by Judith Keim
“I know I can never give you back those four years, but I’d like to move forward with you, Misty.” Grace squeezed her daughter’s shoulder. “Do you think you can do that?”
“But what about Kate? I know she loves me. She cried when I left.”
“That is something we’ll all have to work on together,” said Grace. She couldn’t fault her daughter’s loyalty, but she blamed Kate for so many things. And she’d be wary of her cousin in the future.
###
Grace and Misty shared breakfast and then, feeling more excited than she had in years, Grace said, “Come sit by our little Christmas tree. I have some presents for you.”
“Really?” Misty’s smile evaporated. “Josh and Kate didn’t like exchanging gifts on Christmas. They told me it wasn’t my birthday, that I should remember that.”
Grace bit back a swear word and tried for a pleasant expression. “All birthdays should be celebrated—especially this one. Let’s have some fun today.”
From the back corner of the room, behind the small, pre-decorated Christmas tree Grace had bought on sale, she brought out two brightly wrapped packages. She grinned at the excitement on Misty’s face.
Misty opened the biggest one and stared at the navy quilted jacket that lay inside. “That’s for me?” She picked it up, stood and tried it on. Wrapping her arms around herself, she said, “I love it!”
“It’s a little big for you, but we can exchange it tomorrow.”
Misty shook her head. “It’s not that big. I want it.”
Grace smiled with satisfaction. “Open the other package.”
Misty removed the wrapping. “A Kindle? Really? That means I can read any books I want?” She set down the package and gave Grace a quick hug. “You have no idea what that means to me.”
Grace smiled. After learning about Misty’s home life with Kate, she could well imagine what freedom it might give Misty.
Misty sat back on her heels, looking unhappy. “I’m sorry. I don’t have a gift for you.”
Grace reached over and squeezed Misty’s hand. “Oh, but you have given me the greatest gift of all—your presence.” She couldn’t help the tears that filled her eyes. It was the nicest Christmas she’d ever had.
###
The next day, Grace tapped on Misty’s bedroom door. “Are you ready?”
The door opened.
Grace blinked in surprise. Misty stood before her dressed in the black slacks, blue sweater, and black boots. She’d braided front strands of hair and then tied the braids behind her head, exposing the lines of her face. The borrowed eye shadow and mascara accented her green eyes.
“You look amazing, sweetie,” said Grace, hardly able to believe it was the same person.
Misty’s brow furrowed. “Kate would not like it.”
“Let’s just take it one day at a time,” Grace said calmly. She didn’t want to say or do anything to make Misty want to go back to Kate.
“Again, where are we going?”
“My friend Carol Ann is having a holiday gathering at her new apartment. You’ll meet her and the other women in what we call the Fat Fridays group. You’ll love them.”
Misty looked down at the floor and returned her gaze to Grace. “Do ... do you think they’ll like me?”
Grace threw her arm across Misty’s shoulder. “Oh, hon, they’ll love you. They’ve been waiting to meet you for a long time.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CAROL ANN
For the second day in a row, Carol Ann prepared for guests. She’d invited the Fat Fridays women to a special, after-Christmas luncheon. She couldn’t wait for them to see how creative she’d been in making the apartment festive for the holidays.
She’d made not one, but two Bûches de Noel. The one she was serving today had a rich chocolate frosting that tasted sinfully like fudge. She was sure they’d love it. For the main course, she’d made a veggie lasagna that was both tasty and healthy. That, some garlic bread, and a fruit salad would complete the meal. In many ways, this luncheon was her holiday gift to them. The ingredients alone had used up more than a week’s worth of her grocery budget.
Tiffany was the first to arrive, Vanna in her arms. Carol Ann took Vanna and enjoyed a moment cuddling the baby. Until this little girl had melted her heart, Carol Ann hadn’t liked children or babies. Now, with a baby of her own expected, she loved holding Vanna and observing the changes in her.
“The apartment looks wonderful.” Tiffany gave Carol Ann a smile of approval. “You have a knack for taking simple things and making them look unique. Maybe you can help me sometime. Muffy made a point of saying nothing about the house yesterday, even after I showed her around.”
To control her excitement, Carol Ann clasped her hands. “I’d love to help you.” Maybe, she thought, it wouldn’t be as hard as she’d thought to build a client list.
Sukie arrived with Lynetta, quickly followed by Grace and Misty.
“This, my dear friends, is my daughter, Misty,” Grace proudly announced. Her eyes shone with a trace of tears.
The women quickly surrounded Misty.
“We’ve waited a long time to see you,” said Sukie, giving Misty a kiss on the cheek. “I’m sorry you didn’t make it to my party, but I figured you two had a lot to talk about.”
Grace nodded. “We sure did.” She gave Sukie a meaningful look.
“Glad you’re here. We’ve heard so much about you,” Tiffany added, hugging Grace, and then giving Misty a quick embrace before moving away.
Misty stepped closer to Grace.
Grace held up her hand, chuckling happily. “Hey, y’all. Give her time to get used to you.” She turned to Misty. “See? I told you they were my best friends. In time, I hope you get to know them very well.”
Lynetta shook Misty’s hand. “Pleased to meet you at last.”
“Thanks,” Misty said, giving each of them a shy smile.
“I’m so happy you could come here today.” Carol Ann turned to the others. “Drinks are in the kitchen. We can sit for a while before I serve lunch.”
Gathered together in the living room, they were eager to share stories of their Christmas days.
“How was your Christmas, Misty?” asked Sukie.
A smile broke out on Misty’s face. “Real nice. Grace surprised me with a couple of gifts.” She glanced at her mother.
“It was wonderful having Misty with me,” said Grace.
“How about you, Tiffany? How did you do with your in-laws?” asked Lynetta.
After Tiffany told them how Muffy and Regard had treated her, a chorus of groans filled the room.
“Will they never change?” said Sukie. “Really, Tiffany, their treatment of you is disgusting. And Regard being on the board of the charity? What a disaster that would be.”
Tiffany nodded grimly. “When I read all the details of the instructions Beau left for running the charity, I thought it seemed a little silly to be so particular about every little detail. Now I know why he did it.”
“To protect you,” said Grace.
“Yes, so I’d have something to say to Regard when he tried to take over. Beau didn’t want him involved at all. But enough about me. What’s up with everyone else?”
Sukie lifted her hand. “I’ve got good news, but it’s for y’all only. Madeleine and Rob are going to have another baby.”
“Congratulations,” said Tiffany, and the others chimed in.
“It’s a bit of a surprise,” continued Sukie, “but they’re thrilled. Madeleine is such a good mother, I’m sure she’ll handle it with ease. And I’m around to help her.”
“How about you, Carol Ann?” said Grace. “Did you have a nice day?”
“Oh, yes. Very quiet.” Carol Ann had no intention of telling anyone, not even her dearest friends, about her dinner with Ed.
“How are you feeling?” Sukie said. “You look great. Right now, no one would suspect you’re pregnant.”
“I know. That’s the way I want to keep
it for a while longer.” Carol Ann patted her stomach. “My mother is still convinced I’m a sinner.”
Lynetta shook her head. “That woman ...”
“Let’s not talk about my family,” said Carol Ann. “It’s too depressing. How about lunch, everyone? I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
“Sounds good,” said Tiffany. “I’m starving.”
Carol Ann was glad for the opportunity to turn attention away from herself. She loved her friends, but she needed to keep her plans for the future to herself. At least until she knew if it would work out the way she hoped. Otherwise, she’d quietly stick to her job at MacTel.
###
With everyone seated at the dining room table, Carol Ann filled with pride. Their comments about the delicious food made every effort worth it. And when she carried in the Bûche de Noel and set it down on the table, she grinned at the round of applause they gave her.
“Honestly, Carol Ann, I had no idea you were such a good cook,” said Sukie, giving her a smile.
“I’m still learning, but it’s nice to have the kitchen to myself,” she said. “Now, who’s ready for dessert?”
After everyone had eaten dessert and confessed they couldn’t fit in another bite of the food, the group adjourned to the living room and found seats on the couch or in one of the two chairs.
Tiffany turned to Misty. “I love your outfit. Is that new?”
Misty nodded. “Grace bought it for me. They’re the only decent clothes I have.”
Grace’s lips thinned. “Apparently Kate doesn’t believe in girls wearing slacks or jeans or anything flashy. Misty has a whole lot of fun ahead of her.”
Tiffany studied Misty. “We’re about the same size. Would you be interested in trying on some of my clothes?”
Sitting next to her on the couch, Lynetta bumped Misty’s side. “Say yes. Tiffany has some of the nicest clothes ever. I wish I could fit into them.”
“That would be lovely, Tiffany,” said Grace. “We’ll set up a time to try them on. Right, Misty?”
Misty’s eyes brightened. She turned to Tiffany. “Really? Things like what you’re wearing?”
Tiffany nodded. “Sure. Why not?” She brushed a piece of lint off her jacket and smiled.
Wide-eyed, Misty turned to Grace.
“Why not?” said Grace.
“Great. Let’s make a party of it,” said Tiffany.
Carol Ann watched a smile spread across Misty’s face. Misty reminded her of herself before she met the women of the Fat Fridays group—a little overwhelmed and very uncertain. She hoped Misty would stay in Williston long enough to allow them to help her.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
GRACE
As they left the party at Carol Ann’s apartment, Grace noticed how quiet Misty had become. And though Misty remained that way all the way back home, Grace left her alone with her thoughts.
When they entered the apartment, she turned to Misty. “Anything you want to talk about? Misty faced her with a troubled expression. “Those are your friends?”
Grace nodded. “They are very dear to me—good, kind people.”
“But Carol Ann is having a baby out of wedlock. She’s a sinner. You should stay away
from her.”
Grace felt her body grow cold. “And why would that be?”
“Our church doesn’t take kindly to befriending others who don’t meet their standards.”
Though her heart was pounding with dismay, Grace spoke as calmly as she could.
“Let’s sit down and talk about this. I’m trying to understand.”
Grace and Misty arranged themselves on the couch and faced each other. “What standards are you talking about?” Grace asked. “And who is making those rules?”
Misty drew a deep breath. “They call themselves the Loyal Elders. I don’t know all of them. They’re men.”
Grace’s mouth grew dry. “And what happens to people who don’t meet their so-called standards?”
“They’re banished from the group,” Misty said softly. She fingered her pants and swept a hand over her sweater. “If they saw me now, they wouldn’t allow me back in.” She clasped her hands together nervously and rose to her feet. “I should go into my room and change out of these clothes.”
Grace took hold of Misty’s hand and urged her to sit back down. “I know you’ve experienced a lot of emotions in the past couple of days, but let’s take things easy. While you’re here, you’ll have the chance to get to know me and my friends better and to make new friends of your own. Here, you can live freely without meeting anyone’s standards but your own. Understand?”
Misty let out a long breath and nodded. “It’s just so weird to be free of them. I’ve never liked the Loyal Elders, but I had to go along with what they said to please Kate and Josh. They’re really into that group. Especially Josh.” She shook her head. “They think they’re the only people who know how to get to heaven.”
Grace squeezed Misty’s hand. “Do you remember going to church with me? You used to like getting dressed up for the service. And at our church, you sang in the children’s choir. Remember?
“Yes, so many things are coming back to me.” Her eyes held a sadness beyond her years. “I gave up thinking about the past because it hurt so much, and then Kate didn’t want me to remember.”
Grace fought against a deep-seated anger that threatened to bring a roar out of her. “Tonight, we’ll go to my support group. It will be a good way for us to talk to other people who’ve shared some of our experiences. I want you to be happy that you came here. I want your life to be better and a lot happier than what you’ve known in the past. I love you, Misty.”
Misty eyed her and got to her feet. “Thanks. I’m tired now. I think I’ll take a nap.”
“Okay,” said Grace. “I’ll be right here if you need anything.”
Emotions fought each other as Grace watched her daughter leave the room. Was she doing the right thing by prompting memories of Misty’s past life? Her father had been a psycho, but Grace had always loved her daughter like no other.
###
That evening, Grace and Misty attended her support group. Sitting among people who’d shared similar events in their lives, Grace felt stronger. Sad as it might seem to outsiders, plenty of other people faced violence in their lives. Survivors all, the members of the group listened quietly as Grace proudly introduced Misty.
“Welcome, Misty,” came a friendly chorus.
A smile crossed Misty’s face, but she didn’t say anything then or contribute to the conversations that followed. But Grace noticed Misty’s look of interest as others in the group shared their feelings of rejection and fear.
When the coffee hour following the meeting was announced, Misty turned to Grace. “Can we go home now? I’m tired.”
Grace nodded, as emotionally drained as her daughter.
The ride home was quiet. Grace wished she knew all that Misty was thinking, but she held back from asking. Time, she thought, we both need time to heal.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CAROL ANN
Sunday was a day of rest for many. For Carol Ann, it was the beginning of what she hoped would be a whole new life. Turning Ed’s condo into a showplace could attract new clients. Tiffany might be impressed enough to let her redecorate the whole house. Heaven knew, Tiffany had the money to do it.
Best of all, she’d found a friend in Ed. She’d been thinking about him a lot. In the past, she’d always been interested in finding a man. Now, it was nice not to worry about such a thing. Certainly, Ed with his bald spot, pudgy stomach, and somewhat ordinary appearance wasn’t anywhere close to her dream man. But there was something special about him. And he was pleasant and easy-going.
Carol Ann fixed herself a cup of coffee, still thinking of her friend. It felt good to be with Ed. In his presence, she didn’t have to worry about her appearance or try to be clever. He let her be herself and didn’t seem to mind when she said something stupid or didn�
�t know the simplest of things. He was a good man and a very good friend.
Carol Ann sipped her coffee and went over to the sliding glass door leading to the balcony off her living room. A light dusting of snow on the pine trees in the woods edging the green lawn made her think of confectioner’s sugar. Maybe, she thought whimsically, a stark white collection of living room furniture would look nice against the dark woods of Ed’s living room. She’d have to find out what Ed liked.
She turned and went into the kitchen. She had to get to know her client better. In truth, she knew almost nothing at all about him. Everything she’d ever read about being an interior designer warned of the need to know who you were dealing with—their likes, dislikes, personality, and so on.
Checking the time on the kitchen clock, Carol Ann hurried into her bedroom to get ready for the day. She couldn’t be late for their meeting.
She’d laid out plain black slacks, a white blouse and a multi-colored jacket for a professional but fun look.
Later, standing in front of the full-length mirror in the bedroom, she evaluated herself. Her highlighted, brown hair hung to her shoulders. Using Sukie’s hairdresser had produced a more sophisticated but carefree style. And the light eye makeup she wore was just enough to make her eyes look bigger. The curves of her body, the same ones her mother had wanted her to hide, filled her blouse in a pleasing way.
Satisfied, Carol Ann picked up the leather binder she’d put together for the job and prepared to leave.
As she was about to go out the door, her cell phone rang. Thinking it was Ed, she clicked onto the call. “Hi, I’m on my way.”
“On your way here?” said a voice that prickled her skin.
“Oh, hi, Mama. What’s up? Why are you calling?”
“I can’t call my daughter to say hello?”
“Of course, you can, but I’m in a hurry. I’m meeting a friend.”