Raising Faith (10 page)

Grandma steadily grew stronger, and by the middle of the following week, she was able to sit out in her recliner for several hours at a time. After lunch, she asked Morgan about the tree. “It’s pretty like it is,” she said, “But don’t you want to decorate it?”

“Yeah,” said Morgan. “I thought you might enjoy supervising while I decorate it.”

“Why don’t you invite Emily over to help you?” suggested Grandma.

“That would be okay? It wouldn’t wear you out or anything?”

“As long as you don’t make me get up and dance a Christmas jig, I think I should be fine.”

So Morgan called Emily and asked her to come over.

“I’d love to come over,” Emily said. “I’ve been wanting to call you, but I was worried I might disturb your grandma.”

“Grandma asked for you to come over.”

“She did?”

“She wants us to decorate the tree.”

“Cool. I’m on my way.”

“Do we have any more of those sugar cookies?” asked Grandma.

“Of course,” said Morgan, “You made dozens of them, and I put them in the freezer just like you said.”

“Maybe you and Emily could decorate some of them … after the tree.”

“Maybe we could put on our elf outfits,” said Morgan.

Grandma chuckled. “Now, wouldn’t that be cute.”

Under Grandma’s supervision, Emily and Morgan decorated the tree. Then they decorated the cookies and took a plate out to show Grandma.

“Those are beautiful,” said Grandma. “Too pretty to eat.”

“No, they’re not,” said Morgan. “Take one and try it.”

So Grandma took a Santa and bit off his head. “This would be good with a cup of tea,” she said as she munched. After tea and cookies, Grandma turned on
Oprah
, and Emily and Morgan went to Morgan’s room to work on beads.

“Did I tell you how much money I made babysitting?” asked Emily as she threaded her needle.

“No.” Morgan strung a bright red glass bead next to a silver one and studied it for a moment to see if she liked how it looked. This necklace was going to be for Mom, and she wanted it to be perfect.

“In just two nights I made two hundred and twenty dollars.”

“No way.”

“I know, it was amazing. But it’s just because of these Christmas parties that last really late, and I watched kids for two couples each night. It was a little hairy at first because there were like six kids one night. But after they all went to sleep, all I had to do was sit and watch TV. The parents didn’t get home until like two in the morning. And then they both paid ten bucks an hour, plus a tip.”

“Too bad they don’t have Christmas parties all the time.”

“Well, they already asked me about New Year’s Eve.”

“Did you say yes?”

“I said, maybe, if I had help. I thought you might want to try it with me.”

“What about Chelsea?”

“She doesn’t like little kids.”

“Oh …”

“Chelsea’s a lot nicer than I used to think,” said Emily.

“Yeah, it seems like she’s changing.”

“But she’s not the same as you, Morgan.”

“Well, everyone is different.”

“You know what I mean.”

Morgan turned to look at Emily. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you’re my best friend, Morgan. I hope I’m still your best friend.”

“Yeah, of course.”

“And we’re going to have such a cool time on the ski trip.”

“Well, I …”

“Oh, yeah!” Emily sat up straight. “I almost forgot. I was going to teach you to skateboard. Well, we still have more than a week. That’s plenty of time.”

“You don’t need to —”

“No, I want to teach you, Morgan. It’ll be fun, and I know you’ll be good at it. You just need to practice a little before the ski trip.”

“That’s the deal, Em.” Morgan sighed. “I’m not going on the ski trip.”

“Not going?” Emily just stared at her.

“Yeah. I’m not going.”

Emily frowned now. “Oh, is it because of your grandma? Because my mom already offered to come over here while we’re gone. She isn’t working that week anyway, and she really likes your grandma. She was going to call your mom and offer and —”

“No,” said Morgan. “It’s not because of Grandma. It’s because I didn’t get signed up in time.”

Now Emily looked confused. “Yeah, you did.”

“No, I didn’t. The trip was full when I went in to the church office.”

“Did you talk to Mrs. Albert?”

“No, she wasn’t there.”

“So how do you know you’re not signed up?”

“Because I got put on the waiting list.”

“That’s impossible.”

“It’s the truth, Emily.”

“Can I use your phone?” asked Emily.

“Why?”

“To check something.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Now Morgan was starting to feel bummed again. She had already accepted the fact that she was going to miss out, but having Emily acting like this wasn’t helping much. Morgan stayed in her room while Emily made her phone call.

“Okay,” said Emily as she came back and flopped down on Morgan’s bean bag chair. “It’s settled.”

“What’s settled?”

“You are going.”

“Where?”

“On the ski trip, Morgan. You
are
going.”

“How is that even possible?”

“Well, I wasn’t supposed to say anything … but under the circumstances, I think it’s okay to tell you.”

“To tell me what?” Morgan felt impatient now. What was going on?

“You were already signed up for the trip, Morgan. Your deposit was all paid, and they were just waiting for
you to turn in your registration form, which you apparently did on Saturday, when you thought you were put on the waiting list.”

“Huh?” Morgan shook her head, still trying to make sense of this.

“And you made enough money selling socks at the bazaar to cover the rest with some leftover to go to the outreach fund.”

“I don’t get it.
Who
paid my deposit?” asked Morgan.

“I wasn’t supposed to say, but I think it’s okay. Chelsea and I were worried that you weren’t going to make it on time. And Chelsea’s mom heard us talking, and she was so pleased with what you’d done with the elf skirts that she wanted to pay your deposit as a thank you.”

“Really?” Morgan hadn’t expected this.

“Yeah. Don’t tell her I told you, okay?”

“So, I really am going on the ski trip?” Morgan stood now with her arms outstretched, she felt like she was about to jump up and down with joy.

“Yes!” Emily hugged her. “You really are going!”

Now Morgan was jumping. And Emily was jumping too. Morgan hugged her best friend. “Thank you!” she cried as she continued to jump and dance around the room. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“Don’t thank me,” said Emily.

Morgan paused. “And I can’t thank Chelsea’s mom —”

“Maybe you should just thank God,” suggested Emily.

Morgan closed her eyes and tilted her head up. “Thank you, God!” she said joyfully. But even as she said it, she knew that she wasn’t just thanking him for the ski trip — she was thanking him for
everything!

“What do you mean I can’t go on the ski trip?” Emily asked her mom for the third time. “I earned all my money and I’m all registered and I —”

“It doesn’t have to do with any of that,” said Mom as she jerked a suitcase from the shelf in her closet, dusted it off, and then tossed it onto her bed.

“And why are you getting that out?” demanded Emily. “Are you going somewhere?”

“We’re
all
going somewhere,” said Mom. “I want you to go to your room and pack.”

“Are we going somewhere for Christmas?” asked Emily, still confused. It was less than a week before Christmas, and this was the first she’d heard of a trip.

“Something like that,” said Mom quickly. “Just do as I say and I’ll explain later.”

“But what about Kyle?” asked Emily. “Isn’t he going too?”

“Yes. I’ll have to pack for him. He’s still at work. We’ll pick him up on our way out.”

“What am I supposed to pack?” asked Emily, hoping that they might be going somewhere fun.

“Everything,” said Mom as she pulled open a drawer.

“What do you mean
everything?”

“I mean everything that you brought when we moved here last spring. And anything you bought since then. Don’t pack any of the things that Morgan’s family loaned us. Those will have to be returned … later.”

“Returned?”

“Oh, Emily,” said Mom in her exasperated voice as she tossed a handful of socks and underclothes into her bag. “I don’t have time for questions right now. We need to get moving — and out of here — fast!”

Emily stared at her mom in horror. “Are we leaving — I mean moving — for good?”

“I’m sorry, Emily. I wish it wasn’t true.”

“But … but … why?” Emily felt a lump like a hard rock growing in her throat.

“It’s your father …”

“Dad?”

“Yes …” Mom stood up straight and, pushing a strand of blonde hair from her eyes, she looked at Emily with an expression that Emily remembered from back in the old days, back before they moved to Boscoe Bay. “I just found out that he knows where we are.”

“How would he know? How did you find that out?”

“I just happened to call your Aunt Becky this morning. I used a friend’s cell phone at work, so it couldn’t be
traced back … I just wanted to wish her a Merry Christmas.” Mom carried a bunch of clothes from her closet and tossed them onto the already crowded bed. “Becky told me that your dad hired a private investigator who somehow tracked us down. She said that he is on his way here right now. So, don’t you see, Emily? We have to get out of here — immediately!”

“But why do
we
have to be the ones to run away?” pleaded Emily. “We haven’t done anything wrong!”

“I know.” Mom sighed loudly.

“He’s the one who should be running, Mom. He’s the one who’s done all the bad stuff.”

“I know … I know …” Mom sighed loudly. “There’s no time to talk about this now. Just go pack, Emily. Hurry.”

“But, Mom!” Emily pleaded with her. “I have friends here. I have a life and I don’t want to —”

“Neither do I, Emily. But it’s what we
have
to do. I told you and Kyle, right from the start, that our stay in Boscoe Bay might be brief.”

“But what does that mean, Mom?” asked Emily in desperation. “That we’ll have to keep running and running forever?”

“I don’t know …” Mom closed her eyes and shook her head. “All I know is that we need to get out of here right
now.”
She narrowed her eyes and gave Emily a look that said “I am dead serious, and I want no argument.”

“Okay,” said Emily as she went to her room. Tears were filling her eyes as she began to gather her things and pile them on the futon bed that Morgan had loaned to her when they first came here. It was funny … she’d come to think of that bed, as well as so many other things, as her own. Suddenly it seemed as if nothing was really hers. Not her home or her school … and worst of all, not her friends.

“Here,” said Mom after a few minutes. “Just stuff your things into these.” She tossed several large black trash bags into Emily’s bedroom. “I’m going to pack for Kyle now.”

Before long, Emily was done, but Mom was still gathering things up. “Can I go tell Morgan that I’m leaving?” Emily asked sadly.

Mom frowned. “I don’t know …”

“But they’re going to wonder what happened to us,” Emily persisted. “We were supposed to go to their house for Christmas. And I was supposed to meet the girls at the clubhouse this afternoon. They might think we’ve been abducted or something. And, knowing Morgan, she might even call the police.”

Mom nodded. “Yes. You’re right. They’ve been good friends to us. And we can trust them. Go ahead and tell them that we’re leaving this afternoon. I’ve already explained things to Mr. Greeley. Tell Mrs. Evans that Mr. Greeley can give her the house key so that they can come collect their — their things.” Mom’s voice broke and tears
came streaming down her cheeks now.

“Oh, Mom,” said Emily, running over to hug her. “This is so horrible.”

“I know,” said Mom as she ran her hand over Emily’s hair. “I wish there was another way.”

“Why isn’t there?” asked Emily.

Mom just shook her head. “I don’t know …” Then Mom turned back to packing Kyle’s things.

“I’m going to Morgan’s,” said Emily as she grabbed her jacket.

“Don’t stay long,” warned Mom. “I’m almost ready to go right now, and if you don’t get back here in time, I’ll just drive over there and honk — and you better come a-running.”

“Okay.”

Emily picked up Morgan’s Christmas present. It wasn’t much, just a leopard-print picture frame with a photo of her and Morgan in it. The gift wasn’t even wrapped, but Emily didn’t want to miss the chance to give it to her. Also, she’d have to ask Morgan to give the gifts (the things she and Morgan had been working on the past few days) to their other friends for her.

“Hey, Em,” said Morgan happily as she opened the door. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve got something I want to show you.”

Emily stepped into Morgan’s living room as Morgan dashed off toward her bedroom. Emily looked around the
cozy house, trying to memorize every single thing about this place in one quick glance. The happy clutter of Grandma’s homemade afghans and worn furniture mixed with the more eclectic style of Morgan’s mom’s art and nicer things. From the first time Emily had stepped through their front door, she had always felt welcome here.

“Hello, Emily,” called Grandma from her recliner.

“How are you feeling today?” asked Emily as she approached her. Morgan’s grandma had recently undergone some very serious heart surgery and had only been sitting up for a few days now.

“I’m feeling right as rain,” said Grandma.

“I’m glad.” Emily forced a smile as she looked down at her.

Grandma frowned. “But what about you, honey? You don’t look too well to me.”

“Oh, I’m a little sad,” said Emily.
What an understatement
.

“Sad?”
Grandma peered curiously at her. “Whatever for?”

“Yeah?” said Morgan as she reappeared wearing an interesting hat that appeared to have been patchworked together from scraps of polar fleece — probably the leftovers from her recent sock-sewing project. “What’s up, Em?”

Emily tried to blink back the tears, but it was impossible. “We have to … have to leave.”

Morgan frowned. “You mean you guys are going somewhere for Christmas? I thought you were going to come to our house for —”

“No, I mean, I mean we have to leave … for … for good!” Now Emily was crying full force.

“Why?”
cried Morgan, running over and putting her arms around Emily.

“Yes, why?” said Grandma more calmly.

Emily worked hard to recover from her outburst, finally taking a tissue from Grandma’s hand. “Thanks.”

“Now, sit down on the sofa there and tell us exactly what’s going on,” Grandma commanded her.

“Well …” Emily took in a slow breath. “You know a little bit about why we came here. You guys and Mr. Greeley are the only ones who know about …”

“You mean about your father?” supplied Grandma.

“Yes.” Emily nodded. “I guess he’s found out where we are.”

“So?”
said Morgan in a defiant tone. It was actually sort of how Emily felt herself when Mom first told her the news.

“So … my mom says that means we have to go.”

“But why?” demanded Morgan. Her dark eyes were filling with tears too.

“I don’t really know …” Emily looked down at her hands in her lap. “I guess it’s because Mom thinks he
might hurt us again.”

“But how can he hurt you?” asked Morgan. “I mean what about police protection and things like that?”

“I don’t know …” Emily just shook her head.

“Morgan does have a point,” said Grandma. “Running away might not solve your problem, Emily. Sometimes it’s better to stay and fight for your rights. You and your family have good friends here in the mobile-home park, as well as at church. You have a community that could stand behind you and protect you. If you’re out someplace new, where people don’t know you … well, that might be less safe.”

Emily looked up at Grandma’s kind brown face and nodded. “Yes, yes … that makes sense.”

“It does,” said Morgan. “I mean, what if you guys were out on the road, staying at a hotel or something, and your dad found you there? Which would be worse?”

Emily considered this. “I know what you mean.” Then she thought of her mother. “But for some reason Mom doesn’t see it that way.”

“But
why?”
cried Morgan. “It just seems so wrong that your family should have to be on the run from your dad.
Why? Why? Why?”

Just then, Emily heard Mom’s car horn honking out front. “I’ve got to go,” she said quickly. “Mom said to tell you that Mr. Greeley has the key to our house and you guys can go over there whenever you want to get your
things.” She held out her gift for Morgan. “This was going to be your Christmas present.” Again came the honking sound. “I didn’t have time to wrap it.”

“But, Emily —”

“I’ve got to go,” said Emily.

“I’m not even done with your present yet,” said Morgan. Then she pulled the brightly colored hat from her head and shoved it onto Emily’s head. “Here, take this for now.” Then she hugged her again. “I don’t want you to leave.”

“I don’t want to leave.”

“You’re my best friend ever,” cried Morgan.

“You’re mine too!” sobbed Emily.

This time Mom’s horn honked loud and long.

“You better go, honey,” said Grandma. “But please tell your mom what we said. And if there is anything we can do — I mean anything at all — please, call us. Remember you have your friends, the church, the community here … there’s a lot of power in those kinds of numbers.”

“I’ll tell Mom.” Emily ran over and quickly hugged Grandma. “Thanks … for everything.”

“You be sure and call us, Emily,” said Grandma. “And you can call collect if you need to. And don’t forget that wherever you go God is with you. And we are praying for you.”

“Yes,” said Morgan. “And this isn’t over yet. I’m going to pray for God to bring you back here to us, Emily.”

“We’ll all be praying for that,” called Grandma.

Emily thanked them again, then went out the door just as Mom began to honk the horn one more time. It was starting to rain as Emily ran out to the car. She wished that what Morgan and Grandma were saying could really be true — she wished it was possible for them to pray her and her family back here to Harbor View. But as she got into the car, she couldn’t forget the last time their family had to run, leaving their home and everything behind. They never did go back then. Why would this time be any different?