Billionaire Flawed 1(136)

“James!” She called out. Everyone turned to look at him as he approached.

They all began to greet him. Hettie was amused to see the crowd gravitate toward James, wishing him well, almost hiding him from her sight. She caught his eyes straying to her while he responded to the people, smiling at them, removing his hat, shaking hands.

Hettie didn’t get up.

After a short time, the crowd dispersed somewhat, going back to what they had been doing. Liz and James stood to the side, talking in low voices for a few moments. Hettie tried not to watch them but was curious about their conversation. Neither seemed upset. Liz appeared to be apologizing, and James responded by nodding and pulling his sister into a hug. When they pulled away from each other, they smiled, and Liz moved off to find John, leaving James to gaze at Hettie.

She saw him looking and smiled at him, finally getting up.

“Hello,” Hettie said, approaching him. “I would have come over sooner, but you would think it was your birthday the way everyone gathered around you.”

At first, he didn’t say anything to her. Then he looked down at his hands, where he was clutching his hat firmly. “I must apologize for my behavior the other day, Hettie.”

“You must not worry about that.” Hettie shook her head. “I realize you were very surprised to see me. I hope that you aren’t upset with Liz about it. I am a grown woman and can take care of myself.”

“I am not upset with her.” James shook his head. “I am more upset with myself. I don’t generally treat strange, beautiful women that way.”

Hettie smiled at the compliment and looked down. “Thank you, James.”

“Shall we sit and talk?” He asked, holding out his hand to the chair she had been sitting in. She returned to it, and he pulled a similar chair nearby to sit close to her.

“How are you enjoying it here so far?” James asked, picking up a few of the same carrot sticks she had been eating from and taking a few bites.

“Actually, I find the atmosphere very refreshing. I know it is much warmer than my home in Virginia, but I like it. I would rather be warm than cold, wouldn’t you?”

He laughed. “I better. I live here.”

She laughed with him. “Yes, I suppose so. And now I do, so I better learn to like it if I don’t.”

“But you do?”

She nodded. “I do.”

He looked around at the crowd and then back at her. “Would you like to go for a walk?”

Hettie looked up at the darkening sky. “Do you think we will be caught in the dark?”

James glanced around them. “There’s a lantern. We’ll take it just in case.”

“I would like to go for a walk then. But you carry the lantern.”

His wide smile made him, even more, appealing to Hettie. She tried not to let any kind of reaction come across her face. She couldn’t help smiling back, though.

They stood up, and she followed him to fetch the lantern and then down the garden path. “We’ll just walk around the house and land here, Hettie,” James said. “We won’t stray far from the path, I promise.”

“Good,” she responded. “I do like to stay on the proper path.” The one ordained by God, she thought but didn’t say.

He gave her a look that made her wonder if he’d known just what she was talking about.

“I want you to know that I’m not some big brute who likes to go around yelling at strangers…women or men.” His voice was low and gentle. Hettie found that she enjoyed listening to the sound of it when he talked. “I have been through a lot in my life, and it’s hard for me to…get by sometimes. I do hope you can understand what I mean by this.”

I do. Hettie didn’t speak the words aloud. She just looked at him with encouraging eyes. She nodded to let him know he should continue.

“When…when my wife was killed, it took a lot out of me. It took away the life in me for a long time. I only focused on the job. I keep the peace. It’s what I have to do to make sure the people here are safe. Safer than I…I had to work a lot harder to keep everyone safe. To make sure.” He stopped.

Hettie looked at him. “James, is it all right if we sit on the steps of the house to talk? I’m a little weary from being on my feet most of the day.”

“Oh, of course!” James nodded and they turned in the direction of the front of the house. He didn’t continue talking, and when they sat, it was Hettie who talked instead.

“James, Liz told me what happened with your wife and I’m so sorry to hear it. I’m sorry that you were so broken from it. I know how depressed you have been, and I understand it. I lost my mother in a tragic way, as well. She was killed when I was twelve. It took my father a long time to stop mourning. There’s just something you need to remember. When someone dies, you don’t want to let go. But eventually, you have to. You have to let God have it. It’s the only way to save your soul. I don’t know why your wife had to die or why my mother had to die. But God knows. And we have to trust Him.” She stopped and tilted her head, putting one of her small hands into one of his.