Mrs. Pendegast sat on the divan and patted it for Violet to join her. “No, you are our first guests this evening.”
“What about your son?” Gloria blurted out. Violet shrank inside at her behavior. She noted the way Mrs. Pendegast grew cold toward Gloria.
“My son will join the soiree later in the evening. He has just returned from an extended vacation and is resting.
Gloria huffed and threw herself onto an overstuffed chair. Janice sat gingerly on the edge of a hardback chair and took the cup of tea Mrs. Pendegast handed her. Gloria shook her head. “I’d rather have a martini.”
“We will not serve drinks until later this evening.” Mrs. Pendegast stated, turning away from Gloria and facing Violet.
“Tell me all about your trip. Your father wired that you were driving in from Chicago in a brand new, pink Cadillac. Did you bring it tonight?”
“No, Gloria’s chauffeur brought us. But I’d be happy to show it to you another day.”
“I’d like that very much. I’m an Elvis fan, you know.”
The idea of this staunch woman enjoying Elvis songs made Violet want to giggle, but she held in her mirth. She noted the look of disgust on Gloria’s face.
“The trip was long. I didn’t stop very often along the way, although I spent a short time in a small town called Holbrook.”
The woman sat up straight. “Holbrook?”
Violet nodded, but their conversation was interrupted by the maid’s entry. “Ma’am, there is another group of young ladies in the foyer.”
Disbelief filled Mrs. Pendegast’s eyes. “Well, I never expected so many early birds, but I suspect they too wanted to be the first to meet my son.” She stood to leave the room.
“We didn’t come early because…” Janice tried to explain but the look on the woman’s face made her clamp her lips together.
When Mrs. Pendegast left the room, Gloria stood up and stomped her small foot. “I can’t believe this. We won’t get to meet Robert before anyone else at this rate and we have to wait until evening for a decent drink.”
Violet shushed her friend when she heard the rustle of dresses in the hall. Mrs. Pendegast led four girls Violet’s age into the room. Obviously, these were more debutantes.
Mrs. Pendegast sat down. She glanced at her maid, then ordered more tea. The other girls eyed Violet, Gloria and Janice, then found chairs to sit on. As suspected, the small tea party turned into a long and boring affair.
~
Later, the girls were all shown to a room to freshen up before the party began. Violet was only too glad to go. She was embarrassed by the obvious questions Gloria and the other girls asked about Mrs. Pendegast’s son, Robert. However, she realized, a week ago she would have been asking the same things.
Violet was no longer sure she wanted to meet Robert L. Pendegast. Although, she would still like to marry someone wealthy, it wasn’t the most important thing on her mind. She wanted to see Lee again. There were many issues which made her unsure of herself and her new life. Lee could straighten it all out.
And what about this Robert L. Pendegast? Was he a Christian? If not, then there was no point in her meeting him. Lee had given her enough information on their trip from Holbrook. She knew she couldn’t marry someone who was not a Christian. Lee had mentioned the Bible talked about that being called “unequally yoked.”
I don’t know anyone who is a Christian. And how would I know? Is it something they just tell you? I’m a Christian now and I haven’t told everyone, except Janice.
Finally, a maid entered the room and informed them the party would begin in ten minutes. Mrs. Pendegast suggested they all come downstairs now.
With eager squeals of excitement, the girls hopped up, patted their hair, powdered their noses and quickly followed the maid. Violet waited until the others had left the room. She took a few extra minutes and prayed for strength, then stepped out into the hallway. She was so distracted she didn’t notice the man striding down the hall. When she stepped from the room, she crashed right into him. A familiar hand reached over and steadied her, to keep her from falling.
Violet’s eyes shot up and her mouth opened. “Lee! What are you doing here?”
Chapter 12
Violet placed a hand on her hip as she stared at Lee. “What are you doing here? Especially in those clothes?” She noted the fine quality of the suit he was wearing. “Are you working here?”
Lee’s eyes lit up. “Violet, I was hoping to run into you before the party. I wanted to explain…”
Just then a butler came up the stairs and spoke. “Mr. Pendegast, your mother is asking for you.”
Lee nodded, “Thank you, Charles. I’ll be there in a few minutes. I’m sure she won’t start the evening without me.”
The butler nodded and walked back down the stairs. Lee looked at the shock on Violet’s face and shrugged his shoulders.
~
“You…you’re…you are Robert L. Pendegast?” Her voice shook incredulously.
“Yes.”
“You told me your name was Lee.”
“That’s what the L. stands for. Robert Lee Pendegast.”
“But…but, I don’t understand. You were a motel clerk.”
Lee’s voice softened. “Yes, it was something my pastor thought I should do for the summer. He felt I needed to get away from my life here and discover who I really am.”
Violet bit her bottom lip, remembering some of the things she had said to him. Then her eyes opened wide in horror. “I told you all about coming here to meet Robert L. Pendegast. You never said anything.”
“I’m sorry, Violet. At first I was offended by your boorish behavior. I wanted to teach you a lesson. But after only a few hours, I found I liked you and then I wanted to get to know you. Not as a wealthy potential suitor, but as an average man. I wanted to know if there was anything about you, different from the lines of debutantes I grew up with.”
Violet wiped away a small tear that had escaped. “I’m so embarrassed. So, it was all just a big joke to you then. Making me work at the motel, the meals, the conversations. I suppose even the Jesus thing was just a big fat lie.”
Lee’s face grew serious. “No, Violet. None of it was a joke. I admit, at first, I wasn’t being very kind. However, I wouldn’t take any of it back. I enjoyed getting to know the real you and I promise, the Jesus thing is the most real thing in my life. I am a Christian, just as I told you.”
Violet’s eyes searched his face. She could see the regret and sincerity. “Why didn’t you tell me when we got to California?”
“I was afraid. I didn’t want you to hate me. Actually, the reason I haven’t been here this afternoon, is because I was at your friend’s Aunt’s house, looking for you. I wanted to tell you all about myself, before the party. When I discovered you weren’t there, I rushed home, but mother sent me up to get dressed. This was my first opportunity to find you.”
Violet was silent.
Lee lifted her hand. “Violet, will you forgive me?”
Violet shook her head back and forth.
Lee’s shoulders slumped.
Then Violet whispered, “I think I can understand why you did what you did. I was pretty bad. Watching my friends since I got to town has given me a good idea of what I was like.”
Lee’s smile spread across his face.
“Then you forgive me?”
“Yes, I forgive you. But, what will I tell all my friends?”
“The same thing I plan to tell my mother.”
Violet gave him a questioning look.
“I plan on telling my mother, I have found the one and only woman I want to marry.”
Violet gasped. “Marry? Me?”
“Don’t you want to marry me?”
Violet nodded slowly. “Ye…s. Well, no. I think who I want to marry is Lee, not Robert L. Pendegast.”
Lee leaned forward and pressed his lips on hers. “They are both one in the same, now. That’s what I went to Holbrook to discover.
I may come from a very wealthy family, but I’ve learned that I want to earn my own way in life and I want to do it sharing God’s love.”
“How can you do that?”
“I want to study and become a preacher.”
Violet stepped back and looked him up and down. Then gave a small giggle. “You will be the best dressed preacher around.”
Lee shook his head. “I don’t plan to live off my father’s money. So, I won’t be very rich. Now, how do you feel about marrying me?”
Violet stepped closer. “I admit, it will be a difficult adjustment, but I’d already decided when this party was over, I was going to look for Lee and tell him I love him. I’m willing to be a preacher’s wife, if that preacher is you.”
Lee pulled her into his arms. “My mother has been preparing me to meet a very wealthy and appropriate young debutante from Chicago, tonight. She’s hoping I’ll come to my senses and settle down. I’m not sure how she’ll feel once I tell her my plans to become a preacher, but for now, shall we go and tell her we’ve fallen in love and want to get married by the end of summer?”
Violet’s heart jumped. “Yes, I’m sure my parents will be happy as well. I can hardly believe this is happening. I guess that Hopi Indian man was right about the meteor rock. It looks like I will marry the first man I saw after he handed it to me.”
Lee put his hand under her chin and tilted her head up. Then he pressed his lips against hers gently and lovingly.
When they pulled apart, her cheeks were flushed pink.
“Oh, and I think I know of the perfect place we can go on our honeymoon.” Lee said as he cuddled her against him.
“Where?” Violet asked as she melted into his arms.
“Oh, it’s an enchanted place out on Route 66, called the Wigwam Motel.”
Runaway Sue
A Trip to Remember
Shamrock Ruby
Enchanted Encounter
Stranded with Pearls
Turquoise Treasures
Starlight Serenade
Donna’s Detour
It Happened One Night
Summer’s Surprise
All In One – Get Your Kiss on Route 66
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Dear Reader,
My name is Teresa Ives Lilly. I write Christian Romance Novellas, which I hope you will enjoy reading. I love to hear from my readers at [email protected] and you can follow me at www.teresalilly.wordpress.com to see all my novellas. I am blessed to be part of the
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Enchanted Encounter (Get Your Kiss On Route 66 #3) Page 7
