Love in Season Read online

  “You do this every day?” he asked Cathy, handing her a glass of juice.

  “This is just the beginning.”

  ****

  Whew! Jared thought, backing out the ancient station wagon an hour and a half later. And I thought my day was tough. In less time than it took him to network an entire office system, he’d managed—just barely—to get three children ready for school, lunches prepared for all of them, dishes done, and a toddler buckled into his car seat. Now, with their mother as navigator, they were on their way. After which, he intended, despite her protests, to get Ms. Cathy Johnson to a doctor.

  Arriving back at her house just before noon, he carried her in once more, this time to the couch, and went out to retrieve the sleeping child. Laying Samuel in his playpen, he poured Cathy a glass of water and administered over-the-counter medicine for relief of her discomfort.

  A mild sprain, the doctor had informed them, nothing a couple of days rest wouldn’t cure. Jared had taken it upon himself to provide the crutches that would enable her to move around easier.

  “Lunch,” he offered, while serving up the hamburgers and French fries he’d picked up on the way home. “Is there anything else I can do?”

  “Well, now that you mention it...” she hesitated.

  “What? Your wish is my command,” he insisted.

  They’d learned a lot about each other in four short hours. She was a widow; he’d never been married. Both were incredibly busy, and neither totally happy with their circumstances, but faith in God enabled them to make the most of their perspective lives.

  Cathy nodded toward the desk. “That work needs to be dropped off and more picked up. I usually do that while I’m out in the mornings but, with this mishap, we were running late. Then dinner has to be prepared. I try to cook early so that I can spend more time with the children, helping them with their homework and school projects. And the kids have to be picked up at three.”

  “What kind of work is it?” Jared asked, picking up two huge manila envelopes off the desk.

  “Office notes for a physician and a deposition for an attorney. Their addresses are there with the material. I do medical and legal transcription here at home, as well as business writing, reports, and other desktop publishing projects. It’s how I support my family.”

  He gazed at her in amazement. “You do all of this every day?” She nodded. “No wonder you escape for a run in the mornings,” he added.

  “I’ve no choice. It’s really not that hard when you’re organized and working from home enables me to spend quality time with my children, make a decent living, and not have to put Sammy in a daycare or leave him with a baby-sitter. This ankle threw a monkey wrench in my organized little world though.” He grinned and Cathy’s heart skipped a beat.

  “I’d say so.”

  Following her instructions, Jared provided her with the things she’d need to occupy the baby while he was gone and then took off to run errands for her. Dinner was another subject altogether, he thought. They’d have to settle for pizza. He picked up two frozen ones on the way home along with the makings of a green salad.

  ****

  Later that evening, a sigh rose up from within her when Cathy sank chin deep into the hot bath he’d prepared for her. The kids were fed, bathed and ready for bed. Samantha had cleaned the kitchen while Jared read a story to the twins. Sammy had fallen asleep almost immediately after supper, worn out by the rough-and-tumble entertainment Jared provided after propping Cathy up at the desk where she’d managed to get some work done.

  Heat infused her face, and the breath backed up in her lungs thinking about Jared…the long expanse of his leg and well-muscled thighs, his narrow waist, broad chest and wide shoulders topped by an incredibly handsome face complete with quirky smile and dancing brown eyes.

  Be still my heart. She placed a hand over the mad thumping in her chest. Rising from the tub, she forced her thoughts into some semblance of order and dried off.

  Wrapping herself in a thick, terrycloth robe, she brushed out her honey-colored hair and hobbled into the girls’ room to kiss them goodnight.

  Escorting Jared to the door, she thanked him for all he’d done. It wasn’t until she was wrapped snugly in her bed that she realized her prayer had been answered. God had sent her an angel. She giggled and drifted off to dream heavenly dreams.

  ****

  Cathy had offered the use of her car, but Jared opted to walk home, even though he was exhausted. Pleasantly so, he realized. He’d never had so much fun in his life. Being a bachelor at thirty-eight was not a choice for him, but a self-imposed sentence. Orphaned at birth, he’d often dreamed of having a big family. That dream was shattered when he was told he could not father a child. At the news, he’d refrained from permanent, complicated relationships. Now he wondered if God was showing him there was always a way to have your dreams and desires, as long as it was His way.

  He stayed up late that night praying and working in the house. The next morning he jogged over to Cathy’s to lend a helping hand once more. Sounds of chaos and laughter could be heard from within as he reached the door, bringing a smile to his lips.

  His heart hammered in his chest when Cathy answered the door on the edge of a laugh, her eyes glittering with amusement.

  “Morning,” he greeted.

  “Morning,” she returned.

  “Sounds like a party going on in there.” Jared remarked, grinning at her.

  She chuckled. “Just normal morning chaos.”

  “Thought I’d run over and give you a hand,” he offered, resisting the urge to kiss those smiling lips.

  Cathy swung the door open and hobbled out of his way. “A helping hand is nice, a pair is even better,” she teased.

  He fought the urge to kiss her again, laughed instead, and followed her into the kitchen.

  As he had the day before, Jared took control, delegated duties, and had everyone ready and out the door, this time with twenty minutes to spare. He stayed the whole day, playing with the baby and helping where he could, then took it upon himself to do a few minor house repairs; oiling doors, caulking windows, fixing leaky faucets, replacing loose or broken steps. He and Cathy laughed and talked, their conversations heightened by sensual undercurrents, the brush of hands, and long, lingering gazes.

  By the time he left that evening, Jared knew he’d found God’s will for his life and the family he’d always longed for, and he promised himself that he wouldn’t hesitate as he had so far. If she looked at him tomorrow the way she’d looked at him today, he’d sample the flavor and texture of her mouth.

  ****

  Cathy relished Jared’s visits. Long before he returned to work, they slipped into a routine—a morning run together, and then embarking on their daily obligations. Evenings were for quiet conversation, tender kisses and teasing caresses.

  Days turned into weeks, weeks slid into a month then two. Jared was always there when she needed him the most. He’d become adept at fixing lunches, brushing hair and entertaining a toddler—very adept. Strong and reliable, gentle and kind, he was also proving to be an excellent go-fer, a marvelous masseur and a superb kisser. The soft, sensual feel of his lips on hers, the gentle touch of his hands, and sweet words he whispered made Cathy feel cherished, secure and sexy. Things she hadn’t felt in years.

  They were sitting on the porch swing one evening beneath a beautiful starlit sky when she confessed her prayer on that not-so-long-ago, and definitely not-forgotten, morning when they first met.

  “A well-trained angel, huh?” He brushed his lips across hers in a gentle caress.

  Cathy nodded unable to speak for the need clamoring in her throat. “Even if only for a day,” she croaked, grateful God had blessed her with more than one day with this particular angel, and yet afraid to even hope or dream for a single day more.

  Putting his arm around her shoulder, Jared gazed into her brilliant green gaze. He lifted her hand to his lips, “Only for a day?”

  Her
heart skipped a beat. She gazed into his face. “What do you mean?”

  “How about an angel for life?” he offered, his lips capturing hers in a kiss ripe with passion and promise.

  Dear Reader,

  For those of you who’ve followed me through the Tempered books and The Inheritance, I pray that you’ve enjoyed Cathy’s Angel. For you new fans, Welcome to my world!

  As a novel writer, short stories are a welcome diversion, but also a challenge. To tell a complete story in so few words can sometimes frustrate one who thrives on the detail and description found in a novel. I hope I’ve done well enough in Cathy’s Angel to entice you to want more. 

  Although Cathy and Jared’s lives are not exactly how they dreamed, their faith in God allows them to manage quite nicely and yet, stay open to His will. In the end, both of their dreams come true as a result of obedience and trust.

  If you don’t know Him already, I pray that you too, will pursue a relationship with the Lord Jesus and if you do, that you will call upon Him in your time of trouble, for He will hear and answer.

  As always, may God bless and keep you–and yours–in the palm of His mighty hand!

  Pamela S Thibodeaux

  “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™

  Lilies for Sandi

  “Sandi?”

  She clutched the phone to keep her hand from trembling. “Yes.”

  “Hey, look, I’m not going to be home as early as I thought. This project is taking longer and the team wants to get together for practice this afternoon then hit the gym.”

  “What about dinner, Brett?”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’ll grab something while I’m out. Don’t want heavy meals anyway, you know. Not good for performance.”

  “But tonight’s our night. I’m supposed to drop Candie at Mom’s this afternoon and…” Her words trailed off as he cursed.

  “Look, I said I’m sorry, OK! Can’t you understand how important this is to me? Football is my dream, my life. I can’t make the NFL so this new league is my only hope.”

  Football. Sandi wiped a tear from her cheek and fought back sobs. “Well be careful. I’ll see you when you get home.” She hung up the phone before he could respond, and then burst into tears. So he considered football his life? “Should have known that wouldn’t change,” she muttered and tossed the phone aside.

  She and Brett met in college. She was a cheerleader, Brett a football star. Theirs was love at first sight. A wild explosion of light and color from the first moment their eyes met. Boy what a word, Sandi thought. Explosive described their relationship right down to the T. Brett was high strung, volatile, rough. As the only child of middle aged parents, getting what he wanted, when he wanted had never been an issue. And he’d wanted Sandi.

  She had wanted him, too. Still did. But their dreams were different. He wanted to play, and not just football. He always had an excuse not to be home or out with her… work, building a home for someone else instead of designing one for them, a beer or two with the guys, working out at the gym or shooting hoops with his friends. When the notice in the paper appeared about a new indoor football team being formed, he was ecstatic and she’d seen less and less of him.

  If that were even possible considering the few hours of attention he granted his family.

  Somewhere deep inside, Sandi believed Brett really loved her. He just didn’t know how to show it. He wasn’t ready for the responsibility of marriage or the commitment required in maintaining the kind of love she dreamed of.

  ****

  Brett snapped his cell phone closed, shoved it into his pocket and banished the guilt trying to worm its way into his heart. From the moment he’d held a football in his hands, he’d lived, breathed and dreamed of a professional career. Football had been the one constancy in his life, and the only connection he had with his parents. Mom and Dad both loved the game and both were devastated when his college career was cut short by his relationship with Sandi. An unplanned pregnancy thrilled her and infuriated him. Still he’d done what he thought was right—married her, quit school and worked to provide for his wife and daughter.

  And grew apart from his parents.

  Oh they loved their granddaughter. Candie was the apple of everyone’s eye. But, even after two years, she was more of an obligation that kept Brett from his dream than a reason to give it up. But now, with the formation of a new team in his home town, that dream was closer to reality than it had ever been. It didn’t matter that the current team was just a bunch of guys who had been gearing up for tryouts since the paper announced the city’s intent to form a Louisiana team with the hope of reviving what the fans had lost when the only team in the state dissipated years ago.

  Brett knew he’d still have to impress the coaches and managers even to make it past the first cut. He’d researched the North American Professional Indoor Football League and was duly impressed with both stats and pay scale. The fact that the league and team owners were big into community service and charity work was a huge incentive also. He’d always had a burning desire to help and serve others and had done what he could while growing up and in college. But all that changed when Sandi got pregnant.

  He’d tried to talk her into giving the baby up for adoption. Not that he didn’t want children someday, but someday meant later, after college and being drafted into the pros. When she refused so adamantly and threatened to leave and raise the baby on her own with no help or contact, he did as he was raised to do.

  The familiar stirring of anger and frustration flooded him. Why, God? Why did You let this happen when You knew the plans I had for my life?

  This time he couldn’t stop the sharp stab of guilt. It wasn’t God’s fault he’d ignored biblical teachings and gave in to lusts of the flesh. Remorse welled up in his heart. He closed his eyes. “God, how many times do I have to say I’m sorry? When will You forgive me? When will I not feel this anger and frustration and learn to appreciate the blessing Sandi and Candie are?”

  He didn’t really expect an answer.

  His coworker and fellow team-hopeful knocked on the open door of his office. “Got the plans ready for this next house?”

  Brett nodded and handed over the blueprints. His heart lightened a bit at the thought of another Habitat for Humanity house he’d designed. At least part of his lifelong ambition was being met with his job as architect and designer for the organization. Gratitude rose up within and he sent a silent Thank You to God. Not only did he design the homes and draw up prints, often he helped with the construction. At least he had until the announcement came about the NAPIFL team. Now all of his spare time was spent at practice or the gym.

  Joe stepped over to the drafting table and unrolled the plans. A low wolf whistle accompanied his praise. “Wow, Brett, this is the best so far. Reasonable, too. This family will surely be thrilled and grateful for the added room this house will give them and their foster children.”

  At the thought of those people who took in special needs children to raise and care for, Brett was reminded of how blessed he was to have a healthy child. He bowed his head for a moment and let the gratitude rise up and ease the sting of frustration. Then he sent another heartfelt prayer of praise and thanksgiving heavenward as Joe rolled the plans back up and slid them into the cardboard tube. He turned and saluted Brett.

  “See you at practice.”

  Brett nodded. “Think I’ll run home for a bit first.” He picked up roses on the way. Hopefully he could soothe the disappointment hanging over his relationship enough to keep his guilt and frustration at bay.

  ****

  Sandi heard the door of their apartment open and turned in surprise as Brett walked in. “I thought you were going to the gym and practice.”

  He held a dozen roses toward her. “I am. Just thought I’d drop by for a minute first.”

  Sandi took the roses, buried her nose in them and inhaled the heady scent. Hope trickled through the disappointment in her soul. “These are lovely. Thank y
ou.”

  She raised her head to smile at him. Relief shadowed the love she hoped to see in his eyes. Sandi cocked her head. “Brett?”

  A million unanswered questions hung in that single syllable.

  Brett’s smile was tentative. “I know I haven’t been the best husband or father. I really don’t know how to be either.”

  “Then why did you marry me?”

  He shrugged. “Because it was the proper thing to do.”

  What little hope she felt died a quick, painful death. “I don’t understand.”

  Pain and regret flashed in his eyes.

  “Neither do I, but it’s time for some honesty between us. I do love you, Sandi, and our daughter. But the timing is all wrong for this, for us, for a family. I feel as though we’ve been living on broken dreams and false expectations, just going through the motions, and I don’t know what to do, or how to fix it.” He glanced at his watch, swore softly.

  “I really need to run. We’ll talk later.” He brushed a kiss across her cheek, turned and fled.

  Sandi fought the urge to throw the flowers at him as the door banged in his wake. She closed her eyes and let the emotions roll through her. “God, what does all this mean? What am I supposed to do?”

  Brett’s words bounced around her mind and echoed through the house. She got her answer. Sandi laid the roses on the table, packed a bag for her and her daughter, and left.

  ****

  Brett arrived home surprised to find Sandi gone. No note, no explanation. Nothing. Just gone. The emptiness was acute. The silence screamed obscenities at him. The roses he brought her lay on the table, dying of thirst. He picked them up, and walked over to the trash can.

  Don’t.

  The command reverberated so strongly in his spirit, he hesitated. Anger surged through him.

  “Why not?” he muttered and reached toward the trashcan.