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“At the time, amazing,” he answered in a dry tone.
CHAPTER SEVEN
WITH THE INTRODUCTIONS COMPLETED, everyone returned to their meals and the band struck up a dance tune. Couples moved toward the dance floor.
“Why don’t we have a dance before we go and talk to a few more people about the shelter? I think we could both use a few minutes of fun.” Mark stood and offered her his hand.
“One dance.”
As they entered the dance floor he brought Laura Jo close. She fit perfectly. Wearing high heels, her head came to his shoulder. The band was just beginning the first notes of a slow waltz. Laura Jo put her hand in his and the other on his shoulder. His hand rested on the warm, creamy skin visible on her back.
“You know, I think I like this dress more now than I did when I first saw you in it.” The words were for her alone.
She glanced up, giving him a shy smile. Seeing her parents again seemed to have taken some fight out of her. She had to have missed them more than she’d admitted. Leaning in, she put her head into the curve of his shoulder. Mark tightened his hold and slowly moved them around the dance floor.
Other couples surrounded them but for him there was only he and Laura Jo. For once he wished he could hold one woman forever. He’d never allowed himself to dream further but with Laura Jo anything seemed possible.
They were returning to their table when Mr. Washington approached. “I was telling a buddy of mine about the work your young lady is doing. He would like to pledge fifty thousand.”
Laura Jo gasped.
“Baba McClure has had a little too much to drink already and he has pledged another fifty.”
Laura Jo squeezed his arm.
“The thing is,” Mr. Washington went on, “you’d better go over there and get something in writing or they may not remember in the morning.”
“Do you have a paper and pen in your purse?” Mark asked Laura Jo.
She picked up the tiny purse she had brought. “I have a small pen. I’ll ask at the registration table if they have something we can write on.”
Mark watched Laura Jo go. She was soon back. Mr. Washington showed them across the room and introduced them to the two men and let Laura Jo take it from there. Despite wanting to distance herself from her background, she had a way of charming people that had been instilled in her. She soon had a makeshift agreement from both men and had promised she would see them the next day.
Both men groaned and asked her to make it the day after. Before they left the table she gave Mr. Washington a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”
The eighty-year-old man beamed. “You’re welcome, honey.”
“Come on, I believe this deserves a victory dance.” She pulled Mark to the dance floor. A fast tune was being played.
“I don’t fast-dance.” Mark pulled to a stop.
“What was it you told me? Uh…let go a little.” Laura Jo started moving to the music. She held her hands out, encouraging him to take them.
He wasn’t going to turn that invitation down. After a few dances, both fast and slow, he said, “I’m ready to go if you are.”
“You’re really not any more into this stuff than I am, are you?”
“No, I guess being in California for so long got it out of my system.” And what had happened to Mike.
He had glimpsed Mike a couple of times across the room. They had never been near each other and for that Mark was grateful. Once he had thought his onetime friend might have recognized him. Dodging Mike didn’t make Mark feel any better. He still couldn’t face him. He used having Laura Jo with him as an excuse not to.
“Let’s go,” Laura Jo agreed. “But I need to stop by the restroom on our way out.”
Mark was waiting at the exit when Mike rolled up.
“So was the plan to leave without speaking to me?” he asked, looking directly at Mark. “Running out again?”
He stood dumbstruck. His gut churned. If Laura Jo showed up, would she recognize what a coward he was?
“No,” Mark lied boldly. If he could figure out how to leave without having this conversation, he would. “I hadn’t realized you were here.” Another lie. “It’s good to see you.” At least that had a small margin of truth.
“I’m not sure that’s true.” Mike’s gaze hadn’t wavered.
The ache in Mark’s chest increased.
“I hear you’re back in town and practicing medicine.”
“Yes, I’m in a clinic in Spanish Fort and living in Fairhope.” If he could just make it through some small talk, Laura Jo would show up and they could go.
“You always did like it at the summer house,” Mike said.
Mark glanced toward the other side of the room. “How have you been? I’m sorry I haven’t—”
A blonde woman with twinkling green eyes and a cheery smile approached. “I’d like you to meet my wife.” He reached behind him and took the hand of the woman. “This is Tammy.”
Mike married? “It’s nice to meet you.”
“And you, too. Mike has told me a lot about you.” Tammy continued to smile but it no longer reached her eyes.
Like how he’d been the cause of Mike being in a wheelchair for life, or the fact he had run out on him when he’d needed him most, or maybe the part where he hadn’t bothered to stay in touch, like he should have. Yeah, there was a lot to say about him, but none of it good. Or to be proud of.
Laura Jo walked up beside him. Could she see how uncomfortable he was? He took her hand and drew her forward. “Uh, this is my friend Laura Jo. Laura Jo, Mike and Tammy Egan.”
“Hey, I remember a Laura Jo. She was a friend of my kid sister’s. I haven’t seen her in years.” Mike gave her a searching look.
“You’re Megan’s brother?” Laura Jo studied Mike for a moment.
Great. Mike remembered Laura Jo when he himself hadn’t. He truly had been a self-absorbed person in his twenties. Maybe in many ways he still was.
“Yes, and you’re Laura Jo Herron.”
She smiled at Mike. “Was Herron. Now it’s Akins.”
“No matter the name, it’s good to see
you again.”
It was time to get out of there. Mark said, “Mike, I’m sorry, we’re expected at another dance.” Great. He was still running from Mike and lying to do so.
Laura Jo glanced at him but said nothing.
Mike rolled back and forth in his chair with the ease and agility of someone who had mastered the wheelchair. “I understand.”
Somehow Mark was sure he did. All he wanted was to get away, forget, and find some fresh air. “Nice to see you again, Mike.” Mark headed for the door. It wasn’t until Laura Jo put her hand in his that he realized he had forgotten about her. He was running blind.
* * *
Mark didn’t say anything on the way to his house. Laura Jo didn’t either. They had both had an emotional evening. She let him remain in his thoughts, not even interrupting him to mention that he wasn’t going toward her apartment. He didn’t even register that he’d driven to his house until he’d pulled to a stop in his drive. “Why didn’t you tell me to take you home?”
“Because I thought you needed someone to talk to.”
How like her to recognize when someone was having trouble. He was in need, but of all the people he didn’t want to look weak in front of it was Laura Jo.
“Let’s go in. I’ll fix us a cup of coffee.” She was already in the process of opening the car door. Inside the house, she dropped her purse on the table beside the door, kicked off her shoes then headed straight for the kitchen. When he started to follow she said, “Why don’t you go out to the deck? I’ll bring it to you.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” He sounded weary even to his own ears.
“I’m just repaying all the times you’ve been there for me.”
On the deck he sat in one of the chairs, spread his knees wide and braced his elbows on them. Putting his head in his hands, he closed his eyes.
Seeing Mike tonight had been as tough as it had ever been. Mark had prepared himself that he might see him at the dance but that didn’t make it any easier. It only added another bag of guilt to the ten thousand he already carried on his shoulders.
Now, with Laura Jo having seen his shame, it made the situation worse.
“Here you go,” she said from beside him.
