With All Her Heart

by Kat Brookes

  Visitor? she thought to herself, wondering who it might be. Mason and Finn were working in the orchard that afternoon with Jake. So if not Mason or his brother, then who would be coming by to pay her a visit? Mrs. Landers, perhaps? But she was supposed to be baking that afternoon.

  Not wanting to keep whoever it was waiting, she returned a still-warm pair of her son’s jeans to the laundry basket and headed out of his bedroom to see who it might be.

  Shocked couldn’t even begin to describe Lila’s reaction to stepping into the living room and finding Mason’s sister sitting there, petting Honey and Grits, who were stretched out on each side of her on the sofa.

  Violet looked up, offering a smile of all things, shocking Lila even more. “Hello,” she greeted.

  “Violet?” Lila said in bewilderment. “What are you doing here? Not that you’re not welcome,” she quickly amended. “I just never expected you to stop by to pay me a visit.”

  Violet had been the last holdout of the Landers clan. They saw each other at church on Sundays and occasionally when Lila came to get Finn after a visit with his daddy’s family, but other than a brief exchange of niceties, they really hadn’t spoken about what had happened.

  “I was hoping we might talk,” Violet said, sounding anxious.

  “Sure,” Lila said with a nod and then started around the coffee table, intending to take a seat on the unoccupied cushion at the opposite end of the sofa.

  “Not here,” Violet said, catching Lila before she sat down. “If that’s all right with you.”

  “Okay,” Lila said, taking a step back, her heart sinking. Things had been going so well. Too well. She should have known it wasn’t meant to last. “We could step out onto the porch if you’d rather.” It was probably better that way anyhow. She didn’t want Mama Tully overhearing their conversation and getting upset because of it.

  “I was hoping we could talk while we make a run into town.”

  Eyes widening in confusion, Lila said, “Excuse me?”

  “I’m hoping you might ride into town with me. I’m on my way there to pick up some supplies for the baskets Momma and I are putting together for the peach festival’s donation raffle,” Mason’s sister explained. “I know my brothers and Finn are out in the orchards harvesting and thought this might be a good opportunity for you and me to spend some time alone talking. That is, if you don’t have any other plans for the next hour or two.”

  “No,” Lila said, shaking her head. “I don’t have any plans for this afternoon.” Laundry could wait. This was far more important. She didn’t want her son growing up with the tension that currently existed between her and Violet. Maybe once Mason’s sister vented her feelings of disappointment and anger with Lila, some of that would ease. She prayed that would be the case.

  “Then you’ll go?” Violet replied, sounding almost as surprised as Lila felt.

  The fact that Violet seemed eager for their talk did little to settle Lila’s nerves, but she had to do this. Talking things over might not take away the hurt she’d caused Mason’s sister through her actions. “I’d be happy to ride along.” Turning down the invitation would be the cowardly thing to do. “Just give me a minute to grab my purse and let Mama Tully know where I’m going.”

  “I’ll wait for you outside,” Violet replied with a smile before letting herself out.

  A smile. Odd, Lila thought as she left the living room and headed for her bedroom to get her purse. You would think if Violet was about to give her a comeuppance for what she had done to Mason and her entire family, a smile would be the last thing she’d be offering up.

  Slinging her purse up over her shoulder, she made her way to Mama Tully’s room. The door was open, so Lila stepped into the doorway. Her foster mother was seated in the overstuffed armchair next to the window, reading a book.

  Her gaze lifted, meeting Lila’s. Lowering the open book, she asked, “Is everything okay?”

  “Violet asked me to accompany her into town to pick up supplies for the peach festival.”

  The corners of Mama Tully’s mouth lifted in a buoyant grin. Clapping her hands together, she said, “I knew she would come around.”

  Frowning, Lila said, “Please don’t get your hopes up too high. Violet said she wanted to talk in private, which is why she’s invited me to ride along with her into town. That makes me believe she’s ready to speak her mind about what I did to her family. Not that I didn’t expect it to happen at some point.”

  “I suppose she might have a thing or two weighing on her heart that she wants to talk about.” She searched Lila’s face. “It might not be an easy conversation. Are you ready for it?”

  “I have to be,” she replied. “I was able to get past Jake’s angry words and come out for the better. I pray this will be the same. Lord knows I deserve whatever it is Violet has to say to me.”

  “You’re doing the right thing,” Mama Tully said with a tender smile.

  “I’m hoping to ease some of the emotional divide between Violet and myself, not only for my son’s sake, but because she’s Mason’s sister, who—I’m sure you know—he adores.”

  “Very much so,” Mama Tully agreed with a bob of her head. “And because she’s his sister, Violet will find the same forgiveness in her heart that Mason and Jake have.”

  “How can you know that?” Lila asked skeptically.

  “Because forgiveness is a part of the faith they’ve been raised on,” her foster mother replied. “It’s who they are.”

  Lila sighed, wishing her faith in that day’s outcome was as strong as Mama Tully’s. “I pray you’re right.”

  “The Lord is always open for prayers,” her foster mother said with a loving smile. “You might send one up to him before you leave.”

  “You can count on it.”

  “I’m so glad you’ve welcomed Him back into your life.”

  “So am I.” So very glad. Doing so had given her an inner peace she never thought to have again. The comfort of knowing that no matter how bad things might get, He would always be there for her, helping her to get through those times. She’d been so hesitant to turn to prayer in the past, feeling unworthy when it came to asking God for anything. As she faced her past, worked at rebuilding relationships, she felt closer to the Lord than ever. More at ease turning to Him in prayer, trusting in Him to help guide her through the ups and downs that came in one’s life.

  “You’d best get going,” her foster mother said, waving Lila from the room.

  “I know.” She didn’t want to keep Violet waiting, but first there was something she needed to do. Stepping over to the chair Mama Tully was seated in, she bent to place a kiss on her foster mother’s cheek. “I love you, Mama Tully.”

  “I love you, too, sweetie,” the older woman replied, her voice catching with emotion. “Now, go and have a good talk with Violet.”

  Nodding, Lila headed outside where Mason’s sister had said she would be waiting for her. Only the porch was empty. Lila wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or disappointed, considering the mental preparation she’d done before coming outside.

  A honk drew her gaze to the driveway, where Violet offered a quick wave through the open window.

  Stepping down from the porch, she crossed the yard and rounded the front of the metallic-green Ford Escape. Taking a deep breath, Lila opened the passenger-side door and settled herself onto the sun-warmed leather seat. Pasting a brave smile on her face, she turned to Violet. “So,” she said as she buckled her seat belt, “where are we headed to first?”

  “Mrs. Benson’s store,” Violet replied as she shifted the car into Drive and pulled away from the house.

  “The Flower Shack?” Lila said in surprise, memories of the past stirring in her mind. Mason surprising her with a bouquet. Mrs. Benson showing her how to make a bow so she could surprise Mama Tully with it on her birthday gift that year.


  “Yes.”

  “Did someone else take it over?” After all, it had been years since Lila had lived there and, even then, Mrs. Benson had been past the age when most people chose to retire.

  Violet laughed. “As if Mrs. Benson would allow anyone else to make her flower arrangements.”

  “I can’t believe she’s still running the place. Mrs. Benson has to be at least—”

  “Eighty-one,” Violet finished for her. “And still going strong.”

  “I’m glad to hear it,” Lila said. “Mrs. Benson was always so kind to me. But to still be seeing to that place on her own...” She shook her head in disbelief.

  “Not all on her own,” Mason’s sister replied with what almost looked like a frown. “Braden helps her out when he’s not at the station or out on a call.”

  Braden Benson had been one of Jake’s closest friends. “So he followed in his daddy’s footsteps and went into firefighting?”

  She nodded. “As soon as he graduated high school, he went to the firefighting academy. He’s been doing what he loves ever since.”

  “I’m sure his gramma appreciates the help.”

  “She does,” she replied. “Unlike some he’s come to the rescue of. But that’s Braden, helping anyone and everyone in need.”

  Lila looked her way. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “It can be,” Violet answered. “But Braden’s need to always be a hero isn’t my business.”

  Lila got the feeling that they weren’t talking about Braden’s being a firefighter, but she wasn’t about to delve any deeper. It wasn’t any of her business. So she let the remark pass.

  “You know,” she said, looking Violet’s way, “I have to admit that it seems so strange to see you sitting behind the wheel of a car.”

  Some of the tension seemed to ease from Violet’s grasp on the steering wheel. “Why?” she asked, sparing a brief glance in Lila’s direction. “I’m twenty-three years old.”

  “Because I remember you as that freckle-faced, pigtailed, thirteen-year-old girl you were when I...” She let her words trail off, wishing she hadn’t brought up the past.

  “When you ran away from Sweet Springs?” Violet supplied for her, her gaze fixed on the road ahead.

  “Yes,” Lila said softly.

  “Well, it’s been more than nine years since you left town,” she said, glancing Lila’s way. “You’ll find that a lot has changed in that time.”

  “Violet,” Lila said with a sigh of resignation, because there was no more dancing around the issue that lay between them, “is there somewhere we can go to talk before running your errands?”

  She glanced in Lila’s direction, her expression having grown serious, as well. “You must have read my mind. I was going to suggest we stop by the coffee shop first,” she replied. “The outdoor patio should be fairly empty during this time of the afternoon.”

  Lila nodded, and an uneasy silence fell between them for the remainder of the drive into town.

  Once they had arrived, Violet was the first to speak. “If you’ll go grab us a table, I’ll go inside and order us something to drink.”

  “I can do that,” Lila said.

  “Would you prefer coffee or tea? They have a large selection of teas to choose from.”

  “Tea would be fine. Thank you.” Lila said as she stepped from the car.

  “I’m having English breakfast. Would you like that or some other flavor?” Mason’s sister asked as they met on the sidewalk in front of Poured with Love.

  “English breakfast with honey,” she answered, reaching into her purse.

  “No,” Violet said, covering Lila’s hand with her own. “My treat.”

  One again, surprise filled Lila. “Thank you.”

  Violet let her hand fall away and then turned, making her way into the coffee shop.

  Lila moved to the cozy little seating area that had been added sometime after she’d left Sweet Springs. There were five small bistro tables, each with either two or four chairs placed around them. Unfortunately, the patio wasn’t empty as Violet had hoped it might be. Two men in business suits she didn’t recognize sat drinking coffee while their attention was focused on the laptop screen in front of them.

  Once she was seated, Lila pulled out her cell phone, placing a quick call to Addy.

  “Hello?”

  “It’s me,” Lila said.

  “Why are you whispering?” her foster sister asked.

  “I’m sitting outside the coffee shop waiting for Violet,” she answered.

  “Mason’s sister, Violet?”

  “Yes,” Lila confirmed. “She wanted to talk, so we came here. I’m waiting at a table out on the patio, but I’m not alone. There are a couple of businessmen seated a few tables away. Hopefully, out of hearing range, but I’m keeping my voice low anyway.”

  “She’s meeting you there?”

  “No, she drove me here. She’s inside getting us tea.”

  “I’m so confused. Violet drove you there? I thought the two of you were on the outs.”

  “She came by Mama Tully’s and asked me to ride with her into town so we could talk away from her family and Finn and Mama Tully. I just wanted to give you a quick call to ask you to pray for us. I know this isn’t going to be an easy conversation, but I hope it will be a start to setting things right between us. Not that I have any expectations of ever having the relationship with her I’d once hoped for.”

  “I will most definitely pray for you, Lila,” her best friend replied.

  “Would you mind praying with me? ” Lila asked. “I know that’s not something you do very often, so if you’d rather not...”

  “I would be happy to,” Addy replied without hesitation. “But I’ll let you speak the words.”

  Lila tipped her head downward and closed her eyes. “Dear Lord, thank You for coming back into my life and for giving me the chance to right the wrongs that I’ve done. Please forgive Addy for her part in helping me and allow the Landerses to forgive her, too. And give me strength today as I sort through things with Violet. Amen.”

  “Amen,” Addy joined in.

  “To think I’ve been feeling so guilty about not being able to be there with you and Finn and Mama Tully. Maybe my work issues will prove to be a blessing. You and Mason have come to terms with the past and have been spending time together, something you might not have done if I were there.”

  Addy was probably right. She would have felt the need to split her time between all those she cared about.

  “You and Violet will work things out,” Addy said. “I have faith.”

  “I wish my faith in that happening was as strong as yours and Mama Tully’s. But she and I weren’t as close back when I lived here, because she was so much younger than the rest of us.” Jake was only two years younger than her and Mason, whereas Violet had been four years younger.

  “She’s not a little girl anymore,” Addy pointed out. “Violet and I have talked a lot on the phone over the years. Not nearly as much as Jake and I have, because he always seems to be closest to the phone whenever I call. But I can tell you that Violet has matured into a kind soul, always helping others, including her momma with the baked goods for their market. She even helps Mrs. Benson with her flower arrangement orders during the holidays and for funerals.”

  Violet hadn’t mentioned helping Mrs. Benson at the Flower Shack, only that Braden helped his gramma whenever time allowed. But then Mason’s sister probably wasn’t eager to share her personal life with her.

  “Well, Jake came around,” Lila said with a note of hope in her voice. “Maybe Violet will be able to, as well.”

  “How is Jake?” Addy asked. “He picked up when I called to apologize to his family for my part in keeping Finn from them, but as soon as he knew it was me, he set the phone down and called f
or his momma to pick up.”

  “He took the news pretty hard at first.”

  “I’ve gathered as much. I was afraid Mrs. Landers might not give me the chance to apologize, either, but she did, letting me know she was hurt by my actions, but understood that my intentions were well-meaning. I am hoping that once I get there in person, Jake and I will be able to talk things out. His whole family, for that matter. Like you, I owe them all a heartfelt apology for my part in all of this.”

  “Addy,” Lila said regretfully, “I’m so sorry your helping me has put you in a bad light with Mason’s family. Especially Jake. I know how much you enjoyed your phone conversations with him.” She prayed Jake would find it in his heart to forgive Addy like he’d chosen to forgive her. Maybe once Addy was finally able to take the time off to come see Mama Tully she and Jake would have a chance to talk things out.

  “He has a way of making me laugh when I really need it. I’m going to really miss that if he chooses to keep me shut out of his life permanently,” Addy admitted.

  “I’ll do what I can to set things right for you,” Lila told her.

  “You have enough on your plate. I’ll work on repairing my relationship with the Landers family once I get there. I will say this, I would do it all again, even knowing the cost I would have to pay for helping you out, because everyone deserves to have a safe haven in their time of need.”

  Lila immediately teared up. “I’ll never forget what you did for me. For my son.”

  The door to the coffee shop swung open as Violet stepped outside, a lidded cup in each hand.

  “I have to go,” Lila told her in an urgent whisper and then ended the call.

  Mason’s sister made her way to the table Lila was seated at. “Sorry,” she apologized as she held Lila’s cup out to her, “Mrs. Filmore was working the counter today. And if you don’t remember her from your time here, let me tell you, she’s a sweet woman who loves nothing more than to catch up on all the goings-on in everyone’s life.”

  “That’s okay,” Lila assured her as Violet settled into the chair across from her.

  Violet looked so much like her brothers. Same dark brown eyes and dark, wavy hair. Smiling, she brought her cup to her lips, taking a careful sip.