Free One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury Page B

In the days since, he'd yet to let go.
    She wrapped her arms around his legs and hugged him. “I thought you'd never open.”
    Jake patted her head. “We beauticians have to shave every now and then, you know.”
    Sierra came to him and framed his jaw with her little-girl hands. “Mmmm. Nice and smooth. Mommy likes it that way.”
    “That's what matters.” Jake grinned.
    “Yep.” Sierra nodded. “Mommy says she likes her men clean and shaken.”
    A chuckle simmered in his belly, but he stifled it. “You mean clean shaven?”
    She thought for a moment. “Yep, that's it.”
    “Okay, young lady, turn around.” Sierra did as she was told and faced the mirror. Jake took the curling iron and expertly wrapped it around an inch-wide section of her hair. He caught Sierra watching him in the mirror. Her smile faded some, and her mood seemed more somber than before. He held the curl in place. “What's wrong, sweetie?”
    A small frown creased her brow. “I think we should pray for Mommy.”
    “Okay.” Jake released the curling iron, and a single ringlet cascaded down Sierra's back. “How come?”
    “Because, when Mommy bought me my pretty dress, she asked me about church.”
    “She did?” Hope grabbed hold of Jake's heart as he sectioned out another piece of Sierra's hair. “What'd she say?”
    “She asked me if it was fun, and I told her yes. It was the funnest thing in the world.” Sierra was careful to hold still. “Then she told me a secret. Just between me and her.”
    “Really?” A secret? Jake tried not to seem too anxious as he slid the curling iron from Sierra's hair and watched a second ringlet fall alongside the first. “Can you tell me?”
    Sierra gave a dainty shrug. “I guess so.”
    “Okay then …” Jake gathered another section of Sierra's hair. “What did she tell you?”
    “Well …” Their eyes met in the mirror again, and Sierra's looked deeper, wiser than her years. “She said sometimes she wishes she could go to church with us.”
    “Really?” Jake swallowed and released another curl. He forced a light tone. “Then why doesn't she go?”
    “Because she isn't ready yet.” Sierra bit her lip. “That's why we need to pray for her. So she'll get ready.”
    Jake nodded. For a while he was quiet as he finished with Sierra's hair. Then he unplugged the curling iron and led Sierra to a chair near the foot of his bed. “C'mere, honey.” He sat down and pulled Sierra onto his lap. “Let's pray for Mommy now, okay? Then we can pray for her again at church.”
    “Okay.” Sierra smiled at him and brushed her nose against his. Then she grew serious and closed her eyes, bowing her head just a bit. Jake closed his eyes too and listened. “Dear God.” Sierra's voice was small but strong. “Me and Daddy get ready for church really fast. But it takes Mommy a long, long time.” She hesitated. “Please help Mommy get ready very soon. So we can all go to church … like a family.”
    Her last words caught on Jake's heart and hung there for a moment. He hugged Sierra and waited for the lump in his throat to go down. When it did, he kissed her cheek. “Good job, honey.” He slid her to her feet, stood, and took hold of her hand. “I bet God's working on that one right now.”
    Sierra studied the sections of her hair that fell over the front of her shoulders. “It's not curly enough, Daddy.”
    “Well, it'll have to do. We'll be late if we do more.”
    “Okay.” She did a little huff and squinted at him. “Do the curlies in the back boing enough?” She took a few steps in front of him and looked up so that her hair fell nearly to her waist.
    “Oh yes … they're the boingy-est curlies I've ever seen.” Jake caught up with her again. “Let's go … Don't wanna be late for the opening song.”
    They walked down the stairs, and as they rounded the corner, Sierra stopped. “We have to swing hands, Daddy. Remember? We always swing hands.”
    “That's right!” Jake opened his eyes