Abound in Love (21 page)

After
dressing for the day, she padded downstairs and found the two men in the
kitchen.  Thomas was flipping pancakes, and Dalton was pouring orange juice
into glasses.  He’d set four plates. 

“Macy
is coming over?” she asked.

“Yes,
she is,” he answered cheerfully.

“But
the kids aren’t…?”

He
shook his head.  “No.  Dan called.  Candace is working a shift at the mall, but
he’s off for the day.  He’s determined to spend more time with the kids, for
which I applaud him.”  He turned and smiled.  “I don’t mean that
I
don’t
want to watch them,” he was quick to assure them.  “But they need time with
their own parents.  Besides, Dan is dropping them off later.  We won’t have
them long, since Candace intends to pick them up as soon as she gets off work.”

“Why is
Dan dropping the kids off?  Didn’t you say he isn’t working today?” Dalton
asked.

“Not
today, but apparently he’s working some kind of ‘emphasis’ tonight.”

“Oh,
that’s right,” Dalton said, as he returned the carton of orange juice to the
fridge.  “It’s a DUI emphasis.”

“Aren’t
you participating?” Thomas asked him.

He
shook his head and sat down beside Laura at the table.  “Not this time.”

“But… 
You always…”  He gave his friend a speculative look, and then smiled broadly.

“What
are you smiling at?” Dalton asked in a surly tone.

“Oh,
nothing.  Nothing,” he answered, glancing from Dalton and to his sister, and
then back.

Laura
missed the warning look Dalton sent her brother.  When he turned toward her, he
smiled.  “How do you like your pancakes?  Syrup?  Jam?  Powdered sugar?”

She let
out a guilty giggle.  “All of the above.”

Dalton
laughed out loud.  “Your wish is my command.”

***

After
returning home from church, and feeling buoyed by the pastor’s message, Laura
hurried to her room.  She shed her dress clothing, eager to slip into jeans and
a warm top, and get outside.  She considered the countryside around Battle
Ground some of God’s finest work, and she knew it wasn’t likely she was going
to have another opportunity to experience sunshine in her hometown for a very
long time.

She had
finally realized, after finding a frantic message on her cell phone from her
boss she’d missed previously, that it was time to head home.  She suspected her
job might be in jeopardy if she didn’t make it back soon.

Fortunately,
she had learned she’d have an opportunity to talk to Candace this evening. 
Candace had called Thomas as he’d driven them home from church and told him she
wouldn’t be going out for the night.  Laura had taken the opportunity to ask
her if the two could talk, when she arrived at Thomas’ to pick up the kids.

Laura
dashed downstairs, and practically collided with Dalton at the base of the
stairs.  “Where are you off to?” he asked.  “I was going to ask you if you
wanted to join me for lunch.”

“Are
Thomas and Macy coming?”

“No,
they’re heading over to Macy’s folks’ place.”

“Oh,
okay, well sure.  I’d love to go to lunch.”

“What
sounds good?” he asked.

She
glanced down at her jeans and sweatshirt and made a face.  “Well, I’m a bit
underdressed for anything nice.”

He
smiled.  “I’ll tell you what.  I’ll go change into something less stiff and
uncomfortable, and we’ll grab a burger.  Does that sound all right to you?”

“It
sounds perfect.”

Soon,
Dalton came down the stairs, wearing jeans, a t-shirt with a soft drink logo on
the front, and tennis shoes.  A fleece jacked capped off the ensemble.

“Ready?”
she asked.

“All
set,” he replied with a smile.  “Shall I drive?  I’d like to, if you don’t
mind.”

“Actually,
that sounds great.  I’m so excited to see the sun, and I’d like to do some
sightseeing.”

Together
in Dalton’s truck, Laura acknowledged to herself that she had a better view of
the scenery around her from the height of the truck’s cab.  It was also nice to
actually relax and allow someone else to do the driving.  She didn’t have the
luxury of someone chauffeuring her around at home, and she found herself
enjoying the slower pace of her hometown.

When
Dalton left Battle Ground and headed for Vancouver, Laura grinned.  “Are we
driving into Vancouver, since your occupation is well known in our hometown?”

He
acknowledged her words with a smile.  “Well, no, but now that you mention it…”

“Surely
people in Battle Ground love you, and wouldn’t consider tampering with your
food.”

“I
really would like to think so,” he said dubiously.  “But the truth is, there’s
a great burger joint just ahead, and it happens to be my favorite place.  Best
burgers on the West Coast,” he told her.

“Well,
considering that recommendation, I really can’t wait.”

Inside
the restaurant just awhile later, Laura glanced around, taking in the gleaming
establishment that featured car-themed décor.  “I can see why a man would like
this place,” Laura observed with a mock-appreciative nod.

“Okay,
the décor is geared more toward men, but…”  He raised a finger.  “The food is
excellent.”

When
they’d ordered, and their food was quickly put in front of them, Laura’s eyes
widened.  The burger was huge, thick, and looked delicious.  Her mouth watered.

“Dig
in,” he urged, and then watched her face.  When she closed her eyes, savoring
the delicious burger, he smiled.  “I told you.”

“I may
never go back to Georgia,” she teased. 

He
fixed his eyes on her face.  “Do you really have to?”

“I
don’t have to do anything,” she answered with a smile, which fled her face when
she saw Dalton’s expression had grown intensely serious.

“No,
you don’t,” he agreed.  “So why don’t you stay?  Your family is here.  Most of
them anyway.”  He leaned across the table, bracing his muscular torso with
equally muscular arms.  “We miss you,” he said softly.  “We worry about you.” 
He sat up and flashed a smile.  “Turns out, with good reason.”

Laura
took a deep breath, lest she say something she might regret.  She didn’t need
Dalton’s, or anyone’s, protection.  Her Father in heaven kept a watchful eye on
her. 

She met
Dalton’s eyes and saw that he was watching her with a challenging gleam in his
eyes.  “Well?” he prompted.  “Why don’t you stay?  Lord knows, your brother and
sister need you?”  He ran a hand through his hair.  “I…”

She
didn’t permit him to finish the thought, since she was reeling from
frustration.  “Is that it, Dalton?  Is that why I’m wanted here?  To pick up
the slack when Candace doesn’t do her job as a parent again?”

He
leaned toward her again and pinned her with his eyes.  “As I was trying to
say…”

She
shook her head.  “I can’t stay.  I will talk to Candace and I will try to get
to the root of whatever is bothering her, but that’s the best I can do right
now.”

Even as
she said the words, she felt selfish.  The faces of her niece and nephew popped
into her mind’s eye, and her heart broke.  She didn’t want to leave them.  She
wanted to be an aunt to them.  She wanted be there for her siblings.  But she
couldn’t, since staying here would mean seeing Dalton on a daily basis, watching
him living his life, and potentially falling in love with someone.  And that
someone wouldn’t be her.  He would likely get married and have children, when
she couldn’t even imagine herself with anyone but him.

She
shook her head.  “I can’t stay, Dalton.  I’m sorry, but I just … can’t.”

“W
hat is
going on with Dalton?” Thomas asked.  It was evident to everyone that he wasn’t
himself, as he stormed around the house, apparently in search of some misplaced
item.

Laura,
who was sitting on the sofa and reading a book, shrugged in response.  She just
couldn’t tell her brother that Dalton was angry at her, because he considered
her selfish and self-absorbed.  He was furious that she wouldn’t remain in Battle
Ground, in order to alleviate some of the family’s stress. 

On some
level, she could understand his frustration.  Perhaps she
was
being
selfish.  But her heart couldn’t handle seeing him on a day-to-day basis.  Of
course, he wouldn’t always be sharing a home with her brother, but would soon
be buying his own place.

He was
only a year younger than Thomas.  It was certain he would be looking for a wife
with whom to start a family.  He was simply too good with children, and too
loving a person, to not want those things.

And she
wanted them too.  With him.  She gave herself a mental shake.  Here she was,
back home, and still as fixated on Dalton as she had been when she was a kid. 
She was pathetic.

Lord,
please take away these feelings for him, she prayed.  Please help me to move
on.

If only
she could do that and remain in Battle Ground.  The errant thought startled
her.  Did she want to move home?  Did she miss her family and friends enough to
precipitate a move home?  Could she live here and somehow subdue her feelings
for Dalton?

Oh,
Lord, what did she want?  She was overcome with misery, and was actually
grateful when she heard Candace drive up.  Now she would be forced to focus on
someone other than herself.

Dan had
yet to drop off the kids, but that was probably a good thing.  Laura didn’t
want to risk them hearing her talking to their mother.  Kenny was so sensitive,
he could be hurt if he were to overhear something he might misunderstand.

She
soon heard a soft knocking on the front door.  She rose to answer it, just as
Dalton entered the room.  He saw Laura had it covered, and spun on his heel and
left.  But not before he’d given her a look she hadn’t been able read.  She’d
seen some emotion there.  Was it sadness?  Remorse?  Anger?

She
watched after him, but gave herself a shake.  Buck up, she told herself.  She
needed to be composed enough to have a conversation with her sister—provided
she would listen. 

When
she asked her to step outside to talk, Candace nodded.  She walked alongside
Laura, a look of resignation on her face.

The two
sisters walked together to the old barn at the back of the family’s property. 
Glancing up and taking in the dilapidated structure, Laura thought better of
going inside.  But Candace surprised her when she walked in without fear.

Laura
followed.  Candace sat down on a bale of hay and watched her with questioning
eyes.  “You wanted to talk to me?”

Laura
nodded and swallowed hard.  She didn’t know how to begin.

“It’s
okay, Laura.  I’m prepared to listen to everything you have to say.”  She gave
a small smile.  “If you want to call me every name in the book, that’s okay.  I
deserve it.”  She gave a tremulous smile.  “You can even hit me if you want
to.”

Laura
shook her head, uncertain what Candace was thinking.  “I’m not here to…”  She
stared at her sister’s face.  “You thought I wanted to...?”  She shook her
head.  “You thought I wanted to … cuss you out? 
Beat you up
?” she said
incredulously.

“I
deserve it.”

“You
apologized to me,” she pointed out.  “You asked for my forgiveness.”

“How
can you forgive me?  I was so horrible…”

“How
can I not?” Laura said, her voice barely a whisper.  “You’re my sister.  I love
you.”

Candace
began to cry and dropped her face into her hands.  She wept for a moment, but
lifted her head when she felt Laura’s arm across her back. 

“It’s
okay,” she soothed.  “I’m not angry at you.  Not anymore.”

“But I
hurt you…”

“Yes,
but it’s okay.  I forgive you.”

Candace
took a shuddering breath and sought Laura’s eyes.  “How do you do it?  Forgive
someone who’s done such awful things to you?”

“Candace,
we were kids when…”  She sighed.  “Besides, how can I expect God to forgive my
sins, if I’m unwilling to forgive others?”

She
considered Laura’s words and finally nodded.  “You’re a far better person than me,”
she said softly.

“No,
Candace, I’m not.  According to everyone, you changed.  You’re no longer a…”

“Pompous
little pill?” she supplied with a humorless laugh.

Laura
answered her words with a smile.  “I wasn’t going to say that.  But what is
important is that you aren’t that person anymore.  I’m told you’ve been a
wonderful mother to your kids, and a terrific wife to Dan.  He loves you, you
know.”

“And I
love him,” she said with an agonized cry.  “So, so much.”

Neither
woman was aware that Dan had walked out to the barn, needing to find Candace,
in order to connect with her about something related to the kids’ schedule the
next day.  When he heard Candace say she loved him, he felt as if he’d been
punched in the gut, and he pulled back, his feet frozen beside that old barn…