Texas Weddings (Books One and Two) Page 7

  She focused on the test, answering questions rapidly and accurately. A short time later, she walked to Professor Dougherty’s desk and dropped the exam into the appropriate basket with a smile. She had a lot to smile about. For once, she’d actually accomplished her goal. She’d proven, at least to herself, that she could excel. Soon enough, he would know it too.

  The professor looked confused. For a moment Laura felt a twinge of guilt, though she couldn’t quite figure out why. She had nothing to feel guilty about. I’ve done all of the right things, so why do I feel so bad?

  Dick DeHart had turned out to be a regular Romeo. Picking up on the fact that he seemed interested in far more than her mind, she carefully chose when and where they would meet to study. I could never be interested in a man like him.

  Her gaze fell on Andrew Dougherty once again. His rumpled hair stuck up on his head. He wore a mismatched shirt and tie, and his pants had gone out of style years ago.

  Still. . .he did have a certain charm about him. He looked up at her with a smile and she almost returned it. Almost.

  ß

  Andrew waited until the classroom cleared before shuffling through the stack of exams to find the one he was looking for. “Miller, Johnson, Tanner, Breckenridge. . .Chapman.” Ah, yes. Laura Chapman’s exam. He scanned it quickly and made it to the bottom of the first page. No errors so far. He turned to page two. Flawless. A little glitch in an essay question on page three—worth about two or three points at most, but page four appeared to be perfect. She’d aced the exam. Aced it.

  Amazed, he checked it once again. Only one conclusion could be drawn: Her study sessions with DeHart had been effective. Very effective. That confirmed something he’d worried about for days. She and Dick DeHart must have spent a lot of time together.

  A twinge of jealousy shot through him, stirring up an odd mixture of emotions. I’m so proud of her. She’s turned out to be a much harder worker than I gave her credit for. But on the other hand, how could she give so much of her time and attention to someone as unscrupulous as DeHart? He struggled with the thought. Maybe she hadn’t figured him out yet. Maybe someone needed to warn her. Andrew tossed ideas about, clearly confused over the whole thing. If her academic performance improved with Dick’s help, how could he possibly go about approaching her now?

  ß

  Laura turned the key in the front door, hearing the ringing of the phone. “Come on, come on,” she said, struggling with the key. By the fourth ring, she made it into the living room. “Hello?” She dropped the armload of books, still panting.

  “Ms. Chapman?”

  A man’s voice—probably one of those annoying tele-marketers. They called a lot. She glanced at the Caller ID. “Unavailable.”

  Oh, why did I even pick it up? “Yes?”

  “I was hoping to catch you.” Why did the man’s voice sound so familiar? “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about your work in my class.”

  Bingo. Andrew Dougherty. What in the world did he want with her? Her hands began to tremble. Clutching the receiver, she forced her voice to remain calm. “What about my work?”

  “I’m really pleased with it. In fact, I just graded your exam.”

  “So soon?” Something must have happened to prompt this.

  “Uh, yes. You got a 97.”

  97? That’s awesome! And yet, she wouldn’t let her jubilation show. She couldn’t. “Well, thank you for letting me know.” Laura did her best to keep her voice on an even keel. “Though I’m not sure why you took the time to call. You could have just told me in class.”

  “I’m pleased with your grade,” he continued, “but. . .”

  “But what?”

  “Well, to be honest, I was hoping to talk with you about Dick DeHart and the role he’s playing in your education.”

  What? That’s none of your business! “I’m not sure where you’re headed with this, Professor Dougherty.”

  “I just think you need to know that DeHart has a. . .well, a past.” He seemed to be choosing his words very carefully.

  “A past? What does that have to do with anything?” Laura grew angrier by the moment. “This is really none of your business.”

  “I just thought you might like to know.”

  “I’m not interested in gossip. In fact, I’m stunned that you are. To be perfectly frank, if I had anything to say about Mr. DeHart to you, it would all be good.” Granted, Dick DeHart acted a little too close over the last couple of weeks, but she certainly wasn’t ready to admit that to Andrew Dougherty. “He’s gracious and kind,” she continued, “and seems to see something of value in me. It’s clear he has my best wishes

  at heart.”

  “Among other things.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “His reputation precedes him, Laura.”

  “Ms. Chapman.”

  “Ms. Chapman,” he said slowly, deliberately, “I’ve got your best interest at heart. Really, I do.”

  “Well, thank you just the same, but—”

  “If I were you—”

  “Well, you’re not,” she said emphatically. She had just about reached wit’s end with this guy dabbling in her personal life. She wouldn’t allow it. “Besides, this is really none of your business, Mr. Dougherty.”

  “Fine.”

  “Fine,” she echoed. “Was that all you were calling about?”

  “That’s all.”

  “Well, if it’s all the same to you, I really need to hang up. I’ve still got to work today. Good-bye, Mr. Dougherty.”

  “Ms. Chapman.”

  With a click, he disappeared. Laura still clutched the phone in her sweaty hand. She slammed it back down, shifting her gaze to the books she’d carelessly tossed on the coffee table. The American History book sat at the top of the stack, a grim reminder that this battle had just begun.

  Irritated, she shoved the book to the bottom of the stack.

  ß

  Andrew stared at the receiver, dumbfounded. There’s no winning with this woman.

  In fact, he had to wonder if he would ever find himself on the winning side of any woman.

  eleven

  “You want to what?” Laura turned to face Dick DeHart, who had come into the store for a visit.

  “I want to take you out to the movies this Saturday night.” He slipped his arm across her shoulder.

  “But I. . .” Uncomfortable, she pulled away from his embrace. Laura couldn’t seem to get the professor’s words out of her mind—something about Richard DeHart’s past. She had no idea what he meant, but she wasn’t taking any chances.

  “There’s a great new movie out on the Civil War,” Dick said, trying to look convincing. “We could look at it as an educational date.”

  “I’m not sure I’m up to any kind of a ‘date,’” Laura said. “I’m just not ready for that yet.”

  “Well, we don’t have to call it a date, then,” he argued. “We could go to dinner afterwards and have a, uh—a study session.”

  Laura had seen just about enough of his study sessions already. She spoke very candidly. “I don’t think so, but thanks for the offer.”

  “Aw, come on, Laurie,” he wooed.

  “It’s Laura.”

  “You know you want to spend time with me. I’m irresistible.”

  “Is that what you think?” she asked, feeling her nerves kick in. “You think I’m that easily swayed?” He’s got to be kidding.

  “You’re a woman.” He shrugged. “That about says it all, doesn’t it?”

  Laura’s blood began to boil. She couldn’t stand men with an attitude like this. She hadn’t tolerated it in the professor, and she wouldn’t in this man either.

  “I may be a woman,” Laura said, trying to keep her voice steady, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to use sound judgment and reason. I’m perfectly capable of doing that.”

  His expression never changed. “Aw, come on,” he coaxed. “I didn’t mean anything by that comment. Let’s go o
ut Saturday night and have a good time. We’ll paint the town red. I promise to have you back home before you lose your glass slipper.”

  “I don’t think so.” Laura turned back to her work. “In fact, I don’t think I’ll be needing any more tutoring sessions either. I’m doing pretty well on my own.”

  “Sure you are. Just like you were before I came along.”

  Laura stared at him in disbelief. This guy is too much.

  “You’ll change your mind.” He turned to leave. “And when you do—call me.”

  She wouldn’t call him. She would never call him.

  ß

  Andrew signed onto the Internet and scrolled through his E-mail, finding junk mail, a letter from a colleague, and a quick note from his friend, Joe, asking if he’d be interested in going to a high school football game Saturday night to watch his son play.

  A high school football game? Andrew barely tolerated sports, and the idea of sitting out in the cold to watch a bunch of kids toss a ball around sounded anything but inviting. Still, Joe was his friend, and he owed him for the blind date thing. Might as well balance the scales by going. “Why not?” Andrew said aloud. He had little else to do, anyway.

  ß

  “Mom, Saturday night’s homecoming,” Kent said nervously.

  “Do you have a date?” She looked into his eyes as she asked the question. He looked too young to even consider dating, and yet the inevitable seemed to be upon her.

  “Yeah, I’m going with Mandy. The dance is after the game. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “She needs a mum, right?” It wouldn’t be the first red-and-white mum she’d made over the years.

  “Yeah.” He looked like a nervous wreck. “I need it by Friday morning.”

  Laura smiled, realizing this would be Kent’s first school dance. Her heart began to ache, realizing that Greg wouldn’t be here, snapping pictures as he had so often in the past as Jessica headed out the door.

  “You’ll have it by Friday morning,” she promised.

  “Great. But that’s not all.”

  “What else?”

  “The band is playing at the game. Are you coming?”

  A football game? Lord, you know I can’t stand football. Surely You wouldn’t ask me to do that. “I don’t know, Kent. . .”

  “Aw, come on, Mom,” he argued. “You go to all of Jessica’s piano recitals.”

  He had a point there.

  “I guess so, but I might leave after halftime. I have a lot of homework this weekend.”

  “That’s cool.” Kent smiled. “Just as long as you watch me play the trumpet, you can go whenever you want.”

  He bounded from the room with his usual zest, and she was left alone with her books and her thoughts. Not that she minded. It had been a long day, and the silence felt just right.

  ß

  Andrew slipped into bed for the night, television still running. A sappy love story played itself out on the screen. Whether he meant for it to happen or not, he found his attention glued to the set.

  “Aw, don’t do it, man,” he said to the character on the screen. “Don’t give your heart away to her. She’s not worth it.”

  He stared in disbelief as the man in the movie told the young woman that he loved her. She responded by slapping him in the face.

  “I tried to tell you,” Andrew said, shaking his head. “But you wouldn’t listen.”

  What was wrong with women these days? That’s all Andrew really wanted to know. What did they want? And how in the world could any man ever succeed in being everything they expected him to be? He quickly snapped off the TV, determined to put females out of his mind then wrestled with the sheets, trying to get comfortable. Would there ever be someone—anyone—to call his own? Perhaps some people just weren’t meant to have love in their lives. Maybe that was part of some sort of master plan. Who knew?

  His mind reeled back to Karen instinctively. She had been so ideal, so perfect. And yet she hurt him. Terribly.

  “We all make mistakes,” he whispered to himself, remembering some of the words he’d spoken to Laura in those first few days of school. He had been deliberately cruel. Even Karen, in breaking his heart, hadn’t acted maliciously. She simply followed her heart.

  Suddenly, lying in the stillness of his room, Andrew Dougherty managed to forgive the woman who had broken his heart fifteen years ago. For the first time, he felt completely free to love again.

  twelve

  Laura put the finishing touches on the red-and-white mum, then handed it to Kent.

  “Looks great, Mom.” He held it gingerly, as if afraid it might break.

  “It ought to,” she responded. “I had to mortgage the house to buy all that stuff.” A slight exaggeration—but only slight. “What time is the game tomorrow night? I’m hoping Jess and Nathan will want to come with me.”

  “Seven-thirty.” He bit into a muffin. “You gonna leave after halftime?”

  “It depends on how the team is playing,” she said and then chuckled. “Nah. If I leave, it will only be because I’ve got a lot of—”

  “I know,” he interrupted. “You’ve got a lot of homework. Trust me, I understand.”

  “Just promise me this.” Laura looked at her son tenderly. “Promise me you’ll do your best not to get into any trouble.”

  “It’s cool, Mom. I’m fine.”

  “I sure hope so.” She gave him a peck on the cheek. “Get on out of here. Go to school.” He headed out the door, whistling as he went.

  Thank You, Lord. He’s doing so much better! As he left with the mum in hand, she couldn’t help but think of the one she’d worn her senior year in high school, so many years ago. It had been blue and white, a gift from Greg. His mother had worked diligently on it. To this day, it hung in her closet, though the cloth flower had faded over the years.

  “Mom?” Jessica’s voice sounded surprisingly sweet.

  She turned to face her. “Good morning, Jess.”

  “Mom, I was wondering if you’d like to go to breakfast with me.”

  “Breakfast?”

  “Yeah,” Jess said with a smile. “I need to talk to you and thought I might do it over breakfast. Sound good?”

  Laura smiled, in spite of herself. Jessica wanted to spend time with her. A first—in quite awhile, anyway. How could she turn that down?

  “I’d be delighted. Where do you want to go?”

  “Your choice, but this is my treat. I’ve still got a little birthday money left from Grandma.”

  “Okay then.” Laura stood. “IHOP at Rayford and 45. Their waffles are incredible. Blueberry pancakes—”

  “With blueberry syrup,” Jess added with a smile. “I know. I remember.”

  “Why the celebration?”

  “You’ll see, you’ll see. Go get dressed and let me get you out of here for a little while.” Jessica looked anxious. Something must be up. Suddenly Laura knew the answer. It had something to do with the piano scholarship. Jessica had gotten the news she’d been waiting on and wanted to share it with her.

  “Are you sure?” Laura asked excitedly.

  “Yep. I’m sure.”

  Laura bounded off to her bedroom, erupting five minutes later in a sweater and slacks.

  “Better?”

  “Much better,” her daughter said with a smile.

  Fifteen minutes later, they sat in a corner booth at the IHOP, sipping cups of hot coffee. What a wonderful treat! Laura hadn’t felt this spoiled in ages.

  “Mom, I need to tell you something.” Jessica’s expression shifted and she suddenly looked quite serious.

  Laura’s heart began to race.

  “Don’t look so scared.” Jess reached to give her hand a squeeze.

  “What is it?” Whatever it is, I can take it.

  “Well, you know that I planned to audition for the piano scholarship, right?”

  “Planned to?”

  “Well, I. . .”

  “What, Honey?” Laura
asked. “You can say it.”

  “I couldn’t do it, Mom. I was too scared to go in and play.”

  “You what?” Laura felt stunned. “But you’ve waited for that audition for weeks. You didn’t even go in?”

  Her daughter’s beautiful face fell immediately. Laura knew she should try to be more understanding, but once the words started, she just couldn’t seem to help herself.

  ß

  “She can’t stand me,” Andrew said, sitting across from Regina in the nearly empty lunchroom. With no classes scheduled today, only faculty and staff drifted in and out. Regina took advantage of the break, plopping down onto the chair across from him at the lunch table.

  “Oh, pooh!” Regina said. “She just doesn’t know you yet.”

  “No, she knows me. And she really can’t stand me.” Andrew sighed deeply. “I tried to call her.”

  “You called her?” Regina asked excitedly. “To ask her out?”

  “No, of course not. I can’t ask a student out. You know that. I just wanted to talk to her about her grades.”

  “Oh.” Regina’s face fell. “Well, that was a romantic touch.”

  “You don’t understand.” He felt his shoulders sag in de-feat. “It’s not that easy for me. I don’t know how to talk to a woman.”

  “You’re talking to me.”

  “That’s different.” Surely she could see that.

  She gave him a look. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I mean, you’re like a sister to me—not like a woman.”

  “Well, thanks a lot.”

  “I can’t say anything right.”

  “I sure hope you do a better job than that when you’re talking to her, or the game will be over before it even starts. We’ve got to get you guys talking before the semester ends so you’re free to ask her out later on.”

  “You can forget that.” He stood and shrugged. “The wasn’t a game I was intended to play.”

  ß

  Laura struggled through the afternoon at work, her thoughts in a jumbled mess. Jessica didn’t get the scholarship. The words went round and round in her head, disappointment filling her.