by JoAnn Durgin
He smiled, relaxing his features. “I’d ask you to call me when you get home, but that would seem kind of stalkerish.”
“I’ll be fine.” What a gorgeous man. A sensitive, passionate man.
He tapped the window ledge. “Thanks again. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Chapter 10
~~♥~~
Heather waited until Chase climbed inside his Explorer and started the engine. When he saluted, she waved and departed the lot first. A quick glance in the rearview mirror a few blocks later confirmed that he’d turned in another direction.
“It’s been memorable? Same to you?” she mimicked. “Lord, did I say that? Please tell me I didn’t.”
You did. The answer came from her subconscious, not the Lord, but she figured the Almighty must be quite amused by her. She’d love it even more if He’d give her some answers.
What’s going on here, Lord?
Ava, her closest friend and confidante in the world—whom she trusted implicitly—had encouraged her to pursue a relationship with Chase. Allie had winked at her a few times during the course of the day and made a few comments about how handsome the Best Man was. The flower girls had giggled, whispered secrets to one another, and waved while she’d danced with Chase. Even standing outside on the sidewalk while they waved good-bye to Ava and Sawyer, the mayor touched her elbow and whispered how great she and Chase looked together.
The stares from some of the women at the church while Chase recited the love chapter had been downright comical. From her vantage point at the front of the church, she’d witnessed some outright gawking. The church custodial staff might find a puddle or two of drool under one of the pews.
Women were drawn to a man like Chase. Drew had been self-assured but in an entirely different way from Chase. Drew gave himself the credit for his own accomplishments and nothing was ever good enough. He’d always wanted bigger and better. Chase had a moral center, and he’d found his fulfillment in a relationship with Christ.
The very qualities that made Chase so appealing were the same reasons she couldn’t allow herself to become involved with him. Then again, maybe Ava was right. Was there a tiny chance that he’d still be interested in her once he found out about her father? Especially in light of his father’s gambling addiction? From what she’d seen, he didn’t judge others.
You need to tell him.
“It’s not like today was appropriate, Lord. It’s not like I could have said, ‘Oh, by the way, my dad builds casinos that encourage people to booze it up and gamble away their life savings.’” That was an exaggeration, but for so many people, that’s exactly what they did. They got sucked into the frantic pace of the casino and kept thinking the next round or hand or game would be the one to make them rich. Even when some of them struck it rich, after a while, it wasn’t enough. Then they’d gamble again and some of them eventually lost it all again in a vicious cycle.
Merging onto the freeway, Heather cranked up the radio and tried to sing along. She stopped on the third line of lyrics even though she’d known this song since her teenage years—a ballad about loving and losing. Weren’t most songs about that?
Punching in a few more stations, she smiled when she heard the same voice she’d heard in Chase’s car. “You sing it, Mr. Fourth Day. Third Day.”
You’re already getting involved. Tell him.
“Okay, is this my conscience speaking or the Holy Spirit?” Needing to clear her muddled mind, Heather lowered the window.
How was it possible she’d learned more about Chase in the span of the last few hours than she’d known about Drew during their entire relationship? Sure, she’d grown up a lot since ending her relationship with Drew, but why now? Why Chase?
So many questions and no answers. “Not fair,” she mumbled. “I know. It’s not like you promised things would be fair.” She glanced over at the bouquet of silk yellow tulips on the passenger seat. How cliché was it that she’d caught the bouquet and Chase ended up with the blue silk garter? It would have been hard not to catch it since Sawyer flung the garter, slingshot-style, straight at the Best Man from point blank range.
Her phone rang. Chase? She pulled it from her pocket as she drove and glanced at the lit screen. Grandma M.
“Hi, Grandma! Do you know what time it is?”
“Of course, I do. I’m not senile yet. How’s my lovely granddaughter?”
“Peachy. What’s up? Can’t sleep?”
“Heather Bear, you know I don’t go to bed before ten o’clock.”
Heather glanced at the digital clock on the dash. Midnight. “You’ve missed your curfew, young lady. What’s new?” She loved teasing Grandma M., her only living grandparent.
“I wanted to see if you’re going to the big bash for your father next week. It’s quite the honor for my Jeremy.”
Heather bit her lower lip. “I’m thinking about it.” That much was true and she could never lie to her grandmother. As much as she’d love not going, she should. And she probably would.
“You tell those people at the ballet you can’t be their star that night, sweetie. It’s important to your father that you’re there.”
“Did he tell you that?” Checking her rearview mirror, Heather switched lanes.
“Not in so many words, but of course he’d want his oldest daughter there. Jeremy’s always been a stubborn boy, honey. I do believe you’re every bit as tough-minded. That’s why you’d be great to take over his business. I keep trying to plant that little germ in his mind, but so far, he’s not listening. He tells me you’re not interested.”
“Are you coming for the honorary dinner, Grandma?” She lived in Palm Beach, after all, and hated the cold weather. Only an event like this might bring her to Indiana near the end of February.
“I am. Wouldn’t miss it. Your dad’s sending his pilot and Marsden down on the private jet to fetch me. I’m going to do it up in style. I’ve got Ella and Lorraine going with me to the beauty parlor on Tuesday morning. We went shopping for a pretty new black gown this week, so I’m all set. It’s sparkly and makes me look like I still have something worthwhile upstairs, if you know what I mean.”
Heather smiled when she heard Anna Montague’s soft laughter. She’d been born to privilege and then married a self-made millionaire, Grandpa Graham, who’d died long before Heather’s birth. Her own father’s temperament was much like his father’s but the occasional bouts of inherent kindness and humor in Jeremy Montague came from Grandma M.
“You know what they say, honey,” Anna said, interrupting her thoughts. “Every woman needs a special little black dress.”
Heather made a mental note to check with her dad’s faithful assistant to make sure she’d ordered an orchid wrist corsage for Grandma. “Your dress sounds lovely.”
“How’s your love life, dear?”
Heather smiled. Her grandmother didn’t hesitate to speak her mind. She’d once asked a famous movie star if it was true that he was impotent. At least she’d asked him in private—overheard by her mother—and not seated around the dinner table.
“Grandma, I’m on the highway and almost at my exit. Can I call you back tomorrow?”
“Of course, honey. If not, I’ll see you at the party next week. Just wanted to wish my special girl good night. I’ll look forward to seeing you soon. Save me a hug.”
“Can’t wait. Sleep well, Grandma.” With a sigh, Heather tossed her phone on the passenger seat.
Reaching her townhouse a few minutes later, Heather parked the Jeep in the garage, grabbed her phone, and hurried inside. She’d go back out and get her things in a bit. First, she had a phone call to make. She flipped on the kitchen light. Before she could chicken out, she wanted to call Chase. Maybe she shouldn’t do it. Hopefully, it didn’t make her seem desperate. Sometimes her impulsive instincts were a good thing, but at other times…not so much.
“Hesitation will get you nowhere.” Heather punched in Chase’s cell phone number before she had time to talk herself ou
t of it.
He answered on the second ring. “Best Man 4U. How can I help?”
Laughing under her breath, Heather leaned her elbows on the kitchen counter. “Maid of Honor here. I made it home safely, but please don’t think I’m being stalkerish by calling you.”
“Not at all. I appreciate it considering I almost dialed your number a bunch of times.” He chuckled. At the end of a long day, in the quiet comfort of her home, that was a great sound.
“Glad I can oblige by calling you.”
“Something about chasing down teenagers on Valentine’s Day gets me all wound up. Now it’s time to unwind even though I’m exhausted.” She could envision Chase running his hand over his beard. Guys with beards did that a lot but she’d never dated a guy with a beard before.
And you shouldn’t start now. Hang up the phone.
“Your name is appropriate then.” She glanced down as her cat rubbed against her leg. “Hey, baby.”
Chase grunted. “Hey.”
Heather laughed. “I’ve got company.”
“I hope you’re talking about a cat or dog. Or maybe your pet hamster?”
“Cat. Hang on a second.” Putting down the phone, she lifted the feline and put her on the kitchen counter. “Purr for Chase, baby.” Of course, she didn’t. “She’s being a diva, as usual.”
“Cats usually are.”
“Oh, no.” She feigned offense. “Tell me now if you’re a cat hater.”
“Relax. I don’t hate any of God’s creatures except—”
“Alligators and man-eating sharks. I remember.”
“Besides, a cat’s a great pet for a woman who’s sworn off…other animals.”
“So, you’re implying that men are animals?”
“I guess that’s a matter of debate but touché.”
Heather scratched behind the cat’s ears. “Ah, she’s purring now. Can you hear her?” She held her phone up to the feline. “Purr for Chase, baby.”
“Yeah, I hear her, but I’d rather hear you purr a little.” He laughed. “Oh, man. I must be more tired than I thought. My turn to ask if I said that out loud?” Yes, the man was definitely flirting now.
“You did.” Her pulse did that little skip thing that drove her crazy but got her adrenaline rushing.
“Must be something about hearing you say baby that got to me,” he said. “So, does the furry diva have a name?”
“Méowyn.”
“Interesting name.”
“It’s a play on Éowyn from—”
“Lord of the Rings.”
“Yes! You might remember it was brave Éowyn who killed the Witch-king of Angmar in spite of being wounded. She even disguised herself as a man to follow her friends into battle.”
“Right, but is your Méowyn as brave as the fictional heroine?”
“Of course. Aren’t you, my pretty kitty?”
Should she say the thing uppermost in her mind? Maybe she should before she completely lost her nerve. Since last night in the closet—a weird enough thought, as it was—she felt somehow empowered. What was it about this guy that made her admit things she’d never say to another guy in the wildest stretch of her imagination?
“Chase, you know that thing you said last night about giving you hope?’
“I recall something about it.”
“The same goes for me, too. If I had to be trapped in a closet with anyone, I’m really glad it was you. Especially the dark closet therapy thing. As weird as that sounds, it was…nice.”
“Same here,” he said. “Their methods might be unconventional, but I think Sophia and Katie might have done us a favor. I have a question for you.”
“Try me.” She rolled her eyes, thankful Chase couldn’t see. “I mean—sure.”
“Will you finish your sentence now?”
She knew exactly what he meant. “I said I’ve sworn off men unless God plants one right in front of me.”
Silence sat between them for a few seconds. “I’m waiting,” he said.
“And then shows me without a doubt that he’s the one. The guy. That he’s the one. Not God,” she stammered.
Could you sound any more like a crazy person?
“Thanks for telling me. Can I be so bold as to assume being trapped in a closet qualifies?”
She smiled. “We’ll see about that.”
“Heather, I haven’t kissed a woman in so long I can’t remember, and tonight I kissed you twice.”
“I’ve practically run away from you twice, Chase. Two nights in a row, as a matter of fact. Would you like to know why?”
“You’ve got my attention.”
“If I hadn’t run away, the kiss count would now stand at three. And counting.”
“Sleep well, Beautiful Dancer.” The huskiness in Chase’s voice worked wonders on her pulse.
“You too, Chase.”
Heather lowered her phone to the counter. “Yep, that should definitely keep the man out of my life.”
Chapter 11
~~♥~~
The Following Week—Tuesday Afternoon
Chase stared at his desk phone. His dad’s phone number glared at him from the display. He wasn’t sure he wanted to answer. Not now. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with his father. When it rang two more times, he finally lifted the receiver and balanced it on one shoulder as he saved his Sunday evening youth group message on the computer.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Chase, I need a ride to the meeting tonight.”
Gambler’s Anonymous. Of course, he needed a ride. He always did.
“I’d walk or catch the bus, but it’s gonna be really cold tonight. Come on. Give your old man a break.”
Chase blew out a sigh. “Sure. What time do you want me to pick you up?”
“Meeting starts at seven, so no later than 6:45.”
“Be ready at 5:30, and I’ll take you to dinner.”
The silence hung heavy between them. “Okay, but nothing fancy. How about burgers? There’s a new place near the house. I hear they’re decent and not too expensive.”
“Sounds good.” Chase bit his tongue not to suggest something more health conscious. David Landers had never eaten healthy except when Chase’s mother had been alive to force feed him. When he was younger and going through his rebellious teenage phase, he’d railed against God for taking her when his worthless excuse for a father survived. He’d blamed God.
Then he’d wised up. His dad was every bit a creation of God as his mother. She hadn’t been perfect, but Melanie Landers had been a sweet woman, generous and giving. She’d given better than she’d received from her husband. His mother had worked hard to make sure their small house was clean and their family of three always had something nutritious to eat. They’d been relatively happy until his mother died of pancreatic cancer when he was ten. Grieving and unable to handle her death, his dad had spiraled into an abyss of gambling and drinking. During high school, Chase spent nights here and there in a shelter and eaten meals in a soup kitchen while his dad sat in jail or went missing, sometimes for a week at a time.
“Chase, you there?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I’ll see you tonight, Dad. I’ll come with you to the meeting if that’s okay.” He didn’t know why he offered since his father never agreed. Embarrassment, most likely. They’d had more than a few arguments about him attending the meeting—the first time Chase had taken David to his GA meeting, the second time, and the tenth. He’d lost count somewhere along the way. He still made the suggestion every single time. Although he could probably go into the meeting without his father’s knowledge or blessing, that wasn’t what he wanted to do.
“You know the answer to that one as well as I do.”
“Then maybe you won’t get a ride home tonight.” He could still tease his dad even if he needed a personal attitude adjustment.
David snorted. “I know better. You wouldn’t leave me out in the cold. You’re a man of God, and my boy wouldn’t do that.”
“E
ven a man of God has to be firm with his father every now and then. It’s called tough love, Dad. Welcome to my world.” He’d take his laptop with him like he did every Tuesday night, go to the closest coffee shop near the meeting location, and camp out until his dad called to come back and get him.
“I’m not one of those delinquent kids you deal with, Chase. Don’t treat me like one.”
Yes, you are, Dad. You’re just an older version.
“I’ll be ready at 5:30.”
“Right.” Chase swallowed his disappointment. “I’ll see you then.”
Too late. David had already disconnected the call.
~~♥~~
Tuesday Early Evening
Heather sat at the kitchen counter idly flipping through the pages of a dance magazine. She glanced up when she caught the familiar scent of Chanel. Affixing a glittering diamond earring in one ear, Ellyn Montague rounded the corner. As usual, her makeup was perfect, every blonde hair in place. In her black dress, six-inch heels, and pearl necklace, her tall, slender mother portrayed the image of the Indianapolis socialite she’d always been. She stopped short when she spied Heather.
“Heather, darling, why aren’t you dressed? Marsden is bringing the car around in thirty minutes.” She tapped the face of her diamond-encrusted watch with the same quirked brow expression she’d given her from the time she was five and running late for ballet class.
“New Rolex?” Averting her gaze, Heather flipped another page, not seeing anything. Now wasn’t the time to pick a fight with her mother. She’d never win. Not that it was a situation to win in any sense of the word. When it came to her parents, she’d learned from experience to pick her battles.
“A Christmas gift from Jeremy.”
Heather stopped flipping pages and narrowed her eyes. “You’re still exchanging gifts with Dad? How does Kate feel about that?”
“We don’t exchange, but if your father wants to give me a gift, I’m not going to refuse. He’s always been a very generous man. And I have no idea what Kate knows or doesn’t know. That’s none of my concern.”
