Authors: Rhonda Gibson
Colleen was
still looking through the many boxes when Jenny arrived a little after three that
afternoon. “You aren’t going to believe what our teacher wants us to do.” She
tossed her backpack beside the table and yanked off her coat.
“It can’t be that bad,”
Colleen replied distractedly. She asked herself for the hundredth time what to
do with all these old photos, letters, postcards, and scraps of material.
Colleen hadn’t even gotten to the bottom of the box before she began repacking
it.
Jenny dropped into the chair
across from her. “It is,” she declared.
Colleen finished packing the
box. “Okay, tell me. What does your teacher expect you to do that’s so
horrible?” She closed the flaps over the contents.
“She wants us to create a
scrapbook of our family and anything we know about our ancestors. It’s fifty
percent of our grade.” Her voice went up like only a frustrated teenager’s can.
“Why do we have to do that for history class?” Jenny picked up the two coffee
cups and followed Colleen into the kitchen.
“How long do you have to
complete this assignment?” Colleen asked, sliding warm cookies onto platters.
Kids of all ages would be storming the bakery in a few moments. A smile crossed
her face. Maybe her cookies would save the store from going under.
Jenny set the cups in the sink
and started running hot water. “Oh, we have the whole school year. But I really
don’t know if I can do it, Colleen.”
“Why not? That should be
plenty of time.” Colleen set the platters of cookies on the counter, and then
turned to pull a new bag of flour from the pantry.
“It’s not the time,” Jenny
grumbled. “I don’t know how to do a big project like this.”
Colleen filled the flour
canister, and then studied the young girl. She knew Jenny’s mother and father
had died five years earlier in an automobile accident. If it hadn’t been for
Adam taking his half sister in, Jenny would have been alone in the world.
“I do.” Colleen moved to the
sink and stood beside Jenny. “I’ll make you a deal.” She waited to see if she
had Jenny’s full attention.
Jenny grabbed several cups and
saucers and dunked them into the hot, soapy water. She refused to meet
Colleen’s gaze. “I’m listening.”
Colleen placed an arm around
her shoulders and gave her a gentle hug. “If you will teach me to bake pastries
after school, say from four to five, then from five to six I’ll help you put
together your scrapbook.” She released the teenager and picked up a cup to
rinse.
“Really?” Jenny continued to
wash the dishes as if she were afraid Colleen would take back the offer.
“Sure.” Colleen began drying
and putting away the clean cups and saucers. She set a cup inside the cupboard
and paused. “Did you see the big box over there?”
“Yeah.” Jenny’s teenaged voice
took on a note of caution.
“Well, it’s from my aunt
Ethel, Grammy’s sister. She sent a letter saying she would like for me to
preserve the memories of all my ancestors. I thought I might put together a
scrapbook, too.” She chewed the inside of her lip.
Jenny squealed with delight. “That
would be great! We really would be doing it together.”
Colleen smiled at the sudden
joy she’d just brought her young friend. Silently she thanked the Lord that she
was able to give Jenny a reason to enjoy the school project.
“What do I have to do?” Jenny
asked, wiping the counter.
“First gather up all your
pictures, old letters, and stuff you think will help you remember your family.
Then you put them together in a photo album.” Colleen dried the remaining
dishes and set them in the cabinet.
Jenny pulled the stopper out
of the sink and dried her hands on a nearby towel. “Mrs. Sword says we can use
stickers, die cuts, special letters, all kinds of stuff on our pages.”
Colleen smiled. “We can.”
“When can we start?” Jenny
asked eagerly.
“How about we meet at the
scrapbook store in Durango tomorrow? I’ll close the bakery at ten, and then I
can meet you and your friends after lunch.” Colleen’s gaze moved to the box.
Her mind swirled with ideas for the scrapbook. “I’d like to get started as soon
as possible on mine.”
Adam told
himself he was just being polite as his feet carried him back to Grammy’s
Bakery. That box had been very heavy. He didn’t want Colleen hurting her back
trying to carry it the short distance to her living quarters even if the
apartment was attached to the bakery. He didn’t dare question himself as to why
he cared.
The smell of hot apple pie
caused his mouth to water. Adam pushed the door the rest of the way open and
hurried into the shop. His stomach growled.
“Adam come see what Colleen
baked all by herself.” Jenny called.
He walked into the kitchen.
Colleen pulled the pie out of the oven while Jenny looked on with excitement.
Adam smiled at Colleen. Flour dusted her pert little nose. Green eyes met his
gaze and sparkled with pride. Her curly black hair was pulled back in a
ponytail. Ringlets had escaped the hair tie and softened her heart-shaped face.
Adam didn’t understand his
sudden attraction to Colleen. He admired the way she had taken over the bakery
and tried to make a go of the business. And the way she’d befriended Jenny was
wonderful. But there was more, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
“Isn’t it beautiful? I can’t
believe she did it all by herself.” Jenny pointed at the golden crust of the
pie Colleen held in her hands.
Adam’s gaze ran over Colleen’s
face once more. He cleared his throat. “Very beautiful.”
Colleen’s flushed cheeks
deepened to crimson.
A woman who still blushes
at a compliment-no that is rare, thought
Adam.
She ducked her head and turned
to place the pie on the counter behind her. “Thank you, Adam.”
“Is that your first apple pie?”
He leaned against the wall and watched her wipe her hands.
“It’s not an apple pie. I made
the apple pie. Colleen made a chicken pot pie.” Jenny turned off the oven. “She
said we could stay for dinner if you want to.”
Colleen finished wiping down
the counters and drained the sink. Adam noticed she still hadn’t met his gaze
since he complimented her.
He moved away from the wall.
“I don’t know Jenny. We wouldn’t want to put Colleen out.” The last thing he
wanted to do however was leave.
“Please stay. I never could
have made this beautiful pie if it hadn’t been for Jenny. Seems only right she
should share it.” Colleen’s soft voice halted his footsteps.
He turned and found her
looking at him. For a moment, Adam thought he would drown in the beautiful sea
of green. Her eyes compelled him to stay.
“Great! It’s settled then.”
Jenny whipped off her apron and grabbed three plates and silverware.
Once more, Colleen caught his
attention with her warm voice. “I’m glad. I’ll make a salad. Adam, would you
shut the windows and turn the sign to CLOSED?”
How could he refuse to stay?
Why would he want to?
What is that pounding noise?
Colleen didn’t want to know.
She pulled the pillow over her head and groaned. The pounding didn’t stop. If
anything, it grew louder. Just when she’d been in a wonderful dream of
listening to Adam tell her she was the girl he’d been looking for all his life.
“It’s Saturday, Go away.” She
groaned into the mattress. Her head felt thick.
“Colleen, wake up! It’s me,
Jenny!”
Jenny? What in the world was
she doing up early on a Saturday morning? “Aren’t teenagers supposed to sleep
in on the weekend?” Colleen grumbled and pulled her head from under the pillow.
She squinted at the clock beside her bed.
Twelve o’clock glared red at
her.
Midnight? The question rattled
through her groggy mind.
“Colleen, please wake up!” Jenny’s
voice pleaded loudly.
She pushed back the covers and
swung her feet to the floor. “I’m coming.”
“Hurry.”
Cold air entered the house
when she opened the back door.
“What’s wrong? Do you know
what time it is?” Colleen demanded in a harsher voice then she meant to.
Jenny burst into tears. “I had
to come.”
Colleen stepped back to let
the teen into the house. Only then did she notice that Jenny carried her
suitcase.
“Calm down, sweetie. What are
you doing here?” Unease stirred at the sight of the overnight case.
The young girl dropped her
luggage and covered her face. Loud sobs filled the room. Jenny’s shoulders
shook. Her tears broke Colleen’s heart.
Colleen took Jenny in her arms
and let her cry. When the sobs trailed off, she patted Jenny’s shoulders and
released her. “Let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll make some hot chocolate; then
maybe you can tell me what’s going on.”
She led the way. A hiccupping
Jenny followed close.
Colleen set a kettle of water
on to boil and turned her attention to Jenny. Thankfully the young girl had
gotten her emotions under control and no longer sobbed. Colleen offered her a
stool to sit on at the small island in the center of the kitchen and gave her a
box of tissues.
Colleen prepared two cups of
hot chocolate and handed one to Jenny, then sat on the stool beside her. “Now
tell me why you’ve run away.”
“Adam said I couldn’t go to
Durango.” Jenny blew her nose. “So I snuck out of the house. I sorta hoped I
could stay with you.”
“Did he say why?” Colleen’s
question was tentative. She wasn’t sure she should get involved in a dispute
between the two of them.
Jenny shrugged her shoulders.
“Not really.”
“He just decided for no reason
that you couldn’t go?” Colleen’s voice held the skepticism.
The young girl nodded and took
a sip from the hot beverage. Colleen noted Jenny wouldn’t meet her gaze.
“Well I guess I’d better call
him and tell him where you are.”
“No.” The single word burst
from Jenny’s lips.
“Why not? I’ll tell him you’re
here, and then he won’t worry about you.” Colleen could only imagine Adam’s
distress.
“No, please don’t tell him I’m
here. He’ll be angry.” Jenny set down her cup. Her eyes pleaded with Colleen.
Questions raced through
Colleen’s sleep mind. Could Jenny be telling the truth? She thought so, but
there was more here than what Jenny conveyed. Her gut feeling said that the
teenager over reacted to something Adam had said.
Lord, please let me be
right.
“Jenny, I
can’t let you stay here and not tell Adam where you are. It wouldn’t be right.”
She reached for the phone.
“Why do you and Adam always go
on about what’s right?”
Jenny demanded. She continued on in
anger. “You both have that holier-than-thou attitude.” Why can’t you just leave
me alone and let me do things my way?” She glared at Colleen, waiting for an
answer.
Colleen searched her face.
“Our ways aren’t always God’s ways, Jenny I’m not always right, and I don’t
always do what I should, but I do pray and ask for guidance. Would you like to
pray with me?”
“No, I don’t want to pray
about it. I guess since you won’t let me stay here, I’ll go to my friend
Sarah’s house. She’ll let me sleep on her couch.” Jenny flounced to her feet.
Lord, I’m no good with
teenagers. Please help me use the right words now. Colleen watched Jenny grab
her suitcase off the floor.
“Jenny, why did you really
leave home tonight?”
Jenny’s eyes filled with more
tears. “Adam and I fight all the time. He said I’m pushy and willful.” A tear
slid down her face.
This time Colleen knew the
tears were real. The hurt ran deep, and the misery in Jenny’s eyes tore at her
soul. She opened her arms, and the young girl eagerly came into them.
An hour later, Colleen hung up
the phone. The fact that Adam wanted to work the problem out immediately gave Colleen
an even higher opinion of the man. He finally agreed with her that Jenny needed
time to settle down and decided that she could stay the night.
She returned to the kitchen.
“Adam said you could spend the night.”
“Jenny smiled and sighed in
relief.
“Come on. Let’s get to bed.”
Colleen leg Jenny into her small apartment. They went through the living room
and down the hall to the last bedroom on the right.
“You should be comfortable
here.” Colleen went to the bed and pulled back the light blue quilt that
matched the curtains hanging over the window. It was a small room with a twin
bed and matching oak nightstand. A writing desk sat against the opposite wall.
Jenny put her suitcase down
just inside the doorway.
“Thank you, Colleen.”
“You’re welcome. Running away
won’t fix your problems. Tomorrow you have to face your brother.” She knew all
about running away.
A dejected
look crossed Jenny’s young face. “I know.” She moved into the room and dropped
down on the bed.
“Were you being pushy and
willful?”
Jenny looked up at her. “A
little.”
Colleen walked back to the
door. “You know how to fix this, right?” She put her hand on the light switch.
“Yes, but it’s going to be
hard.” Jenny laid her head on her crossed arms.
Colleen gave her what she
hoped was an understanding smile. “Asking forgiveness isn’t always easy,
especially when you are sincere, but once you take that step, the relief and
cleansing is well worth the agony.”
Moments later, Colleen crawled
back into her own bed. She wondered if Adam would forgive Jenny and allow her
to go to Durango with her friends. She thought of her own trip into town and
wished she had the nerve to ask Adam if he’d like to go with her.
She recalled the way they had
laughed and talked during the simple meal. He seemed happy to be there. When
Jenny moaned about the school history project, they shared a knowing smile.
Colleen wondered now if she’d misread Adam Walker’s interest in her.
Who said he was interested in
her? She scolded herself mentally. The image of Cassie Masters filled her tired
vision.
Cassie portrayed everything
Colleen wasn’t. She had big Bambi eyes surrounded by long lashes that fluttered
with every blink. Her silky blond hair was cut into a short style that curled
around her ears. Creamy white skin and perfect teeth completed the package.
Colleen flipped over onto her
stomach and groaned into the pillow. What if Adam had already scheduled a date
with Cassie? Colleen decided it would be better not to ask him to make the trip
with her.
Tears of exhaustion seeped
into the pillow.
Adam poured himself another
cup of coffee. He stared at the empty pot in his hand. How many did that make,
two or three pots? And he was no closer to an answer. The question pressed upon
him again. What was he going to do with Jenny?
He raked a trembling hand
through his disheveled hair. She’d never run away before. Adam drained the last
drop of coffee from the cup and wished his father were still around to talk
with about Jenny.
He set the empty cup and
coffeepot in the sink. “Lord, I should have come to you first. Father, what am I
going to do about Jenny? She is stubborn, willful, and my baby sister. I just
don’t know what to do.”
Peace settled over him as he
released his concerns to his heavenly Father. The thought that he should just
love her first and foremost and the rest would be taken care of came to mind.
“If only it were that easy, Lord.”
Adam looked up at the clock.
Time to go pick up Jenny. He changed into jeans and a warm sweater before stepping
into the chilly autumn morning.
He decided to stop by the post
office before confronting Jenny at Colleen’s. Saturdays off were rare for a
postman his age, even in a small town like Silverton where everything was
within walking distance.
Adam felt a pang of guilt. He
knew Sly Mason was working for him today. No one knew Sly’s real age, but he
was old. Sly had been the one to make the arrangements for him to be off on
Saturdays after Adam and Jenny’s parents had been killed. The old man had
reasoned that Adam would need the time off to keep an eye on his young sister.
For that, Adam was grateful.
“Morning, Sly,” he called as
he pushed the door open.
Sly Mason looked over the rim
of his glasses. “What are you doing here this morning, Adam?” The older man’s
gaze moved to the calendar. “Son, this is your day off.”
Leave it to Sly to point out
the obvious. Adam shut the door against the brisk morning air. “I just thought I’d
come by and see if there was anything pressing you need delivered.” The words
sounded phony in his ears.
The old man studied him for
several long minutes, causing Adam to squirm. Sly laughed.
Adam realized he must look as
guilty as he felt. Why had he come here? Did he really dread the conflict with
Jenny so much, or could it be that he dreaded seeing Colleen even more? After
all, she probably thought they were the most dysfunctional family she’d ever
had the misfortune of befriending.
“Well, since you’re here,
would you mind throwing this big trunk in the back of your Blazer and
delivering it to Grammy’s Bakery this morning?” Sly grunted as he pushed a
large box in Adam’s direction.
Adam looked at the item in
question. The chest was huge and black. “Hold on, Sly. I’ll need to go get the
SUV.”
The old man stood and placed
both hands on his hips. It’s a mite heavy. Think you can lift it by yourself?”
he asked. His bones popped as he pushed the small of his back.
Adam laughed. “I’ll see what I
can do. Give me a few minutes to get the Blazer.”
After he collected the trunk
from the post office, it didn’t take Adam long to drive over to Grammy’s
Bakery. He drove slowly, telling himself it was in the interest of the old
chest not to drive too fast.
The closer he got to the
bakery the more his stomach knotted. What must Colleen think of them? Last
night she had sounded concerned. He wondered how much Jenny had told her.
He pulled up in front of the
bakery and hopped out of the Blazer. He moved to the back of it and pulled the
heavy trunk toward him. Its weight tugged on his shoulders and back.
Adam carried it to the porch
and set it down. The scent of fresh bread filled the frosty air. His stomach
growled. He took a deep breath and knocked.
Colleen opened the door. The
dark circles under her puffy, red eyes told him what kind of night she’d had.
Something deep down told him it was his fault.