11

The meeting with Christina and Arlene had continued for another thirty minutes. It seemed to end much better than it had begun. Christina sounded a little more encouraged. She had even accepted Marilyn’s invitation to join her for lunch on Wednesday. She hoped to have her idea approved and ready to share by then. With something this big, Jim would definitely need some time to think about it, if he went for it at all.

As she reached her car in the parking lot, Marilyn heard the unmistakable sound of a car trying to start unsuccessfully. She followed the sound and soon realized it was Christina’s car. She was trying to start it over and over again, but it was no use. Marilyn knew precious little about cars, but on those last two tries it sounded like the battery was dying. She heard that sickening click-click-click sound. Arlene’s car had just left the parking lot. She didn’t see anyone else who could come to Christina’s rescue.

Right after the meeting, her sense of exhaustion had returned. But she put her keys back in her purse and walked over to Christina’s car, just as Christina got out. “That doesn’t sound very good,” Marilyn said.

“No, it doesn’t. Piece of junk. It did the same thing yesterday when I was leaving the restaurant where I work.”

“What did you do to get it going yesterday?”

“Nothing. I don’t know a thing about cars. But a guy I work with came out and got it going using jumper cables. He said my battery was dying and I better get it replaced.”

“I have jumper cables,” Marilyn said. “I’ve never used them myself but—no, wait a minute. They’re in my husband’s car. I’m not sure if he’s home yet, but we only live five minutes from here.”

“You live in River Oaks?” Christina asked.

“We do. We’ve lived here for almost fifteen years.”

“Must be nice.”

She said this with a touch of sarcastic envy. Marilyn let it slide. “It really is. Maybe after lunch on Wednesday, we can stop by the house.”

“Really?”

“Sure. If it’s nice out, we could even go for a swim.”

“You have a pool?”

“We do, and a privacy fence around the backyard. None of the nearby homes have windows that can see in, so it really is private.”

“Sounds nice, but I think I’ll pass on the swimming.” She patted her stomach. “Believe me, nobody wants to see this body in a swimsuit. So, you think your husband will bring those jumper cables? I’ve gotta be at work in an hour.”

“I’ll call him right now.” Marilyn hoped Jim could help. She knew he would if he was free. As she pulled her cell phone out of her purse, she had a thought. What if God had set this up on purpose? To give Jim a chance to meet Christina in person before she sprung her big idea on him when they talked?

Christina couldn’t help it, she was starting to like this lady. Even though everything about her said she came from money. Her clothes and rings, her hair and car. Just the fact that she actually lived in River Oaks was intimidating. Who lived in a place like this? It was the land of make-believe. Christina would never invite anyone back to where she lived. Not even if she’d cleaned it for a week. But Marilyn had a kind face and gentle eyes.

While waiting for her husband to come—Jim, she called him—they had kept the conversation light. Marilyn kept asking her get-to-know-you questions but did it in a way that didn’t seem nosy. She was actually pretty easy to talk to.

Ten minutes later, a gorgeous Audi sedan pulled up. A nice-looking older guy and an extremely good-looking younger guy about Christina’s age got out. Suddenly, she regretted not fixing her hair or doing her makeup before coming here. And she became very self-conscious of her baby bump. The older man walked up and gave Marilyn a quick hug. Must be Jim.

“Christina, come over here and let me introduce my husband and son.”

Christina walked over to the group.

“This is Jim, my husband. And this is Doug.” She looked at her son. “I didn’t think you’d still be here.”

“I’m heading back to school right after this. Dad took me out to lunch first. Can’t pass up a free meal.”

Everyone shook hands. Doug had the best smile. Maybe the best smile on a guy Christina had ever seen.

Jim popped the trunk and walked around to the back of his car. “I hear someone needs a jump start.”

“Yeah,” Christina said. “I guess my battery’s dying. I really appreciate you doing this. I have to be at work in about forty-five minutes.”

Jim carried the jumper cables to her car. “Well, this won’t take five,” Jim said. “The problem is, if your battery is dying, this will get you to work, but it will just die again by the time you get off. Doug, can you move my car into position so I can hook these up?”

“Sure, Dad.”

Christina thought that might be the case. But what was she gonna do? She didn’t have the money for a new battery.

Jim opened the hood of her car. “Can I have your keys?”

“They’re still in the ignition.”

Marilyn walked up. “I’m guessing by our earlier conversation, you don’t have money for a new car battery.”

“Not unless they’re five or ten bucks.”

“Jim,” she yelled, “how much are car batteries?”

From inside the car, he yelled back, “It depends. Could be seventy or eighty dollars, maybe more. Why?”

Christina’s heart sank. Marilyn walked back and talked quietly with Jim. A few moments later, Jim and Doug got both cars running. Doug unhooked the jumper cables and closed the hoods to both cars. Jim and Marilyn walked over to her.

Jim spoke first. “Here’s what I’d like to do, Christina. Doug is going to drive Marilyn’s car back to the house. Okay, Doug?”

“Sure. My car’s parked there anyway.”

“Christina, you follow us to a nearby auto parts store, so we can buy you a new battery. We’ll have the whole thing done in plenty of time for you to get to work.”

“I . . . I can’t let you do that.”

“Of course you can. Marilyn tells me you’ve recently become a Christian, right?”

“A couple of months ago.”

“Well,” Marilyn said, “that’s what Christians are supposed to do. Help each other if they can. You need the help, and we’re able to help, so that’s what we’d like to do.”

“I’ll pay you back, as soon as I can.”

“No, you won’t,” Jim said gently. “This is a gift. You don’t need to pay us back. We better get going if we’re going to get you to work on time.”

“I don’t know what to say. No one’s ever done anything like this for me before.”

Marilyn put her hand on Christina’s shoulder. “We’re happy to do it. Just follow us to the store.”

Christina got into her car and closed the door. Doug smiled and nodded to her as he drove off in Marilyn’s car. Jim and Marilyn got into the Audi and began to pull away. She got right behind them.

“Thank you, Jesus. Thank you.” It was all she could say.

She tried to block the next thought before it fully formed. It was about their son, Doug. The way he looked at her. That beautiful smile followed by a different look when he noticed her stomach. She hated being pregnant so much just then. Not the baby. It wasn’t the baby’s fault.

She hated herself, for being so stupid.