almost choked on the word. “Aiden isn’t interested in going out with me, Dad.”
Even if she couldn’t deny that for a moment—a teeny tiny moment—her heart had performed that crazy tap dance again when he’d said, “I came to see you.”
A response as ridiculous as Aiden asking her out on a date. They had nothing in common. Whenever New Life Fellowship sponsored a hiking trip or a weekend of downhill skiing, Aiden would be listed as the contact person in the church newsletter. Maddie knew that information before anyone else in the congregation because she was the one who typed the monthly newsletter.
She also knew the first four or five names on the sign-up sheet would inevitably be grown-up versions of the athletic, outdoorsy type of girls Aiden had dated in high school.
Maddie hadn’t dated in high school. Guys never asked her to go out for a movie and burger. They’d asked her for her help with English homework instead.
“I think that sigh—” her dad pressed a kiss against the top of Maddie’s head “—is my cue to leave.”
“Sorry, Dad. I’ve got a lot on my mind tonight, I guess.”
He gave her a look. “That wouldn’t be because you have too much on your plate, now, would it?”
“I like being busy.” Maddie linked arms with him as they walked to the door. “But if you want me to cut something out of my schedule, I don’t have to make dessert for Saturday night,” she teased.
“Never mind.” Her dad’s eyes went wide with mock horror. “I take it back!”
The weekly dinners had become a tradition, Maddie’s way of showing her parents she hadn’t abandoned them, she’d simply moved into her own place like a lot of other people her age. They always spent the evening catching up on each other’s lives, and then her dad would break out Scrabble or the cribbage board.
Yet another reason Maddie wasn’t Aiden Kane’s type.
“I thought you’d say that.” Maddie hugged her dad goodbye and closed the door before another sigh slipped out.
Contrary to what her dad feared, Aiden didn’t want to date her. He needed her help finding his sister.
Maddie flopped into a chair and curled her feet underneath her, questions multiplying like the maple leaves underneath the tree outside the window.
Did Aiden regret telling her? Did his abrupt departure mean he was going to give up the search before he’d even begun?
Maddie wouldn’t. She would have gladly given up half her bedroom—and space on her bookshelves—for a sister or brother. But her parents had found love later in life, and Maddie’s traumatic birth and the two heart surgeries that followed had dictated she remain an only child. It had also significantly reduced the chances of her ever having a child of her own.
She knew that God had richly blessed her in other ways—a job she loved, a purpose and a passion—so the pain of knowing she’d never be a mother had eventually subsided. But there were times—like right now—when Maddie felt the ache all over again, a weight pressing down on the sensitive scar tissue of an old wound.
She’d never told anyone her secret. It was her burden to carry. And the truth was, there’d never been a need. The boys who hadn’t noticed her in school had grown into men who’d fallen in love and married her pretty, more outgoing classmates. Maddie had been the quiet girl in the library.
Her lips tipped in a smile.
She was still the quiet girl in the library. And although Maddie liked and accepted that girl a lot more than she had in high school, it stirred up all kinds of dreams she had no business dreaming. Especially about Aiden Kane.
Maybe there was a woman out there who would eventually change his mind about settling down.
But Maddie knew it wouldn’t be her.
* * *
Lights illuminated the row of windows on the second floor as Aiden let himself out of the library. A gray Subaru idled at the curb, and before Aiden could take another step, Sunni had hopped out from the driver’s seat and jogged around the front of the vehicle to open his door.
Needing a chauffeur was another humbling side effect of Aiden’s injuries. It ranked right up there with knowing he’d lose to his mom in a footrace.
“I hope I’m not late. I ran into Rebecca at the grocery store and we chatted for a few minutes.”
Aiden didn’t have to ask what—or rather whom—the topic of conversation had been. Rebecca Tamblin was Pastor Seth’s wife and the head of New Life Fellowship’s prayer chain. Aiden’s name had been at the top of the list for almost two weeks.
“Not a problem.” Aiden squeezed out a smile as he folded himself into the passenger seat.
Sunni waited until he buckled up before she steered the car back onto the street.
“Are you too tired to take a little detour on the way home? Dr. Voss called me a few minutes ago and asked if we have room at the shelter for another dog.”
Aiden had passed tired a few hours ago and was skidding toward exhausted, but he nodded. “Go for it.”
His mom took her responsibilities as the recently appointed chairman of the animal shelter as seriously as she did the family business.
“I was hoping you’d say that!” Sunni flashed a smile and turned left off Riverside, Castle Falls’ main street. “Did you find what you were looking for at the library?”
An image of Maddie Montgomery’s face danced in Aiden’s mind, and he batted it away.
“No.” Aiden wasn’t ready to confide in his mom yet. If the search for his sister ended in a crash and burn, he wanted to spare his family a ringside seat. Not only that, given Sunni’s growing reputation as a matchmaker, Aiden ran the risk she might read something more into his decision to ask a certain librarian for help.
“Wasn’t Maddie there?”
“You know her?” As soon as the words slipped out, Aiden realized how ridiculous they sounded. Unlike Aiden, Sunni had lived in Castle Falls most of her life. She probably knew Maddie’s favorite color and her birthday.
“I know you didn’t graduate together, but she’s at church every Sunday.” Sunni slid a sideways glance in Aiden’s direction. “I’m surprised your paths haven’t crossed.”
Aiden wasn’t. Not after he’d seen Maddie flinch when he said he didn’t read. What he should have said was that he didn’t read well. Reading usually involved sitting still, and sitting still had never come easily to Aiden, either.
He’d rather stick to the things he was good at.
“How is the plan for the new addition coming along?” Aiden steered the conversation to safer ground.
“Wonderful. Between the silent auction last June and a generous donation from the bank a few weeks ago, we should be able to break ground in May.
“The
