Second Chances

“Why not? Got a date with your doctor friend? I hear you two are quite a couple.”

Obviously, Paul had been prying. “That’s none of your business,” she said stiffly.

“I see.”

Belinda was surprised when he didn’t immediately argue or try to manipulate her. As a practicing attorney he was obviously used to getting the results he wanted. Waiting for his counterattack, she pressed her lips into a thin line.

“Well, maybe some other time,” Paul said, straightening and smiling woodenly. “I’ll call you.”

She noticed that his smile no longer brought a mischievous sparkle to his dark, compelling eyes. His gaze had grown shadowy, brooding, the way it used to be. The way it had been the night of the awful fire.

That memory was enough to keep her from holding back any longer. “No. I don’t want you to call.” Belinda shook her head firmly for emphasis. “We have nothing more to talk about.”

Smile fading, he turned to leave. His voice sounded emotionless when he said, “For once, you may be right.”

Belinda stopped by her grandmother Eloise’s that evening. Eloise had sprained her ankle and was supposed to stay off her feet as much as possible. She wasn’t behaving, of course. Belinda hadn’t expected her to listen to medical advice, not even Sam’s, which was why she’d decided to drop in and volunteer to cook the evening meal.

Standing at her grandmother’s stove, Belinda got more and more distracted as she began to contrast the differences between Sam and Paul. Sam was steady, comfortable, and he fit effortlessly into her daily life. She’d never had a moment’s worry about what he might be doing or who he might be with. On the other hand, being around Paul had always made her feel disquieted, as if she were standing at the edge of a precipice in a stiff wind and was about to be blown over the edge. Even now, though he’d looked as refined as any other professional man, his presence had sent a chill up her spine and made the hair on the back of her neck prickle.

Daydreaming, she nearly burned the black-eyed peas she was fixing as a side dish.

Eloise hobbled up to rescue the smoking pot and stirred rapidly. “Goodness me. That was close.”

“Sorry. I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention.”

“No problem. I got to ’em in time.” She paused, then asked, “So, tell me, how was Paul Randall?”

Whirling, Belinda stared. “How did you know I’d seen him?”

“Lucky guess.” Eloise set the pot off to the side and plopped her slightly overweight body into a kitchen chair. “Well? Was he polite? Did he show his raisin’, or did he manage to behave himself?”

“If you mean, did he grab me and kiss me senseless the way he used to, the answer is no. He’s more out-of-place in Serenity than ever, but he didn’t say or do anything embarrassing.”

“That’s a relief. You never know what might get back to Sam if somebody was to see you and Paul acting too friendly.”

“Don’t be silly. I’m not even friends with Paul. Not anymore. Besides, Sam’s not the jealous type. He may be practical to a fault but he’s also predictable. He’d never jump to conclusions.” Belinda turned off the stove and scooped thin strips of sautéed steak and onions from her frying pan into a serving bowl. “He’s completely logical. That’s why I believe him when he says Serenity’s going to boom. He’s even bought the building where his office is. Says he’s planning to add another wing to it.”

“Well, well. I suppose that explains why he was so keen on being voted president of the Chamber. I’m not real happy to hear he wants to start changin’ things, though.” She lowered her voice to add, “’Course, he’s not from around here, so you never know.”

Pensive, Belinda recalled what Paul had always said about not being accepted by the established core of Serenity’s population. In his case, he was right. It wasn’t that folks were cruel. Some newcomers just fit in better than others, especially if they made an effort to become a useful part of the community. Sam was making that effort. Paul and his father never had.

She remembered the first time she’d set eyes on Paul. His father had come to Serenity because of his late wife’s shirttail relation to the Whitaker family and landed a job as a mechanic at the local gas station.

Paul had shown up for his first day as a senior at Serenity High sporting threadbare clothes, a worn leather jacket and a sullen, uncooperative attitude. Belinda had viewed him more as a lost soul than a rebel and had offered friendship. In no time, she’d fallen head-over-heels in love. She sighed. Too bad Paul’s feelings for her hadn’t been strong enough to overcome their differences.

“I’d like some of that before it gets cold,” Eloise gibed, gesturing toward the bowl Belinda was holding. “Unless you plan on keepin’ it all for yourself.”

The comment brought her back to the present with a jolt. “Of course not. I…I was just afraid it was too hot for you to handle, that’s all.”

“Oh? With that faraway look in your eyes I figured you might be thinking about how you felt when you ran into your old boyfriend today.” She grinned. “Was he too hot to handle, too?”

“Gram! Shame on you. Wash your mouth out!” Cheeks flaming, Belinda took her place at the table and refused to acknowledge her grandmother’s triumphant expression. It was impossible to ignore her jubilant comments, however.

“Aha! I thought so. Good! Maybe now we’ll see some action around here. A little honest competition should shake up Sam Barryman and get things moving. He may not be perfect but he’s the best catch around…and a doctor, to boot. You two have been courtin’ for a whole year. It’s time he got serious and asked you to marry him. Fish or cut bait, I always say.”

Belinda stared at her plate without seeing it. Sam had already asked her to be his wife—more than once—and she’d put him off. At the time, she hadn’t realized what was stopping her. Sam was personable and reliable, he went to her church, and she was truly fond of him. So why not make a commitment? Why, indeed. Now that she’d been around Paul again, she was beginning to understand that the problem lay with her, not with Sam.

And she didn’t like that conclusion one bit.

The Whitaker estate was a run-down relic from a bygone era. It was also a prime piece of real estate, which was why Paul had decided to spend a few extra days poking around in Serenity. He knew his elderly twin aunts had no spare funds with which to have the place independently appraised. He also knew that the sale of the property was their last chance to provide for the fulfillment of any dreams beyond day-to-day subsistence. At eighty-three, they didn’t have the option of going back to work teaching if they wanted anything more than the basic necessities.

He wheeled his black Lexus into the circular driveway of the old frame house and parked. The narrow track branched so that visitors who had arrived by carriage in the old days could enter by the front door, then send their driver to the back to stable the horses without having to turn the team around. The carriage house in the rear had eventually been converted into a garage.

Pausing in the quiet of the late evening, Paul gripped the steering wheel and took a deep, settling breath. Maybe he’d made a mistake by coming here. Even Aunt Patience, usually the sprightly, happy twin, had been acting reserved. Prudence, on the other hand, had always moped around as if she’d just lost her best friend, so he couldn’t tell if she was glad he’d responded to her request for legal help or not.

But that wasn’t his real reason for questioning the wisdom of his decision to visit Serenity, was it? He immediately pictured Belinda. They’d had some really good times together. On her eighteenth birthday she’d snuck away to spend the afternoon at the river with him. Her auburn hair was longer back then, with golden highlights glistening in the sun, and she’d pinned it up because the weather was so hot and sticky.

They’d walked beside the slow-flowing water, pausing in the shade to share a tender kiss. Paul remembered her wide, innocent, blue eyes looking at him as if he were the perfect man. Faint freckles had dotted her pale skin.

She’d wrinkled her nose and made a silly face, pleading with him. “Come on. It’s just a picnic. Please? Promise you’ll go with me?”

“A church picnic,” Paul had said.

“So? Daddy won’t bite.”

“I’m not so sure. He didn’t look real pleased when I sat down next to you last Sunday.”

She giggled. “I know. Wasn’t he funny? It was like he preached his whole sermon right to you.”

“Yeah. I noticed.” Paul grimaced. “I felt like a bug under a microscope.”

Belinda slipped her arms around his waist and stepped into his embrace. “I’m so sorry. That was partly my fault. When Daddy asked me why I was spending so much time with you, I told him I was trying to get you converted.”

“I don’t need saving,” Paul recalled telling her. Back then, he’d seriously considered walking the aisle some Sunday just to please her and make points with her father. Fortunately, he’d decided there was no way he could fake salvation, any more than he could convince the sanctimonious residents of Serenity that he was just as good as they were.

Pensive, he sighed. Funny how things had worked out. His father had ruined his own life by making lousy choices, had left the stigma of a convicted arsonist on his only son and had seen to it that they stayed ostracized by living a transient, antisocial life.

Yet it was that same miserable existence that had made Paul so determined to succeed, to earn enough money to change his lifestyle and make himself into someone entirely different. A professional man people could look up to. Respect.

And that strategy had worked until he’d faced Belinda Carnes again and sensed her continuing distrust. He’d hoped she’d give him some sign that she might be willing to forgive and forget. Maybe even take up where they’d left off. After her clear rebuff today, however, he knew better.

Innocent until proven guilty didn’t apply to him. Not in Serenity. Belinda obviously still blamed him for setting fire to her father’s church. Chances were, so did almost everybody else in town, even if they didn’t have the guts to say so to his face.

Paul’s jaw muscles tightened, and his forehead furrowed. He didn’t care what the others thought of him, but Belinda’s opinion mattered. A lot. Whether they ever got back together or not, it was imperative that he prove to her he’d been innocent of any wrongdoing.

He sure wished he knew how he was going to do that.

Chapter Two

Belinda smiled and waved when she saw Sam Barryman’s sporty red Camaro pulling into her driveway at precisely nine-thirty on Sunday morning. It was hard to remember exactly when Sam had started taking her to church. He hadn’t asked. He’d simply begun showing up. For the past six or eight months she’d accepted his presence without question. This morning, however, she found it strangely annoying.

Tall, blond and athletic, the doctor bounded up the front steps to her house and held the door open for her. “Good. You’re on time. I’m glad to see my suggestions worked.”

“I beg your pardon?” Belinda wrinkled her brow.

“My suggestions. About getting you organized,” he said, ignoring her negative expression. “Can’t have my future wife running around being late all the time.”

Belinda couldn’t decide which assumption she wanted to object to first. Having spent the past few days soul-searching, she decided on the farthest-reaching one. “I told you, Sam. We’re good friends. There’s no reason to spoil a great relationship by getting married.”

“So you say.” He slipped his arm around her waist and escorted her down the porch steps, not letting go until they reached his car. As he opened the passenger door for her he said, “If you weren’t such a prude we could be having a lot more fun right now, though.”

Belinda rolled her eyes. “We’ve been over and over this subject, Sam. It’s not open to discussion.”

Chuckling, he circled the car and slid behind the wheel. “Okay. But I’m not going to wait for you forever.”

“I’ve never asked you to wait for me at all. That was your idea.”

“Because you’re worth it.” He flashed her a toothpaste smile and reached over to pat her hand as he drove. “All I have to do is figure out how to make you wake up and realize I’d be the perfect husband for you.”

Belinda wanted to refute his claim but something held her back. Was it possible Sam was right? Could she be making a terrible mistake? It was conceivable. Sam was a nice enough person, and according to her late father she’d never shown good judgment where men were concerned.

Lost in thought she smoothed the skirt of her silky teal blue dress, admiring the beautiful fabric. The dress was one of her favorites, even though Sam had admitted he didn’t care for it. He preferred she wear tailored outfits in more subdued colors, especially when she accompanied him to Chamber dinners or other business functions. She didn’t really mind.

When it came to attending church, however, she wanted to feel uplifted, joyful. Bright colors helped her do that. So did singing. When the organ, piano and choir voices filled the sanctuary with heavenly music, she was transported to a time of carefree childhood, when her family had been intact and she hadn’t imagined she’d one day feel so alone. So abandoned. So…

Oh, stop! Belinda ordered in disgust. You’re being ridiculous. You have much more to be thankful for than a lot of people do. You should be ashamed of yourself.

She truly was ashamed. After all, she still had Eloise and a whole church-full of dear friends, not to mention the other people in Serenity who cared about her. It was a wonderful place. Even with its small town politics and petty rivalries it beat living in a big city, where most neighbors didn’t even know each other’s names. Or care to learn them.

Sam’s voice jarred her reverie as he wheeled the Camaro into the church parking lot. “Well, we’re here. What are you thinking about? You looked awfully serious just now.”

“Serenity,” Belinda said, smiling. “The town, not the frame of mind. Sometimes I can hardly believe how perfect this place is.”

“Hold that thought,” he teased. “It’s excellent PR for the Chamber of Commerce.”

“I know.” She looped her purse strap over one arm, cradled her Bible and got out. “Remember that the next time I ask for a raise.”

“I will.” As they started for the large, redbrick church he offered her his arm, waited until she took it, then leaned closer to add, “Of course, if you were my wife, you wouldn’t have to worry about working.”

Belinda decided it was wisest to treat his comment lightly. She batted her lashes, gazed at him melodramatically and said, “Oh, sugar pie, you mean I’d get to stay home with all twelve of our kids?”

Sam’s resulting chuckle sounded more like choking than laughing. “How about we start with one or two?” He raised an eyebrow. “Or were you kidding?”

Stifling a giggle she told him, “I was kidding. I can’t believe you thought I was serious.”

“I never know with you. Your moods can be really hard to read sometimes.”

“Oh?” Belinda was about to ask for clarification when she felt a tingle at the nape of her neck. She shivered. Looked back. A dignified man wearing dark glasses and driving a shiny black Lexus was pulling into the parking lot. She didn’t have to stare to know it was Paul Randall.

Her ire rose. How dare he follow her to church!

Inside the sanctuary, Belinda tried to forget who she’d seen arriving. She and Sam were seated in the third row, as usual. Since she couldn’t see Paul in front of her, she assumed he had to be somewhere behind. Was he far away? Close by? If she peeked over her shoulder, would she spot him? Catch him watching her so she could give him an appropriately disapproving look in return? The thought of meeting his intense gaze sent a frisson of electricity zinging up her spine.

The congregation stood for the first hymn. Sam offered to share his hymnbook, but Belinda didn’t need it. She’d memorized the words to most of the songs as a child because if her father’s church door had been open, she and her mother were expected to be there. Truth to tell, she hadn’t concentrated on her father’s sermons nearly as well as she should have. The beautiful, inspiring music, however, had always captured and held her attention.

“Blessed assurance…” Voice clear and sweet, she sang the first few words, then suddenly quieted. Directly behind her an accomplished baritone was harmonizing with so much feeling and skill it took her breath away. He sounded familiar. Acting on impulse, she glanced over her shoulder, certain she had to be mistaken. She wasn’t. Paul Randall was standing in the next row back, singing his heart out!

“…of glory divine…” Sam elbowed her and thrust the open hymnal at her again. Hands trembling, Belinda grasped one side of it and stared at the printed page. Looking at the words didn’t help a bit. Her mind was whirling so fast she couldn’t focus. All she could do was listen in awe.

It was like a miracle! Paul sounded as if he really meant what the song was saying. Whenever she’d managed to drag him into church as a teen he’d acted so sullen he hadn’t even opened his mouth, let alone shown any musical talent. What a magnificent voice he had! She could listen to singing like that all day and never tire of it.

The hymn ended. Belinda followed Sam’s lead and quietly sat down, but her spirit was still soaring. Paul’s voice had touched every nerve in her body, echoed from the corners of her heart and lifted her soul to a higher plane.

What a shame he isn’t in the choir, she thought absently. Logic immediately contradicted the notion. Bad idea. It would strain her already tenuous emotions if she had to see Paul sitting with the other members of the choir every Sunday. Good thing he didn’t actually live around here! Imagining him as an active member of her church was probably nothing more than emotional regression, she reasoned, wishful thinking left over from her youth.

Taking a shaky breath, Belinda decided that was exactly what was happening. At eighteen, she’d hoped and prayed that Paul would join her father’s church, settle down and become a productive member of the community, someone she could introduce to everyone, including her dad, without feeling she had to make excuses.

Now, all that had changed. She had matured. Her father had died. Whether or not Paul Randall had truly bettered himself was no longer her concern. If he hadn’t returned to Serenity she might never even have thought of him again.

Her conscience immediately disagreed, forming a stern but silent, Ha! Focusing on the stained-glass window behind the preacher, she escaped into silent prayer.

Oh, Father, forgive me. You’ve blessed me so much. Why can’t I be satisfied and thankful and not want things that are bad for me? Sighing, she added, Things like Paul Randall.

As if the timing were preordained, the congregation began to sing a second hymn. There was no way Belinda could fight the emotional impact that Paul’s impressive voice had on her, so she gave up trying. Closing her eyes, she drank in the deep vibrations the way the thirsty Ozark hills soaked up the first spring rains.

When she finally opened her eyes, Sam was staring at her as if she’d just committed an unpardonable sin.

In a way, she agreed with him.

Paul decided to linger in the parking lot outside the church and lay in wait for Belinda and Sam after the service concluded. When he’d chosen a seat behind them he’d convinced himself he was only doing it to force Belinda to introduce him to Sam. That was partially true. He did want to meet the doctor for the first time on a social level so he could size him up better.

What Paul hadn’t anticipated, however, was how being so close to Belinda for a whole hour would affect him. Or how his thoughts would wander and his perception intensify whenever he looked her way.

He noticed she was wearing her hair shorter these days. It lay smoother and curved under gently, just touching her shoulders, with the sides tucked behind her ears. Delicate pearl earrings reflected the shimmering blue of her dress. The color was like sunlight reflecting on rippling water. It reminded him of the summer days they’d walked along the banks of the Strawberry River, holding hands and stealing kisses. At that time, he’d assumed they were simply seeking privacy, which was just fine with him. The more chances he could get to kiss her, to hold her, the better. In retrospect, he supposed Belinda had wanted to go to private places like that because she’d been ashamed to be seen in public with him.

And speaking of public, Paul mused, she and her boyfriend had just come out of the church and were headed his way. He purposely stepped forward to block their path. When Belinda looked at him their eyes met. Held. Paul called upon his battle-seasoned courtroom smile. “Good morning, Ms. Carnes.”

Cheeks reddening, she mumbled, “Good morning.”

He continued to smile amiably. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

Why not? Maybe then Paul would believe she and Sam were a steady couple and leave her alone, like she’d asked. Belinda managed to tear her gaze from Paul’s long enough to look over her shoulder at Sam. “Dr. Sam Barryman, Paul Randall.”

Paul was the first to reach out. “Pleased to meet you.” He wondered for a long moment if the doctor was going to refuse to shake his hand.

“Same here,” Sam finally said, grasping his hand firmly, briefly. “You’re that lawyer, aren’t you? I’d heard you were in town.”

Paul chuckled. “I imagine everybody has. Word travels pretty fast around here. Actually, I came to advise my aunts on the sale of their property.” Striking a deliberately casual pose, he shrugged. “But I guess you know that, too.” When Sam didn’t comment, he went on. “Folks tell me you’ve managed to make a place for yourself in Serenity. That’s not an easy thing to do. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” Sam slid his arm around Belinda’s waist and urged her away. “Well, nice to have met you, Randall.”

“Same here.” A cynical smile lifted one corner of Paul’s mouth. Now that he’d met the doctor, he had the advantage, which was how he liked it. Sam Barryman was a smooth operator. Everything about him looked good—his professional demeanor, his expensive suit, his perfectly styled hair…the home-town girl he was courting. But something about him wasn’t quite right. When Paul had looked into his eyes he’d seen a brief flash of wariness that didn’t belong there, assuming the man was as honest as his reputation implied.

Thoughtful, Paul watched him hurry Belinda away. For a guy who had nothing to hide, good old Sam sure was in a rush to leave. Maybe it was time to press him a little harder and see how he reacted. He started after the retreating couple.

Belinda disengaged herself from Sam’s possessive grasp as they approached his car. “What’s the matter with you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She saw him glance toward the church, so she did the same. Her heart skipped a beat. Paul was rapidly following them! Could Sam be getting jealous, just like Gramma Eloise had predicted? It sure seemed like it. And by the way, where was Eloise? She rarely missed a Sunday service.

Paul slowed as he approached. “Whew. I didn’t realize how muggy it was out here.” He shed his suit jacket and loosened his tie as he smiled at Belinda. “I meant to tell you, that dress looks great on you. It reminds me of summer days like today.”

Since Sam was standing so close, it was easier to relax and casually accept the compliment. “Thanks. It’s a favorite of mine.”

“I can see why.”

Behind her, Sam opened the car door. “Belinda?”

“Sorry,” Paul said quickly. “Don’t let me keep you. We can always arrange a time to get together later and talk.”

Belinda couldn’t believe his arrogance! She’d innocently acknowledged one comment about her dress and he immediately assumed that was all it took to win her over. What conceit! She stiffened defensively. “I told you before, Paul. I don’t think you and I should have anything more to do with each other.”