Read the First Chapter here~
“Jessi, it’s Andrew . . . Andrew Lawson.”
At the sound of his voice, Jessica MacAllister’s knees went
limp and her palms grew moist. She sat down on the wooden stool near the
kitchen counter and leaned her head on her hand, her elbow resting against the
cold tile. Why was he call- ing? She hadn’t heard from him since he signed the
papers relinquishing his rights to Jacob six years before.
“Jessi, you there?”
She fought the urge to hang up the phone. “I’m here.”
“I want to see him.”
Her heart beat a strange rhythm. She had prayed this day
would never come. “Andrew, I—I—I don’t know,” she stut-tered. As a speech
pathologist, she prided herself on her communication skills, but this man could
trip her up regardless of her training.
“We can meet at a park. I’ll sit at a distance and watch.”
The desperation in his voice was palpable. Jessica’s jaw clenched and her
stomach churned. How could she trust that he wouldn’t rush up to Jacob and tell
him that he was his biological father? Or worse, what if he wasn’t sober? His
behavior when he was drunk could be . . . No.
She wouldn’t let a man who had no part in Jacob’s upbringing
suddenly waltz into his life—especially someone who had shown her the ways of
the world. But Andrew wasn’t entirely to blame. She’d given in.
“No. No, that won’t work.” Jessica ran her hand through her
shoulder-length hair.
“How about a restaurant? I’ll eat at a separate table. I
only want to see our son.”
Our son. Jacob was not their son. He was hers and hers only.
Andrew wasn’t there for her when she was pregnant or gave birth. He’d never
been there. Why the sudden interest now?
When Jessica woke this morning, she planned to spend the
whole afternoon with Jacob—alone. What right did Andrew have to show up in her
life after she’d assumed he was long gone? He’d abandoned her when she needed
him most. The wound hurt deep and it would take a lot more than a casual
demand.
A fire burned in her belly. “The answer is no—”
“Mommy, who you talking to?” Jacob padded into the kitchen,
softly clad in his dinosaur pajamas. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
“Is that my boy?” Andrew’s voice rose.
Jessica stared at her innocent son. Her hand shook and a
lump lodged in her throat. She couldn’t tell Jacob who was calling, and she
couldn’t tell Andrew the small voice he heard was indeed his son’s.
“Come on, Jessi, work with me here—”
A firm resolve flowed through her veins. She wouldn’t allow
Andrew to worm his way into her son’s life. Not now, not ever.
“I’ve got to go.” She pressed the off button and hung up the
receiver.
“Hungry, buddy?” On shaky legs, she swung around the
counter. She hoped Jacob didn’t notice how rattled she felt.
“How about some pancakes?”
“With chocolate chips?” He hopped on a stool and grinned,
showing the gap that once held a baby tooth.
Several months ago, she’d made his favorite pancakes for his
birthday. And now, after receiving the unexpected phone call from his
birthfather, she’d give Jacob anything he wanted.
“Sure.” She smiled back.
“Can we go see Uncle George today?” Jacob pleaded.
“Thought you wanted to spend the day with me.” A twinge of
jealousy twisted her insides.
She chided herself, and then grabbed a mixing bowl from the
cabinet. Uncle George had been through a difficult patch lately. If they could
spend an hour or two visiting, it would make a world of difference to the older
man.
“I’ve never seen someone without a leg.” Jacob’s eyes grew
big and round.
Jessica cringed—neither had she. Why hadn’t she taken the
time to visit her uncle before now? The answer made her pulse race. Fear. The
smell of hospitals and rehabilitation centers turned her stomach. Glancing down
at her hand, the heart-shaped stone glistened and caught the light filtering
through the window. Uncle George had given her the diamond ring when he found
out she was pregnant with Jacob to fend off any unwanted advances—or unwanted
questions. He had said, “It’s hard enough being a single parent.”
“Can we, Mom?” Jacob’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
The phone rang. She recognized the number from moments ago.
Andrew.
The phone rang twice more.
Jessica continued to gather the utensils and ingredients for
the pancakes. Maybe if she ignored him, he’d go away.
“Can I answer it?” Jacob reached for the phone.
“NO!” She stopped him, and then clicked the off button of
the answering machine before it could pick up.
“Who keeps calling?” Melissa, her roommate of a couple
years, strode into the room. Her short blonde hair stuck out here and there,
and her pink jersey T-shirt hung almost to her
knees over her navy sweat pants.
Jessica shot her a “don’t ask” look, and then gestured to
her little boy. “Jacob and I are going to Santa Cruz today to see Uncle
George.”
“Yeah!” Jacob hopped off the stool and thrust his arms in
the air. He ran around the table like a speeding train pumping his small fists.
“Whoa, buddy.” Jessica caught him, wrapping her arms around
his chest. “Jacob, listen. I need to talk with Melissa.
Why don’t you watch cartoons and I’ll call you when the
pancakes are ready.” Jessica rubbed the top of his head, his soft, brown hair
slipping between her fingers.
“Okay.” He ran toward the couch. On his way, he reached down
and grabbed his favorite dump truck from the floor, and then huddled in the
corner cushion of the sofa. Jessica flipped on the television, then motioned
for her roommate to join her in her bedroom.
“What’s up?” Melissa planted her hands on her hips. “You’re
acting strange.”
“It’s Jacob’s birthfather. I spoke with him this morning.
Jessica paced the room. She grabbed her purple terrycloth
robe and slipped it over her shoulders. “I hung up on him. And now he’s calling
again.”
“What does he want?” Melissa sat on the edge of Jessica’s
unmade bed and covered her legs with the striped comforter.
“To see Jacob.” Jessica leaned against the wall, slid down,
and landed with a thud on the hardwood floor.
“Has he ever been part of Jacob’s life?”
“No, and I won’t let him start now. When he found out I was
pregnant, he made it clear he didn’t want anything to do with the baby or me.
He even blamed me for sleeping around, saying the baby wasn’t his.” Jessica
hugged her legs with both arms. “I wish I’d never gone to Mexico on that
college trip. But I did.” She sighed. “My roommates and I wanted to celebrate.
I knew better.”
“Celebrate what?”
“Graduation from Fresno
State.” Jessica bit her lower
lip.“We were seniors looking for a good time. That’s where I met Andrew.” She
stared at the floor, wishing the memories away.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. You have a beautiful little
boy.” Melissa stood and meandered over to where Jessica sat.
Holding out both hands, she pulled her up. “From now on,
I’ll answer the phone. I think Jacob’s waiting for those pancakes.”
Her roommate was never one to mope and she wouldn’t allow
Jessica to either.
She cinched the belt of her robe. “Please don’t tell Jacob
who called.”
“Never in a million years.” Melissa led her back to the
kitchen. “So, when do you leave for Santa Cruz?”
“Right after breakfast.”
“It’s spring break. Why don’t you take the whole week? I’ll
ward off any unwanted callers.”
With Jacob having time off from school, Jessica had
cancelled all her clients. Her speech pathology business, SpeakEasy, would take
a hit financially but she’d promised Jacob to spend time with him. Santa Cruz
sounded great. Still . . . .
“But tomorrow is Easter and we planned a big dinner. I can’t
leave you alone.” Jessica poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Melissa. “I
bought more vanilla creamer. It’s in the side door of the refrigerator.”
“Don’t worry about me.” Melissa’s eyes danced. “A guy from
work hinted he had no place to go.”
“Oh, I get it.” Jessica grinned. “Don’t let us get in your
way.”
“It’s not like that, and you know it.” Melissa returned the
tease. “I was going to ask you today if he could join us, but since you’re
leaving town, I didn’t want you to worry.” She grabbed the creamer and poured a
hefty portion into her coffee.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m glad you’ll have
company.”
“Where will you stay in Santa Cruz?”
“My uncle has a trailer. I’m sure we can crash there.”
Jessica cracked two eggs into a bowl and beat them before adding the flour,
baking powder, sugar, and milk to the bowl. “He’s going to be surprised to see
us. I’ve been hesitating—didn’t want to scare Jacob. He’s never seen someone
without a leg.”
Melissa took a swig of her coffee. “Jacob didn’t look scared
to me. Are you sure you’re not the one who’s nervous?” She winked.
Jessica placed a small bowl of butter in the microwave.
“Okay, you got me there. I admit I’m scared. I can’t imagine
my uncle, someone I’ve leaned on for strength my whole life, needing
assistance. I’m glad the nurses at Pacific Coast Manor are available around the
clock.” She stirred the batter gently, leaving small clumps of dry ingredients.
“I almost forgot the chocolate chips.”
“In the pancake batter? It’s not anyone’s birthday.” Melissa
opened the cabinet above the dishwasher and handed the bag to Jessica. “You
really are worried about that phone call.”
Jessica nodded and let out a breath.
Melissa sidled up to her and spoke in hushed tones.
“Remember, it’s not the end of the world. So, he wants to see his son. Are you
sure that would be a bad thing?”
Jessica scrunched up her nose and looked directly at her
roommate. “I’m positive.” She placed a frying pan on the stove and turned the
heat to medium low before she added a handful of chocolate chips to the mix.
Melissa dropped a pat of butter into the pan. “Okay, if
you’re sure, then I’m with you on this.”
“Thank you.”
“But promise me you’ll take this week to really think it
through. Jacob needs a man in his life. And you haven’t brought one around
since he was born.” Melissa sprinkled a few flecks of water into the pan. The
drops sizzled.
“You forget. We’re going to visit my uncle. He’s the best
role model I could ask for. No other man is needed.” Jessica poured circles of
batter onto the hot griddle.
“If you say so.”
“Jacob, can you please turn off the television,” Jessica
called. “It’s time for pancakes.”
“Buckle up.” Jessica glanced over her shoulder at her six
year old. He sat in his booster seat between several suitcases, clutching his
stuffed teddy bear.
“How long ’til we get there?” Jacob clicked the seat belt.
“About three hours, give or take.”
She couldn’t get out of her apartment fast enough.
Considering she hadn’t heard from Andrew in years, he’d
suddenly become persistent. He must have done plenty of searching to locate her
unlisted phone number. She’d been careful to keep her whereabouts a secret.
Melissa stood by the curb waving as Jessica turned the key.
“Jacob, wave goodbye.”
“Why can’t Melissa come?” Jacob leaned toward the door and
moved his hand back and forth.
“Because she has a special guest coming for Easter dinner
tomorrow.” Jessica grinned.
No one should be alone on a holiday, including Uncle George.
It had been at least two years since the last time they’d been together, and
she hadn’t been with him much before that either, although they’d always stayed
in touch. His ministry to the people in the Philippines had spanned decades.
She knew he’d hoped to live out his days there, but his high fever and toe
infection brought him back home to the States. No amount of antibiotics could
cure the gangrene that set in or the hearing loss in his right ear. His left
leg was amputated below the knee, and he was fitted for a hearing aid. And now,
according to the nurses, he was becoming more and more withdrawn as the days
wore on. Jessica could hear it in his voice every time she called.
After weaving through town to load her car with gas, she
turned onto CA-180W toward CA-99 and drove her Honda Civic with the air
conditioner on full blast. She flipped on the radio and sang along.
“Mommy.”
Jessica looked into her rearview mirror. “Yes?”
“I need to go potty.” He bit his lower lip.
Jessica let out a sigh and stared back at the road. “Didn’t
I tell you to go before we left?”
“I forgot.”
“I’ll look for a rest stop. You may need to wait until we
get to Madera.”
“How long is that?”
“Twenty miles.” Jessica glanced at him once more. Her son’s
brows were furrowed, his lips pinched, and his arms were tightly wrapped around
his stuffed animal. The life of a six-year-old was hard. She stifled a grin. If
worse came to worst, she’d pull over to the side of the road.
“When we gonna get there?” Jacob whined.
This was going to be a long trip.
ABOUT THE HEART STONE
Following a year of grief, Evelyn Sweeney is finally ready to move on. Pondering her new path in life, her mind drifts to her first love, George MacAllister…
When the lives of these two women cross, they discover that one heart-shaped ring binds their stories together. But will the results be a rekindled faith and new hope, or will it lead them both back into the darkness they’ve fought for so long?
Purchase your copy:
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE
ABOUT SHERRY KYLE
Sherry Kyle is a graduate of Biola University with a degree in Communications, and a minor in Bible. Sherry is also a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature. She currently has three books in print, her award-winning book for tween girls titled The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style all about beauty, fashion, and character, Delivered with Love, her debut contemporary novel, as well as The Heart Stone by Abingdon Press. Sherry and her husband have four children, three biological and one by adoption. She lives along the coast in central California.
You can find her on the web at: www.sherrykyle.com.
Connect with Sherry:
Check out The Heart Stone Virtual Book Publicity Tour Schedule here for blogs giving this book away
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought I would play for fun! Just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
1 comment:
Hi Apple Blossom,
Thank you so much for taking part in The Heart Stone virtual blog tour! I'm blessed because of YOU!
Sherry Kyle
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