Bobbi held out her arms, and drew Abby into a hug. “I’m glad you came with Joel. I’m sure he needed the company.”
“I was glad to get the chance to do something for him for a change,” she said softly. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and glanced at Joel.
“Where’s your little boy?” Bobbi asked.
“Oh, he’s with my parents, since it was an emergency and all.”
“I’m going to take Abby home tomorrow after Grandma’s surgery,” Joel said. “I don’t think she’s been away from Ryan overnight before, have you?” Joel looked to Abby for confirmation, and she shook her head. “Where are Brad and Shannon?”
“At Rita’s. Shannon was there when all this happened, and Brad went to be with her so it wouldn’t be so scary.”
“Do you think Aunt Rita would let Abby stay at her house tonight?” Joel asked.
“Honey, why wouldn’t she stay at our house?” Bobbi asked.
“I didn’t want it to look bad, us staying at the same house. Maybe I could stay with Brad.”
“Joel, it’ll be fine if both of you stay with us. You shouldn’t abandon Abby with a bunch of strangers anyway.” Bobbi turned to Abby. “Did you guys get to eat on the way?”
“No, we drove straight here. Joel kept his promise about the speed limit, so we didn’t want to stop for anything.”
“Why don’t I take you downstairs to the cafeteria then? Joel?”
“I’m gonna stay here in case Grandma wakes up. Abby, you should go eat.” Joel smiled at her, encouraging her silently.
“Um, sure, thanks,” Abby waited for Bobbi, and then followed her back toward the elevator. They stood in silence waiting for the door to open, but once inside, Abby spoke softly. “Mrs. Molinsky, I just want you to know Joel is the most incredible guy I have ever known. Such a gentleman.”
“Thank you. That’s always good for a mother to hear.”
“He gives you all the credit. Well, and Mr. Molinsky, too.”
“Can we settle one thing real quick?” Bobbi asked, and Abby nodded, her eyes wide. “Do you want to marry Joel?”
“Absolutely. I can’t believe he wants to—”
Bobbi held up a hand, and smiled. “Then will you please, please, call me Bobbi?”
Abby let a deep breath escape, and relaxed her shoulders. “I’ll try my best.” The elevator doors opened and Bobbi led Abby through the cafeteria line and to a table.
Once settled, Bobbi asked, “Do you care if I pray?”
“Not at all,” Abby said, bowing her head.
“Dear God, thank You for keeping Ann safe in your hands so far. We pray You’ll continue to watch over her through the surgery tomorrow. Thank You that Brad, Joel, and Abby all arrived safely, and thank You for Rita and Gavin, who are always so willing to step in in our many crises. Thank You for this food and bless it. In Jesus’ name.”
“Joel is very close to his grandmother,” Abby said. “He talked about her all the way here.”
“We all are. She’s all we have. My parents died before Chuck and I married, and his dad’s been dead ... thirteen years now.”
“I was a little nervous about coming with Joel and meeting you,” Abby admitted, pouring dressing on her salad. “Most kids gripe about their parents at least every once in a while, but I never hear it from him. I figured you were either perfect, or the most overbearing two people in the world.”
“Well we’re not perfect for sure, so that only leaves B,” Bobbi said, with a smile, as she unwrapped her Italian sub.
“No, he told me about the church service when you and Mr. Molinsky reconciled. What grace and forgiveness.”
“It took me a long time to get to that place, Abby. It was a very hard road, and it was all God, not me.”
“But you put things back together. I didn’t know that was possible.”
“For a long time, I had my own doubts. It was much easier to hold on to the hurt, but that would have destroyed our marriage and us with it. I had to learn to let go, and trust God for the forgiveness and reconciliation. That drew me closer to Him, and rebuilt the trust between us.”
“I really appreciate how supportive you’ve been with me and Joel.” She twisted her fork in her salad. “I could understand if you didn’t want him around me.”
“Supportive?”
“Oh yeah, Joel said you couldn’t wait to meet me after he told you. I was stunned.”
Bobbi’s stomach tightened. Joel hadn’t told Abby any of her misgivings. “Don’t be stunned,” Bobbi said quietly, then changed the subject. “Joel said you’d done a lot of counseling with your pastor.”
“I have, and now Joel and I are both counseling. He said that’s what everyone here recommended. I don’t understand him sometimes.”
“Joel?”
“He could do so much better.”
“Oh, honey, he’s crazy about you.”
Abby looked away, and then pushed her salad around.
“In fact,” Bobbi continued, “he believes he’s uniquely gifted to love and care for you because of what he’d been through with us.” Abby wiped away a tear. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“I don’t deserve him, Mrs., I mean, Bobbi. I keep waiting for him to figure that out.”
“Abby, I am not the meddling type, and you haven’t asked me for an opinion.”
“That’s okay. I’d love to hear it.”
She smiled and patted Abby’s hand. “Let him love you. He’s going to anyway.”
Friday, September 21
Laurie decided she could squeeze in one more phone call to her husband before the kids started to arrive. “Any word yet?” Laurie kept an eye on the door for the Building Blocks’ early arrivals.
“No. They’ve started the surgery, but it’ll be a few more hours.”
“How are Chuck and Bobbi?”
“Okay. It’s just tough to wait, you know.”
“I’ll keep praying. Call me when you hear something.”
“You bet. Love you!”
“Love you, too.” Laurie slipped her phone into her pants pocket just as the front door swung open. Jack Ravenna hopped through the doorway, backpack in one hand, and lunchbox in the other. “Jack! You’re early!”
“My mom didn’t push the snooze button for a change!” He shoved his things in a cubby, and skipped outside like every other morning.
Laurie waved to Tracy as she came in. “Do you have just a minute?” Laurie asked.
“Am I in trouble again?”
“No.” Laurie opened the office door. Tracy stepped inside, but didn’t sit. “Chuck’s mother had a heart attack yesterday afternoon, and she’s having triple bypass surgery this morning.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Tracy said.
“I’m sure Chuck will be in touch, but I just thought you should know. Jack may take the news hard.”
Tracy nodded. “He was thrilled to have a grandmother. Which hospital is she at?”
“Christian.”
“I’ll let Chuck handle telling Jack. Otherwise, we’ll just go on with our regular plans.”
In the tiny waiting room, Gavin and Glen, and the boys and Abby, joined Bobbi and Chuck, waiting, pacing, and blankly watching the morning news on the muted television. Bobbi brought a stack of school papers, but memories of her own mother’s final stay in the hospital and Chuck’s unspoken nervousness made it impossible to concentrate.
She saw Tracy before anyone else did.
Tracy swept into the room, wearing the same snakeskin shoes she’d worn to the court hearing, only with a different suit this time. Almost in slow motion, Bobbi saw her sons’ heads turn, and their jaws drop. No one had to explain to them who the woman was. Glen Dillard must have sensed it as well, because he stood, and moved to intercept her, but Tracy stopped a step away from Chuck.
“Tracy? Why ... uh ... what are you doing here?” Chuck glanced back in Bobbi’s direction, but she sat immobilized in her chair.
“
I’m not some heartless monster, Chuck. I heard about your mother’s heart attack and surgery, and I wanted to tell you in person that I hope everything goes well for her.”
“Thank you,” Chuck said. “About Jack ...”
“You do what you need to do. Just let the case worker know when you want to reschedule.”
“If this goes as it should, I still planned to be there.”
“Oh?” Tracy raised an eyebrow. “Well then, I hope to see you this afternoon.” She turned to Gavin and nodded. “Mr. Heatley, good to see you again.” Bobbi’s stomach tightened as Tracy faced her. “Mrs. Molinsky.” Tracy hesitated at the door just long enough to smile at Brad and Joel, and then she was gone.
Silence hung over the frozen room. Bobbi wanted to speak, but only half sentences would form in her mind. I cannot believe ... Of all the ... Smiling at Joel and Brad ... Oh! That woman!
“Bobbi, are you okay?” She never noticed Chuck slipped into the seat beside her.
“I’m trying to remember I’m a Christian woman.”
Chuck smiled. “Thank you for not decking her. I’d hate for us to get kicked out during Mom’s bypass.”
“Your mother would understand.”
CHAPTER 16
REVIVAL
“She won’t get in here again, Mom.” Brad blocked the waiting room doorway, his arms across his chest.
“She won’t be back,” Bobbi said. “She accomplished what she wanted to.” Just dropping a quick reminder that she owned them. There would be no rest, no opportunity to let down their guard. Ever.
“How could you just sit there like that, Mom?” Joel asked. “You have tremendous restraint.”
“Unlike your sister,” Gavin added.
“No, I just have slow reflexes,” Bobbi said.
“Is she always like that? Real snide?” Joel asked.
“She was pretty tame today.”
“Mr. Molinsky?” Brad had stepped aside to allow a nurse to enter the waiting room. “I just wanted to give you an update. Things are progressing right on schedule. Your mother’s doing well. How long has it been since her first heart attack?”
“Her first? It was yesterday afternoon,” Chuck answered.
“No,” the nurse said, “that was actually her second. The doctor found some old scar tissue.”
“You can’t tell how old?”
“No. Did she have chest pain with this one?”
Chuck looked to Bobbi. “No, mostly nausea and just general weakness,” she answered. “So you can have a heart attack without knowing it?”
The nurse nodded. “It’s possible, especially if it’s mild and the symptoms are atypical. You might ask her if she remembers any issues that resolved themselves, especially jaw pain. Now can I answer any questions for you?”
“Is this an off-pump procedure?” Joel asked.
The nurse smiled at him. “Yes, it is.”
“Good, especially at her age.” Joel stuffed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans in satisfaction.
“Joel? What are you talking about?” Bobbi stared at him.
“Oh, it’s just there’s an easier recovery, and less chance for memory loss. I studied up on it last night.”
“Pre-med,” Chuck whispered to the nurse. “Thinks he knows everything.”
“Wait until he graduates,” the nurse said. “It just gets worse. I should be back out in another hour or so to tell you they’re finishing things up.”
“Thank you,” Chuck said.
Moments after the nurse left, Rita Heatley came into the waiting room. “Any news?”
“Hey,” Bobbi said, crossing the room to hug her sister. “You just missed the nurse. She said everything was going well, but that Ann had a heart attack some time ago, and we never knew it.”
“You’re kidding. They don’t know when?”
“No, we’ll have to talk to her after this is all over.”
“Oh, Shannon sends kisses and kisses. She did fine last night, and practically got herself ready for school.”
“Speaking of school,” Gavin said to his wife. “Since you’re here now, I’m going to go ahead.” He turned to shake hands with Chuck and Glen. “Keep me posted.”
“Thanks for being here,” Chuck said. “Don’t know what we’d do without you guys.”
“Even Rita?”
“Even Rita,” Chuck said.
Parked in front of the family courts building, Chuck reviewed his paperwork one last time before heading inside for his appointment with Tracy and the caseworker. He wanted to believe that Tracy stopped at the hospital out of genuine concern, but he knew she didn’t make a move that wasn’t carefully calculated.
He expected Tracy to explode when she read his requests, but that was the first rule of negotiating - ask for everything. In reality, he could live with the status quo as long as they could come to a reasonable arrangement for the holidays.
Of course, he arrived at the office first. Tracy never passed up an opportunity to make an entrance. He walked in and gave the receptionist his name, then took a seat. Moments later, a woman opened a side door and introduced herself. “I’m Connie Houser. Is Ms. Ravenna here, yet?”
“No, but I’m sure she will be,” Chuck answered. In the next moment, as if she’d been waiting for her cue, Tracy came in the office. “See,” Chuck said quietly.
“Ms. Ravenna, I’m Connie Houser. If you’ll step back to my office we’ll get started.” Chuck held the door for Tracy, and she smiled at him as she walked through.
Chuck followed the two women to a small office. Ms. Houser waited for him to close the door, then she handed each of them a packet of papers.
“You each have a copy of both parenting plans,” she said. “I’ll give you a moment to look through them before we get started.”
For several minutes, the only sound in the room was rustling papers, but then Chuck noticed Tracy was flipping pages much more rapidly than he was. “Who do you think you are?” she said to him, slamming her papers down on the desk. “Did you think I was just going to sign this without reading it?”
“Now Tracy ...” Chuck began.
“Don’t start with me! I know how you operate.” She pointed a finger at him, her eyes narrowing. “I know how to negotiate too, and I am not going to roll over and die for you like your wife does.”
“That’s out of line!” Chuck said.
“Ms. Ravenna!” Ms. Houser broke in. “Mr. Molinsky, let’s stick to the task at hand. Obviously, there are some differences in your plans. But we need to come up with one that is in Jack’s best interests, regardless of how you feel about each other.”
“I will not accept equal time parenting,” Tracy said. “He can forget it. He should be thankful for what he has now.”
“Ms. Ravenna, you misunderstand the process,” Ms. Houser said. “Mr. Molinsky is not asking you for these rights. He’s asking the court, and the court, Judge Swift, will make the final decision.”
“You just try to take Jack,” Tracy said quietly.
“I’m not trying to take him,” Chuck said. “He needs two parents, that’s all.”
“No, your sanctimonious presumption is that a single mother can’t provide a home as well as you can.” Tracy stood up, and leaned over Chuck. “You’re wrong. I am a good mother.” She threw her packet of papers in his lap and walked out, slamming the door behind her.
“What just happened?” Chuck asked, bewildered.
“I was hoping you knew,” Ms. Houser said. “Has her fitness ever been questioned?”
“No. She loves Jack, and I’m sure she does the best she can for him.” He straightened his packet out, and handed Tracy’s back to Ms. Houser. “I didn’t even have a chance to absorb what she put in her plan.”
“It’s not that far from yours. I think if you gradually increased your parenting time over the next few years, she would agree to it.”
“I’d be amenable to that. You want to work out a schedule then?”
“Let
’s see ... you’re back with the judge on the eighteenth ... Let’s try the sixteenth.”
“Apparently, it’s best if she and I don’t meet,” Chuck said. “You have my number. I’ll just wait to hear from you.”
Bobbi pulled the door of Ann’s room almost closed, just as Chuck rounded the corner. “Is she awake?” he asked quietly.
“No, she’s slept fairly well while you were gone. How’d it go?”
“She was Mr. Hyde this afternoon. She went off saying she was a good mother, and that I was self-righteous, insinuating I could provide a better home.”
“You can.”
“That’s beside the point. It was like she just snapped.”
“That’s the kind of thing I worry about. Does she do this to Jack too?”
“I don’t know,” he rubbed his eyes, and sighed. “I wonder who she’ll be when I go pick Jack up.” Chuck eased into one of the chairs in the waiting room, and yawned. “Did Joel take Abby back already?”
“Yes, they left right after you did. Brad went to pick up Shannon at school.” Bobbi glanced at the clock on the wall. “In fact, they should be here soon.” She took a seat next to her husband, and leaned her head on his shoulder. “So what’s the plan for the weekend?”
“Honestly, I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”
“I can stay here with your mother tonight and tomorrow night. That way, you can be home with Jack. Rita said she’d stay if we needed her.” When Chuck didn’t immediately answer, Bobbi turned to face him. His eyes were closed and his breathing was deep and rhythmic. She kissed his cheek lightly. “I’m surprised you made it this long.”
“I wanna see Grandma!” Shannon said as she bounced into the waiting room, leaving Brad several steps behind.
Bobbi hugged her tightly, and then kissed the top of her head. “Shhhh,” Bobbi whispered. “Daddy’s asleep.”
“How could he be sleeping?”
“He’s very tired. I don’t think he slept last night, and he and I were here this morning way before the sun came up.”
Indemnity: Book Two: Covenant of Trust Series Page 20
