Her Forever Family (8 page)

Benjamin answered before the first ring was complete.

“Hello, this is Doctor Stone returning your calls,” she wanted to sound professional.

“Ali, I’ve been trying to reach you for hours.”

She clutched the cell phone tightly. Her empty
stomach quivered. And not in the good way it had moments earlier.

Please God. Not again.

Don’t let it be Ethan.

“W
hat’s happened?” Ali held her breath, waited for whatever Benjamin had to say.

“Someone phoned in a tip to the local paper last night. This is such a slow news area that they actually took it seriously and planted a photographer down the street from my home. When you left around daylight the guy took shots of you at the front door and then again driving away. He got closeups of your face and license plates. There’s no doubt it’s you, Ali.”

She shivered again, this time relieved. So, nothing was wrong with Ethan after all.
Thank you, Father.

But to think some creep had actually hidden in the dark so he could watch and photograph her—what a rotten thing to do.

“But why? It’s no secret that I’m working with Ethan. And plenty of people know he’s refused to leave the house for the past few weeks. What can they possibly make of this and why would anybody care about me anyway?”

She heard Benjamin’s sigh.

“This isn’t about you, Ali. But it’s about using you to embarrass me. And for that I’m terribly sorry.”

“But who would do that?” As soon as the words were out she had a light bulb moment. “Oh, it’s that Sanders Boyd jerk, isn’t it?”

“I had the same thought. He knew you were there and he certainly left with a hornet under his hat. But there are plenty of other people who don’t want me to run for Congress and they’d stoop to some pretty low stuff to keep me out of the race.”

She glanced at the time, it was much later than she’d realized.

“I’ve been busy in my office all day. How did you find out about this? Is it already in the media?” Ali wondered if damage control was necessary. And what could she do, anyway? “Surely nobody will take this seriously.”

His laughter was bitter in her ear.

“That’s the most ridiculous part of all. They’ll know there’s nothing to it. But not only will my opponents make something of it for their own gain, a few of my family members will, too.”

“What makes you say that about your own family?”

“I got a call this morning from my second cousin. He’s the editorial chief at the
Standard-Times
. Good old Gerald wanted to warn me they’ll be running your photo on the front page of the evening edition and the headline will read ‘Has Rescue Turned To Romance?’ They’ll follow up with a tabloid-style story about your involvement with Ethan and me since the incident in Big Bend.”

Ali closed her eyes and groaned. If the Sunday Kids got wind of it they’d have a field day but mostly poking fun at their straight arrow of a counselor.

“He’s your flesh and blood. Why won’t he cut this off at the source?”

“Because it will sell papers and that’s the bottom line in this economy. At least he gave me the opportunity to comment.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“The truth! And as soon as he sells a few extra papers he’ll probably print the facts and that’ll ease his conscience. But by then the damage will be done.”

She heard the umbrage in his voice. Felt the same. But his worries seemed more important than her own.

“Benjamin, the people who know you well won’t take this seriously. And other than a bunch of grief from the guys on my rescue team I don’t feel I have anything to fear, either.”

But Ali’s reconnection with her sister was so new and untested she couldn’t make any assumptions about Erin’s reaction. Maybe there was the possibility for more fallout than Ali knew.

“Hopefully, this will blow over in a day or two,” she tried to comfort them both.

“Nobody would like to see this in a positive light more than me, but I have to be realistic. The Lamar name is both a blessing and a curse. Even though we have a legacy of service to the state, there’s plenty of opposition who would like to see our political dynasty die of unnatural causes.”

“Surely what you stand for is more important than your last name.”

“One would hope that’s true. But then again, if
your
feelings about my positions and affiliations are an indicator, I’m a loser either way,” he grumbled into the phone.

Ali held her breath, afraid any comment from her would be unwelcome. Would this incident make her persona non grata in the world of Benjamin and Ethan Lamar? The painful jolt of asking herself that question was a shock to her senses. She wasn’t prepared to lose Ethan.

Or Benjamin.

“Ali, I was only teasing,” his voice was soft. “That was my poor attempt to poke fun at myself before everybody else lines up to do it for me.”

Relief swept her like a fan stirring a warm room. “I know you’re concerned, but we’ve got to trust that God will work this out for our good.”

“I hate to suggest this because I don’t want to offend you, Ali. But I think it would be best if you didn’t come back to the house again. At least not anytime soon.”

“That’s actually what I was going to discuss with you last night before I passed out on your couch. If I’d just gone on home it would have saved us this mess.”

“All my fault. I made a decision and it backfired on me.”

“I’m detecting a pattern in the area of you making decisions for other people,” she deadpanned.

“Ain’t that the truth? My stock is dropping by the hour so I’d better stop offering up suggestions. Why don’t you tell me what you had in mind?”

She leaned forward and scratched notes on the desk pad, then brought Google search up on her PC.

“Ethan agreed to visit the university library with me.” She couldn’t keep excitement from returning to her
voice. “You should have seen his face when we got online and found out they have an exhibit hall dedicated to the geology of West Texas. His eyes lit up and I knew I’d found a magic bullet. I decided right then not to come back to your house so he won’t get a chance to back out. But I need a few days to do some legwork first, get some special approvals.”

“Do you want my help?” Benjamin offered, sincerity displacing his worry.

“You know somebody at the university who can give us exception clearance? I’d like to take Ethan on a day they’re not open to the public or even after hours so he can get close to the exhibits, touch and feel to his heart’s desire.”

“Let me take a look at the school Web site and check the list of department heads. There’s bound to be a Lamar cousin in the ranks who can get you behind the velvet rope.” He sounded pleased to have purpose, something to distract him from this fiasco.

“This must be one of those times when the name is a blessing, huh?”

“From your lips to God’s ear. I’d better get on it right away before they have the chance to see tonight’s paper.”

“Benjamin, we’ll get through this together.”

“Thanks, sweet lady.”

Ali flipped her phone closed. She typed her name and then his into the Internet search field and pressed the Enter key. There was no need to wait on the evening edition of the paper or the six o’clock news. The Congressional hopeful and the therapist for his autistic son were already a hot topic.

Her chin sagged and she shook her head. The woman in the photo looked like a troll who’d just crawled out from under a bridge. Her clothes were hopelessly rumpled. And that hair! Well, it was another story altogether. But Ali had to hand it to the photographer. The picture was crystal clear, and the subject was undoubtedly Doctor Alison Stone.

Yep, the guys at West Texas Rescue were going to have a field day with this! At that hour of the morning she’d looked more like a lump than the woman they called the Rock.

“Okay if I come in, boss?” Josie called.

“Sure, I could use a sympathetic ear. But aren’t you supposed to be studying for an exam?”

“Awww, microbiology can wait a few more minutes.”

Ali’s roommate closed the door behind her and dropped onto the cozy patient’s couch.

“Is this about you not comin’ home last night?”

“Whoa, talk about cutting to the chase.”

“Well, you’re the one who taught me honesty is the best policy.”

Ali winced. “I hate it when my own words bite me on the backside.”

“Are you gonna give me the details or do I hafta wait and get them on
Entertainment Tonight?
”

“Oh, my gosh, Josie! What have you heard?” Ali’s gasp of disbelief sent the young woman who’d once been among the ranks of the Sunday Kids into giggles.

“Oh, it’s no big deal—just a little gossip in the cafeteria. Some people were makin’ a mountain out of a fire ant hill but I straightened ’em out. Folks at this
medical center should know by now that Doc Stone is a good egg.”

Ali felt the warmth in her cheeks begin to rise again. How embarrassing to have the nursing student who’d literally pulled herself up out of the gutter be the person to rush to Ali’s defense. But, by the same token, how amazing. God was constantly showing them how He used Satan’s evil deeds for His own glory.

“So, are you gonna tell me what’s going on with you and the football player or what? That guy’s quite a catch, you know.” Josie was totally enjoying Ali’s discomfort.

“Will you stop! I’m not looking to
catch
anything. And, before you even ask, I am
not
dangling any bait, either. I’ve spent a lot of hours at the Lamar house, as you know, but mostly upstairs trying to get some traction with Ethan, which is about as hard to come by as a winning lottery ticket. But late last night, thanks to my sister suggesting a game of Scrabble, I had a breakthrough of sorts with the kid.”

“Cool!”

“Very. But by the time I went downstairs to tell Benjamin about it I was dead on my feet, fell asleep on the sofa and he let me stay there overnight so I didn’t fall asleep at the wheel. He meant well, and I left as soon as I woke up.”

“Really?” Josie sounded disappointed. “That’s all there is to it?”

“I know, pretty boring stuff, huh?”

“I was kinda hoping that boy’s therapy wasn’t the only
traction
, as you call it, in that house.”

Ali ignored the innuendo. “Benjamin’s definitely a
better person than I originally gave him credit for being, but beyond that, the man’s plate is full.”

“If things were different, would you be interested?”

Josie just wouldn’t let up. Ali leaned back in her chair to ponder the question. The thought had occurred to her more than once, but she’d dismissed it as single lady’s daydreaming. But hearing her young friend say it out loud gave it credibility somehow. Not that it mattered, since Benjamin had been a perfect gentleman. He’d done nothing more than pay her one compliment, and that was probably out of pity since she was a mess by the time she made it to his house each evening.

“Well, would you?” Josie persisted. “You’re always telling me to be open to new opportunities because a girl never knows what the Lord has planned.”

“Yeah, well, right now I am praying He has a minor miracle planned. If I don’t get Ethan away from the house and into a public place, I can’t continue to see him.”

“Or his famous daddy.”

Ali nodded.

“Is that decision your doing?” Josie continued to press.

Ali hesitated before admitting, “Actually, it’s Benjamin’s, and I don’t have much say about it.”

Confessing her dependence on a man to another woman who was a victim of sexual abuse was like having a crowd of people witness an awkward fall and scraped, bloody knees.

It was mighty embarrassing.

And unbelievably painful.

B
en’s day was not getting any better.

Soon after his conversation with Ali, Randy had called with the news that the story was already way past damage control. And to make matters worse, Laura Epps was now an official contender. From her seat on the board of the American Paint Horse Association she represented a growing source of financial power that couldn’t be ignored.

“Buddy, it’s declare now or call it off. With this Fort Worth woman putting her name on the ballot you’ve got to get in the game,” Randy insisted, chomping at the bit for a decision. “This is national fodder, my friend. You’re a football hero turned motivational speaker. Anybody who doesn’t know you from the Cowboys’ roster ought to recognize you from that infomercial you did with Tony Robbins. Did you really think this wouldn’t go beyond the city limits of San Angelo?”

Ben couldn’t remember being this conflicted since his senior year at UT when he’d been called up in the pro draft. Finishing his education had been the right thing to do because the NFL had waited. But there was little chance the U.S. Congress would be so patient. After the debacle of a meeting at his home last evening, Ben wasn’t even sure he wanted his old friend calling major shots anymore. He really needed to do some big time praying and then counsel with somebody who wasn’t invested in his decision. Someone who would help him weigh the facts without emotions clouding the picture.

Ali came to mind immediately. But he’d asked her to stay away, and for both their sakes they needed to stick with that plan.

“I guess expecting that photo to stay contained was pretty naive, huh?” Ben answered Randy’s question.

“I’ll say. And you’ve got to dump that Pollyanna thinking if you expect to survive in Washington. The opposition will eat you alive once they realize you’re a card-carryin’ Christian.”

“Now just a cotton pickin’ minute.” Ben’s hackles went up.

“Don’t get bent out of shape, you know what I’m sayin’. Ben Lamar always tries to do the right thing, plays by the rules, gives his best and expects the same from everybody else. That’s your reputation and it’s an honorable one. But you can bet your last dollar some people will see your morals as a soft underbelly. And if you don’t guard against that perception, you’re going to get set up and knocked down more times than a stack of children’s blocks.”

“I don’t much care for the way you’re talking to me today,” Ben warned.

“Well, that makes two of us because I don’t care at all for the way you’ve been talkin’ the past couple of weeks.” Randy’s voice reflected his exasperation. “This isn’t something that just came up recently in casual conversation, you know.”

Ben nodded, sitting alone at his desk. His friend was right. They’d been strategizing about this for ages. Randy was committed, ready to dive in over his head. But Ben was still reluctantly dog paddling in the shallow end.

“Yeah, I know,” he admitted.

“Then fish or cut bait. Make up your mind, Ben. I’d sure like to see you win that seat but if you’re not up to the challenge, then admit it.”

Ben bristled again. “Man, you’re just pushing all my buttons today.”

“Good!” Randy chided. “I’m done being patient. If you’re not my candidate I’ll go find another horse to back, if you get my drift.” Even the hint of making Laura Epps his choice was going too far.

“Randy, we’ve been buddies for a lot of years. The last thing I want to do is lose our friendship over words. So, watch how you speak to me.”

“You’re right. That was out of line and I apologize.” Randy’s voice had lost its zeal. Ben wasn’t sure that was a good thing. His friend fired a parting shot. “I’m going to back off and do a lot more thinking about my own business and not so much about yours. When you’re ready to talk you know where to find me.”

The line went quiet, leaving Ben feeling very much alone. Very much in need of the company of a certain redhead in noisy jewelry.

But he’d decided it was in everybody’s best interest for her to stay away from the house. Well, if Ali couldn’t come to him, he’d find a way to go to her.

Two days later, Saturday morning, no appointments. Ahhhhh…

Ali’s sneaker was crooked on the edge of her kitchen counter as she stretched her hamstrings. It was a perfect day to get in a long run and some training for the upcoming competition. A knock rattled the front door of her town house.

“You gonna get that?” Josie called from her bedroom.

“Sure thing.” Ali answered, knowing how the girl treasured having a bed to lounge in on the weekends after so many months of homelessness. “Who could that be?”

Simba hopped to her feet, moved to the door and pressed her long nose to the crack as if sniffing out the answer. Ali put her eye to the peephole. She encountered a fingerprint instead of the face of the visitor. Simba’s lack of reaction implied there was nothing to fear. Still, opening a door without knowing who stood on the other side got women killed every day.

“The choice is yours, stranger. Reveal yourself or prepare to deal with Simba.”

“It’s only me!” Benjamin shouted. “Look out the window.”

A silly grin curved her lips. Her heart surged at the unexpected sound of his voice. She stepped to the glass panes
above the sofa and slid back drapes still closed against the daytime sun. The sight of Benjamin on her front doorstep shouldn’t have made her heart sing. But it did.

Oh, Lord, thank you! I needed this.

Since she’d spilled her beans to her roommate, Ali’s mind had turned Josie’s comments every which way but loose. Yes, there had been some momentum in the Lamar home apart from her work with Ethan. Her boldness caused Benjamin to re-examine his political bedfellows. He’d nearly quit flinching each time Simba came close. And even though he’d reacted badly to Ali and Ethan discussing his mother, Benjamin had mentioned his late wife enough times for Ali to suspect the sadness of the loss may have passed but some anger still lingered. Time and prayer would heal that wound, she was certain.

Benjamin waved cheerfully when he saw her part the drapes. He was the last person she’d expected at her door this morning, but if given the chance to make a wish list, this might very well have been in the number one spot.

“Simba, back.” Ali was unabashedly excited. Simba moved away from the entry, relaxed on her haunches. She waited patiently, lovingly, watching for a new command.

Ali turned the dead bolt and pulled the handle. Amazing eyes glinted from beneath a gray Dallas Cowboys cap emblazoned with a single star.

“Well, good morning Congressman,” she chided.

He snatched the cap off and his gaze shifted downward.

“Do you have to keep calling me that? You say it like it’s an insult.”

“And that bothers you?”

Benjamin’s head snapped up, his gaze pierced hers.

“Of course it bothers me. You’re important to me, to my life, Ali. Having your respect matters a great deal.”

The layers of this man were peeling back one by one. His positive nature wasn’t a fake or a facade—he truly was a glass-half-full person. But each time she scratched a bit deeper she found him hurting a little more. They had a lot of things in common after all.

She touched his bare forearm below the short sleeve of his casual white shirt. His skin was warm beneath her cool fingertips. “Benjamin, I assure you that you have my respect.”

“Thank you,” his words were humble. “But not your vote, right?”

His teasing smile was back as he tugged the cap in place.

“That all depends on whether or not you’re running. Have you made a decision yet?” She was relieved the serious moment had passed. More headway had been made.

If she could just say the same about Ethan.

“The only decision I made this morning was to get my kid out of the house.” Benjamin turned and pointed toward the parking area. Two empty spots away from Ali’s dirty Land Rover, a huge red convertible was backed in as if ready for a quick getaway. In the front passenger’s seat was the back side of a familiar shaggy, blond head that wagged to and fro.

“Ethan!” Ali shouted as she hurried to the end of her private walkway. But the teen gave no indication of hearing. Benjamin followed behind, laughing at her efforts to get the boy’s attention.

“He’s wearing those little earbud things so he can tune out the traffic noises and listen to his iPod. I’m pretty sure his eyes are closed behind those gosh-awful sunglasses. Don’t ask me where he dug up those checker boards.”

“They’re mine,” she admitted. “He won them from me fair and square. How did you ever get him into the car? And where did that land yacht come from, anyway?”

They’d stopped at the end of walk, still a ways from where Ethan jived to his private concert, seemingly unaware they were even in the vicinity.

“One question at a time, please.” Benjamin looked down at her, his eyes soft in their solemn stare. “Ethan misses you and your dog. He wanted to see both of you. I told him that was only gonna happen if he got in the car and let me bring him here.”

“Why didn’t you call? Five more minutes and you’d have missed us.”

“I tried. When you didn’t answer I took a chance you’d be someplace close by where we could spot the two of you.”

Ali patted her pockets. No cell phone. She snapped her fingers. “I left it attached to my jeans when I put on these running clothes. It must be in the closet floor with the rest of my dirty laundry.” Yuck, he didn’t need that clue about her sloppy housekeeping when his place was always immaculate. She hurried to change the subject. “Well, I’m thrilled things worked out the way they did.” She beamed at his success with Ethan.

“I believe your next question was more of a disparaging comment, but you won’t get my goat on this
subject.” Benjamin’s chest inflated with pride as he held his arms wide to present the red convertible. “I call this beauty the Scream Machine. She’s a 1969 Cadillac DeVille, all original parts. My dad bought her the same day she rolled into the showroom at Randall Motors, so she’s been in our family for over forty years. Dad left the Caddy to me with the provision that she never have an owner who’s not a Lamar.”

“It must be something special to have a family history to be so proud of.”

Benjamin shrugged, made light of his pedigree. “Oh, every parent thinks their child hung the moon and every child believes their parent is a superhero. Even if the sentiment only lasts a few minutes, I think it’s pretty standard.”

“Not necessarily,” Ali muttered.

“Sorry, I forget you work with kids whose experience has been anything but that.”

“And speaking of kids, let me get Simba and we’ll come say hello to Ethan.”

“I see you’re dressed to go for a run, but how about going for a ride with us instead?”

She gave him a hard look. “Do you think that’s wise after the media storm of the past few days?”

“Here’s how I’ve come to look at it.” The lines of his face relaxed as if peace rushed in where stress had been camped for ages. “You sleeping on our couch is pretty small stuff when you consider how many married Congressmen have been forced out of office over misbehaving with their college interns. If a budding romance between a widower and a single woman is the worst they can make of us, then I’d say we can survive it.”

A budding romance? So, she wasn’t imagining it!

“Come on, go with us,” he cajoled. “A stop at the Marble Slab for a banana split with extra pecans was another condition of getting Ethan out of the house.”

“I think I should be offended by being the same temptation as fruit and nuts, but I’ll let it pass because the offer is just too good to resist.” She looked toward the open door knowing Simba would still be waiting patiently, her belly pressed to the cool tile. “My roommate’s inside. I need to let her know I’m leaving for a while so she can keep an eye on Simba. You have to promise to have me back in an hour. The Rescue Round Up is next weekend and we’re not ready.”

“Rescue Round Up?”

“I’ll tell you over the most expensive sundae Marble Slab sells.” She turned about face and headed for the door. A strong hand on her shoulder stopped Ali in her tracks and sent her pulse info a flutter fest.

“Thanks, Ali,” Benjamin said softly. His gaze was as warm as his hand. “I figured something out over the past couple of days.”

She held her breath, silently praying that the man standing before her would be the one she’d waited for all her life. A gentleman whose very presence was enough to help her forget the past. To give her hope for a future.

“Ali, Ethan may have missed you, but I’ve been downright lonely without your company. I know we disagree on some important things, but can we focus on the areas where we think alike and see where it leads?”

“Sure.” She smiled, not knowing how else to answer.
“I’ll meet you at the car in two minutes.” She turned toward her door.

So, that was it. Since their conversation about his wife Benjamin had discovered he was lonely.

From her years of foster care and then being completely on her own as a student, Ali certainly knew the power and depths of that emotion.

Well, Benjamin hadn’t exactly made a declaration of love, but it was a start they could build on.

Wasn’t it?