time in his life when he used to read to children at one of the local hospitals in Fayetteville. Amazing. He used to actually volunteer his time, and he’d loved it. But that seemed like a lifetime ago, before life had taught him the lessons of unspeakable misfortune. “You didn’t mention you were an artist.”
“Well, you were busy herding your movers,” Lark said. “And it seemed like they needed a little coaching as I recall.”
She had more paint on her lavender overalls than on her paper. He saw her eyes searching his again. But what could she be looking for? “This current work here—is it to illustrate a new book?”
“No, I did it just for fun.” Lark smiled down at the painting. “The idea came from a dream I had. So I thought I’d try to capture it.”
“So you have pleasant dreams?” Everett asked.
“Almost always. Do you?”
He almost said no but then admonished himself for nearly sharing intimate details about his life. “It’s rather hard to explain.” Maybe he just needed to get back to work.
“I’m sorry about the gift,” Lark said. “Sometimes I’ve been known to be a little too—spur-of-the-moment. It’s one of my great weaknesses. But I assure you, God and I are working on it.”
“Apology accepted.” He offered her a wide smile since he was glad to be rid of Igor, but he wondered just how “spur-of-the-moment” she was and how many “weaknesses” she and God were working on. Suddenly he heard a series of clatters and bangs. “What’s that racket?”
“Oh, it’s Skelly. Our neighbor. He sometimes throws pots and pans at his brick wall.”
“How peculiar. Why does he do that?” Everett wanted to see what was happening, but he knew Skelly’s backyard wasn’t visible from her window.
Lark stroked her hands along her arms. “Skelly lost his wife to cancer a few months ago. You know, when her hair fell out from the treatments, she wore a baseball cap. And wherever they went, Skelly always wore a baseball cap, too. Just so she wouldn’t feel different or alone. Rose is in heaven now.” Lark smiled at him with a faraway gaze. “I loved the way they loved each other.” She shrugged. “So now he bakes everyone brownies just like his wife did, he prays a lot, and sometimes, when he misses her terribly, he finds it helpful to throw a few pots and pans against his brick wall. Why not, if it helps?”
“I’m sorry for Skelly. That must be hard.” Everett paused, not really knowing how to respond to the man’s sorrow, so he decided to change the subject. “But I still think you should lock your doors. I saw a hooligan-type last evening.”
“Really?” Lark tied her long hair back with a clip and took a step closer to him.
“Yes. That riffraff on the bike. You know, the one who offered the bee a ride with no helmets.” He raised an eyebrow and then rebuked himself for judging someone he barely knew.
Lark looked surprised. “That riffraff, who was kind enough to drive me to the church fall festival yesterday, happens to be Jeremy, our youth pastor.”
Everett swallowed hard, but he felt like another retaliating remark building up. “Well, I hope he doesn’t have a wife.”
“Jeremy is single, and we go out from time to time. And, I might add, he’s got a very successful teen ministry. Now don’t you feel a little. . .silly?”
“I’ve never been silly in my life,” Everett said.
“I’ll bet you haven’t, Mr. Holden.” Her lips curled up at the edges.
“I’ll bet you haven’t,” the bird squawked back at them.
“Oh, shut up,” Everett said. Oh man. Now I’m talking to animals. Time to go. Everett looked away from Lark’s bemused expression to stare out her workroom window. He noticed her office window was directly facing his own large office window. And the windows were only a few feet apart. A groan welled up inside him. “If you’ll excuse me, I still have twenty-one boxes to unpack.” He turned and moved toward the stairs.
Moments later, Everett offered his good-bye at the door. He knew the words came off rather strangled, but he felt more determined than ever to keep Lark at a safe distance. And he wasn’t about to make this community his new family as Lark suggested. He repeated his mantra. “Passive resistance and neutrality.”
❧
What was it about this guy? Exasperating. Lonely. But so cute. Or maybe one of the things that captured her interest was his expression of subtle yearning.
She plunked down on