He needed to tell her. “So, Sophie, there’s something I’ve been wanting to—”
“What’s that?” She walked over to the bayou’s edge and pointed at the black water.
Ezra sidled up beside her and looked in the general direction where she pointed. “You mean that gar?”
“If a gar is a giant fish that looks like something out of the dinosaur age, then yes.”
He chuckled. “Yes, that’s a gar. They’re nasty looking but generally harmless unless provoked. Like me,” he added.
She turned to face him. “I disagree.”
Now that came out of nowhere. “You do?”
She nodded. “You don’t look the least bit nasty. In fact, for a marine you’re quite handsome.”
Sophie gave him that what-have-I-said look, then turned and continued walking toward the church. He’d never seen her flirt before, and he liked it.
“There’s the church. See the steeple?”
“Yes, I see it.”
She picked up her pace, and he fell in step. Soon they reached the churchyard. A wood-framed church sat in the center of the clearing. Painted a brilliant white, the tall steeple punctuated the blue sky. A pair of stained glass windows flanked the double wooden doors. It was the picture of nostalgic simplicity.
“They still use the place sometimes. It’s popular for weddings.”
“Oh.” She walked around to the side, then down past the graveyard to the giant Easter cross.
“That cross was built by two of the Breaux boys some hundred years ago, give or take.”
Sophie ran her hand over the smooth wood, then touched her flattened palms to it. “It’s lovely,” she said softly. “Just lovely.”
“Yes,” he said as he drew near. Too near. “You are.”
She looked up at him, shock registering. “What did you say?”
Ezra stared into her eyes. “I said you’re beautiful.”
“Oh.”
The wind blew cold on the back of his neck. “Is that all you can say?”
“Thank you?”
He leaned closer. “I was hoping for more enthusiasm.”
Sophie caught a soft breath. “Ezra, this is awkward.”
Taking two steps back, he began apologizing. What an idiot he’d been. “You’re right. We should go,” he added as he turned to head toward the car.
Catching his arm, Sophie dragged him around to face her. “No, you don’t get it. The awkward thing is, I like you, Ezra. I was enjoying your attention.”
“You were?” Ezra barely suppressed a smile. “What’s awkward about that?”
She shrugged. “Ancient history and present-day lawsuits.”
“Yeah,” he said slowly as he captured her in his arms, “about that lawsuit. I talked to Calvin yesterday. See, there’s this thing called a nonsuit. That’s where. . .oh, Sophie, I’m going to kiss you now and tell you about how I’m dropping the suit later, okay?”
“Okay” drifted to him as a soft whisper.
The kiss was all he hoped and all he dreaded. Why God led him to Sophie Comeaux was beyond understanding, and yet in the brief moment of that kiss, he felt the Lord had fashioned him to stand in that spot and kiss that girl. It was a clarity of purpose he’d only experienced once before when he joined the Marine Corps.
“Ezra, what does this mean?”
A direct woman. I like that.
“Well, Sophie, it means that you and I are going to see where the Lord wants this to go.” He lifted her chin with his forefinger and kissed her nose. “Is that okay with you?”
She nodded. “But this is so fast. So unexpected. I mean, when I invited you to the barbecue, I wanted to dislike you. I really intended to show you just what a creep you were.” She lifted her gaze to him, and he noticed for the first time that her eyes were a soft moss green. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh, honey, no. I was a creep.” He mustered a smile. “Still am on occasion. It’s one of my spiritual gifts.” Holding up his hands, he chuckled. “I’m kidding.”
They walked back in silence, arms linked. Ezra knew he’d never spent a better afternoon. He just hoped he didn’t regret admitting his feelings to Sophie. After all, he’d never found time for long-term relationships. The fact that the Lord might be calling him to that with Sophie gave him pause.
I’ll learn if You’ll teach me.
When they reached the car, Ezra opened the door for Sophie, but she did not step inside. Rather, she reached for the fabric of his shirt and gave him a pleading look. “This is crazy, Ezra. You know that, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“We barely know one another, and we met under less-than-favorable circumstances.”
He gathered her into an embrace, one that was beginning to feel like going home. “Sophie, not everything God does makes sense. I think He, and probably my grandmother, intended for us to find one another.”
“I’m going to need time to get used to this, Ezra. I don’t know if I can be in a relationship again.”
Ezra looked into her eyes. “Sophie, when you’re ready to tell me about ‘again,’ I will be ready to listen. In the meantime, let’s just see where the Lord leads.”
She nodded and climbed in the car. Ezra shut the door and walked around to drive them back to Riverside Avenue. They rode in silence, fingers entwined, until Ezra pulled into the driveway.
“Fifteen minutes to spare.” He went around to open Sophie’s door and help her out. “I guess we didn’t get much done today.”
“I don’t know. I learned a lot about your grandmother.” She lifted her gaze to collide with his. “And about you.”
Ezra smiled. “There’s one thing I’d like to do before the girls get home. I wonder if you’d come with me to my grandmother’s side of the house. I want to say good-bye to her.”
They walked up the steps together, but Sophie hung back and let him approach the door alone.
“Buck up, Marine,” he whispered as he jammed the key into position and forced himself to open the door.
Although he’d come over to fetch the cookie jar before, he’d rushed in and out of the house as quickly as possible. This time would be different.
The door slid open on silent hinges, revealing the immaculate entry hall. Half the size he remembered, the room still unfolded on a comfortable scale with a polished hardwood floor covered in a scattering of rugs. Beyond it lay the dining room where an oval rosewood table stood waiting for Nell to cover it with dishes of country ham, black-eyed peas, and bread pudding.
His ears echoed with the last conversation he’d had with Nell across this very same table, and his mouth still tasted the sweet dessert and coffee as well as the bitter words.
All the things he’d meant to say and didn’t, the things he’d planned to say but couldn’t came flooding back. In his mind, Nell sat in her place across from him, the large-print Bible she cherished in her lap and her fingers sliding across the page as she read aloud from the scriptures.
“I miss you, Granny Nell,” he whispered to the image as it faded, the singsong chant of girls at play outside breaking the spell.
Dropping his key on the flowered carpet beside the staircase, Ezra took a few slow steps into the room. Many years of memories assailed him, each of them equally wonderful and sadly dusty with lack of use.
In an instant the silence engulfed him. And then he heard Nell’s voice. “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”
He paused to touch the banister, then recoiled from the smooth wood as if he’d been burned. Nothing about this empty house felt right.
Turning on his heels, he strode to the door. Stopping just short, Ezra turned to say one last good-bye to Granny Nell, to his former life, and to the home his granny called her dwelling place.
Sophie waited on the porch, and he fell into her arms and sobbed like a baby. She held him tight until the feelings passed, then pointed to his pocket. “Use your handkerchief. Hey, it’s clean. I
promise.”
He blew his nose, then chuckled despite himself.
Sophie touched his arm. “Ezra, I want you to know something. You can have the house. I’ll ask for more hours at the hospital. I can find another place.”
Ezra silenced her with his forefinger to her lips. “Don’t, Sophie. You and the girls aren’t going anywhere. My grandmother will have to understand.”
“I know in my heart this is what she intended to happen, Ezra. Thank you. And I know the girls will be pleased. This is the only home they’ve really known.”
Ezra waited for the regret, but it refused to arrive. No, he felt good, very good.
He felt as if he’d come home.
Twenty-eight
October 25
Ezra read the report for the third time, hoping to keep his mind on what was contained on the page. As with the previous two attempts, it did not work.
Thoughts of Sophie Comeaux pushed away any other rational considerations, a dangerous thing when a classified brief sat unread. For the past two weeks, most of his waking moments had been spent either thinking of her or being in her presence. He’d thus far acted the close friend, with no more stolen kisses, but each time he saw her, that persona cracked a bit more.
Going to the Lord with his dilemma worked fine this time. He felt a real peace at what was happening with Sophie. Funny, but he hadn’t known any sort of peace in ages, not since Granny Nell.
This morning in his quiet time, the Lord spoke as clear as day. Sophie was the one. Now all he had to do was figure out how to tell her that.
He picked up his cell phone and punched in her number, thinking he might speak to her for just a moment and slake his thirst. The phone rang three times; then her voice mail picked up.
“Just thinking of tonight,” he said. “I hope you’re working hard on your speech for Founders’ Day.”
He smiled as he hung up. That last part would get her good. The one thing they’d managed to decide was that she would write the speech about Granny Nell, and he would give it.
Miss Emmeline had changed her mind about a presentation, preferring a simple ceremony instead. “That’s what Nell would have wanted,” was her explanation. Ezra agreed, as did Sophie.
He looked up at the clock. A quarter to two. He got off at five. With time to change and the drive over, he could be there with pizza and a movie by six. The girls would love that. He’d have to find out what movie to get, but that shouldn’t be too difficult. Sophie was a good mom. She seemed to have all the answers to questions of that nature.
Ezra rose. Maybe he would slip out early and see if Sophie was on her way to pick up the girls. It was Tuesday, and he thought that could be the day she drove them home rather than picked them up from day care.
Pulling his keys from his pocket, Ezra headed for the door. If he hurried, maybe he could ride along to pick up the girls. It would be interesting to see where they went to school. Maybe he could even help them with their homework.
He stopped cold. “What am I doing thinking about second-grade homework and elementary school car pools? I’ve got it bad.”
“Yeah, I noticed.” Calvin stood in the door studying him. “Leaving early? It’s not five yet.”
“Yeah, I’ve got some things to do.”
“Things like go see Sophie and the girls?”
Ezra studied the keys in his hand. “Maybe.
“Well, now that you’ve signed the order of nonsuit, I feel free to tell you two things. First, I heartily approve of your spending time at the Riverside Avenue home. Sophie is wonderful, and her girls are very well behaved.” He paused. “Second, I’m going to ask Bree to marry me.”
“What?” Ezra shook his head. “Are you kidding me? You’ve only known her, what, three weeks?”
“Yeah, I know, and it’s a little hard for me to fathom, too. It’s just that I can’t get her out of my mind. When I try to concentrate on a case, she’s all I think of, and when I am away from her, I am plotting a way to get to see her. I expect a long engagement, though, a year to eighteen months probably. We might have rushed into love, but we won’t rush into marriage.”
Ezra exhaled a long breath. “Yeah, I hear you.”
Calvin gave him a sideways glance. “You feeling that way, too, Green Beret?”
“Guilty,” he said. “But unlike you I’m not so sure marrying her is the right thing to do. I mean, I’ve got a career going here, and I don’t want to mess it up.”
“And a louse of a father to prove something to.”
“Okay. Sure, that’s a consideration. But what if I am called to duty elsewhere? What will happen?”
“She’d go with you, Ezra. Stop making things so complicated.” He paused. “Have you heard anything from the Pentagon?”
He shook his head. “Every time the phone rings, I jump.”
“Want my advice?”
“As my lawyer or my friend?”
Calvin chuckled. “Both. Remember, it doesn’t matter what honor you receive from men; the only true rank is the one the Lord bestows on us. When you’re in His will, nothing else matters.”
“You’re right, Cal,” Ezra said. “You must have gotten that smart hanging around with me.”
“Yeah, right, and if I keep hanging around with you instead of doing my job, they’ll bust me back to private.”
“All right then. See you later. I’m heading out.” He reached for his briefcase, and the phone rang. “This is Major Landry.”
“Hello, Major Landry. Barnes here.”
Brigadier General Stenson Barnes, chief of operations at the Pentagon’s Marine Security Division. Ezra gulped and gripped the phone.
“Yes, sir. Hello, sir.”
“Pleasantries aside, I want to tell you that our office needs a man like you. Pay’s much better than the money Scanlon could offer, and I’m bumping you up to lieutenant colonel. I’ll need you here November 1. Any questions?”
He sank into his chair. “Well, sir, I—”
“Good. My assistant will fax over the particulars. Congratulations, son.”
Click.
Ezra stared at the phone until it set off a warning recording. Easing the receiver back onto the cradle, he stared at the contraption until he remembered to blink.
There it was, everything he wanted all laid out nice and pretty. He’d met his father’s expectations and matched his rank. Another few years and he’d beat him. The satisfaction in that was immeasurable.
How could he turn the job down? And yet how could he leave now?
Ezra leaned back, and the chair protested. What was wrong with him?
Getting too close, that’s what was wrong. He’d chosen to fall in love. No, that choice had been taken out of his hands. Love had happened when he wasn’t looking; he’d only been a willing participant.
Love. He swallowed hard.
Unfortunately a man in his position didn’t have a place in his life for love. The job would take all he had, leaving nothing in the way of time or, most likely, emotion for anyone else. And then there was the travel. No, a man couldn’t burden a wife and kids with that sort of abandonment.
He couldn’t go, and yet he had to take the job. There was no other choice.
Ezra felt no peace in his heart about the decision, but he had no time to wait to see what he should do. He had to act.
“Buck up, Marine. She’ll understand.”
❧
It might be October, but Sophie’s garden looked like spring would come any moment. The rows were nice and straight, and no weeds were to be found. Thanks to Ezra and the girls, they would have plenty of fresh vegetables next year.
What a treat.
The chilly air combined with the brilliant afternoon sun made for pleasant conditions in the backyard. If she didn’t have so much to do, she might consider jumping on the trampoline. What fun that had been.
“Sophie, are you back there?”
“Yes, I’m in the garden, Ezra.” She rose and dusted off her glove
s, then let them drop in the grass. As he rounded the corner, she smiled. “I was just thinking about you.”
He strode over to her and kissed her soundly. When he released her, she smiled.
“Wow! What was that for?”
“Sit down, Sophie.”
She followed him to the porch steps and settled beside him.
“There’s really no good way to tell you this, so I’ll just come right out and say I’m leaving.”
Sophie blinked hard. “Leaving? Where are you going?”
“Remember the Pentagon job I told you about?” He waited for her to nod. “Well, I got it and a raise in pay and rank.”
Last Sunday after church he’d told her of his strained relationship with his father and the fact that he owed his military career to the drive he’d instilled to best the man who gave him away. In turn she told him about First Lieutenant Jim Hebert and the Lake Charles wedding that wasn’t.
She’d been slightly concerned about opening her heart to him then, but now she was terrified. Another man was walking away.
“What about Founders’ Day?” was the only thing she could think of to say.
Ezra gathered her into his arms and rested his chin on her head. “Sophie, I’ve got to report on November 1.”
Sophie buried her face in his shirt and fought tears. “That’s only a week away.” She pulled away to look up into coffee-colored eyes. “Would you stay if I told you I loved you?”
His silence spoke volumes.
She rose and walked in the house without a word.
Twenty-nine
Sophie stabbed at the garden, not caring what the shovel hit. Digging in the dirt was the only thing that satisfied the need to do something—anything—about the feelings raging inside her. Ezra had left three days ago, and he’d called several dozen times since. She listened to his messages but thus far hadn’t been able to bring herself to answer the phone.
She heard Bree’s car pull up. “Get it together, Sophie,” she whispered. “You don’t want the girls to see you like this.”
Bree waved, and the dazzling rock on her left hand nearly blinded Sophie. The little dog in her arms, a gift from Calvin, barked.
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