A Mother's Love

She looked up, surprised.

He answered her unspoken question. “It’s the only thing up the road besides the church and a couple of subdivisions.”

“How do you know I don’t live in one of those subdivisions?” she asked.

“I don’t. But the hat you’re wearing wouldn’t pay the rent on those houses. Unless you’re independently wealthy and just work at the fast-food restaurant for fun.”

She opened her mouth to comment, when suddenly her stomach growled.

Red crawled up her face to her hairline.

He grinned. “My stomach’s telling me the same thing.”

Her lips formed a small smile again. “I get hungry a lot.”

The sound of a truck caught their attention, and they turned. Jake was relieved. He’d never had such a stilted conversation in his life. He was down-to-earth, always putting everyone at ease. This woman had a wall thicker than the Great Wall of China built around her. “That’s Tyler. Go ahead and get in the truck. We’ll hook your car up and then you can give us directions to your house.”

He started to walk off, but the woman called his name.

“Yes?” he asked, turning.

“When we get to my house, I’ll be glad to feed you dinner for your help.”

He could tell that offer cost her a lot. Still, he was glad for the invitation. He nodded. “That’s very nice of you, Maggie. Go on, now. Get in the truck. I’ll be right there.”

“She sure is a pretty little thing,” Tyler said as Jake walked up. He and Jake worked on getting the car hooked up to his truck.

Jake glanced back to see the woman sitting alone in the dilapidated old truck. “Yeah, I suppose she is.” He remembered the haunted look in her eyes.

“So she’s caught your eye, has she?” Tyler joked.

Jake turned back around and chuckled. “How could she not? She’s beautiful.” It was the honest truth. He saw no reason not to admit that to Tyler. But he didn’t mention there was something more than beauty that had snared his attention. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Maybe it was the simple fact that she needed someone, and Jake was the giving type.

Tyler laughed. “I’m surprised you even noticed.”

Jake raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. “I’ve dated, Tyler. You know that I just have too much to do and no time to go looking.”

“I know other preachers who’ve gotten married,” Tyler replied, going around to the other side of the car.

“I have, too. Some of them are my friends. But the right woman has just never come along.”

He finished adjusting the chains, then nodded. “Follow us. Maggie said she’d give me directions.”

“Sure thing, Jake,” Tyler said, and headed toward the truck.

Jake went back to his truck. Marriage. Now, where had that come from? He supposed many in his congregation wondered why he’d never married. He was finally realizing a lifelong goal in his inner-city ministry program. He honestly didn’t believe he had time for marriage with all that going on. Or he, at least, had no time to look.

“It shouldn’t take too long,” he said, turning his attention to Maggie when he got in the truck. He was pleased when she smiled….

He started the truck. “Which way?”

She pointed one long slender finger. “You were right about the trailer park. If you turn in the second entrance, I’m the first trailer on the right under the big oak tree with the long patio porch.”

“So,” he said, pulling back out onto the highway, watching as Tyler slowly followed, “do you have any new job prospects?”

If she thought his question too personal, she didn’t show it. She only shrugged. “I’ll find a job.”

“What type of work do you do?”

If he hadn’t chosen that moment to glance at her, he was certain he would have missed the flash of bitterness in her eyes. As it was, she covered it quickly. “I do a bit of everything. I’ve done inventories, was an executive secretary, a cook, fast-food.”

Surprised, he asked, “Why aren’t you in Baton Rouge looking for a job? Executive secretaries make much more than a fast-food restaurant worker would.”

“There are no openings where I applied. Besides, I have no references.”

An idea formed. He had to tread carefully, though, because he didn’t want to push Maggie the wrong way. “Have you ever worked construction or anything like that?”

She didn’t answer.

Oh well, it had only been a hope. He’d been lucky that Shirley had experience in that area. Still, maybe if this woman could just keep good notes…

“I worked in a building company,” Maggie said, breaking into his thoughts. “I did everything from dealing with the people who ordered lumber to talking with people who were building their own houses. I loved that. I thought, at one time, building would be my future.”

She had a distant look. He wondered what experience from her memories of that job had to do with the lingering pain in her eyes. He couldn’t help but ask, “Why aren’t you still there?”

Maggie snapped back to the present, the wary look returning. “No reason. Why are you asking me all these questions?”

He smiled. “I just might know of a job.”

He turned in to the trailer park. “But why don’t we talk about that after I get your car fixed, okay?”

“Sure,” she said.

He didn’t hear much hope in her voice, though.

“It pays better than a fast-food restaurant, and I think you’ll be perfect,” he added, and was glad he did when he saw a small spark of hope in her eyes.

“I’ll go fix dinner,” she said. “If you’ll excuse me…”

Jake turned off the engine and slipped out. After going around to her side of the vehicle, he opened her door to assist her down. “I appreciate the meal. Watch your step here,” he warned, realizing he’d parked in a huge puddle.

Jake reached up to help her at the same time her foot slipped on the running board. She fell forward against him.

He caught her small body against his, feeling her arms snake around his neck for support. The soft smell of strawberries wafted up from somewhere. He gazed into her deep-green eyes and saw her hint of dismay.

Then it registered what else he was feeling.

His eyes widened, and he glanced down. Sure enough. Though they were touching in the middle, the rest of her body came nowhere near to touching him.