Pierced by Love

by Laura L. Walker

  “When did you become so reckless, Noelle? It seems like this breakup has turned you upside down. It’s normal to feel sad over being dumped, but it’s almost like you’re trying too hard to have a good time, trying to cover the pain.”

  Dumped! How she hated that word! “So now you have a psychology degree?” Noelle taunted acidly. “Impressive.”

  Melody gasped at the remark. “I know you’re still hurting, Noelle, but I feel like you’re personally attacking me. I wish that we weren’t experiencing this strain in our relationship. I really do want for things to get better between us. But as long as you keep hanging out with Pierce, I don’t know if that will happen.”

  “You barely know him, Melody. Speaking of scathing remarks, I could say the same thing about you. I don’t understand why you can’t see what a good person Pierce is even though he’s different from Chase.”

  “I wonder what Mom and Dad would have to say about this.”

  That sounded like a threat, Noelle thought. Where was the sweet Melody she used to love? “Go ahead and tell them.” She injected a cheerful tone into her voice. “Give them a hug for me. And have fun planning your wedding. I can’t wait to hear the details when I get back.”

  Before Melody could protest further, Noelle hurriedly said her good-bye and clicked the button. Lost in thought, she stared at her clothing that she’d strewn on the bed while choosing her wardrobe for the trip. It might be best if she only packed one bag of clothing and left her closet full, making it look like she was only going on a short trip rather than out of state. Resolutely, Noelle got to work rehanging the articles of clothing and tidying up the bedroom.

  The plane took off at a quarter past one o’clock on Monday afternoon. Noelle was tired from having to work the night before and then not sleeping very well with her sister’s accusations circling inside her head. Then she’d risen early to make the three-hour drive with Pierce to Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.

  Pierce had raised his eyebrows at her carry-on bag. “That’s all you’re bringing?”

  She shrugged sheepishly. “Did I need to bring more?”

  “Maybe not, but I thought that most women like to haul everything they own.”

  “Not this one. Besides, I can pack a pretty mean suitcase.”

  After the initial takeoff and instructional monologue were over, Pierce turned to Noelle and grinned. “Nervous?” He gestured toward her leg that she had crossed over her knee, which she was kicking repeatedly.

  She answered, “A little.”

  He placed his hand over her knee to still it. Pierce was unprepared for the jolt of electricity that shot up his arm. Noelle’s wide-eyed stare and quick intake of breath told him that she had felt it too. “Don’t worry. It’ll be all right.” Pierce sighed. Who was he kidding? This trip was promising to be his worst nightmare. What had he been thinking in dragging Noelle into this fiasco? What had begun as small butterflies in his stomach had swelled into full-sized bats.

  “So tell me the names of your brothers again.”

  Pierce appreciated the diversion. “Craig is older than me by three years and Gage is younger than me by two. Craig is married to Marissa. They have a three-year-old daughter and a five-month-old son.”

  “What are their names?”

  “Sophie and Landon. Sophie’s a princess all the way. Craig and Marissa want to take her to Disneyland during this vacation. They’ve planned an extended visit.”

  “Where do they live?”

  “They’re in Provo. Craig is finishing up his master's in social work. He wants to be a school counselor. His brain is undoubtedly wired for it after all the drama our parents put us through.” He wondered what she would make of that comment.

  Wisely, she ignored it. “And Marissa?”

  “She is a stay-at-home mom. Last I heard, she recently decided to go back to school to complete her bachelor’s.”

  “I admire her for being there for her kids. So many parents aren’t. It’s quite impressive.” As soon as the words left her mouth, her face fell.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing. I was just reminded of something I said to Melody in a moment of anger last night, that’s all.”

  When she didn’t elaborate, Pierce decided to probe further. “Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.”

  “Not my best moment,” she admitted regretfully. “We got into an argument and I made a sarcastic remark about her having a psychology degree after she tried to psychoanalyze my reasons for going on this trip.”

  Pierce noted the look of defeat on her face. “Did you work it out before you left?”

  “Uh, no,” she answered, obviously uncomfortable. “But I will.” She smiled uncertainly.

  Sensing that she didn’t want to talk about it anymore, Pierce steered the conversation back to her original statement. “So you’re in favor of stay-at-home moms?”

  “Yes.”

  “Isn’t that a bit archaic?” Pierce asked.

  Noelle replied thoughtfully, “Some people think so, but my mom stayed at home while my dad worked. I always loved it when I walked in the door from school and she was right there, giving me a hug and asking about my day. She was a constant in my ever-changing world.”

  Pierce thought about her words. His own mother had spent several hours every day keeping the books for his father’s growing company until it became too much for her to handle. He remembered when his father had hired someone else to do that job. His mother had been more available then, but it was awkward having her at home, hovering over him. He’d felt self-conscious in front of his friends.

  “Is that what you want to do with your own kids?” Pierce asked, wondering why he was so anxious to hear her answer. What did her opinion matter to him, anyway?

  “I’d like to if I can. I’ll help supplement my husband’s work if necessary, but realistically, a teacher’s salary would hardly compensate for the cost of child care.”

  She had a point. Pierce had to admit that he’d never really thought about it before.

  “Also,” she went on, “who better to influence her children than a mother? Why leave your baby in a stranger’s hands? Yet so many women do that. I worked part-time in a day care center just after I finished high school. The long hours that those children were away from both parents tore me to pieces.”

  When he said nothing, still absorbing her words, she asked, “Did I say something wrong?”

  He shook his head. “No. I’m a little surprised, though. If you want to be a stay-at-home mom, then why are you going to school?”

  Her lips twitched. “Just in case I marry a fellow teacher.”

  “Ah.” He nodded in understanding. “Teachers are vastly underpaid. Smart woman.”

  “Thanks. But really, I don’t think these years at NAU will be wasted. I’m learning a lot of things in my child psychology class that are fascinating. Children really do come with their own set of blueprints, but Heavenly Father programmed their brains to perform specific functions at certain ages. I’ve enjoyed learning about the developmental stages they go through, and that knowledge will be beneficial whether I teach or I raise my children. I’ll have a chance to apply what I’ve learned this semester when I do my student teaching this fall. I just found out that I’ll be in a second grade classroom. I’ll be moving back home, though, because it’s with a school in Gilbert.”

  “Do you still have siblings at home?”

  “No,” Noelle answered. “I’m the youngest.”

  “What does your mom do now that you’re out of the house?”

  “She loves to volunteer at the library. And, of course, she has a church calling. She also goes to the family history center once a week to extract names for temple work.”

  “And your dad?”

  “He’s an attorney.”

  “Corporate law?”

  “No. Family law.” The time flew as she told him more about the firm her father shared a partnership with. Except for the current conflict between
the two sisters, Noelle’s family seemed an enigma to Pierce. He’d enjoyed being included in the Levingtons’ large clan at times, but to actually belong to such a family and feel like he was an important member of that unit was something he couldn’t fathom.

  Hearing Noelle talk about children had brought a singularly acute pain to his heart. She obviously loved children, which was something Pierce didn’t have much experience with. Pierce had always figured he wasn’t cut out for that kind of life. He certainly hadn’t been given a great example at home. So why did hearing Noelle talk about raising her own children strike a chord of longing deep inside? He’d better steel himself for being in her presence for the next three days.

  The plane touched down at San Diego International Airport an hour later. Pierce and Noelle gathered their carry-ons and exited the terminal, looking for his brother, Gage, who’d volunteered to pick them up.

  With a sense of dread and knowing he couldn’t put it off any longer, Pierce touched her shoulder. She turned to him in question. “I need to warn you about my brother, Gage, so that he doesn’t scare you too much. He became inactive when my parents broke up. Most of the words that come out of his mouth would be thrown in the garbage, if it were possible. But he tries to tone it down when he’s around us. Also, as a rule, Craig and I try not to mention the Church too much when we’re around him or my dad, although now that my dad is active again, I’m not sure how that will go. Things are bound to be a little awkward at times. Think you can handle that?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve come this far. I’m not about to turn around and go back. Anything else I should be worried about?”

  Pierce chuckled. “Such as?”

  “Well, Gage isn’t on drugs or anything like that, is he?”

  “Not that I know of. He drinks every now and then.”

  One corner of her mouth dipped down. “That’s too bad.”

  “Yeah. We keep praying for him, hoping he’ll turn his life around.”

  “Maybe someday he will.” Noelle offered him a tentative smile. If she kept smiling at him that way, Pierce would be tempted to believe that it might actually happen.

  Gage Logan didn’t seem as scary as Pierce had made him out to be, Noelle decided. His long black hair did nothing for him, however, due to his boyish face and scraggly goatee. The two brothers were like night and day in looks and personality, as far as Noelle could discern. Gage was definitely more flamboyant while Pierce was more introspective yet still outgoing.

  After the brothers found each other—no hugging for them, Noelle noticed—and exchanged pleasantries, Pierce turned to introduce her. “Gage, this is Noelle Jensen.”

  Gage smiled and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.” Turning back to Pierce with a devilish glint in his eyes, he said, “So you brought a girlfriend, huh?”

  “Just a friend,” Pierce answered smoothly. “Dad didn’t mind when I asked if she could come.”

  “Of course he wouldn’t. He’s been saying something about wanting more grandchildren lately.”

  Noelle felt her cheeks burning and chanced a peek at Pierce. His own face showed telltale signs of his embarrassment but he effectively deflected Gage’s comment. “Don’t tell me Dad’s gotten sentimental all of a sudden.”

  Gage shrugged. “Who knows? But he’s acting different, you know what I mean?”

  Pierce stared at Gage. “No, not really.”

  “He just seems, well, more approachable, I guess. Not quite so—”

  “Austere?” Pierce supplied, the only description that came to mind.

  Appearing mildly embarrassed at thinking the same thing, Gage nodded shortly. “Yeah.”

  They looked at each other silently for a few moments. Noelle could only guess what they were thinking. Then Pierce slapped Gage on the shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

  Noelle hurried to keep pace with them. “One question. Which parent do each of you take after?”

  “In looks or personality?” Pierce asked.

  “Looks.”

  “Most people say that I look like my dad, but where his hair is really curly, mine isn’t. Gage takes after my mom, but he has my dad’s nose. Craig is the best-looking of the three of us. He’s a good mix of both of our parents.”

  “And in personality?”

  He cocked his brow and grinned smugly. “I’ll leave that for you to figure out.”

  With the click of a button, Gage unlocked the truck that belonged to his dad and climbed in. Noelle glanced up at Pierce and he motioned for her to climb into the back of the extended cab. Next, Pierce settled in and Gage started the engine. Noelle tried to push aside her discomfort. What had she been thinking when she agreed to come, anyway? Having caught her in a moment of weakness, Pierce had gallantly invited her to come along and now she was like a third wheel.

  Her worries gradually subsided, however, as Gage led them around various communities. The views were absolutely breathtaking. Large estates situated on beautiful hillsides enraptured her while conversation between the brothers ebbed and flowed. Vaguely, she heard Pierce ask Gage about his first impression of Tamara, but she was too enthralled by the scenery to pay attention to the answer.

  Gage turned into an upscale subdivision. After following a winding road up one hillside, he turned onto a few more side streets and then pulled into the circular driveway of a gorgeous three-story home. Noelle gave a low whistle. “This is where your dad lives?”

  “Yeah.” Pierce shrugged. “He’s always liked big houses.”

  “What does he do for a living?”

  “He’s a luxury real estate specialist, which is a fancy title for a guy who likes to schmooze with rich people.” Noelle caught the note of contempt that had crept into his voice during his explanation, much like it had when he’d made that wisecrack about Craig becoming a good school counselor because of their family background. She felt bad for Pierce. He was obviously still struggling with events of the past. “When he lost his business a few years ago, he decided to obtain a real estate license. Then he moved here and rebuilt his fortune.”

  Noelle turned to look at the mansion again. Two wings with arched windows stood on either side of the square-shaped structure. Raised eaves featuring natural stone flanked the wings. The double doors were set back on a patio with three white arches that matched the arched windows on the wings. Twin flower beds decorated the home on the wings as well as a well-cared-for lawn in front of the driveway.

  Noelle tried to control the butterflies in her stomach as she climbed the steps leading to the double doors. Trailing behind Gage and Pierce, she took a fortifying breath. Gage entered the house, but Pierce heard it and turned around. “Are you okay?”

  Noelle pasted a bright smile on her face and nodded. “I’m fine.”

  Pierce’s laughing eyes met hers. “Liar.” He chuckled. “If it makes you feel better, I don’t want to go in there, either.”

  “Because of your dad’s new wife?”

  He turned serious. “Yeah, that’s part of it. The other part is that—well, I’ve never really felt comfortable around my dad.”

  She took hold of his arm and started up the steps. “Well, then, let’s do this together. Come on.”

  TWELVE

  AS SOON AS they opened the door, a plump middle-aged woman with honey-colored hair and blonde-streaked highlights came up to them. Her smile was as wide as her face. “Hello, y’all. You must be Pierce. I’m Tamara. We’re glad that you’ve finally arrived. And who’s your friend here?” She reached out and clasped both of his hands in hers.

  Pierce forced a smile and replied, “This is Noelle Jensen.”

  Tamara waited a second for him to elaborate. Cutting short the awkward pause that ensued, she turned to Noelle. “Well, I’m happy to meet you, sugar. You come right on in now and take a load off your feet.” Nonplussed, Pierce watched her escort Noelle through the great room, explaining that the others were in the rec room. She led them toward an elegant cur
ved staircase to the right, saying, “Now you just go on up and say hello to Craig and Marissa. They’re anxious to see you. Oh, and may I offer you a glass of lemonade?”

  Feeling mildly out of sorts due to this first-time introduction of his father’s new wife, Pierce said, “No. I’m good. What about you, Noelle?”

  “I’d love one, thanks.”

  That wide smile reappeared. “Coming right up, sugar. Go on up now, ya hear?”

  Pierce watched her retrace her steps toward the opposite end of the house where he knew the kitchen was. She was his stepmother? A Southern transplant? He couldn’t envision his dad falling for a woman who sounded and acted so differently from his own mother. Sarah Logan was a much more reserved woman—not to mention a little thinner too. Not that Tamara wasn’t nice-looking. If he judged her on looks alone, he’d say that his dad had picked a beauty. But his dad was a man of the world—a snob, really. Pierce couldn’t have said what kind of woman he’d expected his father to marry, but he could honestly say that Tamara was a surprise. Why didn’t his brothers warn him? When he’d asked Gage what he thought of her, his brother had shrugged it off, saying, “Just wait and see. You can make up your own mind about her.”

  Okay, he’d give it a try. But it wasn’t going to be easy.

  Noelle’s voice penetrated his stupor. “You’re staring!” she murmured. Waving her hands in front of his face, she asked in amusement, “Are you with me, Pierce?”

  “Huh?”

  She gave him a stern look and said, “Be nice.”

  “How do know what I’m thinking?”

  “Because it’s written all over your face. Come on.” She grabbed his arm and pulled. “Let’s go meet the family.” When they were halfway up the stairs, she whispered, “By the way, I think she’s adorable.”

  “You would,” he retorted.

  His attention was soon diverted, however, when he heard the noise of a video game coming from the huge flat-screen television along with groans of defeat. As soon as they reached the top step, Pierce saw his brothers and sister-in-law, with his nephew on her lap, absorbed in the action on the screen. His three-year-old niece was playing with a doll set across the room.