The Healing Quilt (31 page)

“I do care,” Keith snapped back. “It’s just that Gina wants me to give up my career and hang around at home all the time.”

“Maybe you should cut back on your hours at work,” Mike suggested.

Keith looked at Mike like he’d taken leave of his senses. “No way. I’m not willing to do that. I’ve worked too hard to get where I am today. Not to mention having recently been offered a big promotion.”

Mike knew that his brother’s job as a sales rep for a big Orlando company put him on the road a lot. Last Christmas Mike had overhead Gina telling Phyllis that Keith was gone so much that she was beginning to feel like a widow. What had shocked him most that day was when Phyllis responded by saying that she could completely understood because she thought Mike cared more about his boat than he did her. At the time, Mike had brushed it off, thinking the women were overdramatizing. He’d rationalized his need to be on his boat so much. After all, didn’t working long hours to give his wife nice things count for anything? Surely she should be able to figure out that his desire to make a good living proved how much he cared for her.

But hearing about his brother’s situation caused Mike to stop and think about his own life and what was truly important to him. All these years Mike had thought his brother had the perfect life—a great career, good money, and a wife and kids who adored him. From as far back as Mike could remember he’d wanted to be successful like his older brother, but now he asked himself if success was really that important.

It was hard to figure people out or understand the logic behind their thinking, but Mike knew one thing for sure: he didn’t want his own marriage to end up like Keith and Gina’s. He’d been blinded by what he thought his brother had. When Phyllis got home, Mike planned to spend less time on the boat and more time with her.

H
ey, kiddo, how’d you sleep last night?” Jan asked when Star came out of the bathroom on Saturday morning, rubbing her eyes.

She frowned as she stretched her muscles and tilted her head from side to side. “I would’ve slept a whole lot better in a bed instead of on the couch.”

“Why don’t you take the spare room, and I’ll sleep on the couch. I offered to do that when you first got here.”

Star shook her head. “Naw, the couch only makes into a double bed, and the bed in the guest room is a queen. You need that bigger bed more than I do, Dad.” She released a noisy sigh. “I don’t see why we can’t stay in a hotel instead of here with Emma and Lamar.”

“They invited us to stay with them, Star, and I don’t wanna hurt their feelings,” Jan explained in a low voice so the Millers wouldn’t hear. “You know as well as I do what good people they are, and sleeping on the couch a few more nights isn’t going to hurt you. Besides, with the money we’re saving, it’ll give us more to spend on the way home.”

“I guess you’re right on both counts, but when are we leaving?” she asked with a hopeful expression.

“Thought we’d head out the Monday morning after the last quilting class. That’ll give us plenty of time to make it home before you have to be back at work.”

“What about your business, Dad? Don’t you think you should go home sooner, in case a big roofing job comes in?”

Jan shook his head. “Terry’s there. If something develops, he can handle it on his own. Besides, with the cold weather they’re having up north, it’s not likely that anyone’s gonna want their roof replaced till spring.”

“Guess you’re right about that, too.”

Jan paused before heading to the kitchen, where the aroma of fresh coffee beckoned him. “I know I told you this on the way home from the beach, but I’m real proud of the way you revived that boy who almost drowned.”

“What I did was nothing, Dad. You were the hero, going out there to rescue him. When the boy’s parents tracked you down afterward to say thanks, I could tell they thought you were a hero, too.”

“I just followed my instincts. Sure couldn’t stand there and let the kid drown.” Jan smiled. “I was relieved when his parents said their son was going to be okay. That could have ended in disaster.”

“Yeah, I know.” Star took a few steps and halted. “Before we go into the kitchen, could I ask you a question, Dad?”

“Sure thing, kiddo, you can ask me anything.”

She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “It’s about Kim.”

“What about her?”

“I’ve been wondering how serious you two are about each other. I saw you kiss her when we were at the beach in Venice, and…”

“I like her very much, Star,” Jan was quick to say. “Kim and I have a lot in common, and I enjoy bein’ with her more than any woman I’ve ever met.” He bumped Star’s arm playfully. “Present company excluded, of course.”

Star dropped her gaze to the floor. “I see.”

Jan put his thumb under her chin and lifted it until she was looking directly at him. “You’re not jealous, I hope.”

“No. Uh, yeah, maybe I am a little.”

“Well, don’t be. You’re my daughter, and no one will ever come between us. You are still my number-one girl, and that’ll never change. For the rest of the time we’re here, I hope you’ll give Kim a chance to get to know you better, because she’s feeling some negative vibes coming from you.” Jan pulled Star close and kissed her forehead. “Now let’s get in there and see if Emma has breakfast ready, ’cause the Saturday quilters will be here soon.”

“Don’t see why we have to be here for that,” Star complained. “Can’t the two of us do something fun today? We could check out Siesta Key Beach or join one of those sightseeing tours at the marina.”

“We’ll do something fun after the class,” he said. “I want to be here to see how things go, and maybe help out if I’m needed.”

She grunted. “I thought the Millers were teaching the class.”

He tweaked the end of her nose. “They are, smarty, but I want to be there in case Emma and Lamar get busy and someone has a question or needs extra help.”

Star rolled her eyes. “Someone, like Kim?”

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

Star opened her mouth as if to respond, but Emma called to them from the kitchen. “If you two are ready, breakfast is on the table.”

Jan nudged Star’s arm. “Guess we’d better get in there. We can talk later.”

Noreen’s hands felt clammy as she gripped the steering wheel. She dreaded going to the Millers’ house for the fifth quilting class, because she hated the thought of seeing B.J. again. And knowing Todd and Kara would be here next week made her all the more apprehensive. If only they would wait to come for a visit until B.J. went back to Chicago.
I should be dancing on air knowing that my son and his wife are coming for a visit. Instead, I’m dreading it
, Noreen fumed. The more she thought about it, the more upset she became.
Bruce Jensen is messing everything up. I shouldn’t be surprised, though; he’s good at it
.

“I know one thing,” Noreen barked, hitting the steering wheel to affirm her decision. “No matter how much prying B.J. does, he will never know about Todd!”

She looked in the rearview mirror, and grimaced at her reflection. Since B.J. had seen her hair last week when her turban fell off, she figured there was no point in wearing it again today, as he might say something about it in front of the others.

I don’t know why I care what he thinks or doesn’t think
, Noreen scolded herself. Besides, she’d seen her hairdresser this week, gotten her hair cut, and had some highlights put in, which had toned down the black a bit. Her hair wasn’t to her liking yet, but at least it looked better than when she’d first put that awful color in.

Glancing at her gas gauge, Noreen realized she’d let her tank get low, so she pulled into the nearest gas station. It wasn’t like her to let it go below half. Her only excuse was that she’d been under so much stress and wasn’t thinking clearly or paying attention to details, the way she normally did.

Noreen got out of her car, and as she pumped the gas, she thought about the class reunion she’d been invited to attend this evening. Ever since she’d dyed her hair, she’d struggled with whether to go or not. Through all Noreen’s years of teaching, her hair had never been as dark as it was now. But was that a good reason to stay home? Most likely, the students wouldn’t remember how her hair had looked back then, unless they got out their class yearbooks and checked out the teachers’ photos.

If I don’t go, I will miss seeing some of my old students, and any of my coworkers who might also be there
, she told herself.
No, I’m going, even if I look like an old fool. Even if just for a few hours, maybe the enjoyment of seeing everyone again will take my mind off everything else that’s been happening in my life lately
.

When B.J. arrived at the Millers’, Noreen was just getting out of her car. He fully intended to ask her about Judy’s son again, but by the time he’d gotten out of his car, she was already on the porch. He noticed everyone’s vehicles were there, and most likely, the other quilters were waiting for them. Even so, while he had this opportunity, B.J. wanted to try once more to get some answers from Noreen.

Maybe Emma won’t answer the door right away, and I’ll get to Noreen before she goes into the house
, B.J. thought as he made his way slowly across the yard. He was more tired than usual today and couldn’t walk as fast as he normally did. There was no doubt that his illness was taking a toll on him, and he was powerless to stop it.

“Please don’t start badgering me again,” Noreen snapped when B.J. stepped onto the porch. “As I told you before, I don’t know where Judy’s son is, and I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I just hope you can live with the fact that you took advantage of an innocent girl.” Her mouth quivered. “If Judy hadn’t gotten pregnant, she’d still be alive today.”

“You don’t know that,” B.J. shot back, taking deep, deliberate breaths to slow his racing heart. “People die from many causes.”
Like cancer
, he mentally added, gripping the porch railing, so he wouldn’t lose his balance.

Now don’t let me fall apart in front of Noreen
. B.J. willed his weakened body to keep going, as he fought to overcome a dizzy spell.

Noreen turned her back on him and said nothing, just knocked on the door.

“I know you blame me for your sister’s death, and if there was anything I could do to change the past, I surely would. Please try to understand,” he implored. “Judy and I were both young, and I was still living under my parents’ roof. I was just a teenaged boy, but if I’d known about everything, I wouldn’t have left like I did. Please listen to me, Noreen.” B.J. didn’t like talking to someone’s back, especially when they gave no response, but he continued anyway. “What teenage kid doesn’t make mistakes? I’m not trying to make excuses for myself, but I had no idea about any of what happened. Not about Judy being pregnant, her having the baby, or about her death.”

Noreen continued to ignore him and was practically pounding on the Millers’ front door.

“Just try to put yourself in my place, Noreen,” B.J. said, hoping she would finally realize what it was like for him to find out about his and Judy’s child after all these years.

Noreen turned around suddenly, and looked as if she were about to say something, when Emma, with her usual cheery smile, opened the door. “Good morning. I’m glad you’re both here.”

When they entered the house, Emma looked at Noreen and her eyes widened. “Oh, you’ve done something different with your hair.”

Noreen’s cheeks turned pink. “Uh, yes. I changed the color and had it cut a bit shorter.”

As worn out as he felt, B.J. stifled a laugh, and then hastily coughed to cover it up. Emma’s shocked expression said it all. But she didn’t laugh, either—just invited them to join the others at the table. Even in his own misery, B.J. could still find humor in this situation, and he couldn’t wait to see the reaction of the other quilters when they saw Noreen’s hair.

I
t’s good to see you all here,” Emma said as she looked at everyone seated around her table. “I hope each of you have had a good week.”

A few heads bobbed, but Noreen, looking as if she had eaten a sour cherry, said nothing, and neither did B.J., who sat with his shoulders slumped and head down. It tugged at Emma’s heartstrings, making her wish once again that there was something she could do to help these two. But she didn’t want to be pushy. If they wanted her or Lamar’s help, surely they would ask.