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He thought of the pictures of starving kids in Africa but of course knew that wasn’t her problem.
Totally surprised, he looked back into her eyes and said, “You’re pregnant”
“Gee,” she replied, roughly, her eyes brimming with sudden defiance and a cynical smile slowly twisting her lips, “what was your first clue?”
Chapter Two (#ulink_c835107a-917b-51cc-be61-a55a231ab362)
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
Maggie shrugged. “No big deal,” she said. And it wasn’t She had no business thinking of this man the way she had been thinking of him.
“Go on and fix the car. I have to prepare dinner.”
She walked off, leaving him standing there gaping. No wonder he’d been so nice to her, she thought dispiritedly. He hadn’t realized she was pregnant How could he have missed it?
After unlocking the dead bolt, she went inside before pushing the metal door closed behind her.
Wearily Maggie took off her raincoat and her shoes. She was soaked. She went to the bathroom, grabbed a towel to dry her hair, then combed the long curly red strands before clipping it back out of her face with a large clasp. Gazing at herself in the mirror, she realized she looked tired. Purple circles shadowed her eyes.
She’d get some sleep tonight, she vowed. No more nightmares.
She changed into a blue summer dress with flowers. She’d found it at a secondhand store. “Beggars couldn’t be choosers,” the saying went. And it was true. She’d learned a lot about shopping and buying things she wouldn’t necessarily have ever considered before. However, the dress looked okay on her. She would have preferred green or black, but blue it was.
Maggie pulled on a pair of fuzzy slippers. With a long sigh she pushed herself up and then padded back into the kitchen to see what she had to fix.
She wondered if Jake was still out there, or if had he run as soon as she was out of sight. He’d been shocked enough to want nothing more to do with her.
Pulling back the flowered curtain, she peeked out the kitchen window. Nope, he and his friend were still there, working on her car, talking—probably about her. Slightly curly, dark-brown hair was slicked down against Jake’s head. His wide shoulders blocked out most of the engine as he pointed to something and motioned at Tyler.
When he’d first stopped she’d been frightened. Of course, that was a leftover from the past, from things she tried to forget. Since she knew what an acquaintance could do to a woman, a stranger automatically made her nervous. People didn’t really help other people. She didn’t believe it.
But Jake had been willing to help her.
She still couldn’t get over how friendly he had been, or how willing to help. She knew nothing about him. He didn’t know her, yet he’d pulled more information out of her than anyone else had over the past six months.
He was easy to talk to. Too easy.
And she’d been glad to have him there. That had made her automatically nervous. She didn’t need anyone. She’d learned that, and she wasn’t about to risk it now. But if she decided to take a chance, she thought, glancing out the window again, she’d definitely want it to be with him.
He certainly was gorgeous, she acknowledged as she watched him stand up straight Tall, a good six inches taller than her, and strong. He’d held her above the ground a minute ago while staring into her eyes as her condition dawned on him. He hadn’t acted as though she weighed anything. But where strength had scared her before, it was strangely reassuring when coming from the man with the gentle eyes. While her heart had been tripping over a surprising attraction, his had been recoiling at his discovery.
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. It had to be her hormones that had made her react to the man.
Maggie opened her cabinets, trying to figure out what to fix. It’d been a while since she’d cooked. She was very careful and rationed her food to make it last Two bags of egg noodles, one larger bag of spaghetti noodles, four cans of tomato sauce, various spices, six macaroni-and-cheese dinners.
Spaghetti it was. She couldn’t offer him any of the other supplies.
She went to her freezer and looked in. One small container of hamburger meat and a whole chicken sat there.
She’d splurge and add meat to the spaghetti sauce. She pulled the meat out and put it in the frying pan to thaw, wishing again for a microwave.
But she couldn’t afford a microwave without a job. Nor would she be able to afford more groceries. That’s why her car was so important. Next week’s paycheck was supposed to go for groceries.
This week’s had to go for rent. She rented on a month-to-month basis, with the understanding that if she dropped over fifteen days behind she’d be evicted. She had three days to go.
Her jobs just weren’t bringing in enough money to support her, and she didn’t know what she was going to do.
When she’d walked in today and seen her manager’s face, she’d realized her parents had found out where she was.
Maggie had asked the manager point-blank if her parents were behind her dismissal. He’d avoided her eyes when he said no.
She had her answer.
She’d fought her parents on the decision about her unborn child, and they were determined that she leave the area…Her chest tightened on that thought
She would not think about the confrontation that had forced her from the only home she’d ever known, forced her into working the way she was. Through her trials, though, she’d come to appreciate money. All her life she’d had everything. It was good for her to find out what it was like to have nothing.
Or at least she kept telling herself that
Deep down inside, though, she felt lonely. God seemed so far away, as if he didn’t care. She couldn’t understand why He’d let everything happen to her that had.
Seeing that the meat was thawed, she opened a can of tomato sauce and then, thinking that both Tyler and Jake were big men, decided to open two. She’d find a way to buy more groceries.
She’d find a job.
At the thought of a job, she wondered what job Jake had in mind for her. Without references, no one would look at her résumé. If the job was in Baton Rouge, well, she might as well forget about it right now. Her parents controlled a huge business in Baton Rouge and were very well known in the business world. That was why she didn’t work there now. They’d put the word out that she was being a problem and rebelling. So of course no one wanted her. And if she did get hired, her parents would hear about it and make sure she didn’t keep the job.
She was too much of an embarrassment to them.
Maggie turned abruptly away from the sauce and went to the cabinets, where she pulled out a pan. After filling it with water, she dropped the noodles in to cook.
Looking around, she wondered what Jake would think of where she lived. The trailer had come furnished. A small, checked, broken-down couch sat against one wall; a chair across from it, with a coffee table in between.
She hurried across the room and snatched up her nightgown, which was lying on the couch. The shag carpet was clean. Though she didn’t have a vacuum, she’d used a broom yesterday to sweep it out.
The linoleum in the kitchen was cracked in places but had been mopped.
A small table sat in the corner with two chairs. On it was one place mat and a napkin holder—and a dead bug.
Yuck!
She hated the bugs. She’d never had bugs at her old house. Maggie went over and used a paper towel to sweep it into the garbage. One spray, maybe two more, and the place would be devoid of vermin.
A knock on the door sounded just as an engine started up. Maggie hurried over to answer it.
Jake stood there.
“Where’s your friend going?” she asked, seeing the other man driving away.
“He said to tell you thank-you, but he had to get home.”
“Oh.” She shifted uncomfortably; then, realizing she was keeping him outside, forced down her fears and stepped back. “Come on in.”
He nodded, a gentle smile on his face. “Thank you.”
He sniffed, and his mouth shifted into a wide grin. “That smells good.”
Maggie actually blushed. She was glad she’d gone to the trouble to add meat “Thank you. It’s not much. But I hope you like it”
Jake smiled at her. “I’m sure it will be delicious.”
She returned his smile. She couldn’t help it. Despite her wariness around men, she liked Jake. He had a warmth about him that she hadn’t seen in other men before.
Old bitterness reared its ugly head. After everything that had happened, she had at least expected her church and her family to support her. Yet they hadn’t Not one person had had the guts to stand up with her. Nor had a single person comforted her. Every single one had blamed her for what had happened, believed her a liar, a Jezebel, a Mary Magdalene….
“I’m sorry. Come on in. I have juice, milk and water to drink. I was just about to make up some tea, though.”
He smiled. “Tea sounds fine.”
“It’s herbal,” she warned, a hint of defiance creeping into her voice.
He frowned and walked forward. She stiffened, not sure what he was going to say. He floored her when he took her hand and stroked it
“I’m really sorry about my surprise out there. My only excuse is that I was so captivated by your face I never looked lower.”
She burst out laughing. “Now, there’s a line I’ve never heard.”
His smile returned, his eyes sparkled. “Be that as it may, I can only beg your forgiveness.”
Ruefully Maggie shook her head. “I’ll forgive you if you set the table.”
She pulled out two plates and silverware and handed them to him.
Jake easily arranged the table, noting the layout with a discerning eye. This woman was low on funds. He’d been in enough houses before to tell. The cabinets were bare, with nothing hanging on the wall to hint at permanence. And her clothes were probably secondhand since they didn’t fit her very well.
He felt guilty eating a meal she had prepared. He wondered if she had enough food. But he wouldn’t ask her. Jake didn’t know her well enough and wouldn’t stick his nose in unless he felt directed by God.
Besides, he still had the idea for a job that might work. But first, he had to put her at ease. He didn’t know why she was so worried, unless pastors just made her nervous.
“Have you lived here long?” he asked, taking the hot pot of noodles from her hands and setting it on the table.
“Thank you,” she said, and turned back to the stove to finish the sauce. “No. I moved in here two months ago when I came to this area.”
He nodded. “Here, let me help you,” he said, lifting the pan with the sauce in it from her.
“I’m pregnant, not helpless,” she muttered.
He grinned. “Consider it chivalrous. As long as there’s someone here to lift for you, why do it yourself?”
“I don’t want to turn into a lazy housewife,” she returned, sitting down.
He smiled, but his eyes were serious as he said, “I doubt that’d ever happen.”
She put her napkin in her lap.
“Do you mind if we pray?” he queried.
Surprised, she lifted her eyes. “Not at all.”
He watched her wariness finally fade, and she bowed her head.
After a quick prayer, they served up their plates.
“So, what about this job?” she asked.
Jake felt guilty for keeping her in suspense when he saw how interested she was, though she tried to hide it. “It’s here in town.”
“Not in Baton Rouge?”
He shook his head. “No. My secretary just quit….”
“Your secretary?”
Jake saw he’d surprised her again. “I guess I didn’t explain enough earlier. That’s why I inadvertently splashed you. I was talking on the phone and had just found out Shirley quit. I have no replacement and no idea who to hire. I need someone who has good bookkeeping skills, as well as secretarial skills. The person would also need to know about lumber and building and things of that nature, if possible. You see, we’re undertaking a major building project for the inner-city youth and I’m the one who is spearheading the project.”
“What project?” she asked.
“A large recreational center, a place where kids can go and be safe.”
She nodded. He could see the cautious hope in her eyes. “I think I could handle the job. But what about references?”
Holding up his fork that had spaghetti on it, he said, “This is reference enough.”
“I’m serious,” Maggie said, frowning. “I don’t have any references. I can’t get any. Why would you consider hiring me without them?”
He wondered if Maggie realized how negative she sounded. Patiently he explained, “Any woman who is trusting enough to fix a stranger a meal simply because he helped her out is reference enough with me. In my opinion it tells me you aren’t totally self-absorbed and that you care.”
She stiffened. “You’ve drawn a lot of conclusions from one simple act of kindness.”
“Maybe God is prompting me, too,” he quipped.
She didn’t return his smile. He cleared his throat “The hours would be full-time. Of course, with your condition, we could certainly allow time for rests and doctors appointments. And the last person who helped me also ran the children’s programs and assisted me on Saturdays with the kids.”
Puzzled, she asked, “Just what type of job is this? Lumber, kids, children’s programs? Do you treat your entire staff this way?”
Jake stilled. He’d told her what his job was, hadn’t he? Surely he wouldn’t have forgotten something so important that would put the woman at ease immediately and stop her from worrying about him being some rapist “Didn’t I tell you what I do for a living?” he asked.
Caution immediately returned, dominating her small round face, and she set her fork down. “No, you didn’t”
