A Treasure of the Heart

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His eyebrow arched. “That’s a joke, right?”

“Yes. And no. In case you haven’t noticed, most of us have two first names.”

“Like Darla Sue?” He paused, smiling. “So, what’s your other name?”

“Just Lillie.”

“Oh, no, you don’t. You started this. Come on. If you don’t fess up I’ll keep asking around until somebody tells me. What’s your middle name, Miss Lillie?”

She pulled a face. “I forget.”

He crossed his arms and shook his head. “Uh-uh. Not good enough. Shall I guess? Sue? Lynn? Mary?”

“Much worse than that,” she said with resignation. “My mother was a flower lover. She couldn’t decide which of four names to use so she tagged me with all of them. I’m officially Lillie Rose Iris Daisy Delaney.”

Grinning, James was incredulous. “You have to be joking.”

She snorted derisively. “I wish I was. You’d be doing me a big favor if you didn’t use any of them. Okay?”

“Okay. As long as you don’t start calling me Jim Bob and inspire everybody else to do it, too.”

She stuck out her hand. “Deal.”

As James took it to shake on their agreement, he was struck by how soft her skin was, how lovely she looked with those loose flower petals dusting her silky light brown hair.

He quickly pulled away. The last thing he intended to let himself do was admire another woman. He’d been married once and had experienced the agony of his wife’s disloyalty and their subsequent divorce. When she had died unexpectedly, he had still grieved, yet his mind was made up. Never again would he trust like that, love like that. It had hurt too much.

Besides, he reminded himself, he had work to do for the Lord. That was all he needed or wanted. His congregation was the only family he required and his life was already complete. Period.

Looking at Lillie and seeing her guileless smile, he wondered why, for the first time in years, he was tempted to question that sensible conclusion.

Chapter Four

Lillie had ended up taking Fang home to Darla Sue’s with her because James had refused to consider himself permanently responsible for the kitten. She desperately needed a confidante so she decided to phone Chancy Boyd, an old friend who ran an antique shop in nearby Serenity.

“Lillie! Is that really you? It’s great to hear from you after all this time,” Chancy said. “Where are you staying? Are you moving back or just visiting?”

Lillie laughed. “It’s good to hear your voice, too, Chancy. I’m here for keeps. I’ll be staying with Gram for the time being. Her number’s in the book but if you can’t reach me there, feel free to call the café or stop in some time and we’ll visit. Looks like I’m going to be spending a lot of time there, at least for a while.”

“I can’t believe it’s really you. Wait till I tell Nate.”

“Who’s Nate?”

Chancy giggled. “My gorgeous new husband. I’m Chancy Collins now.”

“Congratulations!” Lille was happy for her friend but a bit envious, too. “I’m never getting married. You won’t believe what’s happened here. Grandpa ran off with another woman. A younger one. Gram is fit to be tied and I don’t blame her.”

“Wow, you really stepped into a mess, didn’t you?”

“That’s not the half of it,” Lillie said with a shake of her head. “I haven’t told Gram I’m here for keeps and I’ve already gotten stuck with an extra cat—a kitten to be exact. I hope she’s not going to mind my bringing it home with me. If I’m cautious, maybe she won’t notice.”

That made her friend giggle. “Oh, dear. How senile is she? I mean, wouldn’t most people notice?”

“Not as easily when they already have a houseful of cats,” Lillie explained. “At least I hope not. I’m standing here in the kitchen, talking to you, and there’s a calico on the chair, an orange tabby rubbing against my leg and three more gray-and-white ones sleeping in the corner by their food dishes.”

“You need a dog,” Chancy teased. “Nate’s grandparents have a wonderful one.”

“Well, right now I seem to be the proud owner of a really cute kitten and that’s enough, thanks.” She sighed. “It truly is good to hear your voice. I’ve missed living close enough to get together with you when I need a pal.”

“Call anytime. Honest. Or stop by the shop when you get over this way. It’s not far. Nate’s building us a house on the Collins farm but until it’s done we’re still living in the apartment over the shop, so I’m always here.”

“It’s a deal. Well, I’d better go. The kitten is getting restless and I’m not sure where Gram is. I want to introduce him to the older cats before she has a chance to tell me they won’t get along.”

“Will they?”

“I think so. All of Gram’s cats have been altered so there shouldn’t be any territorial squabbles. I’m hoping one of the old mama cats will adopt this baby and protect it. I’ll keep you posted. And look for me soon. I’ll do my best to get over your way so we can really visit.”

“Sounds wonderful. Take care.”

“You, too. Bye.”

Putting her cell phone into her pocket, Lillie placed the kitten on the floor and watched. The other cats accepted the baby with curiosity, yet few hisses or arched backs. Lillie relaxed. If her grandmother took to the new resident as well as her house cats had, all would be well.

Trying to slip the orphan cat into Darla’s horde without question didn’t bother Lillie nearly as much as the fact that her grandmother had continued to treat her as if she’d never been away.

Lillie decided it was time for a serious discussion. She found her grandmother in the living room, sat down beside her on the sofa and brought up the subject of her permanent relocation.

“I’ve decided to move back to Gumption,” she announced, taking Darla Sue’s hand so she couldn’t use the TV remote and create too much of a distraction.

The older woman blinked and then smiled. “’Bout time. What took you so long?”

“I thought I was happy in the city.”

“Bah! You might of fooled yourself but you didn’t fool me. You never did belong in Chicago.” She poked a finger under the elastic edging of the shower cap to scratch her scalp. “All a body needs is right here. I’ve always known that.”

“Then why didn’t you try to stop me from leaving?”

“I couldn’t make a choice like that for you. If you hadn’t left, you might have spent your whole life wonderin’ if you’d missed something. Now you know you didn’t. And you’ll be more content right here.”

“I guess that’s true,” Lillie agreed. “I’ll need to find a new job and a place to live, though.” She was taken aback when Darla Sue’s head snapped up, her eyes growing suspiciously moist.

“You’ve already got both, girl.”

Lillie shook her head soberly. “I know you’d let me stay with you as long as I wanted and work at the café for a while but that’s not fair to you.”

“What’s not fair?” Her lower lip had begun to tremble though she’d lifted her chin defiantly. “If I wasn’t tickled pink to have you here I’d say so. And as for the restaurant, it can use some younger blood.” The slump of her shoulders made her look every one of her seventy-plus years. “I’m tired, honey. Wrung out. It’s not just your grandpa’s shenanigans that’s done it, either. I’ve worked hard all my life and I need a little break. I thought, with you back home, I’d be able to rest a tad.”

“You can. I didn’t mean I wouldn’t help you out. I just thought…”

“Thought what? That I’d want my café to pass to anybody but you?”

“Well, you could always sell it and retire on the profits you earned.”

“Now why would I do that?”

“So you could take it easy?” Lillie’s brow furrowed. “I get the feeling I’m missing something here. What is it you’d like to see happen?”