Love Inspired June 2021--Box Set 1 of 2

by Patricia Johns

  His son adored Soufflé. Maddox would be devastated about the cat.

  Will took a deep breath. “When I told you about Kara’s house, Maddox...”

  “Dat de big wind blew ev-wee-ding,” Maddox opened his arms to illustrate. “Far, far away.”

  “Everything inside the house is gone, son.”

  Catching on, Pops groaned. “Oh, no.”

  “Kara looked and looked, Maddox, but Soufflé is gone, too.”

  Maddox blinked slowly several times until realization dawned in his chocolate-brown eyes. “No, Daddy.” He shook his head.

  Will hugged his son to his chest. “I’m so, so sorry, Maddox.”

  He stayed longer than he intended, but he needed to be there for his son. Gazing down at his sleeping child, he tucked the covers around his precious boy. The truth about losing Kara sat heavy on his chest. But that disclosure would have to wait a while longer.

  Because neither his nor Maddox’s heart could take any more sadness tonight.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Unfortunately, the numbness that shrouded Kara after the loss of her cat didn’t last. She spent the rest of the long, long night in one of Mrs. Desmond’s elegant guest rooms in clothes borrowed from Lila. Sobbing her heart out. Cradled in Mama G’s enveloping embrace.

  When she awoke the next morning, daylight streamed through the lace curtains. She awoke groggy and disoriented, unsure of where she was at first. Then yesterday’s events slammed into her consciousness, and she moaned.

  Glorieta sprang up out of the blue armchair next to the bed. “Sugar?”

  “I—I must’ve fallen asleep.”

  Her foster mom grasped her hand on top of the bedcovers. “In the wee hours of the night.”

  Kara’s throat felt hoarse from her tears. The usually immaculate woman looked disheveled. Her gray silk pantsuit rumpled.

  She struggled to sit upright on the bed. “You didn’t spend the night in that chair, did you?”

  It seemed to Kara that new wrinkles dotted the creases around Glorieta’s eyes. Mama G sank down onto the mattress beside her.

  “And what if I did?” The barbecue queen tossed her head. “Aren’t I old enough to decide when and where I want to go to bed, or if at all?” She wagged her finger. “If my girl is hurting, I’m hurting, too.”

  “The best day’s work I ever did was sneak into your kitchen.”

  Glorieta’s mouth quirked. “And the best day’s work I ever did was bring you home with me.” Her smile dimmed. “Rick called and told me what happened between you and Will. That’s why I was already on my way when the storm hit Truelove.”

  Kara took a deep, shuddering breath. “I love Will, but he didn’t see a future with me.”

  “He wouldn’t allow himself to. And before you go blaming yourself, Will MacKenzie’s got unresolved issues that have nothing to do with you.” Glorieta’s jaw tightened. “I could just shake a knot in that fire chief, and Rick would probably help me.”

  Kara straightened. “What’s done is done. Don’t go and make things worse.”

  Although, she wasn’t sure how the situation could get much worse. She’d lost her livelihood and Mama G’s investment, too. She’d lost her home. And sweet Soufflé.

  “Hmm...”

  She didn’t like the look in Glorieta’s eyes. She’d seen the tenderhearted-to-a-fault lady once before go full bore on Terence’s college sweetheart, who’d done him wrong. It was a tongue-lashing, Kara would hazard a guess, that young miss had never forgotten.

  “Mama G...”

  Glorieta fluttered her hand. “And don’t you think Cedrick and Terence won’t have something to say about all this, too.”

  Kara let her head fall back on the pillow. “Must we get the boys involved?” But the reminder that she wasn’t really alone did her heart a world of good. As no doubt, Mama G intended.

  Her back straight and her shoulders squared, Glorieta sat prim and proper as a schoolmarm. But there was a twinkle in her gaze.

  Kara laughed at the picture Mama G painted of an avenging Cedrick and Terence. Their mother was definitely a force of nature. But the boys, former ACC offensive linemen turned corporate execs, were mild as cinnamon toast. And about as sweet.

  Glorieta chuckled. “Well, now that we’ve got the gloomies off your pretty face, let’s get down to business. How do you want to handle where we go from here?”

  Cut to the chase, no-nonsense, bottom-line Mama G. One of the things she most admired and loved about her foster mom. She rejoiced over her children’s triumphs and grieved each of their setbacks. But no one was allowed to wallow. Not for long.

  Exactly what Kara needed to hear.

  “The restaurant—”

  Glorieta waved her hand. “This is why we have insurance.”

  “Every day closed for repair is another day’s profits lost.” She pleated the edge of the sheet with her fingers. “We were barely breaking even.”

  “We’ll make it work.” Never say die, Glorieta thumped the mattress. “I’ve got faith in your success.”

  “That’s just it. I’m not sure I do anymore. At least not in Truelove.” Kara looked at her, a long, steady moment. “It’s not just the café.”

  Glorieta squeezed her hand. “Tell me what you’re thinking. How you’re feeling.”

  “Maybe the tornado was a sign I don’t belong here.”

  Her foster mom bristled. “I’ve told you like I’ve told all my children. You belong where you say you belong.”

  If only life were that simple.

  “When Will broke things off, my plan was to continue at the Mason Jar. Pour myself into cooking. Make a life, even if that life didn’t include him and Maddox. But...”

  Glorieta frowned. “You want to throw in the towel? That doesn’t sound like my Kara.”

  “Your Kara never had her heart wrung out like a wet dishrag before,” she rasped.

  “Oh, honey.”

  “And now that Soufflé is...” She worked hard to keep the wobble out of her voice. “Now that Soufflé isn’t around anymore, I have to wonder what’s the point in fighting the inevitable. The town doesn’t want me here. They don’t like my food. They don’t like me. Maybe it isn’t God’s will that I stay.”

  “You have more supporters than detractors. And more friends than you realize.” Glorieta pointed to Kara’s phone on the bedside table. “You slept through tons of messages. People thanking you for saving their lives. And their children. Their grandchildren. And all of them wanting to know how you’re doing.”

  “Not so well, Mama G...” she whispered.

  “That’s how you feel now, but you won’t feel that way forever.” Glorieta pursed her lips. “Trust me, I’ve lived long enough to see the truth of that many times over.”

  “I know how you can’t abide a quitter.” Her eyes watered. “I wanted so much not to let you down.”

  Glorieta took both of her hands. “If you decide you want to walk away from this venture, you won’t be letting me down. But in the space of seventy-two hours, you’ve suffered multiple losses. You need time to grieve and process each one. I don’t think you should make any life-altering decision until you’ve taken this to the Lord and sought His wisdom.”

  “You’re right.” Kara gave her a small smile. “As usual. But don’t let it go to your head.”

  Glorieta cupped her cheek. “There’s my girl. I knew she was still in there. You’ve had your feet knocked out from under you, but when you’re ready, you’ll stand straight and strong again and I’ll be standing there with you.”

  “I thought the saying was ‘straight and tall’?”

  “You know I can’t abide a lie.” Glorieta batted her lashes. “And, sugar pie, you ain’t never gonna be tall.”

  Laughing, Kara fell over on the bed.

  Glorieta got o
ff the mattress. “I think I should check on the café. Take some photos and then contact our insurance agent.”

  She threw back the covers. “Would you?”

  “Be glad to. And you mind what I said yesterday about God never leaving or forsaking you, either.”

  She swung her legs over the side of the bed and planted her feet firmly on the carpet. “I love you, Mama G.”

  Glorieta blew her a kiss. “I love you, too.” Her foster mom closed the bedroom door behind her.

  Kara picked up the tiny Eiffel Tower she’d carefully placed there last night before dissolving into tears. A visual reminder of God’s continuing faithfulness.

  God had been there for her when her father died. He’d been there protecting her and her mom when they had to live in their vehicle. He’d secured a place for them at the family homeless shelter. And put Mama G into her life after her mother’s death.

  Through it all, she’d never been alone. With eyes of renewed faith, she saw it clearly as if for the first time. God’s hand had been on her life from the beginning. His hand would be on her now and forever.

  She would think, pray and listen for the Lord’s counsel as to her next step. He would sustain her through all of life’s trials. He would be there for her every step of the way. Whether in Truelove or in some yet unknown destination.

  God had gifted her to give love to others through food. And if not in Truelove, He would direct her path to where He needed her the most.

  Setting the small object on the bedside table again, she shuffled into the en-suite bathroom to shower and get dressed. And if she did leave Truelove, there were a lot of issues that would have to be resolved before she left the Jar behind.

  Not the least of which would be helping Leo, Shayla and Trudy find new employment. The property would need to be repaired and listed for sale with a Realtor. And no matter where she found herself, she’d make sure she did right by Lila and Sam’s wedding reception.

  But God would make all things come together for her in the end. And in faith, she chose to hang on to that truth.

  As for her heart?

  Bleakly, she stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her heart would hurt for a long, long time to come.

  * * *

  Somehow, Will managed to get several hours of sleep in his office at the firehouse, but at first light the weekend shift came on to relieve the weekday crew. And for the next few hours, he combed through the rubble at Kara’s house.

  “You and I need to talk.”

  He jolted. Glorieta stood on the edge of the debris field. But he’d been so intent on his search he hadn’t heard her approach. This was exactly what he didn’t need—but probably deserved—getting chewed out by Kara’s foster mom.

  Most likely inevitable, though. Maybe it was best to get it over with now. The sun shone out of a breezy blue sky. No clouds in sight. He’d lost track of time. By the angle of the sunlight, it must already be about midmorning.

  He blew out a breath. “How did you know I was here?”

  “I saw you when I was getting ready to head to the café.” She adjusted the purple silk scarf around her throat. “What are you doing?”

  He shifted a board. “I figured Kara would be out here later to gather whatever remained of her personal belongings.” He shoved aside a chunk of concrete that might have been a porch step. “I wanted to make sure she didn’t accidentally stumble across Soufflé.”

  Using the jagged remnants of a piece of rebar, he continued to poke, prod and look under the wreckage. Several beats of silence ticked by.

  “That’s very...”

  He glanced up at the older woman again.

  “Compassionate? Considerate? A kind gesture?” She folded her arms. “Especially from a man who told my Kara he didn’t-shouldn’t-wouldn’t love her and then walked away. Perhaps you could explain that to me, son.”

  Will kept his gaze trained on the scattered wreckage of what had been Kara’s kitchen. “It’s complicated, Miss Glorieta.”

  He spotted a fragment of one of Kara’s rooster-red mixing bowls. Images flooded his mind of being with her and Maddox in this very room. The fun, the laughter, the joy.

  Gone forever, just like this little house where for a short instant in time he’d known such happiness. A happiness some part of him had known couldn’t last.

  Kara’s foster mom moved to stand beside him. “I’ve always found life is generally about as complicated as we make it.” She propped her hands on her ample hips. “Do you love my girl, Will?”

  Unable to face her, he became extremely busy excavating the rubbish in the corner.

  “Your care for her feelings over that little cat tells me that you do.”

  He swung around. “Yes, I love Kara.”

  It was a relief in finally being able to say the words out loud.

  His shoulders drooped. “But none of that matters. I learned my lesson with Liz. It’s better I end things now before...” He pinched his lips together.

  “Before what?” Her expression cleared. “Oh, Will. You felt you needed to walk away before Kara walked away from you.”

  “I lost my job. Maddox and I have to relocate. Kara’s life is here with the Mason Jar.” He clenched his jaw. “There was no future for us.”

  “Did it ever occur to you to ask Kara what she wanted?”

  “She’s devoted her life to making this dream a reality.” He shook his head. “I would never ask her to give that up.”

  “What makes you assume she couldn’t have both?”

  “But the Jar—”

  “If push had come to shove between you and the restaurant, there would’ve been no contest.” Glorieta looked down the length of her nose at him. A considerable feat considering he topped the woman by half a foot. “You and Maddox were the dream. The restaurant merely the means to an end.”

  He frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  “That’s because you haven’t been listening.” She sniffed. “A common enough problem among your gender. That, and underestimating mine.” Her eyes flashed. “What was the first thing I told you about Kara?”

  He cast his mind back. “That Kara gives her love by feeding people?”

  Glorieta rolled her eyes. “Got it in one, ladies and gentlemen.” She ticked off on her fingers. “So she made it her business to feed first this town, then Maddox, your dad, you, a stray cat... Which is exactly why she feels she has no choice but to abandon the town that won’t accept her.”

  “Wait. What?” He widened his stance. “She’s leaving Truelove? She can’t do that.”

  “She doesn’t believe there’s anything left for her here.” Glorieta leveled her gaze at him. “Is she right?”

  “I love her, Miss Glorieta. Maddox does, too.” He threw the rebar down. It landed with a clang. “I can’t imagine anything more wonderful than making a life, a family, a home, with her but—”

  “No buts.” The barbecue queen waved his words away with her hand. “That’s all I needed to know before I told you the rest. Kara explained how we first came to meet each other?”

  He wasn’t sure where she was going with this, but he nodded. “Her mom was sick. She wandered into the kitchen of a homeless shelter where a volunteer in a funny hat was whipping up dinner.” He blinked rapidly. “It guts me to think how little, how scared, how hungry she must’ve been.”

  “I took one look at that child and knew—just knew—that somehow the Lord had given me her to be the daughter I always wanted.” Glorieta’s lips trembled. “I’m glad she shared that with you. She doesn’t tell many people the whole story. And I’m not sure even now she truly grasps the depth of what it reveals of her.”

  “Love equals food to Kara.”

  “No, my dearest William.” Glorieta squeezed his arm. “Love equals home. She smelled the food and she was hungry. But th
e food reminded her of happier times. The smells made her hungry for home. And she’s been trying to recreate home for herself ever since.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. “In Truelove. At the Mason Jar. This small rental house. With Soufflé.”

  With sudden clarity, he understood why she’d been so shattered yesterday. Desperately searching for the cat, her dreams in ruins all around her. Amid the desolation of her home.

  “Most of all, she longed with all of her being to make a home with you and Maddox.” Glorieta touched his arm. “You don’t need to be afraid of Kara ever becoming like your ex-wife. It’s simply not in her. But perhaps it isn’t Kara you distrust, but yourself.”

  “I failed Liz. And because of my failure, Maddox lost his mother. I couldn’t bear to fail Kara or let Maddox down again.”

  “You’re not the only one who knows a little something about folks walking away.” Glorieta took his hand into her warm, calloused palm. “I understand all too well the scars, the bitterness and the wreckage it leaves behind in your heart.”

  He took a ragged breath.

  “Don’t think I haven’t agonized over what my boys may have suffered because of the failure of my marriage. But God is bigger than my issues or their father’s. So much bigger than our failures. God loves me. He loves my boys. He loved a scared little girl in a homeless shelter.”

  She gripped his hand so hard he winced. “He loves you, dear Will, and your precious child. God will never walk away. He’ll never leave nor forsake you. And with God on your side, you’ve already won.”

  “I don’t know what to do, Miss Glorieta. I don’t know how to fix me.” He pounded his fist on his chest. “I don’t know how to fix what’s broken inside me.”

  “Of course you don’t.” Her chin came up. “Because you’re not God.”

  His chest heaved.

  “Best thing you, or any of us, can do is to give the hurt, the anger, the doubts, the fear and the bitterness over to Him.” She cocked her head. “’Cause it’s not like He doesn’t know about it already.”