Hope Springs (25 page)

He wrinkled up his nose, then shook his head firmly.

“No eggs?”

He shook it again.

“All right. Grits?”

He frowned.

“I don't think he knows what that is,” Tiffany said.

Stephanie decided to go ahead and put some on his plate. She scooped some from the pot.

“No want that!”

She put the spoon back and lifted a piece of toast she'd buttered.

He shook his head again.

“One little piece of bacon and that's it?”

“Fosty fakes!”

“Come again, little man?”

“He wants Frosted Flakes,” Claire said. “That's all he ever wants.”

Stephanie looked at him. “I cook up all this good food, and all you want is some processed, partially hydrogenated junk that's been on somebody's shelf for months, if not years, and is probably one molecule away from a plastic bottle?”

He nodded.

“Well, amen, little man. Sounds good to me too.”

She took him over to the cabinet, glad to see they had a box, then got him a bowl.

“Claire, go ahead and get your plate, then Tiffany, then Daniel. I think I need to sit next to my friend here.”

They all got their food and took a place at the table.

“Can we get some juice?” Daniel said.

“What does your mom want you to drink?”

“Milk.”

“Then why you trying to play me? Get the milk.”

Moments later Janelle came in with her coat on. “Ooh, lookie here, everyone nice and settled at the table, quietly eating.”

“Take a picture because it won't last,” Stephanie said. “You
know
it's gonna get live in about three minutes.”

Janelle laughed. “Are you sure you don't want to come to the diner Bible study with me? I'm sure Aunt Gladys would watch the kids.”

“I told Todd I'd watch Claire and Ethan while he went to his church meeting, so I'm good.” She chuckled. “Sent Lindell a text telling him I was watching four kids. He'll wonder what's come over me.”

“How's he doing down there anyway?” Janelle asked.

“He said it's hard to explain how devastating and heartbreaking it is, but at the same time exhilarating. Last night they set up their clinic in this tent encampment that had a strep outbreak and served over a hundred patients. Then this boy walks in with a machete wound to his hand.” Stephanie bent over to pick up Ethan's sippy cup. “It's really a life-changing experience for him. One more week and he'll be back.”

“Which means one more week and you'll be leaving us.” Janelle poked out her lip.

“Girl, I know. Time is flying. What y'all gonna do without me?”

“I'm sayin'!”

Janelle kissed Daniel and Tiffany on the cheek. “I'll be back in a little while. Don't forget we're going clothes shopping this afternoon.”

“Aw, Mom, do I have to?” Daniel said.

“Yes, you have to.”

Janelle looked at her watch. “Can't believe I'm late.” She headed for the door. “Call me, Steph, if there's any problem.”

“Will do,” Stephanie said. “Unless they've got me tied up.”

Janelle followed Lila into the diner and saw a cluster of women as they drew to the far section. “That's not all for the Bible study, is it?”

Lila's head nodded up and down. “I guess some of the women told others. It's about double last week.”

The women were spread out at three tables pushed close together, with Sara Ann positioned near the center. They'd already ordered and received their food. Janelle tipped to the side with the crew from last week—Beverly, Allison, Trina, and Jessica. She gave them a wave as she sat down.

A woman at the next table over was sharing something with the group.

“So my friends are praying for me to get this job in Charlotte to work in marketing at a top hotel. And I'm telling them that I really believe God is going to open this door because it's exactly what I've been looking for. And sure enough, I get it. We celebrate, they help me move, I get settled. That was seven months ago.” The woman, probably in her twenties with long, wavy auburn hair, told the story in a way that held people's attention. “And last week the guy calls me into his office and says he's sorry, but I'm not cutting it.” She paused, sighed. “And here I am back in Hope Springs.”

“Wow, this just happened,” Sara Ann said. “How do you feel about it, Gina?”

Gina let out a breath. “It's not the end of the world. The job wasn't the easiest anyway, far as the people. A lot of 'em were uppity. God's giving me grace and strength, and I know He's got a good plan for me.”

“Gina,” Sara Ann said, “I'm not asking what promises you can claim. I'm asking how you feel. Because all this came out when I asked if anybody felt disappointed lately. You're disappointed, right?”

Gina hesitated. “I'm disappointed, but I know God'll—”

“Nope.” Sara Ann put up a hand, and in her way it was sweet, not off-putting. “Not gonna let you do it, Gina. I want you to sit and stay awhile in it. Are you disappointed?”

Janelle couldn't believe how much more assured Sara Ann seemed this week.

Allison leaned over to the women near her and whispered, “Oh my gosh, this is for me.”

Emotion filled Gina's eyes. “Yes. I'm disappointed.”

“Why?”

“Because I really wanted that job.”

“Why else?”

“Because I really wanted to get out of Hope Springs and now I'm back.” She was fighting to stay in control.

“Okay.” Sara Ann hadn't moved her gaze. “Why else, Gina?”

“
Because
. . .” She looked aside, holding herself. Then, “I was believing God and praying and had my friends praying—
and He answered
. He could've made it so I knocked 'em dead on that job, but instead they sent me packing.
Why?
Why even answer the prayer if I'm just gonna fail? How do I get the faith to believe Him again?”

“Exactly.” Allison's eyes were on the two women.

“I've been wondering the same thing,” someone else said.

Sara Ann acknowledged them all with a slow nod, then looked back to Gina. “Have you asked Him how you're supposed to believe Him now?”

“No,” Gina said. “I'm supposed to have faith.”

“Who gives you the faith?”

Gina stared down for a moment, then looked back at Sara Ann. “God.”

“If He already knows you need faith, why not tell Him you're struggling?” Sara Ann scanned the faces. “Why do we think something's wrong with expressing our true feelings and lack of faith to God? We don't have to try to hold it in and be strong around Him. He's strong enough to let us break down and let it all out.” She smiled. “And He knows how to build us back up again.”

If it were possible, the time after the Bible study was even sweeter. Sara Ann had hopped back to work, but some of the women were slow to leave. The ones remaining had planted themselves at two tables, drinking refills of coffee. Since Janelle hadn't eaten, she'd taken the opportunity to order hotcakes and sausage. Though many were meeting for the first time, the conversation had the tenor and liveliness of old friends.

“Any of you feel like you have to be the strong one all the time?” Bea, a Calvary member in her sixties, raised a hand to her own question. “I feel like I can't be honest about the times I'm feeling low, not even to God.” She stared down at a psalm they'd been looking at. “But David had no problem venting to God. I want to learn to sit and stay awhile in my emotions, as Sara Ann put it.”

“Me too,” Allison said. “And at the same time not give up hope.”

“I don't know how to explain it,” Gina said, “but I feel like Sara Ann took us on a digging expedition, to get all the stuff out that we didn't want to admit was there. And when she prayed at the end for us to be filled with God's grace and love and strength, ahhh . . . what an exchange.” She looked at her friend Mandy beside her. “I am so glad you brought me here today.”

Mandy had a sweet smile and bright-green eyes. “I wouldn't have known about it if my great-aunt hadn't told me.”

Bea nodded. “Vi told me too.” She looked across the table. “You're uncharacteristically quiet over there, Vi.”

Janelle looked over at the other table. A petite older woman sat with them but didn't comment.

Sara Ann came by with another fresh round of coffee. “You guys are still over here?” she said.

Vi cleared her throat. “Sara Ann, I've got something to say to you.”

Sara Ann set the pot on the table. “Yes, Miss Vi?”

“You know I've known you clear since you came to Hope Springs.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“When I first heard about this Bible study you were doing, part of me thought it sounded good, which is why I told people. But part of me was just curious because for the life of me I couldn't see you teaching the Bible.” Violet crossed her arms. “Well, you sure showed me.”

“I think the proper way to put it,” Bea said, “is God showed you.”

“You don't have to go agreeing with me, Bea.”

Sara Ann bent down and hugged her. “Thank you, Miss Vi. Means a lot that you'd say that.”

Beverly looked at the group of them. “It just occurred to me. All of y'all are Calvary members, aren't you?”

Sara Ann laughed. “I guess they still allow me to call myself a member. But yes, I am, and Miss Vi, Bea”—she pointed to each—“Gina, and Mandy.”

“So this is interesting,” Beverly said. “Almost half of us are Calvary members; the other half are from New Jerusalem. But I think it's awesome that that's not what defines us here.”

Janelle sat up and took notice. “That's true. We're just sisters in Christ sharing our struggles and finding encouragement.”

“Huh.” Sara Ann lingered with them. “I say let's forget the Sunday morning names on Saturday. We should come up with our own name, something to bond us.”

Vi stood up. “How about Soul Sisters?”

“All right now, Miss Vi,” Beverly said with a big grin. “That sounds like something one of us at
this
table might've suggested.”

“If we're sisters in Christ, we're connected at the soul level, aren't we?” Vi looked pleased with herself. “And anyway, I always wanted to be a soul sister.”

The two tables roared with laughter.

“Miss Vi, you are a trip!” Beverly said.

“I like it,” Bea said. She stood too. “That calls for a Soul Sisters group hug.”

“And a picture.” Janelle whipped out her camera.

“I'll take that for you,” said a gentleman sitting nearby.

The women huddled together.

“Wait! Can I be in it?”