Lone Star Blessings

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“You sound very sure.”

“Experience, kiddo. I hit the jackpot with your mother.”

Her throat tightened as she thought of Derek. She’d chosen so very poorly. How could she know that she’d ever get it right?

“We start on the crust first,” Alyssa told her, once she’d brought over all the ingredients. “Cause it needs to be cold.”

Kate frowned. “But if we make it first, won’t it get warm?”

“We put the dough in the fridge and let it chill while we make the filling.”

Marvin chuckled.

Alyssa put a rolling pin on the counter. “Do you have butter?”

Now wary, Kate thought for a second. “How much do we need?”

“A stick. But it has to be real cold.”

Kate exhaled. “No problem.”

Marvin turned his chair toward the living room. “You ladies enjoy yourselves.”

“Deserter,” Kate mumbled under her breath, searching through the cabinets for the bowls.

Once everything was assembled, Alyssa patiently showed Kate the steps in making the crust. It took some time, but eventually the dough was patted into a ball, wrapped in plastic and stowed in the refrigerator. Kate was wearing nearly as much flour as they’d used in the crust, but she was impressed with their results. “I didn’t know this could actually be fun.”

Alyssa stared at the peach she was peeling, not meeting Kate’s eyes. “How come you don’t know how to cook?”

She dredged up a smile. “I never learned. When I was seven, my mom died. Dad knew how to grill most everything, so basically, except for cereal and sandwiches, we ate barbecue every day. On the upside, I’ve never wanted fried food.”

Alyssa was suddenly quiet.

Kate knew that death was a difficult concept for children. “Cooking always looks so complicated, on TV shows, I mean.”

“You’re doing really good.” Alyssa handed her a peach. “It’s not important how much you know, but how hard you try.”

What a mature thought for a young girl.

“I brought the spices,” Alyssa continued. “They’re not real fresh, so we’ll have to use extra.”

“Hmm.” Kate picked up the bottle of cinnamon, studying the label. “How do you know?”

“Spices last about six months, the ones that are all ground up don’t last as long as whole ones. And they put dates on the bottom.”

Kate felt about as smart as she had in algebra class. All the other kids got it right away. Not her. “You know a lot for a person your age.”

Alyssa shrugged skinny shoulders.

“So, what you said about the importance of trying hard? Did you just come up with that now?”

She shook her head. “It’s what my dad says.”

Maybe he was a better father than she’d imagined.

Once all the fruit was sliced, the sugar and spices added, Kate felt like they’d run a marathon. She glanced at the clock. “Alyssa, was it all right with your dad to stay so long?”

“I left a message at his office.”

Feeling a flash of uneasiness, Kate paused. “Then you didn’t ask?”

“It’s no big deal. I leave messages all the time. He has to work really long days.”

“All the time?”

Alyssa was instantly defensive. “The sheriff can’t just go home when he wants to. He does important stuff.”

“Of course he does.” Kate recognized the fierce protectiveness. She remembered feeling the same way about her own father. “I’m happy for your company. Works out for both of us.”

A smile edged back on Alyssa’s face. “Now you can learn how to put the crust in the pan.”

“Oh.” Algebra time again.

It took forever to roll out the dough. Alyssa was patient when Kate got dough stuck to the rolling pin and tore it repeatedly.

“Are you sure this is going to be edible?”

Alyssa laughed. At nearly the same moment, the bell at the front door rang steadily, as though someone was leaning on it. Then an equally loud knocking followed.

Marvin hollered through the noise. “Come in!”

Kate reached for a towel, hearing another man’s voice in the living room. Before she could finish wiping her hands, she heard the man stomping through the house toward the kitchen.

Tucker’s scowl was ferocious. He looked around the kitchen, taking in the domestic scene.

Not wanting the child to get in trouble, Kate stepped toward him, resisting the urge to hide Alyssa behind her. “I’m sorry if we’ve taken too much of your daughter’s time. You know, she’s in my Sunday school class. Um…I’m new to it, just started, that is.” She linked her fingers together, trying not to visibly clench her hands. “Anyway, I have to bake a pie and I didn’t know how, so Alyssa rescued me, volunteering to help. Well, actually to make it….”

“Do you know how I’ve spent the last hour?” His voice was a near growl, low but controlled. “Calling all of Alyssa’s friends, knocking on almost every door in the neighborhood, checking the school, calling on my deputies and nearly everyone I know to search the rest of town.”

More intimidated than she wanted to admit, Kate gulped. “She couldn’t reach you at the office, so she left a message.”

“And you think that’s acceptable?”

Kate opened her mouth but couldn’t find the right words without implicating Alyssa. “In hindsight, I suppose not. Trust me, if I’d known it would cause trouble…well, I would have done things differently.”

“Trust you? I don’t even know you.” He turned to Alyssa. “Why didn’t you answer your cell phone?”

“I’m sorry, Dad. I left it in my backpack.” She scrunched her thin shoulders inward. “I didn’t think I needed it.”

“We’ve gone over this. When you’re away from the house, you carry your cell.”

She ducked her head. “I got all excited about the pie….”

Exasperated, his tone lightened a fraction. “How do you even know how to make a pie?”

“Mommy taught me.”

Tucker’s face paled.

Seeing the swift shaft of pain filling his dark eyes, Kate put her arm around Alyssa’s shoulder. “You’ve raised a wonderful child. My father and I have thoroughly enjoyed her company. In fact, Dad hasn’t smiled this much since before the accident.”

“Oh.” He hesitated. “I don’t want Alyssa to be a bother.”

Tightening her grip, Kate gave Alyssa a small hug. “She’s anything but a bother. She’s an absolute joy.” Releasing her, Kate grabbed the notepad and pen by the phone. She scribbled their phone number and handed the scrap of paper to him. “She’s welcome here any time.”

Stiffly, he accepted the number.

“Can I stay, Dad? Kate doesn’t know how to do the crust, and if she doesn’t do the top part right it could explode.”

Tucker didn’t speak for several moments. When he did, his voice was grudging. “Just until the pie’s done. Then call me so I can walk you home.”