Bonnie K. Winn - Family Ties

“Hmmm.”

She sighed inwardly. “I mean they could be good friends for you, too, Flynn.”

“I’m not especially looking for a wild social whirl.”

For a moment the past hung between them, the gregarious, fun-loving social circle they’d once traveled in, the one that had brought the Thompson sisters together with Flynn. Cindy fiddled with a bluebonnet she’d plucked from the grass. “No, but everyone needs friends.”

“I don’t need to borrow yours.”

She wondered if it was Julia’s death alone that had created such intense barriers. “They’re not trinkets to be lent. One of the best things about a small town is getting to truly know people.”

“But it seems most of the ones you know are connected with the church.”

She frowned. “And that’s so bad?”

“It’s not for me.”

“Have you considered getting to know them before judging their value as friends?”

The negative motion of his head was reluctant. “Cindy, I appreciate all you’ve done for the girls…for me. But like the office, or sending Michael Carlson, it’s not necessary. You’re doing too much already. I’m used to calling my own shots.”

Unwanted compassion shadowed her thoughts and her voice. “But isn’t that a lonely way to live?”

He raised his brows. “Seems I could ask you the same thing. After all, you moved to a town where you knew only one person, and you live alone in a house big enough for a huge family. Doesn’t that seem a bit lonely to you?”

Pain, both past and present, assaulted her. He would never know just how lonely she’d been. How difficult her life had been since he’d pilfered her heart. And meeting his eyes, she wondered how she could continue hiding that from him.

By Sunday morning, however, Cindy was ready to put that aside. She’d invited Flynn to attend services with her, but he had curtly refused. She had nearly expected the same response when she told him she wanted to take the girls. He’d hesitated, but finally agreed, telling her the social part of Sunday school probably wouldn’t hurt as long as she didn’t fill the girls’ heads with unrealistic ideas. In her opinion, nothing taught at her church was unrealistic, so she took him at his word.

And she chose to ignore the look on Flynn’s face when they left. One that said this, too, was simply a fad Cindy would outgrow.

The girls loved Cindy’s classic bright red convertible Mustang. Since she had left their curls loose and free, she didn’t care that the breeze mussed their soft hair.

“What’s at church?” Beth asked.

“That’s where we go to learn about God and Jesus.”

“Daddy says there’s no God,” Beth replied innocently.

Still the pain shot straight to Cindy’s heart. There was no easy answer, none she could offer that wouldn’t confuse Beth. “Not everyone believes the same way, sweetie. As you get older, you’ll learn about lots of new things.”

“Is God new?” Beth asked.

Cindy smiled despite the pain still squeezing her heart. “No. He’s older than the sky and the grass and the flowers and the trees.”

“Is He older than Daddy?”

Another trickle of amusement sprouted at the child’s guileless words. “Sure is.”

“Real old, huh?”

“Yes, sweetie. Real old.”

When they arrived at church, Cindy felt the welcoming fellowship like a balm to the wound that was Flynn.

Once the girls were happily ensconced in their class, Cindy was awfully glad she’d insisted on bringing them, despite Flynn’s reservations. Again she remembered the look on his face any time she mentioned church. The man knew so little about her, it was pitiable.

It came as no surprise to Cindy that the triplets charmed everyone with their identical heart-shaped faces. It was difficult to withstand twins, impossible to resist triplets. Luckily, they were too young to let all the fawning go their heads.

Katherine popped into the classroom, her eyes lighting up when she saw Cindy and the girls. Crossing to Cindy’s side, she lowered her voice. “So you were able to make off with them?”

Cindy nodded, her brows raised in a matching mock conspiratorial motion. “It wasn’t exactly the great heist, but I’m happy they’re here.”

“Any chance Daddy will be joining them?”

Cindy shook her head.

“Has he just fallen out of the habit?”

“I’m afraid it’s much more than a broken habit.”

“It isn’t an unbreachable problem,” Katherine reminded her, alluding to her husband’s once-lost faith.

“I’m glad it worked out for you and Michael, but I don’t know about Flynn….”

“I wasn’t certain at first about Michael, either.”

Cindy’s smile was bleak. “It’s not as though this is a break in our relationship. We don’t have a relationship to crater.”

“I’m afraid you’re focusing only on the big picture.”

“In what way?”

“I think you need to take it one day at a time. See what unfolds. Learn if Flynn realizes you’re no longer a frivolous twenty-one-year-old. You told me that you’ve scarcely seen Flynn since he married your sister. To be fair, he hasn’t had a chance to learn about the real you. Instead, you’re an inaccurate memory. Don’t you think it’s time he got to know the real Cindy? While you’re at it, subtly find out if he’s in a crisis of faith, which calls for prayer, rather than worry.”

Cindy looked at her friend whom she knew to be both caring and wise. “I haven’t really thought about it that way. Maybe he’s not as sure as he thinks he is.”

“Sometimes we’re so overwhelmed, we can’t see the pieces as they separate and change.”

“You know what, Katie-cakes?”

Katherine’s grin erupted. “What?”

“I think you’re in the right job.”

Eyes rolling, Katherine hugged her lightly. “And you, my friend, are on the right track.”

Maybe not yet, Cindy realized. But tomorrow was another chance, one she could use to apply Katherine’s advice. And she was nothing if not tenacious.

The drive to Houston the following day seemed longer than Flynn remembered. But perhaps that was because Cindy was at his side. He took another glance at her bright red dress, saucy hat and delicate high-heeled sandals. Hardly the outfit he’d expected her to choose for a board meeting. But then, when had Cindy ever done the expected? “You sure that Katherine will be all right taking care of the girls today?”

Cindy didn’t disguise her sigh. “She knows it’s for a good reason. Her calendar is clear, and to quote her, ‘How can I possibly repay you for baby-sitting my children dozens and dozens of times?’ It’s not as though we have a meeting every day, or even every week. It’s only once a month.”

Flynn thought about the shares he’d inherited from Julia—half the stock in their family oil business. Ironically, it made he and Cindy unlikely partners, even though he’d ignored his inheritance until now. There had been no time—and it had been too painful a reminder. But Cindy had been insistent about attending the meeting. “Do we have to do much today?”

She shook her head. “Nope. The management staff has been in place for years, they know exactly what they’re doing and we’re just there to listen and vote if necessary.”

He looked at her curiously. “I would think you’d care more about your family’s business.”

“Did you ever feel that way about Julia’s participation?”

Nonplussed, he hesitated. “Well, no. But she—I mean you—”

“What you mean is that Julia had a purpose in her life that you don’t see in mine, therefore she was excused. It happens that I chose to focus my life in a different direction.”