“I think the advice your sisters gave you—to pray about the situation, to be kind to Taylor, to consider that she might be hurting inside—was all excellent advice, and I’m proud of them for giving it to you. To add to what they said, though, I’m going to remind you of something Jesus said that is written in the book of Matthew, chapter five—”
I jumped up from my chair. “Oh, wait! Let me look it up in my new Bible!” I ran for my knapsack as my family waited patiently for my return.
When I did, my sisters surrounded me as I flipped over to the Gospel of Matthew.
“There’s chapter five,” Lena pointed.
“What verse? What verse?” Kitty asked.
“Forty-four. Make that forty-three and forty-four.”
We ran our hands over the fine print.
“Found them! Found them!” Cammie sang out.
“Let me read it, please,” I said, clearing my throat and holding the Bible out in front of me. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you . . .” I looked up from the page. “Oh.”
“Something clicked for you, didn’t it?” my father said. “What was the ‘oh’ for?”
I slowly put the Bible down on the table. “Only that, well, I prayed for God to help me, and I prayed to God to show me how to help her, but I didn’t exactly pray for Taylor directly.”
“Good, good. You’re understanding. That’s a gift from the Holy Spirit, by the way—understanding. Now turn to the book of Luke.”
“Let me! Let me!” Kitty and Cammie both stretched out their hands.
“Only if you’re careful!” I admonished them. “This Bible is new! We’re supposed to take extra good care of it!”
“I’ll have you both read something, so you can each have a turn,” Dad said. “So carefully take the Bible, Cammie, and turn to the book of Luke, chapter six, verses twenty-seven and twenty-eight.”
Cammie gently took the Bible from me and reverently turned the pages to the right place. Then she read, “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” She looked up. “Isn’t that the same thing as before?”
Dad, who had taken his own Bible out of his bag and was reading along with her, said, “Now read verse thirty-one.”
“‘Do to others as you would have them do to you.’ Oh! The Golden Rule!”
“Right.”
“So I have to keep treating Taylor the way I’d like her to treat me,” I said, “even if she keeps being mean? That’s not going to be easy.”
“Well, you can’t be mean to her,” Lena said. “That’s not what Jesus would do.”
“I didn’t say I’d be mean to her,” I said. “Just that it’s going to be hard to be nice to her if she keeps this up.”
“Can’t I read something?” Kitty asked Dad.
“Of course. Hand her the Bible, Cam. Kitty, continue where Cammie left off. Read verses thirty-two and thirty-three.”
“All righty,” Kitty said. “‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.’” She looked at Dad expectantly.
“Loving each other is what makes us Christians. Even when people make it harder to love them sometimes,” Dad said. “Lena, why don’t you finish? Read verse thirty-five.”
Lena stood up straight and read clearly, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.”
“And that’s key,” my dad said as Lena closed the Bible. “As a follower of Jesus, you are called to show her love and mercy. But you can’t expect her to show you love and mercy back. You can’t give to get.”
I summed it up. “You mean I’m supposed to be kind to her because it’s the right thing to do.”
“Exactly.”
I nodded without saying anything. It looked like I had some work to do.
“Anyway,” Dad said as a smile spread across his face. “It was funny your mentioning Mallory Winston earlier, Ansley, because . . .”
Dad’s phone went off.
“Perfect timing,” he said, holding up the phone. “She’s calling us right now.”
Chapter 14
She’s FaceTiming us!” I said, feeling slightly panicked. I had just admitted to my entire family that I’d boasted about knowing Mallory Winston, and now all I wanted to do was duck under the table. I was so embarrassed.
“Hi, Mallory!” Dad said after her big hair and smiling face appeared on his phone screen.
“Hi, Daniels family!” Mallory’s friendly voice rang out. She waved to all of us. Dad turned his phone so that the camera could pan the table showing her that we were all there, waving back. I bowed my head. I just couldn’t look her in the face.
My sisters all leapt to their feet to crowd around Dad’s phone. I got to my feet, too, but to help Aunt Sam clear the table.
“How are you all doing?” Mallory asked. “I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch lately. Y’all know how sorry I am about Mrs. Daniels’ passing. I was always so impressed with her when I watched her with you girls. And she was such a prayerful woman. She was always a real blessing to have around.”
“Yes, she was,” Dad said. “Thank you for saying it.” The rest of us nodded in silent agreement.
“I actually have a special reason for calling that kind of has to do with your mother,” Mallory said. “When I’d heard she’d gone to the Lord, it got me thinking a lot about what our faith is all about. I felt your loss real heavy, but I also felt the powerful faith of your family that she’s with Jesus and that you will all see one another again one day.
“After praying for all of you I felt moved to write a song for y’all, and if you like it and let me, I’d like to put it on my next album.”
“Wow!”
“Really?”
“That’s amazing!”
As my family crowded around the phone and exclaimed over Mallory’s exciting news, I found myself drawn to join them. So I tiptoed over and craned my neck over Kitty’s shoulder to get a look at Mallory.
“Can I play it for you right now?” she asked. “Then you can let me know what you think.” After everyone enthusiastically agreed, she placed her phone on a shelf of some kind and then backed away from it as it continued recording. Then she sat down on a chair, picked up a guitar, and began to sing:
We’ll meet again
At the happy reunion,
Where we’ll be singing songs of praise,
Standing in the light of heaven
And His all-loving gaze.
We’ll remember not our sadness
In the joy of that embrace.
Our only tears will be of gladness
For His forgiveness and His grace . . .
As Mallory continued, I felt as if her song lifted my soul to a happy, hopeful place. And when she was finished, I was feeling so good that I found it easy to look at her again without feeling embarrassed, although to see her clearly I had to blink back a few tears.
Dad found his voice first. “That was just beautiful, Mallory. A lovely tribute to Mrs. Daniels and a wonderful song of hope and faith.”
“I’m so glad you liked it. I was thinking if it’s all right with you, I’d like to release it as the first single off my new album. I’ll not only dedicate the song to your mother, Lena, but I’ll donate all the proceeds to charity. Did she have any favorite causes?”
“She didn’t have a favorite charity,” Dad said, “but she did give to quite a few. I’ll do a little research and talk it over with the girls. We’ll figure out the best place for your donation to go. Thanks so much, Mallory. It always made their mother so happy to be able to help others. She would be thrilled to know she is still able to do something for her fellow man even now.”
“I’m sure she does know,” Mallory said softly. Then she clasped her hands together. “Now that I have the Daniels family stamp of approval, I would like to debut this song in a live surprise appearance at the Roland Lake Founder’s Day Fair. How does that sound?”
“That sounds great!” Lena said. As the rest of us chimed in that we thought so, too, Lena’s eyes were shining. “Actually, Mallory, we’ll be performing one of your songs there—I mean, my church high school choir will.”
“That’s not the only time you’ll be singing at the fair if I get my way.” Mallory smiled mischievously.
“Huh?” Lena asked. “What do you mean?”
“I mean would you consider singing “Happy Reunion” at the fair with me?”
Lena looked stunned. “What?”
“You know, as a duet. I can send you a recording of the song with harmonies to practice along with.”
“But—but—how do you know I’d even be good enough?” Lena sputtered.
“Because I’ve heard you sing, Lena, and you sound phenomenal! We need to get you out there so people can hear how good you are!”
Lena placed a hand on her head as if to keep it from floating off her neck. “I don’t understand! When have you heard me sing?”
Mallory smiled with amusement. “This morning when I received a video of you singing and playing the guitar. I didn’t know you were a songwriter too! I think we definitely need to work together.”
“Dad! I can’t believe you did that!” Lena turned to Dad in accusation. She didn’t seem to know whether to be happy or angry about it.
“I didn’t do it!” Dad raised his hands up in surrender. “Your sisters did.”
“Huh? I didn’t do anything!” I said, copying Dad and raising my hands in surrender.
“No, it was the twins,” Dad clarified. “When they emailed your grandmothers this morning, they sent them a video of you singing the other night, and then they asked if they could send a video to Mallory as well. I said they could.”
Lena stood in dazed amazement.
“So . . .” Mallory’s voice coming out of the phone brought Lena back to reality. “What do you say? Will you sing with me?”
“How can I say no? Especially for such a special song,” Lena said. “So . . . yes, of course I’ll sing with you.”
“You’ve made me so happy, Lena. God seems to still have plans for us to work together for His purpose. I believe that this song will bring God’s comfort to other people who are also going through a difficult time. And we can make sure that any money it makes can also go to help people in need. I’m so glad our partnership isn’t over. I’ll send you the music file in a few minutes.”
After receiving the file, Lena went to her room to listen to it and to start practicing her part of the duet. Dad went to his office to do a little work, and I went to the upstairs family room with the twins and Aunt Sam.
Cammie and Kitty went straight back to working on the “Winter’s Paradise” puzzle since they hadn’t finished it the other day, while I looked over paperwork for the Bake Off with Aunt Sam.
She curled up on the white couch and scanned the info sheet as Zette hopped up next to her and snuggled against her leg. “Okay, it says here that there will be three baking challenges. The first two will be held on Saturday and the big one is on Sunday.
“The first kids’ challenge is a pastry of your choosing that falls under the category of ‘My Specialty,’” she read aloud from the sheet. “This should be a pastry that you are well known for, is a family favorite, or can even be called your signature dish.”
I turned to smile at Kitty and Cam just as they turned to me with smiles of their own. “Cinnamon rolls!” we said at the same time.
“The second challenge,” Aunt Sam continued, “is the cookies or bars challenge. It falls under the category of ‘With a Twist.’”
I wrinkled my nose. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Again, Aunt Sam read from the printout. “Whether it is brownies or lemon bars, ginger snaps or sugar cookies, baked in a pan or on a sheet, present us with a familiar, delish dessert in a fresh, new way. Add an unexpected flavor, change its typical appearance, or otherwise surprise us with your originality.”
“Hmm.” It sounded to me like the second challenge was going to take a little more thought. “I guess I can do my blondies but add something a little different to them.”
Cam made a face. “I like your blondies the way they are. Why change them?”
“To meet the requirements of the challenge,” I pointed out.
“Just don’t add anything weird to them,” Kitty said. She stuck out her tongue and shuddered. “Like cayenne pepper or pickles or something.”
I slapped my forehead. “I won’t! Okay, Aunt Sam, what about Sunday?”
“That’s when things get really interesting. That’s the day the winners of ribbons in the first two challenges bake on premises for a chance at the Grand Prize. It says here that there will be ovens set up under the tents and that the TV show Awake with the Lake will be filming.”
“I have a question,” I said. “If we aren’t baking there on Saturday, I guess that means we have to bring in our dishes, right?”
“Yes.”
“So how can they be sure you really made the desserts you’re bringing in on Saturday?”
“Actually, I was just getting to that. It says here that you’re supposed to film yourself making those dishes.” Aunt Sam put a hand on her hip and smiled down at the twins. “I wonder if we’ll be able to fulfill that rule. You don’t happen to know anyone who’s good at recording stuff, do you?”
Kitty and Cam chuckled in a way that seemed to say “guilty as charged” as well as “and proud of it!”
“And what’s the Cake Challenge theme again?” I asked, reaching for the printout.
“Don’t you remember?” Aunt Sam handed me the sheet. “Favorite of the Fair.”
“Oh, right. So basically, that means I’ll just have to bake a cake everybody likes. That’s all. No pressure or anything.” Now I was starting to feel a little nervous. “Any ideas?” I nudged Kitty with my big toe.
“Maybe if you made something chocolate? People usually like chocolate.”
“Not everyone does, though,” I reminded her. “I usually prefer vanilla. So does Cam. Chocolate’s not my favorite thing in the world—unless it’s Aunt Sam’s awesome chocolate cake!” I sat up with a bolt. “Hey! What about you, Aunt Sam? What will you be entering in the fair?”
“Oh, I decided against entering this year,” Aunt Sam admitted, to my surprise. “I won’t have time to be involved in all that when I need to be looking after you girls. But maybe next year.”
“That’s too bad.” I felt genuinely sad for all the people who weren’t going to get the chance to eat her cake at the fair.
“But maybe you can make your Famous Perfect Chocolate Cake for us?” Kitty, who was sitting cross-legged on the rug as she worked on the puzzle, looked up at Aunt Sam and blinked big, begging eyes.
“You look more like a puppy-dog than a kitty cat,” Aunt Sam said with a laugh. “But sure. One of these days I’ll make it for you girls.”
“Sooooon?” Cam curled up her hands to look like a dog’s front paws and began panting at Aunt Sam’s knees. Zette lifted her head from Aunt Sam’s lap to give Cam a perplexed look before settling back down again.
Aunt Sam chuckled as she stroked Zette’s head. “I think we’re going to be up to our ears in baked goods around here—at least for a while—but yes, I’ll make it soon.”
“Yesss!” I high-fived with my sisters.
I looked over the sheet again and found myself suddenly getting anxious. “Wait, so I have to bring in two desserts in one day?”
“There are two challenges on Saturday. One in the morning and one in the afternoon,” Aunt Sam said. “But you don’t have to enter both categories, you know.”
Entering both challenges would mean a lot of baking on the night bef
ore. That meant Friday! The day of Taylor’s baking party! “Maybe I shouldn’t go to the party . . .”
Aunt Sam shook her head. “You already said ‘yes’ to that. It would be impolite to back out now.”
I sank back against the sofa cushions. “She doesn’t even want me there.”
“But your other friends do,” Cammie said as she neatly pressed a puzzle piece into the puzzle. It fit perfectly.
“Maybe,” Kitty tilted her head thoughtfully, “you can make something at the party you can enter into the Bake Off.”
“That would be great! But I doubt that’ll happen. At least the visit there might inspire me with some ideas, anyway,” I said. “And what about the Grace-n-Power performance? When is that supposed to be?”
“Sunday afternoon—a little before Lena’s choir performs. And from what Mallory told us before she hung up, her surprise appearance will be right after that. Hopefully her duet with Lena won’t run into the time of the Favorite Cake of the Fair judging.”
“Why? When is that?”
“Well, let’s see. According to the rules of the Bake Off, if you get a ribbon in one of the previous challenges and qualify for the third challenge, you have to check in by eight-thirty in the morning to claim your spot. Baking starts by nine. You get two hours. Presentation is at eleven. Then fairgoers are invited to the tents to taste all the entries. The winner will be announced by three o’clock.”
“I really don’t want to miss Mallory and Lena’s performance,” I said. “But I guess I shouldn’t worry about that unless I get a ribbon in one of the first two challenges, anyway.”
“It sounds kind of funny to worry about winning,” Cammie pointed out.
I chuckled. “You’re right!” But I found myself worrying anyway. What if I win the Bake Off but missed the duet? That would be terrible! I shook my head. That wouldn’t happen. Awake with the Lake wouldn’t want to miss Mallory Winston, either.
I was sure of it.
Chapter 15
On Thursday morning I stared down at the pink and purple headscarf I held in my hand and took a deep breath. Do I wear it, or don’t I? I asked myself. Do I let Taylor make me feel bad about something that isn’t bad? Something that used to make me feel happy? Do I let her control how I want to style myself? Or do I put the bow on and take a chance on her making fun of me again—possibly all day long and to other people?
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