Cherryvale, PA, 1995:
Lindsay sipped the hot tea slowly, enjoying the way its warmth enveloped her like a second skin. She closed her eyes with pleasure and collapsed among the cushions. She and Lanie had spent the day out and about, and it felt good to have down time.
"Have you and Sam told the kids about his plans to help a client in Saudi Arabia?" Lanie asked, regarding her sister with concern.
"God, no. This divorce business has been so rough on them we wanted to wait until they came back from summer camp. They were both so excited ~~ happier than I?ve seen them in months. Will kept talking about the football clinic. He wants to join the junior squad when school is back in session,? she noted proudly. "And I heard Jenny telling her friends she was interested in the dance programs. The last thing we wanted to do is tell them their father is planning to be out of the country the next few years."
"I don't understand. Can't Sam get one of his partners to go?"
Lindsay tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice. "Why would he miss the opportunity to be play hero and situate himself hundreds of thousands of miles away from his unfaithful, very-soon-to-be ex-wife?"
"The kids will be devastated."
"They're strong. Sam says the prince has promised to arrange frequent charter flights. Will and Jen will see it as an adventure," Lindsay replied, trying to convince herself. "Will is actually doing fairly well. He was so tired of seeing me and Sam argue all the time, so the divorce is almost a relief to him. It's Jenny I worry about. She hates me."
"Lindsay, that's not true.." Lanie started.
"No, she won?t even look at me. She doesn't talk to me anymore. She's always been close to Sam, but I used to think we had a strong mother-daughter relationship. The only interaction she?s had with me lately are the brochures for boarding schools in Switzerland she's left on my nightstand."
"Jen is almost 13. It's a hard age. Just give her some time..." A thought came to Lanie. "Oh, Lindsay, you don?t think she knows?"
"No!" Lindsay countered sharply as she leaned forward. "As far as the kids and courts are concerned, the divorce is a matter of irreconcilable differences."
Wanting to change the subject, Lindsay fingered the gold-edged rim of the porcelain teacup and commented wistfully, "This is part of Grandma Farrell?s set, isn't it? Daddy never let me touch, but I always thought it was so pretty."
"Oh, Lindsay?. You know what - I never use it. I can pack it up and ship it to you in---"
"It's okay."
The room lapsed into silence. Colin appeared and casually eased himself against the doorframe, "I'm not interrupting an important sister-bonding chat, am I?"
Lanie eagerly leaped up from the armchair to embrace her husband. "You got off early!"
"Not only that, sweetheart. I made some special arrangements with Pete and he'll take on my patients the next few days while I escort my two favorite ladies around town." He grinned smugly, pleased with himself, as Lanie clapped her hands with glee.
They were interrupted by the sound of a pager beeping. Lanie sighed, "It's mine. I'll be back." She walked back to the kitchen to call the hospital as Colin sat on the couch and draped his arm around Lindsay's shoulders.
"Sis, if it's worth anything, I want you to know I think Sam is a fool for letting you go."
"Thank you, Colin. That's sweet of you to say," Lindsay replied as she absent-mindedly twisted the gold band on her finger.
Colin frowned. "You're still wearing your wedding band."
Lindsay self-consciously covered her hand as a guilty expression flitted across her face. Understanding, Colin commented softly, "You still love him, don?t you?"
Lindsay looked away as tears filled her eyes.
"Listen to me, Linds." Colin gently reached out and cupped her chin, forcing her to look up at his troubled gaze. His blue eyes were intense as he continued, "Sam didn?t deserve you. You gave him everything, and he appreciated nothing..."
"I hurt him, Colin", she whispered. "I should have had more faith in him."
"Now stop that talk! Sam brought it all upon himself." He tenderly stroked her cheek. "He neglected his beautiful, smart, vibrant and adoring wife and buried himself in work and old memories. I never could understand how he could treat you that way."
Overcoming her natural wariness, Lindsay felt herself relax. It had been so long since anyone had spoken to her with such sympathy and kindness. Even Lanie had a degree of condescension in their conversations sometimes, as if she were the older, wiser sibling and Lindsay the wayward child.
"You won't believe this!" Lanie stormed into the room and stopped abruptly when she saw her husband and sister. "Hey, is everything alright?"
Lindsay wiped her eyes, extricated herself from Colin's embrace and replied, "I'm fine. What's wrong?"
"Dr. Wilkins needs an emergency replacement for that conference in Atlanta ? the biotechnology one I was telling you about last month, Colin-- and he's insisting that I go with him tomorrow. I'm going to call him back and beg him to reconsider. I can?t leave you now, Lindsay."
"No!" Lindsay replied firmly. "This is your last year of residency, and it's your career we?re talking about here. You've worked too hard and too long to stay home and coddle me."
"And it's an honor, sweetheart. Dr. Wilkins, the old coot, doesn?t invite just anybody to those conferences, especially young residents. This is a brilliant opportunity for you," Colin enthused. ?I will make sure Lindsay is in good hands while you?re away."
Lindsay interrupted. ?That?s not necessary. I can take care---"
"I insist!" Colin smiled. "I've been working so much I've barely gotten to see this town, let alone tried the famous rolls at Mollie?s Caf�. Please say you?ll stay and keep me company, Lindsay. Pleeeaaze?"
His expression was so silly and adorably child-like that Lindsay and Lanie burst into laughter. "Oh, Colin!" Lanie shook her head at him. Her brows knit and expression puzzled, she commented, "It's strange that Dr. Wilkins should choose me to go being that there are so senior doctors on staff. I wonder if someone told him I was interested.?
"Enough of that, sweetheart. Get packed and don't worry about us. Lindsay and I will try not to miss you too much." Colin embraced his wife and looked over her shoulder and gave his sister-in-law a wink. "We'll keep ourselves busy, won't we, Lindsay?"
Chapter 5
