Mixed Blessings by Cathy Marie Hake

Author:Cathy Marie Hake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-12-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Sunday, they went to Peter’s church for the first time. They’d avoided attending because Kate was a member there. Had they gone, Peter couldn’t keep the secret and shield Marie. Afraid to miss a single moment of time with Ricky, the rest of Peter’s family attended services, too.

After the service, Peter deftly fielded a few introductions and questions. Jill and Brianna helped Sandy into Jill’s car. Kate ran interference with a nosy older man while the pastor exchanged pleasantries with Marie, then Kate yanked her parents over to introduce them to the inquisitive pianist so Peter could sweep Marie and the kids in a perfectly orchestrated getaway.

“God bless your sisters,” Marie said under her breath in a heartfelt tone.

“Amen!” Peter drove off and took them to a nearby park. Everyone met up there for a picnic.

Lauren brought a picture-perfect red-and-white checkered picnic blanket and spread it out on the grass. Peter’s father opened up a low-slung beach chair and Peter slipped Sandy down onto it so she’d be at everyone else’s level. In no time at all, a fried chicken, potato salad and lemonade lunch tumbled out of a large wicker basket.

Marie squinted at the ground. “This spread looks like it belongs on a magazine cover, but we’re missing the ants.”

“We gots aunts,” Ricky disagreed. He pointed and said, “Aunt Sandy, Aunt Jill, Aunt Anna and Aunt Date.”

Brianna laughingly poked Kate in the side. “He got that right. You’re always the one out on a date!”

Sandy and Kate compared dating notes while Jill and Brianna cleaned up after lunch. Peter’s parents took the boys over to the toddler playground. Peter drew Marie off to a shady bench where they could still easily watch the boys. He confessed, “After Lisa got taken, we’ve always been on guard.”

“You haven’t said much about her.”

He stared into the distance and said, “We were at school. Lisa was only two. Mom put her down for a nap. Someone jimmied the lock on the bedroom window. We got ransom notes, but no one ever picked up the money. Mom’s never stopped blaming herself. We were all kind of relieved that I had a boy, because I think having a little girl would have been too hard for Mom to handle.”

“Peter, that’s so sad. It’s not your mom’s fault, but if I were in her place, I’d never stop blaming myself, either.”

“Kate took me aside yesterday. She told me that from the moment Mom found out about Ricky, she’s been terrified you wouldn’t trust her, but when you told her she was a terrific grandma, you gave her hope.”

“Should I say something directly about it?”

Peter stared at his mother. She looked up and waved, then quickly turned back as Luke pulled at her. “Mom doesn’t talk about it. She occasionally makes veiled references, so I’d suggest you wait until she opens the door. She picked up the pieces and went on with life for the rest of us, but I sometimes see that faraway look in her eyes and know she’s still hurting.

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