Broken Things (Faded Photograph Series) (33 page)

“Very funny.” Jack sat back in the chair and crossed his leg. “I may not be a romantic. But you’re a terrible actress.”

“You’re right. I am.” Allie smiled and cupped a rose, inhaling its fragrant scent. “Mmm…tell your niece she did a great job picking out the roses. They’re my favorite.”

“I’ll tell her.”

“Is the niece we’re discussing Veronica?”

Jack nodded.

“I’ve met her a couple of times. She’s a sweet girl.”

“Yes, she is…even if she is seventeen.”

Allie momentarily mulled over the remark. “That’s how old I was when we met, Jack. Seventeen.”

“Yeah, but you never seemed that young. Maybe because the world was a different place.”

“Maybe…” Allie though it had more to do with the way she’d been raised. Her parents weren’t Christians, nor were her stepfather and stepsisters.

With the roses in water now, Allie leaned back against her desk. She folded her arms and regarded her unexpected guest. Jack wore blue jeans and a thick green cotton sweater. His salt-and-pepper gray hair was cropped short, neatly combed and parted to one side. To Allie, he was handsome at fifty-five as he was in his mid-twenties.

“So,” she said, pulling herself to the present, “what do you think of my office?”

Jack did a sweeping glance of his surroundings. “Nice. Small, but nice.”

“Cramped is the word I’d use to describe it. But it’s only temporary.”

“It’s better than anything I was assigned to at the station.”

“I should count my blessings.”

Jack sat forward. “Not to change the subject, Allie, but something’s bugging me. It’s that guy in the lobby. You might want to do something about him. He was snoozing when I walked in and he was rude when I woke him up.”

“Funny you should mention the security guard...”

Jack raised his dark brows. “
That’s
a security guard?”

Allie wanted to laugh. How good of the Lord to bring about this opportunity. Taking a sidestep, she pushed her door closed. “Jack, you and I need to talk.”

* * *

Sunshine spilled through the autumn-colored treetops as Marilee watched her third graders frolic on the playground. Tomorrow was October first and these perfect fall days would be fewer and far between. Then the snow would fly.

Marilee, however, didn’t mind the winter months. She loved the Christmas holidays shared with family and friends. She enjoyed ice-skating, sledding, skiing and snowmobiling. She especially liked to cozy up in front of a glowing fireplace and read. However, she figured there wouldn’t be much time for lounging since Logan would most likely keep the youth group kids and staff just as busy in winter as they were in the summer. Moreover, Marilee anticipated list after list of tasks to accomplish in preparation for their wedding. Before she’d know it, that special day would arrive.

As she sat on park bench, one of four at this end of the playground, Marilee daydreamed. She imagined Logan looking handsome in his tux and saw herself as stunning in her white bridal gown with its pearls and lace bodice. The month of May couldn’t get here fast enough, although Marilee cringed thinking of everything she had to do before that time arrived.

Katie Sanders and Lisa Dennison interrupted her reverie by running over to tattle on Bobby Ryan who wouldn’t let them play soccer. Marilee stood and walked over to the boy and listened to his complaint about teams already being chosen. She explained that one team could take Katie and the other Lisa and the sides would still be fair. The pudgy, freckle-faced, red-haired boy who had somehow endeared himself to Marilee already, acquiesced and the girls seemed satisfied with the outcome.

Sitting back down on the bench, Marilee had no sooner gotten comfy when a pair of hands covered her eyes.

“Guess who?” His warm breath tickled her neck.

She laughed and peeled away the strong fingers of her fiancé. “I don’t have to guess, silly. I’d know your voice anywhere.”

In seconds, Logan sat beside her. She lost herself in his chocolate-brown eyes, thinking how blessed she was that she’d get to stare at Logan Callahan for the rest of her life. “How’d it go this morning? I prayed for you while the kids were taking their Monday morning math quiz.”

“Thanks.” He turned his head and looked out over the playground. “Things went…pretty good, I guess…for a first meeting.”

Marilee frowned. “You sound disappointed.”

Pursing his lips, he appeared to mull over the statement. “Maybe I am,” he replied at last. “I had imagined something a little more dramatic. A grand apology, but what I got were tears, excuses, blame, and a challenge. It’s as if she wanted me to hate her.”

Marilee’s heart went out to him. A grand apology was the least he deserved from his natural mother. “Were you able to discuss anything else?”

“No. When I questioned her further, I upset her. On the other hand…” Logan brought his gaze back to hers. “She said my dad did a better job raising me than she did with her daughters―she actually called them ‘hussies’ and tried to discourage me from getting in touch with them.” He grinned. “But all I know is I have two sisters and I’m anxious to meet them. Allie is going to try and contact them for me.”

“Hussies?” Marilee hadn’t gotten past that word. A sense of foreboding crept over her. “I hope you’re not setting yourself up for more disappointment. You’re such a friendly, loving person, but not everyone is like you. What if your sisters don’t want anything to do with you? You just told me that your mother wasn’t thrilled to see you this morning. What if your sisters react in the same way―or worse? What if they don’t want to hear about the Lord?”

“Then I’ll just have to accept it.” He gave a casual lift of his shoulders.

Marilee folded her arms. “I don’t like the sound of this Logan.” She thought it was dangerous enough that he ventured into his natural mother’s hospital room this morning. “I think you should reconsider.”

He crossed his leg and stretched his arm out along the back of the bench. “Not this time, Sweetheart. The wedding date was one thing, but you’re not talking me out of this. I’ve made up my mind to meet my half sisters and that’s that.”

“Suit yourself” His adamant tone hurt Marilee’s feelings. “I was only thinking of you.”

His hand came to rest on the back of her neck and she had to fight the urge to snuggle in closer to him. “Are we going to have our first fight?” He sounded amused.

Her agitation dissolved and she had to laugh. “I guess not.”

“Whew! What a relief.”

Marilee continued to smile. “Want to come over for dinner tonight?”

“What are you making?”

“Whatever you want.”

“Mm, okay. Let me decide what I’m hungry for.”

“Oh, wait, Logan, that’s not going to work.” Marilee suddenly remembered her schedule. She had agreed to meet her mother after school and they planned to drive into Chicago and check out a photographer for the wedding. “Tonight’s not good. Mom and I have something to do. How ‘bout tomorrow night?”

“Tomorrow’s okay.” He stood. “I’ll just have to starve tonight.”

“Oh, sure. Make me feel guilty.”

He chuckled as he took a few steps backwards. “I have to get going. Chapel starts in less than twenty minutes. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Bye, Logan.” Since chapel services were held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the high school students, Logan was obligated to sit in on them although he often did the preaching. “I’ll call you later.”

He gave her a wink before pivoting and walking toward the side doors of the building.

* * *

Allie explained the situation with the security personnel at Arbor Springs and then offered Jack the job. “You’d be terrific,” she added. “Since you’re a police officer, you’ve got the credibility―”

“Ex-police officer,” Jack cut in.

“Same difference.”

He grinned. “I don’t know.”

“Will you think about it? Pray about it?”

“Allie, I don’t want to be your friend,” he said, rising from the chair. “I don’t want to be your coworker and I definitely don’t want to be your subordinate.”

“In that case, I don’t understand,” she replied, feeling a bit wounded. “Why are you here? Why the roses?”

Jack took a step forward and in one smooth gesture, pushed Allie’s hair aside and placed the palm of his hand against her scarred cheek. “I still love you, Allie. I’ve always loved you.” His hand moved to the back of her head and he pulled her close. Too close and yet Allie didn’t want to pull away.

He lowered his mouth to hers and as the kiss deepened, something of a thrill passed through Allie. She slipped her arms around his neck. Jack trailed kisses across her cheek and down her neck. She murmured softly.

But then all too soon reality gave her a forceful nudge.

She inhaled sharply and pushed him away. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Why not?”

“I’m at work, and―”

“Felt right as rain to me. Do you know that I’ve dreamed about kissing you like that?”

It had felt as right as rain to Allie too. ”That’s about the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.”

Jack grinned. “It’s the truth.”

Lowering her gaze, Allie was suddenly at a loss for words.

“Listen,” he said, “if you want to take things one step at a time, then…well, it’s fine by me. We ought to pray as we go. You were right. And maybe you were right about my ‘unyielding demands’ too.”

She stared at him intently, hopefully.

“Let’s just say I don’t want to make the same mistake twice, okay?”

“Okay.” She couldn’t keep from smiling.

They stood there, captive in each other’s regard, for several lingering moments.

Finally, Allie tore her gaze away. “What do you think about training Arbor Springs’ security personnel?”

Jack blew out a breath. “Let me think about it. I’ll try to put some sort of outline together. That’ll give me a better idea how much
trouble
I’m getting myself into.”

Allie rolled her eyes and shook her head at him, smiling all the while.

“But right now…” Jack glanced at his wristwatch. “I’ve got to hit the road. This morning after my niece talked me into buying you flowers, my brother talked me into meeting him for lunch.”

“Oh, Jack, you poor man. Your family members are absolutely heartless.”

He smirked.

Laughing, Allie opened her office door. They exited her small workspace and casually strode into the lobby.

“I’ll call you later.” He made the rest of his way to the double glass doors.

“Bye, Jack.”

She watched him go, but as she turned she met the gaze of the gruff security guard. He scowled at her, but she didn’t take it personally. With the proper instruction, the guy might be professionally daunting instead of just plain boorish.

Chapter Twenty-six

A chilling wind blew off Lake Michigan on Friday evening as Logan and his cousin Rick set up the net for a volleyball game. It would be dark in an hour, so while volunteers grilled hotdogs and prepared the rest of their picnic supper, the teens opted for a quick volleyball game. Logan went along with it, figuring it’d get their blood moving and keep them warm until the bonfire was lit.

His athletic shoes sunk into the sand as he sidestepped and tied the net onto the pole. With that done, he glanced up and down the beach but still didn’t see Marilee. He couldn’t imagine that she would forget about tonight. Logan and his staff had planned this event for months. They had recruited teens, and a good amount had showed up. So where was she?

After a time of musing, Logan figured the reason he didn’t know Marilee’s whereabouts was probably as much his fault as hers. With their busy schedules, they hadn’t said more than a few words to each other since Monday morning. He’d never made it over to her place for dinner because he’d had to sit in on counseling meeting with one of the teens in his youth group. Not only were there issues at work to contend with, but for the past four nights after work he had driven the distance to Arbor Springs and visited his natural mother. Each night she grew more and more depressed, saying she wished she were dead. Logan talked to her about Jesus and read to her from the Bible, but his efforts had seemed in vain. He was at the point of giving up.

Now that the volleyball net was secured in place, Logan put his thumb and forefinger into his mouth and blew out a shrill of a whistle. The teens stopped their chattering and gathered around him.

“We’re going to form two teams,” Logan told the kids. “It’s Army verses Navy. Start counting off, every other one of you is Army, the other Navy.”

The teenagers counted off. Army. Navy. Army. Navy. At last the teams faced each other on opposite sides of the net.

“Which team are you going to be on, Pastor Callahan?” Sabina Lewis’s red hair blew across her face. She quickly pushed it back. “I want to be on your team.”

“I’m the coach…otherwise known as the drill sergeant,” Logan replied diplomatically. “I won’t play since the teams are uneven.”

The girl pouted.

Ignoring it, Logan picked up the volleyball. Sabina walked away.

“Don’t worry, Cuz.” Veronica came up behind him. “I’ll protect you from all these insipid females since Marilee isn’t here.”

He gave her a hooded glance. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

Ronnie shook her head. “Haven’t seen her today, and I just got here.”

“Glad you could make it.”

She grabbed the ball out of Logan’s hands. “Me too…and look behind you.”

He swung around to see a car-full of kids heading their way. Logan turned back to his cousin with a questioning stare.

“I invited a bunch of people from school…people who aren’t Christians. And they actually agreed to come.”

“That’s great!” Logan smiled. “Ronnie, I’m proud of you.”

She shrugged. “The Lord prompted me and I obeyed…but I was a little scared, I’ll admit it.” Veronica stepped closer so as not to be overheard. “Two of these girls have been picking on me since last year. You wouldn’t believe the names they’ve called me and the lies they’ve told about me.”

Logan winced. “Why didn’t you say something?”