Tender Love (5 page)

But despite her qualms, when Mark came downstairs, she went with him to the backyard. He cleaned the lounge chairs with a cloth, and when she was seated, he stretched out on the chair beside her, breathing deeply.

“Wow! It's good to relax. I didn't even take time for lunch today at the office, and thank you for the good meal tonight. After fasting all day, I really enjoyed it. You're a good cook, Alice. You must have had lots of experience.”

“My mother taught me and my sister to cook when we were girls, and I did several 4-H projects on foods and nutrition, so I started at an early age.” She didn't mention that after her marriage, they'd kept the same cook John had employed when he was a widower.

“Besides the work at the bank, the care of the kids almost overwhelms me at time. I had no idea the kind of burden a single parent carries, and sometimes I blush in shame when I realize how blithely I used to counsel single parents.”

“But you're a good father, Mark—you've done well with your children.”

She saw him shake his head in the semidarkness, and a lock of hair fell over his forehead. “No, I'm not really. I'm neglecting some of the most important things they need to know.”

She wondered if he referred to his lack of spiritual training. They were sitting close enough that Alice could have reached out and touched his arm in encouragement, but she refrained.

“It takes time, Mark. It's only been six months.”

“I keep telling myself that, and months before Clarice's death, she wasn't able to deal with the children's problems. I shielded her as much as possible.” He sighed. “But I don't find it as overwhelming as I did a few months ago. It's taking time to deal with my hang-ups, but I'm working on it.” He took a deep breath. “Thanks for listening to me, Alice. I'm probably imposing on you, but it's been a long since I've had an adult to listen to me. A minister needs someone at home to support him, because he's usually giving of himself all day. Even though I'm not working with a church congregation as I used to do, I'm a counselor at the bank, and I still have to deal with other people's problems.”

“When are you intending to take another church?” Alice dared to ask.

“I don't know, Alice—I really don't know what to do.”

The rest of the week, as soon as Eddie was settled in, it seemed natural for Mark and Alice to seek the peace and comfort of the patio. Alice excused her actions by believing it was a good time to discuss her rehab program for Eddie and to talk of Kristin's maturation, but she knew those weren't the only reasons she wanted to be in Mark's company. Some
times they didn't talk much, but Alice felt that the times of silence were good for him. After being with people all day, he didn't need to talk—he only needed a companion.

And her work with Eddie had resulted in some progress. After one day of whining, Eddie learned to do a few things for himself. He walked slowly up and down stairs by himself, he went to the bathroom unattended, and Alice showed him how to straighten his bedsheets and cover them with a spread. Every morning, after he'd eaten his breakfast, she walked with him around the neighborhood streets, increasing the distance each day.

When he dozed over his food one night at dinner, Mark gazed at him in concern, but he offered no complaint to Alice.

 

Parents were invited to the closing exercises at the camp on Friday evening, and Mark arranged to leave work a few hours early on that day to attend.

“I'd like for you to go with me, Alice, unless you have other plans for tonight,” Mark had said as he picked up his briefcase that morning and started to work.

This isn't wise, Alice cautioned herself mentally, but she heard herself saying, “I'll be happy to go— I'm eager to find out how Kristin enjoyed herself.” She had a giddy sense of excitement as she helped Eddie dress, and later as she looked in the closet to choose her own garments. She'd mostly worn jeans and sweatshirts since she'd come to Richmond, but she chose a white cotton knit skirt styled with a self-sash, a multistitched elasticized waist, and inseam pockets. She pulled a blouse of cream fabric with an
overall floral pattern over her head. Her long blond hair was brushed backward, and secured with a barrette. She strapped on a pair of white leather sandals and thought she looked well-groomed for a trip to camp.

Alice prepared dinner early, and she ate with Gran and Eddie before Mark came home. She wrapped a plate of food with foil and kept it warm for him in the oven.

“Oh, you didn't need to do that, Alice,” Mark protested. “I often miss a meal.”

“Which you shouldn't,” she said. “Take time to eat, while I put the dishes and pans in the dishwasher.” She was sure Mark had gained a few pounds, and she wanted to continue the trend until he looked more like the man in the picture she often looked at on the living room mantel.

He laid his briefcase and coat aside, washed his hands in the utility room, and sat down at the table.

“I'm imposing on you, Alice, and I shouldn't do it, but I make so many decisions that it's occasionally nice for someone to just tell me what to do.”

By now, Alice had learned Mark's dietary habits. She took a salad from the refrigerator and placed it before him with a bottle of Italian dressing. She poured chilled tea over a glass of ice cubes and dropped in a sliver of lemon. When he finished with the salad, she handed him the warm plate of baked turkey, potato cakes and green peas.

“I didn't prepare dessert, for I think they'll serve ice cream to everybody at the camp.”

Mark didn't voice any further appreciation, but it was reward enough for Alice to see him enjoying his
meal while he looked over the front page of the newspaper that she'd laid by his plate.

 

While she secured Eddie in the back seat of Mark's station wagon, Alice suppressed a sense of excitement, reminding herself that she wasn't a girl going on a first date. She was a nanny now, and her role was to look after Mark Tanner's children, not fancy that he'd invited her because he wanted her company; but she had trouble remembering that when she listened to Mark, who was an engaging conversationalist.

“This reminds me of old times,” he said, as they left Richmond on I-64. “I used to direct a camp every summer, usually for boys in their early teens. It was a rewarding experience, and I've missed it.”

“I often camped when I was a girl. We lived on a farm, and I went to 4-H camps more often than to church camps, and I loved them.”

“What about family, Alice? Do you still have your parents?”

“Yes, they live in a retirement community now, but the farm is still in the family, and my aunt and uncle are the tenants. I have a sister, too, who's divorced with two children, so I have some understanding of what's it's like to be a single parent.”

“My parents live in Tennessee,” Mark said, “and we don't see them often. They own a business in a small town, and they can't get away very often. They were here six months ago for the—” he paused and looked over his shoulder at Eddie “—the funeral,” he continued. “They feel badly that they aren't close enough to help out with the kids, and I did consider moving back to my hometown, so I could have some
help. But I have to stay in a metropolitan area to make the money I need right now.”

Seeing that Eddie was getting fidgety, Alice said, “Let's play a game, Eddie.”

“We can't play a game in the car.”

“Oh, it's a travel game. You count the number of animals you see in the fields on the left-hand side of the road, and I'll count the ones I see on my side. We'll get a point for each animal. How far can you count?”

“I can count up to twenty. Kristin taught me.”

“Then, as long as there aren't more than twenty in any field, you have it made.”

Alice fished a small notebook out of her purse. “I'll keep score.”

Mark entered into the spirit of the game, and since Eddie was too short to see what they were approaching, he would call out, “Coming up on the left—look quickly.”

“Hey!” Alice protested in mock reproof after a few miles. “Two against one isn't fair.”

“Oh, stop complaining,” Mark said. “Coming up on the right—a large herd of cattle. Start counting.”

Laughing, Alice counted, “One, two, three…” By the time they reached the camp, she and Eddie were neck and neck in total points. As he drove into the parking lot, Mark said, “I don't know why I haven't thought of something like that. Eddie has never been a good traveler.”

“Most children aren't, I understand,” she answered. “He didn't enjoy his trip to the camp on Monday.”

“No, Ethel said he was listless.”

Well, thanks, Ethel.
Apparently she'd reported ev
erything to Mark. Alice wasn't aware that she contacted him in the evening, so she must have telephoned him at the bank.

Kristin and Susie raced to meet them when they approached the council circle where the closing program was to be held. One look at Kristin's tanned face and the delight that flamed from her blue eyes repaid Alice for the money she'd spent on the child.
If only she had the right to give this family everything they needed!

Mark knelt and took Kristin in his arms. “Well, honey, have you had a good time?”

“Yes, Daddy, and I want to come back next year. We've been horseback riding, swimming and hiking. But the food hasn't been very good.” She turned to Alice. “I've missed your good meals. If it hadn't been for the snacks I bought, I'd have gone to bed hungry every night.” Worry crossed her face. “I've spent almost all of that twenty dollars you gave me.”

From his kneeling position, Mark flashed a quick look toward Alice, and in spite of herself, her face grew warm.

“I want to ride horses, too,” Eddie said. “Why can't I come to camp?”

“You're too little, Eddie,” his sister said bossily. “But there is a family camp—we could come as a family sometime,” she said hopefully.

“We'll plan on that for next year,” Mark said, as he stood up.

“Hey, Brother Tanner,” a man's voice sounded, and soon Mark was surrounded by several men—some embraced him, others thumped him on the shoulder. “We've missed seeing you at our ministerial meetings.”

It occurred to Alice that these men had known Mark when he was serving at Tyler Memorial Church. As they continued toward the campfire burning in the distance, one older man, whom Mark had introduced as “Reverend Astor, my friend and mentor,” walked beside Mark, who was leading Eddie. Alice moved forward to join Susie and Kristin, as both of them talked at the same time about the incidents they'd enjoyed during the week. Although she didn't intend to eavesdrop, she couldn't avoid hearing the conversation behind her.

“Brother Mark,” the man said, “it's a great disappointment to me that you've forsaken the ministry. Have you forgotten the promise you made to serve our Lord with your life? Surely you aren't happy rejecting your divine calling.”

Mark didn't answer at first, and Alice envisioned wrinkles creasing his brow, the bleak look in his eyes and a rigid cast on his lips—expressions she'd noticed a few times when he didn't think anyone was looking.

“You know why I had to resign from the pastorate. My wife was dying, and at that point, I believed my priority was my family, rather than my church.”

“I agree with that, and it was noble of you to sacrifice your career for your family. But what about now? I've had several churches inquire about you and would willingly call you to become their leader.”

“I've had churches contact me, but not one of them can come close to paying me the salary I'm receiving at the bank. And I'm not being mercenary—I've never demanded anything from a church—but my debts have accumulated to such an
extent that if I don't pay them, I'll have to declare bankruptcy and end up losing our home.”

“It's obvious to me, Mark, that you're placing your trust in the wrong security. You've been a pastor long enough to know that God meets the needs of His people. Trust Him for the future, not the security of a large salary.”

Bitterly, Mark said, “I trusted Him for everything, but when He forgot Mark Tanner and his family, I had to turn elsewhere.”

Over the girls' chatter, Alice heard an audible moan from Reverend Astor. “If I hadn't heard it from your own mouth, I wouldn't believe you made that statement. Don't let your troubles overwhelm you.”

“I'm sorry,” Mark said, “I don't know why I said such a thing—I really don't believe it. It's just that I'm having trouble coping with my own life right now, and I don't believe I'm capable of dealing with the needs of a church congregation.”

Reverend Astor put his arms around Mark's shoulders. “I know you've had a difficult time, Mark, but you'll come out of it a better man. Remember Job's example. He had a lot of trouble, but he kept his faith in God's goodness through it all.”

“My friend, I've read the book of Job so much in the last two years that those pages in my Bible are almost threadbare. There's hardly a day, I haven't voiced Job's words, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

“God bless you, Mark,” Reverend Astor said. “I'll continue to keep you in my prayers.”

When Mark again walked by Alice's side, in a low
voice, he said, “I suppose you heard the raking over the coals I just had.”

Alice nodded. “I couldn't keep from hearing. I'm sorry, Mark—try to forget it. Be happy for Kristin tonight.”

“I can't forget it. I know I'm not fulfilling God's will for my life, and it's making me miserable.”

His eyes mirrored the anguish reflected in his words, and in spite of herself, Alice lifted a hand and touched his cheek. “One of my grandfather's favorite sayings was, ‘The sky is the darkest just before the dawn.' Dawn will come for you before long.”