Nephew's Wife, The (11 page)

“I’ll see you in a week. Have fun in Paris. Do some sightseeing.”

Rand scoffed. “I’m afraid I didn’t schedule any fun activities. It’s going to be all work and no play for me. I’ll be running from one meeting to the next.” 

Ellen reached up and straightened his blue striped tie. 

Rand gave her a profound look and touched his tie where her hands had been. “Thanks, I dressed in a hurry this morning.”

“I guess you’re going straight to a meeting with you arrive,” she said, her voice and eyes warm and smooth as silk.  “You’re wearing the classic, business suit.”

“Yes, it’s an evening appointment.”

“Don’t get too rumpled on the flight,” Ellen warned.

Rand chuckled. “I couldn’t if I tried. I’ll be reading reports all the way there. I won’t even know I’m flying. I usually take a private plane so I can fly in a more workable environment, but my accountant suggested the extra money could be used elsewhere and he’s right.” 

The frivolous chit-chat was just a stalling technique.  Both hated to say goodbye to the other.

“You—need to go,” Ellen finally said and stepped back, choked with emotion. 
I’m going to miss you Rand.

Rand couldn’t take his eyes off of her. The only thing keeping him from scooping her in his arms and planting a goodbye kiss on her lips was the shine of tears in her eyes.  Obviously, thoughts of Paul had entered the moment.  Perhaps she was remembering Paul leaving her for the last time the night before their wedding.  It made Rand weak at the knees to know Ellen still belonged to Paul Kendall even with him in the grave.  She’d told him she was trying hard to move on, but he hadn’t seen any signs of it, other than putting the photos away.  A day hadn’t gone by the past week when he hadn’t seen Ellen’s drawn face and teary eyes. 

“Take care of yourself, Ellen.” Rand’s tone housed a somber quality that hadn’t been there a moment ago. His intense gaze took a mental photo of Ellen to carry around in his heart.

“Sure.” Ellen turned him toward the open door.  “Skedaddle before Edward has a fit. You don’t want him racing to the airport.”

“If you only knew how much I really don’t want to make this trip.”

“I know you don’t like leaving Dolly.”

Rand stepped inside the threshold then turned.  “It’s not just that, Ellen. I don’t like leaving home.  Now that Aunt Dolly is more cooperative, more her old self, it feels like it used to.  I like the peace and happiness you’ve brought here.”

“I can’t take credit for that, Rand. God just used me to help Dolly restore her place in the house.  My move here was divinely planned, I believe. I’ve received a lot more than what I’ve given, trust me.”

“Always humble.” Rand put a hand to Ellen’s cheek.  “You’ve been taking care of others all your life, Ellen, and never taking credit for the good you’ve done. You are a blessing in our lives.”

Ellen lowered her gaze as Rand dropped his hand.  His praise made her uncomfortable.  She was a fraud and undeserving of any compliments. One day he’d find out and never forgive her.

“Don’t make a big deal out of me, Rand,” Ellen pleaded, her cheeks blushing from the warmth of his touch.  “I’m just an employee, trying to make a living, just doing my job.”

“Nonsense, Ellen,” Rand disagreed.  “There’s more order in this house since you’ve come. I enjoy being home. Going away doesn’t appeal to me that much anymore. I’ve missed our discussions in the gazebo. You’re not just an employee anymore.  You’re part of the family and a good friend.”

Ellen chuckled as she shoved him across the threshold.  “Remember that when my three-month trial period is over.  Now go. Seriously, you need to leave.”

Rand smiled then hurried to the car.  Edward pulled away from the circular drive.  Ellen waved at Rand with longing in her heart.  He waved back, and then he was gone.

              Ellen closed the door and leaned against it.
I’d rather be your wife than just a good friend, Rand.
She trudged to the kitchen to inform Celeste of her plans to go out that evening and asked the housekeeper if she could watch over Dolly.

“Of course. Will you be requiring Edward’s services, ma’am?”  Celeste asked without expression.

Ellen shook her head.  “No, but would you please ask him to bring a car to the front, the one I’m allowed to use? I’ll drive myself.”

“Of course, Miss Todd, and what about dinner?”

“I’ll take Dolly’s up to her early, Celeste, if that’s okay?  I’ll help her get ready for the night, too, before I leave.”

“Should I leave your meal to be warmed later, Miss Todd?”

“No, Celeste, I’ll grab something on my way home.”  Ellen doubted she’d have an appetite after her stressful meeting.

With her coffee and bagel in hand, Ellen strolled to the library. The room was dark.  Balancing her bagel on top of her cup, Ellen flipped the wall switch, and a table lamp came on.  She made her way to a sofa and settled down to do some serious soul searching and praying.  The house felt empty without Rand.  She missed him already.

It was wrong to love him, Ellen told herself.  She’d just end up with a broken heart.  Rand wasn’t looking for a wife. He was perfectly happy being single. That’s what he let everyone believe.  Ellen wondered.

This morning when she’d straightened his tie, he seemed pleased by the attention. Then he’d touched her face in a tender way. A bazillion sparks had burst from her heart.  There was definitely an attraction, but what kind and on what level? Ellen rested her elbow on the arm of the sofa and absently traced over the pattern in the sofa’s fabric with her index finger.

Over the last few days, she’d realized how much she cared for Rand, but what was the point.  The sin and deception in her life trumped her feelings for him.  Even if she was free to pursue him, she didn’t know how.  Paul was her only experience with men, and it wasn’t a very good one. She’d failed miserably. Sometimes, Paul had made her feel as if she didn’t make him happy.  Paul had wanted her to be more flashy and outgoing.  She’d tried, but not to his satisfaction. Flashy wasn’t her style.

She had wanted Paul to be more spiritual.  He did agree to attend church with her, but that was the extent of it. Paul was a social creature and an opportunist.  He saw church as another means to climb the ladder. Whenever Ellen tried to pin him down about his faith, he’d accuse her of being a fanatic. 

At the care center, Ellen prayed out loud over Paul every day, hoping he could hear her and accept Jesus as his Savior.  She had wanted him to know the love of Jesus before he passed away.  There was no way for her to know whether or not Paul had heard anything.  He couldn’t communicate.  Ellen continuously prayed for God to move in Paul. Faith told her He did. She never questioned God’s ability to do things man couldn’t see.

Ellen finished her coffee and bagel then said her morning prayers while the sun rose.  Rand was first in her prayers that morning. At the end was her meeting with the stranger that evening. She asked God to replace her fear with faith.  By the time sunlight had warmed the room, it was time for Dolly’s breakfast.  Ellen whispered an
Amen
and started her work day.

As she went through the motions, she felt some peace about the meeting she faced. God was preparing her for battle.  His ultimate answer to her prayer was an obvious one. 
Be honest.
  Face the problem head on with the truth.  He would take care of the rest.

Chapter 9

“Rand?” A familiar female voice yanked Rand from his dreams of Ellen. Glancing up from his first-class window seat, Rand watched his ex-fiancée, Lana, settling in the empty seat next to him. 

“W—what are you doing?” He scowled at her.

“The flight attendant said it was okay to switch to this seat as soon as the no-seat-belt sign came on.” Lana tossed back her long, blond hair with an irritating whoosh. “I figured you didn’t want to fly all the way to Paris alone.”

“You figured wrong.”

              Lana batted her lashes at him. “I know we’ve had a tumultuous past, Rand, but when I saw you, I knew this was no coincidence. I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately.”

“What do you want, Lana?” Rand clenched his jaw.  “I have important work to do.”  Rand moved as close to the window as possible.  Lana’s expensive perfume made him nauseous.  He’d much rather smell Ellen’s lighter, more natural fragrance.

“I’m glad you asked, Rand.  It’s just like you to get right to the point.  What I want is very simple. I want us to be together again.”  She crossed her artificially tanned legs in a way to get his attention.   It was a futile move.  Rand wasn’t interested.

“You’re married!”  He snapped in as low a voice as he could manage.

Lana flashed her ring finger up and smiled, boastfully.  “Not anymore! I’m single again! My divorce became final last week. I’m off to Paris to celebrate with friends.”

“Congratulations,” Rand said, sarcastically.  “I’m not interested in getting back together.”  He pulled his computer case onto his lap and opened it.  Once his laptop was fired up, he brought up documents to peruse.

Lana leaned in close. Rand could smell the layered products on her face and in her hair.  It sickened him.  He inched further away.  He’d be out the window before reaching Paris if Lana remained next to him.

              “I don’t mean right away, Rand.” Lana snickered as she checked her red, polished nails. “I want to enjoy the single life again for at least a little while.  My marriage was a disaster from the beginning.  I intend to pamper myself for a while.”

Rand rolled his eyes.  “I’m not interested in you anymore, Lana.”

“That’s not what I heard from the grapevine,” Lana replied in a flirtatious voice.  “I’ve heard you’ve been so heart sick over our break up you won’t get involved with anyone else. You’ve stayed single all this time.”

“Break up!” Rand spurted in a loud whisper.  “There was no break up, Lana. You dumped me!” He turned from her. “It’s a nonissue now. I don’t have any feelings for you anymore, and I certainly don’t want to get back together with you.  I don’t care what the grapevine says.”  He turned away, disgusted.  “This conversation is ridiculous.  We’re not school children.  Please go back to your seat.”

“You loved me once, Rand,” Lana cooed in his ear.  “Remember how you promised to love me forever.  You were going to give me a wonderful life. You can’t tell me you’ve forgotten all that in five years.”

“You forgot all of it as soon as you heard I had cancer,” Rand reminded her as impatience and annoyance threatened to undo him.

Lana pouted. “Don’t bring up that time, Rand.  I was young and scared.  I admit I was wrong to treat you that way, but I couldn’t handle your illness.  I was afraid I’d have to watch you die then go through a heartbreaking ordeal.  I just couldn’t do that.”

Rand glanced around to make sure no one was listening.  Most passengers wore headphones or were sleeping.   

“I don’t want to talk about this, Lana.”  He hissed low and turned to his laptop.

“I think we should.”  Lana reached over and slammed the lid of his computer. “This is important to me.  Don’t you think it’s strange that we ran into each other right after I’ve become single again? It’s like fate or something.”

“I don’t believe in fate,” he spat.

Lana rolled her heavily made up eyes. “God’s will then!” She clutched Rand’s arm with her red glossy nails.  “You told me once it was God’s will that we marry.  Did God’s will change just because I had a bad day?”

Rand was flabbergasted by Lana’s sheer audacity and insensitivity.

“You call what you did to me having a bad day?” Rand kept his voice down, but he was on fire with rage.  He jerked his arm free then glanced around again.  No one seemed interested in their spat.  Everything was business as usual.

“I don’t understand you, Rand.  You’re way too uptight.  You need to loosen up and enjoy life. If I don’t mean anything to you, then why have you hidden behind your work all these years? Why didn’t you move on?”

Rand ignored her.  His faith was being tested.  Lana had one thing right. Their meeting didn’t just happen.  They crossed paths for a reason, but Rand wasn’t worried. He was stronger now.  His heart was in a good place.  A year ago, he would have fallen into Lana’s trap and groveled at her feet. He sneaked a sideways glance at her. Lana was a beautiful woman.  When they were younger, Rand had been charmed off his feet by her vivaciousness, abundant self-confidence, and ambition.  Together they were going to have the good life.  Lana was an asset in his business.  She was a people person and loved entertaining. 

They’d planned to travel around the world, have parties, build a big house, and eventually have children.  Rand never questioned Lana’s faith in the Lord. She’d been brought up in the church, had Christian parents, and attended services with him.  Only one thing had bothered him.  She wasn’t close to his aunt. They had stayed out of each other’s ways.  His aunt, bless her heart, had accepted Lana because he’d begged her to. 

“Lana will come around, Aunt Dolly,” he’d told her, but she never did.

Rand reopened his laptop and concentrated on a sales report.

              “How long are you going to be in Paris?”  Lana scooted closer to Rand.

“That’s none of your business, Lana,” Rand growled.

“Oh, stop being so sore,” she said, flippantly.  “If you didn’t still have feelings for me then why isn’t there someone else?  Umm, why didn’t you ever marry?”

Ellen floated across Rand’s mind like a dream. His cheeks warmed with thoughts of her, and a tender smile curled the corners of his mouth.  Suddenly, everything became clear to him.
There is someone else.
He just couldn’t do anything about Ellen till she finished grieving.

“You’re gushing and blushing,” Lana swooned. “That means something, Rand.”

“It has nothing to do with you, Lana.” 

              Lana gave him a seductive glance. “Okay, so you want to be chased. That just makes it more fun.”