Read Online Still Waters by Shirlee McCoy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shirlee McCoy
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“You’re exhausted. I’d better go.” Jake stood and Tiffany followed suit, forcing her aching body up from the couch.
“I’ll walk you to the door.”
“Are you sure you should be walking anywhere?”
“I’m much better. The headache is down to a dull throb.”
Jake nodded and led the way out the door and into the hall. “Nice collection of quilts.”
“Thank you. My mother and grandmother are both quilters. Some of these are theirs. Others I bought at flea markets and garage sales.”
“Do you quilt?”
“When I can find time. Which isn’t often enough. That quilt,” Tiffany gestured to a quilt done in shades of blue and yellow, “is one of mine.”
Jake stepped closer, examining the pattern. “This is my favorite. It looks like a bursting star.”
“You’re close. It’s a broken star pattern.”
“Looks pretty complicated.”
“It wasn’t one of the easiest quilts I’ve made but I enjoyed doing it.”
“Your love of the craft shows. The work is detailed and exact. I’m impressed.”
“Thank you.”
Jake continued studying the quilt for a moment before he turned away. “I’d better leave you to your rest.”
“Thanks again.”
“No problem. Good night.”
“Good night.”
Jake pulled open the front door and stepped out into the night. “Tiffany?”
Something about the way Jake said her name sent Tiffany’s heart skittering in her chest. “Yes?”
“I’m pretty sure Tom is going to take the job you offered him. If he does and you have any trouble, give the station a ring. I’m on vacation for a week, but they know how to reach me. Tell the dispatcher I want to be called.”
“All right.”
Without another word, Jake walked down the porch steps, climbed into his truck and drove away.
Tiffany watched as the taillights of the Chevy disappeared. Then she closed the front door and leaned against its heavy wood. With Jake gone the house seemed silent and lonely, the cream-colored hallway with its bright quilts too empty. There should be children upstairs giggling and whispering secrets to one another, and toys scattered across the floors. Instead there was silence and a neatness that came from living alone.
Dating Brian had put Tiffany’s dream of marriage and a family within her reach, and she knew that if she backed down, if she allowed their relationship to continue, she could have all the things she wanted so desperately.
But at what cost?
She deserved to be more than an inconvenience, more than a trophy displayed or put aside with equal measure. She deserved to be waited for and worried about, not left alone.
As if sensing Tiffany’s mood, Bandit lumbered out of the living room and nudged her hand. “All right, boy. Enough of these morbid thoughts. Ready for some dinner?”
The big dog thumped his tail, woofing a response, and Tiffany made her way into the kitchen and to the mudroom behind it. She wanted to let go of her worries, wanted to let God take care of filling her life, but what if doing that meant living alone? What if it meant never getting married, never having children, never being anything but Tiffany Anderson, computer whiz?
The thought depressed Tiffany, but she knew she’d rather that than accept a relationship based more on convenience than affection. With a sigh, she poured food into Bandit’s bowl and went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. The clock read nine-thirty. Church would be over. Brian finished his work with the youth. No doubt he’d call and apologize.
And when he did, Tiffany would be ready to tell him exactly what she thought, how she felt, and why he didn’t need to call her again.
Teacup in hand, she sat at the kitchen table and waited for the phone to ring.
Chapter Six
A week later, Tiffany sat in her turret room office eyeing the silent telephone. Seven days had passed and she was still waiting for Brian to call. Not because she wanted to speak to him, but because she wanted closure, a firm and final
“You’re exhausted. I’d better go.” Jake stood and Tiffany followed suit, forcing her aching body up from the couch.
“I’ll walk you to the door.”
“Are you sure you should be walking anywhere?”
“I’m much better. The headache is down to a dull throb.”
Jake nodded and led the way out the door and into the hall. “Nice collection of quilts.”
“Thank you. My mother and grandmother are both quilters. Some of these are theirs. Others I bought at flea markets and garage sales.”
“Do you quilt?”
“When I can find time. Which isn’t often enough. That quilt,” Tiffany gestured to a quilt done in shades of blue and yellow, “is one of mine.”
Jake stepped closer, examining the pattern. “This is my favorite. It looks like a bursting star.”
“You’re close. It’s a broken star pattern.”
“Looks pretty complicated.”
“It wasn’t one of the easiest quilts I’ve made but I enjoyed doing it.”
“Your love of the craft shows. The work is detailed and exact. I’m impressed.”
“Thank you.”
Jake continued studying the quilt for a moment before he turned away. “I’d better leave you to your rest.”
“Thanks again.”
“No problem. Good night.”
“Good night.”
Jake pulled open the front door and stepped out into the night. “Tiffany?”
Something about the way Jake said her name sent Tiffany’s heart skittering in her chest. “Yes?”
“I’m pretty sure Tom is going to take the job you offered him. If he does and you have any trouble, give the station a ring. I’m on vacation for a week, but they know how to reach me. Tell the dispatcher I want to be called.”
“All right.”
Without another word, Jake walked down the porch steps, climbed into his truck and drove away.
Tiffany watched as the taillights of the Chevy disappeared. Then she closed the front door and leaned against its heavy wood. With Jake gone the house seemed silent and lonely, the cream-colored hallway with its bright quilts too empty. There should be children upstairs giggling and whispering secrets to one another, and toys scattered across the floors. Instead there was silence and a neatness that came from living alone.
Dating Brian had put Tiffany’s dream of marriage and a family within her reach, and she knew that if she backed down, if she allowed their relationship to continue, she could have all the things she wanted so desperately.
But at what cost?
She deserved to be more than an inconvenience, more than a trophy displayed or put aside with equal measure. She deserved to be waited for and worried about, not left alone.
As if sensing Tiffany’s mood, Bandit lumbered out of the living room and nudged her hand. “All right, boy. Enough of these morbid thoughts. Ready for some dinner?”
The big dog thumped his tail, woofing a response, and Tiffany made her way into the kitchen and to the mudroom behind it. She wanted to let go of her worries, wanted to let God take care of filling her life, but what if doing that meant living alone? What if it meant never getting married, never having children, never being anything but Tiffany Anderson, computer whiz?
The thought depressed Tiffany, but she knew she’d rather that than accept a relationship based more on convenience than affection. With a sigh, she poured food into Bandit’s bowl and went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. The clock read nine-thirty. Church would be over. Brian finished his work with the youth. No doubt he’d call and apologize.
And when he did, Tiffany would be ready to tell him exactly what she thought, how she felt, and why he didn’t need to call her again.
Teacup in hand, she sat at the kitchen table and waited for the phone to ring.
Chapter Six
A week later, Tiffany sat in her turret room office eyeing the silent telephone. Seven days had passed and she was still waiting for Brian to call. Not because she wanted to speak to him, but because she wanted closure, a firm and final
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