Gold in the Fire and Light in the Storm (12 page)

“I’ve come to depend on Lizzy as a friend.” A glint entered his eyes. “Much like you and Joshua.”

“Dad,” Darcy said, warning him.

He held up his palm. “I won’t say another word.
We’d better get a move on or all the best items will have sold before we arrive.”

“The auction isn’t until the end. We eat first.”

Her father started for the door. “I like that. A good plan. Fatten us up before taking our money.”

“It’s for a good cause. The outreach program at the church does some wonderful things.”

“Yes, I know, Darcy. I’m the one who started it years ago.”

“You did?” Darcy walked out of the office ahead of her father, realizing she didn’t know him nearly as well as she’d thought.

“Yep. Reverend Collins and I came up with the idea over one of our Saturday morning coffees. I’m gonna hate to see him retire.”

“He’s retiring?” Darcy could only recall Reverend Collins as the pastor of their church. It would seem strange without him at the helm.

“He’s been talking about it for the past few years. I think he will within the year.”

“Mom! Grandpa!” Sean called. “Where are you? Joshua is here. We need to go.” The shouts from the entry hall boomed through the house.

Darcy shook her head. “I think he wants to get going.”

“With him I’m noticing it’s all or nothing.”

“You’ve about summed up my son.”

“I’ll go get Lizzy in the kitchen. We’ll follow you all there.”

“Mom!”

Darcy stepped into the foyer. “I’m right here.”

“Good. Let’s go.” Sean raced for the door, threw it open and disappeared out onto the veranda.

Darcy faced Joshua. The small foyer grew even smaller with his presence. They were alone for the first time in a week, since the talent show. An eternity. She’d missed Joshua.

“Mom! Joshua! Let’s go!”

One corner of his mouth hitched up. “Are you ready?”

She scooped up her large bag. “I am now.”

On the drive to the church Sean chatted nonstop about the Fourth of July picnic, then the auction. Since the church wasn’t far from Sweetwater Lake, he checked to make sure that Darcy had brought his swimming suit.

“Who’s gonna be watching you all?” Darcy asked as they neared the church.

“Me for one. I volunteered to be the lifeguard from one to two.”

“And have you had training?”

“Mom! Joshua can do anything.”

Joshua laughed. “Listen to Sean. He’s got it right. But to put your mind at rest, yes, I have had training. I was even a lifeguard for two summers as a teenager. I’ve also had paramedic training.”

“See. I told you he could do anything.”

Her son had a good case of hero worship, and the funny thing was, she did too. Joshua was the type of man she wished she’d met years ago before Clay. Then maybe she wouldn’t be so cynical about love and marriage.

Joshua parked his truck near the picnic area because he had brought his grill to use for the hamburgers and hot dogs. Lizzy, in the farm’s truck with her father, had their contribution to the picnic—Lizzy’s German potato salad.

Sean leaped down from the cab and raced toward his friends by the playground. Darcy, next to Joshua, her side pressed against his, watched her son until he was swallowed up in the crowd of children.

“You’ve done such a good job with him.”

Sean had left the door open and a soft breeze cooled the warming air in the cab. Her heartbeat kicked up a notch and she found beads of sweat popping out on her forehead. “My, I may have to join the kids in the lake.”

“Did you bring a bathing suit?”

“Yes.”

“Then you can help me lifeguard.”

“But I haven’t had any training.”

“That’s okay. You can keep me company.”

The intimacy in that last sentence caused perspiration to bead on her upper lip. She wiped away the moist film only to have it quickly reappear. Before too much longer she would be drenched in sweat and it would have nothing to do with the quickly climbing heat of July.

“Aren’t you afraid I might distract you from your mission?”

He cocked his head, thought for a moment and said, “Now that you mention it, you’d better stay as far away from the lake while I’m on duty as possible. You in a bathing suit would be a definite distraction.”

A rivulet of sweat rolled down her face. “Boy, I’m thirsty. I see Jesse is setting up the iced tea and lemonade.” Before she was tempted to stay and find out what else was a distraction for Joshua, Darcy slid across the seat and exited through the open door.

She started to make a beeline for the refreshment table, then realized there were items in the back of the truck that needed to be unloaded. The twinkle in Joshua’s eyes did nothing to cool her down. She needed to seek shelter from the sun—and Joshua Markham.

After taking the lawn chairs and a blanket to the area where everyone was gathering, Darcy strode toward Jesse. Darcy snatched up a paper cup and filled it with iced tea, then dumped several packets of sugar in the cold drink.

“So you and Joshua came together,” Jesse said, taking a sip of her lemonade.

Darcy rolled her eyes and started to walk away.

“Avoiding me won’t work, Darcy O’Brien.”

She spun about, her hand on her waist. She took a step toward her friend and lowered her voice. “Just because you were happily married doesn’t mean marriage is for everyone.”

Jesse glanced over Darcy’s shoulder. “One Joshua Markham coming in at twelve o’clock. Be seeing you.”

Before Darcy could form a retort, Jesse had escaped and Joshua had reached the refreshment table. He poured himself some tea and downed it in several swallows.

“Where’s Jesse off to?”

“Probably somewhere to cause trouble. I never knew how troublesome she could be until—” Darcy clamped her lips together, realizing what she’d almost revealed to Joshua.

“Until you became the object of her matchmaking?”

“Right.”

“Do you know she warned me against Carol years ago?”

“She did?” Darcy’s estimation of Jesse’s matchmaking skills was rising.

“Yes, said we weren’t made for each other. And it turns out she was right.”

“One out of how many?”

Joshua shrugged. “Who knows? She’s always looking for love for everyone but herself.”

“Odd, isn’t it?”

“No, not really. When you’ve been hurt badly by love, some people would just prefer not to experience that feeling again, so they avoid it.”

“But her marriage was a good one.”

“Divorce or death can still produce the same kind of hurt. When you hurt because they’re no longer around, it doesn’t much matter how that came to be.”

“Or when she leaves you at the altar?”

He checked his watch. “I’d better get moving. I’m in charge of grilling the hamburgers before my lifeguarding duty.”

Darcy watched Joshua’s retreating, ramrod-straight back. Why was she trying to force the issue with him?
She was no more ready for a long-term relationship than he was.

While the men grilled the food, the women laid the side dishes out on the card tables under the large oak trees in the small field between the church and Sweetwater Lake. Darcy, assisting Lizzy, scanned the gathered crowd.

“Have you seen Tanya? She said she and Crystal would be coming.” Darcy uncovered the salads and baked beans.

Lizzy’s brow wrinkled in a deep frown. “She was supposed to bring her brownies everyone loves, but I don’t see them on the dessert table.”

“I wonder if something happened.”

“You know Tanya. She’s forgetful and—”

Her mind racing with all kinds of scenarios, Darcy dropped the spoon and hurried toward Joshua. Reaching his side, she grabbed his arm as he flipped over a hamburger. “Can I borrow the keys to your truck?”

He took one look at her face and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Tanya and Crystal aren’t here. I’m worried. I—”

Joshua handed the turner to Reverend Collins and started toward his truck. “I’ll drive.”

“You don’t have to go. I’m probably overreacting.”

“I want to go. What if something has happened? Remember my paramedic training? Tanya can be fashionably late, but not this late.”

Now Darcy
was
alarmed.

J
oshua made the short drive to Tanya’s house in under ten minutes. The second he stopped, Darcy was out of the truck and running up to the door. She pressed the doorbell and kept ringing.

What seemed like hours later but was actually only minutes later, Crystal answered the door, tears streaking down her face.

Darcy clasped both her arms and squatted in front of her. “Oh, baby, what’s wrong?”

“Mom. She won’t get out of bed to take me to the picnic like she promised.”

The hammering of Darcy’s heart calmed slightly. “What did she say?”

The young girl sniffed. “Not much. Just that she was tired. But she’s been sleeping for the past few days almost all the time.”

Darcy straightened. “I’ll go talk to her and see if I can get her to come with us.”

Darcy found Tanya lying on her bed, the covers tossed about as though the woman had been wrestling with them. Darcy went to the draperies and opened them to allow bright sunlight into the room. Tanya groaned and covered her head with a pillow.

Sitting on the edge of the bed next to Tanya, Darcy said, “You have a little girl in the next room crying because you aren’t taking her to the picnic like you promised.”

“I can’t do anything right, Darcy. It’s just easier to stay in here and not have to deal with things. It’s not worth it anymore. It’s just too much for me to deal with.”

Darcy felt shaken to her core. It was worse than she had thought. Remembering her own mother and what had happened to her scared Darcy for Tanya. “I don’t talk about this with many people, Tanya, but my mother was bipolar.”

Tanya stirred, flinging the pillow away and looking at Darcy. “Your mother?”

“Yes. I know what Crystal’s going through and it’s frightening for a child. She thinks everything that is happening to you is her fault. But it’s not. Something’s wrong. Your medication is not working. You need to go back to the doctor, but you won’t. My mother did the same thing. Finally her illness got the best of her, and I’m the one who found her when she killed herself. Is that what you want for your daughter?” She’d tried kindness. Now she was desperate and hoped tough love
would prompt Tanya to get the assistance she needed to control her moods.

The woman blinked, tears rapidly filling her eyes. “No. I—I—” Her mouth moved but no words came out.

“You have a choice. You can stay here and feel sorry for yourself or you can get up, get dressed, and let me drive you to the hospital.”

“Hospital?”

“I think you need to see a doctor right away, and since it’s a holiday, that’s the best place to go to get help immediately. Obviously things aren’t working out right now. Your antidepressant isn’t doing the trick. I’ll help you if you’ll help yourself. What do you say?” Darcy held her breath, afraid that Tanya would turn away and pull the covers over her head—like her mother had.

“What about Crystal?”

“Joshua can take her to the picnic and then to my house afterward. You don’t need to worry about her. I’ll take care of her. The important thing for you is to get help
now
.”

Emotions battled in Tanya’s expression. Finally determination glinted in her eyes. She swiped away the tears and scooted to the side of the bed. “You’ll help?”

“Yes.”

Slightly dazed, Tanya combed her fingers through her stringy, dirty hair. “I don’t know. I look awful. I need a shower. I haven’t done laundry in days. I can’t go anywhere looking like this.”

“Get into the shower. I’m sure we can find something for you to wear. I’ll have Joshua go on and take Crys
tal to the picnic.” Darcy assisted Tanya to her feet. She wasn’t giving Tanya a choice. She wasn’t going to let her end up like her mother. She hadn’t been able to help her mother, but she would Tanya. Then maybe the guilt she felt would go away.

Darcy strode to the living room and motioned to Joshua, who had been telling Crystal a joke. The child’s laughter died on her lips when she saw Darcy. “Your mother will be fine. I’m going to take her to see the doctor.”

Worry furrowed the young girl’s brow. “Why?”

“Her medicine isn’t working. The doctor can help her with that. She wants you to go to the picnic and have fun. Joshua will take you and then afterward you can come to the farm and play with Sean for a while. He could use some help with Lady.”

Crystal started to say something, but didn’t.

Darcy kneeled in front of the child’s wheelchair. “Your mother will be all right, honey. Promise.”
Because I won’t let anything happen to her
, she added silently, her resolve strengthening.

“I do have a book I want to show Sean.”

“Go get it. Then you and Joshua can leave.”

Joshua waited until the child had wheeled herself out of the living room before asking, “Is everything all right?”

“I’ve convinced Tanya to go to the hospital. Hopefully she will get the help she needs. Her depression is getting worse. Something’s wrong.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay or meet you at the hospital?”

“We’ll be okay. Crystal needs to go to the picnic. She needs to get out as much as possible, be around friends. I don’t want her upset over her mother. Just take care of her for me.”

“I can do that.” He moved closer, lifted his hand and brushed his finger across her cheek. “I know your mother was bipolar. Are you okay?”

His touch sent comforting waves through her. She should have realized Joshua would be perceptive enough to pick up on her own sorrow surrounding her mother. “I won’t sit by and watch Tanya destroy herself if I can do anything to help her. My mother committed suicide because she wouldn’t get the help she needed. I’m gonna make sure Tanya gets help.” She didn’t normally talk about her mother and the way she died, but with Joshua it felt right.

“Aw, Darcy. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” He took her face in his hands, stepping even closer.

His scent surrounded her in a soothing cocoon. His expression, full of support, nearly undid the composure that she was determined to maintain. Tanya needed a strong friend right now.

“I know this isn’t the time nor the place, but I’m here for you if you need to talk.”

The constriction in her throat prevented any words from forming. She leaned closer to him until only a breath separated them. Her lips tingled in anticipation of his kiss.

“I’m ready, Joshua,” Crystal said from the doorway.

Darcy jumped away from him as though she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “See you two soon.” Feeling a blush rise to her cheeks, she turned away and headed back toward Tanya’s bedroom.

She could forget where she was when Joshua turned his charm on her. If this kept up, how was she going to be able to leave in five weeks with her heart intact?

Only two weeks until Darcy returned to Panama City. Easing down on the ground, Darcy couldn’t believe how fast the summer had flown by. The dapple effect of the sunlight streaming through the trees mesmerized her. She propped herself against an oak, her legs stretched out in front, and watched the play of light on dark. Sounds—the flow of water over rocks, birds chirping, the rustle of leaves—punctuated the quiet. A crow’s call pierced the air. One of the horses lifted her head and looked around, then resumed chewing on some blades of grass.

Her haven.
Made even more special because Joshua was here beside her sharing it with her.

“
I’m
going to miss this,” Darcy said, bringing one leg up so she could rest her arm on her knee.

“I’m going to miss it.” Joshua eased down next to her. “I can’t believe I don’t get sore anymore when we ride.”

“I’m sure Dad won’t mind you coming out and going for a ride.”

“It wouldn’t be the same without my teacher.”

She smiled. “You’ve been a good student.”

“My teachers in high school would be surprised to hear you say that.”

“You mean you weren’t the model student?” She widened her eyes in mock shock.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but I did visit the principal’s office a few times. You know the old saying, boys will be boys.”

“Don’t let my son know that,” Darcy said with a laugh. “I didn’t get to ask you how the fishing trip went the other day. We didn’t have any fish to eat that evening so I’m thinking it didn’t go well.”

Joshua’s mouth curved downward. “Not according to my plans.”

“Which were?”

“I had a big ol’ catfish in mind for dinner. It just didn’t oblige me.”

“I don’t understand why not.” She shifted so she could face Joshua. “The important part was that Sean had a great time. He’s now trying to talk his grandfather into going fishing. Dad won’t have anything to do with it.”

“I personally like to have a reason to do nothing. I’m always on the go, and to be able to sit back and wait for a fish to nibble is just fine by me.”

“Why do you have to have a reason like going fishing to rest and take it easy? It’s okay to do that every so often.”

“This from a woman who is working twelve-hour days.”

“That’s so my father won’t put in that kind of time.”

His laughter echoed through the glade. “Darcy
O’Brien, let’s face it. You love working with the horses and running the farm.”

No, I don’t
, she wanted to retort, but she knew that was a lie. She did love working on the farm, especially now that she and her father were getting along. He was continuing to teach her about the business, but this time he was also complimenting her when he liked what she was doing.

“In two weeks I’ll have to put this all behind me and go back to my regular job. School starts the third week in August and I have to get the library up and ready to go.”

“Which do you prefer, books or horses?”

His simple question stole the breath from her lungs. She averted her gaze, trying to figure out how to respond, surprised she didn’t have a ready answer. A month ago she would have said books without a moment’s hesitation. Now she couldn’t honestly say.

“Why, I like to ride a horse and read at the same time.”

“Nope. I’m not letting you off that easily.”

“I’ve almost finished my part of the Sunday school lesson for this week. I love the story of Ruth.”

Joshua laid his fingers over her mouth to stop her flow of words. “And don’t try to change the subject. You’re always prepared for the children on Sunday morning. It must be the teacher in you.”

“Technically I’m not a teacher but a librarian.”

“Do you deal with children every day?”

She nodded.

“Do you teach them about how to use the different resources of the library?”

“Yes.”

“Then I think you’re splitting hairs.”

His fingers had fallen away but were now on her upper arm, massaging slow circles into her skin. She liked that he liked to touch her. Goose bumps pricked her from head to toe. She shivered.

“Cold? It’s over ninety.”

No way was she going to tell him that he could make her tremble with a mere touch. The smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth told her he knew exactly the effect he had on her. She was dangerously close to giving her whole heart to him. She had to keep focused on the fact she would be leaving in two weeks and wouldn’t return until Christmas.

“You never told me which it would be—horses or books?”

“Haven’t you ever had two options, each with its own special benefits, that you can’t choose between?”

“I doubt when all aspects are examined that they would be equal. One would stand out over the other.”

“Well, then my answer is that I haven’t examined all aspects and can’t give you an answer.”

“You didn’t think you would like managing the farm, did you?”

She shook her head. “Not when I showed up two months ago. I dreaded it. Now when I get up each morning, I look forward to the day.”
Partly because you are so much a part of that day
, she added silently, wishing she could deny it, because she didn’t see them
having a future. She didn’t think she could risk her heart again. The scars from her last encounter were still healing.

“I for one like seeing your father attending church again. It’s a small church and we rely on its members participating in it fully.”

“And have you seen Lizzy smiling lately? I definitely think something is going on with my father and her.”

“It’s about time.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Everyone in town except your father knows that Lizzy has been in love with him for years.”

“When it comes to relationships with people my father can be a bit slow. He’s great with animals, though.”

“Which I’m thankful for. I found a stray cat that he said he’ll take. He wants one for the new barn going up.”

“Helps keep the mice population down.” Darcy tossed a pebble toward the stream and heard the splash as it hit the water. “Speaking of pets, Crystal is crazy about her therapy dog. I’m so glad you were able to help her get one so fast.”

“I have a few connections. A therapy dog can help her to be as independent as possible.”

“She’s so excited. Can’t wait to show the kids at church. She’s actually looking forward to school starting in the fall. She thinks Charlie will be the hit of the school.”

“He probably will be. How many kids get to take a pet to school every day?”

“I’m glad I don’t have to testify at Tom’s trial. Since
he pleaded guilty, there won’t be one. I wouldn’t want to make things any worse for Crystal or Tanya.”

“I think that’s what made Tom not fight the charges. He’d put his family through enough already.”

“They’re still trying to pick up the pieces, but the church has been great to Tanya and Crystal. And Tanya even found a job yesterday.”

Joshua’s brows rose in surprise. “She did? Where?”

“At the bank as the receptionist. She’s excited. She hasn’t worked since before Crystal was born.”

“When I’ve visited, she’s been on more of an even keel.”

“Yes, she’s really trying to stay on her medication and promises me she will see the doctor regularly.”

“She’s lucky to have a friend like you.”

“I just wish I could—” Her throat caught around the words she wanted to say.