The door squeaked open, and a woman in a teal tunic and slacks smiled at her. You must be Noras granddaughter. Goodness, shes been talking of nothing else all day. Come in, dear. Heavens, but youre soaked clear through to the skin.
My Jeep broke down and stranded me.
No! The nurse looked stricken. And on a night like this. Havent seen a storm as bad as this in some time. Was that Matthew Sheridans truck I saw driving away?
He took pity on me and gave me a ride.
Matthews a good man. Shame about his wife, though. Lets get you inside and out of those wet clothes, shall we? My names Roberta She made a move to grab the carry-on bag.
Hope managed to get there first, hauling all three pieces into the living room. The nurse had enough work to do without waiting on Hope, too.
Dear, youre soaked clear through to the skin, Roberta fussed. Let me draw a bath for you
Thank you, but no. Only one thingone personmattered. Hows Nanna?
Shes been having trouble sleeping.
Because she was waiting up for me? I called her after supper and told her not to
Why, she cant wait to see you. You and your brother are the only real family she has left. Roberta bustled into the kitchen, flipping on lights as she went. As I see it, shes got the right to worry about you traveling all the way from Italy on your own. And besides, its given her something else to think about besides the pain.
Hopes stomach fluttered. She hated the thought of her sweet Nanna suffering. Is she awake?
Im sure she is. Go on up. Do you want to take this to her?
Hope took the prepared tea tray, thanking the nurse whod gone to the trouble, and headed upstairs. She knew each step and knew which stair creaked. Memories flooded back, filling her heart, warming her from the inside out.
Some memories werent filled with hurt. Like the year shed spent with Nanna when her parents were divorcing.
As she climbed into the second story, the smell of dried roses, lavender and honeysuckle tickled her nose, just as it had so many years ago.
Hope? Is that you? Nannas voice trilled like a morning lark, joyful and filled with melody. Heavens, Ive worried about you, child. Do you know what time it is?
I told you not to expect me until morning. Hope breezed into the room, unchanged from memory with the lace curtains shimmering like new ivory at the windows, the antiques polished to a shine and the wedding ring quilt draped across the carved, four-poster bed. Just like always.
But the woman beneath the covers was fragile and old, changed from the sprightly grandmother Hope remembered.
Deep affection welled in her heart, and she set the silver tray on the cedar chest at the foot of the bed. Nanna, its good to see you.
Come give me a hug.
Hope bent at the waist, lightly folding her arms around the frail woman. Nanna felt delicate and not tough and robust like shed been at Christmas, less than four months ago. You smell like honeysuckle.
One of my favorites. You should have seen last summers garden! Goodness, the sachets and things Helen and I made. We were busy bees. Why, we had the entire basement filled from floor to rafter with drying flowers. Nannas eyes warmed with the happy memory, and she patted the bed beside her. Dear heart, its good to see you, but youre thinner.
Been busy. Hope sat on the edge of the mattress.
Too busy to eat? You work too much. What is it with young girls these days? You should eat, enjoy life, indulge a little.
Is that what you do, Nanna?
Why, its one of the secrets to a happy life. Trouble twinkled in dark eyes. I saw your last book. Its absolutely beautiful. Not everyone has the God given talent to take pictures the way you do.
Im glad you like it. Hope watched her grandmothers weathered hands lift the hardcover book from the nightstand. I worked hard on it.
Love always shows. Nannas fingers traced her name on the cover, in gold. Its good work that you do, using your pictures to remind us all the beauty God gives us in each and every day. But work isnt everything in life, remember that.
Youve told me that about a billion times. Trying to avoid a well-worn subject, Hope pressed a kiss to her grandmothers cheek. You get your rest. We have all tomorrow to talk.
And what a fine day it will be because youve come home. Nanna returned the kiss. Her fingers held tight and would not let go. Ive missed my Hope.
Not half as much as Ive missed you. A love so sharp it hurt edged into her heart. Hope didnt move away, not until after Grandmother sipped her chamomile tea, whispered her prayers and closed her eyes. Not until sleep claimed Nanna and she was lost in dreams of happier times.
Hope sat in the dark for a long while and watched Nanna sleep. The lightning returned. Rain beat against the window and drummed on the roof, but they were safe from the storm and never alone.
Chapter Two
Hope Ashton. Matthew couldnt get her out of his mind. Not when hed gone to sleep and not now that the first pink light of morning was teasing the darkness from the sky.
He hadnt recognized her at first glance. Shed softened, grown taller, changed from girl to woman. But that graceful elegance was still there in the fall of her dark hair, in the rich timbre of her alto voice and in every lithe, careful movement she made.
The phone rang, and he turned from the kitchen sink, nearly tripping over a little boy who wasnt quite as tall as his knee. Whoa, there, Josh. Look where youre going.
The little boy tilted his head all the way back. Goin to Grammas?
Almost. He wove around an identical little boy. Ian, stop eyeing the cookie jar.
I still hungry, Daddy.
Hungry? You ate four whole pancakes. He ruffled the boys dark hair and intentionally turned him away from the counter as the phone continued to ring.
He dodged another identical little boy and snatched up the receiver.
Matthew? I got your message. It was Zach from the garage. Got the belt you asked for right here. What happened? That truck of yours leave you stranded?
You wish.
Hey, Im thinking of my profits, the only mechanic in town teased.
Nothing like that. I came across Hope Ashton last night, broke down in the middle of that storm. You remember her, dont you?
There was a moment of silence, then Zach gasped. Tall, slender, pretty. Noras granddaughter. Sure, I remember. Is she back in town? Why dont I run the belt out to the Greenley place
Her Jeeps broken down on the highway south of town.
Then Ill warm up the tow truck and bring it in.
You cant miss it. Bright red, brand-new model about four miles out. Matthew felt his stomach tighten, as if he didnt like the idea of Zach giving Hope a hand and he couldnt explain why. Maybe it was his conscience.
Sure, the woman troubled him, stirred up all sorts of emotions. He knew he was out of her leaguewhich wasnt why he wanted to help. It didnt sit right backing away now. He liked to see things to the end.
Matthew heard silence and peeked around the doorway into the kitchen. Ian, stay away from the counter. Go put on your shoes like your brothers.
Matthew heard silence and peeked around the doorway into the kitchen. Ian, stay away from the counter. Go put on your shoes like your brothers.
The little urchin hesitated, tossed him an innocent grin, then dashed away to join his brothers at the table. Matthew headed down the center hallway and to the front door, careful to keep an eye and an ear on his sons.
Hope Ashton, huh? Zach laughed at that. Itll be something to see her again. I bet shes still a knockout.
Yep. She was pretty, all right. Model-good looks but there was a girl-next-door freshness to her. A freshness he didnt remember seeing in the unhappy rich girl hed gone to school with.
Matthew ended the call, checked on the three boys busily pulling on shoes in the corner of the kitchen and went in search of his work boots. He sat down on the bottom step to tug them on.
Morning was his favorite time as the sun rose, so bold and bright. The world was waking up, the birds songs brand-new and the breeze as soft as a whisper. Peace filled him for a moment, and then he heard a loud crash coming from directly behind himthe kitchen.
That was his two seconds of peace for the day. He took off at a dead run. Six strides took him into the kitchen where he saw his three sons standing in a half circle.
Josh did it, Daddy! Kale pointed. He climbed up on the chair and dropped the cookies.
They smashed all over the floor! Ian looked pleased.
Joshs head was bowed, his hands clasped together as he whispered a prayer.
Matthew saw the shattered cookies and stoneware littered all over the clean floor and the pitcher of grape juice at Ians feet. The refrigerator door stood open and a chair from the table was butted up against the cabinets. He remembered to count to ten.
We got real hungry. Ian rubbed at a juice stain on his crisp white T-shirt.
Real hungry, Kale added.
Josh took one look at the floor and bowed his head again. The cookie jars still broken, God.
Since he was short on time, Matthew decided to ignore for now the purple stains splattered on his kitchen floor, nudged the refrigerator door shut and grabbed the broom from the corner. You boys step back. Careful of those sharp pieces.
Daddy, its all Joshs fault. Ian tugged on Matthews jeans, transferring the grape juice from those little fingers onto the clean denim above Matthews knee.
Somehow I doubt Josh did this all by himself. He laid his hand against the flat of Ians back and eased him away from the broken stoneware shards. Any owies I should know about?
There aint no blood nowhere, Ian announced.
But there was grape juice spattered all over the little boy whod obviously been the one to try to heft the full pitcher from the refrigerator shelf and failed.
One thing was clear. He couldnt go on like this. He needed a new housekeeper or hed never get off to work on time. Into the truck. Cmon. Step around the mess, Ian.
Sorry, Daddy. The oldest triplet looked angelic as he stopped his sneaker in midair, about to crunch right through the cookies and shattered pottery.
He caught Ian by the shoulder, Kale by the arm and was grateful for Josh who clambered after them, muttering an amen to end his prayer. The mess would wait. The boys would have to change at Moms.
Lord knew, this was all a balancing act. Every morning wasnt as bad as this, but then he was used to having a housekeeper. With three three-year-olds, it made a big difference having another adult to run interference.
Matthew locked the door and herded the boys toward the black pickup in the gravel drive. He opened the door, and the scent of Hope Ashtons perfumelight and prettylingered, a faint reminder that shed sat beside him on the ride to town. Longing swept through him. Not for Hope, but for a woman gone from his life forever.
It had been over two long years since hed smelled the pleasing gentleness of a womans perfume in his truck. Two years had passed since hed buried Kathy, and he still wasnt over his grief.
And how could he? There would never be another woman who would make his heart brighter, his life better.
Kathy had been his once-in-a-lifetime, a gift of love that a man was lucky to know at all. Something that miraculous didnt happen twice.
It just didnt.
Chest tight, he buckled Josh into the remaining car seat and hopped into the cab.
Im so glad I have the committee meeting today, Nanna announced as the new days sun tossed a cheerful pattern across the quilt. Ill take any excuse I can to get out of this house.
I thought you were supposed to be on bed rest. How are we going to get you to town if your doctors orders are to keep you right here? Hope slid open the closet door.
We could always drive. Its easier than hobbling. Im still not used to those crutches.
Very funny. Hope pulled out a blue summer dress. This would look nice. Before I take you anywhere, Im checking with your doctor.
You worry too much, and I want the yellow dress. The flirty one.
Flirty? Youre in your sixties. You shouldnt be flirting.
Thats what you think. Nannas chuckle was a merry one. Howard Renton joined the planning committee last month. Both Sadie and Helen made fools of themselves fighting to sit next to him. But I think I won him with my charm.
Wear the yellow but dont flirt. Too much. Hope laid the cheerful sundress on the foot of the bed. Isnt that what you used to tell me?
Hope, youre twenty-nine years old. Youre supposed to be flirting.
Im supposed to, huh? Is there some unwritten law or something?
Go ahead and pretend you dont know what Im talking about. Youre going to let the best years of your life slip away alone without a man to love you.
I didnt fly all the way from Rome and drive down from the closest airport through a terrible storm to hear that kind of advice.
Well, then what kind do you want to hear?
The kind that doesnt have anything to do with getting me married off. Hope unzipped the dress and lifted it from the hanger. God gives to some the gift of marriage, and to others he gives the gift of singleness.
And the Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him. Nanna lifted her arms as Hope slipped the dress over her head. Its not good for a woman to be alone, either.
So, the person who marries does well, and the person who doesnt marry does even better. Hope smoothed the dress over her grandmothers back. I think Ive proven my point.
Youve proven nothing. Love is one of Gods greatest gifts. Dont let your life pass you by without knowing it. Nannas hand brushed hers with warmth. Goodness, this dress makes me feel young. Fix my hair for me.
Do you want it up or down?
Nanna squinted into the mirror against the far wall. Down.
Hope reached for the brush and started working. Tell me more about this man you and your friends are fighting over.
Hes moved back to town after being away for what, nearly twenty years. He wanted to be close to what remains of his family. Sad, it is. You didnt hear about the tragedy, did you? Lost his son, daughter-in-law and two of his grandchildren in a small plane crash a few years back. In fact, one of the grandchildren was Matthew Sheridans wife.