32

On Friday afternoon, Kenmore settled into his easy chair. “It feels good to be home.” He nodded at his son. “Real good. Didn’t know how much I liked this place until I wasn’t here for a while.”

“It’s nice to have you back, Pop. Things weren’t the same without you.” Shane set the phone and the TV remote on the table beside him, then made sure his cane was in easy reach. “Okay, I think you’ve got everything you need. I have to show a house, but you have my cell number, so call me if you need anything.”

“I’m perfectly capable of getting around myself and getting things done—as I kept telling them in the rehab center for the last week.”

“Yes, you told them plenty, I dare say.” Shane laughed. “You’ve always been a bit of a curmudgeon, Pop, but I’d say you’ve taken that up a few levels to downright grumpy during your recovery.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Refusing pain meds, demanding to be released before the doctor and physical therapist thought you were ready, complaining about the food—which was actually pretty good, by the way. All I’m saying is, now that you’re back home, I hope you’ll be a little less cranky.”

When had his son gotten so insolent? “Hmph. Don’t count on it. Not until I get back to work on Monday.”

“Monday after next, you mean.”

“Says who? I’m home now. They can’t tell me what I can and can’t do.” Kenmore had every intention of being back in his store on Monday morning.

“The doctor told you to take it slow for the next week, and I can promise you that I’m not going to be driving you to work during that time.”

“I’ll drive myself. Don’t need your permission.”

“You don’t need my permission, maybe, but you do need the keys. Unfortunately for you, I have taken the liberty of putting them away.”

“I’m going to drive if I darn well feel like driving. They just don’t want me driving while I’m under the influence of painkillers, which I am not. Haven’t taken anything but Motrin since yesterday.”

“Dad, you know that if you get in a wreck while you are under your doctor’s direct orders not to drive, you could be sued for anything and everything, including your precious store. So it’s your choice. Go back to the store week after next, or risk losing your store forever and always. And your retirement fund, too. How about that?”

Kenmore waved his hand dismissively “Ridiculous to hold a man hostage. It sure is.” He picked up the TV remote and started channel-surfing. He’d figure out a way to get to work this week, one way or another.

Even though she rarely slept in, after a full week of extreme overtime, everything inside of Kelli rebelled at getting up on Sunday and getting ready for church. Still, it was her best time to see Alison, so even though it was her one day off, she got up, showered, and dressed in nice clothes. Her cell phone rang, and she saw Beth’s name on the caller ID. “Hello?”

“Do you want to come spend the day with us? Rand is planning to stay home, and we’re just going to lay low—especially me—but we’d love to have you over if you’d rather not be alone today.”

“I’m okay, but does Rand want to go on to church? I was just thinking I was too tired to manage it, but I’m happy to come sit with you while he goes.”

“I told him he should go, but ever since we started dating, he’s always stayed with me on Father’s Day.”

Father’s Day?

It was as if the air had been knocked from her body. Kelli couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t speak, she simply stood there and felt the pain. Denice was right: this was something she was not equipped to deal with. “Oh,” she said to Beth, “I’ve been so busy, I had completely forgotten that was today.”

“I’m sorry I reminded you, then. I was afraid you were alone and upset, and I didn’t want that. Come hang out with us. Mom will be over after church, and Rand is going to make his one and only specialty: grilled burgers.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Father’s Day.

Without Daddy.

With the mother and sister she’d never known.

Can my life get any more mixed up?

Rand met her at the door. “Hey, I did want to warn you about something.”

“What?”

“It’s always been Beth’s sort of Father’s Day tradition that after we eat lunch, she gets her mother to tell a bunch of stories about her father. We all know what you’ve just been through, so if this will upset you, then please don’t feel obligated to stick around and listen.”

“Thanks. I think I’ll be all right, but I will leave if I need to.” Kelli knew she wouldn’t leave even one second early. How could she resist this chance to hear stories about what Daddy had been like in his former life?

“One more thing.” He looked over his shoulder, although they both knew Beth was back in the bedroom and out of earshot. “Beth has decided that it would be good for you to talk about your father, too. She thinks it would be helpful for you. Just catch my eye if you need me to get her off your case.”

“Thanks, Rand.” Even as she said the words, Kelli struggled to remember what she had—and what she hadn’t—told Beth about her father. She couldn’t exactly remember.

Turns out things really can get more mixed up than they already are.

Alison tried to watch Kelli’s reaction as she started on the obligatory story about how David once shimmied up a tree to save a frightened Beth, who had made it about eight feet up, panicked, and grabbed hold of the tree trunk, crying. After soothing talk, lots of instructions, and simply waiting her out for over an hour, David had decided he had no choice but to mount a rescue. Problem was, he’d just had surgery on his shoulder, had his arm in a sling, and was already in pain.

“But he managed to climb up one-handed. By the time I arrived home a couple of hours later, you were happily playing with a doll in the living room, and David was practically passed out on the couch. He’d already met his surgeon at the hospital, gotten a shot for pain, and scheduled the second surgery that would be necessary to repair the damage done during the rescue.”

As usual, Beth shook her head and wiped away tears at this story. To her, the story was all about her perfect and self-sacrificing father. And truly, that was what the story was about, but if Beth had been old enough to remember how mad he was—at Beth for getting stuck, and particularly at Alison for leaving him home while she’d gone to the women’s ministries meeting—well, it was just as well Beth didn’t remember any of that.

Kelli nodded a few times during the story. She didn’t seem particularly upset, but it was as if the story made sense to her in some way. Maybe her father had been the same way? “How about you, Kelli? Do you want to tell us something about your father?”

Her face went pale as she looked at them. “Uh . . . no. No, thanks.” She looked toward Beth. “You know who I would like to hear a story about though, if you don’t mind, is your brother. I know he lives in Kentucky and is married with a couple of kids. But why don’t you tell me a story about the two of you?”

Alison and Rand shared a glance across the room, both grateful for Kelli’s change of subject. Beth always became so depressed on Father’s Day, but once she started in on the stories about Max’s and her childhood, she had everyone rolling with laughter. She told story after story, and Kelli kept prodding her with more questions.

By the end of the evening, Alison walked out with Kelli. She turned to her. “Thank you. It was nice of you to keep Beth distracted by questions about her brother today. What made you think to do that? It was brilliant.”

Kelli shrugged. “I’m interested, I guess.” She paused for just a second. “Being an only child, I’ve always wondered what it would have been like to have siblings. This gave me a glimpse. It sounds . . . wonderful.” She looked almost teary as she said that. Alison wondered what kind of hurts the poor girl was harboring.

Early Monday afternoon, Beth heard her mother return from a quick run to the store. She was speaking to someone, a man. Seconds later, Kenmore came walking into the room. “I conned your mom into a ride over. It’s only right that I drop by and check on the other patient. How you doing?”

“I feel fine. How about you?”

He hobbled in, using a cane, his face scrunched in concentration. “Just fine, just fine.” He took a seat in the wingback chair across from the bed. “Tell me what kind of hoops you have poor Rand jumping through trying to get the house ready for a baby.”

Beth laughed. “To tell you the truth, he is jumping through a few. You know, making the porch safe, covering electric plug-ins, getting rid of cords that are a choking hazard, all those kinds of things you don’t think much about when you’re just a couple.”

“Yes, having a kid changes the way you look at just about everything. And that’s not all bad. You never realize how selfish a being you were until there is a little bundle of joy in your life.”

“I can’t wait to hold her . . . or him. I don’t know why, but I just think Sprout’s going to be a girl.”

“Wishful thinking, perhaps?”

“I don’t really think so. I would be completely happy either way.”

“That’s going to be one lucky kid, I’ll tell you that much.”

“I’m glad we have the role models that we do. Mom is amazing, as you know, and Rand’s parents are awesome, so we at least have that to help guide us.”

“And of course, they will make terrific grandparents, ensuring that baby is adequately spoiled, and effectively thwarting every effort you two make at discipline.” He smiled as he said it.

“In case you’ve forgotten, Mom was pretty strict.” She reached back and plumped the pillow behind her head.

“As a mother, yes. As a grandmother, I wouldn’t really count on that so much.” Again he had that smile.

“It will be interesting to see how it all plays out,” Beth said. “How are you feeling about the changes Kelli’s done at the store? Are you thrilled?”

“What do you mean? What changes?”

Beth realized too late that he didn’t know, and that she shouldn’t have said anything. The only thing she could do now was try to play it down. “Oh, you know, I heard she’s rearranged some things.”

“Rearranged?”

“She has a knack for organization. I’m sure you’ll like it.” Change the subject. Change the subject. What’s another subject?

“She is rearranging my store while I’m stuck at home?” His voice was getting louder.

Okay, the time for changing subjects was past—what was needed now was damage control. “I think it might have been my fault, really.”

“Your fault?”

“You see, I talked Kelli into going baby shopping with me before they put me in bed, and we were looking at all the little toddler slides and play sets, and she made a comment about all the little kids who come into the store with their parents and all the havoc they wreak. I said something to the effect that it really wasn’t their fault—if they didn’t have a safe place to move around, what were they supposed to do? I’m pretty sure that’s what planted the idea of setting up a toddler corner over in the area where the hardware used to be.”

“Hardware used to be?” His face was growing red.

My damage control may have backfired. “Well, you know, she moved it farther to the back, over where the plumbing supplies are. There’s sort of a home improvement section now, with everything together in one place. I haven’t seen any of that, but it sounds awesome.”

“What?!” His eyes went wide as soon as the word boomed across the room. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to shout at you, Beth. It’s not your doing. It’s just that I can’t believe she’s changing the store around without talking to me about it.”

“She probably wanted to surprise you, and now I’ve gone and blown it. Please don’t tell her I told you. I really didn’t mean to say anything I shouldn’t have.” Why couldn’t she ever just keep her mouth shut?

“Of course I won’t. When Shane comes home tonight, I’ll tell him I want to go for a drive and check out the store. I’ll pretend like I had no idea anything was going on.”

“Don’t be mad at her. She really is doing a good job.”

“Well, I guess I’ll be the judge of that tonight after Shane gets home.”

Oh no. She’d done it again. Why couldn’t she ever keep her mouth shut?