by Irene Brand
“Is that your husband?” he asked with a sinking heart, remembering her husband had disappeared near the coast of South America.
She shook her head, and Micah experienced a sense of relief. She swallowed hard, but apparently she found talking difficult, for she shook her head and whispered, “It definitely isn’t Jason, but it could be the friend that died with him. So if he’s alive, Jason probably is, too.” She dropped the magazine and buried her face in her hands.
Micah rubbed her tense shoulders. “Now don’t jump to conclusions. It’s been such a long time. How could you know what Jason’s friend would look like now?”
“What else do you know about him?”
“Not much. He was a happy-go-lucky guy, pretty much of a loner. I thought he could have been more than a laborer if he’d wanted to be. He was with us for only a few months while we worked in the Venezuelan rain forest.”
“That sounds like Ryan Bledsoe. He’d made a lot of money in the oil fields of Texas, and he quit working. He said he’d start working again when he ran out of money. Please, Micah, can you find out something about him?”
“I’ll try, but the trail might be cold by now. We disbanded several months ago. Are you sure this is the man?”
“No, I’m not sure, but it could be. Somewhere I have a picture of Ryan Bledsoe and Jason taken on the day they were ready to leave on the sailing expedition. Jason sent it to his parents. I’ve got a stack of their photograph albums. I can look through them to find the picture.”
“I’ll help you, but first tell me what you can about the disappearance of your husband.”
“Ryan Bledsoe owned a small sailboat. He and Jason took it down the coast of the United States and through the Gulf to South America. The wreckage of the boat washed ashore on an island in the Antilles, but there was no sign of Jason or his friend. The authorities traced the registration of the boat, and we eventually heard the news.”
“Was the friend from this area?”
“No. His home was in Texas, but he had a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He and Jason did a lot of hiking on the Appalachian Trail. He was a happy-go-lucky guy without any close family. I resented my husband’s friendship with him. Jason should have stayed at home and taken his responsibility as a father and husband, rather than jaunting around the world.”
“And you’ve heard nothing else?”
She shook her head. “No. My father-in-law hired Cousin Kevin to investigate, but he learned nothing. Apparently, both Jason and Ryan perished at sea.”
Micah noticed that Laurel didn’t exhibit any pleasure over the possibility that Jason Cooper might be alive, and he said as much.
“I don’t mean to seem callous, but Jason and I weren’t getting along very well when he died. We were happy until Debbie was born, but he seemed to resent her. He wasn’t the one getting all the attention anymore. He wasn’t a good father, but his parents praised him to Debbie, until she grew up thinking her father was superhuman. I didn’t disillusion her. That may have been a mistake. If he is still living, it’s hard to tell how he’s turned out.”
Because it was so important for his future happiness, Micah had to ask, “Then you’re no longer in love with him?”
“No, and it shatters me to think I might have to continue as his wife. Debbie would be so happy to see her father that she’d never understand why I wouldn’t be as overjoyed at his homecoming as she is. I might be in the position of either taking Jason back or losing Debbie.”
“Then you wouldn’t stay with him just to keep Oaklawn?”
She shook her head vehemently. “I love the house, and after all the work I’ve done on it, it would pain me to give it up, but I don’t want the house if Jason goes with it.”
Micah smothered a sigh. Another hitch in his plans to ask Laurel to marry him. He knew this would have to be resolved before he could tell her he loved her.
“It’s getting dark,” Laurel said, “so we might as well go inside and look for that picture.”
They went into the room where the piano was located, and Laurel knelt before a ceiling-high cupboard. The bottom shelves held the family albums.
“I’ll start with the albums we’ve prepared since Debbie was born. Even though Jason didn’t leave until two years later, I might have put that picture in one of those.”
By eleven o’clock, they were still leafing through the albums, because Laurel stopped often to reminisce about some of the pictures. Micah was glad to see Debbie in the different stages of growth. Occasionally there was a picture of Laurel, and he was amazed to note how she’d stayed youthful through the years.
“Here it is,” Micah said, pointing to a photo of two young men standing on the prow of a sailboat. At first glance, Micah saw a remarkable resemblance to the man he’d known as Tex. Most of the time Tex had worn a beard, but he would occasionally shave. Remembering those times, Micah thought that the man he’d known could be Ryan Bledsoe.
Tex had been a stocky, quiet, substantial individual. He had unruly dark hair, and as best as Micah could remember, he’d been secretive about his past. He’d done any job assigned to him without question, and he’d worked well. Micah hadn’t had more than a half-dozen conversations with the man during the months he’d been with the expedition.
Laurel carefully compared the magazine picture to the one of Jason and Ryan Bledsoe. “It has to be the same man.”
“I agree that the resemblance is remarkable.”
“And when I was hoping for some peace of mind, this has to happen.”
“Just because this man is alive doesn’t mean that Jason is.”
“I have to find out.”
Micah knelt beside the cabinet and replaced the albums, except the one that Laurel held. “I know you do. I’ll try to get in touch with the leader of that expedition and see what I can learn. It may take a few days. It’s hard to tell where he might be now.”
Chapter Twelve
Working through his agent, Micah learned that the scientist who headed the research group was presently working in a laboratory in Boston. He contacted the laboratory and was told that the scientist was away for a few days. A week passed before he was able to get in touch with the man. Both he and Laurel stayed busy, but felt they were simply marking time until they learned the identity of the man in the picture.
In the meantime, Debbie and Dereck settled into their Colorado apartment. The wedding pictures came and Micah arranged them into three albums—one for Laurel, one for Debbie and Dereck and one for Dereck’s parents. Laurel mailed their albums by express mail, and she spent hours looking at the pictures, marveling at Micah’s expertise in finding just the right pose and encouraging the right expression on the people he photographed. While one portion of her mind couldn’t forget the possible existence of Ryan Bledsoe, she relived the happy days of Debbie’s wedding.
Micah accepted a part-time position at the college to start after the first of the year. When the fall semester started, Micah sat in on several sessions. Laurel’s tenants moved into their apartments for the winter. Leaves hinted of the beautiful foliage to come. And Laurel and Micah waited.
Finally, early one morning, Micah received the message they wanted when he opened his e-mail. He hustled over to the house and found Laurel, wearing a heavy sweater, sipping coffee on the back porch.
“I finally heard from the scientist, and he said that Kenneth Morrow is the name of the man we called Tex. He’s an American, but he lives in a native village on a tributary of the Orinoco River in the interior of Venezuela.”
“Could he have changed his name?”
“Possibly.”
With a long, exhausted sigh, Laurel said, “Even if he is Ryan Bledsoe, our chances of finding out are about as probable as finding a needle in a haystack. I guess we’ll never know.”
“We are going to find this man,” Micah said, his arms encircling her. “This isn’t the way I’d choose to propose to you, but I’ve been waiting several weeks for the right time t
o tell you I love you and want to marry you.”
She hid her face on his shoulder.
“I believe you love me, too. Do you?”
She put her arms around his waist and nodded her head. His embrace tightened.
“I don’t want another nod. I’d rather hear it from your lips. Would you like to become my wife?”
With a heart-wrenching sob, she said, “Yes.”
He kissed her hair. “But you won’t marry me until you’re sure your husband isn’t living. Am I right?”
Another sob. “Yes.”
“After I’ve waited half my life to find the right woman for me, I won’t sit here to wait and wonder. I’m going to South America to find Tex and see what he knows. I want you to go with me.”
Laurel lifted a dismayed face to Micah. “I can’t afford a trip like that.”
“You won’t have to. I’ll pay. I could go alone and find out, but you’ll have to know firsthand or you’ll never be satisfied. I don’t want a wife who lives in the past.”
“I can’t—” Laurel protested further, and Micah put his hand over her lips. She moved away from his hand. “I can’t leave Oaklawn, wondering what might happen here.”
“You can! Every excuse you come up with, I’ll counteract it. Listen, Laurel, this is for our future happiness. You can ask one of your tenants, like Johnny, to stay in the house at night.”
“But what will I tell Debbie? I don’t want to get her hopes up that her father may still be alive.”
“Write her a letter saying you and a friend are going on a trip, and that you’ll contact her in a few days. If things move as fast as I hope they will, we should be back in a week. She wouldn’t have long to fret about it.”
“I wouldn’t consider doing that,” Laurel said, her eyes snapping angrily. “It’s obvious that you aren’t a parent. If I can’t tell her where I’m going and why, I won’t go.”
For a moment, Micah wondered if he was wise to want to marry someone whose temper was so unpredictable, but considering all the other things he loved about Laurel, he decided she was worth it. He’d just have to learn how to respond when she flew off the handle. Instinctively, he knew he shouldn’t answer her in the same tone of voice she’d used.
He shrugged his shoulders. “All right, then,” he said amiably. “I thought I was doing you a favor, but I guess not. I’ll just forget about it. That will give me more time to work on my book.”
He turned away and walked out the door and started toward his apartment.
He heard her steps behind him, and in a meek little voice she said, “Micah.”
When he turned, her head was bowed and she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I’m sorry. I’ve been praying to control my temper, but it’s hard for me. I appreciate your offer to help me, and I do want to go with you to South America, but I must tell Debbie. I try to treat other people the way I want to be treated. I’d want Debbie to tell me if she was going away.”
He was amused at her meekness, but he said sternly, “If you want to be treated the same way you treat others, does that mean you want people to verbally assault you when you say something they don’t like?”
She shook her head and turned toward the house.
Micah reached her in three long strides, took her by the shoulders and turned her into his arms.
“I don’t intend to treat you that way. Tell Debbie about seeing the picture, and that we’re going to see the man and find out what he knows about her father’s death. Don’t suggest that we expect to find her father.”
“I won’t.” She looked up at him with penitent eyes. “Thanks for being so patient with me, Micah. Make arrangements that are convenient for you, and I’ll go along. I’ll write a letter to Debbie and mail it the day we leave.”
“I’ll get reservations as soon as possible, but let’s make a few plans.”
Micah released her and they went inside and sat at the kitchen table. “When can you leave?”
“It will take a few days. I’ll have to let Pete and Brenda know we’re going, too.”
She could tell by the expression on his face that Micah wasn’t pleased with her comment. Speaking as calmly as she could, she said, “I don’t want to irritate you, Micah, but I can’t leave without a lot of people knowing about it. This is a close-knit community—if I go away without telling them, my friends and neighbors would be worried. Especially since I’ve never gone away before.”
“Can’t you tell the Howes that you have to leave on a business trip without giving details? Otherwise, you’ll have to make a lot of explanations, and I don’t think it’s wise with the vandalism you’ve had for everybody in the county to know you’re away. And you shouldn’t give any indication to anyone that your husband might be alive.”
Lack of privacy was one of the things that disturbed him about settling down in this community. He’d never lived in an area where everybody knew every detail of what was going on in their neighbors’ lives.
“You don’t understand,” she began.
“I’ll admit that. I’ve lived pretty much to myself without giving an account to anyone about what I’m doing. Do what you have to.”
“We’re used to sharing our joys and sorrows.”
“I don’t understand such an attitude, but I’ll accept it.” He thought he’d have to if he married Laurel and settled down at Oaklawn. Would her love compensate for having his life on public display?
“I’ll book our flights today, and then we’ll get a passport for you. I’m assuming you don’t have one.”
“No. Doesn’t that take a long time?”
“Generally speaking, it does, but it’s possible to get one in twenty-four hours. However, I’ll schedule our departure several days from now to be sure we have your passport. We’ll make an application for the passport today at the county courthouse. You’ll have to present the original or certified copy of your birth certificate and your driver’s license. You also must have two photos, but we can get those at any photo shop.”
Micah went to his apartment, and taking advantage of online services, he soon had their airline reservations. He next contacted a firm in Washington that could legally expedite the issuing of a passport. They assured Micah that they had the capacity to turn Laurel’s documents around in time for them to leave before the weekend.
“We’ll leave three days from now,” he told her when he went back to the house. She sat on the back porch, doing nothing, and he sat beside her. “I left an open date for our return because I don’t know how long it will take for us to find this man. We’ll leave from the Knoxville airport at noon and arrive in Caracas, Venezuela, around eight o’clock in the evening. I’ve arranged for our rooms at the Hilton Caracas.”
“I want to pay for my fare and hotel room.”
He waved his hand, dismissing the idea. “This is all my idea, and we may be taking a wild-goose chase. I told you I’d pay for it.” With a meaningful glance, he said, “I expect it to be worth the cost of the trip if we find out what we need to know.”
“I trust you to do what’s best.”
“We’ll get your passport application on its way today. You’ll have to pay for the passport fees, so take your checkbook. Where’s your birth certificate?”
“In my lockbox at the bank.”
“We’ll also go to the county health department. You’ll need tetanus and hepatitis shots. Maybe others, too, depending on your medical history.”
Drawing a deep breath, Laurel said, “Looks like we’ll have a busy day.”
“We will, so let’s get on the road.”
Laurel’s respect for Micah increased considerably as he skillfully guided her in every detail of their traveling plans. All summer, she’d considered him a quiet, laid-back man, but her admiration increased more and more as she witnessed his expertise as a world traveler.
They found a shop and had her photos made. She gasped when she saw the finished result, wondering if she really looked so ghastly, but she supposed the ca
mera didn’t lie. At the courthouse, Micah guided her in filling out the application. He’d prepared two letters of authorization to send to the passport company and had them ready for her to sign. Within a few hours, all of the necessary information was sealed in a FedEx envelope and on its way to Washington, D.C.
Before the day was over, Laurel began to understand what an exciting life she’d have if she married Micah. But after being a stay-at-home mom for years, how would she like traveling? Their lives had been so different, could they possibly have a happy marriage?
“Whee!” Laurel said when they got in his car to start home. “I feel like I’ve been in a tornado.”
“And without any lunch, too.” He looked at his watch. “Only four o’clock, but I’m hungry. Let’s stop and have a meal.”
When they came to an Italian restaurant, Micah asked, “How about spaghetti or lasagna?”
“Suits me. Debbie didn’t care much for Italian food, so I never prepare it at home. I often order spaghetti when I’m in a restaurant.”
The cafe was small and homelike. They filled their salad plates at the bar, and while they ate, Laurel said, “I’m beginning to realize the enormity of what we’re doing. I haven’t even been on a plane or traveled in a foreign country. I don’t have a clue about what I should pack and what kind of clothes I’ll need.”
“Haven’t I seen you wearing a denim pantsuit?”
She nodded.
“That will be perfect for plane travel, and wear your most comfortable shoes. I’ve learned to travel light. And the destination always determines what kind of clothing to wear. If we have to go into the jungle to find this man, we’ll be near the equator. It will be hot and muggy. You may want to take some shorts, but I think lightweight pants will be the best choice.”
He reached out and touched her alabaster complexion. “You’ll burn easily, so take plenty of sunscreen. Also bring body lotion, and insect repellant to protect your skin. You’re fortunate your hair is naturally curly, or you’d be worried about damp, stringy hair.”
