Winter in Full Bloom (22 page)

I turned on the engine. “Maybe now that you’re here, it will be the impetus she needs to take a good look at the past, to see the truth. Maybe light can come to this dark gray forest after all.”

Camille’s shoulders drooped. “It would take a miracle.”

“She did ask us to visit again. I was surprised about that.”

“I don’t know, Lily. You want this so badly… all this reconciliation and restoration. But I’m just glad to have a sister. It might be too much trouble to make Mrs. Gray come around. And too much pain.” Camille rubbed her stomach. “Speaking of pain, I don’t feel that well. I need to go to bed when we get home. Must be traveler’s malaise.”

I reached over and felt her forehead. “No fever. That’s good. We’ll get you right to bed with some chicken soup.”

“Thanks.”

I grinned. “Since Julie’s gone it’s nice to have someone to pamper. But I’m sorry you don’t feel well. I’ll get you fixed up. No worries.”

Camille smiled at my attempt to sound like an Aussie.

“I’m not worried. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder how I managed without a sister all these years.” Her eyes and voice softened into earnestness. “Say, you know that day on the tram when you showed up, running after me?”

“How could I ever forget it?” I grinned.

“Well, I’d just prayed … an hour before … that if my life wasn’t going in the right direction, that God would rescue me from myself. That He would provide me a way out of the life I’d created. And then there you were.”

“I’m glad I was there. I’ve needed you my whole life and never even knew it.”

She chuckled.

I gave her hand a squeeze and then said, “Say, I didn’t know you had a degree in botany.”

“There’s still a lot you don’t know about me. But I’m sure I will tell all … in good time.”

I guess Camille didn’t know all my secrets either, but hopefully we’d have lots of moments in the future to pick through the old trunks of our pasts.

After I drove Camille back to my house and got her all snug in bed and sipping on a mug of chicken soup, she patted my hand and singsonged, “Okay, Mommy, you’ve done your best.”

I grinned at her reference to me as mom. “Do you need anything else?”

“Yes, I do. I want you to go visit Marcus. He’s probably at his hotel, watching reruns of some awful reality TV show and bored out of his mind, counting the minutes until he can have dinner with you tonight.”

“It still amazes me that he followed behind us so quickly.”

“Handle him with care,” Camille said. “It must be very serious on his part if he couldn’t do without you for a few hours.”

“I missed him too.”

“Well then, I expect to be a maid of honor soon.”

“Whoa.” I laughed. “I think we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves here, but thanks for your confidence.”

“One more thing.” Camille went somber on me. “Maybe I’m becoming a worrywart like you, but—”

“Hey—”

“Now, now.” She held up her hands. “I don’t mean that in a bad way, but I hope you don’t ruin your chances with Marcus.”

“Why would I do that?”

“I don’t know.” Camille shrugged. “If I say it out loud it might sound silly, but okay … well, when an eagle loses a feather on one side of its wings, it drops a feather on the other side. Sort of a balancing act. It just happens. One of the mysteries of nature.”

“Obviously, you must have a deeper meaning here.”

“I hope since I lost Jerald that you won’t somehow lose Marcus.” She gave her head a little shake. “I told you it would sound silly. I’m just afraid you might do something, even if it’s subconsciously, that might make Marcus go away … you know, in an effort to make me feel less lonely or—”

“Please don’t think that. I’m plenty selfish enough that I wouldn’t break things off with Marcus to make you feel better about Jerald. We’re fine. I promise.”

“Good honest answer. I’m glad to hear it. So, in that case, go, Lily.” Camille shooed me. “Go put him out of his misery, and go have a good time. You always look like you’re in need of a fun day.”

“Are you sure you’re not just trying to get rid of me so you can polish off the last of the cookie dough ice cream in the freezer?”

“What? You’ve got cookie dough?”

“The good kind.” I smiled. “It’s yours if you want it.”

“Okay, thanks. But go.”

I went to the bedroom door and turned back. “You have my number if you need me. I’ll have my cell phone right with me, so—”

“Gooo, Lily.”

I chuckled. “Okaaay. I’m going.”

I thought I’d surprise Marcus by dropping by his hotel, although surprises had never been my thing. But I gave myself a nudge and did it anyway.

The Silver Bayou Inn turned out to be a lovely boutique hotel located in the heart of Houston. After I parked and made my way inside, I excitedly pushed in the numbers to Marcus’s cell number to tell him of my unannounced visit. I glanced around the lobby, and my breath caught at the sight of Marcus sitting with a woman. To be more exact—a beautiful red-haired woman with big Texas hair and enough curves to make an overstuffed couch envious.

The woman leaned her head toward Marcus as they stared at a book. The picture of them together, looking so intimate—hair touching hair—pierced me through. It didn’t look like Camille would have to worry about Marcus being at the hotel in any kind of misery, waiting for me. He looked far from woeful.

So, who was this woman, and what were they looking at? Had he already found someone else in the short hours I was away? Was he a man a little too much like my husband? I hadn’t known Marcus long after all. In fact, we had what some people would call a whirlwind romance—a phrase I never would have imagined attaching to my life. But there it was.

Feeling suddenly embarrassed about being there and a little lightheaded, I walked and then sprinted toward the main double doors of the hotel. Just when I thought I might make a clean escape I took one more glance back at them, which made my foot catch on the base of a potted palm. I landed, sprawled out on the slick ceramic-tiled floor like a flattened turtle. For a second I remained that way—in one of the most unladylike poses imaginable.

Then as if things couldn’t get worse, in the seconds I raised my head to gain my equilibrium, I looked up to see Marcus and the red-haired woman gazing down at me like I was an alien who’d just landed in the hotel lobby.

“
Lily, what in the world happened
?” Marcus scooped me up faster than I could say
bombshell
. “Are you all right, Love?”

“I will be in a minute or two.” Humiliation had never been so ripe for the plucking. I tried the act of breathing again. My lungs appeared to be functional.

“We both glanced up as you were taking your tumble,” Marcus said. “Did you sprain anything?” He didn’t let go of his firm hold on me.

“No, I don’t think so.” I dusted off my blue silk dress, the one I’d worn to impress Marcus. To make him think I was the most beautiful woman in the world. Hmm. I was obviously delusional. My dress now had a tear. And so did my pride.

The woman said, “You must be
the
Lily.” She gave her big hair a shake. “What a delight to meet you. I’m Pamela Sky.”

Pamela shook my hand so hard I thought my arm might jerk right off like a loose limb on a Mr. Potato Head toy.

“I was just asking Marcus here to let me come visit you,” Pamela said. “I’m so glad you’re here. What a surprise.”

I’ll say. Had I once again fallen down the rabbit hole like Alice? “But why would you want to meet me?”

Pamela looked incredulous. “Because I wanted to thank you for what you did.”

“I haven’t told Lily yet,” Marcus said to Pamela. “I wanted to surprise her at tea tonight.”

“Surprise me?” Did I need any more surprises for the day?

Pamela slapped her hands together. “Have I spoiled your happy time? Oh, I’m so sorry, Marcus.”

“It’s fine. Why don’t we all sit down?” Marcus escorted me over to the corner of the lobby with Pamela in tow.

When Marcus and I were situated in a posh love seat with Pamela across from us, he said, “Go ahead, Pam.”

“Me? Okay.” The woman named Pamela held up the book that she and Marcus had been staring at together when I arrived. “This is it. A sketchbook. Because of you, Lily, Marcus has decided to go back to writing and illustrating for kids again. It’s wonderful, and you’re the miracle that brought Marcus back. Or I should say Miles Hooper.”

Oh, my. “Yes, you’re right. It is wonderful. That is what I had hoped for. Prayed for.” I licked my lips, knowing I was about to ask something stupid. “But do you mind if I ask who you are?”

Marcus and Pamela laughed.

“I’m sorry. I said my name but not how I’m involved,” Pamela said.

“Ms. Sky is my agent,” Marcus said.

“Ohhh.” I chuckled, feeling drenched in relief. “I guess I should have figured that out.” If I’d had a sparkler I would have run through the hotel twirling it and shouting.

Pamela waved me off. “Not at all. That was my fault. I’m just so excited to have Marcus back for a client … or I should say Miles Hooper … that I forgot to add the ‘agent’ part.”

“But how did I help make any of this happen?” I searched Marcus looking for an answer.

“Surely you know,” he said to me. “Because you were relentless in trying to bring your family back together. It’s inspiring. So much so, that I’ve dedicated my new book to you.”

His words made my face heat up, enough to rival a sizzling summer day in Houston. “Thank you. I would never have expected that.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek. It felt so good to do that. Better than a piano concerto or hot fudge on ice cream or even a trip around the world.

“Look at you two. You make the sweetest couple.” Pamela turned the sketchbook around and showed me one of Marcus’s drawings.

A family of kangaroos played on a hilltop in a state of merry reunion, and the most adorable joey peeked out of its mother’s pouch. “The drawing is amazing. Such rich color and detail and … warmth. Kids will love it. So do I.”

“It’ll be his best work ever, but the setting will be Australia.” Pamela was effervescing all over the place. “This is going to be a book about families coming together. That there really is no place else on earth like home.”

“It sounds like a much-needed story for kids … for everyone. What’s the title?”

Marcus kissed my hand. “The title is
Love Will Bring Me Home.
”

I hummed to myself
in the grocery store, and I sang along with the tunes on the car radio. I was officially in a good mood, and nothing was going to squelch it. Not Mother. Not anyone.

I glanced in the rearview mirror. A pleasant glow covered me like a fuzzy towel after a warm bubble bath. Marcus was obviously a man who kept his promises, and my silly fears had been proven so wrong they’d been ridiculous. To celebrate, I opened a fresh pack of gum and popped a stick in my mouth for a cheery chew.

Hope seemed to be in everything, even in Mother’s mixed response to our reunion. Autumn was around the corner, and the air had turned a little drier and made the breeze a little cooler. Nice. The mums would start peeking their pretty little heads out soon. And, of course, the fact that Marcus was coming to dinner added to my overall giddiness. My Julie being in college, I’d still have two of my favorite people under the same roof.

I parked the car, grabbed my bags of groceries, and scurried into the house to check on Camille. Hopefully she felt rested and well enough to enjoy a big spaghetti supper. But when I’d put away the groceries and made it to the guest bedroom, the room was empty. “I’m home,” I yoo-hooed and then listened.

A cough erupted from the bathroom.

The door was shut. “Sis?” I walked down the hallway and tapped lightly on the door. “You okay?”

After a pause, Camille emerged. Her face looked pale and damp and drenched in fear, like she’d awakened from a nightmare.

“What is it?” I rubbed her back as she headed to her bedroom.

She shivered beneath her thin nightgown. Camille sat on the side of the bed and slumped over. Then after taking in several slow breaths, she crawled under the covers and rested back on the pillow.