The next time Jo’s belly rolled then eased, Zach stood. “Sorry to break up the party, but we need to get going.”
Maddie sat up, crossed her arms, and pouted. “I no want to go home.”
“Sorry, kiddo.” Zach reached for Jo with both hands, helping her upright.
Allison unfolded from her spot on the floor. “I should head out, too. It’s past Finnley’s bedtime.”
“Come on, squirt.” Brent reached for Finnley’s hand.
Noel tucked the harmonica away, but Keanan kept playing, his fingers flicking over the strings as he watched the group begin to disperse.
Chelsea stood, and his attention swung to her. “Come on, Maddie. Do you want to walk home with Auntie Chelsea?”
Jo gasped.
Everyone froze except Zach, who reached for Jo’s jacket. “Time to go.”
“Wait, you’re in labor?” Sierra rushed to Jo’s side.
The cacophony erupted. Chelsea picked Maddie up off the floor and elbowed her way through the pack. “Seriously,” she said to Zach. “Do you want me to put Maddie to bed and stay until you get home?”
He glanced at Jo then back at Chelsea. “Think it’s that close to time?” The guy’s fingers went white as Jo squeezed.
“I think we can—” Jo inhaled sharply “—put Maddie to bed first. Are you sure? I can call Rosemary.”
“I don’t mind. Really.”
Maddie reached for Jo. “Mama!”
Chelsea tried to rebalance the squirming tot. “Mama’s fine, baby girl. Where’s your jacket? It’s cold outside tonight.”
Maddie was having none of it. As the door closed behind her parents, she kicked and yelled.
Great. Trying to help was backfiring big time. She should probably have let one of the others step in. Someone Maddie was more familiar with. But it wasn’t like Chelsea was a stranger.
Someone plucked Maddie from her arms. “Here’s your jacket, Madelynn.” Keanan.
Maddie stopped yelling. Of course Keanan had a way with the child. Wasn’t everyone putty in his hands? Even her. Chelsea shrugged into her jacket and reached for her charge.
Keanan shook his head. “Let me carry her.”
Maddie burrowed into Keanan’s shoulder as some of the others filed out, obviously leaving well enough alone.
“That’s silly. You weren’t going out anyway. I am.”
His green eyes bored into hers. “She’s heavy, and it’s a distance to walk. I’m happy to help.”
She tried to summon gratefulness when, in reality, she only felt embarrassment that she couldn’t even handle a toddler.
“Besides, you’ll want to stop by your place and gather a few things for overnight. Zach might not be home until tomorrow sometime.”
“You’re right.” Of course, he was right. Couldn’t he be wrong sometimes? Be anything besides a perfect gentleman?
She’d been doing her best to avoid him for the past week and more. Her lucky run had splatted against the wall.
Chapter 15
The little blond head leaned trustingly on Keanan’s shoulder as he followed Chelsea out into the crisp November night.
“Stars?” asked Madelynn.
The black sky sparkled with tiny lights. “Yes. See them all?”
“Where moon?”
“It hasn’t come up yet.”
Madelynn pressed her hands against his cheeks and filled his vision. “But where moon?”
Uh. Keanan glanced at Chelsea. How did one answer a child this age?
“The moon is sleeping,” Chelsea said simply.
“Where sun?”
“The sun is sleeping, too.” Chelsea looked at the little girl. “Now it’s time for you to sleep in your little bed.”
“No want to.”
Toddlers. This one had been all but dozing in front of his wood stove, even with the rousing music and singing. The air in his home had been rather close, though, with all twelve of them packed inside. Now she bounced on his arm as they approached the duplex, demanding all his attention.
He followed Chelsea inside, and Madelynn squirmed to be released. “Hold still, little one,” he murmured.
“I’ll just be a minute.” Chelsea flicked him a questioning glance then disappeared into her bedroom.
Keanan hadn’t been in this half of the building since the day Allison and Finnley had moved from here to the timber frame house Brent had built for them. Although the furniture had not been changed, the kitchenette and sitting area looked different somehow, the differences between the two women visible.
The walls remained Allison’s choice of gray, but bright, slightly abstract floral prints hung in a tidy row above the sofa. Punches of color were everywhere. A stack of magazines — he’d forgotten those existed anymore — lay beside a closed laptop on her table.
“Maddie get down?”
With a start, Keanan realized he was still holding the child. “No, little one. We’re waiting for Auntie Chelsea, and then we’ll go to your house.”
Her lower lip dropped into a pout.
In the distance, a closet door opened and closed, then a creaky drawer. A moment later, Chelsea came toward him in an oversized sweatshirt and stretchy pants, her hair tied back, as usual. She slipped her laptop into a purse the size of an airline carryon then shrugged her jacket back on.
“Ready,” she said, without looking at him.
“Go Maddie house?”
“Yes, little one.” Keanan held the door for Chelsea then followed her back into the night. “I like the personal touches you’ve made in there.”
“Thank you.” Chelsea’s face lay in shadow. “Your place looks good, too.”
He couldn’t help but tease her. “For a grain bin?”
“Yeah. Listen, Keanan—”
Not far away, Zach’s pickup rumbled.
“Yes?”
“Never mind.”
What had she thought to say to him? Well, there was no reason for him to leave the log cabin again immediately after delivering Madelynn. Perhaps Chelsea would even welcome his presence and help with the toddler. Then he could ask her again.
They rounded the final turn in the driveway to see Zach toss an overnight bag into the truck’s backseat. The headlights pierced the distance to the porch light.
“That’s okay, Mom. Chelsea’s got it.” Zach must be wearing his Bluetooth headset. “Yes, I’ll make sure she has your number. Do you have hers? … Thanks, Mom. I’ll let you know … Love you, too.”
“Daddy! Where Mama?” Madelynn kicked to get down, but Keanan held tight.
“Hey, kiddo.” Zach reached for the toddler and gave her a little whisker rub. “You be a good girl for Chelsea and Keanan, okay?” He turned to Chelsea, an apologetic look on his face. “Jo wanted to tuck Maddie in herself before we left, but, honestly, I don’t think she’s able. We need to get going. Maddie’s pajamas are in the top drawer. Just brush her teeth and read her a story, if you don’t mind. I hope she’ll settle down quickly for you.”
“It’s fine, Zach.” Chelsea rested her hand on Zach’s arm, the rings on her fingers glinting in the red glow of the taillights. “I’ve taken Babysitting 101. Don’t worry about a thing.”
“Zach?” Jo called.
He glanced at the truck. “Gotta go.” He passed Madelynn back into Keanan’s arms and raced around to the driver’s side.
“Want Daddy!” Madelynn hollered, pounding small fists against his chest. “Want Mama!”
* * *
It took longer than Chelsea would have dreamed to get Maddie settled. The little girl had fought her every inch of the way, demanding her parents. It had been impossible to pry her mouth open for the toothbrush. Whatever. One night wasn’t going to corrode the kid’s teeth to nothing.
Finally Maddie curled up in her toddler bed with her stuffed moose clenched tightly in one arm, a quilt lovingly sewn by Zach’s mother tucked up to her chin.
Chelsea might not have needed to stay in Maddie’s room until t
he child was asleep, but she wasn’t sure. The longer she stayed, the more likely that Keanan would have left already. No, he wouldn’t leave without talking to her. Therein lay the problem.
The little eyes drifted shut.
She couldn’t put this off much longer. Lord, what do I say to him? The attraction is powerful, but it just doesn’t make sense.
A soft sigh came from Maddie.
Chelsea tiptoed to the door, opened it, and glanced back. The tot didn’t stir. This was so strange, tucking a little one into bed while a man waited in the other room. Couples — families — did this sort of thing all the time. She and Keanan weren’t a couple. When she was thinking clearly, she knew it wasn’t meant to be.
The big question was, was she thinking clearly tonight?
She took a deep breath. She’d better be.
* * *
Keanan turned at the muffled whisper of Chelsea’s slippers on the short hallway’s wooden floor. “I made you some tea.”
She eyed him pensively. “Thank you.”
“It’s mint. I put in a bit of honey and cream.” He’d seen her doctor a teacup often enough. He poked his chin toward the sitting area. “Have a seat? I’ll bring it to you.”
Chelsea chose a deep armchair and curled up in it, feet tucked beneath her. Domino, Zach’s Border collie, padded over and sprawled beside her.
Keanan reached across the dog to set the cup and saucer on the end table beside her then settled across with his own tea.
A grin twitched at her cheeks when her eyes landed on the huge mug he’d chosen for himself.
“I don’t want to break one of those fragile little things.” Was that a metaphor for his relationship with Chelsea? Might be.
“Then why did you bring mine in china?”
He met her gaze. “I know you like pretty things.” Yeah, so why was he even pretending? There was nothing pretty about him, even in a manly sort of way. He’d looked in the mirror. Sure, shorter hair changed his look some, but he wasn’t exactly handsome. Or cute, or whatever a woman wanted to look at.
She lifted the teacup and had a sip. “Thanks for noticing.”
He’d observed all that and more, but perhaps it wasn’t the best time for the litany. Just like she shouldn’t be attracted to him, the reasons he shouldn’t be attracted to her were many. Pink nail polish. Four rings glimmered on her fingers. Glittery eyeglasses. Flowers as far as the eye could see, most days.
Not tonight. Neither the stretchy black pants nor the yellow Ducks sweatshirt made her any less feminine. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Chels—” he began, just as she said his name. They stared at each other.
“Go ahead,” he said.
She bit her lip and stared into her tea.
Was this when she would tell him to leave the log cabin, leave the farm, leave her life? Please, God, no. But it was too much to hope she’d provide him any welcome. She’d made it clear enough, but somehow he couldn’t help torturing himself with her nearness.
“That song you played tonight. About the God-song inside a person.”
Keanan blinked. So not what he’d expected. “You mean Hallelujah! Your Love is Amazing.” He hummed a few bars.
She nodded, not meeting his eyes. “That sounds like the one.”
He crossed the room and pulled out Zach’s guitar case then lifted the instrument out. Sitting back down, he tuned it slightly and began to pick out the chorus.
“I didn’t know Zach had a guitar.”
Keanan glanced up, his fingers continuing to flick out the melody. “It’s his dad’s. Steve used to play a bit, years ago. I’ve been teaching Zach a few chords and such.”
“Oh.” Chelsea’s face disappeared behind her teacup until only her glasses showed.
He focused on the guitar and began to sing, closing his eyes and feeling the worship well up inside him. When the final strum died away, he rested his hand across the strings, glancing over at Chelsea.
She dabbed a tissue behind her glasses then drew both knees up, burying her face behind them.
Oh man. Now what was he supposed to do? Something told him it wasn’t his comfort she sought. That the problem — for once — wasn’t with him.
His fingers began another song, and it took a few seconds for his mind to clue in where they were going. Ah, yes. Good choice. Come and Fill Me Up. A prayerful request to the Holy Spirit to fill a thirsty soul. A song of desire for a closer relationship with God. He sang through the whole song three times then drifted into Holy is the Lord by Chris Tomlin.
Keanan had never played for an audience of one. Sure, he often lost himself in praise when he was alone, and leading a group in worship was a sensation he never tired of. But to sing in front of one person, someone he was coming to cherish, someone with tears streaming down her face... that was a new one.
He was on the fifth song when Chelsea took off her glasses and scrubbed at her eyes with the tissue. He let the song drift away then silenced the strings, staring down at the curving wood on the instrument.
“I don’t know how to do this.” The words erupted as she uncoiled from the seat and strode down the hall.
Water splashed in the bathroom. Silence.
Lord, what do I do now?
We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. The words he’d read in Ephesians 6 this morning came to mind. Keanan rested his forehead on the guitar and prayed the protection of spiritual armor over Chelsea. Yes, she knew Jesus, but somewhere in her everyday life, the lifeline had been squeezed until little of God’s power trickled through. God, help her.
It wasn’t his battle. It was hers. All he could do was pray.
* * *
Chelsea sat on the bathroom floor, arms wrapped around her knees as she leaned on the log wall. Slowly the words of Keanan’s songs dispersed, and she took a shuddering breath. Longing for that kind of relationship with God didn’t do any good. Hadn’t she asked God so many times to make Himself real to her? Dozens of times. Hundreds of times. And what had she gotten for her efforts? Pretty much nothing.
Okay, she believed in God. She believed Jesus was one with God and that He’d died to redeem her. She’d accepted the gift of salvation as a child. She’d even felt close to Him as a young teen. Then she’d gotten busy. Still plugged in. She’d gone to a private Christian school with chapel every morning. Her dad led a family devotional time every evening. Her friends were all in the same boat. They went through the motions, but the fervency had dissipated.
Chelsea hadn’t realized it was gone. Not until she met Keanan. Sure, she’d seen it in others from time to time, but not like him. Keanan breathed his beliefs.
She heard her cell ring in the distance. It was in her bag in the living room. Maybe Keanan had the same ring tone on his. If so, the sound would get cut off.
It rang seven times then stopped. A moment later it started again. Who on earth would be calling past midnight?
Zach, that’s who.
She jumped to her feet and sprinted for her phone, ignoring Keanan. “Hello?”
“Chelsea? How’s Maddie? Did she go to sleep for you okay?”
What on earth? “She’s fine.” Chelsea gripped the phone. “How about you guys? How’s Jo?”
“Okay.” He sounded tired. “She keeps asking about Maddie, so I told her I’d call you and make sure.”
“She settled down in under twenty minutes. She’s been asleep for—” Chelsea checked her watch “—two hours or more now.”
“Okay.” He let out a long breath. “I’ll tell Jo. Maybe now she can focus on pushing the baby out.”
“Is she making good progress?”
Zach laughed, and she could picture him running his hand through his hair. “It’s going to be a while yet. Could be a long night. You sure you’re okay there?”
Did she come across that inept? “Everything’s under control, Zach. Forget about us here and concentrate on Jo and the baby. I’ll catch some sleep on the sofa.
If you’re not home when Maddie wakes up in the morning, I’ll take her down to the house. We’ll be fine.”
“If you’re sure.” He paused. “Sorry. It’s just that we’ve never left her with anyone but my parents overnight. And Dad’s really not been feeling well lately, and with it being so late...”
“I understand. Get back to Jo, will you?”
“Thanks, Chelsea. We owe you one.” He ended the call.
She turned a cheery face toward Keanan. “You might as well head back to your place. Zach says it looks like it could take all night.”
He searched her eyes.
If he wanted to talk to her about those worship songs, she wasn’t ready. Chelsea yawned, covering her mouth, and unfolded the bright quilt from the back of the sofa. “I’ll just sleep right here. Thanks for helping out with Maddie.”
Keanan rose and tucked the guitar back in its case before coming so close to her she could feel his body heat. He tucked his finger under her chin, pushing her to look up at him. Surely he was smart enough not to kiss her. She raised her eyebrows and looked up at him, head tilted to the side.
“Goodnight, sweet Chelsea. My prayers remain with you.”
Chapter 16
“Mama? Where Mama? Daddy!”
Chelsea groaned and started to roll over before remembering that would likely land her on the floor of the Nemeseks’ log cabin. Wow, her neck hurt and so did her back. She pushed her hair back from her face — where had her scarf gone, anyway? — and swung her legs over the edge of the sofa.
“Maddie?”
“Where Mama?” The little girl stood beside the sofa glaring at Chelsea, her chin quivering.
If Zach had returned while she slept, he’d have heard his daughter, wouldn’t he? In the first place, Chelsea would have heard him return. So, he wasn’t back yet.
“Your mommy and daddy are at the hospital getting your baby brother or sister.” Chelsea shoved her glasses on and fumbled for her phone. Had Zach left a message? Didn’t look like it. “Need to go potty, Maddie?”
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