On the other hand, he had kissed her on a couple occasions. If he didn’t have feelings for her, would he have kissed her? She gave a sheepish laugh. Why not? A kiss from a man didn’t necessarily portend deeper feelings on his part. Emotional detachment had been Jay’s calling card. But Ethan wasn’t like Jay…
Ethan had mentioned wanting a partner. A business partner?
Marcia shook her head, rejecting the idea of herself acting in that capacity. She was happy at her store, owning and operating a small business.
She stood up and glanced at the clock. It was almost ten. Time for bed. She suddenly felt very tired.
She was just heading upstairs when she heard a light tapping at her front door. She hurried to look out the peephole.
Ethan was there, along with Allie and Tootsie, both contentedly nestled in his arms. Marcia opened the door, her brows furrowed in question.
“Look who I found sitting on my front porch,” he said. “I just went by Dan and Tammy’s and they aren’t home.”
Marcia frowned. “I wonder how the girls got out.” Her frown deepened. She wondered why the dogs hadn’t come to her house. When they had managed to escape in the past, they had always come to her house, pawing at the front door until she opened it for them. Why had they bypassed her place for Ethan’s?
“What do you think I should do?” he asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“Oh, sorry,” she said. “You can leave them with me. I’ll leave a note on Dan and Tammy’s door, letting them know the girls are with me.”
He nodded. “If you’ll write the note, I can take it over.”
“I’ll take care of it,” she told him, taking the dogs from him.
He took a step back and watched her through narrowed eyes. “You don’t trust me at all, do you?”
Marcia was taken aback. “What…? I…” She gave a withering sigh. “I … trust you.” She thought for a moment. “Well, maybe not entirely,” she answered truthfully.
Ethan laughed softly. “Wow. I appreciate your honesty,” he said. “We can’t fix something unless we acknowledge it.”
“Been watching daytime programming?” she inquired with a smile.
He colored under her gaze. “No. Well … sometimes.” He gave a sheepish grin.
“Come on in. I’ll write that note,” she said.
He entered the foyer. Marcia set the dogs down and they promptly began dancing around Ethan’s feet. He scooped them up again and both began licking his face.
“They really like you,” she said, frowning and folding her arms across her chest. “You don’t keep doggie treats in your pockets, do you?”
He feigned offense as he set them back on the floor. “Are you suggesting that I bribe the dogs to love me? It happens they’re both excellent judges of character. They know I’m a trustworthy guy. Maybe you should consider trusting me too,” he suggested, smiling lightly, but abruptly sobered. “Marcia, I don’t mean to make light of…” His words trailed off.
“Make light of what?” she asked, forcing herself to make eye contact.
He didn’t break the contact when he spoke. “I know your ex wasn’t exactly someone you could rely on.”
She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t deny it, since it was the truth. But she felt too embarrassed to admit to him how badly Jay had treated her during their marriage. She was also embarrassed to admit that she had submitted to his emotional abuse for so long.
When she didn’t speak, he took a step closer to her. “He made it hard for you to trust anyone, let alone another man.”
She lifted her eyes to his. “Yes.”
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Ethan sighed with frustration. Would Marcia have opened up to him then, if not for the interruption?
“I bet that’s Dan and Tammy,” she speculated, as she hurried to open the door. The girls dashed past her to their awaiting people.
“There they are,” Tammy said, laughing, as she scooped them up. “We figured they’d be here.”
“We arrived home to an empty house,” Dan told them. “We went out back and found the girls had tunneled out of the yard.”
“They actually went over to Ethan’s place,” Marcia told them, forcing a smile.
“They didn’t come over here?” Tammy asked. “Really?”
Marcia shook her head mock sadly. “It’s true. I’ve been replaced in their affections.”
“Well, hang onto him, Marcia,” Tammy stage-whispered, nodding toward Ethan. “Our girls are awfully good judges of character. If they love him, he must be a great guy.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell her,” Ethan declared.
“Thanks for watching the girls,” Dan said. “We really appreciate it.” He relieved his wife of one of the dogs, took her free hand, and together they left for home.
Marcia watched after them. It was apparent to her and anyone else who met the couple that they were deeply in love. She could only wonder what that must feel like—to be two halves of a whole—each devoted to the other. Would she ever experience that kind of love? That kind of commitment and contentment?
After she closed the door behind her neighbors, Ethan asked her if they could sit down and talk again. “Sorry for before,” he began, grimacing with embarrassment. “Regarding that partner business, I kind of bungled my words…”
“Oh, so you’re not looking for a business partner after all?” she inquired.
“Uh, no.” He scrubbed a hand across his jaw. “That’s not what I meant. I’ll explain, but there’s something I need to clear up first,” he said. “I want you to know that Gwen and I broke up six months ago, despite what the newspaper says. Also, that photo you saw is old. I have no idea why the paper ran it, other than they probably wanted a shot to go with the article about the charity event.”
Marcia watched his face. His eyes appeared earnest and sincere. She sighed. “I … believe you.”
She did believe him. It was another epiphany. She realized it was time she acknowledged that all men were not like Jay. While she had always understood that particular truth on an intellectual level, her broken heart had told her otherwise. But Ethan was nothing like Jay. She knew it in her heart, felt it in the core of her being. Suddenly, a weight lifted from her. She wanted to trust again.
Ethan sighed with relief. “I’m glad you believe me. It’s important to me that you trust me.” He suddenly jumped to his feet. “Oh, I have to go!”
Marcia’s face registered alarm. Why was he leaving so abruptly?
“But I’ll be right back,” he assured her.
“Okaaay.”
She waited for him on the couch, wondering why he had gone. When he returned, he held a pet carrier in his arms. “What is…?” she asked, smiling uncertainly.
He set the carrier down on the couch beside her. “Open it,” he told her eagerly.
She glanced at his face, still feeling uncertain. She tentatively pulled open the metal door and leaned down to peer inside. A tiny Dachshund puppy huddled against the back. Gently, she reached in and lifted her out.
“Ethan, she’s adorable!” she cried. “You’re going to be so glad you got her.”
He nodded his head. “I am glad I got her. But you don’t understand. I got her for you.”
She met his gaze, her eyes widened in surprise. “For me?”
He nodded. “I know you’ve always wanted a Dachshund.”
She sat quietly, pondering. “I have, but I have my store. I can’t possibly take care of a puppy and my business. I can’t leave her alone…”
“I thought…”
“What?”
“I thought, well, maybe we could … share custody.”
Marcia shook her head confusedly. “What? How?”
“She’ll be yours, of course, but I’ll help you care for her. I’ll be working on the bungalow for several more weeks, so I’ll be around to help with potty training.” He stroked the puppy’s tiny head. “I’m confident she’ll learn fast
.”
“Okay, but what about after you leave?”
“Leave?” he said, perplexed. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Marcia looked skeptical. “Ethan, you’re going to get bored living here. I promise you that. You’re used to a certain lifestyle. I’m afraid suburbia isn’t going to live up to your expectations.”
“It already has,” he declared. “I’m happy here. I don’t plan on going anywhere—unless…”
“Unless what?” she asked, bracing for his answer.
He grinned sheepishly, snaring her gaze. “Unless, you go with me.”
“What?” she murmured numbly.
He sighed. “Look, the truth is, I’ve been afraid to tell you some things.” He smiled with regret. “I’m almost afraid to say what’s on my mind, because it might be too much for you to hear right now and I’m afraid I’m going to scare you away.”
“It’s okay, Ethan. You can … tell me what’s on your mind,” she assured him.
He nodded and took her hand. “I know your ex put you through a lot, and he did a real number on your ability to trust. But the truth is, Marcia, I want a future … with you. And I hope you … feel the same.”
She watched his face, too stunned to respond.
“If you’ll give me a chance, I want to win your trust,” he continued. “I want you to know you can count on me. I want to prove to you that I’ll always be by your side.” He grinned ruefully. “I’ll always be your sidekick, and only yours.”
Marcia finally found her voice. “Ethan, you have won my trust. You have proven yourself to me.” She smiled with wonder. “I realized that earlier, after you told Collette that she needed to give Drew a chance to explain. You asked her if he had given her any reason not to trust him.”
He nodded, watching her face expectantly.
“You’ve never given me anything but reason to trust you.”
“Well, initially, I didn’t come clean about my, uh, home improvement skills,” he reminded her with a wince. “And then I didn’t tell you about purchasing the paint…”
She laughed. “Well, the truth is, that first omission was kind of flattering, after you fessed up your reasons, and as far as the second… I know you were just trying to help me, and I do appreciate it.” She held up a finger. “But no more omissions, okay?”
“No more,” he promised. “Never again.”
“Ethan,” she said, still smiling with wonder, “the truth is, I think I would like to be your partner—sidekick—whatever you want to call me…”
“Wife?” he interjected hopefully.
Her eyes widened and she grinned. “I’m certainly not adverse to the possibility,” she said, and then thought for a moment. “Will you … give me some time though? Just to get my bearings. It’s only fair to you too,” she added, silently praying he would allow her the time to continue healing. He deserved someone who had come to terms with her past—someone who was healed and whole.
He pulled her into an embrace. “You take as much time as you need,” he whispered against her hair. “As much as you need. I’ve found you and I’m not about to lose you. I love you, Marcia.”
She pulled back slightly to meet his eyes. “Despite my hair color and wardrobe,” she teased.
“Because of your hair color and wardrobe, and everything else about you,” he declared. “Every wonderful thing about you.”
Epilogue
“I’m sorry I called you a pretty boy,” Collette admitted to Ethan, as she helped herself to a heaping plate of food. “Remember—back at the diner when I first met you. I didn’t mean it, you know. Well, I mean, I sort of meant it. You have to admit, you sometimes dress like a pretty boy.”
Ethan grimaced from his place at the grill. He flipped a burger with a tad too much vigor and nearly sent it sailing across the back lawn. He was hosting a barbecue, celebrating the completion of the bungalow. He was not dressed like a pretty boy. He wished Collette would go away.
Marcia came up behind him, wrapping an arm around his waist. “He accepts your apology, Collette. Don’t you, honey?”
“Uh huh,” he said without enthusiasm.
“Is Drew on his way?” Marcia inquired of Collette.
The teenager beamed. “He should be here soon.”
“I’m so glad you two worked things out. I really like Drew.”
Collette smiled. “Yeah, he’s a good guy. Nothing like Chad.” She gave a shudder. “I still can’t believe he tried to ruin things between Drew and me by sending that old picture to my phone…” She made a face. “Can you believe over a year has passed since all that drama?”
“He was jealous of you and Drew,” her mother Angie said, as she joined the group. She turned to Ethan and Marcia. “Your place looks great, by the way. I just love the wraparound porch. It makes me want to grab a rocking chair and a good book. It’s just beautiful,” she gushed.
Ethan perked up considerably then. “Thanks to Marcia,” he declared, tipping his head back and taking in the enlarged bungalow that had been his grandmother’s home. “Didn’t she come up with an amazing plan?”
“Now you need to fill the place up,” his brother-in-law Thomas commented, as he stabbed a burger and walked off.
Ethan still couldn’t believe Marcia had agreed to marry him, and that it had already been six months since their wedding. They had lived at her house during the additional construction at his bungalow, but the work had been completed quickly. Owning the largest construction company in town wasn’t without its perks.
Marcia had opted to sell her place. Although she remained sentimental about it, considering all the work she had done to it, the fact remained that she had shared it with Jay. She had wanted a fresh start with Ethan.
“Hey, where’s Sidekick?” he asked her, looking around for their tiny Dachshund.
She pointed across the lawn. “She’s playing with the girls.”
He grinned as he spotted her running through the lawn, alongside Tootsie and Allie, and barely topping the blades of grass. “She is so cute,” he said, laughing ruefully.
“She gets along great with the girls,” Marcia commented.
“Maybe we should get another one,” Ethan mused, as he added another burger to the grill. “Sidekick would probably enjoy a … sidekick.”
Marcia smiled. “Maybe…” She reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. “But we should probably wait until after the baby comes…” she whispered.
Ethan spun around and his mouth dropped open in stunned surprise. “What?” he murmured when he finally found his voice. “Are we … pregnant?”
She nodded happily.
He thrust the spatula at Drew, who had just arrived. “Watch the burgers!” he commanded the teenager, and then drew Marcia against him in an embrace. He pulled back slightly and searched her face. “You wouldn’t kid a guy, would you?”
She shook her head. “Never. I love you too much to do that to you.”
“I’m going to be a dad,” he said with wonder.
“You’re going to be a great dad,” she told him. “I’m so lucky I found you.”
“Hey, I found you!” he declared. “And I’m never letting you go.”
“Promise?”
“You can trust me,” he said earnestly.
She smiled. “Always.”
The End
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Rosemarie Naramore, Actions Speak Louder
Actions Speak Louder Page 18