Return to Me (19 page)

And it was only one among many truths Elena wanted to impart to her sister so that she wouldn’t make the same mistakes again. God’s ways were always the best ways. Roxy must learn that and live accordingly. After Elena married and moved away, who would be as honest with Roxy as she? Who would help her sister grow into Christian maturity?

So in actuality, she hadn’t been unkind. She had nothing to regret in that regard.

Somehow she doubted her dad and Wyatt would agree with that assessment. They both tried to protect Roxy from the natural consequences of her actions. Elena refused to do so.

But if it would make these next weeks before the wedding more pleasant, perhaps she could try to be more careful with her words and actions.

R
OXY

December 1999

The receptionist was slipping on her coat when Roxy entered the law firm at 5:45
P
.
M
. on that Friday.

“Is he in, Clarissa?”

“Yes. Want me to let him know you’re here?” “Don’t bother. I’ll just go on back.”

She headed for Wyatt’s office at the end of the hall. He’d worked for this firm — four attorneys and two paralegals — since passing the bar. He didn’t make a lot of money yet, but his income was good enough to help his mom with a down payment on a small house in a better part of town.

Why on earth had he gone into business law instead of some- thing more exciting? He would have been great at criminal law. Weren’t those the guys who got their pictures in the news and made a ton of money? With Wyatt’s good looks, the news shows would have loved him.

His office door was open. She stopped and rapped on the jamb, waiting for him to look up. When he did, she pouted. “You work too much, Mr. Baldini.”

He grinned. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”

“If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, you know.” She strolled into the room and around the desk. “You need to get out and have some fun. Let’s go to the Pale Rider for a few beers.”

His smile vanished as he shook his head. “I can’t.”

“Come on, Wyatt. Take me dancing.” She combed her fingers through his hair as she sank onto his lap, forcing him to push his chair away from his desk. “Those contracts or briefs or whatever they are can wait until Monday. Nobody’s life hangs in the balance. Nobody’s languishing in jail until they’re done.”

“That isn’t why I can’t go.”

She kissed his forehead, leaving her lips close, letting a husky whisper brush his skin. “Then why not?”

He rose from his chair so fast, he almost dumped her on the floor. Only his hands on her waist kept her from falling. Before she could utter a complaint, he moved to the opposite side of the desk. It was anything but the response she expected.

They stared at each other for several seconds before Wyatt went to his office door and closed it. Turning, he met her gaze again. “I’ve got something I need to tell you. I should have done it before now.”

Roxy wondered if he had another girlfriend. He’d been kind of standoffish. Preoccupied. Busy. Working late hours. They hadn’t gone out or spent the night together or anything for quite a while. How long had it been? Two weeks? More?

“I don’t feel comfortable at the Pale Rider anymore.”

“What are you talking about? Comfortable? We’ve hung out there for years. All our friends go there.”

He gave her a hard look. “Not all our friends. A couple Sundays ago, I asked Jesus to be Lord of my life, and I don’t think He wants me taking Him there.”

The air was sucked right out of the room in the wake of those words. She placed her hand on the desk to steady herself.

“I’ve been born again, Roxy.”

He might as well have said he had fallen in love with another woman. She couldn’t feel more betrayed. “Not you, Wyatt. You’re too smart to fall for that nonsense. You’re doing it to please my dad. I know how you are with him.”

He lifted a hand, as if inviting her to join him in his insanity. “It’s not because of your dad. Roxy, it’s the smartest thing I’ve ever done. I may not know much else about my new faith, but I know

that much.” He took two steps toward her. “If you’d like, we can go to dinner some place, and I can tell you how it happened.”

She shuddered. So God won again. All her life, He’d had her family. And now He’d taken Wyatt. Well, fine. Let them have each other. She didn’t need them. Not any of them.

There was only one thing she needed.

“No, thanks, Wyatt. Right now, there’s a beer calling my name.

And I don’t plan to disappoint it.”

Twenty-One

“Why don’t we all go out for brunch?”

Church service was over, and Elena and Wyatt had almost made it out the door. But her father’s suggestion stopped her escape cold.

She hesitated a moment. Maybe Wyatt would decline . . . But his questioning gaze said it was up to her. “We’d like to, Dad, but we have a lot of work to do today. We need to clean out my garage and make room for all the boxes. Maybe we can go out to eat another time.”

“Why don’t Roxy and I help with cleaning the garage?” Her dad looked so pleased at his idea. “That way we can go out to eat now, and then make short shrift of the boxing up and tossing out that needs done. Four of us can accomplish the work twice as fast as two.”

“Oh, Dad. I hate to have you spend your Sunday afternoon working in my dusty garage.”

“Why? You think I’m too old to be of any use?” Her father winked at her.

“No. Of course not. It’s just that we — ”

“An hour won’t make that much difference, sweetheart.” Wyatt put his arm around her back.

Her dad grinned. “Great. Where should we go?”

It was Roxy who answered the question. “I know a place. It’s called Matty’s Cottage. It’s not far from here.” She glanced at Wyatt, then at Elena. “Do you remember Myra Adams? Her younger brother owns it. Myra took me there right after I came back from Nashville. The food was delicious, and the place is unique. You’ll

see what I mean. I remember her saying they serve an all-you-can- eat Sunday brunch.”

“Sounds good to me.” Wyatt nodded.

Her father’s reply was equally approving. “Terrific. Let’s give it a try.”

Resentment twisted in Elena’s belly. It was as if she hadn’t spoken. The days seemed to be evaporating. There were countless things that had to be done before she and Wyatt moved and not enough hours to accomplish it all. But her opinions were, yet again, trumped by Roxy’s wishes.

Wasn’t that always the way of it?

She drew a breath and feigned a smile. Just yesterday she’d decided her attitude must change. She would be kinder, more patient, less irritable. Now that decision was being tested. So help her, she wouldn’t let her sister sabotage her resolve.

It took less than fifteen minutes to drive from the church to the restaurant. Elena resisted the urge to remind Wyatt a second time how much work lay ahead of them. Instead, she asked for his thoughts on the morning’s sermon. That was a safe topic, one unlikely to cause them to disagree.

Matty’s Cottage didn’t look like anything special from the outside, but as soon as Elena and the others walked through the entrance, she realized Roxy hadn’t exaggerated when she called it unique. It had loads of charm. The hostess seated them in the library, three walls lined with tall cherrywood bookshelves filled with old books. One large window afforded a view of the foothills. After a quick perusal of the menu, they opted for the breakfast buffet.

“You can help yourselves whenever you like,” the waitress said. “You’ll find the buffet in the formal dining room.” She pointed as she spoke.

After filling their plates from the many delicious choices — salmon, sausage, omelets, cheeses, fresh fruit, breads, cakes, waffles — the foursome returned to the library. As they ate, the conversation moved from Wyatt’s excitement about attending New Covenant to Burke Department Stores business to Wyatt and Ele- na’s discussion of that morning’s sermon at Believers Hillside.

It was then the first glimmer of trouble arose.

“I listened to you sing during worship, Roxy.” Wyatt speared a bite of sausage with his fork.

Elena stiffened.

“You should join the praise team. Greg Cooper would love it if you did. Greg’s the director of worship ministries. I can introduce you to him next Sunday.”

Roxy’s gaze flicked to Elena, then away. “I don’t think I’m . . . ready to do that yet.”

“Why not? God’s given you a wonderful gift. You should use it for Him.”

“I . . . I think I need time to grow in my faith before I sing on a stage again. Besides, everyone on the praise team has known the Lord a long time, I’m sure.”

Wyatt shook his head. “Growing in faith is important, but it doesn’t have anything to do with your ability to praise God with your talents. You can and should do that from the start.”

“Wyatt.” Elena touched his arm. “She isn’t ready. Let it be.”

He frowned. “You should encourage her.” He tipped his head toward Roxy. “She belongs on the praise team. Have you listened to her?”

Elena envisioned her sister standing on the platform, eyes closed, arms raised, mouth open in song. She imagined a hush washing over the congregation as they listened . . . and she knew.

People would love Roxy.

They would compliment her on her voice and tell her how beautiful she was. And that’s exactly why Roxy singing would be like the Israelites returning to worship the idols of Egypt! It was dangerous. Why didn’t Wyatt see that?

“I’m not ready,” Roxy agreed. “Singing brought me too much heartache.”

Wyatt pushed his plate toward the center of the table, as if he’d lost his appetite. “Well, think about it, anyway.”

Elena was thankful when her father brought up another topic, and she hoped that was the end of it.

But deep inside, she knew better.

She knew it was just the beginning . . .

=

Wyatt held his concern in as long as he could. But as soon as Elena slid onto the passenger seat of his car, he turned to her. “Why don’t you want Roxy to sing on the praise team?”

Her face paled.

“Elena, they operate as a small group in addition to leading worship on Sundays. They do Bible studies. They pray together. Roxy could make new friends and begin to feel like a part of the church. She would find encouragement there. It would be good for her.”

The color came back, infusing Elena’s cheeks. “Why do you care so much about what my sister does or doesn’t do?”

“You shouldn’t have to ask that.” “I’m asking anyway.”

“Elena, she’s
family
.” Frustration caused his voice to rise. “She’s

my sister in Christ, and once you and I are married, she’ll be my sister-in-law. Of
course
I care what she does.”

Elena turned her head, looking out the passenger window, her arms crossed over her chest. Body language said it all.

Rather than say something he would regret, Wyatt turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the Matty’s Cottage parking lot. During the drive to Elena’s house, he made a few stabs at silent prayer, but it was a one-sided conversation, him telling God all the reasons he had for being angry with his fiancée, justifying his foul mood.

Once his car was stopped in her driveway, he drew a deep, calming breath. “I’m tired of us fighting.”

“So am I.” She didn’t look at him.

“Elena, did you discourage Roxy from singing? The reasons she gave for not joining the praise team. Were those things you’ve told her?”

Her lips pressed together in a thin, stubborn line. When had her features grown so rigid? Her stance so unyielding? Where was the tenderhearted woman he loved so much?

He drew another breath. “Are you punishing your sister because she and I used to be a couple?”

“A
couple
?” At last Elena met his gaze, and the emotions burn-

ing behind her eyes astonished him. “You were
more
than a couple. You were . . . you were
lovers
.”

What could he say? It was true. But that was a long time ago. The feelings he once had for Roxy no longer seemed like his own. They were foreign and distant, more shadow than reality. He’d matured and so had his love.

Elena gripped her hands in her lap. “Do you know how Roxy lived in Nashville? We can all guess. She doesn’t need to tell us the details. You could see it on her face when she got back.” She laughed, the harsh sound scraping his nerves. “She lived wild for

years. You
know
what that does to a person. But you and Dad sweep it all away as if nothing happened.”

Where was all this coming from? These spiteful words and the fierce anger that sparked in her eyes? This woman was nothing like the person he’d grown to love. This woman he didn’t recognize.

She went on, her tone growing even sharper. “Sweet, dear, dar- ling little Roxy. Everybody loves her. We all missed her so much. It doesn’t matter what she did while she was gone. We’ll make things easy for her now that she’s back. Heaven forbid she face conse- quences for her behavior.”

“Elena, this isn’t like you. Think about what you’re saying.”

She shoved open the car door. “I’ve thought about it. I’ve thought of little else.” She got out of the car, then leaned down to look at him. “You don’t love me, Wyatt. You’re still in love with Roxy.” She pulled the engagement ring off her finger and held it out to him. “I think we’d better call off the wedding.”

“Are you
crazy
?” How could this be happening? “Elena, I

wouldn’t have asked you to marry me if I loved someone else.”

She set the diamond ring on the dash. “You’re wrong.” She straightened and hurried into her house.

Wyatt stared at the front door. He replayed the past hour in his mind. What could he have said differently? What should he have done differently? Elena hadn’t been happy since Roxy came home. He’d known she felt some insecurities, but he never guessed she felt like this.

God, what just happened here?

He picked up the diamond ring from the dashboard, holding it between thumb and index finger, watching the small stone catch and reflect the sunlight as he turned it.