Broken Things (Faded Photograph Series) (35 page)

Oh, God! Oh, God
! Those were the only words Logan’s mind seemed capable of screaming.

* * *

Allie almost gave up waiting for Jack, but he finally entered the hotel’s lobby just a few minutes before eight.

“I was wondering what happened to you,” she said once he reached her. “What took so long?”

He took a seat beside her on the sofa. Several feet away, a cozy fire glowed in the fireplace and guests milled about, but for the most part, there wasn’t a lot of activity. However, the neighboring tavern sounded lively tonight.

“As you probably guessed,” Jack began, “Brenda and I had a few words and then I called Dave and told him to come and pick her up. He showed up, but she insisted she could drive herself home. I warned her that I’d report her, but she didn’t seem to care. So,” he concluded with a shrug, “she drove off and I called the cops. Dave and I followed her, praying she wouldn’t drive off the road and kill somebody. Fortunately, a squad spotted her and pulled her over. Seeing that this is her second DUI in six months, Brenda will probably stay in a jail a day or two.”

“What a shame.” Maybe jail was the best place for her right now. “She’s so bent on self-destruction. She’s so…angry, and not just at me, but at everyone and everything.”

“In a way, I can relate. But not to the extent that Brenda’s going. She’s blaming everybody else for her troubles and I blamed myself. I still blame myself.” He leaned forward and folded his hands over his knees.

“Jack…”Allie rubbed his arm. “Don’t blame yourself.”

“Oh, I’m getting over it.” He sat back and crossed his leg. “The Bible study I began attending is going to help, I think. We had our first meeting this afternoon.”

Allie smiled. “I didn’t know you were in a Bible study.”

Jack nodded as he stared at the fire. “Logan gave my name to an older couple who hold Bible studies for prospective church members and/or new Christians. They normally meet with five or six people on Saturday mornings, but this weekend Jim and Betty are going out of town to see their grandkids, so they held their Bible study this afternoon.” He looked at Allie. “That’s why I was late getting to the restaurant.”

“Well, I guess I’ll have to forgive you then, won’t I?” She smiled. In her heart of hearts, Allie rejoiced that Jack had connected with another Christian man. And to hear that Jack got involved in a Bible study made her feel almost giddy.

He turned and stretched his arm across the top of the sofa. “I suppose you’re going to tell me you’re hungry.”

Allie laughed. “This mental-telepathy stuff is amazing. I just transcend my thoughts into your mind and―”

“Oh, brother, now I’ve heard it all.” After a roll of his eyes, Jack stood and offered his hand. Allie took it and he pulled her to her feet.

“I’m not hungry for Mexican food,” she stated playfully. “I hope I transcended that idea to you.”

“Got it loud and clear.” They left the hotel. Allie chuckled as they climbed into his
Explorer
. However, the easy banter brought back another host of memories, those of her two friends―or “troublemakers,” as her stepfather used to call them. The three of them sure gave Jack a run for his money.

“Do you ever hear from Wendy or Blythe?”

He gave her a questioning glance, but then the confused frown on his face softened as he snapped his seatbelt into place. “Haven’t talked to Wendy in at least thirty years. She disappeared shortly after you left for California. But I see Blythe once in a while. She lives in Chicago. In fact, she and I dated a few times….about ten years ago.”

“You’re kidding? You and Blythe?”Allie settled back in her seat and a knowing little grin curved her mouth. “I knew all along that Blythe had a crush on you.”

“You’re wrong,” Jack said, pulling his truck out of the parking lot. “Blythe was crazy about Wendy’s brother, Rob….remember?”

“Oh, yeah…” It was coming back to her now. Rob Chadwyk, the professional draft-dodger and war protestor. Jack couldn’t stand the guy. But then tragedy struck and Rob was killed in a riot during the ’68 Democratic Convention. It happened just after Allie first met Jack. In fact, their second meeting occurred the night Rob died.

“Wendy was the one who had the crush on me.” Jack’s rumbling chuckle brought Allie to the present. She looked over at him and saw a flash of his grin beneath the quickly passing streetlights.

“That’s right. It was Wendy.” More snippets of the past flittered across her mind. “She and I had an awful argument over you one night. A real cat fight.”

“Yeah, I remember hearing something about that. I think I was working the night it happened.”

“I’m sure it wouldn’t have occurred had you been around, Jack. You always kept the three of us in line.”

Allie suddenly found herself wishing that she could find Wendy. Despite their single run-in, they had been good friends. Wendy was estranged from her parents and so was Allie. Their hurt and confusion had bonded them.

But Blythe was another story. Her parents were “hip” and didn’t care what she did, who she was with, or at what time of day or night she came home. This made Blythe’s house the perfect hangout or runaway’s destination. When Allie left home after the big fight with her step-family, she stayed with Blythe, along with half a dozen other teenagers.

Neighbors began phoning police about loud music and rowdy behavior bringing Oakland Park’s finest to the Seversons’ front door. Jack happened to be one of the officers dispatched there and when Allie met his brown-eyed gaze, she knew she’d met her match.

“What are you giggling about?”

Allie felt embarrassed. She hadn’t realized she laughed out loud. “I was thinking that we kids certainly did make you Oakland Park cops earn your money.”

Jack ground out a laugh.

“So how did you and Blythe start dating?”

“She sends me a Christmas card every year, and, since she never married, I called her up and asked her out. We went to dinner a few times, saw a movie, but things didn’t gel between the two of us. I don’t know what it was…” Jack sent a smile Allie’s way. “But Blythe still sends me a Christmas card. Faithful Blythe.”

“What’s she doing?”

“She owns an antique shop called
Precious Things
.”

“You mean it’s not called
The Curbside Gallery
?” Allie laughed. “I remember Blythe had a knack for finding valuable stuff in garbage heaps along with road. She actually decorated her entire bedroom with junk, but it looked great. It was incredible.”

“Blythe is an incredible lady. Even with all the specialty shops in downtown Chicago, her little resale store is holding its own.”

After a moment’s pondering, Allie turned to him. “Jack, I wonder―?”

“I know what you’re going to say. You want to see Blythe. Another reunion. Yeah, okay, I’ll give you her phone number. And I’ll try to find Wendy, but it’ll take some doing. I have no idea where she is…although Blythe might have a clue.”

“That would be great. I’d love to see both of them again.”

Jack’s cell phone jangled. He snatched it out from his inside jacket pocket and slowed to the side of the road where he stopped. Checking the Caller ID, he pushed a button and placed the small phone to his ear. “What’s up, Logan?”

Allie could hear chirps of the younger man’s voice, but couldn’t make out the words.

“Is she okay?” Jack asked to whatever Logan told him. He followed it by stating, “I’m with Allie. We’ll get there as soon as we can.”

Concern welled up in Allie. Something was wrong. “What happened, Jack?”

He pocketed his cell phone, and glanced her way. “Marilee’s been in a car accident.”

“Oh, no…how bad?”

“She’s in surgery.” Jack pulled away from the curb. “Naturally, Logan’s upset. That’s why I told him we’d meet him at the hospital…but if you don’t feel up to it, I can drop you off first.”

“No, Jack, I want to go with you.”

Silence ensued in the long moments that went by. Then suddenly Jack cursed and slammed his palms against the steering wheel. Allie started and a shiver of fright shot through her. She knew from her past that an angry man behind the wheel of an automobile made for a dangerous ride.

“Jack, please…”

“Why, when things are going along nice and smooth does stuff like this happen?”

Allie didn’t have an answer.

“Why, God?” Jack looked up through the windshield. “Why did You allow this to happen? Logan doesn’t deserve this. He’s a great kid! It’s just not fair!”

“Jack, calm down,” Allie pleaded, “or you’ll be the next one in a car wreck.”

He quieted, but awkwardness brewed between them. Finally Allie felt as though she’d burst if she didn’t say
something
. She could practically feel Jack’s heart twisting with anguish as he worried over Logan and Marilee.

“Jack, in the course of my life I’ve asked God why a lot of things have happened. But then I realized I was asking the wrong question. I started asking the Lord
what
He wanted me to learn through the situation I was dealing with and
how
I could minister to others through it.”

Jack grunted out an inaudible reply.

“I know that’s probably easy for me to say since Logan’s not my son and Marilee isn’t my future daughter-in-law…but Jack, don’t you see? God loves us and wants the best for us, except we live in a sin-cursed earth and bad things really do happen to good people.”

“You know, Allie, that’s one of the things Brenda said really bugged her about you. She told me again tonight. It’s your know-it-all, perfect answers.”

She inhaled sharply as if she’d been struck. She’d only been trying to help, trying to put things into perspective for him.

“You’ve got it good, Allie,” Jack continued, “but some of us face trial after trial, and your perfect answers really grate on our last nerves!”

She wanted to scream at him. He knew so little about her. Could he even imagine the lessons she’d learned from all the mistakes she’d make? Those “perfect answers” had come by way of a great price.

Allie didn’t say another word and neither did Jack. But after he exited the interstate and braked for a stoplight she unfastened her seatbelt, opened the door, and jumped out.

“Allie, what in the―”

She slammed the door on the incredulousness in his voice. Turning, she dashed across the busy intersection. One car screeched to a halt, nearly missing Allie. Its indignant driver laid on the horn.

Once she’d survived the crossing, she took note of a myriad of stores and strip-malls around so she knew it would take Jack some effort to drive around and catch up with her. Part of her couldn’t believe she had braved such a maneuver as escaping from Jack’s SUV. However, her heart lay in shards. Why had she opened herself up to such verbal abuse?

Allie sprinted through the bustling parking lot of a K-Mart store and then climbed a cement knoll. She dashed onward through the parking lot of mall containing four stores.

Minutes later, she stopped in the shadows to catch her breath. Leaning against one of the buildings, she begged God to forgive her rash behavior. She hadn’t followed her own belief of sticking out the bad so God could use it for good. In fact, chances were the Lord had wanted her at the hospital to encourage and pray for Logan and Marilee’s family. Instead she’d jumped from Jack’s SUV and out of God’s will. And yet she couldn’t seem to help it. For all intents and purposes, Jack had sided with Brenda tonight. He may as well have said Allie
deserved
the beer in the face―just like she
deserved
the scar on her cheek. Well, enough was enough.

Allie skimmed her surroundings and didn’t see Jack’s shiny, black vehicle, but she decided she’d better keep going unless she wanted him to catch up with her―and she didn’t. Whirling to her right, Allie went up a flight of wooden stairs that led to another parking lot, this time that of a large garden center.

Her cell phone rang and Allie had a hunch it was Jack. She had a mind to ignore the call, but her common sense returned and she figured she should let him know that she was safe so he could get on with his trip to the hospital. Lifting the phone from her purse, she answered it.

“Allie, where are you?” His voice sounded calm, even apologetic.

“I’m okay,” she replied, a bit breathless from her jaunt. “I’m about to call a cab and head back to the hotel. I’ll be praying for Marilee and Logan.”

“Look, whatever’s bugging you can be discussed on the way to the hospital.”

“Bugging me?” The man had a lot to learn. “No. I’m done talking for tonight, Jack. I’ve put up with a lot this last week and I’m emotionally spent.” There. At least she’d been honest with him.

Allie pushed the END button on her phone, disconnecting the call.

* * *

With a great measure of guilt Jack entered Charity Medical Center. If something happened to Allie, he’d never forgive himself. He had no right taking his worries and frustration out on her. He only hoped she made it back to the hotel unharmed.

“Dad?”

Hearing Logan’s voice, Jack stopped short in the hallway of the hospital’s large lobby. He spotted his son several feet away.

Logan stepped toward him. “Marilee’s out of surgery and ready to be moved from the recovery room. She’s being transferred to a room upstairs. We can catch an elevator over here.”

“How’s she doing?” Jack stepped into a comfortable stride alongside him.

“As good as can be expected, I guess.”

Jack noted the worried frown marring his son’s brow.

“She, um, broke her leg and her pelvis and there was some internal damage that had to be repaired.” He swallowed hard. “Her uterine artery ruptured so doctors had to perform an emergency hysterectomy. Marilee won’t be able to have children.”

Jack’s heart busted when he saw tears pooling in Logan’s eyes. “I’m sorry to hear it, son.” He set his arm around him.

Logan swallowed. “I’ve got to be strong, Dad. I’ve got to be strong for Marilee. She’s got a long road to recovery ahead of her. The surgeon talked about extensive physical therapy…”

Jack dropped his gaze to the polished tile floor. He knew that “road to recovery” only too well. He had spent months in physical therapy after the gunshot wound to his thigh.