Megan went charging out the door, then stopped short when she found Mitchell perched on the porch railing in a familiar pose.
Memories seemed to have overcome Mitchell as he looked off into the distance. He appeared to snap back to reality at the irritated edge to Megan’s voice. “Zack said you wanted to talk to me.”
“I thought I’d let you know today went pretty well, thanks to you,” he admitted.
Megan didn’t know what to say. “Did Jess give you a hard time?”
“She was a little icy.” He grimaced.
“Then you fared well. I had to force her to go. By the way, she picked the outfit.”
He laughed. “I wondered about that.” Another uncomfortable silence followed. “Look, I just wanted to tell you, I didn’t come back to cause trouble or hurt anyone. I just want to get to know my kids. I’ve missed enough already.”
Why? Megan wondered. After all this time, why did you bother to come back? Instead she said, “I hope life is better for you now than it was when you left.”
“Much better. Thank God,” he said easily.
“I’m glad,” she said, turning to go into the house.
“Could I possibly take them out again tomorrow?” he asked quickly.
“We go to church.” It was the only thing she could think of to say.
“Later in the afternoon maybe?”
“Two, back by five,” Megan ordered officially.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, teasingly.
She glared at him. “Where do you plan on going?”
“To a movie or roller skating—depending on how Jess dresses.”
“Fine,” she said, turning to go in. He was learning fast. He already had it covered no matter how Jess dressed.
“See ya,” Mitchell called after her. Like old times.
Megan heard him, but she chose not to respond. Feeling in her heart that old empty ache of love gone wrong. “’Bye, Mitch,” she whispered to herself.
Inside Zack was waiting to ambush her, wanting to tell her all about the afternoon. “Mom, it was so great! Dad said…Dad did…Dad likes…” He went on and on as Megan listened patiently.
“He asked if he could see you both again tomorrow,” she added, when he took a breath.
“You told him yes, didn’t you?”
“He’s picking you up at two.”
Jess was coming down the stairs and overheard them talking. She rushed into the room. “Oh no, not again. I’m not going out with him!” she roared.
“Ah, Jess, you know you had a good time today,” Zack said. “Stop acting like such a baby!”
“What’s the problem, Jess?” Megan asked, feeling guilty for forcing her.
Her daughter shrugged and made a face. “I don’t know.”
“So, nothing’s really wrong. You just don’t want to go. Right?”
“Mom,” she began to whine, but the look on her mother’s face told her it was a waste of time.
“I believe you need to at least give him a chance. Don’t you?” Megan asked.
Jess nodded slightly.
The next morning at church, Megan heard little of the service. She was too busy asking God why, then not listening for His reply.
That afternoon Mitchell took the children roller skating. He felt that was safe, since Jess came out in jeans that looked well worn. Unbeknownst to him, skating was one of her favorite pastimes.
Jess had decided ahead of time that this wasn’t going to be any fun. When there was a couples skate, she refused to skate with Mitchell. Zack went off with a girl he knew from school.
Later, she fell skating. When Mitchell rushed to help her, she shrieked, “Leave me alone!” loud enough to turn a few heads in their direction. From then on, she made him as miserable as possible. He ended up bringing them home early.
“Come on in, I want you to see my science project,” Zack said, dragging his reluctant father inside.
Megan was nowhere in sight, so Jess began searching for her. She found her on the swing on the back porch. “Mom, I fell and hurt my leg really bad,” Jess moaned as she limped over.
“Let me see,” Megan said, making room beside her.
Jess sat down and pulled up the leg of her pants. Then she stuck her leg in her mother’s face for her to examine closely.
“Oh! You really bruised that, didn’t you,” Megan said, knowing Jess wanted sympathy, even though there was hardly a mark.
“It hurts a lot. I wanted to come home, but he made me stay,” she said pitifully.
Megan grabbed Jess and hugged her firmly. “You know something?”
“What?” Jess growled.
“I love you,” Megan giggled and gave Jess a kiss.
Jess wasn’t giving up yet. “I missed you. I kept thinking about you here all alone. Maybe next time Zack could go and I could keep you company.”
“I was fine. I.got some reading done.” Megan held up her book.
Jess was trying to figure out her next maneuver, when Mitchell came out the door. “I just wanted to tell you goodbye,” he said quietly.
“I was showing Mommy my leg,” she said, glaring at him accusingly.
“I’m sorry you got hurt,” he said.
Jess was having none of it. She got out of the swing and started to march inside, then remembered to limp.
Megan saw Mitchell’s bewildered expression. “Hold it, young lady! Don’t you have something to say?”
Jess swallowed her arrogant attitude. “Thank you for taking us skating,” she said, then quickly escaped.
Mitchell watched until she was inside. Then he turned his attention to Megan, who had a frown on her face. “What?” he asked, confused.
“She really has you hopping,” Megan commented.
“She hates me. She as much as told me so.”
“She still might. She’s no angel. She may look like one, but inside beats the heart of a true cynic, or so she’d like us to believe,” Megan said knowingly.
“You’re very smug,” he said.
“Well, if she keeps this up, you’ll be dancing to her tune. That will suit her fine.”
“I’ll call about the next time,” he said, flustered, and started off the porch.
“After two visits are you running scared?” she asked haughtily.
He turned back to face her. “You know, I never remember you being spiteful!”
“I never remember you being a coward!”
“A coward!” he said, amazed by the accusation.
“You’re having second thoughts because a child you neglected for ten years hasn’t taken to you right away! If you’re truly interested in a relationship with your daughter, it will take more than two afternoons of fun and games. You’re the one who came back and started this. So don’t blame Jess! Make up your mind if you really want to be a father, because neither one of them needs to be hurt again,” she said bitterly.
Megan’s