A Family of Their Own(65)

She came to the last book of the Gospels, and her eyes grazed the pages until she came to Luke 6:37. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Her chest constricted. She’d judged Karen and Doug over and over again. She’d condemned them. She’d held the bitterness like a treasure. Bitterness, like regret, lived in the past. Discarding it meant looking to the future, and that’s what she wanted to do.

A noise interrupted her thoughts. Doug’s father had risen to say goodbye. He kissed Lucy’s cheek and held Kelsey’s hand. The distance she’d felt vanished. She hugged him and told him Lucy would welcome his visit.

He smiled at her for the first time. “I’ll be in touch. Her birthday is in May.”

It was more a question, but he had it right. “Last week. May 20.”

“You’re almost eleven now, your mom said. Your grandmother would have been proud of you, Lucy.”

She smiled and hugged him.

Pride filled Kelsey’s chest, watching Lucy make the old man happy, though she barely knew him.

Doug’s sister and he waved goodbye and, in moments, the last of Karen’s friends had left and they were face-to-face again. Karen lifted her handbag. “Do you know how to get to the house from here?”

“I think so, but I’ll follow you just to make sure.”

In the car, Lucy turned on the radio and found a station with popular music while Kelsey reviewed her thoughts, wondering what she would say when she arrived, but a calm had settled over her, and she felt the Lord’s leading.

The drive was short. She gazed at the house she’d looked at only a few times before, and today it looked forlorn, though it hadn’t changed except for Doug’s absence. Karen beckoned her inside, and she encouraged Lucy to go first. Once there, she found a seat in the living room while Lucy joined Karen upstairs. She stayed behind, giving them time together. Karen had always loved Lucy before the bad times happened, and seeing them together reminded Kelsey of that.

When they returned, Lucy carried an armload of mementos. She placed them on the sofa and sat beside them.

“Mom, do you want to see what Karen gave me?”

Kelsey’s pulse jogged as she settled on the sofa beside the gifts. At a glance, she spotted photographs, a lapel pin of some kind and a small jewelry box.

“What’s the pin?” She gazed at the trinket.

“Karen said Daddy won an award for his work with a charity.”

Charity. She’d never known him to do much for anyone but his family. She studied the pin.

“He did charity work for the cancer foundation after his mother died.” Karen answered her unasked question.

Kelsey looked up, trying to keep the shock from her face. “That’s very touching.” And it was. Touched her more than she could imagine.

Karen moved closer. “If there’s anything you’d like, Kelsey, please let me know. I realize you—”

“No, these things for Lucy are lovely. I don’t expect anything.”

She laid her hand on Kelsey’s arm. “He left some money in his will for Lucy. The attorney will take care of that.”

Money. She’d never considered money from Doug. She couldn’t control her frown.

“He wanted to help Lucy with college, but now you may need it for…” She paused, her gaze shifting from Lucy back to Kelsey. “You know for her health issues.”

“College is a good choice. We have health insurance that’s been pretty good.”

“I’m glad. Doug worried about that sometimes.”

Her expression plunged into Kelsey’s heart. Doug worried. She’d learned so much, and she’d closed her mind and feelings off for so long. Today was meant for honesty. “I had no idea, Karen.”

“I know. He kept it to himself most of the time.”

Lucy opened the velvet box and inside lay a lovely diamond ring. Confused, she peered at Karen.

“It was his mother’s. He was saving it for Lucy.”

His mother’s ring. Tears brimmed in Kelsey’s eyes. “The ring is a precious gift. We’ll take good care of it.”

“I know you will.” Karen drew back and stood closer to Lucy.

“Want to see the pictures?” Lucy held the stack of photographs.

“Why don’t you take them in the dining room so you have more room to study them, and I’ll come in a few minutes.” Kelsey hoped Lucy would take her suggestion, giving her time to speak with Karen.