Authors: Lesa Henderson
****
On Sunday morning, following breakfast, Megan presented Helen with her Mother’s Day gift. She was gratified with her choice, when upon unwrapping the beautifully woven afghan, her mother let out a long appreciative sigh.
“Oh, Megan, this is so lovely. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I bought it at one of the craft booths at the Spring Fling. Maybe next year, you can come up and go with me. I think you’d really enjoy it.”
“We’ll plan on it,” Helen agreed, with a tender smile.
A short time later, just as promised, Ben Cartier arrived to take them to church. He was a well-dressed gentleman in his late fifties with tan features, dark eyes and dark hair that had grown silver at his temples. After a few hours in his company, Megan decided she liked him immensely.
He was handsome and charming with impeccable manners, but more importantly, he treated her mother like a queen. He showered her with attention while treating her with the utmost respect. Most importantly, though, he was a Christian.
It was quite obvious to Megan he was smitten with Helen. She could not have been happier for them. If anyone deserved to find love and happiness, it was her mother.
Megan enjoyed her visit to Ben’s church, believing it was a good place for her mom to worship. Before they knew it, their visit had come to an end. That afternoon, when Lee arrived to pick her up and take her to dinner on their way back home to Laurel Ridge, Megan left with a misty farewell and an invitation for her mother
and
Ben to visit her, soon.
Chapter Sixteen
Once they were on their way, Megan interrupted the silence, “So where are we going for dinner?”
“It is on the outskirts of town and is called Hilltop. Have you ever been there?”
“No, can’t wait to try it.”
Their discussion turned to the scenery they were passing. It didn’t take long to reach the restaurant. The name Hilltop fit the location perfectly, for it sat elevated on a hill surrounded by giant, old oak trees dripping with moss. The back of the large split-level restaurant was filled with tall windows, overlooking a large lake and giving the diners a perfect view. On the lake’s edge nearest the restaurant, large wrought-iron hanging lanterns, as well as the ones bordering the path meandering from the restaurant balcony down to the lake, were already burning brightly in anticipation of the soon-approaching sunset.
The Maitre D’ led them through the crowded dining room to the back, seating them at a round table for two, situated right next to the windows. Lee pulled out Megan’s chair, helping her to be seated before taking his place across the table from her.
On an elevated wooden stage near the center of the dining room, a jazz band led by a saxophone player entertained the patrons with soft, soulful melodies. The elegant interior, low lighting, soft music, and the picturesque lake created a romantic ambience.
After the waiter took their order, they both sat for a few moments in silence, relaxing in the soothing atmosphere. Megan was absorbing the feel of the place, while Lee was absorbing her.
Lee stared at her, as she stared outside at the couples making their way, hand-in-hand, to the water’s edge to enjoy the sunset. Some had already stopped and were sitting on the benches that were scattered along the path leading down to the lake.
As Lee studied Megan, he couldn’t help but think she had never looked more beautiful than she did at that moment. Her chestnut hair was swept up in a twist highlighting her high cheekbones. A few stray tendrils escaped which only served to draw attention to the graceful slope of her slender neck.
Her face radiated with a soft glow that it had not had before she came to Christ and this made her even lovelier. Lee loved everything about her, especially those few freckles that were lightly scattered across that pert nose of hers.
Her hand was lying idly on the table as Lee reached over and covered it with his. When she turned her head toward him, the look he thought he saw in her eyes took his breath away and caused his heart to skip a beat. Yet, it was there and then gone so quickly he wondered if he had been mistaken. He cleared his throat slightly, asking, “How was your weekend?”
At his question, her entire face lit up. Without reserve, she launched into a discourse of the past two days’ events, including how close she believed her mother was to coming to Christ, her meeting the new man in her mother’s life and her visit to her dad’s grave. She paused only long enough for the waiter to set their food before them and refill their glasses.
Lee enjoyed watching her. Her expressions were animated and she was talking with her hands.
“Wow. Sounds like God’s really been working on your behalf, as well as your mom’s.” He was thankful for Megan being able to visit the cemetery and begin putting things behind her at last.
“It’s amazing, Lee. I am so humbled by the fact He really has been faithful, while I on the other hand—” she broke the sentence off.
“I felt exactly the same way when I finally came to the realization God was looking after me and directing my steps, even while I was rejecting Him.”
She nodded as she swallowed another bite of the prime rib Lee had ordered her. “How was the visit with your mom?”
“It was good, though tense at times. She’s supposed to come visit me in Laurel Ridge soon.”
“Really, why?”
“Because she wants to see me,” Lee answered teasingly, knowing full well she was questioning the first half of his statement.
“Okay, smarty pants. I meant…why was it tense?”
“My mother is still unhappy about the possibility I may move to Laurel Ridge permanently. Plus, she doesn’t understand my Christian walk, or why I won’t ask Felicia to marry me.”
“Felicia who?” she asked softly hoping her voice was not filled with the tenseness she was suddenly feeling at the thought of Lee engaged or married.
“Someone I used to date.”
Megan grew quiet for a moment as she sipped her drink and looked out the window at the starlit sky and glowing lanterns reflecting off the lake.
“Do you want to marry her?” Megan finally asked, with baited breath.
“At one time I thought I did.”
“And now…?”
“Now, I’m a very different person from the one Felicia believes she fell in love with, or at least wants to share her life,” he answered, honestly.
“How so?” Megan probed, though she believed she already knew the answers.
“Other than the obvious reason of my conversion, my priorities have changed drastically.”
“Like the whole city/country thing?”
“Yeah that among other issues…I don’t believe it.” Lee changed the subject in midsentence.
****
Megan followed his gaze to a tall, statuesque brunette who was walking toward their table. Or rather sauntering seductively. She seemed very familiar and Megan felt certain she knew her from somewhere. As she tried to figure out where, the hair on the back of Megan’s neck stood on end.
Lee stood politely as the woman approached the table and then reached over to kiss him on the lips.
“Lee, darling,” she fairly purred. “Your mother told me you might be here tonight.”
Lee did not look overjoyed at this information as the beauty promptly turned her attention to Megan, and with a catlike smile, said, “Well hello…Megan, isn’t it?”
Recognition hit Megan, with no less of an impact than a punch in the gut. Her dinner lurched into her throat.
“You know each other?” Lee asked, in surprise.
Megan was completely unable to speak.
Felicia took full advantage of her silence. “I’d say we’re more like acquaintances, wouldn’t you, Megan? I don’t think we were ever formally introduced, but we traveled somewhat in the same circle.” She paused and looked at Megan with gleaming cat eyes.
“In fact, I believe another
acquaintance
of yours is here tonight, too, Megan. Perhaps you’ll bump into Trevor; I’m sure Lee would like to meet him.” Felicia gave her a malicious smile.
“Well, I must be off. Lee, darling, I’ll give you a call about that invitation to come visit.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Lee’s, this time pressing her body to his. Immediately, gently but firmly, he moved her away. When he looked down at Megan, his face was flushed with color.
“I’m sorry, darling; I forgot how proper you’ve become.” Felicia breathed, before turning to Megan, like a cat toying with a mouse.
“If I spot Trevor again, I’ll be sure to let him know you’re here. I’m certain he’d be interested in seeing you again.” With that final blow, Felicia turned and sashayed away.
Lee sat back down and stared at Megan, who simply stared numbly at him. She could feel all of the color draining from her face. She was shaken, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.
Megan’s insides were in turmoil. She could not believe this woman was the Felicia who Lee dated. She could not believe, that of all the restaurants in the surrounding Atlanta area, her past would meet her here tonight.
She wanted to say something, but fear and shame kept her silent. Finally, when she did speak, she said in a strange voice, “That’s really not your color.”
When Lee looked nonplussed, she added, “You’re wearing your girlfriend’s bright red lipstick.”
****
The evening had such an enchanted beginning, Megan mused on the silent road home, but it had ended with a sickening jolt.
Thankfully, she had no encounter with Trevor and didn’t know if he was really even there. However, the fear that she may indeed run into him was enough to ruin her appetite, spoil her evening, and make her want to find the nearest hole to crawl into.
What made her believe she could ever escape what she’d done?
After Felicia left, they declined dessert and departed without taking the anticipated walk down to the lake. The journey home was overwhelmed with stiff silence. After several unsuccessful attempts to draw her into conversation, Lee finally gave up.
Upon arriving at her cabin, Lee parked his car and unloaded Megan’s bags, taking them up the front steps and putting them by the front door. He waited as Megan fumbled with the key and then tried to get the door unlocked.
She knew what she must do.
She could not keep her hands from shaking. After a couple more failed attempts, Lee took the key from her, slipped it easily into the lock and turned the knob. He pushed the door open and moved her bags, setting them down inside.
Lee turned toward her. “Megan?”
She had not turned the lights on, but the moon was shining brightly enough that she could read the confusion on his face.
She knew what she should do but she didn’t have the courage. Maybe she could wait. Sleep on it and maybe an answer would come to her. She couldn’t bear to let him go. Not now, not when she’d just found him. She looked up at his handsome face etched with lines of concern as he waited for her to answer him. He was such a gentle, caring man. He was her gentle giant.
Without thought, Megan wrapped her arms around him and laid her head against his chest.
“I’m okay,” she said, her voice muffled against his chest. “I’m just tired.” That wasn’t untrue. She was tired and scared. And, she completely disliked Felicia. She supposed she should pray about that. Later.
As if reading her thoughts, Lee offered gently, “Look, I’m really sorry about Felicia. She can be…well…she can really be something else. I had no idea—”
“It’s okay—really. I shouldn’t have let it get to me and I shouldn’t have responded the way I did. I can’t picture you with someone like that.”
Lee rested his head on top of hers. “I can’t either—now.”
“But you could once?”
“Yeah, but it seems like a long time ago.”
Megan nodded her head. She was the last person to judge someone for making a mistake in a relationship.
She wanted to stay wrapped securely in his arms for the remainder of the night, perhaps even forever, but instead she gently extracted herself. “You must be tired and I know you’ll have a long day tomorrow. You better get going.” She smiled so he would know she wasn’t angry.
“You’re okay?” He wanted to know anyway. She nodded.
“We’re okay?” He rephrased the question and she could hear the disquiet in his voice. Megan reached up and stroked his cheek with her palm.
“Yes,” she reassured him and then stood on her toes, pressing her lips to his. She meant for it to be a quick kiss but their emotion turned it into something much longer and deeper. Megan was first to pull away.
“You better get out of here,” she said in a breathless voice. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she could tell by the look on Lee’s face that he was just as deeply affected.
“That’s probably a good idea,” he agreed, smiling down at her and stepping off the porch. This put him more on her level as she reached out and cupped his face between both her hands. They stood that way for a moment, staring into one another’s eyes before Lee captured Megan’s lips with his. Her arms slipped around him and she rested one hand on his shoulder and the other around his neck, while he laced his fingers through the thick tendrils of her hair. Time ceased to matter for either of them, for a moment, before reason interjected and Lee disengaged himself from Megan, stepping farther away.
“I’ve got to go…before—”
“I know.” And she did.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he promised.
Megan nodded and turned away, stopping inside to watch him through the window as he drove away.
Later that night as Megan lay in bed, she contemplated the evening. She tried praying for peace. Her heart ached at the thought of Lee discovering what she’d done. Tonight had actually been the second time she’d met Felicia. The first time was only months before Megan moved from Atlanta to Laurel Ridge.
She and Trevor had been at a party given by his law firm. It was a brief encounter, but one Megan remembered. Felicia obviously did as well. She dropped some strong hints in Megan’s direction about Trevor, but Megan failed to pick up on them. Harsh reality would come with a cruel blow only a short time later.
It would seem Megan could no longer avoid her past, or continue to run from the memories. They had caught up with her at last. Guilt and shame came with them.
She rolled over, punched the pillow in an attempt to get comfortable and released a sigh of frustration as she stared forlornly around the dark room, longing for the peace she experienced last week. More than anything, she wanted to be free of the guilt she’d carried for so long.
Why had it returned? It was like an albatross hanging around her neck. She’d sought forgiveness, so why did she feel so guilty? Now, the guilt was accompanied by fear.
An overwhelming fear that the man she loved would find out what she’d done
.
And he would be disappointed in her. Possibly despise her.