Shannon here: Pat Jeanne Davis shares her fictional short story, plus a chance to win a copy Kindle, print copy, or audio copy of her Historical Romance, When Valleys Bloom Again. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing, U.S. only. Deadline: Jan 30th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Pat:
Secret Admirer by Pat Jeanne Davis:
“Maybe your secret admirer will shovel you out of our driveway again tomorrow.”
Trudi laughed at her mother’s words. “An Admirer! Me?” Thirty years old and with no prospects.
Trudi crossed the floor to the window and pulled back the curtains. She swiped the sleeve of her terry robe down the misty pane and gazed out. “Ray’s out of town for another day, but he’s already extended the date for my proposal. Snow or no snow, the deadline is tomorrow.”
She watched large flakes drift down. Ray was not only her boss but one of those rare single men with whom she shared a love for browsing in old bookshops. They even shared a birthday in January. If only he could see her as more than a co-worker. Trudi made her way back to the kitchen table.
Her mother leaned forward and touched her arm, as though reading her thoughts. “You know what they say about good things coming to those who wait.” She patted Trudi’s hand in beat with her usual advice–“Don’t give up hope.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Trudi wanted to believe in that promise. But how much longer before Ray noticed her? She stood and gave her mother a hug. “Need to turn in if I’m going to get up earlier.”
***
The next morning, Trudi hoisted herself out of bed, walked to the window and mentally prepared herself for the job outside. She pulled up the blind. A man, his back toward her, shoveled the last of the snow blanketing the driveway. She rapped on the pane hoping to capture his attention, but he didn’t look up. She wanted to find out about him, but she needed to get to work.
Pullling her car into the lot, Trudi noticed it stood empty except for one other vehicle. She pulled alongside, spotting a snow shovel in the back seat.
The driver—wearing a navy jacket, white scarf and cable-knit cap—stepped out. “Looks like we’re the first to arrive.” He extended his hand. “Name’s Ben. Yesterday was my first on the job.”
“Trudi. Human Resources,” she said, releasing her hand from his.
“Some snow! Any trouble getting out of your driveway?”
“No. Thanks to a kind stranger who shoveled me out.”
Ben rubbed his hands together. “Freezing, isn’t it? Can I buy you coffee?”
“No thanks . . . Ben. Gotta get upstairs.” Ray was counting on her.
He smiled. “Another time.”
They entered the lobby. He ducked into the coffee shop as she stepped into the elevator, punching the button for the top floor. Dropping her proposal on the secretary’s desk, she crossed her fingers and hoped Ray would be proud of her efforts.
***
The next day, her heart flip-flopped when she entered Ray’s office and saw him sitting at a table.
“Have a minute?” He gestured to a chair next to his. “The department head e-mailed me to say he’s impressed with your work,” he said, grinning. “You put a lot into it. That’s why I gave the job to you.”
Her knees went weak with relief and she sank into the chair.
Ray drew his chair closer to hers. “You’ve scored with management. I think you’re in line for a change of status.”
“A job promotion?” It wouldn’t hurt, but she mainly longed for a change of status with him.
Ray locked his sapphire blue eyes with hers. “This calls for celebration.” He placed an arm over the back of her seat.
The brush of his arm against her shoulders caused her to grow warm.
His whisper brushed her ear. “Could we go out tomorrow evening?”
She swallowed down her shout of joy. “Sounds good.”
Trudi saw Ben standing in the doorway. “You wanted to see me, Boss?”
“Tomorrow night, then,” Ray said before turning to Ben. “You’re here sooner than I expected.”
“I can come back.”
“Trudi, this is Ben. He’ll be working with me for a while.”
Trudi nodded. “We introduced ourselves yesterday.” She stood. “If that’s all for now. . .” She had only until tomorrow evening to wait for something more. Hadn’t Mom said good things happen to those who wait?
As she left the office, Ben’s voice carried down the hall. “When you found out I had moved into Trudi’s street and asked me to shovel her drive I didn’t expect her to be so attractive.”
Trudi paused, gasping at Ben’s admission. Should she thank him or Ray?
Ben laughed and continued. “I tried to buy her a cup of coffee but it seems she had her eyes on you the whole time despite my hard work.”
Trudi grinned. In a roundabout way she’d already thanked Ben in the parking lot. Ben may have dug her out, but he was only a courier for her admirer.
“Message received, Ray—loud and clear,” she said to herself and kept on walking.
About Pat Jeanne Davis: PAT JEANNE DAVIS has a keen interest in 20th Century United States and British history, particularly the period of World War II. Her longtime interest in that era goes back to the real-life stories she heard about family members who served during the war. When Valleys Bloom Again is a debut inspirational romance set in WWII. She enjoys flower gardening, genealogy research and traveling with her British-born husband. She writes from her home n Philadelphia, Pa. Pat has published essays, short stories and articles online and in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She loves to hear from her readers. Learn more & connect:
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About the book – When Valleys Bloom Again
A Wartime Romance Set On Two Continents: After fleeing impending war in England, nineteen-year-old Abby Stapleton works to correct her stammer and to become a teacher in America, only to discover this conflict has no boundaries and that a rejected suitor is intent on destroying her name, fiancé, and fragile faith.
As war approaches in 1939 Abby Stapleton’s safety is under threat. Her father, a British diplomat, insists she go back to America until the danger passes. Abby vows to return to her home in London—but where is home? With her family facing mortal danger so far away and feeling herself isolated, she finds it hard to pray or read the Bible. Did she leave God behind in war-torn London too? Then Abby becomes friendly with Jim, a gardener on her uncle’s estate.
Jim can’t get Abby out of his mind. Did she have a sweetheart in England? Was it foolish to think she’d consider him? He curses his poverty and the disgrace of his father’s desertion and drunkenness haunts him. Can he learn to believe in love for a lifetime and to hope for a happy marriage?
Abby couldn’t know the war would last a long time, nor that she would fall in love with Jim—soon to be drafted by the U.S. Army—or that she’d have to confront Henri, a rejected suitor, determined by his lies to ruin her reputation and destroy her faith in God’s providence. Will she discover the true meaning of home?
Question For Readers: Can you recall a time when a stranger came to your rescue?
Here’s another chance to win either an e-copy or print copy of When Valleys Bloom Again. Christian eBook & Paperback Giveaway! Win 20+ eBooks and bonus paperbacks! http://authorsxp.com/giveaway #AXPGiveaway #bookgiveaway
Come back Jan 26th for Jodie Bailey!
Stranger to the rescue…nothing really comes to mind except when I was in the hospital after surgery and the lady came into my room with the harp and asked if she could play for me. It was amazingly inspiring <3
Thank you, Natalya, for leaving a comment for me. How wonderful! Having that musician bless you with her music was such a selfless act. You’re in the drawing for a copy of When Valleys Bloom Again.
Yes, when we were traveling and had car trouble, a nice truck driver stopped to help us then stayed with us until tow truck arrived
Nice to see you here, Shelia. Such a thoughtful gesture on the part of that truck driver to not only assist as best he could but to delay himself by staying on. All the best.
Several years ago while traveling through Wyoming on our way to Idaho we had a tire blowout between towns. We had a spare but not a great jack. Their wasn’t much traffic and a man stopped with a hydraulic jack and he helped my husband change our tire. Found in the next town (50 miles away) that we had the wrong size tires on our van. The Kmart tire place back in our town had sold us the wrong size tires. And we had to buy all new tires there in Rock Springs.
Thank you, Linda, for commenting. This other motorist was the “Good Samaritan” who came to your rescue as you traveled from one state to another. Most of us have been blessed by random acts of kindness at one time or another. All the best in the drawing for a copy of my novel.
Years ago my car broke down in a wooded area. It was very early in the morning and I started walking. I sketchy man stopped and offered me a ride. I had a bad feeling about it so I said no thanks. Thankfully a lady stopped next and offered I got in the car with her and she took me to work. God was watching over me and used that lady to help me.
One time when we stopped at a Subway to get lunch we had ordered meals for our family of four. After the sandwiches were prepared we were told that we couldn’t pay by credit card because the machine was down. We did not know what to do because neither of us had that much cash with us. That is when a Good Samaritan stepped forward to pay for our meals. We offered to reimburse him but he said to just pay it forward and we have since then. I was so touched by that young man’s kindness.
I have a winner! Cherie Japp won the drawing. I appreciate Pat for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.
Thank you! I was thrilled when you emailed me to tell me I had won.