Route 66 Reunions (29 page)

Did God truly watch over His children and supply their needs like the verses said? She’d drifted from His presence over the years, but maybe she needed to do more than attend church on Sunday morning. By the time she finished reading and praying, her eyes were drooping, and she went to sleep with a strange feeling of security she hadn’t experienced for several years.

When Sarah still hadn’t reached Kevin by Thursday evening, she gave up. Unless he’d changed, he’d be on her doorstep at seven the following evening, expecting her to be ready. That evening, she searched her closet for something suitable to wear and finally settled on a navy blue dress with matching two-inch heels.

Friday evening when her doorbell rang, Sarah’s heart lurched, and although she’d been listening for the sound, she startled and hurried to the door. In the entrance hall, she stopped and steadied herself with her hand against the wall. Kevin meant nothing to her. They were only having a business dinner.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Sarah forced herself to relax. She could do this. She could go out with Kevin and keep her mind on the home. Truly she could. With a trembling hand, she opened the door.

“Hi.” He smiled, and her heart thudded.

“Hi.” Her lashes shuttered the emotion that must be shining in her eyes. Oh how mature! Her mind flashed back twenty years to her first date. Kevin took her out to eat that night, too. At the local drive-in. He’d just gotten his driver’s license, and she’d felt so grown-up to be car dating. Something was wrong here. She didn’t want to feel like a fifteen-year-old girl all over again.

Her chin lifted and her eyes opened wide, meeting Kevin’s searching gray eyes. “Well.” She spoke over the pounding in her chest. “I’m ready if you are.”

She clutched her purse in her hand and stepped out, pulling the door closed. “So where are you taking me tonight to discuss our business?”

He smiled and tucked her hand under his arm as they walked to the curb where his car waited. “I assume you’ve moved past carhop service, so I thought of Latarini’s. I think you’ll like it.”

She could have moved her hand, but didn’t. Maybe his mention of their past shocked her into leaving it there. Maybe her memories, and obviously his, kept her from rebelling. Maybe she just liked the feel of his suit coat under her fingers. She allowed him to lead her to the passenger side and help her in. Kevin had always been a gentleman. His thoughtfulness chipped away at her resentment.

At the elegant Italian restaurant, she was surprised to discover Kevin had reservations. The maitre d’ led them to a table on one side and waited while Kevin held Sarah’s chair then seated himself. The round table, covered by a white linen cloth, held a tall crystal vase with one long-stem yellow rose. Sarah felt as if she was being courted.

“Kevin.” She looked over her menu at him. “Why are you doing this? We could have discussed the home over the phone. Why did you bring me here? This will cost you a fortune.”

He chuckled. “Right now, Sarah, I have a fortune, more or less. Relax and enjoy the evening. Tell me, when was the last time you dined in a place this grand?”

Sarah looked across the room at the luxurious furnishings from the elaborate chandelier in the center of the dining room to the plush carpeting under their feet. She thought of Harold and shoved guilt aside. She could eat like this more often if she’d give the doctor even a hint of encouragement. She didn’t want to though, partly because she felt uncomfortable with the idea of becoming a stepmother, but mostly because with the wrong person, rich surroundings turned to dust.

When she met Kevin’s gaze without answering, he lifted his eyebrows and shook his head. “I thought as much. Why don’t you look at the menu and stop worrying about my motives. I assure you, they are pure as the driven snow.”

“Sure, snow in April,” Sarah muttered under her breath and heard Kevin’s chuckle.

“None of that, Sarah.” He shook a finger at her. “Remember that snow we had the last of April when we were kids? We even built a snowman.”

“Yes, and it lasted until the next day when the sun came out.” They’d had fun. She and Kevin. Amanda and Chad. That was the year before Trey was born. The two couples had done so many fun things together. They’d made a lot of plans. Plans that never materialized for any of them. She’d thought Amanda and Chad would make it, but they broke up after they went to college.

She lowered her menu and asked, “You and Chad were good friends. As close as Amanda and me. I’ve totally lost track of Chad. Do you know what happened to him?”

Kevin shrugged. “Not really. I heard he became a teacher.”

“Did he ever marry?”

Kevin nodded. “That I do know, because I was his best man.”

“Have you ever been married?” She knew she shouldn’t care, but she had to know.

He grinned. “Nope.”

She couldn’t stop the smile that lifted the corners of her mouth any more than she could stop her next question. “Why not?”

The gray of his eyes seemed almost blue as they swept over her features. His smile disappeared. “Let’s just say I’ve never found another woman as beautiful and as appealing as you, Sarah.”

A discreet clearing of the throat brought their attention to a waiter who stood at Kevin’s side. “Would you care to order, sir?”

Sarah chose salmon, while Kevin ordered steak. For a while their conversation turned to less personal things, such as the restaurant, their food, and the live band playing across the room. Once Sarah mentioned Marilee’s Home, but Kevin brushed her concerns aside.

“Let’s talk about that later. Maybe after the theater.”

Sarah smiled. “You’re taking me to see a movie?”

“Certainly, if you like.” Kevin winked at her. “I’m guessing you still like to watch the big screen. When was the last time you went to the theater, Sarah?”

“Are you trying to check out my dating schedule?” Sarah laughed.

Kevin’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, so you have a schedule. Not that I’m surprised. You must have admirers standing in line begging for your attention.”

“Hardly.” Sarah couldn’t stop another giggle from bubbling out at the thought. She hadn’t had so much fun in ages. “But for your information, I do occasionally go out. And no, there’s no one special in my life. That’s one thing I don’t intend to change.”

Most of Kevin’s comments were more teasing than serious. Sarah took them for what they were and didn’t worry about any underlying meaning as he joked with her about the fictitious men in her life.

Kevin wasn’t such a bad sort after all. She’d been angry with him for too many years. But his charm broke through her defenses. Maybe Harold’s comment that they’d been children when Trey was born caused her to see him in a different light. She remembered how frightened he’d been when she told him about the baby. No wonder he suggested abortion. At least he never mentioned it again.

On the way to the theater, their conversation moved to Trey, and Sarah recognized pride in Kevin’s voice. “He’s a great kid, Sarah. His parents have to be so proud of him. They’ve done a good job.”

“Yes, they have.” An unexpected pang of loss struck her so she looked out the window. “I try to imagine what it would’ve been like if I’d been able to raise him, but I can’t.”

“I know.”

She looked back at him and saw a muscle twitch in Kevin’s jaw. She waited, but he didn’t say anything more, and she wondered what he was thinking. They arrived at the theater, and the moment was gone.

When they walked down the darkened aisle, Kevin’s hand at the small of her back felt warm and more natural than she’d expected. They took their seats, and she leaned close to say, “Remind me that we are here to talk about the home.”

He gave her a blank look for a moment and then smiled. “Yes, that’s a good idea, but maybe we should wait until later. Okay?”

So he hadn’t planned to discuss the home after all. Why, then, had he invited her out? She should be angry, but she wasn’t. She nodded and smiled because she couldn’t help reacting to those dimples that hadn’t lost their appeal. She was so glad Trey had inherited Kevin’s dimples. Just wait until he got to college. He’d have more girls chasing him than he could handle. She giggled at the thought.

“What’s funny?” Kevin leaned close and took her hand in his. “I know it can’t be the movie.”

Sarah focused on the screen and shook her head. She’d laughed during a rather dry confrontation between two men plotting a prison break. “Oops, now you know I wasn’t listening. Actually, I was thinking about Trey. Did he tell you if he has a girl?”

Kevin’s grin widened, and he squeezed her hand. He whispered back, “No, but if he ever does, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay, you do that.” She settled back and watched a movie she could have lived very well without seeing. Most of the scenes moved across the screen without her attention. How could she concentrate on the perfect crime when Kevin Nichols held her hand? For the next two hours, she became the seventeen year-old girl who loved Kevin more than anyone or anything, as if the last eighteen years had been deleted from her memory.

The movie ended and the lights came on, both literally and figuratively. As they walked out of the theater, Sarah knew she had fallen for Kevin’s charms again, just as she had so long ago. She let him guide her outdoors and help her into his car.

“Would you like to go anyplace else?” He smiled across the seat as if nothing had changed. As if he’d really intended to talk about the girls’ home. Had he used it as an excuse—for what? They couldn’t renew an old love that had died so long ago. Dead and buried. That pretty well summed up their relationship.

She shook her head. “No, I think we’ve done enough.”

Kevin didn’t speak while he drove across the city. He kept his hands on the steering wheel and, Sarah supposed, his mind on the traffic. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes until he turned and slowed his speed. With a smile her way, he found her street, pulled into the driveway, and stopped.

He put his hand on the seat behind her. “You look tired.”

She smiled. “I hope you don’t consider that a compliment.”

He chuckled. “On you, even tired is beautiful.”

He opened his door and circled the car without waiting for her to respond. She wouldn’t have known what to say anyway. They walked to her front door, and he waited until she had it unlocked.

He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Thanks for the best time I’ve had in a long time.”

With a quick smile, Kevin walked to his car while she stood in her open doorway watching him. His taillights were two red dots at the end of the street before she stepped in and secured the door. She leaned her head against the hard wood and closed her eyes. Kevin Nichols had always held the key to her heart. Eighteen years ago, his rejection had locked every romantic notion she’d ever had inside, and that’s the way she wanted it to stay. Never again could she subject her heart to the pain that loving Kevin caused.

S
arah didn’t expect to hear from Kevin on Saturday, but Sunday morning in church, she kept glancing toward the back in case he showed up. He didn’t.

Monday and Tuesday passed without a word from him. Wednesday morning Tricia buzzed over the intercom that Sarah had a call from Dr. Jenson. She hadn’t heard from Harold all week either.

“Thanks, Tricia. I’ll take it.” Sarah pushed the button and lifted the receiver. “Hello, Harold.”

“How’s Sarah today?” His voice sounded warm and confident over the phone.

“I’m fine. Just digging into the routine.”

He laughed. “I hope your work isn’t as boring as you make it sound.”

“Not really.” What could he want? Did pediatricians have time to chat between patients? No wonder she always had to wait so long at the doctor’s office. “At least I have enough to keep me busy.”

“Ah yes, then I’ll get right to the point.”

Chalk one up for Harold. He could take a hint. She smiled to herself and waited without comment.

“How would you like to visit a museum with my daughter and me? Katie has a history project at school. She has to tour a museum and write a story about life around the time of the Chicago fire. I hope you’ll say yes. Katie would like to see you again.”

Sarah visualized Harold’s young daughter and sighed inwardly. She’d met the child once briefly. Katie probably didn’t remember, but maybe Harold was right. Maybe she was bored.

“Sure,” she said. “When did you have in mind?”

“Tomorrow evening. Her story is due next week. That gives her the weekend to work on it. How does five thirty sound? We’ll grab a bite to eat first since the museum stays open until eight.”

Sounded very domestic in a stifling sort of way. Sarah cringed. What was wrong with her? Harold had been nothing but nice from their first encounter. His daughter held top priority in his life and she understood. She would have been the same if she’d been able to raise Trey. Little Katie Jenson would never be a substitute for Trey in her heart though. No child would.

She focused on the answer she knew Harold expected. “That’ll work fine. I’ll look forward to tomorrow.”

“Great. I’ll let you get back to work. We’ll see you tomorrow. Oh, and Sarah, wear something casual.”