Husband Wanted (19 page)

Frannie had an uneasy feeling that Mandy was depressed. Although the girl had finally climbed out of bed, she had not bathed, nor had she changed out of her pajamas in two days. She had barely touched her dinner the night before. “You’re going to have to eat something, Mandy. If you don’t, I’m taking you to the doctor.” She waited. “So, what’s it going to be?”

Mandy sat in a chair at the table. “Toast and strawberry jam.” She paused. “Please,” she added.

Frannie would have preferred scrambling a couple of eggs with the girl’s order, but she didn’t push. Instead, she put two slices of bread into the toaster, walked to the refrigerator and grabbed a jar of strawberry jam. She heard a pop and turned around, looking for its source. Black smoke curled from the socket where the toaster was plugged. “Oh, no!” she cried and raced to unplug it. The outlet was black.

Mandy stood and walked closer. “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” Frannie said, trying not to panic, “but I’m calling an electrician immediately.” She knew it wouldn’t be easy finding one on a Saturday. The doctors’ office she used was open all day, seven days a week, but finding a repairman was next to impossible, and if she did, she would probably have to pay an extra service fee. Still, she couldn't afford to risk having her house burn down. She reached for the phone book, scanned the Yellow Pages, and dialed a number. She got a recording. Finally, on her third attempt, she reached a human being. She quickly filled him in.

He asked for her address and promised to arrive around lunchtime.

Frannie had barely hung up the phone when the doorbell rang. She opened the door and found Clay standing on the other side.

“Is Mandy ready?”

Frannie blinked. “Ready for what?”

“She wanted to go riding today, so I told her I’d pick her up at ten o’clock.”

“She didn’t mention it.”

“Should I wait for her in my car?”

“No, of course not. Please come in.” Frannie stepped back so he could enter.

“What’s that smell?” he asked. “Is something burning?”

Frannie told him about the outlet. “I called an electrician. He’ll be here in a couple of hours.”

“I’m no expert on electrical matters, but it doesn’t sound good. This wiring may not be safe.”

“Guess I’ll find out when he gets here. Um, I hate that you drove all the way over here, but Mandy isn’t feeling well.”

“What’s wrong with her? Is she sick?”

Frannie turned to make certain they were alone. “I don’t know, Clay,” she said, almost in a whisper. “She just wants to stay in bed. I think—” She paused. She did not want to burden Clay with their problems.

“You think what?”

Frannie saw the concern in his eyes. “I guess you could say she’s down in the dumps.”

“All the more reason for her to go,” he said. “Get her out in the sunshine and fresh air. It’ll cheer her up.”

Frannie decided Clay had a right to know. “It’s more than that,” she whispered. “I think she is depressed.”

He looked past Frannie. “Hi, Mandy.”

Frannie turned. Mandy stood in the doorway. “Did you forget Clay was taking you riding this morning?” Frannie asked.

“I figured you had better things to do,” she said to Clay. “Besides, I don’t want you to feel obligated.”

He crossed the room. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than spend time with you, and I’m not here because I feel obligated. What’s wrong, Mandy?”

“Wouldn’t you have more fun taking your girlfriend?”

Frannie blushed. “Mandy, why don’t you finish your breakfast?”

Clay looked confused. “Would somebody please tell me what’s going on?”

“I know all about her,” Mandy said. “Her name is Regina,” she added.

“Regina? She’s not my girlfriend. I don’t
have
a girlfriend.” He looked at Frannie. “What is she talking about?”

“Somebody told me you took this Regina person to a fancy French restaurant, and Mandy overheard the conversation. She got upset.” Frannie looked at her daughter. “It’s none of our business, honey.”

“I’m making it your business if Mandy is so distraught,” he said. He looked at Mandy. “Regina is an architect. I hired her to draw up blueprints because I’m getting ready to break ground in a new subdivision.”

“That’s nice,” Frannie said. “You must be getting ready to build on the properly along the river.”

He shrugged it off. “No, that whole thing sort of fell through.”

“Fell through?” she asked.

“I changed my mind, okay? I have a right to change my mind. Right now I’d like to change the subject.” He looked at Mandy. “Do you want to go horseback riding or not?”

“No. You were only being nice to me because of my mom. Because you were in love with her.”

“I’m
still
in love with her,” Clay said, “but she doesn’t love
me.”

“I never said that,” Frannie replied.

“You didn’t have to. I was smart enough to figure it out for myself.” He returned his gaze to Mandy. “The truth is, my feelings for your mom have nothing to do with you and me. I was not completely honest with your mom in the beginning. She has a right to feel disappointed.”

“I don’t understand,” Mandy said. “I lied from the very beginning, but Mom didn’t stop
loving
me.” She looked at Frannie.
“You
lied. I didn’t stop loving
you
. Clay didn’t stop loving you. Why is
he
being punished?”

Frannie gave an enormous sigh. “It’s complicated, Mandy.”

“No, it’s not. You shouldn’t stop loving somebody because they made a mistake. Not when you’re just as guilty. I’m never going to fall in love. It’s not worth it.” She turned for the door.

“It’s absolutely worth it, Mandy,” Frannie said. “Falling in love is the best feeling in the world. You feel like you’re walking on air. You can’t stand being away from that person even for five minutes.”

“Why are you telling
me
this?” Mandy asked. “You should be telling Clay.” She walked out of the room.

“I don’t think she’s depressed anymore,” he said. “More like angry.”

Frannie nodded. “I agree. But she’s right. I’m guilty as charged.” She paused and tried to gather her thoughts. “I hope you can forgive me.”

He looked thoughtful. “Somebody taught me it was wrong to be angry and resentful of others. It was a good lesson.”

“Yeah? Only the person who taught you didn’t follow her own advice. I have just one question, and I want the truth.”

“Okay.”

“I want to know what happened with the land deal.”

“You just don’t give up, do you? The truth is, I gave the land back to my father.”

Frannie was stunned. “Are you crazy? That was your dream.”

Clay frowned. “Let me see if I have this straight. You were mad because I accepted it, and now you’re mad because I gave it back.”

“I was deeply hurt, Clay. If you must know the truth, I had already fallen in love with you.”

He stepped closer. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I was afraid. It happened too quickly.”

“Not for me.”

Frannie sighed. “You don’t know what it’s been like around here. I hit the floor each morning in a dead run. There is never enough time.”

“You’d have more time if you would swallow your pride and let me help you. Starting with Mandy. I can take her to school and pick her up. If I’m tied up, Dad can do it. I can take her to dinner or cook something for her, if you have a late class. I can help her study for exams. I can buy you a car so you won’t have to worry that it’s going to break down on you. And, you can argue all you like, but I don’t feel like you and Mandy are safe if you’re having electrical problems. I’m moving you back to Dad’s place.”

Frannie was already shaking her head. “I can’t let you do that. And I certainly can’t let you buy me a car.”

“You could if we were engaged.”

Frannie’s jaw dropped. “Engaged? Are you proposing?”

“Yes.” He pulled a velvet box from his pocket and opened it.

Frannie was speechless, not only at the proposal but the size of the diamond.

“This belonged to my mother,” he said. “I’ve been carrying it around for weeks just in case you stopped being mad at me. Would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Frannie simply stood there. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Oh, jeez,” Mandy called out from the kitchen. “Just say yes, Mom.”

Frannie could feel herself growing emotional. The backs of her eyes burned, and a giant lump suddenly filled the back of her throat. She swallowed several times. “Okay, I’ll agree to marry you on a couple of conditions.”

Mandy groaned from the doorway. “See? Nothing is ever simple around here. Mom, it’s not a multiple choice question. You either say yes or no.”

Frannie tossed her a look. “Put a sock in it, kiddo. This is
my
marriage proposal, not yours.”

“I’m listening,” Clay said. “What are the conditions?”

“You tell your dad you’ve changed your mind about the land on the river. I want you to have your dream.”

“Okay. I might just build us a nice house. I have just the spot in mind.”

“What’s the other condition?”

“We hold off making plans until I graduate in a month.”

“I can do that,” Clay said. “Do we have a deal?”

“We have a deal,” Frannie said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Yes!” Mandy yelled, causing both of them to jump. She joined them. “Hurry, Clay. Put the ring on her finger, before she changes her mind.”

“I’m not going to change my mind,” Frannie said.

Clay slipped the ring on her finger. “If it’s too loose or too tight I can have it sized.”

Frannie was both surprised and delighted. “Actually, it’s a perfect fit!”

Clay stood and pulled Frannie into his arms. “I love you, Frannie.”

“I love you back,” she said.

He kissed her as Mandy stood and watched, grinning wide. “Are you going to adopt me?” she asked Clay.

“Absolutely!”

Frannie gave an eye-roll. “Actually, I have to adopt you as well.”

“Mind doing me a favor, Mandy?”

She shrugged. “Okay.”

“Get lost for a while so I can talk to your mom?”

“I need to take a shower anyway. I’m so tired of pretending I’m sick.”

“What are you talking about?” Frannie asked.

“I figured if you and Clay thought something was wrong with me, you would actually talk to each other. And, hopefully, work things out.”

Clay laughed. “Smart kid.”

Frannie didn’t think it was funny. “Do you realize how worried I was?” She didn’t wait for Mandy to respond. “You are
so
grounded.”

“Aw, cut her some slack,” Clay said. “She did us a huge favor.” He bent down and kissed Frannie again, only this time she slipped her arms around his waist and returned it. She heard Mandy’s bedroom door close.

Finally, Clay raised his head. “You really love me?” he asked.

“More than you’ll ever know.”

“Well, I only have one thing to say,” he replied. “It’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.”