Love Returned

by Mildred Colvin

Ten minutes later, the three adults walked at a fast clip to keep up with the boys running down the narrow trail.

  When they reached the beach, Scott stood to the side while Megan slipped off the tee shirt she wore over her one-piece swimsuit and waded into the water.

  “Hey, Dad, catch.” A wet beach ball hit Scott with a splat on the chest leaving a stinging reminder he needed to keep his thoughts on his son instead of Megan. Funny how she’d captured his attention in such a short time.

  “Dad, come on in.” Randy bounced in the water with a huge grin.

  Scott lifted the ball and threw it toward his son. “Better watch who you aim at next time, boy.”

  Randy jumped from the water to catch the ball, his happy laughter skipping over the lake. Derek grabbed for the ball at the same time and both boys went under with splashing arms and legs, knocking Megan over.

  Scott didn’t know if Megan could swim, and as the water closed over her head he didn’t wait to find out. Two quick steps and a lunge into the lake took him to her just as she broke the surface of the water. He grabbed her arm to steady her.

  She looked at his hand on her arm then into his face. “You’d better let go before I take you under. I’ve got a couple of boys to dunk.”

  Scott let go.

  Megan headed for Randy and Derek with sure, strong strokes and Scott grinned. He chuckled when all three went under and came up sputtering and laughing. He’d thought Randy was biting off more than either of them could chew when he wanted to head into the out-of-doors for the weekend. Now, watching his happy son, he knew camping had been a good decision. Bike riding was fine, but it didn’t provide the interaction with other people that they needed.

  He ducked under water and swam toward the others, coming up for air just before he reached them. Shelly threw the ball to him and a crazy five-way toss began. After that they organized some water races then played with the ball again until the sun slipped deep into the west.

  Shelly grabbed the ball and held on. “Let’s start back. I’m starving and you all should be. Besides, I’m getting burned.

  With some token grumbles, the boys waded to shore after the adults. They were almost at camp when Derek caught up with his mom.

  “Can Randy and his dad eat supper with us?”

  Shelly smiled. “I think it would be only fair since we ate up all their food at noon.” She looked at Scott. “How about it? Can we talk you into some of our home cooking?”

  Scott looked from Derek and Randy’s hope-filled eyes to Shelly’s open hospitality and Megan’s guarded expression. He’d like nothing better than to prolong the friendship he and Randy had enjoyed, but someone had to be an adult. Someone had to recognize when the fun was over and it was time to go home.

  He shook his head. “I guess not. I appreciate the offer, but it’s getting late and we’ve gone beyond intruding today.”

  “Dad, the sun hasn’t gone down yet. It isn’t late.” Randy frowned, and his lower lip stuck out.

  Scott ignored Shelly’s smirk and Megan’s hint of a smile. He put an arm around his son’s thin shoulders. “Yeah, I know Randy. I had fun today, too. But when the party’s over, the guests need to go home.”

  “Party?” As Randy and Derek protested, Shelly laughed.

  “You know we don’t feel that way, Scott. If you change your mind, all you have to do is come on over. Derek and Randy have hit it off really well. I think Megan will agree with me, when I say it seems as if we’ve known both of you for a long time. We don’t usually connect with people this way.”

  Scott couldn’t stop his gaze from shifting to Megan. She looked down. He’d already made his decision, but he wouldn’t mind if she agreed with her sister. Then she looked up and met his gaze. Her eyes softened with her smile. “Shelly’s right. We’ve enjoyed the day. Obviously, Derek has.”

  Disappointment sat as a weight on his chest. She hadn’t pushed him to continue their time together. He shouldn’t want her to. Scott and Randy headed toward their camp.

  ~*~

  Megan rebuilt the fire then changed into dry clothing. With her wet swimwear hanging on a rope to dry next to Shelly’s and Derek’s, she sat at the picnic table with her back to Scott’s camper and ate the sandwiches Shelly fixed. For some reason this meal seemed quiet and somber. As the last bite of ham and bread disappeared, Shelly looked toward their neighbors and laughed.

  Megan turned to see Scott and his son approaching. Randy waved a bag of marshmallows. “Hi, see what we got.”

  Derek scrambled to meet them, and the two boys began a steady stream of chatter.

  Scott set a grocery bag on the table and sent a deliciously, crooked grin at Shelly before settling it on Megan along with a wink that set her heart thudding overtime. “Hi. I can’t get my fire built back up, and Randy’s got his heart set on s’mores.”

  ~Three~

  Megan tore open another package of Graham crackers and set them aside on the table. The s’mores were disappearing as fast as they made them. Scott and Shelly knelt by the fire laughing together as Megan’s heart twisted. The melted chocolate and toasted marshmallows on Graham crackers had always been one of her favorite things about camping, but tonight she had no appetite. Not with the hollow, achy feeling in her stomach that intensified every time Shelly looked up at Scott and smiled.

  Maybe Shelly and Scott would hit it off. Derek needed a father. He and Randy had become instant friends. They’d probably be thrilled with the idea.

  “Megan, will you hand me some of those Graham crackers?” Shelly’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She hadn’t even noticed the others had returned to the table.

  “Sure.” She reached for the open package.

  “Let me get the chocolate bars.” Scott brushed against her shoulder, as he picked up the candy. “I know how women are about chocolate.”

  At his touch, Megan sucked in her breath and stepped back.

  “Are you saying you don’t trust us?” Shelly pouted.

  Scott laughed. “I didn’t say that, but…”

  “Megan, I think we’ve been insulted.”

  Megan forced a laugh. “Hey, as long as I get my share of s’mores, I don’t care.”

  She was rewarded by Scott’s quick grin. The corners of his eyes crinkled, and his gaze invited hers to linger. She turned away while she could.

  “Me, too, Aunt Megan.” Derek leaned across the table to make his own treat.

  “Me, too, what?” Megan had lost all track of the conversation.

  “Want my share of s’mores.” Derek rolled his eyes and shook his head. “What else? That’s what you just said.”

  Shelly elbowed Megan and imitated her son. “Yeah, Aunt Megan, what else?”

  Her sister was laughing at her as usual. Hopefully Scott didn’t catch on. For nine years she’d successfully stayed away from men. One look from this guy she scarcely knew and her brain turned to mush. She pressed a hand against her stomach. There went that feeling again.

  “Come on, Aunt Megan.” Derek crowded between her and his mom. “You’ve got the crackers.”

  “Oh, here, but save one for me.” Megan gave him a cracker and took one for her. She would get her mind on Derek and s’mores and camping. This was their weekend for fun before school started. She had no time to waste on silly romantic notions. If Shelly wanted Scott, she could have him.

  Scott held the chocolate bars. Megan gave him her best smile and pointed. “Please, may Derek and I have one of those?”

  He grinned, and her heart thumped.

  “I want one, too, Dad.” Randy stretched across the table. “Mrs…” He wrinkled his nose and looked at Shelly as she joined him. “Miss Shelly? What am I supposed to call you?”

  Shelly laughed. “Miss Shelly sounds so respectful, I could swoon.” She fanned her face. “But since Derek has permission to call your dad Scott, you can call me Shelly.”

  “And I’m Megan.” Megan smiled at the little boy who could win her heart even quicker than his dad co
uld.

  “Yes, but you’ll have to call her Miss McGinnis at school before long.” Scott handed chocolate bars out. “Here, is this what you people have been begging for?”

  Megan snatched hers and stuck her nose into the air, pretending to be offended. “I can’t believe you withheld this from me all this time.”

  His laughter created a little bubble of happiness in her spirit. She hated the roller-coaster ride her emotions were on. She could blame no one else for letting a dreamy guy like Scott capture her attention when she had no business falling for any man. She turned away to toast the marshmallow and to keep a better check on her wild imagination. Derek joined her with Randy following him.

  Megan helped the boys then ate a s’more. She licked her fingers on the way back to the table for more. By the time she had seconds, she’d had more than enough and helped Shelly put away their leftovers. Shelly nodded toward the camp chairs set in a semi-circle around the fire and giggled. “Look at the guys.”

  The boys appeared to have been dumped in the chairs like rag dolls. Scott leaned back, his feet stretched out in front, with his hands folded across his middle. Megan smiled. They looked like she felt. Worn out, totally stuffed, and not quite ready to call it a night.

  Scott picked that moment to catch her watching. He smiled and she blessed the sun for going down enough to hide her reaction. “Come on, Shelly. Let’s go watch the fire with them.”

  Shelly laughed and trotted along beside her. “Sounds like fun. Hey, Megan, don’t you sing songs on all those campouts you go on?”

  Megan smiled at her sister’s hint. “Every time. How about ‘The Little Green Frog Went Glump?’ Do you remember it, Derek?”

  “Yeah.” Derek straightened.

  Megan sent a warning glare to her sister. “You suggested this, so you join in. You, too, Scott and Randy.”

  In a deep voice, Scott answered. “Glump.”

  Megan’s eyes widened and she laughed. The professor had a sense of humor. He grinned, his teeth flashing white in the campfire light. She barely remembered to check her emotions, so her pulse reached at least ninety-nine beats a minute before she reined it in.

  “Okay.” Megan pressed her rebellious heart. Maybe no one would notice how breathless she sounded. “Let’s sing. The first three lines pretty much repeat so I’d better hear your voices.”

  Scott’s half grin stirred feelings inside she didn’t want. She shifted to watch Randy and blended her voice with Derek’s. “Gaaloomph went the little green frog one day.”

  The nonsense song had them all smiling, and they sang until the last line said, “They don’t go gloomph, gloomph, gloomph.”

  Scott shook his head and looked up in the closest tree as the song ended. “I sure hope there weren’t any frogs listening to us.”

  Megan laughed. “Why? Don’t you think they’d like hearing a song about them? I mean surely not all frogs go ‘ribbit.’ This song is always a hit with the kids. Boys use goofiness as a release for their imaginations and energy.”

  “Boys?” Scott grinned at her. “What about girls? Are you saying this is something you sing in your classroom? And where’d you learn to build fires? What do you teach anyway?”

  Shelly snickered and Megan laughed again. “No, this has nothing to do with my classroom.”

  “You’re a lady of many talents.” Scott’s white teeth flashed in a wide grin. “You can build fires, sing, and dunk boys, too.”

  “Why, thank you, sir.” Megan inclined her head in a mock bow. “No, this is what we do in Scouts.”

  “Scouts?” Scott’s eyebrows lifted.

  Shelly nodded. “Megan is a Cub Scout leader.”

  “Oh, really?”

  Megan couldn’t tell if the glint in Scott’s eyes was admiration or amusement. She nodded. “I’m Derek’s den leader.”

  Scott shook his head. “I’m sorry. I guess I don’t know much about the Scouting program.”

  “Can Randy come to my Webelos meetings?” Derek’s voice sounded sleepy.

  “I don’t know.” Scott glanced at his son. “That’s something I’ll need to discuss with Randy, and from the looks of it he needs to be in bed.”

  Megan couldn’t stop a smile from spreading for the little boy who didn’t object. “I think you’re right. Let me give you my phone number at home, and if you decide you’d like to give Scouts a try you can call me this week for details.”

  “That should work.” Scott nodded.

  Shelly held her hand over her mouth, while her eyes danced. Megan almost ran to the tent for paper and pen and scribbled her name and phone number down before she lost her nerve. Or came to her senses. What was she doing? The District Scout Executive would come to school for boy talks by the end of the second week of school. Scott would have all the information he needed on the flyer that would be sent home with his son.

  She hesitated inside the tent with the paper in her hand. She should tear it up. Tell him she hadn’t been thinking. He’d have everything he’d need in a few weeks and wouldn’t need to call her.

  She peeked out the tent door at his easy smile while he listened to Shelly. Nope. She truly had forgotten the boy talks, but no need to tell Scott she’d remembered them either. With the paper clutched in her hand, she darted back out to the circle around the campfire and handed it to Scott. “Here you go. I hope you decide for Scouting. We do a lot more than sing silly songs.”

  “I’ll think about it.” Scott returned her smile as he took the paper and stuffed it in his shirt pocket. “Now, I’d better get this boy to bed. Tomorrow’s a big day for him. He’ll be racing at Red Rock.”

  “I’ve heard of Red Rock. That’s dirt bike racing, isn’t it?” Megan stepped back as Scott stood.

  “Yeah, Aunt Megan. He’s got a cool bike.” Derek sat up straighter and turned to his mom. “That’s what I want.”

  Shelly shook her head. “You’ve already got a bike.”

  “Not a dirt bike.”

  Scott laughed. “Uh oh, now might be a good time for Randy and me to disappear.”

  Shelly scowled at him. “Coward.”

  “You said it.” Scott grinned.

  “Dad, can Derek come watch me race?” Randy stood and leaned against his dad.

  Scott put his arm around his son, holding him close. “I think that would be fine, but I don’t know what his mom and aunt might think about it.”

  Megan thought some distance from Scott would be wise. Shelly obviously didn’t agree. She smiled at Randy and then Derek.

  “Can we, Mom?” Derek’s hopeful expression touched Megan’s heart. She shared a look with Shelly and gave a slight nod.

  Shelly shared her grin before turning to Scott. “Looks like we’ll see you at the races tomorrow.”

  “Great.”

  ~*~

  Labor Day dawned with a clear sky that soon became lost in a cover of clouds while Megan, Shelly, and Derek packed their camp. Scott and Randy’s RV left before they finished breakfast. Shelly pulled onto the paved road leading out of the campgrounds and glanced in the back seat at her son. Megan turned to see what was wrong, and Shelly grinned. “It’s okay, he’s got his headphones on.”

  “Yeah, so?” Megan didn’t like the gleam in her sister’s eyes.

  Shelly stopped at the crossroad and shifted her gaze to look both directions. “Well, now that you spent almost a whole day with him, what do you think of Scott Landis?”

  Images of the day before filled Megan’s mind. From all appearances Scott Landis was a wonderful man. He’d been the perfect gentleman, had even attended church services at her invitation. His son seemed well behaved and cared for. He obviously loved Randy very much and spent time with him. He had a respected position at the university.

  Megan searched her sister’s face for a hint of her feelings but found no telltale blush or expression. She sighed. “I think Scott would be a perfect match for you. You’ve both suffered the loss of a spouse. You’re both raising nine-year-old sons alone
. The boys hit it off right from the start. I don’t think you could find anyone better.”

  Shelly rolled her eyes and shook her head. She turned onto the county road. “When and if I ever get serious about another man, little sister, I plan to be attracted to him first.”

  Megan stared at her sister in disbelief. “Are you telling me you aren’t attracted to Scott?”

  Shelly glanced into the back seat. Megan twisted around to look, too, but the headphones remained in place, and Derek’s eyes were closed.

  Shelly shrugged. “He’s an attractive man, but that’s not what I’m talking about.”

  Megan felt like shaking her. “I know what you’re talking about. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m not totally innocent.”

  “I’m sorry, Meg. I didn’t mean to dredge up old memories. I just wanted to know what you thought of Scott. After all, he’ll be living right in our backyard, so to speak. Maybe coming to your Scout meetings.”

  “Maybe sending Randy, you mean. Most parents like our baby-sitting service.”

  “Uh, oh.” Shelly grinned. “Now we’re getting personal.”

  “I didn’t mean you.” Megan waved Shelly’s protest away. “You have to work. I’m talking about people who won’t even come to Pack Night or any of the special activities for the families.”

  “I know. I guess time will tell, huh?” Shelly turned away with a smile curving her lips, but she dropped the subject.

  Shelly and Megan talked off and on the rest of the way to Red Rock, but neither mentioned Scott again until they parked at the racetrack. Derek sprang from the backseat, looking from one side to the other. “I don’t see Randy anywhere.”

  “There’s his truck and camper.” Megan stood beside Shelly’s van and pointed to another section of parking.

  “Hmm, didn’t take you long to find them.” Shelly came around the back of the van with a smug grin. “Yep, I’d say they’re here someplace.”

  “Oh, come on.” Megan started toward a concentration of people. “Let’s see what we can find.”

  They followed the bulk of the crowd and found themselves at a fenced-off area with a makeshift open gate of hay bales and twine. A couple of teen-age girls stood to either side to take the entrance fee.