A Wedding In the Family (16 page)

Just as Angela disappeared into the kitchen, Adam and the boys came into the living room from the back hallway.

Rob looked up. “Hello,” he said, and walked toward Adam to extend an arm for a handshake. “You must be Adam. Liz has told us a lot about you.” Rob glanced over at his very pregnant wife seated somewhat comfortably on the sofa. “I think you’ve already met my wife.”

“And our as-yet-unnamed children,” Micah added, patting her belly.

Adam smiled. “It’s good to meet you, Rob and, yes, I met Micah yesterday. How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Well enough, I guess,” she answered with a friendly smile.

“I’m curious. Why did you use the name ‘Liz’?” Adam asked. Angela entered the room at that moment to hand a glass of water to Micah. “I forgot to mention that. My middle name is Elizabeth, and Rob started calling me ‘Liz’ when I was ten or eleven. I didn’t like it—”

“Which is precisely why I did it, if I remember correctly,” Rob concluded. He sat down close to Micah and leaned back, resting an arm across the back of the sofa. “She had a way of making things like that a lot of fun.”

Angela frowned in Rob’s direction. “Anyway, as the years went by, I got used to it I only have to put up with it from him, so it’s not so bad.”

“That’s your mother’s middle name, isn’t it?” Micah asked. “And Heather’s?”

“Yes,” Angela answered, “it is. And Cassie and Carrie’s, too. Okay, kids, the pies I made are in the kitchen if you want some. Adam, how about you?”

“No, thank you,” he replied. His warm smile matched the look in his eyes as he watched Angela take a seat in the recliner close to Micah. “Pies? When it’s not even a holiday?” he teased.

“Sometimes I’ll surprise you like that,” she answered. “And, if you recall, you recently asked me to marry you, and I’m going to consider that a special occasion.”

He studied Angela’s face for a moment. She looked contented, buoyant, fully alive. He didn’t want to take any of that away from her. She motioned him toward another chair in the small living area. The children all headed for the dessert in the kitchen, leaving the adults to have their conversation in private.

“Nathan, you’re in charge of cutting and serving, please,” she called to her son. Then she smiled at Adam. She had a good feeling about this. The kids had opened up to him. Certainly Rob could, too. Now
if she could just lose that nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

Their discussion that day centered on nothing in particular and everything in general. They talked about their spiritual lives and, basically, anything else that came to mind. The conversation flowed easily; and the coffee, freely. At times the kids would pass through—one or two at a time—to add something to their talk, but for the most part it was an “adult” visit.

When Micah yawned, Rob smiled at his sleepy wife. “We should go, hon. You’re getting too tired.”

“Why don’t you rest in my bedroom?” Angela suggested. “You need a nap. You look exhausted.” She remembered clearly what the last stages of pregnancy could have to offer: chronic tiredness. At least that’s how it had been for Angela all three times. And that was with only one baby. She had trouble imagining what it would be like to be expecting twins.

“If you’re sure you don’t mind…” Micah agreed and Rob helped her up from the couch. “I’m sorry, guys, but I’ve gotten used to taking an afternoon nap, and it’s a hard habit to break when you’re carrying this much weight around.”

“I’ll walk back with you,” Rob said. “She’ll need that water.” He accepted the glass of water that Angela retrieved from the coffee table. “Thanks. Let’s go, Micah.”

“Are you okay?” Heather asked when she stuck her head out of her bedroom doorway.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired,” Micah responded, and
touched Heather’s young face as they passed by on their way to Angela’s room.

“Here,” Rob said as she eased onto Angela’s bed. He set the water on the nightstand and rearranged some pillows the way she liked them. “Are you sure you’re just tired? That’s all?” He sat down on the edge of the bed and took one of her hands in his. “You’ve been awfully quiet out there for the last half hour or so.”

“I don’t know, Rob. I’ve had a couple of pains…like cramps. But they’re gone now.” She leaned back into the softness of a pillow.

Rob touched her auburn hair, brushing a strand away from her face. “Maybe we should go home. I’ll call the doctor.”

“No,” she said and squeezed his hand. “Just let me rest for a while. I think I’m okay.”

“But Micah, you’re not due for—”

“I know,’ she answered with a tender smile. “Quit worrying. Go spend some time with your sister and your future brother-in-law. I’m feeling fine now.”

“You really think she’ll marry him?” Rob asked quietly.

“I’m certain of it. Didn’t you notice the way they
are
together? How they look at each other a little longer than necessary? How he squeezed her hand after she handed him the coffee? Even the
way
Angela smiles and how
much
she smiles. She’s in love with that man.”

“I don’t think that means she’ll actually marry him,” he countered. “I know her pretty well and—”

“You don’t know her as well as I do—at least, not at this moment, you don’t.” Micah’s comment obviously surprised Rob and he frowned.

“Honey, she’s my sister.”

“Yes, and that’s the only way you think of her. You know ‘Liz’—the eleven-year-old she used to be—better than you know Angela now. You grew up with her, knew her through childhood, her teen years, college…and the beginning of a rocky relationship with Dan. But she’s so much more than all of that, Rob. I didn’t meet Angela until she was thirty years old, had three kids and was basically the head of her household. She’s very intelligent, a wonderful teacher and I’m sure a very capable principal. She’s good at handling money, a great parent—look how well she’s done with those children and mostly on her own—and she is a strong Christian. Angela and I have prayed together, cried together…Honey, I know the woman she is today better than you do.” Micah paused, letting all that she was saying sink in. “She wants your approval on this, but she doesn’t need it. In the end, she’ll do what she feels God wants her to do and that will be whatever would be best for her own future and the kids. Don’t be hurt or surprised when that decision includes marriage to Adam Dalton.”

Rob listened without interruption, which wasn’t all that easy for him, and he didn’t speak right away after Micah’s words had died out Then his mouth turned up in a half grin. “That’s a strong argument you have
there, Mrs. Granston. Have you ever considered law school?”

“No,” she answered with emphasis. “I want to be a pastor’s wife and the mother of twins.”

“Lucky you met me, huh?” he teased as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

“Luck had nothing to do with it.” Micah reached up to gently touch his face. “God arranges these things. Didn’t you know that?”

“I know,” he agreed, then he pulled away from her and stood up. “What I
don’t
know is what I would do without you.”

Micah sighed somewhat theatrically. “You’d be wandering aimlessly in a desert somewhere without my love and guidance, no doubt.”

Rob laughed quietly. “No doubt.”

“Now go—before Angela thinks we’ve both fallen asleep back here.”

“I’ll check on you in a few minutes,” he said. Then he returned to the living room to get to know Adam Dalton
and
Angela a little better.

“So…what do you think? Of Adam, I mean,” Angela asked rather tentatively after Micah had awakened from her nap and rejoined Angela and Rob in the living room. Adam had already left to go to the center for the remainder of the day, and all three children had gone over to the neighbor’s house to visit friends.

When Rob didn’t reply, Micah did. “I like him, Angela. He’s been really good with the kids, and I
think he’s very kind and caring—very loving toward you.” She nudged Rob a little from where she sat next to him on the couch.

Rob frowned, not an unusual reaction to Angela’s choice of men in her life. “Micah and I don’t entirely agree on this. Think about it. What do you really know about this guy? You’ve only been out with him a few times—”

“We’ve been dating for nearly two months, Rob,” Angela corrected. “I know that’s not long, but he’s different from Dan if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“The only thing I’m worried about is you. Your first marriage was a disaster, almost from beginning to end. I don’t want to see another mistake in your life.”

“And you think I do?” she replied with a sigh. “I don’t even know if I could survive another mistake, Rob. No one is more afraid of that than me.”

“Then don’t rush into this thing,” he advised bluntly.

“Maybe I’ll go to the kitchen and make some more coffee. Rob, help me up, please,” Micah said quickly, looking down at the pastel swirls of her very full maternity top. Rob stood to pull her to her feet. “It’s been a while,” she commented, “since I’ve been able to get off a couch without help.”

“No, Micah, stay, please,” Angela protested.

“This argument is between a brother and a sister. I don’t feel right being included.”

Rob let go of Micah’s hand and leaned forward to
kiss the top of her head. “Stay, hon. We may need a referee before this is over. You know how stubborn Liz can be.”

“Me?” Angela exclaimed. “You’re the one who feels so guilty about my first marriage that you refuse to even consider the thought of a second.”

“That’s not true,” he said sharply, but when Angela raised her eyebrows in obvious disagreement, he relented. “All right, maybe it is true. You shouldn’t have married Dan, you shouldn’t have ever dated him, and I should have been there.”

“To do what? Rescue me? You’re not my keeper, Robert. I’m not your responsibility. I never was.”

“I know that, but still—”

“What good do you think you could have done me? Recalling some of your dumb stunts, you were barely able to watch out for yourself in those days.”

“Don’t remind me,” he responded as he sat down again next to Micah. Rob leaned forward slightly, rubbing his forehead with his right hand. Micah touched her husband’s shoulder. She knew better than anyone how deeply this issue bothered him. She’d been there when it kept sleep away.

“Rob, the point is, I don’t
blame
you. It was my own stupid fault. No one else’s. Not even Dan’s. I could have told him to get lost from the very beginning.
I
am the one who made bad decisions. I shouldn’t have dated him, shouldn’t have slept with him, shouldn’t have gotten pregnant. They are
my
mistakes—
mine.
You can’t claim them. I won’t let you.” Angela knelt on the floor in front of her
brother, whose face was now buried in his hands. She reached for his arm, but he didn’t look up. “Let yourself off the hook for this, Rob. You preach to others about forgiveness. Why don’t you practice a little of it for yourself?”

He shook his head. “Liz, all those years…Dan’s drinking, your divorce…” he began, but his words died out in the comfort of his sister’s embrace.

Micah’s eyes flooded with tears. Rob had carried that guilt far too long, and Angela’s words had provided his release. Micah heard her husband’s broken words. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Angela offered through tears of her own. “I’m not. Not anymore. Think of the kids, Rob. I wouldn’t have any of them if I hadn’t had Dan in my life. I’d go through all of it again to have them.”

“I know.” He nodded. “I know. God has a way of bringing something good out of all of it.” He hugged Angela tightly, then pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his eyes. Micah grabbed a few tissues from the box on the coffee table and shared them with Angela.

Angela laughed softly. “Well, this is a fine scene. Three adults crying all over each other.” When their laughter blended together, she reached over to hug Micah warmly.

“Just don’t tell Adam this is what happened when you asked us what we thought of him,” Micah suggested. “He might misunderstand.”

“True,” Angela responded. “But you know, in all
seriousness, Adam is wonderful. Once you get to know him better, you’ll love him.”

“And you already do,” Micah remarked. She had suddenly noticed a light in her sister-in-law’s eyes that she’d not seen there before.

Angela nodded. “Very much. And he’s been a Christian for seven years. He’s really serious about it, Rob.”

Rob smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll be nice to him.”

“What I want is for you to be a
brother
to him.” Angela went on, “I want this man in my life until ‘death do us part.’ And I want
you
to be the minister to marry us—and do it with happiness. You got that?” She gave the command with a playful punch to his arm.

“Yes.” He laughed. “I’ll follow orders.”

“If you’ll open your heart to the possibilities, you won’t need orders. You’ll love him, too,” Angela added, then became suddenly quiet. “Adam is the only man in this world I’ve ever loved more than you.” Angela had spoken her heart and she touched Rob’s cheek gently. “And if either of you two tell Dad or Eric I said that, you’re in big trouble.”

Rob smiled just as Micah broke down in tears. He and Angela both turned to her immediately. “Honey, are you okay?” Rob asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s just so sweet to see you and Angela working this out after all these years. It makes me…so happy…” she said on the edge of a sob. Then she virtually melted into Rob’s embrace, burying her face in his shoulder.

Angela grinned and shook her head. “I think she’s still in her everything-makes-me-cry mode.”

“I’m sorry…I can’t help it…” Micah managed to say the muffled words in between sobs. “Maybe we’ll have a boy and a girl, brother and sister. And maybe they’ll be close…just like you are…”

Rob kissed her cheek gently. “It’s okay, hon. Cry if you want to.”

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Angela said. She stood up, raising her hand to prevent Rob from standing and disturbing Micah’s comfortable position against him. “Don’t get up. Let her cry. She’ll feel better afterwards. I’m going to shower and change, so you can let yourselves out when you’re ready to leave. I’ll call you later about the wedding.” She left them alone, heading back down the hallway to the bathroom. She remembered her own crying jags during three pregnancies and wondered briefly how long it would take for Micah to be done with the tears tonight. Not that it mattered. However long it lasted, Rob would be there. Just as she knew Adam would be.