Elizabeth's Choice

by Lyle, Linda;

Since it was so late, Scott decided to stay over in his old room, saying he didn’t want to leave them in the house alone. Elizabeth smiled as they said good night in the hallway. Her smile was still in place as she drifted off to sleep.

  ❧

  In her bedroom downstairs, Katherine McClintock’s head was bowed in prayer. The minute she had met Elizabeth, she had known that Alex was not right for her. Over dinner she had realized that this was the Elizabeth that Scott had told her about several months ago. Putting it all together, Katherine had immediately known that this girl belonged to Scott. With that knowledge, she did the only thing a mother could do: pray. Her prayers lasted well into the night. At one o’clock she rose from her knees and got into bed with a deep peace in her heart.

  twenty-two

  Scott opened his eyes and blinked several times before he realized where he was: home. Gradually his mind cleared and he remembered the night before. Elizabeth. Last night he had seen again the lonely woman he had eaten Chinese food with in his house. Somehow he just couldn’t keep himself distant. When she had mentioned her mother, the pain in her eyes made him want to wrap her in his arms and hold her. What was he doing? He hit the bed in frustration. She was going to marry Alex. The thought made his stomach twist like a pretzel. Maybe she had made a mistake by getting involved with Alex. He had probably charmed her into bed. She was so lonely that it wouldn’t have been hard to be tempted.

  He flipped over and buried his head under the pillow, trying to block out the thoughts. She was going to marry his brother. He had no right to interfere. He couldn’t do that to his brother. Maybe Elizabeth was what Alex needed to straighten him out. Somehow he doubted it; the very thought made him want to hit something. He moaned. What was he going to do?

  ❧

  Down the hall, Elizabeth woke up with a smile on her face. She hopped out of bed as the sun peeked over the horizon. She jumped in the shower, humming a tune. She didn’t want to miss any of this day. Part of her wondered why she was so excited about this day in particular, but she ignored the thought and decided to just enjoy today. Tomorrow would come soon enough. She knew her next conversation with Alex would be a confrontation, but she didn’t want to think about that today.

  She dressed quickly in a pair of jeans and a navy pullover sweater. She put on her favorite walking shoes and then straightened the room. Peeking into the hallway, she tiptoed to the stairs. Scott’s door was still closed and there was no sign of life anywhere. Once in the kitchen, Elizabeth went to work. In no time, the kitchen was warm and full of the smell of homemade bread and brewing coffee. She set the kitchen table for three, placing each piece with a loving touch. She put out a glass pitcher of orange juice and one of milk, as well as the butter and jam.

  Elizabeth paused to look out the kitchen window and her mouth opened in delight. The ground was covered in a couple of inches of snow. She opened the kitchen door, ignoring the cold, and breathed in the fresh air. There was a hush, broken only by the sound of an occasional bird. For the first time in a long time, Elizabeth felt a presence. She soaked in the feeling of being held in a cloak of love. She didn’t even feel the biting cold, only warmth from an unseen arm around her shoulder. The sensation passed and she felt the cold air on her nose. Closing the door, she returned to breakfast.

  As she worked, she could hear God’s gentle voice. She knew this was what she wanted, what she needed, more than anything: a home. She needed a place that was all her own, not some mansion with a host of servants at her beck and call. There were going to have to be some changes in her relationship with Alex. The situation could not continue in the direction it was going. Alex wanted her to change to fit his life, but he needed to do some changing too.

  With that thought in mind, she finished breakfast with the first peace she had had in months. She didn’t like confrontation, but this was her life she was talking about, not some silly squabble over where to go on vacation.

  She was just pulling the bread from the oven, when the door from the dining room swung open. Putting the bread on a hot pad, she turned with a smile. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of Scott in the doorway.

  “Good morning,” was all she managed to get out.

  “Good morning to you. You’ve been busy this morning.” Scott went to the oven and sniffed. “Something smells good.”

  Her heart thrilled at his words. “That would be the bread.”

  “Where’s Mom?” Scott asked as he pulled a bread basket from the cabinet and proceeded to slice the bread.

  “I don’t know. I thought she’d be up by now.” Elizabeth looked up at the clock. Half-past eight.

  “She never sleeps this late. She gets up everyday at five-thirty.” A worried frown creased his forehead in deep furrows. Elizabeth felt a sudden urge to smooth it away, but she caught herself before she moved her hand.

  “I’ll go check on her.” Elizabeth went back through the living room to the master bedroom. Knocking softly on the door, Elizabeth called her name. There was no answer. She called her name a little louder and pushed the door open. Peeking around the door, she expected to see Katherine snuggled under the covers. Instead, there was no sign of her anywhere. The bed was rumpled, but no Katherine. Pushing the door open, Elizabeth walked into the room and gasped.

  “Scott!” she yelled. She felt the world go black.

  ❧

  Scott continued to slice bread while Elizabeth went to check on his mother. He felt uneasy, but he tried to shake it. The unease continued to grow, so he put the knife down and followed Elizabeth. He was just rounding the corner of the living room when he heard her scream. The sound was like a vise to his heart. He ran the last few feet, just in time to catch Elizabeth as she swooned.

  His first concern was Elizabeth, so he didn’t notice the crumpled form right away. He took Elizabeth by the shoulders and was about to help her to the bed when he saw his mother lying on the floor. He shook Elizabeth. She moaned and then sunk to the bed, her head in her hands, crying. Scott moved to his mother and checked her pulse.

  “It’s okay, Elizabeth. She’s alive.” Elizabeth sobbed, but regained enough of her senses to join him.

  “Katherine. Katherine,” Elizabeth called her name, but there was no response.

  “Elizabeth, call 911.” She moved to the bedside phone and he checked for broken bones. He could find nothing to explain her condition. He called her name, but there was still no response. Taking her wrinkled hand in his, he began to stroke it and pray as he had never prayed before.

  ❧

  It was several minutes before the ambulance made its way to the house. Elizabeth met them at the door and showed them to the bedroom. Within minutes, they were on their way to the hospital. Scott in the ambulance with his mother and Elizabeth following in the car. She had stopped long enough to turn off the coffeepot and the oven before jumping in the car. As she followed the ambulance, she was grateful that she had insisted on bringing her car.

  At the hospital, they waited in the hallway for what seemed like hours, but was actually only minutes. Scott had grabbed her hand the moment she had entered the hospital and hadn’t let go, as if it was his lifeline. Elizabeth prayed for Katherine to be all right. It just wasn’t fair to lose two mothers so close together.

  The doctor appeared a few moments later, his brow creased. Scott’s grip tightened. As one they waited for the doctor to give his prognosis. He took his time, seeming to search for the right words. Elizabeth’s unease grew with every passing second.

  “Your mother has had a mild stroke. There doesn’t seem to be any long-term damage. We’ll want to keep her for a couple of days and run some tests to see what caused the stroke and to monitor her condition.”

  Scott visibly relaxed and then grasped the doctor’s hand. “Thank you, doctor. When can we see her?”

  “She’s being moved to a private room, number 314. Why don’t you wait for her there.”

  “Thank you.” Elizabeth murmured her own thank you to God
as well as the doctor. She squeezed Scott’s hand and they walked to the elevators together.

  It was several minutes before Katherine was wheeled into the room. As soon as she was settled, Scott leaned close and spoke to Katherine. She nodded, but didn’t speak. She was still weak and groggy from the medication. Elizabeth stood beside him, her fingers intertwined with his.

  ❧

  As Alex entered the kitchen door, a wave of foreboding struck him full force. The kitchen table was still set for breakfast even though it was almost ten o’clock. The milk pitcher was sitting out and the coffee was cold. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the details. The stillness of the house was eerie in its totality. Making a quick search of the house, he found everything in perfect order until he came to his parents’ room. The normally neat room was in a state of chaos, the linens hanging off the bed and the dressing table looking as though someone had cleared the table with one smooth swipe. The shrill ring of the bedside phone jerked him out of his thoughts and he grabbed the phone.

  “Hello?…Yes, this is Alex McClintock…What?…I’ll be right there.” He hung up the phone and then dialed Scott’s number. No answer. He left a message on the machine and then strode through the house in search of his father. He paused in the kitchen to throw out the milk and clear the table before searching for his father in the garage.

  His father’s face paled as he related the news of Katherine’s stroke. Then he pulled himself up and headed for the car. Alex persuaded him not to drive and took the wheel. Within moments they were speeding down the beltway.

  The information desk gave them the room number and they rushed to the elevators. Alex reached the room first and quietly pushed the door open. The first thing he saw was Scott holding Elizabeth’s hand. The two of them were leaning over the bed talking softly to Katherine. The worry for his mother was overshadowed by a sudden green anger.

  His father entered seconds later and pushed past Alex to Katherine’s side. Alex watched as he took her hand and whispered words of love. It was the picture of the perfect family. The adoring husband, the loving son and his faithful wife were all gathered around. Scott had usurped his place, going so far as to take his fiancée. Hate flickered across his features, but were smoothly replaced by a look of concern. He moved to his mother’s bedside behind Elizabeth, circling her waist with his arm.

  ❧

  As Alex joined them, Elizabeth felt Scott release her hand. Her place was as Alex’s comforter, not Scott’s. She put her arm around Alex and squeezed. Scott moved away to let Alex closer. Elizabeth felt cold. The warm connection she had found with Scott was broken as he moved away from her. Alex’s presence had pushed them apart.

  It was decided that Matthew McClintock would stay with his wife; so that Scott could check on his house and Elizabeth and Alex could spend some time together and take care of the family home. Scott took his father’s car, and Alex rode with Elizabeth. As the engine warmed up, she watched Scott pull away and disappear into traffic. Her heart went out to him. She couldn’t say the same for the man beside her. She couldn’t fathom what he was feeling right now. The moment he had entered the hospital room, she had realized that she really didn’t know this man. He had never let her past a certain point. There was an invisible wall between her and the real Alex McClintock and it frightened her. She pulled out of the parking lot and into traffic in silence. The silence lasted the whole trip, for which she was grateful.

  Back at the house, they ate a quick lunch and straightened the house. Alex, claiming fatigue, disappeared into his room. Elizabeth went to her room and paced the floor. Thoughts whirled around in her mind like a swarm of bees, never landing, always buzzing. On her third trip across the room, her eyes fell on a book on the bedside table. It was a Bible. She picked it up and sank onto the bed. With a prayer, she opened it up and began to read.

  ❧

  All the way home Scott prayed for his mother and gave thanks for her life, but another prayer lingered near his heart. With Elizabeth by his side, he had felt a comfort and peace. The peace and comfort of sharing his life with someone who understood. Then, in a moment, Alex’s presence had shattered that peace. He was playing with fire. Elizabeth belonged to Alex and there was nothing he could do about it. He prayed for guidance and strength.

  At his house, he checked on all the animals and set the house to rights. Then he grabbed his Bible and began to read. He read the words, but did not comprehend them. Finally, he closed the book and got on his knees. He poured out his heart to God for over an hour. When he thought he could do no more, he felt the hand of God touch him and peace settled on his heart. There were no answers to his dilemma, only the knowledge that he was not alone. He trudged up the stairs and fell into bed, exhausted.

  ❧

  Alex spent the evening plotting. His mother’s health never entered his thoughts. All he could think about was the image of Scott’s and Elizabeth’s hands intertwined. His lips were set in a thin line, and his eyes glowed like fire. He paced the room like a caged panther for an hour. Abruptly, he stopped and his face relaxed into a smile. He hadn’t lost yet. As long as he kept in control, everything would turn out just as he had planned. He changed into casual clothes and smoothed his hair and expression. Then he went in search of Elizabeth. They had a quiet dinner in the kitchen and then watched television. He sensed the tension between them, but ignored it, maintaining his usual air of concern for her well being. He kissed her softly on the forehead before they retired and then got ready for bed. One fleeting thought of his mother passed through his mind as sleep claimed him.

  twenty-three

  Elizabeth awoke with a sense of peace. She had read several chapters in the Psalms and had been strengthened by them. As she read, she had realized that she had not picked up her Bible, except to go to church, since she had started dating Alex. Even then, she had hardly opened it because the preacher often spoke from one verse of Scripture which he quoted from memory. She only took her Bible out of habit. She had made a promise last night to begin every morning by reading the Bible. She remembered another such promise she had made and lifted a prayer for forgiveness.

  Sitting up in bed, she reached for the well-worn Bible. The front cover fell open and she read the dedication: To Katherine, with love, Matthew. She caressed the cracked leather. Seeing a bookmark that she hadn’t noticed the night before, she opened the Bible to it. It marked the third chapter of Lamentations. Verses 22-24 caught her attention. They said the compassions of God are new every morning and that our hope is in God. She felt a tug of remorse for her lack of faithfulness to God, after all he had done for her and his faithfulness to her. She prayed for forgiveness and guidance. She lifted her head, knowing that she had to settle things with Alex today. There would never be a good time, and if she didn’t do it now, she was afraid things would never change.

  She dressed slowly and cleaned the already clean room. Gathering her courage around her like a cloak, she moved to meet the enemy: her own fear. She found Alex in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and the morning paper.

  “Good morning, sweetheart.” He smiled over the top of his paper and then continued reading. She got a coffee mug from the cabinet and filled it just to have something to do with her hands. Taking in a deep breath, she joined him at the table.

  “Alex, we need to talk.” He lowered the paper, one eyebrow raised in a question mark.

  “You seem so serious, darling. If it’s about Mother, you needn’t worry. The doctor said she will be fine in a couple of days.” He patted her hand and then raised the newspaper again. It seemed to embody the heart of their problem, that invisible wall that separated them. She pulled the paper from his hands and folded it before placing it out of his reach.

  “It’s not about your mother. It’s about us.” She pulled herself up, her back rigid.

  “Darling, if it’s about going to your friends for New Year’s, I think there should be no argument now. It’s our place to be here with Mother, especially after
what happened yesterday.” The patronizing smile made her want to scream, instead she remained calm and thought out her next response.

  “It’s more than just New Years that I want to discuss. I think we should get a few things clear before we proceed any further in our relationship.” The words sounded formal to her own ears.

  “What exactly are you talking about?” His smile retracted into a frown.

  “I think we should postpone the wedding until we can work through some areas of our relationship that I’m not comfortable with.” She chose her words carefully. “I think we need more time to get to know each other better before we rush into marriage.” There. She had said it. Alex said nothing and the silence made her uneasy. She had expected immediate opposition, anger, anything. Not this silence.

  “I don’t see the need for that. We know each other as well as we need to.” He stretched across the table and retrieved the paper. “Now get that silly notion out of your head.”

  She stared in stunned outrage as he unfolded the paper and picked up where he left off. It took several moments for the shock to wear off. Then she stood up and ripped the paper from his hands and threw it in the garbage. Fire flashed in her eyes and was met by cool reserve. Their eyes held in a silent struggle of will.

  “It is not a silly notion.” Her voice had raised a hair, but she kept her temper in a choke hold. “I do not want to get married in January, but most of all I don’t want to be talked to in that manner. I am not your slave, or your employee, or your dog. If we get married, I will be your partner and nothing less.” The color began to flare in her cheeks and her jaw was clenched.

  “What do you mean ‘if,’ darling? There is no if.” His face was smooth and his hands were resting palms down on the table. Hers were clenched in fists.

  “If there aren’t some changes in our relationship, there will be no wedding.”

  “Don’t be silly. Of course, there’ll be a wedding. You’re just under a lot of stress right now. We’ll talk about it later, when you’ve calmed down.”