He stood. One finger brushed the screen. “You are beautiful, but I have to go now.”
“James, wait.”
~~~
He kicked the door three times while buttoning his shirt. It was yanked open from the inside. A busty woman hid behind a disturbed Ray. His friend liked older women, so the fine lines around her mouth and eyes didn’t surprise James.
“You want to ride with me? I need to run an errand.”
“Now?” Ray held up his hands. “Dude, I’m busy here.”
James turned toward the parking lot. “I won’t be back till morning. Cover for me if I’m late for work.”
“Again? Wait, give me two minutes.” Ray sweet-talked the woman out of his room with promises of tomorrow while expounding on his loyalty to friends.
James counted the precious seconds ticking by while Ray grabbed his boots from by the door and a six-pack out of the mini fridge. During the drive South, James explained about the bruise on Joni’s face.
Ray popped the top. “I knew you liked this girl, but even Brian-the-burner didn’t get a special trip home.”
“He would if I knew where to find him.” James declined the offered beer, intending to stay alert on this trip.
“How are you going to find Trent?”
James barked a laugh and dialed Kathy’s number. “Did you set up the meeting?”
“Yeah, and he doesn’t know it’s you. What’s going on James? Since when do you volunteer to deliver candy?”
Joni’s bruised face flashed through his mind. “Since I owe Trent a visit, and you are gonna make sure I get the right guy.”
“He’s one of my best customers. Don’t screw that up. You should apologize for punching him that morning after Heather’s party.”
Didn’t Kathy realize she’d confirmed his suspicions of her dealing? “We’ll be at the house in a few hours. Don’t call him until we get there.”
“We?”
“Ray’s with me.” James accelerated around an eighteen-wheeler.
“It’ll cost you a hundred.”
“You’ve already agreed to fifty. Take Isaac to Mrs. Addison’s. Tell her to keep him inside. I don’t want him involved. And ask her if I can stop by to see him later.” James disconnected the call.
Ray propped his foot on the dash. “You know man, I’ve been thinking. If you want to get rid of Kathy for good, all you gotta do is set her up. I could give my cousin a call.”
He changed lanes to dodge a red Ford and gave Ray’s suggestion serious thought. “Right now she’s the only babysitter I’ve got. If she went to jail, what would happen to Isaac?”
“You worry too much. Believe me, if there’s anything I can find…it’s a woman. I’ll get Isaac a sitter.”
~~~
They were late for work the next morning.
Cecil took one look at James’s bloody knuckles and shook his head. “Where have you been? Sleeping it off?”
James rolled the kinks out of his neck and kept silent.
Cecil lifted Ray’s left hand. A lone scratch ran above his wrist. “What? You didn’t help your friend beat the crap out of whoever he was beating the crap out of?”
Ray grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “I prefer holding crazed women.”
Cecil turned his attention to James. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
“Sorry we’re late, sir. It shouldn’t happen again.”
Cecil shook his head and threw up his hands. “Just get busy.”
“Yes, sir.”
Throughout the day, James had a tough time staying awake. At lunch, both he and Ray dozed inside the tool shed. After finally making it to his hotel room, he fell across the bed and slept till his alarm blared the next morning.
On his way to work he called Joni. “Rise and shine beautiful, it’s almost time for class.”
“James.” Her sleepy voice never failed to amuse him. She wasn’t a morning person. “Sunday School doesn’t start till ten. Call me back at nine thirty.” She hung up on him.
During the following week, James smiled during their video chats and pretended not to see her bruise while hiding his scraped knuckles under the table. He was glad Joni had dropped out of the sorority, but he worried about the three hours in between Dr. Birchman’s lecture and her history class. Not to mention the long drive across the bay.
The Friday after she dropped out of Kappa, he could tell by her red, puffy eyes she’d been crying. “Did he bother you again?”
Her eyes were cold as stone. “I saw Kathy in the mall today. I asked about Isaac and she told me it was none of my business. She said you visited her at the house a week ago.”
James didn’t want her to know about his dark emotions or the way he’d dealt with Trent.
“So it’s true.” Her hand reached for the keypad.
“Wait.” He rubbed both hands down the sides of his face. “Don’t hang up. I was there, but not for the reason you think. I didn’t stay.”
Her beautiful chin lifted. “Then why’d you go?”
“I had business to settle.” Her eyes misted and he felt like a jerk. “Joni, please don’t cry. It had nothing to do with her. I swear.”
She blinked several times. “So you couldn’t leave work for me, but you took off once to bring Kathy home and again to visit her a few days later? I don’t think so James.” Her voice broke. “And where is Isaac?”
“He’s with Kathy.”
“No! He’s not!” Joni stood, knocking her chair over backward. “You find him James, and text if he’s okay. Then I’m done. I can’t handle this Kathy junk anymore. I won’t!”
He covered his head and groaned as the screen turned blue. Why did Kathy screw up every good thing in his life? Even while hating her, he dialed her number. “Where’s Isaac?”
“Did you have a chat with Little Miss Joni?”
“Cut the crap, and leave Joni out of it. Where is he?”
“He’s at my sister’s house.”
James jumped out of his chair and yelled into the phone. “Like he was at my sister’s! What have you done?”
“I got a job, you jerk. My sister agreed to babysit.”
His room wasn’t long enough for pacing. “Where is this mythical job? The drive-thru?”
“As a matter of fact it is. Now shut up and I’ll give you Anna’s number. I told her Isaac’s crazy father would be in touch.”
Calling himself every kind of fool for believing her, James dialed the number. A cheery female voice answered. He dropped to the edge of the bed. “Is this Anna?”
“It is. May I ask who’s calling?”
“James Preston. Is my son, Isaac, there? Kathy said I could call.”
“Oh yes. Yes, he is.”
His shoulders relaxed and he fell back on the bed.
“My husband and I want you to know, we’ll take good care of him. We love him like he’s our own.” Somehow her statement sent red flags up instead of assuring him.
He pulled one knee under him. “Could you…do you think it’s possible to send some photos of you, your husband, and your house? With Isaac in them, of course. It may sound silly, but I need to know he’s in a nice place.”
“Anything to help alleviate your fears. Is this your cell number? I’ll send them there.”
The beer on the table was out of reach. He stood and took a quick swig. “Yeah. That’ll be great. Put Isaac on the phone.”
“Are you sure that’s wise? I mean…here he is.”
“Daddy.”
James sagged against the wall. “Hey, buddy. How ya doing?”
“I always like it here. It’s fun and they got a dog.”
“I miss you.” James tilted the bottle up to his mouth.
“When you coming back?”
The empty bottle bounced off the bottom of the trash can. “In a few weeks.”
“Tomorrow?”
James laughed. “Yeah, tomorrow. Daddy loves you, Isaac.”
“I love you, too, Daddy
.”
Anna came back on the line while he dug through the mini fridge for another beer. “Don’t worry. I promise I’ll take good care of him.”
James didn’t know how to approach his next subject. “If you have problems with anything”—especially Kathy—“call this number.”
“Of course.”
A twist released cold vapor from the next bottle. “Sometimes on the construction site, I can’t hear it ring. Leave a message if I don’t answer. Or text me.”
“Relax, Mr. Preston. Isaac’s fine.”
~~~
With 304 social media friends you’d think Joni could find someone to talk to about James. But she couldn’t. Ever since she’d joined the sorority, Marla had become distant. Joni missed her best friend. She scrolled down the chat box. Most were mere acquaintances, none of which she trusted to bare her soul. Her feelings were tangled and jumbled. No matter how much she loved James and Isaac, she couldn’t deal with Kathy. She wouldn’t.
A private chat message popped up.
Hi, girl. Saw you on here and wanted to invite you to church tonight. We would love to have you. Rachel Dixon was one of the girls James’s mom had introduced her to at Bible Tabernacle. She’d been friendly enough, but Joni hardly knew her.
Joni replied. James and I broke up. I couldn’t go to his church.
Lol! Why not? He doesn’t. Come on. It’ll be fun. What’s your parents address? I’ll pick you up and you can ride with me.
Maybe Rachel was the friend Joni was looking for. She typed in her address and headed for the shower. She needed to get out of the house before her mom came home and started in about next month’s concert schedule.
Joni eased through the church’s double oak doors. Across the foyer, James’s mother elbowed his sister and they hurried her way. Joni turned to Rachel for help, but she was flirting with a guy who twirled a drum stick.
Breathe, smile, and pretend you belong here.
“Joni.” The hug from Mrs. Preston knocked her off balance.
Sara was next in welcoming her. “It’s good to see you. How’s James?”
Joni swallowed the lie on her tongue and spoke the truth. “I don’t know. We’re not exactly on friendly terms at the moment.”
“Oh dear.” Mrs. Preston squeezed her hand. “James can be a bit bullheaded.”
Sara’s smile grew. “Bullheaded isn’t the word I’d choose. Whatever he’s done, you make sure he grovels sufficiently before forgiving him.”
Mrs. Preston wagged a finger. “My goodness, Sara. Have pity on your poor brother.”
“He’s anything but poor, Mother. We better find our seats. Would you like to join us?”
Joni shook her head. “No, thank you.”
Thankfully, Rachel walked up and Sara and Mrs. Preston crossed to the other side of the pews. “You could’ve sat with them, you know.”
“No, really. I’m better off avoiding James’s family.” Joni followed her down to the front.
Once they were seated, Rachel leaned over and whispered. “If you ask me, you’re better off without James. Period. Everyone knows he’s a sinner. You deserve a godly man.”
Joni’s heart sank. Rachel wasn’t the friend she was looking for after all.
The pianist played and Joni absorbed the peace in the song. What was it about church music that soothed her soul? The musicians left the platform and found seats in the congregation. Would they sing again? She hoped so.
The pastor stepped behind the wooden desk and spoke into the mounted microphone. “Tonight, God is looking for a friend. A best friend.”
Joni jerked her eyes away from the baby grand. The man loosened his tie and lifted a cordless microphone.
“A friend who will tell Him all their heartaches, all their fears, all their insecurities. He’s looking for a friend to walk with at day’s end, to share His thoughts, His blessings, and His glory.”
The speaker stepped away from the desk. The sincerity in his eyes held her captive.
“God sent me here with a question for you.” Her heartbeat echoed in her throat. “And He sent you here to hear it.” She leaned forward. “Will you be His friend?”
Joni nodded. Yes, she would be God’s friend.
Chapter Eight
James flipped the turn signal to take the exit home. He’d gladly volunteered when Cecil asked for early layoffs. His next construction job was a shutdown in Georgia. He had three weeks to oust Kathy, to play with Isaac, and to plead with Joni.
The church bus parked at the truck stop across the highway prompted his U-turn. Churchy people drifted out of the convenience store and laughed their way across the parking lot. On the phone yesterday, Sara had gloated that not only had Joni accepted her invitation to the tent meeting tonight, but she and her friend, Marla, attended services on a regular basis.
Where was Joni?
He set the emergency brake and stepped out of the truck. His steel-toed boots clunked on the pavement. Feeling eyes on him, he turned as a group of giggling teenage girls whispered behind their hands. He ignored them and sauntered toward the door. His unbuttoned, long-sleeved welding shirt flapped against his T-shirt. Was she on the bus? He should text her.
The sight of her in a long flowing dress heated his blood. She stepped through the automatic glass doors. They hadn’t spoken in days. He’d finally given up calling her, determined to make things right when he got home. Would she be glad to see him? Or slug him with the coke bottle in her hand? He stepped into her path. Green eyes widened and then sparkled as she smiled. “James.”
The raspy echo of her voice caressed him. His heart stopped but his pulse raced. She lifted her arms and laughed as he spun her in a circle. Soft arms wrapped around his neck. He closed his eyes and breathed her in, grateful for whatever miracle changed her mind.
“What are you doing home?”
He released her and she hobbled on one foot. He held out his arm. “Hold on to me.” A woman entering the store handed over Joni’s shoe, which had landed by the newspaper rack. James placed the three-inch tall sandal between them. “I earlyed out this morning and I recognized the bus on my way home. You look beautiful.”
She lifted the long skirt, held onto his arm, and slipped her foot into her sandal. She nodded at the bus and her face lit up. “We’re going to see The Street Preacher. I told my friend Marla what I experienced the first time and we’re curious to see if it happens to her. You wanna go?”
He wanted to throw Joni in his truck and take her as far away from church as he could. “No thanks. I need to see Isaac.”
The wind blew a golden strand of hair across her face. “So, when are my boyfriends coming to see me?”
His fingers tucked the silken strand behind her ear. “How about Andrew’s birthday party tomorrow?”
Her face fell. “Sara invited me, but I can’t. Mom scheduled me to play in Pensacola tomorrow evening.” She drew in a breath. “Candace told me what you did to Trent.” She fingered a small hole in his denim work shirt. Her touch burned through to his skin. “Sorry I didn’t trust you.”
Though the bruises had faded, James traced the tiny scar on her temple. “I’m sorry I didn’t protect you.”
“Joni!” Mark stepped off the bus and jogged toward them.
She stepped away, but James kept an arm around her waist. “I may be in trouble.”
He winked. “Trouble? Nah, I’ll handle Mark.”
“I forget he’s your brother-in-law.”
Mark wasn’t happy. “The bus is waiting. We need to go.”
“Sorry.” Joni’s smile made the scolding that was surely coming worth it. “Call me later.”
Mark glared at James until she was out of hearing. “What are you doing?”
He swallowed against the outrage in the associate pastor’s eyes and shrugged. “I’m talking to an old friend on my way home from work.”
“Girls’ reputations are ruined by looking at you, and a bus-load of people watched you twirl Joni around like a
lost lover. She’s new to church and vulnerable. Stay in her past, James, and let her build a future.” Mark stormed away.
“I’d never hurt her.” James kicked the yellow newspaper rack.
Mark called over his shoulder, “Then leave her alone.”
~~~
Everyone stared in silence as Joni stepped down the aisle. Two girls whispered behind their hands as she claimed her seat. Heat crept up her neck. “Marla, why are people gawking at me?”
“You committed a carnal sin.” She rolled her eyes in exaggeration toward Rachel. “You hugged James.” Turning her head so only Joni could see, Marla mouthed, “Jealous.”
“James is my friend.”
Rachel smirked from across the aisle. “Friends don’t cling. Isn’t that right, Blaine?”
Two preteen girls stuck their heads up over the seat in front of her. “Has he kissed you yet? We heard he kisses dreamy. The way he spun you around, it was sooooo romantic.”
“Uh…well—”
Phillip interrupted. “Stay away from him, or people will talk. He’s bad news. No decent girl should be seen with him.”
Of all the nerve. James was the best person she knew. “I am a decent girl. And I don’t mind being seen with him. He’s a good friend, loves to laugh, and would do anything to help someone in need.”
“He has a bastard son and lives with the boy’s mother.”
Joni stood in the aisle and sucked in her breath. If only she was with him now. “Isaac is not a b—” She exhaled. “He has a father that loves him.” Her voice rose and drew attention, but she didn’t care. “And I don’t want to hear another word about James. He’s my friend, so get over it.”
Pastor Mark, who’d just stepped on the bus, raised his brows at her. “Really?”
Her chin lifted. He better not start in on her too. “Yes.”
He blinked, smiled, and started laughing. He was snorting by the time he slid into the driver’s seat.
Sara stood and held up a hand. “No more gossip about my brother or my nephew. You should all pray for them and invite them to church.”
The bus motor drowned out the hubbub of conversations as Joni sank into her seat.
“I’m sorry. I’ve always liked James even though he is a sinner.” Rachel smiled an apology. “I can’t believe you’ve met Kathy. What’s she like?”
Mean, cruel, and hateful were the words that jumped in Joni’s mind. But she couldn’t speak any of those things. “She’s pretty.”
Whatever He Wants Page 10