Page 7 of In This Moment
For an instant, Ashley felt her heart drop. The Baxter family had been through enough tragedy over the past decade. Please, God, let everything be okay. Please. Her prayer came even as she got the word out. “Reagan!” Ashley had been slicing apples and string cheese for the kids. She leaned against the kitchen counter. “What happened? What is it?”
“Oh, it’s not anything like that.” Defeat rang in Reagan’s voice. She sniffed a few times and regained some control. “It’s Luke and me. It’s us.”
Oh no.Ashley hung her head. Reagan and Luke had struggled before. This wasn’t a car accident or an illness. But it was bad, all the same. “Tell me.”
“It’s his work. He’s never home. I’m just so tired of it.” Reagan sounded like her heart was breaking. “He spends more time at the office every month.” She sniffed a few times. “First it was Monday nights. Then it was a few nights a week.” A shaky sigh came from her. “Now it’s every day except Sunday.” A sob cut her off before she seemed to find her words again. “I know he’s important. He’s a big-time religious freedom fighter. People need him. I get that.” She sniffed again. “But the kids and I... We need him, too.” She hesitated. “I’m not sure how much more I can take, Ash.”
“Awww, I hear you, Reagan. I do.” Ashley felt the urgency. “Have you talked to Luke? Told him how you feel?”
“I’ve tried.” Defeat filled her tone. “He’s too busy to listen.” She started crying again. “I had to call.”
“I’m glad you did.” Ashley wished she and Reagan could talk in person. But her brother lived nearly an hour away, and even now she could see Devin, Amy and Janessa walking up the driveway. “Let’s do this. I’ll call you back in half an hour and we can make a plan.”
Reagan agreed, and by the time Ashley called her back Reagan sounded more in control. “What you asked me before made me think. If I tell him it’s important, he’ll listen to me. I know Luke.”
Relief took the edge off. Ashley smiled. “That’s what I think.”
“I’ll call him now.” A new determination came from Reagan. “Maybe he and I can talk tonight.”
“Yes. Good plan.” Ashley paused. “I’ll pray that it’ll be a breakthrough. Then maybe call me later. Let me know how it goes.”
“I will.” Reagan’s voice held the beginning of a smile. “It’ll be okay. God will give me the words.”
“There you go!” Ashley had taken the call outside, in case it needed to be private. Now that it was over, she headed inside. The kids were doing homework at the kitchen table. Amy looked up, her eyes tinged with fear. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, honey.” Ashley’s answer was quick on purpose. She smiled at her niece. “Aunt Reagan and I were just catching up.”
“Okay.” Worry lingered in the girl’s eyes for a few beats. Then she returned to her schoolwork.
Ashley felt for the girl. Poor Amy. More than any of the kids, Ashley’s young niece was very aware of potential bad news. And of course. After losing her parents and sisters in the terrible car accident years ago, Amy was bound to be sensitive. Ashley walked closer and put her hands on Amy’s shoulders. “Math today?”
Amy nodded. “First test tomorrow.”
“Well, if it’s like your other math tests, you’ll ace it no problem.”
Amy grinned up at her. “You think so?”
Ashley kissed the top of Amy’s head. “Absolutely.”
She made her way around the table. Devin was working on flash cards for a science exam. “You and Dad can quiz me later.” He grinned at Ashley. “I feel good about it. But still...”
“Flash cards are our favorite.” Ashley loved that Devin had his older brother Cole’s confidence. They were different in many ways. Cole was more of a leader. But Devin was learning, and in moments like this there was no denying they were siblings.
“Look at my work, Mommy.” Janessa waved Ashley to her end of the table. “I’m coloring a picture for you.”
Once a week Janessa had spelling homework. But Ashley’s heart soared over the fact that her little girl still had plenty of time to color. Like Ashley, Janessa loved to create. Ashley pulled up a chair and studied her artwork. “Tell me about it.”
“Well.” Janessa drew a long dramatic breath, like her explanation was coming to life in that very moment. “The blue trees are because the sky is shining on them.” She lifted her eyes to Ashley. “That’s pretty, right?”
“So pretty.”
A half hour later Ashley was still at the kitchen table with the kids when Cole and Landon got home. Dinner and laughter and details about everyone’s days came next. In between the moments she didn’t want to miss, Ashley did as she’d said she would.
She prayed.
God, please open Luke’s heart. Help him to see the changes he needs to make for Reagan and the kids.Yes, he was working for his faith. But if he won cases at the expense of his family, the wins would all end up as one big irredeemable loss.
Nothing more.
