Still Waters

by Misha Crews

  She nestled her head on his shoulder. “Good.”

  “I’ll cancel the trip.” He lifted her hand and planted a kiss on the back.

  Jenna paused for the briefest moment. “All right.”

  He heard the hesitation in her voice. “What? Do you think I should go?”

  “Well, you may as well hear him out.”

  Adam shifted slightly away so he could get a good look at her face. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  Jenna spoke slowly as her thoughts evolved. “Maybe it would be better if you’re out of town when I talk to Frank. He’s been good to me, and I want to let him down gently. If you’re here, he may feel like he has to challenge you. But if you’re out of town, it will give him some time to come to terms with it.”

  Now Adam was the one who paused. When he spoke, his voice vibrated with worry. “You mean you think he could be dangerous?”

  The very idea made her laugh. “Of course not! I just don’t want him to feel crowded by your presence. I mean, I’ll admit he can be a little overwhelming at times, but believe me, he’s as gentle as a lamb.”

  “If you say so.”

  She kissed him. “I do. And don’t worry. By this time next week, everything will be different, in the very best ways possible!”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  SHE AWOKE ON SATURDAY MORNING WITH a happiness glowing inside her that she had never known before. “We’re getting married,” she whispered to herself, burying her head against the pillow. “Adam and I are getting married.”

  While making plans last night, they had decided to keep their engagement a secret for now. Jenna thought that Frank deserved to know first, before Bill and Kitty. And she would have to tell him this weekend, since Adam would be home on Monday. While she was not looking forward to that conversation, she refused to let anything cloud her happiness.

  There was a stirring in the hallway, the sound of little feet padding toward the bathroom. Jenna sighed. She had a full day ahead of her, and no amount of joyful mooning over love would change that. She threw off the covers and prepared to face the day.

  She put on a pot of coffee and pulled eggs and bacon from the refrigerator. She felt like making a big breakfast this morning. While she got the food going, she reached for the telephone. There were three important calls she needed to make, and she wanted to get them over with.

  The first call was to Ralph Grisham, the local mechanic who had been servicing her car for years. She explained how she had hit the curb yesterday and said that her tire was now flat. “Doesn’t sound too serious,” Ralph said. “I can pick it up this morning and probably get it back to you tomorrow afternoon.”

  “You’re working on Sunday?”

  “We’re trying to get everybody finished up before Thanksgiving weekend,” he told her.

  Jenna thought about Joseph’s recital. She absolutely could not miss it, not after it had taken so much for Maya to invite her. Well, maybe Alexander would be willing to drive her.

  “Any chance you could have it back to me today?” Jenna asked.

  Ralph uttered an impatient, heartfelt sigh. Women, that sigh said disgustedly. Always asking for more than you can give ‘em, especially when it comes to their automobiles.

  “Wish I could, Mrs. Appleton,” he said, “but we’re really backed up.”

  Jenna decided not to press her luck any further. “Sunday would be great.”

  “We’ll be by to pick it up in a couple hours,” Ralph said, genial once more, then rang off.

  The second call was to Kitty. Jenna told her what had happened with the squirrel, and asked if Christopher could come over this afternoon instead of tomorrow. “I just feel like he could use a change of scenery. I’m afraid he’ll be out back all day, waiting for his little friend to come asking for a nut.”

  “Poor thing, of course he can come over. He can even bring Fritz, if it will comfort him.” Kitty’s voice switched from sympathy to mild rebuke. “But Jenna, I hope you’ll take a lesson from this. You shouldn’t let the boy get attached to wild animals. They’re dangerous and short-lived. Squirrels die all the time!”

  Jenna gritted her teeth. As if she needed reminding that she had failed as a parent yet again. “You’re right,” she said honestly. “I’ll try to be more conscious of things like that from now on.”

  They set a time for Bill and Kitty to come over before ending their conversation. Jenna stirred the bacon in the frying pan, listening to Christopher’s footsteps overhead. The kitchen was warm and filled with the good smell of bacon and coffee. Soon she and Adam would be sharing moments like this every day, either in this house or in that beautiful new home that he had made for them. Jenna focused on that thought, and the joy it brought her, then she reached again for the phone.

  Her last call was to Frank. Part of her hoped that he wouldn’t answer, but her heart slipped a notch when she heard his voice at the other end of the line. Jenna didn’t relish the prospect of breaking up with him, or the pain it would cause him. They had been together for three years, and he had been good for her. He treated her like an intellectual equal, and he was always kind to her son. How many men would have done the same?

  Seizing control of her emotions, she spoke rapidly. “I’ve just been making plans for the day, and I’m wondering if you’re free to come over for dinner tonight. Christopher will be with his grandparents.” Suddenly realizing that that sounded like an invitation to an intimate evening, she groped for something more to say, but found nothing. She didn’t want to say “We have to talk,” since those words always seemed to foreshadow a breakup.

  Into the abrupt and awkward silence, Frank spoke. “I appreciate the invitation, my dear, but I thought you were going to be busy with your cooking all day. I’m afraid I’ve already told General Caulfield that I would dine with him. Of course if you’re free, I can call Mrs. Caulfield and tell her I’m bringing a guest….”

  “No,” Jenna said quickly. “Thank you, but I do plan to be in the kitchen most of the day, and I’m afraid I won’t be presentable enough to go out this evening.” She attempted a laugh, hoping that it seemed natural.

  Apparently it didn’t. “Are you all right, sweetheart? Is anything the matter?”

  “Things are fine,” Jenna lied. “I just feel guilty to have sprung this on you at the last minute.”

  “Don’t be silly. It was very sweet of you to think of it. Maybe tomorrow, if you’re free?”

  “How about tomorrow evening?” Jenna asked, deciding that Christopher could stay with his grandparents until Monday, even if it meant he had to miss a day of school. She needed to be alone with Frank when they had this conversation.

  “I can be over around six, if that will work?”

  “Perfect,” Jenna said. But her heart was sitting uncomfortably in the pit of her stomach. She had wanted to get it over with today. “I’ll see you then.”

  Christopher came trotting into the kitchen at that moment, driving all other thoughts from her mind. She hung up the phone and turned her attention back to the stove. Among the mechanic, the grandparents, and the pies, the rest of the day went by so quickly that it wasn’t until late that afternoon that Jenna remembered she needed a ride to the recital tomorrow.

  By that time, she was too tired to worry whether or not Alexander would consider it an imposition to drive her. She merely picked up the phone and dialed, prepared to try her luck.

  To her surprise, he agreed readily, and he was out front of her house at eleven the next morning, just as he’d promised he would be. With his usual polite silence, he drove them to the church where the recital was to be held.

  The Metropolitan A.M.E. Church was a soaring gothic structure of red brick with white trim. Alexander offered Jenna his arm, and escorted her inside. The recital had been scheduled for just after the Sunday service, so there was a full house. They found Maya in the crowd, and Jenna was introduced to Maya’s husband Fred, a smiling man with wide shoulders and hair that was j
ust beginning to gray at the temples.

  The four of them settled into their seats and the program started. Joseph was fourth out of six performers. His playing was as beautiful as Jenna remembered, and the only thing that would have made the day better was if Adam and Christopher had been there with her. Soon, she promised herself.

  Alexander said he preferred not to stay for the brief reception after the concert, which surprised no one.

  Jenna settled into the car and leaned her head back against the seat, watched the frosty autumn world roll by outside the window. The notes that Joseph had played were still ringing delicately through her mind. She could feel the small smile that hovered around her mouth, reflecting the peaceful glow inside her. Before she and Alexander had left the church, Maya had invited Jenna and Christopher to go to the Museum of Natural History with them next week.

  “I don’t know if the boys should be told yet who they are to each other,” Maya had said cautiously. Then she’d smiled. “But I sure do want to meet that little man of yours. And I want to see our sons play together.”

  Family, Jenna thought blissfully. My nephew. My sister-in-law.

  The image of Bill and Kitty flickered through her mind: a harsh note threatening the warm swell of her happy world. But she pushed it away, determined to enjoy the moment.

  As they approached Fort Myer, Jenna heard Alexander click on the turn signal to go right.

  “It’s a little further down,” she told him. “I’ll let you know when you get to the turn.”

  Without a word, he turned off the signal and drove on. She wanted to grin as she looked at him. My brother-in-law. Or he would have been, if Denny and Maya had married as they’d planned. Jenna didn’t think that Alexander would be overly pleased with the title, but maybe that would change with time. So many things were changing, after all.

  “It’s very kind of you to drive me,” she said. “I would have hated to miss this.”

  Alexander’s face was as immobile as ever, but Jenna thought she could detect the beginnings of warmth glimmering under the surface. “It was good for Joseph to see you.”

  “I appreciate that. And it’s the next right turn.” She paused, and then took a chance. “I think that we have a wonderful family, Mr. Graves.”

  He rotated the wheel smoothly. “I’m beginning to agree with you, Mrs. Appleton.”

  She directed him around the traffic circle. He asked, “Did the mechanic say when your car would be ready?”

  “He thought he’d have it finished today. Yes.” She caught sight of it as they came around the corner. “There it is, in the driveway.”

  Her heart lurched as she realized that Frank’s car was parked behind hers. Alexander did a neat three-point turn and pulled up at the curb. Frank was seated in the porch swing, a black spot on the bright blur of the day. His coat was buttoned and the collar turned up; his hands were in his pockets. He looked as if he’d been there for some time.

  Alexander leaned over. “And who is that, sitting in the cold?”

  “That’s my fiancé,” Jenna said softly. She met Frank’s eyes through the glass. The warmth of the afternoon ebbed away, and in its place cold came creeping. “He doesn’t look happy.”

  “Do you want me to go in with you?” Concern marked Alexander’s voice. Jenna turned long enough to flash him an appreciative smile, then quickly looked away. She was very conscious of Frank’s gaze on them, watching them.

  “I think it would be better if I go myself.” She knew Frank, after all. He was obviously upset, and he had a right to be. She had broken a promise, and that sort of thing would not be taken lightly, nor would it make breaking up with him any easier. But she couldn’t change what had happened. There was nowhere to go but forward. “Thank you again for the ride.”

  Alexander looked at her, Should I let you go? written all over his face. Evidently he decided that it would be all right because his expression softened. When he spoke, his words were soft and sincere. “It was my pleasure, Mrs. Appleton. Anytime.”

  * * *

  Frank’s toes were numb. That was the only way he could tell how long he had been sitting out here in the cold. When he’d arrived — hours ago, apparently — he had expected to find Jenna at home and her car still at the mechanic. But instead he’d found the car in the driveway and the house empty.

  Concerned, he’d walked across the street and knocked on Stella’s door, thinking that maybe Jenna was visiting. But Jenna wasn’t there. Stella had no idea where she was. Frank had been forced to suffer the supreme humiliation of Stella’s sympathetic look, which communicated clearly how pathetic was the man who couldn’t keep track of his own fiancée.

  And that was when Frank had begun to get angry.

  He’d returned to Jenna’s porch, head held high, and had taken a seat on the swing, determined not to get up until he saw her climbing those stairs toward her front door.

  Which was precisely what she was doing now.

  As the car drove away, Jenna ascended the stairs one at a time, like a queen going to her own execution. She looked at him calmly when she reached to top. “Hello, Frank.”

  Her long black coat draped around her like a robe, and a hair ornament sat crown-like on her head, emphasizing the impression of regality. And to Frank, she was regal. She was the queen of his heart, sovereign of his dreams. She was royalty, and he could feel himself tremble with the power that she held over him.

  Struggling to preserve his composure, he rose and nodded. “Hello.”

  “It’s cold out here.” Jenna put her hand on the doorknob and turned it. The door opened inward. “Why didn’t you wait inside?”

  “I wanted to give myself the pleasure of seeing you return home.” He permitted himself a small, bitter smile.

  Her gaze wavered. “Why don’t you come in and warm up. I’ll make coffee.”

  He followed her into the house, closing the door behind him. As he’d done so many times before, he watched her drop her purse on the small table by the door, followed her with his eyes as she went to hang her coat in the closet. It was all so familiar, and yet each movement now seemed fraught with hidden meaning.

  Was there something special about the way she placed one booted foot so precisely in front of the other? When she reached out her arm for a hanger, was she trying to tell him something that she couldn’t say with words? He didn’t know the answers to those questions; he only knew that something was different. Some veil had been pulled back, and he was seeing her in a new light. But he couldn’t tell yet exactly how that light would have her cast.

  She held out a hand in a silent offer to take his coat, but he shook his head. “I’ll hold on to it for now.” He wasn’t quite willing to give up one of his last bits of security.

  She didn’t object, just turned and started toward the kitchen. “I’ll put the coffee on. Are you hungry? I think I have some cookies in the cupboard. I wasn’t expecting you until six, so dinner isn’t ready yet.”

  “Jenna.” The sound of her name stopped her in her tracks. Or maybe it was his tone of voice, which to his own ears possessed a sudden force born of anger. He took comfort in the newfound strength, and went on. “Where have you been?”

  She turned around slowly. Her face was blank. “I was at a piano recital. The son of a friend of mine was playing.”

  “You didn’t tell me anything about it.”

  Her eyes wandered around the room as if searching for answers. Finding none, and apparently unwilling to manufacture them herself, she crossed her arms and waited.

  “And who was that who dropped you off?”

  Impatience flitted across her face, stirring his anger. “Let’s not play this game, Frank. It was Maya Sinclair’s brother. I was at my nephew’s piano recital.”

  “Jenna. You lied to me.” Small explosions began to go off inside his head, sending shards of ice into the back of his eyes. He closed them against the pain. “You lied, outright and directly. Again.”

  He heard her tak
e a breath. “Frank, I know I broke my promise, and I owe you an apology, but — ”

  His eyes snapped open. His hand shot out and he grabbed her arm. “But what?”

  She pulled away from him and backed up. Shock was written on her face, which gave him a deep satisfaction. She hadn’t expected him to do that, had she? Hadn’t expected him to lay his commoner’s hands on her without her royal permission. He took a step toward her and she held up her hands defensively.

  “Stop right there, Frank. Let’s talk about this, and you’ll see that you’re getting very upset over nothing.”

  “Nothing? Jenna, I’m the man you’re going to marry. Or maybe you’ve forgotten that! You might as well slap my face as to tell me that it’s ‘nothing’ when you’ve been out driving around with some darkie.”

  She had the nerve to look offended, to shake her head at him. “I never figured you for a bigot. I always thought you were different from the others.” The sincere disappointment in her eyes made him laugh harshly. She grimaced.

  “Oh trust me, I am different.” He started toward her again, and she backed away. “I’m so different, in fact, that I let my fiancée run all over creation with a tattooed sailor on one arm and a black man on the other!” He grabbed her arm again, watched her wince. “You think I don’t know what you’ve been doing, running around with that man Balentine? You think I don’t see the looks that the two of you give each other?”

  “Frank, you don’t understand!”

  “No? Well explain it to me.” He gave her a shake. “What is it you talk about when you’re alone together? Is it me?”

  He squeezed her arm tighter, feeling the fragile bones beneath the soft flesh. If he squeezed hard enough, if he did it just right, he would hear the snap.

  Her face went pale with pain. “Adam — he’s Christopher’s father!” she blurted.

  Ice water froze his body. He pushed her away, watched numbly as she fell to the floor. She scooted backwards, away from him. Fear contorted her beautiful face until it looked like a mask.

  “What?” Frank whispered.