Missy Tippens - A Family for Faith

Faith brushed some coffee grounds off the counter, then grabbed a towel to wipe up a spot he couldn’t see. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t help. Natalie and I—”

Gabe’s radio squawked. “Excuse me a minute,” he said, then he headed outside to take the call.

“Whatya got, Wanda?”

“Possible prowler at the Emersons’,” the dispatcher said before rattling off the address. “Empty house. They’re on vacation.”

“Thanks. I’ll head there now.” He hustled back inside.

Before he could say anything, Faith held up her hand to silence him. “Go. I’ll take her home and watch her and will come back to close up after your shift.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” She gave him a crooked smile, then waved him away. “Now, go. Go protect your town.”

The warmth on her sweet face and in her aqua-colored eyes—and the fact that she was saving his hide at the moment—pierced through his protective gear and right to his heart. A part of his heart that had been cold and dead for a long time.

He locked away the feeling. No time to analyze it, anyway. He had a prowler to catch.

At nine o’clock that night, Faith sent Chelsea to get ready for bed. But by nine-thirty, she decided to go check on her. She just couldn’t imagine the girl having to put herself to bed, even at age twelve.

Chelsea sat on her bed with wet hair, wearing her pj’s, with a book in her lap. The stuffed animals and dolls that had most likely graced her bed sometime in the past sat abandoned on a rocking chair in the corner. Somehow, the pink-dotted swiss bedspread and curtains didn’t seem to fit, not with the posters of the latest teen heartthrob on the walls.

“Wow, look at you. You’re all ready.”

“Just call me Miss Responsible. And be sure to tell Dad.” She gave Faith a silly wink, then laughed at herself.

“Believe me, I will.” She folded the bedspread back to the foot of the bed. “Do you need anything before I tuck you in?”

Chelsea shrugged and looked down at her book as she twirled hair around her finger. “I don’t think so.” Her hesitation was just long enough that Faith knew she actually did want something.

“What is it, Chelsea?”

“Well, it’s been a long time since anyone dried my hair. Dad’s too spastic—gets it all tangled. And I never ask my regular babysitter, because she’s usually studying or cleaning the house. And, well…” She continued to twirl strands of wet hair in a circle.

Faith gestured toward the hallway. “Come on. I’ve never gotten to do the girl-hair thing.”

Chelsea’s face lit up and she clapped her hands like a young child. She hopped off the bed and raced to the bathroom.

As Faith scrunched Chelsea’s curls and blew hot air over them, Chelsea chattered over the loud whir of the motor. “I called Valerie tonight. She invited me to a party at her house—a boy-girl party.”

Faith snapped off the hair dryer. “So is this a first, having boys at a party?”

She grinned and nodded. “I hope I can go. Gotta ask Dad.”

Faith could only imagine how Gabe would react to this. “Just be sure to find out all the details first. Like, making sure her parents will be home.”

“I don’t know everything for sure yet. Except that Parker will be there.” The last was said in a joyful, singsong voice.

Chelsea could count on the fact her dad wouldn’t be happy about that. Faith bit back a smile as she turned the dryer on. Once the hair was dry, she pulled a brush through the silky waves. “There. All done.”

Chelsea fluffed her curls. “Nice job. Thanks, Faith.” But her interest in her hair was short-lived. She turned away from the mirror and looked up at Faith. “Will you tell my dad about the party for me? It seems like anytime I try to talk to him about anything but studying or church, he goes into cop mode.”

Dodging further involvement as mediator, she said, “Like any dad, he loves you and wants you to be safe. To be happy.”

“Well, I won’t be happy unless he lightens up a little.” She walked back to her room and climbed into bed. “I really, really want to do this. And maybe I could even spend the night at Valerie’s afterward.”

Faith had loved slumber parties. And regular parties—especially the boy-girl variety. In high school, she’d loved to dress up and go to dances, to hang out with friends, to go out on dates.

But then she got pregnant. So she knew all about wanting to socialize yet being unable.

Still, Gabe would understandably be concerned. She sat on the edge of the bed. “I’ll mention it to him. But be prepared for a no.”

“I’m used to hearing no. We’ll just have to change his mind.” She hugged Faith. “Thank you. I’m so glad you came tonight.”

Before Faith realized what she was doing, she kissed the top of Chelsea’s head. A motherly gesture she hadn’t had the opportunity to do for so long. The sweetness of it pierced her, making her ache in regret for mistakes she’d made. For all she’d lost.

Because of her teen pregnancy and the divorce, she’d tried to protect Ben from making mistakes, which had ultimately driven him away from her. And now it seemed their relationship hung by a thread.

She stood and pulled the covers over Chelsea. “Sleep tight. Don’t forget your prayers.”

Once Chelsea was tucked in, Faith went to clean the kitchen. But Chelsea and Gabe had done an excellent job already. She couldn’t even find a trace of what they’d eaten for dinner. So she busied herself cleaning the toaster.

About the time she finished brushing crumbs out of the little trapdoor and buffing the chrome exterior to a perfect shine, the back door opened, and Gabe walked in. “Hi. She in bed?”

Her heart stuttered. Having him nearby made the room feel two sizes smaller. “Yes. Just a little while ago.”

“Thanks. I really appreciate you stepping in.”

His grateful smile made her want to turn away, to find something to keep her busy rather than have to look into his penetrating dark eyes. But with the spotless kitchen, she didn’t have any option other than facing him head-on—and dealing with this sudden nervousness around him. “So…did you catch your crook?”

“No. I imagine my car ran him off.”

Unable to maintain eye contact, she refolded a dish towel and laid it beside the sink. “I have to brag on your daughter. She had showered and was in bed reading when I went back to check on her at bedtime.”

He leaned against the kitchen counter. Though he should be proud, he appeared troubled. “She’s growing up too fast.”

“I know it may feel too fast to you, but I think she’s pretty much on target. Other kids her age seem to be facing the same issues.”

“Seems all kids grow up too quickly these days.” He shrugged. “Anyway, I think going to the café this afternoon was good for her.”

“Until you showed up,” she teased. Then she grinned at him to ease the jab.

“Yeah, well, she and I had a little talk. If you’ll let her drop by again tomorrow, I’ll try to keep my nose out of it.”

Surely Faith could handle that. It wasn’t as if she were committing to raising the girl. And it would be a nice step of independence for Chelsea. “Sure. She’s welcome to come back.” She stood straighter and forced her attention away from his handsome face. “And while you’re feeling generous, we need to talk.”

He pulled out the chair and indicated for her to have a seat. “What’s up?”

As they sat across from each other at the table, she chose to use an oh, this is so cute approach and forced out a laugh. “Well, get ready, Chief Dad. There’s more to come.”

He leaned on his forearms, all seriousness, not falling for her lighthearted approach. “Suppose you fill me in.” His nearly black eyes bore into hers, and she found it difficult to meet his gaze.