It was Joe’s turn to lean his stalky body forward. “What? What’s the other reason?”
Here it comes. My world will never be the same. Please, God, please let them understand.
Jack reached for her hand and squeezed tight. “What the papers suggested about me and Audra—it’s true.”
Alice and Joe Wheyton stared at their son’s hand as though they couldn’t comprehend his words or his actions.
Jack clarified it for them. “Kara’s our child.”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” Joe Wheyton boomed.
Alice simply continued to stare at their joined hands.
“Mom?”
“I don’t understand. All these years. You...Christian...how? Why?”
There were years of questions in her halting words. Had Christian known his brother was the father of Audra’s child? Or had he believed the child was his? What about Jack? Had he refused to marry her?
“We know it’s a shock to both of you.” He managed a tight smile. “Trust me, nobody was more shocked to learn the truth than me.”
“You didn’t know you had a kid?” Joe sounded like he’d just discovered the next twist of On Eden Street.
“Not until a few weeks ago.”
Alice cleared her throat and cast her oldest son a no-nonsense look. “Your father might like this mish-mush drama, but I prefer the facts. Start from the beginning and end with right now.”
“Alice, he’ll get to it,” Joe said, settling back in his recliner. “Give him time.” He glanced at his Timex. “You think we’ll finish by three? No rush, but if we don’t, I want to tape the show.”
“This won’t take two and a half hours, Dad. You’ll have plenty of time to watch your show.”
Joe held up a beefy hand. “No rush. Take as much time as you want.”
Jack squeezed Audra’s hand and began, “I was in medical school when Christian brought Audra to my apartment. He said she was new to the school and wanted me to watch over her, kind of like a big brother. The second I looked at her, I knew she was the one.” His voice dipped and turned rough. “I asked if she and Christian were together and when she said no, that was it. The only time we spent apart was during class or when I was at the hospital. By Christmas I knew it was getting out of hand and affecting my studies. I didn’t want to fall in love, not when I still had residency and specialties. Mom, I made a promise to you that I was going to become a neurosurgeon and help children like Rachel. So, when Christmas break came along, I took off.”
“You just left her? Without saying anything?”
“I know that’s the coward’s way, Dad, but that’s what I did. I left and headed home with nothing in mind but getting away. I planned a ski trip to Toggenberg and actually had the car packed when Audra showed up. She came to tell me she was pregnant but I shut her down before she could say a word by telling her it was over.”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Joe murmured.
“I guess she went to Christian and confessed everything. That’s when he asked her to marry him and head to California.”
“California was Christian’s idea?” His mother asked the question with equal degrees hurt and apprehension.
Finally, Audra spoke. “Yes.”
“And he knew the baby was Jack’s?”
“He knew,” Jack said. “By the time I got back from the trip, I realized what a jerk I’d been and how much I needed her.” He squeezed her hand again. “That’s when you told me they’d eloped.”
“Lord Almighty, this really is like On Eden St.”
“Joe Wheyton, stop that right now or I swear I will disconnect the cable and you’ll never see another soap opera again.” Alice turned to her son. “Why would Christian do what he did?”
“He loved her and he knew I wasn’t ready for a wife, let alone a child. I think in his own way he was trying to be honorable.”
“Did you love him?” Joe asked Audra.
“In time, yes.” But not the way you think.
“But you never got over Jack,” he said.
“No.”
“And now you want to be together,” Alice supplied through pursed lips.
“Mom, we’re not going to throw away another chance. We love each other and we’re going to be together. The only question is when and where.”
“And Kara?” His mother’s voice rose. “What will you tell that poor child? That the father who raised her for eight years isn’t really her father at all? That the man we just buried was her uncle?”
“No!” Audra couldn’t listen to any more. “She’ll believe Christian was her real father. Jack will help raise her but only as her uncle.”
“That’s a pretty big order, for a man not to claim his own flesh and blood.”
“Christian deserves that, Dad.”
“I don’t see how this is going to work.” Alice worried her lower lip. “People were just starting to accept Audra and now if she takes up with you, what will they say? They’ll think what the papers suggested is true.”
“Alice, will you stop worrying about what everybody thinks? Who cares what those old cronies of yours say? Tilly McNally probably thinks Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward didn’t belong together, and Marion Fitzpatrick has her nose buried so deep in those damn knitting needles, she can’t see a thing. These kids love each other.” He made the sign of the cross. “I say God bless.”
“But where will you live? Please don’t say California.”
“We thought we’d build in Landemere. Do you think you could get used to a twenty minute drive?”
Her eyes teared up. “Thank you, Jack. That would be wonderful.”
He leaned over and placed a kiss on Audra’s temple. “Don’t thank me, Mom. I would have followed Audra to Alaska. She’s the one who wants to live near you and Dad.”
***
He stood by the park bench, hands shoved in pockets of well-tailored navy slacks, head bent to study a fallen oak. His hair remained perfect despite the September breeze which bounced Audra’s about her shoulders. Except for the slight furrowed brow, one would never know Grant Richot’s world had turned upside down these past two weeks.
“Grant?”
He turned and the furrow disappeared, replaced with casual ease and a slow smile. “Audra. Thanks for coming. I thought you might change your mind.”
“Of course I’d come,” she said, taking a seat on the bench. Jack hadn’t liked the idea and had insisted he accompany her which would defeat the whole purpose of the meeting. Of course, she’d told him no. Whatever Grant wanted to say, he was not going to say in front of Jack.
Grant sat beside her, his blue eyes scanning her face. “It’s been a tough few weeks.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“In some ways I wonder why I never put it together—the mood swings, the over-the-top behavior followed by depression. I chalked it up to our line of work. When a child makes it, we’re euphoric, when he doesn’t, we crash pretty hard. It’s a tough business.”
Kara was one of the ones who was making it, thank God. With annual MRI’s, close observation, and prayers, she would continue to make it. “We parents thank you for helping our children,” she said.
He covered her hand with his and said, “I’ve had an offer from the Stevens Institute. They want me to head up the research and diagnosis for congenital anomalies and it’s close to where Leslie is. Who knows how long she’ll be hospitalized? She’ll need extensive therapy and it’s going to be a long road, but I’ll be there for her.”
“She’s very lucky to have you.”
“I’m trying.” He smiled again and said, “Enough about that. My new place is only an hour from here.”
What to say to that? “Great.”
Those blue eyes turned bluer. “I know this is premature but if there was a reason to make that trip every weekend, I would.”
Oh, Grant. If you only knew the truth. “I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, but I consider you a friend.”
&nb
sp; His smile covered her. “Many great loves begin as friendships.”
Not among siblings. And not when one of the parties is in love with someone else. “I’m sorry Grant, it’s not going to happen.”
The smile faltered. “You know, my sister’s been saying some bizarre things these past few days.”
“I really don’t think you should be listening to Leslie right now.”
“You’re right. Absolutely. I’m sure there’s no truth to them, but humor a wounded guy’s ego, okay?”
Please don’t ask about Jack. “Sure.”
“Thank you. She says Jack’s got a thing for you. I can see how that would happen, believe me, but she says that you and he,” he paused and searched her face. “Please, Audra, just tell me it isn’t true.”
She could lie or she could tell the truth. Either way, Grant would be hurt. “I’m not going to answer that. Whether or not Jack is or isn’t in the picture, has nothing to do with us.”
“Ah.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “You don’t have to answer. You already did.” His eyes lost some of their blueness as he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Be happy,” he murmured. “I’ll miss you.”
***
“Grandma! Look!” Kara burst into the kitchen, waving an envelope above her head. “It’s from Betty Crocker!”
“Praise be!” Joyce exclaimed.
Marion paused in the middle of her knitting. “With your grandmother as your teacher, you’ve got a good shot.”
“Dear me, open it child!” Alice wiped her hands on her apron and gripped her granddaughter’s shoulders.
Good fortune flourished in the Wheyton household lately. Joe quit smoking, (well, mostly quit), Kara played every afternoon with the new friends who would attend Holly Springs Elementary School with her, and Jack spent nights reviewing plans for the house he planned to build. He smiled an awful lot these days and Alice knew the reason behind their good fortune. It even had a name. Audra Valentine Wheyton.
Alice had spent too many years blaming Audra for Christian’s absence. No more. Audra had gifted the Wheyton family with a second chance and Alice would not forget it.
“Grandma, it says, ‘Congratulations on winning third place in the Betty Crocker Best Bread Contest with your Razzle Dazzle Apple bread.’” The child pulled her lower lip through her teeth and said, “It’s not first. Is that okay?”
“Of course it’s okay, dear,” Alice said, pulling Kara into her arms. “There were eight hundred applicants which means you beat out seven hundred ninety seven of them.”
“And I’ll bet they were older,” Joyce said. “Isn’t the age limit ten?”
“Congratulations, Kara.” Marion click-clacked her knitting needles over a royal blue scarf.
Tilly was last to comment. Alice braced herself for one of her friend’s doomsayer phrases. Even if Tilly didn’t believe in sugar coating, she didn’t have to drop a salt tablet in the news. “You can’t win all the time, Kara. Your grandmother knows that.”
Typical. Just once, couldn’t the woman try to say something nice? The child was only eight years old for Heaven’s sake and had just undergone brain surgery. Why you would think—
“But don’t worry,” Tilly went on, which shocked Alice and froze her brain mid thought. “You’re a great baker, and one day, I reckon you’ll be as great as your grandmother.” Then the woman did something she’d never done in the umpteen years Alice had known her. She winked.
Kara beamed and hugged Alice. “I gotta go tell Grandpa and then I’m going to call Mom and Uncle Jack.”
“Yes, you do that,” Alice said, smoothing a few errant curls from Kara’s forehead. “You go tell them all.”
“I think The Sentinel would like to know,” Joyce offered.
“Absolutely,” Tilly seconded.
“All’s I know is I’d like to taste some of that Razzle Dazzle Apple bread,” Marion said.
“Can I make some today, Grandma?”
“After dinner. Now go tell Grandpa. You know how funny he is when you forget to tell him something.”
“Okay.” She smiled at the coffee klatch and announced, “Tomorrow morning you can have Razzle Dazzle Apple bread with your coffee!” Then she clutched the letter to her chest and flung open the back door, hollering for her grandfather.
“Who would have thought things would turn out like this?” Joyce said, swiping at her cheeks. “You’re going to see your granddaughter off to her first day of school in two days.”
“And she can help bake the Thanksgiving pies,” Tilly added.
Marion picked up her knitting and let out a long sigh. “Maybe Joe will finally agree to put up a real Christmas tree.”
Alice laughed. “He’s already designing Santa and his reindeer for outside. He and Kara picked up the wood yesterday and she’s picking out the colors and the lights.”
“It does a body good to see such love,” Joyce said. “There’s hope my Walter might find love again.”
Tilly snorted. “If he dumps the idea of patching things up with that philandering wife of his.”
“Some things just aren’t meant to be,” Marion said in what almost sounded like a gentle voice.
“I know.” Joyce sipped her coffee and closed her eyes. “But it doesn’t make the wanting go away.”
“Maybe you’re not wanting the right thing,” Tilly said. “Maybe you should stop pushing so hard and let the right thing find you. Like Alice did. Who would have thought in ten million years that we’d be happy Audra Valentine was here?”
“Tilly.” Alice was not about to listen to anyone malign Audra.
Tilly held up a bony hand. “I mean that in a good way. Six months ago we wouldn’t have used her name for toilet paper and now, she’s the reason Joe hasn’t complained of his knees in two weeks and you haven’t visited Rachel’s room in six days.” She winked again, the second time in her whole life, if Alice were a betting woman. “Joe told us while you were in the basement switching out laundry. We’re happy for you, Alice. Audra Valentine’s to thank for that.”
“Audra Valentine Wheyton,” Joyce corrected. “Soon to be married to the elder Wheyton. Just like on Lifetime.”
“Practical too,” Marion commented, not looking up from her knitting. “No need to change out monograms or driver’s license.”
“I’m sure that was her plan,” Alice said in a wry voice.
“Jack and Audra deserve to be happy,” Joyce said. “All these years we blamed that poor girl for dragging Christian cross country and here she was only doing what her husband wanted.”
“If it hadn’t come out of Alice’s mouth, I never would have believed it,” Tilly said, shaking her head. “But any woman who carries that cross in silence, loses her husband, almost loses her child, and puts up with a town of naysayers like us, deserves my respect.”
“You’ve got me there,” Marion said.
“Ladies.” Alice lifted her coffee cup, eager to dwell on a happier thought. “Let’s toast my daughter-in-law, Audra Valentine Wheyton. For her courage, her forgiveness, and her willingness to let us be her family.”
The other women raised their mugs. “Here, here. And may she and Jack live long, prosperous lives and produce many grandchildren!”
They all laughed. “Amen.”
“And good riddance to Mr. Big Shot Producer,” Tilly clinked her mug with Alice’s.
“Hello NBC miniseries,” Alice said. NBC had contacted Audra last week and offered a head writer’s role for an eight episode miniseries involving drama, deceit, death, and of course, dalliances.
Alice refilled their mugs, already thinking about the full dinner table she’d have tonight and the pork tenderloin marinating in the fridge. There would be many such dinners and God willing, more plates at the table in years to come. Thank you, God, Alice’s heart swelled with gratitude. Thank you for the gift of Audra Valentine. Amen.
Epilogue
Nine months later
“Tell me the truth
, is it too much?”
Audra’s husband of four hours fingered the opening of her lacey white gown and frowned. “Actually, I think it is.”
“I knew I shouldn’t have listened to the coffee klatch crew. I look like a Barbie, don’t I?” She groaned. “I should have worn the linen suit I picked out.”
“God no.” Jack made a face. “No wife of mine is showing up at our wedding like she’s going to a business meeting. I like this dress.” He traced the tiny pearls rimming the neckline. “There’s just too much of it.” When she opened her mouth to speak, he put a finger to her lips. “Too much as in I’d rather see skin. Golden, soft as satin. And cleavage. Lots of cleavage.”
Audra shook her head and swatted his hand from its dangerously close proximity to her breast. “You can see all the skin you want. Tonight. When your parents and the whole town aren’t watching us.”
He laughed, something he’d been doing a lot of these past nine months, and said, “I’m going to hold you to that.”
She kissed his neck and whispered, “I can’t wait.”
Jack slung an arm around her and pulled her closer. They sat on a park bench at the perimeter of the festivities. There were several such benches, all decorated with white satin bows and offering a respite from the crowds and the commotion. Rows of tables and chairs scattered Holly Springs Memorial Park, which was the only location large enough to entertain the number of guests invited to Jack and Audra’s wedding reception—the entire community of Holly Springs. There were white tents set up with all manner of festival food—sausage subs, barbecue, fried chicken, cotton candy.
“I think I’d like a funnel cake.”
Jack clinked his glass with hers. “A perfect paring with champagne. Would you like me to get one?”
Audra snuggled closer. “Not yet. I don’t want you to move right now. Can you believe all these people came to celebrate with us?”
“Of course.”
“Grandma Lenore would be very pleased.”
“Hmmm. Christian too.”
She hesitated, then said, “And my mother.”
He brushed his lips across her forehead. “Especially your mother.”
Pulling Home (That Second Chance) Page 23
