A Mother to Love

by Gail Gaymer Martin

  When she calmed herself, reality settled over her. Rick had things on his mind, calls to make, household tasks to do, and he would call her when he’d heard something. Instead of wasting time, she thought of her new neighbor, walked to the front window and looked toward her house. The woman’s car was in the driveway. Rather than appear at her door empty-handed, she grabbed scissors from the kitchen drawer and stepped onto the back porch.

  Her roses abounded in the garden beds, and her snapdragons were in full bloom. She headed for the roses, selecting the freshest blossoms, and snipped off a few, pricking her finger in the process. Being more careful, she finished the rose bouquet and added a few snapdragons for color. She carried the bouquet inside and wrapped the base with plastic wrap, grabbed her house keys and stepped outside to meet the new neighbor.

  The home looked something like hers although her front window was a double picture window and this one was a bay. The landscape was similar to hers before she had got busy with her gardening. Now empty flower beds waited for loving hands.

  The closer she came to the house, the less sure she became. Thinking back to Rema’s visit, she hoped she could read the woman’s body language better than Rema had read hers. She planned to welcome her, hand her the bouquet, point out where she lived and return home, and wait to hear from Rick.

  She gave her head a subtle shake, longing to let those worries fade for a while.

  After she rang the bell, the door opened with such speed she jumped. A young woman, attractive even with little makeup, gave her a curious look. “Can I help you?”

  Angie managed to smile. “No. I’m your neighbor two doors down on the other side of the street.” She swung her free hand in that direction. “I wanted to welcome you to Lilac Circle.”

  The woman’s eyes widened. “Goodness.” She eyed the flowers and opened the door wide. “Thank you. Would you like to come in?”

  “I don’t want to get in your way. I know how it is when you move. I’ve only been here three months, and I had boxes stacked around for a long time.”

  “I’m almost finished. Please.” She widened the door and stepped back.

  Surprised at the neighbor’s welcoming expression, she accepted the invitation. “I’m Angie Bursten.” She extended the flowers. “These are from my garden.”

  “They’re lovely. I know my yard looks pitiful. The house was for sale for a few months, I think.”

  “It was. I looked at mine first and loved it, so I didn’t check any further.”

  “I’m Nina Jerome. Single. Now.” She gave her a faint grin. “That’s usually the next question I get.”

  “Join the crowd.” Angie pondered her “single now” comment. “My mom and sister were determined to introduce me to every single man they’d ever met no matter how much I protested.”

  A questioning look slipped to her face. “You said they were determined. How did you get them to stop?”

  “I sort of fabricated a story. I told them I was seeing someone, but that sort of wove itself into a spiderweb. They wanted to meet him and it never stopped. I lied.”

  Her shoulders sank. “They’re back at it, then.”

  “No.” Rick’s image filled her mind. “A coworker pretended to be the guy, and now he is the guy. Amazing how things work out.”

  “That’s awesome.” She lifted the flowers and beckoned her to follow. “I’d better put these in water.”

  Angie strode behind her into the kitchen. “From your comment, I assume you were married once.”

  She pulled a vase on an upper shelf of her cabinets. “I was.”

  “He died?” Angie felt as if she had to drag the words from her mouth.

  “No. Divorced.” Nina turned her back and filled the vase with water.

  Angie sensed she’d made a mistake asking. “I’m sorry, Nina.”

  “I was sorry too once. I’m pretty much over it now.” She placed the flowers in the vase and began arranging them into a bouquet.

  Angie wasn’t sure if she should drop the subject or get it all out. Her mind flew to Rema, but she didn’t mention an affair. “No matter what happened, I’m certain it was very difficult.”

  “If things had been different, it might have been easier.” She turned around holding the lovely arrangement.

  Angie stifled her curiosity and focused on the flowers. “Pretty, Nina.” An idea flashed. “Our new neighbor down the street about six houses is single. He’s caregiving a niece, Kimmy. Her mom was in a car accident somewhere and can’t travel.” Kimmy seemed to catch Nina’s interest. “His name is Doug Billings.” As she spoke, it struck her that she sounded like her mother and she winced.

  Nina whipped her hand in the air. “Not me. My marriage was enough to end my interest in men for a lifetime. They come across as amazing, willing to stand up for you in every dire moment, but when the moment comes, they shrivel up like cowards, and poof, they’re gone. Eventually he’ll find another woman who has longer hair or is a year younger. I was dumped because I lost two babies.”

  “Oh, Nina, I’m so sorry. Two.” She bit her lip, wondering how horrible that would be to expect the joy of a child and then lose it. “But don’t give up on men. I had a bad experience, not like yours, but bad. Yet I healed.” She caught her breath. For once, she expressed something that made sense. The old mountain from a molehill jarred her. Had she done that? Was her sin any worse than another? No one was sinless, not even Rick. The awareness caused her chest to constrict. “Finally I realized there are men who are what you see and what you love. Rick and I were friends first, and then I met his five-year-old daughter and fell in love with her first. Rick followed soon after.” Her head spun with the admission, but it was the truth.

  “Really?” She looked quizzical. “Does he know his daughter was the one that captured your interest in him?”

  “It’s never been spoken, but I think he does. That was one thing that drew him closer. He told me he’d met women who liked him but weren’t so keen on a child. I never thought I would be, but the moment I met Carly, that was it. I was mesmerized.” She noticed a few boxes in the corner of the kitchen. “I don’t want to take your time. I know you still have things to unpack, but I wanted to stop by and welcome you to Lilac Circle. And if you have any questions about Owosso or the neighborhood—anything—just ask. I work during the day, but I’m home in the evenings and on weekends.”

  “Thanks so much. And thank you for the flowers. You’ve inspired me to get this job done.” She swung her hand toward the stacked cartons. “Then I can get outside.”

  Understanding totally, Angie nodded and headed for the door, relieved that the visit had been pleasant and noting that she’d found a neighbor she felt a kinship to.

  When she arrived home, she refused to pace any longer. Rick would call when he knew something. She repeated the new mantra a few times and busied herself with party ideas for Carly’s special day. She and Rick had talked briefly, but she needed to set a date and send out invitations. As she bent over her list, she heard footsteps and her pulse skipped. “Rick?” She turned and saw him standing in the kitchen door. “Any news?”

  “We go to court on Monday. Five days away. Naturally Glenda is irked since it’s getting tight for her to get the passport, and if the judgment goes her way, she’ll pay a much higher fee to rush the passport. She’s angry at me for not signing, but if I do, you know what that means.”

  She nodded. “You wouldn’t need a court hearing then. Glenda would have what she wants, though not what Carly wants.”

  He ambled toward her. “I miss you. Our friendship was great, but now it’s natural and comfortable and...” He drew her into his arms. “And it’s amazing.”

  She raised her lips to his, a natural, welcoming response to the hours she’d paced and longed to be with him. Her inability to accept their true relationship
had shattered. Easing away, she captured his gaze. “I met the new neighbor today, and I told her how much Carly means to me. I mentioned that I’d fallen in love with Carly first, and she asked if I told you that.” She tilted her head. “You realized that, didn’t you?”

  A tender grin touched his lips. “You were obvious, Ang. That sealed the deal. I figured if you’d been mesmerized by Carly, eventually you’d feel the same about her dad.”

  She nuzzled her cheek against his chest. “You were right, and it wasn’t eventually. It was almost immediately, but I didn’t want to admit it.”

  “I know.” He tilted her head up and lowered his mouth to hers, this time sharing a lingering kiss that sent her heart to the heavens. “Angie, I don’t have the words, except—”

  “Shh.” She pressed her index finger against his mouth. “After this mess is decided, Rick. We’ll be ready to celebrate then. The court date is close.”

  He gave a sad nod. “Later.”

  “Will Carly go with you to court or—”

  “I don’t think so. We can leave her at day care, but if the court asked to talk with her, we’ll need to get her there somehow.”

  “I’ll take the day off, Rick. I can bring her over to the court and vanish. It won’t be a problem at all.”

  “I can’t ask you—”

  “You didn’t ask. I offered.” She noticed his expression. “I know. Glenda won’t like that because as you know I’ll coerce her to—”

  “I’ll check with her, Angie. She wants this over with, and if it means getting Carly there quickly, she may agree. Glenda’s mother doesn’t drive and her sister—though not too far away—works, too. They don’t see each other much, either.”

  “Then I’m the answer.” But was she the answer in a broader sense? Could she be the wife he deserved, one who was untainted, one who was pure?

  He nodded. “You are.”

  Her stomach knotted. She wanted to hear more. Where was the kiss? Had she pushed him away too long and now was she only a convenience in his life?

  * * *

  Angie stood gaping as Carly bypassed the first landing and climbed to the second level of the Playscape tower. Without saying it, she’d apparently planned to come down the bigger slide. “Carly.” Her heart caught in her throat. She swallowed, hoping to retrieve her voice. “Carly, be careful.”

  Carly waved and vanished from her sight. She ran to the side where the enclosed slide emptied and out shot Carly, laughing as she flew to the ground. She hit it with a thump, and though she could have been hurt, she bounded up and giggled.

  Not wanting to discipline her with so much going on in her life, Angie helped her up and tucked her arm around her. “If you’re going to do something up that high, Carly, we need to talk about it. Okay?”

  She looked sad for a moment and then nodded. “I went too high.”

  “You did, but I’m happy that you didn’t hurt yourself. I love you too much.”

  Her eyes brightened. “I love you, too.”

  She gave Angie a hug, and all her strictness melted away. She drew in a breath. “Should we let that be the last slide for the day?”

  “’Cause I disobeyed?”

  Carly’s concerned look touched her. “No, because I wanted to talk with you, and we could get an ice cream and sit at a picnic table.”

  Carly clapped her hands. “Let’s talk at the picnic table.”

  They headed for the car. Carly climbed into her booster seat, and Angie checked the seat belt before they headed down the highway. The only place she could think of was the Cone Zone on Water Street. The drive was short, and after they picked out their flavor choices and were handed their cones, they found an unoccupied table.

  Carly slipped onto the bench, licked her cone, and when she glanced up, a concerned look darkened her face. “You said we would talk.”

  Angie had to muzzle her laugh. “Yes, I did.” She gave her a wink. “It’s about your birthday.”

  “My birthday.” Carly’s face brightened. “I’ll be six, and I’ll go to real school. First grade.”

  Angie grasped her napkin and caught the drizzle of ice cream running down Carly’s cone. “You will. In first grade you’ll really have fun homework then.”

  She nodded and took another lick.

  “So, tell me what you’d like for your birthday. What kind of present?”

  Carly looked into the air and thought a moment. When she looked up, her eyes had brightened. “Can it be any kind of present?”

  Confused, Angie nodded, praying it wasn’t a pony.

  “Good. Then I want my present to be that I can stay in Owosso and not go to Germany.”

  Angie choked, touched by her requested gift. Unable to control her emotion, tears rimmed her eyes and blurred her vision. “I want that, too, Carly, and so does your daddy.”

  “Can I?”

  “We’ll see what the judge says.” Angie’s chest weighted.

  “But I told that lady.” Her lip trembled. “I told her why I wanted to stay with Daddy. She didn’t believe me.”

  “No. I think she believed you, but—” She’d opened her mouth and now she had to end the sentence. “But she can’t make the decision unless everyone agrees, so the judge will decide.”

  “But I didn’t talk to the judge.”

  “You...” She swallowed her empty words. “We’ll see what happens, okay?”

  “Daddy will tell them.”

  Angie bit her lip, sick of the struggle with Glenda and sick of herself and her ineptitude. Wrestling with her own thoughts had moved her no closer to the life she wanted. She adored Rick and loved his daughter. She was sick of waiting on herself to trust him and trust God. Bible verses in John’s gospel flashed in her head. “And the truth will set you free.” It was time to act.

  Knowing Rick’s forgiving nature, she had to trust that he would forgive her. Still, the fear that he might not tempted her to keep her silence. She wanted to be set free, and she could only be free with the truth.

  * * *

  As soon as Rick came through the courthouse door, he dug out his cell and hit Angie’s number. His heartbeat charged through his body and pounded in his temple. He drew in the warm air and listened to the ring.

  “Rick. What happened?”

  “Ang, we won. The judge said it was a no-brainer.” He chuckled. “Not in those words, exactly.”

  “Really.” Hearing his spirited chuckle made her happy. “Hang on. I want you to tell Carly.”

  He heard a rustle and Carly’s excited voice. “Daddy, can I stay with you?”

  When he opened his mouth to speak, tears rolled down his cheeks. “Yes, sweetheart. Yes, I have custody until your mom comes back.”

  “Angie, Daddy has me until my mom comes back. Yeah!”

  His chest ached with the pounding. “Let’s celebrate tonight.”

  “Daddy.” Her voice softened. “Did Mom cry when I couldn’t go with her?”

  Glenda never cried, or if she did, he never saw it. “She was upset, but the judge is the final say, and he said yes, so everything is okay, and Mom will adjust.”

  “Mom a’justs to things. Is she mad at me?”

  “You? No. The decision was the judge’s.” He paused, not knowing how to appease her fears. “Let me talk to Angie a minute, okay?”

  “Okay. I love you, Daddy.”

  “I love you, too, Carly.” Emotion caught in his throat as he listened to the rustle of Carly giving Angie the phone.

  “Rick. I’m so happy. How did it go?”

  “I’ll tell you when I get there. You know Glenda was irked, especially about child-support issues, but I think she’ll face reality once she’s on her way. We’ll work it out. Carly can call her and she can call Carly.”

 
“Are you coming soon?”

  “As fast as I can get there.”

  “We’ll be waiting.”

  He clicked off and bounded down the Corunna courthouse steps. Not only was he eager to talk with Carly in person, but he wanted to waylay a confrontation with Glenda.

  After he slipped into his SUV, he noticed Glenda heading his way. He backed from the parking slot and drove away as if he hadn’t seen her. With all the tension the past weeks, he couldn’t take dampening his joy again. God knew the truth and so did Carly and Angie. That was all he needed.

  Traffic seemed slow as he headed toward Lilac Circle. Impatient, he took a side street and pulled into Angie’s driveway in good time. As soon as he turned off the motor, the door to the house flew open and Carly darted down the porch steps, her arms open. He flung back the door and scooped her into his arms. “I told you Mrs. Turner listened.”

  Carly’s eyes widened. “Did she tell the judge I wanted to stay with you?”

  Angie had arrived and appeared eager to hear his response. “She did. The judge said he had no need to talk with you since she had told him what you wanted. He agreed that you were better off here than being rushed off to Germany.”

  He paused, deciding if he should tell her the rest. The news made him happy and he hoped Carly would feel the same. “Your mom said she would be in Germany for at least a month. Is that okay?”

  “A whole month?” Her grin blossomed and was matched by Angie’s. “I’ll miss Mom, but I’ll be with you...” She turned her head and smiled. “And with Angie. I’m happy.”

  He drew her closer and gave her a giant hug, relieved that she had accepted her mother’s plans. He set her down, his mind dealing with his suspicion. Something told him that Glenda had had plans to be gone a month all along. Maybe longer but hadn’t admitted it.

  Angie’s shoulders lifted. “A whole month.” She paused, looking at him with question. His face had given him away again. “At least the dispute has ended.”