She even missed the allergen-filled cat since Lisa had taken it with her.
“Josie,” Bud yelled.
She jerked, shocked at his tone. “What?”
“I’ve been calling your name. Order’s up.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“Get over here once you deliver that burger. We need to talk.”
So far, Bud had resisted saying I told you so. But she saw it in every look he gave her.
Well, that wasn’t really true. Most of the looks he gave her held pity, which grated. She’d rather he boasted about being right.
She’d had two whole weeks to get over Lisa and Mike. She’d even had another teenager with her for five of those days. But now the girl had gone home—a good thing. Still, it left the house empty. Quiet. Devoid of the sense of family she’d grown used to while Lisa had been there.
How could she have let the desire to please his parents ruin everything?
Of course, that wasn’t the whole picture. She and Mike couldn’t have made it no matter what her hair or wardrobe looked like. No matter who her parents were.
Still, two weeks later, disappointment made her bones denser, heavier, made it harder to move through the days at the diner. She had thought Mike was tougher. She’d thought he might love her enough to blow convention to the wind. Instead, they’d each declared where their loyalties lay.
But I trusted him. I went out on that limb.
After delivering the burger, then refilling a glass of iced tea, she sat across from Bud, who waited in a booth. He gave her a sad smile.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not going to break.”
“If you say so.”
“I’m just down. I’ll get over it.”
“When? Once you work yourself to death here at the diner?”
“It’s a balm. And a way to forget.”
“What are you trying to forget?”
“How I messed everything up. I let that child down. I went against everything I stand for right when she needed me the most.”
“What about Throckmorton?”
“He did what he had to do. But it feels like he let me down.”
“So, do you think he’s beating himself up right about now?”
“No, and he shouldn’t be. As far as letting Lisa down, I’m the one who messed up.”
“Just trying to make him happy. So go easy on yourself.”
“Yeah, yeah, we all make mistakes. I know. You’ve said it every day about a thousand times.”
“Well, you either forgive yourself and move on, or you do something about it.”
“Like what?”
“Apologize.”
“I did that. She didn’t even want to talk to me.”
“She was hurt. I’m sure time has helped.”
“Maybe later. It’s too soon.”
“Are you afraid of making contact with the uncle?”
Just thinking of it sent her pulse racing. She couldn’t imagine having to face him, or talk to him. Surely she would cry or do something to embarrass herself.
She missed Mike so bad. Missed his voice, his laugh, his particular ways.
But he had his life, and she had hers. And the two couldn’t possibly mix.
“At least I have my mom and dad again.”
“Yeah, they’ll be around to keep you company in your old age.”
“Oh, hush. I’ve got a life to live. And even if I’m not sparkling happy at the moment, I have you, my parents, my church, my calling and this diner to fill my life. The happy part will come again later.”
“Whatever you say, Josie, whatever you say.” He grunted as he stood and headed back to the grill, rubbing his back just below the tie of his apron.
Why did he try to make her feel worse right when she thought she was making some headway?
Well, maybe not headway, exactly. But at least she was getting out of bed in the morning and going through the motions.
The problem was no matter what relationship she had with her parents or Bud, it couldn’t replace what she’d lost when Mike had given up on their love.
Michael cut his dad off mid-sentence. Granted, the man was complaining, and Michael was looking for an escape route already. But it was five minutes past his absolute latest time to leave the bank. He had to leave now or Lisa would arrive home before him. And he still didn’t like the idea of her going into an empty house.
“Sorry, Dad. Gotta run. We’ll finish this tomorrow.” He grabbed his jacket and stood in one swift motion as his dad sputtered in aggravation and maybe a little shock.
“Excuse me?”
“Gotta meet Lisa.”
His dad grunted, but let Michael pass and hurry out of the bank. He waved at the tellers as he left. They knew to go to Gary, the new chief operating officer, if they needed anything.
Michael hurried through afternoon traffic and reached the driveway at the same moment as Lisa from the opposite direction. She tooted her horn at him. He waved out the window.
Once they parked and got out, he carried her backpack inside for her, the weight of it staggering. “How do you carry this thing all the time?”
“I’ve got two tests tomorrow. Two big textbooks.”
“Is that why the glum expression?”
She sighed as if she had more than the weight of the backpack to endure. “No.”
“School go okay?”
“Sure. Everyone’s great.”
She had been wearing her chain belts and black shirts to the public school but had continued to wear the jeans they’d bought together. He was hoping she would make the right kind of friends. Of course, she had fussed at him for that attitude already. He had to be careful what he said.
“So you’re making friends?”
“Yeah. I’ve met one really nice girl whose family knows our family, if that’s any consolation.”
“Then why the sigh?”
“I miss Josie.”
“Yeah, me too, pumpkin.” He ruffled her hair. “Let’s get you something to eat before you study.”
They’d settled into a nice routine since moving her home and getting her enrolled in school. His life was more complete than he’d ever imagined.
Yet it wasn’t complete. And he was beginning to believe it never would be.
He opened the fridge and pulled out a block of cheese. “How about cheese and crackers?”
“And some grapes? Just like Josie always gave me.”
He chuckled. “Are you trying to get me to talk about her?”
“Do you want to?”
Sure, he’d love to talk about her. But it only made it more painful not to see her. He’d sure thought about her enough and had begun to wonder if God was trying to tell him something. “I wouldn’t mind.”
“Why can’t we go see her, Uncle Mike? To try to make up.”
“What about how hurt you were that she didn’t dye her hair green?”
“Oh, I’ve gotten over that. When I really thought about it, I realized she didn’t do it to make herself look good. She did it for you. Because that’s just how she is.”
Yeah, that’s just how she is. “I guess you’re right.”
“So can we go see her?”
“We could. But it won’t change anything. She has Bud, the diner, her runaway ministry. She’s as tied to Gatlinburg as we are to Charleston.”
“How tied are we?”
He sliced two perfect pieces of cheddar, then focused on opening the pack of crackers. “Aren’t you happy here?”
“Of course I am.”
“Then why are you asking?”
She hung her head. “I like being tied here in Charleston. Or I guess it’s really that I like being tied to you, not the place. But it’s like you and I are two ends of a shoelace, nicely tied, but we’ve lost the shoe we were tied to.” She laughed. “I tried all day to think of a way to describe it, but that was stupid. So forget it.”
She’s right. The realization hit him like a jab to the solar p
lexus, stealing his breath.
Everything was fine on the surface. He and Lisa had a great setup. She loved her new school. She had friends. Gary was doing excellent work at the bank, so Michael was free to leave early.
But in the weeks they’d been gone and he’d prayed for confirmation that his calling was at the bank, he hadn’t had any sense of being on the right track. He’d enjoyed the more relaxed schedule at work. But still, no feeling at peace, no sense that he was where God wanted him to be.
He and Lisa had a satisfying routine. But the heart of everything was gone.
We’ve lost our heart. Our shoe.
He laughed at the silliness of Lisa’s description.
“What’s funny?”
“Josie is our shoe. She’s the glue that kept us together.”
Lisa grinned. “She’s our duct tape.”
“Our anchor,” he said and wrapped an arm around Lisa’s shoulders, giving a squeeze.
“The foundation of our house.” She giggled and reached for a grape.
“Our FDIC?”
“Bad one, Uncle Mike. Won’t work.”
He leaned against the counter and watched Lisa eat her snack.
Lord, am I supposed to be in Gatlinburg, with Josie?
“So what are we going to do?” Lisa asked, then proceeded to lick sticky juice off her fingers.
Simply talking about Josie brought joy to their lives. This is what you want, isn’t it, Lord?
The peace that had been missing seemed to flow over him all at once. Tension that had been a constant companion eased away from his neck, his shoulders.
Confirmation. Finally.
Michael knew it was up to him to make the first move in Josie’s direction.
Lord, I want to make the right decisions. I’ve been no good at this love business, though. Please help me figure out how best to love Josie and Lisa. I can’t do it without You.
He grabbed his cell phone and looked up a phone number in the address book. He had some calls to make.
“Lisa, whadaya say we plan a trip to Gatlinburg?”
“For real?”
“An extended trip. I suppose one public school is as good as another, isn’t it?”
Her mouth fell open. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“I imagine so.”
“How?”
“I have no idea. We’ll have to let God work out the details.”
She threw herself into his arms the way she had in Gatlinburg. “You’re the best!”
Setting her aside, he said, “Hang on a minute. We have no idea how Josie will feel about us showing up.”
“Then you’ll just have to win her over.”
“Yep.” He grinned, then had a sudden recollection of their near kisses. You can’t go there, Michael. She may not even want to see you.
He’d left Josie when she’d needed him. Had chosen his work over her. He would have a lot of apologizing to do. And, if possible, she would have a lot of forgiving to do.
He had a monumental task before him. And never before had the outcome been more important.
It took Michael a month to arrange everything for their “visit” to Josie. But the wait had been worth it. He wanted to be completely relocated when he went to ask for forgiveness for leaving. He wanted her to totally trust him.
“I can’t believe we never bumped into Josie the last couple of days.” Lisa nearly buzzed with excitement. “I can’t stand the wondering.”
“No matter what happens with me, she’ll be glad to see you. Remember that.”
“I will.”
“Hey, did you ever call Bud about getting your job back?”
“Yep. He said I could start as soon as possible. Said to show up and surprise Josie, which I want to do by myself first. I’ll send a text message when we’re done talking so you can surprise her, too.”
“You’ll be the nicest surprise she’s had in a long time.”
He only hoped his presence would be a nice surprise as well.
As he drove down the main drag toward the diner and passed several places that sold ice cream or funnel cakes, Michael tried to stop the memories that flashed through his mind. When he passed Dinosaur-Putt, he decided, why fight it? He replayed that miserable day of golf, which really wasn’t so miserable after all. He’d almost hugged Lisa that day.
Then he passed an old-timey photo shop. That reminded him of the night he’d first realized Josie had roped him in. For the first time, he’d let himself think about having more in life.
And later when they’d laughed over dinner at Bud’s? That was when he’d really dreamed of a future.
Now what did that future look like?
It depended totally on Josie.
Josie finished crushing boxes out in the back alley. She tied the bundle with a string, then hauled the umpteenth plastic trash bag into the Dumpster. Good, hard physical labor might at least help her sleep again tonight.
When she’d finished, she dusted off her hands and opened the back door into the kitchen.
And what a sight greeted her. Lisa stood with her arms in suds up to her elbows. Bud stood leaning against the sink, his ankles crossed, a crooked grin on his face.
Josie clutched her chest. Oh, thank you, Lord Jesus! She’s come home.
But how could that be? Had she run away again?
Lisa chattered about something. Josie couldn’t hear what. Then Lisa laughed. Bud joined her, his raspy laugh sounding like a rusted door swinging open for the first time in eons.
Josie was too scared to speak. Will she even want to see me?
Bud spotted her and waved. “There she is. I’ll let you two talk.” He headed out of the kitchen, leaving a sense of dread to keep Josie company.
Lisa shook water off her hands, then grabbed a towel to dry them. Never once looking at Josie.
Josie kept her distance. “Lisa, honey, I’m so glad to see you.”
Lisa turned and rushed to Josie. Tears streamed down her face. “I missed you so much.”
“Oh, come here.” They hugged for a minute, Josie fighting her own tears. “Can you forgive me?”
“Of course. I did that ages ago. Realized I probably would have done the same thing for a guy.”
Josie gave her one last squeeze, then stepped back to take a good look. “You look great. Not a thing has changed, except you seem happier.”
“I’m happier than ever.”
Josie believed it. Lisa had an inner light just beaming. God had definitely been at work. Thank you, Lord.
“So, I take it you didn’t run away again.”
“No. Just visiting.”
“Really?” She glanced toward the door to the diner, wondering if Mike had come. Too stubborn to ask, she said, “I hope you’ll stick around until I get off work in a little while.”
“I’d love to. I’ll help here in the kitchen till then.”
Michael walked up to the diner and stopped on the sidewalk in the dark out front. Lisa had sent him a text message a half hour ago, and he’d just gotten the nerve to climb out of his car.
The sign on the door was flipped to Closed, but the lights were still on inside, illuminating Lisa mopping the floor and Josie wiping tables, laughing at something Bud was saying as he squirted liquid across the grill.
Josie and Lisa, and even Bud. Michael’s new family, God willing.
If he had never come back, he would have left the best part of himself here in Gatlinburg. Thankfully, the Lord had brought him around.
He tested the door. It was unlocked. He opened it slowly so he wouldn’t clang the leather strip of bells.
Music blared on an old radio, static and all. Bud bobbed his head in time to the beat. Lisa danced with the mop, causing his heart to swell as he noticed the same grace his sister had always had. He had another chance with this child. A chance to make the right choices this time. A chance to fulfill his sister’s last request.
And Josie, his Josie…She carried a tray of salt a
nd pepper shakers over to the counter and disappeared behind it.
Josie sat the tray on a shelf behind the counter. She un-screwed the tops of the salt shakers, removed them, set each one beside its shaker. All lined up just like every other day. A routine so familiar she didn’t have to think at all. Which was good, since she felt more like running home and crying for a week. Lisa had come to visit. And Mike hadn’t.
As she poured salt from the large container’s spout to top off each one, her nose itched.
She rubbed the back of her hand over it. Then sniffed.
She could almost imagine that Mike was in the diner. His aftershave wafting in the air.
But she hadn’t noticed it earlier. Not even on Lisa.
She sniffed again. Not Bud. Not her regular clientele.
Definitely Mike.
She popped up from behind the counter, upending the whole tray of open salt shakers.
He stood there smiling. “Oops. Was that my fault?”
“You don’t look too repentant.”
“I’m not. I’m too glad to see you.”
He walked around the counter toward her. Correction—he stalked his prey.
She watched the stormy midnight-blue of his eyes the whole way. When he got within touching distance, he reached out and twirled one of her curls around his pointer finger. “I’m glad the curls are back.”
“It’s the humidity. There’s no use fighting what’s natural.”
“No. No use fighting what’s natural at all.”
Bud turned down the radio but didn’t leave the room.
“I’ve learned a lot over the last few weeks,” Mike said. “Mainly how much I missed you.”
“Yeah, well, you knew the route here.” She wanted to sound tough, to put him in his place, but instead her knees felt as if they might give out. He looked so good standing there in the diner that she nearly cried.
“I did. But you see, I had a lot to accomplish before coming here. I had to get Gary promoted. To resign from some positions. And to sell my house.”
She grabbed hold of the counter to steady herself. “Sell your house?”
“Yes. I couldn’t keep it when Lisa and I relocated to Gatlinburg.”
She looked over at Lisa. “Is he telling the truth?”
“Sure is. I’m enrolled in the school here. And we have this great house we found not too far from yours.”
Her Unlikely Family Page 20