The Only Man for Her Page 17

  “And you felt reassured after you spoke with him?”

  “Yeah, I did. He sounded more coherent than he has in years. I thought he was going to be mad, but he wasn’t. He actually thanked me, and then he apologized and told me things would be different from now on.”

  Good news, as far as Rachel was concerned. “That should make you very happy.”

  “He’s said the same thing before, and he’s fallen off the wagon more times than I can count. I hope he follows through this time.”

  His justifiable concern for his father had put a damper on the day. “Matt, if you feel like you need to be with him, we can leave now.”

  “He’s where he needs to be.” He reached over and took her hand. “And so am I.”

  He sounded sad and not quite convincing. “But you hate it.”

  “I hate what he’s done to his life,” he said. “I hate it had to come to this before he gets the help he needs. If he gets the help. And I really hate that he stopped being a good father after my mom died. I’ve missed the dad who used to take me fishing and taught me how to throw a curveball more than he’ll ever know.”

  She scooted over and kissed his cheek. “He can be that father again, Matt. I know it’s hard to hope, but don’t give up on him yet.”

  “I’ll try.” He patted her thigh. “Are you ready to do some painting?”

  She planned to avoid painting at all costs due to the fumes. “I’m going to leave that to you and whoever else wants to tackle it. I’m like a race-car driver with a paintbrush.”

  “But you painted those horses on the walls in the…” His gaze briefly faltered. “At the house.”

  He still couldn’t say nursery, a reminder of what they still had to discuss. “I used stencils and craft paint.” Nontoxic paint because she’d been pregnant. “That’s a lot different from taking on an entire wall. I’m going to polish the pews and floors and clean whatever needs cleaning.”

  “Guess we won’t know that until we get inside. Let’s do this.”

  Shades of the past echoed in Matt’s words. And when she walked into that small chapel, that past landed on Rachel’s heart. Everything looked much the same as the day they’d entered to join together for life, only a little more aged. The red runner, now slightly faded, pointed the way to the arch where Jack had stood. And to the right was the piano that Helen always played to announce the bride’s entrance.

  She immediately walked to that piano, took a seat at the bench and raised the cover to expose the keys. She hadn’t played in ages, yet she couldn’t resist trying. Pachelbel’s Canon immediately came to mind, a fitting piece for a wedding chapel. The same music Helen had played that long-ago day. She started and stopped twice, yet it didn’t take long for it all to come back to her as she filled the silence with meaningful music that brought back so many good memories.

  “Sounds good.”

  She hadn’t noticed Matt had come in. She glanced up to see him standing in the doorway, a bucket full of cleaning supplies in one hand and a toolbox in the other.

  When he came up behind her and peered over her shoulder, she lost all concentration and gave up. “Keep going,” he said.

  “I can’t do it with you staring at me.” She lowered the cover and turned around on the bench to face him. “Besides, I’m really rusty.”

  He set the bucket down at her feet. “You could’ve fooled me. You should play more often.”

  “I don’t have a piano readily available, unless you want to buy me one for my birthday next month.”

  “I had something else in mind for your birthday, but I’m not opposed to reconsidering. Where do you want me to have it delivered?”

  She realized he was baiting her into saying she was coming home, a step she wasn’t quite ready to take. “Never mind. If I want to play, I can always do that on my old piano at Dad’s.”

  “Guess that’s more convenient anyway.” He didn’t try to disguise the disappointment in his expression and voice.

  She hopped up from the bench and put on a cheerful face. “Time to get to work if we want to be finished in time to surprise Jack and Helen today. I’ll start with the pews.”

  “I’ll check out the plumbing.”

  Matt looked so dejected, Rachel felt the need to throw him a lifeline. “I think a piano would look nice in the corner of the great room, in that empty space by the picture window.”

  She expected a happier look on his face, but that wasn’t the case. “Guess we should hold off on where to put the piano until you decide if you still have a place there.”

  She chalked up his mood to his dad’s problems and being in an atmosphere with so many reminders of what they’d once had. Not to mention the realization they still had a lot of relationship territory to cover. They couldn’t do that until they finished this particular project.

  The sound of a truck rattling up the drive drew Rachel to one of the small windows cut in the wooden door. And behind that truck a lengthy procession of vehicles, from sedans to SUVs. “Matt, come here.”

  He joined her a few seconds later and looked out the second window. “I’ll be damned. Someone called out the guard.”

  “I called Rita and she called out the guard.”

  She walked outside at the same time Brody Engle emerged from the truck and retrieved a ladder from the bed. Then came Rita carrying two casserole dishes, followed by her husband, LeRoy, lugging a folding table. She had her beehive bound in a floral cotton scarf and wore a baggy paint-spattered shirt that contrasted with the heavy bejeweled chains draped around her neck and the gaudy earrings hanging from her lobes. “LeRoy, put that table inside the foyer,” she barked out as she walked right up to Rachel. “Happy morning to you, sugar.”

  Rachel looked behind her at the stream of citizens, both older and younger, walking toward the chapel carrying food and supplies. “Wow! I had no idea you’d find this many people to help.”

  She handed Rachel a casserole. “Promise the folks a good meal and a good cause, they’ll show up.”

  “But I wasn’t expecting anyone until after church.”

  Rita frowned. “Sugar, you can’t be a Good Samaritan sitting in a sanctuary.”

  A valid point. “Thank you, Rita. Helen and Jack are going to appreciate your generosity.”

  “Jack maybe, but not Helen. She still hasn’t forgiven me for that little incident five years ago.”

  She couldn’t deny her curiosity, but she didn’t have time for Rita’s inevitable lengthy explanation. “Let’s go put these in the kitchen and decide where we need to start first.”

  After handing off the other casserole to a passerby, Rita spun around and let go an ear-piercing whistle. “Right this way, troops!”

  Rachel couldn’t help but laugh over the woman’s antics. You didn’t need a megaphone when you had Rita. She experienced a sudden bout of giddiness, a sheer sense of joy. She had a feeling this was going to be a good day. A great day. Maybe the best day she’d had in months.

  * * *

  MATT HAD JUST SECURED the final shingle when he heard, “Hey, sexy guy on the roof. Do you want some lemonade?”

  He looked down to see Rachel standing at the corner of the chapel, holding a red plastic glass. Stray strands of hair had escaped her messy ponytail, framing her face that was dotted with smudges of dirt. Her light pink T-shirt didn’t look much better, yet she still looked as good as if she’d been wearing pearls and a prom dress. But then, she’d always worn dishevelment well.

  He backed down the ladder and joined her at the side of the chapel, away from the people planting flowers in the beds. “Thanks,” he said as he took the drink and downed it. “Is everything finished?”

  “Aside from what’s left of the landscaping, yes. I’ve been helping out with that most of the day.”

  “That’s fairly obvious,” he said as he pulled a piece of grass from her hair.

  “You should take a look inside. Everything’s beautiful.”

  So was his wife. He couldn
’t recall the last time he’d seen that kind of excitement in her dark eyes. Come to think of it, he could. Around 6:00 a.m. this morning when they’d made love for the third time. “It’s a good thing, since we’re running out of daylight.”

  “I still can’t believe we got it all done,” she said. “Everything’s fresh and painted, including the kitchen and reception area in the back. I was just sure they wouldn’t get that finished. The floors are polished, and oh, the man who owns the hardware store in Townsend, I think his name is Frank, brought all new plumbing fixtures and new toilets.”

  “I know,” he said. “I helped install them before I started on the roof patching.”

  “Anyway,” she continued, “Frank knows someone named Buster who brought a crew to retile the kitchen counters and add a backsplash. And Buster knows an appliance guy who replaced the stove. It’s not new, but it’s bigger and better than the old one and—”

  He cut off her words with a kiss. A thorough kiss that didn’t last nearly long enough before Rachel put a halt to it. “What was that for?”

  “Just trying to shut you up so you could catch a breath.”

  “Sorry, but you didn’t exactly aid my respiration.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m veritably panting.”

  “And I’m feeling a little bit dirty at the moment.” In more ways than one.

  “Could I interest you in a—”

  “Shower when we get home?”

  She gave him a sour look. “Now look who’s making assumptions.”

  He’d probably blown the deal because he couldn’t keep his enthusiastic libido in check. “I’m just saying since we both could use one, we might as well do it together.”

  She draped her arms around his neck. “Before you so rudely interrupted me, I was about to suggest we take a bath together in that whirlpool tub we rarely use.”

  “I’m not normally a bath kind of guy, but I could make a few concessions. Should I bring my rubber ducky?”

  She grinned. “It wouldn’t be a party without it.”

  This time she kissed him as if she meant it, right there where anyone could come upon them acting as though they’d taken leave of their senses.

  “You two stop swapping gum and get up to the front. The Van Alsteens are on their way.”

  The high-pitched voice was about as irritating as hot pavement on the soles of your feet. It motivated Rachel to practically bolt from his arms and move back. “We’ll be right there, Rita,” she said.

  Matt aimed a stern look at Rita that sent the infuriating woman scrambling around the corner before turning back to his wife. “We’ll finish this later.”

  “Yes, we will.”

  With their arms around each other, they strolled to the front of the chapel to take their place in one of the lines formed on either side of the walkway. Matt chose a spot closest to the parking lot so he could get a good view of the road.

  “Do you think they’ll be surprised?” Rachel asked.

  He winked. “Am I the world’s greatest lover?”

  “I’m serious, Matt. What if someone tipped them off?”

  He knew of only one person who’d do that, and he’d sworn him to secrecy. “Relax. They won’t know a thing until they get here.”

  And that was about to happen, Matt realized when he saw the black SUV pull into the drive. Dusk had settled in, but Helen, who exited first, made up for the dim light with a sun-bright expression. Jack climbed out next, followed by a younger version of the judge, only with brown hair, as well as an attractive blonde and a teenage boy and girl.

  Rachel looked at Matt with awe. “That’s J.W. and his family.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “But how did they know?”

  “I called him this morning when you were in the shower. I told J.W. what we were planning, and I asked him to keep Jack and Helen occupied.”

  “You did a good thing, Matthew Boyd.” She suddenly looked a little worried. “Did you tell him about—”

  “The Alzheimer’s? No. It wasn’t my place.”

  “So he came on his own?”

  “Yep, he came on his own—after he mentioned his golf game and I told him I thought his parents might be a little more important than honing his swing.”

  Rachel gave him a squeeze. “Good. He needs to understand the importance of spending time with his folks.”

  As Helen approached, she held out her arms to Rachel. “What have you done, my darling girl?”

  Rachel hugged her hard. “Matt and I decided the place needed a little fixing up. I called Rita this morning, and she called everyone in eastern Tennessee. The crew’s been at it all day, and I think you’ll be pleased with the results.”

  Helen doled out a quick hug to Matt. “The two of you are gems. I can’t tell you how much this means to us. And I take it you summoned my son, too?”

  “Matt did,” Rachel said. “J.W. was more than willing to help us out with the secret.”

  “And a fine secret it is,” Helen added. “Let me pry Jack away from Brody and gather the kids for the tour. I can’t wait to see what you’ve done inside.”

  “You won’t believe it,” Rachel said as she walked away with Helen.

  Matt waited outside with a few stragglers while the rest of the masses filed in behind the honorary couple and their offspring. He’d been happy to help out with the renovations, but the chapel reminded him that his marriage also needed a major restoration.

  A few minutes later, when Jack emerged through the double doors, Rita began clapping her hands. And when she couldn’t get anyone’s attention, she let go that god-awful whistle. “Listen up, people!” she shouted, even though the crowd had begun to quiet down. Then again, she might have shattered their eardrums. “Jack has a few things to say.”

  Rachel returned to Matt’s side and took his hand. “I hope he makes it through this okay.”

  “He’ll do well. I can feel it in my gut.”

  With the outdoor lights as his backdrop, Jack looked every bit the stately judge as he surveyed the crowd, his family gathered around him. “First of all, Helen and I would like to thank you all for this remarkable surprise. However, Helen will now expect you to come do the same to our hall bathroom.”

  He waited for the chuckles to subside before he began again. “Seriously, this sense of community is the reason why we’ve enjoyed living in Wayhurst for these last twenty or so years. We truly appreciate your support, and we will need that support in the days to come.”

  He glanced at Helen, who hooked her arm in his. After a time, he cleared his throat and streaked a hand through his silver hair. “I spent my entire career seeking the truth, only to conceal my own out of fear and probably a little pride. I started to realize that no matter how bad that truth might be, the people who care about you deserve to know.”

  Rachel tightened her grip on Matt’s hand when Jack paused to draw in a deep breath. “A few months ago I went to the doctor because I was suffering from what we like to call Old-Timer’s disease. Unfortunately, it’s the real deal.” When a collective gasp rose from the crowd, he raised his hand to silence them. “As bad as having this Alzheimer’s might seem, I can think of worse things, like never having the honor of knowing all of you. Or never having the opportunity to help young people start their lives together.” He looked down at Helen. “Definitely never having known the love of a woman who’s just this side of sainthood.”

  Helen elbowed him and smiled. “That’s me all over. Saint Helen.”

  Jack kissed her cheek before returning his attention to the volunteers. “So if you happen to see me on the street and I forget your name, just remember it’s the disease. Or it could be that I borrowed your power tools and forgot where I put them.”

  Again, more laughter, but Matt noticed it was quieter this time.

  “And in closing,” he continued, “the road ahead will be much tougher on my Helen than it will be on me, so I humbly ask of you to look after her when I’m not able. She’
s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  He leaned over and gave Helen another kiss, this time a light one on the lips, before he straightened and smiled. “Now let’s eat.”

  Matt’s respect for the judge rose even higher, if that was possible. More important, his words about telling the truth had really hit home. But the truth he still concealed could obliterate the bond he and Rachel had begun to build over the past two days.

  He glanced at his wife to find tears trickling down her cheeks. “It’s okay,” he told her. “They have a strong marriage and they’ll get through this together.” He wished he could say the same for his own marriage.

  Rachel swiped the moisture from her face with her fingertips. “It just makes me so sad to think he won’t be the same the next time we see him.”

  Question was, would there be a next time? Matt had every intention of finding out.

  * * *

  THEY RODE HOME in silence, and it continued even after they entered the cabin. Rachel understood why Matt didn’t feel like talking. She wasn’t much in the mood for conversation, either. As satisfying as the day had been, it had inadvertently ended with the realization that life’s burdens were beyond control, and time was a treasured commodity.

  She followed Matt into the bedroom, hoping to douse the sadness with the promised soak in the tub. But when he dropped onto the edge of the mattress and lowered his head, she began to doubt that both would happen anytime soon.

  Rachel sat beside him and laid a hand on his back. “Tough end to a good day, huh?”

  “I’ve had worse endings. The day you walked out comes to mind.”

  Both his words and his acid tone stung. “Did I do something else today to upset you?”

  He forked both hands through his already ruffled hair. “I just need to know what comes next. Do we start packing up our stuff or leave it? And when we go back to Placid, do we return to the way things were, with you at your dad’s place and me in the house we built together?”

  “I honestly don’t know how I feel about anything right now.” And she didn’t, aside from the fact she wanted desperately to mend their marriage. She couldn’t do that if he didn’t cooperate.