The First Ladies Club Box Set

by J B Hawker

  Gideon was out on a home visit when she stopped in at the church, so she gathered up her papers and left.

  Hope’s head was still swimming with all the possibilities in her future when she arrived at Naidenne’s. She looked forward to getting her friend’s advice.

  …

  “So, that’s what’s been happening with us,” Naidenne said after catching Hope up on the recent antics of her two children and plans for the family’s next vacation. “How are things with you guys?”

  “Well, you probably heard about the incident on the camping trip. My first foray as youth leader was less than a success,” Hope admitted.

  “That’s not what I heard. Everyone was talking about what a hero you were to protect the kids. I mean, good grief! You and the kids getting flooded out and lost, and then you getting attacked, is more than the usual youth leader has to deal with,” Naidenne said.

  “I suppose,” Hope remarked with a grimace. “But at least something good came out of it.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes. The foster girl I’d invited to join us on the trip... well, she’d been in a bad situation and acted out, naturally enough... anyway, we’ve gotten her out of that awful foster home. She’s staying with us,” Hope said.

  “Really? How did that happen?” Naidenne asked, frowning. She’d heard about this particular foster girl and her troubling behavior.

  “We applied to be temporary foster parents. There is such a shortage of homes for these kids that CPS was happy to fast-track our application.”

  “So, this is just temporary,” Naidenne said, feeling a bit of relief.

  “Well, right now it is, but we are applying to become regular foster parents, so we can keep Dawn, and be available for other kids, too. It’s funny. I’ve always wanted to be part of a big family, but I never thought I’d ever have kids of my own. This just feels like it’s the perfect solution,” Hope explained.

  “How does Gideon feel about this plan?”

  “He feels like I do, of course,” Hope said, feeling just a twinge of doubt.

  “Good, because this is going to take a huge effort from both of you. We have some foster parents in our congregation and, well, I can’t tell you all they have to deal with, but their names are seldom off the prayer list. It takes a special kind of person to give up their own lives for these vulnerable, troubled kids. I don’t think I could do it,” Naidenne said. “Of course, Scott wouldn’t even ask me to, not now that we have our own kids to think about.”

  “Well, Gideon and I don’t have kids, so that’s one thing we don’t need to worry about,” Hope said, feeling slightly annoyed that her friend wasn’t more encouraging about their fostering plan.

  “Oh, look at the time. I’d better be off. I’m picking up Dawn from school. She could walk home, of course, but we thought it would be easier for her to adjust to her new life if she’s not left on her own after class. Thanks for the coffee,” Hope said, giving Naidenne a brief hug and hurrying out.

  Naidenne stood in the doorway watching her friend drive away and saying a prayer.

  …

  Having learned where Mavis Miller lived, Dwayne and Beto were now parked in the alley behind the Millers’ house.

  The two criminals had been watching the house for thirty minutes. It looked like no one was inside.

  Beto pulled on gloves and slipped out of the car.

  “You stay here and keep watch. Send me a text if you see anyone coming,” he said, holding up his phone and switching it to vibrate mode.

  Dwayne nodded.

  “She might have stashed the stuff here. If I find it, maybe we won’t need to rough her up, after all,” Beto added.

  “What about if you don’t find it?” Dwayne asked.

  “Then we’ll hang around and beat it out of her when she comes home,” Beto said with a grim smile. “We’re making her an example, remember?”

  Dwayne watched his partner jog down the alley and disappear over the Millers’ back fence. He hated all this waiting around, but he was too afraid of Beto to argue.

  He rummaged in the glove box and pulled out a crumpled bag of cheese puffs. Stretching out, he began to munch, idly scanning the street for approaching traffic.

  As he chewed, Dwayne thought how glad he’d be to get this over with so Beto could go back to wherever he came from and his own life could return to normal.

  Beto broke a window by the back door and slipped into the house. He made a quick tour of all the rooms to make certain no one was home and then began to ransack the place in his search for the stolen drugs and money.

  Although he figured the money was long gone, he made a very thorough search for the drugs, stuffing easily liquidated valuables into a flowered pillowcase from one of the bedrooms as he went.

  He made no effort to conceal his activities as he overturned the Millers’ belongings and violated their home.

  After more than an hour of his search and destroy tactics, Beto took his sack of loot back to the alley.

  “Hey!” he banged on the car’s hood.

  Dwayne woke with a jerk.

  “Did you find it?” he asked, straightening up.

  “What’s the matter with you? You were supposed to keep a lookout. Anyone could have come in on me with you asleep out here,” he said, opening the door and pulling Dwayne out.

  “I oughta kill you; you know that?” Beto growled into Dwayne’s ashen face.

  “I just dozed off for a minute, honest,” Dwayne sputtered, wiping orange cheese powder off his chin and pulling away. “So, did you find it?”

  “No,” Beto growled, thrusting the bag of loot into the back seat. “She didn’t stash it in that house.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “The stuff’s not there. I even tore off a couple of floorboards and wall panels. There’s no place I didn’t check,” Beto said. “Maybe she sold it on, already.”

  Dwayne shuffled his feet before asking, “So, what now?”

  “We go back inside and wait for her like I said. The stuff she took may be long gone, but there’s still the little matter of sending a message to take care of.”

  Dwayne wasn’t bothered by drug dealing or bullying his customers, but he couldn’t help feeling a little squeamish at the thought of beating or even killing a woman. Especially in a way meant to send a message.

  “Shouldn’t we go and get something to eat, first?” he suggested.

  “You’ve had enough!” Beto said, gesturing at the discarded snack bags in the car. “Let’s go. We need to get this done and get outta town before anyone notices.”

  Dwayne couldn’t help dragging his feet as he followed Beto back into the ravaged home.

  …

  At that moment, Mavis and Barry Miller were leaving Eugene on their way home, worn out from helping their son with the two toddlers while his wife delivered their third child. The baby had come early, with complications, and was the reason for their sudden trip out of town.

  Mother and baby were now home from the hospital and their daughter-in-law’s mother had come to help, so the Millers were looking forward to some well-deserved rest and relaxation at home.

  “I adore our grandkids, you know I do, but it will be so nice to sleep in our own bed tonight and wake up to a peaceful morning tomorrow,” Mavis said.

  “I agree,” Barry said, swinging their car around a slow-moving delivery van. “Those little guys are cute as can be and their smiles melt my heart, but they wore me out. We’re getting too old to wrestle with youngsters all day.”

  “Still, I’ll miss them,” Mavis said after a few miles. “When can we plan another little visit, do you think?”

  Barry laughed as they approached the Bannoch city limits.

  “Let me recuperate for a few days and then ask me again,” he said.

  “Barry, pull over up there. I see Hope and I want to ask her how the camping trip went,” Mavis cried as they drove by the Mount Zion Tabernacle.

  “Can’t you just ca
ll her after we get home and I have a chance to kick off my shoes?” he moaned, parking the car.

  Mavis opened the window and called to Hope, catching her attention.

  Hope approached their car.

  “Welcome back! We’ve missed you,” she said, smiling. “How’s the new grandbaby?”

  “Oh, he’s just precious as can be. I’ve got pictures,” Mavis said, pulling out her phone and scrolling for shots to show to Hope.

  As Hope admired the Millers’ grandchildren, Mavis inquired about the camping trip.

  Hope handed the phone back and sighed. “I think I made a mess of things, actually, but no one seems to want to make a fuss about it. I’m sure everyone, kids and parents... and me too! ... will be happy to have you two back ready to pick up the reins, again.”

  “Mavis and me were talking about how maybe it’s time we had a bit of help with the Youth Group,” Barry said, leaning over to talk to Hope. “We aren’t getting any younger... as this recent trip let us know. I can’t remember when I have been so tired.”

  “We were actually hoping you might like to take on the job,” Mavis added.

  “I’ll let you get on home and rest, right now. We can talk about this when you have a chance to catch your breath,” Hope said.

  “Again, welcome home,” she added walking away to her car, wondering how she felt about the Millers suggestion.

  …

  Berniece Mitchell saw the Millers’ car pass as she was entering Judy Fall’s craft shop and frowned.

  “Hi, Berniece!” Judy called out from her window nook where she was working on another of her recycled creations. “What’s got you looking so worried?”

  “Hi, Judy,” Berniece replied, walking over. “It’s nothing. I just saw the youth leaders from my church drive by.”

  “Don’t you like them?” Judy asked, looking puzzled.

  “Oh, it’s nothing like that! Mavis and Barry are good friends. It’s just that they’ve been away for a few weeks helping out with a new grandbaby and now they are back.”

  “I’m confused. Why does that make you frown?” Judy asked.

  “I’m probably making something from nothing,” Berniece laughed. “It’s just that our pastor’s wife, Hope... you know her, right? Well, she’s been filling in with the youth group while the Millers were away and now that they are back, well, they will want to take over, again.”

  “Why is that a problem?” Judy pressed, more confused than ever.

  “Oh, it’s just, you know my kids, right? TyVon and Ty’Nisha? Well, they are both in the group and they say all the kids really want Hope to keep being the youth leader. They say she’s lots more fun and exciting than the Millers. I’m afraid there are going to be hurt feelings ahead for someone.”

  “I see,” Judy said, nodding. “How long have the Millers been youth leaders?”

  “Forever, it seems,” Berniece laughed. “In fact, they were leading the group when Tyrone and I were in it, way back in the dark ages.”

  “Then, maybe they would be relieved to have some help,” Judy suggested. “Or, they might even be ready to hand that job off to someone a little younger. I think you might be worrying for nothing.”

  Berniece had been browsing through a rack of wind chimes made from broken crockery as they talked. She brushed her fingers against one, listening to the pleasant tinkle, and then lifted it from its hook.

  “I hope you are right,” she said, adding, “I’ll take this one.”

  Judy wrapped the chimes and rang up the sale.

  “If your friends have been helping with a new baby for a week or so, they’ll probably be so glad to be back in their own home and just rest, that they will love a chance to take a break from the youth work, too.”

  “Maybe so. Thanks,” Berniece said, taking her package and stepping out of the crowded shop.

  She smiled to herself as she stepped down the sidewalk. Judy was probably right. Everything would work out. It usually did.

  …

  Dwayne shuffled around the Millers’ house, prowling from room to room, occasionally picking up an object and either putting it into the pillowcase he carried or dropping it onto the floor. He let a Precious Moments figurine fall to the tiles in the entry with a crash.

  “What the heck are you doing?” Beto yelled, stepping into the doorway.

  “As long as we gotta hang around, I figure we might as well help ourselves. A little payback for all our wasted time,” Dwayne replied.

  “Keep your mind on the job,” Beto snarled, stepping back to the living room window where he’d been keeping watch.

  A car turned into the Millers’ driveway and a man and woman slowly emerged, straightened up and stretched, then walked back toward the trunk of the car.

  “That’s not her,” Dwayne hissed into Beto’s ear.

  “I can see that, you idiot!” Beto said.

  “They’re comin’ in!” Dwayne moaned.

  “Let’s go!” Beto commanded, running toward the back door.

  Dwayne stumbled behind him, dragging his bag of loot with him.

  …

  “I’m so tired, Barry. Let’s just have sandwiches for dinner tonight,” Mavis said, lugging a pair of suitcases to the door.

  Barry nodded, set down his own luggage and unlocked the front door.

  “How about soup? I may not have the energy to chew,” he said, picking up the cases and holding the door open for his wife.

  Mavis stepped inside and froze, stopping so suddenly that Barry crashed into her.

  “What the…?” he began, then looked over Mavis’s shoulder at the chaos within. “Get back out. Quick!” he said, pulling his wife outside.

  “We’ve been robbed,” Mavis whispered as Barry pulled out his phone to call the police. “Do you think they might still be in there?”

  “The authorities can find out. We’ll wait in the car.”

  The two weary travelers reluctantly returned to their car where they sat in bewildered silence.

  …

  When Dawn got home from school, she followed delicious smells to the kitchen, where she found Hope stirring a simmering pot and humming tunelessly.

  Gideon had picked Dawn up from school and dropped her off before going back to the church for a meeting.

  Hope looked up with a smile and pulled the girl into a hug.

  “Welcome home,” she cried. “I hope you like chicken stew with biscuits,” she added with a worried look.

  “I’ve never had that, but it sure smells good,” Dawn laughed. “Guess I’m willing to give it a try.”

  “How was school?” Hope asked when Dawn dropped her backpack on the counter and slid onto a stool.

  “Okay, I guess. Sort of weird, too.”

  “Weird, how?”

  “Ever since the campout, the kids, and even the teachers, they’re all acting different,” she said.

  “Different? Different good or different bad?” Hope asked, adding fresh herbs to the chicken stew.

  “Good, I guess. But, well, I mean I knew how to act before when they treated me like I was... well, you know... but now I don’t know what anyone expects.”

  Hope covered the stew and lowered the heat, and then took a seat on a stool.

  “I think I understand,” she said. “But I also think it’s better when we live up to our own expectations, rather than try to be what we think others expect.”

  Dawn shrugged, uncertain what her own expectations were in these new circumstances.

  As though sensing the girl’s confusion, Hope said, “Or, if that’s too hard just now, you can try to live up to your hopes. Yours and ours. Gideon and I know what a strong, caring person you are, and we hope you will be able to live up to your potential.”

  “Won’t everyone think I’m pretending to be something I’m not? You all know what I’ve been like,” Dawn said.

  “Sure, some might wonder about your change, but they will see it was your situation that was the problem. And that situation no l
onger exists,” Hope said, getting up. “Do you have much homework?”

  “Yeah. Do I have to do it, now? It’s not due until Thursday.”

  “Of course,” Hope laughed. “Do your work right away, then if you run into troubles you have plenty of time to get help.”

  Dawn went upstairs to change clothes just as the phone rang.

  It was Gideon.

  “I might be late for dinner,” he began. “The Millers’ house was broken into while they were out of town. I’m on my way over to see if there’s anything I can do.”

  “Oh, no!” Hope cried. “Bring them here for dinner, if that will help. There’s plenty of food and I can keep it warm until you get here.”

  “Thanks, I will tell them,” he said, ending the call.

  Hope sank down onto a chair, saying a prayer for the Millers.

  She couldn’t imagine what they were feeling after coming back from their trip and finding their home violated. Why would anyone want to break into the Millers’ modest home, anyway?

  …

  Later, Gideon had called ahead to let Hope know he was on his way home. She was just putting the finishing touches on the meal when he and the Millers walked in.

  She wiped her hands and turned to greet them.

  “Mavis! Barry! I’m so sorry about what’s happened,” she said, taking Mavis’s hand. “Please come in and sit down. You must still be in shock.”

  Gideon took the couple’s jackets and ushered them into the family room where they sank onto the sofa.

  Barry leaned his head back with his eyes shut, but Mavis sat up straight, turning toward Hope.

  “We’re sorry to barge in like this,” she said. “When Pastor asked us to come, we told him we could just get something to eat at the hamburger stand, but he insisted.”

  “We’re happy to have you join us, Mavis, please don’t worry about it. Do you like chicken and buttermilk biscuits? Dinner will be on the table in just a few minutes. Can I get you something to drink while you wait? Barry?”

  Barry started.

  “Huh? What?” he blinked.

  “Hope asked if you want something to drink,” Mavis said with a nudge.