by T. K. Chapin
“What is this?”
“Just a questionnaire about your faith and also a background check. We have to protect ourselves, the children, and you.” Rising to his feet, Pastor Carson smiled warmly as he looked into Tyler’s eyes. “Give whatever you end up doing some time and let the Lord lead you through it. I promise you, sometimes, it will be difficult, but just showing up is over half the battle. You show up, and the Lord’s Spirit will do the rest.”
Tyler was comforted and encouraged by the pastor’s words and kindness. As he walked with the pastor over to the door to show him out, he nodded with confidence. “I think it’ll be an adventure no matter what. Thank you so much for coming by. It really means a lot.”
That evening, Tyler drove over to Jonathan and Kylie’s house to drop off the concept sketches that had come in the mail. Upon being let into his brother’s house, he handed him the envelope. His brother pulled the sketches out and glanced at them.
“You sign the lease for our new business office, Jonathan?”
“Yes.”
“We need to get the mail switched over to the office.”
“I’ll get on it. Did you have a good time at the lake? You seem relaxed,” Jonathan mentioned as he glanced up at Tyler.
“It was just what my soul needed.” Tyler recalled the burning car and the pretty woman and was immediately regretful he hadn’t called Jonathan about it after it happened. But Tyler didn’t want to worry him while he was off having family time on Saturday at Silverwood. He could’ve called on Sunday, but he was at Chet’s house until late. Now it was Wednesday evening, and he was back in town and his brother still didn’t know. Lowering his voice, Tyler looked at Jonathan’s eyes while they were still down on the sketches.
“I have to get to church soon if I want to make it in time, but I need to tell you something first, Brother.”
Noticing the shift in tone, Jonathan grew serious and shoved the sketches back into the envelope and led him toward the stairs. Stopping at the base of the steps, Jonathan leaned a hand on the banister and hollered gently toward the kitchen. “Hey, Love?”
“Yes?” Kylie’s voice came ringing through from the kitchen.
“Tyler and I will be upstairs in my office for a few minutes. You have Rose and Peter in there with you?”
“Yes. Rose is helping me with dinner, which will be done in about twenty minutes. Peter is playing with his cars on the floor.”
“Great. See you in a bit.”
Climbing the stairs, the two of them then walked the hallway to Tyler’s office. As they came into the room, Tyler fixed his eyes on Jonathan as he crossed the room and sat down behind his desk.
“I helped a lady out of a burning car right before it exploded.”
Jonathan’s eyes widened and he leaned forward as the shock registered on his face. “When did this happen?”
“Friday night.”
His brother’s voice lightened and he leaned back in his chair. “Days ago. You didn’t call? Are you okay?”
Tyler rubbed his neck as he shrugged. “I didn’t want to worry you, and I am fine, obviously.”
“Is that what the gash on your hand is about?” Jonathan glanced at Tyler’s left hand.
“Yeah, I’m really sorry I didn’t call. I’m fine, and she’s okay. Well, she will be okay.” Tyler’s heart panged as his mind held Olivia’s image there. He still couldn’t shake his desire for her, nor could he dislodge that pebble of discomfort every time she came up in his thoughts.
“You seem conflicted, Brother.”
Tyler raised his eyebrows. “I am. She came and found me at the inn the next day to thank me, and I gave the credit to God in regard to His saving her.” Tyler’s eyes welled and he had to fight back the emotional response he was having as he thought about Olivia’s hatred toward God. “She was so hateful, Brother. Bent out of shape at the mention of God.”
“Tyler.” Jonathan seemed to know something he didn’t know, and Tyler took a step closer to the desk, his face pensive.
“What?”
“She’s wounded.” Jonathan clasped his hands together. “God’s up to something in that gal.”
Wanting to get off the subject, Tyler redirected. “Speaking of God’s work, guess who was at the church out at Diamond Lake?”
Jonathan shrugged. “Who?”
“Chet!”
Jonathan’s mouth fell open, his smile growing as he spoke. “No, he wasn’t.”
Tyler became excited and sat down in the chair in front of the desk. “Yes, he was! He was there and singing, and wow . . . he is a completely different guy.” Talking about Chet and telling Johnathon all about their visit at the cabin reminded Tyler about his plans to sell the bowling alley and build out on the lake. With a deep breath, he spoke the words he felt deeply now. “I’m ready to sell.”
With that, his brother knew exactly what he was saying by those four words. “This is it, huh?”
With absolute confidence, Tyler nodded. “This is it.”
Chapter 9
SEVEN MONTHS LATER, THE SPRING thaw did more than just melt the snow and ice. It gave birth to new beginnings and new hope. Olivia’s baby girl, Molly, was a March baby and would soon be entering the world, and everybody Olivia loved and knew was excited alongside her. She had been hard at work for the last six months on her dental assisting certification in the evenings, a few times each week. During the day, she was working at the dealership of her dad’s friend, Gus, as a receptionist. Though her hands and body had healed, there were still pains that would surface from time to time in her right hand.
Pausing at her post behind the reception desk, Olivia closed her eyes tightly and rubbed the palm of her hand that was hurting.
“You okay?” Jasper, one of the car salesmen, asked as he waited on the other side for her to finish inputting the data for the paperwork of a new customer.
“Yeah, give me just a minute.” Her pain had mostly vanished in the last couple of months, and it discouraged her greatly when it came on so violently just a couple of days ago. She fought tears as she tried to massage the pain away in the moment. It wasn’t helping. She stood up from her chair. “I’ll be right back.”
Exiting from behind reception, she went to the ladies’ restroom and flipped on the light upon entering. Approaching the sink and mirror, she saw the tears welling in her eyes. Olivia looked boldly at herself. “Come on. You can do this! You’re fine.” For a moment, the pain subsided and relief washed over her, but then on her way to leave, another zing of excruciating pain tore through her hand like a sharp blade ripping through her flesh. Pressing the hand that didn’t hurt against the wall, she braced herself and took some deep breaths, trying to focus on anything but the pain. After a moment, the pain left again. Standing upright, she rested a hand on her nine-month-pregnant belly as she thought of Molly. How am I going to take care of you when I’m in this much pain? Worry pressed in on her, taunting her and telling her she couldn’t do it on her own. Olivia had just moved into an apartment a couple of weeks ago, and she was finally seeing herself as independent again when this happened.
A long moment passed, and she wiped the pain-ridden tears from her cheeks. Walking out of the bathroom and back over to her receptionist desk, Jasper dug for answers once more.
“Is it the baby? You having contractions or something?”
She had indeed been having off and on contractions this last week, but they turned out to be Braxton-Hicks.
“I’m fine now, Jasper. Let me get this finished up for you.”
After work a few hours later, she went over to Rachel’s apartment. She let herself in and found Rachel down the hall in the bedroom. The door was wide open and she walked in. On the bed was a pile of dresses, skirts, and blouses, and over with her nose in the closet was a distraught cousin, her back to her. She hadn’t even heard Olivia enter the room.
“Rach?”
Startled, Rachel whipped around. “Oh, hey, you. I didn’t hear you come in.”
/>
Rachel moved quickly to the spot between the bed and Olivia, blocking the view of the mess. A blush crawled into her cheeks.
Olivia laughed. “Why are you embarrassed?”
She shrugged and glanced to her side, looking at the pile of clothing. “It looks like a bull tore through my closet. I’m trying to find something nice for tonight.”
“You have a date?” Olivia couldn’t hide her surprise.
Her lips curled into a smile as she tilted her head and rocked her body. “Maybe . . .”
“Is it that Drew guy from the jewelry store in the mall?”
“Oh, heavens no. That guy is a total player. It’s not him. Someone else.”
“Who is it?”
She shooed a hand. “Don’t worry about it. What’s up? What brings you to my humble abode on this fine Thursday evening?”
“I need more.” Olivia’s face grew somber as the lighthearted tone shifted to a more serious one.
Rachel was quiet for a long moment. Then, without saying anything, she began to put the clothing back into the closet, piece by piece. Olivia felt embarrassed, upset that she wasn’t saying anything.
“Can you get them or not?” Olivia’s voice reeked of annoyance and lacked the appreciation she knew she should show.
Another long moment passed, only increasing the anxiety in Olivia.
Finally, Rachel stopped and looked at her. “I can, but . . . I just gave you some the other day. Like ten.”
“I don’t need a judge. I need more relief from this pain. I can’t even do my job, Rach. Do you understand how bad this affects me? I have to be able to work to take care of my kid.”
“Yeah, and what about Molly?”
A set of daggers tore through Olivia’s heart immediately at the mention of her daughter. “Thanks for the concern, but the doctors said the pills were only harmful if used long-term, plus, they gave me some in my early pregnancy, remember? I even went online and asked a few nurse hotlines to make sure I’m being safe. Listen, the truth is I’ve been off them for months and months. It’s barely been two days ago that I started using them again. I tried my doctor, but they blew me off and said to take Ibuprofen and Tylenol. Why do you have to make me feel like an addict just like they did?”
“Sorry.” She shrugged. “I just worry about you and Molly.” Olivia’s eyes burned with tears and she fought them back as Rachel went over to her dresser and opened the top drawer. She moved slowly, as if she was debating on whether to give them to Olivia. This only further hurt Olivia and drove her to a deeper anger and resentment toward her cousin.
“Listen, she’ll be here anytime. I promise you, this isn’t a problem.”
“Okay.” Rachel came over and handed her the bottle.
Taking the bottle from her hand, Olivia forced a smile. “Thanks.”
When she turned to leave, she regretted her harshness immediately. She stopped her steps and walked over to Rachel and pulled her in for a hug. “I’m sorry. These hormones are making me out of control, and the added pain isn’t helping matters either.” She started to cry, then continued. “Rachel, I love you and you know that.”
Rachel’s eyes glossed over with tears. “I’m sorry too! I shouldn’t be so worried. I love you.”
Olivia let go of her and left her bedroom. As she walked out to her car in the driveway, a contraction came on strong. She stopped as she opened the car door and leaned against the vehicle. Unable to speak, to think, she waited for it to pass. After it was over, she got into the car and drove to her apartment.
Later after dinner, her mother came by the apartment to bring over a Noah’s Ark mobile to hang above the crib in the baby’s room. Ever since the wreck happened, Olivia and her mother had grown closer in their relationship, and Olivia had lowered her defenses. When she was still with Bruce, she wouldn’t have allowed something like a Noah’s Ark mobile above her child’s crib, but now things were different. She wasn’t so adamantly against anything and everything her parents stood for, though she still didn’t believe. If they wanted to take Molly to church one day, that was fine with Olivia as long as she was able to tell her daughter there were more beliefs out there than just that one religion.
“It’s cute.” Olivia watched the mobile rotate as a tinkling song played. She envisioned for a moment what it would be like to lay her baby girl down in the crib. There was so much love in her heart for her unborn girl, she couldn’t imagine what it would be like when she finally came out.
Her mother agreed and turned to her. “I forgot to tell you, a letter came from Bruce. It’s still at my house. Maybe you can pick it up when you come over for dinner on Saturday?”
“Okay, cool. I already know what it is. He called and told me he sent a check to help out with diapers and other needs for Molly.”
Her mother raised her eyebrows. “Wow. He’s really been good about this whole thing.”
“Yeah. The whole thing is kind of strange. He’s been more understanding and kind toward me since we’ve been divorced than he was most of the time we were married.” That fact hurt Olivia, but she knew there wasn’t much she could do about it. At least he was providing for Molly with a check in the mail every month. Her mother placed her arm around Olivia, and it drove the pain deeper in her heart to know her mother could sense her pain.
“It’s going to be okay for you and Molly. Your life is on track and you are working hard to provide for your little angel. Your father and I are so proud of all that you’ve been doing with your life.”
“Thanks. Did you send out the thank you notes?” Her mother had gotten her ladies’ Bible study group to throw Olivia a surprise baby shower a few weeks ago. They showered her with gifts from a place of love in their hearts. A high chair, car seat, stroller, Diaper Genie, and more. The ladies had truly gone above and beyond to love on her during this time. Olivia felt nervous at first about the baby shower, fearing it’d turn into a Bible study and intervention about her lack of faith, but it never went that direction. Instead, it was all about her new baby coming into the world. She felt beyond loved and cared for by the group of ladies who were but strangers to her.
“Yes, I sent them out yesterday.”
“Thank you.”
Resting her good hand on the crib that her father had built, Olivia was overwhelmed with love. Her parents had surprised her these last seven months and had shown her love that was beyond comprehension. “You and Dad have been so kind to me. Thank you for everything. I feel lucky.”
Placing a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, her mother gently spoke. “You’re not lucky, my daughter, you’re blessed. God is pursuing you and showering you with His love using His believers.”
Olivia didn’t snap at her. She had grown to respect her mother’s beliefs. She smiled and changed the subject.
“Would you like some tea?”
“I’d love that.”
Leaving the nursery with her mother, Olivia paused and glanced around the pink and yellow decorated room. She smiled. In her heart, though she’d never admit it, she said, maybe there is a God. Turning off the light, she shut the door and proceeded down the hallway to prepare tea for her mother and herself.
Joining her mother on the couch, she handed her a cup of tea.
“Your father is so cute. He has a duffel bag all ready to go for when the call comes to go to the hospital. Complete with a change of clothes for all three of us, snacks, sodas, and even cell phone chargers. He even bought you Chap Stick because he read somewhere that’s the number-one thing people wished they had and forgot during delivery. He didn’t want to miss a thing and wants you as comfortable as possible while you bring our granddaughter into the world. I think he’s more excited about Molly coming than I am!” She laughed, taking a sip from her cup.
It warmed Olivia’s heart to hear her mother’s words about her father. She had worried early on that he was against her being pregnant because of how he had reacted when he found out. But all those worries had since melted away, and
it was most confirmed when he found out the sex of the baby. He came home from work that day with balloons, cake, and a banner, all in pink. He was gleeful to have another girl in the family, and it helped Olivia realize just how joy-filled he truly was, even if he didn’t show it all the time. As her and her mother’s cups of tea emptied, it was time for her mom to go home.
“Well, I’d better get home. You still have me on speed dial, right?”
“Of course. You’ll be the first one I call. I need a ride, after all.”
“You sure you’re not going to stop working before you have the baby?”
Olivia laughed. “I’m sure. I can still drive my car and work, so I’m okay.” She thought of her hand pains but decided not to tell her mother. She didn’t want to worry her or burden her with the knowledge of it. When she did go to the doctor, she told her mother it was for a check-up, shielding her from the truth. Her mother was too kind and would be overly concerned if she knew about the pain, and she didn’t need the extra worry. It was hard enough on her when Olivia had left their home to go live on her own with the pregnancy so close to being full-term. She decided she wouldn’t tell her parents about the hand pain coming back, not now, and not ever.
Chapter 10
MEETING WITH A YOUNG NEWLYWED couple to show them the bowling alley in April, Tyler was running low on his hopes of selling. He had been trying to sell the property for eight months now, and while there were a few offers for the place, they were all laughable in his mind. He was starting to come to grips with the fact that he might never sell and would just have to keep it and rent out the apartment. While showing the couple the place, Tyler was distracted in thought, thinking about his date tomorrow night with Daisy, a fellow volunteer from Crosspoint he had met when he started volunteering with the youth group.
“We’ll take it.” The woman’s comment didn’t penetrate Tyler’s skull right away. He had become numb through the walk-through tours. She stepped away from her husband and got in Tyler’s field of vision. “Sir? We’ll take it.”