By His Hand: Truly Yours Digital Edition (12 page)

Dialing the number to his house, he listened to rings and waited for the answering machine to pick up. Abby had gone to the group home with Sondra to visit the kids, so he needed to leave a message for her so she wouldn’t wonder where he was this evening.

Abby’s recorded voice sounded over the phone. She sounded so young, so sweet. It had been more than a year since Chris had thought of Abby and sweet at the same time. He remembered all Victoria had told him two days before. Did Abby really feel he didn’t accept her? It had been hard for him to switch from brother to guardian. He still struggled with the reality, the truth of it. Of course Abby would struggle, as well.

He thought of Abby sitting beside Victoria during church. Both had smiled and clapped their hands while he played his new song. When the chorus came and he invited the congregation to join him, both seemed happy and ready to join in. In truth, he hadn’t seen Abby that worshipful in over a year.

His mind replayed the rainy day that sent his already faltering world into a tailspin. “I can’t take it anymore.” His mother’s voice sounded as plain as if she stood beside him.

He closed his eyes and saw her standing in the kitchen. Her eyelids were swollen over her dark eyes. Wrinkles spread across her much-too-quickly aging forehead. Graying hair pulled into a haphazard bun, she took a shaky hand and pushed stray strands behind her ear.

“I need some time.” She grabbed Chris’s arms with both her hands. She squeezed him tight, and he looked down and saw the suitcase at her feet. “I don’t have the strength, the energy,” she continued. Sobs wrenched her body, and she released him and shook violently. “I miss him so much.”

“It’s okay, Mama.” Chris gazed past his mother and saw Abby standing in the kitchen door. Her eyes were swollen from crying, as well. “Chris and I will do whatever you need. We’ll keep the house up and cook and whatever,” she simpered.

“No!” His mother squealed back at Abby. She looked at Chris and shook her head. “No.” Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffing, she leaned over and picked up the suitcase. She stood up straight and set her jaw. “I have to go.”

Then she was gone.

Chris peered out the window of his shop. She’d said no good-bye. No “I love you.” No “I’ll come back soon.” She’d simply walked out the door, and they hadn’t heard from her since.

Abby had cried for days, but she didn’t talk about it. He’d been thankful. He didn’t think he could talk about it either. What could he say anyway? He had no answers, nothing that made sense. After his dad died, Chris had worked double the hours to make sure he provided for his mom and sister. Abby helped around the house, as she never had before. There were no logical reasons for his mom to walk out on them.

And yet she had.

Maybe he should have talked to Abby about it. Maybe both of them should have talked. Maybe he came down too hard on her. And the truth was Victoria seemed to be filling a spot in Abby’s life that had needed filled for quite some time. He never tried to be Abby’s mom or dad, but maybe he hadn’t been as open with her as he should have been.

God, show me how to reach my sister. Show me how to be a better brother
. He thought of Victoria and the angry expression on her face when she slammed his truck door. He took a deep breath as he realized how much it hurt to have Victoria upset with him.
Show me how to make amends with Victoria, too
.

Victoria gazed up at the cold, stone structure. The courthouse’s aged exterior didn’t make her think of justice, it scared her. And why did every courthouse she’d ever seen look like some smaller version of the White House? She had probably read or heard the reason at some point in school, but she couldn’t recall it. At the moment, she didn’t care much about past history lessons. She wanted to get her vehicle back.

She opened her handbag and checked for the hundredth time to be sure proof of the six-month insurance plan was still inside. Sondra had already found out what Victoria’s court cost would be, so she checked again to be sure she had enough for it. Looking through her wallet, she found her driver’s license in its correct place, as well.

I’m as ready as I’m going to be
. She inhaled and walked up the steps. After opening the heavy half-glass–half-wood door, she walked inside. Her heels clicked against the concrete floor, making the empty, enormous hall seem all the more overwhelming.

A door on her left had a sign that read C
IRCUIT
C
LERK
. To her right, she saw doors that read V
EHICLE REGISTRATION
and D
RIVER’S
L
ICENSE
.
I don’t think I’m supposed to go to any of those
. She grabbed the ticket Sheriff Troy had given her out of her bag. She was supposed to go to district court.

Scanning her left and right, she didn’t see any doors that mentioned anything about a courthouse. Wishing she hadn’t been so adamant with Sondra about not coming to allow Peewee and Emily to take their naps, Victoria walked back to the front of the building where she spied a staircase with a sign that announced district and circuit courts were held upstairs. She sighed in relief, gripped the handrail, and willed herself to scale the flight of stairs.

A few months ago I would have never dreamed I’d be doing this
. At that time she’d been shopping in malls, spending any amount of money she chose on a pair of shoes or a perfect purse. She might have been out to lunch with her mother at the most expensive restaurants. Never would she have been going to court to get her Suburban back. She’d never even stepped foot in a courthouse.

God, I am absolutely terrified. Please let this go well. Let the judge be kind to me. Please let it be over quick
.

It had been humiliating to have to take half a day off work for this when she’d been employed less than two months. Of course, Zack had been kind about it. In fact, he was kind about everything. Victoria still found herself drawn to him, and she felt certain he had almost asked her out on a couple of occasions, but their conversations had been interrupted by an employee or a customer.

It was a mystery she didn’t understand, but somehow she didn’t quite feel a romantic connection with Zack. At first, she would have given anything to have him ask her out. Zack had everything she’d ever dreamed of in a partner, and yet there didn’t seem to be a spark between them. Yes, that was what she missed—the spark, that yearning-all-day-to-see-you-again feeling. Though she loved to see Zack, loved to talk with him, she just didn’t seem to have the happily-ever-after feelings.

But then, I’ve always been known to be a bit dramatic. Didn’t Mother always say I lived in my own fairy-tale land all my life?
She smiled at the remembrance of playing dress-up in her princess outfit as a girl. Kenny would begrudgingly pretend to be her prince.

I probably wouldn’t know real love anyway. And doesn’t the Bible tell us not to trust our emotions? Zack is perfect for me
. A picture of Chris popped into her mind, and she shook her head.
I need to focus on getting my Suburban back
.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Victoria found the district courtroom and walked in. More people than she had anticipated sat in wooden benches facing the mound of wood the judge sat behind. Sliding into a pew beside an older woman and a small boy, Victoria looked around, surprised at the ornate features in the room. Flowers and loops and fancy shapes had been sculpted into the stone along the walls and ceiling. Three enormous, antique chandeliers hung in a row from the middle of the ceiling. The room screamed of history, and Victoria found herself wondering about the people who had sat in her very seat years and years before her.

She gazed up at the man seated at the front, the judge she’d dreaded for several weeks. He did seem to be as gentle as a puppy. His face hung in wrinkles, reminding her of a Bassett hound. Not a single hair topped his head, except the gray circle that wrapped around just above his ears. He looked like a grandpa, a cuddly, friendly grandpa.

“Betty, Bobby,” the judge spoke to a young couple in a slow, soft voice, “I can’t give you your van back.”

“But Judge Henry, I haven’t been able to get to work,” the man responded.

The judge shook his head. “Bobby, I spoke with your pa last night. He said he’d been offering you rides and you wouldn’t take them.”

“But …”

“No buts. You can’t have your vehicle back until you have insurance. That’s the law.”

“Judge …”

“Now listen, son.” Judge Henry leaned forward. Concern wrapped his features. “You two have yourselves a little one now. It’s time to grow up, Bobby.”

“I am grown.” Bobby puffed out his chest.

“Then take care of your family. It’s time, Bobby.” The judge leaned back. “Tell you what I’ll do. Seeing how I’ve known you since you were toddling around the courthouse steps, you come back in two weeks. If you’ve gone to work every day, I’ll even sport you half of what you need for three months worth of insurance.”

“Thank you, Judge Henry.” Betty smiled. “I’ll see to it he gets to work every day.”

Bobby grumbled but didn’t say anything else as he followed Betty out of the courtroom. Victoria leaned back in the pew.
I think Chris was right. The judge seems like a very kind man
. She watched as Judge Henry dealt with a few more cases before hers. Finally, her name was called.

Standing, she felt the ease slip from her body as her stomach twisted with nervousness. Her heels clicked louder than ever as she made her way toward the front. The judge peered down at his paper, and then at her. “Victoria Thankful, I presume.”

Her voice squeaked. “Yes, sir.”

A slow smile formed on his lips. “No need to be nervous, dear. I’m Judge Henry. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She nodded and willed her hands and legs not to shake.

The judge leaned back in his chair. “So you’re the Mary Ann Mutilator.”

“I thought it was Mangler.”

Judge Henry laughed and smacked the top of the podium. “I think I’ve heard it both ways. So have you made arrangements with Chris yet?”

Dread filled her stomach. “Not yet, sir.”

“No need to worry. He didn’t press any charges, and he’s a good man. He’ll give you time.”

She nodded, praying the judge would hurry. She felt the stares of everyone in the courtroom. Swallowing, she feared she might lose her breakfast at any moment.

“Do you have your license and proof of insurance?”

“Yes, sir.” She took the papers from her purse and handed them to him.

He read through her insurance papers and frowned. “You didn’t have insurance at the time of the accident.”

“No, sir. My”—she cleared her throat—“my insurance policy had run out, and I wasn’t aware of it.”

“Hmm.” He shuffled through the papers again and then glanced up at her. “Technically, I can cite you for not having insurance at the time of the wreck, but since Chris didn’t press charges and you made arrangements to get insurance so quickly, I’ll let it go.”

Relief flooded her heart. “Thank you so much, sir.”

“You will have court fees.”

“Yes, I know.”

He handed the papers back to her. “Well, young lady, I think I’ll send you on your way. You can pay your fees downstairs and walk next door to the sheriff’s office to get the keys to your vehicle.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You have a good day, Ms. Victoria Thankful.”

“Victoria Thankful?” A male voice sounded from the back of the room. “Are you Victoria Thankful, the daughter of Thomas Thankful?”

Victoria peered at the back of the room. Her feet seemed to freeze beneath her as she didn’t recognize the man.

“Well,” he continued, “are you the daughter of the man whose business name was Marcus George?” He walked toward her. “The man who was an oil magnate caught embezzling money?”

“Young fellow, what are you talking about?” asked Judge Henry.

“Your Honor, I’m just wondering if Thomas Thankful is her father.”

Victoria’s heels nearly fell out from beneath her. She grabbed the nearest pew and looked away from her accuser. The gazes of more than twenty people glowered at her. Most seemed confused. A few had already recognized the name and seemed downright angry.

“Well, I …”

“Are you?” The black-haired man’s face would have been handsome except for the expression of contempt that wrapped his features. “My cousin was supporting his wife and four children on the income he made from working at a Thomas Thankful’s oiling company. When the man was found to be embezzling money and decided to evade the law and run off to who-knows-where, my cousin lost his job. And now he’s about to lose his home.”

Judge Henry hit the podium with his gavel. “That’s enough. Victoria is not on trial about her father, in any way, shape, or form.”

Tears filled Victoria’s eyes. She had been devastated by her father’s actions and so consumed with her own dilemmas because of them that she hadn’t really considered the families that had been affected by her father’s misdeeds.