"We don't stand on tradition too much here," Aunt Vivian said. "If you want to burst out with news, go ahead and do it. I can't guarantee that we won't at some point either."
Grace shared a look with her aunt, and it was easy to see the affection between the two of them.
"I was hoping to start tomorrow afternoon. I know you said every afternoon was free—"
"I'm sorry. I had an appointment come up tomorrow. But everything else this week is free. I could do it tomorrow afternoon, but I can't stay late."
He blinked. What had come up so quickly? Surely she wasn't sick?
"I'm sorry. It was on my calendar, and I just kind of forgot about it. It's nothing important." She shook her head a little and smiled at him, and it was the smile that did it. Whatever it was, he believed her that it wasn't important.
He nodded. "That's fine. We can do one right after school, or even the last period. I can check and see." He glanced at Aunt Vivian. "I have someone else to watch the store tomorrow afternoon, so you don't have to, unless you want to."
"I love doing it. So anytime you need me, go ahead and ask. I don't want regular hours, but I don't mind filling in whenever, especially this time of year, since I know things will slow down after Christmas."
"They always do," he said. January was one of his slowest months. There had been years where he'd considered closing the store completely, if it weren't for the kids getting lessons and the occasional kid coming in to rent an instrument.
They started talking about something else, and Noah enjoyed the delicious soup.
The warm, great-smelling kitchen, good company, and smiles and laughter made him feel like he had come home. No, his siblings weren't here, but it definitely was the kind of place where a person would love to come in and spend some time. But again, maybe that was Grace.
Chapter 20
"That Noah Parker is a great man," Aunt Vivian said as Grace put on her coat, wrapped her scarf around her neck, and prepared to leave. She had already worked with Noah that afternoon, the last period in school, with the high school kids. They were scheduled to work with all of the rest of them the next day, which was going to be an extremely busy day, but she had something she had to do first.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Aunt Vivian said.
"I was thinking about what you said about Noah. He really is a good man."
"I just wanted you to know. After all, sometimes we have a tendency to drag our feet, and opportunities that land right in our lap slip out from between our fingers and we don't realize what we've lost until it's gone."
"Are you speaking from experience?" Grace stopped and looked hard at her aunt. It seemed like she was saying more than what the words coming out of her mouth would indicate.
"Well I guess I've never really talked about it, but I was engaged once, and I gave it up for my career. I regretted it the rest of my life.He went on to marry someone super nice, and he had a great family. Still does actually. And I'm alone. I have you now, which is almost as good as a family, but I always regretted my choice. A career is cold company when you're my age."
"I understand."
"I'm not sure you do. I definitely had financial security, I had accolades from people who appreciated me. My work was good, and I had a lot of people think that I was the best at what I did. But... Looking back over my life, it doesn't compare at all to having children and grandchildren and a family that supports you and loves you. I wish I would've chosen differently."
"Men like Noah don't come along very often." Grace believed that with all her heart. She'd never met another man like him. He was sensitive and kind, but strong and confident as well. And he was a protector, a provider, and most importantly of all of that, he loved Jesus. And he trusted God. He had no fear of the future, and he encouraged her to have a better walk in her Christian life as well. If she were giving someone advice, she would advise them to snatch a man like that up and never let him go.
"Are you sure you're gonna be okay tonight?"
"I'm sure," she said, knowing that it was true. Talking with Noah had given her a confidence that she hadn't had before. Of course, all she was doing this evening was talking with a group of college students as a guest speaker. Thankfully, one of her emails had been an invitation, a late one, since someone else had canceled, and a local college had wanted to see if she could fill in. She was going to play a few notes, probably, but nothing major. Nothing hard, and not for a paying audience. Although she would be paid for her appearance, and hopefully it would be enough to replace Noah's furnace.
With a last wave and goodbye to her aunt, she headed out into the cold. One of the reasons she'd taken this job was because it paid enough, and the other was because it was close by. A private college in the next town. Somehow, they'd gotten wind that she was around, and that played right into her hands.
It wasn't nearly as difficult as what she thought, although she did freeze up for a moment when her fingers touched the keys. Then, she breathed through it and just prayed that whether she messed up or whether she spoke beautifully, that God would use whatever she did for His glory. That took all the pressure off of her, and she could do what she knew she was able to do without thinking about how it might turn out.
It was two hours, and the students were interested and attentive. They were all hoping to be professional musicians, and those were the people she liked to talk to the best. People who were taking a music class just because they had to were no fun to talk to, although sometimes on the rare occasion that she had spoken with them, she tried to think of what she could say that would spark an interest in music for them.
She had no idea whether she'd ever been successful or not, but she had a good feeling about this evening as she said her last goodbyes to the students who now felt like casual friends and got in her car to drive home.
It was late, almost midnight, when she arrived in Mistletoe Meadows, and she parked her car where she usually did, but did not go in the house. She had requested to be paid in cash, and the university had complied with her demands. She had an envelope full of greenbacks, and she wanted to put it where Noah would find it in the morning.
It might be a little bit terrible, but she had noticed the combination that Noah had used when he had unlocked the store, and she thought she could remember it well enough to unlock it herself.
Nerves swirled in her stomach, because she didn't want to get caught. She was hoping she could drop it off without anyone seeing her. She didn't really want Noah to know that she was the one who had provided the money.
