by Karen Malley
“What, are you all in this together?” Adam asked. “Mom’s already told me she’s in need of more grandchildren.”
“Well, don’t look at me,” Desiree said. “My two little monsters are about all I can handle.”
Adam laughed, and made a mental note to make the drive home more often.
After dinner, Dave pulled Adam aside. “Hey kiddo, I’m taking you out tonight. A bunch of the old gang is back in town, and we’ve all gotten permission from our better halves for a guys’ night out.”
Adam hesitated. He wanted to see his old buddies, but how would they react to what happened to him?
Dave seemed to read his mind. “Adam, no offense, but none of those guys care what happened at the firm. They’re coming out tonight because they want to see you. It’s time to put the past problems behind you and move on to the future, with people who still care.”
Adam nodded. “Big brother, sometimes you can be smart.”
A few hours later, Adam found himself surrounded by faces from his past, out at their favorite burger joint. The food was plentiful and greasy, and there were enough darts and pool tables to keep them busy for hours. The old friends easily fell into their patterns of ribbing one another good-naturedly. Adam almost forgot why he left Buffalo in the first place, until a voice from behind made him freeze.
“Adam?” He didn’t need to turn around. He would recognize that voice anywhere. Slowly, he turned to face the woman responsible for such pain and heartbreak in his life. There she was, decked out in a curve-hugging pantsuit. Time was kind to her. If anything, she was more attractive than he’d remembered. He forced a polite smile. “Hello, Gina. How are you?”
“Oh, Adam,” Gina gushed. “You look fantastic. I heard you were back in the country. I tried prying information out of Dave, but he wouldn’t tell me anything.”
Adam shot a grateful glance at Dave, who had joined them.
“When I found out the guys were getting together here tonight, I had to come see you. Can we talk?”
A knot formed in Adam’s stomach. He was just starting to relax, enjoy himself. He didn’t want to do this. Not now.
Dave came to his rescue. “Gina, Adam is spending tonight with us. He’ll be in town for several days. Maybe the two of you can hash things out another time. You’ve waited three years—another couple of days won’t kill you.”
Gina grimaced.
“Give me a minute, Dave.” Adam stood and escorted Gina to a quieter area of the restaurant. No part of him wanted to have this conversation, but if Gina needed closure, the least he could do would be to give it to her. That would be the Christian thing to do. “Gina, you still have my parent’s number?”
She nodded.
“Give me a call after Christmas and we can grab a coffee. I’ll make sure they don’t hang up on you.” He’d meant it as a joke, but her expression showed that she didn’t take it as one. What could he do? He wasn’t about to give her his cell. “I need to get back to the guys. It’s been a long time.”
Gina’s features deflated, but she held her head high. “I’ll call you. We need to talk.”
The knot strengthened in Adam’s stomach. She walked away, leaving him with a sea of emotions.
Dave approached him from behind. “Come on, man. Try not to let her get to you. Let’s go shoot some pool.”
~*~
The trip was good medicine for Adam. Christmas Eve, the whole family worshipped together. His heart warmed as he stood next to his parents, their voices blending together in song. What a blessing. It was great to see the old gang again, and his mother was all smiles at having her brood together.
Christmas afternoon, the Harrison men had their annual football game in the snow. Adam was thrilled to be a part of it again. While they celebrated Christmas in Africa with the orphans, nothing compared to being surrounded by family. Between church, a home cooked feast, and exchanging gifts, the day flew by.
The next morning, Gina called. She sounded nervous, as if not sure what to expect on the other end of the line. It was understandable, for even though Adam’s family was warm and welcoming to her while they were dating, having their son stood up at the wedding was enough to cool anyone’s feelings. Fortunately for Gina, Adam picked up the phone.
“Hey Adam, I’m in the neighborhood. Are you still up for some coffee?”
Adam groaned inwardly, and said a quick prayer to control his emotions.
Ten minutes later, Gina emerged from a shiny new BMW.
Adam spared her coming to the house and met her in the driveway. Sliding into the passenger’s seat, déjà vu washed over him. It had been a long time since he’d been in a car like this, and a long time since he’d been in the presence of a woman like Gina.
As they drove to the local coffee house, Adam studied Gina out of the corner of his eye. She was elegant, refined, and confident. A woman used to getting what she wanted. Every hair was in place, her appearance perfectly coordinated, down to the last manicured fingernail. He couldn’t help comparing her to Kathryn. Kathryn who looked beautiful in an old T-shirt and jeans. Kathryn who never wore make up, threw her hair in a ponytail…
What would Gina would do if she ever got a flat tire? She’d make two phone calls. One to get towed, and another to a limo service to take her home.
After arriving at the coffee shop and awkwardly making small talk, Adam laid it all on the table. “Gina, I need to be honest here. I can’t even begin to explain how much you hurt me. I’m not sure what you want, but I’m uncomfortable sitting here pretending nothing ever happened between us.”
“Oh, Adam. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. I’ve wanted to clear the air for years, but I couldn’t get in touch with you. Please, can I explain?” Gina wrung her napkin between her fingers.
Adam couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her. “Go ahead. You’ve got me here, and unless I want to walk home in the snow, you have a captive audience.”
“I did love you, Adam. I wanted to marry you, but I was confused. When you had all that, er, trouble at work, you were like a different person. I didn’t understand why you wouldn’t go along with what Daddy and the others were telling you. I thought you did it all to yourself, that it was your fault that you didn’t listen.”
Adam started to interrupt.
Gina held up a hand. “Please, let me finish. I thought that then, but that doesn’t mean that I think that now. Please understand, the stories Daddy told me were a lot different than what you were telling me. He didn’t want me to marry you. Still, I am Daddy’s little girl, and he wouldn’t stop me if that’s what I wanted. But after a while, I wasn’t sure what I wanted any more. After you left the job, you kept talking about trying to find God’s will for your life. I didn’t know what you meant by that then, but I’m starting to get it.” She paused for another sip of coffee.
Adam stared at his cup, waiting for her to finish.
“On our wedding day I was scared because I didn’t know you anymore. How could I marry someone whom I didn’t understand?”
Adam interrupted. “You should’ve talked to me. We could’ve worked things out. Do you have any idea how humiliating it was to stand in front of all our family and friends and tell them you didn’t want to marry me after all?” Adam’s voice was getting tight. How was this still bottled up after all this time?
Tears welled in Gina’s eyes. “There’s no excuse for what I did. You have every reason to hate me. That day I was ready to go to the church, but I couldn’t go through with it. Instead of getting in the limo, I took off in my car, wedding dress and all, and drove east until I got tired. I checked into a motel and stayed there by myself for a few days. I’m sure the motel staff were talking about me, showing up in my wedding dress, but money talks, and I got one of the maids to buy some normal clothes for me.”
Adam pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stall the headache that was coming on. “I tried calling you so many times.”
“I turned off my phone.
I didn’t want to talk to anyone. My parents were beside themselves with worry, and I can’t imagine what you must’ve been going through. I was too afraid to talk to you. When I finally got up the nerve, I was told you hopped on a plane to Africa. I could never convince Dave to tell me how to contact you.” She paused as the door opened and brought with it a group of teenagers and a gust of cold wind. She turned back to Adam.
“I heard through the grapevine that you were back in the states, but I didn’t know where. No one did. I wasn’t about to call your parents and find out from them. Then Laurie told me that Jim was meeting you guys the night before Christmas Eve, and, well, you know the rest.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “I guess all I wanted to do was to tell you I’m sorry. It would mean the world to me if someday you’d be able to forgive me.”
Adam studied Gina, trying to see her the way the Lord would. Here was a repentant woman, asking for a chance to be forgiven. She was right, it was inexcusable, but he hadn’t been perfect either. “Gina, I forgive you.” Adam surprised himself with how easily the words came. “God has taught me a lot the past few years. I was difficult to live with those last few weeks before the wedding, and I apologize for that. The situation with your father and the other partners at the firm was incredibly difficult. I did what I felt was best, and while I was disappointed at the outcome, I’m a better person for it. It’s never the wrong decision to stand for what is right.”
Gina relaxed visibly, allowing the hint of a smile to grace her flawless face.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t talk to you more about what was going on. Of course, it was hard for you to be in the middle of the dispute between your father and me.” He looked into her eyes. “Has it been three whole years?” He allowed himself to be carried back in time, to a place where this woman was his and he was hers.
Gina put her hand over his. “You look amazing. Apparently mission work treated you well. What are you doing now?”
“For now, I’m working on a construction crew. We’re building a mall in this suburban community in Pine Springs, Pennsylvania. It’s a nice place. Grows on you after a while,” Adam said.
Gina raised an eyebrow. “Construction? I didn’t realize you knew anything about that.”
“Dave and I volunteered for a charitable construction foundation throughout high school, and I continued with it in college. I learned a lot during that time. Plus, I did a lot of construction in Africa,” Adam said. “Anyway, that’s not the point. It’s what I’m currently doing, and it’s paying the bills. It’s not up to your standards, but…”
Gina laid a hand on his arm. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m glad you’re happy.”
Adam took a minute to let that sink in.
Was he happy?
19
Kathryn picked up the phone.
“Katie, now that your mom has gone back to Florida, I thought you might be lonely,” Anne said. “Would you like to join us for a trip to the movies?”
Kathryn smiled. “Anne, you know me so well. What time should I be at your place?”
Kathryn was all smiles as they loaded into the mini-van after the show. “Thanks again for including me, Anne. I love how the kids’ movies always have lines in there for the adults’ entertainment. I can’t believe Emma made it through so much of the movie before falling asleep.”
“We were blessed,” Anne agreed. “When one of the church families gave us movie tickets for a Christmas present, I wasn’t sure how it would go, but it went well. Ben enjoyed it.”
Ben gave his mom a thumbs up sign. “We should do this every day!” he announced.
As Mark pulled out of the parking lot, his cell phone rang.
Anne grabbed it. “Hey Adam, Mark’s driving us home right now. Can I put you on speaker?”
A moment later, Adam’s voice filled the car. Just hearing his voice warmed Kathryn’s heart, but she stayed quiet while Ben took over the conversation. After a few minutes of Ben detailing every toy he got for Christmas, his father shushed him.
“How’s the trip going, Adam? How was the reception from everyone?”
“It was great to spend time with my family again. My nephews are wearing me out, but I love it. I hung out with some old friends again, and they were very accepting.”
“That’s great, Adam.”
“There’s one more thing. I ran into Gina again. Well, she found me, but that’s not the point.”
Kathryn tensed at the mention of Gina’s name.
“How did that go?” Mark asked.
“It was awkward at first, but we sat together and talked things out. God is amazing. I’ve been able to forgive her. Man, I feel better. I would’ve faced everything a long time ago if I knew how it would make me feel.”
“Forgiveness is incredibly freeing,” Mark agreed. “I’ve probably counseled a dozen people who struggled with not forgiving. If you let it go, you gain the freedom to move on with your life, unburdened. I’m glad for you, Adam.”
“Me, too, Mark. Thanks. It’s good to be home again, and to no longer be afraid of my past. Hey, so, I was wondering. How is Kathryn doing? I tried to give her a call, but she didn’t pick up.”
Kathryn tried to signal Anne, but she was too late. Her secret was blown.
“Kathryn’s right here in the car with us. We all went to the movies together this afternoon. Here, I’ll take you off speaker. Here she is.”
Kathryn paled. She didn’t want to talk to Adam, not after what he said about Gina. Still, she couldn’t exactly beg off now.
She found her voice. “Hi Adam. I’m glad you had a nice Christmas.”
“Hey, Kathryn. I tried to call, but I didn’t bother leaving a message when you didn’t pick up. I figured you were busy with your mom.”
“Yeah, we spent the last couple of days running around to my aunts’ houses. She left yesterday, though, so it’s just me and Bandit now.”
“Great! That’s what I was hoping. You’ve decided to keep him?” There was a smile in his voice.
“I didn’t have much choice, did I? He’s taken over the place. He’s even sleeping at the foot of my bed now.”
“I’m glad he’s keeping you company. I hope the rest of your break goes well. I’ll be driving back on the first, then it’s back to work on the second.”
“Me, too. Work shuts down between Christmas and New Year’s.” Kathryn didn’t want to make small talk. It was too hard to fake her way through being polite. “Enjoy the rest of your trip. Happy New Year.” Before she could hang up, Adam got a few more words in.
“Take care, Kathryn. I miss you.”
Adam missed her? Suddenly Kathryn found herself smiling again. Just because he’d forgiven Gina didn’t mean he was getting back together with the woman. Her relief was quickly cut short by an interrogation from the front seat.
“Who’s Bandit?” Anne asked.
“Adam got me a dog for Christmas.”
Mark and Anne shared a look.
“Can we go play with him? Please, please?” Ben begged.
Kathryn laughed. “It’s fine with me if it’s OK with your parents. Why don’t you all come over for dinner? We can order a pizza, if you want.”
At the mention of pizza, Ben started dancing in his car seat.
Ben and Emma suffocated Bandit with hugs as soon as they got in the door. They went to the living room, where Emma gaped at the Christmas tree, open mouthed.
“That is the coolest Christmas tree ever,” Ben declared.
Anne followed the children in. “Ahh, the famous tree.”
Kathryn shrugged, smiling. “I told you we went the homemade route.”
After the kids and Bandit were worn out from a game of fetch, Kathryn took pizza orders and went to the kitchen to call it in. When she came back, Mark and Anne were talking in hushed whispers. Her ears perked up at Adam’s name.
“I understand you’re concerned, Mark,” Anne said. “But Adam has been good for Katie. I never would’ve thought about a do
g, but what a wonderful idea. Her first Christmas without Robert could’ve been so hard, but he made it better for her.”
Kathryn cleared her throat and entered the room. Anne and Mark exchanged a guilty glance. Kathryn broke the awkward silence. “The pizza will be ready in 15 mins. They do takeout, but I usually pick it up. It’s right around the corner.”
Mark offered to get it and took the kids along.
Anne and Kathryn got out plates and the makings of a salad.
Anne took advantage of the chance to talk to Kathryn alone. “Katie, I’m proud of you. I wasn’t sure how you’d handle Christmas without Robert. I see you still have pictures of him around.”
“You haven’t been here since he passed away. I’m sorry.”
Anne touched her shoulder. “It’s fine.”
“To tell you the truth, I considered putting the pictures away, but that won’t make me forget. I do miss him. I still think about him every day. At some point, I found I could remember the happy times without such a loss.”
Anne nodded. “I’m glad. I’m beginning to experience the same thing.”
The rest of the evening was as pleasant as the afternoon. After some pizza, salad, and ice cream, Anne herded the kids to get home.
“Anne, I just thought of something. Do you guys want to go out for New Year’s? If you’d like, I could watch the kids for you.”
Mark and Anne exchanged a pleased glance.
“Are you sure?” Mark asked. “There are a few couples from church getting together and we were invited, but we turned them down. I’m sure it’s not too late to change our RSVP.”
“I’m sure. The more time I spent with your little guys, the more I like being with them. They could even sleep over here if they’d like to. Then I won’t even need to stay up until midnight.”
Anne and Mark agreed, and just like that, Kathryn had plans for New Year’s Eve.
20
The next few days, Adam found himself having daily conversations with Gina. They had a lot to catch up on, and Gina was anxious to do so. She even managed to convince him to take her to a New Year’s Eve party.