Beneath the Scars

by Joan Fennell Carringer

  Reeka’s appetite was gone and she merely picked at her meal. She hoped no one noticed her nervousness or the way she was continually glancing up to look at the corner table. The last time she did it, she noticed Rachel was gone. Oh, please, God, don’t let her come back! Please don’t let her…..

  “I don’t believe it! Dev! After all this time!”

  Everyone looked up at the sound of the unfamiliar voice. Unfamiliar, that is, to all but Reeka and Devon. Raising his eyes, the shock registered all over his face and he didn’t say a word.

  No one else spoke either. Marna, sitting closest to Devon, smiled at the beautiful girl standing there, having no idea who she was.

  Rachel, in turn, looked at Marna. Really looked. No wonder Reeka was so against Devon being with her! How could he, with his good looks and charming personality, have ever chosen someone that looked like her?

  Marna could feel the displeasure in the girl’s stare. Who was she? She reminded her of the irate driver in the rain that day, the one who had told her that anybody that looked like her deserved some mercy.

  Reeka looked down at the table, afraid to meet Rachel’s eyes when she felt them on her. What was she going to do? Was she going to expose her sinister deed, right here in the middle of all these people?

  Finally, Rachel spoke. “My goodness, has the cat got everybody’s tongue? Surely you remember me, Dev. I haven’t changed that much. Introduce me to your friends.” The entire time she was speaking, she was looking at him and smiling.

  Devon squeezed Marna’s hand so hard it hurt, surprising her and she looked at him. His eyes were riveted to the girl’s face, as if he couldn’t take them away from her.

  Finally, after what seemed forever but in reality was only a few agonizing seconds, he said, “Everybody, this is Rachel Clark.”

  Rachel. Marna felt as if her heart was going to jump right out of her throat. The girl he’d loved when he was sixteen. The girl he thought he’d never stop loving or ever forget. The girl who was so beautiful she put every other woman in the room to shame.

  It was Conrad who spoke first. “So this is Rachel.” There was a large smile on his lips. “I remember hearing of you, but never met you. I only know that you and my grandson were friends when you were kids.”

  Kids. The words reverberated through Marna’s mind. Kids old enough to create a child together.

  Rachel kept smiling. “Oh, yes, we were good friends. Mrs. Marks, it’s nice to see you again. You’re just as lovely as ever.”

  Reeka swallowed and forced a smile. “You, too, Rachel.”

  Finally, Devon introduced the others and then there was silence again.

  “Would you like to join us?” Donovan asked then, much to Devon’s chagrin. Of course, he had no idea who she was or why there was so much awkward silence.

  “Oh, no, I wouldn’t dream of interrupting your little get together. It’s just such a coincidence, us all being here at the same time.” Rachel looked directly at Reeka. “Such an accidental meeting.” She turned again to Devon. “I was just passing through and was hungry and this looked like a nice place to eat. Better than most of the fast food restaurants I passed. I thought for a while that’s all you had here in this little town.” She chuckled. “But I sure am glad I stopped here.” Her eyes locked with Devon’s. “I’m not only surprised but delighted to see you again. I’ll be here for another day. Maybe we’ll run into each other again. What a coincidence, huh?” Bending down, she lightly kissed Devon’s cheek. “For old times’ sake.” Without another word, she turned and walked away.

  “Wow!” Donovan said, then grimaced when Sharris looked at him haughtily.

  “Sure was some coincidence,” said Conrad, looking first at Devon, then at Reeka.

  Reeka turned away. Did he know? Had he guessed that Reeka wasn’t really surprised to see Rachel?

  Conrad’s mind ran on. Was that the reason she’d stopped in the middle of their dance and ran to the ladies’ room, because she’d seen her? It would’ve been like seeing a ghost from the past. His eyes moved to Devon, who was just sitting there, staring ahead of him but seeming to see nothing. What was he thinking? And Marna? Oh, Marna. The fear in her eyes was crystal clear and caused a pain to shoot through his heart.

  Neither Sharris nor Taryn had any idea why Rachel’s presence had put such a damper upon what had been a perfect, enjoyable evening. Marna had never told them about Rachel.

  Donovan and Landon exchanged glances and rolled their eyes at each other, but said nothing.

  Finally, Devon spoke. “I really hate to end this great evening, but I’ve got to get home. I didn’t realize it was so late and I have some work I have to get finished.” He stood up, taking Marna’s arm gently and pulling her up with him.

  Donovan spoke. “If Sharris and Taryn want to stay a while longer, Landon and I wouldn’t mind. You go on and do your business, Devon.”

  Reeka stood up. “I – need to do some shopping. That’s the main reason I brought my own car. Marna, you – wouldn’t want to go with me, would you? I’ll take you home later.”

  Marna still felt as if she was in shock. How could an evening that started out so wonderfully end up like it had? Of all the coincidences to ever happen, how did Devon’s old sweetheart wind up in the very same restaurant they were in, at the very same time? As much as she wanted to talk to him about it, she didn’t think it should be that night. She didn’t even want him to drive her home. Although the thought was terrifying, she knew she needed to give him time to sort out his feelings, without her being there. She looked at Reeka. “Thank you. If you’re sure you don’t mind……”

  “I don’t mind at all.” Reeka’s words were true. For the first time, she was seeing the real, caring person behind the scarred face. She was feeling her fear and heartache. Marna loved Devon, and Reeka may have just been responsible for killing whatever feelings her son had for her in return.

  It was all her fault that Rachel had been there. Even though she had no idea how the girl had known where to find Devon, Reeka was the one to cause her to do it.

  ∞ TWENTY-NINE ∞

  “TALK TO ME about it, son.” After a silent drive home, Conrad looked at Devon as they entered the house. “Don’t hold all those feelings inside you. It’s best to get them out in the open.”

  They sat down on the sofa. “I don’t know what to say.” Devon paused, as if deep in thought. “It’s like I’m in shock or something. The last person in the world I expected to see tonight, or probably ever again, was Rachel. I know it’s a small world and it was probably destined to happen sooner or later, but why now? Why tonight, when everything was good and everyone was so happy?” Another pause. “The worst part is that, all of a sudden, I’m remembering all those days with her. I’m back in my teenage years and she and I are going to the movies or sipping sodas together or just driving around. I’d just gotten my license and every once in a while Dad would let me take the car. It was a convertible, and we’d put the top down and let the wind blow through our hair. I would look over at her and think she was the most beautiful girl in the world and I would get a feeling of awe because she was mine. She was going to be mine forever. I may have been young, Pops, but I loved her with all my heart.” He sighed and stopped.

  Conrad said nothing, but simply waited.

  “I thought I’d never get over her. When she told me she didn’t want to see me anymore, I was sure she didn’t mean it, that she’d come back and tell me she was just confused and she really loved me as much as I loved her. But it didn’t happen.”

  “And you eventually got over her. Time is a healer.”

  Devon didn’t reply.

  “You believe that, don’t you? Right now, all you need is a little time to get over the shock of her sudden appearance. Just because you’re remembering all those yesterdays you shared with her doesn’t mean you’re wanting them back.”

  “I know you’re right, and to be honest – although it seems unbelievable – I’m starting
to feel better already. Maybe I just needed to revive all those memories, so I would know I’m able to leave them in the past, where they belong.” Devon finally smiled. “Maybe it’s a good thing, what happened. Do you know what bothered me the most about seeing her, Pops? It wasn’t all this stuff I just told you. I didn’t think about it at all until we were on our way home. When she was standing there, smiling and looking as beautiful as she ever did, all I could think about was how much it was going to hurt Marna when she found out who she was. I didn’t want to say her name. I didn’t want to introduce her to the others. You, me, Mom and Marna were the only ones who would recognize that name. I just didn’t want Marna to hear it.”

  Conrad smiled. “I’m not surprised to hear you say that. You’re so much like your father. He would’ve had no problem loving someone like Marna either.”

  “I do love her. The more I’m with her, the more I want to be. I rarely notice her scars, but when I do, I’m only reminded of how much she suffered because of them. Never because I think they make her ugly. She’s more beautiful to me than Rachel will ever be.”

  Conrad laughed. “Now, my boy’s coming back.”

  “I should’ve insisted on taking her home. I know she didn’t want to go shopping with Mom. She wanted to give me time to think. Well, I don’t need any more time.” He pulled out his phone. “I’m going to call her and tell her I want to see her right away. Wherever she and Mom are, I’ll go get her.”

  The door opened before he could key in the number and he looked up at his mother.

  Reeka walked over to where he and Conrad were sitting. “I knew Marna didn’t want to go shopping and I took her home. I have to talk to you.” She sat down on the recliner across from the sofa.

  All eyes were on her, waiting.

  “Do you want me to leave?” Conrad asked.

  “No, Conrad. You need to hear this, too.” She sighed deeply. “I honestly don’t know how Rachel knew where to find you this evening, Devon, but if it wasn’t for me, she wouldn’t have even been looking.”

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

  “The old friend I was meeting Sunday morning? It was her.” Reeka knew she had to speak quickly or she’d never have the nerve to get it all out. “I called her. It took me a couple days to find her number but I was determined not to give up until I did.”

  “You called her?” Devon stared at her, his eyes wide and disbelieving. “Why on earth……?”

  “Please let me finish. I’m not proud of what I did. I’ve already asked God to forgive me and He has. I only hope you can, too.” She told him just exactly what she’d done, raising her hand to stop either Devon or Conrad if either tried to interrupt.

  When she finished, there was a deep silence for several moments.

  “I’m sorry,” she said then as tears welled in her eyes. “But, believe it or not, it was Rachel who made me see how controlling I’ve always been with you, Devon. The sad part is that by the time my eyes were open, it was too late. The damage was done. I’d already made her curious enough to follow up on my suggestion.”

  Devon’s dark eyes flashed. “What, exactly, did you tell her about Marna? That she was hideous? That she was too ugly for your handsome son?”

  “All I told her was I didn’t think she was right for you and that I was afraid you and Marna would both wind up with broken hearts by the time you realized it.” She sniffed. “When I saw the look in Marna’s eyes tonight, as Rachel stood there so arrogantly, looking at you like she wanted to eat you up and looking at Marna with disgust, I wanted to go to Marna and throw my arms around her and beg her to forgive me, just as I want to do to you now.”

  Devon looked at his grandfather, but Conrad immediately turned away. Whatever Devon said, it had to come from his own heart.

  Reeka continued. “I told Marna what I just told you. Do you know what she did? Although she never said a word as I talked while taking her home, when I stopped the car in her driveway, she reached over and hugged me and told me God always worked things out for good, no matter how his human creatures tried to mess them up.”

  “She was right,” Devon said, his voice very soft.

  Conrad smiled. He couldn’t help it.

  Devon stood up then. “It took a lot of nerve for you to go to Rachel like you did. I wish you hadn’t done it, but you did and it can’t be undone. It also took a lot of nerve, as well as a lot of love, for you to tell Marna and me the truth. You could’ve let it go, let everyone keep believing it was an accidental meeting. Chances are, we’d have never found out any differently because I don’t think Rachel would’ve said anything. Even if she wanted to get back at you by telling, it would’ve made her look bad for having actually acted on your suggestion. So, I’m going to try to be as good a Christian as Marna is, Mom.” He opened his arms.

  Jumping to her feet, Reeka fell into his embrace. After hugging him tightly while her tears flowed freely, she pulled away and looked up at him. “I don’t deserve a son like you. I love you – and Marna loves you. I just pray that what I did doesn’t change the way you feel about her.”

  “It’s changed it a lot.”

  She swallowed, as Conrad’s eyes widened.

  “It’s made me realize how glad I am that I didn’t end up married to Rachel, that the Lord gave me enough time between the end of that relationship to right now, to find Marna and discover what real love is.” He kissed the top of his mother’s forehead. “And now, I’m going to go and tell her that very thing.”

  MARNA opened the door before he had a chance to knock. At first, all they did was stand there, staring at each other, neither knowing how to say what was in their heart.

  “Marna,” he finally said, just as she said, “Devon.”

  They waited a moment, and then he was the first to speak, “I’m so sorry about what happened.”

  She smiled, although her eyes were filled with sadness. “It’s okay. Reeka talked to me on the way home. I guess she told you. Maybe it’s all for the best.”

  “I’m sorry for not bringing you home myself, for not being man enough to explain that….”

  “…I understand.” She couldn’t stop the tear that slipped down her cheek, even though she never lost her smile. “You and Rachel have a past that still binds you together. I saw the way she looked at you, and how you couldn’t tear your eyes away from her. You – you deserve someone so beautiful……”

  His eyes narrowed quizzically. “Are you thinking that, because I saw her again, that I’m wanting Rachel back?”

  “How could you not?”

  “Because I’m in love with you! Marna, Rachel’s beauty can’t compare to yours.”

  Even though her heart was racing because he’d just told her he loved her, it was with a mixture of joy and sorrow. She knew he cared, but she wasn’t sure if he was speaking from his heart or because he didn’t want to hurt her. “Please don’t say that. We both know what I look like! Don’t try to spare my feelings. I – I’m all right with it, if you choose Rachel.”

  “Well, I’m not all right with it!” Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms and started kissing her. At first his lips felt rough, almost angry, but soon they were passionate, yet gentle.

  She didn’t move, not even to return his embrace – or the kiss.

  “Marna, you’ve got to believe me when I say I love you.”

  Very slowly, she raised her arms and put them around him, then leaned her head against his chest.

  “I really love you,” he repeated, kissing the top of her head, then lowering his mouth to meet hers again.

  This time, she responded eagerly.

  When he pulled away, he smiled into her eyes. “Whew! For a minute, I was afraid……”

  “…for a minute, I was afraid, too.”

  He pulled her close again. “You have to believe me. I don’t want a wife who doesn’t think her husband truly loves her.”

  Her eyes widened and she looked at him. “A wife?”

>   “If you’ll have me. I mean, it might seem like a short engagement, but I’ve known you since the day you were born. I was six years old then. I remember the first time I saw you. I thought you were the most beautiful baby I’d ever seen.” He chuckled. “You were probably the first, if the truth were known. But you know what?”

  She didn’t answer, but merely looked at him, waiting.

  “You weren’t nearly as beautiful then as you are now.””

  “How can you say that? All my scars….”

  “What scars?”

  Their lips met again and the kiss continued until they were interrupted by the arrival of headlights in the driveway and a horn sounding repeatedly.

  Turning, they looked to see Taryn and Sharris getting out of Donovan’s SUV, laughing and waving as they started up the walkway toward them.

  Then they finished the kiss that had barely been started.

  THE END

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  Please keep reading for a preview of Above the Fear (coming Feb 2021), the second book in The Eyes of Love Series, as well as a list of all my inspirational fiction books and the referenced scriptures for Beneath the Scars.

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  THANK YOU and GOD BLESS

  PREVIEW

  Above the Fear

  Book #2 in The Eyes of Love Series

  Suddenly, Taryn felt totally alone and frightened. What was she going to do without Marna, who was not only her sister but her best friend? Even though she couldn’t be happier about Marna’s newfound joy, she also couldn’t help being terrified at the thoughts of losing her. There was no doubt that Sharris would find the love of her life and move out one of these days, too. Then Taryn would really be alone.