Lakeside Sweetheart

He’d scare people and confuse them if he told them about the man he used to be. Not that he’d ever been scary. But he didn’t want to go back to that dark spot in his soul. Ever. He’d come a long way to get to this place, and he liked his work and his life. No way did he want to go back.

And yet, when he saw his friends finding true love, he wanted to go back. He wanted to fall in love again. But at times, the bitterness reared its ugly head, and he felt envy and anger pushing at his hard-fought-for peace.

So he understood what Vanessa was fighting.

A knock at his partially open office door brought Rory out of his musings. His secretary, Barbara Rowan, peeped inside. “Hey, you awake in here?”

Rory grinned. “Barely. It’s too pretty outside to be in here pushing a pencil.”

Barbara, petite, with a brown bob and a blunt attitude, put her hands on her hips and gave him a mock stare, her flamingo lapel pin blinking at him in shades of pink bling. “Well, I feel so bad for you, stuck in this stuffy old office. But you have company. Blain and Rikki are here.”

“Oh, right.” Rory glanced at the clock again. “Send them in. This will make my day better.”

Barbara nodded and opened the door wide. “Here they are.”

Rory grinned at seeing Blain and Rikki holding hands, smiles on their faces. “Hello, you two.”

Blain shook his hand and Rikki hugged him. “We’re here for the premarital counseling you suggested,” Rikki said.

“Did I suggest that?” He chuckled and motioned to the floral chairs across from his desk. “So a few more weeks, huh?”

Blain nodded, his dark blue eyes moving over his bride. “Yes. Wedding here in the church and reception out at the Alvanetti estate.”

“Got it marked in red,” Rory said. “Any questions?”

Rikki gave Blain a sweet smile. “How do we get past everything we went through? I mean, I’ve forgiven my family but...how do Blain and I keep my family issues out of our marriage?”

Blain squeezed her hand and glanced at Rory. “We want to make this work. We love each other but sometimes the world can get in the way.”

Rory loved his friend Blain and he liked Rikki, too. So he leveled with them. “It’s not easy. But loving each other is the first line of defense. Loving the Lord helps. Your faith is important, and that shows with you two. Be open and honest with each other, of course. Seek help when you need to. I’m always here for either of you, and I won’t repeat anything said in this room. But you need to talk to your families, too. And other friends you can trust.”

He glanced out the window and saw Vanessa getting into her car. She was wearing a colorful patterned sundress and tall, strappy sandals. When he glanced back at Blain and Rikki, Blain was giving him a one-eyebrow-lifted knowing stare.

Rory tried to cover. “And...uh...you should be honest with your families, too. Don’t hold grudges. Talk things out. Remember the good times and try to get past the bad.”

He groaned inwardly. He was talking in clichés today.

After a few more questions, he went over the wedding arrangements with them and gave them some pamphlets and books to read. They both asked more questions, and Rory said a prayer with them. “I think you two will be fine.”

Blain glanced at Rikki. “Can you visit with Barbara for a minute? I need to ask Rory something.”

“Sure.” She gave him a brown-eyed smile, her long dark hair flowing around her shoulders. “Already keeping secrets.”

“It’s more guy stuff,” Blain said. “Regarding my bachelor party.”

“Oh, right.” She grinned at Rory and went into the reception area.

“What’s up?” Rory asked, his mind still on Vanessa. “You know we’re having a low-key party out at the camp house, right?”

Blain laughed. “Yes, I know all about that, surprises not withstanding.”

“Okay, did you need something else?”

“Are you scouting the house across the street for a reason?”

Blain was on to him. “I might be since it’s going up for sale soon. I’ve always liked that house, and it’s near the church.” He shrugged. “I’m outgrowing my tiny one-bedroom apartment.”

“Right.” Blain rolled his eyes. “I was referring to the woman living there, not the house. Preacher, do you have your eye on Vanessa Donovan?”

Rory didn’t want to squirm underneath the scrutiny of Blain’s eagle-eyed gaze. “She’s in a bad way, so I’ve tried to befriend her. Offer her my help and advice.”

Blain nodded. “It’s amazing. All these years, I’ve never seen you go beyond being friends with a woman. You don’t even date. But since Vanessa rolled into town, you’ve seemed distracted.”

“How do you know that?” Rory asked, affronted. “You haven’t been around me that much when women are nearby.”

“Relax,” Blain said. “I saw you on Easter Sunday, and Alec told me you and Vanessa seemed chummy at Easter dinner at his house.”

Rory laughed. “What you and Alec call chummy, I call being friendly.”

“Oh, okay. We’ll go with that then,” Blain said. “It’s nice to know you’re human after all. You could do worse. She’s cute, and Rikki says she’s nice, too.”

Rory rubbed a hand over his choppy hair. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

Blain shook his head. “Right. I’ll shut up now. Are we still on for pizza Thursday night?”

“As always.”

“And we are gathering at the camp house for my bachelor party in two weeks?”

“You better believe it. And I do have surprises lined up for you.”

“What? Choir rehearsal and memorizing Bible verses?”

“After we play a serious game of tic-tac-toe, yes.”

“Wild night. Love it.” Blain shook Rory’s hand and headed to the door. “Hey, Alec and I, we’ve been there. We should be the ones giving you advice these days.”

Rory finally caved. “I might take you up on that offer. I like her. A lot. But...she’s not returning that feeling.”

“Give her some time,” Blain suggested. “Like you said, she’s been through a lot. One thing I’ve learned, dealing with Rikki and her family, strong women don’t like to be messed with until they’re ready to be messed with.”

“Got it,” Rory said, grinning at Blain’s down-to-earth assessment. “I’m learning that, my friend.”

After Blain and Rikki left, he turned to Barbara. “Please tell me it’s quitting time.”

“It’s quitting time,” she said. “You know you officially have Mondays off, so why are you still here?”

He shrugged. “Habit.” Then he went back in his office and tidied up. “I think I’ve signed all the proper checks and documents so yes, I’m taking off early. I might take a run around the lake or maybe go kayaking.”