Shivering, Juliane lifted the lid of the bin and started rummaging through its contents. In a minute she returned to the kitchen in triumph, holding up a pair of men’s sweatpants. “See. I was pretty sure these were still in there.”
“Great.”
“They look like they should fit.” Taking in his expression, she tossed the pants to him. Was he wondering how she happened to have a pair of men’s sweatpants, or was she reading something into his look that wasn’t there? Should she explain?
“What are you two doing?” Elise wandered into the kitchen as a big gust of wind rattled the kitchen window.
“Finding something for Lukas to put on so he can get out of his wet clothes.” Juliane pointed to the sweatpants.
“Where’d you get those?” Elise wrinkled her brow.
“Uncle Dave left them here when he worked on my house.” Juliane watched Lukas to see his reaction, but his expression didn’t change. She was being stupid. He didn’t care why she had the sweatpants.
“So where would you suggest I change?”
“Elise, show him where the bathroom is, and I’ll finish mopping up in here.” Juliane watched them leave the room, hoping to regain her equilibrium before either of them returned.
Once again she’d failed to push aside all the emotions being around Lukas evoked. She couldn’t rid herself of the same jittery feeling in the middle of her chest that she’d experienced when he’d handed her his coat earlier tonight.
What was she thinking—that he might be jealous because he thought those sweatpants belonged to a boyfriend? She scrubbed at the floor, wishing she could scrub all ridiculous thoughts about Lukas from her mind. Then she stopped and leaned on the mop. Where was she putting God in all of this?
Too many times lately, she’d left God out of the picture. Even after she’d told Lukas she would pray for his grandfather, she hadn’t done so. She bowed her head. Lord, please forgive me and keep Ferd safe in the storm. Help me to rely on You.
Juliane looked up as Elise reappeared. “Is Lukas changing?”
“Yeah. Where are you planning to have him sleep?”
Juliane released a harsh breath. “That love seat in my office pulls out into a bed. I can make that up. What do you think?”
“Sounds okay to me as long as I’m not the one sleeping on the pullout bed.” Elise grinned.
“Well, he could sleep on the couch in the living room.”
Elise came over and put a hand on Juliane’s shoulder. “I was only kidding, Jules. The pullout is fine. Guys aren’t fussy.”
“If you say so.”
“I even found an extra large T-shirt in my things. I gave that to him as well as a pair of those airline slippers that are one size fits all. I also told him to take a hot shower. I thought that might thaw him out.”
“I’m glad I put you in charge.”
“Thanks.” Elise picked up a couple of leftover cookies. She bit into one and held the other one out to Juliane. “Here, have another cookie.”
“No, thanks. I told you I don’t need any more.” Juliane put her hands on her hips. “And you didn’t need to point out the fact that I’m on the plump side.”
“When did I say you were plump?”
“You told Lukas I was watching my weight.”
“But I never used the words plump or fat. Besides, you’re the one who brought it up.”
“No, I didn’t. I only said I didn’t want the cookies around.”
“Okay. I won’t mention anything remotely related to your eating habits or your weight again.” Elise held her hands up in surrender. “But it seems to me that you wouldn’t be so upset about the whole conversation if you didn’t have your eye on Lukas.”
“Not that again. Please don’t mention that, either.”
“You really should put me in charge of your love life.”
Juliane sighed. “Oh, please.”
“I’d be glad to do it.”
Juliane grabbed the dish towel off the nearby rack and swung it at Elise. “I’m serious, Elise.”
“Serious about Lukas? I can understand why. He’s a fine-looking man.”
Juliane swatted Elise with the towel again. “Quit teasing. I’m not interested.”
“Okay. I’ll quit teasing, but I have a serious suggestion. You should invite Lukas to go to my party with you.”
“Why do you keep trying to push us together?”
“Because I think you’re attracted to him, even if you deny it.”
Juliane drummed her fingers on the kitchen counter as she tried to think of some kind of comeback. “You invite him.”
“Not me. I’m through with men.”
Juliane’s eyebrows shot up. Elise was through with men? Since when? “Then why are you trying to foist him off on me? I might have the same feelings as you.”
“Okay. Whatever you say.”
Juliane knew Elise’s verbal agreement meant nothing. She was only placating her. Juliane was fairly certain Lukas would wind up at the party no matter what she said. She might as well prepare herself for it. But for now, it was time to turn the conversation back onto Elise.
“What about the guy you were dating when Mom, Dad and I took that cruise?”
“You mean Seth?”
“Yeah, that’s the one.”
“History. The main reason I’m down on men. Period.”
“So if you’re down on men, why are you pushing Lukas at me?”
“Because, dear sister, I see how you look at him.”
“And how is that?”
“You are…I don’t know how to describe it exactly…maybe moonstruck.”
“If I appear to be that way, I have my reasons. What do I have to do to prove to you that you’re all wrong?”
“Nothing. Time will tell.”
“Don’t be so smug. I’m going to prove you wrong.” Even as the words rolled out of her mouth, Juliane knew she might have a hard time doing it. “I don’t want to argue about this anymore. Besides, what would Lukas think if he heard us?”
“He might think—”
“Don’t say it.” Juliane walked toward the living room. “I’m going to make up that pullout bed, then I’m going to bed myself. You can let Lukas know where he should sleep.”
“And where is that?”
Putting her hand over her heart, Juliane turned at the sound of Lukas’s voice. That jittery feeling hit her again, and she couldn’t speak.
“In the study.” Elise walked past Juliane, then turned and gave her another smug little smile. “She’ll show you where that is. Good night, you guys. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Staring at her sister, Juliane wanted to run after Elise and quietly plead for her to take care of Lukas, but Juliane knew that would be a futile request. Instead, she turned and tried to smile as she looked at Lukas, who was now clad in the gray sweatpants, a T-shirt proclaiming the wonders of Hawaii and ugly navy-blue airline slipper socks. Even in the crazy clothes he looked good.
“So do you approve?”
Juliane’s stomach did a flip-flop as she realized she’d been staring. “I guess they’re better than your wet clothes.”
“Hey, do you suppose I can throw my dirty stuff in your washing machine?”
Her heart racing, she went over to the set of bifold doors that hid the washer and dryer. This might be her chance to escape. “Everything you need is right behind these doors. Help yourself.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll go make up the pullout bed for you.”
“Hey, don’t go to any bother. If you lay out the bedding, I can do it myself.”
“What kind of hostess would I be if I didn’t do it?”
“You don’t have to worry about being a hostess for me. Unexpected guests should fend for themselves.”
Juliane shook her head. “Not in the household where I grew up. No one was ever made to feel unwelcome.”
When Juliane headed for her office, Lukas fell into step beside her. “I hope my
messing around won’t keep you up. Besides the wash, I have to make some calls concerning the plant. I imagine everything in town has ground to a halt because of the storm.”
“You’re right.” Juliane sighed, thinking about what this storm meant for the store—probably another lost day of business. “Do whatever you have to do. I’ll have to call my dad to see what his plans are for the store, but I’ll do it in the morning. My folks go to bed pretty early.”
“So are you an early riser?” Lukas stopped in the doorway to the bathroom where a wad of clothes lay on the floor. He stooped to pick them up.
“Yeah, and Elise isn’t, but don’t worry about it. Do whatever you have to do tonight or in the morning.” Waving a hand in the air, Juliane tried not to let Lukas’s nearness in the close confines of the hallway suddenly make her want to run. “You can’t be any noisier than this wind.”
“Okay, then. I’ll see you in the morning.” Lukas started down the hall toward the kitchen.
“I’ll make up your bed and leave the light on.”
He stopped and turned around. “You mean like that motel commercial?”
Juliane couldn’t help smiling, and his joke lightened her heart. “Not quite. We don’t charge our overnight guests.”
“Thanks. Hey, before I do my wash I want to run something by you. I meant to do this earlier, but with all this storm business I forgot.”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“I’d like to meet early before choir practice on Wednesday and go over that duet we’re singing. Can you make it by six-thirty?”
Juliane’s stomach churned at the thought of meeting Lukas alone, even if it was at church. But she had to quit being jumpy whenever they made plans to spend time together. She didn’t have any store meetings to prevent her from getting there early, so she should meet him.
“If you can’t make it, I understand,” he said before she could respond.
She nodded. “I can make it. I had to think through my schedule.”
“Great.” Smiling, he turned toward the kitchen. “Good night. See you in the morning.”
“Good night.” She opened the door to the hallway linen closet and quickly found some bedding.
She scurried to her office and made the bed as quickly as she could. She didn’t want Lukas showing up before she had finished.
Tucking in the blanket at the bottom of the bed, she realized how her old impressions of Lukas had given way to new ones. She never would have felt safe with the old Lukas Frey staying in her home, but she had no qualms about the new one…other than to wish those unaccountable fluttery feelings he seemed to stir in her would go away.
As she hurried to her bedroom, she struggled with the confusion and uncertainty in her heart.
Listening to the wind outside, Juliane sat on the edge of her bed and looked at her Bible on the nightstand. She picked it up and rubbed her hand across the smooth leather. This was what was missing in her life right now. She’d prayed earlier, but it seemed as though her prayers were getting blown away with the blizzard. Right after she’d prayed she’d managed to have an argument with Elise.
She let her Bible fall open in her lap. She glanced down at the page from a chapter in First John. Her eyes fell on the ninth verse of the first chapter. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Why wasn’t she letting God help her deal with her mixed-up feelings about Lukas? She had to ask for forgiveness again as the verses said. She bowed her head and whispered, “Lord, forgive me for leaving You out of my life today. Please help me understand my feelings for Lukas. Help me with my relationship with Elise. And help me to remember we are all saved by Your grace. Amen.”
As she laid her head on the pillow, she vowed to do two things. Make every effort to get along with her sister, and invite Lukas to Elise’s welcome home party.
Chapter Nine
While Lukas sat in Juliane’s kitchen and waited for his wash to get done, he punched in his grandfather’s phone number. He listened as the phone rang and rang and rang. Just when he was about to end the call, his grandfather answered.
“Grandpa, it’s Lukas. How are you doing?”
“I’d be doing better if you didn’t keep calling and bothering me while I’m trying to watch my shows.”
“I had to make sure you were okay. Why didn’t your answering machine pick up?”
“Oh, it quit working a couple of weeks ago, and I didn’t know how to fix it. And when I had to go to the hospital, I forgot to tell you about it.”
“I’ll look at it when I get a chance.”
“Why are you calling so late?”
“I called to tell you I’m still at Juliane’s place because I couldn’t dig my car out of the snowdrifts. I’m stuck here, and Juliane is letting me sleep on her pullout bed tonight. Hopefully I’ll be able to dig out in the morning.”
“I guess if I could not get you two together, God could do it with a snowstorm.” Ferd chortled.
Shaking his head, Lukas ran a hand through his hair. Should he even bother trying to refute his grandfather’s claim? “Grandpa, you know God didn’t send a snowstorm to push Juliane and me together.”
“You can’t know all the ways of God.”
“Well, neither can you.” Lukas sighed. “I wanted you to know that I wasn’t home. If you need me for anything or for any reason, you can call me on my mobile phone. You got that?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good. And don’t get any crazy ideas about trying to shovel your walks or driveway. If I can’t do it, I’ll hire someone to do it.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m doing fine.”
“Okay, Grandpa. Good night.” Ending the call, Lukas wished he didn’t have to worry about his grandfather, but Lukas never knew what the older man might do.
Lukas stared at his BlackBerry. He had to touch base with his assistant manager Tim Drake. They were probably going to be short on workers tomorrow because of the storm, if any of them could get there at all. Downtime at the plant meant getting behind on orders. Could they make up the lost time? Another worry he had to add to the list. He was grateful for Tim, who was a great manager and a good friend, but there was only so much either of them could do in this weather.
The whir of the spin cycle on the washer stopped. Thankful for something to take his mind off his problems, even for a moment, Lukas hopped up and put the clothes in the dryer. In the past, mounting worries like these would’ve had him downing a six-pack of beer—sometimes more. Grandpa may not have been right about the storm forcing him to spend time with Juliane, but being here to ride it out put Lukas in a place where he couldn’t give in to the temptation to find a drink somewhere. He thanked God for that.
Lukas couldn’t let his current problems tempt him to throw away six years of sobriety. He had to remind himself that, despite his worries, his life was looking pretty good right now. He had a good job. He was making new friends. Grandpa was on the mend. Lukas couldn’t let Bill Martin down, or God, who had brought him out of the wilderness of alcoholism.
And Lukas intended to prove to Juliane, and to himself, that he was a changed man.
Lukas paced the floor while he made a few more calls about the plant. He and his assistant manager made some contingency plans that covered all scenarios. This kind of thing was a true test of his management skills. He had a lot of people to please, and he wanted to do it right.
Finally, the buzzer sounded on the dryer. Glad to call it a night, he plodded back to Juliane’s office with his pile of folded laundry. He laid it on the desk chair, turned off the light and slipped into bed.
But sleep wouldn’t come. He tossed and turned on the pullout bed. The bed wasn’t his problem. His mind was. He couldn’t shut down his brain and go to sleep. The whistling wind and rattling windows in the old house didn’t help, either. His thoughts tumbled around work, his grandfather and Juliane. All that time to think while he’d bee
n waiting for his laundry had his mind too keyed up to sleep now.
Giving up any hope of falling asleep, Lukas turned on the light. He glanced around the room. A bookcase stood in one corner. What would he find there? Maybe something he could read to take his mind off the things that prevented him from sleeping. He perused the titles and saw a lot of books related to business, dealing with people and Bible study guides. Juliane’s reading choices appeared to be all about serious subjects.
Then he spied a small paperback book tucked in between two hardcover books. He pulled the little paperback off the shelf and looked at it. A banner across the top read, “Heart-warming Inspirational Romance.” Maybe Juliane wasn’t all business. Did this little romance novel mean she had a lighter side? He let his thumb fan the pages.
When his thumb stopped on a page near the front, he wondered what he would find inside a romance novel. He opened up the page and started to read the lone paragraph at the top that turned out to be two verses from the Thirty-second Psalm. He read them out loud. “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”
Lukas let the words filter through his mind. Was this God’s message to him tonight? What kind of a romance novel contained scripture? His curiosity prompted him to start reading.
Three hours later he closed the book. Sleepy eyed, he pushed the book back into its place on the shelf. The little paperback’s message of love and redemption spoke to him more than he wanted to admit.
The next morning Lukas awakened with a start. Where was he? Then he remembered. Juliane’s house. Jumping out of bed, he snatched his BlackBerry off the desk and looked at the time. Only eight o’clock. Thankfully he hadn’t slept till noon after reading until three in the morning. He glanced at the little book that had kept him up too late last night. Wouldn’t the guys at work have a good time ribbing him if he told them he’d been reading a romance novel?
Light flooded around the miniblinds on the sole window in the office. Eerie quietness indicated the end of the storm. He opened the blinds. Although whiteness greeted him as far as he could see, the snow had stopped. He wondered whether the leaden sky indicated more storms on the horizon but there was no time for speculation now. Despite his lack of sleep, he was ready to dig his car out of the drifts and get to the plant.
Hometown Promise Page 11
