When Faith walked into the Italian restaurant she felt a few stares in her direction. It always happened when people noticed the burns on her arms. A few months ago she would have died of embarrassment on the spot, but she’d learned so many things in the past few weeks. Sometimes people stared out of ignorance. Of not knowing what they were seeing. Other times it was curiosity. Very rarely, she imagined, was it done of cruelty. Knowing this allowed her to hold her head up high.
The waitress led her to table in the center of the restaurant. She let out a breath of relief as she spotted Micah sitting with Rafferty and Pamela. At least she wouldn’t have to sit alone with her cousin making small talk. Micah jumped up from his seat as soon as he spotted her coming their way. He quickly held out her chair for her, pressing a kiss against her lips as soon as she reached the table.
“You look gorgeous,” he murmured in her ear.
“Thanks. You don’t look half bad yourself,” she noted, admiring his crisp white shirt, dark tie and tan slacks.
As she sat down Faith swung her gaze toward Rafferty and Pamela. As he’d done before, Rafferty radiated a sunny vibe. He was smiling at her—a genuine smile that couldn’t be faked. Her cousin on the other hand bore the fakest smile Faith had ever seen. It threatened to crack her face.
“Hi there, cuz. So happy we could double date tonight,” Pamela said, oozing false charm. “Aren’t we lucky girls?”
“It’s great to see you, Faith. Micah can’t stop smiling about you, so thanks for making my best friend a happy man,” Rafferty said. Faith felt her cheeks heating up at the compliment. She couldn’t help but notice Pamela’s expression hardening. Even when they were kids, Pamela hadn’t liked it one bit when Faith got even the slightest bit of attention.
“I’m happy to be here,” Faith said smoothly, avoiding her cousin’s gaze.
Micah moved his chair closer toward her and leaned in to say, “Thanks for being such a good sport.”
“No whispering,” Pamela said, her voice sounding brittle.
“Let them whisper,” Rafferty said, sending Pamela a strange look.
“I was just teasing,” Pamela said lamely.
Faith didn’t know if she was imagining it or not, but she was picking up on some tension between Pamela and Rafferty. She sent Micah a subtle, questioning look. He slightly shook his head, letting her know he didn’t have a clue as to what was going on.
As the night wore on, Faith kept getting strange vibes from Pamela. She seemed to be watching her interactions with Micah very carefully. It was an odd feeling, but Faith couldn’t shake the idea that Pamela was jealous. It made no sense! She was engaged to Rafferty and on the brink of a wonderful future. But at the engagement party Faith herself had sensed something off in her cousin’s behavior toward Micah. And she’d believed Micah when he he’d confided in her about Pamela coming on to him. Sadly, she didn’t even question it.
The excellent Italian fare allowed Faith to not focus on her cousin, who was seated across the table from her. If she thought about her for too long she wasn’t sure she could make it through the meal. Pamela babbled on about wedding venues, wedding gowns, food and honeymoon destinations. It didn’t escape Faith’s attention that she never once mentioned anything to do with the spiritual elements of a wedding. Nothing about the church, the pastor or the vows. It was all about the surface. It was all about how it looked and smelled and tasted.
Right before coffee and dessert came, Faith excused herself from the table to go to the ladies’ room. Within seconds, Pamela was volunteering to go with her. Faith braced herself for nasty commentary from her cousin. It was as natural to her as breathing at this point.
The hallway leading to the bathroom was dimly lit and empty. As soon as they were away from the main portion of the restaurant and out of ear shot, Pamela started in on Faith.
“I don’t know what you think you’re playing at,” she said, her lip curled in distaste.
Faith let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m not playing at anything.”
Pamela stomped her foot. “Yes, you are! So you just happened to start dating Micah? Rafferty’s best friend?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what happened. We met at your engagement party and through a few coincidences we saw each other again. We hit it off, Pamela. That tends to happen from time to time. I’m not sure why it’s so upsetting to you.”
“You ruin everything!” she ranted. “Just like when we were kids. You were always good at stepping on my toes and making yourself the center of attention. Even the fire managed to do that. You were the poor burn victim orphaned by the fire. You came into my home and took all the attention away from me. It was always about your suffering, your hurt, your pain. My own parents cared more about you than they did about me!”
Faith shook her head. She really didn’t want to have to deal with this tonight. Pamela was delusional. The things she was ranting about weren’t true. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Could you move so I can go the bathroom?”
“No I will not! You need to answer my question. Why are you hanging around? This is my life not yours. I feel a little bit sorry for you because I know Micah must be using you or something. He couldn’t possibly want you when he could have had me.” Pamela was shrieking now. Faith stood there stunned. Her cousin was really losing it. She hadn’t ever realized the extent of Pamela’s hatred until this very moment.
“Pamela.” Faith and Pamela turned toward the sound of Rafferty’s voice. He was standing a few feet away from them in the hallway looking shell shocked and wounded.
Pamela’s jaw dropped. Her skin looked ashen. “Rafferty! I was just coming back to the table.”
“Really? It sounded like you were just getting started. Continue,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “Why don’t you continue to berate Faith? Why don’t you continue to show me why you’re the very last person I should be engaged to?”
Pamela let out a wounded cry. “Rafferty! How can you say that? You’ve misunderstood. It wasn’t me who started it—”
He held up his hand. “Save it, Pamela. I heard more than enough. I know who was being aggressive and it wasn’t Faith.” He turned toward Faith. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to believe this was going on, but I have no choice now.”
“Rafferty, let’s talk about this privately,” Pamela said in a pleading tone. She reached out to grasp Rafferty’s arm and he shook her off. Faith wanted to leave but she was transfixed by the drama unfolding before her very eyes.
“There’s really nothing to say, Pamela. Let’s go back to the table and excuse ourselves. I’ll take you home.”
Pamela turned toward Faith. “This is all your fault.” She lunged in Faith’s direction, only to be restrained by Rafferty.
“Ouch! You’re hurting me!” she wailed.
Rafferty shook his head. “You’re unbelievable. Thank the Lord I came after you just to check on things. Call it an instinct. Call it divine providence. Whatever you want to call it, I’m done.”
Rafferty grasped Pamela’s arm and walked back toward the main dining room. Pamela was softly crying and whining. Despite his anger, Rafferty wasn’t holding on to her in any way that might hurt Pamela. As usual, she was being dramatic.
Faith went into the bathroom, making sure she didn’t rush back to the table. Frankly, she didn’t want to run into Pamela and Rafferty out there. She’d had enough drama for one night. She hoped they were gone by the time she returned. Almost ten minutes later Faith made her way back to the table.
Micah had an anxious expression etched on his face. “There you are. I was about to come looking for you. Rafferty stormed back here with Pamela, then said his goodbyes and left. What happened back there? Rafferty looked like a storm cloud.”
Faith sat back down and let out the breath she’d been holding for the last twenty minutes. “Rafferty overheard Pamela laying into me. It wasn’t pretty.” Faith gave Micah the lowdown on what had transpired in the hallway.
&nbs
p; “Do you think he meant it? He’s done?”
“I can’t imagine they’ll be together after this one. Pamela was acting unhinged and he caught her in the act. I think Rafferty might be realizing he doesn’t really know Pamela as well as he thought he did. That’s no way to start a marriage.”
“I feel so bad for him, Faith. He’s one of the best people I’ve ever known. He’s loyal and good and a man of faith. He saves lives for goodness sakes. He treated that woman like a queen.”
“That just means he’ll be ready when the right person comes around. He’s a keeper.”
Micah grinned at her from across the table. “You’re right. This paves the way for him to meet the woman he’s really meant to spend the rest of his life with.”
“And perhaps my cousin will learn a few lessons through this experience.”
Micah made a face. “Doubtful. She doesn’t strike me as the type who thinks she ever has to change.”
“If she accepts God into her life, perhaps she can truly change,” Faith said. “It’s up to her.”
“That’s what I love about you, Faith. You’re always willing to see the possibilities.”
Love? She hadn’t misheard him, had she? Perhaps he’d just been using a figure of speech. He wasn’t talking about real love. Or was he?
Micah reached across the table. “Why don’t we ask for the check and take a walk outside? There’s a garden and a beautiful moon for viewing tonight.”
Faith nodded, her head still whirling with Micah’s use of the word love. She was probably jumping to conclusions and hearing what she wanted to hear. Her love for Micah was blinding her judgment.
Once the bill was paid, Micah led her outside to the patio. A million stars were shining brightly against an onyx sky. A radiant moon sat high above, glowing down upon them with all its brilliance.
Micah pointed up at the heavens.
“That’s a blue moon.”
She squinted up at the sky. “What does that mean exactly? It doesn’t look blue.”
“It means it’s the second full moon of the month. We’ve been twice blessed this month by their beauty. Sometimes I just head out to my backyard and look up at the heavens. It’s peaceful.”
She wrapped her arms around her middle. “It sounds like it.”
“Faith, I said something earlier that needs to be explained.” They locked gazes. She saw something radiating from his eyes that left her in awe. “I’m in love with you, Faith.”
She let out a shocked sound. In a million years she had never expected to hear these words come out of his mouth. Not so soon anyway.
“I love everything about you,” he continued. “From the top of your head to the soles of your feet, I love you. I used to think I wasn’t the type to fall in love, but you changed all that. When you wouldn’t go out with me when I first asked you, I knew you were going to be different than any other woman I’d been interested in before. You inspire me. I’m so very blessed to have you in my life.”
“Micah,” she said. “I can’t believe how much my life has changed since you came into it. I wasn’t expecting good things to come my way. I was just muddling through,” she explained. “Loving you has changed me for the better. I’m a little bit braver now. A little bit more secure in myself. And a whole lot happier.”
Micah reached for her and pulled her toward him. “Thank you for loving me back, Faith.” He shook his head. “I was really hoping you wouldn’t leave me hanging when I said it,” he admitted with a chuckle.
Faith reached up and kissed Micah on the lips, a solid kiss that solidified her feelings. “I’ll never leave you hanging, Micah,” she said, letting out a sigh as Micah took her hand and twirled her around the patio as the stars winked in the velvety sky above them.
Epilogue
Micah was mumbling to himself as he paced the length of his kitchen. It didn’t matter how many times he went over his speech in his head, it just didn’t seem right. It was driving him crazy since his feelings for Faith were epic. The right words should come naturally. Shouldn’t they? He asked himself.
“Stop pacing. You’re making me nervous,” Parker said. “And you’re about to wear out your hardwood floors.”
“You weren’t exactly cool, calm and collected when you proposed to me,” Cadence quipped.
“You’re not the only one he’s making nervous,” groused Jason. “He’s got us all on edge.”
“Phew,” Daniel said, wiping a hand across his brow. “I thought it was just me. You’re really carrying on. If this is what love does to a person, I’m not sure I want any part of it.”
“Cut him some slack,” Caleb suggested. “It’s not every day a guy proposes to his lady.”
“Proposing.” Micah said the single word in an awestruck tone. “I’m proposing to Faith. I can’t believe it.”
“You’re not having second thoughts are you?” Nash asked with a frown. His boyish features suddenly seemed mature.
Addie jabbed Nash in the side, eliciting a sharp cry of pain from his lips. Caleb grinned at his wife and mouthed the words thank you from across the room.
“Take it easy!” Heath warned. “He didn’t say that, Nash.”
“You better not be!” Shayla said in a warning tone. “Faith is the best thing that’s ever happened to you.” She wagged her finger at him. “You better not forget it.”
Micah swung his gaze around at his siblings and glared at them. As usual with so many Donahue’s around there was pandemonium. “Thanks for all the comforting words. I’m about to kick you all out on your ears. If Faith hears this talk she’ll never say yes.”
A chorus of objections erupted. Although Micah was used to this type of family ruckus he needed calm at the moment. His whole future hung in the balance. He needed to get this proposal right. He needed to show Faith how much he loved and wanted her to be his wife. For so many years Faith had been short changed by life. He wanted to be her pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Her forever.
Micah continued. “Well then, say something positive instead of needling me. I’m seriously about to lose my nerve.”
The sound of footsteps heralded the arrival of someone else. He took a quick glance at his watch. It was still fifteen minutes or so before Faith was scheduled to arrive.
Micah turned toward the hallway. He was praying it was Rafferty. Things between them were still a bit strained. Rafferty had called off the engagement to Pamela and in the aftermath, Micah had told him about Pamela’s suggestive behavior.
Rafferty was mourning the loss of his fiancée. As a result, Micah had been hesitant to tell his friend about his plans to propose to Faith. Although Rafferty had been supportive of his plan, he’d told Micah very plainly he wasn’t certain he would be up to being present for the proposal.
Micah understood. Rafferty was in pain. Only time would heal his wounds. Micah wanted to help his best friend heal. He wanted to show him that once the pain lessened, his tomorrows would be beautiful. But it would take the passage of time to achieve peace of mind.
When his parents came into view in the hallway, Micah smiled at the sight of them. It was quite obvious that something had shifted between Jude and Penelope. He knew he wasn’t imagining it. They had arrived at his house together and there was a vibe between them that seemed almost intimate. Hallelujah!
Penelope made a bee line to Micah. The honeyed scent of her perfume surrounded him as she hugged him and pressed a kiss on his cheek.
“Penelope, you better let go of him so he can breathe,” Jude said with a chuckle.
Once Penelope let go of him she reached out and began wiping off his cheek. “You’ve got a little of my red lipstick on your cheek. I want you to look perfect for your special moment.”
Suddenly, his nerves reached an all-time high. So many questions were racing through his mind. Had they known each other long enough for an engagement? Should he have involved his family in the proposal? Would Faith say yes?
“Am I the last one to get he
re?”
At the sound of Rafferty’s voice, Micah whirled around. Relief washed over him. On a day like today, he needed his best friend more than anything.
Micah walked over to greet him. “Hey, man. I wasn’t sure you were coming.”
Rafferty looked sheepish. “I wasn’t sure either. We’ve been best friends for a long time and you’ve never turned your back on me. You were always there for me when I needed you. How could I do any less for you?”
Micah reached out and hugged Rafferty. “It means the world to me.”
“Oh you guys are going to make me cry!” Shayla wailed. Micah and Rafferty pulled apart as sniffling sounds began to emanate from Shayla. Micah rolled his eyes as he looked at his sister. His father was eyeing her shrewdly. If he wasn’t mistaken, Micah deduced his Pops might have figured out Shayla’s feelings for Rafferty.
“Let’s head outside so we’ll be ready when Faith gets here,” Jude suggested. “She might suspect something is up if she finds us all huddled together whispering.”
Micah clapped his father on the shoulder. “Good looking out, Pops. Thanks for being here.”
Jude winked at him. “There’s no place I’d rather be at the moment.”
“Okay everybody,” Caleb said in a raised voice. “Let’s take this party outside and get in position.”
Bella handed the baby over to Heath. “I pray she doesn’t start crying and ruin the surprise.”
Heath looked nervous. “You and me both,” he mumbled.
They all began to file out of his kitchen toward the back porch which led to his deck and backyard.
As Rafferty walked past him he grinned at Micah. “I really am happy for you, Micah. Faith is a lucky woman.”
“Not half as lucky as I am,” he said, earning himself a pat on the shoulder as Rafferty made his way outside with the others.
Suddenly Micah was all by himself in his kitchen. Although he was a tad nervous, all felt pretty spectacular in his world. He was asking for Faith’s hand in marriage tonight, and if all went well, they would soon be man and wife. He didn’t think Faith would want a huge wedding or anything. Family and friends would be there. And God would be right by their sides at the altar, anointing their love.
Tenderly (Seven Brides Seven Brothers Pelican Bay) Page 13
