Chapter 18 #2
“Pray about it. You know that. Hand everything to the Father. He’ll work it out. We just have to follow His lead and obey.”
Jackson shook his head. “That’s the hardest part sometimes.”
“True. But in the end, it’s always the best way.”
Jackson sighed. “You’re right.”
“Of course. But I’m not done.”
Jackson leaned back against the kitchen doorframe. “Yeah?”
“I think Mia needs you too. It sounds like she hasn’t had anyone to show her what living for God looks like. You can be that person.” He set down his can. “Now, there’s a game on television. Why don’t we watch it?”
Jackson drove home after the game, his mind swimming with Swanny’s advice. He would try and help Mia, and he would be open with her. And in the end, if she wanted to walk away, he’d let her go.
Knowing she’d take a part of his heart with her.
“I’m sorry about everything with Jane,” Mia told Gus, setting aside the paperback she’d tried, and failed, to read.
“Jane isn’t your fault. She’s been indulged. Taught the world owes her something. You can’t change that.”
Mia stood up and stretched. “Maybe not.” Suddenly, she stopped and whirled to face Gus. “Oh! I meant to tell you. I talked with my mom today.”
Gus closed her crossword book. “Oh? That’s wonderful!”
Mia nodded. “I can’t promise anything, but I think we might have a chance to build a relationship.”
They talked about her mom for a few minutes before Gus yawned. “Goodness! I need to go to bed.”
Mia watched her. Gus seemed to be moving slower this evening. No doubt worn down by the events of the day. Mia followed her aunt to her room. “Can I get you anything? Do you need help?”
“No. You’ve done so much. I just need to lie down.”
Mia closed Gus’s door and quietly walked down the hallway to the kitchen. She needed a hot cup of tea. Pulling out her tea box, she selected a raspberry pomegranate herbal tea. That should soothe her hyped-up nerves.
Poor Gus. After kicking Jane out, the woman had broken down into tears.
Mia genuinely feared for her. Jackson had checked her aunt’s vitals before he’d left.
Gus’s heart surgery was still a couple of weeks away, and Mia didn’t want to stress her out.
Part of her felt bad for exposing Jane, but she knew the situation could have gotten much worse if she hadn’t.
Mia’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it. It was from Aunt Susan. She winced. Jane and Anne Marie’s mother. She opened the text, preparing for her aunt to lambaste her with accusations.
Susan
Mia. Call me.
Mia didn’t want to. But she did.
“Mia. What’s going on? Jane’s crying and saying you did something to her, but she won’t say what.”
“Hold on, Aunt Susan.” Mia sent her aunt the picture she’d taken of Jane’s phone. “I just sent you a picture.”
Ten seconds later, Aunt Susan gasped. “What in the world?”
“Your daughter has stolen from us. All of us. And sold our items on eBay.”
There was silence. “Is this a joke?”
“No joke. She’s already sold most of it.
What hasn’t sold, Gus and I want back. Or the money.
Oh, and I warned Jane that if I heard her talking about me or spreading tales, I would be calling the police.
I’m serious. If she continues to blame me for her bad choices, the cops will be called. I’m done with this, family or not.”
Aunt Susan quietly hung up, and Mia set her phone aside.
I wonder if she stole anything from Anne Marie? Mia’s younger cousin had never been the most forgiving person. She held grudges longer than anyone Mia knew.
You held a grudge against Jackson for over ten years, her conscience reminded her. She frowned, not liking the similarity.
The tea kettle whistled. She poured the hot water over the tea bag, inhaling deeply.
She loved the sweet aroma. She added a touch of honey to give the hot drink a sweet boost, then carried her cup out to the living room.
She glanced at the clock, hoping it was early enough to call Jackson.
When she saw the time, that hope died quickly.
It was almost ten o’clock at night. Jackson was probably asleep by now. She knew he was working in the morning.
She blew on the tea and took a gentle sip so she wouldn’t burn her mouth. The warmth slid down her throat. This was what she needed.
Sighing in pleasure, she lifted the mug to take another sip.
Someone knocked on the door. What on earth? She glanced at the clock again. It was after ten. Setting the mug on one of the coasters Gus had made, she stood and padded to the door in her bare feet. She went up on tiptoes and closed one eye to peek through the peephole.
Gasping, she backed up and yanked the door wide open. “Reggie!”
She motioned the boy inside. Bruises covered his face and arms. He limped inside. She could tell he was hurt, but she didn’t know how badly.
“I need your help, Miss Turner. There’s no one else to go to. I don’t know anyone else who’d help.”
She looked behind him. “Is Dylan with you?”
“They still have him. He’s in a cage.”
He stumbled, and she helped him walk to the couch. “I’m calling 911. Don’t move.”
Her blood raced through her veins. Dylan was in a cage? They’d had a feeling he’d been abducted, but this was horrifying.
She dialed 911 and reported that an injured student of hers had shown up at the door. When she gave his name and address, the dispatcher paused for a moment.
“I’m sending the police and an ambulance to this address. Ma’am, are you safe?” The male dispatcher asked, his voice calm.
What?
Then she remembered what had happened to Reggie’s mom. Did he know?
“Yes. He’s alone and nearly passed out on my couch.”
“Please stay on the line.”
She agreed, knowing that the man was doing this for her safety. Then she sent a text to Jackson, letting him know Reggie had shown up at her door.
“The ambulance and police are on the way, Reggie. They’ll take you to the hospital.”
“Wait!” He grabbed her hand. “Come with me.”
She couldn’t leave Gus. She knew that. But this child needed her. “Listen, I can’t come right away, but I will come as soon as I can find someone to watch my aunt.”
Gus’s door swung open. Her gaze took in the boy in her living room. “Mia, why is there a child bleeding in my living room?”
Mia gasped and spun to scan him for wounds. Blood seeped from his leg. She ran to the kitchen and got several dish towels. By the time she’d returned, he’d passed out on the couch. She pressed the towels to his leg. He didn’t respond.
Gus sank into her recliner, her face pale.
“I’m sorry about the mess.” Mia placed towels around him to catch the blood.
Gus pointed at Reggie. “The only thing that matters right now is that child. Furniture can be replaced.”