Listen to Your Heart

“Do people go swimming or fishing here?”

“Mostly fishing,” Laurel said shortly, her eyes on the river.

Did his presence annoy her, or was she troubled about something else?

After a pause, she continued, “But there is a deep pool midway in the stream. The local boys go to the other side of the river, swing on the vines and drop into the pool. It’s a dangerous practice. One boy was seriously hurt here last summer, but they continue to swim.”

The gentle ripple of the water as it slid past them was quieting, and the peace of the place was soothing to Micah. After spending over a year in the jungle, the past three months in the States—mostly in cities—had frustrated him. The noise of traffic had grated on his nerves. Pleased to have this sojourn in a quiet place, Micah sat on the wooden bench facing upstream. In this position, he could watch Laurel without being obvious about it.

Her present attitude didn’t compare to her quick flash of anger yesterday, which had disappeared as quickly as it had come. Her eyes brooded today, and there was a petulant droop to her full lips.

Early sunlight peeked into the shaded glade, a fish flipped in the middle of the stream and birds gently began their morning songs.

Without looking at him, her eyes staring across the river, Laurel said, “Mr. Davidson, I should apologize to you again. I had an unpleasant experience last night, or I wouldn’t have been so short-tempered. Let me give you a reasonable answer to your question about my husband’s burial. It’s always been a sore subject to me, but you wouldn’t have known that.”

Chapter Three

Several minutes passed before Laurel continued, and to spare her embarrassment, Micah kept his eyes on the river. A small flock of ducks drifted lazily with the current. Occasionally, one of them would tilt forward into the river for a morning snack.

“Twenty years ago, Jason and a friend were sailing off the Atlantic coast of South America, and their boat capsized,” Laurel said quietly. “Their bodies were never recovered. He was an only child, and his parents never got over his death.”

He noticed that she didn’t mention her own sorrow. If she’d been a widow for so long, perhaps the pain was gone. But why hadn’t she remarried? Judging by his own immediate attraction to her, she must have had plenty of suitors.

As though she read his thoughts, Laurel said, “Debbie, who was only two at the time, was all his parents had left of Jason. As I mentioned last night, they insisted that I stay at Oaklawn and raise my child here. I was glad to stay, because I didn’t have any other place to go.”

Many questions rose in Micah’s mind. Why was her husband’s death a sore point? She spoke as if she resented him, but it wasn’t any of his business. Laurel would tell him what she wanted him to know.

“Although it’s been a labor of love to rear Debbie as a single parent, it hasn’t been easy for me. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’ve always resented Jason taking that trip and getting killed when he should have stayed home and looked after his family. Debbie has missed a lot by not having a father.”

Micah silently thought that Debbie might have been better off without her father’s presence. Jason Cooper sounded like a selfish man.

“His parents hoped almost to the end that Jason was still alive. When they at last conceded that he was dead, they didn’t live long. My mother-in-law survived her husband by two months. They wanted me to preserve the house for Debbie. I’m trying to do what they asked me to.”

“It hasn’t been easy for you, I’m sure.”

She nodded sadly. “Besides the work, it’s a financial burden. As soon as Debbie is married, I intend to find a job, even though I have no marketable work skills. She’ll be moving to Colorado, so I’ll have lots of time on my hands. I’ve been looking into possible employment, but I don’t have many job skills. I’m considering taking a two-year business course at the college. But these decisions are on hold until Debbie is married.”

She stood up quickly. “And speaking of Debbie, we’re going into Knoxville this morning, so I have to go back to the house.”

“I have an appointment to look over a home in Nashville today, so I want to get started, too.”

They didn’t talk as they returned to the house, but Micah hummed in a monotone that grated on Laurel’s already distraught nerves. She tried to determine the tune, but if he had any particular song in mind, it was one she didn’t know.

“Thanks for walking with me. I like to be outdoors early in the morning,” he said, giving her a sideways glance.

“So do I. Take care while you’re traveling today,” she answered, and he favored her with a wide smile.

“Mom, what is wrong with you?” Debbie asked in the midst of a disastrous breakfast. Laurel had burned the grits, upended a cup of coffee on the tablecloth and, instead of providing jelly for their toast, picked up a jar of mustard and slid it across the table. “I’ve never seen you so jumpy. Are you sick?”

Sitting down and gripping her hands in her lap underneath the table, Laurel tried to calm her inner trembling.

“I didn’t sleep much last night,” she said, unable to stifle the tremor in her voice. “I’ll be all right as soon as I’ve had a cup of coffee.”

To prove her point, Laurel poured another cup. Coffee sloshed over the brim and into the saucer as she lifted the cup. Debbie cast another startled glance toward her.

“Go back to bed, and forget the trip to Knoxville,” Debbie said, concern in her voice. “We can pick up the invitations tomorrow.”

“Oh, no,” Laurel said, and forced a smile. “I want to go today.” She had to do something to keep her mind off of her nighttime caller.

Sensing Debbie’s gaze upon her again, Laurel knew she was staring fixedly out the window. Determined to retain some sense of normalcy, she spread butter over the grits on her plate and ate them and the egg in front of her as if she had a good appetite.

“If you want to fill the dishwasher, I’ll go upstairs and get ready.”

“I’ll take care of everything, but I still think we should postpone our trip,” Debbie insisted.

Laurel forced a laugh. “This isn’t the first time I’ve been tired when I’ve gotten out of bed. Let’s plan to leave in an hour.”

While she luxuriated in the big bathtub and lathered vigorously with her lavender-scented bath gel, Laurel thought about Micah Davidson. Although she’d fleetingly wondered if Micah could have been the midnight caller, after she’d heard him humming this morning, she’d discounted that idea. Micah had a bass voice, and he couldn’t carry a tune. The man on the phone had a melodious tenor voice. Thinking about Micah lifted Laurel’s spirits, and she decided she wouldn’t allow last night’s incident to ruin her day with Debbie.