A Fine Mess

by Kristy K. James

So would Ian. Especially when Annie got home. Which would be, he looked at his watch, in less than fifteen minutes. He closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath.

  First things first. He couldn’t even start on the mess until he’d calmed the baby down. The quickest way to do that, he decided, was with a bottle.

  ~~~~

  “Ian, hi, it’s me,” Annie said into her cell phone. “How is everything going?”

  “Fine. Everything is just fine,” he said quickly.

  “Sam’s not giving you any trouble?”

  “Not a bit. Actually, he fell asleep on the sofa. Are you still at the hospital?”

  “No. That’s why I’m calling. I’m stuck between exits. It looks like a semi tipped over about half a mile up the road and I’m trapped here until they can clear a lane.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Just impatient. And worried that Sam might be getting on your nerves.”

  “Don’t worry,” he assured her. “We’re doing just fine, Annie. How long do you think you‘ll be?”

  “I have no idea. Two really big wreckers cut across the median a few minutes ago, so it’ll probably be awhile.”

  “So. Did you see your folk's?”

  “For a few minutes.”

  “How’s your mom?”

  “Okay I guess. She was hooked up to an IV, but it was almost empty. At this rate they’ll probably get home before I do. If they don’t come this way. Speaking of which, I should give Dad a call to warn him. I’ll see you when I get there, I guess. Bye, Ian.”

  ~~~~

  Ian hung the phone up and almost sagged in relief. It was a gift from God. It had to be. Sure he hated the thought of Annie being stuck in traffic like that, but now he had more time.

  He glared at the kitchen floor, only about half clear of dog food now. He didn’t need to look down the hallway, or in the living room to know he’d have to do some damage control in there. Not when he’d tracked crumbs everywhere.

  With a sigh, he started sweeping again. He was going to have to beat it to the store when she did get home because, not knowing what to do with all the food, or how else to hide the evidence, he was dumping it all in the kitchen trash can, which he would then dump in the one of the big trash cans in the garage.

  And that would leave Jack without anything for his supper, usually given to him just before they sat down to eat theirs. Annie wouldn’t be able to help but notice the absence of the huge bag they’d just bought a couple of days ago.

  ~~~~

  “I’m home,” Annie announced needlessly. Ian was in the kitchen, looking as though he’d been waiting impatiently for her return.

  He couldn’t have been more impatient than she had been, though, having been stuck on the freeway for nearly two hours. She supposed it could have been worse. It could have been a ninety degree August day instead of a sixty degree October one.

  “Is Sam still sleeping?”

  “Uh-huh. I guess he was pretty worn out.”

  “Did he give you any trouble?” She noticed that he didn’t quite meet her eyes as he shook his head.

  “Na. Not much.”

  “Well, I think we’re all going to be wanting some supper shortly so if you want to wake him up, I’ll get something going. Does chili sound okay?”

  “Fine, fine. But why don’t we just let him sleep awhile longer? I need to run to the store really quick. I’ll wake him up when I get back.” Annie shrugged.

  “Okay. Then I’ll just feed Jack and get cooking.” She glanced at the floor as she said it. “How come Jack’s feeding dishes aren’t out?”

  “Uh- Well, it seemed like a good idea to put them in the closet with Sam here. He gets into everything, you know.”

  “What a good idea, Ian! I should have thought of that myself.” She started toward the closet, when he reached out a hand to stop her.

  “Why don’t you let me do that when I get back, too?” he suggested quickly. “You’ve had a long day. Just make the chili, sit down and relax, and I’ll be back in ten minutes. Tops.”

  “I’m fine, Ian,” she said with a smile, continuing to the closet and opening the door.

  The dishes were sitting in plain sight on the floor, but the big blue bag wasn’t anywhere to be found. She looked at Ian in confusion.

  “Didn’t we just buy a bag on Thursday?”

  “Well- Yeah, we did. But there was-an accident. Kind of. That’s why I need to go to the store. I threw it all away so we need some more.”

  “An accident? What kind of accident?”

  “It kind of spilled when I took the bag out,” he hedged. “But I’ll get another one. It’ll only take me a few minutes.” He started backing toward the door.

  “Ian, wait. What happened? Is Sam okay?” Her gut instinct was that something wasn’t right. He wasn’t telling her the whole story.

  “Oh, Sam’s fine. I told you, he’s been sleeping like a baby.”

  “But what happened to Jack’s food?”

  Ian seemed to collapse against the door to the garage, his chin dropping to his chest as he haltingly confessed his afternoon’s adventure. Annie had to bite her lip to keep from smiling when he finished.

  “You really called the emergency room?”

  “Yeah,” he lamented. “I didn’t know if he could be poisoned and didn’t know what else to do.”

  “That was very-conscientious of you” was all she could think to say.

  “I’m really sorry, Annie. I had no idea how quick he was. Or that he would actually eat the stuff.”

  “It’s all right. Ian, I hadn’t thought about it either, and I’ve worked with little kids before. I guess it’s a live and learn situation. Next time we’ll know better.”

  “Yeah.” The one word made the possibility of a next time seem very remote and she fought back another smile. “I’ll go get Jack’s food now.”

  “You do that. I’ll get our supper started. Thank you for worrying about him like that, Ian.”

  He just ducked his head in embarrassment as he shut the door behind him.

  Chapter 10

  “Max?” Ian said softly, so as not to disturb the boys, who were finally sleeping in the fellowship hall. At least most of them were. An occasional whisper could still be heard from a couple of the more stubborn ones.

  It was well after one in the morning. He wasn’t sure the pastor would be up for a heart-to-heart at this time of the day, but he figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

  “What can I do for you, Ian?” he asked, sounding surprisingly chipper.

  “I was wondering if we could, well, have a talk.”

  “Now?”

  “Not if you’re too tired.”

  “I’m fine. Does it need to be private?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay. Just let me tell Kevin and we can go to my office.”

  They walked through the dimly lit sanctuary, to the small office located just to the left of the alter, and Max closed the door behind him.

  “Have a seat. What’s up?”

  He sat slowly in one of two arm chairs. Max took the other rather than the one behind his desk.

  “I don’t even know where to start,” Ian admitted, leaning forward, arms resting on his thighs, his hands clasped before him.

  “The beginning is usually the best place.”

  “Paul said he already talked to you about part of it.”

  “About stealing the money?”

  “Well, I don’t really like to think of it as stealing.”

  “But it was. Paul knows that.”

  “I really don’t want you to think badly of him.”

  “If that’s what’s bothering you, you can stop worrying. While I don’t agree with what he did, I do understand why he did it. And he knows that, even though he planned on repaying it, it wasn’t the best choice he could have made.”

  “He loves Maddie.”

  “I know. Stop worrying about it.”

  “That’s really not what’s
bothering me,” he admitted softly.

  “Oh?”

  “It’s Annie.”

  “What about Annie is bothering you?”

  “Everything.”

  “I always thought she was a very nice young woman. But then I don’t know everything there is to know about all of my parishioners either.”

  “Oh no. She is nice. She’s probably the nicest person I know.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t understand then.”

  Ian felt like an idiot even trying to explain his feelings. Especially when he didn’t understand them himself.

  “Well. When we decided to get married it was with the understanding that I would divorce her in five years. Not because I don’t like her, I just didn’t want to be married.”

  “And now?”

  “Now I guess I kind of like being married to her.”

  “Do you love her?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never loved anyone before. Except my mother and my grandmother, of course. I know I like her. A lot. And I don’t like thinking about when she won’t be around after the divorce.”

  “So you’ve had a change of heart about your agreement?”

  “Yeah. I guess I have. And then there’s that stuff I’ve been reading in the Bible Maddie gave me.”

  “What stuff?”

  “Things like if I divorce Annie, and she marries someone else, she’ll be committing adultery.”

  “It does say that, doesn’t it?” Max agreed.

  “Is it true?”

  “Do you really want to know what I think?”

  “Why do you think I wanted to talk to you about it?” Ian snapped. “Yes, I want to know.”

  “My personal opinion is that yes, Annie would be committing adultery if she remarried. The Bible is fairly clear. Unless one of you commits adultery, neither one of you will have grounds for a divorce.”

  “Even if we haven’t consummated it?”

  “Again, my opinion is yes. You each made vows and so I believe that, in God’s eyes, you are man and wife. I don’t think He differentiates between a love match or arranged marriages. You’re either married or your not. And you and Annie are married.”

  “Yes we are.”

  “But you’re not opposed to staying that way. What about Annie? Have you discussed this with her?”

  “No,” Ian snorted. “I set the terms. How can I tell her I’ve changed my mind now?”

  “How about, 'Annie, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want us to get a divorce?'”

  “I don’t know. She seems fine with the way things are going. And she’s got a lot to worry about with her mother being so sick. I don’t know if I want to put that kind of pressure on her right now.”

  “Well don’t say anything to her about it then.”

  “You’re not being a lot of help, you know.”

  “I’m trying.” Max shook his head and smiled a little. “This is kind of a new situation for me, you know.”

  “So what should I do?”

  “You want my opinion again?” Ian was tempted to look at him and just say, ‘Duh,’ but he was afraid it might be a sin to say something like that to a minister.

  “Yes,” he said instead.

  “Court your wife.”

  “Huh?”

  “Court. You know, like dating.”

  “We’re a little past the dating stage, don’t you think?” That ‘duh’ was going to slip out, he just knew it.

  “Granted you guys got it all kind of backwards. But no. Dating is something all couples should continue, even if they’ve been married fifty years. It says you matter to me, so I’m going to make the time to show you how special you are.”

  “It does?”

  “It does.”

  “But how do I date her now?”

  “Ian, you’re a stockbroker, and presumably a very intelligent man,” Max sighed, patting his arm. “Take her out for supper. Take her to a museum. Take her for a walk in the leaves at a park. A movie. There are a million and one things you could do to court her. Just make sure you do the things she likes to do, not what you like to do.”

  Finally!

  Something he could do with confidence. He’d have to study the little notebook he’d taken notes in, but this was something he could really do!

  “Thank you, Max!”

  “Hey, Ian?”

  “What?”

  “You might pray a little, too.”

  “Pray? Why?”

  “Because God can help you.”

  “I thought God only helped people like you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “People who are Christian’s.”

  “You’re not?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Have you ever accepted Jesus as your Savior?”

  “No. I don’t even know how to do that.”

  “Do you believe in Him?”

  “Yeah, I suppose so.” If he’d thought the beginning of the conversation had been uncomfortable, this was more so. Much more so.

  “Do you believe He was crucified and raised from the dead?”

  “Maybe. I don’t know.”

  “Well read your Bible some more. Start praying a little every day. Ask God to show you that it is true.”

  “Ask Him for proof, you mean?”

  “Pretty much. Trust me, no one wants you saved more than God does. If you seek Him, He will make Himself and His Word real to you.”

  ~~~~

  “Ready for lunch, Mom?” Annie asked cheerfully, carrying a tray laden with homemade vegetable beef soup, fresh out of the oven rolls and a chocolate milkshake.

  “Bring it on, Sweetie, because I really am hungry this afternoon.” Maddie reached down and pushed the lever on her recliner so she was sitting in an upright position. Annie placed the tray carefully across her legs, then sat in the matching recliner on the other side of the end table.

  “What happened to make you work up an appetite today?” she teased. “Did you sneak out to jog while I was in the kitchen?”

  “Yeah, right,” her mother said, before biting into a warm buttered roll. “Mmm. Does Ian realize how fortunate he is to have a wife that cooks like you do?”

  “Actually I think he does, Mom.”

  She explained about his attitude about food when they’d first gotten married, and how he practically shadowed her in the kitchen during meal preparation now. That he, more often than not, even helped her with some of the lighter jobs, such as chopping salad fixings and stirring batters.

  “Have you gotten him to eat pasta salad yet?”

  “Nope. I feel fairly confident in saying that I never will, either. But that’s okay. Except for macaroni salad, I’m not particularly fond of them myself.”

  “I thought you liked them!” Maddie exclaimed.

  “”I like you. And it’s not like it’s liver or chop suey.” They both laughed at that. None of the Blake clan cared for either one of those foods. “As far as I’m concerned, anything with the word ‘suey’ in its title should never, ever find its way onto a dinner plate.”

  “A lot of people do like it.”

  “I refuse to comment on that.”

  “On the grounds that it might incriminate you?”

  “No. Because God would probably prefer I keep that opinion to myself. Besides, my mother always told me if I can’t say anything nice, I shouldn’t say anything at all.”

  “Smart woman, your mother.”

  “Yeah she is, isn’t she?”

  “Yup.” Maddie took a few bites of the soup. “Your dad says you did a wonderful job on the website for Ian.”

  “It wasn’t that hard. I’m glad I don’t work in that kind of business though. I don’t know how Dad and Ian can stand all those numbers!”

  “How’s Ian holding up with the grand opening set for Monday?”

  “Pretty good, actually. The office looks really nice. Very professional. All that’s left to do, really, is run an ad in the State Journal, and get the co
mputers programmed with the software he needs. The guy who does that will get take care of that this afternoon.”

  “I hear Ian’s father had a royal fit when your father and Ian finished out their two week notices.”

  Surprised to hear that, Annie looked at her mother.

  “Ian didn’t say anything about it to me.”

  “I guess Mr. McCann was furious. Apparently he didn’t think Ian would actually quit when the time came. Your dad said he started yelling and cussing and swore that if Ian really left, he was washing his hands of him.”

  “Oh no! Ian never said a word.” Her heart hurt for both the men. Ian, because he’d never known a father’s love. And Mr. McCann, because he didn’t have a clue what he was throwing away.

  “I feel so bad for him. Paul has told me for years that Ian Senior never took a whole lot of interest in his son. I just can’t imagine a parent being like that.”

  Of course she couldn’t. In their world, parents not only loved their children, they valued them. At least, from what little he had said, Annie gathered that his mother and grandmother had loved him. She truly hoped it was true.

  “Oh. Before I forget, Paul said he thought things were pretty well set at the new office so he’s going to see if it would be okay to take Thursday and Friday off. We thought it would be nice to head up to Tubbs Lake for a four day weekend.”

  “But, Mom,” Annie said in surprise. “What about your treatment on Saturday?”

  “Actually, I don’t have one scheduled. So we thought we’d go up before the snow falls. This is probably the last decent weekend to get in a little fishing. Plus we need to winterize the trailer.”

  “I forgot all about that. Are you sure you should be traveling? Maybe Ian and I could take a day and go up.” Maddie laughed merrily.

  “Do you really think that husband of yours knows anything about draining the pipes and getting enough antifreeze in them to prevent them from bursting?” Annie laughingly agreed that he probably did not. “Besides, I’m feeling a little better, and we haven’t been up since last summer.”

  “If you’re sure.” She was not at all comfortable with the thought of her mother being so far from home. But they all knew she loved the property that had been in her family for years. Even though it wasn’t what one might expect a lakefront property to be.