Nephew's Wife, The (16 page)

“Aunt Dolly, what is the meaning of this dinner?” He was furious.

“I thought you’d be pleased that I was accepting your decision to reunite with Lana,” Dolly replied, astonished by his anger.

Rand stood in front of her with both hands on hips.

“Why would you even think I would reunite with Lana?  Lana and I are not together, Aunt Dolly.”

“But, she was with you in Paris.  She told me herself that she was going to do everything to make you happy this time around.”

“There is no
this time around.
”  Rand calmed down long enough to explain what happened in Paris.

“Oh, no!” Dolly gasped.  “I’m so sorry.  I was just trying to be harmonious after the last time you two were together. I’ve really messed up, haven’t I?”

Rand clasped his aunt’s hands in his.  “It’s okay, Aunt Dolly.  It’s my fault for letting you think there was something going on with Lana.  I should have nipped this in the bud right away.”

“What am I going to do about dinner?”

“I’ll take care of this,” Rand said, firmly. He strode out to the living room and returned a few minutes later.

“It wasn’t pretty, but I explained the misunderstanding,” Rand said with relief in his tone.  “The Malones are too upset with Lana to be disappointed in the cancellation of dinner.”

Rand wheeled his aunt near a chair so he could sit down and face her.  Dolly had tears in her eyes.

“It’s not that bad, Aunt Dolly,” he told her, softly.  “One day we’ll laugh about this.”

“These are tears of joy, Randolph,” Dolly declared with a radiant smile.  “I was going to accept Lana, but I’m glad I don’t have to.” She took his face in her hands.  “I want your wife to be more like Ellen than Lana.”

Rand’s eyes widened. “Where is Ellen?”

“In her room.  She didn’t want to attend the dinner.”

“I’ll go get her.” Rand stood.  “I’m starved.”  He wheeled Dolly to the dining room and left her explaining things to a confused, but joyful Celeste.

Ellen wrapped a shawl around her shoulders.  She’d take the service stairs down to the kitchen then slip out the back door to the gazebo.  Hearing Rand arrive home and not being able to greet him had scraped her emotions raw.  Her eyes stung with tears, old and fresh.  She had to leave the house at once.  Just knowing Rand and Lana were together under one roof made her nauseous and fragile.

“Ellen!” Rand called her name and tapped on her door at the same time.  Ellen jumped. She didn’t want him to see her tear-stained face.  She couldn’t use the grieving excuse anymore since she’d told Dolly the truth.

“What do you want, Rand?” Ellen leaned her head on the door with her hand on the knob.

“I came to get you for dinner.”

“I’m not hungry.”
Go away!

“I want to see you, Ellen.  Aren’t you going to welcome me home?” The befuddlement in Rand’s tone touched Ellen.

“Welcome home,” Ellen said through the door.

“Why won’t you come out?  Dinner is waiting.”

“The dinner is for the families.”

Rand understood now. “It’s just me and Aunt Dolly, Ellen, and we want you to join us.  Please come down for dinner.  We’ll be waiting.”

Ellen put her ear to the door and listened. Rand’s footsteps faded down the hallway.

What had happened to Lana and her parents?

Curiosity got the best of Ellen. She washed her face and made herself as presentable as possible then headed to the dining room.  Rand stood when she entered.  His face lit up.

“It’s good to see you again, Ellen.” He came around to help her in a chair.

She lowered her gaze, embarrassed by the redness in her eyes that no amount of water could wash away.

“I’m happy you’re back, Rand.” Ellen’s greeting wasn’t as enthusiastic as Rand’s.  She turned to Dolly.  “What happened to the Malones?”

“I’ll let Randolph explain after the blessing.” Dolly and Rand exchanged joyous glances.

Ellen’s heart flew to the ceiling when she finally heard Rand’s explanation about Lana, but the feeling was fleeting. The truth about Paul still hung between them. The sooner she told Rand the better. 

After dinner, Rand gathered everyone in the living room and passed out the gifts.  He saved Ellen’s for last.

“It’s beautiful, Rand,” she gushed.  No one had ever given her such an elegant gift.  “I’m not sure I deserve such extravagance.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Rand skipped over Ellen’s humble remark. She deserved the moon as far as he was concerned.

Dolly smiled secretly at the two.  “I think I’ll retire early tonight.”

Rand wheeled his aunt back to her room, but only stayed long enough to say goodnight.  While Ellen got Dolly ready for bed, he went to his room and unpacked his luggage that Edward had brought up earlier.

“Why are you in such a hurry to get to bed tonight, Dolly?”  Ellen asked as she combed out Dolly’s hair.

“It’s been a tiring day, dear.”

“I thought you’d be anxious to visit with Rand awhile.”

“I’ll do that tomorrow.” She turned her face up to Ellen. “You are going to tell Rand about Paul, aren’t you?”

“Of course,” Ellen said.  “I want him to learn about it from me not the Sunday paper. I’m not sure he’s going to be as forgiving as you, Dolly.” 

Ellen helped Dolly into her bed and tucked her in.  Dolly took Ellen’s hand as she was leaving.

“You’re in love with Randolph, aren’t you, Ellen? That’s why you didn’t want to come to dinner.  You didn’t want to see Randolph with Lana.”

Ellen blinked at Dolly’s assertion.  Had she been that transparent?

“You don’t have to be embarrassed about it, Ellen. I’m thrilled beyond words. Why don’t you tell him how you feel tonight? Don’t wait.”

“Maybe,” Ellen said with shaky confidence.  “I’ll have to see how he handles what I have to say about Paul.”

Dolly let go of Ellen’s hand and smiled.  “I’ll be praying for you, dear.  I should have left it all to God in the first place, and we wouldn’t have had the fiasco we did tonight.” She chuckled.  “I can’t believe I was pushing my nephew into Lana’s scheming arms.”

Ellen kissed Dolly on the forehead.  “Goodnight, Dolly.  Sweet dreams.”

Rand was waiting at the top of the staircase when Ellen stepped out of Dolly’s bedroom. He had changed into a lightweight, pullover sweater and was in the process of pulling up the sleeves.

“I wondered if you’d like to stroll to the gazebo,” he said as Ellen neared.  “I’ve missed our discussions.”

“I’ll get my shawl. It’s a little cool tonight.”  Ellen pivoted on one heel and went back to her room.  It gave her a chance to collect her thoughts.  The evening had turned out differently than she’d expected, and her emotions were in a dither.  Dolly’s comments were fresh on her mind, too.  If only telling Rand the truth wasn’t facing her, Ellen griped inwardly.  She could just enjoy a nice evening with him without messy nerves.

A few minutes later Ellen and Rand crisscrossed the grounds inside a gorgeous night.  They turned to each other when they reached the gazebo.

              “I have something to tell you—” they uttered at the same time.

Ellen and Rand laughed at themselves.

“You first,” Rand offered.

“No, Rand, mine can wait.” Ellen didn’t want to rush toward dark news.  She sat on a cushioned chair and tucked her feet underneath her legs. It’d been almost two weeks since the last time they were here together.

Rand couldn’t sit.  He was too nervous.  This was all new to him.  He’d never really loved a woman this way. Being with Lana in Paris had made him realize he never really loved her.  He’d just been infatuated by her.  What he felt for Ellen was real, true love.  He’d die for her.

“What is it Rand?”  Ellen asked in a voice rose-petal soft and sweet. 

Rand perched on the edge of the chair, his arms resting on his thighs and his fingers linked in the middle.  He studied the design in the rug on the floor, hoping the right words would leap from the woven threads.

Ellen tensed over his hesitation.  “Have I done something to displease you?”

Rand gazed upward.  It was just the opening he needed.

“No, of course not.”  He shook his head.  “You could never displease me, Ellen. I—I’ve come to realize something on this trip.”  He stood, unable to form sentences sitting still.

“What?”

Rand turned to her, his eyes a deeper brown than usual.  “This isn’t easy to say, Ellen.  My heart has been shut down for years.  I never thought I could love again, but that’s all changed since you came here.  You’ve stirred something in me. It’s brought me back to life.  It’s almost like I’ve been dead all these years, and now I’m alive again.”

Chills fluttered inside Ellen’s veins.  She pulled the shawl closer to her.

“Where is this leading, Rand?”  She asked when he hesitated again.

Rand sat down again so he could face her.  The warmth in her eyes gravitated to his heart, flushing out his emotions.

“I don’t want you to feel pressured or awkward,” he blurted out.  “I realize you have a lot of grieving yet to do.  You need a lot of time to deal with Paul’s death.  I know how much you loved him and wanted a life forever with him.  The pain you’re suffering is probably more than I could ever imagine.”

Ellen wiggled, uncomfortably.  “Rand, what are you trying to tell me?”

Rand glanced down and wrung his hands then looked back up.

“I’m trying to tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you, Ellen. I love you, but I’m making a big mess of saying it.”

“What?”  Ellen gasped. This wasn’t what she’d expected to hear.  Rand Powers was in love with her.  It was beyond her wildest dreams. 

“I know you can’t love another man for a while,” Rand said with his heart exposed.  “It’s going to take time for you to get over Paul. I understand that. Your love for him is what made me realize what a special and amazing woman you are, Ellen.  What you sacrificed to stay with him even though he couldn’t react with you showed me what real love does, how it should be.   I’ve never known love like that. I’ve never loved that way, but that’s how I want to love you.  I’m willing to wait for you forever if I have to.”

Ellen’s stomach lurched into her throat.  She couldn’t hide her discomfort. Her expression reflected someone watching a disaster unfold. 

Rand frowned.  It wasn’t the reaction he had hoped for.  “Don’t worry, Ellen. I’m not going to demand anything of you.  I realize you may never get over Paul.  Aunt Dolly never got over Uncle Harold.  I knew what I was getting into when I came to terms with my feelings for you.”  Rand threw his glance outside.  “I realize you may never love me or even if you ever did, it wouldn’t be the same intense love you had for Paul.  But, I had to tell you. I have to be honest with you about the way I feel.”

Ellen knew Rand needed to hear something from her, but she couldn’t find the words.  And even if she did, she’d not be able to push them out of her throat.  Finally, she was hearing the words
I love you
from a man she truly loved, and she couldn’t even enjoy the moment.  Once he heard what she had to say, he’d be so disappointed in her.  Her deep love for Paul had won him over.  He’d despise her when he learned there was no deep love at all. 

“I—d—don’t know what to say, Rand.”  Ellen shoved her trembling hands through her hair, pushing her bangs away from her eyes that were slowly swimming in tears.

“Don’t say anything, Ellen,” Rand said, somberly. “You don’t have to tell me anything.  I realize your heart still belongs to Paul and might belong to him the rest of your life.”

The ache in Rand’s words sliced Ellen’s heart like jagged shards of glass.  How could she tell him the truth?  She’d waited for this moment all her life, to be truly loved by someone as good and kind as Rand, someone with a heart for God, someone who shared her beliefs. All she could offer Rand was a truth that would make her look worse than Lana in his eyes. 

Ellen gazed into Rand’s fretful face with honesty.  Rand was the man she loved, not Paul.  It was never Paul.  Rand is the man she’d love the rest of her life.  She had to tell him before she said anything else, or she may never have another chance.  Her heart was bursting to tell him how much she loved him.

“I love you, too, Rand,” she said, soft and whispery.  Tears shined in her eyes, but they didn’t fall. 

Rand’s expression reflected surprise and confusion.  “You do?” 

Ellen nodded.  “Yes, Rand, I do.  You’re the man I’ve waited for all my life. I love you more than life itself.  I feel so honored and blessed that you love me.”

“What about Paul?” Rand furrowed his brow.

Ellen lowered her gaze then lifted it slowly to meet his eyes.  Her future happiness hinged on the next few words.  “I never loved Paul.  The truth is I didn’t want to marry him.  I broke up with him the night before our wedding.”

“What?” Rand gaped, confused and upset.  “I thought Paul was the love of your life.  You spent nine years by his side in the care center.  You’ve been grieving the past two months while you’ve been here. How can you tell me now that you never loved him?  It doesn’t make sense, Ellen.  Are you telling me you’ve been lying all this time?  Why?”

“I didn’t know how to tell the truth,” Ellen replied.  Her calm demeanor startled her.  She’d expected to fall apart. 
God must have his hand on me
, Ellen thought.  It gave her courage.

Rand scowled.  “What’s that’s supposed to mean?  Aren’t you supposed to tell the truth all the time?”

“Sometimes, the truth isn’t easy to face, Rand.”

“I’m not following.”  Anger tainted his voice.  “Why did you stay with Paul all those years if you didn’t love him, Ellen?”

Ellen took a deep breath.  “Because I caused Paul’s accident.”

“What?”

“After I told Paul I didn’t want to marry him, he became very upset and stormed out of the apartment.  Ten minutes later he ran the stop sign and—well—you know what happened next.”  Ellen didn’t stop there.  She added what Whitney had told her. “I’ve since learned from someone that Paul wanted to kill himself. He ran through the sign on purpose.”

Rand leapt up, shoving the chair beneath him backwards.   He crossed to the doorway with his back to Ellen and furiously kneaded the back of his neck.