Two Rings, One Heart. Martha Mason

late.”

      “Only because you won’t give him a chance.”

      Megan’s mouth gaped opened. It took her a few seconds to pull herself together. “I didn’t leave. He did,” she said quietly.

      The next morning Megan was sipping a cup of coffee, when Zack came downstairs.

      “I’m sorry about last night,” Zack admitted stiffly.

      “I’m glad your dad is back for you. Can’t you accept that and be happy?”

      “I still think you two should at least try to be friends. If for no other reason than for Jess and me. We need parents who aren’t at each other’s throats,” he said dryly.

      “I’ll think about what you said,” Megan conceded.

      “Dad wants us to go out with him for dinner Wednesday night.”

      Megan nodded that she heard him, but said nothing.

      Wednesday night Megan fixed a snack, turned on the radio to her favorite oldies station, and sat at the kitchen table to do some book work. Right at seven, the children came in.

      “Mom, do you mind if Dad and I watch the game here?” Zack asked, his displeasure with her still showing. “If you do, we can go to his place.”

      “Here is fine,” Megan answered quickly, knowing Zack was testing her. The last thing she wanted was her son hanging out at Mitchell’s place.

      Mitchell had refused to come in until Zack got permission. As they came through the kitchen, Mitchell spoke, Megan nodded.

      Later, Megan heard Jess in the family room with them. She shook her head in amazement. Jess put up such a front that she hated Mitchell.

      When the game was over, Zack made his exit before Mitchell reached the kitchen. “’Night, Dad,” he said, and dashed up the stairs.

      “We’ll do something this weekend,” Mitchell called after him.

      Megan grumbled and started erasing frantically.

      “Problems?” Mitchell asked.

      Megan dropped the pencil and began to rub her temples. “I’ve been at it too long. All the numbers keep coming up wrong,” she confessed.

      He peeped over her shoulder. “Maybe I could help?”

      Megan knew he was good in math, and she was’ tired. She slid the adding machine over to the next chair.

      Mitch ran up the figures twice. Then he rechecked his numbers against hers. “You transposed some numbers,” he said, showing her.

      Megan leaned back in the chair. “Numbers never were my thing.”

      “I remember.”

      She got up. “Want some coffee?”

      “Would you mind?” he asked.

      “No. I wanted to ask how things were going.” She poured him a cup and added one sugar. When she realized what she had done, she glanced at him, hoping he hadn’t noticed. He was grinning at her. She dumped in another sugar. “So, how are things?” she asked casually, handing him the cup.

      “I’m not sure,” he admitted.

      Megan propped her head on her hands. “You’re doing okay.”

      “How do you know?” he asked, frowning.

      She smiled. “Because Jess doesn’t like to watch sports on TV.”

      Mitchell looked surprised. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.”

      Their eyes caught in uncertainty. Megan felt her expression turn from smiling and happy to clouded and sad. Then her eyes became watery and she dropped her head between her arms for a moment.

      “Thanks for the help,” she said, lifting her head, her composure regained.

      Mitchell got to his feet. “I better get going. Thanks for the coffee.” Neither had touched it.

      Walking back to his car, Mitchell wondered what was going through Megan’s mind. So many times she had been willing to help him. And instead of accepting, what had he done? Thrown all of her caring and love back in her face by leaving her. He had been such a fool. He had made a lot of mistakes. He couldn’t just forget them. He had to try to right them. And it might take him a long time. He needed to find a place where they could begin again.

      As the longer days of spring arrived, Megan’s busy season began, and working late became the norm.

      The kids barely noticed. Zack gave up time with his friends to be with his father. Jess was enjoying all the benefits, but still being a brat.

      Ruth saw her son on a regular basis. Most of the time he came over to cut the grass or take care of some other job that needed doing. She figured that he was trying to make up for the past.

      When Megan’s sister, Cass, heard Mitchell was back, she wasted no time before calling. Cass never had anything good to say about Mitchell. She felt her sister had married the wrong man. She always held up her extravagant life to Megan as an example to strive for. As soon as Megan answered the phone, Cass started right in.

      “Megan, I heard Mitchell’s back in town. I certainly hope you’re keeping Jessica and Zachary away from him!”

      “Hi, Cass. How are you?” Megan asked, ignoring her sister’s comment.

      “Why didn’t you tell me? You’re letting him see them, aren’t you!” she accused. “You know you really have no sense at all when it comes to that man. He has no right to see them. He deserted you! Tell him he can do you a favor and get lost for the rest of your life. Then maybe you can start living again!”

      “Cass, Mitchell is and always will be the children’s father. That’s all there is to it.”

      “From my standpoint, he has no rights at all. He gave them up when he walked out on you.” Then a new thought came to Cass. “You’ll be the one he wants to see next. Then what?” She waited only a second before she started in again. “I’ll tell you what will happen. He’ll move in with you. Then he’ll take over your business and ruin that for you. Then you and the children can be penniless again when he takes off to who-knows-where. Megan, wake up! The man’s no good. You were just too young and naive to see it before. Surely you’ve smartened up a little over the years.”

      “I’ve got to go, Cass. Talk to you soon,” Megan said, and hung up.

      But Cass just couldn’t leave it alone. She called their parents and got them all stirred up. Before the night was over, they called Megan.

      “Megan, what on earth is going on there? Cass is frantic. She says Mitch is back and up to his old tricks again!” her father bellowed as soon as she answered the phone.

      “Dad, he moved back to Bedford. I had nothing to do with it.”

      “I can’t believe you’re letting him see the children. What right does he have? He could get Zack involved in the wrong things. And how is poor Jess? I’m sure she’s horrified by all this. How could you, Megan?” he raged.

      Then her mother got on the phone. “Megan, why are you letting him see the children?” she asked a little more gently.

      “Mom, Zack is sixteen and he wants to see his father. If I forbid him, I’ll be forcing him to go behind my back. He loves his father. Jess is another matter. I’m doing the best I know, and that’s all I can do.”

      “Megan, it’s your job to protect them. They’re only children. Zack is still impressionable. Mitchell could sway him the wrong way. And it’s not fair to force Jess to get to know a man who never cared for her.”

      “Mom, I know this is a very emotional issue for both of you, it is for me too. But I have to do what I think is best.”

      “Well,