An April Bride by Lenora Worth Page A

did. You were a runner.”
    His grin reminded her of the old Marshall. “I do remember being tired after football practice and then making deliveries for my dad.”
    Stella thought about those years now. “We used to sit inside the screened porch at Flower Bend—on that old glider my mom won’t give away—”
    “And we’d fall asleep,” he added, moving toward her. “I remember that, Stella.”
    Stella went still. “You remembered me, just a little bit?”
    “I did.” He gazed down at her, his eyes full of hope. “I can see you there on the glider. In my arms.” The look of hope turned to something else. Confusion? Anxiety? Regret?
    “Marsh—”
    “Hey, Marshall, come on over here and get a free lunch on me!”
    Stella stepped back and thanked God for that one small memory. Then she put aside her doubts and found her manners. “Do you recall Mr. Denham? Doug Denham. He was our Sunday school teacher for years.”
    “His voice sounds familiar,” Marshall said. “Probably used to get onto me a lot for disrupting his lessons.”
    “He did,” she agreed, giggling. “He got onto both of us.”
    Marshall laughed too. “So what does he have over there to eat?”
    Stella guided him through the archway between the bookstore and the café. “Treats of all kinds that he and Mrs. Denham bake, and sandwiches and salads.”
    Before Marshall could say anything, Doug Denham came around the long wooden counter and reached out a hand. “I’m sure glad to see you, son. We always have a special deal here for our returning soldiers. Anything you want, on the house.”
    “Thanks, Mr. Denham,” Marshall said before giving Stella a helpless glance. “Seems like everyone wants to make sure I eat a good meal.” He turned back to Stella. “I had lunch with Nick yesterday. Guess I’m making the rounds.” He grinned at her. “Will you have lunch with me?”
    Stella was about to say she couldn’t when Patty came breezing up. “I just finished, so you go ahead. I’ll watch the store.”
    “Are you sure?” Stella asked. “You still have nearly all your lunch hour left.”
    “Which I’ll use to take an afternoon coffee break,” Patty said, her expressive eyes sending Stella a message. “Go ahead. Enjoy being with your fiancé.”
    Marshall looked straight into Stella’s eyes. “First time I’ve heard it put that way. I guess I am your fiancé.”
    Stella’s heart fluttered and crashed. Why did he look like a deer caught in the headlights? “That’s entirely up to you,” she replied. “You don’t have to be my anything if you’re not ready.”
    “Let’s get some food.” He walked past her and started talking to Mr. Denham.
    Stella had no choice but to follow, but she turned and shot Patty a confused look, then in desperation straightenedthe sugar and cream bar. Her friend motioned for her to go ahead.
    Swallowing her qualms, Stella said a quick prayer for discernment and plastered a smile on her face. “I’m starving,” she said as she waved to the other lunch customers and chatted with them to steady her nerves. When she reached Marshall, she asked, “What are we having today?”
    Marshall followed her to a table in the corner. “Mr. Doug says I used to love the chili. Did I?”
    Stella couldn’t stay hurt when he appealed to her in such a sweet way. “You sure did. At least two bowls every time we came in here.”
    “Chili it is,” he said. After he’d given a waitress their order, including a salad for Stella, Marsh leaned over the table. “Mr. Doug said you’re the one who convinced him and his wife to manage this place a few years ago. Is that true?”
    This was hard. He’d been so proud of her for trying to help the lonely couple. “It was selfish on my part,” she said, telling her hurting heart to straighten up. “I loved all the good food he and Miss Anne brought to the church dinners. So I asked my aunt Glenda—she owns the bookstore and this building—if we could open up