The Wedding Garden (14 page)

“Because, my dear boy, I loved the woman who loved you.” He rose and gently placed a hand on Sloan’s shoulder.
“For her sake and in her memory, I do not want you to make the same mistakes. When God presents a second chance, grasp hold for all you’re worth and don’t let go for anything.”

T
he scent of grilled chicken basted in Italian seasonings drifted over the redbrick patio in Dooley Crawford’s backyard. Annie shucked the fresh roasted corn while her mother, Carleen, set up the Slip ’n Slide for Justin and Delaney.

“You kids put on some sunscreen.” Annie waved a tube at them. “Dinner is almost ready.”

Already soaked, both kids ran dripping back to the patio, lathered on sunscreen and dashed toward the slide, bare feet slapping the plastic. Their squeals and laughter warmed Annie from the inside out.

Mother lifted the grill lid, flipped the chicken breasts, smoke and scent rolling.

“Smells great, Mom.”

“I wonder where your dad is.” Her mother lowered the lid and laid the spatula aside. “He should be here by now.”

“Give him a call. Tell him he has ten minutes before Justin devours his corn.” Annie stripped away the charred husk to get to the perfectly roasted yellow kernels.

“That should get him moving. Be back in a minute.” Mother slipped through the patio doors into the house, re
turning with the cordless in hand and a disappointed expression.

“What?” Annie asked. “Don’t tell me Dad’s still working.”

“Yes. Again.” Her mother’s voice was tight with annoyance.

“No wonder his ulcer eats him up.”

“That’s what I tell him. He works too much. He has deputies that could handle things, but he thinks he’s the only one who can do it right.”

“Dad’s way or the highway.” She plopped a cleaned ear onto a platter.

“Isn’t that the truth?” Carleen tried to smile, but Annie could see how bothered she was by the absence. “He knew you and the kids were coming over. You’ve been so busy at the Hawkins’s place we haven’t had a cookout together all summer. He should have made the time.”

“I know, but it’s okay. Really. I’m used to his absence.” From the time she was small, Dad’s police work came first. He’d missed more than one of her basketball games as well as her middle school promotion.

Her mother sighed and finished putting the meal on the wrought-iron table. As the four of them ate dinner, Carleen was unusually quiet even though Justin and Delaney were clowning around and pretty funny. When the last corn was crunched and the meal cleared away, Annie thought of why she’d come over in the first place.

“Mom, do you mind if I go through some of the photo albums? I want to find some old pictures.”

“Why, no, of course not. You know where they are.”

“Come with me.” Annie hooked an arm through her mother’s. “Maybe looking at those old snapshots will cheer you up.”

“Some of them make me laugh, that’s for sure.”

Leaving the kids to play, they headed inside. Carleen went
to the bedroom and returned with a stack of albums. “Any particular pictures you wanted?”

“Hmm. Yes.” Annie prowled through the half-dozen books. “From when I was small up through high school. I’m helping Sloan with a project.”

“Oh.” Annie knew that tone of voice. Sloan was never a pleasant topic, even with her mother, though Mom was nicer about him than Dad. “What kind of project?”

“A couple, actually. An album for Sloan of his boyhood, to start with. I’m sure there are some of the two of us in here.”

“Undoubtedly.” Mother and Daddy hadn’t minded Annie and Sloan playing together as children, but at some point—probably when they began to date—all that changed. The son of Redemption’s worst criminal was not considered good enough for the police chief’s daughter.

“I also had the idea of putting together a book of wedding photos taken in the Hawkins’s garden. Weren’t you and Daddy married there?”

“We were. I have lots of wedding shots. You know how I love capturing special occasions.”

They began leafing through the photos, selecting a few to be copied. Annie was glad to see her mother’s mood lightening as she told stories about the old snapshots.

“This was when your daddy was first named police chief.” Carleen’s voice was filled with pride. “He’d worked such long hours to get there. He was the youngest chief in the state at that time.”

Annie had heard the story before but didn’t mind. She was proud of her father, too. She turned another page. “What’s this one? Dad’s all dressed up but he doesn’t look too happy.”

Her mother leaned in for a look. “That was his fortieth birthday. He was so bothered by that number he wouldn’t let me throw a party for him, but I bought him that beautiful watch.”

The comment drew Annie’s attention to her father’s outstretched wrist. “I don’t remember him having one like that.”

“That’s because he lost it that same night. I was already furious with him for going to work instead of letting me take him out to dinner as I’d planned. But duty called.”

“As it always does,” Annie said wryly, thinking of tonight’s cookout.

“Yes. And he was gone half the night. Something about cows on the road or a bull getting hit by a truck. I don’t remember. Anyway, he lost that expensive watch and I didn’t speak to him for days.”

“Mom,” Annie admonished.

“Sounds silly now, doesn’t it? To be mad at him on his birthday.” She flipped a page. “Look here, honey. This one is you and Sloan. You were about Justin’s age, I guess. Maybe a little older.”

“I remember that. We attended a birthday picnic in the town square.” Annie’s heart squeezed. She wondered if her mother noticed that Sloan and Justin shared the same lanky frame and the same way of tilting their heads to smile. “He was handsome even then.”

“And sad-looking, I thought. This was after Joni ran off. Poor little thing. I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him back then.”

“I know you did. You were always kind to him.” Annie patted her mother’s arm. “I asked him to come with me tonight.”

“Well, honey, I’m glad he didn’t accept. You know how your dad is, especially when it comes to his little girl.”

“I’m not a teenager anymore, Mom. I’m a responsible adult. And in case Dad hasn’t noticed, so is Sloan. He just lost his aunt. He’s terribly alone. Showing kindness and compassion is the Christian thing to do. You taught me that.”

“Yes, but Sloan was a wild child, Annie. A troublemaker long before his mother ran off with that trucker. Being kind
and getting personally involved are two different things. I just don’t trust him after the way he hurt you.”

Annie had to admit she struggled with the same issues, but her parents’ outright rejection of Sloan because of the past irritated her. “He’s changed, Mom. Besides, Sloan was never the terrible person Daddy made him out to be. He was ornery and rebellious, but never violent.” A lot like your grandson, she wanted to say. “Toilet-papering the principal’s house is not capital murder.”

“Vandalism is nothing to take lightly. As you well know from Justin’s recent experience.”

“I’m not excusing Sloan’s behavior. But he was a boy. A boy who thought the whole town hated him because of his parents’ mistakes. Besides, did anyone ever bother to ask why he did those things?”

“The principal suspended him for fighting.”

“Because a kid called his mother a bad name.”

“Excuses don’t change the stripes on a tiger.”

“The Sloan I knew wasn’t perfect—” Her mother made a rude noise but Annie went on. For once, Mother was going to listen to reason. Annie was tired of her parents behaving as if Sloan was Typhoid Mary. “He was also gentle and kind, a champion of the underdog, though no one gave him any credit. If he took up for someone, he was the one who ended up in trouble.” Partly because he was too proud to tell the whole story. “I remember once when a bunch of kids were tormenting a poor cat with its head stuck in a salmon can. Instead of joining the crowd, Sloan chased the kids away and spent ten minutes gently freeing the hysterical cat.”

“Which is nice if it’s true.”

“I was there. I know it happened. Just as I know a lot of other good things about Sloan.” She gnawed at her lip. “I can’t help wondering what would have happened if he’d never
left town. He was better to me than any boy I ever dated, including Joey.”

Her mother studied her with concerned eyes. “I don’t like the sound of your voice, Annie. You be careful. The last thing you need is to fall for him again.”

Annie pressed her lips together, and then with a sigh admitted, “I think I already have.”

Carleen sat back against the couch cushions, hand against her throat. “Honey, be sensible. That boy has never been good for you. He broke your heart.”

“That
boy
is a man. A good man.”

“You don’t know that. He’s been here a couple of months. You don’t know what he’s been up to for the last ten years.”

“Twelve.”

Her mother batted the air. “Whatever. The point is you’re a lonely divorcée who never had any sense when it came to men.”

Cut to the heart, Annie gasped. “Mother!”

“Well, I’m sorry, honey, but it’s true. Dad and I have tried to save you from heartache your whole life and you seem to chase it down. When you were a teen, we were frantic with worry over the way you threw yourself at Sloan. If you would have listened to reason in the first place, Dad would never have taken such drastic measures to get him away from you. But no, you wanted the town bad boy and nothing we could say made any difference.”

“Wait. Wait.” Annie held up both hands, her brain locked on one statement. “Back up. What do you mean Dad had to take drastic measures? I thought Sloan left because he was in trouble.” Her heart thumped with a sudden, frightening thought. “Did Daddy do something to make Sloan leave town? Is that what you mean?”

Her mother’s face paled. “I— What I mean is— Nothing, just nothing.” But she pressed fingers against each temple as
if a headache threatened and Annie knew. She
knew
her mother was hiding something.

Her throat went dry. “Mother, tell me what you’re talking about.
Tell me.
”

Carleen swung her body away, fist pressed against her mouth. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“But you did and now I have to know. Did Daddy do something to make Sloan leave? Was there more to the burglary charge than I know about?”

Her mother took a shaky breath. “Your daddy was beside himself with worry. He was scared his little girl was getting too involved with the wrong boy and he had to do something.”

“What kind of something?” Annie’s voice rose. Certain her heart was going to explode, she pressed the photo albums against her chest.

“Please don’t tell your daddy I told you this. There was no burglary.”

Annie’s mouth dropped open. “Sloan was innocent?”

“Yes.” Carleen’s hands twisted in her lap. She looked away, unable to meet Annie’s eyes. “Don’t hate us, honey. We did what we thought was best for our child. You’re a parent. You understand that.”

Did what? What did they do? Annie’s brain reeled with the implications, most of which still made no sense. “I don’t understand. If Sloan knew he was innocent, why did he leave?”

“I told you, the charge wasn’t burglary.”

“What was it?” What crime was so terrible that Sloan would leave and never look back?

Head down, Mother’s answer was a tired whisper. “Rape.”

“Rape?” Annie nearly shouted. “Of who?”

Carleen’s expression was haunted as she turned to her daughter. “You.”

A
nnie couldn’t breathe. She was smothering. Absolutely smothering. Desperate, she rolled down the window of her car, cranked the A/C full blast and drove faster.

This was unreal. It could not be happening. Sloan had been accused of raping her?

A hysterical giggle erupted, completely out of line with what was going on inside her body. Nausea rolled through her. Sweat beaded on her face and neck.

Lies. Deceit. Ruined lives. Mother and Daddy had no idea the twisted set of circumstances they’d set into motion on prom night twelve years ago.

Why hadn’t Sloan told her the truth? Why had he run away instead of facing the false accusation?

She turned down the lane toward the Hawkins’s house, gravel spewing out behind. She slammed on the brakes and was out of the car before it stopped rocking.

“Sloan!” she cried. Her feet hit the porch running.

The door opened and Sloan was there.

“Annie, what’s wrong?” Sloan gripped her shoulders, blue
eyes wide with concern. “The kids? Where are the kids? What’s happened?”

The sheer panic in his voice calmed her. He was worried about her kids. Dear Lord, she loved him so much. How could this have happened? “At Mother’s. They’re fine. It’s not them. It’s you.”

“Me?” He blinked in confusion, worry lines deepening. “I’m fine, but you’re shaking all over. Come inside out of the heat and tell me what’s going on.”

Sloan slid an arm around her waist and gently drew her inside. Gratefully, Annie leaned into him, afraid her knees wouldn’t hold her much longer.

“Sit,” he commanded. “I’ll get you some water.”

Numbly, she slumped onto the couch and wrapped her arms around her waist. Her stomach hurt. Her heart hurt. Oh, what had her parents done to her—and to this good man?

Sloan returned with a glass of ice water and crouched in front of her. “Drink this.”

She could feel him watching her while she gulped half the contents, letting the cold calm the fire in her belly. When she finished, he took the glass and set it aside.

“What happened? Are you all right?” He balanced on his toes in front of her, watchful.

“Mother told me something tonight.” Annie took a breath that didn’t quite satisfy the air hunger. She felt as if she’d been punched and no amount of breathing would ever again be enough. “She didn’t intend to but she did.”

“What kind of something?”

“About you, about prom night twelve years ago.”

Sloan went still. “Yeah?”

“She said Dad accused you of rape.”

A beat of silence and then the cautious reply. “Now you know.”

She searched his face. He was still hiding something. But
what? “Stop hedging, Sloan. You were accused of raping me. And we both know that’s a lie.”

He looked toward the ceiling, then pushed to a stand and turned his back. “She shouldn’t have told you. I didn’t want you to know.”

“Why? Why, Sloan?” Annie grabbed his arm and pulled him around. “I would have testified on your behalf no matter what my parents thought. Why didn’t you give me the chance to defend you?”

Sloan rubbed his hands down his face. “Think about what you just said, Annie. Think about it. If I had stayed to fight, everyone in town would have known about the charges. The gossips like Roberta Prine would have gone wild. You were a nice girl. I couldn’t do that to you.”

“I don’t understand—” But suddenly comprehension flooded her. “Oh, Sloan. My wonderful Sloan. You left to protect my reputation, didn’t you?”

Expression hard and controlled, he nodded. “If I’d known you were pregnant, nothing and no one could have made me leave. But your dad knew he had an ace in the hole. He knew I loved you enough to protect you if I could. He tossed the options on the table and I saw no choice but to do as he demanded.”

Slowly, Annie rose from the sofa. Years of self-doubt fell away as she touched Sloan’s face.

“You loved me that much.” Sloan hadn’t abandoned her. He’d left to protect her, and he’d gone on protecting her with his silence until today.

“I did.” His throat worked for a moment before he said, “Still do.”

The tragic beauty of his sacrifice welled inside her until tears of grief and regret broke free. “All this time, I wondered what I had done to drive you away.”

“Oh, Annie girl, don’t cry. You never did anything. Don’t
you know that? Not one thing other than give me hope.” Tenderly, he drew her to him until she was cradled against his broad chest. Tears rolled over her cheeks and onto his shirt-front as she let go of twelve years of self-doubt and heartache. Sloan loved her. He always had.

Emotion boiled inside Sloan like hot lava. Seeing Annie cry tore him apart. At the same time, a load lifted from his shoulders. Annie knew the truth. He’d never wanted her hurt that way, especially with all the events that had been set into motion that long ago night. He wondered if Dooley would have gone ahead with his plan to get rid of the town bad boy if he’d known Annie was pregnant? Probably. The chief would have wanted him gone even more.

Part of him wanted to rip Dooley’s head off and make him pay for the harm he’d inflicted. But another part of him knew he wouldn’t be the man he was today if he hadn’t been forced into the military. Aunt Lydia hadn’t known the truth any more than Annie had, but she’d always told him God had a way of working things out. Sloan only wished the plan hadn’t been so hard on Annie.

With a sigh, he kissed the top of her soft hair and smoothed aside the tickling strands. What a tangled mess he’d unwittingly left behind.

“I’m sorry, pretty girl, for all the hurt I’ve ever caused you.”

A soft rustling sound came as she shook her head against his shirt front. “Not your fault. You were hurt, too. Daddy did this to both of us.”

She pulled back a little to look up at him. Her eyes were red and puffy and Sloan could no more keep from touching his lips to each one than he could bring his Aunt Lydia back from Heaven. He had loved this woman for so long. She had no idea the power she held over him.

His heart thundered in his chest. After all the water that flowed under Redemption Bridge, was there a chance he and Annie could start again? Now that the cat was out of the bag, what did they have to lose?

But he knew the answer before he asked. Dooley would always stand in the way. Annie loved her dad, and though Sloan despised his tactics, Dooley apparently wanted only the best for his daughter. So did Sloan.

Sloan had had so little of family in his own life he knew the value of relationships. Expecting Annie to choose was unfair. “I don’t want to come between you and your family.”

The corner of her mouth curved. “You always have.”

Sloan gave a short laugh. “Ah, Annie. What are we going to do now?”

She laid a palm against his cheek, soothing him as she’d done when he was a wild and angry boy. His eyes fell shut and he soaked her into his soul. Somehow, some way, he would make peace with Dooley Crawford for the sake of the woman they both loved.