Ready to Wed (26 page)

“Good morning, Jane.”

She looked up to see Kenneth approaching and smiled. “Hi, Kenneth. Care to join me?”

He nodded. “Don’t mind if I do.”

“Although I must make you fetch your own decaf, since I’m hiding from my aunt. And if you see her, don’t tell her I’m out here, okay?”

He chuckled. “Now, you’ve got me curious, Jane. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”

Jane had neglected to bring a fork along, so she ate her melon with her fingers, polishing it off just as Kenneth returned with his coffee. “Tell all,” he said as he sat down across from her. She quickly related the story, bringing him completely up to date with regard to Clive and Belle and Justin.

“You have been a busy girl.”

“Yes, and it seems I am upsetting a number of people.”

“Is this thing with Clive serious?”

She waved her hand. “No, of course not. He’s an interesting man though. I was simply helping him with his garden plans, and I suppose he was a nice diversion from this whole Justin mystery.”

“So, you haven’t seen Justin yet?”

“Nope.” She glanced out to the street as a sporty red car slowly cruised by, and then she turned her attention back to Kenneth. “Alice said he’ll be by today. Naturally, he didn’t say when. I hope it’s soon. I’d like to get this over with.”

“So, you’ve thought this through, Jane? You know what you’re going to say to him”—Kenneth studied her closely—“if he’s here to ask for a second chance?”

She shrugged. “I just don’t think that’s the case.”

“But if it is the case?”

“I … I guess I don’t really know the answer to that.”

“I see.” He took a slow sip of coffee.

“I wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings.”

“No, of course not.”

“But I can’t imagine that I’d leap into his arms and take him back.” She sort of laughed. “That doesn’t really sound much like me, does it?”

“Not much.”

“I suppose I could tell him I would need time to think about it. That’s fair, isn’t it?”

“Very fair.”

She nodded and took a sip from her cup. “And that is just what I will do.” She smiled at him. “Thank you, Kenneth, for this impromptu counseling session. It’s really amazing how you just pop in right when I need you. Is that something you learned in seminary?”

He laughed. “Yes, Popping-in 101, it’s a requirement.”

Jane noticed the red car going by again from the opposite direction, moving faster this time. She narrowed her eyes in an attempt to see who was driving, then gasped as she pointed toward the street. “Look at that … that car.”

Kenneth turned to see the red car driving away. “Yes, I noticed that car here yesterday. It caught my eye because a buddy of mine used to have one like it. If I’m right, that’s a 1975 Fiat Spider. Someone has poured a lot of money into restoring it.”

“That was Justin driving.” Jane took in a deep breath, willing herself to calm down. “I wonder why he just keeps driving by.”

“Maybe he’s as nervous as you are.”

“Maybe.”

“Well, unless you’re in need of more pop-in counseling, I should probably be on my way. I told Fred I’d meet him at the church to look over some repair suggestions the board has agreed upon.” He stood. “Good luck with Justin.”

“Thanks.” She shook her head. “I’ll probably need it.”

Then he put a hand on her shoulder. “Ask God to lead you, Jane. You can’t go wrong if He’s doing the directing.”

“Yes. I’ve been trying to keep that in mind.” But as Kenneth walked away, Jane wasn’t so sure she wanted to ask God right now. What if God wanted her to get back with Justin? She finished her coffee and thought about going back inside but didn’t want to risk her aunt’s wrath again. Besides, the sunshine felt good on the top of her head. Still, she was curious about Justin. Perhaps he was parking, heading to the front door to ask for her. Finally, she decided to simply cut around to the front of the house, where she would wait for him on the front porch. She left her breakfast things on the table, reminding herself to pick them up later. Then, as she went around to the front, she braced herself for this strange meeting. She told herself the best thing would be to simply get it over with.

There was no one in sight when she went up onto the front porch. She sat in the porch swing, then realized she didn’t want to chance having Justin sitting down beside her. She moved over to the wicker rocker instead. She wished she could run inside to get a fresh cup of coffee but didn’t want to risk having Justin going inside to ask for her. It seemed that it would be much simpler to deal with him out here. After a few minutes, Wendell came wandering across the porch. He stood
by her feet, looking up and waiting, she suspected, for an invitation. “Come on, old boy,” she said as she patted her lap. In one graceful motion he was up, making himself comfortable and purring happily as she scratched the top of his head.

“Well, at least one guy is happy to meet me out here on the front porch,” she said to Wendell. She looked up and down the quiet street but did not see a little red sports car or any other car for that matter. After about half an hour, Wendell jumped down and wandered off on his merry way. Jane was about to give up when she heard the front door open, and Clive stepped out.

“Hey, what are you doing out here?” he asked as he came over to join her.

She explained about her spotting Justin, how she’d hoped to head him off at the pass, and how he then disappeared completely. “He’s driving a Fiat Spider,” she told him. “Kenneth told me that much. I think he said it was a 1975 and completely restored.”

Clive sat in the porch swing. “Convertible?”

“Actually, it was. Although the top was up.” She considered asking Clive not to sit out here with her, because it might complicate things with Justin. But it seemed as if Justin was not coming. She and Clive visited amicably. He complimented her on her gardening skills in the front yard, admiring the pots she’d planted, and asked for some
tips for keeping them looking good throughout the heat of summer.

“I wanted to ask you about that refinishing technique you mentioned yesterday too, Jane. Is that a product I can get here in town?”

“Yes. The hardware store carries it.” Jane looked at her watch. “I have a feeling that Justin isn’t coming, or maybe I didn’t really see him earlier. It’s probably silly to just sit out here all morning, waiting.”

“It’s a lovely place to wait.”

“Yes.” She stood. “But it’s also a lovely day for a walk. Do you want me to walk to the hardware store with you? I could show you the product and also some crystals that will hold water in your pots, keeping your plants moist even on the hottest days.”

“All right.” He stood and smiled. “You are one handy girl to have around, Jane.”

Then, just as they were going down the walk, the little red car cruised by again. “That’s the car,” she whispered to Clive, as if the driver might hear her. This time Jane got a good look at the man behind the wheel, and although he looked away, she had no doubt it was Justin. She even waved, but he didn’t see her. He didn’t seem to want to see her. What on earth was he up to?

“So, is that your ex driving?”

“Yes. This is infuriating.” She watched as the red car kept right on heading toward town.

“Is he nearsighted?”

“No!” she practically shouted. “He is not.”

“Well, is he a little eccentric? Unpredictable? Unconventional? Peculiar?”

She sort of laughed. “Maybe so.”

“Don’t let him get to you, Jane.”

She sighed deeply. “I just wish I knew what he was up to.”

“I’m sure you’ll find out eventually.”

Jane decided Justin wasn’t worth getting all worked up over. After she and Clive spent a good hour at the hardware store, she told him that she’d like to stop for a cup of coffee.

“Who has the best coffee in town?”

“You mean beside the inn?”

“Yes. And I do think the coffee at the inn is wonderful.”

“How about the Good Apple?” suggested Jane. “And, if you don’t mind, I’ll use the phone there to check in with my sisters.”

He reached in his pocket and produced a cell phone. “Here, use my cell.”

“Thanks,” she said as she pushed the buttons. “My sisters weren’t too happy with me for ducking out with you yesterday.”

He chuckled. “Yes, I gathered as much last night. Either that or we had missed your curfew.”

She rolled her eyes. “Right.”

Louise answered, and Jane asked whether Justin had been by.

“Not that I know of.”

“And did you notice his car yesterday?”

“I think it was a little red car.”

“Yes.” Then Jane told her how he’d been driving around town today.

“But he didn’t stop to speak to you?”

“No.”

“Odd.”

“That’s what I thought. Anyway, I just wanted to check in with you. Clive and I are getting a coffee at the Good Apple.”

“Thank you, Jane. I appreciate you calling.”

“If Justin stops by, tell him to wait. Or have him call me here at the Good Apple. Or tell him to come over and meet me here.”

“Okay, Jane, I will do my best.”

“I appreciate it.” She hung up and handed the phone back to Clive. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He opened the door to the bakery.

But Justin didn’t call or show up, and after two cups of coffee, Jane felt she should get back to the inn. “Just in case he’s waiting there.”

But he was not. No one had seen him. Clive excused himself to work on his book for a couple of hours, and Jane and her sisters gathered in the kitchen.

“So, what am I supposed to do?” Jane asked them impatiently. “Do I simply sit around all day, waiting for Justin to drop in at his leisure?”

They both admitted that they didn’t know the answer to that question. Jane decided she would wait, but by one o’clock, she was bored and miffed, and when Clive invited her to give him a tour of the countryside, she eagerly agreed. However, this time she informed her sisters, telling them that he would have his cell phone, and she would ask that he leave it on. “All Justin needs to do is call me,” she said as she wrote down the number. “And I’ll meet him when he wants. Does that seem fair?”

“More than fair,” said Alice. “Have a nice drive.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

I
can’t believe that Justin didn’t call yesterday,” said Jane as she and her sisters prepared breakfast on Sunday morning.

“It seems rather odd to drive all this way and then avoid you,” said Louise.

“Perhaps he thought he would be interrupting something,” said Alice.

Jane thought that seemed unlikely but simply nodded as she poured warmed maple syrup into a glass decanter. Surely, Justin wouldn’t assume that Jane would have no social life. It wasn’t as if he’d made specific plans with her.

“Well, perhaps he will make an appearance today,” said Louise.

“If he’s still in the area.” Jane was beginning to think that maybe he had left town without bothering to speak to her. Maybe he’d lost his nerve. Or maybe he’d seen her and decided that he didn’t want to talk to her after all.

“I invited him to church,” said Alice quietly.

“What?” Jane turned to stare at her sister.

Alice gave her a weak smile. “On Friday, while we were chatting, I invited him to church, Jane. It just seemed right.”

“Do you think he will come?” asked Louise.

“I don’t know. He said he’d consider it.”

“I seriously doubt that he’ll come, Alice,” said Jane. “It was sweet of you to ask him, but it seems pretty unlikely.”

“It would do him good to come,” said Louise as she filled the teapot with hot water.

“I’d be shocked if he did,” admitted Jane. “He was never interested in anything even remotely related to church.”

“Maybe he’s changed,” said Alice.

Jane didn’t think so. There was something about his turning his head away yesterday, as if ignoring her, and then driving off, that made him seem like the same selfish, insensitive Justin. And more and more she found herself hoping he had already left the state by now. She wished he’d never sent her that letter.

Still, she tried to repress these negative feelings as she, Clive and Alice walked to church together. Louise had gone early to play the organ. And the other guests, including Belle, were walking not far behind them.

“Miss Howard,” called a pair of girlish voices from behind. The three of them stopped to see Ashley and Kate running toward them. They each took one of Alice’s hands and asked if they could sit with her in church. “We’re
friends now,” said Kate. “Thanks to you, Miss Howard,” added Ashley.

Alice winked at Jane, then introduced Clive to the girls, telling them how Mr. Fagler was an important writer for a big Philadelphia newspaper. The girls looked duly impressed, but soon turned their full attention back to Alice, clinging to her hands as they all went into the chapel together. Then, because there wasn’t enough room in any pew to seat all five of them, they split up. Alice and the girls sat in front with Jane and Clive behind them. Louise was already playing the organ, and Jane attempted to block the nagging thoughts of Justin from her mind as Kenneth came forward to preach. It was a fine sermon, and Jane knew she should focus on it, but paying attention was a challenge. Still, Jane did get the main theme: forgiveness. By the end of the service, she knew that the only person she needed to forgive—again—was Justin. And so, when Kenneth invited them to bow their heads and to use the quiet moment to forgive someone, Jane forgave Justin. She knew that she might not ever get a chance to tell him. Perhaps it didn’t even matter. Most importantly, she forgave Justin.