A Gift of Grace (24 page)

“Great. Then drive me to Virginia.” She yanked out her wallet again. “I’ll pay for the gas.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You belong here where there are people who love you. Home is here.”

She shook her head in disgust. “You’re just as bad as the Kauffmans.”

“Jessica, I do understand. I understand you more than you’ll admit.” He rested his forearms on her shoulders. “Let me take you home to your aunt Rebecca’s house.”

“No.” She stepped back from his reach. “I’ll walk.”

“Don’t be silly.” His eyes pleaded with her. “I’ll drive you.”

“No. I need time to think.”

Jake reached for her, but she backed away. He gave her a pained expression, and she swallowed more guilt.

“I guess I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” he said.

“Yeah, sure. I’ll see you then.” She stepped onto the porch. “Thanks again for the phone.”

“You’re welcome.” He leaned on the doorway. “We’ll take it to the store and get it hooked up tomorrow.”

“Fine,” she said. “Good night.”

“Night.” He waved.

Jessica trotted out into the rain. She hated lying to him, but he’d never understand why she had to leave. It was a long walk to the bus station, but she figured she could make it in forty-five minutes if she jogged.

The drops pounded harder on her head, and she groaned. She was soaked to the bone. She pondered the conversation with Jake as she splashed through the mud. Jessica wondered if he was right. Maybe she should just go back to Rebecca’s house. Trisha had told her to stick it out until she turned eighteen. However, that felt like a lifetime. And Daniel was so angry with her right now.

If Jessica had learned one thing after losing her parents it was that life was short and precious. She had to live in the now and not wait for things to get better.

Jessica picked up her pace and trotted until she lost her breath and then power-walked for a block. When she felt as if she were going to collapse, she leaned against a post and raised her thumb. Even though her parents had warned her never to hitchhike, she knew she couldn’t make it to Lancaster on foot.

When a minivan slowed, Jessica’s heart skipped a beat. A middle-aged woman asked Jessica where she was headed and offered to take her to the bus station in downtown Lancaster. During the short ride, Jessica and Mrs. Reynolds made small talk about the rainy weather.

When they reached the bus station, Jessica thanked Mrs. Reynolds for the ride and hurried to the ticket booth.

“May I help you?” a woman asked.

“I’d like a ticket to Virginia Beach, Virginia, please.” Jessica yanked her wallet from her purse.

“Just one?” the woman asked, a keyboard clicking while she typed.

Jessica nodded and tapped her finger on the counter.

“I have a bus leaving in five minutes,” the woman said.

“Great.” Jessica paid cash for the ticket, grabbed the paperwork, and rushed over to the bus bay.

She climbed on and found her seat near the back. She sank down and peeled off her soaked jacket.

Closing her eyes, she settled in the seat. In approximately fourteen hours (thanks to the long layovers), she’d be at the bus station in Virginia Beach. She could finally learn the truth about Morgan and Brian. She dug through her purse and found the phone from Trisha.

No calls.

She fished out her new phone and fingered it. Jake must have spent a lot of money on it. Flipping it open, she stared at the photo of him she’d taken at the party. He was so handsome staring back at her and smiling. He’d seemed upset when she said she was leaving. He was a good friend, and she would miss him.

Jessica closed her eyes. Her head hurt from all of the questions running through her mind. She felt so lost, so alone. Whom could she trust? Did she belong in Lancaster with Jake or in Virginia with Brian?

She hoped this trip would help her solve that puzzle. At that moment, all she knew was she was exhausted.

The bus roared to life and soon pulled out of the bay. She stared out the window at the rain and then closed her eyes. The Bible verse Jake had shared echoed through her mind.

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”

She concentrated on it, letting the meaning seep through her like the rain that soaked her clothes.

Within moments, she was asleep.

[Return to Table of Contents]

T
his is the last of it,” Lindsay said, placing a stack of forks on the counter. “I already cleaned up the plates and napkins.”

“Thank you.” Rebecca wiped off the table. “Have you found your sister?”

“No.” Lindsay shook her head. “I guess she must’ve gone for a walk or something.” She lowered herself onto a chair and grimaced. “I guess I was too hard on her on the porch.”

“It’s not your fault.” Rebecca sat across from her and placed her hands on Lindsay’s. “She was really upset, and she has some things to work through. I don’t think you or I can help her. She needs to open her heart to God for help.”

Lindsay sniffed. “I just feel like I shouldn’t have been so mean to her. I said some awful things. I told her she’s selfish, and she needed to think about how she treats people.” She wiped her eyes. “And I told her Brian’s cheating on her.”

“Is he?” Rebecca asked.

“I caught him kissing Morgan one night at our house. I just never told Jessica because I was afraid she wouldn’t believe me.” She wiped her eyes.

Rebecca patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. You did the right thing. You’re just looking out for your sister, and that’s honorable. Someday she’ll realize you did it because you love her and want what’s best for her.”

Lindsay gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I hope you’re right.”

“You’re a good person, Lindsay.” Rebecca leaned over and hugged her. “Don’t ever doubt your heart.”

“I don’t know what we’d do without you.” Her niece pulled back.

“Thank you.” Rebecca touched her hair, her heart swelling with love for the girls. Elizabeth’s words invaded in her mind. Was she wrong not to let Jessica go? Was she ignoring what Daniel, Jessica, and God were trying to tell her?

Lindsay gazed down at the table. “Do you think we should get in the buggy and search for her?”

Standing, Rebecca considered the question. Part of her wanted to organize a search, but the other part of her felt that she needed to give Jessica her space to come back when she was ready. “I think we should wait. I’m sure Jessica will realize she acted in haste and come back.”

“Can I ask you something?” Lindsay bit her bottom lip.

“You can ask me anything.” Rebecca leaned against the counter.

“Jessica said she heard you and Uncle Daniel arguing earlier.” Her niece’s eyes glittered with the question. “Is it true Uncle Daniel wants us to leave, but you want us to stay?”

Rebecca’s stomach twisted. Telling her niece the truth would hurt her, which was the last thing she wanted to do. She glanced toward the door leading to the living room and hoped Daniel wasn’t within earshot.

“It’s true, but you have to understand Daniel’s point of view.” Rebecca took a deep breath. “The bishop came to see him tonight.”

“What does that mean?” Lindsay looked confused.

“It means some people in the district have said they’re concerned Jessica’s behavior isn’t good for our community.” Rebecca glanced toward the doorway and then back at her niece. “Daniel is worried the community may start treating us differently because of Jessica. He feels she belongs back in Virginia, but your mother wanted you both with me. I want you here.”

“What’s going to happen to us?” Lindsay sniffed and wiped her eyes.

“You’re going to stay here with me.” Rebecca hugged her. “Don’t worry about anything.”

“Is Uncle Daniel mad?”

Rebecca nodded. “He’s angry with me. But it’s something I have to deal with and nothing you have to worry about. Understand?”

“
Ya
.” Lindsay cupped her hand over her mouth and yawned. “I guess I’ll head to bed. We’re leaving early in the morning for work.” She touched Rebecca’s shoulder. “Good night.”

“See you in the morning,” Rebecca said.

Lindsay disappeared through the doorway, and Rebecca finished cleaning up the kitchen. She stepped into the living room and found Daniel sitting in his favorite chair while reading the Bible. His eyes met hers and a frown creased his face. He stood and headed up the stairs without saying a word.

Rebecca lowered herself onto the sofa. Her heart ached for him to speak to her, but she knew she couldn’t change his mind about the situation. Her main focus was seeing Jessica come home. She’d handle Daniel later.

While rain pounded on the roof and splattered the windows, she leafed through the Bible and waited for the sound of Jessica coming through the door. After an hour, she fell asleep.

Rebecca rolled over. Her first thought was that her neck ached. Sitting up, she glanced around the room. She was on the sofa in the living room. Why had she slept there?

Rubbing her eyes, she recalled that she had fallen asleep waiting for Jessica to return. Jessica had never come back in last night! She popped up and rushed up the stairs. Padding down the hallway, she spotted the door to Jessica’s room open. Standing in the doorway, she found the bed still made, untouched since the day before. Panic coursed through Rebecca’s veins.

Where’s Jessica?

“She didn’t come home?” Lindsay’s voice sounded behind her as if reading Rebecca’s thoughts.

Rebecca turned to see Lindsay standing in the doorway clad in her dress and apron. “I guess not,” Rebecca said.

Her niece folded her arms across her chest, her eyes glittering with distress. “Do you think something happened to her?”

“I don’t know.” Rebecca shook her head. She scanned Jessica’s room looking for clues, and her heart raced with question and worry. “Maybe she and Daniel left for work without waiting for Barry Holden. I’ll go check.” She peeked in her bedroom and found it empty and the bed made.

“They must’ve gone to work,” Lindsay said, sidling up to her. “But I’d feel better if I knew for sure.”

“I’ll get changed,” Rebecca said. “Let’s go by the shop to make sure she’s there.”

“Sounds like a good plan.” Her niece nodded, wiping her eyes.

Jessica awoke when the bus pulled into the station in Virginia Beach. She’d endured a restless night, sleeping little between bus connections. Her brief dreams consisted of a mishmash of memories centering around her parents.

Anxiety and doubt filled her while she gathered up her belongings and climbed off the bus. She worried she’d made a mistake coming back to Virginia. What if Brian wasn’t happy to see her? Would Lindsay ever forgive her for leaving without telling her where she was going?

Jessica pushed the uncertainty aside and approached a taxi idling at the corner outside of the bus station. She opened the door and gave the driver Brian’s address. She then loaded her bag into the backseat and climbed in.

A gentle sprinkle of rain peppered the windows while the taxi weaved through the busy roads. She glanced up at the dark clouds, which seemed to mirror her mood.

Yanking out her phone, she studied it. No missed calls or messages. She wondered if Lindsay had discovered she’d left yet.

A pang of guilt radiated through her. She should’ve told Lindsay she was leaving, but she knew her sister would never have understood. Now she had no way of reaching her, unless she called the bakery.

Jessica scrolled through to the bakery’s number but snapped it closed before hitting Send. She couldn’t call just yet, especially since the battery was almost dead. She wanted to talk to Brian first and then she’d call Lindsay.

Flipping the phone open again, she powered it off. She didn’t want Lindsay trying to call her before she accomplished her mission.

The taxi steered down Brian’s street and Jessica’s stomach clenched. She hoped he was home and not at work. Cutting her eyes to her watch, she found it was almost eleven.

The taxi pulled up in front of Brian’s house and stopped. Jessica’s stomach soured when her eyes fell on Morgan’s SUV parked in the driveway next to his pickup. She wondered why Morgan was there on a Monday morning when they should both have been working.

“This is the address, ma’am,” the driver said.

“Thank you.” Jessica fished her wallet from her purse, counted out the fare and a tip, and handed it to him.

“Would you like me to wait?” the driver asked.

“No, thank you,” she said. “This may take awhile.”

Gathering her duffle bag and purse, Jessica opened the door. She thanked the driver again and dashed through the rain to Brian’s parents’ two-story brick colonial. She climbed the front steps and rang the bell.

After a few moments, the door opened slowly. Brian stood in the doorway clad in a T-shirt and boxers. His eyes widened with shock. “Jessica. What are you doing here?”

Confidence surged through her despite the hurt and disappointment rioting within her. “I thought I’d come and see why you stopped calling me.” She dropped her bags on the wet cement porch. “Did you know yesterday was my birthday?”

“Yes, I did.” He nodded. “Your gift’s in the mail.”

“Sure it is,” she deadpanned, folding her arms.

“Brian?” a feminine voice called. “Who is it?”

Craning her neck to see past him, Jessica gasped when she spotted Morgan leaning in the doorway to the den wearing only one of Brian’s T-shirts.

Morgan met her stare and shrieked. “Jessica? Oh no!”

“Jess,” he said, grabbing her forearms. “It’s not what you think.”

“It’s not what I think?” Jessica stepped out of his grip and shook her head. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“No.” He gave her an apologetic expression. “I’m so sorry. We were planning to tell—”

“Save it, Brian.” Jessica held her hands up. “You know, on second thought, I
am
stupid. My sister had already figured out you were cheating on me with Morgan. I guess I knew all along in my heart, but I was too stupid to admit it.”

“I’m really sorry.” He reached for her again, but she backed away. “Really, I am.”

“Don’t touch me,” she warned. “I’ll just leave.”

“Jessica!” Morgan stood beside Brian. “This wasn’t planned. It just happened. I’m sorry we didn’t call you for your birthday. We were out all day, and the time just got away from us.”

“Whatever.” Jessica shook her head, her sour stomach making her feel as if she were going to be sick. “Just leave me alone. Don’t call me. Don’t write me.”

She heaved her bag onto her shoulder and started for the street, the rain splattering her blouse and pelting her hair. She absently wished she’d worn her windbreaker instead of shoving it in her duffel bag when she boarded the bus last night.

“Jessica!” Brian ran after her. “Just wait.”

“No.” She faced him. “There’s nothing more to say. I’ve been a fool, and it’s my own fault.”

“Jess, I want to be friends.” He gave a weak smile. “You were my first love.”

Jessica laughed with sarcasm. “Like that means anything.”

Morgan trotted down the front steps. “You’re my best friend, Jess. Please forgive me.”

Jessica glared at her, contemplating if she’d actually known her so-called best friend at all. “Go put on some clothes. The neighbors will talk.” She cut her eyes to Brian. “I hope your parents aren’t home. They might not be happy to find hanky-panky going on in their house.”

“Jess, wait.” He grabbed her arm again.

“Go back in the house and finish whatever it is you were doing.” She backed away from them toward the street, not taking her glare off the two people who’d hurt her most of all.