Cocoon (5 page)

Her impassioned revelation tugged Barth's mouth into a gentle smile and his large, warm hands captured her cold ones. “Look, honey,” he murmured, his fingers warming hers with gentle caresses, “we'll do what will make you happy. As for the kids, I believe they'll eventually come around.”

The words were becoming a mantra, but the hope in them still kept her afloat.

“I hope so, Barth. I really do. This is breaking my heart, their not being supportive in something so important to me. I don't understand.” She swallowed back the painful, throbbing lump lodged in her throat and felt the burn of tears behind her eyes. “I'm sorry,” she whispered. A tear splashed over and trickled down her cheek, then another as she pulled one hand free and groped for a napkin.

“Sweetheart, don't worry about a thing,” he murmured, gently taking her napkin to blot the wet streaks on her cheeks. She saw a glistening behind the thick lens. He blinked it back, cleared his throat, and said, “This will all work out in the long run. In the meantime, looks like we've got things to do. Where do we start?”

Seana's heart suddenly soared, despite the gloomy pessimism of her offspring. Barth's common sense, masculine approach was just what she needed.

“Let's go to the courthouse early in the morning,” she said. “In Anderson. That way nobody will know.”

She grinned. “At least not until we want them to.”

• • •

The civil ceremony, performed by a handy judge, was short and sweet. Afterward, Seana and Barth drove to the mountains and found a quaint little cottage for the honeymoon night.

“I don't want to be gone long enough for our absence to become conspicuous,” Seana insisted. “Not yet. I want this time to be ours.”

“Anything you want,” Barth agreed, his generous mouth curving into that endearingly crooked smile of his that calmed her fears and made everything seem okay. “Unless you want to explain why you lost your mind and ran off with that Canadian scoundrel.”

She laughed as he'd intended.

They went out to dinner in nearby Asheville. But neither was very hungry and soon returned to their honeymoon lair.

The cottage was perfect for their short hours of freedom to love and discover new delights in each other. Their courtship had been somewhat chaste yet filled with promises now fulfilled. The chemistry was explosive, as Seana had known it would be.

“You know, I find myself even happier that both Zoe and Tim have their own lives, rich full ones,” Seana said as they lounged in bed that evening. Satiated and at peace. “At one time, not too long ago, I felt somewhat abandoned at times. Of course, that was selfish thinking because, after all, isn't that what parents want for their children? Rich, productive, independent lives?”

“Definitely.” Barth gently brushed a stray tendril from Seana's cheek, causing a sweet stir deep inside her. “You're a wonderful mother, Seana,” he murmured huskily. “The best. Don't ever forget that. I wish I'd had kids but it didn't happen. Betty wasn't able to, and I think that's one reason why –”

“Don't,” Seana rolled over into his arms, wishing away the torture she saw in his eyes when he delved into his shadowy past. One he'd shared with her. One they dare not share with her children. “Don't go there. Let's not let anything intrude just yet. This is our time, dear Barth.”

She turned her lips to his and he dipped to their warmth and comfort.

He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. “Our time.”

“The thing about family disasters is that you never have to wait long before the next one puts the previous one into perspective.”

– Robert Brault

“A
hh,” Seana sighed two days later as the two newlyweds lounged in adjoining recliners on the deck at home. “If only it could last. The exclusiveness. The beautiful time of getting to know one another on a deeper level.”

She and Barth simply continued their normal relationship before family and friends. Barth had in the past, on occasion, stayed at her house all night, taking one of the guest rooms, not unheard of for folks their age.

Paradise Springs was a fairly open-minded place. Fairly.

“They know you for who you are,” Barth often reminded her when she had appearance-misgivings. And it was true.

Though she knew it had to push his patience at times, Barth acquiesced to her present wish for secrecy. He could have ranted about her cowardly procrastination. But he didn't.

“Only demand I make is having my wife in my bed.” Barth's dark gaze pinned her and she felt the impact of his territorial declaration.

“Thanks,” she whispered and reached over to take his hand.

“For what?” His eyes swept over her in sweet ownership.

“For loving and nurturing me. I haven't felt so
 – treasured
in many years.”

“You're very welcome.” His deep timbre rolled over her skin and she felt goose bumps rise. How she loved this man. How his very male protectiveness thrilled her.

How long it had been since she'd felt that snuggly warm covering.

From his nearby roost in the sunshine, a vigilant Brutus gave a guttural WoRuff, then trotted over to Seana and nudged his snout into her hand, then burrowed his head there for her touch.

“Okay, boy,” Barth threw up his hands in surrender. “I know jealousy when I see it.”

Seana laughed and pulled Brutus's head over her lap and gave his fur a thorough scruffing. “There's plenty of me to go around.”

• • •

“Seana, you look different,” Louann Melton, the pastor's wife – an abbreviated, five-two, red-haired image of the movies's Nicole Kidman – hugged Seana in the church vestibule that Sunday morning as they left services. She leaned back and peered intently into Seana's blushing face. “Kinda like the cookie jar bandit.”

At Seana's near startled response, Louann laughed. “Not that bad. But pretty close. You and Barth named the date yet?”

Just then, Seana's blond hairdresser buddy, Joanie, grabbed and pulled her in for a big hug, rescuing her from Louann's curious probing.

“Hey, darlin'.” Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “You have fun on your trip to the mountains?”

Seana's mouth dropped open. She reared back to gape at her friend. “How –”

“So it's true?” Joanie giggled and whispered, “Don't know how she does it but Sadie Tate said she stopped by Fred's Grocery Store the other day and Fred said when you lovebirds stopped by the Texaco station he spotted suitcases in the back of your car. Sadie added it together and came up with the idea that you and your man was a' sneaking out for a tryst.”

Shock speared Seana. “Well I never.” She pushed back umbrage and opened her mouth to placate Joanie's curiosity, at the same time wanting to throttle Sadie Tate for her nosiness. And tale-bearing.

“Never mind.” Joanie shook her head. “You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, honey. I know Sadie's imagination's quite lively, doncha know? Well, I've gotta run 'cause some of us are goin' over to the Mater and Onion for their Sunday Buffet. You and Barth want to join us?” Her huge eyes, today a peculiar but lovely shade of lens-enhanced amber, appealed sweetly as the long, thick lashes blinked once, twice ….

“Er … not this time. I've already prepared some chicken salad for lunch. Thanks anyway for the invite. Another time?”

“Sure.” The open smile flashed as she squeezed Seana's hand.

“Oops!” Joanie collided with brawny, strappy Scott Burns, Paradise Springs High's athletic coach. His big hands reached out to steady her, but his eyes were on Seana. “'Scuse me?”

“Sure, Scott.” Joanie pivoted to rush out to join her lunch party.

Seana watched Joanie's classy red dress disappear from sight, feeling like she'd been rammed in the middle by
el Toro
. Were she and Barth that transparent?

Did everyone suspect them of being loose? Immoral?

A tryst?

It took her a moment to realize that Scott was talking to her. “Huh?” She blinked and focused on the intent, strong, all-American features looming over her. “I'm sorry, Scott. What did you say?”

“I didn't see Zoe today. Is she sick or something?” Though he tried to hide his distress, he didn't do too good a job. Seana's heart flailed toward him with his unrequited romance aspirations. He needed all the sympathy he could get in his pursuit of the remote Zoe.

“I haven't spoken with her in the past few days, Scott,” Seana replied sympathetically. “I have no idea why she's not here.”

“Thanks,” he mumbled and ambled away, his wilted stance a sad sight to behold.

“Seana!” Pastor Keith swooped up in his flowing, black clerical robe, looking anything but dignified with his little boy impish grin. Sunrays spilling through stained glass highlighted his near-platinum hair. “It's so good to see you. You know, you're really good for Barth. Have I told you that?”

“A few dozen times,” Louann reminded him as she zoned in, catching the last sentence. Louann smiled mischievously at her verbose husband.

“And vice versa,” Barth inserted over the pastor's shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. “Least she tells me I am.”

“Oh you are,” Seana said breathlessly, just now recuperating from Joanie's revelation of their blossoming notoriety. Unbeknownst to kind-hearted Joanie, the news had been a real hard kick punch.

“Say,” Seana said impulsively. “If you two don't have plans for lunch, why don't you come over and share ours? My chicken salad, according to Barth, is quite tasty.” Besides, she needed their steadying company.

“The best,” chimed in Barth. “Yes, why don't you?”

Pastor Keith and Louann looked at each other and briefly, quietly conferred about lunch plans or lack thereof.

“We would love to,” Pastor Keith addressed them. “And thanks.”

• • •

The Meltons were easy to entertain. Actually, Seana concluded as she and Louann did final fruit and salad preparations in Seana's big kitchen, she didn't have to entertain them at all. They belonged to that select niche of friends who simply flow, their presence lending itself to warm camaraderie and sustenance.

“Come on, Brutus,” Barth called out the door. He'd let him out a few minutes earlier to relieve himself and run a few rounds. Brutus appeared, panting and wagging his tail happily and taking advantage of time to cozy up to friends for a good back scratching and tummy rubbing.

“Brutus.” Barth pointed to the den, where a corner cushion still provided a view of the kitchen, and being the well-trained canine he was, Brutus immediately trotted over, curled up, and soon dozed.

They dined in the cozy kitchen nook with its glass table and long windows framing a background of distant blue Smoky Mountains. The larger, more formal dining room simply wouldn't have embraced them as intimately, Seana decided, as she and Louann poured iced tea and took their seats with their husbands.

They joined hands and hearts as Pastor Keith gave thanks.

Conversation flowed pleasantly, spontaneously as they ate. Barth and Keith reminisced over their school days and first disastrous sermons in Homiletics class.

Barth laughed uproariously. “My tongue was so thick and dry I couldn't have worked up a spit if my life had depended on it. I'm much better at music than preaching, I can tell you that.”

“Oh, you did fine,” Pastor Keith said, taking a generous portion of chicken salad.

“Liar,” Barth burst into fresh laughter. “I listened to the tape.”

The pastor's shoulders shot up in an elaborate shrug. “What can I say?” Then his laughter joined Barth's.

“Chicken salad is delicious.” Louann smacked her lips playfully, drawing appreciative laughter from the hosts. “The onion, chopped pecans, and sliced grapes hit my taste buds just right.”

“Barth adds a few extra chopped herbs, too. They boost the flavor.”

“By the way,” Louann turned serious, “how's Billie Jean? She's not been at church for a couple of Sundays, has she? I haven't seen her, but she could have slipped out past me.”

“She's hardly come upstairs these past weeks.” Seana rose to refill tea and ice. She didn't share her apprehension that perhaps Zoe's dislike for Barth had gone viral, infecting Billie Jean.

“She's having some medical issues,” Seana added, concern flushing through her.

“Oh?” Louann was instantly alert. “What kind?”

“Billie Jean hasn't said much. You know her.”

“Do I.” Louann's eyebrows shot up then she laughed.

“She did say something about protein showing up in her blood tests – during a routine exam. Now she's going to see a specialist for more tests.”

“Hmm.” Pastor Keith shifted in his chair and leaned forward on his elbows. “That sounds kinda serious.”

“Just what I was thinking,” Barth said.

“Well, let's hope and pray for the best.” Seana smiled, pushing back dark forebodings.

“Absolutely,” Pastor Keith rubbed his hands together. “How about playing us a song on the piano, Barth? Something like – Moon River.”

After quick teamwork in cleanup, they migrated to the den.

And soon, they were all singing along with familiar tunes, both old and new.

The time passed too swiftly; before long, they were readying to depart.

“Honey?” Barth's eyes captured Seana's across the den, a question glimmering in their mahogany depths.

Seana nodded. It was time.

Barth cleared his throat. “We want you two to be the first to know that we're now married.” Barth went on to explain to his closest friend the whys and hows. Seana added the details of her children's hesitant acceptance of Barth, soft-pedaling most of it.

“However,” Barth nodded with confidence, “they'll both come around in time. I understand how difficult it can be to lose your beautiful mother to a stranger. They'll just have to get to know me better.”

Seana looked at him, heard the hope in his deep voice and saw it in his eyes behind the thick lenses. Her heart struggled to believe what he said. He almost made her believe in magic. Surely, with time, Zoe and Tim would accept Barth for the wonderful man he was.

Wouldn't they?

“Well, congratulations are in order.” Pastor Keith burst from the sofa, closed the distance, and pulled Barth into a bear hug while Louann captured Seana in a long, warm embrace.

“This is wonderful news,” Louann said as she collected her purse. “So your children don't know yet?”

“No.” Seana dropped her head for a moment and then looked steadily at her friend. “But I'll break the news in the next day or so.”

Louann looked at her for a long moment, her eyes clouded, then, in an instant, her smile cleared them. “Kids can be funny about these things. We've got two married ones, you know. They can get a mite territorial at times.”

“No joke.”

They both burst into laughter.

After they waved the Meltons out of sight, Barth and Seana looked at each other and smiled.

“Two down,” Barth said. “Two to go.”

Seana's smile evaporated. “The two most critical.”

• • •

Seana came upon an idea. On her computer, she designed bold scripted letters that stated: DO NOT DISTURB THE NEWLYWEDS.

“What do you think?” she asked Barth after she printed it out on eleven-by-fourteen paper and boldly taped it to the front door.

“Cowardly, huh?” she added, squinting and hunching her shoulders.

“Nah.” Barth looked at it, then nodded. “Not bad. A touch of drama. And humor … I think.”

“Whatever. I'm tired, Barth. It's wrung me out – all the controversy, all the ….” Seana shrugged limply, her heart heavy.

“Hey.” Barth's finger lifted her chin and he smiled at her, dimples etched and eyes aglow. “Come on. You're bigger than all this junk.”

As she gazed into the steady gold-flecked mahogany, she felt the flow of his strength and optimism invading, filling, and splashing over.

“Darn right.” She dusted her hands together and nodded.

They went back into the house and Seana closed the door firmly against misgivings.

• • •

The next morning, as Seana put on coffee, Billie Jean tromped up the den stairwell. “Hello?” she bellowed. “Anybody home?”

“Come on in!” Seana rushed to hug her cousin. “I've missed you, girl. Where you been?” Actually, Billie Jean looked like she'd been through an agitator wash cycle and hung out to dry. Seana bit back a hysterical comment.

“Aw, just chilling out.” Billie Jean's usual hardy appearance hid behind wan features today. Her rust-hued curls had turned to frizz and dark circles underlined her tired eyes.

“Sit down.” Seana motioned to the bar stool. “Tell me what the last tests show?” She took a stool facing her.

Barth came in, fresh from the shower, still barefoot in clean jeans and blue pullover. “Hi, Billie Jean. Long time no see.”

“Yeh,” she murmured, not looking directly at him. “Been busy.”

Barth read the averted eyes and body language. Rejection. He also saw Seana wilt with disappointment. Well, darned if he was going to buckle under to it. He sauntered to the den, softly whistling Moon River.