Marrying Mallory (11 page)

He heard Rebecca saying Henry’s name, so didn’t want to take
anymore of his friend’s time. “I hear Rebecca. I’ll let you go.”

“Yeah, I’ll talk to you later. My woman wants me.” 

He exhaled a deep breath. Why hadn’t he asked Mallory to
have brunch with him tomorrow? He hated to wait until the barbecue to see her
again.

No, it was for the best he hadn’t suggested brunch. For now
she was his patient, but he hoped someday she’d be more than a patient to him.

***

Mallory sighed. Seth probably couldn’t believe her call
about changing the date of her surgery. How many patients called their surgeons
at their home to ask to move up their surgery by a month? Of course, he’d given
his number to her to call if she had any questions. She bet he was sorry now.
No, he seemed glad to hear from her until she mentioned moving up her surgery
to May. And in her desperation, she’d forgotten about Josh. The best thing was
for him to be at the lake house while she had the surgery. She used to be a
rational woman, but now she was so consumed with looking good for the Vegas
trip that she’d forgotten about Josh.

But she couldn’t let go of the idea that she should change
the date of her surgery.
I’ll list reasons and see if that will help me to
decide what to do.
She pulled open a drawer of her writing desk and removed
a legal pad. She was old-fashioned and preferred to write her list out in
longhand and not on some little Smartphone. Okay, she only owned a cheap cell
phone that she used for texting and calling people. But even if she did have an
expensive cell phone, a legal pad would still be her first choice. 

Reasons to move it up…Reasons to keep it in June

Get it over a month earlier….Josh will be with his
grandparents.

Be ready to go to Vegas with smaller nose…Won’t have to miss
school days.

Swelling will be less in time to go to Vegas…Won’t
inconvenience Seth.

How could she sleep without knowing exactly when Toby wanted
them to visit? He’d just said sometime in June. He usually stayed up until
midnight on the weekends, so she’d give him a call. Maybe he could give an idea
if it would be the middle of June or hopefully, Toby would decide on the very
end of the month.

He answered on the first ring and said, “You’re so
predictable. I knew you’d call to see if Josh was still sleeping. I thought
about texting you even to save you a call. I just checked on him and he’s fast
asleep, so you better get some sleep for church tomorrow.”

“Did you change your mind about going with us? The
minister’s sermons have been great.”

“I’m spending the day with Samantha. I think I told you this
already.”

She hated hearing again about his plans with his girlfriend,
but it was her own fault for mentioning church to him for the second time.
Although she wanted to say something negative about them spending time
together, she didn’t want to sound like the jealous ex-wife. “You did. It slipped
my mind. I actually called to see if you could give me a better idea of when
you want us in Vegas. The end of June would be the best for me.”

“I don’t know. I’m hoping to get things wrapped up by the
middle of May here in the office. Mom said Josh could cut short the two weeks
at the lake house, so I could have you fly to Vegas then—”

“No, that won’t work for me. I’m going to call your parents
about having him stay for ten days instead. I don’t think he’s ready to stay
away from home for two weeks but…” Should she just mention that she was having
surgery and couldn’t travel until late June? She couldn’t tell him what kind
though and definitely didn’t want to lie to Toby when he asked.

“Why does it have to be the end of June?”

“June’s a busy time for me. I have some medical appointments
I have scheduled and other things planned with friends.” That was the truth.
She’d be seeing Seth several times for and after surgery. She wanted to spend
time with Heather and Elizabeth.

“Maybe you could get your appointments for May instead. They
don’t pay you enough anyhow at your school.”

While Toby was in law school, she’d taught in the public
school system and made decent money. When Josh was born, Toby was out of law
school and working as a lawyer. She was able to quit and stay home full-time.
Three years later, she returned to teaching, but Toby hadn’t been happy that
she switched to a private school. He said she should go where the money was.
Being able to teach in a Christian environment and sharing her faith with her
students was important to her, so she hadn’t backed down.

“It’s silly to do that when I can go in June and not take
time off from my job. Anyhow the appointments are scheduled. I doubt if I can
change them.”

“I hate to go too long without seeing Josh. I’ll fly back
once and see him over a weekend. Samantha has been complaining about me being
gone so I’ll see her too. I might be done before the end of June but if I’m
not, just plan on coming then. He laughed. “You win, Mallory. You should have
been the lawyer.”

“Maybe I will go to law school. I won’t be a divorce lawyer
though. I believe too much in the sanctity of marriage.” She better shut up
before she said too much. “Thanks, Toby for being flexible about June. I’ll
talk to you later. Bye.”

 Mallory sighed after ending the call. Great, Toby wasn’t
just flying back to see Josh but wanted to fit Samantha in his schedule.
What
does he see in Samantha? Is it her great looks or youth? It probably helps that
they both share a passion for law.  

I better try to get some sleep
. She crawled into bed,
leaning over to switch off the bedside lamp. One thing she did know. It’ll be
more pleasant to dream about Seth again than about Toby and Samantha. Since
she’d talk to both men, would Toby and Seth be in a dream? Maybe they’d fight
over her. Yeah, right. More likely they’d be fighting over Samantha—the one
with the cute small nose. 

Chapter Eleven

Mallory glanced around the patio at her guests from her seat
at the end of the table. The week had flown by with school, spending time with
Josh, a couple of evening telephone chats with Seth, and getting ready for the
barbecue. Toby had been too busy to help move the heavy patio set from the
garage, so Heather had helped her instead. 

Heather and Jeremy were on one side of the rectangular
shaped table with Elizabeth and Seth seated across from them. On the opposite
end from her was blond-haired Derek. She noticed that he had a smug look on his
face as if to tell the world he’d done something unethical and got away with
it. Now why did she always think badly of Elizabeth’s fiancé? Was it because
she never had liked him? As a salesman, Derek seemed filled with insincere
charm. Maybe part of the reason could be because her dad had been a salesman.
Although she knew her dad’s main flaw wasn’t due to his occupation, but to
gambling his wages. At least, Derek didn’t throw his money away. From what
Elizabeth had told her, they’d made wise financial decisions so there wouldn’t
be any debt hanging over their heads as a married couple. 

With Jeremy to her left and Seth on her right, she knew that
Elizabeth should be satisfied.
Two eligible men and both handsome
. Why
had she ever thought Jeremy’s nose was big? He was a heartbreaker with his good
looks. Both Seth and Jeremy had broad shoulders and were tall. Obviously the
main reason for having this get together was to fix her up with someone. Well,
it wasn’t all about her but also for her single friend, Heather too. She might
as well make the most of it even though deep down she knew dating Seth
shouldn’t happen. 

She smiled at Seth, and over the others’ conversation, she
whispered, “I’m glad you came.”

Seth stopped cutting his steak to look at her. “Me too. You
grill a mean steak.”

She laughed. “Is that the only reason? How about my
delightful company?”

“Sure, that too.” He stopped cutting his meat and gave her
an appreciative glance. “You look very pretty.”

She touched a tiny ruffle on her black and white blouse.
“Thank you. And I love the flowers you brought. Hyacinths give off a wonderful
fragrance.” Seth had given her a small pot of deep pink hyacinths, so she’d
placed them in the middle of the table.

Jeremy turned to stare at Seth. “I think I recognize your
name. Do you work at—”

His words were drowned out by the neighbor’s riding lawn
mower whipping around next to her yard. She knew everything had been going too
well. Why did Eddie have to mow right now? Couldn’t he see she had company?
Maybe it was a blessing because when Seth had told Derek and Jeremy that he was
a surgeon, they hadn’t asked what kind of surgery he did. It didn’t seem likely
that Jeremy had known Seth from his private practice, so it must be before Seth
had his own facility.

In a loud voice, Derek said, “Your neighbor’s lawn doesn’t
need mowing. Is he ticked off at you for something? Maybe he’s upset you didn’t
invite him tonight.”

She shook her head, waiting to speak until Eddie wasn’t as
close to her backyard. She saw again how bad he looked with his long and
stringy hair. Eddie’s grass got shorter while his hair grew longer. “I did
invite Eddie. He said he had other plans. His wife died a few months ago, and
he’s having a hard time adjusting to life without her. Taking care of his yard
seems to be a form of therapy for him. He mows it all the time. He’s probably
not even aware of the noise bothering us.”

“That’s sad he lost his wife,” Heather said.

Derek pointed his fork at Mallory. “Hey, you two have
something in common.”

She grinned at Derek. “What do I have in common with Eddie?
That I mow my lawn too much or that I irritate you?” 

“You both lost your spouses,” Derek said.

Elizabeth used her napkin to wipe her mouth. “Toby’s alive.”

Derek shrugged. “I know that. I meant—”

“I know people getting divorced say it’s like a death in the
family,” Mallory said, “but I don’t feel that way.”

Heather nodded. “Toby’s very much involved in Josh’s life.”

“Toby and Mallory didn’t have a bitter divorce because they
respect each other.” Elizabeth gave her a direct glance. “Toby’s even planning
on having Josh and Mallory visit him when he’s doing legal work in Las Vegas
this summer.”

Derek grasped Elizabeth’s hand. “Well, hopefully, our
marriage won’t end. I can’t imagine ever being with someone else.”

“I’ve never been married, but I do counsel couples who are
not married, newly wed, or couples who have been together for years. You’d be
surprised how many conflicts couples face in trying to stay together.” Jeremy
smiled at Derek and Elizabeth. “I’m not trying to scare you, but I’m available
for counseling if a problem keeps you from having a close marriage.”

“Thanks, Jeremy,” Elizabeth said. “We’re attending a session
now at our church for engaged couples.” 

“I’m interested because I’d rather go to someone outside our
church if we should have problems in the future,” Derek said.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Derek. “I don’t think we have
to worry about our minister airing our personal life to others.”

Derek raised his eyebrows. “Hey, ministers aren’t perfect.
Isn’t that right, Jeremy? I mean you’re a sinner too.”

“That’s true none of us are perfect.” Jeremy grinned at
Derek. “Although some of us are closer to being perfect than others.”

She knew Jeremy was kidding Derek, but thought how apt it
was for her situation. “I thought I’d have the perfect marriage. I still can’t
believe I’m divorced. Toby and I tried counseling but only went twice. He
refused to continue. To tell the truth, I wasn’t feeling forgiving toward Toby.
I hated his unfaithfulness and was so angry at him.”

“Mallory, I’m sorry about your divorce,” Derek said, “but
maybe it was for the best. You’re a wonderful woman. It sounds like Toby didn’t
love you the way you should be loved.”

Maybe she’d be too critical of Derek. What he said to her
was sweet, but it hurt because what he said was true. “You’re right. Toby
didn’t love me enough.”

Seth’s blue eyes met hers. “Looks like your neighbor’s
quitting mowing for the evening.”

At a quick glance at Eddie’s yard, she saw him driving into
a small shed. 

Heather smiled. “Quiet again. It’s such a lovely evening.
The weather’s great and it’s early enough that there aren’t any bugs. Mallory,
thanks for having us.”

“It is a nice evening.” Jeremy said. “Seth, I don’t think
you heard me before when I said I recognized your name.”

“Sorry, I didn’t.”

“I was a minister in a church in Toledo a few years ago, and
I visited a girl from church who had her tonsils out. I remember she had a
crush on a Dr. Whitman and said how it was worth having surgery because you
were so nice and hot.”

She turned to Seth, grinning. “Sounds like you. The nice
part anyhow.”

“I get the feeling you two know each other. I figured you’re
here because you’re friends with Heather since she’s a surgical nurse.” Derek
gave Seth and Malloy a thoughtful look. “But you two look pretty cozy.”

Seth laughed. “Elizabeth, you sure you want to marry Derek?
First, to answer Jeremy’s question. I was on staff at Children’s Hospital in
Toledo. And second, Mallory invited me this evening. We haven’t known each
other very long, but we hit it off right away. Since today’s my birthday, I’m
glad she asked me to come.”

While the others wished him a happy birthday, she thought
how Seth had never mentioned before that it was his birthday. Why would he want
to spend his birthday here with her and her friends? Granted, Seth was right
how they’d connected quickly but to spend a birthday with strangers instead of
family seemed weird. “I wish you’d told me because I would’ve baked you a
birthday cake.”