Page 16 of A Twist of Faith
Dee almost ran to escape. Tears quaked her shoulders, building until the bathroom door snapped closed behind her. She released her pent-up grief into balled-up tissues, muffling her sobs. A mother who will stay? A father who always comes back? Pain knifed to the marrow of her soul, opening wounds hidden beneath denial and secrets. Her mother spent too much time away to play dolls with her or even kiss her goodnight. But her father? She sniffed against the tissue. No, she couldn’t remember her father giving goodnight kisses either. He’d always been working—hard, long hours.
Had she ever known the tenderness of love that Louisa acted out with her doll family? Her thoughts paused on Granny Roseland and the way her wrinkled hands smoothed across Dee’s forehead at night before bed. Those summers at her house provided brief and beautiful respite from a home-life turned on its head. Was that a taste of what love could be? A gentle hand? A good-night kiss? The grief and anger washed over her in quiet waves until her feet landed on firm control again.
She stood and pressed her fist to her chest. What sort of grown woman cried over playing dolls? She forced her mind to wrangle in the spiraling questions. The hard thrumming of her heart slowed along with the tears, and self-preservation veiled the pang of heartache like a shield. With a quick check to the mirror, and a grimace at her blotched reflection, she re-twisted her dark hair into a bun and left the room.
A young woman, maybe early twenties or younger, knelt in the floor by Lou, helping her pick up doll pieces. Honey-colored hair fell in straight layers across the shoulders of her upscale floral blouse. She looked up and smiled, her caramel eyes brimming with welcome. “Well, hi,” she offered in her easy drawl. “You must be Doc.”
Adelina.
“Yes, Dr. Adelina Roseland.”
“Nice to meet you.” Her long legs unwound into a stand and she held out her hand. “I’m Emma, Reese’s youngest sister. I was just in the back taking care of Brandon’s diaper before I hauled the kids over to Mama’s house while Reese finishes up in the field.” Her accent came out slow and gentle. “Said he’s havin’ some trouble with Gypsy.”
“Is he far?”
“Who? Reese?” Emma leaned down and placed the last doll furniture pieces away. “Not far. Just up on the next ridge. We got our cows back there.”
The sky outside the front window sent mixed signals. From the hilltop view, puffs of cloud and dimming rays of sunlight moved across an aging afternoon sky. She really didn’t have time to waste, and he couldn’t be very far. After all, country treks made up her early life too. Why couldn’t she work on his accent while he did his farming? It’s how she’d studied for tests through high school and undergrad. And those times weren’tthatlong ago.
“You can wait here until he gets back, if you want?” Emma offered. “Or you can come have some fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies with me and the kids. Brandon’s already in the car so we have room for at least one more.”
“I think I’ll just walk over and see if I can help Mr. Mitchell.”
“Help Reese? In the field?” Emma swept a glance from Dee’s suit down to her heels and shoved her hands in her pockets. “Okay.” She drew out the word and quirked a brow. “Um, do you want some boots?”
A row of grungy farm boots lined the back wall of the kitchen. Dee stilled a tiny cringe in her shoulders. “I think I’ll be fine. Thanks.”
Emma’s eyes widened for a minute. “Alright, Doc. Just hate to see you ruin those nice pumps. Are those Michael Kors or?” Emma gasped. “Chloe?”
Dee stared down at her shoes and back to the country girl who really shouldn’t be able to guess her shoe type. “Um ... Chloe.”
“Wow. I have a pair I bought at this fantastic designer consignment shop in town. If you ever want to check it out, let me know.” Her smile brimmed with appreciation as she waved her fingers to Dee’s suit. “Of course, you probably don’t shop in places like that.”
“Thanks for the tip … Emma, was it? I might have to take a look.”
Lou’s attention volleyed between both ladies and she finally released a massive sigh. “All this talk about shoes havin’ names is plum crazy. Shoes is shoes.”
Emma laughed, a lovely trill, took Lou’s hand and walked toward the door. “Oh, just wait, Lou. When you try on your first pair of Audrey Brookes,” Emma sighed and fluttered her fingers in the air. “Or even better Adrienne Maloof, your life will never be the same.”
With Emma’s persuasive adoration, Dee felt compelled to drop everything and make a mad dash to this little consignment shop. Oh, how long had it been since she splurged on something frivolous and beautiful?
“Come on, Lou, let’s get over to Granny’s.” Emma held the door for Dee to exit and tossed another grin. “You’d better take your phone with ya, Doc, in case you get lost.”
Dee followed the two outside, still contemplating her degree of desperation and the magnetic pull of a promising good deal. As if in answer her phone buzzed with a text from Alex Murdock.Hope all is well. 11 weeks until show time.Is the game still on?
Dee looked over the countryside again and groaned. In surrender, she texted back.
Yes.
She slipped her phone into her pocket. No turning back now.
“Nice to meet you, Doc.” Emma rested one hand on the car door and gestured with the other. “The trail goes through the back pasture and then up the hill. Reese should be in the next field.”
“Thank you.”
Lou reached up and gave Dee a quick hug. “Thanks for playing dolls with me. You have a good mommy voice.”
Dee stood frozen in place as she watched Lou skip off to her aunt’s Camry. The sweetness of the comment paired with the hug nearly sent Dee racing back to the tissue box. She turned away from the car and squeezed her eyes closed. This was ridiculous. She was an emotional wreck over a dollhouse, cinnamon, and a little girl’s hug? Maybe Appalachiadiddrive people to distraction!
