Chapter 6
“Would you like to go to church with us, Amy?” James asked the next morning when he and Hope walked into the family room. He wore a dark suit and looked handsome for an older gentleman. Hope wore a blue dress with a lace collar. Both of Ben’s parents were attractive people. Amy could see where he got his good looks.
Amy licked her suddenly dry lips. “Um... I don’t... I’ve never...” She bit her tongue to shut herself up. James’ invitation not only took her by surprise, it bothered her.
Why did a simple invitation to go to church make her so uncomfortable?
Hope seemed to sense her discomfort. “Perhaps you’d like to join us another time.”
“I think I’d like that.”
Truth was, Amy had never been to church, ever. Not even for Christmas or Easter, since her mother had never been the church-going type. Amy usually worked late on Saturday nights, and consequently, spent Sundays sleeping. Church had been the farthest thing from her mind.
As much as she didn’t want to be the kind of mother her mom had been, she’d become exactly that. Taking the child she had out of wedlock and leaving an abusive, cheating boyfriend in the middle of the night, was exactly the kind of thing her mother had done multiple times.
Maybe I should go to church.Would making religion a part of her and Kallie’s lives help stop the cycle of poor parenting and bad relationships?
Amy continued to mull this over as she took Kallie for a walk. She had always worked hard, hoping to provide a better environment for her daughter than she’d had growing up. When she rented her latest, two-bedroom apartment—the nicest and most spacious apartment she had ever lived in—she’d experienced a level of pride she’d never known before.
Everything she was so proud of seemed cheap and shabby compared to the luxury the Youngs shared with her. Even the expensive bath towels she’d splurged on a few months ago didn’t seem near as thick and soft as the ones the Youngs owned. And the satin sheets... She had no idea they could contribute to such a refreshing night’s sleep. Or maybe it was the quality of the mattress she’d slept on.
After their walk, Amy rocked Kallie on her lap on the front porch. While she admired the brick and stucco home across the cul-de-sac, the garage door opened, and a candy-apple red Porsche backed out. Before it pulled away, Amy caught a glimpse of the redhead who had sought Ben’s attention yesterday at the gas station.
“Nice car,” Amy said in awe, bouncing Kallie on her knee. “And nice house. What do you think, Kallie Bug? I think Mommy’s jealous.”
* * *
Amy sucked in a deep breath,then slowly let it out as she studied her reflection. She had never worked anywhere but Chuck’s Bar and Grill. The thought of working somewhere new both excited and terrified her.
The walk to Faith’s, then on to the sheriff’s office eased some tension. But all too soon, she sat next to Janice, the about-to-burst pregnant dispatcher, getting hands-on training. The more Amy learned, the more nervous she became.
“And this program is the 911 protocols.” Janice clicked on an icon, opening a list of questions.
Amy’s stomach tightened. Computers didn’t scare her. As the day manager, she’d ordered supplies, processed receipts, and balanced the books. The programs here were different, but not complicated.
However, knowing her quick responses when someone called with an emergency could mean the difference between life and death terrified her.
“In a small town like this, we rarely have many emergencies,” Janice said. “Unless there’s an accident on the interstate. Most of the calls we get are from old ladies whose dogs escaped. And of course, Widow Wheeler always calls with one imagined emergency or another. But she only wants help if Robert is available.”
“Who is Widow Wheeler? And why does she want Robert?”
“She’s your neighbor.”
At Amy’s look of confusion, Janice clarified, “You’re staying with the Youngs, right?” When Amy nodded, Janice said, “Debbie Wheeler lives in the other house in that cul-de-sac.”
Amy pictured the driver of the red Porsche. “She’s a widow?”
“Yep. She’s about ten years older than me, so I don’t know all the details, but I guess she married her high school sweetheart right after graduation. They both wanted to get out of this small town, so they moved away. To Seattle, I think. Anyway, they divorced after a few years. She came home for a year or two, but she didn’t stick around long.”
Janice sucked in a sharp breath and rubbed the side of her round belly.
“Are you having a contraction?” Amy asked in concern.
“Nah, just Braxton-Hicks. Been having them for weeks. Anyway, Debbie went back to the city and married a wealthy old man. He died a year or so later, and she inherited his fortune. She came back here to flaunt her wealth, telling everyone she was a widow. Which makes no sense, really, because she went back to her maiden name. But the name Widow Wheeler kind of stuck. Of course, we don’t call her that to her face.”
Amy’s thoughts turned to the unexpected scene she’d witnessed last night when she went to close the drapes before putting Kallie to bed. Ben, who’d come for Sunday dinner and hardly spoken two words, crossed the cul-de-sac to the large brown house. Surprised, Amy had watched until the redhead opened the door and welcomed him in.
Ignoring the same odd pang of jealousy that tightened her chest last night, Amy turned her focus back to Janice. “Why does she only want Robert to answer her calls?”
