Chapter Thirteen
Breathe. Hold it together.
But Lilly couldn’t. She couldn’t even see to drive.
She pulled over to the side of the road and swiped at the tears, angry at them for falling when she’d tried so hard to keep them at bay.
Stupid, so stupid. How could she have let herself fall for Daniel, even when she’d known from the beginning he was the type who wouldn’t put down roots. He and his big ideas for ministries all over the state. He and his big ideas for starting new churches.
As if each one would be a notch on his belt in heaven.
Anger mixed with the hurt, swirling inside until she wanted to scream and spew it all out, to rage at him and hurt him in some way.
She threw her head against the headrest, closed her eyes and squeezed tightly.
She would not cry one more tear over the man. If he didn’t want her, she couldn’t make him.
She sniffed, gave her eyes one last swipe and grabbed her cell phone to call Belinda. Before she could, it buzzed, a call from her magazine-owner friend in Kentucky. “Hey, Gloria.”
“Hey, girl! How’s Georgia?”
She fought a sob. “Not too great at the moment.”
“I’m sorry. I hope my news will perk you up.”
“News?”
“I want to publish your article on the girls’ knitting group. The shots are outstanding.”
“I thought that’s what we’re meeting to discuss in July.”
“It was. But I want it sooner. In July, we’ll talk about having you intern with us once you move back.”
An internship? Lord, thank You for this encouragement. “Wow, Gloria. This is an amazing opportunity.”
“I’ll keep in touch by email, will send waivers. Go ahead and get permission from the girls and their parents. Can’t wait till you get back home to Louisville for good.”
Yes, home, in Kentucky. Where she belonged. Where she wouldn’t have to look at the basement door of The Yarn Barn and think of Daniel and how much she missed him. Where she’d have a nice quiet life, safe from heartache and disappointment. A life where she could follow her dreams.
One dream, anyway.
She signed off with Gloria and pulled the car back on the road.
No more pity party. Time to get back on track with her original plan—to put all her efforts into growing the yarn business, readying it to put on the market.
She drove to Jenna’s, thrilled to see Ned’s truck in the driveway. Inside, she heard laughter in the kitchen. The perfect family portrait met her: husband holding his baby, spooning food into his mouth. Wife standing at his shoulder with her hand on him possessively, lovingly. Husband looking up at wife with adoration.
Everything Lilly had ever wanted but never dared to hope for.
And now it was once again out of her reach.
She pulled herself through the doorway and pressed her face against the cool wall of the dark living room. Lord, help me through this. I guess I got everything wrong. Show me a new picture of what my life will be like. I’m trusting You and only You. I’m in Your hands.
She hated to interrupt the reunion scenario with a request to talk to Jenna. She would go to her room and wait until morning.
Then tomorrow, she would let Jenna know she wanted to sell The Yarn Barn. And that she planned to put word out it was going on the market, maybe get a buyer lined up now.
The end of her one-year sentence couldn’t get here quickly enough.
* * *
Daniel looked at the interim pastor’s résumé that Belinda had left on his desk two days earlier. It looked good. The guy was coming in a couple weeks to preach and meet everyone. Daniel needed to arrange a time to tell the kids what was going on before they heard from someone else.
He shut his eyes and blocked the pain. He’d avoided thinking about what had happened the previous week. Had gone once again into avoid-Lilly mode.
Apparently, she’d done the same. He’d only seen her at a distance on Sunday. He hadn’t gone into the shop at all. And she hadn’t ventured downstairs.
Footsteps approached. “Got a minute?” Belinda looked concerned.
“Sure.”
She plopped down in the chair. “We’ve got a problem.”
Images of bounced checks or dissatisfied church members zipped through his mind. “What’s going on?”
“Lilly and Jenna have decided to sell the shop, and they’ve put out word, looking for potential buyers.”
No. Surely she wouldn’t do that. He opened his mouth to ask why. But then he snapped it shut. “How’s that a problem for us?”
Belinda raised a brow at him—the motherly, disapproving look she seemed to give him more often lately.
“I’m serious. I don’t think selling the shop is a good idea, but unless the new owner kicks us out, the sale has nothing to do with us.”
“It has everything to do with you.”
He slumped in his seat. Apparently Belinda knew what happened. “So she told you?”
“She hasn’t told me anything. I gathered she’s either running away out of fear, or she’s reacting to your leaving.”
Belinda had enough of the story. “I hate the thought of her leaving, but I don’t have any right to ask her to stay. She’s your friend. You should try to persuade her.
“Maybe between the two of us...” Her expression, a mix of threat and pleading, made him waffle.
Belinda was right, of course. Last week, she’d talked about both of them staying. If she was planning to leave now then he was responsible. He needed to at least try to do something. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She left, and he tried to think of some way to prevent Lilly from selling. The shop made her happy. It gave her a sense of community she’d wanted and had missed all of her life.
He stood and paced his tiny office. Surely she’d regret selling. She’d move away and then miss all her new friends. She’d want to come back, but someone else would own the shop.
Unless...
Unless someone bought it and held it in safekeeping until she changed her mind.
He couldn’t do it alone. But he knew someone who could help.
* * *
Daniel stood on his dad’s front porch for the first time ever. Strange he hadn’t visited since his dad had retired and moved to Corinthia months before.
But then, until lately, that’s the way their relationship had always been. Distant. Tense. Combative.
He knocked, anyway. After a couple minutes, he assumed his father wasn’t home. But then the door opened.
Blake’s mouth gaped. “Daniel?”
“I need your help.”
For a split second the man seemed confused. Then he pulled the door wide-open. “Of course. Come in.”
Daniel followed his father through a fancy entry hall into a plush office with rich cherry paneling and a massive wooden desk. The room was reminiscent of his dad’s office in Daniel’s childhood home and sent him whirling back to the times he’d tried to talk to his dad as he hunched over his desk. The times he’d tried to tell him of one achievement or another, hoping it would bring his father back to him, would make him proud.
“Have a seat and tell me what you need.”
“I need you to help me buy The Yarn Barn.”
“What?” He flopped back in his chair and stared at his son.
“Lilly’s talked Jenna into putting it on the market. They’re taking offers now and will sell as soon as they’ve fulfilled the year-long requirement of their aunt’s will.”
“Is she going back to Kentucky?”
He couldn’t speak past the football-size lump in his throat. Maybe sitting across a desk from his dad made him feel like a kid again. Or maybe t
he thought of Lilly two states away put the lump there. “Yes. And I think she’ll regret selling. I’d like to buy it anonymously and hold it in safekeeping until she changes her mind and returns.”
His dad’s shoulders slumped. His face fell. “You care that much about her.”
Daniel nodded.
“You know the better solution would be for you to stay here. Continue your ministry where people have come to love you and depend on you. I imagine Lilly would stay, as well.”
She would have. But not now that he’d pushed her away. “I’m already committed to go. I’m doing what I need to do.”
“So you’re determined, then?”
To leave? Yes. But he was determined to protect Lilly, too. He knew without a doubt she would miss her life in Corinthia, would change her mind. He wanted her to have this loving community to fall back on. “Yes, sir. I am. I have savings, but I can’t afford it myself.”
As his father considered the request, he stared at Daniel. Disapproval, maybe even disappointment flickered in his eyes.
Then he opened a drawer and pulled out his checkbook. “Tell me how much you need.”
Chapter Fourteen
“We have a buyer.” Lilly had wanted to ease into the conversation with Belinda but didn’t know how to say the words that would separate her from her church, her friends, from everything she held dear.
Belinda’s knitting needles paused, but then they continued their quick, smooth motion, a motion Lilly would never master. “For what?” she finally asked.
“You know what.”
“You’re making a mistake. I usually butt out, figuring the person knows her situation better than I do. But this time, I know in my bones I’m right.”
Lilly slowly added a row to her scarf—a scarf she still hadn’t finished, even as Cricket and the girls had whipped out a scarf or more each. But at least she’d learned. She’d gotten involved and had helped some teens along the way. And most importantly, her time in Corinthia had brought her back to her faith in God.
She’d be leaving eventually, but leaving as a changed, better person. Even with the heartache over Daniel, she had no regrets.
She stuffed the needles into the skein of yarn and slipped it into the beautiful canvas tote bag Belinda had made. Running her fingers over the embroidery left her feeling bereft.
She should be relieved. “The buyer is offering a good price. And he—or she—is even willing to wait until the year is up.”
“He or she?”
“It’s an investment group.”
“An investment group? Are you kidding? It could be some company that’s going to plow down this place and build an apartment complex.”
She’d worried about the same thing. “No. We’ll have in writing that they’ll keep it as The Yarn Barn. The representative for the group assured me they want to see the shop profit. They see the potential.”
Belinda pleaded with her eyes. “What can I do to change your mind? You’ve been so happy here.”
“I have been happy. And I’m going to miss you like crazy. But I’m trying to trust God’s plan. The fact that we have a potential buyer so quickly, who’s being flexible...well, to me that’s confirmation I’m on the right track.” She reached for Belinda’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Will you come visit me?”
“Of course. And I’ll look forward to you coming home for holidays.”
Home. The word made her chest ache. Still, God was in control. She had to trust Him. God would come through, would put her where she could best serve Him.
* * *
The guys Daniel mentored sat around the table working hard on their studies. Daniel would miss spending time with them, miss watching them bond, mature, grow into the men God wanted them to be.
He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “How about a break?”
They looked up, surprised. Daniel didn’t usually let up on them. Today he’d make an exception. He had to tell them the news he was leaving.
“You kiddin’?” Ian asked.
“Nope. Let’s go upstairs and see if the girls are about done with their class. Maybe we can all head outside and enjoy this beautiful weather.”
Ricky raised a brow at him like he thought he’d lost it.
The others hopped up, ready to ditch the books.
They pounded up the stairs ahead of Daniel, which suited him fine. He didn’t relish facing Lilly. Don’t look right at her. Give her some time.
He needed to quit thinking. To go through the motions on autopilot. That’s the only way he’d be able to follow through in the coming weeks.
“Yo!” Ian called as he burst through the door first. “The jailer has let us out. Time for a break.”
Giggles echoed along the stairway as Daniel stepped into the room. And looked right at Lilly.
She appeared tired. Stressed.
Sad.
And he was at fault.
“What’s going on?” Belinda asked.
“They’ve been studying hard, so it’s time for a break.” He shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “Plus, I wanted a minute to talk with all of you.”
Belinda nodded, understanding. “It’s a gorgeous day. Y’all head outside. Lilly, you, too. I’ll straighten up in here.”
Lilly shot Belinda a look of disbelief but followed as they headed outside. The boys and girls goofed off, teasing like siblings—except for Ricky and Cricket who held hands, swinging their arms as they walked, Cricket’s engagement ring sparkling in the sun.
Daniel sat on the front steps and had them circle around. Cricket sat beside him. Lilly stood off to herself behind the group, looking wounded...resigned.
“Oh, there you are, Daniel.”
He glanced beyond the teens and spotted his dad standing in the parking lot. Having to share this news was difficult enough. He didn’t need his dad standing by, disapproving.
“Hi, Dad.”
“I looked for you in your office. I need you to...uh...sign some papers.”
Those papers would commit their newly formed investment company to buy the shop. He’d agreed to meet his dad and had totally forgotten.
“I’ll be there soon.”
His dad nodded and headed around to the back. Slowly. Too slowly.
“What’s up, Preacher Dan?” Zaria asked, using the nickname she’d recently given him.
He would miss her teasing. “I have some news that I want y’all to hear first from me.”
“What’s up?” Evette didn’t have a hint of concern on her face.
These kids trusted him.
A sick feeling started in his gut and grew until it constricted his chest.
They were strong kids, though. They’d be fine. “We’ve accomplished a lot since we started the church. Everything is going well. Lots of new outreach in the community.”
They stared at him, nodding in agreement—except for Dag, who squatted down to mess around in the dirt.
“It’s time for me to start a new ministry somewhere else.”
The circle of teens stood there motionless, as if waiting for the punch line.
“A man will be coming soon to meet everyone and to preach. If it goes well, the church will hire him as an interim pastor.”
Ricky leaned forward at the waist, as if Daniel had punched him. “You can’t be serious.”
“It’s time I move on.”
“Well, that doesn’t make sense.” Cricket gripped Daniel’s shoulder. “You haven’t been here long at all.”
“I said from the beginning that I’m a church starter.”
“Yeah, but we didn’t think you’d ever really go,” Parker said, his earnest blue eyes heartbreaking.
The sick knot inside him tightened. “Everyone has work
ed so hard, and now you’re in a good place, ready for me to leave.”
“Says who?” Ian’s dark eyes flashed hurt before the hurt quickly morphed to anger. A look Daniel had seen on his face often in the beginning. An expression he’d rarely worn lately.
For once, Lilly didn’t seem to be jumping in to support him. He couldn’t blame her.
The look of anguish on her face as she glanced around the circle, watching the kids’ reactions, made the moment unbearable.
“I’ll miss all of you.” He stood. “I’ll be in my office if any of you want to talk more.” He took off, following the path his dad had taken.
“No, don’t let us stop you,” Ian called to Daniel’s back as he rounded the corner. “We wouldn’t want to interrupt your important ministry with our stupid neediness.”
For some reason, Daniel’s gaze traveled to Lilly instead of to Ian.
She stood on the sidewalk, shoulders slumped, listless. Their eyes met for a moment, his begging her to help. To do something to comfort the kids when he didn’t have anything to offer.
As expected, her caretaker nature kicked in, and she put an arm around Theresa. Then she reached out and put a hand on Ian’s arm. “Come on, guys. Give Daniel a break. He’s doing what he feels God leading him to do.”
Daniel didn’t stick around to see what else she might say or do. He escaped to his office, hoping to shut himself inside.
Too late, he remembered his dad was waiting.
“Tough scene out there,” his dad said.
Daniel shot his dad a censuring look.
“I couldn’t help overhearing as I walked away.”
“This isn’t any of your business.”
“It is my business. Because it’s my fault.”
His fault? Daniel sank into his chair, the springs squeaking their protest. “Right or wrong, none of my decisions has anything to do with you.”
“If you walk away from here right now, you’ll be making a mistake.” Blake’s gruff words were softened by his distressed expression, as if he feared he no longer had any influence over his son.
“We already discussed this at Gran’s the other day.”
“It’s all my fault. For neglecting my family. For shipping you from pillar to post after your mom died.”
Georgia Sweethearts Page 19
