Lisa’s emotional crest, knowing Hope was beginning to see Michael for who he is, did not last very long. The following Tuesday, as Lisa changed out of her uniform, she clicked the button on her answering machine and heard a very different-sounding Hope.
“Hi, Mom, this is Hope. I know you are still at the bakery but wanted to let you know that things have changed out here. You won’t believe how sorry Michael is for having pulled that stunt on Thanksgiving. Mom, he really is sorry and he promised me he would never do that again.”
Listening to this message from Hope, Lisa just dropped onto the bed in utter disbelief. “Hope, please don’t tell me you bought that line.”
“Mom, he said he just didn’t realize that I would get so upset, but because I was upset, he feels I just proved to him how much I do love him.”
“Oh, brother,” Lisa bellowed at the answering machine. “Hope, don’t you see Michael is so vain he interpreted your being upset as missing him and not that you were upset at his behavior? Hope, you cannot be this blind, can you?”
“Mom, he made me promise not to talk about canceling the wedding. He asked me to give him another chance to prove that he does respect me and my feelings. He is trying and I need to be a little more understanding. Mom, I’ll try to call you Saturday. Have a great week. Love you, Mom.”
Lisa sat on the bed replaying this message over and over. Every time she pushed the button, she was hoping the message would change, but it didn’t.
Gladys sat quietly on the living room sofa, hearing this message over and over, knowing her girl’s heart was breaking with every replay. Lisa came out a few minutes later, took her usual seat across from Gladys and said, “I suppose you heard all of that. Can she really be that gullible?”
“I don’t think Hope is really gullible, Lisa. I think she is trying to find a way to keep loving Michael, but in order to do that she has to ignore lots of warning signs. We need to be very wise right now. If we go on the attack, she will feel obligated to run to his defense.”
“Gladys, I am so thankful that was the answering machine and not Hope on the phone. I don’t think I would have been able to shut my mouth.”
“Lisa, if he is the kind of man we all believe him to be, Hope will see it.”
“But when, Gladys, after she marries him? After it is too late? She has so many people working on her, lying to her, pressuring her.”
With great assurance, Gladys answered, “Hope has just as many people back here who care about her and are asking God to open her eyes. We might not be able to tell Hope what we believe is best for her, but we can ask the One who knows what is best for her to help her.”
Knowing that Gladys was usually right, Lisa pondered out loud, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times, right Gladys? Hope gives in to Michael’s pressure, worst of times, but she also said, ‘I love you, Mom,’ best of times.” Pausing for a moment, Lisa determinedly stated, “Christmas is coming, best of times. Hope will be joining us for Christmas, best of times. I have a sneaking suspicion that Ben is planning to officially propose to me on Christmas Day, best of times. But Hope is still in danger, worst of times.” Turning a weary glance toward Gladys, Lisa asked, “How do parents get through things like this without God. I know God loves me. I know God loves Hope. I couldn’t survive this without that knowledge.”
“Well, not to be corny or anything,” Gladys replied. “To quote our favorite movie line from Fiddler on the Roof, ‘Then we must leave it in God’s hands.’ ”
Throughout the week Lisa could be heard saying, “I must leave it in Your hands,” as she went about her daily routines. As soon as she got home each day she would check her answering machine and find no message. “I must leave it in Your hands.” For six long days there were no messages, no phone calls, just silence. Then, late Wednesday night, the phone call came and Lisa was almost too afraid to answer it. “Good evening.”
“Hi, Mom, how are you tonight?” Hope’s voice sounded strained, but controlled.
With Gladys’s warning swirling around in her head, “Don’t attack, no matter what Hope says. Let God handle this.” Lisa simply replied, “It has been crazy busy back here, Hope. How about you?”
“I’m okay.” Hope responded, although she did not sound okay. “I guess you are looking forward to Christmas in Atlanta, right?”
“Yes?” Lisa answered with a question instead of a declaration. “We leave here after church next Sunday.” Then, almost afraid to ask, “Hope, you are still flying in next Monday to join us, aren’t you?”
“I want to, Mom, I’m just not sure I should. Michael is really upset. Ever since Thanksgiving he has been absolutely wonderful. He even told his mother to back off, something he never does. He listened as I told all about my work days, even giving me compliments without a ‘but’ at the end of his sentences.”
Dreading the answer, Lisa asked, “So what happened?”
With anger in her voice, Hope said, “He knew I had already purchased my airline ticket. He knew that well before Thanksgiving.”
“Right, and so?” Lisa prodded.
“Last night everything blew up. After a wonderful dinner together and a relaxing stroll through the mall, we stopped at his favorite coffeehouse and, out of the blue, he said, ‘Hope, I’ve accepted an invitation to attend an awesome Christmas Eve party. Absolutely everyone who is anyone in this town will be there. I’d like you to wear that hot pink suit that I like so much.’ ”
Astonished at this man’s audacity, but careful with her words, Lisa asked, “Christmas Eve? But, Hope, you will be here on Christmas Eve.”
“That is what I told him, but he flew into a tirade right there in the coffee shop. He said he just assumed that since we were getting along so well, I would not think of abandoning him during his Christmas. Then, when I reminded him that I had already purchased my tickets and the family was expecting me, he exploded, saying, ‘After everything I have done for you this past week, you dare to do this to me? I do not deserve to be treated like this, and I will not tolerate this kind of disrespect from my future wife. You will cancel your trip, and you will accompany me to this party. Do you understand me?’ ”
Dying inside, pleading silently for the right answer, Lisa asked, “So, Hope, what are you going to do?”
“I’ve just decided. I am coming. If he thinks that a few days of pouring on the charm is all it takes to blind me to his faults, he is sadly mistaken. I have one week before I board that plane. One week of listening to my mother’s badgering, his threats, and Mrs. Gundersol’s relentless posturing about all of her son’s wonderful qualities, but I am coming.”
“Good, Hope, I am so happy you made that decision.” Feeling the need to offer just one warning, Lisa added, “I sure wish this coming week were already over. But, Hope, if Michael is this upset with you, maybe you should make sure you are not alone with him this week.”
“Oh, Mom, he would never hurt me. He is just spoiled and wants his own way.”
Lisa thought, enough said, don’t make her defend him. “Hope, I guess I’ll see you in one week. Take care, sweetheart. I love you.” Then as she hung up the phone, Lisa repeated, “Then we must leave it in God’s hands.”
For the next several evenings, Lisa and Ben went Christmas shopping together, meeting Benny for dinner at their favorite Italian restaurant, and then shooing him home to get his homework done while they continued shopping. Lisa tried to stay in the moment, enjoying her time with her two guys. Benny was always trying to get his dad laughing, which did not take much effort. On the last Friday night before Christmas week, Benny made a request of Lisa that proved the worst was now over for Benny. Dinner was finished, and they were just sitting there chatting when Benny asked, “Lisa, Sunday, after church, we are all heading up to Atlanta for the holidays, but before we leave town,” Benny hesitated for a second, “before we leave town, can we stop by the cemetery and wish my mom a Merry Christmas, together, as a family?”
Soft-hearted Ben’s eyes immediately filled with thankful tears as Lisa reached over and took Benny’s hand. “I think that would be a wonderful start to Christmas, Benny. I wish I could have known Beverly. She must have been a wonderful mom, Benny.”
“She would have loved you, Lisa.” Benny hesitated, and then added, “I know it because I love you.”
Two days later, while Gladys sat in the car guarding all the presents packed for Atlanta, Ben, Lisa, and Benny took a walk into the cemetery with a bouquet of flowers. They were gone only for a few minutes, but those were very important minutes. As they returned to the car, Gladys noticed that Ben was on one side of Lisa and Benny was on the other. Both men had their arms around Lisa, and all three of them were smiling.