Falling for the Millionaire(22)

     



 

Was it time to rethink his wishes to keep skydiving and racing cars? If  he quit doing those things, would that endear him to Melody? He wasn't  sure that was the answer. Making those changes might put him right back  where he didn't want to be-having someone else dictate his choices in  life. But he didn't need to make any decisions tonight. He only wanted  to enjoy watching Melody in the next few minutes.

As the applause died and the crowd quieted, Ian stepped to the front of  the group. "Thanks, everyone. Let's give a big round of applause for our  servers and volunteers who have made this evening fantastic."

Again applause filled the air. Then Ian waved to quiet the gathering.  "We are truly blessed to have a lot of wonderful people who live and  work here in The Village. Tonight I want to thank one special person."  Ian motioned for Hudson to step forward. "Hudson Conrick and his company  have been renovating one of our buildings so we can expand our women's  ministries. He has something he'd like to share with you this evening."

Hudson turned to face the crowd. He surveyed the joy radiating from the  faces illuminated by the lights from the fountain and the quad. "Thanks,  Ian. It's been my pleasure to work here and get to know many of you.  Not long after I started the work here, I learned that there's a bell in  the chapel steeple. It's been silent for a long time because the  mechanism for ringing it has been broken. Tonight we're going to change  that."

A murmur went through the group, and Hudson looked over at Melody. With  her fingertips on her mouth, she gazed up at the steeple. Then she  glanced at him, an expression of awe brightening her features. She  dropped her hand as she smiled.

Giving Ian the signal, Hudson also turned his gaze. In the next second  spotlights flooded the spire and the bell began to ring, its booming  tones reverberating across the campus. A spontaneous cheer rippled  through the gathering, followed by applause that accompanied the chiming  bell. Hudson glanced Melody's way. She was walking toward him.

Tears glistened in her eyes as she stopped in front of him. "You're responsible for this?"

He nodded, his heart thundering along with the ringing bell. "As soon as you told me about it, I knew I had to fix it for you."

Standing on her tiptoes, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged  him. He gently held her in his arms and wished he never had to let her  go. He wanted to lift her off the ground and twirl her around in a  circle, but he resisted the urge.

She stepped away, her hand over her heart. "That's the nicest thing  anyone has ever done for me. Thank you. Thank you. I can never thank you  enough."

He wished he could tell her that she could thank him by not keeping him  on the edges of her life. But he feared ruining this good moment between  them.

The sound of the bell brought out residents from the women's shelter,  the children's homes and even the nursing home. The quad became a sea of  celebration. Folks lingered near the fountain even after the bell  stopped ringing. Hudson took in the joy with a renewed appreciation for  all he had in life. Sharing it had filled a lot of hearts with  happiness, especially Melody's. That was worth everything.

* * *

Luxury cars of every description lined the circular drive as Melody  pulled her aging gray sedan to a stop in front of the Conrick mansion.  Hudson had told her that he'd spent very little time in this house  because his parents had moved here after he'd started attending a  military prep school when he was fourteen. She couldn't imagine leaving  home at such an early age. Hudson had never said whether he'd liked the  situation, but it was probably part of doing as he was told.

Three weeks had passed since the Valentine banquet and Hudson's surprise  gift. Her heart still melted at his thoughtfulness. With what seemed  like a rather formal and cold upbringing, how had he become the  warmhearted man she'd come to know? Maybe she would find out today.

With her stomach tied in knots, she approached the mammoth house with  its massive front door. The leaded glass sparkled in the sunlight. What  would she find on the other side? Would a butler answer when she rang  the bell?

Holding her breath, Melody prayed that all would go well. Yet despite  her prayer, the old feelings of inadequacy engulfed her as she stood  there waiting for someone to answer the door. Would these women look  down at her with pity? Would they talk about her behind her back after  she left? Why did she still let her experiences from high school color  her perceptions? She was a grown woman, a child of God, and He valued  every person-rich or poor. It didn't matter what these people thought.

She tried to let that idea permeate her mind, but she couldn't forget  that, in a sense, it did matter what they thought of her. She wanted to  represent The Village in a positive light. Today she was the face of The  Village. She had to make the best of this invitation from Hudson's  mother to tell her ladies' group about these ministries.

A shadowy figure approached the door. When it opened, a woman of medium  height with carefully coiffed brunette hair smiled and extended her  hand. "Welcome, Melody. I'm Susan Conrick. We're so glad you could share  with us today."         

     



 

Melody's nervousness melted under the warm greeting as a heartfelt smile  curved her mouth. God was answering her prayer already. "Thanks for  having me."

"Come join the rest of the ladies in the solarium." Susan gestured  toward the back of the house. "I've been eager to meet you. Hudson has  said so many wonderful things about you and The Village."

"We're grateful for the work he's doing to expand our women's shelter.  It's going well." Melody wasn't sure what to think about Hudson talking  about her with his mother.

He'd become part of her daily life, but he'd kept his promise not to ask  her for another date. She was the one who had insisted it be that way.  So why did it bother her that he was abiding by her wishes? But this  meeting with his mother wasn't the time to examine that question.

"We thought it would be nice to enjoy the solarium room on a sunny day  even though the temperatures outside are chilly. Our weather this winter  has been quite crazy-warmer than normal one week and frigid the next."

"Yes, it has. March definitely came in like a lion." Melody took a  calming breath. The weather was always an easy topic of conversation.

Susan chuckled as she led the way through the well-accessorized living  room and past the huge kitchen accented with granite countertops and  with built-ins of every kind. "Let's hope it goes out like a lamb."

"That's my thinking, too." Melody tried not to gawk at the display of  wealth surrounding her. She prayed not to be judgmental or envious. The  two seemed to go hand in hand. "Your home is beautiful."

"Thank you. We enjoy it."

Who wouldn't? Melody pushed the thought away. Lord, I need Your help in all kinds of ways today. Keep my mind focused on You.

As they drew near to the solarium, the sound of laughter and  conversation drifted their way. Susan stopped and turned to Melody.  "Everyone's eager to hear what you have to say, but first we're going to  enjoy lunch."

"That's fine. I'll give my talk whenever you're ready." She tried to  produce a genuine smile, but she couldn't vanquish the fake one that  curved her lips. The nerves had returned.

Susan didn't move but turned and looked Melody right in the eye. "I hope  you don't feel as though I'm trying to put you on the spot. I  understand if you feel a bit nervous, but there's no need. This is a  lovely group of women, and we want to know how we can help your  ministry. Treat us like old friends."

Melody didn't know quite how to respond. The woman had obviously  recognized the nervous smile. "Thanks for trying to put me at ease."

Susan nodded and forged ahead around the corner.

Melody nearly stopped in her tracks when the solarium came into view.  Sunshine beamed through the glass ceiling and windows of the enclosure  and reflected off the white marble floors, making the place look like a  crystal palace. An oval glass-topped table, large enough to accommodate  over a dozen people, sat at the far end of the room. Fine china and  crystal goblets adorned the table. Spider plants hung from the beams in  the ceiling while foliage of every description filled each corner. This  marvelous room looked out on the pool that sparkled in the sunlight.  Melody had never seen such a beautiful room.

The chatter stopped when Susan stepped across the threshold and walked  through the seating area filled with rattan couches and chairs with  colorful overstuffed cushions and glass-topped end tables. "Ladies, our  guest has arrived. I'd like you to welcome Melody Hammond, women's  director at The Village of Hope Ministries."

Melody nodded, smiled and prayed again. She could do this. She'd spoken  at hundreds of events like this before. "Thank you for inviting me."