Take Three

  He’d no sooner said the words, when a car pulled up a few spots away and parked facing the clinic.

  “Andi!” Lisa practically shrieked her name. “Dear God, it’s her…”

  “Thank You, Lord…thank you.” Keith’s eyes blurred with tears, and he held his wife’s hand more tightly. “Don’t rush. There’s no hurry now.”

  They stepped out at the same time, and as they did, Andi spotted them. From the moment Keith saw his daughter’s eyes, he knew something had changed. They shone almost as if she’d seen a vision. She jumped out of her little sedan and rushed into their arms, the three of them hugging and rocking and not ever wanting to let go.

  “Mom…Dad…I’m sorry.” She spoke the words against Keith’s chest, and he clung to her. His precious daughter. His baby girl. As he did, he realized that this was how the father in Unlocked must’ve felt. Holding his child and knowing that in this moment a miracle had happened.

  Because here and now he had his Andi back.

  “You know,” she looked up at them, tears spilling from her eyes. “You must know, right?”

  “We do.” Lisa pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. “We found this in your trash can. When we didn’t hear from you we figured we’d come here and wait.”

  “I made the worst mistake of my life.” The guilt that seemed to consume her was almost a physical presence. “I knew better, but I wanted to do things my way. I’m so sorry.”

  Lisa pulled a tissue from her pocket and handed it to Andi. “It’s okay now, baby. Everything’s going to be okay.”

  “I know.” The guilt lifted, and the newfound light shone in her eyes once again. She told them a rambling story about some family named Kunzmann who took her in over the weekend and how they lived out their faith, and that the woman prayed with her this very morning, and how an older man named Clarence stopped her from going into the clinic, and how God—only God—could’ve led her to the adoption agency down the street.

  “Wait!” Keith searched his daughter’s eyes. “You drove down the street and randomly came across an adoption agency?”

  “Yes!” Unbridled laughter came from Andi, and she tipped her head back for a moment. “Isn’t God so good? He led me there, Dad. I’ll show you.”

  Keith felt a slight sadness, one that he had to acknowledge. Andi had apparently made up her mind—she was giving the baby up for adoption. It was the best decision by far, and Keith would spend the next months applauding his daughter for having the courage and compassion to give her baby to a Christian family, parents ready for a child.

  But in this single moment, he marked the loss—Andi’s firstborn, their grandchild. A little boy or girl none of them would ever know.

  Andi linked arms with her parents and walked across the street. Boldly and with great joy she talked to the protestors and thanked them for the work they were doing. Then she asked about Clarence.

  A woman in her forties shook her head, glancing at the others. “I’ve been coming here every day for two years. For a few hours each morning.” She looked back at Andi. “I’ve never met a Clarence.”

  The others agreed. There was no one named Clarence working this clinic, helping girls know the mistake they were about to make, trying to compassionately lead them to choose life. Andi nodded, and thanked them again. Keith had never been more proud of her in all his life.

  “You get it, right, Dad?” The shine in her eyes made her look alive again. “He must’ve been an angel. What other explanation is there?”

  Keith could only agree. God was answering every prayer they’d breathed this past weekend. Why wouldn’t He send an angel for Andi? They caravanned together to the adoption agency a few blocks down—Lisa riding with Andi. Once there, they went inside and Andi took the lead.

  “My name’s Andi. I’m pregnant, but I’m not ready to be a mother,” she told the woman at the desk. “And God led me here.” She looked at her parents on either side. “I’d like to give my baby up for adoption to a Christian family.”

  The woman must’ve dealt with scenes like this one every day, but listening to Andi—her joy and certainty—brought tears to the woman’s eyes. She blinked a few times and handed Andi a packet. “Why don’t you have a seat in the lobby. Look this over. Someone will be out to talk to you in a few minutes.”

  Keith could hardly believe the morning was playing out this way. They’d jumped major hurdles all in less than an hour—and now Andi—her childlike faith once more a driving force in her life—was ready to tackle what would inevitably be the hardest decision of her life. They looked through a book of families ready to adopt, but the counselor told Andi she didn’t need to make a decision yet. That could come in time. She’d have several more counseling appointments—one a month, tied in with her checkups. The agency worked with a doctor a few minutes away. All medical expenses were covered by the agency.

  Throughout the hour, Andi never wavered in her decision. She was happy and talkative, and when she looked at the pictures of families she dabbed quietly at her eyes. With Lisa’s help, Andi filled out the paperwork while Keith mostly took in the scene. A life had been saved today. He was too awestruck to do more than think on that single fact. Besides, between the Kunzmann family and Clarence and the time here at the adoption agency, Keith didn’t need to say much, really.

  They were all three on hallowed ground.

  ANDI COULDN’T BELIEVE HOW GREAT SHE felt. How had she gotten through the last year without her faith? God had never given up on her, that much she knew for sure. But she’d chosen to walk through her days without His constant presence, His perfect friendship. And she’d made a mess of things as a result.

  But God had opened her eyes, and in the light of His mercy and grace she could breathe again. She wouldn’t ever again turn her back on the truths she’d been raised with, never again listen to the lies of the enemy. There was no truth but God’s alone, no other way to eternity. The miracles of this morning were more proof than she deserved. She would live with her parents until the baby was born, and then she’d say good-bye to her firstborn. Maybe if the adoptive family was willing, she’d stay in touch here and there. Send letters and pictures. That way her baby would know how she felt right now. That she loved this child with a love she’d forgotten existed. A love that was God’s alone. Yes, she had mixed feelings about the adoption, but definitely no doubts.

  As they left the adoption agency, she stopped and looked intently into her father’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Daddy. If this embarrasses you. If it hurts Jeremiah Productions.”

  Her father looked shocked by her apology. “Is that what you thought? That this would embarrass me?”

  She nodded, ashamed again. “It’ll look terrible.”

  “I don’t care about any of that. If the media wants to write about this, I’ll defend you to anyone, sweetheart.” He hugged her, caring for her. “You’re doing the right thing.”

  Andi’s heart soared, lifted by his love and acceptance. Why hadn’t she believed they’d respond this way? She could’ve avoided the heartache of the weekend, but then she might not have heard God calling her back to Him. Now she had a plan, and after the baby, she couldn’t wait to get back on campus and start up once more with Cru. If they’d let her, she wanted to be a group leader. No one could help the girls on campus avoid the lies that surrounded them more than she could. She couldn’t wait to build her relationship with her parents and get back to church. And she couldn’t wait to talk to Bailey.

  Before they left Indianapolis, Andi wanted them to make one more stop—to the Kunzmann home. Again her mom rode with her, and Andi tried to explain how God had placed her in their home for His purposes. “It was a miracle, Mom. I’m serious.”

  Her mom could only smile and listen. Andi was grateful she didn’t lecture her about not calling or about making them worry. She’d been blinded just hours ago. Now that she could see, she only wanted her parents to love her and forgive her. The way they were doing.

  They pulled
up in front of a large home, and Andi led her parents up the walk. Lucia answered, and Andi made the introductions. Then without another moment’s hesitation, she flew into Lucia’s arms and hugged her close. “How did you know? You prayed like you knew.”

  Lucia laughed, her eyes filled with joy. As she stepped back she looked at the trio on her porch. “About the baby?”

  Andi felt the chills across her arms again. “Yes. See…how did you know?”

  “Honestly? God told me. I knew from the moment I saw you crying at Megan’s Diner.” She smiled at Andi’s parents. “I figured if she were my daughter, I’d want someone to step in. Sometimes mission work happens when you least expect it.”

  Lucia invited them in and they stayed half an hour, eating lunch with her and the kids—all of whom were homeschooled. When they left, Andi promised to stay in touch. And her mother hugged Lucia for a long time. “You were my answer to prayer.”

  “That’s our job as believers,” Lucia smiled at Andi’s mother. “To be an answer to someone’s prayer—every day…as long as we live.”

  The whole day was one miracle after another, and on the way home Andi let her mom drive. She was exhausted, certain she would be asleep before they hit the open road. But even as she nodded off, she acknowledged one more miracle—something she hadn’t shared with her parents. She’d found the adoptive family for her baby. The counselor had been clear, she didn’t need to decide yet.

  But as she looked through the book, one family stood out.

  Andi wasn’t sure exactly what struck her about the family. Maybe because the dad looked a lot like a young Dayne Matthews, and his wife—with her blonde hair—looked a little like Dayne’s wife Katy. Andi had memorized the page, the way the family looked, the description of them. They lived in Indianapolis, and the mom stayed at home with the kids. They loved Jesus and each other, and they were praying for a special birth mother—that she would choose to bring their baby into the world. The book didn’t give last names, but Andi had memorized their first names. She was that certain about her choice.

  Luke, Reagan, Tommy, and Malin.

  Her baby’s family.

  Twenty-Seven

  THE REST OF JUNE SLIPPED THROUGH Bailey’s fingers, in a blur of long talks with her mom and Andi and acting lessons with Katy. Andi had apologized for the way she’d treated Bailey, and the girls had found the beginning of a friendship that had escaped them all last year. Bailey apologized too. For not trying harder, for in some ways writing Andi off once she started dating Taz.

  Somehow July had snuck in unannounced and now suddenly it was the Fourth already. Andi and her parents had flown to Los Angeles for the holiday—time to be alone together, just the three of them. But Bailey and her family were joining the Baxters in their annual barbecue. It was a nice break from the usual allday backyard party her parents threw most years.

  Humidity filled the air, and the sun was already warming the fields surrounding Bloomington. Bailey had wanted to do something different with her hair, something so she’d look as young and free as she felt. So that morning she’d asked her mom to braid it. Two braids framing her face, from beneath a red American Eagle baseball cap. It matched her red T-shirt and navy capris. They were minutes from leaving so she darted back upstairs to her closet and picked out a pair of shoes she hadn’t worn all winter—her white Jack Purcells. While she was slipping them on, her eye caught the same framed picture of her and Tim from last winter—the one when they were in Scrooge.

  They’d been broken up for more than a week, so that was long enough, right? She sprang across the room, took the picture, and slipped it into one of her desk drawers. Never liked the photo anyway, she told herself. She plopped down on the edge of her mattress and finished tying her shoes. She hadn’t heard from Tim, and she figured that was best. They both needed time to sort through their feelings about the breakup. Besides, by the time Tim gave the situation any real thought, he was bound to see it the way she did. They hadn’t been more than friends for a long time anyway.

  Somewhere some girl would meet Tim and fall in love with him, and Tim would look back and thank her for setting him free.

  Wherever Tim’s future took him, Bailey would never settle for a passive life again. Never play not to lose, but only to win. Seizing every day, the way God wanted her to live. Love needed to be so much more. She wanted someone who felt alive beside her, a guy who dreamed about her when she was away and hung on her every word when they were together. Someone who in time would make it difficult to know where she ended and he began. A love so bright and beautiful a hundred years would never be enough time together.

  Bailey bounced down the stairs to the kitchen and found her mom finishing up a bowl of homemade potato salad. “Grab the pepper, will you, Bailey?”

  “What about paper towels?” Bailey grinned as she reached for the pepper and handed it to her mom. “Look at you. You’ve got potatoes halfway to your elbows.”

  “That’s what makes it so amazing.” She was using two spoons, digging them deep in the salad and tossing the pieces of potatoes. “You can’t get this kind of touch from a supermarket carton.” Her mom peered at her and blew her hair off her face. “You look adorable, Bailey. Very all-American.”

  “Thanks.” She leaned in and helped her mom tuck a strand of hair off her face and behind her ear. “I feel that way. Glad to be alive, grateful to be an American, happy that we can still worship God and that most everyone I know still loves Him. Happy to have a reason to celebrate.” She leaned against the kitchen counter and watched as her dad and brothers filed into the kitchen. Their conversations were loud, their laughter contagious. Bailey helped her mom get to the sink without dropping blobs of potato salad on the floor. They laughed while Bailey handed her a dishrag and her mom pumped a handful of soap into her hands.

  While they were wrapping the bowl with tinfoil, Bailey reminded herself again to soak in these precious moments—all of them still at home, her brothers excited about a day at the lake. An Independence Day to celebrate. These were the times of their lives—moments they would always remember.

  “You’re so happy today.” Her mom gave her a knowing look. “I don’t remember you being this excited last Fourth.”

  “Mom…I’m hurt.” Bailey could feel her eyes begin to dance. “I love all holidays.”

  “But this time…maybe a little more.” She dried her hands and arms on a dish towel. “What time will Cody be there anyway?”

  Bailey felt her cheeks grow hot. Her mom knew her so well—there was no hiding that Cody was one of the main reasons she was so happy, the reason she’d been singing all morning. “Three o’clock. Same as us.”

  Her mom held her gaze for a special few seconds, time where they needed no words to know what the other was thinking. “I’m praying for you. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

  “I won’t. Cody doesn’t even know about Tim and me.” She took hold of the potato salad and grinned. “It’s just a great day, that’s all.”

  Her dad caught the fact that the women were ready. He raised his hand and made a sweeping motion toward the garage. “Okay, guys, everyone into the Suburban! The Baxter family barbecue can’t start without us!”

  Bailey had done everything in her power not to dwell on the fact that Cody was coming to the barbecue. They’d talked last night—the first time since that strange call the night of the football scrimmage. When he’d seemed like he had so much more to tell her than he was actually saying. When he didn’t call for a week, Bailey finally decided she could call him. Her brothers had said he’d been quieter lately—and that worried Bailey. Had something happened to his mom, or had he met someone who had turned his head?

  Either way, it felt wonderful talking to him last night. She asked him about his plans for the Fourth, and he had nothing. He wanted to drop by the cemetery and put flowers on the graves of a couple fallen soldiers he knew. But he was doing that in the morning.

  “Meet us at Lake Monroe!” Bailey c
ouldn’t hide her enthusiasm. “Remember when you went that one time with us?”

  “The famous ankle-twisting.” Cody chuckled, but the sound dropped off. “I don’t know…Tim doesn’t like me being around your family.”

  “Tim isn’t coming.” She wanted to tell him about the breakup face-to-face, so she kept her tone even. “Meet us there, please Cody. Come on—we need a day of fun, you and me.”

  In the end he agreed, and promised to bring a bag of hotdog buns for the barbecue. Bailey conveyed the information to Elaine Baxter, and everything was set. Now, though, she could hardly wait to see him. She wondered a dozen times if she’d dressed too young or if he’d think she was being too forward for inviting him. She tried to remember her mother’s advice—take it slowly. She’d known Cody since she was in middle school, and he’d made it clear he only wanted to be her friend—both then and now. There was nothing to rush, so her mom didn’t need to worry. Even still the time couldn’t go fast enough.

  They reached the lake and hauled their coolers and picnic baskets down the hill to the place where the Baxters were set up. Bailey was struck by how much the crowd had grown over the years. Everyone was there—most of them having arrived hours earlier to set up. A quick scan of the sandy beach and she saw all the Baxter kids and their spouses, their children. Too many to count, anymore. She spotted Dayne and Luke playing with their kids near the water’s edge. Every one of the kids wore matching life jackets, and as Bailey came closer she could make out the words stitched in white across the back of each one. “Baxter Baby,” they read.

  Bailey had a feeling they were Dayne’s doing. It was at the annual Fourth of July picnic that he’d first found his family, after all. The event held more meaning for the Baxters than anyone outside the circle could ever know.