Georgia Sweethearts

by Missy Tippens

  She joined him, anyway. “By the way, I, uh, didn’t get a chance to speak with you yesterday. Thank you for the chairs. Is this a gift from the church?”

  Her hopeful expression indicated she wanted them to be from the congregation.

  “No. From me. A thank-you for your work. For letting us share your building.”

  Her obvious disappointment made him tense up.

  “Was I presumptuous?”

  “Of course not. They’ll be great for class attendees. I appreciate the generous gift.”

  But apparently, he’d made some sort of blunder. He wanted to reach out and smooth the worry line from between her eyes. To try to fix what he’d messed up.

  Are you kidding, Foreman. What’s to fix? There isn’t any kind of relationship, and can’t be.

  Focus. “The idea I mentioned...? This would generate income for you as well as help others. Teenage girls.”

  “Is this the idea you were scribbling notes about at Frank’s last Sunday?”

  Her tone had an edge to it. “Did that offend you somehow?”

  She crossed her arms tightly in front of her chest as if holding herself together. “I’m sorry. I’ve just seen a lot of ideas fail.”

  “Yours...or your dad’s?”

  She popped up out of the chair. Fiddled with the coffeepot. “Guess.” She shook her head, disgusted. “Dad always jotted ideas on notes on every surface of the room, like your sticky notes. They usually entailed a move somewhere after he’d been fired.”

  Returning to his side, she sat primly on the edge of her chair, straight as a razor in her perfectly pressed khaki slacks and expensive-looking sweater. Why had he never noticed before how she always dressed to the T? He didn’t think he’d ever seen her wear jeans.

  “I’m not your dad,” he said.

  “You’re an ideas man, planning to start things and then moving on. That’s my dad all over again.”

  “No, I’ve tried to tell you, I plan to stick around until everything is secure and going well. I’m not leaving before the church is ready or before I feel God leading me elsewhere.”

  “So when it’s time, does God give you marching papers?”

  “Not exactly.” If only it were that easy. He’d felt God nudge him along certain paths—like his change of careers. But he sometimes doubted his ability to discern between God’s will and his own selfish desires. Like with Lilly.

  “I can’t really explain it,” he said. “I feel nudges while I’m praying and reading the Bible. Sometimes God puts certain people, certain Scriptures in my path. Or guides me by using others who share their wisdom with me. Sometimes He has to be more direct, slamming doors in my face.”

  “So this job in South Georgia, this new church you’ll start...you feel God wants you to go there?”

  “I...” He hesitated. Something held him in check. Was this one of those nudges? Lord?

  She tilted her head, questioning, waiting for him his answer.

  This sudden doubt left him shaken. “I’ve felt Him leading me that way for the last few weeks. I spoke with church leaders there this morning, told them we have one more big project to accomplish here.”

  “The project you came to talk to me about?”

  “Actually, no. The food pantry in Appleton. I came to tell you about a support group for girls. To help Cricket and others.”

  “And what you want me to do is...?”

  “I’d love for you to host gatherings here. I can find someone to lead the group. The girls could learn to knit, and donations would fund the supplies. A win-win for your shop and for the girls.”

  Her eyes widened. “Wait a minute. Just because I came on Sunday—and only to get Ricky through the door, I might add—doesn’t mean I’m going to get involved.” She looked almost panicky.

  “By the way, thanks for bringing Ricky yesterday.”

  Her cheeks pinkened, thawing her cool demeanor a little. “No big deal. I ran into him outside. He was going to leave, too proud to attend simply because his uncle would be checking up on him. So I asked him to come with me so I wouldn’t feel out of place.”

  Pain squeezed at his chest. “You’re a kind person, Lilly Barnes. Whether you’ll admit it or not.”

  She looked away, and the pink in her cheeks deepened. “I totally understand teen angst. I knew he’d put up walls and wouldn’t back down. So I offered him a way out...or maybe I should say a way in.”

  Once again, he envisioned her helping a group of high school girls, gathered around in a circle, knitting. “You’re a natural at working with troubled teenagers. We could sure use your gifts here at the church. I think you’d be happy finding a church home.”

  With a shrug, she blew off his suggestion. “It might seem that way to you because churchgoing is something you’re used to. Not everyone feels the need.”

  Lord, help her to open up. To trust. He rested his forearms on his thighs, leaning toward Lilly. He knew pain when he saw it. “Maybe not. But I hope you’ll give it a try now, that you’ll once again feel God in your life. He’s still there, Lilly, loving you.”

  Tears filled her eyes. She blinked wildly and stood, avoiding eye contact. “I’m sure Jenna could use a break. She’s in the back with Will.”

  Lilly took off like a dart. He followed her to the sales counter.

  Jenna carried Will out of the back room. “Hello, Daniel.”

  Will turned and smiled when he saw Daniel. He reached out, nearly launching himself from his mother’s arms.

  He took the baby from across the counter. “Hey, buddy. Are you feeling a little overwhelmed by all this female crafty stuff?” He smiled at Lilly, who stood quietly behind the counter as if she’d still like to run into the back. She appeared to have a handle on the tears.

  Will blew some saliva bubbles and giggled. Cute little guy. Daniel hoped to be blessed with kids someday himself.

  “You should be honored, Daniel.” Jenna wiped her son’s chin. “He doesn’t go to just anybody.”

  “Eeee,” Will squealed as he kicked his feet over and over, like motioning Daniel to giddyap.

  With a laugh, he said, “I think he associates me with pizza.”

  Lilly laughed at the two of them, which sent his insides into a jumble.

  Back to the topic at hand. “Jenna, I was just telling Lilly about an opportunity to host a teen girls’ support group here, teaching them to knit. And the church would buy any supplies with donations.”

  “I don’t think it’s something we’d be interested in,” Lilly said.

  “If it’ll bring in some business, maybe we should consider it.” Jenna’s gaze landed on Lilly. “Something maybe you could have at least discussed with me first?”

  “We’re not equipped to handle troubled teens.”

  “I’d consider us experts. But you two work it out.” Jenna reached for her son. “Come on, Will. Nap time.”

  After pulling at Daniel’s lip with slobbery fingers, Will went to his mom.

  Daniel opened his mouth to speak, but Lilly held up her hand to stop him.

  “Save your breath,” she said. “I’m not qualified to teach your teen girls—knitting or otherwise.”

  “I’m trying to help you build your business.”

  “Then give me the name of a company you’d recommend. You were right—the store needs more visible signage.”

  The admission seemed to pain her. When he chuckled, her pretty hazel eyes flashed with humor, all her earlier emotions tightly under control.

  “I’ll run downstairs and look up the company. I think you’ll see an immediate increase in business if people can find the place.”

  “That’s what we need.”

  He winked at her on the way out the basement door. “I won’t give up on having you h
ost the group, though.”

  He was glad she’d accepted help in marketing her shop. But he was no closer to realizing his plan for the troubled girls. He’d have to petition the women of the church for a host for the group and hope someone would step forward.

  * * *

  Surely he would arrive any minute.

  Lilly stood out front of the yarn shop, repeatedly checking her watch. He had said Wednesday at noon, hadn’t he?

  The man from the sign company had promised to install the permanent site sign. He would complete magnetic vehicle signs and portable yard signs to place around town by next week. But he was already an hour late.

  Lilly tried to ignore the knot furling in her stomach. Why did she always fear the worst?

  Her mother had called her a pessimist, but she refused to agree. She was simply a realist. And most often, people let you down.

  A watched pot never boils. She went back inside, reassuring herself that Daniel had recommended the company. The man would call or show up soon.

  When the front bell rang, she raced to the entrance of the store.

  “Hello, Lilly,” said a fiftyish woman, a brunette with a cute bobbed cut whom she’d seen at the church services. A woman who’d acted friendly and welcoming and always looked happy.

  “Hi...um...I’m sorry, but you’ll have to remind me of your name.”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to remember since you’ve been meeting so many new people,” she said warmly and held out her hand. “I’m Belinda Hodges, and I’m so happy we’re neighbors.”

  She paused while shaking. “Neighbors? You live near my sister?”

  “No, I mean sharing the building. My husband and I have been members since the church started. I’m also one of the check signers along with Daniel and the treasurer. Since I practically live at the church...well, I feel like we’re neighbors.”

  With her carefree laugh and dancing eyes, Belinda radiated joy. A joy that seemed to light her from inside. Lilly liked her immediately. “I’m glad you stopped by. What can I help you with today?”

  “Actually, I’m here to ask you the same thing.” She held open a tote bag and showed Lilly a stash of yarn. “I’ve heard through the grapevine, meaning Daniel, that you need to relearn how to knit. I’m offering my services.”

  Lilly rarely asked for help. But something about Belinda drew her...

  “No pressure,” the woman added. “I know how it is to get out of practice. I put away my yarn away for about twenty years before picking it back up to knit something for my new grandbaby. That was five years ago, and now I take my knitting with me everywhere I go.” She leaned closer. “Even to church. But don’t tell Daniel that’s why I sit in the back.”

  Lilly laughed and directed Belinda to the gathering area. “Your secret is safe with me. And I really could use some help. I’ve been practicing, but I keep dropping stitches and having to pull it all out and start over.”

  “Grab your stuff and let me see what’s going wrong.”

  “I’m glad you’re here. I was killing time, waiting—impatiently, I might add—for the store’s new sign to arrive.”

  After about thirty minutes with the expert, they’d picked out bamboo needles to help keep the yarn from slipping and had also changed Lilly to a different weight yarn for beginners.

  “Much better! Look, I’ve knitted four whole rows without having to rip them out and start over.”

  “Call me anytime you get stuck and can’t figure it out.”

  “Since we’re neighbors and all.” She smiled at her new friend, who returned the gesture with a pat on her arm.

  Lilly shifted the tail of the yarn forward to attempt a row of the purl stitch.

  “I see you bought some of the chairs like we have downstairs,” Belinda said as she whipped out a row of her own.

  “Daniel gave them to me.”

  “Oh?” The last was said softly.

  She didn’t dare look into Belinda’s eyes in case the woman was trying to read her. No way could she hide the mixed feelings she’d been having for him.

  “A thank-you gift,” Lilly said.

  “He told us how grateful he was that you helped him late into the night so we could move in as planned.”

  “The poor man was exhausted. It was the least I could do.”

  Lilly glanced at her watch for the first time in nearly an hour. Time to contact the sign company. She put away her knitting.

  “Belinda, thank you so much for helping me. I got more done today than the last two weeks put together. And with much less frustration.”

  “You’re welcome. I’d love to come work with you again.”

  Two friends getting together to knit and chat? She’d dreamed of that for her shop, but she’d never imagined herself in the scenario.

  “I’d like that. I’m here most of the time, at least for now while I’m learning the business.”

  “Great! I’ll come again later this week.” She gathered her bag and left.

  Lilly dialed the company and got a recording that the number had been disconnected. Her stomach dropped. Maybe she’d dialed incorrectly.

  She tried again, double-checking the numbers, and got the same recording. When she opened the computer to search the website for a phone number change, she found the site had been removed.

  She’d paid the man a deposit of half the total estimate. Several hundred dollars. Dollars she’d hated to part with but had hoped would be a good investment.

  And she’d been ripped off.

  Her stomach churned. Jenna would be furious. She hadn’t wanted her to make the purchase.

  She should probably let Daniel know, so he wouldn’t recommend the company again.

  She found him in his tiny closet-office. Files and notepads were scattered across his desk. He had a pen in hand but looked up when he sensed her standing there. As soon as he saw her, his thousand-watt smile emerged—something she might have been pleased about if she hadn’t been so disappointed.

  One good look at her, and his face fell. “What’s wrong?”

  “The sign guy ripped me off.”

  “What?” He stood and came around the desk.

  “He never showed. His website’s gone and his phone number is disconnected. I feel sure an email will bounce back, undeliverable.”

  The horrified look on Daniel’s face almost made her wish she hadn’t told him. He looked as sick as she felt.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve used him before. Never would have expected this.”

  She shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. It can’t be helped.”

  As she turned to tromp back up the stairs, he stopped her. “This is my fault. I’ll try to locate him to get you a reimbursement. If I can’t find him, I’ll pay you back whatever you lost.”

  “It’s not your fault. I hired him.” And without checking on him like Jenna had suggested. “I’ll eat the cost of my mistake.” She headed up the stairs.

  “Lilly, wait.” When he reached her, she was already several steps above him. “I’d really like to help.”

  If only she could lean on him. Allow herself to care for him. But trusting any man was hard enough. And he was definitely off-limits, a man who would move from church to church, following God’s call.

  She could never be happy uprooting every few months. “No, thanks. I’m fine on my own.”

  And wasn’t that the story of her life? Always eating the cost of her mistakes.

  Always alone.

  * * *

  Daniel had let Lilly down with his supposed marketing advice. Now Ricky hadn’t shown up, which didn’t say much for Daniel’s ability to mentor troubled teens.

  “Are you sure you two don’t know where he is? I need you to be totally honest.”

  “I don�
�t have a clue,” Parker said, his blue eyes guileless.

  Ian sat hunched over Daniel’s laptop typing a paper for his lit class. “Don’t know. Don’t really care. He’s a jerk.”

  Daniel had set up a study hall for the guys since all three had a bad habit of skipping school. Two of their teachers were willing to give them another chance and had sent over makeup assignments.

  But Ricky hadn’t shown.

  “I didn’t see him at school today, either,” Parker said.

  Daniel shut himself in his office. What else could he do to reach Ricky? Unfortunately, any progress they’d made would end up strained after he reported Ricky to his caseworker for being a no-show.

  He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Phil.

  “Hi, Daniel. What’s up?”

  “Ricky didn’t show this afternoon. The other boys haven’t seen him today and don’t know anything.”

  “Let me call my wife and see if she knows anything. I’ll call you right back.”

  He headed up the stairs to the yarn shop to see if Lilly knew anything about the boy’s whereabouts. When he entered, he found Lilly and Jenna facing off behind the counter.

  “Hi, ladies.”

  “What do you want?” Jenna snapped.

  “I need to talk to Lilly, but I can come back.”

  Lilly held up her hand to stop him. “No, it’s—”

  “I think you’ve done enough talking with Lilly in that bogus sign company recommendation.” Jenna glared at him, her bright green eyes flashing fury, and maybe a little hurt.

  “Look, I’m really sorry about that. The marketing firm I worked for before attending seminary used them. So it had been a few years. I should have checked recent references.”

  “You better believe it,” Jenna said. “I didn’t want her to spend the money in the first place. But she trusted your judgment.”

  The barb landed as intended. The fact Lilly had trusted him made him feel even worse. “I’d like to repay whatever you lost.”

  “And I’d like to accept it. But Lilly refuses.”

  Lilly came from behind the counter. “Jenna, stop it. This is between you and me.” She nodded toward the front door, motioning him to follow her outside.