CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Jake stood in the parking lot of the commissioners’ office with his arms encircling Didi. His girlfriend laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. He’d let her stay there all day if it made her feel better.

“Are you sure you want me to go out to dinner with my Aunt Alice tonight? I could cancel and come over to your place, or you could come over to mine. I know my aunt wouldn’t mind a bit if you came to dinner with us.” With reluctance, Jake let her go.

Didi stepped back and beamed at him. His heart warmed when she smiled at him.

“Thanks, sweetheart, but no. I can’t tell you how much it means that you came to my rescue today, but I’ll put my big girl pants on now.” She kissed his cheek. “Take your aunt someplace nice and have fun. I think I’ll go hang out with Mom. She always makes me feel better.”

“Well…if you’re sure.” He hated to leave her, especially tonight. “Do you want me to come over after you get home? Seriously, Didi, I don’t want you to be alone.”

“Now, there’s a thought. I didn’t get much sleep last night, but unfortunately, with you in my guest room, I wouldn’t sleep a wink.” She lifted her chin and smiled. “Maybe I could spend the night at Mom’s. She has an alarm system, and the community is gated.”

“Okay. As long as you’re not alone. And I like the idea of the alarm. You should check on getting one for yourself.” Jake wrapped his arm around her and escorted her to her car. “What time did you want to get together tomorrow? I thought I’d take you to one of my favorite places, but you have to wear your sneakers.”

“Sounds like fun. Sneakers, huh?”

“Yep, or hiking boots if you have them. You might get dirty, so dress grungy.”

“Intriguing. I’ll see what I can dig up. Is noon okay? I’ll pack a picnic.”

“Perfect.” Jake opened her car door and kissed her mouth, lips soft and gentle. The week stretched long without her, and he didn’t want to let her go. It amazed him how much he missed her, and it wasn’t as if he hadn’t talked to her. He’d called her every day. “Talk to you tonight, okay?”

“Okay. Bye, Jake.” She blew him a kiss, and as she drove away, he couldn’t help but feel a mite empty. Her very presence filled a vacant space.

He’d have barely enough time to get home, take a quick shower, and pick up his aunt for dinner if he stepped on it. He put the SUV in drive and aimed the vehicle toward home.

* * *

Aunt Alice hinted she’d been craving Italian food, so Ramino’s fit the bill. He enjoyed his aunt’s company, and a couple of months had passed since they had visited. He’d be sure not to order any wine…or sit near anyone who did.

Aunt Alice was really his great aunt. She was his father’s aunt, and she would turn seventy-nine in September. If it hadn’t been for her, Jake wasn’t sure how his life would have turned out. When his father had run off, shattering his life and his sister’s, Aunt Alice had done her best to pick up the pieces. She bought him his first tennis racket. When his mother had been gone all hours working, Aunt Alice cheered him on at tennis matches. In college when he’d lost his scholarship, she’d helped out from time to time, buying his textbooks or sending him gift cards for meals or gas. She didn’t have much, but she was generous with what little she had. When Lori had needed help with college, Aunt Alice had done the same for her.

Her greatest gift, though, had been her unshakable faith. She was a fine Christian woman who practiced what she preached. Over the years when Jake had needed wisdom, he’d ask himself, What would Aunt Alice want me to do? As he drove to her house, he speculated on what she wanted to talk to him about. She’d been very earnest on the phone, saying she had something important to tell him, and she needed to see him this week.

Jake glided to a stop in front of her house, spotted his aunt waiting for him, and chuckled. She was nestled in the old-style white wicker chair he and Lori had given her for her birthday last year. The well-crafted piece of furniture held a place of honor on her wide front porch, and she had surrounded herself with assorted greenery and potted ferns. The small figure sat with slender hands folded, resplendent in ivory pants, silver shoes, and a peacock blue sweater. She looked up, and her radiant smile lit up the dark corners of the covered entrance. Aunt Alice resembled a posed portrait for some retirement magazine’s “Growing Old Gracefully” section.

She carried two mysterious boxes, and Jake helped her and her packages into his car, shutting the door behind her.

“What’s in the boxes?”

“Muffins. Do you mind if we make a stop on the way to the restaurant?”

“Muffins?” Talk about delicious. Nothing was much better in the baked goods department than one of Aunt Alice’s muffins. “What kind? And sure, we can stop. Where to?”

“Blueberry and lemon-poppyseed. Do you know where the Higher Ground coffee shop is?”

“Sure do. You’re making muffins for Higher Ground?” Jake made a left at the next stoplight and headed for the cafe. “How did that happen?”

“It was Lori’s idea. Since her friend Donna is recovering from having twins, she’s asked a bunch of us to help. Many hands make light work, you know. I’m baking the muffins, Mrs. Mueller is making scones, Lori’s making chocolate chip cookies, and that lovely new girlfriend of yours is baking brownies as we speak.”

“You’re kidding. Didi’s making brownies for Donna? She didn’t mention it.” Jake smacked his lips at the thought of Didi’s frosted brownies. “I’m impressed. You ladies are always ready to lend a hand.”

“Happy to help.” Aunt Alice smiled sweetly. She was always happy to pitch in where needed. “Tomorrow, I’m making chocolate chip muffins. I’ll save a few for you since I know how much you like them.” She winked and patted his shoulder.

They sailed into the parking lot, and Aunt Alice sat in the car while Jake carried the boxes into the coffee shop and placed them on the counter as instructed. The muffins arrived just in time, too. The bakery case was nearly empty.

“Where’s Drew tonight?” Jake asked the girl straightening a display case of bagged coffee. She had her back to him and continued with her chore.

“At the hospital picking up the boys,” the bleached blonde said over her shoulder. “You heard Donna had twins?” The young woman turned around, did a double take, and gazed at Jake with open awe.

He ignored her teenaged look of admiration. “Sure did. Two little boys. Jonathan Andrew and Christopher Jacob.” His insides warmed at the mention of his namesake. He loved kids. “I need to get by there and see the rug rats.”

“You guys are friends? Oh, and thanks for the muffins. We’ve had lots of people asking for them. I’m Brandi, by the way.” She flashed him a hundred-watt smile. “With an ‘i’ at the end. Not a ‘y’.” Brandi-with-an-i opened the boxes he’d brought and arranged the muffins in the glass case. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and skewered him with a coquettish grin. “So, what’s your name?”

Uh-oh. Jake couldn’t be sure, but it certainly sounded as if the young woman was flirting with him. He was used to getting unwanted attention from middle school girls, but this girl was at least sixteen. He might not be quite old enough to be her father, but he could easily be her much, much older brother.

“I’m Jake.” He fished around for something more to say and paused. “By the way, do you know when my girlfriend is coming? She’s bringing brownies.”

Brandi’s face fell. “Someone named Didi called a few minutes ago to say she was on her way.” Finishing with the muffins, Brandi closed the case with a thump. “She said everyone loves brownies.” The teenager gnawed on her lips and pouted. “So…she’s your girlfriend?”

“Yep.”

“You want some coffee? I make really dreamy lattes.” Brandi twirled a lock of curly hair. She stared at him with eyes full of hope. She hadn’t taken the hint.

“Uh, no thanks. I’ve got to hit the road.” His sainted aunt waited in the car. He turned on his heel to leave.

“Hey, thanks again for the muffins. Mom didn’t know what she was going to do. People like to have something yummy with their coffee.” She chewed on a fingernail and gazed at him.

He pivoted and nodded at her politely. “You’re welcome.”

Before he could make a break for it, Brandi’s pierced lip trembled, and sudden tears glittered in her eyes. “After Dad died last year, we came close to losing the shop. Mom’s the owner, and it was hard to run this place all by herself.” Brandi stared at the floor. “That’s when I started here. To help Mom, I mean. We’ve had some trouble getting good help.” Brandi glanced up at Jake through wet lashes.

Jake’s heart went out to the lonely kid, and he smiled at her reassuringly. He couldn’t very well turn and waltz out the door after that. Brandi had no father to love and protect her, and her mom was in a bad way. Here was one teenager who wasn’t working for manicure money. She had to work for her family’s livelihood. A rough life for one so young.

“Drew helps though, right? He’s here most Fridays and Saturdays?”

“Yeah, but it’s not nearly enough. We’ve hired several kids, but they don’t stay very long. With the warm weather coming, everyone heads for the beach. That’s a lot more fun than working.” Brandi snagged a tissue from behind the counter and dabbed at her eyes. She smiled at him again through her tears, but this time without the come-hither look.

“How about if I talk to Drew, and we’ll see what we can come up with? Between the two of us, we know lots of people.” Touched by this young woman’s plight, Jake wasn’t sure why Brandi confided in him, but he wanted to help. He’d always thought it was part of his job as a teacher to look out for kids. It was the right thing to do, and Jake always did his best to do the right thing.

Her eyes shone, and she looked at him as if he walked on water. “Would you? Honestly, I don’t know what we’re going to do. We can hardly keep up with the bills.” Brandi’s voice lowered. “I’m sorry I bothered you, but we haven’t had a customer in almost an hour. I was trying to figure out what I was going to tell Mom. Then you appeared.”

“I’ll work on it with Drew and see what we can come up with. Goodnight, Brandi.” He gave her a brotherly smile. He hoped Drew had some ideas, because he was fresh out.

“Goodnight, Jake.” The look of hero worship came back to Brandi’s face as she waved goodbye. Jake preferred that to the look of teenage yearning, and he promised himself to do what he could. This girl troubled him. Any young man who paid a shred of attention to her would look good to her. Jake was afraid she could get in over her head with the wrong boy in a heartbeat.

With a quick stride, he jogged back to the SUV and opened the door. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Aunt Alice.”

His aunt brightened and turned down the radio. “Don’t give it another thought, Jakey. I found a grand station, and I’ve been listening to Handel’s Messiah. I don’t think there’s any music here on earth that’s closer to heaven.” As Jake pulled out of the parking lot, she continued to bob her head to the music until the celestial “Hallelujah Chorus” faded to silence.

On the way to the restaurant, they nailed down plans on what to buy for her garden, and he offered to take her plant shopping in a couple of weeks. His aunt didn’t seem to be getting around quite as well as the last time, and he vowed he’d look in on her more often. Mentally, she was as sharp as a pushpin, but seventy-eight was seventy-eight. Aunt Alice was easy to love.

At Ramino’s, they ordered his aunt’s favorite pizza—Hawaiian, extra pineapple—and soft, hot breadsticks. As they ate, his aunt grew quiet and a worried frown crossed her lips.

“What is it, Aunt Alice? Is everything all right?” His aunt’s distress unnerved him.

“Oh, I’m as right as flowers in May, dear. It’s what I have to say that you’re not going to like.” Aunt Alice tasted her peach iced tea, placed the cold glass back on a coaster, and steepled her fingers. “I might as well get it out. Your father called me last week. He wants to see you and Lori.”

A tidal wave of resentment swept through Jake as he stared at his aunt in disbelief. “You can’t be serious. I haven’t heard from him since I was ten. What makes him think I’d want to see him now?”

“He’s a changed man, Jake. I know this is hard, but I’ve been talking to him for several months now, and he’s given his life back to the Lord. He’s been waiting for the right time to talk to you. He’s sincerely hoping you’ll give him another chance and that you don’t hate him.”

Jake drummed his fingers on the table as he gathered his thoughts. “I don’t hate him, Aunt Alice. But he ruined Mom’s life, and I don’t mind telling you growing up without a dad was no picnic for Lori and me, either. He’s a self-centered, self-absorbed, self-seeking coward, and I don’t want to see him.” His fingers curled into fists. “Does Lori know?”

Aunt Alice placed gentle hands over his and tugged his fingers apart. “No. I thought it best to talk to you first.”

His aunt looked stricken, and his gut twisted at the sight, but he couldn’t tell her what she wanted to hear. “Well, it’s Lori’s life, but he’s been an awful father to her, too. She was only a little girl. He sneaked off and left a wife, a son, and a four-year-old daughter.” He tried to drink his soda, but his hands shook.

“I know dear, I know. But that was a long time ago.” Aunt Alice ventured a tiny smile and shook her head. “Maybe it’s time to forgive?”

How could he possibly muster up a spirit of forgiveness? His father had caused many people so much sorrow he wasn’t sure he had it in him to forgive.

Aunt Alice placed her hand over her heart. “Forgiveness doesn’t mean we forget. It does mean we let go of the grudge for our own sake.”

His aunt had read his thoughts. She knew him too well. “But I don’t know if I can excuse what he did. And I’ll never be able to trust him.”

“You don’t have to trust him. In fact, you shouldn’t trust him until he’s earned it.” His aunt gazed at him with gentle eyes. “Give him a chance, Jake. Please. For my sake.”

He closed his eyes for a moment and rubbed his temples with his fingertips.

“Jake, would you let me tell you what’s going on with your dad?”

He nodded slowly. He didn’t want to listen, but he would for his aunt’s sake.

“William was a dear, sweet child. I remember when he was a young man, he told me God had plans for him. When he married your mom at the tender age of twenty, life weighed heavily on him. Then you came along less than a year later, and he and your mom had trouble making ends meet. As time passed, a series of bad choices pressed in on him, and he became stubborn and hard to please. He quit doing what he knew was right, and he forgot the promises he’d made when he was a child.” Her voice broke, and she sipped her tea.

“Your father…your father turned away from the Lord and ran in the other direction. He and your mom were fighting all the time, and he couldn’t take it anymore. That’s when he up and left. He was young, he was immature, and he was selfish. But now he regrets every moment he didn’t spend with you and your sister.” She searched his face with beseeching eyes. “He called himself a coward.”

His dad was a coward, but Jake didn’t comment.

His aunt continued. “Your dad also called himself Jonah.”

Jake’s stomach churned. Every bone in his body ached at his father’s confession. Jake had been there too, and he had to concede he and his dad had something in common. In fact, he was smack-dab in the middle of it now. Jonah. Blast.

The sheen of love shone from his aunt’s eyes. “I pray for your dad daily. I’ve been praying for him since the second he was born.” She paused and touched his elbow. “Like I pray for you and Lori. I pray every single day.”

Jake knew it was true. He’d felt her prayers. He sighed and clasped her crooked, gnarled hands. “I’ll think about it, okay? That’s all I can promise right now.”

Aunt Alice bounced from her chair, dashed around the table, and hugged him. “That’s all I ask, Jakey. That’s all I ask.” She gave him one final hug. “Good. Now, let’s turn our discussion to that pretty girlfriend of yours.”