Her Unlikely Family

“She’s fine. Just not too happy to see me.”

Gary chuckled. “Did you really think she’d make it easy on you?”

With a deep sigh, and feeling older than his thirty-two years, he collapsed into a chair. “Do you think you and Dad could spare me for a couple more days? She’s refusing to come home.”

“I’d be glad to. You’ve got more important matters to take care of.”

Maybe Josie was right—he was hopeless. Because he would rather be dealing with fluctuating interest rates than with the fluctuating hormones of a teenager.

“So, are you managing okay?” Michael asked. There was a pause, and he began to fear the worst.

“To tell you the truth, I’ve never been happier.”

Happy? Michael had been challenged, fulfilled—and lately, suffocated—by the job. But it had been a while since he could claim he was happy. Probably not since the first year or two when he’d had his dad’s full attention and approval.

“Sounds like you’re handling things nicely, Gary. Just be sure to call me if Tom Mason needs anything. I think he’ll do his financing with us this time, then we’ll aim for the umbrella of all their business.”

“I promise, I won’t let you down big brother,” Gary said before he hung up.

Michael had a perfectly capable brother who didn’t need him. And a perfectly rebellious niece who did.

He clasped his hands behind his head.

Dear God, I know I haven’t spent enough time in prayer lately. I’ve felt cold inside since Patricia died and left me with Lisa to care for. Please give me guidance. I’m not used to having a living, breathing creature depending on me—not beyond a paycheck, anyway. Now Josie’s made this offer to help me get to know Lisa.

With interlocked fingers, he massaged the back of his neck where a dull throb pounded out the beat of his heart.

It galled him to think he could need the help of the infuriating woman. Who was she to tell him how to do anything? Why, he could buy—

He stopped, a sick ache gnawing at him.

Forgive me, Lord, for the sin of pride.

If he could only find some way to persuade Lisa to leave Gatlinburg, then he wouldn’t have to depend on Josie. God, help me do this Your way, not my own.

The shrill ring of the ancient motel phone jerked his head up. He stared at the rotary dial a moment, perplexed, as if God Himself were calling. Then he laughed at the ridiculousness of the notion and answered it. “Hello?”

“I’m sorry I told you you’re hopeless.”

Stunned to hear Josie on the line, he didn’t respond.

“I felt guilty all the way home. And I can’t concentrate on anything.”

He waited, a smile creeping up on him, to see how apologetic Josie could be.

“Mike, are you there?”

Amazingly, the sound of her voice cheered him, and something warm released inside him. “You’re having a nice conversation all by yourself.”

“Why, you smart-aleck, good-for-nothing—”

“I thought you were calling to be nice.”

She made that funny little growling sound again. The one she made when she got aggravated. “Look, I’m sorry, okay? God has been convicting me like crazy. I’m convinced He’s been urging me to call you. So here I am.”

The hairs on his arms prickled with chill bumps. “So what now?”

“My offer still stands. I’m willing to help you.”

“If you really wanted to help me, you’d talk Lisa into going home.”

“Not until you prove to me you’ll be a good father to that love-starved girl.”

Love-starved? A good father? It was enough to send him running the other direction.

But he had just asked God for guidance. Maybe He was providing it through Josie.

“Deal,” he said before he talked himself out of it.

“Deal?”

“Yes. You just promised to talk Lisa into going home with me if I learn to be a good…father.”

She remained silent.

“Josie?”

She sighed. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

He knew he’d accepted a deal she hadn’t meant to make. But despite the short time he’d known her, he was certain she would keep her word. Now he better understood why Lisa trusted Josie.

Out of the blue, his sister’s face flashed though his mind, jarring him to think rationally. He’d just agreed to learn to be a guardian, a protector—a father—to his niece.

He’d just agreed to the impossible.

Chapter Four

Josie set a box of beads and tools on the end table, then grabbed her mug and inhaled the rich aroma of coffee. She exhaled all the stress of the day. After a tense twenty-four hours, she deserved this break, a chance to make a pair of earrings she’d recently designed.

As she curled up on the couch in her oldest sweatpants and sweatshirt, wet hair wrapped in a towel, satisfaction washed over her like the hot shower she’d just finished.

I’ve done what God asked me to do for Mike and Lisa. Nothing feels better.

Of course, she had no idea what the next step would be. But for now, all was well in the Miller household. She could enjoy the rest of her afternoon off and—

The doorbell rang. She was going to have to kill Lisa. “I’m coming,” she yelled, then groaned as she climbed out of her comfortable cocoon. So much for a peaceful afternoon.

She opened the door. “Lisa, if you forgot your key, I’m—”