“I’ll leave it here, in case you change your mind. You’d look so pretty in pink. Just imagine how happy your father would be if you walked up that aisle toward him, wearing that dress.”
As the two moved toward the doorway, Tassie rushed back into the kitchen, lest she be discovered. Oh, Mom, if anyone can reach Delana it will be you with your sweet spirit. If only I were more like you.
❧
Despite Delana’s absence, the dinner and wedding rehearsal went well that evening. Tassie was glad Mitch had asked Chaplain Lewis to perform their ceremony. She liked him. He was one of the strongest Christians she had ever met and just the kind of man Mitch needed at this time of his life. His wise counseling was exactly what they’d both needed.
Although both Tassie and Mitch were concerned about his daughter’s reluctance to attend their wedding, once they reached home they spent a pleasant hour holding hands and cuddling on the sofa, declaring their love for one another.
About eleven, she gave Mitch a final kiss and hug then excused herself, with plans to go to her parents’ home and get a good night’s sleep.
❧
The ringing of her cell phone wakened Tassie a little before two. After flipping on the light she answered with a sleepy, “Hullo,” but the sobs and the upset voice she heard in response made her eyes open wide and her heart quiver with fear.
Eleven
“Tassie, I need your help.”
Tassie gripped the phone tighter. “Delana?” There was a pause but she could still hear sobbing.
“I’ve done something terrible.” The words came out between sniffles.
Tassie sat straight up in bed. “Where are you? It’s after midnight. I thought you’d be in bed by now!”
“I—I snuck out my window and climbed down the tree right after my dad went to bed.”
“Why? Why would you do such a thing and where are you? I hear music.”
“At the Wal-Mart store over on Locust.”
“What are you doing there?”
“I don’t want to call my dad. Can you come and get me?”
Tassie glanced at the clock. “Of course I can, but why can’t you call your father?”
“Just come, please,” the anxious voice pleaded amid sobs.
Tassie glanced at the clock again. “You still haven’t told me what you’re doing at Wal-Mart this time of night.”
“I’ll tell you when you get here, I promise.”
“Wait for me inside, by the customer service counter. Don’t, under any circumstances, go outside until I get there, you hear me?”
“Okay, but please hurry!”
Tassie’s heart pounded in her ears as loud as a kettledrum as she hurriedly slipped into her jeans and T-shirt and headed for the Wal-Mart store.
But when she reached the store, before entering, she paused long enough to dial a familiar number on her cell phone.
When she finally made her way through the big glass doors she found Delana waiting right where she had told her. Wrapping an arm about the girl she led her toward her car. Once they were safely inside with the door locks engaged, she turned to her with a look of concern. “Delana, please tell me why you were here instead of at home in bed. I need to know.”
Delana wiped at her heavily mascaraed eyes and swallowed hard. “I was mad at Daddy for getting married, so I decided to run away from home. My boyfriend was going to go with me, but neither of us had a car—so—I took Daddy’s keys off of the hall table after he went downstairs and—”
“You took your Dad’s car?”
“No, I took the minivan. I had to have it to run away.”
“What did you plan to do for money? Gas is expensive and you’d have to eat and have a place to stay.”
The girl hung her head. “I took Daddy’s billfold and his credit cards. I took the money from his desk, too.”
“How much was that?”
“About a thousand dollars.”
“You knew your dad was saving that money for emergencies. If you and your boyfriend were running away and you had the minivan and that money, why did you call me?” She glanced around the parking lot. “By the way, where is he?” And the minivan.
“He got scared when I wrecked the—”
“You wrecked the van?”
“I couldn’t help it, Tassie. Some guy stopped real quick in front of me, and I ran off the road to keep from hitting him!”
“Were either of you hurt?”
“Not really, just shook-up a bit, but it scared me really bad. We ended up in a deep ditch about four blocks from here.”
“Did you call the police and report your accident?”
“No. I was afraid they’d call Daddy.”
“You mean the minivan is still there?”
“Yes. I sorta hit a tree.”
“Oh, my.” Tassie rubbed her forehead. “You’re going to have to tell him what happened, you know. We can’t just let the van stay down in that ditch overnight. When did your boyfriend leave you?”
Delana winced at the question. “Right after it happened.”
“Just took off and left you?”
She nodded.
“And you walked to Wal-Mart by yourself? It would have been much safer if you’d locked yourself in the car. Why didn’t you call me then instead of risking your life by walking alone in the dark?”
“Because I was afraid you’d call Daddy.”
Stricken with fear over what might have happened to the girl, Tassie reached across and placed her hand on Delana’s arm. “God must have had His hand of protection on you, Delana; otherwise some guy might have come along and tried to get you into his car.”
Delana covered her face with her hands. “A man in a car did offer me a ride, but I told him no.”
Tassie scooted closer and gathered the quivering girl in her arms. “But he didn’t try to get you into the car?”
“No, he just drove off. Daddy’s going to kill me for taking the minivan and his money. I hated to call you, but I was afraid to call him”
She stroked the girl’s hair. “Didn’t I tell you I’d be there for you if you ever needed me?”
“Yes, but I’ve done some things—”
“The things you’ve done have upset me but they didn’t keep me from loving you. But I still don’t understand why you would try to run away, especially without leaving a note so your father wouldn’t worry about you.”
“I—I didn’t think he’d care that I was gone. Even though Mr. Lewis said he did, I never thought my dad loved me. He’s never treated me as nice as he treats you.”
“Oh, honey, he’s always loved you. You’re his daughter. Besides, the love your dad and I share is a totally different kind of love than the love he has for you. You’re his baby, his Delana.” Tassie gently ran a finger down the girl’s cheek. “No one could ever take your place in his heart, not me, not anyone. It’s important that you know that. Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry you felt that way. No matter what you do, your father will always love you. You’re his flesh and blood. His precious child.”
“I guess what I did was pretty stupid.”
“Yes, it was, but you’re not the first girl to do something really dumb. I—”
Both Tassie and Delana startled as a rap sounded on the girl’s window and Mitch’s face appeared.
Delana swung around angrily as Tassie hurriedly lifted the door’s lock to allow him entrance. “You called him?”
“I had to, sweetie. He’s your father. He deserved to know.”
“What’s going on, and why are you at Wal-Mart this time of night?” Mitch asked, an angry tinge to his voice.
Delana dipped her head and cowered beneath his penetrating gaze. “I’m sorry, Daddy, but as much trouble as I’ve caused you, I thought you’d be glad I was gone,” she explained between sobs.
“Gone? What do you mean gone?”
“I—I was running away.”
“Running away? How could you even think of running away?”
When sh
e sent a glance for help toward Tassie, Tassie answered for her. “She took the minivan, Mitch.”
“Delana, how could you?” Mitch glanced around the parking lot. “Surely you weren’t running away alone. Was someone else with you? Where is the minivan?”
Again, Delana winced. “My boyfriend was going with me but he got scared when I. . .”
His eyes widened. “When you what?”
“It wasn’t my fault, Daddy. Someone made me run off the road!”
“You had a wreck?” He gave her a frantic once-over. “Are you okay?”
“Uh-huh, I’m okay but—but the minivan is in a ditch.”
“About four blocks from here,” Tassie inserted then watched with a broken heart as Mitch, a big, strong man who had faced many a hardened criminal, buried his face in his daughter’s hair and began to weep.
“Where is your boyfriend? Was he hurt?”
“He left right after the accident happened. I—I guess he went back home.”
A scowl dented Mitch’s forehead. “Good thing. If I had him here I’d want to wring his neck. Was this running away thing his idea or yours?”
Tassie grabbed hold of Mitch’s wrist. “The important thing is that Delana is safe and uninjured.”
He stared at his daughter for a moment then wrapped his arms around her. “Tassie’s right. I love you, Delana, you have to believe that. I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to you. You and your brother and sister are the most important things in my life. Without the three of you, life wouldn’t be worth living. You three and Tassie are my life!”
“But, Daddy, how can you say that? You’re never home, and when you are—you’re always yelling at me.”
“I know and I’m sorry, Delana, so sorry. I’ve been a terrible father to you three kids. It nearly killed me when your mother left. I guess I never fully realized how much it hurt you, too. Instead of worrying about how her leaving affected you kids, I wallowed in my own self-pity. I guess I tried to forget about her and the rejection I felt by throwing myself into my work. How can I even begin to ask you to forgive me? If I had been the father I should have been, you wouldn’t have felt the need to run away from me.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Mitch pulled her close, sheltering her in his arms. “Please, baby, promise me you won’t leave me again.”
“I won’t. I promise.” Pressing her face into his chest, Delana sobbed like a baby.
Tears trailed down Tassie’s cheeks as she watched the scene playing out before her. It was a tender moment she would never forget.
Mitch planted a kiss on his daughter’s forehead then lifted her face to his. “I’ve been a miserable example to you children, but I’m trying to change. I want us to be a real family, Delana, the kind of family God intended us to be, and you are such an important part of it.” He let out a sigh that seemed to come from the pit of his stomach. “I should have taken you children to church when you were little, even though your mom refused to go.”
“You’re taking us now.”
“And I plan to continue taking you, but we can talk about that later. Right now, Tassie needs to head back to her mother’s house and I want you to show me where the minivan is so I can call a wrecker.”
❧
The fact that the house was quiet the next morning when Tassie entered didn’t surprise her. The children were being allowed to sleep late since they were on summer break. She found Mitch and her mother sitting at the kitchen table, engaged in conversation.
“Morning, sweetheart.” Mitch rose, kissed her cheek, and pulled out a chair for her. “Sit down. I’ll pour you a cup of coffee.”
She thanked him then glanced toward her mother. “I guess Mitch told you what happened last night after you’d gone to bed.”
“Yes, he did. It must have been a pretty harrowing experience for all of you. I’m sorry I didn’t hear Delana leave. Maybe if I had, this whole thing could have been avoided.”
Tassie hurriedly gave her mother’s hand a pat. “Don’t blame yourself, Mom. You couldn’t possibly have heard her from where you were sleeping in my room above the garage. Besides, she knew her father was downstairs in his room. I’m sure she went out of her way to be quiet.”
Mitch placed Tassie’s cup of coffee on the table then nodded in agreement as he sat down beside her. “She’s right, Mrs. Springer, and you couldn’t have stopped her even if you’d tried. There is no one to blame for this fiasco but me.”
Tassie quickly leaned toward him and cupped his hand in hers. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. She’s talked about running away several times, but neither of us ever thought she would go through with it.”
“I sure didn’t. I figured her threats were nothing more than a means of getting her way.”
“Whatever her reason, at least she’s home now and not off in some stranger’s hands who could do her harm.”
“Yes, praise the Lord for watching over her.” He gave Tassie a half smile. “I’m glad, since she was afraid to call me, she called you. I wouldn’t have handled things nearly as well.”
Tassie swallowed at the lump that had suddenly risen in her throat. “I was afraid she’d be furious with me for calling you, but once she realized you weren’t going to be too angry with her, she seemed to have forgotten it.”
Scooting his chair even closer, he wrapped his arm about her shoulders. “You did the right thing, sweetheart; you had to let me know. Surely, she realized you had no choice but to call me.”
“Mitch is right,” her mother offered. “I’m sure Delana is glad you called her father. Once that boyfriend of hers took off and left her alone, she knew she was in trouble and the only people who could help her were the ones who loved her. And she did tell Mitch she was sorry. Shower her with love and understanding, give her a little time and space, pray for her like you’ve never prayed for her before, and let God handle things. After all, isn’t He the God of love?”
Tassie blinked back tears, tears of love and appreciation for her mother and her valuable insight. “Thanks, Mom. You always have the right answer.”
“I agree.” Mitch smiled at Tassie. “I’m sure glad I’m marrying a woman with such a smart mom.”
A sweet expression blanketed Mrs. Springer’s countenance. “And I’m glad my daughter is marrying a man who is big enough to admit his mistakes, and with God’s leading, willing to work to make changes.” She rose, and after placing her cup in the dishwasher, turned to face them. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone and go home to my husband. I’ll see you both at the church.”
Once they heard the front door close, Mitch pulled Tassie close and leaned his head against hers. “Know what day this is?”
She gave him a coy smile. “Friday?”
“Yeah, Friday, but that’s not what I mean.”
She pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Umm, it isn’t a special holiday, is it?”
“It is for me. I’m getting married today.”
She lifted her face toward his with a mischievous smile. “You’re getting married? And you didn’t invite me to your wedding? I don’t remember receiving an invitation.”
He playfully brushed his lips across hers. “I’m inviting you now. Not only to come to my wedding but to spend the rest of your life with me.”
She pulled away and glanced up at him. “Your life? Oh, my. What will your new bride think about that?”
“Since you, my beloved Tassie, are the new bride I will be marrying in a few hours, I’m hoping you’ll be as excited about spending the rest of your life with me as I am about spending my life with you.” He lovingly stroked her hair. “This is the best day of my life.”
“It’s my very best day, too. I’m marrying the man I love and I’m gaining three wonderful children.”
He tossed his head back with a laugh. “Wonderful children? I wouldn’t exactly call them wonderful, considering all the mean, hateful things they’ve
done to you. And surely you’re not forgetting that because of Tony’s reckless behavior you had to jump in the lake and save his life. And what about having to rescue Delana?”
“But, Mitch, don’t you see? At the time those things seemed like terrible experiences, but I think God is using them for good. Tony and I have are finally becoming friends and Delana set her pride aside and called me, of all people, to come after her. I just know that, eventually, she will accept me. And hopefully she’ll accept God, too.”
He grinned. “You know, you’re absolutely right. I hadn’t thought of it that way. God does work in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.” He pulled her close again. “So does that mean you still want to go through with this wedding?”
“Yes, my love, more than ever.” Tassie stood and kissed Mitch on the cheek. “I love you.”
His lips tilted up in a smile. “I love you more, my darling. Tonight, you’ll be Mrs. Mitchell Drummond.”
She wrapped her arms about his neck and lovingly gazed into his eyes as she twined her fingers through his hair. “I know, and I can hardly wait.”
“I know we haven’t had much of a courtship, and I’m not a man of flowery words or a man of means, but I promise to spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to make you happy.”
Lifting her hands she cupped his face between her palms. “And I love you, my precious one. You’re the man of my dreams in every way.”
He harrumphed. “Man of your dreams? A father with children who have given you more grief than any person should have to endure in a lifetime?”
“But, Mitch, once we say ‘I do,’ those children will become my children as well. I will share equally in the responsibility of bringing them up to be caring, productive, God-loving adults, a responsibility I gladly and joyfully accept.”
The smile he gave her touched her heart. “You’re crazy; you know that, don’t you?”
She nodded. “Crazy about you! Oh, Mitch, I can hardly wait to be your wife.”
“And I’ll be the proudest man alive.” After nuzzling his chin in her hair, he bent and kissed her with a kiss that made her heart thunder and her head reel.
When they finally parted, he backed away. “I hate to leave you but I’d better get out of here. I know you have a million things to do before our wedding and so do I.”
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