Now and Forever 4, The Renovated Heart (19 page)

“What do you mean
when she goes
away
?”

He put a forkful of the delectable pie in
his mouth.

“I’m not going away, sweetheart.”

“You are. You’re going to marry Daddy
again…go on tour with him.”

“Who told you that?”

Her eyes widened as she stared at her
daughter.

“Daddy. He said he’s coming with a proposal
for you. So I hope Tunney won’t be too sad. I’m glad you and daddy
are getting back together.”

“We’re not getting back together.”

She tried unsuccessfully to keep her voice
even but her rising temper brought the pitch up.

Tunney stopped eating.

“What is this, Kit?” Putting his fork down,
he directed his questioning glance at her.

“I don’t know. I have no intention of
marrying Johnny again.”

Kit shrugged but her heartbeat raced at the
expression on his face.

“That’s not what he said. He said after the
proposal, everything’ll be good again. You’d join him on the tour.
He said you could write your book and have what you want.”

“That’s crazy.”

Kit shook her head.

“Are you getting back together?” Tunney’s
eyes darkened, he placed his napkin on the table.

“We’re not. Why are you saying this,
Zoe?”

“Daddy told me not to tell you. It’s a
surprise. But I think you should know. I think it’s wonderful of
him. I guess he misses you, Mom.”

“He doesn’t!” Kit fairly hollered.

A frown marred Tunney’s handsome face. He
reached for his cup of coffee.

“Do you still love him?”

“No! I don’t.” Her hand balled into a
fist.

“But you have to. You have to!” Zoe’s voice
became frantic.

“I don’t have to. I don’t love him anymore.
He doesn’t love me, either.”

“No, no, no. You have to love Daddy. He said
you did. He said you still would. He said…he said…”

She got up from the table as tears started
and fled to her room.

“Zoe!” Kit rose out of her seat, then sat
back down again.

She wanted to follow her daughter but the
expression on Tunney’s face stopped her.

“Please, believe me. I don’t love Johnny.
I’m not going to marry him. She must be mistaken. I don’t know
anything about this.”

The decibels of her voice rose with every
word she uttered. Hysteria threatened.

He sat quietly, his face scowling.

She got up to speak to her daughter.

“Go away!” Zoe spat.

“I never said I’d go back with your father.
Never.”

She spoke through the closed door of her
daughter’s bedroom.

“He said you would. He promised me. You have
to mom, you have to. I hate the divorce. I hate it! Please,
please…marry Daddy again,” the girl sobbed.

Kit didn’t know what to do. She went back to
the dining room table, stopping to kiss Tunney, but he pulled away
from her.

“What are you going to do, Kit?”

“I’m not going back with Johnny. He’s out of
his mind. He’s probably got three more girls by now.”

“What about your daughter? She’s putting a
lot of pressure on you.”

“I couldn’t possibly. I love you, Tunney.
Please believe me.”

“Perhaps you two should work this out
alone,” he said, getting up.

“Don’t leave! Please.”

“Call me when you’ve resolved this,” he
said, putting on his coat. He gave her a light kiss as he passed
through the door.

Kit put her head down on her arms on the
dining room table and cried.

* * * *

Mac and Callie Caldwell’s house

Plans for Thanksgiving at the Caldwell house
started three weeks before the holiday. Callie could hardly contain
her excitement at having Sarah with her. The sisters had not shared
a Thanksgiving table since Callie was eighteen. Including their
friends with their relatives, Callie and Mac were preparing for
twelve adults plus six children, and one baby. Their house
resembled a tornado, a whirlwind of activity. Callie took charge of
the meal while Mac handled entertaining the children.

When Sarah, Jim and her kids arrived, Mac
and his brother, Peter, were still setting up a big table in the
dining room for the adults and a smaller one in the living room for
the children. Through the organized chaos, Sarah hung back until
Jim laced his fingers through hers and took her around to greet
everyone.

The aroma of slowly roasting turkey blended
with the spicy scent of pumpkin pie, baked at the crack of dawn.
Sarah entered the kitchen nosing around.

“Looking for something?” Callie asked her
sister.

“An apron. This dress is new.”

“Oh, no. Out,” She said, gently shooing her
sister out the door.

“What do you mean?” Sarah planted her feet
firmly, her hands on her hips.

“You do too much. Be my guest this year. Sit
in the living room, talk to Pat and Lara. Tickle the baby, but stay
out of here. I have Sam plus Eliza to help me.” She blocked the
kitchen doorway.

“Callie this is a big group, there’s so
much…”

“Stop, Sarah! Please. Let me take care of
you, for once. Okay?”

Her eyes searched her sister’s face.

“I want to. You’ve done so much for me.
Please.”

Sarah smiled at her sister and gave her a
hug.

“Ok.”

“So go sit down…give Lara some pointers on
parenting, have a drink, relax.”

Callie disappeared into the kitchen again.
The kids were playing tag, running wild through the house.

“Mac!”

Her tall, blue-eyed husband appeared, a
questioning look on his face.

“Get the kids out of here before there’s an
accident. You’re in charge…do something!”

“Roger,” he said, performing a mock
salute.

She gave him a playful slap on the shoulder
but lifted her face for his kiss.

“Soccer! All kids, front and center…in the
living room. Dads and kids soccer game!”

Each child grabbed their father and headed
for the door. Mac went to tag Laura and Scottie as his, but he was
too late. Laura hung back while Scottie ran to Jim.

“Come on,” the boy said, slipping his hand
into Jim’s.

Jim shot a questioning look at Sarah who
smiled and nodded. He grabbed his coat, turning to Laura before
leaving.

“Come on, Laura,” he said, extending his
hand to her.

“I’m busy,” she said, turning away.

Four-year-old Casey Maine walked over to
Laura, reaching for her hand.

“Come on, Laura, play soccer with me,” he
said, smiling at her.

Two-year-old Teddy Caldwell, Callie and
Mac’s youngest child, toddled over to Laura, too. She looked at the
handsome four-year-old with his brilliant blond hair wearing a
devilish grin then at her cousin, Teddy, and her resistance
melted.

“Come on,” Casey said, tugging on her
hand.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming,” she said, reaching
for her jacket.

Jim stopped to give Sarah a serious good-bye
kiss. Knowing looks were exchanged among his friends. Sarah touched
his face then stepped back, a blush creeping up her neck.

“Let’s go, Jim,” Scottie said, tugging on
the man’s sleeve.

A hush fell on the house after the men
ushered the children outside. Lara took her baby, five-month-old
Ellie Caldwell, upstairs for a nap. Sam Caldwell, Mac’s father,
donned the apron Sarah had been eyeing to join Callie in the
kitchen. Sarah settled on the sofa with a cup of coffee next to
Pat, Sam’s wife.

In an hour, Callie returned to the living
room and took her sister by the hand. “Let’s go for a walk, I need
some air.”

They walked down the empty street, enjoying
the quiet of the holiday when everyone devoted their day to
cooking, friends and family.

“So what’s up with you and Jim?” She asked
her sister.

“I knew this wasn’t going to be just a walk,
more like an inquisition.”

“I’m just asking. If you don’t want to tell
me you don’t have to.”

“Like I could keep anything from you.”

“You make me sound evil,” Callie said, hurt.
“I want you to be happy, Sarah.”

“I know, I know,” she said, patting her
sister’s arm.

“So? What’s up with you guys? Are you
sleeping with him? Are you going to marry him?”

“Callie!’ Sarah put her hands in her
pockets, she had forgotten her gloves.

“What’s the big secret? We’re both
adults.”

“You need to respect my privacy.”

“Come on, share with me.” She slipped her
arm through Sarah’s.

“Maybe…” Sarah said, weakening.

“Are you in love? Because Jim sure looks
like he is.”

Sarah averted her eyes from Callie’s probing
stare.

“Now I know what Mac means.” Sarah said, a
smile curling her lips.

“What?”

“He says you hound him for information.
Relentlessly. You are a bloodhound.”

“That’s not a nice thing to say. Observing
your kiss is all.” She dropped her sister’s arm and moved a few
feet away from her.

“He shouldn’t have kissed me like that…in
front of everyone.” Sarah moved to her sister and took her arm
again.

“Why not?”

“Because…because our relationship is our
business.”

“Not in a town this size,. Now it’s going to
be everybody’s business.”

“Oh, God.” Sarah covered her eyes with her
hand.

“What’s wrong with being in love with him?
He’s a great guy. I’ve known him a long time. I think he’s good for
you.” She patted her sister’s shoulder.

“How so?”

“For one, he won’t beat you up…” Callie
faced her sister.

“Callie!” Sarah stopped, her eyes wide.

“I don’t want to have to worry if my sister
is being abused ever again…abused by a drunken husband.” She stared
at Sarah.

“Who says he’s going to be my husband?” She
pulled away from her sister.

“You could do a lot worse.”

“He is a great guy…you’re right.”

“Scottie has taken to him.” Callie stooped
to re-tie her shoe.

“He has,” Sarah admitted.

“Says a lot about him, don’t you think?”

“I do.” A smile played at the corners of
Sarah’s mouth.

“So what’s the big deal if you’re in love
with him?” Callie raised her eyebrows.

“I’m not used to sharing so many…intimate
details…”

“I didn’t ask you any intimate details. I’d
never do that. Besides, I’m your sister. We have a bond beyond
friendship…so you are sleeping with him, right?”

“You don’t give up, do you?” She chuckled as
color stained her cheeks.

Callie shook her head as a mischievous smile
swept over her face.

“I’ve slept with him. There. Happy?” She
laughed.

“I want you to be happy. Does he make you
happy?”

“You mean in bed?”

“I mean in general.” Callie felt heat rising
to her face. She slipped her arm through her sister’s again.

“He makes me very happy.”

“Have you told him?”

She shook her head.

“Why not?” Callie cocked her head.

“I’m nervous…my history with men hasn’t been
good.”

“He deserves to know. Don’t wait. You might
lose him.”

“Is Jim seeing someone else?” Sarah stopped
walking.

“No, no. How long do you think he’ll stay if
you don’t tell him you love him?”

“I don’t know.” Her brow furrowed.

“Maybe…a deep breath and jump in.”

“Easy for you to say. You don’t know much
about Bob and me, do you?”

“We weren’t in contact much…for a long
time.” She looked down at her shoes.

“My fault. I’m sorry.” Sarah slipped her arm
around Callie’s shoulders for a hug.

“You’re here now. What happened with
Bob?”

“I met him at Yorkville College. He studied
engineering and computer science. I thought he’d make a good
living…he’d always have a good job.”

“But you didn’t love him, like you loved
Mike?” Callie questioned her sister.

“No one could replace Mike.”

Callie turned them around so they strolled
back toward the house.

“So what happened?” She slowed her pace.

“Bob was crazy about me. He had a good offer
at a high tech company in Seattle and wanted me to go with him. He
proposed. I accepted.”

“Did you love him?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. He seemed stable, or
so I thought. Someone I could lean on…and he was, for a while. I
felt bad about leaving you…” Sarah patted Callie’s hand.

“I understood. You needed to save
yourself.”

“Thanks.” Sarah smiled at her sister.

“So what happened to your grand plan?”

“I had Laura pretty soon after we were
married, then Scottie. Things were good.”

“But not like with Mike, right?”

Sarah shook her head. “I stayed home as a
fulltime mom, which I loved. Then Bob lost his job. I had to go to
work.”

“What did you do?”

“I’ve always loved writing. I lucked into a
job writing press releases for a congressman. I did well…ended up
working for the governor.”

“How exciting!”

“Yes…until everything fell apart. As my star
rose, Bob’s fell. He couldn’t get a job and began to drink. He took
out his frustration on me. At first only by yelling, but that
didn’t seem to satisfy him.” Her hand fisted at her side.

“Oh, Sarah.” Callie’s eyes filled with
tears. .

“He started throwing things. Before long he
started aiming at me. Then he hit me.” Sarah’s voice faded to a
whisper, a shudder ran through her body.

“I wish I could have been there…”

“Nobody could have helped me. I had to help
myself. After the second drunken beating, my friends in the
governor’s office found me a temporary space. I packed up the kids
and fled in the middle of the night, when he was passed out.”

Sarah stopped and took a deep breath.

“We hid out in a cockroach-infested room on
the other side of town. I filed for divorce. Bob came looking for
us one night, in a rage, after he’d been drinking. You know the
rest.”