Someone to Trust Page 7

  Megan’s heart was stirred. It seemed her doubt about there being a God vanished, but there was still some hesitation as to why God would love her. And, if He truly loved her, why had her childhood been like it was? Could there be a purpose for her childhood and the mess she’d made in her adult life? Was there a purpose, as Cindy proclaimed, to her being in Laurel Ridge? Would this search for meaning ever end?

  Yes. A still small voice whispered to her aching heart. I have the answers you are searching for.

  Megan looked quickly at Lee to see if he had spoken, but his head remained bowed. She shook her head. No, the voice had come from within. She shook her head again, but she was unable to shake the tingling sensation she was feeling. This time it had nothing to do with Lee.

  At the close of the service, people filled the aisles to leave. Many of the children raced outside to play chase in the valley, while their parents mingled and socialized in small circles.

  Somewhere in the process of it all, Lee slipped out, unnoticed by Megan. She couldn’t fathom how a man his size could move that quickly and unobtrusively. Nevertheless, she fully intended on locating him before he left. She must talk to him.

  Megan made her way down the aisle, quickly saying her farewells as she passed a few of the people she had come to know and headed to the front steps of the church. Pastor Dan was shaking hands with the flock as they departed. Momentarily not caring what he thought, Megan blurted, “Did Lee Grainger pass this way?”

  After a quick recovery from his surprise, Dan pointed down the hill toward the gravel parking lot. “He’s headed toward his truck.”

  “Thanks,” Megan gushed and dashed away.

  “Nice to have you here, Megan,” the minister called behind her with a laugh. Megan decided she might need to explain her actions later, lest he think she was interested in Lee on a personal level.

  Megan caught up with Lee, just as he was about to get into his truck. She was out of breath from the speed in which she was attempting to walk down the steep hill and through the gravel lot to where he was parked.

  “Lee,” she called, getting his attention. He paused and turned toward her. Just as Megan reached the bottom of the hill, she stepped on some loose pebbles. Given that she was wearing heels which were not at all conducive to this terrain, she felt her ankle twist, causing her to lose her balance. She landed face first in the dirt at Lee’s feet. Once there, she just lay, motionless.

  “Megan!” Lee called, with concern kneeling over her. “Megan?”

  Still, she lay there. Silently.

  Oh, God, please let the ground open and swallow me up. She moaned. If You care about me the way people say You do, You’ll just allow the ground to swallow me.

  She knew it was a ridiculous prayer, but it made such perfect sense at this moment in time.

  There wasn’t the slightest rumble, or the tiniest groan, issued forth from the earth. There was no movement at all. Except that of gentle hands rolling her over onto her back. She kept her eyes tightly closed.

  Much to her dismay, two huge tears escaped the confines of her tightly closed lids and rolled down her cheeks. Great to add insult to injury, I can’t even stop crying.

  “Megan, are you hurt?” Lee asked anxiously. “Megan, look at me. Are you hurt?”

  She opened her eyes, trying to see him through the cloudiness of tears. “No, I’m not hurt.” She pushed herself up into a sitting position.

  “I’m not hurt,” she repeated.

  “You’re crying,” he stated the obvious, as he checked her legs for broken bones.

  “That’s true,” Megan admitted. “I’m sorry about that. Could you please just help me up, before someone sees me lying here and my humiliation is complete?”

  Lee nodded, stretching out his hands for her to grab as he pulled her to her feet. She winced the moment weight was put on her ankle.

  “You are hurt.” This time it was a statement.

  “Not really, only my pride is broken. I think I may have twisted my ankle, but it’ll work itself out in a bit. Really, I’ll be fine,” she assured him, wiping the tears from her cheeks and straightening her clothes.

  “I feel like such a fool,” she muttered more to herself than to him.

  Lee stood gazing down at Megan’s tear streaked face. Even disheveled, she was more than lovely. A couple strands of chestnut hair had escaped the clasp and were framing her perfect, oval face. Her warm amber eyes glistened from fresh tears, some of which clung wetly to her long lashes like a couple of diamonds. Her creamy skin reminded him of a porcelain doll. As Lee examined her face more closely for scratches, he thought he saw a smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose, which he found adorable. His eyes were drawn to her mouth where she was chewing nervously on her lower lip. Lips that were—

  “Lee?” Her husky voice brought him to attention.

  “Yeah?”

  “I followed you out here because there is something I need to say to you.” She had his complete attention.

  “Okay, I’m listening.”

  “I needed to say…what I mean is…I wanted to apologize.” She held up her hand to silence him when he started to interrupt her.

  “Please, let me finish. I’m afraid I’m not very good at this. I need to apologize for my behavior the other day when…when you asked me out.” She cleared her throat and continued. “I’m not excusing my actions but I reacted the way I did because I thought you were married.”

  “Married? Where did you get that idea?” Then a light went on for him. “Wait a minute, that night at the church fellowship after the macaroni salad episode, you mentioned my wife. I was on the phone with an emergency when you rushed off. I didn’t have time to explain to you that I don’t have one.”

  Megan nodded. “Yes and then when you asked me to dinner I was furious. I assumed another man…I assumed a married man was asking me out.”

  “Megan, I realize you don’t know me well enough to know this, but I would never ask a woman out on a date if I were married, or committed in any way. It goes against everything I stand for.”

  “I’m sorry. For believing the worst about you and for judging you without knowing you.”

  Lee waved his hand. “Let’s put it behind us, shall we?”

  Megan nodded her agreement. “I would like that.”

  “Why don’t we start from scratch? On the right foot, so to speak?”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  In answer, he extended his hand. “Hi. I’m Lee Grainger, bachelor, animal doctor extraordinaire, and all around good guy. I am currently looking for a friend.”

  With a giggle, Megan took his hand, clasping it for a firm handshake and finding herself rather tongue-tied.

  “And you are?” he prodded with feigned ignorance.

  “Oh.” Megan chuckled again. “I’m Megan McCormick, copywriter, and Laurel Ridge’s local klutz.”

  “You don’t say?” he asked in mock surprise at her admittance of being a bit accident-prone.

  “It’s true,” she countered. “Anyway, pleased to meet you, Dr. Grainger.”

  Lee shook his head. “Oh no, if we’re going to become friends, Miss McCormick, you must call me Lee and I’ll call you Megan, if you’ll permit.”

  Megan laughed. “Very well then.”

  “I have another idea,” Lee interposed. “What do you say we skip the formalities all together and have lunch? I know a great little—”

  Megan extracted her hand and backed away one step. Lee saw the look of confusion on her face. She was as skittish as a new colt and he had no desire to scare her away.

  “As friends,” he reiterated. “Let’s go to lunch together—as friends. Look, I may spend most of my time with what some people would refer to as dumb animals, but I can plainly see when a girl isn’t ready for a serious relationship.” She seemed to relax a bit.

  “Besides, I don’t believe a man and woman can have a real relationship unless they are first friends.”

 
Slanting her head to one side, she studied him warily, much as he’d seen many animals do as he tried to gain their trust. She seemed torn between bolting and coming closer. He proceeded with caution.

  “Come on…” he coaxed. “It’s just lunch. Afterward, if you decide being friends with me isn’t a good idea, then that will be it.”

  Suddenly, she laughed. That sound was as beautiful as the sound of the meandering brook trickling over the rocks behind his cabin.

  “You’re crazy, you know.”

  “So, I’ve been told.” He grinned.

  “Okay, we’ll have lunch together—as friends. I’d like to follow you in my vehicle, if you won’t be offended.”

  “No offense taken. A girl can never be too careful. At least let me drive you over to where you’re parked, especially until we know for certain that ankle is indeed okay.”

  She nodded, limping slightly as she followed him around to the passenger side of the truck.

  Chapter Eight

  As it turned out, Megan ended up riding with Lee. Before Lee pulled the truck onto the highway he turned to Megan and asked, “Would you mind going to a place in Chatley?”

  Megan considered the request for a moment. Chatley was a thirty minute drive across the mountain; she’d never been there and thought she might enjoy seeing the town. Besides, she’d heard the drive included incredible views and she didn’t have anything pressing to do that afternoon.

  “Not at all,” she said.

  “Great,” Lee said, with a wide smile before whipping out his cell phone and punching in some numbers. Megan listened as he reserved a table for two and gave their estimated time of arrival to the person at the other end of the line.

  Lee snapped his phone shut with a grin and a wink at Megan before pulling the truck onto the road.

  The town of Chatley was smaller in size than Laurel Ridge, but just as well preserved. By the look of the quaint village, it was a hidden jewel and frequented by quite a few tourists. It boasted a couple of cobblestone streets, remaining from a bygone era. Lee stopped his truck on just such a street in front of a two-story Victorian home. The home’s wide veranda displayed lush hanging ferns, porch swings and rocking chairs, all of which beckoned anyone passing by to relax in peaceful comfort.

  As Megan walked up the brick walkway, she read the sign standing in the well-manicured yard, CHATLEY’S BED & BREAKFAST INN, HOME OF VERA’S OLD-FASHIONED FAMILY CUISINE.

  “This place is beautiful.”

  For a moment, her heart raced as Lee grinned at her. Acting only as a gentleman, he placed his hand in the small of her back and guided her up the stairs. He hadn’t kept it there beyond that time but she could still feel the pressure and the sensation.

  “Come on in,” Lee invited, guiding her with a hand beneath her elbow, through the solid oak and oval glass door. They stepped into the wide foyer of the old home and Megan instantly felt as if she had stepped back in time. Everything was perfect from the elegant flowered wallpaper, to the rich draperies at the foyer windows, to the polished oak floors with their original luster and beauty.

  Lee rang the bell resting on an antique desk which doubled as a reception stand. “You go ahead and look around if you like. I’m sure our table is almost ready.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind waiting here with you.”

  “Are you kidding? I can tell you’re itching to check this place out. I’ve been here before so you go on.”

  How could he discern so much about her in such a short time? How could he have known she would love a place like this? A lucky guess, perhaps. Or maybe he didn’t have a clue. Either way, she wasn’t wasting any more time standing around trying to figure it out. She was going to explore this perfectly lovely home. She couldn’t get over how a business, and apparently a successful one, could truly feel like a home. The owners must be really special to create a retreat like this.

  Megan wandered through the front rooms of what obviously was once a grand mansion from the Victorian era. Lace curtains wafted gently from the breeze flowing in through the tall open windows of the large parlor. Along one wall of the parlor was a massive fireplace with an exquisite mantle covered in detailed engraving. Megan caressed the surface and marveled at the intricate carvings. Antique, Queen Anne, winged-back chairs and a settee, covered in rich brocade, were proudly displayed on either side.

  Beyond the parlor was a glass sunroom scattered with thick, comfortably padded wicker furniture. A few of the inn’s residents were enjoying the sun filtering in as they relaxed or read.

  Megan heard soft laughter and her attention was drawn to the wide, curving staircase with its ornate banister. A young couple was descending from the second floor. They bantered playfully as they took the steps, and upon reaching the bottom, the young man lifted the woman from the final step and into his arms where he planted a kiss firmly on her lips.

  She laughed merrily and Megan’s heart wrenched.

  Young, romantic love.

  For Megan, it had been romantic all right, a romantic illusion. Fanciful fallacy.

  Feeling Megan’s eyes on them, the young man turned and offered an explanation, “We were married two days ago.” His face was practically beaming with joy as his bride blushed and gave Megan a shy smile.

  “Congratulations,” Megan offered, sincerely.

  “Thanks,” they returned in unison, virtually floating out the door.

  “Megan…” Lee’s deep voice called, pulling her from her dreamy abstraction.

  Megan followed Lee down the hall to a glass pane door, hoping he hadn’t been able to read the emotions she was feeling, or if he had, that he would be much too polite to mention them. He just smiled tenderly and opened the door for her, stepping aside for her to exit first.

  She stepped down a few steps and onto a brick walkway that led right up to a white, privacy fence gate. Lee opened that as well, and once more, stepped aside for her to pass through into paradise.

  “Oooh!” Megan breathed in awe. This place was beautiful! No, it was more than that, she decided. It was amazing.

  She was standing in the most exquisite garden she had ever seen. She could not imagine the care and time involved in maintaining such a place. Several feet ahead of her, on the brick path, was an arched cobblestone bridge that crossed over a quickly moving stream. Beyond that were ivy covered arches, arbors and fountains. Interwoven throughout the garden were wrought iron tables, with thickly padded chairs added for comfort.

  The garden itself was a myriad of color. The dogwood trees had budded and within the next week or so would be in bloom. Some petunias were already beginning to bloom; the bulb plants such as the lilies, tulips and gladiolus were either opening or about to open. Climbing roses were woven, unrestrained up a trellis, which in another month would be a riot of color. Megan wondered what color they would be.

  A large gazebo containing yet another set of tables and chairs added to the beauty of the garden, like a centerpiece on an elegantly decorated table. Lee guided Megan into the gazebo and helped her to be seated. As he pushed her chair under the table for her, she caught the clean woodsy scent of him again. It really is a nice smell.

  Once he had taken his own seat, he asked almost hesitantly, “Do you like it?”

  “Are you kidding?” Megan exclaimed in an awe-filled voice. “How could I help it? I believe this is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It’s like something out of a fairytale.”

  His smile was one of such genuine relief at her honest pleasure, her heart melted and she was taken aback by his desire to want to please her. He hardly knows me.

  As if reading her mind, he said, “I like for my friends to be comfortable and happy. It’s an added bonus if they enjoy the things I do.” Their eyes met and held for a moment of silent understanding.

  Megan broke the silence. “I can’t believe we’re the only ones here. Is this real or did we step into a book? This reminds me of something I’ve seen in a movie or…”

&nbs
p; “…Alice through the looking glass in Wonderland,” he finished for her with a laugh.

  “Exactly.”

  “No. We’ve just missed the Sunday brunch crowd,” he explained.

  At that moment, a waitress seemed to appear from out of nowhere to take their order. “How hungry are you?” Lee asked.

  “I’m famished,” Megan replied honestly.

  “Great. Would you mind if I order for the both of us?” Funny, Trevor never asked if she minded, he’d just assumed and ordered. She didn’t realize until this instance how much his continual assumptions had bothered her.