Love Inspired August 2014 – Bundle 1 of 2 (41 page)

Max gave her an I-doubt-that look, but he handed her the package.

Heather saw fringe first. A band of long green fringe, interspersed with a few shots
of black. As she began to unfold the soft fluffy fabric, she recognized it as knitting.
Only it didn’t look like any of the prayer shawls she’d seen before. Opening it more,
Heather uncovered an amazing design of the palest pink background with a flock of
flamboyant pink flamingos standing on each end. The pattern was such that the fringe
looked like sea grass and the black flamingo legs extended down to become the black
bits of fringe so that the whole piece looked like two flocks of flamingos standing
in the tropics. “Oh, Max! It’s incredible!” And it was. It was playful and soft and
just a little bit outrageous. The absolute perfect prayer shawl for her. “How?”

“Violet Sharpton. Evidently she enjoys a challenge.”

Heather held it up, laughing at the soft and silly flock of her very own. She pulled
it around her shoulders, feeling every bit of the affection she knew was behind the
gift. “I love it.” She leaned over so that the ends found their way around Max’s shoulders.
“I love you.”

Max pulled her down onto his chair. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He kissed her again,
and they sat there, wrapped up in flamingos and pure joy, looking out at the fall
spectacle that was the Gordon River in October.

It was as close to a perfect moment as Heather could ever hope to come. “So I guess
we do have a lot to celebrate today,” she whispered into Max’s hair.

“We could have a whole pie each and not come close to hitting the mark.” Max laughed
and planted a kiss on her shoulder.

“I think a slice will do. Karl’s?”

He spun the chair in the direction of the riverbank. “Hang on, darlin’—it’s all downhill
from here.”

Heather held up the shawl, letting the fringe flutter in the breeze as they rolled
toward town.

Chapter Twenty-Three

H
eather still hadn’t stopped grinning as she watched Karl push open the back door to
let them into the coffee shop. The old man’s eyes held a knowing sparkle, making Heather
wonder if she and Max looked as obvious as some of the high school’s more love-struck
couples.

She was not prepared for the waves of applause that broke out as they rolled to the
front. She’d forgotten that Karl’s gave an unobstructed view of the footbridge. When
she saw Violet Sharpton rise from the booth with the best view, she suspected it wasn’t
a coincidence.

Violet winked and gave Max’s shoulder a nudge. “I guess it did the trick?”

Max puffed up his chest. “Well, now, I’d like to think I had the lady’s heart before
I pulled out the knitting—but it sure helped seal the deal.”

Heather gave Violet a hug. “It’s wonderful. I can’t believe you came up with this
design. I love it.”

“It was a pleasure to make one for a happy occasion. Or one to
make
a happy occasion. When Max called and asked if it was ready, I knew it was time to
get the Tuesday women’s prayer chain fired up to help untangle this whole mess. Marge
was here having coffee when she caught sight of you two out on the bridge, so she
called me.” The older woman’s eyes sparkled. “Happiest stakeout I’ve done in a long,
long time.”

“Thank you, Violet.” Max grasped her hand. “Really.”

Violet pinched Max’s cheek as if he’d just become her eleventh grandchild. “My pleasure,
Hot Wheels.”

“I may just have to learn to knit this summer when school’s out,” Heather offered.

“Why wait? Melba’s a great teacher, and we could use a few more of your age anyhow.”
Violet raised an eyebrow at Max. “What about you? You could give knitting a whole
new kind of style.”

Heather pictured Max with yarn and needles and burst out laughing just as Max vigorously
shook his head. “I’ll pass,” he said. “I’m not ready for that kind of adventure.”
He took Heather’s hand. “If you don’t mind, I’ve got some celebratory pie to eat.
And thanks again. You’re one awesome grandma.”

Violet preened. “One awesome grandma. Maybe I can figure out a way to get that on
my license plate like you do. Go on, hon. Go eat pie with your sweetheart.”

Heather felt as if her cheeks were burning as she sat at the table Karl had already
cleared for Max. The whole restaurant was watching them. Max would always draw attention
wherever he went. Was she ready for that? Could she ever grow accustomed to standing
out like this with him? He took her hand across the table, his expression warm and
encouraging as if he could read her worries. He nodded toward their audience, who
were peering over menus or casting glances over coffee mugs or even flat-out staring.
“Maybe I could learn not to stand out quite so much, huh?”

She shook her head. “You?”

He gave her a heart-melting look. “I’d do it. For you.”

Goodness, but the man could ooze charm. “Don’t change. Don’t you dare fade into the
background.”

A little boy walked up to the table and pointed to Max’s wheels. “Are you a Transformer?
Like on TV?”

His mom immediately planted her hands over the boy’s mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

“Nah,” Max said, smiling. “It’s okay, really.” He angled out from under the table.
“I’m just a guy like you, only my legs don’t work as well as yours, so they need a
little help. But I can do a few neat tricks.” Max shifted his feet to make room on
the footrest, the same as he had done for Heather that night. “Here—hop on for a second
and I’ll show you.”

The boy looked up at his mom, who gave a cautious nod. “It’ll be fine,” Heather added,
seeing the mom’s worry. “I’ve done it.”

Max told the boy where to hold on, then wheeled out into the aisle and did a series
of spins that sent the little guy into a torrent of happy giggles.
He has such a gift for this,
Heather thought. How good it was to admire Max as much as she loved him.

“I can ride bikes like you.” Max’s voice held a tenderness she hadn’t seen in him
before. She remembered the hurt in his eyes when the little girl had stared the last
time they were in Karl’s. That edge was gone. “I like ice cream the same as you, and
I have favorite TV shows just like you. We’re the same in more ways than we’re different.
Don’t you think?”

“’Cept you gots a girlfriend. I’m too young for that.”

Max stared at Heather, holding her gaze with nothing short of a smolder as he spun
the boy one last time. “I sure do. And don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get your chance
one day with a smile like you’ve got. Hey, what’s your name, sport?”

“Theo.”

“You go to school here, Theo?”

Theo nodded. “Yep.”

“Well, maybe I can come to your class one of these days and show you all my cool wheel
toys. Would you like that?”

Heather’s heart swelled when Theo’s eyes lit up. “Sure!”

“I’ve got another friend named Simon who is in a wheelchair, too. Okay if he comes
along?”

The vision of Max and Simon visiting a kindergarten classroom practically reduced
Heather to tears. She grabbed Max’s hand as he returned to the table. “Don’t you dare
change. Don’t you dare tone it down, ever.” She swiped a tear from her burning cheek.
“It’s one of the things I love about you.”

Max laced his fingers through hers. “
Things?
Plural? Good. Let’s get some pie and you can tell me all of them.”

Epilogue

“W
hy are we stopping at the firehouse?” Heather asked as JJ pulled into the station
driveway after they’d had lunch after church one Sunday afternoon.

JJ undid her seat belt. “Max texted and I told him I’d swing by and drop you off.”

The February day was unseasonably warm, and Max had made plans to shoot hoops with
some of the firemen off shift. The game they played wasn’t quite basketball, but some
sort of game they’d dreamed up to accommodate Max’s sitting versus their standing.
He’d explained it to her twice and she’d even sat and watched the day Simon joined
in, but she still didn’t get it. It didn’t really matter—it was fun and Max had developed
deeper friendships with several of the GFVFD force. Max’s Element in the corner of
the drive now boasted an I Support GFVFD sticker on his back window like nearly every
other car in town.

She knew the basketball hoop was out back, but that didn’t explain why the bay was
empty. Usually there was always someone cleaning trucks or washing equipment, but
no one could be seen.

“They’re probably in there somewhere. Let’s go find them.”

Heather and JJ pushed through the station doors, Heather wondering if they always
kept the lights off like this. Wasn’t there supposed to be someone on-site all the
time? “Max?” Heather called. “Are you in here?”

“Back here.” Max’s voice came from the dining room, but she still saw no lights on
from over that way.

JJ began flicking light switches as they went until she finally reached the doorway
and threw the switch that bathed the dining hall in light.

Revealing Max amid a dozen or so firefighters standing at attention in full dress
uniforms behind him.

“Down!” came Chief Bradens’s command as he stood directly behind Max.

In perfect unison, the entire department removed their hats and got down on one knee.
Heather grabbed the chair next to her for support.

“Since I lack the ability to do this the traditional way, I thought I’d make do with
a few extra resources.”

He moved toward Heather just as JJ removed Heather’s hand from the chair and guided
her down to sit in it.

“Max...”

“Hang on,” Max interrupted, his smile a mile wide and a bit nervous at the same time.
“You’ll get your turn in a minute.” He reached behind him on the chair and produced
a small black velvet box.

Heather tried to remember how breathing worked and Max moved up right next to her,
picking up her left hand and smiling at the fact that she was shaking like a leaf.

“Heather Browning, I’d like very much to spend my life with you. Will you marry me?”

Her powers of speech left the building. She nodded once, then several times, finally
choking out a “Yes!” that sent the firemen into thunderous applause and hoots of victory.

Suddenly, more faces appeared from out of the kitchen. Alex smiled and whooped as
loud as the firemen. Melba—now fully showing with baby Maria—ran over to give Heather
a hug. Heather’s mom came out of the kitchen already in full cry mode. Max’s mother
kissed her son and then kissed Heather, too. Within seconds the room was filled with
people she knew and loved—half of Gordon Falls had been in on this, it seemed. Simon—entering
his second month back at school—was there, as were his parents. Margot, Violet, Pastor
Allen and even Karl.

Tonight, she didn’t find she minded being the center of attention at all. Not with
Max at her side, not even when Jesse Sykes began crooning the Motown song “Me and
Mrs. Jones,” earning him a cuff from JJ.

“We’ve gotta get that boy a girl,” Clark Bradens moaned.

“I’m working on it,” Melba replied. “He’s a bit...outlandish, you know?”

“Sometimes,” Heather offered, “those are the very best men of all.”

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from BLUE RIDGE REUNION by Mia Ross.

Dear Reader,

Max hounded me until I gave him his own story. This is
one of the great experiences for writers—when a story chases you relentlessly
until you give it life. The minute Max showed up in
The
Firefighter’s Match
(Gordon Falls, book 3), I knew he’d never settle
for his role as a secondary character. What fun it was to give him a love like
Heather Browning! I hope the delight I had in writing this tale comes through
for you, dear reader. If this is your first visit to Gordon Falls, make sure
you
go back and find
Falling for the Fireman
(book 1)
and
The Fireman’s Homecoming
(book 2), as well as
The Firefighter’s Match
(book 3). If you want to
know more about the prayer shawl ministry, please email me at
[email protected]
. As always, you can reach me at my website,
www.alliepleiter.com
, on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/pages/Allie-Pleiter/97112313209
, on Twitter at
twitter.com/alliepleiter
or P.O. Box 7026, Villa Park, IL 60181—I love to hear
from you!

Questions for Discussion

1. Have you had your life turned upside down by a tragedy? What have you brought away
   from that experience?
   
2. Do you agree or disagree with how Simon’s parents are handling his entry into high
   school?
   
3. Is there a gathering place like Karl’s Koffee in your community? What do you like
   about it? What don’t you like about it?
   
4. Max escapes on the
   Sea Legs.
   Where and how do you escape?
   
5. Have you ever been to a “happy funeral”? How does faith make such a thing possible?
   
6. Do you know anyone with Max’s in-your-face personality? What’s good about it? What’s
   not so good?
   
7. Is there someone in your high school memories who cared about you as much as Heather
   cares about Simon? What did they add to your life at that time?
   
8. Max says “the timing is way off” in his relationship with Heather. Have you had a
   relationship where the timing was “way off”? What happened?
   
9. If Simon had shown up angry on your doorstep, what would you have done?
   
10. School bullies are a complex problem to solve. What has been your experience? What’s
    worked? What hasn’t?
    
11. Do you have a Violet Sharpton in your community? What’s she (or he) like? What gifts
    do they bring?
    
12. How has faith helped you overcome the present and past obstacles in your life?