A Reason to Stay (19 page)

I
n the long months since sweeps week and her big story, she couldn't remember a time when she'd gotten home before nine o'clock at night. While she knew her schedule was getting a bit out of hand, she reminded herself how little it mattered now that Geary had qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series and was out on the road nearly all the time.

“If I perform well on the tournament trail, I have a real shot at the Classic,” he'd told her on the phone. “But it looks like I'll have a break in the schedule and will make it home for the weekend.”

She'd been in the bathtub at the time, chest-high in bubbles. “Really? Oh, Geary, that's wonderful. Let's do something fun.”

The words had no more left her mouth than he popped her hopes. “About that—well, Mom and Dad want everyone over there for dinner on Friday night.”

Faith immediately felt slighted. She hadn't seen him in two weeks, and he didn't seem enticed to spend their first night together alone.

She swallowed her disappointment and took a deep breath. “Uh, sure. If that's what you want.”

Minutes after they hung up, her mother-in-law called to confirm.

“Oh, honey—everyone is just so anxious to see you two,” Veta told Faith over the phone. “It's been weeks.”

Faith tightened the belt on her robe and shook out her wet hair. “Yeah, we've been really busy. It'll be nice to get together,” she said, coloring the truth a bit. Not that she didn't want to see her in-laws. It
had
been too long. She only resented that she didn't first get an evening with Geary to herself.

“Our entire Lake Pine church family watches you on television. First that bridge story, then that big exposé about those girls looking for rich husbands. You're quite the celebrity around here.” Before Faith could answer, she added, “So instead of dinner out, we decided to celebrate with a potluck at our house. I hope you don't mind.”

“No, that's fine. What can I bring?” No one would call her a master chef, but cooking wasn't that hard. She could contribute to the meal in some fashion, even though she wasn't sure what time she'd be able to pull away from the station.

“Oh, honey, don't you bring a thing. We've got everything covered.”

Faith didn't feel right about not bringing a dish to share. So on Friday night, she stopped at H-E-B on her way home. Surely she could find something to take that would be quick to prepare. Nothing gourmet necessarily. Something the Marins would enjoy.

Inside the grocery store, a middle-aged woman with a loaded shopping cart wheeled up next to her in the baking goods aisle. “Excuse me, aren't you Faith Marin, that gal on KIAM-TV?”

She nodded and smiled. “Yes, I'm Faith.” Even though she was in a hurry, she extended her hand. In this age when anyone could tweet or post their opinions on Facebook, she knew to be gracious.

“Loved that piece you did about those young women. I had no idea there were business enterprises that actually help women marry millionaires!”

She smiled. “Thank you. I'm glad you found the story interesting.”

“Well, I sure did. Y'all have a great day, now.” The woman wheeled off with a wide smile on her face.

Around the corner, Faith overheard the woman on her phone. “Yes, I just talked to Faith Marin. No, I'm not kidding.”

She grinned and pulled out her phone and googled the Food Network website. Surely she could find something easy.

Suddenly, she remembered something her mother used to make on occasion. She scanned the shelves and threw a couple of boxes of chocolate instant pudding into her basket, then rounded the end of the aisle and headed for the frozen food section for a large frozen pie shell. In the dairy aisle, she found a container of whipped cream and nabbed a dark chocolate bar on the way through checkout.

At home, she carefully followed the foolproof instructions on the packages and made a chocolate cream pie—pretty enough to be on the cover of a magazine. Even Geary said so.

“Wow, Faith. Looking good.” His fingers moved to take a scoop.

She slapped his hand away. “No, sir. Huh-uh.”

He grinned and playfully kissed at her neck. A move that quickened her heart. She turned toward him and placed her hands on each side of his face, hoping for more.

Their eyes met, and he held her gaze for several seconds. Then he stepped back. “We're already late.”

Seeing her hopes wither, Geary gave a wry laugh, leaned in, and quickly kissed her cheek. “But when we get home from Mom and Dad's, we might just have to revisit the issue.”

His parents' house was a short twenty-minute drive. She followed him up the sidewalk and to the red door, where he reached for the doorknob.

Faith couldn't help herself. She grabbed his arm. “No, sir. Doorbell. This isn't our house.”

Geary rolled his eyes and pressed the little button. Seconds
later, the door opened. Wendell stood there with a confused look. “What's up with ringing the doorbell?”

Veta came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “Hey, you two. You're late. Wendell, take that pie from your daughter-in-law. Faith, I told you not to bring anything, honey.” Veta took her by the arm and pulled her into the family room. “Look who's here, everyone.”

Gina Rudd, the church secretary, placed her glass of tea on the coffee table and moved to give her a hug. “I watch you on weekends, but that big interview with those girls—I mean, wow. I just had no idea.”

Veta waved over a woman standing by the counter that separated the family room from the kitchen. “You know Alma Cheesey.”

Faith extended her hand to the red-haired lady with full cheeks and a round chin—the one with the box of raisins in her kitchen the night of the pounding. “Why yes, of course I remember. Nice to see you again, Mrs. Cheesey.” She turned to the woman's husband. “You too, Mr. Cheesey.”

Next, they were introduced to the Patricks.

“Larry and Nancy are new to the congregation,” her mother-in-law told them. “They just moved here from Boise, Idaho.”

Larry chuckled and wrapped his arm around his wife's waist. “Yeah, unfortunately, my Nancy didn't marry for money. She's stuck with a working bloke and I got transferred.” They all laughed.

Dilly and Bobby Lee arrived then with their three little ones in tow. Gunner sported a cast on his arm decorated with zoo animals—his third since she'd known the little guy, by her count. Gabby had an identical one on her arm.

“She was a little terror until she got one too,” Bobby Lee explained with his hand on Dilly's back as she lumbered across the room.

“When are you going to have that baby already?” Geary teased.

Little Sam pulled his thumb from his mouth. “Maybe tomorrow. Or maybe next week,” he reported, making them all laugh.

Veta gathered everybody to the table. Before they all got seated, Wendell held up a finger. “Hold on, everyone. I'll be right back.”

Gabby wiggled in her chair with excitement. “I know the surprise—”

Bobby Lee quickly clamped his hand over her mouth. “Uh, sorry,” he said. He turned to his daughter. “Remember, it's a secret.”

Wendell moved back into the room, his hands holding a big vase filled with a dozen crimson roses. “These are for you, Faith. This family is so proud of you, darlin'. Here's a little something to show you how much we all love you.”

“Those are for me?” She admired the near perfect blooms, the velvet petals. “Thank you,” she choked out over the lump in her throat. She glanced at Geary, her eyes filling with tears. She quickly swiped at her lids, uncomfortable with the public show of emotion. “I don't know what to say, really. I'm—uh, thank you.”

Across the table, Gabby sat with her arms crossed and her lip jutted in a pout.

Faith gave her a little smile and waved her over. “Do you want to smell them? Come over here by me.”

The little girl's eyes lit up. She looked to her mom, who nodded her approval. Gabby jumped from her seat and scrambled over next to Faith. She leaned over and took a whiff.

“Aren't they pretty?” Faith asked.

Gunner climbed down from his chair and joined them. “I wanna smell too.”

When the smelling was all done, Wendell bowed his head. “Let's pray.”

Dilly scooted her kids back to their designated chairs. Geary took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers.

The food was delicious. Veta's pot roast with roasted root
vegetables was possibly the best she'd ever eaten. Mrs. Cheesey had brought a broccoli salad with chunks of pineapple and raisins. Nancy Patrick had made a loaded baked potato casserole with layered cheese and sour cream. She'd also baked what she proudly told them were her mother's prize-winning rolls. She pointed to the center of the table. “There's honey butter in the blue bowl.”

Not to be outdone, Dilly contributed creamed corn made from scratch and a big container of sweet Dr Pepper baked beans.

“I helped,” Gabby announced, which brought murmurs of appreciation from the adults at the table.

The men loaded their plates, especially Geary. “Man, it's sure good to eat home cooking,” he said, reaching for a roll.

The comment rubbed a little. She had to admit when they weren't eating in restaurants, she normally brought home takeout. But she didn't necessarily appreciate the look that Cheesey lady gave her.

She thought about her pie. Maybe she should have tried something a little more impressive. Or at least tried to make the pie dough from scratch. She thought there might be YouTube videos that would've shown her how.

In fact, maybe she could pitch a segment targeted to career women who wanted to put home-cooked meals on the table, feature women who successfully juggled those roles. Maybe she could call it . . . “Bake the World a Better Place.” Yeah, that had a clever ring to it.

Dilly looked extra tired tonight, so Faith told her to sit and she helped Veta clear the dinner dishes. Veta carried out a tray of tacky decorated cupcakes she'd purchased at the church bake sale. “Eat up, I bought triple this amount,” she said, explaining the youth group was raising money for summer missions.

Faith picked up her pie and paraded it to the table. “This was my mother's recipe.” She wasn't entirely sure why she needed to
say that. Perhaps she felt caught up in the domesticity on display at this table.

Or maybe she wanted to impress Geary, let him know that in addition to her success at work, she could keep up with the other Marin women when it came to the kitchen.

The truth of the matter was that in some way she felt like she'd been handed a script and was playing the part of the good wife. A role she didn't quite know how to play.

Nancy Patrick's eyes followed the pie onto the table. “Oh my, are those chocolate curls on top?”

Alma Cheesey grabbed her dessert fork from the table. “I've never been able to make curls that pretty. Mine always break apart.”

Faith glanced at Geary to see if he'd caught the comment.

Veta lifted a serrated pie server from the table. “Who wants some?” She moved to cut the massive pie crowned with whipped cream.

Suddenly, her face drew into a frown.

Dilly looked across the table. “What's the matter, Mom?”

Veta pressed the server into the pie with a bit more force. “No worries, I've got it.”

Then she started chuckling. “Now I see what the trouble is.” She laughed, this time much harder.

Wendell leaned her way. “Ha, will you look at that!”

Faith pushed her chair back and stood. “What's the matter?”

Then she saw what was tickling her in-laws. While making her culinary masterpiece, she'd neglected to notice the package of pie shells contained not one but two piecrusts separated by stiff cellophane, which had melted from the heat of the oven.

In that moment, she wanted to crawl under the table and die.

And she would've too, except Dilly held up her hand and stopped the comedy show. “I hate to interrupt this fun—but my water just broke.”

U
pon learning Dilly was in labor, everyone thankfully forgot all about Faith's pie snafu and scrambled for their cars in order to form a grand parade to the hospital. “See you all there,” Geary hollered as he climbed inside the truck.

“We're going too?” she asked while snapping her seat belt in place.

“Well, yeah,” came his reply. “Of course we're going. We shouldn't be too late,” he added. “Dilly normally has her babies pretty quickly.”

Faith took a deep breath and considered her options. In her mind, the birth of a baby was meant to be a private and sweet moment between a husband and wife. Though she shouldn't be surprised that the Marins thought differently.

In Geary's family everything was meant to be shared.

They passed through the double glass doors of Conroe Regional Medical Center and headed through the three-story open atrium to the information desk. The woman behind the counter saw them approaching and pointed to the elevators. “Second floor.”

Geary nodded. “Thanks, Julie.”

They passed the darkened gift shop. “You know her?”

“Yeah, we went to high school together.”

In the waiting room, Veta passed out little pieces of paper and pens. “Okay, everybody. Listen up. Most of you know the drill.” She looked at Faith. “Except for you, dear. But you'll catch on. Now, I want everyone to guess the time, weight, and sex of the baby. Write your answers on the paper for points. Highest score is the first to hold the baby.”

Gina Rudd's eyes lit up. “Is the game just for family, or do we get to play too?”

Wendell grinned and patted Mr. Cheesey on the back. “Well, I don't know why not. You're all our church family. Although you're just wasting your time. I have a special knack, you know. Won both Gabby and Sam.”

Veta piped up. “And I won Gunner.”

Faith looked around. “Where are Gabby, Gunner, and Sam?”

Geary placed the paper against his knee and wrote out his guesses. “They're with Dilly and Bobby Lee.”

She raised her eyebrows. “In the birthing room?”

Veta smiled and passed her a pen. “It's certainly not how we did things. But they have their own ideas. We're just here to be a support.” She looked at Wendell. “Aren't we, honey?”

He didn't look so convinced. “I'm pretty old-school, I guess. Don't really care for all that.”

Veta leaned close to Nancy Patrick and lowered her voice. “Dilly wanted all of us in there.” She pointed her thumb toward her husband. “But there was no budging Wendell on that one.”

Faith felt a sudden solidarity with her father-in-law. She wasn't sure how, but she'd certainly have done her best to wiggle out of watching Dilly give birth too if she'd had to.

Veta moved about the waiting room and gathered up the contest entries.

Wendell handed his over, then popped her on the bottom. “I'm feeling pretty lucky tonight, Mama.”

The first hour passed and it was time for the ten o'clock news.
Faith retrieved the television control from a nearby table. “Anybody mind if I change the channel?”

No one responded. Those seated in the stiff-backed chairs were far too busy chattering, especially the women who were trading stories about their own pregnancies.

Faith pointed the control at the television mounted on the wall and clicked. KIAM-TV's opening news credits flashed on-screen. The late-night anchors led with a story about the rising price of gasoline.

From the chairs behind her, she could hear laughter. Veta recited a story about when she was pregnant with Geary.

“Back then, we didn't have those fancy tests telling us whether we were going to have a girl or boy. Someone from the church told Wendell if we wanted to find out, all we had to do was combine equal amounts of early morning urine with liquid drain cleaner. Do you remember that, Wendell?” She laughed again. “Well, we were stupid enough to try it. Only no one told us not to put a lid on the mason jar.”

Wendell interrupted. “That's right, and when Veta shook up that jar her eyes grew wide.”

“And I told you the jar was turning hot.”

Faith couldn't help herself. She turned to listen.

Veta's eyes sparkled with mirth. “It was. That jar heated up so fast I could barely hold on to the thing.”

“So she passed it off to me,” Wendell said, chuckling. “I immediately knew something was wrong and ran for the front door and gave the thing a toss.” He slapped his knee. “As soon as that jar hit the ground it exploded!”

Tears were now running down Veta's face. She fanned herself with her shirt to cool down. “That's right. Boom!”

Faith stared. “The jar exploded?”

“Oh, yes. Like to done scared us both to death.” Veta exchanged a knowing look with her husband.

Wendell grinned. “Moral of the story—”

“Moral of the story is don't listen to your crazy husband and his knot-headed friends.”

“That friend was an engineer,” Wendell reminded her.

Veta brushed him off with a wave of her hand. “That friend is a sweet soul and a fool.”

Next to her, Geary chuckled. He patted Faith's leg. “I think I'm going to go down for some coffee. Anyone else want some?”

When everyone declined, he turned to her. “Sure you don't want something?”

“Nah, I'm good.”

When the baby hadn't arrived by midnight, the people from church all said good night and headed home. Gina Rudd gave Veta a quick hug. “We'll be praying. You call me in the morning and let me know, okay?”

Veta promised she would.

Faith wished she could leave as well. She didn't know what Geary meant earlier when he'd said Dilly normally had her babies quickly. They'd already been here nearly four hours. In all likelihood, they would have to wait many more hours before the baby arrived.

Geary paced the floor, his third cup of coffee in hand. She motioned for him to sit. “Geary, you look pooped.”

He nodded and set his Styrofoam cup on the table. “Yeah, you too. Here, I'll give you the keys and I'll catch a ride with Mom and Dad.” He reached for his back pocket.

“No, that's okay. I mean, I'll stay with everybody.”

Suddenly, Bobby Lee burst into the waiting room. “Girl—seven pounds three ounces!”

Geary's face brightened and he slapped his hands together. “Ha—I believe that makes me the winner.” He stood and shook hands with his brother-in-law.

“When can we see them?” Veta asked.

“Follow me.” Bobby Lee led them down the hall while inside Faith sighed with relief. Now it wouldn't be much longer before she could go home with Geary.

Inside Dilly's room, Faith held back and watched what could only be described as a miniature circus playing out, with Dilly the main attraction and Veta the ringmaster.

“Oh, will you just look at that,” Veta exclaimed. “No red hair on that one. I think she's going to take after you, Bobby Lee.”

Dilly lifted her head in her husband's direction. “You need to get that video off to your mama and dad in Tulsa.”

Bobby Lee lifted the camera to Faith. “I'm not all that great at this electronic stuff. You know all about this. Maybe you can help me. Says I need to compress the file?”

He shoved the camcorder in her direction. On the little monitor she heard Dilly moan, saw her—

Faith quickly averted her eyes. “Sorry, I'm not technical either.”

It was then that she noticed Bobby Lee's blue scrubs were soaking wet. She also noted the lack of a delivery bed. In fact, this birthing suite looked nothing like she'd seen on television or in the movies.

Dilly sat in what looked like an oversized recliner. She wore a loose-fitting bathrobe and held a tiny bundle.

Over in the corner of the room, Faith heard splashing.

She looked past the cluster of bodies to a small whirlpool tub used for birthing. Gabby and Gunner sat on the edge, their legs dangling and splashing in the water. “You want to come swimming, Aunt Faith?”

She quickly declined. “Uh, no, I don't think so.”

Geary stepped forward. “I'm the one with the highest score.” He held out his hands and his sister moved the little infant wrapped in pink into his waiting arms.

Bobby Lee beamed. “Ain't she something?”

Geary peered down. “She sure is,” he said as he pulled the tiny
cap from the infant's head. His fingers brushed against the baby's wispy black hair while Veta and Wendell stood close by, admiring their new granddaughter.

“You did good, sis.”

Veta stepped forward. “Okay, my turn.” She looked at Wendell. “And then we're all going to pray over her.”

Reluctantly, Geary handed his little niece over to his mom's waiting arms. Even then, he stayed close and fussed over how beautiful he found this newborn. Clearly her husband was enamored.

His attitude didn't change, even on their way home.

“Bobby Lee said they are going to name her Violet Grace. I like that, don't you?”

“Yeah, that's pretty.” Faith rubbed at her temples. “Man, I need some serious sleep.” She pulled the visor mirror down and examined the dark circles under her eyes. “It's going to take some thick concealer tomorrow to hide the fact I spent a good portion of the night in a stiff hospital chair.”

Geary's expression turned soft. “Did you see her little eyes?”

She closed the visor. “Yeah, pretty cute. Bobby Lee and Dilly are sure going to have their hands full now.”

“And her mouth? Did you notice that perfect little mouth?”

“Mm-hmm.” She leaned against the headrest and closed her eyelids.

In a surprising move, he wove his fingers through hers and drew her hand to his lips, gently kissing one of her knuckles. “Faith, I know we haven't really talked about this, but I don't like where we're at right now. You and me.”

She squeezed his hand and softly said, “I don't either.”

“Can we just agree to move past whatever this is?” His face was troubled as he looked across at her.

She nodded, relishing the feel of his calloused hand against her own. An unexpected but not unwelcome surge of tenderness welled inside as his hand moved to the back of her neck and his
fingers played in her hair. The way he used to do, before everything turned so sour.

The ride home was strangely quiet. Neither of them seemed to know what to say next. Or maybe, like her, Geary dared not venture into dangerous waters, afraid to poke past the surface of their discussion, scared this tenuous truce might sink under even the slightest pressure to go deeper.

At home, they entered the condo and made small talk.

“What's this?” he asked, stopping in front of the counter.

She kicked off her shoes and realized how tired she really was. “That's our new Keurig coffeemaker. You remember, we saw one in the Woodlands Mall and said we might want to try one someday. So I bought one.”

He nodded. “Great. That's great.” He straightened the machine before turning and rifling through the stacks of bills placed next to the phone. Finally, he looked in her direction. “Well, guess we'd better get some sleep, huh?”

She agreed and followed him down the hall. “Yeah, I'm exhausted.”

Outside their darkened bedroom window, moonlight hit the surface of the lake, creating a shimmer that cascaded against the barest of ripples born of a gentle breeze blowing in from the Gulf.

Faith unbuttoned her blouse. Her husband sat on the edge of the bed removing his boots.

Together they slipped beneath the comforter. Geary pulled her to him and instinctively she wrapped her arms around his broad back. He put his hands into her hair and tilted her face toward his. Looking down, he murmured, “I've missed you, Faith.”

As she lay encircled in his arms, a surge of longing drew her to fasten her lips against his.

Unexpectedly, her eyes filled with tears as she clung to him, her body demanding and needy and lured by his own intensity, until finally the loneliness and ache of the last weeks subsided with their passion.

The following morning, Faith luxuriated in a hot shower while Geary cooked breakfast. She couldn't help but smile to herself, remembering last night. In some ways, she felt like a new bride on the morning after her wedding day.

Her spirit felt as light as the gauzy curtains on the bathroom window. It was as if heaven heard her prayers and she and Geary had been given a fresh beginning.

She headed to the kitchen, where Geary stood in front of the stove holding a spatula. “Hey, how do you work this thing?” He pointed to their new coffee machine.

She laughed and moved to show him how the little K-cups fit in the holder, how to press the lever down and start the brewing. She leaned playfully against his shoulder. “Mmm, smells good. What are you cooking?”

“Bacon and scrambled eggs. And I'm baking banana bread using those long darkened things in the fruit basket you call bananas.”