Her Unlikely Family (6 page)

“I'm so off schedule, I had forgotten today was Sunday.” And he hadn't thought to make plans with Josie and Lisa.

He ended the call and donned the one suit he'd packed back when he'd had hope of making Saturday's dinner meeting—the dinner he'd planned to have with Tom Mason at Magnolia's. The one he'd missed while eating surrounded by shrieking kids.

At least Gary, who'd filled in for the engagement, had gotten to enjoy the shellfish and grits.

As he dialed Josie's phone number, he hesitated. Would they welcome him to attend church with them? Would Josie even insist that Lisa go?

The phone rang.

“'Lo?” a froggy voice croaked.

“Good morning.”

Josie cleared her throat. “Mike?”

“I'm calling to invite myself to church.”

“Church? What time is it?”

“It's ten o'clock. I wasn't sure what time the service would start.”

She groaned. “Oh, no. We overslept.”

“Does worship start at eleven?”

“Yes.”

“If you don't mind, I'd like to join you and Lisa this morning.”

“It was pretty rough last week when I forced her to go. It won't be easy, especially with you in the picture.”

“I'm willing to try.”

She sighed, and he heard sheets rustling. “Okay. We'll be ready in a flash.”

 

As Josie and Lisa hustled out of the house, Mike opened the car door for his niece. Josie could tell by his wide-eyed look that Lisa's black dress, black boots, multiple metal belts and black lipstick horrified him. Lisa's pleased smile, and the devious sparkle in her eye, fairly shouted her victory. But Mike's determined glint as he opened Josie's door said that Lisa hadn't yet won this war.

Both confirmed that Josie was dealing with some major stubborn genes here.

Mike hopped in his side. “Where to?”

“Not that mausoleum we went to last week,” Lisa said.

“That's not nice, Lisa,” Mike said, though Josie understood why Lisa would say it.

“I didn't fit in at all there. The average age must be ninety.”

Josie laughed. “More like seventy. But I know a few teenagers, one who lived with me for a while. I'll introduce you this time.”

“Which way, then?” Mike asked as he started his car. “Is it that big church I saw up on the hill in town?”

The one that looked exactly like the church Josie had grown up in? No, thanks. “No. It's much smaller. A little less threatening to me.”

“How can a church be threatening?”

“I don't do huge crowds, okay?”

“Okay. So, left or right at the end of your street?”

Lisa leaned forward, placing her black-clad arms over the seat between them. “If we don't go soon, I'm getting out. I have lunch plans with Brian this afternoon.”

“Go left,” Josie said as Mike backed away from the house.

With a tug on his suit coat, Mike turned and put the car in Drive. “How about we spend the day together since neither of you is scheduled to work?”

“How about…no. I said I have a date.”

Tension radiated off Mike's stiff shoulders. Broad shoulders that filled out the eight or nine hundred dollar suit coat to perfection. “What do you know about him, Lisa? Is he a Christian?”

“Like I'm going to ask that on the first date.”

“You need to know that about all potential boyfriends.”

“Look, he goes to church with his family every time the doors open. Does that satisfy you?”

“Josie, what do you think about this Brian guy?”

“He's always been responsible delivering the bread. On time. Professional. Polite.”

Mike stopped at an intersection, and she directed him to turn. As he rested his arm on the back of the seat to look around at his niece, the exotic, masculine smell of his aftershave lotion wafted her way. Josie sniffed the scent of spice and man deep into her lungs and somehow managed not to nuzzle against his large, hair-dusted hand. What was wrong with her?

“I guess if Josie thinks he's okay, you can go out with him,” Mike said to Lisa.

Josie couldn't believe her ears. He actually trusted her judgment?

“But don't think you're going to use him as an excuse every time we plan an activity,” he added.

“You're not going to plan every minute of every day, Uncle Michael. I have a life, you know.”

“You have a life at school. This is more like a vacation, and you should be thankful I'm allowing you to stay.”

Once the car was moving again, Lisa started muttering in the backseat. Josie wasn't sure Michael could hear, but she heard loud and clear as Lisa griped about him being bossy.

As they pulled into the lot of the stone church near the diner, she noticed Michael's tanned knuckles had turned white as his fingers gripped the steering wheel.

Apparently, he had heard after all.

“We're here,” he said.

This was her church, her sanctuary when she had come to town, hurting, disillusioned, alone. She'd met a kind, older woman who owned the Comfy Inn. Susan had taken Josie under her wing and eventually invited her to visit a service. Josie hadn't missed a Sunday since.

A couple of teenagers walked through the parking lot. And a family with a baby.

“See, Lisa, two kids your age,” Mike pointed out.

A smart-alecky huffing sound was her only response.

Josie wondered if it was due to the fact that the teens, a boy and a girl, were dressed very conservatively or the fact that they were actually a couple, holding hands.

Maybe Regina would be there. Lisa could relate to another runaway.

The instant they came to a complete stop in a parking space, Lisa climbed out and slammed the door. Josie reached for Mike and peeled first one finger, then the next out of the death grip. “Relax,” she said near his ear. “Don't let her goad you. You play right into her hands.”

He straightened his fingers, wiggled them a second, then turned the car off and removed the keys. As he leaned to his side and dropped them into his pocket, he looked her in the eye. “Thank you.”

Unable to resist touching him, she took his hand and squeezed. She was a compassionate person, after all. And he seemed to be working so hard. How could she not like a guy who kept trying to win over a girl who loved to torment him? “Hang in there, Mike. You're doing better already.”

“Yeah? How's that?”

“You didn't blow up when she grumbled there in the backseat.”

“Only because she was trying to talk to herself. She just needed to let off some steam.”

Josie laughed and opened her door. “I'm sure we all need to pray for patience while we're here.”

 

Josie sure had the part about praying for patience right, Michael thought as he slipped into the second pew from the front—thanks to Josie who insisted that if they were going to worship, then they needed to sit close to the choir.

He also needed to do some repenting because his thoughts hadn't been exactly pure as Josie had studied his hands, had whispered in his ear, had touched him. He could have sworn he'd even seen her inhale when she was close to him, as if she enjoyed the smell of his aftershave lotion.

Heavenly God, direct my thoughts. Keep them focused on You. Keep them on my mission here. I may not understand Your plan for me, how Lisa plays into that, but I know Josie's face shouldn't keep intruding in my thoughts….

The friendly congregation settled in. Lisa, with her arms crossed in their usual position, sat between him and Josie. As Josie put her arm around Lisa and whispered something in her ear, Josie's fingertips rested on his shoulder. When the pastor welcomed everyone, drawing her attention away, her fingers remained, warming him through the wool.

Her mere fingertips had the power to send his train of thought awry. How could this unusual woman affect him so? Gloria had never given him a moment of trouble. She was calm, controlled, dignified. He'd never worried what she might say or do. She knew exactly what to do in every situation.

Then again, Josie seemed to know what to do in every situation as well. So what was the difference? Why did he find her so disturbing?

He picked up the hymnal as they sang the opening hymn. Along about the second verse, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye.

Josie seemed entranced. Her face tilted heavenward.

There was his answer right there. He found her disturbing because she was so unpredictable. The woman who had talked about being intimidated by crowds had settled in the midst of this crowd as if she'd been born to it. Without a whit of self-consciousness, she sang at the top of her lungs.

Maybe that adaptability was what made it so easy for her to connect to God. To connect with Lisa.

Could she teach him how to do that? Possibly even how to love?

Whether she could or not, he needed to remember that he could never consider a relationship with someone so unpredictable. He enjoyed a planned and orderly life. Lisa would cause enough turmoil. He certainly didn't need to add the chaos that was Josie to the mix.

“W
ow,” Josie said as they drove away from the church. “That was the most uplifting service I've ever gone to.” Joy still warmed her.

Lisa leaned her chin on the back of Josie's seat. “You said that last week. And you know, Josie, it could get a little embarrassing to have you belting out songs like that.”

“I couldn't help it. The joy of the music just bubbled out of me.”

“That's cool, I guess. As long as it's not for show.”

Michael cocked his head back in surprise. “That was a quick about-face, Lisa—from embarrassing to cool.”

“Hey, as long as Josie's being honest, I can live with the wacky.”

“And is your choice of Sunday clothes a statement of your honesty?” he asked.

Josie tensed, waiting for Lisa's explosion.

But Lisa chuckled. “I guess you can say that. I honestly love black.”

“As long as it's not just for show.” He raised his brows at her in the rearview mirror.

She mumbled, “Yeah, well…”

With a smirk lifting one side of his mouth, he glanced at Josie, then said to Lisa, “Hey, you look good in black. It sets off the green nicely.”

Lisa huffed. “Like you really believe that.”

“I have to admit I think your natural color is more attractive. But you are sixteen and old enough to choose your own hairstyle.”

Way to go, Mike. You're catching on.

“Hey, look! There's Regina, walking by the road. Slow down, Mike.”

“Who's Regina?” Lisa asked.

“The girl I told you about. She lived with me for a while.”

Mike pulled alongside Regina.

Josie rolled down her window. “How about a ride?”

Winded, Regina said, “That would be great. I'm late to work.”

Regina climbed in the back beside Lisa, and Josie made the introductions. “Mike, let's drop Regina at the diner. She works with Bud on Sundays after church.”

“I didn't see you at church,” Lisa said.

“I worked in the nursery today.”

“Oh.” Lisa was silent, and Josie noticed she kept secretly checking out Regina.

“I work at the diner, too,” Lisa added.

“I know. Bud talks about you and Josie all the time.”

“Good things, I hope.” Josie laughed, then turned around to point Mike in the right direction.

“Yes. He brags on both of you—as much bragging as Bud would do, anyway.”

“Aren't you going to college somewhere nearby?” Mike asked.

“Yes, sir. I'm studying to be a social worker.”

“Good for you. You'll do well, I'm sure.” He pulled up in front of the diner. “Here you go.”

“Did you ever go home to your parents?” Lisa blurted as Regina was getting out.

“Just to visit. I decided to stay here, to live on my own once I turned eighteen. But I talk to my parents. Everything is cool between us now.”

Lisa's gaze darted to her uncle. “That's good.”

“Thanks for the ride.” Regina hurried to the door of the diner, then waved.

“She's nice,” Lisa said. “How long did she live with you, Josie?”

“About eight months. Then she moved out, got a roommate and applied for college.”

“That sounds great.”

Mike didn't look too happy about that type of plan. She smiled at him, hoping to encourage him, then turned to the backseat. “So, Lisa, what are we going to do today after your lunch date?”

“
We
aren't doing anything.”

“But we need to show Mike around town. Let's do something fun after you get home.”

Lisa rolled her eyes, a gesture Josie would forever associate with Lisa.

“I promise you'll enjoy yourself.”

“I'm at the mercy of you ladies,” Mike said. “Why don't you call when you're free this afternoon. I'll come get you, and we'll do whatever you say.”

“But Brian and I—”

“Invite him along,” Mike added. “I should get to know him if you're going to be socializing with him.”

Lisa made a face and mouthed, “Socializing?”

Thankful that Lisa hadn't voiced her criticism and seemed to be learning, too, Josie winked at her. “We'll loosen Mike up this afternoon. Whataya say?”

“No. And Brian's supposed to pick me up at twelve-thirty, so take me home so I can change.”

Mike slammed on the brakes. “Excuse me?”

Luckily no one rear-ended them.

“Take me home…please,” Lisa uttered as if it were painful to be polite.

He started the car in motion once again and took her to Josie's house as she'd requested. But he didn't appear happy about it. Josie imagined it took all his hard-fought control not to chew her ear off the whole way.

Lisa hopped out and slammed the door. After a second of hesitation, she opened the door again. “Thank you.” It was grudging, but at least she'd said it.

He watched his niece climb the front steps, take out her key and go inside. “So, what's our plan for today?” he finally asked.

“Since you're letting Lisa go out with Brian, I assumed we'd go our separate ways.”

“What about showing me the town—loosening me up?”

Was the guy kidding? “That was for your and Lisa's benefit, not yours and mine.”

“True. I suppose you'd like an afternoon off without us to worry about.”

Was it her imagination or was he trying to send her on a guilt trip?

If so, it was working. He looked kind of lonely sitting there staring at the house.

“I guess we could get some lunch,” she said, feeling sorry for him. “Why don't you go change and come back to get me?”

One side of his mouth quirked up in that way that made her stomach do somersaults. “Taking pity on me? You're not as tough as you'd like me to think.”

At the moment, she was about as tough as an under-cooked French fry. Just looking at him made her joints go to mush. “I'm tough when the situation calls for it. You're new to town and don't know all the good places to eat.”

He nodded and pulled a face that said he didn't believe a word she'd said. “I see. So you're moonlighting at the chamber of commerce?”

“That's right.” She would try to convince him even if she knew better.

“Thanks for offering, Miss Welcoming Committee. I'll go take this suit off. I should be back in time to meet this Brian fellow.”

She climbed out and then tried not to look at him as he waved and drove away in all that leather and luxury.

As Josie stood wondering why she was drawn to the man, Brian drove up, ten minutes early, and honked the horn for Lisa.

She marched over to the truck. “Don't ever drive up and honk, mister. You come to the door, or you don't take her out.”

He swallowed, and his overgrown Adam's apple bobbed up, then back down. “Yes, ma'am.”

Before he could get out, the front door opened and Lisa barreled out. “Hey, Brian. Let's go.”

“Your uncle wants to meet Brian,” Josie said. “Why don't you two stick around a few minutes?”

Lisa peeked at Brian and must have noticed his horrified expression at the mention of the word
uncle
. She opened the passenger door and heaved herself into the truck. “We need to get going. Can't do it right now.”

Brian appeared torn between fear and obedience.

Josie decided not to push them at the moment. “Go on, then.” But she would make sure Mike and Brian met. Mike needed to see he was an okay kid, and Brian needed to see that Mike wasn't an ogre.

 

Josie guided Mike toward town and the many restaurants they had to choose from. She didn't suppose he would appreciate her choosing the diner.

“I still can't believe Lisa was so stubborn about not wanting the four of us to do something together today,” he said.

“It's a date. Remember those?”

“Of course.”

“How often did you want your parents along?”

“But she's only sixteen. What could she possibly want to do that she doesn't want me there?”

“Come on, Mike, she's not up to anything immoral or illegal. She just wants to have some fun with a boy.”

He drove without further complaint, silenced by her censure. As they passed Josie's favorite miniature golf place, she spotted Brian's shiny red truck with his family's bread company logo.

Some lunch. They must've gone by a drive-through window and eaten in the truck.

“Mike, how badly do you want to prove you're a fun guy?”

He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “I'm not sure I like the sound of that.”

“Lisa and Brian are over there, about to play golf.”

Mike slowed and pulled into the parking lot. “I'd feel a little sneaky.”

“Me, too. But we could play our own game and hope they'll join us for a second round.”

As they sat in the running car, Mike stricken with what was probably uncharacteristic indecision, Lisa and Brian rounded the corner from the little rental hut. Brian had his club and ball in his left hand and his right arm around Lisa's waist.

“Hey, he's got his hand on her rear end,” Mike hollered.

“Not quite, Mike. He's just tall and has long arms.” And he looked as awkward as an ape. “It's probably the first time he's had his arm around a girl.”

“That's no comfort. He'll be bumbling and groping before we know it.”

Lisa smiled up at Brian and appeared comfortable while Brian blushed and acted as if he didn't know what to do next. It was almost painful to watch.

Josie's conscience kicked in. They shouldn't be spying. “Maybe we should just let them be, Mike. We need to eat, anyway.”

In a too-quick flash of uncoordinated movement that looked more like an attack, Brian kissed Lisa on the…not quite mouth, not quite cheek. As he did so, he thumped her on the head with his golf club, which knocked the golf ball out of his hand.

“What'd I tell you, Josie? Did you see that idiotic move?”

“Yes, the poor guy. How embarrassing.”

“Lisa's not pleased. She apparently doesn't want him kissing her.”

Lisa walked away from him, rubbing her head. She plopped herself on a bench, threw down her club, then crossed her arms.

Before Josie could stop him, Mike turned off the car, got out and stalked up to the couple.

Poor Brian. He didn't stand a chance.

“Time to do something to salvage the day,” Josie said to the empty car as she climbed out and raced after Mike.

 

Before he could cry uncle, Michael found himself with a fluorescent-pink golf ball in one hand and a cheap putter in the other—thanks to Josie's intervention. She'd kept him from making a scene, barely. She'd arrived just as he was about to give Brian the dressing-down of his life.

Then again, maybe Brian wasn't merely an octopus-handed coward. Maybe he was smart for hightailing it back to his truck, opting out of a friendly game of…Michael shielded his eyes from the sun and read the rusting sign.

Dinosaur-Putt.

For years, Michael had played golf at the club with potential clients, but he would probably humiliate himself here in front of God, man and papier-mâché dinosaurs.

“You go first,” Lisa said, anger still sparking in her voice. She wasn't happy to have had her plans ruined.

Even though she was still furious with him, she was acting more animated than she had since he'd arrived. He would gladly make a fool of himself if this was his reward.

Once he'd set the ball down, he flexed his knees, perfected his grip, gave the putter a few practice swings, then sent the ball into motion with a gentle tap.

It went about three feet.

“It must've rained last night,” Josie said. “The turf's waterlogged.”

He observed the moisture squishing to the surface around his shoes as he moved his weight from one foot to the other.
This is supposed to be fun?

“Let's bend the rules. I'll let you take that one over if you want,” Lisa said ever so generously. Her gleeful expression revealed that she knew just how much this was costing him in pride.

“No, I wouldn't dream of it. Who's next?”

“I am.” Lisa placed her blue ball off to the side of the pad that served as a tee and gave it a whack. Right towards his ball. Blue hit pink and sent it rolling to wedge right behind a dinosaur's tail.