What had he said? He’d expected her to be upset by the delay but not by his comment.
Maybe she was upset because he hadn’t said how much he admired her drawing? He stood and went to the kitchen to fix something to eat. He found a plate in the fridge with his name on it. It wasn’t the first time Sophie had done something thoughtful. She was always thinking ahead, making sure everything was in order, prepared for the next day, the next step. Maybe that was it. She was upset that they hadn’t discovered the asbestos sooner.
What else could it be?
DJ entered the room and took a handful of cookies from the ceramic container on the hutch. “What’s wrong with Aunt Sophie? She looked steamed.”
“We had a setback at the store today. We won’t be able to work on it for a week.”
DJ slumped onto one of the kitchen chairs. “Why not?”
“Asbestos. It has to be removed and we might not be able to work in the store until it is.”
“But you were going to let me put up some walls and use the big nail gun.”
“There’s other things we can do. We need to start on the cabinets. We’ll work in your dad’s shop. I’ll pick up the lumber first thing tomorrow, and we can have most of them built by the time we can get back into the store.”
“Okay. Will you show me how to use the chop saw?”
Zach’s blood chilled. He wasn’t sure his nephew was old enough to attempt that. Though he had a good grasp of the other power tools and he had shown a lot of common sense and safety awareness. “We’ll see.”
What would Dean have said? How did a parent know when a child was old enough to try something new and potentially dangerous? DJ was nearly thirteen. Which responsibility took precedence? The one to keep a child safe or the one to allow them to venture into new areas of discovery? How did you know which one to choose?
Sophie would probably know. She seemed more aware of what was age appropriate for each child. Probably the teacher in her, but he wasn’t going to seek her advice and admit that he had no idea what he was doing when it came to parenting his kids.
Hank’s comment was never far from his thoughts. If Sophie found him unfit as a guardian, she could petition for custody. He wasn’t going to allow that to happen.
No one would take his family away. Not even the sweet Sophie.
* * *
By the time Sophie had crossed the street and knocked on Rachel’s door, her irritation had started to fade but not enough to hide it from her new friend. “Oh my. What’s wrong? You look upset,” Rachel said.
“Not really.” Sophie shrugged. “Okay, maybe a little.”
“Come in and I’ll fix you a glass of sweet tea. I don’t think Linney is ready to go home yet. They’re dressing their dolls for a fancy ball.”
Sophie sat in the window seat in the breakfast room that looked out over Rachel’s backyard and pool. “It’s nothing.”
Rachel raised her eyebrows. “I know that tone. It usually means man trouble.”
Sophie blinked. “How did you know?”
“I use it all the time when Kyle messes up. What has Zach done to ruffle your feathers?”
Sophie slowly turned her tea glass, trying to decide on a place to start. “Zach is anxious for me to leave. In fact, he can’t wait for me to pack up and go home.”
Rachel took the seat across from her. “Oh, I doubt that.”
Sophie shook her head. “I thought we’d reached a level of compatibility. Things had been going well since we started working on the closet, but now I think he’s only tolerating me. He was never happy about me getting involved in the project to begin with.”
“Do you want to go back to Ohio?”
“No. There’s not much reason to return. I’ve put my aunt’s gift shop and house up for sale, and I have few friends there anymore. They’ve either moved away or they have families that keep them busy. I had pinned my hopes on becoming part of my sister’s family. I thought I might move here permanently. But now that seems like a foolish notion.”
Rachel patted her hand. “Not at all. The children love you. The girls talk about you all the time and even DJ has admitted you’re cool. That’s high praise from a teenage boy.”
Sophie grinned. “I know the children care, but Zach is the one in charge of their lives. And I have a way of...irritating him.”
“Maybe he’s jealous of how quickly the kids took to you.”
“I doubt that. But the bottom line is, I’m here for the children and to make sure the closet is finished. Anything else is secondary. Once the store is up and running, I’ll worry about the future. I’m just hoping Zach will agree to let me visit as often as I can. I’ll miss the children so much.”
“I must admit I’m puzzled by your assessment of Zach. He’s always been such a nice man. Madeline spoke so kindly of him.”
“If she was here, everything would be so much simpler...or maybe not. I’d still be a big shock to everyone.” Sophie took a sip of tea. “It might help if I understood why she told everyone she was an orphan.”
Rachel shook her head. “I can’t imagine, but...”
Sophie met her gaze. She had a feeling her friend was about to tell her something important. “But what?”
“Your sister was a sweet and generous woman but she had a troubled spirit. I never figured out what it might have been, but now I’m wondering if it had something to do with you.”
“I don’t understand.”
Rachel paused a moment before continuing. “Maddie would sometimes fall into a dark mood that could last several days. I usually left her alone and respected her privacy, but there was one time when she came here needing to talk. She confessed that she had done something she regretted, but she didn’t know how to fix it. When I asked her to explain, she only shook her head and admitted that she should have faced the problem long ago, but the longer she put it off, the harder it became and now it was easier to ignore it. She said some mistakes you can’t go back and fix or forgive.”
Sophie’s breath caught in her throat. “Do you think she was talking about me? That she regretted leaving her family?”
“I don’t know. It could have been or it might have been something else entirely.”
Rachel’s revelation replayed in her mind the rest of the evening. Had Madeline wanted to reach out? Why would she not follow through? Surely she knew how much Sophie loved her, how much she missed her. If only they could have talked.
After settling the children in bed, Sophie retreated to her room, not bothering to say good night to Zach. Her feelings were still stinging from his go back home attitude.
Unable to sleep, she curled up in the arm chair and opened her sister’s Bible, idly leafing through the pages. A highlighted passage on forgiveness caught her eye. It wasn’t the first one she’d noticed. Many of her sister’s notes focused on forgiving others.
Unwilling to explore that thought, she picked up her sketch pad and opened to one she’d done of the family. She’d drawn it from memory one night after a particularly lovely evening together. They’d had a hearty meal, then gathered in the family room to watch a movie. It was such a special moment she’d been compelled to capture it on paper.
Katie was curled up with a pillow, DJ draped over one of the chairs, Linney and Lumpy as usual on the floor snuggled close. Zach was observing it all from his recliner, his expression one of deep love and contentment. While usually he was a very guarded man when it came to his emotions, his love for his nieces and nephew was visible for all to see. Sophie could never doubt how much he loved them. There was more to Zach Conrad than she’d expected and she wanted to know him better.
Unfortunately she probably wouldn’t get the chance.
Chapter Six
Zach fixed a cup of coffee the next morning and carried it out to the front porch, joining Sophie on the swing. It was a beautiful m
orning with low humidity. A rare thing in late July in Mississippi. “Good morning.” Sophie gave him a half smile in response. Whatever had offended her last night still festered, though he was still puzzled by what he’d said that could have upset her.
The awkward silence stretched on and he searched for a topic. “I’ve been meaning to ask you how this charity closet thing works. Do people just come in and take what they need?”
“No. If all they need are clothes on their back, there are other service organizations that offer that. Clothing is more than a basic need. In this day and age, image is important to fit in socially, to build self-esteem and sometimes to advance a career. Maddie’s shop will provide that for those who may have fallen on hard times or need a hand up to get back on track.”
“So do they pay for these clothes?”
“No, but we’ll keep track of those who take advantage of the ministry. Maddie had already made arrangements with the social services in town for referrals. She also designed a system for keeping track of who comes in for clothes, how many people are in the family, their ages and what they need.”
“So people can’t just walk in off the street and buy stuff.”
“No. And we’ll only be open a few days a week. But if someone does come by and they aren’t referred to us, then we’ll register them and go from there.”
Zach leaned forward, smiling. “Sounds like you have every detail worked out.”
“Not me. Maddie. She was amazing. All I had to do was put things in motion.”
“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?” Her delight was reflected in her eyes and her smile.
“I am. I feel like I’m working alongside her, bringing her dream to life. I just wish she was here. It would have been fun and maybe it would have brought us back together and she could have...”
“Have what?”
Her smile vanished and the light in her eyes dulled. “Nothing.” She stood. “I have things to do.”
Zach blew out a breath. Why were women so hard to understand? He stared into his coffee cup. He didn’t like being at odds with Sophie. They’d been getting along well. The closet project had brought them and the kids together. He hoped once the delay over the asbestos was done and they could get back on schedule, things would return to normal.
He’d grown comfortable with normal. He wasn’t sure how things would be once Sophie went back to Ohio. The thought of her leaving Blessing left an odd emptiness in the center of his chest. He’d gotten used to her being around, helping with the kids and at the store.
He had to remind himself that she had a life up north. He doubted she’d be interested in staying in a small town like Blessing. Once the closet was up and running, she’d probably be anxious to go back home. Seeing how upset she’d been over her sister, he doubted she’d want to stay here surrounded by the painful memories.
He stood and walked to the porch railing, staring out at the lawn. She’d become the aunt who visited on holidays. Would that be enough? For the kids? He knew how much they loved her, how close they were becoming. A holiday relative wasn’t the same as one who was around all the time. And Sophie would want to be close to the kids.
He dumped his remaining coffee into the bushes below. On the other hand, her leaving would be hard on the kids. It might be better if Sophie left as soon as the closet was open rather than let the kids get any more attached to her. Wouldn’t it?
* * *
Sophie strolled the church grounds, now covered with picnic tables and lawn chairs all occupied with happy members. Today was the annual family cookout. Several large grills were cooking delicious burgers, hot dogs and other delicious food. From what she could see, they were having a hard time keeping up with the demand.
The children were off with their friends enjoying the activities, and Zach had gathered with some buddies near the grill chatting. She drifted off to the sidelines for a little quiet time. Maddie had always been energized by people and activities. Typical extrovert. While Sophie enjoyed the gatherings, after a while she needed a little time away to regroup.
Naomi Horvath, the church secretary, had told her earlier that the church had offered one of its rooms to house the clothing donations. The generosity of this town never ceased to amaze her. No wonder Maddie had been happy here.
Pastor Miller passed by and smiled. “Aren’t you eating, Miss Sophie?”
“I’m heading over to the food now.” She watched him stroll off, the words of his sermon earlier still lingering in her mind.
He’d spoken on forgiveness, referencing many of Maddie’s underlined passages. She’d taken it as a nudge from the Lord to do some serious soul-searching. Forgiveness was something she’d struggled with since Maddie had left. Perhaps it was time to examine her own heart before she could move forward.
* * *
A few days later, Sophie waited impatiently for the coffee to finish brewing, then quickly poured herself a cup, added a little sugar and cream and savored the first sip. Mentally she ran through her birthday party checklist one more time. She’d ordered Katie’s cake from the bakery in town and picked up the gummy worms for the ice cream topping. Her only other objective for the day was to keep Katie occupied by decorating the house. She was so excited about her eleventh birthday party tomorrow, she was talking a mile a minute and bouncing off the walls. Sophie hoped working at the closet today would give her something else to think about.
The asbestos had been removed and work could finally resume. Drywall was scheduled to start going up in the front part of the building and Buck had told her the plumbing and electric would be ready for inspection midweek.
But today she was preoccupied with Katie’s party. Every day she prayed that her presence would ease the children’s sorrow in some small way. Her mom and dad wouldn’t be at Katie’s party, but her aunt and uncle would be, and she hoped that was enough. She was determined to make the day perfect for Katie.
She looked up as Zach strolled into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. “Good morning.”
He nodded and joined her at the table.
“What are you working on at the closet today?”
“DJ and I will finish the checkout counter and hang the doors on the dressing rooms.”
“He’ll be glad to get back to work. How’s he doing?”
Zach smiled and she could see the pride in his dark eyes. “Great. He’s a fast learner. I think he’s a born woodworker like his dad. I’m having to relearn things myself just to keep up with him.”
She took a sip of her coffee. “I watched you the other day. You’re very good with him, very patient and encouraging.”
“He’s a good kid. I wish his dad could be here to see how well he’s doing.”
“I wish they could both be here for tomorrow.”
Zach frowned, his dark brows narrowing. “Tomorrow?”
“Katie’s birthday. We’re having her party right after supper. I told you about this last week.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Right. I remember now. Sorry, but I’ve had other things on my mind. Like getting this closet done and trying to find a job.” He stood and went to the counter, dropping two pieces of bread into the toaster.
A knot formed in her chest. How could the man be so dense? “Do you know when DJ’s birthday is?”
He hesitated while taking the butter from the fridge. “It’s around one of the holidays.”
“How about Linney?”
“That’s easy. She was born the day after my birthday.”
If he wanted to be a good father to these children, he should at least know when they were born. “Birthdays are important to children, Zach. It’s a special day to them. Tomorrow Katie gets to be a princess all day. She said that’s what her mom did every year. And I intend to continue the tradition.”
He didn’t comment as he buttered his toast.
She was beginning to wonder if he was a suitable guardian for her sister’s children. One minute he was all devoted and committed, the next he didn’t have a clue about anything.
She brushed off her irritation. “Don’t forget to get a present.”
“I’ll pick something up while I’m in Memphis.”
Sophie lowered her cup. “I thought you were going to Boise?”
“That got rescheduled. I’m flying a local businessman to check on his dealerships around the South.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“Most of the day. We’ll be going to Birmingham, Huntsville and Memphis.”
A small knot of anxiety formed her chest. “You won’t be late for the party, will you? Katie is looking forward to her family party.”
“I shouldn’t be.”
Not the definitive response she’d been hoping for.
Just then, Katie walked into the kitchen. “Morning, Aunt Sophie.” Katie hugged her around the waist. “Uncle Zach, tomorrow is my birthday party. We’re going to have a special cake and everything. It’s a book party.” She gave him a hug, too.
“Sounds like fun. I should be home in plenty of time.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have to fly some people around tomorrow.”
“But you’ll be at the party, won’t you?”
“Sure.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“Good. It won’t be the same if you’re not here.” Katie smiled, then left the room.
Heat rose swiftly up through Sophie’s throat. “I hope you meant that promise.”
His dark eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened. “I’ll keep it.”
“I hope so because I don’t want to see Katie’s heart broken.”
She rinsed her cup and walked out. She had work to do. With the remodeling back on track, she had to finalize the decor. She’d settled on the flooring but the countertops, hardware and paint colors were still undecided.
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