Burke strolled over to
Belle, his boots thudding against the hardwood floor. He wore faded
blue jeans with a dark sweater and his blue Haymakers coach's
jacket. He looked relaxed, yet confident and commanding. He stopped
when he got to her, and put his hand on the wall, leaning in close.
"How are you?" he asked.
She squirmed. "I'm fine.
You?"
"
Busy, but good."
She shifted her gaze to
his face, her heart pounding. "Russell's been bending my ear about
your team."
His intense focus remained
on her. "Why don't you come to the games?"
"
How do you know I don't?"
Burke smiled. "My little
informants tell me."
"
Let me guess, Gates and Meg. Maybe Mary Beth."
He shook his blond head no
and confessed. "Your dad."
Belle gaped at him. "What?
My father? Traitor."
They shared a light laugh.
"
Will you come next Friday night?"
She looked out the feed
store window that faced Main Street where the yellow glow of the
street lamps dotted the night. She thought she should get home and
see if Duke needed help fixing dinner. But she couldn't seem to
command her legs to move. After a noticeable silence, she said,
"No."
"
Why?"
Belle fumbled with her
keys and shrugged, finding it hard to formulate her feelings into
words. "I can't. I just can't," she said.
"
Have dinner with me."
"
No."
"
Belle, please. It will give us time to talk. Let's not
leave our face to face interaction to chance, like now."
She felt herself yielding
to his pleasant plea. His tone of voice, the look in his eyes, even
his posture told her how much he cared. Surely she could spend one
meal with him. Her heart and mind debated. Finally she said,
"Burke, what's the point? We aren't going back to what we were.
Let's just move on with our lives, forget what we once
were."
"
That's my point. Let's move on, together. But forget you?
Now it's my turn to say I can't."
"
Looks like we're at a stalemate."
Dean came over and said
quietly to his brother, "I'm ready anytime you are. Hey,
Belle."
"
Hey, Dean."
Burke asked Dean to give him a
few minutes. He agreed and sauntered off to occupy Russell. Belle
could see Russell desperately wanted to talk football with Burke,
but Dean kept him engaged, talking about Jack, R.J. and the
team.
Burke turned his attention
back to Belle. "I thought we were getting somewhere. I really enjoy
our nightly talks. We've covered some good ground."
"
Okay, we're friends. But that's where it ends, Burke. I've
made my decision," she said squarely, sensing her courage return.
She would stick with her original resolve.
"
What decision?"
Belle sighed. "That I am
not for you. You are not for me."
"
I disagree," Burke countered.
"
You can disagree all you want."
"
So, that's it? You're not going to even try to give us a
second chance." Burke dropped his hand and stood next to Belle,
back to the wall.
Belle faced him,
trembling, her hands balled into fists as she tried to control her
emotion. "Try? Take a chance. You just don't get it do you? I can't
risk it, Burke. I still love--" Belle stopped mid-sentence as she
heard her own words. The blood drained from her face as she
realized what she almost confessed.
Burke's eyes probed hers for one
long, revealing moment.
"
I gotta go," she said, hurrying out the door.
He chased after her.
"Don't go. Finish what you were saying. You were about to say you
love me, weren't you? Belle--"
She climbed into the truck
and started the engine. "I'll see you, Burke," she said, grinding
the gears as she shifted into first.
He clung to the driver
side door, keeping her from pulling away. "Have dinner with me.
Tonight. Eight o'clock."
Belle focused on the steering
wheel for a few minutes, praying for wisdom and guidance, the hum
of the engine in her ears. Reason told her not to go, she would
only risk her heart. But love urged her on. Truth be told, she
ached to be with him, tired of being cold and cautious. Her heart
desperately wanted to say yes, but her head still refused.
She surrendered to the Lord in
prayer. Lord, what should I do?
In the next instant, a thought
flashed across her mind. Let go. Trust him. Trust Me in him.
I can't.
You can't or you won't?
The Lord's prompting struck a
deep cord in Belle's soul. For the first time, she realized she
could let go, but pride and fear kept her from doing so. In a small
way, she wanted to hang on to the pain Burke inflicted upon her.
She wanted to punish him, and resisting his overtures seemed to be
her subtle way of reminding him of what he did to her.
Suddenly, she felt ashamed of
her attitude and stubborn behavior. What did she have to gain by
carrying on the charade? Truth be told, she wanted to explore the
bounds of their relationship again. She wanted to be with him. She
wanted to let go.
Lord, forgive me. I let go. You
are in control and I trust you.
A slight smile lit her
face as she shifted her focus, her gaze landing on Burke's face.
"Yes," she said, barely above a whisper. "Yes."
***
From the moment she said yes,
Burke knew they'd turned a corner. He'd been praying for weeks
about how to woo Belle, the Lord constantly reminding him to love
in adversity and to show mercy.
So, patiently and subtly he
pursued her, making his presence known, yet careful not to overstep
his bounds.
Then, in one miraculous moment,
it all came together. As Burke showered and dressed for the
evening, he mused on how he almost missed the ride into town with
Dean.
It was a Saturday, and he'd been
working with his contractor to finalize plans for remodeling his
house and reviewing an architect's drawings for a new garage and
barn. Dean's call came just as they concluded their business.
"
Ride into town?" Burke repeated his brother's
question.
"
Yeah, I got to pick up supplies at Martin's. Thought you
could keep me company."
He hesitated, feeling tired,
looking forward to kicking back on the couch and clicking on the
stereo. He'd also toyed with the idea of a work out. His basement
weight room had just been completed, and he had yet to try out the
new equipment. He also had planned to call Belle.
Yet, it would be good to
visit with Dean. It'd been awhile, and the errand wouldn't take
more than a couple of hours. "Sure," he finally agreed. That one
decision changed the course of his whole evening.
He searched his closet for
something to wear, deciding on a pair of navy cashmere slacks and a
cream, long sleeve, collarless pullover.
He talked to the Lord as
he slipped on a pair of brown suede shoes. "Father, thanks for
setting this up with Belle. Please, give her peace. Give me wisdom
so that I don't say or do the wrong thing. I want her to know how
much I love her."
He went to the dresser and
slipped on his watch. Seven forty-five.
Better get going, Benning. He
snatched up his wallet and yanked his chocolate colored leather
jacket from its hanger.
As he drove to the Bar J, he
felt relaxed, peaceful, full of joy.
Belle opened the front door
after one ring of the bell and nearly took his breath away. Her
delicate smile lit the strong lines of her face and her short hair
accentuated high, smooth cheeks.
"
Hi," he said.
"
Hi," she said, her smile fading as she surveyed his
appearance. "You're dressed up."
Burke glanced down at his
clothes. Dressing up for a night out had gotten to be such a habit,
he didn't think about how different customs were in simple Haskell.
Belle wore boots, a pair of light blue jeans and a dark red V-neck
sweater.
"
It's okay, I'll go change," he offered, eager to make her
feel comfortable.
Belle sighed, still
standing in the doorway. "This isn't going to work, Burke. We've
changed too much. Look. You're ready for a night in the big city.
I'm ready for a burger at Charlie's."
He encouraged her.
"Nothing we can't overcome. Come on, I'll go change."
"
No," she said with a wave of her hand, "you're already
here. I'll change." Belle stepped aside and invited Burke in.
"Where are we going anyway to dress so fancy."
He chuckled. "I hadn't
really thought about it."
She paused on the bottom
step. "How about Angelo's? It's a nice, dress-up kind of
place."
"
Perfect," he said with a nod, smiling at her. Despite her
initial reaction, she seemed at ease, eager to go out with
him.
She darted up the steps
promising to be down in a minute. Burke found Duke in the family
room, reading.
"
Evening, Duke," he said, sitting on the plush sofa next to
Duke's chair.
The older man set his
reading aside. "So, you're taking my girl out?"
Burke nodded.
"
About time. About time."
He addressed Duke with
seriousness. "You know I plan to marry her."
"
Do ya now?" Duke said, raising his brow.
"
I don't know when, but I'd like to have your permission
right now. If the chance ever presents itself, Duke, I'm
asking."
"
What are you going to do, carry a ring in your pocket all
the time?"
The younger man smiled.
"If that's what it takes."
Duke reached for his book
when Belle's footsteps echoed down the stairs. "I gave you my
permission once. Ain't changed my mind since then."
Burke ducked his head,
touched by the fatherly love Duke continually showed him. Despite
the pain he'd caused his daughter, Duke never retaliated and always
welcomed him with an open heart. "I won't hurt her this
time."
"
I figured as much."
Belle popped her head in
the doorway wearing a black ankle length dress and matching pumps.
She carried a charcoal gray wool coat over her arm. "Ready,
Burke?"
He stood. "You look
beautiful."
She blushed and a pinkish
glowed spread across her cheeks. "Thank you."
"
I guess we'll see you later, Duke," Burke said, shaking his
hand, his gaze lingering on the older man's face for a
moment.
"
See you, Daddy," Belle said, trailing Burke as he led the
way to the door.
Duke bid them good night with a
slight nod, a smile on his lips, a twinkle in his eye.
***
Angelo's Italian Cuisine sat on
the edge of town, quaint and cozy, soft with candlelight and
music.
Angelo, the broad-waisted,
gregarious owner spotted them when they walked in the door. "Mr.
Benning," he said, with a sweeping bow. "Welcome to Angelo's. Table
for two?"
"
Yes, please," Burke said, his tone formal and deeper than
usual.
"
Righta this way." He led them to a romantic booth in the
corner and clapped for the waiter, who hustled over with menus and
water. Angelo ordered the young man to bring a plate of specialty
appetizers, on the house.
Belle snickered as she watched
Angelo fuss over them. As far as she knew, Burke had never met the
restaurateur. But Angelo seemed to know him and rolled out the red
carpet.
After they'd ordered and
Angelo left them alone, Belle said with amusement. "So this is what
it's like to be the great Burke Benning?"
He grinned. "Only if the
person follows football," he said, taking a sip from his water
glass. "I'm glad you decided to join me for dinner."
Her eyes met his. "Me,
too."
The waiter brought tall glasses
of iced tea and the appetizers: garlic cheese bread, stuffed
mushrooms and calamari.
"
Hmm, smells good," Belle said, thanking the
waiter.
Burke reached for her
hand. "Let's pray," he said softly.
She slipped her hand into
his and bowed her head. Her hand felt good in his, as if it
belonged. He prayed a short, but sincere prayer. "Father, thank you
for the food. Thank you for Belle."
She echoed his amen before
asking, "So, you really prefer coaching to playing?" She reached
for the garlic cheese bread.
"
I'm having incredible fun."
"
The Lord knew what He was doing," she said with a
wink.
He laughed, lighthearted
and easy. "Doesn't He always."
Belle sighed, feeling at home,
relaxed, with her old friend. Her reasons for guarding her heart
seemed to fade in his company, the romantic light and sweet music
of Angelo's drumming against any emotional barricades. For the
first time since his return to Haskell, she peered beneath the
surface of their circumstance and looked beyond what her natural
eye could see. There, she found a new hope in the friendship and
love they once shared. For so long, she'd believed Burke had
shattered those treasured feelings when he abandoned her on their
wedding day. But as the evening wore on, Belle knew that the beauty
of love would replace the ashes of her darkened and broken
heart.