wasnât that he didnât want to reach out to Vanessa. But heâd counseled enough members of the military to know that when someone didnât want to listen, it was hard to talk to them. Rory had his ways of helping people to find their faith, and those ways didnât involve being pushy and too in-your-face. Heâd have to bide his time with Vanessa Donovan. Heâd seen people hurt by those who used their own agenda in the name of the Lord.
It was never pretty.
So now, he raked and prayed and raked some more and tried to think about what he could have for dinner. Maybe heâd go to the Back Bay Pizza House and order a takeout meatball sub. Or maybe heâd swing by the Courthouse Café and get a big hamburger and fries before they shut down for the day. Or he could pull out his bike and ride around the lake and stop at the Fish Barrel, the new alfresco dining truck that offered up some really good grouper sandwiches, shrimp baskets and other local fare.
He was leaning toward the bike ride and the grouper sandwich when he heard a low, feminine groan echoing out over the street. Then he heard a thump and a crash, followed by another groan and the word âOuch.â
Dropping his rake, Rory peeped around the corner of the storage shed behind the church and saw Vanessa standing in the front yard by an old wheelbarrow full of trash. He watched as she tried to move the wheelbarrow, but one of the wheels had obviously gone flat. The weight of the trash wasnât helping matters.
That old thing wasnât going to go anywhere exceptâ
Onto its side.
It toppled over with a shudder of regret, causing another loud crash to reverberate up and down the street. Old glassware, plates, cups and other knickknacks spilled all over the driveway and sidewalk. And another groan of frustration followed.
Okay, now he had to walk over there because he had to be gallant and helpful, didnât he?
âNeed some help?â he called, to show he was only trying to be a gentleman.
She glanced around, surprise brightening her shimmering eyes. Surprise, followed by what might be dread. âIâm beyond help.â
âI wouldnât say that,â he told her, his hands on his hips. âBut...this wheelbarrow is beyond anything. I hope these dishes werenât important.â
She stared at the shattered mess lying at her feet. âNo, not really.â But she picked up what looked like a childrenâs cup that had colorful princess characters on it. âJust stuff my mom had shoved into the garage out back. She was a bit of a hoarder.â
Rory heard the pain behind that comment. And saw that pain reflected in Vanessaâs eyes while she moved her fingers over the faded little plastic cup. âWas that yours?â he asked as an opening.
She nodded. âOnce, long ago.â
âWhere were you taking these things?â
âOut to the curb.â She tossed the cup back onto the pile. âI thought someone might come by and take them.â
He gave her time to get past what she had to be thinking. It must be hard to let go of so many memories. âLet me help you get this cleaned up.â
She waved him away. âYou donât have to do that.â
âI have nothing else to do,â he said. âIâve been doing yard work, and I was about to quit for the day.â
She glanced at the church and then back at him, the struggle in her mind evident in her brooding expression.
âI guess I could use some help,â she said. âI have to clean this place up, and that shed is just the beginning. I want to put a lot of the items from the estate sale out there, on display.â
âAre you hiring an estate-sale manager?â
Her dark eyebrows shot up. âI hadnât planned on that since this is what I do for a living.â She stopped and stared at the little cup.
âYou work as an estate-sale manager?â
âNo, but I run