Forever Blessed (Women of Prayer) (38 page)

Sheila had several of the dresses in her cart. “I am buying for next summer. These are on clearance. You can’t beat that.” She picked up a pretty pink blanket with a brown tree embroidered on it. “This is it Laney, this is what I want. I sure hope the owners accept our bid. I want that house. I have so much to do. We should hear something today or tomorrow.”

Sheila had an artist standing by just waiting for a wall to paint on. The sketch was complete and was lovely. She chose cream walls for the nursery. The artist was going to paint a large tree with birds perched on the branches on one wall and bird accents throughout the rest of the room. The color scheme was pinks, creams and browns. Beautiful. She had everything, the crib, the bedding, the dresser, and changing table, all she needed was the house. And here they were, buying more.

“Sheila, you aren’t going to need a thing. What are we having a shower for?”

“Oh, leave me alone. It’s not every day that a woman thinks she’s going to be single for the rest of her life then marries and is having a baby at my age.” She turned to Laney, letting her know she wasn’t upset. “I’m happy. I am a happy shopper. It’s what I do when I am happy.” She added more to her cart.

Laney just shook her head and followed her around the baby department. She knew there was only one thing that would get Sheila out of that department. “Hey, I’m ready for some lunch, you game?”

Sheila jerked her head up. “Yeah, I am hungry. How did you know?”

Laney grabbed her by the arm. “Come on.”

Sheila wanted a gyro so they stopped at a little Greek restaurant after shopping. Laney didn’t complain. Baby clothes are adorable and fun to shop for but an overzealous hungry pregnant woman was not one to argue with. If it took food to get her out of the store, so be it. They would have gyros.

It was nice to spend some girl time together. Ella volunteered to watch the kids while Laney got out with Sheila. She hated to see it come to an end, but Ella wasn’t a hundred percent yet and she didn’t want to over tax the older woman.

When Sheila pulled into Laney’s driveway the kids were running through the sprinkler.

“Now that looks inviting.”

“Oh, yeah, I can see it now. Me and my belly running through the sprinkler. I don’t think the neighbors would care for such a sight.”

“Well you might be chicken, but I’m going to.”

Before Laney got to the front door a car pulled into the driveway. She wasn’t sure, but it looked like her mother’s car and her father was driving. She started walking toward the car, wishing the sun wasn’t in her eyes.

She heard her mother’s voice and squinted. “Hey mom, what brings you north?”

“We have come up to talk with you sweetheart. Is that okay?”

Her dad didn’t say anything. That was unusual. Nor would he ever ask permission from his daughter before doing something. Now she knew something was up. It couldn’t be good. “Well, come on in out of the heat. Let me say goodbye to Sheila and let Ella know I’m back. Make yourself at home. There’s some iced tea in the fridge.”

She leaned into the driver’s side of the car where Sheila was still sitting, waiting. “Hey, I’m going to have to desert you for the rest of the afternoon. My parents are here.” She made a scary face. “We’ll plan the nursery later, okay?”

“Sure, you need any moral support? You might need a big pregnant woman on your side in case things get really ugly.”

“Get out of here and go bug your husband.” She walked away and smacked the hood as she was leaving.

Laney entered the kitchen and poured herself a glass of tea. She noticed her mother had already poured herself and her father one. “I see you found the glasses okay.” She joined them at the table.

“Well? What’s wrong?”

“Well, honey, what makes you think something is wrong?”

“Mom, if dad is here, something is wrong. I know he doesn’t approve of what I’m doing.”

She looked to her father. “Well, dad. What is it?”

Laney had never seen her father looking so defeated. Was it his health? Was he dying?

Dave cleared his throat, not exactly sure how to start. He whispered a silent prayer and said the first thing that came to his mind. “I’m sorry.”

Laney had thought she heard him say, “I’m sorry,” but that couldn’t be the case. She’d never heard her father say those two words before.

“Excuse me? I don’t think I heard you correctly.”

“You heard me Laney, I said I’m sorry.”

“For what?” She hadn’t meant to be so blunt but she couldn’t for the life of her think of what he would be sorry for. Was that a tear on her father’s cheek?

“For everything. For how I treated you and your mother, especially your mother.”

He looked at her mother in a way that even made Laney jealous. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever seen him look at his wife that way. She had to know what was going on.

“Dad, what are you talking about? You’re scaring me.”

“I’m sorry, Laney, I just don’t know where to start. So, let me collect my thoughts for a second.” He cleared his throat, yet again and began to speak. “Your mother and I have been married forty years. I don’t know if you realize that. You were a miracle. Our miracle baby. When I first held you in my arms, I cried. I was so thankful.”

She was silent, listening to a man who barely used three or four words at a time and instead used his hands to express his wishes.

“Like I was saying, I was so happy. I don’t know what happened. I have no excuses. I won’t try and blame my parents or how I was raised. Simply put, I should have known better. I called myself a Christian yet I knew nothing about the love of Christ. I could quote scripture, but I had no idea what the words really meant.”

He took a sip of tea and looked at his daughter whose face he could not read. “You, Laney, have changed all that.”

“Me? I didn’t change anything. I haven’t even seen you in months.”

“I know. But, you have encouraged your mother without even knowing it. You have opened the Word to her and created a stirring in her heart that prompted her to seek out what God is looking for in his people. How he looks at hearts and not works. She in turn prayed for me and encouraged me. When the Holy Spirit opened up the scriptures to me, not just man's explanation, but God’s purpose, I was humbled and broken.”

He was crying. Her father was actually crying. She had never seen him cry.

He spoke through his tears, not bothering to wipe them away. “The Holy Spirit showed me how much I failed you and your mother. I was supposed to be your protector and instead, I was the one you feared the most. You were supposed to be safe under my roof and you weren’t. I did you wrong, and I am so sorry.” Laney’s mom handed him a tissue. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. I don’t think I would if I were you. But, I just had to say I was sorry in person. From the day I held you in my arms, I have never stopped loving you. I’m so sorry I didn’t show it better.”

He stood up and walked outside, not giving her time to respond.

She stared at her mother partly because she didn’t know what to say and partly to see if she too had heard what her father had just said.

Her mother slowly nodded her head
yes;
she did hear her father correctly. He was sincerely repentant for his actions.

Her mother started to rise to follow her husband. She was still dedicated to the man, no matter what. “Sweetheart, he truly doesn’t expect your forgiveness. He knows he doesn’t deserve it. He still wanted you to know how much he loves you and is sorry for how he has hurt you.” She hugged her daughter. “Please pray about this. I know your relationship with the Lord has grown. If God directs you to talk with your dad, will you?”

Laney nodded her head, not sure how to respond. She had to absorb it all before she would even consider reacting. Parts of her were angry. Why couldn’t he have seen this sooner? Parts of her were thankful; glad her mother was happier and safer. Laney still had a world of hurts to work through. She hugged her mom. “I’ll pray mom, I promise.” She held on. “I love you.”

Her mom squeezed back. “I love you too.” Then she left.

The whole visit lasted maybe an hour. When the kids came running in the house a few minutes later, Laney didn’t even notice the wet mess they were making as they ran through the house. Her thoughts were elsewhere.

             
             
             
Chapter Forty-Seven

The kids had been back in school for a full month and life seemed pretty peaceful. Laney hoped it would stay that way. Work was going well. She was back to full-time hours. Melanie started preschool. Laney wasn’t sure she was ready for that, but Melanie seemed to thrive on the interaction with the kids in her class. The thought of her baby being in school made her eyes tear up.

She had managed to save up some money and was thinking about buying a house. Something a little bigger would be nice for a family with three kids. Not having a garage was an inconvenience. Having a permanent home where she could put down roots and know she was here to stay, that was worth going in debt for. She longed for permanence.

First she had to get through the pregnant woman’s shower. She chuckled. That woman was waddling. There was no mistake; she had turned into a duck.

Laney looked around her living room. Everything was ready. The cake and the food were prepared. Ella had helped tremendously. Sheila offered to have the shower at the teashop but Laney said no way. She wasn’t letting her host her own shower. Her living room would be jam packed, but they would manage. At least the heat of summer was past and the windows were letting a cool breeze pass through the house.

Ella knocked on the screen door. “It’s me. I’m cleaned up and ready to help set up.” She looked around the house. “Looks like you have everything under control.”

“I sure hope so. Sheila should be here in a few minutes. Want to sit down and have some tea?” They were back to hot tea, both Laney and Ella’s favorite.

“Of course.” They both were sitting at the table when they heard a voice call out. “A little help here.”

Laney jumped up to find Sheila trying to climb her back door steps. “Go around to the front. You’ll never make those things.”

Sheila started crying. “I’m tired of being pregnant. I want to be normal.”

“Being pregnant is normal, just not a continuous normal.”

“Oh Lord, I wouldn’t make it. I don’t ever want to be pregnant again.”

Laney smiled. “You might change your mind after she arrives.”

“I don’t think so. One kid is enough for me. No more.” She looked at Laney with her most serious face. “I already told Austin, there’d be no more. If he even tries to touch me, he’s had it.”

Laney busted out laughing and Sheila started crying all over again. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up before your guests arrive. You don’t have to have any more if you don’t want to.” They walked past Ella and Laney rolled her eyes. Ella grinned.

Sheila washed her face and was instructed to put on a happy face, and then they both joined Ella at the table. Laney looked at her watch. “We have fifteen more minutes, girls, before the masses arrive. Is there anything else you can think of that I need to do?”

Everyone looked around. The gift table was set up with a stack of gifts already in place. The punch was made and the quiche was cooling. The fruit was cut up and the French toast casserole was almost ready to come out of the oven. Sheila decided she wanted breakfast food for her shower so that was what Sheila was getting. Ella had baked two of the quiche in her oven and Laney had made the other two. There was taco quiche, ham and Swiss, bacon mushroom, and asparagus with Gruyere. There would be no shortage of food, even with a hungry pregnant woman.

Austin’s mom came from Illinois and brought a carload of gifts. From the looks of things, their first granddaughter was going to be spoiled.

She bought dresses from
Gymboree
and the
Gap
as well as a few upper end stores Laney had never heard of. The boxes were too numerous to count. Lunch was perfect and several ladies asked for the recipes. Ella was accommodating. After lunch Laney’s hand got tired from writing down all the gifts the woman received. “It’s a good thing you bought that four bedroom house. You’re going to need the room.”