ways, but she hadn’t had a life of her own. She’d received some income from a small trust fund left by her grandmother, but she was dependent on them for food and housing. And she could never have given Debbie a good education without their help.
She was surprised when they’d left everything to her, although her father-in-law had asked her in his will to keep Oaklawn for Debbie’s inheritance, actually controlling her life after his death. Mrs. Cooper had lived only two months after her husband, and by the time Laurel had paid their funeral expenses, there wasn’t much money left.
Acting on the advice of her attorney, Kevin Cooper, Laurel had used most of that money to redo the wing into apartments. Kevin, a first cousin of Jason’s, had advised that the apartments would provide a steady income for her. The apartments had supplied an income, but by the time she paid the utilities and the taxes, she’d hardly broken even on the apartments. Laurel still had the upkeep of a large house, a limited income and no job experience. She was annoyed that Kevin had given her such poor advice, but she hadn’t complained to him. He’d been helpful in settling her father-in-law’s estate, and he’d assured her that she could call on him for further help when needed.
Although she’d been concerned about having Debbie leave home, Laurel wondered if it wouldn’t be nice to be completely independent for a change. At forty-two she could still get an education and have a career. She had been dreading the summer, but she anticipated it now. She intended to enjoy her daughter’s company while they planned the wedding. And since just one evening in Micah’s company had uplifted her spirits, she looked forward to seeing him often during the next few weeks.
It was amazing how quickly she’d been drawn to Micah. She hadn’t dated much before she’d met and married Jason, and since his death she hadn’t been interested enough in any man to contemplate a serious relationship with him. But Micah’s quiet ways, his dry humor and his gentleness had captivated her from the first.
Laurel was still downstairs when she noticed the lights go off in Micah’s apartment. The clock on the stairway chimed ten, and Laurel knew it wouldn’t be long until Debbie came home. She turned off all of the downstairs lights except the ones on the back porch and in the entry hall and went upstairs. She always stayed awake until she knew Debbie was safe at home, but Laurel had avoided being a controlling mother who monitored her daughter’s comings and goings. If Debbie wanted to talk to her about what she’d done when she was out for an evening, Laurel let her take the initiative.
After her in-laws died, Laurel had moved into their room because it commanded a good view of the river valley. She had kept the cherry bed, dresser and chest that had been handed down for several generations. But to give the room a hint of her own personality, she’d had a green carpet laid and dressed the high, narrow windows in ruffled curtains that matched the rug’s color. As a final touch, she’d replaced the dark painted walls with a colorful, floral wallpaper.
Laurel had changed into a mint-green cotton nightgown by the time she heard Debbie’s light gait, taking the steps, two at a time. The door cracked slightly and Debbie whispered, “Asleep, Mom?”
“No, come in. I’m about ready for bed.”
“We had a fun time at the pastor’s house, but I almost went to sleep two or three times. It was a long flight from Colorado today.” Debbie smothered a yawn and drifted over to kiss Laurel’s cheek. “Night, Mom.”
“We should go into Knoxville and pick up your wedding invitations tomorrow,” Laurel said, “but we won’t have to leave early. Sleep late if you want to.”
Yawning again, Debbie waved lazily, indicating she’d understood and wandered out of the room and down the hall.
Laurel sat in the wicker rocker she’d brought from her grandmother’s home and reached for the Bible on the small table beside the bed. For the past year, Laurel had memorized a different Scripture verse each week and used it for her special meditation. Without opening the Bible, she tried to remember this week’s verse from the book of Proverbs. A cheerful heart is good medicine.
Despite her difficult life, Laurel had, for the most part, remained cheerful. She and Jason had enjoyed a happy marriage for eighteen months until Debbie was born. But Jason had wanted Laurel’s full attention, and he resented Debbie’s claims on her. Although Debbie had toddled after him all the time, he hadn’t had time for her. He worked on construction jobs that took him away for months at a time. He kept in touch with his family with occasional phone calls and infrequent checks to Laurel. Jason’s parents had spoiled him as a child, and he hadn’t grown up to be a responsible adult. While he was working in Texas, he’d met Ryan Bledsoe, and for a year prior to his death, Jason had bummed around the country with his friend.
During those difficult days, and the time after Jason’s death, Laurel had relied on her faith in God to survive. He hadn’t failed her. She’d prayed for the wisdom and strength to be a good mother, and God had answered her prayer. He’d given her the strength to keep her in-laws from spoiling their granddaughter as they had their son.
Debbie had never caused her any trouble. In high school, she’d made good grades, played in the band and participated in summer sports. Despite the sorrow that Laurel personally felt, she had kept her sadness from Debbie. And because of her upbeat attitude, Laurel had kept her head above water when circumstances tended to overwhelm her.
Laurel opened the double windows facing the bend in the river. The cost of air-conditioning this huge house was prohibitive, so during the summer, they stored cool air at nighttime and kept the windows and doors closed all day. The thick brick walls retained the cool air that drifted inside at night.
Before she turned off the light, Laurel walked across the hall and into the dark room she’d once shared with Jason. She pulled back the heavy draperies and opened the window, providing a full view of the addition where the apartments were located.
She wondered if Micah found it difficult to sleep in strange surroundings. Probably not, since he’d traveled so much. What would it be like to travel as extensively as he had? Her honeymoon to Atlanta was the farthest she’d been away from Oaklawn. Dereck’s mother had invited her to come visit them, but with her renovation debts, Laurel was short of funds. She’d have to be conservative until she took a job and paid off that loan. Perhaps then she could go to visit Debbie and Dereck in Colorado.
Laurel hummed a hymn as she darkened her room and turned on a dim light beside her bed. She stretched, savoring the texture of the smooth sheets under her back. She crossed her hands behind her neck and listened to the cacophony of insect sounds outside the window. She also heard a cow bawling on her neighbor’s farm—probably trying to find its calf. The owl, nesting in the attic of Oaklawn’s garden house, serenaded its nesting mate. Last night the plaintive call of the owl had made her sad, but tonight she enjoyed it.
Micah’s coming had lifted her spirits. The rent he paid this summer would help with her finances, but she wasn’t sure that was the only reason she was pleased with her new tenant. She fell asleep thinking about him.
The ringing phone woke Laurel, and at first she thought it was the alarm clock, which she’d set for seven. A glance at the clock indicated it was after midnight. Her heart thumped rapidly, and her stomach churned with anxiety and apprehension. Following her in-laws’ custom, Laurel had developed the habit of going to bed early. Her friends knew she didn’t keep late hours, so who could be calling? She sat up and quickly lifted the receiver, hoping the phone hadn’t wakened Debbie. Maybe there was an emergency among the church family.
She swallowed with difficulty and hesitantly answered. “Hello?”
Her apprehension increased when no one
