“No, that’s not it. It’s not easy seeing her decline, but I think we’ve all been bracing for moments like this.” Mac didn’t say the words out loud, but he was pretty certain his father knew that it still broke all their hearts.
“So what is it?” Alec narrowed his gaze. “Is it something about Delilah?” he asked in a low voice. “I have to admit, it threw me a little to see the two of you here together. You’ve been pretty adamant about not going out with her.”
“I have been stubborn and pig-headed,” he admitted. “But now, everything feels so different. Being in her presence…I’m having a hard time putting it into words.”
Alec flashed a brilliant smile. The familiar rumble of his laughter rang out. “There’s a spark between the two of you. Even a blind man could see it. It’s natural, Mac. Don’t fight it so much. If you and Delilah find something wonderful together, I’ll be the first one to throw the confetti. But there’s also the chance of developing a wonderful friendship with her. Even if that’s all that happens, consider yourself blessed.”
Dad was right. He was blessed. He’d known that for a long time. His life was rich with family, friends and good fortune. Although he appreciated the pep talk, he knew his father was wrong about one thing. From this point forward, having a friendship with Delilah would be impossible. Although he wasn’t a man who harbored a lot of dreams for his future, he was beginning to dream about something infinitely more romantic developing with Delilah. It excited him. Inspired him. And terrified him at the same time.
“God works in mysterious ways. For so long I tried to get pregnant and carry a baby in my womb. In the end, God showed me a different path to motherhood. We never know when our blessings will show up. But when they do appear, we need to open up our arms and embrace them.”
Maggie Donahue
Chapter Four
It was barely two o’clock in the afternoon and the day was already proving to be a challenging one. Rusty’s call from the auto shop had confirmed her worst fears. Lucy was a goner. Her car was toast. And now she was going to have to do some research to figure out Lucy’s replacement. Thankfully a few friends had promised her rides to and from work and to social engagements until she purchased a used car. She felt grateful that she had a little money stashed away for emergencies.
Her interlude with Mac at the church picnic yesterday had been delightful. Mac making that outrageous bid on her peach pie had been a stunning moment, one she would carry in her heart forever. It was a noble act from a kind soul. It had spared her the embarrassment of receiving the lowest bid on her pie. She shouldn’t be so concerned about such things, but with her ex-boyfriend, Tim, smirking from the audience, it had given her a thrill of satisfaction to have the highest bid placed. Tim had been open mouthed. Mac’s act of chivalry had wiped the grin right off Tim’s face.
She let out a sigh. Tim Sutton tested her grace on a weekly basis. Several friends had let her know just how far he’d gone in his vendetta toward her. It made her feel angry and frustrated that he couldn’t just walk away from their relationship with even a small measure of class. He had made it his mission in life to badmouth her. Some of the things that had been brought to her attention by her friends had been humiliating. And slanderous. All lies! All of her attempts to smooth things over with him had been disastrous. Tim was stuck on the fact that she’d ended their relationship after discovering his infidelity. Rather than being ashamed of himself, Tim had placed the blame squarely on her shoulders. When she’d refused to get back together with him, he’d made it apparent that he would trash her reputation wherever and however he could. And he’d tormented her ever since.
She looked at the antique clock on her mantelpiece. The beautiful Seth Thomas clock had been bestowed to her by her grandmother, Lottie, in her will. Ever since she was a child she’d been fascinated with the stunning, mahogany piece. It was an heirloom that she would one day pass down to her own children. God willing.
It was almost two-thirty. Mac would be coming by soon to take a look at the information she’d digitized from the Farmington Gazette. Delilah didn’t know why she felt so nervous about seeing Mac again. After all, the time she’d been spending in his presence only reinforced the fact that he was a pretty amazing man. Still and all, her nerves were on edge. In the last hour she had arranged and rearranged the pillows on her living room couch at least a dozen times or more. Her house was spotless, or at least as pristine as it got in her world. She wasn’t the neatest person if the truth be known. On any given day mail tended to be scattered across her kitchen counter while her chocolate lab, Zoey, constantly shed on her carpets. It was organized chaos.