Page 85 of Steadfast

“That’s not the pastor, is it?”

“Sure is.” Oakleigh couldn’t help but keep her words short,subduing her response to prevent herself from saying the harsh words that were pressing to explode from her lips.

“Can you imagine your father— ?” Harper’s words faded before she collected herself again and loaded her verbal ammunition. “What a disgrace. I suppose not everyone is cut out for ministry.” Harper gave Dallas a judgmental glance from head to toe. “What is he doing now?”

Dallas made his way through the crowd of worshipers, stopping briefly to shake hands and accept a few hugs. He finally reached where Maeve was standing in the darkened back corner of the kitchen. Even the dim lighting couldn’t hide the way his eyes brightened as he stepped closely by her side.

Harper’s gaze turned cold as she murmured under her breath. “My, my—two great loves. What aluckylady.”

Oakleigh shook her head, now with the inner fortitude to finally face her.

“It’s notluck, Mom.”

Pain dashed across Harper’s expression, a brief window of honesty cracking her callous facade. She was quick to compose herself, fortifying her walls once again. Crossing her arms tightly across her chest, she went to the stairs and returned to her room. The stomping of her designer heels up the wooden staircase was drowned out by the sound of singing.

The worshipers, with their hands raised and eyes closed, never paid Harper any attention, and her abrupt exit went equally as unnoticed.

It was clear to Oakleigh now that her mother was living her own worst nightmare.

Harper Davenport wasobsolete.

Chapter 27

Callous

The following day, Maeve sat in the kitchen and observed as the girls packed up their belongings and departed. Mia took the time to stop by and give her a hug.

“You be sure to come back and visit,” Maeve offered with a genuine smile.

“I absolutely will,” Mia nodded gratefully, “I think Oakleigh and I are working things out.”

“Glad to hear it,” Maeve replied. She had only gotten bits and pieces of what had happened between them, but she knew from the thick tension in the air that it had been a rough argument. “How about that one?” She lifted her chin, gesturing to Paisley, who wheeled her luggage out the door without so much as a goodbye. Amongst the lengthy list of things that fell through the cracks the last few weeks, Paisley had unfortunately been one of them.

Mia simply shrugged.

Maeve never expected to have any last words with Harper, who was already waiting in the Escalade, impatiently checking the time on her phone.

Mia limped her way to the car, pausing as Sawyer caught her attention. He jogged over from the barn and pulled her in for one last hug.

When everyone was eventually loaded up, the Escalade pulled away down the dusty driveway. Maeve watched the tail lights disappear into the distance and savored the quietness and serenity that returned to her home.

One person had been noticeably absent that morning. Maeve poured dark black coffee into a travel mug. She leaned on the counter as she considered that they were still out of milk.

Desperate times.

She stepped into the pantry and rifled through the various canned goods and baking ingredients.

“Ah, here we go,” she said to herself as she picked up a can of condensed milk. Pulling open the tab, she poured a splash into Oakleigh’s coffee until it was just the right color of warm tan. She pressed the top down on the mug, opting to hand deliver it that day. They were certainly overdue for a long conversation.

She went upstairs and made her way down the hallway to Oakleigh’s room. Gently tapping her knuckles on the solid oak door, she waited patiently for a response.

“Who is it?” Even muffled, Oakleigh’s voice sounded shaky.

“It’s me,” Maeve answered. “I’ve got coffee, but if you’re not up to talking, I’ll set it by the door.”

There was a brief pause before Oakleigh responded, “You can come in.”

The door snicked open as Maeve entered the room. Oakleigh was sitting on the floor with her back against the bed. Her eyes were noticeably red and puffy.

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