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A WEEK LATER, AS ETHAN drove to visit his father on Saturday, he sang along to the radio. Usually, he preferred Tejano music, but ever since hearing Tom Marks in person, Ethan had started listening to his CDs and the gospel radio station. He found each song encouraging and uplifting. Granted, he was no Tom Marks, but nobody could hear him in the car.
Ethan made a turn and drummed his fingers against the steering wheel in rhythm to the song’s beat.
With each day, he was drawn more and more to his wife, and spending time with Mercy and Stevie filled Ethan with joy. Stevie felt much better. The three of them had gone to a seafood restaurant, a pizzeria where kids could also play games, children’s movies, and Stevie’s favorite, a petting farm.
Ethan pulled into the neighborhood where he’d grown up. Maybe they should get a puppy for Stevie. Or two. Stevie had been asking for one ever since spending time with Ethan’s parents’ rescue, a large and friendly chow-chow.
Ethan grinned as he parked at the curb near his childhood home. Yes, that little boy had him wrapped around his tiny finger, and Ethan was totally fine with that.
And he was totally crazy about his wife. He couldn’t imagine his life without Mercy and Stevie now. But there was a restlessness inside him that wouldn’t go away along with a fear that the person dearest to him could abandon him when he least expected it.
Was that fear the reason he’d walked out of every relationship before?
His wife’s name, the word so familiar to his lips, nearly as familiar as the sound of his own name to his ears, had a totally different meaning now.
A new season, new time had started for him when he realized how much she’d meant for him. His life was filled with faith, love, and hope ever since he put a ring on her finger.
Over the years, he’d probably broken a few hearts, if he wanted it or not. He deserved punishment. Instead, ever since he’d married Mercy, he’d received happiness beyond his comprehension.
He’d received forgiveness and mercy.
Thank You, Lord.
Pondering over the wonderful gift that his marriage was, Ethan threw a duffel bag with auto parts for his father’s car over his shoulder. Balancing a covered dish with home-cooked enchiladas and rice and beans in his hands, he closed his vehicle’s door. Then he marched to the house, a Spanish Colonial Ethan and his younger brother had grown up in. He knew he’d always be welcome in that house with stucco walls the color of coffee with a lot of milk, reddish-orange ceramic tile roof, and terracotta ornaments.
As Ethan walked through decorative black iron gates, his gaze flicked to one of the semicircular windows, behind which was his childhood room. A warm feeling swept over him. He was glad his father had never sold this house, never moved into something much bigger, like Ethan had.
The front door opened, and Ethan’s father waved him in, and Ethan obliged. There was more salt in his father’s salt-and-pepper hair and whiskers, and he looked a little more stooped than before. But the spark in his dad’s brown eyes was still the same.
“I couldn’t wait for you to get here.” The older man gave him a hug, careful not to damage the covered dish.
“Happy to see you, too.” Ethan put the duffel bag on the floor.
“I meant the enchiladas. You can’t seem to stop talking about your wife’s cooking skills. Among other things.” His dad winked at him.
“You prefer enchiladas to your own son. I should feel offended.” Ethan followed his dad to the kitchen, knowing his father was joking.
As he passed near the living room, his gaze washed over the sombreros he and his brother had tried on as children. Sombreros still hung on the wall in the living room, right near a landscape oil painting his father had brought from Mexico many years ago. Some things never changed.
His dad could’ve hired a high-class personal chef easily, with the kind of income he’d received throughout the years from the auto shop chain, but preferred to live modestly.
Ethan placed the covered dish on the large wooden table in the kitchen. The ceramic tile on the floor was a bit more worn out but would probably last hundreds of years. Amazingly, the oak cabinets were the ones from his childhood, solid and well built. Just like his father.
The thought gave Ethan a feeling of stability that was especially needed after the zoo incident and a reminder how his mother had abandoned him and his father.
“Let’s go, mi hijo. You can help me wash my car.” His father patted him on the back and led him in the direction of his garage.
Ethan shook his head in disbelief but followed. This was beyond living modestly. But he knew his dad wouldn’t trust just anybody to wash his prized convertible.
Once there, his father handed him a bucket with water and washrags. Just like in childhood, before Ethan had graduated to car repairs and business lessons.
Ethan wetted the rag in the bucket, rinsed it out, and slowly moved it along the car’s right side.
“I need to talk to you about something.” His dad’s voice sounded low, so unlike his usual confident, looming voice. “It’s about me and your mother.”
Uh-oh.
Ethan stilled. “What happened? Did she decide to leave again?” Ethan tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice and failed.
“I should’ve told you about this a long time ago.” The older man’s voice was laced with guilt. “But you were small, and I thought you’d forget about it. And... I felt ashamed of myself. It was easier to sweep it under the rug. But the way you talked about that zoo incident with Stevie, about the memory of being lost in the zoo, your fear of abandonment, showed me I was wrong.”
Ethan took a dry rag and ran it along the car’s surface far too many times. “What are you talking about? Wrong about what?”
“The reason your mother left you with me and took your younger brother with her all those years ago was because I asked her to leave you with me when we separated. Not because she didn’t love you.”
“She shouldn’t have left at all.” Ethan’s jaw set in a stubborn line. He took the wet rag again and started wiping off invisible spots from the car’s hood.
“She had a good reason. I cheated on her.” His father’s voice was barely audible.
Ethan dropped the rag. Several seconds passed before he picked it up. All these years, he had this wonderful image of his father and not so wonderful of his mother, and it turned out...
“I made a huge mistake. I’m human. Thankfully, your mother forgave me. There’s another reason I’m telling you this.” The older man ran the rag along the left side for several long moments.
Ethan waited patiently, knowing he couldn’t hurry his father.
His dad straightened. “Don’t make the same mistake with Mercy. Don’t step out on her. You might lose both her and Stevie, and it’s just not worth it.”
A hot wave of anger swept through Ethan. “I’d never do that!”
“Well, it’s a small town, and there are rumors about you and Leah...” His dad’s voice trailed off.
Spread by Leah, no doubt.
Ethan resisted the urge to grind his teeth. “There’s nothing between me and Leah. Honest. Being with Mercy makes me so happy. Why would I want to ruin that?”
Fear of abandonment.
Was that what his father called it?
It hit Ethan like a brick.
That was where this anxiety, this restlessness came from.
Dear Lord, I’m surrendering this fear of abandonment to You. Please help me be the best husband to Mercy I can be and the best father to Stevie. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
His dad threw the dirty rag in a trash can and studied his son. “Glad to hear that. And I’m not just saying it because I love Mercy’s cooking.”
Ethan chuckled as he wiped his hands on a paper towel. “But that’s part of it, right?”
His father sighed as he wiped his hands, as well. “A little part. Makes you happy, huh? Well, I’ve never seen this shine in your eyes before, so I believe you.”
“Marrying Mercy was the best thing I ever did. There was never anything fake about her, be it eyelashes, smile, or words. She liked me before I had money, popularity, or an expensive house. Her kindness shines through in her every gesture. She’s the real deal.” Ethan’s heart warmed up.
“But she gets insecure sometimes because of your past, doesn’t she?”
“I get that feeling. But since I married her, I don’t notice other women. I know well the treasure I have at home.”
His father’s face brightened. “I raised you well. Because, you know, I started having doubts.” His dad gestured in the kitchen’s direction.
Ethan shook his head. “I dated enough to know that there are many Leahs in this world. There’s only one Mercy.”
His dad nodded thoughtfully. “There’s only one mercy.”
“Frankly, I was upset with you at first when you gave me that ultimatum, either to marry or lose the chance to own the auto shops. But now I think that’s the best thing you ever did for me.”
“How about that.” His dad grinned as he led Ethan back to the kitchen. “You didn’t think I was serious about that ultimatum, did you?”
Ethan stopped in his tracks. “You weren’t?”
“Keep moving, mi hijo. I saw the way you looked at Mercy when she had dinners with us, the way you talked about her.” His father walked into the kitchen.
Ethan followed him, trying to process the news.
“But I also knew that for years you stayed away from her out of respect for her marriage, then widowhood. You weren’t making your move now, either. I figured you could use a little push in the right direction.” His dad dropped himself into a chair.
Ethan did the same because his knees suddenly felt weak. “You call it a little push?”
“Or a big one. The main thing, it worked. Now, don’t mess it up.” The older man pinned him with a stare. “You love her, don’t you?”
Ethan knew the response in his heart. “I do. But I don’t know whether she’ll ever love me back.”
“Maybe she does already. If not, be patient. And invite me and your mother tomorrow for dinner.”
Ethan quirked an eyebrow. “Doesn’t Mom make your favorite fajitas for dinner tomorrow?”
His father sighed. “It’s my favorite, all right. But your mother never learned to cook them well, and I don’t have the heart to tell her. My stomach, however, can’t take it anymore.”
Something changed inside Ethan. He saw things more clearly now. “You don’t want to hurt her feelings. You really do love her.”
“Very much so. And she loves me. That, mi hijo, is happiness.” The older man hesitated. “Listen, what did you tell me about hiring a personal chef? To free your mother from cooking, of course.”
Ethan chuckled. “Of course. I can find you a great chef who specializes in Tex-Mex.”
A feeling of longing made Ethan pause. As much as he loved his dad’s company, he looked forward to going home.
A stab of worry inside him told Ethan his father’s comment about the rumors of Ethan and Leah getting back together bothered him. He hoped Mercy didn’t hear the rumors, but the chances of that in a tiny town were small to none.
***
AFTER LUNCH WITH HIS parents, Ethan drove downtown for a quick stop at his office. While he didn’t work on the weekends since marrying Mercy, he needed to pick up a gift for her. He’d mailed it to his work mailing address so the gift would remain a surprise. And then, sure enough, he’d forgotten to bring it home.
Home.
Ethan smiled as he made a turn.
The word home had a totally different meaning than before. He used to come to the mansion to sleep, change, shower, and watch a football game on Sunday. Now spending time with Mercy and Stevie was something he looked forward to every day. Ethan parked in an empty parking lot, fished his cell phone out of his jeans pocket, and called Mercy.
“Dad was happy to get your enchiladas,” he said when Mercy picked up. “And Dad sort of invited himself and Mom for dinner at our house tomorrow. Is that okay?”
“I’d love to have them.” Mercy laughed.
Her laughter was music to his ears. “How is Stevie?” Ethan climbed out of his car and clicked on the key fob to lock it.
“Still at the playdate with his friend at the neighbors’.” She paused. “I know you’ve only been gone for several hours, but... I miss you.”
His heart swelled as he strode to the building. “I miss both of you. I’ll be home soon. I just need to pick up something from the office.” A warm wave of anticipation covered him, of giving her the gift, of telling her how much he loved her.
“Ethan... I was thinking...” Mercy sounded hesitant. “Maybe we should consider living together. Especially if we could share something smaller and less intimidating than the mansion. I like Spanish Colonial style.”
“Me, too. I don’t know why I bought the mansion. I guess I was trying to show off, to live according to my social status when I should’ve lived according to my heart.” Joy filled Ethan as he opened his office. “I can’t wait to go house hunting with you.”
“See you soon.” Her voice had softened.
“See you soon.” He picked up the small box as if in a mental fog, the wonderful news affecting him.
Mercy wouldn’t have suggested moving in together if she didn’t realize she had strong feelings for him and she could trust him, would she? Her little jealousy streak before had grated on his nerves sometimes. But he had to admit his history with women and her history with Cole had given her reasons to be weary.
The sound of the door opening behind Ethan made him whirl around. Nobody was supposed to be here on the weekend!
Ethan’s jaw dropped. Thankfully, the box didn’t. “Leah! What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you. Everybody knows you work even on your days off.” Leah sauntered toward him.
Ethan frowned as he placed the small box on the table. “Not since I got married. Leah, we’re over. We have nothing to talk about.”
“We were good together. How could you forget about it so easily?” Leah stepped closer.
Compassion stirred in Ethan’s heart, but his mind searched frantically to resolve the situation. “It didn’t work out between us. Please accept that. I have to leave.” He tried to walk around her.
“No!” Leah moved with him, not letting him pass. “I won’t let you discard me like some piece of trash.”
Ethan would never physically hurt a woman. He needed to somehow persuade Leah to leave. “Please respect my marriage. I love my wife.”
“Oh, really?” Leah laughed as she got dangerously close to him, the strong scent of her perfume attacking his nostrils. “Your feelings never last. And I know she lives in your guesthouse. What kind of wife is that?”
“One I’m crazy about. This conversation is over.” Ethan enunciated every word.
Before he could step back, Leah wrapped her arms around him and planted a kiss on his lips. Of all the audacity! The sound of the door opening told him there was another visitor.
He jumped back, anger at Leah boiling his insides.
Then Ethan realized who the second visitor was.
Mercy stood inside his office with her mouth twisted, a shocked and hurt expression in her eyes. “I can’t believe it!”
His heart sinking to the floor, he hurried to his wife. “It’s not what it looks like. I can explain.”
Her hurt expression deepened, knifing his heart.
Mercy shook her head and stormed out.
