Free You're My Baby by Laura Abbot Page A

which reflected the same uncertainty he was feeling.
    Neither of them moved. Finally she drew a deep breath and jabbed him on the shoulder. “Show time!”
    â€œIs this where I say, ‘Break a leg’?”
    â€œThis is where,” she answered just before he left the car to come around and escort her up the walkway.
    After greeting them, Jim ushered them into the inviting family room, displaying many of the primitive American pieces he and Connie collected. When Jim had first filled the interim headmaster position, before accepting the job permanently, the faculty had been stunned to find out he and Connie had known each other in their distant past. It hadn’t taken long for them to renew their friendship, culminating in a marriage much approved by Connie’s mother, daughter and the entire Keystone community.
    Jim settled in a wing chair, and Grant and Pam sat together on the sofa. “I gather there’s some urgency to the matter you want to discuss,” Jim began.
    Grant found his voice—and Pam’s hand. “There is.”
    Pam looked around. “Connie needs to hear this, too.”
    â€œI’ll get her.” Jim stepped down the hall and summoned Connie, who took a seat in the antique rocker by the hearth.
    â€œPam, Grant? You’re sure this isn’t confidential?” she asked uncertainly.
    â€œWe’re sure. In fact, we imagine everyone at school will know in a matter of days,” Pam said.
    â€œWell, don’t keep us in suspense.” Connie eyed Pam curiously, as if unsure whether concern or elation was the expected response.
    Grant seized the initiative. “Although this may come as a shock, yesterday, happily, Pam and I were married.”
    Connie’s eyes widened in bafflement. “Wait. I’m having trouble taking this in.”
    â€œIt’s true.” Pam cast Grant an adoring look—a convincing, adoring look.
    Jim glanced from one to the other. “Married?”
    Connie studied Pam as if searching for a key to the mystery, before facing her husband. “That’s what they said.”
    â€œIt’s understandable,” Grant managed, “that our news is a surprise.”
    â€œYou can say that again, but surprise or not,” Connie said over her shoulder as she moved toward the kitchen, “this definitely calls for champagne. And then—” she paused for emphasis “—we want to hear the whole story.”
    She returned bearing a tray of filled champagne flutes, which she distributed, then indicated they should all stand up. With a bemused smile, she raised her glass.“To our friends Pam and Grant. May their love grow with each day they spend together and may their home be filled with joy and peace.”
    â€œHear, hear,” Jim said, as the four touched their glasses and drank.
    Grant noticed that Pam took only a token sip.
    â€œOkay, then,” Connie said, settling back into the rocker. “Start at the beginning. Tell us everything.”
    Pam leaned forward. “First let me apologize, Connie, for not telling you sooner. But Grant and I only decided last week to go ahead and get married before school started.”
    â€œBut how did you get together? Why didn’t I know about it?”
    Facing her friend, Pam undertook the carefully rehearsed explanation. “We were both at the university this summer. And, somehow, being away from our daily lives—” she put her arm around Grant’s shoulder in a loving caress “—we suddenly saw each other in a new light. Isn’t that right, honey?”
    Lord, she was feeding him lines like a pro. “I’ll say. For whatever reasons, we just…connected.”
    â€œThen,” Pam continued, “you were on your trip so I couldn’t tell you. Anyway, we decided we’d test the relationship back here in Fort Worth before we made any decisions.”
    â€œBut when we got back home,