A Mother to Love

She had Rick. She always felt wonderful when he was around, whether at work or even home. It had happened on his first visit when he’d helped her move. Rick had become a gift, a great friend she hoped to have always. She trusted him more than she’d trusted any man. Really trusted him. She loved the warm feeling that spread through her when he was near. Tomorrow she’d see him again, and she would tell him about her crazy family who wouldn’t listen. Maybe he would have the wisdom to offer her a solution.

* * *

Rick eyed the blinking voice-mail notification light on his home phone and frowned. He rarely had calls on the line and often thought he should have it disconnected. He hit the first message and was struck by his ex-wife’s irate voice. “This is Glenda. Please call me now.”

His back stiffened with her command. The next message followed.

“Where are you? I need to talk with you. It’s important.”

It’s important. His stomach knotted at the concern in her voice, and he glanced behind him to make sure Carly was preoccupied brushing her teeth and getting ready for bed.

Another message plowed through the line. “Richard. If you’re upset with me for some reason, can you forget it and call me? Stop being silly and playing games. Call me now.”

He bristled, angry at himself for allowing her to tear him to shreds. She had his cell phone number, but she never used it. A fourth message began and when he heard her voice he covered the receiver until the call ended and deleted all of them, irritated that she’d accused him of being angry and playing games. He rarely got angry at anyone but himself. Why would she think he was playing games? She knew him well enough to know he wasn’t a game player. Far from it.

Rather than drag out the situation with more of her calls, he hit her number on his cell and listened to it ring. After the fourth ring, he expected it to go to voice mail. Not wanting to leave a message, he pulled the phone from his ear and moved his finger to the end-call button, but Glenda’s voice stopped him. “I’ve called and called, Rick. Why are you ignoring me?”

He pressed the phone to his ear. “What are you talking about, Glenda? I have a cell phone, and you know to call me on it. I’ve asked you more than once. I wasn’t home, so how would I know I have calls?”

“Where were you? Dragging my daughter around to—”

“Our daughter.” He cringed at the accusation. “Glenda, Carly belongs to both of us. We both love her beyond words.” He swallowed the burning bile in his throat. Again he glanced toward the doorway to make sure he was alone. “I was out, but you can be sure Carly is in good hands. In fact, she had a wonderful time. Would you like to talk with her and ask?”

“No. It’s too late now.”

His fingers ached from gripping the phone. He could do without the bitterness that continued to grow in their relationship. “What was important?”

“I had a wonderful event I wanted to share with Carly tonight, but you messed it up. It’s too late now, obviously. You could have returned my call.”

He shook his head. He knew better than to try to reason with her. She was unwilling to give an inch, not even to common sense. “Maybe you should plan these wonderful events when she’s with you. You know I have her some of the weekend.”

He clamped his teeth around the comments he longed to say. Having Carly every weekend would be perfect. Having her every day would be better. The old discussion seemed unending, and he could attract more bees with a spoonful of sugar than a cupful of vinegar.

“Glenda, let’s not argue over something that apparently is too late to fix.” He drew in a deep breath. “First, this is my time with Carly, which is very limited in comparison to your many days with her. I haven’t fought you on that, as you know, even though I would like to have her with me more. So when things happen ahead of time, we could trade weekends or add another weekend to her visit with me, but you can’t expect me to drop my plans at the last minute. Let’s be adult about this and—”

“I’m trying to be adult about this, Richard, but you don’t return my calls and, as you said, it’s pointless.”

His shoulders slumped with his useless attempt to resolve the problem. “You’re right. Whatever you say. It’s late, and I’ll say good-night. You’ll have Carly back after school on Monday. I’ll drop her clothes by the house on the way to the school. Sleep well.” Without waiting for an argument, he clicked the end-call button and dropped into a chair.

“Was that Mom?”

Carly’s voice shattered his attempt to hide the newest fiasco. He gave her a fleeting look and a faint nod.

“She’s upset again.” She sailed across the floor and climbed onto his lap. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”

His heart melted. “Please don’t be sorry, sweetie. It’s not your fault. If Mom wants something, she knows to call my cell phone, but she forgets and—”

“She doesn’t forget.” Her head swung back and forth like a swinging door. “Mom does what she wants.”

He drew her into his arms and held her close without a word. A five-year-old had more wisdom than her parents at times. The situation broke his heart, and a stab of regret nailed him to the chair. Something had to be done, yet he felt helpless. How could he show Glenda that they needed better communication? Their arguments didn’t give Carly a sense of well-being. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“I know you do.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I love you, too.” With her head on his shoulder, she sat without speaking while his mind twisted and turned with longing and a prayer that the Lord could find an answer that wouldn’t drag Carly into court as a witness in a case that pit one parent against the other. Glenda knew him too well. She’d love him to be out of the picture entirely. She seemed to do anything she could that might cause him to back away and give up, because she knew he didn’t want to put their dear daughter through the mess. He could never hurt Carly that way.

“Daddy?”

“What, angel?” Wisps of her soft burnished hair brushed his neck.

“I had fun today. I like Angie ’cause she let me pick out the flowers for her garden, and when we got back she asked if we could go to the park, and you said yes. I loved the slide.” She put her hand over her mouth and chuckled. “Angie tried to do it, too, but she was too big for that little slide.”

Though he chuckled with her, his chest constricted. “She is a nice lady.”

Her head tilted upward, her grin marred by a growing frown. “Daddy?”

“What, my girl?” He feared she would say what he suspected had been on her mind, but hoped he was wrong.

“Why can’t Mom be like Angie? Mom doesn’t show me how to do anything, and if she wants me to do something, she hollers at me ’cause she’s too busy to teach me.”

A vise bound his lungs. “Some people don’t have the same amount of patience as other people. I guess Angie has lots of it.”

“Lots and lots.” Carly’s head bounced like a yo-yo. “We’ll see her tomorrow, but can we visit her again other times? She’s fun.”

“I’m sure we can.” He ruffled her hair. “Now I think it’s time for one young lady that I love with all my heart to go to bed.”

Her frown vanished, replaced by a grin. “That’s me, isn’t it?”

“You know it is. You’re the only young lady I love with all my heart.”

“I love you with all of my heart and fingers and toes.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek before hopping down. “Good night, Daddy.”

“Good night, sweetheart. I’ll be there in couple of minutes to tuck you in.”

She walked backward toward the doorway. “I know. You always do.” She giggled and spun around.

When she had vanished through the archway, Rick sat for a moment, catching his breath and willing his sadness to go into hiding. He hadn’t cried in years, but tonight, the desire was strong. Racked with frustration, he stared at his hands, hands that were tied by attorneys, courts and judges. But he’d win somehow. He just had to find the way.

* * *

Hot coffee sputtered from Angie’s mouth when the phone rang. She was careful with the first cup in the morning. It was always too hot, but the phone’s ring made her jump and slosh it. She swiped a paper napkin across her mouth and went in search of her cell phone. She grabbed it on the fourth ring. Her heart lurched when she saw Rick’s number in the window. “Hi. Is something wrong?”

“Not from this end, but I think I woke you, didn’t I?”

“No, I was in the kitchen with my first cup of coffee.” She glanced at the clock, surprised he’d called so early. “If nothing’s wrong, then what’s right?”

He chuckled. “We’re getting ready to leave for church in about fifteen minutes, and I realized I should have suggested this earlier. It hit me a few minutes ago. I wondered if you might like to go to church with us. Now, I know that you said—”

“Rick, that wouldn’t stop me from joining you, but I slept in today. I’m not dressed and haven’t had a bite to eat, so I’d better say no.” She sensed his disappointment. “But ask me again, okay?”

“Sure. I knew this was a long shot. Carly really enjoyed her time with you, and I wanted you to know.”