“He and Jeremy were like brothers. I’m sorry it offended you, but I can promise you this: Tucker is one of the best men I know. They don’t make them like him anymore. An old soul, he’s very special. I hope you’ll give him a pass.”
She’d keep that in mind, and Orene’s opinion did matter. She vaguely remembered possibly meeting Tucker when they were at the cabin, but why didn’t Jeremy ever talk about his past? “I’m sure that’s all it was,” Natalie said, waving off the subject. “It just made me feel kind of guilty. For no reason. Randy is just a friend.”
Orene lifted her chin, a twinkle in her eye. “Tough problemto have. All the men wanting to take care of you,” Orene mused. “I’d heard you had company. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Word gets around fast.”
“Small town.”
“Or Tucker is a blabbermouth.”
“He is, but it’d get around anyway. It can be a good thing. We take care of each other around here.”
“I can take care of myself.” She said it with such conviction she almost believed it, and it had been a long time since she’d felt that way. “But yes, it’s nice to have people you can count on. Not just men. People in general. Like you. I’m so thankful I happened onto your doorstep. We may have never met.”
“Oh, we’d have met. That I know. Tell me about this man. Is he handsome?” Orene topped off Natalie’s tea.
“Well, yeah, but that’s not the point. He’s a good person.”
“Oooh. It must feel good to have someone like that willing to come all the way up here for you. You’ve been friends for a long time?”
“We haven’t really known each other that long, but he’s the kind of person you can count on. Why do you think that some people you just feel like you can trust right from the word go?”
“Well, I believe it’s a little like what the preacher talked about this morning. Family isn’t always blood. We are all God’s children, after all.”
Natalie had felt that way about Marc Swindell too, and he hadn’t turned out to be trustworthy. What if Randy, Tucker, or even this sweet little old lady were tricking her too?
Orene pursed her lips. She lifted her teacup and took a sip.“But then, who am I to say? My own family practically cheated me out of house and home with that darned B and B website. I’ve been running the offense on that for a year now. Good people trust others. I’m the same way. We don’t expect people to be dishonest or use us.”
Natalie couldn’t respond without risking a tear, so she just nodded.
“A broken heart can possibly be one of the most powerful things in your life. A kick start, if you will… if you let it.”
“It just made me vulnerable.”
“Well, you could say that about me letting my granddaughter play me, but we won’t. Uh-huh. Being emotional, even vulnerable means the past meant so much to you. But we can’t stay there. Can we?”
“I guess not, but I’ve prayed to turn back time.”
“Don’t pray away your tomorrows. You need to move forward. There is more ahead. Things more wonderful than you could ever dream of.”
Why are people always saying things like that?“Do you really believe that?”
Orene scooted to the edge of her seat. “I’m livin’ proof, darlin’. You can be too. Sounds like you’re already on a good path.”
“What makes you say that?”
“For one, you were smart enough to uproot yourself and come to Chestnut Ridge. You’re surrounding yourself with good people who truly want the best for you. I think your friend Randy is good too. Why else would someone drive in from the city just for a few hours?”
“Hediddo that.” It was scary to think about it, but she found herself grinning at the possibilities.
“Trust him. An amazing story just might unfold. I know you were heartbroken to lose Jeremy. He was so young. You both are. It’s very sad.” She shook her finger in Natalie’s direction. “But this is the gate to a new beginning. Just keep on walking.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It is.” She put down her cup. “Did I ever tell you that two presidents of our fine country actually stayed here before? It could’ve been more, but I only have documentation to support the claim of two of them. That’s pretty special.”
Natalie let Orene tell her story again. As a geriatric nurse she’d become immune to getting bored hearing the same ones over and over, instead taking delight in the memories that stood out in their aging minds. “It is. This house is special. I felt it that first night I stepped through the door.”
