“Can you blame him?”
“Yes,” she returned loudly.“No,” she finished weakly.
“It sounds to me like you’re as confused as I am about this whole thing.”
“For once, sister dear, we’re in agreement.”
“How much longer before Cole knows about the patent?”
“Apparently the judge hearing the case is making his decision soon.”
“Shouldn’t Cole be there?”
“Where?”Lesley looked up blankly.
“At the courthouse, wherever his case is being heard.”
“Oh.”Lesley took in a deep breath.“I guess not.His attorney seemed to think it would only place him in greater danger.Jennings would have open range on Cole if he’d stayed in Michigan.”
“Is that so different from now?If this Jennings character knows that Cole’s in Coeur d’Alene, isn’t he in even greater danger?”
Lesley’s finger made nervous circles around the edge of her coffee cup.“I don’t think so.Oh, Terry, I’m really worried.My life has always been so peaceful and quiet.Who would ever have dreamed all this could happen?”
“Believe me, the next time you start complaining about something mysterious going on at your place I won’t question or doubt or anything.”
“That’s encouraging,” Lesley responded with a small, slightly high-pitched laugh.
Lisa banged loudly on an aluminum pan with her wooden spoon, causing both sisters to stop and smile.How safe and secure the baby’s life was, compared to the harsh realities of what she was facing with Cole, Lesley mused.
“Lisa’s making a joyful noise unto the Lord,” Terry teased.
Lesley gazed lovingly at the baby.
The phone rang and Terry rose to answer it.“Hello.Yes, just a minute, she’s here.”She handed the receiver to Lesley.“It’s Cole.”
“Oh.”Lesley hurried out of her chair.“Cole?”Her voice was thick with anticipation.
“I probably shouldn’t have phoned, but I needed to hear your voice after all these weeks of living next to you.”
“And complaining about all the noise I made,” she added with a happy sigh.
“I’m finding it’s incredibly quiet here.Too quiet.”
“Don’t say that.”Lesley tensed, her hand gripping the telephone until she was sure her fingers had made permanent indentations in the hard plastic.
“Not to worry, it’s not that kind of quiet.I’m finding that I miss your singing.”
“But I can’t carry a tune.”
“You don’t need to tell me that.I know, I’ve listened to you often enough.”
Lesley laughed softly.“You must really be missing me, then.”
“That just goes to show you how much.”
They spoke for a few minutes longer.Cole’s words were reassuring.Much of the terrible tension that had knotted Lesley’s stomach all day lessened.
That evening the church was filled almost to capacity.The Wednesday before Thanksgiving was a time the congregation set aside to thank God for His continued blessings throughout the year.
