Light the Fire

by Mary Manners

  “So, how’d the dress fitting go?” Kyle took Kelsie’s hand and twined his fingers with hers. “Any hints for me?”

  “Mum’s the word.” She used her free hand to mime locking her lips and throwing away the key. “All I’ll say is you two are in for a real treat. Rena’s a vision of beauty in her Maid of Honor dress.”

  “I like treats.” Cody cocked an eyebrow and leaned in. “I can’t wait to see.”

  The pink of a healthy blush crept across Rena’s face. She twisted the wrapper from her straw with long, delicate fingers. Her voice hitched as her gaze lowered. “Kelsie, stop. You’re embarrassing me.”

  “Just speaking the truth.” Kelsie’s smile lit up the room.

  Cody glanced from one to the other then offered her a dinner roll. “I’m really glad you’re here. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

  “Oh?” Rena coughed on a sip of sweet tea and took a dinner roll from the basket. “You do?”

  Beneath the table, an alarm beeped in staccato bursts. Rena recognized the sound as the appointment reminder on Kelsie’s Blackberry.

  Kelsie startled them by ducking her head beneath the table to find her purse. “Sorry. Hold on a minute.” She fumbled through the contents until she found the offensive noisemaker and disabled the alarm. Her eyes scanned the electronic screen. “Oh my! I forgot, Kyle—we have that appointment with Pastor Marcus.”

  “Wow, that’s right.” Kyle glanced at his watch. “Pre-marital counseling, and we’re going to be late.” He gathered his car keys as Kelsie reached for her purse. “We’d better get our meals to go.”

  “What? Wait, Kelsie!” Rena’s chair nearly toppled as she sprang up to follow them. The panic in her voice startled Cody, and he felt an overwhelming desire to protect her. “How will I get home? I left my car at the rec center when we drove to the bridal shop together.”

  “I’ll take you after we eat.” Cody eased her back with a gentle tug on her arm. The calm tone of his voice seemed to do the trick. The deep creases of worry along her forehead eased a bit. “It will give us time to talk.”

  “But, Kelsie—”

  “It’s settled, Rena.” Kelsie drained her glass and slipped her purse strap over a shoulder. “Cody will take you home. We have to go now. I’ll call you later.” She spun on her heel to rush with Kyle toward the exit.

  “Drive safely.” Cody called after them. “Pastor Marcus will understand if you’re a little late.”

  Rena sighed and slid back into her chair. “Well, this is just great.”

  “You sound like you’ve just been given a death sentence,” Cody murmured. “Am I really that...bad?”

  “Yes...I mean, no.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I’m-I’m sorry. I just didn’t expect...”

  “Life’s full of little surprises, isn’t it?”

  She groaned. “I’ve offended you.”

  “Only a little. I’m tough. I’ll recover...in a century or so.”

  That brought a smile to her face.

  “You really can smile. I’ve been wondering...” He lifted his glass and studied her over the rim as he drew a sip of soda. “Rena, we need to talk.” The smile died.

  She slid back in the seat putting distance between them. “I have the number for a taxi service.” She reached into her purse and delved through the contents. “Somewhere in here…”

  “Relax.” Cody covered her hand, fighting the urge to laugh. Did she think he was a serial killer or something? Why the overreaction? He slid a glass filled with ice water toward her. “Take a sip and breathe. I just want to discuss plans for the rec center.”

  “Oh…” The hint of pink in her cheeks flamed to a splash of crimson and she bit down on her lip. “Wow, do I feel like a fool.”

  “No need. It’s…OK.”

  She fiddled with the straw wrapper again, shredding it into pieces that littered the table like confetti. “G-go on, about the rec center, I mean. I’m listening.”

  “You promise? You’re not going to bolt for the door?”

  She drew a breath and clasped her hands on the table. “No bolting…I promise.”

  “OK, then.” He sipped his soda. “I have a proposition for you.”

  She blanched and stuttered, “A-a what?”

  “Let me reword.” He drew a breath and scratched the stubble that had sprung to life across his chin. “I have a suggestion...about the rec center.”

  “What? Oh.” She took a gulp of the ice water he’d offered. “Go ahead.”

  “Kyle and I, along with the Youth Council, have been designing an addition to the center. It will include a large multi-purpose room as well as a library with a solarium feel—something warm and inviting for the kids.”

  She leaned into him at the mention of the kids, and he knew then, just like him, she’d settle for nothing less than the best for the rec center kids who counted on them. “That sounds wonderful. No more trying to study with rocket-speed basketballs whizzing by.” She grinned ruefully. “Tell me more.”

  Cody reached for the plans tucked beside his chair and scooted their drinks aside before unrolling the oversized white paper. “These drawings will give you a better idea. Take a look.”

  “Show me the library.”

  “Over here.” Cody smoothed his hand over a section of the plans.

  Rena leaned over the blueprints and studied them intently. Finally, she sat back with a nod of approval. “These are good, Cody, but what about this area?” She tapped a section of the design with her index finger. “It’s always bothered me that the lobby has so much wasted space. There’s a huge, empty area beside the check-in counter. I think it should be put to better use.”

  “Let’s see.” They huddled together over the drawings like two kids fascinated by a treasure map. “Hmm…you’re right. I should have noticed that. Let’s discuss it and see what we come up with.”

  “Sure.” He was pleased she’d finally settled down and begun to trust him a bit. Maybe they could work together, after all. They bounced ideas off one another while the server refilled their drinks.

  “I know!” Rena slapped the table and silverware clattered against plates. “What about a modest concession…one that provides inexpensive, healthy foods that are easy and quick to prepare? Maybe smoothies…or chef salads and chicken wraps. So many of the kids stay at the center through dinnertime, and they’re eating out of the vending machines—”

  “Hmmm…like you, right?”

  “Guilty as charged.”

  “Well, I think building a concessions area is definitely doable. It might also provide an opportunity to employ a few dependable kids who want to earn some extra spending money—or money toward college.”

  “That would be great. When will construction begin?”

  “That’s the problem.” Cody sighed. “We need funding. There’s a small amount of money appropriated for the project in the town’s budget, but we’ll need to raise the rest—a pretty hefty sum.”

  Rena leaned toward him, and he drew in her honeysuckle scent. Her bronze eyes shone when her gaze rose to meet his. “How can I help?”

  Cody grinned. “I knew you’d say that. You have a heart for kids, Rena. It shows in your eyes when you’re with them…when you talk about them.” The idea warmed him. He thought of his young nephews, growing up without a father, and knew what a safe after-school facility like the rec center would mean to them as they grew into adolescence.

  “We’ll come up with something that will get the job done. Just give me a day or two to sleep on it.”

  “Can we...get together again soon to discuss your ideas?”

  She reached for what was left of the wrapper straw and began shredding again. “I-I guess we’ll...have to.”

  “You could give me your number...so I can call you to talk over some plans.”

  “I...” She hesitated a moment and then shook her head. “Cody, let’s just see each other at the center. We can discuss things there.”

  “
Over stale vending machine sandwiches, right?”

  She wrinkled her nose, but said, “That doesn’t sound so bad...at least to me.”

  “OK.” It would have to be good enough…for now. He didn’t want to push her away again when they’d finally made a little progress.” We’ll meet at the center...at least for now.”

  “Thanks...for understanding.”

  He didn’t understand, but he vowed he would soon. Even Fort Knox could be breached…somehow.

  ****

  “Hey, Sammy.” Cody knelt to give the dog a good scratching when he arrived home after dropping Rena at her place. “Have you been a good boy today or did you eat another pair of my running shoes for lunch?”

  Sammy sat on his haunches, eyes searching Cody’s. He whimpered, and Cody burst into laughter. “You sound like a baby when you’re supposed to be fierce and ferocious, you goof.”

  Sammy cocked his head to the side.

  “My day was good. Thanks for asking. I saw Rena. Remember her…the woman you knocked flat on the ground last Saturday? She’s agreed to help with the rec center project, so she’s going to be around a lot.”

  Sammy whined and nudged Cody’s hand.

  “I know. She’s a mystery, isn’t she? So skittish around me…I wonder why.” He buried his hand in Sammy’s thick fur and scratched between his ears. “Anyway, you’d better mind your manners around her, or else.” He had no idea what the or else was, but he’d come up with something if he had to.

  Sammy barked and chased his tail.

  “Sure, I know Rena’s pretty and smart and good with a hammer, too. But she’s got a bite to her, Sammy. And she seems sad, like something is weighing on her heart.” He sighed. “She barely said two words on the drive home from Salerno’s, and she clutched the door latch as if she’d leap from the car at the first opportunity. I wish I knew why she’s so…cautious.” Sammy followed him to the pantry and Cody tossed him a biscuit. “I aim to find out, Sammy. I will find out.”

  Cody staggered into the living room and fell into his favorite worn leather recliner. The room was bathed in hazy moonlight that spilled through an expanse of palladium windows. Sammy found a comfortable spot on the hardwood floor near the recliner and danced in a circle before curling up with a sigh.

  “Another sleepless night.” Cody scratched the dog’s head. “Ah, this is getting old, this feeling of being so alone. I miss Caden, miss having him to talk to, miss the whole brother-bond thing. I haven’t felt alive for months, since he…well, you know. I just can’t seem to shake it.”

  Sammy cocked his head to the side as if he understood exactly what Cody was saying.

  “He would have been intrigued by Rena, same as me. And we’d talk it out, try to figure her out. I’m out of practice, Sammy boy. I need a wing man. I need Caden.” He sighed. “Rena’s so guarded. She’s got the eyes of a spooked mare. Getting to know her is going to take some time and a whole lot of prayer.”

  Sammy yawned and pawed the coffee table, where Cody’s Bible lay open.

  “Yeah, you’re right.” Cody picked up the Bible and turned to Psalms. “Let’s see what we can find in here.”

  Light the Fire

  4

  Rena gulped the last bite of blueberry muffin and polished off a glass of skim milk. She rinsed the glass and set it in the dish drain to dry. Kelsie was due to arrive any minute to take them to the building site.

  Another sleepless night left her sluggish and foggy-headed. While she’d tossed and turned, she’d thought of ways to raise money for the rec center. The proper environment was important to the kids’ learning, so there was no time to waste getting started.

  The doorbell rang. Not wanting to keep Kelsie waiting, Rena hurried through the living room. Twangs of Kenny Chesney’s The Good Stuff drifted from the radio, and she hummed along as she pulled open the door.

  “Good morning, Rena.” Cody, dressed in faded jeans, a T-shirt, and beat-up work boots, slouched against the doorway, grinning lazily. The clean scent of soap clung to his damp waves of hair. “Was that you humming along to the radio?”

  A flush of warmth slid across her face as she nodded.

  He smiled. “Nice.”

  “This is a surprise. I was expecting Kelsie.”

  “She overslept so she called me to pick you up and take you to the building site.” He motioned toward a black truck parked in the drive. “Your chariot awaits.”

  “Hmm...well…” Maybe she should phone Kelsie, just to check. She quickly dismissed the idea. It would be over the top, and Cody was just trying to help out. “I guess it’s OK. Just let me get my jacket.”

  She shivered as Cody’s eyes slid over her soft, button-down flannel shirt and jeans. “Good idea. It’s pretty cool out, but at least it’s clear today.” It had rained heavily the past three days straight, rendering the ground little more than a mud pit. “Those boots are a good idea, though.” He nodded toward the scuffed leather work boots on her feet. “They’ll keep the damp out.”

  “My dad gave them to me a long time ago, when I used to help him with building projects.”

  “Ah, so that explains it…how you learned to swing a hammer so well.”

  The knot in Rena’s belly loosened a notch and she smiled. “Um...would you like to come in for a minute?” She opened the door wider and stepped back. “I’ve brewed fresh coffee. I guess I could pour you a to-go cup.”

  “Sounds great.”

  “OK. Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back.”

  As Rena padded through the living room and into the kitchen, she was glad she’d taken the time to straighten up the house yesterday evening. Her furnishings were simple yet cozy. The living room was tidy—no dog-eared magazines strewn across the couch, or mismatched shoes littering the floor to stumble over. She imagined Sammy liked to explore Cody’s place and that Cody often arrived home after a long day at work to find his belongings scattered like fallen soldiers across the floor, covered in doggie slobber.

  “Here you go.” Rena returned with a to-go mug and a muffin wrapped in a paper towel. She handed both to Cody.

  He sniffed. “Mmmm…blueberry—my favorite. I must be living right.”

  “Well, you can’t go to work on an empty stomach.”

  “How did you know I skipped breakfast?”

  “Just a lucky guess…and I heard the small-scale earthquake rumble through your stomach.”

  Cody laughed and planted a hand firmly across his abdomen. “Gave me away, huh?”

  “Yes.” She brushed past him onto the porch. “I think a monster lives in there.”

  “Well, this muffin ought to tame it...at least ’til lunch.”

  “OK then, we’d better get going. The work crew will be waiting on us.” Rena strode to the pick-up truck Cody parked in the drive. She heard a rustling in the truck bed and peeked over the edge. Sammy suddenly popped his huge, shaggy head up and barked a greeting.

  “Oh!” Rena jumped back, her heart stuttering. “You frightened me!”

  Sammy cocked his head to the side, tongue dangling as if to say he was sorry. The truck shifted under his weight. Rena stroked the back of his head. “I’m so glad to see you again. You’re not going to knock me down today, are you? Last week’s bruise is just beginning to fade.”

  Sammy barked happily and leaned into her for more petting. Rena generously obliged. Her voice soothed, and Sammy settled down. His tail swept back and forth like a giant broom.

  “Yeah, that’s right. We’re going to be friends, aren’t we? I brought you something.”

  Rena unwrapped a muffin she’d tucked in her jacket pocket and offered it to Sammy. The dog snatched it from her hand and gulped it whole. Crumbs and slobber dangled from his mouth.

  “You’re hungry, aren’t you, baby?” Rena murmured, reaching into her pocket once more. “Doesn’t Cody feed you breakfast? Here, I have another.”

  “Don’t let those eyes sucker you. I feed him plenty.” Cody reached over her shoulder to p
ush the dog back. Instinctively, Rena’s hands came up to shield her face. The height of him suddenly behind her, his big hands by her face and hot breath on her neck brought on a flashback of another time, back in New York. She instantly ducked to the far side of the truck, putting a good deal of distance between her and Cody. The stutter in her heart raged to a gallop

  The world went eerily silent for a moment, then she heard Cody’s sharp intake of breath.

  “Rena, it’s OK.” His voice was gentle. He reached toward her and she backed farther away before he could touch her.

  “I…I didn’t hear you coming.” She felt like a frightened fawn caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. The truck shielded her, and she wished the ground would open up and swallow her as well.

  “I’m sorry I frightened you. I didn’t mean to.” Cody retrieved the to-go mug she’d dropped. The coffee left a muddy splotch down his jeans and he swiped at the stain while Sammy barked as if to say, “You can come out now, Rena.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Rena murmured, head bowed, gaze swallowing the ground. She’d ruined his jeans. The stain was going to set. She trembled as she waited for Cody to unleash his fury.

  “No big deal. It’ll wash out later. There’s nothing to be sorry about.” Slowly, Cody came around to her side of the truck. He reached up to touch her and her nerves jangled. Silently, she coaxed herself not to retreat. Cody wasn’t going to hurt her. Not while they were standing out here in the open, at least...maybe not at all.

  Gently, he brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. “It’s OK, Rena. You’re safe with me.”

  “Safe? Nothing...no one...is safe. Not ever again.”

  “What?” His gaze softened. “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing.” She felt mortified that the words had slipped out. She dipped her head and turned away, lips quivering. “W-we’d better go. It’s…it’s getting late and Pastor Marcus will be waiting for our h-help.”