A Passion Redeemed (46 page)

A key rattled in the front door.

Mitch scowled. Well, almost everyone.

He snatched the paper back up and gave the headline another go. He heard Faith's gentle laugh followed by Collin's low rumble. And then nothing. Mitch scowled again, staring at the headline longer than he cared to.

"Hey, what are you still doing up? We thought you'd be in bed at dusk."

Mitch dipped the paper enough to peer over the top, his eyes narrowed in annoyance at Faith's teasing tone. "It was closed."

She blinked. The smile faded on her face. "City Hall?"

The paper rustled back up, accompanied by a grunt. "Nope, that was open. The marriage license window. Closed up tighter than a wedding band on a chubby girl's hand. Seems they pick and choose their hours at random."

Faith moved to his side and stared down at him with sympathetic eyes. "I'm sorry, Mitch. But you only have to wait till Monday, right?"

He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "So they tell me."

Faith bent and kissed him on the cheek. "The wait is almost over, my friend. Besides, you should be happy. This was a big step for Charity. I'm proud of her. And you too." She stood and stretched. "Well, I'd tell you to sleep well, but I don't think it would do much good. Good night, Mitch."

He squinted over the top of the paper, confused by her comments. He opened his mouth to say something, then stopped when she stood on tiptoe to give Collin a quick kiss on the lips. "Good night, Collin. See you tomorrow."

"Good night, Little Bit. Love you."

"Me too."

Mitch heard the sound of her steps retreating up the stairs. He returned to his paper.

"I'm going to get a drink of water before I go. You want anything?"

Mitch didn't bother to glance up. "No, thanks."

Collin headed for the kitchen and then returned a few moments later, apparently standing at the entrance of the parlor. Mitch buried himself behind the Herald. He was in no mood to chat, but the silence ate at his gut. He exhaled and lowered the paper. "Is there something you want?"

"Yeah, there is." Collin shifted a hip and pushed his hands deep in his pockets. He ambled into the room and straddled the edge of the loveseat, arms folded across his chest. He avoided Mitch's eyes and stared at the tree as if seeing it for the first time.

Mitch gritted his teeth. "Yeah?"

"Sorry about City Hall."

"Yeah, well, they can't work around me, I guess."

"Nope."

Irritation twitched in Mitch's jaw as he studied him. "You got something on your mind, Collin?"

Collin drew in a deep breath and finally looked at him. "Yeah, I do. I wanted to apologize. For being such a jerk."

"Okay."

"I had no right to be jealous. I trust Faith. And you've never done me any harm."

A scowled tainted Mitch's lips. "Practically threw her in your lap. Been kicking myself ever since."

"I know. Can't say I would have done the same."

Mitch tossed the paper aside and sighed. He rubbed his eyes with his fingers. "Seemed like the right thing to do at the time."

Collin stood up. "It was. We were meant for each other."

He looked up with regret in his eyes. "Yeah, I know."

"So are you and Charity. I didn't think so at first, but I've changed my mind."

"Why?"

Collin pulled his gloves from his coat pocket and shoved them on, tugging them tight. "Because you're strong. She needs that."

"Yeah, right. My 220 pounds could take her 120 anytime."

"I meant spiritually."

His laugh was hollow. "Don't bet on it."

"Not many men would do what you're doing, forgive and forget. I'm not sure I could."

The muscles in Mitch's stomach tensed. "Yeah, that's me. An atypical guy." He swung his feet to the floor and stretched his arms high over his head. His heart pounded in his chest. "So, Faith told you, then?"

"Yeah. She said Charity promised to drop the bomb last night. I was pretty shocked."

"Not as much as me."

Collin laughed. "No, I guess not. I admire you, though. I know you love her, but honestly, if she'd lied to me about being raped and pregnant, I'd be long gone."

Mitch felt like he'd been gut-punched. He forced himself to breathe. "Yeah, I'm a real sucker for punishment."

"You okay?"

He looked up, the air thick in his throat. "How did Faith find out? Do you know?"

Collin shook his head. "Female issues, from what I gather. I think Faith confronted her and Charity confessed. Made her promise to tell you the truth before you got married." Collin headed for the door. "Of course, I guess you could look at it that she loved you enough to lie."

Mitch stared. "Yeah. Just not enough to tell the truth."

Collin turned. "What?"

"Good night, Collin. Thanks for the apology."

"You're welcome. Get some sleep. You look like you just lost your best friend."

Mitch dropped back against the sofa and closed his eyes. "Yeah, I will."

A sick feeling clogged in his throat. And I have.

She stretched in her sleep, the curved steel headboard cool to the touch as she grazed it with her hand. The sound of movement stirred behind her, and she rolled over. She yawned with a sleepy smile on her face. "Good morning."

He ignored her, his broad back bent over the bed.

"Mitch?"

Silence.

She rubbed her eyes and sat up, noticing the suitcase. "What are you doing?"

He adjusted a few things, then snapped it closed. He jerked it off the bed and turned, his face as hard and cold as her castiron bed. "Leaving."

All air suspended in her throat, and the blood rushed from her face, making her dizzy. She put a hand to her head. "Leaving? But, why? What happened?"

He stared, eyes slitted and void of all warmth. "You've lied to me for the last time. It's over." He started for the door.

She cried out and lurched from the bed, attempting to stand on both legs. "Mitch, no! At least talk to me. Don't leave like this. Please!"

He spun around. "Get back in that bed; you're going to strain your silly leg."

She hobbled forward, a fiery sting shooting the length of her cast. She grimaced and blinked. His face floated before her in a wash of tears. "Not unless we talk. You owe me that."

He hurled the suitcase against the door and charged toward her, swearing under his breath. He heaved her up and tossed her back on the bed, his eyes dark with fury. Towering over her, he clenched his fists at his sides. "I don't owe you a blasted thing, you little liar, but the back of my hand."

"Who told you ... ," she whispered. Her fingers shook as she pushed hair from her eyes.

The cords of his neck pulsed as he glared. "You mean instead of you? The woman I gave my trust ... poured my heart out to?"

She closed her eyes. Tears glazed her cheeks. "How could she? Faith promised-"

His laugh was savage. "And we both know Faith doesn't lie, now don't we? Unlike you. No, don't hang this one on her, Charity. Collin tripped you up."

She looked up at him, fear shivering through her. "I did it because I love you. I didn't want to lose you."

His face was hard. "Big mistake, little girl. You didn't just lose me as a husband and a lover. You lost me as a friend." He strode toward the door.

"Mitch, no! You love me, I know you do."

He stooped to pick up his suitcase and paused, his back rigid as ice. "You're right, I do." He slowly turned. "But I'll get over it. Out of sight, out of mind. You'll be here and I'll be there. With Kathleen. She's seen me through more than one heartache; I suspect she'll see me through this. Only this time, she'll do it as my wife." He jerked the door open and flung it against the wall with a loud crack. He hurried down the hall.

She screamed. A horrendous ache seared inside. "Please, God, no! Faith! Mother!" She started from the bed and collapsed on the floor, her body wracked with sobs. She heard footsteps running and screamed again, keening in pain.

"Charity, what's wrong?" Faith hurried to her side. She knelt to hold her in her arms.

She could barely get the words out for weeping. "Mitch ... he ... left me. Collin told him ... and he's leaving. Faith, stop him, please."

Faith grabbed Charity's shoulders, her eyes wide with shock. "You mean you didn't tell him? He didn't know?"

I w-was afraid. A-afraid of this. And now he's gone." She clutched her sister's hand. "He trusts you, Faith, stop him. I love him and I need him. Please?"

Faith stared, then jumped to her feet. Charity shuddered as her sister fled the room. With a moan, she crumpled to the floor in a heap. A piercing wail escaped her throat. Dear God, what have I done?

Mitch dropped his suitcase with a resounding clunk and butted the kitchen door open with his fist. The swinging door squealed on its hinges, banging against the wall with an ominous thud.

Patrick jumped up from the table while Marcy stood at the stove, eyes round with shock.

"What the devil's going on up there?" Patrick demanded.

Anger pumped in Mitch's chest. "Charity's upset."

Patrick threw his newspaper on the table. "What the blazes for?"

"I'm leaving."

Marcy's face turned white. "Mitch, what are you saying?"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. O'Connor, but Charity and I are through."

The veins in Patrick's temple were pronounced. He slammed his chair against the table and glared at Mitch. "What? You're running out on your marriage? You're going to bolt every time there's a fair-weather storm?"

Mitch clenched his fists. His veins kept pace with Patrick's. "Yeah, well, this is more like a hurricane making landfall, Mr. O'Connor. And just for the record? There is no marriage."

Marcy's cheeks went ashen. "What?"

He tore his glare from Patrick's to look at Marcy. His heart twisted at the grief in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Mrs. O'Connor, but Charity lied. I tried to tell you the day we arrived, but she railroaded me into lying along with her. Please forgive me for that. I never meant to hurt you."

Patrick stormed over to jab his finger into Mitch's chest. "You mean to tell me you've been sleeping with my daughter without the benefit of marriage ... right under my own roof?"

Mitch clamped his lips tight. "Not in the biblical sense, sir."

"What the blazes is that supposed to mean?" Patrick bellowed.

Marcy slumped in a chair. "Oh, God help us."

Heat seared the back of Mitch's neck. "It means I didn't make love to her."

"Mama, what's going on?" Katie demanded, barreling into the kitchen with Miss Buford in her arms. "Charity's crying."

The door slammed open again, and everyone looked up. Faith stood, hand pressed to the door and green eyes shooting fire. "Mitch Dennehy, what do you think you're doing?"

Mitch spied a bleary-eyed Sean and Beth making their way to the kitchen. He hung his head and groaned. "I just came to say goodbye to your parents, but apparently the whole family is here to see me off."

Faith let the door swing shut. She crossed her arms and jutted her chin in his face. "My sister is upstairs crying her heart out because you're too pig-headed to forgive her. You're making a big mistake."

He ground his teeth. Muscles jerked everywhere in his body. "Correction. I made a big mistake. Now I'm rectifying it." He tried to move toward the door.

Faith blocked his way, her jaw set just like his. "You're a coward, you know that, Mitch Dennehy?"

"That seems to be the general consensus. And you're blinkin' right I am. I've had my heart bashed in one too many times by you O'Connor women. Get out of my way, Faith." He tried to bulldoze past.

Sean blocked his path. "Settle down, Mitch. Can't we just cool down and talk this out?"

Mitch thumped Sean on the chest, his patience exhausted. "No, we can't, Sean. When I cool down, I have a tendency to get bamboozled by you O'Connors. Well, I'm done. With your sister and this family." He shoved Sean back and blasted through the door, snatching his suitcase on the way to the front porch.

A noisy parade followed, led by Patrick, whose face was as red as the cranberries looping the tree. He pushed the storm door wide, glaring at Mitch on the porch. "See here, Dennehy, you are not going to come into my house and cause this uproar, then waltz out of here scot-free, leaving nothing but problems."