by Mary Manners
“I’ll bet you say that to all the women who plow a truck through your garage.”
“Only if they’re named Maddie Cutler.”
“By tomorrow I’ll look like a raccoon.”
“A very pretty raccoon.”
“I didn’t know there was such a thing.”
“Now you do.”
“I have to admit, you’re confusing me, Gunnar.”
“I’m confusing you?” Laughter erupted from somewhere deep inside him, full and hearty. His grey eyes danced as his shoulders quaked. His grip on her fingers deepened. “How so?”
“I didn’t expect you to be so…nice about all this.”
“What did you expect?”
“I don’t know.” Maddie shrugged and pointed to the bouquet. “Anything but those…this.”
“I’ll get the tar and feathers, if that will make you feel better.”
Now, she laughed. The relief that flooded her felt so good. When she settled, she asked, “Kyle…he’s your nephew?”
“That’s right.”
“Shouldn’t he be home by now?” The clock on the wall continued to tick off minutes, inching the evening closer to full-on darkness. “It’s getting late for a school night.”
“He is home.” Gunnar leaned back in the chair, lifted one leg to prop his ankle over the opposite knee. “And his homework’s done, so he’ll be fine.”
“He lives with you? For how long?”
“I’m not sure.” Gunnar slipped his free hand into his pocket. “For the duration, I guess.”
“How? What happened?”
“I came home from work one evening, and he was sitting on the front stairs. Charlene—my sister—had dropped him off, left him there. She lives in California now, last I heard.”
“No way.”
“Yes, way. Kyle was holding a note from her, and he was cold and hungry in the rain. I’m pretty sure he did a good deal of crying before I arrived, though he’d never admit it. Seeing him soaked to the skin and huddled alone, his eyes wild with fear, just about tore my heart out.”
“Oh, Gunnar…” Maddie could see Kyle, the poor kid, and her heart suddenly exploded with compassion for what he’d endured. “That’s just awful.”
“I took him inside, fed him, and gave him something warm to wear because everything he had—his entire duffel bag—was soaked through. The rest, well, it’s still playing out, like an ongoing sitcom.”
“And the letter from your sister?”
“It was a notarized paper giving me power of attorney. That’s it—no phone number or forwarding address, nothing more. She’s texted a handful of times since then, so I guess I could reach her if I really had to. But I don’t have to. Kyle and I are fine.”
“Wow.” Maddie sucked in a breath. “She must have some real issues to work through, and trust you very much to keep Kyle safe.”
“I suppose so.” Gunnar’s gaze narrowed as he contemplated her words. “But he’s a good kid…a little rambunctious sometimes, but that’s to be expected, I guess, with all he’s been through. It’s not an excuse, though. Kyle knows he can’t use his past to excuse bad behavior, and I do my best to make him toe the line. I don’t want him to make the same mistakes I did.”
“And what kind of mistakes would those be?”
“That’s a conversation for another day…another lifetime.”
“Well, what Kyle—and you—have been through brings everything into perspective, doesn’t it? The next time Wyatt jumps my case, I guess I’ll thank him for caring, even if I have to choke on the words.”
“I hear that.”
“And, as far as mistakes go, Gunnar, we’ve all made them. So, whatever you’ve done in the past, don’t beat yourself up about it.” Maddie lifted her tethered hand, waved it like a beacon. “Take it from me—I know. A few more days like today, and I’ll be emblazoned with a scarlet letter across my forehead, along with the goose egg. But God has a plan and a purpose in everything, the good and the bad. I try to remember that when things get…weird. Like today.”
“Maybe his plan had something to do with you…me.” Gunnar winked. “What would you say to that?”
“I’d say stranger things have happened. Was that your dog I almost crushed?”
“Axle? Yeah. But he’s fine. He’s curled up in the bed of my truck, since we couldn’t bring him in, so I probably need to get going.”
“He won’t take off?”
“Axle? Only if someone lures him away with a plate of spaghetti. He loves the stuff. I think he’s part Italian.”
“I am, too.”
“That’s funny. You look—”
“I know…Irish. That’s my other half.”
“That must be why you’re so lucky.” Gunnar’s gaze gleamed with mischief, “Crashing into my shop instead of Mrs. Tilson’s bakery. All those cannoli would have made a real mess as they exploded along the boulevard.”
“That’s funny, Gunnar.” Laughter eased the throb along Maddie’s forehead. For the first time since she’d plunged into the oil pit she felt her shoulders relax, drew a deep breath that cleared the last of the fog from her brain. “I didn’t know you had such a wicked sense of humor.”
“Yeah, well, I’m just full of surprises.” He stood as Kami and Kyle returned to the room. “I guess that’s my cue to leave. I really should get Kyle home now, and Axle too, or I’ll pay for it in the morning.”
“Thanks again for the flowers. I really didn’t expect them, or for you to stop by. It’s…you’re… better that a four-leaf clover.” Maddie wished his fingers would find hers once more. Already, she missed the gentle touch. “And maybe all a part of God’s plan.”
****
Gunnar settled into the recliner as moonlight streamed through the spread of windows overlooking the street. The house was modest, for sure, but it belonged to him free and clear. That meant something, in the grand scheme of things, and would allow him to continue to cover all of his and Kyle’s expenses even though the garage had taken a hit—literally—that afternoon.
Axle curled at his feet and, down the hall, the springs of Kyle’s bed squeaked in protest as he rolled over. He’d crawled into bed without delay following his adventure of a day, but sleep eluded Gunnar. Maddie’s words echoed through his head…
“…as far as mistakes go, Gunnar, we’ve all made them. So, whatever you’ve done in the past, don’t beat yourself up about it…God has a plan and a purpose in everything, the good and the bad. I try to remember that when things get…weird.”
Weird was an understatement. How much more could God heap onto his already overflowing plate? He stood in the midst of a virtual buffet where gluttony appeared to be the order of the day.
OK, enough complaining. Whining will get you nowhere, and what will you teach Kyle about life by wallowing in that dead-end pit?
Gunnar reached for his Bible, dog-eared and highlighted with copious notes. He opened to his favorite chapter, Romans 10, and scanned the passage until he found what he was looking for.
“Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.”
His gaze drifted to the scar on his arm, marbled over from a decade of healing but still raw with the memory of what he’d done to earn it. Yet, the words reminded him, once again, that there was no shame in making mistakes if a lesson was learned from them, and no shame in trying to do what was right, even if the process resulted in failure. Maddie had brought that truth front and center tonight. Maybe there was more to her than angelic good looks and endless chatter.
He pondered her comment, “…maybe it’s all a part of God’s plan.”
Was there any such thing as a true accident, or did God have His hand in Maddie crashing through the wall of his shop? The whole situation was just too overwhelming to consider, and Gunnar’s brain was muddled with exhaustion. His eyes slipped closed as he bowed his head and prayed for guidance.
Whatever the case, God, please help me to stay patient and trust in Your plan as the sho
p is pieced back together. Guide me…and Maddie…through this.
5
“Hey, Maddie. How’s it going?”
Maddie turned to find Gunnar standing at the front of Clover Cove Community Church’s sanctuary. He shrugged a guitar strap from his shoulder and placed the instrument in its stand beside the keyboard.
“Oh, hi, Gunnar. It’s good to see you again.” Better than good. Her heart did a little two-step at the sight of him in pressed khakis and a navy polo that brought out the deep, smoky-grey of his eyes. “Your song was beautiful this morning. I didn’t know you played the guitar.” And with a voice smooth and enticing as warm honey, the entire congregation had been moved to tears. “American Idol has nothing on you.”
“That’s awfully generous of you to say. I don’t usually play during service on Sunday, and mainly stick to the youth program on Wednesday nights, but Justin’s son is sick, so he asked me to fill in for him this morning.” Gunnar’s gaze settled on her face. “The bruise looks much better. It’s almost completely faded. Are the aches gone, too?”
“Pretty much.” Maddie touched the spot along her hairline and smoothed a few strands of hair over her forehead to camouflage the greenish shadow that lingered. “I noticed repairs are in full swing at the garage. You have the Morrisons doing the work?”
“Yes. Wyatt recommended giving them a call. He said they’re the best and it sure seems to be the case. They already have the brick work finished and the bay doors replaced, which is beyond awesome considering the onslaught of rain that has swept through the past few days. I’m able to lock up now at night again. I think Kyle’s the only one who’s not happy about that—camping out at the shop the past few nights to maintain security has sure been an adventure for him.”
“I’ll bet.” Maddie grinned. “Boys and roughing it, they fit together nicely. My brothers used to pitch a tent with my dad in the yard along the river and pretend they were on a wild game safari, complete with pop-guns and lassos.”
“The three of them—I can imagine. And you?”
“I curled up on the couch with Mom, a movie, and a bowl of buttered popcorn.” She sighed. “Sometimes I miss those days…”
“Kyle and I do the movie and popcorn thing every once in a while. You’re welcome to join us.”
“I’ll bet chick-flicks aren’t on the menu, though.”
“You got me there.” He laughed and his eyes softened to fire-hazed charcoal. “Anyway, things are shaping up at the garage. Another week and no one will ever know anything out of the ordinary happened.”
“Out of the ordinary…what a nice way to put it. Maybe things are returning to normal for you, but I wish it was that simple for me.” Maddie waved to her mother who was chatting with Anthony Moretto and several of the parishioners near the sanctuary’s entrance doors.
Mom and Anthony had driven together, with Maddie in the backseat as a third wheel. Maybe it was Maddie’s imagination, but her mom and Anthony seemed awfully cozy together lately. She had to admit, it was good to see Mom smile—genuinely smile—again. Losing Dad had been tougher than anyone imagined. But, Maddie was learning, life went on no matter how painful that might prove. “The front page article in the Clover Times Wednesday morning, complete with snapshots, was worse than an FBI, all-points-bulletin. The sanctuary was buzzing this morning and suddenly it seemed that everyone wanted to sit beside me.”
“I noticed you huddled toward the back with Kyle.”
“Yes. He came to my rescue and squeezed right in there beside me and Mrs. Tilson, thank goodness. Dodged a few bullets on that one, but I think I’ve fielded a hundred questions in the past few hours.”
“Yeah, well…inquiring minds….” Gunnar reached for the guitar case, unclasped the latch. “Don’t let it get to you. This too shall pass…eventually.”
“Maybe—in a million lifetimes.”
“If it makes you feel any better, Kyle wrote about the accident for his last English assignment and got an A-plus, even though I wouldn’t allow him to include any photos as evidence.”
“Yes, he mentioned that. His subsequent A does soothe the sting of embarrassment just a little bit.” Maddie adjusted her purse strap over one shoulder. “Mrs. Johnson told me you found another Honda Civic—same year and color—as the one I destroyed, and that it was delivered to her doorstep yesterday afternoon. She’s ecstatic about that.”
“I drove it over there myself just to give it a thorough twice-over, though the mechanic I got it from promised it was in pristine condition. You can never be too careful.”
“You got that right. Mechanics…they can be shady beasts. Gotta watch them at every turn.” She winked, flashing an electric grin. “Keep your eyes peeled and your senses on full alert.”
“Is that what you are, Maddie…on full alert?” He skimmed a pair of fingers along her hairline, caressing the area of her forehead that was on the mend. “Watching out for me…just in case?”
“I’m trying, but you seem to muddle my thoughts.”
“Good.” He turned away long enough to nestle the guitar into its case. “Muddled is a good sign.”
“Maybe for you, but not for me.”
“I beg to differ…for both of us.” He closed the lid of the case, flipped the latch. “And, for the record, nineteen ninety-two must have been a very good year for the Johnsons. Go figure. You’d think Vera would want a shiny new car when she had the chance.”
“Not Mrs. Johnson. That woman is set in her ways, through and through. I guess the car was really special to her husband, steeped in memories. Did the insurance cover everything in that department?”
“Round about.” Gunnar turned away, but not before Maddie saw the flicker of hesitation in his eyes. “No need to worry about it.”
“Gunnar…” Maddie stepped closer, tapped his shoulder until he turned back to face her.
“I’m glad all that rain has passed.” He made quick work of changing the subject. “A few more days like the ones we’ve had and we might make use of another ark.”
“Smooth transition, Gunnar.” Maddie propped one hand on her hip. “I’ll get to the bottom of things; I have my ways. In the meantime, are you headed to Anthony Moretto’s surprise birthday party at the pizzeria later this afternoon?”
“Of course. Wyatt mentioned it last week. Four o’clock, right?”
“Uh huh.”
“I suppose the entire town’s going to be there, and I wouldn’t miss it.” Gunnar grabbed the handle of the guitar case. “Kyle’s gone to a ball game with the Thompsons for the afternoon, so I’m running solo. How’d you like to grab a bite to eat, maybe take a walk down the boulevard and enjoy some of this sunshine, and then head over to the party together?”
“I’d like that very much.” Maddie pressed a hand to her belly as it rumbled. “As you can hear, fielding all those questions has worked up a bit of an appetite.”
“More than a bit, sounds like you’re housing a pride of lions.”
“That’s me…dainty and feminine to the core.”
“Dainty, no.” His eyes danced. “But feminine…well, you sure get my vote.”
****
“So, you play your music at the church every Wednesday?” Maddie fell in step beside Gunnar as they ambled down the boulevard. The road was deserted, a sprinkle of cars parked here and there along the curb. This was usually the case during the heart of a Sunday afternoon in Clover Cove. Shops were closed; families enjoyed the day together. Even the pizzeria was locked up tight for the moment, and Gunnar wondered how Wyatt and Kami planned to lure Anthony to the restaurant without alerting him that something was up. “Do you enjoy it?”
“Yes. I work with the youth, sing a little bit and teach them some strumming and chords. You’d be surprised what an ice-breaker the guitar can be when you’re talking to teenagers.”
Sunshine warmed Gunnar’s back through his shirt and a gentle breeze carried the scent of Maddie’s perfume, a blend of citrus and something sweet. He itched
to hold her hand, almost reached for it before he caught himself, showed some restraint. Patience, Gunnar…When the time is right…
“The guitar leads to other things, opens the door, right?” Maddie asked as they neared the nursery. It was vacant, same as every Sunday afternoon. Hattie Cutler insisted that business be held to the other six days of the week, leaving Sundays to God and family.
“That’s the plan.”
“And what does Kyle think of all this?”
“He comes with, of course. He wasn’t happy about that at first…he’d never really been to church. It wasn’t my sister’s cup of tea, to say the least. But he made some friends pretty quickly, and now he’d have my hide if I tried to keep him away from it. He’s even picked up quite a bit as far as playing goes. I’m thinking about getting him his own guitar for his birthday in a few months. I know he wants one.”
“That’s great.” Maddie tilted her face toward the sun and breathed deeply. “Can you smell them?”
“What?”
“The Stargazers I set out at the entrance of the nursery last Tuesday—the day of the accident—before I left in the truck. Customers gobbled them up and only a few still remain in the display, but their fragrance is gorgeous.”
“Stargazers?”
“Oh, sorry. I forget sometimes plant names can be like a foreign language to those who aren’t mired in the landscaping business. Stargazers are lilies, and their scent has been described as straight from heaven. They were created in 1978 by a breeder from California. Cool, huh?” She took his hand and they approached the nursery’s entrance. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
Maddie was right—the lilies did smell like Heaven to Gunnar. But probably not for the same reason as they did for her. Their scent evoked painful, unsettling memories that washed over him as he peered through the gate while she unlocked it.
He’d seen the blooms—a unique blend of pink, red, and white—and smelled their distinct scent once before...in a place he never cared to visit—ever again. His gut twisted into a painful knot.
