Beneath the Scars

by Joan Fennell Carringer

  He turned and smiled at her. “Hi. I hope you don’t mind my dropping in without calling or anything.”

  Did she mind? “Not at all. Would you like some coffee?”

  “No, I can’t stay.” He held up a large envelope. “I found something I think you might like to have. Pops said it was fine with him if I gave it to you.”

  She walked closer and took the envelope he was offering. As it slipped from his hand to hers, their fingers touched, and she felt the magic of it.

  “You might already have one,” he said, oblivious to her inner emotions.

  Nervously – not because of wondering what was in the envelope, but simply because he was standing so close – she opened the flap, reached inside and pulled out an 8x10 black and white photograph. It was of three men, standing close together and smiling like they were the happiest people in the world. She looked closer. They didn’t appear to be more than 16 or 18 years old. One was wearing coveralls and the other two, blue jeans. Behind them was a very old car.

  She gasped. “Oh, my goodness! Is this who I think it is?”

  He laughed. “Tell me who you think it is and I’ll answer your question.”

  “It has to be! This picture must be really old, but look how clear it is and in what great condition it is. It’s my grandfather Mike, Conrad and Ottie. Right?”

  “Absolutely right. Pops and I were going through an old trunk in the attic and found it. The minute I saw it, I thought of you.” He chuckled. “You should’ve heard Pops laugh when he saw it. Said he hadn’t seen that picture in years and had forgotten all about it. Apparently, Mammaw packed it away and they both forgot it.”

  She was still looking at it. “I recognize Grandpa, even as young as he is, from some pictures we used to have. Sadly, we lost them in the fire, so this is a real treasure. Tell me, which one is Ottie and which one is Conrad?”

  He inched even closer. So close she could feel the warmth of his skin next to her. Pointing, he told her which one was which.

  She laughed. She had to do something to overcome the emotions running through her because of his nearness. Still, in another way, she didn’t want them to go away. Would she ever have a chance to feel like this again? Even if she was the only one having such delicious sensations, it was a beautiful and wonderful feeling.

  When she sensed his gaze on her, she raised her eyes to meet his. He had a large smile on his lips and his eyes were sparkling with unrestrained joy, yet at the same time, she saw something else in them. Something totally unexpected. A seriousness. A look of wonder, of appreciation, of – fear?

  She quickly lowered her own eyes to look again at the picture. What in the world was she thinking? “Thank you for this.” She inched slowly away from him. “Are you sure you won’t stay for coffee? Maybe you can consider it as payment for the picture.” She grinned.

  So did he. “Maybe I will.”

  She led the way to the kitchen, her heart racing with every step she took. She should have let him leave, it seemed to be saying, but at the same time, it was feeling happier with every beat because he was still there.

  Taryn was still sitting at the table when they entered the room and looked up at them.

  Devon grinned. “This has to be Taryn. I’m finally getting to meet the other sister.”

  Even though Taryn smiled, Marna could sense her sister’s uneasiness as she shifted in her seat and tried to inconspicuously loosen the blouse that was a little snug around her stomach.

  “Taryn, this is Devon. And look what he brought me.” She held out the picture.

  Both Taryn’s eyes and smile widened as she took the photograph and looked at it. “Oh, my goodness! This one is Grandpa! Who are the others?”

  “Conrad and Ottie.” Marna started toward the coffee pot while Devon sat down next to Taryn.

  “Hard to think of them all being that young, isn’t it?” he asked her. “One of these days, we’re all going to look like they do now.”

  “That’s okay,” Taryn grinned, her eyes never leaving the picture. “There’s only one alternative to getting old, you know.”

  Sharris joined them at that moment, smiling her beautiful smile, but to Marna’s relief, not trying to flirt with Devon.

  They sat around the table for a long time, talking, reminiscing and laughing before Devon stood up to leave.

  Sharris went to her room. The minute Taryn and Marna were alone, Taryn looked at her sister and grinned. “No wonder you’re so crazy about him,” she said. “He’s not only good looking, he’s fun to talk to and be with. He’s going to be yours someday. I feel it in my bones.”

  Marna couldn’t help wishing her bones felt the same way.

  ∞ THIRTEEN ∞

  DEVON WALKED into his grandfather’s house, whistling. He stopped immediately when he discovered how quiet and dark it was. There were no lights, no television, and none of Pops’ favorite music coming from the radio. There were no sounds whatsoever. He became immediately concerned. “Where are you, Pops?”

  No answer. Figuring he might be asleep, Devon went to his room and knocked lightly on the door, then opened it. He wasn’t there. He checked the kitchen and bathroom, but there was no sign of him. Where could he be? He didn’t drive and didn’t even have a car any longer if he did, so he couldn’t have gone anywhere. What if he’d tried to go to the basement and fallen? With his heart in his throat, he ran to the doorway and opened it. All dark down there. Even as he sighed with relief, he couldn’t suppress his anxiety. His grandfather was nearly ninety years old. What if something had happened to him? What if……

  The door opened at that moment and Conrad entered. At the same time, Devon caught sight of a truck backing out of the driveway.

  “Pops, where have you been? I came home and couldn’t find you and was worried to death!”

  Conrad grinned. “Now, don’t you worry about me, son. I’m just fine, as you can see.”

  “But I didn’t know that.”

  “Do you think, just because I’m old, that every time I’m out of your sight I’m going to die or something? If that had happened, you’d have found the body. Now mind you, it would only be my shell because the rest of me would be in heaven with your mammaw. So why should you be worried?”

  Devon grinned and hugged the old man. “Because I love you and I want you here with me. Mammaw and God can wait a little longer for you. Now, where were you?”

  “My friend Donovan came by and picked me up and we had lunch together and he brought me back home. It gave me a chance to get out for a while.”

  “You should’ve called me. I’ll take you out anytime you want to go.”

  “You were with the girls. Did you have a good time?” Conrad sat down slowly in his favorite recliner in the living room.

  Devon seated himself next to him on the love seat. “You should’ve seen their eyes light up and heard them laugh when they saw that picture. It never occurred to me that all their photographs would’ve been lost in the fire until Marna mentioned it.”

  “So, Devon, which one of them do you like the best?”

  Devon’s eyes widened. “What are you getting at?”

  “You were kids together. There’s a bond, you know. You’re all single. It stands to reason that you should marry one of them.”

  Devon laughed. “And what makes you think I want to marry anyone?”

  “I don’t think it, I know it and God knows it. He meant for men and women to marry and have families. It was his plan from the beginning of time.”

  “Maybe and maybe not. Adam and Eve never had children until after they committed that first sin.”

  “He knew all along what was going to happen.”

  “Too bad people can’t foresee a little bit of what’s to come. The entire disaster could have been avoided if only Marna and Billy and Martha could have had a premonition about the fire.”

  “We can’t live on if onlys. It happened, just as sure as Adam and Eve sinned. From their sin, we have the world we liv
e in today. Something good eventually comes out of everything that happens.”

  “I don’t know if I agree. I used to think that but now I can’t help wondering about it. How can a fire that killed two people and disfigured a beautiful girl ever turn into anything good? There’s been nothing but pain for Marna. She deserves better.”

  “She’s the one, isn’t she?”

  “Now don’t be jumping to conclusions.”

  “You can see beneath those scars, can’t you?”

  “You know I’ve never judged anyone by appearance, but it doesn’t mean….”

  “….that you could love someone because of it?”

  Devon swallowed and looked away from the question in his grandfather’s eyes. Would he ever have the wisdom and foresight of the old man? How did he know what he’d been feeling for Marna? He wasn’t sure of it himself. He’d thought of her often, ever since that first unexpected meeting. When he was having dinner with her beautiful sister, he had been wishing he’d been with Marna instead. For that matter, why hadn’t he given the picture to Sharris when she answered the door this morning, instead of waiting for Marna to come get it? How many times had he found himself fighting against the feelings that surfaced when they were together? Why couldn’t he accept what his heart was trying to tell him? Was it because, even though he liked her a lot, he refused to believe it might turn into something more? Perhaps because he didn’t want it to, because his physical eyes still couldn’t see anything but her scars? Because, even though she was becoming more and more special to him, he still couldn’t – or wouldn’t – let himself even imagine…..

  He shook his head and stood up.

  “Where you going?” Conrad asked.

  “I have some work to do. I’ll be in my room for a while, if you need me.”

  “Donovan confided in me that he really likes Marna.”

  Devon turned around in his tracks. “Donovan said that?” He pictured in his mind the tall, handsome blonde-haired man who could probably have his choice of any number of women.

  “Why are you so surprised? A lot of men want more than just a pretty face. You know yourself she’s desirable.”

  Devon didn’t know why his heartbeat suddenly sped up, but he didn’t like it one bit. Why should it bother him if Donovan had taken an interest in Marna?

  “I have to admit something to you, son. That first day when Donovan came by wasn’t an accident. I asked him to come and compliment Marna, not only to boost her own confidence in herself, but hopefully, to make you jealous.”

  “To make me jealous?”

  “She’s the one for you. I had to think of some way to make you realize it.”

  He overlooked that last comment. “That was a terrible thing to do to her, Pops, to ask someone to give compliments he didn’t mean. If she ever found out, she would be deeply hurt. I know her well enough to know she’d rather nothing was said at all, than to be told a lie.”

  Conrad continued, as if he hadn’t heard a word he said. “Yep, he did it as a favor for me but the funny thing is, he took a real interest in her. It may not have happened that first day. I think it was after what happened last night.”

  “Last night?”

  Conrad told him about how Donovan had been there when Marna’s car had stalled and how he’d spent over an hour visiting with her and her sisters afterward. And how the more he was with Marna, the more he saw the beauty inside her and the less he even noticed her scars.

  None of the sisters had mentioned the visit that morning. Donovan’s name hadn’t come up at all. The more Devon thought of it, the more uncomfortable he became.

  Conrad continued. “So, Devon, you know Donovan’s a good looking man. I know him well, and he’s also a good, all-around person with a heart of gold and he’d treat a woman right. If I wasn’t so set on you marrying Marna, I’d encourage a relationship with him.”

  “How do you know she wants a relationship with anyone? You’re taking a lot for granted, Pops. You told me that day I came was the first time you’d seen Marna since the accident, three years ago, and all of a sudden, you know just exactly what she needs in her life, and you think it’s me?”

  Conrad grinned.

  Devon shook his head, said nothing more, and started to his room.

  ∞ FOURTEEN ∞

  THE REST OF THE WEEK passed quickly, and Marna was up early Saturday morning. She felt exceptionally good and thought she’d do a few things she’d been putting off. Like some cleaning. That was the one thing neither she nor either of her sisters ever seemed to want to do, so they all waited til they were in the mood. Then they dug into it with everything they had. She laughed at the thought. Today was the day. She hoped one or the other of Sharris or Taryn would want to help, but if they didn’t, it didn’t matter. They were all used to working alone when one got an energy spurt and no one else shared it.

  She started with her room and bath and had them spotless in less than an hour. The kitchen was next.

  Dressed in her favorite light-weight jogging suit, Taryn was sitting at the table when Marna entered, pushing her cart of cleaning supplies. Looking up, she laughed. “It’s one of your days, isn’t it?”

  “I just finished my bedroom and bath. Now I’m going to attack this kitchen.”

  “I’ll help. Believe it or not, I have a little energy myself and nothing else to do with it.” Standing up, Taryn began to clear everything off the table so she could polish the wood finish.

  Marna turned on the radio and danced around the room as she swept the floor. Before long, she started to sing along with the music and Taryn joined her. When the song ended, they both laughed.

  “Maybe we’ll know the words to the next one,” Marna joked, “so we don’t have to make up our own.”

  Neither heard Sharris come into the room until she spoke. “Hey, you, two! Didn’t you hear the doorbell?”

  Taryn and Marna looked at each other, then at their sister, then at the short, dark-haired young girl in the nurses’ uniform standing behind her, who was smiling broadly and holding a beautiful bouquet of brilliant red roses.

  At first, neither recognized her, but then Marna grinned. “You’re Josie, from the nursing home.”

  Josie kept smiling. “I hated to just barge in on you, but I just got off work and Ottie Monroe absolutely insisted I bring you these flowers. He says he doesn’t trust a florist to deliver them and they had to get here today, so I picked them up and here they are.”

  What was so special about today?

  Marna went forward and took them out of her hands. “These are absolutely gorgeous! I wonder why he sent them. Did he say?”

  “Just that they had to get here today. Since you know Ottie, you know he doesn’t need a reason to do something sweet and kind.”

  Marna couldn’t resist pressing her nose against them and sniffing. “Oh, heavenly! I hope it wasn’t out of your way to get them here.”

  Josie laughed, displaying deep dimples. “That’s the funny part, Marna. I live just across the street. Ottie knew this and that’s why he wanted me to bring them.”

  Marna’s eyes widened. “You’re the one who built that new house? I can’t believe I had to go to the nursing home to meet you.”

  “Life’s too busy, I guess. We’ve lived there for two years now.”

  “But how did he know where we live?” Taryn wanted to know.

  “I told him,” Marna answered.

  Josie added, “And I never even knew who you were before you came to see him.”

  “That’s probably because we don’t get out much,” Marna responded. “We all work at home.”

  “That sounds like an ideal situation. I – don’t believe I’ve ever met your sisters.”

  As Marna set the vase on the table, she introduced her to Sharris and Taryn. Sharris spoke, smiling, and then excused herself, saying she had an appointment she had to keep.

  Marna invited Josie to stay for coffee.

  Josie declined, saying she’d worked
all night and didn’t want to be kept awake once she hit the bed, but she’d love to stay and talk a few minutes.

  The three of them sat down at the table. “You look awfully young to be a nurse,” Marna said. “I thought it the first time I saw you.”

  “I’m older than I look. Twenty-eight, to be exact.”

  “Just two years older than me,” Taryn said.

  “I also have a ten year old daughter.”

  “Now, that sounds interesting.” Smiling, Marna poured coffee for her and Taryn and set the cups on the table, then seated herself directly across from Josie.

  Josie spoke. “It looks like the two of you were pretty busy when I walked in. I can’t help but mention that I don’t have nearly as much fun working as the two of you seemed to be having.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “I won’t stay long. You probably want to finish up, so you can get on with your day.”

  Taryn found herself feeling strangely at ease with Josie, more so than she usually was with someone she just met. “Don’t worry about it. It can wait.” She laughed.

  “One thing certain,” Marna added, “the dirt won’t disappear by itself so it’ll still be here later.”

  “So what do you three sisters do, working from home?”

  They talked for a little while, comfortable and at ease with each other, before Josie started yawning and left.

  “I’m glad I don’t have to work all night,” Marna commented when she was gone.

  “I like her,” Taryn said.

  “Me, too. Just think, we may have never met if I hadn’t gone to see Ottie that day.” Looking at her sister, she grinned. “You have to meet him, sis. He and Conrad are both so funny when they tell those stories about the things they used to do with Grandpa.”

  “So you said. I can just vaguely remember Conrad, from when we used to play with Devon when we were kids. I was eleven when Devon moved away, but I remember thinking his grandfather was ancient, even then.”