Where Two Hearts Meet Page 13

  He tossed the towel on the counter and walked out of the bathroom. Verses he’d read in Proverbs that morning came back to him. He couldn’t quote them perfectly, but he knew they said he’d pay a high price if he broke his marriage vows and got involved with another woman. The vivid word picture flashed in his mind—“Her lips drip honey, but in the end her feet go down to death. ”

  All right. I hear You, Lord.

  When he reached the bottom step, he saw her standing by the roll top desk with the phone to her ear.

  “No, he’s busy,” she said softly. “He can’t come to the phone right now.”

  Matt frowned. Who was she talking to? “Mallory.”

  She spun around and quickly replaced the receiver. Her lips curved into an unconvincing smile. “Well, don’t you clean up nicely.”

  “Who was that?”

  She averted her eyes. “Just a wrong number.”

  She was lying. The call had probably been from one of his kids or, worse yet, from Tessa. Irritation coursed through him, confirming his decision. “Mallory, you need to leave.”

  “Why? What’s the matter?” She crossed the room to meet him.

  “I’m committed to my marriage, and inviting you in is sending you the wrong message.”

  Her eyes widened with false innocence. “But we haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “Exactly. And I want to keep it that way.” He strode to the door and pulled it open.

  She huffed out a scornful laugh. “My, my, aren’t you the noble one.”

  He hesitated, struggling with the truth, then looked her in the eye. “No, but I’ve made a commitment to God and to my wife, and I don’t want to do anything that would hurt my family or damage the name of Christ.” A rush of victory flooded him, and he held the door open wider. “Good-bye, Mallory.” She lifted her chin, and her electric blue eyes flashed. “You’re throwing away the possibility of a great relationship. Is that what you really want?”

  Doubt tugged at his resolve for a second. He needed a miracle to win back Tessa’s love, but this was no time to give up on his marriage or do something stupid. He raised his gaze and met hers. “I made up my mind twenty-five years ago when I married Tessa. Nothing is going to change that.”

  Flames singed her cheeks, and her lips twitched. “Then you’re a bigger fool than I thought.” She snatched the basket off the coffee table, leaving the food behind as she strutted out the door. Two seconds later, he heard her car door slam and the spray of gravel as she sped down the driveway and out of his life.

  He leaned back against the door and closed his eyes. “Thank You,” he whispered. Then he headed down the path to the lake to continue his conversation with the Lord.

  * * *

  Tessa carried the last three bags of groceries into the house, dreading the mess she knew awaited her in the kitchen.

  Her selfish complaints about Matt’s lack of help taunted her. Since he left she felt like she swam through a soupy sea, barely able to keep her head above water. She’d never realized or appreciated all he did. Now there was no one to share the load. Tonight she had to find some way to dry two loads of laundry, help Evan with his math, and pick up Brie from work, but first she had to put away all these groceries.

  Evan looked at her with a perplexed expression as she came in the door. “Something weird is going on.”

  She sighed and lowered the heavy bags to the floor. “What do you mean, honey?”

  “I just called Dad, and some woman answered and said he was busy and couldn’t come to the phone.”

  A chill raced up Tessa’s back. “You probably dialed the wrong number. Try again.”

  Evan shook his head. “I used your phone ’cause the number’s programmed in.”

  Tessa swallowed and clasped her hands in front of her to hide their trembling. Oh, Father, what's happening? Have I pushed him away—right into the arms of another woman? The image of the tall, blond lawyer rose in her mind, and her stomach clenched. That woman’s interest in Matt had been obvious from the first day they arrived. Had she been chasing Matt while Tessa selfishly ignored his pleas to bring the kids and come to Oregon?

  Was he fighting a battle for their marriage, or had he already given up and given in? “Hand me the phone, Evan.”

  “You okay, Mom?”

  She nodded, trying to swallow her rising fear. “I’m fine. Why don’t you put away some groceries for me.”

  Evan quietly pulled a box of cereal from the closest bag and watched her punch in the number. She ought to take the conversation into another room, but her feet felt glued to the floor. Matt’s phone rang. Tessa held her breath. What would she say if that woman answered? After three more rings, the answering machine picked up. Her heart twisted at the sound of his voice. Why didn’t he answer? What were they doing?

  She cleared her throat. “Matt, it’s me. Please call. We need to talk.” She could hardly choke out the last sentence.

  Evan stared at her and then walked out of the kitchen, his shoulders slumping. She heard him click on the TV in the living room.

  She mechanically put away groceries, anxiety and regret weighing down every motion. How many times had she ignored her husband’s needs and let her own fears and resentment build a wall between them? Had she destroyed her marriage with her own willful choices? But didn’t Matt have some responsibility, too? Wasn’t he the one who’d gone off to Oregon and left her here?

  The truth hit her hard. She had chosen to hold on to her anger rather than forgive and believe the best in her husband. Her lack of trust in Matt, and ultimately in the Lord, was hurting them all. The weight of her sin and the cost it was extracting from her family felt like a crushing weight on her shoulders.

  Father, help me! I’m so sorry. Please don’t let it be too late.

  Evan drifted back into the kitchen, a worried look in his eyes. “Don’t you have to pick up Brie?”

  Tessa checked the kitchen clock and snatched her keys off the counter. “Come on, we’re already late.”

  Raindrops pelted the windshield as she backed the van out of the garage. Lightning split the sky, followed by a frightening boom of thunder. She flipped the wipers on high, trying to see through the sheets of rain. She hated driving in storms, but she couldn’t leave her daughter stranded at the mall.

  As Tessa merged onto the rain-slick highway, her stomach knotted and her thoughts spun into a tangled web. How had her life gotten so out of control? Had she become so absorbed with her problems that she’d drifted away from the Lord and closed her ears to His voice? The memory of Bill’s dinner invitation sent a huge wave of guilt crashing over her. How could she have even considered it? The thunderstorm outside was nothing compared to the tempest in her heart.

  Forgive me, Father. Please forgive me. Tears rained silently down her cheeks. She choked back a sob to hide her distress from her son, who sat behind her.

  Red taillights flashed ahead. She slowed, but a pickup truck cut into her lane, trying to squeeze into the shrinking space between her and the next car. Tessa gasped, slammed on the brakes, and swerved to the left. A horn blared behind her. She frantically jerked the steering wheel to the right. Tires screeched, metal crunched, and Evan’s scream pierced the night and tore her heart in two.

  Chapter Ten

  The phone rang as Matt walked in the door of the lodge. It had to be Tessa. He dashed across the room. Please, Lord, help me straighten this out. Would she let him explain, or would this be the final blow that broke their fragile bond? No, he’d just turned everything over to the Lord. He had to hold on to the hope he’d been given. He willed confidence into his voice as he answered.

  “Oh, Matt.” Tessa’s voice shook.

  He gripped the phone. “What’s wrong?”

  “I had an accident.” Tears laced her words.

  “Are you hurt?”

  “No—no, I’m okay, just a little cut on my forehead.” She sniffed, her voice still trembling. “But we were hit from behind, and Evan was .
. .”

  The floor seemed to drop out from under him, and he grabbed the desk chair. “Is he okay?”

  “No, we’re in the Princeton emergency room. They’re taking him to surgery.” Tessa broke into jerky sobs.

  He closed his eyes and sank into the chair, groaning a heartfelt, wordless prayer.

  “I’m so sorry, Matt.” Grief choked her voice.

  He shuddered and drew in a sharp breath. Was she talking about the accident or the trouble between them? It didn’t matter. He could never blame her for any of it. This was just as much his fault as hers. He should’ve been there to protect his family and prevent something tragic like this from happening.

  Sorrow clogged his throat. He leaned forward and rubbed his burning eyes.

  “Please come home, Matt. We need you.”

  Her words infused him with new strength, and he rose to his feet. “I’m already on the way.” He heard more crying on her end of the line, making him long to be there and hold her.

  “The Lord is going to carry us through this. Hold on to Him, Tessa.”

  “I will, but please hurry,” she whispered.

  * * *

  An elderly woman wearing a blue volunteer smock checked the hospital’s computer and looked up with a smile. “Your son is in room 127. That’s one floor up in Pediatrics on B-1.”

  Matt nodded and breathed a silent prayer of thanks as he strode toward the elevator. The news that Evan was in a regular room, not in surgery or intensive care, boosted his tired spirit. He followed the signs, rounded several corners, and passed the nurses’ station. No one had answered the home phone or their cell phones, so Matt hoped he would find Tessa and the kids here.

  His journey from Lost Lake Lodge to the University Medical Center of Princeton had taken only eleven hours and twenty-five minutes. He knew that was nothing short of a miracle since he’d had no reservation, and he’d managed to get one of the last seats available on the only plane flying from Portland to Philadelphia late last night. He’d flown off into the midnight sky and then watched the sun come up and fill the heavens with light, his prayers and hope rising with the dawn. Though the circumstances surrounding his return were serious, he felt an unexplained peace. The Lord was at work.

  Matt spotted room 127, and his heart lurched. What if he had manufactured those feelings of hope and peace in his own imagination and they weren’t from the Lord? What if they lost Evan?

  No, he would not let doubt or fear creep in and steal what he had been given. The Lord would be with them no matter what happened.

  The door stood slightly ajar. He whispered one more prayer and walked through. The sight of a sterile, empty bed shook him for a moment, but then he saw a curtain had been pulled to shield a second bed. He braced himself and stepped around the curtain.

  His gaze darted from his sleeping son to his wife. She had pulled her chair up to Evan’s bedside and sat as close to him as possible with her head resting near his, her eyes closed, her hand covering his small fingers.

  Matt stalled, practically bowled over by a powerful wave of love for them. The tranquil looks on both their faces told him his prayers for their comfort had been answered. He took a deep breath, trying to collect his emotions.

  Stepping closer, he leaned down and brushed a gentle kiss across Tessa’s cheek. Her eyelashes fluttered, and recognition crossed her sleepy expression. She rose into his embrace. Neither spoke as they held each other tightly. Tears washed his eyes, and he let them fall, unashamed. Oh, how he loved this woman.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” she finally whispered.

  “Me, too.” He sighed into her hair, holding her close. Right then, he made a decision. No matter what it took, he’d rebuild his marriage and show his wife and kids how much he loved them. With God’s help he’d do it.

  * * *

  Tessa clung to Matt, drinking in the comfort of his strong embrace. She pressed her cheek to his chest, and the soothing scent that was Matt’s alone filled her senses. She finally pulled back and looked into his face, wanting to study each line and feature that was so familiar and dear to her.

  “How’s Evan?” He clasped her hand and glanced toward their son, concern filling his eyes.

  “He has a broken leg, but the doctors say he’s going to be okay. At first they thought he had a concussion, but they did a CAT scan and ruled that out. He had a three-hour surgery last night to put in pins and repair the fracture. They gave him some pain medication. I guess that’s why he’s still asleep.”

  Matt nodded, his serious gaze still fixed on Evan.

  Tessa’s throat tightened. How could she ever have doubted his love and commitment to her and the kids? She must have been deaf to the truth and blinded by her own foolishness.

  He turned to her and tenderly brushed her bangs away from the cut on her forehead. “And how are you?”

  Heat raced into her cheeks at his close scrutiny. Did he see the crow’s-feet, smudged makeup, and dark circles under her eyes? He smiled, and her fears vanished. His loving look convinced her he saw past all of that into her heart, and he treasured her.

  A hot, exultant tear trickled down her cheek. “I love you, Matt. Can you forgive me for being so selfish and hurting you and the kids?”

  He reached for her. “Only if you’ll forgive me for trying to push you into something you never wanted. That was way out of line.”

  They spent the next half hour talking about the issues that had put a strain on their marriage and assuring each other how much they loved each other.

  “I don’t want anything to ever come between us again,” he said.

  She smiled, awed by his sincerity. “Okay, but you have to promise me one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “That we’ll spend the next twenty-five years together.”

  Surprise and then understanding flickered across his face. “Today’s June sixteenth.”

  She grinned. “Happy anniversary.”

  “Wow, twenty-five years.” Affection and longing glowed in his eyes. He lowered his head and kissed her, gently at first and then more deeply.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss, wanting to show him he was her first and only love. She didn’t care what she had to leave behind. Nothing on earth meant as much to her as this dear, wonderful man and their life together. She’d made a commitment to him and him alone. Everything else needed to take a number and get in line.

  Justin swished back the curtain and almost spilled the cardboard tray of fast food in his hands. “Dad!”

  Brie rushed to hug her father. “Oh, Daddy!” The delight on their daughter’s face gave her a glow Tessa hadn’t seen for weeks.

  Matt hugged Brie and then turned to Justin. “Come here, big guy.” He opened his arms and welcomed his older son with a slap on the back and bear hug.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” a faint voice asked.

  Tessa spun toward the bed.

  Evan’s dazed expression turned to one of pure joy. “Dad, you’re here!”

  Matt leaned down and gently embraced his tearful son. “Hey, sport. I’m sure glad to hear your voice. How are you doing?”

  “I’m okay. When did you get here? How long are you staying? I want to go back with you.” Evan’s words tumbled out in a rush, and his chin quivered.

  “Hey, slow down. It’s okay; we’ve got plenty of time to talk about that.”

  Tessa pulled in a deep breath. “No, I think it’s time for a family meeting.”

  They all looked at her, surprise on their faces.

  Matt straightened. “You want to call a family meeting right now?”

  “Yes. I have some things I need to say to all of you.” She turned to Evan. “That is, if you’re awake enough to listen.”

  He blinked his droopy eyes. “Sure, I broke my leg, but my ears are fine.”

  They all grinned.

  “First, I need to apologize—to all of you.” Tessa looked into each face. “When your dad and
I talked and prayed about going to Oregon, we asked the Lord to make it clear if we should move. He did, but I didn’t want to listen. I let selfishness and fear get in the way and make the decision for me, and that hurt us all. I need to trust the Lord to lead us, and we need a full-time dad and mom in this family, so—”

  Matt interrupted her. “Wait. Before we make any decisions, I have some things to say, too. The Lord’s also been speaking to me, and He’s made it clear that keeping our family together is more important than where we live or work. And if that means I need to sell the lodge property and move home to New Jersey, then that’s what I’ll do. Living in Oregon would be a good choice for us, but it’s not the only choice. I love you—all of you.” He looked at each of them, and his gaze settled on Tessa. “And you’re worth more to me than any piece of property, no matter how long it has been in my family or how much business potential it has.”

  Tessa smiled. “I love you, too, and I’m ready to move to Oregon if that’s where you believe the Lord is leading us.”

  “But I could get a good price for that property. We could buy a new house here, and you could keep Sweet Something.”

  “Since you guys can’t make up your mind, I think we should vote on it,” Justin said.

  Tessa and Matt exchanged surprised glances.

  “All those in favor of moving to Oregon raise your hand,” Justin continued.

  Every hand went up, including Tessa’s. Laughter bubbled up from her heart. The Lord had made it clear again, and this time she would listen.

  “Yes!” Justin pumped his fist in the air.

  Brie squealed and grabbed her big brother for a hug. Evan’s sleepy smile spread wider, delight brightening his eyes.

  Matt pulled Tessa close. “Are you sure, Tessa? Is this what you really want?”

  Assurance washed over her. “Yes, I want to be with you. Wherever you’re going, I’m going, too.” Then she kissed him again, lingering, savoring the sweetness of their love tested and refined by twenty-five years of marriage and renewed by a miracle of God’s grace in their hearts.