Wishing Pearl (42 page)

“Pick? Pick what?” Skye shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

Mom stepped in front of them and bent to eye level. “Girls, what Olivia is trying to tell you is that we have a place for you here. We want you to come live with us here in our new home. I want to give you girls a fraction of the love you’ve given my girl. I’m not a perfect mom, but I’m learning.” She clasped her hands, her eyebrows wrinkled in nervous anticipation. “Will you come?”

Ju-Ju’s jaw dropped. Tears rained from her eyes and dropped heavily on her shirt. It was the first time Olivia had seen Ju-Ju cry. “You mean it? A real bedroom, in a real home, with a real family?” Her eyes looked hopeful, but she shook her head. “It sounds too good to be true. What’s the catch?”

“There’s no catch, silly. We want you here.” Olivia reached out her arms, and Ju-Ju fell into her grasp. It had been years since her friend had been held in a loving embrace. Years since she’d had a family or any permanent security. She clung to Olivia’s shirt, her shoulders still shaking with sobs.

Skye was next. “Do you mean it?” She blinked rapidly. “Is it okay?” Skye turned to Ben in a panic.

“Yes, girls. We’ve worked it all out. This is your home starting today, after graduation.” Ben rocked back on his heels, his pride evident on his face. Talk about a happy ending.

“Want to see your rooms?” Mom grinned and motioned to the doors.

Ju-Ju put her hand on the doorknob closest to her and looked at Skye. “Ready?”

Skye bit her lip and nodded.

They opened the doors at the same time and stepped into their very own rooms with white, primed walls.

“I’d have had the walls painted, but I want you to pick your own colors. I want you to make your room special, a place you want to be. We’ll pick out furniture, curtains, and bedding once you know exactly what you want.”

Skye and Ju-Ju rotated in full circles, trying to take it all in.

“Now, the bathroom.” Mom gestured to the large bathroom that divided the two rooms. “You’ll have to share this one. We’ll choose a color that works with both of your rooms—you know, something you both like.”

“Mrs. Whitford …”

“Please call me Ginny, Mrs. Mansfield, or even Mom. I’m leaving Whitford behind in Illinois.”

“Mrs. Mansfield, then … I just can’t thank you enough.”

“You already have. I wish you could come, too, Tricia. But God’s got you right in the palm of His hand—you’ll graduate Diamond Estates when the time is right. Then you’ll go home to your family.”

“Believe me, I’ve had a few pangs of jealousy, but on the plus side, I’m thrilled that none of you guys are leaving the area.” Tricia gave a weak smile. “I’ll be fine, I promise. I’m really happy for you all.”

Ben looked at his watch. “Yep. The three of you are ready to embark on new things. Your time at Diamond Estates has come to a close. You’ve all done me proud, and I’m going to miss you.”

“We won’t be far away.” Olivia turned to Justin.

He squeezed Olivia’s hand. “I have a feeling you’ll be seeing a lot of them, Dad.”

B
en took his place at the pulpit and looked out at the rows of Diamond girls cheering on the graduates and the family members in the rows behind them. Then he turned his gaze down to the three girls who were leaving the program that day.

Olivia felt tears already welling up within her. She’d come to love Ben, Alicia, Tammy, and everyone else like they were family—a unique blend of parents and special friends. Surely a combination of hearts blended by God with the express purpose of bringing His love to Olivia in so many ways. It would be difficult for her to walk away from that place in a few hours and get into her mom’s car and drive away, never to live like family with them again—well, most of them.

Misty-eyed himself, Ben took a steadying breath. “I’m so proud of you girls, and I’m thankful that the Lord saw fit to give me the opportunity to guide you to Him. I will treasure the memory of each one of you. In fact, Alicia and I look forward to a lifelong friendship with you.”

His eyes moved down the row, stopping on Ju-Ju. “Julia, you have changed me with your humor and the strength with which you face the world around you. You were handed a plate of garbage, but you turned it into a … well, a Ding Dong.” Olivia grinned as the audience burst into laughter. Ben turned to Skye. “Dear, sweet Skye, you have brought a bright light into my life that wasn’t there before. Your joy is infectious, and once Jesus got ahold of you … wow. What a sight to behold. I’m very grateful that you and Ju-Ju have found a family and a home. You both deserve it.

“I also want to say something to another one of your special foursome.” He let his gaze travel to the seat beside Skye. “Oh, Tricia. I worried that you’d be a handful when you arrived at Diamond Estates. You’re exquisite, and I expected you to be anything but what you really are—humble, gracious, and as beautiful inside as out.” He leaned forward and pointed at her. “You might have a little more work to do, but I want you to know and believe that you’re important. Let the Lord prove that to you. Stand up and be counted. When you leave, you’re going to go on to do mighty things for God.”

“Olivia.” Ben choked up on her name. “Words can’t express how I’ve been affected by your presence here. You haven’t been here that long compared to some, but my life will be forever changed by knowing you. You’ve endured so much, yet you came out victorious in Jesus.”

He stepped back and grinned at them all. “One of the most difficult parts of my job is to love you and then let you go. We’ve had some great times and also some really difficult times over the past months. I want to keep you here, under the shelter of my wings, protected from the world. But that would limit what God wants to do in each of you. And, on the flip side, one of the greatest joys that comes with my job is getting to sit back and watch the Lord move in your lives in ways you can’t even imagine.

“Allow me to close this service with a word of prayer. Then you’re all invited to the fellowship hall for refreshments.”

As he prayed, the butterflies in Olivia’s tummy kicked up their fluttering. It was easy to follow the Lord while she lived it, breathed it, ate it, and drank it … all day, every day in a house full of people who shared the same goal. How would it be to go to a real school? Live in a normal community? Spend time with non-Christians? Time would tell, she supposed.

What about prayer time? She’d grown to love those early morning hours in the chapel, with praying teenagers scattered around the room. Donna, Patty, and Tammy kneeling with their elbows on a chair. Worship music playing softly on the stereo and Ben walking around the room, touching each girl on the head as he whispered heartfelt petitions to a mighty God on their behalf.

Would she keep praying in the morning? Again, totally up to her. Maybe Ju-Ju and Skye would want to do it together. That would probably help her keep the commitment. But what if they didn’t want to or wanted to do it at a different time? Olivia had to make up her own mind and do it for herself, no matter what her friends decided to do.

Ultimately, she was on her own. Just her and God.

She shifted her eyes to the row on her right and caught Justin staring. He winked.

Okay, her, God, and Justin—if God willed it.

“… Amen.” Ben finished his prayer and smiled at Ju-Ju, Olivia, and Skye. “Go with God.”

The rows of onlookers erupted into a round of applause, and the girls rose and hugged each other. “I’m sure going to miss having you girls around here.” Tricia wiped away a tear. “Tammy says it’ll be good for me. I’m sure she’s right. I can’t believe you’re leaving, though.”

Olivia squeezed her tighter and held on for a moment. When she released her, Tricia pointed over Olivia’s shoulder. “I think someone’s waiting to talk to you.”

Kira
. For once, Olivia’s stomach didn’t clench at the sight of her.

“I know you have a lot of people to talk to, so I won’t take a lot of your time.” Kira raised her gaze to lock with Olivia’s. “I just wanted to say thanks.”

Olivia nodded. “Changes. Once and for all. Right?”

“Yep. I promise.” Kira’s eyes shifted to just over Olivia’s shoulder. “Your public awaits.”

Turning, Olivia expected to find her mom and Jake, but she ran right into Justin.

“Where are you off to so fast?” Piercing blue eyes sparkled just inches from her face.

Welcome back, butterflies
. Olivia had wondered how things would change between her and Justin once she was no longer under the umbrella of Diamond Estates’ rules. She was about to find out. “Hi there.” She tilted her face down and looked up at him.

“Have any plans this weekend?” Justin tipped his head to one side, his wavy hair draping across his shoulder.

Olivia shook her head but didn’t trust herself to speak. This weekend? Nothing but getting to know the new house and helping Ju-Ju and Skye unpack and get settled in their new rooms down the hall from hers.

“May I take you out to dinner? Maybe a movie?”

Her first date. Hopefully it would be her last first date. “I’d like that very much.” Olivia felt her cheeks turning pink.

Justin took her hand in his and turned her toward the door to the fellowship hall. “Shall we?”

He intended to hold her hand in front of all those people? Well, it wasn’t against the rules anymore.
Fresh start
. Funny how those once-dreaded words had recently taken on new meaning in more ways than one.

They headed up the sloped center aisle of the church when Olivia saw her mom and Jake standing off to the side, waiting. She dropped Justin’s hand and ran into her mom’s arms and squealed. “I did it.”

She jumped from her mom’s hug into Jake’s—the first time since he’d left for college. Oh, how she’d missed him.

He lifted her and swung her around in a circle. “I’m so sorry for … for not … knowing,” he whispered in her ear. “I would give anything to go ba–”

Olivia placed her hand gently over his mouth and shook her head. They’d covered it all on the phone over the past months—no need to let a dead man poison this perfect day.

Jake set her down and gave her a gentle smile.

Olivia lifted her hand in the universal sign for
I love you
.

Jake nodded and grinned. He held up his hand in the same sign and pointed to Olivia. Nodding his head toward Justin, Jake opened his palms. “Who’s this?”

“Ack! I’m sorry I haven’t introduced you two.” She pulled Justin over and signed as she spoke. “Justin, my brother Jake. Jake, this is … my Justin.”

“My Livvie Love.” Mom smiled down on her as she looked over Olivia’s shoulder into the backstage mirror. “You’ve grown up so much this year. You’re a real lady. I’m so very proud of you.”

Olivia smiled. “It’s been a long road. But it was worth it to get to this moment. I feel like everything in my life has led me to this. Everything that has ever been important—you, God, music—it’s all been made right in my life. There’s only one thing missing.” Her eyes clouded over as she imagined how proud her dad would have been of her at that moment.

“I have something for you.” Mom reached into her purse and pulled out a purple velvet box. “Your dad wanted to give you this on your wedding day, but I think now is the right time. I’m sure he would have agreed.”

“Dad knew about whatever’s in this box?” Olivia’s hand shook as she reached for it.

“He didn’t just know about it—it was his doing.” Mom gestured for her to go ahead and open it.

Olivia savored the moment. Once she knew what lay inside, she could never go back to the magic of wondering. She gingerly lifted the hinged lid that her daddy had once touched with his own hands. That was gift enough even if the box were empty. But inside, resting on a white velvet pillow, lay a delicate pearl necklace. In the center was a large pink pearl nestled between two smaller white ones. A pink pearl lay on each side of those white ones and then two more white pearls finished off each end of the strand. “It’s beautiful, Mom. You mean Dad picked this out?”

“Not exactly. Here, I’ll explain.” Mom lifted the necklace and slipped it around Olivia’s neck. “See the big pink pearl in the center?”

Olivia nodded and touched it with two fingers as she gazed into the mirror. The necklace draped elegantly across her neck. Her hair in a loose updo with cascading tendrils, along with her black velvet ball gown, set it off perfectly.

“Your dad bought that one the day you were born. For the next seven years, he added a new pink pearl on your birthday. He kissed each one as he selected it and prayed that the new year would find you blessed with all of your greatest wishes.” Her breath caught as a sob welled in her throat.

Olivia wiped away a single tear that coursed down her cheek.

“Your eighth year … I had to … take over the duty.” Mom laid her fingertips gently on each of the white pearls nestled between the pink ones. “I wanted to leave the pink ones to your dad, so you’d always know exactly which ones he’d chosen for you. And I also wanted to spread them out over the years so his prayers and wishes for you could be a part of your whole lifetime, not just the first seven years. So I put my white ones between them.”