Aimee was still sleeping when Mrs. Toney telephoned.
“How’s Samantha?” she asked.
“She was discharged from the hospital this morning, and she’s been sleeping since we got home. The doctor says she’s fine. It was a straight break and should heal quickly.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I want to apologize for Madison’s part in this deception. My sister died quite suddenly. We’ve always been close and, in my grief, I didn’t call to see if it was all right for Madison to stay with you. I had no reason to think she would lie to me.”
“Madison is always welcome here. And as far as I’m concerned, all the girls are equally at fault. I even blame myself for giving Samantha too much freedom, but it won’t happen again.”
“That’s why I called. Mr. Nibert and I had a long talk this morning. He says that if Jennifer gets another car, she’s buying it, and we both agreed to put our daughters on a strict schedule. They’re not staying overnight anywhere except at home until school is out, and they’ll be on probation all summer. We hope you’ll agree to these restrictions.”
“I certainly will. I intend to put Samantha on a short leash, but it will be so much easier if all of the parents agree on their punishment. By the way, how is Jennifer?”
“She has several broken ribs, a broken leg, a punctured lung and a wound on her arm, as well as a slight concussion. She’ll be in the hospital for several days. Her father said that she’s more upset about a possible scar on her arm than she is anything else.”
“Sounds like Jennifer,” Aimee agreed. “We were all blessed that it wasn’t worse.”
“That’s certainly true.”
“I’m willing to go along with the ground rules you and Mr. Nibert have agreed on,” Aimee assured her.
Perhaps Samantha also felt that she was fortunate to avoid a more serious injury, for she didn’t argue when she heard about the restrictions.
When Jacob stopped by Monday evening, Samantha was even amiable, if not friendly. Soon after he arrived, Samantha asked to be excused, told Jacob good-night and went to her room, saying that she needed to catch up on her homework before she started back to school.
Jacob lifted his eyebrows and winked at Aimee as they listened to Samantha’s footsteps on the stair treads.
Grinning, Aimee said quietly, “Let’s hope this lasts.”
When they went into the family room, Jacob took her hand and led her to the couch. He put his arm around her shoulders, and she nestled close to him.
“Now, it’s time for me to tell you what I should have told you weeks ago,” he said regretfully. “I’m so sorry you had to learn from someone else why I broke up with Megan. I lived through a bad six months in this town when Megan’s pregnancy became obvious, and I’ve never gotten over it. I was naive and hadn’t even realized she was going to have a baby until my friends started kidding me about it.”
She leaned her head back and peered into his eyes. “Jacob, you don’t have to tell me anything. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
He shook his head decisively. “I don’t want any secrets between us. I’d dated Megan for almost three years, and I suppose I loved her in a youthful sort of way. I was really hurt when I knew she hadn’t been faithful to me.”
Aimee could sense the pain in his voice. He paused and swallowed with difficulty before he continued. “We had never been intimate, so there was no way the child was mine. Megan wouldn’t give the name of the father, and I didn’t really want to know, because if the news ever got out who the other man was, I figured I’d be the laughingstock of Benton. I wasn’t mature enough to take that kind of ridicule, so I left Benton to go to college, never intending to live here again.”
“Why did you come back?” Aimee asked.
“Well, for one thing, Gran was here, and I felt I needed to take care of her.”
Aimee giggled slightly, and Jacob said, “I know, it’s ironic. Gran can take care of herself, and even thinks she still has to look after me. But someday, it may be different, and I’ll be here if she ever needs me.”
“She’s an amazing woman,” Aimee agreed, glad that she’d thought of something to lighten the moment.
“But it was more than Gran that brought me back,” he said. “I’d never felt right about taking the coward’s way out. So I took my own counseling advice and came home to live down my past reputation.”
“Did it take very long?” she asked, covering his hand with hers.
“It was a couple of years before I sensed that some of my acquaintances no longer thought about the situation. And the fact that I’ve been able to build up a good practice in spite of the past has been encouraging.”
“You’ve never heard from Megan?”
“No. I stopped seeing her immediately, and after a few weeks when she finally learned that I wouldn’t have anything else to do with her, she stopped calling me.” He paused a moment. “Her betrayal killed any love I ever had for her, but I still feel badly that I abandoned her. She probably needed friends then.”
“You shouldn’t blame yourself,” Aimee was quick to defend his actions. “Whoever fathered that child should be the one to feel guilty. You don’t have any idea who she could have been seeing?”
“Not a hint. She wouldn’t tell me anything. Perhaps it was non-Christian for me not to help her. Today, I might make such a sacrifice, but I was too young then to make far-reaching decisions.”
“Do you know anything about the child?” Aimee asked.
He shook his head. “Megan left Benton before I did. Gran heard that she went to stay with her grandmother in Tennessee and that the baby was born there. Her parents sold their property and moved away from Benton, too. I haven’t heard anything else, and I hope I never hear from her again.”
“It seems to me that you did the right thing in moving back to Benton,” Aimee assured him.
“Yes,” he agreed. “Time has proven that, but it was a difficult decision to make.”
“You accused me of not being completely open with you about my past,” she said, “and you’re right. Although it’s embarrassing I’m going to tell you one of the things that’s bothered me. After meeting with Pam Baker at the conference, I’ve realized that the fear that has shadowed my life was a normal reaction to my pregnancy.”
Jacob must have noticed her heightened coloring, for he said, “Don’t hesitate to tell me anything. I won’t be judgmental.”
“I know that,” she said, “and I want you to know, although it’s difficult to talk about. I’ve told you that I got pregnant within two months of our marriage. I was only eighteen years old, had morning sickness and all the discomfort that goes with it. I was miserable, both physically and emotionally, the whole nine months. Consequently, I avoided the intimacies of marriage as much as possible.”
Aimee could not sit beside Jacob as she discussed the intimate details of her life with Steve, so she walked to the window. The outside lights shone brightly on the little gazebo, and Aimee focused on it as she collected her thoughts in an effort to continue.
“After Samantha was born, I moved into another bedroom. After Steve died, I felt very guilty that I’d neglected him and hadn’t been the kind of wife I should have been.” She looked away from him, hoping that she had succinctly conveyed the situation to Jacob without adding further details. “I decided I wasn’t the type of person who should be married.”
Jacob left the couch and put his arm around her, and turned her to face him. “I don’t believe that for a minute,” he said.
Aimee experienced an unusual tremor of excitement when he lowered his face to hers. She relaxed in his embrace as she raised her face to meet his sweet kiss. When he released her lips, Aimee exhaled a long sigh of contentment and rested her head on his shoulder.
His hand smoothed her hair as he spoke. “Until I talk to my grandparents and learn more about my father and why he abandoned my mother and me, I can’t say the things I want to say, or discuss a future with you. My family background could change everything, but believe me, you would be a good wife to any man, so don’t worry about that.”
She couldn’t tell him that her reaction to his embrace was totally different from anything she had felt for Steve. The years had made a difference. If only she had listened to her parents’ plea that she was too immature to get married, her life might have taken another turn.
Aimee stayed home with Samantha for two days, but after a visit to the doctor, although she would have to carry her arm in a sling for two weeks, Samantha was released to return to school. When she protested about the sling, the doctor said, “You’ll have less pain than if you let your arm dangle at your side.”
“Mom,” Samantha protested the next morning, “this cast and sling look gross. Let me stay home until I’m completely well. Madison and Jen won’t be there.”
“Jennifer may have to miss several weeks of school. But why won’t Madison be there?”
“Her parents went to the memorial service for the sister who died. They took Madison with them. I can’t carry a backpack with this sling.”
Although she, too, was worried that Samantha might find school difficult, Aimee said, “I’m sure there will be someone willing to help you.”
“I don’t know. The other kids are jealous of Jen, Madison and me. They say we’re stuck-up.”
Aimee didn’t doubt that Samantha and her friends were cliquish and conceited, but she didn’t comment. However, her heart ached for Samantha, who looked scared when she got out of the car in front of the school. Aimee would gladly have helped Samantha inside, but she wouldn’t welcome her mother carrying her books either. Aimee went to work breathing a silent prayer that God would send someone to help Samantha through the day.
The day was hectic for Aimee as she tried to catch up on the work that had piled up on her desk while she’d been away. Samantha was in the back of her mind all day long. When she stopped in front of the school, Samantha waited for her, and to her surprise, Chloe Spencer stood beside her holding Samantha’s book bag.
“Why, hello, Chloe,” Aimee said as she opened the door for Samantha.
“Thanks for helping out,” Samantha said to Chloe.
“You’re welcome. See ya, Mrs. Blake. I’ve got to catch my bus.”
“I’ll call you in a few days,” Aimee said as Chloe hurried away.
Aimee monitored the constant flow of traffic in front of the school, and slowly eased into the line. “How’d your day go?” she asked when they were out of the school traffic zone.
“Not good! My arm hurt all day. And I’ve got tons of homework.”
“Didn’t anything good happen?” Aimee asked.
“Yeah. One of the guys carried my books for me. But he had track practice after school.” Reluctantly, she added, “Chloe carried my backpack to the car.” Changing the subject abruptly, she added, “I’m tired.”
“I’m sure you are, but tomorrow will be easier.”
Aimee hoped that this incident would soften Samantha’s attitude toward Chloe, but she didn’t intend to comment on it. If Samantha wanted to participate in her activities with Chloe, she would have to take the initiative. She couldn’t be forced to be kind to Chloe.
Jacob dozed through the bicentennial meeting as report after report was read. He was glad when they handed out a list of the out-of-town people who expected to attend. He skimmed the list to see how many of them he recognized. He sat upright in his chair, and his heart skipped a beat when he read a name that still had the power to distress him. Megan Russell.
Why did she have to return now? And just when he’d met Aimee and was looking forward to a future with her! What would Aimee think if she knew that Megan was coming to the bicentennial? Should he tell her or wait and hope that he wouldn’t have to see Megan at all?
His thoughts were interrupted when the chairman said, “We’ve saved the most interesting business until last.” He took the wrapping off of a large package. “The plaque honoring Mr. Harwood was delivered today. I’m very pleased with it, and I hope you will be, too.” He steadied the bronze plaque on the table and read ponderously, “David Lee Harwood, beloved teacher, administrator, family man and civic leader of Benton.”
Jacob leaned forward to see the rest of the printing on the plaque, which included a quotation by Robert F. Kennedy. Harwood’s birth and death dates, as well as a list of his more memorable achievements, were inscribed in smaller print.
“Did Mr. Harwood have a family?” Jacob asked, to show interest in the dedication, although his mind raced with thoughts of the impending arrival of Megan.
“His wife and two children live here,” the chairman said, “and they’ll be accepting the plaque.”
Jacob stood up. “If that’s all the business, I’ll have to leave. I have an early appointment in the morning.”
But Jacob didn’t get much rest that night. His mind was on overdrive as he considered what Megan’s return might do to his relationship with Aimee. Was it possible that he could avoid Megan completely? There would be a lot of people in Benton that day, and unless she sought him out, it was unlikely they would meet. And if they did meet they might not even recognize each other.
Jacob had destroyed all of Megan’s pictures, and he barely remembered what she looked like. Her photo was in the school yearbook, but he didn’t know where his copy was. Wasn’t the fact that he’d forgotten her physical features an indication that any feelings he had once held for her were gone forever?
Since he’d been too busy all day to check his e-mail, Jacob accessed his account on his PC as soon as he got home. He skimmed messages about business that required attention, but when he saw a post from Andrew Mallory, he quickly opened the file.
Jacob, his grandfather had written, we plan to leave Florida June 15 and will stop in your town two or three days later. We will call in advance to let you know what time we’ll arrive in Benton. Will it be convenient for us to stop at that time?
Jacob started to reply, but he hesitated. Perhaps he should wait and talk the visit over with Gran. She would probably want to invite the Mallorys to stay overnight in her home, but on second thought, since he didn’t know the nature of his grandparents’ visit, he decided to let them make what arrangements they wanted.
He quickly typed a return message. As far as I know now, those dates are convenient for me. My maternal grandmother lives nearby, and I’ll want you to meet her, too.
Jacob would have liked to talk over the upcoming visit with Gran or Aimee, but it was past midnight, and both of them were probably asleep. He hadn’t felt so uneasy since the days he was confronted with Megan’s deception. It was a few weeks before his grandparents’ visit, and he dreaded the wait.
As long as Samantha still had her arm in a cast, Aimee didn’t want to leave her alone on Saturdays, but she didn’t want to shirk her responsibilities to Chloe either. All day Friday, she thought often of how to approach Samantha without alienating her from Chloe. Chloe had continued to carry Samantha’s book bag to the car each afternoon that week, and Samantha had thanked her, but she didn’t talk about Chloe to Aimee.
On Saturday morning, Aimee said, “I promised Chloe I would help her make cookies for the reception after the spring chorale. I’m going to bring her over here for the afternoon.”
Not looking at her mother, Samantha asked, “What kind of cookies are you going to make?”
“I’ll help her make two kinds so her plate will have a variety. She needs to take four dozen cookies. What ones do you think will go over well with the students?”
“Everybody likes brownies.”
“Those are easy to make,” Aimee agreed. “We’ll make a pan of those. What else?”
“What about the peanut-butter ones with a chocolate kiss on top?” Samantha suggested.
“Oh, you mean peanut blossoms! That would be a good choice—they’re pretty cookies, as well as yummy. I’ll call Chloe and tell her I’ll come for her about one o’clock. Do you want to ride to her house with me?” Aimee invited.
“No.”
“If you want to go along when I take her home, after we drop Chloe off at her house, we’ll stop for burgers and fries.”
“Okay,” Samantha said, and Aimee smothered a grin. Samantha never turned down a visit to a fast-food restaurant.
Aimee had expected Samantha to stay in her room during the cookie baking, and she was surprised when she and Chloe returned to find Samantha in the family room watching television.
“Hi, Samantha,” Chloe said. Aimee held her breath, hoping that Samantha wouldn’t shun Chloe’s natural friendliness.
“Hi back atcha,” Samantha said. She turned off the TV and came into the kitchen. She went to the fridge and took out a can of pop.
“Want something to drink, Chloe?” Samantha asked.
“Not right now, but maybe later. I want to get started on the cookies. I know how to make Rice Krispies squares, but that’s all. Grandma does all the baking.”
“Mom and I used to make cookies together,” Samantha said, and Aimee thought she noted a hint of nostalgia, or was it remorse? That was one of the first things Samantha had stopped doing with her mother.
“Maybe you can help me,” Chloe suggested.
“Not much I can do with only one hand.”
“We’ll think of something,” Aimee said. “If these sound good to you, Chloe, you can make brownies and peanut-butter cookies with chocolate kisses on them.”
“Suits me,” Chloe approved.
“Which one do you want to do first?” Aimee asked.
“Brownies,” Chloe said promptly. “I’ve watched Grandma make them.”
Aimee had made copies of the recipes in big print on the computer, and she handed the brownie recipe to Samantha.
“It will be easier for Chloe if you read the recipe aloud, step by step.”
“Yes,” Chloe agreed. “I’m nervous as all get-out. Face it—I may make a mess of things.”
“You won’t,” Aimee assured her. “I’ve set out the flour, sugar and other ingredients and several bowls, a baking dish for the brownies and two cookie sheets,” Aimee explained as she sat on a stool at the serving bar. “I’ll be here for advice, but I want you to do everything.”
Chloe turned on the faucet, soaped her hands and washed them thoroughly. “Well, here goes,” she said. “So what do I do first, Samantha?”
“Spray the pan with shortening and dust the bottom lightly with flour,” Samantha read.
Aimee watched as they went step by step through the recipe in perfect harmony until Chloe slid the baking pan into the oven. “What’s next?”
“The brownies will be baked by the time you have the first sheet of drop cookies ready for the oven,” Aimee told her.
“Say, Chloe,” Samantha asked, “can I put the chocolate kisses on the cookies? I can do that with one hand.”
“Yeah. The picture shows the kisses right in the middle of the cookie. My hands are kinda shaky. I’d probably stick them on every which way.”
“Don’t forget, you don’t put the kisses on until the cookies have baked fifteen minutes or so,” Aimee cautioned.
“Ten minutes, and then put them back in the oven to bake three to five more minutes,” Samantha corrected as she checked the recipe for the peanut blossoms.
After the cookies were baked and while they cooled enough to pack, Aimee helped the girls clean the countertops and put the dishes in the washer. “Do you want a tray or plate to hold the cookies when you take them to school?”
Chloe shook her head. “Grandma has a pretty tray that she’s had a long time. I want to use it. That way, she’ll have a part in this.”
“Then we’ll put these in a plastic container to keep them fresh until the chorale,” Aimee said. “Is your grandmother going with you?”
“Yes, unless her arthritis acts up.”
“If you need a ride, let me know,” Aimee said. “Now we’d better get you home before your grandmother starts worrying about you.”
“She never worries when I’m with you.” Chloe took a phone from her pocket. “I’ll call and tell her I’ll be home soon. That way, she’ll know when to start supper.”
Samantha shuffled her feet. “Why can’t Chloe eat burgers and fries with us, Mom?”
Without flicking an eyelash, Aimee said, “That’s a good idea, and we could buy a burger plate for you to take home to your grandmother. Tell her not to prepare anything for either of you.”
Aimee credited part of this change of heart on Samantha’s part to the fact that she and her two best friends weren’t being allowed to hang out together as much as they used to, and their phone conversations were limited, too. No doubt Samantha was lonely. But whatever had caused the change, Aimee was overjoyed to know that Samantha’s attitude toward Chloe had improved considerably.
That problem seemed to be partially settled, but would Samantha ever accept Jacob?