Newlywed Games Read Free Page A

Meghann. “I’m prepared to be pampered,” she finished with a regal air of sophistication.
    Meghann took the bag and slung it over her shoulder, wrapping her other arm around her mother’s slender shoulder. She could feel more bone than washealthy, but it was good to see her mother looking enthusiastic. If only it were for something real!
    She looked down at her mother and said lightly, “To baggage claim?”
    The older woman nodded, then looked forward and pointed. “To baggage claim.” The two marched arm in arm through the terminal, winding in and out of the throngs and down the escalator. They stopped by carousel 4, where her mother’s bags were scheduled to appear, and stood near the motionless conveyor belt.
    Content didn’t quite describe her mother’s attitude, happy maybe. She looked like the cat that got the canary. “What’s got you smiling so?”
    “I thought maybe Bruce was parking the car and would meet us down here. Where
is
that husband of yours? Didn’t he come with you? Or is he working late and will meet us at home?”
    She couldn’t avoid a direct question. “Yes, well, about Bruce. He’s on a business trip.” And that was actually the truth.
    “Ooooh. I was looking forward to meeting him.” The disappointment in her mother’s voice tore at her heart. “I guess it will have to wait. When will he return?”
    “I’m not exactly sure, but I wouldn’t expect to see him while you’re here.” There. She hadn’t lied…not really, and she’d still avoided the truth. Avoiding the truth was not the same as lying, was it?
    “Mercy! I’m going to be here a whole month. He certainly won’t be gone the entire time?”
    “As assistant manager, he doesn’t have a whole lot of say in the matter. Besides, it wouldn’t be good for hiscareer for him to say no.” Meghann couldn’t look her mother in the eye while she talked about Bruce, so she studied a kidney-shaped stain on the gray carpet. She glanced up when her mother spoke again.
    “But does he really have to be gone the whole time I’m here? A whole month? Can’t he sneak home for a few days? I’m beginning to think I’ll never meet him!”
    That’s the plan, Mom.
“I’ll ask again. Maybe it can be arranged.”
    Her mother gave her an understanding smile. “Well at least you can tell me all about him.”
    Meghann let out a deep breath. “He’s wonderful, Mom.” More truth. Bruce’s self-assured demeanor gave him the ability to calm most everyone’s anxieties; nothing ever seemed to rattle him. He took even the most frustrating circumstances in stride, handling problems both big and small with grace and seeming ease. And he treated everyone, from the hotel’s manager to the maids, with the same degree of respect and consideration.
    He wouldn’t ever have gotten himself into a situation like this. He certainly wouldn’t have lied to his own mother.…
    A verse from Proverbs she had once memorized, jumped to the forefront of her mind. “The Lord detests lying lips but delights in men who are truthful.”
    The words pierced her heart, and she knew the Lord couldn’t be too delighted with her at the moment. She turned to her mother, her mouth open, ready to confess. Then she looked into her worried, pale face, the frail hands and arms, and knew she couldn’t. “Bruce would be here if he could, Mom. He tried everything toget out of going.” She knew it wasn’t going to be easy to evade her mother’s persistent questioning but hadn’t expected it to start before they even left the airport.
    “I know. I just don’t understand why they couldn’t send someone else.” The disappointment was evident in her voice. “Isn’t it the manager who’s supposed to take all the trips?”
    “Mr. Phenton does go on some trips, but he doesn’t like to travel and says it is good for Bruce to learn all he can about the hotel business.”
    Standing back from the crowd huddled around the motionless machine, they waited in