Gifts Of Love

David swallowed hard, suddenly realizing how little he knew about Jessie. What did she do for a living? Did she work until she was too exhausted to do anything at night but fall into bed? And if she prayed to God, what did she ask for?

When she turned her head, as if she were uncomfortable with David’s scrutiny, he continued to study her profile. He had learned a few things about her in the short time they’d known each other. She had courage and heart, a smile that cheered him and the instincts of a mother. And looking at her strong cheekbones, feathery blond hair and expressive green eyes, he couldn’t deny her beauty.

But despite all this, he couldn’t let her continue to watch Isabel. His daughter was his responsibility, and he’d imposed on Jessie’s kindness far too long. He didn’t care what she insisted.

Signaling to Jessie and the Claybrooks that he’d be right back, David walked back to his room. He silently sighed when no one seemed intent on following him, but were more interested in entertaining Isabel. And when Helene distracted his daughter with a “horsey ride” on her knees, the childish giggles following him down the hallway, he knew it would be quite a while before Isabel missed him.

Though Jessie couldn’t decipher all the emotions she’d seen cross David’s face, she believed his abrupt departure had to do with her. When he glanced at his daughter, his intent became clear.

She wasn’t sure why—whether it was pride, distrust, or that David simply found it difficult to ask for help—but she knew he was determined to hire a baby-sitter.

Jessie stood in the doorway and listened as David punched out several telephone numbers in a row, with the same result. Each person he talked to was either on their way out of town, already had plans or had a cold.

David shoved the telephone receiver into its cradle, then stared out the window.

“No luck?” Jessie said, making her presence known. He obviously had a pool of backup baby-sitters he frequently called upon.

Startled by her voice, David jumped. “No,” he admitted, though he kept on staring out the window as if the answer to his dilemma were merely a puzzle he had to solve.

“Looks like you’re stuck with me for one more day,” she said.

“I really appreciate your offer, but as I’ve explained, you’ve already done too much.” Immediately, David punched out another number, but when no one answered he continued to hold the receiver, pushing the disconnect button with his thumb. He wasn’t going to give up easily.

“I don’t know why you’re being so stubborn.” The truth was, she didn’t know why she was being so insistent or why it suddenly seemed so important to her. Rationally, she could think of a dozen reasons why she should be helping David locate a sitter. But her heart kept reminding her of how perfectly Isabel fit in her arms, how satisfying it was to feel chubby hands grasp her neck and how invigorating she found the child’s fresh powdery scent. “I guess you just have a hard time accepting help.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.” David sounded grumpier by the moment.

“If you can’t find anyone else, I assume you’ll have to call your parents or sisters.” Though he hadn’t elaborated, she assumed he would go to great lengths not to call upon his family. And she understood that. After she’d moved back to Springfield, her parents had tried to take her under their protective wing. It was only natural. And there’d been times when it would have been so easy to call them for help—when the washing machine had flooded the house or when she’d sprained her wrist or when her car had broken down in a busy intersection. However, she’d been determined to take care of herself, and in the long run she’d been right. With every situation she’d tackled, independence had grown a little easier.

“Calling my parents isn’t an option.” He spoke sharply, and then apologized. “Of course, they’d take Isabel in a heartbeat. And that’s the problem. I won’t ask them to do that. In the past year, I’ve relied on them far too much. When I first moved back to town, I couldn’t have made it without them. But it’s time I started standing on my own two feet.”

“Then, I guess that leaves me. It’s just one night.” Which was exactly what she’d said when he’d been admitted to the emergency room the previous day.

Though his frown irritated her, she respected his determination to take care of his daughter without his family’s assistance.

David replaced the receiver. “I suggest you catch your breath, then, because as you know, a few hours with Isabel can wear out the fittest woman.”

When Jessie laughed, David did, too. They relaxed in the conspiratorial moment.

“Are you going to take a few vacation days?”

Turning the tables on her, David said, “What would you do?”

Before she could respond, her cellular telephone rang. Raising her eyebrows, she conceded his point, and answered the call from her office.

“Let me get back to you,” she said, quickly ending the call and turning her cellular phone off. Meeting David’s gaze, she said, “Do you mind if I use your phone? I forgot I wasn’t supposed to have my cell phone on in the hospital.”

David nodded, and she dialed her office.

She efficiently defused the problem at work, then went over telephone and fax messages, as well as the mail she’d received that day. Positive nothing urgent needed to be handled, she told her assistant she’d check in with her later in the afternoon.

The bemused light in David’s eyes provoked her into a smart remark. “You made your point earlier. Like you, my family thinks I spend way too much time at the office.”

“But what do you think?” David asked, as if he genuinely cared.

“I think I’m lucky to have a company and a work environment I love, and I don’t take it for granted.”

But what she wouldn’t admit was that as much as she thrived at Gifts of Love, her company didn’t begin to fill the emptiness inside her heart. Gifts of Love couldn’t give her the love and companionship she longed for. And most importantly, it couldn’t give her the one thing she wanted most in the world—a child of her own.

“You must have a pretty flexible schedule or an understanding employer, to be able to take off work in order to watch my child,” David said. “Please, don’t tell me you’re using vacation time to do this.”

“I have a great boss. The best, if I do say so.”

His puzzled look said he believed this was a clue he should have understood.

“I own the company,” she explained.

“Really?”

He’d weighted the word with curiosity and admiration, instead of the disbelief she so often heard.

“Gifts of Love. We’re an Internet bridal registry company.”

“Then, that explains why I haven’t heard of it,” David quickly added.

Though the message was subtle, Jessie received it loud and clear. David Akers wasn’t looking for a bride. And that suited Jessie just fine. She’d had her heart broken one too many times, and marriage definitely wasn’t in her near future, either. However, her reluctance to fall in love did complicate her desire to have children. For the time being, she’d resigned herself to believing God might not make all her dreams come true.

As if he felt the same awkwardness she did, he pushed the conversation forward. “What exactly do you do?”

Thankful to have the subject shifted to safer territory, Jessie launched into a description of Gifts of Love. Though she spoke with pride, she wasn’t egotistical. Hard work, a few lucky breaks and a lot of prayer had held her company together during its tenuous beginning.

“So basically, we build a personalized Web page for each engaged couple. From the site, family and friends can review the gifts the couple have registered for and place online orders, as well as send e-mails, post photographs, and even set up a family chat room.”

David folded his arms over his chest, his dark eyes intrigued by the business scenario. “But how do you make money?”

Jessie understood he wasn’t being nosy or prying into her personal finances. He was genuinely interested in the concept of her business.

“Through advertising. Plus, we negotiate incentives and percentages with the department and specialty stores we’re linked to, based on the sales we generate.”

Nodding his head, he added, “In other words, you can link your customers to any business that ships. Amazing.”

“Exactly,” Jessie said, feeling the same excitement she’d felt the day she incorporated. “I originally thought we’d appeal most to people who have a significant number of out-of-town wedding guests, but people who live across town from the wedding couple use our service just as much.”

“Wow,” David said. “I’d like to hear more about what you do, but I’m afraid if we don’t rejoin your family, they’re going to come looking for us.”

“I’d like to hear more about what you do, too.” While she spoke the truth, what she’d really like to hear more about was the man.

“I still owe you that free cup of coffee next time you’re in the deli.”