Marrying Mallory

by Diane Craver

  “Thanks, Jeremy. I just thought how Heather makes great crafts and is an artsy person. I bet she could help by getting the supplies and making the samples for the art projects. I’m sure she could deliver the stuff to you.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable by mentioning you teaching a class. I need to say something here—”

  “You didn’t make me feel uncomfortable. I would teach if I thought I’d be here.”

  “I think I should tell you how for a long time I thought of you as the one who got away. I was disappointed when you married Toby. Obviously, I was attracted to you and I knew you’d make the perfect minister’s wife, but—”

  “But not now since I’m divorced.”

  He shook his head. “No, you’re a wonderful Christian. It wasn’t your fault. Toby was the one who cheated. He treated you badly when he did that. He is the one that didn’t honor the marriage vows. I wish you wouldn’t be so hard on yourself.”

  “Being divorced makes me feel like I failed.”

  “God knows sometimes a divorce is the only answer.” Jeremy ran his fingers through his brown hair. “What I was trying to say is I’m not asking you to teach so we can spend time together, but because I know you’d do a good job, and we really need teachers. You don’t have to worry about me hitting on you again.”

  She smiled at him. “That’s a relief. No, seriously, I have wondered at times if I made mistake years ago, but I fell in love with Toby before I met you. Since we’re being honest here, I might as well tell you the reason for this dinner. Elizabeth planned this evening in hopes we might start dating. But now that we have that settled, I know someone who might like to get to know you better.”

  He grinned at her. “Yeah, you haven’t been too obvious in talking about Heather.”

  “I hope you’re interested in her.”

  “I’m glad she’s talked to me this evening. In the past, she’s never said very much to me. I’m going to ask her out for a date, so your matchmaking attempts have worked.”

  She suddenly realized why he’d asked Heather for her number. “Oh, I get it. You asked Heather for my number because you wanted to ask me about teaching vacation Bible school. She thought you were still interested in me.” She took a hand off the games in her arms and gave him a shove. “Let’s get back outside before they start pairing us off again. I’m glad you want to date Heather. I know she likes you.”

  ***

  Mallory put the last plate away in the cupboard before turning around to look at Seth. “We’re all done cleaning up. Thank you for staying to help. You shouldn’t have had to though. You were a guest, plus it’s your birthday.”

  Seth’s eyes met hers. “No problem. I enjoyed tonight even though the guys lost. I like your friends. Even Derek.”

  She folded a kitchen towel. “Well, I don’t think of Derek as being my friend. I’m nice to him because he’s engaged to Elizabeth. Sometimes I think there’s something shady about him.”

  “I think Derek’s okay but he does open his mouth a lot.” Man, I wish I’d been the one to say that Mallory was a wonderful woman. And how Toby hadn’t loved her the way she should’ve been loved. “That was pretty swell what he said about you.”

  “He surprised me when he was so nice.” She put her hand on the refrigerator handle. “How about another piece of cheesecake? I bet you have room for it.”

  “I’d love another piece. Thanks.”

  “Are you a milk person? I think a glass of cold milk will hit the spot. It’s a little late for coffee and I don’t have any decaf.”

  He nodded. “I like milk.”

  “Good.” She opened the refrigerator and took a gallon off the shelf.

  Seth took glasses out of the cupboard. He liked being in Mallory’s kitchen. It was bright and cheery like her. “You have a great house.”

  She laughed as she put the cake on small plates. “I wish Elizabeth could hear you. She feels sorry for me because Toby has a huge new house while I stayed in our smaller one, but I’ve always loved this place.”

  They went into the living room with their milk and cheesecake. He sat right next to her on the small couch. No way was he going to sit across the room in a chair.

  After they ate a few bites in silence, Mallory said, “Sorry you missed celebrating with your family and friends. The funny thing is Jeremy’s not even interested in me anymore. I’m happy to say he’s going to ask Heather out… soon, I hope. She likes him.”

  I’m glad Mallory hadn’t realized that Jeremy was over her before the dinner. “I hope you aren’t sorry you invited me now,” he teased. “I went out to eat with my parents and sister for lunch. My closest friends are out of town, so you did me a big favor by having me here on my birthday.”

  She cleared her throat. “Are you sure it’s safe for me to have my nose surgery?”

  He hated the uncertainty in her eyes when he knew how much she wanted him to operate. He needed to reassure her, yet he had to be honest. “I feel very confident that everything will go well and nothing’s going to happen to you like that young girl. I’ve never lost a patient, but to be honest, there’s always a small risk involved whenever surgery’s performed.”

  “How many rhinoplasty procedures have you done?”

  “I’ve done at least one hundred. It’s one of the most popular procedures.”

  She gave him a broad smile. “I’m surprised you didn’t remind me how you’re the best in the area.”

  “Hey, I don’t like to brag.”

  She put her empty plate on the coffee table. “Being a Christian, I’m not afraid of dying, but I have to be positive in my heart that nothing will go wrong because of Josh. I don’t want him raised by Toby.”

  “Isn’t Toby a good father?” He couldn’t imagine Mallory once being married to Toby if he wasn’t.

  “Toby’s a great father except he wouldn’t take Josh to church. Toby believes in God but only goes to church on Christmas and Easter. He’s not interested in having a deeper relationship with the Lord. And I like Josh going to our Christian school. I’m not so sure Toby would continue Josh’s education there.”

  He put his hand on her leg and felt a shot of desire for Mallory. He had it bad for her. Why had Henry and Rebecca gone away for the weekend? His friend was the only person he could talk to about his feelings for Mallory. He didn’t think it would be wise to talk to his parents about her yet. His mother would pump him with tons of questions which he couldn’t answer now. Maybe he’d give his sister a call and tell her about Mallory.

  “You have to get your pre-op done, so you can voice your concerns to your own family doctor. I feel safe in telling you that nothing’s going to stop you from raising Josh, but—”

  “I got worried when Jeremy mentioned what just happened to that poor girl. I do trust you as a surgeon and…”

  He waited for a moment, wondering how else she trusted him. Was she going to say as a friend? If they eventually started dating, being her friend would be a good beginning for their relationship. He stretched his legs and bumped the coffee table. Out of the corner of his eye, Seth saw that he’d jarred a vase of flowers. He leaned closer quickly, grabbing the flowers. He left out a deep breath. “I was afraid the vase would break.”

  “It’s not your fault. I should’ve moved the table.” She glanced at his legs. “You have long limbs.”

  Seth examined the vase. “Where did you get this? It’s pretty with the hand painted flowers. I bet my mom would like one. I could get her a vase for Mother’s Day.”

  “My grandmother was an artist, and she painted vases. She gave them to me before she died. You can look at them and pick one out for your mom.”

  “Are you sure you want to part with one? I’m not sure I should take a vase.”

  “I want to give you one.”

  “I wouldn’t feel right taking one of your grandmother’s vases without paying you for it.”

  She grinned. “You can always deduct mone
y from the fee for my surgery. After all, I could’ve raked some money from Derek if you allowed observers.” She stood. “Follow me. I have them in a closet.”

  After leading him into the study, she walked to the closet and opened the white door. Vases of every size filled the closet.

  “This is incredible.” He looked at her. “Did you get your grandmother’s artistic talent?”

  She laughed. “I’m afraid not. I can barely draw stick figures.”

  Forty-five minutes later, Seth stood at Mallory’s front door. He’d finally written her a check and told her not to look at it until he left. He’d selected a large vase with painted cherry blossoms plus a matching jar for herbs. His mom had an herb garden, so he knew she’d be excited about his gift.

  He wanted to kiss Mallory. Surely a peck on the cheek should be appropriate with him being at her house. He was not her doctor at the moment. He leaned down to her. His lips brushed her cheek, and Mallory pulled him closer to her.

  She whispered, “Here’s a birthday kiss for you.”

  With her in his arms, he felt Mallory’s breasts against his chest. When their lips met, energy surged through him. Maybe it was only a birthday kiss, but he hoped that it could be the beginning for something much more. He could see them as a couple. But was there a chance of this happening? He had no way of knowing if he’d get the opportunity to date Mallory after she recovered from her surgery, but he knew one thing for sure.

  He never wanted Mallory to think his only interest in her was as her surgeon. He wanted so much more from this incredible woman.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I’m so happy you called,” Mallory said to Heather. Her friend’s call had given her a way out of an embarrassing situation. What had possessed her to kiss Seth? She’d just made a fool of herself. He’d probably think now that she was using him to get a discount on her plastic surgery. Attacking her surgeon probably wasn’t a good thing. She just had to pick a hottie for a doctor plus a very available man. But he’d kissed her back and pulled her into his arms.

  “I just had to call you.” Heather continued in an excited voice, “Jeremy and I went for a walk after we left your place. We’re going boating next Saturday on the Blanchard River. Mallory, you’re the best. Thank you for talking to him tonight. When I saw him at the hospital, I was quiet around him because I thought he wanted to ask you out.”

  “Jeremy didn’t lose any time. He’s definitely interested in you.” She bet it’d be the longest seven days for Heather. “Do you think you can wait a whole week?”

  Heather laughed. “I don’t have to. He’s going to the hospital again on Monday to visit one of his church members. He wants to have lunch with me.”

  Would Heather start going to Jeremy’s church instead? She enjoyed having brunch with Heather after their church service. Before Alan entered her mom’s life, it’d been Heather and her mom going to brunch with her and Josh. “Will you be at church tomorrow?”

  “Yes, don’t worry. I’m not ditching you and Josh. I might go to Jeremy’s church sometime, but I don’t want to switch now. I don’t think it’d be too great for me to start going to his church already.”

  “I’m being selfish but I love our brunches. Derek and Elizabeth are always together on Sunday, Mom’s with Alan and soon you’ll be with Jeremy on Sunday.” She gave a short laugh. “But Josh’s stuck with me yet.”

  “Hey, I’m not planning on making any changes yet. And what’s up with you? I hear the fake perkiness in your voice that you get when you’re down about something.”

  Should she tell Heather about kissing Seth? Sure, she needed to talk to someone about what happened. “It’s about Seth.”

  “I’m sorry I called while Seth was still there. I couldn’t wait to call you to tell you my good news, but things must have gone well for you. Seth stayed late enough.”

  She sighed. “Oh Heather, I did something stupid and impulsive. Right before you called, I kissed Seth. First, he gave me a little peck on the cheek. It was like a thank you gesture for inviting him. But I had to go and pull him closer to me. Then I kissed him on his lips. I told him it was a birthday kiss.”

  “I’m sure he kissed you back. Right?”

  “Yes, he did.”

  “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. He likes you. Mallory, listen to me. When you went into the house with Jeremy, I saw how Seth watched you. And he wasn’t looking at you like your surgeon, but the way a guy does when he’s crazy about the woman.”

  “We shouldn’t be kissing. He’s going to operate on me. And I feel weird since my lips haven’t touched another guy’s mouth for over ten years. Toby was the only one for me for a long time.”

  “How can you even think that way? Especially since Toby has a girlfriend. He’s moved on with his life and you should too.” Heather’s voice dropped. “I don’t want to hurt you but I had to say it.”

  “I hate it that Toby and Samantha are a couple, but I still can’t believe what I did. I don’t care if some time in the future Toby gets married, but just surprised he’s already serious about Samantha. We haven’t been divorced that long. It’s an ego thing that he has so quickly latched on to another woman. First Lacey, then Samantha…”

  “Toby is history. Your ego should be feeling pretty darn good right about now. A hot guy just came to your party to be with you, and he kissed you.”

  Why did she kiss Seth? What was she thinking? Should she have the surgery when Seth didn’t just see her as his patient? Things were getting too complicated.

  Also the girl dying after having plastic surgery still concerned her.

  So many things to worry about.

  But what bothered the most was that she had liked kissing Seth. Very much.

  ***

  After Seth finished making a few phone calls to patients, he leaned back in his recliner. It was so comfortable that sometimes he fell asleep in it and felt like an old guy at age thirty-six. Oh, that’s right, I’m thirty-seven years old now. Last year Leanne had been a big part of his life. They’d gone out to dinner and a movie for his birthday. Sometimes he couldn’t believe Leanne had broken their engagement. He wondered if she ever missed him, or regretted her decision. Probably not. When Leanne had told him that it was over between them, she’d been in a hurry to leave Toledo and to move to Florida.

  He glanced at the wall clock and saw it was only two o’clock. He had nothing planned for the whole Sunday afternoon. Maybe I should call Mallory. I could use the vases for an excuse and thank her again. He should’ve had her wrap them for him. She’d offered to but he’d hated to impose.

  He couldn’t stop thinking about their kiss. Why did Heather have to call Mallory at the moment they kissed? Although her kiss had surprised him, he hadn’t wanted it to end. It had felt so right. Was she sorry though? She’d looked embarrassed as she ran to answer the phone.

  Okay, he wanted to see Mallory in the worst way. He needed to think of something to say that would get her to agree to see him today. Would Mallory object to him picking up some food and visiting her again so soon? He’d like to meet Josh, and she could wrap the vases.

  ***

  Mallory stared at Josh curled up on the blue sofa. He’d gone to sleep watching television, but she wasn’t surprised. He’d already had a busy day with getting up early to go to church and driving to brunch. She gently moved a lock of blond hair off his forehead. It wouldn’t hurt for her little boy to take a Sunday afternoon nap. She’d love to have ten more children just like Josh. Well, maybe not ten but she’d definitely never expected to have an only child. Growing up, she’d always wanted a sibling. And more than a visiting father a few times a year.

  They’d gotten out of church later than usual because a missionary had showed slides from his recent trip to Africa. Instead of waiting to be seated at the crowded IHOP, Heather had suggested they go to the higher priced restaurant for their brunch.

  After they ordered, Josh saw his father eating at a nearby table with
Samantha. He’d asked, “Mommy, why is Daddy always with Samantha?”

  “Because he likes her.”

  She didn’t add what she’d seen after leaving Toby’s house in the morning. She’d just picked up Josh for church when she’d glanced in her rear view mirror as she drove away. She saw Samantha’s car pulling into the driveway. Apparently, she’d been waiting for them to leave so she could see Toby. Had Toby told Samantha to wait until they left, so his ex-wife and son wouldn’t see his girlfriend arriving early Sunday morning? What did this mean…that Samantha was more important than making an effort to go with them to church?

  Then seeing Samantha again at the restaurant had bothered her. She agreed with Josh’s comment, “I’d like Daddy to eat with us.” Since Toby missed their family night, he could’ve eaten brunch with them.

  Fortunately, a few minutes later, Toby and Samantha finished eating. On their way out of the restaurant, they stopped briefly to say hello.

  She exhaled a deep breath, remembering how Josh’s lower lip trembled when Toby had said good-bye. How would Josh survive for weeks without seeing Toby in June? Plus he’d be out of school, so would have more free time except for the days spent at the lake house. She wished Jeff didn’t need Toby’s legal help. Maybe Toby would cancel his trip to Las Vegas if she told him that Josh needed him to stay. Get real, Mallory. Toby’s not going to let a fraternity brother down even if Josh’s heartbroken at his father’s absence.

  When the phone rang, she ran to answer it quickly, so it wouldn’t wake Josh. It was Seth.

  “Seth, I can’t cash your check. Two hundred dollars for my grandmother’s vase is too much.” She’d expected to see the check made out for around fifty dollars and might have accepted that amount.

  “But I took the jar too. If I had to buy hand painted glassware in the store, I’d have to pay a lot. This gift will mean more to my mother knowing your grandmother did the art work.”

  She laughed. “Why would that make a difference to your mother? My grandmother wasn’t a famous artist.”