Who wants a glass of cold lemonade?” Miranda asked when she and the children entered the house after running errands Monday afternoon.
“I do! I do!” Kevin shouted.
“I’d like one too,” Debbie added. “And also some cookies.”
“I think that can be arranged.” Miranda chuckled. “Let me change out of my work clothes, and I’ll meet you both in the kitchen.” She hung her purse on the coat tree and hurried down the hall to her bedroom. It had been a busy day at the grocery store, and all she wanted to do was prop up her feet. Standing at the register all morning and afternoon, Miranda felt weariness set in.
When Miranda returned to the kitchen, she found Kevin sitting with his elbows on the table. Debbie had gotten out the cookie jar and set napkins out.
Miranda smiled. “Thank you, sweetie. You’re such a big help.”
“You’re welcome.” Debbie stared off into space.
Miranda wondered what her daughter was thinking about. She opened the refrigerator and took out the lemonade.
“Can I ask you something, Mom?” Debbie asked after Miranda gave her a glass of lemonade.
“Sure, honey, what is it?”
“Do I have to go over to Kassidy’s house if she invites me?”
Miranda took a moment to think how best to answer, but Kevin spoke first.
“I’d never go over there.” He held out his glass, while Miranda poured the cold drink. “I don’t like Kassidy. She’s mean.”
“Never mind.” Miranda tapped her son’s arm, then turned to Debbie. “If she does extend an invitation, and you don’t go, that’s fine. I certainly won’t force you to go someplace where you wouldn’t be comfortable.”
“Thanks, Mommy. I can’t figure her out. She’s been so nasty, and then all of a sudden Kassidy acts like she wants to be my friend. Makes me wonder if she’s only being nice ’cause she wants something.”
“It’s hard to know what another person is thinking. Perhaps Kassidy has a hard time making friends. Or maybe she wants to change her ways, but doesn’t know how.” Miranda noticed that her children were looking at her intently. “Maybe if you’re kind to Kassidy, she will be kind back.”
Debbie tipped her head. “I can be nice during the cooking classes, but I don’t wanna go to her house. She’d probably brag about everything she has.”
“Yeah,” Kevin chimed in before reaching for a cookie. “That girl’s a bragger, all right.”
Miranda handed her son a napkin. “Let’s wait and see what happens. Kassidy may forget about asking either of you to visit her home.”
Miranda’s cell phone rang, and she went to retrieve it from her purse. A quick look, and she knew the call was from Trent. “You kids finish up your snack while I take this call.”
So they wouldn’t hear her conversation, Miranda stepped into the utility room and closed the door. “Hello, Trent.”
“Hi. What took you so long to answer? Figured I’d end up leaving a message.”
“I was in the kitchen with Debbie and Kevin, and my phone was in my purse.”
“Do you have a few minutes to talk?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“I’ve been thinking about our conversation Saturday night, and your suggestion that we attend a marriage seminar.”
Miranda stood silently waiting for him to continue.
“If you still want to go, I’m willing to attend it with you.” His tone was upbeat, which gave her hope that he wasn’t doing it out of some sort of obligation.
“Yes, I do want for us to go. Hopefully, we’ll both get something good from it.” She leaned against the washing machine, waiting for his response.
“I have no idea what to expect, ’cause I’ve never been to that kind of thing.”
“And I never thought we’d need to attend something like this, but I’ve heard good things from others who went to previous seminars.”
“What time should I pick you up Friday evening?”
“The event starts at seven, so if you could be here by six thirty, that would be great. I’ll get a sitter for the children.”
“Okay, sounds good. See you soon.”
“Bye, Trent.” Miranda clicked off the phone and closed her eyes. Heavenly Father, please let this seminar be the beginning of a healing in my marriage.
When Kassidy entered the living room, wearing a pair of navy-blue shorts and a white blouse, Denise set the real estate listings she’d been looking at aside. “Is Hillary still coming over to play tennis?”
“Yeah, Mom. She should be here soon.” Kassidy flopped onto the couch. “I wish it wasn’t so hot out, though. We shoulda played earlier in the day.”
“That would have been fine if either your father or I had been home. But since we both had to work this morning, and you spent that time with my folks, it didn’t work out for you to have your friend over until this afternoon.”
Kassidy focused on her white tennis shoes. “When are you gonna realize I’m old enough to be left alone? Hillary, and some of my other friends, have stayed home by themselves lots of times.” Her bottom lip protruded. “You and Dad think I’m still a baby.”
Denise shook her head. “We don’t think you’re a baby, but you aren’t an adult either.”
“Yeah, I know.” Kassidy pushed a strand of curly red hair behind her ear.
“You should be happy your dad said you could have Hillary over to play tennis. If it were up to me, you’d have been grounded this week because of the fight you had with Becky last Saturday.” Denise leaned forward in her chair. “Where did you get that barrette in your hair? I’ve never seen it before.”
Kassidy’s cheeks colored as she reached up and touched the golden hair clip. “Um… I borrowed it from one of my friends.”
“Which friend? Does it belong to Hillary?”
“No, it’s uh…” Kassidy jumped up and raced to the window. “Think I heard a car pull in. Yep, I was right… It’s Hillary’s mother, dropping her off.” She hurried to open the front door and stepped outside.
That girl. Denise pursed her lips. I wish she wouldn’t borrow things from her friends. If she loses the barrette, she’ll have to buy a new one, but the money to pay for it won’t come from me. I will take it out of Kassidy’s allowance. She needs to learn a lesson.
Walking barefoot through the grass, Velma shielded her eyes from the late afternoon sun. Abner lay panting in the shade of a willow tree on the side of their mobile home. It had warmed up considerably yesterday, and today the weather was even hotter. They had no air-conditioning, and she dreaded going to sleep tonight. “Maybe you, me, and the kids oughta sleep outside,” she said, bending down to pet the black Lab. “It’ll be a lot cooler than in that stuffy old double-wide.” Velma had given the kids vanilla ice cream after lunch, and it melted before they could finish what was in their bowls.
Abner barely lifted his head, looking up at Velma with sleepy brown eyes. The poor dog looked as miserable as she felt.
She knelt on the grass next to him, then fanned her face with her hand. The hot muggy air made her feel weighed down. If this warm weather kept up, with no rain in sight, their yard would turn brown.
Velma glanced toward the porch, where the kids were spread out on a couple of old cots Hank had picked up somewhere. No doubt the heat wave had gotten to them too.
Hearing a cluck… cluck… cluck, she turned her attention to the chicken coop she’d finished building this morning. Soon afterward, she had walked down the road about half a mile and purchased three hens. Then she’d walked back, carrying them in a metal carrier. When Hank got home with some money later this week, Velma hoped to buy a few more hens, as well as a rooster. She’d spent the last bit of cash Hank had given her before he left on the three chickens. Once again, she wished she could go out and get a job. Velma was tired of pinching pennies and barely having enough money to put food on the table and pay the bills. On top of that, she was lonely and wished her husband had a job that would allow him to spend more time at home. His being gone so much was hard on Peggy Ann and Eddie too.
Velma sat back, with both arms spread out behind her, drawing in a deep breath. Yesterday, being Sunday, she’d planned for her and the kids to try out a different church, but they’d all slept in, and by the time everyone had breakfast and gotten dressed, it was too late to make it to church on time.
She leaned her head back and looked up at the cloudless sky. Maybe next week we’ll go.
The smell of chocolate permeated the kitchen, making Heidi’s stomach growl. It brought back memories of her mother baking, when the warm sweet aroma of cookies seeped into every room of the house. Even though Heidi had baked chocolate chip cookies earlier today, the aroma lingered—probably from the warmth of the kitchen. In fact, the heat was almost stifling.
Moving over to the back door, Heidi glanced through the screen to check on Marsha and Randy. They’d gone out to play in the yard half an hour ago, but the sounds of laughter were no longer drifting through the kitchen window.
Seeing no sign of the children, Heidi opened the screen door and stepped onto the porch. She cupped her hands around her mouth and hollered: “Randy! Marsha! Where are you two?”
No response.
She caught sight of Rusty, lapping water from his dish near the back porch. It seemed strange the kids weren’t with him, especially when they’d said they were going outside to play with the dog. Now where did those children get to?
Heidi called: “Come out, come out, wherever you are!”
Still no answer.
She ran around the side of the house, and then to the front. “Randy! Marsha!”
Maybe they’re playing in the barn.
Heidi dashed across the yard and flung the barn doors open. “Marsha! Randy! Are you in here?”
The only sounds were the soft nicker of their buggy horse and the cooing of pigeons from the loft overhead. I’ve warned them about it so many times—surely they wouldn’t leave the yard.
The hair on the back of Heidi’s neck prickled as a dreadful feeling formed in the pit of her stomach and an image of the vehicle she’d seen twice by the entrance to their driveway came to mind. What if my precious children have been kidnapped?