Route 66 Reunions (13 page)

Tessa closed the door and laughed. They climbed into Tessa’s car. She started the engine and backed out onto the street. “Okay, where to first?”

“The mall of course.”

Tessa and Kasi bought a few things but spent more of their time browsing and catching up on each other’s lives. They had stopped for a quick lunch when Kasi gave Tessa a searching look.

“You haven’t mentioned Blake all morning.”

“Blake?” Tessa almost choked on the french fry she had just swallowed. “Blake Donovan?”

“Do you know another Blake?” Kasi laughed. “It hasn’t been that long since we went to Palo Duro. Surely you haven’t forgotten the man you were with there?”

“No.” Tessa stirred the ketchup on her plate with another fry. “I haven’t forgotten. He is the boys’ coach, you remember.”

“That’s strange. I don’t remember any of Zack’s coaches being so friendly to me.” Kasi’s eyes danced with merriment. “So what’s the deal between you two? You never said if he knows about Derek.”

Tessa shook her head. “No, he doesn’t know and neither does Derek or the other boys. I don’t—I can’t—” She sighed. “I haven’t been able to tell them.”

Kasi searched Tessa’s face before she asked, “You said you ran into him on your vacation. After what? Derek’s ten. Eleven years?”

Tessa nodded.

“Wow.” She shook her head. “How do you feel about him?”

“Honestly?” Tessa gave a short laugh. “I never forgot him, Kasi. I don’t think a day in the last eleven years went by that I didn’t think of Blake. Where was he? Who was he with? Was he still alive?”

“And now that he’s back in your life?”

Tessa took a shuddering breath. “I don’t know. Each day I have to fight a little harder against the attraction to him. But it’s deeper than a physical attraction. I’ve never cared for another man the way I do Blake. There’s communication, closeness with him that is wonderful. I feel complete when I’m with him. Something is missing when he’s gone.” Tears filled Tessa’s eyes. “I don’t know what to do.”

“You’re in love with him,” Kasi stated. “He seems very nice, and your boys like him, don’t they?”

Tessa gave a sharp laugh. “He’s their hero. Blake says this and Blake does that. Blake is a real man, so now it’s okay to cook and clean.”

Kasi laughed. “Zack could use such an influence.” Then she sobered. “You said he doesn’t serve the Lord?”

“I’ve talked to him about the changes in my life, but he doesn’t seem to understand the need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He knows I’ve changed; he just doesn’t understand why.”

“ ‘They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts,’  ” Kasi quoted from Ephesians. “Tessa, please be careful. You do not want to be unequally yoked.”

“I know.” Tessa reached across the table to touch Kasi’s hand. “Please pray for him, Kasi. He needs God in his life even if we never get together.” She stood, abruptly changing the subject. “Didn’t you say you have some things to donate to the shelter?”

“Yes, from the church.” The women gathered their things and left the restaurant.

Tessa drove across town to a large two-story house in an older residential area. She rang the doorbell, and a couple of minutes later Peggy Jacobs, one of the women who worked there, ushered them inside.

They entered a clean, comfortable sitting room furnished with a sofa and a matching chair. A small wooden desk sat against one wall with a vase of fresh flowers to one side. Peggy leaned on the edge of the desk and smiled at Tessa.

“I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“I know—I’ve been busy. This is my friend Kasi Baynes. The women in our church made some quilts they thought you might use here.”

Peggy nodded. “Sure, the women love the homey touch, and there’s nothing more comforting than to cuddle up at night under a homemade quilt. Please give the women from your church a special thank-you. I know God will bless them. Would you like to deliver the quilts yourself? We have only three women here now.”

“It’s nice when the numbers are low, isn’t it?” Tessa asked.

Peggy shoved away from the desk and unlocked one of two doors leading from the sitting room into the interior of the house. “Yes, if they stay low because we aren’t needed. That isn’t usually the reason though.”

All three women were in a common room furnished like a typical family room. One young woman watched TV, while another sat in the far corner with a book. The third sat cross-legged on the floor with two children playing a board game. At the sight of the quilts, the women came forward and soon had their choice for their beds. All except the young woman in front of the TV. She scarcely glanced up.

Tessa left the other women visiting and sat in a chair near the lone woman. “Hi, I’m Tessa Stevens.”

“Are you moving in?” When the girl turned toward her, Tessa noticed a large green bruise covering the side of her face.

“I came to visit with my friend. She brought some quilts from our church group.”

The girl, who appeared to be in her late teens, flicked a glance toward the other women before turning back to the TV. “Oh.”

“I hope you find a quilt you will like.” Tessa tried to draw her out.

“Why? I’m not staying here long,” the girl quickly responded.

“Oh? Where will you go from here?”

She shrugged. “Back to Tom, I suppose.”

“Is he the one who gave you that bruise?”

The girl touched her eye. “He didn’t mean to.”

“I had a boyfriend like that once.” Tessa thought of Rob’s father and grimaced. “His name was Stormy. Actually, that was his nickname. I never knew his real name. I was just fourteen when I got pregnant. He didn’t much like it, so he beat me up.”

“What about the baby?” The girl leaned forward, the TV forgotten.

Tessa smiled. “He’s fifteen now and the best son anyone could ask for. I thank God every day his father didn’t want anything to do with him, and that I got away from him.”

The girl sank back into the couch, her eyes dull. “I lost my baby. It wasn’t Tom’s fault. I made him mad.”

“What’s your name?”

“Cindy.”

Tessa knew Kasi would be ready to go soon. She touched Cindy’s hand. “I’d like to talk some more, but my friend needs to get home. I’ll have Peggy give you my phone number. Anytime you want, give me a call. I’ll try to come back as soon as I can to see you. I think you’d be surprised how much we have in common.”

Hunger mixed with fear in the depths of Cindy’s eyes. Tessa smiled at the girl and said, “If you remember nothing else about my visit, please know that Jesus loves you so much He died in your place. He doesn’t want you hurt.”

Cindy turned away, and Tessa imagined herself in the same situation. Except for the grace of God.

T
essa turned from the calendar on her kitchen wall. Friday, August thirteenth. Baseball season had already ended. Only two more weeks until school started. The summer had gone by quickly. The boys needed new clothes, she had enough money set aside, and they had nothing else planned for the evening, so why not go shopping? Last Saturday, when she went shopping with Kasi, she had done more browsing than purchasing. She needed the boys with her for sizes and to voice their preferences. No sense in buying something they wouldn’t wear.

“Boys?” She leaned out the back door. “How would you like to go to the mall?”

“Sure, what for?” Rob caught the ball Seth had just thrown.

“School clothes.”

He tossed the ball to Derek and shrugged. “I can think of better things to buy, but might as well get it over with.”

Seth ran inside to put the ball and mitts away, and Derek ran to the car. Rob took his place behind the steering wheel. When they entered the department store, Tessa said, “Stick close by so you can choose your own clothing.”

“Hey there’s Blake.”

Tessa saw the tall, dark-haired man, who had obviously heard Derek, turn with a smile of welcome on his face. He stepped away from the checkout line and approached them.

“Hey, guys.”

His greeting became background noise as Tessa recognized the woman he was with. She could never forget Blake’s mother or the verbal abuse she had heaped upon her the day she refused to reveal Blake’s whereabouts. If Mr. Donovan hadn’t spoken up, Tessa never would have known Blake had joined the navy. She had forgiven Mrs. Donovan long ago, as she understood a mother’s need to protect her son. She only wished she could wipe the memory from her mind when the older woman raised her head and stared at them, her face an expressionless mask.

“Are you going to buy us something?” Derek’s question penetrated Tessa’s mind.

“Derek!” She touched his shoulder. “You know better than to ask such a thing.”

Blake’s laughter drew attention from more than his mother, although she lifted her eyebrows at the sound. Blake ruffled Derek’s hair and grinned at Tessa. “Don’t worry, Mom. These boys can ask me anything.”

He shook his head at Derek. “I can’t buy you anything though ’cause I’m scared of your mom. She pushes unsuspecting men into walls.”

Derek grinned. “Wet paint walls.”

Blake chuckled. “Exactly. But she’s right. If I had my way, I’d probably spoil all three of you rotten, and then what would we have? Three monsters instead of the great guys your mom has raised. You be thinking about Christmas, and maybe we can slip a gift or two past her then.”

“All right.” Rob voiced his approval along with Derek and Seth. “Hey, when are you going to open your store?”

“Actually, it shouldn’t be too much longer. The kitchen was finished yesterday. I’m expecting the dining room furniture anytime, and the bar’s being installed now. I have an order in for videos and games. I’ll have to start interviewing before long.”

“Can you hire a fifteen-year-old?”

Tessa held her breath at Rob’s question, hoping Blake would say no so she wouldn’t have to.

“Blake, are you ready to go?”

Tessa cringed at the feminine voice. She had forgotten Blake’s mother.

“Yeah, sure.” Blake took the bags from her. “Mom, these are some friends of mine. Tessa Stevens and her sons, Rob, Seth, and Derek.”

He smiled at Tessa. “This is my mother, Janice Donovan.”

“I’m pleased to meet you.” Mrs. Donovan turned her smile from Tessa to each of the boys.

If Tessa didn’t know better, she’d think his mother didn’t remember her. But something in the woman’s eyes said she did. She spoke past the long-ago hurt. “The pleasure is mine. We’ve been praying for your husband. I hope he’s feeling better.”

A genuine smile brightened the older woman’s face. “Yes, he is. I believe God has touched him.”

“That’s wonderful. I pray He will continue to.”

“I believe He will. Thank you for your prayers. That means a lot to me.” She touched Blake’s arm. “If you’re ready, we need to go.”

Tessa couldn’t help but notice the drastic change in Blake’s mother from the last time they had met. If she hadn’t seen it, she wouldn’t have believed such a transformation could occur. Then she smiled. Hadn’t she changed even more?
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!”

As his mother walked away, Blake said, “Hey Rob, check back with me about that job.” Then he left.

A weight lifted from Tessa’s heart. Maybe she hadn’t completely forgiven Mrs. Donovan as she had thought. She had carried resentment all these years that wouldn’t let her forget the woman’s cruel words. After this encounter, she had an idea that any future thoughts of Mrs. Donovan would bring the memory of forgiveness rather than hurt. She thanked God for healing her soul.

Saturday morning Tessa shelved books at Grandma’s Attic. She reached up to stick a couple of books on the top shelf when she sensed someone standing near her. Thinking a customer wanted help, she turned with a smile and met the unsmiling face of Blake’s mother. Her heart tripped and her smile wavered.

“May I help you with something?”

Mrs. Donovan sighed. “This is hard for me. It’s been so long, and I don’t know how much you remember, but I want to ask your forgiveness.”

Tessa took a half step back. Her brain seemed to have ceased functioning. “My forgiveness? I don’t understand.”

“Yes.” Mrs. Donovan stared at a candle and a couple of videos clutched in her hands. “When Blake first went into the navy, you came to see us to find him. I was very rude to you.”

She looked up then, meeting Tessa’s gaze. “I didn’t want you to find him. I thought you weren’t good enough for my son. Now I know how wrong I was.”

A smile touched the older woman’s face. “We are all sinners in need of redemption, aren’t we? When my husband became ill, I started going to church for the first time in years. There I knelt before God and asked His forgiveness. I think you understand what I’m talking about.”

“Yes.” Tessa nodded. “Yes, I do. But, Mrs. Donovan, I forgave you when Christ forgave me.”

“Please, call me Janice.”

“All right.” Last night had brought healing to Tessa’s heart. Today a bubble of joy filled her soul where before she had carried resentment unawares. “Thank you for coming here today, Janice. You can’t imagine how much this means to me.”