Sisterchicks Say Ooh La La! Read Online Free Page A

Friday and for coming today.”
    “I honestly didn’t have much to do with the hospital encounter.”
    “I know.” Amy put down the bib and looked at me with her huge eyes. “God did that, didn’t He? Just for us. You promised to be there for me when my first baby was born, remember? I think God heard that promise. There’s no other explanation.”
    I didn’t have another explanation so I nodded and agreed with Amy that something mysterious and larger than us was at work. It had been several years since I’d been to church, so I didn’t think God was paying much attention to me. I certainly hadn’t been paying much attentionto Him. I wanted to wait until I knew He would be proud of me before I showed Him the report card of my life. Sadly, a few too many semesters had passed, and I still didn’t feel as if I had done anything worthy of His watchful eye.
    “Come sit down.” Amy patted the side of her bed. “Would you think I was crazy if I said I’ve dreamed about this? About you and me connecting one day when we least expected it? I’ve missed you, Lisa. I’ve thought of you a million times over the years. When Mark and I got engaged, I tried to find you, but I didn’t know your parents had moved from Memphis. I sent a wedding invitation to an address I got from your brother Will in Indiana, but it came back with no forwarding address.”
    “I know. My family is scattered. My mom and dad moved to Florida. Two of my brothers are in Texas. Will is in Ohio now, and Tom moved to Alaska.”
    “Wow. I can’t believe your family is so dispersed. You’re here alone then? In Cincinnati?”
    I nodded. “I’ve only been here for three months. Before that it was Houston for a year. I’ve moved a lot. There’s not much to tell. No exciting news. No interesting men in my life. Which is okay; I’m used to living with my own schedule.”
    I thought for sure Amy would read into my answer that I was still trying to figure out who I was and what my life was supposed to be about. I waited for her eyes to narrow in a judgmental expression. A woman my ageshould have those basics under control by now.
    Nothing but openness and acceptance beamed from Amy’s flushed face. She loved me. Still. After all these years. She loved me with the same childhood innocence and acceptance I’d first experienced when she gave up Barbies for me. I choked up because, in the haphazardness of my life, I realized Amy might be the only person on this planet who truly loved me just as I was.
    “I’ve missed you, Amy,” I heard myself say as my throat tightened. “I’ve missed you more than you can even imagine. I hate that I let a date to the prom come between us. Especially a date with Charlie Neusman, of all people.”
    Amy tilted her head and gave me a look of nonrecollection. “Lisa, Charlie Neusman had nothing to do with our friendship freezing up.”
    “He didn’t? But the prom and—”
    “Lisa, I pulled back because of your mom.”
    “My mom?”
    “Yes, your mom and the salvation paper.”
    “The what?”
    Amy’s jaw lowered. “You didn’t know about that?”
    I shook my head. Baby Jeanette stirred in my arms.
    “Oh, Lisa, I should have realized you didn’t know. I was so blind. I’m so, so sorry.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.
    “I don’t understand. What salvation paper are you talking about? What did my mother say to you?” I instinctively drew tiny Jeanette closer.
    With a steady breath, Amy unfurled a story of how my didactic mother had written out a page of Bible verses that related to salvation. When I wasn’t in the room, my mother laid the paper in front of Amy, asked her to read the verses aloud, and then asked Amy if she wanted to be saved. If the answer was yes, a line was provided at the bottom of the page for Amy to sign and date.
    I felt sick. I didn’t know what to say.
    “I didn’t sign the paper, and that really upset your mom. I guess I didn’t know exactly what it meant. I assumed that