Skylar didn’t mention it, Mom spoke up and said that the ring had belonged to Skylar’s mother.
“Are you sure, Skylar?” Grace asked her. She thought about all the time she’d spent with Skylar this past week, and in addition to the science project, they’d talked a lot. About Skylar’s family. About Grace’s family. And other things that were hard for Grace to talk about.
“She’ll keep you safe and strong.” Skylar smiled, and they both knew what she was referring to.
“Thank you,” she said to Skylar before she turned to each of them. “Thank you all so much.”
Grace knew she was blessed with a great family, and now a new friend. And she had a new car. Life was perfect.
Chapter Seven
Darlene snuggled up to Brad in bed later that night. “Do you think Grace had a good birthday?”
Brad yawned. “As long as there was a car involved, she was going to have a good birthday.” He kissed her on the forehead. “Yes, I think she had a great day. And your meal was fantastic, complete with a famous guest, who by the way”—Brad’s voice rose in pitch—“wasn’t anything like you said. I thought she was very nice.”
“I bet you did.” She teasingly pinched him on the arm. “She’s beautiful, no doubt. But I’m telling you, she warmed up to me a lot the other night when I dropped her dress off.” She paused. “I wonder why she never told me who she was.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. Next Saturday night is that gala, right? Are you going to say anything to her?”
“I don’t know. I guess I should. Something like, ‘Hey, Layla, I didn’t know you were famous.’ Is that what you had in mind?” She smiled as she eased away from him, fluffing her pillow as Brad flipped television channels. “I hope you’re not looking for a Layla Jager movie.”
“Sometimes those movies are on one of the cable channels late at night.”
Darlene snatched the remote control.
“Hey, give me that.” He reached for it, but Darlene clicked the TV off and put the remote on the nightstand.
On Monday morning, Darlene rushed to the front door but turned when she heard Chad coming down the stairs.
“What about breakfast?”
The desperation in his voice should have been amusing, but she was running late this morning. “Chad, eat some cereal. Make some toast. You’re a big boy, I’m sure you can find something to eat.” She grabbed her purse from the hutch by the entryway.
“I’ll get Ansley to make me something, or I’ll threaten to eat her eggs.”
“Be nice, Chad. I’m leaving.” She looked over her shoulder. “I love you. Have a good day.”
On the way to work, she thought about what a great day they’d all had yesterday. After church, Brad and the kids had surprised her by taking her to lunch at Scotty and Friends to celebrate her new job. It was Darlene’s favorite place to eat a burger in Round Top. The kids had all chipped in and bought her a new purse—one that both Grace and Ansley said would be more stylish now that she was working. Brad said he’d ordered her something, but it hadn’t come in yet.
But yesterday’s Scripture readings at church had left her feeling a bit unsettled. Proverbs 31:27—She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Wasn’t that what she was doing—taking care of her household, not being idle?
But the next part of that Scripture reading made her question her choices. Proverbs 31:28—Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Would her husband and children still praise her if dinner wasn’t on time, the house clean, clothes washed, and things handled in a way that Darlene had always taken pride in?
Maybe her husband and children should have appreciated her efforts a little more.
She cringed, gripping the steering wheel, as the thought assaulted her. Then came that feeling of being torn between her life as mother and wife . . . and her new venture at the school.
In reality, was she just shifting her motherly duties to a new group of young people, who in essence wouldn’t appreciate her efforts either?
So why take on a job outside of the home?
She could say it was for independence—partly true. And she could say the extra income would be nice—also true. But deep down, she knew there was another reason. She wanted Brad to be proud of her. He’d never given her any reason to think