Angels Everywhere - Debbie Macomber [80]
“Have you heard from anyone since?” Jody asked softly.
“No. You think I should have, don’t you?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. What do you believe?”
Speaking on the phone had always been an inadequate means of communication as far as Jody was concerned. She heard the faint intake of breath that came from her mother-in-law and knew Gloria was weeping softly. How Jody wished she could be there to wrap her arms around her and comfort her.
Jody had needed consolation herself the night before when Gloria had first phoned and there’d been a strong pair of arms to hold her. It had helped tremendously.
“How’s Timmy?” her mother-in-law asked in an apparent effort to change the subject. “I bet he’s getting excited for Christmas.”
“Timmy’s great.” Jody couldn’t talk about her rambunctious son and not smile. “We chopped down a Christmas tree this weekend.”
“All by yourselves?”
Jody hesitated, unsure if she should mention Glen or not. This didn’t seem to be the appropriate time to drop the news that she was dating again, although heaven knew it was well past the time she should.
“A friend went along and helped,” she answered, being as diplomatic as she could.
“A friend,” Gloria repeated slowly, thoughtfully. “Male or female?”
“Male.” She couldn’t leave it at that. She’d need to explain now. “Glen’s an attorney who works at the same law firm I do.”
“I see.” Funny how much was visible in those two brief words. “Just how long have you been dating this . . . other man?”
“Mom, it isn’t like that. We’ve only been out a couple of times, but it isn’t anything . . .” She stopped herself in time from saying “serious.” Glen was serious. He’d said as much from the first. He wanted a wife and family. Timmy wanted and needed a father figure. She needed a husband. One who would laugh with her, one who would hold her when she needed to be held. One who would fill the empty spaces of her heart.
“Everything’s becoming clear to me now,” Gloria said stiffly. “No wonder you don’t want to hear about Jeff. You’re involved with another man.”
“Mother, that’s not true.” This was an impossible conversation, and growing more so every minute. The immediate sense of guilt she experienced was nearly crippling.
“The man who called from Germany knew that you’d divorced my son.”
“Mother, we’ve been through this a thousand times or more. I didn’t divorce Jeff because I didn’t love him any longer. It was for financial reasons.”
“I was never satisfied with that excuse and you know it. Both your parents and I were more than willing to support you.”
“Mom, please—”
“The man who called asked me about you and Timmy.”
“Mom, don’t, please,” Jody whispered, her small voice trembling. “It was a dream. It never happened.”
“He did call.” Gloria’s high voice rattled from the telephone receiver. “Jeff’s alive.”
“I realize it’s difficult for you to accept that I’m dating again, but it’s time I got on with my life. Don’t you think I’ve grieved long enough? Don’t you think it’s time?” Despite her resolve not to break down, she was crying. It happened like this nearly every time they spoke.
“I imagine you plan to marry this other man?” Gloria continued, her voice filled with disdain.
“I never said that.”
“You can remarry, you know, there’s nothing I can do to stop you.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Jody said, bewildered and miserable, looking for a means of ending the conversation.
“That would make for a fine thing for my son to come home to, his wife married to another man.”
“Mom, please don’t say that.”
“You know what I think?” Gloria said accusingly, knowing she had the upper hand. “You don’t want Jeff to be alive. You’ve made such a fine life for yourself that it would be inconvenient for you if he did turn up alive.”
“You know that’s not true,” Jody sobbed.
“Do I, now? You have your new boyfriend, you don’t need Jeff anymore.”
“Glen is a friend,” she insisted.
“That isn’t what you said earlier.”
“I think it’s time we ended this,” Jody said, struggling for what little composure remained.