Two Rings, One Heart. Martha Mason

there to help after Mitchell left, except Ruth and Doc. Cass had been too busy with her social life. Her parents had been in the process of retiring and moving to Florida. Her friends had had their own problems.

      It was the same all over again. Everyone had something to say and they expected Megan to take their advice. She was weary from defending herself. Zack was encouraging her to spend time with Mitchell and give him a chance to prove himself.

      Jess was in a class all by herself. She managed to find ways to make her mother feel guilty about making her see her father. That was Jess.

      One evening, Megan came dragging home from work. Mitchell was planning to take the kids out to dinner. She figured she would stay in her room until they left. She was halfway up the stairs when someone knocked on the front door. It was too early for Mitchell, and besides, he had finally learned to use the kitchen door. Who on earth could it be? She retraced her steps and opened the door. Mitchell was standing there, looking nervous.

      “The kids aren’t quite ready yet,” she said, motioning for him to come in.

      “Good. I wanted to talk to you first,” he said, looking anywhere but at her.

      “Is anything wrong?” she asked concerned.

      “No. I just wanted to ask you something without them around,” he said, shuffling from one foot to the other.

      Before he could get to the point, the kids came rushing down the stairs. Zack came to a halt when he saw a wrapped box in his father’s hand.

      “Would both of you wait for me in the other room?” Mitchell requested.

      “Sure,” Zack answered, hauling Jess along with him.

      “Why? What’s going on?” Jess’s radar was up, then she saw the box. She let Zack lead her to just inside the kitchen. Then she abruptly stopped, and shushed her brother so she could listen.

      Megan stood before Mitchell with her shoulders slumped and her head down, waiting for bad news. She hadn’t even noticed the box. He handed it to her. “For me?” she asked stunned and gingerly took it.

      He smiled weakly. “It’s candy. I figure you have enough flowers.”

      “Why are you giving me a gift?” she asked, suddenly feeling like crying.

      “Meg…will you go out with me?” he pleaded.

      Her head snapped up. “Wh-what?”

      “I’m asking you to go out with me—on a date,” he admitted tensely.

      Her eyes searched his. Was this some sort of joke? The look on his face told her it wasn’t. She was about to refuse, when Jess came bolting into the foyer.

      “A date!” she screeched, fighting Zack off as she made her way to her mother. “Mom, you can’t go on a date!” she ordered, pulling her mother to face her. “You’re too old. I won’t let you go out with him!” she shrieked.

      That did it. Megan had absolutely had enough of everyone telling her what to do. She glared at Jessica, who had just reminded her that she was almost as old as she felt. She turned back to Mitchell. “Exactly what did you have in mind?” she snapped.

      “Dinner and a movie,” he said quickly, knowing she was about to explode. “A nice restaurant with real menus and tablecloths. No fast food. Then a buy-a-ticket, fresh-popcorn-type movie.”

      “When?”

      “Saturday night?” he sputtered.

      “Fine,” Megan said, taking the box of candy and marching up the stairs without another word. Hot with anger she reached her room and flung the box of candy on the bed. She’d really sunk to a new low when a ten-year-old thought she could tell her what she could and couldn’t do. She was tired of everyone telling her how to run her life. She stomped around her room several times muttering to herself. “I don’t need Jess or Zack or anyone else telling me what to do.” It was then she realized that she had just told Mitchell she would go out with him! How could she be so stupid?

      She spun around and dashed out of her room and back down the stairs. She ripped opened the front door, just in time to see the taillights disappear down the road.

      Wearily she climbed the stairs. Maybe if she took a hot bath, it would stop her head from throbbing.

      She stayed in the tub until she was wrinkled like a prune, but it didn’t help much. Wrapped in her robe, she flopped across the bed, noticing a card attached to the box. She slowly opened it. Meg, please give me a chance. Mitch.

      Exasperated, she tore open the candy and stuffed a piece in her mouth. How did he manage to ask her out when her guard was down? If Jess hadn’t come rushing in giving her orders, she would have said no!

      She got up, popping another piece of candy in her mouth. She went over to the dresser and opened the drawer that held her special treasures. She dug around until she found a box with pictures, then began sifting through them.

      Megan found the picture of her first date with Mitchell. They had been on their way to a school dance. She touched his face in the picture.

      She sat on the bed, remembering that night. Mitch had been so sweet. He had brought her a single, red rose. When he looked in her eyes, she had gone weak in the knees. When they slow danced, he sang to her.

      After the dance, he drove her straight home. At the door, he asked if he could kiss her good-night. She sighed as she remembered. He had gently taken her face in his hands and, looking in her eyes, he had kissed her ever so softly.