CHAPTER One
Not that she noticed, but Ellie Newsome’s heart picked up a beat…every time the phone rang.
Frankly, the waiting was making her nuts. She was annoyed with herself for nonetheless expecting a call from Luke, the man who had moved quietly inside her heart in so short a time.
Would he ever call? Did he even think of her? Since almost two months had passed and there had been no word from him, it was obvious a call was still up for debate. She’d thought, at the very least, they’d had a reasonable and friendly relationship. Little did she know.
Hesitant from the beginning, after his accident, but she had taken his children and Luke into her home and helped nurse him back to health. Now, he’d determined it was time to resume responsibility for his family. Ellie realized the timing was right and admired his decision but wondered how he’d fare with the reality of being a recent widower and now the single-handed care giver of his two young children.
Though Luke didn’t punch a time clock, even working at home would have its drawbacks. Children and their concerns weren’t written down or followed with a checklist. Ellie absolutely saw a housekeeper and a nanny in his future, if he hadn’t already hired one or both. She had no doubt Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yx8jhsct
Luke could handle most any issue that came up, but he had a huge and time consuming business to run. She wondered if he actually knew how many different hats he’d need to wear? He’d soon find out—if he hadn’t already.
The understatement of disappointment was that Luke Conway hadn’t called before now, and as her eyes traveled toward the caller I.D. ringing in, the call wasn’t from him this time either. Certainly, a couple of months was long enough to get settled into his home. But what did she know?
Her thoughts shifted back to how and why they’d met. Even though she’d welcomed his children into her home and cared for them after his wife had perished at the car accident scene before Thanksgiving last year, she had also cared for Luke while he recovered from his injuries in the same accident. She wanted no thanks, but to hope for a phone call was within reason.
But then why would he call her? He was dealing with the grief process of losing his wife, which was still raw, for him and his children. Danni, almost ten, was old enough to remember her mom, but Brett was now only eighteen months old, so the effect on him wouldn’t be so traumatic, at least for now. She worried about Danni, because she’d gone through a painful withdrawal after her mother’s death. Danni had embraced Ellie and gave the impression that she looked to her for support. Now, without Ellie’s interaction, she suspected, Luke was in for more than he anticipated with his strong, but sensitive little girl.
None of the thoughts and dreams inside Ellie’s head were Luke’s fault, or for that matter, hers. Certainly she hadn’t planned to fall for him. Quite the contrary, she’d fought against it when the concern of caring for him day in and day out had grown stronger with each passing moment. It was clearly one of those reactions, in simple terms, that had happened. He hadn’t pursued her or given her any reason to believe, that for the two of them, there would be expectations of a romantic connection any time soon, or ever, for that matter. Only once had she noticed a responsive gaze in his eyes. She should have paid more attention to reasoning, instead of letting her heart guide her into a challenge which she had no control.
Luke would need time, and she’d give him all the time he needed and deserved. Even though she was working through a recent unpleasant break-up with her husband, she’d vowed one day to win Luke’s heart.
That one wish she wouldn’t let go of, no matter the outcome.
Even though the trouble with wishes were…every now and then…they didn’t work out and someone always got hurt. Wishes were held in the heart and this was one wish she hadn’t planned or expected.
His children held a special place in her heart, but to use the children to win over Luke, would be the worst mistake ever. That wasn’t happening. Ever.
Ellie missed his children. She missed Luke. She would work out a strategy somehow to accomplish her wish. If Luke wasn’t to be hers, then it wasn’t meant to be, and she’d accept the consequences. If she were to lose him, it would break her heart. She wouldn’t think of loss though. She had to stay positive, remain on track and bide her time. Whatever the outcome.
The last thing on Ellie’s mind, and the last thing she wanted to do was to carry on a conversation, but picked up the phone when she saw whose name had popped up on the display. Grateful for the bond they’d formed, she’d always made time for Gage. Gage Landon had befriended her and helped guide her through the grief after Ellie had miscarried two babies. When Ellie’s had husband walked out on her two weeks after the second miscarriage, Gage had been there for her then, too.
“Hi. I thought I’d touch base in case you need anything,” Gage said, then giggled. “Plus, you know how curious I am. I wanted to see how you’re doing.”
Ellie laughed at Gage’s energy that projected itself across the line. “Hi, yourself…and yes, I do know how you are by now. Thanks, but no. I don’t need a thing. I’m good. One exception. If you could bring the snow to an end, that would be a blessing.”
Gage was a valuable friend, and she didn’t know what she’d have done without her. She’d taken to Ellie from the day she had moved to Apple Lake. Ellie valued Gage as though they’d been friends all her life. She was full of life and had more enthusiasm than anyone she’d ever known…from taking care of her family, to working at the Children’s Center with her director husband, Matt. Gage and Matt had married two years ago after discovering each other, at the park through their dogs, and their second chance at love. Ellie didn’t know any two people who were as equally compatible, or who deserved more happiness.
“I’m afraid I can’t do anything about the snow. I know I’m being nosey, but have you heard anything from Luke since he moved back home?” Gage asked.
“Nothing. Nada. Not one word. Not even a phone call from Danni. In fact, I expected her to call, even if Luke didn’t.” Ellie sighed and pulled an envelope from a stack of bills, then discarded the piece of junk mail in the wastebasket beneath the desk. She logged onto the computer, then waited while the sluggish internet opted to come up.
“Give them a bit more time. I’m sure Luke has his hands full,” Gage said.
“I’m sure Luke has been getting the children settled and Danni in school after the holidays. I can’t believe it’s 2018…the New Year has already passed and so has Valentine’s Day. Where has the time gone?”
“Tell me about it. I can’t believe it’s almost March. The older we get, the faster the years zoom by,” Gage said, then laughed. “So, tell me how you’re adjusting since the children and Luke have moved back home after Christmas? Are you lonesome?”
Gage was aware of how close a connection she’d formed with Luke and his children. There was no reason not to be truthful. “To be honest, I miss all of them like crazy. The house is too quiet and I have way too much time on my hands. So, yes. It’s a bit lonesome around the house.”
“Let me help you, Ellie. Volunteers at the Children’s Center are forever in demand. There’s a position for you if you’d like. There are days we’re short-staffed due to illness or other concerns, and now is one of those opportunities for someone with your approach toward children. You have considerable abilities to offer our children. Plus, with you working at the center, we’d have more time to spend together.”
“I don’t know, Gage. There are a few choices to consider before I could commit.”
“I understand. You wouldn’t be required to be here every day. We could set up a schedule or you could choose to be an on call volunteer. What do you say, Ellie? It’ll get you out of the house. I worry about you and wouldn’t want to see you become depressed.”
Ellie pivoted her chair around to face the window, and gazed out over the second floor deck at the blanket of glistening, white swirls that spread as far as she could see. The unexpected snowstorm had dropped ten more inches of snow across the North Georgia Mountains over the past three days. Now the snow flurries had, at long last, slowed to a gentle downfall, which was a good thing. The snow they’d experienced the past three months was enough to last a lifetime.
“I have no intention of letting myself become depressed. Before the children and Luke came to live with me, I’d decided to place myself back into the work place. It’s important that I do something even more so now. The house is much more isolated now without the never-ending sounds of children underfoot. I miss them. A steady job will fill the long hours and help keep me sane. Still, there are my mom and dad to consider and working part time with you would allow me to take care of them should the need arise.” She sighed. “I’ll give your offer some thought.”
I miss Luke too, but I won’t go there. There is nothing to do except wait on time. Time for Luke to grieve. Time for me to hold to the wish in my heart that Luke will one day be mine.
“Good idea, Ellie. Let me know if I can help in any way. My offer stands though. Please give it some thought if the job offers you receive aren’t to your liking. We could possibly find a paying position for you at the center. I can certainly give you the hours, paid or volunteer. When you decide, give me a call and I’ll speak with Matt.”
“A job offer is kind of you, Gage. You always go the extra mile to help a friend. What on earth would Matt think of you creating a paying position for me?” she teased.
“Matt cares for you as much as I do, Ellie. You know that. I’m certain he’d be happy for me to spend more time at home.” She laughed.
“You know how there isn’t anything he likes better than to come home to the scent of a home cooked meal.”
“Yes, I do. I don’t know what I’d have done without both of you being there for me when I lost the babies. Not to mention after Ryan walked out on me.” A lump formed in her throat at the thought of losing her babies, but she swallowed back the pain and took a deep breath. “I have a great deal to thank you for, Gage.”
“Nonsense. That’s what friends are for, Ellie. So, let me know when you make up your mind. Either way is good as long as it makes you happy. Things will work out…you’ll see.”
“I have no idea how you stay so positive. I’m thankful though. Your way of thinking has a way of rubbing off on me.”
No matter how long it took, Ellie was going to do something worthwhile with her life. She wasn’t exactly sure what that something was right now. Choices would present themselves if given enough time, and if she worked hard enough to make her inspirations happen.
“I’ve had plenty of experience working through problems. I’ve found it’s the only way to get through life’s difficulties, and believe me, I’ve had more than I ever want to count. Oops. Gotta put you on hold a minute, Ellie. Be right back.”
Ellie logged onto her bank while she waited for Gage to come back on the line. Sophie had curled inside her bed beside the desk, with her nose tucked under the blanket.
She grinned, bent down and scratched Sophie behind an ear. “Are you cold, Sophie girl?” She got up and reached for another log to add to the fire when Gage connected their call again.
“Okay. I’m back. I’m sorry to cut our conversation short, but Matt has called a meeting and he’d like me to attend.”
“Thanks for calling, Gage. Go take care of business and I’ll catch you later. Give my best to Matt.”
“Yes, I will and…if you should talk to Luke, tell him we’d love to have him and the children over for dinner one evening.”
Okay. Miracles do happen.
“You bet. Catch you later.”
When Ellie turned back to pay her bills online, she pulled up the joint checking account she shared with Ryan. Because Ryan was a lawyer and claimed he needed ready cash, they’d kept a minimum of twenty thousand dollars in the account. Ryan insisted Ellie transfer funds from her inheritance account. For unknown reasons, a bell had gone off in her head. She’d not felt secure doing that, so she’d only deposited from her personal account, which she’d required be separate, even after they’d married, and he’d do the same from his personal account.
Something was wrong with the bank numbers.
Copyright ©2022 by Carol DeVaney
All rights reserved. These novels, stories and any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.
All rights reserved. These novels, stories and any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.