DESTINY
Chapter 10
Dara settled into her new routine as Lucas' wife with less fuss and in shorter time than she had anticipated. She went back to work two weeks after their marriage, having settled everything with her house and all the unpacking. She resumed her counseling eliciting the comment from Matt, that if anything, he felt she were now more in tuned with her patient's losses and feelings more now having had to deal with the grief process herself.
Caleb began his sessions again, but their time together seemed to be more of a bonding time than that of counseling. Caleb also began spending more and more time at the house with Dara and Lucas, which to Lucas' surprise, met with the approval of Loris and Matt Crower. Although he attributed it to Dara's presence, he was still grateful for the time he got with both his wife and son.
Dara seemed to be blossoming through her marriage; she went home every evening to tend to the needs of Lucas and most of the time, Caleb as well. Then, she would lie in Lucas' arms every night and receive the proof of his love for her. He fulfilled the promise he had made on their wedding night, teaching her the joys of making love; yet, he no more than she, ever seemed to tire of the act. Instead, he seemed to find some new mystery to her.
Selena Coombs ventured into Dara's office about two months into Dara's marriage. Looking up from some paper work she was going over, she was surprised to see Selena standing in her open doorway. Not feeling particularly in the mood for a catfight, Dara asked with an acidic tone to her voice, "Something I can help you with, Ms. Coombs?" Selena, taking that as her invitation to enter, sauntered in and placed herself in a chair in front of Dara's desk.
Dara raised and eyebrow at the woman's audacity as she invited, sarcastically, "Please, feel free to sit down."
Selena glanced around the woman's office, she hated to admit it but Dara certainly had taste. Noticing a photo on the corner of Dara's desk, she picked it up and studied it, a look of disdain crossing her face. It was a picture of Dara and Lucas, taken when they were married. Selena felt a pang of jealousy as she noticed that in the photo, Lucas had his arms wrapped possessively around his wife's waist, as well as the smiles that both were wearing, obviously enraptured with each other. Placing the photo back in its place, Selena stated caustically, "I suppose its true what they say, every woman looks beautiful on her wedding day."
Dara, not backing down from the challenge, replied, "Yes, they do. Especially if they truly love the man they're marrying as much as the man loves them."
Selena glared daggers at her statement, knowing the truth of it.
Dara, tiring of the cat and mouse games, finally came to the point. "Ms. Coombs, what is it you want to discuss? Surely not my wedding or marriage, so appease my curiosity and tell me what it is."
Selena blinked in shock at the straightforward way the woman approached her, she was used to playing tit for tat, but seeing that this woman didn't play those sorts of games she decided to come to the point of her visit. "Matt Crower told me that you're trying to organize a counseling support program for the children in Trinity, are you?"
Dara considered Selena's inquiry, she had asked Matt to help her get people involved, the more support she had the better her chances, but she didn't think this woman was the civic duty type. Deciding to be honest, she replied, "Yes, I am. I believe in this program and I feel that if the kids around here have a place where they can feel comfortable and not ashamed to ask for help or advice, that it would be a great benefit. I have to wonder though why you're asking, you don't strike me as the civic-minded type, Ms. Coombs. Not to mention, I know I'm not your favorite person in the world."
The look of disdain on Selena's face was replaced with one of honesty and sincerity. "Look, I know I gave you and Lucas a hard time over your marriage, but I do care about my kids. That's the one untarnished thing I have in my life. I might resent you're being Mrs. Lucas Buck, but I admire your gift with the kids. Anything that will help the kids around here I'm all for it, and I promise I'll do anything I can to encourage it. And as far as your marriage goes, I won't be interfering. Lucas has made his preference quite clear, so there isn't any point in the games."
Dara searched her face for her sincerity, once she found it in her eyes she smiled as she nodded her consent, "All right, and by the way, my name is Dara. I could use the help of a teacher; you can help me get through to the school board. I've been trying, but they keep telling me there aren't any funds to help start the program."
Selena mulled over her statement as she considered Matt's description of the woman in front of her now, he had been right, there was just something about her that made you instinctively like her, no wonder Lucas had fallen in love with her. "All right, Dara. And I'm Selena. The school board is right, there aren't any funds. What you need to do is get in touch with the mayor and see about getting some funds from their budget, under child welfare."
Dara shrugged her acceptance of the suggestion as she replied, "I'm in the process of that now."
Looking at her watch, Selena got up and smiled, extending her hand. "I'm glad we had this talk, and I'll try to work on the other teachers. If you think of anything else please let me know."
Dara returned the smile as she took the hand Selena offered. "Thank you, Selena."
At that moment Lucas entered Dara's office. Selena walked past him with a curt, "Hello, Sheriff."
After she had left Lucas pushed the door to, "What was she doing here?"
Dara held up her hand in placation, "Calm down, we were discussing the new program I was telling you about for the kids. She's working on the educational end of it. Don't worry, we discussed our little conflict, she admits that she knows she has no chance at you." Dara stood up to wrap her arms around him, "At least not since we got married."
Lucas, smiling at her playful mood, bent he head to receive a kiss. "I thought I'd come by and offer to take my wife out for dinner tonight, how about it?"
Dara agreed to his suggestion, "Just as soon as I make this call, OK?"
Sitting on the edge of her desk, Lucas watched as she dialed a familiar number. "Darlin, why are you calling the mayor?"
Dara looked at him in surprise, assuming that he would have already surmised the need to involve the mayor in her program. "I have to try and get an appointment to see him about financial help for this program."
With that she focused her attention on the party on the other end of the line. "Hello, yes, I was calling to speak with Mayor Johnston. Yes, I'm aware he is a busy man, but I've been attempting to speak with him for the last six months. No, that is the problem, he hasn't returned any of my calls. Yes, I'm quite sure, it's regarding the children's crisis program. My name? I've told you my name so many times you should know it better than I do by now. What? Yes, I'll hold."
Lucas looked at her in puzzlement, he knew the mayor rather well and he had a hard time contemplating him giving her a hard time, unless he wasn't aware that she was Lucas' wife. "When was the last time you called?"
Dara shrugged in indecision, "I don't know, last week I guess, why?"
Lucas considered, "What name are you giving them?"
Dara looked at him strangely, "Why mine of course, silly. Who else's name would I give them?"
Lucas shook his head, "No, I mean are you giving them Chambers or Buck?"
Dara considered his inquiry, "Well, I've been giving them Chambers, as long as its taken me to get this far, I thought a change in the venue might clog the works."
Lucas could understand her point, but he also knew she would get much further with her new name. "Give them Buck when she gets back on the line. Trust me."
Dara was about to respond when the other party returned. "Yes, I'm still here holding. My name? Dara Chambers." Casting a glance at Lucas, who was nodding for her to continue, she stated, "Buck. Yes, as a matter of fact I do know him. Yes, I suppose you could say we're related I'm his wife. He is, yes, I'll hold."
Dara looked up with shock in her eyes, "I don't believe this, she's putting me through to the mayor." Dara heard the voice that belonged to the person she had been trying to speak with for months on the other end. "Yes, thank you for your time your honor. Yes, I have been attempting to contact you for a while. No, I understand how busy you are. I was hoping to discuss the new program we're trying to initiate for the children in Trinity. Well, I'm not sure, I'll have to ask my husband about that."
Lucas motioned for her to hand him the phone, "Hi, Jake, yeah. I don't see why not, Saturday at eight. I'm sure we can make it. Say hello to Jane for me. All right, bye." Replacing the phone on the hook he smiled as he informed her, "We're having dinner with the Mayor and his wife Saturday, think we can make it?"
Dara jumped from her chair to throw her arms around him. "If it will help to promote this project, I'll definitely make it. Thank you."
Kissing her lightly, he replied, "Your more than welcome, now how about some supper? I'm starving."
The dinner with the Mayor and his wife went better than Dara had expected, thanks largely to Lucas' ease with the man. He had guffawed at the idea of a crisis network for kids, but when Lucas pointed out how much such a program would benefit the children of Trinity, the mayor eagerly promised to help in acquiring the funds needed, in cooperation with the hospital's backing. The hospital had eagerly seized on Dara's idea and backed it fully, deciding to sponsor some sort of charity event to raise the remaining funds necessary, putting the preparations and details into Dara's and whoever else's hands she deemed fit to help. As usual, Dara threw herself wholly into the project; neither she nor Lucas had any way of knowing that the center of their lives was about to be seriously altered.
Chapter 10
Dara settled into her new routine as Lucas' wife with less fuss and in shorter time than she had anticipated. She went back to work two weeks after their marriage, having settled everything with her house and all the unpacking. She resumed her counseling eliciting the comment from Matt, that if anything, he felt she were now more in tuned with her patient's losses and feelings more now having had to deal with the grief process herself.
Caleb began his sessions again, but their time together seemed to be more of a bonding time than that of counseling. Caleb also began spending more and more time at the house with Dara and Lucas, which to Lucas' surprise, met with the approval of Loris and Matt Crower. Although he attributed it to Dara's presence, he was still grateful for the time he got with both his wife and son.
Dara seemed to be blossoming through her marriage; she went home every evening to tend to the needs of Lucas and most of the time, Caleb as well. Then, she would lie in Lucas' arms every night and receive the proof of his love for her. He fulfilled the promise he had made on their wedding night, teaching her the joys of making love; yet, he no more than she, ever seemed to tire of the act. Instead, he seemed to find some new mystery to her.
Selena Coombs ventured into Dara's office about two months into Dara's marriage. Looking up from some paper work she was going over, she was surprised to see Selena standing in her open doorway. Not feeling particularly in the mood for a catfight, Dara asked with an acidic tone to her voice, "Something I can help you with, Ms. Coombs?" Selena, taking that as her invitation to enter, sauntered in and placed herself in a chair in front of Dara's desk.
Dara raised and eyebrow at the woman's audacity as she invited, sarcastically, "Please, feel free to sit down."
Selena glanced around the woman's office, she hated to admit it but Dara certainly had taste. Noticing a photo on the corner of Dara's desk, she picked it up and studied it, a look of disdain crossing her face. It was a picture of Dara and Lucas, taken when they were married. Selena felt a pang of jealousy as she noticed that in the photo, Lucas had his arms wrapped possessively around his wife's waist, as well as the smiles that both were wearing, obviously enraptured with each other. Placing the photo back in its place, Selena stated caustically, "I suppose its true what they say, every woman looks beautiful on her wedding day."
Dara, not backing down from the challenge, replied, "Yes, they do. Especially if they truly love the man they're marrying as much as the man loves them."
Selena glared daggers at her statement, knowing the truth of it.
Dara, tiring of the cat and mouse games, finally came to the point. "Ms. Coombs, what is it you want to discuss? Surely not my wedding or marriage, so appease my curiosity and tell me what it is."
Selena blinked in shock at the straightforward way the woman approached her, she was used to playing tit for tat, but seeing that this woman didn't play those sorts of games she decided to come to the point of her visit. "Matt Crower told me that you're trying to organize a counseling support program for the children in Trinity, are you?"
Dara considered Selena's inquiry, she had asked Matt to help her get people involved, the more support she had the better her chances, but she didn't think this woman was the civic duty type. Deciding to be honest, she replied, "Yes, I am. I believe in this program and I feel that if the kids around here have a place where they can feel comfortable and not ashamed to ask for help or advice, that it would be a great benefit. I have to wonder though why you're asking, you don't strike me as the civic-minded type, Ms. Coombs. Not to mention, I know I'm not your favorite person in the world."
The look of disdain on Selena's face was replaced with one of honesty and sincerity. "Look, I know I gave you and Lucas a hard time over your marriage, but I do care about my kids. That's the one untarnished thing I have in my life. I might resent you're being Mrs. Lucas Buck, but I admire your gift with the kids. Anything that will help the kids around here I'm all for it, and I promise I'll do anything I can to encourage it. And as far as your marriage goes, I won't be interfering. Lucas has made his preference quite clear, so there isn't any point in the games."
Dara searched her face for her sincerity, once she found it in her eyes she smiled as she nodded her consent, "All right, and by the way, my name is Dara. I could use the help of a teacher; you can help me get through to the school board. I've been trying, but they keep telling me there aren't any funds to help start the program."
Selena mulled over her statement as she considered Matt's description of the woman in front of her now, he had been right, there was just something about her that made you instinctively like her, no wonder Lucas had fallen in love with her. "All right, Dara. And I'm Selena. The school board is right, there aren't any funds. What you need to do is get in touch with the mayor and see about getting some funds from their budget, under child welfare."
Dara shrugged her acceptance of the suggestion as she replied, "I'm in the process of that now."
Looking at her watch, Selena got up and smiled, extending her hand. "I'm glad we had this talk, and I'll try to work on the other teachers. If you think of anything else please let me know."
Dara returned the smile as she took the hand Selena offered. "Thank you, Selena."
At that moment Lucas entered Dara's office. Selena walked past him with a curt, "Hello, Sheriff."
After she had left Lucas pushed the door to, "What was she doing here?"
Dara held up her hand in placation, "Calm down, we were discussing the new program I was telling you about for the kids. She's working on the educational end of it. Don't worry, we discussed our little conflict, she admits that she knows she has no chance at you." Dara stood up to wrap her arms around him, "At least not since we got married."
Lucas, smiling at her playful mood, bent he head to receive a kiss. "I thought I'd come by and offer to take my wife out for dinner tonight, how about it?"
Dara agreed to his suggestion, "Just as soon as I make this call, OK?"
Sitting on the edge of her desk, Lucas watched as she dialed a familiar number. "Darlin, why are you calling the mayor?"
Dara looked at him in surprise, assuming that he would have already surmised the need to involve the mayor in her program. "I have to try and get an appointment to see him about financial help for this program."
With that she focused her attention on the party on the other end of the line. "Hello, yes, I was calling to speak with Mayor Johnston. Yes, I'm aware he is a busy man, but I've been attempting to speak with him for the last six months. No, that is the problem, he hasn't returned any of my calls. Yes, I'm quite sure, it's regarding the children's crisis program. My name? I've told you my name so many times you should know it better than I do by now. What? Yes, I'll hold."
Lucas looked at her in puzzlement, he knew the mayor rather well and he had a hard time contemplating him giving her a hard time, unless he wasn't aware that she was Lucas' wife. "When was the last time you called?"
Dara shrugged in indecision, "I don't know, last week I guess, why?"
Lucas considered, "What name are you giving them?"
Dara looked at him strangely, "Why mine of course, silly. Who else's name would I give them?"
Lucas shook his head, "No, I mean are you giving them Chambers or Buck?"
Dara considered his inquiry, "Well, I've been giving them Chambers, as long as its taken me to get this far, I thought a change in the venue might clog the works."
Lucas could understand her point, but he also knew she would get much further with her new name. "Give them Buck when she gets back on the line. Trust me."
Dara was about to respond when the other party returned. "Yes, I'm still here holding. My name? Dara Chambers." Casting a glance at Lucas, who was nodding for her to continue, she stated, "Buck. Yes, as a matter of fact I do know him. Yes, I suppose you could say we're related I'm his wife. He is, yes, I'll hold."
Dara looked up with shock in her eyes, "I don't believe this, she's putting me through to the mayor." Dara heard the voice that belonged to the person she had been trying to speak with for months on the other end. "Yes, thank you for your time your honor. Yes, I have been attempting to contact you for a while. No, I understand how busy you are. I was hoping to discuss the new program we're trying to initiate for the children in Trinity. Well, I'm not sure, I'll have to ask my husband about that."
Lucas motioned for her to hand him the phone, "Hi, Jake, yeah. I don't see why not, Saturday at eight. I'm sure we can make it. Say hello to Jane for me. All right, bye." Replacing the phone on the hook he smiled as he informed her, "We're having dinner with the Mayor and his wife Saturday, think we can make it?"
Dara jumped from her chair to throw her arms around him. "If it will help to promote this project, I'll definitely make it. Thank you."
Kissing her lightly, he replied, "Your more than welcome, now how about some supper? I'm starving."
The dinner with the Mayor and his wife went better than Dara had expected, thanks largely to Lucas' ease with the man. He had guffawed at the idea of a crisis network for kids, but when Lucas pointed out how much such a program would benefit the children of Trinity, the mayor eagerly promised to help in acquiring the funds needed, in cooperation with the hospital's backing. The hospital had eagerly seized on Dara's idea and backed it fully, deciding to sponsor some sort of charity event to raise the remaining funds necessary, putting the preparations and details into Dara's and whoever else's hands she deemed fit to help. As usual, Dara threw herself wholly into the project; neither she nor Lucas had any way of knowing that the center of their lives was about to be seriously altered.