Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Essie wrung out her sponge and wiped another neat circle on one of the fellowship hall’s folding tables. She’d come to the church this Monday morning knowing the usual group of volunteers, all folks she knew, would be here cleaning. She needed something to do and they’d welcomed her help.
She’d welcomed the opportunity to occupy her mind because today, it wouldn’t stay still.
Sophie was arriving at Chad’s house today.
Frank’s sweet son, who adored his sister more than anything, was preparing to lay down a serious ultimatum with her over this whole lawsuit business.
The very thought of that confrontation had Essie beside herself.
She’d spent time in prayer over the matter.
Frank had done the same, then gone out golfing with Bob and some of his other usual gang for his standard Monday game. He might be acting like everything was normal, but she knew he’d be checking his phone every few minutes, waiting for news.
Because she was doing the same.
“Essie, honey, you’re cleaning that thing to death,” Francine Carter called from across the hall, shaking out a fresh trash bag. “You planning to eat off it later?”
Essie blinked down at the table she’d wiped down more times than necessary and forced a small laugh. “Sorry. Lost in a daydream.”
Miriam Simmons joined them, armed with a feather duster and a Tupperware container of brownies she’d brought “for strength.”
“I heard Sophie’s visiting her brother today,” she said gently, lowering her voice. “That must be what’s got your head in the clouds.”
“How did you hear that?” They hadn’t even told Pastor John that. Or had Frank said something when she hadn’t been around?
Miriam shrugged. “She posted about it on TikTok. Sorry. Should I not be following her?”
“No, it’s fine.” Essie set her sponge aside, smoothing her hands down the front of her jeans. “She’s supposedly going to visit with the kids, but it’s really so Chad can talk to her while she’s there. About…everything.”
There was no point in hiding the truth. Everyone knew.
Miriam gave her a knowing look. Miriam had seen her share of parenting challenges. Her son had been caught shoplifting a few years ago. “The ‘come to Jesus’ kind of talk?”
Essie exhaled shakily. “Maybe not quite that literal. But, yes, he’s fed up and tired of watching her hurt everyone, including herself.”
Francine moved closer, her expression softening. “We’re praying for her. And for you and Frank.”
Essie nodded, grateful and yet feeling a bit like she didn’t deserve those prayers.
Despite everything Frank had said, a part of her still felt some responsibility for all of this.
“Thank you. I just…I don’t want her to feel like everyone’s against her.
But this talk needs to happen. She can’t be allowed to tear this family apart because of grief she won’t deal with.
I think that’s what this really is. She’s angry about losing her mother, angry about her dad moving on, angry at the hand she’s been dealt. ”
The two older women exchanged a look full of experience and sympathy without pity.
“You’re doing what you can,” Miriam said. “The rest? You let God handle.”
Essie smiled, but her lower lip trembled at the edges. “I know that’s what I need to do. My grip is just a little too tight sometimes.”
Francine nudged her with a playful elbow. “Well, if you’re gonna stay busy worrying, you might as well help me mop the vestibule.”
Essie laughed and the sound released just a whisper of the tension inside her.
“Good idea.” She grabbed the bucket and followed Francine down the hall and into the foyer. She stood for a moment, looking into the sanctuary, past the pews to where sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows and tinted the space in a kaleidoscope of color.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Francine said.
“Very.” Essie set her bucket down and started in one corner. Please, she prayed silently as she worked. Let today be the day Sophie turns toward us.
Essie finished up with the mopping, then went into the sanctuary to walk the old wooden pews, original to the church when it was built in the ’60s, and make sure there were the right number of hymnals and Bibles in each row.
When that was done, she stepped back and let her gaze sweep over the tidy sanctuary. The air smelled faintly of lemon cleaner and old wood. How many hands had polished these pews before her? There was a lot of history here and normally, she’d feel the satisfaction of a job well done.
Today, anxiety sat stubbornly beneath her ribs.
She waited as Francine and Miriam locked up, sharing a few more hopeful smiles before parting ways in the parking lot. Essie slipped into her car, still relatively cool due to parking in the shade of one of the live oaks. She exhaled deeply as she closed the door and started the car.
She got the A/C going and was about to pull out when her phone buzzed in her purse. She rummaged to grab it. Frank had texted.
Essie’s pulse quickened before she even tapped the screen.
She arrived at Chad’s a little while ago. He’s not having the talk with her yet. Wants her to have the afternoon with the kids. Says it’ll remind her what she’s risking.
Essie stared at the message, her stomach knotting. Smart move, she texted back.
It was, too. Letting Sophie play board games and eat popsicles with her niece and nephew, letting her laugh with them. Letting her soak in all that love and affection. Letting her reconnect with the family she was threatening to break apart…
It was so smart. It was also terrifying, because it was kind of their last shot at ending this thing peacefully.
Essie typed with careful fingers, Do you think that will work?
Frank replied almost immediately. I hope so. Chad sounded determined this morning.
He loves her too much to let this keep going.
Essie closed her eyes, forehead resting against the steering wheel. “Please, Lord,” she whispered, voice cracking. “Help her see what she still has. Show her what she could lose.”
She sat a moment longer, gathering strength, before shifting into Drive and heading home. The sun flickered through the palms lining the road, throwing shifting shadows across her windshield.
Maybe after lunch, she could lose herself in her book, because all she could do now was wait. And waiting was the hardest part.
The thing was, she didn’t really feel like going home. Not yet. But what else could she do?
A good lunch out might help, something with air-conditioning and a friendly face and a plate she didn’t cook herself. She wasn’t dressed for anything fancy. And she also didn’t feel like being alone. On impulse, she tapped Maude’s contact and held the phone to her ear.
“Hey, you!” Maude answered brightly. “Everything okay?”
Essie nodding, exhaling. “I could use a distraction and Frank’s golfing his usual Monday game. Any chance you’re free for lunch?”
“Oh, Essie, I would love that,” Maude said, then laughed softly. “But I’m actually at the hospital right now.”
Essie gasped. “Are you all right?”
“Oh! Yes, I’m fine,” Maude assured her quickly. “I’m signing up to volunteer. I just felt the need to do something more, you know?”
Essie smiled despite everything. “I do know. I just came from helping clean the church. I think it’s wonderful. Truly. I admire you for doing that.”
“Thank you.” Maude’s voice warmed like she was smiling. “And, hey, the cafeteria here is surprisingly decent. If you want, come join me for lunch. You can help me celebrate my official enrollment into the land of scrubs and ID badges. Also, my treat because those headphones are the bomb.”
“You earned those headphones.” Essie thought about driving home alone with her thoughts and shivered. Then she pictured Maude and a cafeteria table and maybe a pudding cup or two. No one there would care that she was in jeans, a faded top, and sneakers. “I’ll text you when I arrive.”
“You got it.” Maude paused, gentler now. “We can talk about anything you want or nothing at all.”
Essie swallowed a sudden swell of emotion. “Thank you, Maude. I really need the company today.”
“You’ve got it,” Maude said. “Always.”
As Essie turned the car toward the hospital, the weight in her chest didn’t entirely disappear but suddenly she could breathe again.
Sometimes comfort didn’t come in the form of answers. Sometimes it came in the form of a cafeteria tray and a loyal Queen Bee.