Page 90 of Capture the Moment
Pops let out a small chuckle. “Not guilty.”
“During the retreat, we were encouraged to reflect on the main emotion in our lives. There was even a shrink to talk to—”
“Uh, counselor?” Pops said.
“Well, she called herself a spiritual director, but I thought she sounded more like a shrink. Anyway, Maisie convinced me to stay and give it a chance—”
Lifting his eyebrows, Pops looked at Maisie. She beamed back.
“—so I signed up for time to talk to this shr—uh, spiritual director, and she asked me some pretty intense questions. You know, about the main emotion that drives everything.”
“Like what?” Pops said.
“Like, decisions. Coping with change. How well I work with others.”
“Oh boy.” Pops muttered it under his breath, but Mom noticed and gave him a look.
“Anyway,” Mom said, “after some serious soul searching, I realized that for me, my main emotion was anger.”
“Anger?” Maisie repeated, surprised. Her mom never got angry. Silent. Moody. So tired she needed to sleep a lot. But not angry.
Mom nodded. “Anger can affect people in different ways. Especially if it’s buried.”
“Go on, Thea,” Pops said.
“I think I’ve been angry at God for taking my mom when she was still young, when she had so much to look forward to in life.” She paused. “Most of all, taking her when I needed her the most.”
Maisie’s heart twinged. She knew her mom and grandmother had been super close. And Mom had already lost her dad when she was around thirteen, Maisie’s age.
“The shr—uh, spiritual director told me to have a long talk with God, and to not be afraid to tell him exactly what I thought. About everything. She also said I might be surprised by what he might say back to me. So that’s what I did.” Mom put down her fork, her eyes brightening. “And something remarkable happened. I did just what she said to do. I told God everything that made me so mad at him. I really let him have it. I almost expected a lightning bolt to hit me. But you know what? I didn’t feel anger in return. Instead, I felt this overwhelming sense of love. From the top of my head down to my toes. I’ve never felt anything like that before. It was as if God was saying it’s okay to be angry. He can take it. But he wanted me to know that he still loves me. He’s still there.”
Pops had been watching Mom with a soft expression in his eyes. “Sounds like something your mother always wanted you to know.”
“I feel ... different. I can’t quite explain it. But I think everything’s going to be better from now on.” She glanced at Maisie. “Really, truly better. Not just Band-Aid better.”
Maisie felt a surge of emotions. Relief, mostly. “I believe it too.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” her mom said, reaching across the table to squeeze Maisie’s hand. “And thank you for being so patient with me.” She glanced at Pops. “Both of you.”
Pops cleared his throat, a hint of emotion in his voice. “Well, there’s a reason your mother named you Calathea.”
Mom laughed at that. She pointed her fork in his direction. “Are you absolutely sure you didn’t have something to do with sending me to that retreat?”
He shook his head. “Only if you consider consistent prayer on your behalf as a tool of coercion.” He rose. “Thea, would you like some moose drool?”
Her mom looked grossed out. “Moose drool?”
“It’s park-speak for coffee, Mom,” Maisie said. “You got to keep your cool on.”
“Keep my cool on?”
Pops grinned. “She’s quoting Frankie, the park hottie.”
“Pops!”
Mom’s eyebrow lifted. “Is Frankie someone I should meet?”
“Oh, you’ll definitely cross paths with him,” Pops said. “He’s always fluttering around this kid.”
