Read Online Easter Blessings by Lenora Worth - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lenora Worth
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air with a burnished warmth, the breeze was gentle and nature was exploding in a burst of flowers. Heath couldn’t resist the chance to be with the woman in the pretty pink floral dress and matching pink sweater.
The woman who was beginning to show up in his dreams.
“That sounds nice,” he said. “But are you sure you want me tagging along when you visit family?”
She nodded, causing her hair to fall over her shoulders and curl around her bare neck. Causing Heath’s heart to unfurl like a blossom finding the sun.
“Oh, that won’t take long. I just want it clear that I expect all of them to be here for church and dinner on Easter Sunday. It’s important to Granny.”
Heath sensed it was important to Mariel, too. “Okay, I’ll ride along with you, but only if you let me buy you lunch.”
Mariel turned to find Sadie and Dutch coming down the church steps. “Granny, do you mind if Heath and I skip your pot roast? We’ve decided to drive into Shreveport.”
Sadie’s eyes widened, but she looked pleased as punch. “Of course not, honey. That’s just more pot roast for me to send home with Dutch.”
Mariel gave Dutch a beseeching look. “Could you give Granny a ride home?”
Dutch bobbed his head, his striped Sunday bow tie turning crooked with the effort. “I’ll keep your grandma company, Mariel. Might take her fishing down at the pond.”
Sadie huffed, then slapped him playfully on the arm. “I might be up for a nice walk, after my nap, of course.”
Mariel kissed her grandmother goodbye, winked at Dutch, then walked with Heath toward her car. “Want to let the top down?” she asked, indicating the late-model convertible.
“That’d be great,” Heath replied, grinning. “Nice wheels.”
“I got a good deal on it,” she explained. “The previous owner treated it with great respect, so it’s in mint condition.”
“And just waiting for such a perfect day.” He helped her with the canvas top, then opened her door.
“Thanks,” Mariel said, that becoming blush moving up her face.
Heath came around and got in beside her. “I haven’t been in a convertible in a very long time.”
Mariel cranked the car, then turned it toward the highway, leaving the tiny church and the dwindling Sunday crowd behind. “When was the last time you were in a car like this?” she asked, her words hitting the soft wind flowing around them.
Heath pushed a hand through his straight hair. “I dated an up-and-coming actress once. She had stars in her eyes and thought she was already a movie star. Spent way too much on her fancy car and wound up having to move back to Ohio.”
“She never made it big?”
He shook his head. “Last I heard, she got married and had three kids. Now she writes and acts in plays at the local theater. But at least she’s happy.”
He watched Mariel’s eyes. They were a brilliant green, earthy and lush. She checked the long ribbon of road, then glanced over at him. “And why haven’t you ever married and had three kids?”
That question shook him. “Oh, you know the old saying. I’ve never found the right woman.”
Mariel tossed her hair out of her eyes, one hand on the steering wheel. “That’s a lame excuse.”
“It might sound cliché, but it’s the truth,” Heath said. “My parents had the perfect marriage—loving, close, happy—even when they fought. I guess it’s hard to try to expect that standard, but I haven’t found it yet, so I’m still single.”
“Picky?”
“Let’s just say I’m selective.” He held his bangs off his face, his arm against the warm red leather of the car seat. Right now, he could narrow that selection down. Mariel Evans was as close to perfect as he’d ever seen, even with her insecurities and doubts. Mariel had a good heart. He knew that. After all, she was Sadie’s granddaughter.
Mariel shifted gears, then gave him a long look. “Why are you staring at me?”
Heath decided honesty might work best here. “Because
The woman who was beginning to show up in his dreams.
“That sounds nice,” he said. “But are you sure you want me tagging along when you visit family?”
She nodded, causing her hair to fall over her shoulders and curl around her bare neck. Causing Heath’s heart to unfurl like a blossom finding the sun.
“Oh, that won’t take long. I just want it clear that I expect all of them to be here for church and dinner on Easter Sunday. It’s important to Granny.”
Heath sensed it was important to Mariel, too. “Okay, I’ll ride along with you, but only if you let me buy you lunch.”
Mariel turned to find Sadie and Dutch coming down the church steps. “Granny, do you mind if Heath and I skip your pot roast? We’ve decided to drive into Shreveport.”
Sadie’s eyes widened, but she looked pleased as punch. “Of course not, honey. That’s just more pot roast for me to send home with Dutch.”
Mariel gave Dutch a beseeching look. “Could you give Granny a ride home?”
Dutch bobbed his head, his striped Sunday bow tie turning crooked with the effort. “I’ll keep your grandma company, Mariel. Might take her fishing down at the pond.”
Sadie huffed, then slapped him playfully on the arm. “I might be up for a nice walk, after my nap, of course.”
Mariel kissed her grandmother goodbye, winked at Dutch, then walked with Heath toward her car. “Want to let the top down?” she asked, indicating the late-model convertible.
“That’d be great,” Heath replied, grinning. “Nice wheels.”
“I got a good deal on it,” she explained. “The previous owner treated it with great respect, so it’s in mint condition.”
“And just waiting for such a perfect day.” He helped her with the canvas top, then opened her door.
“Thanks,” Mariel said, that becoming blush moving up her face.
Heath came around and got in beside her. “I haven’t been in a convertible in a very long time.”
Mariel cranked the car, then turned it toward the highway, leaving the tiny church and the dwindling Sunday crowd behind. “When was the last time you were in a car like this?” she asked, her words hitting the soft wind flowing around them.
Heath pushed a hand through his straight hair. “I dated an up-and-coming actress once. She had stars in her eyes and thought she was already a movie star. Spent way too much on her fancy car and wound up having to move back to Ohio.”
“She never made it big?”
He shook his head. “Last I heard, she got married and had three kids. Now she writes and acts in plays at the local theater. But at least she’s happy.”
He watched Mariel’s eyes. They were a brilliant green, earthy and lush. She checked the long ribbon of road, then glanced over at him. “And why haven’t you ever married and had three kids?”
That question shook him. “Oh, you know the old saying. I’ve never found the right woman.”
Mariel tossed her hair out of her eyes, one hand on the steering wheel. “That’s a lame excuse.”
“It might sound cliché, but it’s the truth,” Heath said. “My parents had the perfect marriage—loving, close, happy—even when they fought. I guess it’s hard to try to expect that standard, but I haven’t found it yet, so I’m still single.”
“Picky?”
“Let’s just say I’m selective.” He held his bangs off his face, his arm against the warm red leather of the car seat. Right now, he could narrow that selection down. Mariel Evans was as close to perfect as he’d ever seen, even with her insecurities and doubts. Mariel had a good heart. He knew that. After all, she was Sadie’s granddaughter.
Mariel shifted gears, then gave him a long look. “Why are you staring at me?”
Heath decided honesty might work best here. “Because
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