Wade entered the kitchen of the bakery and kissed Kelsey’s cheek, breathing in the rose-scented perfume he had given her for Valentine’s Day.  Giving her that gift was the best part about that day.  Wade shook his head and focused on the present.  “Hi, honey.  I hope you don’t mind me barging in here like this, but I missed you.”

                   Kelsey smiled and added the eggs to the batter.  “Of course, I don’t.  I’ll be making confirmation cakes for the next few weekends.  Not to mention cakes and cookies for Easter.  I can’t believe tomorrow is Palm Sunday already.”

                   He waved a carrot at her.  “You work too hard.  Why are Amber and Brooke both outside waiting on customers when only one of them could do the job?  They need to help you. “

                   “They helped me.”  Kelsey gestured to the two cross cakes and a Bible cake on the metal tables.  “All yesterday and all this morning, they have been alternating between helping me and waiting on the costumers.”  She placed a hand on his forearm.  “I appreciate your concern about my welfare, but I know how much I can handle.  The girls helped me with the big cakes, and now I’m making the last batch of cupcakes for the customers.  Thankfully, the parties are on different days.”

                   Wade bit the bottom of his lip, feeling foolish.  Of course, Kelsey knew her limits.  She had run the bakery in this restaurant for years before meeting him.

                   “So, what’s the news?”

                   “Oh.”  Wade rubbed his forehead.  “I almost forgot.  My mom called and said she and Nana are coming down here Wednesday so that we can spend the rest of Holy Week together, and then they’re staying another three weeks.” 

                   Kelsey held the wooden spoon in the air over the mixing bowl, batter dripping off it.  She blinked several times.  “This Wednesday?   Isn’t that short notice?”

                   “I guess, but they have been wanting to come and meet you, Hannah, and your family.  Nana’s doctor has finally given her permission to travel.”  He took the spoon from her hand and caressed her arms.  “You don’t have to be nervous.   They will love you.  You talked to them a couple of times on the phone.  You impressed them immensely already.”  He kissed her forehead.  “Be yourself, and you’ll do fine.”

                   Kelsey relaxed.  “You are great at giving pep talks.  I promise that I’ll make you proud.”

                   Stroking her cheek with his thumb, Wade said, “You always do.”

                   Kelsey played with his collar.  “What about-“  Pulling back, she stirred the batter.

                   “What?”

                   “Never mind.”   Laughing nervously, Kelsey got a cupcake pan from the table drawer, put the wrappers in the individual round slots, and dropped the batter in them.

                   “You were fixin’ to ask me about my dad.”

                   “Well, yes.”  She sighed.  “Didn’t you say your mom told you that your dad was making progress since he started seeing that grief therapist?”

                   Wade nodded.  “But Dad has only been seeing him for less than two months.  That’s not long.”

                   “It took you less than that to come to terms with Christina’s death. “

                   “Yes, but I was ready.  My mom gave him an ultimatum.  Get help, or she would leave him permanently.  But he did call me last week and voice his remorse for blaming me.”

                   Kelsey's mouth dropped open.   “What?  This is huge.  Why didn’t you tell me?"

                   Shrugging, Wade said, “I’m not sure if my dad was being genuine or not.  He probably did it to please my mom and keep her from moving out again.  I’m still surprised that she actually did it after giving him the ultimatum.”

                   “I remember how you blamed yourself for your mom leaving your dad.”

                   Suddenly Wade chuckled.  “Uncle Mike’s life was disturbed.  Twenty-five years of living alone, then having two women staying with him for a month.  He said he didn’t mind, though it had to have been a huge adjustment.”

                   “I hope that’s not what you’ll feel if ever we get married and Hannah and I move into your house.  That your life will be disturbed.”  She put the cupcake pan in the oven.

                   Flabbergasted, Wade racked his brain to find words to reassure her.  “Of course, I won’t.  I-."

                   Laughing, Kelsey kissed him sweetly on the mouth.  “I was just kidding, but seriously, back to your dad.  Maybe he was extending an olive branch.  What was your response?”

                   “I said if he meant it, then I would accept his apology.”  He rubbed his chin.  “It seems too early in his therapy to start apologizing.”

                   “Stranger things have happened.”  Kelsey took his hands in hers.  “Look at Saint Paul.  As Saul, he persecuted Christians before Jesus came to him on the to road Damascus and changed his heart.  He went from hating and killing Christians to preaching about Jesus and how to live a Christ-like life.   Please, promise me to try to be more open-minded next time your dad calls.”  Her eyes were fixed on something on her counter and they began to glisten with tears.  “Life’s too short.”

                   Wade's eyes followed her gaze to a picture of her and Nick, hugging each other.  He drew her to him and kissed the top of her head.

                   “You know Nick is getting better.”  Kelsey sniffed.  “He keeps busy at his auto shop and helps around the ranch; however, still the nights are bad.  Nick said every time he tries to sleep, he dreams about finding Fontaine dead.  Nick's missing her.  I'm glad that we convinced him to move into great-grandpa Pete's old cabin that's on the land which our granddad left Nick so that Aunt Diana, Uncle Sam can keep an eye on him easier.  They are watching him closely in case his thoughts become suicidal again and Henry's making sure he goes to his AA meetings and to his psychologist.  I believe Nick has come far; I mean compared to those dark days following Fontaine’s death.”

                   Wade’s thoughts drifted to that time.

                   Wade and Kelsey had stayed at her cousin’s house all night and most of the following day with her uncle and aunt, taking shifts watching Nick.  John had given him a sedative, but he turned his head from side to side, murmuring Fontaine’s name.  Kelsey held his hand, saying soothing words as he slept.  Wade saw tears running down her face and he told her Nick would get through this.  She nodded and gave him a wan smile.

                   When Nick awoke, he remembered what happened the day before and began to sob again.  When Nick had calmed down on his own, he asked Kelsey if she thought Fontaine was in Heaven and found peace.

                   “You’re more devout than me,” Nick said, wiping his eyes.  “I mean Fontaine really did believe, but she felt unworthy about asking God to forgive her with all she did to get money.”  He gasped and his eyes widened.  “Wait, she had her rosary beads in her right hand.  She did ask to be forgiven before she died.  Do you think He did?”

                    Kelsey closed her eyes, as if praying.  When she was done, she looked at Nick and said, “I believe so.  Remember Jesus was tempted three times by Satan in the desert during His fast and when He was weak.  Jesus refused Satan all three times with strength, but He knows we mere humans are not as strong as him.  He bled and died for everyone’s sins; no matter how big or small.”                         Kelsey reached over and held Nick’s hand.  “If Fontaine asked God to forgive her, then she was forgiven.”

                    “Thanks, cuz.”  Nick gave her a small smile.  “You eased my mind.  Now, if only I can forgive myself.”

                     “Fontaine wouldn’t want you to blame yourself for her death,” she said, tears rolled down her cheeks once more.  “You know I didn’t like her, but she loved you. She’d want you to be happy finally.  Please. I can’t lose my favorite cousin.”

                      Nick reached up and wiped her eyes.  “I’ll try.  I promise.”

                      “Wade!”

                      Kelsey snapped Wade back to the present.  “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

                      “I said, promise me you’ll try to work things out with your dad.”

                      “Promise.”  The timer on his cell phone went off, making him groan.  “I had better get back to the clinic.”

                      Kelsey tilted her head. “Have you eaten?”

                      “John and I went to the Burger Shack and ate.”   Wade caressed her cheek, silently saying a prayer of Thanksgiving at how this woman cared about him.  “I wanted to tell you about my mom and nana before going back to the clinic.”

                      “Well, thank you for telling me.  I’m anxious to meet them.”  Then she poked a finger in his chest, smiling.  “But you’re having a healthy meal tonight.”

                      Chuckling, he saluted.   Aye-aye, ma’am.”

***

 

                      “I think I heard a car pulling up the driveway, Mama.”  Hannah came in the living room with her walker.

                      “Oh, my goodness.”  Kelsey scanned around the room.  Everything was in its place.  Wade had told her his dad was the particular one, not his mom.  But still, she wanted to make a good impression on her and his grandma.

                      Shutting her eyes, Kelsey told herself to be calm.

                      “Mama, don’t be nervous.  They’ll love you like Wade said.”  Hannah scanned her up and down.  “I like your outfit.  The blue shirt makes your eyes pop, and black pants are nice.”

                      Kelsey opened her eyes and smiled at her daughter.  “Thanks, sweetie.”

                      The doorbell chimed.  Taking a deep breath, she answered the door.

                      Wade stood behind the two women, and they were smiling at her.  Kelsey could immediately see the strong family resemblance.  Both had the same blue eyes, light skin, and high cheekbones.

                       Clasping a hand on each woman’s shoulders, Wade introduced both of them to her.

                       “Hi, Eve and Miss Millie.”  Kelsey grinned.  “I’m glad to finally meet you.”  She stepped aside, widening the door.  “Please, come in.”

                       Wade’s grandma came and surprised Kelsey by cupping her face with her hands.  Miss Millie’s eyes watered.  “God be praised He brought you into my precious grandson’s life.”  Then the older woman kissed her forehead.  “Bless you.”

                        Kelsey glanced at Wade, not sure what had brought that on.  She looked back at Miss Millie.  “Thank you?”

                       Eve put an arm around her shoulders and gave a rueful smile.  “I apologize for my mom.  She’s emotional because yesterday was her and my father’s anniversary.  It was the seventh one since he passed away.”

                       “Oh, I’m sorry.”  Kelsey remembered how her Granny Friedman cried when it was her grandpoppy’s birthday, and on their anniversary.  Kelsey had tried to comfort her as best as she could.  No one was surprised when Granny passed away almost a year after Grandpoppy died.  Kelsey wanted a love like theirs.  God forbid if anything ever were to happen to Wade, she didn’t know if she could handle it.  She had gone from not caring if she ever loved a man again to wanting to share everything with Wade and being with him.

                      Wade sighed.  “I forgot about that.”  He took his grandma’s liver-spotted hand.  “I’m sorry.”

                      Miss Millie wiped her tears.  “Oh, forgive a silly old woman.”  She looked at Kelsey.  “Poor child.  I hope I didn’t scare you.”

                      “No, what you said was nice.”

                      “Hi.”  Hannah walked toward them, with some difficulty because her knees and thighs rubbed together   

                      Wade’s mouth dropped then he sported a huge smile.  “Wow, Han.  You’re using your walker.”

                      “Yeah.  I promised Mama I would use it around the house more.”

                      “That’s good.”  Turning to his grandma and his mom, he said, “Mom, Nana, this is Hannah.”  He put a hand on Hannah’s shoulder.  “Hannah, I’d like you to meet my mom, Eve Ramsey, and my nana, Millicent Schroder.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Ramsey and Mrs. Schroder.”  Hannah braced all of her weight on her right side, so she could shake their hands.

                      Eve and Miss Millie looked down at Hannah and smiled, but Kelsey could see the sadness in their eyes and knew they were thinking about Christina.  Wade had sent them pictures of Hannah through e-mail, but meeting her in person was different.

                       Wade’s mom shook her head and cleared her throat.  “Please, call me Eve.”

                       “And call me Miss Millie.  Everyone does.”

                       Hannah nodded.  “I will try.”

                       Kelsey gestured to the dining room.  “Please, sit down.  Everything is ready.  I’m just waiting on the rolls.”

                       They each took a seat.  Eve studied the table and nodded with approval.  “I love your gold table cloth and your dining ware.  She ran her fingertips along the edge of her plate.  “Mikasa?”

                       “Yes.   My mom gave me her old set when-“Kelsey paused.  She didn’t want to bring up her marriage to Parker right off the bat.  Although they knew she had been married before, she didn’t want to risk an awkward silence.  Finally, she said, “When I moved out.”

                       “Mama doesn’t take these out unless we have special guests.”  Hannah adjusted herself in the chair.  “We mostly eat off of paper plates.”

                      “Hannah,” she warned under her breath.   Oh, great.  Eve and Miss Millie probably think we are rednecks.  After all, they’re posh sort of people, weren’t they?  She began to fiddle with her bracelet.

                      “We do that when Jordan isn’t home.”  Eve smiled.  “It’s one less thing I have to wash.”

                      “It’s a lot easier,” Wade said. 

                      Miss Millie leaned forward.  “I grew up with twelve siblings.  My parents were poor, and they worked in the cotton fields together.  Mama didn’t always have time to wash plates.  We ate sandwiches a lot.”

                      At their words, Kelsey felt the knot in her stomach loosen. 
                     The oven dinged.  She rose and excused herself. 

                     Wade got up from his seat.  “I’ll help you.”

                     “How am I doing?”  Kelsey handed him the roast with the cooked carrots and onions soaking in the gravy.

                     “Great.”

                     She put the rolls in a basket and bit her lower lip.  “I hope so.”

                     “You are.  Trust me.”  He winked.  “People can’t help but like you."

                     Kelsey gave him a small smile and grabbed the rolls and mashed potatoes.

                     When they set the food in front of them, Eve clasped her hands together.  “Roast beef.  My favorite.”

                     “I asked Wade what you and your mother would like, and he suggested this.”  Kelsey took her place by Wade. 

                     “I’m glad he did.  I haven’t had roast in a while.”

                     “Me, too.”  Miss Millie wrinkled her nose.  “I have been eating bland food for months.  My taste buds are in for a treat.”

                     After everybody laughed, they said the common table prayer together.  “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.  Let the food for us be blessed.  Amen.”

                     Eve gave Kelsey a delighted look after taking her first bites.  “This meat is so tender.”  She closed her eyes and sighed happily.  “It melts in my mouth.”

                     “I buy my meat at Dan Geller’s meat market.  He has the best selections.”

                     “Oh, Mama, can Andy come horseback riding with us next week?”  Hannah took a sip of tea before adding, “He wants to learn how to ride, and Uncle Sam is a good teacher.”

                     Kelsey nodded.  “If Dan and Lucy say it’s okay.  I’m sure they’ll agree.”  She looked at Miss Millie at Eve.  “They’re glad Andy is finally getting out of his shell.”

                     Miss Millie’s eyes sparkled at Wade.  “Our boy here was shy, too.”

                     Kelsey arched an eyebrow.  “Really?”

                     “When they had a big dance for his eighth grade class, Wade wanted to ask a girl that he liked, and sought my help.”  Eve laughed.  “We rehearsed how to ask her, but he was still all tongue-tied on the phone.  Luckily, she said yes.”

                     Wade shook his head.  “I’m better now, right, Kelsey?”

                     “Yes.”  She took a bite of her potatoes before she could say Wade had been nervous when he’d asked her for their first real date.  It was her fault, though.  He wasn’t sure she was ready to take the next step in their relationship.  Changing the subject, Kelsey said, “What are your plans?  My parents said you two are welcome to come to our annual Easter dinner after church.  They’re anxious to meet you.”

                     Miss Millie smiled.  “Thank you.  We would love to come.”

                     “Yes.  I can’t wait to meet your family. “  Eve pointed to Wade.  “He told me so much about them that I feel like I know them.  So what can I bring?”

                     “Nothing.”  Kelsey waved her hand.  “Just yourselves.”

                     “You’re sure?”

                    “Positive.”

                    “Well, what do y’all want to do during the rest of y’all’s stay?”  Wade leaned back, looking contented as he patted his stomach.

                    “I think we’ll mostly stay in town.”  Eve wiped her mouth.  “I want to spend time with John and Rose.  Mom wants to drive around and see the scenery.”

                    “I haven’t been in the Hill Country for years.”  Miss Millie swallowed hard.  “My husband, Karl, used to hunt deer on one of his friend’s place outside of Fredericksburg.”  She smiled.  “I came with him once, the year before Walter was born, and I went to town and shop. I knew Karl wasn’t happy about the shopping, but I guess he knew that me staying in that cabin alone was lonesome because he didn’t say anything.”

                    Hannah put her fork on her now empty plate and tilted her head.  “How did you know he was mad?”

                    “Because his right eye would flinch.”  Then Miss Millie illustrated what it looked like.

                    Everybody laughed.

                    “I got that flinching eye whenever I came home late from a date.”  Eve shook her head.  “And I got the silent treatment.  Dad knew that was enough punishment for me.  I never liked to disappoint him.”

                    Kelsey nodded.  “I know what you mean.  Sometimes you wish they would yell at you.”  She remembered when she and Parker went to the justice of the peace and got married; her dad couldn’t look at her or speak more than two words to her at a time for a year.  I hate I disappointed Dad that much.

                    Feeling Wade’s hand on her shoulder, made Kelsey snap back to the present.

                    “Mama, can we have peach pie now?”  Hannah asked.
                    “Sure.”

***

 

                    Wade unlocked the door, then stepped aside so his mom and grandma could enter the

house. 

                    “Oh, darling, Kelsey and Hannah are wonderful.”  Eve took off her thin, tan jacket and hung it on the rack.  “Hannah’s funny.”

                    His nana nodded.  “You’ve got two great girls there.”

                    “I know.”  Wade smiled, relieved that the four women he loved had hit it off.   He hadn’t doubted they would, but Kelsey had been apprehensive.  He understood because even if Kix liked him now, Wade sometimes felt like he fell short of the sort of man he had wanted for his only daughter.  Fathers don’t think anyone is good enough for their daughters and I guess that goes for mothers and sons, too.  Well, I guess Kelsey was sensitive to that, but she didn’t need to worry.  Mom said if she makes me happy, then she’s happy.  I did tell Kelsey that didn’t I?
                    “Wade,” his mom said, bringing him back.

                    “What?”

                    “Mom and I were saying it was nice of Kelsey to invite me to sing in their choir, but I don’t want to intrude.”

                    He shook his head.  “You wouldn’t be.  There are a lot of nonmembers who are related to church members that come and sing in the choir on Christmas and Easter.  Kelsey’s mom, Gwen, would be happy to have you.  She wouldn’t mind if you join them.  You have a wonderful voice.  You should.”

                    His nana came over with his mom’s cell phone.  “This thing beeped.”

                    Wade coughed back a laugh.  His nana wasn’t technology savvy and hated cell phones.  She liked when people could talk to each other without looking at their phones every five minutes.  He had to agree it was rude, but unfortunately, he also had been guilty of checking his cell from time to time when he ate lunch with someone.

                    “Jordan texted me.”  His mom’s eyes lit up as she read what his dad wrote.   “He’s glad we made it here safe.   He wants me to call him if we are back from Kelsey’s.”  She looked at him, smiling.  “Your dad told me to tell you Happy Easter.”

                    Once again, Wade was cynical about his father’s message, but he remembered his promise to Kelsey to try to work things out with his father.  He cleared his throat.  “Well, tell him I will call him on Easter and talk to him.”

                    “You can do that now.”  His mom pressed his dad’s number on speed dial.

                    Dread filled him with the prospect.  At best he and his dad would have an awkward conversation, and at worse, they would end up yelling at each other.   Wade needed more time.  Putting his hand on his mother’s shoulder, he said, “I’ll talk to him another time.”

                    His mom frowned and hung up.  “Your dad is doing better.  He’s less angry and he’s sorry about how he treated you.”

                    “He really is.”  His nana patted his shoulder.  “I haven’t been in your father’s corner since Christina died, but the old Jordan Ramsey is coming back.”

                    “I’m willing to rebuild our relationship.”  Wade ran a hand through his hair, and then looked into his mom’s hopeful eyes.  “I’ll call him tomorrow.”

                    “All right.”  His mom kissed his cheek.  “You need time.  I understand.”

                    His nana yawned.  “I’m going to bed.  I get tired easily these days.”

                    Wade furrowed his brow.  “Did I let you do too much today?”

                    “No, I’m just old.”  His nana sighed.  “And a little bit anemic.”

                    His mom hooked an arm around Nana.  “I’ll take you to your room, Mom.”

                    “Good night.”  Wade called to them.  “I think I’m going to take a little drive.”  When his mom and nana both frowned, he said, “I’m too wired.  A short drive at night calms me.  I won’t be long.”

                    Grabbing his keys, Wade exited the house.

                    He headed for the outskirts of town where there was a narrow and windy dirt road he drove on often.  It was peaceful and he could think.  He needed to let the possibility that his dad might really be changing sink in.  His mom and grandma would know it better than most, but still he wasn’t getting his hopes up too high.  Wade needed to talk to his dad at length before he could believe his dad wanted to make amends.

                    Wade hit his palm on the steering wheel.  I wish I could take what he says at face value. Lord, help me to be less cynical and open my heart to my father.  This family needs to be finally healed.

                     A truck came barreling down the road toward Wade, but there wasn’t enough room for both of them.  He swerved and drove into a cedar tree.  Kelsey and his dad were the last things he thought of as the darkness enveloped him.