This Matter of Marriage

  “Head over heels crazy,” he elaborated.

  If he didn’t cut it out soon, Hallie was going to do him physical harm.

  Ronnie took off running and Steve dropped his arm.

  “What was that all about?” Hallie demanded.

  “Loretta Larson,” he admitted. “She always considered me fair game, but now that Mary Lynn’s remarried, it’s open season. Frankly, I’m not interested.”

  Now that Mary Lynn’s remarried. Of course! She didn’t know why she hadn’t realized it earlier. She had an idea, one that made perfect sense. With his ex-wife out of the picture, Steve had no choice but to move forward in his life. Date again, possibly even marry. That meant meeting someone new—and Hallie thought she knew just the right woman.

  “We need to talk,” she said as the four of them walked toward the parking lot. “Privately.”

  “We do?” They stood at the curb waiting for the light to change. “About what?”

  “Dad, are we going for ice cream?” Kenny interrupted, tugging at his father’s sleeve.

  “You bet, sport.”

  “Great.” Kenny tucked his mitt under his arm and, when the light changed, raced across the intersection toward the car.

  “You can’t say what you want with the kids around?”

  “I’d rather not.”

  “All right, all right.” But he didn’t sound too happy.

  It was dark by the time they arrived home. While the kids flopped down in front of the television, Hallie and Steve sat in her patio chairs and gazed up at the stars. “What’s so important you have to drag me out in the middle of the night?”

  “Donnalee!” Hallie said excitedly.

  “What about her?”

  “She’s my best friend and I want you to meet her.”

  “Why?” he asked, sounding suspicious.

  “Why?” she repeated. “Isn’t it obvious?”

  “No.”

  The man was dense, but then she had been, too. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of this earlier.”

  “Of what?” he asked impatiently.

  “You and Donnalee. She’s perfect for you.”

  “Me?”

  “It’s time you started dating again,” she said. “Otherwise women like Loretta Larson are going to drive you crazy.”

  “Since when did you become my social secretary?”

  “Since tonight. Now don’t argue with me, because it won’t do any good. I’m going to arrange a date for you and my best friend.”

  Steve was silent for a moment. “There’s always Todd.”

  “Who’s Todd?” She couldn’t understand why he was throwing a stranger’s name at her.

  “My best friend. He’s perfect for you.”

  “Really?” Funny, he hadn’t mentioned Todd earlier.

  “Friday night,” he said, “the four of us. Agreed?” He held out his hand.

  Hallie placed her palm in his. “Agreed.”

  Twenty-Four

  Four Blind Mice

  “You didn’t tell Steve, did you?” Donnalee cried, furious with Hallie. “You didn’t tell him I don’t want to do this… this date thing.” She sighed; it was difficult to remain angry with your best friend for long. Still, after everything Hallie had been through with blind dates, you’d think she wouldn’t be inclined to arrange them for others.

  “I didn’t have the heart to disappoint him,” Hallie said solemnly, as if breaking this ridiculous dinner date would send him over the edge. “You don’t know how much he’s looking forward to meeting you.”

  “Yeah, I’ll bet,” Donnalee muttered. Hallie had just announced yesterday morning that they were going out on this double blind date. Despite Donnalee’s loud protests—she wasn’t interested in Steve Marris, or any other man at the moment—her friend had apparently gone full steam ahead.

  “Come on, one date with Steve Marris.”

  “No, Hallie. No, no, no.” But Donnalee should have known Hallie wouldn’t give up so easily. She’d listed her neighbor’s virtues—kind, considerate, responsible, blah, blah, blah. According to Hallie, the guy was too good to be true, which in Donnalee’s limited experience generally proved to be exactly right.

  “Just one date,” Hallie pleaded. “That’s all I’m asking.”

  “No,” Donnalee insisted. “Hallie, I’m not interested.”

  Refusing to be deterred, Hallie glared at her friend. “You two are so right for each other!”

  “I don’t see it that way.” Donnalee refused to budge. Really this was useless and a waste of time. For a whole bunch of good reasons: she couldn’t handle another disappointment, he was probably still in love with his ex, she had her doubts about getting involved with the friend of a friend. Besides, she wasn’t the one for Steve. Hallie was. Steve was the topic of every conversation—Steve said this, Steve did that. If Hallie wasn’t talking about him, it was his kids, whom she adored. Donnalee had trouble understanding how a smart, perceptive woman could be so obtuse. Anyone who listened to Hallie would know she was close to falling in love with Steve. If she hadn’t already. Donnalee had seen it weeks ago.

  “But he’s wonderful with kids. He’s patient and good-hearted and more fun than just about anyone. I can’t understand why you won’t go out with him. Come on, Donnalee, what would it hurt?”

  “I can’t.”

  “You can’t or you won’t?” Hallie’s mouth fell open. “Don’t you realize how embarrassing this is going to be? Steve’s going to arrive in a couple of hours with Todd, just the way we planned, and you won’t be anywhere in sight.”

  Donnalee paraded out her first major objection. “You told me he’s divorced and—”

  “So are you.”

  “True,” Donnalee concurred, “but from everything you’ve said, he’s still in love with his ex-wife.”

  “She’s remarried now,” Hallie argued, “and you’re going to make him forget all about Mary Lynn.”

  Donnalee nibbled on her lower lip. If anyone was going to make Steve Marris forget his ex-wife, it would be Hallie, not her. “Let me ask you something. Why aren’t you dating Steve yourself?”

  That brought Hallie up short. “Well, because…” she faltered.

  “It’s a fair question,” Donnalee pressed, hoping her friend would stop long enough to examine what was really happening.

  “Well, Steve and I are friends. Neighbors. And even if I was interested in him, I’m not the sort of woman he needs right now. There’s nothing romantic or mysterious about me. Not like you. I’m just plain old Hallie McCarthy from next door. We do stuff with his kids and go out for a pizza now and then, and…”

  As Hallie prattled on, Donnalee felt her resolve cracking. One date. One lousy dinner date wouldn’t be so terrible. Perhaps she should reconsider; after all, Hallie was her best friend, and she’d be going along tonight, as the unknown Todd’s date.

  “If you don’t come, the whole evening’ll be ruined,” Hallie wailed. “I was looking forward to meeting Todd, too.” She sounded almost convinced, but Donnalee remained skeptical. Hallie wasn’t interested in Todd any more than Donnalee was in Steve. To Hallie’s credit, though, she actually seemed to believe she was doing them all a great favor.

  “I knew a Todd once,” Donnalee said slowly. She’d moved to the Pacific Northwest from Georgia while in junior high. Because of her soft drawl, she’d stood out and been teased unmercifully. She still remembered the interminable Scarlett O’Hara jokes with a shudder. By the time she was in high school, she’d grown quiet and introspective. Much too shy to let a good-looking boy know how she felt about him.

  “I’ve known two or three myself,” Hallie said. “Big deal. Now are you going to make me look like a fool, or will you do this one small thing?”

  “All right, all right,” Donnalee groaned. “Why not?”

  “Thank God.” Hallie closed her eyes and threw back her head in exaggerated relief.

  “But in the future,” Donnalee said sternly, “I expe
ct you to confer with me before you commit me to a date.”

  Hallie folded her hands as if making a vow. “I will. I promise I will.”

  “Good.” Donnalee hoped Steve liked what she was wearing, because she wasn’t about to change. What he saw was what he got. “I thought you said his kids were with him this week?”

  “They are, but his parents are taking them for tonight,” Hallie grinned suddenly. “It’s going to be perfect. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you’d refused.”

  “It’d serve you right, best friend!” Hallie was going to be paying her back a long time for this one.

  “They’re picking us up at eight.” Hallie studied her watch. “Which gives us plenty of time to get ready.”

  “No, thanks,” Donnalee said. “This’ll have to do.” She was wearing black leggings and a long jersey top, black and sprinkled with gold stars. Hallie looked her over appraisingly, then nodded and ran off to her bedroom to change. Not pushing her luck, Donnalee figured.

  She settled down to wait for her friend. Hallie had succeeded in wearing down her defenses, not only because she was persistent and persuasive, but for another reason. Sanford was engaged.

  He’d had the courtesy to call her himself. The news had come as a shock, so soon after their breakup, but it wasn’t unexpected—or especially painful. He’d found the right woman, and Donnalee was pleased for him. It wasn’t regret that she suffered, not anymore. Just… She was afraid of not finding someone to love, not living the life she wanted. Not having a family of her own.

  Hallie’s doorbell chimed precisely at eight. Donnalee’d say one thing for Steve: the man was prompt. Hallie tossed her a look of encouragement mingled with hope as she answered the door. Donnalee recognized Steve Marris from glimpses she’d caught of him during visits to Hallie’s place. He entered the condo with a tall attractive man at his side. She could tell by the other man’s stance that he wasn’t any keener about this double blind date than she was. It was when she saw his face that her heart stopped. Todd Stafford. The Todd from high school.

  Somehow Donnalee managed to smile politely while Hallie introduced her to Steve, but she had trouble taking her eyes off Todd. He didn’t seem to recognize her, and she wasn’t sure she should say anything.

  “Hallie, this is Todd Stafford.” He shook hands with Hallie, but his gaze returned to her. “Donnalee Norman?” His question was more breath than voice.

  “It’s Cooper now. I married when I was young.”

  She realized she couldn’t leave it there. “Unfortunately, it didn’t last.”

  “Me, too.” With apparent reluctance, Todd dragged his eyes from Donnalee and turned his attention to Hallie.

  “You two know each other?” Hallie asked, looking from one to the other.

  “We attended the same high school,” Todd answered for them.

  Hallie’s gaze questioned Donnalee, as if to ask whether this was the Todd she’d mentioned earlier. Donnalee nodded. Talk about a fluke. Talk about fate. Talk about coincidence. It was just as it had been all those years ago—he was with someone else. Hallie. Her very best friend. All she could do was smile and pretend it didn’t matter.

  The years had been good to him, Donnalee noted. He looked exactly as she remembered… only better. There was an unmistakable maturity about him that had been lacking at eighteen. The lines on his face revealed depth and character, and his lanky boyish body had matured into hard-muscled masculinity.

  “I thought we’d take my car,” Steve said, interrupting her reverie.

  “Sure.” Donnalee had to make an effort to stop staring at Todd. It was even more of an effort to remember that Steve was her date, and Hallie—judging by her expression—was trying to remind her.

  Soon they were outside and in the car. Donnalee sat in front with Steve, and Hallie and Todd were in the back. No one seemed inclined to speak. It could have been her imagination, but Donnalee was sure she felt Todd’s gaze on her. The way her thoughts were on him.

  Steve did try to engage her in conversation, but Donnalee doubted that her one-word replies made sense. She’d assumed she’d outgrown her shyness, but her tongue felt as if it were glued to her teeth, and all because a boy she once knew was in the back seat with her best friend. One thing was certain, she thought with a silent laugh, she needn’t worry about Steve wanting to date her after tonight. He’d be glad to be rid of her.

  Involuntarily she remembered the Todd of years past. The closest she’d ever come to actually speaking to him had been in the cafeteria a few weeks before he graduated. They stood next to one another in the food line, and afterward, hating herself for being too shy to murmur so much as a greeting, Donnalee had left a note on his car.

  It read: I think you’re wonderful. She hadn’t been brave enough to sign her name, something she’d always regretted.

  And then there was no more time for memories; they’d arrived at the waterfront Mexican restaurant. The place was filled with wonderful exotic scents—cilantro and chilies—and festive mariachi music played in the background. Donnalee and Todd sat side by side, opposite their “dates.” Donnalee noticed that Steve and Hallie did most of the talking. When the waitress came to take their drink order, everyone asked for margaritas.

  Donnalee focused her attention on the menu. Hallie and Steve helped themselves to salsa and chips, but Donnalee restrained herself, preferring her tortillas whole and warm from the grill, not deep-fried.

  “Could I have an order of soft tortillas?” Todd asked their waitress when she returned with their drinks.

  “Me, too,” she found herself adding.

  Todd glanced at her and smiled, his gaze lingering. She felt indescribably foolish, blushing as if she were sixteen all over again.

  When the friendly waitress returned for their order, Donnalee chose one of the specials—two cheese enchiladas and a chili relleno. Todd’s choice echoed her own.

  “Did you two plan this?” Hallie joked.

  “No,” Donnalee whispered. It was only a similarity in food preferences, she told herself. Don’t make too much of it. But she knew, she knew that something special was beginning.

  Steve asked Hallie a question, and soon the two were deep in conversation. The space between Donnalee and Todd seemed to evaporate. She kept her gaze straight ahead, not knowing what to say, almost frightened by the way her heart behaved at seeing him again. There was so much she wanted to ask him, but she couldn’t find the courage. The shy teenager she’d once been had returned to possess her.

  Todd seemed equally uneasy. Finally he said, “You won’t believe who I ran into recently. Mrs. O’Leary from senior English. Did you ever have her?”

  She’d been Donnalee’s favorite teacher back then—and she was a safe topic of conversation right now. “Yes! How is she? I haven’t heard about her in years.”

  “She’s the same. I don’t think time will ever change her. Oh, her hair’s a little grayer, but her eyes still twinkle when she talks. I was happy to see her,” he said simply. “I always wanted her to know she was my favorite teacher.”

  “Me, too.” Donnalee nodded vigorously. “She was so passionate about literature. She turned Shakespeare’s plays into experiences that I lived and breathed.” Donnalee’s thinking was coherent once again, and she warmed to the topic. “And Jane Austen… Mrs. O’Leary taught me how to look at her books and see not only the past she described, but the way her comments about men and women are still relevant. I reread Pride and Prejudice every few years.” She paused. “I’ll always be grateful to Mrs. O.”

  “So will I.”

  By now they were both relaxed, laughing and reminiscing. Soon Donnalee noticed that Hallie and Steve had stopped talking and were watching them with renewed interest. Her best friend seemed none too pleased with her. Hallie pulled her chair in, closer to Todd.

  Steve pulled his closer to Donnalee.

  Donnalee got the hint. Steve was her date and Hallie was Todd’s. Donnalee didn’t blame her; it mus
t be disconcerting to find your friend being so friendly with your date!

  Steve appeared to be having much the same thought about Todd, because he was frowning darkly.

  All of a sudden this wasn’t going well, and Donnalee didn’t know how to improve the situation.

  Somehow she made it through dinner, although she didn’t remember tasting a single bite. When the waitress came for her plate, she was surprised to see that half her meal was missing and could only assume she’d eaten it.

  Steve suggested a walk along the waterfront and everyone seemed agreeable, but as they left the restaurant, Donnalee saw Todd pulling Steve aside. They conducted a low-voiced conversation, with frequent glances at the two women.

  Donnalee could guess what they were discussing, but her immediate reaction was gratitude for the opportunity to speak privately to Hallie.

  “Don’t hate me,” she whispered, not knowing how to explain what was happening between her and Todd.

  “You mean because you’ve stolen my date?”

  Donnalee had rarely felt so wretched. She couldn’t spit out an apology fast enough, but Hallie stopped her before she uttered a word. The irritation in her eyes was replaced with a gentle chagrined look.

  “Don’t worry about it. I could see the lay of the land the minute you two recognized each other.”

  “I was crazy about him, Hallie.” Donnalee reflected that it hadn’t taken long for those feelings to rekindle. Being with Todd was like peeling back the years and uncovering that vulnerable, yearning girl again. What terrified her, though, was the knowledge that she could easily fall in love with him—really in love. Not an adolescent infatuation this time but adult emotions with all their power and complexity.

  A minute later she watched as Todd made his way to her side. “I squared it with Steve,” he said, and reached for her hand, his fingers closing tightly around hers.

  “Do you mind if we go our own way, just the two of us?” he added.

  Her heart pounded hard. “What about Hallie?”

  “Steve’s talking to her now.”

  Donnalee looked over her shoulder in time to see Hallie grin and wave. “Have fun, you two,” she called out cheerfully. Then Steve and Hallie turned and walked in the opposite direction.