The Price of Trust

by Amanda Stephan

  "Joe?"

  Joe was studying the menu. She kicked him lightly under the table.

  He looked at her, extremely amused. "What?"

  "Do you want to answer her?" she asked, looking at him intently.

  "She asked you, not me."

  Sandy stood by the table with her hands on her hips, waiting inflexibly for a reply.

  "You want to know if we're a couple," she said, tearing tiny strips off her napkin.

  "That's all I want to know."

  She looked down at her menu, refusing to meet her gaze. "Yes. We are a couple." Joe laughed quietly, his head down, his shoulders heaving.

  "Well finally! You would've thought I'd asked if you were getting married." Sandy grinned mercilessly. Carly squirmed uncomfortably, still not looking up from her menu. "I don't think I'd get much of an answer to that one, but it would be a very interesting question to ask, don't you think?" she said, while Joe laughed heartily at Carly's red face. "But I'll just stick to taking your orders. What'll you have?"

  Carly managed to squeak out her order, while Joe had no trouble at all telling her his.

  "I can't believe you did that to me," she said, flustered as Sandy walked away to fill their order.

  "What?" Joe tried to look innocent. "I didn't do anything."

  "You could have stepped in anytime you know. It would have been okay. I'm going to need a new napkin. Mine looks shredded." She looked forlornly at her pile of napkin pieces. Joe passed her his, trying hard to suppress his smile. It didn't work.

  "How else am I supposed to know what you think?" His eyes twinkled wickedly.

  She glared, resisting the urge to smile. "You could try asking next time."

  "I'm sorry." He was trying to look penitent. She threw her straw wrapper at him.

  "Well, well, well. Lookee what we got here," a voice sneered.

  Randy and Billy Pruit had come in unnoticed while they were talking and sauntered up to their table.

  "Billy. Randy," Joe said, nodding at them curtly, all humor gone.

  "Joe," Billy said quietly, staring at Carly, some sort of emotion clouding his face.

  "Red, we haven't seen you in quite a while. Where've you been?" Randy asked, laying a filthy hand on her side of the table.

  She looked at Joe. "Just working," she answered as politely as she could.

  "We need to go to the hardware store more often, huh, Billy?" he said, jabbing Billy's side with his elbow.

  "Is there something we can do for you two?" Joe asked coldly.

  "I'm sure there's nothing you can do, but I was really talking to Red, if you don't mind," Randy answered dismissively.

  "Knock it off, Randy," Billy said, suddenly coming out of his musing. "Come on, let's eat. Carly." He nodded at her and walked away, seating himself at the counter.

  Randy scowled. "Red, I'll be seeing you. That's a promise." He laughed derisively and went to join his brother.

  Carly watched them for a moment. "What was that all about?" she whispered, looking warily at Joe.

  "I'm not sure," he answered thoughtfully. "But my guess is that Billy's a little jealous."

  "What?" she asked incredulously. "Why would he be jealous?"

  "Maybe he wishes it was him with you and not me." He looked at her peculiarly. "You know, you are quite pretty and any guy would like to be with you."

  She blushed profusely. "I don't know why he would be jealous. I never led him to believe that I was interested in him," she said quietly, looking at her plate as Sandy placed it in front of her.

  "A guy can still like a girl even if he knows she doesn't care for him," he answered after Sandy left. "I feel a little sorry for him, myself. He seems to make a lot of bad choices, but I don't think he's got much of a role model at home."

  "I do too," she answered slowly, after a long pause. "You know, that's the first time he's used my real name."

  "Now don't go feeling too sorry for him, you hear?" he answered, shaking his fork at her. "Let's pray." He reached over to hold her hand.

  "Joe, can we pray for Billy and Randy too?" she asked hesitantly. "I just kind of feel bad for them, especially Billy. Do you mind?"

  "Mind that you want to pray for another man? It depends on why you want me to pray for him." He grinned. She threw some napkin shreds at him. "Okay, okay. No need to get violent."

  They prayed quietly. When they were through, Carly glanced toward Billy to find him watching her, his face gloomy. She smiled kindly at him. He looked away.

  "Do you want some dessert?" Joe asked hopefully after they had finished their meal.

  Carly laughed, holding her stomach. "Oh my goodness, I ate too much as it is!"

  "Good! Sandy. We'd like two pieces of pecan pie."

  "Sure thing, Joe," Sandy said, fixing their plates and bringing it to them right away.

  "You didn't tell me anything about your day today," he said, starting to eat his pie.

  "There's really not much to tell you. I don't think I'm going to be able to eat the whole thing," she said, eyeing the large slice in front of her.

  "Sure you can. I have faith in you!"

  "Well,"—she took a bite—"I think I made a guy nervous today. This is really good." She was a little surprised.

  "Really? How'd you do that?"

  "Well, this guy's been coming into the store for a while now, and all he ever buys is a box of nails. I've told you about him," she said between mouthfuls.

  "Yeah, go on."

  "Well, today I caught him behind the counter, and he said he was looking for a tissue. I thought that was a little weird, so I asked if he knew a guy named Ian Lane."

  "What did he say?" Joe asked, fork poised over his remaining pie.

  "Nothing really. He just got this nervous twitch. You should have seen the look on his face. It was funny." She paused to take a sip of water. "This is really good. Thank you," she said, wiping her mouth.

  "My pleasure," he answered, polishing off his pie and leaning back in his seat. "Are you ready to go?"

  She reached into her pocket for her money. "Whenever you are. I've just got to pay."

  "Are you trying to pick a fight?" He glared at her. "You aren't paying."

  "Me? Pick a fight with you? Why would I want to do that?" she asked, batting her eyes innocently.

  He chuckled as he picked up the bill. "That's what I thought. Let's go." He led her past Billy and Randy, and over to the cash register.

  "Bye, Red," Randy said tauntingly, his eyes fixed on her chest.

  "Bye," she said uncomfortably.

  Joe held open the door for her, staring coldly at Randy and Billy as she walked out to the truck.

  "Joe," she asked as soon as they were both inside. "Let's pray for Billy every day and see what the Lord does, okay?"

  "Well, it couldn't hurt him any," he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Do I need to be worried?" She elbowed him hard in the ribs.

  "Ow!" he exclaimed, pulling into a parking spot in front of the hardware store. "I've had a good time tonight," he said softly, his arm still around her shoulders. "Even though I'm going to have a bruised shin and side."

  She glared up at him. "Me too." She leaned her head on his arm comfortably. "Thanks for coming to see me today."

  "My pleasure. I can hardly wait for Thursday."

  "Why? Do you like turkey that much?" she said, snuggling as close as she could to him.

  He squeezed her tightly. "I like this turkey that much! Then I'll be able to have you all day long."

  "What time did your mom want me to be over there? I don't think she told me," she asked, scooting toward the door to leave.

  "The earlier the better," he said, holding her hand for a moment.

  "What time do you want me to pick you up?"

  "Is Kelly going to be there?"

  "I think so. I'm pretty sure Mom asked her to come. Why?"

  "I was just wondering," she said mysteriously. She squeezed his hand tightly then got out of the truck.
r />   "So what time do you want me to pick you up?"

  She stamped her feet to keep warm. "Well, what time do you get up and start doing your work?"

  "I get up at five. Why?" he asked, puzzled.

  "I just thought that maybe you could show me what you do on a farm. I'd like to help," she said awkwardly, looking at the snowy sidewalk.

  "You want to help me with my chores?" he asked, taken by surprise.

  She looked at him a little defiantly. "I'd like to help if it's okay. Plus I want to be there to help your mom with dinner."

  "All right," he said after a slight hesitation. "I'll pick you up at six."

  "I thought you said you started at five."

  He grinned. "That's only if I don't take a shower before I start. But seeing as how you're going to help me, I've got to take my shower and look good for my girl before she gets there."

  "You don't have to do that," she said, embarrassed. "Don't worry about it; you just come get me when you're done."

  "Oh no. You're not getting out of the work that easily. You're committed to help me now." He chuckled. "Get inside before you freeze to death."

  "Bye," she said, starting to close the door.

  "Wait! You never answered my question!" he said before she could shut it all the way.

  "What question?"

  He grinned. "Do I need to be worried about you and Billy Pruit?"

  She slammed the door, and went inside without waving.

  Chapter 14

  The next day was much busier for Carly and Sam. Everyone seemed to need something from the hardware store, and there was a steady stream of customers almost all morning. She didn't get a break until almost lunchtime when Kelly came to see her.

  "Hi, Carly," she said as soon as she came in. "I just wanted to see if you want to go get something to eat."

  "Hey, Kelly." Carly looked up from her receipts. "I don't think I'm going to be able to go today. We've been pretty busy, and I'd hate to leave Sam if he needs me. But thanks for asking," she said, seeing Kelly's disappointed face. "Wait, I have an idea. Do you just want to come up to my apartment and have lunch there? I can whip up some macaroni and cheese really quick."

  She brightened up considerably at the suggestion. "That would be fun."

  "Let me see if Sam will be okay for a half hour. I'll be right back," she said over her shoulder, walking back to the office to find Sam. She came back quickly, smiling.

  "You ready?" she said, leading Kelly to the stairs. "You'll have to forgive the mess. I've been doing laundry, and it's hanging everywhere." She laughed and opened the door.

  "I can't get over how small this place is," Kelly said, amused, taking off her coat as she stepped in. "Not very many people would be able to handle it."

  "You can hang your coat here." Carly pointed to a small hook on the wall beside the door. "If you think this is bad, you should have seen the last place I lived at. This is the Hilton compared to that!"

  She laughed. "Do you like macaroni and cheese?"

  "Love it. That's all I would eat when I was little." Kelly sat down on one of the tiny kitchen chairs. She looked around at the clothes hanging from clotheslines stretched from the bathroom to the opposite wall that was supposed to be a small living area. Carly was at the sink, putting water into a small pan.

  "Why are all these clothes hanging here?"

  "Oh, I was just doing laundry yesterday evening, and they won't dry until probably tomorrow night. I've only got that little wall heater over there, so it takes things longer to dry when it's cold." She set the covered pan on the stove and turned on the fire.

  "Why don't you just dry your laundry at the coin place down the street?"

  "It saves me quite a bit of money if I do it this way," Carly said. "Would you like some water, juice, or milk?" She took two mismatched glasses out of the tiny cupboard hanging on the wall next to the tiny refrigerator.

  "Juice please," Kelly said politely, watching Carly pour two glasses of juice, check the water in the pot on the stove, add some salt, and return to the table with their drinks.

  "Here you go."

  Kelly took a sip. "I'd think that it'd be a lot less of a hassle to just dry the clothes while you were at the Laundromat instead of hauling wet clothes home."

  "I don't go to the Laundromat." Carly blushed but looked steadily at her. "I wash them in the tub."

  Kelly colored with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."

  "It doesn't bother me, Kelly," Carly said kindly. "I've had to work hard to save every penny I've made since I left Ian, and when I see something that would save me money, I do it. I have to."

  "But not anymore," Kelly said firmly. "You don't have to live this way anymore. Joe will take care of you now."

  Carly smiled at her naivety. She wasn't offended at her friend's reaction to her living conditions. She hadn't had to live like Carly had had to, just to survive. Carly reached across and squeezed her hand.

  "I can't ask Joe to take my problems and make them his. I've got to take care of myself the best that I can."

  "But he loves you," she said, arguing. "It wouldn't be a burden to him."

  Carly stood and went to the stove, adding the macaroni to the boiling water. "I can't ask Joe to pay my way, Kelly. That wouldn't be right." She stirred the pasta, put the lid on, and sat down before continuing.

  "Well, when he asks you to marry him, he'll be taking care of you then." Kelly was not going to be convinced easily.

  "He hasn't asked me to marry him. And what if he doesn't? It might not work out between us, or," she looked at her friend firmly, "he may change his mind about me after all."

  "But he will. I know he'll ask. And I know he isn't going to change his mind, either!" Kelly sighed heavily, wishing she could help make her friend's life easier.

  "If he asks, then we'll see." Carly smiled. "Don't worry about me. God knows what he's doing. I had everything the world has to offer when I was with Ian, and now it's my time to struggle. Truthfully, I enjoy my life a lot better now, even though I have to struggle and depend on God to survive. I'm happier now than I ever was with him. Don't feel bad for me. I'm very happy."

  "How do you do it?" Kelly asked quietly.

  "Do what?" Carly asked, getting up to strain the pasta.

  "Be so calm and peaceful when you had everything, and now you've got nothing," she said compassionately.

  "Nothing? I've got everything now, and I had nothing then! I've got God, good friends that really care about me, a job that I love doing and don't have to feel guilty about, I've got a good church home." She paused, getting the butter and cheese slices out of the refrigerator. "And I've got a man that I love. What's better than all that?" She turned to look at Kelly, smiling. "Do you like your maca roni really cheesy, or just a little cheesy?"

  Kelly grinned. "Really cheesy."

  Carly finished making their lunch, piled two heaping helpings on two mismatched plates, and brought them to the table.

  "This is the best macaroni and cheese I've ever had," Kelly said, taking a bite after they prayed.

  "I'm glad you like it." Carly smiled. "I eat this almost every day."

  "Every day?"

  "Oh yeah," she said, helping herself to another bite, smiling.

  "Is this another way for you to save money?" Kelly asked.

  "Yep. I eat this, rice, and juice, and sometimes I pull all the stops out and go over to the diner and have a bowl of soup." She laughed.

  "Well, whatever you do, please don't ever make it for Todd. He'll like it too much, and then I'll have to figure out how to make it. I'm a terrible cook. I try really hard, but I'm no good at it." Kelly sighed.

  "I bet you're a good cook," Carly said, smiling.

  “No. I'm not. Just ask Todd Thursday. He'll tell you the truth."

  "Speaking of Thursday. Are you going over there for Thanksgiving?"

  "Yes, why?"

  "There's some more if you want it," she said when she was finished. Kelly
helped herself to another helping and sat back down. "I was wondering what time you were going out there."

  "I really hadn't thought about a time, why?"

  She grinned mischievously. "Well, I was wondering how early you wanted to be there."

  Kelly leaned forward, interested. "Ooh, you have an idea."

  "I just thought it would be nice to get there early and surprise the guys. Then we could help them with their chores, and help Penny with the dinner. After that, we'd have the rest of the day."

  "I think that's a great idea. Then we could show them that we know how to work hard too," Kelly said excitedly. "What time were you thinking?"

  "Well, Joe said he'd be here at six to pick me up, so if we showed up there before five thirty, we'll probably surprise them pretty good," Carly said eagerly.

  "We'd have to leave here at five," Kelly said, her spirits dampened slightly. She thought a moment. "I still think it's a great idea. Let's do it," she said, regaining her enthusiasm. "I'd like to show Todd that I can do it. He thinks I can't get up before eight. Won't he be surprised?" She grinned gleefully at Carly. "I'll go to bed early, and I'll be here by five. I'm so excited!"

  They finished their lunch, planning what they would do and wear on Thursday, talked a little about Joe and Todd, and went back downstairs after they had cleaned up.

  "Kelly, if it'll make it easier for you, I can just meet you at the bed and breakfast, then you won't have to come here to get me. What do you think?" Carly said, walking Kelly to the door.

  "Okay, that sounds good. I'll meet you there," she said, excitedly giving Carly a hug before she left.

  Carly went back to work in a cheerful mood. She was thinking about Thursday when the bell above the door tinkled. She looked up to see Billy Pruit walking in. Her heart sank a little before she remembered that she and Joe were praying diligently for him. She forced a bright, sunny smile onto her face.

  "Hi, Billy. Is there something I can do for you?" she asked cheerfully.

  "Uh, no," he answered, embarrassed, walking past her. She stared after him and helped some other people that had walked in after him.

  She didn't see Billy again until everyone else had left, and she had almost forgotten him when he came up to the counter with a socket set in his hands. He set it on the counter hesitantly, shuffling his feet.