Jake ran his finger along the collar of his starched white shirt and shifted uncomfortably in the padded chair. He glanced around the crowded auditorium. The evening’s event had been planned to highlight citizens who’d made a difference in the lives of the community’s youth.
“I didn’t expect so many to show up, did you?” Barely above a whisper, his mother’s voice still carried to his father sitting on the other side of Jake.
“Jim’s not the only one being honored today.” His father gestured toward the program brochure in his lap. “There’s also a nurse, a social worker and a police officer.”
Jake cast a sideways glance at his father. He noticed the lines of strain around the older man’s mouth. A handsome man in his early fifties, John Weston had brown hair now touched with gray, and the perpetual smile that had always hovered on his lips didn’t flash readily anymore.
To his right, his mother fidgeted with her purse, her eyes a shade too bright. Coming to this citywide awards ceremony had been difficult on all of them. Receiving the Educator’s Award for Service to Area Youth was an honor his brother well deserved. But he couldn’t help wishing Jim could be here to accept the award. It seemed like yesterday that they’d celebrated Jim’s graduation from college.
And now he’s dead.
The pain of Jim’s death would never ease entirely, but at last Jake had come to terms with it. His brother had done a lot of good in his short life. Today was a day to celebrate, not mourn.
“Look—” his mother pointed to the front. “That’s Adam Brown, the one that nominated Jim for the award. He was one of your brother’s students.”
Jake peered at the stage. A young black man, clearly uncomfortable in a shiny blue suit, stood off to the side, shifting from one foot to the other as the master of ceremonies tapped the microphone.
The boy’s introduction focused on his background. Raised in a single-parent home, he was now the first in his family to graduate from high school. And thanks to Jim’s encouragement and scholarship contacts, he would now be the first to attend college.
Jake folded his hands and listened intently. By the time Adam finished, Jake had a lump in his throat, his mother’s eyes were misty, and a muscle twitched in his father’s jaw.
“I just want to say one final thing. I’ve talked a lot about how Mr. Weston helped me academically. But what he did for me went far beyond the classroom. He encouraged me to be the best I could be in all areas of my life. I learned from him what being a man really means and the importance of standing up for what you believe. I learned firsthand what it means to live your faith. And I also learned one of the most important lessons of all—when to shut up. Thank you.” The boy’s serious expression eased, and he smiled for the first time.
Thunderous applause followed, and Jake’s father made his way down the aisle to the podium to accept the award on behalf of his son.
His father returned to his seat with a plaque and a proud smile on his face. Jake took it from his hands, read the inscription, then passed it to his mother. Tears welled in her eyes, and she hugged it to her chest.
He and his father exchanged an understanding smile. Jake took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
The social worker was honored next, then the nurse. Jake listened with half an ear, unable to keep his thoughts from straying back to his conversation with Tony D’Fusco.
When the guy had confirmed Angel was not only his cousin but a cop as well, Jake hadn’t been surprised. Deep down, he’d known she couldn’t be involved in drug dealing. Why had he let his foolish pride goad him into saying things he now would give anything to take back?
He’d picked up the phone to call her dozens of times this past week, only to set it back on its cradle without punching a single number. What would he say? I’m a fool? Please forgive me?
Yes, a voice inside whispered, that’s exactly what you could say.
“Jake.” His mother’s elbow jabbed him square in the ribs. He jerked. “Isn’t that your ‘friend’ on the stage?”
His gaze shot to the dais. There, resplendent in full dress uniform, stood Officer Angel Morelli. His breath caught in his throat.
She moved confidently to the podium. Jake barely heard her acceptance speech. All he could do was stare and think how different things might have been if he’d only trusted his feelings.
A knot formed in the pit of his stomach. He’d been so hung up on being played for a fool that he’d ended up being just that. Angel was everything he’d ever wanted.
Jake leaned forward, his gaze riveted to her.
I’m sorry. He offered up the apology, sending it silently across the space between them, smiling with relief when his eyes met hers and she faltered over her words.
Saying he was sorry didn’t make up for the wrong he’d done her, but at least he’d finally said it. And maybe one day she’d forgive him.
Needed, but not deserved.
He shook his head, a wry smile twisting his lips.
“Jake.” His father touched his arm. “The program’s over. We need to head to the reception area.”
“Why don’t you ask your friend to join us?” His mother offered a hopeful smile. “I could save a table.”
“I don’t know, Mom.” Jake rose and followed them down the aisle, out of the auditorium and into the huge ballroom. He looked at the cluster of uniformed officers in one corner. “All her friends are here. I’m sure she’ll be busy.”
“Couldn’t you at least bring her over so I could meet her?” His mother’s face was serious. “I want to thank her for taking such good care of you.”
Jake paused.
“I promise not to ask her any questions,” she said quickly. “I’ll behave myself.”
“Nancy.” His father shook his head warningly. “Leave the boy alone. When he wants us to meet her, we will.”
“John, you don’t understand. Jake already told me he wouldn’t introduce me to any woman unless it was the one he planned to marry,” Nancy said. “I just want him to know I’m not holding him to that ridiculous condition.”
His father and Jake exchanged amused glances. They both knew she could promise all she wanted, but with Nancy Weston, meddling was second nature. There could be no guarantees.
“Honey, I believe I see Jim’s old principal over there.” John cupped his wife’s elbow in his hand and gave Jake a wink. “Let’s go and say hello.”
His mother protested, but his father paid no attention. Jake watched them maneuver their way through the endless expanse of people. His father’s arm reached protectively around his mother’s shoulder as the crowd thickened. Jake smiled and turned away.
Despite the fact that he had no intention of interrupting Angel’s celebration, he couldn’t keep his gaze from straying to the group of cops.
“You’re all better.” A soft voice sounded behind him.
He whirled. “Angel, hello. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” A flush stained her cheeks. “I’m not much for these kinds of things. There are other people who are really much more de—”
“Don’t sell yourself short.” Even with the brief description during her introduction, Jake could tell the successful program she’d developed for at-risk youth had taken a tremendous amount of time and effort. “You deserved that award.”
“Thank you.” Clearly embarrassed, she brushed her hair back from her face and smiled.
An awkward silence descended, but she made no move to leave. Jake cleared his throat and for a moment he allowed himself to hope. “I’m sorry for the horrible things I said to you.”
“I lied to you,” she said simply. “You didn’t know if I was a drug dealer or not.”
“I’m still sorry.”
“Well, since we’re talking forgiveness, I want to say I’m sorry, too.”
His brow furrowed. “What do you have to be sorry for?”
“For thinking badly of you. For what I said.” She took a deep breath. “I talked to my cousin. He said you two had talked recently, but that you’d been trying to reach him for weeks.” She looked him in the eye. “You knew all along I wasn’t a student.”
He shrugged. “I looked through your backpack that time you left it in the hall. The minute I saw that picture of you and Tony, I knew.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I couldn’t. For the same reason you couldn’t be honest with me.”
She gave an embarrassed laugh, and looked down at her hands. “We make quite a pair, don’t we?”
“I thought we made a great pair.” He cast his pride aside, determined to be honest. “You challenged me, made me understand what grace was all about, and for the first time in almost a year, I felt alive again. No one ever touched a part of my soul like you did.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I’ve missed you, Angel.”
She hesitated, but her gaze was strong and steady. “Me, too.”
“I’d like to introduce you to my parents.”
She tilted her head and studied him for a moment.
“I think you need to know something.” His pulses pounded and his palms went damp. “I’ve told my mother the next woman I introduce to her is the one I plan to marry.”
Her brows pulled together and confusion clouded her gaze.
Jake swallowed hard and plunged ahead. “I love you, Angel.” His gaze held hers. “I want to marry you.”
A stunned look crossed her face, and the small flame of hope that had started to burn inside him flickered. He and Angel had grown close over the past months, but now he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. They were meant for each other—deep down, he’d known that from the moment they’d met. If he’d moved too fast, it was only because he was eager to make her his.
A smile tugged at her lips, and the flame of hope began to burn anew in him.
“Are you sure you want to marry someone who looks like she could be your student?” She twisted a strand of hair around her finger and regarded him with an expression that was so mischievous he had to laugh.
“If you’re sure you can marry someone who looks old enough to be your teacher.”
She raised a finger to her lips and pretended to think. “Well…”
“How ’bout if I throw in a Hawaii honeymoon as an extra incentive? Think of it…lounging on the beach, the sand between your toes, the smell of the salty breeze?”
“I never should have let you in on that secret.” She heaved an exaggerated sigh and pretended to be irritated, but she couldn’t quite carry it off. Not with her smile widening every moment. “Okay. I’ll marry you.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly—grateful he no longer needed to keep his love undercover. From his friends. Or from his family.
Jake opened his eyes to find his mother standing behind Angel, staring unabashedly, a delighted smile spreading across her face.
He turned his soon-to-be wife in his arms. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Angel Morelli. She’s agreed to marry me—” he shot Angel a smile “—in exchange for a Hawaii honeymoon.”
“I knew it.” Nancy Weston turned to her husband. Triumph rang in her voice. “Didn’t I tell you, John?”
Puzzled, Jake frowned. “What are you talking about?”
His father heaved a long-suffering sigh and shot Jake an apologetic look. “Your mother is thrilled because it looks like she’s not going to have to cancel the reservations at the church, after all.”
Jake groaned. “Tell me you didn’t reserve the church for June?”
“It’s impossible to get at the last minute.” His mother’s chin lifted. “And June is a beautiful month for a wedding.”
Angel’s eyes twinkled. “I’d have to agree.”
“I like her, Jake.” Nancy Weston nodded approvingly.
His father shook his head. “Son, I can see it now. They’ll be a formidable twosome. Sure you can handle them?”
“Handle them?” Jake smiled wickedly at Angel. “I can hardly wait.”