And this time there was no growing out of it.
~*~
Josh walked back to his office, wondering how long he should wait before he called Tess. She wouldn’t be home until the next day, so he should probably stick to texting if he tried to communicate with her at all.
Maybe he was idealizing her. She’d said there were serious problems and even Brody tried to warn him, so it was possible Josh was pushing ahead too fast, something that was very much against his typically cautious nature. But he couldn’t stop himself—it was as if the situation was beyond his control. And yet even as he considered it, he couldn’t help but wonder when or if he’d be able to take a vacation, so he could visit her. His phone rang, and he smiled to himself hoping it was Tess.
“Hello?”
“Surprised I caught you so early.” His father’s voice reached through the line and brought Josh back to the moment.
“What? Oh, um the Maple Ridge team left a little while ago.”
“So, you were saying good-bye to Tess.”
Josh grimaced. “Yeah, something like that.”
“Well, it’s good I caught you. I spoke to Harrison Flynn, who said the board met and was beginning a preliminary search for a new pastor. John Williamson is retiring shortly. Because of my relationship with the church they were happy to put your resume at the top of the stack, as soon as they receive it that is.”
Josh smiled, shocked at this sudden sign. “Wow. Thanks, Dad. I’ll be sure to do that.”
“Your mother and I are concerned about how fast this is happening. We always liked the Carson family, but you remember what it was like when we left missionary work for a full-time church ministry.”
“How could I forget?”
It was the time of his life, settled in one place for seven years when all he’d experienced to that point was the transient, often unstable life of a missionary. He and Caroline loved those seven years. Unfortunately, it was painful for his parents, especially his mother, who found out quickly that shepherding a congregation was nothing like ministering to a village in Africa. As soon as Caroline and Josh were off to college, the Thornes went happily back to the mission field.
“We don’t regret staying as long as we did, and of course being settled in one place did have its good points but…”
“But…?”
“But your mother wanted to remind you that any pastor’s wife should be aware of what she’s in for before she signs up for that job. Keep that in mind as you move ahead. Even if Tess is above reproach someone will find something to criticize, and she’ll need to be very self-assured so as to not be overcome with loneliness and doubt.”
Josh ran his fingers through his hair. If there was one thing Tess possessed, it was the ability to move past peoples’ opinions—or at least the confidence to work through it. Still, he wasn’t yet convinced he was supposed to marry her. They’d only reconnected a week ago. That wasn’t nearly long enough to even think about marriage.
But then again if people really were being as rough on her as she’d said, maybe moving ahead with the relationship wasn’t a great idea.
Josh sighed heavily. It was easier to be delusional when she was in front of him, smiling while her big brown eyes sparkled. Now that she was gone, reality was hitting him like the tornado he accused her of being.
Irony.
“This is an amazing pep-talk, Dad.”
Paul laughed. “Sorry.”
“And she went home.”
“Your mother and I were long distance for nearly two years.”
Josh groaned.
“What? Honestly, Joshua, we’ve been hoping for this for a long time. You can recognize that the answer to prayers often comes in ways for which we are not prepared.” Paul paused. “Keep us posted?”
“I’ll do that. Thanks again.” Josh hung up and opened his own envelope of pictures as his cell phone buzzed with a text. You’re so vain; you probably think this text is about you. Nice pics.
Josh laughed and set his phone aside. Now that Tess was gone the loneliness was already beginning to consume him.
~*~
It was nearly five o’clock in the morning before Tess got into her bed at Uncle Stu’s house. She didn’t want to go home to the nearly-empty apartment she’d moved into only a few weeks earlier. She still spent most of her time at Stu’s place anyway. And regardless of his occasional nudge toward her own home with promises of a television or a new couch, Tess preferred to stay close to her uncle and his constant positivity and encouragement. Now she wondered if he was, in fact, hiding a girlfriend and so honestly wanted to be rid of his niece. In a nice way, of course.
At the moment Tess was too tired to think about it. And she needed to go to work in a few hours, which wasn’t a pleasant idea either. As she tossed off her shoes and pants and fell into bed, Tess noticed her cell phone vibrating on the nightstand. Jed. She grabbed it before it woke Stu who was already snoring in the next room. “Hey,” she whispered.
“You home safe?” The sound of Josh’s deep voice warmed her.
“Sort of. I’m crashing at Stu’s. I was too tired to go home.”
“Well, I’m glad you made it,” he said.
“Go to bed, J.” Tess stretched out on her bed and yawned. “You won’t be any good for your kids if you’re up all night talking to me.”
“Yeah, yeah. I wanted to make sure you were safe.”
“I’m safe,” Tess said, trying not to smile. “Are you?”
“My neighborhood’s questionable, but I think I can handle it.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“When is a good time to call again?”
“How about not at five in the morning?” Tess asked.
“You’d answer.”
Tess smiled, glad her expression was hidden from him. “Sadly, you’re right. But I do need to work in a few hours and my boss isn’t my biggest fan. So, I better go. Exercise class and crafts.”
“Sounds riveting.”
“Hater.”
“’Night, Tornado.”
“’Night, Jed.” Tess hung up and tossed her phone aside, glad to be home but dreading what the next day would bring.
~*~
“Mouthy!?” Uncle Stu’s voice reached through the bedroom door.
Tess was trying to hide from the inevitable. She groaned but made no effort at conversation.
Uncle Stu pounded a fist against the door. “I made pancakes.” He would be relentless.
She groaned again. “It’s not even nine o’clock.”
He laughed wryly. “You’re almost lazy.” He pounded on the door again. “You better not make me come in there…”
“Fine…” Tess tossed aside the covers and tried not to shiver in the cool air, which only made her miss Florida. She yanked on her robe and went to the door to find Uncle Stu grinning at her, victorious, his arms folded over an old T-shirt with the words ‘Carl’s Motorcycle Warehouse’ across the front in faded yellow lettering.
“Nice shirt,” Tess muttered as she pulled a hair band from her wrist and piled her long hair high on her head into a messy bun.
Stu laughed. “Nice hair.”
“No comment,” Tess said as she trailed down the creaky stairs and into the kitchen where a plate of steaming pancakes waited for her beside the stove. She grabbed it and headed for the small table on the other side of the room.
Stu refilled his coffee mug. “My whole crew doesn’t eat as much as you do.”
Tess grunted. For nearly six months, she’d spent time on his crew doing everything from laying carpet to painting and reframing walls. It made her more valuable in Florida—even Josh was impressed with how much she could do despite her stiff shoulder. She poured a generous swirl of syrup over her pancakes. The inviting, warm smell filled her nostrils and made her stomach grumble.
Stu laughed. “Very lady-like.”
“I never pretend to be lady-like,” Tess said as she dug into the pile.
Stu we
nt to sit by her. “I hate leaving again when we just got back,” he said. Stu was on his way to Massachusetts to talk to a friend about more investment properties. He cut back on his travelling to keep an eye on Tess but told her right before their trip to Florida that after they were home he would resume his normal schedule.
Tess stopped eating, not caring that a drip of syrup made its way down her chin. She swiped at it with a napkin, her appetite suddenly gone. She swallowed the heavy lump of pancakes and nodded, trying to remember if Josh was a dream or if he’d really happened since everything else appeared to be going right back to the pits where they’d been before. “You’ll only be gone a few days or so,” she said unconvincingly. “Besides, I can’t hide here forever. Of course, I could go back to Florida.”
Stu smiled.
Tess prepared for what was coming.
He reached out and pulled her into a bear hug. “Not until you’re done here,” he whispered into her hair before he leaned back, the smile on his face reaching up to his deep, chocolate-brown eyes. “I’m proud of you. You’re coming out on top—and I’m sure Josh will be right beside you.”
Tess blinked back the tears and reached out to punch Stu in the arm as hard as she could. “Knock it off.”
“Ow!” he winced.
“Girl,” Tess said, turning away from him so he wouldn’t notice the single tear that managed to escape and fall down her cheek.
Stu grinned and stood, going to lean against the counter. “Finish your pancakes or I’ll put you to work again.”
Tess stuffed another mouthful of pancakes in and chewed as she nodded. “I gotta go,” she said. “Grandma Vi will be wondering if I don’t show before her exercise class.”
Stu glanced at his watch. “And I should get to the airport,” he said. “My phone will be on…”
Tess waved a hand at him in dismissal. “I’ll be fine. Promise. No drugs, no boys, no drinking…but maybe a little bit of speeding?”
Stu laughed, shaking his head. “Don’t get caught. I’ll try to be back for church but if I get held up, you make sure you go to Sunday dinner at your parents’ house, all right?”
Tess groaned, her mouth full of a fresh bite of pancakes. Sunday dinner with her family was certain to be torture. She would refuse to answer any questions about Josh or anything else. She hoped Brody didn’t talk to Josh again. The less he knew of the situation between them, the better. “Really?” she whined.
Stu pointed at her. “Paying back the money you owe is only one part of getting things back on track.”
Tess snorted in irritation. She still owed thousands of dollars. Despite working two jobs, getting a discounted rate on her apartment, and eating only what she needed to survive, she wasn’t digging her way out of the hole quickly enough. And taking the trip to Florida only set her back further.
Of course, if she had stayed home Josh would still only be a childhood memory.
“My only goal in life is paying that money back and getting out of this town.”
“And making your way back to Florida?” Before Tess could respond, Stu grabbed an apple from the counter and bit into it with a nod. “Life has a habit of changing the game right when you think you figured out the rules.”
Tess resumed eating with a vengeance, aware that the time was ticking away, and she was soon to be at work. As a staff member who worked mostly with resident activities, Tess’s day was full of exercise classes, administrative duties, and keeping residents out of their rooms and engaging with others, all while trying to avoid her boss. Even if the job didn’t pay as well as she would like, she thoroughly enjoyed bringing life into Pine View and spending time with people she’d come to adore.
“Well, one thing I’m sure won’t change is how much the people in this town hate me,” Tess said, not bothering to finish chewing before she spoke.
Stu rolled his eyes but said nothing, as the conversation took a turn Tess was sure he wasn’t interested in following. They’d already talked about this enough times, and found there would be no agreement between them. Tess wanted out. Stu was convinced that once people saw her actions they’d conclude she was different.
“You get Harrison Flynn repaid and things will change,” Stu said.
Tess groaned. “That man will never let it go, whether I pay him in full this month or three years from now,” she muttered. “If you’d loan me the money I’d pay you back…I’d be out of your hair, and everyone else’s too.”
“Nope.” Stu tossed his apple core into the garbage. He’d already explained enough times that he wouldn’t bother doing so again. Stu was of the opinion that everyone already knew how many times he’d bailed her out and they wouldn’t believe she’d changed if he did so again.
Tess snorted in irritation. Harrison Flynn was one of the most judgmental people she’d ever met. The fact that she and her band of hooligan friends spray-painted his family’s pharmacy with graffiti was unlikely to ever be forgotten. Of that Tess was certain. It would never matter to him how much time passed or how many ways she’d repented or paid her debt.
“Right,” Tess said wryly, giving up on enjoying any of her breakfast. She went to the garbage where she tossed what was left of her uneaten pancakes, depositing the empty plate to the dishwasher. “He’ll never change. Ruining his property was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever been part of.”
Stu nodded. “You all did pick the wrong man.”
“It wasn’t exactly my choice,” Tess said. “They wanted to. I went along, and was the only fool to get caught. Forget it. I don’t need to tell you.” She exhaled, annoyed. “Maybe if he wasn’t such a bad rep for Christianity we’d have picked on someone else.” Tess could be frank with her uncle, even if he didn’t agree with what she was saying.
“He can be,” Stu said. “But that’s not our problem, is it? He’ll come around. It’ll take time and effort on your part if you want things back to how they used to be. I can only do so much. You don’t come by your stubborn, salty nature any way but through that awful brother of mine.” He winked at her.
Reluctantly, Tess nodded. “I get it.”
Stu smiled, satisfied that she understood her life wasn’t the lost cause she sometimes tried to make it into. “Lock up before you go. Tell Vi I said hello.”
Tess nodded.
Stu went out the side door to his old truck, his luggage tossed into the bed like garbage.
She smiled. Uncle Stu might not be the classiest guy, his face usually covered by an unruly beard, the dirt under his fingernails his reminder to the world that a man should work for a living, but he was pure, forgiving, and the exact illustration of love that she needed when no one else was willing to help her.
Tess would be forever in his debt.
11
I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will shew forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
Psalm 9: 1-2
The door to Viola Westmont’s apartment was open when Tess ascended the short staircase to Pine View’s second floor. It wasn’t unusual to find the self-appointed social director flittering from one apartment to the next in an effort to make the residents of the facility connect with one another. The transition to this arrangement wasn’t entirely smooth and Tess was glad she’d still been on the outs with her family at the time, so she’d not been part of the difficult decision to move Grandma Vi from her home of fifty-three years to the assisted living facility.
Tess peeked inside the apartment and found her grandmother digging through a drawer as if for treasure. So as not to scare the eighty-four-year-old woman, Tess knocked lightly before entering. “Hey, Grandma,” she said softly as she entered. “What’s going on?”
Vi raised her head. The sparkling eyes that always greeted Tess were a bit less intense than normal. Tess squelched the nagging idea that her grandmother was slipping away.
Vi shook her head and gave a deep sigh as
she went back to digging through the drawer. “I lost my keys again,” she muttered. “I always put them here, but now I can’t find them.” She paused and gasped as she turned to Tess. “So, tell me, how was Florida? Did you forget your sunscreen?”
Tess smiled and went to the drawer where she began digging. “Florida was great. Hot and sunny most of the time so I did get a little sunburn.”
“Well, put something on it or you’ll peel.” Vi sat and stretched her legs. “Find anything?” she asked calmly.
“No. Where were you going, Gram?”
“Um…exercise class,” she said, standing and gesturing to proudly display her jogging pants and matching sweatshirt.
“Did you check your pocket?”
Vi reached into her pocket and sheepishly removed her hand, which now held the keys. “Oh, goodness. I guess I got ahead of myself again,” she muttered.
Tess smiled. “Well let’s get down there. I’m teaching today.”
“Oh!” Vi squealed and clapped her hands. “I love it when you teach us. Gets my blood pumping.”
Tess took Gram’s hand and led her out of the room, hoping she didn’t run into Ashley-Marie any sooner than necessary. She was having a good day and didn’t need her boss to ruin it.
~*~
Tess and Vi made their way to the activities room, a large area that doubled as a craft room and a gym depending on the day. Today the tables were pushed to one side, along with some of the chairs to make more room for exercise, whether sitting or standing.
“Theresa.” The stern voice caught Tess right as she was about to set foot into the activities room.
Grandma Vi kept walking.
Forgiving Tess Page 9