“Oh? I’ll peek in on my way by. Have a good night, Joe.”
Trevor stood by the tree, fingering the ornaments, and talking on his cell phone. Angie would have continued to slip on past the room but stopped when she heard her name mentioned.
“Her name is Angie. And she is all about Christmas and even owls. I’m sure you’d love her.” As Trevor listened to the voice on the other end, Angie leaned against the wall in the hallway.
“What a dumb question. I just met the woman a few days ago and you’d do well to remember I am not in the market for romance.” There was another pause before he continued. “Owls are not the kind of good sign that a matchmaker from the North Pole would send. I Googled it, and if you’re into magic and dark mystery – which I’m sure you avoid like the plague – one might believe all this mumbo-jumbo the woman is pushing off on us as a good thing.”
There was a moment of silence, and Angie began to feel like an eves-dropper. As she stepped to leave, she heard Trevor say, “Trouble is, Mom, I think I like her anyway. Probably too much.” Angie’s feet stuck to the spot. She held her breath and wondered what she thought about that remark. She’d not been looking for romance either, but there was an attraction to the man she couldn’t deny.
“I’ve got to go, Mom. Church tomorrow. And don’t get all weird on me. It’s at the Inn, and I should attend if I want my tour passengers to feel comfortable with the program. Besides, the sermon is about owls. How spiritual can that get?”
Angie smiled. She’d heard the sermon before and knew Trevor was in for an eye-opening surprise.
THE HERITAGE QUEEN
Sunday a good many of the guests showed up for the in-house service that retired Pastor Jake officiated every week for the guests at Heritage Inn. The crowds throughout the year varied, but the assembly today was in the Christmas spirit and wanted to celebrate Jesus, and it seemed, owls. They appeared pleasantly surprised at the allegory the man of God set forth between the owl and God’s Son. The birth of a baby, the tragic symbolism of death; then turning it all around to portray the hope of great change as it moved from a state of sin to purity. Angie smiled as she heard the congregation release a deep sigh when death was conquered and the owl emerged, bowing to Jesus as the epiphany of eternal love.
Trevor was the first to track her down. “Do you think the man took a few liberties with his analogy?”
“Possibly, but it’s what the history books tell us, both mythology and the Bible.”
“Definitely a great story-teller.”
“Agreed. He has the best material to work with. Jesus is the greatest story ever told.”
Trevor smiled. “My mother would like me to go to church regularly, but work keeps me away most of the time. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m rusty in the spiritual department.”
“Only you can change that.” Angie nodded toward the sitting room. “You best get in and join the stocking party. I’ve got an errand to run before lunch.”
Trevor looked surprised. “You’re not attending?”
“Travis will do the honors. I can’t possibly attend all the events that happen on the site, Trevor. There’s a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to run a resort like this.”
“No doubt.” Trevor disconnected Angie from his usual attentive gaze and stared absent-mindedly at a crystal table vase of fresh flowers. “Just figured you’d be there since you had a stocking hanging with the rest.”
“I do?”
“Sure. I think it even has something in it. Looks chubby,” Trevor said.
“I’ll try to peek in after lunch. I really cannot put off my errand. Consider the event an opportunity to get to know your clientele better. Have fun and I’ll see you later.” When she noticed his downcast eyes remained she blurted out. “Would you care to take a boat ride with me, later today?”
“Yes, I’d love it.” His answer came quick, filled with a panic-stricken tone that I might snatch it back before he got the words out.
Angie’s strongest resolve to keep a safe distance between them betrayed her at every opportunity. The invitation had slid out instinctively, as a response to witnessing his sad face. Apparently, her mother’s gift to discern and search out the needy one in a crowd had passed down to her. But as much as she’d like to believe the trait to be the root motivator in this case, it eluded her, and exposure to the truth caused her to blush. At long last, a man had cast a net into her world and she wasn’t fighting his pull. Thankfully, her heart had not died from loneliness and that fact alone gave cause for celebration.
“Then it’s a date.”
“A date? That sounds serious?”
“Well, I invited you, and it’s just the two of us – besides the captain. That has the elements of a date.”
“My mother would love to hear that,” Trevor muttered under his breath.
“Is she coming along?” Again, Angie wondered if this man was a Mommy’s boy, but added a teasing smile to the remark.
“No, of course not. Sorry, I have a habit of thinking out loud.”
Angie felt certain he was recalling last night’s conversation with his mother, but he didn’t voice it. She’d let him off the hook, although it was funny to watch him squirm like a worm dangling at the end of a fishing line. “Just us, then. Looking forward to showing you the sights, Trevor.”
“Thanks for the invite.”
“Check with Charles at the desk for the
