All That Matters (26 page)

She knew him well enough to know he wasn’t about to leave as long as he was footing the bill for the event. Remembering the sly way she and Mama had coaxed him into agreeing to pay for Buddy Lee’s surprise birthday party, Faith smiled and hugged the memory to her heart. Daddy was coming around. Slowly, to be sure, but oh, how sweet it was to see him occasionally take a back seat to his wife’s wishes when Beryl made them known. And her mama blossomed under his tender attention. How sad they’d wasted so many years, when they could’ve been bringing joy to each other. Faith didn’t intend to make the same mistake.

As Buddy Lee’s arrival drew closer, excitement bubbled inside her. She’d hoped he’d come earlier, but the guests didn’t seem to mind waiting since food and good music were plentiful.

She’d given strict instructions to the hired D.J. to play nothing but country music, especially ballads. Her favorites—George Strait, Clint Black, Vince Gill and Mickey Gilley, to name a few. She could hardly wait to dance with her husband again.

The crowd spilled out into the evening, strolling around the swimming pool and gardens. A nearly full moon was guaranteed to appear later. She’d checked the calendar to make sure.

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Scooter’s approach until his gravelly voice jarred her back into the moment.

“This beats all, Faith. You sure know how to throw a hum-dinger of a party.” He carried a plate full of appetizers in one hand and a glass of sweet tea in the other. A wide grin split his face in two. “B.L. will sure be surprised when he gets a look-see at this.” He waved the hand holding his glass in a sweeping arc to indicate the celebration. “I
ain’t
never seen such fancy
doin’s
. Nope, never.”

“I’m glad you came, Scooter. I just hope Buddy Lee isn’t too shocked. Do you think he’ll like the idea?”

“Shoot, Faith, he’ll be knocked cross-eyed. I know for a fact he’s never had no kind of party, even as a kid.” Grinning, he excused himself and headed through the open French doors out to where tables covered in party-colored toppers graced the perimeter of the pool.

Bright-colored balloons bobbed from lamp posts, and streamers in rainbow hues rippled in the gentle evening breeze.
 
Tiny white party lights winked like fireflies from myriad strings draped over every archway and entwined through every tree close enough to cast shadows over the entire gala.

Faith watched Scooter take a seat beside one of his cronies from the GAS ‘N GO and dive into his heaped-up plate. He’d never really said Buddy Lee would be happy about the party, just that he’d be knocked cross-eyed. That could mean most anything.

A tiny seed of doubt had popped up when the idea of giving him a birthday party first came to her, growing to bigger proportions these last few days as she finalized her plans.
 
What if he didn’t like what she’d done?
 
Would he be angry? Embarrassed? Both?

They’d never talked about what really mattered in their new marriage. Never had the opportunity in the short two weeks since they’d said “I do.” Suddenly, a wild possibility made her heart skip. What if he turned and walked out when he saw the crowd? Why hadn’t she been more sensitive to his feelings? He’d been through so much lately. Given up more than he should have for her and the baby’s welfare. Would her impulsiveness result in another bad decision? She only wanted to make everything right again. Why was that such a difficult thing to do?

Buddy Lee loved her, but would he regret marrying her after the baby arrived? He’d been honest about his feelings. She only hoped he could somehow put aside the ugly fact of the child’s paternity. A lot to ask of any man. Too much to ask of the man who loved her and always had.

She remembered her shock when he’d revealed his feelings, but thinking back to all the times she’d selfishly turned to him for help, she realized it had been apparent to everyone but her. No wonder Daddy had forbidden her to have anything to do with
Boyd’s boy.
Even he’d recognized what she’d failed to see.

A guest strolled by, spoke to her. Nerves a bundle of high-charged electrical wires, she answered absently. Paced some more. Checked her watch. Where was he?

She moved from the fireplace to a corner with a better view the front entryway. Another guest marveled at the beauty of the house, thanked her for the invitation and moved on. Faith couldn’t have identified the person if her life had depended on it. The room blurred, started to spin, and suddenly, she knew she needed to sit down.

Swallowing hard, she asked a passing black-coated waiter for a glass of water.
Oh, please, not now,
she begged silently.
 
I can’t pass out before Buddy Lee gets here.

“Are you all right, dear?” Her mother appeared at her side, took her hand and led her to a chair.

“I forgot to eat,” Faith admitted, blinking her eyes to ward off the dizziness. “I was so excited about the party, I didn’t take time to fix anything.”

“Never mind.” Beryl Morgan patted her daughter’s hand. “I’ll bring you something as soon as I catch your daddy’s eye.
 
He can stay with you until I get back.”

Seemingly in no time, Beryl had Lionel by the sleeve and was giving him an earful of instructions.

He sat next to Faith, then reaching awkwardly for her hand, cleared his throat. “You look pale. Should I get Doc Sutter? He’s over talking to Joe Bob.” Definitely uncomfortable playing the dutiful father, Lionel’s concern touched her shaky heart.

She shook her head. “I’ll be fine as soon as I eat something.” She sipped the cool water the waiter had brought.
 
“It’ll pass.”

“Too much excitement,” her daddy harrumphed. “You ought to be in bed. Need to take care of that little Morgan there.” He nodded toward her still flat tummy, a faint blush creeping up his neck.

Though she felt weak as a kitten, determination stiffened her spine. Why couldn’t she make him understand? If she hadn’t felt so queasy, she might’ve stood up and stomped her foot. Not going to happen, though, unless she wanted to topple over.

“The baby will be a Walker, Daddy. Is that so hard for you to accept? Buddy Lee’s a fine man, worthy of this whole town’s respect. He’s worked hard to overcome his daddy’s reputation. How many of your colleagues could meet that challenge?”

She glanced around the room. Where was Buddy Lee? So many people were here to celebrate with him. Apprehension tied her stomach in knots so that when Beryl returned with a healthy-sized sandwich and a glass of milk, Faith could barely swallow.

“You have to eat, dear, for the baby’s sake.”

Her mama and daddy kept her company, watching every bite she took until they were satisfied she’d had sufficient nourishment. They hadn’t been this concerned about her when she’d had the mumps. Her heart softened a bit. It wouldn’t hurt to try harder to forgive them. After all, she had lots to be forgiven for, too. From her parents as well as her husband.

The front doorbell chimed, and her heart went wild. Her mama quickly shooed everyone into one big crowd, then nodded to the maid to answer the door. Faith held her breath as her husband’s figure filled the doorway.

The crowd yelled “Surprise!” but Buddy Lee wasn’t smiling.

“H
appy Birthday,” Faith cried and rushed forward, all vestiges of queasiness disappearing at the sight of him. “Are you surprised?”

She took his hand and pulled him toward the grinning crowd, knowing the question was dumb, but unable to come up with an intelligent sentence right then.

He had the stunned look of a deer caught in the headlights. She tugged his hand, but he held back, clearly confused.

“What’s going on?” he muttered for her ears only.

“A birthday party, silly. For you.” She squeezed his hand, laced her fingers through his and hoped her smile conveyed her happiness at being with him. Prayed he liked the surprise enough to not bolt out the door.

Buddy Lee couldn’t speak. The crowbar in his throat suddenly reappeared, jabbing his heart, making speech impossible. His eyes stung and blood rushed through his veins as if pumped by nuclear turbines. The moment’s intensity threatened to bring him to his knees, and he knew he was about to make a fool of himself in front of more people than he cared to count.

Gulping air, he scanned the cheering group. A birthday party. For him. For
cryin
’ out loud!

Swept away by emotion he couldn’t begin to identify, all he could managed was a mumbled, “Well, hell.” So much for brilliant conversation.

Faith led him into the room, and the sea of faces swallowed him like high tide on the Gulf. By the time he’d had his hand shaken numb and his back slapped until it stung, he calculated he’d spoken to most every person in Liberty. He blamed his damp, blurry eyes for that.

But he hadn’t talked to his father-in-law.

Not surprisingly, Lionel Morgan was nowhere in sight. He’d gone beyond anything in Buddy Lee’s wildest imagination by affirming his alibi for the night of Royce Webb’s murder. Showing up at a birthday party for a son-in-law he could barely tolerate was probably more than the old boy could stomach.

Buddy Lee didn’t care, though. Right now, with Faith holding his hand and beaming up at him with that heart-melting smile, he figured he couldn’t ask for more.

The friendliness of the folks extending their good wishes, like he was part of the community and not just
Boyd’s boy
, dissolved the crowbar in his chest and a totally new feeling of belonging took its place. He was sure glad Faith had a firm grip on his hand to keep him anchored because he was on the verge of floating up to the ceiling and shouting “Hallelujah!”

Later, after he and Faith had eaten from the Texas-sized buffet and shared thick, gooey frosted slices of birthday cake, he led her out to the garden where a makeshift dance floor had been erected. Party lights twinkled like fairy dust, and the moon made its promised appearance, bright enough to illuminate the garden and transform the night into a lovers’ paradise.

Slipping his arm around her waist, he drew her up against him and placed his mouth next to her cheek. “Why?”

His whisper brushed her skin and shivered along her nerve endings with mega-watt jolts of excitement. They swayed to the sensual voice of
Charly
McClain coming from the DJ’s sound equipment, and Faith hoped Buddy Lee could tell how much she wanted him to surround her with love, as the song suggested.
 
Her heart was so full, she couldn’t speak.

“Why,
darlin
’?” he asked a second time.

Why, indeed?
She wished he didn’t need to ask. “Because I wanted to give you something special, something you’ve never had. Because I...”

She would’ve said more, but when he gazed down at her with desire glittering in his coffee-dark eyes and his mouth claimed hers, all rational thought vanished in moonlight. She leaned into the man and the kiss with total abandonment. Forgot that they were in the middle of the dance floor. Being in Buddy Lee’s arms was all that mattered.

Scooter cleared his throat and stood patiently waiting until his friend came up for air. “If y’all could leave go of that lip-lock for a minute or two, there’s some people
wantin
’ to talk to you, B.L.”

Buddy Lee scowled. “You know, Craddock, you’re a good friend and all, but your timing could sure use some work.”

That remark assured Faith that her husband did indeed understand what she was saying—what she was promising—when she squeezed his hand and mouthed
Later
, then turned her attention to a very embarrassed Scooter.

“What people?” Buddy Lee asked before she could say a word.

Scooter jerked his thumb toward a small knot of people standing beside the DJ.

Faith recognized them immediately, but could tell Buddy Lee was puzzled. Smiling, she led him across the dance floor and had him stand in front of the group while she took a microphone and introduced them as the Liberty Country Chorus.

The three women and two men broke into a country swing version of “Happy Birthday” that had everyone cheering and singing along.

Faith swore she’d never seen such happiness as burst through the wide smile on Buddy Lee’s face. The sparkle in his eyes looked a whole lot like unshed tears.

When the song ended and the clapping and shouting died down, she nodded to the D.J. Then as the sweet strains of Vince Gill’s ballad about having forever in mind filled the warm night, she looped her arms around Buddy Lee’s neck.

“Do you ever think about forever?”

“Aw, Faith, you know I do.” His voice cracked.

So did Faith’s heart.

“What about after the baby comes?” The minute the question spilled from her lips, she knew her timing was as bad as Scooter’s. Buddy Lee’s mouth formed a tight line and his body grew taut.

She hurried to cover her words, but it was too late to take them back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. Not when we’re celebrating your birthday. Forget I said anything.”

But he couldn’t forget in a million years. Her words had gone right to the core of his fear, and until he settled the nagging question of his ability to be a proper daddy to the child she carried, he’d never have her complete, unconditional love.