A Wedding In the Family (4 page)

“Your kids can even pick the restaurant,” he offered, “as long as it’s something other than fast food.”

Sure, Angela argued with herself, she liked him, but she could be wrong about him the same as she’d been wrong about Dan. She didn’t want another “unhappily ever after” relationship. Solitude—even loneliness—sounded
better than that. But turning him down now might make him more determined to win her over. Maybe she could make a date with him to show him how wrong it could be for them. What could she invite him to do that would discourage any interest that had been kindled? Then she remembered the church cookout.

“Why don’t you go to dinner with us?” she asked with a smile. “There’s a church cookout a week from Saturday that starts in the afternoon and lasts until dark. The kids and I are going. So are Mom and Dad. It’s for the church family and their guests.” Most of whom Adam couldn’t know—certainly a daunting enough invitation for a man.

Adam looked away from her for a moment Then he looked back into her eyes. “What time should I pick you up?”

Angela blinked. She hadn’t even thought that far ahead. “I guess…around three…would be good.”

The door to the van closed securely. “I’ll see you then,” he stated. “Be careful driving home. ‘Bye, Heather.” He paused. “Angela, I’m glad you went with me tonight. I know this is…awkward for you.”

She nodded and smiled. He understood her better than she wanted him to. Then she said good-night, and drove away, exhaling a deep sigh.

“What’s wrong, Mom? Didn’t you have a good time?” Heather asked.

Angela felt her daughter studying her frowning profile. “I don’t know enough about Adam Dalton to have as good a time with him as I did.”

“How can you ever get to know him if you don’t spend time with him? He’s a really nice man. You’ll see.”

But Angela had already seen…and she was beginning to feel, too. That was the part she hadn’t expected. He seemed kind. Overall, he appeared to be one of the new “sensitive” type of men she’d seen over the years but had not experienced for herself. She thought briefly of her brothers: Rob and Eric were both better husbands than any she knew—including her own father. Now, here was Adam. Was he really the way he appeared to be and, if so, why hadn’t he already met the right woman and settled down with a family? Why would he want to consider being involved in her life…with her children? And why couldn’t she just send him away instead of playing with fire?

“Why don’t you like him?” Heather persisted.

“I do like him, Heather,” Angela said. “But I don’t know if I want to date him…have a relationship with him. Do you understand what I mean?”

“You mean like be his girlfriend?”

“Exactly. I don’t think I want to do anything like that right now. I don’t think I’m ready for that.”

“You are getting older all the time, Mom. When do you think you might be ready for that?”

Angela laughed more from surprise than from amusement “So I’m getting older. That doesn’t mean I need to rush to find a husband so I’ll have someone to grow old with. Being alone would be better than being with the wrong person.”

And how can I know?
she asked inwardly.
Lord, how can I be sure seeing Adam is a wise choice? I can’t endure another mistake. Not now—not with the kids to consider.
Still she couldn’t deny the feeling that stirred deep inside when their eyes had met in a lingering gaze.

“How do you know Adam is the wrong person for you?” Heather asked.

“How do you know he’s
not?
” Angela countered.

“He has friendly eyes.”

“Eyes?” Angela repeated. “You noticed that, too?”

“Sure. Maybe we have friendly eyes, too. Maybe that’s what made him think we were Christians before he knew for sure. You think so, Mom?”

Angela smiled and reached over to squeeze Heather’s left hand. “Could be, honey. I’ve not really thought about that before.” There were lots of things she’d not considered before now. Like wanting another man in her life…like imagining that man might be Adam.

More than a week passed before the cookout, and they were days filled with life—the dailiness of it—school, work, housecleaning, cooking, laundry, church attendance, appointments, nightly homework. Then Thursday-night swimming came around again.

Heather remained reluctant to dive despite her mother’s encouragement, and Angela couldn’t go to lessons with her due to a meeting at the school. When she picked up Heather at the center that evening,
Adam was not around. Much later that evening, long after the kids were in bed, Angela sat down in the quietness of her kitchen with a cup of tea. She hoped Adam wouldn’t forget about Saturday. And then, she hoped that he would. If he was going to hurt Heather’s feelings, or anyone else’s, she’d rather it happened now—early in the game.

The phone rang, startling Angela in the near darkness of the room. Maybe it was Adam calling to cancel. Or to confirm. She picked up the receiver, but the voice on the other end of the line was the soft voice of a friend.

“Micah! I haven’t talked to you for days! How are you?”

“Tired. And fat. You can’t believe the weight I’ve gained,” Micah answered. “I had never thought of myself as vain but now, all of a sudden, I can’t stand to walk past a mirror.”

“You’re having twins. You can’t expect to weigh your usual amount—which is…what? About 100 pounds at most?”

“No, more like 120, but I can’t believe the numbers on the scales—numbers Rob has to read to me because I can’t see past my belly,” Micah complained with a sigh.

“Micah—”

“I know, I know. This is a lesson in self-pity. You’ll have to forgive me. I’m in the everything-makes-me-want-to-cry stage.”

“I’ve been there. Three times, remember?” Angela said gently. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. At least
you’ve got a good reason for your clothes to feel snug. I’m sitting here, trying to figure out how to drop five pounds by Saturday so I can find something in my closet to wear for a date.”

“A date? That’s fantastic,” Micah replied. “With who?”

“Just some man I met. I’m sorry now I ever agreed to it.” Angela lamented. “How could I be so foolish? I have kids, a new job to learn, rent to pay—”

“What’s his name?” Micah cut short Angela’s list of responsibilities. “Where did you meet him?”

“It’s kind of a long story, but his name is Adam Dalton. He’s the director at the recreation center where Heather takes swimming lessons.” Angela sighed, almost relieved to actually be saying aloud the thoughts that had been running through her mind. “He’s…different. Kind, funny, good-looking, interesting…and, apparently, interested.”

“Hmm, all of those qualities rolled up into one package? I thought I’d grabbed the only one of those on the market.”

“No, there’s at least one more, and he’s just what I
don’t
need.”

Micah laughed. “Don’t be so pessimistic. This could be the guy for you. Hold on a second.”

Angela listened to Micah talking to her husband and to what she could hear of Rob’s voice in the background. She knew he’d have something to say on the subject—once he knew the subject existed.

“Angela’s met somebody…of course, I mean a man…yes, I’ll ask her.” Micah directed her voice
into the phone again. “Angela, Rob wants to know—”

“Tell my brother that Adam is a Christian, has been for seven years and attends First Church where you used to go.”

Micah relayed the message to Rob before apologizing to Angela. “He’s just concerned about you, you know that.”

“Well, I’m concerned about me, too. And I’m not a naive college student about to make another blunder with my-life, if that’s what he thinks,” Angela said.

“Listen, Rob loves you and you love him. And I’m not foolish enough to get caught in the middle of a sibling quarrel. You can talk to him about this later. Right now, I want you to forget you’re my sister-in-law. Just be my friend and tell me about this great guy.”

“I don’t know, Micah. He makes me wish I were younger…prettier—”

“So this
could
be serious then,” Micah commented. “Have you gone out with him yet? I mean, been alone with him?”

“Yes. No. We went out one evening for ice cream. Heather was with us,” Angela explained.

“You are going out with him again, aren’t you? I mean, Rob and I could watch the kids—” Micah stopped. “Hold on, Angela…Rob, you’ll have to tell her that yourself. You can talk to her as soon as I’m finished. Sorry, Angela. Anyway, as I was saying, we’ll watch the kids for you.”

“He’s going to a church cookout with us on Saturday.
I don’t need a sitter for that. And tell Rob that the kids, Mom and Dad, and about 200 other church members will be there to chaperone.”

“Not exactly a romantic setting,” Micah replied. “But it might be a good way to get to know him better. When I first met Rob…well, I remember wanting to kiss him long before we actually did. And once that happened, then I knew.”

Angela waited. “You knew…what?”

“That I would want to be with him forever,” Micah said with a sigh and then a gentle laugh. “Angela, I think I’m supposed to hang up now. My husband is…making funny faces…” Micah laughed. “Rob, stop it—”

“All right, you two. Call me tomorrow. ‘Bye.” Angela hung up the receiver and walked into the darkened living room. She sank wearily onto the sofa. The kids were asleep. The house was quiet And she’d never been in love the way Rob and Micah were. Or Eric and Hope. Or even her own mother and father. She was genuinely glad for the happy marriages in the Granston family, and, at the same time, so jealous that she could almost have cried.

T
hree o’clock loomed near that Saturday afternoon, and Angela looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror hanging on the back of her bathroom door. Her jeans were rather old and faded—just the way she liked them. And her white shirt and colorful vest looked acceptable, she thought as she viewed the patchwork of rich browns, rusts and tans. She pulled on her saddle-colored boots and frowned. Acceptable, yes; attractive, not particularly. But her dark hair looked good with its new layered cut, and her bangs weren’t too long or too short for a change, so that pleased her. What difference did it really make anyway? It was just a church outing—and probably the only date she’d ever have with Adam Dalton.

“Mom, I’ve put the cooler and the basket in the back of the van. Are you almost ready?” Nathan called to her from the living room. “David and
Heather are goofing around out back. Should I tell them it’s time to go?”

“No, wait until Adam gets here.”

“Maybe he won’t show,” Nathan offered with a hopeful smile when he appeared in the bathroom doorway.

Angela shot a look of obvious irritation in the direction of her son before walking past him to find the sweater she wanted to take along. “Maybe he won’t,” she agreed, “but maybe he will. Either way, you’re still going to this cookout. Tell your brother and sister to get their jackets. You’ll all need them before this is over.”

Nathan was not enthusiastic over this new development in her life—in
all
their lives, Angela reminded herself. Everything she did affected the kids one way or another, and her involvement with Adam was no different. That’s why this relationship would probably go no further than sharing a hamburger with him today in the presence of her children, her parents and dozens of other people. People, people everywhere. Why had she invited him to this gathering, anyway? What was she thinking? They’d spend hours together in a crowd when all she really wanted was five minutes alone with him.

Unable to locate her sweater, she pulled a corduroy jacket from where she’d left it on the corner of her dresser and paused to look one last time into a small mirror that hung on her bedroom wall.
Five minutes alone with him?
Where had that thought come from? she wondered suddenly. Then she remembered Micah’s
comment about wanting to kiss Rob. But it had been years since Angela had felt that way—so many, in fact that she couldn’t clearly remember
ever
having had that feeling. And now, to feel this way about a man she hadn’t heard from in a week and a half, a man who might not even remember he made this date with her, a man who might not be any more reliable than her husband had been…

Then the doorbell rang. Angela breathed a sigh of relief; Nathan groaned quietly, then went to answer the door. Maybe Adam was different, she thought. The possibility existed, didn’t it? Otherwise, what was the point in trying?

“Hi, Nathan.” She heard Adam’s familiar voice greet her less-than-enthusiastic son. This would be trying for Nathan. There was no doubt about that. He was a sensitive kid who had taken the idea of being “man of the house” too seriously, for too long. He’d seen more clearly than his siblings the effect his father’s problem with alcohol had had on the family, and he’d probably be suspicious of any possible intrusion on their now-pleasant home life. For that matter, so was Angela. So what was she going to do about this man standing in the middle of her living room?

“Hi,” she said as she came forward to greet Adam. “Ready for a cookout?” She thought she detected a slight ready-as-I’ll-ever-be set to his expression.

“Guess so. Want me to carry anything to the van?”

“I already took care of that,” Nathan interjected and grabbed his school jacket from a hook by the
door. “I’ll tell the others it’s time to go.” He exited without further comment.

They both watched him go; then Adam looked back at Angela. “This is difficult for him,” he commented.

She nodded. “He’ll feel better once we’re there and he sees his friends,” she replied.

There was silence between them for an awkward moment. Then Adam spoke. “I brought a case of soda and put it in your van. I thought I should contribute something to this outing.”

“The kids will like it. I’m taking potato salad, baked beans and some cookies I bought at the bakery. Mom is bringing a cake, a relish tray and iced tea. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of everything. We always do,” she explained with a smile. “If there’s anything our church excels at, it’s carry-in dinners. We like to eat.”

Adam grinned. “You’ve changed your hair.”

“Just a little,” she said, thinking how much she liked his easy smile. “It was overdue for a cut, and I can’t stand my bangs down around my eyes.” She reached for her car keys on the nearby end table and, amazingly for a change, they were actually where she’d left them.

“It looks good,” Adam complimented as he opened the door for her, realizing the remark about her hair seemed lackluster, but he couldn’t tell her how pretty he thought she was. In jeans and a plain shirt, in a skirt and a jacket, in whatever she chose to wear. That might be too much too soon. It would be
the absolute truth, but she probably wouldn’t believe him. And he needed her to believe him. Now, and later. “You look great every time I see you.”

Angela cocked her head to the side, eyeing him with skepticism. “Especially with a runny nose and wearing that old sweat suit I had on the first night we spoke.”

“Yes, well—” he remembered that encounter with clarity “—you looked very…”

“Very?” she said, knowing he was struggling for a descriptive, but safe, word. “I’m waiting.”

“I’m thinking,” Adam replied with a smile. “Can I say ‘motherly’? ‘Cautious’? ‘Protective’ maybe?”

“Nope,” she answered as she walked toward and then past him. “You could say ‘awful.’” He was close enough to touch, and Angela was fighting the urge to do exactly that when Adam extended an arm, clasping her hand warmly in his own.

“How about ‘cute’?” he suggested.

“Sorry, but ‘cute’ is not acceptable at thirty-two,” she replied, holding tightly to the strong hand she had welcomed.

“Then let’s go with ‘promising,’” he said, with a gentle squeeze to her fingers.

Promising.
What a lovely thought. But she didn’t dare say that. Not to this man she knew so little about. “I wasn’t sure you’d come today,” she admitted suddenly.

“Why?” he asked, studying the contemplative blue of her eyes. “I told you I’d be here at three.”

“I know, but…” How could she tell him the reasons
behind her doubts? Did she really want to explain the years with Dan?

“You can’t tell me you’ve had that happen with many dates before. Being stood up,” he added as they stepped outside into the sunshine and made their way toward the van. The children were already climbing in.

No, she thought, the problem had never been with a date. It was only when matrimony entered the story line that keeping commitments had become an issue. Marriage and responsibility had not sat well with her husband, and she had grown to expect broken promises. “I guess I’m just pessimistic by nature.” And experience.

“Maybe that can be changed,” he suggested.

Maybe it could, but at this point in her life, Angela had her doubts.

“Is the truck okay parked off to the side like that?” Adam asked. “I knew we’d need to take your van.”

She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the afternoon sun. “That’s fine.” Then she held up her keys. “But would you mind doing the driving?”

He opened the passenger door for her. “Not at all.” He let go of her hand, and she climbed in.

“You ready, kids?” she asked, glancing back at two excited faces—and Nathan’s frown.

“It’s about a mile farther down this road. Then make the next left” They were nearing their destination as Heather asked for the third time how long this trip would last

“Just a few minutes more, hon. Are you getting hungry?” Angela inquired.

“No, but I want to play ball. My Sunday School teacher told me we would.”

“If Mrs. Fletcher told you that, then I’m sure you will,” Angela responded with a certainty about another human being that she rarely displayed. She glanced at Adam, and wondered if she’d ever be able to trust him that way. What a refreshing possibility.

What she couldn’t know was that Adam was wondering the same thing. Only he suspected that earning her trust now would require more truth from him than he was ready to reveal. And what did the Lord require from him so early in this relationship? Honesty, he knew, but in how large a dose at a time?

Soon they arrived and parked in the gravel alongside her parents’ car. Judging from the vehicles already there, it was a good turnout, as usual. Adam helped Angela unload the items she had brought, as well as the case of soda he had placed in her van. Before long, the kids were engaged in a softball game and it was time for Adam to meet Angela’s parents.

“Mom. Dad. This is Adam Dalton,” Angela introduced her date. She had advised them earlier of this impending meeting.

Smiles from Grace and Ed Granston did little to ease the tension of the moment. No man would easily receive the approval of this older couple where their daughter was concerned. Angela was no kid, but she would always be their child. Exactly who was this Adam Dalton who threatened their daughter’s freedom
and peace of mind in the wake of her unhappy marriage? They both prayed Angela would find a loving man and marry again someday—but the
right
man.

“Hello, Adam.” Grace spoke first, but Ed did extend a hand in an almost friendly fashion. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s good to meet both of you, Mr. and Mrs. Granston.”

“The name’s Ed and this is Grace,” Angela’s father answered in a somewhat gruff voice. “Let’s find a seat around here somewhere.”

They unfolded the lawn chairs they had brought with them and, after greeting and speaking with some of their friends from church, settled into a comfortable place to watch the kids play ball. And to talk. Adam hadn’t needed to meet anyone’s parents like this since—he couldn’t even remember the last time. Unless, maybe with Patty…But that had been years ago.

So the long day began with introductions and discussion about everything from Ed’s real estate business to Adam’s log home that his brother had helped him build last year.

“I didn’t know you were good with carpentry work,” Angela stated. “How did you get started with that?”

“When I was a teacher, I spent part of my summers helping my brother with his home-remodeling business. I’ve even been on a few missionary trips to South America to help build churches and parsonages for the nationals there.”

Ed’s face lit up on that comment. “I’ve been on a couple of those trips myself, Adam,” he began. And Angela and Grace shared a secret smile and both leaned back in their chairs. Once Ed started reliving his travels, it would be a while before he stopped. Fortunately, Adam could relate to many of the stories and seemed to enjoy the lengthy conversation.

“Mom!” Heather called when, nearly an hour later, she ran over to where Angela sat. “We need another player. The other team has two grown-ups on it, and we’re getting pounded out there. Could Adam play?”

“What? You mean you don’t want
me?
” Angela asked.

“Get real, Mom. You know you can’t pitch.” She looked over at Adam, who had already stood up to join her. “Can
you?
“

“Yep, let’s go,” he replied. “Excuse us, we’ll be back after we win this game.”

Angela watched them cut across the playing field. She saw Adam touch Heather’s shoulder and then point her in the direction of first base.

“I like him, Angela,” Grace stated quietly and with a confirming smile. “Very much.”

Ed cleared his throat roughly. “I have to agree with your mother. I like him, too, but it will take you a while to really get to know him. Probably a year or two.”

Angela looked over at her father instantly. “A year—” She stopped speaking when he laughed affectionately at her surprised expression.

“I wouldn’t want you to rush into anything,” he added before squeezing her arm lightly, “but maybe a year or two would be asking a lot.”

“Anyway, Dad, I’m just trying to decide whether to continue seeing him—not whether or not I want to spend the rest of my life with him.”

“But you shouldn’t date him unless he is a man you
could
spend the rest of your life with…if you chose to,” Grace commented. “Don’t let yourself fall in love with someone you’re going to have to say goodbye to in the end.”

“Find out about his past and what his plans are for the future,” Ed added. “I don’t want to see you hurt again.”

“Dad, I’m not sixteen. I know the risks.” As Angela watched Adam in the distance with her children, those risks didn’t seem to loom so dangerously. She liked nearly everything about him, regardless of how much she didn’t want to. Angela was beginning to wonder how it would feel to be with him, not just the way they were today—awkward, uncertain—but rather, how it would feel to belong to him with familiarity, confidence. How would it be to sit next to him tonight without wondering if she’d ever sit next to him again? Did she trust the Lord enough to allow Him to give her this new possibility? Could she trust Adam?

“Dinner!” The loud announcement brought the players in from the field and most everyone else to their feet. Soon the crowd gathered around the tables that had been set up and covered with paper plates,
napkins, plastic forks and spoons, bottles of condiments and bowls of potato chips and other side dishes. There were coolers of soda pop and pitchers of iced tea. The children were hungry, and they came running to meet Angela and get into the line for their sandwiches, hot off the grill.

Adam walked up to stand close by Angela as the pastor announced loudly that it was time for a prayer to thank the Lord for their meal and this day. Adam reached for Angela’s hand, linking his fingers through hers. She looked up, surprised—but pleasantly so—by his action. His smile in return was warm and gentle…and brief as he lowered his head and closed his eyes for the prayer. Angela did the same with a heart filled with gratitude. She’d seen other couples holding hands like this during prayer. In earlier years, she had been a little envious. Then she had either stopped noticing or stopped caring. But this time was different. It was her turn, it was Adam’s hand—and something felt very right about his touch.