“Should we stay here? It’s not doing any good. She’s not going to change. I shouldn’t even try. It won’t work. And she’s right. I’ve even thought it before. Any maid could do what I’m doing. We can leave. We can go back to Denver. We can go to San Diego or Seattle. We can go anywhere. I don’t care.”
He was gentle, but his tone made it clear I wasn’t to argue. “We’re not running away. You’re not just here to take care of your mom. We both know you’ve been avoiding this your entire adult life. I don’t know how long we have to be here, or if it will ever truly get figured out, but we’ve got to try.” He took a breath and then continued. “And I know you don’t want to go back to Denver. Plus we’re not down here just for your mom anymore. I’m starting at Cottey in a couple weeks. You’re going to help with the youth group.”
I started to say something, to argue.
He cut me off. “We’re not running away from that either. The youth group is something else you have to face, no matter how it turns out.” He forced his voice to take on a lighter tone. “We’ve got the Durkes in our lives now. I know how much you’ve missed Donnie. We’ve got Maudra. I don’t want to leave her. I’ve never met anyone like her in my life. We’ve got Sister Heinz. And don’t get me started on the Brons. Mandy is fantasmo, and where in the world are we going to find a hotter preacher than Tyler?”
I laughed without meaning to.
“Seriously, Brooke. I know this is hard for you. Don’t give me that face. I know hard isn’t an adequate word. I also know that part of you is glad to be back. I can see it in you. I know you’re scared, but you’re also excited. And I’ve never seen you quite as happy as whenyou are with the Durkes. Almost makes me jealous.” He rushed ahead as he saw me start to protest. “It’s okay. It’s a good thing. They’re family. They helped make you into the man you are. How can I resent that? You thought they were out of your life, and now you’ve got them back.” He kissed my forehead. “We’re not just here for your mom. We’re starting to build a life, a new one. It doesn’t matter if it is for the next several months or the rest of our lives. Let’s see it through.”
I rested my head on his shoulder, once again blown away by my fortune in marrying this man. I noticed I was shivering. “Did you realize we are sitting in the snow? I think my pants are soaked all the way through.”
He smiled down at me. “I was hoping you’d figure that out soon. Let’s get in the car and turn the heat up. You ready to go to the Durkes’?”
I exhaled. “Yeah. Let’s do it.”
Itwas a little past noon by the time we got to the Durkes’.
Donnie looked up from playing on the floor with Blaire and Duncan. “Good grief, boys, where ya been? We’ve been holding presents and lunch for y’all. If you kept me hungry just so you can be frisky, I’m taking away your Christmas presents.”
“Donnie! Really!” Sue’s face flushed as she turned to welcome us. “How’s your mother?”
Jed spoke for me, which was probably a good decision. “She seems to still be drinking, so that was upsetting. She wasn’t in the best of moods, and things weren’t so smooth.” He exchanged a knowing glance with Maudra, who frowned.
Sue turned her sympathetic eyes on me. “Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry. What a way to start your Christmas morning.”
“It’s fine. I should know what to expect from her by now.”
Sue frowned at the bitterness in my voice. “Well, we won’t give up praying that she will get her life in order and turn to God.”
Typical Sue. Focused on the positive and turning every situation on God. Part of me wished I could be like her. Another part of me wanted to tell her to get real. “Let’s just put her aside for now and enjoy Christmas.” I turned to Jed. “We always open presents first thing, and then we eat.”
“Oh, I forgot to get the presents from the car. Would you help me, Brooke?”
Della broke in before I could respond. “We’re actually gonna eat first this Christmas. Dinner’s been waiting awhile, so we figured we would mix things up a bit.”
“I’m sorry we’re so late and making everybody mess up their plans.”
“None of that, Brooke. It will be fun to have a change. And, if we don’t eat, I think Donnie’s going to implode from hunger.”
“Like you don’t like to eat as much as I do, sis.”
Jed looked around the room. “Aren’t Mandy and Pastor Bron coming?”
Donnie shook his head. “Nah. They have their own Christmas traditions since Mandy’s mom died. Mandy and I had our Christmas together last night.”
“It’s her last Christmas as an unmarried woman.” Zephyra projected from the kitchen where she was settingfood on the table. “Next year she’s going to be a Durke. Gotta squeeze a lot of being ‘daddy’s little girl’ into this Christmas while she can.”
“You’re full of it, Zeph.” Donnie’s face reddened.
“You know I’m right,Dionysus.” His face twisted as Zephyra repaid him for using a nickname.
Sue beamed at Donnie. “You do know she’s right, dear. Mandy’s a wonderful girl. She couldn’t be more like what I’ve prayed for.”
Chuck broke in, “And she had, too. Never stopped praying about who the kids were gonna marry from the day they was born. Two outta three isn’t bad.”
Zephyra made a face. “Daddy, stop it. Don’t get Mom started again.”
