Love Will Find a Way (27 page)

They left the city with its array of lights and noises behind. Darkness hugged the landscape. The only sound was silence. Emily stared out the window at the blur of passing blackness as a dozen dissenting thoughts chased themselves around inside her head. Did she dare try to explain her relationship with Dennis to Robert? What if he didn't believe her? She had lost him once. What if he turned from her again? Every instinct she possessed told her she should tell Robert to turn the car around and drive back to the city. Instead she sat silent and wide-eyed, staring out the car window into the shadowy night.

Robert drove the car off the road and up a steep incline before coming to an abrupt stop. “I feel as if we've come full circle. Maybe now we can begin again."

Emily lurched forward and caught the dashboard with one hand. “Be careful.” Moonlight slanted through the windshield, casting an eerie light across the occupants of the car.

Cryptically, Robert replied, “I intend to, I realize I'm treading on dangerous ground.” He unfastened his seat belt and turned to face her. “Talk to me, Emily. Tell me what's troubling you."

She didn't know where to start. Taking a deep breath she blurted out, “Dennis Morrison came to see me today.” From the corner of her eye, she studied Robert's face. His expression remained unchanged. “He walked me to the singles’ luncheon."

"So this is about the Reverend Morrison?” A look of resignation framed his cynical smile. “Why am I not surprised?"

"Dennis walked me home, too,” Emily added before her voice trailed off into silence.

"And?” Robert prompted as his eyes narrowed.

"And then he came in, and we...” She cleared her throat and began again. “And he ... After that, things got pretty complicated, but he ended up sort of ... asking me to marry him."

A look of incredible pain waltzed across Robert's face and lodged in the depths of his eyes. “After what we shared last night, you let another man make love to you this afternoon?"

She was dismayed that he would think her capable of such a despicable act. “I never...” She was set to deny his cutting accusation when a cold truth singed through her fiery anger. Wasn't that what Robert had done to her with Susan? Lifting her chin she boldly met his gaze. “The pot shouldn't call the kettle black."

Robert was making a visible effort to control his emotions. “I didn't think you were capable of such cruelty.” A white line circled his taut mouth, giving him a ghostly appearance. “I knew you wanted to punish me, but I didn't think you'd go this far."

"I didn't ... we didn't...” He was jumping to terrible conclusions before she had a chance to explain. “You said you'd listen to what I had to say. Don't I get a chance to explain what happened?"

Robert turned to stare out the windshield. “After what we shared last night, how could you let him...” His voice broke. “I've heard enough."

She had dared be honest with him and he had read all the wrong meaning into every word she had spoken. “Maybe you've heard, but you haven't listened and you promised you would."

Robert's eyes hardened as his jaw turned to granite. “God knows, I have no right to cast the first stone.” After a painful silence, he asked raggedly, “How long are you going to keep on demanding blood for blood?"

He didn't, he couldn't mean what she thought he meant. “You think I made love to Dennis as revenge for what you did with Susan?"

His eyes were blue agates glittering in his pale face. “Didn't you?"

Emily's mind flew immediately to that night in Wimberly. “That's your game, not mine."

He gasped, “How could you be so heartless?"

Viciously, she shot back, “How could you?"

Robert held out his hands in a defeated gesture. “You've had your revenge. Now it's time to make a decision. Who is it going to be, him or me? The past doesn't matter now. I can forgive you, but I can't share you with another man."

Emily rasped, “How magnanimous of you to let bygones be bygones."

Her irony was wasted on Robert. “What choice do I have? You're not tied to me. I saw to that, so what right do I have to complain if you decided to give me a dose of my own medicine? Although I have to admit that it's a bitter pill to swallow."

Robert could forgive her, but he couldn't believe her and he didn't trust her. At first, that didn't make a lot of sense. On second consideration, Emily realized she felt the same way about him. “I don't fall into the arms of any man who shows me a little attention."

"A little attention,” Robert echoed caustically. “For months Reverend Morrison has launched an all-out campaign to seduce you and he's enlisted the help of his family and yours to aid and abet him."

Emily licked her lips nervously. “Dennis is not a devious man."

"My God, Emily,” Robert exploded in righteous indignation. “You don't believe that!” A line of perspiration beaded his upper lip. “The man knew how vulnerable you were and he took every advantage."

Emily pressed her fingers to her temples. “You asked me to trust you. How can I when you don't trust me?"

Robert's voice was as deadly as a rattler's hiss. “I'd like to kill him!"

Emily's eyes burned and her head throbbed. “This is not about Dennis. It's about you and me."

"Oh, really?” Robert asked virulently. “Does that mean you won't see him again?"

He was asking the impossible and he knew it. “My son is marrying Dennis's daughter in less than a week. I can't ignore him and pretend he doesn't exist."

Robert's anger was almost palpable. “I could forgive your little transgression with Thaddius Thackery because I knew it was over. But this...."

Emily broke in sharply, “You could forgive me?"

"I felt responsible. I drove you into Thad's arms."

Did he think she was that devastated by his leaving? “You are one conceited bastard."

Robert said caustically, “You're one up on me. Can't we call it even now?"

"One up, what the hell are you talking about?"

Robert snorted his disgust, “Thad and Dennis in payment for Susan. That should more than even the score. He folded his arms across his chest. “You have to decide between Reverend Morrison and me, and you have to do it now."

Her anger gave way to despair as she faced a grim and frightening reality. Robert didn't trust her any more than she trusted him. Pride made her defiant. “And if I refuse?"

His answer was swift and sure. “Then it's over between you and me."

The enormity of his statement hit her like a body slam. “You really mean that, don't you?"

"Every word, you can marry me as soon as possible and then move out of that house that sits in Reverend Morrison's backyard, or you can forget about me and go your own way."

She couldn't forget him; that was the problem. She couldn't marry him either. A marriage under those conditions was doomed to failure. “That wouldn't solve our problem and we both know it."

He turned from her. “It would be a damn good beginning."

"It would only further complicate an already difficult situation."

Robert's hands gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles were white. “You have to decide now. Is it going to be me or your panty-waist preacher?"

Emily asked, “Is this an ultimatum?"

"If you want to call it that.” His anger had vanished, leaving a frightening calm in its wake. “Make up your mind."

"You're being unreasonable.” The one thing she had feared most was happening. The situation was different, but the results were the same—Robert was rejecting her. “Can't we talk about this?"

"I don't want to hear anymore about your affairs with other men. I guess that means there's nothing more to talk about."

He was right about one thing. She could plead until doomsday and he wouldn't change his mind. She was losing him again. The last time he had turned from her, she had stood by and said nothing as he rejected her. Well not this time! “There is one other thing, if you walk away from me this time, don't bother coming back again, ever."

He sneered, “Is that an ultimatum?"

She echoed his words, “If you want to call it that. I won't let you do this to me again."

A derisive smile curled Robert's lips. “What about what you've done to me? For months I've let you treat me like a dog.” He paused for a breath, “No. That's not true. You wouldn't think of treating Boo the way you've treated me. But like a fool, I kept coming back for more. But this is too much. I won't share you, Emily. I can't."

Nothing she said could say or do would convince Robert she hadn't been sleeping with Dennis Morrison. “Take me home."

He turned the key in the ignition. “Then this is good-bye?” The motor purred as he pulled the car into gear.

Dry-eyed, Emily stared at him. “This is good-bye."

Robert pushed his foot down on the accelerator. “It was your choice."

Chapter 14

Sunbeams danced through the open window as a morning breeze stirred the ruffled curtains. Emily turned in bed. Today was Kevin's wedding day. Memories of her own wedding day drifted across her memory.
A marriage made in heaven,
” her mother had said as she helped Emily adjust her train. Mother hadn't lived to see how wrong she had been.

Emily could hear Larry stirring in the kitchen. She put on her robe, slid her feet into her slippers and started for the kitchen. As she came through the door Larry pointed toward the kitchen table. “I made coffee. Would you like a cup?"

As she sat down Emily nodded.

Larry poured coffee into cups, set the pot on the table and perched on the chair across from her. “This is the big day."

Emily sipped her coffee and studied the youthful face of her younger son. He had matured over the past year. The person who sat across from her now was a man. “I'm going to the church to be with Stacy."

Larry took a gulp of coffee. “Is Dad coming to the wedding?"

Emily shrugged. “I don't know. But Kevin did invite him."

"I know. Kevin told me,” Larry put his cup on the table. “You and Dad quarreled again, didn't you?"

Emily intended to take whatever steps necessary to assure that nothing marred the joy of this day. “We can talk about that some other time."

Larry was not that easily deterred. “Then you did. Kevin said he suspected as much."

Annoyance made Emily forget her high resolve. “What happens between your father and me is private. I keep saying that and nobody bothers to listen."

"You're our parents. We care about you.” The look on Larry's face said he intended to pursue the subject until he got an answer.

Emily relented. “We had a little disagreement. It's not important."

"It's important to me. What did you argue about this time?"

The potentially far-reaching consequences of the tangled affair between Robert, Dennis and herself hit Emily like a blow to the head. What would it do to Kevin and Stacy's relationship if they thought their fathers were vying for Emily's affections? “It was nothing important."

Larry shook his head in disbelief. “Kevin says Dad is really upset. It must be important to him."

"Kevin has seen Robert?” Emily didn't know if she should be pleased or concerned, “When?"

"Dad came to see Kevin a few days ago. They had a long talk. Dad apologized to Kevin. Then Kevin apologized to Dad. I think they've begun to settle their differences."

Emily felt the swift sting of unreasonable anger. Robert had no right to run to Kevin behind her back. As swiftly as it arose, the anger died away. More than anything she wanted reconciliation between Robert and Kevin, didn't she? Of course, she did. “I'm glad they were able to put the past behind them."

"I wouldn't say it's gone that far, but they've made a start. Now maybe you and Dad can do the same."

Suspicion reared its ugly head. “Did your dad put you up to talking to me?"

Larry assured her, “No. But Dennis said—"

Emily questioned caustically, “
Dennis
said? How did Dennis Morrison get involved in this?"

"Kevin and I talked to Dennis last night."

"Why, for heaven's sake?” A new fear surfaced. Had Robert told Kevin what he believed to be the truth, that Emily was having an affair with Dennis? She didn't want to believe that Robert would be that vindictive, but he had been so angry. Emily snapped, “What right do you and Kevin have to discuss your parents’ affairs with a stranger?"

Larry stood. “Calm down, Mom. Dennis is not a stranger. He's going to be Kevin's father-in-law and I consider him a good friend."

She was overreacting. Emily sat down and as calmly as she could manage, asked, “What did Dennis say?"

"A lot of things.” He eased back down into his chair.

Emily was quick to point out the inadequacy of that answer. “I want specifics.” Had Dennis mentioned his own marriage proposal to her sons? “Tell me what Dennis said."

"Well he sure didn't say anything bad about you."

Emily breathed a little easier. “Did Dennis come up with answers to your parents’ problems?” How caustic and carping she sounded.

Larry didn't seem to notice. “The good thing about talking to Dennis is that he doesn't give answers. He just clarifies the problem and lets you find your own answer."

Emily tasted her coffee. It was cold and bitter. “And did you find answers?"

Larry grinned sheepishly. “Dennis sort of said without saying it, that this was between you and Dad. He suggested that we be supportive and accepting."

How like Dennis that sounded. “We can talk about this later.” Next year sometime would suit Emily just fine. “You should be getting over to Kevin's apartment.” This situation had the potential to explode into a thousand fragments of heartbreak for all the people she held dear. “And I'm due at the church in less than an hour."

"I'm glad we talked. See you in church.” Larry dashed out the door.

Until this moment Emily had only thought about her own misery, now she was beginning to embrace a broader view. This situation had the potential to hurt so many people. Too late, she realized that she should have told Dennis about Robert's unfounded assumption. It was too late to worry about that now. But worry she did, all through the time it took her to dress and get to the church.