Rocky Point Promise

by Barbara McMahon

  “Kids and puppies,” she repeated, staring at the dogs. “Foster parents do a lot, you know, taking in kids, raising them to the best of their abilities. I guess the added burden of pets is something they can’t handle. I wish I’d had a puppy when I was younger.”

  He grinned. “Well, you’ve certainly made up for it with this brood.”

  “I have, haven’t I? What fun I’ve had!” She needed to focus on that. She’d had a blast living in Rocky Point. If this stage of her life ended, she had wonderful memories.

  “And lots more to come,” Tate said.

  She shrugged. “I’m trying to adopt Paul’s stance—be content with whatever I have.”

  “I think you should adopt the Lord’s stance—life more abundant.”

  “It’s been abundant here,” she said with a smile, wiping the last of the counter and rinsing out the dishrag. She’d miss it so if she had to leave.

  Tate came to the counter and reached for her hands, still wet.

  “Faith, I love you. I didn’t expect to fall in love again. I loved Mandy. But she’s gone and I did fall in love again.” His voice grew hoarse with emotion. “I can’t imagine my life without you. I want to hear your laughter in the morning, see you across the dining table each night. I want to show you all that life in a small town can offer. Show you what I can offer. Please, would you marry me?”

  She shook her head. “No, Tate. You don’t know what might happen. If the cancer has returned, it could mean the end. At the very least another round of chemo, which is so enervating. I can’t deal with emotional entanglements and keep focused on getting well. Thank you. I wish my answer could be different, but I have to say no, again.”

  “I had a talk with Pastor John before I came over. Everything’s a muddle. But I know one thing—I believe. I believe in the Lord. I believe that the Creator of the universe has everything under His control.” He squeezed her hands and gazed deep into her eyes. “No one said this life’s journey would be easy. But the things that keep it going are love and family and faith in the Lord. I want you as my wife, for me to love and cherish and walk beside for as long as we have. I think you care for me, right?”

  Faith couldn’t lie. She nodded. Pulling her hands free, she quickly dried them on a towel. “I love you, Tate, and that’s why I can’t marry you. It wouldn’t be fair.”

  “Hey, life’s not fair. But it can be glorious. We’ll face this together and, Lord willing, we’ll come through on the other side.”

  She yearned to accept the love he offered. “It’s not fair to you,” she repeated, hoping she could remain firm in her decision. The temptation to give in, to let him share the burden, was strong. But her resolve was stronger.

  “It’s fair if I say so.” He reached out and pulled her closer. “Marry me, Faith. I thought I couldn’t deal with something like this again. But the pastor helped me see that my faith in the Lord is the one true thing in life that will never change. I might stumble and even fall, but the Lord’s there to pick me up and set me on my feet again. Let me be there to help you get on your feet again. I love you, Faith.”

  “I love you, Tate,” she said, giving that much.

  He kissed her gently, then more passionately. Lifting his head he grinned down at her.

  “I’m waiting for the yes,” he prompted.

  “After—”

  “No, now! We’ll confront the future together!”

  Dare she risk it. Could she have enough faith in what he said?

  “What if—”

  “We step out in unceasing faith,” he said, his gaze holding hers.

  “If you’re sure—”

  He gave a shout and picked her up, twirling them around to the accompaniment of Maggie’s barking and the puppies yipping. Laughing, he leaned his head back and shouted, “She said yes, Lord. Thank You!”

  Faith laughed at his delight. “I haven’t yet, but I will. Yes!”

  He kissed her again, then set her back down. “I wish you had a rooftop deck so I could go up and shout it from there. We could go out on the top of the steps.”

  She giggled. “Silly. It’s enough to know you want me no matter what.”

  “If I were sick, what would you do?” he asked, tenderly pushing back some of her blond curls.

  “Care for you the best I could.” There was no doubt about that. She’d do anything for him.

  “Me, too. Come on, let’s go tell my parents.”

  “Oh.” Faith’s smile faded. “Your mom’s going to be so disappointed. I heard her talk about wishing for grandkids. She doesn’t know, does she, that I can’t have children?”

  “Marriage isn’t only about children, Faith. It’s about two people pledging their lives together, and making their way—together. If we decide we want kids, we’ll adopt. There are lots of kids left alone, just as you were, who need loving parents.”

  “They won’t be yours,” she said sadly.

  “Of course they would be—yours, too.” He ducked his head to see her better. “Do you love Maggie?”

  “Yes. She’s a sweetheart.”

  “She’s a dog, actually. But how long did it take you to fall for her?”

  “About ten minutes.”

  “And you think you couldn’t love babies just because someone else gave birth to them?” he asked.

  “I would love a baby, a small child. I like kids.” Hope began to blossom. He really wouldn’t mind adopting?

  “Me, too. So after a few years of having you to myself, maybe we’ll adopt. We’ll see how it goes. We’ll see what the Lord has in mind.”

  Faith nodded. They’d have to be sure she was going to make it for the long haul. She just hoped his parents would feel the same way.

  The next morning, Faith was on top of the world. Both Todd and Cecile Johnson had been thrilled with the news and welcomed her so sweetly into their family. She hadn’t gotten to bed until after midnight as they discussed wedding plans and other contingencies. She and Tate had explained the medical issues and the possible ramifications. Distressed at the news, they offered support and help however they could. Once, Faith caught Cecile looking at Tate as if to judge how he would handle things. Whatever she saw reassured her, because she nodded and looked back at Faith with a warm smile.

  To her surprise, neither of Tate’s parents seemed concerned about her inability to have children.

  “I was adopted and adored my parents,” Cecile said. “We would welcome whatever baby you two have into our family. How could we not love another child?”

  Faith had been torn between tears and laughter most of the evening. She had never expected such an instant embrace, as they enveloped her as part of their family. Her family, as soon as she and Tate married—both the Johnsons had insisted on that.

  Dr. Mallory was already at the clinic when she arrived.

  “Have you heard anything?” she asked. Fear warred with hope. She took a breath, trying to calm herself, but she anticipated the worst.

  “Not yet.”

  Marjorie came in and looked at them both. “Good morning,” she said. She frowned. “Is something going on?”

  “Good morning. I’m expecting an important call from Hunter Labs. Please find me wherever I am when it come is. I can’t miss that call,” the doctor said.

  “Sure. I’ll make sure you get it,” Marjorie said, glancing at Faith, then back to the doctor.

  “I need to talk with you later, Marjorie, but I see Mrs. Denton is here for her appointment,” the doctor said, turning to smile at their first patient as she entered the reception area.

  Faith went back to get the file and greeted their patient when she came to the exam room. The routine of the day would keep her occupied until the lab called with results. She had prayed last ni
ght and again this morning for the anomaly to be easily handled. With Tate’s love and support, she could face anything. But for his sake, she hoped it wasn’t the cancer returning.

  The call came in just before nine-thirty. Marjorie went to find the doctor, who, in turn, called Faith to join him in his office. “This concerns you, might as well be here.”

  She closed the door and watched as he picked up the phone. “Thanks for getting back to me so quickly,” he said. He nodded his head several times, gave a couple of “hmms,” and glanced at Faith once. “Could you fax the report over and then mail a hard copy? I want to make sure I have all that. Okay. Thanks again.”

  He hung up and looked at her.

  “No anomalies,” he said.

  “What?” She hadn’t expected that. “But, the earlier test. The one Dr. Stephens did…” She sat down on one of the chairs. She didn’t understand. “I’m really okay?”

  “You’re really okay. I don’t know what Stephens thought was wrong, unless it was a false positive. They did every test I asked and came up with everything within the normal range. You are not even anemic. The results are from a healthy young woman in the prime of life.”

  Faith closed her eyes against tears and lifted up a prayer of thanks to the Lord. Her heart felt as if it would explode with happiness. She quickly opened her eyes. “I have to tell Tate. He insisted that I marry him, even before he knew I’d be okay.”

  “Run along. I want to have a talk with Marjorie.”

  Faith nodded, and jumped up, happiness threatening to overwhelm her. She couldn’t call—she had to see Tate. Tell him the Lord had blessed her again and she was not sick. She scarcely gave a thought to the message she’d seen. A week of heartache and anguish vanished like the wind. She was healthy!

  She ran all the way to city hall.

  Two minutes later she burst into the sheriff’s office.

  The deputy looked up. “Good morning, Faith. Can I help you?”

  “Is Tate in?”

  “He is.” Before the man could say anything further she raced down the hall, stopping at the door and looking at Tate. His head was bowed, his eyes closed. Was he praying?

  “Tate.”

  He snapped up at that, took one look at her and dashed around the desk. “You’re okay?” he asked.

  She nodded, laughing, crying, reaching out to grab hold of him. “I’m fine. I’m not sick! Everything’s in the normal range. Everything!”

  He picked her up and twirled her around, setting her down on her feet and holding her so tightly she could scarcely breathe.

  “Thank You, Lord,” he whispered, kissing her, hugging her, thanking the Lord over and over. Faith echoed his heartfelt prayers. She was well, in love and going to marry the world’s most wonderful man.

  “Thank You, Lord,” she said.

  Chapter Nine

  Tate drove her to the clinic and went in to speak to the doctor. There was no one in the reception area, but a sign on the counter said to have a seat and someone would be right with them.

  “Dr. Mallory said he was going to talk to Marjorie,” Faith said, glad there were no patients waiting.

  “Then we’ll wait a minute or two,” Tate said, reaching out to hold her hand. “Once you’re done with work, let’s go to dinner. Here in town or Monkesville or even Portland, if you like.”

  “I’d love to have another dinner at your place, on your deck. According to locals, this nice warm weather won’t last forever.”

  “I’ll pick you up around six,” he said, leaning in to give her a kiss just as Mrs. Baldwin walked in.

  “Well, am I hearing wedding bells?” she teased, when the two sprang apart.

  “You are, Mrs. Baldwin. You’re the first to know that Faith has agreed to marry me.”

  “Oh, no, don’t tell me that. You go home and tell your mama first thing. She’ll skin you alive if she knows you’re spreading the news around. She should know first,” the older woman admonished. “I shan’t tell a soul until I hear it from Cecile. Go on now. Don’t let anyone else catch you canoodling.”

  Faith laughed. “Canoodling?”

  “Maybe it’s an old Rocky Point saying,” Tate said with a shrug and a grin. “She’s right—I’d be in big trouble if my folks didn’t already know. We told them last night,” he said to Mrs. Baldwin. “There are wedding plans to make.” He gave a groan. “Good grief, am I going to hear about this from Zack and Joe. Especially Joe, after I was less than enthusiastic about sitting through endless hours discussing his wedding.”

  She laughed again. Faith could have danced around the reception area she was so happy.

  “We could elope,” she suggested. She didn’t care about the wedding…she was looking forward to the marriage. To spend her life with Tate—how blessed could one woman be?

  “Oh, no,” Mrs. Baldwin said. “Nothing this town likes better than a wedding.”

  “And you deserve the best one we can afford—white dress, flowers and a huge reception at Trinity,” Tate said.

  “You already had a big wedding,” she said.

  “And I want another one—with you. The last one I’ll ever have.”

  She smiled at him.

  The door behind her opened and Marjorie came out looking subdued. She glanced at the two of them, started to say something and then saw Mrs. Baldwin.

  “You were right, Marjorie,” the older woman beamed. “Our Faith was interested in the sheriff. They’re getting married!”

  Marjorie looked at them, frowning slightly. “I wish you well,” she said stiffly. She cleared her throat. “I need to speak with Faith—alone.”

  “See you at six,” Tate said, tapping her chin with his finger.

  Faith would have preferred another kiss, but conscious of the others in the room, appreciated Tate’s more casual goodbye. There would be plenty of times in the years ahead for kisses—privately in their own home.

  She was dazed at the thought of getting married, sharing her life with Tate forever.

  “At six,” she repeated and watched until he left.

  Mrs. Baldwin sat in one of the chairs. “Hurry up, Marjorie.”

  Marjorie stepped back into the hall. Faith followed.

  “I apologize for everything. I was unaware of the full situation. I thought if you left, my niece—never mind. I won’t be doing anything like that again. And I should have given you your doctor’s message immediately so you could have contacted him before he left for vacation. Again, I apologize, I had no idea how important it was.” She took a deep breath. “I got it wrong, anyway. He said no anomalies.” She didn’t meet Faith’s eyes, but kept hers on the wall behind her.

  “That’s all right. Actually, maybe it’s better it all happened as it did.” Faith wouldn’t elaborate, but she’d never forget that Tate insisted she marry him before he knew she was well. She’d cherish that knowledge all her days.

  Marjorie met her gaze then. “How better?”

  “It showed Tate and me that his love was strong enough to deal with any challenge we might face together. He was worried he couldn’t go through something like what happened with his first wife. I’ll forever remember that even thinking my cancer had returned, he stood beside me. I might always have wondered.”

  Marjorie nodded. “I haven’t been the easiest person to work with. I really thought my niece, Heather, would be the best one for the job. But Dr. Mallory told me just now that if he had not hired you, he still wouldn’t have hired Heather. She lacks the experience he wants for our clinic. I will do better in the future.”

  Impulsively, Faith gave her a quick hug. “That’s all we can ask for, is to try to do better as we go through life. We’ll let bygones be bygones and start fresh.”

  Marjorie
looked startled when Faith pulled back. “That’s nice of you.” She studied Faith’s radiant expression. “You love Tate Johnson, don’t you?”

  “So much, you’ll never know,” Faith said with a big smile. She hoped the entire world realized that.

  “He’s a good man. Cecile and Todd have two fine children. I hope you two will be happy together. He’ll be more likely to stay on as our sheriff if he has family and settles down in Rocky Point.” She checked her watch. “Well, I’d better get back to work. Flo Bradshaw doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

  Faith received a half-dozen calls that afternoon, wishing her and Tate a wonderful life, asking about the wedding, saying how happy people were to hear the news. Faith missed most of them, but Marjorie made it a point to bring each message to Faith’s station almost before the ink was dry.

  When Janette called, Faith was between patients and took her call.

  “Woohoo, friend. I’m so happy for you. But this means you and Tate have to drop out of the singles group, and I’ll miss you.”

  “We haven’t even talked about the wedding, so we’ll still be singles for a while longer—enough to help at the rummage sale,” Faith said.

  She had mixed emotions. She knew she’d always be fond of the people in the singles group who had made her feel so welcome. They’d see each other at church and around town. But Janette was right. She was no longer eligible. She was now officially part of a couple. She had a man to marry, a life to build together. And, if the Lord willed it, one or two children to adopt, make their own and raise with love and faith.

  “I get to help with the wedding. I’m calling Cecile right now. You’ll have your whole Trinity family to help out. It’s going to be so much fun!” Janette said with glee.

  Hanging up, Faith gave a brief prayer of thanksgiving for the happiness that almost overwhelmed her.

  Just before the clinic closed for the day, Tate returned.

  “I couldn’t keep away,” he said, walking into the back after Marjorie had told him they had no patients.