Eye of the Beholder (19 page)

“Getting us a security guard might ease
your
mind, but it doesn’t ease mine. You’re the one who was threatened. How safe will you be after you leave the office? Someone could be watching you.”

“I’ve made reservations at the Holiday Inn Express. It has a security guard. Will you stop worrying?”

Ellen squeezed his hand. “Julie put us on the prayer list at church.”

“Good, we need it.”

Ellen wondered how he could sound so nonchalant about it. “Guy, pray with me before you go.”

“All right, honey.” He took Ellen’s hands in his and paused for a few moments. “Father, Ellen and I have to be away from
each other, but we know Your eyes will be on both of us every second and that You know who’s behind this threat. We ask you to protect us, to bring the perpetrator to justice, and to give us peace as we leave the situation in Your hands. Be with us while we’re apart … and Lord, help us understand each other and not allow our disagreements to make us bitter. In Jesus’ name, we pray.”

Ellen opened her eyes and held his hand even after he started to let go. “Are you feeling bitter toward me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I know you didn’t. I’m asking.”

Guy exhaled. “I don’t see that we’ve resolved our differences about the Tehranis—or about any of your friends, for that matter.”

“You haven’t been home long enough for us to work through it.”

“I realize that. But truthfully, I don’t see any way to resolve it. I’m not going to forbid you to see them. And you’re not going to stop any other way.”

“Guy, that’s unfair. Except for the Bible study with Billy and Lisa, I haven’t seen any of my friends the entire week.”

“But you want to, that’s the point. I can’t change who you are, Ellen. But it’s a real problem for me. I just think you should be spending time with people who are more like us and have more in common with us.”

“I don’t want you leaving angry,” Ellen said. “It’s hard enough having you gone right now.”

“I’m not as angry as I am frustrated. It’s obvious from the news that the community’s concern that there might be a terrorist cell in the area is escalating, and I find your association with the Tehranis not only embarrassing, but downright unpatriotic. You don’t see it that way. So where does that leave us?”

Ellen bit her lip.
Lord, guard my words!
She counted to ten and tried not to let her face show the anger she was feeling. “I suppose it leaves us loving each other and having to work a little harder at understanding each other.”

“Yeah, I suppose it does. I need to get going.” He brushed her cheek with his lips and rose to his feet. “Call me when the security guard gets here. They promised to have someone over here late morning.”

Gordy Jameson sat at his desk and popped the last bite of a sausage biscuit into his mouth and washed it down with a gulp of orange juice. He read the headlines about the boys in the park harassing the Muslim family, then folded the newspaper and tossed it on the chair next to his desk just as the front door opened and closed.

“That you, Billy?”

“Yes, good mor-ning, Mister G!”

Gordy left his office, walked through the dining area, and stopped at the utility closet where Billy Lewis was bent over, gathering his cleaning supplies.

“How was the Bible study?”

Billy turned around, his eyes wide and full of life. “It was very fun. El-len said we did an excel-lent job.”

“I’m sure you did. You always give everything 100 percent.”

“I will work now.” Billy stood up tall, his bucket hung on his arm.

Gordy unlocked the door to the deck and let Billy squeeze past him. He heard the front door open and looked up, shocked to see Ali Tehrani.

Gordy walked over to him, his hand extended. “Doc, what a pleasure to see you.”

“Could we talk privately for a few minutes?” Ali said. “Do you have time?”

“You bet. Let’s go to my office. Can I offer you some coffee?”

“Yes, thank you. Black.”

Gordy walked over to the kitchen and stood in the doorway.
“Pam, darlin’, would you bring two cups of black coffee to my office, please?”

Pam caught his gaze, her eyes full of questions.

“There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” Gordy winked. “Bring that pretty smile, too.”

Gordy escorted Ali into his office and offered him a seat. “Here, let me get that newspaper out of your way.”

Gordy put the newspaper on his desk, then moved the other chair facing Ali’s and sat. “If I’d known you were comin’, I would’ve cleared all the junk out of this office. Pam says I’m a packrat.”

Ali smiled. “You should see mine.”

A few moments of awkward silence passed, and Gordy took note of the dark circles under Ali’s eyes—and how worn he looked.

A gentle knock on the door ended the silence, and Pam came through the doorway, carrying a small tray with two mugs of coffee and a refill pot.

“Here you go, gentlemen.” She set the tray on Gordy’s desk.

Gordy stood and took her hand in his. “Now I get the privilege of introducin’ two of my favorite people. Doc, I want you to meet my fiancée, Pam Townsend. Darlin’, this is Dr. Ali Tehrani.”

“So this is your lady?” Ali said, rising to his feet.

“Oh, my goodness,” Pam said, eagerly shaking his hand. “How nice to finally meet you. Gordy has told me so much about you and how kind you were to him and Jenny. I was looking forward to meeting you at the wedding.”

“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Pam. I see my friend Gordy has chosen well. Congratulations to you both.”

“Thank you.”

Gordy put his arm around Pam’s shoulder and pulled her close. “I can’t stay away from her, so I’ve got her workin’ here. She’s turnin’ out to be the dessert queen.”

“Speaking of that,” Pam said, “I need to finish making pies before we open. I’ll let you two catch up. Nice to meet you, Dr. Tehrani. I look forward to meeting your wife at the wedding.”

Pam left the office, and Gordy noticed rows of deep lines had appeared on Ali’s forehead.

“I’ve been worried about you, Doc. How’d you get in here without the media on your tail?”

Ali smiled weakly. “I left my car parked outside the Bagel Barn, then slipped out the back door and walked over here.”

“I’m glad to see you, but I have a feelin’ this isn’t a social call.”

“No.” Ali took a sip of coffee. “I regret to tell you that Mina and I will not be attending your wedding.”

“Aw, I hate to hear that. You’re not lettin’ the media scare you off, are you?”

“Mina and I would very much like to be there, but our presence would be disruptive. That’s not fair to you and Pam.”

“What other people think has nothin’ to do with Pam and me. You’re a special friend and I’d really be honored if you’d be there.”

“It is I who would be honored. But I can’t accept the invitation. I simply will not bring to your joyous occasion division and sorrow. When things settle down, Mina and I would like to invite you and Pam to our home for a private time of celebration. But your wedding is not the place to invite trouble. I didn’t want to tell you this over the phone. That’s why I’m here.”

Gordy saw Ali’s eyes fill with tears and blinked away the stinging in his own.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am for you, Gordy. When Jenny died, I had never seen a man more broken than you were. And now, to see you whole again … well, it just shows how healing is the love of a good woman.”

Gordy nodded. “That it is. Pam’s terrific. She’s not replacin’ Jenny. Never even tried to. But what we have is really somethin’ special. I already can’t imagine my life without her.”

Ali’s watch beeped. “That’s my reminder that I have a new patient evaluation at nine-fifteen. I’m afraid I must leave now.”

Gordy stood and shook hands with Ali. “This hurts me, Doc—not that you’ve decided not to come to the wedding, but the reasons why you felt you couldn’t. I hate to see what the media’s doin’ to you.”

“It’s more than the media, my friend. It’s the American mindset since 9/11. People think all Muslims are violent, but it’s the terrorists who are evil. They’ve twisted the Quran to suit their own purposes, and I have no respect for what they’re doing. I understand why people are scared. I’m scared, too. I don’t want to see America attacked and all of us living in fear. That is not the America I was drawn to, the one I pledged my allegiance to. I am as disheartened by it as any other citizen.”

“Doc, did the FBI question you just because you’re Iranian?”

“No. I have a nephew who doesn’t use good sense and has been involved in rallies against U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. He had also been in my home recently, and the FBI knew that. What they didn’t know is I had thrown him out and told him not to come back till he stopped spewing his political venom. Long story short, I agreed to help the FBI find my nephew. I knew Bobak was all talk and figured he might as well face the FBI and get it over with. Unfortunately, they are still holding him. And my family in Iran will have nothing more to do with me.”

“Wow, that’s tough,” Gordy said.

“But it’s getting dangerous to be a Muslim American. People hate what they fear. So what am I to do? I’m too Americanized ever to go back to Iran, listening day after day only to Aljazeera. That world is much too small for me. I’m a Muslim, yes. But in America, I’m informed and free to make the choices I want. At least, I was.”

 19
 

G
uy Jones sat at his desk, a mound of paperwork seeming to grow taller before his eyes. How well would he survive two weeks without Kinsey to keep him organized—especially without having had time to prepare in advance?

Much to his chagrin, the temp Brent hired, Marsha what’s-her-name, had the personality of a paperweight and reminded him of his ninth-grade history teacher—one more stress he didn’t need.

Everyone else must be feeling it, too. The tension in the office seemed almost tangible. No one was talking to him about the threat, but a security guard had been posted outside the main door of the law offices. Brent was fielding all calls from the media.

A voice came over his intercom. “Mr. Jones, your sister is on line one, sir.”

Sister?
“Which sister?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t ask. Would you like me to find out?”

“No. I’ll take it, Marsha. Thanks.”

He sat for a moment, his thoughts racing, then picked up the receiver. “Hello, Sis. This is your adoring brother, the one who doesn’t have a sister. So who are you with—newspaper, TV, or radio?”

“Guy, keep your voice down. I don’t want anyone in the office to hear you.”

“Kinsey?”

“Yes. Is your door closed?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong? I can hardly hear you.”

“I need to see you. Some place where we can talk.”

“Are you in trouble?”

“I’ll explain when I see you. Just promise you’ll come alone.”

“Not till I’m sure this isn’t some kind of setup.” Guy lowered his voice. “Is someone forcing you to call and entice me to meet you?”

“No.”

“If someone’s forcing you and you can’t say so, just cough.”

“Guy, no one’s forcing me to do anything. Look, I have to see you
today
. I can’t explain it over the phone …”

He heard sniffling. Was she crying?

“Where do you want to meet?”

“Holbrook Park. Get on the Eva Holbrook Nature Trail, and I’ll find you. Guy, please come alone. I don’t trust anyone else with this.”

“What time?” he heard himself say.

“Two.”

Guy paused to consider what he was about to do. Would Kinsey let him walk into a trap without trying to warn him? His pulse raced so fast he felt lightheaded.

“Kinsey … it’s not too late to cough.”

“I promise you, no one’s forcing me to do anything! But if you don’t meet me and hear what I have to say … please, just be there.”
Click
.

Ellen closed her Bible and set it on the end table, the words she’d read in Romans 12:16 echoing in her mind: “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”

How was she supposed to reconcile this with Guy’s desire that she not associate with the Hamiltons, the Tehranis, the Lewises, or Blanche Davis? She didn’t see any of her friends as
lesser than herself. She had never even thought about the social differences until Guy had made such an issue of it.