Rock-A-Bye Baby

  A freeway sign directed her toward the ocean beaches, and Dani had driven until she arrived in the resort community of Ocean Shores. She’d parked on the beach, left her vehicle and taken a long, brisk walk barefoot in the sand. A vigorous wind had buffeted her, and the salty spray mingled with her tears.

  Something about the surf pounding relentlessly against the shoreline had eventually quieted her spirit. The wind, wild and free, had blown hard against her while the sea gulls called overhead. With her hands buried deep inside her coat pockets, Dani had walked and walked, and let the tears flow, cleansing her.

  It had been that fateful afternoon, two months ago, that Dani had found her peace. It had come grudgingly, after a deep inner struggle, and at a price.

  But it had come.

  Those were the last tears she’d shed over Bob Adams. It still hurt to think about him, to acknowledge how easily he’d managed to dupe her.

  He was every woman’s dream. Tall, handsome, wealthy and fun. When Dani was with Bob she felt like the luckiest woman alive to have this man love her.

  It had taken that afternoon at the beach to swallow her pain, admit how incredibly naive she’d been and decide what had to be done.

  Breaking off the relationship with Bob hadn’t been easy. But it was necessary for her sanity and her self-worth. Bob, however, was determined to do what he could to repair the damage. But as far as Dani was concerned, everything they’d shared was over. She returned the engagement ring, gave her two weeks’ notice at Murphy’s and packed up her belongings. She knew automatically where she wanted to live.

  The ocean.

  The key to her plan was finding employment. She had been about to despair when she wandered into Osborn Antiques and met Mamie. The two had struck up a conversation and before long they were sipping tea and chatting like long-lost friends.

  Mamie had hired her, but she’d also given Dani adequate warning. “Be patient with John,” she’d advised. “He means well, he really does, but he’s got his own way of doing things.” She paused as if she’d already said too much.

  “I’m sure we’ll get along just fine,” Dani assured Mamie. She genuinely liked people. There wasn’t anyone Dani actively disliked, and she figured that with a little effort she’d learn to get along with Mamie’s son.

  That, however, was before she met John Osborn. He might prove to be the exception, but if that was the case, she was going to go down in flames.

  * * *

  “It’s a beautiful morning,” Dani said when she arrived for work the following day.

  John glanced up from the morning edition of the Seattle newspaper and sipped from his mug of coffee. It looked as if he was going to ignore Dani, then said, “It’s raining.”

  “Yes, but that’s liquid sunshine.” Weather didn’t determine what kind of day it was going to be for Dani. Every day was a new adventure.

  John glared at her. “Are you always this happy so early in the morning?”

  She hated for her enthusiasm to be a blight on his grumpiness. It amazed her that his business thrived if he greeted his customers the way he did her. “Is my good mood going to be a problem?”

  “No,” he grumbled, without looking at her.

  “Is there anything you’d like me to do?” she asked and removed her jacket. She hung it in the back room and stored her purse where Mamie had showed her.

  “Pour yourself a cup of coffee,” he instructed.

  Dani hesitated.

  “What now?” he barked.

  What a disagreeable sort, Dani mused. “I don’t drink coffee. Do you want me to learn?”

  He grinned at that, or at least it was the hint of a smile, but Dani was encouraged. Perhaps he wasn’t such an ogre, after all.

  “No,” he said, without revealing any of his amusement, “that won’t be necessary.”

  “I drink tea,” she told him.

  “Great. Make yourself a cuppa.”

  His mother had used the same term and it had seemed friendly and inviting. She didn’t feel the same warmth from John, but then, she didn’t expect she would.

  She brewed herself a cup of herbal tea and, holding the mug in both hands, wandered back out to where her employer sat reading the newspaper.

  She waited a couple of moments until he raised his eyes expectantly to hers. “You wanted something?”

  “Does what I’m wearing meet with your approval?”

  She’d carefully scrutinized her wardrobe and purposely chosen one of her less flamboyant outfits. She set off the blue-and-white striped bib overalls and huge silver snaps with a red kerchief at her neck. A long-sleeved white turtleneck was a perfect contrast.

  “You look like a train engineer,” he muttered. “Don’t you own a dress, like other women?”

  “Yes,” she admitted reluctantly, “but I don’t think you’d approve of it.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s made of green sequins.”

  John set his coffee aside and folded back the front page of the newspaper. “I should have guessed.” His gaze didn’t waver from the print. “I didn’t finish up the paperwork last night. There’s some light bookkeeping, if you think you can handle it.”

  “I’m sure I can,” she replied optimistically, eager to prove herself. She’d gone to the community library after work the night before and checked out a couple of books on this very subject. From the little bit she’d read, bookkeeping didn’t look all that complicated.

  She headed for the desk and chair across from him. He lowered the newspaper long enough to give her a dubious look.

  Dani found the paperwork he mentioned and went about making entries in the ledger. She felt downright proud of herself until John casually strolled past and read over her shoulder. She felt him stiffen behind her.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked.

  “You’re entering those as debits instead of credits.”

  “Oh.”

  The door opened just then and a retired couple walked inside. “Morning, John.”

  Her employer’s face relaxed. “Howdy, Ron. Darlene. What can I do for you?”

  “We’re looking for a new dining room set,” the man explained with a tired expression. “Darlene’s been to every furniture store between here and Seattle and she just hasn’t found anything that appeals to her. I have a feeling we’ll find what we want here instead of those fancy showrooms we’ve been visiting.” Ron looked flustered and frustrated with his wife, and more than willing to call it quits.

  “They just don’t make furniture the way they used to,” the woman explained.

  “They certainly don’t,” John agreed. “I’ve got a couple of dining room sets here. They both date from the early forties. The first one’s made of polished cherrywood and the other’s mahogany.”

  John led them to a far corner of the store, while Dani erased everything she’d entered into the ledger and started anew. She was so intent on her task that she didn’t notice when John and the couple returned.

  “This is Dani Beckman,” John said, interrupting her thoughts. “She’ll be working for me over the summer months.”

  Dani looked up from the ledger and smiled warmly, in spite of John’s insinuation she would only be with him for a few short months. “Hello.”

  “The Freemans bought the cherrywood table with the matching shield-back chairs.”

  “Congratulations,” Dani said. The table was beautiful and would grace any dining room.

  “I’m thrilled,” Darlene told her. “And to think we’ve been searching for months for just the right set and we were able to find something practically in our own backyard.”

  While her employer and Ron arranged to have the table and chairs delivered, Dani stood and chatted with Darlene.

  “You’re new around here, aren’t you?” the older woman asked. “I don’t mean to be nosy, but Ocean Shores is a friendly town and we generally know just about everyone.”

  “I moved here last month. I’m renting a duplex o
ff Geoduck Avenue.” It was only two blocks away from the beach and with her bedroom window open at night, Dani could hear the ocean as clearly as if she were sitting on the beach. She didn’t keep her window open long; it wasn’t warm enough yet, but it would be soon.

  “So how do you like working with one of our most eligible bachelors?”

  Dani studied John a second time. She hadn’t thought of him as an eligible bachelor. True, he was good-looking enough, she supposed. He was six feet, maybe an inch above that. He had a nice face, gentle eyes—sometimes. At other times, he could frown on her like a curmudgeon, but then she’d seen him smile, too. John wasn’t any Bob Adams, that was for sure, but Dani had learned the hard way that looks were a poor estimate of a man’s worth.

  “This is only my second day on the job,” Dani explained.

  “Oh, you’ll like John, once you get to know him. He’s a sweetheart.”

  “I’m sure that’s true,” Dani agreed, but personally she had her doubts. Her reservations stemmed from the fact he seemed to be looking for an excuse to fire her at the earliest opportunity. He certainly anticipated her quitting on him. The fact she’d worked for Murphy’s Department Store for all those years apparently meant nothing.

  The Freemans left soon afterward, and John walked over and examined the ledgers, while Dani dealt with the next customer. She was pleased when she sold a lovely porcelain vase, and waited for John to praise her efforts.

  He did, but what he had to say didn’t have anything to do with her salesmanship.

  His brow was knit in a look of dissatisfaction. “It might be a good idea if you didn’t do anything more with the ledger.”

  “But I can learn,” she insisted. “All I need is a bit of instruction.”

  “I didn’t hire someone to teach them what they claimed they already knew,” he muttered.

  Dani stiffened her shoulders. “I didn’t misrepresent myself, if that’s what you’re implying.”

  John didn’t respond, but she had the distinct feeling there was plenty on his mind.

  Thinking it might be a good idea to acquaint herself with the shop’s inventory, she made a point of inspecting the furniture and other antiques scattered about the room.

  On the far side of the building, she unexpectedly found a door behind a dresser with a tall mirror. She opened it a crack and found another small room filled with furniture. “What’s in here?” she asked John, who seemed to be doing his best to avoid her.

  “Items I’ve picked up over the years that need repairs or one thing or another.”

  “May I take a look?”

  He shrugged, indicating he didn’t care.

  Dani let herself into the room, and found the light switch. The musty scent assailed her and she wrinkled her nose. The room was crammed full of odds and ends. A mahogany captain’s chair with a broken arm was propped against a rocker with a missing spindle.

  It was then that Dani saw the cradle. It was sitting on top of a scarred cedar chest. She walked over to the chest and ran her hand over the gentle curve at the top. It was handmade and old, far older than many of the other pieces in the store. She guessed that it came out of the eighteen hundreds. She didn’t recognize the type of wood.

  Her heart constricted, and Dani bit into her lower lip as a flash of unexpected longing swept through her. When she’d broken her engagement, she’d relinquished the dream of her and Bob someday having a family. She’d let go of the fantasy family she’d created in her mind.

  She didn’t mind the broken engagement. As far as Dani was concerned, she was pleased she’d discovered Bob’s philandering ways long before the wedding. But she so did want to marry and have children.

  Without warning, this beautiful cradle suddenly reminded her of all that she’d lost.

  “I see you found the cradle.” John’s voice came from behind her. “What do you think of it?”

  “It’s lovely,” she answered, and her voice cracked.

  “Dani?” he asked, surprising her with his gentleness. “Are you all right?”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “I’m fine,” Dani lied, recovering quickly. “What’s wrong with the cradle?” Once again she ran her hand over the smooth surface of the curved top, enjoying the feel of it against her palm.

  If anything, the feelings of loss she’d experienced earlier had intensified. Her throat momentarily closed up and she struggled with herself, unable to explain the strength of the emotion. Explaining her feelings to John was out of the question. Dani couldn’t believe John Osborn was a man who’d allow himself to be hurt the way she’d been. He didn’t know a whit about shattered dreams and broken promises.

  “I can’t remember exactly what’s wrong with it,” John answered, moving around her. He picked up the cradle and examined it. “Ah, yes, there’re several scratches on one end. I thought I’d give it a good polishing someday. The fact is, I’d completely forgotten about it. I’ve put off several repair projects like this one lately.” It went without saying that the reason for the delays had been his need for additional help, although Dani guessed he’d do almost anything rather than admit as much to her.

  “You can’t refinish the cradle,” Dani said, seeing the underside.

  John tossed her an odd look. “Why can’t I?”

  “Because there’s something carved on it.”

  John examined the bottom of the handcrafted piece more carefully. “You’re right, there is something there. What does it say?” He squinted at the words deeply embedded in the wood.

  Dani moved closer in an effort to make out the words, as well. Their heads were close as she whispered the words. “‘Made By Adam Stroud For His Wife, Sarah. Washington Territory—1857. For a new life and new beginnings.”‘ Her hand lightly touched the smooth wood. “He loved her very much.”

  “You can’t know that,” John replied skeptically.

  “You’re right, of course,” she said, stiffly stepping away from him. “I can’t possibly know that, but in my heart I feel that it’s true. He must have built the cradle for their child. Wherever did you find it?”

  “At an auction, several months back, now that I think about it. Let’s bring it out front.” John carried the cradle into the main part of the store and set it down on top of the desk where Dani had been working earlier. The light was much better and the scratches on the cradle more visible.

  “What kind of wood is this?” she asked.

  “Yellow pine,” John answered absently.

  Dani couldn’t stop looking at the cradle. After reading the inscription, she understood far better what it was about this piece of furniture that had struck her so profoundly. It was the love she felt that had gone into it. The tender care with which the piece had been constructed, and the commitment it represented between two people all those years ago. She couldn’t keep her mind from wondering about the hardships they’d faced, the struggles they endured and the hope they must have experienced with the birth of their child.

  A child.

  Dani bit into her lower lip and waited for the surge of pain and bitter heartache to pass. She’d discussed her desire for children with Bob numerous times, and he’d seemed as eager to start a family as she was.

  Or so it had seemed. Like so many other things with Bob, Dani learned it had all been empty talk.

  “You said you did window displays for Murphy’s?” John asked, breaking into her thoughts.

  “Yes…quite a few as a matter of fact.”

  “Great. Go ahead and do one up using the cradle. That should attract some interest, don’t you think?”

  “Yes…yes, it would,” she said, but her heart sank. If she put the cradle on display it was sure to sell quickly, and for reasons she didn’t care to examine, Dani didn’t want that to happen.

  “I’ll clear out the window for you,” John offered.

  “I can do it.” She didn’t want her employer doing anything she could do herself for fear he would use it as an excuse to let her go. Dani wanted
to keep this job.

  John frowned, which was something he did on a regular basis, it seemed. “You can’t lift that chest of drawers.”

  “No, but I can scoot it aside and use it as part of the display.”

  His frown deepened. “All right, have at it, but I don’t want you doing anything too strenuous, understand?”

  “Of course,” she said, her mind eagerly assembling ideas. “You don’t need to worry, I’ve done quite of bit of this type of work.”

  John looked as if he wasn’t sure he should believe her. He walked away mumbling under his breath. Dani wished she knew what he’d said, but on second thought, it was probably best that she didn’t.

  Feeling she had something to prove, Dani went about setting up the window display with a flair and talent that were natural to her. When she buried her mind in her work, she didn’t have to think about all that she’d left behind in Seattle or the reasons why.

  She set a rocking chair next to the cradle with a patchwork quilt casually draped over the arms and back. A kerosene lamp rested atop the chest of drawers. She added small odds and ends from the past, creating a scene out of yesteryear. She left the impression that all one needed was to step over the threshold and they’d walk into another world, one long passed.

  Several people stopped and stared as she worked on the display, but Dani was accustomed to that.

  “It’s lunchtime,” John said interrupting her.

  “Already?” She stood and rubbed the small of her back. The morning was gone before she knew it.

  “You have an hour.”

  That was more than fair. She agilely leapt down from the window and dusted her hands. “I brought a sandwich. I thought I’d eat in the back room.” It probably wasn’t necessary to announce her plans, and she felt foolish afterward.

  “That’ll be fine.” John sounded distracted. Unconcerned. Dani had been so involved in her own project that she hadn’t noticed if he’d been busy with customers or not.

  She poured herself a cup of tea and set it on the table. It felt good to sit down and relax. She stretched her legs out in front of her and rotated her shoulders a couple of times before opening the brown paper sack.