Georgia Sweethearts

by Missy Tippens

  The painful admission sent him into shuddering sobs.

  Lilly glanced over at Daniel, alarmed. She patted Ricky’s shoulder. When the boy fell against her, she only hesitated for a moment before awkwardly wrapping her arms around him, holding him while he let go of the pain.

  When his crying lessened, he pulled away, sniffing. Scrubbed at his eyes.

  Lilly squeezed his shoulder. “I understand Cricket’s fear over her parents’ reaction. But a baby changes the game.”

  “Yeah.” He jumped up and paced across the small living room of Jenna and Ned’s home. The floor was scattered with baby equipment. He stopped and stared at a musical toy, rubbed his fingers over it. “A baby changes everything.”

  Daniel had to weigh in at some point. Maybe Ricky was ready to listen. “You need to step up and take responsibility.”

  His shoulders slumped. “Don’t you think I know that? How can I when she told me to forget about her?”

  Lilly glanced Daniel’s way and then said, “Cricket’s been having a hard time.”

  “I heard the rumors. She won’t answer my calls.” He ran a hand through his scraggly hair. “What else can I do?”

  With a hand on his arm, Lilly said, “You probably need to go through her parents, to make sure it’s okay to talk with her.”

  “Do you love her?” Daniel asked.

  He nodded and swallowed back a sob.

  “Do you think she loves you?”

  Another nod.

  “Can I give you my suggestion?” He waited, unsure whether the kid would be willing to listen.

  “You can trust Daniel,” Lilly urged.

  With a sniff and another swipe at his eyes, Ricky straightened. “Okay.”

  “Go talk to your aunt and uncle. Tell them what’s going on. Maybe they’ll approach Cricket’s parents and set up a meeting. The six of you could talk.”

  Red streaked across Ricky’s cheeks, and he looked ready to shoot down the idea.

  “That’s a great idea, Daniel,” Lilly interjected before he could refuse.

  The boy looked at her for a minute, and she smiled at him, encouraging.

  “Don’t you think we’ve been trying to figure out what to do? Cricket finally just shut me out.” He held his head between his hands. “Man, I’m so messed up.”

  Lilly leaned in front of him, forcing him to look her in the eye. “Let the adults help you and Cricket decide the best course of action.”

  His hands flopped to his sides. “I guess that’s my only choice at this point. I just have a part-time job, and I’m barely passing in school.”

  “It’s never too late to change,” Daniel said. “Time to step up and be the man—the father—God wants you to be.” A risky comment, but one he felt he had to make.

  Ricky nodded, and maybe stood a little taller.

  “Come on. Let’s take you home,” Lilly said.

  Ricky didn’t argue about the definition of home. He simply started toward the door. “Oh, wait. My uncle said no dogs in their house, since my aunt’s allergic.”

  No wonder the poor kid hadn’t wanted to move in with his aunt and uncle. He’d had to leave part of his family behind, and his own mother had left the dog to wander the neighborhood.

  Daniel looked at Lilly, who was crouched beside Quincy, rubbing his chin. Her eyes widened. “Don’t look at me.”

  He loved seeing her loosen up, be affectionate. “You and the dog have already bonded.”

  Ricky sniffed. “He does seem to like you, Lilly. And it’ll only be temporary, until I can get a place of my own or talk my aunt into letting me keep him.”

  “I don’t know...” she said.

  “I’ll buy the dog food and a nice, warm bed,” Daniel added.

  She laughed. “Another bribe?”

  “Incentive.”

  “Oh...okay. The backyard is fenced in. Unless Jenna objects, I think he’ll be fine out there for a day or two.”

  Ricky’s breath rushed out. “Good. At least that’s taken care of. Now I have to face telling Uncle Phil and Aunt Marla what a mess I’ve made of my life.”

  Daniel clapped him on the back. “I’ll be praying for you.”

  Lilly left Jenna a note to let her know what was going on, telling her to call if she had any objections. Once they’d set up the puppy in the backyard with some shelter under the porch and a bowl of water, they piled into Daniel’s car and drove to the Hartleys’. The pastor and his wife hugged their nephew profusely and thanked them for bringing him home. Daniel felt sure they’d left Ricky in good hands.

  Then they drove to the store, and he bought dog food and a bed as promised. He felt a sense of accomplishment. Like they’d done something good. Together.

  “You ever had a pet?” he asked on the way back to Jenna’s.

  She stared out the passenger window into the darkness. “No. We weren’t allowed. Made moving easier.”

  Hearing the pain behind the words, he winced. “I had a dog when I was young, a big shaggy mutt of unknown origin.” He shook his head, remembering Daisy’s unconditional love. “But once she died, Dad wouldn’t let me get another.”

  She reached out and touched his arm, her eyes sad. “I’m sorry. Did you ever get a dog after you left home?”

  “Nope. Too busy. What about you?”

  She withdrew into her own space, chewed her lip. “Briefly. Had to, uh, give him away before a move.”

  She was hiding something. When he pulled in Jenna’s driveway, he parked beside Jenna’s car. Cut off the engine and faced Lilly. “Tell me what happened.”

  “It’s late. We’ve had a big day.”

  “Yes and yes. But I’d like to know about your dog.”

  She sighed, turned to look him in the eye. Light from the porch and the streetlight illuminated the glint of determination in her eyes. As if it would take strength to get through her story.

  “I was engaged once.”

  He masked his surprise. “Oh?”

  “We got a dog together. It lived at his house. Then my fiancé took a job in California.” Her tone was direct. Clinical.

  Somehow, he hurt worse for her than if she’d been crying. “Is that when you had to give it away?”

  “Yes. We’d planned to move right after the wedding.”

  Wedding. It hit him then. Something had gone wrong. He glanced at her hands clutched tightly in her lap before he could stop himself. No ring, of course. Had there ever been a wedding? “What happened?”

  She looked away, out the front window, her chin raised high. She took in a shuddering breath. “I found out he cheated on me. The reason he wanted to move across the country was to try to hide his indiscretions.”

  Indiscretions, plural? Daniel sat rooted to the spot, unable to react. She’d been in love enough to agree to marry, but the jerk had cheated on her.

  No wonder she acted scared to death to trust another man.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, unable to think of anything remotely eloquent or helpful.

  She smiled at him, the attempt so pitiful it broke his heart. “It’s okay. I’m mostly over it now, thankful I found out in time to break off the engagement.”

  “But you never got your dog?”

  “Clint had sold her to someone in his family and refused to get her back.” She huffed out a pent-up breath as if relieved to have finished the conversation. She slung open her door. “Better go check on Quincy.”

  What kind of scum would do that to a woman he supposedly loved? He walked Lilly to the door and set down the dog supplies, biting his tongue to keep from sharing disparaging comments. She had loved the man, after all.

  “You were amazing today with Ricky,” he said instead.

  She waved off the compliment. “I just talke
d to him. Nothing special. And for some crazy reason, he likes me.”

  Like I do. He took a step closer, drawn to her generosity, her strength. “I can see why he would.”

  She took a step away, distrust in her eyes. “He’s the wounded drawn to the wounded.”

  She was so much more than that. He had to let her know he cared. “You may have been wounded in your past, but you’re a fighter. Good and trustworthy.”

  She took another step back for good measure, most likely wishing the sales counter stood between them. “You don’t really know me, though. I could have you totally fooled.”

  A smile pulled at his lips. “I’m a good judge of character.”

  She stared into his eyes as if trying to determine whether he was telling the truth. As if hoping desperately he was. Hadn’t she ever had anyone tell her how wonderful she was?

  Unable to fight the temptation any longer, he reached out and touched her cheek. When she didn’t draw away but, instead, leaned into his caress, his heart soared. The desire to hold her and protect her raged through him, a powerful drive he couldn’t resist.

  He pulled her into his arms. “I wish I could take away your painful past,” he whispered as he brushed his cheek against her softness, breathing in her sweet scent. “But look at you. You’ve grown into a caring, strong woman. Fighting for your aunt’s store, supporting your sister, helping Ricky.”

  She whimpered, slid out of his arms. “I should go inside. This—” she gestured to the tiny space between them “—it’s not right.”

  “Felt pretty right to me.” He jammed his hands in his pockets, torn in two. How could something so perfect one minute seem wrong the next?

  “We’re two very different people.” Her words, the way she looked at him... She was trying to convince herself as well as him. “I need a man who’ll be loyal, dependable, offering security and stability.”

  Stability. Something he couldn’t provide.

  She placed her hand in the center of his chest. “You need a woman who’s gracious, flexible, willing to serve God with you no matter where you go.” Her eyes sought his. “Someone who shares your faith.”

  She was right, of course. He knew it in sane moments—moments when he wasn’t within touching distance of Lilly, moments when she hadn’t just shared a piece of herself with him. How could they ever form a real relationship if she didn’t first love God?

  He forced himself to step away from her touch, turned and headed down the porch steps. Once he had the separation he needed, he looked up. Her eyes shined with moisture. “I care about you, Lilly. But what you’ve said is true.”

  She nodded, apparently relieved.

  Then a tear slipped down her cheek.

  Lord, help me do what’s right. Only with God’s strength did he remain firmly planted on the sidewalk. “Good night, Lilly. Thanks for your help today.”

  She rapidly blinked, then somehow managed to smile. “I think we made a pretty good team.”

  He swallowed past the knot in his throat. “Yeah, we did.”

  * * *

  Lilly’d had enough. All day she’d tried to be patient with Jenna. But now she had to get her sister out of there. “What’s wrong with you?” she whispered after pulling aside Jenna.

  “Later,” she snarled between clenched teeth.

  Lilly sagged into her chair when she realized class time was nearly over. Jenna hadn’t alienated anyone yet. Except me. Five more minutes...

  Ann and the two ladies in the knitting class packed up their supplies and headed toward the door. They had to have noticed Jenna’s ongoing snarky comments but had politely ignored them.

  Lilly followed them outside to see them off.

  On the sidewalk, Vera stopped in her tracks. “Who are those hoodlums over there raking gravel in the parking lot?”

  “Hoodlums?” Lilly stepped to where she could view the side parking lot.

  “I’d feel a lot safer coming here if you didn’t accept help from some work release program,” she said, causing concern to draw Flo’s normally happy features into a frown.

  Lilly spotted Ricky. He had his coat off and wore a

  T-shirt that revealed muscled arms covered with tattoos. She laughed. “Oh, that’s just the high school boys who are doing work for the church.”

  Vera tsked and headed to her car, Flo following on her heels, checking out the teen guys. Ian and Ricky did look rather scruffy and tough. But not too threatening, surely. Pushing the thought away, Lilly went inside, ready to have it out with her sister. “Why’ve you been in such a bad mood today?”

  Her eyes flashed. “I saw you and Daniel wrapped around each other on the porch last night.”

  Her heart did a flip-flop. She’d seen?

  The memory of Daniel’s embrace, of his affirming words, warmed her to her core. She’d experienced something new last night. A man who truly cared. About her. Though the moment had been fleeting, Daniel had helped heal something inside of her.

  Lilly chose to be grateful for that moment rather than devastated by the fact that’s all it could be—a moment.

  “That hug wasn’t what it looked like. He was being nice, encouraging me.”

  With Will on her hip, Jenna took hold of Lilly’s upper arm as if she wanted to shake some sense into her. “I see where this is leading. You’re going to get hurt.”

  “Nothing could be further from the truth.” Because to get hurt, you had to be in a relationship. And there could be no relationship between the two of them. Period.

  Sensing the tension, Will wrapped his arms around his mom’s neck.

  “Come on, baby. Let’s let Aunt Lilly go deal with the supposed hoodlums.”

  There wouldn’t be any dealing with them. They were helping the church. She walked outside and around the side of the building to where Parker, Ian and Ricky spread a load of new gravel the church had bought to extend the parking area.

  “Hey!” Parker called. “It’s looking good, isn’t it?”

  “Sure is. Thanks for your hard work.”

  Ian acknowledged her presence with a quick nod.

  Ricky gave an awkward wave. “Hey, Lilly, guess what? Aunt Marla is letting me keep Quincy. I’ll pick him up tonight, and he’ll stay in the garage until we put in a fence and doghouse.”

  Apparently, Ricky had moved in, as well. “Great news.” Trying to gauge his mood, she approached. “How’d it go last night?”

  “Better than I expected.” He wiped a shoulder across his forehead and leaned against the rake. “Phil, Marla and I are meeting with Cricket’s parents tonight. They’re not going to tell her yet.”

  “Understandable.”

  He glanced away, and then his gaze finally returned to her eyes. “You know, they may decide not to let me see her.”

  Given the girl’s recent state of mind, that was a possibility. But somehow, she had the sense that they’d allow it. “I doubt they’d do that. They want their daughter to be happy. And their grandchild to have a father in his life.”

  He shrugged as if he was trying not to get up his hopes. “Daniel said he’d be praying for the meeting. Will you, too?”

  Of course, Ricky would assume she was a praying person. She’d attended the church services two weeks in a row.

  Her face must’ve registered surprise or some other emotion, because he immediately began raking again as if to cover embarrassment. “Or not. Maybe it’s not your thing.”

  What could she say? No, sorry? “Honestly, I’m not one to pray much.”

  “No biggie.”

  “It’s just that...well, I fell away from my faith when I was a kid. Guess you can relate, huh?”

  “You know it.” He shrugged. “It’s okay. I don’t usually pray, either. Daniel just got me thinking...you know, that God could he
lp me and Cricket.”

  Her throat tightened. She wanted to reassure him. She even wanted to try to talk to God.

  She just didn’t know if He’d want to talk to her.

  “I hope it goes well tonight,” she said, the best she could do at the moment.

  “Thanks.” Worry dragged down the corners of his mouth as soon as he looked away. He scraped the rake over the rocks.

  She really should do this one small thing for Ricky. The thought of praying made her heart begin to pound in her chest. She felt as if she was right at the edge of a precipice about to tumble over. “Hey,” she blurted.

  Ricky glanced up.

  “I’ll try to pray for you.” The words felt foreign, as if she’d spoken them in a strange language, her mouth having forgotten how to form the sounds.

  But the sky didn’t fall. And Ricky didn’t laugh at her. In fact, he looked relieved.

  “Thanks, Lilly. I’ll pray for you, too.” He gave a timid grin and then scooted back to work.

  His promise of prayer nearly brought her to her knees. It shamed her, as well. If this boy could attempt it, so could she.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Daniel, standing outside the basement door. The expression on his face matched what she’d felt since last night—drained, resigned. He waved.

  She longed to go over, chat, spend time together. Instead, she simply waved back. Disappointment churned in her stomach, yet she realized she felt hope also. The hope sparked by a troubled kid who’d said he would pray for her.

  As she climbed up the steps of the shop, a car crunched into the lot and gave a short honk of greeting.

  Belinda climbed out and hollered, “Hi, Lilly! I’m here to see how you’ve been doing on your knitting!”

  Lilly welcomed her inside. Was there was such a thing as divine timing? Because Belinda had shown up right when Lilly needed her.

  She and her friend settled in the gathering area. At Belinda’s request, Lilly pulled out her knitting to show what she’d accomplished.

  “Wow, you’re moving right along!”

  “Yeah,” she said on a sigh, trying to get worked up about knitting when a billion questions zipped through her mind.