Love Will Find a Way (12 page)

"Until there was nothing left but regret.” Their marriage had died, not with a bang, but a whimper. There seemed no point in poking around in the ashes of a dead fire. Emily yawned again. “It's very late."

Sudden tension rose and crackled between them. Robert's voice was taut. “Too late, isn't it?"

For an instant a spark of hope fanned through the ashes of regret. Emily kept a tight rein on her emotions. Robert was in love with another woman. “I think you know the answer to that."

He pushed himself to a standing position. “I had to ask. Is there any way I can persuade you not to sell the house?"

"Please don't try.” Despair filled her heart. He had shed his past as a snake sheds its skin. Why should she be shackled to hers? Troubled by the painful look in his eyes, she added, “For heaven's sake, it's only a house."

His shoulders slumped. “You're right.” Without another word, he went out the door and closed it behind him. She listened to his fading footsteps until they were swallowed up in the sounds of a city night before closing her eyes. Sleep was a long time coming.

Chapter 6

The drive home from Austin was not unpleasant. By tacit agreement neither Robert nor Emily mentioned their conversation from the night before. They talked instead of Larry and Kevin, the weather, current events and even reminisced a little about old times.

As they turned off the main thoroughfare Robert asked, “Would you like to stop somewhere for lunch?"

Emily glanced at her watch. “I can't. I have a two-thirty appointment."

"With Thad?” Robert asked. Before she could answer, he added, “I shouldn't have asked that."

"It's not with Thad.” Emily stared out the car window. “The Reverend Morrison has invited me to a church function."

Without the slightest hesitation Robert asked, “What kind of a church function?"

Emily shifted in her seat. “Reverend Morrison leads an encounter group each Sunday afternoon at his church."

She half-expected him to ask what kind of encounter group. He didn't.

They rode several miles in silence. Then Robert asked, “When is the meeting over?"

"Around five.” She thought it a shame that his feeling of responsibility hadn't died along with his love.

"Are you free after that?"

"I ... I suppose so. Why?"

"Would you like to come with me to visit Mom and Dad?"

Emily hadn't seen George and Clara in months, still she was reluctant. “Maybe another time."

"They ask about you often.” Robert's voice was persuasive. “They miss you."

Against her better judgment, Emily acquiesced. “I guess so—all right."

A note of triumph sounded in Robert's voice. “I'll pick you up around six."

Emily got home just in time to make preparations to leave again. Hurrying to shower and dress, she wondered which was worse a lonely Sunday afternoon or one laden with stress from an overloaded schedule. She arrived at the church just as the encounter group's session was beginning.

Dennis hurried toward her as she came into the room. “We were about to start without you.” Grasping her hand in his, he shook it warmly. “Come in and let me introduce you to the group."

The meeting was not what Emily had expected. It was more like a social gathering than a structured therapeutic session. The participants sat in a semi-circle, talking freely about a variety of subjects. How unobtrusively Dennis guided the conversation. Emily was impressed with his ability to manage people. Or would a more apt phrase be, to manipulate them?

All too soon the meeting was over. As the participants began to drift out the door, Dennis caught Emily's arm. “Stay for a few minutes, if you have the time. I would like to talk to you."

Emily glanced at her watch. “I was wondering how I was going to kill the next thirty minutes.” She leaned against a kitchen counter and watched as Dennis adroitly herded two gushing women across the room.

After smoothly curtailing what could have been a lengthy good-bye, he ushered them out the door. Smiling sheepishly, he came across the room and leaned against the counter next to Emily. “I thought they'd never go."

Emily's eyes sparkled with humor. “You've had a lot of experience at this haven't you?"

Dennis feigned a frown. “At what?"

A mischievous smile pulled at Emily's mouth, “At fighting off aggressive females."

His laughter rippled out into the room. “It's all a part of being a pastor. Would you like more coffee?"

"Yes, please.” Emily remembered how ill at ease she had been during her first encounter with The Reverend Morrison and marveled that she felt so relaxed now.

Dennis poured coffee into two Styrofoam cups. “There's more cake. Would you like another piece?"

Emily took the cup from his hand. “No thanks."

"Shall we sit down?” He pointed to a table in the corner and then waited until she was seated before he slipped into a chair across from her. “How was your trip to Austin?"

It was a question she hadn't expected. “All right, I suppose."

"You suppose, only all right?” His hands wrapped around his coffee cup. “I take it there's no reconciliation in the offing?"

From anyone else that question would have been obtrusive. From Dennis Morrison it seemed quite acceptable. “No. That part of my relationship with Robert is over."

"How can you be so sure?” His grip on his coffee cup was the only sign of some inward tension. “You said his affair with the other woman is over."

Emily stared down at the bare third finger of her left hand. “They're not together, but it's not over, not for Robert, he's still in love with her."

Dennis lifted one eyebrow. “Did he tell you that?"

He didn't have to.” Emily took a quick sip of coffee. “Robert is not a philanderer. He doesn't play around."

"Obviously he did ‘play around’ once.” Dennis observed with blasé indifference.

"With Susan.” Emily shook her head. “That's just the point. He wasn't playing around."

"How can you be so sure? Middle-aged men often get caught up in trivial infatuations that don't last."

"Not Robert.” Was she really defending her ex-husband? No, she was only telling the truth, as she knew it. “If that had been the case, he would have had his fling and then come back to his wife."

"And would she have taken him back?” Dennis asked bluntly.

Pride made Emily equivocate. “If it had only been a middle-aged infatuation, perhaps, that's not the way it is. Robert is still hurting because Susan left him. Sometimes I feel so sorry for him.” She pushed her cup back. “And sometimes I'd like to give him a swift kick."

"If Robert is set on winning Susan back, why isn't he pursuing her instead of spending his time trying to get back into your good graces?"

"Our divorce caused quite a rift between Robert and his sons, especially Kevin. He's trying to win them back. He thinks I can help him do that."

"Then he's using you?"

That candid observation stung. Maybe it was because Emily shared the same suspicion. Too quickly, she jumped to her ex-husband's defense. “No. Robert's not like that. He's been very honest about how he feels. He's in love with someone else. Our marriage is over, but we're still friends.” Was she saying this to convince Dennis or herself?

Dennis reached across the table and touched her hand. “He was a fool to let you go.” Then his fingers wrapped around her wrist. “I have something of a personal nature to say to you."

Emily's heart beat a little faster. “Is this about Kevin and Stacy?"

His fingers tightened around her wrist. “I'm trying to find a way to ask you to go out with me. It's been so long since I asked a woman for a date that I seem to have forgotten how."

Emily was at once flattered and flabbergasted. “You want a date with me?” Dennis Morrison could have asked any one of a dozen women out and been rewarded with an immediate yes, “Why me?"

Dennis released her hand. “I like you and I admire you.” He fitted his broad shoulders against the back of his chair. “I'm receiving an award from the Houses for Humanity Organization for my part in helping to raise money to build houses for homeless families in this area. I would consider it an honor if you would accompany me to that ceremony."

Emily studied his handsome face and before letting her eyes slide over his muscular physique. At least he hadn't asked her to go to bed with him. “I'd like that, too. When is this gala event to take place?"

"The first Saturday evening of next month, can you make it?"

"I think so. I usually have Saturday evenings free.” Emily looked at the clock on the wall. “I have to run now."

"One other thing...” Standing, Dennis pushed his chair back. “Stacy and Kevin will be attending the banquet also. Are you comfortable with that?"

Emily blinked. “I don't know how Kevin will feel about his mother dating his future father-in-law."

"I was thinking of it more as a family affair.” After some hesitation, Dennis said, “The twins will be with me, too, and I'd be pleased if you'd bring Larry."

Emily was beginning to see why he had asked her to go with him. Where else could he find a woman willing to go out with a man who insisted on dragging his entire family and a prospective in-law along on a first date? “I'll have to talk to Kevin."

"Kevin thinks it's an excellent idea.” Dennis flashed his charming smile. “So does Stacy and the twins are elated."

She was going to be late for her appointment with Robert. Emily picked up her handbag. “I suppose I should be flattered."

Somewhere down the hall a door slammed. Over that disconcerting sound, Dennis asked, “You will go, won't you?"

Emily backed toward the entrance. “I'd be happy to go out with you and your family. Good-bye, Dennis. Thanks for a most interesting afternoon."

Robert's car was parked in front of the house when Emily pulled into her driveway. Before she could set the brake and open the door, he was out of his vehicle and coming across the lawn. “I was beginning to worry about you."

Emily stepped onto the driveway. “I visited with Dennis for a while after the meeting.” She glanced at her watch. It was only six-ten. “Have you been waiting long?"

"About ten minutes.” He took her arm. “Are you ready to go?"

If she went inside, Robert would go with her. She didn't want that. “I'm ready."

George and Clara greeted Emily with a restraint that made Emily know they were expecting her. Later, in the kitchen, she asked Clara, “Did you know I was coming out with Robert?"

Clara straightened from putting dishes in the dishwasher. “Robert called earlier. Does this mean my son has finally come to his senses?"

Emily didn't want Clara to hold any false hopes. “We have agreed to be friends for the boys’ sake. Robert wants to patch up his differences with his sons. He thinks I can help him do that."

"After the way he's treated you, why should you help Robert do anything?” Clara gave the dishwasher control a vicious twist.

"I'm doing this for my sons.” The words rang hollow in Emily's ears.

"I was hoping that you and Robert were getting together again.” Clara's eyes, so like Robert's, filled with tears. “Am I prying where I shouldn't?"

"I know you mean the best, Clara, but yes, you are.” Emily had only spoken the truth. Why did she feel like she had committed a crime?

"I won't interfere again, my dear. But that doesn't mean I will stop hoping.” Clara untied her apron and laid it on the counter. “Shall we go into the living room?"

The remainder of the evening passed swiftly. They were in Robert's car and pulling from his parents’ driveway when he asked, “Did you enjoy the evening?"

"There were a few uncomfortable moments. I guess that was to be expected."

"My parents still think of you as part of the family."

That was reason enough for her to make this visit her last. “They'll get over that, eventually."

Robert glanced briefly in her direction. “Why should they?” He pulled his eyes back to the road.

She was beginning to see that going with Robert to visit Clara and George had been a mistake. “Because I'm no longer a part of their family.” She covered her mouth to stifle a yawn.

Robert asked, “Are you tired or just bored?"

She thought he had become terribly touchy. “I'm tired. It's been a long day."

They were pulling into Emily's driveway when Robert asked, “Do you want me to go inside with you?"

That was the last thing she wanted. “I'm too tired to entertain a visitor tonight."

Robert seemed bent on arguing. “I'm concerned about you going into a dark, deserted house alone at this hour of the night."

"The house is locked.” Emily felt around in her handbag for her keys. “And Boo is inside."

Robert scoffed. “Boo wouldn't bite a biscuit."

"I go into the house alone every night.” Why couldn't he believe that she could manage on her own? “I'm not afraid.” She reached for the door handle. “Good night, Robert."

"Good night, Emily. I'll see you soon."

No. He wouldn't, Emily thought. She said nothing.

Early Monday morning Emily wrote Larry a letter telling him of her decision to sell the house. Then she called Kevin's office. The realtor's ad would appear in Wednesday's newspaper. She didn't want it to come as a surprise to either of her sons. “Do you have time to talk?” she asked Kevin when she got him on the line.

"I'm up to my neck in work.” Kevin answered. “Can I call you back?"

Emily wouldn't be in her office for the rest of the day. “Better still, why don't you come to the house for dinner tonight?"

Impatience sounded in his reply. “I have a date with Stacy tonight."

"Bring her along,” Emily suggested. “I'd love a chance to get to know her better."

"Actually...” There was an infinitesimal pause. “I'm going to Stacy's house. She's babysitting her sisters tonight. Her father has to go out."

"Why don't you bring the twins and Stacy along with you?” The thought of having teenagers in the house again was a pleasant one. “I'd love to have them."

Kevin seemed hesitant. “Are you sure? It wouldn't be too much trouble?"