Lone Star Holiday (8 page)

He never corrected anyone, but he hadn’t been the lucky one to take the picture.

When they’d been invited to go with some friends to the coast, he’d once again declined. He needed to finish a song and had meetings to attend. With his music career about to launch, he couldn’t afford to take off. Upset, Carol insisted on taking the girls without him.

He traced a finger along the edge of her face. She’d begged him to go, but he’d believed at the time his music career needed him more.

After Carol’s death, Julie, the photographer and friend, brought him the pictures and video. A reminder of the beautiful gift he’d taken for granted.

Lunch with Rachel sounded like a great idea right now. He went to call JoAnn, but before he picked up the phone, it rang.

“Mornin’, John.” The familiar voice came boldly over the line.

“Hey, Chuck,” John greeted his mentor from the past fifteen years. “Good to hear from you. What’s up?”

“Not much. Just going over my prayer list and realized we haven’t spoken in a few weeks.”

John chuckled. “So you’re checking up on me?”

“Figured someone has to. No telling what goes on in that small town of yours.”

“You’d be surprised. How’re Jill and the girls?”

“Everyone’s good. We found out that Karen and Eric are making us grandparents. One minute you’re holding a baby girl in your arms, then you wake up one morning and she’s having her own.” Chuck sighed. “Speaking of daughters, how are your little ones?”

“Actually, right now we’re dealing with a broken leg.” John went on to tell him about the accident. He even admitted to the concerns he had in getting everything done, along with the fundraiser for the youth building.

“I didn’t realize how much I needed to talk, Chuck. God’s timing is as faithful as always.”

“Call me anytime. In a small town, you have a bigger threat of feeling isolated. Tell me, how’s the music coming along?”

John spun his chair until he faced the window behind him. “I haven’t found the time between my ministry, the girls, remodeling the house and all the community events.”

“It’s a talent you’ve been given. I remember you always sitting at the piano or with a guitar in your hand. You were never without music. I know it helped through your parents’ deaths.”

John couldn’t help but snort. “Yeah, look where it got me with my family. A wife I didn’t get to spend enough time with and two little girls who didn’t know me.”

“John, stop punishing yourself. It’s all about balance and sharing that gift with your girls. Do either of the girls show any musical talent?”

John smiled. “Rachel loves singing. She has a very mature voice for her age. Celeste will try any instrument she can get her hands on.” He grinned. “Not that she can actually play any of them.” He frowned and pulled in his lips. In his vow to keep music from his life, had he also deprived the girls? He rubbed his hand over his jaw and looked up to the clear sky outside.

“John? You there?”

He thought about the guitars and violins he had boxed up and locked away. “Yeah. I get a bit overwhelmed at times.”

“Hey, that’s why you need someone to talk to.” His friend chuckled. “Even Jesus gathered twelve friends around Him. No one expects you to go it alone. We all need help.”

John picked up a pencil and started tapping it off his knee. Leaning his head back, he smiled at the ceiling. “Now you sound like some of the women around here. They all seem to think I need a wife. My girls, on the other hand, have gotten it into their heads they need to save me from the women.”

“Do the girls have someone safe to talk to?”

John froze in his chair. “What do you mean? They have me.”

“Yes, but they also want to protect you.”

“Now you sound like Lorrie Ann.”

John closed his eyes, not able to take back the words. He could see the graying eyebrows arch in question. Like all the times he sat across from him.

“Lorrie Ann? Not to make this a big deal, John, but this is the first time I’ve heard a woman’s name other than JoAnn’s or Maggie’s.”

“Then don’t make it a big deal. She’s Maggie’s niece from California and is visiting for a couple weeks. With Amy’s injuries, Lorrie Ann is helping out since she’s right next door.”

“How old is she?”

“Really, Chuck? You’re going to go there?”

“Hey, just because you’re a father and pastor doesn’t mean you can’t have a social life. When was the last time you went out for fun with adults?”

“I don’t need to have fun.” John heard Chuck grunt. “Well, that didn’t sound right.”

“You didn’t answer my question. When was the last time you went on a date?”

Silence.

“John, don’t tell me in over five years you have not gone out once.”

“I live in a small town, and when I say
small
I’m talking population four hundred and six, and that includes the horses. I don’t know. It’d be more complicated than it’s worth, and until now I’ve had no desire to go out. I didn’t set out
not
to date. I just haven’t met anyone worth the risk.”

“Until now, huh? So, is she worth the risk?”

He spun the chair back around to face the sweet faces of his wife and girls. “Maybe.”

“So, have you asked Lorrie Ann out?”

Silence, longer and heavier this time.

“Oh, boy, you have, and you don’t know what to do next!” Chuck went into full laughter.

“I’m glad you’re finding this amusing, mentor of mine.”

Chuck coughed. “Sorry. Listen, I know it’s hard to balance a personal life between church and family. Being a single dad makes it even harder, but really, you need to relax. Do I need to remind you God’s in charge of all the days of your life? You have always been a bit of a control freak. Besides, the only way you’ll find out if she’s worth it is by spending some time with her.”

“That’s why you’re my mentor, Chuck.” He let out a heavy sigh and noticed the time ticking away by the minute on his clock. “I’ve got to be going, but this call could not have come at a better time. Thanks, Chuck.”

“God is good, John. How about we close in prayer?”

John closed his eyes and focused on the words in Chuck’s prayer, and he asked for his own heart to be open to God’s will.

* * *

Lorrie Ann watched the SUVs line up behind her in the school driveway as she leaned against the BMW’s silver hood, her brown leather boots crossed at the ankles. A few people waved at her, some stared, trying to figure out who she was, and others just glared. She smiled at them all, enjoying the irony of her, Wild Child L.A., in the soccer-mom line.

Worried about being late, she had been the first to arrive. She now stood where Aunt Maggie used to wait for her and Yolanda. Not much had changed. Everyone from preschool to high school attended the same campus, with the gym in the center of the buildings.

A few minutes after the bell rang, doors burst open and kids ran everywhere. Lorrie Ann thought about Rachel moving with this rambunctious crowd. Maybe she should have signed her out earlier.

“Miss Lorrie Ann! Miss Lorrie Ann!” Celeste ran across the playground with her backpack dragging behind her, stirring up the dirt. A small group of little people followed, and much to her horror, they all stopped in front of the BMW.

“See, I told you she had pirate boots! And she plays in a rock band, and she’s going to let us be in the Christmas pageant.” Celeste aimed her big smile straight at Lorrie Ann.

“I manage a rock band—I don’t play in one—and—”

“Are you a real pirate?”

“She can’t be a pirate, stupid—she’s a girl.”

“Girls can be pirates.”

“Hold on, guys. Girls can be pirates if—”

“The car’s top goes down into the trunk.”

A chorus of aahs followed Celeste’s announcement.

“Did you steal this car?”

“No!” How did one control a conversation with six-year-olds? They managed to make musicians look docile. She gave them her best stern look. “Celeste, would you please introduce me to your friends?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. This is Bethany, Daviana, Carlos, Colt, Jenny and Rey.”

She sat on her heels to greet the short creatures eye to eye. “Nice to meet you. To answer your questions, I am not a pirate—I just like tall boots. Even though girls can be pirates, it’s wrong to steal. I manage a band. I don’t play in it.”

“But you’re going to direct the play and let us be in it, right?” Celeste wrapped her arms around Lorrie Ann’s shoulders.

“Maybe.” She shrugged. “I haven’t decided yet.” Another decision she had avoided since coming to town. The list kept getting longer.

“Please, please!” The chorus of high-pitched voices surrounded her.

“You look like you could use some help.” Katy approached from behind her car. “Colt, are you causing problems?”

“No, Momma. We’re helpin’ Celeste to get Miss Lorrie Ann to run the Christmas play so we can be in it.”

“Yeah, we want a rock star to help the play so it’ll rock!” The kids laughed at Carlos’s air-guitar jam and started jumping and cheering.

Katy laughed. “I think you have your own fan club. So, you’re helping Pastor John with the girls?”

“Just for a week or so.”

“You might as well agree to help with the play, too. I personally think it’s a God thing. I know your aunt would be over the moon with glee.” Katy winked at Lorrie Ann. “The people in this town could use a shot of something new. Pastor John, well, that poor man just needs a social life. You would be good for him.”

Lorrie Ann stood and frowned at Katy. Why did everyone think they knew what that man needed?

“Come on, Colt. We need to find your brothers.” Katy grabbed her son’s arm. “Bye, L.A. I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”

The short people still stared at her. “Um...don’t you have people waiting for you?” As the little ones started running off, she turned to Celeste. “Where would Rachel be? Do you think she needs help?” She searched the buildings and playground. No Rachel. Great—first day on the job and she’d already lost one of the girls.

“She’s probably just talking with her boyfriend and doesn’t want our help. Are you going to date Daddy?” She took Lorrie Ann by the hand and started leading her to the small courtyard outside the fourth-and fifth-grade buildings. Lorrie Ann didn’t really hear any of the girl’s words after “boyfriend.” Oh, that didn’t sound good.

“Why do some people call you L.A.?” Celeste asked as she led her to the tennis courts.

“It’s my initials for
Lorrie Ann,
and all I talked about in high school was going to California and becoming a big star. So people started calling me L.A. I liked it at the time.”

“Do you like it now?”

“Not as much. It just doesn’t feel like me anymore.”

Celeste broke free and started running to her sister. “Rachel! We’ve been looking for you.”

“I’m right where Amy always picks me up.” Her glare darted from Celeste to Lorrie Ann. She was going to make a textbook teenager at this rate.

She motioned to the boy next to her. “This is Seth Miller.”

“So you’re the new babysitter,” the boy snarled, flipping the long hair out of his eyes. He slumped next to Rachel, holding her hand, his hoodie and jeans looking two sizes too big for his slender frame.

Rachel hit him in the arm. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I’m not a baby either! And you’re not supposed to be holding a boy’s hand.” Celeste crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at Seth.

“Maybe you should move to the other side of the table, young man.” Lorrie Ann grimaced. Did she just use the term
young man?
“You’re Vickie’s son, right?”

He shrugged his skinny shoulders, dropping Rachel’s hand and moving over. “I hear you drive a real sick car.”

Lorrie Ann looked back the way they had walked. “Would it be easier if I just drove around to the tennis courts? You need to elevate your leg, Rachel.”

Celeste scooted next to Seth, looking in his notebook. “What you writing?”

“Celeste, you come with me.” Much to her surprise, she caught a grateful smile from Rachel. She felt way in over her head when it came to dealing with children and wondered what crazy bug had gotten in her brain that had made her agree to take care of these two.

“Seth is Rachel’s boyfriend.”

“Uh...does your dad know about them?”

“Nope.” And with that one loaded word, Celeste skipped ahead.

Chapter Ten

A
shirt landed on Lorrie Ann’s head, blinding her for a moment. Raising her face to the loft, she caught the next piece of flying clothing before it hit her. “Hey!”

Rachel laughed as she sat with her leg high on pillows. “That’s Celeste’s idea of gathering up the laundry.” She turned her face to the loft. “Don’t forget my purple shirt with the black threading. I want to wear it for Spirit Day.”

Lorrie Ann opened the closet with the stacked washer and dryer and started the water. “What about your dad’s clothes?”

Rachel shrugged but kept her face in the book she read. The sky opened up and a downpour of girls’ clothes flooded the living space.

“When was the last time you did your laundry?” Lorrie Ann asked as she picked up the small shirts, jeans and socks mixed with towels and sheets. “We’re not going to get all this in one load.”

She looked up to see Celeste swing from the top of the stairs.

“Celeste Rebecca Levi, walk down those stairs!” Rachel yelled before Lorrie Ann could say anything.

“I’m going to Jenny’s pj party this weekend. We’re going to sing and practice for the play.” Celeste brought a basket over by the washing machine and started putting the sheets and towels in a pile.

“You can’t go this weekend,” Rachel said. “I’m going to Kendal’s bowling party. It’s a sleepover.”

“Why can’t you both go to your parties?” Lorrie Ann closed the lid and faced Rachel, puzzled over the girl’s concern.

“I don’t want to leave Daddy alone for a whole weekend.”

“Oh, that’s sweet, but I’m sure your dad can handle it. He’s a grown man, and sometimes adults like to have their own time.”

“Not Daddy. He told me he loves having us home with him and it’s too quiet when we are both gone. Anyways, some of the ladies in town might use it as an excuse to bother him.”

She thought of his invitation for Saturday. Maybe it wasn’t a date so much as him wanting company. But why her?

“Well, he did ask me to go to Kerrville with him.”

“You?” Rachel’s voice sounded alarmed. Lorrie Ann decided not to take offense. Rachel cared about her father and wanted the best for him. She agreed. A wild child from L.A. was not it.

“We’re just friends, Rachel. I’ll be heading back to California soon.” She put water in the kettle to make tea. “It sounds like you both have great plans for the weekend. Your dad would feel bad if you canceled because of him.”

Celeste took her hand and led her to the other side of the L-shaped couch. “I told everyone you put my outfit together and did my hair. They liked it.” She jumped and clapped her hands together. “I have a great idea. We can have a sleepover here, with you. You can do our hair and help us dress up. It would be fun.”

“Daddy won’t allow it. You know that.”

“But if Miss Lorrie Ann stays then it’s okay.” She looked back to Lorrie Ann. “Daddy doesn’t think it’s smart to have our friends overnight because we don’t have a mom. But if you stayed it would be okay.”

“No, we have a mom. She’s just not here,” Rachel snapped. “She can’t spend the night. It would cause even more gossip. You’re such a baby.”

Celeste planted her fists on her small hips and stomped a zebra-striped boot. “Am not.”

It never occurred to Lorrie Ann all the land mines a single father had to step around, and being the local pastor just made it worse.

“I’m sorry, Celeste. I don’t think it would be a good idea. Most of the moms don’t really know me either.”

Celeste crossed her arms. “You could still help with the pageant.”

“You know what? I think I will. It’s not as if I have anything better to do while I’m here. Sitting around will drive me crazy.”

Clapping, Celeste jumped up and down. “Yay!” With a shout, she threw herself at Lorrie Ann and wrapped her small arms around her neck.

“But
she
will drive you crazy.” Rachel shook her head and grinned at her little sister.

Turning back to sit down, Celeste stuck her tongue out. “I will not.”

Lorrie Ann sat in the corner with a throw pillow under one arm. Celeste quickly crawled next to her as if it was the most natural thing in the world to curl up in Lorrie Ann’s lap.

“Will you tell us more of your story?”

“My story?” Her forehead wrinkled between her eyes. She couldn’t imagine Pastor John being happy with her telling them stories from her past.

“Yeah, the one about the lost baby princess.” Celeste nestled deeper into Lorrie Ann. “The mother wolf protected her in the forest.”

“Oh, that one. Well, let’s see. We were deep in the forest, right? Far away from the village, an old lady lived by a river. The people in town whispered about her weird behavior, evidence of her craziness.” Lorrie Ann ran her hand through Celeste’s silky strands. Glancing over at Rachel, she smiled. The girl’s book lay open, but Rachel had her head back, gazing into the heavy rafters.

“Is she a scary old lady?” Celeste whispered.

“Oh, no, but because she was different, people stayed away. She wore every piece of jewelry she had collected over the years. The gold and silver rattled every time she moved.”

“She didn’t have a sister or husband?” Celeste asked.

“No, she lived alone. When she found the baby lying in the tangled roots of her favorite tree, she thanked God for the precious gift of a child she thought to never have. The old lady loved the baby but feared someone would hurt her, so they stayed deep in the woods. The secret princess grew strong. Her only playmates were wild animals of the forest.”

“Didn’t she want to play with other kids?” Rachel asked without ever looking at Lorrie Ann.

“Yes, she did, and as she got older she would ask about the world beyond their little cabin. She loved the woman she called Grandmamma, but in her heart she knew there was more.”

Celeste turned so she could look up at her. “What about her daddy? Was he looking for her?”

“Celeste, if you would stop asking questions Lorrie Ann could finish the story.”

The younger sister stuck out her tongue at Rachel. “You asked a question, too.”

Lorrie Ann couldn’t hold back the laughter. “You girls fight over the silliest things.” A high-pitched whistle filled the cabin. “Come on, Celeste. You can help me make tea.”

Celeste jumped up. “But what about her daddy—was he sad?”

“Of course. Every day people would come from far and wide to report sightings of his daughter. Many even brought in little girls, claiming they had found the lost princess. However, he knew a secret that would prove to him his precious jewel had been found. With each proving false, his heart would grow a little tighter. But every year on the day of her birth he sent out five hundred doves, each with a message to her.”

Celeste opened the refrigerator door, and Lorrie Ann put the iced tea in to keep cold. She added the garlic bread to the oven and took off the foil lid to the lasagna.

When they finished, Celeste pulled her back to the sofa. “Did a dove ever find her?”

“A few found their way to the forest, but the old lady chased them off. By now, almost twenty years had passed and the girl no longer wanted to wait to discover the world. Late one night she packed a bag and climbed out her window.”

“Wait—if she was twenty, why did she have to sneak away?” This time Rachel turned to her and frowned. “She’s old enough to live on her own.”

“But the old lady wouldn’t let her leave, right?” Celeste rubbed her hands together. “She was afraid of being alone.”

“That’s part of it. She also knew someone wanted to hurt the princess. She wanted to protect her from the dangers of the world.”

The door opened, and all three turned their heads.

“Daddy!” both girls said at once.

Celeste ran to her father. The little girl’s unguarded joy gave Lorrie Ann images of what she had missed as a young child.

John swung his more energetic greeter to his hip and kissed her on the cheek as she tangled her arms around his neck. “Hey, monkey. Mmm...the kitchen smells good.”

“I helped Miss Lorrie Ann make dinner.”

He slid his daughter to the floor. “You didn’t need to start supper.”

His gaze focused on Lorrie Ann. She made herself stop chewing on her upper lip and smiled. “You have enough casseroles in your refrigerator and freezer to feed a family for three months. We just threw one in the oven with the garlic bread. You want some tea?” She moved to get the pitcher, avoiding his probing eyes.

He chuckled and moved into the living room to check on Rachel. “A blessing or a curse of being a single dad in a small town? Every female in the area has a desire to feed us.”

“Poor you. Well, I’ll be going home. Rachel did her homework, and Celeste started a load in the washer.”

John gave his daughter a quizzical stare. “You did a load of laundry?”

“Yes, I did! Miss Lorrie Ann helped me. But I separated the towels and whites like Rachel told me.”

“Good job.” With a smile that created a long dimple on his left cheek, he turned his attention to Lorrie Ann. “Why don’t you eat with us.” He hung up his jacket in the closet and pulled his tie loose. “I’m sorry. I told you I’d be home by five and it’s almost five-thirty. You’re probably ready to get outta here.”

“Stay, Lorrie Ann!” Celeste grabbed her hand and started jumping up and down. “Tonight’s game night. We can have four!”

“Stop embarrassing yourself, Celeste,” Rachel scolded from the living area.

“Settle down. Lorrie Ann might have other business to take care of.” John mouthed a
sorry
to her.

“No, no. It’s okay. The smell of warm garlic butter has my mouth watering.” Maybe it wasn’t the food as much as the man.

“Good. We always seem to be the guest. We never get to serve from our table.” He headed to the kitchen. “If I ever get our house on the ranch finished, we’ll get to invite everyone to our home. I’ll make the salad.”

“Um...” All of a sudden, she felt as if she was playing house with Pastor John Levi, but instead of the dolls Yolanda used to have, this was with real children.

A family of her own had always seemed out of her grasp. She’d tried to force it with Brent, but look where that had gotten her.

Did God want her to see what she had given up? Lorrie Ann looked around for something to do so she wouldn’t feel awkward. “I can chop something.”

“Too late—all done.” He held up an empty bag of precut salad mix. “What does it say about a society when we are too busy to cut some carrots and lettuce?”

The timer went off, and Rachel started making her way to the kitchen table.

Once seated, they joined hands and prayed. The feel of John’s strong hand wrapped around her smaller one, while Celeste held her other, gave her a lump in her throat. She repeated each word of the family prayer and stored them in her heart.

After the prayer, easy chatter about their day filled the room. Lorrie Ann remained silent. She didn’t want to destroy the warm, cozy ambience at the family table. For a moment in time, she was the mom of this beautiful family. Then guilt snaked its way up to her stomach. She wasn’t their mom, and she had no right pretending even for a minute. This was the dream she never even knew lay buried in her heart, the dream she’d sacrificed at the altar of fame and success.

John laughed at something the girls said then turned his attention to her.

“What do you think, Lorrie Ann?”

“I, um...wasn’t listening. Sorry.”

“That’s okay. So, how did the first day of pickup duty go?” he asked with a friendly smile as he took another bite of lasagna.

Oh, with everything else she had forgotten, she needed to talk to him about Rachel’s boyfriend. She had wanted to speak to him privately so as not to embarrass Rachel. She looked at both girls. They suddenly concentrated on their food.

“This isn’t good. Who’s going to tell me what happened? Celeste, did you cause problems?”

“It wasn’t me. It was Rachel. She has a boyfriend!”

A frown creased his forehead. “Rachel? That can’t be true.”

The preteen had her hands under the table, her face focused on her plate.

John moved his glare to Lorrie Ann.

With a sigh, Lorrie Ann answered the question in John’s eyes. “It wasn’t that big a deal. After the playground cleared we couldn’t find her. She was waiting on the other side of the school, sitting at the picnic tables.”

Rachel picked her head up and looked at her dad. “That’s where Amy always picks me up. Every day after school. Then we get Celeste off the playground. Celeste gets to play for a while, and the traffic clears out. It’s what we did. I forgot to go to the car lineup today.” She turned to Lorrie Ann and gave her a glare that rated off the charts. “That’s all.”

Celeste popped up on her knees. “No, that’s not all. She was sitting with Seth Miller.”

John tilted his head and raised his eyebrow.

“He’s her boyfriend.” In a singsong voice, Celeste chimed loudly. “K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

The shock on John’s face would have been comical if not for the tension in the cabin.

“They were holding hands.” Celeste made kissy faces at her big sister, unaware of their father’s mood change.

“You’re a baby!” Rachel yelled, leaning forward.

“Well, you were!” Arms crossed over her chest, Celeste flopped back in her chair.

“You’re eleven years old.” John’s strong voice silenced the room.

“I’m almost twelve,” she whispered after a period of quietness.

He looked at Lorrie Ann as if he somehow wanted to blame her.

“You know the rules about boyfriends.” He covered his plate with the dinner napkin.

“We aren’t dating, Daddy. We were just...holding hands.” She buried her chin into her chest, which muffled her last words.

“How long has this been going on?” His jaw flexed.

“He asked her Wednesday night.” Celeste provided the answer.

“At church? You’re grounded.” His sharp reply came fast.

“Why?” Tears hung in her eyes now. “I haven’t done anything wrong. We...we...just held hands. He asked me to the homecoming dance.”

“You’re not going.” John stood, taking his empty plate to the sink.

“Daddy, you already said I could go!”