Beyond the Picket Fence: And Other Short Stories

by Lori Wick

  "Hi, Theo," Nikki began enthusiastically but cut

  offwhen she saw his face. "Everything okay." "No," he said softly. "Can I do anything.''

  The little boy shrugged, looking miserable. Nikki peeked around the door and saw the cause of the problem. Petra was standing in the middle of the coffee table, her costume on but not in place. Obviously a hand-me-down of some sort, it hung from one shoulder and drooped at the waist. The little girl in question was

  just barely" holding her tears.

  "May I come in, Theo?''

  He nodded and stepped back, closing the door behind her.

  Nikki slipped the cookie plate onto the first available surface and approached the little girl. Huge tears seemed to do the impossible as they filled Petra's lower lids but did not spill. Her chin quivered uncontrollably.

  "Well, now." Nikki's voice was gentle. "It looks as if you could use a pin here and there."

  Petra made no reply.

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  "Mrs. Butram gone already?" Nikki asked, but the little girl remained mute. Nikki looked behind her to see Theo nod. It was only then that she realized he was already in his own costume; she thought he might be Zorro or Robin Hood but was afraid to ask. She turned back to the little girl. Dilapidated as the costume was, Nikki was quite certain she was supposed to be a princess.

  "I think what we need here are a few tucks." Nikki's voice became suddenly businesslike. She glanced down to see a sewing basket lying on the sofa and began to go through it. She found thread and needle and a few large pins.

  Nikki gently turned Petra until her back was to her and began to gather the excess material. It wouldn't look all that great in the back, but at least the front would fit. Nikki was vaguely aware of Theo taking a chair to watch, but she said nothing to either child until she turned Petra to the front again and began working on the waist.

  "I was a princess one year for Halloween," Nikki mentioned conversationally, her eyes still on her hands. "I decided to do my own costume and made a horrible mess of it. My mother had offered to help, but I wanted to do it. When it was all over, she ended up making me a beautiful costume, but when I smiled and danced around in delight because I thought I looked so pretty, she reminded me that the costume didn't tell anyone what I was like inside.

  "She reminded me of the verse that tells us that people look at the outside but God looks on the heart. I needed to hear that. I had been so angry about my

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  costume and not at all nice to my mother when she first tried to help, and I knew that even though I looked like a princess on Halloween night, my heart was black with selfishness and sin."

  For the first time Nikki let her eyes meet Petra's. That little girl was watching her intently as Nikki knew she had been the whole time.

  "Doyou understand what I'm talking about, Petra?'' The little girl nodded."Iwas angry at Theo." "Were you?"

  "Yes. I need to tell him I'm sorry."

  Nikki smiled at her and drew her tenderly into her arms. Petra hugged her in return.

  Watching them from the kitchen, Dorian felt his throat close.I never dreamed of the way You would provide, Lord. Never in my wildest imaginations would I have thought

  someone like Nikki Brinks would move next door. I don't know what You have for us, Father, but I gra7that You

  show us. She's so special, and the children care for her already.

  Dorian stopped when he realized Nikki was staring at him. He let his eyes hold hers but fought the urge to cross the room and take her in his arms as she'd done with Petra.

  "Your father's here," he saw more than heard her say. The children went to him, and Nikki held her place. She watched him bend over and hug them and then speak quietly for their ears alone. Theo moved deeper into the kitchen then, but Petra came back to the living room.

  "Thank you, Nikki," she said as soon as she stopped in front of her.

  "You're welcome, Petra. You look very nice."

  116"I have to talk to Theo now."

  "All right."

  While Nikki watched Petra go, Dorian took the princess' place. He stood very close and looked down into Nikki's eyes.

  "Thank you," he murmured softly.

  Nikki's smile was warm as she looked up at him. "Come with us tonight," he urged, his voice low. "We're going into town for a little while to trick-or-

  treat. Please come."

  "All right."

  "We'll pick you up in about an hour, unless you want to eat withus."

  "I have something in the oven at home, but I'll be ready when you come."

  Another few seconds passed before either of them moved.

  "I'd bettergo,"Nikki said with obvious reluctance. "Okay." Dorian walked her to the door and thanked her one more time. Nikki could only assure him that the pleasure had been hers. The doctor eventually went back to the children, and Nikki walked back up the street to ready for trick-or-treating. The cookies, her reason for her visit in the first place, were completely forgotten.

  Four days later on Saturday evening, Nikki got into the front seat of Dorian's car and greeted the children in the back, much as she had Halloween night. They'd covered some 30 homes on Halloween, treat bags in hand, and afterward Dorian had asked Nikki to go out

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  with him on the weekend. She had gladly accepted. What she hadn't expected was that the children would be joining them. She didn't comment, however, and indeed, felt very much like laughing. She had dressed in her best, taking great pains with her hair, makeup, and nails--all, she assumed, to spend the evening in a family restaurant. She wasn't put off, only amused at herself and a bit confused. She was even more so when Dorian went the four miles into town only to turn up the street into a residential neighborhood.

  "We're staying overnight with Mrs. Butram," Petra informed her when the car glided smoothly to the curb.

  "You are? How nice," Nikki turned and smiled. "Have you stayed here before?"

  "A few times," Theo filled in. "She has a nice dog

  and Mr. Butram plays games with us."

  "I hope you have a great time."

  "Bye, Nikki," Petra called, climbing from the back. Theo waved, and Nikki kept her seat until Dorian returned. He turned to her the moment he slipped behind the wheel, a wide smile on his face.

  "You thought the kids were joining us, didn't you?"

  Nikki laughed. "Yes. I thought I'd misunderstood you and dressed all wrong."

  His smile was still in place as he put the car into gear and moved down the road. They didn't say much as he drove almost 20 miles to a restaurant in Montpelier, but as soon as they sat down across from each other, the words just flowed.

  "How was your day?" he asked.

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  "Busy, but good. I feel as though I got a lot done. How about yours?"

  "It started with a birth. I delivered twins at 5:30 this morning," Dorian announced with a smile.

  "Twins." Nikki's voice dropped with wonder. "How are all three of them doing?"

  "Just great. It's a first delivery, so everything was new and special."

  "Two boys...?" Nikki prompted.

  "A boy and a girl, both dark-haired and howling with great health."

  "That's wonderful, but you must be tired."

  "I was tired. I was tired when Petra decided she needed every stuffed animal she owned with her at the Butrams' tonight, and also when Theo said he'd forgotten to feed Brutus, but as soon as I saw you in that dress, the fatigue suddenly lifted."

  Nikki smiled at the compliment, thinking Dorian looked wonderful too. His suit was a medium shade of navy and his shirt a bright white. The tie at his throat was a subtle red and blue stripe that only accentuated his aquiline features, still brown from the summer.

  "You're Greek, aren't you, Dorian?" Nikki asked suddenly.

  He eyed her in speculation. "What was the giveaway, my nose or the black hair and eyes?''

  "Your name and the children
's names were the first things I noticed."

  Dorian nodded. "My mother is Greek, and when I was first married, my wife loved my Greek name and the idea of naming our first son Theodore." He hadn't planned to talk about Crystal, but it seemed the right

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  time to add, "but that, along with everything else in our marriage, soon lost all appeal for her."

  "Where is she, Dorian?" Nikki asked gently.

  "I don't know right now," he admitted. "In the last five years, I've seen her only twice: the day she left the children and me and the day she showed up with her lawyer, asking me to sign divorce papers."

  Nikki felt a sting behind her eyes -just at the thought of what he'd gone through. Her look was compassionate, but she stayed quiet so the man across from her could share.

  "She never wanted to move to Vermont, but I didn't know that until we'd been here a year. I knew everything was not fine, but most of the time she wouldn't talk to me. Now I'm able to see so many things I could have done better, but at the time I plodded along the best I could. For a while she agreed to meet with our pastor every week. I thought we were making headway, but then she found out she was pregnant with Petra, and you'd have thought I asked her to give up her life. She was inconsolable. She stopped taking care of Theo, and I feared that she would take her own life or even the baby's.

  "Petra wasn't 48 hours old when I came to the hospital and found Crystal dressed and ready to leave. There was no talking to her. She called a cab and left, not even returning home for her things. I took my baby daughter home alone, and Theo and I picked out her name. I nearly lost my practice in the year after that, trying to take care of the kids and see to my patients at the same time. Then when Petra was two, Crystal showed up and wanted to see me. She came to the

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  office so the kids weren't there, and since I'd been given two years to think about it, I knew what I would do.

  "I asked her if she was willing to work on the marriage. I told her I loved her and still wanted us to share our lives. She wanted none of it. I questioned her several times--several different ways. I had to be sure. When I was positive it was over in her heart, I signed the papers.

  "I'll never forget that day. I don't know how I finished my rounds; it had to have been the Lord. I made myself tell Theo that evening at bedtime, and although he cried a little, he was very brave. I wasn't brave at all. I cried the entire evening and again when I talked to Pastor Andersen.

  "But all was not black," he shared softly. "I grew more spiritually" that year than I had my" whole life. I was forced to lean on the Lord and be in His Word in a way I never had before. I know that God works all things together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose, and He's been the One to help me move on. I feel no anger or bitterness, only a deep desire to be there for my kids and show them a better way."

  "Thank you for telling me, Dorian."

  "It's important that you know, Nikki," he told her seriously, his eyes on hers. "Don't misunderstand what I'm about to say next, but there were things that Crystal never told me. It can't be that way between husband and wife or two people who are thinking about marriage."

  "I quite agree with you," Nikki said, not put off at all. "I have a friend in New York who told me she'd met the man of her dreams, but he wasn't ready to have her

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  meet his family or to talk about his past. Yet she was sure he was the one. I told her outright that she could be walking into a world of hurt. I'm thankful that her family felt the same way and that she listened to us. She's still getting to know him, but there's been no more talk of marriage."

  "You were a good friend to tell her the truth." Nikki nodded. "I'm still trying to figure out how good of a friend you are," Nikki suddenly said with a

  teasing glint in her eye.

  "How's that.''

  "Well, you've asked me to dinner but waved the waiter on three times. I'm starving, Dorian."

  He smiled. "I knew you were going to be opinionated."

  Nikki chuckled. "I'm taking lessons from your daughter."

  Dorian found this highly amusing but still got the point. Their dinner orders were given and their salads delivered just a short time later. It was a fabulous evening. They dined and talked until very late and then slowly drove back to the street where they lived. Once outside Nikki's house, they sat in the car and talked for two more hours. They both knew it was going to be tough to get up in the morning for church, but both agreed it would be worth it.

  Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's came and went, and in those weeks Nikki and Dorian talked on the phone or saw each other nearly every day. Nikki flew to be with Tim and her mother for Christmas, but

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  they drove her back and were able to meet Dorian and the children. Both were very impressed with the family and could see for themselves what Nikki had written in letters: Nikki and Dorian were very much in love. Dorian's family was scheduled to visit at the end of January, and all were looking forward to it. But before that time, there was a lot of Vermont winter to be enjoyed.

  It was during this time, a snowy day about the middle of that month, that Dorian, Nikki, and the kids ventured out on the snowmobiles. They had gone two other times during the season, but now there was more snow. Nikki rode behind Theo, and Petra held on tightly to the back of Dorian on the first sled. Nikki loved it, feeling that she could go for miles. For her, the time to head back and warm up by the fire in the Swanns' living room came all too soon. But Petra's cold little hands gave them no choice.

  Back at the house, the fire and hot chocolate were just what was needed, and the kids even volunteered to see to the microwave popcorn. While they were out of the room, Dorian picked up Nikki's hand and kissed the back before entwining their fingers.

  "Pastor asked me a question this morning."

  Nikki took her gaze from their hands, his so dark and hers so fair, to look at him. "About?"

  "Us."

  She studied Dorian's eyes for a moment. They were normally so expressive, compassionate, and kind in the extreme, but right now she couldn't tell what he was thinking.

  "What exactly did he ask you?"

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  "He wanted to know if we would be joining the marriage class soon."

  "And what did you tell him."

  "I said I would have to ask you."

  Nikki's heart beat against her ribs until she thought they would break, but excited as she was, one thing was holding her back. She glanced over her shoulder to see if the kids were ready to join them, but they were still occupied. Her eyes went back to Dorian, a worried frown creasing her brow. She opened her mouth to speak, but the doctor cut in.

  "Did I mention to you that Theo gave his snake away."

  Nikki blinked. "No," she said softly.

  "He did." Dorian's voice was conversational, but his eyes kept track of Nikki's every move. "There was a boy in his class who really wanted it, and Theo felt it

  would be best. We delivered it yesterday."

  "Is Theo upset.''

  "Not at all." Dorian replied kindly. "He knew you would never be comfortable with it. And as much as he likes Brutus, he likes you more."

  Nikki couldn't help throwing her arms around his neck. Dorian's own arms came up to hold her tight, and Nikki squeezed him as if she would never let go.

  They were still hugging when the kids joined them. "Is Nikki all right.'' Petra wanted to know. "Yes, she's just happy."

  Nikki shifted back to the room then and found Theo with her eyes. She had not cried but still felt as though she could. She waved Theo toward her with a hand and spoke when he sat by her side.

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  "Are you sad about Brutus?"

  "No, not really. I can visit him at Richie's anytime I want. His mom said so."

  Nikki's hand brushed the black curls from his forehead. "Have I told you that I love you, Theo?''

  The swe
et 11-year-old nodded and smiled.

  "You love metoo,"Petra came close to remind Nikki.

  "Yes, I do,"Nikki said and pulled her into her lap. With an arm around Theo, the three snuggled together for a few minutes. It didn't last long because Petra felt it was her duty to hand out the popcorn, and after all, she told them, it was getting cold. Once Dorian and Nikki both had their bowls, the kids went to select a video, giving the adults a few moments alone. For a moment all Nikki could do was stare at the man beside her.

  "I wasn't looking for love," she finally whispered, "but then there you were."

  Dorian smiled and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "Do you know when I fell in love with you?"

  "At the pet show."

  Nikki's eyes rounded. "The pet show? I didn't even see you."

  "I know you didn't. You were too busy smiling at my daughter and trying not to show how terrified you were of Brutus." Dorian's eyes lovingly searched her face. "I would have said I was too busy even to think about marriage, but that was before I met the girl next door."

  Nikki's smile was huge as she leaned toward him for another kiss.

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  "I guess this means I should tell Pastor we'll be in theclass?"he asked, a teasing light in his eyes.

  "Yes, please." Nikki's voice was fervent. "The sooner the better."

  The kids chose that moment to return with a video, one that they'd seen many times. They sat on and between Dorian and Nikki, but Dorian still managed to have an arm along the back of the sofa, his hand on Nikki's shoulder.

  Nikki watched the video, but her heart was elsewhere.I'm going to be married, Lord. Isn't that wonderful?

  Please tell my dad, Lord. Tell him I've found someone as wonderful as he was to Mom and as wonderful as Tim is now.

  Nikki could have prayed on for hours, but at that

  moment she caught Dorian's eyes on her.

  "Are you all right?" he asked softly.

  "Yes," Nikki whispered back, "just sending a message to mydad."

  Dorian reached for her hand then and held it very tightly, his eyes glued to her face. Nikki was just as taken with him. Indeed, it was a good thing the kids didn't question them about the story, since neither one saw much more of the video that evening.