Love Starts with Elle(90)

“Next thing I hear is ‘Pssst, Ruby, baby.’ There was Daddy standing at my window with two perfect white feathers.” Ruby gazed up at the painting. “Just like the ones in this painting.”

“They fell out of nowhere,” Elle offered. “One in a prayer chapel, two at my studio.”

Ruby shoved off the floor and Heath steadied her with a touch to her elbow. She dusted off her navy linen suit. “Daddy claimed they were from our guardian angels, said they’d keep James and me safe. But I wanted Daddy safe. “Don’t worry about me none. If the Germans couldn’t kill me . . . He was larger than life, my daddy.”

“What happened to him?” Elle asked.

Ruby glanced back at her, then strode over to the painting. “Never came home. When his letters stopped, Mama tried to find him, but we never got to the truth. We heard he took up with a white girl in Mississippi and got lynched. Another rumor was the band’s car went off the road in a bad storm. Mama lived for bourbon. James and I left home as soon as we could. I’d stored Daddy’s feathers in a cedar box under the bedroom floorboard. During my college years, the house burned down, the fire destroying the feathers. All I had left of my daddy were those feathers. I grieved for them until now.”

“Ms. Barnett, please, take the painting. My gift to you.”

“Miss Garvey, I’m a reviewer. If I received art as gifts, I’d never be able to write an honest word. I buy the art I love.” Ruby’s gentle laugh dispelled the last ribbons of tension. “Darcy, I’d like to purchase this piece, please.”

“Wise decision, Ruby.” Darcy gave Elle the I-told-you glare.

“I haven’t cried over my daddy in many years, but a debut artist brought the harsh reviewer to her knees.”

“Perhaps I had help from the Divine.”

Ruby retrieved her handbag, taking out her notepad and pen. “Of that, I have no doubt.”



Truman and Lady had volunteered to keep Tracey-Love if Heath wanted to go to Elle’s opening night. Push, push, hint, hint.

It’d been a long time since a girl’s father observed Heath with a glint in his eye. On second thought, had any father looked at him with a glint in his eye?

Ava’s pop had merely given him the once-over with a low grunt and said, “He’ll do.”

Heath liked having Truman’s respect and cloaked blessing, but he was days away from leaving St. Helena and did not want to start what he couldn’t finish.

Elle’s good-bye to Jeremiah still echoed over the murky waters of Coffin Creek.

She turned into her parents’ drive behind him and Heath met her at the front steps. “I can’t shake Ruby’s story.”

“Every time I picture her sitting on the floor, sobbing, I tear up.” Elle gripped his shirt sleeve. “It’s humbling, Heath. To be used by God when my faith was so weak, after being so angry with you and Darcy.”

He slipped his hand into hers. “This is only the beginning, Elle. You probably won’t know how many people your work touches, but Ruby is a drop in the bucket.”

She pressed her forehead to his chest and wept softly. He held her, letting the Spirit complete what He’d begun.

“I’m a mess,” Elle said, finally stepping away, wiping her cheeks. “Good thing Sara Beth’s makeup is waterproof.”

“You’re lovely, Elle, tears and all.” Heath pinched her chin with his fingers and brushed under her eyes. “But you’d better tell Sara Beth her waterproof mascara formula isn’t working.”

Elle started for the house. “Um, no, you tell her. Last time I gave input . . . was the last time.”

Just inside the Garvey door, Tracey-Love accosted Heath. “Daddy.” Then Elle. “Miss Elle.”

Rio smacked them with her dazzling wand. “We’re princesses.”

“I see. Very pretty.”

Tracey-Love patted her satin play dress. “I’m Cinder-nella. Rio’s S-snow White.”

Heath scooped her up. “And I’m your handsome prince.”

“No, no.” TL laughed as though he’d lost his marbles. “You’re my daddy. Zac Efron is my prince.”

Heath set Tracey-Love down with a gaping glance at Elle. What the heck? “Who is Zac Efron?”

“High School Musical star. Rio’s babysitter has a teenaged daughter.”

She shook her head.

Truman clapped him on the back. “Welcome to my world, son. Can I get you a root beer?”

“Please, and leave out the root.”

Elle propped her elbows on the counter, grinning, munching on a couple of baby carrots.

Screaming and swooping, touching everything they passed with their sparkling wands, TL and Rio disappeared upstairs.

Elle kissed her mama’s cheek as she carried empty ice-cream bowls to the dishwasher.

“Tell me, how was the big debut? Elle, we’re going by the gallery tomorrow night with Doug and Esther.”

“Better than I thought. People seemed to like the paintings.”

Heath made a face. Ten minutes ago, she’d wept against him, moved by how the Lord used her. “Elle, tell them what happened.”

“It’s nothing, really, but . . .” She recounted Ruby Barnett’s story with Heath interjecting the adjectives and details Elle was too shy or humble to add.