Precedent: Book Three: Covenant of Trust Series (38 page)

“
Thank you, just make sure you get ahead of Ryan, or else I can’t guarantee any food will be left. I think he must be going through a growing spell. I can’t fill him up these days.”

“
Josh was that way,” Angela said, “and I think Zachary will probably end up like his daddy.”

Joel rolled his eyes ever so slightly and Abby smiled.

“
Everything is ready, so come ahead and we can say the blessing and eat.” She led the way to the dining room. Her parents were last in so they ended up at the far end of the table away from Abby and Joel. Jack and Ryan became the buffer between them and the Molinskys.

Joel slipped into his seat and looked across at his father. “Dad, would you ask the blessing?”

“
Yeah, sure,” Chuck said, sitting up a little straighter and clearing his throat. He reached for Bobbi’s hand and bowed his head. “Father in heaven, thank You. Thank You for the great gifts You’ve given us, for Jesus Christ, for our salvation, and for our family. Thank You for Abby and Joel and Ryan and bless them for their hospitality. Bless this wonderful meal. Bless Shannon especially today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Abby squeezed Joel’s hand. That was it. The opening her parents needed. Right on cue, Angela Greenway broke the silence. “So Shannon isn’t with you?”

“
Shannon has been away from home since this summer,” Bobbi said.

“
Away from home?”

“
A prodigal.” Joel’s mother didn’t flinch.

“
That must be very difficult for you.”

“
It has been, but God is working.”

“
Where does that come from? That kind of rebellion?”

Abby’s stomach tightened, but Joel’s blue eyes twinkled.

“
We’re all born with it,” Bobbi said. “And a parent’s job is to model the grace that God gives every one of us so our children find Him early in life. If we love them unconditionally, then they can trust that God loves them unconditionally as well.”

Joel winked at Abby, and Ryan tried his best to hide a smile as he took a drink of his tea. “Angela,” Joel said with as much charm as he possibly could, “would you care to start the potatoes around?”

“
Of course.” She dipped from the serving bowl of mashed potatoes and passed it to her husband. “But doesn’t God have standards that He expects us to meet?” she asked without missing a beat.

“
How can we expect to meet any standard set by a holy God?” Chuck asked.

Abby’s father laid his fork down and raised his head slowly. She knew he disapproved of Chuck Molinsky almost as much as he disapproved of her. “So you’re saying we shouldn’t try?” Rob Greenway said.

Ryan rubbed his cheek so he could grin at Jack from behind his hand.

“
Not at all,” Chuck said with a smile. Abby leaned back in her chair to watch as Joel’s dad got his lawyer posture. “I’m saying, my worth in God’s eyes is not dependent on my ability to live up to His expectations. My worth and acceptance comes from the fact that He is my Father and Christ is my Savior.”

“
So, let’s just say, Shannon comes home. You’re not going to punish her?”

“
No.”

“
What’s stopping her from doing something like this again, then?”

“
Not a thing.”

Her father shook his head slightly, smiling a condescending smile. “You see? Kids will always take advantage of you.” He glanced in Abby’s direction and she felt her face flush. He never missed an opportunity.

“
So you wouldn’t let Shannon come home?”

“
Sounds like she’s made her choice to me.” He took the next serving dish from his wife and passed it along. “I mean, look at Abby. Do you think it’s an accident that God has denied her any more children?”

Abby dropped her eyes, shamed by her father again, but Joel’s dad, with kindness and grace, took up for her.

“
No, I don’t think it’s an accident at all,” he said, “but I hardly think God is denying them children.”

“
Children are a blessing from the Lord, Chuck. No children, so obviously there’s no blessing.”

“
All right, then. What’s it going to mean when Abby and Joel do have more children?” Her father didn’t answer. “Is it too much to believe that God could bless your daughter? That He’s pleased with her? That He’s using her?”

“
God doesn’t use sinners.” Abby knew that tone. Her father intended that to be the killing blow, but Joel’s dad smiled and leaned up to the table.

“
Rob, what other choice does He have?”

The setup was too perfect. She knew Joel couldn’t keep it quiet any longer. He grinned and took her hand. “Say, Abby and I have been talking. We think this is going to be her last year of teaching for a while.”

“
Why on earth would you quit, Abby?” her mother asked.

Bobbi looked at Abby, her eyes brimming with tears. She knew before Joel said it. “Abby’s going to stay home with the baby. She’s pregnant!”

* * *

Chuck glanced behind Bobbi as he unlocked the front door of their house. “What are you looking for?” she asked.

“
Nothing. I was just checking to see if your feet were touching the ground.”

She smiled at him. “My goodness, that’s the best news I’ve had in about a hundred years. A baby, oh, I can’t wait!”

“
My favorite part,” Jack said, then he lowered his voice, “‘So what’s it gonna mean when they do have children?’ And they are! Everything you said about God blessing Abby, being pleased with her! I loved it. That was too sweet.”

“
Abby so needed to hear something like that.” Bobbi handed Chuck a hanger from the closet for his coat. “I’m glad you stood up for her.”

“
I had to. Rob’s just wrong. Besides, standing up for Abby . . . I felt like I was standing up for Shannon, too.”

“
I wish Shannon could have heard you.”

He dropped his eyes. “Yeah. Listen, we’ve done well today. I, uh, I don’t want us to fall apart now. I’m gonna go start your coffee.”

“
Thank you,” Bobbi said. “I’ll meet you in by the Christmas tree.”

“
Is this a married-people-only thing?” Jack asked.

“
Of course not. You want some coffee?”

“
Yeah, if it’s not too strong. Mama’s boy coffee, you know.” He pulled the front door open. “I’ll bring in the bags.”

“
Thank you, sweetheart. I hope you don’t think that’s all you’re good for, lugging bags in and out.”

“
It’s just makes me wish for the day that I have teenagers of my own,” Jack teased.

Bobbi kicked off her shoes, took a seat in the corner of the sofa and pulled an afghan around her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, soaking in the day, savoring the thoughts of being a grandmother. When she opened her eyes again, she noticed the message light on the phone blinking. Unwrapping herself, she walked over and pushed the playback button.

“
Mom . . . it’s Shannon. I’m okay . . . I love you . . . I’ll be home soon.”

“
Baby,” Bobbi whispered, clutching the arm of the recliner. “Dear Jesus, she’s okay . . .”

“
Bobbi?” Chuck was there, reaching an arm around her and easing her down into the chair. “You didn’t hear me, did you? Did you faint?”

She shook her head and held out the phone to him, choking the words out. “Shannon called.”

* * *

Tuesday, December 30

Shannon paced the short hallway outside Mrs. Wolfe’s office waiting for Esther to come out. Mrs. Wolfe was going to split them up. Esther was getting her own floors. That’s the only thing it could be.
Please, let it be about union dues, or insurance, or anything else. I need Esther.

The last week had been the worst since leaving home. Leaving that phone message for her mother touched off something much deeper than homesickness or shame. She hadn’t slept since then. Her appetite was gone, even with Esther’s fabulous leftovers, and everything made her jumpy. If she lost Esther, too . . .

Just then Esther came out of the supervisor’s office and Shannon pounced. “What’d she say?”

“
I get my own floors next week.”

“
That stinks.”

“
Why? You ain’t gonna be here next week.”

“
Why wouldn’t I be?”

“
You gonna be home.”

“
Don’t start that prophet stuff. I’m not in the mood today.”

“
Tell me when I been wrong about you. One time even. Tell me. I’m listening.”

Shannon shook her head and pushed the button for the elevator. “Esther, can I ask you something?”

“
Uh-huh.”

“
What’s it feel like when God’s dealing with you?”

“
You never had God deal with you?”

“
I don’t think so.”

“
Never?”

“
No, that’s why I’m asking you.”

“
Miserable.”

Shannon raised her eyebrows. “That answers that, then.”

They stepped on the elevator and when the doors closed, Esther spoke. “Listen, baby, you best get things settled with God before He gives up.”

“
I didn’t think God ever gave up.”

“
All right, I ain’t no preacher,” Esther said in frustration. “He doesn’t give up, but He ain’t gonna beat a dead horse, either. If you aren’t gonna listen, He’s gonna quit talking.”

“
You think He just wants me to go home?”

“
You gotta answer that one.”

“
How?”

“
You read, you pray and you wait.”

“
I don’t have a Bible,” Shannon said.

“
I can fix that,” Esther said with a smile. When the elevator door opened, she quickly got the housekeeping cart from the closet and knocked on the first door.

“
We’re supposed to start at the other end of the hall.”

“
Shush,” Esther said, unlocking the door. She breezed in and quickly returned carrying the Gideon Bible from the room.

“
You want me to steal a Gideon Bible?” Shannon asked.

“
It ain’t stealing. They want you to have them. They told me so. Besides, when you’re back home you can send and have it replaced.”

“
What am I supposed to read, then, Madame Prophet?”

“
Joel chapter two.”

“
If you say so,” Shannon said, stowing the Bible on the cart. “Tonight before I go to bed.” At this point, she’d try anything.

* * *

Jack loosened his tie and kissed his mother’s cheek on his way to the refrigerator.

“
Don’t get too much,” she cautioned. “Dinner will be ready in a few.” She lifted the lid for the large pot and the aroma filled the kitchen.

Jack settled on pouring a large glass of milk and took a seat at the kitchen table. “Smells good. Roast?”

“
Beef and noodles, and I made cornbread.”

“
Awesome.” Jack gulped his milk and leafed through the morning paper still lying on the table.

His mother returned the lid to the pot and took her usual spot at the table. “So how is it, working for your dad?”

“
It’s good, but he mostly has me working for Chad Mitchell so nobody thinks I’m getting special treatment.”

“
So even wearing a tie every day is okay?”

“
Yeah, I don’t mind, really. My ties are a lot cooler than Dad’s, anyway.”

“
Is he making you work tomorrow?”

“
Yep, but there’s a television in the conference room, so I can at least keep up with the games.”

“
I thought Missouri already played their bowl game.”

“
They did, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to watch the other games.” He took a large gulp of milk.

“
Oh, sweetheart, I almost forgot.” She shuffled through a stack of catalogs and junk mail in the center of the table. “You got a letter today.”

“
Who from?”

“
I have no idea.” She glanced at the envelope before handing it to him. “No return address, but it’s postmarked St. Louis.”

Jack frowned and tore open the envelope. He unfolded a half sheet of lined paper, written in a ragged scrawl.

Dear Jack,

The police are through with me for now, so I’m moving on. I know you’re disappointed, and I can’t explain to you why it has to be this way. Reckon if there’s a trial, I might be back. Hard to tell.

You’re a great man, Jack, just like your father.

Ed

He enclosed a photograph of a young family, a man, a woman, and a little girl who looked barely old enough to be in school. The edges were worn and the colors were faded. Jack studied the picture, lightly touching the little girl’s face.

“
Everything all right?” his mother asked softly.

He handed her the letter. “He’s leaving town.”

“
Honey, I’m sorry.”

“
Yeah.” Jack pressed his lips together and handed over the photo. “He sent me this.”