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“She cares about you. That much is clear.”
“Then I wish she’d stop caring so much.” He shrugged. “Lexi told me about her grandparents and the weekend. She made her choice, I take it.”
“Her decision.”
Even if it made Maggie’s stomach drop, she’d stepped out in faith. Uncharacteristically, she’d felt a peace about it ever since Lexi had told her.
“It was your decision first. That took a lot of guts, Maggie. I’m not sure I could have done the same.”
“Actually, you helped me make the decision.”
“I did?”
“You reminded me that I’d forgiven them, but my actions weren’t going along with my thoughts. I had to force the two to get back in step, and it feels right somehow. I need to get her over there this afternoon.”
“You do know that your daughter is worried about you.” His blue eyes locked with hers, making her knees weak.
“She’s worried?”
She hadn’t seen anything from Lexi other than excitement at the prospect of leaving her behind.
“She asked me if I’d hang out with you so you wouldn’t be lonely. And of course, she was thinking of Chief, too. You must realize she doesn’t trust me with his livelihood.”
Mortified, Maggie covered with a nervous laugh.
“I’ll call Vera. It’s not your job to entertain me.”
“No, you won’t call Vera. I made a promise to Lexi, and I intend to keep it. So get ready to hang out with me today and tomorrow. I’ll start by driving with you to drop her off.”
He walked away smiling before she could protest anymore. Not that she wanted to, because if there was any chance she’d see that smile again she’d have to be crazy not to take it.
The housethat had once felt like her prison still looked the same. Richard and Paula’s large home was set back from the driveway, a wide and luscious green expanse of manicured lawn surrounded by pine trees between the circular driveway and the house. Eagle Way had been nicknamed Legal Eagle because of the amount of lawyers and judges who made their homes in this small and wealthy enclave of Harte’s Peak. It reminded Maggie that the people who lived in these homes were not accustomed to losing.
And though it felt odd to have Jack with them, instead of the coldness and fear she might have expected being here again, she felt covered in warmth. God had promised to be with her, and in His grace He’d apparently sent Jack, too, like the icing on the proverbial cake.
Paula invited them in, did a double take at Jack, but welcomed him anyway. ‚Richard is just finishing up settlement talks today, so he’ll be home late, but we’re all ready to leave early tomorrow morning.'
A good thing, because Maggie didn’t feel up to dealing with Richard today. Not after their last exchange.
Lexi raced up the winding staircase, presumably to the bedroom she’d occupied when she’d lived here.
“Your room—I mean, the guest room is ready for you,” Paula called after her.
Maggie smiled at that.
Paula was trying, cozying up to Jack, perhaps to make him realize she didn’t have anything against him even if Richard did. Paula took him outside presumably to show him her garden.
Maggie stayed back to stare at the oil paintings worth approximately one year’s worth of her salary.
Stop judging them. Whichever one of you is free of sin, let him cast the first stone.
Oh, that’s right, Lord, I’m fresh out of stones.
She could hear Paula in the garden, rattling on about the deer that crept into her garden and ruined the foliage she’d tried so hard to beat into submission. As if the deer hadn’t been here first.
The last time Maggie had been in this home, she’d thought her life was over. Nothing and no one would ever make her heart swell again, and she’d have to be content with memories. But, apparently, the Lord had other plans for her.
Out of the corner of her eye, Maggie caught a glimpse of a plaque in Richard’s office, the door left uncharacteristically open. Richard was private about his office, the only place he’d ever restricted Lexi from entering.
