Someone to Trust

  She knew what she must do.

  She could not keep her hands from shaking. After a couple more failed attempts, Lee took the key from her, slipped it easily into the lock and turned the knob. He pushed the door open and moved her bags, setting them down inside.

  Lee turned toward her. “Megan?”

  She had not turned the lights on, but the moon was shining brightly enough that she could read the confusion on his face.

  She knew what she should do but she didn’t have the courage. Maybe she could wait. Sleep on it and maybe an answer would come to her. She couldn’t bear to let him go. Not now, not when she’d just found him. She looked up at his handsome face etched with lines of concern as he waited for her to answer him. He was such a gentle, caring man. He was her gentle giant.

  Without thought, Megan wrapped her arms around him and laid her head against his chest.

  “I’m okay,” she said, her voice muffled against his chest. “I’m just tired.” That wasn’t untrue. She was tired and scared. And, she completely disliked Felicia. She supposed she should pray about that. Later.

  As if reading her thoughts, Lee offered gently, “Look, I’m really sorry about Felicia. She can be…well…she can really be something else. I had no idea—”

  “It’s okay—really. I shouldn’t have let it get to me and I shouldn’t have responded the way I did. I can’t picture you with someone like that.”

  Lee rested his head on top of hers. “I can’t either—now.”

  “But you could once?”

  “Yeah, but it seems like a long time ago.”

  Megan nodded her head. She was the last person to judge someone for making a mistake in a relationship.

  She wanted to stay wrapped securely in his arms for the remainder of the night, perhaps even forever, but instead she gently extracted herself. “You must be tired and I know you’ll have a long day tomorrow. You better get going.” She smiled so he would know she wasn’t angry.

  “You’re okay?” He wanted to know anyway. She nodded.

  “We’re okay?” He rephrased the question and she could hear the disquiet in his voice. Megan reached up and stroked his cheek with her palm.

  “Yes,” she reassured him and then stood on her toes, pressing her lips to his. She meant for it to be a quick kiss but their emotion turned it into something much longer and deeper. Megan was first to pull away.

  “You better get out of here,” she said in a breathless voice. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she could tell by the look on Lee’s face that he was just as deeply affected.

  “That’s probably a good idea,” he agreed, smiling down at her and stepping off the porch. This put him more on her level as she reached out and cupped his face between both her hands. They stood that way for a moment, staring into one another’s eyes before Lee captured Megan’s lips with his. Her arms slipped around him and she rested one hand on his shoulder and the other around his neck, while he laced his fingers through the thick tendrils of her hair. Time ceased to matter for either of them, for a moment, before reason interjected and Lee disengaged himself from Megan, stepping farther away.

  “I’ve got to go…before—”

  “I know.” And she did.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow,” he promised.

  Megan nodded and turned away, stopping inside to watch him through the window as he drove away.

  Later that night as Megan lay in bed, she contemplated the evening. She tried praying for peace. Her heart ached at the thought of Lee discovering what she’d done. Tonight had actually been the second time she’d met Felicia. The first time was only months before Megan moved from Atlanta to Laurel Ridge.

  She and Trevor had been at a party given by his law firm. It was a brief encounter, but one Megan remembered. Felicia obviously did as well. She dropped some strong hints in Megan’s direction about Trevor, but Megan failed to pick up on them. Harsh reality would come with a cruel blow only a short time later.

  It would seem Megan could no longer avoid her past, or continue to run from the memories. They had caught up with her at last. Guilt and shame came with them.

  She rolled over, punched the pillow in an attempt to get comfortable and released a sigh of frustration as she stared forlornly around the dark room, longing for the peace she experienced last week. More than anything, she wanted to be free of the guilt she’d carried for so long.

  Why had it returned? It was like an albatross hanging around her neck. She’d sought forgiveness, so why did she feel so guilty? Now, the guilt was accompanied by fear.

  An overwhelming fear that the man she loved would find out what she’d done. And he would be disappointed in her. Possibly despise her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Megan slipped off her shoes, stretched her legs out and put her feet up on Lee’s coffee table. It was Friday night and he’d invited her to his cabin to hang out and watch a movie.

  They had been together at least three times a week since their trip to Atlanta. They’d not discussed the return trip at all, which suited Megan just fine. After that night on the porch, they’d carried on as if nothing at all had happened.

  “Hey, do you need some help in there?” she called into the kitchen. Lee was making a ruckus putting together some snacks for them to share while watching the selection Megan had brought with her.

  “No, I’ve got it. Thanks. Kick your shoes off and relax.”

  “Too late,” she called back, chuckling and wiggling her toes.

  “So what do we have here?” she asked, referring to the goodies on the tray Lee carried in, placing them on the coffee table.

  “Well, we have popcorn.” He picked up the big bowl and displayed it much like the girls on a television game show would show a coveted prize. Megan couldn’t help but giggle.

  “And that’s not all…we have beverages.” He again offered his display motion while showing the beverages. Megan clapped her hands in game show jubilation until Lee held up a hand for her to stop.

  “But wait…there’s more.” He picked up a plate covered with foil. Megan nodded, clasping her hands together in anticipation, as if she were waiting for what was behind door number three to be revealed. Slowly, Lee peeled back the foil to reveal the contents—chocolate chip cookies.

  Megan squealed with glee at the latest prize, as Lee pretended to show it to the other contestants, the audience and the camera so that those watching at home could view it.

  They erupted in laughter.

  “You’re quite crazy, you know,” Megan offered, as Lee took a seat on the couch next to her.

  “That doesn’t disqualify me, does it? Render me ineligible or eliminate me?”

  “Eliminate you from what?” Megan asked, with a curious smile.

  “From your consideration as a suitor.”

  “No, it doesn’t,” Megan answered and shook her head.

  “Good,” Lee said, before planting a quick kiss on her. “Now what movie did you pick out for us? Not a chic flick?”

  “Even better,” she teased. “I picked up a great documentary.”

  “Wonderful,” he said, giving her a pained but ‘I’ll tolerate it for you’ expression.

  “It’s a suspense/thriller.” She laughed, pulling it out of her bag and placing it in his hand.

  “Wow, that’s a relief.” He got up and put it in the DVD player before returning and sitting next to her on the couch.

  Megan watched him as he fiddled with the remote, getting the movie set up. Once he had it, he looked up and caught her intense stare. “What is it?”

  “You.”

  “You’ve changed your mind about me being ineligible?” he asked, teasingly.

  “No,” she answered softly. “You’re just…you’re too good to be true.”

  “No, Meg, I’m not. I’m human, flawed. I make mistakes; in fact, I’ve made some really big ones, and unfortunately, I’ll probably make more.”

  “I’ll bet they’re not as big as the ones I’ve
made,” she said pensively.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” Lee disagreed.

  “I am.”

  “I’m not concerned with your past, Megan. We all have one—some worse than others perhaps. I’m concerned with the woman before me, here and now.” He reinforced his words by gently cupping her face with his palm. “But if it’s something you want or need to talk about, I’m listening.”

  Megan immediately felt her pulse quicken. She returned the penetrating stare of those beautiful gray eyes which seemed to see into the depths of her soul. She pulled her gaze away and took a deep breath.

  Go ahead and jump, Megan; it’s now or never.

  She took a deep breath and gathered her courage.

  Rap. Rap. Rap.

  Megan jumped at the sound of someone knocking on the cabin door. She turned to Lee, who shrugged his shoulders at her unspoken question.

  “I’m not expecting anyone,” he said, as he got off the couch and went to the door.

  When Lee opened the door, Megan was unable to see who was on the other side but the riddle was quickly solved when Lee exclaimed in surprise, “Mom? I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.”

  Megan immediately withdrew her feet from the coffee table, placed them on the floor and sat up straight.

  “I’m sorry to disappoint you, darling.”

  “Don’t be silly, Mother, I’m not disappointed. I’m just surprised,” Lee explained, as he moved aside for his mother to enter the cabin.

  Lee’s mother was a thin, very attractive woman. Her dark hair was perfectly styled, without a touch of gray, and accented by an aristocratic nose and prominent cheekbones. She was just inside the room when she noticed Megan.

  “Oh, you have company,” she stated the obvious, appraising Megan coolly. Megan was very conscious of her attire which, at the moment, consisted of baggy sweatpants and a faded cotton shirt. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and not even a very neat one.

  “Yes. Mom, I’d like for you to meet Megan McCormick.”

  Megan stood and crossed the room. “Hello, Mrs. Grainger, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Megan offered, extending her hand.

  Mrs. Grainger briefly clasped Megan’s hand while giving her a half-smile and a curt nod. She immediately turned to her son as if Megan were already forgotten.

  “Our bags are in the car, son. Would you mind getting them?”

  “Of course not,” Lee answered and then paused. “Our bags?”

  Mrs. Grainger smiled, “Yes, Felicia rode up here with me to keep me company. She’s finishing a call in the car. I hope you don’t mind.”

  If Megan could read Lee at all, the look on his face said he did mind. Or maybe that was what she was hoping?

  “I really wish you had consulted me first—” Lee started.

  “I didn’t think it would be a problem considering how long you and Felicia have been friends. We can leave, if you’d like?” Mrs. Grainger offered, with a hurt look.

  “Don’t be ridiculous; you’re both here now,” Lee said tightly and his mother looked even more wounded.

  “We’ll make the best of it. You can take my room, Felicia can have the spare and I’ll sleep on the couch,” Lee amended. “Either way, I’m happy to see you.” He leaned over and gave his mother a quick peck on the cheek.

  Megan took that moment to interject, “Lee, if you don’t mind, I think it’s best if I go and let you visit with your company.” She quickly put on her shoes, while silently hoping he would stop her.

  “That’s probably a good idea, dear,” Mrs. Grainger responded before Lee could. Lee shot his mother an irritated look, which she completely ignored. Instead, she was busy giving Megan a satisfied smile.

  “It’s okay. I’m kind of tired anyway,” Megan said, walking toward the door. Lee looked both disappointed and confused. Megan felt sorry for him and added, “Can you walk me to my car on the way to get the luggage?”

  Reluctantly, Lee nodded his consent and he and Megan headed out the door. Just before leaving, Megan turned back to Mrs. Grainger. “It was nice to meet you.”

  Lee’s mother simply nodded at her. Megan felt her temperature rise but for Lee’s sake refrained from saying anything. Any comment she would have made wouldn’t have been nice and she’d feel the need to apologize later. Keeping her mouth clamped as she walked alongside Lee was definitely the better part of valor.

  Of course, sleeping dogs could not be left to lie and just about the time they were passing Mrs. Grainger’s car, Felicia was exiting it. She quickly approached Lee, without sacrificing her usual catlike grace. She hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, before looking over at Megan. “Oh dear, we haven’t interrupted your evening, have we? I sure hope not.” Though she’d said it sweetly enough, Megan didn’t believe a word of it.

  “It’s okay. We were just about to watch a movie, but we can do that later,” Megan responded just as sweetly, hoping the strain she felt did not sound in her voice. She didn’t want this woman to know she got under her skin.

  “That’s good.” Felicia smiled, but her eyes narrowed at Megan and then just as quickly she turned to Lee with a pouting smile. “Don’t be too long; we’ll be waiting to catch up on everything you’ve been doing up here.” She reached up and patted Lee’s cheek before sauntering off toward the cabin.

  Megan released a breath of frustration while trying not to act on the image in her mind of performing a few cat-like maneuvers herself, like pouncing on the catty woman from behind and scratching her eyes out. Instead, she walked quietly to her vehicle beside Lee.

  Lee opened the door and she climbed behind the wheel. Leaning against the door, he assured her, “It would really be okay for you to stay…in fact, I’d really like it if you would.”

  She smiled at him to let him know she believed he meant it.

  “No, I think it’s best if I head home. I don’t want to make any of us uncomfortable. Besides, they’re only going to be here until Sunday morning, right?”

  Lee nodded and she went on, “Then enjoy your time with them. I’ll see you at church and you can take me to Aunt Vera’s afterward.”

  “I can’t wait.” He leaned in and kissed her. Before he closed the door, Lee added, “I really had no idea my mother was bringing Felicia, but I can promise you, she and I will have an understanding about it.”

  “It’s okay, Lee,” she said, although she was heartsick over it, which was probably unreasonable because she’d staked no claim to Lee.

  Had she?

  “Go on and I’ll see you Sunday,” she encouraged. Lee nodded and closed her door.

  Try as she might, Megan couldn’t help feeling dejected as she drove away and watched in her rearview mirror as Lee entered his cabin to spend the evening with his mother—and Felicia.

  ****

  Fortunately for Megan, she was on deadline for some of her clients and that kept her busy Saturday. Even all of those projects, however, didn’t keep her from thinking about Lee during her breaks and at lunch. She couldn’t help wondering what he was doing and if he was enjoying himself with his mom—and Felicia

  “What if he realizes he still wants to be with Felicia?” she asked herself. “After all, they do have a history together.”

  Megan shook her head at her wayward thoughts.

  And so what if he did?

  She and Lee had made no commitment to one another. She didn’t even want one.

  Did she?

  In her heart, Megan knew the answer; she just didn’t want to admit it. She couldn’t believe how close she’d come the night before to telling Lee everything. She was about to tell him about Trevor when his mother knocked on the door. A part of her couldn’t help but be relieved at the interruption, while another part longed to just have it over and done with. It would be such a relief just to know, at last, if Lee would still care for her if he knew what kind of woman she was.

  Later that evening, the subject of her thoughts for the day called her.

 
“How’s it going?” she asked.

  “Good, I’m enjoying seeing my mom.” It grew quiet on his end and then, “I miss you. I’m sorry we didn’t get to finish our evening.”

  Smiling at his words, Megan responded, “Me, too.”

  There were so many questions running through her head, not the least of which was, “Has Felicia told you and your mom about me?” But she didn’t dare.