“Will my daddy come back?”
“I don’t know, Timothy. But in any case, your parent’s problems will never change the fact that they both love you. We need to wait and see how it all works out.”
“Uncle Joe said bad things about my Mama,” Sassie said. “Does that mean I won’t be able to come visit my cousins, Pappy?”
“Again, I can’t answer that. I know as much as you. Your mothers will talk to you later.”
Robert felt bad about passing the torch to Franny and Cynthia. But, as much as he didn’t want them interfering in his life, he had no right to dictate theirs. The difference being, he’d love them through the grieving. If adultery resulted in divorce, it would carry every ounce of painful separation that he’d lived through while enduring the death of his wife.
When Robert returned with the children, he scanned the room for Franny. “Where’s your sister?” he asked Cynthia. “Promised I’d not let you kill her today.”
“She’s gone to get your bimbo. Apparently, she’s sitting at some café down the road, simmering from the shock to her system.”
“It wasn’t necessary. Sandra understood today would not be a good day to meet the family.”
“No day will be a good day, Father. I cooked a special dish in honor of your guest and will not let it go to waste.”
“That’s gracious of you.”
“Don’t misread it as acceptance,” said Cynthia, casting a frown in his direction. “You’re acting like a desperate love-struck teenager, and I plan on helping you see your folly.”
Robert’s face grew stern. “You’re not going to be unkind, are you? Sandra doesn’t deserve that.”
“I won’t need to. The mess this family is in today will do it for me. No woman in her right mind would willingly adopt me and Franny and our fatherless brood.”
“A kind woman might, if given the opportunity to love unconditionally.”
“Is that what she’s offering you, Daddy? Unconditional love?”
To break the tension, Robert chuckled. “That never entered my mind. Figured I was a pretty good catch just the way I am.”
Cynthia bit back the smile that threatened to ease the anger lines in her face. “You are. That’s the trouble.” They both glanced out the window and saw two cars pull into the driveway. Somehow Franny had persuaded Sandra to come to the battleground. “Besides, as humiliating as my day has been so far, I’m rather relieved that Joe is absent. Our marriage was over before Franny got involved. That little surprise will take time to sort through, but I’ll not throw my sister out to the trash with my husband’s clothes. Not just yet.” Cynthia opened the oven door and withdrew a glass casserole dish.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you two have settled a truce just to deal with the father problem,” said Robert.
She kissed him on the cheek, and cast him a quirky smile. “Perhaps you don’t know your daughters after all.”
It was too late to argue. Sandra was in the hallway and Robert could hear the grandchildren drilling her – with childlike interest, nothing condemning. He walked into the foyer and smiled at the brave woman.
“Welcome. I am so glad Franny persuaded you to come.”
Sandra wiggled her way through the youngsters and reached for his hand. “Me too.”
Cynthia moved in behind Sandra and grabbed her hand loose from her father’s grasp. “So nice to meet you. Sandra, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Thank you for allowing me in your home.”
Cynthia grimaced at her father. “Dad pays rent to stay in the apartment downstairs, so the choice wasn’t fully mine.” She turned back toward the kitchen. “To the table everyone. New recipe to test out on y’all. If you taste a peculiar spice, pass it over to our guest. You got the poisoned one.”
Sandra gulped hard and pulled on Robert’s hand. “This is not going well. Perhaps I shouldn’t stay.”
“And let them win? Never! I will taste your food before you eat.” His smile warmed her fearful heart, and she relaxed. “Cynthia is on the attack. She’s had a rough day.”
He never said how annoyed he felt at his daughter’s cutting remarks, but she’d hear about it later. He thought he’d raised the girls better than this. Bad day or not, he’d protect Sandra from any other verbal abuse.
The hostess tried to seat Sandra at the opposite end of the table, but Robert rescued her, bringing her to sit next to him. No one challenged him and the meal proceeded. The children chatted and asked Pappy about the Inn and his job. When Jamie spoke, it near broke his heart.
“Pappy, why would they bother to get married when Daddy’s just get all mad and leave home?”
“Not all Daddy’s do. But everyone has a free choice. They can honor their vows for life or take the easy way. God won’t force anyone to live a happy-ever-after story.”
Both Cynthia and Franny glared at their father, but he took little note of their anger and mowed down on another bite of food. “What do you call this dish, Cynthia? It’s mighty good.”
“Irresistible Heavenly Hash. Somewhat contradictory to the mood, but I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
Sandra refused to stay cowering in the background like a whipped puppy, a moment longer. “I love your store. So many interesting things, Christmas and otherwise. But the setting is the clincher. Who came up with the idea to build a structure inside a hill covered with foliage? It’s spectacular.”
“I did. Are you surprised?” asked Robert.
Sandra laughed. “Not at all. You are very creative in planning weddings, so I’m not surprised your gifting includes other areas.” She turned to Franny. “Do you enjoy making crafts at the store?”
“I do,” she said, glancing timidly toward her sister as if
