Unplanned Love (Savage Love)

by Woody, Jodi

  “Good idea. So, how’s your heart?” he asked.

  “Softer every day, mostly because of the care of your grandma, and with God’s love. I’m so glad I get to spend the summer with you and Seanna. That will help me keep my mind off of my own troubles.”

  “I’m glad you’re going to be there too. I’m a little worried about how things will be between me and Sea.”

  “I’m sure once you are all together again; she’ll be the same little sister,” Alyssa assured him.

  “Yeah…my little sister.” He said sadly. “ It will be nice to be home again. I always look forward to being with my family. I may not have a lot of family left, but it seems that our family just keeps growing.”

  “Yeah, my parent’s house really doesn’t feel like home. No offence to your grandparents either, I don’t feel real at home here. They have tried to make me feel welcome, but…I can’t help feeling like I am imposing, you know?” she said. “I guess partly it’s because I know it is only temporary. Kind of like your dorm at school.”

  “Something about Mountain Home makes you feel like you belong there. You’ll see,” he encouraged her.

  “If not, I guess I’ll just have to wait until I get a home of my own. I have dreams of a little white house with a picket fence, kids running around in the yard, and maybe a black lab.”

  “That sounds just like a commercial,” he laughed.

  Chapter 14

  Summer Fun

  Alyssa had to agree about Mountain Home. Bryce showed her around the house as they killed time for the family to get home from church. Trisha had left a note on the bar letting them know which room Alyssa would be staying in. Bryce was a little relieved that Seanna wasn’t there. He really didn’t know how she was going to react, not even sure of how his own reaction would be. Alyssa noticed his nervous energy and asked him what was wrong. He wrote it all off as being excited to be home, and from sitting in the plane for so long. Finally she suggested they go to the pool to work off his extra energy.

  That is where Seanna found them when she got home. She stood at the glass door and watched them playing around in the water. Bryce was tossing Alyssa over his shoulder and she was diving backwards into the deep end. Something inside of her died. She was pretty sure that it was hope. Taking a deep breath, and saying a quick prayer for God to help her, she walked out to welcome her big brother and her friend.

  “Hey you two!” she yelled from the patio.

  “Hey, Sea!” said Bryce with a big grin. He couldn’t help it, he was excited to see her again.

  “This place is great!” said Alyssa as she climbed out of the pool. Seanna tossed her a towel as Alyssa came to give her a hug.

  Bryce was slower in coming her way and instead of one of his normal bear hugs, he awkwardly gave Seanna a one armed sideways hug. “How are you?” he asked.

  “Good, glad to be taking a break from…life,” she said with a small smile. “Have you two been having a good time so far this summer?”

  “Yep, Alyssa and I explored the area. I even brought some cool rocks to show you all. You would have liked it,” he said with a smile.

  “We missed you,” chimed in Alyssa.

  Seanna appreciated the fact that they were trying to make her feel better and like she was missed. She was going to do her best to be a good friend and sister. “I missed you both, too. Trisha is putting a feast on the table. She asked me to fetch you both.”

  “I knew that we should have waited. Bryce wanted to raid the fridge the minute we got here,” said Alyssa slapping Bryce with her towel.

  “Hey, I can’t help it. I’m a growing boy,” he teased grabbing her towel away from her.

  “Yeah, growing fat!” Alyssa laughed.

  Seanna tried not to be jealous of their playful banter. That used to be you and Bryce. Now you’ve ruined it. “Ok, then, let’s go eat.” She said as she turned and walked back into the house.

  But once they were all around the table, having taken some time with all of the hugging, and how are you-ing, Seanna couldn’t help feeling at ease and thankful for them all. Bryce teased her in his usual manner. Trisha and Leal always made her laugh, and it was more than obvious that Daffyd and her mom were extremely happy in their married life together. At one point when the two of them exchanged a look across the table, Seanna even got choked up over it. I want someone to look at her that way, she sorrowed. Never even realizing that’s exactly how Bryce was looking at her.

  “Are you feeling ok, Honey?” Samantha asked her daughter.

  “Yeah, I’m just not real hungry,” she answered.

  “You only had a piece of toast for breakfast,” said Samantha.

  “Mom, don’t worry. I had snack with the kids in children’s church this morning. Too much crackers and peanut butter,” Seanna said trying to make light of it.

  “Oh, do you help with the little ones?” asked Alyssa.

  “I offered to help over the summer on Sunday mornings. They still need some helpers on Wednesday nights if you would be interested,” suggested Seanna.

  “You don’t do Wednesday?” Alyssa inquired.

  “They like to have us sit in on one service a week, so just Sundays,” answered Seanna.

  “I think I’d like to help. What about you Bryce?” she asked him.

  “I agreed last fall to help them with the youth group this summer. They meet on Friday nights,” he explained.

  “That might be more fun,” mused Alyssa.

  “Why don’t the two of you volunteer together,” suggested Daffyd.

  “Sure, you get along so great. You should,” piped in Seanna. One less day I’ll have to see them together.

  “Ok, let’s do it. Are you sure you wouldn’t want to come with us?” Alyssa asked Seanna.

  “No. I love the little ones. In fact I may volunteer part time at the Summer Fun program they have for the school age kids.”

  “What is that?” asked Alyssa.

  “It’s kind of like daycare. Only they play games and take the kids on field trips. They are trying to provide an alternative to just plain babysitting over the summer. They do a ministry time with the kids every day and do craft projects. They can’t afford to pay for extra help so they asked for a few volunteers,” Seanna was excited about the prospect of having something to do for others this summer. Thinking it would help take her mind off of herself.

  “How many days a week would you be helping,” asked Samantha.

  “This morning, the director said they need someone three days a week. They already have two other volunteers that can do one day each. They aren’t open on the weekends.”

  “I thought you wanted to relax this summer,” said her mother.

  “Playing with the kids is relaxing. It sure beats waiting tables and cramming for exams,” she joked.

  “Sound good to me,” said Leal. “I love kids. Maybe I’ll donate a day a week.”

  “Hey, we could do a day together. I don’t think they’d mind having some extra hands,” offered Trisha.

  “You two need to have some kids of your own,” teased Bryce.

  “We’re working on it,” said Leal with a big smile, while his wife kicked him under the table.

  “Wow…our family is growing,” teased Seanna.

  “We aren’t in any big hurry. We are leaving it all in God’s hands,” said Trisha trying not to be embarrassed.

  “How often do they take the kids on field trips?” asked Daffyd.

  “I think they try to go at least twice a week. They don’t want to go too much, some of the households are one income families and they can’t afford to pay for a lot,” Seanna replied.

  “I think maybe I could help out a little with that…but I was thinking, they could come out here to use the pool or for hiking,” Daffyd offered.

  “That would be great! Then we could all help on those days. I could make a nice lunch for them and we could picnic outside…” Trisha thought out loud.

  “We could do sack races and g
ames in the yard,” Samantha put in her ideas.

  “Ok, I think I’ll call Sarah. She’s in charge. I’m sure she’d be thrilled with all of the idea’s and offers for help,” said Seanna as she excused herself from the table.

  “This summer is going to be fun,” punned Bryce.

  The very next week, there were thirty kids between the ages of five and twelve at Mountain Home. Half of them were splashing around in the pool. Leal, Alyssa, Bryce and a staff member from the church were all in there with them. The other half were playing games in the yard with Daffyd, Seanna and Sarah, the Summer Fun Director. Samantha had opted to help Trisha in the kitchen to set up their picnic. She had spent so many years teaching that she didn’t have quite the same exuberance as the others. Using her teacher’s voice had come in handy several times that morning though. They had sandwiches, three different kinds, chips and gallons of homemade lemonade ready to roll. Trisha had even made a pile of chocolate chip cookies the day before.

  The plan was to have half of the kids play games while the other half swam, and then they would eat lunch, apply more sunscreen and then switch for the afternoon. So far the morning was going quickly and it was almost time to eat. Sarah had the ones from the pool get out and dry off, five at a time. They went inside to use the bathroom, put on dry clothes and reapply sunscreen. The outside bunch was doing the opposite, bathroom break, putting on suits and sunscreen. Then they were directed to the blankets that had been set up in the shadier areas of the yard. The two downstairs bathrooms were being well used, as well as the one outside next to the pool. Soon they were all seated, Sarah had prayed and they were enjoying Trisha’s picnic food. They had all worked up quite the appetite.

  As Seanna was coming out of the house with a load of blanket, she crashed into Bryce who was coming in with a little one who forgot to use the bathroom. He caught her with one arm before she fell and managed to push the little one out of harm’s way with the other.

  “Whoa, in a hurry aren’t you?” said Seanna with a grin.

  “We missed one, and we don’t want an accident during our picnic,” said Bryce still holding Seanna around the waist.

  “As much as I’m enjoying standing here with all these blankets, I think you better get a move on or that accident may happen here in the doorway,” laughed Seanna.

  Bryce looked down at the little guy doing the potty-dance and gave Seanna a look of regret as he let her go. After taking a few steps, he turned in time to see her still standing in the door looking back at him. She blushed and hurried out when he grinned at her. While Bryce was taking care of business, Seanna got the blankets distributed and the adults helped all of the children find a place to eat. Leal asked God to bless the food and they all settled in to eat.

  “Miss Seanna?” asked one little tike sitting next to her on one of the blankets. He was a five year old, tow headed boy with big blue eyes. She had taken a liking to the little guy, especially when she had found out that his mother had run off after Christmas.

  “Yes, Peter,” she said, giving him her full attention.

  “Is this your house?” he asked looking up at the mansion.

  “No, it belongs to my step dad, Daffyd, the one who was helping me with the games.”

  “But you live here, right?” he asked.

  “Yes, I live here in the summer when we don’t have school. My mom lives here all the time with Daffyd and Leal and Trisha. Bryce and Alyssa are here for the summer, just like me,” she explained.

  “Are they your family?” he continued.

  “Well, we aren’t all related, but we are family. God brought us all together and made us a family,” she tried to help him understand.

  “I wish God would bring us a family,” he said wistfully.

  “You have a family, silly,” she said roughing his hair. “Your Dad picks you up from summer fun.”

  “That’s not a family. That’s just me and dad. My Mom doesn’t live with us anymore, and we just live in a little apartment. We don’t even have a yard,” he said taking another bite of his sandwich.

  “Well, before we came here, it was just me and my mom too. We lived in a little house by ourselves for awhile. Then my mom moved into a little apartment and I stay in something smaller than an apartment when I am at school,” she hoped to make him feel better.

  “What’s smaller than an apartment,” he asked looking up at her with doubt in his eyes.

  “It’s called a dorm room,” she laughed. I have to share it with another girl. We don’t even have our own bathroom. We have to share that with a bunch of other girls!”

  “We have our own bathroom. And I have my own room,” he boasted.

  “See, it doesn’t matter how big or how little your house is, or even how big your family is. All that matters is that you love one another,” she told the little guy.

  “Yeah, but I’m still gonna ask God to find me a new mom,” he said crunching his chips.

  Seanna just shook her head, wondering how any mother could have walked out on such a cute little boy. Bryce watched some of the interaction from across the yard. His heart warmed at the way the little boy looked up at Seanna.

  All in all the day was a great success. They all agreed that a trip to Mountain Home would take place on a weekly basis. This would be a volunteer day for them all, which left two more days for Seanna at the church. Agreeing to Monday and Wednesday, with Tuesday’s taking place with the kids at Daffyd’s. That only left four days a week of dealing with Bryce and Alyssa’s growing relationship. Quite frequently she caught them talking about something, only for them to clam up when she walked into the room. Friday evenings they were gone to help with the youth meetings and that night had become the unofficial movie night for the rest of the household.

  Most of the time, the whole family was together. So she didn’t have to worry, too much, about feeling like a third wheel. On several times she amazed herself at being able to just be herself around them, almost as if nothing had come between her and Bryce. After all Alyssa and Bryce were just good people. They enjoyed each other’s company, liked to joke and it was just fun to be around them. Bryce too was pleased how the summer was progressing. To him, it seemed that Seanna was willing to just forget about the past and resume their sibling relationship. Though they didn’t confide in each other the way they used to, Alyssa had taken up the position on confidant. He finally confessed his feelings for Seanna and how he had messed up in the motel room that night. She recommended that he talk to Seanna about how he felt, but he made her promise not to say anything.

  Chapter 15

  Moving On

  Seanna got to know the parents of the children she worked with being there when most of them picked up in the afternoon. Some liked to chat about how their little ones did during the day, and sometimes Seanna had to relate some bad behavior or issues that the encountered during the day. So it was no surprise one evening when Peter’s father stayed to chat. She had become quite attached to the boy since the day they talked on the picnic blanket over sandwiches and lemonade.

  “How was he today?” asked Peter’s father. He was a nice looking guy that looked to be in his early thirties. Dark hair, cut in a close cropped military style. Seanna recognized the wounded look in his eyes.

  “He was great. He always is,” she said with a smile.

  “I didn’t get a chance to thank you for what you said to Peter a couple of weeks ago,” he said shyly.

  “What did I say?” she asked as she watched Peter playing on the swing set.

  “He said you talked to him about your dorm room, and family. Whatever it was, he seemed more content with the new apartment. Thing haven’t been the best since his mom left. With only one income, the apartment was our only option. He’s a good kid though,” explained his father.

  “It was nothing. We just had a conversation. I like hanging out with him. His questions catch me off guard sometimes, but he is a lot of fun,” she laughed.

  “I know you don’t know m
e very well…but, I was wondering. Would you like to go out Friday night with me?” he asked hopefully. “Unless, that isn’t cool, with you being his teacher and all.”

  “Um…sure. I think that would be fine. Do you have someone to watch Peter for you?” she asked. She knew it was time to get on with her life.

  “My mom likes to keep him overnight every other Friday. They go for pizza and she rents kids movies,” he answered.

  “Ok. I’ll meet you in town. We live so far out…” she said, wanting to have her own vehicle just in case.

  “Sure. Why don’t we meet at Carl’s at seven o’clock? That’s the place next to the bowling alley. It’s a bar and a restaurant, they have great food,” he suggested.

  “I know where it is. Friday night at seven,” she said as she stood to retrieve Peter.

  Friday was hot and dry, most of the day they spent in the pool or in the shade sipping on cold drinks. The guys had decided to make lunch for the girls and were inside doing their best to come up with something amazing, when Bryce came out handing Alyssa his cell phone. He told her that it was his grandmother Lucille. Alyssa took the call and walked away from the rest of the group to talk in private. Bryce waited for her to finish with his phone and evaded all of their questions about what they might be having for lunch. When Alyssa returned his phone she looked sadly at Bryce and went into the house. When they called her to lunch, she said she wasn’t feeling well and was going to go to bed.

  When she came down later that night, she told Bryce that Jeff had called Lucille looking for her. Not wanting to give out Alyssa’s number, she had promised Jeff that she would let Alyssa know that he wanted to talk. Lucille had taken his number and given it to her earlier. Now she was confused. All of her old emotions were coming to the surface and she was scared. Bryce comforted her the best way he knew how and encouraged her to go home and talk with Jeff in person. When she agreed and just sat there crying, he leaned over to hold her.