He stared at the fire for a moment. “You think you can make it alone tomorrow?”
Struggling to sit up, she puffed from exertion. “Yes. Go back to work before Hoge slices you into corned-beef sandwiches.”
He glanced at the clock. It was late, and he needed to check on his folks before he retired for the night. “I suppose I should go. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water.”
“Yes, Mom.”
He rose reluctantly and stood there taking in her weary face. She was practically asleep. A pitiful smile worked its way across her pale lips, but then she grew serious. “Thanks, Ake. You were a great comfort.”
He nodded, wishing he had a reason to stay and watch her drift off to sleep. But instead he made his way to his coat by the door and slipped outside.
***
Stormi moved slowly for the rest of the week, but bit by bit she gained back her old vitality. That had been one wicked flu bug, and she hoped Ake didn’t pick it up. But he seemed healthy as a well-muscled mule, but a hundred times more handsome. The concern in his eyes when he stopped by melted her heart. What a sweetheart.
Still she couldn’t depend on Ake all the time. She needed to meet some new people and expand her horizons. Alan had been pushing her to get involved at a church, and she had to admit, it was a great idea.
Still, sitting in her car eyeing the huge white-sided building made her want to turn and hightail it back to her home. She sighed and leaned back in the seat. To grow, you’ve got to stretch, Alan had said. Yeah. And be uncomfortable evidently. She grabbed the pink leather Bible in the passenger’s seat and bounded from the car before she lost her courage.
Most of the people traffic had gone through the side door rather than the main entrance. Since it was Wednesday night, maybe they met in classrooms. She cringed as she came up on a large family making their way through the glass door. The husband, a nice-looking blond in a buttoned-up shirt, nodded to her as he held the door. Stormi scooted in, thanks whooshing from her tight lungs.
Once inside clusters of people talking and yells of children running through the gym to the right sent her searching for some sort of sanctuary. The sign with a stick woman was just the place. She scurried toward the bathroom door.
Thankfully, it was empty and she squirreled herself away in a stall. No sooner had she locked the door than a group of giggling girls entered. From their conversation, definitely teenagers. Now what? Was she going to stay sequestered in here until everyone cleared out and then sulk to her car? Toilets flushed, more giggles, and finally the gaggle moved out.
Stormi opened the door and went to stare at herself in the mirror. This was very unfamiliar. She leaned on the sink and gave herself a stern look.
“Go to class, you lily-livered coward!”
The door opened and in came none other than Joni. Hoge’s Joni. What were the chances?
Chapter Fifteen
“Oh, Stormi. I didn’t realize you were here. Ake never told us he was bringing you.”
Stormi opened her mouth. “Uhhh. I’m not with Ake.”
A pucker appeared on the brunette’s brow. “Oh?”
She jumped on Joni’s hesitation. “Yeah, I wanted to come to Bible study, but I’m not sure where to go.”
Her face cleared. “Hold on and I’ll show you.”
She backed up to the wall near the hand dryer and waited for Joni to do her business.
Joni emerged from a stall and quickly washed her hands. “I’ll take you to Phil’s newcomers’ class. You’ll love it. It’ll give you a chance to meet a lot of people.”
Just the thing. “Lead on, Yoda.”
Joni laughed. “Well, you understand that Ake won’t be in there, but you can probably see him afterwards. He’s in the singles’ class.”
Stormi nibbled her lip as Joni led her through a maze of hallways. They reached a class through the throng. Joni waved as Stormi tiptoed in and chose a chair in the back. She fumbled with her purse to cover her nervousness while people drifted in.
A couple sat beside her and the woman with a curly mop of hair leaned over and stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m Carlie Hudson, and my husband, Sam.”
Stormi pulled a tight smile. “Stormi Zobroski.
The slender woman nodded and gave a smile. Her large teeth made her mouth somewhat dominate her face. “You from Stone Harbor?”
Stormi nodded.
“We moved in about a month back. Seems like a great place. Sam manages the big electronics store over at Fulbright.”
“I just moved in not too long ago, as well.”
The woman with big teeth nodded, her hair bouncing. “New job?”
Meh. New life. “No, just like the area.”
She nodded enthusiastically. “You married?”
Stormi sucked in a long inhale and shook her head. Yada, yada, here’s my entire life in a five minute soliloquy. Please let the bald man at the front call this thing to order.
Like a speedy taxi zipping through the streets of New York, the man delivered her by standing and welcoming everyone. Stormi gave a sigh of relief as her biographer shut her mouth and settled into her seat. He referenced the book they were studying and questioned if anyone needed a copy. Stormi clenched her hands together, unwilling to call attention to herself by acknowledging her lack.
But dear Carlie had no qualms in waving him back with an extra copy for her, drawing the stares of about thirty people in the room. Stormi grit her teeth, but managed a thank you without unlocking her jaw.
Despite feeling like a hummingbird in an eagle’s nest, once the discussion began, she grew fascinated with the material. Sure, most folks probably thought it incredibly rudimentary, but connecting the scripture references with basic Bible beliefs was what she craved. She hoped she could take the book home to pore over it at her leisure.
Her brain throbbed by the time Phil had closed the class out in prayer, and Carlie turned to her with another horse grin.
“I hope you weren’t too bored going over such simple concepts. But you have to take this class before you join the church.”
“Oh, no. It was fine.” Stormi stifled a giggle. It was fine because it was all new. But Carlie didn’t need to know that.
Her newfound friend gushed over how nice it had been to meet her and followed her husband out of the row of blue cushioned seats. Now, to get to her car. But as she brushed through the doorway, she came face to face with Ake.
Ake’s face opened in pure pleasure, and a ripple of delight raced through her.
“You’re here.”
She grinned. “I think so.”
He wrapped a large arm around her shoulders. “Are you feeling back to normal?”
“Yep.” The eyes they drew kept her reply brief. Hoge’s heated glance set her muscles in a clench. Soon, the whole Pearson clan had gathered in a circle around them. Nothing like being a rabbit in a fox’s den.
She pulled a tight smile at Ake’s mom and nodded numerous times to try to stay in the conversation. Thankfully, no questions flew her direction, and Ake’s thick body guarded her from Hoge’s sharp teeth snapping about.
Ake broke away and pulled her along toward the exit. She didn’t complain and hurried to keep up with his quick steps. She sucked in the freezing, fresh air when she broke through the confines of the building. With a click she unlocked the car door and he opened her door. He circled the car and slid inside the passenger’s seat. The church’s security light illuminated the interior, and his eyes fastened on her. She held his gaze.
When he didn’t speak, she bugged her eyes at him. “Yes?”
“Everything okay?”
Great. Her “I-fit-in persona” had fallen short. “I guess.”
His gaze searched her face, and she panned an open expression. “What?”
He laid a hand on her arm resting on the console. “Just a big step starting a new church.”
She pressed herself back into the seat as a couple passed by the front bumper. Hopefully with the
darkness, they wouldn’t notice the two of them cozied up in her car. “It was fine.”
He nodded. “Good. ’Cause I want you to come back.”
She pursed her lips. “I’ll be back, Ake. I know I need this fellowship. The book you gave me was great. It’s just…me trying to connect with people.”
“I can come in your class, if it will help.”
She grinned. “That won’t draw any attention. You, following me around like a pup. I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“All right.” His hand paused on the door latch. “I guess I better go. Maybe I’ll see ya this weekend. I’ve got some stuff to do, but I’m sure I can drop by. I need to get started on that drywall before the next storm comes in.”
Her brow puckered. “Another storm? I thought spring was nearly here.”
He laughed, a deep rumbling sound that fascinated her. “You’re in New England, now. Spring’s a piece yet.”
The passenger door opened, and he stepped from the car, but stuck his head back in with a sparkle in his dark eyes. “Goodnight, Stormi.”
His expression pulled out her best smile. “Goodnight, Ake.”
He shut the door and strode away. Lucky Carlie. She got to leave with her man. Her cheek twitched, claiming Ake as her own. She shrugged. It meant nothing. Just more of a general reference. Sorta.
By Saturday afternoon, Stormi paced and glanced at the clock. She’d finished several podcasts with the hope of quitting early and here she was, wondering why Ake hadn’t shown his face yet. It was three o’clock. What did it matter? It was friends hanging out, not some date. She chewed her lip and made an executive decision. If he didn’t come to her, she’d go to him.
When she arrived at Ake’s house, his truck sat outside the garage. Strange. Was something up with his parents? Her quick glance up the slope revealed a sleeping house coated in fresh snow. All seemed well. And Hoge was nowhere in sight. Always welcome news. Just then the front door swung open and Ake, paint roller in hand strode through the door. He stopped short when he saw her.
She gave an awkward wave. “Hi.”
He pulled a slow smile and walked closer. “What are you doing here?”
Not the over enthused reply she’d hoped for. Her gaze flicked to the roller in his hand. Perfect. “I came to help paint.”
“I thought we’d agreed you were changing the oil?” His brow lifted and a smirk twitched his eyes.
“Nope. Painting. That’s what I’m all about.” She flashed a hundred watt smile and curtsied.
“Okay. I could use the help, actually. I got started late. I intended to be finished by now and be at your house to do the drywall. Hold on. I’ve got to fetch another gallon of paint from the truck.”
She drifted toward the house but waited until he came back, swinging a fresh bucket of paint. White paint streaked his clothes, hands, and hairy arms that emerged past the folded cuffs of the flannel shirt.
“Head on in.” He motioned with the paint roller.
She scurried inside and removed her coat. He led her around the counter toward a door. The fine cabinetry and wooden plank floor were a testament to Ake’s knack for building. For a pole barn home, it had some nice finishes.
He swung the door open and stepped out into the cleanest garage she’d ever seen. Three of the walls were covered in white paint. One wall, still sporting mudded drywall in rectangular patchwork, awaited its turn to be covered.
“I see you went all out with the color.”
He shrugged as he pried open the can with a screwdriver. “Not much on decorating. White’s nice and clean.”
She nodded and picked up a paint brush from a work bench. “So, I just go up and down with this?”
He chuckled and stood after pouring a glob of paint into a tray. A salamander heater at the end of the garage kept the area warm enough to take the paint. “Have you ever painted before?”
She wanted to wipe the smirk from his face by declaring yes, but that would be a lie. “Not exactly.”
“Well, here then. You take the roller while I cut in. You were serious about helping, right?” Sweet uncertainty crossed his features.
Stormi reached for the roller. It was heavier than she’d expected. “Yes. Okay, up and down? That’s it?”
“Pretty much.”
He strode over and moved the heater across the room and then knelt to run a swipe of paint near the floor. My, he was trusting. She set the roller on the wall and pushed it up and down. Speckles of paint sponged onto the surface.
“I don’t think I’m doing this right.”
He rose and came back to her. “Just load the roller again.”
When she stood there in uncertainty, he took her hand and dunked the cylindrical sponge into the tray and swiped down the sloped section to even out the layer.
“Oh, I could’ve done that.”
He didn’t release her hand. One brow elevated. “You sure you don’t want me to show you?”
She laughed. “I’ve got this.”
Still he resisted, his brows dancing. With a grin she yanked free of his grasp, landing the roller on her new sky blue Henley. Her mouth flew open.
A burst of laughter erupted from his lungs. “Oops.”
“Ake Pearson, you’re in for it now.” She couldn’t quite stop laughing. “What am I going to do? This is my new shirt.”
He pulled the roller from her hand. “Head back to my room and grab a shirt from my closet. If you rinse it now, it might come out.”
“It better.” His laughter followed her into the kitchen.
“Last room on the right.” He hollered between bouts of more chuckles.
Her lips twitched. What a nut. She veered to the right at the end of the hall. Hmmm. Very neat. Spartan, but tidy. Bed, dresser, side table. She headed for the closet doors on the left and pulled the double doors open.
She smiled as she flipped through his shirts, loving the smell of them, the soft feel of them, the thought that they belonged to Ake. With slow deliberation, she picked an old tan one with long sleeves. “My God is an Awesome God,” splayed across the front. It already sported several stains so she tugged it from the hanger.
Once flat on the bed, she examined it, relishing the thought of wearing his shirt. With a shrug she pulled her paint-covered one over her head and smoothed the white cotton tank she wore underneath.
“Hey, I just wanted to tell you—” Ake froze in the doorway, mouth agape.
Stormi took a gasp of air and threw her hands out in shock. His eyes traced her black double-sleeved tattoos that went up both arms and created a low cut U around her neck. Crud. Why had she chosen to undress in his room? With the door wide open?
She slapped her arms across herself, as if that would keep his eyes from probing the lacy, black designs. A nervous laugh bubbled from her. “I guess I should have started this in the bathroom. Ahem, with the door closed.”
A slow grin snaked across his face. “I suppose.”
Strange how he didn’t seem to be in any hurry. How silly, anyway. It wasn’t like she was naked with pants and a tank top on. Yet, she was definitely exposed. Since becoming a Christian, she’d shown no one the horrible ink marring her skin. She dropped her arms. What was she hiding anyway? It was everywhere.
“Well, this is me.”
He nodded.
“You know, freaky tattooed me.”
Ake continued to stare.
“Are you planning on getting back to the painting?” She elevated her brow and gave a smirk.
“Soon.”
“Gotta get your fill of the circus mutant, right? Okay.” She spun slowly with her arms out. “Here’s a three-sixty, in all my ugliness.”
He approached when she finished her turn and brought up a finger to trace the filigree at her neck. She caught her breath and stiffened, but he took his time, following the path to her wrist.
“I think it’s beautiful.” Ake’s jaw clenched.
She took slow intakes of oxygen. “You don’t have
to placate me, Ake. I know what people think of this. I mean, good people. Christian people. I’ve felt their glares and heard the hate in their comments. Your own family would flip if they knew. I’m sure they’d insist you stay far from me.”
He brought up his other hand and traced the pattern down her other arm, sending a fresh set of goosebumps over her chilled skin. His eyes met hers when he’d finished and shrugged. “I like it.”
“Then you’re the only one I know who does. I loathe it.”
One of his brows rose. “Why?”
A set of shivers raced down the length of her. “Because of what it represents in my life. Bad decisions, wrong choices, living only for pleasure and for what I could attain. A life completely devoid of God. If I could afford to remove these marks, trust me, I would. But they’re always here to greet me. To taunt me.”
Ake gripped her upper arms and rubbed to warm her skin. Waves of relaxation radiated from his touch. “But you’re different now, right?”
A desire shuddered up her spine to nuzzle against him, to find some clemency in the cove of his neck. She shoved it down and clenched her teeth. Physicality right now was not the best option. She nodded. “Yes. Very different. Very saved.”
Another grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he scrutinized her eyes, dissecting the depth of her emotions. He understood. He recognized the intensity of her weakness, the worthlessness she still clutched. He saw her feebleness like no one else did. She couldn’t look away.
“Then it’s all washed away. Scars of what we were before only allow us to glorify God even more, because it reminds us of where we’ve been, of what we were.”
Trembling seized her. God, he is right. Why is it so hard for me to grasp and maintain a hold on the fact that you have made me a new creature? Ake eased her into his arms, and her emotional brokenness bonded with the physical attraction this man held for her. She buried the spasmodic sniffles against the strong cords of his neck and the coarse beard.
In stuttering tones she muttered against his fragrant skin. “You’re the wisest man I know, Ake Pearson.”
“I love you.”
Stormi yanked from his embrace. “What?”
Blood suffused the skin of Ake’s open face, his eyes pools of honesty and vulnerability. His mouth, framed by the wiry beard, parted in surprise. Oh, Jiminy Christmas he hadn’t meant to mutter those three little words that rocked her world. She brushed the tears from her face as the rough palms of his hands seared her arms. Thankfully he didn’t repeat the confession.
The Secret Storm Page 13
