“I’m sorry, Gary. Go ahead.”
“I hadn’t done it long, but I wanted to be like the guys. They razzed me about being a wimp. After Rona found out, I decided I’d rather be a wimp then get cancer. I’d already stopped drinking after the accident.”
“Good for you, Gary.” Nick moved closer and rested his hand on Gary’s back.
Gary shifted away, causing Nick’s hand to drop. “That’s not all. Let me finish.”
Rona could see him squirming, and she wanted to leave so they could have a man-to-man talk, but Gary had asked her to stay and she wanted to honor his request.
“Rona found me one day with Amy in my room. I’d sneaked her in. We were fooling around a little.”
Nick’s frown deepened. “Fooling around?”
“Dad.” Gary looked exasperated. “We didn’t go all the way, but—Do I have to give you details?”
Nick’s expression relaxed, and he backed off. “No. I understand.”
“After Rona made us leave the room, I realized how that must look to Jesus and how you’d feel if you knew. I know I’d done a lot of things that were sinful, but fooling around like that could lead to worse. Amy was willing, but I held back. I’m a king wimp, but it’s okay.”
“You’re a king Christian, Gary.” His tender expression rent Rona’s heart.
“I’ve been mixed up, but I’m trying to get it all together. I figured Rona would run to you with everything, but she said she wanted me think about what I was doing and to tell you myself.”
He turned to her. “Thanks for trusting me.”
Rona wanted to run and wrap her arms around him. “Thanks.”
He stepped forward. “Can I give you a hug?”
She opened her arms, fighting her tears, and Gary’s nearly six-foot frame embraced her with a hug she’d never forget.
Chapter Fifteen
Filled with the Fourth of July community pancake breakfast, Rona followed Nick through the crowds waiting for the Stars and Stripes parade. Somewhere they’d lost Gary, but Rona assumed he’d find them. To her joy, he’d gone off with some of the church teens.
She could hear the crowd cheering ahead and soon the music rose above the downtown streets of Cedarville. Rona had thought this a small town until she saw the swarms of people gathering along the streets and pulling into parking spaces around the city park.
“Dad.”
Gary’s voice broke through the impending noise. He edged his way to them, pushing a girl in front of him who looked familiar. “You remember Jeanie.”
Jeanie. The name rang a bell and so did the face. Immediately, Rona noticed a difference between this girl and Amy. Jeanie looked pretty in striped pants and cute boatneck top, nothing clinging or revealing. “Nice to see you again. The flowers you planted look good. I noticed them when we came out of church last Sunday.”
“Thanks,” she said, smiling with bright eyes and giving sidelong glances to Gary. “It was fun. It’s been extra fun since Gary’s joined us.”
He swung an arm around her neck, trying to look macho, but Rona saw the pleasure on his face.
Nick greeted Jeanie with warm welcome. “Where are your folks?” Gary gestured toward the crowd.
“They’re across the street somewhere.” Jeanie glanced that way, then looked back. “Gary’s trying to avoid a hassle from his friends—”
“It’s nothing,” he said. “We’ll see you later.” A scowl had grown on his face.
Nick recognized Gary’s frustration with Jeanie telling about Gary’s problem, but he wished he could thank her. “Gary,” Nick said, trying to stall him.
He’d already slipped into the crowd, but Jeanie held back. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Tell him we’ll see him at home. Drop by. We’ll have burgers or something before the fireworks.”
“Thanks,” she said, hurrying after Gary.
Nick turned to Rona. “What was that about?”
She could guess. “I don’t know for sure.”
His frown deepened. “Tell me what you think.”
Her stomach tightened with what she suspected. “I’m guessing it’s the old buddies trying to stir up trouble. He’s pulled away from the old gang. You know how kids are.”
Nick looked in the direction Gary had gone. “I wish I could talk with him.”
“Tonight. Jeanie will hopefully convince him to bring her over for dinner.” She slipped her hand in his, amazed that it had become so easy, and gave his palm a squeeze. “Gary’s a big boy. He doesn’t need Daddy’s protection anymore.”
Nick’s tense expression relaxed. “I suppose you’re right, but—”
“You can protect me now.”
He drew her into his arms, her back resting against his chest. “I like that offer. Now let’s try to watch the parade.”
How could she concentrate on the parade with her heart beating faster than the parade’s drum? She did feel protected and even loved, but so often, she waited for the hammer to fall, for the bad to happen.
The past month had been a long stretch of good things happening to her—blessings. One day they would end. God seemed to want to test her faith. She’d failed Him so often. Could she succeed the next time?
With Nick’s arms around her, she drew from his strength and faith. She would succeed. She had to.
Smoke from the outside grill sailed across the yard and Nick jumped from the umbrella table and rushed to it, hoping to salvage the burgers. He made it with only a few crispy edges. “I wonder what’s keeping Gary.”
“He’ll be here. The last time we saw him, he said he and Jeanie would be here by six.” She glanced at her watch. “They have another five minutes.” She came to his side and wrapped her arms around him from behind. “Don’t worry. He’s fine.”
He moved the burgers to the warming tray, lay the spatula on the grill edge and turned. “I suppose.” He brushed the edge of her nose with his lips, amazed at how different life felt with Rona at his side. Still her family situation had settled in his mind, and he’d lifted it in prayer many times.
Rubbing the length of her arms, he studied the worry around her eyes. “Any decisions yet about your family?”
She tilted her head downward and shook it. “Not really, but I’m thinking about taking a couple of days and going home. I don’t know how else I can resolve it until I talk with my father.”
Before commenting, he’d waited to see if she mentioned her brother. “I think that’s—”
Rona sucked in a breath and Nick turned around.
“Gary. What happened?” Nick eyed the swollen spot on Gary’s cheek and an abrasion over his eye. He prayed it hadn’t been another car accident. He’d borrowed Rona’s sedan.
He sauntered forward with Jeanie clinging to his arm, and Nick figured he was trying to cover his upset. “I’m fine. You should see the other guy.” He tried to smile at the old joke, but it failed.
“Fistfight?”
“It wasn’t his fault, Mr. Thornton.” Jeanie’s expression looked tense, but beneath it, he suspected Gary was her hero.
Nick nodded. “Who was it?”
“No one you know. They were bad-mouthing.”
“Me,” Jeanie said.
Rona had marched to Gary’s side, inspecting the wound. “It’s not too bad, but you’ll probably have a black eye.”
“Let’s get him some ice, Jeanie.” Rona flagged the girl. Though Jeanie followed Rona, she gave Gary a languishing look.
Nick loved that woman. She knew what to do to give him and Gary privacy. He closed the distance between himself and his son. “What did Jeanie mean?”
“Dad, it’s okay. I did what I had to do.”
“These were your friends?”
He shook his head. “Some of the old gang. They’re trying to stick up for Amy since we broke up, that’s all.”
“What did Jeanie mean they bad-mouthed her?”
Gary waved the air. “Nothing. You know how some guys are. They called her names.”
“Couldn’t you just blow them off?”
“We did until they started using God’s name and called her a you-know-what Jesus lover. I couldn’t let them do that.”
Nick rested his arm on his son’s shoulder and gave it an agreeing shake. “Good for you. The old sticks-and-stones line works until they talk about our Savior.”
“I wasn’t going to fight. I just told him to back off and give Jeanie some respect, and one of the guys sucker punched me.”
Nick felt his chest swell with pride and he understood why Jeanie had looked at him like her hero. He heard the door and saw Rona hurrying out with a plastic bag of ice and Jeanie right behind her. “Let’s get that eye looked at, then we’d better eat. We want to get back to the celebration.”
Rona stuck the ice against Gary’s eye and he tried to duck without success.
“Hold it there for a while.”
Gary shoved the bag against his cheek, eyeing Jeanie for support. “Do I have to do this?”
“Yes,” Jeanie said, “listen to your moth—Rona.”
Nick caught her slip and glanced at Gary to see if he had, but if so, he let it blow over.
“I’m not going back downtown tonight looking like this.”
“It’ll be dark for the fireworks,” Rona said, her forehead wrinkling as she appeared to fight herself not to be too motherly.
Nick jumped in. “You have to go. You don’t want to miss Ernie’s Cruisin’ Tunes and the fireworks.”
Gary rolled his eyes, and Nick chuckled. He liked Ernie’s music and was grateful it wasn’t that hard rock noise he often heard coming from Gary’s room.
Rona toweled her hair then draped the towel over the bar and looked at her image through the steamy mirror. She’d tanned and looked healthier than she had in years. Maybe it was happiness that made her feel so good.
She slipped on her robe and wandered into her apartment living room, watching the sunlight dance on the calm ripples of the lake. A breeze blew past her from the open window like a gentle kiss and she breathed in the familiar scent. Island life agreed with her. She’d become confident in using the runabout and felt free, yet secure…and safe.
She had the evening alone. Nick had a golf outing on the island. He’d taken his clothes with him for the benefit event. Rona had watched him go, wishing she could have changed her mind. She could only imagine how handsome he would look.
Tonight Gary had to work and later he was spending the evening with the youth from church. Amazing how things changed. So far no new incidents had occurred with Gary’s former friends and Rona felt relieved and also amazed at how motherly she’d felt. When he’d been in the fight, she’d wanted to dive into the fray and defend him. Like Nick, she’d been so proud of his defense for Jeanie and the Lord.
Rona headed to the refrigerator and pulled out a ginger ale. She’d felt alone today, thinking about her family. She’d felt God stirring in her heart. She had to go home for a brief visit and she’d decided to tell Nick tomorrow. She knew he wanted her to go, so he would be pleased she’d made the decision.
Seeing Nick smile so often had become a gift. He and Gary’s relationship had improved, at least on the outside. Rona saw fewer confrontations lately, except the typical father-son disagreements about too much noise, forgetting to do a chore or wanting to use the car. She’d decided a while ago that Gary should have his own car now that he had the job and had gotten himself together.
The can fizzed when she pulled the tab, and Rona took a long swallow of the bubbly soda. She’d need to think about dinner, but she’d become spoiled. Though she’d thought she’d spend dinners alone in her apartment, eating with the family had fallen into place and she relished in the company.
When her cell phone sang its tune, Rona’s chest tightened. Since Nick was busy on Drummond, it had to be family and she could only think the worst. She located the phone and answered.
Relief washed over her hearing Nick’s voice.
“I did the dumbest thing,” he said.
“What?” She envisioned a car accident or a broken leg.
“I left my dress shoes home. I have everything else, but I can’t go to a fancy function like this without my black shoes.”
Shoes? A sigh sneaked from her. “And you want…?”
“Could you bring them to me? You won’t have a problem finding the place. It’s right on Maxton Bay, a short distance down the road from my resort.”
So much for a quiet evening. “How soon do you need them? I just got out of the shower.”
“It starts at six. You have more than an hour. I’ll miss dinner if I drive back to get them.”
She made a huff noise to let him know she wasn’t thrilled. “Okay, where should I meet you?”
He didn’t respond for a moment and she thought the call had been dropped. Finally he spoke.
“Rona, it’s foolish for you to drive here and go back alone. Come for dinner. Don’t argue with me on this. You might as well enjoy the evening. I rode here with John so we can ride back together.”
Her heart skipped, envisioning Nick in a black suit and tie, an evening under the stars, he’d said, but reality smacked her. “Nick, I have nothing to wear even if I wanted to come.”
More silence, and now she suspected a ploy. He forgot his shoes? He rode with John? “What aren’t you telling me?”
“I really don’t have my shoes.”
Rona wanted to roll her eyes. “I’m sure.” She looked out the window at the glorious sky, soon to be filled with stars. “But what else.”
“If you go into my bedroom, you’ll find a dress on my bed. I’m sure it’ll fit you.”
A dress. No. He wouldn’t. “Nick, I’m not wearing Jill’s—”
“It’s not Jill’s.”
“Then—?”
“It’s yours. I bought it for you.”
Her pulse skittered up her arms. “For me?”
“Please don’t say no.”
Tears blurred her eyes. This was the man she’d fallen in love with. Impossible maybe, but her heart didn’t understand impossibilities. “I’ll be there as close to six as I can.”
“Thank you.”
His whisper trickled to her heart.
Rona slipped from the car and smoothed the lovely fabric of her dress. She wouldn’t have chosen differently, a magnificent deep ruby ankle-length gown with beaded trim that shimmered in the setting sun. She already owned black strapped pumps and a small black clutch purse, she decided to use as an evening bag.
As she approached the door, Nick stepped from the entrance. She faltered, her head swimming with nerves and with love. She’d never seen him so handsome. “You fix up nice,” she said, brushing her hand along his lapel and eyeing his bow tie.
“You look amazing.”
His eyes said it all and her heart swelled until she feared it would explode. “The dress is beautiful. Thank you.”
“It’s more beautiful with you in it. When I saw it, I knew it was you. He touched the beads along the sleeve. The dress sparkles almost as much as your eyes.”
She sensed he wanted to kiss her, and though she longed for the same, she turned toward the door, not wanting a public display.
Sliding his hand in hers, Nick guided her inside, then out to the broad patio where hors d’oeuvres and drinks were served. She accepted a glass of club soda with a twist of lime, then followed him to a group of his friends. Her hands trembled as she approached the people, but when Nick began to introduce them, her terror subsided. Two of the couples were people she knew from the church.
“Rona, it’s so nice to see you. We’ve asked Nick over and over why he didn’t bring you along to some of our events,” Sherry said, casting a mischievous eye at her husband, John.
Rona managed a smile. “I’m the housekeeper, Sherry. You can’t date your housekeeper.”
“Phooey. Who says so? You’ve put a glow in Nick’s eyes, and we love to see it.”
Her bluntness made Rona flus
h. “Thanks,” she mumbled, hoping most people thought her pink face was the reflection of the dress against her skin.
After they talked, Nick pulled her away to another group, and as time passed, Rona realized she knew even more people from church and from Harbor Inn. They were normal people enjoying an evening out, and she wondered why she had feared this meeting so much.
After the sun had set, spreading its glorious palette of colors over the water, Nick drew her outside to look at the stars. In the darkness and without city lights, the stars hung in the sky like a million brilliant sequins on black velvet. The beauty caught in her throat.
“The night isn’t nearly as lovely as you.” He slid his arm around her waist and drew her closer. “I’m sorry I tricked you into coming, but I wanted you to see that you are no different from anyone here. Some may have more money, but that doesn’t make a person noble or worthy. You are amazing and, in my eyes, you’re a precious gem.”
She couldn’t speak, but she looked at him through tears. “You’ve helped me to see that I’m my worst enemy.”
“No. I don’t want you to think that. You’re—”
“I meant that in a good way. I’ve made the proverbial mountain out of a molehill, but let’s talk about it tomorrow and just enjoy tonight.” The time had come she needed to tell him the whole story. If he loved her, he would forgive her and she wanted to believe he did.
He turned his back to the others on the patio and bent down to brush her lips. “Tomorrow.” He lowered his gaze and a deep chuckle turned into laughter.
“What?”
He pointed to his feet.
She looked down at his brown loafers. In her nervousness, she’d left his shoes in the car. She laughed with him as he held her in his arms.
Chapter Sixteen
Nick wandered through the house, wondering where Rona had vanished to after church. He stepped into the dining room and gazed outside at the sun-speckled lawn, suspecting she’d gone to her apartment to change clothes. He stepped through the French doors onto the porch.
He knew they were supposed to talk today, but she’d put him off on the way to church and back, probably because Gary was there, but now he’d gone back to the mainland to work, and Nick was eager to hear what Rona had to say.
Family in His Heart Page 16