by JoAnn Durgin
“You’re batting a thousand. There’s one more.”
“Does Washington, D.C. count? Wait. You specified states. How about New York?”
“You get the prize!” His smile prompted a little dance in her heart. “Boston, Philly, and New York City have more National Historic Landmarks, or NHLs, than 40 of the 50 states. And you’re right to think of D.C. since it has more than 70.”
“When you say NHL, my mind automatically goes to the National Hockey League.”
He grinned. “That’s surprising coming from a girl from Florida.”
“But one who’s lived in Minnesota the past five years?” Vara shook her head. “I’d have to be blind and deaf not to know about hockey. Not to mention my brothers are avid watchers of pretty much any sport, professional or amateur. They’re not picky.”
“You amaze me.” Those brown eyes were twinkling.
“What qualifies a building as an NHL?” Anything to keep the man talking. Vara had to admit, Thornton’s wealth of knowledge about many subjects was impressive. Daniel had never liked sports much and couldn’t connect with her brothers on that level. On much of any level, for that matter.
“An NHL is where an event of national historical significance took place, or else someone important lived or worked there,” Thornton told her. “Sometimes it represents an iconic ideal or way of life that helped to shape or change the country, or an archeological site. In the case of our library, it was named because it’s considered an outstanding example of Baroque design and construction.”
“That’s great. How do you know all this?”
“I worked here as a tour guide on weekends when I was in high school and during a few breaks in my undergrad years. It helps that I love history, and facts and figures stick in my mind. I needed something to balance out all the Victorian era history.” Smiling, he gestured to the grand staircase. “How many steps would you guess there are leading to the landing?”
“I have no idea. How about…56?”
“No. Only 35, but then there’s 20 more on either side leading up to the second level. I learned that as part of my training, but I also fell down every single one of these steps on the main staircase. Half-rolled, really.”
“You poor kid. How old were you?”
“Just shy of my eighteenth birthday.” He chuckled when she feigned shock. “I was six. I had a tendency to get too rambunctious. My legs got tangled and down I went.”
“I hope the stairs were covered with these red carpet runners, or the marble could have done some serious damage.” Vara cringed at the thought.
“The carpet was my saving grace, but I still managed to give myself a decent concussion.” He motioned up the stairs. “Come and see the cupola fresco before you leave. It’s painted by a well-known artist who studied under one of Italy’s greats.”
“All right, but I only have a couple of minutes.”
Thornton took her hand as they climbed the steps together. “After my fall from grace, I’m not taking any chances.” They reached the landing, and he released her hand. “Okay, look up.”
“That also seems to be a recurring theme with you.” Then she gasped. “Oh, my! This reminds me of photos I’ve seen of the Sistine Chapel. The colors are so vibrant. Are they angels? Or are they demons?” She pointed to one of the figures directly above where they stood. “That one with the horns looks like a combination of the two. How can a creature so ugly also look…so strangely ethereal and beautiful?”
“Because that’s the nature of deception.”
“Satan’s deception?”
“Yes, but as it pertains to this particular painting, that’s up for debate,” he said. “No one seems to know the artist’s original intent. Apparently, he didn’t tell anyone, and we can’t find a written record. Like many artists, he wanted it to be mysterious and leave it open to personal interpretation. There are all kinds of theories among the townspeople, depending on which person you talk to, and that’s what makes it fun.”
“Like the theories about Mona Lisa’s smile? Or the love messages at Andrea’s? Before I go, what do you think the painted creatures depict?” Vara started down the steps, and Thornton was immediately beside her again with a hand beneath her elbow.
“I just figure they’re zombies in space.”
Her laughter echoed throughout the main hall. Vara clamped a hand over her mouth. “I’m surprised Myrna didn’t come running after me,” she whispered when they reached the front door.
“Myrna’s not your typical librarian. She’s not your typical person, but she keeps things lively.” Thornton released his hold on her.
“I’m sure that’s true of a number of the citizens in Cherish. Thornton, being serious here for a moment, I’m a little concerned about Charlotte. She seemed somewhat unresponsive this morning.”
His smile faded, replaced by a quick frown. “Define ‘somewhat unresponsive.’ Oh, man. I pray she’s not about to have another stroke.”
“No, no. Medically, she seems fine,” Vara assured him. “It’s her emotional state that worries me. Unresponsive isn’t the best word. More like despondent. Rosalinda mentioned that Charlotte wanted to attend church yesterday, but it was too cold.”
“I’ll see if I can take her out somewhere. Maybe for dinner.”
“I’m sure she’d love that.” When Vara glimpsed brightness in his eyes, she felt the tug on her heart again. What was this man doing to her? “She’s fine, Thornton. Really. I didn’t mean to alarm you.”
“I know you didn’t. Sometimes it hits me that, if it weren’t for Charlotte, I’d be alone in the world.” He ran his hand through his hair and shrugged. “Maybe it’s not manly or whatever for a guy to admit that, but…I don’t want to be alone.”
“No one does, and you’re not alone. God’s always with you, but you also have Rosalinda. You have good friends here in town. And I have a big, crazy family that would be more than happy to adopt you as one of their own. We have so many, what’s one more?”
“Right. Like a stray puppy?” He smirked. “Now you’re just trying to make me feel better.”
“You’re too good of a man to be alone for long, Thornton. You keep talking up love at Andrea’s, I’m sure you’ll find yourself a very nice woman in no time. I guarantee it.”
The light in his eyes dimmed. “Thanks for bringing the box, Vara.”
“Not a problem. I was happy to do it, but I’m surprised Charlotte didn’t ask you to bring it.”
He stepped close enough for her to smell his cologne. “She can’t be in too much of a blue funk. If she were, she wouldn’t have come up with an excuse to send you over here.”
“That might be the case, but maybe she simply didn’t feel up to having us around today. You can be quite a handful.” Her mistake was inhaling his cologne. What did they put in that stuff?
Vara steeled herself not to sway. So much for her big You’ll find yourself a nice woman talk. Her gaze quickly scanned the immediate area. If she needed a leaning post, a sturdy column stood six feet to her right. Whenever this man was in close proximity, it might be a good idea to check for possible landing sites.
Thornton’s jaw twitched. “Is that honestly what you believe?”
With him looking at her that way and standing so near, Vara could barely remember her name much less what they’d been discussing. Reaching into her pocket, she tugged out her gloves. “What I believe is that you’re a flirt.”
“I’m going to keep trying.” His voice was low, and Vara turned her head before she caught the inevitable wink. Really working it there, aren’t you, Fielding?
She pulled the wool cap over her head. “I’ll see you on Thursday.”
Chapter Eleven
Thursday Morning, The Same Week
Vara smacked her hand on the vent in frustration. “Is that the best you can do?” The pitiful stream of lukewarm air served no purpose other than to irritate her. Shivering while driving had become her new normal. She was done babying and tryin
g to coax the heater back to life.
Thankfully, other than her trips to Cherish, she didn’t have to be in the SUV much or she would have it fixed weeks ago. Her dad and Tony had been badgering her about it lately, making her wish she’d never mentioned it in the first place. She should have known better. While she loved them for their concern, they also drove her crazy.
Her dad, especially, couldn’t understand why she hadn’t run back home to Florida after the fallout from her relationship with Daniel. He’d always been, and would always be, the father who wanted to shelter his little girl from life’s hurts. At least her mother seemed to understand why she needed to stay in Minnesota—proving her independence, standing on her own two feet, making her own way in the world. She wasn’t the type to run home to Mommy and Daddy.
Vara made another mental note to schedule a service appointment. It’d be better to record the note in her phone since the mental thing hadn’t been working so well lately. She wiggled in her seat, doing a silly little dance to try and keep warm. If Thornton were in the car, he’d suggest she make a pit stop at the nearest powder room.
That made her laugh. Oh, she was mental all right. In an entirely different way. Distraction, thy name is Thornton Fielding. And here she was, headed to Cherish again. First of all, it was part of her job. Making a run for coffee was a necessity. Okay, should she stop at Andrea’s Coffee Shop? Probably not. Would she? Of course. Because she was apparently that irresponsible with her emotions. Well, that, and she’d had a heart-to-heart with Jesus last night.
She’d always believed events in her life did, in fact, happen for a reason. A God-ordained reason. The circumstances of meeting Thornton were unique, and they were connected by their mutual desire to help Charlotte. If nothing else, that was a good foundation for friendship. Could meeting him also be part of a divine master plan?
Time to call one of her sisters. Her morning drive to Cherish was a great time to catch up, and she was thankful for the hands-free calling option.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Sofia. It’s your sister in the Frozen Tundra. Are you busy or can you talk?”
“Chicago’s not exactly the hotbed of the country, either, you know. I’ve always got time for my older sister. Other than frozen, how are you?”
Vara glanced in the rearview mirror and then merged the SUV into the left lane. “Things are good. I’m headed out to see my patient in Cherish this morning.”
“I love that name! Is Cherish as quaint and charming as it sounds?”
“Pretty much except for a few women who like to stare at the new girl in town.”
“Sorry to say, but I don’t think that’s exclusive to small towns. With your killer cheekbones and those gorgeous green eyes, a lot of people stare at you, Vara. You know that.”
“I know no such thing.” Her free hand automatically flew to her cheek.
“At least you’re not one of those Tell me how beautiful I am people even though you could be. That would make you pretty hard to take. Listen, I talked with Britt last night. Harper’s teething and keeping them up nights, so please add that to your prayer list.”
“Got it. Poor kid.”
“So, are there any cute men to cherish in that little town? Any rugged ranger types?”
“No Ranger Bob. Sorry.”
“Britt also told me about a friend of theirs who just moved to St. Paul.”
Vara held in her groan. She could see where this conversation was headed. “Imagine that.”
“Hear me out first, okay? His name’s Wyatt—totally cool name—and he’s 32, never married, no obvious personality flaws, and looks like Thor. Britt said he’s a terrific guy, and she thinks you’d make a great couple.”
“Now he sounds like a ranger,” she mused. “Ranger Thor.”
“Afraid not.”
Vara released her groan. “No way. Not another attorney. The last one Tony fixed me up with asked for a rundown of my credit scores for the past five years! What kind of person would I be if I even knew that kind of information?”
“A vigilant one, I guess. Or if you were in the market to buy a home. He was probably a bankruptcy guy. So, this patient of yours. She’s wealthy and old, right?”
Vara balked. “That’s not very nice, Sofia. At least say elderly. What does her financial status have to do with anything? It’s not like I’m going to try and coerce her to include me in her will. And she’s in her mid-70s. These days, the older I get, the more I realize that’s not exactly old.”
“Maybe she has an eligible son or grandson. Keep those big green peepers of yours open.”
“Who says peepers? I have to question how old you are.”
Sofia laughed. “Old maid.”
“Ranger lover.” Vara laughed. “I’m almost at my exit now, but please tell me why you—and apparently the rest of The Tribe—feel this sudden compulsion to get me married off? I’m 30, but I’m still perfectly capable of functioning on my own.”
“We’ve got Greek blood running through our veins. What else do you expect? This is what we do. You know that. We’re constantly in each other’s face and business. It’s like our God-given responsibility.”
“Such a comforting thought.”
“We embarrass the oldest girl in the family, especially if she’s 30 and unmarried. But, hey, I’m next in line, so you take as much time as you want.”
Vara heard Sofia’s sigh. “What? Spill it.”
“The truth? We’re worried about you, Vara. When you were home at Christmas, you seemed…I don’t know. Sad. We all noticed it. You acted fine, and you said all the right things, but the same old sparkle wasn’t in your eyes. We really miss that sparkle.”
We? Vara tamped down her irritation. “Did you have a family confab and decide that the lack of twinkle in Vara’s eyes is because she doesn’t have a man? For your information, I do have a man in my life. He’s been in my heart for a number of years.”
“Whaaat? Who? Daniel? Get out! Are you back with him? Please say no, please say no, please say no.”
“No, I’m not talking about Daniel. I’m talking about Jesus. He’s all I need.” Well, if that didn’t sound high and mighty, but it all she could think to say. If she weren’t perturbed, she might laugh.
“Not to sound disrespectful, and I’m sure Jesus is very happy to hear you say that, but you’ve got all of eternity in heaven to spend in His presence. We’re talking about the here and now. I doubt even Jesus would want you to spend your time here on planet Earth without a male companion.”
“Some people are meant to be single. Maybe I’m one of them.”
“And have some of us been drinking tainted Kool-Aid? Vara, please listen to me.”
“Thanks for the chat, but I’ve got to find a place to park now. I’ll call you tonight.” Vara disconnected the call before she said anything she might regret. Did her family seriously believe she’d shrivel up and die an old maid?
She’d apologize to her sister later. Irritated or not, her conscience would prick her all day for being short with Sofia on the phone. Right now, she needed death by chocolate. Craved it, in fact. Her family had driven her to it. That was her only excuse. And if Ranger Thornton happened to be in Andrea’s this morning, then so be it. He might just get a juicy earful.
Chapter Twelve
No sooner had Vara stepped inside Andrea’s than she heard “Psst! Vara!” The voice was male, but it wasn’t Thornton. She glanced toward the front of the shop and spied Ron doing a strange head-bob to get her attention. Moving down to the far side of the counter, he motioned for her to join him. Still doing the head-bob.
She approached the front counter. “Morning, Ron. What’s up?”
He leaned close and whispered. “She’s here.”
“Who’s here?” When he widened his eyes with a look, she grinned. “Oh, she’s here.”
“You haven’t said anything to Laura about me, have you?”
“Not yet. I haven’t had a chance to meet her. I gue
ss today’s the day.” Vara glanced about the room. “Where is she?”
“Don’t look now, but she’s walking into the Fireside Room.”
“The Fireside Room? I didn’t know you called it that, but it totally works.”
“Thornton’s not here,” Ron said. “He came in earlier. Said he’s working on a project this morning at the house, and he already paid for your death.”
“That was nice of him. I hope you mean by chocolate.” This wasn’t a good sign if she was already so predictable that Thornton knew she’d show up at Andrea’s.
“I’ll have it ready for you soon. I’ll even add in extra chocolate chips. Here’s your mission, should you choose to accept it.”
“Ron, what are you whispering about with Vara over here?” Andrea gave her an approving glance. “Good morning, young lady. Don’t you look lovely? It’s a shame Thornton had to leave the shop so early.”
“If he’s at the house, I’ll see him there.” Sure, she might miss seeing him across the table. But only the tiniest little bit. Who are you kidding, Vara? Herself, apparently. Coming into the coffee shop for her new favorite morning drink was almost as addictive as the man who’d pre-paid her death.
“Ron, when you’re done, I could use your help.” Andrea waved to Vara.
“I’ll be right there, boss.” He lowered his voice again. “As I started to say, do you mind walking into the other room and looking around like you need a place to sit? It’s pretty crowded, so Laura’s probably still looking for a table. If you can, sit with her. She’s friendly, and I think you two will hit it off without any trouble. Then try to slip in a good word or two for me. I’ll bring your latte espresso to you like I did the other day.”
“Don’t worry. I’m on the case. Just do me a favor and don’t add any extra chocolate chips. Matter of fact, go light.”
“Sure thing. Laura’s wearing a red coat, and she has light blonde hair down to her shoulders.”
“I’m sure I won’t have any problem finding her. I’ll look for the prettiest girl in the room.”
