Maid to Love

by Jennifer Johnson

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, why don’t you head into town, pick up the furniture, then swing by the jewelry store and see what you find?”

  Nick shook his head. “I’m not leaving y’all to do all the work. It’s not—”

  Wyatt pointed toward the septic tank. “Look, your dad and Drew’s dad are laying the pipe. Drew’s just standing there watching them. He’s an extra hand. And I’m just standing here chomping the jaw with you. We can handle this right now.”

  Nick looked down at the guys. “I don’t—”

  “Hey, y’all,” Wyatt cupped his hand around his mouth and yelled. “Tell Nick to head into town and pick up the furniture.”

  “That sounds great,” his dad called. “When you come back, bring some more glue for the pipes.”

  “And some more pipe cleaner,” Bryan added.

  “And some more waters,” yelled Drew. “We’re on the last package.”

  Wyatt smacked his hands together. “See that. They need you to head into town.”

  “All right. Fine.” Nick pulled his keys out of his front pocket and hopped into the truck. He stuck his head out the window. “Is there anything you need, Wyatt?”

  “I’ve got a hankering for something sweet. See if Gracie’s made any cookies.”

  Nick laughed. “All right.”

  He drove down the trail until he could see his house. Addy was sitting at the table on the back porch. It looked like she was painting something. He waved to her, noting the look of confusion that etched her expression as she waved back.

  He knew she wondered what he was doing at the back of his property every day. With her fixing up his farmhouse, it had been quite a chore making sure she wasn’t there when the guys showed up or when they had to transport materials.

  He grinned when he thought of the frustration she’d expressed at her mom making her help take down curtains. Amanda had done the best job of keeping Addy in the dark about what Nick had planned.

  Knowing he didn’t want to ride around town with the furniture in the back of his truck, Nick picked up the supplies he needed to get first then drove to the jewelry store.

  A bell sounded above his head, and a wave of cool air smacked his face as he walked inside. A man in a suit and tie extended his hand to him. “Welcome. How may I help you?”

  Nick cleared his throat. “I’m looking to buy an—” The words stuck in his mouth. It was the first time he’d actually said them out loud. “Engagement ring.”

  The man’s face lit with pleasure, and Nick couldn’t help but wonder how much money the guy was going to be getting out of him. And he’d spent a bushel of money already. Thankfully, having spent the last nine years as a bachelor and having been diligent to pay off his loan to his dad and having been blessed with good cattle sales, Nick had the money to spend. But still, he was beginning to learn that a wife would cost him a lot of money.

  He thought of Addy’s sweet smile, her beautiful green eyes, her excitement when she painted the mural at the church. She was worth every penny.

  “What price range are you looking at?”

  Nick shrugged. He had no idea how much an engagement ring would cost. It had only been in the last few months that he’d even entertained the idea of liking Addy, let alone marrying her. “Why don’t you just show me a few things?”

  The man’s eyebrows raised, and his features shifted to that of a vulture about to devour its prey. Nick wasn’t fazed by his expression. He might be ignorant about jewelry, but he wasn’t about to let the man take advantage of him either.

  The guy lifted an exceptionally large diamond ring from a tray beneath the glass and held it out to Nick. “This ring is a beauty. The one-carat diamond is registered perfect and is accented by two smaller diamonds on each side, as you can see.”

  Nick held the ring between his index finger and thumb. It was the gaudiest thing he’d ever seen. Not at all what he would want to give to Addy.

  “It’s a terrific price at only. . .”

  Nick thought he would swallow his tongue when the man said the ring cost several thousand dollars. Who in his right mind would buy that? Not Nick. He was a simple man, with simple thinking, and to him it was a downright sin to spend that much money on a trinket of jewelry.

  Nick pushed the ring into the man’s hand. “I don’t think so. How ’bout I just look a little bit. Which ones are engagement rings?”

  Obviously flustered, the man took the ring and placed it back in the tray, pointed to the trays of engagements rings, then sat on a stool behind the counter.

  Nick’s gaze traveled the rows of rings. Some were too simple, only a single circle or square-shaped diamond. Addy was a designer. She would want something unique. But she was also practical. He knew she wouldn’t want something gaudy.

  A ring caught his eye. He pointed at the glass. “Can I see that one? Second tray, second row, fourth from the left.”

  The man lifted the ring out of the tray and handed it to Nick. It had a white band with five diamonds on the top, but it had an older look to it.

  “That’s a very nice setting,” the man said. “It’s an antique style. The largest stone is one-third carat with the next two stones one-fifth each. The last two are very small, as you can see. The square design around the largest diamond was a popular design about a hundred years ago.”

  The man didn’t need to say any more. Nick knew this was the ring he wanted. When he asked about the price, he felt good about paying that amount. Having called Addy’s mom to find out her ring size before he came, he learned they’d have to alter the ring. He paid the man then folded the receipt and put it in his wallet. “How long until it’s ready?”

  “One week from today.”

  Nick grinned. They only needed one more week to finish the cabin. “Perfect.”

  Fourteen

  Addy had finished redecorating Nick’s kitchen the day before. He’d paid her for her services. Now she had no reason to go to his house. No reason to see him except on Sundays at church. She pinched her straw between her index finger and thumb and twirled it around several pieces of ice.

  “What’s the matter, Addy?”

  She looked across the booth at her friend Gracie. With Nick’s house and the hotel complete, she’d invited Gracie to the diner for lunch as a celebration of sorts. Since Gracie’s morning sickness had finally subsided for the most part, she had accepted with joy.

  Addy shrugged, feeling the weight of sadness pressing down in her chest. “I guess I just feel so uncertain. I wanted to celebrate the completion of the jobs, but now—”

  She peered into Gracie’s eyes. “What am I supposed to do? I have no job. No job prospects. Nick’s not—”

  She stopped. She was tired of wishing and praying that Nick Martin would think of her as more than a friend or a little sister.

  Gracie reached across the table and placed her hand on Addy’s. “God knows what He’s doing with you. He has a plan. You know He does.”

  “I know that in my head, but right now, I sure don’t know that in my heart.”

  “You still have to work on my nursery, remember? And you agreed to lead the middle school girls’ Bible study on Wednesday nights.”

  Addy willed herself to feel encouraged by her friend’s words. “Yes. I know. And I’m excited about that. I remember how much we both learned from Miss Faye when we were that age.”

  “Right. And when people see what you’ve done with Sarah’s hotel—you know she’s been bragging about it to everyone.”

  Addy’s spirits lifted as her face warmed. “Yes. I had heard that. That’s what I’ve been told.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be getting calls from people who’ll want to enlist your services. You could work right out of River Run.”

  “That would be a dream come true.” She took a drink of sweet tea. “To stay right here with my family and friends. I’d love that.”

  Gracie cocked her head and pursed her lips. “Oh, I think you’ll be staying.”r />
  Addy studied her friend. Everyone had been acting so weird the last few weeks, looking at her strangely and saying things that just didn’t quite make sense. Gracie shoved a bite of food into her mouth then grinned at Addy, as she used to when they were kids.

  “What do you know, Gracie?”

  Gracie shoved another forkful of coleslaw into her mouth. “I don’t know anything.”

  “Yes you do. You can’t lie to me, Gracie. Does Sarah have someone lined up to call me about a job?”

  Gracie shrugged and took a long drink of tea then shoved another forkful of food into her mouth.

  “I’ll figure it out, Gracie. You know I’ll get it out of you.” Her phone rang from inside her purse. She pulled it out and clicked it on. Addy listened as her mom told her someone had stopped by to see her and that she needed to come home.

  Addy pulled some money out of her purse and placed it on the table. “I have to get home. I’ve got a visitor.” She squinted at her friend. “But I will find out what you’re keeping from me.”

  ❧

  Four days had passed since Nick purchased the engagement ring. He was alone at the cabin painting the color Addy said she loved on the walls. Almost everything was complete. Mike would install the wiring over the next two days. His dad would be coming out tomorrow to help him get the Jacuzzi tub installed.

  Realizing it was almost four o’clock and he still hadn’t had lunch, he walked into the bathroom and turned on the sink. “But I have water and plumbing.”

  He opened the cooler and pulled out a ham sandwich and soft drink. With the table and chairs and bed all covered in plastic while he painted, he had nowhere to sit except to shut the cooler lid and park himself on top of it.

  The room looked good. He just had a few touch-ups to do on the walls, then he’d remove the plastic and move the furniture close to the places it needed to be. His mom and Amanda planned to drive out after Mike got the electric running and put some girlie touches to the room.

  He shoved a huge bite of sandwich into this mouth. The room had grown rather warm in the heat of the day, but with it being surrounded by large trees, he knew he was much cooler in his cabin than he would be outside. “Once the electric’s running, I’ll put in the air conditioner.”

  The little cabin originally had only one window, but once he decided to add electric, he knew he’d want to go ahead and purchase a window unit to cool the place down in the dead of summer. He just wanted it to be a comfortable place for Addy.

  Pushing the rest of the sandwich into his mouth, Nick wadded up the baggie and shoved it inside the cooler. He grabbed a paintbrush and finished touching up the paint. Once satisfied with the work, he rinsed out the brushes and pans and packed them into his truck.

  Anxious to see the place in some semblance of order, he pulled the plastic off the furniture, folded it, and placed it in the corner with the tools they would still need for the electric. Everything else he packed in the back of his truck.

  The windows were bare of curtains, but he had made up the bed with the sheets and comforter Amanda picked out. It was very girlie. Even though the main color was some kind of tan, it still had purple flowers and bows in various places. But he didn’t mind. He knew Addy would love it, and that was what mattered.

  He grinned as he leaned against the door and inspected their hard work. It had been sweat-pouring, backbreaking labor, but it looked really nice; he was proud of all they’d accomplished.

  You’ve put Your hand of blessing on this project, Lord. There’s no other way for me to think of it. We couldn’t have gotten all this work done had You not allowed it. You blessed me with wonderful family and friends. Please bless me with Addy as a wife as well.

  His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the screen. It was Drew. Opening the phone, he pushed the button. “Hey, Drew. What’s up?”

  “You’ve got to get over here quick.”

  Nick’s heart jumped at the sound of urgency in Drew’s tone. What if something had happened to Addy or to his parents? He yanked his keys out of his pocket and jumped in the cab of the truck. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Addy.”

  Nick’s gut churned, and a wave of nausea washed over him. “What is it? What happened? Is she hurt?”

  “No, she’s not hurt, but you better get over here quick.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “There’s a city slicker sitting at my kitchen table trying to sweet-talk her. That’s what’s wrong.”

  Fury replaced fear. A vision of the scrawny business suit–covered guy who hadn’t had the guts to stand up for her at the sandwich place flashed through his mind. There was no way that guy was going to sweet-talk his Addy.

  He yanked the truck into gear and barreled down the trail. God, give me grace. Give me patience. And give me words. Because if You don’t, I’m liable to use my fists.

  ❧

  Addy could not believe Trevor was sitting at her parents’ kitchen table drinking a glass of her mother’s sweet tea. First of all, he hated sweet tea. He must have just felt obligated to drink it when her mother offered. Second of all, she was fairly frustrated with Trevor for slipping out of the deli as he had when Nick showed up.

  He’d made it perfectly clear for the second time that he would not be there for her when she needed it. The first time being when he broke up with her shortly after she’d graduated.

  It was obvious her parents didn’t like him, as her dad sat at one end of the table, a scowl wrapping his face, and her mom stood leaning against the kitchen sink. If Mom liked him, she’d be sitting at the table talking his ear off. But then Addy had always known in her heart that they wouldn’t like Trevor.

  When she was dating him, she had moments when she felt he looked down his nose at her for her “hillbilly” upbringing. She’d always brushed the feelings off as her being supersensitive to the stereotype some people had about those who were raised in the hills of Kentucky. Seeing him look down his nose at her mother’s beverage every sip and squirm in his chair as if he’d be attacked by a mouse at any moment confirmed the feelings she’d sometimes had.

  “What was it you said you do for a living, son?”

  Addy looked across the table at her dad. He was trying to be nice to Trevor. She had to give him credit for that, but the scowl on his face gave away that he sure didn’t want to.

  “I’m a computer programmer,” Trevor said.

  “Mmm.” Her dad nodded his head back then looked over at his wife. “Amanda, I suppose we ought to go check on the garden.” He looked at Addy. “Give them a chance to talk.”

  Addy didn’t want her parents to leave the room. She had no desire to be left alone with Trevor. For the life of her, she had no idea why he would be here. Or why she had ever been interested in him.

  She tried to beg them to stay with her gaze, but either they weren’t taking the hint or they weren’t going for it. She watched as her parents walked out the back door toward the garden.

  She clasped her hands together and placed them on the table. “How’s everything been, Trevor?”

  “Not so good.” He looked up at her. The sincerity in his gaze made her stomach roll, and she bit her bottom lip. “I can’t stop thinking about you since we had lunch at the deli. I was such a fool to let you go.”

  Addy didn’t know what to say. She watched as he pushed the chair back and stood. He paced the floor, placing one hand against his forehead. “I thought I was doing the right thing breaking up with you. At the time I just couldn’t see us staying together, but now—”

  He walked around the table and touched a strand of her hair. “I want you back.”

  Addy stood and stepped away from him. “I’m sorry, Trevor.”

  He stepped toward her again. “Don’t say that. I really care about you. You could come back to the city. You could—”

  Addy shook her head and waved her arms in front of her.

  “No, Trevor. I’m sorry.
I’m going to stay in River Run. You were right to break up with me. You and I aren’t—”

  “Addy, we could make it work.”

  “I don’t want to make it work.”

  Addy walked toward the front door with Trevor following her. She pushed open the screen and stepped out onto the porch. “I’m sorry you drove out here, Trevor. I don’t mean to upset you, but I won’t lead you on either.”

  Trevor exhaled a long breath then walked to his car. Addy followed him and stood beside the driver’s door as he opened it. He looked past her, and his eyes widened.

  “Addy, wait!” a familiar voice sounded from behind her. She turned and saw a red-faced man stalking toward them. “I won’t let you do this.”

  Addy felt her jaw drop. “Nick?”

  ❧

  “Listen, buddy, I’m sorry you drove all the way out here and all.” He nudged the guy, who once again was all too willing to run from him into his car. Nick shut the door and tapped the hood. “Sorry, man, but you’re not going anywhere with Addy.”

  “Excuse me.” Addy placed her hands on her hips. “This is not your concern. What do you care if I go somewhere with him?”

  Nick nodded his head at the man. “See ya, mister.” Then he scooped Addy up into his arms and headed back toward his truck.

  “Nick Martin, what are you doing?”

  Addy twisted in his arms, but he wasn’t about to let her down. He’d waited like a fool for too long, and he wasn’t going to let her get away. “I need to show you something.”

  Addy stopped squirming and jutted out her chin. “What if I don’t want you to show me something?” She punched his shoulder.

  He put her down beside the passenger door of his truck. He opened the door then turned back to her. Fury lit her eyes, making the green deepen. He couldn’t help it. He reached up and gently touched her cheek with the back of his hand. She sucked in her breath. “Please, Addy. Can I show you something?”

  She looked away from him but stepped up into the cab. “Fine.”

  Nick wanted to howl his excitement as he skipped around the front of the truck and hopped into the cab. He looked to his left and saw Bryan standing beside the house. Her dad gave him a thumbs-up, and Nick tipped his cap. The truck roared to life, and Nick headed back to his farm. With his Addy.