Perfectly Matched

by Lois Richer

  Nick stared at her. He opened his mouth to argue but Shay shook her head.

  “Impossible,” she said. “I know you.”

  “You don’t understand. You haven’t even heard the details yet.”

  “Details don’t matter. I know who you are inside.” She shifted so she was facing him, her eyes flashing.

  Nick thought he could lose himself in those eyes.

  “I know you, Nick Green. I know how seriously you take your obligations. If your relationships ended then it was because there was something wrong with the relationships themselves, not with you. You don’t walk out, Nick. Not on anybody. Not ever.” She smiled again, and he felt warm all over. “You have an abundance of integrity. I’d trust you with my life.”

  “Did I hear you right?” Nick blinked. “You trust me?”

  “Yep. Weird, isn’t it?’ Shay grinned a wicked smile then threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with a carefree abandon he’d wished for only in his dreams—until now.

  Nick kissed her right back. If Shay Parker wanted to kiss him, he wasn’t about to turn her down.

  But, Good Lord, what happens next?

  Chapter Eleven

  “Happy Fourth of July!”

  Shay stood on Main Street watching the parade, waving her little flag in one hand while the other was firmly tucked into Nick’s. She couldn’t remember when she’d been happier.

  She’d made him dinner several nights in a row. He’d treated her to pizza and Mexican food. They’d shared campfires and walks and another evening at the lake, just the two of them. And they’d talked. My, how they’d talked—about everything—except the future.

  Shay had skirted around the subject, longing for Nick to tell her he couldn’t leave her, but purposely not asking about his decision. Staying in Hope had to be Nick’s decision and though she desperately wanted him to say he was staying, she would just have to wait for his decision and keep praying about it.

  She’d put her trust in God to find a way for Nick to stay.

  The bubble of Shay’s perfect world burst when the sound of gunshot cracked through the laughter surrounding her. For an instant, fear perched on her shoulder and told her to be afraid. But Shay was no longer a novice.

  She squeezed her eyes closed and repeated a newly memorized verse.

  For I hold you by your right hand, I the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”

  Shay repeated it twice then opened her eyes just as an old model T huffed and puffed past them and continued down the parade route.

  “I think that thing backfires once every parade. Are you okay?” Nick leaned past Maggie to ask, obviously sensing something amiss.

  “Everything’s perfect,” she said and smiled. It was true. Everything was perfect.

  The day was gorgeous, one of those not-too-hot summer days that had a soft breeze to fan you. This year the parade was on time, marching bands and cheerleaders filling the air with excitement. Maggie’s joy in each entry reminded Shay of the many times she’d come here with her father and she took a moment to savor the memory.

  But it was the seniors’ float that made Maggie dance and point, her anticipation visible.

  “Grandma, Grandma!” she called, waving her little flag and jumping up and down. “Throw me a candy. Please, Grandma.”

  Shay chuckled when the entire float of seniors aimed their goodies in Maggie’s direction, forcing the little girl to use the hem of her blouse like an apron to collect her treats.

  Just behind the seniors, someone began to sing “America The Beautiful.” When it was finished Nick touched her shoulder.

  “Is perfect too strong a word to describe today?” he murmured into her ear, his hand resting against her waist.

  “I think it’s a perfect word for a perfect day,” she told him, loving the gentle yet strong support he provided.

  Then her cell phone rang. She glanced at the number and swallowed. Don’t be afraid.

  “Anything urgent?” Nick asked.

  “I didn’t expect the New York detectives to call me again. I’ll just be a minute.” She stepped away to find some quiet.

  But it was a very long minute, and when it was over, Shay wished she had left her phone at home.

  “You missed most of the parade, but at least you won’t miss lunch.” Nick grinned when she returned. He helped Maggie stand then frowned at Shay’s nonresponse. “Shay? What’s wrong?”

  “I, um, I can’t go for lunch right now. The detectives in New York are faxing something they want me to look at.”

  “Not a problem. We’ll swing by the police station on our way to Mom’s. Okay?” He waited for her nod while Maggie got settled into her crutches. Then they walked to his truck. After only a few steps, Maggie gladly relinquished her bag that brimmed with goodies thrown to her from the floats in the parade.

  “Didn’t Grandma look nice on that float?” she said.

  “Very nice,” Nick agreed.

  “I like the dress Shay helped her find. And I’m glad you helped them get their float working, Uncle Nick. Grandma said they wouldn’t have been in the parade this year without you.”

  Shay grinned at him. “Always on hand to help out, aren’t you?”

  “It was just a motor thing. No big deal.” He avoided her knowing look.

  “It is a big deal for the seniors,” she said. She was about to reiterate that a lot of people in Hope needed Nick when Buddy from the grocery store called out to her.

  “Nice article, Shay. Looks like Whispering Hope Clinic is a real success!” he said.

  “What article?” Nick asked.

  “Remember Ben Marks and all the photos he took that day at the clinic? The paper must have run the story today.” And maybe, Shay mused, it would be enough to persuade Nick he was needed here. That’s what she’d been praying for. “Can we stop at the store and pick up a copy? Your mom did say she needed some whipped cream for her strawberry pie,” she reminded.

  “Right.” Nick lifted Maggie into her seat then paused. “What about the police station?”

  “Oh, right.” This was a holiday—Shay didn’t want to be the damper. “Why don’t you and Maggie go to the store and I’ll meet you at your mom’s place as soon as I’m finished?”

  “You don’t want me there?” Nick frowned. “It’s not a problem.”

  “Nothing is ever a problem for you, is it?” Shay squeezed his hand. “But you know what? I think I’m ready to face this on my own. I feel like I have to.”

  “You don’t have to. Just give me a few minutes to get Maggie—”

  “Nick.” Shay smiled and shook her head. “I need to do this. I need to stand on my own two feet. It’s time.” Actually, it’s past time, she thought.

  He studied her for a long moment but finally nodded.

  “Okay. I’ll be praying,” he promised.

  “Thank you. That I will gladly accept.” She waved at Maggie then set off at a crisp walk across the town square toward the police services building, needing the exercise to help work off the nervous energy that filled her.

  Perfect love casts out all fear.

  With her shoulders back and her courage high, Shay walked into the station. Moments later Chief Dan Burger ushered her into his office.

  “I’ve been briefed by the New York police, Miss Parker. What they’d like you to do is look at this picture and see if you recognize this person.” He handed her a sheet of paper as he sat and motioned for her to do the same.

  Shay looked down and inhaled sharply. He was facing the camera, smiling as if he had not a care in the world. He looked like an ordinary man.

  “Miss Parker?”

  “I know him,” she said.

  “So who is he?” The chief leaned forward, pen in hand, poised to take down her information.

  “That’s the thing,” she whispered as a cold, clammy sweat began to form under her bangs. “I know him—that is, I’m familiar with this face. He was on the set
of a number of shoots I did. But I have no idea who he is. I don’t believe I ever knew his name or what, exactly, he did. I just—know him.” She bit her lip. “I wish I could tell you more.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” The relaxed tone of the chief’s voice calmed Shay. “Can I ask you something? I’m just curious. What was this guy doing on the set? Can you recall?”

  Shay began to shake her head but Dan leaned forward.

  “Close your eyes for a moment and see yourself there. What are you doing?”

  “I’m in the makeup chair,” she said.

  “Someone’s doing your hair?”

  “Yes. It’s a shoot of evening gowns. Very formal. I have to wear an up-do and it’s not quite right. I had some sparkly clips—they’re missing.” She gasped, opened her eyes. “He must have been somebody’s assistant because Mario, my hair guy, yelled at him to find those clips.”

  “I see.” Dan tented his fingers. “Did this guy work with Mario?”

  “No. Mario worked alone. He always made me look beautiful. So did Cerise, my makeup artist.” Shay got lost in her thoughts of those hectic, frantic hours when nothing mattered more than giving the client the very best picture she could. She didn’t want to model anymore, but she didn’t resent it because it paid for her education and everything she had. Modeling had allowed her to come home to Hope.

  “Could the guy have worked for her, this Cerise?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. She always had someone cleaning her kits, her brushes. But I don’t remember him doing it.” She stared at the picture, chilled. “Is he the stalker?”

  “For now, he’s just a person of interest.”

  “I see.” She had a hunch the chief wasn’t going to tell her any more. “Well, I’m sorry I couldn’t help more.”

  “You’ve done fine. I’ll relay what you’ve told me to New York and they’ll take it from here.” He shook her hand. “But if you remember anything else, you let me know.”

  “Of course,” she promised.

  “And Ms. Parker? I can’t tell you how much that clinic you work in means to this town. I know how hard it is to keep folks in a place where medical services aren’t up to par. Whispering Hope has become a tremendous asset. It’s even drawing people to get help for their children.”

  “That’s what we hoped for.” A rush of satisfaction surged inside and almost dislodged the unsettled feeling that photo had left her with. Almost.

  “Listen, tell Nick I said thanks, will you? My mother’s been nagging me to get her golf cart fixed for ages. He did it in about ten minutes at the seniors’ hall when they had their fix-it time last Saturday morning. Saved me another bungled attempt with the thing.” He scratched his chin. “There are plenty of regular folks who’d pay him good money if he could get some of their broken-down stuff going.”

  “Really?” That caught Shay’s attention.

  “Sure. I was talking to some of the guys on council. They wish he’d open a shop. He’d never have a spare minute.”

  “I will tell him what you said,” Shay promised. “I’ve been trying to talk him into staying. After all, his mom and his niece are here. But Nick thinks that the work he does in town wouldn’t support a business. He feels he has to go back to Seattle to earn a living.”

  “Well.” The chief rubbed his head. “I don’t suppose he’d earn a pro-ball salary in Hope, but then it doesn’t cost as much to live here either.” His eyes narrowed and he seemed to get lost in thought.

  “I’d better get going. Nick’s mom is planning a big July Fourth barbecue and I don’t want to be late.” She pushed the photo toward him, less than eager to look at that face again, and stood up. “I hope they catch the right guy.”

  “Yeah. Creeps like that think they can get away with their nasty tricks, but sooner or later they get found out. God has a way of evening things up. Maybe not on our timetable, but always on His.”

  “Thanks, Chief.” Shay left, lost in thought as she walked back through the town square, got in her car and drove to the Green home.

  She couldn’t help brooding over the picture she’d seen. The familiarity of that face struck her, but she couldn’t recall exactly why. Despite the many Scriptures she recited as she drove, an aura of disquiet rattled her nerves. She was glad when she arrived at Nick’s and hurried to the backyard, where laughter spilled over the fence.

  Shay stood still, soaking in the happy atmosphere. Friends and neighbors filled the yard, laughing while kids played games. Maggie, moving as best she could now that she was using canes, was the life of the party.

  Shay’s observant eye noted that the little girl was almost lifting the canes up so she could go faster, proving that the strength in her legs was almost normal. In a very short time, Maggie would be walking without aid.

  “You’re back.” Nick wound an arm around her waist. “Everything okay with the police?”

  “I’ll tell you later,” she said sotto voce. “I don’t want to spoil the afternoon.”

  “You couldn’t.” He grinned as his mother, conned by the kids, took a turn—and failed—at flying a kite. “I don’t think anything could put a damper on this day. It’s time to celebrate, Shay. Want a frank?”

  “And some lemonade. You do have lemonade?” she asked, one eyebrow arched.

  “Is the sun shining?” He drew her forward into the circle of people he’d been talking with.

  Shay accepted compliments about the paper’s feature on the clinic. When she saw Nick busy manning the grill, she found a quiet corner inside and sat down to read the newspaper article for herself.

  “It’s good, isn’t it? Bob covers how the clinic idea started with Jessica’s illness, and how it’s grown and is now impacting people from here and far away.” Jaclyn sat down across from her. “It’s also very good publicity for you and the results you’ve achieved for your clients.”

  “I guess.” Shay closed the newspaper with a sigh. “I was hoping for more.”

  “More?” Jaclyn looked surprised. “More of what?”

  “I was hoping he would write about Nick and the roly-poly, the Tiger, the giggle machine…” She met Jaclyn’s inquiring look. “I’ve been trying to persuade Nick that Hope needs him more than Seattle does.”

  “Because?”

  “Because I want him to stay. Because I’m in love with him, Jaclyn.” Saying the words solidified something inside, made her feelings more real.

  “In love—wow.” Jaclyn grinned. “You told me, several times I might add, that it was only friendship between you. I didn’t expect love to develop this soon.”

  “Neither did I.” She sighed. “And I can’t see how it is going to work out.”

  “Because he doesn’t care about you?” Jaclyn asked, her voice soft.

  “I think he does care about me.”

  “So what’s the problem?” Her friend frowned. “Oh. You’re still feeling skittish?”

  “No.” Shay blinked in surprise. “I’m not like that around Nick. I was at first, but now—I guess I’m learning to trust him.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful! I’m so glad, honey.” Jaclyn hugged her then returned to her seat.

  “It is an amazing feeling. The only thing is, I don’t know what can come of it.” Shay told her about Nick’s determination to leave and about her visits with the police. “Even if he stayed, I’m not much of a bargain. Seems like I still have to fight back the fear every step of the way.”

  “At least you are fighting. That’s a huge step.” Jaclyn frowned when she didn’t reply. “Something else is troubling you?”

  “I’ve been studying with Nick’s mom. She’s shown me that I have to learn to trust God. And I’m trying. I really am. But—”

  “But you feel that maybe He has abandoned you? Or forgotten you?” Jaclyn asked.

  “It sounds juvenile, I know. But after all the verses I’ve learned, all the praying and Bible studying I’ve done, I thought I’d feel empowered or not so alone or—something. But I don’
t.” Shay stared at her hands. “I keep praying, I keep reading the verses, but it’s beginning to seem like I’m only going through the motions. Like today, looking at that picture, even though I was inside the police station—the fear still rises up.”

  Jaclyn remained silent, listening as Shay released her pent-up feelings.

  “Look around at all the love in this home. You and Kent are making your family together. Brianna and Zac are doing the same. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what you all have is exactly what I want.” Tears welled but she dashed them away. “But I’m beginning to doubt I’ll ever get it. Especially if Nick leaves.”

  “You’ve always talked about having a family. You said you trusted Nick. Now you have to trust God, too, because He knows what your heart desires.” Jaclyn shook her blond head. “Nothing works without trusting God, Shay. Do that, then go for it. Go for the heart. Nothing else is good enough for you. Just remember, Nick will never be able to guarantee you safety. Nobody can.”

  “I know. That’s why I have to get this fear thing sorted out, so that I’ll be whole and able to love in return. Only—” She bit her lip, unwilling to voice her thoughts.

  “Only it would be easier if Nick actually said he loves you and he’s staying in Hope?” Jaclyn finished.

  “Yes.”

  “I wish I could tell you there’s some kind of easy way to guarantee he will, but the truth is, there isn’t.” Jaclyn shrugged. “It all comes back to faith. I think the way to put your faith into action, in this case, is to cherish whatever moments you have with Nick, put yourself on the line and tell him how you feel.”

  “Live with no regrets,” Shay mused. “That’s what my dad used to say. ‘Live your best life right now.’”

  “I think there’s a lot of wisdom in that.” Jaclyn rose. “And remember that just because you don’t ‘feel’ different doesn’t mean things aren’t changing inside you. How often did our youth leaders remind us that the Christian life is founded on faith, not on feelings?”