“Heel, Sampson,” Janey ordered, and without hesitation the dog returned to his mistress, his tail wagging and dark eyes eager to obey.
“Sit,” she ordered next, and Sampson willingly complied, lowering his rump to the lush green grass.
“Good boy.”Big, floppy ears waited for the petting and praise.Skye lowered herself beside the dog and Janey, who was now lying on her back examining the sky with a piece of grass clenched between her teeth.
“Are you two dog trainers ready for something cold to drink?”Peggy asked from the kitchen window.
“Bring some cookies, too,” Janey instructed.
“Will do,” Peggy agreed good-naturedly and joined the pair a few minutes later with a tray containing an iced pitcher, three glasses, and a plate of cookies.
“Have a cookie, Aunt Skye.They’re chocolate chip and real yummy.”
“No thanks, cupcake.”Her appetite had been nonexistent for weeks.She ate only because it was a necessary part of life.As a result her willowy figure now bordered on gaunt, as Brad had pointedly remarked.
“When is Jordan coming to see you?”Blue eyes, miniature duplicates of her aunt’s, waited for Skye’s answer.
“He isn’t,” Skye said flatly, struggling to keep her voice steady.
“I thought Jordan was real nice.I liked him,” Janey insisted before reaching for another cookie.
“I...I think he’s nice, too,” Skye agreed tautly.
“But I thought he was nice enough to be my uncle, and you said that...”
“That’s enough, Janey,” Peggy intervened sharply, watching Skye anxiously.
Skye smiled weakly in appreciation.She didn’t want to think about Jordan or make further explanations; it only renewed the pain she was struggling to control.
“Janey, go inside and bring me my knitting.”Peggy smiled gently at her daughter.“Thanks, sweetheart.”
Janey bounced from her position on the grass with the fluid grace of a young fawn.
“Don’t mind Janey,” Peggy said, her voice suddenly sober.“She’s been worried about you.We all have been.I wish things had worked out between you and Jordan.Janey doesn’t mean any harm...”
Skye swiftly interrupted.“I don’t mind, but I’m beginning to think the girl is ninety-five percent mother hen.”The attempt at humor was accompanied by a feeble smile.Her thick lashes fluttered downward to hide the hurt and regret while her voice revealed everything.“I know it’s difficult for you to understand, but it could never have worked between Jordan and me.There has to be a basic trust and honesty between couples—something sadly lacking in our relationship.”
“But I can understand why he didn’t want you to know the truth, especially in the beginning.”
Why did Peggy have to defend him?She was experiencing so many doubts herself.It had been wrong to lie about loving Glen.Two wrongs didn’t equal a right, but she’d been deeply hurt and assumed this was the best way to break the engagement.
“I do blame him,” she said stiffly.
Peggy sighed, expelling her breath unevenly.“Brad foundout something yesterday I think you should know.”She shifted uneasily, as if uncertain she should continue.“Jordan is responsible for Brad’s job.Apparently the company owner is a friend of Jordan’s, and he phoned, asking him to hire Brad.I’m glad Brad didn’t find out right away.I’m sure he would have quit, but as it’s turned out, the job is perfect for both sides.And I don’t know what we would’ve done if Brad hadn’t gone to work when he did.His self-worth, ego, and self-confidence couldn’t take much more rejection.”
A replica of a smile touched Skye’s mouth.“I think I’d already guessed that.After we learned that Jordan was responsible for Billy’s surgery and locating his father, there isn’t anything that would surprise me.”
Peggy defended him again.“His heart was in the right place.You have to admit that.”
Skye’s fingers curled around her glass of lemonade.“Perhaps.But Jordan was playing God.I don’t think he would ever have learned to trust Christ with his life.His money could buy him anything he wanted.For that reason alone I know I did the right thing.”
Peggy gave an exasperated sigh.“You’re not making any sense.”
Skye stood abruptly, impatiently.“Haven’t you ever heard the Scripture about it being harder for a camel to go through the eye of the needle in one wall of Jerusalem than for a rich man to get into heaven?I think I fully understand what Christ was saying now.”
Peggy’s expression remained troubled as she regarded her sister-in-law.“How’s Billy?”
Skye smiled, her first genuine smile of the day, a poignant catch in her voice.“He’s doing terrific!”
