Authors: Nancy Hopper
"Yes. That's certainly best." Tim agreed. "Let's get Lucinda to make some tea, and give us something to eat." He suggested. Everyone was relieved by the diversion.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Tim picked Dana up at the airport two days later. She looked pinched and pale when she came toward him. She was distinctly relieved, and smiled when she saw Timothy standing there, waiting for her -- alone.
He hugged her soundly, and kissed her cheek. "Hey. Long time no see." He teased.
"Yeah. Last week seemed to take a year to go by." She grumbled.
He grinned. "Nervous, huh?"
"Yes." She admitted tightly.
"It'll be fine." He promised, patting her arm reassuringly.
She tucked her arm through his, and smiled up at him.
"Is she ... here?" she asked worriedly as they walked.
"No, she had a commitment this morning. She's going to meet us a little later."
Dana nodded, and smiled uncertainly. She wasn't sorry that it wasn't going to be immediate. She'd worked herself up into something of a dither on the plane.
But after collecting her bags and getting out on the highway in the car, it seemed like old times to Dana. Just her, and Tim. He grinned at her as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Do you drink Espresso yet?" he asked in a conspiratory tone.
"Yeah. Sometimes." She admitted.
He shook his head as though the very idea was shameful. “Well, I know just what to do with you, then." He answered with satisfaction.
He took her to a little bakery with a cafe attached, that was out of this world. They both began to relax under the influence of some rich and satisfying Chocolate Cheesecake and a Mocha.
“
That ought to be worth a good five pounds." Dana complained.
Tim rolled his eyes. "Yep." He acknowledged. He sighed and looked at his little sister with affection, thinking with regret that she'd certainly grown up in a hurry. She squirmed uneasily in her seat under his scrutiny.
Tim gave her a lopsided grin. "Still nervous?" he asked gently.
"Can't help it." She admitted. "I just can't imagine actually meeting this heavenly creature that lured my lover away."
Tim hoped his wince didn't show on his face. "Honey, let me tell you something. Guys that are prone to chasing women are not worth suffering over."
"I know it, Tim, but I still love him. I can't just stop because I know I should."
"Of course not. I just want you to realize that if it hadn't been Tasha, it would have been someone else. It was bound to happen, Dana. Tasha isn't the only beautiful woman in the world."
"Tim, if you love her, she's got to be special. That's all I can say. How could I be angry with her, when she's got to be wonderful?"
"She is. And honey, I don't mind telling you, that she's as nervous about meeting you, as you are about meeting her. She's awful scared that you'll think she had to have done something to cause all of this."
Dana's long lashes fanned over her cheeks; and she nodded slowly. "If you believe she didn't, Tim, I'll believe her, too." She said cautiously. "Did you tell her what Rick said about her?"
She looked up to find a harsh, burning look in Tim's eyes at the suggestion. "No. And no one is going to tell her; it would kill her. Dana, " he groped helplessly. "I wish I could explain to you all that has happened. I could never express to you adequately how much it took for me to reach this woman. She was so imprisoned in her sterile, lonely, rich world -- she was like a fortress. She was so cold and remote.”
"She is very beautiful, not to mention rich. Ever since she reached puberty, men have been hustling her like you wouldn't believe. She was molested at fourteen; and after that happened, things just got worse. After she finally opened up to her first husband and married him, she lost him to cancer. Without divine help, I had about as much chance as a convicted rapist of getting close to her."
He looked at his watch, and smiled. The timing was good. His cell phone rang, and he answered it promptly. Dana watched his face soften, and a smile lit his eyes and lips. "Hey." He said softly. "Where are you?"
Dana focused on her Mocha, knowing he was talking to
her
. "We're at Camino's. When can you be here?"
He listened, and then grinned. "We'll wait, then." He said. "Love ya. 'Bye."
Dana looked up at him pensively.
"She'll be here any time, now." He answered her gently.
Dana gulped, and tried to smile naturally.
"Remember anything about my college days?" he asked lightly.
"Sure." She answered immediately. “It was always a big deal when you came home.”
"Remember the friend I used to bring home sometimes? He was my roommate; my best friend for so long?"
"Gary." Dana answered him immediately. "Who could forget him? What a prince! You two were sure a pair."
Tim grinned. "Yeah. I thought you'd remember. You seemed fond of him, and he was good to you."
“He really was. I couldn't believe the way you guys would take me places with you. Man! We went riding, skiing, to the movies, out for ice cream. You even took me skating." She remembered wistfully.
Tim nodded. "Gary was really impressed that you always had your own money to go with. He enjoyed those times, thought you were smart, and great company. Even if you were just a kid."
Dana wrinkled up her nose. "Well; I guess I took after you, huh?"
"Yeah." Tim agreed.
"What made you think of Gary today?"
Tim looked at her from under his lashes. "Well; Dana, that's kind of a rough one. But I want you to know. Actually, I'd lost track of Gary for a long time. Really, it's kind of easy to have it happen. You know, you get out of college, get involved in ministry and the next thing you know, the years have just kind of flown by. But, I ran into him in New York a few years ago, and we talked for an hour or so. Not much time to catch up. But, I recently stumbled onto news of him. "
"How interesting."
Tim looked at her carefully. It was hard to say how she'd react. She'd been through so much personally, that she was still very tender and vulnerable. He kind of hoped that knowing about Gary would soften her heart; and help her see Tasha in a different light.
"It was through Tasha." he said finally.
"Tasha! Your fiancee?" she asked curiously.
"That's right. I was at her house, and I went in her room. There was a picture of her and Gary on the wall."
"How interesting." Dana mused. "They must have been pretty close, then. Are they related, somehow?"
Tim looked at her steadily. "They were married."
Dana looked at him blankly. "You're kidding." she exclaimed. "But ... I don't understand."
Tim just kept watching her, waiting for it all to sink in. He could see the wheels turning, and he hoped she'd come to it on her own.
"
Were
married? Did they get divorced or something? No, not Gary!" she puzzled. “I can't picture him not getting along with anyone, much less getting a divorce.”
Tim shook his head. "No divorce."
Finally, it dawned on Dana. Tears of disbelief filled her eyes. "But you said her husband was … you can't be serious!" she denied unsteadily. "He
can't
be dead."
Tim had an overpowering urge to lower his eyes. He refused. "I'm afraid so. He died of cancer about four years ago; and left Tasha with two babies. Very nice babies. You're going to like them." he said in a voice that was husky with emotion.
Tears spilled down Dana's cheeks and she didn't try to hide them. "I can't believe it. I can't!" she choked.
"I know." Tim comforted. "It was quite a shock for me when I saw that photo; and realized exactly what I was doing. It's a pretty strange feeling to be lusting after your buddy's widow. Especially when I hadn’t known ... he was gone, until that moment. I just stood there, and looked at the pictures for the longest time. It was so strange to see them as a family, and to find out he was gone, all at once. Tasha was pretty cut up when I told her we'd been close friends."
Dana looked at him with misery in her eyes. "I should have put two and two together, but the name just didn't sink in. I never even
thought
that her husband was the Gary we knew. She really has been through it, hasn't she?" she asked humbly.
Tim shrugged. "It's been pretty rough on her. Her father leads me to believe that Gary didn't have a much easier time of winning her over, than I did. He had to chase her clear to Denver, and drag her back home. She was extremely wounded in her childhood. She didn't trust anybody easily."
Dana nodded, comprehension clear in her eyes. "I understand, Tim. I won't do anything to hurt her."
Tim smiled. "I know you wouldn't, honey. I just wanted you to understand it all, before you met her. I want you two to be sisters in the truest sense of the word, and really enjoy one another."
Dana smiled timidly. "I'm sure we will." she agreed, by faith.
They sat in silence for a time, sipping their Mochas. Dana had quite a bit to think about. She was very curious to meet this woman that Gary had married.
Tim was certainly wise. He'd known exactly how to drop the barriers, and get her thinking about something other than that bum Rick making a pass at Tasha. She felt Tim look up, and followed his eyes.
The most beautiful woman that Dana had ever seen was walking through the restaurant. She had very long, dark hair, and the widest, most brilliant, clear green eyes imaginable. Her heart-shaped face was sweet, and her cheeks were round and full. Her lips were perfect -- a full lower lip, sweetly curved, and a very lovely shaped upper lip. Her smile curved up at the corners, and was brilliant when it flashed across the restaurant.
There was incredible expressiveness and sensitivity in her expression. She had a small cleft in her chin, and a figure to die for. She was all legs and perfect curves. When she saw Tim, her eyes lit up and a smile transformed her face. She began to absolutely glow.
Tim stood up, and gathered her into his arms to kiss her. It was very strange for Dana to see Tim kissing anybody. He just wasn't in the habit of it.
Finally, he looked at Dana. "Tasha, this is Dana. Dana, Tasha."
Dana held out a hand and put a smile on her face. "Hi, Tasha. Nice to meet you." she offered in a frank, friendly voice.
Tasha took Dana's hand, and turned her radiance fully on her. "Dana! It's good to finally meet you. Tim has had me looking forward to this for so long."
"Really?" Dana asked brightly.
"Yes. It's obvious to me that you are very special to him. I hope that we can be good friends."
Dana smiled. She was so beautiful; when she smiled at you, how could you not love a girl like this? She seemed to be very sweet. "I am sure that we will be." she assured her. "So, do you live here in Salt Lake year round?"