Chapter 31
I
could hardly wait to tell Jacob what happened with the NetMarketing situation. I called him immediately after I dropped Cassandra off at her paid-for home.
“Hey, how are you?”
“Good. How was the trip?”
His lowered tone concerned me. “You all right?”
“Yeah.”
“You busy?”
“No,” he sighed. “Not really.”
My brows furrowed instinctively. “I'm no voice analysis major,” I teased, “but you certainly don't sound like yourself.”
He laughed softly. “Got a lot on my mind.”
“Would a frappuccino help?”
“No. Not this time.”
“Well, you know,” I imitated him, “I'm not God, but I'm a pretty good sounding board.”
Out of the blue, he perked up and asked, “You want to go bowling?”
“Sure. When?”
“Now.”
“Now?”
“Yeah. Lanes don't close for another couple of hours.”
Ten minutes later, Jacob was opening the passenger's door for me. We made it to Bowl-King on my testimony of God's hand moving at NetMarketing. “I think I'm going to be able to work from home, too. Isn't that great?”
“That's great, Tori,” was the full extent of his excitement for meâfor us.
“Jacob, are you listening to me?”
He parked the Camry. “No. I'm sorry.”
We sat in silence for a moment, looking out the car windows, then at each other.
“What's wrong?”
He ran a finger across his lips. “My dad. He told me, after church today, the doctors say he's in the first phase of Alzheimer's. He wants me to start transitioning the church, preparing them for my leadership.”
The second I heard Jacob speak those words, one of Aunt Dottie's favorite verses arrested my spirit. “What about Jeremiah twenty-nine and eleven?”
Jacob recited the scripture. “ âFor I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' ”
I reiterated, “God has
good
plans for you
and
your father.”
Jacob shook his head. “But Alzheimer's is Alzheimer's, you know? It's slow. Humiliating. Degenerating. I can't watch him decline and be there for my mom while taking over the church, too. I don't think I'm up to it, Tori. I really don't.”
Jacob sounded like me when I first moved to Bayford. Overwhelmed with new responsibilities, unsure of how to accomplish the daunting tasks ahead. I still didn't know what was going to happen with the store or exactly how DeAndre would fare, but when I looked back over the past few months and saw God's faithfulness, I had no reason to doubt His ability to figure out the rest of my mess.
“Jacob, you'd be surprised how much pressure God can handle inside you. He's amazing. He just lines up circumstances and people in your favor. I can't even explain how He does it.”
Jacob's eyes sought mine. “You truly believe His Words, don't you?”
“With all my heart.”
Jacob smiled again. He grabbed my hand and kissed my palm. “Thanks for being here, and for being one of the people sent to help me through.”
“Any time.”
He tilted his head, jokingly, and asked, “You mean like
any
time any time, or like
some
of the time any time?”
“
Any
time.”
“Like you're moving out of your apartment
any
time?”
“Like I've already arranged to put my stuff in storage
any
time,” I informed him.
He pressed once more. “Okay, so is this like you're moving to Bayford
any
time?”
Fully aware of the commitment he was groping for, I replied, “Yes, I'm relocating to Bayford.”
Jacob's smile faded. “What if your new client won't allow a remote office?”
“Then I won't work for them,” I stated. “DeAndre's placement is only temporary. Aunt Dottie still has a long way to go in her recovery. And you.”
“What about me?” he fished.
“
You.
And whatever God is doing to us. Another amazing surprise.”
“I'm not surprised,” he bragged, pinching his chin.
“Ohâyou already knew Aunt Dottie would have a stroke and I'd come back to town and fall in love with you?”
Did I just say that?
Jacob covered my face with his, kissing me softly. Almost solemnly, as though we'd just made an everlasting agreement.
Yeah, I just said that.
Chapter 32
“A
ll parties in the matter of DeAndre Lester, please step forward.”
Jacob squeezed my hand. “Be strong.”
I'd wanted to wear my power suit, but I didn't think Judge Kiplinger would take kindly to me projecting an authoritative stance in his courtroom. I couldn't come off like a city-slicker. By the same token, I needed to appear confident and capable of taking care of an eight-year-old boy, without a husband.
Ms. Gentry approached the bench along with another gentleman, Mr. Ybarra, whom I'd never met before but was expecting. He was a volunteer who'd been assigned to DeAndre's case by an organization named CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). As I understood things, this gentleman's job was to speak on behalf of DeAndre's best interest.
We all introduced ourselves as we stood before Judge Kiplinger, who took his time about reviewing the notes in DeAndre's case.
Man, you've had seven weeks to look at those notes!
I literally bit my tongue to keep my attitude in check. The judge had already thrown out two people in the half hour we'd been waiting for our hearing.
“Ms. Gentry, please inform the court of your findings.”
“Your honor,” she began, “DeAndre was left in the care of his father, grandmother, and stepmother when he ran away. We find those caregivers unfit to care for him due to the disturbing family dynamics recorded in DeAndre's file. The state would prefer to place DeAndre in the care of other, suitable family members.” She gestured toward me.
Thank you, Ms. Gentry!
She continued, “However, if that's not possible, we recommend he remain in state custody.”
Judge Kiplinger asked, “How's he doing with his current foster family?”
“Oh, he's fine, your honor, but the family he's with now only accepts temporary placements. He'll have to be moved again next week.”
“I see,” from the judge. He eyed me for a second, then shifted his focus back to the papers. “Mr. Ybarra, what are your recommendations?”
“I agree with Ms. Gentry, your honor. DeAndre is doing well now, but it would be best for him to be placed with responsible family members. He's head-over-heels about his cousin Tori. She's the best fit for him.”
Two votes for me!
Finally, Judge Kiplinger addressed me. “Miss Henderson, has your living situation been stabilized?”
“Yes, your honor. I'm living in Bayford now.”
“And you have steady employment?”
I nodded eagerly and slapped my letter of employment verification from NetMarketing on the platform. “Yes. My job in Houston allows me to work from home.”
He examined Preston's letter. “Says here you're traveling ten percent of the time.”
My throat tightened. “It'd be more like once every couple of weeks, mostly just to Houston and back. They hired an assistant for me and everything, Judge Kiplinger.”
“I don't give a rat's behind who they've hired. I want to know who'll watch DeAndre while you're trotting the globe in your fancy suits.”
I hadn't figured that part out yet. “My aunt. Jacob.” I pointed behind me.
Judge Kiplinger grilled me. “Who's he? Your new boyfriend?”
“Yes, but I'm notâ”
“So you left one man, moved back to Bayford and now you're living with another one? Is this your idea of an ideal environment? Have you run a background check on him?”
“No, no, no.” I could almost feel DeAndre slipping away. I took a deep breath and tried, unsuccessfully, to hold back the tears welling in my eyes.
Jesus.
I was sure my words sounded like jibber-jabber, but I had to get them all out before he slammed that gavel on me again. “Your honor, I don't live with my boyfriend. It'll be just me, DeAndre, and Aunt Dottie, and I don't know exactly howâ”
“Did you say Aunt
Dottie
?” Judge Kiplinger's sparse eyebrows shot up.
“Yes.”
He set both hands flat on the platform. “You mean Dottie Mae
Lester
?”
“Yes?”
He smiledâI didn't know his muscles knew the formationâand caroled, “Why didn't you mention Aunt Dottie before? She's a saint. Impeccable character. She brought food to my sister when she was in the final stages of breast cancer.”
Wordless, I nodded.
“You say DeAndre will be staying with you and Aunt Dottie?”
“Yes, your honor.”
“Well, if Aunt Dottie's got anything to do with raisin' DeAndre, he'll be perfectly fine. The court hereby places DeAndre Lester in the temporary custody of Miss Tori Henderson. We'll review this case in six months to determine permanent custody. Court's adjourned.”
He slammed the gavel. “And tell Aunt Dottie Judge K says hello.”
Outside the courtroom, I crumbled with joy in Jacob's arms. “We got him back!”
“We sure did, Tori. Praise God.”
Epilogue
One Year Later
Â
“G
o!” I screamed from the stands.
“Runnnn, Dadre!” Aunt Dottie echoed as we watched DeAndre run from third base to score for the Yellow Jackets.
Jacob yelled, “Come on in, DeAndre!” from the dugout.
DeAndre tore across the field, sliding into home plate, ensuring every thread of his pants absorbed as much red dirt as possible. He repositioned his helmet, wiped his knees, and gave me a thumbs-up. I gave it right back to him.
Aunt Dottie giggled. “Heeee sompin else.”
“He sure is,” I agreed.
I wished Aunt Dottie and I weren't the only ones cheering DeAndre on. Most of the other kids had uncles, cousins, great-grandparents present. (There's not much to do in Bayford on a Saturday morning.) After the state deemed Joenetta and Ray-Ray unfit, they'd basically wiped their hands clean of DeAndre, which is what they'd wanted to do the whole time anyway. To date, Zoletha hadn't replied to my letter.
DeAndre deserved better, and I was determined to give him all the love and support he could possibly contain, so help me God.
I checked my watch. Two-thirty. Almost time for me to go to Dottie's and help Cassandra plan next month's throwbacks. Though Cassandra was more than capable of handling Dottie's herself and even more committed (as if possible) to the store's success now that Aunt Dottie had made Cassandra part owner, I didn't want Cassandra to fall into I'm-every-woman syndrome. More than anything, I kept an eye on Dottie's to make sure Cassandra didn't bring a cot and move into the back office.
“I gotta go, Aunt Dottie. Jacob will take you and DeAndre home after the game. We're all going to the movies tonight in Henrytown.”
“Kaaay.”
Exiting the stands, my mind shifted to things-to-do mode. Help Cassandra, update Inner-G's weekly reports, and visit with Jacob's mother, who was slowly working through Senior Pastor Carter's passing, a month earlier. In His infinite wisdom, God had taken Pastor Carter home to glory before Alzheimer's could reduce him to Jacob's greatest fear.
Even unto death, God is always watching over us. Always.
Thank You, Father.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.
Some might describe Tori as a workaholic. How do you separate work from your personal life? Do you struggle to balance both?
2.
Tori's brush with mortality leads to a poignant discussion with a social worker, Ms. Sanchez, who paints a grim picture of Tori's life without true friends and family. Do you agree with Ms. Sanchez's views?
3.
Do you think Kevin really loved Tori? Did she love him? How would you characterize their relationship?
4.
Tori seems to have a love-hate relationship with Joenetta. How do you handle difficult family members?
5.
Tori isn't used to being around children and initially resents DeAndre's presence. Can you relate to her reservations? Would you be willing to step in and raise a neglected child?
6.
Everyone in the small town of Bayford knows Aunt Dottie. Have you ever lived in a community where there were no strangers? Do you feel a sense of community in your neighborhood or church?
7.
Though Jacob expresses his interest in Tori early on, Tori is slow to respond to his advances. Why was she hesitant? Have you ever felt like something (or someone) was too good to be true? How did that turn out?
8.
Cassandra is hesitant about hiring Virgie to work in the store because she believes black people will not trust a white woman. Do you think Cassandra's concerns were valid? Do you trust people who don't look like you?
9.
While Tori is reading the Bible to Aunt Dottie, the Word begins to penetrate Tori's heart. How has God's Word changed your heart?
10.
Lexa seems bent on ruining Tori's reputation at work. Have you ever had to deal with a conniving coworker?
11.
Jacob's knowledge of the Word helps Tori understand God's will better. Do you have someone who helps you make sense of God's Word?
12.
Jacob was bothered by hypocrisy in the church when his parents forbade him to take Tori to the prom, but his prom date (a deacon's daughter) was just as sexually active as people thought Tori was. How do you choose your friends? Are you cautious about people who aren't “in the church”?
13.
Tori abandons her job to appear in court on DeAndre's behalf, but the judge is not impressed with her living arrangements. At that point, Tori felt all hope was lost. Have you ever felt hopeless? In retrospect, what lesson did you learn from this experience?
14.
After Preston reconsiders what it would mean to fire Tori, she suddenly realizes that the ball is (and always has been) in her court. Have you ever had such an epiphany? Have you ever had a time when God set you up for success?
15.
In the end, Aunt Dottie's name changes the judge's mind. One name made all the difference. How has the name of Jesus changed situations in your life?