Robin's Reward (Bonita Creek Trilogy Book 1)

by McCrary Jacobs, June

  Robin sensed a subtle shift in Jeff’s mood, so she prompted him to continue sharing his life’s story. He sighed and his face became shadowed as he told her how their brother, Gregory, had been killed at age five when he drowned in a pond on their grandparents’ property. He’d been nearly three years younger than Jeff. The rambunctious duo had spent many happy hours together planning their adventures, playing, and discovering the world around them.

  Jeff’s voice cracked with emotion as he told her what happened that horrific afternoon. “We were walking our new puppy, Buster, on the edge of the pond at Nana and Poppa’s. Buster was your typical, excitable fuzzy black ball of fur.” He smiled at the memory.

  “I was usually the one who held the leash because my hands were bigger and I was naturally stronger than my little brother. But Greg begged me to let him hold the leash just this once. As I should’ve predicted, Buster tugged on the leash, and it slipped from Gregory’s small hands. We started calling the puppy’s name as he ran playfully toward the water. The more we chased Buster, the further away he ran.”

  “As we approached the water, I told Gregory not to follow the puppy. It was really muddy and slippery on the bank. I knew we couldn’t save the puppy in time.” Jeff bowed his head in grief he still clearly felt deeply.

  “Gregory loved the puppy so much . . . Long story short—Gregory ran toward the bank and followed Buster into the water. I couldn’t reach either of them in time. I lost both of my best friends the same day.”

  Robin reached for Jeff’s hand. Her need to comfort him felt so natural. “It wasn’t your fault. It was an accident. You can’t blame yourself.”

  “Try telling my parents. They will never forgive me for not preventing their youngest son from running straight into harm’s way. Gregory’s death has had a long lasting and life-changing effect upon my parents and me. He was such a special little guy. He had a capacity to love the people around him I’ve never observed in another human being.”

  Jeff confessed the light and happiness had been permanently dimmed in his parents’ lives when Gregory was killed. Pamela was born a couple of years after the tragedy.

  “They say a parent never gets over the death of a child, and my parents are living proof.” Robin and Jeff held each other in silence until he shared his best friend was his cousin, Douglas.

  “We’re much like you and Penny, I think.”

  Douglas and Jeff had grown up together and shared many interests and good memories. They attended the same university and roomed together in their junior and senior years. Jeff spoke about his college years and how he’d returned to graduate school a few years ago to earn a master’s of business administration.

  They discussed many subjects the next few nights, but not another word was spoken about either’s previous relationships with the opposite sex. Both of them had a lot to think about after this amazing few days spent becoming acquainted.

  As their conversation began to wind down on Thursday night, Jeff looked Robin in the eye and shyly asked her, “Will you please put me out of my misery and go out to dinner with me on Sunday night? I want to begin our relationship as soon as possible, and by my way of thinking I’ve been waiting patiently for a chance to date you for too long already.”

  A sweet smile reached her eyes. “I’d be honored to go to dinner with you. I’ll be sure to announce publicly Jeff Clarke is not a scumbag weasel after all.”

  He laughed. “Sounds fair to me. Want to walk to church together Sunday? We can go to whichever service you want. I need to do some laundry and chores around home, so I’m not free tomorrow afternoon.”

  Stifling a yawn, Robin said, “Can we go to the late service?”

  “I’ll swing by around ten to pick you up.”

  As she closed and locked the door, Robin twirled around and shouted, “Ya-hoo!”

  She heard Jeff’s laughter outside. He approached the cottage once again and spoke through the door. “I couldn’t agree more. See you Sunday around ten. Don’t forget about our date. You might want to dress up. We’re going someplace special.”

  Robin opened the door slightly and answered in a soft voice. “I won’t forget.”

  “Goodnight, Robin.”

  How could I have thought he was a weasel and a ratfink? This will be a night to remember. I feel it inside.

  She admitted it would be to her benefit to tell Jeff about her father and Thomas Bennett sooner rather than later. When people began to see them together at church and around town, some might feel obligated to talk to him about her past.

  Chapter 20

  Exhilarated, Jeff dressed for church on Sunday morning. He could hardly believe he’d finally be accompanying Robin this morning. Later this evening, he’d take her out to dinner and begin his quest to win her heart. After talking with several of the men in Bonita Creek about special restaurants in the area, he’d settled on a steak house in Ukiah called The Western Saddle. On Friday he’d made their reservation.

  Robin was ready when he arrived at her cottage later. As they strolled the few blocks to the church, they discussed the topic of today’s lesson. Robin mentioned her friend, Jorie Woodstone, was scheduled to be the service’s soloist.

  “Just wait until you hear Jorie sing. Her voice sounds like a songbird. People say she sings like an angel.”

  “I admire anyone who has musical talent because I have none. The choir director at my church asked my mother to keep me home after I auditioned for a solo when I was about ten years old.”

  Jeff’s reference to musical talent reminded Robin she’d mentally committed to talking with Jeff about Thomas today. She wanted to get the trauma and tragedy with her former husband off her mind before their dinner date tonight. Hesitating slightly on the sidewalk, she touched Jeff’s arm lightly. “When we’re walking home, I’m ready to tell you about what we talked about last night.”

  His surprised expression told her he wasn’t expecting her to trust him with this intimate information so soon. “I don’t want you to feel rushed about this; I’m willing to wait . . .”

  “No. I want to be the one to tell you about my past. After we’re seen together in church this morning, well-intentioned people are going to want to share their knowledge of and opinion of the situation. It’ll be better if I’m the one to tell you. You’ve proven yourself to be a patient and understanding man, so I’m counting on things going smoothly when the time comes.” She smiled up at Jeff.

  “Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’ll be ready to listen. No pressure and no judgment,” he added softly.

  The couple stopped talking as they climbed the stairs to the old church sanctuary. They found a place to sit together on a pew near the front of the church. The altar was decorated with two large vases of fresh cut Shasta daisies interspersed with an assortment of roses from Robin’s garden. The flowers made a stunning combination and brightened up the redwood interior of the humble sanctuary.

  Pastor White entered the sanctuary and sat behind the podium. When the pastor stood to greet the congregation he glanced directly at the new couple and smiled at them warmly. Robin glanced sideways at Jeff. He was smiling broadly in Pastor White’s direction. What are those two rascals up to? she wondered.

  Jorie’s solos were poignant and thought-provoking. The tall redhead had been singing in public since she was a young teen, so she possessed extraordinary poise and grace while performing for groups of any size. She was frequently requested to sing for weddings, funerals, and other occasions. For this service she’d been requested by Pastor White to sing the traditional hymn “How Great Thou Art” and the moving theme from the 70s film, “Bless the Beasts and the Children.”

  Pastor White’s sermon was a touching lesson about caring for every living thing on God’s earth no matter how insignificant it may seem. A ripple of chuckles erupted through the congregation when the pastor pointed out even though he couldn’t personally see their value and purpose on the earth, he was certain God had a reason for creating c
ockroaches, bedbugs, termites, and rattlesnakes. When the pastor mentioned famous individuals from world history who had perpetrated evil acts upon innocent souls, the congregation became hushed.

  Robin found the lesson powerful, yet comforting, when she related it to people she found to be undesirable and unwelcome in her own life. Two people who immediately came to mind were Thomas Bennett and Susan Stinson. Who was she to place judgment?

  As the service ended, the pair made their way toward the front door. They reached Pastor White, standing just outside the church’s front door, and the pastor took Robin’s hand in his. He smiled as he gazed into her eyes.

  “Thank you for a meaningful lesson, Pastor. I’ve already thought of a couple of ways to apply your message in my own life.”

  “You’re welcome, my dear. How are things going for you?”

  “I’m doing well, thank you. God is good.”

  “Yes, He is. Glad to see you’re expanding your comfort zone by spending time with old Tom Sawyer here.” The pastor laughed quietly.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Pastor,” Jeff said.

  “We’d both appreciate your prayers,” requested Robin.

  “You’ve had them for the past few months. Enjoy your time together, you two,” the pastor said as he turned to greet the next congregants in line.

  “He’s a wise old bird, isn’t he?” Jeff whispered in her ear.

  “Yes, he’s wise, and smart like a fox, I think they say. No disrespect intended, of course.”

  “Of course,” said Jeff with a twinkle in his blue eyes.

  She searched the church patio for Penny and Jorie to introduce them to Jeff, but neither was anywhere to be seen. Jeff guided Robin down the stairs and onto the sidewalk toward home.

  “Do you still want to talk to me this morning?”

  Robin nodded her head with slight uncertainty. Without looking up she spoke. “Can we talk in my back garden? I feel at peace there. It’ll make it easier for me to share what I have to say.”

  “Whatever you think is best.”

  As they walked to Robin’s cottage they shared comments about the sermon, and Jeff said he thought Jorie was sang well enough to be a professional. She mentioned Jorie was a fantastic cook, and her life’s dream was to own a catering business someday soon.

  ~*~

  After they entered the cozy cottage they went straight to the kitchen for some refreshments. Robin took some iced tea and juice out to the back patio—the same patio where Jeff’s fate had almost been sealed a few months ago. It took a few minutes of small talk before she relaxed enough to tell Jeff about her father’s abandonment.

  “My mother died when I was fourteen of colon cancer. It was a horrible, slow death. Watching her suffer was awful. When she was gone, my dad fell apart. I mean, he literally could not function. So he dumped me off here at my grandparents’ front porch and took off. The bad thing is he didn’t warn me or my grandparents he was planning to do it. I believe his was a lie of omission. Am I talking too much?” She suddenly looked up at Jeff.

  “No, talk as long as you want.”

  “Dad didn’t prepare me for his plan, so I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to my friends or pack my things. I thought we were coming here for a short visit.”

  Robin sighed deeply. “Like I told you at the park that day, I never saw him again. He crashed his car into a tree up in Oregon. The highway patrol couldn’t definitely say it was suicide, but we always thought he did it on purpose because he couldn’t handle life without my mom.”

  Robin’s face was clouded with emotion, but she didn’t cry. Jeff took her hand in his, and she immediately felt the comfort of a kindred spirit.

  “So in chapter one of my life, I learned about lies and abandonment.”

  “I imagine he loved your mother very much to be driven to do what he did. He loved you deeply too, otherwise he wouldn’t have thought to leave you in the capable hands of your grandparents.”

  His remarks caused Robin to view her father’s actions in a more positive light. Perhaps she’d been wrong in being angry with her father all these years. Maybe he was just doing the best he could at the time. She waited a few minutes before launching into chapter two—the story of her marriage to Thomas. She started at the beginning of her relationship with Thomas to give Jeff an accurate history of the events that so powerfully shaped her life.

  She was surprised how comfortable she felt sharing the intimate details with Jeff. He was a considerate listener, Robin thought more than once during the exchange. He didn’t interrupt her with questions or comments, he listened. His expression emoted sadness and outrage at the appropriate moments. He held her hand firmly in his when it was she obvious needed his support.

  Through the course of opening up about her past, Robin found she was still ashamed she’d not seen the true Thomas Bennett during the many years they were together.

  “. . . So that’s why I said what I did about my relationships being sour the first day we met. My one and only serious relationship with a man was a major blunder and an extreme failure. Sort of like one of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedies.”

  Robin looked up to find Jeff’s eyes set on her face. She saw compassion in his expressive eyes. There was no room for pity or disgust, only empathy and affection. Neither one spoke for a few moments as he digested what she’d said. She sighed and gathered her thoughts and emotions. She was drained.

  Jeff spoke in a soft, kind voice. “Thank you for trusting me enough to share a difficult chapter of your life with me. I’m sorry you had to endure so much pain. I promise you right now I won’t deliberately berate or harm you ever again. I’ll treat you with the respect and kindness you deserve.” He paused before continuing. “May I ask a personal question?”

  She nodded hesitantly.

  “Do you still love Thomas?”

  Robin held his gaze but didn’t respond.

  “Your failed marriage hasn’t changed my desire to spend more time with you. I’d like to discover where this merry-go-round called life leads us. Do you think there’s any chance for us, or does Thomas still have a firm hold on your heart?”

  She shyly lifted her head to meet his gaze. As she looked into his vivid blue eyes she felt safe, secure, and treasured. She wanted to pursue a relationship and possible future with Jeff. She’d never asked herself if she still loved Thomas, but she was resentful toward him over his lies and their breakup. It pained her each time someone said her former husband’s name or brought up their past. She knew she was willing to walk away from the memories of Thomas and their failed marriage forever if it meant she had a chance to love and marry again. Maybe Jeff Clarke was her special someone.

  “I want to put my past with Thomas behind me. I admit I feel deep resentment toward Thomas for what he did and said to me. I stopped loving him a long time ago. Once he became another woman’s husband, my hope for reconciliation was put to rest. I’ll ask for God’s help in purging the resentment from my heart. If I need further guidance, I’m willing to talk to Pastor White.”

  “You still didn’t answer my question.”

  “I was getting to it, Mr. I-Want-An-Answer-Right-Now. Yes, Mr. Clarke, you have a one hundred percent chance of claiming a hold on my heart . . .”

  Jeff reached for Robin and brought her close. As he caressed her soft skin he said, “You’ve made me a happy ratfink weasel—I mean, man—today. Thank you.”

  “Thank you for being a good listener. It wasn’t as hard as I expected it would be to tell you about Thomas. God gave me the courage to set aside my fears of telling you about my past. I can’t wait to begin our adventure together . . .”

  Chapter 21

  After Jeff went home, Robin struggled to keep her mind on her gardening project. She stopped working at four o’clock, allowing herself a full two hours to rest, relax, and get ready for their first official date. She’d wear a full-skirted, sleeveless sundress in a bold floral print in her favorite shades of green. The dre
ss fit like a glove because Penny had designed and sewn it with care.

  She’d wear Grandma Estelle’s pearl earrings set in gold with a matching pendant. Penny’s mother, Aunt Ginny, had knit a pale yellow bolero-style shrug as a special surprise when she’d seen the fabric Penny used for the sundress. The shrug would be the perfect finishing touch for tonight’s outfit. She wanted to look her prettiest for this special occasion. It’d been a long time since she’d dressed up for a date. Robin chuckled. Actually, she’d never dressed up for a date unless she counted her modest wedding dress from way back when.

  While she was getting dressed, she reviewed the events of the past few days. She shook her head in disbelief, once again. What a pleasant surprise! A man is actually pursuing the divorced librarian.

  “Why shouldn’t Robin Bennett get another chance at love?” she asked her reflection.

  Robin felt she was ready to move on in her life. She felt ultra-feminine when she slipped her perky sundress over her head. As she slipped on her sandals and grabbed her clutch purse, she remembered to put on her pearl jewelry set. After running a comb through her curls one last time, she decided she looked acceptable.

  She heard a firm knock and opened the cottage door to find an utterly handsome Jeff Clarke standing there wearing a stunned smile on his face. Boy, oh boy. This man cleans up nicely.

  After a few quiet moments, he broke the silence by declaring, “Pardon me for saying this, but you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Your dress is stunning.”

  She smiled at his heartfelt confession. His assessment of her appearance pleased her more than she would have expected. “You’re pardoned.”

  “I meant every word I said. I brought you a little something to mark this special occasion.” He handed her a white florist’s box with a robin’s egg blue ribbon tied around the lid.