Now and Forever 4, The Renovated Heart (20 page)

“Fatal drunk driving accident…” Callie took
Sarah’s hand.

“Then you were kind enough to invite me to
come here.” She squeezed Callie’s hand.

“I love having you here, sis. You’re safe.
And you have Jim.

Sarah chuckled.

“Still the incurable romantic, Callie. Some
things never change.” Sarah’s eyes danced with laughter.

They were back. Stepping into the warm house
made Sarah feel almost as good as confessing her story to her
sister did. Soon after they got back, the children and men
returned. Chaos replaced the calm atmosphere as tired, cranky
children cried and whined, hungry men broke open the beer while the
delightful smell of a cooking turkey made stomachs rumble.

At four o’clock, the entire Caldwell clan
sat down to a beautiful meal and the cacophony of happy people,
talking, eating, laughing and spreading their love echoed from one
end of the house to the other.

On the last few days of her vacation, Zoe
tried several times to get her mother to agree to remarry Johnny.
Kit kept refusing. Tunney didn’t call. She sought to wear her
mother down using every argument the girl could think of to no
avail. Her mother wouldn’t budge.

The atmosphere between mother and daughter
grew frosty. Kit dropped Zoe back at school, still insisting there
would be no remarriage. The daughter cried, but the mother refused
to bend. When she returned home, she called Tunney, but there was
no answer. She called every half hour, left messages, finally
giving up at midnight.
He must be with someone else.
Her
stomach filled with jealousy.

* * * *

Tunney sat in his truck in the mall parking
lot, finishing a cup of coffee when his cell phone rang. He put the
paper cup on the truck floor to look at the display. Another call
from Kit. He didn’t want to talk to her.
More lies? How can I
believe her?
He turned his phone off. He walked into the empty
bar and sat at the counter alone.

“Wadda’ll it be, Tunney.”

“Brandy, Willie. A double.”

“You got it.”

* * * *

Monday morning at nine a.m. the doorbell
rang. Kit leaped out of bed threw on her robe and raced to the
front door.
Tunney!
Two men from Nichols Building were there
to refinish the floor. Her heart sank. She called the construction
company.

“Tunney Nichols, please.”

“Who’s calling?” Anne Marie asked.

“Kit Alexander.”

“Oh, hi. Tunney’s in Seattle.”

“Seattle? Do you know when he will be
back?”

“He’s got business there. He could be there
for weeks. Any problem with the men I sent over to finish the
renovation?”

“No, no problem. This is personal
business.”

“I hope you’re not hung up on him.”

“Why?”

Tunney’s a great guy, but he can’t commit.
Never has, probably never will.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I’ve known him since he came back.
I’ve never seen him stay with a woman longer than two or three
months, tops.”

“I thought he didn’t date much?”

“He dates plenty, just doesn’t stay with
anyone long.”

“You say he can’t commit?”

“Right. But when he finally grows up, if he
ever does, I’ll still be right here.”

Kit understood immediately.

“If he calls in, please tell him I
called.”

“Sure thing.”

Kit went up to the third floor.

Letter number forty nine

Dear Dan,

I’m ashamed to admit I gave up on you today.
Too long for me. I woke up this morning with a sense of dread. I
looked in the mirror and said you were not coming home. I went to
the library with the little strength I had. Took out a new romance
book, perfect to read in this nasty, cold, damp weather we’re
having.

I spent the day in front of the fire reading
about love and hardships. Still, none of the characters in the book
were MIA. Then Lily called. She talked about plans for a Memorial
Day picnic. I yelled at her, told her memorials are not reasons to
have picnics. I’m afraid I hung up on her. I spent the rest of the
afternoon thinking you were dead, feeling sorry for myself.

Then Mary Jane Peters, Ida Sorenson and
Barbara Richmond came over. Mary Jane had that great hamburger
casserole she makes. Ida had a big salad, Barbara brought homemade
brownies. They ate with me. They told me I had to continue to
believe, because if I didn’t believe you were alive after
forty-nine weeks, then they couldn’t believe their husbands were
coming back either.

I never thought of myself as a role model.
Heck, I’m usually too busy trying to get everything done to worry
about things like popularity. But when I looked at their faces, I
realized I had to continue to believe. If I couldn’t do it for me
or for you, then I had to for them and their men.

Lily called. We made up. So I’m back, Dan,
believing you’re alive. Sorry for the lapse. I hope you have enough
food and a warm blanket. Come home to me.

Love,

Mary

Mary, if you can believe Dan is alive
after forty-nine weeks of silence, then I can believe Tunney and I
will be together
. Kit planted herself in front of her computer
ready to bang out the latest chapter of her book.

The men finished up her floors in ten days.
The tired, worn wood had been given a new life. No longer dull, the
floors fairly danced with shine, the wood grain pattern appeared
fresh and new. Still no word from Tunney. Only one week left before
Johnny would come to Willow Falls to pick up Zoe. Kit spent her
days re-reading and editing her book. Staying busy helped her avoid
thinking about Tunney.

She received the money from the sale of the
apartment then paid off her mortgage. She sent a deposit to Tunney
for the Victorian house, then went shopping. Her spree provided
elegant area rugs for the living room, dining room and parlor as
well as new lamps, sofas, chairs, plus colorful accent pillows in
deep purples, elegant gold and basic black. The love lavished on
the old house made it glow with warmth. The Victorian resembled a
treasured antique, polished to a rich patina, walls and ceilings
perfectly renovated by Kit and Tunney. She thought of the stately
house, once again grand, as theirs together the way it once
belonged to Mary and Dan.

* * * *

At 29 James Street

The December cold and snow didn’t deter Jim
and Sarah from their weekend walks in the woods. They discovered
abandoned bird nests in now-naked trees. The quiet of the snowy
forest became the perfect place to talk about writing. She relied
on his low-key, patient ways to keep her focused. Her writing
improved as well. They talked about collaborating on a book, once
Sarah finished her masterpiece.

Gradually Jim took his place in the lives of
Sarah Morgan and her kids. After attending the children’s soccer
games on Saturdays, he continued to cheer Scottie on at his
basketball games and applaud Laura’s performance at her dance
recitals.

Scottie’s enthusiasm for Jim was obvious
from the start. Sarah watched her daughter, unsure about Laura’s
willingness to accept Jim. At first, Laura appeared indifferent to
his presence at a sporting event or dance recital. But when her
daughter asked if he was coming to her second dance recital, Sarah
became convinced she had accepted him. She spied Laura peeking out
from the wings, her gaze searching the audience for him.

Sarah discussed her son’s progress, and
bemoaned bad calls by the referees with Jim. She roped him into
helping her with refreshments, too. After late afternoon games,
they went out for pizza with other families. Some of Scottie’s
teammates thought Jim was his father.

They went on dinner dates every weekend. He
took her to La Cote D’Or or Bon Appetit; afterward they shared a
stolen, private moment in his bed. If they didn’t return late in
the evening, Scottie would spy Jim’s car pull into the driveway and
rush out the door to greet them. Sarah’s devotion to her children
came first, though she yearned for more time alone with Jim.

Energized by her growing self-confidence,
her writing improved as she worked consistently on her stories,
determined to reach success. She created a special book for Scottie
for Christmas and made a copy for Jim. The book was called
Old
House, New House
with a photo of their old house in Seattle on
the first page with a photo of their new house in Willow Falls on
the facing page. There was a page with his old school building and
the new school building, then the old friends and new friends, old
fire house and the new, and so on. Sarah hoped the book would help
Scottie let go of his old life in Seattle, freeing him to embrace
his new one in Willow Falls.

* * * *

In the first week of December, Callie
offered to take Sarah’s children overnight on the weekend so her
sister could have time alone with Jim. They scheduled dinner out
then a movie at home. He took her to Bon Appetit. They rushed
through dinner when they recalled an empty house and total privacy
awaited them.

She served dessert, a homemade apple pie,
and coffee.

“You’re a great cook. I’m going to gain
weight hanging around you,” he said as he enjoyed a forkful of
pie.

“I like to bake. Bob and the kids always
loved….oh, I’m sorry,” she said, embarrassed.

“Your life before you met me is okay. I had
one, too.”

“Who was she?”

“You’re kidding, right?” His fork stopped in
mid-air as he turned to look at her.

“I am.” She laughed, falling into his arms
for a hug.

“We could watch the movie, or you could come
to my house, spend the night under my down comforter…the one I told
you about?”

She saw the hunger in his eyes.

“I need to be near the phone, in case the
kids…”

“Bring your cell phone,” he said, nuzzling
her neck, drawing her closer to him.

She liked his house, especially when she
didn’t have to sneak in, keeping the lights out, hoping Scottie
wouldn’t awaken. His place had four bedrooms, three baths plus a
small den. The attic had been renovated to be a big playroom with a
ping pong table. The kitchen was bigger and better equipped than
Sarah’s. He took her coat, hung it up, then led her into his room.
She love the big, airy bedroom with light blue-green walls, natural
wood chests, an overstuffed beige chair and a small dressing table
that had belonged to Nancy. In the middle of the room stood a
queen-sized bed topped with a puffy, white, down comforter. The
sheets were blue, green and white striped. The curtains matched the
wall color becoming almost invisible. This was a man’s room so
there were no throw pillows.

“Did you do this room? It’s beautiful?”

“My niece, Lara, decorated for me after
Nancy passed away.”

“I love it. Perfect for a man…especially a
man who likes sex. Look at the size of your bed!” Her thoughts
popped right out of her mouth unfiltered by her brain.

“All the better to make love to you, my
dear,” he said, pulling her into his arms for a tender kiss. Then
he deepened the kiss, cranking up the passion. Sarah, eager for his
affection, responded. He trailed kisses down her neck as his hand
came up to cup her breast. He looked into her eyes.

“I want you,” he breathed.

She unbuttoned his shirt. His lips continued
their trail down her neck. He unzipped her dress then pushed the
top down. His lips brushed the top of her breast while his thumb
found her peak through the flimsy fabric of her pink bra. Sarah
closed her eyes feeling the heat building inside her. He unzipped
her dress all the way; it slipped to the floor, while she pulled
his shirt free from his pants.

Sarah reached inside his waistband to pull
up his undershirt, then ran her hands up his hard chest, thrilling
to the feel of his muscles. His shirt slipped down his arms to the
floor. He yanked the t-shirt over his head and tossed it on a chair
then unbuckled his belt. His pants dropped. . She brushed her lips
on his chest, feathering light kisses up to his neck then his jaw.
Their eyes connected. He tangled his fingers in her hair, bringing
her lips closer. His mouth took hers hard, possessively. He pinched
her nipple between his fingers shooting desire through her body
like an electrical charge. He pressed his hips against hers, his
arousal evident.

Jim eased her back onto the bed, lowering
himself on top of her. He stopped to look at her, passion flaming
in his eyes. He reached underneath her, unhooked and removed her
bra. She opened her eyes when she heard his intake of breath as he
stared at her breasts.

“Beautiful…” he breathed, his hands
caressing her.

She kissed him hungrily. Her gaze sought his
chest, covered with soft light brown hair. She placed her small
hand on him. Heat transferred from his chest through her hand to
her core.

“Jim.”

His head lowered, his mouth claimed her
breast.

“Take them off.” He breathed in her ear.

She shot him a quizzical look. His fingertip
skimmed the edge of the waistband of her lacy panties then dipped
inside.

“These. Take them off for me, baby.”

He was almost panting. She touched him,
surprised to find him fully aroused. Sarah eased off the bed and
slid her panties slowly, inch by inch down, down, down, stopping
before revealing herself completely. She watched his eyes, like
molten honey filled with lust, glued to the pink lace. She turned
to wiggle her backside at him before bending over, giving him
another view.

“God…you’re torturing me.”

She smiled a wicked smile, wiggled again
then stood upright, dancing her way around until facing him. Sarah
inched the panties lower, finally pushing them to the floor with
one thrust then kicking them off. He opened his legs so she could
get right up against him. Her breasts pillowed his face while his
shaft begged to be admitted. His hands glided down to her bottom.
He squeezed and pulled her close, so close he was almost inside
her. He slid his fingers underneath to stroke her hot, wet, slick
center. Sarah thought she’d die of desire.