parked in the circular drive, then met her on the passenger’s side of the truck and helped her out. The house, his house, was a three-story A-frame. It sat on the very spot where he and his father had shared that talk some years back, overlooking the glory beyond.
“It’s more than beautiful,” she marveled. “Look at this view! I can see for miles!”
Tom retrieved the ice cream cake Pam had bought at the grocery store, then watched her wander over to a couple of cows who had made their way up there to graze. The smile she sent back to him took his breath away. He couldn’t help noticing how well she blended into the scene. Yet it was so contrary to who she was. To Tom, she would always be that little, rich girl from the big city. Could she really be happy here?
That thought caused Susan’s hate-filled words to ring in his ears. “What would Pam Harrington ever want with you?” He could just hear her snide remark.
Yet, more than once, he found himself asking the same question. They came from such different worlds. Who knows? Maybe that instigated part of the initial attraction.
But instantly they seemed to click. What ever drew them together quickly deepened into so much more. Now with the town’s economic boom and the new medical center, their worlds had blended.
Studying her, Tom silently asked the question again. Could she really be happy here?
As if in response, Pam walked toward him beaming. He noted the sun making its slow descent behind her. “What’s for dinner?”
Tossing away caution, Tom wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug and twirled her off the ground. Slowing down, their eyes met.
Suddenly, he was so aware of her in his arms. She smelled like a meadow of wild flowers. Her smiling lips were mere inches away. Their magnetic force pulled him closer and closer, until they finally touched.
After a long moment, he took her hand and led her inside the house.
“What a welcome!” Pam kneeled down to accept the dogs’ wet tongues on her face and hands. Then she stood and surveyed the interior.
Tom alternated directing his attention to the main course in the open kitchen and watching her reaction to the home he’d recently completed.
The open floor plan included a living area two steps below the rest of the first floor. Pam walked over to the two sets of French doors that opened onto a large deck. It contained a barbeque, patio furniture and a hot tub. The front room windows comprised the entire wall. Facing west, they provided perfect views of the evening sunset.
As Pam returned to the kitchen area, he could tell by her expression that she was impressed.
“This looks so spectacular. I’ve never imagined anything like it. Did you design it?”
Tom shrugged. “I built it, too. And you thought my talents were limited to milking cows and driving ambulances.”
“I never believed that for a minute,” she countered. “But this is truly amazing.” She paused at the black lacquer dining table.
He selected peach and aqua placemats and napkins to go with his mother’s china and crystal.
“Eddie’s brothers are contractors. They really helped out.”
“You must be very proud,” she said as he tossed the salad. “How long did it take?”
“That depends on how you calculate it. We started about six years ago.”
“When did you finish?”
“About three days ago.”
Truths Unveiled
Truths Unveiled
Chapter Fifteen
The broad grin Tom tossed Pam told her that the house’s completion date was not a coincidence. Before she could think of something to say, a sudden, loud screeching sound pierced the air. In response, the dogs barked wildly, running to the door. At the same time, Eddie came barreling inside, followed by a medium-built, pretty woman with short, caramel-colored hair. That must be Rebecca, his wife, Pam determined.
“What’s all the commotion?” Eddie roared, greeting the excited dogs. He knelt down to pet them and accepted the ball that one of them offered.
Laughing, Pam watched Tom turn off the oven timer and urge the dogs to settle down. After making a quick introduction, Eddie said to Rebecca, “Honey, you should have seen these two, back a dozen or so years ago. They had the hottest thing going on between them and couldn’t do a single thing about it. Tom couldn’t shut up about her. I was so relieved when she finally turned eighteen. Otherwise, I thought for sure he would end up in jail!”
Tom sent a wink in Pam’s direction and shoved a breadbasket in Eddie’s