The Husband She Can't Forget

by Patricia Forsythe

  “But what about the extraction method you’ve developed? Luke says it works. Congratulations.”

  Shelby smiled. “Thank you. I know you’ve probably got mixed feelings about it.”

  “I do, but I know what it’s like to work hard for something and succeed.” Tears filled her eyes as she looked around at her gardens. Wiping them away, she gave a wobbly smile. “So now can you tell me about your process?”

  “It was a variation on the extraction method using kerosene. At the same time, I was attempting to find a better way to clean up the wastewater so it wouldn’t have to be buried so far down, and all indications are that it will work as hoped.” Shelby’s face shone with pride. “I was trying to find a greener method, and I may have done it.”

  The engineer returned, breaking into their conversation as he said, “There is a landfill, but it was sealed in clay when it was closed. That was unusual for the 1950s, but not unheard-of.”

  “What has caused this leak now, though? Disintegration of the clay?”

  He and Shelby looked at each other. “Possibly, but more likely it’s the earthquakes. There have been so many lately, it probably cracked the seal.”

  Carly’s mind reeled as she tried to take this in. “And they’ll probably continue.”

  “That’s right.” His face was grim.

  “So, even if this leak is somehow fixed, it could happen again.”

  “Yes.”

  She put a shaking hand to her head. “I’m ruined.”

  “I hope not, Carly,” Shelby said.

  “I’ll take my crew and see if we can follow this leak to its source, but I can just about guarantee where it’s coming from.” The engineer joined his men and they huddled together in discussion. “We’ll begin making a plan to seal it off.”

  “It will take a few days to get them here, but Luke called me this morning and said, whatever the source of the methane, he’ll have tanks of fresh water delivered and refilled every week. That will provide time for a permanent system to be installed.”

  “What? But that would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

  “Probably. And a long-term solution will have to be found so that your water will remain clean and you can maintain your organic gardens. When I talked to Luke, he said that needs to be our main goal.”

  Carly frowned in confusion. She had been so mad at him she’d kicked him off her land. “Why would he do this?”

  Shelby gave her a gentle smile. “Because he loves you, Carly. He never stopped loving you.”

  Stunned, Carly stared at her as Shelby went on. “He doesn’t even realize it, but you’re all he ever talks about. And I think you love him, too.”

  Carly went very still as heat washed into her face. “I...guess I do.” That was why this situation hurt so much.

  “Sounds like you have a lot to think about. I’m going to go join the engineers.” Shelby reached out and squeezed Carly’s arm before she started up the hill.

  It had taken someone she barely knew to make her see the truth. Thinking back over the past several weeks, she realized her love for Luke had been growing each time she saw him, whenever he helped her with Dustin, it had become stronger. Being with him had been fun. She had relaxed with him like she usually only did with Gemma and Lisa.

  She hadn’t realized that he had become so important to her because she’d been so focused on work, on Dustin and on her worries about the possible damage to her land. He hadn’t caused the damage, but it had happened, anyway. It was no one’s fault, but she had blamed him. She hoped she would get the chance to apologize.

  * * *

  WATER TANKS CAPABLE of holding hundreds of gallons were delivered and positioned by her house and greenhouses. Since she had only minimal crops planted at this time of year, her water needs were greatly reduced. Still, she thought about every drop of water she used on her gardens, in her greenhouses and inside the house.

  She was so profoundly grateful for what Luke was doing that she wanted to thank him, but every time she started to phone, she hesitated. What would she say? “Sorry for accusing you of ruining my land?” That could still happen. The engineers had sealed the leak, but another one could occur.

  Their complicated history was even more complicated now, especially since she had fallen in love with Luke again. She had told Shelby she would give him time, but it was hard to do.

  Halloween, always a big holiday in Reston, came and went. Dustin opted for the traditional and dressed as a very realistic vampire for the middle school party and came home happy. Era moved into her new apartment in town and Dustin went to see her every day before coming to Upcycle to hang out, do his homework and tutor his fellow students. Carly let him use the back room for tutoring because then she would always know where he was. He seemed to be settling in and, though wary, was coming to accept the idea of being adopted by her. They hadn’t heard a word from his mother.

  She’d taken Dustin to Tulsa to meet his new family. Her parents and brother had been cautiously happy for her—and happy to have another kid in the family—but were worried about her handling him by herself. She was a little concerned, too, but had assured them she could make it work. Since she rarely backed down from anything, they believed her.

  They visited the hardware store and bought paint for his room. To Carly’s vast relief, he decided one orange wall would be enough. The remaining three would be white.

  With winter coming, she had less work in her gardens, but instead of filling the hours with projects for Upcycle, she played word games with Dustin, or read one of the books she’d been stacking up for years. Mostly, she thought about Luke, their marriage and their baby. Memories she’d shut away for years were taken out, examined and put to rest.

  One Saturday morning she was finishing her chores while Dustin helped Jay outside when she heard a vehicle coming up her drive. Her heart bounced into her throat when she saw Luke’s truck approaching.

  Her thoughts flew back to the day last spring when he’d arrived with Wendolin’s hope chest. Everything in her life had changed since that day. She wanted to run out and greet him, but a cold wind had kicked up. She didn’t want to fight it to say what she had to say.

  She threw the door open as he crossed the porch and held it as he stepped inside.

  “Hello, Luke. How...how are you?”

  “Okay.” He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets then took them out again. “I know you don’t want me here but—”

  “No, it’s okay.” Emotion clogged her throat as she closed the door. “I’m sorry for what I said. I was frantic—”

  “And you felt that I’d lied to you.”

  “Yes, I know now that you didn’t. Shelby made me understand the need for secrecy.”

  “I came by to let you know that Dad and Tom are pushing the state to clean up that old landfill. It’ll take a while, but I think they’ll succeed in the end.”

  “And, thanks to you, I’ll have clean water until then.”

  “The trucked-in water is working okay, huh?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  Carly gave him a tentative smile. “Would you like to sit down?”

  Before he spoke, there was a knock on the door.

  “That will be my dad.” He glanced at her then away. “He called and said he needs to talk to both of us.”

  “Your dad?” Her brows drew together as she said, “What could he want to talk to us about?”

  “He wouldn’t say, but whatever it is, he came all the way from Dallas to say it.”

  After another moment’s hesitation, she opened the door. Her former father-in-law stood on the doorstep, turning his cowboy hat around and around in his hands.

  “Hello, Robert.”

  “Hello, Carly. Okay if I come in?”

  “Yes, of
course.” As Robert stepped inside, she gave Luke a puzzled look, but he shrugged and shook his head. “Please sit down.”

  With a nod, he sat, hesitating before he set his hat on Wendolin’s hope chest. “I’m glad you’ve got this,” he said. “It was important to her.”

  Carly couldn’t think of a response. She’d never seen Robert this...humble. She and Luke took the two armchairs.

  “Go ahead, Dad.”

  “I owe you both an apology,” Robert said. “There’s no excuse for the things I said and did when you two were married. When you lost the baby... You were at the lowest point of your lives and I...I was a monster. I was still reeling from Barbara’s death and I was trying to keep Luke from going away, having a life of his own.” He looked up and gave a self-deprecating twist of his lips. “I’m not good with change or with giving up control. When he met you and you married within weeks, before I even knew what was happening, I felt everything slipping away.”

  Tears formed in Carly’s eyes. “You were horrible to me.”

  Robert’s face flushed as he nodded. “Yes, I was.”

  “The last time we spoke...you—”

  “Bribed you to go away.”

  “And you promised you’d never tell anyone, so what are you doing, Robert?” she asked, glancing at Luke. “Why are you doing this now?”

  “Because I can’t do it again. I can’t cause more pain to you. To my only son. I’m tired of keeping this secret, trying to justify it to myself. It’s been eating away at my guts ever since I did it. There’s no justification. No excuse.”

  “Dad! You bribed Carly?” The profound shock in Luke’s face and voice were painful to see and hear. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

  “Money talks, son, and I thought it would speak to Carly.”

  Luke shook his head and held up one hand as his gaze swung to Carly’s face. “Wait. What? You mean you took the bribe?”

  Miserably, she nodded. “He held the note on this place. He said he’d foreclose on my mom and dad if I stayed and forgive the debt if I left. Robert and I agreed to never tell anyone. I called Lisa and Gemma and they came to get me.”

  Shocked and angry, Luke said, “That doesn’t sound like a bribe. That sounds like coercion. Blackmail.” His attention swung to Carly, his incredulous gaze searching her face. “And you...you left me while I was at work. I came home to an empty apartment and a note saying you couldn’t stay, our marriage was a mistake. I know we didn’t talk much after the baby died, and when we did, we fought, but I was trying to give you space, time to heal. I never thought you’d up and leave. I thought you had postpartum depression along with the grief—”

  “I did. Severely. And I blamed you for not standing between your dad and me.”

  Luke’s lips tightened. “That part is true, and I knew that hurt you, but obviously, I didn’t know everything that was going on, did I?”

  “No. I should have handled it better, but I was in a terrible state, so deep in despair, it was a year before I even saw the sun shining again.”

  Dustin appeared in the doorway from the kitchen. Carly nodded toward his room and he slipped out of sight.

  Luke stood abruptly and took a few furious turns around the room. “You wouldn’t talk to me. I drove up here, hung around, tried to see you, but your parents were very protective. So were Lisa and Gemma. I thought you hated me, blamed me for the baby’s death.”

  “No. That wasn’t it.” She closed her eyes but tears seeped from beneath her lids. “I blamed myself for what happened with...with the baby. I felt guilty for taking the bribe from Robert, thought if I was stronger, I wouldn’t have done it. I thought I wasn’t good enough, that you could do better, find a wife who wouldn’t cause your baby to die.”

  “I never thought that,” Luke said. “I wanted you back, but when you filed for divorce, I knew it was hopeless.”

  “When I...found myself again, I wanted to talk to you, tell you how sorry I was, but Wendolin said you’d gone to South America on a construction project.”

  Luke threw his hands wide. “Well, you know what, Carly? It’s the darnedest thing, but they actually have telephones in Chile and they work just fine between there and Oklahoma.”

  Carly closed her eyes, finding it impossible to form words.

  “And you, Dad. I always knew you were tough, that you didn’t like Carly for I-never-knew-what reason, but I had no idea the depths you could sink to. All these years, I’ve blamed myself, couldn’t forgive myself, but you...you—”

  “I know, son,” Robert said, the words catching in his throat. “I know. I’m hoping that what you said a few weeks ago is true, that even if you don’t forget, you can forgive. I hope someday you’ll forgive me.”

  Luke shook his head. “I don’t know, Dad.”

  “I understand. I know I try to control everything. That’s why I kept the mineral rights to this land. It was only business at the time, but now it’s hurt Carly...and you.” He cleared his throat. “Carly is the real reason I put a nine-month deadline on your project, which was stupid of me. I didn’t want you getting involved with her again.”

  “Well, that didn’t work, did it, Dad?” Luke asked in bitter tones.

  “No. If I’d given you a one-week deadline, it would have still happened. Some things are out of my control.” Robert stood, picked up his hat and settled it on his head as he said, “I know it will take a while, but I hope you can forgive me. You, too, Carly. I was a selfish fool and I caused you profound hurt.”

  Her lips trembling, she gave a small nod, acknowledging his apology but not yet ready to forgive.

  Before he left Robert pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket and handed it to her.

  “What’s this?”

  “Your mineral rights. All yours, free and clear.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Thank...thank you.”

  He closed the door behind him and she expected Luke to follow, but he walked across the room to the big windows that looked out onto her gardens. Crossing his arms, he dropped his chin onto his chest and brooded.

  She put her hands to her stomach, trying to quell the old nervousness that flared up when she felt she’d failed at something. She had never wanted Luke to know about the bribe. She’d known he would be profoundly hurt and betrayed, but she’d thought she’d had no choice.

  In truth, she’d had a choice, but she’d made the wrong one. She had never stopped loving Luke, but she may have lost him. Again.

  “Carly?” Dustin started toward her, paused when he saw that Luke was still there, but then walked across the room and stood facing her. His worried face was a mirror of her own. “That guy, Luke’s dad, was he mean to you?”

  At his sympathetic tone, yet more tears filled her eyes. “Yeah, but I was mean to Luke, too, so it’s bad all the way around.”

  “And you had a baby? That died?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “That’s bad. I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you, Dustin.”

  “Well, Carly, if I’m going to be your kid, don’t you want to tell me stuff like that?”

  Carly wanted to laugh. Somehow she’d forgotten she had a ready-made ally in her house. “I should have told you. You need to know everything about the family you’re getting into, the mom you’re getting.”

  “Yeah.” He frowned. “But with that cow-fart gas, are...are we gonna have to move?”

  “No. Whatever happens, this is our home and we’re staying. I know people have disappointed you in the past, making promises they don’t keep. I won’t do that. We’re not going anywhere. We’re going to be a family. No matter what happens, we’ll be together.”

  He studied her face for a second and then said, “Okay. Good.”

  Tentatively, she reached out to give him a hug. He returned it briefly
before stepping away, ducking his head to hide his embarrassment.

  “Oh, Dustin,” Luke said before the boy retreated to his room. “If it matters, I’m not going anywhere, either.”

  Dustin looked from Carly to Luke then, with a fleeting smile, he left the room.

  Carly stood very still, her gaze fixed on Luke’s face. Her heartbeat kicked up. “What do you mean, Luke?”

  “I’m getting out of the energy business. I resigned from Sanderson Enterprises.”

  “What? Why? Because of your dad?”

  “Partly. I returned to work for him because I thought I could connect with him. Omi thought so, too, and I wanted to be near her because I knew her health was failing. I can’t work for him anymore.”

  “What will you do?”

  “Not sure yet.” He paused. “Carly, I want you to know that I never meant to deceive you about the drilling or the extraction process.”

  “I know. I lashed out because I was terrified and I felt betrayed. And I’m so very sorry about the bribe. At the time, I felt I had no choice and I wasn’t thinking clearly. I couldn’t think clearly.”

  “Doing what you did must have nearly killed you. All these years, I’ve felt guilty, never forgiven myself for not being the kind of husband you needed me to be. I failed at the one thing that was most important to me.”

  Carly’s lips trembled as she said, “And I wasn’t the kind of wife you needed me to be.”

  “We were kids. Not ready for marriage, family, any of those things.” His gaze fell on Wendolin’s trunk. “You know, Omi tried to tell me that marriage and family were much harder than I thought they were.”

  “She told me that, too.”

  “I think it’s time to listen to her.”

  “What?” Her heart pounded, nearly choking her as she watched Luke reach into his pocket and pull out a small box.

  “You just told Dustin that we would be a family, no matter what. Can I be included in that?”

  “I think so. Yes.” If she was willing to work hard and fight for Dustin, then she could do the same for Luke.