Stuck in the Middle (35 page)

While he walked around the front of the car, Joan put a hand over her mouth to hide a smile. He had gotten advice from his sister about their date. He must be nervous. The thought made her relax, and she enjoyed the fifteen-minute drive to Harrodsburg.

Joan had driven by the Beaumont Inn several times but had never gone inside. The beauty of the nineteenth-century former girls’ school struck her as she walked between stately white columns into an elegant entry hall furnished with antiques and pictures of Confederate generals. In the parlor to the left, she glimpsed an antique Steinway and old-fashioned upholstered furniture.

The dining room managed to be elegant and homey at the same time. They were seated at a table for two in a secluded corner. Ken examined the menu with obvious delight.

“Fried green tomatoes, Kentucky cured country ham, grits, famous yellow-legged fried chicken. Mmmmm. This place is pure southern!”

Joan nodded. “If you want a taste of Kentucky cuisine, you’ve come to the right place. Everybody says so. They’re famous for their fried chicken and also the corn pudding. And they serve a special orange-lemon cake for dessert. I’ve heard it’s terrific.”

“But you’ve never been here?”

“No, but this is where Eric proposed to Allie. They come here every year on their anniversary.”

She didn’t tell him Roger tried to bring her here once, but she insisted they go somewhere else instead. From Allie’s description, she’d known of the place’s romantic atmosphere, and for some unknown reason she didn’t think she’d be comfortable here with Roger.

For an equally unknown reason, she felt perfectly comfortable with Ken.

She sipped at her water, nerves fluttering in her stomach.
Slow down, girl. This is only date number one.

A server in a white apron took their order, and when she left the table, Ken caught her gaze and held it. “Have I mentioned how beautiful you look tonight?”

Smiling, she lowered her gaze to her bread plate. “You have, and thank you. You look very nice too.”

He did. She’d seen him in a suit before, at church, but his tailored shirt and casual jacket gave him a dressed-up look that she’d not seen. In fact, the black shirt was so crisp it might be new. Did Karen give him wardrobe advice too?

“So how’s Grace progressing?” He cast a look of thanks at the server as she set a glass of sweet tea in front of each of them. “I haven’t been out there to check on her this week.”

“She’s doing well but walking is still painful.”

He nodded. “I’m afraid it will be for quite some time. She’s lucky to be in pretty good health for someone her age, so I think she will recover eventually. She’ll be home before you know it.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” She told him about this afternoon’s visit. “So I’m not sure she’ll be coming home at all.”

He ducked his head to catch her eye. “You don’t seem too happy about that decision.”

Heaving a sigh, she said, “I’m being selfish. I’ll miss her.” She toyed with her spoon. “Actually, I feel like her decision is sort of forcing me to make some of my own. I’m twenty-five years old and I don’t know what I’m going to do with the rest of my life.” She gave a silent laugh. “I know I don’t want to sell furniture forever.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been . . . praying about it.” She lifted a shy glance to his face. She still felt awkward talking about her new intimate relationship with her heavenly Father, but Ken of all people would know what she meant. “I’m really excited about this mission trip, but I don’t think I want to be a full-time missionary.” She tilted her head. “Maybe I’ll get my master’s degree and teach.”

“Spanish?”

They shared a laugh.

“No, I don’t think I’ll be teaching Spanish anytime soon.” She sobered. “Maybe English, though. That’s what my undergrad is in.”

“You’d be a great teacher.” Admiration glowed from his eyes. “One of my favorite Bible verses is in Jeremiah. I memorized it when I was trying to decide about medical school. ‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”’” He reached across the table and placed his hand on top of hers. A thrill shot through her at his warm touch. “I know there’s a terrific future in store for you, Joan, whatever you decide to do. And . . .” His throat moved as he swallowed, and his gaze intensified. “And I hope I’ll be around to lend a hand.”

The dining room around her fell away. Did that mean what she thought it meant? Did Ken just say he wanted to share her future with her?

“Here we go,” the server said. “Bleu cheese for the gentleman, and ranch for the lady. And some warm bread too.”

Joan ripped her gaze from Ken’s as the noise of the dining room returned. Ken withdrew his hand and smiled his thanks up at the woman.

Her heart threatening to pound out of her chest, her brain buzzing, Joan didn’t taste a bite of her salad.

As they were sharing a slice of orange-lemon cake for dessert, Joan’s cell phone rang. The shrill ringtone she kept set on high volume pierced through the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant, drawing stares from those at neighboring tables. Embarrassed, she fumbled around in her purse.

“I’m sorry,” she said to Ken. “I meant to turn it off.”

He lifted a shoulder. “No big deal.”

As she silenced the ring, she glanced at the display. Allie’s nightly call. She’d call her back later.

They were walking toward the car when it rang again.

Joan was glad the darkness hid her blush as she silenced the phone a second time. “I’m so sorry. Allie must have forgotten I had a date tonight.”

They arrived at the car. As Ken unlocked the door, he said, “It’s okay if you want to call her back. I don’t mind.”

“Of course not. She can wait until later.” Since he didn’t open the door immediately, she leaned against it, her head thrown back, eyes closed as she breathed deeply of the fresh night air. A soft breeze rustled her hair and the leaves of the magnolia trees surrounding the small parking lot.

She felt Ken move beside her, and opened her eyes to find him leaning against the car. His arm on the roof, he gazed down into her face. Talk about a welcome invasion of her hula hoop!

“Thank you for dinner,” she breathed. “This place is incredible. So . . . romantic.” She gulped. Romantic? She couldn’t talk about the delicious food, the graceful furnishings, the beautiful night? She had to mention romance? His nearness was messing with her mind. She couldn’t think with him so close, looking into her eyes like that.

“Thank
you
for coming with me. There’s not another person in the world I’d rather have shared it with.”

Eyes locked, his face moved closer to hers. Oooh, this was it! He was going to kiss her! Her heart stuttered as he neared, her shallow breath mingling with his. She closed her eyes in the fraction of a second before his lips touched hers. His hand softly cupped the back of her neck, pressing her gently into him. A warm thrill shot through her body, making her head spin and her knees weak as she surrendered to Ken’s kiss.

And her phone rang again.

Her eyelids flew open and she jerked back as though caught in the act of a crime.

Ken, grinning down at her, pulled away. “She seems pretty determined. Maybe you’d better take the call.”

A headline from the front page of tomorrow’s paper flashed into Joan’s mind:

PREGNANT WOMAN STRANGLED WITH TELEPHONE CORD
SISTER SAYS, “SHE
SO
DESERVED IT!”

“Allie, determined?” She groaned. “You have no idea.”

Laughing, he opened her door and walked around the car toward the driver’s side.

Vowing to cancel her cell service first thing in the morning, Joan pulled the phone out of her purse. She turned away slightly as she flipped the cover open.

“This had better be important,” she whispered into the phone.

“Important?” Allie’s voice held a touch of hysteria. “My body feels like an alien has taken control of it, my husband keeps waving a stopwatch in my face, and neither of my sisters are here. I’D SAY IT’S IMPORTANT!”

Standing upright, Joan gripped the phone. “You’re in labor?”

“Of course I’m in labor! And they won’t give me any pain medicine, either, not for another two centimeters. Even Mom is being mean to me.” She sniffed, her voice going pitiful. “I need my sisters.”

Joan bounced on her toes. The baby was coming! She was about to become an aunt! She looked across the top of the car at Ken. Smiling, he nodded. “Tell her we’re on our way.”

Joan almost shouted into the phone, “Hold on, Allie! I’ll be right there. Don’t do anything without me!”

She heard Allie’s outraged voice as she snapped the lid closed. “Like I have a choice!”

~ 25 ~

So tiny. So fragile. So perfect. Perched on the foot of Allie’s hospital bed, Joan gazed down into the face of her beautiful little niece, just four hours old. Tori and Mom hovered nearby, each of them itching to take the baby from her, but Joan couldn’t make herself hand over this precious armful. Gram rested in the chair next to the bed, having just finished her turn at holding the infant. Ken leaned in the doorway, smiling as he watched Joan admire her niece.

“She is so amazing,” Joan whispered. “Look at those tiny eyelashes, those delicate little lips.”

“I love her teensy toes,” Tori said. “And that soft, soft head.”

Allie snorted. “Yeah, well that head didn’t feel so soft a few hours ago.”

Joan grinned at her big sister. Allie looked tired, exhausted even, but a triumphant smile gave her face a glow that could not be dimmed.

“She’s gorgeous, Allie. You did such a good job.”

Beside Allie, Eric beamed. “She is gorgeous, isn’t she?” He placed a tender kiss on his wife’s head. “Just like her mama.”

Allie settled back into her pillows with a happy sigh. “We finally decided on a name. Do you want to hear it?”

“Of course we want to hear it.” Mom stepped back and focused her digital camera on Joan and the baby for the five hundredth time. “I want to call my granddaughter by name when I brag about her to all my friends.”

Allie and Eric exchanged a secretive smile. “You tell them,” Allie said.

Eric’s chest puffed with pride. “Her name is Joan Leigh Harrod.”

Joan gasped, while Tori, eyes glittering with happy tears, clapped a hand to her mouth.

“You named her after us?” Tori asked.

Allie nodded. “She’s named after the two best sisters in the world, who will also be the best aunts, I’m sure.”

“Oh, Allie.” Joan shook her head. “Don’t do that to this innocent little baby. Give her a name as beautiful as she is.”

“Her name is Joan.” The set of Allie’s jaw announced to everyone that she would hear no argument. “And it
is
a beautiful name.”

“Then at least switch them around. Or let’s just call her by Tori’s middle name, Leigh.”

Allie’s chin rose. “She’s Joan, and that’s that.”

“Well, if you’re going to be stubborn about it.” Joan blew out a resigned sigh. She leaned close to the baby and whispered, “But I’m going to call you Joanie.”

Joan’s gaze slid to the doorway, where Ken stood. He winked, sending a warm thrill through her stomach. She looked back down at the infant. How could she feel such tenderness, such love, for this tiny little person she’d only known a few hours? What must Allie feel when she gazed at her newborn daughter, this brand-new life that she brought into the world?

Joan brushed a soft kiss on the baby’s forehead, breathing deeply of her powdery infant smell. Like little Joanie, she too had a brand-new life ahead of her. What was the verse Ken quoted? In all the excitement, she’d forgotten it. She intended to look it up when she got home and memorize it. But even if she couldn’t remember the exact words, deep in her heart she clung to the promise of the verse.

Her life was no longer stuck. Her Father had plans for her.

Acknowledgments

The bad thing about thanking people is that I’m bound to leave someone out, and I hate that. But I was raised to say “thank you,” so here goes:

My sisters are amazing. They’re lively and smart and fun and an absolute wealth of source material just waiting to be written down. I’ve freely used some of their funnier characteristics to create the Sanderson sisters, which will tell you what a hoot they are. Susie Smith and Beth Marlowe, your support and enthusiasm keep me going. Thank you for loving this story when I needed someone besides me to love it. You guys are truly awesome.

I have other awesome family too, and some of them helped me with
Stuck in the Middle
. Thanks to Maggie Tirey and Sarabeth Marlowe for going with me to tour a beautiful assisted living center in Danville, Kentucky. Amy Barkman (my mom) and Christy Delliskave (my daughter) read my books and feed my ego—but they don’t mind telling me when something doesn’t work, either. And Corrie Barkman became my sister late in life but is just as precious to me as the ones I was raised with. Thank you all.