Sure hope if Heidi found Mom’s barrette, she didn’t throw it away.” Jeremy sounded desperate.
“Try not to worry,” Darren called over his shoulder, keeping his eyes on the road.
“But Dad, today’s already Wednesday, and if she did find it someplace in her house, she wouldn’t have known who left it.” Jeremy grunted. “Most likely she’d have thought it belonged to one of the girls in our class. Someone could’ve already come and claimed it by now.”
“Not likely, Son. Since it doesn’t belong to one of the girls, there’d be no reason for them to claim it. Now stop fretting. We’re almost there.”
When Darren pulled into Heidi’s yard, he spotted her on the grass, tossing a ball back and forth to the children. They looked like they were having a good time.
Darren parked the car, but before he could open his door, Jeremy hopped out and raced over to Heidi. Darren sprinted across the lawn to catch up with his son.
“Did you find my mom’s barrette?” Jeremy stepped in front of Heidi after she threw the ball to Randy.
She quirked an eyebrow. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“Jeremy had his mother’s hair clip with him last Saturday, and he thinks he may have dropped it someplace in your house or yard,” Darren explained. “Did you happen to see it anywhere? The barrette was gold, with little red stones along the top.”
“I haven’t seen anything like that around the house or in the yard.” Heidi gestured to Randy. “Have you seen a fancy hair clip?”
“Nope.” Randy bounced the ball a few times.
Heidi looked at Marsha, and the little girl shook her head.
Jeremy groaned. “I had it with me Saturday; I know I did. Dad, remember when you asked me what I was holding in my hand, before I got out of the car?”
“Yes, I do remember.” Darren felt his boy’s frustration.
“You’re welcome to look around out here if you like.” Heidi made a sweeping gesture of the yard.
“Thanks.” Darren pointed to the driveway. “Let’s start where we parked the car that day.” He headed in that direction, and Jeremy followed. Heidi joined them in the search. They looked everywhere Jeremy remembered walking, but found nothing.
“What about the house? Can I look in there?” Jeremy bit down on his bottom lip. “I’ve gotta find it. The barrette was special to my mom, and now it is to me.”
Heidi suggested they all go inside and search for the hair clip. Marsha and Randy looked none-too-happy when she asked them to put the ball away and go into the house, but they did as they were told.
Darren and Jeremy followed her and the children in, and Jeremy retraced his steps. “I was here in the living room, and when everyone got here, we all went to the kitchen.”
“All right, let’s look in those two rooms,” Heidi said.
“You also went to the bathroom,” Darren reminded. “Why don’t you look there, while I check out the living room?”
“While you two are doing that, I’ll search in the kitchen.” Heidi offered Jeremy a sympathetic smile. “If it’s here in the house, I’m sure one of us will find it.”
Another hour went by, but the barrette was not found. “I’m sorry.” Darren clasped his son’s shoulder. “We may as well give up and go home.”
With shoulders slumped, Jeremy lowered his head. “Guess it’s my fault for bringin’ it to class with me. I shoulda put it somewhere safe in our house.” He shuffled toward the front door.
“I’ll keep looking, Jeremy,” Heidi called. “If I find it, I’ll let your father know right away.”
Jeremy went silently out the door.
Darren turned to face Heidi. “Thank you for taking the time to help us look. Jeremy took his mother’s death pretty hard, and on top of that, he’s having a difficult time accepting the fact that I’m interested in another woman.”
Curious, Heidi tipped her head to one side. “Ellen?”
“Yeah. To tell you the truth, I don’t think her daughter’s too thrilled about it either.”
“Children, like adults, can find it difficult to move forward after losing a loved one. We can try to be patient and find ways to encourage them along.” Heidi rested her hands against the front of her apron.
“I’ve been trying to be patient, and I’ll keep at it.”
“Dad, are you coming?” Jeremy called from outside.
Darren looked over his shoulder, then back at Heidi. “We’ll see you soon.”
Heidi stood by the front door, watching them get into their vehicle. I need to keep Darren and Jeremy in my prayers. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a single parent, and I pray that never happens to me.
“I don’t see why we have to see a bunch of animals with Jeremy and his dad this Saturday,” Becky complained as she and Ellen filled the bird feeders in their yard. “I’ve been to the farm before with my class at school, and it wasn’t that exciting.”
“Really?” Ellen stopped what she was doing and placed both hands on her hips. “As I recall, when you came home that day, all you could talk about was the llama that spit, and how much fun it was to see the baby giraffe. I would think you’d want to go back and see how all the animals are doing. You’ll get to feed them again, you know.”
Becky folded her arms. “Well, it might be more fun if it was just the two of us. Jeremy will probably say a bunch of stupid things, and his dad…” She stopped talking. “Oh, never mind. I can tell you wanna go, so I’ll get through it.”
Get through it? Ellen could hardly believe her daughter’s attitude. Is she jealous of Darren? Does she think he will come between us?
“Sounds like those birds are mighty hungry.” Ellen looked toward the trees. “We have one more feeder to do, and then we’re done.” Ellen reached for the feeder, and slid open the top, while Becky held the funnel to fill it with seeds. If Becky’s attitude toward Darren didn’t improve, Ellen realized she may have to stop seeing him.
Trent sat at his desk in the dealership, staring at the paperwork for the sale of a mid-size car he was considering buying at a reasonable price. If he went through with the deal, he’d take the vehicle to the cooking class a week from Saturday and give it to the woman who needed a car. I bet Miranda will be surprised that I went through with my plan. I hope Velma will be willing to accept my gift.
From where his desk was positioned, Trent could watch the lot where all the new and used vehicles sat. It had been a slow day so far, and only an elderly couple browsed up and down the rows of cars.
Trent paused at what he was doing and held his breath. Oh no, not that one. The man and woman stopped at the car he was thinking of purchasing. He watched as they walked all around the vehicle and peered inside at the interior.
Should I go out and see if they have any questions? Truth was, he hoped they’d move on to another car. When he saw them reading the information sheet attached to the passenger window, Trent walked out and joined them.
“May I help you?” he asked, approaching the couple.
“We’re looking for a used car, and this one caught our attention.” The man smiled.
“I’m not sure I like it, though.” The woman walked around the car again. “I was hoping for something a little smaller.”
“My name is Trent Cooper.” He extended his hand to the man. “I’ll let you look around some more, and if you decide on anything, please come inside so we can talk.”
“Thank you, Mr. Cooper.” The man had a good grip. “My name is Howard Witmer, and this is my wife, Marie. We’ll keep looking and let you know if we decide on a car.”
“Okay, I’ll be at my desk. It’s to the left of the door.”
Trent walked back inside. He hoped they would find another car better suited for their needs.
As he sat back down at his desk and watched the couple go down another row of vehicles, his thoughts turned to the seminar he’d agreed to attend with Miranda in two days. He didn’t see how it could repair their marriage, but he was desperate to get Miranda back, and hoped by going it might be his ticket home. And who knows. Maybe I’ll learn something.
Walking over to the water cooler, Trent filled a cup and took a drink. Glancing back outside, he saw the couple get into their car and drive off the lot. “Guess that takes care of that.” Trent smacked his hands together and smiled as he walked back to his desk. “Looks like my plan for Velma is going to work out after all.”