Abide: A Christian Romance Novel (The Lewis Legacy Series, Book 7)

by JoAnn Durgin

  “Then how about I call you Abernathy?” She giggled.

  “I’m the only one on the planet honored enough for you to call Dad. Use it, please.”

  “Okay.” She kicked off her shoes, stripped off her socks, and propped her bare feet on the dashboard. Each toenail was painted a different metallic color. When had she started doing that? At least they had color and weren’t black or gray.

  “I’ll call you Dad if you agree not to give me the Lauren, you’re only twelve speech again.”

  “There’s no negotiation with the Dad thing.” Her statement gave him pause. “Do I say that a lot?”

  Rolling her eyes, Lauren ramped up the twirling routine with her hair. “Try all the time.” She waited as he looked up the information he needed on his cell phone. A visit to Dr. Paul was in order to put the fear of smoking in her.

  “Dad, did you ever try anything else? Other than cigarettes, I mean?”

  He sighed. What was protocol with these discussions? Still, Lauren had asked, and she deserved his honest answer. Maybe she’d recall this conversation in the future when she might be tempted to try something foolish.

  “Stuff you can smoke. Alcohol.” Too much alcohol in his undergrad days, but there were limits on what he’d share now. “Nothing hardcore or anything you can snort, and I was much older than you are. I’m not stupid, either, but I should have known better. I haven’t touched any of it since before you were born. Smart people don’t get sucked into thinking doing drugs is cool. And smart girls don’t put their feet on the dashboard of their father’s Porsche.” He motioned to her feet. “Down. Now.”

  “But you’re smart, and you still got sucked into it.”

  How to answer that one? “I also didn’t have my priorities straight at the time, Lauren. You’re a whole lot smarter than I was.”

  As he started to pull the car out of the lot, Caleb spied the sign for the medical office, surprised he hadn’t noticed it before. He wanted to groan out loud but managed to restrain himself.

  “What’s a Donor Insemination Clinic?” Wonderful. Of course, Lauren had spotted the same sign. His observant daughter didn’t miss much. She’d probably seen the woman’s business card, too, but thankfully she hadn’t mentioned it. He’d shred the card as soon as he got back to the office.

  “Nothing you need to know about.”

  “Other than it might be a sperm bank, I really don’t.” She was teasing him now. How did Lauren even know that term? Did that overpriced school teach her these things? Short of cutting her off from the rest of the world, he didn’t know what he could do.

  Lord, help me.

  The world was nuts. All he needed to prove it was the fact that he’d just been propositioned, more or less, in the parking lot of a sperm bank with his daughter sitting in the car beside him.

  He needed to get his girl in church. Get himself to church. They’d go pray together. Listen to some good sermons. Think about the things of God instead of the warped ways of the world.

  And think about looking for another school.

  Lord, help us both.

  For the second time that afternoon, Caleb couldn’t speed away fast enough.

  Chapter 16

  Waiting in line for her sandwich at Anneta’s Bakery & Deli on Thursday, Caty’s eyes widened as she spotted a woman reading a magazine by the front counter. Was that Sam on the cover? Those two looked so much alike they were sometimes confused for the other. Although she thought it was Will, she couldn’t fathom such an anomaly.

  Caty stepped closer. “Excuse me. May I look at your magazine for a second?”

  “Okay.” With a curious expression, the woman handed it over.

  She couldn’t believe it. It was Will—full head of wavy, dark hair, piercing light blue eyes—gracing the cover of the national, tabloid-style magazine. Her brother rarely smiled as wide as in this photo, and would you look at that? His eyes positively sparkled. Will looked as handsome as she’d ever seen him.

  She checked the headline and then read it again. Have you met William Jordan Lewis? Beneath it, the subtitle America’s Sexiest Astronaut Ever. Oh, my. When she’d first looked at it, she hadn’t noticed the “e” in Sexiest and thought it said Sexist. Big difference. She wouldn’t want him to have that label.

  Had Will consented to a photo shoot and interview? Highly doubtful. Caty wondered if he was even aware of the article and his cover boy status. If he had agreed, someone must have said or done something very amusing to coerce such a big smile from her brother. Not that he didn’t have a sense of humor, but Will rarely allowed it to show through his customary stoicism. She felt certain he never would have approved a piece like this if he’d known about the whole sexy angle. Will would hate this. Not only would he hate it, he’d be spitting furious.

  For all his aloofness, Will wasn’t arrogant as much as anti-media. When he was a kid, he’d lived and breathed to learn all he could about the space program. He hung out at NASA, pestering the staff and any technician he could find with his endless list of questions. His bedroom walls were covered with space posters and autographed astronaut photos, his ceiling plastered with glow-in-the-dark stars and planets. No one in the family, or anyone who’d known Will as a teenager, had been surprised when he’d become an Air Force pilot and then been accepted into the astronaut training program at NASA.

  “Order up for Caty! Come and get it.” With his booming voice and entertaining delivery, the deli counter guy sounded like he was auditioning for a sports announcer job.

  Caty handed the magazine back to the woman. “Thank you.” She’d try not to tease Will too much, but this was too easy. Wait until the rest of the family heard about it. She’d pick up a copy of the magazine on the way home.

  Five minutes later, Caty found an empty bench in a small park sandwiched between the tall office buildings. Bowing her head, she said a quick prayer for her food. She ended the prayer with, God bless Caleb and his daughter.

  After carefully prying off the lid from her tomato basil soup, she inhaled the rich aroma and then took a tentative taste. Sitting back on the bench, she reviewed her first four days at Belac. So far, so good. Except you haven’t seen Caleb. Not one sighting, not even the downwind. Early in the week, Caty thought he might stop by long enough to make sure she’d received the fly swatter and the corn plant. What a weird thought. Perhaps she should have sent him an email or a thank you note, but in the back of her mind, she kept thinking she’d thank him in person.

  She took another slow sip of her soup. Why should she expect to see Caleb? In spite of his resolution to become more human to his employees, and in spite of his unexpected breath of fresh air sentiment, it’s not like a man could change his persona overnight even if he wanted.

  “Hi, Caty.”

  Startled, she glanced up and tried to cover her shock. “Hi there. Care to join me?”

  Without answering, Suma sat on the bench beside her. Caty watched as she pulled out a small bag of sliced apples and raw vegetables. Is that all she planned to eat? No wonder she was so slender. By contrast, Caty had just dipped her baguette into her soup and been happily gnawing away.

  “Suma, do you ever eat a cheeseburger?”

  A small smile twitched the corners of the other woman’s lips. “Rarely.” She darted a side glance at her. “You’re thin, too.”

  “Genetics. I thank my parents daily for the blessing of height.” Tummy-tucking undergarments were a fabulous invention, but no need to mention that now. “You’re certainly a top-notch receptionist. I’m sure you see the world come and go sitting behind your desk.”

  “Sometimes it seems that way.” After pushing her long hair over one shoulder, Suma took a dainty bite of a carrot stick.

  “Even from my office four doors down, I’ve already heard a number of different languages spoken,” Caty said. “Do you know if Mr. Reid is also multilingual?”

  “No. Cordelia interprets for him when needed. I also speak four languages.” At least Suma had v
olunteered that information.

  “That’s wonderful! I’m sure that makes you even more valuable to the company.”

  The other woman shrugged. “I suppose.”

  They ate in silence for a few minutes. After finishing her soup, Caty replaced the lid. The inevitable birds and pigeons gathered around the bench when she tossed crumbs from her baguette onto the ground.

  “Be careful doing that or you might get…bird stuff on your shoes.”

  Caty grinned. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m done with my soup.”

  Was that a giggle? Suma could giggle?

  “I can’t believe I practically fell at your feet the first day I came into the Belac office,” Caty said. Nothing worked to bridge differences like a good old dose of humility. Might as well make fun of herself.

  “I thought it was funny.” Suma wiped her lips with a napkin although she’d only consumed tiny bites of carrot and a few apple slices. “You make life interesting. It’s usually so quiet.” A slice of cucumber slid between those red lips.

  “Glad I can provide some humor.” Reaching into the deli bag, Caty pulled out her wrapped sandwich. “Can I interest you in half a ham and Swiss sandwich on rye?”

  Suma’s eyes grew wide, and she appeared almost fearful. Scrunching her features into a frown, she bit her lower lip.

  Caty unwrapped the sandwich and placed it on the bench between them. “Feel free to take half. Or all of it. Whatever you’d like.”

  “Are you making fun of me?”

  “Oh, no. That wasn’t my intention at all.” Caty put one hand on Suma’s thin arm and then withdrew. “I can’t eat it all and thought you’d like to share.” If she protested more, it’d only make matters worse.

  “My nutritionist and therapist told me I need to eat more.” Suma started to reach for the half sandwich before pulling back, her shoulders slumping. “I’m trying.”

  One of her roommates at Wheaton had suffered from bulimia so she knew a little about eating disorders. If that’s what was happening with Suma. Offering her food wouldn’t help. The underlying emotional issues needed to be treated.

  “I’m glad you’re getting help with whatever you’re dealing with, and I hope you’ll think of me as your friend. During the day, feel free to drop by the office.” Reaching into her purse, Caty retrieved a card and offered it to Suma. “Miles brought my new business cards this morning. My cell phone number is listed on here. If you need to talk, or someone to listen, I hope you’ll call me. Anytime, day or night.”

  Taking the card, Suma pocketed it. Her long hair fell over her face, reminding Caty of a veil masking her features, hiding whatever pain she kept hidden inside.

  “I’d like to pray for you.”

  The other woman still wouldn’t look at her. “No offense, but that makes me uncomfortable. I’m not a very religious person.”

  “You’re not offending me, but you should know it won’t stop me from praying for you on my own time.”

  “Suit yourself.” Quickly gathering her things, Suma rose from the bench. A cloud passed over her pretty face. She started to walk away but then turned back. “How can you be so happy all the time?”

  Caty smiled. “Trust me, I have my moments.”

  Lord, help me give Suma the words she needs to hear.

  “My whole life, my parents taught me that I’m living on borrowed time,” Caty said. “I’m only here by the grace of God, and I need to use that time wisely. I’ve learned that every person is special and has unique abilities and talents. You are important, Suma. To God and to me.”

  Suma’s dark eyes widened. “How can you even say that? You don’t know me.”

  “I know enough.” Caty kept her voice low, quiet. “I know you speak four languages. You’re always immaculately put together. You’re quiet, well-spoken, and—”

  “Do you think it’s your job to tell me about God?”

  Caty shook her head. “I don’t look at it as a job so much as a privilege. Caring about your soul is more important than the work I do for Reidco and Belac. If I allowed my work or anything else to take control of my life, I’d be a bigger mess than I am now. I make a fool of myself a lot, but you know what?”

  “What?’

  “It’s okay because God loves me in spite of myself. At the end of my life, I want to stand before God and tell Him I did the best I could in loving others. The biggest part of what that means right now, Suma, is that I love you enough to share how Christ offers you a peace you can’t even begin to imagine.”

  “Why do you think I need peace?”

  “You have a beautiful smile, and I’d love to see it more. True joy comes from deep inside a person’s soul.” Caty kept her voice calm and non-confrontational. “You asked why I’m happy all the time. Mostly it comes from the hope that after my time on Earth is done, I’ll spend the rest of eternity in heaven. That’s what keeps me going.”

  “You really believe in all that stuff, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do. Life can be tough, but I’ve seen how God works in people’s lives to transform them. No matter what, He’s always there. Christ died for me, for my sins. When I was a kid, I told Jesus I was a sinner and needed His help, and then I invited Him to live in my heart.”

  Caty inhaled a quick breath. She’d gone this far, so she might as well keep going. “That’s all you have to do. And something else I learned? If someone doesn’t want to listen to me when I talk about God, they’re not rejecting me, they’re rejecting the message.”

  “I thought you weren’t supposed to talk about religious stuff with people in the office.” Defensiveness crept into Suma’s tone.

  “We’re not in the office right now and on our own time. I won’t mention anything about God again if it makes you too uncomfortable.” She couldn’t control the reactions of others, but neither did she want to beat her co-workers over the head. She’d said enough.

  Lord, help Suma find you. Help her to see you in me.

  The other woman’s expression remained passive, her mouth unyielding.

  “I’ll see you back at the office.” With that, Suma turned and fled.

  Chapter 17

  Caleb sat in his home office, checking his work email. Vaguely aware his housekeeper had entered the room, he greeted her without looking up as he typed a two-word response to the new head of the Dallas office. “Hey, Lettie.”

  “We missed you at dinner tonight.”

  “I know. Hold on a second. I’m almost done here.” He sent the email and opened another message from a manager of a Reidco gas station in San Antonio. After typing a couple of sentences, he pushed Send and then sat back in his chair. Scrubbing a hand over his face, Caleb closed his eyes. Man, he was tired in his bones. It’d been a long week, and it wasn’t over yet.

  “Perhaps I should come back later.”

  “No, stay.” Opening his eyes, Caleb focused on Lettie. “Fair warning. I refuse to apologize because I wasn’t at the dinner table. I’m there most nights unless I have a dinner meeting. Lauren’s the one who hasn’t made an appearance lately. You know that. Even if she was there tonight. Was she?”

  “Yes.” Lettie took a seat in the chair facing him. “I didn’t say a word. All I said was that we missed you. I believe that’s your own guilt and defensiveness talking.”

  “What do you expect me to do?” He raised his hands in the air. “I’m buried with work but spent a good portion of the afternoon hauling my kid out of her private academy. Then I took her to a doctor friend so he could show her what lungs look like when people smoke. Tried to put the fear of God in her for taking five puffs of a cancer stick.”

  “You could have taken her to the Museum of Natural Science instead. At least it wouldn’t have cost you a consult fee.”

  Caleb shook his head with a slight smile. “Paul’s a friend from Dallas. He was a golf buddy of Helena’s dad. He didn’t charge me, and it took twenty minutes, not the price of museum admission plus snacks and gift shop trinkets.” />
  That statement only made Lettie’s frown deepen.

  “Give me a break,” he muttered. “Given the circumstances, I’m doing the best I can.”

  Her brows lifted. “I know you are. Tell me what’s got you more worried.”

  The force of his sigh puffed out his cheeks. Pressing back in his chair, Caleb crossed his arms behind his head. This woman could always read him, a mixed blessing. “Name a topic, and I’ve probably got a list. I’m assuming you mean on the personal front.” A quick glance confirmed that’s what she meant.

  Caleb tilted his head, studying her. “What’s different about you tonight?”

  She smiled and touched her hair. “I had my hair cut and colored today. Working for you gave me too much gray.”

  He cracked a wry grin. “It looks very nice.” Lauren’s comment about how scary Lettie looked with rollers and face cream popped into his mind. That was on Saturday morning during their talk in the kitchen. Could Lettie have overheard that comment?

  Caleb picked up the spongy Rangers baseball from his desk, one of those stress-reliever things. They’d tossed them to the crowd at one of the games a couple of years ago, and the gimmicky freebie turned out to be one of his best desk accessories. He had another one in the downtown office. He worked his fingers on the baseball, kneading and squeezing it in his right hand.

  Like Cordelia, Lettie knew him better than anyone. Knew the vulnerabilities and insecurities he kept hidden from the rest of the world. Sometimes he suspected these two women knew him better than he knew himself. Besides Cordelia, Lettie was the only other person who knew about the kidnapping threats. He hadn’t even told his mother. She’d only worry too much and that wouldn’t be good for her weakened heart.

  “Lettie, are you aware Lauren feels like she’s a prisoner here? In the house, in Houston?”

  “Yes, I’ve gathered as much.” She shifted on the chair. “A child her age sometimes feels that way no matter what the circumstances.”