Shoes to Fill by Lynne Gentry

Author:Lynne Gentry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lynne Gentry
Published: 2017-04-11T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“How do you know my mom’s name?” Angus stormed toward Ruthie.

Amy rushed to stop the boy from leaping over the counter. “Let her explain, Angus.”

Ruthie planted both palms on the Formica, bracing herself. “Ruby was my girl. Did she tell you about me?”

“She said I had a grandmother in Mt. Hope. She never told me your name or where to find you. But I seen her maiden name on this birth certificate.” He pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and thrust it across the counter. “Here. Proves I ain’t a liar.”

Ruthie carefully unfolded the certificate and read it slowly. She laid the paper on the counter. When she looked up, tears trickled down her cheeks. “I wish I could have been there when you were born.” Ruthie swallowed. “But your momma and I didn’t part on the best of terms.”

“Mom said you were hard, but fair.”

Ruthie gave a little shrug. “I had big plans for Ruby and this place.” She waved her hand over the empty diner. “I dreamed of expanding this greasy spoon into a fine dining establishment, with linen tablecloths, real china, and a fold-out menu. But all Ruby dreamed about was expanding her horizons. She wanted out of this one-horse town real bad. So bad, she went and got herself pregnant by some trucker.” Ruthie brushed a hand across her wet cheeks. “For the last seventeen years, I’ve been wishing I’d been more fair and less hard.” She looked Angus square in the face. “You think she could ever forgive me?”

“No.”

Ruthie swallowed. “Guess I deserve that.”

“She’s dead.”

Ruthie’s hand clutched at the buttons on her blouse. “Dead?”

“Ruthie?” Amy flew around the counter. “David, help me get her to a stool.”

David hooked his arm through Ruthie’s and helped Amy guide her around the bar.

Once they had Ruthie perched atop a stool, she waved them off and asked Angus, “How she’d die? When?”

“Overdosed. Six months ago.”

Ruthie squeezed her eyes shut. “I told her to leave that stuff alone.” Tears she did not try to hide slid down her cheeks. “But she couldn’t hear me over the demons that had her in their claws.” Anger pushed her remorse aside. “And that no good dad of yours just left you on your own?”

“He died when I was eight. Mom did her best to keep a roof over our heads. Said if her mom could raise a kid alone, how hard could it be?”

Ruthie’s lips quivered. “How did you get here, boy?”

“Walked.”

“From where?”

“Maine.”

“You walked half-way across the country?”

“Had nothin’ else to do. Nowhere else to go.”

“You don’t need nowhere else. You’re home.” Ruthie opened her arms. “Come to your MeMaw, boy.”

Angus fell into her embrace.

Joy tingled throughout Amy’s body. She felt David’s arm slip around her shoulder. As he hugged her close, she couldn’t help but turn into him.

“We did it,” his whispered excitement warmed her cheek.

“We did.” The same profound awe coursing through her body glistened in his eyes. Together, they’d orchestrated this incredible prodigal homecoming. Together, they’d been the hands and feet of Jesus.

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