The Husband She Can't Forget

by Patricia Forsythe

  When she entered the living room, Luke was standing by the door, his keys in his hand, but then Dustin appeared in the hallway and stood staring at her. That meant he wanted to talk, although he wouldn’t say so.

  She told Luke she’d be right back and followed Dustin into his room.

  “Ready for bed?” she asked.

  He answered with his customary one-shoulder shrug.

  Carly looked around the room. “We should repaint this room.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  She suppressed a sigh. Did this kid have to question her on everything? It was probably all part of testing his boundaries. “It’s your room and pink probably isn’t your favorite color. You should have it be whatever color you want. Do you like blue? Green? Yellow? Red?”

  “Orange.”

  “Seriously? Orange?”

  His expression turned defiant. “You said whatever color I want.”

  She held up her hands. “Yes, I did. And if that’s what you want, that’s what you’ll have, but why orange?”

  Dustin shrugged again and looked away. “I just like it.” He gave her a quick look out of the corner of his eye, so she waited until he said, “My dad had an orange helmet he wore to work. When I saw it on the hook by the door, I knew he was home even if I didn’t see him yet.”

  Her throat clogged with sorrow for the little boy who would never see his dad’s helmet hung by the back door again. It was a moment before she could say, “Then orange it is.”

  He moved toward the bed and sat. “How come you said I could stay with you when Grandma goes to live in that other place?”

  “Sooner Community,” she said, then chose her words carefully. “I want you to live with me because I care about you.” She knew he wasn’t ready to hear her say she loved him, although she did. “You’ve lived in enough places and need to stay in one. Like I said, this is your hometown now. It was your dad’s.”

  He gave her a swift look. “Yeah. Yeah, it was.” He climbed under the covers and pulled them up to his chin as he yawned. “Good night.”

  Carly went out and shut the door, then stood for a minute, composing herself before she went into the living room where Luke waited by the door.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I think he was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.” She reached up to rub her forehead. “I’m just so grateful he’s okay. You should have seen his face when Era told him his mother didn’t want him back, and then Era’s face when she realized what she’d said.”

  “He ran away from her, didn’t he? I didn’t think he wanted to go back to his mom.”

  “He doesn’t, but I’m sure he never thought she’d just give him away. I mean, who does that?” She repeated everything Jay had told her, including Dustin’s mother saying that she wished she’d never had him.

  “‘An uncaring mother,’” Luke said, quoting Junior Fedder. He told her what Dustin had said about learning to play checkers from his dad and about his mother’s boyfriends.

  Carly shook her head. “That’s terrible. Joe was a good guy. I’m sure he would never have wanted this to happen to his son.”

  Luke met her eyes. “So what happens now?”

  “I’m going to adopt him.”

  He stared at her. “You’re what? I thought you’d continue to be his foster mother.”

  Everything that had happened to Dustin, each interaction she’d had with him since the night he’d been caught stealing green beans, raced through her mind. The compassion, exasperation and affection she felt for him had been turning into love without her being fully aware of it. The idea had been growing in her mind ever since Era’s announcement today. It was the perfect solution.

  “I’m going to adopt him,” she said, smiling. “He needs stability, love, a family, a mother who won’t give him away when things get rough.”

  “Carly, you don’t have any idea just how rough things can get.”

  “You’re right. I have no idea, but I do know that if I don’t do everything I can to help him, give him a secure life, it will be a tremendous waste of a valuable person, a brilliant mind. If I don’t do everything I can to help him, I’ll never forgive myself.”

  “Adopting him is a huge step. You’ll be his mother forever. Do you really know anything about being a mother? After all—”

  He stopped when Carly drew in a sharp breath. His face turned dark red. “I’m sorry, Carly. That didn’t come out like I’d thought...well, I didn’t think.”

  Carly shook her head. “Do you think I don’t have doubts? I know it will be hard.”

  Luke considered her for a long moment before he said, “It’s your decision, but...he’ll be a handful.”

  “I already know that,” she answered on a sigh. “But, think about it. Wouldn’t it be better for him to learn to use his intelligence for good rather than for getting into trouble? Besides, between the school counselors, resources from the state and his grandmother, I’ll have help.”

  “You’ll need help.”

  “I can do this, Luke. It’ll be hard work, but I’m used to hard work.”

  “And you’re used to tackling things on your own.” He reached for the doorknob. “Good luck, Carly. Like I said, you’ll need it.”

  “Thanks, I guess,” she said. This was the right thing to do, but it wouldn’t be easy. Still, excitement fluttered in her stomach at the idea of being a mom. “I’ll talk to Era about it, and we’ll tell him together. Then I’ll call Child Services. I’m sure it’s a lengthy process, so I might as well get started as soon as I can.”

  When Luke swung open the door, it began to rattle in its frame. The house shook and Carly looked down in time to see the hardwood slats lifting and moving in a wave across the floor.

  Luke’s arm shot out and he scooped her against him and into the comparatively sturdier protection of the door frame.

  The quake built to a crescendo and then faded away. As soon as it stopped, Carly whirled away from him and dashed to Dustin’s room, taking a relieved breath when she saw that he was okay and had slept through the whole thing. Luke was right behind her, peeking over her shoulder to check on the boy.

  Back in the living room, she grabbed her jacket from the front closet and said, “I need to check the greenhouses. That was a big earthquake. I lose some panes or some plants every time we have one that’s as big as that one.”

  “Can’t it wait until daylight?”

  “I’ll stew over it all night. This is my livelihood and I’ve got to protect it, especially now that I’m going to have a son to raise.”

  “Then I’ll come with you.”

  “That isn’t necessary. I always do it myself.”

  He frowned in frustration. “But you don’t have to. I’m here to help.”

  “For how long, Luke?” She looked up to meet his troubled brown eyes. “You’ll be gone in a few months, and we’ll still have earthquakes, maybe worse ones if your process forces wastewater back into the ground like the other fracking methods do.”

  “Carly, I wish I could guarantee that won’t happen, but I don’t know yet.”

  “I’m still wondering why you invested money in a process that hasn’t been tested or proved.”

  Luke gave a little shrug. “I guess a person has to take a chance on something every now and then.”

  “Like I’m doing with Dustin.”

  “Touché,” he said. “Good answer. So, now, take a big chance and let me help you check for earthquake damage.”

  “Okay, but remember I promised Dustin that he wouldn’t have to move again. I can’t keep that promise if my place is ruined.”

  “I know, Carly. Just a little while longer and I’ll be able to answer all your questions.”

  Carly knew it was pointless to
keep asking him, but her frustration was growing. He hadn’t ever understood what a danger his process might be to her gardens. If he did, he would have told her exactly how it would work, what it would include and what the consequences would be.

  She picked up two powerful flashlights she kept in an old painted and stenciled wooden toolbox on the porch beside the front door, and led the way to the greenhouses. She took one greenhouse and he took the other, and they each found a couple of broken panes and some toppled plants.

  “Not as bad as it could have been,” he said when they met by his truck. He handed her his flashlight.

  “Not as bad as I’m afraid it’s going to be,” she added.

  He had no response to that. Instead he said, “Aunt Frances tells me that the hospital finance committee—”

  “Also known as Mrs. Sanderson’s Arm-Twisting Society.”

  He grinned, obviously glad she was willing to lighten the mood. “Yeah. Anyway, they’ve got another fund-raiser, masquerading as a grand opening, in a couple of weeks. I was wondering if you and Dustin, of course, would go with me.”

  “You mean, like on a date?”

  “Yes. Why not? You were planning to go, right?”

  “Of course. It’s Nate and Gemma’s project, and I’ve got a contract to provide fresh produce to the hospital kitchen.”

  “Congratulations,” he said, smiling. “So, how about it? Will you go with me?”

  “I don’t know, Luke. I always go by myself to these things.”

  “Well, now you don’t have to. You’ve got Dustin and you might need help riding herd on him.”

  “That’s the truth.” Still, she hesitated. “With everything that’s happened since you came here, Luke, it makes it hard to—”

  “Trust me?” He sighed. “Yeah, I know.”

  “I realize you’re keeping a secret that’s not yours to reveal, and I guess everyone has secrets of one kind or another.” She pressed her palms together. “All right, I think one date to a public function, with a twelve-year-old chaperone, will be okay.”

  “Good. That’s good. Thanks, Carly. Good night.” His teeth flashed in a grin as he climbed into his truck and drove away.

  Carly stared after him, thinking about the huge changes that had come her way today, and the ones still to come. Whatever happened with Luke, his project, her livelihood, she couldn’t really affect the outcome. With Dustin, however, she could do something. She and Era could be a strong team, working together to raise him.

  Luke’s solemn warning that she was taking on too much caused her to pause and consider. The help he’d given her over the past few days had been valuable. It made her think about what things might have been like if their son had lived, if they’d raised him together, faced all his childhood issues together. It was a fantasy, one in which she couldn’t afford to indulge. She had to remember that.

  Hugging the flashlights, she ran up the stairs and into the house.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “I’VE NEVER SEEN a town as crazy about grand openings as this one is,” Luke said as they stood on the lawn in front of the hospital and looked around at the crowd. A variety of booths had been set up. People could get healthy recipes, a blood pressure check or a foam-rubber sun visor with Reston Community Hospital printed on the front, along with the phone number. Other booths were signing people up to be hospital volunteers or organ donors.

  “This is what passes for a glittering affair in Reston,” Carly said. “And we love any excuse for a party, especially if Frances is involved.” She pointed to the hospital entrance where Luke’s aunt was greeting visitors. “Besides, the town, the whole county, was affected by the hospital closing, followed by the recession that meant lost jobs. This is like a resurrection of sorts for Reston.”

  She was proud to say that the husband of one of her best friends was responsible for this. Dr. Nathan Smith had returned to his hometown months ago to reopen the hospital his father had helped bankrupt.

  The facility now had a full staff for the small emergency room, along with nurses, aides, techs, kitchen and custodial staff, and a trustworthy hospital administrator. Two more doctors had moved into the area and were on call along with Nathan. One way or another, dozens of new jobs had been created and the lives of everyone in the county were being improved.

  “Carly, can I go find Jay?” Dustin asked. “He said I could hang with him and his friends.”

  She looked down and smiled at him. “Sure. They’ll be selling food pretty soon.”

  Dustin pointed to the healthy food options booth. “Hot dogs made out of tofu?” he asked. “No, thanks.”

  “They’ll have things you’ll like, trust me. Do you need some money?”

  He wrinkled his nose. “Nah, I’ve got money. If I run out, I’ll raise the rates on my tutoring services.”

  “Dustin,” she warned, drawing his name out.

  With a laugh, he turned away, looking for Jay.

  “That is an enterprising young man,” Luke said.

  “I know.” Carly gave him a worried look. “You don’t think he’ll grow up to be a con artist, do you?”

  Luke shook his head. “Time will tell.”

  She watched Dustin walk away as she murmured, “I’d better start saving up bail money.”

  Luke laughed. “So have you and Era talked to him about adoption?”

  “Yes.”

  “How did he take it?”

  Carly tilted her head from one side to the other. “He seems okay with it but not enthused. Maybe I’ll grow on him. He’s had so many upheavals in his life, he probably doesn’t trust me.” She shrugged. “And why should he? I’m another adult, after all. Era will be out of rehab and into her own place at Sooner Community in a couple of weeks.”

  “Will she need help moving her things from her old house? I can help.”

  “Yes, she will. Her new apartment is small, but it’ll hold her most important things. She’s given me a list. The new owner doesn’t care about the house, only the gravel he can dig, so he said she can take as long as she needs to clear her things out.”

  Luke nodded then placed his hand at the small of her back to urge her forward. “Come on, let’s get in line for the tour through the hospital.”

  As they waited, they visited with the people around them and received many curious looks from those who knew her. She had dressed up for the occasion, wearing her purple skirt and a cream-colored, peasant-style blouse along with her dancing boots.

  She had stewed over what to wear and second-guessed her decision to come to this event as Luke’s date. Lengthy talks with Lisa and Gemma had convinced her to give it a try. They reminded her once again that they had her back and that he’d kept his promise to be helpful with Dustin. Lisa pointed out that the construction of his drilling operation was providing some jobs in the area, and he was making an effort to be part of the community. Carly wasn’t sure when they’d become his biggest boosters, but their encouragement eased some of her worries.

  There was that drilling rig, though. From what she could see, it was now complete since the new natural gas engines had been installed. She could hear them running but couldn’t smell them.

  Something had happened that morning. She’d been in her orchard, picking apples, when she’d seen a group of workers by the drill, laughing and clapping each other on the back.

  She would ask Luke about it later. He might even answer her this time.

  Since the hospital was small, the tour didn’t take long. They’d slowed only when they walked by the murals painted in every department by volunteers. Carly had been part of it, painting jolly animals in the nursery.

  When their tour finished, they returned to the festivities in the parking lot and saw Shelby dancing with one of the young men Carly had seen working on the drilling rig.
She was laughing at something he said.

  “Shelby looks happy,” Carly commented.

  “She is.” Luke grinned and bounced onto his toes. “Our initial drilling is going well.”

  While she was happy for him, she felt a shiver of dread run up her spine.

  “For a first run, it was outstanding. I wasn’t there for the drilling because I was helping Shelby.”

  He was barely able to contain his excitement. “Preliminary trials look like her process will work.”

  Carly nodded, sorting through her mixed feelings. “Good. I’ll have to congratulate her, but you don’t know the full environmental impact yet?”

  His smile faded but he reached down and took her hand as he studied her face. “No, but I promise it will be far less than what my father had planned. I know it’s hard, but please trust me.”

  All the reasons not to ran through her mind, but looking into his face, seeing the yearning in his eyes, made her nod. “Okay.”

  Luke broke into a grin. “Thanks, Carly. Let’s get some food before the dancing starts.”

  “You’re planning to take me dancing?”

  “That’s right.”

  “You never wanted to dance before.”

  “Don’t forget, I spent years in South America. Where I was, everybody danced. I can even do the tango. Badly, but I can do it.”

  “He cooks, does laundry, dances. Now I’ve seen everything.”

  * * *

  “THIS IS SO much fun,” Carly said, stopping to catch her breath and grabbing a bottle of water. She poured some into her hand and splashed it on her face to cool off. She lifted her hair off her neck. Unaccustomed to having it down, she hadn’t realized how hot it could be.

  “You only say that because you actually know how to line dance,” Luke complained.

  “I can’t believe you grew up in Texas and never learned how to do this.” She gestured toward the rows of dancers, stepping and turning in unison, a moving line of color. Instead of a live band, a sound system had been set up, along with a few floodlights. No one seemed to care that it was getting cold and that this was hardly an ideal dance floor. Everyone was having fun.