Hearts in Hiding by Patty Smith Hall

Author:Patty Smith Hall
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2012-10-04T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“Now make sure you get lots of that smoked pork. We’ve got plenty more where that came from.”

Beau nodded, his mouth full of Mrs. Anderson’s potato salad. Some of the best cooks in the entire county lived in this neighborhood, and they all seemed to be determined to fatten him up, not that Merrilee’s cooking hadn’t added a few pounds to his frame. A year ago, the most food he’d see in a day consisted of a forkful of spam and a small block of chocolate, if he was lucky.

He glanced across the makeshift tables, shuffling through the crowd until finally finding Edie. She stood under the shade of a water oak, talking with a small group of young women her age, a few he barely recognized from years ago. She pumped a cardboard fan in one hand, but the other flitted about like a butterfly floating aimlessly on the air. His arm still tingled under his shirtsleeve where she had touched him today.

Beau took a sip of tea, then wiped his mouth with his napkin. Nothing had gone according to his plan with this woman. He was supposed to be finding out if she posed a threat to his family, if she was using Merrilee’s house to pass information about the B-29 to the Germans.

The problem was, he liked her more than he wanted to admit. But how could he stop himself? Something about her tugged at him, drawing him to her in a way that intrigued him. Kind and smart, there was a genuineness about her that made him want to be a better person. Her warm rich laughter echoed through the underbrush around the trees, causing a pleasant tug on his heart.

He liked her, but that was it. So what was it about her that made him open up, talk about the past when he’d kept it locked away inside all these years? He wasn’t sure, only that she made it easy, not judging him for his mistakes, pointing out things he’d never thought of before.

Did Edie truly believe he wasn’t at fault for George leaving? Was it really his friend’s choice?

“Penny for your thoughts.”

Beau glanced up to find Gertie standing beside him. “Just a penny?”

“I’d give you a nickel, but I’ve got my vast fortune tied up in war bonds.” The woman flopped down on the bench beside him.

“The neighborhood really outdid themselves with this fine spread y’all laid out today.” Beau forked another bite of potato salad into his mouth. “Even though your method for getting us here was a little suspect.”

“Maybe, but we had to make sure the two of you came. How else are we going to show our appreciation for the work you’ve done getting us telephone service?” She stretched her long legs out under the makeshift table, cradling her hands in her lap. “I mean, who would have believed it, the Stephenses getting a telephone?”

He motioned toward Edie. “That’s who you should be thanking. She’s the one who wouldn’t leave Ben Cantrell alone about stringing the lines.

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