Heaven Sent Husband. Gilbert Morris

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      “Hate it? Why, how can you say that?” Her mother looked genuinely surprised. “You look lovely. I’m sure Charlie will think so, too.”

      “I paid too much for the dress and the shoes. Just think what the mission in Bombay could have done with that money.”

      “Well, that’s very true,” her mother replied placidly. “But young women need new clothes once in a while, too, and you told me yourself that you didn’t have anything to wear for tonight.”

      Roger looked at his wife and shook his head. “I have to agree with Ketura. I remember it was Thoreau who said, ‘Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.’” He smiled and his eyes crinkled up at the corners. “Besides, Charlie probably won’t know the difference. I don’t think he appreciates anything but numbers.”

      The skinny, dull accountant wasn’t the man for his Ket, Roger thought. Still, it was good to see her going out tonight and having some fun. He studied his daughter, who now sat on the couch next to his wife, and couldn’t help but wonder why she had not been as popular and sought-after as her older sisters. They had gone through dozens of boyfriends during high school and college, and Roger remembered finding the house crowded with them—gawky young men—everywhere you turned. This had not been the case with Ket, and it hurt him somehow, for he knew that this younger daughter of his who looked so much like him felt insecure. He had wanted to say, Don’t compare yourself to your sisters, Ket. They are who they are and you’re what God made you. A tall, strong, beautiful woman in your own right.

      However, he had never been able to find an opportunity to say this. So now he said, “I think you look beautiful, sweetheart.”

      “Thank you, Daddy.” Ketura smiled, despite herself. It was just her dad and she knew he felt obliged to say such things, but the compliment made her feel good nonetheless.

      “It’s about time for Charlie to get here, isn’t it? Where are you going?” he asked.

      “We’re going to the movies. Some film about space travel. Scientists are stranded on another planet. Or maybe they get stranded on the way to another planet…. I’m not quite sure.”

      Her mother glanced at her with a puzzled expression. “I thought you hated movies like that.”

      “Well…it wasn’t my first choice. But Charlie thought it would be fun.”

      Ketura shrugged and forced a smile. She actually dreaded a two-hour simulated ride through outer space, which would either put her to sleep, or give her a whopper of a headache with the earsplitting special effects. But, while pretending to give her some say in the matter, Charlie had pushed his preference. She’d sensed that if she didn’t give in and agree, he’d most likely sit pouting through any film that was her choice.

      Her father returned to the book he’d been reading and Ket watched a news show with her mother. Seven-thirty came and still no Charlie Petrie. Ket felt partly relieved, partly annoyed and partly anxious, anticipating she might be stood up. Finally, at seven-forty-five the phone rang.

      “I’ll get it,” Lucille said. She went over, picked up the phone and said, “Hello? Oh, yes, she’s right here. Tell her what?” She hung up the phone and turned slowly to face Ket, a worried frown on her face.

      Suddenly Ket knew what had brought the frown to her mother’s face. She stood and said quietly, “He’s not coming, is he?”

      Lucille Lindsey shot an agonized glance at her husband and then turned back to face Ket. “No, he said something had come up—an emergency of some kind.”

      Ket met her mother’s sympathetic gaze for a moment and felt her eyes fill with tears. She took a deep breath and willed herself not to cry.

      “Right. An accounting emergency. Someone forgot to file their taxes. They just realized it,” she joked. Her parents both smiled but neither laughed, she noticed.

      Ket avoided looking at them. She sat very still and stared straight ahead. She felt something happening deep within, in some silent, invincible place.

      She suddenly became aware that a resolution was forming inside, while not in words, in some way she was saying, I won’t be put through this kind of humiliation again! With an effort she kept her face straight and shrugged. “Well, all dressed up and no place to go.”

      “Let the three of us go see a movie. I wouldn’t mind getting out tonight,” Roger said quickly. He saw the pain that had flickered across his daughter’s face and wanted to do something to take it away. He knew that her pride had been hurt badly, and anger washed through him. I’d like to tell that Charlie Petrie what I think of him! To treat a young woman like this…! However, he could say none of this, for a look from his wife, who knew him very well, stilled him on that subject.

      “Oh, I don’t think so, Daddy. Why don’t you and Mom go? I think I’ll just change clothes and go out for a little drive.”

      Watching as Ket walked stiffly out of the room, her parents waited until the sound of her footsteps faded.

      “Oh, Roger, I’m so worried about Ket! She’s not happy.”

      “I know she isn’t, but I don’t know what to do about it.” His glance moved to the portraits of their three daughters on the mantle over the fireplace. He studied them for a moment and shook his head. “She’s always putting herself down. She doesn’t think she’s as pretty as Carol or Jenny.”

      “I know, and that’s wrong. Carol and Jenny have a different kind of beauty.”

      “Well, that’s true enough. They look like you. I wish Ket had taken after you instead of me.”

      “Don’t say that, Roger!” Lucille came over and put her arm around her husband. “God made her just as she is.”

      “I know. I wanted to tell her that, but somehow I never can.”

      Shaking her head almost in despair, Lucille said quietly, “It’s something she’ll have to come to on her own. It’s strange, Roger. She’s such a fine girl. So honest and strong in every way. So bright and caring.”

      “And such a clear thinker, too! She can read other people, but she’s never really figured herself out.”

      Upstairs, Ketura pulled off the dress and tossed it across the room where it landed on the floor in a heap. Such anger was rare for her, but Charlie Petrie’s rejection had stung terribly. She didn’t know why it hurt so much. She didn’t even really like him and didn’t respect him anymore, either. He was such a coward. He didn’t even have the nerve to cancel on her himself, but had left her mother to do it. Who needed a guy like that?

      Picking up her dress and throwing it across a chair, she yanked off the shoes and panty hose, then pulled on a pair of comfortable khakis, a favorite blue polo shirt, socks and sneakers. Feeling much better, she grabbed her purse and left the house. She got into her blue convertible, started the engine and put the top down. She’d bought the car used, at a reasonable price, but it was still the most impulsive, frivolous purchase of her life. The aging vehicle wasn’t even entirely reliable, but Ket loved the feeling of freedom she experienced while driving with the top down. The wind ruffled her hair as she pulled away from the house and cruised down the street, and Ket felt all her cares blown away with it.

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