The teapot slipped from Lia’s hands and clattered into the sink.
Her mother put an arm around her shoulder. “Dear, let me fix the tea. Go sit down.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Lia unclenched her fists and joined her dad at the table.
It was Thursday afternoon. Chloe was due home from school shortly. Her parents had taken time off from their jobs to drive from Chicago and pick up their granddaughter.
Susie Neuman was the daughter of immigrant parents with a trace of a Chinese accent coloring her words. She was a student when she met Jack at Northwestern, her tall, handsome economics professor. They were the greatest parents anyone could ask for, which was one of the reasons Lia had moved away from them. They had raised her to be independent, to dream big dreams. Independent dreamers didn’t live next door to the folks, even if they did borrow money from them.
Lia’s dad patted her hand. “Don’t worry, honey. It’ll work out.”
“Which part?”
He smiled and removed his horn-rimmed glasses, diminishing the professorial image. He was tall and gangly with still-thick, longish silver hair. “Chloe, Nelson, your business, the mysterious theft, the subtle prejudice here. All of it.”
She had to smile at his certainty. “One way or the other, you mean.”
“Of course. You wouldn’t want it any way other than God’s way. Success or failure.”
“Did I make a major mistake by coming here? You have money wrapped up in this, too.”
Her mom kissed the top of her head, placed two cups of tea on the table, and settled her petite frame into a chair. Her short black hair emphasized the roundness of her face, her dark eyes brimmed over with love for her now only child. “You gave up your dream to be a doctor. But the part about living in a small town not too far from the city was still alive. A place where you could get to know people and serve them.” She smiled. “Valley Oaks and the pharmacy are just that. We all agreed it appeared to be a good environment for Chloe. Give it time. Maybe you’ll even meet your pediatrician here and give me more grandchildren!”
Lia couldn’t help but smile back at her. All this melodrama and Mom brings that up!
“Lia,” her dad added, putting down his coffee mug, “we also all agreed the business details fell into place. Our money is your money. We trust in you and what you’re all about.”
Their support was as reliable as the daily sunrise. “But it seems I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.”
He grinned. “That’s never stopped you before.”
Her mother placed a graceful hand on her arm, smoothing the lab coat’s long sleeve. “With God’s help it has never stopped you before.”
Lia nodded. “All right. It’s what I needed to hear. Of course. Now, about Nelson.”
An almost undetectable glance passed between her parents. Lia knew they were here only because they agreed with her decision to allow Chloe to visit with her biological father. But the hurt was never far from the surface. The man had killed their other daughter.
“You’re sure, Mom? Dad?”
Her mother nodded, reaching for her dad’s hand as she said, “Nelson told you just as he told us: He has changed. He’s rebuilding his marriage, his family wants to meet Chloe, he’s attending church. For Chloe’s sake, we should give him the benefit of the doubt. She needs to know him.”
Lia listened to the phrases that echoed those of Celeste and Isabel. She worried, though, because Nelson knew the buzz words that would resonate with them: church, change, family. He could use those words to manipulate them, to get what he wanted. But why would he even want to bother with his illegitimate daughter at this stage? Unless he truly had changed. Unless God truly had answered the prayers of her parents and their church.
Her mother wasn’t finished. “I think we’re called to give him the opportunity to change. Your dad agrees.”
He nodded.
Lia sighed, still struggling with the decision. “And you promise you won’t let him talk you into letting her spend the nights with his family? That’s asking too much of Chloe.” And me.
Her dad crossed his arms, her mother lowered her eyelids. No, of course they wouldn’t. They loved Chloe as much as she did, and the schedule was set. Nelson would take her for Friday evening dinner and then a visit to the zoo on Saturday. No more.
“Maybe you’ll visit the zoo this weekend? You haven’t been there for a while, have you?”
Her dad narrowed his eyes slightly. Lia knew he was trying to hide the twinkle. He’d probably considered the very same thing.
She stood, teacup in hand. “All right. I’d better get back downstairs.” She had left Dot in charge of the pharmacy counter, knowing she would call if things got too busy. The remainder of the store was in Anne’s capable hands.
Her mother smiled. “We’ll wait here for Chloe.”
Her dad put on his glasses and held the newspaper up in front of his face.
“Your dad doesn’t want to get in Dot’s way.”
Lia grinned all the way down the staircase.
A short time later, quick goodbyes were said on the sidewalk in front of the shop, squeezed between the filling of prescriptions. Lia kept telling herself it was better this way. If they lingered, she could very well lose control and change her mind. Extra-tight hugs were shared all around.
Anne and her daughter Mandy stood with her, waving until the Neuman car could no longer be seen across the town square. Mandy went to Anne’s car parked nearby on the street.
“Be right there, punkin,” Anne called. “Lia,” she said in her matter-of-fact tone, “you’re coming to dinner tonight.”
“Celeste already invited me.”
“Are you going?”
“No. I’d rather curl up with a good book. You know, I never have enough time to read…” Her voice trailed off.
“And cry yourself to sleep.”
She met Anne’s penetrating gaze. “So?”
“So, nothing.” Anne hugged her. “Call me or just come over if you change your mind and want company. We’ll be home all evening.”
Lia waved as her friend drove off, blinking back the tears, fighting down the nausea, wishing she hadn’t let Chloe out of her sight.
The night was long. Lia curled up all right, but it was in the dark without a book and nearer a fetal position than a cozy one. Things only got worse when little Soot leaped onto her bed and nudged herself under her hand. She must have been lonely in Chloe’s room.
Lia cried her eyes out and finally began to name her concerns out loud to Jesus, wanting desperately to feel His arms around her.
“Please, don’t let him drink. He promised not to. Please, don’t let his children be mean to her. Please, let the zoo outing be fun tomorrow. Please, if his wife is there—Oh, Lord, how can she forgive him? Does she know You? Or is she just so out of touch…”
It struck her then. That’s what she should be praying for: his entire family. What a dysfunctional mess they must be! And she’d sent Chloe right smack into the middle it!
She moaned through the scenarios which that thought created, until at last even she tired of her complaints. Sitting up, she began to focus on praying for the Greene family.
After a time she felt calmed and reassured. God was with Chloe, and He loved her better than she could.
Before snuggling down under the covers, Lia went to the kitchen for a glass of water. Even with the blinds closed, the street lights lit her way, shining brightly through the windows that faced Walnut. At the sink she peeked through the lace curtain. A squad car was parked just across the alley, in the small lot behind the grocery store, facing her back door. A shadowy figure sat behind the wheel. A rather large shadowy figure.
Well, it wasn’t the arms of Jesus around her…but it came pretty close.