The Prodigal Daughter

The Prodigal Daughter - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Friday night had been great, even the encounter in the garage was worth reliving as both MaryBeth and Joey lay in their own beds miles apart. Both wishing the moment had lasted, but in the end, they both knew it needed to stop. At least right now, Joey needed to take it slow he told himself. While MaryBeth wanted more, she was telling herself that she could not hurt Joey again.

Dinner had been fantastic and afterwards they made their homemade ice cream and it was better than either remembered. They made so much that MaryBeth took some home for her midnight cravings she occasionally had. That was if she could keep her father out of it.

Mrs. Davidson knew already that MaryBeth was pregnant, Joey had told her before hand so she was not surprised by the situation. But, his mother being the not so patiently waiting Grandma was excited about the possibility of Joey having a child with MaryBeth that it did not matter who the father of the child was as long as there was a chance that Joey and MaryBeth would be together.

When Joey brought MaryBeth home, he walked her to her door and although MaryBeth invited him inside, he said, “Not tonight. But, I will pick you up at eleven-thirty tomorrow.”

“Eleven-thirty?”

“Don’t tell me you forgot?”

“I must have.”

“I believe the wager was if you ate the whole meatball sub, you would go with me to the chruch fourth of July picnic and that is tomorrow at the park.” Joey said with a grin on his face.

“Oh, that’s right. What do I need to bring?”

“Just yourself. Don’t worry, I will have everything we need.”

“Well,” MaryBeth said, Joey could tell she was stalling, “I guess I will... see you tomorrow.”

Joey leaned in and gave her a hug goodbye. “You have sweet dreams OK?” And he kissed her on the cheek.


That night, lying in bed, all MaryBeth could think about was kissing Joey. How bad she wanted to feel his lips press to hers. How she wanted to feel his body pressed against hers and his hands roaming the curves of her body. As she drifted off to sleep, Joey was running through MaryBeth’s mind. Sleeping soundly, MaryBeth dreamed that night. She dreamed that she and Joey were married and they had two beautiful children. The perfect family they had always dreamed of. Joey looked over at her in the dream and she could feel how much he loved her, he could feel it deep in her soul and she was happy.


Rising early on Saturday morning, MaryBeth went through her new routine. Rushing to the bathroom with her body needs fighting each other. But, soon she was her normal self again, feeling better from her shower. After grabbing a fruit salad and yogurt, she went to get ready for the picnic. About ten o’clock, her parents left to get things set up at the park. The church had reserved the pavilion and the softball field for the annual softball game. As kids, this day was the highlight of the summer. MaryBeth was looking forward to this date since she lost the bet with Joey.

Joey arrived right on time to pick her up. She went to grab the macaroni salad she had made, even though Joey told her not to bring anything. It was an old family recipe that everyone loved. Looking at Joey, she realized how adorable he was. His dirty blonde hair hair was in whisps of curls peeking out under his University of Florida Gator baseball cap. He had on a pair of stretchy loose shorts that almost came to his knees and a Gator National Championship football t-shirt. He looked like one of the teenagers in the youth group. Not the youth pastor. She smiled and realized while she was admiring him, he was looking at her. She was dressed in one of her new maternity outfits of denim shorts and a white tank top with a short sleeve button up shirt open the front. Her hope was to hide the baby bump as much as possible. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail and tied with a red, white and blue ribbon.

She was grabbing a blanket her mother had left for them on the sofa when suddenly she felt it and her body tensed up. “Oh!” She said grabbing her stomach.

“What’s the matter?” Joey asked and he was immediately by her side.

MaryBeth took his hand and placed it on the bump, “Feel this.” And a moment later, she felt it again. The baby moved. Joey’s eyes met her eyes and his smile could not be contained.

“Wow!” was the only word he could utter.

“I know!”

“Was that the first time you felt it?”

“Yeah. Amazing isn’t it?”

They just stood there for a moment with Joey’s hand on her stomach and grins on their faces waiting to see if the baby moved again.


When they arrived at Whispering Pines, they drove to the pavilion. Several cars were already there and they found her parents setting up. MaryBeth did not notice it at first, but after a while picked up on the fact that people would whisper a lot and look in her direction. She felt bad for Joey and even though her heart wanted to love him, her mind kept saying that it would be a bad thing for his ministry. Who would want their teenagers to have a youth pastor involved with someone like MaryBeth?

During the day, she began to distance herself from Joey. Of course she would sit with him for lunch, and cheer for him during the youth vs. adult softball game. But, she saw the looks they got when he was close to her and she did not want to ruin his reputation.

After the first softball game, he came to sit with her on a blanket under the tree. There were other people sitting around also, but not too close to hear their conversation.

“What’s the matter?” Joey asked. He could tell something was bothering her.

“Would you stop that already?”

“What?”

“You could always read me like a book! You know you and my mom are the only ones that can do that and I don’t like it!”

“Well, I had a teacher once that said,  ‘A good book is one that you want to read over and over again’ so take it as a compliment!” Joey said with a grin on his face.

“You think you are funny don’t you?”

“Yep.”

“Well, cut it out!”

“Nice try on changing the subject. Now what is the matter?” Joey said reaching past her to get a soda out of the cooler. Coming inches from her body. When he passed back over her with the soda, a drop of water fell from the can and dripped on her leg running down the side. Joey reached out to wipe it off and MaryBeth grabbed his hand.

“NO!” She said forcefully!

“What is the matter? I swear Lizzie, if you don’t tell me, I will hold you down and rub that ice all over your body.” Joey said with a sadistic grin. “And I mean it!”

MaryBeth could not help but laugh enjoying the picture that was in her mind. “Haven’t you noticed what is happening?”

“What? A lot is happening. The youth just kicked our butt in softball. Lunch was good, but your dad burned the burgers a little . And don’t you dare tell him I said that! And I am here with the prettiest girl.” Joey said the last part with a smile.

“And you don’t see that every time you touch me or come close to me or talk to me all the tongues flapping with gossip. My goodness I thought there was a breeze a while ago and it just turned out to be all the gossipers talking in our direction.”

“WOW! That is a good description. I am going to have to remember that one.”

“Joey!” MaryBeth said pushing at him. “I am serious. People are talking and these are people that have kids in the youth program. I don’t want to make your job harder on you. I don’t want you losing your job over me.”

“Then stop worrying about it. I am good at my job and besides, your father is the pastor, he wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”

“I am glad you are confident. But, I am not so confident. And everytime someone looks at me, I wonder, did they get one of the videos? Did they watch the video? Did YOU watch the video? You never told me.”

“No. I put the first on in my laptop, I immediately recognized it for what it was and I destroyed it. And the other two I destroyed without looking at them. So, NO, I have not watched the videos. And I never will. About other people watching them, do you want my honest opinion?”

“Yes.”

“Then don’t sweat it! You have asked God to forgive you. You have asked your parents to forgive you and you have asked me to forgive you. We all have. Anyone else, doesn’t really matter and worry is of the devil. If you walk around wondering and worrying if they watched it or know about your past then the devil has a hand in your life. If you give it to God and don’t worry and stress over it and know that with him you can handle anything or anyone, then you will have a better life.”

“Easier said than done.”

“I know, but try for me. Please.”

“I will try, but I can’t promise anything.”

“As long as you try, I will be happy.” Joey stretched out on the blanket and put his head in MaryBeth’s lap. “I am getting too old for this! The kids want to play in another thrity minutes and I didn’t sleep much last night. Mind if I close my eyes?”

“No. But, why didn’t you sleep?”

Joey shrugged. “Tossed and turned and when I did go to sleep had these dreams that kept waking me up.”

“Really?” MaryBeth said, wondering if these dreams were anything like her dreams where Joey kept her awake most of the night. “Do you want to tell me about them.”

“No, I want to sleep.”

“OK.” MaryBeth said as she began carelessly playing with Joey’s whisps of hair.


Twenty minutes later while Joey was sleeping, MaryBeth found herself daydreaming about what might have been if she would have stayed. Wishing she would have stayed again will not change the past. Suddenly two children came running up to her. The little boy was about five and had white blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. The little girl, a couple years younger, had strawberry blonde hair with green eyes. They were cute as a button and for a moment MaryBeth thought her daydream had come to life.

“Auntie MaryBeth! Auntie MaryBeth” they cried in unison. Realization his MaryBeth that these must be Abbey’s children.

“Hi kids!” MaryBeth said. “Shhhh he’s sleeping.”

The kids sat down on the blanket. Knowing she should not do this, but did it anyway, she reached into the cooler and pulled out two Mountain Dews for her niece and nephew. “Want a soda?”

“Yes.” They both cried in unison. As they guzzled, Donny said, “Mama says we shouldn’t have them, but Grandma gives them to us sometimes.”

‘Good for Grandma’ Marybeth thought.

“Auntie MaryBeth, what is a slut?”

“Where have you heard that word?”

“Mama, I heard her telling someone over there that MaryBeth is a slut.”

“Well that is not a nice word to call someone. But your Mama is a gossip. Can you say that?”

“Gossip? What’s that?”

“Maybe you should ask her. You can even tell her that Auntie MaryBeth said she is a gossip.”

“Is that worse than slut?”

“Yes.” Was the one word sleepy reply from Joey. “Much worse,” he added as he rolled over from his back to now facing away from MaryBeth’s. She absent mindedly continued to play with his hair. “Now run along and tell your Mama that Pastor Joey said those without sin can cast the first stone.”

“OK” Donny said and he took his sister by the hand and led her straight to their mother to convey the messages.

“Oh we are bad.” MaryBeth said.

“We spoke the truth.” Joey said, “And you know what it says, the truth shall set you free.”

Within a couple of minutes, Abbey and a couple of followers converged on MaryBeth and Joey. “HOW dare you!”

“How dare I what sister. Send a five year old over to call me names?”

“He didn’t say anything I wouldn’t say to your face.”

“And you are a gossip, there I at least have the courage to say that to you. You are also mean and vindictive and jealous...”

“Jealous? Of you? You will spread your legs for any man and then come running back to mommy and daddy and good old Joey to take care of things when you get knocked up.”

“I can take care of things on my own. But, yes, I messed up and I have come home.”

“Well, I wish you hadn’t. Life was so much easier when you were gone.”

“Oh you mean Mom and Dad’s world revolved around you and now you can’t take it that I am back.” MaryBeth said. “You have never been one that could share the spotlight. Even when we were kids, you hated it when I had their attention, even for a minute.”

“It means life was better when they were not constantly tending to your every whim and want.”

“Darlin sister, that was you! You were always the one doing things to have their attention!”

“That was because YOU always had their attention. You were always the favorite and you know it!” Abbey screamed. There was quite a crowd gathering. Joshua and Ann walked up and tried to quiet Abbey who was making the bigger scene. Screaming, Abbey wanted to make sure everyone knew about her sister’s troubles, “So do you even know who the daddy is? From what I’ve heard you were a real SLUT!”

“So, you did teach your five year old that word! Classy sister! Real CLASSY!”

“Abbey, calm down right now.” Joshua told his oldest daughter.

“Why Daddy, so you can just take her side like you always do.” Abby said still yelling.

Taking about as much as he could, Joey sat up and went to the cooler, he grabbed a cup and filled it with ice cold water and dumped it on Abbey’s head. “Cool off Abbey. You need to get a life and stop messing around in other peoples. Gossip is a sin and you can go to Hell for that just as much as you can for murdering someone. So chill out!”

Everyone stood in shock at a drenched Abbey dancing around, shaking the ice out of her clothes. A few people even laughed and grinned, including Don, her husband who had been watching the exchange. He walked up to MaryBeth and held out his hand. “Nice to finally meet you MaryBeth, I’m Don.”