LETHAL OBSESSION (28 page)

      Now
Gene was serving time and Martha was serving time too.  She should listen to
her friends and file for divorce but she still loves him.  A bond of twenty
years does not break easily. 

Twice
Martha had made the trip to the state penitentiary to see Gene.  Both times he
refused to meet her.  She must find a way to put all of this behind her and get
on with life.

      Martha
shook her head as she began applying cream to her face. Her life was going in a
whole new direction now. Martha believed Ellen and this new career had been
sent to her from the Lord.  Being needed was a good thing and Ellen needed
her.   Perhaps she could lose herself in doing for others.

And
then there was the wedding to plan.  That made Martha smile.  Ellen and her
brother, it couldn't happen to two nicer people.  So in love and so much in
common, they were made for each other.  The ceremony would be at Smoky Mountain
Haven which was perfect.  The shelter was their baby.

      Martha
was in the middle of a cooking class when she felt the back of her neck
prickle.  She turned to find a man watching her. “Wow, her heart started
racing.  Where did this gorgeous hunk come from?  Curly brown hair and light
brown eyes, he had a dimpled smile that made her knees weak.  Then her
conscience kicked in giving her a sound slap.  What in the world was wrong with
her?  In twenty years of marriage, Martha had never felt this visceral
attraction for another man.  Her mind was being unfaithful and it was making
her nervous.

      "Would
you like to join us?"

      "I
would love to."  He made his way into the kitchen as the ladies greeted
him.                                             

      "I'm
Martha Stone and this is Martha's cooking 101."        

      "Shawn
Cobblederry here, and I have recently joined your staff as spiritual
counselor."

      Martha
walked over to shake his hand.  "It is very nice to meet you, Shawn.  You
have such a delightful accent."

      "I
hail from across the sea, Great Britain."

      "Ah,
that accounts for it.  So what brings you all the way to Smoky Mountains
Tennessee?"

      Martha
realized she was ignoring the ladies but for some reason this man seemed to
capture her attention.  He certainly was easy on the eyes and that smile, wow. There
was just something about him that made her smile too.

      "Well
now Martha, how I came to be here could be a long story."

      She
enjoyed the way her name rolled off his tongue. "We may all have long
stories, Shawn."  The ladies nodded in agreement.

      He
included the women when he said, “perhaps we will all take the time to hear
about them some day.  My office is open if anyone cares to share."

      Martha
mentally shook herself.  She needed to get back to her cooking class.  Her face
felt hot and it wasn’t from cooking.  This man seemed to have a strange effect
on her and she couldn't understand it. The young women were also eying Shawn in
a very appreciable manner.

      Martha
composed herself to address the class.  "Today we are going to learn the
art of a healthy stir fry.  You must make sure the oil is plenty hot but not
enough to smoke.  You need only a little oil."

      Shawn
smiled as he watched Martha slice vegetables like an expert.  When he answered
the ad and took this position he wasn't sure he was doing the right thing.  But
the energy here in Smoky Mountain Haven was positive and strong.  Ellen
Anderson he liked immediately.  It was a good omen.

      So
much had been left behind in his small town on the outskirts of London.  It
seemed like forever but in reality only two years had gone by.  His wife, their
home, children, and social circle, he and Rosalind had the perfect life. Dwelling
on it served no purpose.  Shawn mentally shook his head and concentrated on the
cooking class, especially the teacher.                               

CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE

      The
next morning Ellen did a double take when Martha walked in the door.  Wow, she
looked stunning.  Her made up face glowed with health.  The burnt orange
cashmere sweater and plaid skirt hugged her curves. Ellen couldn't resist.                        

      "Gosh
I wasn't expecting a fashion model coming in today."

      "Oh
stop it."  Martha's face was crimson.

      "Have
you met our new chaplain?"

      "Ellen,
you know I have.  You saw Shawn in my cooking class."

      "Isn't
he handsome and so dapper with his British accent."

      "Yes
and yes, and I'm a married woman and he’s probably a married man."

      "I'm
not suggesting anything."

      "Oh
yes you are, you sly fox."

      "Well,"
Ellen touched Martha's soft sable hair.  "Apparently I'm not the only fox
here."

      "Ellen!"

      "Hey
I think it's great. I’m not sure but I get the feeling there’s no wife
involved. He's perfect for you."

"Is
that why I feel so guilty?  Because for me there is definitely a husband
involved."

      Ellen
put her hands on Martha's shoulders.  "I know it's hard but guilt is self
destructive.  Gene is incarcerated and refuses to see you.  Making a new friend
is a good thing. I believe you and Shawn have a lot in common. Talk to him. I
get the feeling he needs a friend too."

      "You're
right.  Reaching out in friendship is the Christian thing to do.  He may enjoy
coming to my church."

      "That's
a marvelous idea.  Ask him."

      "Maybe
I will."                                                                                  

      Martha
sat rigidly on the chair outside the new chaplain's office. She hated this
feeling of nervousness.  It meant nothing and there was no reason for this
stomach churning anxiety. Her plan was to extend an invitation to attend Cedar
Grove First Baptist Church.  That was all. So why was she feeling like a teen
at her first dance waiting for a boy to approach? 

      Martha
took a deep breath and sighed.  This was ridiculous.  Maybe it was a bad idea. 
Just because the man was a spiritual counselor doesn't mean he likes to go to
church.  Martha eyed the closed door. There was still time to escape. She got
up and headed out in the hall.

      "Martha?"

      She
closed her eyes, clenched her fists, and grit her teeth. She was caught. Turning
around she hoped her face portrayed a friendly smile.  "Oh, hi."

      "Hi
yourself.  Were you waiting to see me?"

      "Oh,
no.  I was just passing by your office."

      "Well
come on in."

      Martha
pointed to the kitchen.  "I probably need to...well, okay, for just a
minute."

      Shawn's
office was nice and homey.  He had outdoor photos of his homeland on the
walls.  A small colorful aquarium graced the corner of the room.  Natural
plants swayed with the filtered water while fancy tail guppies played hide and
seek around the greenery.  Shawn enjoyed tropical fish just like her brother. "I
love this."  Martha walked over to get a closer look.

      "You
enjoy tropical fish?"

      "Oh
yes.  My brother, Richard Carrington is a hobbyist.  Have you met him?"

      "Yes,
I have met our resident psychiatrist and I found him as delightful as I do his
sister."

      Martha
blushed. "I've always wanted my own aquarium but my husband didn't care
for it.  He said it would be too much work."

      "My
wife thought it was way too much trouble too, but it's quite easy once you
learn how.  Have a seat, Martha, let us have a chat, shall we?"

      Martha
sat down in a comfortable overstuffed leather chair.  She tried to keep her
hands still but they refused to obey.

      "You
look very nice today."                               

      "Thank
you."  That darn flush was suffusing her face and she couldn't stop it.

      Shawn
smiled.  "I love the way you blush."

      Martha
put hands to her face. "It's embarrassing."

      "I
think it's endearing."

      "Were
you able to find suitable housing for your family?

      "We
don't need much room but we did find a nice place with an awesome view.  My
sons are quite pleased to be here."

      "And
uh... your wife likes it here also?"

      "I'm
divorced, Martha."

      "Oh."

      "My
wife left over two years ago. There was a note but nothing more."

      "I'm
sorry.  That must've been dreadful for you and the children."

      "It
was for awhile.  Timothy and Warren were seven and eight at the time.  But the
three of us are very close and being in a new country has been exciting for
them."

      "I'm
glad to hear the children are adjusting."

      "What
about your family, Martha?"

      She
put her head down biting her lip.

      "Is
this difficult for you to speak of?"

      "No,
not anymore.  My son is nineteen and he's doing great in college.  My husband
is in prison."

      "I'm
sorry to hear of your troubles."

      Martha
looked at this sweet natured man feeling his honest sincerity.  If things could
only be different, but they weren't.

      "Shawn,
I would like to extend an invitation.  I want you to feel no obligation if this
is not your thing."

      "You
have me intrigued, Martha."

      "I'm
a member of the First Baptist Church here in town, and I was wondering if you and
the boys would be interested in joining me for services this Sunday?"

      "Yes,
I think I would like that.  We’ll be there."

      Martha
was beaming.  "I would enjoy meeting your sons."

      "And
that you will.  You see, I was a priest in the Anglican Church back home.  I
even had my own parish."

      Martha
looked at him in awe.  "You're a minister."

      "Yes,
but it's been awhile."

      "Oh
my goodness, you might find our church very different."          

      "I
think it will a delightful change.  The Anglican Church is quite staunch and
steeped in rigid tradition. I have found that the American churches have, how do
you say, more soul?"

      "That
we do, Shawn. We can meet at the church, if you like."

      "That
might be most prudent being as how people enjoy their gossip."

      Martha
nodded.  The talk had just begun to die down over the kidnapping and Gene's
incarceration.        "I will see you and your sons on Sunday then, say
ten o'clock?  Do you know where it is?"

      "Yes,
we've driven by there.  We will see you Sunday morning, Martha.  Thank you for
the invitation."

      Martha
was finding it hard to walk away.  She wanted to stay and talk.  "Okay
then."  She turned toward the door.  "Bye."

      Martha
waited on the steps.  When she spotted them, her face broke into a delighted
smile. The boys looked neat and groomed dressed in the Sunday suits.  Shawn
looked just wonderful.

Oh
dear what was happening to her?  Martha put a hand to her chest to still her
heart's erratic pounding.  Why was this man having such a visceral effect?                            

      "Martha,"
Shawn took both her hands placing a kiss on her cheek. "These are my
sons.  This is Timothy and this is Warren."

      They
both politely shook her hand.

      "Come,"
Martha said.  "I want to introduce you to our pastor before the service
begins."

      Shawn
insisted they all go to Sunday brunch.  Martha was so impressed with the boy's
manners.  They sounded just like their father with boyish voices.  The day was
passing quickly and she didn't want it to end. 

      As
they were leaving the restaurant, Shawn invited Martha to his home.  "It's
not much, but there is a delightful view and I would love for you to see
it."

      Martha
looked at the boys wondering if it would be proper.  Shawn seemed to read her
mind.  He held up his hands.

      "I
promise to be a total gentleman.  I thought the sermon quite intriguing today. 
I would like for us to have a discussion about it."

      Gene
never cared about the sermons on the rare occasions he attended church.  To
have someone who actually wanted to talk about it was a dream come true for
her.

      "I
would enjoy that very much, Shawn."

      "Excellent. 
"Let's go, boys."

      Like
his office, Shawn's home was cozy and lived in.  It was all male which she
found very understanding.  There was a redwood deck in the back and a gorgeous
view of the mountains.

The
boys left almost immediately to go visit new friends.  For a few uncomfortable
minutes, Martha felt she should also go.  But then they started talking, first
about the sermon, then about life in general, and finally about their own personal
trials.  Hours went by without either realizing it.