Love's Image (23 page)

The only thing Judd could think of was a woman to spend the rest of his life with. To his dismay, he’d been mentally putting Shannon in that role, although he knew his chances with someone like her had to be slim.

Over the past week, Janie had encouraged him to pursue his feelings for Shannon. Did he dare?

After long hours and days of worrying about it, he decided to just go for it. What did he have to lose? It wasn’t as if he hadn’t been defeated before.

With a sigh, Judd resigned himself to having to face another disappointment. He could do it. He had enough practice.

Armed with prayer and the desire to follow his dream regardless of the consequences, Judd headed for church on Sunday hoping to have a chat with Shannon immediately afterward. The only problem was, she wasn’t there. He craned his neck and looked over the sea of heads around him, but he couldn’t find Shannon in the entire congregation. Janie smiled and waved as their gazes met. She’d know where Shannon was. He’d just ask her after church.

The sermon seemed to be directed at him, as always. Even the worship songs got to him. When his uncle dismissed the congregation, he said a silent prayer, then jumped up to find out where Shannon was.

Janie shook her head. “Sorry, Judd. She had to take off for New York yesterday afternoon. Her agent called and ordered her back.”

He gulped hard, the lump in his throat nearly choking him. “She went back to New York?”

Offering a look of sympathy, Janie nodded. “Sorry, Judd.” She reached out and touched his arm. “I wish my news were different.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. At least we can all watch her on TV, right?”

Several people from the Bible study group joined them, and Janie quickly started chatting with one of the other women. Judd turned down an offer to go out to lunch. He’d much rather go on home. Besides, he had an appointment with his Realtor in a couple of hours. He’d been looking at houses, and he was ready to get serious about buying his first home.

“I’m giving you one last chance,” Melinda said as she stood in front of her desk. “If you want to sign, I think I can save the contracts.”

“No, Melinda, but thanks. I really don’t want to do this anymore.”

“How does your mother feel about this?”

“You know how she feels. This is what she’s always wanted for me.”

For the first time since she’d met Melinda, something happened. Melinda came toward her, draped her arm over Shannon’s shoulder, and pulled her to her side. “Ya know, Shannon, I really don’t think your heart was ever into modeling. This was your mother’s dream, and she was able to live it through you. If you want to live in Atlanta and do something else, I don’t think anyone should stand in your way.”

Tears instantly sprang to Shannon’s eyes. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

“Keep in touch, okay, honey?”

Unable to speak, Shannon nodded and left. Now it was time to go to the hotel, gather her things, and get on the next plane home to Atlanta. She had a whole life ahead of her.

She got back just in time to freshen up and get to the Bible study, where she hoped to see Judd. Janie looked shocked that she was there.

“I thought you left again.”

“I just had to finish out a contract.”

“Uh-oh.” Janie covered her mouth with her hand.

“What?” Shannon reached for Janie’s hand and pulled it away. “What happened?”

“Judd—”

“Say no more.”

Before anyone could stop her, Shannon ran out the door, hopped into her car, and drove straight to Pastor Manning’s house. LaRita answered the door.

“Come in, Shannon,” she said in her usual sweet voice. “What a nice surprise. Garrett, Shannon’s here.”

Pastor Manning came around the corner, his hand extended. “How’s the modeling business?”

“I wouldn’t know. I quit.”

He frowned. “I thought you went back to New York.” He paused, raised his eyebrows, and added, “Again.”

“I think I have a few things to explain. Where’s Judd?”

“He isn’t living here anymore.” Shannon gasped. “What happened?”

LaRita led Shannon to a loveseat, then sat down next to her. Patting her on the leg, she said, “Judd found a nice house close to the school where he teaches. He moved out last weekend.”

“Oh,” Shannon said as relief flooded her. “I need to talk to him.”

“Let me call him over,” Pastor Manning said as he grabbed the phone and started punching numbers.

Shannon listened to the phone conversation and heard Pastor Manning’s firm tone, insisting Judd come over right away. There was some arguing, but it wasn’t too serious.

“He’s as stubborn as his uncle,” Pastor Manning said as he hung up. “He’ll be here in about twenty minutes.”

“I’ve got cake and coffee in the kitchen,” LaRita said. “Want me to bring you some?”

“I’d like that,” Shannon replied. She’d always loved the warmth of the Manning’s home. It felt inviting—like a place a person could totally relax. She now realized this was something she’d missed growing up.

Shannon explained what had happened with her modeling contract. They listened attentively and told her they understood and respected what she’d done. That meant quite a bit to her.

When Judd arrived, LaRita turned to her husband and said, “Let’s leave them alone. Why don’t we go on to bed now?”

Judd stood with his hands in his pockets, his jaw set in determination. Shannon rose and walked toward him, but he didn’t budge.

“Please sit down, Judd. We need to talk.”

“I don’t have anything to say.”

She expelled a sigh. “Look, I know how stubborn you can be, but I’m just as stubborn—maybe even more so. You might as well listen now, or I’ll never give you any peace.”

She looked at his face as it softened somewhat. Finally, he nodded and walked over to the chair where his uncle had been sitting.

“I just got back from New York this afternoon, and I went to the Bible study, hoping to see you there.”

“I moved.”

“Yes, I heard. That’s great. Congratulations. Would you like to tell me about your house?”

He darted a glance at her, then looked away before he stood up and started pacing. “Look, Shannon, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I don’t like it. You come and you go, back and forth, whenever the mood strikes. This isn’t how I want to live my life.”

“I understand,” she said.

“I don’t think you do. I’m going to tell you something that might rock your boat a little, but I feel like I need to be honest with you. I’ve tried hard not to, but I think I might have fallen in love with you. It’s not something I should admit, I know, but it’s the truth. If I let you continue to waltz in and out of my life like this, I’ll wind up a crazy man.”

As Shannon listened to his profession of love for her, she felt like her heart might explode. It took every ounce of self-restraint she had to hold back her announcement of love for him. He needed to get this off his chest.

He stopped for a few seconds, grimaced, then resumed pacing. “What’s more, I bought a house, deluding myself into thinking you might consider becoming my wife. I have no idea what I was thinking. What would a woman like you want with a man like me?”

As he wound down, Shannon sat there with her hands in her lap, joy slowly rippling through her, then flooding her like a tidal wave. It took every ounce of self-restraint she had to keep from jumping up and flinging her arms around him. Finally, when he stopped, she ordered him to sit.

“Finished?” she asked.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Okay, my turn. I’ll have you know, Judd Manning, that I’ve been in love with you for a long time. I was wonder-ing the same thing you were. What would a man who had his act together want with a woman like me? After all, I was never sure what I wanted to do with my life. I figured you’d want someone with her feet planted firmly on the ground.”

She dared to take a look at him. He’d raised his eyebrows, and he was watching her with interest. She knew she needed to make this good, or she’d blow what could be her only chance to convince him of her love.

“All my life I dreamed of finding peace, contentment, and a little happiness,” she said, carefully choosing her words. “When I met you, I found it all rolled into one masculine bundle. I love you, Judd.”

“But what about your modeling?”

“I quit.”

“You went back, though.”

“I had to finish out a contract. Now it’s all over. I’m here to stay.”

Taking one of the biggest chances ever, she reached out and touched his hand.
Please, Lord, don’t let me lose this man
.

Slowly, he turned his hand over and wrapped his fingers around her hand. Shannon felt the tug as he pulled her to his side. Their gazes held until their faces were inches apart.

He lifted both hands and cupped her face. “Shannon, I love you. I tried my best not to let it happen, but it was impossible.”

The feeling was so overwhelming, the urge so strong, Shannon couldn’t resist reaching out and pulling his face to hers. She lightly brushed his lips with her lips before backing away so she could look him in the eye.

“I’ve loved you since the first time you kissed me,” she whispered.

“Really? Me, too.”

Shannon’s heart pounded as she held her breath and wondered what to do next.

Suddenly, Judd sucked in a breath, blew it out, and said, “Shannon McNab, will you mar—”

The words weren’t even all the way out of his mouth when she shouted, “Yes!” Then, an odd feeling overtook her. What if she’d mistaken what he was saying? “Uh, what were you about to ask, Judd?”

He chuckled. “I was about to ask if you’d be my wife.”

“That’s a relief.” She kissed him again then pulled back. “I’d be honored to be your wife.”

Applause sounded from the hallway before Garrett and LaRita appeared. “Good move, nephew.”

Judd cast a warning glance toward his aunt and uncle. “Eavesdropping?”

“Of course,” LaRita replied. “But only after we heard Shannon shout, ‘Yes!’ We wanted to make sure you didn’t blow it.”

“Well? How’d I do?”

“Magnificently,” Pastor Manning replied. “And Shannon didn’t do too badly, either.”

LaRita motioned for everyone to join her in the kitchen. “Cake and coffee for all.”

Shannon laughed. “You’ve already fed me cake. I’m gonna get fat.”

Judd nudged her. “Who cares? You’ve caught your man.”

“In that case, I’d love some cake.”

On the way to the kitchen, Shannon pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Then she said a silent prayer.
Thanks, Lord, for making my dream come true. Amen
.

To my husband, Wally, and my daughters, Alison and Lauren. I love y’all very much.

Thanks to Ned, Angela, Samantha, Nikki, Joel, Jill, Meghann, Kevin, Jessica, Lisa, Kathy, Dan, Erica, Erik, Toni, Alison, and Joydine for such great suggestions and comments. And thanks to St. Petersburg College for providing a wonderful learning experience and the opportunity to fine-tune my craft. I’d also like to thank Susan Downs and Andrea Boeshaar for all their help in making this the best manuscript it can be.

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