by Mary Manners
Rena leaned against the food-laden table and bit back tears. She wiped her eyes with the wadded napkin and drew a quivering breath. “O-OK. I guess I can do that.”
“Good. I know you can.” Kelsie grinned at her. “Now, let’s finish getting this food on the table. The guys will come down from the roof soon, and they’ll be ravenous.”
“Oh, here they come now.”
The tall extension ladder trembled beneath Cody’s weight. With Kyle’s help, he’d finished laying the shingles in record time. He wiped sweat from his brow with one hand while he reached for a cup of lemonade from a nearby cooler with the other.
“Hey, Rena.” He nodded to her. “Food looks good.”
“Lunch is ready.” She nodded back and handed him a paper plate. Her belly quivered as she watched him fill his plate.
Kelsie grinned and jabbed her with an elbow. “I don’t think you’re gonna regret going tonight, Rena.”
“We’ll see.” Rena grabbed a chocolate chip cookie, took a bite and let the chocolate soothe her nerves. “We’ll see.”
Light the Fire
6
The phone rang as Rena put the finishing touches on her make-up. She reached for the receiver with one hand while carefully applying a light coat of shimmery pink gloss to her lips with the other. “Hello?”
“Rena? Oh my goodness!” The voice was demure but held a bite of sarcasm that made it instantly recognizable. “This is one for the history books. You’re actually home when I call.”
Rena ignored the barb. “Hello, Mother. How are you?” She should have known better than to ask. The floodgates opened.
“As good as can be expected with all this humidity we’ve been having. It just wreaks havoc on my arthritis. The pain is dreadful.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Rena bit her tongue against a smart-aleck retort. Respect had been deeply ingrained in her from an early age, and she felt guilty over the insensitive thoughts. “But I heard a cold front is on the way...if you can call mid-sixties a cold front. You have an appointment with the doctor next week, don’t you?”
“Yes. You can still take me, right?”
“Of course. I said I would, and I’ll be there to get you.”
“Come for a visit tonight. I’ve hardly seen you since you moved back to Knoxville.” She lowered her voice. “Sometimes I think you’re purposely avoiding me.”
Rena ran a hand through her hair, smoothing waves as she reached for her sweater. Guilt pricked her. She knew her mother was right. Avoidance was easier than a head-on collision of wills, though. She’d never been able to please her mom, and there was no point in trying to change things now. “I’ve just been swamped at the library and with volunteering at the rec center. And I’ve been helping build a house through the Shelter the Homeless program.” She juggled the receiver as she slipped one arm, then the other, into the cotton sweater. “See, it’s a good thing I paid attention when Dad took me to all his construction jobs.”
“Well, your father’s gone on business again. He’s away more and more lately.” Her mother’s voice was strained and though it irked her, she couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for her. “I thought it would be nice for us to have dinner together tonight.”
“I can’t, Mother. Not tonight.”
“Really, Rena. You can’t volunteer all your time away, you know.”
“It’s not that, Mother. I have a…date.” As soon as the words were out, Rena regretted them.
“With who?” Her mother pounced on the information like a hungry lion devouring helpless prey.
“Just someone I met through the Shelter the Homeless program. It’s not important.”
“Of course it’s important. Why don’t you want to tell me about him?” She paused for a moment, and then backpedaled, her voice laced with panic. “The Shelter the Homeless program? Are you building a house for him? What’s wrong with him, Rena? Can’t he find a job?”
It shouldn’t surprise her to hear her mother jump to such conclusions. The merciless interrogation quickly reminded her of why she’d fled to New York straight out of college.
“Nothing’s wrong with him, Mother. He’s very nice.”
“Well, there must be something wrong with him for you to be so secretive.”
“I’m not being secretive. I’m just in a hurry.”
“If he’s not unemployed, then what does he do for a living?”
“I don’t know, exactly.”
“Hmpff. That doesn’t surprise me…you going out with a man you don’t even know.”
Rena grimaced. “Well, how am I supposed to get to know him, Mother?” But her words cut a swatch of doubt through Rena’s resolve to have a good time with Cody tonight. She’d seen the plans he drew for the rec center and assumed he was an architect, but she realized she actually knew very little about him. She cleared her throat and sighed. “We’re just going to dinner, Mother. It’s not like we’re getting married.”
“Well, of course you’re not getting married. That concept is foreign to you, right? Besides, after what you’ve been through, who would want—?”
“Mother, please!”
“You’re too trusting, Rena. Have you forgotten how the last one sweet-talked you and got you into trouble?”
“The last one? You make it sound as if I’ve dated hundreds of men, when in fact the polar opposite is true!” Rena’s voice cracked. How could she forget? The memory of her failure followed her wherever she went. It played over and over in her mind like a syndicated rerun. “I have to go now, Mother. Cody will be here soon.”
“He’s coming to your house? Rena, you should know better. Haven’t you learned?”
“Yes, Mother. I’ve learned that I can’t live every day in fear. It’s crippling…like being enclosed in a dark, suffocating box.”
Like death.
Her patience snapped and she fought to rein in her response before she said something she was sure to regret. “I made a mistake. It nearly destroyed me, and I have paid for it a thousand fold. How long are you going to continue rubbing it in my face?”
“Rena, I—”
“I have to go, Mother. Thank you for calling. Goodbye.”
Rena trembled as she returned the receiver to its cradle. Maybe coming home was a mistake. Her mother, despite the rheumatoid arthritis that made it more and more difficult for her to find the energy to move around, was exasperating.
But what if she’s right? What if Cody—
No! Rena wouldn’t allow herself to follow that line of thinking. Cody was a trusted friend of Kyle and Kelsie. He’d been nothing but kind to her. He said he didn’t mind earning her trust, and she was beginning to believe that.
The phone shrilled again and Rena grabbed it, steeling herself for another attack. Her mother liked to have the last word, and surely wouldn’t be satisfied with anything less.
“Mother, I—”
“Miss Rena, it’s Erin.” The girl’s voice was like congealed pudding, thick with sobs. “I really need to talk to you. It’s an emergency. I’m at the rec center. Can you come?”
Concern flooded Rena. “What’s wrong, honey?”
“My mom and I…we had an argument.” She choked on the words. “It was awful! I didn’t know where to go...so I came here. I need to talk to you. You always help me feel better. Will you come...please?”
“Of course I will.” Rena’s heart went out to the distraught child. She reached for her car keys and grabbed her purse. “Give me ten minutes to get there, OK? Just stay put. Sit on the gym bleachers and wait.”
“O-OK.” Erin sniffled. “Thanks, Miss Rena.”
Rena rushed into the kitchen. She paused just long enough to grab a sticky note pad from a drawer and scribble a message to Cody. She tacked it to the front door as she left the house, hoping he’d see it when he came for her. She couldn’t stay and wait. Erin needed her—now.
Rena dashed to the car and sped down the drive. She glanced in the rearview mirror to see the n
eon yellow square of paper illuminated by moonlight. Cody would see it...it was impossible to miss.
I hope Cody’s not angry with me. I hope he understands.
****
Rena’s shoes clicked as she walked up the drive through darkness. The note was gone from the door. Cody must have found it.
“Rena, are you OK?”
She stumbled at the sound of his voice.
“Cody. Good grief!” She placed a hand over her chest to ease the thumping. “I didn’t see your truck.”
“I’m sorry. When I saw your note I moved my truck around the corner so I wouldn’t block the drive when you came home.” Cody sat on the porch in the two-seater rocking chair with his hands propped lazily behind a head full of unruly black hair. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“You waited for me...why?”
“I was worried. Your note mentioned an emergency.”
“Yes.” Rena sighed and rubbed weary eyes. “I’m sorry I had to run off like that. But Erin needed me.”
“Erin?”
She nodded. “Would you like to come inside and hear about it over a cup of coffee?”
Cody’s eyes glimmered in the starlight as he studied her. “I’m fine right here. After all the humidity and rain we’ve had it’s kind of nice to just relax in a cool breeze under the stars.” He patted the seat beside him and winked. “I saved you a seat. Sit down and tell me what happened.”
Rena hesitated only a moment before sliding into the rocker. The strappy sandals she’d paired with a flowing lavender sun dress had her feet begging for mercy. She slipped them off while the scent of evergreen bushes that lined the front walk soothed her raw nerves. She drew a long breath and exhaled slowly.
“I can’t believe you waited for me, that you…” Rena let the comment linger, and the night air was filled with whispery sounds of wind rustling through budding Bradford pears.
“You look worn out.” Cody studied her beneath the light of a hunter’s moon as she brushed wisps of hair from her forehead.
“I’ve been at the recreation center. One of the girls that I tutor, Erin, called just before you were due to arrive.”
“She’s the one with freckles and braces, who’s working on the school play, right?”
“Yes.” Rena fidgeted with the clasp of her purse. “Her parents are recently divorced and she and her mom are having a tough time adjusting. They had a terrible argument, and Erin was pretty torn up.”
“I can imagine. Arguing with your folks is no picnic, whatever your age.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you, but I don’t have your cell number and I figured you’d already left your house. I guess I could have called Kelsie, but I was so worried about Erin that I just rushed out and—”
“It’s OK. I should have given you my cell number. I didn’t think of it either.” Cody sheltered Rena’s hands with his and she stopped fidgeting. The calluses along his fingers soothed, a reminder of the construction work they did on the Shelter the Homeless project.
“Is Erin OK now?” he asked
“Yes…at least I think she’s going to be. After we talked a while, I called her mom. She was so grateful that Erin was safe, she came to get her and they had a long talk.”
“That’s good.”
“Erin’s mom said if it weren’t for the rec center Erin may have just ended up wandering the streets and getting into trouble tonight…or worse. She wants to help fund the building project. She’s a very influential attorney downtown, and she has a litany of connections.”
“That’s wonderful news. It’s a great start.”
“And I have some other fundraising ideas,” Rena offered. “I was hoping to discuss them with you over dinner tonight, but…”
“There’s still tomorrow.” Cody grinned. “After we both finish work I know where we can get a decent meal, if you don’t mind a small crowd. Are you game?”
She thought it over. Cody looked so expectant, so sincere. And he’d waited for her to come home because he was concerned for her safety, for her. That realization gave her a heady feeling that caused her heart to do an odd little flip. The tension drained from her. “I’m...game. I’d like another try at dinner.”
“Great.” He brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. “Now go inside and get some sleep. You look exhausted.”
Rena glanced at her watch. Cody had waited a long time here on her porch, alone in the dark, for her to come home.
“Thank you, Cody, for…being concerned about me.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s what we good guys do.” He grinned as they stood. “I’ll wait for you to get settled inside before I go, OK?”
Rena nodded without speaking. She was a bit choked up with gratefulness. The night loomed despite a shower of stars and a brilliant full moon and after only two short months, the house was still oddly unfamiliar with all its little night-creaks. She drew a key from her purse and unlocked the front door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Cody. Goodnight.”
Cody’s smile reassured. “Goodnight, Rena. Sleep well.”
The door closed behind her, and she locked it before stepping toward the front window to peek out. She watched Cody lope down the walk and around the corner to his truck. How she’d missed it coming in, she had no idea. A moment later, the engine rumbled to life. Headlights bathed the road in a hazy glow. Cody coaxed the truck into drive and red taillights winked as he sped into the night.
He was concerned about me. And he didn’t even try to come into the house. He was content to sit right out there with me, beneath the stars, just talking…earning my trust.
The thought revived emotions she’d buried the day Allie had been placed into a tiny grave. No flowers or gifts of chocolate candies from a man could ever evoke such powerful feelings.
Will he still feel concern if he learns my secret...knows the terrible mistakes I’ve made?
The invading thought made her belly clench and her breathing gallop. She knew the answer…
No. He wouldn’t.
Light the Fire
7
“Where are we going?” Rena fastened her seatbelt.
“Not far.” Cody put the car into gear and they pulled out of the driveway. “Sit back and enjoy the ride. It’s a beautiful evening.”
The sky filled with cotton candy clouds was just beginning to grow pink and hazy with dusk. The scent of freshly-mown grass mingled with wild onions. Rena smoothed flyaway hair from her face.
“I’d feel better if I had a clue.”
Cody glanced at her and grinned. “OK, I’m taking you to a house.”
“A house?” She grew rigid in the seat. Trees rushed by as the four-lane road merged to two, and memories of another time she’d been sweet-talked into going to a house with a man she thought she knew bombarded her. The consequences had been horrific…devastating. “I don’t know about that, Cody. I thought we were going to dinner...in a restaurant...with a lot of people.”
“We are, in a way.”
“Well, in that case...” She shivered and turned the passenger air vent up and away. Cody took the hint and cranked the air down a notch. “Does this house belong to a friend of yours?”
“Yes. But it’s not what you think, Rena. Look.”
Uneasiness fled as they turned into the parking lot of a country church surrounded by a border of shocking-pink azaleas.
“A church? Is this your church, Cody? Oh, it’s beautiful. But I don’t understand.”
“Welcome to my friend’s house.” He pulled into a parking space among the smattering of cars that had already arrived. “He’s your friend, too, you know.”
“Cody, I—”
“Shhh.” He pressed a calloused finger to her lips. “It’s going to be OK, I promise. Let’s go inside.”
She sighed. “I haven’t been in a church...”
“It doesn’t matter how long it’s been. Relax. You’ll like it here.”
Rena willed the hornet’s nest in her b
elly to quiet as she followed Cody across the black-topped lot, up wooden stairs and through double doors that stood open like a smile. As they entered the fellowship hall, music spilled from the sound system, something upbeat yet mellow and soulful. Round eight-top tables were set with bright silk flowers in pastel vases atop burgundy tablecloths. Several people were already seated, and Rena noticed Pastor Marcus coming from the doorway of what she assumed was a kitchen. He carried a large platter piled high with sandwiches.
“Hi, Rena.” He set the platter on an oblong table near the entrance to the fellowship hall and turned to grasp her hand. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“You, too.” His kind smile eased the angry swarm in her gut. She glanced around the room. “I recognize a lot of the people here. They work on the house...”
“Yes. They’ll be happy to see you. We couldn’t get the house done without your help. When did you learn to work so well with construction materials?”
“My dad is a builder. He took me along on a lot of his jobs when I was younger.”
“Well, you must have paid careful attention. We really appreciate all your help on the house.” He nodded, and then turned to shake Cody’s hand. “Yours too, Cody. It shouldn’t be too much longer before the family can move in. They’re excited beyond words.”
“That’s great news.” Cody’s grin was contagious. “Next we’ll work on the addition to the rec center. Rena’s going to help with that project, too.”
“Excellent.” Pastor Marcus’s genuine concern warmed Rena. “I’m so glad you came to join us tonight.”
“Thank you.” She nodded, and the last of her nerves vanished. “I’m glad I’m here, too.”
They settled down to dinner, a simple meal of club sandwiches coupled with creamy potato soup and pasta salad with a hint of Italian dressing. Despite the simplicity of the food, to Rena it tasted like a four-star meal from the most expensive restaurant.