The Runaway Pastor's Wife (32 page)

Suddenly, all three of them realized a presence
in their midst. Simultaneously, their heads turned upward to the top of the
stairs where Jessica was sitting on the top step. Tears pooled in her wide,
frightened eyes, her lower lip trembling.

“Jessie—” David bound up the stairs two at a
time. In one fluid motion, he scooped her into his arms. She wailed in her
father’s embrace. “Daddy! Where is Mommyyyyy? Who took my mommy? I want my mommyyyyy!”

He hushed her cries, gently rocking her in his
arms as he took her seat on the top step. “Jess, it’s all right. Mommy’s just
fine, honey. I talked to her on the phone last night. She’s not in any danger
at all, okay? She’s away on a little vacation, remember? No one has harmed
her,” he reassured, peering over her head at Darlene. His eyes dared her to
keep silent.

“Well, you can all pretend that everything is
rosy and ignore the situation until you rot and die for all I care! My daughter
needs me and I’m going to find her if it’s the last thing I do.” Darlene held
her head high, turning her attention to her granddaughter. “Jessie, your mommy
is NOT all right. Your Daddy has no idea where she is. And if HE doesn’t care
enough to try and find her, then you can certainly count on ME!”

Suddenly, she was propelled around and found
herself escorted toward the front door. “Caroline! What are you doing?!”

“Darlene, get out of this house and
stay
out! You are no longer welcome in this home. Is that clear?” She threw open the
door. Then, in a whisper coated with contempt, “Get. Out.”

Darlene stood motionless for a split second
before grabbing the door handle out of Caroline’s hand. In a storm of defiance,
she slammed the door behind her.

“Oh my goodness!” Caroline gasped, her hands
flying to her face. She turned, searching for her son. When their eyes met, she
could only stare at him in disbelief. “I’ve never spoken to anyone like that
before in my entire life!”

A hint of a smile pulled at one side of his
mouth as he winked at her. The smile disappeared as he kissed his daughter on
the top of her head, holding her tight.

“Hey, Seth. Is Megan home?”

“Yeah. Come on in. Boy, has she been in a rotten
mood. You guys have a fight or what?”

Max followed the thirteen-year-old into the
kitchen, the scent of fried chicken wafting through the door. Megan ignored
him, focusing on the contents of the cast iron skillet. He dug his hands deep
into the pockets of his jeans and walked over to her.

“Megan, I’m sorry.”

She turned a chicken leg over. It sizzled in
protest.

“Please give me a chance to apologize. I was
horrible yesterday. I’m really sorry.”

She wiped her hands on a dishcloth and turned
around. “Max—” she started only to stop again. “I don’t even know how to
respond to you. You said you’re sorry and I believe you really mean it. But
what happens next time? You hold your temper with everyone else, but when we’re
alone, you make no effort to restrain it. I just don’t understand that at all.
And it scares me. It scares me a lot.”

She moved away from him, clearing dishes off the
counter. He knew she was right. Every word she said was true. Problem was, he
didn’t know what to do about it.

He leaned against the kitchen table. “It’s
like—I feel like I always have to do my best. In
everything
. I have to
behave all the time, make the best grades, be the best athlete—all of it. I’m
so afraid I’m going to embarrass my parents or my family, y’know? It’s like I
have to be so careful all the time.

 “But when I’m with you, I feel like I can just
be myself. I feel safe. Like I don’t have to worry because I know you’ll still
love me regardless of my grades or my athletics—or even who my dad is. Any of
that stuff.”

Megan put some dishes into the dishwasher. “So
what are you saying? You feel comfortable with me? Like I’m an old pair of
tennis shoes or something?”

He detected a slight smile on her face. “No, I
was thinking more like a faithful puppy. Y’know, kinda cute and cuddly.”

Seth opened the refrigerator. “I’m puking here.
Do you mind?”

“Seth, get lost. I’m talking to your sister.”

“‘
I love you like a puppy,
Megan!’” Seth mimicked as he left the room. “Gag me.”

“Have you ever thought of selling him? I’m sure
there’s somebody out there who needs a munchkin with a big mouth.”

“Not a bad idea. Look, I’m done with this,” she
said, lifting the last piece of chicken out of the skillet. “Why don’t you go
out in the back yard. I’ll be right there.”

A few minutes later, she joined him in the tree
swing, handing him a glass of Coke. “Sorry about Seth. I think he’s happiest
when he’s torturing me.”

“It comes with his age. He can’t help himself.”
He sipped his drink then smiled.

Megan leaned back in the swing. He rested his
arm along the top of it gently squeezing her shoulder.

“So have you forgiven me or what?”

She looked across the yard, avoiding his gaze.
“This isn’t a joke, Max. It’s serious. We have to work through this. We have to
learn how to handle our relationship when you get upset about something. I
don’t want to be your punching bag any more.”

“I never punched you! I would never do that!”

“No, but you know what I mean. I’m talking about
using me as a
verbal
punching bag. Taking your temper out on me. It’s
not right. I want to always be here for you, but I don’t
want to be on
the receiving end of your fury every time Mr. Harrison or anybody else gives
you a hard time. It’s got to stop.”

“I know, I know. You’re right.”

She turned to face him. “Max, I love you with
all my heart. And I want to be your best friend. But please—promise me the next
time you get angry, you won’t make me your target. I’ll be here for you. And
you can share anything with me. You surely know that by now. Just don’t push me
away. Let me help you work through it.” She reached for his hand. “All right?”

Max felt a lump the size of a baseball in his
throat. He wasn’t sure he could speak. Looking into her eyes, his heart pounded
against his chest. He set his Coke on the ground beside them, then took her
into his arms. “I’m so sorry I hurt you. Don’t give up on me. I don’t know what
I’d do without you.”

 “I’ll never give up on you,” she whispered. She
sat back in the swing resting her head against his shoulder. “Talk to me about
your mom. What’s going on?”

He pushed his foot against the ground, setting
the swing in motion, then looked directly at her. “I don’t know how we’re going
to do it, but we’re going to find her. We’ve
got
to find her.”

“I think I’ve got it!”

“Got what?” Max cradled his phone while checking
his digital clock. It was after eleven. “And Megan, why are you whispering?” He
stretched out across his bed, his cell phone lodged against his shoulder.

“A way to find your mom. I think I know a way to
access the files at the phone company! We can trace her calls!”

“You can’t just call up—”

“Max, just be quiet and listen to me,” she
scolded gently.

“She’s not using her cell phone so you can’t
just—”

“Listen to me!”

“Okay, okay! I’m listening!”

“Good. Remember
Denton
, that
guy my mom dated last year? The one with the Harley? ”

“Yeah, the one who was always taking her on
trips. Nice guy. Why’d she ever ditch him?”

“She didn’t ditch him. Anyway, he still calls
now and then because they’re still friends. So guess who called after you
left?”

“Um, give me a second here, I’m thinking.”

“Max, this is really important! I remembered
that
Denton
works
for the phone company. So I asked him if he could help us and he said he could
check your records and easily trace the number your mom’s been calling from!”

He sat up. “He can really do that?”

“Yes! I gave him your home number so he could
look up the records. He said he’ll call me back as soon as he knows anything.
And he promised not to mention it to my mom or anybody. He said he could get in
a
lot
of trouble so we have to keep our mouths shut. I think he really
wants to help. And just between you and me, I think he’s hoping I’ll put in a good
word about him to Mom. The guy’s hopelessly in love with her.”

“This is awesome! Call me when you hear
something, okay?”

“I will, Max. But be sure not to say anything to
your dad or your grandmother.”

“I won’t. And Megan?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re incredible.”

Megan laughed. “Of course I am. But how come
you’re just now figuring that out?”

CHAPTER 21

Eagle’s Nest

For Michael Dean, an urgency laced with raw fear
would no longer allow him to sleep. Fighting to drag himself from the depths of
the vast black abyss, he called on every ounce of will he possessed. Slowly,
slowly . . . not unlike a swimmer stroking his way toward the
surface of the water, he found his way. With a final surge of strength and
determination, he broke through the barrier, his eyes flashing open.

Gasping, he lifted his head from the pillow only
for a millisecond before the pain in his side knifed a reminder of his
injuries. His head fell back on the pillows. He cursed his weakness. Michael
looked around, taking in his surroundings. He had no clue where he was, but he
felt oddly at ease. There was something nagging at him inside his
soul . . . something wrong, yet a quiet calmness in not
remembering what it was.

A mound of quilts kept his body warm, though his
arms were exposed above the covers. A shiver raced across him.
Why is the
room so cold?
Abruptly, he sensed he was not alone. His eyes darted far to
his left. Out of his periphery he could see someone’s feet covered with
blankets and propped up on an ottoman. He swallowed, letting his eyes trail up
the body until—

Annie?

Seeing her, the realization hit him.
Of
course. I’m still asleep. Or unconscious.
Amused at himself, he let a lazy
smile crawl up the side of his mouth as he mumbled. “Dreamin’ . . .
still dreamin’ . . .”

“Michael?”

His eyes flew open.

“Michael! You’re awake!”

He blinked at her.

“Michael, you’re awake!” she cried out again.

He stared at her, disbelieving. “Annie?” he
croaked.

She threw off her covers and moved to his side,
grasping his hand in hers. “Oh Michael! I wasn’t sure if you’d—” Her eyes
pooled with tears as she reached to touch his face. “Oh thank God! Your fever
finally broke. You’re okay!”

I’m obviously hallucinating. Can’t be right.
Can’t be—

He felt a wet kiss on his cheek.

“I’m so glad you’re all right. I prayed so hard!
And look at you
—
you’re really alive!” She laughed, gulping back a sob in
the process.