Finding the Way Back (Book 1 in the Forgiving Hearts Trilogy) (16 page)

“No problem. I wasn’t ready to grade a bunch of research papers anyway.”

“So instead you’ll stay up all night tonight. Now I feel terrible.”

Laurel grinned. “I have tomorrow afternoon and evening, too.”

“You’re not going with us to the concert?”

“Not this time. Greg won’t mind having you to himself for a change.”

“We won’t be alone. They’ll be at least five hundred people there.”

As Laurel poured more paint into the tray, her thoughts went back to where they’d been most of the day: deciding whether she should spend time with Colton. It wasn’t a matter of not going because she had other things to do. There was plenty of time to finish grading papers before Monday. Her reluctance was based on something less tangible. If Colton was trying to recreate the past, she wasn’t sure either of them was ready for what they might find.

Would the memories of former times interfere with the present? Could they forget the instances when they’d had to find out who won the game the next morning? A blush rose in her cheeks at the trend of such thoughts.
Why was she so embarrassed?
They’d been married and very much in love. Glancing anxiously behind her in the direction of Rose, she willed her face to return to its normal color. She needed to concentrate on painting – not reminisce about something that had no bearing on today.

After the evidence of a day’s painting had been removed and everything had been returned to its place in the kitchen, Laurel checked the clock on the wall. It was just past mid-afternoon. If she was going to accept Colton’s invitation, she had plenty of time to return to her apartment. Then she could shower and change clothes without Rose hovering over her. Her stress level was high enough; she didn’t need another person giving her advice no matter how well-meaning.

Taking a deep breath, Laurel walked over and put her arm around Rose’s shoulders. Her sister was taking pictures of the new and improved kitchen to send to their parents. “I’m going to tell you something, and I don’t want you to freak out.”

Rose lowered the phone and turned to stare at her. “Please don’t tell me you’ve decided to move back to Charleston.”

Laurel gave her a little shake. “Why would I do that?”

“Because Colton is here, and I know that’s making you unhappy.”

“It
was
making me unhappy. I don’t feel that way anymore.”

Rose’s eyes narrowed. “When did this happen, and what does it mean?”

“It’s been a gradual thing, and I don’t know what it means yet. What I’m trying to tell you is that Colton invited me over to a friend’s house to watch football.”

“Is this a date?” Rose asked, obviously confused.

“I don’t think either of us is thinking of it in those terms. Anyway, I’m going home to change clothes, and then I’ll be heading back this way. His friend lives on Maple Ridge.”

“I wouldn’t think a party is the best place to begin a reconciliation.”

“It’s not a party; it’s just me and him.”

Rose threw her hands up, dropping her phone in the process. “I feel as if I’m trying to put a puzzle together with several key pieces missing. Are you guys getting back together?”

Laurel bent down and retrieved the phone. “You’re going to break this thing. As for me and Colton, it’s more like getting reacquainted with no expectations or strings attached.”

“A few weeks ago you were adamant about not seeing him at all, and now you’re going to spend the evening with him. What happened to change your mind?”

Leaning forward, Laurel kissed her sister’s smooth cheek. “Things are complicated right now. Suffice it to say that I thought my journey was over when it’s really just beginning. Keep me in your prayers. I’ll see you at church in the morning.”

* * * *

Once the wings were in the oven, simmering in a marinade he hoped wasn’t too spicy, Colton started on the cookies. The dough came together just as he wanted and after tasting it several times, he rolled it into balls and placed them on two cookie sheets.

Taking advantage of Mallory’s two ovens, he checked the progress of the wings in the top and placed the cookies in the bottom. After cleaning up the mess, he went to let the animals inside. The dogs rushed through the door and headed straight to the laundry room. The puppy was nowhere to be seen. A glance at the timer for the cookies showed ten minutes.

After a quick inspection of the yard, Colton was stumped. Where could the puppy have gone? He decided to go back to the kitchen and remove the cookies from the oven before continuing his search. The puppy had to be somewhere within the confines of the fenced yard. He had his hand on the doorknob when he heard a childish voice say, “You’re bleeding, Davey.”

The cookies were forgotten. Colton let himself out the side gate and peered around the privacy fence into the yard next door. Two children stood within a few feet of him. The boy, who looked about five, had a long scratch running down his leg. He was doing a valiant job of hanging on to the missing puppy. The girl next to him appeared to be a few years older. In her arms was an orange-striped kitten who, like its counterpart, was trying desperately to escape.

“Hello, there,” Colton called to them in a gentle voice.

The girl looked at him suspiciously. “You’re not Mr. Spence.”

“No, I’m um, Mr. Colton. I came to get Mr. Spence’s puppy. It’s time for his nap.”

The boy shook his head. “Doggies don’t take naps.”

“Sure they do,” Colton assured him. “Could you bring him to me so I can take him home?”

The girl began backing toward the house. “We’re not supposed to talk to strangers.”

“Okay. Could you get your mom so I can talk to her?”

Grabbing the boy by the arm, the girl dragged him up the steps and into the house. A few seconds later, a young woman came running out the screen door, the now thoroughly unhappy puppy in her arms. She slowed to a more dignified walk when she saw Colton leaning against the fence.

“Oh, it’s you, Dr. Samuels. Mallory told me you might be housesitting this weekend.” She held out the puppy. “I believe this is what you came for.”

“Yes, it is. Thank you,” he said as he held the shaking puppy against his shoulder. “I can’t figure out how he escaped.”

She laughed. “Jonathan snuck in and got him. He did it the other day to Spence. I’m sorry about that. If I’d noticed sooner, I would have brought him back and saved you all this trouble.”

“No problem. I wasn’t looking forward to telling Mallory that I lost him.”

“I don’t blame you.” She wrinkled her nose a few times. “It smells like something is burning.”

Colton’s smile faded. “Oh, no! I think it’s my cookies.”

With a distracted wave in her direction, he ran back around the house, noting the ominous smells emanating through the half-open door. When he got inside and opened the oven door, plumes of smoke emerged and the pungent odor of burnt dough told him the cookies were past saving. He hurriedly put the puppy in the safety of the laundry room and returned to the kitchen. After turning off the oven, Colton grabbed the oven mitts and removed the blackened circles that were supposed to be dessert.

While he was trying to figure out what to do, the doorbell rang. The absurdity of his predicament struck him, and he couldn’t help but laugh. If he’d been worried about breaking the ice with Laurel, that problem had been solved.

Colton was still grinning when he opened the door. “Hello.”

“Hi,” Laurel replied, the shy smile that always got to him settling on her face. As she followed him inside, she asked, “Is something burning?”

“Not anymore. The crisis is over.”

“So I missed all the excitement?”

“Let’s hope so. How did the painting project go?”

“Very well. I’m all ready to paint my apartment now.”

He motioned her to follow him down the wide hallway to the kitchen. “I need to check the wings and throw away the cookies.”

“Did you forget to set the timer?” she asked.

Colton walked over to the island situated in the middle of the kitchen. “No, I set the timer. What I didn’t count on was having to conduct a puppy search.”

“Oh, the puppy! Where is he? I want to see him.”

“Let me put the other two outside, and I’ll bring him to you.”

When he came back, Laurel eagerly took the puppy from his outstretched hands. “He’s adorable; what’s his name?”

Colton looked embarrassed. “I don’t know. Spence never said, and I didn’t ask.”

“What have you been calling him?”

“Little guy, snuggle bunny, cutie pie – that sort of thing.”

She laughed until tears were in her eyes. “That is so you, Colton,” she said when she could finally catch her breath enough to speak.

He shrugged. “It’s not like he minded.”

“Not as long as you were willing to hold him.”

Bending down, she kissed the puppy’s wet nose. Colton wished it had been his nose, and then thought how silly it was to be jealous of a puppy. As he removed the wings from the oven and threw the cookies away, he listened to the one-sided conversation taking place behind him. If what he heard was any indication, the puppy was going to get the lion’s share of Laurel’s attention for the remainder of the evening.

“The television is in the family room – through that archway behind you. We can relax in there while the wings cool off a bit. Can I get you something to drink? I’ve got iced tea and soda.”

“Tea sounds great,” Laurel answered as she rocked the puppy back and forth in her arms. “I’ll go see what’s going on with some of the games.”

He joined her a few minutes later, a glass of tea in each hand. She was curled up on the far end of the couch, the puppy asleep in her lap. Colton set her glass on the coffee table and took a seat in a chair a few feet away.

“With a screen this size, you don’t need to go to the game,” she said. “It’s like you’re right there in the stadium.”

“I know, and high definition doesn’t hurt either.”

“Do your friends mind you inviting people over?”

“No, but you’re the first person I’ve asked. I wouldn’t feel comfortable hosting a group of people at someone else’s house. It’s different with you, of course.”

Laurel didn’t ask why it was different. She returned her attention to the game.

Colton didn’t mind the silence. He needed a few minutes to settle his racing pulse. It didn’t help that he couldn’t keep his eyes on the television. He kept stealing glances at Laurel, almost as if to reassure himself that she was really there. Her voice broke abruptly into his thoughts.

“That was a terrible call. The defender was draped all over the receiver. How could they not see that?”

He hid a smile. At least one of them was paying attention to the game.  Fortunately for him, the play was being reshown in slow motion. “The defender was looking back for the ball, but you’re right, his hand was on the receiver’s back.”

“Now it’s fourth down. They’ll have to punt.” She glanced down at the puppy. “I’d like to take a drink, but I don’t want to disturb him.”

Without a word, Colton jumped up and handed her the glass.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile.

“Your welcome. Are you going to eat with him on your lap?” he asked teasingly.

She ran her fingers over the soft fur. “If you don’t mind bringing my plate to me.”

“I don’t mind. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Once in the kitchen, Colton took a deep breath and drifted over to stand at the window. Being alone with Laurel was as agonizing as it was thrilling. He didn’t want to sit three feet away from her; he wanted to be close enough to hear her breathe and feel the sweep of her hair sliding across his skin. Leaning his head against the glass, he fought to control the yearnings inside him.
Why did he feel guilty about being attracted to his wife?
This was the woman he loved above all others. His reactions were normal and not surprising given how long he’d been without her. The worst part was the knowledge that his wounds were self-inflicted. He forfeited the right to act on his feelings for Laurel when he ventured outside their marriage.

With a sigh that seemed to come from the depths of his tortured soul, he moved away from the window and began arranging food on their plates. He refused to allow his frustration to ruin this time with her.
Instead of childishly wishing for more, he needed to appreciate what he did have. A few weeks ago this evening would never have happened.

He carried the plates into the living room, an apology for the delay hovering on his lips. The words, however, were never spoken. Every thought flew from his mind at the sight of Laurel asleep on the couch, the puppy curled up next to her.

As he returned to the kitchen, he asked in an anguished whisper, “How could I have ever wanted anyone else?”

* * * *

Laurel burrowed further underneath the blanket. Painting Rose’s kitchen had been more exhausting than she realized, and she’d only had a short break before she went to see Colton. She wished she could have brought the puppy home.
Had they ever eaten?
All she could recall was iced tea and burnt cookies. She couldn’t remember who won the game or even driving home.
What was going on?