by Mary Davis
Meghann let out the breath she was holding hostage. They came into the kitchen; Jenn with a bouquet of flowers. How sweet.
“Dan, you remember my friend Meghann.” Meg shook Dan’s outstretched hand. “I’m sorry, Dan. I’m going to have to cancel our date tonight,” Jenn said, filling a glass of water for her flowers. “Meg had a major jerk dump on her, and I can’t leave her alone.”
“Sorry to hear that.” Dan looked more sorry for himself, but he didn’t argue.
Meghann’s heart went out to the big lug. “Jenn, you go. Don’t change your plans on my account.”
A spark of hope lit Dan’s eyes, but Jenn shook her head firmly.
“I couldn’t do that to you.”
She put a hand on her friend’s arm. “I could really use some time alone. We’ll talk more when you get home.”
“Are you sure?” Jennifer looked her square in the eye.
“Positive.”
Reluctantly Jennifer left, and Meghann was alone with her pain and a big bowl of ice cream. With the works.
The next day, Meghann returned to her cottage. Her mother was there, waiting.
“Why, Meghann? Why would you lie to me about something like this?” Her face was filled with sorrow.
Meg sank onto the couch. “It didn’t start out that way, Mom, honest. Remember in the hospital, when that nurse congratulated me on my marriage?”
“Of course I remember. It made me so happy…”
“But it was a mistake. You were in a coma. The doctor said to talk to you about happy things; things that would make you want to fight for your life; something worth living for. I told him the only thing that would make you happy was if I told you I just got married. All the nurse must have heard was just the ‘I got married’ part. Then she congratulated me when you woke up.”
She met her mother’s eyes. “You were so happy, so excited. It was the first spark of real life I’d seen in you for days.” Her voice choked off, and she cleared her throat. “What was I supposed to do?”
“You could have simply told her she heard wrong. I would have understood.”
“Mom, you didn’t see the look on your face. You got ten times better just with that news, and the doctor confirmed it and said whatever I told you was helping and to keep it up. I was going to tell you when you got here, but then Bruce showed up at the airport, and you perked up even more. I just didn’t want to do anything that would hurt you. Emotionally or physically.”
“Meg, sweetheart, when it’s my time to go, I doubt there will be anything you can do or say to stop it.”
“I know that, but I didn’t want to push you there before your time!” Meghann drew a calming breath. “I’ve seen your hands shake and wondered when you were going to pass out again. I just wanted to make you happy for a change. I know you were really disappointed when I chose to stay out here and not return to Florida. I was just trying to give you what you wanted while you recuperated.”
“What I want is for you to be happy.” Her mother had genuine tears flooding her eyes.
“Why can’t I be happy without a husband and a house and a baby?”
“I never said you couldn’t—”
Meghann took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “But you did, Mom. Every time we talked, every time you asked if I’d found someone, every time you sounded so disappointed when I said no. You made it abundantly clear what you wanted for me, from me. And I just couldn’t give it to you. Not in reality. I want to make you happy, and when I don’t live up to what you want for me, I feel like I’ve failed you.”
Her mother rose from the couch and went to stand by the sink. “You aren’t suggesting that I’m meddling, are you?”
“What about the house thing, Mom? ‘Jump on it. You don’t want someone to buy it out from under you.’ And you kept insisting I’m pregnant when I told you I wasn’t.” Meg was on a roll, and it was easier to just keep talking than to stop what had been building in her for years. “Did you ever listen to yourself, Mom? Did you ever think how it sounded? ‘Meg, dear, do you have a boyfriend? You know I’m not getting any younger. I want to hold my grandchildren before I die. You are all I have in this world.’ ”
Her mother looked away. “It’s just that you sometimes do need a nudge. Dreams don’t come true on their own accord.”
“Whose dreams, Mom? Yours?”
“Well, I thought they were your dreams, too.” A tear slipped down her cheek and she brushed it away.
Meghann went to touch her mother’s arm gently. “They are, Mom. But in God’s time.”
“I suppose you’re right. I’m sorry, dear.”
“I just want you to be happy for me just as I am, unfulfilled dreams and all. If none of the things you want for me ever come to pass, can you be happy for me?”
Her mother took a couple of hasty breaths. “I am happy for you and proud of you. I promise not to meddle in your life anymore.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Meghann was exhausted but also relieved. They’d faced the truth about many things, and they’d survived. And despite the intensity of it all, her mother was fine.
Meg wished she could say the same for herself.
Gayle watched her only child, miserable and discouraged, walk out the back door to the back porch. She raised her hand and looked down at the crossed fingers she’d held behind her back. “One more time, then I really will stop meddling.”
Twenty-Seven
THE NEXT DAY, WHEN BRUCE PULLED UP IN FRONT OF MEG’S cottage, there was a car he didn’t recognize in the driveway. Meghann had left a few things at his place, and he’d decided to bring them to her.
It gave him a good excuse to drop by. He only hoped the extra day he had given her to cool off was enough for her to talk to him. Or at least to listen.
He was grateful she had spent only one night with her antagonistic friend, Jennifer. Gayle had called him yesterday to let him know Meg was there just in case he wanted to stop by. She all but invited him to go over right then. At least he had an ally in her. She was a far cry from Jennifer, who was probably out hiring a firing squad for him. He prayed the unknown car out front didn’t belong to her. He didn’t need her bending Meg’s ear against him.
He opened the gate when Lucky came running around the corner. “Hey, girl.” He petted the dog’s head, then looked up—just in time to make momentary eye contact with Meghann before she disappeared around the corner of the house.
He followed her and found her leaning against the elm tree that stood in the middle of the backyard. Well, at least she hadn’t run in the house and locked the door. The despondent expression on her face tore at his heart because he knew he was the cause of it. He held out the bag of her things. “You forgot a few things.”
She took the bag. “Thank you.”
“Meghann, I’m really sorry for the episode at the hotel.”
“Stop. Don’t. It’s not necessary to say anything about it. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
But it does matter. He needed to explain. It wasn’t his fault.
The back door opened and Brock stepped out. “Here’s your tea, just the way you like it—”
Brock stopped halfway across the yard and stared at him. Obviously he hadn’t expected to see Bruce here anymore than Bruce had expected to see him. And how did he know how Meghann liked her tea?
Bruce looked from Brock to Meg, and his jaw clenched. “I see you’ve moved on rather quickly.” He turned and walked back around the house before he did something they all would regret.
“Bruce, wait!”
When he didn’t even pause, Brock turned to Meghann. “Aren’t you going to go after him?”
“What’s the point?”
“He came to talk to you. Don’t just let him walk away like that.”
“He could have stayed if he wanted to. I don’t want to hear his excuses about Charmaine Altman, anyway.”
“I’m sure there is a logical explanation.”
“He has you fooled, too. Your
brother is good at knowing how to manipulate people and situations, at making everyone believe black is white.”
“He loves you.”
She stared at him, then turned away. It wasn’t true, and she knew it. “He has a funny way of showing it.”
“I think you’ve got him all wrong. You could at least talk to him.”
“I have nothing to say. He’s the one who was wrong.”
“Are you so sure about that?”
Positive. She’d seen it with her own eyes and it still hurt. Bruce had put in a token appearance here—how fortunate he’d actually had an audience in his brother—to show he was properly sorry for all that had happened.
Now he probably was off to see that woman.
Brock was staring at her, and Meg lifted her chin and met his look.
“You know, Bruce could draw the same conclusions about you and me that you have about him and the charming Charmaine.”
“Hardly.” She hadn’t been locked in a romantic embrace with Brock when Bruce showed up.
“You don’t think me walking out of your house like I belong here, with a cup of tea made the way you like it, won’t look the least bit suspicious?”
Why would it? Nothing was going on between them. “Well, maybe he has cause to be suspicious. You said yourself, why stop with one brother when I can have two?”
Brock threw his hands up. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Are you saying the thought of a relationship with me is ridiculous?”
“It is when you’re in love with my brother!”
She opened her mouth to deny it, but he didn’t give her the chance.
“And he loves you, though you both are too stubborn to admit it.”
“I may have thought I loved him, but it was all an illusion. And any feelings I might have had are dead now.”
“Right.” The word dripped with sarcasm. “Which is why you’re so hurt over what you think you saw; why your eyes are puffy and red from crying. Because you have no feelings whatsoever for Bruce.”
She wasn’t going to listen to this. “Why don’t you just go away?” She stalked off toward the back door.
He followed right on her heels. “Because someone needs to talk some sense into you! Admit it. I must have hit a nerve for you to get so mad.”
She went inside, slamming the door behind her, cutting off any further comments. She marched through her little house, holding up a curt hand to stall her mother’s words before she could speak them, and stormed into her bedroom.
She slammed that door shut as well. If only she could shut the door on her feelings as easily.
“To what do I owe the honor of you darkening my door?” Kurt stood from behind his desk and greeted Bruce. “I knew I’d get you to my church—or, in this case, my office—sooner or later. What’s on your mind?”
“Trust.”
Kurt’s smile faded and his brows pulled together. “I hope I haven’t done anything to damage your trust in me.”
“No. It’s not you, it’s me.”
Kurt inclined his head. “So what about trust interests you?”
“How do you regain someone’s trust after they think you did something wrong?”
“Is this someone the Miss Right you’re not dating?”
When Bruce didn’t answer, a smile pulled at Kurt’s mouth but he was good enough to keep it in check. “So this woman thinks you did something wrong? But you didn’t do it?”
Bruce nodded.
“Just tell her you didn’t do it.”
“It’s not that easy. She saw me.”
Poor Kurt was clearly confused, and rightfully so. “Hold on. She saw you do this thing you didn’t do?”
He was going to have to give him a few details. “She saw me with another woman and assumed there was something between us.”
“Jealousy is a mighty enemy to battle, but if you explain the situation to her, I’m sure—”
“It’s not that easy. I have a past with this other woman. We were involved before I became a Christian. And she’s been telling Meg we’re still involved. Then she manipulated me into a compromising situation, and now Meg won’t even listen to an explanation.” He let out a frustrated huff of air. “To be honest, even if she did listen, I don’t think she would believe me. Too much has happened between us for her to believe I am anything but the two-timing womanizing jerk I used to be.”
“Pray for an opportunity to speak to her, and when it comes, make the most of it. Pour your heart out to her. Tell her how you feel.”
How he felt? Would something as simple as declaring his love for her be enough? He doubted it, especially if she’d already turned her feelings toward Brock.
“She means a lot to you, doesn’t she?”
Bruce sighed. “She does. I can’t believe how much. I thought love was supposed to be a good feeling.”
Kurt smiled. “There is no greater feeling than loving someone and being loved in return.”
“That’s just it. I think she loves me, but I’m not sure. And now…I’m afraid it may be too late. I may have already lost her.”
“Because of this other woman?”
“That, and I think my brother is interested in her. I may not have a chance to explain at all.”
“Talk to your brother. Tell him how you feel about Meg and ask him to back off until you have a chance to straighten this all out with her. If things don’t work, well, then perhaps he can pursue a relationship with her.”
Bruce closed his eyes at the thought. Brock and Meg. He wouldn’t be able to deal with that. Somehow, some way he had to work things out with Meg.
And he would. No matter what.
Meghann stood in her front doorway and stared down at the hundred-thousand dollar check made out to her from Ivan Halloway.
“What’s this for?” Was he trying to pay her to reconcile with Bruce? Didn’t they all know it was hopeless?
“Anything you want,” Ivan said in a cool and dispassionate voice. “As long as it is far away from my son.”
Her head came up quickly. He was bribing her to get out of Bruce’s life. She held the check out to him. “Don’t bother. There is very little chance of Bruce and me getting together.”
“I leave nothing to chance.”
“Don’t you see it was all an act? Bruce doesn’t care anymore for me than he does for the tree out in my front yard! It was all a game. Appearances.”
Ivan just stood there, staring at her. “Keep it then, as sort of an insurance policy. If you and Bruce aren’t getting back together as you say, what can it hurt to keep it?”
Why wasn’t the man listening? “I’ll say it slowly. Then maybe you’ll understand. Bruce and I were never together in the first place, so there is nothing to get back to! And I certainly am not taking money from you, for that reason or for any other.”
Poor Ivan. He looked as though he didn’t understand her at all. Well, that was fine. She wasn’t so sure she wanted a man like Bruce’s father to understand her. One thing bothered her, though. The elder Halloway must be worried that something was going on with Bruce or he wouldn’t have felt it necessary to pay her off. Ivan was threatened by her…
She paused, studying him briefly. Or was it her faith that terrified him? Was God knocking on this man’s heart, and Ivan was trying desperately to block out the rapping?
She wondered, even as she laid the check on the table. “I can’t and won’t accept your money. That’s final.”
“I’ll double it.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Triple.”
He upped the price without even batting an eyelash. “I don’t want your money.”
“One million dollars.”
A million dollars! She could do a lot of things with a million dollars, for herself and for others. But this wasn’t about money, it was about principle. And truth. She’d compromised both once before and look where it had gotten her.
She wasn’t going to make that mistake
again. “No. I’m not interested.”
“Everyone has their price, name yours.”
He thought she was greedy; she could see it in his eyes. Just how high of a price was he willing to pay to secure his son? Suddenly she knew just what to ask for. “I don’t want anything from you. But somebody else does.”
“Somebody else?”
She nodded. “God. And His price is you.”
He pulled back with a scowl, but she went on.
“God is calling you, Mr. Halloway. You know it and I know it. And He’ll accept nothing less than everything from you. Embrace God and become a Christian, and you’ll discover what real riches are.”
“You are a fool!” he ground out, and spun on his heels.
Meg fought a smile as he stalked away. Not getting his way didn’t seem to sit well with him. The wheels of his rental car spun in her gravel driveway as he sped away.
She truly felt sorry for him. He was caught in so much turmoil and discontent and so very unhappy. He struggled to control everything, and yet he controlled nothing. Lord, soften his hardened heart.
After his car had disappeared from sight, Meghann realized she still had his check. She had never seen so many zeros, and Ivan threw them around like they were nothing. Well, technically zeros were nothing unless they were preceded by any other number, then the more the merrier.
And on that basis, this check was quite happy.
“Stay away from Meg.” Bruce’s words strained from his throat.
“What?” Brock shifted in the iron balcony chair to stare at his brother.
Bruce moved forward to grip the railing with both hands. The cold metal helped cool his anger. “You heard me. She’s off-limits.”
“Off-limits? What are you talking about?”
“Meghann. I love her like I’ve never loved any woman before. Just give me a chance to work things out with her.”
Brock was staring at him as though he’d gone round the bend. “You think I’m trying to steal Meghann from you?”
“Maybe not steal, but in her vulnerable state she could be easily lured away spending time with you.”
“You got it all wrong, brother.” The metal chair scraped the floor as Brock pushed himself to his feet. “I’m trying to talk her into listening to you. I’m on your side. In spite of the low opinion you still hold of me.” He marched inside.
