Along Came Love (8 page)

"I'm sorry. It's really none of my business."
She floundered.

"You're cute when you're flustered," he
suddenly smiled. "Come on, let's dance."

"Oh but…"

"Look," he smiled down into those wide green
eyes, "I sat over there, in that corner almost every dance when I
was a kid. But I'm no kid anymore, I want to dance, and as far as I
can see, you're about the prettiest girl in the room, save for my
niece of course. So humor me will ya, let's dance. Or act like we
can."

She couldn't stop the smile, and he took her
hand and led out on the floor. The kids watched in fascination.

"You know of course the kids will talk about
this…" She whispered at his ear.

"Good, but we really should give them
something to talk about. Now…tell me about this ex-husband of
yours," he whispered against her hair as he pulled her into his
arms. "What have you got against policemen anyway?"

"It's not that…it's just. Well, my ex loved
his work…too much. He left me, night after night. A stakeout, an
investigation, it was always something. I suppose I should have
known better, that it would be that way. But it was hard to handle
after a while."

"How did you ever manage to date him,
then?"

Samantha looked at Jake with surprise. "I
guess I didn't realize it till now, but I made time for that. I'd
meet him and have a hot dog. I'd visit him at his office. We stole
a few moments. I never realized it would be a lifetime affair."

"I can see where that might get pretty
old."

"There was no time for children either, and I
wanted them…he didn't."

The lights suddenly dimmed for the next song,
and he pulled her a little tighter. "As a teacher," he glanced into
her eyes before he propped his cheek onto hers, "you should know
there are exceptions to every rule. I'm not the average kind of
lawman. I don't have big important assignments, and the desperados
in my town usually carry a purse and can hit you over the head
before you know what's happened."

"I…suppose you're right." She answered
breathlessly. She quickly changed the subject. "So how goes the law
thing."

"The law thing? Hmmm. My, I must be the talk
of the town, these days," Jake voice carried seriousness to it.

"I think it's been mentioned to my mother
about a dozen times how you've passed the bar exam and just a
matter of time before you join the firm here in town, by all the
gossips in town. Are you excited about that?"

"Not as much as I should be, I expect." Jake
sighed a little too heavily.

When she looked into his indigo eyes he
smiled, "I'm sorry honey, but to answer your question, I haven't
decided yet. I passed the bar, that's true. But I'm not sure I'm
going into law…."

"Oh…" she felt suddenly tongue-tied. Had he
called her honey?

"You know something; I should have gotten the
courage to ask you to dance a long time ago. I mean it isn't every
day I dance with a girl and I don't have to stoop over to have her
head on my shoulder." He looked at her and winked. "Would you have
accepted back then?"

She looked at him and relaxed for just a
second, "Maybe, but I doubt it."

This time he smiled brightly at her.

The music was over, but they were still
talking.

As he pulled her arm toward the punch bowl,
he glanced at his niece and then back at Samantha.

"So…why did you take the exam, if you aren't
going into law? I mean, why bother?" Her face was a mask of
questions.

Jake's frown knitted his brow and he sucked
in air as he tried to answer with honesty. "I took it because it
was expected" There, he'd said it. "Because I owe my family respect
and I don't know, just to see if I could pass the darn thing. I
guess. It was not my main ambition, never really had been. I
haven't completely decided what I'm going to do, although, I've got
some ideas of my own, if they pan out."

He looked down at her perplexed face, "I
guess I'm confusing you, huh? Well, don't you worry, I'm a little
confused myself."

She seemed puzzled. "Jake," she looked at him
seriously, "Knowing what a great family you have, I don't see why
you couldn't just tell them, you don't want to go into law
practice."

"You're right about being a great bunch of
family. They are. But somehow by telling Dad I feel as though I
letting him down. I don't want to do that. I've got a few decisions
to make, that's why I've decided to take a sort of sabbatical for
the time being from my work. Some thinking time, you might
say."

"Really, your not going home then for a
while?"

"Not for a while, no…" He beamed a glorious
smile at her and she weakened in his arms and let him guide her
across the floor again as the music started up again.

They talked for a long while and before they
knew it, the party was over. Samantha felt guilty that she hadn't
paid enough attention to the kids though.

Jake knew he wasn't ready for the night to
end, but he couldn't think of anything to forestall her.

"It's been a pleasure, I wouldn't mind
repeating," he smiled into her eyes.

"Goodnight, Jake."

"I had a wonderful time," Sammie Jo smiled at
them both.

All the way home Sammie Jo was looking at
Jake as though he had grown two heads, then she blurted it out.
"You like Mrs. Courtland, don't you?"

"Sure I do honey, why wouldn't I?"

Sammie Jo laughed.

"Did you invite her to grandpa's wedding?"
Sammie Jo asked.

"Actually, I did mention it yes. But I didn't
officially invite her, more or less assumed she'd come." Jake
started the truck as they pulled out of the school parking lot.

"Well, you better get around to it, or it
will be too late…."

"You're impossible," Jake laughed.

"But you love me…"

"Yes, I do…"

She stared at the invitation as though it
were a snake, about to bite her. How could she go? It was this
Saturday, and she couldn't get out of it, it would be too rude. But
after all these years, Jake Travers was still the only man who
could make her sizzle with just a look. How could a man hold such a
power over a woman? It wasn't fair. Problem was, she wasn't some
starry eyed kid anymore. She was a grown woman, she'd been married
for heaven's sake, and she was still just as turned on by Jake as
ever. Would this hopeless attraction never end? Good grief she'd
barely signed the divorce papers and here she was flirting with
Jake.

Maybe she wouldn't go. But that would be so
rude of her since Rusty made sure she was invited. Somehow she was
going to have to learn to live around Jake Travers. But how? Going
to dinner with him that once was enjoyable, and she felt as though
he really wanted to open up to her. When they put the past aside,
it was easy to talk to him.

"Why God?" she looked to the heavens for an
answer. "Why is he the one man I can't get over?"

"It's Jake again, isn't it?" her mother
wandered into her bedroom and looked at her daughter.

"Oh Mom, how can I be so stupid? After all
these years?"

"I wouldn't call it stupid dear. Jake's a
fine young man, and most girls would be taken with him. Maybe he's
the right man, after all." Her mother smiled. "Ever think that
might be why God keeps throwing you into his life?"

"After all this time?" Samantha sighed
heavily and sat on the edge of her bed, the invitation dangling
from her fingertips.

"You're going to have to find a way to be
around him, dear. He's a big part of the community. Even though he
works in Peaceful, he's home for every occasion. He's a Travers, a
family man."

"Don't you think it's odd, that he's such a
family man and not married by now?"

"Well, sometimes the better they are, the
harder it is to catch them." Her mother chuckled.

"It's really me, Mom, not him. He's the only
man in this whole world who can turn me inside out with one glance.
It's like nothing has changed since I went to school with him. And
it's been that way since high school. Even with him taunting me.
But you know, it's funny, he said he hadn't paid any attention to
my weight when I was younger, he wanted my attention. And he got
it, just not like he wanted. I guess I'm guilty of sort of running
him off. But honestly, it isn't fair how he affects me. What should
I do?"

"I don't really know, hon, I've never had
that problem. When I met your dad, I just sorta gave into it. All
that man had to do was wiggle his finger and I was there. I felt
just as helpless as you, only I didn't fight it."

"If it was real love, maybe I would…give into
it, but it's not. It's some kind of weird chemistry, that's all. I
go to mush when he's around, and my tongue isn't my own. I'm a
complete shrew around him. What can I do?"

"Stop being a shrew." Her mother waved a hand
and laughed. "Quit fretting about it. It's very natural. And it
does me good to see you taking interest again."

"Taking interest?" Samantha stared at her
mother. "Mom I just signed the divorce papers a few weeks ago. The
ink hasn't had time to dry on that relationship."

"Oh now, Samantha, Pete was history long
before those papers arrived and you know it. It was a mistake, but
now you have a new chance. Just because Pete was a mistake, doesn't
mean Jake is. Just because you and Pete didn't make it doesn't mean
you can't make a wonderful marriage with someone else." Her mother
hung up another dress laying another on the bed and then sat on the
edge of the bed to watch her.

"Oh now Mom, you aren't getting your hopes up
about Jake are you?" Samantha

watched her mother closely, knowing the
answer as she studied her face. "You are…"

"I'm hopeful, yes… " She shrugged. "So sue
me, I like Jake. I always have. I remember how it was falling in
love. A woman never gets too old to remember."

"If Jake's avoided marriage this long, he's
not about to go for it now." she cried aloud. "If he ever found out
I'd cared for him all this time, I'd die, Mom." She cried looking
at her dress in the mirror.

"Why dear? I think he'd be flattered."

"Because, he might guess how I really feel,
and that would be…just so embarrassing."

"Not if he felt the same way…" Her mother
patted her arm, to console her.

"But he doesn't."

"Are you so sure?" Her mom furrowed her
brow.

"Yes Mom, of that I am sure. Oh, I'm so
selfish, sitting here worrying about something so silly, when you…"
Her words stopped almost soon enough.

"Love is never foolish dear. And I have a
feeling there is more to this than meets the eye. Try to control
your mouth, and let nature takes its course." Her mother smiled
gently at her. "And quit fretting about me. I have cancer, but I’m
not dead yet. We've moved back home now, and I have a ton of
friends I can call on. I've gotten reacquainted at the church the
other day, and have a few plans of my own, you know."

"Of course you aren't dying. I didn't mean to
infer. I just worry about you so," Samantha cried again. "The chemo
has made you so much weaker. But I have to admit, I am so proud of
your attitude, Mom. I am proud of you in every way. I wish I had
your courage. I wish I had your grit. If I did, it might be easier
to get along with Jake."

"Thanks. I decided when I was told that I
could mope and feel sorry for myself, or I could buck up and get
real. But it's better than it was years ago. Now they have medicine
that helps with the nausea. And they can give me things when my
blood count goes down, to bring me back up. It's tolerable at
least. And I'm gaining strength every day. I have every reason to
live to a ripe old age."

"You are such a brave woman. I only hope I
can be like you." Samantha cried and hugged her mother to her. "I
love you, mama."

"I know kitten, and I'd love to see some
grandchildren."

"Grandchildren?" Samantha's face went
white.

"Well stop worrying. I'm fine for now, and
God will take care of me when the time comes." Her mother patted
her on the arm. "You know, I noticed Jake at church this past
Sunday. Did you see him?"

"Yes, he seemed absorbed though, he didn't
see me." Samantha said glancing out the patio door.

"I noticed that too. I like that young man."
Her mother smiled. "He's in law, he goes to church and he loves his
family, what's not to love about him?"

"You are a hopeless romantic…." Samantha
managed to laugh, and leaned to hug her mother. "You know Mom, I
need you, I need your wisdom, your guidance, and…your sense of
humor."

"I'm not going anywhere, yet, dear. Now don't
fret about that invitation. Just go, and enjoy yourself. Try
looking at Jake like any other man. And enjoy the experience. Who
knows, maybe it will lead to something, and I have a feeling that
Jake isn't at all like Pete. Oh, don't worry. Besides, I have an
invitation too, so I'll be with you, dear."

"I'll try, I really will," Samantha promised.
"I'm so glad you are going."

"Why, I wouldn't miss seeing Bertha take her
vows for anything. She's been alone so long. She deserves
this."

***

Samantha was getting supplies for her office
when she bumped into Jake again.

"Oh, Jake, how are you?" She tried to sound
natural. What was the man doing at Wal-Mart? It was the last place
she expected to see him.

"I'm fine. Just getting some last minute
project supplies for the kids," he held up the poster boards.

"How nice of you to take care of such things
for them." Samantha remarked casually.

"I may not have kids of my own, but I'd do
about anything for my nieces and nephews." Jake chuckled, putting
the poster board into the buggy.

"You should have had some of your own," she
inserted her foot into her mouth.