better than you know yourself and you don’t mean half of what you just said. You wait and see. I’ve always been a better judge of people than you. Am I right?”
Luke nodded. It sounded weird to say this about a guy, but Ben saw with his heart, not his head.
“For now, be kind. That’s all I ask.”
They stared at each other for a few, long seconds. Luke shrugged. He’d never had Ben’s capacity for patience. His faith. Was Ben really asking so much of him?
“Okay. Lead the way.”
Chapter Six
She couldn’t keep from sneaking a glance at the office door every few seconds. The fact of Ben and Luke sitting behind a closed door discussing who-knew-what shouldn’t concern her. She and Ben had a business arrangement. Personal issues with inconvenient relatives should make no difference.
“Juli?”
She jumped, clapping a hand to her chest. “Oh. Sorry. Guess my mind was elsewhere.”
Maia laughed. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Take a look around and I’ll check on the customer who just came in.”
She hadn’t even heard the bell. Maia and the customer moved over to the counter. Juli strolled around checking out the pottery and the wood carvings. A four-foot-tall, carved white egret made her pause. The sleek feathering cut into the wood begged to be touched.
The bell rang again as the customer left.
“He’s a beauty, isn’t he?” Maia had returned to stand beside her. “A local artist, Paul Hemmings, carves wildlife from native woods.”
“Do you think Ben would like him?” Juli looked more closely. “There’s no price tag.”
Maia giggled and put her arm around Juli’s shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze. Juli was surprised by the impetuous embrace.
“Girl,” Maia said, “listen to me. Ben didn’t mention any price limits, did he? Just go with what you like. Plus, he gets a nice discount.”
“Okay, I like it.”
“I’ll wrap it up.”
Ben and Luke walked out of the office together. Ben had his hands in his pockets. Luke’s arms were crossed. They were about the same height. Ben’s coloring was warmer and softer.
“What did you choose?” Ben took the wrapped egret from Maia. “I recognize this. Excellent choice, Juli. I’ve admired this piece many times. Can’t think why I didn’t get it myself a long time ago.” He leaned toward her and touched her arm.
Did he want to kiss her cheek? She thought so and she wouldn’t have minded, but didn’t encourage him. It didn’t feel natural. Instead, she returned his look with eyes she hoped were glowing. If Ben wanted Luke to see he was happy with his decision, she’d be delighted to help.
When they returned to Ben’s house, there was a car in the area beneath the house where the pilings created parking spaces. A car top carrier was still strapped to the roof, but items were sitting on the asphalt behind the car as if awaiting their turn to make the trip up the side stairs.
“The neighbors are here.” Ben checked his watch. “They’re a couple of hours early.”
“The neighbors?”
“I meant the renters. Our neighbors for the week.”
“They’re early?” She’d found Ben’s remark odd. Did he care about their arrival time?
“Check-in with the rental management company is usually four p.m., that’s all I meant.”
Juli had lived most of her life in apartments. Privacy and quiet were nice, but a little noise wouldn’t bother her. In fact, neighbors might even be a handy distraction, something to talk about while she and Ben got their relationship sorted out.
Ben’s footsteps dragged as they climbed the stairs up to the door. Juli carried the egret.
He napped. Ben tired easily, but otherwise he seemed good. Juli had trouble reconciling what he’d told her about his condition with how well he looked. She pulled the wrappings from the egret and placed the tall, carved bird beside the fireplace. Not satisfied, she tried it next to the front windows. She couldn’t decide so she left the egret near the
Luke nodded. It sounded weird to say this about a guy, but Ben saw with his heart, not his head.
“For now, be kind. That’s all I ask.”
They stared at each other for a few, long seconds. Luke shrugged. He’d never had Ben’s capacity for patience. His faith. Was Ben really asking so much of him?
“Okay. Lead the way.”
Chapter Six
She couldn’t keep from sneaking a glance at the office door every few seconds. The fact of Ben and Luke sitting behind a closed door discussing who-knew-what shouldn’t concern her. She and Ben had a business arrangement. Personal issues with inconvenient relatives should make no difference.
“Juli?”
She jumped, clapping a hand to her chest. “Oh. Sorry. Guess my mind was elsewhere.”
Maia laughed. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Take a look around and I’ll check on the customer who just came in.”
She hadn’t even heard the bell. Maia and the customer moved over to the counter. Juli strolled around checking out the pottery and the wood carvings. A four-foot-tall, carved white egret made her pause. The sleek feathering cut into the wood begged to be touched.
The bell rang again as the customer left.
“He’s a beauty, isn’t he?” Maia had returned to stand beside her. “A local artist, Paul Hemmings, carves wildlife from native woods.”
“Do you think Ben would like him?” Juli looked more closely. “There’s no price tag.”
Maia giggled and put her arm around Juli’s shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze. Juli was surprised by the impetuous embrace.
“Girl,” Maia said, “listen to me. Ben didn’t mention any price limits, did he? Just go with what you like. Plus, he gets a nice discount.”
“Okay, I like it.”
“I’ll wrap it up.”
Ben and Luke walked out of the office together. Ben had his hands in his pockets. Luke’s arms were crossed. They were about the same height. Ben’s coloring was warmer and softer.
“What did you choose?” Ben took the wrapped egret from Maia. “I recognize this. Excellent choice, Juli. I’ve admired this piece many times. Can’t think why I didn’t get it myself a long time ago.” He leaned toward her and touched her arm.
Did he want to kiss her cheek? She thought so and she wouldn’t have minded, but didn’t encourage him. It didn’t feel natural. Instead, she returned his look with eyes she hoped were glowing. If Ben wanted Luke to see he was happy with his decision, she’d be delighted to help.
When they returned to Ben’s house, there was a car in the area beneath the house where the pilings created parking spaces. A car top carrier was still strapped to the roof, but items were sitting on the asphalt behind the car as if awaiting their turn to make the trip up the side stairs.
“The neighbors are here.” Ben checked his watch. “They’re a couple of hours early.”
“The neighbors?”
“I meant the renters. Our neighbors for the week.”
“They’re early?” She’d found Ben’s remark odd. Did he care about their arrival time?
“Check-in with the rental management company is usually four p.m., that’s all I meant.”
Juli had lived most of her life in apartments. Privacy and quiet were nice, but a little noise wouldn’t bother her. In fact, neighbors might even be a handy distraction, something to talk about while she and Ben got their relationship sorted out.
Ben’s footsteps dragged as they climbed the stairs up to the door. Juli carried the egret.
He napped. Ben tired easily, but otherwise he seemed good. Juli had trouble reconciling what he’d told her about his condition with how well he looked. She pulled the wrappings from the egret and placed the tall, carved bird beside the fireplace. Not satisfied, she tried it next to the front windows. She couldn’t decide so she left the egret near the
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