Free The Healing Place by Leigh Bale Page A

terrorized Angie. Did all moms leave, or just hers and Carla’s?
    Carla hunched her shoulders. “It happens sometimes, but your dad’s never left you, right?”
    Angie shook her head. “No, Daddy would never leave me.”
    “You want a mom, don’t you?” Carla pressed.
    Angie’s eyes widened and she nodded her head. “Yeah, but I don’t want a mom who’ll hurt Dad and leave us again.”
    “Then you’ll have to scout out potential women for your dad to date, and choose carefully.”
    More than anything else in the world, Angie wanted a mom to help Daddy be happy again. Since the divorce, Dad still smiled and teased her, but he wasn’t the same anymore. He seemed miserable deep inside and she didn’t know how to change that. Maybe a new wife was the answer.
    “Your best bet is to tell your dad who you like the most,” Carla advised.
    “You think that would really work?”
    “Sure! Dads care if you like who they’re dating. Just don’t be pushy. Give them some space when they’re together, or he’ll catch on to what you’re doing and break up with the mom you want. It helps if she’s kind of pretty. Then, you just sit back and let him do the work and you’ll have a new family again.” Carla clicked her fingers together, as if it were a magic trick.
    “Girls, come and eat,” Mrs. Perkins called.
    Carla bounded to her feet and scampered toward the kitchen. “Come on, Angie. I’m hungry.”
    Angie was slow to follow. She was still thinking about what Carla said. She hadn’t liked it when Mom brought Eric over to the house when Daddy was at work, but now Mom was gone, so why shouldn’t Daddy marry someone else?
    Her heart yanked inside her chest. Why didn’t Mommy call? Was she still embarrassed by Angie because she had no hair anymore? Maybe Mommy was too busy with Eric and she didn’t have time for a kid with a brain tumor.
    As she followed Carla into the kitchen, she remembered waking up in the middle of the night once to use the bathroom. As she’d walked down the hall, she’d heard Daddy in his bedroom crying. When she peeked around his door, she saw him on his knees, praying. She’d never seen him cry like that before. He never seemed bothered because Angie had lost all her hair, so that couldn’t be why he was upset. She thought he missed Mommy. Now she wondered if he just felt bad because he was lonely and wanted another lady to take Mommy’s place.
    She pulled her chair back from the table and slid onto her seat, catching the scent of crispy chicken tenders fresh from the oven. Normally she loved to eat them. Right now, her stomach churned and she stared at the food Mrs. Perkins scooped onto her plate. She’d rather lie down on the couch for a while.
    “There, sweetheart.” Mrs. Perkins beamed a smile as she poured Angie a tall glass of milk. “A nice, balanced meal. And I’ve got vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup for dessert.”
    “Hooray!” Carla cheered.
    The girls folded their arms as Mrs. Perkins offered a blessing on the food. Then, Angie watched Carla eat.
    Daddy deserved to have a good woman to love him, but who would be willing to raise a sick kid?
    Yes, Angie definitely should think more about getting a new mom. Maybe she should look over the ladies in church on Sunday.

Chapter Eight

    S unday morning Dad led Angie into the main entrance of the church. Dad looked handsome in a dark suit, white shirt and tie. Before they’d left the house, she’d made sure he splashed on some aftershave. He’d smiled and kissed her nose as she straightened his collar and smoothed his hair.
    While she waited inside the foyer for Dad to take care of some church business, she tilted her head to see who was there. Two girls from Angie’s Sunday school class walked by, but Angie didn’t say hello. Besides, they called her “baldy” all the time. She smiled when they hurried away. Only the grown-up women interested her today. Maybe someone here might like to marry Daddy.
    Hannah