At the mention of Clay Richmond, Holly developed goose bumps. He was, by far, the most popular boy in their class. With his swoon-worthy blond hair and blue eyes, nearly every girl in the entire high school pined for him. It shamed her to think she was one of them. Of course, he would never give more than a passing glance to somebody like plain Jane, Holly Morris. A man who chose a woman for her looks wasn't the kind of guy she wanted to be with anyway.
"So, I take it you're going to this reunion."
The paper noises stopped. "So are you. We’ll go together, or Luke will bring you. Just think how some of those women like Lucy Phillips will feel when they see how you look now."
"Appearances aren't what matter, Tess."
"I know, I know." Tessa’s exasperated sigh was a little dramatic. "But you have to admit you've come a long way from the high school Holly Morris. You were always pretty, but after you lost weight and learned how to fix your hair and wear makeup, you blossomed."
She had to admit most of her classmates would be surprised. Not that their opinions really mattered, but it might feel good to see their reactions. "When is it?"
"Oh, it's not for a month." Unsurprisingly, the excitement had disappeared from Tessa’s voice. Patience was not one of her virtues. “I guess they want to give the people who’ll travel plenty of notice.”
"I'll mark my calendar." Of course, to do that, she’d have to get up off the floor. "I'd better go, Tess. I have another load of laundry coming out of the dryer in fifteen minutes, and I still haven’t folded this one.” In fact, she’d flopped the towels around so much they probably needed a second washing.
"I need to get busy, too. I have three classes worth of homework assignments to grade, and if writing skills were the only necessary qualification, there would be a ton of doctors in my classes. Scribbles, I tell you."
"Okay. I'll see you at church in the morning."
"Yeah." There was a brief pause. "Don't forget your promise about the phone call, Holly."
Amid the normalcy of their conversation, she had put the unpleasant phone call and horrible memories it instilled completely out of her mind. Nevertheless, she promised. "I'll remember."
"Okay. Bye."
Holly looked around her at the haphazard spiral of towels and washcloths and decided the floor was as good of a place as any to sit and fold the poor, mistreated things.
A class reunion. It was difficult to imagine seeing all the people she attended school and graduated with. Tyler Brady and Sally Young were voted class sweethearts during senior year. Did they even see each other anymore? And what happened to tiny Kim Feldhake? She was so petite her mom had to alter a graduation gown before Kim could wear it. And, Tom Dwer and Kevin Tripp—those two were always in trouble, with Tom being the brains—although not very efficient ones since they were constantly getting caught—and Kevin the brawn. She couldn't remember hearing Kevin speak more than two or three words at a time.
She pictured other classmates as she once more folded laundry. Each of them was bound to have changed during the past ten years.
And as for the identity of her caller, she'd just listen at school. Whoever phoned wouldn't be happy unless he could brag about it.
There was nothing in Shadow to worry about.
Was there?
Chapter 2
“Hey, Clarence, whatta you say? Ready to go in and get some food in our stomachs?” Luke Walker patted the scruffy neck on his five-year-old, Heinz Fifty-seven dog. The large, multi-hued mutt’s floppy ears went back as he nuzzled his owner’s hand.
Clarence didn’t know he wasn’t a full-blooded show dog, and he frequently turned up his nose at lesser animals. Luke was accustomed to receiving dirty looks from other pet owners in the vet’s waiting room.
Luke’s mom, Anita, still had fits about Clarence living in the house, even though Luke had kept him inside since the day he rescued the rambunctious puppy from the pound. She said he was too big and hairy for a house dog. Luke figured she knew he wasn’t going to kick his dog out at this stage of the game, so maybe she just felt it was her maternal obligation to object. Besides, as Luke kept reminding his mom, every farmer needed a good watchdog. Of course, should anybody ever break in, that’s most likely what Clarence would do—watch. He was a chummy animal unless he was around Holly.
If Holly came out to spend an afternoon, Clarence was never more than a few feet from her. And when Luke’s dad started to give her a friendly hug one day, Clarence immediately inserted himself between them, growling ferociously at Richard. Naturally, Luke’s mom made the most of the opportunity and suggested perhaps Holly would benefit from Clarence’s presence in her home. Well aware of Anita’s ongoing campaign to remove the dog from her son’s house, Holly politely declined. She doubted her small abode would suit a dog Clarence’s size. Besides, he was a farm dog.
Holly. Her radiant smile—the brilliance of a sunrise. And he could see his dreams come true in those perfectly shaped eyes the color of chestnuts. Holly was always pretty, but when she let her long, silken locks of dark chocolate fall tantalizingly over her shoulders and down her back, her beauty took his breath away.
What was he going to do about her? He had been in love with Holly Morris since they were in high school, and she never considered him as anything more than a friend. From her perspective, she was doing him a favor when she chose his furniture and decorated his house, but he intended for it to feel like home to her. Scratch that. He wanted it to be home to her.
“I’m a big chicken, huh, Clarence?” His dog looked at him and appeared to nod his head. Or maybe he was excited because he saw his dog food. Luke chuckled as he poured some in Clarence’s dish. He picked up the bright orange bowl to fill it with fresh water. “It’s not like I haven’t thought about kissing her. Many times. It just seems like every time I work up the gumption, she says something about us being friends. At least if we’re friends, I get to see her.” He set the water bowl beside Clarence’s food and then went to the refrigerator and pulled out the fixings for a sandwich.
“See, Clarence, if I tell her how I really feel, it’s liable to scare her off.” Luke slathered two slices of bread with mayonnaise. “And then she wouldn’t go anywhere with me.”
Clarence looked up from devouring his food and snorted.
“Well, she wouldn’t.” Luke finished making his sandwiches. “She’d stop going to church with me and letting me take her out every Friday. I bet she’d even stop going to Bible study with me.” He pulled a bag of chips from the cabinet. “Let alone come out here to spend a Sunday afternoon. Then, you’d never get to see her either. How do you feel about that?”
He sat at the table and began to eat his lunch. In Holly’s eyes, they weren’t even dating, so there was no way he could ask for any kind of commitment. He was ready now, though. It had taken over four years to get the farm on its feet, but it was earning a steady profit. He could provide a comfortable, stable home for a wife. If he could just get the woman he loved to marry him.
“You home, Son?” Richard Walker’s voice came from the back door.
“In here, Dad!” Why wasn’t his father spending Saturday afternoon out in the fields?
“Got any more of that stuff?” Richard eagerly eyed Luke’s lunch as he walked into the kitchen.
“Yes I do, but Mom will kill both of us if she finds out you’re eating bologna and chips. You know what the doctor said.”
Richard walked to the cabinet and took out a glass. “Guess I’ll settle for some tea then.” He pulled the pitcher Luke kept brewed sweet tea in from the refrigerator.
Tea wouldn’t fill an empty stomach. “I can probably find something healthier.” Luke started to stand.
“No.” His dad waved him back down. “I already ate lunch.” He scrunched his nose in disgust. “If you can call a bowl of rabbit food with little pieces of chicken tossed in lunch.”
Luke hid a smile by taking a bite of his sandwich. His dad’s insurance company made him go in for
a complete physical. The poor guy’s cholesterol was through the roof, so he was placed on a restricted diet. Doc Tindell didn’t have to worry about Richard following his instructions; Anita strictly enforced them. They didn’t even keep “unhealthy” food in their house anymore.
“Been in the fields?” Luke asked between bites.
Richard ran a hand over his graying buzz cut. “Just came in to eat. Then your mom sent me over here.”
That was odd. “What’s going on a phone call wouldn’t have worked?”
“I have something to give you.” An enigmatic smile appeared as he dug into his jean's pocket.
Luke’s curiosity was piqued. His birthday had been less than two months ago, and there was no other special occasion he knew of. He finished off his second sandwich and waited.
“Your grandparents mailed this up to me a while back. They told me to give it to you when I thought it was time.” The corners of his mouth quirked upward. “Your mom informed me I think it’s time.”
Both his father and grandpa were jokesters, so it was hard telling what his dad was holding. Luke was probably being set up for a knee-slapper.
“What is it?” This wouldn’t be the first time he was the butt of one of their jokes. It took nearly a solid week with no sleep for ten-year-old Luke to discover the masks on raccoons did not turn white at night. And yet another to determine owls didn’t yell “who?” and “you” back and forth between them.
“We-ell.” It was obvious the older man intended to draw out the suspense as long as he could. “Remember how your Grandpa and Grandma Walker eloped?”
“Great-Grandpa Simmons thought Grandpa was worthless.” Heaven knew Luke had heard that particular refrain many, many times. “He climbed a ladder to Grandma’s room, and they ran off to get married.” And Grandpa didn’t know his britches were split until the preacher told him after the vows. “What does that have to do with what you’re giving me?”
“After Mom and Pop were married, her father had a change of heart. Suddenly, my dad could do no wrong.”
“Grandpa told me that before.” Okay. His grandparents had told their son to bore Luke to death. “I still don’t understand, Dad.”
Richard’s eyes twinkled as he continued at his own pace. “What you don’t know is my grandpa Simmons gave my mom and dad a present. Something very special that had been in the Simmons family for at least four generations.”
And now for the punchline. It was probably a family handkerchief—used, of course.
“He gave them this.” Luke’s dad held out his hand and opened it. There, lay the most delicate ring Luke had ever seen.
“Take it.” His father’s voice was soft now.
It was so dainty, Luke was almost afraid to pick it up. Then, it looked even more fragile grasped between his thumb and finger. Upon close examination, he could see the band was comprised of tiny, interweaving threads of silver, giving it a lace-like appearance. The stone was unusual. It was cut with facets like a diamond, but instead of being clear, every color of the rainbow seemed to sparkle in it.
“What is this?” He held it toward his dad. “It’s not a diamond, but it looks valuable.”
Richard shrugged. “Nobody knows. I suppose you could take it to a jeweler and find out, but I guess none of our ancestors ever cared enough to do that. What it represents is more important.”
Luke understood. “Family and love.”
“Exactly.” His father stood.
“Wait, Dad.” Luke rose to his feet. “Why are Grandpa and Grandma giving this to me instead of Ellie or Lucy?” Either of his cousins would love the ring. “And what did you mean about it being time?”
A knowing smile appeared on the older man’s face. “Your grandparents love Holly. They’ll expect to see that ring on her finger the next time they visit.”
“But, Dad—”
“You’ve been dating for several years, and in love with her a lot longer than that. Don’t you think you’ve waited long enough?”
Maybe he could talk to somebody besides Clarence about his predicament.
“I would ask Holly to marry me in a heartbeat, but she doesn’t see me as more than a friend. If I let on how I really feel about her, she’s going to end everything.” Even saying the words made him sad. “And I’d rather have her in my life as a friend than not at all.”
“Have you prayed?” Richard asked solemnly.
“Fervently.” He figured the good Lord was probably tired of hearing his sob story, but he kept praying anyway.
His dad’s hand felt warm when he placed it on Luke’s shoulder. “Well, then, if God means for the two of you to be together, it’ll work out. And I don’t think he’d put it in your heart so strongly if it wasn't meant to be.”
“I hope you’re right, Dad.” He looked at the ring, already picturing it on Holly’s slender finger. “I really hope you’re right.”
Chapter 3
“Whether we’re looking at that homeless person standing on the corner asking for food or money; or a man in a three-piece suit stepping out of a luxury car, who do we see? Who do we really see? If we see them as we are supposed to, we’ll see God’s children, no better or worse than you or me. I pray as we leave church this morning, we’ll remember that. Amen.”
Pastor Rollins sat behind the lectern as the pianist began to play. Holly looked at the hymnal Luke was holding for them to share, but her mind was still on the sermon. Her job was sometimes challenging . It was difficult when kids like Billy Andrews strutted into her office, all bluster and attitude. She needed to look past the exterior to the uncertain young man behind it, a fourteen-year-old with no idea whether his mom would be sober when he got home from school.
The boy didn’t even have his dad to depend on. Cliff Andrews was overseas in the military, on some kind of extended mission with no leave. Instead of finding strength and being there for her children, Gina Andrews chose to lose her worries in alcohol. There were a few times when, had Billy’s paternal grandmother not stepped in to take care of him and his younger sister, the children would have been placed in a foster home. Holly had nothing against the system, but familial custody was much better.
“You okay?” Luke whispered loudly as he looked at her with concern on his face.
She tried to smile as she silently nodded. It was too bad Billy wasn’t in their church youth group. Luke would be an excellent role model for the teenager.
Luke’s eyes searched hers for a moment before he resumed singing. She focused on the words and joined in.
After forcing herself to pay attention to the service, the rest passed quickly. She soon found herself in front of Luke on their way out of the building.
“Good morning, Holly.” A bright smile accompanied the pastor’s hearty handshake. “I hear you and Luke have a big day planned.”
“You know me. I’ll use any excuse to spend a day at the preserve.”
The minister looked over Holly’s head at Luke. “And, I’m sure you’re every bit as anxious.”
Luke answered him. “I just hope I haven’t taken on more than I can handle, Pastor. These teenagers need somebody to lead them on the right path and keep it interesting enough they want to stay there.”
Pastor Rollins’ smile didn’t dim as he responded. “And that’s exactly why you’re the fellow for the job. You see that need.”
Holly glanced at Luke as she finally reclaimed her hand and gave him his turn with the minister. She couldn’t keep the smile from her face as she saw the tell-tale redness creeping up toward the brown hair resting on Luke’s neck. If he weren’t so darkly tanned from spending most of his time outdoors, he’d undoubtedly be as red as a Christmas ornament about now. And with his green eyes, he could really get into the season. A giggle escaped before she could stop it.
“What’s so funny?” Luke took her arm and led her out into the sunshine.
“Nothing.” She smiled brightly as she fought laughter. He would not be flattered by a comparison to holida
y decor.
“Well, I hope you can keep that attitude after we’re with the kids for a couple of hours. You know the Chambers boy can be a handful, and in case you didn’t notice, Amy Brock isn’t exactly dressed appropriately for a fourteen-year-old.” Luke’s hand felt warm against her back as they walked farther out on the sidewalk.
She thought about the young lady’s home situation. “I’m not sure Amy has any other kind of clothes to wear. Her mother provides a wardrobe designed for more...mature females.” And much too sophisticated for Holly’s taste.
They both stopped talking as the young lady in question walked by. Amy’s dress was cut very low and way too short, and if her heels weren’t at least four inches, Holly would yodel the Doxology next Sunday. Appreciative glances from too many males, both young and old, followed her.
Luke dropped his hand from Holly’s back and stepped around to face her. “I understand what you’re saying.” With a skeptical lift of his brow, he crossed his arms. “But don’t tell me the boys won’t get in a dither over that.”
“Did Holly tell you about the steak dinner next Sunday?” Susan Morris, with Holly’s dad, Tony, beside her, grasped Luke’s arm.
“No.” Luke uncrossed his arms, and his frown was replaced by a broad smile. “But if Tony’s grilling steak, I’m there.”
Holly probably ground some enamel off her teeth over her mother’s ecstasy. It was too bad Susan couldn’t date Luke.
“Plan on coming right after church.” Susan let go of Luke’s arm and smiled at her daughter. “Why don’t you let Luke drive you? There’s no sense in using two vehicles, is there? Gas being so high.”
Hidden in Shadow Page 2