by Diann Hunt
“Hey, look, Scott.” She pointed to a tire swing hanging from a tree in a small community park. “Will you push me?” It was too early for kids to be around, so she could get on the swing without fear of anyone seeing her. Another plus was if her weight broke it down, Scott would be the only other person who would know.
“Sure. I’ll race you.”
They ran the distance to the swing. Scott got there first.
She giggled. “I haven’t done this in years.” She slipped through the opening. Scott stepped behind her and started pushing.
She felt like a kid again. Back when days were innocent and people were trustworthy. The moment seemed as near perfect as the weather. The morning sunshine warmed her face. A gentle breeze lifted her hair with every push of the swing. Birdsong called from neighboring maples. And she was with Scott. Lovable, sweet Scott. The one person in the world with whom she could be herself. What could be better?
“I’ll bet you were the type that climbed trees when you were little,” Scott teased.
“And just what’s wrong with that?” The gentle touch of his hands was reassuring. He’d always been there for her. Strong, steady, guiding.
“Had girl clubs where boys weren’t allowed?”
“No, you’re wrong there. Johnnie Coonrod could dig up worms better than anybody. He was always welcome in my clubs. The fact he didn’t mind making mud pies was a definite plus too.” Funny, she hadn’t thought of that in years.
Scott scrunched his nose. “Doesn’t sound very appetizing.”
“You have to acquire a taste for it,” she said, lifting her nose in the air.
“Like I’ve always said, you think you know a person.”
“How about you? Did you let girls in your clubs or did they have cooties?”
“Cooties.”
She tilted her head back as the swing lifted her forward, her eyes looking at Scott from an upside-down angle, her hair nearly dragging the ground. “Figures.”
“As I’m sure you’ve noticed, I got over that eventually,” he said.
“Yeah, Ivy came along and changed all that.”
He didn’t say anything.
“I sure miss my dad. He made me the best tree house when I was a kid. He made it for me and C. J., actually, but C. J. was never much interested in it. He was more into sports.”
The world spun in her vision and her stomach tilted. “Whew. I think I’d better stop now.”
Scott pulled on the rope and dragged the tire to a standstill. His hand reached for hers and he yanked her out with such force that she stood right in front of him, nearly nose to nose. It was as though an invisible magnet pulled them together and held them there. His hand still grasped hers. Neither of them blinked and all she could feel was the strength of his hand and the warmth of his breath against her face. Finally, Scott cleared his throat and stepped back.
It was the first weird moment Carly had ever shared with Scott.
They talked a little longer, each stumbling to get past the awkwardness between them, and finally decided to go home, clean up, and meet for lunch.
Carly stood in her closet, trying to decide what to wear. For some reason, she wanted to look extra nice today. She’d grown out of her favorite capri pants long ago, but left them in hopes of a miracle. They hung there, taunting her. Dare she?
Hesitantly, she reached up and lifted the hanger from the pole, took them into her bedroom, and tried them on.
A perfect fit! She couldn’t believe it.
Her fingers tingled with excitement as she shrugged on a fresh top and walked over to the mirror. She was feeling better about keeping herself physically fit. And look at Jake. He had come to terms with his limitations. She was beginning to think there was hope for her.
Grabbing her handbag, and feeling a little giddy, she headed to the cafe to meet Scott.
“So how are Katelyn and Jake getting along?” Scott asked after they prayed over their meals.
“Doing well. They’ve had a long talk, and they’re both making an effort to understand each other. This whole thing has humbled Jake considerably. He realized if he didn’t change, he could lose her. It’s really helped him to open up to her.”
“Not an easy thing for a guy to do.” Scott squeezed some ketchup on his hamburger, replaced the bun, and bit into it.
“So I’ve heard.” Carly smiled, then thought back to her own marriage. Maybe more of it had been her fault than she wanted to admit. “Maybe if Gary and I had talked more I might have had a clue what was going on in his heart.” She drizzled dressing over her salad and took a bite.
“Sometimes there’s no way of knowing. Don’t get me wrong. I know we all make mistakes, but some people just don’t try very hard.”
Carly looked at him. “Easy for you to say. You had—” Suddenly, she caught herself. She’d thought for so long that he had a great marriage, the words slipped off her tongue with little thought. But she knew better now, even if he didn’t. She shoveled in another bite so she didn’t have to speak.
He stopped chewing and watched her.
She swallowed the mouthful of lettuce, which seemed to have multiplied. “I’m sorry. I just—well, she’s not here now and all.”
“No matter what it seems on the outside, remember, no one has a perfect marriage.” He bit into his sandwich with a vengeance.
Always the protector. She suspected he was still upset with Gary for what he’d done to her. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors.” She hoped he never had to know what Ivy had done.
A middle-aged woman walked up to their table. “You don’t know me, but I recognize you from the spa. My daughter gave me a certificate for my birthday and I was there a few weeks ago.”
Carly brightened. “Oh, nice to meet you.” She extended her hand. “This is Scott Hammond. He is the accountant for the spa.”
“Yes, yes, I remember seeing you there,” the woman said happily. She looked at Carly. “I was noticing your Vera Bradley bag. I just love it.”
“Thank you,” Carly said.
“I’m always on the lookout for those bags. They’re hard to find around here. Wish we had a store so I wouldn’t have to order them online. Did you know they also donate funds to breast cancer research? It’s a wonderful organization.” The woman hardly took a breath.
“Yes, they are good bags. I’m afraid I’m addicted to them,” Carly said with a laugh.
The two talked about the spa for a little while, then the woman went on her way.
“Always nice to run into a patron, huh?” Scott said.
“Yes. You know, something she said hit me.”
Scott looked up. “What’s that?”
“Maybe we should offer Vera Bradley bags at the spa.”
“First chocolate, now this?”
“What? You don’t like the idea?”
“No, I think it’s fine. Far be it from me to get in the way of your creativity.” He flashed a grin that made her stomach flutter.
“Well, think about it. The spa is a place where women come. They love chocolate. Many would be drawn to those bags too—especially knowing the company invests in breast cancer research. It’s a win-win, don’t you think?”
Scott rubbed his chin. “It does have possibilities.”
“Hey, we could even offer a drawing every so often for women in the community who are struggling with cancer. Offer them a free spa day or something like that.” Carly felt excitement surge through her. She loved being truly excited about her business.
“Great idea.” Scott added more ketchup to his remaining burger.
“Yeah! And it would make me feel like we’re making a difference in helping cancer victims too.”
Scott put his hand on hers. “That’s awesome, Carly. You’re always looking for ways to help others. You didn’t deserve what you went through with the cancer and Gary and all that.”
She shrugged. “You didn’t deserve what happened to Ivy either. It’s l
ife stuff.” And he certainly didn’t deserve Ivy’s betrayal.
They talked about how to implement her plans and she made a mental note to get started as soon as possible.
Once they finished lunch, Scott walked Carly to her car. “Thanks for meeting me for lunch. I didn’t want to go home to hot dogs again,” he said.
She laughed. “Oh, that’s right. You’re one of those who doesn’t like to eat lunch alone.”
“You got it.” He smiled down at her. “You really look great, you know.”
“Yeah, but we know the truth,” she said with a forced laugh to veil her inner pain. But he knew. Scott always knew.
He cupped her chin in his hand. “The truth is, Carly Westlake, you look great.” The way he said it, the feel of his hand on her face, the look in his eyes, took her breath away.
Then the remembrance of C. J.’s confession shocked her to her senses. She stepped aside.
Scott blinked and took a step backward himself. Only a soda pop can littered his way and he stumbled on it. His arms flailed in the air, but there was nothing for him to grab hold of.
Carly ran to try to grab him, but before she could reach him, he was flat on his back looking up. The stunned look in his eyes made her laugh. “Are you all right?”
He sat up and shook his head, then stood and brushed himself off. “Oh sure, go ahead and laugh.”
“I’m sorry, Scott. You just looked so—so—”
“Stupid.” He continued to brush debris from his arms.
“Cute was more the word I had in mind.” She smiled.
He looked up at her. “Really?” He said that as though her comment had possibilities.
Heat flared in her cheeks. “Really.” Another moment between them, which made her nervous. She needed to get out of there before she said something else stupid. “Thanks for lunch, Scott. It was nice.”
“I enjoyed it too. See you at church,” he said before walking over to his car.
She waved and jumped into her car, started the engine, and pulled out with one more quick wave.
“What was that all about?” she said out loud.
She shoved a Barry Manilow CD in the player, listened to the first half of “Mandy,” then pulled it out. Her fingers tapped nervously on the steering wheel. Talk about awkward. What was going on between them? She never felt awkward around Scott. Ever.
There was no denying she’d always thought he was good-looking, but a relationship with him seemed so beyond the realm of possibility. Still, the way he had looked at her today was different than before. And the thing was she liked it. A lot.
But what about Jake? She had an idea where that was going. Her heart pretty much told her he would never be more than a good friend—which seemed so strange. She had loved him since she was a teenager—hadn’t she?
But this whole thing with Scott. She shook her head again. “What are you thinking, Carly Westlake?” She couldn’t entertain thoughts of a relationship with Scott. Once he found out about C. J. and Ivy, he wouldn’t want anything to do with her. That would throw him into the company of C. J. and that would never work.
“Thanks a lot, C. J.,” she muttered. Why did life have to get so complicated?
She pulled into her driveway and spotted Rita’s car in the back. Carly could hardly wait to see her sister-in-law. She’d missed her. Carly only hoped Rita would stay in the family.
“Anybody home?” Carly called out when she came up the stairs.
“Hey, girl!” Rita stepped into view at the top of the stairs. When Carly reached her, they shared a sisterly hug.
“I’ve missed you,” Carly said.
“I’ve missed you too. Though Magnolia has been keeping me company, telling me all about the house she’s building.” Rita giggled.
“Oh, I’m not building it. I’m simply helping in the endeavor.”
“I never imagined her to be a carpenter, did you?” Carly asked Rita.
“Not for a minute.”
“Oh, you two. Would you like some raspberry iced tea?” Magnolia was already standing.
“That would be great,” they said in chorus.
“Do you need some help?” Carly asked.
“If I can build a house, I can handle tea, thank you,” Magnolia said before scurrying off, leaving Carly and Rita laughing.
Rita turned to Carly. “How’s C. J.? Is he all right?”
“He’s fine.” Carly thought she saw a flash of disappointment in Rita’s eyes and quickly added. “But he sure misses you.”
Rita brightened. “He does? How do you know?”
“He’s miserable without you, Rita. He’s messed up big-time and he knows it.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Rita said, surprising Carly.
“What do you mean?”
Rita bit her lower lip and stared at the carpet. “I didn’t want to tell you this, but I know it will come out sooner or later.” She looked toward the kitchen to make sure Magnolia wasn’t coming yet, then she turned to Carly. “C. J. had an affair with Ivy.”
Carly gasped.
“I’m sorry, Carly. I know that’s hard to imagine, her being your best friend and all—and with C. J., of all people.”
Carly grabbed her hand. “No, Rita. That’s not it. I actually found out last week. C. J. confessed it to me. He doesn’t think you know.”
Her eyes widened. “He told you?”
“Yes.” Carly explained how he’d broken it off and how upset Ivy was when she had left him. Then the accident. She left out the part about the baby. If C. J. wanted her to know, he could tell her.
“Oh no.”
“Yeah. C. J. has been carrying around this guilt for some time now.”
“That explains a lot,” Rita said.
“How did you find out about the affair?”
“Just before I left him, I was taking some old clothes to Goodwill. A pair of pants that he had outgrown was hidden in the back of the closet. I pulled them out to load them in the box. Before doing so, I checked the pockets, like I did on all the other garments, to make sure there was no money or anything in them. I found a love note from Ivy.” Tears swelled in Rita’s eyes. “It shocked me to the core. I had no idea it was going on right under my nose.” Tears spilled down her cheeks and dripped off her chin. “Guess I was hoping a baby would change things. But that’s not the right reason to keep a man home.”
Carly reached over and hugged her. “I’m so sorry, sis.”
“I loved him so much.” She reached into her handbag and grabbed a tissue. “I put up with his gambling—didn’t like it, but tolerated it. Then with his drinking. I figured he was drinking because he loved her so much and missed her. There didn’t seem to be anymore room for me.” She dabbed at her nose.
“But that wasn’t it at all. Guilt drives him. He loves you.” Carly was afraid to ask the question that hovered between them. Rita needed time to heal. Only God knew if their marriage could survive this crisis.
Rita and Carly spent the afternoon shopping and just enjoying some girl time. Soon enough Rita would have to meet up with C. J. and no doubt rough days were ahead. But for today, they were putting the past behind them and just having fun.
When they finally returned home that night, Magnolia was watching Murder, She Wrote on television. “Scott has been calling you all day,” she said.
Carly stopped in her tracks. “Scott called me?”
“Yes. Said he needed to talk to you right away.”
“Was everything all right?”
“I don’t know,” Magnolia said. “He seemed a little tense about something, but maybe I just imagined it. Could be because I brought up the coffeehouse thing to him again. Pastor said the idea would be coming up at the next board meeting, so Scott had to give his approval too. Pastor won’t do it unless we both agree.” Magnolia’s mouth formed a pout.
“Well, if he won’t do it, Magnolia, I’m sure he has his reasons.” And after what Carly had found out, she knew Scott was right.
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“Don’t tell me he’s gotten to you too.” A flash of disappointment crossed Magnolia’s face. She sighed as though she were viewing the desolation a fire had left behind in her herb garden.
Just then the doorbell rang. Rita locked eyes with Carly. “You don’t think C. J. heard I was back already, do you?”
“Surely not. I’ll go see.”
Carly ran down the stairs and opened the door. “Scott. What are you doing here?”
“You’ve been avoiding my calls, and I needed to talk to you.”
“No, no, I wasn’t avoiding your calls. We just got home,” she said, pointing to Rita at the top of the stairs.
Rita waved.
He touched Carly’s elbow. “Would you go with me to the coffee shop just for a few minutes? I won’t keep you long, I promise.”
The look on his face, the pleading in his eyes, let her know this was no small matter. “Sure.” She turned to Rita. “Tell Magnolia I’m going to the coffee shop for a few minutes. I’ll be back soon.”
Rita nodded and waved again. Carly followed him to the car, and they drove in silence the few blocks to the coffee shop. He didn’t say a word beyond ordering their drinks.
“Let’s take these outside, do you mind?” Scott asked when they received their drinks.
“Sure.”
Scott led the way to an isolated table out on the patio. Carly slid into her seat and took a drink of her mocha. “Is everything all right?”
He blew out a long sigh. “The truth is I haven’t been myself lately, and I just couldn’t deny it any longer. I had to talk to you.”
“I’m listening.”
“Today, I was acting stupid. I don’t know if you even noticed, but I wanted to apologize if I made you feel weird about us. I don’t want to ever jeopardize our friendship. I shouldn’t have—today—well, I shouldn’t have—I feel really stupid here.”
Carly tried not to smile, but she couldn’t help it. She’d never seen him babble like this before. It was kind of cute.
“You’re making fun of me?”
“No, no.” She put her hand on his. “We’ve both been under a lot of stress. You could never do anything to make me love you any less,” she said. Her cheeks instantly grew warm. “Um, don’t give it another thought.”
