Now and Forever 5, Love's Journey (34 page)

Peter reached Lara who was flat on the
floor, shaking. He helped her up, sat in an aisle seat and set her
on his lap, folding his arms around her. She buried her face in his
shoulder and sobbed.

“Nice work.” Dave Williams complimented the
pair.

Peter nodded, handed Lara his handkerchief
and tightened his arms around her.

“Can’t wait to call New York and tell ’em
we’ve got their attacker,” Dave said.

Carter was still alive, but unconscious and
in police custody when the ambulance whisked him away. Lara and
Peter went home. All she wanted to do was to lie in Peter’s arms
and try to forget but her memory was back and everything was now
crystal clear.

Chapter
Twenty-two

On the first weekend in February, Pat called
the neat house on James Street to invite Sam to a concert at the
university. Peter answered the phone. After a few pleasantries, she
asked to speak to Sam.

She sat back on her sofa and took a sip from
her coffee mug.

“Dad’s not here. He’s gone. Didn’t he tell
you?”

Pat got a sick feeling in the pit of her
stomach and put her mug down.

“He didn’t tell me. Where is he?”

“He’s teaching, lecturing, at the University
of Florida and a couple of other colleges in Florida. He’s gone for
a few weeks. I’m surprised he didn’t tell you.”

Pat was speechless. Sam was gone. She fought
down the panic rising in her gut.

“Pat? Are you still there?”

“I’m here,” she said, her voice barely
audible.

“He really didn’t tell you?”

“No. I’m…I’m…”

“I’m sorry. He should have told you. Should
I tell him you called?”

“Please tell him I called. Is there a number
where I can reach him?”

“Only his cell phone, but he doesn’t pick it
up. He hates cell phones.”

Pat fought the tears behind her eyes but
lost. They spilled over and ran down her cheeks.
Hang up,
fool!
She took a big breath to steady her voice, but it shook
anyway.

“I’ve got to go,” she said, covering the
mouthpiece with her hand.

“I’m so sorry, Pat.”

After hanging up the phone, Pat put her head
in her hands and cried.
Why didn’t I tell him how much I love
him?
Sam was willing to commit to her, why couldn’t she commit
to him and put her foot down with Jack? Now Sam was hurt, angry,
and gone.

Pat mixed herself a strong drink, took a
swig and dialed Jack’s number.

“Jack…dear…I’m making some changes in my
life and I wanted to let you know…”

Her next phone call was to Jonesy in
administration at the university.

“Hi, Jonesy, Pat. I need a favor from you.
Could you please call Dr. Gilbert for me? See if he’s busy now, I
need him to cover for me. I have some personal business. Wonderful.
Thank you so much.”

* * * *

Sam arrived at the lecture hall at his alma
mater, Austen Mansfield University, early to set up his slides and
CDs. This was his second lecture to this group and his favorite one
as it involved using bird calls. He was a good speaker, managing to
keep students awake and attentive. His lectures were well
attended.

After this lecture, he’d go birding for two
days in the Everglades, then move on to Florida Conservation
Institute. He was glad to be out of the cold, biting weather in
Willow Falls, but he missed his family…and Patsy.

It seemed to him as if he had gone to the
phone to call her a dozen times, but each time he stopped. She
wouldn’t commit to him, wouldn’t tell him she loved him. He felt
like a temporary diversion, not someone she might want to spend the
rest of her life with.

He knew he disappeared on her. Probably hurt
her a little bit too. Hell, she hurt him plenty so maybe it was
okay to hurt her a little.
She’ll get over it.
He needed to
get away, but he missed her…her soft skin, her intelligence, her
sense of humor and her passionate response when they made love. He
missed her French toast, her listening skills, her warm
laughter…everything about her.

The room got quiet as the students waited
for Sam to speak. The silence brought his attention back to his
lecture. He put up his first slide, then played the first bird call
and started speaking, until the door in the back of the room
opened. He looked up as Pat walked in. She stopped and their eyes
locked.

“Dr. Caldwell, I apologize for being late
and disrupting your class.” She announced in a clear voice.

“No problem…is it Mrs. or Miss?” Sam asked,
his keen eyes connecting with hers.

“It’s Miss. Definitely Miss,” she said,
smiling at him, her gaze glued to his.

“Why don’t you come and sit down front,
Miss…”

“Dr. Weiss, actually,” Patsy said, as she
walked to the front of the room.

Sam beamed at her for a few seconds before
continuing his lecture. Pat sat down. When the lecture was over and
Sam had finished answering questions for eager students, he ambled
over to where Pat was sitting. They were alone in the lecture
hall.

“Patsy, what are you doing here?” he asked,
a small smile playing at his lips.

“I came to see you.” Her sharp eyes examined
his.

“I’m honored. Why?”

“Because you left before I could tell
you…how much I love you.”

“That true?”

“Are you calling me a liar?” She covered her
mouth with her hand to hide her smile.

“No, no. I’d never do that.” He smiled.

“Good. Of course it’s true. I also had a
long talk with Jack. He’s not going to set up any more road
blocks…not going to get between us again.”

Sam smiled and extended his hand to her. She
took it and stood up.

“Perhaps we should go somewhere more private
to talk.”

“Where?”

“How about my hotel room?” he whispered, his
bright blue eyes glittering with desire.

“Are you trying to seduce me, Dr.
Caldwell?”

“You’re damn right I am.”

“What are we waiting for?”

* * * *

Sam and Pat sat in the tiny coffee shop at
his motel, sipping iced tea and eating salads after a long session
of lovemaking.

“I’d like to talk about…our spending more
time together…I missed you so much, Sam, you have no idea.” Tears
formed in her eyes.

He put his hand on hers. “Are you
serious?”

“Again you question my veracity. Of course,
I’m serious. Why else did I fly down here leaving all that lovely
snow and ice in Willow Falls behind?”

“Patsy…I miss you too.” He leaned over to
plant a kiss on her lips.

Sam took Patsy birding with him in the
Everglades and then on to his next lecture. They were back in
Willow Falls in time for Valentine’s Day when Sam presented Patsy
with a blue topaz ring to match her necklace and Patsy gave him a
key to her house.

* * * *

After dinner at Bon Appetit on a Friday
night, they drove to Patsy’s house to be alone. Sam poured some
Drambuie into two tiny cordial glasses and they sat on the sofa
together.

“I try to get up-to-date on technology and
the changes in the world, but some things never change.”

“Like what?” Patsy took a sip and put her
delicate glass down on the coffee table.

“Love. I don’t believe in shacking up,
Patsy. I love you and I think we ought to get married. What do you
say?” Sam took her hand in his.

“That’s a helluva proposal, Sam. Where’s the
bended knee, the engagement ring, the pledge of undying love and
all that? Some romantic!” She chuckled.

“Damn! You’re right. I’m talking about it
like it’s a business deal.” Sam then dropped down, slowly, to one
knee.

“I love you, Patsy, will you marry me?” he
asked as he pulled out a small box. He opened it to reveal a
beautiful emerald ring.

“Oh, Sam, I was kidding! Get up before you
damage your knee.” Patsy sat up.

“My knee is perfectly all right and you
haven’t answered my question.”

“Of course, yes, I’ll marry you.” Sam took
the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger.

They agreed to marry quietly at city hall.
Sam and Patsy invited all the family to go out to dinner afterward.
Sam took Peter, Lara, Mac and Callie to city hall for the ceremony
before the dinner. He didn’t feel right marrying without his
children there.

Patsy wore a short, elegant, beige jersey
dress with lace trim at the neckline and hem and small white
flowers in her hair. She carried a spring bouquet of soft pink
flowers. During the ceremony, she teared up a few times and Sam
offered his handkerchief. After the ceremony, eating and drinking
began in a private room at La Côte d’Or, where Sam and Pat had
their first date.

* * * *

After the talent show, the Caldwell and
Maine clans, with Jim tagging along, went out for pizza. When they
returned home, Lara and Peter stayed up late, talking, making plans
for their life together. As Lara was turning out the living room
lights before she joined Peter in bed, she saw the light still on
at her uncle’s house. She poked her head in the bedroom and
interrupted Peter correcting papers on the bed.

“Bear, I’m going over to Uncle Jim’s for a
moment.”

She opened the front door and called
out.

“Uncle Jim? Is that you?” Lara padded into
the kitchen.

Jim Caterson was sitting at the kitchen
table, a half-full glass of scotch on the table in front of
him.

“How come you’re still up?” Lara slipped
easily into the seat next to him.

Jim didn’t say anything. He handed her a
note.

Lara read it.

Small town life isn’t for me. I’m going to
New York with Andres. We’re in love. This is the best thing for
both of us. Thanks for everything.

Fran

Lara’s mouth hung open a tiny bit as she
reread the note.

“Fran ran off with Andres? I’m amazed. So
sorry, Uncle Jim.” She tried to sound unhappy.

“Thanks, Lara. Me too…I think.”

“You didn’t really love her did you?”

“I thought I did. When Nancy died, I was so
lost…she seemed like the answer.”

“I miss Aunt Nancy too. She was wonderful.
Fran wasn’t a nice person, Jim.” Lara took his hand in both of
hers.

“I suppose she wasn’t. There won’t be anyone
like Nancy again.”

“You never know. Don’t be blind to love when
it comes your way again, Uncle Jim. Look what happened for me,
who’d think a blind girl could win the heart of the best-looking
man in town?”

* * * *

Across town in the Marcia’s small house

The phone rang, Marcia picked it up.

“The children want to invite you to color
Easter eggs with them.”

“Rebecca, that’s very kind of you, but I
can’t.” Marcia folded a leg under her bottom and plopped down on
the sofa.

“Oh, and stay for dinner. Jakub won’t be
here. He is working late tonight.”

“Even so. I can’t. Please explain to Joey
and Annabeth.”

“Marcia, you have to come! Please come and
show Mommy how to make your hot chocolate,” Joey pleaded.

“Put Mommy on the phone.” Marcia said, “No
fair, Rebecca.”

“So you’ll come then?”

“I guess so. You’re sure Jakub won’t be
there?”

“I promise.”

“Okay. What time?”

“How about five o’clock?”

“See you then.”

At four forty-five, Marcia got into her car.
It had been raining all day and now it was beginning to freeze.
Visibility dropped as the rain turned to wet snow. She drove slowly
trying to concentrate on the road but she couldn’t stop thinking
about Jake. Secretly she hoped he’d show up.
Why did I make him
leave?
The familiar ache in her stomach began when she thought
about him. Her mind wandered. The light changed from red to green.
She didn’t see the silver SUV come barreling along, trying to
squeeze by on the yellow light. Marcia proceeded into the
intersection, only to be blindsided by the SUV. The cars crashed,
Marcia’s car spun on the slippery road, skidded and hydroplaned
into a stone wall.

* * * *

At five o’clock Joey and Annabeth were in
the front room at the window, waiting for Marcia. By five thirty,
the children were angry and disappointed. At six o’clock, they ate
dinner. Rebecca shot a glance at the driveway from time to time but
Marcia’s car never arrived. She called Marcia’s house three times
only to get the answering machine.

At seven o’clock, Jakub came home.

“Your girlfriend stinks, Grandpa!” Joey
said.

“What?” Jakub raised his eyebrows

“We hate Marcia,” Annabeth said, hurt and
anger showing on her face.