AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She tried to think about Jake and what she would say, but images of her aborted visit to her dad kept intruding. She’d gone through a brief period of doubt the previous night, when shame and embarrassment made her question his actions and her own. After all,shewas the daughter who’d gotten herself pregnant, who left home and never went back.
But as she stewed in her emotions while pretending everything was fine in front of Emma, she got angrier and angrier. How could he not want to meet his own granddaughter? She knew if she told Emma about him, she’d want to meet him. She wouldn’t bat an eye at the fact he’d never once engaged in her life before now.
Now, standing here in the house of the Lord, she felt cursed.
As if to prove her point, Jake Malloy walked into the gathering with Allison on his arm.
* * *
When his mother invited him to lunch, he hadn’t known she meant the Spring Blessing.
“It’s good to see you,” she said, leaning over for his kiss on the cheek as she got into his car. Her familiar smell of Chanel took him back years.
“I’d like to have dinner at your place.” She tossed the ball into his court.
He didn’t answer at first, just closed the door behind him. “I’d love to have everyone over.”
“Just me and Ted this time,” she said firmly.
“What’s going on?” he asked, not beating around the bush. Church today. Dinner with Ted at his house?
“You can’t just avoid us,” she said.
“I’ve been avoidingTed,” he snapped.
She scowled. “Tedisus.”
How could she never see things from his point of view? Why was it always easier for her to see the good in that man? And why was it always Jake’s problem to fix?
“It’s not like he’s banging down my door.”
“You wouldn’t let him in.”
He shook his head, but gave in. “Fine, let’s have dinner. I’ll cook.”
She squeezed his arm. “That sounds great.”
She patted his hand, then pointed to an open parking space. He pulled in… then realized he was parking next to a familiar car.
“I ran into Allison this morning.” His mother waved at her, standing outside her car, waiting for them.
“You invited Allison?” It felt like a ton of manure just dropped on his head.
“She invited herself! I couldn’t very well refuse. I figured you could have that talk with her,” his mother said, pretending not to notice the sudden tension.
“At a church luncheon?” he said in disbelief.
She shrugged. “I’m not saying right this second, but you shouldn’t keep pretending this is what you want.”
He groaned as he opened the door. He knew, walking into the Concordia Lutheran Church, that Hannah was probably inside.
“Morning, Elaine.” A church elder greeted them. “I see you’ve brought our hometown hero.”
“Good to see you, Mr. Carlson.” Jake reached out his hand.
“Good to see you, too, soldier.” He gave him a salute after their handshake. “Glad to see you’re back in Prairie Valley.”
“We’re all glad he’s back,” Allison said, and tucked her arm into his. She seemed to have forgotten all about their argument. “Should we get something to eat?”
