Читать книгу Two Rings, One Heart - Martha Mason - Страница 10

Megan relaxed a little with Mitchell out of town. Then she began thinking. Maybe he had left again for good. She decided to call Sea Weed, or whatever, to see if he had been telling her the truth.

She dialed information. “I’d like a new listing, Sea something-or-other.”

The operator gave her the information and she punched in the numbers. “See Life. May I help you?” a friendly female voice asked.

“Yes. Do you have a Mitchell Whitney employed there?” she asked.

“Oh, yes. But Mr. Whitney is out of town. Could I take a message?”

“Could you possibly tell me Mr. Whitney’s position?”

“Well, Mr. Whitney handles everything. Could I tell him who’s calling?” she asked.

“No, thank you,” Megan said, hanging up. So he had a job. Big deal.

On Monday morning, Megan cheerfully answered the phone. “Meadow Flowers. How can I help you?”

“You could tell me you missed me,” Mitchell said timidly.

“I didn’t know you’d be back so soon,” she replied indifferently.

“I missed you guys,” he admitted anyway. “Would it be possible for me to see the kids tonight?”

“It’s not a good idea for them to be out late on school nights,” she said, trying to put him off. Just hearing his voice, she was tensing up again.

“We’ll go out for pizza and a quick trip to the mall, and be home by seven,” he persisted.

Megan thought of Zack. He’d been waiting all week to see his father. “They get home around 3:45. I’ll leave a note saying you’ll pick them up at four.”

“Would you care to join us?” he asked, then waited through a long silence.

“I have to work late,” she said, and hung up.

With the kids out of the house, Megan again began thinking of the past. Everything had been wonderful the first few years. She and Mitchell had gotten married right out of high school. A couple of years later, Zack had been born. Mitchell was beside her through everything. Mitch would get up with her to feed Zack. Then they would stand by his crib and watch him sleep. If something had been wrong with the relationship, she hadn’t seen it.

Later Mitch wasn’t happy with his job. They saved for him to go to night school, but as soon as he started, one thing or another went wrong. Mitch started going out with some of the guys after work to commiserate over a few beers.

It wasn’t long before Mitchell was missing some of his classes and neglecting to study. He began making careless mistakes at work, then not showing up for work. He didn’t show up for work one time too many. They fired him.

His father put the pressure on him and told him to shape up. Everything was fine for a while. Things were going well, except that he was still meeting the “ol’ buddies” every now and then.

Then without warning, Mitchell’s father died. The two of them had been really close, and Mitchell took his father’s death hard. No longer was the man he loved and respected there to jerk him up short when he needed it.

It was about that time that Mitchell began spending his weekends drinking with “the guys.” Everything started to add up again. Only this time he began pulling into himself and away from his family. But all that was the past. Megan didn’t want to think about it anymore. She went to wash clothes to keep occupied.

She was in her room, reading, when the kids came home. Jess dashed in with a shopping bag in hand and flopped down beside her. “Look what I got!” she exclaimed excitedly, pulling out a pair of dress boots.

Megan had seen them before, when she told Jess they were too expensive and looked too old for her. “You talked your dad into buying them?”

“He thought they were pretty and he didn’t mind getting them for me,” Jess jabbered.

Then Zack came in carrying a shopping bag. He showed his mother two pairs of jeans and a nice sweatshirt. “Dad got some jeans and a shirt. He wanted to buy us something,” he explained in an apologetic tone.

“That was nice of him,” Megan said.

“Mom, he asks about you every time we go out,” Zack said.

“I’ve got homework,” Jess said, obviously bored. She seemed disappointed that her mother hadn’t gotten mad at her dad for buying the boots. Hadn’t made him take them back.

“Mom, you could be a little nicer to him,” Zack pushed.

“Zack, go do your homework!”

“Mom, we used to be so happy. It could be that way again.”

Megan got up. “I need to see if the doors are locked.”

“I locked them when we came in,” said Zack, and continued to badger her. “You always told us everyone deserves a second chance. Why doesn’t that pertain to Dad?”

She stopped short. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I gave him chance after chance after chance. Face it, Zack, he chose alcohol over us.”

“He was drinking then. He’s not now. He’s changed.”

Megan stared at her son, unmoved.

“Give him another chance. You’d do that for a stranger,” he pointed out.

It was ironic that Zack was defending his father to her. “You just don’t understand, Zack. He broke my trust in him. He just walked away and never even got in touch with me. He broke my heart,” she added.

“But he came back!” he argued.

“Too late.”

“Only because you won’t give him a chance.”

Megan’s mouth gaped opened. It took her a few seconds to pull herself together. “I didn’t leave. He did,” she said quietly.

The next morning Megan was sipping a cup of coffee, when Zack came downstairs.

“I’m sorry about last night,” Zack admitted stiffly.

“I’m glad your dad is back for you. Can’t you accept that and be happy?”

“I still think you two should at least try to be friends. If for no other reason than for Jess and me. We need parents who aren’t at each other’s throats,” he said dryly.

“I’ll think about what you said,” Megan conceded.

“Dad wants us to go out with him for dinner Wednesday night.”

Megan nodded that she heard him, but said nothing.

Wednesday night Megan fixed a snack, turned on the radio to her favorite oldies station, and sat at the kitchen table to do some book work. Right at seven, the children came in.

“Mom, do you mind if Dad and I watch the game here?” Zack asked, his displeasure with her still showing. “If you do, we can go to his place.”

“Here is fine,” Megan answered quickly, knowing Zack was testing her. The last thing she wanted was her son hanging out at Mitchell’s place.

Mitchell had refused to come in until Zack got permission. As they came through the kitchen, Mitchell spoke, Megan nodded.

Later, Megan heard Jess in the family room with them. She shook her head in amazement. Jess put up such a front that she hated Mitchell.

When the game was over, Zack made his exit before Mitchell reached the kitchen. “’Night, Dad,” he said, and dashed up the stairs.

“We’ll do something this weekend,” Mitchell called after him.

Megan grumbled and started erasing frantically.

“Problems?” Mitchell asked.

Megan dropped the pencil and began to rub her temples. “I’ve been at it too long. All the numbers keep coming up wrong,” she confessed.

He peeped over her shoulder. “Maybe I could help?”

Megan knew he was good in math, and she was’ tired. She slid the adding machine over to the next chair.

Mitch ran up the figures twice. Then he rechecked his numbers against hers. “You transposed some numbers,” he said, showing her.

Megan leaned back in the chair. “Numbers never were my thing.”

“I remember.”

She got up. “Want some coffee?”

“Would you mind?” he asked.

“No. I wanted to ask how things were going.” She poured him a cup and added one sugar. When she realized what she had done, she glanced at him, hoping he hadn’t noticed. He was grinning at her. She dumped in another sugar. “So, how are things?” she asked casually, handing him the cup.

“I’m not sure,” he admitted.

Megan propped her head on her hands. “You’re doing okay.”

“How do you know?” he asked, frowning.

She smiled. “Because Jess doesn’t like to watch sports on TV.”

Mitchell looked surprised. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.”

Their eyes caught in uncertainty. Megan felt her expression turn from smiling and happy to clouded and sad. Then her eyes became watery and she dropped her head between her arms for a moment.

“Thanks for the help,” she said, lifting her head, her composure regained.

Mitchell got to his feet. “I better get going. Thanks for the coffee.” Neither had touched it.

Walking back to his car, Mitchell wondered what was going through Megan’s mind. So many times she had been willing to help him. And instead of accepting, what had he done? Thrown all of her caring and love back in her face by leaving her. He had been such a fool. He had made a lot of mistakes. He couldn’t just forget them. He had to try to right them. And it might take him a long time. He needed to find a place where they could begin again.

As the longer days of spring arrived, Megan’s busy season began, and working late became the norm.

The kids barely noticed. Zack gave up time with his friends to be with his father. Jess was enjoying all the benefits, but still being a brat.

Ruth saw her son on a regular basis. Most of the time he came over to cut the grass or take care of some other job that needed doing. She figured that he was trying to make up for the past.

When Megan’s sister, Cass, heard Mitchell was back, she wasted no time before calling. Cass never had anything good to say about Mitchell. She felt her sister had married the wrong man. She always held up her extravagant life to Megan as an example to strive for. As soon as Megan answered the phone, Cass started right in.

“Megan, I heard Mitchell’s back in town. I certainly hope you’re keeping Jessica and Zachary away from him!”

“Hi, Cass. How are you?” Megan asked, ignoring her sister’s comment.

“Why didn’t you tell me? You’re letting him see them, aren’t you!” she accused. “You know you really have no sense at all when it comes to that man. He has no right to see them. He deserted you! Tell him he can do you a favor and get lost for the rest of your life. Then maybe you can start living again!”

“Cass, Mitchell is and always will be the children’s father. That’s all there is to it.”

“From my standpoint, he has no rights at all. He gave them up when he walked out on you.” Then a new thought came to Cass. “You’ll be the one he wants to see next. Then what?” She waited only a second before she started in again. “I’ll tell you what will happen. He’ll move in with you. Then he’ll take over your business and ruin that for you. Then you and the children can be penniless again when he takes off to who-knows-where. Megan, wake up! The man’s no good. You were just too young and naive to see it before. Surely you’ve smartened up a little over the years.”

“I’ve got to go, Cass. Talk to you soon,” Megan said, and hung up.

But Cass just couldn’t leave it alone. She called their parents and got them all stirred up. Before the night was over, they called Megan.

“Megan, what on earth is going on there? Cass is frantic. She says Mitch is back and up to his old tricks again!” her father bellowed as soon as she answered the phone.

“Dad, he moved back to Bedford. I had nothing to do with it.”

“I can’t believe you’re letting him see the children. What right does he have? He could get Zack involved in the wrong things. And how is poor Jess? I’m sure she’s horrified by all this. How could you, Megan?” he raged.

Then her mother got on the phone. “Megan, why are you letting him see the children?” she asked a little more gently.

“Mom, Zack is sixteen and he wants to see his father. If I forbid him, I’ll be forcing him to go behind my back. He loves his father. Jess is another matter. I’m doing the best I know, and that’s all I can do.”

“Megan, it’s your job to protect them. They’re only children. Zack is still impressionable. Mitchell could sway him the wrong way. And it’s not fair to force Jess to get to know a man who never cared for her.”

“Mom, I know this is a very emotional issue for both of you, it is for me too. But I have to do what I think is best.”

“Well, you’ve taken a big risk with your children’s futures. I hope you know that. Use your head instead of your heart,” her mother advised.

When she got a chance, she told them goodbye and hung up.

The entire week had gone like that. Everyone was so good at giving her advice. But no one had been there to help after Mitchell left, except Ruth and Doc. Cass had been too busy with her social life. Her parents had been in the process of retiring and moving to Florida. Her friends had had their own problems.

It was the same all over again. Everyone had something to say and they expected Megan to take their advice. She was weary from defending herself. Zack was encouraging her to spend time with Mitchell and give him a chance to prove himself.

Jess was in a class all by herself. She managed to find ways to make her mother feel guilty about making her see her father. That was Jess.

One evening, Megan came dragging home from work. Mitchell was planning to take the kids out to dinner. She figured she would stay in her room until they left. She was halfway up the stairs when someone knocked on the front door. It was too early for Mitchell, and besides, he had finally learned to use the kitchen door. Who on earth could it be? She retraced her steps and opened the door. Mitchell was standing there, looking nervous.

“The kids aren’t quite ready yet,” she said, motioning for him to come in.

“Good. I wanted to talk to you first,” he said, looking anywhere but at her.

“Is anything wrong?” she asked concerned.

“No. I just wanted to ask you something without them around,” he said, shuffling from one foot to the other.

Before he could get to the point, the kids came rushing down the stairs. Zack came to a halt when he saw a wrapped box in his father’s hand.

“Would both of you wait for me in the other room?” Mitchell requested.

“Sure,” Zack answered, hauling Jess along with him.

“Why? What’s going on?” Jess’s radar was up, then she saw the box. She let Zack lead her to just inside the kitchen. Then she abruptly stopped, and shushed her brother so she could listen.

Megan stood before Mitchell with her shoulders slumped and her head down, waiting for bad news. She hadn’t even noticed the box. He handed it to her. “For me?” she asked stunned and gingerly took it.

He smiled weakly. “It’s candy. I figure you have enough flowers.”

“Why are you giving me a gift?” she asked, suddenly feeling like crying.

“Meg…will you go out with me?” he pleaded.

Her head snapped up. “Wh-what?”

“I’m asking you to go out with me—on a date,” he admitted tensely.

Her eyes searched his. Was this some sort of joke? The look on his face told her it wasn’t. She was about to refuse, when Jess came bolting into the foyer.

“A date!” she screeched, fighting Zack off as she made her way to her mother. “Mom, you can’t go on a date!” she ordered, pulling her mother to face her. “You’re too old. I won’t let you go out with him!” she shrieked.

That did it. Megan had absolutely had enough of everyone telling her what to do. She glared at Jessica, who had just reminded her that she was almost as old as she felt. She turned back to Mitchell. “Exactly what did you have in mind?” she snapped.

“Dinner and a movie,” he said quickly, knowing she was about to explode. “A nice restaurant with real menus and tablecloths. No fast food. Then a buy-a-ticket, fresh-popcorn-type movie.”

“When?”

“Saturday night?” he sputtered.

“Fine,” Megan said, taking the box of candy and marching up the stairs without another word. Hot with anger she reached her room and flung the box of candy on the bed. She’d really sunk to a new low when a ten-year-old thought she could tell her what she could and couldn’t do. She was tired of everyone telling her how to run her life. She stomped around her room several times muttering to herself. “I don’t need Jess or Zack or anyone else telling me what to do.” It was then she realized that she had just told Mitchell she would go out with him! How could she be so stupid?

She spun around and dashed out of her room and back down the stairs. She ripped opened the front door, just in time to see the taillights disappear down the road.

Wearily she climbed the stairs. Maybe if she took a hot bath, it would stop her head from throbbing.

She stayed in the tub until she was wrinkled like a prune, but it didn’t help much. Wrapped in her robe, she flopped across the bed, noticing a card attached to the box. She slowly opened it. Meg, please give me a chance. Mitch.

Exasperated, she tore open the candy and stuffed a piece in her mouth. How did he manage to ask her out when her guard was down? If Jess hadn’t come rushing in giving her orders, she would have said no!

She got up, popping another piece of candy in her mouth. She went over to the dresser and opened the drawer that held her special treasures. She dug around until she found a box with pictures, then began sifting through them.

Megan found the picture of her first date with Mitchell. They had been on their way to a school dance. She touched his face in the picture.

She sat on the bed, remembering that night. Mitch had been so sweet. He had brought her a single, red rose. When he looked in her eyes, she had gone weak in the knees. When they slow danced, he sang to her.

After the dance, he drove her straight home. At the door, he asked if he could kiss her good-night. She sighed as she remembered. He had gently taken her face in his hands and, looking in her eyes, he had kissed her ever so softly.