The Prodigal Bride

by Rayanna Jamison

  Owen opened his mouth to respond, but stopped when he began to choke up again.

  "Would you like to see your other surprise?" It was Sophia who spoke this time. She was sure the children were getting restless, and it was almost naptime for Zoe.

  "Another surprise?" Owen chuckled. "I don't know if my heart could take another surprise today, if it's anything like the first one."

  "Okay, you're right, you can meet your grandchildren another day," Sophia smiled at him mischievously.

  "Grandchildren!" Owen exclaimed, jumping up off the couch. "I have grandchildren?" His eyes began to get misty again, and he didn't even try to hide it. Suddenly, his whole face lit up, as if he had just remembered something. "The little boy, the one I was watching, he came in here. He's yours mija?"

  Sophia smiled. "Yes, that was Bobby. He and Zoe are upstairs with Beth Anne. I'll go get them."

  "I'll go with you," Owen insisted, following her up the stairs.

  Sophia smiled to herself as she headed up stairs hand in hand with her father, who was nearly bursting at the seams to meet his grandchildren. The reunion was going well, even better than she had hoped. It was nice to be home with family, even just for a little while.

  Chapter 9

  Hiram was not taking the bishop's advice. He refused to spend any time in prayer over Sophia Randall. The idea of them ending up together after all these years was an atrocious one in his opinion. Instead, after finishing all his errands, he had found himself back at Josiah's house knocking back a beer or two before heading home.

  This was almost becoming a habit, Hiram mused. Just another reason he and Sophia should not be together. She practically drove him to drink! And while he had no problem with a drink every now and then, it was just another thing he didn't have time for right now. School was starting in a week, Lucy was having more bad days than good, and with Phoebe not driving, the responsibility of taking the kids school clothes shopping in the city fell on him. Hiram sighed. It was not his idea of a good time. Just the thought of it was enough to tempt him into giving Phoebe her license back for the day.

  He knew he couldn't do that, as much as he may want to. As the head of the house, he had to stay consistent no matter what, or no one would take him seriously. He knew that. So that's why he was stuck taking the four oldest children into the city while Phoebe interviewed potential helpers. He knew he could trust Phoebe to do a good job, but he had put a few guidelines in place anyway, just to be on the safe side. For one thing, he wanted Phoebe to do the initial interviews at the café in town, rather than at the house. It was a neutral environment for one thing, and that way Lucy wouldn't be disturbed with people in and out all day. If Phoebe found the right person, she could bring them back to the house to meet Lucy then.

  Hiram heard the kids before he saw them. They bounded down the stairs all at once sounding like a herd of elephants.

  "Shot gun!" he heard Levi call.

  Before that could cause an argument that would wake the youngest children, he rounded them up and got on the road for the city. It was going to be a long day.

  * * * * *

  Sophia could hardly believe her luck. She had found an ad in the Green Valley Gazette that very morning for a part time housekeeper-nanny-mother's helper right there in town. She had called the number in the ad, and the woman—Phoebe—had said she was doing interviews that morning. Sophia agreed to meet with her at Bev's Bistro, a café run by Mollie's mother, Beverly, and her sister wife, Lila. As Mollie's family had converted to the faith and the lifestyle when Mollie was young, Beverly and Lila were from New York. Beverly was an amazing chef, and Lila made all the pastries. She also made the best coffee Sophia had ever tasted, but Sophia and Lila were pretty much the only ones that ever drank it, as caffeine consumption was frowned upon in the church. Sophia was planning to get there a little early and treat herself to a cup in the back room with Lila. It had fast become a ritual for her whenever she was able to sneak away.

  Sophia had been a little concerned about the interview being in town, at first. It meant that she would no longer be able to keep her arrival on the down low and the gossip would begin. Of course, now that her parents knew, there was no reason to keep it a secret any longer. There was also no use. Sophia suspected her mothers had started burning up the phone lines as soon as they left on Friday, so her being in town today shouldn't surprise anybody unless of course they were living under a rock. Gossip spread fast in Green Valley. She would probably be stopped a bazillion times by people wanting to know where she had been, what she had been doing, and why she had left right before her wedding to Hiram. It was inevitable that she would be held up, so she had decided to leave a little early. Beth Anne had volunteered to watch the kids today anyway, and was taking them to the zoo in Everton. Mollie had gone with them, leaving her car behind for Sophia to use. They had left over an hour before Sophia had made the appointment for the interview.

  * * * * *

  Hiram was sitting at the food court at the mall, thanking God for older children and cell phones, when Phoebe called.

  "You've found the perfect person for the job, they're starting today, and you're on your way here to take over for me before my head explodes?" he guessed by way of greeting, smiling as Phoebe giggled on the other end of the line.

  "Don't be so silly," she said with a laugh. "You're the one that wouldn't let me take the kids shopping, remember?"

  "Oh yeah, sorry, I think the non-stop bickering has begun to make me brain dead." He smiled ruefully into the phone, glad she had called. Phoebe was an upbeat, fun loving spirit, and a perfect balance to his dryer, sometimes uptight, personality.

  "Just give Lily one of your credit cards and send her with Grace, and give another card to Levi and send him with Evan. Then go find a bookstore with a café and make sure your phone is turned up," she advised.

  "Now, why didn't I think of that?" He was joking of course. That was exactly what he had done minus the bookstore, which wasn't a bad idea. "How are the interviews going?"

  "Oh, terrible, so far. I've had a purple haired teenager who wanted the job so she could quit school and be emancipated, and a 79-year-old great grandmother who would be better suited for a job as a drill sergeant. Lucy would hate her, and she thinks children should be seen and not heard. The last one was a twenty-something gothic emo type who cried throughout the interview. It was terrible, Hiram. I was just about to cry myself. Thankfully, I have one more interview with a woman who just called this morning. I'm starting to lose hope, Hiram, so pray that she's better than the others! Lord knows she couldn't get any worse," Phoebe quipped.

  Hiram smiled indulgently as he walked towards the bookstore. "Will do, sweetie. I'll say a prayer right now for you and for her. What was her name?"

  "Oh, I've got to go, I think she's here! She's heading towards me, and praise the Lord, she looks normal. Bye!" Phoebe ended the call abruptly, and Hiram shot a quick prayer up for Phoebe and the nameless woman.

  * * * * *

  Sophia liked Phoebe on sight, and as the interview progressed, she began to like her more and more. She was bright, creative, funny, and easy-going. Her personality was much like Sophia herself.

  Phoebe ran through all the usual questions, and Sophia answered them easily. They chatted about school, children, art, and food, amazed at how much they had in common. Sophia was just about to say something to that extent when Phoebe leaned forward, conspiratorially.

  "Listen, Sophia, my husband has pretty much given me the go ahead to trust my judgment and hire whoever I please, but since it's my sister wife who you would be working with, I'd really like you to meet her first, and make sure the two of you get on as well as you and I are. But don't worry," Phoebe assured her with a grin, "she's going to love you!"

  * * * * *

  Sophia grinned as she listened to Phoebe chatter away in the passenger seat. Phoebe had wanted to take her to meet her sister wife, but she had shyly explained that her husband had taken her keys away w
hen she had gotten yet another speeding ticket. Apparently, Phoebe got a lot of speeding tickets.

  Sophia had been slightly taken aback with how easily Phoebe admitted to being spanked by her husband. She didn't even admit it really, just spoke as if it were a given, like every woman was a spanked wife. And Sophia was beginning to believe that that really was the case, at least in Green Valley.

  She idly wondered who Phoebe's husband was and if she knew him. Whoever he was, he must be a very patient man. Phoebe was such a free spirit, Sophia couldn't imagine her submitting to anyone, but she seemed happy so it must work for them.

  She followed Phoebe's directions, and before long, pulled up outside a large yellow two story home that looked like something out of a storybook, complete with a white picket fence and rocking chairs on the front porch. Sophia loved it and felt instantly at home. She could easily imagine herself working here, she thought, following Phoebe inside.

  The inside of the house was as beautiful as the outside, but it was apparent that help was desperately needed. The windows could use a good washing, Sophia noted, and a thin layer of dust coated an otherwise spotless living room.

  "Oh good, you're up!" she heard Phoebe say. She scanned the room once more, this time noticing a blanket covered woman on the couch struggling to propel herself into a sitting position, which was obviously causing her quite a bit of pain.

  Sophia sprang forward to help, taking the woman's hand and supporting her back as she gently pulled her upright. At the same moment, Phoebe flicked the lights on, and Sophia got her first look at the woman she hoped to be spending her days with. She took in the long honey colored hair pulled into a braid, and the soft pink lounge clothes that the woman wore. They made eye contact, and gasped softly and simultaneously.

  Phoebe crossed over to them, and began introductions. "Sophia, I'd like you to meet my sister wife—"

  "Lucy!" Sophia breathed as she was pulled into a warm hug. Lucy pulled back and looked into her eyes, searching them. So many unspoken words passed between them in that short exchange.

  Tears filled Sophia's eyes as she stared at her friend. She hadn't realized how much she had missed her until this moment. Leaving Green Valley had cost her in more ways than she could have imagined or recognized.

  Phoebe waved her hand up and down between their faces, breaking their trance. "Okay, so, you guys obviously know each other, and apparently like each other. That's great! Does anyone care to explain to me how you know each other since I've never seen Sophia in my life, and I was under the impression she was new to town?"

  Her words did it, breaking through and reminding them why they were both there, as they turned and stared at her, open mouthed with horror in their faces. They realized then that what they both now wanted so badly would never work.

  Hiram would never allow it.

  Chapter 10

  Hiram was exhausted from shopping—not that he had actually done much shopping. He had put the older kids in charge of the younger kids, and sat in the bookstore café trying to relax. But all he could think about was his recent conversation with Bishop Miller. Was the bishop right? Could it still be God's will that he and Sophia be together, despite the fact that she had married and had children and lived outside the lifestyle for years? He honestly didn't know, and wasn't sure he wanted to know either. What he did know was that he was a man who tried to follow God's will for his life, and that ever since he had seen Sophia on the side of the road that day, he hadn't been able to put her out of his mind, no matter how hard he tried. Not knowing what else to do, Hiram finally gave in and followed the bishop's advice. He had bowed his head in prayer right there in the bookstore café.

  "Lord, if it truly is your will for Sophia and me to be together, you're going to have to make it happen, Lord. I cannot, and will not, pursue her of my own accord. If it is your will, make it irrefutable." It wasn't the best prayer, but it was honest, and Hiram had learned long ago that God worked with what you gave him, and honesty was always the best policy.

  He was on his way home now, with a car full of shopping bags and worn out children, and as he reflected on his day, he realized that as much as he had rebelled originally against the bishop's suggestion of praying for himself and Sophia. Yet now that he had, be felt better. He didn't feel as tortured and agitated as he had the past few weeks, and he finally felt at peace with the past and the future. Even if that future did in fact include Sophia—he still didn't see that happening though.

  Hiram looked forward to getting home and seeing his family, a hot shower and a cold beer would be the perfect ending to his day. Relief flooded him as he turned off the highway into Green Valley. For the first time in weeks, he knew he would get a good night's sleep.

  * * * * *

  "Are you sure about this?" Sophia asked Lucy and Phoebe nervously, as they sat around Hiram's kitchen table plotting. "I need a job, and this is so perfect for me, but… I don't think Hiram will be happy about it. I don't want you to get in trouble on my account."

  Lucy made a face as she pondered her response. "Truthfully, we're not doing anything wrong. Hiram asked us to hire someone, and trusted us to make a good decision. That's what we did." She paused for a moment before adding, "That being said, I don't think he'll be happy. But if he tries to punish us, he won't have a leg to stand on. I, for one, am madder than hell that he knew you were back in town, and didn't say a word to either of us about it. I knew he seemed off lately, but I had no idea why. I thought he was just reacting to all the stress around here."

  Sophia knew Lucy's words were meant to make her feel better, but they had the opposite effect.

  Phoebe had listened in shock earlier, as the decade old story had poured out between her and Lucy. She had been oddly quiet since then.

  It was Lucy who turned the conversation around, as was her way. "Personally, I say if he wants to spank us, let him. I would welcome it. He needs to be reminded that I'm still here, and I'm not made of glass. I do too," she added softly.

  Phoebe guffawed, and rubbed her bottom in an exaggerated motion. "Speak for yourself!" She laughed. "My bottom still feels like it is made of glass."

  Sophia just listened thoughtfully. Obviously, Hiram took a firm hand with his wives whenever he felt it necessary, and obviously neither of them felt abused in the least bit. Lucy was even wishing for it. Maybe, just maybe, Beth Anne was right about everything.

  "You guys, I appreciate everything, really I do, but even if you hire me, when Hiram gets home and finds out, he will just fire me and you guys will be in trouble. I just couldn't have that on my conscience, knowing that it's not going to work out anyway."

  "Sophia, earth to Sophia! Haven't you been listening? I have a plan. Lucy and I are all for it, but you have to agree to it also, because it's risky, and you may get caught in the crossfire."

  Crossfire? Sophia thought to herself uneasily. There would be crossfire? That didn't sound good at all, and if it meant what she thought it meant… well, she wasn't sure she could go along with it, regardless of how badly she wanted this job. Nevertheless, it wouldn't hurt to listen, she told herself, leaning forward as Phoebe outlined her plan while Lucy nodded along her agreement.

  * * * * *

  "No, absolutely not! I won't have it!" Hiram shook his head emphatically, glaring at the three stone-faced women in front of him. Their lack of reaction to his pronouncement was puzzling and only served to anger him further.

  He sighed deeply, struggling to maintain his composure. Any feelings of peace he had enjoyed on the way home were long gone, shattered when he stepped through the door and saw his wives talking to the last person he ever expected to see in his home. Actually, he hadn't believed what he was seeing at first. It had taken several very long moments to get his wits about him.

  Forcing his voice to remain steady, he had questioned his wives to make sense of the situation. And what he learned had turned his extreme shock into anger. Now he saw the true depths of their deviousness. Did they really thin
k he would stand for it? What's more, the smug solidarity he could clearly see between the three of them, unnerved him. Why weren't they arguing or pleading their case? And since when had they become the three amigos, anyway! Lucy and Sophia had gotten on well in the past, he recalled, but Phoebe had only just met today. He found it hard to believe she could possibly be so steadfastly on Sophia's side. She had to know what it would cost her.

  "I simply will not have it," her reiterated. "I'm sorry, Sophia, I hope you are able to find a suitable job soon, but it won't be this one. Now, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I've had a long day and was looking forward to relaxing, but it seems my wives and I have some things to discuss."

  He stood and watched her, expecting her to jump up and take her leave, but nothing happened. The three women remained stoic, watching him uneasily.

  Finally, Sophia stood, but instead of walking out, she came to stand in front of him, looking him in the eyes with a hard expression. She cleared her throat a few times, as if trying to find her voice. "I've signed a six month contract," she stated, locking her blazing eyes on his.

  "I'm sorry, come again?" Hiram did a double take as the weight of her words sank in. Surely, she was pulling his leg. His wives could not possibly have pulled something so underhanded and manipulative.

  "I signed a contract," she repeated slowly, speaking slightly louder this time.

  Hiram's gaze immediately shot to the couch where Lucy and Phoebe still sat. They looked guilty as hell. He stared at them tight lipped until finally Phoebe stood.

  "You told me you trusted me to hire the best person for the job, and to find someone who Lucy wouldn't mind spending her days with. That's exactly what I did. Sophia was by far the best person I saw today."

  "Today," he repeated dryly. It was a good thing the children had gone straight to the neighbors as soon as they got home, and taken their younger siblings with them. His hands instinctively came to rest on his belt, as he knew it was only a matter of time before he would be taking it off and applying it to somebody's backside. Several somebodies, if he was reading the situation right. "She was the best person you saw today. You could have seen more people tomorrow or the next day. I never said you had to hire someone today. Do not attempt to manipulate me, Phoebe, it will not end well for you."