The Caregiver - By Shelley Shepard Gray Page 0,34

the opposite direction, on the off chance that they would try to circle him in. The last thing he wanted was to hear the latest gossip about Gwen and Will. After he passed two aisles of sporting goods, he spied a display of fishing lures. Looking at them was as good an activity as any to pass the time.

And then he spied her. On the other side of a paper towel display. In the pet-food aisle.

Calvin dropped the box of fishing lures he was holding and craned his neck, squinting a bit, just to make sure his eyes weren’t deceiving him.

But as her head lifted and he caught the angle of her fine jaw, Calvin knew there was no mistake at all.

Right there, standing a mere ten feet away, in the middle of the biggest Wal-Mart Supercenter in the region . . . was Lucy Troyer. His heart thumped as he recalled their argument. And the cool way she’d treated him after.

But overriding all of that was the guilt he felt—he’d never given her back her diary. He definitely should have done that.

Of course, he should have never opened it. Or read portions of what was inside. Or stewed on it.

Or even—perhaps just a little—judged her for what she wrote.

Yes, he had already done much to feel guilty about. Until he got his feelings and emotions under control, Calvin knew the right thing to do would be to walk away from her. Pretend their paths hadn’t crossed.

Pretend he’d never seen her.

But the pull he felt toward her prevented all of that. No, he could no more ignore her than he could walk away from the store without his mother. It wasn’t who he was. With that in mind, he called out to her and hoped for the best.

“Lucy!”

Lucy abruptly turned to whoever was calling her name. “Calvin? My goodness. I’m shocked to see you! Whatever are you doing here?”

“I was going to ask you that same thing,” he said, sauntering over.

Warring emotions flowed through her as he approached. She was so glad to see Calvin—but afraid to talk with him. She recalled his temper. And her lack of willingness to listen to his apology.

She remembered the way he’d looked after her in the train station in Toledo. And the patience he’d had for little Katie.

And the warmth she’d felt when she’d spied his regard for her.

And the chill she’d felt when she’d seen his scorn.

While those mixed emotions spun in her mind, Lucy couldn’t help but stare at him. Reacquainting herself with him, her eyes leapt from one part of his body to the next, automatically taking stock.

He was as handsome as ever. His blue eyes clear and merry. His light blond hair was as thick and straight as she remembered. And just as in need of fingertips to smooth it out. And that slight bump in the line of his nose reminded her that he still wasn’t perfect.

Yes, Calvin looked much the same, only better. He wore a fresh white shirt and black suspenders. Black pants and boots. His hat was straw.

He looked much like every other Amish man, but to her, so much more. There was a sparkle in his eyes that she had once found comfort in. His smile was just as wide, his teeth just as white. But it was his natural exuberance that drew her to him like little else ever had.

He stopped a few feet away from her, as if he feared getting too close. “Are you here on your own?”

“No, I’m with my Aunt Jenna. My uncle is with Mattie. She had to see the doktah. We’re getting a few things done until it is time to pick them up. What about you?”

“My mother wanted to pick up some bulk foods, but she got sidetracked by her friends. So now I’m wandering around.” Now that he was standing next to her, he leaned a little closer, closing the space between them.

Now she smelled the lingering scent of soap on his skin, and a faint aroma of leather and horse. Her mouth went dry.

If Calvin noticed the way she was affected by him, he gave no sign. Just like they saw each other all the time, he asked, “Care to wander around a bit with me?”

With effort, she made herself remember his scowl. Made herself remember his clenched fists. Though it was almost painful to do so, she retreated. “I had better not.”

“Please? I promise, I just want to visit with you for a