Milk Money

by Cecelia Dowdy

  “I’ve been okay. A lot has been going on in my life since I’ve been gone.”

  Laura’s brown eyes twinkled. “Well, we’re going out to lunch. Why don’t you join us and tell us all about it?”

  He looked at Emily briefly before focusing on Laura again. “I’m afraid I can’t, but you ladies have yourselves a nice lunch.” He waved, following the rest of the crowd out of the church.

  “Emily Jane Cooper, what in the world is going on here?” Her stepmother folded her arms in front of her chest, impatiently tapping her foot. Kelly stared at Emily also, and Emily felt as if she were being judged by a jury.

  “Emily!” Kelly grabbed her arm, and Emily gazed at her best friend.

  “What?”

  “Let me put my choir robe away. Then we can go to lunch, and you can tell me and your mom what’s happening between you and Frank.”

  “Okay.”

  “Hi, Emily.” Christine approached, wearing a new dress. She held up her purse. “I got a new bag on sale at one of the shops at the Inner Harbor, fifty percent off.”

  “Why did you buy the purse?” asked Kelly.

  Christine pursed her lips. “I had a huge argument with my sister the other day. When I got off the phone, I just wanted something to make myself feel better, so I went shopping. I think I did pretty good since I only purchased two items and one of them was on sale.”

  Emily’s stepmother fingered the purse. “It looks lovely, Christine. We’re about to go to lunch if you’d like to join us.”

  Soon they were seated amid the Sunday afternoon crowd at the Wagon Wheel. Emily told her mother, Kelly, and Christine about the two times she’d seen Frank and about her fears. “I’ve been praying about it, and I want to date Frank, I really do, but it’s just so hard to trust him after all that’s happened. Also, I’m wondering what will happen when he has rough times. Will he still turn to alcohol? I know he’s saved, but that doesn’t mean he’s perfect.”

  “Neither are you,” Kelly retorted.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Emily.

  “Frank explained why he left. He told you himself how messed up his life was before he found Christ. He finally admitted he had a problem with alcohol, he beat his habit, he’s accepted Christ, and now he’s back. It may have taken him some time to be honest with you, but I can understand why he stayed away.”

  “But he could have said something before now. He only e-mailed me a couple of times, and that was it.”

  Laura touched Emily’s hand. “Honey, Kelly is right. I’m not saying you need to pick up where you left off, because you’re right to be cautious, but maybe you can get to know each other again.”

  Emily shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  Laura continued to speak. “Emily, I think Frank’s silence was just his way of protecting you. He feared he wasn’t strong enough to stay away from alcohol. He didn’t want you to get emotionally involved with him if he ended up drinking again.”

  Kelly nodded. “I agree, Mrs. Cooper. I think it’s good that you were honest with Frank. He knows he’s made a mistake, and I’m sure he feels bad about hurting you. But I also sense that he felt as if he had no choice, because if he was here and he messed up again, he would have ended up hurting you even more.”

  Christine spoke. “I agree with Mrs. Cooper and Kelly. You need to date Frank and just take it slow. Get to know each other again. He’s already told you that he loves you and wants to give you two a chance.” She twirled the pearls around her neck. “You know, if you don’t at least give him a chance, I think you’ll regret it.”

  She glanced at her friend. “Do you think so?”

  Christine nodded firmly. “Yes, I do think so. I could see you wondering for years and years what would have happened if you’d given Franklin Reese a chance way back when.”

  Emily ate the rest of her meal in silence, allowing Kelly, Christine, and her stepmother to chat without her input. At one point, Laura pulled out her wallet and showed Kelly and Christine recent pictures of her grandbaby.

  Emily’s mind was still plagued with thoughts about Frank when she milked the cows later that evening.

  The following Sunday, Emily entered the sanctuary with her stepmother. She anxiously scanned the crowd of parishioners sitting in the wooden pews.

  “Looking for somebody in particular?” Laura whispered in her ear.

  Emily gritted her teeth, wishing her affection for Frank wasn’t so obvious. She wondered where he was. The service was about to start, and he still had not shown up.

  The choir entered the choir loft, and the small church was suddenly filled with holy music.

  Kelly joyfully sang the opening hymn with the rest of the choir. Emily attempted to sway to the music, but thoughts of Frank and his whereabouts filled her mind.

  When the choir completed their selections, Pastor Brown stepped into the pulpit, and his deep, booming voice filled the sanctuary. “Before I start the sermon this morning, I wanted to introduce one of our new members. I assume a lot of you have met Franklin Reese.”

  Emily’s heart skipped a beat as she clutched her Bible. A few of the parishioners nodded in response.

  “Well, he’s been through a life-changing experience, and he’s requested that I allow him to tell you all about it. So, here’s Franklin Reese!” He raised his hand toward the pulpit door, and Frank stepped onto the dais. They shared a handshake before Frank stood in front of the microphone.

  Emily openly stared at the man who was slowly capturing her heart. He looked handsome sporting a dark suit and a cream-colored shirt and tie. “Good morning.”

  Parishioners loudly responded to Frank’s greeting.

  “I’ve come to tell you this morning about how I came to accept Christ into my life.”

  During the next fifteen minutes, Emily listened to Frank tell details of his troubled college years and about the first time he realized he was an alcoholic. He then spoke of his sobriety, his first marriage, his strong love for his wife, her salvation, and her sudden violent death. “Friends, when my wife died, I felt a part of me had died also. I was mad, angry, and bitter. I was upset with my parents since they didn’t accept my wife because of her background.” He told of his return to alcoholism, the joy and warmth he received when attending Monkton Christian Church, and his support from Devon Crandall and the alcoholic support group. He mentioned there was a certain parishioner who urged him to accept Christ, and without mentioning a name, Frank’s eyes met Emily’s. He told of his salvation at Cylburn Arboretum and his sudden flee back to his hometown, hoping to put his life back in order.

  He ended his testimony by telling how Christ had made a difference in his life. “My life is far from perfect, and I still have problems, but they don’t seem like such a burden now that I’m relying on Jesus.” A tear glistened on Frank’s cheek as he spoke of the deep love he had for his Savior. The congregation stood, applauding Frank’s courage in openly proclaiming his salvation journey.

  Emily barely heard Pastor Brown’s message afterward because she was still thinking about Frank’s speech.

  A few weeks following Frank’s testimony, Emily walked toward her house after milking the cows. She removed her barn boots before opening the door and entering her home. The scent of chicken filled the air, and Laura removed a pan of biscuits from the oven. “Hi, Emily.”

  Emily sniffed. “Hi, Mom. You made chicken and dumplings and biscuits?” Her stomach grumbled with hunger, and she looked forward to the meal.

  Laura smiled, but her eyes seemed sad as she looked at Emily. “Yes, I haven’t made it in a long time, and I know how much you like my chicken and dumplings.” Once Emily had washed up and changed, she joined her stepmother at the table. After Laura said grace, Emily piled her plate with food. “I made chocolate cake for dessert.” Emily smiled before she stuffed a bite in her mouth.

  Laura tapped her foot, sipping a cup of coffee, and Emily savored the tasty meal. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
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  Laura shook her head. “I’m too nervous to eat.”

  Emily stopped eating, dropping her fork on her plate. “Why would you be nervous?”

  Her stepmother’s hand shook as she set her cup back on the saucer. “You’ve probably guessed that something heavy has been on my mind since Becky had her baby.”

  “Yes. When Frank came back to town, that was one of the first things I told him. I knew something was bothering you, but I didn’t know what it was.”

  Laura sipped her coffee. “Well, you know how I’ve always wanted to improve my relationship with my daughters.”

  Emily nodded.

  Laura shrugged. “I missed a lot of their childhoods because my ex-husband was granted custody. Although I saw them for a few weeks each summer, I still felt as if they resented me, especially Becky. She was only five when the divorce happened, and I sometimes think she blames me for what happened to her.”

  “Children are not always rational.”

  Laura shrugged. “Adults are not always rational, either.” She stared at her coffee cup as she continued to speak. “I think Becky still blames me a little bit for the divorce, but we’ve been discussing what’s happened over the years, and I think we’re getting closer. When Becky had her baby and we spent a lot of time together, she told me that she and her husband had discussed it, and eventually she wants to go back to work. She said she was tired of being a housewife and mother full-time and she wanted to reenter the workforce.”

  “But Becky has three kids now, and all of them are under five. Won’t she and her husband be paying a lot in daycare costs if she decides to work again full-time?”

  Laura took Emily’s hand, looking directly into her eyes. “They won’t have to pay as much in daycare costs if I’m taking care of their kids.”

  Emily’s heart skipped a beat, and she gasped. “You’re leaving?”

  Laura nodded, squeezing Emily’s hand. “Honey, I know when I first married your father, you and I got off to a rocky start, but I’ve grown to love you as a daughter.”

  “I love you, too, Mom.”

  “I’ve told you how I’ve always regretted not having a better relationship with my daughters. This is something that I really want to do. I can be there to help raise my grandchildren and solidify my relationship with Becky.”

  Emily wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m going to be on this farm all by myself.” She did not find the thought to be soothing. She recalled how empty the house felt when Laura was gone the other two times.

  “Honey, I know. I’ve been struggling with this decision since I returned last September. That’s what’s been bothering me so much. I never said anything, because Becky didn’t have a job yet.”

  Emily sniffed as Laura handed her a tissue. As she dried her eyes, she noticed that Laura was crying also. “So Becky’s found a job?”

  “Yes. She’s going to be starting in one month, so I’m not leaving right away, but I promised her I would be there to help out when it’s time for her to start her new job. We’ve already spoken about the finances, and she’ll be paying me an amount comparable to what I’d been earning in the lunch room at the school.”

  The shocking news rocked Emily’s world, and the two women embraced before Emily finished her meal.

  After Laura made her announcement about leaving, Emily spent the next few weeks thinking about her situation with Frank and praying about it. When Laura did leave, it was heartbreaking for Emily. She drove her stepmother to the airport and promised that if she found adequate help on the farm, she’d come and visit Laura and her family within the next year. She still participated in her church book club, and she was still involved in the singles ministry. She kept a busy routine, trying to figure out what to do about Frank. She didn’t mention the matter anymore to Laura, Kelly, or Christine, but left it solely in the Lord’s hands.

  When Frank had been in town for a month and a half, Emily fell to her knees before bedtime, continuing to seek the Lord’s guidance. “Lord,” she whispered, “let me know what You want me to do. I keep thinking about Frank. When I see him at church, worshipping and praising You on Sunday, I just want to walk up the aisle, sit beside him, and praise You with him. I want to spend time with him and get to know him all over again now that he’s a Christian. Does this mean he’s the right man for me, Lord?” When she finished her prayer, calming peace flowed through her.

  She slid between her crisp, clean cotton sheets, and when she awakened the next morning, she knew what she had to do.

  fourteen

  The next day was Saturday, and after Emily milked her cows and did some errands, she showered and changed into her favorite blue jeans and red shirt.

  She had already discovered the location of Frank’s new apartment from the gossip she’d heard through the church grapevine. She’d also heard that he volunteered every other Saturday at the rec center in a nearby town. She drove to his apartment building in Monkton, saying a silent prayer during the entire journey. She took a deep breath and knocked on his door, wondering if she should have called before traipsing to his apartment unannounced.

  The rusty hinges creaked when the door swung open. “Emily!”

  Emily clenched her hands together, staring at Frank. “Frank, I wanted to talk with you. I hope it’s all right.”

  He smiled, stroking his beard. “Emily, you’re always welcome in my home. Come in.” She stepped into the living room, trying to ignore the clothes and newspapers scattered on the hardwood floor. A heavenly scent of tomatoes and spices spilled from the small kitchen. “What are you cooking?”

  “Spaghetti and meatballs. I made some garlic bread, too.”

  Surprised, she glanced into the kitchen before looking at Frank again. A disturbing thought fluttered through her mind. “You made all this for lunch?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you expecting somebody?” Had she waited too long to give him an answer, and he’d already started dating? She noticed how the single women at church swarmed after Frank like bees to honey.

  “No.”

  “Then why did you make all this for lunch?”

  He motioned toward the kitchen, not answering her question. “I’m getting ready to eat right now if you’re interested.” He caressed her with his dark brown eyes, and her heart thudded. When her tummy rumbled, he chuckled. “You still haven’t changed. I see you still have a noisy stomach.”

  She chuckled, and he led her into the kitchen and pulled out a chair for her. She sat, and he served up plates of spaghetti and meatballs, salad, and garlic bread. “I’ve missed having home-cooked food since Laura’s been gone.”

  Frank nodded. “I can understand that. Have you heard from her?”

  “We call each other regularly. She sounds happy, and I think she’s glad that she’s growing closer to her daughter and her grandchildren.” Frank took her hand and bowed his head. In his deep, strong voice, he thanked the Lord for their food. Emily said amen and squeezed his hand. She took a bite of the food and moaned. “Oh my!”

  “What’s the matter?”

  She licked her lips, taking another bite of spaghetti before sampling the crunchy garlic bread. “This is the best spaghetti I’ve ever had.” She sampled more food. “Mmm. This garlic bread is excellent!”

  He laughed, watching her eat. “I’m glad you like it so much.”

  “I can’t believe you made all this yourself.”

  “I don’t use spaghetti sauce out of a jar. I make my own, and I made the garlic bread myself, too.”

  “You cook?” She looked at him, and she felt as if she was seeing a new Frank, a different Frank from the way he was eight months ago.

  “Yes, I cook.”

  “But when I went to your old apartment, you had pizza boxes and empty take-out containers all over the room. I thought you didn’t know how to cook.”

  They ate in silence, enjoying their meal. When they were finished, they took their lemonade into the living room, and Frank invited her to
sit. “I’m glad you came by. I wanted to talk to you about something.”

  She sat on the expensive leather couch. “Good, I wanted to talk to you, too.”

  “You were asking about my cooking earlier?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, cooking is something I used to do all the time before Julie died. When she died, I started drinking, and I just stopped doing the things I loved, like cooking and working out.” He sipped his lemonade. “I was so bitter and angry that the only thing that brought me pleasure was alcohol. You know when I left you for six months and my dad died?”

  She nodded, encouraging him to continue.

  “Well, I was a real mess back then.”

  “I know, you told me that.”

  “No, I didn’t tell you how bad of a mess I was. When my dad died, I was so afraid that I was going to start drinking again that I took a month-long leave of absence from work. Even though I was saved, the urge to drink consumed me so much that I went to a medical doctor, and he had to give me medicine to help with my cravings.”

  She touched his arm. “Are you still on the medicine?”

  “No, I stopped taking it a few months before I decided to come back here. But I was off work for a whole month, helping my mother out and just straightening out my life. There’s an alcoholic support group that meets each day in Chicago. It’s not always the same people, but I made sure I was there every day. Being with the other members helped me stay sober. I read my Bible like crazy. I was drinking in the Word, and I had so many questions about the scriptures. My church in Chicago was awesome, and they answered all my questions about God and the Bible. I found that I had a lot of learning to do.” He pointed toward his Bible. “I don’t think I could’ve made it through this whole ordeal if it weren’t for God.”

  He paused for a moment, then said softly, “You know, Emily, I love reading the scriptures. There’s so much wisdom between those pages.” He looked toward the window for a minute, as if thinking of what he should say. “Anyway, during my absence, I learned that I not only had to continue placing my faith in God, but I also had to get into the things that brought me pleasure.”