“All right, all right. It’s not like the temptress from the Bible story is the only person who’s ever had that name,” grumbled Misty. “Besides, she is sort of playing the part.”
“Delia gets into town on Friday night. We’ll introduce her to Isaac at church on Sunday. I can’t wait to see his face when she starts batting her eyes at him.”
The women giggled at the thought.
“So Delia is set up as the decoy,” Misty agreed. “We still have to get Isaac and Joy together.”
“Yes.” Pansy wrinkled her brow. “How shall we set that up?”
“I’ve got that one covered.”
“What have you got in mind?”
“Pansy, Isaac knows you won’t be back in after the New Year, right?”
“Of course.” Pansy had been the church secretary for more years than Misty cared to remember, and she knew it would be hard for Pansy not to come back, but a woman in her seventies had a right to retire.
“But did he know you’re quitting early so you can get ready for your wedding?”
“I am?”
“I really think it’s too much for you to take on and still work.” Misty smiled slyly.
A matching smile slid over Pansy’s features. “I think you’re right, Misty.”
TITLE
Orchard Hill: volume three
Chapter 1
“Pansy, you can’t do this to me. You can’t leave in December. It’s one of the busiest times of the year for us.” It pained him to beg, but Isaac had no choice. There was no way he’d make it through December without a secretary. “Plus think of all these weddings coming up. I don’t know what’s been going on, but Orchard Hill has gone wedding crazy lately.”
“I happen to be the bride in one of those weddings,” she reminded him unnecessarily.
“I know, but—”
“Listen, Isaac, you know I’d never leave you in the lurch. I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I know who we can get to fill in. She’ll be perfect.”
Hope glimmered there for a few seconds. If it was someone Pansy approved of…
“I think you should ask Joy.”
Hope fizzled and went out like a cheap sparkler on the fourth of July. “Joy Harper? Our organist, Joy?”
“Is there anything wrong with Joy?” Pansy appeared highly offended at his doubtful tone.
“Of course there’s nothing wrong with Joy. It’s just…she’s just…I can’t see her doing the job, Pansy.”
“Well, I think she can.”
“You’re going to be hard enough to replace without a temp messing everything up before we can hire someone.” Isaac thought Pansy was as much a fixture here as the lights or the stained glass window in the gathering space.
Her expression softened. “I’m sure you’ll find someone who can take my place. But until then…well, Isaac, I don’t think you have much choice.”
‘You don’t have a choice.’ Isaac hated those words. He hated feeling forced into something. He especially hated being forced into this for two reasons. First, he didn’t think Joy would survive in the busy church office. She was acutely shy and his secretary needed to be good with people…or else be like Pansy. She knew everything about every member of the church and most of the citizens of Orchard Hill. Nobody dared to sass her. Joy, on the other hand, would most likely be hiding under the desk by lunchtime.
The second reason was even bigger and much harder to admit. As strange as it seemed, Isaac had developed a crush on her. In regular life, she was a mess. In the presence of people, she became clumsy and tongue tied, and he felt a strange sort of affection for this hopeless case. But when there was music involved, Joy Harper was a completely different person.
Or perhaps even a completely different being. Music transported her to another place, another plane of existence where she could be mistaken for an angel. It wasn’t just the long golden hair or her sweet face. It was the happiness and serenity that radiated from her when she played. He often found excuses to be near the sanctuary or choir room when she practiced.
And her voice. Isaac had only heard her sing a few times. She absolutely refused to sing in front of people. But sometimes, when she thought she was alone in the building, he heard her sing along with the music she was playing. She seemed even more like an angel then.
He, the sworn bachelor, was in love with both of them—the shy, confused young woman and the angel with the heavenly voice that together made up Joy Harper. And now, it looked as though he would be confined in a small office, day after day, with her.
“Lord, what are you trying to do to me? You know I can’t do this. There has to be someone, anyone, besides Joy. Please help me find her.”
The Lord declined to do any such thing, and on Friday, after Pansy declared she wouldn’t be in to work again—ever—he accepted the inevitable and decided to drive over to Joy’s house.
He had to get the address from the church directory, and he realized he’d known Joy for years and had never been to her house. But that shouldn’t have surprised him, knowing her problem with social anxiety.
What did surprise him was Joy’s house itself. It was more like a mansion from a Gothic romance novel than a house. Maybe it was just December’s grayness that gave that impression, he told himself. Still, it was an imposing place for such an unimposing woman.
He drove through the open gates, into the circular drive, and then parked by the front door. Frantically, his mind made one more, last-ditch effort to come up with the name of someone—anyone—who could fill in for Pansy besides Joy.
Nothing. He came up with a big fat blank. Isaac forced himself to go up to the door and knock.
****
Joy drained the last of the tea from her mug and set it down. Then, she closed the book she’d been reading and took a few minutes to think. The volume in her lap bore the title Overcoming Fear through Grace.
She’d read a whole shelf’s worth of books on overcoming social anxiety, so she didn’t know why she bothered with one more. But she’d hoped this book was different. This book, written by a Christian, added prayer and bible study to the usual techniques for overcoming painful shyness.
This time, she was really going to do it, Joy promised herself. She was going to set goals and force herself to meet them. And her biggest goal centered around two small bits of paper.
She’d bought two tickets for a Christmas concert in Green Bay, featuring several very popular Christian artists. The concert was an annual event, and she’d wanted to go for years. But, just thinking about being trapped in the crowds of people made her stomach knot painfully. She’d almost given up on the idea of going when she’d found the book. This year, she would make it, she promised herself. All she had to do was find someone to use the second ticket.
Joy set aside the book and gave the room a quick look to make sure everything was in order. She didn’t want to make extra work for Rosie. Then, she went to the kitchen. Rosie, the housekeeper and cook, was there. She was the only servant that Joy had kept on after her grandfather had passed away. He’d left her the house and enough money so that, if she was careful, she could support herself and pay Rosie’s salary. Her job as organist helped.
Rosie was the closest thing she had to a mother, and Joy knew the older lady would have difficulty finding a job if she were sent away. Not that Joy wanted to do that.
Rosie gave her a warm smile. “It’s cold today. Better bundle up if you’re going out to feed your birds.”
Joy returned the smile. “I will.”
She had a number of feeders that could be seen from all the windows at the rear of the house. When she was growing up, she was never allowed to have a pet. Her grandfather firmly believed that animals did not belong in a house. The birds that came to the feeders were the closest she ever got. For years now, she’d maintained all the feeders and spent hours outside in the summer watching the birds. In the winter, she couldn’t be out as long, but she stayed out as long as she could.
****
Isaac was surprised when an older woman he didn’t know answered the door. “Does Joy Harper live here?” he asked.
“Who wants to know?” The woman studied him with suspicion.
“I’m Isaac Larson, the pastor at Joy’s church.”
The woman’s face lit up. “Come in, Pastor,” she said, stepping back.
“May I speak with Joy?”
“Certainly.” The woman led him to a room that reminded him of a Victorian parlor. “She’s filling the bird feeders, but I’ll call her in.”
The large window at one end of the room drew Isaac. It had a view of the back yard. There seemed to be plenty of bird feeders to fill. And they must need to be filled often, he guessed. It was one busy bird restaurant out there. A broad lawn sloped down and away from the house. There were beds that must have flowers during summer and walks flanked by concrete planters. The lawn was also dotted with mature trees and shrubs which, no doubt, attracted the birds.
Then he saw her. Joy was standing completely still, the sunshine turning her hair to gold. A chickadee flew down to her outstretched hand and took some of the seed she offered. When the tiny ball of fluff took flight, another eagerly took his place.
Joy’s face was alight with happiness, and she looked more like an angel than ever, standing there with birds fluttering all around her. A brilliant red cardinal rested briefly on her shoulder and then flew away again. She laughed, and Isaac’s heart skipped a beat. What was he doing here?
He forced himself away from the window. When Joy came in a few minutes later she’d shed her heavy winter clothes, but her cheeks were still rosy from the cold. She looked more human and less other-worldly, but still beautiful.
She came in hesitantly, as if she were the visitor instead of him. “Pastor Isaac?”
He forced a smile onto his face even as he thought about how out of place she looked in this room, with its formal, outdated furnishings. “Hello, Joy.”
“W-would you like to sit down?”
“If you don’t mind. There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”
He took a seat in one of the overstuffed armchairs while Joy perched on the chair opposite from his. “What can I help you with?”
She looked as likely to fly away as one of her feathered friends. How could anyone look so uncomfortable in her own home? “This is an interesting house,” he said abruptly. “It’s not exactly the kind of place I pictured you living in.”
“It was my grandfather’s house. I grew up here.”
“I saw you outside, with the bird feeders. That was amazing. You literally had the birds eating out of your hand. How did you do that?”
She ducked her head, and her hair fell like a curtain, hiding her face. “It just takes patience.”
The older woman bustled in, carrying a heavy silver tray. “I thought you might like something warm on such a cold day,” she said matter-of-factly and began pouring tea.
Isaac couldn’t believe this. He was sitting in a shrine to the styles of a hundred years ago, was being served tea. It was surreal.
“Isaac, this is Rosie, my housekeeper.” Joy accepted a cup and saucer from the woman with a thank you.
“Nice to meet you, Rosie.” He put out his hand, offering to shake hers, but she handed him a cup and saucer instead. He almost dropped it in surprise.
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Rosie replied crisply. “There are cookies on the tray. Please help yourself.” She exited as quickly as she’d entered.
The conversation faltered and died there. Joy offered him cream and sugar for the tea. He declined. She picked up the plate of cookies and offered them to him. He noticed that her hand shook just a little as he took one.
Then, there seemed to be nothing left to say. Isaac spent a few minutes sipping tea and nibbling at the cookies, which were very good. Joy just sat, taking a sip from the tea every now and then.
Isaac cleared his throat. “I suppose you’re wondering what I’m doing here.”
“Oh no. You can visit whenever…I mean, I’m glad that you’re here.”
“Thank you. Joy, I believe you know that Pansy is giving up her position as church secretary.”
“Yes, after she gets married, she said.”
“She’s opted to quit early so she can have more time to get ready for both the wedding and her move.”
“Oh. I didn’t know that.”
“So, as you can see, I’m in a bit of a bind. December is a busy time, and I really can’t manage everything by myself.”
“Maybe you can get someone to fill in temporarily.”
“I’ve already thought of that. That’s why I’m here.”
She raised her face to look at him, her expression puzzled. “I don’t understand.”
There was no way he could work with her. He’d never be able to keep his mind on church bulletins and confirmation lessons with her there. The only thing he’d be able to think about was Joy herself. This was all a huge mistake.
But he had no choice, so Isaac plunged ahead. “Could you fill in for Pansy? Just until after Christmas or until I find someone else.”
Joy’s expression changed from puzzlement to understanding to alarm in less than thirty seconds. “Oh no…I couldn’t possibly…I don’t know anything about…”
“I understand that you aren’t familiar with the job, but if you could keep up with the filing and answer the phones and do a few other things, I know I could keep my head above water.”
Her hands were now shaking so badly that her cup rattled against its saucer. She put the china onto the tray and clenched her hands together. “But Isaac…the people. You know…how I am.”
Isaac reached out and covered her hands with his. Her skin was icy to the touch. “I know, but Joy, I really need you.”
“Are you sure there isn’t someone else?”
“One month before Christmas? There aren’t even any temp agency workers available.”
She gave him a brief, tight smile. “So I’m your last chance.”
“I didn’t mean to put it that way, but, um…yes.”
“Are you sure that having no one wouldn’t be better than having me?”
“I know this will be hard for you, but I believe you can do it.” I just don’t know if I can, he added silently.
Joy closed her eyes and was silent for a few moments. Then she took a deep breath and without opening them, she answered, in a voice so tiny and breathy that Isaac had to strain to hear it. “I’ll try.”
He gave her cold fingers a squeeze before releasing them. “Thank you, Joy.”
“When do you want me to start?”
“Monday morning, nine o’clock all right?”
She nodded. “I’ll be there.”
TITLE
Orchard Hill: volume three
Chapter 2
Isaac exited quickly after he’d gotten her to agree, leaving Joy with a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach. She took the tea tray back into the kitchen where she knew Rosie would be waiting.
“Joy, I’m so proud of you,” Rosie crowed, not even bothering to conceal the fact that she’d been eavesdropping. “This is just what you need to draw you out of your shell.”
“Or to send me further into it,” she muttered as she set the tea tray by the sink. “And what’s with the high tea?”
The housekeeper snorted. “That’s hardly a high tea. Your grandmother, God rest her soul, would have been embarrassed by our meager hospitality. But I didn’t have time for anything more.”
“Why did you have to bring in anything at all?”
“When the minister calls on you, you make him feel welcome.”
“It wasn’t exactly a social call.” She almost wished that it had been. Joy secretly considered Isaac too handsome to be a minister. She was sure she wasn’t the only woman who enjoyed the sight of him, tall and broad shouldered, in the pulpit on Sunday mornings. His dark hair was always neat and cut very short, but she suspect
ed it would curl if he let it grow out. He would be totally unbelievable as a man of the cloth if it weren’t for those dark eyes that expressed so much as he gave his sermon.
Rosie ruffled Joy’s hair as if she were still a small child. “It doesn’t matter. He still came to see you. Maybe I shouldn’t go to Geoffrey’s house for Christmas just yet. You might need me here.”
“I think I can manage to take care of myself for a few weeks, and with this job I won’t be home much anyway. Besides, your grandchildren would be so disappointed if you didn’t go, Rosie.”
Orchard Hill Volume Three Page 18
