Sunday morning shined bright and sunny. Gloria crawled out of bed and pulled on her robe, relieved the night was over.
She shuffled into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. Andrea was already up. Gloria could hear her banging around in the bathroom.
Puddles was ready for breakfast and he was not about to leave Gloria alone until she fed him. “You can be a big pain in the butt, you know that?”
Andrea laughed from the doorway. “I think he likes me. He slept on the pillow beside me all night.”
Gloria looked down at Puddles. “Traitor!”
She poured Andrea a cup of coffee and set a box of cream cheese Danish on the table beside it.
Andrea pulled out the kitchen chair and plopped down as she reached for the Danish. “I’m sure I’ve gained at least five pounds already!”
Gloria eyed her critically. “You could certainly use.”
Andrea was dressed in her Sunday best, wearing an adorable pink floral dress with matching pink pumps. A pearl necklace and matching earrings completed her look.
“I slept like a baby last night.” She took a sip of the hot caffeine. “This farm life really agrees with me.”
Gloria poured herself a coffee as she leaned against the counter. “Maybe you really should consider moving.”
A sad look marred the pretty face perched at the table. “With Daniel gone, I’m kind of lost.” Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked up at Gloria. “He was my whole life and now he’s gone. I don’t even feel like I properly mourned.” A lone tear made a slow path down her cheek. “I’m mad at him. I’m heartbroken. I’m so many things I don’t know how to feel.”
But Gloria knew exactly how she felt. Losing someone you love, especially a spouse, was one of the toughest things she’d herself had ever experienced. She walked over and hugged the slender shoulders. “One day at a time, Andrea.” She leaned back to look her straight in the eye. “That and prayer. My faith in God is what helped me through. And still does today.”
Andrea nodded, more tears threatening to spill over.
Gloria grabbed a box of tissue as she pulled out a chair next to the weeping woman. It was clear she needed to get it out and now was as good a time as any.
Gloria patiently waited until the sobbing ended and every last tear was wiped away. Andrea dabbed at her eyes as she looked up at Gloria. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that,” she apologized.
Gloria patted her hand. “I’m glad you did. You needed that and I’m sure you feel a little better.”
Andrea half-smiled, half-hiccupped. “I do.”
Gloria reluctantly stood. “I better go get ready before we’re late.”
Thirty minutes later, the two of them were coasting through town in Annabelle. A look of peace and calm settled on Andrea’s face. “I just love this little town, Gloria.”
Moments later, they eased into a rare front row parking spot. Andrea’s eyebrows furrowed as she began to have second thoughts. “I haven’t been to church in years.”
Gloria smiled warmly. “Don’t worry dear. God hasn’t forgotten you.”
With a small smile, Andrea took a deep breath, grabbed the handle and pushed the door open.
Gloria hadn’t mentioned to anyone Andrea was coming to church with her today. She didn’t want to give a single one of them a chance to start wagging their tongues, gossiping about sweet, gentle Andrea.
An usher was standing just inside the front door. “Morning Justin.” Justin was the mayor’s son. He was also a commercial airline pilot and one of the precious few eligible bachelors in Belhaven. The single girls in town all vied for his attention but so far, he hadn’t seemed all that interested in any of them. Growing up together made them seem more like buddies than girlfriend material.
He handed Gloria a church bulletin and then turned to shake Andrea’s hand when he suddenly froze. He grasped her hand in a warm grip but forgot to let go. Andrea smiled uncomfortably as she gently pulled her hand from his.
Finally, he stuttered, “G-Good morning, ma’am.”
Gloria jumped in. “We’ll find our own seat this morning. Thank you Justin.”
Andrea giggled as they walked away. “He was awfully friendly.”
Gloria shook her head. “More like star struck.”
Dot saw them standing in the doorway. She stuck her hand in the air and began waving. “Over there.” Gloria grabbed Andrea’s hand and pulled her along.
If Dot was surprised by Andrea’s presence, she did a good job of hiding it. “Good morning ladies,” as if Gloria brought guests to church on a regular basis.
That wasn’t the only look they were getting. Several regulars turned around to catch of glimpse of Gloria’s guest but that was as far as it went.
Nosy old coots, Gloria sniffed.
Pastor Nate’s message was perfect. It was about a life filled with God’s peace. Gloria was thankful for today’s message. Last week had been pretty rough. She scribbled down the key scripture so she could go back and study it later.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 NIV
It was a powerful message for Andrea, as well. Tears silently trailed down her cheeks as she listened to Pastor Nate.
After the service, the small group made their way out to the church courtyard where the others were already waiting.
“Andrea, these are my closest friends Ruth, Lucy and Margaret.” She pointed to each one as she named them.
Andrea smiled as she shook each of their hands. “Nice to meet you.”
“We just started visiting people in our community that aren’t able to get out and about,” she explained to Andrea. “We bring them bags of fresh fruit and vegetables and whatever else we think they might need every Sunday afternoon.”
There was no harm in inviting Andrea to tag along. Gloria was sure the others wouldn’t mind. “Would you like to come with us?”
Ruth chimed in. “Yes, dear. We’d love to have you join us if you want.”
She shook her head. “That seems like a really thoughtful thing for you all to do. Maybe next time. I have some things to take care of at home.” Andrea turned to look at the small group. “But thank you for asking.”
Gloria opened her purse and fumbled around for her keys. “Then I’ll just meet you guys in front of Dot’s at our regular time?”
Andrea followed Gloria to the car. “I didn’t mean to make you rush off.”
“Oh, not at all dear,” Gloria reassured. “I have a few things to take care of myself before I meet up with them later.”
Back at Gloria’s house, Andrea ran in to grab her things. It looked like she really did have stuff she needed to take care of.
Gloria waited for her on the porch. She was sad to see her go. It was nice to have company for a change. Someone to cook for…
Andrea shut the screen door on her way out. She glanced over at the barn. “You’re going to have someone check out the barn today, right?” she fretted.
With everything going on, Gloria completely forgot. “Yes. I promise I’ll have someone check it out later today.”
Andrea hugged her new friend before pulling the car door open. “Thank you for everything. I had a wonderful time.” She looked around one last time. “Maybe I can come visit again sometime.”
“Absolutely, dear. Anytime you want. I really enjoyed the company.”
Gloria had a thought. “Why don’t we plan on lunch one day next week when you’re free?”
Andrea nodded enthusiastically. “I would love to!” And with a small wave of her hand, she was gone.
By the time she met up with the girls at the restaurant, they were all there waiting on her.
Gloria no more than got out of her car, when the barrage of questions started.
Ruth couldn’t wait to find out what the scoop on Andrea was. “How on earth did you end up with Andrea Malone?”
“She stopped by my house the other day to thank me for helping find her husband’s real killer. One thing led to another and next thing you know, she’s going to church!”
“She seems like a very sweet girl,” Dot observed.
“Yes, she is.” Gloria couldn’t agree more. “And she’s here all alone. Her parents live in New York.”
Margaret just couldn’t help herself. “Well, don’t get too close to her. Her husband was a criminal too, you know,” she warned.
Lucy stuck a hand on her hip and glared at Margaret. “Now you don’t know that for a fact, Margaret Hansen! That is just a rumor.”
Margaret sniffed loudly and shrugged her shoulders. Everyone had a right to their own opinion.
Ruth opened the van door. “C’mon, let’s go!”
They carefully avoided the topic the rest of the afternoon as they made their rounds. It gave the girls a sense of satisfaction when they saw the expressions on the faces of the shut-ins. Too bad they hadn’t thought to do something like this years ago.
On the way back to the restaurant, Gloria remembered the barn. She turned to Lucy. “Is Bill coming over today?”
Lucy nodded. “Yeah, we’re going fishing this afternoon.”
“Do you think he’d be able to stop by my house and check out the big red barn?”
Lucy turned her attention to Gloria. “Why? What’s in the barn?”
Gloria went on to explain how Andrea spotted the backpack, blanket and flashlight in the barn. “I’d feel a whole lot better if he could take a look around.”
A few hours later, Lucy and Bill pulled into the drive. Gloria ran out to meet them. Bill wasn’t big on chit chat and having coffee so she didn’t bother inviting them in.
They made their way to the door. Bill patted his pants pocket before reaching over and grabbing the metal handle. “Got a little glock here, just in case.”
Gloria shivered as the door opened. Bright sunlight flooded the inside. Bill pulled the gun from his pocket as he took a step forward. Lucy and Gloria hung back, watching as he slowly made his was across the cement, his heavy work boots echoing hollowly on the barn floor.
He looked back to where the girls were still standing. Gloria pointed to the loft. “Up there.”
Gripping the gun in one hand and a rung of the steep ladder with the other, Bill made his way to the top. When he got there, he paused for a fraction of a second before dropping to his knees and inching forward on the wooden platform. At the barn’s peak, he was able to stand again. The loft wasn’t too big, maybe covering a third of the center part of the large barn. He walked over to where the bales of hay were pushed together in a small cluster.
The girls took a step inside the barn so they could keep an eye on him.
He shook his head as he looked back at them. “There’s nothing here. No blanket. No backpack.”
He was just about to turn around when something shiny caught his eye. He bent down and plucked it out of a small pile of straw. It was a pocket knife. He turned it over in his hands and then held it up for Gloria to see. “This yours?”
She shook her head. “What is it?”
“A small pocket knife.”
She shook her head again. “No. James had a hunting knife but it’s a lot bigger than that and it’s in the house. I know exactly where it’s at.”
Bill took another long look around. He tucked his gun back in his pants, put the knife in his pocket and made his way back down the ladder.
When he got to the girls, he pulled the knife back out and handed it to Gloria. It was small and red and Gloria had never seen it before in her life.
“Let me finish checking out the rest of the barn.” Bill pulled the gun back out of his pocket and headed to the milking parlor.
Minutes later he was back, shaking his head. “Nothing in there. The door on the other side was open about this far.” He spaced his hands a few inches apart.
They stepped out of the barn as Bill pulled the heavy barn door shut. He turned to Gloria. “It’s possible someone was camping out in the loft and you spooked them the other day.”
He pointed to the metal handle. “You should think about putting a padlock on that and the door on the other end of the milking parlor.”
Gloria nodded. She’d already thought about that. “I’ll work on it this afternoon.”
She walked Lucy and Bill to his truck. “Thanks for checking it out for me.”
He pulled the passenger door open and Lucy hopped in. “Let me know if you need anything else.” He gazed back at the barn before getting in the driver side. “Don’t forget about those locks.”
Gloria nodded and waved as they drove off. Just one more thing to have to worry about.
By the time she reached her porch, she could hear the house phone ringing. It was Jill, checking in on her. “Everything’s fine, dear. Safe and sound. Nothing to worry about here.”
But Jill wasn’t convinced. “And the locks?”
“Yes, they’re working great,” Gloria said.
They talked for a few more minutes before Jill reminded her about watching the boys the following weekend. Gloria almost forgot. “Yes, of course. I can hardly wait to spend time with those two little pumpkins.”
Jill wasn’t as convinced it would be wonderful. More like one of the most stressful weekends her mom would probably have in quite some time. But they didn’t have a choice. Jill and her husband Greg signed up for a couple’s weekend retreat at their church and no one else was able to babysit.
Gloria reassured her daughter again before hanging up. She loved those boys more than anything but she did have to wonder. What am I getting myself into?
It was too late now. Jill needed her and there was no way she would ever tell her no. And with that final thought, Gloria made her way to the living room. She was pretty sure a rerun of Detective on the Side was on.
The End.
The Story Continues…Click Here To Download Book 2 (Grandkids Gone Wild) Now
