Savage Love (18 page)

Chapter 17

All
Good Things Must Come to an End

     Over the next couple of days, Daffyd regained most of his strength, at least to the point he had been before his last treatment. The four of them spent hours together laughing
, talking and just enjoying each other’s company. Daffyd was content to watch them in the pool, or working in the garden while sitting in the shade with some lemonade. On one occasion he even wore a pair of shorts and sat on the edge of the pool and kicked his feet in the water. They were all pretty shocked at how thin and frail he looked, including Daffyd. Seanna discovered Daffyd’s love for board games and they spent time gathered at the table in the kitchen or on the patio.

    
Soon the week rolled past and it was Sunday again. They had all gone to the morning service, including Daffyd. Though he had not made any big decisions, they were all pleased that he had attended another service. When they got home it was to find Trisha and Leal’s vehicle in the drive. No sooner had they parked and the two came out of the house with excitement and hugs.

     “Where have you been all morning? We have been home for hours!”
exclaimed Trisha.

     “We were at
church,” said Bryce.

     “All of you…” said Leal with eyes wide.

     “Yes, Leal, all of us. As a matter of fact, this is the second time I have gone to Church while you two were gone,” said Daffyd.

     “Wow,” whispered Trish.

     “Since you have been here for hours, what did you fix us for lunch?” asked Daffyd.

     “My lovely wife exaggerated, we’ve only been home for about forty-five minutes. And since we didn’t know where you were, we at
e without you,” answered Leal.

     “Well I am hungry again, so let’s go round something up,” said Trisha.

     “That’s because you hardly picked at your sandwich. She was a little worried that maybe Daffyd had to go to the hospital,” he explained.

     “Nope, in fact I am feeling pretty chipper today,” said Daffyd. “So let’s go eat!”

     In no time Samantha, Trisha and Seanna had the table laden with good food. Leal and Trisha were telling them all about their trip and about Leal’s grandmother’s recovery. Seanna shared her good news about the scholarship, not without some raised eyebrows from Trisha and a quick look Daffyd’s way. Bryce told them about the prayer vigil and that they had both prayed for Leal’s grandmother. Soon they were all caught up on the events from the past few weeks. Trisha bit her tongue to keep from grilling Daffyd about church. After all the years of praying, she wanted to know if he had finally surrendered himself.

     “So,
Daffyd, how did you like church?” asked Leal.

     “It was…pleasant…I didn’t burst into flame when I walked through the door,” Daffyd answered.

     “Everything doesn’t have to be a joke, Daffyd,” said Trisha quietly.

     “Well, I haven’t signed over all my possessions to the
church if that’s what you wanted to know. There was no emotional teary outbursts, I did not see angels or hear the voice of God, and surprise, surprise…I
still
have cancer!” said Daffyd angrily.

    “Ok, just calm down, it was a simple question, you answered and now we are done,” said Leal, giving his wife a look.

     “Right, change of subject. So Samantha and Seanna I guess you’ll be leaving us soon,” said Trisha.

     “Um…I guess you’re right. Now that the two of you are back, there isn’t any reason for us to stay…” answered Samantha, sounding a little hurt.

     “I wasn’t implying that you had to leave right away…look, I think I am tired and need to go take a nap. I am feeling a little cranky and I don’t want anyone to be offended. It is great seeing you all again, including you, Samantha, and Seanna. I am gonna catch a few winks and will be like new again.” Trisha gave her husband a kiss on the cheek and gave Bryce a pat on the head as she left the kitchen.

     “You know, she was right. It is time that we take off. We should get packed up tonight Seanna and get an early start in the morning,” said Samantha.
“If you’ll excuse us.”

     Seanna looked at Bryce with a sad smile and got up and followed her mother upstairs. Bryce looked at Daffyd as if he expected him to call them back or do
something.

     “What?” asked
Daffyd.

     “Nothing,” said Bryce shaking his head as he too got up and left the table.

     “All good things must come to an end,” whispered Daffyd.

     “Why are you in such a big hurry to leave, Mom?” asked Seanna as Samantha was packing her suitcase.

     “Seanna we’ve been here long enough. We never intended to stay in one place so long and the only reason we stayed is to allow Trisha and Leal to take a break. They are home now and there is no reason to stay.”
   

     “Yeah, but they just got home today. I doubt that Trisha was trying to tell us it was time to move on. I think she was just disappointed in Daffyd’s attitude about
church,” said Seanna.

     “Honestly, so am I. That’s one of the reasons that I am ready to leave. I guess I had hoped that our being here might change his attitude, but obviously it hasn’t. He just went to Church as some kind of a show, or a game. He isn’t going to change
. He could have said something when I said it was time to go, but he just sat there,” she sounded hurt.

     “What are you so worked up about?” asked her daughter.

     “He just makes me so mad. Look Seanna, the summer is halfway over. We both have things to do before you have to leave this fall, so I say let’s be thankful for the time we have had here and get on our way. I hate long goodbyes, and I think it would just be uncomfortable for us to stay any longer.”

     “Ok, I still think you are overreacting, and you never know what may come of our being here. I think that good seeds have been planted,” said Seanna.

     “I sure hope they bear some fruit, but in the meantime, we all need to get back to our own lives,” said her mom.

     “Then I better get packing. What time
do you want to leave in the morning?” ask Seanna.

    
“How about right after breakfast? We can load up the car before we eat, say our goodbyes and then get back on the road.”

     That night Daffyd stayed in his room. He sent a check for Seanna and Samantha down with Bryce and asked him to thank them for their help. Trisha woke up from her nap back to her old chipper self and apologized to the girls for her grumpiness. She didn’t try to talk them into staying. Bryce and Seanna both looked sad, but they exchanged email, phone numbers and made promises to keep in touch. Dinner was a subdued affair. Samantha helped Trisha clean up and answered a few questions about the time that they were gone. The two young people spent their last night in the pool and talking until the wee hours on the patio under the stars. Samantha went to bed early after letting Trisha know that she would be leaving after breakfast.

     The next morning they loaded up the car and sat down to a big breakfast of buckwheat pancakes, sausage and eggs. Daffyd again did not join them for the meal. They finished eating and lingered over the table for a bit, nobody really knowing what to say. Trisha said she would
clear up and the girls finally said they better get going. The other three walked them out to the car. They were just getting in when Daffyd showed up looking tired and pale.

     “Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?” he asked.

     Seanna got out of the car first and went around to give Daffyd a hug. Samantha followed close behind. Samantha put out her hand, and Daffyd pulled her in for a hug as well. He held on to her just a bit longer than he had Seanna, and just before pulling away he leaned down and gave her a soft warm kiss on the forehead.

     “
I am sorry,” he whispered.

      Samantha looked up and smiled.

     “Thanks,” she said.

     She reached into her shorts pocket and pulled out a folded up piece of paper and handed it to him.

    “I was going to leave this for you, but I chickened out…”

    “I have one for you too…” he said pulling an envelope out of his robe pocket laughing.

     “Ok, then. We better get going,” said Samantha as she gave all the others one last hug.

     Soon they were off and Daffyd was back in his room reading the note from Samantha.

    
Dear Daffyd,

    
I am writing this note knowing that I am leaving and will probably never see you again, but I wanted you to know that I think you are a wonderful, if stubborn, person. I think that you have a big heart and that you are a generous and loving man. I am pretty sure that you are somehow behind my daughter’s big scholarship and I appreciate it so much. Just a few weeks ago I would have been offended and refused to accept this most generous gift. Thankfully I have had some time to do some soul searching and our talks together have helped me to swallow my pride and to be able to be grateful for the blessings however they may come. I will continue to pray for you, body and spirit, and only wish you the best. I have come to care for you and the rest of your household in a way that I haven’t felt for years. I know now that I have held myself apart from others and have not allowed any close relationships with anyone other than Seanna in my life. You were all so kind and open with us that I never even realized what was taking place until suddenly it felt like we had all known each other for years. I will always remember your hideaway in the mountains and the time that we were there. Thank you for everything and please don’t give up on God, Daffyd. Allow him to speak into your heart.

             
                                                                                    Your Friend,

             
                                                                                    Samantha

    
Daffyd read the letter and read it again, looking for something that wasn’t there. He finally went to sleep with a lump in his throat and a heavy heart.

     Samantha had tucked Daffyd’s letter into her purse, not wanting to read it until they stopped for the night. Seanna was taking the first driving shift and Samantha was watching the scenery and thinking about what she would be coming home to. They had decided not to dawdle too much and to make the rest of the trip pretty quickly. After living in a modern mansion the past few weeks everything else sort of lost its excitement. Seanna was obviously sad about leaving Bryce and was saying little and concentrating on her driving.

     They stopped for the night at about nine and got settled into their motel. Seanna plopped into bed and went right to sleep. Samantha took the opportunity to retrieve Daffyd’s letter out of her purse. Her heart was beating a fast rhythm and her palms were sweaty when she opened up the envelope. There in a long flowing hand Daffyd had said the things that he had been to
o afraid to say to Samantha in person.

    
Samantha,

Let me start off by saying
that I am sorry for the way I behaved yesterday. I still have some anger issues with God. I am trying to work through those, and I shouldn’t have let Trisha’s question set me off. I want you to know that I have never met a woman like you before. You really threw me for a loop. I did not and do not know how to handle someone like you. For the first time in years I wanted to be a better person, to feel like my life meant something. You accepted me for who I am, even though you disagreed with so much of my mindsets and my lifestyle. Other than a small amount of people, and you know most of them, I haven’t been treated like a human being for years. When I first saw your car, I told Leal not to stop no matter what. But as soon as I saw the two of you on the road, I was
compelled
to stop! I can’t really explain it, I am sure you would say it was God, and you may be right, because it was one of the smartest things I had ever done. Having the two of you here has changed my life so much. I took a good look at who I was and who I
wanted
to be and decided I wanted to be someone that you would be proud of. I am going to miss you terribly. I don’t think I can be so open with anyone else. You truly are a ‘good listener’ as your name says. Please consider keeping in touch, and allowing me to pour out my heart to you as I was able to while you were here. Continue to let me ask you hard questions and to let me be stupid and stubborn and not hold it against me. I am giving you my personal number and would like you to call anytime and frequently. I can’t possibly explain to you how I am feeling now that you are leaving, not understanding it myself. I could not come down last night because I was on the verge of tears and didn’t want to embarrass myself. But I can say that I care for you deeply and will miss having you here. If this is all just too much and too weird for you, then forgive me and write it off as the ramblings of a sick man. But if you can find it in your heart to stay in touch, call me to let me know you made it safely home. I will do as you suggested and try and find my way back.