He gestured to the side of the building, not the front door, and Mia took off at a fast clip, galloping toward what appeared to be a side door. It swung open and there he was, the man in flesh and bone, with thick brown hair, dark eyes and a strong, ruggedly handsome face. He wore a plain navy blue thermal Henley and sawdust-covered jeans.
The look of him didnt come as a surprise. If she were to describe him in a single word, it would be intimidating.
Who are you? Mia demanded. Im here to see my uncle Ben.
You must be Mia. Im Jonah Fraser. And you Jonah lifted his gaze to hers. His dark eyes focused on her with frank scrutiny. Youre Debra. The half sister.
Yes, although thats a new title for me.
He continued to study her stoically. He was just this side of frightening, Debra thought, because he felt so remote. His size alone was daunting, but he said nothing else. Apparently he was a man of few words.
Was he the withdrawn, quiet type? Or simply unfriendly? No, not unfriendly, she decided as he gestured with one big hand toward the door. He was very self-controlled.
Come in, he said. Bens not
He isnt here? Mia had a good view through the doorway as she skidded to a stop in front of Jonah Fraser. But we came all this way and he promised. He said hed have plans of what were gonna do next and everything.
So, Ben was a no-show.
I feared this might happen, Debra bit her lip to keep the words to herself. Hadnt she almost expected that Ben would let down Mia and then where would she be? Then again, maybe she was expecting the worst.
She stepped forward to lay her hand on her daughters slim shoulder. We are about an hour late. I almost called first from the bed-and-breakfast, but Ben had left a message with the manager just to head straight over.
Did he give up waiting for us? Mia asked, her voice trembling.
No. Kindness flickered in Jonahs eyes, which were darkly inscrutable. An emergency call came in and he had to go out.
Will he be back? Mia asked, distressed.
He promised.
Debra didnt want to notice the steady warmth in Jonah Frasers eyes or the subtle but unmistakable calm. Although he was physically intimidating, she felt intensely safe. And she couldnt rightly say why. Do you know if Ben will be long? We could head back to our room and wait for him.
No need. He took a step, leading the way, and the strong line of his shoulders dipped slightly as he drew his right leg forward.
He was limping. And seriously. He was athletic enough that he compensated fairly well, but his wasnt the kind of limp one might have with a sprained ankle. No, Jonah moved as if hed been seriously wounded. She worked with a man whod had a severe car accident and even years later, walked similarly. Had something like that happened to Jonah?
He held the door and closed it after them, stiffly polite. Go through that door. Youll be more comfortable in there.
She imagined hed feel more comfortable, too. She untied her scarf and snowflakes tumbled from the wool to the floor between them. Jonah said nothing, leaving silence to fill the space. She didnt know what to say to this man who looked like he was made of steel on the inside, too. He certainly didnt say much.
Which was a change from most men she knew. She realized she was staring at him a little too openly and her face heated. Really, what was wrong with her? Was this a sign she was losing it completely? Shed been under a lot of strain lately, but she wasnt one to openly study a man, as if she were interested.
Really, she was not interested in another man who would only let her down. She turned to take Mias coat and realized the girl had wandered off toward a maze of machines in the middle of the shop, and some had sharp-looking blades. Mia, dont snoop. Come back here.
But, Mom, you gotta see this! Its awesome.
It was the wonder in Mias voice that drew Debra forward, to see over a huge angular and very technical-looking saw to a lone crib in the later stages of construction. Without stain or varnish, without polish or even all of its pieces, the crib was beautiful. It stood in the sift of light from a roof window directly overhead and looked like something out of a dream, diffused with light.
As Debra stepped closer, she saw the careful scrollwork and the intricate hand carving that was sheer perfection. She ran her fingertip over the smooth-as-glass texture, feeling awe sift through her like the snowflakes outside.
The time and patience it must take to do such beautiful work, she couldnt imagine. It was delicate and fragile and storybook beautiful, but what really mystified her was the man whod made it.
The reticent, brawny Jonah Fraser had done this.
Chapter Two
Jonah Fraser stirred the contents of the last hot-chocolate package into the coffee cup, watching the tiny white marshmallows swirl in the whirlpool created by the spoon. He held his emotions still as he kept Debra Cunningham Watson, of the publishing empire, in his peripheral vision.
Ben had talked about her and, since Ben was more than his employer but a close friend, he felt that he had some stake in this. Ben had been glad to learn the identity of his birth mother and that while she had sadly passed away, he had three other half siblings to get to know. Debra was the oldest of the Watson clan and she was about what he expected.
Ben had glossed over the details, but Jonah could read between the lines. She had that tight-lipped reserve hed seen before from old-money families. He knew she was a big executive, a vice president or something. Everything about her shouted privilege, from her sleek brown locks to her perfect skin and smile to the upscale designer clothes she wore. Conservative black wool and trendy winter boots. Yep, she definitely looked like the type of woman who had an MBA from Harvard.
Jonah removed the spoon from the cup. He kept Debra Watson in his sight while he grabbed the two chipped mugs by the handles and headed their way. A few things about her puzzled him. One, her chin-up, lips-pursed attitude had softened as she studied the crib. That told him her manner was more facade and habit, it was easy to see she wasnt as icy as she first seemed.
The second thing that surprised him was the age of the daughter. Twelve or thirteen, he guessed. Ben had mentioned the girl, but not her age, not that Jonah could recall, and it made him wonder what had gone on there. Debra must have gotten married young and divorced. That was his guess, anyway.
Wow, this is so cool. Mia was all cheerful exuberance as she circled the crib. Are you, like, making this? I mean, youre just making it all by yourself?
Yep. With wood and tools and everything.
Its so cool!
Thanks. He took one look at the girls innocent excitement and suddenly the memory of other children in another country hit him like a flash flood. Stay in the present, bud, he told himself, fighting the flashback. He locked down the doors on his heart before his sorrow and guilt could overtake him and bolted those doors good.
He set both cups down on the nearby worktable that stood between them. Hot chocolate with minimarshmallows. I hope thats okay.
Thanks! The kid lit up. She was easily thrilled. Anyone could see shed been raised with care and love. And manners, because she grabbed both cups and took one to her mother. To the woman who was staring at him as if hed sprouted antennae and turned martian green.
Great. He often had that effect on women who didnt know him. Hed experienced this before. The more dainty and proper and upper-crust the lady, the more likely she was to be put off by the sheer size of him.
He was a big guy, and hed been told he looked fairly fierce. He couldnt argue with thata recon marine was about as tough of a warrior as it was possible to be. He knew the stain of what hed accomplished and failed to accomplish as a marine in Iraq clung to him like residue. He often wondered if it somehow put other people off.
Thank you. The womanDebrahad taken a step back as if she were intimidated and took a dainty sip of the hot chocolate. Somehow she was able to avoid the marshmallow fluff that stained her daughters mouth. The girl had come around the worktable to stare openly at him, while the womanDebrawas studying the crib.
So he took a moment to study her. Bens half sister. He couldnt see it at first. But as she stepped into the softer daylight from the roof windows, it became more evident in the simple straight dignity of her nose, which wasnt too small or big, and in the manner that she held her head just so while she thought. Snowflakes were melting in the silk of her hair and on the collar of her fancy fur-lined coat.
This is lovely. She gave him a polite smile. You are a very talented woodworker.
A blush heated his face. He shrugged one shoulder. I try.
And modest, too. Thats a change from the men Ive been around lately.
Cant be much of a man if he isnt humble.
Exactly. She smiled; it was an honest smile.
For a moment he saw past the polite veneer and cool distance into something brighter. Maybe it was just a trick of the gray light from above or his falling blood sugar. Hed delayed his lunch hour so he could be here for Bens half sister. More importantly, hed wanted to meet this woman. He was protective of his good friend.
I imagine it was hard finding out that you have an older brother, he heard himself saying.
You have no idea. She said it kindly but as if there was more to it. I was just as shocked to learn of Ben, as Ben was to learn he was related to us. Im still trying to adjust. Its strange going from being the oldest to the second out of the blue.
There was pain there, Jonah realized, a pain she quickly battled down. Okay, he had sympathy for that. He understood inner painit haunted him every moment of every day, and he didnt know what to say to her.
She broke the silence, gesturing toward the crib. Is this for Bens baby, Joseph?
No, this is for some good friends of mine, and of Bens, too. Ross and Kelly Van Zandts baby boy. He arrived a little earlier than expected.
Is that the same Kelly from the adoption agency? Ben mentioned her. Debra glanced at her daughter, who was still staring at him. Mia, where are your manners?
Its okay, he added quickly, wondering if the waiflike girl was a little scared of him. She wouldnt be the first. Are you wondering why Im so big? God made me this way so I could serve His purpose.
What purpose? Mia asked, wide-eyed. Are you a Christian, too? Which church do you go to?
She looked up at him with curiosity in her big innocent eyes, her cupids face wreathed with expectation. Cute kid, obviously sheltered and privileged and well cared for, just as a child should be. He battled down images of the world hed seennot good images, where children were not so safe and protected. He noticed the gold chain and cross at her throat. Yes, Im a Christian. I belong to the Chestnut Grove Community Church.
That pretty one with the big steeple that looks like it belongs in a storybook?
Thats the one.
Wow.
Yes, wow. Debra squelched an inner groan. Irrepressible Mia felt that everyone should be saved. It was a nice sentiment, but unrealistic. Shed taken so many hard blows lately between her moms passing and then over the truth about her moms past, these days she was putting faith in God right up there on the shelf with her thoughts about Santa Claus. Nice, but not relevant to her life.
That sounded harsh, but she was a grown woman whod gotten where she was with hard work, determination and having to face adult responsibilities without a lot of help.
Okay, there she went again when she had vowed to focus on Mia and the trip. Time for a change in subject. Mia, come on. Lets wait in the reception area and let Mr. Fraser get back to his work. Im sure were inconveniencing him.
But, Mom! Mias jaw dropped in utter disbelief. Cant you see were talking about God?
I thought you were about to pry into Mr. Frasers personal life and make sure hes really a Christian, the way you did with the gas-station attendant this morning. The way you do with everyone you meet.
To her surprise, the big, stony Mr. Fraser smiled. He wasnt quite as fearsome when he did. The granite line of his square jaw softened and his hard mouth that could have been sculpted from stone warmed into a handsome smile. He had straight, even white teeth and a sincerity that made him striking.
She felt a frisson of interest as pure as the snowflakes fluttering down from the heavens. This man perplexed her. He was apparently part weightlifter and part legend with an artists soul.
Call me Jonah, he said. When I hear Mr. Fraser, I think my dad is standing behind me. Besides, the little lady isnt inconveniencing me or prying.
You truly are a kind man to say so, Debra found herself saying. Mia has better manners than that
Reverend Fraser is your dad? Mia interrupted, in direct contradiction.
What was a mother to do? Mia had a strong spirit and a stubborn streak, not unlike herself at that age. Debra caught Mr. FrasersJonahsgaze and watched his smile deepen until it warmed the cool depths of his eyes.
He was definitely a different kind of man than she was used to being around, but suddenly she was no longer intimidated by the rugged strength of him. Whatever else Jonah Fraser may be, she bet he was a teddy bear at heart because he turned patiently to Mia and his manner was genuinely kind. Why dont you come to Sunday service and Ill introduce you to him? At least, Im guessing that youll be attending with Ben and his family.
Ye-ah. Mia rolled her eyes heavenward as if there couldnt possibly be any other answer, so why did he bother asking?
It seemed like everywhere she turned, there was the conflict over Mias faithand Debras lack of conviction. But what could she say to such a kindly meant invitation? Well talk about Sunday later, Mia.
Mo-om!
We were going to take this visit one day at a time, remember? Time for another change in topic. The trouble was, why did her first thoughts turn to Jonah and finding out more about him? How long have you been making such beautiful furniture?
Oh, Ive always been fairly handy. He eased forward, his shoulder dipping slightly to compensate for his limp. Ive always worked with wood in one way or another
Mia broke in. You didnt want to be a minister like your dad?
Debra inwardly cringed. Was Mia wound up today or what? Mia, you know better than to interrupt.
Its all right. Jonahs baritone rang with patience and good humor as he drew up a metal stool and eased his big frame onto it. I thought very seriously about joining the ministry, but I didnt feel a real calling to do it. Theres another reason, too. I like to write, but Im not so good with talking in front of a crowd. If I had to talk to a congregation, Id stammer and forget my sermon, and my looking like a fool wouldnt help anyone.