Campaigning for Love (13 page)

“No, thank you. I’m fine,” he said and settled in on the couch. “How is Stevie adjusting to his new school? How are his grades?”

“He’s doing fine. In fact, he earned a gold star on his spelling test last week. We’ve talked about discipline a little though. He gets restless in class and his teacher claims he distracts the other children. He’s been doing better with that since I told him I wouldn’t take him to the park to play with his friends if I received another bad report.”

“That would do it for me.” Nick approved of her method of disciple. “Does he show any interest in sports?”

“He likes baseball and soccer. But he hasn’t asked about joining one of those community leagues. I’d sign him up if he did.”

Nick came to his feet and paced. His mind worked better, faster, when he was in motion. He spun back around and faced her. “Mrs. Tindle, it’s important to Katherine that you and Stevie stay together. I want to do whatever I can to ensure that happens. Is it too much for you to take care of him by yourself?”

Mrs. Tindle squared her shoulders and gave him an affronted look. “I know there are toys strung around this room, but I don’t see how you can think I don’t keep a clean house, Mr. Delaney.”

The frosty formality of her tone warned him he wasn’t saying this the way he should.

“I don’t mean that at all. There are services the state offers that you might qualify for as Stevie’s sole provider. I brought some of the brochures for you to look over.” He set a stack on the coffee table. “They offer housekeeping assistance and there are trusts and civic organizations you can talk to about setting up a fund to cover Stevie’s college tuition. If you lock in a rate now, he’s guaranteed a four-year degree at a state school regardless of the current cost when he’s old enough to attend.”

“Why do you care about what I do to take care of Stevie and his future?”

He sat down beside her and met her direct gaze. “I care because I know how important it is to Katherine Harper that Stevie stays with you.”

They sat in nervous silence for several minutes. “This has nothing to do with the state or a caseworker, does it? You’re worried Katherine is too attached to us and she might get into trouble.”

“No. She’s not in any trouble. I promise. This is about making sure Stevie has every opportunity to grow up with his family.”

She nodded. “I thought when Katherine told me how she ended up in state care it was something she kept to herself. Obviously she’s shared with you how similar hers and Stevie’s life stories are.”

Any doubt he’d had about knocking on Mrs. Tindle’s door vanished. God had sent him here. The rest of this conversation would give him the answers to some very important questions about Katherine.

“She’s suffered so many losses in her life. I care a great deal about her. She doesn’t accept help very well. She’s fiercely independent. I didn’t realize her mother had been in an accident as well.”

“Yes, the poor woman. That’s how it all started. It’s so sad and such a waste.” With an obvious affection for Katherine and appreciation for her concern over Stevie, Mrs. Tindle told Nick the story Katherine had shared with her about how she’d lost both her parents separately at such a young age.

He fought the lump in his throat and the tightness in his chest. He understood Katherine well enough to know she would count her mother’s rejection as her fault, and believe she wasn’t worth loving. It was so clear to him now. It was as if God had pulled the curtain back and let the light of understanding shine on him.

The reason she worked nonstop, pouring herself into all those charities, trying to fill the void in other people’s lives, was because she had this gaping hole in her own. She gave of herself, hoping that one day she would be good enough for someone to love her, to choose her over everything else. He shook his head. That silly, frustrating, amazing woman.

He made his decision. “Mrs. Tindle, thank you so much for seeing me today. Call the number on the back of any of the brochures there and they’ll get your started with the process. If you have any problems, you have my card. Call me and I’ll take care of whatever it is.” He stood.

Mrs. Tindle escorted him to the door. “I appreciate you taking the time to bring this information by personally.”

“I want to help make sure you and Stevie have what you need. He’s important to Katherine. That makes him important to me.”

“Are you going to marry her?” She smiled at his startled expression.

“I don’t know. Right now she doesn’t like me very much.”

“If you let her see how much you love her, she might feel differently.”

He couldn’t find the words to reply. He nodded and left. On the drive back to his apartment, he mulled over the incidents in Katherine’s life that had brought her to where she was today. He admired her courage and determination to succeed in a world that hadn’t given her much of a chance to survive, much less excel.

At the last minute, he took the turn leading to the interstate and drove to his father’s house. It was time they sat down and talked a few things over.

Chapter 12

H
is father greeted him with obvious apprehension. “Are you here to scream and tell me you hate me again?”

Keeping his expression neutral, Nick walked inside. “No, I want to talk to you. I need you to answer some questions.” He gave him a hard look. “I expect you to tell me the complete truth.”

“I’m known for a lot of things, but bald-faced lying isn’t one of them.” He spoke over his shoulder as he strode through the foyer and down the hall toward his study. “What do you want to know about Katherine?”

“How do you know I’m here about her?”

“Since the day you met her in high school you can’t seem to get her out of your head. She is destined to remain the one thing we can never agree on.”

“She is not a thing, Dad. She’s—”

Edward threw up a hand as if unwilling to hearing more. “I know. She’s the most beautiful, perfect, humble, generous, blah, blah, blah,” he mimicked in a syrupy voice.

Nick’s jaw clenched and he fought against his temper. “And you are the most pompous, arrogant, selfish, pain in the—”

His father arched an imperious brow at him. “I am. Your point?”

Letting out a frustrated growl, Nick paced the room, running a hand along the back of his neck. “What did you do to send her away?”

“Which time?” Edward asked, not looking repentant at all, which only added to Nick’s dislike for the man whose blood coursed through his veins.

He shook his head. “It amazes me that we’re related.”

If he hadn’t been watching, Nick would have missed the brief flash of pain that contorted his father’s face. He masked his hurt quickly, but for that split second, it had been there.

“Tell me how you sent her away in high school,” Nick demanded.

His father suddenly looked old, his shoulders forced down by an unseen weight. A weary edge tugged at his features. “I wrote a letter to an old friend asking him to transfer her to another high school, claiming it would give her a chance to dabble in paints before she aged out of the system.” He heaved a resigned sigh. “Anyway, poof, she was gone, or so I thought, until she turned up in family court across the aisle from you.”

“You can’t play with people’s lives like that. You’re not God. You don’t have the right to decide someone else’s future.”

“You didn’t complain about how I arranged things for you to get into that fancy college or the money I’ve shelled out to make sure you’re elected to this council seat.”

“I’m not going to comment on the college part because I can’t do anything to fix it now. But about the council seat, I’ll tell you to your face so you don’t hear it from someone else. I’m withdrawing from the race first thing Monday morning.”

Nick watched the rosy tinge of mild temper fade into an ashen color on his father’s face, then surge with red. He jumped to his feet and thrust himself in Nick’s face. “Why would you throw away what you’ve worked for all your life? Is she really worth that much to you? Are you afraid that if you beat her she won’t have anything to do with you?”

Then, just as fast, the rage ebbed and he slumped back into his chair. “Go ahead, take everything I’ve worked toward, everything I’ve done to secure your future and ruin it. It’s only been my dream since you were a boy to see you on top. You would be a great leader, Nick. You draw people to you with your energy and enthusiasm. They respect you. It would be so easy to get you elected. Are you willing to let it all slip through your fingers over an orphan?”

“Dad, I want to serve in public office if I get the chance, but not at the expense of my happiness. If I win the election while I’m at odds with Katherine, I’ll never be happy. I have to find a way to have her by my side, helping me, instead of running against me. Don’t you see? If she wants this, I have to step aside. Holding a public office would be a job to me. It’s not my life, Katherine is.” He watched his father, but the blank expression on his face didn’t change. “I wish you could see how good she is.”

Edward moved away. He leaned beside the window, as if his legs couldn’t hold him upright. He stared out at nothing.

It tore Nick apart to see him like this, but his father had created his own misery by being so cold and hurtful to others.

“I thought she’d take you away from me. That she’d tempt you with her smile and her sad life and you’d abandon your dreams. She had no ties here. I’d lost your mother. You’re all I had left. I couldn’t let myself care for anyone else but you.” He looked back at Nick. “The first time you said her name, I knew. It was in your eyes. If she stayed, she’d take you away from me and I’d have nothing. No one.”

Nick went to his side and rested his hand on his father’s shoulder. “You’re my father. I’ll always love you. But there’s room in my heart for her, too. She was never a threat to you. She wanted someone to love her, but you sent her away. Do you have any idea how much your actions hurt her? How it made her feel? How it hurt me? I’m withdrawing from the race. Not to hurt you, but to show her I would make any sacrifice for her.”

“Nick, please. There has to be another way. You’re so close. This is what you’ve always wanted. You could have her and the election.”

Halfway to the door, he turned and looked back at his father. “No, Dad, it’s what
you
always wanted.”

At home, Nick sat as the room darkened with the setting sun. His soul was beaten and bruised, his mind completely wrung out. He’d made the right decision. He owed it to Katherine to step aside. It was the least he could do after the way his father had treated her.

He called Jeremy. “What are you doing?”

“I’m getting ready for a date with Abby.”

“A date?” Nick was surprised he could muster a smile. “I thought you were too chicken to ask her out.”

“I am. She asked me. I took it as a sign from above. Why are you calling me on a Friday night?”

“I’m officially withdrawing from the race on Monday.”

“Oh.”

“I was expecting more from you. You’re a preacher. I thought you were trained in eloquent wordiness.”

Jeremy remained silent.

“Are you still there?”

“Uh, yeah, I’m here. You just threw me. Are you sure about this?”

He pressed back into the cushions and ran his hand over his face. “It’s a long story, but yeah, I’m sure. Listen, I know you have plans, so don’t worry about me. I’ll buy lunch tomorrow after the game and tell you everything, okay?”

“Nick, I can call Abby and cancel. She’ll understand.”

“I’m good. I could use some time to myself right now. We’ll talk after the game tomorrow.” He opted to razz him about his date, wanting to lighten the mood. “Besides, I wouldn’t dream of coming between you and your destiny.”

“Funny.” Then a long pause. “If you’re sure you’re okay to talk later.”

Nick released a contented sigh. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”

* * *

Katherine set her purse on the table near her front door. Her keys hit the floor with a loud jangle. The loud peal of her house phone made her flinch. After an evening spent dishing out potluck at the soup kitchen for the homeless, she wanted to veg on the couch and not talk to anyone. She rushed to catch the call.

“Hello.”

“Hi, dear. I’m not disturbing you, am I?”

“Mrs. Tindle? No, you’re not disturbing me. Is everything okay? There’s nothing wrong with Stevie, is there?” Immediate concern for the little boy wiped out her lethargy.

She leaned against a cabinet in the kitchen, listening while the older woman went on and on about how wonderful “that handsome Nick Delaney” was. She’d signed up to start Stevie’s prepaid college fund. Another agency in one of brochures he’d left for her was sending someone weekly to help with the dusting and vacuuming.

Katherine rubbed her forehead to ease the tension pinpointed in the center while Mrs. Tindle explained about Nick’s visit. Katherine mumbled her agreement that Nick was fabulous before they disconnected. She stumbled her way up the stairs and into the shower, trying to wake up. That conversation had to have been a dream. She’d challenged Nick to perform his own assessment of Stevie’s situation, not to become their champion.

The phone rang after she got out of the shower. This call had her sinking down on the bed.

“He did what?” She almost dropped the phone as the judge warned her of Nick’s withdrawal from the election. “I’ll be right there!”

She hit the End button with murderous intent before jumping into jeans and a sweater. Scraping her still-damp hair back into a ponytail, she came down the stairs, snagged her purse and scooped her keys up off the floor. The front door slammed closed behind her.

By sheer will and with some help from her cruise control, she didn’t exceed the speed limit. A ticket was the last thing she needed right now. But blessed with a green light at every intersection, she made the drive across town in record time. Uncle Charles had the lights on when she parked next to a silver Mercedes and rushed inside.

The sight of Edward Delaney drinking from one of Aunt Melvia’s antique floral china cups stopped her forward momentum. “I didn’t know you had company.”

“Come in, Katherine. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Katherine blinked. Since when did Uncle Charles entertain Edward Delaney? “We?”

Edward stood and offered her his chair, then cleared his throat. “Katherine, I owe you several apologies. I know I have no right to expect that you will accept any of them, but it’s important that I offer them regardless. My only excuse for the things I’ve done is that I love my son. I was afraid you’d take him away from me. It doesn’t absolve me from what I’ve done or said to you in the past. I see now that I was wrong. I’m sorry for my selfish actions and the pain those actions caused you. You didn’t deserve that kind of disregard.”

She looked from one man to the other and waited for someone to tell her this was all a cruel joke. Neither one said anything. Instead, both men waited, as if they expected her to speak.

“Uh. Um. Hmm. What’s going on here?”

“Katherine, dear, come have a seat. Melvia will bring you some coffee. Edward came to see me tonight hoping I would know how to convince Nick to stay in the race. It appears he’s determined to quit and we don’t know how to change his mind.”

She let her uncle lead her to the chair Edward had offered her before.

“Why would he do something that stupid with the election so soon?”

Edward cleared his throat. “I’m not sure if what he told me was said in confidence or not, so I’m not comfortable revealing the specifics. Suffice it to say, he wants you to win the race.”

A flicker of anger ignited low in her stomach, burning its way up her body, driving her to her feet, and bringing her numbed emotions back to a hypersensitive state. “He quit so I would win?”

“That’s what he told me tonight.”

“Of all the arrogant, asinine, patronizing...” She stopped mid-rant and leveled a cutting glare on Edward. “Why are you telling me this? Why are you really here?” Then, in a quiet, deliberate voice: “What do you want?”

At least he had the sense to look ashamed. He met her direct gaze.

“I need your help convincing Nick to stay in the race. I...” He glanced at the judge. “We believe you’re the only person he’ll listen to at this point.”

She came forward until she stood toe to toe with the man who thought of her as something he scraped off the bottom of his shoe. “Give me one good reason why I should help you, of all people, with anything?”

He looked beaten, worse, frightened. “I don’t have one.” His voice was hoarse. “I don’t even deserve your forgiveness, much less your help. But Nick does. I’m asking you to do this for him. If I keep carrying all this anger, I’m going to lose my son. He’s all the family I have. I’d do anything for him. Even learn how to change. I want to be a better father than I am. I’m tackling the big stuff first. You’re my first attempt at making amends. Of asking for help.”

His words pulled at her, forcing her to remember verses from the Bible that she wanted to ignore, but couldn’t. Not in her heart.
If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you.
There was no escaping that truth, but she wanted to argue that Edward should have to work harder to gain her forgiveness. Have to do more than just ask. That wasn’t what God required.

“He won’t listen to me. He goes out of his way to irritate me, but he doesn’t listen to me. I have no sway over Nick’s decisions.”

“You’re wrong,” Edward said in a quiet voice. “He’s been paying attention to every word you say for over thirteen years.”

She threw him a doubtful look, but caught a glint of pleading mingled with hope in his eyes. Every slight, every hurtful action he’d taken against her, bombarded her. Finally, she walked back toward him. “Just so we’re clear, you’re apologizing for the callous way you abused your authority when you were my advocate?” At his nod, she went on. “Are you apologizing so I’ll help you convince Nick to stay in the race or do you really see you were wrong to treat a child entrusted to your care the way you treated me?”

His face flushed scarlet. “I’m ashamed of my behavior. Nick helped me realize how wrong I’ve been about you, about a lot of things.” He met her gaze. “I have you to thank for Nick’s improved math scores on his placement test. It took courage to overcome what you have had to, to become who you are. And I’m glad you care for my son.”

Katherine stood in silence, absorbing the shock of his confession. The only way she could bear witness to her faith was to accept his apology. To trust God and let go of the pain this man had caused her. Jeremy assured her that once she let go of her past, she would be free to receive the blessings of love God intended for her. The promise of her heart’s deepest desire gave her the courage to release a weight she’d carried for thirteen long and lonely years.

Proof of her obedience to God meant she didn’t have to do this on her own. Trust God and be willing. She gritted her teeth and let out a long sigh. “Where is he?”

“I’m sure he went home. His emotions were running high when he left my house.”

She walked out the door with as much determination as she’d entered. She gave in to a fit of temper as she pulled away from her uncle’s house and gunned the engine. She was going to strangle Nick with her bare hands. How could a man be so... She couldn’t even think of words to describe him and his behavior, and she was never at a loss for words.