“Have you heard from Gillian?” Maud asked. The older woman was going to be Gillian’s matron of honor. Maud had been best friends with Gillian’s great-grandmother—the two had gone to school together and remained friends until Sophie’s death earlier that year.
“Not directly, but Jenny talks to her almost every night. She and Joe finished closing down Gillian’s apartment and are on their way back.”
“Gillian mentioned you and Jenny were picking out bridesmaid dresses. I do hope you two remember my age. I can’t be wearing some low-décolletage dress.”
“No, ma’am, we have no low-cut dresses. The age range for this wedding party is seven to ninety-three. We have to accommodate all of us.”
“Well, good. And no green. I look sick as a dog if I ever wear green.”
Marcie smiled. “I’m sure once Gillian decides, she’ll have us all over her at her house to see, and we can veto anything we hate.”
“She is such a dear. I just wish Sophie had met her.”
Marcie heard her sigh. “At least Gillian knows a lot about her great-grandmother because of the stories you’re telling her.”
“There’s that. I heard through the grapevine that rascal Zack Kincaid has come back. Is he staying for the wedding?”
“Actually, I believe he’s to be the best man.”
The silence on the other end caused Marcie to smile again. She couldn’t wait until Zack saw who he would be paired with.
“Well, that does beat all. Does he know I’m matron of honor?”
“I don’t believe he does, unless Jenny’s told him. It should be interesting, don’t you think?”
“He was wild as a boy. But good, too, you know that.”
“Except when running out on a wedding with scarcely any notice,” Marcie said dryly. She remembered him as exciting and wild and so much fun she lived for the time they spent together.
“I’m sure he had his reasons. Do call and tell me if Gillian calls.”
“I will, Maud. You take care.”
Marcie had been to several weddings over the years as different classmates had married. The first had been the hardest, when Shirley Norris married Bruce Hartwell. It had been almost a year to the day after her own had been scheduled. She had declined all offers to be a bridesmaid until her best friend Jody had married five years ago. She couldn’t hold off against her friend’s blandishments.
It was hard now that Zack was back to ignore the memories of her excitement at getting married, the planning and work that had gone into the wedding. How her dad had sent all the reception food to a soup kitchen in Portland so it wouldn’t go to waste after the event had been so unexpectedly canceled.
Sinking on her sofa, she leaned her head back. Lord, I’m praying for some wisdom here. What should I do about Zack? Forgive and move on? Try to be friends? I thought I had gotten over the pain of his leaving, but that ache is in my heart. Lord, I need You more than ever. Speak to me, I pray. Give me Your guidance and love.
Marcie remained on the sofa for several minutes, then rose and went to get her Bible. She’d read where it opened and hoped the Lord was telling her what to do.
The Bible fell open to Isaiah and she read, Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. That verse didn’t just apply to her. It applied to all God’s children, including Zack. She didn’t agree with how Zack had backed out of their marriage, but God still loved them both. It was up to her to find forgiveness in her heart for him. It didn’t mean she had to put herself in a similar situation again. She didn’t have to plan a life with Zack, just forgive the mistake of the past and draw closer to the Lord.
Zack and Jenny stood on the edge of the bluff overlooking the tiny beach below. The setting sun was behind them, the sky darker on the horizon before them. The sea was growing gray and dark.
“When it gets warmer, Daddy will take me down to the beach to play in the water. I can’t swim too good yet, though sometimes Melissa and Sally Anne and I go to the pool at the high school. When Sally Anne’s mom can take us.”
“Don’t go down to the beach alone,” Zack said, echoing what his parents had drummed into his head. He hadn’t thought about them in a long while. It was hard to believe they’d been gone so long. He missed them still. Probably always would.
“I won’t. Did you and Daddy play there when you were little boys?”
“Oh, yeah, and our folks made sure we always had a grown-up with us.” He felt an awesome responsibility for this little girl while her dad was gone. It made him feel more connected to his parents—sharing the same admonitions they’d given. Watching the future generation of Kincaids grow. Would he and Marcie have had kids? By now they could have had a houseful.
Jenny looked out to the horizon. The sun slipped away and before long it would be dark. There were lights on in the house behind them to guide them back.
“Over there is Europe,” she said, pointing east.
“Right you are.”
“My daddy and I came out here a lot to pray for you.”
That surprised Zack. “Well, thank you.”
“Daddy prayed you would find your way home. Were you lost, Uncle Zack?”
“Maybe a bit,” he said.
“And we prayed you’d always be safe. And God kept you safe and helped you find your way back home.” She sounded pleased with her conclusion.
Zack wondered if God had listened to his brother’s prayers and kept him safe. His friend Jacques could have used some prayers. Maybe he wouldn’t have died in that crash. Zack rubbed his hand over his face, wishing he could erase the memory of the fiery collision, the sick certainty the instant he knew that his friend was dead.
“Did you pray for us?” Jenny asked, looking up at him. “We aren’t lost but we always need God.”
The shrill ring of the old phone in the house echoed in the night air.
“I bet that’s Daddy,” Jenny said, turning to run to the house. Zack followed, glad he hadn’t had to answer that innocent question. He should have been praying all along, but after leaving like he had, he hadn’t felt worthy. He still didn’t. God didn’t want people to hurt those they love. Or to turn away from Him. Yet Zack had done that and more.
Could he come back and fit in? Or would his restless spirit keep him from the contentment his brother seemed to have found?
Some of that was due to Gillian, he knew. The Lord wanted man to have a helpmeet and Joe had Gillian.
He’d had a good one himself and carelessly thrown it all away.
Jenny was talking a mile a minute when he stepped into the kitchen. She regaled whoever was on the phone with her day at Sally Anne’s, the new swimsuit she’d bought with money from Uncle Zack and the plans for swimming later in the week if the weather stayed warm.
“When are you going to be home?” she asked. She nodded and looked at Zack. “Okay. Here’s Uncle Zack. They’ll be home next week,” she said, handing him the phone and scampering out of the room.
“Hello?”
“It’s Joe. We’re in Saint Louis. Saw the arch today. I told Jenny we stopped at an internet café and sent some pictures, so she can see them. How are things going?”
“Good. Kimberly helped today, taking Jenny. I hope she doesn’t expect me to reciprocate. Two giggling seven-year-olds would be more than I can cope with.” He leaned back in the chair remembering trying to keep up with her energy. And the cute things she unexpectedly said during the course of a day.
Joe laughed. “She won’t. I’m sure she’s glad to have Jenny with Sally Anne. Together they entertain themselves. How was the church picnic?”
“Fine.” He went on the alert. He didn’t want to discuss his meetings with Marcie, not yet.
Joe waited a couple of seconds. “Marcie there?”
“Yeah. We talked. I apologized. And saw her father today to apologize. He’s aged.” Zack carefully kept his tone neutral.
“Haven’t we all?”
“A teenager I met at the picnic wants to learn more about cars
, so I had him at the shop today. He might stop by again. He’s smart, and won’t be unsupervised.”
“Your call. If you’re serious about going in partners, we’ll talk more about it when I get back. Which should be mid to late next week. We’re heading for Chicago next, then New York and Boston. Gillian hasn’t seen anything farther east than Vegas, so we’re both enjoying it. Just wish we could drive together.”
“Should have gotten a huge moving van and put her car in it.”
“Yeah, right. Take care of my daughter.”
Zack smiled. “Always. You two enjoy the sightseeing.” He hung up slowly, thinking about what Jenny had said on the bluff.
“God, if You’re still listening for me,” he said. “I’d, uh, like to ask Your blessing on my brother and his fiancée as they drive across the country. Please keep them safe,” he added, feeling awkward. He waited a heartbeat then went to show Jenny the photos Joe had emailed.
When he tucked her into bed later, he went back to the computer to look again at the pictures. A lot were singles, either of him or Gillian. She was lovely with her tawny golden-blond hair and bright blue eyes. So different from Pamela, Joe’s first wife. In addition to being beautiful on the outside, she was as beautiful on the inside. Sweet and loving to Joe and Jenny, and welcoming to him.
Of course, they had no past together.
He gave in to the desire to hear Marcie’s voice once again. He dialed her number, knowing he had the perfect excuse and hoping she wouldn’t hang up on him.
“Hello?”
The sweet sound warmed his heart. “Hi, Marcie, it’s Zack.”
“Now what?”
He settled in the chair, taking it as a good sign that she hadn’t hung up on him.
“Joe sent some pictures, thought you might want to see them.”
“How?”
“I could forward them to your computer. Or, you could come over here and see them on his. He sent them to Jenny tonight.” He hoped she’d choose to come over. It was a short drive from town and not that late.
“Go ahead and forward them.”
“Okay, hold on so I can make sure they go through.” Disappointment flared. Still, he had her on the phone. He sent the pictures and picked up the phone again.
“Did you get them?”
“I’m still waiting for my computer to power up.”
“How’s Sean working out?” He was getting desperate to keep her on the phone. He wanted to find out what she was doing. See if he could detect any softening toward him.
“It’s only been one afternoon, but so far, so good. He’s only sixteen, but seems to have a much better work ethic than the kid I had before. I have another high school worker, Sarabeth. She’s shy as all get-out, but does a good job. Wait, the photos are here. Oh, look at the arch. I’ve never been to Saint Louis. Wow, the river is not as blue as I thought it’d be.”
Zack had never been to the Mississippi, either. He’d seen many of the countries in Europe but had never toured his own. Was that something Marcie would like to do someday?
“Thanks for sending the pictures,” she said.
“I saw your dad today,” he said, hoping to forestall her ending the call.
“I bet he did not take to your idea of looking at his car,” she said with a trace of humor in her tone.
“Not at all. Told me to get out and stay away from you.” He wanted to ask if that was her wish as well, but dared not. As long as she never told him flat out to stay away, he felt he had a chance. “Marcie, he looks far older than I remember.”
“It has been ten years.”
“Is he okay?”
“Sure, why wouldn’t he be?”
Zack didn’t want to put ideas into her head, but to him the man looked so different it was startling. Marcie saw him every day, so it wouldn’t be as apparent. But Marcie was his only child. If there was anything wrong, Bill would certainly let her know.
“Forget it. I just wondered.”
“We all get old,” she said. “Speaking of which, have you met the rest of the wedding party?”
“No, why?”
“I think Gillian plans to have a small dinner party when they get home, so everyone can meet the others. I know everyone, but I’m not sure you do.”
“No problem, it’s not like I have a lot going on right now,” Zack said.
“Sorry Rocky Point doesn’t offer the excitement of London or Rome.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it. I need to get my own place, firm up the partnership with Joe and wind up things in Europe. Right now I’m just a babysitter for Jenny.”
“I’ve got to go. Thanks for sending the pictures.”
He hung up, wishing he’d never made that comment. It reminded her of his leaving and he was trying to get her to think more about his staying.
“Zack Kincaid’s in the restaurant,” April said, passing the door to Marcie’s office the next morning.
Despite the skip of her heart, Marcie kept her head down, eyes focused on the list of dishes she was preparing for the upcoming weekend. “I’m busy. See he gets what he wants like everyone else,” she said.
For a moment she couldn’t concentrate. They’d talked for a while last night on the phone, almost as when they were teens. Back then he’d drop her at home and then call her as soon as he got home. Her father used to ask what they’d have to talk about since they’d just seen each other. That had never been a problem in the past.
His comment at the end still bothered her. There was little to do in Rocky Point for a person used to large cities and cosmopolitan entertainment. Her own life revolved around her business, church and her friends. And during the week because of the long hours she put in, she didn’t socialize much. Still, she liked her life. She didn’t yearn for anything else—unless it was a family of her own. She liked children. Would love to give her father some grandkids.
Sometimes she felt a touch of envy for those friends who had loving husbands and rambunctious children.
She shook her head, trying to dislodge those thoughts. The Lord would provide her a partner in His own good time. If that was His will. Some women never married. She hoped she wasn’t one. She really did want children. And her dad would love a grandson to teach to fish!
It was just after nine when she gathered a folder and her purse. She was going to give a new lobster distributor in Portland a chance to work with her and had scheduled an interview at their offices later this morning.
The road to Portland wound through the forest with glimpses of the sea from time to time. She had chosen the highway for the scenic views rather than the speed the interstate would have given her. She was in no particular hurry and relished this time to herself. Her manager was in charge at the restaurant and could handle any emergency. It was almost like a holiday.
The meeting went well and once finished, Marcie decided to eat lunch at one of the restaurants in the Old Port section of Portland. The meal was delightful and she wondered if the Cabot sisters could add another entrée to the menu.
It was early afternoon when she headed back. Once the traffic from Portland thinned, she sped up a bit. Passing one car, she looked in her rearview mirror in surprise. It was her father. He was going the same way she was—away from Portland and toward Rocky Point.
Had he been in Portland again? Why?
Another car passed her father and came in behind her. She considered the idea of slowing down and then letting her father pass her so she could follow him home. But before she could act on that, he turned off. Puzzled, Marcie continued home. She’d call her dad later to see what was going on.
But, though she tried every half hour all evening long, her father didn’t answer. Finally after nine, really concerned, she drove over to her childhood home to check on him. It was dark. His car was not in the carport. Where was he?
She parked and wrote a short note asking him to call her when he got home, then opened the front door and put it prominently on the table where he
kept his car keys. He must have made plans that she didn’t know about. Not that she should. When she’d moved from home, she’d wanted her own privacy and her dad was entitled to his.
The next morning just before the lunch rush began, her father called.
“Went fishing with some friends,” he said.
“I saw you on the highway yesterday and then you turned off. You were coming from Portland,” she said.
“I missed the turn going up, had to turn around and go back down. Didn’t catch anything, either.”
She smiled at the disgruntled tone. “Can’t catch something every time. I just wondered since I couldn’t reach you at home last night.”
“A man should not have his daughter watching him every moment.”
Marcie laughed. “Like it’s every moment. If I hadn’t seen you on the highway near Portland I would never have known. I was surprised to see you, that’s all.”
“What were you doing in Portland?” he asked. “I didn’t know you were going up.”
Marcie explained. They chatted a few minutes, then hung up. She needed to see more of her father. Maybe they could have lunch together after church Sunday. He rarely missed church services. She was worried about him. He was all the family she had. Time to get to the bottom of whatever was going on.
Sunday Marcie dressed in a light blue suit, growing more nervous as the time for church approached. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror. “I can do all things through you, Lord,” she told herself. “Even meeting Zack again in front of everyone at church. Each time I see him, it will become easier.” If he even showed up. So far since he’d returned, he had not attended church. Trinity was her church—and the place they were to have exchanged vows ten years ago. Many members of the congregation had been invited to the wedding. She knew they would be remembering. As she would yet again. For the past few years, except for attending other weddings, she’d been able to push away the memory of her own special day. Now that Zack was back, it came to the forefront every time she entered the church.
Turning, she didn’t feel her pep talk had soothed that much, but it was the best she could do. Gathering her purse and Bible, she headed out. She and her father usually sat together in church, neither having a partner in life’s journey.
Rocky Point Reunion Page 6