The Runaway Pastor's Wife (12 page)

Annie began to look around. The light from the
lamp shone softly in spite of a bright glow from the windows, illuminating the
entire room.
I must have fallen asleep last night on the sofa.

“Yes, Mary Jean, I . . . I’m fine. I
must have dozed off.”

“Oh goodness, I apologize. I didn’t think about
waking you up. Bob and I just wanted to make sure you still had electricity and
your phone lines were still working.”

“Everything seems to be working. I’ll take a
look around and call you back if there’s a problem.” She paused to take a deep
breath, finally relaxing. “I really appreciate knowing you’re there in case of
an emergency.”

Mary Jean laughed. “Oh don’t you worry. We want
you to have a nice visit, but we don’t want to interfere with your peace and
quiet. Just let us know if you need anything, okay?”

Annie rubbed her foot on the inside of her other
leg. The heavy socks felt good, but they weren’t enough in this kind of cold.
“Thanks, Mary Jean. I’ll be in touch.”

She wrapped the colorful quilt around her and
tip-toed to the bedroom to find her slippers. Upon her arrival last night, she
had slung her suitcase on the pine love chest at the foot of the queen-sized
brass bed. She’d intended to unpack, but fatigue had quickly overcome her. She
dug through her bag and found the fleece-lined slippers, then quickly put them
on.

She was drawn to the huge window cut into the
rustic logs of the cabin wall. The brightness made her squint before wiping the
condensation off the glass panes. She used a corner of the hand-stitched quilt
to rub the pane in a circular motion, then stopped. Her hand still poised on
the glass before her, she shuddered, remembering the deadly dream. It seemed so
real! She could still feel the car soaring through the frigid air. Another
shudder swept over her.

Now that she thought of it, there had been many
nights over the last few months when she was awakened by dreams. Usually, they
made no sense at all, but the nightmares like the one she had just experienced
were happening more often. She remembered reading once that dreams often dealt
with unresolved conflicts. If that was the case, what was the significance of
falling off the side of a mountain?

But, of course. Her life was out of control, and
just like the Jeep Cherokee in her dream, she felt powerless to do anything to
stop it.

Annie stomped her feet to get the blood
circulating and pulled the quilt more tightly around her. Cautiously, she
reached toward the window again, this time clearing it enough to see the
panoramic view before her. She sighed, taking in the majesty of the mountains
surrounding her. The snow blew hard, but she was able to make out the
breathtaking landscape. Doc had been right. It was an incredible view
.

She shuffled back out to the great room to
revive the embers in the massive stone fireplace. In no time at all, a blaze
was crackling behind the hearth, finally warming her. She tossed the quilt back
on the sofa and padded over to the kitchen. Unwrapping one of Mary Jean’s
oatmeal muffins, she popped it into the microwave for a few seconds and started
brewing a pot of hazelnut coffee. She poured a small glass of icy cold milk,
wrapped the muffin in a napkin and headed back for the sofa.

She sighed with contentment.
This is heaven.

She dismissed the tug in her soul, warding off
the inevitable thoughts and truths she must face. Looking around, she marveled
at the cozy and comforting ambiance around her. It was truly a beautiful
retreat. Everywhere she looked were memorabilia from Christine’s life—bits and
pieces of her hobbies, treasures from travels to distant lands, and an amazing
array of her award-winning photographs from around the world. Antiques here and
there mingled with more modern accessories, tastefully blended in a way only
Christine could pull off. Candles in every size and shape graced every surface
of the room.
Signature Christine.

Annie finished off the glass of milk and headed
back to the kitchen for a mug of coffee. Finally settling down on the
cream-colored sofa, she plopped her feet up on the coffee table, covered her
legs once more with the quilt, and sunk down in the cushions to relax. She
stared into the fire, realizing this was exactly how she had fallen asleep the
night before.

It felt so incredibly good to be here. And yet,
she felt plagued by the emotions still harboring inside. She wasn’t ready to
let go. Not yet. For now she needed only the soothing knowledge that there were
no schedules to keep, no calls to make, no meetings or lunches required, no
laundry to fold, no crisis to resolve—and no absent husband to be mad at. If
she chose to sit in this very spot all day and all night, it was perfectly all
right.

And for now, it was enough.

Seminole,
Florida

David’s head throbbed. He felt awful. He hadn’t
slept more than fifteen minutes at a stretch all night, and the day was
creeping by equally as bad. He had no idea how long he’d been sitting in his
easy chair. His worn, leather Bible was spread across his lap, but he couldn’t
remember what it was he last read. He rubbed his eyes wearily and scratched the
day’s growth on his chin. The quiet ticking of the grandfather clock irritated
him.

He shut his burning eyes, leaning back on the
headrest. Just then he heard the sound of a vehicle pulling around to the
garage.

Mom’s back.

Caroline had left the house several hours
earlier to run some errands, or so she said. He knew she needed to pack a bag
for her indefinite stay with them, but he wasn’t fooled by her supposed need to
run errands. She wanted to give him some solitude before the kids came home
from school.

Time to think. To pray.

He wanted to believe that last night was nothing
more than a bizarre nightmare. It wasn’t real, was it? Over and over, his mind
replayed the previous evening. With the night mercifully behind him now, David
shook his head hoping to get rid of the sense of helplessness that engulfed
him. He ran his hand through his hair then stood up, stretching his arms over
his head.

“David, are you up?”

“In here, Mom,” he answered. He could hear the
crinkling of the grocery bags settling on the kitchen counter.

“David, I’ve been thinking.” She stopped in the
doorway, placing a hand on her hip.

“Good. I’m glad one of us still has the
ability.”

“Now, don’t start. Listen to me. You and I must
be very careful how we handle this whole thing with the kids.”

“I know. I’ve been thinking the same thing.”

Caroline turned back around. “Come in here while
I put the groceries away. I’ll make you a cup of tea. We need to talk.”

What would I ever do without her?
He
lumbered over to the counter, hopping up to sit on it.

Caroline unpacked a variety of packages and
produce from the paper bags. “Part of me wishes we could lie through our teeth
about this whole thing. Tell them Annie went to visit her sister in
Vermont
who
just had a baby.”

David crinkled his face in confusion. “Annie
doesn’t have a sister in
Vermont
. She doesn’t have a sister
anywhere, so I know there certainly can’t be a new baby.”

“I know that, son, but it sure would’ve made it
a lot easier if she did.” Her smile was vaguely mischievous.

“Great. I’ll be sure to bring that up when she
calls
.
Or I guess I should say
if
she calls.”

“You know, you aren’t making this any easier
with comments like that,” she answered, leveling her gaze at him over her
glasses.

“Okay, okay. Go on.”

“The thing is, I despise people who lie and I
know that God isn’t too keen on it either. Which, as far as I’m concerned,
rules out that option.”

“So what do you suggest?”

“I suggest being totally up front with them.
Tell them she needed a little getaway vacation. Remind them that everyone needs
a break now and then, and she’s getting one right now. Be as honest as you can
possibly be with them, David. But I don’t think it’s necessary for them to know
anything more.”

David stared out the window at a bright cardinal
feasting on the miniature log-cabin bird feeder. “I suppose you’re right,” he
said, absently picking at the worn knee of his jeans. “Jessie doesn’t miss much
for a kid her age. What do I say if she digs for more answers?” he said,
jumping down from the counter and pacing the floor. “And you know Max will
drill us. And what do I say when the questions start flooding in from church
members? They’re going to wonder where she is. Mom, these people know me! They
know I don’t lie. How will I ever be able to do this? I can’t face a hundred
questions. I can’t do this.” He stopped, plopping down into a ladder-back chair
at the kitchen table. He rustled his hair again then rubbed his face.

Caroline walked over to her son, grabbing his
arm and turning him to face her. “David, did you hear yourself just now? ‘I
can’t do this.’ Of course you can’t! But you know you are not alone. Aren’t you
the guy who’s always preaching to us how God is most able to work in our lives
when we come to the realization we cannot do it ourselves? That we are totally
dependent on Him? So how about letting Him take over and intervene for this
shepherd?” She poked his chest with her forefingers.

David dropped his head again. Caroline wrapped
her arms around him, hugging him with all her strength. “Besides, you have your
old, white-haired mother here for you, remember? And I’ll be here for as long
as you need me. So don’t even think about carrying this thing alone, okay?
Between you, me and the Lord, we’ll make it through this.”

David finally responded, hugging his mother.
“You’re pretty feisty for an old, white-haired mother, did you know that?”

“Hey, I earned every single one of these white
hairs and I’m mighty proud of each and every one. Now, what do you say we hit
our knees and spend some time with the Lord since He’s the one with all the
answers?”

“Caroline? Is that you, dear? Did I dial your
number by mistake?”

Caroline took a deep breath before responding,
“Why, hello Darlene. What a nice surprise.”

Even as the words slipped out of her mouth,
Caroline winced at what she knew was an untruth. She offered up a silent
apology to the Lord. “No, you didn’t dial wrong. I just happened to be here and
was by the phone in the kitchen when it rang. How are you, Darlene?”

To call it a “strained” relationship would be a
generous description at best. Annie’s mother was the kind of in-law every
parent dreads. More like a blight joining the family tree. Fortunately, Annie
was nothing at all like her mother, favoring instead her father who had died
when she was only ten. Thank goodness she had been a “daddy’s girl” from the
day she was born. Caroline often wondered how such a dear child could ever
descend from such an insufferable matriarch.

Darlene no doubt meant well. She simply had the
uncanny knack of stirring up a hornet’s nest where there weren’t any hornets
within miles. David called it the “spiritual gift of aggravation.”