“I came over and let your dog out twice yesterday evening.”
Surprised and grateful, Mei smiled. “Thanks so much.”
“I didn’t want him to make messes everywhere, after all.” Lisette sipped her coffee. “You must have felt awful after losing a student out there. How on earth did you let it happen?”
Mei had been feeling tired and a little dazed, but now Lisette’s words hit her like a jolt of electricity. “You automatically assumed that I lost her. That it was my fault.”
Lisette fluttered her fingertips. “Not physically, of course, but you were surely responsible. That mother of hers was on the news, promising to file lawsuits and see you run out of town.”
With a sigh, Mei sank back in her chair. The rest of the story hadn’t hit the news apparently. Maybe it never would—and Mom had already assumed the worst. But when had that been any different?
“Mom, did you ever really love me?” Maybe it was the emotional exhaustion—the fear, anxiety and shock, followed by a sleepless night. But the words started tumbling from her before she could call them back. “Or was I just an obligation?”
The color drained from Lisette’s face. “What?”
“I know you’d wanted children a long time before adopting me. But then Lucas came along two years later—your perfect, white, biological baby. Did you ever wish you could send me back?”
Never—even at her father’s funeral—had she seen her mother cry. But now tears shimmered in her eyes and her hand trembled as she settled her coffee cup onto its saucer with a clatter.
“How can you say that?”
“Because I think it’s true. I know you tried to do all the right things. To me, you’re my forever mom, and I’ll always love you. But…I’m sorry I wasn’t what you really wanted.”
“What?”
“Did you know that Gina planned to run away? She engineered her escape with help from someone else. But I just heard it in your voice again. You automatically assumed the girl’s disappearance was my fault. I guess that, in your eyes, I’ve been nothing but a series of disappointments.”
And it had been the same with Lucas, Mei suddenly realized. Mom had never been satisfied. Neither of them had ever measured up to her standards, and they never would. Until now Mei hadn’t recognized the heavy weight of that truth on her shoulders, but now she felt free…light with the knowledge that it hadn’t been her own failing, after all.
Rising unsteadily, Lisette came around the table and drew Mei to her feet, then wrapped her arms around her and held her tight for a long moment. “H-have you always thought that?”
Mei melted into her embrace, savoring the rare moment of closeness, and felt bereft when her mother took a step back and held her hands.
Lisette searched her face, her lower lip trembling. “Tell me.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I’m just…just tired.”
“Please.”
Mei closed her eyes, wishing she could take every word back. “I…I know I didn’t fit in this community—and not in the family, either. Grandpa George made that clear enough, and I never really met the expectations you and Dad had for me, either. But it’s okay…I understand.”
“No, you don’t,” Lisette said with a sad smile. “I didn’t realize you’d overheard your grandfather, but your dad nearly came to blows with him over his careless remarks. There was no changing George Sr. He was as politically correct as a bulldozer and just as hard to stop.” She sighed heavily. “Truth is, he wasn’t any more loving toward anyone else in the family. He expressed caring by doing things for people, but he never openly told them about it, and I doubt an ‘I love you’ or a sincere compliment ever crossed that man’s lips.”
Somewhere deep in Mei’s heart she felt a cold, empty place start to thaw.
“Don’t ever think you weren’t wanted, Mei. No one wanted a baby more than we did. We tried so long, with one miscarriage after another. Then I had an ectopic pregnancy while we were abroad working as missionaries. The surgery to save my life was done under unimaginable circumstances and we thought precluded the possibility of ever trying again.”
“I’m so sorry,” Mei whispered.
“Don’t be. It was terrible at the time. But when I first held you in my arms, I knew it was God’s destiny, and the flood of love that rushed through me just swept me away. You were meant to be ours, and we couldn’t have loved you more. And yes—when Lucas came along, we loved him just as much because a mother’s heart expands to hold every one of her children. Someday you’ll see.”
Mei’s eyes burned with hot tears. She blinked them away.
“As for the rest…” Her mother turned away and went to look out the window, her head bowed. “I’ve always wanted the best for you, and I’ve tried to steer you away from harm. But I know I’ve never been a warm, loving person. The kind of mom a little girl would want. Someday…maybe I’ll be able to tell you why—though I’m afraid it might do you more harm than good.”
Chapter Fifteen
Jack drove down Hawk Street on Saturday morning, scanning the cars and trucks parked along both sides of the street near the Cowboy Café. Bingo.
A gleaming black four-by-four pickup stood above the rest of the vehicles on its high, wide tires, a typical macho image that Vincent had clung to long after the days of his teenage bravado. With him it was all flash and little substance.
Jack parked and strode into the café, heading straight to the back booth Vincent had always favored.
“Even better—three of you are here,” Jack growled. “All we need is Samuel to make this group complete.”
Pauley and Charley sat on one side of the scarred wooded table, while Vincent sprawled across the bench on the other side, his insolent sneer firmly in place. “We’re having a little meeting. Sorry you can’t join us,” he bit out.
“Believe me, that doesn’t break my heart.”
Pauley glanced uneasily between Vincent and Jack. “We don’t want any trouble here.”
“That’s right, cowboys.” A new middle-aged waitress appeared at Jack’s elbow and slammed a hand on her hip as she surveyed the men in the booth. “Any more of it from you three and the owner says you won’t be welcome here anymore. Period. Now, is anyone planning to order? If not, you can take this conversation outside.”
“Coffees all around for us three,” Charley said. “Separate tickets. And I want one of those dandy cinnamon rolls. The ones that are as big as a plate.”
Jack moved aside as she started writing on her order pad. “I’ll sit over at the counter in a minute or two.”
As soon as she left, Jack leveled a look at each of the three men, then zeroed in on Vincent. “I want you to know that the situation with Gina Meier is no secret.”
Vincent flicked a bored glance at Jack, then slumped farther down in the booth. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“Then let me spell it out for you. You collaborated with her. Enticed her with a slew of cash, so she would run off on her little adventure. I believe it was to damage Mei’s reputation in an effort to see her fired.”
“Now, why would any of us care?” Vincent drawled. “Though if a teacher is incompetent, it’s only in the public interest to see her canned before she can cause any serious harm.”
“You have no proof,” Charley added with a smug smile. “Going around defaming other people is a good way to land yourself in court.”
“There’s proof, all right—Gina’s own words. Though at least one of you coached her well enough that none of it could be used in court.”
Vincent waved a hand dismissively. “Tough luck.”
“I want you to leave Mei alone. No more trouble from any of you, understand? Anything happens—anything—and I’ll know exactly where to look.”
“Woo-hoo. I am shaking in my boots, Jack.” Vincent snorted. “When did you turn into such a traitor?”
“I’m no traitor. It’s just that I’m ashamed of all of you for what you tried to do.”
Vincent pulled himself up higher in the booth. “I get it now. You think we’re underhanded, trying to get back the part of George Sr.’s money that we deserved in the first place. But you’re no better.”
“You can bet I’m not trying to hurt people around here.”
“No?” Vincent snickered. “We’ve seen you lately, chasing after plain little Mei Clayton.”
“We’re friends. Neighbors.”
“Yeah, right. You think you’ll get your hands on her share if you court her real nice. But tell me, while you’re being all self-righteous here—are you any better than us if you go and break that girl’s heart?”
Mei entertained Macy on Saturday afternoon, then again on Sunday after church. Each time, Mei stopped inside the little blue farmhouse to visit with Darlene for a few minutes. The woman’s ongoing decline was more visible with each passing day.
On Monday, Mei stopped in after school to see the two of them, even though Arabella and Jasmine were scheduled.
“She’s asleep,” Jasmine said when she opened the door. “But do come in. The hospice nurse is due to stop by in a half hour, so she’ll be awake then.”
“How is everything?”
“Not so good.” Jasmine’s eyes glittered with sudden tears as she looked over her shoulder, then lowered her voice. “Darlene is sleeping more and is alert less often. But the doctor upped her pain meds, so that might be part of it. I just wish she could last until after Christmas so poor Macy won’t always have to think of her mother’s death happening so close to the holidays.”
Jasmine led the way from the foyer into the kitchen. “Look who’s here, Macy!”
The child looked up from her homework and offered a smile that didn’t reach her sad eyes. “Hi, Mei.”
“Looks like you have lots and lots of homework, sweetie.”
“Spelling and math,” she said glumly. “I like reading better.”
“Me, too. I’ll bet Jasmine is a lot of help, though.”
Arabella came around the corner from the living room, her face drawn, but she brightened when her gaze landed on Mei. “I didn’t expect to see you here today.”
“I just thought I’d stop in and say hello, but I hear Darlene is asleep.”
Arabella glanced pointedly at Macy, who was laboriously writing out her spelling words. “She’s having a really nice nap right now, so she’ll have some more energy later.”
Her heart heavy, Mei caught the subtext of Arabella’s words. “She’s so lucky to have everyone from the Church Care Committee to help.”
“Coffee?” Arabella poured a cup from the coffee-maker on the crowded Formica countertop by the sink and handed it over, then poured herself a mugful. “As for the committee, we had a hole in the schedule tomorrow and asked your mom, but she wasn’t too keen on the idea.”
“As in a flat, no-uncertain-terms ‘no’?”
Arabella smiled. “Pretty much. But Kylie and Brooke said they could come, so we’re all set.”
“For a woman who married a family doctor, my mom always had an aversion to nursing care. Whenever Lucas and I had a case of the stomach wobbles as kids, it was either Dad…or we were on our own.”
Arabella finished a sip of coffee, then sputtered. “Stomach wobbles?”
“The only euphemism Mom would use for nausea and its unfortunate results. Everything else was just too graphic for her.”
“Oh, my.”
“How are the Thanksgiving plans coming along?”
Jasmine looked up from Macy’s spelling list, opened a pink notebook on the table and grinned. “Super. Just eight more days to go. I’ve sent the invitations to everyone on the other side of the family tree and have the rest ready to send out tomorrow. I have the town meeting hall reserved because nobody’s house is big enough.”
“And none of us want a brawl in our dining room,” Arabella said drily.
“That isn’t going to happen,” Jasmine shot back with a grin. “We’re checking shotguns and rifles at the door.”
She ran her finger down a list in her notebook. “My centerpieces are made. I borrowed the tablecloths already, and they are washed and ironed. There are enough tables and folding chairs at the hall, so I didn’t have to rent them. The food is all set, too. Between what I prepare and what people bring, we should be able to feed dozens of people with ease.”
“You are an amazing woman, Jasmine.” Mei grinned. “You’re really going to feed that many people?”
“Counting all the kids, yes. Maybe more. I just hope they all come, or I’ll be stuck with four twenty-three-pound turkeys and we’ll be eating it for the next year.”
“And you’re planning a wedding? Your life makes me dizzy, by the way.”
“That’s pretty much in place, too.” Jasmine’s smile turned soft and dreamy. “Christmas Eve will be the best day of my life, bar none. Cade and I are so going to prove everyone wrong when we celebrate our fiftieth wedding anniversary and are still going strong.”
“Good for you. I hope I’m around to see it.”
“We heard the news about that high school girl, by the way.” Arabella lowered her voice. “Zach came by the house Sunday night and told us everything because he said it wasn’t fair that the radio and TV newscasters cast all the blame on you and Jack.”
“Only the fact that she was missing for a while was given to the news people.”
“Personally, I think the public should hear about what that girl did, even if she is a minor. It’s just wrong that the gossips are all saying that she was lost because you and Jack were careless.”
“Given that her mother’s a relation of Vincent’s, I’d guess the two of them talked Gina into the whole scheme and then added a hefty bribe so she couldn’t say no. But she’s too young to have that whole unfortunate mess follow her forever.” Mei glanced at her cousin. “And you know as well as I do that no one ever forgets a juicy bit of gossip in a small town.”
“So where are the charges against Vincent and Gina’s mother?”
“If there’s ever enough evidence, then maybe there will be,” she said with a shrug. “But I’m not holding out hope.”
“When I hear talk about either of you, I step right in…believe me. Too many people have been wrong about Cade and Jack all these years, and it’s time someone on our side of the family stood up for what’s right. You want to know one good thing about Gina’s disappearance?” Arabella asked.
“I can’t think of a single thing,” Mei admitted drily.
“Well, this time Vincent’s schemes ended up being directed at Jack and one of us, and maybe now people can see that those two aren’t on the same team…and never were.”
Arabella had said there was one good thing that had come out of Gina’s disappearance, but she was wrong. There were two, and Mei was staring at all six-foot-two of the second one across a dinner table right now and silently counting her blessings.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” she murmured, leaning over the table.
“Having a real, honest-to-goodness dinner out?”
“Right. I mean—I’m happy you invited me, Jack. After all we’ve had to deal with, I never imagined we’d be sitting here with candlelight and crystal, instead of facing a room full of teenagers or some crisis.”
“I figured that we deserved this.” He cut the final piece of his tenderloin in half. “And honestly, I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”
“I know you’re kidding, but it’s sweet of you to say that.”
He caught her gaze. “Ten years, in fact.”
“Now I do know you’re kidding.”
“Do you remember homecoming, senior year?” he asked.
“Vaguely. I think our parents took Lucas and me with them for four days in Aruba over that weekend.”
“I’d just about gathered the courage to ask you out, but I heard you would be gone anyway. And then…well…” His mouth lifted in a wry grin. “Things changed.”
She laughed. “I’ll
bet. If I remember correctly, you always had a flock of girls circling around you. If any of them caught wind of that near defection, she probably swooped in like a hawk and didn’t let you go.”
“Funny…I don’t remember that at all.”
She knew he was still teasing, but it still felt incredible to be out with him. As an awkward teenager, she wouldn’t have ever believed she’d be here, enjoying a wonderful meal and the chance to banter with the man she’d had a crush on throughout high school.
But this wasn’t just a crush anymore.
“I saw Jasmine and Arabella at Darlene Perry’s house yesterday. I remember thinking she and Cade were awfully young to get married, but that girl certainly has made plans for the future.”
“When Cade told me about their engagement, I spent the next two months trying to talk him out of it. I nearly ruined our relationship because of my strong opinions.”
“You were only trying to help him make the right choice. I’m sure he knew that, even if he did rebel against what you were trying to say.”
Jack toyed with his fork for a long moment, his expression pensive, then he looked at Mei over the flickering candle between them. “Now I honestly envy him for finding the love of his life and for having the strength to follow his dreams no matter what anyone said to stop him. Some of us don’t have that much gumption. Just think of the years that are wasted that way. Missed opportunities for true happiness. And you can’t get any of it back.”
So apparently Jack had had his own share of disappointments over the years. Which one of the young beauties orbiting around him had broken his heart?
“Maybe the right person hasn’t really come along yet.”
He eyed her thoughtfully. “Oh, she did.”
“And there was no one else afterward?”
“Now and then. Nothing serious. So how about you?” The teasing glint was back in his eyes. “How did you make it to the grand old age of twenty-eight without some dude taking you off the market?”
She pushed a piece of her chicken parmesan back and forth on her plate for a while, sorting out her thoughts.
The Loner's Thanksgiving Wish (Love Inspired) Page 14