The Sooner the Better by Debbie Macomber

Author:Debbie Macomber
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 1998-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

Jack was in hell. At least, he assumed that was where he was. He felt as if he were on fire, then realized the pain was more localized. His shoulder seemed to be responsible for the greatest part of his discomfort.

His mouth was parched, and all he could think about was a drink of cool, refreshing water. No, he had to be in hell—otherwise he wouldn’t be this thirsty.

As if he’d spoken the request aloud, he felt something cool against his lips. But only a drop. God must have intended to torture him by granting a hint of relief. Just enough to remind him of the intensity of his thirst…

“Drink,” a feminine voice whispered.

Marcie? Here? Now? That was all he needed to convince him he was indeed being punished. Everything he wanted was offered, then withheld. He’d ventured into the lake of fire. His heart ached at the sound of her voice, so soft and loving.

He felt his head being gently lifted. A glass of water was pressed to his lips. As soon as he recognized what it was, he drank greedily, gratefully. Heaven, he decided. He’d been routed toward a more angelic resting place—although he couldn’t imagine what he’d done to warrant such exalted treatment. But, hey, who was he to question an executive decision, especially one that leaned in his favor?

Content now, Jack fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.

In his dream he was visiting a Mexican village. He glanced around at the sun-baked adobe houses, the small church, the cantina. So far, so good.

Then Marcie appeared. Sweet Marcie, the plumber’s wife. Marcie and her children. Marcie and Clifford, her husband.

Jack watched her and admired what a terrific mother she was to her twins. Every once in a while, she looked in his direction and smiled. She couldn’t see him, though; he knew that. Because Jack stood apart, gazing in. He felt a deep sadness. The kind of sadness that left him in no doubt of his own failings and imperfections.

Watching the dream-Marcie with her family, observing their love and happiness, was like seeing how his own life might have gone had he been a different sort of person. Had he made other choices through the years.

Caught up in his regrets, Jack didn’t realize another man had joined the small party. He blinked, certain there must be some mistake. The man was Carlos. Jack called out a taunting remark, but the dream-Carlos couldn’t hear him.

Then Carlos grabbed Marcie by the shoulder and shoved her against the wall. Jack bolted upright. “What do you think you’re doing?” he shouted.

Knowing it wouldn’t do any good to yell since no one seemed able to hear him, Jack waited for Clifford to step in. But Clifford was nowhere to be seen. The children had disappeared, too.

Turning his attention back to Marcie, he watched helplessly as Carlos shoved her again. Sure as anything, Carlos was going to rape her. Jack had to stop him. There wasn’t time to let her find her own way out of the scrape.

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