Route 66 Reunions (33 page)

“No, he doesn’t.” Her voice caught, and Kevin felt the stirrings of compassion begin when the phone rang.

“Would you get that?” She jumped up and headed toward the door. “I’ll be right back.”

Kevin lifted the receiver. “John Parker’s office. Th—”

The caller cut him off before he could give his name. “Mr. Parker, this is Sarah Maddox. I represent Merilee’s Home, which is a home for young girls who desperately need our help. Many girls have turned their lives and the lives of their babies around through the efforts of this work, and now their home is being threatened. In approximately two months, wreckers will begin to tear down the building where they live. You have contributed before to this worthy cause, and we are asking you to again dig deep to help these girls. On Saturday evening, May fourteenth, we will be holding a fund-raising banquet to help pay for the move being forced on those who live in Marilee’s Home.”

Kevin leaned back in Parker’s chair and listened to Sarah’s voice as she gave her spiel to the wrong man. Should he set her straight? Naw, why bother? She’d just blame him for interfering.

“So can we count on you and your wife attending the banquet?” Sarah finally ran down and waited for his answer.

Keeping it short, Kevin deepened his voice so she wouldn’t recognize him. “I’ll do my best.”

“Some who are unable to attend have promised a donation. Of course we would much prefer meeting you in person and giving you the opportunity to hear of the successes of our work, but anything you can do will be greatly appreciated.” She sounded desperate.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.” Kevin hung up before he said something that would give him away. He had the time and place written down. Now he’d make a note for Mr. Parker.

Valerie slipped through the door just as he stuck the note on top of the pile on his boss’s desk. “Was that call important?”

He grinned at her. “Not another job if that’s what you’re worried about. Just someone wanting a contribution.”

When Sarah opened the door two weeks later to a bouquet of roses and Harold’s best smile, she should have known something was up. When he took her to Willis Tower Skydeck, where they could look down at the beautiful lights of the city set against the black night, she should have slipped away and called a cab. But she didn’t. Instead she fell into the mood he created. After all, she didn’t get dressed up and go out on the town every night. She liked being pursued, and Harold had pursuing down to an art.

Then the waiter brought dessert. Cheesecake chimichanga and chocolate pudding.

“Oh Harold, I don’t know if I can eat another thing.” Sarah spread her fingers across her waist for emphasis.

He smiled at her. “This has no calories and it’s very good. I know you like chocolate. Try some for me.”

Harold had impeccable manners, so Sarah’s eyes widened when he reached across the table and picked up her fork. He dipped it in her pudding and held the offering in front of her mouth. “Here, just take this at least.”

Sarah pulled back. “There’s something on the end of the fork.”

When Harold didn’t move but continued to watch her, she looked at the fork again. How could something have gotten into dessert here? It looked metal, like someone’s ring caught on the end of her fork. No, that couldn’t happen. She lifted her gaze back to Harold’s.

He looked into her eyes. “Sarah, take it from the fork. Please say yes.”

“Yes?” Her throat constricted. What did he mean? She plucked the ring from its bed of chocolate and dropped it on her napkin. She quickly wiped her fingers and the ring, then left it lying on the napkin and clasped her trembling hands in her lap.

The white gold ring sported a cluster of diamonds with two small diamonds on either side. Sarah stared at it as if it might crawl to the edge of the table and fall into her hands, or even worse, slide onto her finger. Third finger, left hand. An engagement ring. Why hadn’t she seen this coming? Even more important, what should she do about Harold and his ring? She made the mistake of looking at him and reading the uncertainty in his eyes.

“Oh Harold.” She barely choked out those two words.

He placed the fork on her plate. “Don’t make a decision now. I took you by surprise. I thought the way you and Katie were getting along…You’re good for her, Sarah. Will you do me a favor?”

She nodded, just becoming aware other diners had picked up on the drama unfolding at their table. The waiter, hovering in the area, turned and walked away as if he were disappointed. How could she not do whatever Harold asked after spoiling his wonderful proposal?

“Will you please take the ring home with you and keep it until you know for sure what your answer is?” He slipped a jeweler’s box across the table.

She nodded and nestled the ring into its red velvet bed, snapped the box closed, and dropped it into her purse. As if by mutual agreement, Sarah and Harold rose and left their uneaten cheesecake sitting on the table.

Several minutes later, Harold walked Sarah to her door, and she lifted her lips for a chaste kiss, then turned and went inside alone. She watched through the living room window as Harold returned to his car, but she saw Kevin in her mind, and her heart felt as if it might break into a million pieces.

She turned from the window, dug the ring box from her handbag, tossed it on the coffee table, and hurried from the room.

One week later, Kevin drove home from a business trip with barely enough time to shower and dress for Sarah’s banquet. He whistled a tune as he jogged toward his car. The convention hall’s lot was nearly full. He hoped that meant the home would reach their goal.

A young girl handed him a program at the door and took his sizeable donation. Another escorted him to one of many small tables covered with white linen. A vase of flowers adorned the center of each table. He would have preferred sitting with Sarah, but he sat in the remaining chair and spoke to his dinner companions, a single woman and an older couple who looked to be in their fifties. They said they’d helped get Marilee’s Home started twenty years ago.

“They’ve done a lot of good for these girls.” The woman glanced across the room.

Kevin followed her gaze and saw Sarah talking with a young woman. As he watched, she moved to a center table and stood behind it, waiting until the buzz of conversation in the room grew quiet. “Good evening. I’m Sarah Maddox, chairman of the board at Marilee’s Home. I’d like to welcome you tonight and thank you for coming. Reverend Beam from St. Paul’s Community Church has graciously consented to offer the blessing over our food.”

A tall gray-haired man stood, and Kevin bowed his head with everyone else while the man prayed. After that, waitresses wheeled carts to the tables and put plates in front of each guest. Thinly sliced beef roast smothered in brown gravy dominated the meal with creamy mashed potatoes and green beans nestled to the side. The enticing aroma stirred Kevin’s appetite, until he noticed Sarah’s dinner companion.

The possessive Dr. Jenson had somehow weaseled his way into the chair beside her. Kevin refused to let the stuffed shirt across the room ruin his enjoyment of the evening, however. He cut a small section of meat and turned his attention to his food and Mrs. Burns, the single lady beside him who could probably keep the conversation going without any help. In fact, between her and the other lady, Kevin figured his nod and occasional smile convinced them he listened.

Truthfully, he paid little attention to them, and he scarcely listened to the speeches following dinner. Even Sarah’s speech didn’t impress him nearly as much as watching the animation on her face and the movement of her lips while she talked. He figured he could watch Sarah and listen to the sound of her voice all night without growing bored. He tried to compare her with Valerie Parker and came up empty. There could be no comparison of two women who were so different. Besides, he didn’t want to think of Valerie. She had been seeking him out more each week, almost as if she was pursuing him. He blocked her from his mind and focused on Sarah. Then Sarah sat down, and the young woman she’d been talking to before dinner stood in her place.

“Hi, I’m Kaitlin Rosaro, and I’m a former resident of Marilee’s Home.” She went on to tell the familiar story of a teenage girl who thought she was in love. “But he didn’t love me.” Her dark brown eyes clouded as she spoke. “When I told him, he said he couldn’t take care of a wife and a baby. He walked away while I took the responsibility for our mistake. Maybe I could have made it if I’d had the support of a family, but my mom died when I was twelve. My dad never stayed home. I thought about getting rid of the baby, but I couldn’t. When my dad found out, he got mad. To make a long story short, he kicked me out of the house. I stayed with friends. A night here and a night there until their folks got tired of too many overnights. That’s when I heard about Marilee’s Home. I applied for the program and moved in within a couple of days.”

Kaitlin continued her story, telling how she finished high school at Marilee’s Home while she worked part-time. Of how she’d gone on to college and now worked as a high school counselor, trying to help other girls avoid the mistakes she had made. For the first time that evening, Kevin listened, really listened to one of the speakers. He listened to Kaitlin, but he thought of Sarah. What would she have done if her parents had kicked her out after he walked away? Only he hadn’t walked away until she got angry and refused to speak to him. Then he’d let his parents pressure him into turning away from Sarah. He’d even dated other girls, while Sarah grew big with the burden of their son. Remorse for his unconcern swept over him, as he finally understood why Marilee’s Home was so important to Sarah.

Love for the wonderful woman Sarah had become filled Kevin’s heart, and he knew he had to see her again soon. More than anything he wanted to spend time with her, be with her, and listen to her talk. Watch her smile. Feel her happiness. Experience the inner joining of their spirits as their love returned and grew beyond the limitations of their youth.

The program ended and Kevin stood. He shook hands with those at his table, eager to get to Sarah’s side. As soon as possible, he hurried to the head table where Sarah stood talking to a couple of women. Her boyfriend stood so close to her, they almost touched. The doctor thought he had a prior claim on Sarah? Too bad. Kevin waited until the women turned away, then he stepped forward.

“Good program, Sarah.” He ignored the doctor.

“Kevin.” Her eyes lit up for a moment. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Oh really?” He smiled. “I received a special invitation and couldn’t resist.”

“How nice.”

He loved watching the confusion in her beautiful blue eyes. “Yes, a lovely lady called me at Parker Enterprises. Of course, she called me Mr. Parker, but I know she wanted me to come. Don’t you think so, Sarah?”

Kevin knew the second Sarah understood from the expression in her eyes. “That was you on the phone? Why didn’t you tell me?”

He laughed. “I tried. You kept talking, so I kept quiet.”

“But Mr. Parker is one of our larger contributors.” Her voice rose.

Kevin nodded toward the far side of the room. “Don’t worry, he’s here. I’m sure he made a good-sized donation.”

Dr. Jenson had been quietly waiting. Now he slipped his hand around Sarah’s waist and spoke. “Is there anything we should be doing, Sarah?”

Before she could answer, Kevin said, “Oh don’t mind me. I’m leaving.” He regained Sarah’s attention. “Tomorrow night we’re going out on the town. Wear old clothes. Blue jeans and a T-shirt would be perfect.”

He could have sworn under oath he saw smoke rise from Jenson’s ears. Just to make sure, he added, “This fascination you’ve developed for the Mother Road is catching. You know there’s a bike trail on the old road. I’ve lived along Route 66 all my life and pretty well ignored it. Now I’m finding there’s more to the road than I ever knew.”

Kevin smirked at the doctor before giving Sarah a wink. “Yep, a bike ride at night on the Mother Road should satisfy those romantic notions you get. Be ready at seven.”

He didn’t give either of them a chance to respond as he turned and walked out of the meeting room.