Hope Springs (15 page)

Ask what kind of help they need
.

No
.

Stephanie smiled at Sara Ann. “We're good. These look delicious.”

“Can I have a straw?” Tiffany asked.

“Now, how'd I forget that?” Sara Ann fished inside her apron pocket.

Ask
.

Ugh
.

“Uh, Sara Ann . . . I was just wondering. What kind of help do y'all need here? I'm assuming a full-time commitment, several hours every day?”

She handed out their straws. “Oh no. I mean, that'd be nice, I guess. But we'd take whatever we could get.” She looked hopeful. “Why, you know somebody?”

Stephanie peeled the paper from her straw. “Nope. Just wondering.”

Sara Ann started toward another table. “All right. Well, point 'em here if they come to mind.”

Stephanie bent her head and sucked her shake, marshaling her defenses.

Not doing it, Lord. This wasn't part of the deal. Helping Janelle and Grandma Geri .
. . that
was the deal. It would actually take away from my ability to help them if I got a job. And I don't even work. I've never wanted to work. That's why I wanted to marry a doctor
. She looked up and surveyed the diner.
And if I got some strange unction to work, it wouldn't be here. I mean, seriously . . . maybe the Chanel shop .
. .

“Stephanie, why are you so quiet?”

“Oh.” She sighed. “Talking to God. You ever talk to God?”

“Sometimes I tell Him I miss my daddy.”

“Aw, sweetheart. I'm glad you talk to God about that.”

Tiffany drank some of her shake. “What do you talk to God about?”

“Lately, if I feel like He wants me to do something, I'm usually telling Him why I don't want to do it.”

Tiffany gasped. “You tell God you don't want to do something?”

“Yep.”

“Does He listen?”

“Good question, Tiff. He does listen actually.”

“Do you get your way?”

“So far . . . never.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Friday, January 8

B
ecca awakened as Todd slowed the car and took the exit into Hope Springs. It was already dark on a Friday night. They'd decided midweek to drive down so they could move some of their things early and assess what needed to be done to the house. The U-Haul attached to the back made this trip unlike any other—their first as near-residents.

She had worked much of the trip, polishing her message, then practicing it for Todd. He'd given great feedback, telling her what worked, where it lagged, how it resonated overall. Only three weeks until she'd be on the platform giving it. But she looked forward to being in the audience for the kickoff conference of the year in two weeks. Meanwhile, she was enjoying the buildup. She'd been blogging this week about this new phase of her ministry, and she'd been pleasantly surprised by the feedback. People she'd never heard from were telling her that they were regular conference attendees and were already praying for her.

“Soooo . . . this is your new normal, folks,” Todd said, looking left and right as he drove slowly down the street. “You got your twenty-four-hour convenience store by the gas station—always good when you're hankerin' for junk snacks late at night; your Main Street Diner to my right—but if you're hungry, get there by three; Clotill's consignment shop—will give Nordstrom a run for its money any day of the week.”

Becca snorted. “Don't tell Nordstrom they've got fierce competition here. They might put the squeeze on ol' Clotill.”

“The great things about this location will be: one, no fast food restaurants—”

“That's not a great thing, Daddy.” Claire had awakened about the same time as Becca. “They need a McDonald's.”

Todd turned down the road that led to the house. “No fast food restaurants means no fast food calorie temptations for Dad. Two, no Starbucks—”

“My turn,” Becca said. “How's that a great thing? I need lattes and frappucinos.”

“No designer coffeehouse means no designer coffeehouse daily expenditures.”

Becca laughed. “Guess I'll have to learn to make my favorite coffee drinks at home.”

They continued down the road and rounded the bend. “What's going on over there?” Becca asked.

Cars covered the grass outside the Sanders home.

Todd pulled into an open spot between the homes. “I don't know. Probably family visiting Grandma Geri.”

Becca and Todd had been saddened by the diagnosis and were praying for her. “Have you talked to her since her first chemo?” she asked.

“No, only before. But I talked to Janelle yesterday. Grandma Geri had a couple of rough days and nights, a lot of vomiting.”

“We should stop over tonight.”

“Absolutely.” He looked in the back where Ethan was still sleeping. “We'll take them inside and get settled a bit, then pop over.”

They opened the van doors in the back, and Todd scooped up Ethan. Claire climbed down from her seat. “I wanna see Tiffany,” she said. Her little feet inched toward the Sanders house.

When Todd and Becca told her they were relocating to Hope Springs, that was her first question. “Will Tiffany be there?” That was all she needed to hop on board.

“Hold on, little lady.” Becca took her hand. “We're not heading over just yet.”

Ethan was awake now and jumped down to walk up the steps on his own.

Todd unlocked the front door and flipped on the light in the entryway, and Becca stood there, taking it all in with new eyes. This house was very different from their St. Louis home. They were both older houses, but this one was historic-old. Much more character and even a little bigger.

Becca walked farther in, flicking lights as she went, wondering how they would meld the furniture from the two houses. They'd have to give away a lot, and they'd have to totally clear out three of the four bedrooms here. They could keep the guest room furniture in one. Now that she was here, she could see the trip was really needed.

Todd's phone rang, and Becca listened as he answered in the kitchen.

“Hey, Janelle . . . Yep, just got here. We're stopping over a little later . . . Oh, really? Okay, sure. Be right there.”

Becca met him as he came out of the kitchen. “What's up?”

“Janelle said they've been taking photos for an album she's putting together for Grandma Geri to flip through while she's doing chemo. They're about to take a pic of my crowd—Janelle, Libby, and Travis—and they want me in it.”

“That's a great idea,” Becca said, adding, “as long as they keep that camera far from me.” Her hair was pulled up lazily for the long drive.

“Come on, kids!” Todd called. “We're headed next door.”

“Yaaay!” Claire stretched the word out as she ran down the stairs and to the door, opening it for them all.

They followed Todd to the front entrance. He pushed the door open and—

“Surprise!”

He paused in the doorway as at least two dozen faces smiled at them.

Travis stepped up with a wide grin and pulled him into a handshake-hug. “Come on in, Pastor. This is all for you.”

Todd looked tentatively around. “What's all for me?”

“The barbecued ribs in there, for one thing.” Travis looked proud.

Janelle raised a finger. “Caveat. Dad and Uncle Wood are gone, so there were stand-ins at the grill. You'll have to test 'em yourself.”

Todd glanced skeptically between the two of them. “Travis didn't get near the grill, did he?”

“Oh, so this is what it'll be like having you two around all the time?” Travis said. “And anyway, I wasn't grilling alone. If you don't like the ribs, it might've been my partner's fault. Not saying any names.” He fake-coughed, mumbling, “Kory.”

Kory looked hurt. “Aw, that's cold, Pastor.”

“Todd, Becca, Claire, and Ethan,” Janelle said, “welcome to a celebration in honor of you as we rejoice in Todd's acceptance of this call of God to pastor Calvary Church.”

Cheers and applause went up. Claire was actually not with her family. She'd already disappeared with Tiffany and Dee.

Janelle continued. “We know the church will undoubtedly have its own official celebration, but your friends wanted to—”

“This is family.” Grandma Geri sat in the family room recliner, Stephanie beside her.

Janelle smiled. “Your friends
and
family wanted to throw you a big party soon as we heard.”

“But I only told you yesterday we were coming,” Todd said.

Janelle gave him a look. “You know it doesn't take long to plan a party and spread the word around here,” she said. “What else do we have to do?”

Travis added, “And Janelle had no problem issuing last-minute orders.”

“I didn't order you on that grill, I can tell you that.”

“This is incredible, you guys,” Todd said. “It's been a life-changing couple of weeks for us. It all happened so quickly—”

Becca nodded, eyes wide.

“—but I couldn't have done this if I didn't feel like God was in it. Thank you so much for supporting us. Hey, didn't see you back there, Willard and Skip, and Roy too—my whole elder board is here.” He smiled. “Sara Ann, good to see you here. I'm looking forward to chatting with each of you.”

He looked at Grandma Geri. “This has been a life-changing time for you too, Grandma Geri, and a tough week. I hope this party isn't too much for you.”

“Whose idea you think it was?” She laughed at herself. “I'll say this . . . don't know what this town is coming to, with the two of you as pastors.”

“Hadn't thought about it like that,” Todd said, “but that
is
rather scary.” His eyes twinkled. “And Hope Springs's newest, scariest pastor is itching to visit with
you
, Grandma Geri. But first, can I say one thing?” He waited until some chatter died down. “I'd love to call this a joint celebration, because Becca's got some great things going too.” He turned to her. “You want to tell them about it?”

“No, no.” She waved him away. “This is your night.”

“No fair,” Travis said. “Now you've got us wondering. What's the great thing?”

“I'll tell then,” Todd said, smiling. “Some of you know Becca's been teaching Bible studies and speaking at conferences for years. This year she'll be speaking with the Worth & Purpose women's conference in nine cities.”

“Whoa,” Travis said. “Which means Becca will speak to more people at one conference than Todd and I will speak to in a year—not that I'm jealous or anything.” He chuckled. “That's quite an honor, Becca.”

“I go to that conference in Greensboro every year.” It was the wife of one of the elders from Calvary speaking. “Will you be at that one?”

“Actually, I will,” Becca said. “It's in March, I think.”

“Road trip!” Stephanie said. “I won't be here, but Janelle can organize it.” She smiled over at her. “The whole town needs to go!”

“I'm in!” a few voices shouted.

“I'd be glad to organize it,” Janelle said. “Not sure I can go myself, though. I'll have to wait until we get closer to the date to see how things are going.”

“You mean to see how
I'm
doing,” Grandma Geri said. “You better go on to that conference.”

“Having you all there would be awesome,” Becca said. “I'd love your prayers too, if you think of it.”

“If we think of it?” Sara Ann said. “This is big-time! Don't know if I can go either, since I work weekends, but you better believe I'll be praying.”

“Got that right,” Grandma Geri said. “Don't let her fool you. That girl's a warrior.”

Chatter started up around the room, and Sara Ann came over. “I don't think we've officially met.”

Becca shook her hand. “Nice to meet you officially, Sara Ann.” She smiled. “So you're from Hope Springs?”

“Born and raised. Graduated high school two years ahead of Todd and Travis.”

“Did you leave afterward and come back? That seems to be the trend around here.”

“Nope. Went to work full-time at the diner. Been there nineteen years.”

Becca was so surprised she might've frowned, but she evened it out quickly. “You've worked at the diner nineteen years? That's . . . all you've wanted to do? I mean, I'm sorry. That didn't come out right.”

“No worries,” Sara Ann said. “Me and school didn't get along too well. Started at the diner in high school and continued on.” She shrugged. “I could never do what you're doin'. You probably went to Bible school and everything.”