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“Thank you, Levi.” Maggie went back for the second box.
“What’s he up to?” Levi whispered loud enough for only Maggie to hear.
“What do you mean?”
Levi carried the box. Maggie walked alongside him.
“He seems awfully close to you these days.”
“Really?” Maggie was surprised Levi had noticed. “Does it bother you?”
Levi didn’t directly answer her question. “What does he want from you?”
Maggie shrugged. “He’s a nice guy.”
“Is that all?”
“Church member. Missions committee.” Maggie didn’t know Alden well enough to know his church activities.
“So? Stay away from him.”
Levi’s voice sounded like he was frustrated or something.
“How can I?” Maggie chuckled. “He’s Hiroki’s admin assistant. You know our church has hired Hiroki to develop that piece of kitty-corner lot that Mrs. Arnold left us in her will. The women’s ministry and the Midtown Village are working closely with Hiroki on this project. It could be a year before all is done.”
Ruttledge Yamada Urquhart Commercial Properties had branched out into residential properties, and Hiroki Yamada was now in charge of the subsidiary. Maggie didn’t want to keeptalking about them like she was going to be actively involved in the following year.
Yeah, she still hadn’t told Levi that she was leaving Midtown Chapel and taking up a new job at Lakeside Resort in Florida. How could she break it to him? She decided to wait until after Christmas.
Make it last-minute and run out the door.
“Why not let Bina and Erika liaise with Hiroki and Alden?”
It wasn’t Maggie’s place to tell Levi that Village manager Bina Marley had been suffering from migraine headaches the last six months and had to take time off from work. Maggie and Mrs. Kim had been covering for her as Erika was still newly employed.
“As you know, I’ll be training Erika this week.” Maggie pointed to the floor space where she wanted Levi to put the box of lights.
“Then you’d just be in Mrs. Kim’s office?”
“Something like that.” Oh, she felt bad about keeping so many secrets from Levi, but sooner or later, she’d have to sit down with him and explain that she was leaving town for good, and there was no way he would be able to change her mind.
In the meantime, what she said to him was technically the truth. She would be in Mrs. Kim’s office. But only for four more weeks.
“Thank you for your help, Levi.” Maggie looked toward the kitchen and spotted Forsythia. She pointed.
Levi turned to look, but he didn’t leave.
Maggie was somewhat surprised that Levi didn’t chase after Forsythia. What could she say to Levi in front of Alden without arousing suspicions?
“Aren’t you supposed to be helping in the food pantry or somewhere?” Maggie finally asked.
Levi nodded. “I wanted to bring you some hot cocoa. Didn’t expect you to give it to him.”
Alden sipped up the last drop of cocoa. He handed the mug back to Levi. “Thank you, brother.”
Levi took the mug wordlessly.
Maggie waved him away, and began to climb the ladder that Alden had set up by the first lamppost on the wall painting.
