Lori’s heart fell into her stomach. “What now?” She rushed after Summer and stopped short in the doorway to the kitchen. The commercial-sized freezer door hung wide open—exactly what it had probably done for the last several hours that they’d been gone to dinner and shopping.
Summer winced. “Guess there goes our next run of supplies.”
Lori couldn’t look away from the melting mess inside the freezer. Guess there goes my job.
Andy caught Lori’s sleeve as she exited the pew in front of him. “Hey, there.”
Lori looked up in surprise, then smiled. Andy’s stomach flickered at the response, until he noticed her puffy eyes. His own smile faded. “You okay?”
“Didn’t get much sleep last night, that’s all.” Her soft words were almost swallowed by the organ’s closing chords.
“Too much chocolate before bed?” Andy crossed his arms over his chest, hoping to hide the fact that his heart threatened to leap from his button-down and go hopping across the pew into Lori’s arms.
She groaned. “Don’t even mention chocolate.”
He pressed his hand to Lori’s forehead. “You are sick, aren’t you?”
She ducked away with a short laugh. “Just a little mishap at the store. Everything’s fine.”
Andy braced himself for the bad news he’d have to pass on to Bella. “What happened?” He really wanted Lori to succeed at this job, not only because he had referred her, but because Lori needed this. She’d been down since leaving the aquarium, and a career pick-me-up was definitely in order. Whatever had happened, it must have been pretty bad to keep her up all night. No wonder her head had kept drooping during the church service.
Lori’s expression stiffened along with her shoulders. “Nothing happened. I mean, nothing I can’t handle.”
“I never doubted that.” Andy’s grin did little to ease the tension lines in her face, and his stomach flickered again, this time out of concern. “Come on, tell me.”
She averted her eyes. “I found out the other day that Monny wasn’t my secret admirer after all.”
Andy’s breath whooshed from his body in one triumphant release. “You did?” He struggled to keep his exuberant grin toned to a more natural response. Forget whatever happened at the store—this was great news. One less obstacle between him and Lori. Then reality slammed Andy with a cross-punch. Was the reason behind her lack of pep today disappointment over Monny instead of whatever had gone wrong at the shop? If so, then even with the truth revealed, Andy might still have some competition from the Italian chef. He instantly sobered. It looked as if Lori’s ban on dating had been lifted—but not to Andy’s advantage if she was interested in some other guy.
“Yeah, I did.” Lori still wouldn’t look at him, and she seemed ready to bolt from the pew at any minute. She’d had that same distant look last time he stopped by the store.
Andy’s mouth dried. Somehow, he had to keep her here. “Do you want to grab some lunch and talk?” Not that he wanted her to cry on his shoulder about Monny, but being with Lori in any regard was better than not being with her. Besides, he might be able to pry out of her the details of what happened at the store that was so bad. Bella would need to know.
“No. I told you, everything is fine.” Lori stepped aside to let an elderly gentleman exit the pew, then cradled her Bible in her arms. She stared down at the floor.
Andy lowered his head, trying to catch her gaze. “I feel like we haven’t talked in forever. Are you sure you’re not hungry?”
“It’s not personal. The store is keeping me really busy, that’s all.” She blew a wisp of her hair out of her face. Her smile looked tired and forced. “I’m just going to go home and take a nap.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it. Pushing would probably make things worse. He stepped out of the aisle so she could move past him. “Are we still on for movie night this Friday?”
Lori hesitated.
“I know Carter and Gracie are gone this month and can’t join us as usual, but come on. It’s tradition.” He smiled, hoping his plea didn’t sound as pathetic to her as it did to him.
After an eternity, Lori nodded. “Sure. I’ll bring the chocolate.”
“I’ll bring the popcorn.”
“Sounds good.” She edged another step toward the door, obviously wanting to leave.
Andy held up his hand in a wave, fighting the urge to reach for her and try to hug away her problems. “See you Friday, then.”
He hesitated before following Lori up the aisle, not wanting to crowd her space. A firm grip on his arm stopped Andy mid-stride, and he turned to see Pastor Mike wearing a tense smile.
“Mornin’, Pastor. Great sermon today.” Andy smiled back, but Mike’s expression didn’t change.
“Thank you. It seemed to be received well.” The pastor’s eyes were directed over Andy’s shoulder, and he had yet to release Andy’s arm. “Listen, son, I’m not trying to pry, but have you considered my request any further?”
“Of course.” Andy nodded respectfully, even though a thousand knots tied simultaneously in his stomach. A second talk already? The pressure on the church must be worse than Andy first imagined if Pastor Mike was stooping to this level of confrontation. Andy swallowed. It wasn’t his fault Lori had yet to notice his intentions. He was trying all he knew to try. If he blurted his feelings spontaneously, Lori would bolt—much like she’d just done.
“I know this marriage business is tricky, but son, if you don’t get serious about finding a bride, I’m not sure how much longer I can hold off the board.” Pastor’s Mike’s voice lowered. “They’re on me constantly with phone calls from parents. Our recent drop in youth-group numbers is partially because of this. Families are concerned for their kids ever since that scandal across town.”
Andy’s mind whirled. He knew he’d seen a drop in attendance lately, but he’d chalked it up to a winter slump. Summer was always a busier time of year, as there were more events offered. “Are you sure they aren’t paranoid, Pastor? We have the spring retreat coming up, and it’s always a hit. I’m sure attendance will—”
“I’m just telling you what I know,” Pastor Mike interrupted with a firm clap on Andy’s shoulder. “Keep up that effort, all right? Even an engagement would hold them awhile.”
Andy nearly choked at the idea of proposing to Lori this soon. She’d probably laugh in his face and assume it was yet another one of his many jokes. Andy’s throat tightened, and he sputtered a dispute.
Pastor Mike stopped his effort with a raised hand. “I realize you’re doing all you can and that this kind of thing takes time. I know that. Others, however…” Pastor Mike’s voice trailed off, and the meaning of the unspoken words struck Andy with numbing clarity.
He managed to pat Pastor Mike’s back in return. “Yes, sir.”
The pastor slipped up the aisle. Andy followed slowly, nodding at parishioners crowding the front doors in their exit and hoping his inner turmoil didn’t show on his face. Which of the congregation members had complained to the senior staff about his single status? Which smiling face had gone behind his back out of fear instead of trusting his heart?
More importantly, which one started this snowball with Lori that was rapidly turning into an avalanche?
Lori tucked the afghan over her shoulders and nestled her plate in her lap. Her ignored stomach started growling as soon as she arrived home. No wonder—she’d skipped dinner last night and breakfast this morning. Emotionally beating herself up tended to distract her from food. How could she have left the freezer door open so carelessly when she’d left for the day? There was no telling yet how much money she had cost the shop in supplies. She’d have to reorder first thing in the morning and hope they could do a rush delivery. That’d be an additional fee.
She bit into a chip, barely tasting as she crunched. The cost of her negligence was adding up.
Andy’s pestering after church hadn’t helped matters. That’s why Lori had dodged the subject of her man
agement failure by telling him about Monny. She couldn’t exactly tell Andy she was ruining his aunt’s store. It was bad enough he popped in every few days to check on her. He was one of her best friends—he should believe in her.
Though after this freezer problem, she wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t.
Her living room, normally cozy and homey, suddenly felt empty. Lori spoke into the silence. “God, I keep screwing things up. I never had any trouble running the gift shop at the aquarium. Are You trying to tell me I’m not cut out for this or for my own business? Are my dreams not in line with Your plans?”
She dropped her sandwich back on the plate. God obviously didn’t want her in a relationship—not since the incident with Jason and her embarrassment with Monny, and definitely not after Andy had been her friend for years without interest in anything more. Now it seemed God didn’t want her to have a career, either. What was she doing wrong?
What was wrong with her?
Lori bowed her head over her lunch. “God, a sign would be nice. Just some sort of direction, please.”
She looked up, half expecting a neon arrow to flash across her den even though she knew better. But the room remained dim and cold. The only light shone from the floor lamp behind her, casting her silhouette across the coffee table.
Even her shadow was lonely.
Chapter Nine
“A fishing lure?” Summer stopped sweeping and stared incredulously at the gift in Lori’s hand.
“Apparently I’ve lured him in.” Lori held up the accompanying card and couldn’t help but grin. Her secret admirer was getting creative. The brightly colored box waiting at the front door of the shop Tuesday morning almost made her forget how she’d shut the store down Monday.
“Wow, that’s the corniest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Corny. But sweet.” Lori hung the neon feathered lure from a thumbtack on the bulletin board near the register. Flowers, stuffed animals, candy and now fish bait. What would her secret admirer think of next? More importantly, when would he reveal himself?
Summer shook the broom handle at Lori. “With that sense of humor, he’s either a complete dork or Prince Charming.”
“I still can’t completely shake the idea of the gifts being a prank—especially after I was mistaken about Monny.” Lori bit her lower lip and glanced over her shoulder toward the kitchen window, where Monny hummed as he finished preparing the morning’s pastries. Thankfully things hadn’t been too awkward between the two of them since last week’s embarrassing mishap. The subject was definitely taboo, though—they kept their conversation to shop-related issues only. Lori missed the easy camaraderie they shared when she first started work. Monny was a charmer and a fun friend. No wonder he flirted so much—Lori was beginning to believe he had no choice. It seemed to leak out of his pores.
“That would be one elaborate prank. No, I think it’s for real.” Summer leaned her weight against the broom handle and paused. “Maybe S.A. has a plan in mind and will reveal himself when the time is right.”
“S.A.?”
“Secret Admirer.”
Lori sighed. “Well, S.A. better hurry. Because the idea of a complete stranger sending secret messages is a little unnerving.”
“Maybe it’s someone from your church.”
“I only have friends there. It just doesn’t make sense.” Lori brushed the feathered lure with her fingers and watched it dangle on the thumbtack. “Even our singles group is practically nonexistent.”
“So what if it is a stranger? Big deal.” Summer shrugged.
Lori nibbled on her bottom lip. “That’s true. People meet each other all the time off the Internet, and that works out, right?”
“Right.” Summer tilted her head. “Then again, people also get murdered that way.”
“You’re so encouraging.”
“Which part of me broadcasts encouragement, exactly?” Summer stepped away from the broom and gestured at her body with one arm. Head-to-toe black clothes. Silver piercings. Blond hair piled on top of her head in various knots.
Lori crossed her arms over her chest and squared off with Summer. “I see right through all that. I know you’ve got a heart of gold somewhere underneath all that metal and ink.”
“Whatever, Boss. Just because I went shoe shopping with you doesn’t mean I’m getting all soft.” Summer grinned, jammed her iPod buds back in her ears and resumed sweeping.
Lori shook her head with a laugh and began stacking several chocolate bars on top of each other in a pyramid. Despite her claim, Summer had changed toward Lori in the past several days—all because Lori confided in her and made Summer feel needed. Lori had seen it a thousand times with the teens at the church—show a little interest, trust them with yourself and they opened right up. Lori might not know how to have a romantic relationship, but she knew how to be a friend.
Apparently that was her whole problem with Andy in the first place.
Andy signed his name at the bottom of the budget proposal and slid it across his desk with a satisfied sigh. Finally. One thing crossed off his never-ending to-do list. Now that the overdue budget proposal was ready to turn in, he could concentrate on the spring retreat for the youth group. This year it had to be a success or his job would really be at stake. Andy still needed to find a speaker—and the event was in less than two months.
His mind definitely wasn’t where it should be. The church staff thought being single was a distraction? He scoffed. Wooing a woman was a distraction—not to mention hard.
The added pressure from the staff certainly wasn’t helping. He was tempted to lock his office door to prevent Pastor Mike stopping by with another “suggestion.”
Andy tapped his pen against one hand and stared out the window. A mild winter breeze drifted through the open pane and rustled the edges of his desktop calendar. Dried, dead leaves still clung stubbornly to the branches of the trees outside, testifying that autumn had passed and winter was attempting the same. All too soon, winter would turn to spring and those same trees would blossom with fresh life. One more season on its way out, one more season on its way in.
One more season spent alone.
A knock sounded on his open office door. Pastor Mike once again stood in the frame like a bad case of déjà vu. Andy swallowed and gestured for him to come inside. Hopefully this impromptu visit wouldn’t carry as big a shock as the last two. He mentally braced himself.
“I can’t even see your desk for all the paperwork.” Mike settled into a chair opposite Andy. “You should tell your boss you need a raise.” He winked.
“Hey, Boss, I need a raise.” Andy grinned.
“Take it to the board.”
“Never mind.”
Mike laughed. “How’s that youth retreat coming along?”
Andy glanced at his paper-strewn desk and winced. “Slowly.”
“It’ll work out. You always pull something out of your hat.” Mike steepled his fingers under his chin. “Speaking of, have you given any more thought to our previous discussion?”
It’d only been two days since the last discussion. Fighting a grimace, Andy plastered what he hoped was a casual smile across his face. “I have, actually. I’ve been working on a project of sorts.”
“Project,” Mike repeated slowly. He grinned. “Does the lady in question know she’s being referred to in such a manner?”
The lady in question didn’t even seem to want to talk to him lately, much less care about how she was referenced, but that wasn’t worth mentioning right now. Andy shook his head. “We’re getting there.”
“I see.”
No, he didn’t, but again, not worth mentioning. Andy glanced at the framed photo on his desk of Lori and the rest of his youth-group volunteers, then away. He didn’t want to tell the pastor who he had in his sights—not until Lori was acting more like her old self and Andy could determine if he actually had a chance.
Mike leaned forward. “In the meantime, have you considered meeting my niece?�
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Andy shifted in his chair. He couldn’t lie. But he hadn’t considered dating her, and wouldn’t. How could he make that sound anything but offensive? Andy swallowed. “I, uh…”
Lori appeared in the hallway at his open office door, all smiles and shiny hair, and he suddenly lost the ability to speak. She lifted her hand to knock, then stepped backward at seeing Pastor Mike. “Sorry to interrupt, I was just—”
“No, no, come on in.” Mike stood and offered his seat to Lori. “Andy, we’ll finish our chat later.”
He had no doubt about that. Andy nodded, glad his flipping stomach couldn’t show on the outside. He took a deep breath to steady his sudden nerves.
Lori took the chair Mike vacated and plunked her purple bag in her lap. “What was that all about?”
“Nothing. Just church business.” Andy cleared his throat. It wasn’t a lie. Unfortunately, his private life had somehow managed to become just that. They sure didn’t teach these things in seminary. He gestured toward the bowl of candy on his desk. “Want a Kiss?”
Lori’s eyes widened.
“Chocolate.” He nudged the bowl closer to her, heart stammering. He mentally banged his head against his desk. Idiot, idiot, idiot. And the church staff wondered why this whole wife-courting thing was taking him so long. Maybe if he videotaped his pathetic efforts, they’d take pity on him.
“Sure.” Lori reached over and snagged a piece of silver-wrapped candy. She opened it slowly. “We need to talk.”
The back flips inside Andy’s stomach twisted into a conga line. “We do?” He knew they did, of course, but were they finally on the same page at the same time? It seemed too good to be true. Maybe she had finally put together the Hershey’s Kiss gift after seeing the candy on his desk.
“Yes.” Lori tossed her hair over her shoulder and released a slow breath. “I really should have asked you this sooner.”
Andy braced his elbows against his desk and steeled his mind. This was it. She’d figured out the gifts were from him and was going to ask to confirm it. His heart pounded an erratic rhythm, and blood pulsed in his temples. He sucked in a lungful of air. “Go ahead.”
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