Prelude: Prequel to The Lewis Legacy Series (24 page)

Sam strengthened his hold on her lower back, giving Sarah immeasurable comfort. “Tess, I assure you, my intentions are completely honorable. However, if you think I’m going to thank you for interrupting us, you are grievously mistaken.”

Sarah chewed her lower lip and glanced from Sam to Tess and back. Was something going on here to which she wasn’t privy? Both of them seemed rather amused, but at least Tess hadn’t lit into her as she’d feared.

With one hand on her hip, Tess pivoted and headed for the door. “I’ll wait for you outside, but a word of advice? People
will
talk if you stand in front of the window with your lips stuck to one another like I just witnessed. Trust me, that’s the polite way of describing it. From what I know, people are already speculating about the two of you. Thrilled as I am, it’s a good thing no one else was around to witness your little show tonight. Sarah, we need to head home now.”

“Did you drive?” Sam said, retrieving his Stetson and anchoring it on his head.

Tess gave him a pouty glance. “No. It’s such a nice night, and I thought Sarah and I could walk together. Get some fresh air and clear our heads, so to speak.”

“It’s late, it’s dark, and I’m driving you both home.” Sam’s command left no room for argument. “Sarah, do you need to do anything else before you lock up?”

“I’ll get my purse and check a couple of things in the kitchen, and then I’m ready.” She shot Sam a
sorry to leave you alone with Tess
glance and then darted out of the dining room, determined not to be gone longer than necessary. Although Tess seemed to be in a charitable mood, when she set her mind to it, she could do more damage in sixty seconds than most women in a month.

As Sarah walked back out to where they waited a minute later, Tess leaned over to retrieve something from the floor. Her hairnet. “I believe this belongs to you.”

Sarah snatched it from her sister’s hand and then stuffed it in the pocket of her uniform. “Thanks.”

The short ride to the house was quiet in the front seat of Sam’s dad’s truck. Sarah sat sandwiched between Sam and Tess. So close Sarah felt Sam’s warmth on one side and tried not to breathe in the strong scent of her sister’s cologne—something new that reeked like stinkweed—on the other. Thankfully, the passenger window was rolled halfway down, and a warm breeze sifted through the long strands of her hair. Reaching for a lock, Sarah twirled it around her finger, over and over.

“Especially now that you’ll be squiring Sarah around town, Sam, don’t you think it’s about time you got your own vehicle?” Tess drummed her fingers on the window ledge as Sam turned the corner onto their street.

Sarah bit down on her lower lip not to say anything. Sam could handle Tess.

“I have a car on order, as a matter of fact.” Sam turned the corner onto their street. “It’s coming from England, so I have no idea when it will arrive.”

Sarah glanced at him in surprise. The muscles flexed in his jaw as he pulled in front of their house. Why hadn’t he said anything?

“Imported from England? Well, now, that’s quite exciting,” Tess said. “Impressive, actually.”

Because having a nice car is what’s most important in life, after all.
She’d ask forgiveness for that one later. Sarah slumped in the seat but remained silent, knowing that doing so would be in her best interest.

“Any other questions?” Sam turned the key in the ignition, shutting off the engine, and leveled his gaze on Tess.

“No, that’ll do it for now. Thanks for the ride.” Tess opened the passenger door and slid down from the seat. Without glancing over her shoulder, she started up the front walkway. That was a shock that she’d left without getting in another dig or else grabbing her by the arm and hauling her inside the house.

“Wait, Sarah. I’ll come around.” Sam slipped out from behind the wheel and closed his door.

When she stepped outside the truck, he closed her door and put his arm behind her back as they walked together.

“I apologize for putting your reputation at risk. I never meant to get you in any kind of trouble with your family or anyone else.” Standing across from her on the front step, Sam’s expression was full of concern, his tone laced with regret. “The problem is, right now, all I can think about is how much I want to kiss you again.”

“I should say good night.” Sarah gripped her handbag tighter. “Or I’ll let you kiss me again.”

A slow smile spread across his handsome face. “I’ll see you tomorrow at Perry’s.”

“I’ll look forward to it. Thanks for a great Tuesday, Captain Lewis. The best of my life.”

He nodded. “Same here, and it was my honor. Good night, sweet Sarah.”

Sam waited until she went into the house. Once inside, on a whim, Sarah splayed the fingers of one hand on the screen door. Walking across the porch, standing on the other side of the door, he positioned his hand on the screen. With another smile, Sam raised his hand in a quick wave and then departed.

“Well, that’s a different but very romantic way to say good night.” Tess lounged against the wall leading from the kitchen into the living room. Her arms were crossed, and the smug grin on her face was annoying.

“Be quiet, please. Allow me to savor my moment.” With her head held high, Sarah walked past her sister, wishing—not for the first time—that she had a separate bedroom. At eighteen, after Tess won her umpteenth beauty queen title, Sarah begged her parents, to no avail, to allow her to move into the spare bedroom. Now, it seemed she wouldn’t be afforded the luxury of reliving Sam’s kisses tonight without an audience. Did Tess possess the inherent right to lecture her simply by virtue of her birthright? Maybe she should sleep in that spare bedroom tonight. As long as she changed the sheets, Mom wouldn’t mind.

After grabbing her things, Sarah escaped into the bathroom. Feeling the strong need to pray, she sat on the edge of the bathtub.
Lord, I haven’t done anything wrong with Sam. Have I? I’ll admit we could have used more discretion and moved out of sight of the front window. But I’ll never regret kissing him. Right or wrong, and whether or not the whole town finds out. That’s not anyone else’s business, but I want to make it your business, Father. I’ve never been in love before. You know that. All those years ago, Sam and I began a friendship that’s continued and is stronger than ever. I mean, it’s not like we started kissing the minute he returned to Rockbridge. I really like kissing him, Lord, and I promise to control myself. He’s a beautiful man, though. There’s a part of me that still can’t believe this is happening. Let’s face it—San could have his pick of any girl in Rockbridge, but he chose me. Me! I’m feeling pretty blessed right now. Help me to sort out my feelings, and to know whether or not he’s the man of your choosing for me. He says he wants to be with me whether I’m in Austin or wherever I go. That, too, I leave in your hands. Direct my thoughts, my actions, and my path, dear Jesus. In your name I pray. Amen.

As she washed her face and brushed her teeth, Sarah felt better but then stewed a bit more. Praying always helped, but her emotions were still somewhat unsettled. She wanted to drift off to sleep in peace instead of listening to her sister’s hypocritical chastisement. Maybe she should approach it from a more positive angle. Tess
had
winked at Sam, after all. Perhaps she wasn’t in for a tongue lashing, after all. No matter what, she refused to give Tess the power to taint the beautiful memory of her moment with Sam.

“I’m sorry, sis,” Tess said twenty minutes later as Sarah came back into the bedroom. Sarah hesitated only a few seconds before pulling back the lightweight coverlet and climbing into her twin bed. If she slept in the other bedroom, avoidance would only make things worse. Might as well face the music, get this inevitable confrontation over with, and then she could move forward.

“What’s that?”

“You were right.”

Huh. Not what she expected.

♥

Sarah turned on her side. Propping herself on one elbow, facing Tess, she prepared to listen. This should be good. “What do you mean?”

“I’m jealous as anything about you and Sam. Remember when I discovered you together—just talking—at Thornton’s Creek? You asked me if I was jealous and assured me nothing was going on between the two of you.”

“And that was true. . .”

“I know it was at the time, Sarah. Now, after what I witnessed in the diner tonight, I’m so jealous I can’t even see straight.”

When a tear slid down Tess’s cheek, Sarah tossed aside the sheet and moved across to the other twin bed. “Scoot over, I’m coming in.”

Her sister shifted and made room for her, patting the mattress with one hand. “Have a seat.”

“Please don’t cry, Tess. I didn’t plan on anything happening with Sam. I can hardly believe it myself, much less try and explain it. It just. . .”—Sarah shrugged—“happened.” What a lame thing to say, but it was honest and all she had to offer.

“I know, and I’d be blind if I didn’t see how good you two are together. In a lot of ways, you’ve always been the older sister.” Tess sniffled and smiled a little. “You’re a lot more mature than me. You always have been. I mean, look at me. I flit around in silly outfits trying to get attention and putting emphasis on the wrong things.”

Sarah inhaled a deep breath. This was the Tess she loved. Her sister who stayed up into the early morning hours and shared her heart. When they were younger, they’d spent many a night doing this very thing. Those happier moments had been pushed aside in the past few years, replaced by tedious quibbles and tension. How she’d longed and prayed for this closeness to be restored.

“I hope it works out for you and Sam. He’s a great catch—great
guy
—and you deserve all the happiness in the world.”

Reaching for her hand, Sarah pulled Tess into a warm hug. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed you.” She leaned her head on her sister’s slender shoulder. “Thank you for being here for me.”

“I know I owe you a long overdue apology. I haven’t been a very good friend, much less your sister, especially since Sam came back home. You’re only twenty-one and have your whole life ahead of you. Your future at nursing school is all planned out. You know where you’re headed and what you want from life.”

When Sarah pulled back, she glimpsed fresh tears in Tess’s eyes. “It’s my plan, yes, but I’m still here. At least for now.”

“I’m an old maid, washed up at almost twenty-eight years old,” Tess said, her tone this side of whiny. “I always thought I’d be married for a few years by now, and have at least one or two kids.”

“Tess, you’re not washed up in any sense of the word.” Sarah bit back her criticism, knowing that wouldn’t help the situation. “The Lord knows the desires of your heart. We need to trust He’ll bring the right people into your life, including your future husband, if it’s His will. You have so much to give. May I make a suggestion?”

“Sure. Why not?” Tess plopped backwards on the mattress. When another tear streaked down her cheek, Sarah grabbed the tissue box from the desk.

“Here, take this.” She pushed a tissue into her sister’s hand. “Maybe if you’d stop acting so obvious around guys, then the
real y
ou will show up. I happen to think the real you is pretty great.”

In the middle of dabbing the moisture from her cheeks, Tess paused. “What do you mean? You don’t think I’m being myself?”

Sarah searched for what she could say that would make sense. “Let me give you an example. Remember when you were a candy striper and visited Lorraine Carmichael in the hospital over in Springhaven?”

“Ye-es,” Tess said, wiping her eyes with the tissue. “What does that have to do with the fact that I’m destined to be single and childless?”

Sarah handed Tess another tissue and waited while she blew her nose. That was one thing her sister did not do in a dainty way, and she chewed her lower lip in an effort not to smile. “Remember how you prayed with Lorraine and then she accepted Jesus as her Savior?”

“Yes, and sorry to pout, but that’s not helping,” Tess said. “Lorraine may not have her appendix anymore, but she’s got a husband and a baby girl. The perfect family.”

With a sigh, Sarah tugged on Tess’s hand, pulling her upright again. “Dry those tears and listen to me. After that visit, you were so full of enthusiasm. It practically poured out of you, and you couldn’t stop talking about how you’d told Lorraine about Jesus. I want to tell you something. As pretty as you were when you won all those beauty queen titles, when you told me about Lorraine, you positively glowed—from the inside out. I remember how in awe I was of you in that moment, how beautiful you were. It was a radiance that came from something other than physical beauty, although you’ve always had that.”

“I still don’t see how that makes any difference now.”

“You made a difference in her life. An
eternal
difference. Don’t you see? It also made
you
happy. Not because of what you’d done, or earned, or won, but because of how the Lord had worked in Lorraine’s heart.”

Silent for a long moment, Tess wiped her eyes and then glanced up at her. “I’ve lost the joy. That’s what you’re telling me, isn’t it?”

“No, I don’t think you’ve lost your joy, but you’ve lost the enthusiasm you used to have. Your light’s just been hidden for a few years.”

A fresh tear slipped down Tess’s cheek. She lowered her gaze to her hands twisting in her lap. “Why won’t a man look at me the way he looks at you, Sarah?”

“Oh, Tess.” Sarah understood how much it cost her sister to ask that question. How should she answer?

Tess grabbed her hand. “You’re right about one thing. Somewhere along the way, I lost the enthusiasm I used to have for a lot of things in life. I’ve lost my focus.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Sarah said. “You put in long hours at the law office. I know you do a wonderful job, and I’m sure your dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

“They’re good to me, but it’s just a paycheck.” Shoulders slumping, Tess looked so forlorn it made Sarah’s heart hurt. “I don’t have the passion for my job like you do for nursing. It’s not like I want to type, file and answer phones my entire life.”

“Well, I certainly don’t want to be a waitress at Perry’s Diner my whole life, but if that’s what God wants for me, I’ll deal with it. For now, I’m making the most of it.”

“There’s a difference with you, though, Sarah. You know it’s only temporary. A stepping stone to something much bigger and better.”

Sarah laughed. “Right. My job at Perry’s has been ‘temporary’ from the time I was sixteen. But you know what? I wouldn’t trade my experiences there for anything. More importantly, I’ve made some great friends, and I’ll carry them with me no matter where the Lord leads in my life.”

“I wish I had that assurance, that confidence, like you do. So, do you have any suggestions for me?” Tess mopped her cheeks with the side of her hand.

“For one thing, you can stop being such a pretty crier.” Sarah pulled her into another hug. “You put me to shame.”

“You’re funny,” Tess said. “So, tell me. How does a girl go about rediscovering her joy? Any idea?”

“Pray about it, first of all. Secondly, would you consider doing some volunteer work again? Whether it’s through the church, the hospital, the school or whatever, it might give you a renewed purpose and help fill the holes of your life.”

“Holes of my life?” Tess looked at her as if she held all the answers. “What do you mean?”

“We all have empty places inside us, but we can’t expect other people to fill them. That’s not to say they can’t. More than anything, I want to make a difference in someone else’s life. You did that for Lorraine once upon a time, and I’m sure there’ve been many others. More than you can possibly know.”

Tess leaned her head on Sarah’s shoulder. Moving one arm around her, Sarah smoothed her sister’s dark hair from her face with her free hand and kissed her forehead. “You’re a very special person, Tess, and you’ve made a profound impact on my life.”

“Thanks. And you inspire me. People gravitate to you because you’re so. . .honest.”

Sarah laughed. “Which is a nice way of saying I’m blunt?”

“Maybe,” Tess said. “But you do it in such a nice way, with a little twinkle in your eye, it softens the blow.”

“I do not have a twinkle in my eye.”

“Sure you do. Take a look at Sam sometime when he looks at you. You’ll understand what I mean.”

“I’ll tell you something else.” Warmed by her words, Sarah eased out of the hug.

“What’s that?” Tess tossed the used tissues in the wastebasket beneath her desk.

“Charlie likes you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

“Really? Charlie? Did Sam say something?”

Sarah shook her head. “No, but I can ask him, if you want.”

“No, no. Don’t do that.” Tess laughed a little. “I’m sure you wouldn’t hesitate to ask Sam, would you? That’s one of the things I most admire about you. You don’t worry about what’s right or what’s proper, but you speak up and always follow your heart.” She blew out a breath and ran one hand over her hair. “I envy you in a lot of ways.”

“You envy me?” That admission surprised Sarah. “You’re tired, and that’s your weariness speaking.” She collapsed on Tess’s bed, flat on her back, her arm draped over her forehead.

Tess nudged her leg. “What are you doing now?”

“I almost fainted from the shock caused by an overload of compliments.” Sarah sat up again. “Tess, you’re so pretty, dainty, feminine and every hair is always in place. You can wear anything you want and make it look like a million bucks. And the way you sing makes my voice sound like a duck in heat.”

Tess swatted her arm, laughing. “Add sense of humor to the list. You’re smarter than I can ever hope to be. Sarah, don’t you see? You’re beautiful, and you don’t even know it.”

Sarah stared. “You think I’m beautiful? As I recall, you called me frumpy the night Sam came to dinner. Not all that long ago, and I haven’t done anything differently.”

“Not my best moment. Sorry. That was one of those times I was jealous as all get out. I’ve already confessed that much. Come with me.” Tugging on her hand, Tess pulled Sarah off the bed, marched her over to the dresser, and then positioned her in front of the mirror. “Your hair is naturally this fabulous blonde color. Most women pay a fortune, or get it from a bottle, and it still doesn’t look as gorgeous. As if that’s not enough, you’ve perfected the art of scooping it up into that bun that takes all of two seconds yet looks like you just walked out of a Paris salon. How you do it is beyond me. And these cheekbones?” Tess ran the back of her hand down the side of her face. “Honey, they’re to die for. And my lips are too thin while yours are. . .well, they’re just right. Especially for Sam.”

Sarah gasped and warmth rushed into her cheeks. Open-mouthed, she watched as Tess plucked one of her tiaras—Miss Rockbridge Harvest, from her best recollection—and positioned it on her head. Standing behind her, reflected in the mirror on the dresser, Tess smiled. “I hereby crown you the most beautiful sister in the world.”

That did it. On emotional overload, Sarah rushed for the tissues. Grabbing one, she dabbed it beneath her eyes.

“There is something different about you since Sam came to dinner, you know.”

“What’s that?” Sarah asked, moving back over to her bed, still wiping her eyes.

“You’re a woman in love. If you two get married, you’re going to have very attractive children.”

Before she could respond, Tess continued. “I know one thing. I’m going to pay more attention to Charlie from here on out. To think he’s been under my radar all this time. He’s good looking, has a solid job, and he’s the only man we know who owns his own home.” She shrugged. “He doesn’t date much, so I guess I thought he wasn’t interested.”

“He’s been focused on building his career,” Sarah said. “I’ve gotten to know Charlie even better since Sam’s return. He comes and sits in the diner with him sometimes. He’s very funny and quite charming. Maybe he doesn’t believe he’d ever have a chance with you.”

“That’s not true.” Tess waved her hand. “You don’t think Charlie really believes that, do you?”

Sarah smiled. “It’s possible he hasn’t asked out anyone else because the one he wants. . .is sitting here with me now.”

“You’re sweet. And, let’s face it, he does have a very nice car,” Tess said. She started to say more and then stopped herself. “Would you listen to me? That’s the kind of thing I need to stop saying.”

Sarah smiled. “It’ll take time. I wonder why Sam didn’t say anything to me about ordering a car? From England, of all things.” As predictable as the man could be in some ways, he was apparently unpredictable in others.

“I’d prefer to call him Charles instead of Charlie,” Tess said as they both settled in their beds. “Do you think he’d mind?”

Sarah laughed. “Coming from you, I don’t think so. I love you, Tess.”

“You, too, sis. Good night and sweet dreams.”

Not a problem.