by Edward Goble
Dawn excused herself for a reason Madison failed to hear and got up to leave. The men stood and Jill said she would walk Dawn to her car. Madison’s eyes followed them briefly, but his mind was too preoccupied to download fresh images.
Chapter 53
“Tea, Wednesday?” Jill asked.
“Looking forward to it. I’d love for you to see my new apartment, but I know you’re supposed to be getting rest.”
“How ‘bout we meet there? Give me a chance to get out of the house.
“But...”
“No buts, trust me. I need to get the blood flowing once in a while. Doctor’s orders. 10:00 a.m. sound okay?”
“Great. Jill, I want to thank you for everything.” Dawn said as they reached the white Cavalier.
“Thank me?”
Dawn unlocked the door and turned. “Yes. Thank you. You wouldn’t know this about me, but, I’ve always struggled with relationships. People assume I’m something I’m not. I don’t know what it is. But I can be real around you. I’ve never had a friend like that. Anyway, you’ve made me feel accepted, and - valued, I guess. It’s a wonderful feeling, and I just wanted to thank you.”
“Oh, Dawn, you are so sweet. You don’t realize what a blessing you are to have as a friend. You’ve come into my life at the perfect time. A time when I really needed a friend. A good friend. I appreciate you. I should be the one thanking you.”
“I guess we should be thanking the Lord.”
“Now you’re getting it.”
Dawn shook her head, “You know, I’m just the luckiest girl in the world right now. I mean, between the Pages, Dan and Julie, Shani and Dave, and especially you, I feel like I’ve finally found a home.”
Dawn gave Jill a gentle hug and buckled in for the ride back to Madras. Jill stood watching as the car pulled away, her kidneys hurting and her back aching. She needed to get home herself and lay down for a while.
Shani saw it in her eyes when she got back to the table. “Jill, you look beat. Can I drive you home?” she said.
Madison look at his wife, “Tired, honey? I’ll take you home.”
Dr. Cross looked at his watch and said, “My, look at the time. We’ve been sitting here talking with these wonderful people and the day has slipped completely away.”
“Can’t think of a better way to pass the time,” said Dr. Culbert.
“I agree. But we’ve got a long trip back to Sacramento, my friend. I know you don’t drive after dark, and I prefer not to.” Dr. Cross picked up the check and walked to the cash register as the others gathered their things. He came back a few seconds later. “Okay, who’s the wise guy?”
“What?” Raymond said.
“The cashier said the bill has already been paid, tip and all. This was supposed to be on me. University expense you know. So who is the culprit.” When no one confessed the old men made the others promise to allow them the privilege next time.
Chapter 54
Madison drove Jill and Billy in the Rover, while Dave followed in Jill’s Xterra, and Shani brought Franny in the CTS-V. After dropping off Jill’s car, the newly-engaged couple drove out to Dave’s house for a quiet afternoon.
“Dave, this weekend has been... unreal,” Shani said, looking at her new ring then turning in the seat to face him, “I don’t know what to say, or what to do.”
“You said ‘Yes.’ That’s all I wanted to hear,” he said, taking her hand. “Isn’t that right, shortstop?” He glanced back at Franny who had already fallen asleep in the back seat. “Oops,” he whispered, catching himself. “Miss Shani Andrews,” he began, solemn and serious, “I will be a good husband and a good daddy. I love you, and I love Franny Andrews. I’ll never hurt either of you. I’ll protect you, and I’ll listen to you and respect you and try every day, with God’s grace and strength, to be the man of your dreams.”
“But why me?” Shani still couldn’t let herself believe this was all happening. “These things don’t happen to me.”
“I guess the spiritual answer is that God brought us together because we’re both ready to give ourselves away. Personally, I couldn’t have said that a few months ago. And, being a single mother, thinking only about the wellbeing of your child, you probably weren’t ready either. Am I wrong?”
“No, you’re right. But I didn’t see this coming. I wasn’t looking. But I am so happy,” she said.
“Me, too. Hey, can I change the subject a little bit?” he said.
“I’m not sure I can rationally think about anything else right now,” Shani admitted.
“It’s related. It’s kind of about when we should get married.”
“Oh. Okay. I hadn’t really thought about it, you know, since you only proposed about sixteen hours ago.”
“I know. I’m sorry. But I’ve thought about it quite a bit, so can I just throw something out?”
“The floor is yours.”
“I’m not sure how to frame this. I’ll just give it a shot, and, if it comes out wrong, then you’ll just have to forgive me and call me a creep or something, okay?”
“I’m not sure I need an apology beforehand.”
“Okay, well, I guess back in the Bible, when a couple got engaged, or betrothed, I think they called it, the town sort of considered them already married, in the sense that they were set apart for each other. Have you ever heard that?”
“I’m not going to sleep with you, if that’s where you’re going.”
“No, no, no. See, I told you I’d do this wrong. The betrothal wasn’t for that. They couldn’t sleep with each other, or live together or anything like that. It was just that, in the eyes of the family and the community, it was as if they were already married, in every other sense. Are you with me?”
“I don’t know, but this is fun. I didn’t know you were a Bible scholar.”
“Yeah, right. I think I saw this on a Christmas special or something. Anyway, I’m getting to the point.”
“And I’m getting gray hair,” she smiled.
“C’mon.”
“Okay, okay, go on. Please.”
“So, anyway, if we were to look at our relationship in a similar way, that our engagement was locking us in, so to speak, then, it’s like we are already married, sort of. I’m looking at it that way.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Shani was trying to keep a straight face because she knew that Dave was being serious, but he was dancing around the point so much that it was nearly impossible to keep from cracking up.
He exhaled deeply, as if preparing to drop a bombshell, “I wanted to ask if we could get married, you know, in a few months.”
“What, like six months, a year?”
“Mmm, sooner?”
“Wow. I don’t know what to say.”
I know. I’m sorry. It’s just, I want to be with you, all the time. And I know you want to be with Franny more, and...”
“I want to be with you more, too, but, sooner than six months? I don’t know.”
“Shani, I need to tell you this in confidence, just between us. Because, if we’re going to be husband and wife, be one in every biblical sense, then everything I have is yours, and vise-versa. That’s the way I look at it.”
“Me, too.”
“Well... I’m bringing, uh, a little nest egg into the relationship.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m, uh, loaded. I’m kind of embarrassed by it, and no one else needs to know, but, really, you don’t have to work... ever. If you don’t want to. You can be with Franny full-time.”
“What are we talking about? Are you a millionaire or something?” she said with an unbelieving emphasis.
He took an extra moment before responding. “I guess that’s the word for it. But lets not use that word, okay?”
She stared out of the window as they crossed the Bay Bridge and drove through the city to Dave’s house. Finally she said, “I don’t know what to say. It sounds kind of like you want to marry me
for your money. Isn’t that backwards?”
He thought about it. “Trust me, it is strange for me, too, but I’m totally serious. I love you and I’m ready, and I want what I have to be yours. As soon as possible.”
“You’re weird, you know that?”
“I’ve been told that a time or two. Sorry. How about December?”
She laughed at the thought. “A two-month engagement? Are you crazy? Isn’t that what they call a shot-gun wedding? Momma will freak!”
“I don’t think she would. I think she would love the idea. She’s ready for this too, believe it or not.”
“You know,” she said, “in all seriousness, nowadays, when one partner is coming into the relationship with, uh, money, there is usually some kind of prenuptial agreement that covers any unforeseen, you know, problems.” She didn’t get to finish. He gripped her hand a little more firmly.
“No. No way. This is the Lord’s doing and there is no way I’m going to hold anything back. Like the teaching we just heard. We submit everything, all that we are, and all that we have, to one another. I would drive to Reno right now and marry you; I’m already there; I’m giving myself wholly and completely to love you and you alone.”
“I think I love you too much, if that’s possible,” she said.
“I feel the same way, and no, I don’t think it’s possible.”
“December, huh?”
“I pick the month, you pick the day,” He smiled and kissed her hand.
Chapter 55
Sunday night after Madison got Jill and Billy tucked into bed, he went downstairs and turned on his computer. He could hardly remember all the great things that had happened at church in the past twenty-four hours. His mind was mercilessly replaying the scene after church when he stood between Jill and Judy Turnbull. He felt like two separate people, the church and family Madison, and the other Madison, the one that watched as Dawn Neilson’s apartment lights came on in the morning and sometimes saw her walk to the pool or take out the garbage - the one that fantasized about the wild and free-thinking Judy Turnbull. The two Madisons had never been closer together than they had been today, seeing Dawn and Jill sitting together in the first row and then standing between Jill and Judy. Madison was at one time afraid of being caught and yet confident that he had done nothing wrong. “I don’t have anything to worry about if I haven’t done anything wrong,” he assured himself silently.
He logged on to his mail account and found five messages from jturnbull. The first one was dated today, about an hour after the ambush at the church.
“Hello, Madison. It was so good to see you earlier. I’d almost forgotten what a striking man you are. What are the chances that I would get a seat across from your old professor on the flight from Dallas? Small world. Anyway, I’m at the Marriott around the corner from the church. Be here all day - and all night. yours, Judy.”
Message number two was shorter:
“Dear Madison, It was so nice to meet your wife and son. What a lady-killer he’s going to be, huh? And Jill is an absolute angel. A February baby - wow! I’m a February girl myself. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to red, who knows. Call me or come by - J”
Message three was time-stamped about an hour later.
“Hi, again. By the way, who was the brunette in the green dress? She looked like playmate of the year or something - not that you would know what that is, ha ha. It was a little intimidating to discover what beautiful women you have around, and then there’s me, little blond Texan 2000 miles away. :(
Message four was a note that said she was stepping out for dinner, and message five, time-stamped fifteen minutes ago, said she was sad that she hadn’t heard from him and that she was going to bed. He sent a reply to message five.
“Hi Judy. It’s been a long day, as you might imagine. I can’t believe you just showed up like that. What are you doing in the Bay Area? Business? Well, as you have now seen, my life is very... complicated, which is why I thought it best that we keep our distance. I still think that way, incidentally, although it was very exciting to see you today. The scent of you stepping behind me to speak to Dr. Cross has stayed with me all day. I’m off tomorrow. Maybe we can have coffee in the morning. It would have to be early.” Send.
Her reply came in two minutes.
“Come now. Room 509.”
Both Madisons were arguing with one another as he climbed the stairs to the bedroom. He brushed his teeth and sat on the edge of the bed in the dark for a few minutes. Then he lay back across the bed, his eyes adjusting to the darkness, and whispered to Jill as she slept. He didn’t know what he was going to say till the words came out of his mouth.
“I’ve got to go over to the office for a few minutes. I’ll be back soon. I’ve got the cell phone with me if you need anything.” He kissed her on her neck and smelled her hair for a long moment. He wasn’t sure what he was about to do, but he was certain that his wife, and most of the people he knew for that matter, would not approve.
“Don’t be long, honey,” she mumbled, never opening her eyes.
Chapter 56
Steve Franz and Paula Stone had enjoyed what they both considered to be a formal date, although it was Paula that had picked up the bill, still insisting that she owed the reporter for the complimentary series in the Chron. They had filet mignon at Morton’s and talked the evening away. Paula was off on Monday so she regularly stayed up late Sunday night and slept the clock around. It was her regular indulgence for being a sleep-deprived workaholic during the week. Steve dropped Paula off at her car, which she had left in the church parking lot where they arranged to meet, before heading back to his place in the city.
On his way to the freeway, Steve noticed a familiar looking SUV pull into the parking lot of the Marriott. Instinctively, he pulled into the left-turn lane and turn into the hotel lot, as well. The SUV, a black Range Rover, darted into a parking place in the back of the large lot, a good distance away from the entrance or the street, and the driver, a tall man in an A’s cap, exited and hurried around to the front door of the hotel. Steve said out loud to the interior of his Taurus, “Now, what would the Right Reverend Madison Enright be doing at the Marriott at 11:30 p.m. on a Sunday night?” He backed into a space within view of the front door, and the Range Rover turned the motor off. After a few minutes, Steve walked to the lobby door and looked in. There were a few people at the desk and a few teenagers sitting in the lobby playing handheld Gameboys. “Probably kicked out of their rooms by tired parents,” he assumed. But there was no sign of Madison Enright. Steve headed back to his car to wait. It was either an innocent visit or something else, but the reporter in him wouldn’t let him leave without finding out.
Chapter 57
Madison avoided eye contact with the front desk, keeping his back to the clerk, while he waited for the lobby elevator. He stepped in and to the side of the empty unit when it opened and pressed number 5 on the touch pad. The church and family Madison was protesting every step as the doors opened onto the fifth floor, but the cries were overshadowed by the desire that had won the battle of choices this time. He knocked on the door of room 509 while good Madison hope that she wouldn’t answer and cried ‘Run!’ as loud as an inner voice can inaudibly yell.
Judy Turnbull opened the door like she had been expecting him, which she had. She smiled and opened it wide, stepping aside without saying a word as he entered. She was wearing a long red silk gown over a matching, short red nightie. The outfit matched the ruby shine of her lips and finger nails, toe nails, too, he realized as he noticed her bare feet.
“Welcome,” she said as he stepped inside. Madison was a paradox of emotions; guilt and exhilaration, fear and arousal, pity and lust.
“I... I can only stay a minute.” He stepped into the room as she shut the door. With his back still turned toward her he said, “I had to go by the office, thought I’d come say hello.”
“Mhmm.” She stepped behind him and put her hands on his waist, then eased them ar
ound to his stomach, under his arms and up to his chest. She held him from behind, smelling his shirt and holding herself firmly against the small of his back. “I’m glad you came.” Madison took her hands, her fingers interlocked across his chest, and raised them up to his face, touching them with his lips and nose. He then pulled them gently apart and stepped away from her hold. He walked across the room and took a seat by the window. She followed him and sat on the bed across from his chair. The gown was tied across her waist and fell open as she sat, crossing her bare legs, which were even more shapely and fair than he remembered.
“So. Tell me how you found me. And why?” he asked.
“Are you sure you want to talk?”
“You saw my life. You have to know this is all wrong for me. So, yes. I need to talk, or I’m going to go crazy.”
“How about if we talk later?” Her eyes suggested that she knew talking would not achieve her desired goal.
“Have you been here before? I mean, with a married man?” he asked.
She leaned across the gap between them and rested her forearms on her bare thigh, taking his hands in her own. Looking through him with her baby blue eyes she said, “I’ve been a lot of places Madison Enright, but I’ve never been as attracted to a man as I am to you. You are all I think about. You are all I want.”
“But I’m married.”
“And I am discreet,” she said.
“I can’t do this.”
“You already have.”
“What? I’ve never...”
“Tell me you haven’t pictured this exact setting a hundred times. Me, you, the private room, the wild night that no one would ever know about. If you can say, in all honesty, that you haven’t thought about me that way, every day since we met, then you can get up and leave right now. We’ll just go our separate ways, and that will be that. But, if this is what you’ve thought about and dreamed about and yearned for and wanted and pictured a thousand times, then, you’ve already done it. All that’s left now is to experience the real thing. And trust me, the real thing is better than the dream.” She straightened back up to let him look and think. The confidence and pure sensuality in her eyes made him weak with desire. He felt himself losing the battle, the voice of the good Madison was fading quickly behind the pounding of excitement in his heart. He moved forward from his seat and leaned into her willing embrace. They fell back onto the bed and kissed, at first tentatively, then passionately, Judy wrapped a leg over Madison’s waist and drew him to herself, their hands caressing each other’s shoulders, backs and waist, their fingers running madly through each other’s hair.