Читать книгу Their Unexpected Love - Kathleen Y'Barbo - Страница 13

Chapter Five

The last of the skaters left R10:14 a little after three on Saturday afternoon. Pippa tossed the bags into the trash bin and then walked back over to be certain the warehouse doors were securely locked. The day had been long, but thanks to the loan of an industrial-sized fan, the skaters had kept cool.

The first-ever Vine Beach skating competition had brought out several dozen kids from as far away as Galveston, and many of them were new to R10:14. And though the prizes were modest, none of the winners complained when he or she was awarded a T-shirt.

More important, each entrant received a copy of the New Testament bound in a trendy graffiti print courtesy of Rico and his tagging skills. The words of Romans 10:14, the ministry’s signature verse, were scrawled across the front cover in a brilliant hue:

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Pippa counted it a victory that only three skaters left their copies behind. She prayed over each one of the three, asking God to send those teenagers back and cause them to bring friends along with them. She added a prayer that somehow the Lord would soften Logan’s heart and help him to see the kids and the ministry the way she did.

Pippa climbed into her car and turned the key, bristling at the thought that a good man like Logan Burkett couldn’t see beyond the street art outside to the good things going on inside. As the Mini Cooper’s air-conditioning filled the space, she let out a long breath and forced her temper to cool, as well. She would win him over. After all, Logan wasn’t a bad guy. He just had a different way of looking at things.

“You’re in control, God,” she whispered.

Pippa reached into her bag to retrieve the copy Rico had proudly given her and traced each letter, thinking of how far the former juvenile delinquent had come. A tap on her window made Pippa jump and the book tumbled to the floor.

When Pippa lowered the window, Riley Burkett was quick to apologize. “I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said. “I saw you were here and thought I’d say hello.” His gaze fell to the book on the floor mat. “What’s that?”

“It’s Rico’s New Testament.” She leaned to retrieve it, then handed the copy to Logan’s father. “He did the artwork himself, and a donation from Leah and Ryan over at Pop’s Seafood allowed us to have plenty of copies printed up for the competition this weekend. I’m quite proud of him.”

“As well you should be,” the older man said as he opened the book and smiled. “Seems like yesterday I was having to report Rico once or twice a week for tagging my vacant properties, and now he’s using his artistic talent for something like this?” His gaze met hers. “This is incredible.”

Pippa smiled. Both knew the story of the eighteen-year-old who could just as easily have turned to a life of crime rather than a life led for the Lord. Thanks to Riley Burkett’s recommendation, Rico had been doing maintenance work and other odd jobs for Burkett Properties in addition to the demo job for Logan.

“Yes, it is beautiful, isn’t it?” Pippa smiled. “Rico is applying to colleges. Did you know that?”

Mr. Burkett shook his head. “I didn’t, but you tell that young man if he needs a reference letter, I’d be happy to write one.”

Her heart soared. “He will be thrilled.”

“It would be my pleasure,” he said as he handed the Bible back to her.

“No, keep it,” Pippa told him. “I know he would want you to.”

The Realtor tucked the book under his arm and grinned. “Thank you.” His expression sobered. “I’ve got to admit to an ulterior motive in stopping by.”

“Oh?”

“I felt like I should warn you.” Mr. Burkett glanced around and then leaned toward her. “About the kids using the parking lot.”

“There’s been a complaint,” she supplied.

His look of discomfort spoke for him. “Nothing formal, but the owner feels...”

Pippa sighed. “The kids are bringing down the value of the neighborhood and keeping the property from selling. Yes, Logan told me.”

Mr. Burkett’s nod was brief. “I’ve tried to explain to him that in this market it is not unusual for a property such as the machine shop to go without an offer for many, many months.”

Pippa thought of the lease on the warehouse and how inexpensive the rent had been for that very reason. An ideal solution would be to buy both buildings and achieve the dual purpose of gaining an outdoor space for her skaters and losing a neighbor bent on complaining.

Unfortunately there was no room in her budget—or Granny’s—for such an expense. Perhaps someday, but definitely not until the Branson Building was completed and the gallery open and turning a profit.

“I’m determined to show Logan he’s wrong,” Pippa said. “I’ve challenged him to come by and see what we do.”

“My son may not realize it just yet, but I’m well aware of what a great job you’re doing.” Mr. Burkett glanced over his shoulder and seemed to be studying the warehouse. “Your grandmother tells me you’ll be running the gallery when it opens. What will you do with this place then?”

“My goal is to divide my time between both.”

“An ambitious plan.” He shrugged. “But who am I to say it can’t be done?”

Pippa grinned. “Exactly.”

“I would say the same about your project to win Logan over. You’ll let me know how I can help with that, won’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll look forward to hearing from you.” Mr. Burkett winked. “And in the meantime, I’ll work on that stubborn son of mine. Maybe see if I can get him to come for supper. Speaking of supper, my wife will not be happy if I forget to pick up cornmeal.”

Pippa joined him in laughing. “Thank you for saying hello,” she said as they parted ways. “And don’t worry about Logan. He’ll come around.”

Mr. Burkett waved as he climbed into his car. “I was just about to say that,” he called before he started the engine and drove away.

Pippa did the same, aiming her car toward downtown Vine Beach. What better time to begin her campaign to get Logan’s support than right now? And he had invited her to stop in and view the construction progress.

Unfortunately, when Pippa reached the Branson Building, she found everything locked up and no evidence anyone was still there. Lord, give me an opportunity to change his mind very soon, won’t You? Just to be sure, she pulled to a stop in front of the building and then called Logan.

He picked up on the second ring. “I was just thinking of calling you.”

She hadn’t expected that. “Oh?”

“Yes, but you called me. So, what’s up?”

Pippa leaned back against the seat and shifted the phone to the other ear. “I told you I would stop by the building. I just wanted to be sure you weren’t still there.”

“Actually I’m down at the marina.”

That explained the screeching of gulls on the other end of the line. “That answers my question. I won’t keep you, then.”

“No, wait. I was about to take Eric’s boat out. Want to join me?”

Pippa caught sight of herself in the rearview mirror. The day had been long, and every minute of it showed on her face. But this was Logan. Her building contractor.

And she had asked the Lord to give her an opportunity to change his mind. Indeed this qualified as “very soon.”

“Remember I’ve been at the outreach all day,” Pippa warned.

“Then a sail around the bay, a swim and a picnic on Sand Island sound like exactly what you need.”

It did.

“Sure,” she said. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. I just need to stop by the cabin and change clothes.”

It took just a few minutes to reach the cabin. Pippa changed into her yellow swimsuit, tossed on shorts and a T-shirt and then grabbed a towel. Logan was waiting for her on deck, his smile broad as she walked toward Eric’s sailboat.

“Right on time,” he said.

Pippa checked her phone and then tossed it into the bag with her towel. “Ten minutes exactly. So, how did you manage to appropriate Eric’s boat?”

“Between his veterinary practice and the kids, he and Amy don’t get out on the water much anymore. He’s too stubborn to sell the boat, but he doesn’t mind loaning it out to his stepbrother to do a little preventative maintenance trip every once in a while.”

She allowed him to help her on board. “I see.”

His hand lingered a moment against her back as he steadied her. “Ready?”

“Definitely.” Stowing her bag, Pippa watched as Logan untied the rope and then steered the sailboat out to open water. “What a beautiful afternoon.”

Whether Logan heard, she couldn’t tell. He seemed too intent on his duties as ship’s captain to notice anything beyond the water, the wind and their course across the bay. They sailed against the tide, slicing through the waves with ease. Pippa settled back to enjoy the ride while Logan attended to his duties.

After a while, he set anchor some twenty yards from Sand Island, the uninhabited stretch of sand in the center of Vine Beach Bay that was a favorite spot for picnics and shell collecting. “Hungry yet?”

She was. “Oh, I should have brought something.”

“No need.” Logan reached into the galley and produced a cooler. “I’m prepared to share.” He met her gaze, his expression gleeful. “Unless you don’t like hot dogs cooked over an open fire and s’mores for dessert.”

While Pippa couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a hot dog, the s’mores sounded wonderful. “Perfect.”

Logan tied a rope to the cooler and lowered it down into the water. “There’s another cooler just over there,” he said, pointing behind her. “My towel’s already in there with the things we’ll need to have a picnic. Why don’t you put yours in it and then bring it to me? We can float over to the island with the coolers.”

She did as he asked and then handed him the cooler. “Ladies first,” he said, indicating that she should jump into the water.

Pippa dove in and then bobbed to the surface, exhilarated by the warm water. “Oh, this feels great,” she said as she swam over to grasp the cooler full of towels while Logan executed a perfect dive. A moment later, he appeared and shook the water from his hair.

Grasping the rope on the cooler, he paddled toward Sand Island. Pippa followed a few yards behind, preferring to allow the current to float her to shore with the cooler. Drying off, she spread the towels out on the sand while Logan gathered sticks. Before long, Logan had a small fire going.

“Anything new to report on the building progress?” she asked as she held her hot dog stick over the fire and watched it begin to roast.