Route 66 Reunions (42 page)

Sarah saw the pain in Amanda’s eyes. Losing her husband and daughter four years ago had been hard on Amanda, but Sarah didn’t want unhappiness intruding on their time together. She squeezed her friends’ hands and smiled. “I agree, but if you get too serious, I’m going to cry.”

Tessa gave an exaggerated sniff. “Yeah, me, too.”

They laughed.

Amanda groaned. “Oh no. We should have run away. Sarah, your mom’s with my mom, and they’re coming this way.”

“I see you girls found each other.” Brenda Davis smiled at them. “Linda, remember when these three were in junior high and made the rounds from one house to another having sleepovers?”

Sarah’s mother laughed. “I sure do, only I don’t remember much sleeping going on. Tessa, did Deloris come with you?”

“No,” Tessa shook her head. “Mom’s still a newlywed, you know. She and Clark seldom go anywhere.”

“Well, be sure and tell her we miss seeing her.” Brenda smiled and patted Tessa’s arm. “You don’t know how good seeing you girls together is. I know it’s a long way for you to come, Tessa. Thank you for making the effort. And you, too, Sarah.”

The mothers moved on, and Sarah turned to her friends. “Okay, do we brave the wide-open spaces where men, women, and children can stop us every two minutes, or shall we hole away in Amanda’s air-conditioned bedroom?”

“May I have your attention?” Amanda’s dad stepped inside the kitchen door and held his hand up. Several groups of women visiting around the room grew quiet and turned to listen, including the circle of three friends. He grinned. “The meat line is forming as I speak. We’re asking everyone to join us outside for prayer before we serve. After that, if you volunteered to serve in here, better get in place because the hungry masses will soon swarm. If not, you might want to find a place in line.”

“Come on, ladies.” Amanda headed toward the door. “My family may host this shindig, but I don’t serve unless I have to.”

Sarah fell in behind her and Tessa muttered, “We’re with you. Let’s get in line before we get volunteered.”

Although Sarah longed for privacy to visit with her two best friends, someone continually stopped one or all of the women to catch up on their lives. Three hours later, after many of the guests left, they found solace in Amanda’s upstairs bedroom as Sarah remembered doing so many times in the past.

Sarah stepped inside the room, which looked the same as it had when they were teenagers. Amanda closed the door and looked at Tessa. “You won’t get in any trouble with your husband, will you?”

Tessa’s eyes softened when she smiled. “No. Blake, or I guess I should say Rob, took them for a drive to check out the town. They won’t miss me until they’re hungry, and maybe not then since Blake’s better in a kitchen than I am.” She cocked her head to the side as if thinking. “In fact, so is Rob.”

Sarah laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding. After all they ate?”

Tessa perched on the edge of Amanda’s full-sized bed. “Oh Sarah, you’ve seen my boys in action. Have you forgotten?”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Sarah remembered the week they’d spent with her last summer in Chicago. She climbed on the bed and sat with her legs crossed. “So Amanda, what’s going on with school?”

Amanda took a corner of the bed and faced the others. “Well, like I told you, I’m taking the summer off because I only need another nine hours. I should be done by January, and then I start sending out job inquiries.”

“In early childhood, right?” Tessa asked. “What grades does that include?”

Amanda shrugged. “I’ll be certified through third grade, but I think I’d like kindergarten. What do you think?”

“What else?” Sarah laughed. “You’ll be one fantastic kindergarten teacher. I’m so proud of you.”

“Definitely,” Tessa agreed.

“So how’s your life?” Amanda asked Tessa.

Tessa laughed. “I praise God every day for Blake and the boys. They are such a blessing in my life. I watch Blake with our sons and see the father they never had. Derek is his by blood, but Seth and Rob are sons in his heart and in theirs. His parents are the same way. They never make a difference in them, and the boys love them for it. I have a good life that I treasure.”

“Sarah?” Amanda reached for Sarah’s hand. “What’s wrong? Is it Trey?”

Tears she couldn’t stop rolled down Sarah’s cheeks. They’d been having so much fun, and now, listening to the others with their lives settled and blessed sent her thoughts into a jumbled, hurtful spiral. At Amanda’s question, she shook her head.

“No, Trey is wonderful. He’s so much more than I could have dreamed.” Her breath caught in a hiccup as she tried to keep from crying. “He told me he may become a preacher. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Of course it is.” Tessa moved to hold Sarah’s other hand. “What about Kevin? What has he done?”

Tessa sounded so defensive that Sarah almost laughed. She would have if a sob hadn’t gotten in the way. She shook her head. “Nothing. He’s been nicer than I thought he could be. I told you about Marilee’s Home.”

Both friends nodded.

“I’ve been reading the Bible Trey gave me. I feel so mixed up and empty inside.” She bowed her head and pulled her hands from her friends to clutch them against her middle. “I thought Kevin would fill the void he left so long ago, but he won’t.”

“He can’t, Sarah.” Tessa touched her knee. “That hole you’re talking about is God-shaped. Nothing else will fit.”

Tears flowed at Tessa’s soft words. Sarah covered her face with her hands. “Help me. Please, I need your prayers.”

Amanda scooted closer and put her arm around Sarah’s shoulders. She began to pray, while Tessa talked. Sarah had never been more ready to turn her life over to the Father. She’d served Him as a child; now she opened the door she had closed between them and rededicated her life to Christ with a commitment she intended to keep.

Sunday morning before the Fourth, Kevin sat beside Trey in church and listened to the sermon taken from the third chapter of John. “ ‘No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ” The minister’s voice rang with conviction as he turned to the twenty-first chapter of Revelation and read the description of heaven. Then in chapter three: “ ‘I stand at the door and knock. If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.’ ”

As the minister preached, the words burned Kevin’s heart and described his life. Then the minister stepped down to stand in front of the congregation with his hand outstretched as if beckoning them forward. “He’s standing at your heart’s door knocking. Invite Jesus in.”

An organ played in the background while the minister pleaded, “Softly, tenderly Jesus is calling. Come to the altar, and we’ll pray with you.”

The congregation stood and began to sing the old song. Trey leaned toward Kevin and whispered, “Everyone must receive the call to accept Jesus’ forgiveness. Do you want to pray?”

Kevin wanted to run. Instead he nodded.

“I’ll go with you.”

Trey’s offer and shift into the aisle was a lifeline pulling Kevin forward. He couldn’t have stopped if he’d tried. He knelt at the altar beside Trey while tears filled his eyes and God’s love filled his heart. For the first time in his life, he felt complete.

A
t three o’clock Tuesday afternoon, Sarah stepped from her office with a smile on her face. “Tricia, I have an errand I need to run. I’ll see you in the morning.”

As Sarah left the hospital and drove across town, misgivings fluttered like butterflies in her stomach. Would Kevin listen to her if he was even there? What if Miss Parker was with him? She had to take the chance. She had to tell him about her commitment to Christ; then tonight she’d call Trey. He’d rejoice with her.

Sarah knocked on the door she’d been told was Kevin’s.

“Come in.”

“Kevin?” She pushed the door open.

He stood while a slow smile lit his face; his eyes welcomed her. “Sarah?”

“May I talk to you?” She still hesitated at the door. Her heart fluttered like a bird ready to take flight.

“Sure, come on in.” He moved away from the desk and stepped forward. “Please, have a chair.”

Sarah sat while he closed the door. He perched on the corner of the desk near her. “What brings you out here?”

“I have something to tell you. I went home over the weekend and found what Trey’s been trying to tell us. I want to share with you, Kevin.” Sarah smiled as her newfound joy bubbled from her heart. “At the Davises’ cookout, Tessa and Amanda prayed with me. I committed my life to the Lord, Kevin. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s wonderful to know my life’s in His hands now.”

Kevin threw back his head and laughed. Sarah frowned. How could he laugh at her when she’d risked so much coming to help him see the truth? She stood to leave, but he caught her hand in his.

“Don’t go. I’m laughing because you don’t have to explain anything to me. I spent the weekend with Trey. I went to church with him, Sarah. But that’s not all. I, too, accepted God’s gift of salvation. I laughed because I’m so happy for you and for me.”

“Oh Kevin.” Sarah’s laughter joined his before a quick knock on the door intruded.

She dropped his hand and stepped back. Valerie Parker walked in with a file folder in her hands.

“Oh.” Sarah had almost forgotten about Kevin’s girlfriend, or was she his fiancée now? “I need to go.”

“Don’t leave on my account.” Valerie glared at Sarah. Ice crystals glistened in her words. “I’m just delivering this folder to Mr. Nichols.”

She walked out the door, head held high. What had happened to her? Sarah turned to question Kevin and met his mischievous grin.

“Valerie isn’t too happy about some decisions I’ve made.” He shrugged. “She’s used to getting whatever she wants. For some reason she wanted me, and I said no.”

He took Sarah’s left hand and lifted it as his words soaked in, distracting her. “I don’t see a ring here. What’s going on?”

The warmth of his hand on hers crept to her heart. “Oh, that ring you found? I never wore it. Never even tried it on. In fact, if you’d given me a chance to tell you, you would’ve known I never intended to. I gave it back to Harold and then cried on his shoulder over you.”

She watched his expression change from pain to disbelief to jealousy as she talked. His scowl became fierce as he growled, “If you need a shoulder to cry on, it’d better be mine from now on.”

Sarah laughed, and his frown disappeared as he said, “I’m taking you out tonight. Wear something nice.”

“Yes, Kevin.” Sarah spun away from him and hurried out the door before he could stop her. She heard his laughter as she walked away.

Sarah slipped into the most romantic dress she owned. She lifted the filmy skirt out to each side and twirled around in front of her full-length mirror. The royal blue made her eyes look like pools of Michigan Lake reflecting the summer sky. At least she hoped Kevin would think so. She laughed and twirled once more as the doorbell rang.

Her heart beat out a rhythm for her feet as she danced downstairs and pulled the door open.

Kevin handed her a dozen red roses with a smile that circled her heart and lit his eyes as he took in her appearance. “You’re beautiful, Sarah.”

She could’ve said the same for him. He wore a suit without a tie. He’d left the top two buttons of his shirt open, giving him a roguishly handsome look. She pressed her right palm over her heart to still its pounding. “Thank you. I’ll put these in water.”

They ate at Latarini’s. Kevin had always been a gentleman, but tonight he made sure her every need was met immediately. Not that it would have mattered. Just being with him was enough. Since they’d shared their newfound commitment to serving the Lord, a bond between them had been forged that could not be broken. Her love for him had never been truer, and she sensed the same from him.

They left the restaurant and headed east. Were they going to the Lake? She didn’t care. She just didn’t want the fairy-tale evening to end.

When Kevin pulled to a stop at Grant Park, Sarah knew what he had in mind. Buckingham Fountain. He’d promised to bring her at night so they could watch the water spray in the multicolored lights.