Chapter Twelve

Kate managed to get to Abby’s only a couple of minutes late. She had to park farther away from the house this time—a good sign, she decided, since that meant others were there already. The front door stood open, and she could hear the buzz of chatter before she reached the house.

Abby pushed the screen door open, her face flushed with pleasure.

“They came back!” she whispered. “I have to admit I was a little worried about it.”

Kate looked around the room. Everyone she remembered from the first meeting was there, and she saw a sprinkling of new faces as well. She laughed and squeezed Abby’s arm.

“What you and Phoebe are doing is connecting with a heartfelt need. I’m not at all surprised.”

She laughed again. “I have a feeling the only thing you’ll need to worry about is where to hold these meetings when this group outgrows your living room.”

Abby’s eyes shone. “Do you really think that might happen?” At Kate’s nod, she beamed. “What a delightful problem to have. Perhaps Phoebe and I should start praying about that right now, just in case.”

“May I ask a question?” a voice called above the chatter.

“Of course.” Abby said as the room quieted down. “We’re all ears.”

One of the new visitors looked around shyly at the rest of the women. “A lady down the street from me has a husband who’s bedridden. They don’t qualify for home health care, so she has to stay with him all the time. I know she’d love to get to know more people, but she can’t leave the house. So I was wondering...Why couldn’t some of us be her friends by going over and visiting with her? And maybe we could take turns staying with her husband so she can get out once in a while.”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” said Patricia Harris. “When my daughter was so sick, I found out how lonely it can feel being shut off from everyone. Maybe we could clean her house one day and take in some meals, just to give her a break.”

“That sounds like fun,” Phoebe said. “Count me in.”

“Me too,” called several others.

“I know another woman who could use something like that,” Stephanie Miller added. “She’s in a wheelchair and says she gets tired of staring at nothing but the same four walls every day. Why don’t we make a list of people like that and come up with ways we can help each one?”

“Love it!” Phoebe exclaimed.

The women began to discuss the idea in smaller groups. Abby grinned at Kate, and Kate winked back at her.

Kate sidled up to Phoebe and reached over to smooth back a lock of baby-fine hair from Violet’s forehead. “She’s getting more beautiful every day.”

Phoebe grinned. “I won’t argue with you, even though I guess I am a little biased.”

“You’re not biased.” Patricia joined them. “She’s one of the most beautiful babies I’ve ever seen.”

Phoebe’s eyes shone with maternal pride. “In that case, I—” She broke off, and a wide smile spread across her face. “Look who’s here!” She hurried across the room to the front door.

Kate’s lips parted in a smile, and she stared at the slim, dark-haired woman who knocked tentatively on the screen door.

“Welcome!” Phoebe pushed the door open and swept Lisa Phillips into the living room. “We’re so glad you could make it.”

“Oh my, yes.” Abby bustled over to join them.

Kate lifted a silent prayer. Thank You, Lord. You do work all things together for good! Maybe the previous week’s altercation had somehow awakened in Lisa a desire for connection with other women—and maybe someday with the Lord.

Lisa gave a shy smile that reminded Kate of Brenna’s. She saw plenty of similarity between the two, from their dark hair and pixie features to their slim builds.

“I’m so happy to see her here,” Patricia whispered to Kate.

Stephanie Miller leaned in. “Isn’t her daughter the one the mayor’s nephew has a crush on?”

“What?” Patricia grinned. “Young love in the making? I hadn’t heard anything about that.”

“That’s what I heard,” Stephanie said.

Kate couldn’t help but be interested in this tidbit of information.

“He’s actually Lucy Mae’s nephew,” Stephanie went on. “Apparently he’s staying with them for the summer. Lawton told my husband the boy was driving his mom and his stepdad round the bend.”

Kate’s interest sharpened. Micah was so polite; he hadn’t struck her as a troublemaker.

“What happened?” Patricia asked.

Stephanie shrugged. “Like a lot of kids his age, he got in with a bad crowd at his high school in Nashville. He didn’t quite wind up on the wrong side of the law, but things were sure moving in that direction.

“That’s why Lucy Mae invited him to stay here, so he could make a break from the old crowd over his summer vacation.

“And I’ll tell you what. Lucy Mae dotes on that boy almost as much as she does on her dachshund.” Stephanie chuckled.

Phoebe clapped her hands to get the group’s attention and called out, “Everyone, I’d like you to welcome the newest member of our Friendship Club, Lisa Phillips.”

The women responded with a chorus of welcome.

Lisa’s shoulders lifted in a tiny shrug. “They changed my hours at work, and I got off early today. I thought I might as well drop by and see—”

Her words cut off abruptly the moment she saw Kate, and her features hardened. “What’s she doing here?”

Half the women gaped at Lisa, and the other half stared at Kate.

With a shocked glance in Kate’s direction, Phoebe sputtered, “It’s a friendship club,” as if that explained everything.

“That’s right,” Abby joined in. “Everyone’s free to come.”

“Then I guess that means I’m free to leave too.”

Even from that distance, Kate could see Lisa’s body tremble.

Abby laid her hand on Lisa’s arm. “But she’s a pastor’s wife and our friend.”

“All the more reason for me to go.”

Kate crossed the room in a few quick steps and spoke in a low voice. “Lisa, please. It was all a misunderstanding. I never meant to imply—”

“Didn’t you? Brenna likes the youth group at Faith Briar, but if this is the kind of thing I can expect from you people, maybe I should just pull her out.”

Lisa’s words seemed to hang in the air as she spun on her heel and headed out the door.

“Don’t go.” Kate caught up with Lisa on the front porch, with Abby and Phoebe close behind. “I’ll leave instead. That way you can relax and enjoy yourself. I think you’ll love the club, and everyone is so pleased to have you here. I don’t want to get in the way of that. Why not give it a try?”

Lisa hesitated, and Phoebe seized the opportunity to add her own plea. “Please stay. It’s a wonderful group, and I just know you’ll like getting to know everyone.”

After a long, searching glance at Kate, Lisa nodded and followed Phoebe back inside.

Abby pressed her fingers against her cheeks. “Oh dear. I never expected anything like this.”

Kate forced a smile and blinked to hold back the tears that stung her eyes. “It’s all right, really. We all hoped Lisa would become a part of the group, and I’d rather step aside so she’ll feel comfortable about being here.”

“You don’t mean you’re going to quit coming entirely?” Abby caught Kate’s hand in hers. “Don’t make any hasty decisions. I appreciate you wanting to do what’s best for Lisa, but let’s make sure we do the right thing.”

Kate nodded. “I just want to give her time to realize she’s welcome without having to worry about me being here. In the meantime...”

“We’ll pray about it,” they both said at the same time.

Kate hugged Abby and made her way to her car, feeling more at peace about the situation. How blessed she and Paul were to live and minister among people who loved God and loved each other.

Paul was right. Her job was to keep on praying for Lisa and showing her the love of Christ. God would work in Lisa’s heart in his own way and time.