28. Nora
28
NORA
N ora opened Bella and Mav’s front door and stepped inside before realizing Clint was still hobbling up the driveway. Every lawn in the neighborhood was covered in Christmas lights and garland. A six-foot tall nativity scene sat in Bella and Mav’s yard, complete with manger and a three-sided shelter.
“Come on, Taylor. I’m wearing heels, and I’m still faster than you.” Nora’s stomach had been calling for food since Sunday School ended two hours ago.
A dusting of snow covered Bella and Mav’s driveway, and Clint stopped to look up at Nora. “I’m working on it, boss. The snow is slick.”
She propped a hand on her hip. The church service had run long, and the measly piece of toast she’d eaten for breakfast was long gone. “If you mess that leg up even more before your surgery this week, I’ll thump you in the Adam's apple.”
Clint reached up to cover his throat. “Ouch.”
“Stop stalling and come on. I’m hungry.”
“Remind me to keep a bag of trail mix in my pocket to ward off your anger.”
Nora left the door propped open and headed toward the kitchen. Jesse shouted from the living room, “Launch the attack!”
“No war until after lunch!” Bella shouted from the kitchen. “Wash your hands!”
Nora put the potato salad she’d brought on the counter and stepped up to the sink to wash her hands. “What can I do?”
Bella brushed her blonde hair off her shoulder as she pulled a turkey out of the oven. She still wore the black slacks and red sweater she’d worn to church. “Maybe set the table. I think everything is ready.”
Nora closed the oven door and opened the cabinet to pull out plates. “Just us?”
“Yep. Myla is napping, so she’ll eat later.”
Clint walked into the kitchen and rested on his crutches. “Hey, what can I do?”
Bella grinned as she looked back and forth between Nora and Clint. “You two are just alike.”
“We are not,” Nora and Clint said in unison.
“You both walked in ready to help.” She turned and grabbed a carving knife before handing it to Clint. “Can you slice the turkey?”
“You bet. Get ready for the best sliced turkey you’ve ever seen.”
Nora leaned over and whispered to Bella, “Thanks for finding him something to do. He’s been grumpy lately because he feels helpless.”
Bella chuckled low. “Oh, I can think of a ton of things he could do without putting weight on his right leg.”
Clint got to work slicing the turkey, and Nora checked on him a few times as she set the table. He had the true heart of a servant, and she was reminded to count her blessings each time he did something for her or anyone else.
Ten minutes later, lunch was ready, and everyone sat at the table as Mav prayed.
“Lord, thank You for this food and the friends around this table. Thank You for blessing us with so many wonderful people in our lives. We thank You for the reason we celebrate. Help us to never forget about Your son, Jesus, and His sacrifice to save us from our sins. Amen.”
Everyone chatted over lunch, and it was easy to forget the worries that had been following Nora around for the last few days. She’d done some thinking about her mom’s phone call, but she hadn’t gathered the courage to call her back .
Bella picked up her empty plate and Jesse’s as she stood. “Anyone want apple pie?”
“Me!” Jesse shouted as he made a beeline for the kitchen.
Mav stood and reached for the plates in his wife’s hand. “I’ll clean up.”
Bella pulled the dirty dishes closer. “No. Nora and I will take care of it. You two go watch the game.”
Mav leaned closer to his wife. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
“Don’t worry about us. Nora and I have some catching up to do.”
That was enough for Mav and Clint, and they headed toward the living room.
Nora gathered up more plates and followed Bella to the kitchen.
“I want a big one,” Jesse said as he stood by his mom while she cut a slice of pie.
“I think that’s big enough,” she said before handing him the plate and a fork.
He offered a quick “thanks” as he hurried off to join his dad and Clint in the living room.
Nora had the sink filled with soapy water before Bella stepped up beside her. “So, how are things with Clint?”
The topic of her actual relationship with Clint was still new and incredibly exciting. Nora couldn’t hide her smile, but she continued to work on the dishes. “Great. ”
Bella bumped her shoulder against Nora’s. “Come on. I need details.”
Where to start? Her heart was half fear and half joy. “Things are great. He’s as awesome as always, and I’m continuing my long-running streak of being dead weight.”
Bella reached for the plate Nora had just washed. “Don’t start that pity party. You’re not dead weight.”
“Okay, well, I have baggage. Is that what you want me to call it?”
“No, no. You are not the circumstances surrounding you in life. You’re a person, and a good one. Clint sees that just like I do.”
“You forget I’m still homeless and have a dad who still struggles with a gambling addiction. Dating me isn’t going to be a walk in the park.”
“Ha! You’re not homeless. You’re living in a cute cabin on a beautiful ranch because Clint loves you. I guarantee you he doesn’t see you as dead weight, and he doesn’t consider your dad to be baggage.”
Nora lowered the cup she was washing into the soapy water. “Oh! I forgot to tell you about my mom.”
Bella frowned. “I know about your mom.” She glanced toward the living room where her son watched TV with his dad and Clint. “As the mom of a young teenager, I can say it’s tough at times, but there is no way on this earth I’d leave my family like your mom did. ”
Of course Bella wouldn’t leave her family. She was a good mom, and she’d fought for her family through some tough times with Mav. That was what a good mom would have done. Nora’s mom took the easy way out, but could she even blame her mom for wanting to be free?
“No, I mean my mom called me a few nights ago. After the barn dance.”
Bella whipped her attention to Nora. “Are you serious? Has she ever called you before?”
Nora shook her head. “Dad gave her my number. I kind of freaked out and hung up on her after she said she wanted to get together for coffee to catch up.”
“But you hate coffee,” Bella said.
Wow. It was gratifying to hear how well her friend knew her. Clint had been quick to point out that little fact when he heard it too.
“And what made her call you now?” Bella asked.
“I’m not sure. Dad called to tell her we moved, and I guess she thought it was time.”
“What did you say? Are you going to meet her?”
“I don’t know. I told her I didn’t want to, but maybe I need to. I just want to move on, and I thought I had. Why does she get to hurt me all over again just because she felt like chatting over coffee?” Nora asked.
“She doesn’t. Don’t let her steal your joy. Things are starting to go well for you, and I want you to enjoy this happiness.”
“You’re right. Clint has been so understanding, but I’ve been a mess lately.”
Bella continued working silently for a few minutes before she spoke up. “I think you should meet her.”
Nora glanced at her friend to see if she was serious. “Why?”
“You need to either make amends or get some closure. This has been eating at you since you were twelve. Whether your mom comes back into your life or not, you have lots of people who love you, and we’ll never leave you.”
Nora sniffed at the tingling behind her nose. Shoot, she could not cry at lunch with her friends. “I know that,” she whispered.
“Good. Forgiveness is for you just as much as it is for her. Our earthly parents make mistakes, but you have a Heavenly Father who never leaves you.”
“You’re right. It’s just so hard to wrap my head around.”
Bella tossed the drying rag onto the counter and wrapped her arms around Nora’s shoulders. “Forgiveness is never easy. I didn’t think I could forgive Mav for leaving us, but I did, and we’re all better for it. I would be missing out on this amazing life with my whole family together. We both had to be willing to let go of the hurt. I know it’s hard, but it’ll be the best thing for you.”
“Ugh, why are you right all the time?” Nora asked.
“I’m not, but we’re called to forgive just as God forgives us. If we want to get it, we have to be able to give it too.”
Nora sniffed and hugged her friend tighter. “Remind me to tell your family they’re blessed to have you.”
“They already tell me,” Bella whispered. “And your mom might not know Jesus. Maybe you could show her a better kind of forgiveness than just what you can give.”
She hadn’t thought about that. She’d always accepted her role as a witness for Christ, but would her mom listen?
“Okay, it sounds like I have a lot to do,” Nora said as she leaned out of the hug.
“I’m always here for you,” Bella reminded her.
The answers hadn’t been revealed yet, but at least Nora had a better understanding of what to do next. She wasn’t ready to hope for a full reconciliation with her mom, but maybe she could at least start working on healing for the sake of her future.