Love Will Find a Way (10 page)

Emily stirred restlessly. “They make a nice couple, don't you think?"

The Reverend resembled more an aging fullback than a minister of the gospel. His appearance said he was a disciplined man. No male Dennis Morrison's age stayed in such fine physical condition without a conscious effort to do so. “Kevin is not the kind of man I envisioned Stacy wanting to marry.” The words were spoken with bland indifference. Why then, did Emily perceive them as a rebuke?

"Doesn't Kevin measure up to your expectations?” Who was this man to find fault with her son?

"I have no doubt that Kevin is a fine young man, Mrs. Franklin. I worry more about the obvious differences between the two of them than I do about any character flaw Kevin might possess."

He did have a point and Emily silently admitted that if the shoe was on the other foot and her very young daughter was contemplating marriage to a man of Kevin's age and background she would be concerned. “Perhaps you are worrying needlessly. There doesn't seem to be a wide disparity in Kevin and Stacy's background. They are both Protestants. They are of the same race and the same socioeconomic status."

"Perhaps I am being an overprotective father.” Dennis ran his hand through his silver gray hair and smiled. “I've been accused of that before. But since Ellen's death the girls are all I have."

"Ellen was your wife?” Emily could sympathize with someone who had lost a mate.

"For almost twenty years,” Dennis answered. “She died four years ago."

Emily said, “And you still miss her?"

"Not a day goes by that I don't think of her."

Emily felt a sudden empathy with the melancholy man who sat across from her. “And those poignant recollections come at the most unexpected and inconvenient moments."

The Reverend nodded his head in understanding. “Stacy has told me of your recent divorce. It sounds trite I know, but the first year is the hardest. The first few months after Ellen's death I almost lost my mind; every birthday, every holiday, every special occasion was a cross to bear. I finally sought counseling to help me cope."

Emily agreed. “I'm discovering that, but I'm learning to take things one day at a time. It helps to have friends I can talk to.” Not for the first time, she thanked her lucky stars for Thad. “And I have a new job and of course, there are the boys."

Dennis tented his fingers and stared over them into Emily's troubled face. “And even surrounded by work and family, there are times you feel completely alone."

For the first time in a long time Emily felt she was talking to someone who understood. “Sunday afternoons are the worst for me.” She sounded as if she were wallowing in self-pity. “Forgive me. I didn't mean to sound maudlin."

"Sunday afternoon can be a maudlin time if you're alone.” A little minute ticked by before The Reverend added, “Mrs. Franklin, Emily—may I call you Emily?"

"Please do."

"And you must call me Dennis.” He smiled, untented his fingers and leaned back in his chair. “After all, we're almost related."

He was making a concerted effort to be congenial. Why then, did she feel so ill at ease? “All right, Dennis it is."

A smile spread across Dennis's face. “Emily.” He spoke her name slowly. “I lead an encounter group of recently divorced and widowed partners. We meet in the recreation hall of the church every Sunday afternoon. Would you like to join us next Sunday?"

"I wouldn't want to intrude.” Emily was uncomfortable in Reverend Morrison's presence. In an encounter group led by him, she would feel even more awkward and self-conscious.

He seemed to read her thoughts. “I'm really not that formidable and you wouldn't be intruding. We would love to have you."

Put that way a refusal seemed a rejection of the Reverend as well as his therapy group. “I'd love to come. Robert, my ex-husband, and I are driving Larry to Austin next weekend. I'll make it a point to be back in time for the meeting. What time does it start?"

"We meet at three o'clock each Sunday afternoon.” A smile curled Dennis's lips. “I'll look forward to you being there."

"I look forward to attending,” Emily told him sincerely.

After that, it was easier to make small talk. But Emily still found it difficult to relax completely. Thirty minutes later, when Larry came back into the room, she suggested that they go home.

Larry seemed reluctant to leave. “How,” he asked Dennis, “can two little girls look so much alike and be so different? Amy is a genius at answering literary questions and Kim is a science whiz."

"Ah, son, you don't know the half of it, in every way Kim and Amy are as different as day and night."

Larry and Emily said their polite good-byes and took their leave. They were in the car driving home when Larry commented. “It would have been nice to have had a younger brother or sister when I was growing up."

A lump rose in Emily's throat. “I agree."

"Why didn't you have many more children after me?"

"When we had you, we decided we'd come as near that perfection as we could possibly get. We quit while we were ahead."

"Ah, Mom.” Larry turned his head to one side and smiled. “That's not an answer."

It was all the answer he was going to get. Emily changed the subject. “Are you ready to go to Austin?"

"This is only Tuesday. We don't leave until Saturday. I have plenty of time.” Larry stopped for a red light before glancing in Emily's direction. “I'm glad you and Dad are coming with me. Dad says you will be staying in Austin overnight. Does that mean...?"

Emily interrupted. “It means I have to take Boo to the boarding kennel Saturday morning."

The light changed and the car began to move forward. “Mom, you know what I'm asking.” Larry's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “Are you and Dad ... did you and Dad really make up?” A ruddy blush stained his cheeks. “I thought maybe..."

She couldn't allow him to keep holding on to false hope. “Dad and I have rooms at the Ambassador Motel, separate rooms."

"But Dad has left his—” Larry paused before saying, “Dad said he isn't seeing that Susan person anymore."

"That doesn't mean that he and I are together again.” The kindest thing she could do was to make Larry understand that his parents were not going to reconcile. “We aren't and we never will be again."

Larry's shifted gears with a vengeance, “Never?"

"Darling, try to understand. Susan wasn't the only problem between Dad and me."

Larry pulled into the driveway and stopped his car. “Don't you love Dad anymore?"

Emily's heart ached for her son. “There are so many factors involved in a marriage. I—” How inadequate she felt. “We both love you very much and we always will."

"But do you love Dad?” Larry persisted.

She could tell the truth and add to Larry's hurt and confusion, or she could lie. The choice was made in a split second. “No. Not anymore."

Larry unfastened his seat belt. “Kevin said you didn't. He said you couldn't, not after the terrible things Dad had done to you. I didn't believe him."

"Dad didn't do anything terrible to me.” Just broke my heart and shattered my life. “He and I fell out of love and that wasn't his fault any more than it was mine."

"You don't blame him?” Larry's voice lifted in surprise. “You don't hate him?” Her young son did have a way of cutting to the heart of a problem.

"I could never hate Dad.” She struggled to keep her tone light. “We fell in love and we fell out of love. Dad and I have settled our differences. We're friends, but that's all."

Larry sniffed. “You aren't unhappy now?"

How carefully she skirted telling another deliberate falsehood. “I feel very fortunate. I have a job I love, two fine sons, a host of good friends and my health. What else could I ask for?"

Larry said, “I'm glad we had this talk. I can tell Kevin now that you're happy, because you are, aren't you?"

"I count my blessings every day.” Emily opened her car door. “Let's get inside. I have a million things to do."

Emily hated lying to her son but lying had seemed the only kind recourse left open to her. All the same, her conscience nagged her far into the night, making sleep difficult.

In the bright light of the next morning as Emily prepared breakfast, she thought back over the night before and convinced herself that she had given Larry the only answer she could give him.

She was shaken from her deep thoughts by her young son's voice calling, “Mom, I can't find my baseball cap.” He stuck his head around the door. “I've looked everywhere."

"Even on the hook in your closet?"

A wry grin spread across Larry's young face. “The one place I forgot to look.” He pulled out a chair and sat at the table. “What are you doing?"

"Brewing coffee,” Emily replied, “and thinking about last night."

"Did you like the Morrisons?"

"I thought they were very nice.” What a moth-eaten statement that was.

Larry poured cold cereal into a bowl. “Kim and Amy said I was the first college man they had ever known personally."

Emily smiled. “Made you feel important, huh?"

"Yeah, sort of.” He spooned sugar over his cereal and reached for the milk. “I should be home early today. Do you want me to start dinner?"

"If you'd like.” She threw Larry a kiss. “See you tonight."

Once inside her office, Emily's was able to put her personal problems aside and apply herself to the tasks at hand. The morning flew by. Before she knew it, lunchtime had arrived. This was Wednesday. Emily felt a tingle of anticipation. Thad would be waiting for her at the diner.

Thad was seated at what they had begun to refer to as their table when Emily entered the restaurant. He waved to her.

Emily waved back, feeling a little surge of happiness as she did so. Thad was good for her morale. She slipped into the chair across from him. “It's good to see you."

He smiled. “Howdy, Buddy. I ordered for you. The house special today is veal cutlets. I know that's one of your favorites."

"Thank you.” Emily settled back in her chair.

They talked, as they always did, of events and happenings from the past week. Thad told Emily of an especially exciting court case he had won and provided some sketchy details about a wild encounter with his latest conquest. His vivid description of her outrageously flamboyant bedroom left Emily in stitches. “Nobody,” she declared, when she could stop giggling, “does a bedroom in red and white hearts and overhead mirrors."

Thad raised his right hand. “Upon my oath as an honest man, I swear.” His hand dropped to his side. “How was your dinner with the Morrisons?"

"Uncomfortable at first, but things got better.” After describing her evening with Dennis Morrison, Emily told Thad of her meeting with Robert. She finished by adding. “He isn't seeing Susan Barrett anymore. She dumped him."

Thad didn't pull any punches. “Is that why you suggested that the two of you go away for the weekend?"

"We aren't going away for a weekend.” Emily's mind lingered briefly over the last time Robert had taken her away for the weekend. “No more weekend trips with Robert, ever."

"But you're staying overnight.” Thad inclined his head and widened his eyes.

"That's only because we want to spend the entire day with Larry. Robert thinks it would be better to rest overnight and drive back the next morning."

"Don't you think you might be tempting fate, staying overnight in the same motel as your ex-husband?"

Emily smiled. “I feel perfectly safe. Robert wants nothing more from me than friendship."

Thad cut into his steak. “How can you be so sure?"

"He told me so.” Emily's smile vanished. “Robert doesn't love me anymore. I sometimes wonder if he ever did."

"Do you want my opinion?” Thad chewed thoughtfully.

"I put great store by your opinions and your advice."

"I don't think he ever stopped loving you."

Emily almost choked on her food. “Until now, that is. Don't be absurd."

Thad shrugged. “Sorry if I hit a sore spot.” He laid his fork on the table. “So what else is new?"

"So much for your opinions,” Emily teased. “I still put great stock in your advice, some of which I need now."

"Shoot.” Thad held up one hand. “I didn't mean that literally."

Again, Emily laughed. “What would I do without you?"

"Hire an attorney?” Thad quipped with a quizzical lifting of his shaggy eyebrows. “And I would have to begin writing Dear Abby again."

When their laughed died down, Emily asked in sober tones. “How much is my house worth at present market prices?"

"You're thinking of selling?” Thad pushed his plate back and reached for his dessert. “Are you moving into an apartment?"

"I'm not the apartment type and neither is Boo. I want a smaller house, one nearer the city, but in a good neighborhood."

"Boo?” Thad stuck a fork in his sticky dessert before pushing it aside, “Your dog?"

"It may sound silly and sentimental, but I am very fond of Boo."

"Sentimental, yes. Silly, no. You are such a paradox. Do you want me to help you sell your house?"

She wasn't about to ask him why he thought her a paradox. He would tell her and it might not be something she wanted to hear. “Do you know the name of a reputable realtor?"

"Isn't Robert a realtor?"

He knew the answer to that. “I don't need my ex-husband's help to sell my home."

Thad glanced at his watch. “Okay, Buddy. I'll see what I can do. I have to run now.” He waved to her and was gone.

True to his word, Thad called the next evening. “I tentatively listed your house with Mercer Realty. It's a very reputable firm. All you have to do is go by the office, sign the necessary papers and leave a key. You're in luck. Houses in your area are in great demand right now. They would like permission to start showing the place immediately."

"I can come in the first of next week.” The thought of actually giving up the house that had been her home for so many years was a little scary. “Is that all right?"

Perceptive Thad picked up on her doubts immediately. “If you're sure that's what you want to do."

She couldn't retreat now. “I'm sure.” After she hung up the phone, Emily stood for a long time staring into space. For the first time in her life, she had made a decision and then acted on it, but not without calling her choice into question. Was she doing the right thing? “I'm selling a house, not making some life or death determination.” She squared her shoulders. “I'll go in the first thing Monday morning."