Trust in Me (52 page)

He stared at her blankly. “I don’t understand. You want me to come over to your house for dinner...with just you?”

She nodded. Felt foolish. “Um, if you don’t want to, it’s okay.”

“I want to. I just don’t understand.” His eyes narrowed on her. “Does this have anything to do with Linc’s sermon today?”

“Partly.” She drew in a deep breath. “I told you before I believe you’ve changed, Joe.”

“That’s not the same as forgiveness.”

“I know. That’s why I’m here. To tell you I do forgive you.”

Slowly his eyes filled. He closed them and rubbed them with his thumb and forefinger. When he was composed, he met her gaze again. “I don’t know what to say. I never expected your forgiveness.”

“Well, you have it if you want it.”

“I want it.”

“I’m glad.” She scanned the room nervously. “So, I thought it might be a good idea if we had some alone time to talk. To kind of get to know each other better. You know, to get to know the people we’ve become.”

He swallowed hard. “I’d really like that, Mary Anne.”

His use of her formal name relaxed her, made her smile. “So would I.” She stood.

So did he. “What time should I come?”

“About seven?”

“Fine.”

They walked toward the door. She opened it, but turned back. She had flats on and he was a good foot taller than she. He looked big, but breakable. And she realized she truly didn’t fear him anymore. “So, I’ll see you later.”

He nodded. She could tell he was still overcome with emotion. Her own throat felt tight. Staring into his world-weary face, she gave him a small smile.

He returned it.

Then, in a gesture as natural as summer rain, she reached up and encircled his neck with her arms. He froze for a minute, then gently wrapped his arms around her, and as he’d done so many times, lifted her into his embrace.

Somehow it felt right. Like a new beginning.

Just what the minister ordered.

EPILOGUE

UNDER a canopy of clear blue September sky, punctuated by fluffy white clouds that looked like cotton candy, Ron leaned over into the shiny new car and tightened the strap on Tucker’s safety harness. Hordes of people buzzed in the stands, waiting for the much-publicized September Exhibition Race to begin. Race driver legends that hadn’t come to compete were in the crowd—even The King, Richard Petty.

Grinning, Tucker ruffled Ron’s hair. “The harness is tight, kid.”

“Just wanna make sure.” Ron ducked his head out and looked at the track where his father had died. He tried not to let on that he was worried. At almost eighteen, he knew today was different from ten years before. It was just that sometimes, he did fear losing his
new
dad.

“See you in the pit,” The Menace said cockily.

“Ah, no, you won’t.”

Tucker nodded to Ron’s red and white jumpsuit, which matched his own. “You’re part of my crew, Ronny.”

Shaking his head, Ron shrugged. “I’m gonna go sit with Mom during the race.”

Through his safety glasses and chin strap, Tucker smiled. “Good idea, son.” He reached up and grasped Ron’s wrist with his gloved hand. “Tell her not to worry. I’m gonna be fine.” He leaned over conspiratorially. “I plan on seein’ that little brother or sister we’re gonna give you in seven months or so.”

Ron sputtered and Tucker laughed. This was the first Ron had heard about a new little tyke in the family. As Tucker drove off to the starting lane, Ron shook his head, his heart squeezing tightly in his chest. He was gonna have a kid brother or sister. One he could watch over and keep safe, away from the trouble he’d gotten into. “Now, don’t that beat all,” he mumbled as he watched Tucker maneuver into place.

“Geez, kid, you even sound like them Southern boys.”

Ron turned around and smiled at Margo. Dressed in a long Menace T-shirt—Doc and Tucker had gotten them for the whole
family
—Ron cast a glance at the name written on the front. “Yeah, well,
Mary Margaret
, I could do worse.”

Margo smiled radiantly and wrapped her just-beginning-to-bulge belly with her arms. Now
her
he’d known about.

“The twins givin’ you trouble today?” he asked.

“I tossed my cookies again this morning. They’re already hell-on-wheels, I tell you.”

As they walked to the edge of the pit, Ron shook his head. “You got names picked out?”

“Of course. We’re calling them Frank and Jesse James.”

“Well, if you’d take your husband’s name like you’re supposed to...”

“Never see the day, kid.”

When Linc and Margo got married that summer—just after his mom and Tucker—they didn’t want to rush anything. She’d kept her place in New York and did some consulting in computer design but had spent more than half her time in Glen Oaks. When she was here, she ran the racing video game business she’d set up with Doc.

They were just about to head for the stands when someone tugged them back.

Ron pivoted.

Doc’s complexion was rosy and his eyes sparkled with energy; given that
everybody
was watching out for his diet and exercise these days, he was the picture of health. “Tell your mama Tuck’s gonna be all right, boy.”

“I will, Doc.” Ron glanced over to the pit. “Where’s Gerty?”

“She went up to sit with your grandparents.”

“No shit, are they here?”

“Yep. She’s tryin’ to coax ’em down to sit with the rest of the family.”

Ron looked all the way back to the stands. Sometimes, if you had enough faith, and trust, the pieces just fell into place. When he reached the box seats, he found his mother sitting on the bench. She wore shades, and the sun beat down on her hair, which was getting longer. Like she used to wear it. She had on her Menace T-shirt, with
Mary Elizabeth
etched on the top left. Uncle Linc was next to her, in his racing shirt, too. God, they all looked like the freakin’ Brady Bunch.

And it felt damn good.

Margo climbed over his mother and plunked down in Linc’s lap, giving him a big smooch right on the mouth.

“Have you no shame, woman?” Linc asked, coming up for air.

“None.”

“I’ve got my reputation to think of.” His protest was weakened by the fact that he was nuzzling her neck.

“Screw your reputation.” She kissed him again.

He whispered something in her ear that Ron was glad he couldn’t hear. Sex between adults boggled his mind; despite that, seeing Margo and Linc together made him feel warm right down to his toes.

Flanking his mother on the other side, he put his arm around her. “Tucker’s fine, Mom. He said to tell you he’s gonna be all right.”

“I know he is. Nothing’s going to take him away from me now, Ronny.”

“Away from
us
,” Ron corrected. Then, with a glint in his eye, he added, “All three of us.”

Beth grinned. “He told you?”

“Uh-huh.”

“How do you feel about it?”

“Feel about what?” Linc had settled Margo next to him and held her hand like some teenager.

With pretended disgust, Ron snorted. “We got a regular baby boom happenin’ around here.”

Linc’s eyes lit up. He grabbed his sister and hugged her. “Oh, Bethy, I’m so glad.”

Margo reached around Linc for an embrace of her own. “Way to go, girl. Now ours’ll have playmates.” Her eyes twinkled. “Just like us.”

“Oh, Lord,” Linc said. “Imagine the trouble they’ll get into.”

Ron shook his head. “I’ll keep all three of them in line.” He rolled his eyes. “And if Lily can tear herself away from that college she went to, she can help me with them.”

Who would have thought—Lily Hanson enrolled in SUNY Brockport to become a Math teacher. Mr. Johnson was really proud.

There was a rustle in the stands as a group made its way up to them. Now
there
was a posse if Ron ever saw one. Matt Murphy and Tommy DeMartino, wearing The Menace shirts, too, clomped alongside their two little sisters. Ron used to be jealous of their family. Now, he was gonna have a sibling of his own—and cousins to boot. Behind them, Rosa DeMartino followed, trailed by Annie and Joe. The kids sat a few rows up, and the adults took the seats behind his mom.

There was a round of warm hellos.

Annie and Joe looked good in their Menace shirts, too; Annie’s sported
Mary Anne
, her full name, like Mom’s and Margo’s. Studying them, Ron didn’t think he’d ever seen Annie happier, or Joe more relaxed. He didn’t know why they’d split, but he’d been thinking all summer they were heading back together.

Joe reached out, took Annie’s hand and just held it. It was almost a reverent gesture.

Annie squeezed his back, then nodded to the track. “So, how much longer?”

“Any minute now,” Beth told her.

Annie touched his mother’s shoulder.

“I’m okay,” Beth responded to the silent query.

Just then, a loud voice came over the speaker for the spectators to stand to sing the national anthem. Rising, Ron looked out at the packed bleachers, at the newly refurbished track where he’d spent a lot of the last summer with Doc and Tucker. He smiled. He had his own secret, which he’d keep to himself awhile. Mr. Johnson was helping him apply to design schools. Though he loved the race, Doc’s side of it was more interesting. He stared at the fourth turn where his father had crashed. And designing was safer. Now, he knew how important that was.

The introductions over, the announcer spoke the most famous words in racing lore. “Gentlemen, start your engines!”

Ron grasped his mother’s hand as Tucker took his place on the pole and led the other cars out onto the track.

Two hours later, when the checkered flag came down right behind number thirty-one, Ron was still holding her hand.

The Menace had won the exhibition race, but Ron knew he was the luckiest person at Glen Oaks Race Track that day.

-o0o-

Author's Note

Trust in Me
was a challenging book to write because it deals with difficult subjects. Believe me when I say that I understand the issues here are deep and significant ones, not easily worked out. I also realize that not everyone will agree they should be dealt with as I have dealt with them. Yet for me, the story was an uplifting one to tell, too, because all of the characters grow and change and are able to deal with their personal demons to become better, happier people. At its heart,
Trust in Me
is a book about redemption, and how it is possible to make up for past mistakes, and how it is possible to let go of guilt. All six characters need to leave their pasts behind, and forgive themselves for their mistakes or weaknesses—not an easy task.

The crux of this book is friendship, something I’ve always believed vital to adult contentment. The six main characters help each other to find happiness. In my life, I’ve been blessed with close friends, and I know personally how these very special people make a difference in my life. Also important in the novel are the relationships between parents and children, I’ve seen firsthand how the love of a mother or father can turn a child around, or vice versa. Adults play major roles in kids’ lives, sometimes when the kids don’t even know it. And finally, the book is about that unique relationship between a man and a woman. It makes me smile to think how these couples find each other, some after years of separation, and are able to overcome guilt, insecurities and old resentments to be together.

I hope you enjoyed reading about Linc and Margo, Tucker and Beth and Joe and Annie as much as I enjoyed writing about them. Drop me a note to let me know your impressions of the book.

Best,

Kathy Shay

o0o

Contact Kathryn Shay at
www.kathrynshay.com
(contact Kathryn);
www.facebook.com/kathrynshay
;
www.twitter.com/KShayAuthor

o0o

Kathryn Shay’s Books available on Amazon:

Trust In Me: Amazon
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People in the stock car racing town Glen Oaks called them The Outlaws when they were young, but no one knew the kids on the streets would grow up to be such upstanding citizens. Follow these three relationships between these couples throughout the book: Linc, now a minister and Margo, a confirmed atheist; Beth who falls for the man the town blames for her husband’s death ten years ago; and Annie and Joe whose marriage broke up over truly irreconcilable issues.

Promises To Keep: Amazon
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Meet stoic by-the book Secret Service Agent Joe Stonehouse who’s paired with rebel Agent Luke Ludzecky as they go undercover in a typical American high school that has been tagged as having the potential to erupt in deadly violence. Their task of infiltrating the student body is hard enough, but when Joe becomes involved with principal Suzanna Quinn, and Luke is attracted to teacher Kelsey Cunningham, who thinks he’s a student, the operation gets even more explosive.

After The Fire: Amazon
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On the Line: Amazon
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Nothing More to Lose: Amazon
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Follow the firefighters of Hidden Cove, a remarkable team of heroes like you’ve never seen before. Their daily lives on the line and in the bedroom will leave you with unforgettable characters and plots ripped straight from the headlines. Read all three or as stand-alone full length novels.

America’s Bravest Boxed Set: Amazon
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The Rescue Squad in the Hidden Cove Fire Department deals with blazing fires, horrific car accidents and medical calls. They also have complicated personal relationships due to the nature of their jobs.  In AMERICA’S BRAVEST, each of the six novellas details the love and work of one firefighter, but the stories are tied together with an arson case and a blogger out to discredit them.