Part 20 (2/2)
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly and tried not to think about what was happening as he thrust inside her, deep and hard.
Chapter Fifteen
Seth had nibbled at the eggs and bacon Cathy had prepared for him. He looked as haggard and weary as she felt. Neither of them was looking forward to the upcoming confrontation with J.B. and Mona. Since they had been expecting Seth to return to their house sometime shortly after the all-night youth rally ended at eight this morning, she had telephoned them at seven-thirty. Keeping the facts to a minimum, she'd told Mona, who had answered the phone, that Seth was at her house, that he and some other teens had gotten into a bit of trouble last night and they needed to discuss the problem.
”There they are.” Seth, who had been standing at the window waiting for his grandparents, turned to Cathy and grimaced. ”Grandmother's with them.”
Cathy groaned. She should have known that Mona would call Elaine and Seth's three grandparents would show up together. She sensed that in this situation, it was Seth and her against the world.
When the doorbell rang, Seth looked at her. ”Mom?”
”You stay here. I'll let them in.” She paused, glanced back at her son and added, ”It's going to be all right. We'll face them together. Just remember, they love you.”
When she opened the door, her mother entered first and gave her a condemning glare. She refused to react in a defensive manner. Her mother couldn't intimidate her anymore. How often had she wondered if her father, who had died in an auto accident when she was twelve, had left them because he could no longer endure trying to live up to Elaine's impossible standards? Her parents had been separated for more than two years when Whit Nelson had died. What she remembered most about her dad was his loud, robust laugh.
Mona came in next, a sad half-smile curving her lips and a sympathetic expression in her eyes. She reached over and gave Cathy a quick hug before walking into the living room. By the time J.B. entered the house, both grandmothers were flanking Seth, who looked like a condemned man on his way to the gallows.
”You'd better have a good reason for this,” J.B. said in a deep, gruff voice as he gave Cathy a stern, disapproving stare.
Ignoring J.B., Cathy turned to the others and said, ”Why don't we all sit down. This is going to take a while.”
Fifteen minutes later, after Seth had told them exactly what happened, without telling them that he had left the rally only to keep watch over Missy Hovater, the room fell into complete silence. All eyes turned to J.B., waiting for his judgment call.
G.o.d, how Cathy hated that her son had to endure having his grandfather act as his judge, jury and executioner. If only Mark were here to act as a buffer. Mark had respected J.B., but at the same time, he had, on occasion, stood up to him. He had certainly gone against J.B.'s wishes when he had married her.
”I'm very disappointed in you, Seth,” J.B. said, his voice deceptively calm.
”Yes, sir, I understand.”
”Do you, son?” J.B. focused directly on Seth. ”There will be consequences. Except for church and your sports activities, you're grounded for the rest of the summer.”
Seth stood straight as an arrow, his expression solemn as he nodded his head in agreement, taking his punishment like a man.
”And today, at church services, when Brother Hovater calls for sinners to repent, I expect you to go before the congregation and-”
”No,” Cathy said adamantly. ”Seth didn't commit a sin. It's ridiculous for you to expect him to stand up in front of the entire church and confess to something he didn't do.”
”He disobeyed the rules. He violated my trust.” J.B. glanced at Mona and Elaine. ”Our trust. He shamed us and himself by his actions.”
”He made a mistake,” Cathy said. ”He's not perfect. You can't expect him to never make a mistake.”
”I expect him to live up to the high moral standards I've set for him, the same standards Mark would have set for him.”
”If Mark were here, he would never ask Seth to-”
”How dare you presume to tell me what my son would and would not do,” J.B. said, anger in his voice.
”And how dare you presume to make yourself the sole decision maker when it comes to my son,” Cathy retaliated.
”Please, J.B.” Mona laid her hand on her husband's arm. ”Cathy, dear, this arguing isn't good.”
J.B. jerked his arm away from his wife's gentle grasp and aimed his hard gaze at Seth. ”You'll do as I say. Your mother has no authority over you whatsoever, legal or otherwise.” He turned to Cathy. ”Seth is leaving with us now. And if you try to interfere, I'll contact the police. Mona and I are Seth's legal guardians, not you.”
Cathy had difficulty restraining herself from lunging at J.B., claws out and teeth bared in defense of her child. But there was a better way to deal with this issue.
”You're right,” Cathy said. ”But I intend to reclaim my son. I had hoped we could come to some sort of agreement, but I know that's impossible. I've hired Elliott Floyd as my attorney, and I will take you to court if necessary. My days of rolling over and playing dead for you, J.B.”-she glanced at her mother-”or anyone else are over.” She looked back at her father-in-law. ”Seth is my son. Today you may be able to force him to obey you, but that is going to change. And soon.”
Seth had remained completely quiet during the entire exchange between her and J.B. She looked at him and smiled. He didn't return her smile, but she noted a hint of relief in his eyes.
”We're leaving.” J.B. issued the decree and motioned to his wife.
Mona held her head down as she pa.s.sed Cathy and followed J.B. to the front door. With her mouth puckered tightly, Elaine frowned and shook her head, her actions silently telling Cathy of her displeasure. Seth paused in front of Cathy, but didn't say anything.
She caressed his cheek. ”I'll be at church today.”
He leaned over and whispered, ”I'll go talk to Mr. Floyd whenever you say.” Then he hurried out the front door and caught up with his grandparents on the porch.
Bruce Kelley helped his wife dress. She had chosen a blue linen suit. He watched her while she struggled to hook her bra and then finally offered to help.
”Silly me, I'm all thumbs this morning.” When she laughed, she sounded like herself, the Sandie he had known and loved most of his adult life.
If he could suffer this disease for her, he would; but then if it were he and not she that had been afflicted, she would be the one condemned to watch the person she loved die by slow, pathetic degrees. They were both victims.
In the past, he had never understood how someone could choose to end their spouse's life when that lifelong partner was suffering unbearably. He'd been such a pompous fool. Arrogant. So smug in his safe, happy life. He had judged others so harshly, never once considering the love and sacrifice made by those poor spouses who could no longer bear to see their loved one suffer.
If not for his deep faith in G.o.d, in the Savior's benevolence, in a great plan for all mankind, Bruce wasn't sure he would have the strength to see this thing through to the end. Sandie still had good days, and even on the bad days she still had good hours. The worst was yet to come. But he was not in this h.e.l.l on earth alone, as many were. He and Sandie had three fine children, all willing to do whatever was necessary to help him. But the last thing his sweet Sandie would ever want was to be a burden on anyone, least of all her children.
”I should wear my pearls with this outfit,” Sandie said as she looked at herself in the vanity mirror. ”But I can't seem to remember where my pearls are. Don't I have a jewelry chest?”
Bruce came up behind her and placed his hands lovingly on her shoulders. She glanced up at him from where she sat on the vanity stool and smiled at him.
Dear Lord, how he loved her smile.
There would come a day in the near future when she would no longer smile when she saw him, a time when she would not know who he was. Would he be able to bear it?
”Your jewelry box is in the closet,” he reminded her. ”You stay put, and I'll get your pearls.”
”Thank you, darling.”
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