A Child Shall Lead Them. Carole Page Gift
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so funny, Andrew?” asked Juliana with a quizzical smile on her lovely face.
He cleared his throat self-consciously. “Funny?”
“You just laughed, as if someone had told you a joke. What were you thinking about?”
He rubbed his jaw awkwardly, his face warming with embarrassment. Juliana had caught him. There was no way he could tell her the truth—I was laughing at the idea of you being a minister’s wife—and no way he could lie. All he could do was stall or divert the conversation. “How is your manicotti?” he enquired.
She smiled knowingly. “Delicious. But you are avoiding my question. Why did you laugh suddenly?”
He shook his head. “It was nothing…a silly thought. Okay, you asked for it. The truth is, I was thinking about us…how different we are.”
“Is that so bad?” she asked in her most alluring voice.
“I suppose not. Opposites attract, as they say.”
“Is that true for us, Andrew? The attraction part, I mean.”
He poked absently at his food. “You know the answer to that one, Juliana.”
“I thought I did,” she murmured, lowering her gaze. He couldn’t miss the disappointment in her voice.
They both slipped into an unsettling silence that made Andrew’s stomach churn. He had intended this to be a casual, uncomplicated evening, some good food and pleasant conversation between friends, nothing more; surely nothing heavy or awkward. And now they were both precariously close to dredging up unresolved emotions and unfulfilled expectations. Neither had ever admitted it, but he knew they both wanted more from this relationship.
And they both knew it was impossible.
Try as he might, Andrew couldn’t think of a thing to say to neutralize the tension-filled moment.
Thankfully, Juliana recovered quickly and flashed a brilliant smile. “Andrew, you haven’t told me how things are at your house.”
“My house?”
“Yes. With Brianna and your new houseguest. What’s her name?”
“Marnie. Marnie Smith…if that’s her real name.”
“Why would she mislead you?”
“Her family doesn’t know she’s pregnant.”
“I see.” Juliana took another slice of garlic bread. “The girl is working for you, isn’t she? Or did I hear wrong?”
“You heard right. She’s doing secretarial work for me at home. Letters, filing, research. A good worker and a genuinely nice girl. Pleasant. Kind. Caring. Plays a mean game of Monopoly. To tell you the truth, I’ll miss her when she goes.”
“And when is that?”
“After the baby comes. It’s due early in September. From what Bree tells me, Marnie will give the baby up for adoption and then return home, supposedly with no one the wiser.”
Juliana shook her head, her eyes clouding. “What a painful thing to do. She must be a very brave girl to carry a baby for nine months and then be willing to let it go.”
“She feels she has no choice. Meanwhile, both she and Brianna are caught up in the pregnancy. Bree is even taking Lamaze classes. She plans to be Marnie’s coach.”
“Oh, Andrew, I can’t imagine it. Childbirth is so different these days. Girls have such modern ideas.”
“Actually, I find it a little disconcerting. Brianna is so excited, you’d think she’s the one having the baby.”
“From what you’ve told me, she’s always been the little mother, bringing home lost and needy animals…and people.”
“That’s my daughter,” said Andrew. “Trying to mend the hurts of the whole world. But this is different.”
“How so?”
“I’m not sure.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “I haven’t said this to anyone, but I’m worried about Brianna.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. It’s just…well, she’s become so emotionally involved with Marnie and her baby. I’m afraid Bree is going to feel a real loss when they leave.”
“She’ll handle it, Andrew. Look how strong she’s been all these years since her mother died.”
“You’re right. So why do I have this nagging fear that one more significant loss might send her over the edge?”
“You don’t really believe that, do you?”
“Not that she would be a basket case. But another loss could make her erect more fences. She’s thrown herself heart and soul into helping others, but she has no personal life. She rarely dates. How is she going to find a suitable husband if she keeps a lock on her heart?”
Juliana laughed lightly. “Oh, Andrew, you’re playing matchmaker again, just like you did with Cassie and Antonio. Haven’t you learned your lesson? It doesn’t work. We are fortunate that our children found each other in spite of our fussing and scheming. You must trust your daughter to do what’s right for her, and trust God to bring the right young man into her life at the proper time.”
“In other words, you’re saying I should be patient? I should just sit back and let whatever happens, happen?”
“Yes. You are a man of faith. Have faith in your daughter.”
“I’m trying.” Andrew lapsed into silence. What he didn’t want to tell Juliana was that his misgivings were growing every day. He couldn’t even say why. He just had an uneasy feeling about Marnie and her baby. He sensed there was trouble ahead, and that somehow his caring, unsuspecting Brianna was going to be in the thick of it.
Now, if he could just figure out a way to protect his darling daughter before it was too late.
Chapter Four
It was a lazy Saturday afternoon, and the golden August sun was flooding the Rowlands’ house with shimmering light and warmth. An old-time movie was playing on the big-screen TV and a half-eaten bag of microwave popcorn lay on the family room floor where Brianna and Marnie were ensconced, practicing Marnie’s breathing exercises. Ruggs crouched between them, panting, too, his furry chest heaving.
“Hooo-hooo-heee!” Marnie puffed, while Ruggs licked his chops, dangled his tongue, and bobbed his head, huffing like a trooper.
Marnie laughed. “Ruggs has this breathing thing down better than we do.”
Brianna rubbed the shaggy dog’s ears, laughing, too. “This old boy always was good at wheezing, but not much else.”
“And he doesn’t even have to go through labor,” Marnie exclaimed, sitting back in her loose dungarees and patting her ample middle. “Oh, man, these Braxton-Hicks contractions are getting bad. Can you believe? I’ve got just one month left to get this Lamaze thing right.”
“You’re doing fine,” Bree assured her as she reached for the popcorn.
And it was true. In the two months since Marnie had come to stay, she had blossomed in every way—physically, of course, as her pregnancy advanced, but also emotionally and spiritually. She wasn’t the same edgy, brooding girl who had first come to the counseling center seeking a place of refuge. Now she was a cheerful, welcome member of the Rowlands’ household, eagerly entering into family activities, helping Brianna’s father in his home office, attending church services, and whispering excitedly whenever Reverend Rowlands used some of her research in his sermons.
Marnie was still chuckling as Ruggs edged over beside her, panting heavily. He nudged her hand with his wet nose, seeking another ear massage. Marnie pulled