“Over fifty! Lauren, whatare you doing?”
“I know! It sounds stupid.” She cradled her face in her hands. “I don’t understand it, but I needed to see him.”
“Well, you saw him. You saw a lot of him. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid you’d be mad.”
“I’m not mad. I don’t know what I am. Just shocked, I guess.”
Lauren raised her hand. “Don’t be too shocked just yet. There’s more.”
Lyric rested her head back against the booth. “Is it good news?”
“Not exactly. The more I visited Zach, the more we talked. I didn’t get the answers I wanted, but he started to…tolerate me.”
“He tolerated you? That’s a little backward. You’re a delight. He deserves to be lulled to sleep by a blaring train whistle every night,” Lyric pointed out.
“I mean we talked about other things, and I think he truly did have a conscience that told him not to hurt me.”
Lyric raised a brow. “You’re saying he had a change of heart?”
Lauren shrugged. “Maybe. After a while he started to treat me like a friend whenever I visited.”
Lyric gripped the edge of the table. “Are you saying you’re friends with Zach Wilson?”
“Not friends. We’re not friends.” He’d made that clear on the drive back to Blackwater. He didn’t see her as a friend, even though she’d been the only freeperson he’d spoken to in years besides his attorney and parole officer.
Pushing out a deep breath, Lyric wiped her forehead. “This is wild.”
That was wild? Lauren wasn’t even halfway finished with the revelations. “And I picked him up when he was released and gave him a ride back to Blackwater.”
“Lauren! You let him get in the car with you? Alone? That was stupid.”
Now everyone in Sticky Sweets was staring. Had Lyric ever made an outburst like that? She was always so cool, calm, and collected. Lauren stretched on a smile and waved at the gawking crowd.
When she turned back to Lyric, a look she knew all too well was staring back at her. Disappointment.
“Probably, but he didn’t hurt me. Even when he had the chance, he didn’t. He doesn’t have a place to live, so I offered to let him stay in the house I’m trying to fix up to rent.”
Lyric scooted out of the booth and stretched her arms behind her head before tilting her head to each shoulder. “I’ve got to wake up for this conversation. I’m starting to think this is just a bad dream.”
“You’re sleep deprived, but this is real. Lyric, I’m sorry. I know this is a lot to take in. I’ve been terrified to tell you or anyone. All I know is I feel like Zach holds the answer to something. He’s going to help me with renovations instead of paying rent. He’s starting over,and maybe if I help him, he won’t fall back into his old ways.”
Lyric lowered her arms and slid back into the booth. “You know, you’re right. I know people can change. I’ve changed.” She rested a hand over her heart. “I had to spend a few nights in jail before someone took a chance on me. I would probably still be stuck in that life if Kendra hadn’t believed in me and pointed me to Jesus. I wouldn’t be married to a wonderful man and have two amazing kids if Asa hadn’t believed in me too.”
Kendra had torn her way out of rock bottom years ago and devoted her life to helping people who were stuck in the same situations she’d been in. Now, no one could look at Kendra and know she’d once been an addict. The same applied to Lyric. She was a wonderful friend, wife, and mother, and her past didn’t have a hold on her anymore.
Could that happen to Zach? Could he change for the better? A spark of optimism said he could. God could change lives and use them for His glory, but another twisted part of her worried that she was headed for disappointment.
“I want that for him,” Lauren whispered. “I don’t know if it’s possible, but everybody deserves a chance.”
Flashes of Zach’s brother, Bobby, in the courtroom during the trial intruded on Lauren’s hope. There hadn’t been a flicker of kindness in him, and he made it clear he didn’t see anything wrong with what he’ddone. The contrast between the two brothers was enough to stump her every time she thought about it.
“You’re right. I’m sorry I freaked out. Maybe Zach does need someone to believe in him. Maybe I don’t like that it’syoubecause you’re my friend, and this is all really scary.” Lyric glanced at her infant daughter. “I just don’t know who to trust.”
“You’re not the only one,” Lauren whispered. “I guess we’ll find out in time.”
8
