Facing Redemption (28 page)

             
“Yes!  It’ll be fun. It’ll be like college again.  I miss you roomie!”

             
“Okaaaay.  You asked for it.”

             
They both giggled at the prospect of late night movies and burnt popcorn.  Chastity cranked up her radio and smiled at Anne when their favorite song came on. 
Unwritten,
by Natasha Bedinfield, crooned through her car speakers as both girls started singing as loud as they could.  Anne knew this is where she belonged for now and felt peace for the first time in a long time.

Chapter 39

Chastity’s wedding was quickly approaching, and he knew he had no claim to her.  John had no right to ask her of anything.  Even with this knowledge, it was killing John Mikale that he couldn’t walk his daughter down the aisle.  As far as he knew, she’d read none of his letters. 

             
By mid morning Andie had had enough of his sulking.  She walked into his office and rolled her eyes.  He still had on his rumpled scruffy pajamas and was sitting in his easy chair staring out the window.

             
“You know there’s a perfectly good game on ESPN Classic.”  Andie smiled.

             
John rolled his eyes.  “Since when do you pay attention to sports?”

             
“Since when do you not?”  Andie walked across the room to sit on his lap.  Her arms went around his neck.  “Watch out.  I might scrunch you.”  Andie laid a hand on her very pregnant belly.

             
John wrapped his arms around her and leaned in to gain comfort, but still said nothing.

             
“Are you going to get worse?  Or are you going to do something about it?”

             
“About what?”

             
“The wedding.  Your daughter.”

             
“I don’t have the right to call her that.  I am not invited to the wedding.”  He said softly.

             
“So?”

             
“What?”  He popped his head up to meet her eyes.
             
“So what if you’re not invited.  And you know she isn’t going to come around tomorrow but if you continue to try she might come around sometime…sometime soon.”

             
“What are you suggesting I do?  Show up and announce myself?”

             
“Well that’s not such a bad idea…the showing up … not the announcing yourself part.  No – but other than walk the bride down the aisle, which you can’t do, what other obligations do fathers of the bride hold?”

             
“I don’t follow …” John’s eyes held confusion.

             
“Do I have to spell it out?” Andie laughed and put her hands in the air.  She stood up and leaned over him.  She took his face in her hands so that they were close when she continued.  “Pay for the wedding.”

             
“What?  How would I do that?  I have no idea what to pay for?  I don’t know what she’s planning.”

             
“Um yeah, but you know who does – don’t you?”  Andie wanted to laugh at her husband’s face.  It held utter confusion.  “John, c’mon.  Your brother
-
and his wife?  Lauri has been helping with the planning right?  And you and Jesse have been on speaking terms again, right?”

             
John’s eyes lit up.  He instantly perked up and smiled.  He reached for her face and smacked a kiss on her lips.  “You’re a genius!  I knew I married a smart woman.”

             
“Good because for a minute there I was beginning to wonder if I married a man with a rock for brains.”

             
John laughed and reached for his phone.  He quickly dialed Jesse’s number.  As Andie struggled to get up, she felt her husband’s strong hand on her behind giving her a lift.  He chuckled at her strenuous efforts to stand.  Andie pretended to glare at him on her way out.

The phone rang a few times before Jesse answered.

             
“Hey there.  I know you weren’t expecting a call from me, but I wanted to run something by you.  You may be totally against it, but I just had to ask.”  John rambled on.

             
“Spit it out John.”  Jesse laughed.  He’d not heard him this excited since they were kids.

             
“I know Chastity wants nothing to do with me …” John started in.   Jesse’s internal alarm started sounding.  The last thing he wanted to do was to maneuver anything that would hurt his niece, or betray her trust.

             
“John I’m not sure I like the sound of this.” 

             
“Jesse, just hear me out.”  He paused.  “Please.”  John’s voice dropped.

             
Jesse drew a breath.  “Okay.”

             
“Like I said, I know she wants nothing to do with me.  And I accept she may never come around.  But, what if I wanted to help pay for the wedding?”

             
“I don’t know John.”

             
“Really, it would be anonymous.  I know you and Lauri are helping plan it.  What if I just give you a large donation?  And you could call it the wedding fund?  She wouldn’t have to know it was from me?”  John stressed.

             
Jesse’s mind quickly went to work.  The idea had merit.  “It might work but I don’t want to be dishonest with her John.”

             
“You don’t have to be.  I’m her father. It’s my duty to take care of her wedding whether she wants me there or not.  She doesn’t have to know I’m paying for it.”

             
Jesse silently nodded his head.  “Let me think about it.  I’m not opposed to it.  I just need some time to mull it over.  Chastity has been through so much betrayal in the last year.  If I agree to this, I would have to tread lightly.”

             
John breathed a sigh of relief.  “Okay.  Let me know what you decide.  I just want to help.  I just want to be able to do something for her.”

             
“I understand.”  Jesse smiled.  His brother had definitely changed.  “I’ll call you back this week, okay?”

             
“Thanks big brother.  I really appreciate all you’ve done for me.”
             
“I haven’t done it yet.  I didn’t say yes.”

             
“I wasn’t referring to the wedding.   I meant I appreciate you allowing me to be a part of your life again.”

             
Jesse’s heart was filled.  He had his little brother again.  “Don’t mention it.  I’ll talk to you soon.” 

             
John hung up with teary eyes, thankful for a second chance with his brother.
             

Chapter 40

Jackson lifted his hand in greeting when Lauri stepped into his room. In seeing how clear his eyes were, she felt her whole body release the tension she always had coming here.  Today she could relax, because it was a good day.  He had direct eye contact and seemed to recognize her.

“Hey there dad.” Lauri leaned down for a hug.  “Your son sends his best.”

“When is he going to get his butt in here and see me?”  Jackson grumbled.

“Soon.”  She promised and sat down next to him.  “I brought you some more pictures.  See?”  She handed one over of Alex.  “He’s getting bigger by the minute.”  Lauri said wistfully.

“They do that.”  Jackson’s smile was sad.  She saw regret in his eyes.

“They do.” She pulled out a few more from her purse. “Here is a couple more for your wall.”  Lauri looked above Jackson’s TV.  He had started taping all the pictures Lauri brought him, which now spanned the gap between the television and the ceiling.  He said it helped him remember.

“Now who’s this handsome looking young man?”  Jackson pointed to Timothy’s face.  Lauri noticed how much older his hands were looking.  They shook when he lifted them.  She’d seen so many more signs this year that he was aging faster.

“That’s Chastity’s new fiancé, Timothy.  They’re getting married.”

“Oh, I know her.”  He smiled down to Chastity’s face in the picture.

“Of course you do, I’ve been bringing pictures of her for months now. Good!  I’m glad you remember. Remember, I told you that she wasn’t lost anymore?  She’s finally part of the family, like you’ve wanted for all these years.  I brought you a picture when she finally contacted us, last summer.”  Lauri reminded him.

“No, I know her.  I’ve met her.” 

Lauri sighed and gave him a sympathetic look.

Jackson frowned and grabbed Lauri’s arm.  “Oh don’t look at me that way.  I’m here today Lauri.  I’m here.”  Jackson lifted his finger and tapped his temple.  “And I’m telling you we’ve talked.  She sat outside the nursing home on that bench not too long ago.”  He said pointing out his window, “At the start of my therapy.  And we had a chat.”

“Really?” Lauri couldn’t believe it, but Jackson sounded so convincing.

“Yes, and I remember thinking how lovely that young lady was and how she reminded me of Marilyn.”  Jackson smiled sheepishly.  “And I admit I may have confused her for my late wife.  It didn’t click for me until today.”  Jackson could see Lauri still wasn’t convinced.  “Ah!” He said waving his hand.  “Don’t believe me, I don’t care.”  He said cantankerously. 

Lauri smiled and looked him deep in the eyes, which looked clear.  “I believe you Jackson.  I think it’s very nice that you finally met your granddaughter.”

He grabbed her hand and smiled in thanks.  “Do you think she’ll come back to see me?  She looks a lot like Marilyn.”

“Well, she came once didn’t she?  She’s making progress.  I see her softening some, especially now that she’s engaged.  I wouldn’t be surprised if she came again.”  

“Ask her will you?  Will you tell her I asked about her?  Are you sure I can’t go to wedding?”  Jackson’s eyes pleaded.

“Jackson, I love you but the problem is we never know if you’re going to have a good day or a bad one.  Chastity’s been hurt by our family for so many years…” Lauri’s voice softened.  “I promise I’ll ask her to come see you again though.”

Jackson nodded.  “I understand.  Well, at least she came once.”  He happily picked up the picture and smiled down to Chastity.  “Can you hand me my scotch tape?”

Lauri happily handed him the tape and helped him out of his chair to tape up his new pictures.  When he was done, he touched Alex and Chastity’s faces on the wall and then struggled to sit down by himself.  She reached to assist him.  He was feebler than either wanted to admit.

“Thanks.”  Jackson sighed as he finally got settled into his chair.  It made Lauri’s heart ache a bit.  A month ago he would have refused her help.  The fact that he let her help him now spoke volumes.

Thunder shook the windows of his room. “You’d better not get caught in this storm.”  Jackson’s brow furrowed and he looked out his window.

Lauri kissed him on the head.  “See you soon.”  She said quietly and left. Even with the shift in mood at the end, Lauri drove with a light heart. 
He remembered!
  It was amazing that he so clearly remembered Chastity.

Thunder rumbled so hard above her, she felt the tremor through her car. As rain started pelting harder on her windshield, she turned her radio on to make sure they were playing music. 

Like everyone else in Oklahoma, Lauri knew that during a storm – as long as the music is still playing – you’re safe.  It’s when the broadcast switches over to the local weatherman’s live broadcast that you have to worry. 
Before He Cheats,
by Carrie Underwood, blared from her speakers and Lauri breathed a sigh of relief.

Within seconds another bolt of lightning cracked, splitting in different directions overhead.  It danced from cloud to cloud and was loud enough to be heard over the radio.  Lauri jumped in her seat.