Free Wanted: A Family by Janet Dean Page A

could use him to round up Mr. Smith for services.”
    Her attempt at humor fell on deaf ears. Apparently, Elise had her mind elsewhere, probably missing her parents. For all her bravado, Elise loved her father.
    Lord, Elise and her father are hurting. Please heal their wounds.
    God controlled the outcome. He loved them all and in time would bring them peace. With that assurance, Callie filled her lungs with the soft afternoon air, listening to the chirping birds.
    â€œOnly three weeks until the baby comes,” Elise said in a wobbly voice. “Oh, Callie, I’m scared.”
    â€œI am, too, a little.” Callie smiled with as much assurance as she could muster. “Just think, by the time my baby arrives you’ll be giving me advice.”
    â€œI can’t imagine that.” Elise laid a hand on her abdomen. “The way this baby’s doing somersaults, it has to be a boy.”
    â€œSo what do girls do while waiting to be born? Read?”
    â€œSilly.” Elise giggled. “They knit.”
    Laughing, they turned onto Liberty toward Doctor Wellman’s office, a couple blocks down.
    Up ahead, Lowell and Naomi Burch stepped outside the door of the First National Bank. As the bank’s president, Mr. Burch had power and influence in town. His wife always wore the latest fashions. Naomi adjusted the skirts of her gown, the jet beads catching the light, then raised her lace-trimmed parasol and took her husband’s arm. As the couple ambled toward them, Callie knew the moment they spied Elise by the hitch in their stride.
    Elise’s steps slowed. “Turn around.”
    â€œWe’ll do no such thing. You’re neither a criminal nor contagious.” As the couple approached, Callie smiled. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Burch, Mr. Burch.”
    â€œHello, Mrs. Mitchell,” Mr. Burch said. “Fine day.”
    Mrs. Burch gave a nod. “Hello, Callie.”
    The couple passed by, not uttering a word to Elise. Behind her, Callie could hear Mrs. Burch whispering. The word disgrace and shameful reached her ears. No doubt Elise’s, too.
    Did these people believe they’d never done anything wrong? Mrs. Burch was known to gossip. Mr. Burch had an affair with his secretary a few years back. The woman left town and the marriage survived. Still, what right did they have to treat Elise like an outcast?
    Elise clenched a shaking hand over her shawl. “If I keep my baby, it’ll never be accepted in this town.” She turned sorrowful eyes on Callie. “I want to talk to Sally and Albert Thompson.”
    As much as seeing Elise snubbed hurt, Callie knew sin had consequences. But those consequences shouldn’t spill over onto an innocent baby.
    A lump rose in her throat. For all intents and purposes, Callie was an unwed mother herself. Not with the social stigma Elise faced, but with the same realities. “Talk to Doc Wellman. Talk to Pastor Steele. If you still want togive up your baby after that, I’ll arrange a meeting with the Thompsons.”
    But inside Callie wanted to scream—don’t let anyone force you into that decision. She remembered the loving arms of her mother. Arms she still missed. If Elise wanted her child in her arms, then that’s where her baby should be, but Callie had no right to interfere.
    She hoped Elise understood that once she gave up her baby to the Thompsons, she couldn’t change her mind, no matter how much that decision broke her heart.
    Lord, give Elise wisdom to make the right choice.
    Here she’d been advising Elise and praying for the girl’s wisdom, but what about her own decisions? Could she be both mother and father to her baby? Could she provide for her baby’s needs? How long could she take care of her child and still provide support for the unwed mothers’ shelter? The money she made writing the town history wouldn’t last forever. Callie swallowed against the lump in her