Read Online A Question of Honor by Mary Anne Wilson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Anne Wilson
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sadness like a boulder on her chest. “Surely it would be okay for you to go,” she finally said. “You’re young, and Henry wouldn’t want you to be sad, would he? He loved you, and when you love someone, you want them to be happy, no matter what.”
Mallory’s eyes welled up. “Henry loved me, and I love him.” Faith didn’t miss the present tense when Mallory talked about her love for her dead husband. “But I can’t do it alone, and there’s no one to ask.” She flushed slightly. The color in her face deepened and she stood. “I know, I’m babbling. I’m so sorry.”
Faith’s resolution to keep her distance was crumbling. Bad enough Mallory was widowed, but to not even go to a Christmas party? “You really can’t go alone?”
Mallory shook her head. “It’s different around here. Everyone grew up together, and most are couples. It’s a third-wheel kind of thing, and it makes people uncomfortable. And they all knew Henry. I’m just being silly,” she said.
“Where is this place?”
“It’s at the Carson ranch, a massive spread just outside of town. The party’s in the barn, as I said, and it’s like fantasyland come true. Henry used to say it was like visiting the Land of Oz, it was so wonderful. There’s a ton of food, and the music is by local bands. The family does this every year for the town—they’re such great people.” There was a shadow of a smile back on her lips as she got lost in the description. “The kids get gifts and there’s entertainment for them, and Santa, of course.”
Faith didn’t know where it came from, but without giving herself time to think about it too much, she asked, “How long would you stay if you went to the party?”
Mallory seemed confused by the question. “Well, as long as I wanted to, I guess. I mean, people come and go all evening.”
“When is it?”
“Tomorrow evening at six.”
Faith wasn’t a Good Samaritan, not a rescuer of any sort short of her finding a lost kitten when she was six years old. Her dad had let her keep it, and it had run away a week later. But Mallory seemed more lost than any kitten. “Mallory?” she said, shocked at what she was going to do. “What if I went with you?”
Mallory stared at her. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, my car’s still in the garage, but if we can go, have a look around, then leave, it would be okay.”
“Oh, yes, yes. I can. We can,” she said breathlessly.
Faith stood, wondering what had possessed her to do this. But one look into Mallory’s eyes, where hope was starting to grow, told her all she had to know. In and out. Lose herself in the crowd, then leave as soon as she could. “Okay, we have a date.” Then she qualified it. “As long as my car’s still dead and Dent doesn’t have it fixed by then.”
The hug was unexpected, but genuine. Mallory looked ecstatic when she drew back. “Thank you so much.” She turned and picked up the items Faith had bought at the store. “I can’t believe this,” she said on a sigh as she headed upstairs, leading the way to Faith’s room. “I mean, this is wonderful. You’re wonderful. The party will be wonderful. It’s not really fancy at all. Nice jeans and a blouse, or a dress, but nothing too much. If you don’t have anything to wear, I’ll go shopping with you, if you like?”
Enough was enough. “I’ve got something to wear, if we go,” she told her. “Just let me know what time.”
“You bet,” Mallory said. “It‘s going to be wonderful.” Then she was gone.
“If my car’s not ready!” But Mallory never heard those words.
Faith went to the desk and flopped into the chair facing the computer. She had little hope of anything wonderful materializing at a party in a barn surrounded by strangers, but she’d make good on her promise. Still, she chastised herself as she opened her coffee. It was tepid now and not worth drinking. And she was going to a party.
* * *
A DAM WAS RIGHT in the middle of the
Mallory’s eyes welled up. “Henry loved me, and I love him.” Faith didn’t miss the present tense when Mallory talked about her love for her dead husband. “But I can’t do it alone, and there’s no one to ask.” She flushed slightly. The color in her face deepened and she stood. “I know, I’m babbling. I’m so sorry.”
Faith’s resolution to keep her distance was crumbling. Bad enough Mallory was widowed, but to not even go to a Christmas party? “You really can’t go alone?”
Mallory shook her head. “It’s different around here. Everyone grew up together, and most are couples. It’s a third-wheel kind of thing, and it makes people uncomfortable. And they all knew Henry. I’m just being silly,” she said.
“Where is this place?”
“It’s at the Carson ranch, a massive spread just outside of town. The party’s in the barn, as I said, and it’s like fantasyland come true. Henry used to say it was like visiting the Land of Oz, it was so wonderful. There’s a ton of food, and the music is by local bands. The family does this every year for the town—they’re such great people.” There was a shadow of a smile back on her lips as she got lost in the description. “The kids get gifts and there’s entertainment for them, and Santa, of course.”
Faith didn’t know where it came from, but without giving herself time to think about it too much, she asked, “How long would you stay if you went to the party?”
Mallory seemed confused by the question. “Well, as long as I wanted to, I guess. I mean, people come and go all evening.”
“When is it?”
“Tomorrow evening at six.”
Faith wasn’t a Good Samaritan, not a rescuer of any sort short of her finding a lost kitten when she was six years old. Her dad had let her keep it, and it had run away a week later. But Mallory seemed more lost than any kitten. “Mallory?” she said, shocked at what she was going to do. “What if I went with you?”
Mallory stared at her. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, my car’s still in the garage, but if we can go, have a look around, then leave, it would be okay.”
“Oh, yes, yes. I can. We can,” she said breathlessly.
Faith stood, wondering what had possessed her to do this. But one look into Mallory’s eyes, where hope was starting to grow, told her all she had to know. In and out. Lose herself in the crowd, then leave as soon as she could. “Okay, we have a date.” Then she qualified it. “As long as my car’s still dead and Dent doesn’t have it fixed by then.”
The hug was unexpected, but genuine. Mallory looked ecstatic when she drew back. “Thank you so much.” She turned and picked up the items Faith had bought at the store. “I can’t believe this,” she said on a sigh as she headed upstairs, leading the way to Faith’s room. “I mean, this is wonderful. You’re wonderful. The party will be wonderful. It’s not really fancy at all. Nice jeans and a blouse, or a dress, but nothing too much. If you don’t have anything to wear, I’ll go shopping with you, if you like?”
Enough was enough. “I’ve got something to wear, if we go,” she told her. “Just let me know what time.”
“You bet,” Mallory said. “It‘s going to be wonderful.” Then she was gone.
“If my car’s not ready!” But Mallory never heard those words.
Faith went to the desk and flopped into the chair facing the computer. She had little hope of anything wonderful materializing at a party in a barn surrounded by strangers, but she’d make good on her promise. Still, she chastised herself as she opened her coffee. It was tepid now and not worth drinking. And she was going to a party.
* * *
A DAM WAS RIGHT in the middle of the
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