Faith and life meet in a story
By Paula
By Paula
By Paula
(This was cut from the last chapter. Unnecessary.)
Chuck Molinsky stood at the head of a long table in the conference room at Benton, Davis & Molinsky. He had managed to catch everyone on the way in that morning and direct them to a quick meeting. The suddenness of the meeting had resulted in a somber silent mood in the room. “Thanks for meeting in such short notice,” Chuck said, mentally checking off a list of employees and confirming everyone was there. “I’ll only take a minute or two. Some of you have been here long enough, you may remember Tracy Ravenna. She was killed this weekend in an automobile accident.”
Christine Gardner let out a quiet gasp.
“Her funeral is tomorrow afternoon at two. I’m sure most of you are also aware that Tracy and I had an affair and we have a son. I’m asking you, if at all possible, to please come to the funeral, regardless of what you may have thought of
“Chuck,” Chad Mitchell broke the silence. “Do you need pallbearers?”
“Thanks,
By Paula
(Cut from Chapter 23)
“Mommy, what’s wrong?”
“Come and sit,” Bobbi said inviting
“But I want to go.”
“I know you do, but the emergency room is a big, scary place, and I would rather that you didn’t have to see all of that. This is going to be very hard for Jack, and I need you to help Daddy and me take care of him.”
“Is Jack’s mom going to die?”
“I don’t know, Baby.”
“I am, too. He’s going to need us to love him a lot.”
“You can go love him. I’ll love him here.”
“Thanks for understanding.” Bobbi kissed
“Aunt Rita likes me,”
“She should.” Bobbi smiled and lifted
“I’ll wait for Daddy and Jack. It won’t be the same.”
By Paula
(This discussion between Bobbi and Joel in Chapter 18 didn't really advance the plot, so it's here and not in the book.)
Friday, September 28
Later that evening, Chuck took
“Yeah, it’s been almost two hours,” Joel answered. He took out a large bowl and filled it with cereal.
“You want some coffee with that?” Bobbi asked when the coffeemaker finished.
“Sure,” Joel mumbled through a mouthful of corn flakes.
“Who raised you?” Bobbi teased. “They should have taught you some manners.”
“Oh, she taught me,” Joel answered. “I’m just rude.”
“She is not reassured.” Bobbi set a cup on the counter beside him, and sat down at the kitchen table. “So how’s Abby?”
“Fine. She was glad to meet everybody finally.”
“She’s very sweet, Joel. You chose well.”
“Told ya,” he answered, taking a long drink from his coffee.
Bobbi slid her coffee cup closer. “You never told her that I had reservations.”
“You had vehement opposition, Mom, not just reservations.”
“Even so, you never told her.”
“No,” Joel said. He put his bowl in the sink and joined his mother at the table. “You apologized. It’s gone. Besides, the last thing Abby needed was somebody else standing in judgment of her.”
“Joel, I’m sorry,” Bobbi said quietly.
“It’s okay. I know I hit you at a bad time, which was extremely inconsiderate, and selfish. I get that way sometimes. I think it’s a guy thing.” Joel smiled. “Abby didn’t get exactly the same reception that Dad did when he went before the church. Her family was kind of left twisting in the wind. Nobody really came alongside them.”
“How have her parents handled things?”
“Less than perfect. Her dad especially.” He took a drink from his coffee. “You know, I’ve seen pictures of her from before it all happened. She looks like a different girl. It’s like she’s been extinguished. Her eyes don’t light up the way they used to, and her smile is gone. Of course, that doesn’t mean she never smiles. It’s just not the same.”
“We went through that, too, honey. It just didn’t last as long.”
“Well, I’m ready for her to be free of all that. She never allows herself to relax and enjoy where she is now, because of what she did in the past. It still controls her.”
“Isn’t counseling helping?”
“She’s a hard woman, Mom,” Joel said with a smile. “You know the type.” He leaned back in his chair. “She thinks the world of you, though. Maybe you’re the key.”
Bobbi sipped her coffee. I can’t be everybody’s key. Jack,
“When does Dad have Jack again?”
“Tomorrow, Wednesday and next weekend.”
“Tomorrow? Why just Saturday?”
“Jack didn’t get to see Grandma, so he’s coming over tomorrow for a while.”
“And
“It was her idea.”
“Go figure.”
“I’d rather not,” Bobbi said, finishing her coffee.
By Paula
(Cut from Chapter 18, Bobbi and Ann discuss Tracy and the progress with Jack.)
“Ann Molinsky,” Bobbi said in a teasing reproof. “You’re supposed to let somebody help you down the stairs.”
“I took my time. I’m fine.” She eased herself into one of the kitchen chairs. “Everything smells wonderful. Is it a roast?”
Bobbi nodded and pulled the pan out of the oven. She placed carrots and potatoes in with the roast before sliding it back in the oven. “Joel’s going to be home in time for dinner, so I thought I should have something for him to come home to.”
“You’re a good mother, Bobbi.”
“I love my kids.”
“All four of them,” Ann agreed.
Bobbi nodded and pulled a chair up to the kitchen table beside her mother-in-law. “Yes, all four of them. Although, I think
“She engineered this situation. She surely took into account that you would love Jack like your own.”
“Ann, I wouldn’t hazard any guesses about what she thinks. She’s so unpredictable. She showed up at the hospital the morning of your surgery, to tell Chuck she wished you all the best. Then that afternoon at the court meeting, she went off and stormed out.”
“She wants something from you,” Ann said, as she thought about Bobbi’s comments.
“Me? Forgiveness?”
“No… I think it’s about Jack. You are the biggest gamble in her plan. If you don’t love Jack, then she’s exposed her son to rejection and set him up to feel second-rate the rest of his life. She’s ruined him.”
“And the question is, what is worth that risk?”
“I don’t know, but she’s desperate. Debt, illness, something big.”
“Ann you’re amazing. I’ve never known anybody who could size people up like you do. Chuck never got away with anything growing up, did he?”
“He still doesn’t,” Ann said with a wink.