Queen Bee Goes Home Again (42 page)

“All right, you two,” Mama said. “It's already blessed. Take your plates over and eat up. I don't want any leftovers.”

“Thank you, ma'am. This sure smells great,” John said as he rose.

Mama grinned with pride. “It tastes great, too. Not many folks besides our Carla want to take the time anymore to cook true Southern the way I do.”

John focused an enigmatic glance at Phil, then headed for the buffet with Tommy.

Once we were all eating, I looked to John and asked, “How do you and Tommy know each other?”

“Through a mutual friend,” they both said at once.

That was a common AA answer, so I changed the subject. “What line of work are you in, John?”

An odd expression flitted across his face. “I'm an accountant for the biggest employer in the country.”

The hint went right over my head. “Ah. Then you and Phil will have plenty in common. He used to be a CPA.”

“Still am,” Phil grumbled.

Tommy peered from one to another of us as if we were all in a movie. Clearly, he expected something to happen. But what?

Meanwhile, Miss Mamie got up and refilled iced teas, then passed her yeast rolls and sweet rolls, then the sliced melons.

I felt like the only kid in the class who didn't know what was going on, but Connor's expression told me he didn't know, either.

We were all stuffed when John rose. “Miss Mamie, that is the best brunch I have ever eaten in my life. Thanks so much. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go to work.”

“But it's a holiday,” she protested mildly.

Tommy rose, too, and stepped between me and Phil.

John reached inside his suit jacket and retrieved a gold badge and a pair of handcuffs, then hoisted Phil to his feet. “Philip David Scott, as an officer of the Treasury Department, I hereby place you under arrest for thirteen counts of tax evasion and three of deliberate underpayment, in addition to evading arrest, felony perjury, and eighty-three counts of electronic mail fraud.”

Stunned, Phil glared at him.

As John read him his rights, Phil turned a vicious look on me. “This is all your fault. If you'd just married me, none of this would have happened. But no, I had to
woo
you. Do you have any idea what that ended up costing me? Now look what's happened, you stupid bitch.”

I smiled and said, “So you weren't really born again. I can't believe I was stupid enough to think you might be.”

The man I'd been married to for thirty years responded with a hiss of hate.

Once Phil was well secured between Tommy and John, John handed me a paper from the inner pocket of his jacket. “Ms. Linwood Breedlove Scott, this is a summons for you to appear as a material witness at Mr. Scott's trial. We have a lot of questions about your marital property. As you two are now divorced, you may speak freely.”

So
that
was it. I turned on Phil. “You wanted me to marry you so I couldn't testify against you.” I had to laugh. “Wives can testify against their husbands if they want to. They do it all the time. They just can't be
forced
to testify against them.”

Phil spat my way, then called me a word so vulgar I cannot repeat it, upon which my mother stood up and slapped the bejeebers out of him, then blithely returned to her seat.

“I do not tolerate insults and vulgar language at my table,” she said sweetly.

I looked to my brother with infinite gratitude. “Thank you, Tommy. Thank you
so
much.” Then I turned to John, “And you, working on the holiday. God bless you.”

“Ma'am, believe me when I say I was glad to do it. We've been trying to catch Mr. Scott for years,” John said, “but he always evaded us with fake passports. When Tommy contacted me with what he knew, we were able to locate where Mr. Scott had been hiding out with his ex-girlfriend. We tracked her down, and she rolled on him in exchange for a reduced sentence. Her testimony and yours will put Mr. Scott away for a very long time.”

“So there is justice, after all,” I breathed.

Tommy shot me a grin as he and the T-man hustled Phil away to meet the consequences of his crimes.

I stood there long after they were gone, wondering how I could have been gullible enough even to consider taking Phil at his word. As Aesop showed us, a scorpion is a scorpion is a scorpion.

Then I heard a sound behind me that brought my attention back to the table.

Connor had put his face into his hands and sat there bent over and shaking. At first, I thought he was crying, but he wasn't. He was laughing.

He looked at me in amazement, then jumped up and pulled Miss Mamie into a polka, singing “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” while my mother joined him at the top of her voice.

A Baptist minister, dancing. Good for him.

It sank in, deep, that I didn't have to give up who I was to be with him, clueless though he might be. I had college to keep me busy, my own life and interests. I didn't have to be an extension of Connor or his ministry, sitting home and trying to fit some ridiculous stereotype.

He'd said he loved
me,
just as I was.

The stone that had been crushing my hopes rolled away.

I sat watching till they both collapsed back into their chairs. Brows lifted, I asked Connor, “Was that enough of an answer about you and me, or what?”

Still breathing hard through his grin, Connor got up, then went to one knee before me, taking my hands. “Linwood Breedlove Scott, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife Saturday after next at our church?”

I looked into Connor's eyes and said, “No. I will not.”

Stunned, he shot to his feet. “What?”

“I cannot marry a man who uses God as an excuse to leave me hanging.” I glanced into my lap. “I want a man who will fight for me, protect me, even from his own children, and go to the chair for me if I rob a Seven-Eleven, as Christ died for his bride, the church. That's the husband Ephesians teaches. Not a man who would put his work above our relationship, no matter how wonderful that work might be.”

I thought of Helen with renewed sympathy.

Connor raked his fingers through his white hair, smoothing away the deep worry lines across his forehead. “Dear Lord, I did it again.”

I nodded, seeing the truth sink in with maximum impact.

With that, he drew me from my seat and embraced me. “Lin, I am
so
sorry. I was so busy trying to discern God's will that I didn't see what it was costing you. Is there any hope for me?”

“Maybe,” I said, nestling close. “I might be able to help.”

He smiled with wonder. “I think you could. Please, will you be my helpmate?”

I had one last reservation. “Connor, I'm so weary of losing the things I love and having to fight my way back alone. I can only marry you if you promise to protect me, sometimes even from myself. Even from the demands of your work. Even from our children.”

His gaze searched mine, the promise of ages in his eyes. “I will.”

“Then I will marry you Saturday after next at our church.” I was taking a chance, but he was worth it.

Instantly, the tension evaporated from the room. Miss Mamie clapped with glee.

Connor was definitely a frog, but all in all, a darned good one. “Boy, do you need me,” I told him. “The next time you want to pull a stunt like you did today in church, run it by me first, before you shoot yourself in the foot.”

It finally dawned on him what he'd done, and he had enough sense not to try to justify it. He whacked his brow. “I should have asked you first.”

“Bingo.”

He shook his head in shame. “I just wanted to surprise you, welcome you back.” Then he brightened, blue eyes sparkling. “I
do
need you.”

His lips grazed my ear as he murmured, “And your bodddy.”

Bang, zoom! Chemistry.

It was my turn to laugh with joy. “Mama, do you mind if I move next door?”

Miss Mamie grinned. “Go ahead, as long as you leave me that electric blanket. And still come to breakfast.”

“Done.”

Connor stood and drew me into his arms for another of those Times Square kisses while Miss Mamie looked on with approval.

“Now,
that's
how a man should kiss a woman,” she declared.

I curled into his arms afterward, and my inner child, my practical self, my hedonist, and my wild side—even my inner Puritan—joined in a group hug with a unanimous chorus of praise.

The Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch had found true love at last.

Now, if I could only pass math.

 

Sixty-six

Two weeks later, on a glorious day in May, I walked to the old Presbyterian/new Baptist church in my
Somewhere in Time
dress and hat, accompanied by my brother and his wife, and Miss Mamie. Never has there been a happier procession. Because Phil and I had eloped, this was my first real wedding, so I walked very slowly to prolong the anticipation.

When we got to the church, the parking lot was full, and the iron railings were swagged with fresh daisies and white tulle, a gift from the local florist in gratitude for Phil's tulip orders.

Inside, Mary Lou was waiting and gave me and Miss Mamie a hug, then headed back to her seat, closing the doors behind her. But not before I caught a glimpse of Noel Austeen waiting on the dais to marry us.

Noel Austeen! Pastor of the largest evangelical church in America! And Connor hadn't told me.

I
loved
Noel Austeen's preaching!

You marry a holy man, I guess you rate another high holy man to do it.

Fighting butterflies, I kissed Miss Mamie, then sent her off to be seated.

Tommy escorted her and Carla down the aisle, closing the door behind them. Then he came back for me.

We waited till the Bridal March cued our entrance, then we opened wide the doors and processed toward Connor, who was winking and grinning toward two young women in the first row of the groom's side.

Then I looked toward Mama and saw David with his whole family, beaming proudly at me from the first row. Two-year-old Barrett stood up and hollered, “Hey, GoGo!” much to his four-year-old sister's embarrassment.

I blew him a kiss while Barb snatched him into her lap.

An indulgent rumble of laughter rolled through the congregation

Tommy and I both waved.

Then I turned to Connor's daughters and gave each a hug and a whispered, “I'm
so
glad y'all could be here. It means so much to your daddy and me. Thank you.”

Only then did I focus on my radiant groom, resplendent in a white seersucker suit.

Okay, God, here we go. If this isn't what You want for us, speak now or forever hold Your peace.

The still, small voice remained silent, thank goodness.

I was taking a chance marrying Connor, but he was worth the risk. In the last week, we'd been inseparable until we'd gone our separate ways to sleep. Tonight, we wouldn't have to separate.

A shiver of anticipation shot through me. This was the way it was supposed to be.

Tommy laid my hand atop Connor's, then took his place beside Mama.

I leaned close to whisper, “This is it. Last chance to escape.” Not that I thought he would.

He clasped my hands with a radiant smile. “Noel, let's get this show on the road.”

Fortunately, Noel's marriage ceremony was far briefer than his wonderful sermons. I especially liked it when, after we'd said our
I do
s, Noel had us turn to the congregation, then asked their promise to help and encourage us in our marriage.

To my deep gratitude, they answered as one with, “We do!”

Then Noel looked across the sea of faces and said a firm, “Those whom God hath joined together, let not
anyone
put asunder.”

Then he turned to us and said, “You may now kiss the bride.”

Connor's kiss was brief and gentle, then he turned back to the congregation to announce at the top of his lungs, “We're having a party in the fellowship hall downstairs, with homemade ice cream and cake, and you're all invited. May the Lord go with you, amen.”

Everyone crowded down to congratulate us and get a closer look at Noel, but I turned my attention to Connor's daughters, who were more than cordial. When I asked about their mother, they seemed mildly suspicious, but I eased their fears with, “I know how hard the divorce must have been on all of you. Especially on your mother. I so hope she's happy in her new relationship.”

The elder of the two brightened. “She is.”

I nodded. “That's good. I'll never ask you to choose between us. She's welcome at anything and everything. She's your mother, God bless her, and Connor and I both wish her well.”

She peered at me with guarded approval.

Good. At least it was a start.

I patted her arm, then said, “If you'll excuse me, I need to speak to my son and my mother.”

She and her sister nodded, then headed for Connor while I went straight for Barrett and Callista, who were inspecting Miss Mamie with little fingers and eyes.

“Look, GoGo,” Callista chirped, “Bam's got lots of love lines.”

Miss Mamie submitted to their inspection with a smile. “It sure feels good to have the little ones around again.” She gave them both a squeeze.

David looked over them to ask, “Are you as happy as you look, Mama? I sure hope so.”

I nodded. “Ecstatic. Especially about tonight.”

Miss Mamie chortled while my son and his wife reddened. But David wasn't daunted. “I wish you all the happiness in the world. Especially since Dad's gotten his comeuppance.”

I laid my hand on his arm. “Oh, sweetheart. Your dad is who he is. Nobody's all bad or all good. I hope you two can find some common ground to maintain a relationship. He needs you now. I promise, you'll never be sorry.”