Guarded by Angela Correll

Author:Angela Correll
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781633931367
Publisher: Koehler Books
Published: 2015-01-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

“MORNING,” ANNIE SAID, as she made her way to the cupboard for a coffee mug.

“You don’t look very chipper to be heading out on a big trip,” her grandmother said, snipping coupons as she spoke.

“Slept awful.”

“I can imagine,” Beulah said. “I’d be a mess if I thought I would soon be hurtling over the Atlantic Ocean for eight hours.”

Annie tried to smile. If only that were it. The strained conversation with Jake had made for a restless night. Her troubles went far deeper than a little trip anxiety.

“Can you think of anything else I need to do before Janice gets here with Mama DeVechio?”

“Nothing comes to mind. Tomorrow night I’ll take her with us to the Country Diner and Sunday to church and then dinner back here. I reckon the rest will play out however it’s supposed to,” Beulah said.

“I hope it goes well. I’ll call when we get there and I’ll keep you posted on what we find out. It might be easier for me to email updates to Evelyn,” she said.

Beulah reached across the table and put her hand over her granddaughter’s.

“Thank you for going. It means a lot to me. God’s will be done, no matter what. Don’t be afraid to tell me anything, I want to know the truth.”

***

Annie accepted Jake’s offer to drive her to Lexington and bring Mama DeVechio back to Beulah’s house. After she hugged her grandmother goodbye, he loaded her suitcase into the back of his SUV. When they pulled out of the long driveway, he reached for her hand, and the gesture comforted her.

Sometimes a creek is too high to cross, her grandfather used to say about emotions. Have to let it go down a bit and then you can cross it.

If only the creek would go down and not turn into a raging river, she thought.

In front of the airport, Jake drew her close.

“There won’t be time later for goodbyes,” he whispered. “I’m here if you need me.”

Her chest tightened. If only she could tell him all her fears.

“I do love you,” she whispered as Janice called her name.

Janice stepped off the escalator. Right behind her was Mama DeVechio, a petite woman who wore a bright pink dress, with a mound of salt and pepper hair.

Annie embraced her friend and then turned to Jake.

“Jake, meet Janice,” she introduced them.

Jake gave Janice a big smile and a hug.

“Mama, this is Annie Taylor and Jake Wilder,” Janice said, nearly a head and shoulders above the tiny woman.

“Hello,” she said, extending her arm, “I so happy to meet you,” she said to Annie. “And this eez our boyfriend? Oh my, he eez so handsome. Am I to ride with you?”

She’s flirting, Annie thought, amused, as Janice cut her apologetic look over the top of Mrs. DeVechio’s piled-high hair. And she was an attractive woman, the dress hitting her just above the knee and a scarf tied stylishly around her neck.

“It’s my honor, Mrs. DeVechio,” Jake said.

“She checked two huge bags,” Janice whispered. “I have no idea what all she is bringing.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.