Open Arms Page 12
Kate moved to the topic of painting the booths and mentioned that they were still waiting for the lumber because of a mix-up at the lumberyard. When she asked about volunteers to help with the painting, Angie was the first to raise her hand.
“I’d like to help with those,” the girl said. “I like to paint.”
Kate nodded and said, “Thanks, Angie. Sounds great.”
Kate wrote her name on a list of volunteers helping with that aspect of the preparations.
“The theme for the night is Under a Starry Sky. Carl will have a list of what each of the games will be.”
Her gaze turned to the adults who had already come up with preliminary plans for each booth. “We’ll make eight booths, so it’ll take some doing. Carl Wilson and Joe Tucker will be building them.” She turned to Carl and said, “Any idea when the lumber will be here?”
“Should be soon. Or so they tell me,” he said.
Kate saw his gaze move briefly to Ashley.
Kate looked back to Angie. “Carl can give you a call when they’re ready to start.”
“If I can paint after work,” Angie said, “I think I can volunteer a few hours a week.”
Kate understood how very difficult it was in this day and age to juggle the many, many aspects of life. She’d been running from one commitment to the next all week, and she felt ready for a good long nap. Teenagers these days had it worse. Most of them had jobs and plenty of homework to do each night, not to mention keeping up with the social aspects of their lives and sports.
“With prom a month and two days away, I think we’ll be just fine on that front,” Kate said.
Ashley’s hand edged up. “I’d like to paint the booths too.”
Kate smiled at her. “The more the merrier.”
AFTER THE MEETING ADJOURNED, Kate watched Carl Wilson amble over to Ashley Williams on the other side of the room. Soon the two were engrossed in conversation. They stood a little too close, and Ashley’s gaze was intent on his face.
Angie Petzel came up to Kate. Kate turned her attention to the girl.
“I like your hair,” Angie said, pointing to the orange atrocity.
Kate laughed. “This hair is an accident.”
“Well, it still looks hot,” Angie insisted.
“You’re sweet,” Kate said.
“Hey, I saw your invite to the Fashionista party. I will totally be there.”
“Oh, that’s great. I saw on FriendsForever that a lot of the girls seem to like the show, so I thought it’d be a good excuse to get together.”
Angie smiled. “There’s nothing like a good excuse to hang out with the girls. And your invitation says a lot about how much you care.”
ONCE KATE GOT HOME, she went to the bedroom and flipped open her laptop, plugging in the phone cord. After the several minutes it took to connect to the Internet, she clicked on the FriendsForever hyperlink. Dial-up was particularly slow, so she went to the kitchen to pull out food for supper. Kate glanced at her watch, wondering what was keeping Paul.
After she set a casserole in the oven to reheat, she checked her in-box. There were two messages: one from Angie Petzel and the other from Mouse. Kate’s heart skipped a beat.
She quickly opened the message from the mysterious sender.
Dear Mrs. Hanlon,
I know you’re looking out for me and praying for me. I can feel it. I saw how much you cared when you talked to me. Thank you for that.
I thought about what you said in your e-mail the other day. To be honest, it’s pretty hard to believe that God cares about someone like me. My folks are very big into church, yet all I ever see from them is judgment. I’m constantly hearing how much I fail, how much I don’t get right. Even when I do my very best, it isn’t good enough for them.
That’s why it’ll devastate them when I have to break the news about the baby. I can’t even think about that now. When I went to the doctor, I got to hear the baby’s heartbeat. Part of me is amazed, but the rest, the part that has to live in the real world, is terrified.
I have to tell my boyfriend regardless of what it does to our relationship. It tears me up to think about it. But the next time I see him, I’m going to do it. Pray that I won’t lose my nerve.
Mouse
Kate stared at the words. She’d talked to this girl. Who could it be? She closed her eyes and prayed for Mouse. Then she began to type from the heart.
Dear Mouse,
Be assured that I am indeed praying for you and thinking of you as you get ready to break the news to your boyfriend. I know this can’t be easy for you.
I’ve been giving your situation much thought, and you need to know that there is an option for you if you don’t feel you can raise your baby yourself. Adoption is a wonderful and beautiful gift to couples who can’t have children on their own. Many couples are longing for a baby of their own to love and care for.
There’s a couple I know here in Copper Mill. She’s a kindergarten teacher, and he’s an accountant. They desperately want a baby, but they haven’t been able to have one. They would be amazing parents.
I’m not saying that you must go this route, but it is something to consider and pray about.
Whatever you decide, know that I’m praying, and I’m always willing to discuss anything with you.
Your dear friend,
Kate
When Paul got home, he stood in the entryway staring at his wife. At first, Kate had no idea what was wrong. His mouth was agape, his eyes wide.
“What in the world?” he said. He pointed to the top of his own head.
Kate felt her strawlike locks, and memory returned.
“There was a little mishap at the salon.”
He laughed. “Okay...I thought maybe you were trying to spice things up in our marriage.”
“Why? Do you like this?” Kate placed her hands on her hips.
Paul’s brow furrowed for a moment. “Let’s just say there are better ways to be mysterious.” He pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss.
“Are you sure? Because this seems to be working pretty well!”
“Very funny.” He smiled, then his face sobered.
“Did you get a chance to visit the Joneses?” Kate guessed at the cause of his mood change.
Paul nodded. “I stopped by the house. The pastor from Faith Community was there too—they were planning the funeral. Poor David and Marlee. They’ve been through so much already.”
Chapter Eighteen
Mourners stared with empty, tear-filled gazes as the casket was lowered into the ground the following morning. Marlee clutched her father’s hand tightly, and Brenna reached over to hug her. Kate wished she could comfort Marlee, yet she knew that only time and God’s healing could truly accomplish that goal.
The small group of mourners moved off toward their cars and the lunch that awaited them at the church while Marlee and David Jones lingered at the grave site. Kate came up behind them, and Marlee turned to her. She swiped at her tear-stained face with a tissue.
“Thanks for being there on Monday,” Marlee said. “I didn’t know what to do.”
“I’m glad I was there too. Your grandmother was lucky to have you, to be so close to you.”
Marlee smiled, then closed her eyes. “I was the lucky one.”
THAT AFTERNOON, Kate decided to take a walk around town. The day was splendid. Sunshine warmed the streets, and robins bopped from spot to spot on the greening grass. Kate inhaled, allowing spring to waft over her.
The lumber that Carl Wilson had ordered for the afterprom booths had been delivered to Carl’s place around one thirty. He’d called to tell Kate of its arrival.
Kate drove to his place, and Joe Tucker arrived shortly thereafter. The older man inspected the order to make sure everything was accounted for and started in on building the booths right away.
When Kate had asked what she could do, Joe had promptly told her she wasn’t needed, and she’d better stop trying to be Wonder Woman.
Kate smiled at the recollection as she passed Emma’s Ice Cream on Main Street. She looked up and saw Angie Petzel coming toward her on the sidewalk. The teen smiled when she saw Kate and gave a little wave.
“Are you headed to work?” Kate asked.
“Yeah.”
Kate glanced at the girl’s adorable outfit, this one a schoolgirl look with tartan plaid.
“Cute outfit,” Kate said.
“Thanks. I design pretty much everything I wear.”
“You made that?” Kate shook her head, amazed that someone so young could be so talented.
“I’ve been doing it forever,” Angie said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
“You’re definitely an artsy girl, Angie. It’s impressive.”
Angie blushed. “Thanks. I love doing creative things. It gives me a sense of purpose, you know?” Her gaze lifted to Kate’s hairdo.
Kate’s cheeks warmed. “I have an appointment to change it back to my regular color.”
“That’s too bad,” Angie said with a laugh. “You’re someone who could really pull something like that off, you know?”
Kate wasn’t sure what she meant though she felt vaguely complimented.
Angie went on, “I mean that you’re really a confident person. It shows in how you carry yourself.”
Kate studied the eighteen-year-old, who shrugged when she finished speaking. Kate knew she was completely sincere in the compliment.
“You carry yourself well too,” Kate said.
Angie gave a slight shake of her head. “Looks can be deceiving.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh nothing...” She laughed and pushed a hand at the air as her words fell away.
“I was glad to see you at the meeting last night,” Kate said. “Oh, and the lumber arrived this morning. Some of the men are starting construction on the booths today, and they should be ready to paint by tomorrow night. There are some others coming to paint then too, around six. I was going to call you, but since you’re here...”
“That sounds perfect. I’ll stop by after work, then. It sounded like there will be quite a paint crew. Will you be there?”
Kate heard the hopeful note in her voice. She felt glad the girl was becoming more than an acquaintance. She could be a good influence among the other girls with her confidence and drive.
“I’ll be there,” Kate said, then the two went their separate ways.
DID YOU TELL YOUR BOYFRIEND? Kate wrote that night on FriendsForever after choir practice, the images of Ronda and Ashley flashing in her mind as she typed. All day long, she’d been thinking about it, wondering how the boy took the news of his impending fatherhood. Had Mouse really gone through with it? Or had she chickened out?
Kate wished the girl was online right then so she wouldn’t have to wait for an answer.
But there was no answer that night. Kate worried about what that meant.
“HEYA,” RONDA SAID THE NEXT DAY as she entered the large Faith Briar fellowship hall, where several of the young people had gathered to begin painting the booths. Kate was surprised to see her there, considering she hadn’t had a chance to talk to her about the event. She seemed in a better mood and she looked healthier.
“Ashley told me about tonight, so I thought I’d volunteer,” she said. “I thought you’d be in today to get your hair fixed.” Her gaze traveled to Kate’s head.
“I have an appointment for next week,” Kate said. “Alicia said you were booked.”
“Oh...okay. Well, I’m so sorry about that.”
Kate patted Ronda’s hand and smiled into her eyes. Then Ronda excused herself and waved at Ashley before making her way to the girl who was putting a primer coat on one of the wooden game booths that Carl and Joe had built. Ronda wasn’t a Faith Briar regular, so Kate appreciated that the girl would so willingly give up her free time to help out.
Kate carried a paint brush to Ronda.
“So how long have you and Ashley been friends?” Kate asked, looking between the two.
Ashley Williams wore a tan cardigan with a khaki skirt and a white cotton blouse. It looked more like a Catholic-school uniform than something a girl her age would wear to a painting party. The buttons on her blouse bulged a little, attesting to the rumored weight gain.
“We graduated high school together, but we didn’t really hang out much then. We’ve become better acquainted since our classmates left for college,” Ashley said, glancing at Ronda. “She was one of the popular girls.”
“I was not,” Ronda said, taking the brush from Kate and chuckling. “I was the one with really big hair, remember?”
Ashley smiled and moved the paint bucket between them to share, and they were soon busy painting, using the sketches Angie had drawn up as a guide for the design. Kate ambled around the room, checking on everyone’s progress and answering any questions that came up. Finally she got herself a cup of coffee. When she turned back toward the room, she saw Ashley and Angie chatting. At one point, Carl came by, and Ashley smiled up at him.
Kate waved at her, and the T-shirt-clad eighteen-year-old came over.
“What would you like me to do?” She stuffed her hands in her jeans pockets and looked around the busy room.
“You’ve already done a lot.”
Kate referred to the drawings for each booth that Angie had left with Carl Wilson. The booths kept to the starry theme, with Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars all given equal space in the entourage while being bright and creative.
“Ashley and Ronda are painting the base coat on that booth,” Kate pointed to the twosome. “Would you like to decorate one of the dry ones?” She motioned to the lineup of plain navy booths.
Kate led the teen to the collection of tempera paints on the kitchen counter. Angie gathered her needed supplies and soon was painting. Kate grabbed a brush and took up residence on the opposite side of the booth that Angie was working on.
“You paint, Mrs. Hanlon?” Angie asked.
“I love to draw and paint,” Kate said. “I have a stained-glass studio in my house, so I draw designs for windows and lamps all the time.”
Angie poked her head around the side and looked at her.
“Really?” she said. “I didn’t know that about you.”
“You’d be surprised what else you don’t know,” Kate said, raising a mysterious eyebrow.
There was something magnetic about Angie, Kate thought as they chatted. Maybe it was the sense of confidence she exuded, or the creativity that seemed to ooze from her very pores. It gave her an air of artistic flair.
“I have the perfect outfit to bring for your contest,” Angie said.
“The Fashionista party?”
“Yup. You’d better have good prizes.”
“Now I’m nervous,” Kate laughed. “But I’ve got some good stuff planned.”
They painted in comfortable silence for a while.
“What church do you attend again?” Kate finally asked. “You mentioned going somewhere in Pine Ridge?”
“Yeah,” Angie said. “It’s not the best, but I’ve been going there my whole life.”
“Not the best...What do you mean?”
“If it was up to me, I’d go someplace closer to home, like Faith Briar, where I’m with the people from my own town. It’s hard to feel connected over there.” She shrugged and continued painting. “I don’t really know those people. And they don’t exactly reach out.”
Kate looked at Angie. Her eyes were focused on her work, but there was obvious hurt in them. Kate wondered what had happened to cause it.
“So,” Kate said, “tell me about your family.”
“I have four sisters—Caitlin, Elizabeth, Amy, and Kris. They’re all younger than me.”
“That’s a houseful,” Kate said. “Are you close to each other?”
“I suppose. But lately we seem to argue a lot. My folks are really busy, though, s
o they don’t seem to notice.”
“What do you mean?”
Angie paused before going on. “My dad has a business here in town—they make catalogs for other companies—and mother...she’s a stay-at-home mom.”
Kate dipped her brush in the orange paint and continued to add stars to the navy background.
“She volunteers so much at church that half the time I don’t see her. She’s always running from one Bible study to the next. I kinda miss her.”
Kate was just about to say more when Ronda shouted from the other side of the room, “Call an ambulance!”
Kate looked toward Ronda, and next to her lay Ashley in a heap on the floor.
Chapter Nineteen
The girl was unconscious. Kate ran to her side while the others gathered around. Carl Wilson was already on the phone to 911.
“What happened?” Kate asked Ronda as she opened the girl’s eyes to see if her pupils were equal sizes. She seemed to be breathing.
“I don’t know,” Ronda said. “We were just talking about the Fashionista party, and then...”
As she spoke, Ashley’s eyes fluttered open.
“What happened?” she said.
Kate gazed down at her. Her face was unbelievably pale, yet she smiled at Kate.
“You passed out,” Kate said. “There’s an ambulance coming.”
Ashley sat up then, alarmed. “No,” she said. “Don’t call an ambulance. I’m fine.”
“But, honey, you collapsed,” Kate said, trying to calm her.
“I won’t go,” she reiterated. “I’m fine. I really am. I just need a little food in my stomach, and I’ll be good as new.”
Kate met Angie’s eye, and the girl went to the kitchen to find something for Ashley to eat.
“Call them back,” Ashley said, her eyes searching Kate’s. “I don’t want to worry my folks. Really, I’m fine. Just get me some food, please.”
Kate didn’t miss her glance at Carl.