“Look Mark. The department she’s in is closing. There are no openings for her within the company and you know what the job market’s like these days. I think that in itself would be scary enough. Then the thought of losing something that should be rightfully hers on top of that… Her dad put the clause in as a joke never believing it would be an issue, but since it is, the trust company is being a stickler. Somebody wants what’s not theirs.” Brad also told Mark how he felt somewhat responsible since he’d urged Terry to come to work for Time Safety many years before. He also put in that she was a great gal with a gentle soul and skirted around the fact that life had handed her a bit of a raw deal which had made her gun shy of men.
Oh great! A woman who thought men were all rotten. Like she wouldn’t end up feeling used! It was hard enough dealing with the issues his teenage girls brought to the table on a daily basis, let alone those of a jilted grown woman. That was just what he needed. Well, he did need someone to help, but at what price? He decided to sit quietly through the remainder of the drive. He’d appease his brother with this one meeting and then politely walk away. Surely he could figure out something. Surely…
“Brad! Hi!” The not-half-bad-looking woman greeted his brother a bit too enthusiastically, belying her nervousness. Her light blue eyes tentatively appraised Mark. They were kindly eyes with perhaps a hint of fear and skepticism. Mark suddenly felt as if he were on an audition. He knew the doubts that swirled in his mind. Surely they were also firmly implanted in hers, if she had any sense. From what he could tell in that first impression, he was sure that she did, which made him even more surprised that she would even agree to the meeting. Standing in her doorway, he found his interest in the potential of the situation piqued even though this was all so crazy.
“Terry, this is my brother Mark. Mark, Terry Calloway,” Brad introduced them then looked from one to the other when neither moved. “Uh…the one’s I’ve been telling you each about?” The two just stared at Brad, briefly glancing at each other. “Hello!” Brad said impatiently.
“Right, right, uh, hi!” Mark blurted out as she raised her hand to him and they awkwardly shook.
“Uhm…won’t you come in.” Terry motioned for them to move further into the small living area. It was clean and cozy, Mark thought. She’d made the best possible use of every available space and she seemed extremely organized. He was impressed. Though how difficult could it be for a woman alone? Wait until his three girls and twin boys were thrown in. Not to mention the cat. Cats, he corrected as a fluffy whitish feline pranced into the room and jumped up right where he’d been about to sit.
“Shaw!” Terry scolded as she walked toward the cat. “Oh, I’m sorry. She’s used to being the queen. You’re okay with cats? I mean, Brad said you liked cats.” She seemed suddenly apprehensive as she had to brush by him to scoop up the cat.
“Oh, no. I love cats. We have a cat. He thinks he rules too.” They laughed awkwardly. Mark did note that her laugh was light, sweet. He added without thought, “He was my wife’s baby…” His words trailed off and silence ensued.
“Well,” Brad clapped his hands making Terry and Mark both jump. “Let’s cut to the chase. We don’t have a lot of time. Our mom will be back with Mark’s kids in about an hour. So, we all know why we’re here. What do you two think? Deal or no deal? Could you marry each other or not?”
Mark snorted, surprised at his brother’s abruptness. Terry looked away, reaching down to pet the cat for distraction. It gave Mark the opportunity to look her over again. He was sure a slight blush stained her cheeks. He found that somehow endearing. How awkward this must be for her. For them both!
She was a nice looking woman. Not ravishing like Sara, but not bad. It appeared she took care of herself, yet he wouldn’t think she was a freak about it. Her dress was casual, which he liked. Her hair, a sandy blonde mass of shoulder length curls that she continuously tucked behind her ears, complimented her coloring perfectly. He’d like to see it longer…he’d always loved Sara’s straight, long, blonde hair. Terry glanced back at him, her timing perfect to pull him back from his musings. He liked what he saw in her eyes. Without knowing her he got the feeling a kind soul lived behind them. He also sensed something else. Terry had a need to be needed.
He smiled at her. “Are you willing? Truly?” he asked tentatively.
Fearful relief washed over Terry’s face as she nodded. Another oxymoron, she thought. Her life seemed riddled with them.
Brad jumping up with a loud whoop gave her no time to ponder the thought. He grabbed her, hugging her, and spinning around. “I knew it. I knew it, knew it, knew it. I knew it was perfect.” He released Terry and noogied his brother who pushed him away and tried to straighten his hair. “You’ll see. Both of you,” Brad said looking triumphantly from one to the other. “This is going to work. I feel it.” Terry and Mark both looked hopeful.
Brad jabbered on and on as he drove Mark back to his house. Mark was quiet though his brother seemingly didn’t notice. He couldn’t believe what he’d just done. He wondered what his children would think. What would Sara have thought?
“If something ever happens to me, you just make sure you find someone that’ll take good care of my kids,” she’d told him once.
“What about me?” he’d pouted.
“You!” She’d wrapped her arms around him and kissed him warmly. “You’ll never find anyone like me so don’t bother trying.”
“How right you are. Only one perfect woman in the world and she’s all mine.” He’d nuzzled her neck which had led…well, it had led to their twin boys; two more children for this someone else to take care of. Mark hoped Brad was right about being right for both of them.
Twenty minutes later, staring into the stony faces of his children, he had his doubts. He tried to explain the absolute divine reasoning behind his decision but, being uncertain himself, it was an impossible task. Once again, he was saved by his mother.
“Now kids,” she began with her kindly, grandmotherly voice, “This has been so terribly hard on your dad and I’ve know him long enough to know it wasn’t an easy decision. He loves your mother every bit as much and maybe even more than every single one of you do.” She pointed her bony, aging finger at them. “I also know Terry.” Her statement surprised the children, and Mark. “She’s pretty special. Give her a chance. She needs you kids.” She nodded and stood with Mark’s help. Brad grabbed her cane for her and they headed toward the door. She looked back. “I’m expecting the best from all of you.”
The best, Mark thought as he watched his children march away offering him nothing but chilling glares. One by one they filed off to their rooms, each with his or her own thoughts on the matter. Was he truly doing what was best? Had he let his need for help and a pretty face make the decision for him? He thought of his mother’s words. There was so much to all this that he obviously didn’t know. Still, he centered on one phrase in particular. She needs you kids. Why, he wondered.
Regardless, they’d all be meeting the next day. Brad and his mom would return along with a batch of his mom’s famous homemade chicken and noodles. It would all be okay. It had to be okay. Mark breathed deeply a few times then went to his room, the room he’d shared with Sara for eight years before her death. God how he loved her. He sat down on the edge of the bed completely overwhelmed.
“Daddy? You okay?” Madi’s sweet voice floated in from the doorway. Mark pulled his hands away from his face and smiled as best he could at the hesitant figure of his nine year old daughter. His heart pitched. Of all his children she looked the most like his beautiful Sara.
“Come here, love.” He held out a hand and she moved quickly across the floor to be wrapped in the comfort of her daddy’s arms.
“Will she be nice, Daddy? The woman? What was her name? Terry?” She was filled with questions.
“Yes, baby. She seemed very nice,” he tried to soothe her fears.
“Then everything will be okay.” She patted his arm.
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br /> “Why do you say that?” he asked. “I agree but I was wondering what made you say that.”
She shrugged her shoulders then wiggled off his lap seemingly satisfied with the upcoming change. At the door she turned back. “Mommy told me she’d send us someone nice. Terry must be the one Mommy’s sending.” She turned and skipped from the room.
Mark stared after her. He wondered when Sara had told that to Madi. Madi had spent so many hours sitting still beside her dying mother. They’d talk. Madi would read to her, comfort her as only a child can. It was as if she was soaking her in before there would be no more.
He looked around the room. He wasn’t prepared to share it with anyone else, married or not. He wondered what Terry’s expectations were. It was purely a marriage of necessity. It was that for her as well, right? He thought of how she had flinched slightly when they’d touched. He hadn’t noticed that when his brother had touched her. Why wasn’t he marrying her to help her get her inheritance? He was a bachelor after all and Mark would guesstimate they were close to the same age. Why then… Madi’s words floated back to him. Terry must be the one Mommy’s sending.
“Oh Sara. If only this truly could be by your hand,” he whispered
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About The Author
Linda Boulanger is a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic. Her stories almost always have a happy-ever-after ending and leave her readers feeling satisfied that the characters have had or are walking into a life of complete fulfillment. Along with being an author, she is an entrepreneur, wife, mother of four busy children, and volunteers as her local no-kill animal shelter. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Oklahoma State University and continues to reside in that state where she works with authors through her various entities and affiliates while pursuing her own writing.
Linda’s author blog is a great place to keep up on her writing, information for and about other authors and books, as well as glimpses into her personal life. The site: The Shelf Life of a Novel Writing Book Writer is located at www.WritersShelfLife.blogspot.com.
Other place you might enjoy visiting
www.LindaBoulanger.com
The Shelf Life of Linda Boulanger on FaceBook
BvilleOKAuthor on Twitter
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Cover Design for Arms of an Angel: Laura J. Miller
www.AnAuthorsArt.com
Print edition of Arms of an Angel available at
www.TreasureLineBooks.com
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Table of Contents
Arms of an Angel
Arms of an Angel Page 8