Route 66 Reunions (32 page)

Harold obviously noticed. He pushed his chair back and patted his stomach. “Well, now that’s settled, Sarah, don’t you think we should be going? We’ve got a pretty tired little girl here.”

“Of course.” Sarah looked at Katie, who had been so quiet, she’d all but forgotten her. As much as Katie liked being the center of attention, she’d probably been bored by the adult conversation.

“We need to go, too.” Mrs. Miller said. “It’s a long drive home, although we’ve enjoyed today a great deal.”

Scarcely more than crumbs remained as everyone shoved their chairs back and prepared to leave. In the parking lot, Trey stopped Sarah and Kevin, while his parents went ahead. Harold paused then turned away to help his daughter into his car.

“I just want you to know how glad I am I got to meet you. I’ve known about you all my life. I mean writing those letters on my birthday and all. But you weren’t real to me until we met.” He looked from one to the other. “You were always included in my bedtime prayers when I was little. That was Mom’s idea, but now that I know you, it’s my idea. I’m praying for you, and well, I’d appreciate your prayers for me, too.”

Sarah saw the serious expression on Kevin’s face and wondered if he resented the implication that he needed prayer. She did. Only Trey’s request for their prayers softened her heart.

Kevin spoke first. “I’ve been reading the Bible you gave me. I never read it much before, and I’m finding it a lot more interesting than I thought.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty awesome.” Trey nodded. “If you listen down deep inside, God will speak to you through your Bible reading. That’s just one of the joys of being a Christian.”

Sarah smiled and nodded as if she knew what he meant. She’d gone to church all her life. She accepted Christ as a child and still attended church even after moving away from her parents’influence. Surely that counted for something.

“Sarah, are you ready to go?” Harold stood a few feet away waiting.

“Yes, of course.” She gave Trey a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Trey, for letting us know you better. Don’t forget to send your graduation announcement. I’m looking forward to it.”

He grinned. “Me, too.”

“I’ll bet,” Kevin said.

Kevin watched Sarah walk away with her doctor boyfriend. His heart felt as if a rock weighed it down. He’d been within arm’s length of her most of the evening and hadn’t touched her once.

Why had it come as a surprise to see her with another man? Did he really think she would wait eighteen years for him to show up and with one word of apology win her love again? He couldn’t help wondering why she’d never married. With her looks, her personality, sweetness, intelligence…He could go on and on, but the truth was, Sarah could have any man she wanted. He’d always known that and marveled that she once wanted him.

He took the Millers to his apartment, where their car waited. Tom declined his invitation to go inside. “No, we need to get home. It’s been a long day. Maybe we can get together another time.”

“That sounds good.” Kevin liked the Millers, and he especially craved time with Trey, but all at once, he couldn’t wait for them to leave.

He wanted to see Sarah again. Only this time he wanted her all to himself with no distractions. She and Trey had talked about questions. Well, he had a few of his own. He’d like to know what Sarah thought of Trey and of him. But even more, he wanted to know what her intentions were toward that doctor. They’d looked too much like a cozy little family for his peace of mind.

Half an hour later Kevin pulled onto Sarah’s street. He drove past her house and saw the doctor’s car sitting in her driveway. What did he do? Take his little girl to her house for a nap? Didn’t the guy know when to leave?

Kevin circled the cul-de-sac and went home.

Monday, Kevin called Sarah’s hospital. He reached her office but was told she wasn’t in. He didn’t leave a message or his name.

On Tuesday morning, Kevin made a special trip to the hospital and to the personnel office. A woman in the outer office smiled at him. “Hello, may I help you?”

“Yes, I need to speak with Sarah Maddox.”

The woman’s tag said Tricia Simmons. She met his gaze. “I’m sorry, but she isn’t in right now.”

“This is her office, isn’t it?”

“Yes it is.” Tricia pulled a pad of paper toward her. “Would you like to leave a message?”

“Not really.” Kevin stifled a sigh of frustration. “Just tell her Kevin Nichols stopped by.”

“Kevin Nichols?” Tricia’s eyes lit up, and she shoved the paper away. “She’s in the oncology ward with the children right now. Why don’t you see if you can find her?”

As Tricia gave him directions, he wondered at the change in her attitude but soon forgot to care as he headed toward Sarah.

A few minutes later, he stopped outside a doorway and watched a Sarah he scarcely recognized. Dressed in a clown costume that looked like a garish grandmother with multicolored hair, Sarah moved from one child to another giving hugs and listening to the childish chatter.

While he watched, she picked up a small child and sat on a chair with her held close in her arms. All the love he had ever felt for Sarah, and more besides, swept through his heart until he felt as if he might weep. Without catching the attention of anyone in the room, he turned away.

He walked through the halls to the entrance and outside, scarcely noticing his surroundings. What had just happened? He wanted Sarah to forgive him for the past. He owed her that much and more. But love? Why hadn’t he known being near her again would cause him to fall in love with her just as he had when they were teenagers? Yet how could he bear it if she turned from him as she had done before? How could he risk losing Sarah twice?

S
arah waited until the other board members left Marilee’s Home before she poured tea for herself and lifted questioning brows toward her friend. “How about a refill?”

Darlene nodded and held out her glass. “What do you think, Sarah? Will it work?”

“A fund-raising banquet?” Sarah poured the tea and set it in front of Darlene before she resumed her place across the table. Nothing they did would ever be enough, but Sarah couldn’t say that. The board agreed a banquet would raise the most money in the short time they had, and their attitudes had been positive. One businessman even donated the use of his banquet facilities.

She adopted that same positive spirit and said, “Why not? We’ll work hard and make it work. I’ve got a list of names to call. Past contributors are likely to come, or at the very least, send a good donation, don’t you think?”

“But less than a month?” Darlene shuddered and took a sip of tea. “How on earth will we get everything done?”

Sarah shrugged, not wanting to admit she had doubts, too. “Delegation. Everyone has a part. Get the girls to help. This affects them the most. If you can get one or two of the graduates to speak, that will be wonderful. We should look for another location, too.”

“What happened to your friend? Mr. Nichols.” Darlene lifted hopeful eyes toward Sarah, who almost snorted.

“My friend, you say? I sometimes wonder.”

“But that day you brought him here, I heard him say he’d see what he could do.”

Sarah released an audible sigh. “I know. I’m sorry, Darlene. I tried to show him what we’re doing. I thought he sympathized, but I stopped asking when he so neatly avoided the subject.”

“Are you still seeing him?” Darlene sounded hesitant, as if she were afraid to ask.

Sarah gave a quick laugh. “You make it sound like we’re dating. Actually, I’ve been seeing a very nice doctor.”

“Dr. Jenson.” Darlene smiled. “He isn’t as good-looking as Mr. Nichols, but you’re right. He’s very nice. So are things getting serious?”

Sarah laughed. “He wishes.”

She stayed another half an hour chatting with Darlene while they straightened the dining room and kitchen before she went home.

Sarah whittled her list of contributors by calling as many as she could reach during the evening. She put calls in to the business numbers from her office, squeezing a call here and there around her duties at work.

Everyone she’d called seemed concerned. Now if only they put their concern into action.

She had time for one more call. A receptionist answered, “Parker Enterprises. May I help you?”

“Yes, Mr. John Parker, please.” Sarah waited while her call was transferred.

Kevin figured he walked past Mr. Parker’s office at the wrong time when Valerie stuck her head out the door and motioned to him.
“Pssst
, Kevin. Come here.”

He tried to imitate a tough guy pose. “Sure, doll, whataya need?”

“Oh, stop that and get in here.” She motioned frantically.

He shrugged. “You’re the boss’s daughter.”

She grabbed his arm and pulled him the rest of the way into the room. “Yes, and if you want me to stay the boss’s daughter, you’d better help me.”

“Hey, it’s what I do best.” Kevin stopped her from closing the door all the way. “But the door stays open.”

“Oh all right, just don’t let Daddy know I messed up.” She circled the room and plopped into her father’s desk chair, then motioned for Kevin to take another chair she pulled up beside her. “Sit down and help me with this.”

“And this would be?” Kevin sat where he was told.

“I just did this guy’s taxes, now he wants me to straighten out his bookkeeping for this year. Last year’s was bad enough.”

“And the problem is?” Kevin looked at the neat columns of figures and frowned. What was Valerie up to?

She turned two large blue eyes toward him and whispered, “I can’t get this to balance. I keep getting different totals.”

“Valerie, this looks pretty good to me. Why are you—”

“That’s my writing, Kevin. Of course it looks good.”

“Your writing?” He stared at her. “Why aren’t you using a program? You know we use computers now.”

Her chin lifted in a defiant tilt. “Because I thought it would be easier this way. Look at this.”

She snatched up a shoe box and shoved it at him. Inside were receipts and torn pieces of paper covered with scribbling. Thankfully he hadn’t seen such a mess in years. He whistled. “Daddy doesn’t play favorites, does he?”