Reclaiming Charity

by Ueckermann, Marion

  She wished she could be a fly on the wall in that building, but Charity had insisted she could do this alone, that she didn’t need her mother chaperoning her.

  The procedure shouldn’t take too long. Armed with her DE-99 completion slip from her driver’s education, Charity wouldn’t need to undertake the knowledge or driving tests. Hopefully all that was required would be to pay the license and photo fees, have her picture taken and voila, she could get her license.

  But when Charity exited the license office, it wasn’t in the way that Madison had expected. No running or jumping or waving her permit in the air. Instead she trudged out slowly, shoulders slumped, head and eyes downcast.

  Madison’s heart squeezed. Had something gone wrong?

  Charity opened the driver’s door and sank into the driver’s seat. She flicked a small card into the console box.

  “H–how did it go?” Madison asked. “Did you get it?”

  “Yeah, I got it.”

  “May I?” Madison reached for the card Charity had so carelessly discarded.

  Charity shrugged. “Knock yourself out.”

  Madison lifted the card and stared at Charity’s restricted driver’s license permit. Her little girl could drive a car! Felt like yesterday she was still on a bicycle with training wheels.

  “Congrats, honey. And that’s a beautiful photo of you. Usually these official photos come out awful, but that’s not the case here. You’re so photogenic.”

  “Can we go now, Mom?”

  “Um, sure. Would you like to go for a celebratory milkshake? We could go to Crepes. Maybe I could ask your father to join us?”

  “I just want to go home.” Charity tried a crooked smile, not very successfully.

  Madison nodded. “Of course. But first, can I just say something?” She waited eagerly for Charity to refuse her request.

  She didn’t.

  Madison reached over and took Charity’s hands in hers. “I’m so sorry. Both your dad and I messed up. I’ve been blaming him, reluctant to make up…but we’re both at fault.” Even if it was Brody’s fault more so than hers. She could’ve taken a deep breath and let his mess-ups go the next day, not reacted the way she had, making the situation worse. “I promise you I’ll fix things between your dad and me. Tonight.”

  Madison bumped Charity’s arm with her elbow. “So what do you say? A small milkshake?”

  A smile slowly curved on Charity’s face. She lifted her eyes to meet Madison’s. “Oh, all right. Maybe just a small one. Strawberry. You and me celebrating at Crepes does sound wonderful, Mom.”

  “Fantastic.” Madison pointed to the ignition. “Well, what are you waiting for? Start the car. Oh, and how would you feel about sleeping over at Melinda tonight?”

  “Why, are you planning on not only fixing things with Dad but making up?” Charity shot her a cheeky grin and waggled her brows. “I know exactly why you ship me off to my best friend from time to time, usually with the oddest excuses.”

  A blush warmed Madison’s cheeks. She burst out laughing. “Guilty as charged.”

  “Then I’d love to sleep over at Melinda tonight. But will you ask Aunt Sandy if Baxter can come too?”

  “Of course.” Sandy had better take Baxter. She didn’t need their new pup messing with her plans for tonight.

  Smiling, Charity started the engine then paused before putting the stick shift into reverse. She gazed at Madison, sadness glazing her eyes again. “Mom, do you think you and Dad will ever go too far one day with your arguments? Like get a divorce, making me choose who to stay with? Because I don’t want to choose. I love you both so much.”

  “Oh, honey, no….” Madison worried her lip. At least, she hoped not. But even she didn’t feel that reassured by her answer. What if they did go too far one day and one of them sued for a divorce? There was no denying their arguments had escalated over the years—more frequent, more intense. Despite that, she loved Brody with all her heart. He was her man—always had been, always would be—and she never, ever wanted to place Charity in a position where she’d have to make a choice. Somehow Madison knew that neither she nor Brody would emerge from that fight the winner.

  Chapter Six

  ALL DAY long, Brody chided himself for flying off the handle that morning with Madison. His wife wasn’t the only one to blame for Charity being upset. Madison had every right to be angry over what had happened on Saturday. If the roles had been reversed and she’d been the one to drive irresponsibly with their daughter, he would also be ignoring her. He was getting his just desserts, that’s all.

  He needed to make things right. With Madison and Charity.

  But first, his wife.

  After Brody locked the gallery for the night—a little earlier than usual—he pulled his cell phone out of his jacket pocket and called Sandy.

  He was about to give up hope that she’d answer when her voice suddenly sounded in his ear. “Brody. What can I do for you?”

  “Hey, Sands, how are you?” Brody’s voice dripped so sweet it made even him ill.

  “I’m fine. What do you want?” Her clipped responses told Brody that he was in the dog box with his wife’s best friend too. But what had he expected?

  “Listen, I’m really sorry about my behavior on Saturday—there’s no excuse. And if it adversely affected you in any way, I’m sorry. Truly I am.”

  “Nope. Not me. My friend on the other hand…”

  “And that’s exactly why I’m calling.” Brody stepped into a flower shop a few stores down from the gallery. Smiling at the florist, he pointed to the red, long-stemmed roses. Then, using hand gestures, he indicated his need for two dozen to be packaged in a long, elegant box. Guaranteed to melt Madison’s heart. “I need to make things right with Madison. Do you think that Charity—?”

  Sandy’s heavy sigh cut him off. “Yes, she can sleep over tonight.”

  “Thank you, Sands. You’re the best. Now just to come up with an excuse of why she needs to go to your place tonight.”

  “It’s summer vacation. With no school, there’s no need for excuses. But if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll get Melinda to invite her over for the night.” There was a short pause before Sandy asked, “What time will you be home?”

  “In an hour or so. I have a few things that need to be taken care of before leaving Emporia.”

  “Great. I’ll call Madison, ask if Charity can sleep over, and then I’ll drive to your place and pick her up long before you get there. Madison won’t suspect a thing. Trust me.”

  Well that was easier than he’d thought it would be. “Thanks. I owe you one. Oh, another thing—can Baxter come too?”

  “The dog can come, Brody.”

  Giving a fist pump, he hung up. Yes! He had the entire night to make things right with his wife. And he’d messed up so badly, it might just take all that time for her to forgive him and sweeten to his affections.

  Brody paid for the flowers then exited the small, fragrant shop. Three more stops and he could head on home. Tonight, he planned to sweep his wife off her feet and win her favor once again.

  “Ooh la la, don’t you look amazing?” Sandy made Madison twirl around.

  Madison chuckled nervously. “I hope I’ve made the right choice with this outfit. The first and last time I wore this dress likely started the mess Brody and I are in now. He didn’t approve of it for Charity’s party. I’m just hoping he might think differently for a more private and intimate affair.”

  Sandy’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? What husband wouldn’t want to come home to his wife looking like that?” Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment as she inhaled deeply. “Not to mention the delicious aromas wafting through the house and such a romantic table setting?” She pointed toward the dining room where Madison had set out her finest silverware, crystal, and china. An open bottle of their finest red wine aired on the table between the two place settings.

  Sandy glanced at the packet of rose petals lying on the kitchen counter that
Madison had picked up from the florist before she and Charity left Emporia. “I hope those are for the staircase, the bedroom, and your bed.”

  Heat rushed up Madison’s neck to her cheeks. She buckled over, laughing.

  “Bingo. I guessed right.” Sandy wiggled her arms and hips in a triumphant jig. “You sure you don’t want me to keep your daughter for two nights?”

  The thought of two full nights and a day spread warm tingles though Madison’s body. She fanned herself with her hand and chuckled. “Whew, is it hot in here or what?”

  “No.” Sandy offered her an innocent smile, and then winked. “If you two don’t make up after all this, then I might as well drive you down to the Chase County Courthouse now.”

  For three days Madison had been certain Brody wanted things right between them, but after this morning, the way she’d goaded him…well, she wasn’t so certain. That’s why she’d pulled out all the stops for tonight. She was getting her marriage back on track.

  Until the next time.

  Whoa, where did that thought spring from?

  “So, two nights?” Sandy waggled her brows and prodded Madison in the arm with her elbow before strolling over to the oven. She opened the dark glass door slightly, releasing a loud sigh as she savored the aroma of lamb roasting, hints of garlic and rosemary intermingling with the meaty scent. “Ooh, yum. Maybe we need to make that three nights. Oh, why not just let her stay until after the weekend?”

  Thumbnail to her mouth to hide her smile, Madison’s other hand clasped her waist. She raised her gaze to her friend. “That really won’t be necessary. Tonight will be sufficient.” Stepping forward, Madison turned off the oven. Dinner was ready. Hopefully Brody wouldn’t be much longer.

  A wide grin spread across Sandy’s face as she twirled her blond hair into a knot on her head then let it go, sending a waterfall of gold cascading over her shoulders once again. “Oh, it might not be necessary, my friend, but it would be sooo nice, wouldn’t it?”

  Before Madison could answer, Charity and Melinda burst into the kitchen, an overnight bag in Charity’s hand and Baxter safely tucked in Melinda’s arms.

  Charity leaned back against the refrigerator. “I’m ready, Aunt Sandy, although you do know I could’ve driven myself over. Have you forgotten that I have my own car now?”

  “I know, sweetheart. But if you drove over, I would have missed out on seeing all that your mom has planned,” Sandy said. “Besides, I’m sure neither you, nor your mom and dad want that gorgeous little car of yours getting damaged just yet by Baxter’s sharp nails. At least in my older car, I don’t mind.”

  “Yeah, I hadn’t thought of that. I do want to keep my car looking as good as new for as long as possible. Can we go now, before my Dad gets home? We wouldn’t want to get in the way of anything, would we?”

  “Oh no, we wouldn’t.” Sandy pecked Madison on the cheek and whispered, “Get up to everything I wouldn’t.”

  “Oh you…” Smiling, Madison prodded Sandy lightly in the chest. “You don’t get up to anything. It’s about time I found you a handsome widower.”

  Sandy pulled a face, shaking her head vigorously at Madison’s suggestion. Was her friend really that adverse to the idea of falling in love again, or did she just pretend to feel that way because she was too scared to venture there?

  From the front door, Madison waved goodbye. The moment they pulled away, she hurried back inside. Had to get those rose petals scattered.

  The last pink petal drifted to the bed when Madison heard a sound behind her. She whirled around to see Brody standing at the bedroom door. Tucked under his arm was a long, elegant flower box—probably roses, red she hoped. In one hand he held a box of fancy chocolates. And was that her favorite perfume on the top of the chocolate box that his fingers barely managed to clamp around? Two paper pails of Chinese food hung from the fingers of his other hand.

  Oh…

  She had seen some sorry faces on Brody Peterson over the years, but today, even Winnie the Pooh’s donkey friend, Eeyore, couldn’t have pulled a more contrite face.

  His smile uncertain, apologetic, Brody neared. “Did we have the same idea for tonight?”

  Madison’s gaze skittered around the room at the petals on the bed and the floor. Her mind backtracked to the trail leading all the way to the front door. Oh, her husband knew the moment he walked through that door what was on her mind.

  “Maybe not the menu…” She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. “I do have wine with my meal.”

  His voice husky, Brody whispered, “You look incredible.”

  He set the flowers, chocolates, and perfume down on the tufted bench at the foot of their bed then twisted around for a moment to deposit the paper containers on her dresser. Gaze glowing with ardor, Brody pulled Madison into his arms. “Can you ever forgive me for being such a complete jerk? For being reckless and irresponsible.”

  Madison melted at his touch. Fighting did have its merits. “Can you forgive me too? I shouldn’t have dragged this out as long as I did.” She’d only hurt Charity in the process.

  No need for long discussions, dissecting what they did or didn’t do, what they said or didn’t say, Brody’s mouth claimed hers. All they needed in that moment was to feel the depth of forgiveness in each other’s kiss.

  The meals and wine forgotten, Brody and Madison satisfied the only hunger that mattered.

  Lying beneath the cotton sheet in her husband’s arms, summer twilight finally dimming the room, Madison trailed her fingers across Brody’s stomach, tracing his well-defined six-pack. She buried her head in his chest and began to laugh softly.

  Brody lifted his head from the pillow then tipped her face toward him. A lazy grin curved his lips, the five o’clock shadow coloring his jawline seeming darker in the low light. “And what is so funny?”

  Madison shook her head. “I was just thinking how that dress doesn’t seem to want to stay on my body for more than a few minutes.”

  Tightening his embrace, Brody pressed a kiss to her brow. “As much as I did love you in it, I much prefer you out of it.”

  A soft sigh escaped Madison’s lips. Being here in bed with her husband in the afterglow of their love, all was right with their world once again. Simply picture-perfect.

  “I’m so glad Sandy took Charity. It would be very difficult to make up like this with a teenager in the house.” She chuckled once again, joy overwhelming her. She could just burst like a popped balloon.

  Brody combed his fingers through her hair. “Me too. I was worried she might turn me down. She was pretty mad at me too. But I guess she knew we needed to kiss and make up, huh?”

  Sheet tucked under her arms, Madison propped herself up on her elbow. Her hair spilled over her bare shoulder as she leaned her head on it. “Wait a minute… You spoke to Sandy?”

  “Yes, just before I left the gallery. I needed to make arrangements with her for tonight.”

  Madison’s laughter floated through the room again. “So did I. Earlier this afternoon. But she never said a word to me about your call when she fetched Charity.”

  Brody’s low rumbles joined Madison’s chuckles as they flopped back onto the pillows.

  When their laughter subsided, Brody said, “Oh, she played us both, didn’t she? But it shows how much she wanted us to work through our differences. She’s a good friend, Madison.”

  “She is.” Madison turned on her side and trailed her fingers through Brody’s shoulder-length hair, his signature ponytail long gone. She pressed her lips to his and muttered, “But you are my best friend, even though we fight. Never forget it.”

  “I won’t.” Brody pecked her on the nose then shot upright in bed, his toned back on display for Madison to take in the muscles and contours. So perfect—like Michelangelo’s David. He twisted around to her. “You hungry?”

  Wearing only the sheet and a smile, Madison nodded eagerly. “Starved.”

  “Dinner in bed?”

  Madison shoved at Brod
y’s back. “Just get those paper pails, will you.” She didn’t mind the food being cold—she’d already feasted on something sizzling hot tonight.

  Chapter Seven

  AFTER WAVING goodbye to Brody, Madison shut the front door and headed to her studio. She had to finish the piece for the Stanleys today. Brody needed to ship the landscape off to Curt Stanley in California by next weekend, and it needed sufficient time to dry.

  As she dabbed the canvas with the colors of a California sunset over the North Pacific Ocean—a little bit of vermilion covering the light blue background for the sun-kissed clouds, a touch of cobalt violet along the top right hand corner for the coming storm, and the light gray of buff titanium mixed with cadmium yellow on the left for the sunbeams streaking the sky—Madison mused on the past three weeks of paradise in the Peterson household since she and Brody had reconciled. She was happy. Brody was happy. But most of all, Charity was happy—especially because they’d attended church with her the past four Sundays. Madison had to admit the new minister was quite dynamic, even though most times his sermons made her shift uncomfortably in her seat. Of course, that first Sunday when they’d gone along with Faith and Tyler and the rest of the family, Madison had closed her heart to the words from the pulpit. But every week since then, she’d started to pay more attention to the sermons on God’s love and grace and how God can forgive us, no matter what.

  Brody, however, had grown restless of attending church every week. Madison knew the signs. With the family settled into a blissful period, he had made plans for them all to drive to Monument Rocks in Gove County on Saturday morning, a four and a half hour drive west and north, to do a little nightscape of the magnificent rocks and incredible skies. Already had permission from the owners to paint there at night. And the nearly full moon this weekend would give them perfect lighting on those seventy-foot chalk buttes and arches.