Groom in Training

by Gail Gaymer Martin

  He drew back, still holding her shoulders. “You don’t seem very pleased to see me.”

  “I’m surprised. I expected you to call first.”

  He lengthened his six-foot frame. “I did. Don’t you remember?”

  “I know you called a couple weeks ago, but—” she waved her hand in the air, forcing her lungs to draw in a full breath “—I’m involved in a wedding this weekend so it’s not a great time to entertain.”

  He slipped his arm around her shoulder—a warning sign he needed something—and gave her a one-armed hug. “No need to entertain. I can make myself at home.”

  That’s what she feared. “How’s Dad?”

  “Gnarly as ever.” He dropped his arm and opened the storm door while she slid her key into the lock. “I’ll need one of those.”

  Her brows knit together. “One of what?” She knew very well what he wanted.

  “The key. I can’t make myself at home without a key.”

  She lowered her head rather than make another less-than-pleasant comment.

  As soon as his feet hit the foyer, Fred trotted to his side and sniffed his pant leg.

  “Scram, buster.”

  Too much for Steph, she drew up her shoulders. “It’s Fred, and please say ‘no.’ He understands what that means.” Turning her back on the two of them, she set her tracks for the patio door to let Fred outside; but before she did, Steph had learned to check Martin’s yard. Empty.

  That action made her feel resentful, too. Since Martin’s tirade, she’d been guarded about letting Fred outside, and she wanted it to stop. Why did she live in fear of another confrontation with him? Because of Nick, she assumed. That put him in the middle. She didn’t want to do that.

  She pulled the door open to let Fred outside. When a new dog came for the first day, she liked to leave Fred home. Though he was welcoming to other dogs, jealousy came into play when she gave the new one added attention.

  Hal stepped outside and scanned the yard. “Looks the same.”

  She eyed her flowers that bordered the fence, her neat lawn and the shade trees. What did he expect? She slid open the door, rolling her eyes, and stepped into the kitchen with Hal on her heels.

  “What’s for dinner? I’m starving.” He charged past the oak table and tugged open the refrigerator door, then nosed inside.

  “Sorry, Hal. I’m leaving for a while. I’ll grab something when I’m out.” She stopped herself from closing the door on his head. As quickly as her frustration came so did remorse. He may have changed. Maybe her dad had become gnarly. “I need to do some grocery shopping. You might find some eggs and cheese in the meat keeper.”

  He closed the refrigerator and peered at her. “You want me to cook?”

  Her remorse faded. Typical Hal. She shrugged. “Then eat out. There’s Franco’s up the road in a strip mall. Great Italian. Or try Zoup! Wonderful sandwiches and soup. Just south of Wattles, or you probably passed the Ram’s Horn.”

  He didn’t look happy, but then neither did she.

  Fred barked outside the patio door, and she slid it open. He bounded in and headed for Hal again. Hal opened his mouth, then thought better and wrapped his tongue around no. Fred skidded to a halt.

  Steph grabbed her purse, then halted and opened a drawer. “Here’s an extra key to the front. Make sure you lock up when you go.” She took another step, then stopped again. “And keep Fred inside. I have a cranky neighbor.”

  Hal gave her a quick nod. “Fine.”

  “I’ll see you later.” She left the kitchen, then rolled her shoulders backward to relax them. Nick’s talk about how God wanted Christians to behave came back to haunt her. Her action and attitude weren’t charitable, and she knew treating her brother badly wasn’t godly. She slipped into her car and pulled away, struggling with the emotion—negative emotion based on nothing but the past. People could change. She’d worked through problems in her life, and she’d changed for the better. She certainly hadn’t transformed to glory as the Bible verses had talked about when she read to Julia, but she’d become more outgoing again and more confident. At least most of the time.

  Julia. Guilt spiraled through her. She’d thought about visiting Julia today, and now Hal had motivated her to act on her thought. Part of her wanted to put her feet up and relax. She’d eat cereal or an egg and toast. The last thing she wanted to do was cook a meal.

  The rehabilitation center sign appeared ahead, and Steph moved into the right lane, then into to the parking lot. Nick said Julia had made progress, and she’d neglected to go back even though she’d planned to. Julia would want her to read the Bible. She knew it, but she didn’t think that was what kept her from returning. In fact, the Bible had made her curious, and she wanted to know why.

  She headed inside and made her way to Julia’s room. At the doorway, she paused in case she was asleep, but Julia turned her head and gave her a crooked smile. Steph entered the room and stood beside her bed. “You look chipper today. How are you?”

  “Bettah.”

  “Better. That’s great.” She looked around the room and noticed a walker. “Are you getting up?”

  Her shoulder lifted in a faint shrug. “Little.”

  “A little is better than being in bed all the time.”

  “Yes.” Julia grinned.

  Steph shifted to the chair she’d occupied the first time she came and sat. Another bouquet had replaced the other. She couldn’t see the card, and the books she’d purchased were still on the table. So was the Bible.

  Thinking of things to talk about with someone she barely knew caused her to falter. What topics were appropriate? She couldn’t tell her about her faith issues or her struggle not to fall in love with Nick. There was always Fred. She paused. Hal hardly seemed like an appropriate topic. She really didn’t want to talk about him. She leaned back and released a sigh.

  Julia noticed. “Okay?” She pointed to her.

  Uncomfortable that she’d been so obvious, Steph leaned forward, managed a smile and changed her mind. “I’m fine. Just a busy day. I have the doggie day care, and when I arrived home, my brother was waiting for me. He came for a visit.”

  Julia nodded. “Nice.”

  The word was much clearer today, sending a natural smile to Steph’s face. “I’m so glad to hear you talking so much better. I know you’ll be happier when you can talk again.”

  “Yes.” Her eyes searched Steph’s. “Motha?”

  Mother. Steph controlled her emotions. “My mom died a couple years ago. Her heart. Very quickly.”

  “Oh. Sorry.”

  “Thank you. She was a wonderful mother.” And so was Julia. She could tell. Steph would have been more relaxed, helping her with therapy, maybe walking in the corridor, but she suspected Julia wasn’t ready for that yet. She eyed the novels, but her focus settled on the Bible. “Would you like me to read to you?”

  Julia’s eyes brightened.

  Steph wanted to grasp one of the novels, but she knew what she had to do. She lay her hand on the Bible. “This?”

  Julia’s smile answered her question.

  This time she opened the pages at the bookmark. She scanned the page, realizing someone else must have read to her. Martin or Nick? “Did someone read to you?”

  “Nick.”

  Her heart jumped, hearing his name. “I’ll start at 2 Corinthians chapter four. Is that good?”

  “Good.” Julia rolled on to her back and used her left hand to bring her right one to her chest.

  Steph began the chapter, hearing again the message of the blinded minds of nonbelievers and the veil that kept them from seeing the truth. She read the words, but her mind tried to dissect the meaning. She wanted to understand. God shed light into hearts and took them out of darkness. Was that the emptiness and loneliness she’d felt for so long?

  Once again, Nick’s face hung in her mind, glowing with the faith so important to him. She wanted that glow, but it seemed hopeless.

  Steph finished verse
fifteen and began the last verses of that chapter. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

  Her heart leaped with the message, words she struggled to understand, but sensed that she did. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. She wished she could talk with Nick’s mother, because Julia could help her understand the concept.

  Moisture rimmed her eyes, and she lifted her finger and wiped it away, hoping Julia didn’t notice. Frustration anchored her to the chair. How could she ask Nick’s mother when she couldn’t answer?

  When she lifted her eyes, Julia looked at her with question.

  Instead of talking, she reread the last verses again, then lifted her head. “What is unseen?”

  Julia’s eyebrows lifted, then lowered as if she didn’t understand.

  “Does this mean people pay attention to the world and everything we can see, but they should be looking at things they can’t see?”

  Julia patted her left hand on the bed. “Come.”

  Steph rose and sat beside her, wanting to touch her hand, to feel the comfort that her mother had given her when she was a frightened child.

  “God.”

  “The unseen is God?” She should have known. “God is eternal.”

  Julia rested her palm on Steph’s hand. “You. Me.”

  “Eternal.” Her pulse fluttered. “We are eternal with God.”

  Julia lifted her finger and pointed upward. “Heaven.”

  “In heaven.” Steph couldn’t speak with her mind flying in so many directions. She’d envisioned herself vanishing from the earth. Becoming dirt that fertilized the soil. Nothing more.

  Julia’s hand pressed hers, and a sense of well-being rolled through Steph like a breeze that ruffled her hair or kissed her cheek. She couldn’t see it, but she knew it was there.

  Nick swung around the doorway, then darted back. His heart rose to his throat—Steph and his mom talking about God. About God? He’d prayed and hoped, but so soon? The scene amazed him. He stayed out of sight, listening to Steph’s questions and his mother’s one-or two-word responses. He wanted to walk in and answer her questions, explain what he believed, but he couldn’t. He’d listened but shouldn’t have without her knowledge.

  When the questions died, he stepped away, then turned and headed back, making as much noise as he could to alert them. When he rounded into the room, his mother smiled, and Steph looked over her shoulder, then rose. Her cheeks flushed as he approached.

  “Steph. This is nice.” He carried the bouquet of flowers to his mother and bent to kiss her. “For you.”

  “Beautiful.”

  He turned to Steph. “Listen to that. She said every letter. Mom’s having problems with Rs. That’s it.” He gave his mother’s hand a pat and set the flowers on the windowsill, then scrutinized the other flowers. “These are still looking pretty good.”

  Nick felt like a voyeur trying to hide his guilt. He wanted to lead the conversation back to the Bible, but he knew it was better to let it drop. “I’d planned to drop by after dinner. I’ll bring those stones over tomorrow so we can get your rock garden set up.”

  “Thanks.” She eyed him a moment. “Guess who arrived today.”

  “Who arrived?” She didn’t look happy about it. He thought a moment. “Your brother?”

  She nodded. “He wasn’t happy that I didn’t cook dinner.”

  That made him smile. “I’m glad he came. When I bring those rocks, he can help me get them into the backyard.”

  She gave him a doubtful grin. “You think so?”

  “You don’t think he’d help if I asked?”

  This time she laughed. “I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

  “Hal, that’s where I found you last night when I got back.” Steph struggled not to jam her fists on her hips. “Could you turn down the TV?”

  Her brother shifted and grabbed the TV remote from beneath him as he lay sprawled on the sofa. He smacked the remote and lowered the volume, then arched an eyebrow at her. “What got you in a huff?”

  If she were honest, she’d tell him, but she wanted to follow Nick’s philosophy—God’s, really—to be kind and compassionate. The job was taxing. “We have a lot of things to do tonight.”

  “We?” He shifted the sofa pillow beneath his head, his gaze drifting to a sports show.

  “Nick should be here any minute, and he’ll need help moving some rocks to the backyard.”

  “Rocks? This isn’t prison camp, is it?”

  Steph bit her tongue to control her comment. “I hoped you’d be willing to help him.”

  “I have a bad back.” He gave a grimace as he rolled to his side. “I’d hurt it again.”

  Steph had never heard about the bad back before, but it figured. He’d spent time laying on the sofa since he’d arrived. “Is this why Dad and you had problems?” She motioned to his reclined position.

  His attention had drifted back to the TV so her gesture and comment had been lost.

  “When’s dinner?”

  “After we do the rocks.” She marched into the kitchen, checked Martin’s yard, then let Fred outside.

  Eyeing the wall clock, she glanced at her watch. Nick had said he’d be there when she got home at six. She’d gotten hung up at the shelter, and now it was six-thirty. Instead of wasting time, she made a salad, her eyes drifting to the clock hands. Picking up the rocks had been Nick’s idea, a favor to her, so she couldn’t be angry, but she’d noticed lateness seemed to be part of his character.

  She scrubbed three potatoes, pricked them with a fork and set them in the microwave. Then all she needed to do was punch the button. The clock read seven-fifteen. Her stomach growled. They could eat first, but doing heavy work after eating didn’t strike her as a relaxing dinner.

  Hal appeared at her side, eyeing her preparations. “I thought you were making dinner.”

  “After the rocks.” She dropped the pork chops into a marinade and shook her head.

  “Where is the dude?”

  That’s what she wanted to know. Although she felt nervy, Steph grabbed her purse and pulled out her cell, then pressed Nick’s number. Hal hovered nearby with his head in the refrigerator while she waited. His voice mail clicked in. Her shoulder’s tensed. What was wrong?

  “You need to go grocery shopping.” Hal’s lanky frame hung on the door like a whiny teenager.

  “How about you picking up some groceries? Get what you like. The stove’s sitting here all day long.” Her sarcasm was tinged with some regret. Her patience had “flown the coop” as her mother used to say.

  “I’m a little short on cash. Can you loan me a few bucks?”

  She drew in a deep stream of breath and released it. “Hal, you need to get this straight. Doug made a good salary, but he’s not here to bail you out. I had money back then. I don’t anymore. You need to fend for yourself. Dad and I can’t do it anymore.”

  “I didn’t say give me money. I said loan.”

  A laugh burst from her, verging on hysteria. Her hands knotted into fists and a nerve ticked in her cheek. “You still owe me thousands for loans, Hal. I’m telling you I don’t have it.”

  He swaggered to a counter and rested his back against it. “So you’re telling me Doug left you destitute?”

  The smirk on his face chilled her to the bone. “I haven’t told this to anyone, but I’m going to tell you. Doug left me in debt except for the house. He’d lost tons of money gambling. I had no idea. He took care of the bills.” Tears inched to her eyes, tears she’d thought ended long ago.

  Hal jammed his hands into his pockets. “Come on. You guys were loaded. He couldn’t have—”

  She flex
ed her palm upward like a cop. “He did. I was nearly broke.” She brushed the tears with the back of her hand, wanting to scream. Three years she struggled to pull her life together. She had no skills for working and no confidence. Being an executive’s wife meant socializing and entertaining. That’s all she’d done. “I told you to get a job and make up with Dad until you can get your own place, but you didn’t listen.”

  “That’s what I plan to do, but not with Dad. I came here.”

  She drew back with such force, she whacked her head against the edge of a cabinet door. “You’re kidding. You think you can stay with me while you look for work. Michigan is in bad shape. People are out of work all over the place. The auto industry is laying off, not hiring. You’re not making sense.”

  “Thanks. I thought you’d understand. I am your brother.” He dug his hand into a bag of cookies and stomped as best he could with stockings out of the kitchen.

  If she weren’t so upset, she might have laughed. Instead gooseflesh prickled down her arms. Dealing with Hal seemed to be more than she could handle today. And Nick?

  She eyed the clock—nearly eight. Something must have happened. God, if you’re really there…What was she doing? If there was a God, He’d be irked at her prayer while questioning His existence, and if He wasn’t there, her prayer was useless.

  But lately she’d begun to sense—

  “Someone’s here.”

  Hal’s shout broke her thought. She headed to the door, and as soon as she entered the living room, she saw Nick through the window and her pulse accelerated. He was okay.

  She stood at the door, and he stepped in. “Sorry I’m late. I ran into some snags.”

  “You didn’t call.” She wanted to say so much more.

  “I left my cell phone at work. I’m really sorry.” He glanced at Hal spread out on the sofa, giving him the eye.

  “Tell that to my stomach.” Hal didn’t lift his head.

  “Hal.” Steph narrowed her eyes. “This is Nick.” She turned to him, arching a brow. “My brother, Hal.”

  Hal managed to pull himself up from his reclined position and grasped Nick’s offered hand.