Sweet Dreams (The Bakery Romance Series Book 3) (13 page)

“Misty, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.” He again thought about her mother. “So, the courts gave you back to your mother?”

She nodded. “Yes, after two years, they gave her custody since she’d found a job and was off drugs. She got her life back together but the social services people came to check up on her frequently.” She shuddered. “I think it was the worse two years I’ve ever had in my life.”

He digested her news, speechless. He honestly didn’t know what to say to make her feel better. What an awful childhood. While he’d been growing up, there’d always been plenty of food. Sure his parents argued, but, he never doubted they cared for him. If his parents had been irresponsible, on drugs, what would his life had been like? Before he could speak, she said something else. “I know I can be stubborn sometimes, but it’s just hard for me to accept help from others.”

“But Misty, you care about others and you want to help. I think God would want you to accept help from others, too.” He just couldn’t imagine going through what Misty had experienced. He was sure if he had, he wouldn’t be the same person he was today. Did Misty ever learn to deal with the pain she’d suffered as a child? Maybe when she saw that people cared about her, she pushed them away, afraid of getting hurt.

She appeared to be thinking about his words. “Yes, I guess you’re right.” She paused. “Sterling?”

“Yes?”

“I’m glad that you’re my friend.”

He took her hand, leaned toward her. “I’m glad that you’re my friend, too,” he whispered in her ear.

Chapter 19

The next day at work, Misty crossed her legs, and swung her office chair toward the window. She stared at the people strolling down the sidewalk. Sterling was her friend and nothing more. She needed to focus on that. His chocolate brown skin, muscular arms and legs, his handsome face and kind mocha-colored eyes… she needed to stop thinking about his physical attributes. But, she was drawn to him for more than just his exquisite looks. His kindness stunned her, literally. She was so used to fending for herself, doing things for herself but it felt kind of nice to have somebody there to help her if she needed it.

Well, she didn’t plan on relying on him very much. Yes, she’d fetch a ride with him to the soup kitchen on Wednesday nights, but, other than that, she didn’t think she’d need his help for anything else. She’d found it was best not to rely on people very much. The only person she could depend on was herself. She shook her head. She’d spent enough time daydreaming about Sterling. It was time for her to pick up Jennifer. She’d taken the afternoon off from work so that she could take Jennifer to Juliette’s for the open house.

Since she’d been working with Carmen, she’d noticed the woman seemed to be sharp and to the point. She’d pondered telling Carmen about her dream of sending Jennifer to Juliette’s. After careful thought, she’d decided not to tell her. She figured Carmen might laugh, just as Sterling had. Also, Carmen had not seemed sympathetic when she’d spoken about leaving Jennifer at the daycare. She figured Carmen would not understand her deep desire to provide the best education for her daughter. Carmen didn’t have any kids, so, she wasn’t sure if she’d understand.

She rushed from the office and got into her car. She checked the time. She had an hour to get Jennifer and head over to Juliette’s. After driving as fast as possible, she finally pulled into the driveway of the daycare. She rapped on the door and Lucy opened it, her hair frazzled. Two kids were crying and Jennifer lay on the couch, her eyes sad. “What’s wrong?’

Lucy closed the door. “I had to send one kid home with a stomach virus this morning. Jennifer has been cranky all afternoon. She doesn’t have a temperature, but, I’m sure she doesn’t feel well.”

Misty rushed over to the couch. “Are you okay, honey?”

“My head hurts.”

Now what was she going to do? They really needed to go to that open house. She really wanted to tour the school, maybe talk to some of the parents and get to know the teachers. She also wanted the staff to meet Jennifer. Once she warmed up to people, she could be quite charming – her daughter’s charm could be one more asset when they were considered for acceptance. She touched Jennifer’s forehead. She didn’t feel warm. “Come on, Jennifer.” After she’d said goodbye to Lucy, she made her way back outside to her car, strapped Jennifer into her car seat.

Jennifer was usually fine after she’d taken some Motrin. She stopped at the drug store and purchased the liquid medicine for her daughter. After she’d given her a dose, she drove to Juliette’s.
Lord, please help me. Please help Jennifer to feel better. Plus, could you please help me with my nerves, Lord. I feel so nervous.

She pulled into the school parking lot. The sound of her daughter’s humming was like music to her ears. Jennifer’s low, happy hum filled the car. The medicine was working! This visit would go well and then Jennifer would get accepted into this school. She was so sure of it.

Misty got out of the car, and unstrapped Jennifer. Holding her daughter’s hand, she stood up straight, making her way into the school. The polished floors and white walls looked inviting and clean, almost too clean for a pre-school. She entered the office, spotted cartoon characters on the walls. The receptionist looked up from her desk, gave Misty a warm smile. “May I help you?”

She swallowed. Hopefully her nerves would calm down soon. “I’m here for the open house.”

“Oh, go down the hall to your left. The open house is in our cafeteria.”

“Thank you.” Still holding Jennifer’s hand, they strolled down the hall into the cafeteria. Misty pushed the door handle and the door opened into a bright room. The sterile white walls popped with blocks of primary colors – red, yellow and green squares decorated the pale space. Little kids flocked around the room, many of them wearing Juliette’s gold and green uniforms. The kids who were not in uniform were dressed in formal-looking suits or pretty dresses. The clothing reminded her of the clothes she purchased for Jennifer for Easter. Her daughter wore a pair of blue jeans and a stripped top. Oh, why hadn’t she thought to dress Jennifer in a nice dress? She honestly didn’t think people would dress their kids up for a preschool open house!

She scanned the room, spotted several parents socializing. She glanced at their clothes, immediately recognizing the designer labels. She glanced down at the outfit she’d purchased from Walmart the previous week. Feeling under dressed, she clutched Jennifer’s hand as they went further into the room.

“Hi, there.” A beautiful cocoa-brown woman approached, a handsome man by her side. The woman eyed Misty’s outfit, disapproval evident in her stare.

Misty forced herself to smile. “Hi.”

“I’m Marilyn Brown and this is my husband Bernard.”

The man gave her a quick nod.

“Hello,” Misty mumbled.

The woman studied Jennifer. “Did you already apply to the school?”

Misty nodded. “I’m hoping we can get in.”

Marilyn gestured across the room. “Our son is over there. He’s the one dressed in the dark blue suit.”

Misty glanced at the child. “What a nice-looking little boy.” He raced small Matchbox cars with a group of boys who were dressed in the Juliette uniform. “He looks like he belongs here already.”

The woman raised her perfectly-arched eyebrows. “He should. We’ve been scoping out parents for the last year, getting to know them. We want our son to get into this school. We’d heard that getting to know some of the current parents could help in gaining acceptance.”

If that were true then she was far behind. She’d never thought to seek out current parents at the school and socialize with them. How would she manage to do that anyway? Where did one go to find these people? Did Marilyn come to the school during dismissal and approach parents about socializing with her child? She was about to ask Marilyn about that when an attractive pale, thin woman entered the noisy cafeteria. She approached the microphone in the front of the room. “Welcome to Juliette’s Preschool. I’m Ginger Tweed, the director. We have some refreshments for you to enjoy.”  She gestured toward the laden table. A worker was removing the last layer cake from a bakery box and Misty spotted Sterling’s logo on the container. Why hadn’t he mentioned that he’d provided the desserts for the open house? She mentally sighed. He probably still thought her quest for getting a spot into the school for Jennifer was a waste of time. She had not mentioned the open house to him while they’d been out on their ice cream date.

Again, she eyed Marilyn, inwardly cringing. The woman studied Misty, her eyes narrowed, while she whispered to her husband. When she met Misty’s frosty stare, she quickly turned away, her brown skin reddening. Did she think that she and Jennifer did not belong here with the rest of them? Misty pushed her nasty thoughts aside. She didn’t have time to focus on Marilyn.

Ms. Tweed continued her speech. “After I meet everybody, then we’ll take a tour of the school, and you can ask any questions that you may have.”

Ms. Tweed abandoned the microphone, and Misty’s heart skipped when the woman strolled directly toward her and Jennifer. She couldn’t resist stealing a glance at Marilyn. The uppity woman’s hard frown made Misty want to sing with glee. Ginger Tweed offered her hand. “Are you one of our applicants?”

Misty returned Ginger’s warm smile, her heart pounding. She shook the woman’s hand. “Yes, I’m Misty Stewart and this is my daughter Jennifer.”

Ginger focused on Jennifer. “I see you have a book with you.”

Misty raised her eyebrows, stunned. She didn’t realize Jennifer had carried a book inside with her. She’d been so preoccupied that she’d not noticed it.

Jennifer nodded, offering the book to Ginger. “Yes.
Green Eggs and Ham
,” Jennifer told Ginger the title. Ginger accepted the Dr. Seuss book, grinning.

“The reason why I came over here right away is to say I’m impressed. Rarely do I see a child so young wanting to carry a book to an event. Usually a child wants a stuffed animal or some other toy.”

Misty needed Ms. Tweed to know how much her daughter enjoyed books. “Oh, yes. She looks at books more than she plays with toys. She loves stories.”

Ginger paid close attention to Jennifer. “Do you know how to read?”

What did this woman expect? Jennifer was only two and a half. Sure, she’d be three in a few months but, that was much too young to know how to read, wasn’t it?

Surprisingly, her daughter nodded, grinning. She took the book back from Ginger, pointed to a few simple words, reading them aloud. Misty didn’t know what to say. Ginger’s beaming smile was enough to make her heart burst with pride. Did Jennifer really know how to read a few simple words, or, had she simply memorized them when Adrian read the books to her?

Ginger bent over the book that Jennifer still clutched, noticing the Braille bumps. “What’s that clear stuff over the pages, is it Braille?”

Misty quickly glanced around the room, spotted several of the prospective parents looking annoyed that Ginger was spending so much time with them. Well, they could wait. She needed Ginger to know all about her and Jennifer’s unique way of life. As quickly as she could, she told about living with Adrian and her blindness, stating that the bumps allowed Adrian to read to Jennifer. Ginger was obviously interested and Misty sensed the director was about to ask another question when Jennifer tugged her hand, dropped her book on the floor.

“Mommy, I don’t—”

She then keeled over and vomited on Ms. Tweed’s expensive leather shoes.

Horrified and speechless, all Misty could do was stare at the mess her daughter had made.

Chapter 20

Nate entered the small church. His baggy jeans and over-sized shirt looked out of place among the women sporting light-colored dresses. All of the men wore suits. He’d never worn a tie in his entire life. Maybe he should buy one so that he looked like he belonged here in the sanctuary.

The lemon-oiled walls gleamed as the mid-morning sun shined through the stained-glass windows. He again looked down at his outfit. Lately, he’d wanted to buy some clothes to wear to church, but, his money had been tight lately, so, he’d been showing up wearing his street clothes. He’d been grateful that, so far, nobody had commented about his despicable church attire. Clutching his Bible, he sat in the last pew. He focused on the podium, intent upon hearing the service. Several church members strolled into the cranberry-carpeted sanctuary, having hushed conversations. A few people greeted him and he gave them a quick nod. He didn’t want to encourage conversation right now. He had too much on his mind.

So far, he had not grown close to any of the church members. Several had invited him to Bible study and gatherings but, he’d been determined not to be swayed by the congregation. He’d been thinking, trying to figure out this whole subject of salvation on his own. His messed-up life had been spinning out of control and Misty and Jennifer moving to Miami was like a nail driven into the coffin of his life. He’d been wretched and weary since Misty and Jennifer relocated.

His dark thoughts were interrupted by the choir’s voices lifted in song, praising Jesus. Their green and white robes swayed while they clapped their hands to the music filtering through the sanctuary. The soulful notes of the music bounced off the gleaming walls of the church while the piano player pounded on the keys, continuing the joyful noise unto the Lord.

Nate closed his eyes as the preacher took the podium. He finally opened his eyes and listened to the deep booming voice of the pastor, intent upon hearing his words. “I want to preach today about the Apostle Paul.” While the pastor’s deep voice boomed throughout the room, Nate paid attention as he spoke about the Apostle Paul who used to be called Saul. He talked about Saul’s persecution of Christians, his miraculous journey on the road to Damascus, his blindness and his salvation. He also spoke of his role in the establishment of the early Christian church. “Yes, if the Lord can change the heart of the Apostle Paul, then he can change the heart of anybody. The Lord can do
anything
!”

“Amen!” A heavy-set woman in a yellow dress, sitting in the pew in front of Nate, shouted.

“Amen!” Murmurs and shouts soon filled the church as parishioners stood, raising their heads toward the ceiling, raising their hands toward Jesus.

Nate wiped his wet eyes, thinking about his troubled life. He needed to make a change, a drastic change. He again thought about Jennifer. He loved that little girl and he needed to be there for her as a father. He sniffed and one of the white-clothed ushers handed him a tissue, patted his shoulder, offering comfort.

While he wiped his tears away, he thought about Misty. He didn’t blame her for her anger against him. He’d done nothing to support her, and now she didn’t want to have anything to do with him. He needed to change and make Misty and Jennifer his priorities.

The preacher shouted from the pulpit, his dark eyes sweeping through the audience before he focused on Nate. The preacher spoke, and Nate felt as if the man was talking directly to him. “If you want to make a change in your life, then you need to accept Jesus! Jesus will never leave you or forsake you! Accept Jesus into your life and you will be guaranteed the gift of eternal life in heaven!”

“Oh, Jesus!” Nate’s moan joined with the other voices.

“If you haven’t accepted Jesus into your life then come forward. Make a proclamation and accept Him!”

Nate swallowed, still sobbing. On faltering steps, he walked forward. Whoops and hollers from the parishioners followed him as he shuffled down the aisle. He finally made it to the front and stared straight into the eyes of the pastor. Tears streamed down his face and with his nose running, he told him what was on his mind. “I’m a sinner. I want to accept Christ into my life.”