Larkspur Dreams - By Anita Higman Page 0,51

said. “And, you know, maybe he’s wrestling with his feelings for you, too. Anger and love mingle in the same stream sometimes. I’ll pray for him. But I’ve gotta go, ladybug. My doorbell is buzzing, and I have a date with one of the finest Christian gentlemen in Arkansas. We’re doing my favorite thing.”

“Let’s see. Japanese cuisine where this samurai guy whacks up your steak in midair?”

“You got it.”

Lark chuckled. “You go for it, girl, and then tell me all the finer points later. Bye.” She hung up. Well, that wasn’t as satisfying as I thought it would be. Usually Calli had more time to talk, but then she had a life, too. Calli certainly couldn’t be expected to be on call twenty-four/seven just to listen to all her latest romantic catastrophes.

She couldn’t help but wonder when one of them married someday if their friendship would change significantly. She would certainly miss their closeness. Their sisterhood. But even so, she hoped Calli had the most beautiful evening of her life.

Lark sighed and then stared down at the man who held her heart. Everett. How did it happen? Yes, somehow while she was busy helping Mr. New Guy out of his shell, he’d become Mr. Lifetime. She’d been minding her own business when love simply took her by surprise. Well, that wasn’t totally accurate. She had indeed meddled in his life, but the surprise part was true. He had left her breathless. And isn’t that what I’ve longed for?

Lark just hoped Everett was down there having a few good thoughts about her. Unfortunately, he had another pan in his hand, ready for a launch. What could he be thinking?

❧

Everett rose from his deck chair and threw a saucepan even harder than the first one. What a little minx. Ever since he’d moved next door to Larkspur, every component of his life had been negatively altered. None of the past miseries with Marty would have been dredged up had it not been for her childish game. He would have made the best of his time with his brother, and then Marty would have been on his way to Missouri in the morning.

Everett shivered even though he’d put on a heavy coat. He felt for his Palm Pilot, but it wasn’t in his pocket. He’d always kept his Palm with him wherever he went, but at the moment he couldn’t even remember where he’d left it. My life is getting seriously out of control.

Why did Skelly throw pots anyway? Seemed more insane than helpful. And it would eventually loosen up the mortar on his brick wall. He noticed all the dead mums around him, grunted, and trudged back inside. He felt so many intense emotions it frightened him.

Everett’s head reeled with a headache. Where was his bottle of medicine? Mental note: Buy five-year supply of painkillers. Or just move away from Larkspur. Same effect.

He couldn’t find the medicine in any of the usual spots, so as a substitute, he sat in front of his computer. Long time, no see, old friend. It’s great to be back in the pilot seat. He didn’t bother looking over at Lark’s office window. He refused to succumb to the temptation this time, and instead gazed into his real world. Ah, yes. The soft glow of the screen was like a reassuring friend. And he’d have a good, steady job soon. Maybe with some discipline he could make the rest of his life just as it had been.

Everett flipped on his stereo. Liebestraum by Franz Liszt was playing. Hmm. Not very invigorating to get the juices flowing. He changed CDs to Mozart’s Allegro. Now, that’s a little more like it.

But every time Everett stared at the screen for more than a minute, those big, brown, impish eyes of Lark’s seemed to be staring back at him. Full of sweetness. Then he summoned up a more recent expression of hers. At dinner with Marty, her glow hadn’t been so loving. In fact, her look at him had been reproving, or at the least, pleading.

He leaned back in his chair, making it moan. Even his chair seemed against him. Could Lark have been right? Had he been too tenacious with his views, and had his lack of forgiveness eaten away at his spirit? Granted, Marty and Greta had always relished in proving they were covered with some kind of invincible powder, and he’d always been more than willing to take up the role of the nay-saying, older brother, but all