The Orphans' Blessing

by Lorraine Beatty

  “Hi there,” Sophie greeted. “How’s it going?”

  “So...I need to tell you something.”

  The odd note in her friend’s voice triggered some anxiety. “Is anything wrong?”

  Angela chuckled. “I hope not. I wanted to be the one to tell you myself. I’ve put an offer in for your aunt’s shop.”

  Sophie inhaled sharply. “Really? That’s great news. You’ll make a wonderful owner. Aunt Billie would be so pleased.”

  “You’re not upset?”

  “Of course not. I’m thrilled that the shop will be in such good hands.”

  Angela sighed in relief. “I know you’re planning on staying in Mississippi, and I just decided that it was time I stepped out and took a chance. I’ve always wanted a business of my own and I love this place.”

  “I know and I’m so glad you’re going to take it over.”

  “How are things going down there? The store coming along? How’s that handsome uncle you told me about? Have you found a place to live yet?”

  Sophie pressed her lips together as she sat in the chair by the window. “Things are progressing at the closet. We should start getting the clothes in soon. But I won’t be moving down here.”

  “What? Why not? I thought that was the whole point of the trip. What’s happened?”

  “Nothing. It’s just... I’ve realized Zach is the perfect person to raise the children. They work well together. They don’t need anyone else trying to fit in.”

  “Sophie, that can’t be true. You fit in with everyone everywhere. What’s really going on?”

  Where to start? “Zach doesn’t want me here.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “He keeps reminding me that my time here is almost over. He keeps saying I must be anxious to get back to where I came from.”

  “That doesn’t mesh with the other things you’ve told me about him. Are you sure you’re hearing him right?”

  “That’s what he said. What else could he mean?”

  Angela chuckled. “Well, he’s a man and they aren’t the most perceptive people at times. Maybe he’s just trying to protect himself. He might be wanting you to stay, but doesn’t know how to say that without making it sound like he’s pressuring you. He’s probably trying to present a confident picture. You know, pounding his chest and proclaiming, ‘I’m a man. I can handle three kids without any help.’”

  That made sense. Zach was all about being strong and in control. “I suppose that’s possible.”

  “Give it time. Go back to that bridge and ask the Lord for some wisdom and insight. He won’t let you down. God brought you there for a reason. You have to see it through to the end.”

  The conversation moved on, and Angela told her the real estate agent would be in touch with details. When the call ended, Sophie stared at the screen. Her last tie to home was being severed. She was genuinely pleased that her friend would be the new owner of Billie’s Boutique Gifts, but it also meant she had no reason to go home.

  In the back of her mind she’d always hoped to remain in Blessing. She’d believed that things would work out and she could move here permanently.

  But right now that option seemed unlikely.

  * * *

  Sophie strolled into the dressing room area the next day where DJ was busy touching up the girls’ paint job. They’d actually done a decent job, though Linney had grown bored long before the job was done.

  “Thanks for doing this, DJ.”

  He shrugged. “No sweat. It’s not bad for a couple of squirts.”

  Sophie grinned. “I agree.” She made her way back to the office, checking the art deco clock on the way. The garment fixtures were supposed to be delivered today and she hoped Zach would be here to help.

  He’d kept his promise and called Linney yesterday from New Orleans. She’d been visibly reassured but had been tense until he returned home safely. He’d further distracted her by telling her all about the dog he’d returned to its home and how happy it was to see its owners again.

  The girls were with Rachel today so Sophie could focus on the new fixtures and where to place them, which meant they could start bringing in the clothes. The end was in sight. They’d scheduled the grand opening for next week. Rachel had offered to organize the event. Sophie tried not to think about what that day would mean. With the project complete and her gift shop sold as well as her aunt’s house, what was next for her?

  She glanced out the window at the pounding rain. The storm had come out of nowhere. She was getting used to these pop-up Mississippi thunderstorms. She tried not to think about the last time she’d been here when a storm had blown in and that moment with Zach.

  As if materializing from her thoughts, Zach entered the building through the back door. She couldn’t stop the smile that took over her face. It happened every time she saw him. She struggled to find something to say. “Thank you again for calling Linney from New Orleans yesterday. It made her feel much better.”

  He nodded. “I know. She’s thanked me, too. But I want to thank you for pointing these things out to me. I want to do right by the kids.”

  “I know.” She shifted uncomfortably. They were smiling at each other like two schoolkids. Thankfully the front door opened and a tall slender man in a baseball cap stepped inside.

  “Are you Sophie? Oh my. Of course you are. You look just like your sister.”

  She’d gotten used to the observation. Everyone in town had known her sister. “That’s me.”

  “I’m Blake Prescott from Retail Supply. My dad asked me to deliver your fixtures since I live here in Blessing.”

  “Wonderful. I’m glad the storm passed before you got here.”

  Zach greeted the man warmly. “Blake. Hey, man. Have you given up practicing law to work for your dad?”

  Sophie took a second look at the man. “You’re an attorney?”

  “Guilty as charged. I did a lot of work for Dean’s business.”

  Sophie filed that information away as she instructed Blake where to put the clothing racks. Seeing the silver clothing racks positioned in the main area fueled her excitement. Her sister’s dream was coming to life and she had a part in making it happen. Zach and the children had contributed, too, something she knew Maddie would have wanted.

  Blake handed her a clipboard to sign for the delivery and she took the opportunity to approach a subject. “I’d like to discuss a legal matter with you. Would you have time to meet with me?”

  “Of course.” He handed her his business card. “I’ll let my secretary know you’ll be calling.”

  Sophie slipped the card into her pocket as Zach approached. “We’re entering the final phase. You’ve done a great job, Sophie. I know Maddie would be proud.”

  “Thank you. But there’s still a lot to do.”

  “You sound worried. What is it?”

  “Someone needs to be in charge of the store and keep it running. It’s going to be a lot of work.”

  “I thought you had volunteers lined up.”

  “To help, not to take charge.” She held his gaze. “I suppose someone will turn up.”

  “You’re probably right. So show me where you want the rest of these racks.”

  Sophie swallowed her disappointment. She’d hoped Zach would provide the obvious answer to her dilemma but he hadn’t even considered it. She shouldn’t have been surprised.

  * * *

  Sophie held her phone in her hand later that night, her thumb hovering over Send. Her contest entry was complete. All she had to do was email the picture of her entry to the committee. Today was the final day to enter. She’d worked diligently this past week to complete it. It had proved to be a good way to channel her anxiety over the closet.

  A wave of doubt washed over her. There was no real reason to submit this design. She had no chance of winning
. But then, she had nothing to lose either. And the mayor had invited her personally to submit an entry.

  Taking a deep breath, she hit Send and exhaled slowly. For better or worse it was done now. Maddie wouldn’t have had any second thoughts. She’d been fearless and willing to try anything. It was out of Sophie’s hands now. She’d wait and see what happened. Her main goal had been to enter the contest. Winning was never her motivation.

  Her gaze drifted to her sister’s Bible on the side table and the notebook Maddie had written in.

  Sophie had found more passages underlined dealing with forgiveness. Maddie’s notes tended to focus on that, as well. She’d even listed books about forgiveness she’d wanted to read.

  Tears stung Sophie’s eyes. If only she was here so she could tell her sister how sorry she was. That she didn’t need to find forgiveness in her heart for her little sister. Sophie was to blame.

  She stood pacing the room as her emotions bubbled to the surface. If only Maddie had stayed they could have worked it all out. Instead she’d walked out, and found a life of love and happiness with no thought to the people she’d left.

  The room closed in around her and she slipped out the French doors and walked across the patio to the yard, stopping at the trellis swing. The evening was balmy and quiet and smelled fresh after the earlier storm. The sounds of night creatures were a welcome alternative to the turmoil in her mind. She sat down and started the swing in motion. The movement began to ease her anger. Why was everything so complicated? She’d come to find her sister and ended up in a mixing bowl of conflict.

  She’d found no answers to why Maddie had cut them out of her life, and no idea what her future would be, and her relationship with Zach was a jigsaw puzzle with dozens of missing pieces.

  “Sophie. Are you all right? What are you doing out here in the dark?”

  She froze. Where had Zach come from? She gritted her teeth, trying to avoid his gaze, thankful for the darkness. “I’m fine. I had some thinking to do.”

  He stepped closer, taking hold of the chain that held one end of the swing. She wished he would go inside. His kindness was too much to handle right now. She stood and started to walk away, but his gentle touch on her arm halted her escape and threatened her hold on her emotions.

  “Sophie, what is it? Tell me. I can see you’re upset about something.”

  “I’m not upset. I’m angry. No, I’m furious. Why did she leave me behind? Why did she abandon me? I loved her. I needed her.” A sob caught in her throat. But she tamped it down. She refused to cry again in front of Zach. He probably already thought she was too emotional.

  Zach eased her back onto the swing and sat beside her, resting his arm across the back in a comforting manner and waited.

  His silence gave her encouragement. “She must have hated me.”

  “I doubt that. Maddie didn’t hate anyone. Least of all you.”

  She shook her head. “No. It was my fault. All of it. I’m the reason she left and never came back.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Sophie closed her eyes, reliving that last night. She’d never told anyone about what happened and she didn’t want to tell Zach, but his silent support opened the door. Maybe it was time to get this out in the open.

  “My mom had gotten really drunk the night before. More than I’d ever seen her. So I poured out all her booze, thinking if she couldn’t drink it, she wouldn’t be so awful. When she came home, she was furious there was nothing to drink. She blamed Maddie. Mom had never abused us physically, maybe a shove here and there, but she never hit us. She used words and anger as her weapons. That night she attacked Maddie. It was awful. I hid in my room. Maddie came in later and asked me if I emptied the bottles. I admitted it and she left without saying a word. The next morning she left the house and never came back. She took the blame for what I did.”

  “That’s what sisters do. I can think of a few times Dean took the fall for something I did.”

  Sophie glanced at him. “She hated me for it. All the notations in her Bible and her notebook are about learning how to forgive. She could never bring herself to forgive me for what I did. That’s why she left and never contacted me.”

  “Or...maybe she was struggling to forgive herself for cutting ties. She might have been searching because she was hoping you would forgive her. She’s the one who turned away, who denied her family. That must have weighed heavily on her. She must have worried that you might never forgive her, let alone understand.”

  It was a point of view Sophie had never considered. It fit with what Rachel had shared about Maddie having regrets and failing to deal with old mistakes.

  Zach took her hand in his. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You were a kid. Maddie had her own issues. They may have had nothing to do with you. We’ll never know. But I know Maddie wasn’t a vindictive person.”

  She stared at their clasped hands. His long fingers wrapped around her hand infused her with a sense of comfort and security. She didn’t want to let go. She met his gaze and her pulse raced. “Do you really think so? I didn’t want her to get in trouble. I just wanted Mom to stop drinking.”

  Zach laid his hand along her cheek. “You did what you hoped would help the situation.” His gaze lowered to her lips.

  Her heart stopped beating. He was going to kiss her and she wanted him to. But she was also worried that it would change things. If he kissed her, he would claim her heart and she would never get it back. The air crackled between them. Heart pounding, she anticipated his touch. She sensed his shift in mood before he actually backed away and the disappointment washing over her was intense.

  She muttered an excuse and hurried across the lawn to the safety of her room. Zach’s nearness, the intense attraction pulling them toward each other, flooded her mind. Quickly she prepared for bed, then turned out the light and slid under the covers.

  But she knew this complication would rob her of sleep and overtake her dreams.

  Chapter Nine

  Zach watched Sophie disappear into the house, then sat down on the swing. What had he been thinking? He’d almost kissed her. He’d wanted to. But it would have crossed a line he wasn’t ready to cross, let alone acknowledge it existed. She was the children’s aunt. Maddie’s sister. A kiss would have muddied the waters between them, which would be unfair to the kids. Right now everything was simple and clear, and he wanted it to stay that way.

  He started back to the house, glancing at her window as the light suddenly went out. She was probably calling him all kinds of names in her head for his lapse in judgment. Sophie wasn’t the kind of woman to be treated casually. Her emotions ran deep and true, and if and when she gave her heart, it would be forever.

  That was the scariest part of their whole relationship. The forever factor. She would forever be connected to his family and to him. Nothing would change that. He didn’t do forever except with the kids. They were now his forever.

  So why did he keep seeing the surprise aunt as a part of his forever future? He knew who he was and he knew he wasn’t husband material. That had been pointed out to him often enough. He needed to be content with being a guardian to his kids.

  But that didn’t mean he couldn’t help a friend. Maybe there was something he could do to ease Sophie’s concern about the community clothes closet. He’d love to lift some of the burden from her shoulders. She’d been amazing getting the closet completed. He hadn’t expected her to be so committed. She’d been a bulldog, never letting any setbacks deter her, always cheerful, positive and making sure the kids were included as much as possible.

  That would be his focus now, trying to ease Sophie’s concern. Not the swirl of regret that churned in his chest, wishing he’d claimed her kiss.

  * * *

  Sunday arrived, hot and humid, a typical Mississippi morning. Zach parked the car down the block from Blessing Community Church and walked
behind the kids as they hurried on ahead. Sophie had gone to the church early to prepare a sign-up table for volunteers willing to help sort and tag the clothes that had been donated to the closet.

  His gaze traveled upward to the tall white steeple rising majestically from the roof like a beacon leading the faithful home. It was a treasured landmark of Blessing. Attending services here started his week off with worship and gratitude and gave him the courage to face the week to come.

  His brother had urged him for years to reconnect with his faith. Their father had been a devout man, living his faith daily, and Dean had also been a man of deep faith. Zach had wandered away, embracing the idea that he was in charge of his own life and knew what was best for himself.

  It wasn’t until his brother had died that Zach realized he had to have more to cling to than his own determination and strength. He needed hope. He needed someone else to be strong. He’d been thrown into the fire, a single guy left with three young kids to raise without a clue how to do that. There was nowhere else to turn but to his heavenly Father.

  It had been a humbling and frightening thing, turning his life over to an invisible God, but each day he’d discovered a new purpose, a new reason to embrace his new role and abilities he never knew he had.

  Zach entered the foyer of the church and saw Sophie and Rachel seated at a small table signing up volunteers for the closet. She smiled and joked with people who stopped by, her eyes bright with happiness, her smile lighting up the room. It was a far cry from that first day when he’d had to rescue her from inquisitive members.

  She caught his eye and waved. He mouthed that he would save her a seat and she nodded in understanding.

  He was still reliving that moment last night when he’d almost kissed Sophie. Not exactly the kind of thoughts he should be having in church.

  But he had found someone to help lift some of the burden from her pretty shoulders. The woman he’d found was enthusiastic, hardworking and more than qualified to run the closet. He knew Sophie would be pleased with his choice. He smiled, anticipating delivering his news. He looked forward to seeing the relief on her face when she learned what he’d done.