CHAPTER SEVEN
Will’s breath caught in his lungs at the harsh words spoken in Jessa’s gentle voice.
He did remember how it felt to not be able to share something super important with his mom or dad because something—or someone—had demanded their attention first. Despite what Jessa said, he did listen to Isabella, just not with the enthusiasm and excitement Amy had shown her.
And apparently to a six-year-old, that made all the difference in the world.
Before he could say anything in his defense, Jessa continued, “She knows that Laurel has her own kids and so does Violet, but Isabella discovered that Amy doesn’t, and she’s claimed her.
That should have been you, but while you may have given her everything in the world, what she really wants is someone to give her their undivided attention.
” Jessa paused as if waiting for him to argue with her.
He didn’t because he knew that everything she said was true.
“I’ve seen them together a bit, but Lance has seen it more.
He’s mentioned how Amy treats Isabella like she’s the most special little girl in the world.
And you should see how Amy gets her to behave.
It’s like she’d do anything to make Amy happy.
She loves her. Of course, Amy is very lovable.
She’s been a real answer to prayer for me. ”
“And what happens to Isabella when Amy leaves?” Will asked. “It’s going to break her heart.”
“Yes, I know.” Jessa stared at him for a moment. “At the risk of upsetting you, Will, I’m going to put it right out there. You need to man up.”
“Man up?”
“Have you heard the saying that anyone can be a father, but that it takes a real man to be a daddy?”
Will shifted in his seat, his gaze sliding from Jessa’s for a moment.
“You need to man up and become the daddy Isabella needs. You need to put aside whatever grief, guilt and anger you’re feeling about everything involving Delia.
I know it’s not easy when Isabella looks so much like her, but you need to start seeing her for who she is.
She’s not responsible for the circumstances of her birth.
She can’t help how she looks. She’s a little girl who needs a daddy, especially because she doesn’t have a mommy.
Especially because the woman she loves will be leaving her in the months ahead. ”
Swallowing hard, Will pressed his chin to his chest and stared at his hands. “Why are you saying this to me now? I’m sure you’ve been thinking about it before.”
“Yes. I have, and I’ve tried to subtly bring it to your attention, but either you didn’t pick up on it or you just didn’t want to listen.”
Will knew it was probably the latter. “And now?”
“And now I’m a mother doing what she can to save her baby.
I don’t think I can handle another loss.
I need you to see Isabella for the gift she is and be thankful for her.
” Jessa pressed a hand to her stomach. “Don’t take her for granted.
It can all change in the blink of an eye.
You should know that more than anyone. You have something that people the world over are struggling to have.
She deserves to be loved and cherished just because she is.
Follow Amy’s lead. I’ll bet you’ll see changes in Isabella you never imagined, and maybe even in yourself. It’s time to move forward, Will.”
Everything Jessa said was like a stab in the heart. He knew she was right, and though he wasn’t sure how to change things, he knew that he needed to. A child was what he’d wanted and now that he had one, he wasn’t taking care of her the way he should. “Thank you.”
“Come here,” Jessa said with a wave of her hand.
Will slid from the chair to his knees next to the bed.
Jessa wrapped an arm around his neck. “I love you. I wasn’t sure I would when we first met.
I resented that you’d been blessed with a great family while us girls had to struggle with Gran, but in the end I couldn’t help but love you.
And now I hurt for you. I want to see you happy, and I think the first step to that happiness is with Isabella. ”
“You’re right. And I love you, too.” He sat back a bit when she loosened her arm and grinned at her. “You were the prickliest of the bunch, but I knew I would win you over sooner or later.”
There was a light rap on the door, and Will looked over to see Lance standing in the doorway.
“Everything okay?” he asked as he walked toward the bed.
“Everything’s fine, babe,” Jessa assured him. “Are you going to let me go downstairs for a little while?”
“Only if you promise to sit on the lounge chair and not move,” Lance replied.
Will pressed his hands against the bed as he got to his feet. “I have a feeling she’d agree to just about anything to get downstairs.”
“I’d carry her if I weren't so worried about dropping her,” Lance said as he held out his hand to help Jessa into a sitting position. “Need to use the bathroom before we go?”
Slowly sliding off the bed, Jessa said, “Yes, please.”
“On that note, I’m going to join the others.
See you in a few.” As he left Jessa and Lance, Will felt a pang of loss.
Not so much grief for Delia, but just a kind of longing for the closeness of a relationship like his sister and brother-in-law shared.
He and Delia hadn’t quite reached that point before her death.
They’d still been getting used to being married when she’d gotten pregnant, and the months following that had been terribly difficult for them both.
Delia’s resentment had grown as had his frustration and guilt.
It had not been an environment conducive to nurturing closeness.
The kitchen was empty when he got downstairs, so he went out to the back porch and found the family gathered there.
“Lance and Jessa will be right down,” Will said when Laurel saw him.
Once they’d arrived, and Jessa was settled in her chair, Lance said a prayer for their meal, and they dug in.
Isabella stuck to Amy like glue through dinner.
Anyone watching Will might have assumed he was watching Amy even though he was actually looking at Isabella.
It was just that where one was, so was the other.
Afterwards, she finally broke away to go play with her cousins.
Keeping an eye on her as she brushed aside her cousin’s offer of help on the swings, Will realized that her personality had made it easy for him to distance himself.
From very young, she’d been an independent little girl.
He’d lost count of how many times a day he’d hear I do it.
And in later years that morphed into I can do it, or I don’t need help.
In talking with his mom and with Delia’s, it was clear that she had been destined to be a stubborn little thing.
Apparently both he and Delia had manifest similar traits as children.
His gaze went to Amy where she sat chatting with Violet, her blonde curls falling across her shoulders.
It was because of her presence that he had truly seen his failings as a father, and even though it had been a painful realization, he was grateful for it.
He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back of the chair.
Jessa’s words echoed in his mind. She’s not responsible for the circumstances of her birth.
No, if anyone was, it was him. Will knew he needed to make changes, particularly now because heartache was coming for his little girl.
When the summer ended, so would Amy’s time in Collingsworth.
Isabella was not going to want her to leave.
Someone kicked his foot. “You asleep?”
Opening his eyes, he saw Laurel sitting on the chair next to his. “Nope.” He straightened in his seat. “Not yet anyway.”
“Isabella should sleep well tonight. She had a ton of fun at the waterpark.”
“Thanks so much for taking her.” Will once again sought her out and saw the little girl climbing the stairs to the playhouse. “She actually seems to always sleep really well. I think it’s because she doesn’t stop much during the day. I’d love some of her energy.”
Laurel laughed. “I think we’d all like a little of our kids’ energy. I’m convinced that they are actually energy thieves. If they touch me, they take some of my energy and add it to their already boundless supply.”
“I honestly don’t know how you keep up with all of them. I can barely keep up with one.”
“She’s sure taken with Amy,” Laurel commented, her voice low. “During our time at the waterpark I heard an awful lot about her.”
“Yes, she has decided that the sun rises and sets on Amy.”
“Are you worried about that?”
“Not in the short term. I’m glad she’s enjoying spending time with Amy.
In the long term, however...” Will shrugged.
“I’m not looking forward to when Amy leaves.
I know it’s going to devastate Isabella.
” He looked at Laurel. “Do you think I should keep her from spending too much time with Amy in order to prevent that outcome?”
Laurel frowned. “I think that might make things worse. At the very least, she’ll make your life miserable.”
“One way or the other, I’ll be dealing with one very unhappy little girl.” Will sighed. “Short of convincing Amy to move here, it’s the end result.”
Laurel smiled. “You could always try.”
“Not sure she wants to live here. It sounds like she’s quite happy with her life in Texas.”
“Given enough incentive, she might be willing to consider it,” Laurel commented.
“Money? Somehow she doesn’t strike me as someone who makes decisions based on money.”
“Money. Or love.”
Will arched a brow at Laurel, glad that they were sitting a distance from Amy, who was still engrossed in her conversation with Violet. “Love?”
“Yeah. Perhaps I should try introducing her to some of the nice men at church. Maybe if she fell in love with someone she’d consider moving to Collingsworth.”