Her Unlikely Family

“After I settled here in Gatlinburg, I realized that I didn’t really have a purpose in my life. So I asked God to give me one.”

“And he sent you Lisa?”

“Yes. But he sent a few other girls first, through a ministry at my church.”

“What happened with them?”

She slowed to a stop behind a line of traffic. “Are you sure you want to know?”

He wasn’t sure at all. “I should probably know your track record.”

“Two have gone home, reunited with their families. One, Regina, is living on her own here in town and attending the community college. Another couldn’t get off drugs and ran off when I got tough with her.”

“At least you tried.”

She smiled at him. “Thank you for saying that. I still worry about her.”

They pulled up to the craft school, and this time she let Michael go all the way up to the campus with her. They stepped out of the car and into what looked like an art gallery and found doors leading to, presumably, studios. Josie seemed to know where she was going.

“Have you been here before?” he asked.

“Yes, I took a jewelry making class a couple of years ago.”

“Impressive.”

“Lower your brows a notch. You don’t have to look so surprised.”

“I’m not at all surprised. Your passion for what interests you is to be admired.”

Color flooded her cheeks, and he had a powerful urge to run his thumbs over their warmth.

Instead, he clenched his hands. “Let’s find Lisa.”

“I have a feeling she’s in there.” She pointed to a door marked Fibers, peeked in, then motioned him over.

He looked over the top of Josie’s head, the wild bits of hair tickling his chin. She smelled like the diner, which made his empty stomach rumble. But her hair also held the faint aroma of peaches. Intriguing. He would have expected something sassy, something spicy.

Lisa, deep in conversation with a guy working at a large loom, didn’t see them. Josie backed into Michael, pushing him out of the way, so she could quietly close the door.

“Has she come to watch that artisan before?”

“Yes, and anyone else who has a talent that interests her.”

“You mean she’s truly interested in art?”

Josie cocked her head to the side and gave him a smile just short of friendly. “Shouldn’t you know?”

She was right. And he didn’t like it at all. It seemed that he, who was so proficient at work, was failing more and more on a personal level. Most recently at his engagement to Gloria. But with far more devastating consequences, he’d failed at protecting his sister.

Now here he was, a dismal failure at guardianship. He didn’t even know what kinds of things Lisa liked—other than outrageous hair color.

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s leave before she sees us.”

As Josie and Mike sat in silence, stuck in traffic on the main drag, Josie prayed for Lisa and her uncle. It was as plain as an egg over-easy that Lisa craved his love and attention. But he was clueless. Clueless of her needs. Clueless about what to do to meet those needs.

Lord Jesus, give me wisdom. Help me know what to do to help the two of them. It seems that somehow, I could teach them how to relate. How to— “That’s it!”

“What?” Mike asked.

She pulled into the parking lot at the Comfy Inn and stopped next to Mike’s Beemer. “I have an idea.”

“Is that a good thing?” The skeptical look on his face was almost comical. And he couldn’t seem to get out of the car fast enough.

He came around to her window, and she grabbed the duct-taped window crank. After she spent an exhausting thirty seconds rolling it down, he said, “I guess I should ask what it is.”

“Look, Mike. I have a suggestion. An offer, really.”

“Okay.” There was that skeptical look again.

“Lisa needs you. And you need to get to know Lisa so you can be a better parent.”

“Guardian.”

“Parent. What’s so hard about admitting that you’re more than an uncle now?”

“You said you had an offer?”

“How about you plan to hang around for several days. I’ll try to get a few afternoons off to help you get to know your niece.”

“And what do I owe you in return?”

“Don’t start grabbing your wallet. I just want to help.”

“Like Jesus did.”

“Exactly!” She laughed with the sheer joy of finally getting a point across to him. But then she noticed his hands in his pockets and that he was studying his feet. “You don’t believe in God, do you?” she asked.

Though Michael was surprised she’d drawn such a conclusion, he immediately began to wonder about practicalities, such as how he would stay away from the bank for several more days. “Oh, I believe. I’m a Christian. It’s just that…well…” He checked his watch.

“Oooh,” she growled. “I forgot. You don’t have time for your niece.” She slung her arms in the air, setting off an alarm of jangling bracelets. “You’re hopeless, Mike.”

She backed up the car and squealed out of the motel lot. All because he’d looked at his watch.

Well, he couldn’t help that he had responsibilities. He had stockholders depending on him. And his family’s good name.

And Lisa, his conscience tried to tell him. He pushed the thought aside as he fumbled with the key to his room. When he finally unlocked the door, he stormed in and kicked the door shut behind him. He would check in with his brother at the office to see how the Mason account was going. Then he would know how much time he had left to persuade Lisa to go back to the boarding school.

He reached his secretary who put him through to Gary’s secretary. Finally, his brother picked up. “Hello, Michael. How’s Lisa?”