His chest constricted. He wanted to help his baby sister and brother-in-law, but they stubbornly refused any financial assistance. “I’ve been praying John will find a job soon.”
“Thanks.” She blew her nose. “One of the men at church gave him some hours helping with a landscape company. It’s putting food on the table and keeping the power on but not much else.”
“Let me help. If not for you and John, at least let me do it for Mercy.”
“You’ve done enough. I appreciate the diapers you sent.”
He forced a straight face as though Tamera would be able to see him through the phone. “I didn’t do anything.”
A weak laugh trickled from Tamera. “The receipt had your billing information on it. At least Faith didn’t try to hide her help.”
“Oh.” Next time, he’d make sure the gift was sent anonymously, but he was glad his other sister had stepped in to help as well, even though she lived halfway across the country.
Her voice dropped an octave. “Thank you. It meant a lot to me.”
“How’s my favorite niece?” He changed the subject, sensing her tears were about to start again. “Did she take those first steps?”
“Not yet, but she’s trying.”
“I miss my Mercy girl. Tell her Uncle Mac loves her.”
“Why don’t you come over tomorrow afternoon and tell her yourself?”
He did a mental check of his calendar and couldn’t think of any plans. “I might. Mom is taking Dad for a rare trip to a friend’s house after church.”
“Really?” Her astonishment echoed over the line.
“It surprised me, too, but I’m glad. Getting out and socializing will help Dad.” He paused, deliberating if he should continue. “I only hope he behaves.”
“He will. I’ll say a prayer. Do you know if Mom’s home? I need to ask her something.”
“Should be.” He caught a glimpse of the time on the dash clock. “I’ll let you go call her. I told Phoebe I’d stop by at noon to change her oil.”
“Oh?”
He didn’t need to see her to know her eyes sparkled with her own ideas of romance, but he quickly dispelled them. “Sorry to break it to you yet again, but Phoebe and I are friends. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Under her fake cough was a word that sounded suspiciously likeliar. “Whatever you say.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He ended the call, shaking his head and laughing.
His entire family was convinced he’d marry Phoebe one day. He took their teasing in stride since they kept it a family joke. Fortunately, they never made their comments in front of Phoebe—he didn’t want her embarrassed buy their crazy notions.
Not that dating Phoebe would be crazy. When he did meet someone and fall in love, he could only hope it was a woman like Phoebe. Down-to-earth, family oriented, intelligent, funny, and devoted to God. Beautiful with or without makeup. Any man would be blessed to have her as a wife.
Why not you?
Why not him? He’d asked himself that question many times, but they had a good thing going with their friendship. She’d never shown a romantic interest in him, so why complicate matters by suggesting more?
He drove home to Jasper Lake, realized he’d forgotten his tools, swung by the house to pick them up then drove to Phoebe’s. When he pulled into her driveway, he squelched his envy. The cabin she rented was everything he wanted in a house from the surrounding pines to the exposed beams to the wall-length windows. He’d been saving for a down payment, but his parents’ struggles dipped into that, a fact he didn’t begrudge.
Still, he couldn’t tamp down the longing for his own home. The duplex he’d rented outside of town was nice, but he wanted more than a single bedroom and eat-in kitchen that also served as a living room as well. He wanted a home where he could start a family and watch them grow. A wry smile curved his mouth. Maybe he should find a wife first and stop jumping ahead of himself.
A movement caught his attention. He glanced up and saw Phoebe walking toward his truck with a confused expression.
“Everything okay?” she said when she reached his door. “I saw you pull up several minutes ago.”
He inwardly cringed, not realizing he’d been sitting that long. “I was admiring the landscape.”
