21

“Let me get you out of this cold.” Scott took my hand and we walked back up to the house. He opened the back door, and I hurried into the warm house.

“I realize now what has been bothering Mother lately. She’s always known how much I craved my father’s love, and I think she’s always worried about what might be in that letter. Things are so clear now. She saw what I’ve struggled with all my life and didn’t want to add more to it. He never loved me at all. I think it would have thrown me, too, if I hadn’t come here and started healing. God brought me here.” I started the coffee.

“Thank heaven He did.” Scott twirled me around for another hug. The shivering nearly stopped with his arms around me.

“As soon as I get this chill off, I want to go to her, get this all out in the open, and put it behind us.”

“You may not have to wait long.” He rubbed my frigid hands. “I called her a little while ago and asked her to pray, told her I’d encouraged you to read that letter. She said she’d be right over. Barely said good-bye before hanging up. Mad?”

I playfully chucked him on the chin in mock anger, poking out my bottom lip. “Actually, I’m glad. I don’t want her worrying about it a minute longer.”

Sure enough, just as we sat down with our coffee, someone knocked on the door. Scott picked up his cup. “I’ll let her in then I’ve got to get back to work. Y’all come over to the diner for dinner, OK?” He zipped up his jacket and blew me a kiss.

My mom came to me with both arms open. I let her wrap me up and hold me for a minute before I went and poured her a cup of coffee.

I wrapped us both up in a blanket on the couch and handed her the letter.

She read it and let it drop into her lap. “Can you ever forgive me, Bailey?” She began to cry.

“Forgive you? It’s not your fault at all. I’m only sorry that you’ve had to worry about it. A pretty lame apology, overall. He never loved me, but that’s OK now. I’m free, Mom. I closed the door on the past, on all the rejection that I held onto like some sick treasure. I’m just happy to be free.”

She took a deep breath, cupped both hands around her coffee cup, and took a sip.

“He did love you, Bailey—at least for a little while, but Kevin Brown was a jealous man. He got it into his head that I was being unfaithful to him. He started arguing, trying to hurt me with words. Insinuated you weren’t really his. He could be so cruel. I felt you had a right to that letter—he was your father, after all—but I’ve been so afraid he would try to hurt you, too—taint my relationship with you, and I couldn’t bear the thought of that, of you hating me.

“He finally left, but not without a knock-down, drag-out fight. I’ve always feared that you’d heard the awful lies he said about you.” She looked into my eyes. I knew she hoped I’d say that I didn’t hear that last awful argument.

“I did hear some, Mom. Heard him call me fat and worthless, and it has plagued me my whole life. When I came here, I finally started dealing with it. I vacillated back and forth, but it came to a head today, and I’m free.”

I knew we’d talk about it again, but I couldn’t handle any more that day. I looked at my sweet mother snuggled next to me, smiling, the tension easing out of her face. She’d had her own hurt and rejection and fears. We sat there, heads together, resting in peaceful resolve.

“Did you ever hear from Daddy, I mean Kevin, again?”

“No, and I’m afraid Grandpa had something to do with that, maybe even warned him not to come back. My parents were sick of his awful anger. I didn’t care. I had my beautiful Bailey to love.” She kissed me on the cheek.

“I love you, Mom.” What a day. I took our cups to the kitchen. “Let’s go have a bite to eat at the diner. I have something to tell you, but I want Scott there when I do.”

“Good idea.”

We entered the diner laughing. All our friends were gathered there. Mandy and Macy were regulars now—I think the Pearson brothers had something to do with that. Mom joined the group while Toppy threw me an apron and we began cooking hamburgers for everyone. As the last one came off the grill, Tracy reached for the platter.

“No, Tracy, you sit down. I’m serving you today.” Scott pulled out a chair for her next to her mother.

Soon we were all seated at two tables pulled together. The diner had been much busier lately, and Shelley’s Heart Bed and Breakfast as well. I’d begun an advertising campaign that brought more people in. But just now, only family gathered in the diner.

Scott stood and cleared his throat. “Everybody, I have an announcement to make.” He pulled his mother’s wedding rings from his jeans pocket.

“Bailey has finally agreed to marry me.” He smiled from ear to ear.

Everyone cheered and whooped. It hadn’t been part of my dream to announce my engagement wearing a hair net and cook’s apron, but I couldn’t have been happier. Scott slipped the diamond ring on my finger. I hoped Peeps and Shelley would approve. I knew they would.

“It’s about time,” Toppy teased.

“What do you mean? I’ve only known Scott for a little over two months.”

“Meant to be and a long time coming. I was about to think this fellow wasn’t ever going to find a wife. So when’s the big day?” Toppy put a hand on my shoulder and Scott’s.

“Yes, beloved, when are you going to marry me? That’s the next big question.”

I turned to him, taking in his sweet face. I looked at my friends, my precious mother, and thought I might cry again. I noticed the Washout Express across the street. Home.

“Soon, soon, soon.”