about my family when you were hurting.”
“Don’t be sorry. I pulled it out of you. Remember? Besides, you made me rethink my hasty decision. I felt guilty for leaving the way I did. I scribbled a nasty note and left it on the kitchen table for my daughter to see when she got home from work. That was two days ago.” Her voice caught. “I’ve never regretted anything more.”
“Did she call you?”
“I don’t have a cell phone. Had to drop it when my paltry savings ran out.” Her cheeks reddened. “I hope you don’t mind, but I used your cell to call my daughter early this morning. We had a good talk, and she begged me to come home.”
“What about her husband?”
“Apparently after I stopped eavesdropping, he said he didn’t mean what he’d said about me leaving. He wants to talk with me about a job that just opened up at his office. It’s only minimum wage and entry-level, but at least it’s something.”
“I take it you’re overqualified.”
Elsa shrugged. “It’s income and that’s what’s important. I still won’t be able to live on my own, but I will be able to contribute to the family. He bought my return ticket to Chicago.”
Holly walked around the counter and embraced her new friend. “I’m so happy for you. And you know what?”
“Hmm?”
“You were right. God did take care of you. Not exactly the way I thought, but you get to go home, and He provided the funds for your ticket.” She’d doubted Elsa when she said God would provide, but He’d not only provided, He restored her relationship with her family. Did it make Holly a bad Christian to doubt that God would provide the ticket for her new friend? Well, perhaps not, but she definitely needed to work on trusting Him more.
“How about those eggs? I’m starving.” Elsa’s eyes twinkled.
“Scrambled or fried?”
“Fried, and thanks so much for everything. You can’t begin to imagine what an answer to prayer you are.”
Holly cracked two eggs into the pan and put bread into the toaster. Had God really used her? “You mentioned not having much and that’s why you only had the backpack. I just cleaned out my closest and have a bag of clothes I was going to donate. If you’ll be working in an office there are some blouses you might like that are practically brand-new. Maybe you’d like to take a look. There are some nice things in there that my mom gave me that don’t fit right.”
“That’s kind of you, but I’m fine.”
Holly finished up their breakfast and poured them each a mug of coffee. She slid the meal across the counter and offered up a blessing for the food.
“You planning to stand and eat?”
She was, but plainly her guest didn’t approve. Instead, Holly moved to the seat beside Elsa and dug in. “You’re welcome to hang out here today. I’ll be home from work a little after five o’clock. I can make us dinner and then take you to the station in time to catch the eight o’clock train.”
“I don’t want to impose further.” Elsa took a sip of coffee. “I’ll just hang around town and call a ride. My son-in-law suggested I take the shuttle.”
Holly clamped her lips shut. The shuttle wasn’t expensive, but why turn down a free ride? “I’ll tell you what. Do whatever you want today, and meet me back here for dinner at six. We’ll discuss how you get to the train then.” If she remembered correctly, the shuttle needed to be booked in advance, so Elsa would need a ride regardless.
She took her plate to the sink, rinsed it and left it there for later. “I work across the street at Cascade Medical Center. It’s the local hospital. If you need anything at all, come find me. Okay?”
“Sure. Now, don’t let me keep you.”
Holly puttered in the kitchen for a few minutes then changed into scrubs and brushed her teeth. She dragged out the bag of clothes she’d told Elsa about and left it beside the couch. Red fabric grabbed her attention, and her pulse quickened. Her mother
“Don’t be sorry. I pulled it out of you. Remember? Besides, you made me rethink my hasty decision. I felt guilty for leaving the way I did. I scribbled a nasty note and left it on the kitchen table for my daughter to see when she got home from work. That was two days ago.” Her voice caught. “I’ve never regretted anything more.”
“Did she call you?”
“I don’t have a cell phone. Had to drop it when my paltry savings ran out.” Her cheeks reddened. “I hope you don’t mind, but I used your cell to call my daughter early this morning. We had a good talk, and she begged me to come home.”
“What about her husband?”
“Apparently after I stopped eavesdropping, he said he didn’t mean what he’d said about me leaving. He wants to talk with me about a job that just opened up at his office. It’s only minimum wage and entry-level, but at least it’s something.”
“I take it you’re overqualified.”
Elsa shrugged. “It’s income and that’s what’s important. I still won’t be able to live on my own, but I will be able to contribute to the family. He bought my return ticket to Chicago.”
Holly walked around the counter and embraced her new friend. “I’m so happy for you. And you know what?”
“Hmm?”
“You were right. God did take care of you. Not exactly the way I thought, but you get to go home, and He provided the funds for your ticket.” She’d doubted Elsa when she said God would provide, but He’d not only provided, He restored her relationship with her family. Did it make Holly a bad Christian to doubt that God would provide the ticket for her new friend? Well, perhaps not, but she definitely needed to work on trusting Him more.
“How about those eggs? I’m starving.” Elsa’s eyes twinkled.
“Scrambled or fried?”
“Fried, and thanks so much for everything. You can’t begin to imagine what an answer to prayer you are.”
Holly cracked two eggs into the pan and put bread into the toaster. Had God really used her? “You mentioned not having much and that’s why you only had the backpack. I just cleaned out my closest and have a bag of clothes I was going to donate. If you’ll be working in an office there are some blouses you might like that are practically brand-new. Maybe you’d like to take a look. There are some nice things in there that my mom gave me that don’t fit right.”
“That’s kind of you, but I’m fine.”
Holly finished up their breakfast and poured them each a mug of coffee. She slid the meal across the counter and offered up a blessing for the food.
“You planning to stand and eat?”
She was, but plainly her guest didn’t approve. Instead, Holly moved to the seat beside Elsa and dug in. “You’re welcome to hang out here today. I’ll be home from work a little after five o’clock. I can make us dinner and then take you to the station in time to catch the eight o’clock train.”
“I don’t want to impose further.” Elsa took a sip of coffee. “I’ll just hang around town and call a ride. My son-in-law suggested I take the shuttle.”
Holly clamped her lips shut. The shuttle wasn’t expensive, but why turn down a free ride? “I’ll tell you what. Do whatever you want today, and meet me back here for dinner at six. We’ll discuss how you get to the train then.” If she remembered correctly, the shuttle needed to be booked in advance, so Elsa would need a ride regardless.
She took her plate to the sink, rinsed it and left it there for later. “I work across the street at Cascade Medical Center. It’s the local hospital. If you need anything at all, come find me. Okay?”
“Sure. Now, don’t let me keep you.”
Holly puttered in the kitchen for a few minutes then changed into scrubs and brushed her teeth. She dragged out the bag of clothes she’d told Elsa about and left it beside the couch. Red fabric grabbed her attention, and her pulse quickened. Her mother
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