A Family of Their Own(62)

As always, her heart soared with her delight. “Call me, and we can—”

The telephone rang. She held up a finger and strode to the phone. Karen. A chill ran down her back. “It’s Karen.”

His expression sank to concern, and he moved closer.

She lifted the headset her heart in her throat. “Karen, how is—”

The jolt of her response overtook her. She covered the mouthpiece. “Doug’s gone. He died this morning.”





Chapter Fourteen


When Kelsey hung up, tears rolled from her eyes. It surprised Ross before reality rushed through him. No matter what had happened in the past, Doug had once been her husband, and he was still Lucy’s father.

He drew her into his arms, allowing her tears to flow in silence. Her wet grief soaked into his shirt, but he held her closer, kissing her hair and soothing her back with his palm. Too many things had struck Kelsey at once. The fear of Lucy’s diagnosis the following Monday and now the death of Lucy’s father.

Weight bore down on Ross’s shoulders. Finally he had some positive things happening in his life. Despite the insurance issue, a new medication might allow Peyton a normal life—almost normal—but whichever it might be, the outcome would be better than he feared. God willing, Peyton’s future seemed brighter. She would become a young woman, date, fall in love, marry and have a child of her own. His heart swelled with the abiding sense that the Lord looked down on him with a smile.

But today grief came again to the woman who’d become a part of him.

A final sob lingered against his chest. He waited. A shudder and deep breath touched his own heart, and he swallowed. “Can I do anything?”

“What you’re doing now.” She lifted her red eyes to him. “You know that my love for Doug died long ago, but he’s Lucy’s father, and…”

“Grief is natural, Kelsey. Don’t apologize. You have Lucy to face and memories to handle. It’s difficult.” His wife’s death shook him to the core. Telling Peyton she’d died had been one of the most difficult experiences in his life. Tears had rolled down her face while he held her, unable to release his grief because of her. He stayed strong and, once he was alone, he sobbed.

Kelsey eased back, still using his arm for support. “The funeral is Saturday. We’ll drive to Grand Rapids on Friday for the viewing and come back Saturday after the funeral.”

“Let me take you. You shouldn’t drive.”

She shook her head and pressed her palm to his cheek. “Thank you so much, but I need to do this alone. Just Lucy and me.”

He studied her face. Her steady gaze reflected confidence. “If you change your mind, I’ll be happy to go with you. I can find things to do. It’s no problem.”

Kelsey tilted her head and touched her lips to his in a fleeting kiss. “If I decide I don’t want to drive, I promise I’ll let you know.” She rubbed her temples and shifted backward, her movement unsteady.

Ross stayed beside her until she settled back into the easy chair. Her face changed, and her look concerned him, a kind of anguish so deep it chilled him. “What is it?”

“Me. I’m ashamed. So filled with remorse. I knew he was very sick, Ross, but I didn’t make an effort to speak to him. I let my bitterness stop me from doing what God would have me do.”

“Kelsey, he hurt you deeply.”

“But you said yourself, God didn’t ask me to forget. He asked me to forgive.” Tears rimmed her eyes. “Now it’s too late.”

He rose and knelt at her feet as he drew her hands into his. “No. It’s not too late. Karen is still alive, and she needs your support. You have another chance.”

She pressed her lips together, a tremor quivering in her cheek. “Another chance.” Her voice was but a whisper.

“You can do it, Kelsey.” Ross drew her into his arms and held her close, witnessing the tension and confusion that roiled inside her. “If you remember the days of your friendship, when you’d do anything for her, and if you see her betrayal as her failure to fight off temptation, then you can dig deep in your heart and forgive.” He captured her gaze. “This has to be more than words. Forgiveness comes from the heart.”

Her back stiffened a moment and then her shoulders drooped as her eyes closed. “I know. That’s the hard part, Ross. I might be able to say it, but do I mean it?”