Open Arms

by Traci DePree

  “Exactly.” Dot cut in from her station at the sink. “It seems that every other year I hear about some teenager who’s pregnant or into drugs. It’s just a shame what those kids get themselves into.” She turned her plump body to the side and caught Kate’s gaze.

  “Have you heard anything recently?” Kate asked, her heartbeat picking up.

  “Well, no, can’t say that I have. But it’s just a matter of time.”

  When Kate glanced at Kim, she noticed that she was shaking. Her back was turned to Kate.

  “Kim...,” Kate said, placing a hand on the young woman’s shoulder.

  Kim shrank from her touch.

  “What’s wrong?” Kate whispered.

  Kim shook her head, so Kate leaned next to her ear and whispered, “Would you like to talk about it outside?”

  The young woman nodded, and they moved onto the front walk of the old house.

  “What’s going on?” Kate asked.

  Kim drew a shuddering breath and wiped a hand across her cheek. Her eyes searched some distant spot before she spoke. “It’s just hard to hear about others being pregnant when it’s the one thing I want so desperately.”

  Kim lifted her eyes. The sadness there broke Kate’s heart. She embraced Kim in a long hug and the young woman shook with sobs.

  “I’m sorry,” Kim finally said. “Volunteering was supposed to help me forget about my woes. And here I am bawling my eyes out.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Kate assured her.

  Kim shook her head. “I don’t know, I guess I’ve always pictured Chad and me as parents. It’s hard to give that up.”

  “Of course it is.”

  “Do you think our time will ever come?”

  “That’s hard to say,” Kate said. “But you can’t stress over what you can’t control.”

  Kate wished she could tell Kim about Mouse’s baby, but Mouse had given no indication that she was ready or willing to talk about adoption, and until that time came, Kate couldn’t bring it up.

  After Kim calmed down, Kate placed an arm around her shoulders and led her back into the house, where the smells of baking pork chops and thyme filled the air.

  She watched Kim as she returned to her work.

  Was Kate’s hope that Mouse’s baby would find a home with the Lewises simply a dream? What if Mouse never agreed to the idea?

  Kate shook her head. Even if this couple wasn’t meant to adopt the baby, Mouse still needed a friend. That had to be her focus along with helping the Lewises find the plan that God had for them, regardless of what that plan was.

  AFTER THEY’D FINISHED making the food, Kate and Kim packed the boxes to deliver. There were ten names on the list for the day. The recipients changed from week to week, although some remained constant, such as Old Man Parsons. Kate noted that Mr. and Mrs. Edward Williams were on the list and decided to deliver their meal last so she could chat with them. Perhaps they could offer some answers about Ashley.

  Kate and Kim tucked the meals into two coolers, then carted them out to Kate’s black Honda. The other ladies would clean up the kitchen.

  They climbed into the car, and Kate handed the list of names to the younger woman.

  “You can navigate,” she said. “It should be listed in order of where the houses are arranged in town, but let’s do the Williamses’ last.”

  Most of the stops were quick and easy, with a knock on the door and a few minutes of chitchat to make sure everyone was doing well.

  Finally they came to the tiny one-story house where the Williamses lived. Kate parked the car and looked at the blue bungalow. The house was set back in a large lot, with maple trees lining the drive and gnarled oaks here and there as if planted by squirrels instead of any kind of landscape design. The backyard dropped away toward Copper Mill Creek.

  Kate and Kim made their way to the front door. The curtains were closed, and the house appeared empty at first, until Kate heard the sound of shuffling feet and a woman’s voice saying, “I’m coming, I’m coming.”

  The woman opened the door and smiled when she saw Kate. “I’m Doris,” she said, holding a hand out to her.

  The woman was a tiny thing, barely ninety pounds. She had a short haircut and brown eyes that sparked with mischief and life.

  “I’m glad to meet you,” Kate said. “I’m Kate Hanlon, and this is Kim Lewis.” She handed the woman her meals.

  “It’s so nice of you to bring our food,” Doris went on. “Our Ashley used to come home from work every day to make lunch for us, but that just wasn’t fair to her. She has enough to do at that vet clinic without all the hubbub of preparing our meals.”

  Kate smiled. “You have a dedicated daughter,” she said honestly.

  “Most people think that she’s our granddaughter,” Doris began, and Kate saw a gentleman with a walker move up behind her. “Oh, this is Edward, my husband.”

  She turned toward the man, who dipped his head to Kate and Kim and said, “Hello.”

  He had a deep voice that carried authority, and despite the constant shaking of his body, he was a noble-looking man. His eyes held intelligence and kindness, and when he looked at his wife, Kate could see years of devotion in his gaze.

  Doris continued, “We were in our late forties when Ashley was born...It’s a long story.”

  Kate wondered for a moment if it was a story that might be helpful to Kim, but then she decided to let it go. Kim didn’t need any more reminders of her infertility.

  “Maybe we could talk sometime,” Kate said, hoping Doris would take the bait.

  Doris opened the door wider. “Come on in. We’d enjoy the company.”

  Kate exchanged glances with Kim. “Do you have somewhere you need to be?” she asked.

  Kim said no, so they went inside. The first thing that struck Kate was the stunning view from the living room. The north side of the house was one long room with divided-pane windows facing the valley. Whoever had designed the place was an expert on lighting, because sunlight flooded the space, making it feel almost like being in the great outdoors. The misty valley and distant hills spread out before them.

  The room was decorated with handmade crafts everywhere and porcelain figurines of birds and cats and assorted farm animals placed on shelves throughout the space.

  Doris led them to the dining room, where she and Edward had already set the table for lunch.

  “It seems rude of us to eat in front of you,” she said.

  “Oh, we ate at the Bixby House,” Kate said. “Don’t worry about us.” She smiled at Kim, who seemed a bit stiff and unusually quiet.

  “We don’t have much company these days,” Doris said, handing Edward a napkin. “The Parkinson’s has really taken its toll,” she added in a low tone meant just for Kate.

  They bowed their heads for a quick prayer, then looked up. Edward dug into his pork chop, his hand shaking while Doris sipped her lemonade.

  “So, what did you want to talk about?” Doris said.

  “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Ashley. Does she have many friends her own age?” Kate asked. “I know she’s friends with Ronda...”

  “How do you know Ashley?” Edward asked as if just entering the conversation.

  Kate smiled. “I was at the vet clinic with a friend recently, and Ashley and I got to talking. She’s helping with the afterprom party I’m organizing for the Copper Mill High School students.”

  “Yes, she told us about that. That’s just like her, isn’t it?” Doris turned to her husband.

  Edward’s eyes twinkled. He winked at Kate. “Doris is a proud mama,” he said.

  “Do you have any children, Kate?” Doris asked.

  “I have three,” Kate said. “A son and two daughters.”

  She glanced at Kim and didn’t miss the hint of pain that crossed her eyes.

  “So,” Kate said, wanting to return the subject to Ashley, “what were you saying about Ashley’s friendships?”

  “Oh, right. She doesn’t have
as many friends as when she was in high school. She does have a boyfriend, but he hasn’t come around lately. Carl...what is his last name?” Doris looked to her husband who gave her a blank look. “He’s older than her. Nice young man.”

  Doris paused to take a bite of her vegetables. “She hasn’t said anything about him lately.”

  “What’s their relationship like?” Kate asked.

  “Ashley sure is smitten,” Doris said. “They better hurry up and get married, or I’ll never have grandchildren.”

  The irony of her words wasn’t lost on Kate. She glanced at Edward, who had been quiet through much of the meal. He seemed a no-nonsense sort of man, who spoke only when absolutely necessary, and if he did, those around had better take heed. He raised a fork to his mouth, his hand shaking visibly, and Kate realized that even if he wasn’t a judgmental man, any daughter would be crushed if she hurt him.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Finally Mouse responded to Kate’s message. A letter was waiting in Kate’s home mailbox that afternoon when she got home from the Williamses’. It seemed forever since her last message, though in reality it had only been a few days.

  Kate studied the Copper Mill postmark and the penmanship that had become so familiar before sliding her finger inside the flap and opening the envelope. It was the same Hello Kitty stationery as the first letter. It read:

  Dear Mrs. Hanlon,

  I’m writing a letter to you because the computer at my house isn’t working right, and I haven’t been able to get to the library to write from there. You’ve probably wondered what happened to me. I know you’re trying to reach out to me. A part of me is glad for that, but another part—a very big part—is scared. Adults say things that they don’t mean all the time. I’m not trying to accuse you of anything, but I can’t have you telling my parents what’s going on. I just can’t.

  Before, the pregnancy didn’t seem real. Oh, I knew I was pregnant, but now I’m seeing it for myself. My body is starting to change, and I’ve been feeling sick. I wake up feeling green. Someone is bound to get suspicious. I snuck a box of saltine crackers into my room so I can eat them before I get up in the morning. Everyone is too busy to notice that anything is different with me, but I know my dad. He sees everything, like a hawk. He watches me. I think he might suspect already.

  I have to tell him. I know I do. I don’t know what I’m waiting for—maybe a miracle? You’re a pastor’s wife—could you pray for a miracle for me? I suppose not. If God had wanted me to have a miracle, he would’ve thought of that before all this happened.

  I’ve been thinking about what you said about adoption. I tried to look online at some adoption agencies before our computer got wonky. I don’t know. It’s hard to think about having this baby, but then it’s hard to think of giving my baby to a total stranger.

  So, I guess all of this is to say that I want you to keep writing to me, but please don’t ask who I am. Your e-mails are the only thing I have to hold on to right now. I am so alone.

  Mouse

  Kate closed her eyes and said a prayer right there for the girl. It was so hard to leave her in the hands of God when she wanted to help her. Yet she knew she didn’t have a choice.

  KATE STOPPED IN at the Mercantile later that afternoon. She had a few groceries to pick up for her and Paul, and she wanted to talk to Sam Gorman. The bell above the door tinkled when she entered the cluttered store. Arlene Jacobs was at the counter checking customers out.

  “Is Sam around?” Kate asked her when she’d finished with the customer she was helping.

  “He’s in the back.”

  When Kate neared the meat section, she caught sight of him standing in front of the swinging saloon doors that separated the main store from the back stockroom.

  The store owner was a stocky man with a permanent tan and a ready smile. He reminded Kate of a sea captain. The lines around his eyes deepened when he smiled.

  “Is there something I can help you find, Kate?” Sam asked.

  “Actually, Sam,” Kate said. “There is something I was wondering if you could help me with.” She pulled the second letter from her purse and held it out to Sam. “Do you carry this kind of stationery?” With the first letter, she didn’t have reason to think that the stationery itself might be significant, but since both letters bore the same design, Kate figured there might be a bigger theme going on.

  Sam glanced at it, nodding almost immediately. Kate tucked it back in her handbag before he could read its intimate contents.

  “It’s over here.” Sam led the way to the aisle that contained school supplies and stationery.

  “I hardly pegged you as a Hello Kitty kind of person, Kate,” Sam teased as he pointed out the stationery on a shelf near the bottom.

  “It’s not for me,” Kate said, not wanting to go into too much detail. “Have you carried this kind for long?”

  “No,” Sam said, “I’d say we started carrying it within the last couple of months. Why?”

  “No reason,” Kate said. “Do you know who might’ve bought some?”

  “Kate, are you sleuthing again?” Sam raised an eyebrow.

  Kate smirked. “Maybe...”

  “The paper’s popular with all the young girls. It could’ve been anyone. Hello Kitty, I would say, is more for the young set.”

  “Or maybe if it’s an older girl it’s someone who isn’t afraid of being out of sync with her peers. . . ,” Kate added, distracted by her churning thoughts.

  AS SHE MADE HER WAY down Main Street toward the veterinarian clinic to see Ashley, Kate couldn’t get her mind off her talk with Sam. Ashley Williams didn’t strike Kate as the kind of young woman who wasn’t afraid to stand out. She was more a tan-and-khaki kind of girl. Maybe even camouflage.

  Yet the clues all added up.

  Ashley lifted her eyes from the computer screen when Kate came in. Her brow furrowed, and she said, “Mrs. Hanlon, did you finally get a dog?”

  “No,” Kate laughed, realizing it probably did seem odd to come to a vet clinic without an animal in tow.

  “Your hair is back to normal.”

  “Yes, it feels good not to look like a carrot.”

  The dark-haired girl laughed, and Kate smiled, imagining herself with an actual carrot on her head.

  “So...,” Ashley finally said, “what brings you here?” She raised her eyebrows in question.

  “Actually, I dropped by to see you. I saw your folks earlier today.”

  “Is Dad okay?” Ashley started to rise.

  “Oh, they’re fine,” Kate assured, motioning for her to sit back down. “I was delivering their Faith Freezer meals.”

  Ashley placed a hand on her chest. “I always worry about Dad,” she said, releasing a heavy breath.

  “Did you ever tell them that you passed out at the church?” Kate asked.

  “Oh...” Ashley shrugged. “No, I didn’t. I didn’t want to worry them. I’m okay now anyway.”

  “But there had to be a reason for it. People don’t just pass out for no reason.” Kate knew she was pushing. She hoped it would be the encouragement the girl needed.

  “I’m fine now.” Her lower lip quivered, and she turned her face away.

  “Ashley...What’s wrong?”

  “Like I said, it’s nothing. I think you should go.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  After getting dinner started Kate decided to make bread pudding for the counseling session with Kim and Chad that night. It was a rich recipe that called for day-old croissants and heavy whipping cream, with raisins scattered throughout.

  Its tantalizing scent began to fill the kitchen as Kate plugged in her laptop computer to check her messages on FriendsForever. She waited for the connection, then clicked on the link.

  Kate stared at the words on the screen. It had been sent earlier in the day, before she’d gone to see Ashley.

  I’ve been thinking about what to do. Whether I should raise my baby or maybe...It’s hard to even consider it. Bu
t maybe adoption is the way to go. I don’t know anything about adoption...Do you? I don’t know if it’s something I’d want to do or not, and yet I wonder if it would be a better choice for my baby.

  Tell me about this couple. What are they like? Do you really think they’d be interested in adopting my baby?

  Mouse

  Kate closed her eyes, praying she hadn’t destroyed all she’d worked so hard to build. Then she reread the e-mail.

  She knew the words must have been hard for the girl to write, and Kate’s heart ached for her. What sort of pain would Kate have suffered if she’d given one of her three children to strangers to raise?

  Kim and Chad Lewis’ faces came to mind. Kate didn’t want to tread where God didn’t intend, and yet something inside her told her it was right. The time had come.

  Kate did some online research to gather local information on adoption for herself as much as for Mouse and the Lewises, should they be interested. She found a reputable adoption agency’s site in Chattanooga. She’d heard of the agency before and knew them to be above board. She clicked on the link that said “Are You Pregnant?” The next page contained information on finding counseling, talking to an adoption attorney, as well as getting prenatal care and additional health insurance.

  Kate copied the hyperlink and sent it to Mouse.

  WHEN KIM AND CHAD LEWIS came for their counseling session, they seemed to be doing much better. They sat a little closer on the couch and were even holding hands.

  “So,” Paul clapped his hands and leaned forward in his chair. “How has this week gone?”

  Kim smiled. “It’s been a good week,” she began. “Helping with the car wash and at the Faith Freezer...You were right about getting the focus off of our problems. It was really good for us, for me.”

  Chad squeezed her hand, though his smile seemed somewhat tentative. Kate looked at him and wondered if there was something he wanted to say, but then he turned to study his wife while she spoke.

  “My insecurity has been ruining our marriage,” Kim confessed. “I surprised Chad with a picnic lunch earlier this week, but when I saw how buried he was in work and how stressed, I realized I was being ridiculous.”