Page 13

How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark shapes of trees on the quivering summit of the hill?

A kiss and all was said.

— Victor Hugo

A peek through the partially closed blinds on the window between her desk and the boutique’s sales floor revealed her sister Lula ringing up another elated bridesmaid’s purchase.

To her chagrin and dismay, Jake had called that morning, asking if she’d dine with him at The Creek Grill.

“For old times’ sake,” he’d said, his voice containing a wistful tone.

Ack! She should have changed her cell phone number .

Hensley turned him down flat, knowing the end of that road where he was concerned. “Sorry, Jake, I have other plans. Besides, I make it a personal rule not to get involved with any of my ex-boyfriends.”

In other words, he’d had his chance. She’d disconnected the call before he could respond. It was an audacious and bold move on Jake’s part. Didn’t he respect the fact Blake had made it clear to him they were dating? Sure, fake dating, at this point. But Jake didn’t know that.

As far as she was concerned, Jake had turned out to be just like Michael Stanton, her previous boyfriend before him.

She’d dated Michael after turning eighteen until she’d turned twenty-one, long before she’d met Jake.

But then one day, Michael had joined the Marines without discussing it with her beforehand.

A few months after his first deployment, his letters began coming less frequently.

She knew it was over, though he hadn’t been injured or killed. His mom had still been receiving letters from him too. He eventually wrote her a letter to say that he’d met a nurse stationed in the area. They planned to marry as soon as possible. Hensley had been heartbroken.

Three or four months later, Jake asked her out when he was home from college one weekend.

They’d grown up attending the same church, but he was away much of the time, attending Vanderbilt University Law School in Nashville.

They had dated for three years while he drove home most weekends from Nashville to Dogwood Creek.

It had taken her months to recover from her breakup with Jake when he’d moved to Kentucky after his graduation.

She’d been expecting an engagement ring, but in the excitement of graduation and finding a new job at a fancy law firm, she was lost in the shuffle.

More than once since meeting Blake Sterling, she had become lost in her head, as she had after each of her break-ups.

What was so wrong with her that both Michael and Jake had broken up with her instead of pursuing marriage?

She would have given up everything she’d worked so hard for in order to follow either one to the ends of the earth.

She could create her wedding designs from anywhere, after all.

One of her sisters could have taken over managing the boutique.

Since those relationships had ended, her love for operating Hensley’s Wedding Creations had grown.

Now, she didn’t ever plan to give it up.

It had become part of her dream, and she enjoyed her work immensely.

With Jake’s return and Blake’s words ringing in her mind, it all led her to ask the same questions.

What was wrong with her? Wasn’t she pretty enough?

Did she lack something in her personality?

Was she too successful or intimidating on some level?

Was it because she couldn’t cook? Did they dislike the way she dressed in old-fashioned dresses all of the time?

Was she too prim and proper? Was it her faith in Jesus?

What was it that drove her boyfriends away?

Was it because she didn’t offer to sleep with them, preferring to honor the Lord by saving herself for marriage?

And why was Blake so infuriatingly argumentative, reserved, and now, confusing?

The way he had stepped up to pretend to be her boyfriend left her puzzled.

Why had he said she wasn’t his type, but now announced she was his girlfriend?

Why did he care about protecting her pride when Jake had returned?

He hadn’t seemed to consider her feelings when they’d first met. Why did he care now?

What was so wrong with her that she wasn’t his type at first glance?

The question had plagued her for the past few weeks since meeting him, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask what he’d meant.

What was his type anyhow? And why did she care what he thought?

If he had been friendlier when they’d first met and hadn’t made that statement, perhaps she would have considered him.

He was attractive, eligible, a fellow believer in words and deeds, but he’d made a fatal mistake with her.

Relegating her to someone beneath him for some reason.

Blake’s arguing with her about the fundraiser hadn’t made things any easier. He had responded like a typical male to everything she’d brought up at The Gathering Place, as if none of her concerns mattered except maybe decorating the jars. And that had only mattered after she’d explained it .

In the end, he had come around to each of her viewpoints. But she’d had to explain everything, which had completely exasperated and exhausted her. It had been both infuriating and annoying, to say the least.

Had she been too pushy about what type of event she wished to present to the community?

Had she been fair, considerate, and willing to consider his opinions?

Did she have a valid point about doing everything with excellence?

Her grandmother and mother would certainly approve if they were in the same boat. That much she knew.

She had listened to him and given him every opportunity to protest. She hadn’t shut him down.

She’d merely stated her reasoning and he’d given in, or so he said.

Perhaps he had agreed with her on some things, but she wasn’t sure at this point.

Which was yet another reason why she looked forward to their meeting tonight.

She’d finally have a tour of his cabin property, and more importantly, she could assess whether he was okay with the plans they’d settled on.

In her defense, she’d pressed on, knowing what her church family was accustomed to and what had worked well in the past. It was a shame that she’d had to lay everything out, but wasn’t it better than letting them present a substandard event?

When she made a commitment, she preferred to throw her whole heart and soul into it.

That was how she’d been raised, to always do her best and go the extra mile.

If Blake couldn’t see that, it wasn’t her fault. The Lord knew her heart.

The upcoming meeting with him for that tour of his new lodge and some preliminary work on the tables and the banner was preferable to sitting at home on a Friday night alone.

Especially with Jake in town again. For that, she was thankful.

It would be a pleasant distraction. Maybe she could figure out the mystery behind Blake’s confusing words and actions.

She bent her head over the design, glad for the creative outlet, using a pencil to shade part of the train on the gown in the sketchbook containing many of her latest wedding fashions.

Tonight, they would finally have a chance to set their plans in motion for the youth group’s fundraiser.

She’d already packed some table linens, craft supplies, and the banner, setting the boxes near the rear entrance.

When Blake arrived in his limo, she’d be ready.

Spreading the gospel would be a pleasant distraction from her problems, because no matter how many times she turned it over in her mind, she could not find any answers to her dilemma about what was wrong with her.

Something had to be wrong since each of her boyfriends had given up on her, and since the one who wasn’t an actual boyfriend but pretended to be, had pronounced her all wrong for him.

A tapping sounded on her office door. Lula seldom knocked, and if she did, she generally burst into her office shortly after. Since the door didn’t swing open, she called out while putting some finishing touches on her design. “Come in.”

It was Samantha Braeburn who stepped inside. She smiled to see her neighbor. “Hi, Sam. How’s Boscoe? Any new escapes lately?”

“Hey there, Hensley.” She chuckled and rolled her eyes. “No, my furry boy has been behaving well lately. How’s it going with you? Thought I’d pop on over and see how you and Blake are doing with the fundraiser planning.”

Sam gave her a curious grin with her big brown eyes sparkling and wide.

“I was planning to speak to you on Sunday at church, but I’m glad you’re here now.” Hensley gestured toward one of the two seats on the other side of her desk.

Sam sat in one of the chairs and began rummaging through both front pockets on her dress. Finding a small gift box, she held it up and slid it across the desk toward Hensley. “I brought you one of my quarter necklaces to thank you for helping me with the dinner for you and Blake. ”

“You didn’t have to do that.” Hensley returned a sheepish smile as she opened the box. “Aw, this is beautiful. Thank you so much. You’re very talented.”

“You’re welcome. A beautiful necklace for a beautiful friend.” Sam smiled with satisfaction and sat back in her seat. “I painted it blue to highlight the blue in your eyes.”

Tears pooled in Hensley’s eyes. “You have no idea how much I needed to hear that.” She swiped a tear away and continued to admire the lovely gift.

Sam’s brows furrowed. “In truth, I was hoping Blake might have told you how beautiful you are, but if he hasn’t, never mind that for now. He’ll see it soon enough.”