Her Unlikely Family by Missy Tippens Page A

sent it rolling to wedge right behind a dinosaur’s tail.
    Does she think we’re playing croquet?
    â€œLisa,” Josie scolded. “Don’t worry, Mike. You’ll be able to set it one putter length away from the raptor’s tail so you can hit it.”
    â€œGreat.”
    â€œMy turn.” Josie dropped her yellow ball haphazardly, and without taking the time to line up at all gave it a firm tap. It rolled right under the dinosaur’s belly, which was barely six inches off the ground, and she and Lisa rushed to watch it on the other side. As Lisa stood, arms crossed, the picture of cool, Josie leaned sideways and groaned as if trying to somehow force the ball to drop into the hole. And it did.
    â€œWahoo!” Josie shrieked.
    â€œAwesome shot,” said his niece.
    As Josie waited for Lisa to give her a high five, she grinned at Michael. “Hole in one.”
    â€œCongratulations.” This is going to be an interminably long afternoon.
    The next two holes went pretty much the same. Josie had the luck of the Irish. Lisa didn’t care what her score was as long as she got to knock Michael’s ball under soggy prehistoric figures into the realm of drowned bugs.
    And he bemoaned his five-over-par score.
    Ever hopeful, he said, “This one has a par three, but it’s a pretty straight shot. I think I can make up a stroke.”
    â€œMaybe.” His niece elbowed Josie.
    â€œLisa, leave the poor man’s ball alone so he’ll have a fighting chance.”
    â€œIt’s what he deserves for scaring Brian away.”
    â€œLisa…”
    â€œOkay. For a while.”
    â€œThank you for being so kind.” He smiled at her, and for a moment he thought she would smile back. A real one. But what she gave him was more reserved—tilted-up mouth but no teeth showing. Still, it was a start.
    Any accomplishment raised his spirits and his hope that the two of them would be heading back to Charleston soon.
    The fact that he had so much further to go was sobering. But that one tilt of the mouth was enough to make him hit one under par. “Yeah,” he said as he thrust his club in the air.
    â€œNice job, Mike. Now let’s see you focus like that on the next fourteen holes.” Josie wiggled her jean-clad hips as she got in place for her shot. “Maybe you’ll catch up to me.”
    She hit another hole in one.
    By the time they finished the tenth hole, he was impossibly behind Josie. But he and Lisa were neck and neck. At the moment, he was ahead by one shot. Once Lisa hit the ball, he joined the ladies as they watched the ball roll.
    â€œGo ball, go ball, go—Yeah!” Lisa leaped in the air, then looked around as if not wanting anyone to witness a moment of excitement. “My first hole in one,” she said, then pinned her lips between her teeth, trying not to grin.
    Josie ruffled Lisa’s hair. “Way to go.”
    â€œCongratulations, Lisa.” Before he thought about what he was doing, he put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze.
    She pulled away, refusing to look at him. Instead, she looked at Josie and said, “I think I’ll run to the water fountain. Gotta keep this athlete hydrated.”
    As she rushed away, Michael’s shoulders sagged. “You know, I forgot there for a moment that she wasn’t ten years old.”
    Josie touched his arm. “She’ll adjust. She’s been without affection for so long. She won’t even let me hug her.”
    Has our family done this to her, Lord? Made her afraid of human contact?
    â€œGuilt’s written all over you, Mike. Don’t blame yourself.”
    â€œAnd just how do you suppose it’s not my fault as much as anyone else’s?”
    â€œDid you get drunk and get yourself killed in a car wreck?”
    Surprised, yet not, at her bluntness, he said, “Well, no. But maybe I did send Lisa away to school too soon.