Some of the enthusiasm left Peggy’s eyes. “Now, if only Brad could find a job.”
“Speaking of my dear brother, where is he?”
“He told me he was going to help a friend move, but I know differently.” Peggy shifted uneasily. “He’s out again looking for a job, any job. With a baby on the way Brad feels such a sense of urgency.” Her fingers tugged nervously on her bottom lip. “I guess I do too. My moods swing from elation and ecstasy to doubt and worry.”
Skye had the same feelings herself. Although very pleased for her brother and his family, she couldn’t chase away a sense of unease. She realized her family was in God’s hands, but reminding Peggy of this sounded trite and overused.
“Do you remember the Joyce Landorf series we saw at church last year?” Skye asked.
Peggy nodded.
“I guess this is what she meant by being stuck in a waiting room.”
“Yes, with both exits covered.”
It was Skye’s turn to smile. “You know, I’d do anything in the world to help you.”
“We know, Skye, and thanks, but Brad’s pride is at stake now. You’ve done too much already.”
Skye studied her sister-in-law seriously. “Don’t let pride get in your way, Peg.”
She paused, searching Skye’s face. “You’ve met someone, haven’t you?”
Taken aback by Peggy’s directness, Skye flushed slightly and lowered her gaze. “What makes you say that?” she said, trying hard to hide any telltale inflection of surprise in her voice.
“You look, well …” Again Peggy hesitated, as if searching for the right word. “Happier … brighter, as if some spark has been ignited again. Brad mentionedsomething, too. He said you’d obviously been dating someone because you closed up like a clam the minute he asked about it.”
“I guess you could say I’ve met someone,” Skye admitted reluctantly.
“And?” Peggy probed.
“It’s someone from the hospital. He was in a car accident and has a broken arm. It was in traction for a while, but he’s been discharged now.”
Peggy’s eyes rounded at the information and twinkled with delight.
“It’s no big deal, Peggy. Honest,” Skye stressed. “I enjoyed his company, but it’s not what you think. He’s from LA and has returned home.”
“Is he handsome?”
Skye tilted her head thoughtfully and shrugged noncommittally. “I’d say he was, but not strikingly so.” Unconsciously she stiffened; this was dangerous territory. Her own feelings for Jordan were a mystery. How could she explain them to another?
Peggy seemed to understand her indecision and smiled in return. “Anytime you show this much interest in a man, I can’t help getting excited. I don’t mean to pry, but honestly, Skye, Glen’s been gone a long time. Too many years for you to continue on the way you have been.”
A guarded expression came over Skye’s face. Glen’s name was rarely mentioned. Brad and Peggy had always been sensitive to her grief. “What are you saying?” she asked brusquely.
Peggy sighed, almost as if she were unwilling to continue. “You’ve been living your life in a shell. For eight years there hasn’t been anything or anyone who has been able to bring you back to reality, and it’s time you realized that.”
It was unlike Peggy to be so blunt. “That’s not true,” Skye said defensively, the tiny hairs on the back of her neck bristling. “Glen and I shared something unique. Our life together would have been very special, but for you to insist I’ve built a wall around myself is totally false.” She paused, gathering the strength of conviction. “I have to think very hard to clearly remember what Glen even looked like.”
Peggy was watching Skye with concern. “We seem to have gotten off the track, haven’t we?”
Swallowing determinedly at the tight lump in her throat, Skye gave a wavering smile. “We certainly have. I came to congratulate you and discuss Janey’s birthday present. I bought her a shell necklace, but how
“Speaking of my dear brother, where is he?”
“He told me he was going to help a friend move, but I know differently.” Peggy shifted uneasily. “He’s out again looking for a job, any job. With a baby on the way Brad feels such a sense of urgency.” Her fingers tugged nervously on her bottom lip. “I guess I do too. My moods swing from elation and ecstasy to doubt and worry.”
Skye had the same feelings herself. Although very pleased for her brother and his family, she couldn’t chase away a sense of unease. She realized her family was in God’s hands, but reminding Peggy of this sounded trite and overused.
“Do you remember the Joyce Landorf series we saw at church last year?” Skye asked.
Peggy nodded.
“I guess this is what she meant by being stuck in a waiting room.”
“Yes, with both exits covered.”
It was Skye’s turn to smile. “You know, I’d do anything in the world to help you.”
“We know, Skye, and thanks, but Brad’s pride is at stake now. You’ve done too much already.”
Skye studied her sister-in-law seriously. “Don’t let pride get in your way, Peg.”
She paused, searching Skye’s face. “You’ve met someone, haven’t you?”
Taken aback by Peggy’s directness, Skye flushed slightly and lowered her gaze. “What makes you say that?” she said, trying hard to hide any telltale inflection of surprise in her voice.
“You look, well …” Again Peggy hesitated, as if searching for the right word. “Happier … brighter, as if some spark has been ignited again. Brad mentionedsomething, too. He said you’d obviously been dating someone because you closed up like a clam the minute he asked about it.”
“I guess you could say I’ve met someone,” Skye admitted reluctantly.
“And?” Peggy probed.
“It’s someone from the hospital. He was in a car accident and has a broken arm. It was in traction for a while, but he’s been discharged now.”
Peggy’s eyes rounded at the information and twinkled with delight.
“It’s no big deal, Peggy. Honest,” Skye stressed. “I enjoyed his company, but it’s not what you think. He’s from LA and has returned home.”
“Is he handsome?”
Skye tilted her head thoughtfully and shrugged noncommittally. “I’d say he was, but not strikingly so.” Unconsciously she stiffened; this was dangerous territory. Her own feelings for Jordan were a mystery. How could she explain them to another?
Peggy seemed to understand her indecision and smiled in return. “Anytime you show this much interest in a man, I can’t help getting excited. I don’t mean to pry, but honestly, Skye, Glen’s been gone a long time. Too many years for you to continue on the way you have been.”
A guarded expression came over Skye’s face. Glen’s name was rarely mentioned. Brad and Peggy had always been sensitive to her grief. “What are you saying?” she asked brusquely.
Peggy sighed, almost as if she were unwilling to continue. “You’ve been living your life in a shell. For eight years there hasn’t been anything or anyone who has been able to bring you back to reality, and it’s time you realized that.”
It was unlike Peggy to be so blunt. “That’s not true,” Skye said defensively, the tiny hairs on the back of her neck bristling. “Glen and I shared something unique. Our life together would have been very special, but for you to insist I’ve built a wall around myself is totally false.” She paused, gathering the strength of conviction. “I have to think very hard to clearly remember what Glen even looked like.”
Peggy was watching Skye with concern. “We seem to have gotten off the track, haven’t we?”
Swallowing determinedly at the tight lump in her throat, Skye gave a wavering smile. “We certainly have. I came to congratulate you and discuss Janey’s birthday present. I bought her a shell necklace, but how
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