Hallie's Destiny (The Donovans of the Delta) (13 page)

As Josh stepped back from the railing and walked to the elevator, he decided that only dead men would remain unmoved by Hallie Donovan.

The lights on the elevator panels came on, and the electronic whirring announced the exact moment she started upward. Suddenly Josh was consumed with the need to feel her, flesh against his flesh, solid evidence that she really was in Florence.

The doors slid open and she catapulted into his arms. Not knowing whether they were alone, and not caring, Josh kissed her, long and hard. When he finally lifted his head, she was smiling.

“I thought today would never come, Josh.”

“I knew it would come, but it took a long time getting here.” He tucked her hand into his arm and led her toward his office. “Welcome to Florence, Hallie.”

“This town is wonderful. I already feel as if I’ve come home.”

He took time to introduce her to a still-gawking Sadie, before whisking her into his private quarters and closing the door. Without another word they were in each other’s arms, kissing as if their survival depended on it.

Wolfgang and Ludwig, who were accustomed to such carrying on between their mistress and the big man with the booming laugh, took the time to stalk around the office and explore the territory. They chose to flop down in the sun beside the window.

Josh finally pulled back to get his breath. “Hallie, you tempt me to abandon all rational thought.”

She smiled up at him. “Just how irrational do you want to be?”

“I want to shut down Silken Moments for the next hundred years and spend all my time with you. I even want to shut down real life.”

“I am real, Josh.” She spoke with a quiet dignity that riveted his attention. “There’s just as much reality in happiness as there is in adversity. Balance is the key to joyful living.” In a magnificent display of balance, she pulled off her Stetson and sailed it across the room. It settled rakishly on the head of the cardboard Woman in Red. Then Hallie leaned back in Josh’s swivel chair and propped her legs on his desk. “Well, now, pardner. What can I do for you today? My pets and I have come all the way from Memphis, Tennessee, and we aim to please. Anything your little ole heart desires. Just name it and it’s yours.”

Laughing at Hallie’s antics, Josh took a chair across from his desk. “You stole my lines. What does your heart desire, gypsy angel?”

“You.”

The look they gave each other sizzled. “And I desire you.” He nodded toward her dogs then toward the closed door. “But with a smaller audience.”

“Your place?”

She didn’t miss the shadow that passed over his face. “It’s equally as crowded. Dad’s there. And sometimes George.” Although he attempted to keep his voice light, she heard the strain. “We’ll leave your things here while we look for a permanent place for you to stay. I’ve already found several houses that look promising.” He paused to smile at her. “Before you get your dander up, let me explain that my motives are entirely pure. Nothing Robert Gilbertian here. I know this town, and I know what’s available.”

She laughed. “I was hoping for some impure motives.” She rose from her chair and came around the desk. Plopping into his lap, she circled her arms around his neck. Her face was earnest as she gazed into his eyes. “Josh, you need never be concerned about Robert Gilbert again. That’s a closed chapter of my life. I’ll never fear being manipulated or imprisoned by you.” She punctuated her last remarks with small nibbling kisses around his jaw.

“Let’s get out of here before I forget where we are.”

They took the dogs to the advertising department and left them in the care of Herb Williams.

Herb bent at the waist and leaned over Hallie’s hand in the manner of a gallant old-time gentleman. “It doesn’t seem possible, but you’re even more beautiful than when I filmed you five years ago.” He kissed her hand, then released it. “I hope you plan to model again. I’m already getting visions of you on a white bearskin rug in our newest line of silk teddies.”

“I haven’t given modeling a thought. I’m here to do theater work with special children.”

“In your spare time perhaps you can model. I’m serious, Hallie.”

“I’ll think about it, Herb.”

While she showed her dogs around the place and admonished them about good behavior, Herb turned to Josh. “Why didn’t you tell me she was coming? We could have made plans for her.”

“I have.”

Herb smiled. “A silk teddy and a bearskin rug without the camera?”

“Something like that.” He smiled at Hallie, standing across the room under a silk canopy, pointing to the silk pillows scattered across the floor and explaining something earnestly to Wolfgang and Ludwig. “Make no mistake about it, Herb. Hallie’s her own woman. If she wants to do some modeling, that’s fine with me. You know, of course, that I trust your instincts in hiring models.”

Herb gave him a searching look. “Hallie wouldn’t be just any model, would she, Josh?”

“No. Not just any model.” He gazed at her across the room. “Hallie’s special. Very special.”

“In that case, you’d better try to hang onto her. I know about fifteen men in Florence who are going to go crazy when they see her. If I were you, I’d make her mine. Permanently.”

Josh smiled. “Advice well taken.”

“But not heeded?”

“No.” He reached for Hallie as she came to his side. “Ready to go house hunting?”

“Yes. But first I want to see the theater.”

“Anything your heart desires.” Josh turned to Herb. “Thanks for keeping the pets. We’ll be back before five.”

 o0o

The theater stood on the corner of North Seminary and East Mobile, an old movie house with a deserted ticket booth and a faded marquee. Hallie stood under a small maple tree on the cobblestones and looked at the theater. There was an aura of magic in the air. Goose bumps rose along her arms. She could feel the excitement of crowds, smell the popcorn, sense the drama of make believe.

“It’s perfect, Josh.”

He laughed. “How can you tell? You haven’t even seen the inside.”

“I know. I can feel it.” She squeezed his arm. “Can’t you feel it?”

“What?”

“It’s magic. Years and years of magic, still lingering around, waiting to be used again.”

“I judge by the shine in your eyes that you’re planning to resurrect the magic.”

“Oh, yes. Can’t you just see it?” She waved her hand as if she were including all of Florence in her plans. “We have the right combination—a perfect town, a perfect theater, special children . . .”

“A perfect teacher.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Let me show you the inside.”

Even in the heat of August, the theater was pleasant inside. The walls were thick, built many years before air conditioning was an everyday convenience. The seats were plush, the curtains velvet, and the air musty.

“It will take some cleaning and repair. Let me show you backstage.” Taking her hand, he led her through a small door. “Everything back here seems to be in working order. I’ll have a crew come out and help you as soon as you decide what you want.”

She stood for a moment, glancing from the theater to the man who had made her dreams come true. All of them, she thought. Not just her dreams for a special children’s theater, but her dreams of loving a man, the right man. A scene from her childhood suddenly came to her: She and Hannah had been ten, sitting in the meadow behind their house in Greenville. They’d strung sweet red clover blossoms together and decorated themselves. Both wore crowns and bracelets and necklaces of red clover.

“What do you want to be when you grow up, Hallie?” She could hear Hannah’s voice as clearly as if she were standing in the theater.

“I want to be in love and have a big family, just like Mom.”

It was an old dream that had gotten sidetracked. After her marriage to Robert had proved to be such a disaster, she’d shoved the dream aside. Now, standing there with Josh, the dream came back, full force. He was the man, the only man who could make that dream come true.

She was filled with longing. She wanted to marry him, to bear his children.
As soon as you decide what you want,
he’d said.

She held out her arms. “I want you, Josh,” she whispered.

“Hallie.” He held her close, gazing tenderly into her eyes. Then, ever so slowly, his mouth descended on hers. It was a kiss of such burning Intensity she felt as if she’d reached up and touched the sun.

“I’ve wanted you in my arms so much these last two weeks, I thought the wanting would kill me. Ahhh, my sweet gypsy angel.” His mouth closed over hers.

I love you, Josh
. The words sang through her mind, and she longed to say them aloud.
Not yet, not yet
, caution told her.

Hallie reveled in the feel of his mouth on hers, then she noticed a difference. It was so subtle she almost missed it. She might have missed it if she hadn’t been so attuned to him, so much in love with him. But it was there. He was holding back. Unlike the times they’d been together in Memphis, there was a restraint in his kiss, as if he were hiding a part of himself from her.

The truth filled her with a nameless fear. Just as he had first kept his real life in Florence a secret from her, he was now keeping a part of himself secret. It was the town, she thought. Florence. There where his family life had been twisted and tangled into an ugly, misshapen creature, he couldn’t love freely. Might never love freely. The truth scared her.

He held her close, his cheek resting against her hair.

“Hallie, I. . .” He hesitated, as if what he’d been about to say astounded him. “I’ve missed you.”

She lifted his head and kissed his brow. “I’m here, Josh. I won’t go away.”

“I won’t let you.”

They embraced for a long while, not speaking, simply feeling the closeness of each other. Finally, they moved apart.

“I’m going to name this theater Jubilee.”

He smiled. “That’s an odd name for a theater. Any special reason?”

“Yes. You have filled me with a joy so great that it can only be called jubilee. I hope to bring that same kind of joy to my special children.”

“I am honored, Hallie. And humbled.”

“You are special.” She kissed the tip of his nose. “And I’m very hungry.” She smiled impishly. “For food.”

They walked down the street to Trowbridge’s for lunch. Sitting in a plastic booth at a Formica-topped table, eating sandwiches, then ice cream, they talked about Hallie’s project. Josh told her about training centers for special children in the Quad Cities, named the schools that had special education classes, told her the people she’d need to contact to get her program set up. She shared her plans with him. She envisioned her theater as an integral part of the school system and the training centers, not simply as an after-school activity. She’d concentrate on drama, but music would also be a part of her activities.

“You’ll have complete freedom with the endowment, Hallie. I don’t pretend to have any expertise in your field.”

“Our arrangement has to be strictly business, Josh.”

He smiled. “It seems to me that’s the way we started out.”

“We did. Once upon a time at Ray Hubbard Lake.” She leaned over to lick the top of his ice-cream cone. “Mmmm. I can’t resist strawberry.”

“I’ll have to remember that.”

She became serious. “This is different. I can’t let our personal life influence or jeopardize this program.”

“I wouldn’t want it to, Hallie. I’ll require semiannual reports. If you like, I’ll appoint somebody from my accounting department to administer the funds, pay your salary, and keep the books.”

“You must have read my mind. Bookkeeping is not my forte.”

“I know something that is.”

She gave him a devilish grin. “In Trowbridge’s?”

“Wicked skinny-dipping angel.” He stood up and took her arm. “Let’s go look for a house.”

 o0o

Hallie fell in love with the third house they visited. It was redwood and glass, rustic and welcoming, set among dogwood and redbud and oak trees. Birds chattered and sang around the birdbath just off the redwood deck in the backyard.

“It’s marvelous, Josh. How did you ever find it?”

“The owner is an old friend of Dad’s. They go back a long way. I knew that she had rental houses. When I found out you were coming, I called her.”

“Can you imagine how gorgeous it will be in the spring when the dogwoods and redbuds bloom?” She closed her eyes, threw back her head and breathed in the air. When she opened her eyes, Josh was smiling at her. “It even feels like home. Who is the owner? Can we see her today?”

“Yes. Her name is Debbie Cox, and she lives right next door.”

Debbie Cox was tall and rangy and wrinkled and as lively as a sack full of wildcats. When they walked into her yard, she looked up from her gardening, threw down her hoe, and came trotting up to them.

“Josh Butler! If you don’t look just like your daddy did.” She patted his face. “The last time I saw you was . . . let’s see . . . two or three years ago when you hosted that benefit for the American Cancer Society. When you called last night I nearly bout dropped my teeth.”

She turned her avid attention on Hallie. “You must be the friend he said was comin’. Lord, if you’re not as pretty as a speckled pup. You remind me of myself in my younger days.” She laughed at her own immodesty. “I made men’s eyes pop in those days.” She turned back to Josh. “Even Hiram’s. How’s your daddy? Folks around here never see much of him.”

“He’s healthy.”

“But still moping, huh?” She patted Josh’s face again. “Now, no need to put up a front with me. Everybody in Florence knows he’s been mullygrubbing around since Margaret’s death. It’s a damn shame, too. He used to be a fine figure of a man.”

“We came to see you about the house next door, Miss Cox,” Hallie said, wanting to change the subject for Josh’s sake.

“Lordy, just listen to you. No need to call me Miss Cox. Debbie will do. I don’t need any reminders that I’m an old maid.” She linked her arm with Hallie’s. “I bet you’d love to see the inside of that house. You’re lucky. Of all my rental property, it’s my favorite. Just came vacant last month. Folks that had it relocated to Russellville.”