Missy Tippens - Georgia Sweethearts

Trying to help feed her nephew. Trying to help run her business. What next? Trying to help run her life?

No, thank you. She’d been there, done that, and had the emotional scars left by an ex-fiancé to prove it.

She might end up having to rent the shop’s basement to Daniel. But she didn’t need any other involvement with a man who made her heart race just by touching her thumb.

She firmly planted the spoon on the table and steeled herself to look into his gorgeous eyes. “I appreciate your taking the time to evaluate The Yarn Barn. But I don’t think there’s anything you can do at this point. We don’t have the money.”

Daniel opened his mouth to respond, but movement drew his attention away.

“Dada!” Will pursed his lips and blew mashed green bean bubbles that splattered into her face.

Lilly swiped off the mess as the waitress delivered their pizza and her brother-in-law approached his son. The first time they’d seen him since he had left Jenna two days ago.

* * *

Daniel let the conversation with Lilly drop and greeted Ned.

Ned ruffled his son’s hair and nodded. “Daniel. Lilly.”

“Dada!” Will grinned and strained to reach for his father.

“Hang on, big guy.” Ned wiped his son’s hands and then lifted him out of the high chair. “I’m glad I found you, Lilly. I tried to call earlier, to arrange picking up my boy, here.”

Lilly gave her brother-in-law an odd look, as if nervous around him. “I’m sorry. My phone’s been off since I met with the accountant.”

“Jenna told me that you were in a meeting.”

Lilly’s eyes lit up. “So you two have talked?”

With red-streaked cheeks, Ned cut a glance at Daniel. “Not really. I called to set up a visit with Will.”

A visit? Had he and Jenna separated?

Ned tucked Will under his chin and kissed the top of his head. “I’m sorry I haven’t been by. I’ve been trying to find an apartment.”

“Your son misses you. Jenna misses you.”

Daniel rose from his seat. “I can take Will and let you two talk.”

“No, stay, eat your lunch,” Ned said. “You’re my pastor. It’s time you know what’s going on.”

Motioning for him to join them, Daniel sat. Lilly scooted over, and Ned, holding his son, slid in the booth beside her. She didn’t seem angry with her brother-in-law. If her attitude was any indication of Jenna’s, maybe there was hope of reconciliation.

As he and Lilly ate, Ned filled Daniel in.

Ned brushed a finger over his son’s arm. “So we’ve separated. I have to take responsibility for that. But we argued about everything. Then Jenna told me that she didn’t need me. That I might as well go ahead and leave.”

“Have you had marriage counseling?” Daniel asked.

“She refuses.”

Lilly shook out some Cheerios for Will. “She’s just scared, you know. Expecting you to leave at any time. She thinks it’s easier to push you away before she gets hurt.”

Daniel suspected the sisters shared that trait. Maybe from growing up with those “rotten parents”?

“Look, Lilly, I know what a tough childhood you and Jenna had,” Ned said. “But she’s pushed me away for a long time. I can’t take it anymore.” He stood with his son in his arms. “Jenna said it’s okay for me to take Will until after dinner.”

“He’ll enjoy that.” Lilly, with a pale face and a sheen of unshed tears in her pretty hazel eyes, gathered Will’s diaper bag, then told Ned and Will goodbye.

Daniel said, “I’m sorry your family is struggling right now.”

She glanced at him, looked away then once again met his eyes. “We’ll make it through.”

“A rough childhood makes depending on someone difficult, even when you’re all grown up.” He touched her hand, couldn’t resist offering some sort of comfort.

She glanced down at their hands. “Are you speaking from experience?”

He suddenly recalled his mom sitting in the bleachers alone at football games, an empty seat cushion next to her, the spot his dad had promised to fill. Then after she had died, no one in the bleachers. Frozen dinners alone. His dad coming home and shutting himself in his home office.

He glanced at his watch. “Oh, look. I’ve almost passed the hour lunch I promised.”

She’d turned the tables on him. But he never shared his past with anyone. Daniel had never been able to fill the void after his mother’s death, or to pull Blake out of his grief. To share that would be too painful. Especially now. A pastor needed to look capable and inspire confidence if he hoped to help others, to make a difference.

Lilly gave him a look that said she knew he was avoiding the topic.

He simply flagged down the waitress and paid the bill.

As they walked out of Frank’s, cold air slapped him in the face. His cell phone vibrated. Normally, he’d ignore it, but the screen showed the caller was Cricket’s mother. “Excuse me a second. I need to take this.”

On the other end of the line, the woman sobbed uncontrollably. Sick dread slammed him in the gut. “Mrs. Quincy, what’s wrong?”

“Cricket took a bunch of pills. We’re at the emergency room in Appleton.”

“Is she going to be okay?”

“They’ve given her an antidote that’s been pretty successful in similar cases. We have to wait. And pray. Please get Miss Ann to start the prayer chain.”

“I will. I’m on my way.” Lord, protect Cricket and the baby. Please let this treatment work.

Lilly stood beside him, her arms hugged around her waist. “What happened?”

“I need to head to the hospital. A teenage girl from the church is in the ER.”

“Do you need a ride?” she asked without any hesitation. A woman who saw a need and jumped in with a solution.

He started to decline, but the offer would save time since he’d walked to town that morning. “Thanks.”

They rushed to the car. Lilly backed out of the parking spot, and they sped toward Appleton. He called his grandmother and filled her in, asking her to get the town praying.

“The situation sounds awful. Anything I can do to help?” Lilly asked.

“Nothing. Unless you feel led to pray.”

Sick at heart, he stared out the window as they zipped past The Yarn Barn. Surely he could’ve done more. Could have done something besides set up another meeting for next week. Maybe if he’d called her that morning like he’d meant to...

Except for his brief directions to the hospital, they drove the next ten minutes in silence.

“I hope she’ll be okay,” Lilly said.

The hospital came into sight. He pointed her toward the emergency entrance. “She’s fifteen and pregnant. And I failed her.”

“I don’t know the whole situation.” She reached out and touched his sleeve. “But I know you care. I’m sure that helps. More than you probably realize.”

As the car came to a stop out front, their eyes locked, her compassionate gaze soothing him, making him wish for... But at the moment, he had no time for wishing.

He gave her hand a squeeze, a thank-you for understanding him, and then climbed out.

“Wait. Here’s my phone number.” She jotted it on a piece of scrap paper out of her purse. “Call me when you’re ready to leave. Any time, even if it’s late.”

Touched by her offer, he took the paper. “Thanks for bringing me.”

“I’m sure you’ll be a comfort to the girl’s family.”

He shut the door and hurried through the ER entrance. A comfort? How much good was he as a pastor if he hadn’t been able to help Cricket see God was big enough to handle her problems, that God had a plan for her life?

Mrs. Quincy paced the floor, a tissue wadded up between her hands, her face streaked with tears. Her pain enough to bring him to his knees, he repeated the prayer circulating in his head. Lord, don’t let Cricket die. Protect her baby.