by Jenna Mindel
Annie nodded, not trusting her voice. She should pray more often, but her confidence in God had been shaken. Prayer was the answer to life’s questions, fears and doubts. But then, trust in her judgment wasn’t exactly at a high place, either.
What did she really know? Nothing felt secure anymore.
Her thoughts wandered as Ginger prayed over the food and for her and her baby. Annie remembered Matthew’s simple prayer of thanks, the Zelinsky dinnertime prayer.
Bless us, oh Lord, and these Thy gifts...
It hit her then. She’d lost three dance students due to gossip. Gossip fueled by her own careless actions. If she wasn’t careful, she might lose everything.
* * *
“What’s got you smiling?” Darren drove while Luke played a game on his phone and their other brother Cam snoozed in the backseat.
Matthew had listened to his voice mail as soon as they were through the Sault Ste. Marie border crossing and heading south on I-75 back in Michigan. Customs hadn’t been bad for the first Tuesday in June when tourists were usually crawling all over to visit the Soo Locks. But, then, it was still morning.
“Annie planted her garden this past weekend.” She’d called last night and left the message.
Darren looked amused. “And that’s a big deal, why?”
He wasn’t at liberty to explain why that good news made him smile. Annie’s energy was coming back, proving the morning sickness and exhaustion had lessened. Was she home free to carry the baby to term?
“He’s got a thing for her,” Luke added.
“That’s obvious.”
Matthew looked sharp. “How so?”
Darren laughed. “The other night you were all over her.”
He wasn’t, either. “What are you talking about?”
“If you weren’t touching her hand or back or helping her carry something, you kept looking at her.”
Matthew shrugged. “So?”
“So nothing. She’s a beautiful woman. I get it.”
The urge to defend his reactions scratched like sandpaper. It was way more than Annie’s looks Matthew appreciated. “Yeah.”
Darren chuckled again.
“What?”
“I’ve never seen you serious about anyone before.”
Matthew didn’t answer right away. He’d made some serious promises, but those were about the baby. He stared at the interstate ahead. They were about two hours or so from home. And Annie and her garden. He’d never looked forward to seeing someone as he did her.
“She’s a good friend,” Matthew finally said.
Darren didn’t look convinced. “Uh-huh. Have you introduced her to Mom and Dad?”
“They met her once before when Annie came out and picked up Jack from ice fishing. Oh, and then again at the funeral.”
“Wow, Matty, that was only three months ago.”
He nodded. Seemed longer, and yet finding Jack dead in his cabin felt more recent, like yesterday. It might be too early to do anything about these serious feelings.
“Man, I hope this works out for you.” Darren looked grim. But then he was a man scorned by love and that kind of hurt had twisted him. He was a lot gloomier than he used to be.
“Yeah, me, too.” What else could he say?
* * *
Later that afternoon, Matthew stood on Annie’s front porch with a small bouquet of locally grown flowers that he’d picked up at the IGA. The store had a couple buckets of them for five dollars, so he figured, why not? Annie loved flowers.
He knocked on her door.
She opened it, her eyes wide. “Matthew.”
“Hey.” He handed her the flowers. “These are for you.”
“I love peonies.” She buried her nose in the pink ones with the strongest scent. Then she stepped out onto the porch, closing the door behind her. “Thank you. These are beautiful.”
So was she.
She hadn’t changed from her work. She wore a fitted T-shirt brandishing her studio logo and billowy pants. “Don’t you want to put them in water?”
She hesitated. “I will.”
He cocked his head. What was wrong with her? A streak of something dark and unfamiliar seared his gut. “Is somebody here?”
“No.”
Relief hit him hard. “Are you going to invite me in or what?”
“Why are you here?” She still hadn’t moved.
“I thought I’d stop by and see how you did on your garden.”
“Oh, okay, come on.” She walked off the porch and headed for the backyard.
Matthew stayed put a minute before following her. Catching up, he stalled her with a touch of his hand. “Annie, what’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb. I’ve been over hundreds of times and now you won’t let me in. How come?”
She rubbed her forehead and looked around. “Not here.”
He looked around, too. “What?”
She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the backyard, then let go as she made her way up the steps of her back deck. She swapped his flowers out with a drooping branch of lilacs in a vase on the table. “Thanks for these.”
He took the steps until he stood near her. Placing his hands on her shoulders he turned her to face him. “I saw them and thought of you. What’s going on?”
She let out a deep sigh. “I lost three dance students yesterday. Their moms pulled them out and asked for refunds...”
“Yeah?” he coaxed. “What does that have to do—”
She stepped back from him and sat down. “There’s gossip going around about the two of us, and I think those kids were pulled because of it. Because of that night we got ice cream.”
He sat across from her, hoping she hadn’t lost a marble or two while he was gone. “What happened the night we got ice cream?”
“Seriously?” Now she looked hurt. “You don’t remember that you kissed me—”
“That was barely even a kiss.” Matthew let out a nervous laugh. “That’s all you’re worried about?”
Now she looked angry. “No. I’m worried about my reputation. My livelihood depends on it.”
“And you think your dance students left because of a little kiss?”
“They were pulled because I’m newly widowed and running wild with a younger man.”
He narrowed his gaze. Annie’s behavior could hardly be called wild. The kiss they’d shared after the funeral, though... “Is that what you think you’re doing?”
She stared him down pretty hard. “I don’t know, maybe.”
“Annie—”
“I lost three paid clients because of whatever this is between us. It’s leaking out for all to see.”
Matthew wanted to tell her it shouldn’t matter what other people thought or said about them. Especially the shallow folks who’d spread such venom. But considering her position, he paused before voicing those thoughts.
As Darren had said, it had only been three months.
He sighed, feeling like he’d swallowed a lead buoy. “So what do you want to do?”
She shrugged and looked away.
He took both her hands in his. “I’m not leaving a friend in need high and dry because of a few rumors.”
“Is that what we are? Friends.” Her eyes filled with tears and her voice sounded raw.
She’d lost Jack. No way was he walking away from her, too. He wanted to pull her into his arms but reached for her hand instead. “No, Annie, we’re more than just friends. And I want more still, but you have to want that, too. Until you do, I’ll wait it out.”
A tear spilled over the rim of her eye to trail down her cheek. She sniffed. “No more kisses, okay?”
That was a tall or
der he wasn’t sure he could abide. Especially now. “You mean in public?”
Ignoring his attempt to tease, she lifted their joined hands. “And this has got to stop. Especially in public.”
He groaned. “Now you’re killing me.”
“Be serious.” But she chuckled, too. “I’m too old for you.”
Whatever she’d heard, the difference in their ages had been the one that stung most. He grew serious in an instant. “No, you’re not, Annie. Not in my eyes. You’re beautiful.”
Her eyes grew all watery again. “Ugh, hormones. I’m so emotional.” She pulled her hands away and scrubbed her eyes with both palms.
Matthew stood. He needed to rethink his plans for the rest of the day. He’d hoped they could hang out together, but now? Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. “Show me this garden of yours and then I’ll be on my way.”
She trotted down the steps and spread her arms wide. “Here it is. I even put in eggplant. I had the room thanks to you, but I’m sorry about your watch.”
“No problem. I got another one.” He lifted his arm to show her.
“Nice.” She hardly gave it a glance.
“I think so.”
Taking in the sight of newly mounded dirt and tiny tomato plants in neat little rows, he tamped down his anger. Annie had enough to deal with. She didn’t need pettiness from some of Maple Springs’s finest bringing her down, too.
So, he’d keep a friendly distance for now, but he’d find out who started that gossip. He might not be able to put a stop to it, but he’d find out who stirred the pot. Starting with a certain director of the historical society.
* * *
That had gone better than she’d expected. Annie glanced at Matthew’s rigid stance while he looked over her garden and breathed a little easier. She wasn’t sure how he’d react and wouldn’t have blamed him if he’d simply left.
Hadn’t she heard him tell Jack that he hated all the drama that came with a relationship? Well, she was giving Matthew all that and then some. Yet he not only remained, he wanted more. He wanted her.
She rubbed her stomach to quell a sudden flip—no, it was more like what she imagined moths dancing around a porch light might feel like. The baby?
“You okay?” Matthew looked at her, curious.
“Fine.” She wanted to keep this incredible sensation to herself. It might be nothing. And she wasn’t about to let Matthew touch her midsection. He wouldn’t feel anything, anyway. The movement had been deep inside her belly.
He narrowed his gaze.
“What?”
“You look, ah, fuller.” He grinned.
She flushed and looked down at her feet in the grass. Her clothes either didn’t fit or fit more snugly than they used to. Especially her tops. Not a bad thing to finally have some womanly curves.
“When’s your next doctor’s appointment?” He hadn’t forgotten.
Maybe she shouldn’t let him go with her considering the gossip, but what if she received bad news? Having him with her for support took on new importance and even urgency. He seemed to know what she needed, completely in tune. She needed him there. How was that wrong?
“Next week.”
“I’d still like to go.”
Annie nodded. “I’d like that.”
He reached out to touch her, but pushed her hair back instead. “Don’t worry, okay?”
Easier said than done, but she agreed. “Okay.”
“Well, I guess I better go.” He let out a deep breath and then leaned close and whispered, “In case anyone’s lurking in the shadows, spying on us.”
She pushed at him. “It’s not funny.”
“I know, but it’s not the end of the world, either. Come on, walk me to my truck.”
Annie agreed that was probably true. If only she could get a handle on her emotions and ignore the urge to embrace Matthew every time she saw him.
But she wanted to be held—for comfort and not for comfort. Knowing he was truly interested in her as a woman, not only as an obligation to Jack, zipped through her like a spring rain that washed away crusty old snow.
“Hey, what are you doing the rest of the day?” Matthew asked.
Annie stopped walking. “Not much. Why?”
“Let’s go somewhere.”
She thought about that. “Where?”
“Mackinac City? The Island. Anywhere you want.”
Over thirty miles away from Maple Springs, away from everything and everyone, sounded good. Really good. She glanced at her empty house. She didn’t want to spend another evening home alone. As long as they didn’t hang out in town, what harm could there be?
“Are you in the mood to ride bikes around Mackinac Island?”
His gaze lingered on her middle. “You can do that?”
“Of course I can. It’s been years since I was there.”
Matthew grinned. “Let’s go.”
Annie smiled back. “Let me change real quick, what about you?”
Matthew wore shorts and a T-shirt. “I’m ready.”
She laughed, feeling young. Spontaneous. Free. Normal. “I’ll be right back.”
Annie wasn’t going to let gossip stop her. They’d be far away from anyone who might care. It might be late afternoon, but they had all evening to enjoy. This early in June the last ferry back from Mackinac Island wasn’t until eight or nine so she’d be home before dark.
They had all evening.
Chapter Nine
“The lilacs will be in full bloom.” Annie grabbed her ball cap before it blew off her head. The passenger ferry they rode revved to top speed.
Water sprayed like fine mist when they bounced on a wave. It felt good considering the heat of the day. Only the beginning of June and yet they’d had a hot start of summerlike weather.
“Yeah.” Matthew brushed droplets of water from his knees.
His mother had lilac bushes. They grew well all over northern Michigan, ambling wild along the road and in fields. Something about the sandy soil made them flourish. Mackinac Island celebrated peak bloom time with a festival that happened to be the upcoming weekend. They’d certainly see lilacs.
He and Annie sat on the open top deck of a newer boat that belonged to one of three Mackinac Island ferry companies. The thing hauled. It wasn’t exactly packed as not many headed to the island this late on a Tuesday afternoon. Seating was scattered with mainly young people enjoying the twenty-minute ride.
“Lilacs remind me of my mother,” Annie said.
“Your parents aren’t alive.” Matthew remembered Jack telling him that once. In fact, this was the first time he’d ever heard Annie mention them.
“Killed in a car accident when I was in college. I got the call from my aunt right before a big audition.”
“What happened?”
Annie grinned at him. “I landed one of the leads.”
She had powered through the pain even then. Or maybe, that’s when she’d learned how. “Did anyone know about the accident?”
“No. I didn’t want them to. And that might have been one of my best performances.”
Matthew wished he had gone to see her dance. Jack used to brag that Annie had been something special up on stage, and Matthew imagined that to be true. She certainly moved with grace and lightness at her studio. Annie might be lithe and lean, but she was also strong. She had to be to hold those positions as long as she did.
Annie Marshall was stronger than she realized.
“I forgot how gorgeous this is.” Annie looked around, soaking in the sight of the mighty Mackinac Bridge. “The last time I went to Mackinac Island was after Jack and I moved to Maple Springs. That was almost five years ago. Sad, I haven’t been back since. Thank you for suggesting this.”
Matt
hew nodded. He was glad he’d thought of it. He didn’t want her powering through the pain of losing Jack alone. Annie needed a fun time away from home. He was beginning to think he might need her. Annie Marshall was the kind of woman he’d always wanted but had never found.
He glanced at her hands. Her wedding ring sparkled in the sunshine. What would Jack think about all this?
Matthew had always cared for Annie, maybe too much. He searched the expanse of dark blue water that met a lighter blue, clear and cloudless sky. A perfect day. He’d do his best to keep it that way by maintaining a friendly distance.
He spotted an oceangoing boat heading through the Straits and slipping under the Mackinac Bridge. He pointed. “There’s a salty.”
Annie leaned forward, shielding her eyes from the sun. “Can you tell where it’s from?”
He shrugged. “Netherlands, maybe?”
“Cool.” She looked up at him. “Are you anxious to get back on the lakes?”
For once, he wasn’t. “Not in a big hurry, no.”
She smiled.
He smiled back. And wanted to throw everything about maintaining friendship overboard. Annie worried too much about gossip.
When the red-and-white lighthouse came into view as they turned toward the island’s harbor, Matthew worried over their plan yet again. “Do you think it’s a good idea to ride bikes?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
It was less than ten miles around Mackinac Island staying on the paved shoreline path. The rental bikes were for touring with fat seats and baskets. There were gentle sloping hills along the shore, but still. “What if you fall?”
Annie patted his knee. Her wedding ring winked at him again, warning him that her heart was still Jack’s. “I won’t fall. I can still ride a bike, you know. Exercise is a good thing, and happens to be my occupation. And my doctor agrees. An easy bike ride isn’t something strenuous. I’ll be careful. We’ll take it slow.”
“No Tour-de-France speeds.” He took her hand and held it.
“We have to take a lot of things slow.”
“Right.”
“We could rent a horse-drawn carriage instead.”
Considering that nothing but bicycles and horses were allowed as transportation, they’d definitely keep a leisurely pace. But then sitting side by side in a buggy built for two invited romance, and they were here to have fun—the friendly kind of fun.
