Heaven's Kiss. Lois Richer

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СКАЧАТЬ right, Luc.” Winifred drooped, her sigh heartfelt. “It’s too much to ask of a newcomer to town.”

      “But—”

      Dani frowned, half glared at the older woman. To her surprise, Miss Winifred turned her head and winked. Her voice continued in a sad, almost whining tone.

      “Why, think of how long it will take to memorize the lines, to come to practice, to find a costume. And you’re such a busy doctor.” She clicked her teeth together, paused a moment, then continued, as if a new thought had just hit. Her twinkling eyes met Dani’s for a fraction of a second, but that was long enough for Dani to glimpse the mischief glittering there.

      “I don’t know what in the world I was thinking of, to volunteer for KP, either. Mercy, girl, I own a business, I’m on more committees than I can name, and I have my great-nephew’s daughters to watch out for. There’s no way on earth I can manage the kitchen for this play. No way at all.”

      Lucas frowned at her. “But you have to. There isn’t anyone else who can do it.”

      “Someone will step into the gap,” the baker assured him blithely. “If they don’t, well then, we’ll know God has other plans.”

      Winifred’s blue eyes brightened. Dani lifted a hand to smother her giggle, risked a quick look at the doctor.

      “But—but that’s ridiculous!” He shook his head. “God can’t accomplish things if people aren’t willing to help.”

      “Exactly.” Winifred Blessing’s face glowed with satisfaction. “I’ll be willing to help in the kitchen as long as you’re willing to be the inspector Dani needs. Or are you going to wimp out on us?”

      “Wimp—” The doctor straightened as if someone had refused to allow him to treat a patient. “I am not wimping out!”

      “Of course you are, dear. And if you can do it, I can do it. After all, I’m older, with years of age-wearing troubles to deal with. Managing a meal this size will tire me for days. I’ve got a weak heart, too.”

      “Hah. There’s nothing wrong with your heart. I did your physical last week, remember?” Luc cast Dani a dubious glance, then peered more closely into Miss Blessing’s bland countenance. “This is a con.”

      “Is it?” Dani shrugged. “Miss Blessing has never said a thing she didn’t mean in all the years I’ve known her. I don’t think she’s about to start now.”

      “But you’ve already got someone. I heard on coffee row that Big Ed said he was going to read for the part.” He dared them to refute it.

      “He’s offered.” Dani nodded. “He could memorize the lines, play the part.”

      “But?” Luc frowned at them both, chocolate-brown eyes wary. “There is a but, isn’t there.”

      “Big Ed is a cowboy. He’s a wonderful man, but we could never make him into an English inspector. We need someone younger, better suited to the part. We want the whole project to succeed beyond expectations. We want to see enough funding come in to rebuild that orphanage. Do you honestly think Big Ed can do that?” Dani fell silent, unable to communicate how deeply this need touched her, how certain she was that the doctor was the man for the part.

      “There’s a passage in the Bible,” Miss Winifred murmured. “I forget the exact words, and I’ll have to look up the reference, but the gist of it is that we should strive to do the best we can for God, not offer Him the mediocre.”

      “But you don’t even know if I can do this,” Luc challenged, glaring at them.

      “I don’t know if I can direct, either,” Dani reminded him. “But I’m willing to step into the gap rather than see the whole project go under. Let’s sink or swim together, shall we, Dr. Duke?” She said it deliberately, hoping to rouse some emotion in the reticent doctor.

      “Luc,” he corrected her in a loud voice. “It’s Luc.” He sighed. “If I won’t try out, you won’t help with the meal?” He waited for Miss Blessing’s nod.

      Her grin made Winifred look far younger than her age, which, in fact, remained a well-kept secret in Blessing Township.

      “That about sums it up, Lucas.”

      “So, if I don’t step in, everyone will blame me for the failure of the dinner theater.” He sighed. “That’s blackmail, you know.”

      “It is, isn’t it?” Miss Winifred shrugged. “Oh well. Whatever works. When you get to be my age, you’ll have learned that. Among other things.”

      Dani waited, holding her breath. Finally Luc tossed up his hands in defeat.

      “I’ll read for it,” he said. “But you have to promise that if Big Ed is better, you’ll give him the part. No more shenanigans.”

      “Agreed.”

      He pulled open the door, waited till they’d walked through.

      “I just wanted to nail a few boards,” Dani heard him mumble almost beneath his breath. “Saw something, maybe. Just a little construction work.”

      “Well, maybe we can arrange—” Gray McGonigle’s hand on her arm stopped Dani midsentence. “Oh, hi, Gray. Did you want to talk to me?”

      “Yes. Now. Please.”

      Dani stepped aside to let the others pass, stared at him in confusion.

      “What’s wrong?” she asked, half-afraid to hear the answer.

      “Dani, I’m not trying to run the show or anything, believe me. I only want the best for this dinner theater, just as you do. So trust me when I ask you to keep Dr. Lucas Lawrence away from any and all construction. No saws, no nails, no hammers.” He winced. “Particularly no hammers.”

      Dani frowned at the intensity underlying his words. “May I ask you why?”

      “You know that house we rent out?”

      She nodded.

      “Last week Luc moved in. The other day he decided to hang a picture.”

      Dani shrugged, impatient to get on with the job. “So what?”

      “Three hundred and forty-two dollars and seventy-eight cents, so far. That’s what.”

      “Three hundred—” She stared. “How?”

      “Looking for a stud, he said.” Gray shuddered. “Made a hole in the drywall, knocked over a floor lamp, which tipped and went through the picture window.”

      The giggle just would not be denied. Dani slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle it. “Oh dear.”

      “Easy for you to say. I was fool enough to accept his offer to help me fix things.” He held up one hand with a thick bandage around his thumb. “Luc Lawrence is a great doctor and I like him very much, but he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn door with a sledgehammer. I sure don’t want him touching anything СКАЧАТЬ