Ready for Marriage

“Thank you,” Mary Jo mumbled. For the better part of their meeting, he’d avoiding speaking to her. He hadn’t been rude or tactless, just businesslike and distant. At least toward her. With her parents, he’d been warm and gracious. She doubted they’d even recognized the subtle difference between how he treated them and how he treated her.

MARY JO DIDN’T OPEN the envelope until after she’d arrived back at her cozy duplex apartment. She stared at it several moments, wondering what Jessica Dryden could possibly have to say to her.

No need to guess, she decided, and tore open the envelope.

Dear Mary Jo,

I just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed meeting you. When I asked Evan why you were in to see him, he clammed right up. I should have known better—prying information out of Evan is even more difficult than it is with Damian.

From your reaction the other day, I could tell you assumed I was married to Evan. Damian and I got quite a chuckle out of that. You see, just about everyone tried to match me up with Evan, but I only had eyes for Damian. If you’re free some afternoon, give me a call. Perhaps we could have lunch.

Warmest regards,

Jessica

Jessica had written her telephone number beneath her signature.

Mary Jo couldn’t understand why Damian’s wife would seek her out. They were virtual strangers. Perhaps Jessica knew something Mary Jo didn’t—something about Evan. The only way to find out was to call.

Although Mary Jo wasn’t entirely sure she was doing the right thing, she reached for the phone.

Jessica Dryden answered almost immediately.

“Mary Jo! Oh, I’m so glad to hear from you,” she said immediately. “I wondered what you’d think about my note. I don’t usually do that sort of thing, but I was just so delighted you’d been to see Evan.”

“You said he’s mentioned me?”

“A number of times. Look, why don’t you come over one afternoon soon and we can talk? You’re not teaching right now, are you?”

“School let out a week ago,” Mary Jo concurred.

“That’s what I thought. Could you stop by next week? I’d really enjoy talking to you.”

Mary Jo hesitated. Her first introduction to Evan’s family had been a catastrophe, and she’d come away knowing their love didn’t stand a chance. A second sortie might prove equally disastrous.

“I’d like that very much,” Mary Jo found herself saying. If Evan had been talking about her, she wanted to know what he’d said.

“Great. How about next Tuesday afternoon? Come for lunch and we can sit on the patio and have a nice long chat.”

“That sounds great,” Mary Jo said.

It wasn’t until later that evening, when she was filling a croissant with a curried shrimp mixture for dinner, that Mary Jo stopped to wonder exactly why Jessica was so eager to “chat” with her.

SHE LIKED GARY . She really did. Though why she felt it was necessary to remind herself of this, she didn’t know. She didn’t even want to know.

It had been like this from the moment she’d broken off her relationship with Evan. She’d found fault with every man she’d dated. No matter how attractive he was. Or how successful. How witty, how considerate…it didn’t matter.

Gary was very nice, she repeated to herself.

Unfortunately he bored her to tears. He talked about his golf game, his bowling score and his prowess on the handball court. Never anything that was important to her. But his biggest fault, she’d realized early on in their relationship was that he wasn’t Evan.

They’d dated infrequently since the beginning of the year. To be honest, Mary Jo was beginning to think that, to Gary, her biggest attraction was her mother’s cooking. Invariably, Gary stopped by early Sunday afternoon, just as she was about to leave for her parents’ home. It’d happened three out of the past five weeks. She strongly suspected he’d been on duty at the fire hall the two weeks he’d missed.

“You look especially lovely this afternoon,” he said when she opened her front door to him now. He held out a bouquet of pink carnations, which she took with a smile, pleased by his thoughtfulness.

“Hello, Gary.”

He kissed her cheek, but it seemed perfunctory, as if he felt some display of affection was expected of him. “How’ve you been?” he muttered, easing himself into the old rocking chair next to the fireplace.

Although Mary Jo’s rooms were small, she’d thoughtfully and carefully decorated each one. The living room had an Early American look. Her brother Lonny, who did beautiful woodwork, had carved her an eagle for Christmas, which she’d hung above the fireplace. In addition to her rocking chair, she had a small sofa and an old oak chest that she’d restored herself. Her mother had crocheted an afghan for the back of the sofa in a patriotic blend of red, white and blue.

Her kitchen was little more than a wide hallway that led to a compact dining space in a window alcove. Mary Jo loved to sit there in the morning sunshine with a cup of coffee and a book.

“You’re lucky, you know,” Gary said, looking around as if seeing the room for the first time.

“How do you mean?”

“Well, first off, you don’t have to work in the summer.”

This was an old argument and Mary Jo was tired of hearing it. True, school wasn’t in session for those two and a half months, she didn’t spend them lolling on a beach. This was the first time in years that she wasn’t attending courses to upgrade her skills.

“You’ve got the time you need to fix up this place the way you want it,” he went on. “You have real decorating talent, you know. My place is a mess, but then I’m only there three or four days out of the week, if that.”

If he was hinting that he’d like her to help him decorate his place, she refused to take the bait.

“Are you going over to your parents’ this afternoon?” Gary asked cheerfully. “I don’t mean to horn in, but your family doesn’t seem to mind, and the two of us have an understanding, don’t we?”

“An understanding?” This was news to Mary Jo.

“Yeah. We’re…I don’t know, going together I guess.”

“I thought we were friends.” That was all Mary Jo intended the relationship to be.

“Just friends.” Gary’s face fell. His gaze wandered to the carnations he’d brought with him.

“When was the last time we went out on a date?” she asked, crossing her arms. “A real date.”

“You mean to the movies or something?”

“Sure.” Surveying her own memory, she could almost count one hand the number of times he’d actually spent money taking her out. The carnations were an exception.

“We went to the Red Sox game, remember?”

“That was in April,” she reminded him.

Gary frowned. “That long ago? Time certainly flies, doesn’t it?”

“It sure does.”

Gary rubbed his face. “You’re right, Mary Jo. I’ve taken you for granted, haven’t I?”

She was about to say they really didn’t have much of an understanding, after all, did they. Yet a serious relationship with Gary didn’t interest her and, difficult as it was to admit now, never had. She’d used him to block out the loneliness. She’d used him so her parents wouldn’t worry about her. They firmly believed that a woman, especially a young woman, needed a man in her life, so she’d trotted out Gary in order to keep the peace. She wasn’t exactly proud of her motives.

Gary reached for her hand. “How about a movie this afternoon?” he suggested contritely. “We’ll leave right after dinner at your parents’. We can invite anyone who wants to come along, as well. You wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Gary was honestly trying. He couldn’t help it that he wasn’t Evan Dryden. The thought slipped uncensored into her mind.

“A movie sounds like a great idea,” she said firmly. She was going, and furthermore, she was determined to have a wonderful time. Just because Evan Dryden had briefly reentered her life was no reason to wallow in the impossible. He was way out of her league.

“Great.” A smile lighted his boyish face. “Let’s drive on over to your mom and dad’s place now.”

“All right,” Mary Jo said. She felt better already. Her relationship with Gary wasn’t ideal—it wasn’t even close to ideal—but he was her friend. Love and marriage had been built on a whole lot less.

Before they left the house, Gary reached for the bouquet of carnations. Mary Jo blinked in surprise, and he hesitated, looking mildly chagrined. “I thought we’d give these to your mother. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Of course not,” she mumbled, but she did, just a little.

Gary must have realized it because he added, “Next time I’ll bring some just for you.”

“You owe me one, fellow.”

He laughed good-naturedly and with an elaborate display of courtesy, opened the car door for her.

Mary Jo slid into the seat and snapped her seat belt into place. During the brief drive to her parents’ house, less than two miles away she and Gary didn’t speak; instead, they listened companionably to part of a Red Sox game.

Her nephews and nieces were out in the huge side yard, playing a rousing game of volleyball when they arrived. Gary parked his car behind her oldest brother’s station wagon.

“I get a kick out of how much fun your family has together,” he said a bit wistfully.

“We have our share of squabbles, too.” But any disagreement was rare and quickly resolved. Three of her brothers, Jack, Rich and Lonny, were construction electricians like their father. Bill and Mark had both become mechanics and had opened a shop together. They were still struggling to get on their feet financially, but both worked hard. With time, they’d make a go of it; Mary Jo was convinced of that.

“I wonder what your mother decided to cook today,” Gary mused, and Mary Jo swore he all but licked his chops.

Briefly she wondered if Gary bothered to eat during the week, or if he stored up his appetite for Sunday dinners with her family.

“I’ve been introduced to all your brothers, haven’t I?” he asked, frowning slightly as he helped her out of the car.

Mary Jo had to think about that. He must have been. Not every brother came every Sunday, but over the course of the past few months surely Gary had met each of her five brothers.

“I don’t recognize the guy in the red sweatshirt,” he said as they moved up the walk toward the house.

Mary Jo was distracted from answering by her mother, who came rushing down the porch steps, holding out her arms as if it’d been weeks since they’d last seen each other. She wore an apron and a smile that sparkled with delight. “Mary Jo! I’m so glad you’re here.” She hugged her daughter close for a long moment, then turned toward Gary.

“How sweet,” she said, taking the bouquet of carnations and kissing his cheek.

Still smiling, Marianna gestured her attention to her daughter. “You’ll never guess who stopped by!”

It was then that Mary Jo noticed Evan walking toward them. Dressed in jeans and a red sweatshirt, he carried Lenny, her six year old nephew, tucked under one arm, and Robby, his older brother by a year, under the other. Both boys were kicking and laughing.

Evan stopped abruptly when he saw Mary Jo and Gary. The laughter drained out of his eyes.

“Hello,” Gary said, stepping forward. “You must be one of Mary Jo’s brothers. I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Gary Copeland.”

CHAPTER THREE

“WHAT ARE YOU doing here?” Mary Jo demanded the minute she could get Evan alone. With a house full of people, it had taken her the better part of two hours to corner him. As it was, they were standing in the hallway and could be interrupted at any moment.

“If you’ll recall, your mother invited me.”

“The only reason you’re here is to embarrass me.” The entire meal had been an exercise in frustration for Mary Jo. Evan had been the center of attention and had answered a multitude of questions from her parents and brothers. As for the way he’d treated Gary—every time she thought about it, she seethed. Anyone watching them would think Evan and Gary were old pals. Evan had joked and teased with Gary, even going so far as to mention that Mary Jo’s ears grew red whenever she was uncomfortable with a subject.

The second he’d said it, she felt the blood rush to her ears. Soon they were so hot she was afraid Gary might mistake them for a fire engine.

What upset her most was the way Evan had her family eating out of his hand. Everyone acted as though he was some sort of celebrity! Her mother had offered him the first slice of chocolate cake, something Mary Jo could never remember happening. No matter who was seated at the dinner table, her father had always been served first.

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” Evan said now, his eyes as innocent as a preschooler’s.

Mary Jo wasn’t fooled. She knew why he’d come—to humiliate her in front of her family. Rarely had she been angrier. Rarely had she felt more frustrated. Tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision.

“You can think what you want of me, but don’t ever laugh at my family,” she said between gritted teeth. She whirled away and had taken all of two steps when he caught hold of her shoulder and yanked her around.

Now he was just as angry. His dark eyes burned with it. They glared at each other, faces tight, hands clenched.

“I would never laugh at your family,” he said evenly.

Mary Jo straightened her shoulders defiantly. “But you look forward to make a laughingstock out of me. Let me give you an example. You knew I wasn’t married, yet you manipulated me into admitting it. You enjoy making me uncomfortable!”

He grinned then, a sly off-center grin. “I figured you owed me that much.”

“I don’t owe you anything!” she snapped.

“Perhaps not,” he agreed. He was laughing at her, had been from the moment she stepped into his high-priced office. Like an unsuspecting fly, she’d carelessly gotten caught in a spider’s web.

“Stay out of my life,” she warned, eyes narrowed.

Evan glared back at her. “Gladly.”

Just then Sally, one of Mary Jo’s favorite nieces, came skipping down the hallway as only a five-year-old can, completely unaware of the tension between her and Evan. Sally stopped when she saw Mary Jo with Evan.

“Hi,” she said, looking up at them.

“Hello, sweetheart,” Mary Jo said, forcing herself to smile. Her mouth felt as if it would crack.

Sally stared at Evan, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Are you going to be my uncle someday?”

“No,” Mary Jo answered immediately, mortified. It seemed that even her own family had turned against her. “Why not?” Sally wanted to know. “I like him better than Gary, and he likes you, too. I can tell. When we were eating dinner, he kept looking at you. Like Daddy looks at Mommy sometimes.”

“I’m dating Gary,” Mary Jo insisted, “and he’s taking me to a movie. You can come if you want.”

Sally shook her head. “Gary likes you, but he doesn’t like kids very much.”

Mary Jo’s heart sank as though it were weighted down with cement blocks. She’d noticed that about Gary herself. He wasn’t accustomed to small children; they made him uncomfortable. Kid noise irritated him. Evan, on the other hand, was an instant hit with both the adults and the kids. Nothing her nieces or nephews said or did seemed to bother him. If anything, he appeared to enjoy himself. He’d played volleyball and baseball with her brothers, chess with her father, and wrestled with the kids—ten against one.

“I hope you marry Evan,” Sally said, her expression serious. Having stated her opinion, she skipped on down to the end of the hallway.

“Mary Jo.”

Before she could say anything else to Evan—although she didn’t know what—Gary came looking for her. He stopped abruptly when he saw who she was with.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt anything,” he said, burying his hands in his pockets, obviously uncomfortable.

“You didn’t,” Mary Jo answered decisively.

“Now, what movie do you think we should see?” She turned her back on Evan and walked toward Gary, knowing in her heart that Sally was right. Evan was the man for her. Not Gary.

“I’M ABSOLUTELY delighted you came,” Jessica Dryden said, opening the front door. Mary Jo stepped into the Dryden home, mildly surprised that a maid or other household help hadn’t greeted her. From what she remembered of the older Drydens’ home, Whispering Willows, the domestic staff had been with them for nearly thirty years.

“Thank you for inviting me,” Mary Jo said, looking around. The house was a sprawling rambler decorated with comfortable modern furniture. An ocean scene graced the wall above the fireplace, but it wasn’t by an artist Mary Jo recognized. Judging by the decor and relaxed atmosphere, Damian and Jessica seemed to be a fairly typical young couple.

“I fixed us a seafood salad,” Jessica said, leading Mary Jo into the large, spotless kitchen. She followed, her eyes taking in everything around her. Jessica and Damian’s home was spacious and attractive, but it was nothing like Whispering Willows.

“You made the salad yourself?” Mary Jo asked. She didn’t mean to sound rude, but she’d assumed Jessica had kitchen help.

“Yes,” Jessica answered pleasantly. “I’m a fairly good cook. At least Damian hasn’t complained. Much,” she added with a dainty laugh. “I thought we’d eat on the patio. That is, if you don’t mind. It’s such a beautiful afternoon. I was working in the garden earlier and I cut us some roses. They’re so lovely this time of year.”

Sliding glass doors led to a brick-lined patio. A round glass table, shaded by a brightly striped umbrella, was set with two pink placemats and linen napkins. A bouquet of yellow roses rested in the middle.

“Would you like iced tea with lunch?” Jessica asked next.

“Please.”

“Sit down and I’ll bring everything out.”

“Let me help.” Mary Jo wasn’t accustomed to being waited on and would have been uncomfortable letting Jessica do all the work. She followed her new friend into the kitchen and carried out the pitcher of tea while Jessica brought the seafood salad.

“Where’s Andy?” Mary Jo asked.

“Napping.” She set the salad bowl and matching plates on the table and glanced at her watch. “We’ll have a solid hour of peace. I hope.”

They sat down together. Jessica gazed at her earnestly and began to speak. “I realize you must think I’m terribly presumptuous to have written you that note, but I’m dying to talk to you.”

“I’ll admit curiosity is what brought me here,” Mary Jo confessed. She’d expected to feel awkward and out of place, but Jessica was so easygoing and unpretentious Mary Jo felt perfectly at ease.

“I’ve known Evan from the time I was a kid. We grew up next door to each other,” Jessica explained.

“When I was a teenager I had the biggest crush on him. I made an absolute fool of myself.” She shook her head wryly.

Mary Jo thought it was no wonder she found herself liking Jessica so much. They obviously had a great deal in common—especially when it came to Evan!

“As you may be aware, I worked with Evan when he represented Earl Kress. Naturally we spent a good deal of time together. Evan and I became good friends and he told me about you.”

Mary Jo nervously smoothed the linen napkin across her lap. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what Jessica had to say.

“I hurt him deeply, didn’t I?” she asked, keeping her head lowered.

“Yes.” Apparently Jessica didn’t believe in mincing words. “I don’t know what happened between you and the man you left Evan for, but clearly it didn’t work out the way you expected.”

“Few things in life happen the way we expect them to, do they?” Mary Jo answered cryptically.

“No.” Jessica set down her fork. “For a while I was convinced there wasn’t any hope for Damian and me. You see, I loved Damian, but everyone kept insisting Evan and I should be a couple. It gets confusing, so I won’t go into the details, but Damian seemed to think he was doing the noble thing by stepping aside so I could marry Evan. It didn’t seem to matter that I was in love with him. Everything was complicated even more by family expectations. Oh, my heavens,” she said with a heartfelt sigh, “those were bleak days.”

“But you worked everything out.”

“Yes,” Jessica said with a relaxed smile. “It wasn’t easy, but it was sure worth the effort.” She paused, resting her hands in her lap. “This is the reason I asked you to have lunch with me. I realize that what happens between you and Evan is none of my business. And knowing Evan, he’d be furious with me if he realized I was even speaking to you, but…” She stopped and took in a deep breath. “You once shared something very special with Evan. I’m hoping that with a little effort on both your parts you can reclaim it.”

A cloak of sadness seemed to settle over Mary Jo’s shoulders, and when she spoke her words were little more than a whisper. “It isn’t possible anymore.”

“Why isn’t it? I don’t know why you’ve come to Evan. That’s none of my affair. But I do realize how much courage it must have taken. You’re already halfway there, Mary Jo. Don’t give up now.”

Mary Jo wished she could believe that, but it was too late for her and Evan now. Whatever chance they’d had as a couple had been destroyed long ago.

By her own hand.

Her reasons for breaking off the relationship hadn’t changed. She’d done it because she had to, and she’d done it in such a way that Evan would never forgive her. That was part of her plan—for his own sake.

“In some ways I think Evan hates me,” she murmured. Speaking was almost painful; there was a catch in her voice.

“Nonsense,” Jessica insisted. “I don’t believe that for a moment.”

Mary Jo wished she could accept her friend’s words, but Jessica hadn’t been there when Evan suggested she hire another attorney. She hadn’t seen the look in Evan’s eyes when she’d confronted him in the hallway of her family home. Nor had she been there when Mary Jo had introduced him to Gary.

He despised her, and the ironic thing was she couldn’t blame him.

“Just remember what I said,” Jessica urged. “Be patient with Evan, and with yourself. But most of all, don’t give up, not until you’re convinced it’ll never work. I speak from experience, Mary Jo—the rewards are well worth whatever it costs your pride. I can’t imagine my life without Damian and Andy.”

After a brief silence, Mary Jo resolutely changed the subject, and the two women settled down to their meal. Conversation was lighthearted—books and movies they’d both enjoyed, anecdotes about friends and family, opinions about various public figures.

They were continuing a good-natured disagreement over one of the Red Sox pitchers as they carried their plates back inside. Just as they reached the kitchen, the doorbell chimed.

“I’ll get that,” Jessica said.

Smiling, Mary Jo rinsed off the plates and placed them in the dishwasher. She liked Jessica very much. Damian’s wife was open and natural and had a wonderful sense of humor. She was also deeply in love with her husband.

“It’s Evan,” Jessica said, returning to the kitchen. Her voice was strained and tense. Evan stood stiffly behind his sister-in-law. “He dropped off some papers for Damian.”

“Uh, hello, Evan,” Mary Jo said awkwardly.

Jessica’s gaze pleaded with her to believe she hadn’t arranged this accidental meeting.

Andy let out a piercing cry, and Mary Jo decided the toddler had the worst sense of timing of any baby she’d ever known.

Jessica excused herself, and Mary Jo was left standing next to the dishwasher, wishing she were anyplace else in the world.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded the minute Jessica was out of earshot.

“You showed up at my family’s home. Why is it so shocking that I’m at your brother’s house?”

“I was invited,” he reminded her fiercely.

“So was I.”

He looked for a moment as if he didn’t believe her. “Fine. I suppose you and Jessica have decided to become bosom buddies. That sounds like something you’d do.”