Summer's Promise

by Irene Brand

  “All right, I guess. Hallie fixed a good dinner, and they had a package for me—a new sweater.”

  “That was nice of them.”

  “Yes, especially when I hardly ever get any new clothes.” Anita managed a grin. “I’m glad you took us to Biltmore. I get cranky because I’m worried about what I can do when spring comes and I’ve finished my studies at The Crossroads.”

  Summer thought of her idea to take Anita with her to New York at the end of a year. Anita could help with the children while Summer worked, and perhaps go to school at night. With all of them gone, would David be lonely? He’d become a part of her life now. Would she be willing to leave him behind?

  Chapter Sixteen

  After the first of the year when school was again in session, David and Summer tried the first of their open house gatherings for The Crossroads students. They prepared chili soup, corn bread, raw vegetables with dip and brownies for dessert. After they’d eaten, the students competed vigorously in some of the table games Nicole and Timmy had gotten for Christmas. Mayo played his banjo and Curtis taught the students some new songs.

  Considering the gathering a success, the next day, David and Summer tabulated the cost and tried to determine if they could make it a monthly function.

  David sat on the side of her desk. Summer turned to the computer and opened the financial statement file. Pointing to the low balance, she grinned up at David.

  “Big ideas, little money!”

  “Yeah, that’s true, but we’re the only ones who know how hard up we really are. I vote to have the dinner every month.”

  “I agree with you. We’ll have to cut corners some other way. Actually, I suppose it doesn’t cost any more to buy food for them to eat in the cabin as in the cafeteria, and it’s a lot more fun for the students.”

  Looking down at her intensely, David’s forefinger traced the soft curve of her face from forehead to her jaw, and she grew warm when his hand came to rest on her shoulder. “You’re making lots of people happy, including me.”

  Still sensitive to the thrill she experienced from his touch, Summer met his eyes with hers, and she suddenly realized how much David meant to her. He wore the red sweater she’d given him for Christmas, and the brilliant color emphasized his natural good looks and vitality.

  “We do make a good team,” she answered, and placed her hand over his as it rested on her shoulder.

  “Sure do. We’ve done pretty well with this parenting thing and with the school administration, too.”

  David’s hand closed over Summer’s right shoulder and he pulled her upward into his arms. His brown eyes searched hers. “We never have any time by ourselves. Let’s take Saturday off and go someplace—just the two of us. I can’t even hold you in my arms, without expecting someone to barge in on us. We can take in a movie, have dinner or whatever you want to do.”

  As the weeks had passed, Summer had become increasingly aware of David’s physical appeal, and she often resented the duties that kept them apart. After Christmas they’d agreed, in the interest of the children’s emotional security, to repress their feelings and not to delve deeply into the mutual attraction they shared.

  “It would be wonderful to have a day off. I’ll see if Anita will help with the children. She’s mature enough to make decisions if a crisis comes up. We’ll decide what we want to do as we go along.”

  He kissed both her cheeks. “We’ll have a great time. I’ve never forgotten that day we spent together in Ohio.”

  “Neither have I.”

  They left The Crossroads at ten o’clock and drove south though the national forest, bypassing the interstate, taking less-traveled roads. David drove slowly, stopping occasionally to enjoy the panoramic views of the mountains. They didn’t talk a great deal, for David sensed that Summer preferred silence.

  They continued easterly until they came to Chimney Rock and took the elevator to the top. With the foliage off most of the trees and a bright sun illuminating the lookout, they had a spectacular view of the terrain. The wind was raw and strong, and they didn’t tarry long.

  They circled back to Asheville, and David located a Victorian inn nestled in a two-acre wooded cove. The century-old house with its wraparound gingerbread porch reminded Summer of her home in Ohio. The dining room was cozy with a wood-burning fireplace, and they were shown to a window table that gave them a view of one of the majestic mountains surrounding Asheville.

  They chose the luncheon speciality—hot salmon mousse with egg sauce, shoestring potatoes, peas and stuffed cucumber salad with hot rolls. For dessert they ordered blueberry turnovers served with pecan sauce.

  When he finished his dessert, David asked the waiter for coffee and ordered tea for Summer. He leaned back in his chair.

  “Well, we’ve been at The Crossroads for over three months. We had a lot of doubts at first. How do you feel about the situation now?”

  Summer squeezed a section of lemon into the steaming cup of tea. Laughing, she said, “Only three months! I feel as if I’ve spent half of my life buried in these mountains. That means it’s only nine months until I go back to New York.”

  “Do you really believe, after a year at The Crossroads, that you’ll want to go back to your life as it was before?”

  “I don’t suppose my life will ever be like it used to be, but I still wonder if Timmy and Nicole might become better adjusted adults if they don’t live such a sheltered life as they do here. I’m not sure The Crossroads will prepare them to live in the real world. They may be too protected for their own good.”

  He shook his head. “Growing up in a big city isn’t always good for kids, either.”

  “I’m sure Daddy would provide tuition so they can attend private schools where they’d get an excellent education. As a matter of fact, I’ve even thought of taking Anita with me. She’s worried about what she can do when she graduates. She could watch the children while I’m at work, and she could attend school at night. I could finance that.”

  “Who’d do your work at The Crossroads?”

  “I really haven’t given any of this much thought. As you know, my roles as secretary, bookkeeper and mother don’t leave me much time for thinking. I might be of more help to The Crossroads in New York making a big salary and helping to support the work of the school.”

  David refrained from saying, “What about us?”

  He enjoyed working with her, and the evenings in the cabin with her and the children were peaceful and memorable. After observing how she’d sacrificed her own desires for Timmy and Nicole, he wouldn’t oppose her taking the children to New York, but how much would he like The Crossroads if Summer wasn’t there?

  Looking out the window to the mountains, David said, “I’ve about decided to ask for a full-time appointment.”

  “David!”

  “It’s been a slow process, but I’ve gradually been drawn back into the fellowship with God that I experienced when I was a boy. Since Christmas, I’ve been praying, talking to Curtis and reading the Bible. God has been dealing with me, and while I don’t feel inclined to be a preacher like Bert was, I do think God is calling me to serve at The Crossroads. Preaching the Gospel is perhaps the primary goal of the school, but good administration also has its place in molding the lives of these young people. The weeks we’ve been here has been a crossroads for me, too. After seeing the needs of so many youth, I can never go back to the self-centered life I used to live.”

  The other diners had already left the room, and the silence was pierced when a burning log crumpled, sparks snapped and drifted upward to the chimney. David carefully watched the play of emotions on Summer’s face—surprise, indecision, resignation.

  “Then you intend to stay here the rest of your life as Edna has done?”

  “I don’t know how long I’ll stay. Right now, I can’t see beyond the needs of these young people.”

  Her face wrinkled into worry lines, and David was sorry he’d brought up the subject. Things hadn’t turne
d out as he’d expected. He’d suggested the day so they could concentrate on one another, and they’d spent the last two hours talking about their work at The Crossroads. Summer had been relaxed, and he shouldn’t have distressed her.

  “I’d like for you to stay with me,” he said softly.

  A host of confused thoughts and emotions disturbed her. It upset her that David was ready to commit to the work of their siblings and she wasn’t. Did he want her to stay so their present relationship could continue or did he mean more than that? She became increasingly uneasy under his scrutiny and she looked away.

  “I honestly believe it would be good for Timmy and Nicole to have the advantage of a more structured education, and I’d like to help Anita develop her musical talent.” To her bewilderment, her voice broke slightly, and a hint of uncertainty crept into her expression. “But when I get that far in my planning, a red flag takes over my thoughts, and your name is written all over it.”

  The waiter hovered with their check, and David waved him away.

  “It isn’t easy for me to let go of a lifetime goal. I came here to fulfill Spring’s dream, but I didn’t expect to give up everything I’d ever wanted. Although in my mind, I believe I’ll have to do it, I haven’t come to the point when I can mark off my personal aspirations.”

  He reached for her hand. “I shouldn’t have said anything. Let’s forget the past and the future and just enjoy the rest of the afternoon. What do you want to do now?”

  Relieved that she didn’t have to give an immediate answer to his invitation to stay with him, Summer said, “There are lots of antique stores in Asheville. Let’s browse in those for an hour or so. I don’t suppose I’ll buy anything, but it’s interesting for me to find items like we have on the farm and see how much they’re worth.”

  They spent a couple of hours wandering around the city hand in hand, buying nothing except an armload of children’s books in a used bookstore. When they left Asheville, David tugged on Summer’s hand and she moved closer to him.

  “Have fun?”

  She laid her head on his shoulder. “It’s been a wonderful day. I’d rather not go back to meager bank accounts, fussing children, hurting youth and a howling pup.” She sighed. “But I’d soon get tired of loafing.”

  “I’m really proud of you and the way you’ve taken over difficult tasks and made them look easy. Deep down, I know you don’t want to be at The Crossroads, but you conceal it from others.”

  “But it bothers me, David, that I don’t do it with any real compassion for them. You’re dedicated to what you’re doing, but I’m like my mother, I suppose. She did her duty no matter how painful it was, not because she wanted to, but because it was expected of her.”

  “For whatever reason, you’re doing great.”

  A mile from The Crossroads, David pulled to the side of the road. He didn’t intend to let the day end on a somber note.

  “There’s only one other thing I need to make this a perfect day. Do you mind?” David put his arms around Summer and held her closely for a few minutes. Then he gently nudged her head backward with his chin, and his brown eyes gleamed with an invitation when he kissed her.

  Summer closed her eyes, unable to hold his gaze any longer. His caresses lasted a long time. When he released her and moved away, she said quietly, “That made it a perfect day for me, too.”

  When she was in David’s embrace, she never doubted that she wanted to stay with him.

  “We’d better go on now,” David said. “The kids will be looking for us.”

  “And don’t forget Pete will be, too.”

  Although at first Summer could see nothing amusing about the fact that the puppy had become her shadow, she’d finally accepted that as she had the other changes in her life. In spite of the fine doghouse that Stonewall had built, Pete refused to live in it. If they put him outside, he’d stand at the door and howl all night long until, in desperation, Summer would get up and let him in the house. Instead of going to the children’s bedroom, where he’d have been received with open arms, Pete curled up beside Summer’s bed, and a few times when she’d awakened, he’d been lying at her feet.

  Pete played with the kids, but he gave Summer his full devotion. Summer knew she was stuck with the animal, and she already dreaded having a full-grown hound in the crowded cabin. Still, she was glad she’d allowed the kids to have the dog, for he gave them lots of pleasure.

  Although the children had seemingly gotten over their grief, Timmy still awakened at night calling for his parents, and Nicole occasionally had flights of fancy when she imagined her parents were returning in a few months. Acting on Curtis’s advice, David and Summer talked to the children about their parents, trying to keep their memory alive in a healthy way. She hung the picture collage from her New York apartment, showing the Weaver sisters during various stages of their childhood. Summer told them about their mother and her childhood growing up in Ohio, of how the three Weaver girls and the Belgian horses had participated in parades and horse shows throughout the Midwest.

  The snowy, cold weather persisted for weeks after Christmas, and no one stayed outside for long. David and Summer hardly had a moment of privacy. He’d come to terms with his attraction for Summer, and knew that he loved her, but with so many people around all the time, he couldn’t find the time to tell her so.

  One night when Anita and a couple of the boys came to watch television, David took matters into his hands, and said, “I want to go into town and mail a letter. Can you watch Timmy and Nicole for a little while, so Summer can go with me?”

  “Sure thing, David,” Anita said with a saucy look. “Have fun!”

  As they walked toward the parking lot, Summer said teasingly, “What letter did you want to mail?”

  “I don’t know, but I’ll find something in the office that ought to be mailed. A house full of teenagers was more than I could cope with tonight.”

  “I thought you were the one who liked to be around people.”

  “I still do, but sometimes it’s nice to limit the company to one person.”

  “I feel flattered,” she said playfully, feeling carefree and excited. She’d missed being alone with David, too.

  A mile from The Crossroads, David slowed the car and stopped in the middle of the road. There was seldom any traffic on the mountain at night. He stretched out his hand to her and she moved closer to him. Putting his arm around her waist, he gave her an affectionate squeeze.

  “I hope you didn’t mind my bringing you on a needless errand, but I thought the nightly crowds have been getting on your nerves.”

  She stirred uneasily in his embrace. “When Timmy and Nicole are fighting, when Timmy is sick or having nightmares and I feel so inadequate to deal with him, when that little cabin, which isn’t a whole lot bigger than my bedroom at the farm, is overrun by noisy teenagers, and I have no privacy anywhere, I wonder how I’ll stand it another day. But when I see Anita smile or hear Mayo play his banjo and sing, ‘My God is an Awesome God,’ I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Then I feel as if we’re actually making a difference in their lives.”

  “The lack of privacy doesn’t bother me like it does you for our house was small, and we had lots of cousins and friends around all the time. Spending ten years in the Air Force didn’t give me much privacy, either.”

  “You’d probably perish if you were abandoned on a desert island and couldn’t talk to anyone. I think I’d thrive on the solitude.”

  “You’ll have a chance to find out when you take that vacation trip to the Smoky Mountains. Have you decided when you’ll go?”

  “Sometime in April, I think. The next time I’m in Asheville, I’ll go to the travel agency and schedule the tour, then I can arrange my office work to suit that time frame. I’ll have to make some provision for Timmy and Nicole, for you shouldn’t have to shoulder that responsibility since you’ll be doing my office work.”

  “Anita will help with the children during the day, and I’ll sta
y in the cabin at night. You’ll only be gone a few days.”

  He inhaled the fragrance of her hair and planted a kiss on the ear that nestled against him. “In spite of our differences, we’ve made a good team. Do you…” He hesitated, hardly knowing how to speak, but wanting to know how she felt. “Would you consider making this a permanent arrangement?”

  What a dumb way to ask a woman if she wants to marry you! David thought, inwardly groaning at his ineptitude. Was he so afraid that Summer would reject him that he couldn’t come right out and tell her what his heart felt? No wonder she misunderstood him!

  “We haven’t been here six months yet,” she said. “I still think it’s best to reserve our decision until the end of our first year. Now it feels right to be here, but we’re talking about a lifetime. I don’t want to make any mistakes.”

  “But I wasn’t referring to…”

  “There’s a car coming up the mountain,” Summer said, and the intimate moment was broken. Sighing, David continued their trip into Mountain Glen. They went into a café for coffee and lingered almost an hour before they drove back to The Crossroads.

  David had hoped to get Summer to express her feelings for him, but she had her guard up now, and he knew tonight wasn’t the time to press her for a commitment.

  “I’ll walk with you to the cabin to be sure everything is all right before I turn in.” David took her arm and before they reached the cabin, he dropped a soft kiss on her lips.

  David opened the door, Pete barked and ran to Summer and wound himself around her feet. The boys had gone, and Anita was watching television.

  “Everything all right?” David asked.

  “I put the kids to bed, heard their prayers ’n’ everything,” Anita said. “Now, I’ve got to scat. I have an English test tomorrow. I’ll walk back with you, David.”

  After she got into bed, Summer reflected on their evening. She hadn’t misunderstood David’s question about becoming a permanent team. But she wasn’t ready to deal with a decision about marriage. Her admiration for him was growing, but did she love him? She often thought her feeling for him was love, but did she love him enough for marriage? After being a loner all her life, could she ever give herself completely to anyone?