Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [130]
“So what did the doctor say?”
“He suggested counseling, and we have a follow-up appointment. He’ll have the results of the blood work by then. And if that doesn’t help, then there’s always medication.”
“What does your mom think about that?”
“She claims she won’t take any drugs. But I think she might agree to see a Christian counselor. I’m going to set up an appointment.”
“So is she still in bed all day?”
“She gets up late and takes long naps. But she’s up some. I came up with a great idea, but she turned me down flat.”
“What was it?”
“I wanted her to take a cake-decorating class with me. Get her back into the kitchen.”
“That would have been perfect. Maybe soon she’ll—Someone’s at the door, Lil. Can I call you back later?”
Katy stuck her phone in her pocket and squinted through the peephole that Jake had installed in the front door when they’d remodeled the doddy house. She nearly fainted to see her handsome remodeler in the flesh, holding a bouquet of daffodils, no less. Her heart racing, she flung open the door.
“Jake?” It was all she could do to keep from flinging her arms around his neck.
When he grinned, she realized how much she’d missed him. “Can I come in?”
“Yes!”
Inside, he tentatively held out the bouquet. “For keeping you waiting. I wanted to talk to you in person.”
She clutched the flowers. “I can’t believe you came. I mean, I hoped you would. That you’d give me a chance to explain some things. But I didn’t think you would.”
He leaned one shoulder against the wall. “Your e-mail definitely piqued my interest.”
Although his stance was nonchalant, she knew that this was her one moment in the universe when she was being given the chance to restore their relationship. Just say it, the quiet voice insisted. “I was wrong.”
“Wrong?” He crossed his arms, tilted his face.
“Not to forgive you. Not to believe in you. I was too proud.” She gave him a tremulous smile. “But I’ve changed.”
He straightened. Then slowly he reached up to touch her cheek. “Can you tell me what happened?”
She nodded, never allowing her gaze to leave his. “I got a letter from my old employer.” Katy poured forth the entire story. She ended it by telling him about her visit to his house and Jessie’s idea of sending him an e-mail. When she finished speaking, she was still standing in the same place, clutching his bouquet.
The corners of his eyes crinkled with sympathy. “That must have taken a lot of courage.”
“I had my eyes set on the goal.”
“What goal?”
“I hoped you could forgive me, too.”
He tilted her chin up, looked deeper in her eyes. “Is that all you hoped, Katy?”
Another sliver of her pride slipped away, and she thought surely there must not be a shred remaining. “I hoped you’d give me another chance.”
He released his hand, studied her with a serious expression, and she thought it was too late. Her hopes sagged.
And then he quirked the left side of his mouth. “Maybe I could learn to tolerate you a little bit.”
She grinned. “If you could, then would you please …”
“Yes?”
“Prove it,” she whispered.
He lifted a brow. “What do you want, Katy?”
She stared at his lips.
He pulled her close, crushing the flowers. Although his arms held her close, his lips remained gentle and tentative. She threw both arms around his neck and drew him closer, eager to express her love and joy and drawing him into a deeper kiss. When she finally drew back first, she gazed again into the face of the one she thought she’d lost. His return was as glorious as the kiss. He stood there before her, accepting her and giving her another chance. But his gaze didn’t hold the awe she felt. It held something else…satisfaction, amusement even.
He touched his lip. “That was tolerable, but I think we ruined your flowers.”
“That doesn’t matter,” she said, turning and tossing them on the counter. She turned back and leaned her