“Tell me, Mom, how is Mark taking advantage of me? He’s never been anything but a gentleman.”
“For one thing, you’re not thinking clearly. You haven’t been for months now. I’m sure he can sense that. People aren’t always what they seem. You know that from experience.” Her mother’s raised eyebrows emphasized her point.
Sarah couldn’t argue with that. But would that one mistake in love haunt her for the rest of her life? “This relationship is entirely different. I’m an entirely different person. I know that Mark’s interest is genuine.”
“Really? You are sure that he’s not a married man?”
Now they could both see the elephant in the room. “Yes.”
“Absolutely?”
“Why are you so against this relationship? I’ve dated several men since then, and you’ve never discouraged me. Is it because of my MS diagnosis?”
“No.” Her mother lifted the plate from Sarah’s legs then placed it on the floor atop her own. She slid closer to Sarah and grasped her hands. She searched her daughter’s face before meeting her eyes.
“I am not against the relationship because of the MS. I believe that you can lead a very active life with your disease, but you are going to have to make adjustments. I never disapproved of your other relationships because I could tell that you weren’t that serious about those men.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because, Sarah, you have a certain look when you’re falling in love. I saw it when you were in your twenties when you mistook signs from a professional acquaintance. I see the same look now.”
Was she falling in love with Mark? The thought sparked a surge of happiness in her heart, chasing out her annoyance with her mother. “So, your daughter’s being in love is a bad thing?” She’d admit she learned a hard lesson in her twenties, one she didn’t plan to repeat. She pulled her hands free of her mother’s grasp and rubbed her palm in the spot that had been branded by Mark’s soft lips.
Her mother sighed. “See, it’s there again. You’re going into this relationship blindly. Are you going to be able to handle it if your heart gets broken? The last time it took you several years to bounce back. Now, with your medical condition, a depressive state like that could be, well, detrimental. The experience left you wary, but I just feel you’ve let that guard down with this man.”
That was true. She’d allowed herself to trust Mark, ever since seeing his warm smile that first time she entered his store. The more she got to know him, the surer she was that his values were solid and his actions sincere. “Mark is different.”
“We’ll see.” Her mother stood and paced to the window.
You will see. Mark is different. Just one more thing she had to prove to the world.
Mark pulled into Sarah’s driveway about twenty minutes earlier than he was supposed to be there. If he hadn’t driven around the neighborhood three times, he’d be thirty minutes early.
He slipped from his four-wheel-drive pickup. Sticking his hands in the front pockets of his khaki cargo shorts, he surveyed her home. The tan-sided duplex shared a driveway but provided privacy by having the double garages as the connecting point.
Mark didn’t have to look at the house number to tell which side was Sarah’s. A large wreath comprised of various pastel-colored flowers with a welcome sign in the center hung beside the door. Judging by her clothing choices, Sarah was partial to pastels.
The light breeze swayed the planter hanging by the corner of the garage, sending the sweet fragrance of petunias through the air.
Should he text her or just knock? He swiped his fingers over the nervous beaded moisture on his brow.
Mark wandered to the end of the driveway and looked up and down the street. Women liked to take their time getting ready, didn’t they?
It was ridiculous for Mark to be so anxious. He didn’t know what to expect since he hadn’t seen Sarah since attempting to kiss her in the workroom. It had just felt so good, being with her, he’d gotten a little carried away by the moment.
The weather was perfect for their outing, seventy degrees with a light breeze. He leaned against the back rubber bumper. Sarah hadn’t been back in the store since the night they’d almost shared a kiss. Each evening he’d waited for her to walk through the door. When she didn’t, the night seemed endless even if he was busy. Although she did text him, saying she’d taken on a project at work and had been putting in long hours. He hoped it was true and she wasn’t uncomfortable and avoiding him.
“Mark?” Sarah stood beside the pickup. “What are you doing?”
Lost in his thoughts, he hadn’t even heard Sarah approach the vehicle. He straightened and felt beads of moisture dot his forehead and upper lip. “I was early.” He knew his grin was sheepish.
Sarah laughed. “I’ve been ready for an hour.” She picked at a white thread on her lime-green-and-white-striped T-shirt that matched the cuffs on her green shorts. “So to pass time, I worked on my quilt blocks.” She stuck the errant thread in an outside pocket of her purse.
“Guess that means we’re both ready to get this date started, then.” Mark took her hand, guided her to the passenger side of the pickup, and opened the door.
After sliding into the driver’s seat, Mark eased the pickup from the driveway.
“We match today.” Sarah waved her finger back and forth between them.
Her pleased expression made Mark glad that he’d chosen the lime-green-and-white plaid shirt.
“I got the dress code memo.” Mark winked at Sarah before he pulled away from the stop sign, glad that Sarah lived on the same side of town as Falls Park. If he calculated correctly, they’d be there in fifteen minutes.
Sarah squealed when the opening bars of a pop song drifted through the pickup cab. “I haven’t heard that song since high school.”
“Me, too.” Mark increased the volume a bit. “I pay for multiple stations on my XM radio but seldom change it from the eighties music.”
Sarah joined in on the chorus of the song and tapped her hand on her knee. “That takes me back to my high school days.”
Mark adjusted the volume to allow for easier conversation. “You do feel up to a stroll through the park today?” If Sarah’s MS symptoms were bothering her, she might prefer to catch a movie instead.
“Oh yes, I need some fresh air.”
“Me, too. I’ve been cooped up in the store too much this week. The long hours coupled with the perfect weather, I’ve been anxious to be outside, connecting to nature.”
Once they were parked, Mark quickly exited the vehicle and rounded the back to help Sarah out of the high four-wheel drive, glad he’d purchased the model with built-in running boards since Sarah was so petite. Although it might be nice to hold her waist and lift her out to the ground, Mark held his hand out for Sarah to grasp for balance as she eased from the seat.
“This was my very first indulgence after my mom passed away.” The horn on the pickup honked as he hit the LOCK button on the key fob. “I’d always driven a van with handicap capabilities to make it easy for Mom.” Why had he shared that? It was Sunday afternoon all over again, when his first thought was to call Sarah after his employee quit.
“It sounds like you were a good and dependable son.” Sarah laced her fingers in his and gave his hand a squeeze.
I had to be—she didn’t have a good and dependable husband. Mark sighed. He was losing sight of his dating strategy with Sarah. Something he couldn’t afford to do because he’d never want to hurt her. Yet he was a Sanders man. He’d seen firsthand how reliable they were. He didn’t quite understand some of his feeling regarding Sarah, but he had to get back to his original plan. That included getting her to talk about her breakup so she could let go of the hurt.
“Tell me, Sarah, how a beautiful woman like you has managed to be unattached?” Mark steered them toward the roar of water on the falls.
Sarah’s shrug pulled their joined hands up. “Never met the right guy, I guess. The older
I got, the less I dated.”
Sarah’s wistful expression of love gone wrong twisted Mark’s heart.
“As a matter of fact…” Sarah took a deep breath before finishing.
Here it comes, her first step in letting go of the old boyfriend.
“This is hard to admit, but this is the first date that I’ve had in three years.”
“What?” That blew his dating theory out of the water.
When Sarah stopped walking and stared at him, he realized he’d verbalized part of his thought.
Mark stopped short. “I’m sorry, Sarah, but you’re gorgeous. I guess I figured you’d have your choice of suitors.”
Sarah lifted her right hand to her chest. Her eyes sparkled like the sunshine-kissed water going over the falls. Her features softened with her gentle smile. “Thank you.”
Her ragged whisper of gratitude tugged at Mark’s heart. It took all of his willpower not to pull her into his arms and kiss her.
Mark followed when Sarah began walking again. “I wasn’t dating anyone when I was diagnosed with MS, and at the time, I thought not being in a relationship was for the best. I knew I had to come to terms with the disease before I could commit to anything else.”
“When did you find out you had MS?” Mark swung their joined hands.
“About eighteen months ago. It bothered me quite a bit at first because of some of the changes the doctor told me to make, but I have a handle on it now.” Sarah sighed. “I just wish my mom and longtime friend thought I did.”
It clicked. Mark stopped walking, halting Sarah with a slight tug on her hand. He gazed out at the falls. The rushing waters roared over the rocks then dropped into a foaming pool before continuing on their journey. The breeze lifted the spray, misting the air and dampening their faces. Sarah was upset about a relationship breakup, just not the kind Mark thought.
“Mom’s supportive to an extent. My friend Karla isn’t at all. She wouldn’t even pledge me for the MS walk.” Sarah voice didn’t hide her disgust with her friend. “They both think I do too much. When I had to change occupations, they thought I rushed into the first job that hired me. They think I should work part-time, not have any hobbies, not be involved in any organizations.”
Anger burned inside of Mark. He’d witnessed that so many times with his mother. He’d like to meet those women and tell them a thing or two. Having multiple sclerosis didn’t mean you had to quit living. The person fighting the lack of muscle control needed to be supported, not discouraged. Mark checked his anger. “Don’t let them get to you.” He slipped his arm around Sarah and hugged her close.
Sarah leaned into him. “Sometimes it’s hard not to, but I refuse to be defined by my disease.”
Mark released the hug and cupped her face in his palms. He tilted her head up and drank in the determination that flashed from her eyes. The breeze ruffled her fringe of bangs as he traced his spread fingers up the soft curve of her cheeks, grazing the silky hair cut just above her ears.
The thunder of his heart drowned out the crash of the water on the rocks of the falls. Sarah shouldn’t be fighting this battle alone.
Sarah rested her hands on his forearms. The slight squeeze of her velvet touch signaled her consent to the kiss. Her eyes fluttered shut as he closed the small gap between them and captured her lips.
He’d intended to kiss Sarah today. He’d intended it to be a good-night kiss. He’d intended it to be short but sweet.
However, Sarah needed to know that someone supported her and wanted to protect her from the cynics in the world. An intense emotion welled inside him and, when their lips touched, spilled over into the kiss, surpassing the innocent I-had-a-good-time-today message he’d intended to convey at the end of the date.
Instinct took over as Mark deepened the pressure and dropped his hands from her face and wrapped them around her shoulders. He needed to tell her that he’d be her shelter, the one who’d help handle her problems. Yeah, right.
The subconscious thought triggered the realization of what he was thinking. Mark ended the kiss and drew a ragged breath.
Raw feelings showed in Sarah’s dark eyes as she searched his face.
That was not a part of his dating plan. What had he done?
The brooding began the minute Mark told Sarah good night on Saturday night. It was the only way he could control his giddy feelings caused by one fantastic kiss.
Mark stopped shelving fabric bolts and pursed his lips to remove the smile brought to his face by the previous thought. A repeat of the afternoon kiss couldn’t happen again and it hadn’t.
When they’d reached Sarah’s door, she turned in an expectant manner. “Mark, this was a wonderful day.” The light from the full moon couldn’t compare to the radiant happiness shining from Sarah.
He’d known he couldn’t repeat the same mistake as earlier in the day. Maybe if he didn’t touch her soft ivory skin. It took all his willpower, but he stuffed his hands in the front pockets of his shorts.
As he leaned in, Sarah rested her hands in the exact spot they’d been earlier in the afternoon. The same quaking from her touch vibrated through him. It took all of his willpower, but he managed a chaste good-night kiss, which lasted about two seconds. Who knew love’s electrical current didn’t need much time to shock happiness into a heart?
The full moon magnified Sarah’s beauty as her trust-filled eyes searched his face. She didn’t seem to mind the quick peck, judging by the breathless sound of her voice as she said good night.
Mark sighed. It tore him in half trying to ward off the happiness with the brooding. Yet sooner or later he’d let Sarah down. He knew that. It was in his genetics.
On Sunday, Sarah called to thank him again for the nice afternoon and evening. He’d hoped she was stopping by the store to practice sewing, but she had a church committee meeting later in the day. Then yesterday, she ended up having to work late, so she couldn’t spend the evening sewing in the workroom.
Here it was Tuesday evening, and no matter how hard he tried, the anticipation of seeing Sarah was bringing out the joy of that kiss.
Mark noticed a bolt with under a yard of cloth wrapped around it. He pulled it from the shelves to cut it into fat quarters.
“I’m back from dinner, so go anytime.” Terri walked to the cash register area.
“In a minute.” Mark put the fabric bolt under the cutting counter as he glanced at the clock. Sarah should have been here by now. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket. Had he missed a text? They’d planned to share dinner before the class.
Mark walked to the front plate glass windows and scanned the parking lot for Sarah’s compact.
“A watched pot never boils.”
What was Terri talking about? Surely she didn’t know he was worried about Sarah. He turned. “Pardon me?”
Terri laughed. “That’s what my grandma would say if we watched out the window for our dad to arrive home. I thought it was appropriate. The customers won’t come in any faster for the Tuesday night sale with you watching out the window.”
Mark grinned. “I guess not.” He’d forgotten about his Tuesday night promotion.
When he turned back to the window, he noticed that Sarah had parked in front of the door and was walking around the front of her car. Really, she was limping while holding on to the hood of the car.
At the jangle of the quilt shop door, she turned before stepping from the curb. The soft light of dusk didn’t mask the dark circles under Sarah’s eyes. That, coupled with the limping, told Mark that her MS was acting up.
“Hi.” Her voice sounded brighter than he thought it might as she continued to steady herself with one hand on the car. She held her free hand out to him.
Mark ignored her hand and pulled her into a side hug. “Hi.” She leaned into him, and the warmth of her body comforted his longing to see her. “Let me get whatever you’re after.”
“It’s my tote bag, purse, and our dinner.”
Mark gathered the bags a
s quickly as he could. He could tell that she needed to sit down. He manually locked the car door before joining her on the curb.
He held his hand out to her, but she waved him off. “Just get the door, okay?” Sarah smiled, but Mark could tell that it took concentrated effort for each small step she made toward the door.
Mark opened the door, and Sarah made it through. She was still dressed in her office attire—a blue ruffled blouse under a short-sleeved white linen pantsuit—and the blue-and-white strappy slip-on sandals weren’t helping with her footing.
Once inside the door, he offered his arm, and this time Sarah accepted. “I hope you like chicken. I bought grilled and extra crispy.”
Even tired and bothered with MS, Sarah worried about others.
“I like both and it smells really good.”
Sarah flicked on the workroom light. She let go of Mark’s arm when they were close to the table. “Do you mind taking my stuff to the machine I use?”
“Not at all.” Mark set the bag of food on the table and watched Sarah drop onto a chair.
“It feels so good to sit down. I’ve been running all day.” Sarah lifted her right leg with both hands and rested it on the metal support bar underneath the table.
“I hate to tell you this, but it shows.” Mark unpacked the food. “Sarah, with MS you need to rest. Mom took a nap almost every afternoon.”
Sarah frowned. “I don’t have that luxury. Your mom ran her own business.” Her answer was clipped.
“Don’t you have a lunch hour? You could rest in the break room.” Mark dished food onto two paper plates and slid one in front of Sarah.
Sarah dropped her gaze. “I’ve been too busy to take a lunch the last two days.”
“Sarah—” Mark stopped when she held up her hand.
“It’s only because it’s the start of this construction project. You know with contractors you are at their mercy for time schedules. It’s not like I’m not eating. I eat piecemeal in between crises.”
“Still, you should get away from your desk for a few minutes, especially since you’ve been putting in long hours.” Mark removed another drumstick from the cardboard container and placed it on his plate before forking a bite of mashed potatoes.
Dakota Love Page 24
