“I was thinking of you and Jack, not your career. He’s mad about you, Meg. Can’t you see it?”
She averted her gaze to the window and blinked.
“Hey, are you crying? Look at me.”
Meg shook her head. “Only tears of happiness to be moving away and finally doing something on my own.” She palmed a tear off her cheek.
“My Aunt Fanny. What’s going on?”
Meg faced her. “Helen, I’m so confused. Jack acts like he wants me to stay, but he won’t say how he feels. And even if he did say he’s falling for me, how can I believe he’ll feel that way in a month or two? How can I give up my dream for him if there’s no guarantee he won’t jilt me like Matthew did?”
Helen tipped her head. “Forget Matthew. It’s clear Jack is nothing like that big old—” She paused. “Never mind, I’d best keep my thoughts about him to myself. But I can guarantee Jack has it bad for you. Would he spend most of his free time with you if he didn’t?”
Meg shrugged and pulled her handkerchief from her pocket. “I know Jack’s not like Matthew. But for some reason, I’m less afraid to move to California than I am to freely enjoy Jack’s company.” Meg blew her nose. “Maybe my fears aren’t overblown. He has half the women in town eating out of his hand, even the waitresses.”
“Well, that’s not exactly true, but I doubt he’s kissing anyone else he knows.”
Meg jerked her head up, her cheeks heating. “I never told you he kissed me.”
Helen crossed her arms. “Didn’t have to. Emily said she saw you two kissing in Elm Park on Easter Sunday.”
“She never told me she was there, the little stinker.”
Helen leaned in and whispered, “I bet that’s not the only time he’s kissed you, either.”
Meg closed her eyes to the memory of Jack’s soft and tender lips pressed against hers, the strength of his arms around her, the almost perfect way she fit into his arms.
“By the goofy smile on your face, you must be enjoying the kisses too. Why are you holding out on me?”
Meg shrugged. “I didn’t want you to think I was going to change my mind about going.”
Helen’s brow shot up. “What if he asks you to stay?”
Meg hesitated. “He kind of did yesterday. He wants us to enjoy the summer together and see where it goes. But chances are, he’s going to have to move back to Chicago and work at the Beacon since his dad is so sick.” Meg looked at Helen. “If I stayed, I’d betray my promise to you and for no good reason.” She went to her closet and opened it. “I’ve already organized my things, and next week I’m purchasing a new suitcase at Bucknall’s.” She indicated the clothes pushed to one side that she wasn’t taking. “I can’t wait to see the ocean and palm trees. Spend winters not bundled up and freezing to death.” Her eyes stung, and she faced the closet.
“Then why are you still crying?”
Meg crumpled onto the floor as a sob escaped her throat. “I don’t know what to do. For months I nursed the hurt after Matthew and I broke up and then prayed for someone to come along who was better than him. And nothing happened. When Mr. Bowman left the News-Trib, I thought God was giving me a chance to be a reporter, but Jack came along. Isn’t it ironic that I end up falling for the man who stole my job?”
“Seems to me God answered your prayer.”
Meg looked up and blinked. “How?”
“He sent you just the kind of man you asked for. That’s His answer.”
“And I’m afraid to take the risk.” Meg took several gulps of air and palmed the tears away from her face. “I got comfortable being alone and thought I was over Matthew. I guess his ghost is still hanging around, reminding me of the hurt he caused. Making me question myself, doubt that anyone could ever really love me or stick by me.”
“That’s just silly. You are absolutely wonderful, and Jack knows it. He would never jilt you like that.” Helen picked up Meg’s Bible from the nightstand and then sighed deeply. “Truth be told, Meg, I’m having second thoughts about leaving when we planned. If Mom’s health continues to go downhill…well, we’ll have to play it by ear. No need to cancel yet.” She flipped through the pages and stopped to read for a moment. “Can I borrow this?”
Was she hearing things? Helen actually wanted a Bible? Meg stood. “Better you have one that isn’t written in. I’ll freshen up so we can leave for the movies. I think I need some diversion. We’ll ask Mom for a spare copy of the Bible on our way out. She’d love to give it to you.”
The walk to the movies was quiet. They’d stopped first at Helen’s to drop off her new Bible and then continued, each in her own thoughts. Meg knew why she was quiet, but why Helen? Was she thinking about God, or was she disappointed that Meg had met someone?
Meg doubted the second idea. Helen had her choice of suitors—if she wanted one. She’d had dates here and there, but she’d never become involved in a serious relationship since high school. Meg suspected that Helen was as fearful as she was of getting hurt again, even if Helen never admitted it.
They turned onto Main Street, and the theater marquee’s bright lights came into view.
“Isn’t that Jack?” Helen sped up.
Meg peered down the sidewalk, feeling as though they’d staged this scene before. Except that last time, Jack was alone. Tonight he wasn’t.
By the time they arrived at the ticket booth, they could see through the glass door that Jack and his strawberry-blond companion stood at the refreshment counter. He kept his arm draped casually over her shoulders and said something to make her laugh—the same thing he’d often done with Meg. The woman responded, and he offered her the same lopsided grin he’d given Meg many times.
Meg clenched her teeth as a burning sensation filled her chest. It seemed he’d quickly gotten over the thought of being apart from her. After all that talk about missing her—and to think, just yesterday they’d kissed! Well, it wouldn’t happen again. Ever.
“Got the tickets.” Helen came up beside her.
Meg stepped back. “I’ve changed my mind.”
Helen raised a blond brow. “Why?” She followed the direction of Meg’s gaze and her jaw dropped. “Oh,” she whispered. “She’s quite lovely. The scoundrel!” She gripped Meg’s arm and squeezed. “I’m sorry. I take back what I said about him not hurting you.”
Meg rolled her eyes, the tears threatening to spill again. “Better I find out now, before making a drastic decision.”
Helen pulled her toward Franzoni’s. “Come on. We’ll go drown your sorrows in a couple of sodas. Forget the movie.”
“We already bought our tickets. We have no soda money, remember?”
“Maybe the ticket guy will give us our money back.”
Meg yanked her arm from Helen’s grip. “No. I’m not going to let him dictate how I spend my evening. The theater is big enough for both of us.” She marched toward the theater entrance and flung it open as Jack and his date slipped through the doors on the right side of the auditorium.
After Helen bought popcorn, Meg followed her to a pair of seats at the left side of the theater. On the screen, the newsreel was showing scenes from the World’s Fair in Chicago. Meg surveyed the auditorium until her gaze fell on the couple sitting on the far aisle. The flickering light from the screen reflected off their upturned faces.
The blond said something, and he brought his mouth to her ear to answer. Meg could nearly feel his breath in her own ear as she watched. Tears pressed at the back of her eyes as she swallowed a lump. She pulled her gaze away and forced her attention to the screen. A Bedtime Story’s first scene beckoned her into its movie world, but the drama across the way drew her like a magnet. Was he holding her hand like he had last week when they’d sat almost in the same seats?
And where had the beauty come from? Meg knew all the single women who lived in Lake Geneva. She must be from the shore. More his type anyway. Meg’s stomach burned hot, and the munching sounds from Helen enjoying her popcorn was about to drive her
crazy. She nudged Helen. “I’m going to leave. This place is too small for the three of us after all.”
Helen nodded. “You want me to come with you?”
Meg shook her head. “Stay. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
She slipped into the lobby and Laura came down the stairs off to her left, her usual pouty mouth set in a grimace.
Meg approached her. “What are you doing here?”
Laura shrugged. “I came with a boy from the play, but he was more interested in me than in the picture, if you know what I mean.”
A wave of concern washed over Meg. “Glad I didn’t know. Sounds like you handled it okay. Want to walk home together?”
Laura tipped her head. “Not stopping for sodas with Helen like you usually do?”
“Nope. I’m trying to avoid seeing a certain someone and his date, if you know what I mean.”
Laura’s mouth fell open. “Jack is cheating on you?”
Meg clenched her teeth. “You could say that. And if I meet up with them, I’ll likely say something I’ll be sorry for later.”
“Then we’d better get out of here.”
Outside, Meg led the way toward Main Street.
“Hey, sis, I know you’re upset, but do we have to walk so fast?”
Meg slowed her pace. “Sorry.”
Laura caught up to her. “For a minute I thought you were trying to outwalk me on purpose.”
“Why would I do that?” Meg made the turn in front of Cobb Hardware.
“Because—because you’ve never liked me.”
Meg stopped in her tracks. “That’s not…” She clamped her mouth shut. “Oh, Laura. You’re right. I haven’t liked you very much lately. But I’ve always loved you. And, honestly, I never thought you liked me.”
Laura uttered a sardonic laugh. “Ironic, isn’t it?”
Guilt pressed against Meg’s chest. Maybe this accidental meeting wasn’t so coincidental. Maybe God had allowed it to happen. She glanced at her sister. “You wrote such nice things about me in the playbill, but I don’t deserve them. I haven’t been much of an example. I’m sorry I’ve treated you so badly.”
Laura studied her feet as she walked. “I meant them, and I didn’t want you to move without our making up.” She grabbed Meg’s arm and squeezed it. “I know you’re the one Mom and Dad love best. All I ever hear is concern over you. First over your school difficulties, then over your obsession about being a reporter and moving. I thought while you were at college I’d get some relief, but then they worried about your grades and Matthew. They didn’t like him at all. They like Jack a lot, but after tonight…”
Meg’s breath hitched. “Funny, since you were born I’ve felt they loved you better.”
Silence fell between them, thick and heavy.
“It couldn’t have been since I was born, because I didn’t join the family until I was six months old.” Laura drew a deep breath. “I know I’m adopted.”
Meg’s mouth fell open, and she stared at her sister. “How long have you known?”
“Since third grade, when I realized I didn’t look like any of you. Then I noticed other differences. A couple of years ago, Sarah Jennings told me she’d known she was adopted since kindergarten, and it got me to thinking.
“The next time everyone was out, I snuck into Dad’s study and found a file with my papers.” She sniffed and wiped her cheek with her palm. “I don’t know why they’re keeping it a secret, but I can’t tell them I know. Can you imagine what would happen if Dad found out I snooped through his office? I also learned some things about my parents’ deaths I’m sure he doesn’t want known.”
“What things?”
“I’d rather you find out yourself. If Dad learns I snooped, I’ll be grounded until I’m fifty.”
Meg could almost pinpoint the time Laura had learned the truth about her adoption—the same time she began acting like an entitled brat. She drew her sister into her arms and hugged the sobbing girl. “I don’t know why they’re keeping it from you either. I’ve wanted to tell you, but Dad and I are at odds enough.…” Meg sniffed. “We’re a sorry mess. Let me get my handkerchief out of my purse. We can share it.”
She released her sister then handed the laced-edged hankie to Laura. “We’ll keep this to ourselves until God shows you the proper time to tell them.”
Laura dropped the handkerchief into Meg’s open purse. “We’ve wasted a lot of time. And now you’re moving away.”
Heaviness pressed Meg’s heart. Maybe once she made a place for herself as a reporter, she could move home and, like Ginny, find a similar job nearby. That’s what she’d shoot for. She had to. There was so much lost time to make up.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Only a lamp burned in the living room when Meg opened the front door. “Looks like Mom and Dad went upstairs early.” She gave her sister a hug and whispered, “One good thing came out of my seeing Jack there with that blond and your date not behaving. We got to talk.” She drew Laura into a hug. “Love you, little sister.”
“Love you too, sis.” Laura offered her a small smile. “See you in the morning.”
Meg slipped off her heels and padded to the kitchen. A light shone from beneath Dad’s door. Instead of going to the icebox as she’d intended, she walked to the sink and stared out the window at the darkened backyard.
God, I don’t know what is going on. First Jack shows up at the movies with a gorgeous date, and then I end up making up with Laura. At the same time one relationship seems to have ended, another has been repaired. Is that coincidence?
On impulse, Meg crossed the room and tapped on her father’s door. “It’s Meg, Dad. Can I come in?”
“Enter.”
Dad sat hunched over his desk, reading a law book. He peeled off his glasses and sat back to look at her. “I thought you and Helen were at the movies.”
“We were, but I left early. Laura was leaving at the same time, and we walked home together.”
He frowned. “I can’t remember when the two of you did anything together unless you had to.”
“Pretty sad, isn’t it? It got me to thinking about when Laura first joined the family. I had a rough time of it.”
“Yes, you did. We didn’t have much time to warn you about a new sister. Things happened so fast.”
Meg frowned. She had to choose her words carefully. “I’ve been wondering about how it all happened. I was so young at the time. You said our getting her was a surprise…but didn’t you have to have your names on a list at an adoption agency?”
He stiffened. “It was private. No agency.” He closed the law book. “Are you still digging up dirt on Fred Newman?”
Meg straightened. “What does he have to do with Laura’s adoption?”
Dad shook his head. “Nothing.” He stood and jammed his hands into his pockets. Jingling his coins, he walked to the window then spun around to face Meg. “It’s time you knew the truth, Meg. But not one word to your sister.”
Meg’s thoughts darted around in her mind. Was Fred Laura’s father? No. That didn’t fit. Grandfather? But he had only one son, who’d died in the war.
“Promise? Not one word to Laura.”
Meg’s gaze went to her father’s intense face. “Promise. But whatever it is, isn’t she old enough to know?”
“After she graduates from high school, she’ll know.” Her father retook his seat. “The people Fred hit in the accident were Laura’s parents. I told you they died…but I didn’t tell you they had a baby who lived. Laura is the baby who survived the crash.” He slumped against the chair.
Meg gasped and felt the blood drain from her face. Had she heard right? She stared at Dad, willing herself to speak, but nothing came out.
“The couple had no other family,” Dad continued in a hoarse voice. “Laura would have gone to an orphanage. I told your mother about the blond baby girl who was orphaned by the crash, and without hesitation she said we should adopt her. You see, we hadn’t been able to… We hadn’
t intended for you to be an only child, but until the accident, God hadn’t blessed us that way.
“We felt terrible about not preparing you, but we didn’t want to promise you a sister and have the adoption fall through. I’m so sorry, Meg.” He dug into his pocket, pulled out a handkerchief, and blew his nose. “When you had such a hard time adjusting to Laura, we blamed ourselves.” Dad looked down at his handkerchief. “I’ve always felt guilty for how you struggled in school. And when that blasted teacher of yours said you wouldn’t amount to anything, right in front of you, I wanted to demand she be fired. You mother insisted I calm down. I knew that rotten woman had been wrong and prayed her remark hadn’t caused you harm.” He looked up, searching Meg’s face. “All I’ve wanted is to help you, protect you, encourage you to be all God wants you to be.”
Meg wiped her eyes. “Mom tried to tell me that’s why you insisted I work for you. But I didn’t believe her.”
“You’ve become so engrossed with wanting a reporter job, and I knew Oscar would never allow it. I was trying to spare you the disappointment.” He shook his head. “Your mother set me straight on that one too. I’m sorry, Meg. I forget you’re a grown woman now. I need to sit back and let God work your life out according to His plan.”
Meg nodded. “As do I. I’ve felt so far from Him these past months. When I ask Him what to do, He doesn’t answer me.”
Dad leaned forward and leveled bloodshot eyes on her. “If you keep your distance from Him, how are you going to hear Him? Remember, He spoke to Elisha in a whisper.” He reached across the desk and took Meg’s hands in his. “I don’t know what’s going on between you and Jack, but he’s a fine young man, and I can see that he cares for you a lot. Don’t throw away God’s plan for you just to chase a dream of your own making.”
She yearned to tell Dad that, after tonight, she thought Jack could jump in the lake, but she held her tongue. He’d find out soon enough about the two-timer. “I’ll pray about it.” She stood and came around the desk, arms open. He stood and drew her into a hug.
Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Page 25
