“I told you so.”
Tears sprang into her eyes. She felt emotionally battered and to think that Jack probably relished the fact hurt her even more.
He forked a bite of food into his mouth and several moments past. “Allie, you couldn’t have been so ignorant to think that everyone would be happy to see you again.”
“No,” she said, sitting back in the seat and dabbing her misty eyes with her napkin, “but I thought they’d give me a second chance.”
“Not everyone believes in second chances.”
“I guess not.”
Jack continued to eat his dinner. “I don’t think you know how you appear to others.” He spoke the words in between mouthfuls. “It’s like Brenda said. You look like you’re living the perfect life and you’ve come back to gloat.”
“That’s not true.”
He took a drink of his cola. “It’s a sin to waste that steak, Allie.”
She shrugged. “Seems I’m not very hungry.”
“Well, in that case, you’ll have to pardon me for eating in front of you. But this is the only supper break I get.”
Allie understood. “Please, go ahead and eat.” She drank some of her iced tea, then picked at her salad, hoping her appetite would return.
“I felt a little like Brenda does,” Jack admitted, “until Labor Day when you told me how you got that scar on your cheek.”
Allie gave him a curious glance. But instead of expounding on his remark, he devoured another forkful of Mexican food. She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t how you can eat that stuff.”
A wry grin pulled at one corner of his mouth. “Tastes great. I love this place.”
“You and Brenda have more in common than you know.”
“Don’t start, Allie.” Jack sent her a severe look. “I might think you’re jealous or something.”
“And if you did, you’d be another typical male.”
He had the good grace to smile at her quip.
Cutting into her broiled meat, Allie decided she felt a little hungry after all. “So am I correct in assuming that you don’t hate me anymore?”
“No, I don’t hate you.”
“Can we be friends?”
“Friends?” Jack hurled the word back at her and it stung.
Allie set down her utensils and wiped her mouth with her napkin. She tried to tamp down the hurt inside. “Guess not, huh?”
“Don’t push your luck, Allie.”
Gazing out over the restaurant, she blinked back errant tears. Steadying her emotions, she took a deep breath and forced herself to concentrate on her dinner. “Okay…”
Several moments of strained silence lapsed in which Allie chose to give up eating and take home the remainder of her meal.
“Let me ask you something.” Jack turned her way. “You were never the kind of female who’d tolerate a guy smacking her around. Why did you stay with your husband if he was abusive?”
“It’s like I told you on Labor Day, Erich said he’d take my son away if I divorced him, and I knew he had the money and the means to do it. Then, after…” she inadvertently touched her cheek. “…after he cut my cheek―”
“Were you arguing?” Jack interrupted.
“Sort of. I had a tendency to, um, talk back to my husband. I know you find that hard to believe, Jack―”
He grinned.
“―unfortunately it’s true, and it really irritated him. At the time of the…accident, I was cooking dinner for our fifth anniversary when he told me to do something and I sassed him. Erich picked up the knife I had just set down and swung. I correctly refer to it as an ‘accident,’ because I believe he intended to slit my throat, but I ducked. He got my cheek.”
“And you stayed with the guy? What’s wrong with you!”
The question came with force, but Allie didn’t flinch. She’d heard the same thing asked many times before. “As I said, God got a hold of my heart during that time. I strongly believed He wanted me to live out First Peter, chapter three, verse one. I obeyed, and the Lord protected me through the years until Erich’s death.” She sipped her tea and set down the glass. “Of course I don’t go around advising women to stay with abusive spouses as I did. It’s simply what God wanted me to do.” There was a intermittent pause, so she added, “God blessed my obedience. He kept Erich away―overseas. I rarely saw him after the…accident.”
Jack tossed his napkin onto his now-empty plate. Sitting back, he stretched an arm over the top of the booth’s seat. Allie suddenly realized she’d never moved over. Why did she feel so comfortable with his arm behind her shoulders.
“When did he die?”
“About eleven years ago.”
“Long time to be widow.” Suspicion flicked in his gaze. “How come you never remarried?”
“Are you kidding me? It’s not that easy.”
Jack didn’t appear assuaged by her reply.
“Most eligible men my age either have young children or want someone to take care of them, like your brother’s neighbor.”
“Pitiful guy.”
Allie genuinely felt for the poor man. “I didn’t feel called to an additional motherly role. Plus, I wanted to devote my time to raising my own son.” She considered Jack for several long seconds. “What about you? You’ve been divorced longer than I’ve been widowed. Why didn’t you remarry? Personal conviction?”
“Hardly.”
He gave her a stony glare and Allie thought he might tell her to mind her business, although he wasn’t exactly minding his.
“I found out marriage isn’t so great an institution after all.”
“If you’ll recall, I told you so.” Allie smiled a challenge.
“Very funny.”
Her smile broadened, except she really hadn’t intended to be “funny.”
As the waitress passed, Allie waved her over and requested a box for the rest of her meal. Nodding, the young woman took Jack’s plate away.
Silence ensued until the server returned. She handed Allie a Styrofoam box and set down the check, thanking them for their business.
Allie reached for the bill, but Jack snatched it up first.
“My male ego won’t let you pay,”
“Fine.”Allie began to empty her plate into the box. “My female sensibilities are more than happy to let you get the tab.”
Wearing a smirk, Jack crawled out of the booth and for the first time, Allie saw him limp when he took a few steps forward. She remembered what Logan said about the gunshot wound and how Jack tried not to let anyone see…except his higher-ups noticed and now they were trying to force him into retirement.
Retirement or checking parking meters, perhaps.
Allie gathered her purse and Jack politely helped her out of the booth with a hand at her elbow. Next, he motioned for her to go on ahead of him, which she did. While he paid for their meals, she stepped outside. Darkness had descended and the wind had turned cold. A fitting ending for a dismal evening.
Minutes later, Jack walked out of the restaurant. “I’ve got to get back to work.”
“I understand. Thanks for dinner.”
“Sure.”
Neither of them moved.
It seemed like an eternity before Allie found her voice. “Good night.”
“See you, Allie.”
After a parting smile, she forced herself to turn around and make steady strides up the block to her car. She felt Jack’s gaze on her back the entire while.
Chapter Thirteen
A northwest wind whipped around Logan as he sat in the hospital parking lot on the trunk of his maroon Mercury Sable. One foot on the bumper, and leaning on his blue jean-encased knee, he welcomed the brisk air after a night in the much-too-warm emergency room. But one glance at Marilee, standing beside his car, let him know she was freezing.
He shrugged out of his jacket and tucked it around her shoulders. “Better?”
Beneath the white beam of the streetlight, she gave him a dimpled smile. “Much be
tter. Thanks.”
He studied her face for a long moment, thinking she was the prettiest young woman he knew.
“You were a real blessing to the Rushfords tonight, Logan.”
“Couldn’t have done it without you.” He meant every word, too.
Her smile broadened. “We make a great team.”
“Yeah?” He grinned. “So what’s your point?”
After a cluck of her tongue, she gave him a playful sock in the arm.
He laughed, glancing around the sparsely populated lot. If she only knew what he’d planned tonight.
Disappointment welled up inside of him. He ached to propose, but he wanted the perfect setting in which to ask Marilee to be his wife. A hospital’s parking lot just wouldn’t do.
“Want to grab something to eat?”
Marilee shook her head. “I’m still full from that cheeseburger I ate earlier.”
“Okay.” Logan didn’t feel hungry either. His stomach had been somersaulting all week from a good case of the nerves as he anticipated this very night. If he waited any longer, he’d probably have an ulcer.
“Want to go for a walk?”
“No, I’m tired. It’s almost eleven o’clock, Logan.”
“Mmm…”
“Aren’t you tired?”
“No. I sort of have…um, unfinished business. I probably won’t sleep until it’s taken care of, either. If you haven’t noticed, I’m one of those obsessive-compulsive people.”
“I’ll agree with the obsessive part.”
Logan chuckled.
Marilee snuggled deeper into his jacket. “Is it about finding your birth mother?”
He shook his head. “No…no, it’s not about her.”
“Oh? Then what’s on your mind?”
Logan looked her way, and explained, at least in part. “My dad and I had a couple of heavy conversations this week. He answered every question I threw at him.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. It’s time the two of you talked.”
“Sure enough. But what’s sad is that my mother heard the gospel and rejected it. She could have had a husband who probably would have grown to love her―and vice versa, had she given their marriage a chance. But she rejected that too. My father told me why she never tried to contact me―she was in trouble with the law and was afraid of him, since he’s a cop. But I still think she could have at least sent me a lousy birthday card each year.”
“Oh, Logan, I’m sorry. But don’t you see? That’s all the more reason to leave that part of your past alone. Your biological mother’s love is not love worth finding.” She moved closer. “But mine is.”
The very breath left Logan’s lungs. “Maybe you’ve got a point. Maybe I need to put my energies into something else. Something more constructive.”
Obvious disappointed crept across Marilee’s face. “Such as the youth group?”
Logan steeled himself not to grin. “Mmm, no. Something much more important and time consuming.”
“Oh? Like what?
He swiveled so he faced her, wishing he could forestall this moment until they weren’t in a parking lot. Except he’d burst if he didn’t pop the question. “See, I want to…well, it’s…Oh, man, I don’t know how to say this…”
Marilee tipped her head and scrutinized his every feature. “What don’t know you how to say, Logan? Is it about us?”
“It sure is.”
She stood there, gaping at him, and her eyes filled. “You don’t want to see me anymore? Is there someone else you’re interested in?”
Logan set his hands on her shoulders. “No! It’s nothing like that. Marilee, didn’t you hear what I said before? You were a great help to me tonight. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
The wounded frown slowly disappeared from her face. Pushing himself off the end of the car, Logan walked around to the passenger side. He couldn’t put it off any longer. Digging out the keys from his pocket, he unlocked the door and then the glove compartment. He located the ring box and stuffed it in the sleeve of his sweatshirt. That done, he closed the car and strode back around to where Marilee stood beneath the lamppost.
“Okay, this isn’t the way I had it planned, but I’ve got an idea. We’ll dissociate a little. Close your eyes.”
“Huh?”
“Close your eyes.”
She did as he bid her.
“All right, now imagine that we’re in your parents’ upscale apartment. The sun is streaming through the patio doors and―”
She inhaled sharply. “Are there red roses on the piano by any chance?” She peeked at him through one opened eye.
Logan grinned. “Yeah, as a matter of fact there are.”
She stared at him wide-eyed. “Logan, what’s going on?”
“Shh…close your eyes.”
After a sweet little pout, she complied.
“Okay, now imagine that there’s soft, romantic music playing on your dad’s stereo system.”
“Is it Bach or Chopin…Mozart?”
“Whatever.”
Marilee laughed softly.
Logan took a step closer and gazed down into her face. Even in the dark and with her eyes closed, he could make out Marilee’s every feature. In that moment, she reminded him of Sleeping Beauty and he was hard pressed to squelch his desire to kiss her.
Just then, her eyes fluttered open. “You were so quiet that I thought maybe you ran off and left me here looking like an idiot with my eyes closed.”
“No…no youth group pranks tonight.” Logan swallowed hard. He’d had a nice, little speech all worked out, but suddenly he couldn’t recall any of it. He tried to think of how to begin.
Marilee put her hand around his. Her fingers felt ice-cold.
The poor woman is freezing to death and I’m tongue tied.
“Logan, why don’t you just speak from your heart.” She whispered the suggestion. “Just say whatever’s on your mind and we’ll go from there.”
“Okay.” He pulled in a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. “Marilee, I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
Marilee stared at him, uncertain that she’d heard him correctly. “Marry you..?”
“Yes, marry me. I had this all planned and your parents were in on it. Tonight’s the night I decided to propose. Unfortunately, Susan had her accident and…well, you know the rest.” Logan extracted the ring box from his sleeve. “Here.” He lifted her hand and placed a velvety ring box in her palm.
Accepting the gift, Marilee stood back into the light so she could have a better look. She opened the box and, seeing the engagement ring of her dreams, a squeal of delight escaped her.
“I hope you’ll forgive the less-than-romantic setting.” Logan stepped forward and took the box. He removed the ring. “But having made up my mind, I just couldn’t seem to let the night go without ‘popping the question’ as your dad referred to it.”
Marilee lifted her left hand and Logan slipped the ring onto her finger.
“I realize it’s too big. You’ll have to get it sized.”
“Oh…oh, my!”
“Well?”
“It’s gorgeous. It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.” She looked back at him. “Did my mother tell you about it?”
Logan nodded. “And our Heavenly Father provided the funds for it through a means that I still can’t quite get over. I’ll tell you the whole story another time.”
“I’d love to hear it.”
“So? Will you marry me or not?”
“Yes. A thousand times yes!”
Caught up in the moment, Marilee threw her arms around Logan’s neck. He laughed and twirled her around.
“I love you, Logan.”
He set her back down on her feet. “Well, I hope so. You just agreed to spend the rest of your life with me.”
“I mean every word.”
He cupped her face, losing himself in her starry-eyed gaze. And her lips…would they feel as soft as they looked?
He bent his head closer.
“No, Logan.” She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him back.
His senses returned. “Sorry.”
“No need. I’d enjoy it more than you know.”
Logan’s respect for Marilee soared.
“So what about a wedding date?”
He grinned. “What are you doing next weekend?”
She rolled her eyes. “You are so silly.”
“Silly? I’m serious!”
“Weddings take at least a year to plan. Sometimes longer.”
“What?” Logan brought his chin back. “I’m not waiting a year to marry you.”
“Logan―”
“No way. Look what just happened. I was ready to kiss you like you’ve never been kissed before.”
“Lower your voice. Someone might hear you.”
He scanned the lot, but didn’t see a soul around. Still, she had a point.
“Marilee, can you imagine the temptations we’ll face being engaged for a year?” Logan shook his head. “Uh-uh.”
“My mother will be so disappointed if she can’t plan my wedding. As for the temptation aspect, we’ll pray. God will help us.”
“Yes, He will. I have no doubt. It’s me.” Logan didn’t know how to explain his jumble of emotions and finally gave up trying. “I can’t resist you, Marilee. Can’t you see that?”
“Really?” She looked pleased by the confession.
Logan scratched his head. “That’s not a good thing, Marilee. Not yet, anyway.” He thought it over. If her mother had to plan a wedding, so be it. “I’ll give you three months.” He sat on the trunk of his car again. “I think you can plan a beautiful wedding in three months.”
Marilee folded her arms, looking stubborn.
“Listen, we’ve got the church, a pastor. All we need is to find a free weekend. That’ll be the hardest part.”
“What? Planning a wedding is very involved.”
Leaning forward, he took hold of her sleeve, and pulled her closer to him. Cupping her chin, he forced her gaze to meet his. “Are you in love with me, or in love with the idea of getting married? It’s me you’re going to have to live with.”
“Of course I’m in love with you, Logan.” Sincerity shone in her lovely eyes. She removed his hand from her chin and gave it a quick squeeze. “I feel badly that you questioned my feelings.”
Broken Things (Faded Photograph Series) Page 14
