Page 16 of Singing For His Kiss

CHAPTER SEVEN

He heard Elizabeth speak as he dashed beneath the protection of the roof and out of the incessant rain. His heart had lurched when he’d seen her fighting for warmth beneath the meager heating. It was like trying to find warmth from the flame of a matchstick. She looked frozen, wet and miserable, and all he wanted to do was bundle her up like he’d done yesterday, take her home and care for her. At least she wore the coat. He was pleased. But then an image of Hanna wearing the coat flittered into his mind, and the satisfying feeling drained away into the familiar pit of emptiness. He wished she was still alive to wear it. Clearing his mind of the thought and associated despondency, he concentrated on the reason for this wet trip into the main street.

She’d been in his thoughts all day, slipping through his concentration when he should have been working. Madeline also hadn’t stopped chatting about her either. Asking if she was coming back, could Daddy go and get her and bring her home. Please, please, please.

Elizabeth couldn’t possibly have known how good she was for Madeline. That Madeline was so bright and skipping around the house like a normal four-year-old should. He’d even caught Madeline singing the same tune Elizabeth had sung to her last night.

He kept looking at the clock incessantly, wondering if Elizabeth had been able to find a lift out of town. Found himself worrying about her, then reprimanding himself that it was none of his business what she wanted to do. She was a grown woman.

But with the weather progressively getting worse and worse, and with the latest grim news that had flashed across town, he couldn’t sit at home wondering anymore, finally berating himself that a real man would check her safety. No way in or out, he couldn’t sit at home and just wonder if she’d been able to make it out of town. There was only one place to go besides the pub, and the chances were high he’d find her at either of those locations if she was still here.

It had been a nervous drive down to the small café, and his heart had tumbled when the first thing he’d seen through the sleet was her slender form bent against the weather, as though that might ward off the frigid wind.

At least now he’d have the chance to do the right thing and offer her shelter, even if she didn’t want to work for him as Madeline’s nanny. It occurred to him this landslide could actually be the best thing that could have happened. Madeline would get to spend some more days with Elizabeth, and a few days spending time with Madeline might be enough to sway Elizabeth to accept his offer.

It was a perfect opportunity.

He ignored the part that was less than altruistic. That there was something about her that intrigued him. That somehow the brightness of her energy changed his. Made him feel lighter than he had in a long time.

But that was absurd.

One woman couldn’t make him feel all these things in just one day. It was the dream of a man who had no heart to light. Hanna took up all the room in his heart and would continue to do so until the day he joined her in heaven. It was more than enough.

He just needed to make his daughter happy. It made him happy to see his daughter happy. That he could understand. That was logical. He’d ask Elizabeth to stay for the sake of his daughter because Elizabeth was good for her.

That was it.

“I thought I’d get Madeline out of the house and come into town for a milkshake,” he said, rubbing at the familiar ache in his chest.

Elizabeth glanced at the torrent gushing from the skies, a look of confusion on her face. “Now?”

“I didn’t think the weather would get so bad,” he offered as way of an excuse.

“Ah, I see.” She clearly didn’t. She tucked her unprotected hands into her armpits, jiggling on her feet.

He frowned at the action. “I should have given you the gloves as well."

“The coat was more than enough, thank you.” She clasped her near-blue lips tightly together in a straight line.

“I’m glad it’s getting used. Far better than just hanging useless in the closet. In fact, I have some other clothes you could have.”

He was surprised he’d voiced that. The coat had hung in Hanna’s side of the wardrobe for years. Hung and discarded and completely useless where he’d kept it. There was no reason for her clothes to be there, except for the fact that he didn’t have the heart to give any of them away. Silly, now that he thought about it.

There were some beautiful gowns in there. Hanna had looked like an angel in them, but when he thought about them, the memories were a little cloudy. The woman sitting in front of him in well-worn clothing was more multi-coloured and real than those expensive, designer gowns.

Giving them to Elizabeth seemed… right. Something he wanted to do.

“You really shouldn’t have given it to me. It’s very… expensive.”

She fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable. He found he didn’t like to see her that way.

“Elizabeth, everyone deserves a coat in weather like this.”

“I guess.” She picked up her pack. “Well, good to see you again, but I’ve got to get going…”

“Would you care to join us for a milkshake?” James gestured inside the café, cutting off her escape.

“Pleeeaaassse, Liz’beth. Come and have milkshake with us,” Madeline pleaded.

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