Read Online By His Hand: Truly Yours Digital Edition by Jennifer Johnson - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Johnson
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grabbed a pacifier from the baby bag when Emily started to fuss. Popping it into the baby’s mouth, she asked, “Have you heard from your mom?”
“Not a word. Not even an idea if she’s still alive.”
“I am sorry, but maybe there is someone who could help Abby grow into a young lady. She’s a good kid down deep. We both know she loves the Lord.”
“Do we? Most times I don’t see any proof of the Lord in Abby’s life.”
Sondra picked up Matt who had begun to get fidgety standing in the hall. “Think of what she’s like when she’s helped me at the group home. She loves to play with the children and the baby chicks.” She hefted Matt higher on her hip. “Remember how good she was with Lizzie and Jake before Grace and Eric Nickols came home from their mission trip and took custody of them. Abby’s just struggling right now.”
Chris remembered a week before when he’d seen Abby reading her Bible late in the evening. She’d had the purity book her Sunday school teacher had purchased for the teenagers as well. Later he’d noticed she’d scribbled several notes along the sides of one of the pages. Not wanting to invade her private thoughts, he closed the book and put it on the dresser in her room. Chris sighed. “I don’t know who would be good for Abby. I don’t even know who has the time. Sweet Mrs. Nielson has tried to reach out to her, but Abby wouldn’t really open up.”
“She doesn’t seem to open up to me either.” Sondra chuckled when Emily started to whine and rub her eyes. “It may have something to do with my constant interruptions.” She set Matt back on the floor and took Emily from Chris’s arms.
“Maybe we should pray about it.”
“That’s a wonderful idea.” Chris watched as Sondra’s eyes widened, and she nodded her head. “Or maybe God has already answered our prayers.”
“Victoria.”
Victoria looked up just before colliding into Chris. He grabbed her arm when her heel slipped from beneath her. Once steady on her feet she glanced up at Chris. “Sorry.” Looking to her side, she saw Sondra standing beside her.
“How was church?” asked Sondra.
Victoria smiled. “It was terrific. The music was wonderful.” She peeked up at Chris.
“Thanks,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for weeks for Lawton’s bookstore to get that sheet music in. It’s one of my favorite songs on the radio.”
“I could tell. It was as if angels sang directly from your lips. My spirit wanted to rise up and fly with the eagles in the song.” She bit her lip.
What am I saying? I sound like a complete fool
. Heat warmed Victoria’s cheeks, and she knew blotches would soon follow on her face and neck. She looked back at Sondra. “I mean …”
Sondra raised her eyebrows and grinned. “Well, how was Sunday school?”
Bless you, sweet sister-in-law, for the change in subject
. “I felt an instant connection with the people in my class.”
“We were glad to have you,” said Chris.
Victoria forced herself to look up at him. “Thanks.”
“We don’t often have newcomers. Usually people leave us singles and join the marrieds.” Chris laughed. “I’d be happy to introduce you to more people in the group.”
“It would be wonderful for you to make more friends,” added Sondra.
Chris crossed his arms in front of his chest. “That’s right. One thing I’ve learned from Abby, girls love to chat with friends.”
“Well, I did meet one new person today.”
“You did?” Chris’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. Something about his tone seemed to mock her.
What does he think, that I’m inept at meeting people in any way but crashing into their bumpers?
She brushed the thought away.
I’m just imagining things
.
“I think I have a job.”
“A job?” Sondra and Chris asked in unison.
“Yep.”
“That’s great,” said Sondra.
“Dylan introduced me to a man who works at your bank. Zack Bradshaw.”
Chris’s eyebrows furrowed. “Hmph.”
Victoria
“Not a word. Not even an idea if she’s still alive.”
“I am sorry, but maybe there is someone who could help Abby grow into a young lady. She’s a good kid down deep. We both know she loves the Lord.”
“Do we? Most times I don’t see any proof of the Lord in Abby’s life.”
Sondra picked up Matt who had begun to get fidgety standing in the hall. “Think of what she’s like when she’s helped me at the group home. She loves to play with the children and the baby chicks.” She hefted Matt higher on her hip. “Remember how good she was with Lizzie and Jake before Grace and Eric Nickols came home from their mission trip and took custody of them. Abby’s just struggling right now.”
Chris remembered a week before when he’d seen Abby reading her Bible late in the evening. She’d had the purity book her Sunday school teacher had purchased for the teenagers as well. Later he’d noticed she’d scribbled several notes along the sides of one of the pages. Not wanting to invade her private thoughts, he closed the book and put it on the dresser in her room. Chris sighed. “I don’t know who would be good for Abby. I don’t even know who has the time. Sweet Mrs. Nielson has tried to reach out to her, but Abby wouldn’t really open up.”
“She doesn’t seem to open up to me either.” Sondra chuckled when Emily started to whine and rub her eyes. “It may have something to do with my constant interruptions.” She set Matt back on the floor and took Emily from Chris’s arms.
“Maybe we should pray about it.”
“That’s a wonderful idea.” Chris watched as Sondra’s eyes widened, and she nodded her head. “Or maybe God has already answered our prayers.”
“Victoria.”
Victoria looked up just before colliding into Chris. He grabbed her arm when her heel slipped from beneath her. Once steady on her feet she glanced up at Chris. “Sorry.” Looking to her side, she saw Sondra standing beside her.
“How was church?” asked Sondra.
Victoria smiled. “It was terrific. The music was wonderful.” She peeked up at Chris.
“Thanks,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for weeks for Lawton’s bookstore to get that sheet music in. It’s one of my favorite songs on the radio.”
“I could tell. It was as if angels sang directly from your lips. My spirit wanted to rise up and fly with the eagles in the song.” She bit her lip.
What am I saying? I sound like a complete fool
. Heat warmed Victoria’s cheeks, and she knew blotches would soon follow on her face and neck. She looked back at Sondra. “I mean …”
Sondra raised her eyebrows and grinned. “Well, how was Sunday school?”
Bless you, sweet sister-in-law, for the change in subject
. “I felt an instant connection with the people in my class.”
“We were glad to have you,” said Chris.
Victoria forced herself to look up at him. “Thanks.”
“We don’t often have newcomers. Usually people leave us singles and join the marrieds.” Chris laughed. “I’d be happy to introduce you to more people in the group.”
“It would be wonderful for you to make more friends,” added Sondra.
Chris crossed his arms in front of his chest. “That’s right. One thing I’ve learned from Abby, girls love to chat with friends.”
“Well, I did meet one new person today.”
“You did?” Chris’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. Something about his tone seemed to mock her.
What does he think, that I’m inept at meeting people in any way but crashing into their bumpers?
She brushed the thought away.
I’m just imagining things
.
“I think I have a job.”
“A job?” Sondra and Chris asked in unison.
“Yep.”
“That’s great,” said Sondra.
“Dylan introduced me to a man who works at your bank. Zack Bradshaw.”
Chris’s eyebrows furrowed. “Hmph.”
Victoria
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