Leave a Candle Burning (40 page)

“What?” Dannan asked, his eyes a study in innocence.

Scottie didn’t have to answer. Conner and Reese were returning with coffee and dessert, and since Reese’s pies were not to be ignored, private conversation was momentarily put on hold. Not until they were settled in the parlor did Dannan have a chance to question Scottie again. She declined something to help her sleep and was still wanting to ask what he had in mind when Troy suddenly spoke.

“Is it story time?” he asked of Corina.

“Boos!” she cried with delight and rushed toward the bookshelf in the corner. Several children’s books hit the floor before she found the one she wanted, but Troy was ready and waiting.

Corina, however, had other ideas. Without even glancing at the older banker, she headed for Scottie’s lap. Scottie looked surprised as well, but Corina didn’t notice.

“I do believe I’ve been replaced,” Troy grumped quietly, but he was smiling.

“Do you mind?” Scottie asked, even as Corina climbed up with the book, not even aware of the confusion.

“Terribly,” he said, his attempt to look offended not working at all.

“I think this is a daily occurrence, isn’t it, Scottie?” Dannan checked.

“Just about,” she agreed, opening the book.

What happened next was not something Scottie had planned on. She read to Corina, keeping her voice low so the others could talk, and as usual, the little girl was soon asleep. In spite of her own best efforts, Scottie dropped off too. The book still in her hand, she didn’t stir even when Reese took it from her and covered her with a light quilt.

“She’s not sleeping at night,” Dannan told the others when Reese sat back on the sofa next to Conner.

“Did she tell you this?” Troy asked.

“Iris was the first to mention it, but Scottie and I have talked about it.”

“Is that normal, or has it just been since Eli died?” Conner asked.

“Since Eli’s death. She usually naps with Corina but just told me today she’s going to try and fight that.”

“In some ways it feels as though Eli has been gone for months,” Reese commented, thinking that having Scottie with them on a Sunday was not something that would normally have happened.

“I’m sure it does for her too,” Conner agreed.

Scottie stirred a little then, and Conner suggested they move to the small parlor to visit. No one argued. The idea of waking Scottie, who would already be embarrassed by the act of falling asleep, didn’t appeal to any of them.

“How are you?” Dannan whispered to Scottie when her eyes opened.

She frowned at him, trying to understand why he was in her parlor, when she remembered where she was.

“Oh, no, Dannan, did I fall asleep?”

“Yes, and Corina just came to find me, so you must have been out pretty hard.”

Scottie put a hand to her face and made herself stand up. She felt fuzzy and disoriented and wanted to shake it off as soon as possible.

“I actually dreamt,” Scottie admitted, “that you asked me to marry you so I could be a mother to Corina.”

The moment the words were out of her mouth, Scottie’s eyes flew to Dannan’s in surprise.

“I can’t believe I said that.” She stepped away from him a bit. “I’m sorry.” Scottie would have walked from the room, but Dannan moved so she would have to go around him. Scottie eyed him warily but didn’t speak.

“Let’s just be sure we have this one thing straight,” Dannan said slowly, doing an amazing job of keeping his feelings in check. “If it comes to the point that I ask you to marry me, it won’t be about Corina.”

Scottie wanted to question him but didn’t. Later she would wish that she had because she thought about the statement for the rest of the day.

“I can’t get over the change in both of them, but especially Cathy,” Alison pointed out to Douglas when their guests were gone. “I’ve always liked and enjoyed Cathy, but there wasn’t a lot of warmth there. Now she’s overflowing with warmheartedness.”

“And the way Doyle looks at her,” Douglas mentioned, his own eyes smiling with fondness. “You can tell that he’s fallen in love all over again.”

“Jace and Maddie must be thrilled.”

“We’re having our own little revival,” Douglas said. “We need to work hard as a church family to be ready for these blessings from God.”

“And for the challenges and questions from folks like Cathy.”

“She’s got some good ones,” Douglas agreed with a huge sigh. “I can’t remember the last time I was so tired after dinner.”

Indeed, Douglas looked as though he could fall asleep in the chair he was sitting in, but his youngest had other ideas. Jeffrey, awake from his nap and ready to go, chose that moment to look for a grown-up playmate.

“May I mention something to you?” Conner asked Dannan at the door much later that day. Scottie had left, and Troy was treating Corina to one last game of hide and seek.

“Certainly.”

“Scottie has no awareness of you as a man right now. You’re going to have to take it slowly.”

Dannan nodded. “I’ve noticed that. She looks at me with friendship and a bit of confusion, but that’s all.”

“I’m glad to hear that she considers you a friend. She needs that very much right now.”

“I think so too, but don’t think it’s all for her. On my part, having Scottie as a friend is a very rewarding thing.”

Conner nodded and then had a heart-sinking thought. “Scottie is going to believe that we’ve all plotted against her.” He shook his head a little, knowing this wasn’t the case. “I hope when all is said and done that she’ll be your wife and we can spend a lot of time laughing about all of this subterfuge.”

Dannan only quietly nodded and thanked his host, realizing he was ready to go home and think for a while on his own. He gathered up Corina and headed that way, forgetting until he got there that she’d had a nap and was ready to play.

On Monday morning Scottie walked up the steps to the Cole house, planning to collect the rent, her mind not on the task. Nothing had changed in this area of her life. She and Finn had taken turns collecting the rent money for years, but now Eli was not there to go over the books with her. She didn’t fear making a mistake, but it was something they had usually done together and one more thing to remind her of his absence.

Scottie felt her heart grow heavy. She didn’t want it to be this way. She had always prayed for each of their renters as she made the collection, and now she was caught up in herself.

“Scottie!” Mrs. Cole said, glad to see her. “Come in a moment.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Cole,” Scottie said sincerely, only just remembering to pray for her.

“How are you?” Mrs. Cole asked, looking concerned.

“I’m coming along,” Scottie said truthfully. “There are things to keep me busy, and that’s a great help.”

“Will you be raising my rent?” Mrs. Cole blurted.

In her surprise, Scottie took a moment to respond but then kept her voice kind.

“I have no plans for that, Mrs. Cole. And if ever I had to do that, I would give you at least six months’ warning.”

The renter was so relieved she suddenly sat down. Scottie stared at her, not having expected this at all.

“We’ve appreciated your prompt payments all these years, Mrs. Cole. I would not want to lose you as a renter.”

“Thank you, Scottie.” That woman gathered herself and offered tea.

“As a matter of fact, I can’t stay, but we’ll plan on it another time.”

“Thank you, Scottie.”

Scottie went graciously on her way, determined to collect the other two houses swiftly and make her way home to do something quiet.

She arrived home to find Iris busy in the kitchen, Corina at her side. Scottie had gotten up early that morning and done the washing and dusting. When collecting the rents, Scottie usually wasted no time adding the amounts to her account book. But this morning she told herself there would be time to go over the books later. Right now she just wanted to work in the solitude of her garden.

“I want you to know that we have plotted against you just a little bit,” Dannan said without preamble, very ready to have everything out in the open, even knowing that some things would need to wait.

“What are you talking about, Dannan?” Scottie asked. They were once again in the garden.

“I’m talking about the fact that I went to Conner when I was having feelings for a married woman, so we talked about you. He said something yesterday about you not knowing about our subterfuge, and I found myself uncomfortable with the fact that you might not realize we’ve talked about you. I don’t want secrets between us.”