Page 545 of Conveniently Wed
A laugh burst forth from Brian. “That was a mighty long, deep peck.”
“Don’t I know it. I can’t get the kiss out of my thoughts. Every time I see Lorinda, I want to repeat it. But...we made this agreement...”
“Has Lorinda given any indication of how the kiss affected her?”
“Not really...sometimes, I do catch her staring at me with a bemused expression, but other than when we pass Michael fromone to the other, we haven’t touched again.” That wasn’t exactly the truth.
On their wedding night and the next day, there was some touching, accidental or not. But he didn’t want to explore the feelings those quick touches brought to him. If he did, he might just break down and grab Lorinda for another kiss. And scare her completely away.
“I haven’t noticed anything about your relationship that would indicate what you’ve told me. Maybe Lorinda feels the same way you do. If so, what would you do about it?”
Franklin hadn’t expected this question. What did he want to do? Make their marriage real in every sense of the word. Just thinking the thought sent heat rushing throughout his body. He needed to keep control over his emotions.
“I can tell from watching your face that you want the marriage to be real, don’t you?”
All Franklin could do was nod.
“It’s a good thing you don’t play poker.” Brian laughed. “You’d never win.”
Franklin had to join him in his merriment. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Are you willing to risk your heart again? That’s the only way. Open up to her. Nothing about your relationship has been normal. One thing you could do is try to woo your wife. Court her the way every woman wants to be courted.”
That hadn’t worked with Miriam. If it had, Marvin wouldn’t have been able to snatch her right out from under Franklin’s nose. But now, he realized she wasn’t the woman for him..
“How?” Did he really ask that stupid question? He was in worse shape than he realized.
“Women glow, and grow, when they are loved. Compliment her. Take her a gift for no reason. Defer to her desires aboutthings. The time will come when you can talk to her about how you feel. Can you wait for that?”
He’d waited this long. Of course, he could wait for her feelings for him to take hold. Just the thought of that coming to fruition made his heartbeat a few notches faster.
After Brian prayed with him again, asking God to reveal His plans to both Franklin and Lorinda, the men headed back toward the parsonage.
“Would you like to come in for coffee and cake now?” Brian’s eyebrows lifted with the end of the question.
“Thanks, but I want to get back home as soon as I can.”
Franklin thrust out his hand for their goodbye handshake. Then he headed toward the mercantile again. This time, he went to the part of the store where all kinds of doodads and things for women were displayed. He hadn’t spent much time there before. The vast array surprised him. That department occupied several aisles.
He ambled along one of them waiting for something to catch his eye. Just before he headed toward another aisle, he noticed a music box shaped like a grand piano. With gilded trim, the ceramic top and sides had a pastoral scene painted on each panel. He picked it up and twisted the key. Tinkling notes trilled as the key turned. He looked closely at the label on the bottom. “Für Elise.” He wondered if Lorinda would like this. He’d buy it anyway. If she didn’t, he could always give it to Mrs. Oleson.
On the way to the counter to pay, he passed a case displaying jewelry. A pair of eardrops caught his attention. The blue stones in them would match the wedding ring he’d bought for Lorinda. They sparkled in the sunlight streaming through the front window of the store. He’d get them, too. That way, he’d have another gift for her before he had to come back to town for more.
Franklin whistled as he carefully placed the daintily wrapped items into his saddlebags. For the first time in days, he felt hopeful for the future of his marriage.
Now he must find a way to convince Lorinda to love and desirehim.
26
Lorinda sat on the porch, one toe on the floor gently rocking the swing. Mrs. Oleson had Michael in his high chair banging a couple of spoons on the tray while she cooked supper. Lorinda wondered how the older woman could put up with all that noise. It was driving her crazy.
She stared across the large valley at the majestic mountaintops as the sun made its swift descent toward the horizon. Fluffy puffs of clouds rode the gentle breeze as the disappearing sun painted their sides in soft shades of pink, lavender, and peachy orange. The lower the light sank, the deeper the hues splashed across the clouds until dark red, deep purple, and wild orange streaked across the sky. This tranquil time of day was her favorite...except for today.
Where is Franklin?
After the first day he was gone, her anger turned into longing. She missed his presence that filled the house when he came in at the end of the day. The scent of heat, horse, and hard work that accompanied him had quickly become her favorite fragrance. Without him, the house felt cold and empty. And while she missed his presence, her memory returned to their wedding dayand that...amazing...kiss. The taste…the feel of his lips, alive on hers...coaxing her to participate...the way it had?—
With a shake of her head, she tried to shove the thoughts away, but she couldn’t. Would she ever experience something as exquisite as that again? Not a chance.How sad.
