Tumbleweed Weddings (43 page)

He chuckled. “Yeah, all the restaurants and bars do a hopping business on Saturday night, even in the winter.” He cut the engine. “Let me get your door.”

Tonya waited while he circled the car. She thought of the easy camaraderie they shared. She was beginning to like Murray—way more than she should. Wasn’t Poe the one for her?

He helped her out, and the cold air smacked Tonya as she exited. She wore her winter coat over her jeans and T-shirt, but she couldn’t get her left arm in the sleeve with her cast, so her coat was unbuttoned.

“This sidewalk is icy, so be careful.” Murray breathed out white clouds in the frosty air as he spoke.

She smiled. “I’ll be fine, Murray. My arm is broken, not my leg.”

“I know.” He grinned. “I just don’t want any more accidents.”

As they began walking, Tonya reached to pull her coat closed with her right hand. “It’s freezing out here.” Thick snowflakes floated down and landed on her hand. If only she’d thought to wear gloves.

Murray stuck his hands in his jacket pockets. “I’m sorry, Tonya. I should have dropped you off at the door. I didn’t think about it.”

“Neither did I, but that’s okay.”

On the sidewalk, a tall, thin man ambled toward them. His old overcoat was two sizes too big, and Tonya felt sorry for him.

As he approached, he leered at her with bloodshot eyes. “Hey, gorgeous. How ’bout my place?”

She gasped.

Murray’s arm encircled her waist. “She’s with me, buddy. Move on.”

“Oh yeah, shorty?” A string of profanity spewed from the man’s mouth, along with the foul smell of liquor.

Tonya quickened her steps, hoping the drunk man didn’t follow them.

Murray kept his arm around her waist as he glanced back between them. “Too bad I’m not in uniform. That guy might have thought twice… .” He pulled her closer. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Tonya.”

“It’s all right.” She shivered. “I always thought Douglas was a pretty decent town.”

“Drunks are everywhere. Sin abounds, unfortunately.”

They reached the nursing home, and Murray’s arm slipped off her waist as he opened the door for her. She felt the loss as they entered the warm building.

A tiled walkway led directly to a receptionist’s desk, but on either side were two sitting rooms. The one on the left was decorated as a Victorian parlor, complete with blue-flowered wallpaper and long blue drapes at the windows. A baby grand piano sat in the corner.

Wishing she could play it, Tonya gave a sigh. “That’s a beautiful room.”

Murray raised his eyebrows. “You’ve never been here before?”

“No, and my sister works here. I wonder if she’s working tonight.”

“I’ll ask.” Murray stopped at the desk and nodded a greeting at the dark-haired receptionist. “Hi, Kate. We’re here to see Priscilla Twichell.”

“I just talked to your mom an hour ago.” The woman smiled as she handed Murray a clipboard. “Please sign in. She’ll be glad to see you.”

He signed his name, then handed the clipboard to Tonya. She glanced at his neat, blocky printing, reminding her of those speeding tickets. But for some reason she couldn’t conjure up one spark of anger. She signed her name below his.

Murray handed back the clipboard. “Is Molly Brandt working tonight?” Tonya leaned toward him. “Molly Hunt.”

“Oh, that’s right.” He grinned at her, and she once again noticed his straight white teeth. He looked back at the receptionist. “This is Molly’s sister, Tonya.”

Kate adjusted her glasses. “I see the resemblance.” She opened a folder and perused the paper inside. “No, Molly left at three o’clock, and she won’t be working until Tuesday.”

“Thanks, Kate.” Murray turned to Tonya. “Ready to visit Mom?”

Tonya hadn’t seen Mrs. Twichell for five years, since the woman became a resident at Pine River. Murray’s mom had always been short with red hair. Now her hair was snow white, and her tiny frame was as thin as a skeleton. When they entered her small room, she was sitting on a rocking chair near the bed.

“Hi, Mom!” Murray bent over and gave her a kiss on her cheek.

“Murray, I didn’t know you were coming over this evening.” Mrs. Twichell’s head quivered as she spoke.

“Well, here I am.” Murray motioned toward Tonya. “I brought a visitor.”

Tonya leaned over the older woman and took the fragile hand in her own. “Hi, Mrs. Twichell. Do you remember me?”

“Of course I do, Tonya. Murray told me about the accident. I’m so sorry, dear.”

“Thank you.” As Tonya gazed at the watery blue eyes, she thought of Aggie saying that Murray was the spitting image of Priscilla, and it was true. Same close-set blue eyes, same large nose. Mrs. Twichell was really rather homely, but Tonya had not remembered that. She just remembered the woman’s kindness. Murray’s words pierced her thoughts.
“The thing about beauty is that it’s only skin deep. The real person is inside.”

Tonya smiled. “I’m so glad Murray brought me to visit you.”

“I’ll get a couple chairs.” He disappeared into the hallway.

Mrs. Twichell kept a grip on Tonya’s hand. “Molly keeps me up to date on your family. I was so sorry I couldn’t attend her wedding, but she shared her pictures with me. It was a beautiful wedding.”

“Yes, it was.”

Murray came back with two folding chairs. “Have a seat, Tonya.” He set up a chair for her, then sat on the other one.

Mrs. Twichell watched them get settled. “Molly is the best nurse here, in my opinion.”

“All the nurses here are good.” Murray clasped his hands between his knees. “This is a great nursing home.”

“Yes, but I wish the Lord would just take me home to heaven.” Mrs. Twichell turned to Tonya. “I’m such a burden to Murray.”

“That’s not true, Mom.” He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t talk like that.”

Tonya nodded. “I’m sure he’s thankful you’re still here for him.”

“That’s right. If it wasn’t for you, Mom, I wouldn’t have any family at all except for the Hunts. But I don’t see them very often.”

Tonya thought about Murray living alone in his parents’ big, drafty house. Poe lived alone, too. She had such a big family; she couldn’t even imagine living alone.

An hour passed quickly as they talked about Tonya’s family, the church at Fort Lob, and years gone by. Several times Mrs. Twichell’s thin knee would begin to shake, slowly at first and then more violently. The first time it happened, Tonya was alarmed. But Murray put a restraining hand on his mother’s knee, and the shaking slowed.

Finally Murray glanced at his watch. “We’d better go, Mom. Why don’t we pray with you before we leave?”

“Please do.” Mrs. Twichell reached out her left hand and grabbed Tonya’s good hand. She slipped her other hand in Murray’s.

He glanced at Tonya, then looked down at her cast. “Okay. Let’s pray.”

As Tonya bowed her head, she felt Murray place his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into an intimate circle. Listening to his baritone in her ear gave her a feeling of peace and protection. Tears touched her eyes. Murray was a good son to his mom. A good son and a wonderful man.

Murray relaxed as he drove Tonya home. Besides that miserable drunk excuse of a man, this had been a good visit. He hoped Tonya was by his side many times when he visited his mom. Hopefully she’d be by his side the rest of his life.

“I’m surprised you didn’t want to stay longer.” Tonya smiled at him. “I really enjoyed getting to know your mom again.”

“You can come with me anytime, Tonya. I just figured you’d want to get home at nine o’clock so you can instant message.”

She frowned. “How did you know about that?”

Oops! Just blew my cover!
“Um, don’t you IM every evening with your secret admirer?”

“Did Derek tell you that?”

Murray wished he could blame Derek, but he couldn’t. “No … Poe told me.”

Tonya gasped. “Murray! You know who Poe is?”

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

Leaning across the seat, she placed her right hand on his arm. “Who is he, Murray? Please tell me.”

Murray glanced into her beautiful dark-blue eyes. Her face was only inches away, and he wished he weren’t driving. If only he could take her into his arms. If only he could tell her who he really was. If only she would respond ecstatically.

With a sigh, he looked back at the road. “Sorry, only Poe can tell you who he is. It wouldn’t be fair to him if I told you.”

She moved back into her seat, and he felt the loss of her warmth. “Okay then. If you can’t tell me who he is, can you tell me what he looks like?”

He glanced at her. “What does that matter?”

“Murray …” She leaned toward him again. “Is Poe deformed in some way?”

Deformed?
“Not that I know of. Why would you ask?”

“Well, he said … oh never mind.” She sat back. “He looks normal?”

Murray grinned. “As normal as anyone else I know.”

She sat back with a sigh. “That’s good. I was willing to accept the hunchback of Notre Dame if necessary, but I’m thankful he’s not deformed.”

Hmm … Must have been that “seven shades of ugly” description
. Murray glanced at her. “So you really like this guy?”

She smiled. “Poe and I are of one heart and mind. We love each other.”

“You love him?” Murray’s head spun. Tonya had never said those words to Poe.

“I think so, but I want to find out who he is before I say anything.” She frowned at him. “Please don’t tell him.”

“I won’t, but how can you fall in love with someone just by exchanging e-mail letters over the Internet?”

“It can happen. Like Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning.” Tonya turned toward him. “You’ve heard of the Brownings, haven’t you?”

“Uh, poets?”

She laughed. “Murray, you’re so clueless. Yes, of course they’re poets. Poe and I both love poetry and music. We picked out our very own song, and now I’m composing a song for him.”

“You are?” Murray raised his eyebrows.

Tonya placed her finger over her lips. “Shhh. Keep it to yourself. I want it to be a surprise.”

It won’t be now!

She looked down at her cast. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to play it for a few weeks, so I’m taking my time with the composition.”

“So what’s your ‘very own song’ that you two picked out together?”

“It’s called ‘When I Fall in Love, It Will Be Forever.’ Have you heard of it?”

“Yeah.” Murray motioned toward the radio/CD player. “I have an orchestra version of it on CD.”

“You’re kidding!” Tonya stared at the radio. “Could you play it for me?”

“Sure.” Leaning over, he pushed the S
ELECTION
button to number seventeen. “This is just the music. Want me to sing it for you?”

“Yes please! That would be wonderful.” With a smile Tonya settled back in her seat and closed her eyes. “I haven’t heard this song in years.”

Good thing I practiced!
Murray glanced at her beautiful face as the orchestra played the introduction. If he weren’t driving, he could gaze at her during the entire song. But a glance now and then would have to suffice.

He waited for the intro, then began to sing. “When I fall in love, it will be forever …”

Tonya gave a happy sigh.

If only that sigh were for him.

T
onya:
I found out that Murray Twichell knows who you are
.

She pushed the R
ETURN
button, wishing she could type with more than one finger.

But their visit to the nursing home that evening was beginning to bother her. Not the long drive with Murray, and not the visit with his mom. Even their discussion about Poe didn’t bother her. What bothered her were the emotions that pierced her heart when Murray sang.

It would be so easy to fall in love with that man.

Murray had a magnificent voice, but that wasn’t the only thing Tonya now loved about him. She loved the way he prayed. She loved his strong hands with the square nails, and she loved the dark beard beneath his skin and his straight white teeth. She even loved his blue eyes.