Lone Star Hero

“That’s why I brought them.”

Seth ran off with the cookies, and Ashley followed. Jake had worked wonders in one afternoon.

The pastor pulled her out of her own thoughts. “Seth and Jake seem to be getting along well. Seth’s coming out of his shell.”

She nodded. “I’m so sorry for the problems he caused with Rachel and well...” She had to say the words no matter how humiliating. “Pastor John...”

“Vickie, it’s okay. Seth apologized, too.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “I did tell Rachel if she ever left the house without permission again, she would be grounded until she turned thirty. Raising children is a rough job, and doing it as a single parent is even harder. Remember, you don’t have to do it alone. The church is here for you.”

She swallowed the burning knot lodged in her throat. “Thank you, but it’s more than Seth’s behavior. I had no excuse for the way I treated Lorrie Ann.”

John rested his hand on her shoulder. “It’s behind us.” He nodded and smiled. “Asking for forgiveness is difficult, but sometimes accepting it is even more so.”

Vickie wrapped her arms around her middle. “Thank you so much for everything.” Pulling her gaze from her son and Jake, she looked at Pastor John. “So now I’m making the dresses for your wedding. How are the rest of the plans coming along?”

He groaned. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m so happy Lorrie Ann has been able to reconnect with her mother and wants to involve Sonia while also respecting Maggie as the mother that raised her, but convoluted would not be an exaggeration. Throw in her cousin Yolanda and my two girls and you have total chaos. Lorrie Ann reassures me it is controlled chaos, but I’m not sure I’m buying it.”

He popped a green Jolly Rancher in his mouth. “We’re trying to keep it small, but everyone in town seems to think they also have a say. Lorrie Ann is excited about the ideas she has for you.”

A little bit of shock still stumbled through her at the thought of making the dresses for Lorrie Ann’s wedding. For a while she had thought dating Pastor Levi would be a perfect way to get over Tommy. He had made it clear he wasn’t interested.

The minute Lorrie Ann stepped back into town, Vickie could tell John reconsidered his stance on dating. That had stung her pride.

Then Jake defended Lorrie Ann, and Vickie had gone right back to high school and picked up the role of the mean girl again. The list of things for which she needed to ask forgiveness seemed to be getting longer instead of shorter.

She could do this. “Maybe Lorrie Ann needs to find someone else. I know a woman in Uvalde that...”

“Lorrie Ann wants you, and Maggie is determined that you make her and Sonia’s dresses, too. Lorrie Ann was amazed with your work on the costumes at the Christmas pageant. Don’t let past mistakes or fear stop you from using your gifts.”

A flash of guilt caused her to bite the inside of her cheek. She had almost ruined the Christmas pageant because she had been jealous of Lorrie Ann. “Thank you. I do love sewing.”

Embarrassment had her wanting to hide, but she had already agreed and she owed Lorrie Ann so much. “Well, the thought of designing dresses for the whole party is exciting.” She looked over the brown football field. Jake had two cookies in his hand. He saluted her and mouthed his thanks, winking before turning back to the huddle of males.

“Pastor John, I have a question,” she said as she focused on the hills surrounding the little valley.

“What can I help you with?” The steadiness and concern in his voice calmed her.

“How do we know God’s plan for us? I mean, how can we tell the difference between what we want and what God wants for us?”

“That’s always a tough question. If it’s driven by doubt, guilt, fear or a long list of other negative emotions, it’s not God. God is love without fear.”

He touched her shoulder to bring her gaze back to him.

“Vickie, find some scriptures that mean something to you and pray on them. Sometimes we are so afraid of change, we tune God out.” He gave her one of his lopsided smiles. “I’ve been guilty of that and almost lost my chance with Lorrie Ann.”

Vickie sighed and looked back over the field at all the male bonding. Jake turned and grinned. Saying a few words, he left the group and started walking toward them.

“Vickie, God doesn’t guilt you or manipulate you into a relationship with him. People will, but God wants you to be there of your own free will. Everything else will fall into place.”

She had done her best to manipulate everyone around her because of her own misery. In the end, Pastor John and Lorrie Ann’s love had won the day. Now she needed to grow up and focus on loving her children.

Pastor John’s voice pulled her back to him. “Jake’s a good man.”

“Yes, he is, but we both know I’ve never been known for being a good or kind woman.”

“Vickie, you were made in the image of God. Sometimes all the other voices confuse us and take us off the path God intended. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get back on, sometimes with even a greater understanding of our purpose.”

Pastor John had always believed in her even when she didn’t deserve it.

Jake joined them and slapped John on the shoulder. “Good game today, John.” He turned to her. “Vickie, thanks for the cookies.” He pushed his hair back and smiled. “Seth did great today.”

“Thank you so much for bringing him. I haven’t seen him this excited about anything in a while.”

“I’ll see y’all later.” Pastor John jogged across the field and talked to the players as they started to leave.

Seth ran over to her, followed by Ashley, his voice high with excitement. “Mom, can we go to the drugstore? Some of the guys are going to get a soda. They invited me. Can I go?”

Jake’s knees popped as he sat on his heels next to Ashley. “You want to go? I’ll treat you and your mom to a Coke float.”

Now her daughter was jumping around. It had been a while since they had gone out. “Mommy, please?”

Jake stood and gave her his best smile. “How about it?”

She had promised herself to keep her distance from Jake, but she looked at the kids, their faces glowing. “Okay.”

Seth whooped and ran back to the small group of teenage boys.

“I’m so glad to see him making friends.” She was doing this for Seth. “Since moving back, Rachel seemed to be the only friend he had, and I don’t think Pastor John was too happy about it.”

Jake laughed and tossed the football to Ashley. “I can’t imagine any father being happy about boys hanging around his daughter.”

* * *

Jake found himself smiling. He buried the urge to take Vickie’s hand as they walked toward the cars. Seth had taken the ball from his sister and tossed it in the air, talking nonstop. All the while, Ashley walked next to Vickie, teasing her brother. Vickie laughed at one of his replies, and it was all Jake could do to not pull her into his arms. This felt so right.

He dreamed of having this family when he allowed his dreams to go there.

Seth bounded into his truck, and they followed Vickie’s Ford to the Main Street Drugstore. He noticed the tires were new.