“You mean the character of that man?” Sunny said as she pointed out the window.
Summer had been ready to take her apron off, finished for the day, when Sunny had pointed.
Sure enough, she was absolutely right. It was Gilbert who sat outside across from the bakeshop, on a park bench with another woman.
It must be the Darla that Mrs. Tucker had asked him to spend the day with. She wore high heels, along with slim dress pants, and a fashionable sweater. Her makeup appeared to be applied perfectly from this distance, and her hair was short and stylish, bobbed around her head in a flattering way.
As Summer looked, Darla laughed at somethingGilbert said, throwing her head back and lifting a hand, the bracelet on her wrist sparkling in the sunlight as her rings glittered.
“Yeah. That’s the man.” She tried to infuse nonchalance to hide the depression that had stolen over her. Appearances could be deceiving. She felt she had to defend him, but she didn’t want to sound defensive, because Summer would see right through that. “I was with him Sunday in church when Mrs. Tucker asked him to take someone who is looking to purchase a weekend getaway here in town on a tour.”
“Another Washington, DC person looking to get out of the city for the weekend?” Sunny rolled her eyes. They were nice for the money, but their beliefs contrasted with those of most small-town residents, and they tended to be loud and vocal, and ordinances and rules were changed to accommodate them.
They were not popular with the locals.
“Yes. She sounded really nice,” Summer offered.
“I’m sure she did. She looks like a DC suit. And your boyfriend looks like he’s having a really good time with her.”
“He’s not really my boyfriend, and I was telling you, Mrs. Tucker asked him to show her around. He said he would. And… He’s doing what he said.”
“Let me get this straight. Yesterday he was kissing you, today he’s all snuggled up with her on the park bench.”
“No. They’re not snuggled up.” They weren’t even touching, although she had her body pointed toward him, and as she spoke, she put a hand on his knee.
Even from this distance, Summer could see that he was uncomfortable with it as he moved around, pretty much doing everything but picking up her hand and taking it off his leg.
Or maybe that was what she wanted him to be doing. Maybe he actually enjoyed her hand being there. Maybe he’d realize that a businesswoman was exactly what he wanted, as she had been afraid of on Sunday when she had heard Mrs. Tucker ask him to spend time with Darla.
“I’m sorry. I don’t need to rub it in.” Sunny’s arm came around her shoulder, and her voice sounded sincere and compassionate.
“It’s okay. I really think that he’s just doing what Mrs. Tucker asked. But… It doesn’t feel good.”
“But we don’t go by our feelings, right?”
“That’s right. I can’t react in a negative way just because I don’t like what I see. I actually do appreciate the character of a man who does what he says he’s going to do, even if he doesn’t want to.”
“Even though it looks like he’s having a good time, probably, deep down, he doesn’t want to,” Sunny said, and Summer did not miss the sarcasm in her voice.
“Right. That’s exactly what I want to hear, but?—”
“It’s not necessarily the truth. I don’t know, Summer. I really want this to be good for you, but I’ve played devil’s advocate a little bit because I don’t want to see you hurt. You’re special. You are one of the best humans I know. And you have a tendency to trust everyone. You just believe them. But sometimes that bites you. Sometimes your gullibility hurts. And this is a pretty big decision. Now, you’re right, he is a Christian, and I like the fact that both of you have decided to not touch. I agree with that, even though I told you that no one else does it. That’s true, but if you have that kind of self-control, that’s the best way to be.”
Summer listened, but she watched out the window as Darla laughed again, and Gilbert smiled. He had a smile that she absolutely loved. And forgive her, but she had thought that it was only for her. Obviously it was a smile he used on everyone. He didn’t seem like he was fighting the urge to kiss her. She didn’t have hair like Summer’s, but that didn’t mean the man wasn’t wishing he could bury his hands in it.
Maybe it all was a line. Maybe she really was too gullible. And she couldn’t confirm that his wife had cheated because he had said that he didn’t tell anyone else. Maybe that was all a line too, and she couldn’t even know that it was because there was no way to confirm or deny it, since he already admitted that no one else wouldknow what she was talking about if she tried to talk to them about it.
“Thanks for your help. I understand if you need to go and want to run over and wrap your hands around someone’s throat.”
“His or hers?” Summer said with a laugh.
“Either? Both?” Sunny said, laughing along with her.
“It was my pleasure to help you. I appreciate having a place to come to when I needed it. You gave me just enough time for God to work His way in my life. And whatever is going on over there, whether it’s just Gilbert doing what Mrs. Tucker asked or something more, I know that the Lord has a plan, I just need to…accept it.” It was hard, since she did want to go and demand that he tell her whether he was sincerely enjoying himself or just acting like it. Couldn’t he act like he was suffering?
She almost rolled her eyes at herself. If she were being forced to lead someone around town, introduce them to all the sights, and help them fall in love with the town so they bought a house nearby and spent their money in Mistletoe Meadows, to help all of her neighbors continue to make a living, she certainly would put her best effort into it and do everything she could to hide the fact that she hated what she was doing.
So, she could hardly blame him for appearing, for all intents and purposes, like he was enjoying himself.
