Code of Silence (18 page)

The answer came to him quickly. He'd make the choice to act honorable in every situation, and the rest would be up to the Lord.

His hand joined hers. He relished her touch so much he dropped it. They'd need to keep handshaking to a minimum if he was to keep his distance. “Partners,” he answered.

NINETEEN

G
abriella wanted to jump up and down at the day's turn of events. Her aunt seemed to be doing well and had proved eager to return to her own place at the assisted living village. Her financial needs for herself, her aunt and the property would be met.

And, last week, when she'd approached the local school district about possible openings, they offered her a job immediately. She hadn't realized the stellar reputation her nonprofit, and by association, she, enjoyed among local schools.

“Speaking of business, my executive director for the foundation was able to visit me yesterday.”

Luke's eyebrows rose, and he shifted his feet. He sported slip-on leather loafers. Was he choosing dress shoes more suitable for running now? She examined him with new eyes. Instead of the designer jacket and dress pants, he sported a lightweight dark-blue-and-black flannel shirt, a thick leather belt and dark carpenter jeans. And he seemed more comfortable in his own skin. She hadn't thought it was possible to be even more attracted to him, but yet here she was.

“Oh? And how is she?” His question snapped Gabriella from her thoughts.

Ah-ha. She'd caught him. “I didn't say it was a she.”

He shrugged. “You already know I nominated your organization for the grant. Give me credit for doing my homework.”

“Oh, I'd say you did a lot more than homework.”

He blew out a breath but didn't deny it, so Gabriella continued. “Maria told me she was able to track down the mafia money and return it to the lawyer. Except Maria had already allotted the money for a new tutoring site.”

Luke nodded but avoided her gaze.

“Here's the amazing thing: this volunteer who she couldn't wait to tell me about was also the foundation's most valuable player during the school year. This volunteer preferred to keep his name off the foundation's service list, and he donated the exact amount needed to cover the returned money. What a guy, right?”

Luke cleared his throat. “That's great,” he mumbled.

Gabriella playfully shoved his shoulder back. “Why didn't you tell me?”

His chagrined face sobered. “Haven't you ever heard the verse in Matthew about giving in secret? Can't a guy try to do a good thing without telling everyone?”

She reached for his hand and squeezed. She'd figured as much. And it meant the world to her that he gave his time and his money without expecting anything in return. “I can't fault that.”

He shrugged. “You've always inspired me, you know that, Gabriella. And I... I'm good at math. I thought I could lend a hand, be of some help.”

Gabriella's heart beat faster. It was true, all true, but she'd hoped there was something he'd omitted. Luke had always been a good man with a servant heart, yet she desperately wanted to hear there was more to it. “Is that all? No other reason?”

He looked up, and the way he looked at her drew her one step closer, without any thought. “There may have been,” he answered.

As desperate as she was to hear him say the words that he'd done some of it for her, it wasn't fair to ask Luke to be vulnerable again when she'd yet to do the same. Well, she had, but Gabriella couldn't be certain he'd ever heard it.

A breeze brushed past her, swirling her hair around her shoulders and mercifully cooling her warm cheeks. “So, we're done with business?”

They stood in awkward silence for a moment, staring into each other's eyes. “As far as I can tell.”

A family of swans crossed diagonally through the lake. She tracked their smooth progress as she gathered her courage. “I seem to remember once upon a time, before our lives were in danger, that you hoped to take me to dinner and catch up.” She forced her voice to sound light even though her heart raced. It hadn't escaped her notice that their conversations had been strained ever since the hospital visit.

Luke met her eyes. He smiled wide for half a second until concern washed over his features. “Um. When you say go out to dinner...” He sighed. “I'm going to be straight with you, Gabriella. I'm determined to not rush you or push the friendship, but I'm also struggling.” He looked down at his shoes. “I'm a driven person—”

She laughed at the understatement. “No news to me, Luke.”

“So you know that once I've got my mind set on something, I have a hard time being patient. I don't want to mess us up... I mean our friendship. I guess I'm asking if you mean just as friends catching up or—”

“I said I love you.” She blurted it out so fast she surprised herself.

He flinched, looked around as if she was speaking to someone else and jerked his gaze back to her.

She beamed, laughing. “I'm talking to you.”

“When?” His eyes clouded with confusion.

She hated to remember the way his head hit the asphalt, the way his fingers had slipped from her grasp when the paramedics took him away. Her throat squeezed tight. “When you saved my life. It overwhelmed me. I'd missed your friendship so much...except, in my heart I knew I loved you much more than a friend.”

“You said you loved me?”

It was as though he hadn't heard another word she'd said. Gabriella nodded and finally lifted her chin so she could stare into his blue eyes.

His mouth dropped. “And I missed it?”

Gabriella grabbed his hands. His response, his reaction made the doubt she'd had earlier scatter. She stepped closer, making sure he couldn't miss it this time. “I love you.”

His lips pressed onto hers before she could prepare herself. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. He pulled back half an inch. “I love you, too.”

Gabriella closed her eyes, soaking in the moment, and rested her head on his uninjured shoulder. She inhaled, and hints of pine and cedar with fresh citrus notes complemented the smells of the forest. He smelled like comfort, like...well, like Luke. And she never wanted to lose him again.

“I want you to know I'm all-in,” he said. “I didn't want to scare you away, but I looked at some business opportunities in Oregon. Nothing for sure yet, but if I could get some work there we could see each other a little more during the school year.”

She beamed. “And I didn't want to scare you, but I just accepted a teaching job here. I wanted to be closer to Aunt Freddie, but I'm all-in, too, Luke.”

His hands pushed her back slightly. He bent his right knee, pain briefly crossing his features. He switched legs and dipped to the ground on his left knee. Her breath caught as he reached for her hands. “Gabriella, I...I know in my heart you are the one, and if you know, too...will you, would you, be my wife?” His eyes widened. “I mean not right this minute, I don't want to rush you, but if we both are committed—”

She laughed, moved her right hand from his grasp and caressed the side of his face, nodding wildly, her eyes suddenly blurry. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes.”

Gabriella blinked. She didn't want to cry. She wanted to remember every moment in crystal clear color for years to come. She stepped back. Her mouth dropped. “Luke...”

He stood and pulled her into his arms. “Yes?” he asked softly.

“I want to always remember this...” She felt her eyes widen as her words triggered a realization.

Luke's arms stiffened and he inhaled sharply. “...to remember what God has done for us?”

She grinned. He understood her train of thought. She'd just figured out where her mom had hidden the coins. “Exactly.”

“Are you sure you want to find out if we're right?” he asked.

Did she? She knew if she found the treasure, she'd likely find her father. Was she ready for that? Luke's support around her never wavered, much like her Father in Heaven. And if she could remember that...remember she would always be loved by her Heavenly Father no matter what, then she knew her answer. “Yes. I'm ready. Besides, we can always put the boulders back where they were if we're wrong.”

“Agreed.” He pulled out his phone. “I just need to make a phone call.”

* * *

His brother responded immediately to his phone call. The rumble of the machine confirmed David was on his way with one of the machines Luke leased for his construction crew. Luke squeezed Gabriella's hand while the other hand held the shovel. “I think I need to buy this shovel from you, too,” he muttered.

Gabriella cocked her head. “Sentimental, is it? I'm pretty sure it was the reason you ended up getting shot...the first time.”

“Or the reason we were able to save the day. All how you look at things.” He winked.

She flashed her wide smile. “Yet another reason I love you. Always focused on the positive.”

His heart flipped. Would he ever get used to her saying those three little words? He pulled her closer and kissed her mouth.

At the sight of the skid-steer loader, he waved. His brother David filled the operating box, but a white pickup truck followed behind. “That's probably Aria.”

Confident his brother had his sights set on Gabriella and him, they turned and walked in the direction of the boulders her mom had set up. Minutes later, Gabriella pointed to the third and fourth stones in the line of twelve. “Start in the middle,” she said. “It's what I would do if I were Mom. And they are the biggest.”

David's competent steering made short work of the boulders. He moved them about ten feet away from the river. Gabriella kept a sharp eye on the boulders. “I want to make sure we can put them back.”

Aria hopped out of the pickup truck at the same time David exited the loader. She removed three shovels from the bed and walked their way. After introductions were made, Luke pointed to the area of the missing boulders. “Let's get digging. We have a treasure to find.”

The four of them stood in a circle and stuck their shovels into the dry dirt. It only took three feet until they hit thick clay. “It's not looking good,” David mumbled.

Gabriella's shoulders drooped, but she stuck her shovel in once more.

Dink!

Everyone froze, eyes wide, looking at each other. Gabriella pulled up the hunk of clay and pointed at a metallic box. Its green hue may have been from rust or... David leaned down and pulled on the top handle until it pulled away from its prison.

He set the box on top of the next boulder. Gabriella approached it cautiously. While it showed signs of aging, the green proved to be its original color.

David stepped away but gestured at it. “Looks like one of those ammo surplus boxes.”

Gabriella touched the metallic latch surrounding the hinge and pried it loose. Her long fingers reached for the top handle and lifted. The squeak of metal against metal grated his nerves. The top flung open.

Luke, David and Aria took a step closer—four heads peering inside. Stacks and stacks of gold coins inside plastic tubes lined up vertically inside the box. Only the sound of birds chirping in the trees remained as they gawked at the sight.

The top coins all shone inside their plastic casings, untarnished by the years spent in the ammo box underground. Surrounding the border of each coin were roughly a couple dozen stars, and the woman in profile resembled the Statue of Liberty without the pointy crown. What Luke's dad would give to get his hands on these—legally, of course.

Gabriella reached for a small white card sandwiched between the tubes of coins and the side of the box. “I hadn't noticed that before,” Luke commented.

She pulled it out.
If found please return to U.S. Mint C/O U.S. Treasury Agent Frank Wilson.

Luke held his breath waiting for her response.

She clutched it to her chest and laughed. “I'm not Gabriella Mirabella, then. It doesn't rhyme.”

“You know you can stay Gabriella Radcliffe, too,” he reminded her.

She stared at the script. “I know.” Her gaze slid to him. “But I think I like Gabriella McGuire the best.”

Luke's chest rose, ready to burst with pride.

“What? Am I missing something?” David's outcry burst his bubble. Oh yeah, he hadn't filled his family in yet.

“Well, I was waiting until I got her a ring—”

Aria's squeal clearly indicated that wasn't necessary. Her outstretched arms embraced Gabriella. “Congratulations. I cannot wait for you to join this family. I mean, four boys at all the family gatherings. I'm telling you I've been waiting for another girl to join this family.”

“Does Mom know?”

“Not yet. I just popped the question.”

David reached a hand out and pulled Luke into a bear hug. “I think you're going to like marriage, bro.” He patted him on the back. “Get in the habit of putting the toilet seat back down, and it'll be smooth sailing.”

“David!” Aria slipped her hand through his elbow. “I think you and I should head back to the house and give these guys a moment. Your dad mentioned a messed-up safe room that could use our expertise.”

David allowed her to lead him toward the white truck. “Okay, I need to tell Mom Luke's getting hitched.”

“You can't tell Mom first,” Luke objected.

“Oh, I'm telling her,” David fired back.

Aria turned back and rolled her eyes for dramatic effect, then squeezed David's arm. “Stop trying to ruin their romantic moment with your teasing and come with me.”

Gabriella laughed. “So that's what it's like to have brothers,” she mused. She peeked back inside the green ammo box and gawked. “Can you imagine how much this is worth?”

“Probably best if we didn't think about it,” Luke said. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her softly. “Are you sure you're doing okay?”

“Yes. It's a tad overwhelming to think about meeting my father, but I'm hoping you'll go with me?” The question and the pleading in her eyes struck him to the core.

“I'd do anything for you.” He needed her to know that, to rest on that.