He squelched a growl and looked away from her. Besides, I’m not getting any younger. He smiled as he thought of his twenty-seventh birthday in just a few weeks. In truth, he had plenty of time to date her, but he wanted any excuse he could conjure to make Victoria Thankful Victoria Ratliff.
The concert ended, and a wisp of Victoria’s perfume washed over him. He glanced over and found her leaning close. “I’m going to run to the ladies room,” she whispered.
Chris swallowed to keep from grabbing her, pulling her into his lap, and keeping her there for all time. He nodded and watched as she walked away.
“Abby is improving by leaps and bounds.” A voice sounded from behind him.
Chris turned to find Mrs. Smith, Abby’s music teacher, addressing him. “Yes, she is doing better.”
“May I sit for a moment?” The older woman motioned toward Victoria’s chair.
“Sure.”
Mrs. Smith sat and clasped her hands in her lap. “I had been very worried about Abigail.”
Chris bit back a chuckle. He hadn’t heard anyone call her that in several years. In fact, the last time he recalled anyone calling her Abigail was when she’d sneaked a snake in the kitchen, nearly scaring their mother to death. Dad had come home and called for her using her full given name in order to come downstairs and receive her discipline.
“Since our father died and our mother left, I didn’t know how to handle Abby. Victoria, the lady who’s with me tonight, has done a world of good with her.”
“Yes, since that lady crashed into your life”—the older woman snorted at her own joke—“she has made quite a difference for both of you. I noticed your car in the parking lot.”
“Yep, she’s all fixed up.”
“That’s good. I heard you took Abigail to buy her dress, as well.” She smiled. “That was mighty brave of you. I’ve never been able to get my Bruce into a women’s clothing store.”
“Victoria made me see how much Abby needed me. How she needed to feel a part of a family. That she had someone she could count on.”
Mrs. Smith patted his hand. “You’re a good man, Chris Ratliff, with a heart of gold. Any lady would be lucky to have you.”
eighteen
“Any lady would be lucky to have you.” Victoria snarled, mimicking the woman’s words into her makeup mirror only moments after he had dropped her off after the concert. How dare Chris Ratliff pity her! His comments about her needing to feel part of a family echoed in her mind. She cringed at what she must have missed hearing him say when the waitress dropped and broke a plate beside her while Mrs. Smith and Chris were talking.
“How could I have been so foolish?” She took off her bracelet and placed it on the dresser. Victoria had actually believed she wanted to spend the rest of her life with that man. She snorted. Yeah, here I’ve felt as though I’ve been on trial every day of my life for my daddy’s mistakes, but I’ve always been honest. Mr. Ratliff, however, deserves an award for his ability to completely fool a crowd. She gazed into her makeup mirror, watching as tears filled her eyes. “All this time, he’s just been pitying me.”
She thought of the kiss they’d shared in his truck. Goose-bumps covered her skin, and she shivered. The connection she’d felt had been so real. Anger erupted inside her at her foolishness.
“What is it that scripture says?” She yanked off a high heel and threw it in the closet. “The heart is deceitful above all things.” Pulling off the other, she tossed it in, as well. “And my heart has definitely deceived my mind. To think that I had even considered …” she fumed and turned away from the closet.
After taking off the pearl necklace, she slipped out of her dress and into her nightgown. She nestled into her sheets and pulled her Bible and prayer journal from the nightstand drawer. Not feeling completely ready to start her daily reading, she flipped through pages in her journal. Hardly a day had passed since she’d moved into the Wards’ ranch that she didn’t pray for Chris and Abby. They had become part of her family, in her heart at least.
“Why, God?” She glared at her ceiling. “Why was Chris just playing me? How could he have ever imagined that pretending to care for me would in any way make things better?”
A soft tap sounded on her door. “Vic?” Sondra’s voice whispered.
“Yeah. Come on in.”
The door opened and Sondra handed her the phone. “You have a phone call.”
“Who is it?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to put Emily to bed, so can you hang it up when you finish?”
“Sure.” Victoria took the phone. Assuming it was Chris, she exhaled and braced herself for whatever lie he had to say. “Hello.”
“Sugar!”
“Daddy?”
“I’m so glad you’re there! Your mother and I just got home. My lawyer’s about to prove me innocent. I’m going to be cleared.”
“You’re … what?”
“Yes, and I can hardly wait to see you. When can you come home?”
“But, I thought …”
“You thought I was guilty, didn’t you?”
“I guess I did.” Victoria felt a sudden wave of guilt that she hadn’t believed in her dad, followed by questions that pummeled her mind. “But you ran off?”
“My lawyer’s advice.”
“And I had a wreck and no insurance.”
“I just heard about that today. My policy was about to be renewed right before the charges were filed. Somehow, it didn’t get paid.” He exhaled into the phone. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry about that. I’m glad you’re okay. We’ll clear everything up when I get to see you. When can you come home?”
Victoria’s mind raced. “I don’t know.” She thought of her chance to get her job back now that her dad was about to be found innocent. She thought of Peewee and Emily. If she left, she didn’t know when she’d see them again. And Abby. “Let me figure some stuff out, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“It’s so good to hear your voice, sugar. I hated leaving like that.” He exhaled again. “There’s just so much to explain … in person.” Her dad’s tone was softer than she’d ever heard it. “And new things I want to share, as well.”
“Yes, we do need to talk.” Her heart burned with renewed feelings of the desertion she had experienced when she had awakened that morning several months before to find her parents gone.
A remembrance of trepidation washed over her and mixed with the twinge of excitement she felt at seeing her nephew and starting a new life on her own. Her head started to throb at the decisions she’d have to make, questions she needed answered. Her eyelid on one side began to twitch, a telltale sign of an oncoming stress migraine. She needed to go to bed, to not think for the moment. Chris … Abby … Daddy, it was too much. “I’ll call you in the morning?”
“I love you.”
Victoria was taken aback by her father’s declaration. She hadn’t heard those words from him in years. “I love you, too, Daddy.”
She hung up the phone and looked down at her prayer journal. She’d come to the day when she’d read about how God has a time for everything. Closing her eyes, she begged God for guidance. Maybe the time had come for her to go home … to her parents. She could hear the tenderness in her father’s voice. Maybe he had softened in other ways, as well. Maybe he would finally listen to her about his need for the Lord.
Her eyelid twitched more steadily and heaviness rested on the top of her head. I’m going to be sick if I don’t go to sleep.
She turned off the light, closed her eyes, and nestled into her covers. “God, it seems You’ve taken care of my life once again. The time has come for me to go home, to be a witness to Mother and Daddy.”
Chris took the box from his inside jacket pocket. He had planned to give Victoria the ring, but the evening just didn’t seem to finish as he had hoped. When she’d returned from the restroom, Victoria seemed frustrated. She said something she ate must have disagreed with her, which he believed because his stomach had been in knots the w
hole night, as well.
“Didn’t get to pop the question, huh, big brother?”
Chris turned to find Abby leaning against his bedroom door. She was a beautiful sight, all dressed up in her black gown with her hair all wrapped up on the top of her head and little curls hanging down all around. Makeup, no longer caked on her face, seemed to bring out the brightness in her eyes. Thanks to the patience and persistence and advice from Victoria, his little sister had grown up.
He shoved the box into his dresser drawer. “What are you talking about?”
Abby crossed her arms in front of her chest and grinned. “Come on, Chris. You are way too obvious. I knew you were getting ready to pop the question.”
He smiled and leaned against the dresser. “Smart girl. You’re right.” He sighed and loosened his tie. “Didn’t happen as I’d hoped.”
“She’ll say yes.”
“You think so.”
Abby nodded. “Oh yeah. She loves you. She just doesn’t fully realize it yet.”
Chris took off his jacket. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” He turned back toward Abby. “But enough of that. How was your night?”
Abby giggled. “Wonderful. I think I really like Tyler.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. He, like, pulled out my chair and everything. Really made me feel special.” She shrugged. “I thought I liked Austin, but I don’t know if he would have been as worried about me and what I was needing as Tyler was. In fact, did you see Austin?”
Chris shook his head. He wasn’t sure if he’d seen anyone but Victoria tonight.
“He was flirting with Kelly the whole time Mallory was in the bathroom. I felt so bad for Mallory. I would have died if he’d done that to me. I’m glad he broke off our date.”
Chris nodded. “Me, too.”
Abby cocked her head and smiled. “I’m really glad we’re friends again.”
Chris walked over to her and wrapped her in a hug. “Me, too, little sis.”
“How ’bout a game of Monopoly?” She mumbled into his chest.
Chris remembered the times he and Abby had set the game up on the dinner table and played for hours. He had always let her beat him.
“This time I’ll beat you on my own,” she added.
He released her. “What?”
“That’s right.” She smiled. “I knew you let me win, but I’m a big girl now. I’ll whip you all by myself.”
Chris chuckled. “You’re on.”
“Daddy, Mother, what are you doing here?” Victoria opened the front door wide.
Her father grabbed her in a hug and twirled her around. “I could hardly wait to get here.” He put her back on her feet. “We just had to get up here to see our grandson.”
“Grandson?”
Sondra walked up to them holding Peewee on her hip. He buried his face in her cheek and clung to her neck. A slow, somewhat hesitant smile split her lips. “Hello, Thomas and Ethel. It’s good to formally meet you.”
Victoria raised her eyebrows and looked from her sister-in-law to her parents. “Sondra, did you know they were coming?”
“We knew.” Dylan’s deep voice resounded from the hall. He walked toward them, holding Emily in one arm. He smiled and nodded his head toward her parents. “We’re happy to have you in our home.”
Victoria watched as her parents greeted Sondra and Dylan. Daddy seemed downright giddy to get to know them. He sneaked little tickles at Peewee’s sides and talked about cattle and ranching with Dylan. He even asked Sondra about her chick ministry. Mother proved much more hesitant. Polite. Proper. But hesitant. She held Peewee for a moment, but when he started to play with the diamond pendant around her neck, she handed him back to Sondra.
“I can’t believe you’re here.” Victoria took Peewee in her arms when Sondra and Dylan announced they would get some refreshments for the family.
“Yes, well, it seems your father’s had a change of heart these days,” her mother murmured as she opened her purse and took out her compact.
Curiosity sped through Victoria’s veins. Her father had changed. She could see it in his eyes, in his smile. It was in his countenance, in the way he spoke and carried himself. Oh, precious Jesus, could it be?
“It seems your father has found the Lord.” Her mother rolled her eyes and stared into her small mirror.
“Daddy?” Victoria gawked at her father, praying he would say what she hoped.
He smiled. “Your mother’s right. I’ve found the Lord.”
“Oh, Daddy!” Victoria stood and hugged her father again. “I’m so happy for you! How? When? What happened?”
He leaned forward in his chair. “When my lawyer called and said I needed to leave the country because I was being accused of embezzlement, I was stunned. I couldn’t even move from my desk for several moments. My world was crumbling around me, and I could feel it. Every thought, every action I’d had in my life seemed to pass before me.”
He clasped his hands. “All I could think about was his suggestion to leave you, my only living child. He said if I took you with me, people would believe you were guilty. I couldn’t bear the thought of it.”
“I’d already lost your brother.” He stood and paced the floor. “How could I leave my baby girl, as well?” He stepped in front of her and touched a strand of her hair. “Then, for some reason, my childhood invaded my mind. Over and over again, I was in church with your grandma. The preacher’s sermons about God’s love, His grace, His mercy, His restoration kept running through my mind.”
“Oh, Daddy.” Victoria touched his hand.
He squeezed it tight. “When I got to the Cayman Islands, I sought out the first preacher I could find. Your mom thought I was nuts….”
“Still think you’re nuts,” her mother murmured as she applied a fresh coat of lipstick to her mouth.
He chuckled. “But I had to know. Had to find out. Had to experience God’s love. He showed me, honey. That preacher opened his Bible and showed me scriptures I’d long forgotten.” Her daddy raked his fingers through his thinning hair and then swiped his hand over his tear-filled eyes.
“God was faithful and merciful to this old man. I got down on my knees and begged Jesus for forgiveness. I never embezzled money, but I sure did steal time from my wife, my son, and my little girl. And I lost all this time with my little grandson.”
He nodded toward the kitchen. “I’m just thankful that Sondra and Dylan are willing to allow us to get to know him now.”
Victoria wiped her own tear-filled eyes. She would have never imagined God would have worked things out so perfectly. “Daddy, I’m so happy, and I’m so glad you came.”
“Me, too, sugar. And after we stay and visit a day or two, we’ll all go home together.”
Chris shut the door and kicked off his work boots. He’d been at the shop since before dawn, and the sun had descended into the ground some two hours before he’d made it home. He rubbed the back of his neck while he moved his head from side to side in an attempt to work out some of the crick that seemed to linger from the day before. The way he felt he might have to bypass dinner and simply hit the sack.
“Chris, we have a guest.” Abby’s voice sounded quiet, winsome.
“A guest?” Chris walked into the kitchen and saw Abby holding Sassy-Girl close to her chest. An older, gray-haired woman sat across from her. With some difficulty, the woman placed her hand on the table and tried to stand.
“Please, you can sit.” Chris walked over to her and offered his hand. “I’m Chris Ratliff. I don’t think we’ve met.”
She shook his hand. “I’m Junie Osborne. I’m glad to meet you.”
“She was one of Mama’s teachers when she was a girl,” said Abby.
Chris frowned. “I’m sorry, Ms. Osborne. We haven’t seen our mother …”
“Mama was living with Ms. Osborne.”
“What?” Chris fell into the chair beside the aged woman. “Where is Mama?”
The woman took off he
r oversized glasses and placed them on the table. A small tear traced her cheek. She wiped it away. “I’m so sorry. I had to come and tell you in person.” She paused. “I’m afraid your mother has passed away.”
Chris felt as if he’d been struck. He leaned back in his chair and swallowed the knot in his throat. He looked at Abby, who’d covered her face with a tissue. He pulled her, chair and all, over to him and wrapped his arms around her.
“You may not have known, but your mother had diabetes.”
“We knew.” Chris fought the eruption within him. Anger. Hurt. Sadness.
“About a year ago, Winnie showed up at my house. She was such a fragile thing, mourning her husband’s death. I was happy to have her stay with me.” The woman sighed. “I had a time getting your mother to take all her medication. I tried to convince her she’d feel better if she would take her depression medicine.”
“Mama took medicine for depression?” Abby looked up at Chris.
“Yeah. Sometimes it’s a symptom of diabetes, and Mama always struggled.” Chris looked at Ms. Osborne. “Daddy used to have to coax her to take it. She’d feel better sometimes and wouldn’t want it.”
The woman nodded. “Yes, I’m sure that’s true. Once I couldn’t get her to take the depression medicine anymore, she gave up on eating right. Her diabetes was beginning to really affect her sight and her feet. She had another appointment to see my doctor the day …” The woman’s voice caught. She stopped and took a tissue from her purse. “I’m sorry. I wanted so much to be strong for you, to make it easier to tell you.”
“Go ahead.” Chris held tightly to Abby. He’d allowed her to hurt alone once, but he wouldn’t do it again.
“She slipped into a diabetic coma. The paramedics rushed her to the hospital, but she never woke from it.” Ms. Osborne shook her head and touched Chris’s hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t contact you sooner. I didn’t know …”
“She didn’t tell you about us.” How could she? How could she care so little about us that in a year she never mentioned her own children?
By His Hand: Truly Yours Digital Edition Page 13
