Page 77 of Love in the Storm

Spending a lazy Sunday with Lyric and his family would have to wait for another day.

26

LYRIC

Lyric watched Asa and Jacob from across the bakery. The two waited at the counter for their orders, while Lyric had found an empty booth with Betty. The after-church rush was crazy on Sundays, and it was a miracle they’d found a seat.

She’d missed the last few weeks of church. Sundays were usually check-out days for renters, and Brenda often called her to work.

Lyric’s second visit to Asa’s church was much easier than the first. Her initial concerns were long gone. Between Asa, Jacob, and Betty, she’d been introduced to everyone, and they’d all been kind to her. She’d spotted a few faces from the congregation in line at the bakery, and they’d waved.

She still kept up with Kendra and asked abouther old church, but the move had been a good decision. Though the nagging question of how long it would last always popped up in the back of her mind. When she found a new place to live, would she continue attending Asa’s church?

That was one way to get a sense of what he thought about their relationship. He’d said before that he wanted something permanent. Did he still think he wanted those things with her?

Jacob was talking, but Asa glanced over his son’s head at her. With a small wink, he let her know she was still on his mind.

Swoon. The man was Prince Charming wrapped in a cinnamon roll—oh so sweet.

“Those two are like peas in a pod,” Granny said.

“I know. Jacob seems so much like Asa, I can’t imagine what traits he got from Danielle.” It was becoming easier to talk about Asa’s late wife. Lyric had seen pictures and heard casual stories about the woman, but it was still hard to piece together who she’d been as a person.

That didn’t stop Lyric from wondering, and her heart broke just thinking about all his late wife was missing. Instead, Lyric was here, trying to be a part of their lives without stepping on those memories.

“He’s a lot like her. She was smart and inquisitive. But looking at them…” Betty shook her head. “Jacob is a mirror image of his dad.”

“I bet Asa was a cute little boy.”

“You have no idea. His dad left us before Asa turned two, and I don’t know what I would have done without my boy.”

No one ever talked about Asa’s dad, and Lyric had been too afraid to ask. Danielle deserved to be remembered. Asa’s absent father didn’t.

Left them? How could he? Especially if Asa was anything like Jacob. Both Scott boys were making her days brighter, and she would do anything to keep them in her life. “I can’t imagine someone leaving.”

“He didn’t want kids, and apparently, he didn’t want me too much either. I got divorce papers in the mail and never saw him again.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Betty waved a hand. “Water under the bridge. My life is great.”

Lyric winked at Betty across the table. “Same.”

A second later, the memory of her own parents seeped into her thoughts. She’d been the one to abandon them. Granted, it was a mutual parting. They’d been great parents—given her everything. All she’d done was throw that love in their face.

“I miss my parents,” Lyric whispered, barely audible over the chatter in the bakery.

Betty reached over and rested a hand over Lyric’s. “It’s never too late to mend fences, sweetie.”

“I know. I talked to them once since I’ve beensober, and it went okay. I didn’t reach out anymore because I hadn’t proven myself to them. I didn’t have anything to offer. Why would they trust me yet?”

“The rift between parents and children can be the most heartbreaking. I don’t know your parents, but I bet they’d be overjoyed to see you now.”

“Maybe.”

“And you do have something to offer them. Hope. You are redeemed and forgiven. That’s a gift we sometimes forget about when life is dealing us hard times.”

Lyric flipped her hand and clasped Betty’s. “Thank you. You’re probably right. I just have to work up the nerve to make the move.”

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