As if he sensed her gaze on him, he turned toward her and smiled. “I’m glad you’re here, Jackie,” he said softly as he squeezed her hand.
“So am I.”
“I never knew her, but I hated her just the same. I was so angry when she took Crew away, even though I knew it was better, that he would be safe with her and her husband. I never lost the hope that Dad would change, and I was afraid when he did, we wouldn’t be able to find Crew again to bring him back home. I was so distraught. I wasn’t a Christian then. It was so much easier to blame Judy for everything instead of my own father.” He paused a moment and then continued. “Dad got worse instead of better. Mom tried to talk to him when he was sober, but even then, he refused to listen.”
A long silence ensued before Jackie spoke again. All she said was “I’m sorry.” She didn’t know what else to say.
A doctor walked briskly into the room, asking for the family of Judy Mason. Both Crew and Jess jumped to their feet.
For a moment, the doctor looked from one to the other, his eyes quizzical. He knew the woman was black, but one of these men wasn’t. Immediately, he shoved his confusion aside. The only concern was the condition of the woman. “I’m sorry, but your mother has taken a turn for the worse. She was only glazed by the bullet, but she’s gone into cardiac arrest. It’s seems she has a serious blockage no one was aware of and she’s being taken in for immediate surgery.”
When the doctor was gone, Jess looked at Crew. “It sounds to me like that bullet might have saved her life. I had no idea she had anything wrong with her heart.”
“Neither did I,” Crew replied. Into his mind popped the thought that his very last deed on earth might have been the only good thing his father had done in his entire life. Strangely, even as he thought it, he found his eyes on Tom. No, it wasn’t the only good thing. He’d fathered Tom and Tom had been there to protect their mother.
They decided to go to the cafeteria and get a bite to eat while they were waiting. Crew asked his brother more questions about their mother and listened attentively as he filled him in on what had happened during the years he’d been gone.
Sharris couldn’t help being surprised when Jackie never mentioned leaving. It wasn’t like her to stay in one place very long, especially under such stressful circumstances. She couldn’t help smiling. She must have a really bad crush on Tom. Or Joe. It was going to be confusing for a while, trying to think of what to call him.
Was he reading her mind when Tom looked around the table suddenly and told them all he hoped they’d think of him as Joe and not Tom? Tom Everton had too many skeletons in his closet. He was angry and vengeful and often in trouble. Joe Callen was an entirely different man. It was Joe Callen who was saved from his sins by the Grace of God that night in a revival meeting. It was Joe Callen who had managed to keep his mother hidden and safe from the wrath of his father.
Jackie smiled at him. “I think I would have liked either one of you.”
Sharris couldn’t hold back her grin. Jackie had it bad all right. She probably didn’t remember who Donovan Martin was at the moment. She hoped Donovan would find a new love in his life someday, but she never had thought it would be Jackie. She didn’t know why. She’d continually encouraged Jackie to pursue him, but she’d never believed in her heart that he was the one for her. Right now, with her sitting beside Tom – Joe – everything seemed to be just exactly the way it should be.
When she turned to look at Crew, his eyes were already on her and their gazes met. He smiled and she smiled back. When he suggested going outside for a little bit, she jumped up eagerly and took the hand he offered.
They hadn’t gotten outside the door before he took her into his arms and pulled her close to him. He didn’t care who saw them and neither did she as she returned his embrace.
“When I think of how close I came to losing you,” he said very softly, “I can hardly stand it. He could’ve killed you.”
“He could’ve killed us all, but he didn’t. This is the first time I’ve seen God intervene in the form of a dog.”
He kissed the top of her head and neither said anything for a long time. When he spoke again, his voice was nearly a whisper. “Since you know that my father was – like he was – do you still want to marry me?”
Pulling back slightly, she looked at him. “It hasn’t changed my feelings. Did you think it would?”
“I’ve always been afraid that someday I’d wind up being like him. That’s one of the reasons I was so dead set about not getting seriously involved with anyone.”
“You aren’t like your father. I haven’t known you very long, it’s true, but Judy has, and she’s never had one bad thing to say about you. All she’s ever done is brag about what a good person you’ve always been. She talks about how much you loved her husband and how hard you took it when he died, and how you promised her you’d always take care of her and how you kept that promise.”
“I love her. She was there for me when I needed her desperately.” He paused, then continued. “As long as she has her health, she’ll want to be working, but when the time comes that she can’t do it any longer, I need to know how you feel about her living with us.”
She didn’t even stop to think. “Do you remember when she left for a few days after the attempted break-in at the house? I missed her so bad. That’s the reason I went to Florida, because I was suddenly so lonely. I loved having her there with me. I didn’t just love what she did for me. I loved the times we’d sit and talk or watch TV or sit on the porch and look at the sunset. I just loved being with her. That isn’t going to change, just because you’re moving in, too.”
“You know, it never occurred to me that I’d be living in your house. But as long as I’m in the service, we’ll be living in different places. I’ll find us an apartment in Georgia for while I’m there. We’ll keep your place as our permanent home, where we can retire to someday.”
She laughed. “I’m not ready to think about retiring for quite a while. And it doesn’t matter where our home is. As long as love is there, any place on earth can be our home.” Leaning closer, she whispered in his ear, “And we’re going to give it a lot of that.”
He kissed her, then held her close again. “For two people who never planned to fall in love, we’ve got it bad, sweetheart.”
She pulled away again. “I just thought of something.”
He waited.
“If I hadn’t gone to Florida, Joe may have never been in your life again. You and your brother might have gone on until the day you died thinking each of you was already dead. It’s another good deed your father did.”
“What did he have to do with it?”
“It had to have been him that tried to break in that night. Because of it, Judy decided to leave and I was so lonely I went to Florida.”
He chuckled and pulled her close again. After another time of silence, he said, “I want you with me when I visit my real mother. Her name’s Elaina.”
“That’s a beautiful name. Maybe we could name our first daughter Elaina Judy.”
He appeared thoughtful for a moment.
“What are you thinking?”
“That we’re both blonde, so our daughter will probably be, too. I hope she looks like me and not you.”
“What? Why?”
“Because if she’s as beautiful as you, I’ll be so worn out from fighting off the guys that I might not have enough energy left for you.”
She laughed. She couldn’t help it.
“What if it’s a boy?”
“Well, I hope he won’t look like me!”
“But what’ll we call him?”
“Crew Jr., of course. What’s your middle name?”
“How can we get married if you don’t know my middle name?”
“You don’t know mine.”
“It’s Sharris Elizabeth.”
“How’d you know? Judy.”
“Yep.”
“I love you, Crew – whatever your mid
dle name is – Everton.”
He kissed her again, and when he pulled away, she pulled him back and repeated it. Then they simply held each other, each reluctant to be the first to let the other one go.
“I never knew it would be like this,” she finally said.
“If I’d have known, I’d have married you the night we met.” He chuckled. “I’d have at least kissed you.”
She raised her face to his.
He kissed her again.
When she finally found the strength to pull away, she said, “Maybe we should go back in and check on Judy. I’ve had enough cuddling and kissing for ten or twenty minutes. But no more than that.”
“She’s going to be all right. I just know it.”
“I believe it with all my heart.”
∞ TWENTY-EIGHT ∞
Sharris and Jackie walked into the house late Sunday evening. Judy was making an amazing recovery and was on her way to Jess’s house. Although Sharris had wanted to take care of her, her daughter-in-law, Jeannie, insisted she was going to do it, so Jess took her home with them. Crew, who managed to get an extended emergency leave for the death of his father, went with his brother but promised Sharris he’d come by as soon as Judy was settled in.
As Sharris made some coffee, she kept smiling and even started singing. When she started dancing around as well, she was met with a quizzical expression from Jackie.
“What in the world’s gotten into you? I know you’re happy that Judy’s going to be all right, as well as the fact that you and Crew are crazy about each other, but you’re acting downright giddy! I don’t think I’ve ever heard you sing.”
Sharris laughed. “And you’re probably wishing you hadn’t just now, huh? I know I can’t sing, but my heart’s so full, I have to let out some of my joy or I’ll explode.”
Jackie shook her head. “So let it all out, Sharris Cord. Tell me the truth about why you’re so happy and excited.”
Sharris sat down at the table. “I’m going to have another party.”
Jackie’s eyes narrowed. “And that’s why you’re acting like you are? Exactly what kind of party are you planning?”
“Oh, just a family get together, but probably a few more than we had at the birthday party last month.”
“A few more? How many more? You know you don’t have Judy to help you out now, and I sure don’t know anything about stuff like that.”
Sharris laughed. “Oh, don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Does this have anything to do with Crew?” Jackie’s eyes widened. “It’s going to be an engagement party, isn’t it?” She glanced at her friend’s hand. “I don’t see a ring.”
Sharris said nothing, but simply laughed again.
Jackie shook her head.
“Just be happy for me, and be patient enough to wait for the surprise. So tell me about you and Joe.”
“There isn’t anything to tell yet. But I like him. I really, really like him and he likes me. Maybe our romance will blossom as fast as yours and Crews.” Jackie’s eyes were dreamy, but then they became serious. “Shar, I guess I owe you an apology, about those things I said when you and Crew first met. I was wrong when I tried to persuade you to never get serious about him. Now that I see how happy you are, I feel bad about it.”
Sharris gave her a hug and went on talking. “Crew’s taking me to meet his real mother. We’re following Joe when he goes back after the funeral.” Her previously happy eyes saddened. “It’s so sad.”
“About his mother?”
“And his father. He had every chance to change his ways. How the Lord must be crying from being constantly rejected by so many people. Todd was just one among millions.”
“I’ve got some straightening up to do myself. I’ve been really slack about attending church lately.” She grinned. “Joe had a few things to say about that. How’d he know? Did you tell him? Oh, well, it doesn’t matter. I heard what I wanted to while he was talking, but after what’s happened, I have an entirely different attitude. Life is too short to keep putting everything else before the Lord. It’s too easy for the devil to slip in and lead us in the wrong direction when we’re not serious enough about our Christianity to want to be with other worshippers and keep learning more about the Bible.”
Sharris listened, her eyes widening. “Is this my friend Jackie Carter talking?”
Jackie laughed. “Yes, and your friend wants to know the real reason for the party. I promise not to tell anybody else.”
Sharris laughed. “You’ll find out the same time everybody else does. But I want you to dress really pretty. This is a little more than a casual affair.”
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding! What’re you going to do, get married or something?”
Sharris laughed again. “I wish!”
“Okay, so it’s just an engagement party, like I thought, but I have to dress up?”
“In a dress. No jeans.”
Jackie rolled her eyes, then grinned. “So when exactly is this party going to take place?”
“On Saturday evening, two weeks from now.”
“You’re going to plan a formal party in only two weeks?”
“I can do anything I set my mind to. You should know that by now.”
“I hope Joe can make it back.”
“I’m pretty sure he’ll be here.”
“You and Crew are getting married!”
The doorbell rang and Sharris jumped to her feet. “It’s Crew!”
Jackie stood up, too. “I guess that’s my cue to hit the road.” She said hi to Crew on her way out and was soon out of sight.
Sharris fell into Crew’s arms the minute the door was shut. “I missed you.”
He kissed her, then laughed. “We’ve only been apart for an hour. I missed you, too.”
“It can’t go on like this,” she said seriously.
He laughed again, then said, “But while it is, we’re going on a date.”
Her eyes widened.
“Be ready early in the morning. We’re going to the fair in Hiwassee, Georgia. Then we’re going to one of the finest, most expensive restaurants we can find for a big steak dinner. After that, there’s a hilarious comedy playing at the theatre.”
She sighed. “It sounds like a lot of fun. The only part I don’t like is knowing that you’ll bring me back home and leave me here all alone while you go back to Jess’s house.”
“But I have another surprise before that happens, and you won’t know what it is until tomorrow.”
She met his eyes quizzically.
“Don’t you like surprises?”
“Yes, but I prefer being the one making them and not the one receiving them.”
He kissed her again. “You’re going to like this one so much that it won’t matter. If you don’t, we’re both in trouble. Now, are you ready for the trip to Durham Tuesday?”
“I am. I’m anxious to meet your mother.”
“I’m scared. I haven’t seen her for fifteen years. The worst part is knowing she probably won’t even know who I am.”
“But she might. I’ve heard dementia patients often have lucid moments, when they remember everything. For some reason, I think seeing you is going to be one of those moments for her.”
To her surprise, he buried his face in her shoulder and started sobbing.
She gently touched his cheeks and raised his face. “Crew?”
“I didn’t mean to do that. Thinking of Mom made me also think of … Dad. All I ever wanted was for him to love me, Mom and Tom. Joe. It’s gonna take a while for me to get used to calling him that.”
She waited.
“You were so blessed to have two loving parents. I want to be a good father, honey. I pray that God will strike me dead before he ever lets me harm my child – or my wife.”
Placing his face once again on her shoulder, she stood very still. She could feel his heart beating against her chest and knew her own was in perfect sync with the rhythm of it.
>
After a moment of silence, as they kept holding each other, he said, “What do you need me to do to help with the party? You know, Mom’s going to be really disappointed when she’s not in on the plans.”
“But she’ll be so happy, it won’t matter that much later.”
“Are you absolutely sure about this?”
“I’ve never been surer about anything in my life. I just wish you didn’t have to return to base next week.”
“Time will pass quickly. You’ll be so busy getting this party all together that I’ll be back before you have time to miss me.”
“No chance of that. I miss you already and you’re not even gone.”
“That’s the line to a song, you know.” He sang it to her, but only that one line, since it was the only one he knew. Then he laughed and hugged her so tight she thought he was going to break her in half.
Just the same, she leaned into him, wanting to be closer still.
∞ TWENTY-NINE ∞
TWO WEEKS PASSED in a blur of activity. Just the same, Sharris was so excited she thought the waiting was going to kill her. Never in her life had she done anything so impulsive. Or so wonderful! Her mind kept returning to the special date Crew had set up for them. Even though he’d told he had a special surprise in store, she never dreamed it was such a wonderful and beautiful one. Someday, their children were never going to believe their father could ever have been such a hopeless romantic. She couldn’t help wondering what her sisters were going to think. Would they be happy for her or worried about her?
She was so glad when she, Marna and Taryn had their house built, it was set up so that the living and dining rooms could be opened up and combined into one very large room. All that space was needed the night of the party.
Dressed in a lovely mint green lacy dress, with her golden blonde hair falling in waves down her shoulders, she stood beside Crew, looking splendid in his uniform, as they greeted the arriving guests.
Every so often, she glanced across the room to where Joe and Jackie were seated next to Elaina. How exciting it had been when Joe and Crew were able to arrange for her to be there. Sharris thought back on their first meeting. There didn’t seem to be a thing wrong with Elaina’s mind. She’d immediately known Crew and hugged him and kissed him over and over, asking him where he’d been and why he’d stayed away so long. When Crew introduced Sharris, she did the same thing to her. Sadly, the lucidness didn’t last and before they left, she was asking them who they were, but everyone was thankful for the moments they’d had with her.
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