After All These Years (19 page)

They headed north on Michigan. At Congress, Tony grabbed Isabel's hand and pulled her from the path of a swiftly turning cab.

He didn't let go until a few blocks later when they entered a restaurant. She wished it were at least another 12 blocks away.

Fortified with more coffee and their first bites of cheese omelets, they finally slipped into their flowing conversational style.

“Izzy, we're definitely out of practice. We act as if we've been up all night.”

“Two
A.M.
is all night for me.”

He laughed. “Yeah, that goes for me, too. College was a long time ago.”

“Extremely long time ago.”

“Has the statute of limitations been reached yet?”

He'd lost her. Maybe she wasn't quite awake yet. “For what?”

“For holding a grudge.”

“Do you want all those pancakes?”

He scooped one over to her plate. “I still get these vibes that the sooner I leave Valley Oaks, the better you'll feel. I did apologize for hurting you eons ago, didn't I?”

“But you didn't even know what you were apologizing for.” Her fork clattered as it hit the plate.

“So tell me exactly.”

“It doesn't matter. It's just that,” she glanced up at him, then focused again on her plate, “it was such an ugly time in my life. When I see you in my safe little town, I'm reminded of it over and over and over again.”

“Is that why you're more comfortable with me here in Chicago than in Valley Oaks?”

She watched the cheese ooze from her omelet.

“Iz?”

She forced herself to meet his gaze. “Maybe.”

“Ah. Progress. Okay, now tell me, what's a Christian to do with her ugly past?”

What do I see you dragging up here…is that for your atoning?
“There's this song.” She paused and let the words flow through her, felt the music resonate inside. Lowering her eyelids, she shut out Tony's face and began to sing softly.

 

What do I see you dragging up here?

Is that for your atoning?

I know you're sorry;

I've seen your tears,

you don't have to show Me.

What makes you think

you must make that go away?

I forgot when I forgave.

I wish you would…

 

Just come in,

just leave that right there.

Love does not care.

Just come in,

lay your heart right here.

You should never fear.

 

You think you've crossed some sacred line

and now I will ignore you.

If you look up, you will find

My heart is still toward you.

Look at the sky,

the east to the west.

That's where I threw this

when you first confessed.

Let it go now.

 

Just come in…

 

I will forgive you

no matter what you've done,

No matter how many times

you turn and run.

I love you…

 

Isabel looked up in time to see Tony brush a finger at the corner of his eye. He twitched his nose. She said, “That's what God says about it, compliments of a Margaret Becker paraphrase.”

“So why don't you let it go?”

Her breath caught. “Seven years later…I don't know. Still trying to earn my own way, I guess.”

For a moment he stared quietly toward the window beside them, before turning again to her. “My sister jumped on the bandwagon. Literally. Did you ever hear of Sky Hi?”

She tilted her head from one shoulder to another as if the motion could jar loose a memory. “Rock group. They took alternative Christian rock to the nth degree. I'm not well acquainted with their music though.”

“Joanna knew their music. She believed it and through it became a Christian.”

“People hear the message in unimaginable ways.”

“They definitely spoke her language, that of the ex-drug addict. She became a groupie. She went to Colombia because that's where they went.”

“
What
?”

“They wanted to minister to the coca growers.” Undisguised bitterness laced his tone. “The band left. JoJo stayed, with others, determined to love the unlovable to Jesus. Six of them were killed. Four came back.”

“Oh, Tony.” She reached for his hand across the table and squeezed it. He tightly held on to hers.

“Someday I'm going to put my investigative skills toward getting the whole story. I've lost track of those four, but I'm just too close to the situation right now. I can't observe it objectively.”

“After hearing your praises sung last night at the awards dinner, I'd say that someday you will do it and do a credible job. Probably win the Pulitzer.”

He gave her a small smile. “Thanks, Iz.”

She smiled back. “Do you want both of those pancakes?”

Tony passed one to her. “That's what I remember about you.”

“That I love pancakes?”

“No. That you know how to make me believe in my writing.”

“Hmm. That'll cost you one more pancake.”

Hours later, after they'd driven back to Valley Oaks and parted ways, Isabel replayed the conversation in her mind. What stood out was Tony's deep distrust of Christian musicians…which came under the umbrella of Christian artists…as did Christian writers…like Brady Olafsson.

Isabel cuddled Nutmeg against her chest, glad to be back home. After Tony dropped her off at her house, she had hurried over to Lia's to pick up the kitty. “I missed this silly cat. Are you sure she was no trouble?”

Chloe smiled. “No. Except she slept with Aunt Lia. Soot kind of pushed her out of my bed.”

“Lia, I hope you wore a decent pair of jammies. That's what she's used to, you know. Silk.”

Lia laughed. “Can you stay for a cup of tea and tell me all about your trip?”

“Sure, if I'm not interrupting.”

“Not at all.”

Chloe said, “I'll play with Nutmeg until you leave. I have to do homework.”

Isabel handed her over. “Thanks.”

The little girl sang as she headed down the hallway.

Lia set a cup before her at the kitchen table. “Chloe and I did some shopping and ate dinner out. Want some banana cream pie?”

Isabel groaned. “Tony and I ate for 24 hours straight. Last night's dinner was unbelievable. There were something like seven courses. Pâté, a scrumptious salmon stuffed in filo with a spinach and Gorgonzola sauce, and then raspberry cheesecake. Mmm.”

Lia laughed as she prepared tea. “I do miss Chicago food.”

“I can understand that. Hey, is Cal coming over by any chance?”

“I don't think so.” There was an odd note to her voice. She sat down. “Sounds like you had a good time.”

“Fantastic. I haven't had so much fun in ages. I'm just a bit concerned about some things Tony said.” She relayed the story about his sister and the music group. “Cal might be right about Tony having it in for Brady.”

“Cal said that?”

“Yeah. I feel bad. I accused him of playing cop like it was a sin he should confess.”

“I came close to accusing him of having a racist for a girlfriend.” Lia's hand flew to her mouth and her black eyes grew large.

“What?” Isabel couldn't help but smile. “I'm sorry, but you're pretty close to the truth. I just don't think I would come right out and tell him.”

“I didn't. It started out with a dinner invitation. I had invited him and Tammy and Dot and her husband over last night. Cal accepted, then Dot told me none of them would be coming because Chinese food makes Tammy ill. And then Cal stumbled around, tripping over his tongue, explaining how he and Tammy have this standing Saturday night dinner date.”

“Oh, Lia, I'm sorry. I know that hurts.”

“It does. I think I was snippy to him.”

Isabel laughed. “No way. If you were, I'm sure he didn't notice.”

“I thought we were good friends, but now things are all uncomfortable, as if I'm trying to get between him and Tammy.”

Isabel shook her head. “There's nothing to get between. They're not engaged. Cal doesn't even seem all that serious about her.”

“But they have this standing Saturday dinner date.”

“Which he seemed to have completely forgotten not just once, but twice.” Isabel gathered steam, her tone turning sharp. “Maybe his Sundays are still free. You two can be friends on Sundays. Have a standing Sunday dinner date.”

“Isabel! I am
not
interested in Cal that way!”

“Well, why not? You think he's attractive. Besides, I don't trust Tammy. Cal needs a good woman. When we ate pizza here Sunday night, I saw his rapport with you, how he paid attention to you.”

“The same could be said for you and Tony.”

Isabel made a noise of disgust. “Way too much baggage between the two of us.”

“Well, I've got so much baggage it'd send Cal running for the hills. Izzy, I think you and I are back to that other conversation.”

“About not complicating our lives with men?” Isabel smiled.

Lia grinned back at her. “That would be the one.” She raised her teacup. “Here's to the single life.”

After tucking Chloe into bed, Lia climbed into her own with a calculator and the pharmacy bookkeeping ledger with some notes from her accountant. Tired as she was, this had to be taken care of tonight.

“Dear Father, I need wisdom with these figures.”

An hour later she set down her pencil. Tomorrow was the first of October. September had been a good month, with a slight increase over August profits. Based on past business, she calculated what Agstar's prescription plan brought in during an average month. The plan covered 49 percent of her regular customers, 25 percent of them retired and on monthly refillable drugs.

Subtracting that amount from her income put her in the hole.

Thinking that she could cut out company for dinner and not drive anywhere, she subtracted groceries and gas. No more baking
two
banana cream pies.

This put her slightly less in the hole.

Grandpa and Grandma would help pay for Chloe's clothing. Of course, her parents had always done that.

The business loan would carry the pharmacy for a short time…Thanksgiving maybe.

A single tear rolled down her cheek.

She shut the ledger and pushed it away. “Lord, I don't know what You're doing. It looks like we're going under.” She drew up her knees and buried her face against them. “Oh, Father, I don't want to go under! Didn't You bring us here? Why would You bring us here just to fail and turn around, pack up, and leave? Pull Chloe out of school?
Why?!
” She poured out her complaints until she could think of no more. “Will You fix it? Please?”