Georgia Sweethearts. Missy Tippens

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ two of them got together, they were like two dogs circling each other, readying for a fight. Animosity sizzled in the air, something he wanted to reach out and seize, to try to understand. But tonight he didn’t have the energy for the struggle.

      He pulled away his attention from his dad. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it earlier, GranAnn. I had a late counseling session, then got delayed over at the yarn shop with Lilly Barnes.”

      “Oh, good, I’m glad you two met.” With a relieved, happy grin, she motioned for him to sit. “I kept your plate warm.”

      Only then did he notice they’d already finished eating. Man, when he messed up, he messed up good.

      GranAnn bustled around the kitchen with her familiar floral apron around her waist, pouring syrupy sweet iced tea from the same brown glass pitcher she’d had when he was child.

      Blake leaned back and crossed his arms. “Who’s this Lilly Barnes?”

      Daniel was tempted to tell him it was none of his concern. Instead, he opted to break down and ask for help.

      As if he would ever get involved in something important to me.

      He swallowed back his bitterness. The church had to come first. “Lilly and her sister, Jenna, inherited the yarn shop at the edge of town. The former owner had agreed to rent the basement to our church since we need a bigger space. Apparently Lilly knew nothing about the arrangement.”

      “Oh, it’s the perfect space,” GranAnn added. “I’m sure Lilly and Jenna will be glad to rent it to you.” She pulled his plate out of the oven with a dish towel to keep from burning herself and set the meat loaf and mashed potatoes on the place mat in front of him.

      Daniel put the faded cloth napkin in his lap. “Since we’ve been drawing more people from over in Appleton, the location is perfect. I just haven’t seen the basement yet to confirm it’s large enough to hold at least fifty. Lilly didn’t seem willing to show me around.”

      “So she’s not going to honor the previous owner’s contract?” Blake asked.

      “We don’t have anything in writing, and I didn’t want to force the issue. She’s still grieving the loss of her great-aunt. Do you know of any other place that would hold fifty—within our small budget?”

      “No,” Gran said, clutching his arm, her face pinched in a grimace of worry. “Promise me you won’t give up. Those girls need the rent money, even if they’re not willing to admit it yet. You have to help them.”

      He couldn’t remember ever seeing his grandmother so tense. “Since we’ve outgrown our current location, I have to put the church first. But I plan to talk to her again.”

      His grandmother relaxed into her chair with a huff. As if she’d accomplished something that left her drained. “Blake, Daniel’s done a wonderful job with the church. Especially getting his members involved ministering to the community.” She squeezed Daniel’s hand in her warm, soft grasp as she stared into his eyes, pride beaming. “You should be proud of your son.”

      Daniel smiled his appreciation even as he girded himself for his father’s dismissal.

      “Fifty, huh?” Blake asked.

      For a split second, he thought his dad looked surprised—maybe even pleased—at the rapid growth. Then he realized Blake probably found the size laughable. Disappointed by his son’s career change, he’d probably be happy if Daniel’s venture failed.

      “We’re nearing fifty,” Daniel said. “I’d like to have room for growth until we find a permanent location.”

      “Doesn’t matter to me what size. You quit a lucrative job against my advice. Then poured good money into seminary, only to recklessly start your own church instead of taking a position at an established one with a dependable income.”

      He’d heard the same spiel from his dad so many times he could recite it word for word. The man acted as if Daniel had taken up a life of crime.

      “So do you know of anywhere we could rent?” Daniel asked, unable to keep the exasperation from his voice.

      “Nope.” Blake pushed away from the table. “Ann, I’m sorry, but I need to go. I’m expecting a conference call.”

      Her eyes flashed as she got up from the table. Nothing made her madder than family members who didn’t get along. “I hope you can stay longer next time. Maybe schedule that call for earlier in the day.”

      She opened the refrigerator and hunkered in front of the shelves as if searching for something, no doubt avoiding further confrontation with her son-in-law. Daniel could imagine her clenching her jaw to keep from speaking her mind. He understood the temptation.

      “Thank you for an excellent dinner.” With nothing more than a nod of the head at Daniel, Blake exited the back door, shutting it quietly behind him, as if to prove he was the only one in control of his emotions.

      GranAnn popped out of the refrigerator and smacked the door shut. “If I didn’t love that man like my own son, I’d have to shake him ’til his teeth rattled.”

      At the image of his tiny grandmother shaking his brawny father, Daniel laughed. “I’d be happy to help.”

      “Don’t you give up on your daddy. He’s bottled up a lot of pain. I think having you both here in Corinthia is a blessing. God can work miracles.”

      Yeah, he’d started praying for that miracle at the age of nine, when he realized other boys had dads who didn’t work every waking hour, dads who showed up for peewee football games, who ate meals at home and tucked their kids into bed at night. He’d prayed for a dad who cared until the day he left for college, when he finally let go of the desire to matter to his father and changed his focus to look to the future. To quit wallowing in self-pity and make a difference in the world.

      “You must be starving. Now eat,” Gran said.

      He bowed his head and thanked God for the food.

      As soon as he opened his eyes, she dropped into the chair across from him. “Cricket’s mother called before dinner. She wanted to thank you for coming over this afternoon. Said she thought Cricket seemed better.”

      The breath rushed out of him in a surge of relief. The girl, pregnant at fifteen, was severely depressed. “Good news. I’m meeting with the family again next week.”

      “Even better news is Cricket has finally agreed to see a psychiatrist about the depression.”

      “I’m glad. I should probably follow up with her parents, to make sure she goes. I’m uncomfortable waiting a week before we meet again.”

      A sense of unease over Cricket wouldn’t let up. He decided to call her mom in the morning to offer assistance. Then, he’d regroup and figure out a way to convince Lilly Barnes that renting out her basement could benefit them both.

      * * *

      Lilly walked in the front door of her sister and brother-in-law’s house, her temporary home, tension knotting her gut over what she’d find inside. As if concern over the yarn shop hadn’t already tied her stomach tightly enough.

      “I’m СКАЧАТЬ