The Caregiver - By Shelley Shepard Gray Page 0,57
Then, realizing she sounded like a ninny, she amended her words. “I mean, what I’ve seen of it.”
“It’s small, but there are many things to recommend it, I think. The downtown is pretty, with the old Methodist church buildings and the old clock tower.”
“I do like that clock tower. I can’t wait to hear it chime.”
“You’ll have to take a tour and look around some more. When you have time.”
“Perhaps. But I’m here to tend to Mattie, you know.”
“I’m sure she’s grateful for your assistance.”
“Sometimes she is . . . and sometimes I’m afraid I drive her a bit crazy.”
Gwen smiled, though it didn’t quite meet her eyes. Actually, she looked troubled.
“Gwen? I’m getting the feeling that you came here to speak to me about something. Is it Calvin?”
“Yes.”
“We are just friends,” Lucy said. “That is all.”
“Actually, Calvin and I are just friends now, too.” Gwen could feel her cheeks heat, so she amended her words. “I mean, I hope we will become friends again. One day.”
“You are seeing someone else now, aren’t you?”
“Did Calvin tell you that?”
“Mattie did.”
Gwen tried to read Lucy’s expression, but it was perfectly blank. “I need to marry,” she said finally. “And Will, well, Will is a good man.”
“Are you going to marry him?”
She nodded. “Marrying him will help my mother and sister.”
As she heard those words, Lucy’s world spun.
“What is wrong?” Immediately, Gwen moved closer. “Listen, I’m sorry. I meant to try to clear the air . . . but once again, I should have just let things alone.”
Lucy shook her head. “No, no, that’s all right. Your words just upset me, that’s all.”
“I’m sorry. I had heard that you and Calvin were getting closer. I don’t know why I wanted to clear the air, but I think it was a silly thing to even imagine it could happen. I think I better get going.” With care, she crossed the damp floor and headed to the front door. “Perhaps one day I’ll stop by again. You know, to see Mattie.”
“I’ll let her know that.”
Gwen opened the door, then stepped back. “Calvin?”
Peeking around the door, Lucy saw Calvin approach, a pail of berries in one hand and her diary in the other.
As if the situation couldn’t get any more awkward. “Lucy, I brought you your berries,” he called out as he approached the porch, then caught sight of her and stopped in his tracks. “Gwen? What are you doing here?”
“I was just leaving some bread for Mattie. I see you brought her some fruit.”
“Actually, this was Lucy’s . . .” He turned to her. “Lucy, you forgot this the other day.”
“Danke. I can’t believe I was so foolish.”
“Not so much,” he murmured.
Gwen looked from Calvin to Lucy and then started out the door. “Well, I think I’ll be on my way. Actually, I think it’s past time for me to go.”
Lucy stood at the doorway as Gwen drove her buggy down the driveway. Though she hadn’t been eager to speak with Gwen, she was far less eager to be alone with Calvin. The silence between them lengthened.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come over last night. I should have.”
Thinking of how upset she’d been, Lucy shook her head. “It was probably best you didn’t.
He swallowed, gazing at her face; his expression so sweet it felt like a caress. “Yes. I—I mean, we . . .” He cleared his throat. “I mean, we probably both needed some time.” Awkwardly, he handed her the diary. “I thought I’d best give this to you as well.”
With shaking hands, she accepted the leather-bound book—though she was almost too embarrassed to even look at it. Hastily, she put it on the railing of the Lapps’ porch.
Remembering just how she’d left him, she shrugged. “I suppose I should apologize for running off the way I did.”
“Don’t apologize. Everything between us, it’s all my fault.”
Setting the pail down, he sat on the step beside it and looked her way. “Would you mind sitting with me for a moment?”
Lucy bit her lip. She wasn’t sure if she minded or not. She was still upset with him, but the all-encompassing anger and resentment she’d once felt had faded.
“Please?” he asked, his voice scratchy and soft, like the word and the emotion had been pulled from somewhere deep inside of him.
It struck a nerve, or perhaps it struck all the hopes that she’d buried deep inside of her. The hopes that one day she could sit with a man and not be afraid. Slowly, Lucy sat down