by Lynne Gentry
Jamie nodded. She arranged pillows on the couch and gave him a sippy cup with diluted 7-Up. It worried her when the grands were sick and simultaneously made her miss the days when a few cartoons and some soda could make everything better for the ones she loved...especially Maddie. They’d always had a sticky relationship, but she felt like the divide had grown since J.D. died and she’d married Saul. She’d been praying about how to bridge the gap but so far the Lord had remained silent.
Saul emerged from his small home office and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Anything I can do?”
“Pray we don’t catch whatever it is they have.”
He kissed her temple and adjusted the sound on the blaring TV. “This doesn’t have to change our plans for the evening. It’ll be nice to visit with Maddie.”
“She’ll bail if she thinks David won’t be here to run interference.”
“I don’t think she’s avoiding you.”
“I haven’t gotten to talk to her since she came back from Central America.”
“She’s been a little busy.”
“I know, but—”
Saul handed Jamie the remote and led her to the kitchen. “I know you’re disappointed that Maddie wants to stay at the parsonage, but that keeps her near the hospital. That makes it easier for her and better for Parker.” He lifted her chin. “The parsonage will probably always feel like home to her.”
Of course, the parsonage was home...or what home used to be. Since J.D. died, everything had changed...her identity as a pastor’s wife, her reinstatement into the working world, her financial status, the parsonage where she’d raised her family, learning to love a different man...everything but her love for her children.
“It’s ironic,” Leona said wistfully. “Maddie hated growing up in the glass house and now it’s where she’s chosen to hole up and I don’t know why.” Suppressed tears stung her nose. “There’s time to sort things out with her, right?”
“None of us really know how much time we have.” He’d buried his first wife. Saul understood how important it was to set things right with loved ones. “Let her know how much you love her.”
“Nothing would make me happier, but I don’t know how.”
“Sounds like you’ve got some more prayin’ to do, my love.” He gave her a squeeze then slipped quietly out the back door. A few minutes later, she heard his boat motor away from the dock. She wasn’t the only one feeling the need for a word from the Lord.
Twenty minutes later, David and Amy pulled into the drive. Jamie’s temperature had risen a full degree and Libby had awoken from her nap crying and hotter than when Leona put her to bed.
“Sorry to miss dinner, Momma.” David said as he helped Amy gather their things.
“We hate to do this to you at the last minute. We know how you were looking forward to a family dinner night.” Amy jostled Libby in an effort to soothe her. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea to expose Maddie to a virus she could possibly carry back to Parker.”
“I agree.” Leona tried not to let her eyes cut to the perfectly glazed crème brûlées sitting on the counter.
“Hey, I’ve got an idea,” David said, following her gaze. “Why don’t you ask Dr. Boyer to dinner?”
“Dr. Boyer?”
“You’re always saying how you and Saul want to get to know him on a personal level.”
“We would love entertaining Robin, but tonight we just wanted to visit with you kids.”
“Robin was just telling me how impressed he is with Maddie. She must not have cut him off at the knees because he really enjoyed having dinner with her the other night. So—”
Leona held up her palm. “Stop right there. Nothing raises Maddie’s hackles faster than being forced into a situation that’s not her idea. You saw how prickly she was about the welcome home party. I shouldn’t have done it. Not without asking her.”
“You wanted to show off your accomplished daughter. There’s no crime in that, Momma—”
“She’s only here for a few weeks. I’m not going to put her in another awkward situation. I think Dr. Boyer’s a perfectly lovely man, but Maddie’s entitled to form her own opinions. She doesn’t need me meddling in the affairs of her heart.”
“You’re a mother. Mother’s meddle. Your meddling saved Amy’s life the day Jamie was born. Meddling now could save Maddie’s soul.”
“Your sister has become very self-sufficient since your father died.”
“Tell you what, Momma—” David never could stand to see her heartbroken and apparently she wasn’t doing a very good job hiding her disappointment. “—I’ll handle Maddie. You call Robin.”
She did want to see Maddie. If her daughter didn’t feel put on the spot, maybe it would work. “Promise me you won’t pressure her. If she doesn’t want to do it, I’ll call the whole evening off. Those steaks will keep.”
“Those fancy little desserts won’t.” David scooped Jamie into his arms. “What would you have wanted to hear from your mother when you were Maddie’s age, Momma?”
“What?”
“Think about what Grandmother could have said to you that would have saved the two of you fifty years of estrangement. Say those things to Maddie.”
She remembered how hard she’d tried to have a different relationship with her children than she’d had with her own mother. It had taken J.D.’s death to bring her and her mother together. It would be just like the Lord to use the heartbreak of J.D.’s death to give her insight into how to fix Maddie’s heart.
Leona shook her index finger at David. “Tell me, young man, when did you get too smart for your own good?”
He laughed and kissed her cheek. “Maddie loves you, Momma. She’s just all tangled up in grief. She’s got to figure out who she’s going to be now that she’s no longer Daddy’s little princess.” He took her hand. “This is your chance to show her how wonderful it is to be Momma’s girl.”
CHAPTER TEN
Maddie had run out of excuses. The only way to put an end to David’s high pressure tactics was to show up for a family dinner at Momma’s new lake house. She’d agreed to be pleasant not prompt.
Leaving the hospital as late as possible, she trudged toward her car. Hopefully, by the time she made her appearance everyone would be ready to eat. She could slide into her new place at Momma’s new table, make small talk with her new father, eat, and then scoot out. She’d purposely not changed out of her scrubs. If Momma pushed her too hard, she’d claim the need to check on Etta May and Parker.
Maddie slowed at the road leading to the lake. To prevent dings on her fancy car and to delay her arrival further, she eased onto the gravel and proceeded at a crawl. She hadn’t been to the lake since the night of Momma’s wedding. Childishly, she’d turned down Momma’s invitation to use their guest room and announced that if David and Amy weren’t using her old room in the parsonage, she’d rather stay close to the hospital. Having easy access to Parker would assure his progress. Adding an extra layer of protection, she’d told Momma she was really looking forward to getting to know her niece and nephew.
She’d felt a twinge of guilt at Momma’s disappointment, but not enough to move in with Momma and her new husband for a few weeks. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe her mother had the right to remarry. She did. She’d even encouraged her mother to marry Saul. So why the anger whenever she saw her mother smiling and happy again? It made no sense.
Gravel crunched beneath the Porsche’s tires as she crept down Saul’s driveway. Coppery rays of the setting sun danced on the water and drenched the huge trees in a fiery glow. This lush oasis was such a contrast to the dry prairies and scrub sage she’d passed on her way out of town. Such beauty was as out of place in West Texas as she.
The house, a historical limestone cottage, had been carefully restored and meticulously landscaped. Nothing about it said excessive money, but compared to the leaky-roofed parsonage of Maddie’s memories, Momma’s new home was flush with cash.
; Maddie took a deep breath and dragged herself out of the car. A barking, hundred-pound ball of fur bounded down the porch steps and planted two, big hairy paws on her chest. “Momma!” Maddie yelled as he licked her face. “Is this your dog?”
“Romeo!” Momma came running out onto the porch, a glass of tea in one hand and snapping fingers on the other. “Romeo,” she snapped extra hard. “Come.” She pointed to the empty spot by her feet. “Now.” Both Romeo and Maddie recognized Momma’s authoritative tone that spawned complete and immediate obedience.
The dog whirled and complied in one easy bound. Maddie, on the other hand, stood stock-still, determined to stave off the return of the imposed behaviors she’d fought long and hard to overcome.
Momma reached down and grabbed Romeo’s collar. “I can’t seem to break him of exuberant greetings.” She held out the tea with a welcoming smile. “He’s testing tomorrow. We’re all a little nervous.”
“Testing?” Maddie wiped her cheeks with her sleeve. “For what?”
“Certification.”
“You don’t need a test to certify that he’s one huge dog.”
“He’s gotten a little bigger than I anticipated that’s for sure.” Momma glowed. “Romeo’s trainer believes he has what it takes to be a medical therapy dog.”
Maddie took a surprised step forward. This slobbering, energetic mutt was so different than the pedigreed cocker Momma had spoiled into an early grave. “Really?”
“Working him at the hospital will give me a way to minister to others.”
And a way to spy on me. Maddie stuttered, “Soon?”
“As soon as he’s certified and I’ve convinced Dr. Boyer to start an animal assisted therapy program.”
“I’m hoping Romeo gives her something else to housebreak besides me.” Saul had joined Momma on the porch, his eyes sparkling with admiration for the woman he slid his arm around.
“I’ve given up on training you, Saul Levy.” Momma giggled and elbowed him playfully. “Someone has to keep an eye on our investment.”
Maddie’s throat tightened. “Which investment?”
“Mt. Hope Memorial, of course,” Momma explained. “Saul and I are doing everything we can to keep the local hospital doors open, including hiring brilliant young doctors like you and Dr. Boyer.”
“Momma, I’m only here temporarily, remember?”
“That and brilliant.” With that small quip, Maddie knew new Mrs. Levy may have changed her last name but not her old Leona-Harper-ways. Momma never really gave up. “Want to wet your whistle before our guest arrives?” An untrained ear might have missed the suspiciously upbeat tone in Momma’s voice.
Gaze darting about for an ambush similar to the one she’d experienced the first night of her homecoming, Maddie took the drink. “Since when are David and Amy guests?”
Momma’s hand dropped to her side. Her face went white. “Didn’t your brother call you?”
“I don’t think so, but I haven’t had two seconds all day to check my messages.”
“The kids came down with a fever this afternoon. In case it’s a virus, they didn’t want to expose you and risk having it carried back to Parker.”
“David’s not coming?”
“No.”
She was not in the mood for surprises. “Bummer, and after you’ve gone to so much trouble and everything.”
“Exactly.” Momma motioned for Maddie to come sit in one of the empty chairs on the porch. “Since I’d already prepared this food, I invited Dr. Boyer.”
“You did what?”
“I’ve been meaning to invite him since he arrived in Mt. Hope, but it’s just been one thing after another. Now that the two of you are working together I thought—”
Maddie interrupted her mother’s justifications. “I thought this was family night. You. Me. David. Amy. And the kids.” From the corner of her eye, Maddie noticed Saul’s mustache twitch. She immediately regretted her tone as well as her blatant exclusion of her mother’s husband from the list of family members.
“Amy said she’ll bring the kids out when they’re feeling better and we can try family dinner night again before—”
She didn’t know what made her angrier, the thought of how close Momma and Amy were obviously becoming or that everyone had once again planned her life. “Just once, I wish you would ask me before launching me into one of your schemes—”
“How do you like your steak, Maddie?” Saul’s attempt to change the subject was eerily similar to the way her father used to field the oil and water dust-ups between her and Momma.
The constant intrusion of thoughts of her father whenever she was around Saul fueled the emotional volcano within her. She was so focused on keeping it from erupting and spewing all over Momma that she couldn’t even remember how she liked her meat.
“Maddie?” her mother prodded. When she didn’t answer, Momma answered for her, “Medium well, right?”
“Medium well,” she managed to grind out.
“I’ll go ahead and put the meat on,” Saul said to Momma. “You know how cranky I get when I’m hungry.” He kissed her mother on the cheek then headed toward the smoking grill down by the gazebo.
Maddie could still feel the steam coming out of her ears. She wasn’t proud of her insolent behavior. Saul had never been anything but kind to her and he’d never tried to replace her father.
She cut her eyes at Momma. “Was that his subtle way of telling us to pull in our claws?”
“Possibly.” A guilty smile tugged the corner of Momma’s perfect red lips. “I still don’t know him as well as I knew your father. Probably never will.” Wispy traces of grief dangled between them like the string of a released balloon. “I’m sorry about not asking you before inviting Dr. Boyer. I thought it might be easier for you if...” she let her sentence trail off as her watery gaze traveled to the man whistling and messing with the grill.
Momma misses Daddy.
They finally agreed on something. Moving on was hard and it was nice to know she wasn’t the only one having a rough time letting the bigger-than-life man they’d loved so much go. Surprise shook Maddie to the core and loosened her stand-off position. She scrambled for a topic to lighten the tension. “I guess you could have invited Nellie.”
“There’s a current ban on fireworks,” Momma deadpanned.
Maddie climbed the porch steps, tossed her keys on the wicker coffee table, and sunk into the cozy bentwood swing that faced the water.
She let her gaze drift to the man working hard to keep this evening from falling apart. “Saul’s a good man, Momma.”
“He is.” Momma poured herself some tea and joined Maddie in the swing. “Two good men in one lifetime. I’m blessed.”
Maddie waited for the other shoe to drop, for the little nudge that somehow that’s all Momma wanted for her, but it didn’t come.
They sipped in silence and watched the smoke from the grill float effortlessly across the lake. Maddie used to pray for the animosity between her and her mother to dissipate. She’d given up on praying when she realized that kind of quiet peace was impossible under the whir of Momma’s helicopter blades.
Yet, here they were, sitting side by side with only the sounds of the cicadas between them for the first time since the limo ride to her father’s funeral.
Maddie leaned closer to her mother and put her head on her shoulder. “This is nice.”
Momma inhaled deeply and cupped a hand to Maddie’s cheek. “It is.”
Childhood memories of sitting by Momma in church bubbled to the surface. No matter how naughty Maddie had been, whenever she laid her head on her mother’s shoulder, she could count on Momma to plant a forgiving love clasp on her cheek. Why couldn’t she tell her mother how grateful she’d always been for her touch, how much it had meant, and how badly she missed it now?
The breeze coming in off the lake carried the smell of roasting meat to Maddie’s hungry stomach.
Saul waved at the smoke with a towel then opene
d the grill lid. “Won’t be long,” he shouted. “I think I see car lights.”
“Dr. Boyer...” Momma cleared her throat. “...is a good man, don’t you think?”
Silent alarms shattered the fragile truce. Momma hadn’t given up on running her life. She’d just given up on Parker being the best solution to Maddie’s happiness.
Maddie sat up. “Is that what this dinner’s really about tonight?”
“Once you get to know him, I’m sure you’ll come to admire him as much as we do. He thinks you’re an excellent doctor.”
Maddie stiffened. “The chief of staff should always tell his board chairman that her children are exceptional.”
“Would it be so bad to get to know him?”
“I’m not like you. I don’t need a man in my life to feel complete.”
It was Momma’s turn to stiffen, but she didn’t. Her hand started to reach for Maddie but at Maddie’s anticipatory flinch, she pulled back and lowered her voice, “Being loved and loving someone back is more than a win, Maddie. It’s liberating.”
“So is letting them go.” Maddie hadn’t meant for her words to slap Momma in the face, but from the sadness in her mother’s eyes, they had. She hated making her mother feel helpless.
Saul turned toward the discord coming from the porch. “Everything okay?” he called.
Maddie felt guilty and embarrassed for acting like a petulant child, but if she was going to live her life her way and on her terms, marry whom she pleased, or maybe never marry at all, she couldn’t let Momma pressure her anymore. She stood.
“I’m sorry I ruined your plan, Momma.” Maddie turned to the lake and cupped her hand to her mouth and shouted, “Saul, I hate to run out on a great meal, but I really should get back to the hospital.”
Momma’s face morphed into a scramble for a convincing argument. “But Robin’s here.” She pointed to the black convertible pulling alongside Maddie’s Porsche. “What will I tell him?”
“Nothing.” Maddie snagged her keys. “I can speak for myself and I’ll remind him that he hired me to care for patients.” She bounded down the porch steps and stopped by Dr. Boyer’s car.