“You married?” asked Franny.
“Was for twenty-seven years. My husband passed away last Christmas.”
“I’d welcome death about now.”
A voice sounded from behind us. “Now, isn’t this a pleasant surprise? Two of my favorite women visiting over a plate of cookies.”
“Daddy!” Franny jumped to her feet and ran headlong into his arms. The tears erupted and Robert’s hand patted his daughter’s back while he lifted a brow in Sandra’s direction. She groaned. He hadn’t overheard the conversation. His day was about to get exceedingly worse. It was time for her to run.
Sandra stood and picked up her purse. She shook her head no, as a warning, popped a few bills on the table and headed for the door.
“Not so fast,” she heard Robert yell out.
She glanced back where daughter and father clung to one another staring after the fleeing woman. “I have to get back.” Hurrying out the door, she fled toward the car. In her eagerness, she slipped on a patch of slippery new snow and landed on the ground with a thump. Robert was by her side in an instance. When their eyes met, she looked away, unable to hold his stare. “You need to be with your daughters.”
“But you’re here. I chickened out when I told you I’d confront them alone. Felt so guilty, I didn’t even take the time to call back and say I’d be coming alone.”
“We are the least of the problems your girls will face today. Please, Robert; go and be with your family. I’ll pray and see you at Heritage Inn on Monday.”
A voice squeaked from behind Robert and the two spun around to confront Franny’s startled expression. “She’s your bimbo?” Franny stared at her father. “Really Dad. You sent the enemy in unarmed?”
“Franny, that’s enough. Sandra is not the enemy. I’m not sure what brought her here, but she’s come and you will face the inevitable.”
“Love’s melody is far too chaotic today, Father. But you can ask your lady spy about that. I’ve never been more embarrassed in my entire life.” She looked at Sandra. “You’re not welcome here. Go home.”
Sandra squeezed Robert’s hand, unlocked the car, climbed inside, and backed out of the parking lot before he could wrap his mind around the situation.
When the part-time employee arrived at the Christmas Cave ten minutes later, Robert and Franny were ready to leave. The story his daughter had spouted to him in a frenzy of emotion still rang in his ears. What twist of fate made Franny the other woman that Cindy feared would tear her marriage apart? The whole idea blew his mind. Joe’s warning to take revenge on both women would soon unfold, and Robert couldn’t stop it. The ugly threat dug a chasm so deep between his girls he wondered if they’d recover. And to top it all, Franny had confessed it all to a stranger who happened along at the right time. Thank God the listening ear had been Sandra.
After they hit the main highway, Robert spotted Sandra’s car at a Diner. His heart wanted to rescue her – tell her this mess had nothing to do with them – but one glance at his snivelling daughter in the seat beside him, reminded him of family obligations.
Five minutes later, they turned on Cherry Street. Robert spotted Cynthia’s up-scale bungalow just ahead and Joe’s sports car backing out of the driveway, laying black rubber down the road as he sped away. It appeared the damage was done. How would Cindy react when Franny showed up on the heels of such news? He felt ill-equipped to handle this catastrophe. Robert silently wished their mother here to wipe the hurt away then immediately chided himself. Mildred wasn’t here and the role of encourager fell to him.
He parked the car and peered at his daughter. “You must have liked Sandra a little to bare your soul to her.”
“The woman was in the store and heard the whole thing!” Franny attempted to calm her voice. “But according to you, she is innocent. So, if she truly didn’t know that I was your daughter, I suppose I’d have to admit she was kind and helped settle my rage.”
“I swear I did not send her. In fact, I merely mentioned owning a business that my girls ran while I planned weddings. She had no way of knowing the Christmas Cave was our store. I never even mentioned your names – just called you my girls.”
“Forget it. Apparently, your love life is not the one on the chopping block this afternoon,” Franny said. “Do you think you can keep Cindy from strangling me until I can tell my side of the story?”
“I’ll find the kids and take them out for ice cream. Leave you to talk in private,” said Robert.
“Write something nice on my gravestone, will you?” Franny opened the door and stomped up the driveway. The glare that the two girls exchanged at the door tied the air in knots until Robert could barely breathe.
“Cindy, where are the kids? Thought I’d take them to Keen’s Dairy.”
“They’re all upstairs; huddled in a corner. Joe used no strainer on his vocabulary when he burst in here spouting his extracurricular activities.” Her stare encompassed Franny. “Even your two heard it all – in unfiltered technicolor.”
“I’ll be back in forty minutes, and you two better have your tempers in tow. Remember, the children are victims in all this.”
Robert did not rush the four children as they made their choice of ice cream flavors. They sat in a booth and he asked them questions about school, sports –
