Her nerves had taken a beating all last night and this morning. Now she was waiting on Molly to come off the plane with her escort.
Her phone rang and she jumped. She saw it was Katie. “Hello?”
“Hey, Erica. I know you’re at the airport waiting on Molly, but I thought you should know Denise didn’t make it.”
Erica’s breath whooshed from her lungs. Sorrow and anger swirled inside her. She closed her eyes and felt Max settle a hand on her shoulder. She said, “Thanks for letting me know.”
“Sure. Let me know how everything goes, okay?”
“Yes. I will.”
They hung up and she looked at Max. “Denise died.”
His jaw tightened and he nodded. “I don’t know whether to say I’m sorry or not.”
“I don’t know, either. I’m sorry for our lost friendship. I’m sorry I didn’t see her pain. I’m sorry for a lot of things.” She stared toward the door she knew Molly would walk through. “I’m not sorry I’m getting my daughter back, though.” Her chest tight with anxiety, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “How did you manage to keep the media out of this?”
Max shot her a smug smile. “The press loves a leak.”
She lifted a brow. “Huh?”
“We fed them false information. We booked Molly on two flights and told the press she was coming in at the Columbia Airport.”
“You’re amazing.”
His eyes lit up at her words, and he leaned over to lay a kiss on her lips. “I think you’re pretty special, too. We have a lot to talk about.”
Her heart thundered in her ears. “Like what?”
“Like us.”
“There’s an us?”
Another kiss, this one long and lingering, took her breath away. She could feel the flush on her cheeks. He grinned and said, “There’s definitely an us.”
“Okay, I’ll go with that.”
He sat back and settled his right ankle onto his left knee. “Good.”
“Is she here yet?” a familiar voice asked.
Erica twisted to her left to see her mother standing there uncertainly, her father right beside her mother. Erica blinked at them.
Her mother offered a wobbly smile. “Max called us.”
At first Erica couldn’t find any words. When she’d made the decision to let the past go, she’d wondered if she would be able to do it. Now, seeing her parents’ pleading expressions softened her heart. She nodded. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Her father’s jaw loosened and his eyes crinkled at the corners. “Thank you, Erica. We are, too.”
She waved at the empty chairs beside her. “Have a seat. Her plane is going to land any minute.” She looked at Max. “Thank you.”
“Sure.”
The four sat down. “Where’s Brandon?” her father asked.
“He’s here somewhere.” Before it could become awkward, Erica asked, “Did you go see Peter?”
Her mother nodded. “Yes, we did.”
“How is he today?”
“Recovering.” Erica shot another glance at the time on her phone. Her mother reached over and clasped her hand. “I’m so sorry it was Denise.”
Tears threatened, but Erica refused to let them fall. She’d cried enough last night. Her headache had eased with a painkiller prescribed by the doctor, but a crying jag this morning had brought it back full force. She didn’t want to cry now and chance starting it up again. “I am, too. I never would have thought in a million years she would have been the one.”
“She tried to frame Peter,” her dad said. The anger under the words took her by surprise. She thought her parents had given up on her brother.
“Yes, she stole his car and tried to make it look like he was the one trying to kill me.”
Her dad nodded. “He told us he was trying to warn you at the mall. He’d gone to the hospital to see Denise’s father and overheard her apologizing for taking Molly.”
“What?” Erica gasped.
“Peter said he couldn’t call you immediately, but was trying to get away from someone he was with so he could let you know. He said later he kept dialing your number, but you didn’t answer. He called your office looking for you, and Rachel told him where you were.”
“And he came to the mall to warn me.”
“Only he was too late.”
Erica swallowed hard. “If only I hadn’t ignored his calls.” She shook her head. “Denise betrays me and tries to frame Peter to make it look like he was the one who took Molly. Unbelievable.”
“Almost worked, too,” Max said to her parents. “Only Erica’s unwavering belief in her brother convinced me of his innocence.”
When she’d gone to see Peter at the hospital last night, he’d awakened briefly. He’d looked at her and recognized her, and whispered something about having tried to warn her, but Erica didn’t know what to make of his words. They were the only ones he’d managed before lapsing into unconsciousness.
The doctor had come in and said how lucky he was to be alive.
Her parents were here. Her brother was going to be okay. And her daughter was finally coming home.
*
Max paced and checked his watch, paced some more and checked the flight board. Officers stood by, and security was tight. All was as it should be.
The news ran clips of Molly’s pending arrival in Columbia. Max smiled. He loved it when a plan worked out. He knew the media would swarm Erica’s house when they realized they’d been duped, but for now, they’d have this time together. A private reunion with just family.
And him.
He hoped someday that he would be family to Erica. Some day soon.
He hadn’t even met her little girl and already he had visions of being a father to her. It scared him to death, bringing out insecurities he thought he’d dealt with ages ago.
But even all that couldn’t drive him away.
“What are you thinking?” Erica murmured as she stood next to him to look out the window.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and took a deep breath. “I can’t believe how much I’ve come to care for you in such a short time, Erica. I don’t even know how to describe it.”
She smiled, a serene look in her eyes lighting her entire face. The shadows were gone, and anticipation had taken their place. “I know what you mean. I feel the same way.”
“I want to take you out on a real date. I want us to get to know each other without all the craziness of danger and worry.”
“I do, too.” A frown puckered her forehead.
“What is it?” he asked.
“What about my work at the shelter? Are you going to be all right with that?”
He sighed. “I won’t say I’m crazy about the idea, but I’m not totally opposed to it anymore. I may just have to hire a bodyguard to keep you company on the days you work there.”
She laughed. “Silly.”
He shrugged. “We’ll work it out.” He leaned down and gave her a kiss, and then nodded toward the arrival board. “Erica, she’s here.”
*
Erica held her breath as she waited for Molly’s sweet face to appear. It seemed to take forever, but suddenly there she was. Tears clogged her throat and her breath hitched.
A young woman in her late twenties held Molly’s hand. Erica wanted to rush forward and scoop the little girl up and never let her go again.
But she couldn’t do that. Because her daughter didn’t know her.
Erica approached slowly. Max stayed behind her. Everyone around her faded away except her precious baby girl. Erica dropped to her knees in front of her.
“Hi, Molly,” she said.
“Hi.” Molly cocked her head. “Who are you?”
“I’m…” She couldn’t say your mother. That wouldn’t be fair to Molly—it would just confuse her, maybe even scare her. Erica shut her pain down and finished with, “Erica.”
A brilliant smile lit Molly’s face. “I know you.”
E
rica gulped. “You do?”
“Uh-huh.” Molly nodded her red curls. “I dream about you.”
Erica felt a tear slip down her cheek and swiped it away. “You do?”
“Yes. You always smile in my dreams.”
Erica felt a smile slip across her lips. What a wonderful gift the Lord had given her. Molly remembered her.
Then Molly frowned. “Where’s my mom?”
Erica held out a hand and Molly looked uncertain for only a moment. Then she took it. Erica nearly lost her breath at the fact that she was touching her child for the first time in three years. “Molly, I have some very sad news for you. Your mommy…died.”
Molly’s eyes went wide and tears hovered. “She did?”
“I’m very sorry, sweetie.”
Molly scrubbed her eyes. “But I already don’t have a daddy.”
Erica gulped. “Well, if you would like to think about it, maybe one day you could think of me as your mommy.”
“I don’t know.” Her frown deepened and her bottom lip poked out. “I want my real mommy.”
Erica backpedaled. “Well, you think about it. Will you do that?”
Molly sniffled. “Okay.”
“I know this is very hard for you, Molly, but I think you’re going to like living with me….” She turned and held out a hand to Max. “With us.”
“Live with you?” Uncertainty flickered and she shook her head. “I want my mom.”
Tears fell and Erica wiped them away, her heart breaking at her child’s distress. “I’m so sorry, honey. I really am.”
Molly scrubbed her eyes and shifted her gaze to Max. “Who’re you?”
“I’m Max.”
“Max.” Molly nodded. “I like that name. It starts with M, like mine.”
“So it does.”
Erica knew Molly would have to process everything and would need professional counseling to come through this, but right now the little girl seemed to be handling everything pretty well. She decided to keep moving forward. “You want to meet some more people?”
Molly stayed quiet and shy while Erica introduced her to her grandparents and Uncle Brandon. Then Molly looked at her. “There’re too many people. Will you hold me?”
With near reverence, Erica picked her little girl up and held her next to her heart. “You’re very precious, you know that?”
“I’m tired.” She laid her head against Erica’s shoulder.
“Then let’s go home.” Erica almost couldn’t breathe, her joy was so intense.
Max settled his hands on her shoulders and leaned in to press a kiss to her temple. “Come on. I’m driving.”
“I’ll ride in the back with Molly.”
Molly lifted her head and eyed Max. “Do you like dogs?”
“I sure do.”
Her eyes widened. “Do you have one?”
“No, but I’m getting one next week. Would you like to name him?”
“Her.”
“That’s what I meant. Would you like to name her?”
A grin slid across Molly’s lips and she gave a shy nod. “I’d call her Penelope.”
Erica smothered a giggle at Max’s wide-eyed expression. But he didn’t miss a beat. “I think that’s the perfect name for a dog.”
“What kind is she?”
“What kind do you want?”
“A golden retriever, of course.”
“Of course.”
Erica’s heart swelled with love and prayers of thanksgiving as the two kept up their conversation all the way to the car.
EPILOGUE
Max held the large fork and carving knife as he looked around the dining room table. Love for his family squeezed his heart. Or what would soon be his family, once he married Erica.
He was having the Thanksgiving he’d always wanted.
Erica, happy and flushed from her work in the kitchen, grinned at him. Molly leaned against her mother, her smile coming more often over the past couple of days—especially since the addition of Penelope, better known as Nellie. The two-year-old golden retriever sat at the back door and watched over the proceedings with a proprietary air. Max had adopted her from the humane society the day after Molly’s arrival. He’d never forget the look on Molly’s face when he’d brought the dog over. One of stunned disbelief and overwhelming joy. The dog had already been house trained and fit right in with her new family. She was even starting to answer to Nellie.
Erica’s parents sat across from Brandon, who had surprised everyone and agreed to come to dinner.
“I…uh…guess I should say something profound, but my stomach is growling so loud I don’t know if you would hear any of it,” Max said.
“So cut the turkey already,” Peter teased. Max thought he looked exceptionally good for a recovering addict.
“Yeah, come on, Max. We’re starving,” Lydia chimed in. She, too, had bright eyes and a smile on her face.
Max took a deep breath. “Let’s pray and I’ll get started.”
They bowed their heads, and Max said, “Lord, we come to You as we are. Broken and sinful, but with the hope that You can take what we are and make it into something beautiful. Thank You for this day of giving thanks. Thank You for the reminder that we need to stop and take inventory of all that we have been blessed with. Thank You for this food, thank You for life, thank You for family. But most of all, thank You for Your son, Jesus. Amen.”
“Amen,” Molly echoed.
Laughter filled the room and with joy in his heart, Max began to carve the bird.
Hours later, Erica and Max sat on her porch swing, a space heater aimed at their feet and a blanket wrapped around their shoulders. The moon peeked between the clouds, and Erica breathed a sigh of contentment.
“Today was amazing,” Max said.
“It was a good day, wasn’t it?”
“I think it’s probably the best one I’ve ever had.”
Erica leaned her head against his shoulder and said, “Molly really seemed to bond with Lydia.”
“I wonder if she remembers her a little.”
“Maybe. Her counselor said she’s doing really well.”
“I heard her laugh while y’all were making the sugar cookies.”
Erica smiled. “I opened the flour and squeezed the bag a little too hard. That flour shot out like a volcano erupting.”
They shared a laugh and a sweet kiss.
Max pulled back a little. “So…I have a question for you.”
She looked up at him and lifted a brow. “What’s that?”
He slid off the swing and knelt on the floor of the porch. Erica’s eyes went wide. He took her hand in his and cleared his throat.
“Erica, we’ve been through a lot, and maybe this is a little fast, but I’ve fallen hard for you. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone before. I want to spend the rest of my days with you, in sickness and health. I want to walk together with you through whatever the future holds. I want you to be the mother of my children. And I want to be Molly’s daddy.” He reached up and swiped a tear she couldn’t blink back. A shuddering breath escaped her. “I was wondering if you would marry me. Soon.”
Erica swallowed hard. He was right…it was fast. But she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with this man. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt. “I love you, too.” She gave a shaky laugh. “I would be honored to be your wife, Max.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, shiny diamond ring. He slipped it on her trembling finger and then placed a sweet kiss on her lips.
“You two sure do that kissing stuff a lot.”
Molly’s voice interrupted the tender moment. Erica laughed and pulled away from Max to find Molly and Lydia watching them. Lydia’s eyes sparkled with mirth.
Erica held out her arms and Molly moved into them. “Well, you better get used it.” She grinned at Max. “Because it’s going to happen a lot more.”
Max grinned, then reached over to tickle Molly until she screamed with laughter.
Lydia joined in until they were all breathless. Nellie just watched them, tongue lolling to the side. Her golden eyes seemed to laugh at their silliness.
Lydia leaned back on the porch swing and shifted so she was in front of the heater. “I like this,” she said softly.
Max gave his sister a gentle smile. “Yeah. I do, too.”
“We’re a family, right?”
Max pulled Lydia up and then wrapped his strong arms around them all. “We’re definitely a family. It took a little bit to get us here, but now that we’ve found each other, we’re together forever. Deal?”
“Deal!”
Erica relished the unanimous shout and sent up her own silent thanks to the One who’d brought her family home—and Max Powell into her life.
*
Keep reading for an excerpt from Shock Wave by Dana Mentink
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for joining me on Max and Erica’s journey to find her daughter. And to find love. I touched on several themes in this story: jealousy, prejudice and judging others.
Jealousy was a big one. Erica was the type of person who made things happen for herself. Those who don’t have that type of personality resented it. I hope if you feel jealousy toward someone, you will be able to recognize that the other person probably has his or her own insecurities and be able to move past the jealousy.
All her life Erica felt unloved, unnoticed, invisible. What a tragic way to grow up. Sure, she was popular in high school, but deep inside she wondered what was wrong with her, why her parents weren’t interested in anything she ever did. As she got older, this hurt remained, even though she had a better understanding of what made her parents the way they were. However, thankfully, Erica learned she had value, that God cared for her as an individual and that she was valuable enough for Him to die for her.
She was able to put the past to rest and focus on her future. I pray if you have some hurt in your past that clings like an albatross that you will be able to let it go and be free to look toward the future with hope. Know that God loves you so very much and wants to give you the freedom to love yourself and others without baggage pulling you down.
Again, thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read Max and Erica’s story.
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