Heart's Design: A Contemporary Christian Romance

by JoAnn Durgin

  “I can’t believe people actually live like this.” Lazily rolling onto her back again, Kat crossed her arms behind her head. “It seems like such a simple way of life, doesn’t it?” She wriggled her toes in the air for emphasis. Not one to be still for long, she sat up on the bed and unleashed her hair from its confining ponytail, shaking her head so that it fell around her shoulders. “I could probably live in a town like this.”

  “For maybe a night or two,” Paulina said. “You’re not fooling us for a second. You’d miss the shopping, the restaurants, and the clubs too much. Even better, the cute valets and fawning waiters. Not to forget the Wall Street brokers with stock options.”

  Pulling aside the delicate curtains, Caroline tuned out their teasing banter and gazed down onto the quiet street below. Seth emerged from Landon’s and walked down the sidewalk to the north. Seeing him, Caroline’s heart fluttered like a runaway butterfly.

  “See something interesting?” When Caroline didn’t answer, Paulina quickly crossed the room to peer over her shoulder just as Seth turned the corner at the end of the street and disappeared from view.

  “This could turn out to be a very worthwhile stop. With handsome Mr. Barnes right under the same roof, no less.” Catching Caroline’s warning look, Paulina directed her comments to Kat. “He looks a bit rugged for our Caroline, though, given her penchant for the intellectual man inclined toward classical music and boring literature.”

  That comment rankled. “How do you know what my type is since I’ve had so”—she heaved a sigh—“few dates in the past four years? Trust me. I realize how pathetic that sounds.”

  Paulina draped her arm around Caroline’s shoulders. “Girlfriend, you’re too transparent for your own good. You may not have a proven type, but judging by the look on your face just now when Seth Barnes came into view, I’d say he’s your type.”

  Retrieving her toiletry bag, Caroline tried to laugh off the comment. “I’d say someone has an overactive imagination. Let’s face it; Seth is the kind of guy who’d be the type for most women. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t have a woman in his life. Or more than one. You two can sit and speculate all you like, but I’m taking the first bath.” She tossed a glance over her shoulder as she headed into the bathroom. “If you’re lucky, I might save some hot water for you.”

  “Spoilsport!” Paulina called.

  “That’s why she’ll make such a great attorney. That intense focus on practical matters. She doesn’t care that she doesn’t have a man in her life. From what I can tell, she doesn’t want one, either.” Kat’s words seared straight through Caroline as she closed the bathroom door, shutting out the world.

  Luxuriating in the hot sudsy water a few minutes later, Caroline slid further down into the porcelain footed tub. She lapped the water in gentle waves around her. With a sigh, she inched up and rested her neck against the back of the tub, breathing in deeply of the aromatic bath salts. Lily of the Valley if she wasn’t mistaken. Her eyes misted and she blinked hard to keep the tears at bay. Closing her eyes, she refused to give in to the show of emotion.

  “Never show weakness in the courtroom.” How many times had she heard that admonition from her father? “Your adversary will pounce on that weakness,” he’d said. “They’ll twist it, skewer your words, use it to their advantage, and then make it your downfall.”

  I’m not in the courtroom now, Dad. She also couldn’t recall seeing her mother ever shed tears, not even at the funerals of Eleanor’s own mother and father. Not that she probably wasn’t crying on the inside. When did her mother cry? Her tears, if any, were intensely private. No wonder she’d been in therapy for years.

  “I cry and I’m proud of it,” she said with conviction, feeling silly when the words echoed off the tiles in the bathroom. She hoped Kat and Paulina hadn’t heard, and based on the animated chatter from the other room, they hadn’t. While she was no cry baby, Caroline knew a good cleansing cry could do a lot for soothing one’s soul.

  An image of Seth Barnes came into her mind. Sure, he was handsome, but it wasn’t so much Seth’s physical appearance that appealed to her as much as his carefree approach to life. Or maybe her overactive imagination was playing tricks on her, but what she’d told Kat and Paulina was true. The hiker presented the appearance of being content. Satisfied with his life. Happy. Hopefully, that wasn’t only an illusion. Back in Boston, Caroline could count on one hand the number of people she could call truly happy in their lives.

  Oh, how she wished she could find that kind of peace in her life. Problem was, she had no idea how to go about finding it. Her eyes fluttered open and Caroline stared at the ceiling.

  “God, if you’re up there somewhere listening, could you maybe give me a clue?”

  Chapter 4

  ~~♥~~

  Caroline watched as Kat bounced out of a clothing boutique on Elm Street, holding up a small bag and waving it with a satisfied smile.

  Following her out of the store, a warning look surfaced in Paulina’s dark eyes. “Your dad’s going to freak when he finds out how much of his money you just spent. He probably thought he was safe with you coming to the mountains.”

  “You’re just jealous.” Kat pouted and pushed her long ponytail behind one shoulder. “It wasn’t really all that expensive. Not like a diamond or anything. Besides, Daddy told me that as long as I could fit it in my backpack, I could buy it. Mom’s the one who taught me the best things in life come in the smallest packages.”

  “Don’t believe every cliché you hear.” Caroline cringed when she heard her sarcasm surfacing in her tone again. She really needed to watch it no matter how annoying her friends’ pettiness sounded at times.

  Paulina frowned. “You can’t keep spending your dad’s money, Kat. Even if he doesn’t mind, that doesn’t make it right. You’re going to get a rude awakening when you move to New York. Not every man will bow to your whims and you might actually have to pay for things yourself.”

  “Since when did you become my keeper?” Slipping a hand down to one slim hip, Kat turned to Caroline. “Sure, it’s easy for you to say, Miss Money Bags. Not all of us were born to the manor. Maybe I’ll stop believing in clichés when you stop sounding like a middle-aged nag.”

  Caroline bit back a quick response. Maybe she should tone down the sarcasm but Kat needed a cold hard dose of reality. “I’m trying to be practical, and that has nothing to do with how much money I have or don’t have. What did you buy?” That question should diffuse Kat’s irritation. She hated it when they were at odds with each other.

  “A red garnet ring. It wasn’t all that expensive and it’s really pretty,” Kat said, her frown easing as Caroline had hoped.

  “And…?” Paulina tucked a strand of hair behind one ear and stared down Kat.

  “Okay, so I bought the matching necklace, too. So what? Apparently the garnets are mined locally. Call it a souvenir. From what the salesclerk told me, this region is known for having the highest concentration of gemstones of any area its size in the entire world. I find that fascinating. Don’t you, Caroline?” Kat gave her a pointed look.

  “Yes, I do.” That information was intriguing all right, but she couldn’t get into this discussion now. Caroline turned her head and blew out a breath. Only Kat and Paulina knew of her secret passion for jewelry design. Not just a hobby of stringing beads but spending hours creating original designs made from gemstones, semi-precious or the real thing. She hadn’t indulged in the hobby much—hadn’t had the time—but she’d produced a few one-of-a-kind pieces and sold them to a specialty boutique in Boston. Of course, she hadn’t informed her parents. No reason to tell them since nothing would come of it, anyway, except perhaps as a hobby when and if she ever had any spare time in the future.

  She was saved from responding when Kat focused on something behind Caroline. “Don’t look now but Seth’s walking toward us. Five, four, three…”

  Caroline turned around slowly. He’d changed into denim shorts with a dark blue
T-shirt and carried a gallon can of paint in one hand.

  “That man’s got it happening,” Kat said under her breath. “What I wouldn’t give—”

  “Shut it, Kat.” Paulina raised her voice and smiled. “Hey, Seth!”

  “Afternoon, ladies,” Seth said as he approached them with a smile. “Are you having fun?”

  “We sure are, handsome.” Kat turned on the full southern drawl. Not missing a beat, she looped her hand over Seth’s arm. “This town is beyond adorable.”

  The tiniest pinch surfaced between Seth’s brows as he glanced down at Kat’s hold on him. “I’ve been down to Mahoney’s, Evergreen’s version of a general store. They’ve got almost anything you’d ever need and then some.” He raised the can of paint, dislodging Kat’s hold in the process. Smart man.

  “We stopped in earlier and met Clara,” Caroline said. “She was the one who pointed us in the direction of Landon’s.”

  “She certainly was chatty and personable,” Kat said. “We had to wait on Caroline for almost ten minutes while she was looking at quilts or something.”

  Seth met Caroline’s gaze. “I’m headed back to work on some small projects at Landon’s this afternoon. Randy’s getting up in years and isn’t able to do as much of the handyman work anymore.”

  “Oh, isn’t that sweet,” Kat purred. “I’m sure Bertha appreciates you. And your handy…work.” Sometimes Caroline had to remind herself why she was friends with this girl. Kat could turn almost anything into an innuendo of one kind or another. Paulina ducked her head and snickered.

  “It’s Beverly. Not Bertha.” Caroline ignored Kat’s sharp glance. When Kat began to stroke her finger on Seth’s arm, he deftly stepped aside and out of her reach, earning more of Caroline’s respect. How refreshing to see not all men were rendered senseless by a beautiful woman.

  “It’s the least I can do,” he told them. “Beverly and Randy won’t ever let me pay them, so I feel like I need to do something to earn my keep.”

  “Are you in town for the wedding?” It was a guess, but Caroline was rewarded with a bright smile from Seth that nearly stopped her pulse and then sent it soaring the next second. During an average week at the law firm, she met many men—all ages, professional men for the most part, dressed to kill in their designer suits and thousand dollar briefcases. None of those men compared to Seth for pure masculinity. Goodness, it practically oozed from him. She sensed he was one of the good ones, possessing a strong sense of integrity and honorable character. From those few dates she’d had in recent years, she’d learned quickly that not all men were nice or honest in their intentions or motivations, both personally as well as professionally.

  “I’ve known Paul for a long time and I’m one of his groomsmen,” Seth said, interrupting Caroline’s musing. “Are you girls in town for the wedding, too?” As before when they’d been introduced, Seth’s eyes found hers.

  “No, although we might crash the reception.” When Kat took hold of him again, the muscles in Seth’s jaw tightened.

  “Don’t listen to her. We don’t barge in where we’re not invited,” Paulina said. “Can you recommend a place for a late lunch? More like a combination late lunch and early dinner?”

  “Sure. Are you looking for sit down or a place where you can order at the counter?”

  “Anything’s fine, but we’re hardly dressed for fancy.” When Kat gestured to her outfit, Caroline was immensely grateful the other girl had changed out of her skimpier outfit into a respectable pair of shorts and a modest top that covered more of her tanned skin than usual. She only hoped Kat wouldn’t decide to put on her bikini and sunbathe on that rooftop balcony.

  “You’ll find none of the places to eat in Evergreen are fancy except for the dining room at The Evergreen Inn. Let’s see.” Seth paused a moment. “You might try Manelli’s Grill. Sounds Italian but it’s all-American and features great fish and other local specialties. It’s over on Beryl Street. Go past Landon’s and hang a left at the next block. It’s right there.”

  “Barrel Street?” Paulina repeated.

  “B-e-r-y-l.” Seth’s grin was broad and that dimple was irresistible. “The same name as one of the most important minerals. Colorless in its purest form, but I’m sure you’d recognize its green variety—the emerald. Aquamarine is the blue version.”

  “Absolutely amazing,” Kat drawled. “You sound like a scientist.”

  “Are you a…” Caroline hesitated. “A doctor of rocks or something? Minerals or gemstones?” She felt silly asking, but how many men could spout something like that about minerals, of all things?

  Thankfully, Seth didn’t appear offended. “In a manner of speaking. I’m a mineralogist. Meaning I study rocks and minerals. I live over in the Oxford Hills, not far from here. That’s actually where most of the minerals can be found. I also teach part-time at one of the local colleges. A number of the main streets here in Evergreen are named after minerals.”

  Kat brightened. “Interesting you should say that. One of the shopkeepers told me that very thing a few minutes ago. Would you like to join us for lunch so you can tell us all about them?” She graced Seth with her most enticing smile, one Caroline had seen her employ numerous times to her advantage over the past four years. Her auburn-haired friend’s trail of discarded men extended from the banks of the Charles River to Faneuil Hall and points in-between.

  Paulina remained silent but appeared to be enjoying this exchange.

  “Thank you for the invite, but I need to get back to Landon’s. I’ll see you ladies later.” With that, Seth gave them a polite nod and crossed the street. As he headed farther down the street, Caroline heard him whistling.

  “Well,” huffed Kat. “Was it something I said?”

  Paulina gave her a knowing look. “Seth’s got your number and he’s not playing. No worries. You’ve got your new red garnet ring as a consolation prize.”

  “And the matching necklace.” Kat shot Caroline a grin.

  ~~♥~~

  “Seth, honey, do you want to take a break? Come inside for a cup of lemonade.”

  Pausing in his work, Seth smiled down at Beverly where she stood on the lawn beside his ladder. “I’ve got my water bottle up here, so I’m fine for now. I’ll take a break in a few. Do I smell some of your famous butterscotch chocolate chip cookies?” The tempting aromas had wafted up to him in the past hour, teasing him and spurring him on. He was almost done with his current task and a break sounded good.

  “Sure do. The cookies will be on the sideboard, as usual, but I’ll put some aside for you in the kitchen. Look for the blue plastic container on the counter by the microwave.”

  “You’re too good to me. Thanks, Bev.”

  “I’m the one who needs to be thanking you. Be careful up there.”

  “No worries. In order to finish, I need to paint the balcony on the second floor. Front bedroom. Is that the room where the Ivy League girls are staying?” Before he’d run down to Mahoney’s, Beverly mentioned they’d been roommates at Wellesley and where each of them lived.

  “That’s the one. I’ll see you when you come down.” Beverly left him to finish his current job.

  If they heard him, Bev’s visitors might not appreciate his label for them. Didn’t change the fact that they couldn’t be more privileged and pampered if it were stamped in red ink on their foreheads. Not that it was a bad thing. Kat was more than obvious about her intentions, Paulina pragmatic and no-nonsense, but the tall blonde intrigued him. Caroline.

  When he’d first met her, her mane of blonde waves had been a little wild, tossed by the wind. She was intelligent and had a great smile. Polite, too, and not too uptight for a girl from a well-to-do Bostonian family. He didn’t care if he ever set foot in Beantown again in his lifetime. Also called The Cradle of Liberty. Yeah, right. Tell that to his dad. That city held too many bad memories of a courtroom where his father’s reputation was raked through the mud by an attorney who was nothing more than a shark with a vengeance
and out for blood. His father’s blood. Even though it was all those years ago, the thought still stirred Seth’s ire.

  “Lord, take this anger from me.” He’d always heard it said that everyone has a cross to bear, and his animosity toward the prosecutor in his dad’s trial had been his burden to bear. For the past few years, he’d managed to shove it to the back of his mind, but today—for some unknown reason—the memories had resurfaced with regularity.

  Shaking his head, Seth replaced the lid on the can of paint. After tossing the used brush in a plastic bucket with more force than necessary, he started back down the ladder. Carefully. Ever since his dad’s fall last year, he’d thought twice about descending a ladder too fast. He valued the use of his limbs too much to risk a fall and injure or break an arm or a leg. After breaking his leg in three places, his father would always walk with a limp. But he was alive and could look after his mom even though she’d been moved to a nursing care facility in the past year.

  Seth parked his painting supplies in an out of the way corner and walked into the large open kitchen. “Do you mind if I wash up in here?”

  From where she stood at the large table rolling out dough, Beverly gave him a bright but weary smile. “Of course not. You don’t need to ask. Grab a handful of cookies and I’ve poured you a glass of lemonade.” Beverly nodded to the tall, frosty glass waiting for him on the table. “Lots of crushed ice the way you like it.”

  “Thanks. No wonder I adopted you as my second mom.” After drying his hands on the dishtowel draped over the oven, Seth grabbed two cookies from the container. Ah, soft and warm, just the way he loved them. He gave Beverly a quick kiss on the cheek before dropping onto the bench beside the table. “Are you ready for the rehearsal and dinner tonight?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “I need to finish up here and then head upstairs to get ready.”