Always Dakota - Debbie Macomber [106]
“I thought I’d come over to—”
He’d barely started to speak when Merrily flew across the room with more energy than Bob had seen from her in days. “Get out!” she roared.
The minister stared, apparently too stunned to react.
“Merrily!” Bob had never seen her behave like this.
“It’s all your fault! We’d have Axel now if it wasn’t for you.”
If Bob was shocked by this unexpected show of life, it didn’t compare to his horror when she raised her fists and actually attacked the minister, pounding his chest as hard as she could. Acting quickly, Bob wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her away. She started to sob then, a heart-wrenching wail that came from deep inside her. The kind of sobs that relate an unspeakable agony. Bob turned her in his arms and held her, his own throat growing thick. Closing his eyes, he battled down his pain and dismay as he attempted to comfort his wife.
Merrily clung to him, hiding her face in his shoulder.
Pastor Dawson stood close by, his eyes filled with pity and understanding. “Is there anything I can do?” he asked.
Bob shook his head sadly. There was nothing anyone could do. Merrily’s outburst had come suddenly and without provocation. Bob didn’t know what to think. They’d both been dealing with their disappointment in different ways; his method was to immerse himself in work, hers to drown in lethargy and tears. He would never have anticipated this type of reaction from her. It left him completely baffled.
He led Merrily to their bedroom and was grateful to find the minister waiting when he returned downstairs.
“Obviously Merrily blames me for what happened.”
Bob shifted uncomfortably. “She assumes you threatened to turn us in to the authorities. I let her think that because I knew she’d never agree to contact them voluntarily.”
Larry Dawson reached out and gripped Bob’s forearm. “We talked about that earlier. It’s not a problem. You did what you had to.” He paused. “You had a difficult choice to make and I believe you did the right thing.”
“Would you have turned us in?” Bob demanded.
“Thankfully, I didn’t have to make that decision.” His gaze held Bob’s. “In truth, I can’t tell you what I would’ve done. I was deeply relieved when you suggested talking to that attorney Maddy recommended.”
“At the time, I thought we did the right thing, too,” Bob added with bitter insight. But he’d been wrong, and he’d suffer from that mistake for the rest of his life.
“You and Merrily aren’t talking much?”
Bob shook his head. “It’s too painful…I don’t have anything left inside to give her.”
The minister followed Bob into his private office and sat across from him. “You need each other now more than ever. Merrily needs you more than you realize and—”
“Yes, I know, but—”
“And you need her,” Pastor Dawson finished. “You said you don’t have anything to give her. I understand your feelings, but Bob, it’s together that you’ll get through these next few weeks. One day at a time. Sometimes one hour or even one minute at a time. You’ve got to help one another and look to God for the strength to carry on. Take all the love you have for Axel and give it to your wife.”
A lump filled Bob’s throat, the same one that had appeared at inopportune moments all week. “Merrily didn’t mean to do what she did,” he said hoarsely, feeling the necessity to apologize. “Her anger is really with me.”
“I know. It’s forgotten, so don’t worry about it.”
They spoke a few minutes longer. “I’ll think about what you said,” Bob promised as he walked the minister to the door.
They shook hands and once again Bob was grateful for the good friends he’d made in Buffalo Valley. The pastor wasn’t the only one who’d shown him love and understanding. Hassie came by nearly every day, often with the flimsiest of excuses. Bob welcomed her company and her wisdom. She’d lived through a similar ordeal and spoke to his heart in ways that others couldn’t.
After the minister left, Bob waited a few minutes, then headed upstairs. He