Pierced by Love (14 page)

Melody gasped at the remark. “I know you’re still hurting, Noelle, but I feel like you’re personally attacking me. I wish that we weren’t experiencing this strain in our relationship. I really do want for things to get better between us. But as long as you keep hanging out with Pierce, I don’t know if that will happen.”

“You barely know him, Melody. Speaking of scathing remarks, I could say the same thing about you. I don’t understand why you can’t see what a good person Pierce is even though he’s different from Chase.”

“I wonder what Mom and Dad would have to say about this.”

That sounded like a threat
, Noelle thought. Where was the sweet Melody she used to love? “Go ahead and tell them.” She injected a cheerful tone into her voice. “Give them a hug for me. And have fun planning your wedding. I can’t wait to hear the details when I get back.”

Before Melody could protest further, Noelle hurriedly said her good-bye and clicked the button. Lost in thought, she stared at her clothing that she’d strewn on the bed while choosing her wardrobe for the trip. It might be best if she only packed one bag of clothing and left her closet full, making it look like she was only going on a short trip rather than out of state. Resolutely, Noelle got to work rehanging the articles of clothing and tidying up the bedroom.

The plane took off at a quarter past one o’clock on Monday afternoon. Noelle was tired from having to work the night before and then not sleeping very well with her sister’s accusations circling inside her head. Then she’d risen early to make the three-hour drive with Pierce to Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.

Pierce had raised his eyebrows at her carry-on bag. “That’s all you’re bringing?”

She shrugged sheepishly. “Did I need to bring more?”

“Maybe not, but I thought that most women like to haul everything they own.”

“Not this one. Besides, I can pack a pretty mean suitcase.”

After the initial takeoff and instructional monologue were over, Pierce turned to Noelle and grinned. “Nervous?” He gestured toward her leg that she had crossed over her knee, which she was kicking repeatedly.

She answered, “A little.”

He placed his hand over her knee to still it. Pierce was unprepared for the jolt of electricity that shot up his arm. Noelle’s wide-eyed stare and quick intake of breath told him that she had felt it too. “Don’t worry. It’ll be all right.” Pierce sighed. Who was he kidding? This trip was promising to be his worst nightmare. What had he been thinking in dragging Noelle into this fiasco? What had begun as small butterflies in his stomach had swelled into full-sized bats.

“So tell me the names of your brothers again.”

Pierce appreciated the diversion. “Craig is older than me by three years and Gage is younger than me by two. Craig is married to Marissa. They have a three-year-old daughter and a five-month-old son.”

“What are their names?”

“Sophie and Landon. Sophie’s a princess all the way. Craig and Marissa want to take her to Disneyland during this vacation. They’ve planned an extended visit.”

“Where do they live?”

“They’re in Provo. Craig is finishing up his master's in social work. He wants to be a school counselor. His brain is undoubtedly wired for it after all the drama our parents put us through.” He wondered what she would make of that comment.

Wisely, she ignored it. “And Marissa?”

“She is a stay-at-home mom. Last I heard, she recently decided to go back to school to complete her bachelor’s.”

“I admire her for being there for her kids. So many parents aren’t. It’s quite impressive.” As soon as the words left her mouth, her face fell.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I was just reminded of something I said to Melody in a moment of anger last night, that’s all.”

When she didn’t elaborate, Pierce decided to probe further. “Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.”

“Not my best moment,” she admitted regretfully. “We got into an argument and I made a sarcastic remark about her having a psychology degree after she tried to psychoanalyze my reasons for going on this trip.”

Pierce noted the look of defeat on her face. “Did you work it out before you left?”

“Uh, no,” she answered, obviously uncomfortable. “But I will.” She smiled uncertainly.

Sensing that she didn’t want to talk about it anymore, Pierce steered the conversation back to her original statement. “So you’re in favor of stay-at-home moms?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that a bit archaic?” Pierce asked.

Noelle replied thoughtfully, “Some people think so, but my mom stayed at home while my dad worked. I always loved it when I walked in the door from school and she was right there, giving me a hug and asking about my day. She was a constant in my ever-changing world.”

Pierce thought about her words. His own mother had spent several hours every day keeping the books for his father’s growing company until it became too much for her to handle. He remembered when his father had hired someone else to do that job. His mother had been more available then, but it was awkward having her at home, hovering over him. He’d felt self-conscious in front of his friends.

“Is that what you want to do with your own kids?” Pierce asked, wondering why he was so anxious to hear her answer. What did her opinion matter to him, anyway?

“I’d like to if I can. I’ll help supplement my husband’s work if necessary, but realistically, a teacher’s salary would hardly compensate for the cost of child care.”

She had a point. Pierce had to admit that he’d never really thought about it before.

“Also,” she went on, “who better to influence her children than a mother? Why leave your baby in a stranger’s hands? Yet so many women do that. I worked part-time in a day care center just after I finished high school. The long hours that those children were away from both parents tore me to pieces.”

When he said nothing, still absorbing her words, she asked, “Did I say something wrong?”

He shook his head. “No. I’m a little surprised, though. If you want to be a stay-at-home mom, then why are you going to school?”

Her lips twitched. “Just in case I marry a fellow teacher.”

“Ah.” He nodded in understanding. “Teachers are vastly underpaid. Smart woman.”

“Thanks. But really, I don’t think these years at NAU will be wasted. I’m learning a lot of things in my child psychology class that are fascinating. Children really do come with their own set of blueprints, but Heavenly Father programmed their brains to perform specific functions at certain ages. I’ve enjoyed learning about the developmental stages they go through, and that knowledge will be beneficial whether I teach or I raise my children. I’ll have a chance to apply what I’ve learned this semester when I do my student teaching this fall. I just found out that I’ll be in a second grade classroom. I’ll be moving back home, though, because it’s with a school in Gilbert.”

“Do you still have siblings at home?”

“No,” Noelle answered. “I’m the youngest.”

“What does your mom do now that you’re out of the house?”

“She loves to volunteer at the library. And, of course, she has a church calling. She also goes to the family history center once a week to extract names for temple work.”

“And your dad?”

“He’s an attorney.”

“Corporate law?”

“No. Family law.” The time flew as she told him more about the firm her father shared a partnership with. Except for the current conflict between the two sisters, Noelle’s family seemed an enigma to Pierce. He’d enjoyed being included in the Levingtons’ large clan at times, but to actually belong to such a family and feel like he was an important member of that unit was something he couldn’t fathom.

Hearing Noelle talk about children had brought a singularly acute pain to his heart. She obviously loved children, which was something Pierce didn’t have much experience with. Pierce had always figured he wasn’t cut out for that kind of life. He certainly hadn’t been given a great example at home. So why did hearing Noelle talk about raising her own children strike a chord of longing deep inside? He’d better steel himself for being in her presence for the next three days.

The plane touched down at San Diego International Airport an hour later. Pierce and Noelle gathered their carry-ons and exited the terminal, looking for his brother, Gage, who’d volunteered to pick them up.

With a sense of dread and knowing he couldn’t put it off any longer, Pierce touched her shoulder. She turned to him in question. “I need to warn you about my brother, Gage, so that he doesn’t scare you too much. He became inactive when my parents broke up. Most of the words that come out of his mouth would be thrown in the garbage, if it were possible. But he tries to tone it down when he’s around us. Also, as a rule, Craig and I try not to mention the Church too much when we’re around him or my dad, although now that my dad is active again, I’m not sure how that will go. Things are bound to be a little awkward at times. Think you can handle that?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve come this far. I’m not about to turn around and go back. Anything else I should be worried about?”

Pierce chuckled. “Such as?”

“Well, Gage isn’t on drugs or anything like that, is he?”

“Not that I know of. He drinks every now and then.”

One corner of her mouth dipped down. “That’s too bad.”

“Yeah. We keep praying for him, hoping he’ll turn his life around.”

“Maybe someday he will.” Noelle offered him a tentative smile. If she kept smiling at him that way, Pierce would be tempted to believe that it might actually happen.

Gage Logan didn’t seem as scary as Pierce had made him out to be, Noelle decided. His long black hair did nothing for him, however, due to his boyish face and scraggly goatee. The two brothers were like night and day in looks and personality, as far as Noelle could discern. Gage was definitely more flamboyant while Pierce was more introspective yet still outgoing.

After the brothers found each other—no hugging for them, Noelle noticed—and exchanged pleasantries, Pierce turned to introduce her. “Gage, this is Noelle Jensen.”

Gage smiled and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.” Turning back to Pierce with a devilish glint in his eyes, he said, “So you brought a girlfriend, huh?”

“Just a friend,” Pierce answered smoothly. “Dad didn’t mind when I asked if she could come.”

“Of course he wouldn’t. He’s been saying something about wanting more grandchildren lately.”

Noelle felt her cheeks burning and chanced a peek at Pierce. His own face showed telltale signs of his embarrassment but he effectively deflected Gage’s comment. “Don’t tell me Dad’s gotten sentimental all of a sudden.”

Gage shrugged. “Who knows? But he’s acting different, you know what I mean?”

Pierce stared at Gage. “No, not really.”

“He just seems, well, more approachable, I guess. Not quite so—”

“Austere?” Pierce supplied, the only description that came to mind.

Appearing mildly embarrassed at thinking the same thing, Gage nodded shortly. “Yeah.”

They looked at each other silently for a few moments. Noelle could only guess what they were thinking. Then Pierce slapped Gage on the shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”