mountain of a man, what with his scruffy dark brown beard, thick eyebrows and hair, but not Addy. She loved Roy, even when he fussed at her for doing something she wasn’t supposed to be doing.

  An ache pierced her heart. She missed them. She’d spent precious little time with them since Nick embarrassed her, hurt her pride, all those years ago. Now that she was older, she knew she’d driven the man crazy with her flirting. She’d been such a silly teenager. But she wished she hadn’t walked out on all of River Run just because Nick hurt her feelings. God, I had so much growing up to do.

  “Are you coming, Addy?” her mother’s voice sounded from outside the door.

  Addy hefted two bags of food in one hand and her purse and two Tupperware bowls in the other. “I’m heading out the door now, Mom.”

  She walked out the back door, placed her things behind the seat, then hopped into the truck cab beside her mom. Her mom patted her leg after starting the engine. “This will be a lot of fun. We haven’t cooked together like this in years.”

  Addy nodded and looked out the window as her mother drove down the blacktopped country road. She missed this life, more than she ever realized while she was in college. She missed the smell of grazing cattle, though most people scrunched their noses at it. She missed the comfort of crickets chirping and coyotes howling while she lay snuggled in her quilt at night. She missed River Run.

  And she had missed Nick Martin. Even though she hadn’t realized it.

  Her cheeks warmed again. She didn’t need to start this crush all over again. She didn’t want to. She was older now, more mature. She’d grown in her faith. She longed to live her life for God, not to get caught up in an old teenage crush.

  She closed her eyes. At least he won’t be th
ere today. Drew is helping Mike mend his fence so the cattle won’t get out. The three of them have to do everything together. I’m sure Nick will be with them. He probably wouldn’t be at his parents’ house anyway.

  Her mom drove up Renee’s lane and parked the truck behind Roy’s. Addy let out a breath when she saw Nick’s truck parked beside the barn. She bit the inside of her lip as she grabbed the bags and bowls out of the backseat of the truck. I can do this. I can spend an afternoon with Nick’s parents and Nick. Just because I was fawning all over the guy the last time I spent time with Renee and Roy doesn’t mean I’ll do it again today. Addy groaned as she followed her mom toward the back door.

  Please, God, let Roy and Nick be traipsing out on the farm somewhere. Please, Lord. Addy walked into the kitchen, and Renee grabbed the stuff out of her hands, placed it on the counter, then wrapped Addy in a hug. “I’ve missed you so much, sweetheart.” She released her from the hug but held tight to Addy’s arms. “Don’t you ever wait this long to come visit with me again.”

  Every concern Addy felt drifted away as she peered into Renee’s eyes. The woman loved her. Renee had missed her, every bit as much as Addy had missed her. “I won’t.”

  “Dad,” Nick’s voice pealed from the family room, “what do you do? Practice all week long so you can show me up on Sundays?”

  Roy responded, “Of course.”

  Addy furrowed her eyebrows as she pointed toward the living area. “What are they doing in there?”

  Renee laughed. “Playing tennis on the Wii. It’s become a Sunday afternoon tradition in the Martin house.”

  Addy felt her jaw drop. “A Wii? Roy plays a Wii?”

  “Yep. It’s good exercise for him. He needs exercise for his high blood pressure.” Renee grabbed Addy’s hand and started toward the family room. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

  Addy shook her head and pulled back. “Oh no. I’ve seen a Wii before.” She looked at the kitchen clock. “It’s almost two o’clock. We need to start working on the potato salad and coleslaw.”

  Renee frowned. “Nonsense. Roy will want to see you.”

  “Go on, Addy,” her mother shooed her. “At least go and say hi to them.”

  Renee grabbed her hand again. “Roy, look who’s here.”

  Addy’s heart raced as Renee practically dragged her out of the kitchen. She wanted to see Roy. She wanted to see Nick, wanted so desperately to see Nick, but she wanted to see him as a woman, not as someone reliving a teenage crush. And she just couldn’t quite distinguish between the two.

  Roy turned and saw her in the door. “Addy!” he howled as he grabbed her in the second bear hug she’d received in the last five minutes.

  “Hey, Roy.” Addy wrapped her arms around the older man. He smelled just as he always did, like a mixture of Old Spice and wintergreen. Nostalgia raced through her, and she couldn’t hold back the giggle.

  Roy held her at arm’s length and inspected her. “What a beauty you are!” He turned to Nick and clicked his tongue. “I always told you she would be.”

  Addy felt her cheeks and neck burn. Peeking at Nick, she noticed his cheeks had deepened a shade as well.

  Roy smacked his hands together. “Have you ever played tennis on the Wii?”

  Addy shook her head.

  “It’s the funnest thing.” Roy pointed at Nick. “Son, why don’t you show her how to play the game?”

  A cold sweat washed over Addy. “Oh no. I’ve got to help Mom and Renee fix food for tonight. Besides, you two sounded like you were having such fun.”

  “Nonsense. I need a break.” He looked at his watch. “I’m fifteen minutes past my Sunday naptime. Nick probably wants to play someone he might be able to beat.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Nick looked at Addy. “It’s a lot of fun, if you want to try it.”

  Renee added, “What a great idea. Your mom and I don’t need any help just yet.”

  “No, I—”

  “I insist.” Renee took the controller from Roy and handed it to Addy. “Nick will be bored stiff if you don’t.”

  Roy waved as he made his way down the hall, while Renee headed back into the kitchen. Addy turned the controller around. She looked at Nick. “I have no idea how to play.”

  Nick grinned. “I think you’ll like it.”

  “Can you believe that?” Renee’s hushed voice sounded from the kitchen. “Not too many years ago Addy would have been begging Nick to play, and Nick would have been avoiding her.”

  “Funny how things change, isn’t it?” her mom responded.

  Addy wanted to sink into the floor. She couldn’t remember when she’d been so embarrassed, when she’d felt so young.

  “Things have changed.”

  Addy gasped when she felt more than heard Nick’s voice so close to her. He stood mere inches from her, and she tipped back her head to look into his eyes. Though he seemed hesitant, he reached up and touched one of her ponytails. She sucked in her breath as he allowed the full length to fall through his fingertips. “Things have changed a lot.”

  ❧

  Every fiber in Nick’s body longed for him to lean down and kiss her slightly parted lips. Her hair was soft, so soft, and he knew if he moved his hand just the slightest bit, he would be able to feel the soft, warm skin of her cheek and jaw.

  How had this happened? When had this happened? Well, he knew when it had happened. When he walked into the sanctuary and watched her sing and dance with the children for vacation Bible school. Love and happiness, a true sense of joy simply radiated from her, and he knew she had claimed his heart. Not as his friend’s little sister who he’d protect in time of trouble or tease in time of play, but as a woman, a woman he wanted to know on a more personal level.

  She peered up at him, her gaze mimicking that of a scared deer who’d spotted its hunter. She didn’t moon over him as she had a few years back. Now he wasn’t as sure if she felt what he was feeling. He pulled his hand away from her hair and heard her exhale. A smile welled in his spirit. If she was holding her breath, maybe she did still feel something.

  Nick showed her how to play the game. She was awful. Nick had to practically close his eyes and stop swinging to allow her to beat him. He found it harder to lose against Addy than it was to win against his dad.

  Addy looked at him and stuck out her bottom lip in the cutest pout he’d ever seen. “I’m not very good at this.”

  “You’re doing fine.”

  “I know you’re letting me win.”

  Trying to act offended, he placed his hand on his chest. “What?”

  Addy grinned. “I saw you close your eyes during the last match.”

  Nick laughed out loud. He dropped the remote onto the couch and raised his hands in surrender. “You caught me.” He took the remote from her hand and threw it beside his. “Let’s go take a walk.”

  Addy’s eyebrows rose, and she glanced toward the kitchen. “I really should help our moms with the food.”

  He touched her arm. He desperately wanted her to say yes. He needed to spend time with her, just her and him, talking, getting to know each other. “You know they’re fine. Come on. I’d like to take a walk. Just kinda get to know each other again. We haven’t really talked in a long time.”

  She squinted and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Since when do you want to talk with me?”

  Nick peered at her, resisting the urge to scoop her up and fold her over his shoulder. “I told you things have changed.”

  For a brief moment he thought he saw a flicker of hope mixed with excitement flash across her expression. She sighed and looked away from him. “Okay. I’ll take a walk with you.”

  Nick placed his hand in the small of her back and guided her toward the front door. He hollered, “Mom, we’ll be back. We’re taking a walk.”

  “Okay!” his mom yelled, but before they got out of the house, he could hear their mothers snickering and whispering that they’d always known Nick and Addy would be a couple. He knew Addy hea
rd what they said, but he pretended ignorance as he shut the front door behind them.

  They stepped off the porch and walked through the grass until they reached the blacktop road. Addy walked a little ways ahead of him. Nick reached out and touched her arm. He smiled at her when she looked back at him. “Slow down. It’s not a race.”

  She grinned and Nick couldn’t help but notice how beautiful her smile was with her straight, white teeth. He remembered the silver braces that covered them the first few years she’d started cleaning his house for him. He’d been barely eighteen, newly graduated. She’d been about to start her eighth grade year of middle school. “Sorry ’bout that.”

  She slowed her pace, and Nick walked beside her. His mind raced for things to say to her. He wasn’t ready to tell her how he felt. The feelings he had, the thoughts he thought, they still seemed so new to him, and he wanted to be sure of God’s leading in them before he said anything to Addy.

  “I love it here.” Addy’s words interrupted his racing thoughts. She continued, “I didn’t realize how much until I came back six weeks ago.” She looked up at him with a steady confidence he’d never known in Addy. “I missed you, Nick, and I didn’t even realize it.”

  “I missed you, too, Addy.” He fought for his thoughts to unjumble. He wanted to say the right words to her, to tell her that he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Day, night, on the farm, in the house. No matter where he was or what he was doing, he thought of her and what she was doing.

  She plucked a piece of wild asparagus from the side of the road. “I felt so sure God was calling me into interior design, and I still love it. I’m still sending out résumés, still looking for opportunities to do what I love—”

  Nick wanted to interrupt her, to tell her that he didn’t want her to send résumés to places where he wouldn’t be able to see her, to places where she would have to move away.