Her Unlikely Family. Missy Tippens

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ several days. I’ll try to get a few afternoons off to help you get to know your niece.”

      “And what do I owe you in return?”

      “Don’t start grabbing your wallet. I just want to help.”

      “Like Jesus did.”

      “Exactly!” She laughed with the sheer joy of finally getting a point across to him. But then she noticed his hands in his pockets and that he was studying his feet. “You don’t believe in God, do you?” she asked.

      Though Michael was surprised she’d drawn such a conclusion, he immediately began to wonder about practicalities, such as how he would stay away from the bank for several more days. “Oh, I believe. I’m a Christian. It’s just that…well…” He checked his watch.

      “Oooh,” she growled. “I forgot. You don’t have time for your niece.” She slung her arms in the air, setting off an alarm of jangling bracelets. “You’re hopeless, Mike.”

      She backed up the car and squealed out of the motel lot. All because he’d looked at his watch.

      Well, he couldn’t help that he had responsibilities. He had stockholders depending on him. And his family’s good name.

      And Lisa, his conscience tried to tell him. He pushed the thought aside as he fumbled with the key to his room. When he finally unlocked the door, he stormed in and kicked the door shut behind him. He would check in with his brother at the office to see how the Mason account was going. Then he would know how much time he had left to persuade Lisa to go back to the boarding school.

      He reached his secretary who put him through to Gary’s secretary. Finally, his brother picked up. “Hello, Michael. How’s Lisa?”

      “She’s fine. Just not too happy to see me.”

      Gary chuckled. “Did you really think she’d make it easy on you?”

      With a deep sigh, and feeling older than his thirty-two years, he collapsed into a chair. “Do you think you and Dad could spare me for a couple more days? She’s refusing to come home.”

      “I’d be glad to. You’ve got more important matters to take care of.”

      Maybe Josie was right—he was hopeless. Because he would rather be dealing with fluctuating interest rates than with the fluctuating hormones of a teenager.

      “So, are you managing okay?” Michael asked. There was a pause, and he began to fear the worst.

      “To tell you the truth, I’ve never been happier.”

      Happy? Michael had been challenged, fulfilled—and lately, suffocated—by the job. But it had been a while since he could claim he was happy. Probably not since the first year or two when he’d had his dad’s full attention and approval.

      “Sounds like you’re handling things nicely, Gary. Just be sure to call me if Tom Mason needs anything. I think he’ll do his financing with us this time, then we’ll aim for the umbrella of all their business.”

      “I promise, I won’t let you down big brother,” Gary said before he hung up.

      Michael had a perfectly capable brother who didn’t need him. And a perfectly rebellious niece who did.

      He clasped his hands behind his head.

      Dear God, I know I haven’t spent enough time in prayer lately. I’ve felt cold inside since Patricia died and left me with Lisa to care for. Please give me guidance. I’m not used to having a living, breathing creature depending on me—not beyond a paycheck, anyway. Now Josie’s made this offer to help me get to know Lisa.

      With interlocked fingers, he massaged the back of his neck where a dull throb pounded out the beat of his heart.

      It galled him to think he could need the help of the infuriating woman. Who was she to tell him how to do anything? Why, he could buy—

      He stopped, a sick ache gnawing at him.

      Forgive me, Lord, for the sin of pride.

      If he could only find some way to persuade Lisa to leave Gatlinburg, then he wouldn’t have to depend on Josie. God, help me do this Your way, not my own.

      The shrill ring of the ancient motel phone jerked his head up. He stared at the rotary dial a moment, perplexed, as if God Himself were calling. Then he laughed at the ridiculousness of the notion and answered it. “Hello?”

      “I’m sorry I told you you’re hopeless.”

      Stunned to hear Josie on the line, he didn’t respond.

      “I felt guilty all the way home. And I can’t concentrate on anything.”

      He waited, a smile creeping up on him, to see how apologetic Josie could be.

      “Mike, are you there?”

      Amazingly, the sound of her voice cheered him, and something warm released inside him. “You’re having a nice conversation all by yourself.”

      “Why, you smart-aleck, good-for-nothing—”

      “I thought you were calling to be nice.”

      She made that funny little growling sound again. The one she made when she got aggravated. “Look, I’m sorry, okay? God has been convicting me like crazy. I’m convinced He’s been urging me to call you. So here I am.”

      The hairs on his arms prickled with chill bumps. “So what now?”

      “My offer still stands. I’m willing to help you.”

      “If you really wanted to help me, you’d talk Lisa into going home.”

      “Not until you prove to me you’ll be a good father to that love-starved girl.”

      Love-starved? A good father? It was enough to send him running the other direction.

      But he had just asked God for guidance. Maybe He was providing it through Josie.

      “Deal,” he said before he talked himself out of it.

      “Deal?”

      “Yes. You just promised to talk Lisa into going home with me if I learn to be a good…father.”

      She remained silent.

      “Josie?”

      She sighed. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

      He knew he’d accepted a deal she hadn’t meant to make. But despite the short time he’d known her, he was certain she would keep her word. Now he better understood why Lisa trusted Josie.

      Out of the blue, his sister’s face flashed though his mind, jarring him to think rationally. He’d just agreed to learn to be a guardian, a protector—a father—to his niece.

      He’d just agreed to the impossible.

СКАЧАТЬ