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then went inside. Bill sat behind the counter, coffee in one hand and the local newspaper in the other. Harold scooped up two bags of chips and a soft drink. “Hey, Bill. How’s it going?”
    A smile formed on Bill’s wrinkled face, exposing the large gap between his front teeth. “How ya been, Harold? I haven’t seen you in a while.”
    Harold nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been busy.” Harold scratched his jaw, trying to think of the best way to ask about Zoey.
    “Ain’t seen that girl in here, either,” Bill added as he totaled Harold’s purchases.
    Harold let out a breath as relief filled him. “I was going to ask you about that. So, she hasn’t been around?”
    Bill clicked his tongue. “Now, I didn’t say she hadn’t been around. Just not here.” He placed the chips in a plastic bag. “I’ve seen her car driving up and down the street.”
    Harold’s heart sank. “I was hoping—”
    “She’s still hanging around with some no-good characters, too.”
    “Thanks for telling me, Bill.” Harold pulled out his wallet to pay, when he remembered he had a few business cards. He pulled one out and handed it to Bill. “Will you do me a favor?” Sure.”
    “The next time you see Zoey’s car, will you give me a call?”
    “I sure will.” Bill shoved the card into his right front pocket. “Kids these days. Always up to no good.”
    “She sure has had me on my knees in prayer, that’s for sure.”
    Bill huffed and swatted the air. “Like that will do any good.”
    Harold grabbed his bags. “It does me good. See ya later, Bill.”
    Harold made his way back to the truck. Bill was another one that Harold had been praying for years over. Now, he had the man keeping an eye out for his soon-to-be, wayward, Christian daughter.
Lord, what am I getting myself into?

    Thanksgiving had finally arrived. The holiday felt especially sweet this year, and Kelly looked forward to Christmas and the few days after Christmas with such anticipation she could hardly contain herself. Kelly stopped cutting up slices of celery and wiped her hands on a towel. She opened the kitchen drawer she’d cleaned out and renamed “the wedding plans” drawer, pulled out a clear bag, and handed it to her mother. “This is the ribbon I’ve decided to go with for the bouquets.”
    “This is beautiful.”
    As her mother touched the soft fabric, Kelly’s heart warmed with overwhelming thankfulness for her family and fiancé. She felt undeservedly blessed. “I’m glad you and Dad could come to Delaware for Thanksgiving. I can hardly wait to go dress shopping for you tomorrow.”
    Her mom shook her head. “I cannot believe I let you talk me into going to the mall on Black Friday.”
    “We’ll have fun and you know it.”
    Her mom winked. “You’ll have to go easy on me.” She pointed toward the manila folder in the wedding drawer.
    “What’s in that?”
    Kelly handed it to her mom. “Pictures of the girls’ dresses. Remember, I e-mailed them to you.”
    Her mother nodded. “Yes. They were very pretty.”
    Zoey walked into the kitchen. “So, are you going to finish the potato salad or talk about the wedding all day? Some of us are hungry, you know.”
    Noting the shocked expression on her mother’s face, Kelly bit back her desire to yell at her daughter for such disrespect. Instead, Kelly forced a smile and grabbed several cans from the cabinet. “Why don’t you help your grandmother and me? You make the green bean casserole.”
    Zoey snarled. “I don’t know how.”
    “Why, Zoey Coyle,” Kelly’s mom responded. “You loved making the green bean casserole. Your daddy always said you made it the best of all of us.”
    “Well, he’s not here now, is he?” Zoey retorted. She wrapped her arms in front of her chest.
    Kelly’s heart broke that her daughter still hurt so deeply over Tim’s death, and she empathized with the teen’s pain. But Zoey needed to stop making everyone else’s lives miserable. Kelly shoved the cans